Four Year Wonders Got Married: Ochka and ML

[ML]

Last fall Zelensky brought up the idea of giving USA access to rare earth minerals.

Now USA proposed to finalize deal to give USA 50% of such minerals that are mined.

USA could also send troops to provide security to Ukraine as part of this deal.

[krimster2]

no USA troops in Ukraine as part of a peace-keeping force, is part of Trump's pledge
composition of "peace keepers" is still unknown

it looks like Putin's hard-line was his Napolean Complex being acted out
Russian sanctions will be "going away"
fate of Russian impounded funds - unknown
Russia holds on to occupied lands, gives up some for Kursk
50% chance the deal gets done in the next 90 days
I wouldn't expect the USA to be giving Ukraine ANY reconstruction money, since it would've come from US AID, which doesn't exist anymore, Voice of America will be going away to

without US $ funding Ukraine, the UAH FOREX will go to 50 UAH to the dollar
cheap property is EVERYWHERE in Western Ukraine, 1 out of 5 people left, lowering housing demand, and locals are all flat broke
the price of a luxury car, buys you a cottage in the Carpathian Mountains
get yurself a little electric car you charge at home to shop in town and carry yur groceries - a 2 seater is perfect
and you can have a pretty cool life there without the hassle of a regular car and garage

live close to a rail station and easily catch a train to Berlin and from there a bullet train to anywhere in Europe
and at least for awhile escape all the chaos that's going to be coming to the USA

those of you on a budget
could rent some place in a city in Western Ukraine like Lvov
and your total monthly living cost would be roughly $800 per month
you shop like New Yorkers do at the Bodago...kiosks in Ukraine...but you also have a choice of western style "hypermarket"
walk a lot...taxis are easy to access and cheap

it's worth doing, just for the experience of feeling what it's like to be part of life by living there with Ukrainians
a very different experience when compared to being a tourist in Ukraine

back in the day, you used to be able to buy a tube of 30 mg Codeine tablets in Ukraine for like $3
take 3 - 90 mg of Codeine phosphate, and I'd be high as a kite, for hours
government subsidised narcotics meant that Ukraine was my very own private utopia
metal detecting, tomb raiding, naked Russian women, all that was "extra"

which you had to weigh against the "negatives"

1. dealing with Russian Kultur and people
2. fear of being burglarized, robbed, etc
3. mail issues
4. all the hassles with money

vrs

sex
drugs
incredible adventure like robbing graves in Russia under a full moon

PS
I gave my wife a dozen eggs for Valentine's Day while I was wearing my t-shirt with tiger stripes
my wife was so grateful for the present, that when she was "done with me"
the stripes were goin in the other direction!!!!

[2tallbill]

Last fall Zelensky brought up the idea of giving USA access to rare earth minerals.

Now USA proposed to finalize deal to give USA 50% of such minerals that are mined.

USA could also send troops to provide security to Ukraine as part of this deal.

Mapped: Where are Ukraine’s rare earth mineral resources
A little over £6 trillion of Ukraine’s mineral resources, which is around 53 per cent of the country’s total, are contained in the four regions Mr Putin illegally annexed in September 2022, and of which his army occupies a considerable swathe.
http://www.the-independent.com/news/world/europe/trump-zelensky-rare-earth-metals-b2699383.html

[krimster2]

those valuations are entirely bogus

Zelensky is gonna tell Trump to "phuque off with Putin" and dump Trump's truce in the garbage where it belongs
Trump's treaty didn't include just minerals, it also included ports like Odessa and farmland, all of Ukraine's prime assets to belong to a corporation...in New York!!!!
and NOW after that faux pax, Zelensky will ONLY talk with European leaders about stepping up to continue the fight against Putin
becuz Trump's so called truce was 100% BS

this will TOTALLY enrage Trump and Putin, who are already counting the profits from the truce
if Europe steps up, there might not even be a truce
standing between powerful people and "their money" is a damned good way to get yurself killed
you can even be "the son of god" but you step on the temple's money scam, you gonna get crucified
Zelensky is just one more Jew for Pilate

so the Trump sell-out is just the opening gambit
the game's outcome will depend on what moves europe and Zelensky makes next
very exciting Match to watch!!!
kinda reminds me of Deep Blue versus Kasparov, now wasn't THAT a game!!!!
 
