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PTINS

Burnt Ends
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Posts posted by PTINS

  1. On 5/4/2024 at 11:04 AM, InkaUtexas said:

    It is pronounced Dumas. Like the town in the panhandle right?

    image.png.f36ae46117e9883cbce6d2f9cf309d67.png

    1 hour ago, Mikey4 said:

    The First Amendment doesn't say that the right to free speech requires the speaker to reveal his or her identity,

    ... it also doesn't say that the right to free speech requires the speaker to conceal his or her identity.

    1 hour ago, Mikey4 said:

    If it crosses over into illegal conduct, then the speaker can and should be arrested and identified at that point. The threat of arrest should be real enough to serve as an incentive to keep the protest within the boundaries of the law. You do that, you can remain anonymous. You cross the line into violating the law or campus policy, and your shit goes on blast.

    and then what? 

    It crosses over to illegal conduct ... the speakers shit went blast (sorry about the mess),  ... but its all good, we arrested the speaker. 

    35 minutes ago, Mikey4 said:

    That surprises me, but the First Amendment is not my practice area, and I haven't studied it closely in nearly 20 years, so I guess I’m out of the loop. Even if the state can prohibit people from wearing masks when they protest, I don’t think it should for the reasons I gave. I completely share your concern about protesters breaking the law. But if that happens, arrest them and reveal their identity at that point.

    This is also a difficult set of facts for me, and perhaps for you as well, because I disagree with these protesters and their message, and I would be personally happy to see them identified. But it’s also possible that in 20 or 40 or 60 years, my kids or grandkids or great grandkids will need to protest government tyranny while remaining anonymous for their own safety, and the law should be set up to allow them to do that. 

    It’s also possible that in 20 or 40 or 60 years, someones kids or grandkids or great grandkids will want protection from anonymous tyrants who jeopardize the safety of innocent people, and the law should have been set up to allow the government to do that. 

    "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

  2. 10 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

    Insert "they're the same picture" meme here.

    You literally just posted a screed advocating for prior restraint of speech based on what MIGHT happen.  I mean, even Walter fucking Sobchak knows that's bullshit.

    3643aaff-1456-4e24-8434-937f4dbe49b1_tex

     

    By your argument, we should not allow ANY Trump rallies because the one he held on January 6th turned violent, and he still uses violent rhetoric sometimes.  So, when he shows up around here, we're not gonna allow that lawless shitshow on OUR watch, nosiree!  We'll send an entire division of armored and armed DPS shock troops to break those likely hooligans up!  Right?

    Fucking of course not.

    The rights of free speech and freedom of assembly are the most misunderstood constitutional rights.

     

    I did not mention "speech" in my post. That is the Freedom I cherish the most. You are free to tell my boss he's a fucking idiot, and he is free to fire you.

    I merely responded to where you might exercise that freedom.

    The freedom to assemble is provided for, but that does not mean you can do it wherever you want. The right to defend and protect your life and property are also provided for.  

    But like it or not, agree or not, the City of Austin had/has a well known position of choosing not to enforce the law.  UT called somebody who would.

    Will Trump be allowed to have a rally on the steps of the Capitol? Doubtful, but not my decision.

    • Fuck You 1
  3. 8 hours ago, Js1 said:

    Weird that these protests don't get defended as much as the peaceful demonstration 3 years ago in DC

    Maybe the students should have pushed past the barricades, broken some windows in the Tower, gotten into Hartzell's office and put their feet up on his desk, stolen some shit from the Tower and threatened to hang Sharon Wood

    Bonus points if they beat some police officers with flag poles

    This.

    A "peaceful" protest, the end result of which was the US Capitol was taken over by a violent mob that assaulted uniformed police officers, and openly sought to apprehend elected government officials.

    6 hours ago, Frank Drebin said:

    The school has time, place and manner restrictions they intend to enforce.  If a group violates lawful time, place, and manner restrictions, they should be arrested/dispersed.  No matter who the group is.

    President Hartzell has explained that he isn’t going to allow them to take over areas that aren’t for protests. Nor should he.

    I read the letter from Texas.  It pretty clearly states the manner in which the protests were being conducted violated UT's free speech policies.  UT thus called in authorities.  

    The protesters clearly stated (and published) their intent to occupy the campus.  

    They were not going to let them take over the university.

    These is a place for everything. Not every place is for everything.

    6 hours ago, Dahobbs said:

     The protesters weren't violent. They weren't destructive. They weren't threatening. At least, I have not see any evidence of that. 

    Isn't that what witnesses say before things went to shit?  It happens somewhere damn near every day.

    6 hours ago, Incredulity said:

    You know exactly what I am talking about.  For the last 6 months Jewish students have been routinely harassed and chased on several campuses across the country.  Its fucking wrong.

