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๐…๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐š ๐†๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐ซ ๐‘๐จ๐ง ๐ƒ๐ž๐’๐š๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ž๐ฌ๐ง'๐ญ ๐ฐ๐š๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐“๐š๐ฆ๐ฉ๐š ๐๐š๐ฒ ๐‘๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐‘๐š๐ฅ๐ž๐ข๐ ๐ก... But admitted that the Rays' stadium funding situation is at an impasse. โ€œ๐ˆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ก๐š๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐œ๐จ๐ฆ๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐š ๐ก๐ž๐š๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ž๐ญ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐จ๐จ๐ง, ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐ฐ๐š๐ฒ ๐จ๐ซ ๐š๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ซ,โ€ With NC's stadium funding plan making national...

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Why Having a Satellite Network is So Important In 2023, the Russians were about to close a deal with a certain North Korean MLRS, but the deal fell through exactly because the North Koreans, +20 years ago, had revolted against Russian opposition to their nuclear program and switched from GLONASS to BeiDou. Only few years ago, the NK returned to Glonass and started converting their equipment to work with dual GNSS guidance. But why did the deal sour? Because the Chinese did not authorize the use of their satellites in the Ukraine conflict. The same problem occurred with the Belarusian POLONEZ MLRS, which uses missiles based on Chinese technology. Today, Iran has switched from GPS to BeiDou, aiming for greater resistance to jammers and integration with Chinese systems. This shows that a missile program is much more than the missiles themselves. It is necessary to have one's own constellation, even if it is strictly military and regionalized, with resources for monitoring and target acquisition, in addition to the ability to deal with jammers and spoofers. When I mentioned Iran and BeiDou, it is the beginning and serves as a gateway that enables integration with Chinese networks, provided the Chinese decide to allow it. However, it is essentially a massive gateway, with numerous smaller, more specialized sub-channels operating underneath. For targeting moving objects, Iran would need to receive data from the Guowang or Yaogan networks. In the last six months, the Chinese could have provided partial integration. At this stage, since the Iranians are conducting their ISR primarily with drones, I believe the Chinese are not sharing data from the LEO satellites in those networks. Iran also has its own satellites, but the Chinese network is far more mature and likely equipped with a wide array of integration and data-sharing tools. While the Chinese are providing intelligence to Iran, I believe they are prudent in doing so to preserve the relationships they have built with other Arab states. At this moment, I believe that the sharing of intelligence from satellites isnโ€™t in real time. For a country like Iran, it is crucial to have GNSS independence with its own program. The same applies to other medium-sized countries, which need at least an LEO constellation capable of providing the minimum ISR, and this is linked to security, but also a series of other factors. I'll give a practical example here. Drones usually lose link with 50% of their range in the Amazon due to weather conditions. With an LEO constellation, this would not occur. Today, to have independence, a constellation project is necessary.

Patricia Marins

19,508 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 7 Monaten

My experiences at the stadium yesterday (I was tired from same-day long flight so I may have missed a few things.): โ€ข There were lots of Shir-o-Khorshid flags and shirts in the stadium, which was great to see. Despite the โ€œbanโ€, it was nice to see so many on display. Freedom of speech matters in the USA. โ€ข Compared to Islamic Republic-friendly Qatar in 2022, the difference was noticeable. Back then, I saw with my own eyes that there were binders at the admission gates listing prohibited items, including Shir-o-Khorshid flags. The security there was hostile and scrutinizing every flag and article of clothing. This time, there were no such binders or checks beyond normal security screening. โ€ข The fans carrying Shir-o-Khorshid flags were supporting Team Melli throughout the match. From what I saw, they were there to support Iran and enjoy the game. โ€ข The Islamic Republic anthem was loudly booed throughout the stadium. โ€ข I didnโ€™t witness any major arguments or confrontations, although I know videos of disputes are circulating online. Iโ€™m only speaking about what I personally saw inside and around the stadium. โ€ข The only issue I witnessed involved an older Islamic Republic supporter sitting in the row behind me causing a disturbance and getting what I believe was his grandson to go to security and complain about nearby fans with Shir-o-Khorshid flags, claiming the flags were banned. Security told him to relax and made it clear they were not going to remove anyoneโ€™s flag. โ€ข Ironically, a few minutes later, those same Islamic Republic supporters were told to leave because they were sitting in the wrong seats. ๐Ÿ‘ โ€ข The woman sitting behind me, wearing a regular Iran shirt, was ecstatic when they left. She told me she felt their presence beside her and her two sons had been a bad omen and was relieved to see them go. โ€ข The atmosphere was electric from start to finish. SoFi Stadium is one of the nicest stadiums Iโ€™ve ever been to and was an amazing place to watch a World Cup match. โ€ข Like what I saw in Qatar 2022, you can spot an Islamic Republic supporter from a mile away. Ugly to the bone. They always look mangled and angry (physiognomy is real in this case). A note - I encourage Iranian fans and Shir-o-Khorshid patriots to attend these matches and bring their flags. In my view, itโ€™s a missed opportunity that some have chosen to boycott the national team when these events provide a chance to make their voices heard in front of the world. Boycotting only silences your own voice. Itโ€™s a self-inflicted loss of an opportunity to be seen and heard. Overall, it was a positive experience. Fans were there to support Team Melli. It was great to see so many Shir-o-Khorshid flags in the stadium and to see people expressing themselves freely without the issues we saw in Qatar. The result was disappointing, but the atmosphere and the passion of the Iranian fans made it a memorable.

The Iran Watcher ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ท

74,972 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 3 Monaten

Alaska. Putin and Trump. The meeting that was both awaited and feared. The outcome. By Roman Alekhin To discuss this further, the key point to understand is this: Two and a half hours behind closed doors is too little for leaders of nuclear powers if they are just starting a conversationโ€”but too much if they were merely posing for cameras. This means the real work happened earlierโ€”quiet, working discussions โ€œbehind the doorโ€ that never made it into the official communiquรฉ. These are what stopped Trump from imposing secondary sanctions; this is where the exchange of conditions took place, terms that wonโ€™t be disclosed until both leaders decide the time is right. I suspect Syria was discussed, as well as the โ€œTrump Bridgeโ€ (instead of Zangezur), the Middle East, and much more that isnโ€™t yet visible to the naked eye. The public part? Pure theater. The point wasnโ€™t to negotiate in front of the world or sign something, like Trump did with Armenia and Azerbaijanโ€”minor players, important only tactically. The point was to send a signal: the presidents of Russia and the U.S. are shaking hands and smiling again, no knives behind their backs. This signals that a new reality has arrived, one that Europe, Ukraine, and everyone accustomed to building their worldview around the idea of โ€œRussiaโ€™s isolationโ€ will now have to reckon withโ€”including those within our own countries. Trumpโ€™s comments on Fox News were deliberately vagueโ€”heโ€™s a master at leaving room for maneuver. But the key takeaway is clear: the pressure will now shift from Moscow to Kyiv and Brussels. This is evident even in the final formatโ€”not a word about a โ€œno-conditionsโ€ ceasefire, which was Europe and Zelenskyโ€™s main demand. This means the discussion on a final peace has been postponed, but within a clear framework: Zelensky must exit the war in a way that lets Europe save face. Russiaโ€™s red lines have long been clear: non-aligned status for Ukraine, return of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions within their administrative borders (not the frontlines), lifting of sanctions, and real democracy in Ukraine without persecution of the Russian language or the Orthodox Church. These conditions will prolong the conflict for some time. Zelensky will need to stage a fighting retreat to the administrative bordersโ€”this will allow Europe to save face. But the logic is already visible: Ukraineโ€™s defeat will be framed not as a โ€œcrushingโ€ but as a โ€œpeaceful settlement.โ€ Six monthsโ€”thatโ€™s the timeframe in which weโ€™ll see the dynamics. If the front accelerates, the deal is working. If it stalls, not all pieces are in place yet. But the main thing is already done: Russia is back in the game, not through gray negotiating formats but through a handshake on American soilโ€”even if itโ€™s chilly Alaska. (Though we have warm ties to the region, as seen in the wreath-laying for the โ€œHeroes of ALSIBโ€ and the meeting with Archbishop Alexy of Sitka and Alaska.) For the world, this is an image where smiles are worth more than signatures. For Trumpโ€”a chance to show heโ€™s the only one who can โ€œmake peace.โ€ For Putinโ€”a symbolic victory: Russia is not a besieged enemy but an equal player. For Europe and Ukraineโ€”the beginning of a painful new phase where theyโ€™ll have to accept the inevitable. In these talks, there were no winners or losers in Alaska. In Alaska, both presidents won, while those who werenโ€™t thereโ€”lost, or at the very least, didnโ€™t win.

