Ukraine and the Russian invasion, Feb 2022 - tangentially related crap

[The39thStep]

Fascinating, and quite barmy, story about the conwoman who became the communications director for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion with the callsign 'Mockingjay'.

Welcome to nginx!

 

[Yossarian]

Russian TV host crows about Ukrainian refugees solving Russia's demographic crisis.

Mardan raged: “The enemy has to be destroyed down to the root! It has to be exterminated! Russian history of the last 1,000 years shows that the deed has to be brought to its final conclusion... If Stalin had deported [the people of] Western Ukraine—to me, it’s still a mystery why he didn’t do it—perhaps none of this would be happening.”

To sweeten the pot, the host rejoiced over millions of Ukrainian refugees who ended up in Russia, while Moscow struggles to alleviate a severe demographic crisis: “Look at how much the Motherland is spending to solve the demographic problem... We got these people [Ukrainians] for free, for nothing—approximately five million of them! Five million souls!”

Concluding the program, Mardan grimly noted: “To everyone who says that Russia should get up off its knees—myself included—my friends, I’m afraid that our former way of life is a thing of the past... It’s practically unavoidable... perhaps we’ll be reflecting upon the past year as our last fat year. On the other hand, a great victory is ahead of us!”

Russians Fear They’ll Soon Be Starving ‘Like North Koreans’

The brutal economic reality of a long war is beginning to dawn on even the most ardent pro-Putin propagandists, as Russia prepares for misery at home.

www.thedailybeast.com

 

[bluescreen]

FT's Moscow bureau chief writes about life in Moscow

A Moscow diary: fear, loathing and deep denial​

Champagne still flows at elite parties in the Russian capital, as cowed critics only speak openly in their own homes

It’s the holiday season in Moscow, where the city has put up symbols of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine outside the entrance to Gorky Park: the Latin letters Z, V and O in throbbing neon, looming over slogans urging Russians to think of “victory” and their “valiant” soldiers as they head off to the park’s ice rink.
We’re almost a year into the war, and the Kremlin still has yet to explain what exactly the letters — first seen spray-painted on Russian tanks — are meant to signify. But set alongside the snow-capped firs and kitschy grottoes, their meaninglessness is their defining feature; they are just part of the fabric that lets Muscovites go about their lives as if nothing has happened...

paywall busted

Welcome to nginx!

 

[not-bono-ever]

Hot Yankee Missionary action on the Ukraine Polish border

American missionaries prey on desperate Ukrainians fleeing a warzone

Christian missionaries certainly took Mr. Churchill’s advice to heart and have wasted no time in targeting vulnerable Ukrainians. There are videos and

hindupost.in

But yeh, Franklin graham is the boss of this lot and has previous

Some Christian Pro-Family Groups Face Reckoning Over Praise for Putin – MinistryWatch

I’m sure they have done some good but fucking embrace Jesus missionary work as part of the package ?

 

[HAL9000]

Ukraine's message, an investment not charity

 

[keybored]

Wagner seemingly seeking recruits from disaffected American MAGA-leaning ex-forces types.

 

[tim]

Never done a 'gap year,' even if you might have done, but stayed in the USSR and post-SU for months on end at least half a dozen times between 1988 and '93, and remember it like yesterday.

I was talking about what's most practical, not what you personally might prefer. Although as far as I can tell from what you've said, far from speaking Ukrainian, you've learned a handful of words to say to a four year-old.

Yes but it wasn't yesterday it was 30-35 years ago

 

[RD2003]

Yes but it wasn't yesterday it was 30-35 years ago

Yes, and I'm not trying to stop anybody learning Ukrainian, so they can speak Ukrainian to Ukrainians.

Knock yourselves out. Everybody takes up a short-lived hobby at some time in their lives.

 

[tim]

Yes, and I'm not trying to stop anybody learning Ukrainian, so they can speak Ukrainian to Ukrainians.

Knock yourselves out. Everybody takes up a short-lived hobby at some time in their lives.

I've spent a total of four years living in Italy between 1991 and 2007. I've lived in centre, the South East and in Rome. I've also spent many shorter holidays there. I can tell you about the society in which I lived during those period, but I don't have a profound insight into contemporary Italian society.

 

[Rimbaud]

I've spent a total of four years living in Italy between 1991 and 2007. I've lived in centre, the South East and in Rome. I've also spent many shorter holidays there. I can tell you about the society in which I lived during those period, but I don't have a profound insight into contemporary Italian society.

Indeed, and also every country is full of people who have spent their entire lives there but lack profound insight into it, or have a view which is heavily coloured by their particular corner and social demographic.

 

[Pickman's model]

Never done a 'gap year,' even if you might have done, but stayed in the USSR and post-SU for months on end at least half a dozen times between 1988 and '93, and remember it like yesterday.

I was talking about what's most practical, not what you personally might prefer. Although as far as I can tell from what you've said, far from speaking Ukrainian, you've learned a handful of words to say to a four year-old.

how well do you remember yesterday?

 

[RD2003]

I've spent a total of four years living in Italy between 1991 and 2007. I've lived in centre, the South East and in Rome. I've also spent many shorter holidays there. I can tell you about the society in which I lived during those period, but I don't have a profound insight into contemporary Italian society.

Fine. But I don't see much relevance to anything I've said.

 

[RD2003]

how well do you remember yesterday?

I remember wondering how Pickman's Model could possibly find the time to make and incredible 216000 posts on here.

 

[Pickman's model]

I remember wondering how Pickman's Model could possibly find the time to make and incredible 216000 posts on here.

yeh cos posting here is obviously bad

 

[RD2003]

yeh cos posting here is obviously bad

See, you even had to reply to that


I suspect that if you were to cut out all your pedantry and nitpicking, your post count would be about 7, 201.

