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2024 US Presidential Election
greyfader
Well-known member
i haven't taken anything "excitedly" out of context. it was a direct quote. whether he meant it literally or figuratively, economically or physically with warfare, is not the issue. either way it was a bad choice of words and had a chilling effect on the collective west. his words caused a response. that is inescapable.
i saw him make the statement on tv as a child. it was very threatening no matter how you interpret it.
greyfader
Well-known member
"The economic gerrymandering I was referring to was a lot more recent than the Cold War and involved back-room agreements between the US and Saudis, et al, to create an oil glut, knowing that Russia's primary economy, like Alaska's, at that time, was oil.The economic gerrymandering I was referring to was a lot more recent than the Cold War and involved back-room agreements between the US and Saudis, et al, to create an oil glut, knowing that Russia's primary economy, like Alaska's, at that time, was oil.
I didn't perceive Russia at that point as 'being out to destroy us.'
I believe that seaports, oil and natural gas in various locations were a part of the sought after prize, and 'we' were willing to passively break places like Alaska (as collateral damage) with that glut, in order to deliver economic carnage to Russia.
We're talking, off the top of my head, 10 to 20+ years ago. Long after the Cold War. During which time the CIA, et al was also still in Ukraine making moves there with our preferred puppet government and helping them to bomb their own people who resisted the changes.
Ukraine offers seaports, as well as the charted route is nearby for the oil line that was going to come out of Russia to the west.
dealing with who started what is a basis for a legal addressing of problems, as it defines one party as a defender and one as an offender, in simpler narratives, which in any court is an important distinction, just as it is in Gaza at the moment. A distinction that some/many choose to overlook... for whatever purposes, and not all of it intellectually honest.
Never mind, for example, that on Gaza's side of the shore, there's an estimated 1 to 3 trillion cubic ft. of natural gas that the Zionists are already making plans for how to develop and spend the stolen proceeds.
Who started what and for which purposes will always be significant legal questions, whether in domestic courts of law, or international courts of law.
Perpetrators would love for that important distinction to go away, but it will not. I -hope- it never will. War is not typically a 'no-fault' industry, any more than plotting to steal another's resources is. And 'rights of conquest' has been illegal for a long time. It is, in fact, a basis for modern civilized international law. Otherwise, the superpowers would be free to steal any country's resources they like, and there'd be no consequences.
Admittedly, some of them (wink, wink, nod, nod) are already prone to turning a blind eye to mercenaries hired by corporations friendly to some governments, where taking property and rights and committing opportunistic mass murder is concerned. I believe some folks, hired guns, just got popped in Central America for that very offense.
Edit: Yes, we do a lot to get ready for winter. I have a super-insulated 6-star energy-rated home, but not fancy. Just VERY warm, and it only burns maybe 550 to 700 US gallons of #1 home heating oil in a 12-month period for both heat and domestic hot water, depending on the winter.
I intend to keep close to 1,000 US gallons on hand for my wife in the event of my impending demise, which allows her 1.5 years on average worth of fuel oil. And even then, my older son might not be willing or able to attend to transferring fuel when needed without planning ahead, so I like to keep it stocked up going into winter.
But trying lately to get snow tires put on (each fall) and summer tires (in the spring) all of which are on their own rims (2 sets of tires and rims each, minimum, per 4 vehicles), and making sure that we can minimize running 30-gallon poly-drums (they actually hold closer to 32.5 to 33 gallons) on freight sleds to the barn with snowmobiles in the winter (especially with my spine and energy levels being fucked lately), and harvesting the veggie gardens and potato field during any given Fall, let alone one where we got cheated out of a decent summer, so balancing allowing maximum time ion the ground, with trying not to waste the effort by getting hit by a serious frost, makes for a mad rush at the end of summer.
And October is the month that I crawl up an extension ladder on the top floor (three) bedrooms (13'6" ceilings up there) to put fresh backup batteries into the hard-wired smoke/CO detectors, as well as replacing the filters in the air handler in the basement, cleaning out the energy-efficient dryer vent in the basement (8 vertical feet of fire hazard inside the wall down there) that hasn't been done in ~2 years now, and thoroughly disassembling and CLEANING (thoroughly) the HRV and core, including 2 larger squirrel cage fans and motors in there, to keep the air-exchanges adequate should I find I have physical energy and motivation to plant another crop (something I've not done in 2 years+ now, though I still have literal pounds sealed in the freezer).
But this year, I might be going in for another spine surgery in about 5 weeks, so ALL of this shit has to be done before I become at least temporarily more disabled. And hopefully the snow stays away long enough for me to get back my core strength, post-op, (if the surgery happens) to be able to run the track-drive snowblower on a 230'-long driveway with massive parking and turn-around areas.
In short, I may be getting too fucking old and decrepit to own and maintain an energy-efficient home in the woods in the sub-arctic. And, unfortunately, I'm not sure that any of my three adult children deserve to have this place gifted to them, likely wouldn't appreciate (truly) what we accomplished and built here and would likely let it deteriorate.