    Kids in flip flops protesting? Who cares.

    Masked people with backpacks protesting? hummm? What's up with that?

    A large group, students and masked individuals, protesting "against" the most persecuted group of people in the history of the world? Prudent to err on the side of caution.

    6 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

    This stuff exploded across the nation.  There have absolutely been some vile anti-Semitic activities that went beyond the pale on college campuses. And it seems like that got conflated to what was planned at UT, which was just speech, and that probably exploited by bad-faith actors who deliberately wanted to confuse the matter and posture as hard asses. 

    5 hours ago, Nivek said:

    UT's pro-Palestinian protest was a MODEL protest.   Unlike some of the others happening elsewhere or other incidents where people were harmed, threatened, and harassed ...

    You can say that, after the fact. No way you could guarantee that before it happened.

    Charles Whitman was a MODEL citizen, until he "occupied" the UT Tower and killed and wounded almost 50 people. 

    5 hours ago, Js1 said:

    Of course Blacklab ... will ignore the obvious threadshitting 

    Blacklab is moderating a message board. Give him a fucking break.

    This is a volatile topic that is not borderline CR, it is very much right down the middle CR. Take the CR to the CR, and have at it. Most of the posts here are inflammatory rhetoric, not factual information.

    Blacklab has deleted my posts that I knew were too heavy CR, and they should have been deleted. I posted them knowing that, I exercised my rights, and Blacklab did the same.

    5 hours ago, YGIFS said:

    You live long enough, you see everything turned on its head.  This is a horrible black eye on the University.  

    I repectfully disagree.  

    Allowing unlawful assemblies of large groups of people, students or otherwise, is putting people and property at risk.

    Was the protest peaceful? Yes.

    Was there a significant probability it might not be peaceful? Yes, given what has transpired across the country the past few months.

    Does the UTPD have adequate resources to "control" the number of people that gathered? IDK, but I'm betting they don't. (One would thing the US Government could protect the Capitol, who knew?)

    Could this unlawful protest have gone off the rails and become more unlawful to the detriment of all involved? Absolutely.

    Allowing an unlawful assembly with the potential to take over the university, shut it down, and reduce it to an online educational platform is unacceptable. That is one step removed from just shutting down the university.

    People protest, get arrested, get released. Some cheer, and others complain. No biggie.

    The only difference is people bring guns and bombs with them now.

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  4.  A nugget from my Google News feed ... (can do you unwind a click algorithm?) 

    Gig Em Gazette

    Quote

    Rumors are emerging that the Aggies are in great shape for both guys. I think the need at receiver is evident, and that showed up big time in the spring game. The injury to Jabre Barber has increased the need at that spot, so an easy path to playing time has to factor in here for both Lambert-Smith and Brown. 

    2 paragraphs later...

    As I've mentioned before, even after the departure of Evan Stewart, the Aggies' top-line talent in the receiving room is second to none in the nation. Noah Thomas's amazing play in the Maroon and White spring game testified to that. However, the other side of that coin is that the depth is a huge concern—something else that showed up in yesterday's contest.

    So, "the top line talent in the receiving room is second to none", and the "need at receiver showed up big time in the spring game."

    "Noah Thomas' amazing play" - the ball clearly hits the ground. 

    Bryce Foster? FAFO.

    image.thumb.png.2f7c9e3ee326e8741545d21d5a8782a7.png

  5. 1 hour ago, Newy25 said:

    On the Manning to Blue TD, Taffe looked like a walk on. He took such a terrible angle that he nearly tore his own ACL. That was brutal to watch. I bet we see Mukuba and Williams as the starting pair for most of the snaps this year. 

    image.png.f93fe1b277e098f850e1495a8893b115.png

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  6. 14 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

    I feel like in the short term, we are going to have to do something to reduce consumption.  Whether that’s stopping water-thirsty non-native lawn grasses, or doing something about companies and people running automated big-ass sprinklers when it’s raining, or scaling back on water-hungry companies moving to Texas, or a combination, I don’t know.

    We are not even really trying to educate people on the coming water crisis either, so a shitload of them are going to melt down when it truly hits.

    FIFY. We need to reduce consumption. There is not a source of fresh water source that can meet the demand. Aquifers are viewed as fresh water oceans; they not. They are static filtration systems with long term, multi year cycle rate. If you shorten the cycle, the water you put in is the same water you take out; unfiltered water. 

    13 hours ago, Dnaguy said:

    I’m not tied into this but there has to be a synergy in which you drop the price of electricity low enough to unlock economics for desal which then unlocks some further efficiencies in electricity production to lower cost and which then allows for pipeline operation further and further / replenishment of aquifers by pumping water back into them.