๐Ÿ…ฐpocalypsis ๐Ÿ…ฐpocalypseos ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๐Ÿ…‰

13,487 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 1 Jahr

Two posts in one day calling for the end of John Cleese. One says he has allied himself with the darkest forces in Britain and has become the caricature he once mocked. The other, from a Muslim outlet, argues plainly that he should be de-platformed by respectable institutions. De-platformed. Respectable institutions. Say those words slowly and try to hear how they would have landed in 1972. The man co-wrote a film so blasphemous the BBC would not touch it, that was banned outright in Norway and by councils across England, and that two bishops went on television to denounce while he sat there and let them. Life of Brian survived the actual Church of England. It is now being reviewed by a newsletter. And the accusation is that he has become the caricature he once mocked, which is a remarkable sentence to write about a man whose entire body of work was aimed at exactly this. The Ministry of Silly Walks was a joke about a government department funding nonsense with a straight face. Now we have men in offices deciding which comedians remain permissible, and doing it with no jokes at all. At least the Ministry had the decency to be funny. Let me be fair, because I am always fair, and because being fair is what makes the rest of this land. Criticism is not censorship. Both of those men have every right to say Cleese is wrong, tasteless, or past it. That is speech. Nobody owes an 86 year old comedian applause. But there is a hard line between you are wrong and you should not be permitted to speak, and one of those posts crossed it in the headline. The first is an argument. The second is an eviction notice. And notice what the eviction is actually for. He said things about a religion. Not about a person. A religion, which is a set of ideas, and ideas do not have rights. People do. In England you can still say anything you like about the Church of England, and Cleese made a career of it, and nobody drafted a newsletter about respectable institutions. Here is what is wrong with Britain, and I say it with real affection because I am going there next month. A country that gave the world Magna Carta, the common law, and the funniest people who have ever lived has developed the habit of asking whether a joke is allowed. That question has an answer over here. John, if it gets any worse, come to America. Say every single thing you think. Say the wrong ones. Say the ones that would end you at home. Nobody will de-platform you and nobody will send a constable. Bring the silly walk. We have room. ๐Ÿฆ‹

Selene Mariposa

270,159 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 1 Monat

Officially moving on from Tech game after I get this thought off my chest. I more than welcome anyone smarter than me in regards to the football to chime in. I truly, truly, truly cannot wrap my head around the thought process here. These two plays I'm sure anyone with brain can agree officially sealed KU's slim chances in having a chance to win this game. The play calling to me seems like completely flipped in logic at best? First one, you are down 4, on your own 30 so you are not going to go for this. Ignoring that we were getting dominated in the trenches in this game and that the 'obvious' play is a run, I don't get why we make the decision in a must get spot to take the ball out of our QB's (who at the time was rolling) hands. Jalon Daniels is our best player. In an absolute must get/need, we should be relying on him to make a play. Then the second one. I obviously don't know the answer here, but I feel somewhat confident that the reason we didn't run here was because of how the earlier 3rd & 1 run went. While I don't necessarily agree with the premise of decision making on this alone, I can appreciate the recognition that we are going to struggle to gain a yard in an obvious run situation. But the thing is, we are in go for it range so the one thing you absolutely cannot have is a massive negative play. Literally anything else is okay (obviously not a turnover). I truly don't think there's a good chance we run the ball on this attempt and get a yard. But THIS situation gives you a free shot at it if you want to take it. I think this play call would have worked if we didn't let their best player run at our qb freely but I'd just argue this play had a ton of potential risk that wasn't necessary. Hell even a play action pass out of out shot gun or something rolling JD out to the left would have given us a good shot at first down with an escape route to bail out on the play if something went wrong. I'm once again for the millionth time saying I know and understand that this entire staff knows more about football in their pinky than I do. But I do think the game has evolved and game + clock management doesn't really require football knowledge/have a direct correlation to one's football knowledge. It's not as simple as ESPN's graphic says GO so you should go etc, there are variables and human behavior etc to deal with and I understand that. But we are just getting these situations downright wrong. We are flipping a coin that has a 20 pound weight attached to the heads side and calling tails almost every single time. S/O anyone who read all this but would just love some insight if there's anyone who disagrees and is a lot smarter than I!

Bryson Stricker

33,876 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 11 Monaten

Next up in the long line of right-wing media figures lifting up Woke Right retards who waste our time, Patrick Bet-David just had on the spectacular retard Curtis Yarvin who said this idiot nonsense: America has always been a Leftist experiment. No it hasn't, except barely from the perspective of European reaction and counter-revolutionary thinking, which is part of what constitutes the European, but not American, Right. (I AM ONCE AGAIN TELLING YOU ALL THAT "LEFT" AND "RIGHT" ARE NOT ADEQUATE TERMS FOR POLITICAL DISCUSSION FOR A LOT OF REASONS, MOSTLY THAT THEY DESCRIBE LOCATIONS IN A PARTICULAR ROOM AT A PARTICULAR TIME AND NOT COHERENT POLITICAL PROGRAMS.) America is actually founded on a tradition completely alien and separate to either the "Left" or the "Right" as it is conceived of in the European mind. It is overwhelmingly something completely different that dispensed wholesale with all the idiotic Continental philosophies the European "Left" and "Right" relied upon. America was not "Leftist" because "Leftist" referred to Jacobinism specifically at the time of the Founding, in line with the thinking of Rousseau's esoteric French Romanticism, whereas America was founded on SCOTTISH COMMON SENSE. America's founders specifically REJECTED Jacobinism and built their system to reject and safeguard against it, but Jacobinism is specifically the thing called "Leftism" in the original context. If you go back to the National Assembly in France, where were the Jacobins? To the left of the king. Hence, "Leftism" for their philosophy and political program. Where were the Scottish Common Sense people? IN SCOTLAND AND AMERICA, doing something completely different and totally awesome, not in the room at all. If you look at what these guys were thinking, it was that Common Sense precedes all these idiotic European philosophical theories, but that the brain-genius philosophers of Europe were so smart that they got the relationship backwards. The Euros thought philosophy precedes common sense, but the Americans knew philosophy must begin with common sense or it's merely idle (and dangerous) speculation. The "Right," if we consider it the side that "resists the Left" (what a poor definition, but that's its definition, isn't it?), in revolutionary France was a motley mix of monarchists, counter-revolutionists, and theocrats. Those would be exactly the people Americans threw out and told to go f- themselves. The "Right," if we must use the term, in America is the side that defends the American tradition, which is based on Common Sense. Most Americans until quite recently were more or less mostly common-sense people in their general orientation to life, hence the long-standing saying that America is "a center-right country." That's what it actually means, outside of these dumb directional terms posing as political orientations. So, this is stupid. Just stupid, but look how much time and energy it takes to deal with the illiterate stupidity of a twelve-second clip pumped to a million viewers who don't have time, interest, background, or inclination to take it apart (because most of them are too common-sense to want to read all this crap but still tribal enough to fall for Yarvin's). Truly, it takes an order of magnitude (or two) more work to take apart bullshit than it does to produce it. Woke, both Right and Left, is such a waste of valuable time and always has been.