So, we're elderly 'Klingons'. Clinging on to something that was a dream, is relatively cheap to operate for an arctic home, and comes with a custom-built, super insulated grow shop in the basement, which once saved this place for us when I was blacklisted informally, and would've lost it, had it not been for ganja and a business-minded attitude toward continuing to continue on...
Wanna' buy a WARM house on rural acreage?
I didn't perceive Russia at that point as 'being out to destroy us.'"
putin's speech in munich in 2007 basically re-introduced the cold war. although i agree that he did not say that he intended to "destroy us" he did make it clear that russia would rebuild it's military to competitive levels and resist the west's involvement in what he called "russia's sphere of influence". it is clear that he meant the former soviet republics which he had already lamented the loss of in his 2005 speech to the russian people. in which he stated;
"Above all, we should acknowledge that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a major geopolitical disaster of the century. As for the Russian nation, it became a genuine drama. Tens of millions of our co-citizens and compatriots found themselves outside Russian territory. Moreover, the epidemic of disintegration infected Russia itself."
taken from;
and then, on february 21, 2022, the eve of his disastrous invasion of ukraine he said;
"Even two years before the collapse of the USSR, its fate was actually predetermined. It is now that radicals and nationalists, including and primarily those in Ukraine, are taking credit for having gained independence. As we can see, this is absolutely wrong. The disintegration of our united country was brought about by the historic, strategic mistakes on the part of the Bolshevik leaders and the CPSU leadership, mistakes committed at different times in state-building and in economic and ethnic policies. The collapse of the historical Russia known as the USSR is on their conscience."
taken from;
Address by the President of the Russian Federation
en.kremlin.ru
i think putin's statements are an open announcement of his intentions to regain the size, power, and glory of the former USSR. he has continuously threatened military intervention in most of these former republics, most of whom have declared that they do not want to participate in putin's plan.
so, should the west allow him to just do as he pleases or should he be resisted? i think that is the essential question. whether it's economically or militarily or a combination of both he must be stopped.
"Wanna' buy a WARM house on rural acreage?" thank you, but i already have one!
i want you to know, moose, that i think you are a good man with a good heart and mind and i wish you the best as you struggle through your last years.
i just turned 74 and i am struggling every day with various health issues also. people who are younger and healthy don't understand what it's like to have to force yourself to fight through the pain to get things done. all day, every day.
Hanging out in the studio minding his own business like he has for the last 30 years.
In 2017, Simmons was publicly accused of sexual assault by multiple women; he denied the allegations. Following these allegations, Simmons stepped down from his various business roles and charities, including his position at Def Jam.
xtsho
Well-known member
Sep 22, 2024
Bill Whitaker investigates the root causes of the worst drug crisis in U.S. history, from prescription opioids peddled by some of the drug industry’s largest companies to the Mexican cartels' takeover of the illicit fentanyl market.
Fentanyl, which is often hidden in counterfeit pills, is fueling the worst drug crisis in U.S. history. Last year the synthetic opioid killed more than 70,000 Americans.
Bill Whitaker investigates the root causes of the worst drug crisis in U.S. history, from prescription opioids peddled by some of the drug industry’s largest companies to the Mexican cartels' takeover of the illicit fentanyl market.
Fentanyl, which is often hidden in counterfeit pills, is fueling the worst drug crisis in U.S. history. Last year the synthetic opioid killed more than 70,000 Americans.
a former drinking etc buddy of mine just had to put up his house etc to satisfy a property bond demand to get his son out of jail while awaiting trial. he sold someone a pill, they died, and now he's charged with 2nd degree murder...
Sounds like free/cheap clean opiates would have mitigated the problem rather than the total witch hunt on all opioids which occurred leaving the open market for fentanyl. True opiates like morphine and heroin are so much easier on the body than opioids make from synthetics (methadone, tramadol, fentanyl, etc. etc) Even easier yet opium or poppy heads. How many overdoses were there in the 1800s and early 1900s when opiates were legal?; how much disruption to the order of things?
I had fentanyl forced on me by a physician out to teach me that the morphine I had used for pain control for 20 years was a 'dirty drug' and would only prescribe me a 75 mg fentanyl patch meant to last 3 days. Just try it she said. The first day I was stoned and non-functional, the next 2 days - nothing but pain. I got a painful rash from the patch. I told her of the results; on the rash she said, 'I've heard that excuse before'; on the rest she said 'you'll get used to it'; some people should not be doctors. I fled back to my previous doc who was a 40 minute drive further but sane.
Even with cannabis there are many people really sourly effected by it; IMO especially by some of the strains greatly modified by breeding for high THC and reducing or eliminating the other cannabinoids which provide balance. The same may be said about synthetic opioids or Oxy which consists almost exclusively of thebaine, one of many alkaloids present in the poppy plant.
