Play Nice The NM Devils Chessboard thread.

[Makeshift Park]

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

What I want to know is why the Australian National Cat Federation left the organisation in 1988.

Oh, also whether they are going to ban Russian Blues, regardless of their place of birth.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Doesn’t bode well for imperial Russian stout manufacturers, does it.

 

[Del191229]

The Quad falling apart in its first real test.

Quad meeting fails to unite in condemnation for Russian war in Ukraine

A joint meeting of Australia, the US, India and Japan has failed to condemn Russia over its Ukraine invasion because India stuck to its neutral stance.

www.theage.com.au

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

What I want to know is why the Australian National Cat Federation left the organisation in 1988.

Oh, also whether they are going to ban Russian Blues, regardless of their place of birth.

Seem to have joined the rival World Cat Congress, along with most English-speaking countries.

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

Doesn’t bode well for imperial Russian stout manufacturers, does it.

I hope it's all over by Christmas, I'd hate to miss my brother's excellent home-made Pavlova

 

[Del191229]

This sociopathic shit. It didn't work in Iraq. It hasn't worked in Syria or Iran. But let's murder untold Russian children just in case.

 

[Del191229]

 

[Makeshift Park]

These people have risked their lives. courageous stuff.

 

[Del191229]

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

This sociopathic sh*t. It didn't work in Iraq. It hasn't worked in Syria or Iran. But let's murder untold Russian children just in case.

Well they are seizing all their super-yachts, maybe that will motivate them.

Shame about the what, $300M per day?, they send direct to the Kremlin for oil and gas.

 

[Del191229]

Well they are seizing all their super-yachts, maybe that will motivate them.

Shame about the what, $300M per day?, they send direct to the Kremlin for oil and gas.

Exactly.

The whole we've taken Russia off SWIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!! .... apart from the banks we use to send them hundreds of millions a day lol.

Super yachts the oligarchs knew they only had at Putin's whim anyway.

Remember Khodorkovsky?

 

[Makeshift Park]

Well they are seizing all their super-yachts, maybe that will motivate them.

Shame about the what, $300M per day?, they send direct to the Kremlin for oil and gas.

Yeah, 350m euros per day, apparently.

Still, its looking likely that this conflict will accelerate Europe's take up of renewables.

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

Exactly.

The whole we've taken Russia off SWIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!! .... apart from the banks we use to send them hundreds of millions a day lol.

Super yachts the oligarchs knew they only had at Putin's whim anyway.

Remember Khodorkovsky?

The German finance ministry essentially confirmed they only agreed to bar Russia from SWIFT because they had alternative means of paying Russia:

There are still channels to pay Germany's gas bills -econ ministry

There are still channels by which Germany's gas bills can be paid despite the exclusion of Russia from the main global payments system SWIFT, an economy ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

www.reuters.com

 

[DesertRoo]

Russia looks like nationalizing 500 odd aircraft leased from European companies.

Foreign aircraft will remain in Russia​

03/03/2022​

It was decided to leave foreign-made aircraft leased from European companies in Russia, a source in Aeroflot told FrequentFlyers.ru. This can be framed as a “requisition” of property, that is, a forced purchase of it in favor of the state, but in fact it will turn into nationalization due to the blocking of Russia’s gold and foreign exchange resources abroad, because it will be impossible to pay for the planes due to sanctions imposed by the European Union.

Moreover, European lessors would not have been able to pick up the planes anyway. Usually, after the end of the lease period, the aircraft is returned to the operator; however, the skies of Europe are closed for Russian airlines. At the same time, the explanatory note of the European Commission separately stipulates the conditions for the return of the aircraft: as soon as the lease agreement is terminated, the aircraft ceases to be considered Russian and can fly to Europe. But there is, as they say, one nuance: since the aircraft is no longer considered Russian, it cannot fly in Russian airspace due to counter-sanctions.

Of course, it is possible to agree on returning aircraft through third countries - for example, first the aircraft flies to conditional Turkey, then the leasing agreement is terminated, and it flies further. However, since the sanctions were introduced unilaterally at the initiative of the European side, Russian air carriers will act on the principle “you need it - you take it”, while European lessors will also have to pay for parking at Russian airports. By the way, no one bothers to establish a special overpriced tariff, so that it would be more economically feasible to leave the planes in Russia than to try to pick them up.

By the way, for this reason, for example, you can still see the age-old planes of bankrupt carriers parked at Russian airports: it is almost impossible to sell them, and the cost of returning, taking into account the debt to the airports, exceeds the cost of the aircraft.

There will also be no one to sell 515 aircraft leased from European companies - after the pandemic, foreign airlines are trying, on the contrary, to get rid of the surplus fleet, rather than build it up. For Russian carriers, "free" aircraft will allow them not to be particularly dependent on exchange rates, since they will no longer pay leasing payments in foreign currency.

True, it is important to note that the aircraft will not be transferred to the ownership of airlines - they will be state-owned.

The issue of maintenance will be resolved through third countries: there are already agreements with MRO centers in the countries of the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In fact, for some forms of service, planes will have to be driven a little further (this is similar to a car service: if a dealership closes near your house, no one forbids you to go to another one on the outskirts of the city, although this is not so convenient). At the same time, there are tacit agreements with Airbus and Boeing that they will not interfere with this - in fact, whichever of them turns out to be more friendly to Russia will receive preferences in the Russian market when the sanctions are lifted.

