Ukraine

[disarm]

I dislike the idea that nobody can complain about anything else, just because someone has it worse. After all, somewhere, somebody is probably on fire or being tortured to death. That doesn't mean that everyone who isn't on fire needs to shut up about their own problems.

I find the current xkcd somewhat appropriate...

[Defiant]

[Defiant]

Where are those farmers? There may be some more things for you to pull.

[Unagi]

Has nothing to do with refugees. Not sure how that got mixed in. Money sent to Ukrainians via Airbnb.

If they have an Airbnb and they're not helping refugees, why are they worth your donation when other orgs are directly helping refugees?

It's not like your Airbnb money is buying Javelins or NLAWs.

Ok. You just aren’t thinking shallow enough.
This is like someone paying for something on Etsy, but telling the person they can keep the product and the payment. It’s a donation.

But instead of finding a Ukrainian by way of Etsy, they have found a Ukrainian via Airbnb.


Now, as it’s been said - it may not be the best way to help - but you should at least understand the mechanic.

[Daehawk]

I wonder why the US doesn't forego the gas tax in situations like this to also help out?

[Pyperkub]

I wonder why the US doesn't forego the gas tax in situations like this to also help out?

Because that pays for road and bridge maintenance, which we haven't been doing enough of as it is?

[Kraken]

I wonder why the US doesn't forego the gas tax in situations like this to also help out?

Because that pays for road and bridge maintenance, which we haven't been doing enough of as it is?

And once a tax is suspended, it’s hard to reinstate. And the federal gas tax is only 18.3 cents per gallon anyway, so it would only make a small difference.

A number of years ago someone calculated that the “real” price of a gallon of gas, factoring in the pollution it causes and the military costs of defending supply lines, should be around $8 per gallon. That was before global warming moved to the front burner.

This is easy for me to say because I haven't filled my tank since January, but we are used to paying a heavily subsidized price.

[UsulofDoom]

I wonder why the US doesn't forego the gas tax in situations like this to also help out?

Because that pays for road and bridge maintenance, which we haven't been doing enough of as it is?

And once a tax is suspended, it’s hard to reinstate. And the federal gas tax is only 18.3 cents per gallon anyway, so it would only make a small difference.

A number of years ago someone calculated that the “real” price of a gallon of gas, factoring in the pollution it causes and the military costs of defending supply lines, should be around $8 per gallon. That was before global warming moved to the front burner.

This is easy for me to say because I haven't filled my tank since January, but we are used to paying a heavily subsidized price.

Seems you forget that any increase of energy price, no matter what from will increase prices for all items.

[raydude]

I wonder why the US doesn't forego the gas tax in situations like this to also help out?

Because that pays for road and bridge maintenance, which we haven't been doing enough of as it is?

Yeah, we don't want to fall to Russian military levels of maintenance.

[YellowKing]

+1. Given the amount of driving that is not reducible for us, and how tight money is for us, I can bitch. That doesn't mean I think we should ease up on Russia just to make it easier.

I didn't mean to pick on those who are struggling. My post was an emotional response to a post on NextDoor (wretched hive of scum and villainy) where a woman was griping about gas going up and how this would have never happened under Trump because under him we were "energy independent".

I've got friends who gripe about gas while driving gigantic pickup trucks and taking their boat out every weekend. Those are the ones that frustrate me.

[malchior]

I've got friends who gripe about gas while driving gigantic pickup trucks and taking their boat out every weekend. Those are the ones that frustrate me.

About the only thing I like about getting older is seeing that we have lived through this same routine many times before and it always devolves into the same old bullshit as before. Cross referenced with COVID bullshit and behaviors, you can quickly see people will just rationalize whatever the fuck they were going to do anyway. Blame it on Biden. Blame it on oil companies (which do deserve some blame mind you). Heaven forbid they take any action or responsibility or spend 30 minutes reading about the topic to get even a skin deep understanding of it. It's just easier to point the finger and do whatever the fuck they were going to do anyway.

[Octavious]

I have seen more than once this week people pointing out how cheap gas was in 2020. Holy hell nobody was driving. Another pointing out how cheap it was before Obama got into office. THE ENTIRE COUNTRY COLLAPSED. I really just need to get off social media. It's disgusting. And get a new job. Everyone is a Trump supporter. So frustrating.

