Brains...

1. brains in bodies are observed :up: (born so, too)
2. if brain in vat, then brain in vat is still imagined
3. if brain in skull, then brain in vat is imaginary
4. thus, brain in vat is imagined or imaginary
5. yet, 1

;)

Russians angry at downing of Ukrainian drone over their homes
^{— Kevin Liffey · Reuters · Mar 27, 2023}

Would be ironic if the Gremlin is angry as well.


Continuing earlier finger-pointing, it's become Haas' turn...

American company accused of violating sanctions, doing business with Russian arms industry (original)
^{— Simon Ostrovsky · PBS · Mar 14, 2023}
Ukranian Watchdog Accuses Haas of Breaking Sanctions to Sell Machines to Russian Arms Manufacturers (UPDATED) (includes Haas' response)
^{— Mack Hogan · Road and Track · Mar 15, 2023}

The world is quite interconnected. Earlier, outsiders (including Haas) sought Russian connections/trade/partnerships.

, right, because it's about me. :roll:

So, the sham'ful annexations aren't imperialist because NATO is that dire existential threat to Russia. NATO is imperialist because other definitions. (Also, let's just forget to ask the Ukrainians (again (again)).)

By the way, Mearsheimer and others have argued that Crimea was (is) part of Putin's geo-political-military goals, Gremlin's strategic objectives. (Don't forget "part of".) Of course NATO would get in the way of that. Scary. (Seems like certain posters require re-re-repeating prior comments.)

On another note, Mearsheimer or Yudin? A bit of both?
It’s not NATO — Putin always has had expansionist designs
^{— Alexander J Motyl · The Hill · Mar 6, 2023} — Mar 6, 2023

EDIT

Suppose the Ukraine invasion is reducible to a West-versus-Russia power struggle like otherwise of the non-war sort. (With China leaning towards Russia, and Iran tagging along.) Either way — regardless thereof — the Ukrainians have chosen. ^{ECFR (Mar 8, 2023); VOA (Mar 23, 2023)} Subsequently the UN have spoken. The reduction seems misleading (or perhaps vacuous).

Here's a way to "save lives". :)

A president against a president and vice president against a vice president, and a duel takes place, if they are serious. And in this way we are saving the American and Iraqi people. — Taha Yassin Ramadan (Iraqi vice president, 2002)

_{↑ CNN (Oct 3, 2002); BBC (Oct 3, 2002); NPR (Oct 4, 2002)}

Should a vote be put together for this "solution" here?

There's something off about the in/direct dichotomy.

Does direct mean that the perceived becomes part of the perceiver? Maybe that the perception and the perceived are the same? Not really. (I think.) Maybe that there's no strange otherworldly theater at work?

The perception is an (interruptible) occurrence, like a process, where perceiver perception perceived are parts of the same larger environment.

Refraction is part of what the swimmer-in-the-water looks like, regardless that the swimmer's head isn't separate from the rest of their body.



Does this work then?



Looks indirect (I think), but at least interruptibility, same environment, and whatever, are clearer/intuitive. The perception is (ontologically) part of the perceiver when occurring. In the image, hallucination is mistaking "≠" for "=", and solipsism is mistaking "=" for non-identity "≠". Different wording, not the in/direct dichotomy.

, what's the relevance? Different uses of the word? Like an etymological fallacy, an argument from semantics is kinda'ftarded here. Check Jan 14, 2023, Jan 31, 2023, Mar 6, 2023 (what came up at a glance, might dig more repeats out if time allows). Putin made a choice. Ukrainians have chosen.

Just a brief babble on the side if I may.

If we were to say "time is circular", then what could that mean other than events reoccurring?

Doesn't really seem to be meaningful otherwise, does it?

This then means that there's something other than time (itself) — call them eventees (like objects or whatever) — that taken together arrive at a configuration identical to a prior configuration.

Yet, the phrases "arrive at" and "prior" already presuppose temporality in some sense. (Don't really want to get into concise definitions/semantics/dictionaries.)

Well, a more mathematical approach might have us employ an ordered set (with a metric), so we can speak of before (less than), simultaneously (the same), and after (greater than), which is relational. The metric gives us duration (distance), which is numeric/scalar.

Anyway, the idea was just that something other than time is needed to give meaning to time (with our usual verbiage).

