1984Echoes

Yep.

Pistons pulling away for what looks like their first win after 4 straight losses... but a 7-6 record in their last 13 (if they win). Bagley looks a little rough around the edges but... someone I'd like us to go ahead and sign in the off-season as someone to work with and develop.

I'm thinking along these lines as well. Couple things: 1) China is heavily energy-dependent. That doesn't necessarily make them "friends of Putin". But it does mean they won't completely shut him out either. And Putin is now a "way-over-the-top-liability" right now. So... China can mediate between Ukraine & Russia as they will try to balance both sides (To China: Ukraine and by default the EU = Trade; Russia = Energy). I wouldn't rely solely on them because of Xi and his love of Putin's dictatorship. I don't think China will be completely impartial. But because of this unjustified war and the enraged EU and US... China will be very limited in financial or other support for Russia. And will not be the friend that Putin thought he had. As evidenced by Blinken's strong-armed diplomacy on China as noted by Romad's post above. It's a complicated position for China to be in. Which to your point... doesn't bode well for Putin/ Russia. 2) Worse, for Russia... China is still energy-dependent as I just noted... But I would hate to be the Russian negotiating a sale of oil & gas to China: "Sure, we will purchase a bit more, but all our purchases must be at a 40% discount to market price. Final Offer".

Oh... 1st quarter or first half? You're right on 21 in the first quarter...

oops... 30... they counted his last two shots as 3's (= 7-10; but it should have been a two and a three = 6-9 and 30 points... had everyone confused for a minute there...)

31... He's going off with 6-9 threes...

Yeah, I just like to be more explicit... 😉

Also specifically calls out Putin as a liar.

FTFY.

Only a symbolic ruling against Russia; but it will still be meaningful/ have a political impact: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/international-court-justice-ruling-ukraine-russia-143146573.html

This.

Soderblom looks like an Agile Bear.

Actually, Russia was created by the Ukrainians. Or more aptly, the Kyivan Rus.

War with Russia will only go so far. Are you expecting NATO to march into Russia proper? And Russia will NEVER lose Crimea. They will resort to nuclear weapons before that has any chance of happening.

Detroit Red Wings, 24-29-7, 8-17-3 AWAY ESPN+ 3/17 10:00 PM Vancouver Canucks, 30-24-7, 14-11-4 HOME

Anyone interested in a Ukrainian backdoor entry into NATO? Zelenskyy cedes the western half of Ukraine to Poland (west of the Dnieper River, which includes current hot spots Kiev, Kherson, and Nikolaev. It is also 95% ethnic Ukrainians, as opposed to East of the Dnieper which is 95% Russian. I'm not certain of the exact numbers... but something along those lines...). Poland admits the union of western Ukraine officially into Polish control. Poland/(western Ukraine) declares war on Russian troops West of the Dnieper River. Putin sues for a peace deal. PS: Historical precedent - The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th century included Poland, Lithuania, and western Ukraine.

Still lots of time left...

I'll be happy if the guns go silent.

And they yank Greiss...

You know... Like... "Build a Wall". "Lock Her Up". "Trade Wars are Easy". And other brainless moronic horseshit like that. All easy enough to be understood by simpleton minds.

Simple pleasures for simple minds.

I went back and reread what I had posted "It is worth a weakened (fascist) Russia to have a successful military stalemate between Ukraine and Russia for the time being." And thought hmmm, that could lead to what you have been posting... so I thought I would add some clarity: I don't think Ukraine is being disregarded. NATO/ US are considering every request and either acting upon it, or saying sorry. And NATO/ the United States DO have the right and responsibility to say no. If Zelenskyy asked us to send a few nukes Russia's way are we not allowed to say no? I'm not being glib, it's a legitimate question and right of refusal. Zelenskyy has asked for a no-fly zone, and NATO/ US have said no as that would be a direct act of war with Russia (NATO shooting down their jets). They have that right. As for the "stalemate" in my point above... I don't believe NATO/ US are pushing for "stalemate" (I could have worded that better) but, a stalemate is the facts on the ground. Other options may or may not be better: A) Putin runs roughshod over Ukraine taking over the entire country - not better. B) Ukraine outright pushing Russian forces out of Ukraine - better, but not likely. C) NATO not supplying Ukraine with supplies - not better. D) NATO supplying everything they can to Ukraine in the way of supplies and defensive weapons (even though they made a military decision and decided they could not send Polish or Romanian MIG's to Ukraine) - is the best they feel they can do, in addition to all the sanctions & other related responses, under the current circumstances. E) NATO willing to go into a direct war with Russia - this is not happening on the ground. Personally, I believe we could/ should, and I believe the war would be immediately ceased by Putin, who would sue for terms (Ukrainian permanent neutrality) and that would obviously be better for Ukraine. But since this hasn't happened, we are left with the default situation based on the above: F) Russia not able to make forward progress, stalled outside of all of its major objectives, Ukraine able to hold its ground for the most part and exact a heavy price upon Russia's military forces and equipment/ supply lines - this is the current situation, so by default we are stuck in a "stalemate". This is what I really meant above, not that anyone "benefits" from this stalemate, which is what my post above sort of sounds like...

Look at the video again, in the upper left corner early on you'll see what looks like a mortar round fired, or some kind of artillery... and then they shift down to the tank and watch it get blown up a few seconds later.

I don't think anyone will do anything to derail a ceasefire. Except Putin. If he wants a deal/ exit ramp from Ukraine, he'll get it. The guise you mentioned above I believe is a non-existent one...

In full agreement here. In fact, I believe that I want to go further than anyone else in here. I am for protecting the Ukrainian people, even if that means a direct war with Russia. If it is a united front, and it cannot be the US and the US alone, I believe in the face of a united European/ North American front that Putin will back down immediately. It's a dangerous game to play, and no one knows exactly how Putin would respond except for Putin himself... But I believe I am making a correct assessment.