I studied neurology and pharmaceuticals in university and was even on the outskirts of the famed (infamous) Rat Park experiment. Over the years I developed a mild hypothesis that people who function well using cannabis have an endocannabinoid dominant endocrine system while those functioning well using opiates have a enkephalin (endorphin) dominant endocrine system. I believe myself in the latter because cannabis of any strength makes my joints hurt like fire.
Perhaps if people were left to use the 'natural' form of each plant with the government's hands off, we'd be in a better situation.
RobFromTX
Well-known member
Ive already lost two friends. Thing is they were heroin users and the pos dealers cut it with the stuff
Scary times we live in
right
Well-known member
Man I'm sorry. It seems like this has affected many of our lives these days
greyfader
Well-known member
so true! with free prescription opioids, you could have people coming into clinics to get their daily dose. therefore the dose can be controlled and the subject can be monitored and given counseling.
it would also destroy the black market for illegal opioids. i believe the costs to society would be far less expensive and damaging than fentanyl. the theft would diminish greatly. it would have a profound effect on reducing violent crime.
RobFromTX
Well-known member
We all make our choices
An addict's decision making skills are not good.. They end up taking too much chasing the high. Free Opioids will not stop an addict from using other forms like Fentynal/heroin to get the high they are after. A free dose will not get them to a nod state. When they started cutting with Fentynal, there is no way to get the dosage right every time.. Some will OD on accident and some dealers will OD people on purpose to drive more business..
Those who are using the medication properly are not receiving proper pain management due to Dr paranoia of losing their licenses. I talk with others who have Cancer. Getting Opioids over 60mg only happens when you're terminal. Most Cancer patients have serious pain before their terminal. People using it properly suffer as well.
Those who are using the medication properly are not receiving proper pain management due to Dr paranoia of losing their licenses. I talk with others who have Cancer. Getting Opioids over 60mg only happens when you're terminal. Most Cancer patients have serious pain before their terminal. People using it properly suffer as well.
moose eater
Well-known member
That wasn't the finding with the Liverpool Project in the early 1990s, nor with Portugal's version of decrim.
moose eater
Well-known member
Yep, and the strong-arm drug enforcement advised above was in place for years.... and led to more expensive drugs for a while, but plenty of them.
It's a lucrative market, and despite the heat from LEO, the prices are down in any place in SW US, and still, plenty of it. (*And it's NOT coming in on the backs of illegals in small backpacks, it is coming in on commercial transport, by road and by air, with tiny exceptions).
The drug war has ZERO history of successes as a LE project. ZERO. It DOES have successes in places as a medicalization project.
Some people at my family member's methadone clinic, clients, -years- ago, were extracting the Fentanyl from those patches, and shooting the dope with other additives in it that can't be separated in a random manner of cruder extraction, but which are on-board in the patches.
All the LE aspect of the War on (Some) Drugs has provided is more drugs, lower prices, dirtier drugs (in some specific cases), greater numbers of health crises, and an expanded drug market in general. Take a look at the stats and tell me that's not the case.
They're already hunting meth and Fentanyl dealers like a trophy hunter in Africa on an unlicensed safari.
And opiates have been in the 'north woods', including remote villages in Alaska with no roads, since during the Vietnam 'police action'... and ever since. I can tell you of villages I know of where opiates are a currency all their own and sought after.
Much of SE Asia provides for the death penalty for drug possession, let alone drug dealing. And guess what? Yep, they still have drugs there. In fact, I believe Bali is executing a person for pot shortly.
The strong-arm, John Wayne bullshit is a failed fantasy approach born of people with way too much testosterone and not enough thought applied to the issue.
Coke along the SW Border: cheaper and cleaner than it has been in forever, with the exception of pre-prohibition in the early 1900s..
Methamphetamine of clean (ice-like) sort: $200/oz.
Heroin: Cleaner and dirt cheap, especially the Black Afghani Tar heroin of more crude production and less pure than China White, but still heroin...
Anyone think they haven't been actively pursuing these groups? Think again., And they're still here, still slinging, etc.
Military mindsets reap military outcomes; clusterfucks, more often than not.
Edit: Oh, and track the increases in LE corruption, relative to the prohibited commodities being trafficked. It's a clear positive correlation. The War on (Some) Drugs breeds LE corruption.
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Brother Nature
Well-known member
I just finished watching a very interesting documentary on the first wave of the fentanyl crisis, many years before our current issue. Called the Godfather of Fentanyl, about the first chemist to commodify street production of fentanyl, George Marquardt. It's a very interesting watch and while produced in tandem with the DEA it exemplifies the futility of the war on drugs pretty aptly, even if not intentional.
The addicts I know would never settle for anything less than being on the nod. Real life is very different than the BS people want you to think. The OD data would tell us this is true. Adicts use Opites for the high nothing more. 34 years ago is a long time.