(end babble)

"Propagandists" ... ? :)

Where Are Russian Critics of Putin Featured in “Putin and the Presidents” Now?
<sup>— Julia Ingram · PBS · Jan 31, 2023

Vladimir Kara-Murza is in prison is Russia (interview)
Yevgenia Albats is now in the US (interview)
Gennady Gudkov is in Bulgaria</sup>

, Putin revels (decadently) in more than that. :)

The Russians have stated from 2008 onward that they considered Ukraine joining NATO to be an existential threat. — Tzeentch

Do you think that's incompatible with imperialism?
(not saying it is or isn't, just asking; existential threat or not is separate, by the way)

NATO countries wanting access to Russia's border — boagie

The point is simply one about the varied nature of modern imperialism. It's no longer just about hard power, you need to update your models of international power. Try reading anything written after 1989. — Isaac

Or countries on Russia's border wanting access to NATO? Right now in particular, apparently. NATO can't colonize (like land grab), it's a defense pact among member countries, not a country. Countries may or may not apply for NATO membership.

As an aside, meanwhile in the evil imperialist West ...
SISȻENEM will be the first land returned to a First Nation
^{— Chadd Cawson · Penticton Herald · Mar 23, 2023}

But, hey, let's just cast the war against the Ukrainians as "the partyline versus the rebels", go by that so as to pick a side, and toss patronizing insults about, instead. :D

, yeah, horrific. And an open-ended threat.

[...] they could level Poland, Finland, Moldova, Belarus, Slovakia, or ..., just the same. Perhaps the UK, though the distance is greater (they have mentioned/joked so, too). This is an open-ended threat. — Mar 21, 2023

According to some, the Crimea grab was part of a geo-political-military plan (followed by the invasion) — power. (@Tzeentch mentioned something...)

And Kim Jong-un is taking notes. — Mar 23, 2023

As mentioned before, their efforts are well underway creating a country of distrusting haters.

Kremlin Says These Countries Can't Be Part of Ukraine Peace Talks
^{— David Brennan · Newsweek · Mar 21, 2023}

Divide et impera. Old.

(my underlining)

The parties [Russia + China] note that in order to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, it is necessary to respect the legitimate concerns of all countries in the field of security — What Russia-Chinese joint statement says about Ukraine · Jonathan Oatis · Reuters · Mar 22, 2023

Well, the Ukrainians are not merely concerned.

Russia hits Ukraine with missiles, drones as 'dear friend' Xi departs
^{— Dan Peleschuk, Sergiy Chalyi, Peter Graff, Frank Jack Daniel, Cynthia Osterman, Philippa Fletcher, Andrew Cawthorne, Grant McCool · Reuters · Mar 22, 2023}

Yet, they're reduced to an aside in the margin. Neither Russia nor China are being invaded and generously sprinkled with destruction. Moldova Poland Romania Hungary Slovakia might have some legitimate concerns too.

The parties [Russia + China] stress that responsible dialogue is the best way for a sustainable resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, and the international community should support constructive efforts in this regard — What Russia-Chinese joint statement says about Ukraine · Jonathan Oatis · Reuters · Mar 22, 2023

Constructive is sometimes used as the opposite of destructive.

Putin and Xi pose as peacemakers while Moscow’s war in Ukraine rages on
^{— Rob Picheta, Simone McCarthy, Michael Conte, Kylie Atwood, Svitlana Vlasova, Anna Chernova, Duarte Mendonca, Xiaofei Xu, Wayne Chang · CNN · Mar 21, 2023}
Putin: China plan could end war, but Ukraine and West not ready for peace
^{— James Gregory · BBC · Mar 22, 2023}

Creepy. One might hope that the Kremlin won't be writing the history books here. What Putin + team want others to hear (statements speeches whatever) has gone vacuous/incoherent. And Kim Jong-un is taking notes. Oh well.

No path to peace: Five key takeaways from Xi and Putin’s talks in Moscow
^{— Simone McCarthy, Nectar Gan, Wayne Chang, Matthew Chance, Darya Tarasova, Maria Kostenko, Xiaofei Xu, Anna Chernova · CNN · Mar 22, 2023}

On Tuesday, Zelensky said a ceasefire would “simply freeze” the conflict, giving Russia time to “prepare and come back again with their single wish, the wish of their leader - that is to occupy our country.”

What Russia-Chinese joint statement says about Ukraine
^{— Jonathan Oatis · Reuters · Mar 22, 2023}

The parties oppose all unilateral sanctions imposed in circumvention of the U.N. Security Council.

Except, not the rest of what the UN says. (And Xi smiling when not seen, loving the sanctions on Russia, "Just a few more years and Russia is our's" (this part is a conspiracy theory ^‡)?)

Too bad, not much new I guess, and the Ukrainians once again a (dehumanized) scorched footnote somewhere.