    However, this feels like something of a 60’s space race style commitment by true statesmen, planners, and critical thinkers…. a true moonshot.

    Once we have abundant, cheap energy ..., wake up, you're late for work. It costs what it costs, impacted by inefficiencies in politics, and physics. One is easier to fix than the other.

    There is a fundamental reason the south was sparsely populated til the 60's, AIR CONDITIONING. A/C follows air and water to sustain life.

    People tend to settle in places with running water. There is not enough running water between Dallas - Austin-San Antonio to "support" the current demand.

    Water for drinking is an absolute. Water for recreation and irrigation, and industrial consumption is not. It should be priced accordingly. 

    12 hours ago, Post Oak said:

    This is correct.

    Start at the tap and work backwards. Incentivize (i.e., make 'em pay!!!) to remove grass lawns or much of them. I still want places in my yard where my kids can run and play too.

    Plant drought tolerant hybrids or natives.  You shouldn't have to water more than 2x a week, even in summer to keep something alive that wants to die.

    Running your sprinklers during the day - straight to jail. Watering your driveway or the street- jail.

    There needs to be rebates and incentives on a statewide scale to help people with these things. Replacing lawns, smart sprinklers, gutter, water collection and grey water systems. That's the carrot.  If that doesnt work use the stick and issue fines.

    Um, no. properly priced water costs will provide all the incentive necessary.

    The plan should be to try to use every drop of water twice. 

    I saw a video about a company that makes a system that takes your shower water, filters it just enough and then makes it available for your toilet flushing. From there it's sent to the sewer or septic.  But they claimed just by doing that you would save close to 40% of your water usage.

    I hate being worried about the grid but I'm much more worried long-term about our water situation.

    We need to invest heavily in wastewater recycling and aquifer recharge.

    I know some Texans like to bang on CA. In 2023 when they got all of the rain that filled up their reservoirs and they had to release it down stream and eventually to the Pacific people were incredulous that they were wasting it.  The truth is they have set up passive recharge zones where they're able to flood fields and allow that water to soak in.  Probably not enough but some. They also have active recharge.  Where it's pumped underground. Some, not enough.

    I'm not sure if we have those same types of practices.  I couldn't find much info.  If we don't, we should.  Hundreds of them. All over the state.  We have to plant the water before it evaporates or meets the Gulf.

    We have this magnificent wonder of nature called the Texas Hill Country, this higher elevation, 20,000 square mile, fractured limestone recharge zone, with natural geologic features that funnels surface water downward, where it is naturally filtered, and stored in the aquifers, or it naturally percolates out of the ground where the Hill Country meets the coastal plains.  You just need to add water to make it all work.

    The sooner everyone realizes we need to start behaving like El Paso or Phoenix the better off we'll be. 

    But we're Texas so you know...

     

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  7. 38 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

    Maybe it depends on the wording, but Hermine made landfall in NE Mexico and wreaked havoc in central Texas.  My home in Austin suffered $20K of damage due to rain-caused flooding.

    I did a quick wiki search for my comments. I know we get the remnants from East Texas, Northern Mexico and Pacific Coast storms.

    I don't wish misery or harm on anyone, but I like the Thunder in my Creek.

    0309(1).thumb.jpg.1d1105b9af0fa2fe48da241e555f4eb5.jpg 

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  8. 12 hours ago, Thetexashammer said:

    image.thumb.png.602e669f930592de0379c31f697aa2cd.png

    Medina lake history. I absolutely love that part of Texas. We used to go out there riding the Three Sisters.

    I bought Thunder Creek Ranch in 2002, NW of Utopia and west of Medina.  A series of tropical storms had dumped ~ 17" of rain over a few weeks that summer and it looked like a tropical paradise. Thunder Creek was the appropriate name for the area, then.

    I've learned It usually takes a hurricane/tropical storm weather event for Thunder Creek to Thunder, and sadly, those seem to be fewer occasions than when I roamed the 40 acres. Muck like the levels of Lake Medina.

    Texas has been "hit" by 46 hurricanes/tropical storms since 2000, but only 5 have made landfall between Corpus Christi and Brownsville; Generally, anything east and west of that corridor doesn't impact central Texas, including Utopia and Austin.

    August 9, 2002 – Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall as a tropical depression near Kingsville, 
    August 16, 2007 – Tropical Storm Erin makes landfall near Lamar
    July 23, 2008 – Hurricane Dolly makes landfall at South Padre Island 
    September 8, 2016 – The remnants of Hurricane Newton bring heavy rains to parts of western Texas
    Late August 2017 – Hurricane Harvey makes landfall on San José Island near Rockport

    The occasional rain shower keeps things green, but it takes a series of wet years to keep the springs recharged, and the surface water is dependent on consistent localized rainfall, or a named storm.

