[quote=Mr Minio]When talking about war, it's very easy to pivot to politics. But war itself is clearly not politics per se. Otherwise, you could extrapolate nearly anything to politics. I can understand why the topic may be irritating, though.[/quote]

[quote=AgrippinaX]For once, I’m fully with Yoda on the “no politics” rule, my mother has been crying for the entire week, I haven’t slept in 3 days, I literally have stress pain in my liver, and the last place one wants to see more of this stuff is here.[/quote]

[quote=Mr Minio][quote=John W Constantine] the Ukrainians can defend themselves[/quote]
They're very valiant. The power of the Russian army proved a myth. During the invasion of Ukraine, all the issues that plagued their army came to the fore. From outdated equipment (50-year-old bombs that do not explode and tanks that cannot resist modern Western equipment) to monstrous shortages in logistics and supply to disastrously low morale.

But this shouldn't come as a surprise. This was meant to be a short military operation. Putin thought that once the Russian army enters Ukraine, Ukrainians will welcome their "liberators" with flowers and give up their country. Yes, he's that detached from the real world.

An article was leaked that was supposed to be published only after Russia conquered Ukraine. It was supposed to be a short 24-hour military operation. And that was the only thing Russians were prepared for. Now they're working ad hoc, coming up with all their ideas in real-time.

This is an interesting conflict to observe, military-wise. Russia, very much so like the former USSR, is a giant with feet of clay. If they win (and now it's an if, used to be a sure-fire several days ago), they will pay with so many casualties, no country will want to do a similar thing for many years to come.

The only danger associated with the whole thing is that after Putin realizes he's got nothing to lose, he is prone to start using more dangerous weapons and escalate, escalate, escalate... Belarus is joining the invasion now... While using nukes is very unlikely, carpet bombing and thermobaric bombs are a possibility.

One thing is clear. This war will leave many cities razed to the ground. The number of casualties on both sides will be enormous. "War is bad?" sounds almost cynical. This is no longer politics. This is nightmare.[/quote]

[quote=ynwtf]Peter Klaven?[/quote]

[quote=John W Constantine]Apparently the Ukrainians can defend themselves[/quote]

[quote=AgrippinaX]I actually had a nightmare that left me with heart palpitations where I saw the Gary death scene from the 2021 “Wrong Turn”, complete with the crushed face. That’s called losing one’s marbles.[/quote]

[quote=Chypmunk]Ah, Oscar Podcast - such a statuesque character. Didn't he have a walk-on role in [i]The Iron Giant[/i] or am I confusing him with someone else?[/quote]

[quote=Yoda]Oscar podcast recorded, now to spend a few days editing.[/quote]

[quote=Chypmunk]Would've been an even bigger 'Yikes!' had he been doing it to 00's Cotton-Eye Joe though.[/quote]

[quote=ynwtf]So uh... In [I]The Negotiator[/I], Jackson was line dancing to 90's Cotton-Eye Joe.

Yikes.[/quote]

[quote=doubledenim][quote=John McClane]Just another reason I’m happy to not rent. I don’t have internet or cable. I’ve always hated those forced utility bundles. They are usually trash and, like you said, designed to squeeze money out of you.[/quote]

[font=century gothic]I’m lucky that’s it not an issue, but cable? Just tell me its $70 for internet. Nobody 🤔🤔🤔 under 60 is signing up for cable without a gambling problem.

I got a kick outta milking a $50 phone plan. On the other hand, I’ve been Ps5 huntin’, so that internet can get it.[/font][/quote]