FYI, an essay of a traveler sub-titled "Almost unnoticed, a generation of Russians has come of age during his 23 years in power":

Putin’s War on Young People
^{— Lucian Kim · Foreign Policy · Mar 19, 2023}

Nobody can say what will come after Putin. Much depends on how he loses power—whether his departure comes as a natural death, a chaotic collapse, or a palace coup behind the Kremlin walls. It is possible, even probable, that another aging former KGB officer will take over at first. But sooner or later, there will be a change of generations. — Lucian Kim

(Or Putin burns his hands as a result of the destructive multi-pronged efforts, while China cashes in (this part is a conspiracy theory ^‡)?)

Generations of Russians are what Kim visited in his travels.

‡ :D

They're "profiteering" of the sanctions, ironically. So there's not much of a mystery. — Tzeentch

The longer the war, the longer sanctions?

Not much of an implication. :D

By the way, normalizing conspiracy theories would be wretched, I'm certainly not proposing any, just looking at the landscape of existing conspiracy(-like) theories here. Not much "symmetry" for lack of a better word, hence en vogue...? Origins...?

Some profiteering due to the war (brief summary, can't be bothered with graphs):

China ↔ Russia: bilateral trade 2022 ↑ 34.3%, $190 billion
China → Russia: export → import 2022 ↑ 17.5%
Russia → China: export → import cheap oil

Russia ↔ India: bilateral trade 2021 $13.5 billion, 2022 $30 billion
Russia → India: export → import cheap oil Dec 2022 1.6 million barrels / day
Russia → India: export → import cheap fertilizer

Russia → Turkey: export → import 2021 $29 billion, 2022 $58.85 billion
Russia → Turkey: rich people relocate

United Arab Emirates: residential property 2021 → 2022 ↑ 80%, 2022 $56 billion
Russia → United Arab Emirates: rich people relocate

Saudi Arabia: economy 2021 → 2022 ↑ 8.7%, 2023 $4.3 billion surplus

Qatar: 2022 $8.19 billion surplus

Kuwait: economy 2022 ↑ 8%

Norway: export commodities 2022 ↑ 200%, $89.3 billion

Australia: export coal 2021 → 2022 ↑ 186%, $45 billion surplus
Australia: export natural gas 2021 → 2022, $40 billion surplus

Uzbekistan → Russia: export → import 2022 ↑ 23%, $14.5 billion
Russia → Uzbekistan: rich people relocate

Georgia: economy 2022 ↑ 10%
Russia → Georgia: rich people relocate

Kazakhstan, Armenia, Algeria, Indonesia somewhat similarly

Haven't seen much (by way of conspiracy theories) pointing at this stuff, well, except for Norway perhaps sort of ^{(Mar 17, 2022, Feb 16, 2023)}. Not en vogue?

The story of a defector to Russia, John McIntyre, told by various sources (including McIntyre), some anecdotal, some corroborated ...

Feb 28, 2023 · via Russia Today · Murad Gazdiev
Mar 01, 2023 · via Newsweek · Ellie Cook
Mar 02, 2023 · via Task and Purpose · Jeff Schogol · has 17m:18s AV
Mar 18, 2023 · via Business Insider · Alia Shoaib, Bethany Dawson · has 17m:18s AV

There are more defectors from Russia than to Russia, making this one kind of unique.
His former teams mates / colleagues didn't exactly have flattering words for him, but this, in turn, brings the protocols of the International Legion into question.
I guess communism remains associated with Russia, though the political system isn't — a bit odd.

Uh-oh, here we go again ...

UK accuses Russia of disinformation over depleted uranium
^{— Jessie Gretener, Darya Tarasova, Jack Guy · CNN · Mar 21, 2023}

Today it became known that Great Britain, through the mouth of the deputy head of the Ministry of Defense of this country, announced not only the supply of tanks to Ukraine, but also shells with combined uranium. I would like to note that if all this happens, Russia will have to react accordingly. I mean that the collective West is already starting to use weapons with a nuclear component. — Putin

considerably less radioactive than natural uranium — International Atomic Energy Agency

[...] the British Army has used depleted uranium in its armour piercing shells for decades. It is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities. Russia knows this, but is deliberately trying to disinform. Independent research by scientists from groups such as the Royal Society has assessed that any impact to personal health and the environment from the use of depleted uranium munitions is likely to be low. — Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)

By the way, I'm not sure the phrase "personal health" is appropriate here. :)

missile bases closer to Russia — boethius

Like these (Oct 16, 2022)?

