Yebba - Paranoia Purple (Live at Electric Lady)

Music • Views: 26,776

YouTube

Here we have an amazing performance of a highly demanding song with odd chord changes and shifting time signatures.

Yebba // Live at Electric Lady // Out Now
Listen on Spotify // https://Yebba.lnk.to/ElectricLady

Watch more videos from Yebba’s ‘Live at Electric Lady’:
One More Smile // https://Yebba.lnk.to/OneMoreSmile
Louie Bag // https://Yebba.lnk.to/LouieBagELS
The Age Of Worry // https://Yebba.lnk.to/TheAgeOfWorryEL

Abbey Smith: Lead vocals
James Francies: keyboards
Pino Palladino: Bass
Charles Myers: Acoustic Guitar
Marta Bagratuni: Cello
Francesca Dardani: Violin
Sally Gorski: Violin
Tia Allen: Viola

Produced by James Francies

Recorded by John Rooney
Assistant Engineers: Lauren Marquez

Executive Producer: Tripp Kramer
Director: Andy Swartz
Cinematographer: Andy Swartz
Production Company: Tripp Kramer Productions
Styling: Kenn Law
Makeup: Raul Otero
Hair: Jhonatan Rendon
Management: Park Avenue Artists
Ross Michaels, David Lai, Ina Marija Ubaite

Spotify Presents: Live at Electric Lady
Series Producers: Lee Foster, Michele Santucci, William Garrett

℗ 2022 Yebba Smith LLC, under exclusive license to RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

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592 comments
1
William Lewis  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:09:41pm

From Downstairs because I needed to get out of the house today…

2
steve_davis  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:10:56pm

All right, can someone please read the “cat gives birth, vet says ‘these aren’t kittens’” advert that’s currently showing in yahoo news? I’m afraid I’ll get sucked into one of those 40-frame dealies where I have to keep loading new pages, only to be disappointed if I stick it out. If you don’t want to read it, maybe just come up with something plausible because the suspense is killing me.

3
electrotek  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:11:35pm
4
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:12:15pm

Charles:

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

5
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:12:16pm
6
electrotek  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:16:25pm
7
lizardofid  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:16:32pm

Good night Lizards. Good luck Ukraine.

8
electrotek  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:17:06pm
9
electrotek  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:18:07pm

Well said

10
retired cynic  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:18:54pm

re: #1 William Lewis

From Downstairs because I needed to get out of the house today…

[Embedded content]

I said downstairs that I think that first one is one of your best, IMHO.

11
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:21:11pm
12
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:27:12pm
13
William Lewis  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:28:02pm

re: #10 retired cynic

I said downstairs that I think that first one is one of your best, IMHO.

Thank you, I appreciate that.

I think it might make a good larger print 16x20 perhaps…

14
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:28:37pm
15
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:29:18pm

re: #12 Belafon

The chaser is that Zelensky overdubbed the Paddington Bear character in the Ukrainian version.

16
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:30:23pm
17
PhillyPretzel  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:31:13pm

re: #16 Backwoods_Sleuth

lol

18
stpaulbear  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:32:15pm

re: #14 Backwoods_Sleuth

We’ll stop her at the Iowa border.

19
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:32:52pm
20
Captain Ron  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:33:12pm
21
Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:34:03pm

re: #4 The Pie Overlord!

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

22
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:35:16pm

re: #20 Dread Pirate Ron

World’s largest plane reportedly destroyed in Ukraine

(CNN) — The world’s largest aircraft, the Antonov AN-225, has been destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials, generating alarm and sadness among the aviation world in which it occupies almost cult status.
The enormous aircraft, named “Mriya,” or “dream” in Ukrainian, was parked at an airfield near Kyiv when it was attacked by “Russian occupants,” Ukrainian authorities said, adding that they would rebuild the plane.
“Russia may have destroyed our ‘Mriya’. But they will never be able to destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European state. We shall prevail!” wrote Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Twitter.
There has been no independent confirmation of the aircraft’s destruction. A tweet from the Antonov Company said it could not verify the “technical condition” of the aircraft until it had been inspected by experts.
Ukrainian state defense company Ukroboronprom, which manages Antonov, on Sunday issued a statement saying the aircraft had been destroyed but would be rebuilt at Russia’s expense — a cost it put at $3 billion.
“The restoration is estimated to take over 3 bln USD and over 5 years,” the statement said. “Our task is to ensure that these costs are covered by the Russian Federation, which has caused intentional damage to Ukraine’s aviation and the air cargo sector.
In a later statement, the company said the airplane had been in on the ground near Kyiv on February 24 undergoing maintenance.

23
Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:39:57pm

Here’s a good video on setting up 2-factor authentication with Google Authenticator. (All the apps work in very similar ways.)

Youtube Video

24
Decatur Deb  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:41:08pm

Like Trump, but with an even smaller dick:

Bolsonaro won’t condemn Putin, says Brazil will remain neutral over invasion
reuters.com

25
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:43:20pm

re: #21 Charles Johnson

VHFHU0pJbzhOa1JRVkY3Yy9qY2N5bFFwZkp6MHBFdEpad2IvcC8ycTRDMGViOWFIR1VKYVlYQVNRbFordkVkd25tTW4rVEJkYm5sRzdkbnIwd3ZCc01qVDFuZkh1V2NkWmV5Q2RUM3BJYzZxeE52ZXBYdk5GalNjaHJjNmJ5MzU6OlTBua8uxNmKkF9miPD6SZM=

26
electrotek  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:46:42pm
27
Captain Ron  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:47:53pm
28
electrotek  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:48:25pm

Jesus

29
electrotek  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:50:57pm

Why would anyone be surprised considering PornHub was called out for exploiting underage girls?

30
BlueSpotinAL  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:53:23pm

re: #271 No Malarkey!

Trump wins the CPAC presidential straw poll 59% to 28% for DeSantis. news.yahoo.com

When did the polls open in Moscow?

31
PhillyPretzel  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:54:08pm

re: #30 BlueSpotinAL

At the crack of dawn. /

32
electrotek  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:54:08pm

Not just smelly neckbeards in the West that are doing this. This is why men get a bad rep

33
Eventual Carrion  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:55:19pm

Things are still progressing with the Webb telescope.

34
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:55:58pm

Fucking tankies, same as Trumporrhoids.

35
electrotek  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:57:40pm
36
Barefoot Grin  Feb 27, 2022 • 4:57:41pm

I wonder how loyal the Internet Research Agency will continue to be when they are paid in nothing-Rubles and their crypto can be tracked.

37
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:04:24pm

re: #34 The Pie Overlord!

Fucking tankies, same as Trumporrhoids.

[Embedded content]

Isn’t AOC a member of this organization? Her Twitter account does say the following but is silent about NATO:

38
The GOP is a racist terrorist organization  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:06:12pm
39
steve_davis  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:07:03pm

re: #30 BlueSpotinAL

When did the polls open in Moscow?

We learned this in the last thread. 8 hours before they did on the east coast. Honestly, I get the feeling some of you aren’t as committed to this Free University as I am.
////

40
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:07:43pm

re: #37 Hecuba’s daughter

Isn’t AOC a member of this organization? Her Twitter account does say the following but is silent about NATO:

[Embedded content]

AOC wants to do the authorization the proper way. Gosar wants to make sure his total ban on abortion, trans people, and CRT gets attached.

41
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:08:43pm

I know that Hyvee is in Iowa because my son attended college there:

42
b.d  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:08:46pm

re: #38 The GOP is a terrorist organization

PUTIN INVADED UKRAINE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT BIDEN WAS WEAK!!

How’s that working out for him? The right wing has underestimated Biden before and look what happened.

43
JC1  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:09:18pm

The best thing about anonymous waging war on Ukraine’s behalf is that it gives NSA’s TAO plausible deniability to wreak havoc. Russia’s cyber capabilities are nothing compared to those guys.

44
Barefoot Grin  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:11:26pm

re: #38 The GOP is a terrorist organization

[Embedded content]

There are a lot of words that I hear but never really learn the definition of, and somehow I think “apotheosis” applies both to Zelenskyy and Biden, but I’ll have to do a definition check first.

45
Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:15:37pm

re: #34 The Pie Overlord!

Fucking tankies, same as Von Clownstickorrhoids.

[Embedded content]

The “Socialist” clown that ran for Congress in the south part of San Diego County and Imperial County (pre-2023 CA-51) has been yammering about abolishing NATO because “that’s where the fascists went to hide when the workers revolution defeated them.”

Get fucked Cortes. I’m getting tired of the lefties in horseshoe land. *really tired*

46
Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:17:57pm
47
Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:21:10pm

re: #44 Barefoot Grin

There are a lot of words that I hear but never really learn the definition of, and somehow I think “apotheosis” applies both to Zelenskyy and Biden, but I’ll have to do a definition check first.

Turning into a god/elevating to god status.

I’m not quite there with any human, and I’m pretty sure neither of them want it.

48
Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:22:01pm
49
calochortus  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:23:00pm

re: #48 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Don’t worry. If you’re wrong, we won’t have a chance to quote you.

50
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:23:46pm

re: #47 Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion

Turning into a god/elevating to god status.

I’m not quite there with any human, and I’m pretty sure neither of them want it.

There is a more mundane meaning:

the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax.
“his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career”

51
steve_davis  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:25:00pm

re: #48 Charles Johnson

As oligarchical as Russia is, hard to believe they don’t have some failsafes built in for crazy autocrats, like “unless I also agree, you do not fire those missiles” from some very senior military member of the inner circle.

52
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:26:23pm

re: #46 Charles Johnson

It’ll be aliens face palming.

53
stpaulbear  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:29:17pm

re: #26 electrotek

Lilith 💋 ⚔ (Female Strategy Podcasts)
@LilithWon_FDS
Strongly dislike this genre of tweet. Same goes for straight men lusting after Ukrainian refugee women: if your kneejerk reaction to a war is sexualizing the victims, you’re a terrible person and a sexual predator.

Not to mention, we’ve already seen that if you fuck around with a Ukrainian, you’re going to find out.

54
Eventual Carrion  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:29:34pm

re: #39 steve_davis

We learned this in the last thread. 8 hours before they did on the east coast. Honestly, I get the feeling some of you aren’t as committed to this Free University as I am.
////

I’m just auditing this class anyway.

55
Barefoot Grin  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:30:10pm

re: #50 Hecuba’s daughter

There is a more mundane meaning:

I think I missed the boat on both. I neither want them to be gods, nor want them to be peaking now. Bad take. Love this place.

56
Rightwingconspirator  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:30:35pm
57
JC1  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:30:41pm

re: #51 steve_davis

As oligarchical as Russia is, hard to believe they don’t have some failsafes built in for crazy autocrats, like “unless I also agree, you do not fire those missiles” from some very senior military member of the inner circle.

Strategic deterrents can’t have those safeguards to be effective.

58
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:31:04pm

So are all the trumpies out there buying Russian Standard Vodka to pwn President Biden and complaining about the $20 price?

59
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:31:26pm

re: #41 Belafon

I know that Hyvee is in Iowa because my son attended college there:

[Embedded content]

Good for them! No real loss.

Russian Vodka is generally awful. Splitting headache in a bottle.

Try Monopolova. Pure potato, Polish family, made in Austria. Relatively inexpensive and scrum-diddly-umptious.

Put it in the freezer and pour it ice cold. Nom nom nom.

60
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:32:00pm

re: #48 Charles Johnson

We won’t be able to!

;-)

61
Captain Ron  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:32:14pm
62
Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:36:00pm

My theory, and it is mine, is that Putin was expecting Trump to be re-elected and continue being a malleable puppet. Trump would withdraw from NATO and further wreck the US’s international alliances, and then Putin would be able to send the Russian army into Ukraine with little or no resistance.

63
Axolotl  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:37:11pm

re: #23 Charles Johnson

Here’s a good video on setting up 2-factor authentication with Google Authenticator. (All the apps work in very similar ways.)

[Embedded content]

There was no explanation in that video. What a terrible video. How does it work? Do I have to be logged into the device? What if I lose the device? Wtf?

64
Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:37:30pm

So now with those plans thwarted, he’s decided to go for broke.

65
Barefoot Grin  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:38:19pm

re: #62 Charles Johnson

My theory, and it is mine, is that Putin was expecting Trump to be re-elected and continue being a malleable puppet. Trump would withdraw from NATO and further wreck the US’s international alliances, and then Putin would be able to send the Russian army into Ukraine with little or no resistance.

I agree, and I’m sure there was a lot of Russian ratfucking in the lead up to 1/6.

66
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:39:01pm

re: #55 Barefoot Grin

I think I missed the boat on both. I neither want them to be gods, nor want them to be peaking now. Bad take. Love this place.

Maybe something like their performance is the apotheosis of great leadership? It doesn’t necessarily mean they are personally peaking.

67
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:39:08pm

re: #38 The GOP is a terrorist organization

The replies are hilarious!! 😂 😂

68
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:39:19pm
69
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:39:57pm

re: #48 Charles Johnson

I didn’t think he was crazy enough to invade Ukraine and start a full fledged war. But here we are. When it comes to authoritarians, anything goes.

70
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:40:05pm

re: #59 austin_blue

Second the Polish vodkas.

71
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:40:46pm

re: #41 Belafon

I know that Hyvee is in Iowa because my son attended college there:

[Embedded content]

It’s ez to buy non Russian vodka

Chopin
Belvedere
Titos

72
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:41:43pm

re: #68 Backwoods_Sleuth

We need to see Ukraine hold off the Russians for another day or two. Then the economy will take over and Vlad will have to make concessions.

73
stpaulbear  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:41:43pm

re: #61 Dread Pirate Ron

I’m glad that the story wasn’t about how a polar bear got his tongue stuck to a submarine.

74
Barefoot Grin  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:42:30pm

re: #73 stpaulbear

I’m glad that the story wasn’t about how a polar bear got his tongue stuck to a submarine.

lol!

75
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:42:57pm
76
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:43:15pm

re: #62 Charles Johnson

My theory, and it is mine, is that Putin was expecting Trump to be re-elected and continue being a malleable puppet. Trump would withdraw from NATO and further wreck the US’s international alliances, and then Putin would be able to send the Russian army into Ukraine with little or no resistance.

That you, Anne?

77
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:44:57pm

re: #71 Dangerman

It’s ez to buy non Russian vodka

Chopin
Belvedere
Titos

Tito’s sucks, and it’s made in Austin. I should be a fanboy, but yeesh…

78
Sherlock Hound  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:45:05pm

re: #65 Barefoot Grin

And to Ottawa.

There is very likely NO organized support for the US truck convoy. The Right doesn’t do anything that’s not astroturfed. Russian handlers have enough to worry about now.

79
JC1  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:45:23pm

re: #63 Axolotl

There was no explanation in that video. What a terrible video. How does it work? Do I have to be logged into the device? What if I lose the device? Wtf?

I’m actually partial to Microsoft’s authenticator. As long as you know your password for your Google/Microsoft account, and have secondary authentication in the form of email or phone number, you can log in from a new device.

80
Axolotl  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:47:34pm

re: #79 JC1

I’m actually partial to Microsoft’s authenticator. As long as you know your password for your Google/Microsoft account, and have secondary authentication in the form of email or phone number, you can log in from a new device.

An authenticator is probably great? I just didn’t like that video (no offense to our host)

81
JC1  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:47:40pm

re: #70 darthstar

Second the Polish vodkas.

Belvedere and Chopin get all the press/prestige, but Sobieski is an awesome deal for the price. I know my vodkas (and tequilas).

82
The GOP is a racist terrorist organization  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:47:49pm

Long thread, but very important.

83
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:48:20pm

Two years late and a dollar short.
Profiles in cowardice

84
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:49:02pm

re: #77 austin_blue

Tito’s sucks, and it’s made in Austin. I should be a fanboy, but yeesh…

It was for the buy American crowd

85
JC1  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:49:13pm

re: #77 austin_blue

Tito’s sucks, and it’s made in Austin. I should be a fanboy, but yeesh…

100%. Tito’s is overrated. Actually, the best deal on vodka, IMHO, is the Kirkland brand at Costco. It’s essentially Gray Goose at 1/4th the price.

86
The GOP is a racist terrorist organization  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:51:37pm
87
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:52:46pm

re: #69 Patricia Kayden

I didn’t think he was crazy enough to invade Ukraine and start a full fledged war. But here we are. When it comes to authoritarians, anything goes.

But he was probably thinking he could win it in a cakewalk. Like our invasion of Iraq, based on lies and deceit, where the initial conflict was over quickly and we won without breaking a sweat, only to lose overwhelmingly in the occupation. But though the war went quickly, it did take a month for us to declare victory. The Russians haven’t gotten to the loss during occupation part of this endeavor; it seems they may indeed lose it during the initial conflict.

It took Poland 26 days to lose to Germany (and Russia), when there was no one to help them and there was a great mismatch in size of forces and quality of technology. Here, there is definitely a mismatch in size, but at least some of the Ukraine technology is superior, they are getting assistance in resupplying/upgrading weaponry, and Russia is being attacked economically.

88
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:53:23pm
89
stpaulbear  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:54:28pm

re: #83 Dangerman

Two years late and a dollar short.
Profiles in cowardice

It’ll be interesting to see which news programs bring him on to plug his book. I’ll guess that he’ll pop up on CNN and Meet The Press, but probably not on Morning Joe or any of the evening shows. Hope his book and career die a painful death.