 

[Pickman's model]

See, you even had to reply to that


I suspect that if you were to cut out all your pedantry and nitpicking, your post count would be about 7, 201.

tell you what, go through my contributions and let me know whether your guess is accurate

 

[RD2003]

tell you what, go through my contributions and let me know whether your guess is accurate

Sorry, haven't got that second lifetime it would require.

 

[maomao]

The Ukrainian children where I work all speak Ukrainian when they get together, even the ones who speak Russian at home with their parents and even though they all claim to speak Russian fluently.

I know this evidence may not be as insightful or relevant as some half-forgotten anecdotes from the 90s but I thought I'd contribute anyway.

 

[tim]

Fine. But I don't see much relevance to anything I've said.

I don't see the relevance of anything you've said to the current situation in Russia and Ukraine. All they are are vague memories of the distant past accompanied by racist clichés about the immutable Slav character, like some decaying retired colonial official drivelling on about the natives.

 

[RD2003]

I don't see the relevance of anything you've said to the current situation in Russia and Ukraine. All they are are vague memories of the distant past accompanied by racist clichés about the immutable Slav character, like some decaying retired colonial official drivelling on about the natives.

Not vague memories but clear memories. 30 years ago is not the distant past.

I have never mentioned the immutable Slav character once. I've heard it referred to now and again, but I didn't notice there was anything racist about it. After all, many Slav writers and philopsophers etc talk about it. Indeed, the nebulous concept might have originated with certain of them. Are they being racist about themselves?

 

[tim]

Not vague memories but clear memories. 30 years ago is not the distant past.

I have never mentioned the immutable Slav character once. I've heard it referred to now and again, but I didn't notice there was anything racist about it. After all, many Slav writers and philopsophers etc talk about it. Indeed, the nebulous concept might have originated with certain of them. Are they being racist about themselves?

how well do you remember yesterday?

As being more erotically charged than in this performance in which Donna seems to be morphing into Doddy.

 

[tim]

Not vague memories but clear memories. 30 years ago is not the distant past.

I have never mentioned the immutable Slav character once. I've heard it referred to now and again, but I didn't notice there was anything racist about it. After all, many Slav writers and philopsophers etc talk about it. Indeed, the nebulous concept might have originated with certain of them. Are they being racist about themselves?

Clearly indulging in racist myth-making and you obviously lacked the ability to reflect back in those days of yore as much as you do today. Anyway, here are some contemporary "slavs" who don't seem to be taking a rather more nuanced view of their president's ambitions and Russian destiny.

 

[RD2003]

Clearly indulging in racist myth-making and you obviously lacked the ability to reflect back in those days of yore as much as you do today. Anyway, here are some contemporary "slavs" who don't seem to be taking a rather more nuanced view of their president's ambitions and Russian destiny.

Not really sure why this bee got in your bonnet. For one thing I've never claimed that all Russians think the same. I have, in fact, said the opposite several times.

I suspect you don't like being reminded that the liberals never usually win out in Russia. I can't help that fact, nor that you bizarrely regard stating it as racist.

If it helps I'll get my Father Ted banner out.

 

[tim]

Not really sure why this bee got in your bonnet. For one thing I've never claimed that all Russians think the same. I have, in fact, said the opposite several times.

I suspect you don't like being reminded that the liberals never usually win out in Russia. I can't help that fact, nor that you bizzarely regard stating it as racist.

If it helps I'll get my Father Ted banner out.

I sse you more as Colonel Blimp than Father Ted

Not really sure why this bee got in your bonnet. For one thing I've never claimed that all Russians think the same. I have, in fact, said the opposite several times.

I suspect you don't like being reminded that the liberals never usually win out in Russia. I can't help that fact, nor that you bizarrely regard stating it as racist.

If it helps I'll get my Father Ted banner out.

Your Colonel Blimp towel would be more appropriate.

 

[RD2003]

I sse you more as Colonel Blimp than Father Ted

Your Colonel Blimp towel would be more appropriate.View attachment 362392

Yes, I look back with nostalgia to the time when Russia was the jewel in the British crown.

 

[Pickman's model]

I suspect you don't like being reminded that the liberals never usually win out in Russia.

What a curious turn of phrase

 

[tim]

Yes, I look back with nostalgia to the time when Russia was the jewel in the British crown.

Col. Blimpskovich, if you prefer.

 

[tim]

Not really sure why this bee got in your bonnet. For one thing I've never claimed that all Russians think the same. I have, in fact, said the opposite several times.

I suspect you don't like being reminded that the liberals never usually win out in Russia. I can't help that fact, nor that you bizarrely regard stating it as racist.

If it helps I'll get my Father Ted banner out.

You believe that the Russian character isn't immutable, so as a consequence it is a fact that Russia and the Russian people can never change.

Have I got your drift?

 

[RD2003]

You believe that the Russian character isn't immutable, so as a consequence it is a fact that Russia and the Russian people can never change.

Have I got your drift?

It hasn't got anything much to do with this opaque concept of the Russian character. which you've introduced yourself.

Other posts and linked articles, as well as much else you can find googling around, deal with the material reasons why a qualitative change in the Russian elites and the support they receive from the population seems unlikely, as well as why Russia has often opted for authoritarianism of one form or another. They could be right, or they could be wrong.

Maybe you could go over there and explain what they've been doing wrong over the centuries?

 

[not-bono-ever]

Roger Waters is all a bit yeh but wrt the conflict.

FWIW, The floyd were dead and buried to me by the time the wall came out.