1984Echoes

I think there's a different method: Re-education. And not the bad Chinese version. But... IIRC, Hamas prints out comic books in Gaza for kids that basically says "killing Israelis is a wonderful thing and Allah will love you for it". Textbooks in Math and other subjects center around shooting or throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers. Hamas has tried to indoctrinate 100% of Gazans into the "Exterminate Israel" doctrine that they espouse. So the aftermath has already been discussed as co-managed by non-Palestinian Muslim states. By Egypt & Jordan just as examples. Sort of as guarantors to Israel that terrorism is not again indoctrinated to Gazans. So... the "new" education? To me it's very simple: Gaza has its own freedom, government, land, peoples... and on the other side of that fence over there, is someone else. But FORGET who's on the other side of the fence. Worry only about your own land. Don't build bombs and missiles and deep underground bunkers & tunnels... Build farms. And Arboretums. And Computer science centers. And other things that build up your OWN lives (what they should have been doing the past 20+ years; not 50% of those materials stolen by Hamas to build a war machine that is a failure against the Israeli behemoth anyways). If you don't "mess" with those guys on the other side of the fence, they won't mess with YOU (Gazans). If you throw rocks over the fence to try to hurt someone "over there", guess what happens? It's not pleasant if they'll remember the winter of 2023-24. Just FORGET who's on the other side of the fence. You have land, and beaches, and farms, and your OWN government... right here in Gaza. That's my suggestion anyways...

Just because he has no coherent plan or a half-baked plan as befits his overwhelming ignorance doesn't mean that he does NOT want it. He wants it. He absolutely wants it. He wants to be dictator and tell everybody what to do. To have all the (corrupt) money go to him. He ABSOLUTELY wants that. And yes, per G2's point, not only for all the corrupt money going to him but now for legal protection because he absolutely needs it. I am... completely and totally shocked that you cannot see that. I just don't get how anyone cannot see that. It's so blatantly apparent. But yes... he's a brainless ****. That's the one other thing that is saving our Democracy. That he is so overwhelmingly incompetent that he cannot just take over swiftly and smoothly like a Mussolini. But Trump's brown shirts... are trying. But make no mistake: He wants it. And they're (Trump's "brown shirts") pulling out all the stops to try and get him that.

PS: I didn't mean that 100% of House Dems want strings attached to Israeli aid... I meant that I don't know of any Senators asking for such. I know Dem members of the House are. But I don't know if that's 10% of House Dems, or 20% or 50% or 80%....? I just know there's some Dem noise about putting strings on the aid. But they just passed a bipartisan effort in the Senate that had: 0 restrictions on Israeli aid. So it must not have been important to Dem Senators. It is important to House Dems... at least some of them have raised a stink about there being no strings...

Ah, gotcha. If you're looking for nefarious intent: 1) You won't get that statement from Bibi. He still has to deal with the international community, even if he is trying to wall off his country from the outside (criticism, interference, or anything...) as much as he can. He's going to allow the IDF to complete its mission. They are going to take Rafah, and eliminate, as much as possible, the last Hamas battalions still fighting. Beyond that... the only indication he has given is that they will not just leave Gaza (not as colonizers, but rather, a security contingent that MUST remain there (their words, not mine) to guarantee Israeli safety from further terrorist attacks from Gaza). I don't know what that means exactly. I guess we'll find out shortly. And, indications that they will not allow Hamas back into Gaza, at least as a military force. That they will control the flow of all incoming goods (it is believed that all the weapons Hamas accumulated came in through the Egyptian border crossing). That's as much as I know. To your point: several hard right Israeli politicians have asked "why don't they just leave?", "Can we just take back Gaza and make them (Palestinians) go live somewhere else...?" Israel and Bibi took heavy flak for those statements. Again... Bibi is NOT going to say that out loud even if that is what he is thinking. So you won't get what you want because: (A) The IDF will remain military only, and will report military deaths only. (B) Israel as a state can NOT admit to having any desire to remove Palestinians from Gaza... that would be an official act of genocide (Think: Turkey and the Armenians...). And (C) Even if Netanyahu were THINKING that... he can't say that out loud. = War crime. So you won't get the IDF announcing total Gazan deaths. At all. Military only. But what is Israel TRULY thinking...? I can't answer that at the moment. They will reveal their hand pretty shortly however. The endgame to the IDF's military objectives is near at hand. Again, the IDF will not do that. As for the stoppage of aid to Israel: I believe in the current political atmosphere that has nothing to do with Israel and everything to do with the complete and total disorder of the House Republicans. Both sides of the aisle, in both the House and the Senate, are heavily committed to supporting Israel (the House just passed an Israel-ONLY package a month ago because: "screw Ukraine, screw the border... MUST help Israel..."). The only thing that is going to happen with Israeli aid is that a contingent of Dems (not certain if it's 100% House or if some Dem Senators also...) who want some strings attached to Israeli aid: basically, that they make attempts to negotiate a ceasefire and do a better job of protecting civilians. I think that is as much as anyone can hope for: because there WILL be aid to Israel.

