rjshae

At least until the Ukraine becomes a nuclear power again...

The Superbowl now is like watching an old 20th Century variety show. The actual match is almost besides the point, given all the shows, asides, and expensive advertisements they throw in between the plays. They managed to turn about 20 minutes of actual action into an eight hour show.

Common Over-the-Counter Medication May Provide Relief for People With Long COVID-19 Symptoms

You mean this was all just Putin's plan to make Ukrainians pay more for airplane tickets? Ah. 🤔

Potential Third Planet Discovered Orbiting Proxima Centauri Hopefully, the Webb ST will be able to give us a better picture of the system using its coronagraph.

I'm continuing to look for low sodium food products. One surprise is that organic canned food often has significantly less sodium than non-organic; like under a third as much. Perhaps the product doesn't need to be drowned in as much salt to give it flavoring? Anyway, the low sodium level makes it worth the cost, for me.

I got my booster shot yesterday. Thus far just a mildly sore arm -- the same as for the first two. It should carry me through to the Summer at any rate.

That's in my neck of the woods, and it was pretty disturbing to watch on the news. This area is generally very tolerant. IIRC, they interviewed the perp's roommate and his description made the suspect seem like a sociopath. Hopefully the attacker gets locked away for a long time.

Supposedly the Ukraine has had a mild winter and the snow is starting to melt. Generals Mud and Snow may work against Putin this time.

I'm expecting it'll happen after the Olympics. He's a sports fan and China is his buddy.

I'm reading The Amber Crown. It's a pretty enjoyable stand-alone fantasy romp. The low magic setting is an alternative medieval Europe, mainly in the Baltic region. The Amber Crown: Which Came First Story, Setting or Character?

Controversial Kansas redistricting map is likely headed to court after lawmakers override a veto I see the Big Lie™ about a rigged US election is followed by an actual rigging of an election. The more things change...

The benefit for Putin is the ability to bully and threaten neighboring states to fall in line with his will. Apart from China, the Ukraine is probably the most capable neighboring state. Once it falls, the others won't dare to mount an opposition. They will be assimilated back into the empire.

US household air conditioning use could exceed electric capacity in next decade due to climate change Things are getting real.

The good news is whenever the commanders go to a bar... they order everybody around. 🥁

I was finally able to get scheduled for a booster shot. Looks like the peak flow of early booster adopters is past now.

Law of Unintended Consequences, exhibit A

A diplomatic alternative would be for NATO to guarantee the Ukraine's neutrality, with a violation leading to potential NATO membership. But guaranteeing neutrality can be tricky. (Cf. Belgium, Poland.)

He wants a permanent agreement. As in for all time, regardless of circumstances. Again, what do we get for making it permanent that will make the alliance more secure? Nada. Then why bother?

Again: appeasement. If Russia wants a deal, they can offer something more substantial.

It really wouldn't surprise me if that sort of thing had gone on throughout the cold war. But that wasn't a government policy; it was an individual's extreme bias.

Deploying troops is one thing; building up logistics for a major offensive is a different matter. The concern here is about what they may do; not whether they are moving about the country.