90
TedStriker  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:54:48pm

re: #24 Decatur Deb

Like Trump, but with an even smaller dick:

Bolsonaro won’t condemn Putin, says Brazil will remain neutral over invasion
reuters.com

Hey, Jair, if you refuse to make a choice, you’ve still made one.

91
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:57:17pm
92
aatharuv  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:57:37pm

re: #81 JC1

Belvedere and Chopin get all the press/prestige, but Sobieski is an awesome deal for the price. I know my vodkas (and tequilas).

Just 1.2% of America’s vodka is imported from Russia. Keep that in mind when deciding what to buy. Even ones with Russian sounding names were often originally made by emigre families who had fled the communists or even Putin, like Stoli.

inquirer.com

usatoday.com

93
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 5:58:36pm

re: #86 The GOP is a terrorist organization

[Embedded content]

They were not looped in to what was coming

It’s almost like no one except a few knew this was coming

94
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:00:04pm

re: #83 Dangerman

95
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:00:20pm

re: #88 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Watch tfg take credit

96
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:00:31pm

re: #85 JC1

100%. Tito’s is overrated. Actually, the best deal on vodka, IMHO, is the Kirkland brand at Costco. It’s essentially Gray Goose at 1/4th the price.

I’ll take your word for it, but I’m a potato, not a grain spirit guy.

Grain spirit vodkas taste like whatever you mix with it, IMO, but potato vodka actually *tastes* like something. It’s subtle, agreed, but it’s there and the good ones don’t kick my head like a mule the next day.

And don’t get me started on Martinis, which are made of gin, varying levels of dry vermouth, and olives. No substitutes. Hell, replace olives with pickled onions and it’s a Gibson.

Anyone who orders a Vodka Martini, either shaken or stirred, is ordering a vodka drink, not a Martini.

I’m a purist on this, and it’s a hill I choose to die on. And get the hell off my lawn!

97
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:00:52pm

re: #90 TedStriker

Hey, Jair, if you refuse to make a choice, you’ve still made one.

+1

98
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:01:05pm
99
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:02:09pm

re: #94 Patricia Kayden

[Embedded content]

Yup. That.

100
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:03:04pm
101
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:05:12pm

102
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:05:36pm

re: #96 austin_blue

I’ll take your word for it, but I’m a potato, not a grain spirit guy.

Grain spirit vodkas taste like whatever you mix with it, IMO, but potato vodka actually *tastes* like something. It’s subtle, agreed, but it’s there and the good ones don’t kick my head like a mule the next day.

And don’t get me started on Martinis, which are made of gin, varying levels of dry vermouth, and olives. No substitutes. Hell, replace olives with pickled onions and it’s a Gibson.

Anyone who orders a Vodka Martini, either shaken or stirred, is ordering a vodka drink, not a Martini.

I’m a purist on this, and it’s a hill I choose to die on. And get the hell off my lawn!

A vodka martini is vodka over ice with a bottle of vermouth standing next to it, with the cap still on.

No fruit no vegetables.

A proper drink has no more than two ingredients. One can be ice.

103
Shiplord Kirel: Fan of Big Bird, Bert, and Ernie  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:05:42pm

Distorted perspective is a global disease, primarily of the privileged classes. Here in the States we have people who think a mask requirement is the second coming of Hitler. I am convinved that most of these people are not being facetious or willfully disrespectful: They are just that goddamn stupid.

104
Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:05:55pm
105
bratwurst  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:07:02pm

The online activists presently spending every waking hour noting the massive difference between the reaction to Russia invading Ukraine and the resulting refugees and similar circumstances involving Muslims in recent history are IMO both 100% correct and not doing their cause a single bit of good simultaneously.

106
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:07:41pm

re: #103 Shiplord Kirel: Fan of Big Bird, Bert, and Ernie

Distorted perspective is a global disease, primarily of the privileged classes. Here in the States we have people who think a mask requirement is the second coming of Hitler. I am convinved that most of these people are not being facetious or willfully disrespectful: They are just that goddamn stupid.

[Embedded content]

You all let Putin be president/king for life….

107
GlutenFreeJesus  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:08:30pm

re: #19 Backwoods_Sleuth

I hope Ukraine can hit them somehow.

108
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:10:31pm
109
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:13:05pm

Guessing none of the Russian tanks saw the sign

110
TedStriker  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:13:34pm

re: #23 Charles Johnson

Here’s a good video on setting up 2-factor authentication with Google Authenticator. (All the apps work in very similar ways.)

[Embedded content]

Video

re: #63 Axolotl

There was no explanation in that video. What a terrible video. How does it work? Do I have to be logged into the device? What if I lose the device? Wtf?

re: #79 JC1

I’m actually partial to Microsoft’s authenticator. As long as you know your password for your Google/Microsoft account, and have secondary authentication in the form of email or phone number, you can log in from a new device.

I use Microsoft’s authenticator because my company uses it for 2FA and Blizzard and Steam have their own authenticators, but, for everything else, I use Authy, which is cross-platform (mobile and desktop) and, if you set it up right with an encrypted password, it saves your sites/apps in case you uninstall the app or get a new phone.

authy.com

111
Mattand  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:14:33pm

re: #51 steve_davis

As oligarchical as Russia is, hard to believe they don’t have some failsafes built in for crazy autocrats, like “unless I also agree, you do not fire those missiles” from some very senior military member of the inner circle.

It’s not hard to believe at all. I mean, the American failsafe for a crazy autocrat turned out to be Dan Fucking Quayle, of all people, talking Mike Pence off the “Destroy the Constitution” ledge, and even that was a massive effort.

Don’t think for one second that people like Mitch McConnell are not going “The next Republican president needs the Armed Forces willing to kill civilians to keep us in power. That’s partly where we fucked up last time.”

It’s really not a stretch to think Putin has surrounded himself with like-minded individuals who he’s promised to protect if nuclear war breaks out.

112
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:14:36pm

A Russian government representative apologized to Ukraine and said there was no justification for his country’s invasion during a meeting of climate scientists and governments on Sunday morning,” Politico reports.

Said Oleg Anisimov: “First of all, let me thank Ukraine and present an apology on behalf of all Russians who were not able to prevent this conflict. All of those who know what is happening fail to find any justification for this attack against Ukraine.”

113
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:15:36pm

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) referred to Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) as “morons” during a CNN interview after the two lawmakers attended a white nationalist conference this weekend.

114
Mattand  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:15:42pm

re: #110 TedStriker

I use Microsoft’s authenticator because my company uses it for 2FA and Blizzard and Steam have their own authenticators, but, for everything else, I use Authy, which is cross-platform (mobile and desktop) and, if you set it up right with an encrypted password, it saves your sites/apps.

authy.com

1Password has some kind of 2FA thing going on that I think is independent of what a specific website has. Not sure about that.

115
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:16:14pm
Why do I care what’s going on in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia? And I’m serious, why do I care? And why shouldn’t I root for Russia, which I am.”

— Tucker Carlson, on Fox News.

116
TedStriker  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:16:20pm

re: #101 Patricia Kayden

[Embedded content]

117
Mattand  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:17:35pm

re: #113 Dangerman

I’m glad he spoke up, but literally one of the first phrases out of his goddamn mouth was “Both sides”.

These fucking people are so brainwashed, they are just mentally incapable of saying “We’re wrong. This is an ‘us’ problem.”

118
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:17:52pm

119
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:20:37pm

re: #103 Shiplord Kirel: Fan of Big Bird, Bert, and Ernie

I feel like the pizza we had for dinner tonight was OK, but, since I’m too lazy to make one myself, I can’t complain.

120
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:20:57pm

re: #101 Patricia Kayden

Just so people can like the tweet:

121
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:22:22pm
122
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:25:42pm

re: #113 Dangerman

How about kicking them out. Calling them names is ineffective.

123
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:25:55pm

re: #121 Backwoods_Sleuth

I for one would welcome our Canadian overlords.

124
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:26:54pm

meant to put this AP tweet in private tags

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

125
Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:27:50pm

re: #110 TedStriker

I use Microsoft’s authenticator because my company uses it for 2FA and Blizzard and Steam have their own authenticators, but, for everything else, I use Authy, which is cross-platform (mobile and desktop) and, if you set it up right with an encrypted password, it saves your sites/apps in case you uninstall the app or get a new phone.

authy.com

Authy is a good choice too.

126
No Malarkey!  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:29:03pm

I just got a twelve hour timeout on Twitter for saying the endgame is hopefully someone putting a bullet in Putin’s head.

127
JC1  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:29:40pm

re: #92 aatharuv

Just 1.2% of America’s vodka is imported from Russia. Keep that in mind when deciding what to buy. Even ones with Russian sounding names were often originally made by emigre families who had fled the communists or even Putin, like Stoli.

inquirer.com

usatoday.com

I used to do consulting work for Diageo.

128
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:30:24pm

re: #122 Patricia Kayden

How about kicking them out. Calling them names is ineffective.

They’re in the House, he can’t do anything about them.

129
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:30:51pm
130
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:32:58pm
131
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:33:33pm

re: #126 No Malarkey!

I just got a twelve hour timeout on Twitter for saying the endgame is hopefully someone putting a bullet in Putin’s head.

Automated algorithm with no human input — no way for it to distinguish between a statement against a murderous tyrant and a similar statement directed against a Nobel Prize winning humanitarian.

132
gwangung  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:34:33pm

re: #91 Backwoods_Sleuth

The smooth, ultra silky way Europe started piling sanctions on in an every increasing pile on of muscle just screams of one leader, one country orchestrating a master plan.

Joe is being very ostentatious going last EVERY SINGLE TIME.

133
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:36:01pm
134
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:36:09pm

re: #121 Backwoods_Sleuth

135
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:39:15pm

Read the article:

136
TedStriker  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:40:11pm

re: #129 Backwoods_Sleuth

Andres and his people are, as those of the Jewish persuasion might say, mensches.

137
Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:40:34pm

re: #126 No Malarkey!

I just got a twelve hour timeout on Twitter for saying the endgame is hopefully someone putting a bullet in Putin’s head.

You triggered their algorithms.

138
TedStriker  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:41:49pm

re: #137 Charles Johnson

You triggered their algorithms.

Blew a hole right through them…

139
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:42:05pm

re: #126 No Malarkey!

Compare that to Joe Oltmann here:

140
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:43:00pm

If this video is accurate, it seems that Russia isn’t stopping protests:

141
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:43:56pm

LOL

142
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:43:57pm

re: #136 TedStriker

Andres and his people are, as those of the Jewish persuasion might say, mensches.

Menschen.

143
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:45:04pm

JFC this horrible garbage person

144
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:46:36pm
145
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:46:38pm

re: #143 The Pie Overlord!

JFC this horrible garbage person

[Embedded content]

I’m going to report any tweet about Jews that mentions globalist or banker.

146
mmmirele  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:49:29pm

re: #143 The Pie Overlord!

I reported it hours ago, it’s still up. Grrrr.

147
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:51:39pm
148
TedStriker  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:52:52pm

re: #142 The Pie Overlord!

Menschen.

Isn’t ‘menschen’ just ‘people’?

149
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:53:20pm
150
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:54:41pm

re: #148 TedStriker

Isn’t ‘menschen’ just ‘people’?

Menschen is plural of mensch.

151
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:55:41pm

re: #149 Backwoods_Sleuth

152
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:58:15pm

153
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:58:38pm

re: #149 Backwoods_Sleuth

Republicans count on the public having a half-day attention span.

154
steve_davis  Feb 27, 2022 • 6:59:13pm

re: #131 Hecuba’s daughter

Automated algorithm with no human input — no way for it to distinguish between a statement against a murderous tyrant and a similar statement directed against a Nobel Prize winning humanitarian.

become a london times crossworder so that you can make these kind of threats, but in a way that only irritatingly clever people know what you’re talking about: “The conclusion to Pirates of Penzanz will be well served by this japanese mode of transportation speeding through a naval toilet.”

155
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:01:00pm

156
Sherlock Hound  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:02:29pm

re: #154 steve_davis

I wonder if “eat a gun!” or “nom nom BOOM!” will get me blocked on Twitter? //

157
I Would Prefer Not To  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:04:28pm

re: #126 No Malarkey!

I just got a twelve hour timeout on Twitter for saying the endgame is hopefully someone putting a bullet in Putin’s head.

Were you supposed to ask for two bullets?

158
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:06:04pm

159
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:07:44pm

re: #126 No Malarkey!

I just got a twelve hour timeout on Twitter for saying the endgame is hopefully someone putting a bullet in Putin’s head.

Maybe say something like “the endgame is hopefully someone making more room in Putin’s cranium for sunflower seeds.”

160
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:09:44pm

re: #129 Backwoods_Sleuth

I’m not religious but that man is a Saint!! I ate at one of his DC restaurants and his food is great! He deserves our support.

161
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:11:01pm

“The Leaky Tank, a small breakfast-and-lunch-only truck stop in the First Nation south of Sarnia that has been charged for flouting public-health rules…”
theobserver.ca

162
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:11:24pm

re: #126 No Malarkey!

I got a timeout for using the term “slap on the wrist”. I appealed and was restored but I’m still pissed off. I’ve reported racists and extremists and nothing has happened to them. Enjoy your break.

163
calochortus  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:12:22pm

re: #160 Patricia Kayden

I’m not religious but that man is a Saint!! I ate at one of his DC restaurants and his food is great! He deserves our support.

We sent in a contribution today. One of my favorite charities.

164
Sherlock Hound  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:14:11pm

re: #159 Belafon

Maybe say something like “the endgame is hopefully someone making more room in Putin’s cranium for sunflower seeds.”

In the Soviet days, I loved to euphemistically refer to their political “demotions” as “heart attacks”, “strokes”, “chest colds”, “(terminal) migraines” and so forth.

I certainly have no qualms about Mr. P. getting a convenient aneurysm, like Stalin did.
///

165
FFL (GOP Delenda Est)  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:16:32pm

Streamer I watch is doing a charity stream for a mental health charity in Salford, England.

mindinsalford.org.uk

Chat there has been good and they already hit their goal for the evening with another eight hours or so to go.

166
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:16:51pm

How about we get rid of shell companies altogether.

167
calochortus  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:19:13pm

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

168
GlutenFreeJesus  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:19:15pm

re: #136 TedStriker

Andres and his people are, as those of the Jewish persuasion might say, mensches.

I have had the honor of working with him and his team when the pandemic was in full swing. They are amazing people doing wonderful things and at great personal risk at times.

169
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:20:18pm

re: #161 jaunte

Pathetic “apology”
theobserver.ca

170
No Malarkey!  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:21:29pm

re: #153 jaunte

Republicans count on the public having a half-day attention span.

A safe bet usually.

171
stpaulbear  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:22:28pm

Youtube Video

172
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:25:18pm

From downstairs:

re: #176 lizardofid

I may need to go back and re watch, but I really thought at the time she meant Putin had done so.

You are right; I found the clip and the “he” being referenced there was Putin. Rice did praise actions that the current administration took, but I don’t think she ever mentioned Biden by name or discuss his role in getting our allies to work together on this.

OT: One issue that I find annoying is making statements that may be literally true but are very deceptive. Both sides do it. In this case my pet peeve is comparing job growth under Trump vs Biden. The huge job losses experienced under Trump were due to the pandemic; before then, employment was growing in the nation. One can argue a whole range of bad polices tied to the pandemic exacerbated that loss (e.g. a possibility is that if Hillary were in office there would have been no pandemic because the pandemic response team and our health expert embedded in Beijing would have detected the disease early and prevented much of the disaster — but that’s a different story); the huge gain in employment under Biden was primarily recovering jobs lost due to the pandemic. For political advantage, I agree it makes sense for the party to ignore these subtleties and adopt a narrative that appeals to voters.

173
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:25:36pm

re: #127 JC1

I used to do consulting work for Diageo.

Evil bastards of the Scotch world.

174
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:31:04pm

re: #169 Patricia Kayden

Pathetic “apology”
theobserver.ca

Link did not work — said it was taking too long to respond…

175
No Malarkey!  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:32:37pm
176
cat-tikvah  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:32:40pm

re: #161 jaunte

“POUTIN”
Well it’s good to know where not to spend your money

177
Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:35:36pm
178
Captain Ron  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:36:56pm
179
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:39:11pm

Coyotes going nuts outside.

180
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:44:39pm

re: #141 Belafon

LOL

[Embedded content]

(He’s not)

181
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:47:39pm

re: #178 Dread Pirate Ron

I’m going with the mensch on the right, not the putz on the left.

182
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:49:05pm
183
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:51:19pm
184
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:53:34pm

re: #175 No Malarkey!

[Embedded content]

We know that’s what tfg would have done

185
Captain Ron  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:54:37pm

Air raid siren going off in Kyiv.

186
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:58:06pm

My nephew, an EMT, is here for dinner. My unvaccinated brother is explaining how he beat Covid with vitamin D and zinc. He’s laughing under his breath.

Nephew has been doing Covid swabbing as a side gig. $70 an hour for swabbing people’s nostrils.

187
DodgerFan1988  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:58:54pm
188
Grunthos the Flatulent  Feb 27, 2022 • 7:59:45pm

re: #96 austin_blue

Anyone who orders a Vodka Martini, either shaken or stirred, is ordering a vodka drink, not a Martini.