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/16/the-us-is-ready-to-hand-russia-a-win-newspapers-on-europes-trump-shock?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=bsky_gu&utm_medium=&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1739738286

the US is ready to hand Russia a win’: newspapers on Europe’s Trump shock
European papers express deep alarm at declaration of an ‘ideological war’, while the NYT says Putin may soon ‘realise his dream

and Trump's  ‘ideological war’ is the same one as Putin's
and still ya'll can't connect the dots...

Trump has spent years in secret business negotiations with Russia; Elon Musk has spent years in secret geopolitical negotiations with Russia;
Russia has aided Trump in multiple elections.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly threatened and extorted Ukraine.

and Instead of fighting Putin, Trump wants europe to fight gay cowboys WITH PUTIN!!!
Europeans are like "WTF"?????

wait till the recession/depression comes this summer, Trump will label it "Biden's Recession" of course
and Trump will blame Biden and zelensky for the war and not Putin

this is why the oligarchs control the media, so the ONLY thing you hear are their lies
which is pretty much the ONLY thing YOU listen to and the only thing ya got in yur head, is their nonsense BS
which is meant to keep you in ignorance while they take over the government and privitize it to themselves, to make even MORE $$$
all their lies are just a smokescreen for what their REAL intent is, which will become clearer later this year, when they slowly stop concealing it

and somehow you consider your political affiliations to be intelligent...that's mind boggling to me
becuz no way are you gonna NOT be financially effected by what Trump's doing by the end of the year, and yur children even MUCH more effected
I doubt my children will be able to find jobs when they're out of school soon and I expect yurs will have the same problem in the future

your vote,  just lowered expectations for yur own children, so you can own the libs - True or False
someone who did that, is HIGHLY INTELLIGENT - True or False

the reality is, you just played yurself for Elon and friends
and I'm sorry but trans people and Mexican immigrants aren't really causing you ANY problems
so the choice you made - doesn't really look very smart now...
but you will do EVERYTHING possible, employ every form of excuse and BS
not to see the point i'm trying to make to YOU
of how you just phuqued over yur own kids

I understand you don't care AT ALL about the millions of other people getting phuqued over by Trump, like losing their jobs and health insurance in the USA and their kids in Ukraine
but it also seems like you don't even care about yur own kids future

becuz it is EXACTLY like I told ya
the oligarch media, pushed all yur buttons, and played you like a fiddle, causing you to sacrifice yur children's future to satisfy yur homophobic racism
and you can put that in yur pipe and SMOKE IT home-boy!!!

PS
now that I see how skiiny you became, I could take ya pretty easily with ju-jitsu/krav maga taught to me by actual freakin killers to make me one of them
and not freakin martial arts classes for teen self defense, which is pretty much the only thing taught as martial arts here in the USA
thanks to that training, I can appreciate the sound big men make when they hit the ground on their ass or head
OTOH, I have a body full of scars from fighting, pretty much my entire life, I left some of my blood, all over the freakin world and I shed some as well

I hope I'm done forever with that life, but ya never know...
i like eating cookies on the back porch, and playing with the animals I have befriended
it's like my moment of Zen, my mind is clear and quiet, not planning, calculating....
feels kinda strange....

and then I think of you Trump Voters....and I'm in a RAGE
thanks!  I feel my old self now

[ML]

Actually I was joking about the Lincoln SUV because it  won't fit in the garage at our city house.

Previous owners took away 4 feet of space in front of  the garage to build a laundry area that is attached to kitchen.  i.e.  knocked out existing exterior kitchen wall and built new wall 4 feet into the garage space.

This meant that vehicle could only be 186 inches or so max to fit comfortably in the garage.

We were thinking of new car for wife for a few months because I cannot get in  and out of her Hyundai Elantra that we bought new in 2011.  We didn't really want to get rid of it because it only had 64,000 miles on it and never gave a bit of trouble.  But it was just too close to the ground.  I have mostly stopped driving,  so was always trying to get in and out of the Hyundai which was very painful for my back, sacro, hip and leg pains.