Russia can completely destroy Ukraine with nuclear weapons on a few minutes notice. Is that a good thing? Obviously not. But they can and it's just reality we have to deal with. — boethius

If they could, then they could level Poland, Finland, Moldova, Belarus, Slovakia, or ..., just the same. Perhaps the UK, though the distance is greater (they have mentioned/joked so, too). This is an open-ended threat.

invasion of Iraq — boethius

... have been fairly consistently and openly criticized (including by Americans), as well it should.

Opinion: ‘At my first meeting with Saddam Hussein, within 30 seconds, he knew two things about me,’ says FBI interrogator
^{— Peter Bergen · CNN · Mar 21, 2023}

Critique hasn't been shut down like it might have elsewhere (then again, it wasn't a land grab). Might be more to come.

NATO has also helped dull national attention to defense. Switzerland and Sweden have a tradition of neutrality. Maybe those days are over? — Jan 13, 2023

the United States[’] intent has been [...] to remilitarize Europe — Tzeentch

... or to have Europe (re)learn sufficient self-defense?

the Europeans didn't have any militaries to speak of — Tzeentch

Lots of diverse Europeans in the US and vice versa. Worrying must be tiresome.

Obama urges NATO members to pull their weight
^{— Nolan D McCaskill · POLITICO · Nov 15, 2016}
NATO allies boost defense spending in the wake of Trump criticism
^{— Michael Birnbaum, Thomas Gibbons-Neff · The Washington Post · Jun 28, 2017}

that Russia is forced to mobilize and expand and develop its military — Tzeentch

Forced? No. (For that matter, they're not forced to keep Belarus on such a tight leash.) Putin has chosen (the tradition of) harsh/uncompromising dominance/control.

FYI, some graphs and such from around the time of the invasion ...


^{↑ Source: The Graphic Truth: How do Russia and Ukraine stack up? · Gabrielle Debinski, Annie Gugliotta · GZERO Media · Feb 15, 2022}

Russia and Ukraine's Military Strength: Same Data, Different Visualizations
^{— Juan Pablo Garnica Munévar · Datasketch · Feb 25, 2022}

National aid relative to national economy:


^{↑ Source: The Countries Pulling Their Weight in Ukraine Aid · Martin Armstrong · Statista · Oct 21, 2022}

Some numbers by country (go to source for higher resolution):


^{↑ Source: West continues arms supplies to Ukraine as war drags into 2nd year · Burc Eruygur, Elena Teslova · Anadolu Agency · Feb 25, 2023}

Nitty gritty details ...

Ukraine Support Tracker
^{— Katelyn Bushnell, André Frank, Lukas Franz, Ivan Kharitonov, Stefan Schramm, Christoph Trebesch · Kiel Institute · ongoing}
Arms Transfers to Ukraine
^{— Forum on the Arms Trade · ongoing}
List of humanitarian aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War
^{— Wikipedia · ongoing}
List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War
^{— Wikipedia · ongoing}

How can Ukraine deal with large Russian numbers/resources?
How can Russia deal with large Ukrainian aid/resources?

While the mercs are levelling Bakhmut, Russian military may be digging trenches in Crimea.

, voting is acting.

I suppose, if a majority of humans altogether are idiots (but not you :grin:), then perhaps that spells the (deserved) end of homo sapiens. (Genetic engineering, AI, artificial selection, control, eugenics, aliens, gods, to the rescue?)

Did you really think he was a one man show? — Isaac

Didn't even imply that. :roll: Did you really think I think so? :brow: I mean, really, honestly?

I don't see any cause to hope. If he goes away he'll be replaced by an identical figurehead with an identical agenda. — Isaac

That is, the majority of voters are dumb and blind and stupid? I suppose, if a majority of humans altogether are idiots (but not you :grin:), then perhaps that spells the (deserved) end of homo sapiens. (Genetic engineering, AI, artificial selection, control, eugenics, aliens, gods, to the rescue?)

Adding to earlier observations, this Kremlin crap ...

Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, has said Moscow’s ultimate goal in Ukraine is to topple the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, an apparent pivot from the Kremlin’s earlier stance.
Lavrov made the comments in Egypt at the beginning of a tour of Africa, where the top diplomat has sought to raise support while downplaying Russia’s role in blocking grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
He told envoys at an Arab League summit in Cairo late on Sunday that Moscow was determined to help Ukrainians “liberate themselves from the burden of this absolutely unacceptable regime.”
He also said Kyiv and “its Western allies” were spreading propaganda intended to ensure that Ukraine “becomes the eternal enemy of Russia.”
“Russian and Ukrainian people would continue to live together, we will certainly help Ukrainian people to get rid of the regime, which is absolutely anti-people and anti-historical,” he said.
Lavrov’s remarks contrasted with the Kremlin’s stated position in the days following the February 24 invasion, when Russian officials said they sought to “denazify” and “demilitarise” Ukraine and downplayed the prospect of overthrowing Zelenskyy’s government. — Russia will help Ukrainians ‘get rid of regime’, says Lavrov · Al Jazeera · Jul 25, 2022