[Zaxxon]

I've got friends who gripe about gas while driving gigantic pickup trucks and taking their boat out every weekend. Those are the ones that frustrate me.

About the only thing I like about getting older is seeing that we have lived through this same routine many times before and it always devolves into the same old bullshit as before. Cross referenced with COVID bullshit and behaviors, you can quickly see people will just rationalize whatever the fuck they were going to do anyway. Blame it on Biden. Blame it on oil companies (which do deserve some blame mind you). Heaven forbid they take any action or responsibility or spend 30 minutes reading about the topic to get even a skin deep understanding of it. It's just easier to point the finger and do whatever the fuck they were going to do anyway.

Indeed. I'm also having a difficult time not reacting poorly to all the gas cost bitching, as we're now at a score of years into the lifespan of the Nissan Leaf and Model S, and 5 years into the Bolt, 4+ into Model 3, etc. And of course the Prius has been pretty affordable for 15 years. Blackhawk's point is not lost on me--there's a large swath of the population who is at the mercy of fuel prices. But there's also a large swath that's just full of shit, to a much greater degree than the last time we saw gasoline prices like this.

Those folks can GTFO with their bitching.

[Isgrimnur]

And get a new job.

How's that cert planning going?

[malchior]

But there's also a large swath that's just full of shit, to a much greater degree than the last time we saw gasoline prices like this.

Those folks can GTFO with their bitching.

Definitely. They are largely the ones cheering on policy insanity like we are seeing in Florida where they plan to drastically slash the net metering tariff rates. One of the best drivers of solar adoption. They are cheering higher gas prices in the long run, less independence, and a solid gift to monopolists. That includes one of the worst run, most fined, and grifiest power producers in the country - NextEra Energy which owns Florida Power & Light.

Edit: This is the first shot across the bow to lower the rate of solar adoption. I expect we'll see policy like this spread all over the sunbelt where solar adoption would have the most impact.

[LawBeefaroni]

Has nothing to do with refugees. Not sure how that got mixed in. Money sent to Ukrainians via Airbnb.

If they have an Airbnb and they're not helping refugees, why are they worth your donation when other orgs are directly helping refugees?

It's not like your Airbnb money is buying Javelins or NLAWs.

Ok. You just aren’t thinking shallow enough.
This is like someone paying for something on Etsy, but telling the person they can keep the product and the payment. It’s a donation.

But instead of finding a Ukrainian by way of Etsy, they have found a Ukrainian via Airbnb.


Now, as it’s been said - it may not be the best way to help - but you should at least understand the mechanic.

Yes, it's a rather ingenious and effective way of getting money directly in the hands of residents. As has been said, it has absolutely nothing to do with housing refugees. In fact, the underlying property can be destroyed and it still works as intended.

[Isgrimnur]

Forbes: Surprise! The U.S. Is Still Energy Independent

We had lost our energy independence several times on a monthly basis since May 2020. But, the full calendar years of 2020 and 2021 both turned out to be net export years.
...
[T]he graph also shows that once we first gained energy independence — which happened in April 2020 on a rolling 12-month basis — we have never lost it. But the downward trend switched directions in June 2021 (which covers the period of June 2020 through May 2021 — portions of both the Trump and Biden presidencies).

[Unagi]

Yes, it's a rather ingenious and effective way of getting money directly in the hands of residents. As has been said, it has absolutely nothing to do with housing refugees. In fact, the underlying property can be destroyed and it still works as intended.

this thread does move fast, doesn't it

If Olga is a resident of Ukraine, you have just helped a Ukrainian. The hope is that Olga is a legit target of our sympathy. Beyond that, there is no expectation that Olga even still has a bed to rent.

Now we just need Holman to let us know he gets it.

[LawBeefaroni]

Yes, it's a rather ingenious and effective way of getting money directly in the hands of residents. As has been said, it has absolutely nothing to do with housing refugees. In fact, the underlying property can be destroyed and it still works as intended.

this thread does move fast, doesn't it

If Olga is a resident of Ukraine, you have just helped a Ukrainian. The hope is that Olga is a legit target of our sympathy. Beyond that, there is no expectation that Olga even still has a bed to rent.

