Seth takes a closer look at Vladimir Putin rattling the world by raising the alert status of Russia’s nuclear forces as Republicans gathered for the Conservative Political Action Conference and refused to condemn Trump for praising Putin.
I went too far in the last thread. My apologies.
Thanks, Charles, for posting a new thread. Mea culpa.
I’ll take my outrage down several levels.
But I am still mightily pissed.
Day seven, and they still have no idea I’m a bear. pic.twitter.com/ZyYDNKmQaa
— Jamie Gnuman197… (@JGnuman197) February 28, 2022
re: #3 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀 No Capt’n 😷 Trips
They’re in for a world of hurt in a few months…that and a bear that will have to be euthanized.
All this armor heading to Kyiv does have me a bit worried. I hope these planes Ukraine is getting will help them. If this convoy makes it to Kyiv untouched, I fear the worst.
It’s almost 5:30am in Kiyv. We’ll know much more soon in the dawn light.
Tanks in cities have issues unless well supported by infantry. The thing to fear in that convoy is probably how much artillery it has and how much of the additional logistics is ammo for same.
With the Ruble being worthless, why doesn’t NATO or the EU, or someone just offer Russian soldiers to buy their Trucks, Tracks, and Tanks for USD?
Had this thought in my head. The Russian convoy is full of defectors. *snicker*
“I am Olena Zelensky, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodmymr Zelensky. We were married in 2003. In 2004, our daughter Oleksandra was born. In 2013, I gave birth to our son Kyrylo. I am a writer and architect. I am also being targeted for death by Mr. Putin.” pic.twitter.com/Jcka7XzPXs
— Beatrice Howse (@BeaHowse) March 1, 2022
The Ukrainians are truly a group to aspire to! God speed!
— Lady activist ✍️ (@dib47) March 1, 2022
The war in #Ukraine isn’t working out the way #Russia intended- Military experts have been stunned at the tactical blunders and military shortcomings that the feared Russian army has demonstrated so far @lizsly https://t.co/7v5ltgiK5B
— Sarah El Deeb (@seldeeb) February 28, 2022
Russian billionaires whose fortunes are at risk due to sanctions are expressing some dissent over Putin’s assault on Ukraine. Do they really want peace or are they worried about their money & lifestyles? By @gregpmiller https://t.co/j2WUX7v98i
— Liz Sly (@LizSly) March 1, 2022
Mitt Romney after Ukraine/Russia Briefing: “The administration has done a really sound job in bringing together allies and friends from around the world and present a united front against a very evil, ambitious leader of Russia.” pic.twitter.com/1Ex1jpkOGB
— Jason Donner (@jason_donner) March 1, 2022
A poll shows that 74% of Americans oppose Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The other 26% think Trump is President.
— Henry M. Rosenberg (@DoctorHenryCT) February 28, 2022
“The National Hockey League is suspending all business dealings in Russia and has ruled out the possibility of holding events there in the near future because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The league issued a statement…condemning Russia’s actions”https://t.co/gs33vskX1A— Michael Tackett (@tackettdc) February 28, 2022
… With their tanks, and their bombs, and their bombs, and their guns, in your head, in your head, they are dying.
Listen to this moment from Lviv. https://t.co/KVbyclEM0W— Cassandra Vinograd (@CassVinograd) March 1, 2022
Another Communist MP in Russia condemns the war. He says that true plans were “hidden” from him and other lawmakers when they recognized L/DPR https://t.co/SkemmX91L1 pic.twitter.com/kYMWtE1XZv
— Vincent Bevins (@Vinncent) February 28, 2022
Three that I have seen https://t.co/g2hbHZpm3w
— Vincent Bevins (@Vinncent) February 28, 2022
re: #21 The Pie Overlord!
Another poll shows Biden is more popular in Europe than the US. https://t.co/apI2lde0eY
— Gügar Kluge (@LzBebbi) February 28, 2022
Hell of a thread —> https://t.co/ym1naEWE8I
— Steve Schale 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@steveschale) March 1, 2022
I am off for the rack.
Sorry if I pissed off any Theists, but I just feel that if your God, active in our Universe, doesn’t protect innocent children, he’s not a very proactive God, is he?
In fact, he is a complete failure as a positive influence in our Universe.
I mean, c’mon, he’s Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient! Why doesn’t he stop evil? Or maybe he is none of those things.
I’m out.
To every Republican who’s now tweeting #StandWithUkraine after being totally fine with a sociopathic septuagenarian extorting their President by dangling lifesaving military aid in exchange for a bogus investigation- we see you.
We have not forgotten what you did.
And never will.— Jo 🌻 (@JoJoFromJerz) February 28, 2022
This right here: https://t.co/3odyYtwQSD
— Hend Amry (@LibyaLiberty) March 1, 2022
Sure, Ukrainians are fighting for their lives but let’s not forget about the brave Americans fighting to be able to go to Cheesecake Factory unvaxed.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) February 28, 2022
.@CBP—never considered one of America’s funniest law enforcement agencies—just tried to do a bit… they went with “A box of Lucky Charms contained more than blue diamonds and purple horseshoes.”https://t.co/c1jZYK7aPm pic.twitter.com/x9VnUdHFvd
— Adam Isacson (@adam_wola) March 1, 2022
re: #31 wrenchwench
The ruble is basically worthless now as well, so it’s not just electronic money that we can turn off.
— Blue in Red Texas (@RockwallBlue) March 1, 2022
The report of a “40-mile long convoy” may have been mistranslated:
Someone from Ukraine tweeted that we mistranslated the report - they say convoy is 40 miles from Kyiv (not 40 miles long). It’s only 3 to 4 miles long. Road surrounded by impassable bogs. They can be stopped.
— Linda Jack (@ElectLindaJack) March 1, 2022
Can’t believe it’s taking me 6 years to get a PhD when everyone on twitter managed to get one in Eastern European geopolitics in just 4 days
— Aarit Ahuja (@aarit_ahuja) February 27, 2022
re: #36 electrotek
And all those people double majored in epidemiology, besides!
///
Dear @RusEmbUSA: You should watch this video. It is clear that Russia will never be able to pacify or govern 43 million enraged Ukrainians.
Oh, and have you checked your Russian bank accounts lately? Try taking some money out.
P.S. It’s not too late for you to defect. https://t.co/fwlNd0AOu9— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 1, 2022
re: #29 austin_blue
Theodicy is the achilles heel of “ethical monotheism”. That latter is a phrase that Prager tried to make mainstream some 40 years ago.
re: #34 Belafon
[Embedded content]
Yeah, that’s basically what I was about to point out. Most banks ran out of foreign currency over the weekend, and even if they still have some you need a pile of rubles to afford a single dollar or euro. It doesn’t help to take out currency if it’s worthless. This isn’t an economic crisis that’s likely to resolve itself overnight, and most businesses are looking to be understocked or sold out within a matter of weeks if not days.
Since cluster munitions fired from Russian Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS aka ‘Grad’) is being discussed on the news a lot, here is a quick note on “cluster munitions” . Behind private tabs for those not interested.
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
Here is a video of civilian street being hit by cluster munitions during the recent “Nagorno Karabach” war. Please note that nobody is out in the open during this shelling. So no gruesome blood.
I put it behind a separate private label because the display under the previous label was getting munged (technical term) up.
eS9DVmcxR2FkdVhHRHZsWlc4SERFcFA0UHJiREJNMHIxWjdIVVVOSHhoU0JOYjJkUWJnQi9laU1WaDZRd3Q2VWxYWWdoaXhkVE9mOThNTFBHUTVCcHVOM1lEaUoyOXBrZDUrczJuQmtPL3UvTnpYbUpaUzVkUmJuT1MwNVpKcXo0SCtGRVBxNWZwZXdSam9xUG95NnI1b0FEMTBQeFY5akJySmZKeU1KZGxpa3dEdmUzVUdHSEljb1RTcW9HR3RyQkY1ZHdKWUdvR2MwTE1iUnMzaDVlalpNRUhud3NpZU5BSTN3dXJsT1RkUUdvdlJSSXRKbm1Rdm1QVC9qNHo3QzNkQm9UVFN5SUxCUTVVV3lTMG5lRXc9PTo6xWG/ocaKA5mRbtyOsaKxOQ==
By the way, a joke going around right now:
What’s the difference between a ruble and a dollar?
A dollar.
Cluster munitions are generally meant for two missions: Area of effect and area denial. Hence the imprecision and the large number of bomblets, as they’re meant to either hit a wide area indiscriminately or to blow up anything that tries to pass through. A lot of Western nations have signed onto the CCM, but the US has decided that a way around it is to create “smart” submunitions that self-destruct after a set period of time because certain members of the military brass refuse to abandon them entirely.
⚡️ Russian forces have struck Independence Square in central Kharkiv with a powerful explosion.
According to a video of the event, the blast detonated right in front of the headquarters of the Kharkiv Oblast government.
Video: Ukraine NOW/Telegram pic.twitter.com/poZjYcjRjD— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 1, 2022
One thing I’d really like to see the US and the EU do is say, outright and clearly, that the current economic sanctions against Russia will continue (and possibly intensify) until:
1) Russian military activities in Ukraine cease
2) Russia withdraws all military forces, including military contractors and irregular forces, back to Russia’s internationally recognized borders.
And put Belarus on notice that identical sanctions will commence against them in 14 days unless they too meet the aforementioned conditions.
Once Russia has met these demands unconditionally, and after they have concluded a peace agreement with Ukraine, then sanctions will be lifted.
re: #47 Dr Lizardo
I’m pretty sure they have already done it and made that clear.
re: #45 Dread Pirate Ron
[Embedded content]
They’re deliberately targeting civilians. Apparently Putin’s “tricks” are just war crimes, declaring that if the people will not bow to his rule then he’ll simply rule over the rubble.
re: #48 Dread Pirate Ron
I’m pretty sure they have already done it and made that clear.
It needs to be said publicly. Like at a joint US/EU news conference.
Also - announce that the US and the EU will impose sanctions against any country attempting to assist Russia (and Belarus) in getting around the sanctions regime (looking at you, Beijing).
Ukraine crisis: The comic travelling 5,000 miles to fight https://t.co/JXv1K9aiQ9
— BBC North America (@BBCNorthAmerica) February 28, 2022
re: #47 Dr Lizardo
I’m leaning towards making the sanctions on certain individuals permanent. The ones on Russia as a nation, will go away when they leave Ukraine, including Crimea and Donbas, and remove Vladimir Putin from power and turn him over to the ICC.
But then again I’m pissed off…
I know the damn bridge is going to collapse eventually on it’s own, but my suggestion to the Ukraine Air Force right now, take a few of those Su-25s you got from eastern Europe and splash the Kersh Bridge.
So Chris Licht, showrunder for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert… is the new president of CNN. Zucker’s old job. I’m sure hoping that means CNN will get better.
re: #53 sagehen
So Chris Licht, showrunder for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert… is the new president of CNN. Zucker’s old job. I’m sure hoping that means CNN will get better.
I don’t think “news” organizations in the US will get better until they are required to be NPOs.
1 “The resolution of the Ukraine question.” A mistakenly published Russian article gives us a chilling insight into the neo-imperialist thinking in Russia that drives Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. A (long) THREAD.
— Thomas de Waal (@Tom_deWaal) February 28, 2022
I don’t think this has been published here yet, but if so, it deserves a re-up. The whole thing could have been written by the Nazi government. It drops any pretense that this was to save the poor Donbas ethnic Russians from the nasty Ukrainian Nazis led by (checks notes) a Russian-speaking Jew. But nevertheless.
How did that work out pic.twitter.com/es83BGan8d
— Joe Kassabian (@jkass99) March 1, 2022
It’s incredible that so many people I know still follow this obvious bullshit propaganda
— Joe Kassabian (@jkass99) March 1, 2022
re: #45 Dread Pirate Ron
Of course, the actual target could be underground, and not under any of the buildings
Destruction in the Kharkiv governments headquarters hit by a Russian airstrike.#Ukraine #RussiaUkraine #RussiaUkraineWar #Ukrainian #Russia #Russian #UkraineWar #WarInUkraine #PutinWarCriminal #Kharkiv #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineInvasion #WarUkraine #UkraineRussia #PutinHitler pic.twitter.com/phxpr8Zzce
— UKRAINE WAR NEWS (@warinukraine_) March 1, 2022
#Russian missile attack on #Kharkiv Regional State Administration building in #Ukraine #RussiaUkraine #RussiaUkraineWar #Ukrainian #Russia #UkraineWar #WarInUkraine #PutinWarCriminal #Kharkiv #UkraineInvasion #PutinHitler pic.twitter.com/ocWNW4Aajk
— UKRAINE WAR NEWS (@warinukraine_) March 1, 2022
re: #52 Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion
I’m leaning towards making the sanctions on certain individuals permanent. The ones on Russia as a nation, will go away when they leave Ukraine, including Crimea and Donbas, and remove Vladimir Putin from power and turn him over to the ICC.
From the point of view of geopolitical reality, Crimea is possibly the toughest nut to crack. Sadly, that’s one where Ukraine is likely gonna have to take the loss, as painful as that is. Maybe a Russian government not led by Putin and his gang might have a more reasonable position on the matter.
As for those so-called “people’s republics” in the Donetsk Basin? LOL, no, fuck that. That’s Ukraine, end of story. If those folks so badly want to go live in Mother Russia, then they can fucking move there.
Massive Russian vacuum bomb dropped on Ukraine.#Ukraine #RussiaUkraine #RussiaUkraineWar #Ukrainian #Russia #Russian #UkraineWar #WarInUkraine #PutinWarCriminal #RussiaInvadesUkraine #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineInvasion #WarUkraine #PutinHitler #UkraineRussiaCrisis #UkraineRussia pic.twitter.com/HQsRHzNhEx
— UKRAINE WAR NEWS (@warinukraine_) March 1, 2022
re: #56 Teukka
Russian propaganda (@ASB_Breaking is pro-Russian):
European universities in Belgium, France and the Czech Republic have reportedly started expelling Russian students.