Russia says it wants to end Ukraine’s `unacceptable regime’
^{— Susie Blann · AP News · Jul 25, 2022}

There are no reasons for a transition of the situation in Ukraine to a peaceful course; achieving of the goals of the special operation is currently only possible by military means, Peskov said. — RIA News · Mar 13, 2023

... goes to show a kind of transparent reality-removed sentiment (assuming it's genuine). Kyiv called it "schizophrenic". :D Naturally, it's up to the Kremlin to tell others what they think, want, etc, and if they don't comply then it's the bombs and the mercs. But, aims of the Kremlin are implicitly being put out there. Not surprising though, it's an MO.

^{Georgia: Wikipedia 2008
Moldova: RFE/RL Feb 9, 2023; VOA Feb 13, 2023; WSJ Feb 22, 2023; Reuters Mar 10, 2023; Yahoo Mar 14, 2023; WION Mar 17, 2023; CNN Mar 18, 2023
Belarus: DW Feb 21, 2023; Telegraph Feb 21, 2023; MSNBC Feb 21, 2023 6m:46s; bne Feb 23, 2023}

@Isaac, those people weren't shut up or their stuff wouldn't be around for all to see. (Thinking of Russia? :grin:) What you label "Dissent" is how things work. Then there's the rest of the community, too many to list I guess. (Have you scoffed at some of their interviews or whatever, manipulated/imposed by mass media / government narratives?) Casting it as dissent versus mainstream story-telling like so is politicizing it or enabling (political) misuse, ripe for en vogue toxicity.

^{Returning to my earlier comment, no calls for masking up, :mask:-industrial complex begone, saving the kids, no occasional lock-down, which would be fascist authoritarian anyway, no vaccine coverage, the evil Big Pharma to be purged, no travel or gathering restrictions, more authoritarian control done with, WHO and the CDC were once wrong, hence never to be trusted, ... Kind of business as usual, I suppose partially in the name of dissent (well, at least until there's harmony among all it would seem). Whichever of the above, and wherever outliers/disagreements can be found. Besides, it's up to every individual alone (freedom guaranteed by law), right? Thus, laissez-faire it is. ... Is ← ↑ that it, then, or ...? (Or, I'd hope.)}

... You name it, someone said it. — Mar 12, 2023

Sometimes we have a situation on our hands that we still have to deal with. The problem here isn't whatever an individual says in particular, it's a matter of taking all of it into consideration to get it dealt with, and there are experts doing that as well. (Are you one of them?) Are we ready for the next one?

, where people get what they vote for, the voters would have to be told, ehh to be asked to choose better, yes? Where people don't (really) get a vote, whatever else would apply.

Anyway, hopefully the Frump will see justice and/or go away.

In other news:

Starbucks CEO Clearly Just Coming To Company Headquarters To Use Bathroom
^{— The Onion · Mar 15, 2023}

He clogged the toilet, stuffed some sugar packets into his pockets, and left. He took a minute to hover near the front, pretending to read a couple of documents, but his eyes were darting toward the bathroom door the whole time. — Alison Whitlock (Starbucks project manager)

Alison Whitlock [...] estimated that Schultz came into the Starbucks office approximately three to four times a week just to lock himself in the bathroom for 10 minutes and leave a terrible mess. — The Onion

Yank — boagie

Heck no. I once lived on Manhattan for half a year (work-related, wife's visits paid for), that's about the extent of my Yankdom. Not about me anyway. (Why do people do that?)

Not really surprising, is it? (Anyone?)

Secret document reveals Russia’s 10-year plan to destabilize Moldova
^{— Tim Lister · CNN · Mar 17, 2023}

• Feb 24
• Feb 27

Anyway, I'd find it more surprising if no such plans were around.

, you OK...?
(terse copy/pastes of the well-known propaganda and such isn't really cool)

isn't really a big deal — Tzeentch

timid reaction — Tzeentch

These two ↑ are consistent at least.

Russia simply should exit from Ukraine, including Crimea, and respect the territorial integrity of the country what it has accepted starting when the country became independent.

Having any problem with that? — ssu

Seems like some want to forget that (perhaps not even keep it part of the equation). :zip:

By the looks of it, every week the invaders wreak havoc, forgive-and-forget becomes harder for the defenders, and the invaders have been at it for a year now.