    There is no "normal" weather pattern, just the length of time between the transitions of flooding and drought.

    It is amazing how different the weather is in the country v. Austin, ~ 113 miles as the crow flies.  Big difference between the radiant heat sink generated by all the concrete, asphalt, cars and the millions of 98 degree meat popsicles around town and the open country with zero impervious cover. 

    The people are different too. Nobody complains about the water levels while they are sitting in their swimming pools watching the sprinklers watering the grass. 

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  9. Now that I finished my "No Nukes" No CR rant...

    The Netflix Series, "Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War", is worth watching.

    Heavy CR slant to the dialogue, but the "factual"nuggets were very informative. 

    The last few episodes are very topical. Simply labeling Putin as a KGB honk is misleading;  His early years with a front row seat to the Berlin Wall coming down and the unraveling of the Soviet Union was much more impactful. His long term ties to the St. Petersburg mafia and the oligarchs provides a much better understanding of who and what he is and of the recent history with Ukraine.

    One thing doesn't change. Putin is pure evil and must be stopped.

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  10. 22 hours ago, Thetexashammer said:

    I disagree with the Republican stance, but the argument that "Ukraine can't win and extending the war is resulting in needless slaughter" is not without merit

    However, some of you people have been listening the QAnon a little too much. Your conspiracy theories and both insane and posted to the wrong forum. 

    You sir, fucked up the most informative thread on this board. 

    Please take your high school debate back and forth opinions and keep them to yourself, and off of this board.

    21 hours ago, B00M said:

    It is absolutely without merit. If Ukraine falls, the men, women, and children of all of Ukraine will suffer immensely for the humiliation they’ve put Putin through. The massacres, rape, and kidnapping will only possibly be dwarfed by the number of men that are forcibly conscripted and forced to fight nato on behalf of Russia. The “needless slaughter” will get WORSE and much more likely to directly involve Americans. 

    Thanks.

    Ukraine is fighting the same fight that my father, and you, and many before and after him fought, at a cost of maybe 2 cents on the dollar, without putting any American lives at risk.  However, they are not fighting for the same things we fought for, they are fighting to simply exist.

    20 hours ago, Captainant said:

    Fixed for historical comparison. This is some appeasement shit my dude. You think just giving up and letting Putin take Ukraine will satisfy his dictatorial hunger for power? 

    Thanks.

    Putin is the worst of humanity, on steroids, with ill gotten wealth that would make the titans of capitalism blush, and nukes. 

    If it doesn't end here, it doesn't end. 

    19 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

    WTF?  The effective opposition to aid to Ukraine is coming from ONE faction of ONE party being driven almost entirely by ONE leader of said party.  Fucking seriously, it's not "Qanon conspiracy theory" shit when they literally say out loud what they are doing and why.  What the fuck are you even talking about?

    Thanks.

    16 hours ago, Thetexashammer said:

    Almost two years ago, the guy I was sitting next to got tasked to go to DC to participate in the planning for Ukraine's summer offensive.

    You didn't even stay in the Holiday Inn? You think just sitting next to someone made you smarter? No, it didn't.

    We provided them all a metric shitton of equipment, tanks, 155mm artillery, missiles, more than enough to engage in what we call, by doctrine, combined arms operations. We sent their people to our bases, where they were given training on our equipment. Lastly, we developed the war plan that they were expected to implement. We supplied all of their logistical needs. We provided everything you could need to win a battle. 

    No we didn't. The war plan we developed was meant to impact day to day life in the US as little as possible, not for Ukraine to prosecute a war they could win. The US only provided weapons with a specific range, with a stipulation they would not engage certain specified Russian targets.

    "... but Ukraine has nothing to show for everything that we gave them."

    Nothing to show? Ukraine is in year 3 of a war that most people thought would last 3 days.  This started with “I don’t need a ride, I need ammo”, and Ukraine citizens making home aid molotov cocktails. Their fight is the most inspiring fight I have witnessed in my lifetime, because they are fighting for the right to exist.

    Improving their defense, Patriot missiles or otherwise, will not win the war, merely prolong it.

    Pure fucking genius.

    How will a depleted, borderline elderly, and outmanned Ukrainian army engage in offensive operations and destroy the Russian army in its territory?  

    Support Ukraine with new equipment and technology, so farmers don't have to fight with pitchforks and tractors. 

    Under no conditions should Putin be allowed to win this, or to appear to have won, or in any way defeated the West.

    Good. you're not completely ignorant.

    15 hours ago, Neonmoon said:

    The only reasons Ukraine is “losing” is due to lack of weapons. We all know why the supplies have stopped. This isn’t fucking rocket science. 

