1984Echoes

No comment.

The key takeaway: I would go further and say that the international community failed to protect Valieva and other athletes because it refused to deal seriously with Russia’s doping conspiracy. By not cracking down, the world allows Putin to carry on. This is the same signal the world sent Putin by refusing to deal seriously with his invasion of Georgia in 2008 and of Ukraine in 2014. The message that the Russian tyrant receives is that the international community is weak and feckless and he can do what he wants. Hence he is now mobilizing as many as 190,000 troops on the borders of Ukraine. An invasion could come any day. If the world does not respond more strongly to Russian transgressions in the future than it has in the past, Putin will be emboldened to commit even worse crimes — and so will other dictators.

Which is why we prefer an ADULT in the White House and not a TERRIBLE TWO's TANGERINE TODDLER: (this won't just be a challenge that Biden has met to-date, but a challenge both during Russian aggression and for the foreseeable future... meaning years...): https://www.yahoo.com/news/putin-pursues-grey-zone-tactics-203202677.html

When you have an ADULT in the White House instead of a TERRIBLE TWO's TEMPER TANTRUM TANGERINE TODDLER: https://www.yahoo.com/news/putin-pursues-grey-zone-tactics-203202677.html

Trilateral agreement between Poland, the UK, and Ukraine supporting Ukrainian independence. Not certain it's worth much... but it most likely gives domestic cover for Poland and the UK to do anything and everything possible to fight off Russian aggression in Ukraine. Again, uncertain what that means exactly but... they may be a pipeline of weapons and other stuff into Ukraine. https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-poland-uk-agree-accord-210055710.html

Bonus Pics:

Never really thought about napping much... My dad takes one every afternoon (he's 79 this year)... I think it does recharge the batteries... Hmmm, I think I could use one right about now...

Colorado Avalanche, 35-9-4, 14-6-2 AWAY ESPN+ 2/23 7:30 PM Detroit Red Wings, 23-22-6, 15-9-3 HOME oVNYjTbyg5zhKCRr4yXKllOC6Bc85L96o7xgWxGv3Zw.mp4

Yeah, I get all that. . . . I'm just sayin'...

That will never happen. I would trade an agreement that Russia has Crimea - fait accompli. For Russia leaving Ukraine alone. Which includes getting their forces & equipment out of the Donbas.

The Russians fake fucking excuse to attack Ukraine. Further details: https://www.yahoo.com/news/last-piece-putin-puzzle-slots-180615525.html

This.

Well... I knew god was a fabrication at the age of 11 which is... quite a long while ago. "Man created god in his own image in order to make sense of all the shit that goes on in this world." Glad to see America finally starting to catch up. Europe already has, for the most part, quite a long time ago...

I'll throw out another harsh "sanction": The day Russian troops step onto any additional Ukrainian territory, have Putin declared a War Criminal. It's an unprovoked military attack bent on killing Ukrainians. War Criminal.

Here's another damning post about pitchers wRC+ (average 2000-2018 = -13):

Well, don't they do that anyways? Regardless?

In addition: National League pitchers wRC+ : 2021 : ranged from -49 to 1. 2010 : ranged from -40 to 40. 2000 : ranged from -33 to 22. 1990 : ranged from -35 to 16. 1980 : ranged from -21 to 40. 1970 (with both AL and NL Pitchers): ranged from -24 to 38. Pretty horrific. Basically, an average close to zero, across the decades, in either league. I'll take the DH thank you. And the arguments for other positions are specious, at best.

We've just sold 250 Abrams tanks to Poland: https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-announces-abrams-tanks-poland-102929072.html

Can't wait for Vrana to get back. Actually... already excited for next year, in a big way...!

Which is EXACTLY what I said. TWICE. And your TAKE from that is that I am suggesting we go to war with Russia. You are "in the wrong".

Who said anything about invading Russia? Now you're just reaching...

Of course we're not going to fight Russia over Ukraine. But RIGHT NEXT to Ukraine (or Russia) is Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania. All of them NATO countries. And we HAVE committed to defending those countries as part of NATO. As has Britain, France, Germany, and every other NATO country. And Putin is ordering us OUT of those countries (except Germany) so he can do as he wishes. Which is: the same as he wants to do with Ukraine: take them over militarily. I have some immortal words for that (well, just one): "NUTS!"

I said nothing about war. I said make a full commitment to the NATO nations surrounding Ukraine, placing enough troops there to show Putin that we're not fucking around. 6,000 troops in those countries is nothing. And it does NOT have to be an All-American force. Mobilize France, Germany, Poland, Romania, Britain, and the U.S and other NATO countries and put serious NATO forces in the countries I specified. Otherwise, Putin believes we are not serious and will take as much advantage as he can. He wants the Soviet Union back (in power and in coercive power), he has said so. Here: I'll state two other non-war measures: (1) Yank Russia out of SWIFT, now. (2) Yank Russia off of the U.N. Security Council, now. They are not nor have ever been a component of world peace. Let them apply for reinstatement. But kick them out. Even if that has to go through heavy U.N. red tape and probably has 0% chance of happening. Make the move. And I realize that those actions could actually LEAD to a war with Russia. But they won't. Russia will back down. PS: I'm not afraid of war with Russia, BTW.

None of that matters if... You have a political agenda and are trying to force a political opinion or POV upon everyone else... regardless of the law/ logic/ morality. The only thing that matters is the political agenda. Of... someone.

Lugansk and Donetsk separatists starting shelling Ukraine with artillery last night. And they are trying to blame it on the Ukrainians. This is illegal per the Minsk agreements. But Russia is going to use this as an excuse to invade Ukraine. It's starting.