Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Johnny Mars Bar]

Look, I’m no expert on economics, politics or football ;) but I’m not having this phasing-out of gas coming in from Russia. Various govts are giving it until the end of the year before halting the supply. They’re obviously hoping the war will be over by then and their supplies won’t have to be phased out after all. It’s almost summer and I’m sure if the supply was stopped tomorrow nobody would freeze to death. Get it stopped, put the workers on furlough or re-employ them on massive renewable energy projects. It can’t be that difficult and then watch Russia go bust within weeks. These politicians talk the talk but that’s about it.

I don’t know anything about the energy sector but to be fair even with the best intentions it probably is ‘that difficult’.

 

[Protein Junkie]

The discussion of whether Hitler or anyone else has jewish blood only makes sense if there is such a thing in the first place. As far as I am informed different human races simply do not exist in any biological or genetical sense. That means such a discussion is racist per definition. Being jewish means nothing but believing a certain religion, and as such anyone could have jewish ancestors. Jews are no more a special race than us atheists. In my humble opinion we should not even discuss the shite spouted by Lawrow. He has learnt nothing from the Holocaust, and is no better than Hitler and the real nazis was. Fuck him, fuck antisemitism, fuck antisemits and fuck racists.

Good post this.
Religion, boundaries, race et al are all man made constructs.
Our different looks are largely down to climate as I understand.
The Incredible Human Journey by the gorgeous Prof Alice Roberts is a great read.

 

[grunge]

Look, I’m no expert on economics, politics or football ;) but I’m not having this phasing-out of gas coming in from Russia. Various govts are giving it until the end of the year before halting the supply. They’re obviously hoping the war will be over by then and their supplies won’t have to be phased out after all. It’s almost summer and I’m sure if the supply was stopped tomorrow nobody would freeze to death. Get it stopped, put the workers on furlough or re-employ them on massive renewable energy projects. It can’t be that difficult and then watch Russia go bust within weeks. These politicians talk the talk but that’s about it.

When talking about the likes of Germany. They shifted away from Nuclear power and the shortfall was picked up by Gas power stations.

plus generally ( most countries) 80 odd percent of Gas is used at an industrial level.

going cold Turkey isn’t really viable.

One interesting point I read was how this is in reality a war of production, the west needs to be able to produce weapons to feed the Ukrainian army while hindering Russian production capabilities. If Europe goes cold Turkey on Gas without alternate supplies then that production takes a hit as does the supply of arms.

 

[Blue Mist]

And how would they fire their nuc missiles, seeing as they're under thick ice?

They use a circular saw.

Oh come on. That was a great answer.

 

[mosssideblue]

They use a circular saw.

Oh come on. That was a great answer.

It really wasn't

 

[Grassland Blue]

I travelled through Russia in 2012 with 2 friends.
I wanted to see this huge mysterious country, try to get to understand it a little better, meet some of the people and get their personal thoughts on how it was to live there.
I was optimistic about the trip. St. Basils, Red Square, The Kremlin, Gorky Park, The Metro etc.awaited.
I won't write about everything that we did.
These are some of my thoughts.
Moscow is a great city and its' people are very loyal to their country, though not necessarily the government.
The day after we arrived in Moscow a demonstration by Ferrari of their Grand Prix cars took place in front of a huge crowd. This was a precursor to the inaugural F1 race in 2014.
This seemed to be a time in which Moscow and the west were cementing a bond and looking to work together. A glimmer of light.
How times have changed.
Putin is a frightened man now, desperate to cling on to power by any means. How far will he go in this ambition? Will he go nuclear?

In the fine city of Ekaterinburg there is a monument called 'The Black Tulip". It is a memorial to the Russian lives lost in their war against Afghanistan.
It depicts the horror, futility, devastation and sadness of war.
Perhaps Mr. Putin would be well advised to visit that site before he makes his next move.

 

[BlueAnorak]

depends where you check so still seems to be up in the air historically. BBC article from about a decade suggests we imported it from the Netherlands ( who invented it after a bad winter meant they billed up the fish that was hard to get with chipped potato) in the 1600’s which puts it around the same time we imported Genever and “created” Gin.

battered fish does go back further to the Portuguese Jews by the look of it but not paired with potato.

Quite - Fried battered fish (Portugal), Fred potatoes (Belgium) - as a combo the UK - with added Mushy Peas later (Slovenia).

 

[metalblue]

Will they then launch Trident Missiles?

Not before they launch some fireworks, have a picnic, and put out a big fuck off sign that reads “We are here Putin”.

 

[mexico1970]

Quite - Fried battered fish (Portugal), Fred potatoes (Belgium) - as a combo the UK - with added Mushy Peas later (Slovenia).

People race to this type of attribution all the time without realising that food has been prepared by people in a multitude of ways from year dot, foods may very well be indigenous to a region but ways of cooking that food mostly isn't.

 

[west didsblue]

The thing about castigating the Russian people en masse for the crimes of their leaders is that it isn’t entirely fair, but it’s a damn sight less unfair than what is happening to the people of Ukraine.

Russians need to be made to feel (at the very least) hugely uncomfortable and ashamed about this for at least a generation. We all have a part to play in this whenever we get the opportunity.

In the right circumstances I would have no hesitation vocalising this. They need to be made to feel ostracised imo. It’s not a flawless approach, but the alternative is even less appealing.

We didn't spend WW2 trying to empathise with Germans who didn't actively support the Nazis. It was after the war and the defeat of the Nazis when bridges were built and relations normalised. We should have the same approach with Russia. Nothing can be normalised until they are defeated and the Russian people have got rid of Putin.