Ukraine II: The Fight Against Russian Aggression

#476
#476
volprof said:
Yes. I live in Northern California now, near the coast and the Cascades.
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Not a VFL.

My sister and family were out in Yosemite/San Fran last week. Based on the pictures, it looked kind of chilly there.

No thanks.
 
#478
#478
volprof said:
Yes. I live in Northern California now, near the coast and the Cascades. One day, a giant earthquake is supposed to completely change the landscape and cause a giant tsunami that kills us all in the process (think Fukushima on steroids), but I'm enjoying it for now. Just got back from camping under the Redwoods on the Gualala River, right at the coast and in Mendocino County, where the Russian bombers apparently where right off of on the Fourth. This area is really special. Incredibly beautiful and so much landscape/vegetation variety. I'd hate to see either a nuke or a mag 9.0 plus do us in, but, if it happens, it happens, and we'll go the way of history.



Yes, one can only imagine how President Cheney was salivating that day. Bush probably had to ask him once or twice at least why he kept getting slobber on his suit as he had to go on live TV later.
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Quit fearing the Russians my man. More camping and less msm. Imo
 
#479
#479
Pacer92 said:
Quit fearing the Russians my man. More camping and less msm. Imo
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I fear the Russians as 'bout as much as I fear one of the chipmunks or coast blue jays that were raiding our campsite this past weekend.

All of the war and fighting fear mongering is merely a) the posturing of both sides governments to appease the stooges at home; and, b) the result of defense industries (on both sides - not just the US; remember, the Russian defense industry is only slightly behind the US in arms sales and, for a country with less than half our population, that's pretty damn impressive) wanting to make themselves ever so relevant.

We will be fine. I'm more worried about natural disasters and the environment, both of which have taken down many a civilization in the past.

Nonetheless, this crisis is an important geopolitical issue that concerns state positioning, economics, and strategy. So I remain very invested.

Like a good strategic boardgame, say Risk or The Twilight Struggle, it ain't gonna kill you, but it sure does keep you interested and make you think.
 
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#480
#480
Love some camping....spent 3 days at the land between the lakes this past weekend. Hotta than Hades....
 
#486
#486
Velo Vol said:
It's bad enough trying to sleep in a bed, much less on the ground.

Not good food, the weather might not cooperate.

Just go out in the wilderness for a day trip and return home at night.
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Lamest thing I've read in any thread relating to Ukraine.
 
#487
#487
Pacer92 said:
Love some camping....spent 3 days at the land between the lakes this past weekend. Hotta than Hades....
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Well, come on out here to the coast or the Cascades. It'll only take you about three days to get here.

Unless you're one of those sissy flying people.
 
#488
#488
#492
#492
Velo Vol said:
Camping is dumb.
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You sound like my mother. Don't ever sound like my mother.

Trust me. You don't want to sound like my mother.

Velo Vol said:
It's bad enough trying to sleep in a bed, much less on the ground.

Not good food, the weather might not cooperate.

Just go out in the wilderness for a day trip and return home at night.
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I find it hard to believe that a biker (aka, the scum of humanity) would just piss upon camping outdoors. Are you all really that scummy, or is it just you? Surely you have some appreciation for nature beyond just a venue for your health that puts the rest of our health (and lives) at your whim?

Food? You've never been camping evidently. You'd be amazed at what people can do with slow-cooking coals (near to bbq) and firewood. Or gas cookers, as the sissies or those with ridiculous amounts of family/friends do it.

Regarding comfort. No, it's not always comfortable. I spent this past weekend "nibbling" off the edge of my wife's sleeping blanket (we forgot our blankets) in upper 40 to lower 50 lows at night. It gets cold, but it puts some hair on your chest, and it's something you can brag about, at the very least, for decades to come. It isn't that bad. And it makes a good, warm bed even nicer afterwards. You ever slept for 12 hours straight? Well, you will.

Lastly, regarding the use of the term "wilderness." I used to be like you, before I moved out here. I thought any landscape that was relatively un-influenced or un-dotted by "civilization markers" was a "wilderness." It took me crossing an entire continent to realize how little the east of the Mississippi is a "wilderness." True, remote places still exist there, but a wilderness is a place where the wildlife still function as they should function before human contact. Elk and deer roam. Bear skulk around and eat berries. Mountain lions do their thing. Coyotes/wolves run around like a bunch of heathens.

I always knew Northern California was much emptier than the southern half below San Francisco, but I never quite expected this.

It didn't quite set in until a few weeks ago when my wife and I were driving to a site right at the Oregon border that a friend had invited us to for camping. My wife didn't get off early, so that Friday we left out around 5 or 6ish. I recall a fond trip, somewhere between Willow Creek, CA, and Happy Camp, CA, amid national-designated "wilderness" that consisted of nearly 100 miles of nothing in between (and seeing a bear, dear, and possibly a mountain lion near the road; and you better have fueled up before too)

You've not lived until you've driven for 8 hours at night through actual wilderness, with deer constantly darting across the road, without a light or stop in sight.

The West is a fun place. I like it. I'm never coming back.

Oh, last part, I promise. About California. Before I moved out here some months ago, I mostly associated it with the southern part of the state. That's a mistake. Never do that. The part of the state just north of the Bay area turns into the most remote area you could ever imagine. As my future employer here told me, Californians call it the "Empty Quarter."
 
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#493
#493
An addendum:

Velo, the first part of that post was mostly just jest. Emphasis on "mostly."

ha!

I understand biking, and I don't mind it, but there's nothing like having to share the road with bikers around never-ending California coasts to make you hate them. I'm not quite sure why they bike those paths, but it is quite annoying...and quite dangerous. But I know that doesn't speak for all bikers.
 
#495
#495
volprof said:
I find it hard to believe that a biker (aka, the scum of humanity) would just piss upon camping outdoors. Are you all really that scummy, or is it just you? Surely you have some appreciation for nature beyond just a venue for your health that puts the rest of our health (and lives) at your whim?
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To each their own. I can get my fill of the wilderness in 2-8 hours and then return to the comforts I am accustomed to.

volprof said:
It gets cold, but it puts some hair on your chest, and it's something you can brag about, at the very least, for decades to come.
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Speaking of which, this is one of the weirder things I'll see in a while.

The Man Who Uses Meditation to Conquer Extreme Cold | VICE | United States
 
#500
#500
Medieval Prince Vladimir deepens Russia-Ukraine split - BBC News

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Interesting contrast in the way the two nations are commemorating him.
 
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