Humor Random Comments Thread

[TheShuttleExperience]

Damn, life is good!

I just wanted to share. Usually I only say this to myself in the morning. But maybe someone reading this would agree in his/her case once thought about. There are many bad things in this world. But there is also always so much good stuff (and if not, one simply can let it happen)

I was born in Germany. I grew up wealthy and I am somewhat educated - a simple and not the smartest person but also not too stupid (at least I hope so). It could have been worse. I am healthy, not addicted to anything, not in debt and not in any trouble in general. I feel like 20, physically, and it still didn't change. I look like 28-30 or so. But I am in my 5th decade. My hobby also is my job now (railway). And my passion really gives me big joy for decades (almost everything related to general aviation and space flight). Also, I got a great girlfriend.

 

[TheShuttleExperience]

Sure, but you can replace the capitalist systems in the world only with a better economic system. Do you have it?

IMHO a capitalist system is not the worst thing anyway. There are bad side effects of course. But one can use the system for having a good life

 

[Urwumpe]

IMHO a capitalist system is not the worst thing anyway. There are bad side effects of course. But one can use the system for having a good life

There are some many problems in modern capitalism, especially when combined with social darwinism. But at least we are allowed to talk about the problems and think about solutions. On mondays, my prefered solution is "Eat the rich", but my diet plan says no....

 

[steph]

So far, it looks like tomorrow or even tonight might be showtime. 'Ideal lighting conditions' on Feb 16 but I'm not sure they care whether the moon is 98 or 100% lit. Weather-wise, it looks better tonight, as there are clear skies, as opposed to Wednesday, with a small front (weather front, that is) moving in, with rains in western Ukraine, going eastward on Thursday and Friday. On the other hand, cloud cover might mean troop movements hidden from spy satellites and/or drones (not sure if they can or would risk bringing them down low in case of low clouds). That's just the GFS model, but I think the differences would be small on a 48hr interval. EDIT: was supposed to be a gif, but anyways...




The rest is unclear . Some de-escalation looks possible, with the russians saying their 'exercise' would be over on the 20th. On the other hand, there are apparent videos of troop transports near the border. Unclear if that means theiy're getting ready to leave ( I mean,, they are, but in which direction? ). Could also be a tacticto get the ukrainians off-guard before an attack.

As for the russian public, I'm not sure it matters as much as western media is trying to portray. I mean , sure, they don't want war, but other than that, Putin does what Putin does. He is a afraid of looking weak, lest he gets eaten by his own 'apparatus', but other than that, I guess anything goes. A decade ago, around 2011, they realized the wind of dictatorship was blowing hard, and they protested, to which Putin said he was proud of them and that was it. Not to mention all the other protests since. Public opinion is a factor only in democracies, otherwise, if you don't piss them off so bad that they torch the country down, it doesn't matter. And, as seen in China, Kazakhstan and other fledgling democracies, the people can't win a war against their own military, so sometimes protesting only narrows down the protester's numbers, whether by gulag or bullet.

I still think there is some hope they might 'just' try to link up Crimea and Donbass, although that in itself is war already. And they might try a surgical strike in Kiev, because of course they would. As Meersheimer used to say, they're trying to wreck Ukraine, not hold it. But all that really depends on Putin's sanity, really. It's already quite clear they can't sustain a long war economically, the risk remains that they might try anyway, and it would turn into a bloodbath for all sides. Not sure if the dude is ironic or otherwise when talking about the '19th century politics' thing

 

[steph]

collapse of the USSR is the tragedy of the century, and first of all for the "capitalist countries" now their stay on the globe of the planet is optional

There were quite a few tragedies in the 20th century, including two world wars. Arguably, the 'collapse' of the Soviet Union could have been smoother if they hadn't tried to keep the status quo at all costs. Remember, by the time most/all of the former republics had transitioned mostly peacefully, Moscow was still in a 'civil war' between hardliners and reformists. And it's not like the Soviet Union suddenly decided to implode. There were simmering problems for years, maybe even decades.

I'd say the greatest catastrophe of the russian people is going through the fall of the Soviet Union, through the chaos of the 90's, just to end up under the boot of another dictator and with the economy in pieces..

As for THIS century, I'd say so far it looks like Covid is the greatest one, but we're only in the roaring 20's. We don't even know whether it was a natural 'accident' helped by communist censorhip ( like all 'good' things that come out of communism and dictatorships) , a lab escape, or even an intentional release to weaken democratic societies.. It's unclear , but they sure took advantage of it. Even know, China has the borders closed for the foreseeable future. With the internet firewalled and no external travel, this is stuff that the old communist guard could only ever have dreamt of

 

[TheShuttleExperience]

Western media reports that Russia is pulling out troops now. Seems like Putin is going to try to look the Western world like a fool and saying that it was just our war propaganda...

 

[N_Molson]

This is beginning to look a bit better, Russia said that some units have done with their "exercises" and will now head back to their garrisons. The conflict isn't solved yet, but...

Russia confirms ‘partial’ withdrawal of troops from Ukraine border

Move could be sign of de-escalation but western officials say there are no immediate signs of Russian drawdown

www.theguardian.com

 

[steph]

This is beginning to look a bit better, Russia said that some units have done with their "exercises" and will now head back to their garrisons. The conflict isn't solved yet, but...

