New Rant Thread X

[Hawkfeathers]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

China already owns a boatload of American land. They bought my college campus after it closed and have yet to reopen as they said they would. (I'll give them a little pass on that due to covid, but some of the buildings haven't even been rehabbed yet.) They own quite a bit of farmland and are heavily involved in our food system.

[Sean R. R.]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

There are protests against the war even inside Russia. They're being repressed quite violently. This is not a country's will, but a conqueror's ambition. Putin is stuck in a mentality from the past.

[B. de Corbin]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

China is a rival power. Badmouthing the US sort of comes with the territory. That said, they aren't going all in on their support of Russia (yet) from the handful of articles I've seen. I won't say words are meaningless but China throwing snark is neither unexpected nor particularly dangerous. China not throwing its diplomatic and economic strength into an effort to get Russian troops withdrawn from Ukraine is a problem but I'm pretty sure that it's an expected problem.

China still wants what Mao never got - Taiwan. Putin wants what Russia lost - the Ukraine. Both want to know what happens in the west during & after a hostile land grab that takes place just outside their legitimate territory, after years & years of 5th column anti classical liberalism, pro authoritarian propaganda (which has worked so well that I image only two or three people reading this could define these terms), and the promotion of civil unrest in western democracies.

North America and Europe want stability, and have found out the hard way after thousands of years of stoopid religious and savage empire building that economic frienemyism is far better in all ways than conquer and control.

If war breaks out, who will be allied with whom (or is it "who"? I dunno. I'm a retired English teacher and I haven't cared since pronouns started conveying far more info than I care to know).

[MaskedOne]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

China may want Taiwan but they also aren't entirely thrilled with Russia and their banks value money more than they value Russia.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-25/chinese-state-banks-restrict-financing-for-russian-commodities

I wouldn't place final bets on how China navigates this yet.

[anubisa]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

I saw yesterday about the people of Russia protesting. I didn't mean to say that the entirety of Russia was for the war. I don't think any nation wants war. I think it depends on the person who is in office. Instead of starting war with Ukraine, throw Putin out of office. It's not as easy as it sounds of course, but Russia really needs to get a new person in office who cares about the country.

[iris]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

I saw yesterday about the people of Russia protesting. I didn't mean to say that the entirety of Russia was for the war. I don't think any nation wants war. I think it depends on the person who is in office. Instead of starting war with Ukraine, throw Putin out of office. It's not as easy as it sounds of course, but Russia really needs to get a new person in office who cares about the country.

That would be ideal yes. But he has effectively been in power for over 20 years now. Last person who gained any kind of following trying to speak out against him is in jail now (for treason I believe but may be wrong), after having the audacity to barely survive an attempt on his life. The people who are protesting are actively risking their lives too.
He's a dictator. There's only one way Putin is leaving that office. And while I don't subscribe to the myth he's managed to build around himself of godlike levels of genius, he IS an old KGB officer. Getting him out is not only difficult, it is near impossible for the people.

[anunitu]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

somewhere in putens group is a flame waiting to become the major fire and the new power that breeds from putens dead body,my opinion his demise may well cone from one very close to him,not unlike the early soviets and ascension through murder build your own power on the grave of your master just my meandering mind?

[Hawkfeathers]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

somewhere in putens group is a flame waiting to become the major fire and the new power that breeds from putens dead body,my opinion his demise may well cone from one very close to him,not unlike the early soviets and ascension through murder build your own power on the grave of your master just my meandering mind?

That's how they operate! He has all the money in the world but can't really trust anyone.

[iris]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

Sigh. I'm just gonna get ahead of this one cause sensationalism news reporting might inflate the photos cause it looks similar (ours sure have tried to milk it for clickbait headlines, I had to scroll 3 paragraphs down for them to actually report what it was cause the headlines say mushroom cloud). What happened like an hour ago was a serious hit on a gas pipe, NOT a nuclear strike.

[B. de Corbin]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

It's understandable that so many westerners are concerned about Ukrainian refugees, after all, they look like Europeans, they dress like Europeans, the cities look European.

And, yup, what is happening to them is horrendous, and we certainly oughtta help them.

But all those non European looking People who don't dress like Europeans, or live in non European looking cities and are running from equally horrible situations... What about them?

Maybe if we can have compassion for European like people we can transfer a bit of that to other, non European refugees?

[iris]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

It's understandable that so many westerners are concerned about Ukrainian refugees, after all, they look like Europeans, they dress like Europeans, the cities look European.

And, yup, what is happening to them is horrendous, and we certainly oughtta help them.

But all those non European looking People who don't dress like Europeans, or live in non European looking cities and are running from equally horrible situations... What about them?

Maybe if we can have compassion for European like people we can transfer a bit of that to other, non European refugees?

100%... That being said, there's usually a HEAVY bias against eastern Europeans here. I think right now, it's just as much shock that it is happening so close to us that's making people kinder to them. We're all a little scared. Give it a few months, possibly weeks, and people will start to grumble about it. But skin colour is definitely making it a little easier for some of the racists to palet.
I don't know how you're handling it in the US right now. But I think how close it is to us here plays a large part in people showing more compassion, or at least tolerance. Usually, war is far away, this one is right next door.
We should treat everyone going through something like this with kindness, no civilian got to decide that their home was gonna be a war zone.

[Juniper]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

I love my job. I don't love doing other people's job in addition to my own work load.

[Hawkfeathers]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

I listed something for sale on ebay, first time in ages. I stated shipping was to continental USA only. Of course I get a message asking how much to ship to another country. HELLO.

[B. de Corbin]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

I listed something for sale on ebay, first time in ages. I stated shipping was to continental USA only. Of course I get a message asking how much to ship to another country. HELLO.

Reply with !BACON! and they won't bother you again.

[Hawkfeathers]

Re: The Rant Thread (v1.3)

Reply with !BACON! and they won't bother you again.

Haha! I should try that. I remember selling something years ago, when I also put in the listing "continental USA only" and some guy in Germany bought the item. I got him to give me a friend's address in the USA to send it to, but not without a fight.

Another time, I sold a bracelet. I put many pics in the listing, and was very clear that it was small and lightweight. Guy buys it and then complains that it had no weight to it. DUH. LOL