He drinks a Whiskey drink, he drinks a Vodka drink
He drinks a Lager drink, he drinks a Cider drink

189
I Would Prefer Not To  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:01:33pm

Please ignore this. Posted under the influence.

FP (putin or pence, take your pick).

190
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:06:40pm

191
stpaulbear  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:08:06pm

re: #190 Patricia Kayden

Beards, unless I have a new cat.

192
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:10:11pm

re: #186 darthstar

My nephew, an EMT, is here for dinner. My unvaccinated brother is explaining how he beat Covid with vitamin D and zinc. He’s laughing under his breath.

Nephew has been doing Covid swabbing as a side gig. $70 an hour for swabbing people’s nostrils.

…only up to now

193
Dangerman  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:12:34pm

re: #190 Patricia Kayden

[Embedded content]

Resting on the tank.
Libra’s can’t decide anything.

194
A hollow voice says: Abort SCOTUS  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:13:27pm

re: #2 steve_davis

All right, can someone please read the “cat gives birth, vet says ‘these aren’t kittens’” advert that’s currently showing in yahoo news? I’m afraid I’ll get sucked into one of those 40-frame dealies where I have to keep loading new pages, only to be disappointed if I stick it out. If you don’t want to read it, maybe just come up with something plausible because the suspense is killing me.

This may be late, but as I recall, they were lynx kittens (and obviously the cat was not a cat — but I think the kittens were orphans someone found).

195
FFL (GOP Delenda Est)  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:26:13pm

re: #193 Dangerman

Resting on the tank.
Libra’s can’t decide anything.

Mine sits balanced on top of the towel rack due to cats.

One would unroll it whichever way it was on the dispenser. The other one would steal the entire roll and then attack and shred it.

196
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:29:57pm

Morning all. It’s 5:30 am here in Central Europe.

Anyway, started the day with this little tidbit of news:

Russia is fucked six ways from Sunday. Now, let’s see…..where’s my Kylo Ren meme?

Yeah, here it is:

197
Patricia Kayden  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:34:41pm
198
Captain Ron  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:40:32pm
199
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:41:02pm

Wait for verification on this bit of info, but Kyiv still stands….

I’d like to think that at some point, seeing as this is turning into a meat grinder, some fairly high-ranking officers in the Russian military brass says, “Yo, fuck this shit - it’s time to pay President Putin a little visit and register our displeasure.”

200
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:54:31pm
201
Rightwingconspirator  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:54:43pm

re: #199 Dr Lizardo

How ironic would it be for Putin to put the city under seige, and lose?

202
Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:56:23pm

re: #198 Dread Pirate Ron

The constantly implying Russia is still Communist somehow that I’m seeing is kind of itching my ass. The only thing “Red” about these clowns is the color of the hats of their supporters.

203
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 8:57:31pm
204
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:00:04pm

re: #201 Rightwingconspirator

How ironic would it be for Putin to put the city under seige, and lose?

I figure he has about another one or two weeks to bring this campaign to a successful conclusion. Beyond that timeframe, and we could start seeing mutinies in the Russian military - there’s already rumors flying around that some units of their army are flat-out refusing to obey orders.

205
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:00:26pm

T-minus one hour until the Russian stock market goes kablooey.

206
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:00:41pm
207
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:01:21pm

re: #205 Eclectic Cyborg

T-minus one hour until the Russian stock market goes kablooey.

See my #203.

208
Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:01:57pm

re: #203 Dr Lizardo

It was at about 84 rubles to 1 USD on the first day.

209
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:05:12pm

re: #207 Dr Lizardo

See my #203.

Yeah, I just saw it. Still amounts to little more than delaying the inevitable.

210
Rightwingconspirator  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:05:55pm

re: #207 Dr Lizardo

re: #205 Eclectic Cyborg

Unlike Kitco the following link has no ad exploit hooks built-in. jewelersalloy.com

It’s my site for my alloy business. It does have live precious metal prices from the current spot price.

211
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:06:47pm

re: #199 Dr Lizardo

Wait for verification on this bit of info, but Kyiv still stands….

I’d like to think that at some point, seeing as this is turning into a meat grinder, some fairly high-ranking officers in the Russian military brass says, “Yo, fuck this shit - it’s time to pay President Putin a little visit and register our displeasure.”

Excellent! Every day that Kyiv abides is another day that Putin is even more worriedly looking over his shoulder, hoping the ghost of Zhukov isn’t running at him with a Tokarev TT-30 7.62 yelling “We’re going to do this old school!”

The fun part of Putin’s timing for the invasion is that it is when the Russian Muck is at some of its worst due to earlier thaws than back in 1942. The pictures of T-90’s sunk in the muck up to the bottoms of their hulls are priceless.

It means that their armor *cannot leave the pavement* as the vehicles approach Kyiv or they’ll bog down in the mud. Makes it easier to set up ambushes, eh? Put ten anti-tank rockets on each side f the road, kill the leading tanks and Oops! the road is blocked, they can’t get around the burning vehicles, and there’s nothing but mud off the roads.

Sucks to be Russian armor, doesn’t it?

Poor, poor Russians. You’d think that their General Staff wouldn’t send them into this kind of meat grinder, wouldn’t you?

You’d be so, so, wrong.

212
Belafon  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:08:46pm
213
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:12:01pm

re: #199 Dr Lizardo

Wait for verification on this bit of info, but Kyiv still stands….

[Embedded content]

I’d like to think that at some point, seeing as this is turning into a meat grinder, some fairly high-ranking officers in the Russian military brass says, “Yo, fuck this shit - it’s time to pay President Putin a little visit and register our displeasure.”

‘Forward, the Light Brigade!’
Was there a man dismay’d?
Not tho’ the soldier knew
Some one had blunder’d:
Their’s not to make reply,
Their’s not to reason why,
Their’s but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

214
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:16:25pm

re: #213 Hecuba’s daughter

‘Forward, the Light Brigade!’
Was there a man dismay’d?
Not tho’ the soldier knew
Some one had blunder’d:
Their’s not to make reply,
Their’s not to reason why,
Their’s but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Ironically, that occurred on the Crimean peninsula.

Da da daaahhh!

215
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:19:13pm

Dad, mom (looking up, laughing) and three of her sisters (the Doran girls) kissing on dad.(Margaret, right, Noelie, left, and Rita, bottom)

216
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:22:58pm

re: #208 Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion

It was at about 84 rubles to 1 USD on the first day.

Dogecoin is stronger than that…and it’s backed by bullshit.

217
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:24:11pm

You know who is beginning to appreciate the reality of global warming? Putin’s tank brigades. Perma-frost isn’t anymore.

218
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:24:54pm
219
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:25:08pm

Such a sweet picture!

But the cabinetry is ick.

I like the old 4” square tile work on the backsplash, though.

220
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:25:35pm

re: #211 austin_blue

Global warming, bitches! If only those tanks were biodegradable…they could be useful.

221
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:26:25pm

re: #218 jaunte

[Embedded content]

We’re not crashing until AFTER the closing bell! Way to exude confidence, Vladdy.

222
Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:26:35pm

re: #218 jaunte

Frantic scrambling as they try to figure out how the Central Bank isn’t going to shit the bed the moment stock trading begins.

223
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:27:35pm

So, about 6 hours from now.

224
ckkatz  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:27:46pm

Interesting thread.

225
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:29:18pm
an announcement to be made at 1pm local time

I think someone already quoted ‘Emergency’ from The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming today.

226
Shiplord Kirel: Fan of Big Bird, Bert, and Ernie  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:31:05pm

re: #126 No Malarkey!

I just got a twelve hour timeout on Twitter for saying the endgame is hopefully someone putting a bullet in Putin’s head.

This one apparently beat the algorithms.

227
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:32:51pm

re: #225 jaunte

I think someone already quoted ‘Emergency’ from The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming today.

If not, I’ll remind the Board.

Egermencie! Egermencie! Evryone to get from street! (repeat)

228
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:34:25pm

re: #209 Eclectic Cyborg

Yeah, I just saw it. Still amounts to little more than delaying the inevitable.

Exactly. It might actually make things worse.

229
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:35:58pm

re: #228 Dr Lizardo

Exactly. It might actually make things worse.

Awfully white of Putin to wait until the rest of the western world is awake so nobody has to sleep through his downfall.

‘white of’ not a regularly used expression, but sarcastically appropriate for the fuckwit Putin.

230
Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:36:08pm

re: #218 jaunte

231
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:37:29pm
232
ckkatz  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:38:52pm

From a thread on the implications of financial sanctions. (Finally got a chance to start going through the days twitter feeds.)

233
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:39:37pm

So there was this guy who had been coming twice a day to help my mom put dad in bed and get him out - young hispanic kid - dad loved him and mom also liked him. He came by tonight to pay his respects. My mom gave him the leftover mini muffins she apparently bought to have as treats for him and my Q-hole brother gave him a copy of Robert F Kennedy’s book about Fauci. I told him there was a recycling bin on the way to the car where he could throw the book.

234
Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:39:50pm

Cryptobros are out in force on Twitter today almost worse than the “socialist” tankies. Making everything about them. Swearing that because of this the world will stop using the dollar as a reserve currency and other asinine shit.

235
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:42:54pm

re: #232 ckkatz

That’s a good thread…

236
Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:51:10pm

re: #229 darthstar

Awfully white of Putin to wait until the rest of the western world is awake so nobody has to sleep through his downfall.

I was kind of hoping that my weapons grade insomnia tonight would allow me to watch the Russian jenga tower collapse rather than just play video games and glance at LGF and Youtube on and off.

237
Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:52:31pm

re: #234 Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion

Cryptobros are out in force on Twitter today almost worse than the “socialist” tankies. Making everything about them. Swearing that because of this the world will stop using the dollar as a reserve currency and other asinine shit.

When crypto is more stable than an Italian gov’t, then perhaps more countries will start taking it seriously.

238
ckkatz  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:54:13pm

A quick thought on the donation of old Soviet equipment to Ukraine by former Eastern Block countries.

Ukraine has trained with these systems and has the facilities in place to maintain and use the equipment. Particularly with larger equipment likes planes and tanks. The operators/pilots are trained to use them. The maintenance teams are in place and the spare parts are in stock.

Switching to Western equipment involves retraining the entire operator and logistics chains and stocking up with all the needed spare parts, test equipment, and probably new facilities.

It is much faster and easier for the old Eastern Bloc countries to give their old Soviet equipment away.

On the NATO side.

A lot of countries have been needing to upgrade their military hardware from 30-40 year old Soviet stuff. They have been delaying doing so due to lack of political will. That has just changed. And major defense economic sectors are salivating at the thought of new contracts.

All that NATO equipment donated to the Ukrainians, like Javelins, Nlaws and At4’s will have to be replaced. Defense contractors are likely salivating at the money there as well.

239
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:55:18pm

re: #237 Targetpractice

When crypto is more stable than an Italian gov’t, then perhaps more countries will start taking it seriously.

🤣

240
Shiplord Kirel: Fan of Big Bird, Bert, and Ernie  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:55:29pm

re: #226 Shiplord Kirel: Fan of Big Bird, Bert, and Ernie

This one apparently beat the algorithms.

[Embedded content]

The word quisling itself became synonymous with traitor. The term was coined by the British newspaper The Times in its lead of 15 April 1940, titled “Quislings everywhere.” The noun survived, and for a while during and after World War II, the back-formed verb to quisle /ˈkwɪzəl/ was used. One who was quisling was in the act of committing treason

241
darthstar  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:55:46pm

re: #236 Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion

I was kind of hoping that my weapons grade insomnia tonight would allow me to watch the Russian jenga tower collapse rather than just play video games and glance at LGF and Youtube on and off.

Russia may not start trading at 9am, but the market will open, and the meltdown will commence.

242
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 9:57:56pm
243
ckkatz  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:01:21pm

re: #235 darthstar

That’s a good thread…

Thanks!

Frum is also arguing that the West should encourage Russian soldiers to desert but treating them well and giving them opportunities in the EU.

Treating people well can often have be very valuable down the road long term.

Certainly, Putin has destroyed the social contract between the Russian population and his government.

Russia has dramatically dis-integrated with the Western Economy on the whim of Putin. The laws on deploying conscripts outside of Russia have been ignored. A war has unilaterally been declared and the population have not been informed, let alone asked.

Maybe the West offering select Russians a much better deal might be a good option.

244
sagehen  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:02:24pm

re: #227 austin_blue

If not, I’ll remind the Board.

Egermencie! Egermencie! Evryone to get from street! (repeat)

Youtube Video

245
jaunte  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:06:04pm
246
ckkatz  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:08:47pm

From a couple of days ago:

247
Grunthos the Flatulent  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:09:37pm

To file under “Proposals, Modest”:

Vladimir Putin should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on the strength of his work to promote the unification of Europe.

After all, Henry Kissinger got one.

248
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:10:00pm

Well, I’m off for the rack as we gallop towards midnight in South Austin.

It’s hard to stress just how badly Putin has Fucked the Dog on this operation. I’ve tried to imagine how he could have done it any worse, and I’m pretty much stumped.

As a Czar, he is done. His dream of rebuilding Greater Russia is over. Empire will never re-occur.

It’s sad, really. He’s just another Hitler, another Mussolini, another jumped-up popinjay with Short Man’s Syndrome who thought he could change the world only to realize that his Cult of Personality was only effective so long as he never showed his ass as a failure.

Now, he’s last week’s news. Forever.

Sleep well dear friends. Special good wishes to darthstar for a wickedly difficult weekend and kudos for not having your Q-brother end up in a shallow grave in the desert.

As always, let us be kind and take care of each other.

249
Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:10:02pm

re: #238 ckkatz

A quick thought on the donation of old Soviet equipment to Ukraine by former Eastern Block countries.

Ukraine has trained with these systems and has the facilities in place to maintain and use the equipment. Particularly with larger equipment likes planes and tanks. The operators/pilots are trained to use them. The maintenance teams are in place and the spare parts are in stock.

Switching to Western equipment involves retraining the entire operator and logistics chains and stocking up with all the needed spare parts, test equipment, and probably new facilities.

It is much faster and easier for the old Eastern Bloc countries to give their old Soviet equipment away.

On the NATO side.

A lot of countries have been needing to upgrade their military hardware from 30-40 year old Soviet stuff. They have been delaying doing so due to lack of political will. That has just changed. And major defense economic sectors are salivating at the thought of new contracts.

All that NATO equipment donated to the Ukrainians, like Javelins, Nlaws and At4’s will have to be replaced. Defense contractors are likely salivating at the money there as well.

As weird as it may sound, the reason a lot of countries hang onto their Soviet-era weapons and equipment is…well…they still work. So long as they’re getting regular maintenance and occasional upgrades, then they fulfill the roles that their owners need them to do. There’s a thriving market of companies out there who will happily sell you the parts and expertise to keep your MiG-21s and T-55s not only running, but able to at least put up a respectable fight when called upon.

250
austin_blue  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:16:19pm

re: #243 ckkatz

Thanks!

Frum is also arguing that the West should encourage Russian soldiers to desert but treating them well and giving them opportunities in the EU.

Treating people well can often have be very valuable down the road long term.

Certainly, Putin has destroyed the social contract between the Russian population and his government.

Russia has dramatically dis-integrated with the Western Economy on the whim of Putin. The laws on deploying conscripts outside of Russia have been ignored. A war has unilaterally been declared and the population have not been informed, let alone asked.

Maybe the West offering select Russians a much better deal might be a good option.

Oops, I gotta jump in on this. There is absolutely no reason to take any Russian military member into the EU ever ever ever. They are poorly educated morons from the hinterlands who have been educated in one of the worst education environments for poor kids in the world. They are uniquely qualified to be thieves and gangsters, but that’s about it.

251
Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:16:34pm

re: #245 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Sure hope whoever the Ukrainians send brings his own food taster.

252
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:16:58pm

The one bunch there I truly feel sorry for is pensioners. If this keeps up, they’re going to find in the near future that their monthly pension will buy them a half-dozen eggs, a stale loaf of bread, and a small tub of bargain-basement, off-brand margarine.

253
ckkatz  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:19:19pm

re: #249 Targetpractice

As weird as it may sound, the reason a lot of countries hang onto their Soviet-era weapons and equipment is…well…they still work. So long as they’re getting regular maintenance and occasional upgrades, then they fulfill the roles that their owners need them to do. There’s a thriving market of companies out there who will happily sell you the parts and expertise to keep your MiG-21s and T-55s not only running, but able to at least put up a respectable fight when called upon.

It is very true that the equipment largely works and ticks a box… “# of tanks”, “# of Jets” etc.

But a lot of the equipment is nowhere near as capable as much newer equipment is. The Iraqis found that out in the First Gulf War.

Up until now, that has not mattered because the NATO thinking was that checking the boxes and that nobody was going to go to war. I think that has changed in the past week or two.

254
electrotek  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:21:44pm

This is so unfair for Russian OnlyFans users

255
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:27:13pm

This is sorta…..odd.

Translation: “The head of the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) said that the general mobilization in the republic is suspended”

What’s up with that, I wonder.

256
Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:27:34pm

re: #253 ckkatz

It is very true that the equipment largely works and ticks a box… “# of tanks”, “# of Jets” etc.

But a lot of the equipment is nowhere near as capable as much newer equipment is. The Iraqis found that out in the First Gulf War.

Up until now, that has not mattered because the NATO thinking was that checking the boxes and that nobody was going to go to war. I think that has changed in the past week or two.