James Lindsay, anti-Communist

72,006 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 8 Monaten

On the leg between Guam (PGUM) and Kalaeloa (PHJR) we experienced a fault with one of our 2 AC packs. This left us a single point of failure away from de-pressurization, which would require a descent to an altitude where we could breathe without supplemental O2. Keep in mind, a lower altitude drastically increases fuel consumption. Of course a single pack can maintain cabin pressure all the way up to the aircraftโ€™s service ceiling, but if that pack fails, the aircraft cannot be pressurized. The situation required that Bob Allen & I make a plan as to how to handle the potential loss of our remaining pack. This plan would be dynamic, as the action taken would depend where we were at the time of de-pressurization. Past the ETP (Equal Time Point) turning back to GUM was not an option; and continuing to JRF at a low cabin altitude was ALSO not an option - as weโ€™d be short on fuel. PKMJ was a bit too far south to be of use, but PWAK (Wake Island) and PMDY (Midway) were valid alternates that we could use for diversion and still land with the engines turning. Even though we did have ETOPS planning info on our flight plan, we canโ€™t always rely on it 100% because ferry flying creates some unique challenges due to the fact that we donโ€™t operate the same aircraft all the time, and we have no operational history to set the burn bias. We need to be proactive in the cockpit so on the secondary FPL page of the MCDU, Bob and I played out a few scenarios at different points and compared fuel burns. We decided on a boundary where once crossed, the diversion alternate switched from WAK to MDY. In either case - weโ€™d land with fuel, but it would be pretty minimal. Passing 170W would be the most critical point. The options would be MDY or LIH from there and both would land with under 800 KG of fuel. Because that didnโ€™t inspire much confidence, we took some additional measures and brought 2 POBs (portable O2 bottles) up to the flight deck. This way, weโ€™d have both the crew O2 from the pressure demand bottle (about 30-40 mins estimated) plus the O2 from POBs available to remain a bit higher longer in the event of a depress. Staying higher meant saving fuel and having more options - always a good thing. Anyway, the operational pack remained working, and we were able to get the aircraft to JRF before getting the bad pack back online for the next leg - so crisis averted, but the moral of the story is: you always need to have a plan! Especially when flying over remote areas of the planet..

Steve Giordano

1,466,610 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 3 Jahren

Prediction markets are creating some really strange incentives. As I was watching the โ€œWill Ronaldo cryโ€ market after Spain beat Portugal, my first thought was *What if someone was at the game, at a seat with a relatively decent view and close to the pitch, with their phone [phone with top end camera capabilities for arguments sake] and remained zoomed in on Ronaldoโ€™s face while he remained on the pitch [yes he turns around but then I thought maybe you could have 2/3 of you at the game, in on it in different areas of the stadium] ****donโ€™t take this market so literally, volumes werenโ€™t massive [$1.4m+], itโ€™s a stretch some of these arguments, but in lay man market terms, youโ€™re creating edge. $ wise, r/r of actually trying the idea, just donโ€™t look at that, rather the new dynamic of โ€œgamblificationโ€ specific prediction market markets have created**** As we know, being there is 2-5 seconds quicker than live broadcast, so thatโ€™s the edge youโ€™re trying to attack. On top of that, you can also try to โ€œinfluenceโ€ the outcome. There are numerous examples that came to mind, the main theme still remains that you need *access*, but all are possible: 1. Youโ€™re the pitch-side presenter. Turn the interview into a tribute to their career instead of talking about the match - Ronaldo is still on the pitch, bet is valid. Takes 1 minute to research a game for Portugal that might trigger Ronaldo to cry. 2. Youโ€™re the stadium announcer. Give an unexpected speech thanking Ronaldo for everything heโ€™s done before he leaves the pitch. Sure, requires official approval, logistically tougher, but possible. 3. Youโ€™re the stadium DJ. Play a song closely associated with his career while heโ€™s still on the field. Like in 1., takes 1-2 mins to ask an LLM if there is a song or something closely associated with Ronaldo. 4. Youโ€™re a TV producer. Keep the cameras on his family and replay emotional moments while heโ€™s waiting for the interview. 5. You have access to his family. Encourage them to come onto the pitch immediately after the final whistle rather than waiting in the tunnel. This requires a lot of access, but whatโ€™s stopping someone pushing the kids/wife onto the pitch a little more aggressively, even if they donโ€™t want to. [mostly preplanned, but again, possible] 6. You have premium seats beside the tunnel or family section. Hold up a personal sign where heโ€™s actually likely to see it before leaving the field [if in premium seats, given this market, unlikely itโ€™s fully worth it - you get the idea] 7. Youโ€™re a former teammate or coach with pitch access. Make a point of finding him after the final whistle and saying something personal before he walks off. Requires immense access, participant likely doesnโ€™t bother, but again, itโ€™s possible There are loads more. None of these guarantee an outcome, and most probably have little effect. But, like the recurring theme here: itโ€™s all possible. As always, waiting for the retarded comments, but just think. As always with some long form posts, just rambling. This is just the YES side, thereโ€™s also another whole story for the NO side.

