Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-23 and Invasion

[crazy canuck]

Yeah, that is a big issue Zanza.  BC is a good case study - we could be 100% hydro electric but the natural gas industry has done an excellent job promoting itself as the best for hot water heaters, stove tops and heating generally.  It would take extensive retrofitting of most homes in this province before the gas could be turned off.

The message there should not be "Damn, this is hard....we can't do it" but "Damn, this is hard, so we should get started as soon as possible".

I agree entirely.  And to that end our hydro utility is putting on a big push to let people know that electric is not only viable but with modern appliances actually better.  It is going to be costly and inconvenient but the CC clan will be giving up our cooking gas appliances shortly.

The heating is a different matter - the in floor heating system we currently have cannot be done with electric.   Would basically need to rip the place apart with a full reno.

Lots of people are going to have that problem and most are not going to be able to afford - event the kitchen transition we are going to do.  Government funding would be necessary.  The practical plan may be just to pass construction bylaws requiring new home construction to go electric and let the gas stock age out.

[crazy canuck]

If the nukes start flying it's been nice knowing you.

likewise sir 

[mongers]

Did any western leader spell 'it' out to Putin, maybe going so far as this "If you invade Ukraine you'll likely be drawn into an unending quagmire. We'll welcome that as it will allow Europe to rearm and give it a massive superiority over Russian forces in Europe; hell with so much of your army tied down in the Ukraine, we might seize    the moment to mount a surprise attack on your regime."   

[Sheilbh]

Sounds like a fairly powerful speech by Zelenskiy tonight - largely addressed to the Russian people:
https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1496620289563709443

[Jacob]

Did any western leader spell 'it' out to Putin, maybe going so far as this "If you invade Ukraine you'll likely be drawn into an unending quagmire. We'll welcome that as it will allow Europe to rearm and give it a massive superiority over Russian forces in Europe; hell with so much of your army tied down in the Ukraine, we might seize    the moment to mount a surprise attack on your regime."   

Might be a bit early to threaten surprise attacks with rebuilt forces. Probably best to actually rebuild the forces first.

[Tamas]

Sounds like a fairly powerful speech by Zelenskiy tonight - largely addressed to the Russian people:
https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1496620289563709443

It is quite sobering to be witnessing - still from considerable distance - such historic days. Especially as we cannot know how it will end.

[Berkut]

Sounds like a fairly powerful speech by Zelenskiy tonight - largely addressed to the Russian people:
https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1496620289563709443

Wow, that is awesome.

Can he run for President in the US if things don't work out over in Ukraine?

[Sheilbh]

Particularly powerful line:

"You are told we hate Russian culture. How can one hate a culture? ... Neighbors always enrich each other culturally, however, that doesn't make them a single whole, it doesn't dissolve us into you. We are different, but that is not a reason to be enemies."

[Josquius]

I really should get around to watching his TV series. I've seen the first ep on netflix and it was promising.

[Jacob]

Sounds like a fairly powerful speech by Zelenskiy tonight - largely addressed to the Russian people:
https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1496620289563709443

Yes. That's moving and persuasive, even second hand in translation via twitter.

[DGuller]

Sounds like a fairly powerful speech by Zelenskiy tonight - largely addressed to the Russian people:
https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1496620289563709443

Wow, that is awesome.

Can he run for President in the US if things don't work out over in Ukraine?

Putting on performances was his original day job, and he was very good at it.  I think it remains to be seen whether he should've kept it.

[grumbler]

From Fox News:  The very deep thoughts of Cardi B

And your point?

No one should pay any attention to this cardigan person.

So we should post what fox News said about her Twitter post to then not consider what Cardi B thinks about it all?

Yeah, strange that Sav would think that Fox News is such a vital source that we need to see even their fruitiest of fruit pieces.

[mongers]

Posted at 1:421:42

Blinken agrees reason to believe Russia will invade 'before this night is over'

It's being widely reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believed that before the night is over, Russian forces will have invaded Ukraine.

Those words were technically put to him by NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt - but he did agree with them.

Here's a transcript:

Lester Holt: "Do you have reason to believe that before this night is over, Russian forces will be engaged in something akin to a full invasion of Ukraine?"

Antony Blinken: "I do. Unfortunately, Russia has positioned its forces at the final point of readiness across Ukraine's borders to the north, to the east, to the south. Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine."

Holt: "To be clear, you think tonight that could happen or will happen?"

Blinken: "Look, I can't put a date or an exact time on it but everything is in place for Russia to move forward."

From bbc live page here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-60454795

[Grey Fox]

It's happening.

War in our time. Again.

A little surreal that we will be commenting the Russian invasion of Ukraine. What would 1989 you think of that?

[Eddie Teach]

We just got out of a 20 year war which had the same impact on the life of an average Westerner.