(Image by NEIVANMADE)
I have had a very busy, very draining couple of days. Nothing bad, but I’m worn out. So we’re just going to run through the basics so I can go eat and rack out.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
We are preparing the return of our warriors to actions for the liberation of our land – address by the President of Ukraine
28 February 2023 – 22:48
Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!
Today is the day when, in various formats, we worked for justice for Ukraine and Ukrainians in one way or another.
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan is on a visit to Ukraine. These are an institution and a person who undoubtedly play a historic role in bringing Russian criminals to justice.
Russia’s genocidal policy against our people will definitely have inevitable legal consequences for all those who conceived, approved and implement such a policy. And I want to emphasize: this isn’t only about the executors, but also about the top political and military leadership of the terrorist state. Today we discussed this with Karim Khan during a meeting in Kyiv.
Of course, this is not an easy job. But responding to Russian crimes in the face of this aggression exactly in terms of the rule of law and exactly with the power of an international court is what will serve as one of the guarantees of the long-term future security of both Ukrainians and other nations. We will ensure this.
We are approaching the opening of the Ukrainian office of the International Criminal Court. There is already effective cooperation in Ukraine between the International Criminal Court and the Office of the Prosecutor General. We pay special attention to such Russian crimes as the deportation of our people and the deportation of Ukrainian children. We will dismantle this entire Russian genocidal system, from the cogs to the architects, and bring them to legal verdicts.
Today, I held a regular meeting of the Staff. Again in an expanded format. The Main Intelligence Directorate, the Ministry of Defense, the Commander-in-Chief, and the commanders of directions delivered reports. We are dealing in detail with the situation on each of the frontline directions.
The most difficult situation is still Bakhmut and the battles that are important for the defense of the city.
I’ll give you just one example. Nowadays, the meetings of the Staff are held quite often – at least twice a week. The last meeting was on Thursday. And today, General Syrskyi reported that since the last meeting, about 800 enemies have been killed in his direction alone.
Russia does not count people at all, sending them to constantly storm our positions. The intensity of fighting is only increasing.
I thank all Ukrainian warriors who, despite this insane pressure from the occupier, are defending our positions and destroying the Russian army! I thank each and every one who supports our warriors!
Of course, we also considered other areas in Donbas, as well as the areas of responsibility of the Tavria and Odesa groups. General Moskalyov reported on the situation around Kherson and the region. This day there were more than 30 Russian shelling occasions in the Kherson region! They were shelling just streets, just people. My condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones. Today we have already lost four people. We will do everything to suppress the terrorists.
General Nayev reported on the situation in the north and along the border – our forces are in control of the situation.
As always, we reviewed in detail the logistics for the frontline and the coverage of deficits.
We are preparing for the return of our warriors to actions for the liberation of our land. We keep in mind this just goal of ours, and every day we are getting closer to its fulfillment. Ukraine will be free. All of Ukraine.
Today I met with the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This is one of the most powerful global organizations that brings together the world’s leading countries. Those countries where people really want to live.
Our goal is for Ukraine to fully join the organization and to use the OECD experience to modernize our country. Tomorrow we are opening the OECD Office in Kyiv.
Today we talked, in particular, about a fair tax system for Ukrainians – transparent, simple, and one that will strike a balance between stimulating business and economic growth and ensuring social justice.
I also offered the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to join the work on directing Russia’s assets to compensate for the damage caused by Russian aggression.
If someone thinks that this is an unrealistic task, today, on February 28, we have very concrete evidence that there are no unrealistic tasks for Ukraine.
A year ago, on the fifth day of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine applied to join the European Union. This was the first step in obtaining the candidacy. We have done a tremendous and tremendously fast job and have secured candidate status for Ukraine. This year, we should reach a decision on membership negotiations for Ukraine.
Another example. Today, there was no shortage in our energy system. There were no power outages across the country. Thousands of people have been working every day to achieve this result. They restored what could be restored after the Russian strikes. They protected the energy system. They helped cities, communities, and people.