Lucky โ˜˜๏ธ

26,636 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 2 Monaten

Hereโ€™s my analysis on NotPixel Airdrop: - Mining phase: it was entertaining to paint on the canvas alongside with many of you! Personally, I had fun drawing ๐Ÿงก together with you, just for fun, no competition. For that I will rate it a โœ… - Earn Launchpool: personally, I think this is great that thereโ€™s such a tool, that allows holders effortlessly farm tokens. For me itโ€™s a โœ… - Distribution: the major frustrations has been caused by the overload of the smart contract for Airdrop claim, where the biggest frustrations came from the fact that many were not able to claim their tokens for long (Including me) and watched the price go from $0,5 to $0,8 & to $0,2. Personally, I think that if Airdrop claim was done prior to the launch, it may have been better. For that, I will put a โŒ - Launch: NotPixel decided to launch its PX token only on DEXโ€™es on TON. the price at launch actually was at $0,5-$0,8 however, it shortly went down to $0,2 , causing frustration to the community & making them question โ€œwho sold?!โ€ & โ€œwhy no CEX listings?โ€ Here, itโ€™s important to understand the way Sasha & his team decided that they want to build the project. As they mentioned on X โ€œstart from the basics, start from 0.โ€ While many dislike this approach, I personally believe that this is how the launches must be happening. Launch on DEX -> generate traction & volume -> go list on CEXโ€™es -> create more news -> grow more from new ppl joining For that I will put โœ… - Team allocation: while many have speculated that โ€œteam soldโ€. this is completely not true. In fact, team has locked their allocation & it can be verified on chain. Which is โœ… for me. - Future plans: NotPixel will have a big canvas on which you will be able to paint, but this time, with some NFT mechanics & PX token integration. For which it is โœ… to me. Burning: NotPixel plan with the new update also includes a mechanism for Burning, which means that PX token will be deflationary. Which is โœ… - ownership revoked: meaning that PX token supply cannot be increased. Nor any modifications could be made to the smart contract at this point. Which is a big โœ… in my opinion - Community: while many are still frustrated with the current token price on the market, many express desire for token appreciation & further growth. One of the interesting feedbacks I saw on the timeline was โ€œNotPixel forced us all to holdโ€. Which shows that there are ppl who are not willing to get less than their target. Also many express that they want to see PX on CEXโ€™es. For it to grow even more. โœ… - Holders: as with any Airdrop, many have sold their tokens on the market, the volume also came down a bit. However, whatโ€™s interesting is that while ~200k ppl sold, the token still fluctuates between the lowest point $0,13 to $0,26. Which shows that thereโ€™s a demand & ppl are accumulating more tokens. Currently PX has 205k holders. Which is a โœ… - BuyBacks: the NotPixel team recently announced the buybacks with the money raised from the NotPixel stickers sale. Which created more support for the price on the market. โœ… - Expectations vs reality: Many community members said that they were expecting price to be above $1 as minimum, many were predicting as high as $10. In reality, the price at launch turned out to be much lower than many expected. Leading to the frustration being expressed on the timeline. Which is understandable. โŒ Conclusion: - Mining phase: โœ… - Earn Launchpool: โœ… - Distribution: โŒ - Launch: โœ… - Team Allocation: โœ… - Future plans: โœ… - Burning: โœ… - Ownership revoked: โœ… - Community: โœ… - Holders: โœ… - BuyBacks: โœ… - Expectations vs reality: โŒ This is not bad execution, not many ppl will be able to pull this off in crypto. No one knows the future, but I chose to believe that Sasha & NotPixel team has a plan. Currently they are not listed on any CEXโ€™es, but I think that Sasha & his team could easily get there. Letโ€™s see what the future holds for us ๐Ÿ™Œ

Viktor ๐Ÿงก

44,168 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 1 Jahr

๐ŸšจBREAKING: THE COUP IS OVER | WAGNERโ€™S RETREATING This official statement from Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner group and the leader of this coup, says it all. I don't think anyone expected this: "They were going to dismantle PMC Wagner. We came out on 23 June to the March of Justice. In a day, we walked to nearly 200km away from Moscow. In this time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. Now, the moment has come when blood may spill. Thatโ€™s why, understanding the responsibility for spilling Russian blood on one of the sides, we are turning back our convoys and going back to field camps according to the plan." The President of Belarus, Lukashenko, has been in talks with Prigozhin all day and has taken credit for the peace agreement. Prigozhin accepted the terms of Lukashenkoโ€™s agreement and agreed to halt the movement of his forces and return back to his bases. The agreement also guarantees security for fighters of PMC Wagner. It seems that the attempted coup has come to an end, and Prigozhin, along with his men, will return to their bases. Reports of Wagner forces not only leaving Moscow Oblas, but also leaving Rostov. Russian media reports that criminal cases have already been dropped from Yevgeny Prigozhin and that Prigozhin and his forces will receive FULL IMMUNITY Restrictions on the movement of vehicles have been lifted from the Voronezh region which saw clashes earlier during the coup. MY THOUGHTS: - I did not expect this would end peacefully with a deal as it seemed both sides seemed at the point of no return - I have no idea how Prigozhin and Putin can both operate in Russia with what just transpired, and I also have no idea what will happen with the war in Ukraine but I wouldnโ€™t be surprised if we see a space deal reached. - Today was another example of citizen journalism replacing mainstream media with UNBIASED and UNCENSORED live breaking news. - I am fried, been awake for more than 30 hours, initially doing a space with former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan before shifting to the Coup space which is at 21 hours and counting. Time for me to finally sleep!

Mario Nawfal

21,671,990 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 3 Jahren

Managed to get out of Dubai. The following is my personal opinion & experience ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช Everything went quite seamless. Careem cabs operate normally. The airport is extremely well organized, considering the circumstances. The world has changed since Saturday and unfortunately, the country I moved to 3 years ago has been under heavy attacks. Why? No one really knows. However, I find it extremely disturbing that most media - including our beloved CT - exploits that serious situation to take cheap shots at Dubai and people who moved here. There are real families and hard working people affected. Most are scared or feel extremely uncomfortable. It's a traumatizing experience to hear missile interceptions right above your house. Nothing I wish for any human to ever experience, no matter if you pay 0% or 50% taxes. I don't even know what the link between those two things should be?? If anything, it proves that the UAE cares about their people and is able to protect its residents. Even at 0% income tax. Dubai was not known for it's strong military. It was always portrayed to be bling-bling golden steaks and influencers. But the UAE has shown the entire world that it can defend 1,000+ drones and 200+ missiles from a direct neighbor. That is impressive, whether you love or hate the UAE. Many countries would likely not be able to absorb that. So, if anything: Dubai and the UAE have demonstrated that the system works. I have lived in multiple countries around the world and the UAE is by far the most capable of handling crisis. Why did I leave Dubai then? Because it's not a situation I want to be in. Missile interceptions and drone explosions are no joke. Besides the danger that debris could hit your roof, there's an incredible intensity in the air. Most describe it as "intense calmness". While the Government managed to keep everyone from panicking, it's impossible for everyone to stay fully calm. And you can feel that in the day to day. The first night I got virtually no sleep. The night of my departure neither. I haven't left my house at all after the attacks started. But I'm out now. I really hope that leaving the country wasn't necessary, and that I will be able to come back to Dubai as soon as possible. And no, I'm not paid to say this, nor did I sign anything. Maybe part of the truth why no one who lives in Dubai has bad things to say about it is because it's one of the rare places on earth where people actually trust the Government and respect them? Not only for creating wealth and understanding business, but for caring and communicating in a way most other countries are simply incapable of. Anyways, I guess the point of this post is to 1) Tell everyone in Dubai that it's possible to leave right now. I know many people are very scared and want to get out. Be persistent with the airline if they cancel your flight and push hard to get rebooked on the next available one. And maybe choose a destination that isn't Europe, considering most of these flights are overbooked already and impossible to get on. 2) Dubai's self defense is impressive and we should acknowledge that. At least this one time, let's not derail into irrelevant discussions but show respect to the leaders + express empathy for those affected. 3) As an expat living in Dubai, I can still feel proud of my home country and do not have to choose. This isn't a black and white situation. Dubai is a melting pot of cultures and great place for Business. Other countries have better nature, social life or other things. It's also up to individual preference. 4) If you hate Dubai, yalla you don't need to live here, visit nor speak about it. Enjoy the place you live in and focus on your own. No need to feel triggered and take cheap shots at hard working people and families that are currently under heavy missile attacks. One final thing that really became clear to me this week is that after all, safety, health and living in freedom are absolutely priceless. May this all be over with soon and for sustaining peace to come in ๐Ÿคฒ๐Ÿผ

