@axe said:I play lot of Solitaire. It's problem solving to me, and I know pretty quickly how well my mind is working day to day.. I maintain a 68%+ win rate over various platforms...Likewise...

Even though Israel and Palestine dominate the headliners and gets beat to death in this forum, it's pretty standard fare for the middle east. But something much larger and important has been brewing and is on the verge of exploding. First, the abbreviated context that has set the stage for the current situation...Initially Israel was okay with the turkish safe zone as there was mutual threat of ISIS and al-Assad for both countries. Eventually, Israel become angry because rather than stabilizing all of Syria, they felt Turkey just was interested in a land grab getting them closer to their own borders. I would suggest it was stupid for Israel to believe Turkey would ever have an interest in do anything that risked their soldiers for the security of another nation, especially them considering the Gaza situation. Fast forward to the present. Some recent conflict is now stirring the pot again....I only bring this up because the U.S. may be forced to make a shocking decision between two allies. I really don't think we should try to make a moral comparison because neither would probably make the cut from that perspective.Right now, the U.S. has gained control of western hemisphere energy production and the routes for exportation. It's even courted Alberta and way prematurely got aggressive on Greenland. In Russia, Ukraine decimates their refineries and shadow fleet at will. And it appears we will either wait out the regime in Iran or completely take them offline if we get bored with it. Add in the fact we have a reasonable relationship with all other oil producers in the middle east. I know the softies in western societies might not like this, but their never has been or will be a nation that wouldn't take control of global energy if they were capable.You would think China stands in the way, but they've been working so hard while being exploited for super low wages they apparently forgot to fuck and will age out as a threat all on their own. We just need to wait them out too.Given this layout and the geography necessary to get energy to Europe, Turkey becomes a necessary player in the end game. They are also by far the most capable power in the area to control the waterway into Europe and cut transportation costs.Uploading Attachment...Bringing this all back together, if conflict were to break out between Turkey and Israel, without intervention Turkey would wipe their ass with Israel. This brings us to a big decision. Should we intervene if this spat gets hot?I say no simply because it's counterproductive to our long term goals. If Israel is going to make unpragmatic decisions like this one would be, we would only be kicking the can of their demise down the road at the expense of a potentially greater strategical alliance. Certainly Trump has ties to Israel, but he (or his advisors) seems hell bent on energy domination. Something will have to give...

@mld-woody said:You've posted multiple times about Piker. DSA as well, but also Piker.And sure, we can breeze past you putting words in my mouth insinuating I'm somehow antisemitic. Alright buddy. If you want to believe anything anti Israel is antisemitic then that's another great stopping point as well.I spoke on the interview you posted as well. I watched the whole thing...I don't think you have any idea on what his whole platform is other than what the media and AIPAC hit pieces are telling you it is. But it's not like you'll be convinced otherwise at this point.Now I'm a member of the DSA. It's "my party"? Sure thing man. Not sure where I ever said that, but you've been on a run putting words in my mouth and I guess this is no different.Please follow along - I don't agree with everything in the platform. I would draft a new constitution, I'd amend what we have. But I agree with more of their platform and more of what they're trying to accomplish than establishment Dems and definitely more than Reps. I don't need to blindly agree with every single thing to justify voting for them (if I get the opportunity)Fyi, in my earlier post, I said "we have the best campaign financial system" sarcastically. Nothing to do with me being DSA. I'm saying our campaign financing system is fucked and needs reformed.Actually, let's backtrack if you want.I don't care that Piker hates jews, AIPAC, or Israel, which he undoubtedly does. Whether we agree on that point is irrelevant. What he can't say is jews in America "will have action taken against them" for supporting Israel. That's piece of shit behavior. From what I've been hearing he gets people deplatformed for similar or less, which is typical for an ideologue. He can dress up like Mao and preach to college kids about "evil" Israel all he wants, that's not the problem. If Ben Shapiro came out and said that muslims in America must denounce support for Palestine or action will be taken on them you would call it for what it is. I posted a letter from congress about Piker, said he was getting posterized, and you came to defend him. The logical part of your brain short circuits when it comes to Piker and you start gaslighting that no one understands any of this except you.I never accused you of being antisemitic, although the argument could be made since you parrot some of the same dumb points/studies/theories Piker makes. I've pointed it out everytime you do it, that I see, but just like with Piker I don't actually give a damn if you are. You can say "whatever man" all you want. I don't care about conflicts in that part of the world, unless americans are involved. If you and the kids do, go vote on behalf of "Palestine'. What am I supposed to say, "the rest of us will take action against you"?Again I didn't ask what you would do, I don't care how many policy points you align with, how the youth feels, whether you're a card carrier (although I did imply it).....I asked whether we still have a federal government without our current constitution?...since you're at least a "temporary supporter".If you don't answer the question, fine, but if not what are we doing here.