Of course, the threat still remains. Of course, we will fight and defend ourselves. We will definitely endure, no matter what the enemy does.
I thank each and every one who contributed to this task!
One more thing.
Today is the Day of Air Navigation Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is the day of those specialists of our defense forces on whom the effectiveness of Ukrainian combat aviation directly depends. Thousands of successful sorties and successful air strikes on enemy positions are their merit, the merit of our navigators.
I congratulate you, warriors, on your holiday, and wish you complete dominance of the Ukrainian Air Force in the Ukrainian sky! Absolutely fair dominance.
Glory to each and every one who is now fighting for Ukraine!
Thank you to everyone who helps!
Glory to Ukraine!
I meant to post this yesterday and got side tracked:
President @ZelenskyyUa was asked at the press-conference on Friday how has the war changed his relationship with his family.
His answer is very touching. pic.twitter.com/xqz7Uv899a
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 26, 2023
Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessment of the situations in Kreminna, Vuhledar, and Bakhmut:
KREMINNA /1940 UTC 28 FEB/ Despite RU operations S and W of Kreminna, UKR forces have maintained contact within the Kreminna urban area along the C-130514 HWY. In the last 24 hrs, RU units were reported in contact at Dibrova, SW of Kuzmyne and in the Serebryansk Forestry Area. pic.twitter.com/5wUzVBCDet
— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) February 28, 2023
VUHLEDAR /2220 UTC 28 FEB/ RU is reported to have deployed reinforcements from Melitopol to bolster the battered 155th Naval Infantry Brigade. An attempt to flank Vuhledar is considered likely, possibly by an RU offensive based out of Mykilske and Volodymvrivka. pic.twitter.com/wtUH8yToZM
— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) February 28, 2023
BAKHMUT /1450 UTC 28 FEB/ RU forces are in contact in the urban areas of Bakhmut. UKR is holding along the N-S rail right-of-way between Yahidne & Khromove. RU forces are increasing their operational tempo with the objective of taking urban space & severing Ukrainian LOCS. pic.twitter.com/s39fhncTe9
— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) February 28, 2023
Bakhmut:
Update from Bakhmut pic.twitter.com/sJ0eDjFyVO
— Максим (@kms_d4k) February 28, 2023
For haters it's incredible, but even in Bakhmut we have napkins #bakhmut #BakhmutHolds pic.twitter.com/gbaTPfYLXR
— Roman Trokhymets (@RomanTrokhymets) February 27, 2023
Kadiivka:
Russian ammunition detonation reported in Kadiivka ~45km from the front line #ASMR pic.twitter.com/VlfvV727U3
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) February 28, 2023
Kherson:
KHERSON REGION: A Ukrainian long range precision strike hit a major Russian ammunition depot in occupied Kherson today. The explosion, numerous secondary blasts, and the resulting pillar of smoke could be seen for miles. pic.twitter.com/MKACINTi4E
— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) February 28, 2023
Mariupol:
Russia created from prosperous Mariupol – GHOST TOWN…
This is center of historical part of city down the Drama theater. #RussiaisATerroistState pic.twitter.com/XOkOWUfnZV— Maksym Borodin (@adnashmyash) February 28, 2023
I hope he likes kachipuri!
A Japanese joining a Georgian formation combating Russia in Ukraine.
Talk about geography!— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) February 28, 2023
Recruitment to our Japanese unit is open.
DM @the_reshet to enroll
Hirohito drip intensifies. pic.twitter.com/Ff2YluLvcw
— Georgian Legion (@georgian_legion) February 28, 2023
BREAKING: Kuril islands' referendum votes a staggering 99% to become an autonomous republic of Georgia.
As a gesture of goodwill, we are giving the islands back to Japan
🇯🇵 🤝 🇬🇪 https://t.co/EbXga8EflZ
— Georgian Legion (@georgian_legion) February 28, 2023
Just so everyone is aware, that’s Yakuza ink.