Russia's Wagner mercenary group says it's no longer recruiting convicts. This may signal a shift in strategy
^{— Tim Lister · CNN · Feb 11, 2023}
Russian Federation: UN experts alarmed by recruitment of prisoners by “Wagner Group”
^{— Ravindran Daniel, Aua Baldé et al · UN/OHCHR · Mar 10, 2023}
Wagner Group recruiting in Russian schools after heavy losses in Bakhmut: report
^{— Snejana Farberov · New York Post · Mar 14, 2023}
Wagner Group opens recruitment center in Murmansk
^{— Atle Staalesen, Georgii Chentemirov · The Independent Barents Observer · Mar 15, 2023}
Russia's Wagner army is recruiting fighters on Pornhub in a desperate attempt to strengthen troops, report says
^{— Sophia Ankel · Business Insider · Mar 16, 2023}

Prigozhin have announced that recruitment centers for the Wagner Group have opened in 42 Russian cities. ^{(The Daily Digest summary)}

Mercs: live by the sword, die by the sword (and not missed by the defenders).

Have to wonder what their job description and contract say.

"You run into the fire when ordered to by a commander, and kill as many Ukrainians as you can. Apart from 240,000 rubles a month, your pay reflects your kill count. If you survive long enough, then you might be promoted to commander. Defectors will be dealt with."

:D Don't say Russians don't have a sense of humor. Some of them anyway.

Russian politician fined for "noodle ears" stunt during Putin speech
^{— Mark Trevelyan, Kevin Liffey · Reuters · Mar 16, 2023}

(Reuters) - A Russian local politician was fined nearly $2,000 on Thursday for "discrediting the armed forces" by dangling spaghetti from his ears while listening to a speech by President Vladimir Putin, a human rights monitoring group said.
Mikhail Abdalkin was convicted for a stunt, which he filmed and posted on social media, based on a Russian saying that someone who has been strung along or deceived has had noodles hung on their ears.
The implication was that he did not believe the content of the state of the nation speech that Putin delivered on Feb. 21, just before the first anniversary of his invasion of Ukraine.
The monitoring group OVD-Info quoted Abdalkin, a Communist from the Samara region, as saying it had been an ironic gesture to express his dissatisfaction with "the president's silence about internal political problems". He was fined 150,000 roubles ($1,950).
Russia's parliament this month tightened laws passed shortly after the invasion that now stipulate fines or jail terms of up to 15 years for discrediting or spreading false news about the armed forces or others, such as the Wagner mercenary group, who are taking part in the war in Ukraine. ($1 = 76.8455 roubles)

At least Abdalkin wasn't jailed (or worse).

The key question is whether Tuesday's encounter was an attempt by Russia to disrupt the US drone and its work, or whether it was a deliberate attempt to bring it down. [...] The US will now have to evaluate its response. — James Landale, Henri Astier · BCC · Mar 15, 2023

By the way, there's not really anything new about the recon, been going on for a long time, it's in international space anyway, and not just the US. Employing observations about their methods, we can hence conclude that they were provoking the watchers. :D Maybe drones should have a self-destruct mechanism that could take such jets down with it?

More info here:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/3/14/russia-ukraine-live-news-russia-does-not-recognise-icc-kremlin — Manuel

A few more reports on the incident ... Reuters, AP News, Axios, BBC, CNN
Someone has become quick to accuse others of what they themselves are doing. :D
Maybe more details will come out if/when the drone recordings are declassified.


In other (but continuing) news ...

Ukraine war: Two Montreal companies sanctioned by U.S. for alleged ties to Russia
^{— Jacob Serebrin · The Star · Mar 7, 2023}

Does the future exist? — invicta

Hmm There's something odd about the question.
The term "exist" is in present tense, but about "the future".

So, the 2002 SARS outbreak was contained somewhat effectively. The outbreak was first detected in late 2002, and was more or less said to have been stopped by 2005, with something in the range of 10,000 known cases (10% fatalities). Determining infection with the virus was largely by symptoms, followed by testing, tracing.

The 2019 outbreak was different, no similar stoppage (or control), including the subsequent mutations. What went wrong? Was the later COVID-19 virus that much more effective in spreading across the globe, perhaps especially the subsequent Ο-variant? Higher survivability outside of infectees? Indifference/complacency/obstruction? Too much politicizing? (Frump culture? :smile:) Something else? Multiple factors seem likely as of typing.

Surely we want to learn. We've learned some things, with likely more to come. Maybe it'll be a case study sometime in the future. Fortunately, the fatality rate is also lower. Are we prepared for the next one?

