I 100% agree with this. If for no other reasons than the odds you'd get.

No rain here either. The bindii clovers are spreading far and wide across the front lawn rather early this year, need to get the poison out and go over it. High 20's and even a 30c (80-86f) predicted for the remainder of this week. Summer is banging on the door even though it's not even Spring yet!

That's the sickest movie. "Duel" I think... The scene where the mechanic (servo - attendant?) recommends he get a pipe for his radiator, and he dismisses this as a "cash grab" - and the part that plays in the movie is unreal. Bill Collins used to host a "Midday Movie" here every Sunday when I was a young kid and when he ran this he highlighted there were cars with crosses through them on the bumper (door?) of the truck, but only AFTER the movie, and I missed it. Bill Collins pissed me off that day. LOL!!!!

That was indeed a great read. Imagine if the BBC didn't ask to use some footage. Zep might have never been aware of the auction and some lucky punter would have hit the jackpot! How it ever came to that though. Amazing.

that's outstanding.

Powerball here is a hungie mil next week. Better belieeeeeeve I gotta ticket. I often imagine the Zep man-land hidden cellar pub that would inhabit this earth.

It is worrying to think of the military and law enforcement application that will be brought to bear with emerging drone tech.

agree.

I do not discount that will come to pass. I disagree. I hope it is. There is nothing better so far. it's far from perfect, and I think the British parliament system is superior functionally speaking, but none better than the US overall. "If Mexico's sovereignty is contingent on what the US deems as critical to American interests" - this is where we differ. It may well be, but should it be? That is the only question. Should it be? US imperial expansion is very interesting from every angle.

Ukraine as a NATO member only threatens Russia because it inhibits their aspirations of expansion. NOT because they actually fear NATO will all of a sudden decide to attack Russia. It is insane to think NATO could attack Russia. Their whole organisation is based on security, not aggression or conquest. And they are made up of the usual overly bureaucratic western countries that have to justify their actions to their free presses. I do take your point on the Mexico analogy though. Cuba is the living example. Well, the US as part of NATO does have obligations for the baltic states (being they are in NATO) - but apart from that, I'd say the US interest is what it has always been - help others who want to have systems and societies based on freedoms, liberty and rule of law somewhat in line with how "the west" does things instead of the old failed dictatorships and kleptocracies they have had - and no longer want. And apart from that (since that really doesn't respond directly to what you say) the specific backing of Ukraine is no more than stopping a far bigger aggressor attacking a sovereign nation in what is likely to be the first of many from Russia - again - as stated by Putin himself in his love letter to the old empire that he has decided must be restored. His adventures in Georgia, Chechnya and the Crimea seemed to be a test to see what reactions they would provoke. He wrongfully assumed no interventions would be forthcoming when he invaded Ukraine. He was wrong. I get that you guys see a lot more wrong with this than I do, that's fine. For me it is simply a good idea to back up a fairly new country that is trying to throw off the shackles of the old communist system which they no longer want and move toward the west. Toward a better way. Russia says no. Well it isn't their decision to make. Good that we are helping Ukraine. I think that is a trait of the west that should be admired. God knows there are plenty of misguided self-interest moves the US and the west make at times that are despicable. But I do concede, that does not rise to obligation necessarily. But I do believe it serves the interests of the US/West because we promote our values as the better form of Government. Not just talk, but to actually back up others. I hope Ukraine get every inch of their land back. Fuck Putin's Russia. It's a mafia run hell hole from all accounts. The sexualization of children comment I'll leave alone except to say that would be a +3 hours at the pub with a few brews to sort through that mess.

Putin made his reasons perfectly clear to the nation before the invasion in his love letter to the old empire and a few interviews he gave. Ukraine posed no threat to Russia except for the invented one of NATO on the doorstep. And yeah, that should not be defined as "the reason" as Russia knows full well Europe do not want to attack or invade Russia. NOT A CENTIMETER. Never has been or likely will be and doesn't need to be. Putin knows it doesn't matter except for the security of those former Soviet Republic states that do not want what the Russian system offers. There is no "threat" to mother Russia. They just don't want that. Seems they want democracy. Probably for similar reasons Steve says. it's just a better way.