    15 hours ago, Parliament said:

    This thread done got ate up with politics, pissbagging and general stupidity.

    This used to be the first thread I read every morning. The last few days have been brutal, and disappointing.  

    13 hours ago, InkaUtexas said:

    Wars and battles are won by meters, not kilometers. We, the US have a massive support organization. Maintenance, food, everything that goes into it.  Ukraine did not get that early and it takes time to build. I think people think everyone coming out of infantry school or armor school is a bad ass. Nope. Takes time to learn.

    Ukraine is holding their own. It is impressive.

    Thanks.

    12 hours ago, Bevo said:

    Well, the reason I respond to you is that you are reasonable and you fucking know better.

     I am fine with dogs at the park. But, don't take your dogs off the leash and wave at people as they pass by. 

    You know the rules of the board. You broke them. 

    War is political. End of story.  

    The self policing and keeping this thread on topic and void of CR has been admirable, until the past few days and weeks.

    Please don't fuck it up.

    12 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

    You don’t actually have questions. You just keep repeating them because you don’t like the answer.

    Thanks.

    We all have questions. Perhaps some questions are better for Google, before they get asked here.

    I ask them here because I appreciate that so many of you have forgotten more about more things than most will ever know.

    I like this place because it usually provides the answers before the questions are even asked. You know who you are.

    Thank you.

    Slava Ukraini

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  11. Hard to find any good news from Ukraine, so I'll settle for bad news from Russia.

    The flooding in Russia is not because of a "dam failure", but appears to be from the volumes of water flowing through the creeks and rivers and over the dikes, dams, and whatever else is in the way. Reports of water at ~ 10 meter levels (32 feet) proximate to 16 foot levees means there is 16 feet of water flowing over the top. The widespread flooding spans an area and different river systems from Sorochinsk to Kurgan, ~ 540 miles. 

    image.png.da20dc52f728753de7e660ae9e47fb1d.png

    The pitiful response from the state will not improve, as there does not appear to be any significant resources available, and the flooding situation will get worse before it gets better. 

    The flooding in Orsk, just north of Kazakhstan, is not coming from the Ural River that traverses east to west, but from the Yelshanka River, directionally northwest of the city. In the second video below, at the 09 second mark, you can see the monument in Gagarin Square, with the flood water coming towards the front of the monument, which faces Northwest. 

    It is shown in the Google Earth screen shot.

    image.png.9fba7dddbbcd4d2ca2a534c5094a49d0.png

    In the screenshot below, everything (~ 25 square miles) between the 638' elevations north and south of the Ural River, including the Gagarin Monument, is probably under water.

    image.png.044e3118fba5d056d97c288fbc80d65f.png

    The residential area doesn't have high rises, just a shit load of high density single family dwellings. (The lots are ~ 30 ft x 100 ft).

    image.thumb.png.d894a07d3dfe15fb109dbe596cb90bc0.png

    The numbers of flooded homes, ~ 10,000?, in Orsk alone, is going to cause a shit storm, literally (Ha! Ha!), that won't go away. There's not a FEMA bailout on the horizon. One official proposed ~ $108/month for 6 months as compensation. Another said "he should be on vacation, not here." If your home is trashed and you have no place to go, how much do you care about going to work?  Or going to Ukraine to be a meat popsicle? Worker productivity at the industrial facilities is going to be impacted, but to what degree?

    In a few days or weeks, this won't just be a few people in front of city hall complaining. I'm hoping this energizes and mobilizes the masses like never before err ..., nothing since 1917. Too bad it's in the middle of bum fuck no where.

    Corruption, meet Karma.

    One can only hope.

    • Hook 'Em 1
  12. 3 hours ago, Had Enough said:


    It was probably part caution but part just throwing it and hoping for the best.

    In 2022 he got rid of it quicker and threw it deeper. …QE was too rushed and threw the ball before his pass catcher was ready. In just the OSU game, you saw Bijan, Roschon, Whitt, Sanders all had instances of the same. It wasn’t just Worthy. I don’t recall the breakdown but essentially no one got rid of the ball that quickly and threw it so far downfield than QE in 2022.

    He likes to decide and throw quickly. 

    “just throwing it and hoping for the best.”

    This year, the last 3 quarters v. OU and 1st half against Hou, QE completion rate was 90+ %.

    There are numerous throws he made as the receiver was coming out their break, where he anticipated where the receiver would be and delivered a perfect throw in stride.

    Can he improve? Certainly.

    But there was nothing close to Mike “find the ball and go up and get it” Evans on the Texas roster the last 2 years. Fuck that hoping the best bs.

