Apocalypse Watch

jerwin · April 21, 2021, 7:31pm

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Wednesday delivered an annual address replete with threats against the West but, despite intense tensions with Ukraine, stopped short of announcing new military or foreign policy moves. Russia’s response will be “asymmetric, fast and tough” if it is forced to defend its interests, Mr. Putin said, pointing to what he claimed were Western efforts at regime change in neighboring Belarus as another threat to Russia’s security.

By asymmetric, Putin probably means escalatory, but in certain circles, asymmetric implies all sorts of destabilizing things.

MarjaE · April 21, 2021, 11:28pm

The World Wars were mostly symmetrical. Nonviolent resistance is about as assymetrical as possible, although it’s not Putin’s practice.

jerwin · April 22, 2021, 12:05am

Nuclear warfare is symmetric. But he could be talking about assassinations.

“Back away, slowly. I have a raking pot of tea, and I know how to use it.”

RAvery · April 25, 2021, 4:56pm

RAvery · May 5, 2021, 1:55pm

MarjaE · May 13, 2021, 1:19am

jerwin · May 21, 2021, 9:07pm

smulder · May 31, 2021, 1:07am

CleverEmi · June 4, 2021, 7:51pm

I can’t say that I understand everything here, but this seems not good, Bob.

Nonentity · June 24, 2021, 3:28am

RAvery · June 30, 2021, 12:37pm

RAvery · July 3, 2021, 3:19pm

kxkvi · July 3, 2021, 8:06pm

Global warming seems to be more serious than the worst predictions.

kxkvi · July 12, 2021, 7:32pm

By the late afternoon, the mercury had swelled to a blazing 128.6 degrees.

Franko · July 13, 2021, 4:57am

i swear a few weeks ago they said it hit 134 in Death Valley, but maybe that was an unverified temp? anyway, omg.

they also have been saying “hottest temp recorded on earth” and i’m thinking, “really? on EARTH? there’s gotta be somewhere (the Sahara?) that gets that hot…”

Lucy_Gothro1 · July 13, 2021, 5:49am

That 134 number was from 1913 - in Death Valley.

kxkvi · July 13, 2021, 5:18pm

You know, I seem to remember that. Perhaps they meant it was hottest average temperature over a day?

kxkvi · July 13, 2021, 7:27pm

The difference I guess is that the 134°F was recorded over 100 years ago with less precise equipment.

I usually think of nighttime in the desert as cooling off, but it didn’t get lower than 100°F for three days!

Franko · July 13, 2021, 10:35pm

aha – thank you. all this makes sense. i knew i had heard about 134 in Death Valley, but i missed when it occurred.

Lucy_Gothro1 · July 14, 2021, 2:49am

Yer welcome!