KapteinB's recent activity

  1. Comment on Ukrainian drones hit more sites of Russian online retailer Wildberries in ~society

  2. Comment on Ukrainian drones hit more sites of Russian online retailer Wildberries in ~society

    KapteinB
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    Military factory in Russia's Kirov in flames after reported Flamingo attack, local authorities report casualties (Kyiv Independent)

    Military factory in Russia's Kirov in flames after reported Flamingo attack, local authorities report casualties (Kyiv Independent)

    A major factory producing missile and aviation parts in the Russian city of Kirov was damaged in a Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile strike that left six dead and dozens more injured, Russian and Ukrainian authorities as well as local media reported on July 24.

    6 votes

  4. Comment on The Odyssey - discussion thread in ~movies

    KapteinB
    Link Parent
    I did feel the pacing was too quick in parts of the film. There's not really anything I would cut from it though, so maybe it should have instead been 20 minutes longer. It's already nearly 3...

    I did feel the pacing was too quick in parts of the film. There's not really anything I would cut from it though, so maybe it should have instead been 20 minutes longer.

    It's already nearly 3 hours long, but if any film deserves to be 3 hours and 20 minutes, it would be The Odyssey.

    Overall I really liked it. I wasn't very familiar with the source material going in, but many of the bits and pieces I've picked up through cultural osmosis fell into place while watching the film, and that was a good feeling. The non-linear story-telling annoyed me a bit at the start, but it grew on me. The battle scene at the end was bananas, but I have no idea how accurate it is to the source material.

    4 votes

  6. Comment on Ukraine ‘cuts off’ Crimea from Russia, plunging it into an energy crisis in ~society

    KapteinB
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    This is the first I can recall hearing about Freya having offensive capabilities. Wikipedia describes it only as an "anti-ballistic defense project". Did the author of the article misunderstand...

    “I hope that within the next 12 months, we will see FREYA in operation,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the programme, which is both offensive and defensive, aiming to build Europe’s first joint offensive ballistic missile capability and its first joint defence from ballistics.

    That capability would allow Zelenskyy to use ballistic missiles for more effective strikes against Russia.

    This is the first I can recall hearing about Freya having offensive capabilities. Wikipedia describes it only as an "anti-ballistic defense project". Did the author of the article misunderstand something, or is there information missing from Wikipedia?

    8 votes

  7. Comment on Volodymyr Zelenskyy taps European allies to build Freya, a cheaper counter to Russia’s ballistic missiles in ~society

    KapteinB
    Link Parent
    I'm always sceptical of bills that have more Republican than Democrat support. So, anything wrong with this one? Well, it's kinda stupid. This maybe makes sense from a foreign policy viewpoint,...

    I'm always sceptical of bills that have more Republican than Democrat support. So, anything wrong with this one? Well, it's kinda stupid.

    the revised bill would impose tariffs of up to 100% on the world's five largest purchasers of Russian energy.

    The same maximum tariff would apply to the five countries most involved in facilitating Russian oil sanctions evasion.

    Under the draft legislation, the list of the top five purchasers would be reviewed every 180 days. Countries importing less than 15% of Russia's total natural gas exports while actively reducing those imports would be exempt.

    This maybe makes sense from a foreign policy viewpoint, but it means high and unpredictable tariffs for US companies, which is terrible internal policy.

    2 votes

  8. Comment on Volodymyr Zelenskyy taps European allies to build Freya, a cheaper counter to Russia’s ballistic missiles in ~society

    KapteinB
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    Lindsey Graham's revised Russia sanctions bill gains filibuster-proof Senate support (Kyiv Independent)

    Lindsey Graham's revised Russia sanctions bill gains filibuster-proof Senate support (Kyiv Independent)

    More than 60 U.S. senators introduced a revised Russia sanctions bill on July 16 that would impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, seeking to deprive Moscow of revenue for its war against Ukraine.

    The legislation, led by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Darline Graham, has at least 61 co-sponsors — 39 Republicans and 22 Democrats — enough to overcome a Senate filibuster, one person familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent.

    2 votes

  9. Comment on Volodymyr Zelenskyy taps European allies to build Freya, a cheaper counter to Russia’s ballistic missiles in ~society

  12. Comment on Haken - in a fever dream (2026) in ~music

  14. Comment on Two workers for a Norwegian charity involved in demining efforts in Ukraine have been killed in a Russian strike in ~society

    KapteinB
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    Ukraine Hits Russian Warplanes in Hangars at Crimea’s Saky Air Base (Kyiv Post)

    Ukraine Hits Russian Warplanes in Hangars at Crimea’s Saky Air Base (Kyiv Post)

    Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it struck hangars housing Russian fighter jets at the Saky military airfield in occupied Crimea on Wednesday, July 1.

    “As part of the 40-day campaign against Russia approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the SBU carried out a successful strike on the Saky military airfield in occupied Crimea. The target of the operation was the airfield’s infrastructure, including hangars housing fighter aircraft,” the SBU said.

    1 vote

  15. Comment on US Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, ruling against Donald Trump's order in ~society

    KapteinB
    Link Parent
    Well that's good! That should mean he'll allow restrictions on firearms.

    Well.. Kavanaugh didn't at least. He just argued that the constitution couldn't have predicted our current day problems and should be open to interpretation of new technology or current-day problems

    Well that's good! That should mean he'll allow restrictions on firearms.

    8 votes

  16. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of June 29 in ~society

    KapteinB
    Link Parent
    No? More the complete opposite? Another step towards making the president a king, and I really hope all of this comes back to bite them when/if a Democrat is elected president/king.

    Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: "Although it is up to the Senate to decide whether to confirm those with whom the President would prefer to work, neither Congress nor the courts may saddle him with those with whom he cannot work. Subordinates who exercise the President's power are subject to removal by him. Then, and only then, can they remain accountable to the President, and the President to the people."

    No? More the complete opposite? Another step towards making the president a king, and I really hope all of this comes back to bite them when/if a Democrat is elected president/king.

    6 votes

  17. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of June 29 in ~society

    KapteinB
    Link Parent
    I support court packing because it would lead to a cycle where every new president immediately packs the Supreme Court with enough new judges to tip the scale in their advantage, until the court...

    I support court packing because it would lead to a cycle where every new president immediately packs the Supreme Court with enough new judges to tip the scale in their advantage, until the court has scores or even hundreds of judges, and that would be hilarious.

    9 votes

  18. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of June 29 in ~society

    KapteinB
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    One big win and three defeats for Trump in dramatic day at Supreme Court (BBC)

    One big win and three defeats for Trump in dramatic day at Supreme Court (BBC)

    On the second-to-last day of Supreme Court decisions for this term, the justices delivered a big win for Donald Trump.

    But beneath the headline-generating ruling on expansive presidential power, the court gave some indications that this particular president may not always get what he wants – and the three liberal justices may have a few unexpected allies amongst the six conservative justices on the high court.

    4 votes

  20. Comment on Two workers for a Norwegian charity involved in demining efforts in Ukraine have been killed in a Russian strike in ~society