@groundloop.bsky.social
Looking forward to Khmer Rouge AI.
December 16, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Looking forward to Khmer Rouge AI.
Mabye also some "we have been played by those Europeans, can kiss the great business deals in Russia goodbye." My interpretation is more positive: jujutsu - take the fantasy at face value that W & K were close to a deal, ramp it up, and then let them hit a wall full force when Russia says "nyet."
December 16, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Mabye also some "we have been played by those Europeans, can kiss the great business deals in Russia goodbye." My interpretation is more positive: jujutsu - take the fantasy at face value that W & K were close to a deal, ramp it up, and then let them hit a wall full force when Russia says "nyet."
PS: I have seen this also in other contexts that people underestimate how long old people might live. I think it is that you look at life expectancy (man US = 75.9 years), see he is 79, and conclude he is way past his expiration date, bound to die any time soon. But that's life expectancy at birth.
December 15, 2025 at 8:26 PM
PS: I have seen this also in other contexts that people underestimate how long old people might live. I think it is that you look at life expectancy (man US = 75.9 years), see he is 79, and conclude he is way past his expiration date, bound to die any time soon. But that's life expectancy at birth.
Life expectancy is 8.64 years (man, 79 years, US). Share who will die over the next two years = somewhat more than 10%. Non-negligible chance, but not very likely either.
www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/t...
www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/t...
www.ssa.gov
December 15, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Life expectancy is 8.64 years (man, 79 years, US). Share who will die over the next two years = somewhat more than 10%. Non-negligible chance, but not very likely either.
www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/t...
www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/t...
No clashes between Albania and Aberbaijan, though.
December 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
No clashes between Albania and Aberbaijan, though.
Huge cognitive dissonance whether to go blackletter.
December 10, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Huge cognitive dissonance whether to go blackletter.
Donald, you're fired.
December 9, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Donald, you're fired.
While I think there's a valid point here: don't send any money over to Russia, it's also somewhat apples to oranges. If you give 1 bn to Ukraine, they can buy 1 bn worth of arms. If you give 1 bn to Russia in this way, it's a fraction that pays for arms, probably a small one. Profit versus turnover.
December 8, 2025 at 3:17 AM
While I think there's a valid point here: don't send any money over to Russia, it's also somewhat apples to oranges. If you give 1 bn to Ukraine, they can buy 1 bn worth of arms. If you give 1 bn to Russia in this way, it's a fraction that pays for arms, probably a small one. Profit versus turnover.
While I think there's a valid point here: don't send any money over to Russia, it's also somewhat apples to oranges. If you give 1 bn to Ukraine, they can buy 1 bn worth of arms. If you give 1 bn to Russia in this way, it's a fraction that pays for arms, probably a small one. Profit versus turnover.
December 8, 2025 at 3:15 AM
While I think there's a valid point here: don't send any money over to Russia, it's also somewhat apples to oranges. If you give 1 bn to Ukraine, they can buy 1 bn worth of arms. If you give 1 bn to Russia in this way, it's a fraction that pays for arms, probably a small one. Profit versus turnover.
PS: It is interesting how Green parties elsewhere are so disconnected from the mothership, US Greens perhaps the most behind. Kind of like DSA feels like German Social Democrats circa 1920 or even 1910.
December 8, 2025 at 2:50 AM
PS: It is interesting how Green parties elsewhere are so disconnected from the mothership, US Greens perhaps the most behind. Kind of like DSA feels like German Social Democrats circa 1920 or even 1910.
Though the position here is also what Mélenchon could get behind. Feels more like early 1980s Greens to me. It took the German Greens quite a few steps to get to where they are now. If that's the trajectory, great in my view. But assumptions, you can skip a few decades in one go.
December 8, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Though the position here is also what Mélenchon could get behind. Feels more like early 1980s Greens to me. It took the German Greens quite a few steps to get to where they are now. If that's the trajectory, great in my view. But assumptions, you can skip a few decades in one go.
Also: MAGA may still seem iike a winner for far-rights, but apart from money perhaps, it should increasingly drag them down. As the shit hits the fan in the US, anyone opposing the far-right just has to ask: And you want this level of chaos/corruption/etc. here, too?
December 8, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Also: MAGA may still seem iike a winner for far-rights, but apart from money perhaps, it should increasingly drag them down. As the shit hits the fan in the US, anyone opposing the far-right just has to ask: And you want this level of chaos/corruption/etc. here, too?
Not sure this is negative overall. US far-right is so out of touch, they might mess things up for European far-rights (plural, one per country at least). Eg. the US framing of racism as white v. black/brown while European racisms (plural) are usually North v. South or West v. East within Europe.
December 8, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Not sure this is negative overall. US far-right is so out of touch, they might mess things up for European far-rights (plural, one per country at least). Eg. the US framing of racism as white v. black/brown while European racisms (plural) are usually North v. South or West v. East within Europe.
Same in German with "gewiss". Actually just found out that English has the same word, too: iwis, but it has fallen out of use.
December 6, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Same in German with "gewiss". Actually just found out that English has the same word, too: iwis, but it has fallen out of use.
