Explosions in Kiev

[WarriorFan]

Some interesting facts as we approach a critical Monday.

My bank (a non-sanctioned foreign bank with full operating license in Russia - and a very good one) is buying Dollars for 89.90 and buying Rubles for 150.01.
The SWIFT thing is happening, but the list of banks is not clear.  Probably limited to already sanctioned banks.
Russia has threatened nuclear engagement by taking their nuclear forces to the highest level of alert.
Ukraine, Belarus and Russia have agreed to a negotiation session on the Ukraine/Belarus border.
Russia has threatened seizure of foreign owned bank accounts and assets within Russia, specifically targeting nationals of certain countries.  They can do this because all of this information exists in bank data and land/property registry. 

My money is safely out for now and my Chase credit card worked today at our favorite coffee shop. 
Tomorrow is another day.

[rocky_warrior]

My money is safely out for now and my Chase credit card worked today at our favorite coffee shop. 

Well that's key!  Stay safe.

[MuggsyB]

Some interesting facts as we approach a critical Monday.

My bank (a non-sanctioned foreign bank with full operating license in Russia - and a very good one) is buying Dollars for 89.90 and buying Rubles for 150.01.
The SWIFT thing is happening, but the list of banks is not clear.  Probably limited to already sanctioned banks.
Russia has threatened nuclear engagement by taking their nuclear forces to the highest level of alert.
Ukraine, Belarus and Russia have agreed to a negotiation session on the Ukraine/Belarus border.
Russia has threatened seizure of foreign owned bank accounts and assets within Russia, specifically targeting nationals of certain countries.  They can do this because all of this information exists in bank data and land/property registry. 

My money is safely out for now and my Chase credit card worked today at our favorite coffee shop. 
Tomorrow is another day.

Is your money converted to USD?  Sorry for your stress. 

The recent SWIFT thing and this meeting could be a very good step.  The Italian president stepped up pressure on Germany by most accounts.  It's also worth noting that if there's one country on the planet that should help Ukraine it's Germany. 

The big fear is this lunatic/scumbag/assfk.  If things continue to go badly for him he could snap and do something horrific.  We know what he has done in the past.

[Hards Alumni]

Some interesting facts as we approach a critical Monday.

My bank (a non-sanctioned foreign bank with full operating license in Russia - and a very good one) is buying Dollars for 89.90 and buying Rubles for 150.01.
The SWIFT thing is happening, but the list of banks is not clear.  Probably limited to already sanctioned banks.
Russia has threatened nuclear engagement by taking their nuclear forces to the highest level of alert.
Ukraine, Belarus and Russia have agreed to a negotiation session on the Ukraine/Belarus border.
Russia has threatened seizure of foreign owned bank accounts and assets within Russia, specifically targeting nationals of certain countries.  They can do this because all of this information exists in bank data and land/property registry. 

My money is safely out for now and my Chase credit card worked today at our favorite coffee shop. 
Tomorrow is another day.

https://twitter.com/JakeCordell/status/1497953192163827716?cxt=HHwWiICz0byf5skpAAAA

Yeah, your currency assessment tracks.

I'm going to say that the price of bitcoin could get VERY interesting tomorrow, and I'll leave it at that.

[forgetful]

Note: These are the random thoughts of a business-naive individual.

I can't help but wonder about the long-term impacts of booting Russia from SWIFT.

Much of Western power is based on their overwhelmingly dominant financial institutions. The federal reserve (US debt) and The European Central Bank, facilitate development by buying up sovereign debt/securities for NATO/EU nations. That allows these nations to operate at pretty extreme debt/GDP ratios, and the currencies are stabilized by the requirement of trading in US$ or Euros. SWIFT being centralized in Brussels, actually reinforces this dominance.

The financial institution dominance provides the West with extreme power, as their sanctions are often more crippling than actual war.

If Russia is fully booted from SWIFT, China's opposing system, or Crypto versions (Ripple was attacked when it started to become even a very poorly used alternative). Other Eastern nations with high material trading (oil, metals), may shift to the opposing systems to shield themselves from possible sanctions.

The result of such a shift, would dramatically weaken the strength of Western finance, and long-term even worse, the supremacy of the US$ and Euro.

China right now holds a lot of cards. I fear the real end result of all of this is a stronger China, which means a weaker West.

[pbiflyer]

Some interesting facts as we approach a critical Monday.

My bank (a non-sanctioned foreign bank with full operating license in Russia - and a very good one) is buying Dollars for 89.90 and buying Rubles for 150.01.
The SWIFT thing is happening, but the list of banks is not clear.  Probably limited to already sanctioned banks.
Russia has threatened nuclear engagement by taking their nuclear forces to the highest level of alert.
Ukraine, Belarus and Russia have agreed to a negotiation session on the Ukraine/Belarus border.
Russia has threatened seizure of foreign owned bank accounts and assets within Russia, specifically targeting nationals of certain countries.  They can do this because all of this information exists in bank data and land/property registry. 

