If you ask people like Ian Welsh (et al.), Russia is completely winning in Ukraine. They’ve taken territory and are holding it. They haven’t been fully repulsed and are making some gains.

If you ask others, Russia’s effort is a failure, having achieved few of its military objectives while they’ve lost vast amounts of materiel and personnel to gain comparatively little.

Looking at the situation beyond all the copious propaganda, to me it seems like Russia is “winning” about like we did in Afghanistan. They can hold ground on a map more than in reality, with a massive presence and much coercion and killing, but they have no real support and the minute there is not an active and oppressive occupation, their power is and will be essentially non-existent.

That doesn’t feel like winning to me.

Why should I value the lives of the immunocompromised more than they value their own lives? Why are they in a supermarket not wearing a p100? https://t.co/ghSBoDhhb6

— Misha Gurevich, Futurist (@drethelin) May 22, 2022

I’ve wondered the same damn thing. It also seems like they should be lobbying hard for better ventilation everywhere, instead of asking people who never masked in the first place to do something they obviously are never gonna do anyway.

People always complain about how hard it is to be skinny. (Which it ain’t, really.)

No one complains about how hard it is to be fat. Which it is — because I’ve been minorly fat and it fucking sucked.

The concept was invented so attractive people could brag about being seen as attractive without comming off as boastful.

Instead, they get to loudly state that they are seen as attractive as *a complaint* and thereby simultaneously brag and garner sympathy.

— mike burns (@rhaegar227) May 22, 2022

I think humblebragging is about 80% of “objectification” complaints. That’s just human nature.

Ukraine is not just fighting for territories, it's fighting for people. Those under Russian occupation suffer from terrible human rights abuse: kidnappings, torture, rape, extrajudicial killings. Ukraine needs to liberate occupied territories to protect them. The West must help pic.twitter.com/9HjVYjpgmz

— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) May 20, 2022

I think Olga is right; if we allow Putin to take Ukraine, or even part of Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are likely up next. Not to mention the genocide that absolutely will occur in Ukraine (is already occurring).

Those arguing for peace are hoping concessions to Putin will work. These will not.

managerialists desperately need to believe this, because if there is actually such a thing as an irreplaceable person, it derails the whole managerial project that demands that all individuals be helpless in the face of managerial institutions

it is, of course, false https://t.co/hYoKTXg6DX

— Dedicating Ruckus (@ded_ruckus) May 21, 2022

It is false. Some institutions and organizations just would not exist, or not amount to much, without a few key people. PMC libs fucking hate that idea, but it is nevertheless true.

if literally every single other country in the entire world decided to invade the USA together, will all of their resources, would the US be able to hold off the attack or would it fall?

Would fail. The level of coordination needed could not be achieved. Military might is useless with no viable way to wield it cohesively. This is assuming no nuclear weapons are used by either side.

At most, Alaska and Hawaii could be taken and held by a determined foe. But the mainland? No.

Among all humans, I think I’m fairly short. Among other writers, a solid medium. But I also once did a charity event with my wife’s PhD chemistry cohort and I was the tallest person involved by about a head. It was the best day of my life. https://t.co/6XjnqgwTFb

— Matt Bell (@mdbell79) May 20, 2022

I was often the tallest or nearly the tallest person around when I was in China. I didn’t like it; I don’t like standing out. I am fine with my height. It made me try harder. I now rule very hard.