— ASB News / WORLD 🌍 (@ASB_Breaking) March 1, 2022
Germany‘s @BILD reporting that the entire staff of Gerhard Schroeder‘s office has resigned. https://t.co/l5Vr6ZPtew
— Frederik Pleitgen (@fpleitgenCNN) March 1, 2022
re: #59 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀 No Capt’n 😷 Trips
I wonder how that filmer made out? That was a Tianjin-level explosion!
re: #58 Dr Lizardo
From the point of view of geopolitical reality, Crimea is possibly the toughest nut to crack. Sadly, that’s one where Ukraine is likely gonna have to take the loss, as painful as that is. Maybe a Russian government not led by Putin and his gang might have a more reasonable position on the matter.
As for those so-called “people’s republics” in the Donetsk Basin? LOL, no, fuck that. That’s Ukraine, end of story. If those folks so badly want to go live in Mother Russia, then they can fucking move there.
I was 100% on the “Just give Crimea to Russia” bandwagon before this. They should have done that in the 90s but that whole “end of the cold war” thing was botched by everyone involved.
Now, as far as I’m concerned the Russian Federation has lost any legitimate claims to anything. They fucked around, and now it’s time to find out.
“иди на хуй” is the only thing they should get.
But then again I’m pissed. At the very least don’t start negotiations the way Congressional Democrats do FFS.
re: #63 Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion
I was 100% on the “Just give Crimea to Russia” bandwagon before this. They should have done that in the 90s but that whole “end of the cold war” thing was botched by everyone involved.
Now, as far as I’m concerned the Russian Federation has lost any legitimate claims to anything. They fucked around, and now it’s time to find out.
“иди на хуй” is the only thing they should get.
What would be the Russian equivalent of “NOPE”?
re: #29 austin_blue
I am off for the rack.
Sorry if I pissed off any Theists, but I just feel that if your God, active in our Universe, doesn’t protect innocent children, he’s not a very proactive God, is he?
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
Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we’re blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe, effective immediately. It’ll take time for our systems to fully ramp up. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action.
— Google Europe (@googleeurope) March 1, 2022
re: #34 Belafon
Even paper money can quickly become worth less than the paper it is printed on if the governments backing it fail.
re: #68 Teukka
I guess they were getting too much shit for only demonitizing them.
re: #42 ckkatz
By the way, a joke going around right now:
What’s the difference between a ruble and a dollar?
A dollar.
When I got to Russia in spring of 1992, the rate was 120 Rubles to the Dollar. By the time I left in late 1993, it was over 600. When it got to 700, they just dropped two zeros and revalued it at seven to the dollar.
How long until they reach 700 again?
re: #69 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
Even paper money can quickly become worth less than the paper it is printed on if the governments backing it fail.
IIRC, you noted that when you were in Russia in the early 1990s, the ruble was about 700:1 against the USD.
I say we shoot for the moon! Let’s keep those sanctions going until the Russian Central Bank is getting into Zimbabwe-level ruble banknotes.
100 trillion ruble note, here we come!!
re: #58 Dr Lizardo
From the point of view of geopolitical reality, Crimea is possibly the toughest nut to crack. Sadly, that’s one where Ukraine is likely gonna have to take the loss, as painful as that is. Maybe a Russian government not led by Putin and his gang might have a more reasonable position on the matter.
As for those so-called “people’s republics” in the Donetsk Basin? LOL, no, fuck that. That’s Ukraine, end of story. If those folks so badly want to go live in Mother Russia, then they can fucking move there.
Russia does have a valid claim to the Crimean peninsula. But taking it by force was another matter. Unilaterally re-drawing recognized international borders is a bad idea and a terrible precedent.
re: #61 Dr Lizardo
Ex-German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s entire staff resigns
He was a major driving force behind Nord Stream 2, member of its board of directors, etc…
He came out recently and called for “an immediate end to the war”.
Of all the people who should just go fuck off on vacation on their private yacht and shut the fuck up, it is him
re: #63 Jack Burton in Mactified Forshion
I was 100% on the “Just give Crimea to Russia” bandwagon before this. They should have done that in the 90s but that whole “end of the cold war” thing was botched by everyone involved.
Now, as far as I’m concerned the Russian Federation has lost any legitimate claims to anything. They fucked around, and now it’s time to find out.
“иди на хуй” is the only thing they should get.
The Soviet Union was allowed to fall apart with out any discussion, much less resolution of questions about the fate of the millions of ethnic Russians left stranded outside Russia. This act of wanton political neglect has now really come home to roost.
LOL that face when you realize you’ve made a Faustian bargain:
❗️Dictator #Lukashenko convened his expanded Security Council and said that air defense facilities in #Belarus had been put on alert to “prevent back-stabbing of #Russian troops”. pic.twitter.com/ef91yx4UTv
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 1, 2022
Putin’s cabana boy in Minsk seems to be having second thoughts….
Belarus leader says Minsk won’t join Russian operation in Ukraine, Belta reports https://t.co/u3PUSM8b6r pic.twitter.com/PMm8UtwIsZ
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 1, 2022
Big Thread: After a few more days of war, I’ve been carefully monitoring Russian social media reaction and production and I’m more convinced than before that Putin’s regime has totally overestimated its ability to win a propaganda war.
— Dr. Ian Garner (@irgarner) February 28, 2022
Thread on Russian domestic social media: the government didn’t prep the population, and compares this to WWI far more then WWII, with a “detached tsar” directing an abstract war.
I had up to this point assumed that Belarus was already in Putin’s pocket, but this va-banque move that he pulled in trying to swallow the whole of Ukraine has really started to go sour.
re: #80 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
I had up to this point assumed that Belarus was already in Putin’s pocket, but this va-banque move that he pulled in trying to swallow the whole of Ukraine has really started to go sour.
Very foolish of Putin to not make 100% sure that Lukashenko was fully onboard, no wavering or backpedaling.
BREAKING: Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping line, to suspend deliveries to and from Russia.
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) March 1, 2022
Watching the market futures. Yes, yes, yes. Shit, shit, fuck, goddamnit!
Near Kharkiv. pic.twitter.com/HXaBgjBF8j
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) March 1, 2022
re: #82 Dr Lizardo
I used to teach English at a school that trained logistics and shipping clerks. Those poor people. First all the headaches they had to deal with over Brexit and now Russian trade going tits-up…
The chief executive of the UK’s biggest private pension scheme is seeking to offload its £450m of assets linked to Russia, saying there is a moral as well as financial imperative for companies to do so after the invasion of Ukraine.Simon Pilcher, the head of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, said it had sold off about half of its portfolio of investments connected to Russia in the last few weeks.
“We think there is a clear financial as well as a moral case for divestment with respect to our Russian holdings,” said Pilcher, speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday.
re: #85 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
I used to teach English at a school that trained logistics and shipping clerks. Those poor people. First all the headaches they had to deal with over Brexit and now Russian trade going tits-up…
A couple of my students here are involved in logistics, with a of product coming from Ukraine. Needless to say, every day now involves a crisis meeting.
🇨🇳 TikTok, a Chinese owned app, restricted 🇷🇺 Russian state media RT and Sputnik in EU 🇪🇺
— Intelsky (@Intel_sky) March 1, 2022
North Korea has fired a missile earlier.
— InsideNK (@inside_nk) February 27, 2022
Somebody is lonely.
Russia has been stripped of hosting the Volleyball World Championships in August and September due to its invasion of Ukraine, governing body the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced on Tuesdayhttps://t.co/tDDNuYiWjZ
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) March 1, 2022
Ukraine’s Parliament says Belarusian troops entered Chernihiv region north of Kyiv, citing information from Vitaliy Kyrylov, spokesman for the Northern Territorial Defense Forces. https://t.co/mMHTBDgIiA
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 1, 2022
re: #79 ericblair
Go to Google Maps. Go to Russia. Find a restaurant or business and write a review. When you write the review explain what is happening in Ukraine.
Idea via @Konrad03249040— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) February 28, 2022
Translation: The food was great! Unfortunately, Putin spoiled our appetites by invading Ukraine. Stand up to your dictator, stop killing innocent people! Your government is lying to you. Get up!
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) February 28, 2022
The International Skating Union has given Russia and Belarus the boot….
The ISU Council reiterates its solidarity with all those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the entire Ukrainian people and country. The ISU Council reaffirms its full solidarity with the ISU Members in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Speed Skating Federation and the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation. The ISU Council will evaluate possibilities for swift humanitarian assistance to its Ukrainian ISU Members.
The ISU Council carefully evaluated the IOC Statement of February 28, 2022 as well as appeals received from ISU Members and others calling for a ban on the participation of Skaters and Officials from Russia and Belarus in ISU Events and other International Skating competitions.
Following the IOC recommendation, in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.i.q)i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with immediate effect and until further notice, no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in International ice skating Competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU Events. The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus.
The ISU Council will continue to closely monitor the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the ISU activity and will take additional steps if and when required.
I’m the queen of four.
emRxOGNyS1ZFZzd6KzBUdjQ3azg3UEQzZ2s0L0hOM0dLdGkzU3NzOHVvMVFrRVUrY1AzVTgwc2lDbGpFclhHMnBrSjlXUU5QWDYzYW4rMTNYN0pGRTJjTzJtSk80TUhQUWxnRk5JelZjTm5xVE12Y0E1T2hmVkxMQnhraCtxdEo5RW5xRlR5RDlKd1Z5ZjUxK0YrRm9RPT06OgMN6M8uASUPkK6Ifjn91yM=
U.S. payment card firms Visa Inc (V.N) and Mastercard Inc have blocked multiple Russian financial institutions from their network, complying with government sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.Visa said on Monday it was taking prompt action to ensure compliance with applicable sanctions, adding that it will donate $2 million for humanitarian aid. Mastercard also promised to contribute $2 million.
I don’t recall who turned me on to Quordle but I absolutely love it. It’s really challenging and makes me think. Four different words at one time.
Thanks to whomever it was!
Last night a large group of RU warships was about to launch landing on Odesa beaches. They approached the coast. RU was about to shell the beach. UA was about to shoot back, when they suddenly withdrew. Reports that marines from Crimea refused to attack Odesa.
— olexander scherba🇺🇦 (@olex_scherba) March 1, 2022
Can’t say it’s confirmed, but the guy reporting it is an ex-ambassador and therefore probably not a loon. Also, compelling the residents of occupied territory to participate in hostilities for the occupier is a war crime, if I remember correctly, so just lump that one on the pile for the ICC.
I got this in my morning Guardian email:
Boris Johnson will fly to Nato’s border with Russia today to meet leaders of Poland and Estonia, and to visit British troops.
Photo op incoming.
hi
The latest on my sister-in-law trapped in Russia.
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
re: #100 Anymouse 🌹🏡😷
L1RpTnhwWC81dVROT2M5VFlZVG5YdUo1MENaKzJFN2pCbGFGeDdwUW1KaXJpRm5uWGRpQS9sVCtCQ1ZqdCtjanFSS3cyRTJDaXlzZUsxblliMUZsZ0lqWGZZYXlrRGlPMWlLV2ZLR1E2MjZ5UThoRUZqV2xoN2ZxdGdiOFRlaExKUWtFbmtCb2VYNUowMXA4L28rVUcybXltRVVCNXlqTld6THd0N3BPVFlqRFRCUnBpOUtpbHBYYTFxczFzQUYrcm12SFVScllETVMvWk40K1ZIeSttVEorTVdWL090ckkrRGxwVnNqa0NtcE1mTy9FUFpPMkFkSFF0UC90ZGhhbGtRYm95ZC9JRS9uWlU5SWZJd3VldlByMVpYallyY0k3RHdPVDJuNjFNUHFySUczT21nRkhKeHZEVXNkblhPTy9PT1RjWTFSRjh3V3NPa2FveG95VUczVzFZZkpnU0ozaVdaV3RSa2g1R3hFOTNlZkgxdDRqejZjQmNVa1Zsa1habUVqaDdvSW5XdkphREdzSisvZkd5WG1hcU92ckhsR1d1VUgyZzNvNG12aXVaMDEyR3RnZm1kN3RFNkRNZDdJQjh2WDNpOExSRmZ1YWN4Z0Vuczg1aGpSR2ZjL1ArdVBjeGlTb0x4Y014cStraHgzaXY2QVZlVUwvcGprd1FlNWw3NjBqbXphNHlLdEVSRVA4ckc3WmxEbGttVjJnS0Q4WjlkM1ZTWmpWTXhFL2pnWlFFUTdnWXBiakdZZWVCd0JZME4xWUZ5Qm95MzhuQU9TMXphSjVLUzdiRE5mcTVzeEl3QnpQZ3poaDh6YVI1ajdmeEN2RXVneDJ6UXNseUw0VGVWK1VtczNzVWZhT2VoOG1EQVg2OWc9PTo6RiwV3a+VnXarebOwEPps3Q==
Russian ruble is now worth less than 1 U.S. cent after SWIFT bank sanctionshttps://t.co/y8JqCvL3Kf
— TIME (@TIME) March 1, 2022
Always love when drunks come in in the middle of morning, comment upon the lack of alcohol in our market, and then suggest I should keep some around so people like them don’t have to sober up after the bars close and convenience stores stop selling beer.
Doubly fun when I know the pricks are due to check-out later this morning, which means they’re gonna need to sober up quickly.
Turkey’s restrictions on Russian vessels in the Black Sea is starting to create problems for Russia.
At least 4 Russian warships are currently unable to cross the Bosphorus.— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 1, 2022
re: #97 Yeah Sure WhatEVs
I don’t recall who turned me on to Quordle but I absolutely love it. It’s really challenging and makes me think. Four different words at one time.
Thanks to whomever it was!
I’m afraid that may have been me. I got Quordled by a friend on FB and again I overthought the last word today.
Daily Quordle #36
8️⃣3️⃣
5️⃣🟥
quordle.com
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜ 🟨⬜🟨🟩⬜
🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟨🟨⬜🟩🟩
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜🟩🟨🟩🟩
Not official yet, but….
Polish media report that by the end of the week Poland will break off diplomatic relations with Russia, close all RU diplomatic posts (Warsaw, Poznan, Gdansk, Krakow) and expel all diplomats https://t.co/DYt8eBs2f1
— Max Fras (@maxfras) March 1, 2022
4/6 on the wordle.
Super excited by the tweet about Turkey slowing the Russian fleet.
Positive vibes coming your way Anymouse.
I am supposed to wake up in two hours to go to the airport to fly home. Yeah…going to wait for the first 10 minutes of Morning Joe because I like him when he’s pissed off at his party…for a few minutes…then I remember he and Mika are wearing matching latex underwear and it skeeves the fuck out of me.