What the Iraqis discovered is that a poorly trained army of conscripts using badly maintained equipment are never going to be much of a match for a modern military using the latest gear. Hell, the Russians are learning that right now in trying to fight a determined Ukrainian Army with green recruits and equipment they probably pulled out of war reserve stockpiles.

257
ckkatz  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:33:16pm

Don’t know if this twitter feed has been mentioned before. ‘Oryx’ has been cataloging equipment loses from OSInt sources.

Says that there is a new category as of today:

twitter.com

258
Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:37:48pm

re: #257 ckkatz

Don’t know if this twitter feed has been mentioned before. ‘Oryx’ has been cataloging equipment loses from OSInt sources.

Says that there is a new category as of today:

[Embedded content]

twitter.com

“Just wait til the guys at the scrap metal sellers see this!”

259
Dr Lizardo  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:39:04pm

BBL. Off to work.

260
ckkatz  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:46:54pm

Comment regarding the Russian soldiers:

261
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 27, 2022 • 10:53:12pm

re: #256 Targetpractice

What the Iraqis discovered is that a poorly trained army of conscripts using badly maintained equipment are never going to be much of a match for a modern military using the latest gear. Hell, the Russians are learning that right now in trying to fight a determined Ukrainian Army with green recruits and equipment they probably pulled out of war reserve stockpiles.

Certainly Russians never expected a determined Ukrainian resistance. Why else think that they could finish conquering the entire country of 43 million within just a few days? It took us several weeks to “conquer” Iraq, a country that is about 1/3 smaller with a similar population. If Russia had limited their assault to the two provinces that declared their “independence”, deferring the broader attack to a later date, they would have had a much better chance of success.

262
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 27, 2022 • 11:03:04pm

re: #2 steve_davis

All right, can someone please read the “cat gives birth, vet says ‘these aren’t kittens’” advert that’s currently showing in yahoo news? I’m afraid I’ll get sucked into one of those 40-frame dealies where I have to keep loading new pages, only to be disappointed if I stick it out. If you don’t want to read it, maybe just come up with something plausible because the suspense is killing me.

There is no reason to set up those multi-page formats except as clickbait. I have stopped following them.

263
ckkatz  Feb 27, 2022 • 11:04:53pm
264
sagehen  Feb 27, 2022 • 11:08:08pm

I dunno… the US has hundreds of years of serious crap we’ve done, and we don’t apologize at all. In some parts of the country, we pretend it didn’t happen and get angry about anyone trying to say it did.

265
Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2022 • 11:20:10pm

re: #261 Hecuba’s daughter

Certainly Russians never expected a determined Ukrainian resistance. Why else think that they could finish conquering the entire country of 43 million within just a few days? It took us several weeks to “conquer” Iraq, a country that is about 1/3 smaller with a similar population. If Russia had limited their assault to the two provinces that declared their “independence”, deferring the broader attack to a later date, they would have had a much better chance of success.

My guess is that his military leaders gave him an overly-optimistic picture of what a war in Ukraine would look like. Over in a matter of days, relatively few casualties, and Zelensky would capitulate quickly to avoid further bloodshed. He’s a comedian, an actor, he has no spine of steel like the Chair…er, the President does. But if they did not take the opportunity before them now, then there would not likely be another for years. Ukraine is rearming, it’s training better soldiers, and it’s fortifying its positions. It’s a now-or-never, go-big-or-go-home moment.

266
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 27, 2022 • 11:26:01pm

re: #252 Dr Lizardo

The one bunch there I truly feel sorry for is pensioners. If this keeps up, they’re going to find in the near future that their monthly pension will buy them a half-dozen eggs, a stale loaf of bread, and a small tub of bargain-basement, off-brand margarine.

When I got to Moscow in the spring of 1992, the rate was 120 to the Dollar. By the time I left in late 1993, it was nearly 700. They eventually lopped off two zeros and “reset” it as seven to the dollar.

Shall we start a pool on when they get back up to 700?

267
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 27, 2022 • 11:33:11pm

re: #265 Targetpractice

My guess is that his military leaders gave him an overly-optimistic picture of what a war in Ukraine would look like. .. It’s a now-or-never, go-big-or-go-home moment.

I agree that Putin probably had some bum intel, but he is too much of a cold and calculating bastard not to have contingencies in place. Do not mean to IMPLY that he is going to succeed, but let us not misunderestimilate him just yet, we are still in the opening stages of a long game for Putin.

He is in it too deep not to go through with it. Going home is not an option.

268
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 27, 2022 • 11:38:18pm

re: #265 Targetpractice

My guess is that his military leaders gave him an overly-optimistic picture of what a war in Ukraine would look like. Over in a matter of days, relatively few casualties, and Zelensky would capitulate quickly to avoid further bloodshed. He’s a comedian, an actor, he has no spine of steel like the Chair…er, the President does. But if they did not take the opportunity before them now, then there would not likely be another for years. Ukraine is rearming, it’s training better soldiers, and it’s fortifying its positions. It’s a now-or-never, go-big-or-go-home moment.

It is way too early in this war to reach any conclusions on the likely outcome. We have turned from pessimistic to too optimistic — the next cadre of forces from Russia and Belarus may be larger, better trained, more experienced, better equipped, and more willing to kill civilians. We really don’t know the true casualties on both sides; each side has reasons to downplay their losses and exaggerate those of the opposition. I am terrified for the citizens of Ukraine as they face this brutal and immoral war forced on them by the dictator of Russia.

269
Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2022 • 11:59:22pm

re: #267 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

re: #268 Hecuba’s daughter

The fact that he’s waving his nuclear dong makes pretty clear that he feels that he’s reaching the bottom of the list of options, that most of what’s left risk turning NATO military aid into military intervention. Pounding flat a city of 3 million just to plant a flag atop the rubble is simply not something that the West will abide by.

You know, unless he isn’t cold and calculating but instead a mad dog, in which case he may really be willing to start a nuclear war just because Ukraine defied him.

270
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 12:00:35am

re: #268 Hecuba’s daughter

I am terrified for the citizens of Ukraine as they face this brutal and immoral but justified war forced on them by the dictator of Russia NATO aggression and a weak American President.

(the Carlson Tucker edit)

271
Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2022 • 12:14:00am

The best comparison I can think of in the past century would be the Falklands War, another bit of military adventurism undertaken by a corrupt regime under the belief that a swift and bloodless war under the flag of “nationalism” would unite even their critics together in support of the country. And it did for awhile, when the only news about the fighting was coming from state-controlled sources and was painting a state-approved image of Argentinian soldiers valiantly taking back their sovereign soil and protecting it from the colonialist invaders.

But eventually foreign news media filtered onto the island and into the midst of the fighting, and the picture that began appearing in Argentina was at odds with the state’s BS, that their soldiers were poorly equipped, minimally trained, and the locals wanted them gone. That the fighting was going poorly, despite some successes at sea, and that the Brits were swiftly mopping up the resistance rather than facing battle-hardened defenders fighting to the death. So that the final result was a regime that collapsed as the in-fighting and blame-throwing began, until the last guy eventually had to bow to public pressure and call for general elections.

272
Eventual Carrion  Feb 28, 2022 • 12:57:50am

Up way too early and got it in 3.

Wordle 254 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

273
JC1  Feb 28, 2022 • 1:13:23am

re: #272 Eventual Carrion

Haven’t gone to bed yet. Also got it in 3.

Wordle 254 3/6

⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

274
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 2:15:33am

re: #266 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

When I got to Moscow in the spring of 1992, the rate was 120 to the Dollar. By the time I left in late 1993, it was nearly 700. They eventually lopped off two zeros and “reset” it as seven to the dollar.

Shall we start a pool on when they get back up to 700?

Won’t be long to go, I’d say…..

275
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 2:16:52am

The Moscow Stock Exchange will not open today. Just got a news blurb.

276
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 2:19:02am

Hope no one in St. Petersburg was planning on buying a new Passat anytime soon….

277
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀 No Capt'n 😷 Trips  Feb 28, 2022 • 2:29:22am
278
Yeah Sure WhatEVs  Feb 28, 2022 • 2:51:19am

re: #161 jaunte

That’s Q shit (mixed in with some other craziness).

And it sounds like this isn’t her first rodeo saying stupid, offensive stuff.

279
ericblair  Feb 28, 2022 • 2:53:30am
280
Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2022 • 2:59:05am

re: #275 Dr Lizardo

The Moscow Stock Exchange will not open today. Just got a news blurb.

They’re not delaying the inevitable so much as they are hiding from it. “Maybe if we don’t open the markets, the economy won’t crash!”

281
Dangerman  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:00:42am
Belarus is preparing to send soldiers into Ukraine in support of the Russian invasion in a deployment that could begin as soon as Monday,” the Washington Post reports.

Said a U.S. official: “It’s very clear Minsk is now an extension of the Kremlin.”

If it was not so serious it is pretty comical that Russia cannot do this by themselves.

282
William Lewis  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:07:27am

First time I said this was as a joke, now it’s as a farce:

283
Dangerman  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:07:33am
284
Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:12:20am

re: #282 William Lewis

First time I said this was as a joke, now it’s as a farce:

[Embedded content]

“They are so many, and our country is so small, where will we find room to bury them all?”

285
Yeah Sure WhatEVs  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:14:06am

re: #267 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

I agree that Putin probably had some bum intel, but he is too much of a cold and calculating bastard not to have contingencies in place. Do not mean to IMPLY that he is going to succeed, but let us not misunderestimilate him just yet, we are still in the opening stages of a long game for Putin.

He is in it too deep not to go through with it. Going home is not an option.

You keep ascribing traits he’s rumored to have. He may even have had 40 years ago. None are on display now.

286
Dangerman  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:17:28am
287
Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:25:19am

re: #275 Dr Lizardo

The Moscow Stock Exchange will not open today. Just got a news blurb.

They took my idea… #230

288
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:31:05am

re: #250 austin_blue

Oops, I gotta jump in on this. There is absolutely no reason to take any Russian military member into the EU ever ever ever. They are poorly educated morons from the hinterlands who have been educated in one of the worst education environments for poor kids in the world. They are uniquely qualified to be thieves and gangsters, but that’s about it.

Hey, hang on a minute. As a South Carolinian, I resemble that remark. We’re not all thieves and gangsters. The constitution only allows us to have two u.s. senators at any one time.

289
Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:32:48am

Imagine if it were Day Four of the Iraq War, not a single Iraqi city had been taken and held for any measurable length of time, we still hadn’t established air dominance, there were pictures and videos on the internet of our tanks and AFVs burning, and videos of our troops begging for fuel or raiding supermarkets for food.

We’d be an international laughingstock and we’d deserve every minute of it.

290
William Lewis  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:38:03am

re: #289 Targetpractice

Imagine if it were Day Four of the Iraq War, not a single Iraqi city had been taken and held for any measurable length of time, we still hadn’t established air dominance, there were pictures and videos on the internet of our tanks and AFVs burning, and videos of our troops begging for fuel or raiding supermarkets for food.

We’d be an international laughingstock and we’d deserve every minute of it.

1975 to 1980? We might just have been that bad, though we’d have been parked at the Gasthaus for beer & schnitzel rather than raiding the supermarket. But as the Abrahms and Bradley’s came online and training standards improved - and drill weekends for the Guard and Reserves were no longer Keggers in the field - we slowly got to where we needed to be by Gulf War 1 & the Bosnian operations.

291
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:39:39am

An anecdote:

292
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:58:03am

re: #268 Hecuba’s daughter

It is way too early in this war to reach any conclusions on the likely outcome. We have turned from pessimistic to too optimistic — the next cadre of forces from Russia and Belarus may be larger, better trained, more experienced, better equipped, and more willing to kill civilians. We really don’t know the true casualties on both sides; each side has reasons to downplay their losses and exaggerate those of the opposition. I am terrified for the citizens of Ukraine as they face this brutal and immoral war forced on them by the dictator of Russia.

According to a write up that was getting touted here yesterday, there is no “next wave.” The Russians planned for an operation rather than a war. They simply don’t have second and third echelons waiting to deploy. One good bit of evidence for that is that they had 500 pieces of armor barreling down a highway with no infantry support and possibly very little air cover. That “heavy resistance” that keeps getting mentioned is likely tanks getting burned down by small fire squads, which if the u.s. were doing this, for instance, wouldn’t get near the tanks because infantry would be providing security along the whole road, with air cav above.

293
ericblair  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:10:03am

re: #292 steve_davis

According to a write up that was getting touted here yesterday, there is no “next wave.” The Russians planned for an operation rather than a war. They simply don’t have second and third echelons waiting to deploy.

Exactly. These analyses are from people who do or did this kind of planning and operational work for a living, know what Russian doctrine is, and know what is needed to support these things and where they have to be. Putin just can’t pull some magical next wave out of his ass like some people tend to think. A lot of the planning boils down to just math and physics.

294
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:28:36am

re: #285 Yeah Sure WhatEVs

You keep ascribing traits he’s rumored to have. He may even have had 40 years ago. None are on display now.

I certainly welcome widespread reports of Russian setbacks in the face of stalwart Ukrainian defense. But it is still too early in the game and I think it is a bad idea to underestimate who they are up against. This is all part of a much bigger long-term plan for Vlad the Impatient

295
ericblair  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:30:44am

More triumphs of logistics.

296
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:34:50am

re: #194 A hollow voice says Vaccinate the world!

This may be late, but as I recall, they were lynx kittens (and obviously the cat was not a cat — but I think the kittens were orphans someone found).

Thank you! And I don’t care if you’re making it up. It works. The teaser made it look like they were poodle puppies and I thought, that is a really open marriage.

297
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:38:40am

This is the first news about the negotiation meeting that I have seen.

298
RoJo Must Go!  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:39:50am

My daily wordle:

Click to Reveal

Wordle 254 4/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Was a 50/50 for me on attempt 3. Note to self: “Your first instinct is wrong! Stop listening to it!!!”

299
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:41:46am

re: #294 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

I certainly welcome widespread reports of Russian setbacks in the face of stalwart Ukrainian defense. But it is still too early in the game and I think it is a bad idea to underestimate who they are up against. This is all part of a much bigger long-term plan for Vlad the Impatient

Is it part of a long term plan? Or is it the last desperate desperado from someone who can see the writing on the wall? After all, if this fails, there will be several new nato members and a rearmed Germany to contend with. So this is no small decision on Russia’s part, and yet upwards of 5000 dead russian soldiers so far suggests the decision was more desperate impulse rather than coldly calculated realpolitik.

300
Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:49:21am

re: #295 ericblair

More triumphs of logistics.

The Russian Army is abandoning supply trucks loaded with ammunition, such as this one with some 50 122mm rockets.

It’s only polite to send them back.

301
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:50:30am

re: #299 steve_davis

Is it part of a long term plan? Or is it the last desperate desperado from someone who can see the writing on the wall? After all, if this fails, there will be several new nato members and a rearmed Germany to contend with. So this is no small decision on Russia’s part, and yet upwards of 5000 dead russian soldiers so far suggests the decision was more desperate impulse rather than coldly calculated realpolitik.

Putin’s long-term goal is to re-unite the old Russian/Soviet empire. He obviously decided he needed the Slavic core of Russia/Belarus/Ukraine to kick off the move before expanding it to the Baltic, Caucasus and Central Asian republics.

He has written and spoken on this topic repeatedly and anyone familiar with him cannot claim to be surprised.

It does seem, though, that things got off to a disastrous start. I also think that he is too deliberate and cold-blooded a planner to let himself be thrown off by these setbacks.

He clearly has little regard for human life and human suffering, even for his own people, and that makes him dangerous.

302
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:50:49am

re: #300 Decatur Deb

It’s only polite to send them back.

express delivery

303
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:53:19am

re: #252 Dr Lizardo

As of now, Russians have a really good idea of why sanctions exist.

304
Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:55:29am

re: #302 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

express delivery

“From Ukraine, With Love.”

305
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 4:57:31am

The Czech National Bank has begun the process of revoking Sberbank’s banking license.

306
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:01:53am

I’m a bit discombobulated today, but at least I got this going for me.

Click to Reveal

Wordle 254 3/6

⬛⬛⬛⬛🟩
🟩⬛🟩⬛🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

307
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:02:10am

re: #11 Belafon

Gen Xer here. We had Ayatollahs in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan. AIDS, crack, Bernie Goetz, China under Martial law (sorry, we didn’t start this fire). Reagan’s Star Wars and massive weapons buildup. Chernobyl.

We had our duck and cover drills. And we’ve lived through everything since, including 9/11, active shooter drills, mass shootings becoming so commonplace that unless you have double digit dead, it barely rates as a national story.

308
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:03:07am

re: #304 Targetpractice

“From Ukraine, With Love.”

the vietminh kept getting the resupplies for the french at dien bien phu and at some point they really did break onto a french radio frequency to thank them for the new-fangled ground penetrating artillery shells that the U.S. was supplying.

309
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:07:20am

re: #301 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

Putin’s long-term goal is to re-unite the old Russian/Soviet empire. He obviously decided he needed the Slavic core of Russia/Belarus/Ukraine to kick off the move before expanding it to the Baltic, Caucasus and Central Asian republics.

He has written and spoken on this topic repeatedly and anyone familiar with him cannot claim to be surprised.

It does seem, though, that things got off to a disastrous start. I also think that he is too deliberate and cold-blooded a planner to let himself be thrown off by these setbacks.