Now we just need Holman to let us know he gets it.

As has been said

[Unagi]

Yes, it's a rather ingenious and effective way of getting money directly in the hands of residents. As has been said, it has absolutely nothing to do with housing refugees. In fact, the underlying property can be destroyed and it still works as intended.

this thread does move fast, doesn't it

If Olga is a resident of Ukraine, you have just helped a Ukrainian. The hope is that Olga is a legit target of our sympathy. Beyond that, there is no expectation that Olga even still has a bed to rent.

Now we just need Holman to let us know he gets it.

As has been said

This

[Kraken]

I wonder why the US doesn't forego the gas tax in situations like this to also help out?

Because that pays for road and bridge maintenance, which we haven't been doing enough of as it is?

And once a tax is suspended, it’s hard to reinstate. And the federal gas tax is only 18.3 cents per gallon anyway, so it would only make a small difference.

A number of years ago someone calculated that the “real” price of a gallon of gas, factoring in the pollution it causes and the military costs of defending supply lines, should be around $8 per gallon. That was before global warming moved to the front burner.

This is easy for me to say because I haven't filled my tank since January, but we are used to paying a heavily subsidized price.

Seems you forget that any increase of energy price, no matter what from will increase prices for all items.

True, and I'm not saying we should be paying the "true" cost of $8 or $10/gallon. Just pointing out that the "normal" $3-ish price is very low by many measures.

[UsulofDoom]

I've got friends who gripe about gas while driving gigantic pickup trucks and taking their boat out every weekend. Those are the ones that frustrate me.

About the only thing I like about getting older is seeing that we have lived through this same routine many times before and it always devolves into the same old bullshit as before. Cross referenced with COVID bullshit and behaviors, you can quickly see people will just rationalize whatever the fuck they were going to do anyway. Blame it on Biden. Blame it on oil companies (which do deserve some blame mind you). Heaven forbid they take any action or responsibility or spend 30 minutes reading about the topic to get even a skin deep understanding of it. It's just easier to point the finger and do whatever the fuck they were going to do anyway.

Maybe if our leaders lead by example ,we would be in a better place. That's what frustrates me.

Nancy Pelosi spent almost $500K on private jets despite climate preaching

[Isgrimnur]

NBC News

Only a small number of members in leadership positions receive full-time protective details from the Capitol Police, including the House Speaker, House and Senate Majority and Minority Leader, and House and Senate whips. Rank-and-file members sometimes receive added protection in response to specific concerns.

Her role and security needs preclude her from flying commercial.

[Unagi]

I've got friends who gripe about gas while driving gigantic pickup trucks and taking their boat out every weekend. Those are the ones that frustrate me.

About the only thing I like about getting older is seeing that we have lived through this same routine many times before and it always devolves into the same old bullshit as before. Cross referenced with COVID bullshit and behaviors, you can quickly see people will just rationalize whatever the fuck they were going to do anyway. Blame it on Biden. Blame it on oil companies (which do deserve some blame mind you). Heaven forbid they take any action or responsibility or spend 30 minutes reading about the topic to get even a skin deep understanding of it. It's just easier to point the finger and do whatever the fuck they were going to do anyway.

Maybe if our leaders lead by example ,we would be in a better place. That's what frustrates me.

Nancy Pelosi spent almost $500K on private jets despite climate preaching

That's just conjecture.

[LawBeefaroni]

NBC News

Only a small number of members in leadership positions receive full-time protective details from the Capitol Police, including the House Speaker, House and Senate Majority and Minority Leader, and House and Senate whips. Rank-and-file members sometimes receive added protection in response to specific concerns.

Her role and security needs preclude her from flying commercial.

She is provided work-related and regular transportation between DC and SF via private Air Force planes on the taxpayer dime. She does also use commercial flights.

The $500K jets were all campaign trips. Or at least paid for by her campaign funds.


Edit:
PF

A spokesperson for Pelosi told PolitiFact, "Speaker Pelosi travels by commercial air. This [claim about her demanding an AF 757B] is false."