Searching for a car is aways a pain, particularly when some criteria involved.  We wanted a midsize SUV less  than the 186 inches, wanted something above the base model, but refused to accept a sunroof and wanted a Hybrid (not plug-in). Two of these requirements proved to be a killer as most all brands had sunroof if you stepped up from the base model.

After a week of exhaustive internet checking, only two vehicles made the cut:
Ford Escape and Kia Sportage . . . and even then, not all of them.

Wife had first driven a Toyota Rav4 before we ruled it out after finding that only the base model was available without sunroof.  Next she drove the Ford Escape and remarked that it gave a more rough ride than the Rav4.  This was explained by the 'Sport Suspension' variable featured as a 'positive.'  Only a positive for a 'hot rodder' and not good  for her or for my painful back.

Lastly she drove the Kia Sportage Ex Hybrid and pronounced it gave a much softer ride and 'fit like a glove.'

Then came the stupidity.  Most all dealers' websites had the fine print that said:  If you furnish your phone  number, you agree to receive (hundreds) of calls including robo calls.
So after the test drive of the Kia we were ready to buy and pay cash.  I never pay window sticker, so first  thing back in office was 'what's the lowest price.'  Salesman said: OK what's your full name  and phone  number?  I said: I don't give phone number.  Him: Why not?  Me: No explanation, I just don't give . . . what is the price.  Him: I have to punch in your name and phone  number first.  Me: So you can't sell without a phone number.  Him: Yes.  Me: So  we have  no deal?  Him:  I guess so.

I get up and walk out . . . with wife saying 'what's going on?'
After telling her she says:  So he gave up a commission over a phone number ?

Next day, I got on Internet for Kia dealer in next closest town.  I did search and found email address for the Sales Manager.  Wrote him telling what we wanted.  I already knew  they had two available white and a blueish.  I did not include a phone number.
He was a smart cookie and never pressed me for a phone number.  We exchanged about 10 messages over 3 hours or so during which he reduced the price 3 times and said he  would take a personal check (I had expected he would want a cashiers check) and never even asked about any job my wife and I had, etc.

Then two of his guys delivered the car (one car following) to our house the next day (wife chose the blue) . . . with me never giving up a phone number.

Note: All manufactures provide that you can take vehicle to any dealer nationwide for warranty service.  So I will take the Kia to the local dealer who missed out on the sale for such and for oil changes, etc.  I want to take the car by to show the stupid salesman who missed out on a commission, but I won't because even as they must provide any warranty service, he would likely talk to service people and tell them to be on the lookout and jerk us around concering how quick they would get the car in, etc.

Note:  I wanted the next size up SUV and even a luxury SUV . . . but such just wouldn't fit in the garage. If it were for our country house, it would be OK; but we are planning sell country house this summer.  Actually, wife said she would not agree to buy a luxury vehicle with her country being destroyed and her people being killed and suffering.

[krimster2]

my wife's Acura was about $70,000 with taxes, etc
I'd expect that to go up to $100,000 in a few years

look for the online statistics of American vrs Japanese cars reliability
Japanese are WAY ahead of the USA
Lexus, Acura instead of Lincoln

in europe, I'd drive a 2-seat electric, that I would customize
that i'd charge at home without even having to hack into the power panel to get 220V, cuz it just comes outta the socket that way!!!

in Russia, those transformers you see hanging on a pole with a wire to yur house, are 440V step-down transformers
put a tap there and you can fully charge yur car in a few hours for like 10 cents worth of electricity
and it'll last ya all week, running back and forth to the market

in USA, I recommend a Hum-Vee with extra armor plating cuz of so MANY stoopid drivers

in the future, when RVs all have "Tesla Auto-Pilots"
it'll be cheaper to just infinitely drive around in yur RV on auto-pilot while you're sleeping
then it is to own a house

so..."We'll be Living in Cars"
 

[olgac]

ML: Congratulations on a new car!

[ML]

Afraid of not getting what you ordered with on-line shopping ?

Try on-line dating !!

[Patagonie]

Actually I was joking about the Lincoln SUV because it  won't fit in the garage at our city house.