Иностранные самолёты останутся в России — FrequentFlyers.ru

 

[Del191229]

The German finance ministry essentially confirmed they only agreed to bar Russia from SWIFT because they had alternative means of paying Russia:

There are still channels to pay Germany's gas bills -econ ministry

There are still channels by which Germany's gas bills can be paid despite the exclusion of Russia from the main global payments system SWIFT, an economy ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

www.reuters.com

But why would the Germans, the most powerful economy in Europe, still do business with crazy, evil, mad old Putin?????

Don't they know he is even more evilerer than TEN HITLERS!!!!!!!!!!!

Because they know their people will freeze and manufacturing for export will collapse without Russian gas.

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

Yeah, 350m euros per day, apparently.

Still, its looking likely that this conflict will accelerate Europe's take up of renewables.

This is an interesting British take in conversation between a former Conservative MP and former Blair adviser.



Rory Stewart argues that Europe took a "peace dividend" after 1989 when they were able to slash defence spending, reinvest it in other areas and strengthen their economies more generally. He says now is the time to put it to use by cancelling the contracts with Russia immediately.

 

[Del191229]

Yeah, 350m euros per day, apparently.

Still, its looking likely that this conflict will accelerate Europe's take up of renewables.

This will be one of the good consequences of the war.

Let's see if the City of London can wean itself off laundering Russian cash though.

That's the real key.

 

[Makeshift Park]

This is an interesting British take in conversation between a former Conservative MP and former Blair adviser.



Rory Stewart argues that Europe took a "peace dividend" after 1989 when they were able to slash defence spending, reinvest it in other areas and strengthen their economies more generally. He says now is the time to put it to use by cancelling the contracts with Russia immediately.

Listening now.

Alastair Campbell was apparently an inspiration for Malcolm Tucker, who is basically my favourite TV character ever.

 

[Marcel Proust]

He said this:

The goals of the "Social-National Assembly", that he co-founded, are "the protection of the white race by creating an anti-democratic and anti-capitalist "nationocracy" system" and the eradication of "international Zionist speculative capital".[33] In 2010, Biletsky said that it was the Ukrainian nation's mission to "lead the white races of the world in a final crusade … against Semite-led Untermenschen".[34]

However, Biletsky declares that he is not racist or antisemitic. In an interview he explained that he regards Israel and Japan as role models for the development of Ukraine.

Phew. That's alright then. I spose he didn't call anyone a goat herder.

Here is an article, from a non Russian source, about his far right battalion of neo nazis in Ukraine:

Neo-Nazis and the Far Right Are On the March in Ukraine

Five years after the Maidan uprising, anti-Semitism and fascist-inflected ultranationalism are rampant.

www.thenation.com

And another:

Ukraine's dalliance with neo-Nazi forces: What the US and NATO do not want to talk about

Azov Battalion, a neo-Nazi and white supremacist organisation, is an integral part of the National Guard of Ukraine | OpIndia News

www.opindia.com

And another:

The reality of neo-Nazis in Ukraine is far from Kremlin propaganda

The media should acknowledge the existence of neo-Nazis in Ukraine as much as it acknowledges their existence in America.

thehill.com

And another:

Azov fighters are Ukraine's greatest weapon and may be its greatest threat

The battalion's far-right volunteers' desire to 'bring the fight to Kiev' is a danger to post-conflict stability

www.theguardian.com

I dunno who publishes this:

Canada's deputy PM caught holding pro-Nazi scarf at Ukraine rally

A photo taken of Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland at a Ukraine rally over the weekend caught her holding a red and black scarf

www.washingtonexaminer.com

Here's some merch in case you're interested.

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

Azov Battalion | T-Shirt | Revolt Noir

Azov Battalion T-Shirt | Azov Battalion is a Ukrainian National Guard regiment, formed during the 2014 Ukrainian crisis. We will donate proceeds from the sale of all Ukraine-themed products to support Azov and Ukraine against Russian invasion. A premium quality t-shirt that feels soft and...

www.revoltnoir.com

Apparently the shirts are selling very well.

 

[big_e]

I didn't know Ukraine played cricket.

Well, actually....

 

[Ether]

Apparently the shirts are selling very well.

View attachment 1337964

Marcel, how's the Ukraine discussion going over on your board?

 

[Makeshift Park]

This is an interesting British take in conversation between a former Conservative MP and former Blair adviser.



Rory Stewart argues that Europe took a "peace dividend" after 1989 when they were able to slash defence spending, reinvest it in other areas and strengthen their economies more generally. He says now is the time to put it to use by cancelling the contracts with Russia immediately.

This Rory Stewart bloke has sure had a pretty interesting life.
Its quite refreshing to hear an erudite conversation between two mavericks from either side of the political divide. There should be more of it.
I sometimes wonder whether there is anything left that separates the most conservative ALP MP from the most progressive Liberal party MP, aside from whether they like unions or not. Which, given the plurality of challenges facing us as a society at the moment, seems like a pretty arbitrary differentiator of political identity in 2022.

 

[Del191229]

Lovely timing for this one

Supreme court blocks men behind CIA’s ‘enhanced interrogation’ from testifying

The case was filed by Abu Zubaydah, a Guantánamo prisoner arrested and held without charge since 2002, in Poland

www.theguardian.com

 

[Val Keating]

This is very interesting - supports your view Val Keating

It’s the only thing that makes sense.