So you’re stuck with early me for a few more minutes before I try to sleep again.
Deep dive into how #Russia’s state bureaucracy sees Putin’s decision to got to full-scale war with Ukraine by well-connected @faridaily_ : tl;dr: Only few were in the loop, there’s little public outrage now, but sizable despondence or even discontent. https://t.co/oSRZA9U4YQ
— Fabian Burkhardt (@fa_burkhardt) March 1, 2022
Interesting thread on internal Russian dynamics. Essentially, almost everybody didn’t know the whole plan, and Putin caught them all off guard. That would seem to be a bad way to go about this. And if this is a bunch of ass-covering by people who want to save their skins in the fallout, that says a lot too.
ETA: The Russian text under the picture says “Carefully pronounce the word assh*le”
Biden should propose a US energy bill as a pro-Ukraine, anti-Russia measure.
Take the energy components of Build Back Better. They reduce US demand for both oil and natural gas, which hurts Putin.
Add support for further LNG exports.
Balance it over 10 years for Manchin. Go.— Ramez Naam (@ramez) February 28, 2022
LOL, flailing and failing. Or, “How To Speedrun Your Economy Into The Toilet In 90 Days”.
Russia is temporarily banning western companies from exiting Russian investments, PM Mikhail Mishustin says. pic.twitter.com/g2E0kC3eim
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 1, 2022
re: #111 Dr Lizardo
LOL, flailing and failing. Or, “How To Speedrun Your Economy Into The Toilet In 90 Days”.
[Embedded content]
I recognize the words, but together they make no sense. How can they force foreign companies to continue investing in Russian ones?
re: #112 Targetpractice
I recognize the words, but together they make no sense. How can they force foreign companies to continue investing in Russian ones?
I honestly have no idea. Could just be big talk.
Shoigu: The Ministry of Defense will organize in August the first International Anti-fascist Congress in Moscow.
George Orwell’s estate should seek plagiarism damages.— Christo Grozev (@christogrozev) March 1, 2022
Nord Stream 2 Owner Considers Insolvency After Pipeline Halt, Sanctions - RTRS Sources https://t.co/CYUQ2RKcmI
— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) March 1, 2022
Decided to check in on our favorite little traitor…looks like he feels bad about his pre-invasion rhetoric. Good. Fuck him.
I’m not suspended from the ceiling above a barrel of acid by a rope that burns a little faster every time I tweet, you concern-trolling ghouls. I’ve just lost any confidence I had that sharing my thinking on this particular topic continues to be useful, because I called it wrong.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) February 27, 2022
re: #112 Targetpractice
I recognize the words, but together they make no sense. How can they force foreign companies to continue investing in Russian ones?
If you divest we will make you pay more if you reinvest.
“Putin must understand that his savagery will be met with unrelenting economic pressure and that the West will be united in supporting Ukraine”
UK PM Boris Johnson says “we are ready for a prolonged crisis”https://t.co/uv3fvBQ0fT pic.twitter.com/1IPe7hpn6F— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) March 1, 2022
re: #112 Targetpractice
I recognize the words, but together they make no sense. How can they force foreign companies to continue investing in Russian ones?
Something along the lines of “keep up your present investments or Russia seizes all you corporate property in Russia.”
re: #119 Anymouse 🌹🏡😷
Something along the lines of “keep up your present investments or Russia seizes all you corporate property in Russia.”
Sign contracts with dictators and find out.
From Lenta: https://t.co/KzMoW1MnYs
— Anastasiia Lapatina (@lapatina_) February 28, 2022
re: #116 darthstar
Decided to check in on our favorite little traitor…looks like he feels bad about his pre-invasion rhetoric. Good. Fuck him.
You wouldn’t have to tweet this from a different country if we had a government that followed the constitution.
— Libertarian Party of Tennessee (@LPTN1776) February 27, 2022
re: #105 darthstar
I’m afraid that may have been me. I got Quordled by a friend on FB and again I overthought the last word today.
I have won every day except the first (just like with the original wordle [funny, Chrome doesn’t capitalize Wordle but it does offer Wardle], I lost one since the NYT took over). Quordle really makes you think. It’s like Sudoku but way more interesting.
Thanks for turning me on to that! Anything to give the old (focus on old) brain a workout.
re: #116 darthstar
Decided to check in on our favorite little traitor…looks like he feels bad about his pre-invasion rhetoric. Good. Fuck him.
[Embedded content]
Wow, so Eddie shut up because he couldn’t be sure anything he said was worthwhile?
Do wonders never cease?
re: #125 Targetpractice
Wow, so Eddie shut up because he couldn’t be sure anything he said was worthwhile?
Do wonders never cease?
GG could learn a lesson from him!
re: #112 Targetpractice
I recognize the words, but together they make no sense. How can they force foreign companies to continue investing in Russian ones?
That was my first question. Perhaps sales of Russian stock? Other than that, I have no idea how they enforce that.
re: #117 darthstar
If you divest we will make you pay more if you reinvest.
Reinvestment might come years from now. Maybe. Depending on leadership.
re: #130 Teukka
Some heroes don’t wear capes and only care about money even in the face of human rights violations and the horrors or war and also they aren’t heroes they’re just assholes https://t.co/a7F65kuKEL
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) February 28, 2022
re: #119 Anymouse 🌹🏡😷
Something along the lines of “keep up your present investments or Russia seizes all you corporate property in Russia.”
Oh hai, friend. That also tracks; didn’t Russia “nationalize” something a few years ago, by which I mean, the government forcibly seized all of the assets? That would correspond to your hypothesis, and it also wouldn’t be out of character for the current crazy regime.
re: #121 darthstar
Oh brother.
According to Kadyrov, the Chechen Republic will introduce mirror sanctions if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and The head of European Diplomacy Josep Borrell do not abandon their statements against Russia.
“And yet, despite all this comedy, it is time for harsh revenge, and the measures should be mirrored … Close the Chechen sky for the flights of their jets; - Freeze all of Johnson’s ruble-denominated assets in Chechen banks; - Impose an embargo on all assets of British oligarchs in Achkhoy-Martan, and in case of deterioration - in Samashki; - To recognize the left-hand drive movement as a nefarious relic of the Middle Ages; “And finally, to admit that there is no English tea!”, - the politician emphasized.
The head of Chechnya gave these persons “a deadline of February 31.” Kadyrov said that this would be an example for other countries to “henceforth think before imposing any sanctions.”
Considering where they are in the world, the only impact might be someone from one of the Stans trying to fly to Moldova.
And I am sure that Boris has a ton of assets in Chechen banks.
Is this the Russian version of The Onion?
Russia’s Libertarian Party (yes, they have one) comes out against sanctions on Russia because they hurt the little guy. They believe only sanctions on individual government figures should be the way to go.
For what that’s worth, they support seizing property from Russian officials (that’s a switch for Libertarians).
Обращение ко всем либертарианцам мира (Russian Libertarian Party statement in Russian and English, Statement by the Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Russia Boris Fedyukin)
re: #131 ericblair
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They’re libertarians abiding by Rule of Acquisition #34: “War is good for business.”
How it started How it’s going pic.twitter.com/a8DFm6uHUf
— James Lindsay, not altogether on anybody’s side (@ConceptualJames) February 28, 2022
re: #133 Yeah Sure WhatEVs
Oh brother.
Considering where they are in the world, the only impact might be someone from one of the Stans trying to fly to Moldova.
And I am sure that Boris has a ton of assets in Chechen banks.
Is this the Russian version of The Onion?
“February 31?”
#BREAKING: US Intelligence has made evaluating Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state of mind a top priority in recent days as it seeks to establish how that is affecting his handling of the rapidly escalating Ukraine crisis. (CNN)
— Instant News Alerts (@InstaNewsAlerts) March 1, 2022
Oh guys, fucking hell…
As the storm of Putin’s war gathered, I was begging my mom to leave Volnovakha.
She did not want to do that and argued hard.
I literally FORCED her into leaving hours before Russia invaded.
Now Volnovakha is razed to the ground.— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) March 1, 2022
re: #140 darthstar
That’s some write-up on Biden.
re: #88 Dr Lizardo
A couple of my students here are involved in logistics, with a of product coming from Ukraine. Needless to say, every day now involves a crisis meeting.
I worked with Polish colleagues in our company’s Export department back when we had to deal with Soviet customs on a regular basis. I don’t know how many times it was a Friday afternoon and we were all just getting ready to pack up and leave and a phone call would come, and the colleague would exclaim “Kur-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-va!”.
And based on how many r’s he drew it out, the longer we were going to be stuck there until we got the problem settled…The “kurva curve”
re: #142 Yeah Sure WhatEVs
That’s some write-up on Biden.
The guy doesn’t suck, and he’s got a pretty good set of accomplishments under his belt.
re: #116 darthstar
Decided to check in on our favorite little traitor…looks like he feels bad about his pre-invasion rhetoric. Good. Fuck him.
If it makes you feel better, Eddie, we lost our confidence in what you say ages ago.
Big Thread: After a few more days of war, I’ve been carefully monitoring Russian social media reaction and production and I’m more convinced than before that Putin’s regime has totally overestimated its ability to win a propaganda war.
— Dr. Ian Garner (@irgarner) February 28, 2022
re: #147 Decatur Deb
Phrenology.
I used to tell a phrenology joke about being a dog in a previous life. Tell people the phrenologist said I had a small bump on the back of my head that indicated a canine past and would ask them to feel it…then growl at them when they touched it.
Another thing that puzzles me: I had fully expected Russian “fifth column” attacks to be more widespread and effective.
I thought that Putin would have had people already in place sabotaging communications, transportation and energy infrastructure supported by massive hacking attacks, and that his troops would just have to come in and occupy targets already paralyzed and defenseless.
None of that seemed to materialize.
re: #79 ericblair
Great thread suggestion.
Here is a piece of the thread. (the second tweet)
Someone at LGF mentioned something about the long-table meeting being 12 floors below the surface. I think Putin’s isolation will be another ingredient in the population’s overwhelming disaffection with the tyrant.
On the other side, the Russian government is pushing an increasingly impersonal narrative. All we’re seeing is images of Putin and his generals in vast meeting rooms, adorned with Rococo panelling, in unidentified places.
— Dr. Ian Garner (@irgarner) February 28, 2022
re: #151 Ming5000
There are still Putinversteher spreading stories of Ukrainian atrocities and mistreatment of ethnic Russians, and of course the Nazi/Zionist/Soros/Global Capital connections, NATO aggression, godless western decadence and how that all justifies bombarding Ukrainian civilians.
re: #146 BigPapa
That’s a great thread…worth the full read.
another image I’d never thought I would see from Brussels: several flags of #Ukraine side by side with the EU ones outside the European Parliament building. normally these flagpoles are reserved for the flags of the 27 EU member states. pic.twitter.com/bXqrD2tV0N
— Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) March 1, 2022
Scene inside the European parliament in Brussels, ahead of video speech by Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Standing ovation for Ukraine’s ambassador to the EU. pic.twitter.com/e28sZGz7nr— Jennifer Rankin (@JenniferMerode) March 1, 2022
Volodymyr Zelenskiy to the European parliament:
“We have proven that we are exactly the same as you are… do prove that you are with us, do prove that you will not let us go, do prove that you are Europeans.”
Standing ovation. pic.twitter.com/69g7bsC4ol— Jennifer Rankin (@JenniferMerode) March 1, 2022
EU high rep Josep Borrell: “I think this is the moment in which the geopolitical Europe is being born.”
— Jennifer Rankin (@JenniferMerode) March 1, 2022
re: #110 darthstar
Spent some time floating on my back yesterday. The view did not suck.
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Elvis lives!
/
After reading Fiona Hill’s chilling interview yesterday I’ve delved into more big brain historical reads and analysis. I think Trump in office delayed Putin taking Ukraine as Trump was damaging the NATO alliance and US political will against Russia. I was thinking COVID delayed the inevitable but now think it’s the opposite: Putin is himself terrified of getting COVID but doesn’t give a shit about anybody else. Once it was clear Trump was out of office he started making plans.
He sees himself as emperor of the Slavic peoples returning the kingdom to glory. And he’ll risk the deaths of many Slavs in fratricide and potential nuclear armageddon to do it.
re: #154 Backwoods_Sleuth
In another year, there’s going to be a referendum in the UK called Bre-Enter.
President Zelenskyy has earned his Lakota name — Akicita Was’te Ke — “Warrior of Hope.” Also, I embrace the man as an honorary brother to the Lakota Nation. 🇺🇦🪶
— Lakota Man (@LakotaMan1) February 28, 2022
The irony of Russia and it’s exploits in various hacking and social media fuckery: they’ve been in a guerilla war online for a long time as architects and vandals, subversives and trolls. But they’re not sophisticated enough to wage a ‘world war’ on social media and control the narrative when everybody else rises up and fights back in unison. Their propaganda and social media presence has gone as well as their Ukrainian invasion.
It’s a huge mistake of him to release photos of large tables with so much space between him and his staff. I’m sure he thinks it makes him look strong but it does the opposite: it makes him look weak, afraid, isolated. Juxtapose that with Zelensky and his comrades.
re: #160 BigPapa
The irony of Russia and it’s exploits in various hacking and social media fuckery: they’ve been in a guerilla war online for a long time as architects and vandals, subversives and trolls. But they’re not sophisticated enough to wage a ‘world war’ on social media and control the narrative when everybody else rises up and fights back in unison. Their propaganda and social media presence has gone as well as their Ukrainian invasion.
It’s a huge mistake of him to release photos of large tables with so much space between him and his staff. I’m sure he thinks it makes him look strong but it does the opposite: it makes him look weak, afraid, isolated. Juxtapose that with Zelensky and his comrades.
I would wager that the Russian troll farms are often more focused on generating ad revenue via bot traffic than anything else. And assuming that ‘industry’ is as corrupt as their military is, there’s probably no project manager who has been organizing the cyber rollout to coincide with the invasion. They could have, but they didn’t think ahead and it shows.
re: #156 BigPapa
[Putin] sees himself as emperor of the Slavic peoples returning the kingdom to glory. And he’ll risk the deaths of many Slavs in fratricide and potential nuclear armageddon to do it.
That has been my hobbyhorse for ages.
