norseman
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Post by norseman on Jan 24, 2022 15:54:13 GMT 10
US signal to China: Stay away from Taiwan during Ukraine crisisWith two nuclear powered aircraft carrier strike groups patrolling the Philippines Sea and another one forwardly deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, the US has sent a strong message to China to stay away from Taiwan while the former is locked with Russia over Ukraine. The PLA on Sunday responded to the massive US naval drills by sending as many as 39 warplanes, largely fighters like J-10 and J-16, into Taiwan’s south-western air defense identification zone (ADIZ) as tensions escalated over the breakaway island country. The Taiwan air force resumed combat air patrol and activated surface to air missile systems to deter the aggressive PLA Air Force. This is the first time after October 2021 that the PLA has responded to US drills with so many fighters. This large-scale Taiwan airspace transgression by Chinese fighter took place when the US Navy has three aircraft carrier strike groups in support of Taipei and freedom of navigation operations in Philippines Sea. While USS Carl Vinson and Abraham Lincoln are patrolling near Taiwan, the USS Ronald Reagan is on standby near Yokosuka in Japan. The US has also large scale marine presence with presence of USS Essex amphibious ready group and USS America expeditionary strike group joining the aircraft carriers. Patrolling with the massive carrier force is Japanese Hyuga class helicopter destroyer with USS strike groups deploying as many as 26 F-35 fifth generation fighters. The US Navy build-up near Taiwan is a clear message to China that it cannot have a free pass to Taipei while Washington is locked up in a confrontation with Russia over Ukraine. “The message to China is that US has not taken off its eyes from Beijing and wants PLA to stay away from Taiwan till such time the Ukraine crisis gets resolved,” said a former Indian ambassador to US. Since the US-Russia escalation over Ukraine has started, many believed that this would give President Xi Jinping a free pass to aggressively pursue what China calls its core interests. The Biden administration has this month already conveyed to China that it is watching PLA build-up in Ladakh as the India-China stand-off on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) completes second winter on Tibetan plateau. www.hindustantimes.com/As Russian troops mass on Ukraine’s eastern border, prominent politicians and policymakers are urging the White House to defend Ukraine more assertively. Some claim the stakes justify escalation with a nuclear peer. But others argue that America’s broader “credibility” is on the line: If the United States fails to check Russian aggression against Ukraine, the argument goes, it may embolden China to invade Taiwan. Retired Adm. James Stavridis, the former military leader of NATO, asserts that “China will be watching U.S. support to Ukraine, and it will inform their calculus regarding Taiwan.” Making concessions to Russia would deal a “blow” to “U.S. credibility from Kyiv to Taipei,” warns Rep. Michael McCaul (Tex.), the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) likewise worries that if the United States acts too passively toward Russia, “China would conclude, ‘Boy, the West sure isn’t going to come to the aid of Taiwan if we were to do something on Taiwan.’” Such arguments are doubly mistaken, at once misdiagnosing the Ukraine crisis and getting the Taiwan connection backward. What has brought about a crisis for the United States over Ukraine is not so much passivity as a legacy of overexertion, more of which would pose acute dangers. A better path lies in the live-and-let-live approach through which the United States has managed the potentially explosive issue of Taiwan. Right now, though, the United States is degrading that policy just when it needs it most, increasing the risk of a showdown over Taiwan akin to the one in Ukraine. www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/12/23/ukraine-taiwan-red-lines/
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norseman
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Post by norseman on Jan 25, 2022 6:03:45 GMT 10
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Jan 25, 2022 8:25:46 GMT 10
There is a big trucker rally going to or going on in Ottowa now.. Canadian truckers ticked at all the flip flop, new this, new that to cross US border, as well as some provincial borders.. No actions or rally on the US side I have heard of, but truckers have to be as ticked I suspect.. Don't know if it will come to anything.. Government will try to make a photo op out of it and tap dance around anything they have to say.. Or it seems the usual way things go..
With our liberals and US liberal it seems a game of who can be the bigger sand box bully of the day.. Buggers...
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norseman
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Post by norseman on Jan 25, 2022 22:34:42 GMT 10
Ukraine news – live: Russian ‘advance force’ already in country, UK warns as US troops poised to deployParts of a “Russian military advance force” are already inside Ukraine, a UK defence minister has warned.
Writing in The Sun newspaper, armed forces minister James Heappey said: “We are becoming aware of a significant number of individuals that are assessed to be associated with Russian military advance-force operations and currently located in Ukraine.”