Tuapse, Krosnador, Russia:
At the Russian Black Sea coast in Tuaps, Krasnodar Region, the oil refinery of Rosneft has been hit.
Source: https://t.co/A789atWnhw#Russia #Tuaps #Krasnodar pic.twitter.com/DrlKTmDZzP
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) February 28, 2023
Well, whatever hit Tuapse was a bit bigger and faster than a Mavic drone. And it had a jet propulsion engine.#Tuapse #Russia #Krasnodarpic.twitter.com/3zrEXAPKMh
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) February 28, 2023
The consequences of the explosion at the oil depot in #Tuapse. pic.twitter.com/mEIA83Z3gx
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 28, 2023
Krasnodar:
Russian media report explosion sounds and fire at Russian military airfield in Yeysk, Krasnodar region.
Aircraft carrying rockets to strike Ukraine is located at that airfield.
Active day in Russia. pic.twitter.com/6Bw8BqsuH3
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 28, 2023
Courtesy of erstwhile commenter and current lurker Yarrow, here’s a thread on Ukrainian rye bread:
The Ukraine we think of today sits in a lucky climactic and geographic region, where domesticated grain grows really really well. It’s commonly referred to as “the bread basket of Europe,” and as such, historically every asshole in the region, has looked to take it for their own. pic.twitter.com/awlf2jRqtH
— Seamus Blackley (@SeamusBlackley) March 13, 2022
Given this history, Ukrainians and their neighbors are not in any way surprised that in times of strife every able bodied citizen turns out to be inherently ready and able to kill invaders. Many believe the fuel for that power is somehow in that beautiful Ukrainian grain itself… pic.twitter.com/f3AulDTWJu
— Seamus Blackley (@SeamusBlackley) March 13, 2022
Now look. Rye has no gluten. It’s a fantastic but ornery grain. The loaf we will make today will not be an Instagram fluffy humblebrag. It will be an accurate ancient peasant bread. But it will be fantastically delicious and it will transport you back in time. OK? Let’s go: pic.twitter.com/wfYpuSsz6O
— Seamus Blackley (@SeamusBlackley) March 13, 2022
You will also need Rye flour, and I’d get at least 1kg. I’m milling my own, as I want to have 100% of the stuff in it that’s usually extracted. Try to get whole grain; peasants aren’t fancy, and you want the nutrition.
(I’m a geek ancient baking nerd, in case that’s not clear.) pic.twitter.com/oLjRUAqEut
— Seamus Blackley (@SeamusBlackley) March 13, 2022
There’s too many tweets with too many video embeds for me to include them all and not crash the site, so click across and enjoy some refined carbs for me (they are verboten on my eating plan…).
That’s enough for today.
Your daily Patron!
The new episode of my animated series « Patron The Dog »! I appreciate you watching, liking, and commenting. This is how I feel your support. Maybe you will like this episode too? If you don't see it, you won't know it☺️😄 Please, go to https://t.co/1Dn7IcQT7U pic.twitter.com/wD3hpEELYR
— Patron (@PatronDsns) February 28, 2023
The new video at Patron’s official TikTok is a teaser for the new video:
@patron__dsns Друуузі! 3 серія мультсеріалу вже на моєму YouTube каналі! Лінк, як завжди, у шапці профілю👅🤗
The caption machine translates as:
Druuuzi! Episode 3 of the animated series is already on my YouTube channel! The link, as always, is in the profile header 👅🤗
And here’s the video:
Open thread!
HypersphericalCow
I don’t have personal experience, but television has taught me that stealing a loaf of marbled rye bread doesn’t end well.
Alison Rose
Oh man. I’d only seen one bit of Zelenskyy’s answer about his family before. I got a little teary watching the full video. Just another exhibit of what a good man he is, and proof that one can be strong while also allowing yourself to be open and vulnerable.