He could have just bitten off the two breakaway regions and gotten away with it, but his big gamble does not seem to be paying off. I really thought that he had Belarus in his pocket and that Ukraine would be a matter of days plus some mopping-up actions and that would have given him the Slavic core of nations ne needed to expand into the Baltics, Caucasus and Central Asia.
Now even Belarus is seems to be having second thoughts.
Here is a thread, related to the thread Mr. Eric posted.
This brilliant thread by Dr. Garner on how the Russians are losing the propaganda war got me thinking of another dimension of that loss — the image of women. (1/10) https://t.co/0KvTU6fcOZ
— Tricia Starks (@tricia_starks) February 28, 2022
re: #163 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
Yup. Aligns with many of the big brain reads. He considered Ukraine ‘lost’ as it’s become ‘Western’ right on his border. He’d be content with border countries not being in Russia but under their control. Hard not to consider his thinking is based in racism and anti-Semitism. This thread is revealing. Lots of problematic language packaging.
1 “The resolution of the Ukraine question.” A mistakenly published Russian article gives us a chilling insight into the neo-imperialist thinking in Russia that drives Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. A (long) THREAD.
— Thomas de Waal (@Tom_deWaal) February 28, 2022
None of the taxi apps on my phone work right now, understandably.The only way to travel is to hire a taxi at train stations. I proceeded to ask a local woman for directions. The combination of my accent and my clearly foreign dress sense had set her on edge. She asked me to pronounce the word “Palyanitsa” — the Ukrainian word for a traditional loaf of bread — three times. The word is composed of sounds that native Russian speakers can not pronounce correctly. It has emerged as a shibboleth in this war. Which I knew having spent that morning watching the social media videos of alleged Russian saboteurs being taken by Ukrainian men at gunpoint in Kharkiv.
The woman looked me in the eyes and asked me directly if I was an infiltrator. I barely passed the test but my American passport and press credentials helped. As did the fact that I had an Odessa-born wife. Her own hu
DC Trucker convoy is getting less trafficky.
However, the now-issued park permit has since revised the initial 3,000 attendee prediction downward, with the number now fewer than 500 participants who will gather besides the Washington Monument at the Sylvan Theater.
Yes, that’ll be seven porto-potties please…no, not seventy. There was a clerical error. Can I get a refund on my deposit for the other sixty-three?
It’s been record dry out here in the west so far this year:
Forecast for the coming week offers just a slight hope for rain:
..
re: #166 Shropshire Slasher
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That pic needs its caption: A reported “Russian collaborator” is duct taped to a pole in Ukraine, according to local social media.
odessa preparing its defenses
“guys, for history: russian warship!”
“go fuck yourself!”
“glory to ukraine!”
“glory to the heroes!”
“glory to the nation!”
“death to the enemy!”
“these people have not been defeated.” https://t.co/lICREM2Din— Talia Lavin (@swordsjew) March 1, 2022
Biden and his team have not only rebuilt U.S. relations with NATO and the rest of the free world — that Trump had weakened — but made them stronger. Biden deserves strong bipartisan praise now and support in the tough days ahead.
— Walter Pincus (@walterpincus) February 28, 2022
GENEVA: Western diplomats walk-out en masse from a virtual speech made by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov pic.twitter.com/9PyacRYRMc
— Alistair Bunkall (@AliBunkallSKY) March 1, 2022
⚡️⚡️⚡️The European Parliament has accepted Ukraine’s application to join the European Union. A special admission procedure has begun.
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 1, 2022
re: #169 darthstar
That pic needs its caption: A reported “Russian collaborator” is duct taped to a pole in Ukraine, according to local social media.
Thank you, I can do that!
For the past two days the word “Samarkand” has been rolling around my head.
Getting old that I am, and not remembering things as well as I did, I had to go refresh my knowledge of what “Samarkand” is/was.
An ancient city, now part of Uzbekistan. I’ve probably watched documentaries that have covered the Silk Road and likely that is how the name got wedged into memory.
Turns out the Russians made it part of the Russian Empire in 1868. Then of course it was wrapped up into the USSR. Only when the USSR dissolved in 1991 did Uzbekistan become independent again.
So Samarkand was under Russian control for 123 years.
Something to think about.
A detailed map of possible flanking maneuvers to gain access to Kyev:
Zelensky urged the EU to recognise Ukraine as a member - a move sure to infuriate Vladimir Putin - saying his nation has ‘proved that we are your equals’ and it is now time to ‘prove that you are at our side’. It came as Ukraine claimed that Belarusian troops have now entered the war, as Russia’s close ally helps tighten the noose.
re: #173 Backwoods_Sleuth
What happens when Ukraine is admitted? What changes? Will the EU then be empowered to intercede within Ukraine?
Some answers in the comments
1) Ukrainians could move freely within EU without a visa
2)Ukrainian people in other countries in EU would be able to find work. Displaced Ukraine people will be able to find work easier.
3) EU admission is purely economic, not military
Nordstream 2 AG fires all 140 employees. https://t.co/SsjVJkqwhJ
— Carsten Volkery (@CarstenVolkery) March 1, 2022
Oh, well. Wonder who took all the coffee mugs to sell on Ebay.
re: #178 ericblair
Oh, well. Wonder who took all the coffee mugs to sell on Ebay.
I would gladly own one.
re: #175 Love-Child of Cassandra and Sisyphus
For the past two days the word “Samarkand” has been rolling around my head.
…
So Samarkand was under Russian control for 123 years.Something to think about.
There are over 7 million ethic Russian in the former Central Asian republics, most of them in Kazakhstan.
re: #175 Love-Child of Cassandra and Sisyphus
It was the capital of Timur’s Empire.
Things have gone well for Ukraine and horrible for Russia. But I think this is by no means close to being over and it’s going to be a long and horrible road.
Long thread about how I think the first 96 hours have gone, still very early/incomplete impressions. The initial Russian operation was premised on terrible assumptions about Ukraine’s ability & will to fight, and an unworkable concept of operations. Moscow badly miscalculated. 1/
— Michael Kofman (@KofmanMichael) February 28, 2022
The unified backlash against Putin is unprecedented.
The Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter has announced that outspoken Putin supporter and Munich Philharmonic Chief Conductor Valery Gergeiv has been fired. Gergeiv had been given three days to distance himself from Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine; he didn’t respond. pic.twitter.com/m76KMLYQop
— Anthony Princiotti (@tonyprinciotti) March 1, 2022
I haven’t lost this much sleep since Trump was still in office. I guess I’ll sleep when I’m dead.
re: #186 darthstar
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It only just struck me that Zelensky is going to go down in history as the man who challenged a nuclear power. And, at least in the early stages, appears to be winning.
re: #179 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
I would gladly own one.
With the logo crossed out like Ghost Busters.
Oh, good morning!
Day seven, and they still have no idea I’m a bear. pic.twitter.com/ZyYDNKmQaa
— Jamie Gnuman197… (@JGnuman197) February 28, 2022
re: #187 Dopamine Fish
It only just struck me that Zelensky is going to go down in history as the man who challenged a nuclear power. And, at least in the early stages, appears to be winning.
early stages. I am optimistic but still on the lookout for new developments that could alter the outlook.
because my optimism has taken a major beating since 2016…
re: #190 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
early stages. I am optimistic but still on the lookout for new developments that could alter the outlook.
because my optimism has taken a major beating since 2016…
I was very careful to qualify my statement. It’s been less than a week since Comrade Putin attacked. Ukraine is doing better than many anticipated - especially in the media campaign - but it isn’t over until it’s over.
re: #190 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
early stages. I am optimistic but still on the lookout for new developments that could alter the outlook.
because my optimism has taken a major beating since 2016…
Cautiously optimistic. Really hoping our stingers and additional lethal aid arrive in time to help them defend Kyiv. Be nice if they were able to strafe the firs two or three miles of that convoy and make the rest of it a parking lot of failure. 40 miles of abandoned vehicles as Russians walk home would be beautiful. Won’t happen, but it would be beautiful.
re: #191 Dopamine Fish
I was very careful to qualify my statement. It’s been less than a week since Comrade Putin attacked. Ukraine is doing better than many anticipated - especially in the media campaign - but it isn’t over until it’s over.
On the other hand, I thought it would be all but over by now when Russia first attacked…
re: #193 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
On the other hand, I thought it would be all but over by now when Russia first attacked…
I think they assumed Zelensky would exile himself. That was a mistake.
re: #193 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
On the other hand, I thought it would be all but over by now when Russia first attacked…
I agree. I think that was many people’s expectation. As we’ve discussed at least once, Americans in particular are oddly attached to an overestimation of Russian military capabilities. We really really want for Russia to be the Big Bad Evil Empire that the Soviet Union was of old.
re: #196 Dopamine Fish
I agree. I think that was many people’s expectation. As we’ve discussed at least once, Americans in particular are oddly attached to an overestimation of Russian military capabilities. We really really want for Russia to be the Big Bad Evil Empire that the Soviet Union was of old.
We rarely understand that this was the Red Army all along.
re: #197 William Lewis
We rarely understand that this was the Red Army all along.
I barely remember Gorbachev and the fall of the Soviet Union, but I do remember it. I remember, as a kid, wanting to be a fighter pilot (I watched Top Gun several times) and wondering if I would face off against seasoned Soviet pilots in their state-of-the-art MiG-29’s. Oh, if only young me had known.
re: #30 Patricia Kayden
Here’s a helpful Venn diagram: pic.twitter.com/yR3QXUvH3k
— Jo 🌻 (@JoJoFromJerz) March 1, 2022
re: #199 lawhawk
You backed Trump.
Trump tried extorting Zelinsky to get dirt on Biden.
Trump was looking to withhold weapons from Ukraine to get dirt on Biden.
Trump was impeached the first time for this.
You voted to cover up Trump’s criminal conduct.
You’re a treasonweasel and Putinist.— lawhawk #vaxxedforfamilyandcommunity (@lawhawk) March 1, 2022
re: #199 lawhawk
Funny how, now that the political winds are all blowing Ukraine’s way, they’re all sweeping their pro-Putin comments under the rug. It’s almost like they’re all unprincipled cowards who don’t have the integrity or the courage to say what they really believe, only spouting what they think their voters want to hear.
I wonder if Biden demanded that Zelinsky drop his investigation of Hunter as a condition for sending aid…
re: #201 Dopamine Fish
Speaking of cowards and spineless hacks, we now segue to Chris Christie - Trump’s Reek.
Still incapable of standing up to Trump.
You refuse to use his name. Weird. The GOP is full of craven cowards who refuse to stand up for what’s right and just. You covered for a corrupt thug.— lawhawk #vaxxedforfamilyandcommunity (@lawhawk) March 1, 2022
re: #202 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
I wonder if Biden demanded that Zelinsky drop his investigation of Hunter as a condition for sending aid…
“I need you to do me a favor.”
re: #77 Dr Lizardo
LOL that face when you realize you’ve made a Faustian bargain:
Mussolini probably made similar faces reading the war news from Sicily in 1943….
re: #197 William Lewis
We rarely understand that this was the Red Army all along.
They were badass in the 1940s though …
re: #191 Dopamine Fish
I was very careful to qualify my statement. It’s been less than a week since Comrade Putin attacked. Ukraine is doing better than many anticipated - especially in the media campaign - but it isn’t over until it’s over.
And its not going to be over until the Russians leave. Putin may get a “mission accomplished” moment by turning Kyiv to rubble, but how long can Russia sustain an occupation of Ukraine against a committed insurgency as an isolated pariah state?
I saw a comment by a Ukrainian who posts on conditions that showed the large metal door to the Kyiv subway; he explained that the subway was designed by the Soviets to be used as a bunker in case of nuclear war.
So, if you’re a country nominally in Putin’s orbit and watching how badly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is going, would you:
1) send your own troops in to help, knowing that the rest of the world would impose the same sanctions on you?
2) sit back and let things play out;
3) side with Ukraine, knowing that Russia is a paper tiger and that the EU/NATO is the future of Europe?
I’m thinking most countries would rationally pick 2. Perhaps the people of those countries would like to see 3, but 2 is best we could hope for.
Anyone who thinks jumping in on the losing side is a winning bet, knowing that sanctions can ruin Russia, let alone a poor nation like Belarus (ranks 78th in the world at $68 billion). All but a handful of US states have a larger economy than Belarus. For comparison, California, Texas, and New York State each have a larger economy than Russia (and on per capita basis, it’s even more stark).
re: #210 lawhawk
So, if you’re a country nominally in Putin’s orbit and watching how badly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is going, would you:
1) send your own troops in to help, knowing that the rest of the world would impose the same sanctions on you?
2) sit back and let things play out;
3) side with Ukraine, knowing that Russia is a paper tiger and that the EU/NATO is the future of Europe?I’m thinking most countries would rationally pick 2. Perhaps the people of those countries would like to see 3, but 2 is best we could hope for.
Anyone who thinks jumping in on the losing side is a winning bet, knowing that sanctions can ruin Russia, let alone a poor nation like Belarus (ranks 78th in the world at $68 billion). All but a handful of US states have a larger economy than Belarus. For comparison, California, Texas, and New York State each have a larger economy than Russia (and on per capita basis, it’s even more stark).
Though you may choose 1 if you think choosing 2 or 3 would be rewarded by a bullet in the head and your replacement by another Putin puppet.
re: #187 Dopamine Fish
It only just struck me that Zelensky is going to go down in history as the man who challenged a nuclear power. And, at least in the early stages, appears to be winning.
Like Vietnam and Afghanistan.
re: #212 Belafon
Like Vietnam and Afghanistan.
You’re not wrong, and we all know how Afghanistan turned out (both times).
any way for us to launch several hundred cruise missiles without Russia knowing where they came from? Asking for a friend. Also, I tried quordle, and you’ll be happy to know that this will be the only time I post one of these, and I’m only doing it so that if you’ve never tried it, you’ll get a sense that it’s an absolute blast. The reason the upper-left panel is one line is because it turned out my guess word was the word (so those of you who laughed when I told you I used “query,” suck it, Wordle Nerds!) LOL! I almost posted my blue cross/blue shield bill. Okay, let’s try it again:
re: #210 lawhawk
I am hoping some of the “republics” will take the chance to shrug off more of the Russian control. Belarus might even be in for regime change.
