This is why a prosperous democratic Ukraine is such an existential threat to the feudal Russian power structures. It presents an enticing alternative the serfs might believe is possible for themselves.
September 3, 2026 at 11:55 AM
This is why a prosperous democratic Ukraine is such an existential threat to the feudal Russian power structures. It presents an enticing alternative the serfs might believe is possible for themselves.
Yes, but by your own admission you use a smartphone so obviously you have made a superhuman effort to avoid its evils ;)
September 2, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Yes, but by your own admission you use a smartphone so obviously you have made a superhuman effort to avoid its evils ;)
I'm betting not even @prune602.bsky.social had this one on her bingo card.
September 1, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I'm betting not even @prune602.bsky.social had this one on her bingo card.
Unfortunately she doesn't have the power to direct the actions of member states. What she has is the power of persuasion. She is doing a lot more than most others. But each state can do more, like Greece that she just obliquely referenced wrt their expiring Patriot missiles they won't release.
September 1, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Unfortunately she doesn't have the power to direct the actions of member states. What she has is the power of persuasion. She is doing a lot more than most others. But each state can do more, like Greece that she just obliquely referenced wrt their expiring Patriot missiles they won't release.
May it burn in hello
August 31, 2026 at 2:18 AM
May it burn in hello
What, no nuclear Armageddon threats? How are we supposed to take it seriously?
August 27, 2026 at 3:18 PM
What, no nuclear Armageddon threats? How are we supposed to take it seriously?
But it is a great pity he didn't do more to prepare Ukraine for the coming invasion.
August 21, 2026 at 2:55 AM
But it is a great pity he didn't do more to prepare Ukraine for the coming invasion.
That certainly sounds like a more likely chain of events to me.
August 19, 2026 at 6:55 PM
That certainly sounds like a more likely chain of events to me.
The nature of democracy is that there should always be people willing to stand against a leader and hold them to account. Even a good leader. They are not gods. They should never be treated as such. And they are certainly not infallible.
August 19, 2026 at 3:01 PM
The nature of democracy is that there should always be people willing to stand against a leader and hold them to account. Even a good leader. They are not gods. They should never be treated as such. And they are certainly not infallible.
A flight of Flamingoes is a thing of beauty. A landing of Flamingos is a thing of strategic leverage. Even if it takes a dozen Flamingos to do the work of one then the payoff is still spectacular.
August 18, 2026 at 5:07 AM
A flight of Flamingoes is a thing of beauty. A landing of Flamingos is a thing of strategic leverage. Even if it takes a dozen Flamingos to do the work of one then the payoff is still spectacular.
That has nothing to do with CO2. It is down to the wobble in the earth's axis of rotation. That is on a cycle of about 10k years.
CO2: the problem is we have been pumping massive quantities of CO2 /equivalent/ gasses into the atmosphere. We are not in danger of suffering any CO2 shortage.
CO2: the problem is we have been pumping massive quantities of CO2 /equivalent/ gasses into the atmosphere. We are not in danger of suffering any CO2 shortage.
August 15, 2026 at 3:21 AM
That has nothing to do with CO2. It is down to the wobble in the earth's axis of rotation. That is on a cycle of about 10k years.
CO2: the problem is we have been pumping massive quantities of CO2 /equivalent/ gasses into the atmosphere. We are not in danger of suffering any CO2 shortage.
CO2: the problem is we have been pumping massive quantities of CO2 /equivalent/ gasses into the atmosphere. We are not in danger of suffering any CO2 shortage.
Just an armchair observer of Russia since the 80's. And actively listening to as many Ukrainians as I can covering a wide spectrum of opinions and experiences. That is what is driving my observations. I may be a long way from Ukraine, but this conflict is personal since Russia shot down MH17.
August 12, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Just an armchair observer of Russia since the 80's. And actively listening to as many Ukrainians as I can covering a wide spectrum of opinions and experiences. That is what is driving my observations. I may be a long way from Ukraine, but this conflict is personal since Russia shot down MH17.
Drapatyi is a big part of the solution there but the modernisation of the command structure has a lot further to go.
FWIW, my impression is that both Zelenskyy and Fedorov both need to find a workable compromise.