I sometimes see Americans use past tense when it should be present perfect or the other way around. Pretty natural if you have a background eg. in German or Dutch where you have the parallel forms, but whether you use one or the other is mostly an aesthetic, not a semantic choice.
December 6, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I sometimes see Americans use past tense when it should be present perfect or the other way around. Pretty natural if you have a background eg. in German or Dutch where you have the parallel forms, but whether you use one or the other is mostly an aesthetic, not a semantic choice.
Yes, maybe better wait the cycle out:
- "It's the NSS, but not the _US_ NSS."
- "It's just a wishlist leaked by the Kremlin."
- "Of course, it's the US NSS, but only meant as a short-term basis for discussions with our allies."
- "Witkoff named special envoy and on his way."
- "It's the NSS, but not the _US_ NSS."
- "It's just a wishlist leaked by the Kremlin."
- "Of course, it's the US NSS, but only meant as a short-term basis for discussions with our allies."
- "Witkoff named special envoy and on his way."
December 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Yes, maybe better wait the cycle out:
- "It's the NSS, but not the _US_ NSS."
- "It's just a wishlist leaked by the Kremlin."
- "Of course, it's the US NSS, but only meant as a short-term basis for discussions with our allies."
- "Witkoff named special envoy and on his way."
- "It's the NSS, but not the _US_ NSS."
- "It's just a wishlist leaked by the Kremlin."
- "Of course, it's the US NSS, but only meant as a short-term basis for discussions with our allies."
- "Witkoff named special envoy and on his way."
PS: Second thoughts was that I might also misunderstand the thrust of Rubio's argument. Maybe it is: Hey, Trump et al., you are perhaps betting on the wrong horse. Ukraine could be the interesting country going forward, not Russia.
December 3, 2025 at 12:04 PM
PS: Second thoughts was that I might also misunderstand the thrust of Rubio's argument. Maybe it is: Hey, Trump et al., you are perhaps betting on the wrong horse. Ukraine could be the interesting country going forward, not Russia.
Rather my fault, sorry from me. I am pretty tired at the moment, so did not think through that it could well be misread in this way.
December 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Rather my fault, sorry from me. I am pretty tired at the moment, so did not think through that it could well be misread in this way.
Maybe you misread my comment. "Minor contribution" referred to the potential to create wealth: natural resources might play a minor role as they do for other developed countries. Not "minor contribution" as a small present to Russia. Otherwise agree with you.
December 3, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Maybe you misread my comment. "Minor contribution" referred to the potential to create wealth: natural resources might play a minor role as they do for other developed countries. Not "minor contribution" as a small present to Russia. Otherwise agree with you.
PS: Not siding with Rubio here, where I think it is a specious argument: just hand over your natural resources, doesn't matter all that much. Handing over resources would be equal to handing over the country.
December 3, 2025 at 11:05 AM
PS: Not siding with Rubio here, where I think it is a specious argument: just hand over your natural resources, doesn't matter all that much. Handing over resources would be equal to handing over the country.
I am fascinated with Ukrainian ingenuity. Four years ago, they had old Soviet junk, had to beg for weapons, now they are world class in some areas and other countries begin to beg for Ukrainian weapons.
December 3, 2025 at 11:02 AM
I am fascinated with Ukrainian ingenuity. Four years ago, they had old Soviet junk, had to beg for weapons, now they are world class in some areas and other countries begin to beg for Ukrainian weapons.
Of course, Russia should not get any of Ukraine's resources. But maybe those could be a minor contribution? Unlike the Russian business model where you have nothing else to offer. Many countries have done fine with few natural resources or even arguably because of it, eg. Germany or Japan.
December 3, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Of course, Russia should not get any of Ukraine's resources. But maybe those could be a minor contribution? Unlike the Russian business model where you have nothing else to offer. Many countries have done fine with few natural resources or even arguably because of it, eg. Germany or Japan.
Pure guess on my part: Rubio trying to corner Cuba, which would be close to his heart? Venezuela as a warning and precedent, eroding their support. Also advantageous for him: sabotating the Russia wing in the administration, Hegseth as the fallguy. Rubio has sold his soul, but is a savvy politician.
December 3, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Pure guess on my part: Rubio trying to corner Cuba, which would be close to his heart? Venezuela as a warning and precedent, eroding their support. Also advantageous for him: sabotating the Russia wing in the administration, Hegseth as the fallguy. Rubio has sold his soul, but is a savvy politician.
"Trubby" would be even catchier.
November 26, 2025 at 4:41 PM
"Trubby" would be even catchier.
Just saw this, which would be the same dynamic on the US side how Witkoff (with Vance in the background) is trying to push something through against other factions. If Farage is more aligned with the other side that could explain why he is blithely torpedoing the deal.
bsky.app/profile/chri...
bsky.app/profile/chri...
1/ The Kyiv Independent is reporting that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff is "running a shadow operation inside the White House in an effort to sideline pro-Ukraine officials", cutting out Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an effort supported by Vice President J.D. Vance. ⬇️
November 22, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Just saw this, which would be the same dynamic on the US side how Witkoff (with Vance in the background) is trying to push something through against other factions. If Farage is more aligned with the other side that could explain why he is blithely torpedoing the deal.
bsky.app/profile/chri...
bsky.app/profile/chri...