Best Of

@OutdoorsSmoke_21191 said:

@Amos_Umwhat said:
I'd have to consult the map, but forever Russia's #1 goal has been a sea port that's year 'round accessible. Does Ukraine have one? or, are they the path to one? After a few more cups of coffee, I could look into it, but probably will be otherwise engaged today.

They do….one of their largest exports is agriculture. Somewhere between 3rd to 5th largest in the world. Probably google it. The U. S. is a big importer.

The main goal for Russia and china is to choke off the US economy and stock market. This is why we are seeing so much geopolitical realignment in the world. More smaller world countries economies are are weening off the American economic **** and opting for the newer or more enhanced economy versions.

China’s main push (there are many) for Taiwan is to control the straight. China then owns and sets international trade route rules and regulations. This is precisely why the arctic is so hot right now (again there are many). If Russia controls the barent straight and the newer sea routes, due to climate change and rapid declining ice, they will control shipping like never seen before. This route is half the distance of currently used trade routes. You’re talking billions and billions of dollars in not only savings but profits from other countries.

Russia has 5 ice breakers. China has 3 with more in production. We have two very old ones. Last I checked new production has yet to be voted for addition to the budget.

Thus two reasons (of many), agriculture and shipping trade routes, the economic strategic partnership between Russia and china.

Geopolitics is always about ancquisition of resources, securing military superiority and money all in the name of national interests and security.

Ukraine doesn’t have a direct sea port. They have access to the Black Sea and that route leads to the Mediterranean through the Marmara sea. There is no direct route to open water and there are straits controlled by other nations. This is why I have stayed so confused as to what is so valuable.

@Amos_Umwhat said:
I'd have to consult the map, but forever Russia's #1 goal has been a sea port that's year 'round accessible. Does Ukraine have one? or, are they the path to one? After a few more cups of coffee, I could look into it, but probably will be otherwise engaged today.

They do….one of their largest exports is agriculture. Somewhere between 3rd to 5th largest in the world. Probably google it. The U. S. is a big importer.

The main goal for Russia and china is to choke off the US economy and stock market. This is why we are seeing so much geopolitical realignment in the world. More smaller world countries economies are are weening off the American economic **** and opting for the newer or more enhanced economy versions.

China’s main push (there are many) for Taiwan is to control the straight. China then owns and sets international trade route rules and regulations. This is precisely why the arctic is so hot right now (again there are many). If Russia controls the barent straight and the newer sea routes, due to climate change and rapid declining ice, they will control shipping like never seen before. This route is half the distance of currently used trade routes. You’re talking billions and billions of dollars in not only savings but profits from other countries.

Russia has 5 ice breakers. China has 3 with more in production. We have two very old ones. Last I checked new production has yet to be voted for addition to the budget.

Thus two reasons (of many), agriculture and shipping trade routes, the economic strategic partnership between Russia and china.

Geopolitics is always about ancquisition of resources, securing military superiority and money all in the name of national interests and security.

You mean besides a generation of young men for the meat grinder?

I've never tried one but they have a great reputation. Some people suggest manually stirring the grounds for better extraction if that's the model where the coffee comes out of a single hole instead of a showerhead.

I'm very happy for you, Edward.

I came upstairs for a smoke with my pal Nathan and thought I was transported to another dimension. When I finished my last cigar at 10:30 last night and forgot to turn off the space heater and it was like stepping into the Sahara.

@TRayB said:

@peter4jc said:
I have a neighbor down the alley, Helga; she's 71 and has been a bit of a ditz (but a lovely person) for the 30+ years I've known her. I collect for, and coordinate the snow plowing contractor, and Helga wanted to drop off her $18 and buy a lb. of beans. I told here to stop over around noon today and she could watch me roast it for her. She still wasn't here at 1:10 and I was starting to wonder. She finally arrived and helped me realize that the clock in my roasting area was still set to DST. Hah, jokes on you, buster. A half hour before Helga showed up I heard a loud banging on my door, which was weird because I had already unlocked it so she could let herself in. When I got upstairs it dawned on me that the pounding was coming from my front door, and there stood two MKE firemen who smelled my roasting and when they saw the smoke bellowing from the basement window they were afraid something bad was happening. I apologized for wasting their time; I really need to make a sign for each door that says the smoke is intentional and what's producing it. This makes the 4th or 5th time in the 15 years using my roaster that the smoke/smell has alarmed someone to the point they're banging on my door.
As the firemen were about to leave I thought about telling them I have a homemade crematorium in my basement and that's how I get rid of my victims. But I thought better not... nobody really needs to know, especially not a govt. employee.

Where is Helga right now, Peter?

Did you notice he never said Helga left...... 🧐