A quote loosely based on Vladimir Putin:

Who doesn’t miss Mutti has no heart. Who wants her back has no sense.

Hey, don’t forget the SPD and Sigmar Gabriel in particular, who competently followed up Altmaier in burying the solar companies.

Without cheap Russian energy and an end of ICE cars new companies have to be build.

I don’t know if we live in the same Germany but in mine leading CDU politicans argue for buying Russian gas and oil again.

Also, Merz constantly calls for postponing the ban on new ICE cars.

Merz & Friends are not laying the ground work for anything worthwile in the future. All they try is to preserve the status quo.

Monti Python Meme: You are the chancellor? Well, I didn’t vote for you!

and when you have to the SPD

Wer hat uns verraten?

For what it’s worth, I prefer the former to the latter.

I was about to argue for Scholz being worse than Merz (so far). But then I remembered Scholz had at least some competent people in his cabinet.

Well, it’s the same here in Germany. Basically, every year someone announces “We are building 200k new homes” and when asked about what happened to the 200k promised last year the answer is something along the lines “To bad, but this is for real”!

Well, fuel consumption depends on the way you shift gears as well. But yes, it general it’s less.

What do you use the Trackpads for? I never felt the need so far and always wondered why they are there in the first place.

Hello Internet listeners represent!

I guess Daddy Trump gets his wish afterall. Spineless cowards …

How aggressive is the in-game monetization?

I could have been on either of these 2 trains (most likely the REX). Like this, I just ended up on a later one with 170 minute delay.

Have you bought your lottery ticket yet?

“Kein Bier vor 4” or no beer before 4 PM as we say in Germany. But given that it’s past 4 PM somewhere all the time …

Ukrainians aren’t aiming for electrical energy. They aim for oil refineries mostly, which is Moscow’s cash cow.

Si, senior(ita).

*Hanibal ante portas.

I recommend Carlo Masalas latest book “If Russia wins” if you are interested in how such a small scale invasion and it’s political fallout might look like.

The gist is:

• Take medium sized Baltic city, preferably with Russian minority and stop.
• Wait for a NATO response.
• If coalition forces arrive fall back behind border and go to damage control: “Lol just a prank, bro”!
• If none arrive watch NATO tear itself apart because Article 5 is worthless.
• Go wild in places like Moldova, Georgia and finally the Baltic’s proper because who is going to stop you?
• Profit

I don’t think we should fight fire with fire. IMHO the way forward is complete political and economical isolation and containment of Russia.

Step one is sanctioning any form of business with Russia and pressure neutral states via secondary sanctions to do the same. Yes, this means breaking up BRICS. Revoke any visas not related to diplomatic missions to make sure even the average citizen understands they are not welcome with this behaviour of their state. Side note: This does not mean turning away people seeking political asylum. As expansion of both earlier points expand seizure of assets of influencal Russian figures.

Next either finally give Ukraine what they need to take back their internationally recognized territory or directly intervene with troops. Push the Russians out of Ukraine, draw a big red line on the border and add some “Stay out” signs for good measure.

Thirdly drastically increase support for countries such as Moldova and Georgia which are under heavy pressure from Russian interference and pave the way towards EU membership if they so desire. Yes, this will be twisted into another “Russia is getting surrended” spin and guess what it is true: Russia is getting surrounded by people who are fed up with their bullshit.

Removal of sanctions gets tied to multiple factors. I.e. reparations to Ukraine and removal of senior political leadership including and foremost Putin from office.