PS: Why do you think he's salivating over Putin, Xi, and Kim Jong Un? He WANTS what they have... absolute control.

He absolutely wants that. And it isn't the wealthy that will stop him. The only chance to stop him is Democracy. Here's to hoping the democracy in this country is still strong enough to stop him...

Not for 60 million Americans. They're lemming right behind this amoral ignoramus. If he leads them right off a cliff.. they'll follow.

Who are you talking to? The IDF? They're the ones reporting military deaths... and since they are a MILITARY organization that's all they are EXPECTED to do. Did you have a bone to pick with their methodology? Here's an idea: Call them up and tell them to change their methods. That should work wonders. As for me... why are you typing and telling ME to change the IDF's numbers? Because I'm not going to do it. I have a military background and I know EXACTLY what, and why, the IDF is reporting. If you don't understand this, and clearly you don't... then I can't help you.

Musk is going to bail out Trump? What a scumbag.

Hard pass.

That's not what I am saying... THIS is what I am saying (sorry Ratko, needed to change your %'s for accuracy):

If that happens... I wouldn't even count us out in the short term. Sometimes adding some "youthful vigor" actually sparks a team... PS: Also: I agree on Kane. I think there was one team that was making a hard push for him for a playoff run (just rumors a month ago or so...); but if he doesn't want to go he'll of course let Stevie know and then... he ain't getting moved. PPS: I'm wondering if Cossa gets 10 games this season.

Lara Trump is going to end up in prison if she doesn't turn her brain on. Where she can join the rest of the Trump Crime Family.

As long as it helps him pitch... Better. And... Also to stay healthier...!

PS: But also... If I'm right in the area... I'll know what the local, at-the-moment, weather is so I can determine whether or not it's worth it to run over to the ballpark. Oh... and take along my raincoat anyways... just in case! 😉

Dude... I lived in southeast Florida (Ft Lauderdale to West Palm Beach areas...) for 19 years. I could set my watch to the daily afternoon thunderstorms that rolled into the area.

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-02-16/ty-article/idf-terrorists-detained-in-khan-yunis-hospital-hamas-patients-died-due-to-power-outage/0000018d-b261-de6d-a1fd-bbe5d1d20000 Haaretz | Israel News Israeli Army Says Oct. 7 Terrorists Detained in Khan Yunis Nasser Hospital The Israeli army reported on Friday that forces operating in the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza have arrested dozens of suspects, including over 20 terrorists who took part in the October 7 massacre. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says four patients died Friday morning due to a power outage that caused a cut in oxygen supply in the hospital, ...staff warned earlier on Friday that generators have stopped working...

Hammer blow. MAGA will still flagellate themselves over Trump... But anyone with an ounce of INTEGRITY needs to jump ship (looking at you right-leaning Indies, moderate Republicans, etc., etc....) Of course, Trump is even now putting in place his plan to suck the RNC dry of funds and deposit them into his own personal finances (or judgements against him...).

Gotcha. Don't have that. Wonder if that comes out in Blu Ray? I got Band of Brothers and Pacific in Blu ray sets as they are iconic enough and I love them enough to have them in my "library", ready to watch whenever I wish to do so. This sounds like exactly the kind of series I would want to add to that.

I think it'll be easier if I just live down there. If it's sunny... head over to the fields...

Just the 1st two. And speaking of WAY over the top... If you like that type of stuff... Deadpool 1 & 2 will knock you on your keister...

Where is that available? Not everyone has specific streaming that covers all these shows so I think that's why sometimes there can be a limited response to these shows. Depends on whether or not I have the "correct" service so to speak...

Ditto.

When I was looking from afar also... I think I liked the looks of some places not necessarily in Lakeland but in Lake Wales and Lake Ashton... next door neighbors. Still easy access to daily Lakeland Complex and Spring Training... also I-4 to run into Tampa occasionally, or over to Orlando & Universal Studios... Etc.

Whew! At least you didn't say Bud Light! 😉 I've tried lots of stouts IPA's over the years... probably nowhere near a serious guy which you appear to be... Beer snobs don't bother me at all. Probably even have a few good suggestions... But mostly, it's probably too deep end for me. I think after the ones I've tried (and I don't even remember any of the names... obviously not a huge thing for me) that I decided to go the simpler route with my tastes... I'm down with the 10%+ requirement... but I'd have to catch one that really caught my taste buds and then I would probably stick with it rather than try anything and everything...