I understand the NATO charter and article 5. That's the entire attraction for all former eastern block nations who don't want what they had in the past. At it's core, Russia invaded a sovereign state. That is it. You can define this as a proxy war for the US, I don't disagree, but it is what it is solely for the action of Russia invading it's neighbour. And ok, all wars are not proxy wars, BUT - geopolitics leverages/takes advantage of/uses the conflict to advance self interest without doubt in any/all conflicts. Just as you assess the US is doing here. I agree to disagree about Zelensky. I reckon he is a legend leader and will go down in history as such. Time will tell.

Yeah, I reckon Putin was not overly concerned with that. His ambition was made clear. Incorrect. Ukraine did not want to be part of the Russian way of life. They looked to the west. For right or wrong, better or worse, they looked west. they wanted something different. At the core, that is what this conflict is about. Everything else is just dressing. Why is that a desirable or acceptable (from the perspective of a "western" view) outcome? Might makes right? Illegal? Not sure what you mean. All modern wars are proxy wars. it's part of war. Has been for +50years. Far out. I don't get that. It is exactly what it is about. Ukraine wants to be Ukraine. Not Russia. So put it this way, what is Zelenskyy/Ukraine trying to defend? Russia invaded. They were not invited. What else is there? Cheers.

I was unaware of such a charade. Sounds ridiculous. Lynchpin of the democratic world. 🤣 What I'd say is a far more reasonable take is a lot of eastern Europe would have been at risk if Russia absorbed Ukraine in the early stages. Moldova, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania possibly Poland and/or Romania... Old mate Putin was looking for empire restoration. Nothing less.

I'd LOVE to have a go at letting a huge tarantula crawl on me. Don't know if I'd back out, but I reckon it would be fun as fuck if I could get over the initial fear.

Chateau by the sea bruh!

The mouse spiders that weaved mad webs in the trees were the most feared where I lived. Even though they were smaller than the huntsmen's which were scary ass fuckers, the thought of walking though a web with a mouse spider near the middle was the ultimate nightmare. I had a huntsmen spider crawl up between my legs driving home from work one time. Ended up on the median strip, jumping around like a maniac. Not nearly as bad as walking into a web with a mouse spider just relaxing.

OK Steve, so: "How's that working out for us?".... Pretty well. Back democracy. That's what I'd say. Cheers.

🤣

That is very decent. Guitar tone and drums. Man. And singer and bassist is up there with them. I don't think I'd be going home disappointed from that show.

Cold nights, but 25 (77) today. Really warm for mid winter.

That's tough bruh, you have my sympathy. Looks like a legend puss. I lost my doggo last year, I know the feeling.

My understanding is the reason the entire world - down to practically every political hack and pundit - was wrong about this is it was mistakenly thought by ALL that Russia possessed an extremely powerful and modern army - known as the world's "second army". Turns out running a mafia state does not result in a cohesive armed forces - and that makes sense as Putin needs to play groups off against each other to maintain being "The Don". The initial march into Ukraine should not have been a competition, but due to a lack of co-ordination that highlights the complete absence of effective command and control structures, along with a "second army" being rotten to the core due to the incredible corruption at every layer from Shoygu down to area commanders that rendered the equipment and logistics/supplies not much better than completely useless for all but the Special Forces (which were wrongly utilised trying to take Kiev and wiped out) the Russians blew the "5 days" target to topple Kiev. This all happened WAY before "the hysterical (and self-destructive) overreaction of the US to it". By the time Europe/Nato/The US had reacted, it was already over. Russia were NEVER going to achieve their initial goal of absorbing Ukraine back into the motherland. Their plan-B seems to be a drawn out war waiting for the west to tire so they can slowly choke out Ukraine until submission. I personally think Russia will simply run out of fight before then. Especially now. Putin most likely is fucked and that will have an effect on Russia's ability to continue with this. The Oligarch's with all their frozen billions in assets and seeing how Russian citizens were openly cheering Wagner forces are likely to themselves be planning who the next leader should be so they can resume their bullshit lives. I expect Prigozhin will show up back in Africa where his money is made. As long as the big $$$ keep making back to the boss, Putin may yet have some use for him. We'll see. It's typical mafia. It's just business, not personal.

No Quarter from Montreal Feb 6th '75 (A Pseudonym Remaster). Page kills it here, he was off to the races with that solo. Insanely good rendition of this song but man, that solo really blows me away. Experimental but always great. What a flow. The ending plantation and audience comments are unreal too. They perfectly reflect how good it must have been to witness.

Beautiful warm winters day. Shorts and shirt in the lovely sunshine on a lazy Sunday.