Oh he knows. I bet he’s known since the second month of his special military operation. He just can’t do anything about it, he’s on railroad tracks that lead nowhere except disaster.

He’s a strongman, his power is based on his reputation, which is based on being able to make decisions that result in keeping the Russian people safe and secure. Had his invasion succeeded, this would have been good for him. But it didn’t, so now everyone has to ask: what have they paid, what have they gotten for it, and are they happy with their leadership based on that?

I think it’s pretty hard for anyone anywhere to argue that the past few years have been good for them, so Putin has to worry about his popularity. But wait, there’s no way to realistically remove unpopular Russian leaders, and that means … his actual life is in danger if anyone wants him out badly enough, which you gotta figure some powerful people in Russia probably do by now.

That’s the problem for Putin. Peace will be the death of him, and he knows it.

But the dozen or so workers on board didn’t seem bothered.

I mean, yeah, they’ve still got that whole “earn a paycheck” thing to worry about.

My daughter asked me recently, How do you go up to someone that you don’t know and talk to them? Today, you’re not only interrupting a social dynamic, you’re also interrupting people’s interaction with their devices. I notice it in my own family, because she comes up to me and I’m on my phone and I feel annoyed sometimes, like, I’m in the middle of reading, can’t you see?

It’s all in the “excuse me”. I think it becomes easy to think of the two words as just a saying that begins conversation, but I like to look at the actual meaning. It’s an apology, no different from walking up to someone with an “I"m sorry, but…” or “Pardon me, but…”

So lean into that with your tone and body language. Begin your interruption of someone with a genuine apology for bothering them. Okay, good, so you did something wrong, but immediately apologized for it, and if everything follows the normal rules of politeness, the receiver will automatically forgive you for your interruption because you gave an earnest apology for a very minor social infraction. You are now at a neutral position with the person, having done nothing particularly wrong or right, but you now have their attention and can say/ask whatever.

If you want to practice, try practicing with a compliment. “Excuse me … pause for response, if positive/neutral then… that’s a really nice hat you’re wearing. Just thought I’d let you know.” and end conversation. Nothing really gained or lost here, but you got to practice some, and very few people will care about the interaction enough to give you more than a second’s thought afterward.

So would that be worn by like a Janissary or Sipahi?

They used local guides, who knew the routes, dangers and resources they might encounter.

no Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Belligerents list

Found your problem.

I see nothing wrong with suggesting that, so long as it is made clear he is discussing one of many theoretical possibilities.

Is he a kook? He does kinda look like one, but so do a lot of legit scientists, so that’s not a good measure.

The dynamic between the Judean People’s Front and the People’s Front of Judea probably reflects on all of us at a certain level, and comedians have always been good at putting up a mirror.

Though I have been surprised before at how well-researched some Monty Python skits can be, when younger me only saw a bunch of dorks doing silly things.

We need a new version of eco-tourism. If some of these small countries are more willing to take bold steps, then they need to be rewarded with extra tourist dollars being pumped into their local economies.

Someone who knows how needs to compile a list of potential vacation destinations, organized and rated by the boldness of their country’s climate action, and put it on a website somewhere.

India and Russia also go way back, Russia was their main military supplier for decades. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but if I recall it was due to the US supporting Pakistan back in the day.

Even First Post, which leans liberal, tends to report from a more Russian perspective on the Russo-Ukrainian War.