I came across someone saying something like ... tinder is still catching fire (tinder being the more vulnerable). Some say that nothing in particular should be done in case of outbreaks (altogether), others say "safety first caution", others still ... You name it, someone said it.

Lessons learned so far?

I guess we might say that everything is that which can have no complement.

everything ≈ that which has no complement
∁ E = ∅

That's without trying to get into "every" and "thing" and tedious semantics and whatnot.
So, fictions/imaginations are included, and contrasted with real.

Note that such statements are also around, hence parts thereof.

That being said, I don't think "everything" or "existence" are the kinds of words lending themselves to concise definitions.
As a starting point you (literally) can't miss it (in part), whatever exactly it may all be.

This thread has become an embarrassment. :)

Something was tagged for moderation? :D What happened?

Calls for special tribunal for Russia’s ‘war crimes’ in Ukraine
^{— Al Jazeera · Jan 17, 2023}

When peace talks were started in late March, that should have been the end of the war. — Tzeentch

Wouldn't have ended (supposed) Putinian NATO-phobia. Their arguments against NATO expansion would apply to the remaining Ukraine just the same.
They might grab more land meanwhile, with future would-be / other autocrats/dictators taking notes, and UN votes being laughed at, at the expense of Ukrainians falling under Kremlin's rule. "Not standing up to the bully/thief/murderer means bullying/theft/murder" (or however it goes). I'm guessing the people in Seoul have been unhappy about Putin opening Pandora's nuclear box; it's out now, "What's next, Putin?"
Others see elevated Putin-phobia, fear, tension, justification for mobilization. ^{(Jun 24, 2022; Feb 17, 2023; Feb 26, 2023; Mar 6, 2023, Mar 7, 2023)}
The Ukrainians wouldn't have it, and would have been abandoned and left to Putin's devices, perhaps "deNazification" (+ anti-homosexual) efforts, whatever, all the while Putin being hailed/encouraged as a victorious leader at home.
Such flirting with complicity might have consequences, immediate-term peace-mongery setting the stage for longer-term disasters (to explain to upcoming generations), cashing in for an unknown future, a trajectory the Ukrainians were trying to put distance to.
At least volunteer soldiers of fortune can't quite be counted as victims (nor the likes of Yevgeny Sokolov).
No one should forget who unleashed (and is unleashing) the destruction + land grabbery on the Ukrainians. Nope, this ain't just "Western propaganda"; such handwave dismissal doesn't do anyone any favors (except the Putinistas). Talks are good though, exchange, keep trying, heck maybe disabuse "Gremlinian new reality" and other crap.
But of course — war :fire: is :death: bad — everyone already knows the various arguments, some have been repeated often enough without adding anything new.
Suppose they were to run with capitulation of regions. Then what?

I don't take Scott Ritter very seriously. — Tzeentch

Yudin, then? Others? (Just those assigning specific blame...?)

Hey , any updates from the ground?

Putin’s War Against Ukraine: The End of The Beginning
^{— Eugene Rumer · Carnegie · Feb 17, 2023}

Russia was favored to win quickly. A year later, he is betting on the opposite—to wage a long war against Ukraine, exploiting the advantages that Russia’s size, resilient economy, and relative security from retaliation afford him. Victory on the battlefield has proved elusive. A counteroffensive in Donbas, combined with the ongoing campaign of terror against Ukrainian cities and towns and destruction of the country’s infrastructure, is his next best options.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 24 February 2023
^{— Ministry of Defence UK · Feb 24, 2023}

In recent weeks, Russia has likely changed its approach again. Its campaign now likely primarily seeks to degrade the Ukrainian military, rather than being focused on seizing substantial new territory.
The Russian leadership is likely pursuing a long-term operation where they bank that Russia’s advantages in population and resources will eventually exhaust Ukraine.

So Russia's strategy is that a sufficient supply of bodies (Russian bodies) will eventually exhaust Ukraine's supply of shells. :sad: — Sir Balthazar Wobbly · Feb 24, 2023

CIA director William Burns on "Face the Nation"
^{— Margaret Brennan · CBS News · Feb 26, 2023}

At some point, he's going to have to face up to increasing costs as well, in coffins coming home to some of the poorest parts of Russia because many of the conscripts, you know, who are being thrown as cannon fodder in the front and the Donbas as well, come from Dagestan and Buryatia, the poorest parts of Russia as well.

Merc head Prigozhin is apparently unhappy (also Feb 28, 2023) ...
Wagner chief warns of collapse of Russian front line if there is retreat from Bakhmut
^{— Lauren Sforza · The Hill · Mar 6, 2023}
Potentially being "set up"...? A ruse...?