He clearly has little regard for human life and human suffering, even for his own people, and that makes him dangerous.

It’s always a balance, but you have to watch attributing too much skill to a person. From what I understand, Putin wasn’t a great KGB agent. He knows enough to make people fear him at home, but he doesn’t do a very good job of planning or promoting loyalty. And where are his aides that will be remembered through history, his Goebles, his Cheneys, his Bannon? No one lasts very long without those.

310
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:07:26am

It’s official; after the EU cut off the Russian Central Bank yesterday evening, the US has followed suit.

311
ericblair  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:07:59am

Putin gathers his economic team to tell them to fix the enormous financial and economic disaster he just created.

312
Shropshire Slasher  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:08:08am

re: #307 lawhawk

Gen Xer here. We had Ayatollahs in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan. AIDS, crack, Bernie Goetz, China under Martial law (sorry, we didn’t start this fire). Reagan’s Star Wars and massive weapons buildup. Chernobyl.

We had our duck and cover drills. And we’ve lived through everything since, including 9/11, active shooter drills, mass shootings becoming so commonplace that unless you have double digit dead, it barely rates as a national story.

When I was a kid, I had to walk uphill, both ways, in a driving snowstorm to skool!

313
Barefoot Grin  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:10:23am

re: #312 Shropshire Slasher

When I was a kid, I had to walk uphill, both ways, in a driving snowstorm to skool!

I had a Schwinn Varsity, but it was head winds from every direction.

314
Florida Panhandler  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:11:12am

re: #311 ericblair

Putin gathers his economic team to tell them to fix the enormous financial and economic disaster he just created.

I hope Russians have a ready supply of wheelbarrows ready to carry Rubles to buy a loaf of bread. They’re going to need one.

315
Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:12:03am

re: #311 ericblair

[Embedded content]

Putin gathers his economic team to tell them to fix the enormous financial and economic disaster he just created.

I guess the 10-metre gap precludes the Trump-style circle jerks where he forced his cronies to tell him just how awesome he was.

316
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:14:36am

re: #315 Targetpractice

I guess the 10-metre gap precludes the Trump-style circle jerks where he forced his cronies to tell him just how awesome he was.

It’s his paranoia about COVID.

317
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:17:12am

re: #311 ericblair

[Embedded content]

Putin gathers his economic team to tell them to fix the enormous financial and economic disaster he just created.

He is telling them that they can blame it all on the West now…it’s not his fault!

318
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:19:08am
319
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:21:17am

re: #317 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

But for Putin invading Ukraine, this would not have happened. He’s hoping to bamboozle and fool people into thinking that NATO and Ukraine caused the sanctions and inflation because they were inciting Russia to invade.

Putin’s still at the misinformation campaign, but the indisputable fact is that his country launched an invasion and started a war in Ukraine, and Putin doesn’t consider Ukraine to be a sovereign nation, but rather part of Russia and that he’s trying to restore the Russian empire. It’s Russian imperialism.

320
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:22:28am

Belarus troops on the ground in Ukraine could still happen.

Belarus is preparing to send paratroopers into Ukraine to fight alongside Russian forces, according to multiple reports.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, has allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground for the invasion of Ukraine, but has not directly taken part in the conflict.
That could change as soon as Monday, a senior U.S. intelligence official with direct knowledge of current U.S. intelligence assessments told The Associated Press. The official said whether Belarus enters the war depends on the talks between Russia and Ukraine.

321
Barefoot Grin  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:23:15am
322
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:27:34am
323
Florida Panhandler  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:30:34am

Putin’s world savvy has been greatly exaggerated. Obama saw right through the facade.

bbc.com

” Mr Obama said the Russian leader reminded him of the political barons he encountered during his early career in Chicago. He writes he was “like a ward [district] boss, except with nukes and a UN Security Council veto”.

He continues: “Putin did, in fact, remind me of the sorts of men who had once run the Chicago machine or Tammany Hall [a New York City political organisation] - tough, street-smart, unsentimental characters who knew what they knew, who never moved outside their narrow experiences, and who viewed patronage, bribery, shakedowns, fraud, and occasional violence as legitimate tools of the trade.”

Putin’s worst “ narrow experience” miscalculation was his belief that weakness was the main trait of Liberal Democracy and we would just simply fold and walk away. Putin’s greatest fault is the fault of many dictators- believing your own propaganda. As a “genius” or “long term thinker” I am unimpressed by Putin.

324
Jay C  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:33:21am

re: #321 Barefoot Grin

So a Russian entity basically admits to sending a number of private mercenaries to Kyiv to try to assassinate the Ukrainian President:
and their main gripe is that news reports don’t cite their branding correctly???

325
Shropshire Slasher  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:33:55am
Do not travel to Russia due to ongoing tension along the border with Ukraine, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens, the embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions, terrorism, harassment by Russian government security officials, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law.

Due to Russia’s heightened military presence and ongoing military exercises along the border region with Ukraine, U.S. citizens located in or considering travel to the districts of the Russian Federation immediately bordering Ukraine should be aware that the situation along the border is unpredictable and there is heightened tension. Given the on-going volatility of the situation, U.S. citizens are strongly advised against traveling by land from Russia to Ukraine through this region. In addition, there is the potential throughout Russia of harassment towards foreigners, including through regulations targeted specifically against foreigners.

The U.S. government’s ability to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Russia is already severely limited, particularly in areas far from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow due to Russian government limitations on U.S. staffing and the suspension of consular services at U.S. consulates.

travel.state.gov

326
Dave In Austin  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:34:35am

re: #300 Decatur Deb

It’s only polite to send them back.

By air of course

327
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:37:05am

re: #319 lawhawk

… Putin doesn’t consider Ukraine to be a sovereign nation, but rather part of Russia and that he’s trying to restore the Russian empire. It’s Russian imperialism.

Which, again, has been his long-term goal ever since assuming office.

328
Jay C  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:38:27am

re: #326 Dave In Austin

re: #300 Decatur Deb

It’s only polite to send them back.

By air of course

One at a time - to avoid stressing the delivery systems….

329
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:40:14am
330
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:41:14am

Belarus is about to enter the chat and #FAFO.

331
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:42:00am
332
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:51:40am
333
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:53:20am
334
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:53:55am
335
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:55:36am
336
William Lewis  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:57:23am

re: #333 Belafon

You better watch out
What you wish for
It better be worth it
So much to die for

- Hole “Celebrity Skin”

337
Florida Panhandler  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:58:18am

re: #332 Belafon

Because it is obvious the best strategy at this point is to have Russians take care of the problem themselves via window gravity, an AK round to the back of the head, river buoyancy, or sudden allergy to Polonium.

We are not at the point in time to directly give Putin any justification to claim Russians are under attack and make this present strategy just disappear. Any direct attack on Russia (or Belarus) at this point will guarantee WW3.

338
Barefoot Grin  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:58:21am

re: #324 Jay C

[Embedded content]

So a Russian entity basically admits to sending a number of private mercenaries to Kyiv to try to assassinate the Ukrainian President:
and their main gripe is that news reports don’t cite their branding correctly???

Erik Prince gets a little sniffy about that kind of thing, too.

339
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 5:58:23am
340
Love-Child of Cassandra and Sisyphus  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:01:21am

re: #339 Belafon

A virus is very good at just hanging around a population until it gets its chance.

All it took was one traveller to be infected… then wham!

341
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:03:14am

re: #332 Belafon

Biden isn’t playing the same game as Putin. Chess, checkers, etc.

Putin’s got a hammer, and all he sees are nails. His only options are nukes, invasions, and oil embargo against the West.

The West, particularly the US, has the ability to do all that and more, because the Russian economy is so fragile that economic sanctions can do tremendous harms in a short time. The RCB has already spiked interest rates in an effort to stem bank runs (it hasn’t been successful). The Russian stock exchange has tanked. The rouble has tanked. The costs of going to war are climbing for Putin and his thug enablers. So, Putin has gone all in on the saber rattling.

Biden’s response - yeah, we know you’ve got nukes. What of it. We’ve got more economic sanctions that you can’t handle. And we can keep pouring aid into Ukraine in form of antitank weapons that are highly effective against Russian armor, but even more effective against Russian logistics vehicles like for fuel.

Putin thought he could invade Ukraine in the middle of the winter, and yet the weather is anything but helpful. It’s mud season there, and his gear is already getting bogged down because of high resistance from Ukrainian forces, and because weather has slowed everything even further. He made the mistake that those invading this region have made for generations - starting a war in the middle of the winter is never a good outcome. If he was hoping for a quick win, he didn’t get it. If he was hoping for low Russian casualties, he didn’t get that either, as the numbers of supposedly killed by the Ukrainians is already higher than US losses in Afghanistan over 20 years, and the Russian losses are growing by the day.

Putin seriously misjudged things on many levels, including the diplomatic and economic sphere. Putin may have thought that he defanged NATO and US alliances thanks to Trump, but Biden has reinvigorated them in a way that makes them not only stronger, but has attracted other countries to consider NATO membership because of the threats Russia poses to all of them. This is all backfiring badly on Putin.

Now, will the media cover it thusly? Yeah, they’ll still find reason to not credit Biden for how quickly sanctions were put in place, how NATO mobilized, how so many nations joined together to oppose Putin, and that US foreign policy is more respected now than in the Trump years. That’s what American leadership looks like.

And here in the US, the GOP is engaging in pretzel logic and caterwauling to avoid the stench of being Putinists who covered up Trump and Russia connections, going back to even before the Ukraine call where Trump tried extorting Zelinsky by withholding antitank weapons Ukraine needed to deter Putin. Trump was the one who got the RNC to change the GOP platform. No one has every properly explained that one either.

342
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:03:28am

Meanwhile, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, sphincters are loosening…..

343
Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:06:07am

re: #339 Belafon

[Embedded content]

And shit like this is why I’ll continue to wear a mask and get boosted as needed. This crap isn’t going away. It’ll linger in the background and flare up again and again when given an opportunity. Now I need to fix me some breakfast.

Oh, and good morning. Last nights dinner.

344
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:08:29am

re: #343 Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire

On my serving, the corn and potatoes would soon be mixed. Yum

345
Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:10:13am

re: #344 Ming5000

On my serving, the corn and potatoes would soon be mixed. Yum

They were.

346
Love-Child of Cassandra and Sisyphus  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:11:16am

re: #342 Dr Lizardo

Swiss are strange creatures.

Anyway, Putin is being cornered.

A cornered ideologue can end badly.

I just hope the Russian officers who control the launches of their nukes have some sense.

347
Teukka  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:17:20am

Just caught this in a chat… For the Comic relief:

Old Zelenskyy had a farm, eieio. and on this farm he had a tank, eieio, with a buk buk here and a buk buk there, here a buk, there a buk, everywhere a burning truck…

348
HRH Stanley Sea  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:24:40am

Good morning

Wordle 254 3/6

🟩⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟩⬜🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

349
Teukka  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:24:51am

Well… FUCK!

350
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:26:22am

re: #349 Teukka

“All Ukrainians should surrender.” Same energy.

351
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:27:07am

re: #350 Belafon

“All Ukrainians should surrender.” Same energy.

Yeah, I kinda get a, “We just don’t want you getting in our way, yelling at/shaming our soldiers, and being a general nuisance that makes us look bad” vibe from this statement.

352
Patricia Kayden  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:30:00am
353
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:31:46am

Good news.

354
Ferdinand  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:31:59am

MSNBC reporting this morning that thermobaric weapons have been used in eastern Ukraine (Kharkiv?), the “oxygen sucking” bombs. Hoping we’re not at stage where Russians start trying to level the cities.

355
Crush White Nationalism  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:33:39am

re: #351 Dopamine Fish

Yeah, I kinda get a, “We just don’t want you getting in our way, yelling at/shaming our soldiers, and being a general nuisance that makes us look bad” vibe from this statement.

Shaming by being incinerated by those soldiers, I think, rather than yelling at anyone.

356
darthstar  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:34:49am

Mornin’ everyone. Should have had it in two but I gagged on two words.
Wordle 254 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨
🟩🟨⬜🟩⬜
🟩🟨⬜🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

357
darthstar  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:36:21am

re: #354 Ferdinand

MSNBC reporting this morning that thermobaric weapons have been used in eastern Ukraine (Kharkiv?), the “oxygen sucking” bombs. Hoping we’re not at stage where Russians start trying to level the cities.

CNN also reporting video of cluster bombs being dropped in Kharkiv. Putin’s going for war crimes.

358
jeffreyw  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:36:44am

Posole

Good morning!

359
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:37:04am
360
wrenchwench  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:38:33am

Youtube Video

361
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:42:10am

re: #353 No Malarkey!

Good news.

[Embedded content]

The Serpent Island team will never have to buy a drink in Ukraine again.

362
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:43:50am

re: #361 Ming5000

The Serpent Island team will never have to buy a drink in Ukraine again.

If they make it back home alive…

363
wrenchwench  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:46:00am

re: #356 darthstar

Mornin’ everyone. Should have had it in two but I gagged on two words.
Wordle 254 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨
🟩🟨⬜🟩⬜
🟩🟨⬜🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

I coulda had it in 3.

Wordle 254 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟧⬜
⬜⬜🟧🟧🟧
⬜⬜🟧🟧🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

364
darthstar  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:48:52am

re: #357 darthstar

CNN also reporting video of cluster bombs being dropped in Kharkiv. Putin’s going for war crimes.

365
wrenchwench  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:48:55am

Again, no correct letters in incorrect places. I thought the displayed puzzle was missing a color.

366
Jay C  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:53:33am

Wordle 254 4/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

I got nervous after guess #2: there are a LOT of English words that might have fit: I got lucky by #4.

367
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:54:56am

re: #364 darthstar

Always a good sign that you’re there to liberate people you claim are historically Russian, by bombing and murdering them.

Destroying the village country to save it? They aren’t being greeted as liberators. They’re being treated as the invaders who have no right to sovereign Ukraine that they always were.

368
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:55:00am
369
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 28, 2022 • 6:59:39am
370
ericblair  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:00:05am

re: #357 darthstar

CNN also reporting video of cluster bombs being dropped in Kharkiv. Putin’s going for war crimes.

And on Russian TV they’re saying that that is the Ukrainians bombing civilians in the Donbas. There’s not a pit in hell deep enough for those liars.

371
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:05:14am

Nothing to see here.

czRhZnhORkNvU21hWmR1V1NnNU4xUzc0cUgwMjJBT0szUlBTc2QxaHd6aWdhVmU3NnNzalpZbHVrSkduZENrVEphUktaMHFid3NURUczby9aVEVPYk1DT3ZRZ1hOTVFLeWV4bUdyQTNlTFpLNEt2MnJIN1FLS1Y1cUxEYzFEcTQ5R0J5OFpSeVUwUStha1IrSUNHRTZsN0FPcS9YUDZWWUE1dENXL2NreXprPTo6/nXgsUj8eymbu/+RMErddg==

372
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:05:51am

re: #370 ericblair

I got a feeling that NATO’s gonna end up getting involved in this.

Anecdotally, I’m definitely noticing increased fighter jet activity in my area of eastern Czech Republic.

373
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:08:39am
374
gwangung  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:08:44am

re: #331 lawhawk

Not even his fans realize how smooth this operation has been. But his fingerprints are all over this.

375
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:10:39am

I think I figured out Trump’s soon to be zero claim that we’d soon have zero cases/deaths.

It’s the odometer flipping over from 999,999 deaths to 1 million, and the odometer will start back at 0 again.

376
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:11:10am
377
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:11:46am
378
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:13:10am
379
Florida Panhandler  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:14:34am

re: #376 Backwoods_Sleuth

The lonely island that MAGA idiots live on is getting lonelier. Now even most Republicans think Putin is nuts.

yahoo.com

Will the remaining loons and traitors finally change their tune? Probably soon, it only after their own best self-interest is at stake.

380
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:19:07am

re: #357 darthstar

CNN also reporting video of cluster bombs being dropped in Kharkiv. Putin’s going for war crimes.

Saw on Newsmax (yeah, someone at work has decided that Fox isn’t crazy enough anymore) that Rubio has stated that Putin is committing war crimes.

381
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:21:37am
382
Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:21:45am

Today’s breakfast. Huevos Rancheros.

383
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:25:58am
384
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:26:56am

The GOP is asking SCOTUS to intervene under the radical theory that state legislatures can enact any gerrymander they want, no matter how illegal under state law, and the state courts are powerless to intervene. A ludicrous assertion, but there may be support for it on the reactionary right wing of the Court. We’ll see if there are five votes for it or not.

385
gocart mozart  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:27:13am
386
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:29:01am
387
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:31:12am

BWAHAHAHAHAAA

388
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:31:25am
389
Jay C  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:34:36am

re: #374 gwangung

Not even his [Biden’s] fans realize how smooth this operation has been. But his fingerprints are all over this.

Unfortunately, so far the media coverage of the Ukraine conflict has proven fairly uninterested in looking for those “fingerprints”, much less giving President Biden much credit for anything. Of course, they will still publish and amplify GOP/RW “criticism” (even though most of it is basically hollow name-calling and trite blame-shifting).

I mean, it’s a *good* thing that, in an international conflict/crisis, the POTUS isn’t (unlike his predecessor) out there trying to hog the spotlight, Make It All About Himself, and exploit the situation to attack his opponents; but OTOH, a little acknowledgment might not be too amiss.

