Cult Icon

)

n

I've heard of the 'underclass' in Dubai, the city of billionaires. It seems like in medieval-pre-medieval times, it was better to be a Northman/viking and pagan than a Christian serf under a King. The northmen were much more free and progressive in this sense. This is borrowed both the Witcher and Game of Thrones books, too. Also in Roman times it was better to be a rich businessman than a top tier politician. Because if you failed, you lost your head and your family was in serious trouble.

s

I bought these chocolate chips recently (for 8.99 USD for 72 oz (4 1/2 pounds)). I think these are the most low cost/economical semi-sweet chocolate in the US. They taste almost the same as Nestle Toll House Semi-sweet but are even cheaper. This chocolate is literally 15-10 times cheaper than other chocolate bars of its type. There are 3.5 oz. semi-sweet bars that cost 8.99 USD lol.. My personal favorite remains Nestle Dark Chocolate chips (52 % cocoa) though. These are the same quality as chocolate bars 5-8 times more expensive.

@SympathysSilhouette @Enrico_sw @Matt! @Stromboli1 I think it's coming for real this time!

I think it has to do with the desire of war mongers/defense industry shrills to find their next enemy after the US was defeated in the middle east. First the evil empire was Russia, then it was radical islam. Now it's Russia again. It's big business, the past two decades cost the US tax payer many trillions of dollars. The popular interest in making Russia the 'new generational enemy' started in 2014 with Crimea and seemed to escalate with Russian inference with the election of Trump, and Trump being a fan of Putin. Then the US withdrawal from Afghanistan took the middle east off the agenda. The problem is, being into waging war against the middle east is one thing, screwing around with Russia- who is much more dangerous- is another. It's like playing with fire. The odd part is the liberals are really getting into it.

I knew adultery or desire to do so had something to do with it Who is Joaquim Valente? Meet Gisele Bündchen's rumored new man (pagesix.com)

M

y

G

I am reading about slaver's bay in Game of Thrones. It seems to be inspired by the Middle East..

Ralph fiennes is performing the 4 Quartets in London. I have heard a lot of clips from it and frankly Jeremy Irons is much better than he is at reciting the poetry.

M

The Russians blew the bridges across the Dniprio (Kherson West bank) and evacuated circa 20,000 elite troops, which will deployed elsewhere. The Ukrainians will also will re-deploy their Kherson forces to other fronts. The war is now moving East and focused on the Z-Oblast and the Donbass now. Russia has given up the shortest path to taking Odessa Oblast, any attempt to get this province would require a general Westward advance with a second invasion of Ukraine and a much larger people's army. They would have to advance North from Z-Oblast and then advance west. I think they gave up this objective as early as May 2022 when they focused on the Donbass. Their primary goal remains the destruction of the Ukrainian army. Russia has stepped it up in the Donbass/Z-Oblast for a week now and the attacks are back up to August 2022 levels. The Ukrainians, two days ago also made general attacks on the Northern front. The gains on both sides are pretty glacial but the Russian gains are greater. Russia's military districts are extremely active in training 400,000 troops right now. They have sent around 100,000 men to Ukraine, with half in combat units, mostly training in the rear areas. Russian defense industry is also in the process of mobilization. The Russian federal government allocated 5 trillion rubles for Defense 2023. They spent 4.679 trillion rubles in 2022. A major signal for the second invasion IMHO is when they complete their large scale maneuvers in Belarus, which they announced a few weeks ago. It is interesting how they are having parades in Kherson city- when it is obvious that the Russians can shoot artillery and missiles. Maybe there is some sort of deal between the two sides.

The interest in waging war with Russia is a total 180 from their anti-war/world peace stance during the Iraq war. They were less critical of the war in Afghanistan.

e n )

s

r