archer

To teach my kids about democracy, I let them vote on dinner. They picked pizza. Then I made tacos because they don't live in a swing state.

I'm sure they could test the gear to destruction....

There's a reason they call it "Hurts". In addition to its namesake brand, Hertz operates the Dollar and Thrifty car rental services. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ve-rented-car-hertz-could-140608298.html If you’ve rented a car from Hertz, there could be a warrant out for your arrest, good luck proving the warrant is bogus

Sure.

,.,.

OMG, Charo incoming! Run for your lives!

So the combination is one, two, three, four, five? That's the stupidest combination I've ever heard in my life! The kind of thing an idiot would have on his luggage!

The right of way goes to the biggest guns, if I recall correctly.

I'm glad. The trailers look horrible.

This website is looking for people to try out products and write brutally honest reviews. Camping gear, backpacks, portable coffee makers, workout equipment like free-standing punching bags, knives, guns, gun sights/scopes, jogging shorts, fleece jackets, and so forth. https://taskandpurpose.com/announcements/gear-review-job-2/ MAR 3, 2022 "Would you consider yourself an expert or extreme enthusiast when it comes to shooting, tactical, survival, bushcraft, or outdoor equipment? And are you interested, at least a little bit, in the U.S. military? "As a Task & Purpose gear contributor, you’ll be responsible for bringing your expertise to bear on subjects from tactical and survival gear to fitness and adventuring in the great outdoors. Occasionally, that’ll involve receiving a handful of fresh items from us to put through their paces. And we mean seriously put through its paces: we want you to beat the sh** out of gear and provide your unvarnished, enthusiastic feedback on the good, the bad, and the ugly. In an ideal world, you’d be filing a new story once a week. "Oh, and did we mention that we’ll pay you for the pleasure of nerding out about the best gear on the market?" I don't know the pay but I know some people here are writers and others have mentioned enjoying the great outdoors. Don't know if anyone does both but I thought it might be worth a mention, since consistent writing jobs don't fall out of the sky every day. https://taskandpurpose.com/announcements/gear-review-job-2/

How can the U.S. military take something as harmless as a sock and make it feel like tar paper covered in shards of broken glass after the first time you wash it? It’s one of life’s great mysteries....

At least the farmers won't have to pay taxes on the captured equipment.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said Saturday night it would resume its offensive in Mariupol and Volnovakha. In a statement carried by Russian news agency TASS, the defense ministry said that "not a single civilian was able to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha along the announced security corridors." Russia is blaming this on Ukrainians not stopping firing on Russian troops outside of those "humanitarian corridors"...despite there not being a ceasefire outside of those corridors. The Russians also not cooperating on the humanitarian corridor out of Kiev or Kherson. In fact, I've not read any stories about the agreed-to humanitarian corridors actually working out anywhere. ==== Aeroflot, Russia’s largest airline, will suspend all flights abroad from March 8 except for flights to Minsk, Belarus since it is no longer able to book flights on the SABRE computer system. Rossiya and Aurora airlines will also cancel international flights. ==== Germany's armed forces (Bundeswehr) is having an increasing number of reservists contacting them about coming back to active service and civilians contacting them to sign up. Germany ended the draft and went to an all volunteer army in 2011. So it looks like the manpower supply will match up well to its vastly increased defense spending. ==== If you want to get off into the weeds of what equipment has been destroyed, abandoned, or captured on each side, I highly recommend this website. It lists not only total numbers but a breakdown of what each piece of equipment is and who manufactured it. And as the website points out "Many of the entries listed as 'abandoned' will likely end up captured or destroyed. Similarly, some of the captured equipment might be destroyed if it can't be recovered." So this is a list of what happened when the equipment was first identified and classified, not necessarily what happened to it eventually after a Ukrainian farmer hooked it up to the back of his tractor and hauled it away. So you're looking at a snapshot. But at the moment, the raw totals of what's been lost looks like this: Russia - 799, of which: destroyed: 316, damaged: 10, abandoned: 147, captured by the enemy (or enemy farmers): 326 Ukraine - 245, of which: destroyed: 92, damaged: 4, abandoned: 44, captured by the enemy: 103 ...so it's a heck of a snapshot. https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html

President Putin and his driver were on their way to Kyiv in a car when all of a sudden they hit a pig near a farmhouse, killing it instantly. Putin told his driver to go up to the farmhouse and explain to the owners what had happened. About one hour later Putin sees his driver staggering back to the car with a bottle of Horilka (Ukrainian vodka) in one hand, and a cigar in the other. "What happened to you?" asked Putin. "Well, the farmer gave me the Horilka, his wife gave me a box of cigars, and his daughters gave me their favors." "My God, what did you tell them?" asks Putin. The driver replies, "I'm president Putin’s driver, and I just killed the pig."