390
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:35:33am

Hopefully, we can figure out how to get food into the country:

391
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:36:07am
392
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:36:44am
393
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:36:47am

re: #388 Dr Lizardo

Dr. Lizardo, are you the one posting that meme every time? I love it.

394
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:36:56am
395
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:38:53am
396
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:39:10am

re: #393 Ming5000

Dr. Lizardo, are you the one posting that meme every time? I love it.

Yeah, it’s me.

397
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:39:15am

re: #384 No Malarkey!

398
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:40:31am

oh…

399
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:40:31am

Canada is fighting their own MAGA infection.

400
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:41:38am

re: #398 Backwoods_Sleuth

Putin, take note of a possibly genius legal argument to be used at the Hague.

401
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:43:31am

re: #400 Ming5000

Putin, take note of a possibly genius legal argument to be used at the Hague.

One my students this morning sarcastically suggested he should try to cop an insanity plea.

402
Shropshire Slasher  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:43:45am

In case of nuclear attack:

Go to the basement or middle of the building. Stay away from the outer walls and roof. Try to maintain a distance of at least six feet between yourself and people who are not part of your household. If possible, wear a mask if you’re sheltering with people who are not a part of your household. Children under two years old, people who have trouble breathing, and those who are unable to remove masks on their own should not wear them.

ready.gov

403
darthstar  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:46:01am

re: #402 Shropshire Slasher

In case of nuclear attack:

ready.gov

I posted this the other day.

Youtube Video

404
DodgerFan1988  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:47:01am
405
ericblair  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:47:20am

re: #395 Dr Lizardo

UK will lead on efforts to get Russia suspended from Interpol, says minister

Good, they’ve been abusing the fuck out of red notices for years.

406
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:47:56am

Regarding Putin’s ridiculous long table, by this time in the pandemic there is a lot of knowledge and technology for air flow to, at a minimum, protect Putin from the breath of other people in the room.
Plus, he crams the others very close to each other with no mask. Sick.

407
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:50:17am

re: #384 No Malarkey!

The GOP is asking SCOTUS to intervene under the radical theory that state legislatures can enact any gerrymander they want, no matter how illegal under state law, and the state courts are powerless to intervene. A ludicrous assertion, but there may be support for it on the reactionary right wing of the Court. We’ll see if there are five votes for it or not.

[Embedded content]

It takes just four to get the case before the full Court.

408
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:50:44am

re: #407 lawhawk

It takes just four to get the case before the full Court.

Yes, but five to have it succeed.

409
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:51:00am

This concurs with British intel:

Putin’s bluffing, hoping we’ll all freak out.

410
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:51:10am

re: #406 Ming5000

I’ve heard that the reason for this is that those folks refused to take blood tests Putin required as proof of being covid free.

But it does cut quite the image.

411
ericblair  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:51:39am

Look for which gooper slime molds start having obvious money problems.

412
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:52:00am

re: #405 ericblair

Good, they’ve been abusing the fuck out of red notices for years.

Definitely. They should’ve been given the boot some time ago.

413
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:52:04am

re: #410 lawhawk

I’ve heard that the reason for this is that those folks refused to take blood tests Putin required as proof of being covid free.

But it does cut quite the image.

The man who would be tsar, so afraid of COVID that he separates himself from others across an enormous table.

414
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:52:42am
415
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:53:05am

re: #410 lawhawk

I was thinking that those might be the only seats retrofitted for the new shark tank below.

416
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:53:54am

re: #391 Dr Lizardo

If you’re spending all your time defending supply lines, you’re not doing the job of securing your objectives (whatever they are).

417
Florida Panhandler  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:54:01am

re: #406 Ming5000

Regarding Putin’s ridiculous long table, by this time in the pandemic there is a lot of knowledge and technology for air flow to, at a minimum, protect Putin from the breath of other people in the room.
Plus, he crams the others very close to each other with no mask. Sick.

That long table scene could literally be in a Dr Evil/ Austin Powers movie.

418
darthstar  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:54:18am
419
GlutenFreeJesus  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:55:19am

re: #375 lawhawk

I think I figured out Trump’s soon to be zero claim that we’d soon have zero cases/deaths.

It’s the odometer flipping over from 999,999 deaths to 1 million, and the odometer will start back at 0 again.

Y2K for Covid.

420
Jay C  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:55:41am

re: #413 Dopamine Fish

The man who would be tsar, so afraid of COVID that he separates himself from others across an enormous table.

And - like some cheap-thriller “supervillain” - it looks like those buttons on the edge of his side of the table probably work a trapdoor under some of the seats on the other side…..(to ensure unanimity of opinion, of course!)//

ADD: h/t #415

421
sagehen  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:56:24am

re: #389 Jay C

I mean, it’s a *good* thing that, in an international conflict/crisis, the POTUS isn’t (unlike his predecessor) out there trying to hog the spotlight, Make It All About Himself, and exploit the situation to attack his opponents; but OTOH, a little acknowledgment might not be too amiss.

all the excellent work GHWB did while the Soviet Union was collapsing, all the smooth formation of those new democracies, and reunification of Germany, the lack of any military response by USSR… was only smooth because GHWB was willing to step back and let everyone else have the spotlight and the credit.

Biden is in a similar situation now. It goes better if it’s not being pushed as LOOK WHAT AMERICA’S DOING. Let the US role be a subtle background thing; anybody who needs to know, they know.

422
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:57:13am

re: #416 lawhawk

If you’re spending all your time defending supply lines, you’re not doing the job of securing your objectives (whatever they are).

Yep. Harass your enemy’s supply lines. Literally straight out of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”.

If the enemy is taking his ease, he can harass him; if well supplied with food, he can starve him out; if quietly encamped, he can force him to move. Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.

423
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:57:54am

re: #406 Ming5000

Regarding Putin’s ridiculous long table, by this time in the pandemic there is a lot of knowledge and technology for air flow to, at a minimum, protect Putin from the breath of other people in the room.
Plus, he crams the others very close to each other with no mask. Sick.

I’m sure that table was built to take a Valkyrie style bomb blast.

424
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:59:11am
425
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 7:59:57am

re: #423 Belafon

I’m sure that table was built to take a Valkyrie style bomb blast.

THIS is a good point.

426
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:00:04am
427
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:01:31am

re: #388 Dr Lizardo

[Embedded content]

Under these circumstances, I don’t see how the Moscow Stock Market can reopen this week, or when it can reopen.

428
Florida Panhandler  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:01:39am

re: #425 Ming5000

THIS is a good point.

Not to mention that entire room is likely at least 10 stories underground. I wonder how long Putin can remain hiding in bunkers while his troops are getting massacred before Russian citizens start wondering where their “brave leader” is?

429
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:01:44am

LOL, a nice big “fuck you” to Tsar Vladimir the Dickless:

430
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:02:19am
431
darthstar  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:02:41am

re: #424 Dr Lizardo

When this is over, Crimea will be reuniting with Ukraine.

432
retired cynic  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:04:05am

I can’t get over the horrible condition the Russian equipment is in. It just blows my mind that they would go to war with things in that shape. I suppose Putin never got close enough to actually look at them, or, if he did, that they showed him some fancy new thing.

433
darthstar  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:04:57am

re: #427 No Malarkey!

Under these circumstances, I don’t see how the Moscow Stock Market can reopen this week, or when it can reopen.

Russian stocks are in danger of being delisted on other exchanges. They either open and take their licks as bargain hunters buy some company stocks for pennies assuming that a quick defeat for Russia means they would return to viability.

434
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:07:47am

re: #431 darthstar

When this is over, Crimea will be reuniting with Ukraine.

The only way I see that happening, to be honest, is NATO boots on the ground. I can see NATO establishing a no-fly zone and patrolling the skies and taking down any Russian or Belarusian aircraft. But with the caveat….it’s gonna be pucker time if/when that happens.

Youtube Video

But actual NATO ground forces? Yeah, it could…but not at this moment. It would have to be made abundantly clear that NATO has no intention whatsoever of crossing the Russian border (or Belarusian border, for that matter), simply to drive out the Russian invasion force and secure the country.

435
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:08:27am

re: #401 Dr Lizardo

One my students this morning sarcastically suggested he should try to cop an insanity plea.

there’s a new yorker cartoon from the 40’s where mussolini, hitler, and i think goering are sitting in a room and one of them says something like “is it too late to plead insanity?”

436
Jay C  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:08:30am

re: #424 Dr Lizardo

Yeah, well… Nope.

Some sort of formal deal involving some sort of Ukrainian acknowledgement of the Russian seizure of the Crimea *might* be the only item on that list that would even be remotely doable - maybe.
As for the rest (“demilitarization and denazification”? SRSLY?) - sounds like Vlad’s trying to get the Ukrainians to set up the quisling puppet regime he can’t (so far) impose on them by force.
Who was the Russian rep at these “talks”, The Mouth Of Sauron??

437
I Would Prefer Not To  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:08:56am

re: #432 retired cynic

I can’t get over the horrible condition the Russian equipment is in. It just blows my mind that they would go to war with things in that shape. I suppose Putin never got close enough to actually look at them, or, if he did, that they showed him some fancy new thing.

Potemkin’s Platoon

438
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:11:38am

re: #417 Florida Panhandler

That long table scene could literally be in a Dr Evil/ Austin Powers movie.

yes, but it needs a line of people using the starbucks along one wall, along with a Mall Pizza window and a very bored gal in a Mall Pizza uniform waiting for the lunch crowd.

439
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:12:14am

re: #432 retired cynic

I can’t get over the horrible condition the Russian equipment is in. It just blows my mind that they would go to war with things in that shape. I suppose Putin never got close enough to actually look at them, or, if he did, that they showed him some fancy new thing.

Russia’s military budget is a fraction of the US budget. Their core level gear is largely from the 1980s/1990s, and while they’ve unveiled some new current generation tanks (Armata) and aircraft, they’re not large volume purchases - so there’s only handfuls of them available for combat ops. They’re also probably with the elite units, not the conscripts.

The logistics supply chain is particularly vulnerable here, not just because of the weather, but because it seems as though Putin didn’t even think it would be necessary for sustained conflict beyond a few days.

The equivalent would be if the US sent in front line troops with M60 tanks into a country, all while heralding the M1A2, and saving those for a few elite squads, and giving them just enough gas for 48 hours. In winter. In mud season.

Ukrainian forces are fighting with similar level gear, so it’s closer to an even fight that favors the defenders, because they have something to fight for, rather than conscripts who didn’t even know they were invading Ukraine until a few hours earlier.

440
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:12:59am

re: #436 Jay C

[Embedded content]

Yeah, well… Nope.

Some sort of formal deal involving some sort of Ukrainian acknowledgement of the Russian seizure of the Crimea *might* be the only item on that list that would even be remotely doable - maybe.
As for the rest (“demilitarization and denazification”? SRSLY?) - sounds like Vlad’s trying to get the Ukrainians to set up the quisling puppet regime he can’t (so far) impose on them by force.
Who was the Russian rep at these “talks”, The Mouth Of Sauron??

Honestly, no reason Ukraine needs to concede anything at this point: “you go back home, exit our two eastern provinces, and Crimea, and we’ll stop killing you.”

441
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:13:14am

Heckuva job, Brownie Pootie (part II)

For the first time, more than half of Finns are in favour of their country joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), according to a poll commissioned by public broadcasting company Yle.

Out of 1,382 adults, 53% said Finland should join the defence alliance, 28% said no and 19% were indecisive, the poll data showed.

The panel was weighed based on age, domicile and gender to represent the 5.5 million people nation, leaving an error margin of 2.5 percentage points, said the company that did the poll.

reuters.com

442
lizardofid  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:14:13am

re: #421 sagehen

all the excellent work GHWB did while the Soviet Union was collapsing, all the smooth formation of those new democracies, and reunification of Germany, the lack of any military response by USSR… was only smooth because GHWB was willing to step back and let everyone else have the spotlight and the credit.

Biden is in a similar situation now. It goes better if it’s not being pushed as LOOK WHAT AMERICA’S DOING. Let the US role be a subtle background thing; anybody who needs to know, they know.

I remember being told at an early age that there’s no end to what one can accomplish, if you don’t care who gets the credit. It’s better to be a kingmaker than a king.

Oh, good morning!

443
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:14:49am

re: #440 steve_davis

Honestly, no reason Ukraine needs to concede anything at this point: “you go back home, exit our two eastern provinces, and Crimea, and we’ll stop killing you.”

There is a big reason though. If Russia starts shelling major cities with artillery, huge numbers of Ukrainian civilians are going to die.

444
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:16:39am

re: #398 Backwoods_Sleuth

Wow, they’re going with “it was a just a joke!” as an ACTUAL LEGAL DEFENSE.

Good luck with that.

//

445
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:17:26am

re: #439 lawhawk

Russia’s military budget is a fraction of the US budget. Their core level gear is largely from the 1980s/1990s, and while they’ve unveiled some new current generation tanks (Armata) and aircraft, they’re not large volume purchases - so there’s only handfuls of them available for combat ops. They’re also probably with the elite units, not the conscripts.

The logistics supply chain is particularly vulnerable here, not just because of the weather, but because it seems as though Putin didn’t even think it would be necessary for sustained conflict beyond a few days.

The equivalent would be if the US sent in front line troops with M60 tanks into a country, all while heralding the M1A2, and saving those for a few elite squads, and giving them just enough gas for 48 hours. In winter. In mud season.

Ukrainian forces are fighting with similar level gear, so it’s closer to an even fight that favors the defenders, because they have something to fight for, rather than conscripts who didn’t even know they were invading Ukraine until a few hours earlier.

Plus the Russian army has never fought a war on this scale. The last time the Red Army did was in Afghanistan back in the eighties.

446
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:18:23am

re: #387 Backwoods_Sleuth

BWAHAHAHAHAAA

447
darthstar  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:18:37am

re: #442 lizardofid

I remember being told at an early age that there’s no end to what one can accomplish, if you don’t care who gets the credit. It’s better to be a kingmaker than a king.

Oh, good morning!

Well, Trump’s trying to take credit for shit now so I’m pretty sure over the next few months President Biden’s continued accomplishments will be credited to the former guy by himself and his handful of loyal suckups.

448
dat_said  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:18:37am

re: #411 ericblair

[Embedded content]

Look for which gooper slime molds start having obvious money problems.

Besides “the unraveling and blowing up of the Russian money and influence flowing in to R PACs, Fox, Maga and Trump clan” I’ve been wondering about the impact to the amplification of disinformation by Russian bots and the like. It’s going to take an incredibly long time for the fever to break but here’s to hoping that removing some of the coordination of disinformation brings us closer to sane discourse.

449
Florida Panhandler  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:19:45am

re: #432 retired cynic

I can’t get over the horrible condition the Russian equipment is in. It just blows my mind that they would go to war with things in that shape. I suppose Putin never got close enough to actually look at them, or, if he did, that they showed him some fancy new thing.

Putin is always being shown the fancy new things that in reality they can only afford to build 2 of them. I remember a few years ago a news blurb where Putin was visiting a mobile armed robot development test and left completely underwhelmed. I think he was expecting Terminator 2 style stuff but in reality the robot kept falling over. Lol.

450
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:20:19am

re: #439 lawhawk

Americans seem stuck in the Cold War mentality that Russia is an advanced technological menace. Indeed, this fuels a large part of our nation’s military budget, as we have to pay the equivalent of a small country’s GDP to multiple vendors to secure for ourselves the “latest and greatest”. The reality is that the post-Soviet collapse severely damaged Russia’s ability to build, maintain, and most importantly, upgrade its equipment. As you say, on paper, the advanced weapons in their arsenal are formidable - but they can’t afford them, like we can. And even if they could, it would be at the expense of losing out on even more of their Soviet-era equipment due to lack of maintenance and spare parts.

451
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:20:49am

re: #439 lawhawk

The team here at Daily Kos yesterday was speculating on our Slack channel about how Putin could’ve so dramatically overestimated his military capabilities. Among our theories: the oligarchs in the nation’s defense industry were skimming defense budget dollars to buy jets, Italian villas, and yachts, and to pay the right people at the Ministry of Defense to fudge the relevant spreadsheets. “We delivered 1,000 cruise missiles, comrade!” Except maybe it was 100. Given what we know about the Russian economy, it seemed quite plausible. Then last night, this thread supported the theory. Russia had a minister of defence, Anatoly Serdyukov, who greatly increased the Russian army’s efficiency in 2007-2012. But part of his work was in holding oligarchs accountable for their arms deliveries. So he was ousted. And the new guy? He stopped annoying those powerful oligarchs.

[Minister of Defense Sergey] Shoygy not only purged Serdyukov’s appointees, pandered to old military establishment, stopped arguing with army suppliers about the equipment cost and quality. He also pandered to numerous feel-good-lies regarding the Russian big strategy. [Emphasis mine.]

It’s not just Russian armor sitting dead on the side of the road, it’s the hundreds of planes and helicopters that are parked in airfields in Belarus, not swarming the Ukrainian skies. The only explanation is that they can’t fly. And given how many attack helicopters we saw the first 24 hours, seems like that was all it took to knock them out of operation. There’s likely a big story to tell, and if this is a factor, it’ll be just one in many. Books will be written. Generations will spend time studying this, both at war colleges and in academia. But what we know now is that everything we were promised in terms of Russia’s combat prowess has proven to be a paper tiger. They still may get what they want out of sheer brutality and numerical superiority, but any such potential victory won’t have a thing to do with having a smart, modern, tactically sound military.

dailykos.com

452
darthstar  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:22:07am

453
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:22:15am

re: #443 No Malarkey!