Cito

1,392,572 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 6 Monaten

This grandad found a 500 year-old, 17ft deep well under his living room in Plymouth, Devon, England. As well as, he also found a 16th Century BC, Bronze Age Sword and Coin from 1725 AD, inside the well :- The 70 year-old Colin Steer has spent last decade digging out well after he found it while redecorating living room of his home. He noticed a dip in floor while carrying out DIY, which led him to uncover well. While digging it out, Steer found what he thinks is the leather casing of a sword, which he believes could date the structure to 1500s. The 70-year-old said: "I found what seemed to be a leather casing of a sword when I was about 5ft into dig which leads me to believe that well could be medieval. "However it could date back to even earlier than that because we have no real way of accurately dating it at moment." He said that house was constructed in 1895 and he moved there in 1988 but it was 10 years ago while decorating that he saw the dip. "I immediately thought someone must have buried someone under there or that we had a sinkhole. "Since that moment, I decided I was going to dig it out and see what I would find. The hole is currently 17ft deep and there is about another 4-5ft that I want to dig out when I eventually get round to it. Since I began digging out well, I have also found a coin from 1725. In late 18th Century AD, during reign of George III, government issued large copper coins known as "Cartwheel" penny and twopence. An ancient sword was also discovered inside the well. Historically, sword developed in Bronze Age, evolving from dagger; earliest specimens date to about 1600 BC. The later Iron Age sword remained fairly short and without a crossguard. At the bottom of well the is about 4ft of water, so everything that I did out now will be wet and mucky stuff." Colin wants to go another few feet further down though before he finishes and although he is bringing up mud into his living room, he says that his wife Vanessa is understanding and is equally interested in the well. His plan is to then extend well wall up into his living room and use it as a coffee table which he thinks will make an attractive feature. He is also keen to find out why the well is actually there and consulting old maps have not given any answers. He said: "I would extend the walls of the well up through the floor and then add a round tabletop on top to make it into a coffee table. I think it would be a great feature for our front room. We still aren't really sure about why the well is there". The 17ft hole in the couple's living room is currently covered over by a sheet of Perspex and a trap door so that it is safe. Colin and Vanessa have grandchildren who love to look down the hole through the sheet of Perspex and they are very intrigued by unique feature in their grandparent's home. He added: "It is a good thing to show off to people as it is not something that you see every day. I have actually even tried some of water that is at the bottom of the well. It was really clear and tasted fine to me. I am going to get it tested for bacteria and if everything came back good then I could even bottle it up and sell it." According to the researchers, this well belonged to a wealthy or noble families, because only high status families could afford their own private well - most likely in the basement of your house, during medieval and late medieval times. Because, it was common for external wells to be poisoned in Medieval times, which is why castles would have them built internally. It could take decades to construct the well but it was worth wait to have your own clean water. To prevent well from collapsing, some were lined with stones, bricks or wood. Researchers also stated that, according to the preservation status of this well, it looks that the well was regularly maintained, to keep functional for long. It also involved periodic cleaning to remove debris, prevent contamination and maintain quality of water. #archaeohiatories

Archaeo - Histories

68,015 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 1 Jahr

Not long ago, Turkey was running a neo-Ottoman project across the Arab world. The Muslim Brotherhood was the tool. Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, the Gulf media wars. Western analysts called it one of the defining threats to the regional order. They were right! That era is over! It did not end through Western pressure. It ended because Saudi Arabia spent a decade building the economic, religious and diplomatic weight that made accommodation with Riyadh worth more to Ankara than confrontation. Investment. Mediation. Religious authority. Doors quietly closed. Soft power in its least glamorous form, and its most effective. I think we should be grateful for that. We rarely are. Turkey is now moving toward the Arab world, not away from it. On 7 August, in Mecca, ErdoฤŸan, Mohammed bin Salman and Shehbaz Sharif signed a joint defence agreement: an attack on one is an attack on all three. It did not come from nowhere. Ankara joined a Riyadh-led maritime coalition in late July, one of fourteen founding members. The 2023 drone contract was Turkey's largest defence export deal at the time. This is the Middle East Western analysts spent fifteen years asking for. Two days before the signing, Steven A. Cook published a column in Foreign Policy arguing that strategic blunders have plagued Saudi Arabia's approach to the region. The verdict arrived before the ink was dry. Read it closely and it collapses. Cook says Riyadh has no strategy. Then he lists it: protect the economic transformation, avoid a wider war, lower tensions with Iran, stop armed factions from imposing facts by force, tie normalisation with Israel to a Palestinian state. That is not the absence of a strategy. That is a hierarchy of priorities. His real objection is that it is not his strategy- one that would have Saudi Arabia tolerate the STC, hold the UAE partnership regardless of conflicting aims, welcome an Israeli foothold in Somaliland, and stand as the front line against Iran. He says the Sanaa runway strike was unnecessary. In the same breath he concedes Mahan Air is tied to the IRGC, and that the Houthi delegation may have carried more than pistachios and carpets. He accepts the violation, then faults the attempt to stop it. He also assigns the strike to Riyadh. Saudi Arabia never claimed it. Yemen's internationally recognised government announced it. Then the pattern. Restraint is weakness. Action is recklessness. De-escalation is buying calm. Interdiction is provocation. Cook recommends retreat, then cites the retreat as proof there is no strategy. And he blames Riyadh for the Houthi escalation - as if the Houthis had not been firing at Saudi cities for years, as if Iran's proxy project began this July. A possible Saudi miscalculation does not absolve Iran and the Houthis of their own violence! Underneath all of it sits the oldest false narrative in the file: that Saudi Arabia is weak. Remember Yemen. The Kingdom had the capability and the intent to end the Houthi project militarily. What constrained it was Western political pressure in the name of human rights - war powers votes, suspended munitions, withdrawn targeting support. Riyadh was told to stop. It stopped. Then it absorbed years of missiles and drones on its airports, its cities and its oil infrastructure while holding a truce it was never legally obliged to hold! You can argue the restrictions were right. You cannot impose them, watch the adversary rearm through the corridor you protected, and then call the result a Saudi failure. Restraint imposed by allies is not incapacity. Saudi Arabia is not the architect of this crisis. It is the state repeatedly asked to carry the cost of other people's strategies - and it is now building, with Ankara and Islamabad, an architecture that reduces its need to. The criticism came before the agreement was a week old. That says less about Saudi strategy than about how hard it is for some analysts to read an order they no longer write.

