Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[Dr. Strangelove]

[THE_WIZARD_]

I vote to tell you to STFU

[froot loops]

The one thing to remember when the rural people of Michigan rip on southeastern Michigan or Chicago, they won't mention that the economy of the rural areas are bolstered by the money of these areas.

[lineygoblue]

I vote to tell you to STFU

That vote never changes, does it?

[THE_WIZARD_]

Perpetual STFU

[Hannibal]

The one thing to remember when the rural people of Michigan rip on southeastern Michigan or Chicago, they won't mention that the economy of the rural areas are bolstered by the money of these areas.

I can believe that with Chicago but not Detroit. It's a third world shell of a city now and it's hard for me to imagine that the wealth that it generates offsets all that it sucks up and destroys.

[Jeff Buchanan]

There's some neat video floating around showing kamikaze unmanned motor boats attacking a Russian war ship in the Black. Some mystery about speculation that the ship (identified as an intelligence collection platform) being attacked is closer to Istanbul than it is Crimea/Sevastopol. Not sure why that is important except that it might indicate Ukrainian special forces operating from inside Turkey?? Two of the drones are hit by rounds fired from the ship. One motor boat drone strikes the stern (picture goes blank at impact). Russian MOD claims no damage and ship remains on patrol on station. Uhh no.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo4RdVzXGk8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE6UDrGyClE

In other reporting the Economist assembled a report that counted heat signatures from satellite data (normally tracks forest fires) as a way of identifying where the Ukrainians are shelling the Russians. The report states that Ukrainian shelling has increased 5 fold from April 30th and the increased numbers probably include the use of the long range missiles that the UK provided; some of the heat signatures are quite deep and removed from the front lines.

This pattern of shelling command and logistics facilities deep behind the FEBA preceded the summer offensive that took back territory in the Kharkiv Oblast and later the city of Kherson. The thinking is that the Ukrainians are testing Russian defensive lines for weaknesses in preparation for this offensive that has been speculated about for a month or more. Based on concentration of shelling three attack axis can be ID'ed: (1) Through Bakhmut toward Mlelipitol (splits the Russian positions in the Donbas and SE Ukraine in two, (2) Through Zaphorezia where the nuclear power plant is located (Isolates Crimea preventing the flow of supplies to the Donbas, (3) Through Kherson across the Dinipro (threatens Crimea).

[lineygoblue]

I can believe that with Chicago but not Detroit. It's a third world shell of a city now and it's hard for me to imagine that the wealth that it generates offsets all that it sucks up and destroys.

Detroit doesn't contribute to any wealth anywhere in Michigan. The casinos help a bit, but the real heroes who have bailed Detroit out are the millionaires who own the sports teams. The Pistons had a perfectly good venue out in Auburn Hills at the Palace, but yet chose to come back when Gores got the team. The Tigers at one time were considering a move out to near Ann Arbor. The Lions came back from the Silverdome, but that was only because William Clay Ford wanted to keep more of the revenue generated on game days. So, he built his own building in downtown, via a sweetheart real estate deal for the old Hudson's property. Mike Ilitch chose not to move the Tigers because he'd bought up the Fox Theatre, and decided to build Comerica Park nearby.

Bottom line is, Detroit is more of a parasite to Michigan than they are a benefit. The outlying suburban areas are helpful, but Detroit proper contributes no wealth at all.

[klondike]

...isn't there Wonder Bread..

[Dr. Strangelove]

Mastriano choosing to not run for Senate (PA) is a win for the Republicans. Casey will still be hard to beat but they'll at least have a chance now.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Is there a chance you will STFU?

[Mike]

Here’s the latest on DeSantis’ disaster of a campaign launch Wednesday night:

[iam416]

He's doomed. And worse than DJT. And worse than Mussolini. And almost as bad as Hitler.

[THE_WIZARD_]

He's worse. The NAACP and Hillary have warned everyone. The gas chambers are being built near Pensacola. Death to all AA's and LGBQTHIJKLMNOP's...

[Jeff Buchanan]

Captain Ron is going to receive no quarter from the press, inside FL especially but as well, now that he has gone national, the national MSM as well. Expect to read all kinds of reporting about him that will stretch the bounds of credulity.

Here in S FL, there is considerable LGBTQ presence. So, Ron is enemy #1 among that group - not that I think this cohort will have political leverage when it comes to the presidential election. The one thing LGBTQ organizers are focusing on is the constitutionality of two controversial bills passed into law that deal with what educators can teach in public schools regarding gender identity (Don't Say Gay Laws) and bills passed into law that prohibit minors from being admitted to public venues featuring drag shows (Protect Our Children Act).

The law surrounding these two bills is complex and I'm not at all qualified to comment on constitutionality issues that the LGBTQ community has loudly raised - that is to say if you ask a member of the LGBTQ community they will argue, in some cases violently, that the laws are unconstitutional, no question about that at all. Of course, that's inaccurate but that messaging is what's important. Whether they are legal or not hasn't yet been adjudicated but there are legal challenges in the works. The important message though being promulgated on social media and to certain extent by poorly researched print media coverage is that Ron Desantis, because he has personally advanced these bills that are now law in FL, is a thoroughly evil person with fascist, authoritarian tendencies and not to be considered as presidential material. How much of a burden getting past those characterizations is going to be is a question that will hang over his campaign.