His warning comes as around 8,500 US troops have been put on alert for possible deployment to eastern Europe, according to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
US officials have warned that Russia could launch an imminent invasion of Ukraine.
www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/ukraine-news-live-russian-advance-force-already-in-country-uk-warns-as-us-troops-poised-to-deploy/ar-AAT6EGW?ocid=msedgntp
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norseman
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Post by norseman on Jan 26, 2022 10:15:52 GMT 10
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bug
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Post by bug on Jan 26, 2022 14:20:16 GMT 10
I agree. Do not come to Australia. It is not a free country and should be avoided if you can.
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norseman
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Post by norseman on Feb 11, 2022 9:13:43 GMT 10
Sorry folks just me jumping at shadows again! Fresh out today- US defence expert warns western allies to turn attention to Taiwan amid Ukraine tensionsA former US defence official believes the world should be concerned about a Taiwan conflict despite tensions continuing to simmer on the Ukrainian border. Former defence official at the Pentagon Bridge Colby told Ben Fordham he doesn’t believe a war will break out in Ukraine. “But I fear that what’s happening in Europe and the American response may be making the possibility of a conflict in the western Pacific, particularly over Taiwan, even more likely. “I think a war is, unfortunately, a real possibility but I think we can still avert it but it requires resolute focus … and I’m not seeing that yet.” www.2gb.com/us-defence-expert-warns-western-allies-to-turn-attention-to-taiwan-amid-ukraine-tensions/
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Feb 11, 2022 10:48:34 GMT 10
I hope they wait 3 more days. That will give me time to finish watching the new Jack Reacher series before the 24hr coverage of the war over Taiwan takes over my television.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Feb 11, 2022 11:40:10 GMT 10
Just heard our local SES unit is closing down, due to lack of members and the requirement for being jabbed. I expect the RFS to follow soon, especially if they make it compulsory to be jabbed to stay a member. It is now becoing more important to be prepared for unexpected events, especially fires ad floods. Have your own fire trailer at least, with say 500 liters water, a pump and hose. Even a little preparedness can save your farm in a disaster, as Ive seen time and time again. It takes the RFS say 1/2 hr to get to you and in that time a blaze has expanded 100 X, especially in fire danger weather. If u are on the scene, even if you cant put it out, just keeping it under control until the cavalry arrives can save your house. Also to consider, most of the UHF radio repeaters in rural NSW are looked after by the SES, and they hold the licenses, so if the SES folds, there goes your comms setups. Ive converted our local uhf repeater to operate totally off solar, and also the local progress association has picked up the license, so we can keep it on the air. The advantage of a repeater is that it gives u wide area comms from a small handheld radio, out to several 100 km in all directions, depending on its location. Ours being at 1,200 meters ASL, has extraordinary coverage. Of course, getting yr ham license is another option. Also, make sure u have enough UHF radio handhelds for every member of yr group, and spare rechargeable battery's for each radio. Not a cheap investment, but keeping in contact WTSHTF will be vital. Also, thinking of putting some signs around in the village letting people know that an alternative radio frequency if the old 27 meg CB band (The Good Buddy type of the 70's). There must be a lot of old 27 meg sets still sitting in garages and most will still be usable. The advantage of 27 megs is that worldwide comms is possible under the rght conditions. I'm suggesting channel 10 (on the Australian sets), which is channel 14 on the 23 channel American sets, or 27.125 Megahertz would be a good starting channel. Every prepper should have Short Wave receive facilities, even a multi band 80's ghetto blaster will pick up the major international broadcasters. A few suggestions, not recommending a specific type of radio, just those I have here. Stick to analogue readouts if possible. Tandy (Realistic) DX 160 series. Zenith (Trans Oceanic 7,000 range). Kenwood R series. Barlow Wadley XCR 30, if u can find one.(Only 20,000 were ever made). Or build a small converter for an old am car radio. Almost as sensitive as a dedicated sw radio, and for about $30 worth of easy to get bits. I'm afraid I cant recommend the Jaycar SW radios, they are flimsy and knobs break off, even though they do offer SSB and ham band coverage. The Sony range of ICF200 series SW radios work well, but they are a bit of a battery pigs.
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tactile
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Post by tactile on Feb 11, 2022 15:49:26 GMT 10
I hope they wait 3 more days. That will give me time to finish watching the new Jack Reacher series before the 24hr coverage of the war over Taiwan takes over my television. Already done...great series! Watch for the Lee Child cameo in the last episode.
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Feb 11, 2022 16:43:39 GMT 10
Will do. Mrs Frostbite very keenly watches the show as well. No idea why, but I did find a gym membership flyer under my pillow the other night.