Previous owners took away 4 feet of space in front of  the garage to build a laundry area that is attached to kitchen.  i.e.  knocked out existing exterior kitchen wall and built new wall 4 feet into the garage space.

This meant that vehicle could only be 186 inches or so max to fit comfortably in the garage.

We were thinking of new car for wife for a few months because I cannot get in  and out of her Hyundai Elantra that we bought new in 2011.  We didn't really want to get rid of it because it only had 64,000 miles on it and never gave a bit of trouble.  But it was just too close to the ground.  I have mostly stopped driving,  so was always trying to get in and out of the Hyundai which was very painful for my back, sacro, hip and leg pains.

Searching for a car is aways a pain, particularly when some criteria involved.  We wanted a midsize SUV less  than the 186 inches, wanted something above the base model, but refused to accept a sunroof and wanted a Hybrid (not plug-in). Two of these requirements proved to be a killer as most all brands had sunroof if you stepped up from the base model.

After a week of exhaustive internet checking, only two vehicles made the cut:
Ford Escape and Kia Sportage . . . and even then, not all of them.

Wife had first driven a Toyota Rav4 before we ruled it out after finding that only the base model was available without sunroof.  Next she drove the Ford Escape and remarked that it gave a more rough ride than the Rav4.  This was explained by the 'Sport Suspension' variable featured as a 'positive.'  Only a positive for a 'hot rodder' and not good  for her or for my painful back.

Lastly she drove the Kia Sportage Ex Hybrid and pronounced it gave a much softer ride and 'fit like a glove.'

Then came the stupidity.  Most all dealers' websites had the fine print that said:  If you furnish your phone  number, you agree to receive (hundreds) of calls including robo calls.
So after the test drive of the Kia we were ready to buy and pay cash.  I never pay window sticker, so first  thing back in office was 'what's the lowest price.'  Salesman said: OK what's your full name  and phone  number?  I said: I don't give phone number.  Him: Why not?  Me: No explanation, I just don't give . . . what is the price.  Him: I have to punch in your name and phone  number first.  Me: So you can't sell without a phone number.  Him: Yes.  Me: So  we have  no deal?  Him:  I guess so.

I get up and walk out . . . with wife saying 'what's going on?'
After telling her she says:  So he gave up a commission over a phone number ?

Next day, I got on Internet for Kia dealer in next closest town.  I did search and found email address for the Sales Manager.  Wrote him telling what we wanted.  I already knew  they had two available white and a blueish.  I did not include a phone number.
He was a smart cookie and never pressed me for a phone number.  We exchanged about 10 messages over 3 hours or so during which he reduced the price 3 times and said he  would take a personal check (I had expected he would want a cashiers check) and never even asked about any job my wife and I had, etc.

Then two of his guys delivered the car (one car following) to our house the next day (wife chose the blue) . . . with me never giving up a phone number.

Note: All manufactures provide that you can take vehicle to any dealer nationwide for warranty service.  So I will take the Kia to the local dealer who missed out on the sale for such and for oil changes, etc.  I want to take the car by to show the stupid salesman who missed out on a commission, but I won't because even as they must provide any warranty service, he would likely talk to service people and tell them to be on the lookout and jerk us around concering how quick they would get the car in, etc.

Note:  I wanted the next size up SUV and even a luxury SUV . . . but such just wouldn't fit in the garage. If it were for our country house, it would be OK; but we are planning sell country house this summer.  Actually, wife said she would not agree to buy a luxury vehicle with her country being destroyed and her people being killed and suffering.

   
Interesting story.We start to have here in Europe more and more pressure to give our phone number. I had a problem like this with the gas company to establish the bills.   
I avoid for a long time to give my phone number and that's a constant fight.   
And now with the new IA assistant it will become a hourly nightmare because these robots can call you anytime and repeat until you die. 

[krimster2]

this is why I have a "burner" internet phone number I give out...and this is my "public" phone #
which is COOL, because I can get an internet phone # in almost any area code, even while I'm in a foreign country
my real number was for "business only"
sometime in the future, I will have a sexy "AI Agent" as my phone receptionist

credit cards, same deal, a stack of "loadable debit cards" from American Express

BTW, MAGAt voters
Elon and Donald, just made it illegal to receive YOUR Social Security Benefits, if yur not livin in the USA!