๐Œ๐ข๐œ๐ก๐š๐ž๐ฅ ๐€๐ซ๐ข๐ณ๐š๐ง๐ญ๐ข

478,566 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 1 Monat

โ€ก Brant โ€“ Fast, Expensive, and Worrying In a recent 2yo MSW race at Santa Anita, Brant, a $3m OBS March sales purchase, made a winning debut for his high-profile connections. Sent off at odds of 4/5, he tracked the pace before taking command on the turn, and drew off to win by 5 1/4 lengths. He recorded a very fast raw time, and a 101 Beyer figure. His high auction price was due largely to his having breezed an eighth of a mile in :09 3/5 at OBS. In the wake of the bidding, Amr Zedan, who purchased the colt on the recommendation of his trainer, Bob Baffert, and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, was quoted in TDN as saying: "These horses are difficult to come by. He ticked all the boxes. He was a very precocious Gun Runner with a great pedigree. And more importantly, if you have someone like Mr. [Bob] Baffert in your corner, that gives you the courage and the guts to just go after quality. And you'll know they are in the best hands to turn them into champions. This one is for the team: Donato and obviously Bob and his ability to turn them into champions. So if you have the great team, the great training, the rest is easy. Was he pricey? Yes. But quality dictates price. So I never hesitated.โ€ The hyperbole, and boilerplate optimism, are understandable, as even owners with very deep pockets prefer not to dwell on their inevitably long lists of expensive failures. But Zedan and their team have also enjoyed a number of high-profile successes, including Taiba, another Gun Runner colt, which won the Santa Anita Derby and the Malibu, both Grade I, before being retired to stud. Lanni, who has signed for at least some of Zedan's other good horses, was quoted as saying: "This is what the boss [Baffert] wanted and what Amr wanted. Gun Runner is a tremendous stallion and he worked really good and galloped out good. He did everything you want one to do.โ€ Again, boilerplate, and if one were to take the reactions of the owner and agent at face value, it would be easy to arrive at the conclusion that the horse had no faults. But that would be naรฏve. So, let's first take a look at Brant's pedigree. Gun Runner is a "top" sire, and well-capable of getting high-class runners. It's a bit too early to fully judge him as a source of durability, but excluding his current crop of 2yos, his runners are only averaging 10 career starts. That number will rise, but likely not enough to reach, let alone exceed the contemporary industry average of ~15. In other words, though he himself raced 19 times, and won his swan song (the Pegasus World Cup) at five, there is no evidence to suggest that he is likely to eventually prove to be a particular source of durability. Brant's dam, Tynan, raced 13 times, and he is her first registered foal. His second dam, Pappascat, has produced at least five foals to have raced, and while only one has reached 20 starts, four of the five raced at least 12 times, which by today's degraded standards, isn't so bad. The fact that the coat color inherited by Brant, and his dam, can be traced to a notably unsound influence, Unbridled's Song, may or may not be meaningful. But I wouldn't ignore it as a potentially worrying connection. Brant's dam-sire, Liamโ€™s Map, was lightly raced himself, and both his sire (US) and dam have poor records in terms of durability. As a sire, he has thus far produced numbers similar to Gun Runner. So while Brant's first two dams promise more than many that I have come across in similar assessments, and his sire displayed durability on the track, his overall pedigree suggests average durability at best. And what about the word that Mr. Zedan used twice in the above quote โ€“ "quality"? Well, Curlin is a quality sire, but in terms of bottom-line production, it leaves a lot to be desired. That's not to say that there are no good runners to be found, in fact the closely related Pappacap, under Brant's second-dam, was a Gr. III winner, and twice Grade I placed. However, through Brant's first six dams at least, I believe there to be just a single Grade I winner, Al Qasr, a Champion stayer in Peru, which appears under his fourth-dam. That is not, by any reasonable definition, a strong bottom-line, although it is fair to say that Brant's first dam is unproven. *** What might be learned from Brant's debut race? Everyone can see that he ran fast, and was much the best of that field, but I would say that there were some nuanced aspects of his performance that were both interesting, and worrying. Those nuances relate to his action, as viewed both through the pan shot, and head-on. Watching the basic (pan) view, Brant appears to display some "knee action". It isn't extreme, but also isn't the type of action that ideally suits dirt runners, and I wouldn't say that the colt appears totally comfortable. Here's a brief, related post on knee action, for reference: Then, we have the (embedded) head-on view, in which Brant displays seriously distorted action in his near-fore (left front leg; right when viewed head-on). It's a fairly extreme example of what is called "winging", and for a number of reasons, does not bode well for durability. Such action is never desirable, and is typically related to certain foreleg conformation flaws, which may include an offset knee, and/or toeing in or out, etc. Note also that under typical American racing conditions (i.e. tightly turning, left-handed tracks), the left front leg is subjected to the greatest torque, which amplifies the potential for injury. It should go without saying that there are occasional anomalies, horses with poor action that remain sound despite such flaws. But they are the exceptions, and it is not uncommon to find abbreviated careers associated with such action. For further reference, here is a link to a closely related post that I wrote after a filly named Amor Fati broke her maiden in eye-catching style in February of 2024. She has made just one further start, and hasn't recorded a work over the past 15 months. What's interesting about Brant is that there are two separate issues relating to his action, and that the some obvious mitigating steps that could have been, or should be taken, in efforts to keep him sound, were not, and are unlikely to ever be taken. First, with regard to his knee action, keep in mind that it is a characteristic that is more typically associated with turf horses. And guess what? Brant's dam was a turf horse. His second-dam was also at her best on turf, and was Gr. II placed on that surface. Also, in some respects, he physically resembles that female line more than his sire. Of course no one who spends millions on a horse that breezed exceptionally fast at a 2yo sale would be thinking "turf", given that the commercial market, and stakes schedules greatly favor dirt runners. But at the same time, it would be a mistake to assume that a fast breeze at OBS necessarily indicates that a given horse will be best suited to dirt. I say that partly because the OBS track features an all-weather surface called "Safetrack", which is far from being identical to dirt racing surfaces. While countless horses have gone through those sales and excelled on dirt, it should never been taken for granted that it will be a preference. And to further flesh out the point, take a look at Brant's breeze video through this link (his pedigree page can also be seen): Despite being rushed to cover a furlong much faster than he ever will again, I would say that he looks smoother, and displays slightly less knee action than in his recent debut race. Why? Could it be, perhaps, because he would prove more comfortable on turf and/or synthetic tracks, than dirt surfaces? Given how he ran first out, this is purely an academic point, as there is virtually no chance that his connections would consider switching surfaces, unless his form on dirt were to deteriorate badly. The second, more important point, relates to Brant's distorted action. I can't find a head-on conformation photo of the colt, but would be very surprised if he does not display flaws in his near-fore. Even in the very unlikely event that the leg were to appear correct, such distorted action would have been on display at the sale, as well as in pre-training at Eddie Woods' farm. And it defies belief that experienced horsemen who were prepared to purchase an extremely expensive horse for an important client would not have covered that base. Which in turn begs two important questions. First, why recommend the purchase of a very expensive horse, no matter how fast, that has yet to race, and displays such distorted action? Secondly, why choose to give such a horse to a trainer whose style and history suggest that injury risk would likely be amplified, rather than mitigated? The answers to those questions help to illuminate why the breed-to-sell paradigm is so insidious. As long as breeders and stud farms are willing to overpay for stallion prospects, and turn blind eyes to conformation defects, distorted action, lack of durability, and modest female families, the connections of horses like Brant need only hope that they hold together long enough to win one or two big races, enabling them cash in. These are the number of career starts made by Zedan's previous best (and expensive) male runners: 9 Arabian Lion 6 Arabian Knight 9 Muth 10 Medina Spirit 11 Hejazi And as long as the AGSC (American Graded Stakes Committee) continues to enable the paradigm through its dishonest KY Derby "prep" Grade I designations, the ultimately damaging feedback loop will likely continue. The answer to the second question is closely entwined, and should be obvious. For all of his faults as a trainer, Baffert has long produced results in stakes races that lead to valuable stud careers, so owners who wish to play the breed-to-sell game consider him to be a logical choice. Of course Baffert and Zedan are hardly alone in supporting the dubious paradigm. But that a horse like Brant could bring millions at a sale, and be given to a trainer who trains very hard, and has compiled a very poor safety record, underscores the extreme degree to which the value of durability has been marginalized by the industry. One final note, and it's a genuine qualification that I always make when producing this type of post, I hope that Brant will enjoy a long, injury-free career. But if I were a betting man...