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tactile
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Post by tactile on Feb 11, 2022 18:16:58 GMT 10
Every prepper should have Short Wave receive facilities, even a multi band 80's ghetto blaster will pick up the major international broadcasters. A few suggestions, not recommending a specific type of radio, just those I have here. Stick to analogue readouts if possible. Tandy (Realistic) DX 160 series. Zenith (Trans Oceanic 7,000 range). Kenwood R series. Barlow Wadley XCR 30, if u can find one.(Only 20,000 were ever made). Or build a small converter for an old am car radio. Almost as sensitive as a dedicated sw radio, and for about $30 worth of easy to get bits. I can recommend Tecsun Radio. It's what I carry (PL-368) in my car bag. Small, light, miniUSB charging and works OK for the purpose.
Lots of reviews on them on YouTube if you want to check them out.
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Feb 11, 2022 20:50:42 GMT 10
That will give me time to finish watching the new Jack Reacher series --- ---
Tell me more about this.... We have listened to a lot of the Jack Reacher stories on audio books.. Most of these have come through to us as library discards... We enjoy them a lot..
Is this a local TV series ?? DVD series ?? New series ?? Does that mean there is an old series also ??
Need to know.. Because.....
Then Reacher said nothing.......
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Feb 11, 2022 21:24:43 GMT 10
A 7 part series on Amazon Prime, released last week, based on the first Reacher book The Killing Floor.
Much better than the movie with puny Tom Cruise playing man mountain Reacher. The actor in the series is huge and IMO a great fit for the character.
And he carries a Desert Eagle, which is just perfect.
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dirtdiva
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Post by dirtdiva on Feb 11, 2022 23:37:48 GMT 10
We have also been watching and definitely some eye candy there! Enjoying a full size Jack Reacher.
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drjenner
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Post by drjenner on Feb 12, 2022 1:48:47 GMT 10
We have also been watching and definitely some eye candy there! Enjoying a full size Jack Reacher. Not to hijack this thread off topic but I'm definitely going to check this out. Been watching Euphoria at the request of my 19 year old daughter, and man - I don't feel that old, but the stuff these kids have to deal with these days, I don't remember it being that bad when I was in high school. Yikes.
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dirtdiva
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Post by dirtdiva on Feb 12, 2022 2:22:21 GMT 10
We have also been watching and definitely some eye candy there! Enjoying a full size Jack Reacher. Not to hijack this thread off topic but I'm definitely going to check this out. Been watching Euphoria at the request of my 19 year old daughter, and man - I don't feel that old, but the stuff these kids have to deal with these days, I don't remember it being that bad when I was in high school. Yikes. Check it out. The violence is ramped up and definitely aimed at the testosterone crowd but pretty good. As far as hijacking the thread SAHunter is gonna kick us both off. I am still trying to get the image of frostbite in pantyhose out of my head. Lord these Aussies are a hot mess
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drjenner
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Post by drjenner on Feb 12, 2022 3:32:50 GMT 10
Not to hijack this thread off topic but I'm definitely going to check this out. Been watching Euphoria at the request of my 19 year old daughter, and man - I don't feel that old, but the stuff these kids have to deal with these days, I don't remember it being that bad when I was in high school. Yikes. Check it out. The violence is ramped up and definitely aimed at the testosterone crowd but pretty good. As far as hijacking the thread SAHunter is gonna kick us both off. I am still trying to get the image of frostbite in pantyhose out of my head. Lord these Aussies are a hot mess I do love a good testosterone movie, much prefer that over a sappy tale. Also, this is why we love the Aussies....the hot mess!!!
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Post by Stealth on Feb 12, 2022 9:44:47 GMT 10
We have also been watching and definitely some eye candy there! Enjoying a full size Jack Reacher. Not to hijack this thread off topic but I'm definitely going to check this out. Been watching Euphoria at the request of my 19 year old daughter, and man - I don't feel that old, but the stuff these kids have to deal with these days, I don't remember it being that bad when I was in high school. Yikes. I was reading an article on some random page yesterday and there were responses from teenagers about Euphoria. Apparently the majority of teens think that the storyline is overblown and while they do have understanding and experience with some of the themes in the show it's more adults leaning hard in on 'hot button shock factor' topics rather than the lived experience of most teens these days. TBH I wouldn't know, not my type of show so I don't know for certain but it seems most of the responses from actual teenagers were along the lines of "Well sure, only not dialed up to 11". I'm far more into the full-sized Reacher type shows when I have enough free time to sit still for a half hour. Also... Now I can't get Cruise out of my head as 'fun-sized Reacher'. I'm gonna be snortlaughing over that thought all day 🤣.
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Post by Stealth on Feb 12, 2022 9:49:56 GMT 10
Oi! I represent that statement! *Toots in hot-mess-express* 😂
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