Pelosi did have acess to a 12-seat Gulfstream V during her first stint as speaker, spokesperson Drew Hammill said, from 2007 to 2011, due to security precautions set in place following the Sept. 11 terror attacks. After that, however, she began routinely flying commercial flights. She became speaker again in January 2019.

The speaker has been spotted flying on commercial airlines recently. In July 2019, CNN’s senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, tweeted a photo of Pelosi sitting in coach on a Delta plane in Detroit.
...

Pelosi’s predecessor, Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., had access to an Air Force C-20B, a small 12-seater that he used to travel to his home district, as well as a larger plane — a C-32, a military version of a Boeing 757 — that was made available to him following 9/11. But FactCheck.org found that while Livingood inquired about a plane that could fly across the country without stopping, Pelosi herself didn’t request this larger jet — nor did she use it, Hammill said.

[Isgrimnur]

I stand corrected.

[$iljanus]

So in other news that you can search on your own a maternity hospital was bombed in Mariupol. I completely understand the ramifications of NATO involvement in this war but what is the moral line that needs to be crossed before we need to get more involved? Those “humanitarian corridors” just turn into free fire zone and when Ukraine finally triumphs it’s going to need a massive amount of aid to rebuild and rearm.

[Carpet_pissr]

So in other news that you can search on your own a maternity hospital was bombed in Mariupol. I completely understand the ramifications of NATO involvement in this war but what is the moral line that needs to be crossed before we need to get more involved?

I don't think there is a line, because everytime someone points to one, or suggests one, the answer is always "potential nuclear war" or "WWIII" etc, and thus pretty much endeth the convo.

Personally I'm torn, and don't see it as that black and white. I do think there should be a line, but I don't know what that is.

[stimpy]

So in other news that you can search on your own a maternity hospital was bombed in Mariupol. I completely understand the ramifications of NATO involvement in this war but what is the moral line that needs to be crossed before we need to get more involved?

I don't think there is a line, because everytime someone points to one, or suggests one, the answer is always "potential nuclear war" or "WWIII" etc, and thus pretty much endeth the convo.

With the fight that Ukraine is putting up against Russia, can they even be taken as a serious threat anymore, other than the nukes?
I mean....it seems we could go in and wipe them out pretty quickly and easily.

[Carpet_pissr]

So in other news that you can search on your own a maternity hospital was bombed in Mariupol. I completely understand the ramifications of NATO involvement in this war but what is the moral line that needs to be crossed before we need to get more involved?

I don't think there is a line, because everytime someone points to one, or suggests one, the answer is always "potential nuclear war" or "WWIII" etc, and thus pretty much endeth the convo.

With the fight that Ukraine is putting up against Russia, can they even be taken as a serious threat anymore, other than the nukes?
I mean....it seems we could go in and wipe them out pretty quickly and easily.

Other than the nukes?!

I'm going to use that instead of my typical, and much less obvious, "other than that, Mrs. Lincoln..." trope. Jesus.

[$iljanus]

So in other news that you can search on your own a maternity hospital was bombed in Mariupol. I completely understand the ramifications of NATO involvement in this war but what is the moral line that needs to be crossed before we need to get more involved?

I don't think there is a line, because everytime someone points to one, or suggests one, the answer is always "potential nuclear war" or "WWIII" etc, and thus pretty much endeth the convo.

Then you have a nuclear rogue state who thinks they can invade their neighbors at will. And Ukraine is going to be the sacrificial lamb. Necessary, perhaps but people better not turn away as this goes on.

[stimpy]

So in other news that you can search on your own a maternity hospital was bombed in Mariupol. I completely understand the ramifications of NATO involvement in this war but what is the moral line that needs to be crossed before we need to get more involved?

I don't think there is a line, because everytime someone points to one, or suggests one, the answer is always "potential nuclear war" or "WWIII" etc, and thus pretty much endeth the convo.

With the fight that Ukraine is putting up against Russia, can they even be taken as a serious threat anymore, other than the nukes?
I mean....it seems we could go in and wipe them out pretty quickly and easily.

Other than the nukes?!