Tinky

94,348 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 1 Jahr

Iโ€™ve never shared the full inside baseball on the inside fastball that broke my jaw April 5, 2008 at Ole Miss, we were facing projected 1st rounder and future Big Leaguer, Lance Lynn Before it became widespread, Lance had success pitching towards the top of the zone with a fastball that appeared to rise He got me out my first at bat on a high fastball that I should have laid off So my 2nd at bat I told myself to see the ball down in the zone My eyes jumped from his release point to the area I was trying to see the ball down to. I never ended up seeing the pitch until .01 before it hit me If youโ€™ve ever gotten hit in the face, you donโ€™t know what happened at first. So it took me about half a second to realize what happened When I did, I fully expected to spit teeth out and when I leaned over to spit and saw that only blood came out, I assumed I was fine Then I heard the Ole Miss head coach yell โ€œit hit his bat,โ€ because the cracking of my jaw sounded like a foul ball off a mental bat I turned around and yelled โ€œshut the fuck upโ€ at their dugout and proceeded on to first base My trainer came up to me and his first words were โ€œoh fuck,โ€ Knowing that was poor bedside manner, and that I was probably very fucked up, I joked โ€œyouโ€™re not supposed to say that,โ€ At that point I knew I was coming out of the game but I was so full of adrenaline that it didnโ€™t hurt and wouldnโ€™t begin to hurt for a couple hours Both the pitcher and coach felt so bad after it happened that both came to apologize to me at the end of the inning while I was beside their dugout being tended to by my trainer and their doctor I actually had to walk to the parking lot through the stadium seats and all the fans looked at me in horror as I had a white bloody rag hanging off my face. It was surreal watching their reactions to my blood We drove over to an Oxford medical center that was clearly not the best location for me to be in, so my coachโ€™s wife drive me up to Nashville to get surgery that night We got swept that weekend and I got my jaw wired shut for the first of 6 weeks I stupidly tried to come back and play the following week. My coaches let me as I was medically cleared to hit with a face mask, but the rest of my season I was a different hitter I was hitting .400 at the time of the fracture, 2nd in the SEC, with 2 months left in the season I finished the year hitting .312. Meaning I flipped from one of the best hitters in the conference to one of the worst before and after the incident Despite finishing my Vandy career 7th on their all time hit list, this play is what I hear about the most when I return Iโ€™ve been lucky that I havenโ€™t had much issues with my jaw thus far post incident, although I did find out that 2 of the nerves of the impacted teeth are dead, and I will likely need to get one of those teeth extracted at some point When they showed me the X Ray it was a clear break. A scary image that could have been WAY worse if it were 3 inches higher, as I likely would not be able to see out of my left eye (and wouldnโ€™t be as handsome as I am) Anyway, to have interesting ideas you must have interesting experiences and this was certainly one

Alex Feinberg

473,019 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 23 Tagen

President Zelenskyy is in Canada today. His visit is primarily about air defense for Ukraine and how Ukraine can survive the winter. This is the right priority: the sky above Ukrainian cities is currently more important than any concepts. But I would look at this visit more broadly. Canada is currently restructuring its defense policy toward Europe, and Ukraine can take a significantly more important place in this restructuring than is visible from the list of aid packages. We are talking about the Canadaโ€“EUโ€“Ukraine triangle. This is not an alternative to NATO, but rather an additional mechanism within Euro-Atlantic security. Why is this happening right now? There are four reasons: the lasting confrontation with Russia, growing threats in the Arctic and North Atlantic, Europe's need to take care of its own defense, and uncertainty regarding the duration, terms and conditions that the US will remain a guarantor of security. I will start with Canada. In 2025, PM Carney said that about 75 cents out of every dollar of Canadian capital defense spending goes to American suppliers. Therefore, Canada is now setting a course toward diversification. At the same time, there are no intentions to sever ties with Washington. Canadian defense-industrial strategy explicitly emphasizes strong relations with the United States. The second Canadian motive is the Arctic. Seven out of eight Arctic states are now in NATO. Russia remains the main military threat in the region, while China is increasingly taking an active interest in resources and routes. But for Ottawa, the North is also a matter of sovereignty. At the Canadian-Nordic Summit in Oslo in March, leaders specifically emphasized the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. Against the backdrop of disputes surrounding Greenland and talk about a "51st state," a closer security partnership with Europe gives Canada more political support in these matters. And thirdly, let's be honest: in terms of military capabilities, Canada is not a giant. It only plans to reach 2% of GDP on defense this fiscal year. Canada's strength lies in geography and coalitions: in the fact that, together with the US, it secures NORAD while simultaneously building bridges to Europe. And why does Europe need Canada? Because Europe's need is not just weapons, but also the ability to move troops, equipment, and resources across the Atlantic. The JFC Norfolk command, which is responsible for maritime communications between North America and Europe, as of December 2025 also covers Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. The Atlantic, the North, and the East of Europe in NATO planning are increasingly becoming a single space. Canada in this scheme is the other shore of the Atlantic. The most interesting thing is that elements of the Canada-EU-Ukraine triangle are already working. SAFE is the first of them. This is a European concessional loan mechanism for joint defense procurement, worth EUR 150 billion. The main condition is that the money must work for the European defense industry. Therefore, at least 65% of the component value in a contract must be European. Under SAFE rules, items produced in Ukraine count as European, on equal footing with products from EU countries, Norway, or Iceland. Canada was also admitted to the mechanism, becoming the first non-European country to join. Joint production is the second one. In May, the defense ministries of Ukraine and Canada signed an agreement to produce Ukrainian reconnaissance drones in Canada for the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the Airlogix-Sentinel joint venture. Ukraine provides battle-tested technology; Canada provides manufacturing capacity and funding. This is no longer aid, it's a manufacturing partnership. The third one: money. The NATO Ankara Declaration recorded that European allies and Canada are already funding the vast majority of security assistance to Ukraine. The threats facing all three sides are also shared. The most vivid example is underwater infrastructure. According to Reuters that cites two Western officials, in the spring, Britain, Norway, and the US tracked Russian GUGI submersibles that were practicing the use of means for covertly disabling cables near Svalbard. For Canada, this concerns trans-Atlantic communications and Arctic surveillance. For the EU: cables, ports, and energy grids. For Ukraine: energy infrastructure and the Black Sea infrastructure. What does Ukraine bring to this arrangement? We bring experience that neither Canada nor most European armies possess: high-intensity warfare against Russia, mass deployment of drones, electronic warfare, intelligence, and protecting infrastructure under constant attack. Chatham House, in a May report, directly proposes integrating Ukraine into NATO's Eastern Sentry, as well as into the EU's Eastern Flank Watch and Drone Defense Initiative, arguing that Ukrainian solutions could make the defense of the continent against drones more cost-effective. Ukraine, without a full-fledged navy, forced the Russian Black Sea Fleet to withdraw its main forces from Sevastopol, Crimea. This experience is directly relevant to both the Baltic and the North Atlantic. Shared maritime situational awareness from the Black Sea to the Arctic (Canadian space capabilities, European surveillance programs, and Ukrainian practical experience) would allow monitoring the Russian navy, shadow tankers, and underwater infrastructure as a single theater. Cooperation between Canada and the EU can reduce dependence on unstable supply chains. Canada possesses significant reserves of critical materials, important among other things for the defense industry, whereas the EU depends on China for critical raw materials. Combining Canadian resources, European manufacturing capacity, and Ukrainian technology could create a distinct trans-Atlantic supply chain. Energy cooperation should be long-term. Canada does not yet have sufficient infrastructure on its Atlantic coast to quickly replace Russian energy resources in Europe. However, it can gradually become one of the sources of the EU's energy security. This applies not only to LNG, but also to critical materials, nuclear fuel, and the protection of energy infrastructure. The role of the United Kingdom should not be underestimated, as well. It plays a significant role in the security of the North Atlantic, the GIUK gap, the protection of underwater infrastructure, and the development of the Atlantic Bastion concept, fitting naturally into a broader security system beyond the Canadaโ€“EUโ€“Ukraine format. However, this specific triangle holds distinct significance because it combines Canada, European institutions, and Ukraine's gradual integration into the European defense market. Thus, Ukrainian president's visit to Canada does not create a triangle in itself. But it shows that there are elements that are already working: SAFE, where Ukrainian content is counted toward European content; JFC Norfolk, which stitches the Atlantic to the North and East of Europe; Ukrainian drones manufactured in Canada; and funding, the main share of which is already borne by Europe and Canada. The potential for deepening cooperation within the triangle lies in joint projects: air defense and counter-drone measures, maritime situational awareness from the Black Sea to the North Atlantic, protection of underwater infrastructure, and raw material supply chains.