Also too:
Fuck yeah.
And more fuck yeah:
(Make sure your sound isn’t cranked up when you start the video!)
Thank you as always, Adam.
The Moar You Know
Couldn’t be anything else. Amazing work, just try not to think too hard about how the guy earned his right to wear it.
Sister Golden Bear
OT: Adam, I recall you once did a thread on armed home defense. Hoping you might remember where to find it.
While having a weapon in the house, is not something I want,* it’s something I’m being forced to consider given how bad the anti-trans bigotry is getting. (See the prior thread for examples of how openly the right is now using eliminationist rhetoric.) I should note that I fly the Progressive Pride flag at my house, and I’ll be damned if I’ll take it down, even if it makes me a target, because the Christofascists want us to be erased.
*My reservations, aside from having a gun in the house and the documented issues with that, is the time and expense of regular practice in order to have the proper skills. To the question that you posed in that post, yes, if bigots attack my home, I’m prepared to use lethal force if necessary.
YY_Sima Qian
More interesting would be the story of how the (former?) Yakuza member obtained leave from his organization to fight in Ukraine…
Joe Falco
@Alison Rose: If only there was a way to blast this noise into the homes of every Russian government official, especially Putin’s, every night. No more peaceful nights as long as there is no peace in Ukraine.
Sister Golden Bear
@YY_Sima Qian: You read my mind. Or whether the Yakuza are tacitly backing him.
Jay
As in the West, tattoo’s have become popular amongst the youth in Japan, was always popular with certain professions, (firemen for example) or those “cosplaying” Edo era samurai. A full suit, if traditionally done, is very expensive, takes 5 years and involves a lot of pain. Even if done with modern techniques, it is still expensive, involves a lot of pain, but might only take a year of repeat visits.
Yakuza tattoo’s have fallen out of “fashion”, as they started as a public means of permanently “marking” convicted criminals, became a form of resume convicted or not, then led to social and police targetting.
Another Scott
@Sister Golden Bear: I’m sorry you are feeling such pain right now. :-(
If you do truly decide you must have a gun at home, remember what Biden said in 2013 – “buy a shotgun”.
Hang in there.
Cheers,
Scott.
Alison Rose
MUSIC!
I am fizzing with excitement about the new Depeche Mode album coming out in a month. The first single, Ghosts Again, is terrific. (The graveyard scenes in the video are bittersweet, after the death of Andy Fletcher last year.) God damn, do I ever wish I was not homebound and could go see them when they’re on tour. I saw them once many years ago and it was fan-fucking-tastic. My fave band.
A few more current faves:
Florence + the Machine’s cover of Addicted to Love is delicious.
Chills by Ladyhawke is a freaking bop
If you’re amenable to Kpop, Cherry from ITZY is a fun one
Gin & Tonic
@Jay: Interesting to note, though, that he also has the Ukrainian trident tattooed on the back of his neck.
J R in WV
Shotgun is indeed among the best for home defense. I am fortunate to have been taught about firearms from a young age by my grandmother, who learned as a youth in a riverboat town in Kentucky how to shoot and how to be safe.
She was a storekeeper from 1932-1955 in rural WV, and had aprons with two pockets, one for the receipts (money) and one for her pistol, which my cousin still has, a 1902 Colt .32 automatic hammerless pistol. It still shoots, not that accurate at its age, but to shoot at all is a wonder. I assume she learned from her father and older brothers. My cousins and I learned in her backyard.
Best of luck, I’m glad you are in a liberal enclave of the west coast. Take care!!
Jay
@Gin & Tonic:
lot’s of people become “tattoo addicts”. They start with one, then keep adding on. SWMBO has none, I have one large on on my back, SWIMBO’s sister started with a rose to mark the birth of her daughter, now has almost 2 dozen.
The trident would be a fairly recent add, is in one of the most painful places to get tattoo’d, and is outside the “suit”, ( so called because all the tattoo’s are in places covered by a full suit and tie).