I'm going to use that instead of my typical, and much less obvious, "other than that, Mrs. Lincoln..." trope. Jesus.

We have nukes, yet we can still hold our own without the threat of using them.
Each day that goes by, Russia looks weaker and weaker.

[Carpet_pissr]

So in other news that you can search on your own a maternity hospital was bombed in Mariupol. I completely understand the ramifications of NATO involvement in this war but what is the moral line that needs to be crossed before we need to get more involved?

I don't think there is a line, because everytime someone points to one, or suggests one, the answer is always "potential nuclear war" or "WWIII" etc, and thus pretty much endeth the convo.

Then you have a nuclear rogue state who thinks they can invade their neighbors at will. And Ukraine is going to be the sacrificial lamb. Necessary, perhaps but people better not turn away as this goes on.

What's necessary? Letting Ukraine get the shit beat out of them while the world watches? And I am not saying that with any snark - like I said, I'm torn.

[malchior]

So in other news that you can search on your own a maternity hospital was bombed in Mariupol. I completely understand the ramifications of NATO involvement in this war but what is the moral line that needs to be crossed before we need to get more involved? Those “humanitarian corridors” just turn into free fire zone and when Ukraine finally triumphs it’s going to need a massive amount of aid to rebuild and rearm.

They aren't just free fire zones. The Red Cross alleged that the Russian also mined the paths to the west. They are dropping butterfly mines designed to not kill but instead maim by blowing off appendages and causing localized trauma to slow evacuation efforts. It certainly looks like they are driving people west east to undercut insurgency. I'm less than hopeful that Russian refugees will not be turned into hostages.

[$iljanus]

So in other news that you can search on your own a maternity hospital was bombed in Mariupol. I completely understand the ramifications of NATO involvement in this war but what is the moral line that needs to be crossed before we need to get more involved?

I don't think there is a line, because everytime someone points to one, or suggests one, the answer is always "potential nuclear war" or "WWIII" etc, and thus pretty much endeth the convo.

Then you have a nuclear rogue state who thinks they can invade their neighbors at will. And Ukraine is going to be the sacrificial lamb. Necessary, perhaps but people better not turn away as this goes on.

What's necessary?

The grim reality of using primarily Ukrainian blood and lives to fight off Russia so we can keep the possibility of nukes out of it.

[Max Peck]

"Russian warship, go fuck yourself!"

Video allegedly showing the Russian Navy patrol ship Vasily Bykov burning after being targeted by Ukrainian forces last night.

Russian patrol boat Vasily Bykov

The ship participated in the attack on Snake Island on 24 February 2022 during the first day of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine together with the Russian cruiser Moskva.

The #Ukrainian Navy shared details of the operation which was aimed to destroy the modern #Russian patrol boat 'Ivan Bykov' in Black Sea two days ago. Burned out, it finally sank today.

As the #Odesa-based newspaper Dumskaya reported, it was a specially designed secret operation of the Ukraine Navy. Two #Ukrainian speedboats provoked the Russian boat to follow them, so it sailed right into the prepared area of artillery fire and was successfully destroyed.

The Dumskaya claims that this is for the first time in the world military history when the military vessel was destroyed by the land-based MLRS system. (To be verified by historians).

[Lagom Lite]

Re: Gas prices. Maybe I'm ignorant, but isn't Russian imports like 2% of your consumption? You have your own drilling, not to mention Saudi imports. If the profit margins of your oil companies remain high, shouldn't you put some of the blame of inflated prices on them?

[Octavious]

People who love and preach capitalism are the same rolling around on the ground about the gas prices. Sucks that you people want a free for all now doesn't it? I'm never changing my message board quote lol.

[LawBeefaroni]

Re: Gas prices. Maybe I'm ignorant, but isn't Russian imports like 2% of your consumption? You have your own drilling, not to mention Saudi imports. If the profit margins of your oil companies remain high, shouldn't you put some of the blame of inflated prices on them?

WTI and Brent are above $120. Above $130 maybe? Haven't looked today.

Are you expecting oil companies to sell crude below market prices?

Edit: looks like WTI is down $13 today to $109. It was $75 in January.

[Daehawk]

This is what one of those ships looks like. Thats gotta sting.