I'm generally disappointed by TV series these days. Compared to a ten years ago, the quality has generally lowered down, both characters and stories are predictable and there isn't any single clever idea worth exploring... Most are crime mysteries, frankly far too banal for me to spend my free time on.

Quote from: dsanchez on August 19, 2025, 11:59:10Then the war will continue...

Who is the aggressor again?
(Silly question, it says so in the topic title you created long ago.) 

Btw, not just Ukrainians will die, Russians too and their "helpers" from North Korea and other countries. Time for them to say "stop" as well?

Quote from: dsanchez on August 19, 2025, 12:08:25"A group of children sitting obediently before their master"

Not true. As I pointed out elsewhere already, chancellor Merz had the balls to say to Trump that a ceasefire is needed (while most others said "thank you"). 

Trump replied that he brought peace to various conflicts without using the word "ceasefire" at all. Which was proven untrue, apparently he used the word almost all the time in recent months... 

"A group of children sitting obediently before their master"

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1957669574398050379

Quote from: MeltingMan on August 17, 2025, 18:34:58PS: Renounce Crimea? No. Renounce NATO membership? No. Renounce nuclear weapons? No. Demilitarize Crimea? Yes. Demilitarize the four fully or partially occupied provinces? Yes.

Then the war will continue, more Ukranians will die, US military companies will make nice profits (Trump said Europeans will buy American weapons that will be supplied to Ukraine) and as Mearsheimer correctly forecasted nine years ago, Ukraine will be wrecked (43:39 onward):

Quote from: UlrichApparently, Melania wrote a letter to Putin.

Indeed. The letter was handed to Vladimir at the meeting in Alaska. I wonder if he'll be impressed? The signature looks like she authorized her husband to sign on her behalf. Hmm...

Watched a bit of that, I got to say Merz had the courage to disagree with Trump, while most others just said "thank you for doing this"...

QuotePresident Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders arrived at the White House on Monday to meet US President Donald Trump for fresh talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Here are some of the key takeaways.

A Putin-Zelensky meeting on the cards? Trump said that he had called Putin to arrange bilateral talks between the Russian leader and Zelensky. Following this, there would be a trilateral meeting including Trump, the US president said

Trump and Europeans disagree over ceasefire - Trump seemed to dismiss the need for a ceasefire before further negotiations to end the war, a stance that drew opposition from European leaders. "I can't imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "So, let's work on that and let's try to put pressure on Russia"

Trump hints at security guarantees - the US would help guarantee Ukraine's security, Trump said. This is the most decisive he has ever sounded on the issue of security guarantees, which are a key concern for Ukraine. It is not clear what form those would take, with possibilities including foreign troops deployed on the ground, joint air and sea patrols, intelligence sharing or logistical support - more on this from security correspondent Frank Gardner here

Zelensky launches charm offensive - in a shift from his acrimonious last visit to the White House, Zelensky dialled up the charm today, dressed in a suit, armed with a personal letter from his wife and a flurry of six "thank yous" in the first few minutes of the meeting

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cz93ve1p952t

Before becoming a highly successful mainstream synthpop band, The Human League expetimented with electronic sounds and explored suburban nightmares in their dark lyrics. Here, for example, a horde of alien clowns come to town and kill all the inhabitants... This is Circus of Death

President Macron will also be there. Then hopefully it won't go off as in February. 

PS: Renounce Crimea? No. Renounce NATO membership? No. Renounce nuclear weapons? No. Demilitarize Crimea? Yes. Demilitarize the four fully or partially occupied provinces? Yes.