Alison Rose
@Alison Rose: Oh good fucking Lord. I commented on the wrong thread. I’m sorry!! I’ll copy it over, but Adam or someone, can you please delete comment #10 or at least replace it with “Alison is a dumbass” or something? Ugh.
Argiope
Wild yeasted rye reminds me of Alain. I still have some his starter that I got from Auntie Beak in the mail in early 2020; it’s going strong in the fridge and I bake with it regularly. Thanks, Adam, for compiling such a cornucopia of information, and for keeping up this nightly community vigil/support group/learning circle as we head into year 2. May Ukraine see victory this year.
Jay
for anybody who saw https://twitter.com/Tatarigami_UA's thread yesterday on the Russian Army dropping BTG’s and moving to “Assault Groups”,
a follow up building on that thread,
https://twitter.com/WarintheFuture/status/1630089568195313669
MagdaInBlack
@Alison Rose: ( if it makes you feel a bit better, i really like the florence + the machine cover)
Adam L Silverman
@Sister Golden Bear: Let me see if I can find it. Without really intending to, I seem to have written a lot of posts here.
Adam L Silverman
@Alison Rose: Nope. Once you buy a prize, it’s your’s to keep.
Another Scott
@Jay:
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by seeing that, but I was.
ICRC.org (from 2018):
There are pages of Google links telling us that flamethrowers are legal in the USA!!!1ONE So I guess everyone should have one. I don’t think Melon’s version took over the market.
I assume any minute now Fox News will be screaming about the impending Flamethrower Gap!!1
[ sigh ]
Thanks.
Cheers,
Scott.
Alison Rose
@Adam L Silverman: My cross to bear.
NutmegAgain
@YY_Sima Qian:
@Sister Golden Bear:
I was wonder also–well, after I learned it was Yakuza. I also wondered if fighting in Ukraine might appeal to some Japanese folk because their own army basically doesn’t engage in stuff like trench warfare, live or die. More like UN peacekeeping missions etc. (Ditto for the most part for the Germans. The one I knew, friend of kiddo, had been educated at one of the Bundeswehr universities–basically polytechnics. They turned out a lot of engineers and physicists and etc.) Any of youze military folk please correct what I have (probably) misstated… thank you! Also, not for nothing, I might have to go buy some rye bread. Heh. I live near a lot of really fantastic Polish & Ukrainian food emporiums. Yum nom nom.
Sister Golden Bear
@Adam L Silverman: Thank you.
And thank you again for all your other posts as well. Both your Ukraine posts and your Russia infiltration posts have been incredibly informative.
HumboldtBlue
@Jay:
I completely missed the boat on tattoos. I’ve never understood the allure, and I don’t find much worth in the art. But tattoos have been a part of human society for as long as we have been around, so there’s that.
On topic: International Legion Stealing Russian BMP
Chetan Murthy
If there are any bakers in this comment thread: reading the tweet-thread, I wondered to myself: could adding gluten (Anthony’s Premium Wheat Gluten) make the rye loaf be more … fluffy? I’ve made sourdough bread with varying proportions of rye, and it always gets flatter and flatter, the more rye you add. So just wondering if adding straight gluten might help ….
Bill Arnold
@Sister Golden Bear:
Might be this: https://balloon-juice.com/2016/12/02/thinking-security/
Bill Arnold
[duplicate removed]
Anoniminous
Interesting thread from the Institute for the Study of War.
They predict Putin will run out of combat ready forces by May of this year.
oldster
@Sister Golden Bear:
If I’m following this thread correctly, then the consensus recommendation for home defense is:
buy a flamethrower.
Maybe also a fire extinguisher, so you can put out the fires in your house after you torch the guy?
Sister Golden Bear
@Another Scott: @J R in WV: Yeah, shotgun is my preferred choice. Among other things, less precision aiming is needed, and the sound of a shotgun racking creates an almost primordial fear reaction.
