Octopus Overlords

Wait, I'm confused. I thought only presidents controlled gas prices.

I read another NextDoor post today where this guy was arguing vehemently that Biden was solely in control of gas prices. The real kicker was him insulting anyone who disagreed with him and blaming them for - and I quote - "only getting their news from one source."

YellowKing wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 7:24 pm Wait, I'm confused. I thought only presidents controlled gas prices.

That will be the deplorable spin. Gas prices dropped because Florida Man is on the verge of being reinstated.

Russia still has to maintain internal order.

It’s one thing to invade Ukraine on the assumption of being hailed as liberators. But Putin cannot open up the opportunity for internal dissension. Even without a NATO counter-attack, Putin needs to maintain control.

Putin can always sit down to negotiate a deal dividing up Ukraine and declare victory. Can’t declare “mission accomplished” with riots in the motherland.

But it seems that most Russians believe what Putin is saying. There's an interview on CNN with a Russian living in Ukraine who couldn't get his own father to believe him when he said what is going on. This mirrors what my cousin told me about her friend's father. If we could get most of the Russian people to see what's going on maybe there'd be change. As it is they believe NATO is attacking them with economic sanctions for no reason other than to attack Mother Russia

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 7:12 pm Oil prices plunge as UAE supports supply boost

Told ya the deplorables would regret those gas pump stickers.

Oil prices have plunged after the United Arab Emirates said it supported increasing production.

Brent crude, an international benchmark, fell more than 17% at one point after the statement by the UAE, a member of the powerful oil cartel Opec.

The fall follows weeks of skyrocketing oil prices due to supply disruptions sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Show me the pumps.

stimpy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 7:49 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 7:12 pm Oil prices plunge as UAE supports supply boost

Told ya the deplorables would regret those gas pump stickers.

Oil prices have plunged after the United Arab Emirates said it supported increasing production.

Brent crude, an international benchmark, fell more than 17% at one point after the statement by the UAE, a member of the powerful oil cartel Opec.

The fall follows weeks of skyrocketing oil prices due to supply disruptions sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Show me the pumps.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 5:46 pm Some family member busted their leg in Germany and I think the total for them was $50

Amputations are pretty cheap.

Holman wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 5:21 pm
Just tossing money at a Ukrainian with an AirBnB does indeed "help a Ukrainian," but does it help those most in need of help in a way they need most? And wouldn't you want to do that instead?

I think a lot of people are driven by the instant and personal gratitude they receive.

hepcat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 8:14 pm

I'll be in my bunker.

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Thu Mar 03, 2022 1:50 pm

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Thu Mar 03, 2022 1:40 pm

I'd be curious which is more infuriating, seizing yachts or losing a regiment of tanks?

Considering that a lot of those yachts were paid for by siphoning money from the military budget, I'd say yachts. But only assuming the yachts are truly lost. If they're just held for a month and then returned it's merely an inconvenience.

Russian ex-minister says invasion of Ukraine is stalling because officials stole from military budget for 'mega-yachts in Cyprus.

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Fri Mar 04, 2022 3:26 pm
No one had the balls to tell Putin they siphoned from the military budget to build his palaces.

At the rate Ukraine is killing generals, they might be grateful for being sacked.

Unless "sacked" is a euphemism for getting killed? It is, isn't it?

I thought the Ukranians already took care of "sacking" Gerasimov.

Different Gerasimov.

Finland's Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen told the press that the continuation of Nato's open-door policy is important for Finland, but because of the situation in Ukraine, this is not the right time to apply for Nato membership.

"It seems that the idea within Nato is that the most important thing now, understandably and rightly, is how to ease the war in Ukraine, to achieve a ceasefire and perhaps a negotiation process. It's probably not the right time to post that membership application right now. Discussions are still underway and [Finland's] political parties are also considering their own positions," Kaikkonen said.

The defence minister added that he and his US counterpart were able to map out a number of areas of cooperation which can be further enhanced.

"A little later, I think we have something to tell on this front. The basis is now established. Next, we'll roll up our sleeves and get to work," is how Kaikkonen put it.

Aamulehti further reports that in addition to co-operation between Finland and the US, the Finnish defence minister said that he had also raised trilateral co-operation between Finland, Sweden and the US.

...

(A few days ago, Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson stated that a Swedish membership in NATO was not on the table.)

Cold Response 2022 should be fun.