FWIW, my impression is that both Zelenskyy and Fedorov both need to find a workable compromise.
August 3, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Drapatyi is a big part of the solution there but the modernisation of the command structure has a lot further to go.
FWIW, my impression is that both Zelenskyy and Fedorov both need to find a workable compromise.
FWIW, my impression is that both Zelenskyy and Fedorov both need to find a workable compromise.
From what I understand (so don't take this as gospel) a big part of the mobilisation problem is resistance by the Ukrainian people due to old Soviet style commanders (like Syrskyi) who treat their troops like an expendable resource.
August 3, 2026 at 3:51 AM
From what I understand (so don't take this as gospel) a big part of the mobilisation problem is resistance by the Ukrainian people due to old Soviet style commanders (like Syrskyi) who treat their troops like an expendable resource.
Zelenskyy might be the leader Ukraine needs but he is not an infallible Tsar. The reforms Fedorov was pushing through are desperately needed.
August 3, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Zelenskyy might be the leader Ukraine needs but he is not an infallible Tsar. The reforms Fedorov was pushing through are desperately needed.
You're human. You're expressing your humanity. If anyone has a problem with that then it is their problem, not yours.
Thanks for giving us an insight into daily life in Ukraine. You are putting a very human face on the reality behind the endless numbers of bombs, missiles, attacks and destruction.
Thanks for giving us an insight into daily life in Ukraine. You are putting a very human face on the reality behind the endless numbers of bombs, missiles, attacks and destruction.
August 3, 2026 at 2:39 AM
You're human. You're expressing your humanity. If anyone has a problem with that then it is their problem, not yours.
Thanks for giving us an insight into daily life in Ukraine. You are putting a very human face on the reality behind the endless numbers of bombs, missiles, attacks and destruction.
Thanks for giving us an insight into daily life in Ukraine. You are putting a very human face on the reality behind the endless numbers of bombs, missiles, attacks and destruction.
Looks very 70's. Disco vibe.
August 3, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Looks very 70's. Disco vibe.
Freya Project. It will deliver results long before Patriot licences become a thing.
August 2, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Freya Project. It will deliver results long before Patriot licences become a thing.
The serfs are beginning to realise they are still serfs. Maybe if they ever stopped acting like serfs they would stop being serfs.
July 31, 2026 at 11:02 PM
The serfs are beginning to realise they are still serfs. Maybe if they ever stopped acting like serfs they would stop being serfs.
Agreed, the serfs won't rise. But I'm expecting the FSB will (eventually). They are the power the Tsar's throne rests on. They are the ones who will lose the most if Russia crumbles. So they are the ones who will move against Putin in order to preserve their power in the next regime.
July 31, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Agreed, the serfs won't rise. But I'm expecting the FSB will (eventually). They are the power the Tsar's throne rests on. They are the ones who will lose the most if Russia crumbles. So they are the ones who will move against Putin in order to preserve their power in the next regime.
I completely understand your sentiment. It is not something I could do either. Seeing people like that greeted warmly as friends gets my bile up, but it is what must be done. Just so long as everyone understands they are not Ukraine's friends.
July 31, 2026 at 4:18 AM
I completely understand your sentiment. It is not something I could do either. Seeing people like that greeted warmly as friends gets my bile up, but it is what must be done. Just so long as everyone understands they are not Ukraine's friends.
They are not being brought to Ukraine to help Ukraine. They are being brought to Ukraine in the hope it will wedge them enough that they cannot help Russia as openly and effectively. That approach, I believe, is at the heart of all Ukraine's dealings with Trump and his team.
July 31, 2026 at 4:08 AM
They are not being brought to Ukraine to help Ukraine. They are being brought to Ukraine in the hope it will wedge them enough that they cannot help Russia as openly and effectively. That approach, I believe, is at the heart of all Ukraine's dealings with Trump and his team.
What a stunningly impressive and compelling 5G chess move. This, boys and girls, is how you stop wars. Feck me, how does the entire US not shrivel up in humiliation?
July 30, 2026 at 2:49 AM
What a stunningly impressive and compelling 5G chess move. This, boys and girls, is how you stop wars. Feck me, how does the entire US not shrivel up in humiliation?