Do they make a Sub-Sonic Screwdriver?

As of this point, Christ appears to be unharmed....

Javelin antitank missiles, the American-made weapons that can destroy Russian tanks, are stacked in steel racks awaiting quick shipment into Ukraine. A giant C-17 transport is parked on a nearby runway. This is what American and NATO support for Ukraine looks like. Every day, 14 widebody jets are landing here to deliver Javelins, Stinger antiaircraft missiles and other weapons for the Ukrainians. A half-dozen of these daily arrivals are American planes. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/04/milley-ukraine-russia-weapons/ ==== First, a short video showing Russians sending civilian vehicles to the front (everything from minivans to dump trucks) all already marked with the letter Z showing which Russian army group they're to become part of. (They have groups Z, V, O, and I forget the fourth one.) Next a very long Twitter thread talking about the Russian military and their inability to function far from a working railroad (which was my understanding for years but I couldn't find a great source online doing more than mentioning it in passing). A lack of vehicles means that their army can't function effectively... ==== Cyprus this week banned five Russian warships from mooring despite an agreement with Russia to grant it access to ships from the island nation's ports. They were frigates and auxiliary boats that would have moored for refueling. https://translate.yandex.com/translate?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcensor.net%2Fua%2Fnews%2F3321869%2Fkipr_zaboronyv_pyaty_viyiskovym_korablyam_rf_dostup_do_svogo_portu_zmi&lang=uk-en Remember, Turkey has denied Russia the ability to move their ships from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea so they can't go home to refuel. These ships are part of the group of missile frigates which the Russians were using to menace a US carrier group.

War new roundup ==== Mastercard shuts down in Russia, including such cards issued in partnership through Russian banks. Visa "in coming days" will be shutting down cards issued from foreign banks from working in Russia and from Russian banks from working outside Russia. But not cards issued from Russian banks from working inside Russia. (Russia, on the other hand, claims card will continue to work inside Russia because their banking system doesn't necessarily have to connect with Visa/Mastercard in order to authorize transactions. Though that seems, if true, open to widespread credit card fraud.) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/05/visa-and-mastercard-will-both-suspend-operations-in-russia That was one thing Zelenskiy specifically asked for when speaking to US senators yesterday and it appears both companies responded (at least to some extent). ==== Russia detains an additional 2575 protesters Sunday bringing the total number of people arrested since protests began to over 10,000. Approximately 800 protesters in Moscow and 750 in St. Petersburg managed to protest and avoid being arrested (presumably because the protesters outnumbered the policemen significantly). Police used cattle prods and beat protesters with batons. I saw no reports suggesting protesters were being violent. ==== The Red Cross confirmed that Russia isn't honoring the "humanitarian corridors" in Mariupol and continue shelling the city while preventing civilians from evacuating. And preventing medicine, food, and water from coming into the city. ==== South Korea will implement export controls against Belarus for “effectively supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine”, Seoul’s foreign ministry said on Sunday, Reuters reports. ==== The Ukrainian military is reporting that Russia has suffered losses of more than 11,000 military personnel since the invasion began. A total of 285 Russian tanks and 985 armored combat vehicles were also reported to have been destroyed as well as 109 artillery systems, 44 aircraft and 48 helicopters (A day or two ago, US officials said they trusted the Ukrainian numbers when it came to their announced Russian loss numbers.) ==== the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington has said 3,000 US volunteers responded to the Ukraine’s appeal for foreigners to join the “international legion” to help fight the war. A few days ago, Ukraine estimated 16,000 foreigners had already signed up, mostly from former Soviet Block countries (where it's easier to cross borders and get to Ukraine quickly). ==== A prominent member of the Brazilian right, Arthur do Val, a São Paulo congressman and former supporter of Brazil’s rightwing president, is facing calls to resign after he was exposed in leaked offensive audio messages about the Ukrainian refugees. In one recording, the politician says: ==== Moody's downgraded Russia's credit rating again from "junk" to "pre-default". It's unknown at this point whether Russia can make the upcoming March 16th interest payment on their national debt which is owed to foreigners. Or if they'd be willing to pay if they could. https://dcweekly.org/2022/03/06/moodys-downgrades-russias-credit-ratings-to-pre-default/ ==== Some people are posting photos of extensive flooding of an urban area saying that it is Kiev and was a deliberate flooding from a nearby reservoir designed to keep Russian trucks and armor from being able to advance. No independent confirmation that the photos are real. But likely an effective tactic if true. It's been three days since US government sources first characterized the convoy as "stalled". ==== This could be simple self-preservation. The Ukrainians claimed to have killed the commanders of three of the four sections the Russian army has as their command structure for the invasion. ==== Japan plans to supply Ukraine with defense equipment, such as bulletproof vests, gloves, tents and helmets (all things listed on Ukraine's wish list supplied to the EU). Japan has long banned exports of all defense equipment. This is in addition to the recent $100 million in humanitarian assistance and $100 million in loans for military use. https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14563974

I assume any airplane he flies in becomes a Bat-plane!