WHO: Around 30,000 troops from over 25 countries from Europe and North America
WHAT: Training together in cold weather exercises – on land, in the air and at sea
WHERE: NATO Ally Norway and surrounding seas
WHEN: March-April 2022
WHY: Helping Allies and partners practise working together so that they are prepared for any situation

UK sanctions Abramovich - crippling Chelsea football club sports operations for the near-term. They can not sell additional tickets or buy/sell players amongst the many restrictions.

I just saw a clip about a Ukrainian guy who called his dad in Russia to say he was okay after the Russian invasion. His father refused to believe him and even after a follow up call still thinks he lying and that the Russians are getting rid of Nazis in Ukraine.
Do the Russian get the news on the internet? Of course they are not as many people who have the internet but those who do have access "real" news?

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 10:22 am 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).

As long as oil stays over $80/barrel we are energy exporters. That's roughly the break even price for our shale oil resources.

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:29 am I just saw a clip about a Ukrainian guy who called his dad in Russia to say he was okay after the Russian invasion. His father refused to believe him and even after a follow up call still thinks he lying and that the Russians are getting rid of Nazis in Ukraine.
Do the Russian get the news on the internet? Of course they are not as many people who have the internet but those who do have access "real" news?

That's the clip I was referring to earlier. My cousin, who lives in Alberta now, has a co-worker who is Ukrainian and married to a Russian. His mom is here visiting, but when they called his Dad back in Russia, they got the exact same response (this was Tuesday of this week). Given how, over here, we have many people believing weird conspiracy crap, I can see how they believe their propaganda news. So, it's not Putin's fault for the sanctions, it's ours, so if Putin declares war on the West, they'll heartily agree *sigh*

So, it's not Putin's fault for the sanctions, it's ours, so if Putin declares war on the West, they'll heartily agree *sigh*

CNBC is reporting that China is echoing Putin's speeches on sanctions being a US created problem and the US having bioweapon labs in Ukraine. They also mentioned anger that the US is claiming China knew Russia would invade Ukraine before hand (like every other government in the world knew Russia was preparing to invade Ukraine) Following with reports of some minister or another in China warning that China will not tolerate sanctions that affect the Chinese economy.

China is probably referring to the allegations that China pressured Russia to delay the invasion until after the Olympics (i.e. they didn't know about the invasion via intelligence, they knew about it because they discussed it with Russia).

Max Peck wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 9:18 am China is probably referring to the allegations that China pressured Russia to delay the invasion until after the Olympics (i.e. they didn't know about the invasion via intelligence, they knew about it because they discussed it with Russia).

I wouldn't presume to call it collusion but when Xi and Putin are publicly proclaiming the depths of their bonds in front of Olympics while all the governments of the world know Russia is openly preparing to invade Ukraine and Russia invaded Crimea right after the Winter Olympics in 2014, well...

LordMortis wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 9:10 am

So, it's not Putin's fault for the sanctions, it's ours, so if Putin declares war on the West, they'll heartily agree *sigh*

CNBC is reporting that China is echoing Putin's speeches on sanctions being a US created problem and the US having bioweapon labs in Ukraine. They also mentioned anger that the US is claiming China knew Russia would invade Ukraine before hand (like every other government in the world knew Russia was preparing to invade Ukraine) Following with reports of some minister or another in China warning that China will not tolerate sanctions that affect the Chinese economy.

This really isn't good. If somehow it becomes a war between Russia and NATO you can bet that China will become involved and at that point we're officially in WW3. I think the only way this feasibly happens is if Russia keeps going past Ukraine and invades Finland or Moldova or Poland or some other eastern European country. At that point NATO will have no choice but to respond with force.

Based on ‘leaked’ maps, Moldova is also part of the plan. Rather, images of strategic maps showing future Russian troop positions.

Yeah, I was really hoping the peace talks would have gone somewhere today (though I really doubted it, but was hoping there was enough for Putin to "save face"). I suspect they'll soon start using chemical weapons and try to spin it on the US/Ukraine

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 10:09 am Based on ‘leaked’ maps, Moldova is also part of the plan. Rather, images of strategic maps showing future Russian troop positions.

If Putin follows through on invading Moldova after the Ukrainan failure, he's officially lost his tiny mind.

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:56 am As long as oil stays over $80/barrel we are energy exporters. That's roughly the break even price for our shale oil resources.

Then that makes it a market problem, rather than a policy issue.

My rep, ladies and germs.

