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#1

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by grumbler - November 22, 2025, 11:45:02 PM

The theater is for the US audience. Nobody in russia is fooled by it.

Who in the US is supposed to be the audience?  Trump? The MAGAts?

#2

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Jacob - November 22, 2025, 11:18:26 PM

I've never heard the "it's blasphemy" thing - it's always been the "guy doing a thing" version - chai-wallah, office-wallah, etc... basically it's an Indian word for "dude" as far as I can tell.

#3

Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread

Last post by Sheilbh - November 22, 2025, 11:09:34 PM

If given the choice between northern England and your personal usual European travel destinations for your next vacation which would you pick?

Kidding... mostly.

I wouldn't go there for sun ever - while I go to Marseille regularly for that But I've been to most of those places on holiday. York and Durham are very pretty towns (Harrogate's more a day trip). Lakes, Peaks and Yorkshire are fantastic for walking and camping.

In fact there's an American guy who basically walks and tweets about it (I'm sure he does other stuff but that's what I'm interested in) all around the world - I follow him on Twitter and I think he's said the North of England is the best walking country in the world. On basically any day you can wake up in an inn and get a fry up, then walk all day through some fantastic landscapes (normally with a pub lunch if you want) and then end up in a town with a very good curryhouse for dinner

I'd personally say there's vastly more of interest and worth seeing in the North of England than the South

#4

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by Zoupa - November 22, 2025, 10:18:04 PM

The theater is for the US audience. Nobody in russia is fooled by it.

#5

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by HVC - November 22, 2025, 09:55:48 PM

So apparently the Russian Duma has rejected Trump's farcical peace plan, saying only total victory is acceptable.

Well that doesn't mean anything. What authority does that toothless body have?

It's theater.  It's cover so that Putin can complain how much he has to compromise to accept the "American" deal - see look at all the domestic criticism I have to face? 

Would he choose to look weak domestically? Isn't his whole thing being a strong man? Would the narrative that he was cowed by a body even Russians know is powerless be in his favour? Wouldn't it make more sense to push the narrative that he's ignoring the cowardly politicians for Russian glory?

#6

Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread

Last post by HVC - November 22, 2025, 09:53:16 PM

I imagine thats the look on most peoples faces when they visit northern England

Sunderland!

The North's fantastic - Lake District, York, Durham, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, Harrogate. Some great cities too. But I think it's fair to say Sunderland's very much a connoisseur's choice

If given the choice between northern England and your personal usual European travel destinations for your next vacation which would you pick?

Kidding... mostly.

#7

Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread

Last post by Sheilbh - November 22, 2025, 09:44:52 PM

I imagine thats the look on most peoples faces when they visit northern England

Sunderland!

The North's fantastic - Lake District, York, Durham, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, Harrogate. Some great cities too. But I think it's fair to say Sunderland's very much a connoisseur's choice

#8

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by The Minsky Moment - November 22, 2025, 09:19:48 PM

So apparently the Russian Duma has rejected Trump's farcical peace plan, saying only total victory is acceptable.

Well that doesn't mean anything. What authority does that toothless body have?

It's theater.  It's cover so that Putin can complain how much he has to compromise to accept the "American" deal - see look at all the domestic criticism I have to face? 

#9

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by The Minsky Moment - November 22, 2025, 09:18:20 PM

Looking more and more likely that Witkoff is compromised.

The guy taking orders from Quisling #1 is compromised?  How could that be?

Besides the deal is great.  The Russians get Ukraine, and we get not to see the Bubba pictures.  Win-win.

#10

Off the Record / Re: Quo Vadis GOP?

Last post by Zoupa - November 22, 2025, 07:47:54 PM

I think she's just predicting that the Trump era is coming to end. She'll run for something in 2028.