james22

Ha. I may question some's politics, but no one's financial sense. It really is a unique place that won't likely become available again anytime soon.

Does it offset what the EU spends on Russian oil and gas?

Was Yanukovych nudged?

Since the US is unwilling to risk nuclear Armageddon to win the war, Ukraine has already lost. You may believe it terribly unjust, but that doesn't matter (and why we build militaries). They can either negotiate an end now or surrender unconditionally after some time and greater cost. That's the position he's in, whether he understands it or not.

The penthouse corner unit my building just became available. Not great timing, given my currently depressed portfolio, but thinking I probably need to move on it. It'll be ~33% of net assets (I expect it to be less than 20% by year's end, but can't know, of course). That seem unreasonable? If the market goes against me, I sell and risk losing not much more than the transaction costs. If I don't move on the place, I lose it forever - there's really nothing like it. Thoughts?

Yeah, our bad.

Good luck with that. Are you going to raise taxes or cut social programs? What influence has our defense bought us? Certainly not gratitude. Count on? For what?

If you're wearing a Canadian tuxedo, you might want to sit this one out.

You think it rude and condescending for your employer to expect you to dress for an interview? To expect guests to dress for your wedding? In any case, when you've the money, you set the rules. The onus is always on the supplicant.

OT: Of course they are costumes. Costumes signal, and suits signal very positive things. If you never wear a suit, you might experiment a little. You'll be shocked at how differently you are treated. I dress casually in retirement after a career in suits, but had to dress for a formal dinner a while ago and I was quickly reminded of that. And a well tailored suit is to women what lingerie is to men needs no explanation.

And choosing not to do what is expected (Trump's aides reportedly told Zelensky to wear a suit) makes it only expected to taken as an insult.

Demonstrating inappropriate or insulting behavior, in whatever form, intended or not, has consequences. Is this so hard to grasp?

I see quite a number of India Index ETFs? https://money.usnews.com/funds/etfs/rankings/india-equity https://www.justetf.com/en/how-to/invest-in-india.html https://www.justetf.com/en/how-to/invest-in-india.html https://etfdb.com/etfs/country/india/

That's fair (though blame TIME Magazine). I usually loath the psychoanalysis in these threads. But I'm sympathetic how three years of war would change you and so this take doesn't seem impossible (assuming credibly sourced). He’s psychologically committed. Zelensky’s belief in ultimate victory over Russia has “hardened into a form that worries some of his advisors,” according to a report by TIME Magazine, which described Zelensky’s faith as “immovable, verging on the messianic.” According to one of Zelensky’s aides, “He is delusional. We’re out of options. We’re not winning. But try telling him that.” Zelensky may be in too deep to see the situation objectively. But sources are unreliable as well (aides might not recognize genius), so weigh it how you will.

Curious the timing. Some evidence maybe they care about price as a reflection of their job approval (as has been suggested)? So waited for a price correction before announcing to give a bump.

Ha!

Still waiting for someone opposed to quote Chesterton.

The Melian Dialogue It tells the story of how Athens confronts the tiny island of Melos, a neutral ally of Sparta. Athens demands that the island surrender its neutrality. The leaders of Melos resist. Athens delivers an ultimatum: surrender or be destroyed. The Melians offer a number of arguments about why they should not be forced to capitulate. Athens is not being fair, the Melians have right on their side, et cetera. In perhaps the most famous bit of the episode, the Athenians explain that “the right, as the world goes, is only in question between equal power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” This was not, perhaps, a shining moment for the Athenians. But it does have the virtue of being a true description of the way the world actually works. https://thespectator.com/topic/volodymyr-zelensky-goes-town-oval-office/

skanjete mean "scan life"?

Zelensky has powerful motivations to reject a deal, no matter how bad the battlefield realities get. His incentive is to continue a doomed war even if it leads to the complete destruction of Ukraine. Instead of offering unconditional support, Zelensky’s supporters in the West should be urging him to seek a diplomatic off-ramp. Certainly they should stop catering to his unrealistic and maximalist demands. As Solzhenitsyn said, the yes-man is your enemy, but a friend will argue with you.

Nah. It was Russia that did not want Ukraine to become a new nuclear power. The West simply recognized that.

Thanks, John.

It's almost like there are consequences for the EU's failing to invest in their defense (and energy independence) for the last 35 years.

Matt Taibbi: I think basically the American people have been screwed and plundered to prop up the sort of imperial project around the world, and Europeans have been primary beneficiaries. We’ve talked about this before, Walter, about this dichotomy in politics between people who prioritize the needs of empire and those who prioritize the needs of the country. America became essentially a state that ignored almost completely its national concerns in favor of its imperial role. And in doing so, it ended up plundering its own population, not just in terms of the lives, because we sent a lot of young men and women to fight and die for causes that had nothing to do with their own, but also financially. https://www.racket.news/p/transcript-america-this-week-feb-d05