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#91

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by grumbler - February 08, 2026, 03:03:32 PM

Which exercise was this?  Run by whom? The linked description says that "Europe played out a scenario..." which is suspiciously vague terminology.  "Europe" does not play out scenarios.

#92

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Tonitrus - February 08, 2026, 02:55:47 PM

I did a little more digging...what that X post listed were the preconditions for the scenario that the actors had to work under.

So, they're fairly pessimistic (though not unrealistic) preconditions, and I'd be more curious on the details that follow out of the actual wargaming.

#93

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Grey Fox - February 08, 2026, 02:29:12 PM

My great-great-great Grandfather William DuBois was born in Quebec in 1811 and died in the California Gold Rush. Is that good enough? 

From what I understand, yes. And your children too.

Really? Ok well I will look into it.

I thought so but CCs post seem to indicate that no, it isn't how this works.

You should talk to an immigration lawyer

#94

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Valmy - February 08, 2026, 02:09:14 PM

My great-great-great Grandfather William DuBois was born in Quebec in 1811 and died in the California Gold Rush. Is that good enough? 

From what I understand, yes. And your children too.

Really? Ok well I will look into it.

#95

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Legbiter - February 08, 2026, 01:50:31 PM

That reads more like a lack of faith by the designer/writer of the wargame scenario, or a simple canned pretext to make sure to rule out the Germans a factor in how it would play out.

In the exercise NATO did mount a defense but was surprised, splintered (US refuses to act, Berlin chickens out, German soldiers refuse to leave their base, etc). Result is russia takes Marijampolė in a few days.

#96

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Duque de Bragança - February 08, 2026, 01:07:56 PM

Poland not intervening (mobilisation only), as per the scenario, does not seem likely.

#97

Off the Record / Re: The Miscellaneous Sports T...

Last post by Duque de Bragança - February 08, 2026, 01:05:41 PM

Danke.

Now, let's see if French TV can't broadcast a whole game in the first phase without switching to another sport and then another one, and so on.

#98

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Tonitrus - February 08, 2026, 01:01:27 PM

That reads more like a lack of faith by the designer/writer of the wargame scenario, or a simple canned pretext to make sure to rule out the Germans a factor in how it would play out.

#99

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Legbiter - February 08, 2026, 12:52:40 PM

What's cool with the 2026 German army is they combine crappy displays like this with terrible manpower and close to zero capabilities.

Yeah in the event of a russian incursion into Lithuania I think the Germans would chicken out. Both the political leadership in Berlin and the soldiers stationed in Lihuania.

NATO troops in the Baltics should come from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Romania, Czechia, etc.

This scenario was war gamed recently with the russians succeeding in splintering NATO despite deploying only 15.000 troops. 

https://x.com/boris_beissner/status/2019459863084954057

The German brigade already stationed in Lithuania did not intervene, partly because Russia used drones to lay mines on the roads leading away from its base.

[The tournament, the first with NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Olympics]

#100

Off the Record / Re: The Miscellaneous Sports T...

Last post by Syt - February 08, 2026, 12:15:21 PM

Did I miss something in the olympic ice hockey tournament? I suppose NHL/LNH players can't play this time again?

https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/olympics/2026-olympic-winter-games-milano-cortina-hockey-tournament-schedule

The men's hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will begin Wednesday with Team Slovakia playing Team Finland followed by Team Sweden against host Team Italy.

The tournament, the first with NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, will feature all 12 teams playing three preliminary games in their respective groups, then all 12 moving on to a single-elimination playoff that will conclude with the gold medal game Feb. 22.

Team USA, which is in Group C, will open against Team Latvia on Feb. 12, then play Team Denmark on Feb. 14 and Team Germany on Feb. 15.

Team Canada also plays its first game on Feb. 12 against Team Czechia, faces Team Switzerland the next day and concludes preliminary play against Team France on Feb. 15.

The games will be played at either the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena or the Rho Ice Hockey Arena in Milano.

Each NHL team has at least one player participating in the Olympics. The Florida Panthers have an NHL-high 10 players. The Vegas Golden Knights have nine and the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning each have eight.