Russia confirms ‘partial’ withdrawal of troops from Ukraine border

Move could be sign of de-escalation but western officials say there are no immediate signs of Russian drawdown

www.theguardian.com

Like that joke goes, we just have to be sure it's not via the long route, through Hungary, Poland and the Baltics . Iknow like two or three Ukrainians. One of them is dead serious and refuses to even talk about russians etc, the other one says that ,since 2014, on each Christmas (on the old calendar) they gather up at the border and sing carols at the Ukrainians

 

[clipper]

Seems like Putin is going to try to look the Western world like a fool and saying that it was just our war propaganda...

Honestly that would be Gaddafi-grade batsh*t insane; this buildup must've cost a fortune for Russia's current economic state given the units it involved and from where they've come from (shown on image), and I'm not really sure how much of a fool he'd be able to paint anyone as given how NATO can just claim that it was their threats of severe sanctions, publicized weapon shipments to Ukraine, and a little diplomacy on the side which ultimately prevented the invasion, and not just some 4D big brain chess game on Putin's behalf he might've been playing from the start.


I sincerely hope this whole thing just ends up being a bizzare case of largely one-sided d*ick measuring contest on Russia's behalf, but I'm having serious doubts about that.

 

[Urwumpe]

Also, you can measure the commitment like that: Right now, about 70% of the Russian troops are concentrated into a corridor around Ukraine, merely 120 km wide

 

[N_Molson]

I sincerely hope this whole thing just ends up being a bizzare case of largely one-sided d*ick measuring contest

I think it is something like that, actually. It is bizarre, but if anything it proves that Russia can mobilize its forces in one spot if required.

this buildup must've cost a fortune for Russia's

Yeah, T-72 platoons tend to drink gasoil like vodka

 

[Urwumpe]

I think it is something like that, actually. It is bizarre, but if anything it proves that Russia can mobilize its forces in one spot if required.



Yeah, T-72 platoons tend to drink gasoil like vodka

Thats why they operate them on vodka, too.

 

[N_Molson]

Thats why they operate them on vodka, too.

Those are the tanks that can use raw petroleum usually used to heat houses if necessary, those engines can burn nearly anything, provided you have enough of it.

 

[TheShuttleExperience]

I sincerely hope this whole thing just ends up being a bizzare case of largely one-sided d*ick measuring contest on Russia's behalf, but I'm having serious doubts about that.

I think it is exactly that. But I'm surprised it happens now and not many years ago already, even before the annexation of Crimea, since it was actually easily predictable that there might be some trouble one day. Volgograd is just a stone's throw away from the Ukrainian border, while the representatives of the Western world in Brussels and Washington DC would like to see Ukraine being member of their alliance. It was for sure that Moscow wouldn't just sit there and watch...

 

[jedidia]

IMHO a capitalist system is not the worst thing anyway.

It is the worst... except all the others, unfortunately ?

 

[clipper]

It was for sure that Moscow wouldn't just sit there and watch...

Which raises another question about this pullback given how US is still persistent in not giving any guarantees about Ukraine not joining NATO (as far as we're aware at least).

But even beyond Ukraine I don't really see this as anything that would remotely resemble a strategic victory for Russia assuming it ends here. NATO was in practical disarray following Afghanistan; US was openly announcing how most of its efforts will be focused on China and Western Pacific in general rather than Europe and/or Middle East, while EU was pushing for more security independence and less reliance on NATO. All this adventure did is give NATO a renewed purpose with multiple member states on the eastern/southeastern flank asking for permanent US troop presence, and Sweden and Finland openly discussing joining the bloc. And that's not even touching all the defense contracts NATO member states have been signing left and right as a result of this (a country like Romania wanting to purchase F-35s all of a sudden while its current fleet is composed of MiG-21s and a dozen secondhand F-16s probably gives you an idea about the kind of capability leaps about to happen as a courtesy of Russia's display).

 

[steph]

I hope the pullback is true, but we'll see. It doesn't mean the conflict is gone. Even if they do go, like in spring, they might return. And each time Ukraine or Germany seems to lean on pro-western views, the gas slows down and the troops return.

Two things come to mind: The baltics gave ammo and weapons to Ukraine. Depending on the general reserves, this might leave them weakened, and, surprise, the russians have 'exercises' in Belarus come 20th of Feb. Might be that Ukraine was deemed to be too russian to alienate, but, if stuff hits the fan in the Baltics, would Ukraine be able or willing to send back the weaponry?

And secondly, as bad as it sounds, it might be a sign of imminent conflict. Russian troops are like 40% noobs doing their mandatory military stage. Might just be sending the greenhorns further behind and letting the 'real' army in place for when the fun starts.

 

[MaxBuzz]

Russell Bentley fighter on the side of the separatists from Texas

 

[steph]

Apparently some big cyber attack going on in Ukraine, as of 15 Feb evening. Defense Ministry site down, as well as two banks, I'm not sure if big ones or not. ATM operations currently suspended, not sure about the rest.

 

[Urwumpe]

Apparently some big cyber attack going on in Ukraine, as of 15 Feb evening. Defense Ministry site down, as well as two banks, I'm not sure if big ones or not. ATM operations currently suspended, not sure about the rest.

Just a regular, scheduled exercise.