There is a big reason though. If Russia starts shelling major cities with artillery, huge numbers of Ukrainian civilians are going to die.

Yes, but ceding anything, and it allowing Putin to think he can win, doesn’t make them any safer.

454
darthstar  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:23:37am

Okay…going to run down to the local casino resort and see if I can sign my mom up for a spa treatment this morning…just a mani-pedi - her feet look like hell. Then we can sit and play blackjack together (her favorite) for an hour or two before meeting back up with the other siblings for a late lunch/early dinner.

455
jaunte  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:24:43am
456
Florida Panhandler  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:24:51am

re: #453 Belafon

Yes, but ceding anything, and it allowing Putin to think he can win, doesn’t make them any safer.

It must be made clear to Russian citizens that if artillery is used against civilian cities and towns that Russians will not need wheelbarrows of Rubles to buy a loaf of bread, but dump trucks full of Rubles.

457
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:25:16am

re: #453 Belafon

Yes, but ceding anything, and it allowing Putin to think he can win, doesn’t make them any safer.

I’m not suggesting that Ukraine should just surrender, only that they have good reason to end this war on reasonable terms if that were possible. It may take regime change in Moscow, however.

458
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:25:46am

re: #456 Florida Panhandler

It must be made clear to Russian citizens that if artillery is used against civilian cities and towns that Russians will not need wheelbarrows of Rubles to buy a loaf of bread, but dump trucks full of Rubles.

If there is even any bread to buy.

459
Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:26:17am

re: #457 No Malarkey!

I’m not suggesting that Ukraine should just surrender, only that they have good reason to end this war on reasonable terms if that were possible. It may take regime change in Moscow, however.

If he gets more than a tiny figleaf, he’ll be back.

460
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:27:10am

re: #450 Dopamine Fish

Behold, the Admiral Kutzenov, Russia’s one - and only - aircraft carrier:

It’s now being decided whether she should be scrapped or undergo extensive repairs - and not long ago, she caught on fire, causing serious damage. A decrepit relic of the Soviet era.

The Russians can’t afford a deep water navy anymore. And with the sanctions now in place, they’ll be lucky if they can afford to buy an old bassboat off Craigslist.

461
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:27:12am

re: #455 jaunte

Oh God, I feel brain damaged from reading that. The stupid leaked through the Internet and into my skull.

462
Shropshire Slasher  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:27:22am

Cute little bastard!

dailymail.co.uk

463
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:27:53am

re: #442 lizardofid

Biden as the Great Facilitator. Expanding NATO, improving our alliances. Working with partners around the world, all while letting them get the benefit of taking a lead role on different aspects. Biden gets to coordinate on the big picture, but UK or Germany get to say that they’re doing something significant first - like SWIFT ban. Then other countries fall in line, because they see Germany or UK do it first. It becomes a global containment of Putin, not just a US-led one.

That takes a lot of critical thinking, and an ego that doesn’t require constant massaging to remind them that they’re the smartest guy in the room.

464
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:29:42am

re: #380 Belafon

Saw on Newsmax (yeah, someone at work has decided that Fox isn’t crazy enough anymore) that Rubio has stated that Putin is committing war crimes.

I sometimes stop in there just to check up on the party line and talking points.

465
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:30:11am

re: #443 No Malarkey!

There is a big reason though. If Russia starts shelling major cities with artillery, huge numbers of Ukrainian civilians are going to die.

if that happens, NATO intervenes. There just is no way that NATO could watch something like that happening in Europe, within a stone’s throw of NATO countries, and not say, “We need to send a message, now, because 10 years from now, that could be Berlin or Warsaw.”

466
gocart mozart  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:31:07am
467
Jay C  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:31:14am

re: #440 steve_davis

Honestly, no reason Ukraine needs to concede anything at this point: “you go back home, exit our two eastern provinces, and Crimea, and we’ll stop killing you.”

I dunno: inefficiently as they may have performed so far, Russia is still, by far, the more-powerful actor in this sphere: if (Dog willing) the current war ends with a legitimate Ukrainian government intact and in control of most of its country, they are, eventually, going to have to *negotiate* respite and relief from the threat of (another) Russian assault.
However this war turns out, unfortunately no one is likely to be in a Versailles-like position to dictate terms. Some solution is going to have to be *negotiated*, and, moral high ground aside, the Ukrainians don’t really have a lot to bargain with (territorially/militarily). Yeah, the seizure of the Crimea in 2014 was illegal, immoral and obnoxious, but if the Ukes have to give up something, the claim to a distant and poorly-approachable province (populated entirely (AFAIK) by ethnic Russians) may be their best “sacrifice”.
But the other shit deserves little more than the Snake Island response…

468
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:31:17am

re: #465 steve_davis

if that happens, NATO intervenes. There just is no way that NATO could watch something like that happening in Europe, within a stone’s throw of NATO countries, and not say, “We need to send a message, now, because 10 years from now, that could be Berlin or Warsaw.”

I agree. I think that’s the red line.

469
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:32:05am
470
Florida Panhandler  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:32:23am

re: #464 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

I sometimes stop in there just to check up on the party line and talking points.

I knew the Republican Pivot was going to happen any day now. Watch as even toadies like Tucker Carlson run for cover. If it’s one thing that makes even MAGA brain dead ass-clowns jump ship from a savior/dictator it is military incompetence.

471
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:34:35am

re: #455 jaunte

That guy is basically Al Bundy, only as an annoying Conserva-bro.

472
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:34:52am

re: #398 Backwoods_Sleuth

Dawn Bancroft — the Pennsylvania mother who admitted storming the Capitol and filming a video saying she was “LOOKING FOR NANCY TO SHOOT HER IN THE FRICKIN’ BRAIN” — tells the court it was “just and bravado” and “not meant to be taken literally.”

it was “just bravado” and “not meant to be taken literally.” might fly if it was at a demonstration someplace other than one being held in the Capitol which has just been illegally entered

in that context, I think it comprised a viable threat, even it it was “not intended seriously”.

473
Eventual Carrion  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:35:04am

re: #406 Ming5000

Regarding Putin’s ridiculous long table, by this time in the pandemic there is a lot of knowledge and technology for air flow to, at a minimum, protect Putin from the breath of other people in the room.
Plus, he crams the others very close to each other with no mask. Sick.

[Embedded content]

Are those little buttons on his end of the desk the ones that open the trap door and drop people into the shark tank below?

474
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:35:34am

re: #470 Florida Panhandler

I knew the Republican Pivot was going to happen any day now. Watch as even toadies like Tucker Carlson run for cover. If it’s one thing that makes even MAGA brain dead ass-clowns jump ship from a savior/dictator it is military incompetence.

Wonder how they’d be acting if the situation were similar but Putin was attacking a country of mostly dark skinned folks?

/

475
Florida Panhandler  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:36:31am

re: #469 Dr Lizardo

All Russian money flooding into offshore accounts right now should be frozen upon receipt by worldwide banks or risk being removed form SWIFT.

476
Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:36:39am

Well that didn’t last very long.

477
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:36:47am
478
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:37:30am

re: #409 Dr Lizardo

U.S. HASN’T SEEN ANY SPECIFIC MUSCLE MOVEMENTS SO FAR AS RESULT OF PUTIN’S NUCLEAR ALERT ORDER - OFFICIAL SAYS.

my muscle of love is still twitching at the thought of Putin flexing his nuclear might…

479
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:38:24am

re: #475 Florida Panhandler

All Russian money flooding into offshore accounts right now should be frozen upon receipt by worldwide banks or risk being removed form SWIFT.

Let’s not be hasty, now.

I’ll be happy to let Oleg send a couple billion USD to my humble bank account….mind you, for a 25% cut. 🤣🤣

480
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:40:03am

re: #476 Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire

Well that didn’t last very long.

Price is right losing horn

481
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:40:07am

re: #461 Dopamine Fish

Oh God, I feel brain damaged from reading that. The stupid leaked through the Internet and into my skull.

Letterman’s a parody account, thank god.

482
dat_said  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:40:22am

re: #479 Dr Lizardo

Let’s not be hasty, now.

I’ll be happy to let Oleg send a couple billion USD to my humble bank account….mind you, for a 25% cut. 🤣🤣

Beware the Russian oligarchy version of the Nigerian prince email.

483
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:40:26am
484
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:40:36am

re: #478 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

my muscle of love is still twitching at the thought of Putin flexing his nuclear might…

485
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:40:42am

Ted Cruz being Cruz.

486
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:41:36am

re: #481 steve_davis

Letterman’s a parody account, thank god.

Oh, thank God. I seriously lost a chunk of what little hope in humanity I still had.

487
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:41:43am

re: #485 lawhawk

Fucking moron.

We didn’t even have widespread vaccination at this point last year.

488
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:43:45am
As the death toll mounts in Ukraine - where at least three children have died since Vladimir Putin ordered the country invaded - a tone-deaf Russian TV host is fuming about how the conflict has cost him access to his Italian luxury villas.

Proponent pro-Putin television personality Vladimir Soloviev publicly lamented Friday losing access to his multimillion-dollar vacation homes due to Italian-imposed sanctions spurred by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

‘Is this the Iron Curtain?’ Soloviev opined on the set of his late-night program. ‘I was told that Europe is a citadel of rights, that everything is permitted, that’s what they said.’

dailymail.co.uk

I know y’all are probably getting sick of this, but….

489
GlutenFreeJesus  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:44:03am

re: #432 retired cynic

I can’t get over the horrible condition the Russian equipment is in. It just blows my mind that they would go to war with things in that shape. I suppose Putin never got close enough to actually look at them, or, if he did, that they showed him some fancy new thing.

I sure wouldn’t want to be the one that tells him the true state of his military…

490
Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:44:22am

re: #480 Eclectic Cyborg

[Embedded content]

Video

Probably because the real truckers are to busy earning a living by delivering goods and telling these sad sacks to fuck off.

491
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:44:49am

re: #473 Eventual Carrion

Are those little buttons on his end of the desk the ones that open the trap door and drop people into the shark tank below?

They’re all down the table. I think they’re electrical outlets.

492
Jay C  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:45:17am

re: #460 Dr Lizardo

Behold, the Admiral Kutzenov, Russia’s one - and only - aircraft carrier:

[Embedded content]

It’s now being decided whether she should be scrapped or undergo extensive repairs - and not long ago, she caught on fire, causing serious damage. A decrepit relic of the Soviet era.

The Russians can’t afford a deep water navy anymore. And with the sanctions now in place, they’ll be lucky if they can afford to buy an old bassboat off Craigslist.

I think they used to have two carriers, but ended up selling one to the Chinese, which the latter then (IIRC) had to spend nearly as much time and money rebuilding, refitting and upgrading as it would have taken to build a new one from scratch.
But then, is the Black Sea considered “deep water”? One doesn’t really need a carrier if threatening Odessa with bombing is one of their naval priorities.

493
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:45:18am

re: #489 GlutenFreeJesus

I sure wouldn’t want to be the one that tells him the true state of his military…

The Downfall memes practically write themselves.

494
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:45:21am

re: #485 lawhawk

Ted Cruz being Cruz.

Ted ain’t that dumb. He knows that gas & groceries are the main budget items for most of his constituent families.

495
jaunte  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:46:16am
496
Sherlock Hound  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:46:17am

re: #406 Ming5000

How can his ministers even hear him? I can hardly hear people across from me at the table! How do you say “assistive listening system” in Russian?

497
Eventual Carrion  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:46:22am

re: #415 Ming5000

I was thinking that those might be the only seats retrofitted for the new shark tank below.

GMTA

498
jaunte  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:48:54am

Shtarterh!

499
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:49:28am

re: #492 Jay C

I think they used to have two carriers, but ended up selling one to the Chinese, which the latter then (IIRC) had to spend nearly as much time and money rebuilding, refitting and upgrading as it would have taken to build a new one from scratch.
But then, is the Black Sea considered “deep water”? One doesn’t really need a carrier if threatening Odessa with bombing is one of their naval priorities.

They did sell the other one to China, and it’s now known as the Liaoning. And that did indeed require a massive overhaul (to the great credit of the Chinese naval engineers and ship workers that got that old scow seaworthy).

500
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:52:56am

re: #489 GlutenFreeJesus

I sure wouldn’t want to be the one that tells him the true state of his military…

russia has always basically been a potemkin’s village. what we really need is not for Putin to go out a window, but for there to be a generalized, systemic overthrow of the current order, with actual trials and executions, with a new constitution that can’t be changed on a whim, with a completely new set of judges to replace the utterly corrupt judiciary. They should perhaps use the napoleonic system, where judges have comparatively little power and mostly just follow black-letter law. I believe that came about because of long-standing corruption in the french law courts.

501
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:54:13am

re: #495 jaunte

Ukraine used car salesmen are going to have to up their game.

Russians drive new and used tanks and APCs into Ukraine. Now Ukraine farmers and others are finding that they too can own a piece of history. Learn how to drive an APC in few short steps. /half

502
lawhawk  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:55:55am

re: #499 Dr Lizardo

Russia decided that their primary naval assets are submarines, which can offset a NATO advantage on surface ships. It’s a page out of the German U-boat campaign. Harass resupply fleets, attack US carrier tasks groups, etc., and have nuclear deterrents standing by. Don’t need surface ships to do any of that - it’s all accomplished with subs.

503
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:56:02am

re: #490 Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire

Probably because the real truckers are to busy earning a living by delivering goods and telling these sad sacks to fuck off.

That, and Putin has stolen all the headlines for now.

504
jaunte  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:58:53am
505
HypnoToad  Feb 28, 2022 • 8:59:17am

Is it possible that when Putin was demonstrating trump’s servility to him during their summits a few years ago, that the latter infected the former with his brainworms? That parasitism might not have been recognized at the time by their compliant personal physicians, as they are less visible and slower acting than the more familiar brainslug.

506
Yeah Sure WhatEVs  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:00:05am

re: #466 gocart mozart

And that bridge is as good as blowed up. It would take the Russians a lot of effort to clear it for use.

507
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:01:54am

re: #339 Belafon

[Embedded content]

Much better vaccinated than we are, but omicron doesn’t care much. Wonder if it’s the original or the new BA.2 variant.

508
Jay C  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:03:15am

re: #499 Dr Lizardo

They did sell the other one to China, and it’s now known as the Liaoning. And that did indeed require a massive overhaul (to the great credit of the Chinese naval engineers and ship workers that got that old scow seaworthy).

Interesting facts from Wiki about the Chinese carrier Liaoning: it was actually sold to China by Ukraine - the ship was being built in a Ukrainian yard, and they inherited the uncompleted hulk when the SU collapsed.
The dramatic skullduggery surrounding its sale and transfer reads like something out of a Cold War spy-thriller potboiler….

509
jeffreyw  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:07:25am

re: #479 Dr Lizardo

Let’s not be hasty, now.

I’ll be happy to let Oleg send a couple billion USD to my humble bank account….mind you, for a 25% cut. 🤣🤣

Where are all the Russian princes who are willing to trust me with millions of US dollars for safekeeping?

510
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:07:29am

re: #506 Yeah Sure WhatEVs

And that bridge is as good as blowed up. It would take the Russians a lot of effort to clear it for use.

i wondered if it was thought of to just use cars from the city to block off roads and bridges coming in to the city. they could be arranged in a kind of giant cluster fuck that would be miserable trying to sort out with bulldozers or tow trucks, especially if you’re under fire at the time, and many of the cars are booby-trapped.

511
Shropshire Slasher  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:08:22am

LOL, sanctions have reduced the rouble to rubble. It is a good start.

512
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:10:56am

re: #357 darthstar

CNN also reporting video of cluster bombs being dropped in Kharkiv. Putin’s going for war crimes.

He’s going for total war. If there are any Russian military or oligarchs who have a sliver of conscience or morality, now is the time to take him out, before he levels Kyiv with a nuke to eliminate Zelenskyy.

513
HRH Stanley Sea  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:13:10am

Looking forward to this

514
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:14:26am

re: #512 Hecuba’s daughter

He’s going for total war. If there are any Russian military or oligarchs who have a sliver of conscience or morality, now is the time to take him out, before he levels Kyiv with a nuke to eliminate Zelenskyy.

that would be, for Putin, the kiss of death. the horrors presented by a nuclear bomb over a besieged city would force the U.S. to go tit-for-tat, and that’s understood by both militaries. Nuking a capital city would result in us nuking Moscow in return. We would have to. Absolutely no way you could let Russia get away with not only killing several million civilians but also putting a radioactive crater in a place where Western and Northern Europe will be dealing with the fallout for generations.

515
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:17:08am

Someone caught MAGA in another lie. Kevin Sorbo had the tweets on his jacket lining edited to seem more popular.

516
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:17:15am

re: #513 HRH Stanley Sea

Looking forward to this

This was on CBS Sunday Morning yesterday. Anne Applebaum talks about Stalin’s starving Ukrainians by sending troops in to take their food. This lasted for three years, with millions dying because of it.

517
FFL (GOP Delenda Est)  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:22:10am

re: #379 Florida Panhandler

The lonely island that MAGA idiots live on is getting lonelier. Now even most Republicans think Putin is nuts.

yahoo.com

Will the remaining loons and traitors finally change their tune? Probably soon, it only after their own best self-interest is at stake.