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:29 am I just saw a clip about a Ukrainian guy who called his dad in Russia to say he was okay after the Russian invasion. His father refused to believe him and even after a follow up call still thinks he lying and that the Russians are getting rid of Nazis in Ukraine.
Do the Russian get the news on the internet? Of course they are not as many people who have the internet but those who do have access "real" news?

It's really only younger folks in Russia who get news from the internet. Part of Putin's overall political strategy has been allowing a limited degree of independent press to give the illusion of freedom and openness, but that's been gradually disappearing. All of the television news is state owned and run. WSJ just ran an interview with the last independent media outlet in Russia that shut down last week.

My most egregious take away is "woke climate activism" trying to equate action on climate change with woke culture. Some of the advocates may overlap, but the two issues are unrelated.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 12:36 pm My most egregious take away is "woke climate activism" trying to equate action on climate change with woke culture. Some of the advocates my overlap, but the two issues are unrelated.

Straying far afield now, but IMO it's just another in a long line of turning words that mean positive things into perceived negatives...

• Woke = Internally 'woke up,' realizing issues with things previously taken as A-ok but that in reality trampled on others in some way. But now it's a pejorative. We can't be re-evaluating long-standing beliefs, after all!
• Progressive / liberal = wanting progress, to move society forward. Of course these are positive things, but now we just gots to own the libs. Being for progress is a terrible thing, as it's spun to mean 'taking things from me and mine in order to give to The Other.'
• Elite = have done well in life. That's a terrible thing now, though.

Optionally, you can combine these and other hotwords liberally (har har har) for bonus points. EG 'woke progressive coastal elite' sounds much scarier than 'educated introspective person who lives near a large body of water.'

This is perfectly on brand.

“Zelenskyy is a thug. Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt and is incredibly evil and has been pushing woke ideologies.”

So, Microsoft, EA, GOG, Epic, ActiBlizz, Ubisoft, Nintendo, and Playstation have all cut off services to Russia. Steam hasn't, but without credit cards or PayPal, the purchase options are limited. Without their time sinks, that'll be sure to get the young folk riled.

Can't have the young folks riled! Just legalize piracy. The masses need their opiates.

Lagom Lite wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 11:52 am

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 10:09 am Based on ‘leaked’ maps, Moldova is also part of the plan. Rather, images of strategic maps showing future Russian troop positions.

If Putin follows through on invading Moldova after the Ukrainan failure, he's officially lost his tiny mind.

Well, that fear is predicated on Russia eventually overwhelming Ukraine. It's hard for me to assess how likely that is at this point, though.

paulbaxter wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 12:00 pm

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:29 am I just saw a clip about a Ukrainian guy who called his dad in Russia to say he was okay after the Russian invasion. His father refused to believe him and even after a follow up call still thinks he lying and that the Russians are getting rid of Nazis in Ukraine.
Do the Russian get the news on the internet? Of course they are not as many people who have the internet but those who do have access "real" news?

It's really only younger folks in Russia who get news from the internet. Part of Putin's overall political strategy has been allowing a limited degree of independent press to give the illusion of freedom and openness, but that's been gradually disappearing. All of the television news is state owned and run. WSJ just ran an interview with the last independent media outlet in Russia that shut down last week.

Brother in law reached out to someone he knew in Moscow and asked if he knew what was happening in Ukraine. My brother in law is almost 50 so I’ll make the assumption that the person he was talking to is around the same age. The Russian said he didn’t watch much state news but all he heard was that there was fighting and Ukrainian soldiers were using civilians as human shields and blowing up civilian structures. Also said how Russians were suffering too, I assume referring to their economy crashing and the lack of Big Macs. BIL then set him straight on what was happening and implored him to spread the information. I think we have an uphill battle to try and spread the truth to a pretty large country with a substantial population and no free press. But if we are going to shorten this war we gotta try.

I forgot that Russia is so low in corruption. Oh, wait...

wouldn't the lowest-rated have a ranking of 180th out of 180?

Unagi wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 1:54 pm wouldn't the lowest-rated have a ranking of 180th out of 180?

I assume the list was worldwide and Russia was the lowest *European* country

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 11:54 am

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:56 am As long as oil stays over $80/barrel we are energy exporters. That's roughly the break even price for our shale oil resources.

Then that makes it a market problem, rather than a policy issue.

My rep, ladies and germs.

Try drilling for oil near one of their homes and we'll see how long it takes them to become anti climate change. I've always thought that the moment someone puts an oil rig within sight of Mar-a-Lago is the moment Trump starts screaming that we're doing too much drilling.

"European"



https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021/