[olgac]

BTW, MAGAt voters
Elon and Donald, just made it illegal to receive YOUR Social Security Benefits, if yur not livin in the USA!

I think both he and Musk urgently need tranquilizers or stop taking whatever they are taking

[ML]

this is why I have a "burner" internet phone number I give out...and this is my "public" phone # which is COOL, because I can get an internet phone # in almost any area code,

I have this also with Google Voice.  But I can only call out.  Somehow incoming calls never come through.

[ML]

Wife said:  Forget about flowers and chocolate . . . I want orgasms.

So I complied to the tune of X squared . . . for her not me of course . . . I had X+1-X.

[Trenchcoat]

Still makes me laugh how Western Feminists have grabbed hold of International Woman's Day and turned it into another chance to have a dig at men in the West, they turn it into an aggressive, man hating rant at men full of hostility etc. Instead of the more positive appreciation of women it came about as in the FSU.

[Patagonie]

Still makes me laugh how Western Feminists have grabbed hold of International Woman's Day and turned it into another chance to have a dig at men in the West, they turn it into an aggressive, man hating rant at men full of hostility etc. Instead of the more positive appreciation of women it came about as in the FSU.

+1

[ML]

My wife called to tell me she saw a fox on the way to work.

I asked her how she knew it was on its way to work.

She hung up on me.

[ML]

Took a short plane trip recently.

No sooner had I gotten seated until a man told me I was in his seat.

I argued back and forth with him for several minutes.

Finally he said: “OK, YOU fly the plane!”

[krimster2]

this is the Captain of Detroit Hood Airlines flight OU812
we have a cabin emergency, can a passenger please come forward to the cabin and be my jive interpreter?

then some chinese muslim dewd came up...and I said "NO Uyghur Pleeze" you misunderstood,  I didn't ask for you...I need a "bruther"

in the Russian Prison Joke Book this is #112

F(sex) "X squared . . . . . . X+1-X.

if this is a derivitive of Frequency over time
means you had sex one time

in the Russian Prison Joke Book this is joke #145, except they use Y instead of X becuz it's even funnier

[2tallbill]

Getting Social Security benefits if you are living outside the U.S.

Most U.S. citizens can get Social Security benefits while visiting or living
outside the U.S.
http://www.usa.gov/social-security-abroad

[krimster2]

U.S. citizens can generally continue to receive Social Security benefits while living abroad,
as long as they are eligible for payment and the Social Security Administration (SSA) can send payments to the country they are in

http://greemantoomey.com/can-receive-benefits-live-abroad-3/

and herein lies the problem...
there are a few countries where they cannot send Social Security payments.
These countries include: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Cambodia, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgzstan, Moldova, North Korea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam
so, if you have "dual-residency" an address in the USA and one of the above listed countries
and yur benefits are "direct deposit" to yur USA bank
the Social Security's Cobol  Computer can glitch on yur ACTUAL residency status depending on where it "thinks" yur actual residency is
which with Elon will be 100 X more likely than before and you'll be flagged for termination of benefits due to an "improper" address

people are NOW starting to wonder, if in the future, they're going to get their SS benefits even in the USA, or receive greatly reduced benefits
no matter, becuz SS COLA is deliberately underaccounted
so benefits automatically decline each year...
inflation is a "secret tax" on the poor that they pay to the rich

Milton Freeman's assumption that inflation is purely a byproduct of monetary policy
has been recently discounted by a new monetary theory called "greedflation"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greedflation

if you get declared dead, or live at an "invalid' address, while yur living and collecting SS overseas...
good luck making an appointment at yur local social security office to challenge it
and thanks to Elon, more and more people are gonna get 'selected' for scrutiny, by a program "Big Balls" wrote for Elon to flag likely democratic SS recipiants
OTOH, I sure as hell, am not gonna stress over IRS audits or violating crypto regulations for the next 4 years
so far, fascism like Baseball, has been very, very good to me

was planning on applying for SS next year, so I should probably schedule an appointment now, to be ready by then
hopefully Elon won't be able to privitize it into another collapsing wall street hedge fund to be run by "Big Balls" Musk Fellas

went to my first Tesla protest...
next big protest is on April 4th

[ML]

Getting Social Security benefits if you are living outside the U.S.