Anton Gerashchenko

59,939 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 13 Tagen

Recently did an interview with the lead developer of Knight's Path on the title's future release and the state of the industry. The Western AAA gaming industry has shifted its focus away from its core audience, favoring products for smaller, less engaged demographics. This shift has led to a noticeable disconnect between large publishers and their traditional fan base. This has, however, created an environment for indies to thrive. They can prioritize authenticity and community, crafting games that resonate with their players and that is exactly the case with Knight's Path. In December of 2023, Knights Path: The Tournament was released to Very Positive reviews on Steam. It is a short medieval RPG featuring challenging combat, an immersive progression system, and a nice little story. It served as an announcement, a combat concept demo, and a teaser for the forthcoming open-world RPG Knight's Path, which is currently in active development. I asked what their plans were regarding the scope of the full release. While you might get the impression that Knight's Path is an arena fighting game, thatโ€™s not the case with the full release. "Knight's Path will be a proper open-world, story-driven RPG. Of course, as a small indie team, weโ€™re keeping the scope modest. The open world will be compact but dense, featuring one town, one village, castle ruins, forests, valleys, and other areas to explore." Many gamers would agree it is better to have a limited number of fully fleshed-out areas than to present a gigantic, empty world. This has been a major criticism levied towards recent releases like Pokรฉmon Scarlet and Violet and even modern Assassins Creed, which tends to rely on repetitive gameplay loops scattered across an overly large map, which can feel more like busywork than meaningful exploration. I have always believed that quality over quantity is the best way to go. The team has also made this a priority with things such as the story and weapon types. "We plan to include three main weapon types: longsword, sword and shield, and bows. These will feature the full progression system seen in the demo, with skill levels such as Novice, Adept, Expert, and Master. Players will need to learn individual skills from different trainers to progress. In addition, weโ€™re introducing secondary weapons like spears, halberds, and other polearms. These wonโ€™t have RPG-style progression but will still offer variety in combat." Regarding the story, they plan to be bold and strive to create a 16-28 hour-long main campaign. "The story will be divided into four chapters, with each chapter offering around 4โ€“7 hours of gameplay. As in the demo, the player character begins as a nobody, slowly learning how to wield a sword and eventually becoming a knight. However, the progression will be much more realistic than in the demo, where the peasant hilariously transformed into a champion in just four days." This is a far cry from many games that are released nowadays. In just 2024 alone at a glance, the AA release Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn provided an average of 8 hours of content, Princess Peach: Showtime at 10 hours, Silent Hill 2 Remake at 15, and even the GOTY winner Astrobot holds an average playtime of 10 hours. A major issue within the industry is the way we are treated by the people who only have jobs because of our favorite hobby. In 2024 the gaming industry is forecasted to generate $208.7 BILLION dollars, up from 5.4% in 2023. Compare that to Hollywood, which is a measly $12.3 billion. The gaming industry employs 727,000 individuals in the United States alone. So, you'd think these people would have a little bit of respect for gamers, though so many who are vocal on social media show nothing but contempt for us. Perhaps this is because of fear if they do not show loyalty to a cause or "fit in" that they may not secure funding or genuinely believe in what they preach, but the team behind Knight's Path isn't worried about that. "We are independent developers, and we plan to stay independent so we can stay true to our vision. Knight's Path is a game made by gamers for gamers. Weโ€™re prioritizing fun gameplay above all, and we firmly believe this is exactly what gamers want." I also raised some questions about their big plans moving forward. In the demo, one of the major criticisms I had was with the voice acting. I had guessed it was done via AI, which was confirmed. "You guessed correctlyโ€“ the voice acting in the demo was done by AI, and it was probably the loudest critique we received, and we totally understand why! Back then, we didnโ€™t have much of a choice, but for the full game, we donโ€™t plan to use any AI voices. Luckily, after the demo release, many voice actors reached out to us, volunteering to lend their voices to the full game. We absolutely plan to answer their call and give them that opportunity." AI can be a useful tool, especially for developers starting out who can't commit a lot of money to voice acting or just want to see a version of the product that's closer to what they envision the full release to be, but going from that to real voice actors will bump the experience to the next level. I myself played the demo in its entirety and really enjoyed my time with it! I thought the game was reminiscent of Gothic 2 and even The Witcher. I was happily surprised when I didn't encounter any bugs or glitches and while some areas have not been fleshed out like the voice acting, I would recommend putting the game on your wishlist to see what this team does in the future when they finally deliver their updated demo and the eventual full release of the game.

Vara Dark

42,375 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 1 Jahr

Unpopular opinion about El Salvador. A TON of workers here are lazy as hell and i do hope this message reaches many Salvadoreรฑos in the United States. You leave the job site, little will get done and yes tools and materials will disappear. I said it. If youโ€™re going to build a home, start a business, or just hire a few helping hands for that side project, get ready to fire fast. Put in systems of checks and balances, hire solid management, use cameras, and lock up materials. If you have the time or money you or someone you really trust must manage the project on SITE. Iโ€™ve hired thousands of people throughout the last few 6 years while personally living in 9 Latin countries and El Salvador has been one of the hardest to work in. El Salvador also happens to be my favorite country at the moment with my favorite people. Itโ€™s beautiful, small, has a Chuck E cheese for my daughter but most important, itโ€™s safe for my family. So why is it so damn hard to work with people here? I think itโ€™s because of the civil war. This is going to sound crazy coming from a president of a non profit but free money destroys people. It enables them. It ruins their will to work ultimately creating a lazy and slothful person Over 2.5 million people from El Salvador live in the United States. MANY of them send money every 2 weeks to their aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews to โ€œhelpโ€ them. This has turned into dependency. It has created a cycle of entitlement rather than self-sufficiency. โ€œWhy would I work for 10 hours in the sun when I can tell my aunt that I need money for medicine?โ€ There are kids here with no desire to self educate, no desire to work, because theyโ€™re sucking the tit of their families in the United States or Canada. 2 of my hardest workers who show up early, never miss a day are these two men in this video. No arms, and an elderly who just wants to work. Their speed compared to a young healthy man is slow in comparison but their will and desire to work is unwavering. Theyโ€™re inspiring. They are happy at work. They donโ€™t complain. Theyโ€™re not rich working for me but they are ok. I believe they are hard workers because they were never a part of a welfare system given to them from family in the states. I also believe that the civil war has created a massive divide between the wealthy and the poor. Maybe this already existed but chatting with enough people you can put 2 and 2 together. The socioeconomic divides between the wealthy and the poor. Certain families growing incredibly rich over the suffering of the lower class. People have lost trust, theyโ€™ve lost hope. Their views on money and rich people are shaped by past experiences of being taken advantage of. People are sick and tired of making $75 per pay period in the farms of El Salvador. I know thatโ€™s a whole other discussion. How do we fix this? I donโ€™t know but I know my mission with casa conejo is to inspire others to work their asses off and to get paid by the sweat of their brows. I want to create a micro economy that allows the poor of the poor to grow! To break the cycle of poverty. To shatter the idea of โ€œwe canโ€™t make it in El Salvadorโ€ We can and we will by working our asses off and getting paid what we deserve. Once weโ€™re open a percentage of profits will go towards these workers. The rest back into our projects of building schools, running our womenโ€™s shelters, feeding the elderly. Letโ€™s do this

MURPHSLIFE

196,138 Aufrufe โ€ข vor 1 Jahr