Seems a stretch that the current situation was Putin's plan all along. (?)


On another note, Mearsheimer or Yudin? A bit of both?
It’s not NATO — Putin always has had expansionist designs
^{— Alexander J Motyl · The Hill · Mar 6, 2023}

Slovakia basks under NATO umbrella, sends Ukraine old arms
^{— Karel Janicek · AP News · Mar 1, 2023}

Not really surprising I suppose.

The report has takeaways.

Slovakia is a Ukraine neighbor and has been "invaded" by NATO forces :smile: that don't otherwise interfere in political processes or daily lives or whatever. The Slovaks don't consider NATO a security threat. They seem to be (and have been) doing relatively/reasonably well as far as the regular Jane and John Slovak goes. Go figure.

^{(you may contrast with other/parallel developments like ... Feb 2022, Mar 2022, Mar 2022, Jul 2022, Aug 2022, Sep 2022, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W ... anyway, much has been posted in the thread prior)}

They're looking into sending some old "unwieldy" gear to the Ukrainians except keeping one of them as a museum piece. I guess the protection is what the Ukrainians (once) hoped for, which isn't something the UN can do.

, maybe. I was admittedly being a bit facetious. :)
Don't think it's that simple, and don't know exactly what has been seized from who and why.
Putin does have supporters among those people though, and others that aren't so supportive.

EU seeks to use frozen Russian funds to rebuild Ukraine
^{— Terje Solsvik, Essi Lehto, Niklas Pollard, Sandra Maler · Reuters · Feb 14, 2023}
There's an idea. — Feb 14, 2023

Dozens of sanctioned superyachts seized from Russian oligarchs still hang in limbo, racking up millions in maintenance
^{— Grace Kay, Sam Tabahriti · Business Insider · Mar 4, 2023}

Auction them off, put money into fund for Ukraine. :)

A look into what Jane and John Russian get on national TV, Russia-1:
via Julia Davis of Russian Media Monitor (Mar 2, 2023 · 9m:38s)

Taken together with Lavrov's statements (and others) a story is told.

If [t]he US bombed Nord Stream [...] — Tzeentch

How many of Russia's presently available forces are deployed/involved in Putin's war in Ukraine (perhaps with/out mercs, un/trained, respectively)? (, others)

Tearful scenes and protest as mobilization gets underway in Russia
^{— Simone McCarthy, Matthew Chance, Tim Lister, Anna Chernova, Mick Krever, et al · CNN · Sep 23, 2022}
Russia’s Stripped Its Western Borders to Feed the Fight in Ukraine
^{— Robbie Gramer, Jack Detsch · Foreign Policy · Sep 28, 2022}
Russia’s Reindeer Brigade Is Fighting For Its Survival In Southern Ukraine
^{— David Axe · Forbes · Oct 7, 2022}
Russia sends St. Petersburg riot police to Mariupol to stop new protests
^{— Daniel Stewart · News 360 · Dec 16, 2022}

but now Putin's Russia is busy elsewhere (Ukraine), and apparently neglecting the alliance — Jan 11, 2023

Russia says little about its soldiers dying, so an open-source team is trying to keep track
^{— Briar Stewart et al · CBC News · Mar 4, 2023}
2022 Russian mobilization
^{— Wikipedia}

Who knows, maybe Prigozhin made Putin some verbal promises to the effect of saving some troubles involved in larger (unpopular) mobilization/conscription? (you know how it is among gangsters, better keep your word, or else...)

A summary of the attack in Russia's southern Bryansk (sources included):

Vladimir Putin: Latest conflict could be sign that 'Russians will begin to wake up', official claims
^{— Ali Postma · Ohmymag UK · Mar 3, 2023}

The attack itself seems a bit odd. Some anti-Putin Russians in Ukraine got together and went posturing without going after anything of much importance in Russia. Just to show they can or something? Not much of a political rally, either. A probe maybe? And Putin's reaction is rather overshadowed by his efforts in Ukraine. There's not really any comparison, though I suppose emphasizing the attack can provide a distraction.

Top Russian official's remark about Ukraine war draws laughter — neomac

Yep, which also echoes Boris Bondarev's comments about "degradation".

Crowd erupts in laughter at Russia's top diplomat after he claimed the Ukraine war 'was launched against us'
^{— Rebecca Cohen, John Haltiwanger · Business Insider India · Mar 4, 2023}

What's up with Lavrov? Lying? Following the script? Bullshitting? Propagandizing? Expressing his belief?