The Russia-Ukraine War has begun

[Arkady Arkright]

I just didn't know he was still alive.

I just don't care if he's dead or alive...

 

[Lexxi]

Never heard of him. Was I supposed to have heard of him? Never did. Hear of him (no, not until now - I've already forgotten the name of whoever it is being talked about).

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

He was a big paranormal sensation in the 70s and 80s hailing from Israel, who got famous for bending spoons with the "force of his mind" only. All magicians knew he was a fraud, especially James Randi wanted to meet him. But that never happened.

Instead the unsuspecting Geller went into the Johnny Carson show, and was supposed to showcase his powers. Bad for him that Carsson before talked to Randi, and asked Geller to bend the spoons and other stuff he prepared instead of his own. Geller failed.

Nevertheless, Geller still was famous after that, but interest faded after that interview a lot.

 

[Soen Eber]

Didn't Carson used to do magic tricks as well?

Edit: Yes, and in a serious way. He may not been the best performer but he was heavily plugged into the scene.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Could be. Anyway, since he prepared his own spoons and stuff and prohibited Geller from using his own preps, Geller failed. Goddamn, after seeing that now I still wish we had hosts like Carson today...

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

In Taiwan, as in Ukraine, the west is flirting with disaster | Simon Jenkins

It’s one thing to declare yourself ‘rather dead than red’, quite another to inflict that decision on the rest of us, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

www.theguardian.com

 

[Soen Eber]

In Taiwan, as in Ukraine, the west is flirting with disaster | Simon Jenkins

It’s one thing to declare yourself ‘rather dead than red’, quite another to inflict that decision on the rest of us, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

www.theguardian.com

Greed is insatiable, not just for capitalists and ideologs but also for aggressive, authoritarian regimes. If we must stand up to them (huge IF), it is better (switching analogies now) to oppose then when they cross over the Rhine rather than wait for all of Europe to be cowed or occupied. The problem is weighing the dangers sanely and being wise about it, which rather unfortunately has recently become the domain of only ONE major American political party recently

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

Greed is insatiable, not just for capitalists and ideologs but also for aggressive, authoritarian regimes. If we must stand up to them (huge IF), it is better (switching analogies now) to oppose then when they cross over the Rhine rather than wait for all of Europe to be cowed or occupied. The problem is weighing the dangers sanely and being wise about it, which rather unfortunately has recently become the domain of only ONE major American political party recently

Also, if a country we claim to support goes 'Halp, we're being invaded' then we better be willing to fucking help, and not try and make helping into being an invader. Another thing I'm growing weary of repeating to people.

I consider myself on the Left, but fuck, these assholes are pissing me off.

Not mad at -you-, just for the record.

 

[Lexxi]

He was a big paranormal sensation in the 70s and 80s hailing from Israel, who got famous for bending spoons with the "force of his mind" only. All magicians knew he was a fraud, especially James Randi wanted to meet him. But that never happened.

Instead the unsuspecting Geller went into the Johnny Carson show, and was supposed to showcase his powers. Bad for him that Carsson before talked to Randi, and asked Geller to bend the spoons and other stuff he prepared instead of his own. Geller failed.

Nevertheless, Geller still was famous after that, but interest faded after that interview a lot.

Oh. I saw that episode way back when. That was the guy who kept saying things like "you need to stop pressuring me, I need to be in the correct mood to do it". Then . . . he bent nothing and blamed the audience. Or something like that. "You didn't believe enough." Eh, it's been a while, but that's how I remember it.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Also, if a country we claim to support goes 'Halp, we're being invaded' then we better be willing to fucking help, and not try and make helping into being an invader. Another thing I'm growing weary of repeating to people.

I consider myself on the Left, but fuck, these assholes are pissing me off.

Not mad at -you-, just for the record.

Well the official stance of the USA about Taiwan is as follows:

a) there is no Republic of China, only the People's Republic of China.
b) therefore Taiwan is not an independent country, but part of the PRC just like Texas is not independent, but a state of the USA.

This is so since Nixon went to China. And that stance was taken over by all other G7 states as well as the EU and most other countries of the world.

U.S. updates Taiwan fact sheet again to say it does not support independence

The U.S. State Department has updated its fact sheet on Taiwan again, to reinstate a line about not supporting formal independence for the Chinese-claimed, democratically governed island.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

As a measure to battle the energy shortage, it is now forbidden in Spain to put air conditioners on temperatures below 27 degrees Celsius, which is 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spain’s government bans AC from dropping below 27 degrees Celsius in public buildings

France, Italy, and Greece have enacted similar measures to reduce energy use.

www.theverge.com

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Detailed and angry rebuttal of Amnesty International's criticisms of Ukraine

 

[Tirellia]

In Taiwan, as in Ukraine, the west is flirting with disaster | Simon Jenkins

It’s one thing to declare yourself ‘rather dead than red’, quite another to inflict that decision on the rest of us, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

www.theguardian.com

Simon Jenkins is one of those relics of the old British left who cried over the fall of the Berlin Wall because its existence represented hope for the glorious revolutionary soviet socialist future they all dreamed of. They ignored the vile behaviour of the Soviets and their puppets just as they ignore the behaviour of the Russians now and have always ignored the vile behaviour of China. A letter after an agreeable dinner party in Chelsea pleading with the Russians not to rape and murder is about all they can come up with. But in reality most of them think West equals bad, East equals good and a donation to Amnesty or the Red Cross is enough salve for their conscience.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Apparently the Amnesty International report was published despite the protests of Amnesty's Ukraine office and staff, who repudiate it.

The Head of Amnesty International in Ukraine has resigned in protest

Link to her Facebook page

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

Apparently the Amnesty International report was published despite the protests of Amnesty's Ukraine office and staff, who repudiate it.

The Head of Amnesty International in Ukraine has resigned in protest

Link to her Facebook page

I do not blame her. I've in general supported Amnesty International, but their report soured me on them a lot. Its not Ukrainians putting their civilians into danger; its Putin and his invasion. Do they not know how war works, or are they just parroting Russian propaganda.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

I do not blame her. I've in general supported Amnesty International, but their report soured me on them a lot. Its not Ukrainians putting their civilians into danger; its Putin and his invasion. Do they not know how war works, or are they just parroting Russian propaganda.

I'm inclined to apply Hanlon's razor here: never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

This is an interesting thread, with links to others the strongly criticise Amnesty's understanding of the laws ofwar:


ETA:

He links to this thread, among others

 

[Innula Zenovka]

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

I'm inclined to apply Hanlon's razor here: never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

This is an interesting thread, with links to others the strongly criticise Amnesty's understanding of the laws ofwar:


ETA:

He links to this thread, among others

Well, sure, it could just be completely tonedeaf on their part. But the different linked threads mesh with what I thought as well, and well, they just phrase it better and with actually specific reasons why its wrong; me, I just know its wrong to blame the Ukrainians for something that wouldn't even be an issue if Putin hadn't attacked.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

 

[Innula Zenovka]