I note that either they are not speaking up much, or the media is ignoring them - but where is the “reasonable” GOP faction that is seriously opposed to the Russian invasion? And even more, verbally opposed to the pro-Putin faction within the GOP? Hand-wringing a bit to a reporter or two while otherwise remaining silent or rah-rahing Putin at CPAC or another conservative gathering is meaningless. Turn up on Meet the Press and in no uncertain terms start denouncing these traitorous nuts.

518
FFL (GOP Delenda Est)  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:23:41am

re: #384 No Malarkey!

The GOP is asking SCOTUS to intervene under the radical theory that state legislatures can enact any gerrymander they want, no matter how illegal under state law, and the state courts are powerless to intervene. A ludicrous assertion, but there may be support for it on the reactionary right wing of the Court. We’ll see if there are five votes for it or not.

I guess this will put “states; rights” into a grave. Until the conservatives need to dig it out again to complain about some government action.
///

519
retired cynic  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:29:29am

re: #455 jaunte

re: #461 Dopamine Fish

Charlotte Clymer says that is a parody account, making fun of white men who live in the glory days of high school.

520
retired cynic  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:31:15am

A ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ find: Archaeologists discover rare mosaic floor at South London construction site
wapo.st Gift Link

There appears to be another mosaic floor UNDER this one. Amazing. And they are still uncovering more. That building isn’t going to built any time soon.

522
Teukka  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:33:04am

Too “noir” [y/N]?

To bring some romance into this hectic time, so people will soothe down a little bit.
523
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:33:18am

re: #514 steve_davis

that would be, for Putin, the kiss of death. the horrors presented by a nuclear bomb over a besieged city would force the U.S. to go tit-for-tat, and that’s understood by both militaries. Nuking a capital city would result in us nuking Moscow in return. We would have to. Absolutely no way you could let Russia get away with not only killing several million civilians but also putting a radioactive crater in a place where Western and Northern Europe will be dealing with the fallout for generations.

Putin doesn’t have to nuke Kyiv, and he won’t. He’s going to level it with cluster munitions, which they are already unleashing on Kharkiv.

524
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:35:14am

re: #518 FFL (GOP Delenda Est)

I guess this will put “states; rights” into a grave. Until the conservatives need to dig it out again to complain about some government action.
///

The Right says this is protecting the states rights of state legislatures to redistrict however they want to.

525
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:36:00am

re: #520 retired cynic

A ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ find: Archaeologists discover rare mosaic floor at South London construction site
wapo.st Gift Link

There appears to be another mosaic floor UNDER this one. Amazing. And they are still uncovering more. That building isn’t going to built any time soon.

The ancients had zero qualms about building their stuff over the top of other, older stuff. What’s left of the Theatre of Pompey, in Rome - where Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BC - is currently being excavated; it is located directly under a modern street.

526
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:39:18am

re: #439 lawhawk

Russia’s military budget is a fraction of the US budget. Their core level gear is largely from the 1980s/1990s, and while they’ve unveiled some new current generation tanks (Armata) and aircraft, they’re not large volume purchases - so there’s only handfuls of them available for combat ops. They’re also probably with the elite units, not the conscripts.

…..

Misleading measure. Fraction of our budget because their costs are significantly lower. Our nation is the most profligate in the world in spending excessive amounts of money in all societal aspects, without improving quality. Think of health care where most of the first world spends significantly less with better outcomes.

527
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:39:31am

“Alexa, play me sad trombone noises.”

528
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:39:57am

Nick’s bio on his twitter profile…LOLOLOLOLOLOL

529
A Cranky One  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:40:45am

530
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:42:00am

re: #526 Hecuba’s daughter

Misleading measure. Fraction of our budget because their costs are significantly lower. Our nation is the most profligate in the world in spending excessive amounts of money in all societal aspects, without improving quality. Think of health care where most of the first world spends significantly less with better outcomes.

Yes, but the only oligarchs we are paying are the CEOs of companies that have to justify their costs. See my #451.

531
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:42:26am
532
Shropshire Slasher  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:42:42am

re: #527 Dr Lizardo

A good example as to why you should always carry physical currency.

533
sagehen  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:43:30am

re: #520 retired cynic

A ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ find: Archaeologists discover rare mosaic floor at South London construction site
wapo.st Gift Link

There appears to be another mosaic floor UNDER this one. Amazing. And they are still uncovering more. That building isn’t going to built any time soon.

Do the owners of the site get some sort of tax break? Or at least halt the interest payments on their construction loan while everything’s in limbo?

534
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:43:56am

No need to post the Kylo Ren meme - I’m sure you can already hear it in your minds, LOL

535
Dave In Austin  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:44:09am

re: #357 darthstar

Neither Russia or Ukraine signed that pact not to use those cluster munitions so the war crime thing doesn’t fit there. The daisy cutter is another thing.

536
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:44:10am

slap a label on it even if it’s lies

537
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:44:55am

re: #450 Dopamine Fish

Americans seem stuck in the Cold War mentality that Russia is an advanced technological menace. Indeed, this fuels a large part of our nation’s military budget, as we have to pay the equivalent of a small country’s GDP to multiple vendors to secure for ourselves the “latest and greatest”. ……

OTOH China really is approaching the role of an advanced technological menace. The question there is whether they have decided it’s more effective to put aside the use of military to further their objectives and relay on sheer economic power to achieve their gains.

538
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:45:38am

re: #532 Shropshire Slasher

A good example as to why you should always carry physical currency.

I don’t use Google Pay or anything like that (phone theft is a bit of a problem here), I just use my normal debit card, but I always make sure I’ve got the equivalent of $50 emergency money in cash.

539
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:46:05am
540
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:49:17am
541
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:50:00am

re: #537 Hecuba’s daughter

OTOH China really is approaching the role of an advanced technological menace. The question there is whether they have decided it’s more effective to put aside the use of military to further their objectives and relay on sheer economic power to achieve their gains.

I’m still going to say that while their advanced technology is definitely a concern, and China certainly has the money to buy their stuff in quantity, I don’t think they’re actually doing it. Consider who their neighbors are. They have no need to upgrade every single unit of the PLA with the latest and greatest. Hell, for that matter, America doesn’t even do that when we roll out new military stuff. I wouldn’t want to get in a war with China, but that’s a sheer numbers problem, as opposed to one of technological advancement. And admittedly, a shooting war between the US and China would develop into a battle of technological advancement pretty damn quick.

542
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:51:47am

re: #539 Backwoods_Sleuth

Totally misread that and thought for a moment the Ukrainian Ambassador was the one who had been killed.

543
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:52:29am

re: #534 Dr Lizardo

[Embedded content]

No need to post the Kylo Ren meme - I’m sure you can already hear it in your minds, LOL

I think you can at least use it as often as Wordles show up.
If you post it behind a private tag, please note it is a meme, as some Wordle posters do. Arigato

544
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:54:09am
545
Ming5000  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:54:25am

re: #535 Dave In Austin

Neither Russia or Ukraine signed that pact not to use those cluster munitions so the war crime thing doesn’t fit there. The daisy cutter is another thing.

Hmm… Not sure why your post made me think of this, but I wonder if Ukraine will do a Doolittle raid on Russia.

546
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:56:29am

re: #544 Backwoods_Sleuth

That’s what’s coming next. I’d be willing to bet $5 on it.

547
Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:56:30am
548
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:57:49am

re: #544 Backwoods_Sleuth

We’ll know Biden is contemplating it when he starts talking about US involvement.

549
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 9:57:58am
550
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:00:03am

re: #474 Eclectic Cyborg

Wonder how they’d be acting if the situation were similar but Putin was attacking a country of mostly dark skinned folks?

/

Ignore it, of course, as we routinely do for bloodshed in Africa.

551
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:00:49am

re: #474 Eclectic Cyborg

Wonder how they’d be acting if the situation were similar but Putin was attacking a country of mostly dark skinned folks?

/

Chechnya.

552
Teukka  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:03:25am

re: #540 Backwoods_Sleuth

Oof. That’s gonna leave a mark…

553
sagehen  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:03:47am

re: #551 Belafon

Chechnya.

But Chechnyans are Muslim.

So even though they’re the very definition of Caucasian, being actually in and of the Caucasus… are they really white?

554
Belafon  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:05:31am

re: #553 sagehen

But Chechnyans are Muslim.

So even though they’re the very definition of Caucasian, being actually in and of the Caucasus… are they really white?

The West didn’t really treat them as such.

555
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:07:48am

HIGHWAY OF DEATH

556
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:08:09am

re: #523 No Malarkey!

Putin doesn’t have to nuke Kyiv, and he won’t. He’s going to level it with cluster munitions, which they are already unleashing on Kharkiv.

In that case, it’s a war crime, and there’s no coming back from that. It’s Nuremberg trials for the lot of them.

557
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:10:33am

re: #523 No Malarkey!

Putin doesn’t have to nuke Kyiv, and he won’t. He’s going to level it with cluster munitions, which they are already unleashing on Kharkiv.

[Embedded content]

You’re right. In WW2, we killed more Japanese in a single night of carpet bombing than by a nuclear weapon.

558
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:11:17am
559
Barefoot Grin  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:11:32am

This has got to hurt:

NHK WORLD-JAPAN

Toyota will suspend operations at all its factories in Japan on Tuesday. Sources say the shutdown follows a cyberattack on one or more of the automaker’s major business partners.

560
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:12:26am

re: #524 No Malarkey!

The Right says this is protecting the states rights of state legislatures to redistrict however they want to.

However they want to, regardless of federal law, state law or the state constitution?

561
Shropshire Slasher  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:12:58am

re: #555 The Pie Overlord!

HIGHWAY OF DEATH

It freaked me out when he picked up the bear, I watched too many movies with booby trapped bears.

562
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:13:08am

re: #560 Hecuba’s daughter

However they want to, regardless of federal law, state law or the state constitution?

That’s what they want.

563
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:13:51am

re: #525 Dopamine Fish

The ancients had zero qualms about building their stuff over the top of other, older stuff. What’s left of the Theatre of Pompey, in Rome - where Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BC - is currently being excavated; it is located directly under a modern street.

He was murdered at the theater? “So, other than that, mrs. Caesar, how was the play?”

564
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:16:07am

re: #563 steve_davis

He was murdered at the theater? “So, other than that, mrs. Caesar, how was the play?”

Yes, although the term “theatre” is used more in the sense of “amphitheatre” than “theatre to go see a play”.

565
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:16:10am
566
Grunthos the Flatulent  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:16:24am

Where in the Wordle is Carmen Sandiego? UTC+13, that’s where.

Click to Reveal

Wordle 255 4/6

🟨⬛⬛🟩⬛
⬛⬛🟩🟩🟨
🟩⬛🟩🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

567
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:17:56am

re: #533 sagehen

Do the owners of the site get some sort of tax break? Or at least halt the interest payments on their construction loan while everything’s in limbo?

Interestingly, I learned the answer to this from an episode of Time Team. Pretty sure the owner is just fucked.

568
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:19:49am

re: #535 Dave In Austin

Neither Russia or Ukraine signed that pact not to use those cluster munitions so the war crime thing doesn’t fit there. The daisy cutter is another thing.

Ah, good point.

569
jaunte  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:20:05am
570
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:22:30am

re: #546 Dr Lizardo

That’s what’s coming next. I’d be willing to bet $5 on it.

I would take that bet; NATO forces are not going to engage Russians in Ukraine.

571
aatharuv  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:22:40am

re: #553 sagehen

But Chechnyans are Muslim.

So even though they’re the very definition of Caucasian, being actually in and of the Caucasus… are they really white?

Caucasian has never been purely white. See the Supreme Court case, US v. Bhagat Singh Thind en.wikipedia.org .

Indians were considered Caucasians, but _not_ white. His first two naturalizations as a US citizen slightly after he served in the US Army in World War I — were revoked because he was not white.. 20 years later he was able to naturalization in New York due to a later federal law allowing all US Veterans the right of naturalization regardless of race.

But back to Russia I believe the Russian perjoratives for someone from the Caucasus (or Central Asia), literally translates to black. Even though by American standards, many or most Chechen’s would pass as white (Ramzan Kadyrov is a perfect example).

Well, that is unless the media decides to deliberately darken the images or exaggerate physical features to make them seem more non-white. This was done in at least one infamous photo of O. J. Simpson, and in some drawings of the Boston Marathon Bomber, Tsarnaev.

572
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:24:33am

re: #551 Belafon

Chechnya.

And Syria

573
Rightwingconspirator  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:27:01am

re: #546 Dr Lizardo

That’s what’s coming next. I’d be willing to bet $5 on it.

re: #570 No Malarkey!

I would take that bet; NATO forces are not going to engage Russians in Ukraine.

Tough bet. I am hoping that we never see NATO vs Russian troops. We came too close in 2018, an incident in the Middle East. Only the mercenary nature of the unit involved saved us from serious repercussions.

574
steve_davis  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:27:40am

re: #545 Ming5000

Hmm… Not sure why your post made me think of this, but I wonder if Ukraine will do a Doolittle raid on Russia.

Doubtful, because right now Ukraine has the sympathy of the world. Even if they could firebomb Moscow, it would destroy that.

575
Dopamine Fish  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:28:10am

re: #573 Rightwingconspirator

Tough bet. I am hoping that we never see NATO vs Russian troops. We came too close in 2018, an incident in the Middle East. Only the mercenary nature of the unit involved saved us from serious repercussions.

Oh God, I remember that.

576
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:28:11am

re: #560 Hecuba’s daughter

However they want to, regardless of federal law, state law or the state constitution?

Pretty much. About the only limit that could be enforced is the requirement that districts have equal numbers of people.

577
jaunte  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:28:28am
578
The Pie Overlord!  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:29:28am
579
Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:30:11am

re: #578 The Pie Overlord!

David Simon always has the best insults.

580
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:30:41am

re: #570 No Malarkey!

I would take that bet; NATO forces are not going to engage Russians in Ukraine.

And if the Russians start carrying out a genocide, like the Serbs did in Bosnia? We just let them get away with it?

581
stpaulbear  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:32:07am

re: #534 Dr Lizardo

No need to post the Kylo Ren meme - I’m sure you can already hear it in your minds, LOL

It’s as perennially appropriate as the “Christ, it’s this asshole again” meme. I smile every time I see it.

582
Hecuba's daughter  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:34:12am

re: #580 Dr Lizardo

And if the Russians start carrying out a genocide, like the Serbs did in Bosnia? We just let them get away with it?

Didn’t the Serbs round people up and shoot them in person? The Russians aren’t doing that; they will just aim weaponry at buildings to kill everyone inside.

583
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:35:39am

re: #582 Hecuba’s daughter

Didn’t the Serbs round people up and shoot them in person? The Russians aren’t doing that; they will just aim weaponry at buildings to kill everyone inside.

I see no difference.

584
stpaulbear  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:38:26am

re: #549 Dr Lizardo

Has anyone checked in with Rex Tillerson?

585
No Malarkey!  Feb 28, 2022 • 10:58:14am

re: #580 Dr Lizardo

And if the Russians start carrying out a genocide, like the Serbs did in Bosnia? We just let them get away with it?

We did in Syria and Chechnya. Getting into a shooting war with another nuclear power is a very dangerous game. Let us hope something stops Putin before he does that.

586
FFL (GOP Delenda Est)  Feb 28, 2022 • 11:11:32am

re: #567 steve_davis

Interestingly, I learned the answer to this from an episode of Time Team. Pretty sure the owner is just fucked.

A lot of jurisdictions have laws and regulations in place that a location has to be cleared as not of archeological importance before being allowed to develop.* If something interesting is found I am not sure what timeline there is for the scientists to get in and dig things out. I presume there would be court and legal wrangling over that.

* - My brother faced this in western NY since a (current) cornfield he owns that he was thinking of building a house on had been lived on in Paleolithic times; e.g. you could walk across the field and find knapping shards, bits of stone scrapers, etc. The delay he ran into was actually getting a qualified person from the state to come out there and certify that the site was not that important.

587
m0nkeyb0y  Feb 28, 2022 • 11:43:18am

re: #406 Ming5000

Regarding Putin’s ridiculous long table, by this time in the pandemic there is a lot of knowledge and technology for air flow to, at a minimum, protect Putin from the breath of other people in the room.
Plus, he crams the others very close to each other with no mask. Sick.

Didn’t a table protect Hitler from an assassination attempt?

588
m0nkeyb0y  Feb 28, 2022 • 11:50:35am

re: #430 Dr Lizardo

President Zelenskyy does not need a giant table to protect him from his own people, they have his back

589
dharmamark  Feb 28, 2022 • 2:13:52pm

re: #404 DodgerFan1988

My local cartoonist!

590
dharmamark  Feb 28, 2022 • 2:16:11pm

re: #421 sagehen

You mean, “leading from behind”?

591
John Hughes  Feb 28, 2022 • 2:54:55pm

re: #260 ckkatz

It is clear many soldiers don’t know what the goal of this war is, so they don’t know how to respond to civilians or what sort of security posture they should take.

Compare and contrast with the total geopolitical awareness of US troops in Iraq.

592
John Hughes  Feb 28, 2022 • 3:07:59pm

re: #537 Hecuba’s daughter

The USA really is approaching the role of an advanced technological menace. The question there is whether they have decided it’s more effective to put aside the use of military to further their objectives and relay on sheer economic power to achieve their gains.


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