The Supreme Court has a case coming up in which it is going to decide whether to give absolute immunity from suit to the Border Patrol for violating the Constitution, or if its going to extend that immunity to all agents of the federal government. The odds of any other outcome are low. vox.com
re: #196 Dopamine Fish
I agree. I think that was many people’s expectation. As we’ve discussed at least once, Americans in particular are oddly attached to an overestimation of Russian military capabilities. We really really want for Russia to be the Big Bad Evil Empire that the Soviet Union was of old.
Everyone except Biden, who is intent on crushing Putin.
re: #215 Ming5000
I am hoping some of the “republics” will take the chance to shrug off more of the Russian control. Belarus might even be in for regime change.
If Putin falls, can Lukashenko be far behind?
re: #139 Teukka
Here is his state of mind, and it goes along with many of the oligarchs as well as a good chunk of multi-billionaires around the world:
We are now living in a world where Putin and a special class of multi-billionaire is essentially stateless, not beholden to any normal sense of nation-state allegiance beyond what wealth and personal power can be gained from belonging. Putin lives apart from normal Russians in a world of isolated remote fortresses probably able to withstand nuclear attack and equipped with enough rations and other means to last a lifetime.
The worldwide mega-yacht phenomenon means the billionaire class of individual has their own portable island able to escape all of the conflict, embargoes and sanctions involving their own country of origin. They have mostly divorced themselves from the common existence of the average citizen and do not share the sense of personal mortal danger armed conflict brings with it. They can just escape at will to whatever tropical island they desire. Putin can simply live comfortably in a fortress(es) that dot the vast Russian frontier.
We see this stateless billionaire club holding no allegiance to any sort of traditional nation-state or sharing in the fear of death and famine with the likes of Rupert Murdoch and Elon Musk but this disassociation is common amongst a large percentage of ultra-rich around the world. They are above us, they are simply a better, more entitled natural winner to all the wealth and power the world has to offer. And they can simply leave anytime in any mode of transport they want.
re: #207 No Malarkey!
They were badass in the 1940s though …
they weren’t so much badass as it was that there were millions of them. their war losses were shocking. I assume their population has never actually recovered from it. then sending millions of to gulags probably didn’t help.
Just before Russia’s invasion, Microsoft threat analysts near Seattle saw warnings of a powerful new malware targeting Ukraine.
Microsoft was able to notify Ukrainian officials and update systems to block the malware as the ground war was beginning. https://t.co/BITVWMVIBl— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) March 1, 2022
I’m certain there’s a lot that’s been going on below the waterline, and it looks like Ukraine and the West have been doing quite well.
re: #111 Dr Lizardo
LOL, flailing and failing. Or, “How To Speedrun Your Economy Into The Toilet In 90 Days”.
A lot of countries have barriers to taking money out of their country. Easy to invest money in, but difficult to get it back out. But knowing about these barriers also make outside international companies leery of investing for that reason, and that a country (or region) that is unsteady or corrupt might just decide to seize assets or “nationalize” things and cause a total loss of the investment.
Jim Crow and KKK activity did not help the South after the Civil War. Northern investment money went into the west rather than the south for that reason among others. Which slowed the recovery there even more.
re: #218 No Malarkey!
If Putin falls, can Lukashenko be far behind?
Depends on how tight a security-state he’s set up (pretty tight by most reports). Also: how many Belarussians get sent home in body bags; Lukashenko seems to be trying his best to keep that last number as close to zero as possible. I think he’s smart enough to know the difference between backing a losing side in a war, and actually joining it
re: #220 steve_davis
they weren’t so much badass as it was that there were millions of them. their war losses were shocking. I assume their population has never actually recovered from it. then sending millions of to gulags probably didn’t help.
A common misperception. Yes, there were millions of them. But there were millions of Germans as well. The Soviets had better tanks, better intelligence and better tactics than the Germans, and beat them fair and square.
re: #144 darthstar
The guy doesn’t suck, and he’s got a pretty good set of accomplishments under his belt.
The GOP has to deride Biden continuously since any sort of fair comparison to what he does and TFG would show competency and respect for government as compared to toddler kleptocracy.
re: #223 Jay C
Depends on how tight a security-state he’s set up (pretty tight by most reports). Also: how many Belarussians get sent home in body bags; Lukashenko seems to be trying his best to keep that last number as close to zero as possible. I think he’s smart enough to know the difference between backing a losing side in a war, and actually joining it
Apparently not, since he announced Belarus was joining Russia in the invasion. If Putin falls, Belarus will stand alone, under sanction from most of the world. Maybe Lukashenko can survive turning Belarus into a Hermit Kingdom like North Korea, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Just In: Russia to invite Pakistan, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, India, Ethiopia & other countries in “Anti Fascist Conference.”
■ Grand Conference aims at combating fascism, to be held in Moscow in coming months.— South Asia Index (@SouthAsiaIndex) March 1, 2022
*cue laugh track*
re: #149 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
Another thing that puzzles me: I had fully expected Russian “fifth column” attacks to be more widespread and effective.
I thought that Putin would have had people already in place sabotaging communications, transportation and energy infrastructure supported by massive hacking attacks, and that his troops would just have to come in and occupy targets already paralyzed and defenseless.
None of that seemed to materialize.
Eight years of separatist activity with fig-leaf concealed Russian involvement might well have had Ukrainian counter-intelligence pretty well-tuned to attempts to damage infrastructure and spying.
re: #218 No Malarkey!
If Putin falls, can Lukashenko be far behind?
Let’s not count our heads of dictators on pikes just yet.
re: #163 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
That has been my hobbyhorse for ages.
He could have just bitten off the two breakaway regions and gotten away with it, but his big gamble does not seem to be paying off. I really thought that he had Belarus in his pocket and that Ukraine would be a matter of days plus some mopping-up actions and that would have given him the Slavic core of nations ne needed to expand into the Baltics, Caucasus and Central Asia.
Now even Belarus is seems to be having second thoughts.
The knives start to come out and the puppets start to look for the exits when the strong man appears to no longer be strong. A major reason they often double down since if they go down they will generally not be given a chance to get back up again.
When you get away from US-centric twitter, there are many differing voices out there:
The Ukrainians have their opinions too.
— freetoken fights fecking fascists (@freetoken) March 1, 2022
re: #163 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
I saw someone else mention on dkos that Belarus was getting cold feet. Is this confirmed?
re: #224 No Malarkey!
A common misperception. Yes, there were millions of them. But there were millions of Germans as well. The Soviets had better tanks, better intelligence and better tactics than the Germans, and beat them fair and square.
The Soviets took one hell of a beating in the opening phases of the war, but they were basically handicapped by Moscow’s insistence that “there is no war in Ba Sing Se”. Once Stalin acknowledged reality and gave his generals the resources they needed, they hit back, and the Germans who were frozen in the Russian mud paid dearly for their hubris.
re: #195 darthstar
I think they assumed Zelensky would exile himself. That was a mistake.
A politician would have run. Ukraine has a leader and he stayed.
re: #201 Dopamine Fish
Funny how, now that the political winds are all blowing Ukraine’s way, they’re all sweeping their pro-Putin comments under the rug. It’s almost like they’re all unprincipled cowards who don’t have the integrity or the courage to say what they really believe, only spouting what they think
their votersTrump and the fascists want to hear.
FTFY.
re: #227 DodgerFan1988
[Embedded content]
*cue laugh track*
Are Republicans worried?
— Blue in Red Texas (@RockwallBlue) March 1, 2022
re: #210 lawhawk
So, if you’re a country nominally in Putin’s orbit and watching how badly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is going, would you:
1) send your own troops in to help, knowing that the rest of the world would impose the same sanctions on you?
2) sit back and let things play out;
3) side with Ukraine, knowing that Russia is a paper tiger and that the EU/NATO is the future of Europe?I’m thinking most countries would rationally pick 2. Perhaps the people of those countries would like to see 3, but 2 is best we could hope for.
Anyone who thinks jumping in on the losing side is a winning bet, knowing that sanctions can ruin Russia, let alone a poor nation like Belarus (ranks 78th in the world at $68 billion). All but a handful of US states have a larger economy than Belarus. For comparison, California, Texas, and New York State each have a larger economy than Russia (and on per capita basis, it’s even more stark).
Is another factor in the decisions by the dictators in Belarus and Chechnya that if Putin goes down that they might well go down soon afterwards to popular revolutions since the big bad bear’s troops won’t be there to prop them up?
re: #238 Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire
Today is supposed to be a balmy 34 °F (1.1 C). We’re having a bit of a melting trend in the piles of snow outside the window; yesterday, we were forecast to get another dumptruck-load of the white wet stuff this weekend, but now, it looks like it’s just going to be miserable freezing rain.
re: #236 Belafon
[Embedded content]
Are Republicans worried?
— Blue in Red Texas (@RockwallBlue) March 1, 2022
that they’re not invited?
re: #236 Belafon
So how are our local yahoos going to react when they find out that their idol Putin is going to be officially “Antifa”???
LOL indeed
re: #239 Dopamine Fish
Today is supposed to be a balmy 34 °F (1.1 C). We’re having a bit of a melting trend in the piles of snow outside the window; yesterday, we were forecast to get another dumptruck-load of the white wet stuff this weekend, but now, it looks like it’s just going to be miserable freezing rain.
Enjoying the “good weather” whilst I can. Supposed to turn crappy Friday night with possible snow over the weekend.
re: #196 Dopamine Fish
I agree. I think that was many people’s expectation. As we’ve discussed at least once, Americans in particular are oddly attached to an overestimation of Russian military capabilities. We really really want for Russia to be the Big Bad Evil Empire that the Soviet Union was of old.
it’s partially how to justify the defense budget
re: #243 Dangerman
it’s partially how to justify the defense budget
Yep. I mentioned that in the last discussion of this topic.
A new report found climate change is unfolding so rapidly that it may soon become impossible for us to adapt.
This is a five-alarm fire.
We need all hands on deck, taking unprecedented action to fight back.
An Apollo-like project to save us. A Green New Deal.— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 28, 2022
re: #224 No Malarkey!
A common misperception. Yes, there were millions of them. But there were millions of Germans as well. The Soviets had better tanks, better intelligence and better tactics than the Germans, and beat them fair and square.
It is often just assumed in the West that the Soviets simply threw waves of attackers at the Germans until they ran out of bullets.
Although there were certainly examples of that, the Battle of Stalingrad, and even more Operation “Bagration” (the liberation of Belarus) were brilliant campaigns at both the strategic and tactical levels.
In both cases, The Red Army had the Germans completely snookered in terms of their intentions until it was too late and the Germans lost entire armies.
re: #232 darthstar
I saw someone else mention on dkos that Belarus was getting cold feet. Is this confirmed?
I have also heard that they have intervened, so best to wait for more news.
re: #243 Dangerman
Russia throws out a new tech - a high speed cruise missile. Everyone suddenly thinks that our navy can’t handle hypersonic weapons. We have to build a countermeasure system.
Russia shows off a new model fighter jet. We think we no longer have air dominance. So we build new weapons to counter.
The reality is that the Russians aren’t able to deploy those systems in significant numbers to make a difference. The Russians went to war in Russia with a bunch of older tanks - T-90s, and not the Armata’s that are supposed to be their front line tank.
The equivalent here would be if the US went to war in Iraq and sent our M-48/M-60 tanks while holding back the M1 tanks. Russia has just a handful of aircraft that match up in capabilities to US front line fighters like the F-22 or F-35. It’s also been clear that the Russian pilots don’t match up to US pilots because of the lack of resources for training and preparation, and that counts even more than the equipment itself.
About those “rockets” being photographed across Ukraine, my understanding from some of the tweets is that these are the rocket booster stage of the rocket, that disengages from the warhead. I think these are from the Grad?
A quick google didn’t help me.
Any Lizard have a better insight?
Another haunting image out of Kharkiv. A rocket embedded in a children’s playground. pic.twitter.com/HOH2m3bU3V
— Michael Weiss 🌻 (@michaeldweiss) February 28, 2022
re: #248 lawhawk
It’s also been clear that the Russian pilots don’t match up to US pilots because of the lack of resources for training and preparation, and that counts even more than the equipment itself.
I mentioned watching Top Gun several times when I was young. As you’re well aware, no doubt, the Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program was instituted because the seasoned combat veteran pilots who won the day over the lesser-trained Japanese and German replacement pilots in WWII - and untrained Korean and Chinese pilots over Korea - were, themselves, replaced by novice pilots, who suffered appalling losses over Vietnam. Much of that was attributed to a lack of air-to-air combat training; early Air Force thinking was that guided missiles and supersonic jet fighters would make dogfights obsolete, but they turned out to be very wrong.
re: #249 Ming5000
About those “rockets” being photographed across Ukraine, my understanding from some of the tweets is that these are the rocket booster stage of the rocket, that disengages from the warhead. I think these are from the Grad?
A quick google didn’t help me.
Any Lizard have a better insight?[Embedded content]
From the Grad?
Whatever will Trump and the treasonweasel caucus do now that their flow of funds is getting choked off?
— lawhawk #vaxxedforfamilyandcommunity (@lawhawk) March 1, 2022
140 million Americans have had coronavirus, according to blood tests analyzed by CDC https://t.co/y1pUSoQ61l
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 1, 2022
re: #249 Ming5000
About those “rockets” being photographed across Ukraine, my understanding from some of the tweets is that these are the rocket booster stage of the rocket, that disengages from the warhead. I think these are from the Grad?
A quick google didn’t help me.
Any Lizard have a better insight?
From what I have researched, two different rocket carriers:
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
The smerch carries the larger 300 mm diameter rockets with about 500 pounds of explosive (about one bomb from a flying fortress). I am not sure they separate in flight. From the physics aspect of it the rocket in your photo looks like a dud, since you need mass to punch a hole if frozen ground.
I could be wrong.
Difficult
Wordle 255 4/6
⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟨
🟩🟨⬜🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
re: #252 lawhawk
I would laugh so loud if Trump released a statement lambasting the freezing of assets. Would tell us he was impacted.
re: #247 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
I have also heard that they have intervened, so best to wait for more news.
I just saw this recent tweet, but not evidence
It looks like Belarusian military has finally joined Putin’s war.