I remember Cole had looked at the Mossberg Nightstick, which is a gooseneck short-barreled shotgun. Better maneuverability in-doors and other tight spaces, like my 3-foot wide side yards. Since any confrontation would be at the tens of feet, I’m leaning towards a 20-gauge. From reviews it sounds like it still has sufficient stopping power at that distance, and it’s less likely to cause unintentional damage (houses in my neighborhood are cheek by jowl).
Jay
@Chetan Murthy:
he’s recreating a medieval rye bread, not really what we think of in modern terms of bread. More like a grain puck. There are no shortage of modern rye breads, ranging from Winnipeg Rye (light) to Pumpernickle, (not really a bread).
Sister Golden Bear
FWIW, I already have a pretty robust security system, plus solar-powered security lights that only come on when there’s movement, so there’s plenty of charge even in shadier areas. Also have other hard-wired and solar-powered yard lighting, but those aren’t on all night. (Both were helpful during the recent power outage, I was the only house on my street that had yard lighting.)
And yes, I’m in a deep blue part of CA, but we’ve haters come out for Pride and attack people leaving it, as well as Trumpists coming over here and holding caravans back in the day, as well as more than a few Trump/Blue Line flags in my neighborhood pre-Biden. So that probability of problems are low, but definitely not zero. Especially with the Christofascists stoking stochastic terrorism against trans people. Only takes one LibOfTikTok post to bring the Proud Boys and other nazi out.
oldster
About Ukraine:
I love the sound of ruzzian ammo dumps cooking off. After seeing Prigozhin whine about not having enough artillery shells, I hope he is in tears over having tens of thousands of rounds go pop-pop there in the depot. Every round burned up I’m that fire is a round that won’t kill a Ukrainian or knock down a Ukrainian house.
I’m also pretty pleased with ruzzian oil refineries catching on fire. Ukraine is proving its drone game!
Sister Golden Bear
@Bill Arnold: Thanks! I believe that’s the thread I was thinking of.
Anoniminous
@Another Scott:
There’s very few tactical uses for a flamethrower. Most of the time manpads are more dangerous to the user and the people around him than the enemy and vehicle mounted ones are a nice big fat juicy target for ATGM. The US replaced it’s WW 2 era M1 and M2 inventory with the M202 FLASH firing rockets. My guess is they are still in inventory because nobody has summoned the energy to throw the damn things away. There are other, modern, weapon systems, e.g., Carl Gustav, that can fulfill the mission.
Jay
@NutmegAgain:
technically, not Yakuza. Yakuza tattoo’s are mostly forearm sleeve’s, with coded symbolism as to form a resume of your crimes, gang affiliations and rank. Sometimes they are hand tattoo’s for public display and intimidation, but that’s for a lifetime soldier, not a boss.
That’s a full “suit”, rarely, but sometimes, used to conceal Yakuza tattoo’s, at great expense. One would have to comb through all the entwined tattoo patterns in great detail to find any Yakuza tats.
Most people with a full suit and those patterns are copying Edo era Samurai illustrations from the 17th century.
Chetan Murthy
@Sister Golden Bear: I completely understand your feeling. I live over the hill from The Castro in SF, and I’ve mentioned a few times to people I’ve run across (usually people in bakeries/etc) that I feel really safe here. And several times, people have told me about violence targeted at LGBTQ folks … *in the Castro*. My mind boggles. It seems that bigots will actually *travel* to the Castro to find people to attack. Insane, but then, they’re bigots, so what can we expect ?
You’re right to take personal security seriously. Back when TFG’s reinstallation seemed likely, I often thought about finding the right sort of gun club, or finding an antifa branch, to get some training. B/c like most folks, I’m a civilized, peaceful person, who hasn’t thrown a fist in anger since …. 7th grade. It would take serious training to be of any use.
It’s wrong that in California, in the Bay Area, you have to think about these things.