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill to extend free college tuition to most New Mexico residents. Two and four year degrees or career training certificates. https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2022/03/04/new-mexico-free-college-tuition-bill-signed-michelle-lujan-grisham-wnmu/9376293002/

Zelensky held a Zoom call with US Senators yesterday. Afterward, a Democrat Senator came onto MSNBC saying that NATO countries are holding out on their supply of Soviet era MiG-29's. And particularly mentioned Poland not handing them over. (Four of the senators eventually going on the record calling out Poland.) https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/05/white-house-deal-fighter-jets-ukraine-00014424 That didn't sound right to me so I started digging. The numbers that have been given over according to the EU were 16 MiG-29s from Bulgaria and 14 Su-25s (it's a close air support craft aka as Frogfoot) 12 MiG-29s from Slovakia 28 MiG-29 from Poland Now before the EU decided to do that, Janes Defense (the best source available to civilians) said, "the Polish Air Force fields 21 single-seat and six twin-seat MiG-29s; the Bulgarian Air Force fields 11 single-seat and three twin-seat MiG-29s; while the Slovak Air Force fields nine single-seat and two twin-seat MiG-29 aircraft (although only a small number is thought to still be in an airworthy condition). The Bulgarian Air Force also fields six single-seat and two twin-seat Su-25s." https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-conflict-eu-to-supply-kyiv-with-fighter-aircraft So either 1) Janes is completely wrong, which is highly unlikely 2) the sources quoting the EU are wrong and not all those aircraft have been given over yet (though still promised). 3) or those NATO countries scrapped the bottom of the barrel to give over that number of aircraft...because the number listed by the EU is more than the number which their air forces still had in active service. I supposed some of those Mig-29's are trainers which are typically unarmed and they're having to be fitted with weapons and attachment points for rockets before giving them over to the Ukrainians. Or had been stripped for parts and are having to be restored before being put back into flying condition before they can be flown to Ukraine. But there's not more MiG-29's in NATO countries which haven't been given (or at least promised). Now what does exist of old Soviet era aircraft or other aircraft which Ukraine uses that's still within NATO countries? ==== Poland hasn't given over any of their air force's 18 Sukhoi-22 fighter bombers. There's an additional 14 of those in Poland which have been given over to technical schools, put on display in museums, or stripped for parts since they were taken out of service around 2015. Plus another couple of Sukhoi-20's were given to museums. Now the Ukrainian air force hasn't flown the Sukhoi-22 (or -20) specifically but it does fly the -25, -25, and -27, which is likely close enough in an emergency. Poland also has 11 Mil-Mi8 transport helicopters purchased from Russia around 2010. Poland has contracted to buy 24 of those Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey. The first four were to be delivered this year. No idea whether they've been delivered yet but those could be easily diverted to Ukraine. Probably better used blowing up Russian armor now than being held to blow up Russian armor in the future. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/poland-signs-bayraktar-tb2-contract-with-turkey ==== Bulgaria has 6 Soviet era Mil-Mi24 attack helicopters and 5 Mil-Mi17 transport helicopters. Not exactly what Ukraine flies but the same manufacturer from the same era. ==== Slovakia has 13 Mil-Mi17 transport helicopters. It previously flew a lot of Soviet aircraft but no idea what happened to the rest of it over the decades. ==== The Czech Republic has 19 Mil-Mi8 helicopters which is exactly what Ukraine flies. No idea whether the Czech copters rigged for transport only or for being a gunship. 15 Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters ==== Hungary has a close relationship with Putin but has 15 Mil-Mi24 attack helicopters 5 Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters ==== Romania has 23-28 MiG-21 fighters. That's a few generations earlier than what Ukraine flies and was first produced in the mid-1950's. ==== Croatia has 12 MiG-21 fighters. That's a few generations earlier than what Ukraine flies and was first produced in the mid-1950's. 25 Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters, at least some of which are rigged for search and rescue. ==== Montenegro had 4 Mil Mi-8 transport helicopters which were retired in 2012. Not sure what happened to them. ==== North Macedonia has 12 Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters 4 Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters And that's their entire "air force" despite being a NATO member. ==== That's a depressingly thin list.

No, Mjolnir is fine. I guess if nothing else, Batman could fly it over someone's head in his Bat-airplane then use the Bat-Laser on his utility belt to cut a ring around Mjolnir through the bottom of the plane so it'd drop on the villain's head.