Most U.S. citizens can get Social Security benefits while visiting or living
outside the U.S.
http://www.usa.gov/social-security-abroad

Bill, it's not 'most citizens' (i.e. doesn't depend on individuals) but rather depends on the foreign country.  Whether or not it is 'most' countries I do not know and I did not need to do such a search.
I know that before Russian terrorist invasion, US citizens could get their SS payments into Russian banks, but not into Ukrainian banks.
For those living in Ukraine (and probably many other countries), they had to go to US Embassy each month to get SS money.

But Medicare does not pay for expenses outside USA.

[2tallbill]

Bill, it's not 'most citizens' (i.e. doesn't depend on individuals) but rather depends on the foreign country.  Whether or not it is 'most' countries I do not know and I did not need to do such a search.
But Medicare does not pay for expenses outside USA.

I copied and pasted .Most Citizens' from the US government site linked.

I know that Medicare doesn't work over seas. Medicare was and is a system with the goal of the government
taking total control of medical care in the USA.

[krimster2]

actually....
the intent of the Federal Government is to make health care "affordable"
hence "ACA" Affordable Care Act
which among other things restricted Health Insurers to have a maximum of 20% profit on your insurance premium
millions of people got coverage under the ACA who weren't previously covered
LIVES WERE SAVED

if you were living on yur own, not covered by yur wife's insurance
without ACA, you'd have no health insurance
which means you'd probably be dead now
so sure, crap all over the imperfect system that saves the lives of people JUST LIKE YOU

most of the problems with Obamacara/ACA would go away if we made a single payer system
and costs (profits) would dramatically fall

before the ACA, you could be denied health insurance, for ANY pre-existing condition
cuz insurers ONLY wanted to insure perfectly healthy people to maximize profit

note: the USA going to a "single payer" health insurance scheme would save "consumers" of health care, HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS PER YEAR in this country

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-payer_healthcare

but the people who rip off that money, are not about to let that happen
so they scare uneducated, not too bright people into thinking Single Payer is a Red Commie takeover
and these people ARE SO DUMB they believe it

the intent of private industry health care is SOLELY to make as much money as possible
that's why United Health Care, denies 1/3 of all claims

this way they have more money to divert to their wall street hedge fund which is how THEY make money
UNH = Premiums - 'costs'--->straight to the hedge fund
http://www.tipranks.com/stocks/unh/hedge-funds

so you have a hedge fund "UNH" making life or death decisions
that prioritises their profits over patients health
and that's why somebody shot their CEO

in the USA capitalism = legalized Racketeering, the insurance industry is a perfect example of this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeering

[krimster2]

update on social security
the world's richest man has decided to make life difficult for Social Security Pensioners
starting on March 31
if you have any interaction with Social Security, you will have to schedule an appointment, months in advance and visit yur nearest Social Security office
which if yur livin in Ukraine, would likely be New York City, where they make Texas BBQ Sauce
see below
http://www.kbtx.com/2025/03/18/social-security-administration-require-in-person-identity-checks-new-existing-recipients/

Elon's plan for Social Security....
death by 1,000 cuts before it's owned by some managed hedge fund

now ya see what utter FOOLS MAGA Trump voters are
for believing a single word uttered by Trump or Elon

a MAGA fool and his social security payment will soon be parted

[ML]

Just read about one of latest trends for teenage girls . . . and any woman who wants to.

Vabbing.  Inserting finger (or something) into vagina and then wiping on neck and other places just like you apply perfume.

Some perfumes claim to contain phermones . . . but vabbing ups the game by actually having phermones.

One gal said:  'I swear if you vab, you will attract guys, like for a date, a one-night stand or you'll just get free drinks all night.'

She said: 'Get up there, give it a plunge. You don't have to be fresh out of the shower clean but relatively clean. Dab vab behind the ears, on the wrists, maybe a little on the neck.'

Further: 'I don't know what they're putting in pheromone perfume but it can't replicate your own smell and your own personalised chemicals. Proceed with caution - because it works.'

Makes sense to  me.
Napoleon would have liked it.