Jay
@HumboldtBlue:
pain is part, rite of passage is still part, “marking” oneself is part, everybody who has a tattoo, has it for their own reason.
Anoniminous
@Anoniminous:
Oops, wrong year.
Jay
@Chetan Murthy:
99.9% of the “gay bashing” incidents in Vancouver, going back to the 1970’s, involved dickwads from “the Valley”, “commuting” all the way in, (up to 100km), to commit their crimes.
The odds of identifying a gay person just from the visuals in Chilliwack, is “hard”, much easier in neighborhoods in Vancouver where people can be out and proud, and sadly, have gathered for safety and acceptance.
Dagaetch
@Chetan Murthy: The problem, as I understand it (and I am no expert), is that the rye germ in the flour is very sharp and strong, and basically slices through the bonds that the gluten is trying to form. So a higher proportion rye bread will never rise quite as well.
Jay
@Sister Golden Bear:
12 gauge, no choke, buckshot or flechette. Full stock or folding stock. Medium barrel, (greater range if needed).
To be safe, it needs to be unloaded, under lock and key. Not really useful for a lone psycho, okay for a mob slowly gathering on the front lawn, but so are molotov cocktails.
for home defence against intruders I prefer a Bokken, (hardwood Martial arts samurai training sword), better than a baseball bat, easy to learn to use, (along with other skills). I prefer Aikido, as it is gentle.
Adam L Silverman
@Bill Arnold: That’s one of them, there’s another one I did on the topic as well, but this link should do till I find the other one.
Timill
@Sister Golden Bear: Something from this article might be a decent choice: https://gundigest.com/gun-reviews/shotguns/5-best-bullpup-shotgun-options-for-compact-defense
A pump action bullpup is what I’m considering. Once I’ve bought a new car, new roof, …
Adam L Silverman
@Sister Golden Bear: Cole looked at it because it was one of the ones I recommended when he asked me. Let me find the other post I’m thinking of in addition to the one Bill Arnold found. And send me an email.
NutmegAgain
@Jay: Good to know– I was picking up on earlier comments that it was Yakuza. Knowing from nothing regarding Japanese gang tattoos, well… I was still very impressed with his ink.
Jay
@Anoniminous:
the “flamethrowers” being referenced, arn’t WWI-WWII flamethrowers. They are air-fuel warheads on RPG/Carl Gustav type weapons, ( or in the worst case, anti-mineclearing weapons Grad fired).
“Bunker busters” at the squad level. Eg. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPG-27#RMG
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: I do/teach aiki(do) sword and staff. The katas that Saotome Sensei teaches as part of his aikido instruction.
YY_Sima Qian
@Anoniminous: I believe the “flamethrowers” in Russian documents refer to the disposal RPO-M Shmel rocket assisted flamethrower, & not the old fashioned kind. The latter may still be useful in certain situations such as mountainous (cave systems) or urban terrain, or trench warfare, but very hazardous to the operator. The Chinese PLA still employs them in some units, while also inducting domestic versions of the Shmel.
Jay
@NutmegAgain:
yup, sweet ink. That’s a year under the needle if modern, and $30k, 5 years if traditional, and $50k.
When I got my tat, I spent about a month researching artists, and found “Sailor” in Milwaukee. It occupies 1/4 of my back, upper right, the first sutra of the Diamond sutra in hard black, a pencil sketch of lotus flowers in a pond, in grey.
It was to mark a place and time in my life and a major life change that I had not just survived, but wound up finding more of myself, through.
Jay
@Adam L Silverman:
I knew you studied, I didn’t know you taught as well. Wow.
Jay
Double post glitch is back,…….
NutmegAgain
@Jay: I think lots of us get a first tattoo, or major work to recognize turning points. I have one of the cat Mehitabel from Archy & Mehitabel. I got her after my divorce, because in the song of Mehitabel she sings,
“wotthehell wotthehell; there s a dance in the old dame yet” Link
The whole book is fab, social commentary in the ’20s-30s from a typing cockroach and his alley cat pal.