Not surprising at all, but this is so sorry to see.— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) March 1, 2022
re: #254 Shropshire Slasher
From what I have researched, two different rocket carriers:
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.orgThe smerch carries the larger 300 mm diameter rockets with about 500 pounds of explosive (about one bomb from a flying fortress). I am not sure they separate in flight. From the physics aspect of it the rocket in your photo looks like a dud, since you need mass to punch a hole if frozen ground.
I could be wrong.
I’ve seen a comment on-line that the object embedded in the playground is a rocket body from a Grad. But it’s the carrier for a set of cluster munitions, so once they’ve been dropped off it’s a relatively inert object with no additional explosive payload of its own.
re: #254 Shropshire Slasher
From what I have researched, two different rocket carriers:
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.orgThe smerch carries the larger 300 mm diameter rockets with about 500 pounds of explosive (about one bomb from a flying fortress). I am not sure they separate in flight. From the physics aspect of it the rocket in your photo looks like a dud, since you need mass to punch a hole if frozen ground.
I could be wrong.
It’s mud season in Ukraine.
re: #259 FFL (GOP Delenda Est)
I’ve seen a comment on-line that the object embedded in the playground is a rocket body from a Grad. But it’s the carrier for a set of cluster munitions, so once they’ve been dropped off it’s a relatively inert object with no additional explosive payload of its own.
According to Wikipedia, the Grad only carries 122 mm rockets, that is about 5 inches in diameter. I am not trying to argue, I am just trying to visualize and understand.
re: #252 lawhawk
Whatever will Trump and the treasonweasel caucus do now that their flow of funds is getting choked off?
We are going to see a lot of weird (but probably not unexpected) fallout from this as quiet sources of money suddenly get cut off.
I was one of very few journos inside Chechnya during the Dec.‘99 war. Putin was directly in charge, the brutality of the attacks was unbelievable. The Russians had NO concern whatsoever for the civilians trapped in the city. Barbaric. My picture of Grozny central market: pic.twitter.com/QYZadrshza
— Bruno Stevens (@brunosphoto) March 1, 2022
re: #253 Belafon
With total official fatalities approaching one million, that is a fatality rate of 0.7%, a lot higher than antivaxxers believe.
SCOOP—Russian attacks cut off access to the main warehouse for Novo Nordisk drugs in Ukraine, a source says. All of NN’s insulin in 🇺🇦 is stored there. Unless warehouse access restored, pharmacies only have a couple days of #insulin left. ➡️This is also a crime against humanity. pic.twitter.com/GsFBteDFfu
— Eric Feigl-Ding 💙💛 (@DrEricDing) March 1, 2022
Two rando comments:
This CANNOT be forgotten. The MSM is already buying the “Yeah, they said nice things about Putin, but they’ve seen the light” lie. No, they just got caught. He embodies exactly what they want in a “leader”.
….
not seeing *any* of the Putin apologizers saying “I was wrong.” They’ve just pivoted from being pro-Putin to pro-Ukraine while trying to pretend Putin doesn’t exist.
Then they’ll spew some Trumpian fabrication like “No one has ever been harder on Putin than me” and the MSM won’t question it.
….
They’ve all learned to propaganda so well
re: #223 Jay C
Depends on how tight a security-state he’s set up (pretty tight by most reports). Also: how many Belarussians get sent home in body bags; Lukashenko seems to be trying his best to keep that last number as close to zero as possible. I think he’s smart enough to know the difference between backing a losing side in a war, and actually joining it
there’s a funny early quote from Army at Dawn where Hitler gives a thoroughly sarcastic zinger about the Italians finally being courageous enough to join the war, once Germany had conquered the rest of Europe.
Hi..I just felt a need to comment that I just saw the most recent pictures of Putin..and being a person with MS..I notice that he has the signs that Micheal J Fox was trying to deal with appearing in public and his symptoms of Parkinson’s were showing,,and he appeared as a frequent guest in shows that I watched like Madame Secretary.
His signs that really stood out was frequently grabbing his left arm to subtly move it..and shrugging of the shoulder in the left side..also helps with movement of the left arm..
His appearing at a table keeping you away from everyone and viewed from afar, and you have the excuse of being paranoid about Covid, is also a perfect cover.
He also is getting the moon face of really frequent steroid user.. And that dosage..combined with Parkinson’s..is and can be be a nightmare..especially if he’s taking them through IV treatment…and is tapering down…
MS patients also use steroids IV for a treatment after or during a flare, I had it once IV and never again..never.
So thanks for listening to my 2 cents..
re: #249 Ming5000
About those “rockets” being photographed across Ukraine, my understanding from some of the tweets is that these are the rocket booster stage of the rocket, that disengages from the warhead. I think these are from the Grad?
A quick google didn’t help me.
Any Lizard have a better insight?[Embedded content]
yes, saw that confirmed by someone in a tweet. they ARE absolute evidence that cluster bombs were used there.
re: #265 Shropshire Slasher
Does the mud know it is mud season?!
/
Just give the grounds crew at Wrigley a hose with enough water, and I’ll bet they can touch up the in-field enough to give the Away team a miserable time of it.
Rubio’s brain is absolute mush if he thinks covid testing has anything to do with Marxism.
It’s got everything to do with keeping people safe (you know, pro-life!)— lawhawk #vaxxedforfamilyandcommunity (@lawhawk) March 1, 2022
re: #271 justaminute
Nice to see you Justa! Hope all is well with you & your family. Xo
re: #267 No Malarkey!
With total official fatalities approaching one million, that is a fatality rate of 0.7%, a lot higher than antivaxxers believe.
A lot of them still think they won’t catch it.
And if they do they’ll miraculously power through because they’re in great shape or they take vitamin x or some other nonsense
Nothing to see here.
RHI0eFdvTEt1MGxuSzRhZ1hCWWFOamlrTEZ0aW85NGY4TUFDc2lyVW9qQXkrU3ZIUnc0bW9MSktFMDFvY0VmUzZBdUhyWEpON2lmMDlZaUlOMUdmQUVBZXhyU3F0dHZlUkRXTXAxTTB1ZmhDUWloZmZydHFMeXFjOEU4MWJrTnE6OlILJNWiOLr7S5sfEj72FeI=
If interested in what Russia may or may not be fielding:
Uragan-1M
military-today.com
Tornado
military-today.com
9A52-2T Smerch
military-today.com
Smerch
military-today.com
Uragan
military-today.com
Tornado-G
military-today.com
Grad-K
military-today.com
There are a few more.
cute:
Me, a reporter, just trying to have a normal conversation with my brother, a treasury department official, about Russia. pic.twitter.com/K3H4asjQm7
— Rose White (@rosekellywhite) February 28, 2022
Note how map shows Moldova!
Lukashenko, addressing his security council, points to a map of Ukraine that shows what look like planned troop movements, infrastructure targets, and the country divided into four parts pic.twitter.com/O81hpIvZM3
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 1, 2022
Lukaschenko is banter gold. We are not worthy.. https://t.co/4pw6PK5IBs
— Sanghi Dylan (@dylanhead94) March 1, 2022
🛑🛑🛑‼️‼️‼️#BREAKING
SENIOR ADVISOR TO @ZelenskyyUa YERMAK SAYS THAT 1 OF THE #PUTIN REGIME TERRORISTS AIRSTRIKES ON THE KYIV TV TOWER DESTROYED THE BABI YAR MEMORIAL PARK , SYNANGOUE,
KYIV REGIONAL CLINICAL HOSPITAL AND TV MUSEUM DAMAGED #UKRAINE #RUSSIA https://t.co/bzIRnhf4rQ pic.twitter.com/8TI0OG1R0q— Слава Україні🇺🇦 (@ignis_fatum) March 1, 2022
re: #287 Ming5000
Can you give us a clue?
It looks like the Russians will be going for Moldova next, and Lukashenko just tipped Putie’s hand..
Seen out there
The ruble is going down faster than Gym Jordan on a 12 year old wrestler.
Its only indicative estimates.But it illustrates well the situation of the occupier.The enemy is demoralized,he’s in agony.The occupiers are firing on civilians because Ukrainians with weapons are too strong for 🇷🇺.🇺🇦will win.The whole world with us cuz their safaty depends on us pic.twitter.com/j4GCXxTHJm
— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) March 1, 2022
Even if you note that the casualties and damaged/destroyed vehicles are vastly inflated, it’s still a significant number.
I mean this is really a major thing, right? Conservatives refusing to change anything from what they believed when they were 12, seeing any shifting of their childhood truths as a threat to their whole being. It ain’t great. https://t.co/FobsBtnKuy
— David M. Perry (@Lollardfish) March 1, 2022
re: #297 jaunte
I will never give up on Constantinople. NEVER!
re: #298 Dopamine Fish
I think there’s a song about it.
I wonder what the odds are of another “You lie!” moment at tonights SOTU?
It’s the first one by a Democratic President since 2016 and the first since the Pandemic started.
re: #297 jaunte
[Embedded content]
“I’d Like To Send This Letter To The Prussian Consulate In Siam By Aeromail. Am I Too Late For The 4:30 Autogyro?” - Montgomery Burns
re: #271 justaminute
An interesting observation, thanks for posting it. I’ll start watching for it.
QktvK1p1Y1lLT05ZUzhSaXI5VFJQZkE4YzJERnh2cVdqUEdQWE1QRVNRbz06OgTxO9hnNQpvL0oeiGBTY10=
re: #303 b.d
Yes, but the boy can carry it by Autokinetic.
re: #297 jaunte
[Embedded content]
I still call sri Lanka ceylon
And eff “the netherlands”
It’ll always be Holland to me
Now Monty python/penguin television set would never have worked with “myanmar”.
Why did you say Myanmar?
I panicked.
Doesnt ring
// except for the Python part
re: #294 lawhawk
[Embedded content]
Even if you note that the casualties and damaged/destroyed vehicles are vastly inflated, it’s still a significant number.
i would not be surprised if damaged/destroyed equipment is pretty spot on. I’m guessing the CIA has something parked overhead providing those beautiful images that Google Earth can only dream of. “Hey, Jones, can you focus in on the registration plate on that burned out tank. We should send flowers to the Missus.”
But we don’t have to change the food names, right? It’s still Chicken Kiev and Peking Duck?
re: #306 Dangerman
When my family lived in Holland, it was pretty much interchangeable with Nederlands, but we were in that province.
re: #308 sagehen
But we don’t have to change the food names, right? It’s still Chicken Kiev and Peking Duck?
This somehow, weirdly, reminded me of when conservatives pushed for “Freedom Fries” back in the post-9/11 era, and now I can’t get the irony out of my head.
re: #221 ericblair
[Embedded content]
I’m certain there’s a lot that’s been going on below the waterline, and it looks like Ukraine and the West have been doing quite well.
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
re: #308 sagehen
But we don’t have to change the food names, right? It’s still Chicken Kiev and Peking Duck?
Unless its performative “freedom fries”
Though they never went for freedom onion soup, did they?
And look for another wave of thousand Island dressing
re: #308 sagehen
But we don’t have to change the food names, right? It’s still Chicken Kiev and Peking Duck?
The Spanish are too nice and friendly, we literally call you guys the wrong name… Sorry.
Watch the full clip from PALE TOURIST: https://t.co/OfC54rl53R pic.twitter.com/xIgVJrSfi4— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 10, 2020
re: #298 Dopamine Fish
I will never give up on Constantinople. NEVER!
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam….
Oops… A little premature their Putin..
Brave new world of Putin: An article by the propaganda publication RIA Novosti, which was to be published after the occupation of Ukraine
excerpt
Russia is restoring its unity; the tragedy of 1991, this terrible catastrophe in our history, its unnatural dislocation, has been overcome. Yes, at a great cost, yes, through the tragic events of a virtual civil war, because now brothers, separated by belonging to the Russian and Ukrainian armies, are still shooting at each other, but there will be no more Ukraine as anti-Russia. Russia is restoring its historical fullness, gathering the Russian world, the Russian people together - in its entirety of Great Russians, Belarusians and Little Russians.
… China and India, Latin America and Africa, the Islamic world and Southeast Asia - no one believes that the West leads the world order, much less sets the rules of the game. Russia has not only challenged the West, it has shown that the era of Western global domination can be considered completely and finally over….
re: #309 jaunte
When my family lived in Holland, it was pretty much interchangeable with Nederlands, but we were in that province.
Isn’t Holland to the Netherlands like England is to the UK? A large part of a multi-part whole?
re: #275 lawhawk
My decision to continue to mask in the office even though masks became optional today confirmed when I found out the coworker across the hall from me is home with covid. She is vaccinated, so I hope it will remain a mild case.
re: #310 Dopamine Fish
This somehow, weirdly, reminded me of when conservatives pushed for “Freedom Fries” back in the post-9/11 era, and now I can’t get the irony out of my head.
Sauerkraut was re-named “liberty cabbage” during World War I.
re: #319 No Malarkey!
My decision to continue to mask in the office even though masks became optional today confirmed when I found out the coworker across the hall from me is home with covid. She is vaccinated, so I hope it will remain a mild case.
I wouldn’t go into an office. They announced that my office was reopening, claiming it’s now safe, and I was thinking about taking some time off and spending my 401K when my manager told me we don’t have to come in.
re: #317 Eclectic Cyborg
12 Provinces:
Drenthe, Gelderland, Groningen, Flevoland, Friesland, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland and Zuid-Holland
So, the Republicans are presenting one message to the voters at the State of the Union tonight heading into the midterms and the Democrats are presenting three? Do I have that right?
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) March 1, 2022
Nothing in this “victory” over Ukraine article talks about the BS justification for the attack in the first place.
Now this problem is gone - Ukraine has returned to Russia. This does not mean that its statehood will be liquidated, but it will be reorganized, re-established and returned to its natural state as a part of the Russian world.
…
Here begins the second dimension of the coming new era - it concerns Russia’s relations with the West. Not even Russia, but the Russian world, that is, three states, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, acting in the geopolitical dimension as a whole. These relations have entered a new stage - the West sees the return of Russia to its historical borders in Europe. And it is loudly indignant at this, although in the depths of his soul it must admit that it could not be otherwise.
…
Did anyone in the old European capitals, in Paris and Berlin, seriously believe that Moscow would give up Kyiv? That the Russians will forever be a divided people?