My money is safely out for now and my Chase credit card worked today at our favorite coffee shop. 
Tomorrow is another day.

How long are you there for? Worried about the ability to leave?
Stay safe!

[Hards Alumni]

Note: These are the random thoughts of a business-naive individual.

I can't help but wonder about the long-term impacts of booting Russia from SWIFT.

Much of Western power is based on their overwhelmingly dominant financial institutions. The federal reserve (US debt) and The European Central Bank, facilitate development by buying up sovereign debt/securities for NATO/EU nations. That allows these nations to operate at pretty extreme debt/GDP ratios, and the currencies are stabilized by the requirement of trading in US$ or Euros. SWIFT being centralized in Brussels, actually reinforces this dominance.

The financial institution dominance provides the West with extreme power, as their sanctions are often more crippling than actual war.

If Russia is fully booted from SWIFT, China's opposing system, or Crypto versions (Ripple was attacked when it started to become even a very poorly used alternative). Other Eastern nations with high material trading (oil, metals), may shift to the opposing systems to shield themselves from possible sanctions.

The result of such a shift, would dramatically weaken the strength of Western finance, and long-term even worse, the supremacy of the US$ and Euro.

China right now holds a lot of cards. I fear the real end result of all of this is a stronger China, which means a weaker West.

Ripple is a bad crypto because it is too centralized.  I would never buy it, nor use it.

I addressed Russia being removed from SWIFT earlier, but I will add that on Monday the ruble will turn to toilet paper.  Russian bonds on the global market are listed as junk.  I don't think a lot of Americans really know what this means for Russia's financial system.  They can't just magically move all of their transactions to China's system overnight.  In the interim, the consequences of being removed from SWIFT and having no credit available will be nearly as devastating as a nuclear attack.  Make no mistake, the actions taken yesterday could send Russia over a financial cliff, with ramifications that will impact the country for years.  Even if everything is resolved in the next few days and there is a treaty or ceasefire, the lack of FAITH in the Russian financial markets will remain.

Again, I think that there is a major underestimation of what these financial sanctions will do internationally.  I also believe that this is why Putin is getting desperate... and that really concerns me.

[Skatastrophy]

Sputnik & RT to be banned in the EU. It'll be interesting to see how this impacts other pervasive misinformation spread by russia over the past few years on other topics.

Russian-owned, Russian-controlled, and Russian-registered aircraft are no longer allowed in the EU airspace.

Source - President of the EU Commission https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1497973334847414278

These moves seem to be two-pronged: Frustrate the RU oligarchs, and cause social unrest amongst the masses in Russia. Smart move, make the dictator focus on mounting problems at home.

[Hards Alumni]

Jake Cordell
@JakeCordell
Russia’s VTB bank - the country’s second largest which is now under heavy sectioned - will raise interest rates for new mortgages by FOUR percentage points.

New mortgages will have an interest rate of 15.3%.
10:33 AM · Feb 27, 2022·Twitter for iPhone

Also, BP is selling its stake in Rosneft... It owns 20%.

[Hards Alumni]

Some interesting facts as we approach a critical Monday.

My bank (a non-sanctioned foreign bank with full operating license in Russia - and a very good one) is buying Dollars for 89.90 and buying Rubles for 150.01.
The SWIFT thing is happening, but the list of banks is not clear.  Probably limited to already sanctioned banks.
Russia has threatened nuclear engagement by taking their nuclear forces to the highest level of alert.
Ukraine, Belarus and Russia have agreed to a negotiation session on the Ukraine/Belarus border.
Russia has threatened seizure of foreign owned bank accounts and assets within Russia, specifically targeting nationals of certain countries.  They can do this because all of this information exists in bank data and land/property registry. 

My money is safely out for now and my Chase credit card worked today at our favorite coffee shop. 
Tomorrow is another day.

171 to 1 now.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Note: These are the random thoughts of a business-naive individual.

I can't help but wonder about the long-term impacts of booting Russia from SWIFT.

Much of Western power is based on their overwhelmingly dominant financial institutions. The federal reserve (US debt) and The European Central Bank, facilitate development by buying up sovereign debt/securities for NATO/EU nations. That allows these nations to operate at pretty extreme debt/GDP ratios, and the currencies are stabilized by the requirement of trading in US$ or Euros. SWIFT being centralized in Brussels, actually reinforces this dominance.

The financial institution dominance provides the West with extreme power, as their sanctions are often more crippling than actual war.

If Russia is fully booted from SWIFT, China's opposing system, or Crypto versions (Ripple was attacked when it started to become even a very poorly used alternative). Other Eastern nations with high material trading (oil, metals), may shift to the opposing systems to shield themselves from possible sanctions.

The result of such a shift, would dramatically weaken the strength of Western finance, and long-term even worse, the supremacy of the US$ and Euro.

China right now holds a lot of cards. I fear the real end result of all of this is a stronger China, which means a weaker West.

It also means China holds a lot more Russian junk.