USA Todayhttps://www.usatoday.com › story › news › politics › elections › 2024 › 04 › 09 › doj-recovers-pandemic-aid-fraud › 73259347007DOJ: 3,500 charged and $1.4B recovered in stolen COVID pandemic fundsApr 9, 2024Cracking down on pandemic aid fraud, DOJ claws back $1.4 billion and charges 3,500 people Lawmakers and the White House propose to extend the statute of limitations on COVID fraud and authorize a ...

https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PUBLIC-RELEASES/Article/4558191/us-saudi-forces-strike-iran-backed-terrorist-sites-in-iraq/Iraq was even helpful.“Iraq is committed to preventing Iraqi territory from being used as a route or launching point for any attack targeting brotherly or friendly countries,” the Iraqi military said in a statement on Monday.This really is encouraging. Outside of specifically liberating Kuwait, this is the strongest and most coordinated alliance we have ever had in the region.

@mld-woody said:Trump, a decade ago, starting the whole "fake news" thing was genius. Claiming anything he didn't like, even if a legitimate source, was fake news. While platforming any news he did like, even if it was nothing more than right wing slop. Fast forward a decade and facts don't matter. He can lie repeatedly. And his base still eats it up.He has a golden ticket to discredit any legitimate criticism because he conditioned his moronic base a decade ago. Wild stuffFake news? You mean like the Russian Collusion bullshit? How about Joe Biden’s cognition is sharp as ever?You sound like a typical lib lapdog…Good Boy! ??

Say what you will about this man, but there is zero doubt that Donald Trump is the most geo-politically powerful person we have witnessed in our lifetimes. What a spectacle!It's clear Turkey wants to be in whatever version of NATO Trump creates.The funniest part about this is this gift that Erdogan gave every county's leader that attended.If you're a leader of a country where gun ownership is illegal, how do you negotiate with a man that would gift you a gun as a gesture of good will? I almost feel sorry for Europe.

@jax said:Problem with these smaller countries getting nukes is it makes it easier for terrorists to take control of.You had to go mention that?dammit.lol

https://x.com/visegrad24/status/2069884732553281861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2069884732553281861%7Ctwgr%5Ecd10acb8ad8e2868dc4b962075024aae0388c2ae%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/06/denmark-moves-ban-islamic-call-prayer-minister-says/https://x.com/BGatesIsaPyscho/status/2069874692219871705

@mld-woody said: ***MEGABIRDFART*** https://www.facebook.com/reel/1992147908166900

@ibleedbrown said: Yeah you’re right, good call. I certainly learned something. Let’s try this again. Ok, latest AI Google search shows an NFL player’s “duty days” as 160-180. Let’s use 180 for a team that makes it to the Superbowl. (7/180) x 30,000,000 =1,166,666.667. 1,166,666.67 x .13 =151,666.667.  Definitely a bigger chunk of change but still not $250k. Unless l’m still missing something which is entirely likely. Well Seattle played in California twice on their base salary and once for a flat fee of $178,000.  I'm guessing the contract is written that they get paid more for games expected to play than they do for expected days of practice.  How much of that is taxable income is beyond me, but they are definitely taxing whatever the value of the game may be in the contract. 

As an aside

@calfoxwc said: Massie is just a grandstander. He says he voted "no" because it didn't cut the deficit enough. Well, it's just an extension til sept to keep the government open, stupid massie. "whaaaaa, rome wasn't built in a day I vote no". what an ass. The big cash prize winners here is the Pentagon.  So you have to ask yourself how will this benefit the country?  If your number one issue right now is terror groups on the other side of the world than you are probably happy with this bill.  I don't happen to think it's an unimportant issue, but eventually we have to focus more on here or domestically the dams will break.  And that's way more frightening to me.

More of the same... https://www.yahoo.com/news/zelensky-warns-trump-meeting-putin-111710878.html “A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at that table. That says a lot,” Zelensky said in a robust speech at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. The old days are over – when America supported Europe just because it always had,” he added.

I'd rather they stick around, can never have too many good paying middle class jobs.

(Trigger Warning: someone from Politico may or may not have committed a crime during their employment at the company.) https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/22/supreme-court-arizona-citizenship-voting-law-00175916 That's what happens when you drag your feet, it's too late.  Congrats to all 41,000 "elderly cripples" with no Arizona ID.

Thank GOD for our Supreme Court https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2024/08/16/new-supreme-court-denies-biden-admin-emergency-request-to-partially-reinstate-title-ix-rule-n2178199 NEW: Supreme Court Denies Biden Admin. Emergency Request to Partially Reinstate Title IX Rule

Did I miss something, it was the dude in blue shorts getting hit after the fight but the dude in red is the one who kicked the ring girl?? What did I miss?? Did he slip other shorts on?

@htownbrown said: I'm less worried about that, than the super subprime mortgages and possible bailout down the line. Honestly, you could give me $0 down and $0 closing and I still wouldn't want to 'gentrify the trap'.   If you read closely, the target group seems to be 'undocumented buyers'. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. And that's giving them the benefit of the doubt. Anybody remember the last housing crash? Zero down financing for more than the equity to put a few bucks in your pocket no paper loans? Unfortunately redlining was instituted for a reason. WSS