…
If now the Atlanticists are happy that the “Russian threat” will unite the Western bloc, then in Berlin and Paris they cannot fail to understand that, having lost hope for autonomy, the European project will simply collapse in the medium term.
re: #244 Dopamine Fish
Yep. I mentioned that in the last discussion of this topic.
i was out that day
(i brought a note from home)
re: #323 Eclectic Cyborg
The Republicans represent the white nationalists, and the Democrats are everyone else, so Democrats will have much more diverse ideas.
Looks like Russia is holding off on ground forces now, opting for air assaults. It’s going to get real ugly.
re: #323 Eclectic Cyborg
GOP messaging today: we need to be energy independent. Drill baby drill.
But don’t do any of that green energy stuff, because that’s icky (even though that terminates our need to deal with foreign oil and oil price shocks from petrostates like Russia making threats against others).
As it is, the US does import a significant amount of oil from Russia, even as US remains energy independent (we export more than we pump ourselves). US production continues rising, but the companies that hold mining leases aren’t exploiting them because they benefit from the high oil prices- they have record profits.
So, when you think about global oil market pricing, remember that Biden doesn’t control that and any US move can easily be offset by reduced demand elsewhere to keep prices artificially high. Oh, and high oil prices are needed to justify the higher costs to produce from tar sands and shale oil fields. If prices collapse, those sources of domestic production go offline too because it would cost more to produce it than to just keep it in the ground.
re: #321 Punish Domestic Terrorists
I wouldn’t go into an office. They announced that my office was reopening, claiming it’s now safe, and I was thinking about taking some time off and spending my 401K when my manager told me we don’t have to come in.
Being vaxxed and boosted and wearing an N95 mask, I personally feel like the risk is small, though I fully support anyone taking the measures they need to feel safe. One coworker has a child with health conditions, and I don’t know when, if ever, she will return to the office.
re: #330 No Malarkey!
Being vaxxed and boosted and wearing an N95 mask, I personally feel like the risk is small, though I fully support anyone taking the measures they need to feel safe. One coworker has a child with health conditions, and I don’t know when, if ever, she will return to the office.
If there was a benefit, the small risk might be a reason to go in, but I’m much less productive at my crappy workstation in the office than at home, and wearing a mask all day when I could be comfortable at home isn’t acceptable.
re: #327 Punish Domestic Terrorists
The Republicans represent the white nationalists, and the Democrats are everyone else, so Democrats will have much more diverse ideas.
Perhaps, but this thing in recent years of everyone having to have a ‘response’ to the SOTU is getting ridiculous. Responses get more attention than the address itself, mostly because responses can always be spun to attack Democrats.
re: #332 Renaissance_Man
Perhaps, but this thing in recent years of everyone having to have a ‘response’ to the SOTU is getting ridiculous. Responses get more attention than the address itself, mostly because responses can always be spun to attack Democrats.
Which putz lost the coin flip and gets to do the presentation of the GOP “response” this year?
re: #333 FFL (GOP Delenda Est)
Which putz lost the coin flip and gets to do the presentation of the GOP “response” this year?
Someone I will not listen to.
re: #325 Kilroy was here
Nothing in this “victory” over Ukraine article talks about the BS justification for the attack in the first place.
Nor any acknowledgment that “unity” that needs to be enforced by military force against (AFACBD) the will of the people being “unified” isn’t really “unity”…..
re: #193 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))
On the other hand, I thought it would be all but over by now when Russia first attacked…
And so did the Russians. I think many of us were hoping that the occupation would be Russia’s downfall but none of us (at least those who were not FP or military experts) ever expected that Ukraine would have held out successfully for this long. It’s still too early to know how the military part of the campaign will end, but at least we have hope now, as fragile as it may prove.
Belarusian strong man Alexander Lukashenko said he warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that if Russia’s invasion continues to be slowed down, that they might resort to carpet bombing, state news agency Belta reported on Tuesday. #CNN #Ukraine #Russia
— Frederik Pleitgen (@fpleitgenCNN) March 1, 2022
re: #238 Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire
I so need that coffee mug, lol.
re: #333 FFL (GOP Delenda Est)
Which putz lost the coin flip and gets to do the presentation of the GOP “response” this year?
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, of all people.
I really didn’t expect the answer to be right when I typed it in.
Wordle 255 4/6
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Russia has invented a new justification for the war; Ukraine is supposedly seeking to obtain nuclear weapons. news.yahoo.com
re: #340 A Cranky One
re: #342 No Malarkey!
Russia has invented a new justification for the war; Ukraine is supposedly seeking to obtain nuclear weapons. news.yahoo.com
They should have them with a rogue nuclear state on their border.
re: #338 A Mom Anon
I so need that coffee mug, lol.
Thanks. It was a gift from Rebecca. I don’t know where she got it though.
re: #337 Teukka
“Quit or we’ll hurt your little folk” while they at the same time whine about how sanctions are going to hurt the little folk in Russia (and Belarus) and not the oligarchs.
re: #342 No Malarkey!
Russia has invented a new justification for the war; Ukraine is supposedly seeking to obtain nuclear weapons. news.yahoo.com
It’s a little late, Vlad. You made the Ukrainian president way too popular for that to mean anything.
re: #344 Punish Domestic Terrorists
Russia would have better excuse by claiming that Chernobyl was a cover for discovering a MUTO and that the New Safe Confinement was meant to hide the true nature of the “meltdown” from prying eyes and that Ukraine was exploiting the MUTO capabilities for their own purposes.
re: #348 lawhawk
Russia would have better excuse by claiming that Chernobyl was a cover for discovering a MUTO and that the New Safe Confinement was meant to hide the true nature of the “meltdown” from prying eyes and that Ukraine was exploiting the MUTO capabilities for their own purposes.
MUTO?
re: #333 FFL (GOP Delenda Est)
Which putz lost the coin flip and gets to do the presentation of the GOP “response” this year?
re: #339 Eclectic Cyborg
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, of all people.
I guess they figured she would be a lot more presentable than some of real nutbars like MTG. Though I’m sure that whatever “response” she delivers is likely to be the same trite recitation of insults, cliches, grievances and culture-war nonsense that’s all the GOP seems to have left.
re: #328 GlutenFreeJesus
Looks like Russia is holding off on ground forces now, opting for air assaults. It’s going to get real ugly.
the more buildings they destory and burn out, the more of a nightmare it becomes for actual occupation. If I were going to fight as a civilian, I’d much rather be working from all the hidey-holes provided by destroyed buildings, rather than trying to run from one intact building to another across bare streets.
re: #352 Punish Domestic Terrorists
Google is your friend. Japanese giant monsters like Godzilla.
So, a type of Kaiju?
russian occupiers have shelled on residential neighborhoods in Kyiv, killing at least 5 civilians. now terrorists are planning to shell also other facilities in the center of the capital. my cat and I are forced to sit in a shelter. pic.twitter.com/t939zj8YuW
— пані кіттен (@cappuchina_pr) March 1, 2022
re: #267 No Malarkey!
With total official fatalities approaching one million, that is a fatality rate of 0.7%, a lot higher than antivaxxers believe.
There was a recent article saying that US deaths are about 30% higher than the official numbers — which would mean a fatality rate of 1%.
re: #353 steve_davis
the more buildings they destory and burn out, the more of a nightmare it becomes for actual occupation. If I were going to fight as a civilian, I’d much rather be working from all the hidey-holes provided by destroyed buildings, rather than trying to run from one intact building to another across bare streets.
When the Germans attacked Stalingrad, the Russians turned a large, burned-out, bomb-damaged department store (?) into a veritable fortress, with machine guns, snipers, and a little bit of artillery. It even came to be labeled as “fortress” on German maps of the city.
re: #353 steve_davis
the more buildings they destory and burn out, the more of a nightmare it becomes for actual occupation. If I were going to fight as a civilian, I’d much rather be working from all the hidey-holes provided by destroyed buildings, rather than trying to run from one intact building to another across bare streets.
It also takes a few tons of explosives to clear each building of armed opponents . With Russia’s obvious supply issues this isn’t likely to happen. Also armor designed to fight NATO on the open plains suck in cities. No gun elevation, thin roofs, and no visibility upward.
If Ukraine can get its anti-air systems, old and new, up and running Russia air units will be in for a world of hurt.
re: #249 Ming5000
About those “rockets” being photographed across Ukraine, my understanding from some of the tweets is that these are the rocket booster stage of the rocket, that disengages from the warhead. I think these are from the Grad?
A quick google didn’t help me.
Any Lizard have a better insight?
Smerch rocket for delivering cluster bombs
You are seeing the tail fins of the rocket
I could pick a half dozen Lee Dorsey tunes but let’s go with this: https://t.co/NZYyLoLMN5
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) March 1, 2022
Not sure how this will ultimately play out, but at a minimum, Russia will be as isolated as North Korea for a long time.
BREAKING: Zelensky releases a direct statement to Russia:
“There will definitely be an international tribunal for this crime. No one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people.”— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) February 28, 2022
re: #224 No Malarkey!
A common misperception. Yes, there were millions of them. But there were millions of Germans as well. The Soviets had better tanks, better intelligence and better tactics than the Germans, and beat them fair and square.
As well as guts and a unceasing burning of revenge and reprisal for what the Germans did to them.
re: #363 Backwoods_Sleuth
Smerch rocket for delivering cluster bombs
You are seeing the tail fins of the rocket
Bingo. Thanks
re: #182 BigPapa
Things have gone well for Ukraine and horrible for Russia. But I think this is by no means close to being over and it’s going to be a long and horrible road.
Terrifying thread.
trucknews.com - Your one stop source for truck-related news.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has effectively shut down 39 trucking businesses in the wake of a crackdown on so-called Freedom Convoy protesters.
Responding to questions from trucknews.com, the ministry confirmed that 12 suspension and seizure orders were issued to Ontario-based large truck operators involved in the protests, suspending their operating authority throughout Canada, and issuing an order to seize all the plates registered to them.
MTO grounds trucking businesses involved in ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests (trucknews.com)
U.S. is seeing indications that Russian forces are taking risk-adverse actions to protect themselves during combat (not civilians, themselves), U.S. official says.
Big question: Is that risk-adverse behavior because Russian forces are following orders or because they’re not?— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) March 1, 2022
re: #370 Punish Domestic Terrorists
trucknews.com - Your one stop source for truck-related news.
MTO grounds trucking businesses involved in ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests (trucknews.com)
Many MAGA tears in the comments. 😁
re: #214 steve_davis
any way for us to launch several hundred cruise missiles without Russia knowing where they came from? Asking for a friend. Also, I tried quordle, and you’ll be happy to know that this will be the only time I post one of these, and I’m only doing it so that if you’ve never tried it, you’ll get a sense that it’s an absolute blast. The reason the upper-left panel is one line is because it turned out my guess word was the word (so those of you who laughed when I told you I used “query,” suck it, Wordle Nerds!) LOL! I almost posted my blue cross/blue shield bill. Okay, let’s try it again:
[Embedded content]
Well done, m’man! Well done!
re: #371 Teukka
Greenwald and Snowden surprisingly absent… I’m sure they’re pissed at that omission. /half
Just had a conversation with @POTUS. The American leadership on anti-Russian sanctions and defense assistance to Ukraine was discussed. We must stop the aggressor as soon as possible. Thank you for your support!
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 1, 2022
re: #358 Hecuba’s daughter
There was a recent article saying that US deaths are about 30% higher than the official numbers — which would mean a fatality rate of 1%.
And since a lot of the infections are in vaccinated people getting mild cases, the fatality rate for the unvaccinated is even higher.
re: #375 lawhawk
Greenwald and Snowden surprisingly absent… I’m sure they’re pissed at that omission. /half
Michael Tracey is missing, too.
One of the things mentioned in the CBS Sunday Morning story about Stalin trying to starve Ukraine is that the Russians removed an entire letter from the Ukrainian alphabet. Part of it was to make the language more like Russia, but part of it is pure psychological warfare.
re: #370 Punish Domestic Terrorists
trucknews.com - Your one stop source for truck-related news.
MTO grounds trucking businesses involved in ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests (trucknews.com)
FAFO.
If you want to carry out a protest and civil disobedience you have to also be prepared and ready to live with the consequences.
re: #378 Sherlock Hound
Michael Tracey is missing, too.
I didn’t see Pizzagate Jack either, and Twitter offers his propaganda to me under any prominent wingnut’s Tweet.
He didn’t take a breath until he got to Critical Race Theory 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 https://t.co/YPdpTyjIp4
— THEE Hercules Mulligan (@johnvmoore) March 1, 2022
It makes no sense that you opposed Green New Deal, BBB, and other efforts to push green/alt energy.
Because you still think coal has a future.— lawhawk #vaxxedforfamilyandcommunity (@lawhawk) March 1, 2022
re: #371 Teukka
Except for a couple of the organaizations (like RT), I only recognized one name out of that “deck”. Spencer Ackerman? When did he become a Putinista??
re: #381 Punish Domestic Terrorists
I didn’t see Pizzagate Jack either, and Twitter offers his propaganda to me under any prominent wingnut’s Tweet.
If I never see Jack Piece Of Shit ever…
The EU is looking at cutting Russia’s second largest bank, VTB, from the Swift bank messaging system, along with six others that play a vital role in the Russian economy, our Brussels correspondent, Jennifer Rankin, reports.An EU source confirmed reports that the EU is seeking to ban VTB and six other banks from Swift, the messaging system that underpins much global trade, pending a final decision by EU member state senior officials later on Tuesday.
re: #371 Teukka
Is Fox News and Tucker Carlson the two jokers in that deck?
re: #249 Ming5000
About those “rockets” being photographed across Ukraine, my understanding from some of the tweets is that these are the rocket booster stage of the rocket, that disengages from the warhead. I think these are from the Grad?
A quick google didn’t help me.
Any Lizard have a better insight?
Apparently, these are the shells of cluster missiles that fly off from the head of the missile before landing. Which makes it even worse because the cluster munitions exploded somewhere else nearby
— Siim Land (@siimland) February 28, 2022
300mm Smerch https://t.co/FsYzCcnmnt
— Steven Dengler 🇺🇦 (@Dracogen) February 28, 2022
Confirmed https://t.co/QVKzpk5svK
— Steven Dengler 🇺🇦 (@Dracogen) February 28, 2022
re: #375 lawhawk
Greenwald and Snowden surprisingly absent… I’m sure they’re pissed at that omission. /half
TBF to Snowden (as much as I detest him), he acknowledged his take was wrong and he apparently has decided to withdraw from the fray because he has nothing useful to contribute.