    His anticipating and missing has as much to do with the receivers be off schedule as much as it has to do with the throws.

    Maybe he could wait another 2/10ths of a second before throwing it. Maybe is doesn’t want to chance a 250 lb meat head driving him into the ground because of a weather vane whiff by the OL.

    QE throws as catchable ball as well as anyone QB I’ve ever seen.

  13.  

    INTERVIEW

    ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE

    CHIEF OF MISSION RESIDENCE

    PARIS, FRANCE

    APRIL 2, 2024

    Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Darius Rochebin of LCI/TF1

    QUESTION:  Good evening, Mr. Secretary of State.  Antony Blinken, you’re head of U.S. foreign policy.  First, Ukraine’s cry for help.  Is the United States in a position to promise that the Ukrainian state, that Kyiv, will never fall into Russian hands?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I am convinced we already have.  In other words, it is not happening, it’s never going to happen.  At the beginning of the Russian aggression in 2022, we thought there was a possibility that Kyiv would fall.  But thanks to the incredible resistance of the Ukrainian people, and thanks also to the support given to Ukraine by the United States, France and other countries, Putin’s desire to conquer the whole country, to wipe it off the map, to make it part of a greater Russia, has not materialized and it won’t.

    QUESTION:  Mr. Zelenskyy said: “We’re not 100% sure that Putin won’t use nuclear weapons.”  And he added, “That’s what makes President Biden cautious.”  Do you, indeed, have to take that risk into account?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN: From the start, from day one, President Biden was convinced of two things: that we had to do everything possible to support Ukraine, because the aggression against Ukraine was not just an aggression against the Ukrainian people and against the country, but against all the basic principles of the international system.  But he was also convinced that we had to avoid a war with Russia.

    QUESTION:  A nuclear escalation?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  An escalation, whether conventional or nuclear.  And so, since then, he’s been leading with great clarity in this direction: supporting Ukraine but avoiding a war with Russia.

    QUESTION: It’s not just theoretical.  Don’t we remember the warning that went out about a possible use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine?  If that were to happen, would the United States respond?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, I’m not going to get into hypotheticals.  There was indeed a moment when there was fear. I think that —

    QUESTION:  (Inaudible) there were concrete messages to that effect.

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  All I can say is that there was a fear that it was possible.  But I think the Russians heard not only from the United States, not only from France, but from many other countries, including China, that a nuclear weapon should absolutely not be used.

    QUESTION:  But in principle, Mr. Secretary of State, compared to the use of conventional weapons, would the slightest nuclear use, even tactical weapons, be a complete change?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  For us, it would be a complete change, yes.

    QUESTION:  With consequences for Russia?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  With consequences.  But we’re doing everything, of course, to avoid this possibility and to avoid a war, a bigger war.  But at the same time, we absolutely must support Ukraine, because the Russian aggression continues to this day, it continues to do appalling damage within Ukraine, and it continues to present a danger not only to Ukraine, but to Europe as well.

    QUESTION:  The Balts are expressing their fear of a more conventional war.  It would be a Russian incursion into the Baltic territories and, as in Crimea in 2014, a fait accompli.  Would the United States militarily prevent it this time?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  You know, we have an exceptional asset, which is NATO.  And the basic idea of NATO is that an attack on one NATO member is an attack on everyone.

    QUESTION:  Article 5.

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Article 5.  And I don’t think it’s in Mr. Putin’s interest to widen the conflict, especially with or against a NATO member.

    QUESTION:  Mr. Blinken, do you understand that this is the crucial question – for the Balts, in particular? Can they be assured that even one foot of a Russian soldier on Baltic territory would lead to a military response from the United States of America?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN: A millimeter or a centimeter.  For us, Article 5 is essential.

    QUESTION: With a military reaction?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Again, I won’t go into specific hypotheses, but I think that any adversary who is aggressive against a NATO member knows that he will get a response from NATO, including the United States.

    QUESTION:  That’s you.  If it’s Mr. Trump, does that change?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  You know, all I can do is manage today and do the best I can with all my colleagues.  The future —

    QUESTION:  But do you understand, excuse me, Mr. Secretary of State, the fear of Europeans who wonder, ‟If Mr. Trump is there, there may be a disengagement from NATO?”

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I hear fears coming from my colleagues, from my fellow citizens, but, you know, there are often fears when there are changes in democracies, whether it’s the United States, whether it’s France, whether it’s any democratic country where there’s a change of government every four years, every six years or whatever, there’s always something, because of course you get used to what you’ve got.  You don’t know what’s coming next, but what I can tell you is that this year will mark 75 years of NATO, 75 years of American administrations, Republicans and Democrats, supporting NATO.  I’m convinced that it will continue, no matter what.

