Recent posts

#21

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Syt - Today at 02:26:11 AM

Sure, they need to sell copies, but I'm also not sure if there was much incentive needed in those times, during time of war. And obviously any kind of reporting during rapid developments can be fraught with inaccuracies and false assumptions. We've seen it during the Russian invasion of Ukraine most recently where determining what happens when and where, esp. in the early stages could be all over the place (like Russian war planning ); I'd argue we are having the benefit of being able to verify more sources against each other, and faster. A lot of people don't do that, but the option is there.

#22

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

Last post by Syt - Today at 02:19:45 AM

They were an Empire, dammit. They don't need help.  

#23

Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread

Last post by Syt - Today at 02:18:54 AM

I'm sure your child would prefer you not to waste your own time on repetitive child interaction tasks, they'd prefer you to leave that to AI and instead work more hours so that you could buy them more toys.

Gen Alpha kids don't even like toys. All they need is a tablet. Beyond that they are beyond material concerns. Consumerism is collapsing before my eyes.   

I was assuming that instead of spending money on physical toys they spend it on digital "content" (skins, in game currencies, apps, games etc.).

But I know what they say about assuming - it makes and ass of u and ming.

#24

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Tamas - Today at 02:01:52 AM

Still if the "surrender" news came just before they went to print they could had put a question mark at the end of the headline news but they didn't because as HVC wrote they went for the "clickbait"

#25

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Syt - Today at 12:18:20 AM

I was looking for newspapers on archive.org and saw a Hong Kong paper covering the news in a similar way on the 1st. And yes, they had an early, late and final edition, i.e. three print runs per day (each about 12 pages).

#26

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

Last post by Zoupa - December 01, 2025, 09:22:59 PM

The UK is under a double delusion:

• the special relationship is still (or ever was) relevant
• their defence industry is up to snuff

UK procurement has been an absolute disaster for decades. Latest in a long line is the Ajax AFV.

#27

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

Last post by Grey Fox - December 01, 2025, 09:15:22 PM

Canada is willing to pay the price while it sounds like the UK is not.

[Similar talks with the U.K. broke down on Friday.]

#28

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

Last post by Zoupa - December 01, 2025, 09:01:41 PM

The decoupling has begun.

Canada clinches deal to join Europe's €150B defense scheme

The deal concludes months of tough talks and will allow Ottawa to take part in procurements financed by the EU's SAFE program.

Canada has reached a final agreement to join the EU's €150 billion Security Action for Europe program, two EU diplomats told POLITICO, marking the first time a third country will formally participate in the bloc's flagship joint procurement initiative.

The agreement was later confirmed by the European Commission.

"This is the next step in our deepening cooperation and symbolic of the shared priorities of the European Union and Canada," it said in a joint statement with Canada.

The breakthrough follows months of technically complex negotiations and was communicated directly to ministers taking part in Monday's Foreign Affairs Council; Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius informed delegations that negotiations with Ottawa had concluded.

Canada's accession to the loan-for-weapons SAFE scheme gives Ottawa access to jointly financed defense projects and allows Canadian companies to bid into EU-supported joint procurement projects. For Brussels, securing a G7 partner strengthens the credibility of SAFE as it seeks to coordinate long-term weapons demand and ramp up Europe's defense industrial base.

"Welcome to SAFE, Canada!" Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media. "When like-minded partners join forces on security and defence in a turbulent world, our countries grow stronger, our industries benefit and our citizens are safer."

Under SAFE, third countries can account for a maximum of 35 percent of the value of a weapons system paid for by the scheme; Canada will be able to have a larger share but it will have to pay a fee "commensurate with the benefits the Partner Country and its entities are expected to derive," factoring in GDP, industrial competitiveness and the depth of cooperation with European manufacturers.

Other issues tackled in negotiations covered conditions on intellectual property control and limits on non-EU inputs for sensitive systems including drones, missile-defense assets and strategic enablers.

Similar talks with the U.K. broke down on Friday.
( )
The timing aligns with a major SAFE milestone: Kubilius announced on X that all 19 participating EU countries had submitted their spending plans that will be financed by low interest SAFE loans.

He added that 15 members included support for Ukraine in their plans, involving "billions, not millions" — something the Commission has been keen to encourage.

#29

Off the Record / Re: Archaeologists do it in ho...

Last post by jimmy olsen - December 01, 2025, 08:59:37 PM

Very interesting. Surprising that physical apperance can undergo such strong selection in just a few thousand years.

#30

Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread

Last post by Valmy - December 01, 2025, 07:33:09 PM

I'm sure your child would prefer you not to waste your own time on repetitive child interaction tasks, they'd prefer you to leave that to AI and instead work more hours so that you could buy them more toys.

Gen Alpha kids don't even like toys. All they need is a tablet. Beyond that they are beyond material concerns. Consumerism is collapsing before my eyes.