Manyakitty
@Argiope: I have some of Alain’s starter left as well. His memory is truly a blessing and an inspiration.
Sister Golden Bear
@Adam L Silverman: Check your email. Thanks.
Sister Golden Bear
@Jay:
I have several friends who’ve been steadily adding tats over the years, including some full arm and/or full back tats. It’s beautiful, but not for me. Though I’d love to get some large-scale temporary body art.
Ksmiami
@Chetan Murthy: boil a Yukon gold potato and mash it w water l, add it to your dough and it fluffs up dough like a breeze, or even leftover mash works
Jay
@Sister Golden Bear:
lot’s of peel and stick temp body art out there. Less painful than waxing, lasts about as long.
there are fake sleeves as well, basically a slip on nylon stocking.
Pretty much “movie” make up for when you are a biker in TV series 1 and a gym trainer in movie series 2 next week.
Chetan Murthy
@Ksmiami: oh, interesting. I’ve never heard of that. I’ll try it! Thank you!
Kent
From what little I know of WW2 tactics, I understand they were mostly used to burn out Japanese who were hiding in bunkers. Like this footage of flamethrowers being used on Iwo Jima: https://youtu.be/tdPE4vgy4cU
Kent
More footage of flamethrowers on Iwo Jima: https://youtu.be/wkj9h76Rb_Q
Jay
@Kent:
WWI and WWII tactics. In the European theatre, it was more a terror weapon, than actually killing people. The Canadians found that having a WASP show up and do a spray, caused even the SS to abandon fortified positions and surrender.
Modern thermobaric’s “flash”, burn up all the O2 in a space, in a mere second, even in the occupants lungs, then add in the blast effect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermobaric_weapon
Mallard Filmore
@Another Scott:
@Sister Golden Bear:
You do not have to aim to kill. If the situation allows, aim at his junk.
patrick II
@Kent: My father was on Iwo Jima and knew a guy who carried two flame-throwers, shooting one from each hand. The Japanese were hidden in caves and the flame-throwers were very effective. The idea worked fine until a Japanese sniper hit one of his tanks and he disappeared in an instant.
Chetan Murthy
Crrrikey. I was not expecting this. Bravo, Serbia!
Carlo Graziani
@Sister Golden Bear: For a slightly contrarian view: Perhaps consider a few cans of pepper spray, in handy-yet-inconspicuous kid-inaccessible niches around the house.
The advantages would be (a) nonlethal; (b) less likely to be stolen is a burglary; (c) probably far more surprising to an intruder, giving more time to you and less to him if use is required; (d) no need for loading in an emergency (I feel that having to do anything complicated that one doesn’t train for constantly in an emergency is a recipe for disaster); (e) really effective (in Alaska, joggers use them to deter grizzlies, which are very hard to stop with firearms).
It might be a good idea to test-fire one in an open-air area, wearing safety glasses and full skin protection, to get an idea of action and range, and maybe refresh-train every few months. And, of course, storage inaccessible to children.
oldster
@Adam L Silverman:
Saotome Sensei? Mitsugi Saotome?
Now that’s a name that I have not heard in a long time.
I trained at his dojo in DC back in 1978 or ’79 or so. I was a mere pup, and Sensei never deigned to speak to me, but he led some classes and his students led others. I certainly remember Patty throwing me all over the mat. Katie Hultgren, Glen Bluestone, they were some of the senior students at the time. Impressive people.
Life took me on to other things. I had not realized that Sensei was still alive. I am glad his teaching lives on.
Chris T.
“We’re all out of pumpernickel,” the baker said wryly.
(dead thread but couldn’t resist the Tom Swiftie)
jak
A masterful presentation of drawings and artwork depicting all combat vehicles in use or heading to Ukraine is in the 28 February edition of The Seattle Times.