    QUESTION:  You have helped Ukraine powerfully.  You rule out – that’s clear – American troops in Ukraine, don’t you?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes.

    QUESTION:  However, what happens if the French – Mr. Macron has said, “it’s not out of the question” – the Finns, the Poles go for it.  It’s their choice.  Will it require a NATO consensus?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Again, I stay away from making hypotheses for the future.  Our policy is clear.  President Biden’s policy is clear.  There will be no American troops on Ukrainian soil.

    QUESTION:  Why not?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Because for us, it’s something that will lead closer to a direct conflict with Russia, which we want to avoid.  It’s not in our interest and it’s not in the interest of the Allies. But at the same time —

    QUESTION:  Excuse me.

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Go ahead.

    QUESTION:  Would it be like a stab in the pact since, let’s say, the Cold War when there’s been no direct confrontation between the two nuclear powers, for ground troops to take place?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  For us, it’s a matter of national interest.  It’s not in our interest to have a direct conflict with Russia.  I don’t think it’s in the interest of any of the NATO members.  But at the same time, there is a determination, a conviction that we must do our utmost to support Ukraine, and do so not only this year, but in the years to come.

    Because the real danger – there is an immediate danger on the ground – but the greatest danger is the idea that may be in Putin’s head, that he can outlast us, that we’ll end up fading away, whether it’s us, Europe or the other partners.  I think it’s essential to convince Putin that this won’t be the case.

    QUESTION:  But, Antony Blinken, once again, if the French also go, the Finns, the Poles, etc., is it at our peril or do you think it will involve NATO?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Everyone must make decisions on a national level and on an Alliance level too.

    QUESTION:  Will the Alliance have to come to an agreement?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Again, I won’t go into hypotheticals, but I know very well that, with the relations we have within the Alliance, the relations we have directly with France, everything we do, we do together.  We talk about it, we discuss it, and we decide together.

    QUESTION:  In Brazil, President Macron raised the possibility of Vladimir Putin taking part in the next G20 meeting, provided, he said, that it would be useful and that there was a consensus among all G20 members.  Do you see this as a possibility, under these conditions?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  If there’s a consensus among all the members and if it’s useful, yes.  In the current situation, it’s hard to see how it could be useful and how there could be a consensus among all the members —

    QUESTION:  For you, would a Putin-Biden handshake be conceivable, provided, of course, that it was useful?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  The idea has never been to exclude Russia or Mr. Putin.  It’s the actions, it’s the policy of Russia and of Mr. Putin that triggers what happens in terms of Russia’s relations with the G20 or with the G7, with the world.  So, if policy changes, we don’t rule anything out.  The problem is that we don’t have any proof, for the moment, that policy is changing.

    QUESTION:  But if the policy changes, can we talk to Mr. Putin again very directly, even at a summit?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I hope there will be a day, and I hope that day will come sooner rather than later, when relations between our countries and Russia will be quite different from the current one.  Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and it’s not the case because of Mr. Putin’s policies.

    QUESTION:  So, to be perfectly clear, he’s not a pariah forever?  Not necessarily?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Russia is not a pariah, and for us, it’s not so much the individuals, the personalities, that count, it’s the policy pursued by a country.

    • Hook 'Em 2
  14. 4 minutes ago, BrickTop said:

    Windy as a fiddlers bitch too

    We walked across on the bridge in February. I weighed 150 lbs dripping wet, wearing a ski parka that caught a lot of wind. Self preservation is strong with me.  Too much good terra firma around not to have it under my feet.

  15. On 3/28/2024 at 10:26 PM, ChickenSandwich said:

    Wonder if that would be grounds for their insurance to deny coverage?  Company fucked either way probably 

    On 3/29/2024 at 6:42 AM, Captainant said:

    Lol it's insurances job to find a reason to deny coverage. They'll find their reason. The company is absolutely fucked though

    I did an Expert Witness Report regarding business interruption insurance on an offshore drilling rig. They claimed damages for a well that was never drilled. Should have been a slam dunk.

    The attorneys said the insurance "people" would never show up to testify. They "earned" ~ $350,000 for the commissions (2005) on the policies and would never do anything to jeopardize their livelihood.

    On 3/29/2024 at 6:43 AM, Thetexashammer said:

    Same principle with skyscrapers. You have to stop and concentrate, but it's wild when you can feel the sway.

    The Gateway Arch in St. Louis can move as much as 18". The slight movements at the top give the appearance of a much larger movement at the bottom, 600 ft below. Looking straight down, you could see the sidewalk underneath the Arch, and then it would disappear, and then it would reappear. And then we were done, and left. The egg shaped tram that toggles back and forth on the way to the top of the Arch is not for the faint of heart.

