left field

The thing you have to remember about Greene and Boubert is that they're idiots. But this was probably done for one reason only ... fundraising.

Will Moscow Mules be the Freedom Fries of today? But before you go dumping Stolichnaya down the drain, it's Latvian. https://stoli.com/ Canada does it's part to make Putin pout: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-diner-drops-poutine-from-the-menu-the-word-not-the-dish-to-denounce-putin-1.5800157

Meanwhile, back in the land of of-course-that-happened: Russian flag: https://www.politico.eu/blogs/playbook-plus/2017/02/trump-branded-russia-flags-at-cpac/

https://www.theonion.com/biden-touts-incredible-state-of-union-when-compared-to-1848607334

No one is attacking you. I've legally lived in a few countries and have an opinion about each. Visited a good number and have an opinion about those as well. Is this a litmus test on whose opinion matters more? Practically, what does "should not carry the same weight" mean?

It does seem a little odd. Was it based on my "we're all Ukrainian" thing?

Got the last four letters in three but there were many options for the first so didn't get it.

Not sure about US going in and the ramifications of that. I think it may better to do this with a thousand cuts and bleed the Russians enough that they remove him. The international reaction has been astounding. Countries have tossed their cold war playbooks out and are responding in record time. I think that will sober China up. They cannot afford to lose international markets. Unfortunately, Ukraine will take it on the chin.

This what I was my thinking. My grandmother's pierogies. Sitting at her table as a kid, watching her prepare them. Her hands so calloused that she could pull the boiling pot of water off the stove without oven mitts. The simmering frying pan of butter reduced onions that she would ladle over the dumplings on my plate. I've had fancier but never better. That would be a good moment to relive at the end. Of course.

Today, we are all Ukrainian.

And now back to reality. Let's hope there's some truth to these. Because this is real. And for fun ... Bolton on Ukraine and Trump.

Just saw that. You're missing the point. Disregarding what someone on the opposite side of aisle is saying limits your personal education and ability to speak intelligently on the subject. Why do that to yourself? Owning the libs? How ca you function in the world if you only consider those who agree with you? What I said as intro to that interview was: That is hardly promoting it as "gospel beyond reproach". I didn't focus on the few times she mentions Trump as that wasn't the point and her take on history of the region and Putin were far more interesting. Calling her a "Soros mole" is grouse territory. I thought you were smarter.

The opposing side of what? That Putin is striving to bring glory back to Russia and reclaim past glory? Her article, and in fact her career, is not like the batshit crazy stuff that Grouse posts from the websites. Hill is a player in the international politics, a legitimate Russian expert, a hawk when it comes to Putin, and has served three presidents. Her opinions on Trump in that piece are reflective of what the world felt of Putin's manipulation of Trump. If you disagree with that, fine, but don't discount the history lesson and insight she provided on Putin. This is a weird hill for you to die on.

That's a weird position to take - discount what someone is saying because you believe them to be biased which is a perception based on your own bias. That's like being at the nexus of the universe. At a certain point you have to put your partisan politics aside and listen to what experts are saying and she is an expert on Putin and Russia. Which part of that interview do you disagree with?

While I approve on the surface, you do know the hotter the crazier, right?

We're just two laymen talking and we don't know a thing about how these situations work, but what do you base that on? How was it ignored? What is the strategy in dealing with a nuclear power intent on invading another country in 2022? Do you de-escalate by offering some type of concession? Work something out diplomatically and quietly? Sacrifice a new Democracy? Threaten a military response? I really don't know. I hope Ukraine can resist this second phase of conflict until enough of an international coalition isolates Russia completely. At that point (unless he's truly insane), Putin leaves the infrastructure in shambles and claims he stopped the evil Ukrainian Nazis, negotiates a withdraw to ease sanctions and goes home.

Which part? NATO? Meanwhile, in the land of The Hits Just Keep on Coming. Maybe Putin isn't responsible at all.

I'm quite serious. What compromise would you have offered to stop Putin from attacking a new democracy, killing civilians and installing a puppet government? Half the country? More oil purchases? Cold hard cash? Trump pretty much offered to gut NATO and that wasn't enough. There is another word for that type of compromise. It will come to me in a minute.

There was a fairly clear warning - invade Ukraine and face severe consequences. What Putin didn't count on was how quickly the world united against him. But what type of compromise were you hoping for? Don't go into Ukraine and we'll give you ... what? This is an interview with Fiona Hill who is pretty much an expert on Putin as much as one can be an expert. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/02/28/world-war-iii-already-there-00012340 This is fun. A Texan embedded and fighting with Russians https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/son-wealthy-businessman-foot-soldier-vladimir-putin-russia-hacking/

He got his start in Russian news TV. Of course, once he immigrated to Canada he quickly learned to disguise his accent.

My Ukrainian is weak but it sounds a little more Russian to me. It could be Surzhyk which is a colloquial mix of the two usually spoken in Ukraine. This chart should clear it up: English Ukrainian Russian Surzhyk Cancel скасовувати отменять відміняти Conjugate відміняти спрягать спрягати Gentle лагідний ласковый ласкавий Kind ласкавий добродушный добродушний Or this popular game show from Russian TV - Uposcrabblenyk.

One of the places we just stayed in Mexico was configured main house > pool/yard > bedroom casita. I was in the main house making coffee on the first morning when my wife burst in and yelled, "The casita is on fire!" I ran back thinking it's made of concrete, steel and glass and there's nothing flammable, but when I got there I could definitely smell smoke. Looked around the side and there was black smoke coming out of the back of the roof. I had no idea how to call 911 and wanted to figure it out before I yelled for a neighbour so I grabbed a ladder and climbed up. The smoke seemed to be behind the building. I walk over and look down to see the neighbour cooking tortillas on a flat grill at the back of his property. They were good.

I went with TROUT. Took me down the wrong river.

I think people are going to be studying Zelensky's and Ukraine's moves for years to come. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-pows-prisoners-identification-dead/31726619.html

Meanwhile, in the land of Didn't See That Coming: Would totally watch her show.