— Bodega Cats (@Bodegacats_) February 28, 2022
re: #389 Hecuba’s daughter
TBF to Snowden (as much as I detest him), he acknowledged his take was wrong and he apparently has decided to withdraw from the fray because he has nothing useful to contribute.
He’s right, but we’ll see how long he stays shocked silent by his own incompetence.
Smells a bit like….ethnic cleansing:
Separatist sources have released a message asking residents of #Mariupol to evacuate “in order to save your life, that of your children and loved ones”. They claim to have set up two humanitarian corridors.
Those who followed the Syrian civil war know exactly what that means— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) March 1, 2022
Translation: Mother’s “liberators” … Is that what Putin sent the children?
“Визволителі” мамині… Це що, Путін відправив дітей? pic.twitter.com/U33VdCyEkx
— Промисловий Портал (@ua_industrial) March 1, 2022
Thread:
A thread on Russia
It will be becoming clear to those around Putin, the first and second tier of ‘siloviki’ (security apparatus), oligarchs and technocrats that make up the ‘greater Kremlin’, that whatever happens with this war,— Gabriel Gatehouse (@ggatehouse) February 28, 2022
Anne was nice enough to collect them all:
things will never go back to normal under the same leadership: ie Russian politicians who rant and rail against the West at home while at the same time hiding their stolen cash in the West and enjoying their European holidays in their villas in Tuscany and the south of France,
their yachts mooring at exotic destinations around the world, their children getting expensive educations at British private schools. That is over. The potentates and princelings of the greater Kremlin are today contemplating their future and asking themselves:
Do I want to live in a vast replica of North Korea, completely cut off from the rest of the world. I think Putin, if he isn’t too divorced from reality to understand this, has made his choice. He is prepared for total isolation.
To be the leader of a wounded and aggrieved nation in permanent conflict with the rest of the world. There may be a few, especially among the ‘siloviki’ (the most powerful) who are willing to go down this road with him.
But many, I suspect, are not. They like the life they’ve built up over the past two decades of self-enrichment and they will be wondering to themselves: can we somehow maintain any of this? And if so can we do it under our present leader?
If they conclude they can’t, then they face a huge and terrifying choice: to get out (to where?); to go down with the ship; or…. To try to replace the captain. But - and this is the real problem…Putin’s genius over the past two decades has been to turn himself into the structural institution through which power is exercised in Russia. He is in many ways no longer a person but an institution. The tree trunk that holds all the branches of the greater Kremlin in place.
They will be thinking to themselves: can we remove this tree trunk without bringing the whole structure crashing down? Can we do it quickly and cleanly, without infighting with massively unpredictable consequences?
A very few may be whispering these thoughts very quietly to trusted friends, if they have such things. For they know that to make a move on Putin, you have to succeed. The price of failure is very high indeed.
In Russia, change happens rarely but suddenly. Windows of opportunity are small and come along only once in a few decades. This may well be one of those windows. But it is fraught with danger.
If you come at the king, you best not miss.
re: #389 Hecuba’s daughter
TBF to Snowden (as much as I detest him), he acknowledged his take was wrong and he apparently has decided to withdraw from the fray because he has nothing useful to contribute.
He knows when Putin goes down he’s going to end up on trial in the US and he’s trying to be more likeable.
May he die of old age in Supermax.
The Ukrainian Army just captured a Russian TOS-1A thermobaric MRL. 🇺🇦🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/fvF70ypuut
— Oryx (@oryxspioenkop) March 1, 2022
re: #394 Belafon
The flip side for the king is that you better not fail.
Which will be the finale here?
re: #328 GlutenFreeJesus
Looks like Russia is holding off on ground forces now, opting for air assaults. It’s going to get real ugly.
New NLAWs and Javelins in Ukrainian hands 🔥
I’m afraid we should expect to see hundreds of Russian tanks burning, ladies and gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/ZvpTZZ2Ltd— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) March 1, 2022
TORONTO, March 1 (Reuters) - Canada has decided to shut its ports to Russian owned ships later this week in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said on Tuesday.
— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) March 1, 2022
Wordle # 28 … almost blew it; I guarantee you can do better than this.
Wordle 256 6/6
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Zelensky’s chief of staff confirms that the Russians bombed Babyn Yar, where the Nazis massacred 30,000 Jews. Some denazification. https://t.co/yDIXLBK2If
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 1, 2022
Wordle 255 3/6
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Took a chance that that was actually a Wordle “word”!
re: #399 Dr Lizardo
Mexico will not impose sanctions on Russia. news.yahoo.com
re: #370 Punish Domestic Terrorists
trucknews.com - Your one stop source for truck-related news.
MTO grounds trucking businesses involved in ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests (trucknews.com)
My husband and I were laughing our asses off at the video one of those dumb fucks posted whining about their towed trucks having snow in them, not starting, blah blah blah. We laughed so hard we watched it a few times.
“Do you think Americans care about f***ing Ukraine?” - SecState Mike Pompeo @SecPompeo (he’s no diplomat) to an @NPR Reporter.https://t.co/JN1zuMZLJX
— J Meyer 🌊🌊🌊 @CheriBeasleyNC for Senate (@meyerjef) March 1, 2022
re: #404 No Malarkey!
Mexico will not impose sanctions on Russia. news.yahoo.com
Anonymous may be paying Mexico a visit…
Here’s why. Tucker Carlson on Feb. 22:
“Why shouldn’t I root for Russia? Which I am.”
That make enough sense for you? https://t.co/Gux9CPKUd4— Tim Karr (@TimKarr) March 1, 2022
This guy has better self-control than I have.
If someone did this to one of my cats, they’d hit the ground at high speed just like the animal did, before I got control of myself.
Clearwater woman threw ex’s dog off balcony, killing it, police say (WFLA)
Here’s an interesting account to follow! https://t.co/7A4iZ84uHs
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) February 27, 2022
Tracking all of the following. pic.twitter.com/cUW5rwS0el
— Russian Oligarch Jets (@RUOligarchJets) February 27, 2022
re: #402 Jay C
Wordle 255 3/6
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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩Took a chance that that was actually a Wordle “word”!
Strangely, ruble wasn’t.
:)
“Franz Ferdinand pulls Russian tour”
Now we are even getting the same headlines as August 1914 https://t.co/Ax0FeNUCvC— davidallengreen (@davidallengreen) March 1, 2022
Sorry to quote my book, but I think this might be useful for those who still hope “to talk things out” with Putin. pic.twitter.com/AATLXQZoiR
— olexander scherba🇺🇦 (@olex_scherba) May 24, 2021
re: #318 Wile E. Wonka
“Rhodesia”
and just like the food, we’re not changing the dogs’ name.
A Rhodesian Ridgeback remains..,. a Rhodesian Ridgeback.
I did appreciate how Murkowski slapped down TFG when he wanted to change Denali back to Mt McKinley.
re: #410 Punish Domestic Terrorists
This guy has better self-control than I have.
If someone did this to one of my cats, they’d hit the ground at high speed just like the animal did, before I got control of myself.Clearwater woman threw ex’s dog off balcony, killing it, police say (WFLA)
The Irpin bridge right now pic.twitter.com/Id9kijNSNH
— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) March 1, 2022
re: #414 jaunte
World War III has already begun. What we’re seeing now is the opening battle.
The employee, who works on the review of reports of abuse, was put on leave last week, according to a suit filed today. An investigator came to the house on Friday.
The state is seeking medical records related to the child. The parents have refused to hand them over.
2/— J. David Goodman (@jdavidgoodman) March 1, 2022
THREAD:
There is solid intelligence (thanks @Mij_Europe) that the EU is moving to make an offer of asylum and refugee status to Russian soldiers who have not committed war crimes.
A group of us are trying to get this into Russian social media— Jeremy Cliffe (@JeremyCliffe) March 1, 2022
re: #417 Punish Domestic Terrorists
Russian Electric Vehicle Chargers Hacked, Tell Users ‘PUTIN IS A DICKHEAD’ (Motherboard)
i def just did one of these snickers
re: #308 sagehen
But we don’t have to change the food names, right? It’s still Chicken Kiev and Peking Duck?
Crab Rangoon.
re: #423 Teukka
This suggests they may be coming down hard on collaborators.
Authoritarian regime arbitrarily declares X a crime, in this case the existence of gender-affirming health care trans kids = child abuse by the parents, then uses it as an excuse to purge the state bureaucracy of “criminals” to keep the rest in line with enforcement. https://t.co/qLj9r1l2Xz
— Zandar Reminds You They Gave Us The Shortest Month (@ZandarVTS) March 1, 2022
23 days of protest in New Zealand, who knew?!
Police have taken over the National Library, dismantling tents and moving protesters off the grounds in a major police operation that continues in Wellington as officers move in “to restore access” at Parliament.
Hundreds of officers, accompanied by cars and with the police helicopter overhead, began moving through the streets around Parliament at 6am - and protesters say riot police had taken back the Parliamentary library on the grounds about 6.15am.
Police have ripped down a number of tents - and are separating the protesters as they move through the streets, forming guard lines.
One protester claims police are using pepper-spray.
re: #423 Teukka
There is solid intelligence (thanks @Mij_Europe) that the EU is moving to make an offer of asylum and refugee status to Russian soldiers who have not committed war crimes.
That sounds like an incentive for regular Russian civilians to enlist.
LOLOL the law of fuck around and find out….
Chinese traders are scaling back imports of Russian coal as they struggle to secure financing from state banks worried about potential sanctions after Russia invaded Ukraine, in early signs of supply disruption from the world’s third-largest coal seller.
China is Russia’s largest coal buyer, taking in more than 50 million tonnes of coal worth $7.4 billion last year via rail and sea from Russia’s Far East. Russia accounted for roughly 15% of China’s total imports and was its second largest supplier behind Indonesia.
“Most banks have stopped issuing letters of credit after the SWIFT sanctions. As almost all contracts are dollar-denominated, we have no other way to make the payment,” said a China-based trader dealing in Russian coal.
re: #414 jaunte
The only way out of the current crisis is regime change in Moscow. As long as Putin rules Russia and maintains an occupation of Ukraine, Russia must remain a pariah state, shunned by all civilized nations.
— aagcobb (@aagcobb1) March 1, 2022
One small point: everyone on media talks about how the ruble has collapsed and is worth less than a penny. But before the invasion, the ruble was worth less than 2 cents. So a significant decline, but it’s not as though it was worth a dollar or even a nickel well before this attack on democracy.
re: #411 Belafon
Here’s an interesting account to follow! https://t.co/7A4iZ84uHs
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) February 27, 2022
That’s being run buy the same kid that was tracking Elon Musk’s jet.
Musk offered him $5,000 to stop. Kid requested $50,000
Don’t know if Musk paid
re: #97 Yeah Sure WhatEVs
I don’t recall who turned me on to Quordle but I absolutely love it. It’s really challenging and makes me think. Four different words at one time.
Thanks to whomever it was!
For me I want to thank whomever posted about Wikitriva. Whenever I am waiting for a test job to run I will pop in there and test my knowledge (or guesses) at when each event took place. Best streak I have had so far is 11.
Former national security adviser John Bolton pushed back on Newsmax host who claimed that President Donald Trump deterred the Russians from invading Ukraine.
Said Bolton: “He barely knew where Ukraine was… It’s just not accurate to say that Trump’s behavior somehow deterred the Russians.”
re: #436 Eventual Carrion
That’s really cool. Got a six streak right out of the gate.
Russians have made use of SMS messages to intimidate adversary soldiers in the past. And the RU gov has used exfiltrated personal info for political manipulation across the globe. If 👇confirmed (not yet confirmed) this shows how vulnerable Russia is to the same methods https://t.co/U13G4LwfaW
— Patrick Tucker (@DefTechPat) March 1, 2022
Pravda Ukraine was provided with what appears to be a list of 120,000 Russians participating in the Ukraine invasion.
We’ve blurred the data because sharing compromised data is against terms of service. pic.twitter.com/iT8ctYJRc1— Task & Purpose (@TaskandPurpose) March 1, 2022
re: #440 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀 No Capt’n 😷 Trips
I don’t see myself as a fan of doxing soldiers.
re: #441 stpaulbear
I don’t see myself as a fan of doxing soldiers.
They are committing war crimes; count me as a fan.
re: #437 Dangerman
Former national security adviser John Bolton pushed back on Newsmax host who claimed that President Donald Trump deterred the Russians from invading Ukraine.
Said Bolton: “He barely knew where Ukraine was… It’s just not accurate to say that Trump’s behavior somehow deterred the Russians.”
The whole “Trump deterred the Russians” because they feared he might do crazy stuff presupposes that Trump might do crazy stuff. Which might not be the selling point they think it is.
Well. This is spicy. Conservative MP Bob Seely makes the most of parliamentary privilege to name individual London lawyers working for Russian oligarchs and questions their morality. pic.twitter.com/Cq6XoNvBLR
— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) March 1, 2022
re: #441 stpaulbear
I don’t see myself as a fan of doxing soldiers.
This is war. If it hurts the enemy, makes them hesitate from doing something evil… its a win.
Would you have wanted every American forced to fight in Viet Nam to have his name on an internet list? I was against that war, but it wasn’t cool that vets were getting spit on indiscriminately as baby killers when they got back home.
re: #447 stpaulbear
Would you have wanted every American forced to fight in Viet Nam to have his name on an internet list? I was against that war, but it wasn’t cool that vets were getting spit on indiscriminately as baby killers when they got back home.
Look, I was there. I went to Vietnam three times. I never was mistreated or received any negative treatment from anyone because I was a baby killer or because I was in the military. Most of that was made up by whiners who couldn’t stand the reality that we had been suckered into an unjust war. The only discrimination I ever faced while it was in the military was from adult conservatives who were worried that I might want to date their daughters. My being a veteran was a major, major advantage in college and grad school admissions as well.
re: #436 Eventual Carrion
For me I want to thank whomever posted about Wikitriva. Whenever I am waiting for a test job to run I will pop in there and test my knowledge (or guesses) at when each event took place. Best streak I have had so far is 11.
And BOOM, I didn’t know American Express was founded in 1850. I mean, WHO knows?
re: #431 sagehen
another rename; when I was a child, it was Babi Yar.
It still was when Yevtushenko wrote his poem.
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