[Pakuni]

In the meantime, let's check in on CPAC ...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FMnuvEaXsAEfEUg?format=jpg&name=900x900

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I keep seeing a figure that Russia is spending $20bil a day for this invasion and they have $350 bil in reserve so they will be tapped out in anotherr 11 days.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Read lots of info on their dismal supply lines.
The common threads summary,
* Train tracks - Russian still using old Soviet tracks that matches no one else.  Basically unloading supplies at Ukraine border.
* the country is so corrupt, that the military capabilities have been overstated.  Basically the lies got bigger the higher up the command chain and western military analysis were based on what the Russian top brass was saying.  Ukraine invasion is exposing all.
* Assumed Russian army would operate like US army.  Not even close.
* Over reliance on conscripts versus professional army.  The conscripts have no quarrel with Ukraine and don't really want to fight.

[jesmu84]

https://twitter.com/VaushV/status/1498015280437465096?t=1oDYIt3dusfd2nm4U-TFmQ&s=19

[Jockey]

In the meantime, let's check in on CPAC ...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FMnuvEaXsAEfEUg?format=jpg&name=900x900

PM this to Muggsy? 

[Billy Hoyle]

In the meantime, let's check in on CPAC ...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FMnuvEaXsAEfEUg?format=jpg&name=900x900

Who’d have thought COAC and the Squad/DSA would align. DSA demanding the US withdraw from NATO, stating “DSA reaffirms our call for the US to withdraw from NATO and to end the imperialist expansionism that set the stage for this conflict.”

The extremists are more alike then they want to admit.

[Pakuni]

Who’d have thought COAC and the Squad/DSA would align. DSA demanding the US withdraw from NATO, stating “DSA reaffirms our call for the US to withdraw from NATO and to end the imperialist expansionism that set the stage for this conflict.”

The extremists are more alike then they want to admit.

I'm no fan of the DSA, but you're being quite misleading here by omitting a large chunk of their statement, which begins ...
"The Democratic Socialists of America condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demands immediate diplomacy and de-escalation to resolve this crisis."

And later:
"This extreme and asymmetrical escalation is an illegal act under the United Nations Charter and severely threatens the livelihoods and well-being of working-class peoples in Ukraine, Russia, and across the region. We urge an immediate ceasefire and the total withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine."

That hardly aligns with the praise Putin has received at CPAC and elsewhere in the right wing sphere.

[pbiflyer]

Ukraine soldier message to Russian troops.
https://twitter.com/englishukraine/status/1497986717470580744?s=21

[jesmu84]

Who’d have thought COAC and the Squad/DSA would align. DSA demanding the US withdraw from NATO, stating “DSA reaffirms our call for the US to withdraw from NATO and to end the imperialist expansionism that set the stage for this conflict.”

The extremists are more alike then they want to admit.

People who attend CPAC are the extremists of the right?

[Warriors4ever]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/26/politics/liz-cheney-greene-gosar-republican-white-nationalist-event/index.html

Can we all agree that the organizer and attendees at the America First Political  Action Conference are extreme right-wingers? I mean, the organizer literally is rooting for Russia and referred to Putin as his Czar….
BTW a poster from Warsaw on TripAdvisor reported earlier that 156,000 Ukrainians have entered Poland so far.

[rocky_warrior]

People who attend CPAC are the extremists of the right?

Ahem, lets drop this particular needling. Every group has individuals they not completely proud of, including Marquette fans.

Besides, it's not at all productive to this particular topic.

[MuggsyB]

Some interesting facts as we approach a critical Monday.

My bank (a non-sanctioned foreign bank with full operating license in Russia - and a very good one) is buying Dollars for 89.90 and buying Rubles for 150.01.
The SWIFT thing is happening, but the list of banks is not clear.  Probably limited to already sanctioned banks.
Russia has threatened nuclear engagement by taking their nuclear forces to the highest level of alert.
Ukraine, Belarus and Russia have agreed to a negotiation session on the Ukraine/Belarus border.
Russia has threatened seizure of foreign owned bank accounts and assets within Russia, specifically targeting nationals of certain countries.  They can do this because all of this information exists in bank data and land/property registry. 

My money is safely out for now and my Chase credit card worked today at our favorite coffee shop. 
Tomorrow is another day.

I just heard that either the State Department or USA officials are telling Unied States citizens to get out of Moscow and Russia.  I really hope you can get to a safe place ASAP. 

[Skatastrophy]

It's reported that Russia has committed 75% of their military to Ukraine ops. I think it's time to take Kamchatka to provide a security buffer for Alaska.

I'm not an expert, but I played some Risk in high school so I'm pretty confident in my knowledge on this sort of thing.

[jesmu84]

It's reported that Russia has committed 75% of their military to Ukraine ops. I think it's time to take Kamchatka to provide a security buffer for Alaska.

I'm not an expert, but I played some Risk in high school so I'm pretty confident in my knowledge on this sort of thing.