    22 hours ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

    I have noticed that it took a few days, but all the online constitutional law/infectious disease/middle east history scholars have finally finished their PhDs in Naval Architecture/Civil Engineering and are ready to tell us all what really happened. 

    It took a few days to clear all the reservations at the Holiday Inn.

  16. 6 minutes ago, Incredulity said:

    correction:

    Even worse penthouse forum letter.

    I remember picking up my Norwegian au pair at the airport, saw this statuesque blond goddess walking towards us, holy fuck!!! She was walking next to my au pair. A few months later, was with my friend at a beer & pizza joint in Boulder, and in walked a pack of 10-12 au pairs, from Norway, Sweden, Germany & Spain.

    image.png.bcd36055b995c1c56bb9e6ac28fa8cd8.png

     Got home at 5 in the morning. 

    Wife was sitting at the table drinking coffee. "Where the hell have you been!!!" "With Laila and her friends?" "Doing what?"

    • Haha 1
  17. 17 hours ago, Beau Vine said:

     

    "Galloping Gertie"

    15 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

    I’ve always been more afraid of tunnels than bridges. Bridges don’t faze me. 

    1 hour ago, Homercles said:

    We…or should say I…drove the Million Dollar Highway last year during our trip to Durango.  Being on the dropoff side was legit the only time I’ve ever been a white knuckle driver and actually relieved to be behind a slow poke.  

    Wife and kids were raving about the scenery, and when they all leaned to one side to gape at the dropoff it took every fiber of my being to keep from shouting “GODAMMIT DONT YOU FUCKING DARE UPSET THE BALANCE OF THIS SHITTY ASS V6 EXPLORER YOU FUCKWADS”.  
     

    Bridges ain’t shit

    We were at the top of Pikes Peak, well above the tree line, and it started snowing, and then thundering, and then lightning, adios!!!. On the way down, the snow turned to sleet and an icy, slushy mix was covering the road. Nobody said a word on the way down. White knuckle city!

    1 hour ago, Jerry Callo said:

    If you know, you know.  This was terrifying as a young driver.

    spacer.png

    In HS, I drove my friends Chevelle down the hill on 2222, ~ 150+ MPH, used 3 of the 4 lanes to make the turn at the bottom.  

    Item #34 of stupid shit I did and why I'm lucky to be here.

    Moore's Crossing over Onion Creek, Elroy, Texas (Richard Moya Park) Built in In 1915, 3 of the 6 spans from the 1884 iron Congress Avenue Bridge were used to construct the bridge. It had a wooden deck, and squeaked when you drove across it; sounded like it was falling apart.

    image.thumb.png.bdc7099ee9e3ae3c54c034c1c7c30b8c.png image.png.93266130d4561fcd584570495f424046.png 

    • Hook 'Em 1
    • Drool 1
  18. On 1/30/2024 at 12:33 PM, Not a cat said:

    This is all sorts of fucked up, IMO.

    https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/deion-sanders-gifted-new-home-boulder-colorado-sons-shilo-shedeur-deion-coach-prime/

    His base from CU is $6mm per, plus endorsement deals from Aflac, KFC, etc., his NFL pension, etc.  Let's just say he's easily in the 8 figures per year.  

    This has to be a publicity stunt, or prime is the most self absorbed man in the world.  Or both, more likely.

    The house is in Longmont, CO, not Boulder. 

    Longmont is to Boulder as Hackensack is to Manhattan.

    "The only thing I like about New Jersey is the view it has of Manhattan."

    image.png.b45d4f30230a6e9ee98ff59adae30064.png

    The City of Boulder created a 5 mile buffer between Boulder, and the rest of the world.  Longmont is outside of the Open Space. You can see the tops of some of the CU buildings right at the base of the mountains.

    With that said, playing golf in Longmont gives you a reason to take your eyes off the ball. The view of Long's Peak and the throat of Rocky Mountain National Park is spectacular.

    image.thumb.png.dd58a6b1562ced1395334db23185b2df.png 

     Re: Deion

    The first time I heard of him, it was a clip of him lounging in a car, with is sun glasses and his bling, talking about me, me, me, and shit about everybody else. Fuck that POS.

    But, his ratio of talking the talk to walking the walk is the benchmark. Most exiting player I've ever watched.

    Too bad for his sons. Alligator mouth. meet humming bird ass.

    • Hook 'Em 2
    • Like 1
  19. 57 minutes ago, KeysPhoneWallet said:

    Don’t like the thermostat / thermometer thing. In my car when it gets hot, the thermostat opens up and lets all the water blow by it. That’s not what I want from my Oline.

    Time to replace your thermostat.

    The thermostat should open when more heat is needed, and open only enough to control the temperature at a specific set point. 

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