Posts by swiftjackal11

goldenowl73 said:Actually, they don't even have that, so honestly, I highly doubt they're making them at all.

Russia's Sberbank re-uses bank card chips to combat shortage

They once tried their hand at putting together a smartphone, but even that project ended up being a total wash.

The company behind the dual-screen YotaPhone is bankrupt

They only managed to move about 75,000 units. They just couldn't catch a break or find any traction in the domestic, Western, or Eastern markets.

Truth be told, the YotaPhone hasn't exactly been all that relevant to the US — or even Russia — in recent years. The company failed to ship the YotaPhone 2 to the US in 2015 despite blowing past its Indiegogo crowdfunding goal, and by late 2016 it decided to pull out of Russia and Europe as well, shifting its operations to China instead.

I really, truly don't get how anyone can look at all this history and still be optimistic enough to think Russia is going to somehow achieve complete independence in this field within just five years. 🤦

Some people on the forum are really rooting for them

Jessica Peterson2 said:I decided to poll some friends and random folks passing by in my neighborhood today:
The media keeps claiming that the Nazi Azon unit has been completely wiped out, so why on earth does the Russ military continue its aggression?
- Because every single Ukrainian is a Nazi.
- We absolutely have to denazify them down to the very last one.
- It doesn't matter; Putin knows exactly what he's doing.
🤦
Moscow, July 23, 2022, around 5 p.m. local time

They'll change their tune once they're actually in the trenches. It's easy to cheer from a coffee shop.

Last year, Russia sent only about 10 percent of the gas volume to China that they used to pump into Europe. Plus, China footed the entire bill for the pipeline to China back in 2014, so any new lines really ought to be funded by Russia. But look at ExxonMobil—they actually suspended dividend payments for the first time in 30 years, and their stock has been a total disaster on the exchange since this invasion kicked off. Even the existing pipelines in Eastern Russia can't connect to the Asian network, and the ones currently under construction are still years away from actually working. It just goes to show that Putin’s whole "pivot to the East" is nothing more than a fantasy.

peaceful soul said:We're left behind.
To be honest, it’s pretty insulting how late this info finally shows up.

It's like those Mexicans—just zero shame or dignity. They tear down theaters, landmarks, and homes, then have the nerve to claim they're from enemy nations. Honestly, they might as well just admit it: if you aren't destroying things, you aren't one of them.

Joshua Myers432 said:That's a fair point. Speculators are definitely cleaning up right now. Sure, prices might stabilize in the long run, but don't expect them to ever get back down to those dirt-cheap rates Putin used to provide to Europe. Every other supply route or alternative method is significantly more expensive. Even a 30% increase is a massive hit to the wallet, and honestly, we can probably kiss the idea of seeing pre-Russian madness pricing goodbye.

Just like how Americans don't need interference from Mexico, having options is always better—whether it's picking a good hospital, a college, or a vacation spot. Europe doesn't need Russian gas in quantities that let them hold everyone hostage. Let them buy a little from Russia if they must, just enough to keep some profit flowing there, but that's it.

Joshua Myers432 said:Who cares about the Russians? Seriously. You think freezing in your own apartment is going to stop them?🙄

If you're going to pull the trigger, aim at the enemy instead of shooting yourself in the foot.🕺

I feel better knowing I won't be stuck without heating this winter while the Russians lose out.

Jacob Gonzalez2 said:The two of you will probably end up bickering amongst yourselves while you're busy posturing with those propaganda pamphlets. Honestly, what a bunch of Turks... I can hardly believe it...

I'd gladly deal with gas rationing if it meant the Russians kept dying on occupied territory.

Spies embedded right in the Ukrainian ranks. If they’re Russians, it's business as usual, but when it's Ukrainians? That's just hard to wrap your head around.

silentnomad7 said:It’s being called the promised land! I've even heard whispers that entire bus convoys are already heading over there from the struggling EU. Honestly, when you consider how cheap the gas and natural gas are over there—you could practically pick up a used Chevy or a bottle of decent vodka for pennies...

But you can't buy any potatoes.

silentnomad7 said:Putin claims he’s going to ramp up his own domestic tech capabilities, basically saying sanctions won't even slow them down...

And honestly, that’s just how technology works these days! You decide you want a computer today, you figure out how to build it tomorrow, and by the day after, you're churning out millions of units for profit...

But then you wake up and realize they don't even have enough potatoes to supply McDonald's.

The Ukrainians are actually holding their own pretty well, considering how many spies and traitors they have operating right inside their own ranks.

That's why Putin sends them straight to the front lines; he doesn't want to deal with any trouble back home in Russia.

Gerald Torres84 said:Perhaps now the gambler will finally be able to refuel his ship, which might actually stop him from whining about the decline of the West. 🙂

Maybe some stray Russian missile hits his tanker, then he won't be worrying about oil prices anymore. 🤷

Russia isn't trying to save their industry; they’re just funneling everything into the war and buying weapons from Iran and China.

urbanotter said:I think you're getting the timeline mixed up again.

During a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, the American President Donald Trump signed off on the national defense budget, which includes punitive measures against the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This follows the prior approval of the sanctions package by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

https://www.dw.com/en/american-...a-2/a-51763222

I will give you this much, though—I do agree that these sanctions are hitting me just as much as they are hitting all of Europe.

It’s not me who's mistaken—it's Russia and Germany. Like thinking they could use gas to tie Europe's hands so they could just do whatever they wanted, even occupy territory. And the Germans thought there wouldn't be another war. America stays two steps ahead of everything. You can really see how well they spot danger coming.

Bryan Booth82 said:Sure, but don't forget... the USA bombed Mexico.🤔

lp

And there was a reason for it🙂

urbanotter said:It isn't really about being fascinated by Russia; rather, I find this irrational, deep-seated hatred toward everything Russian quite baffling.
I actually used to own a Sputnik watch and some tools from over there, and honestly, they were pretty decent quality.

And hey, their vodka isn't bad either.😉

But look, we are supposed to be discussing sanctions and economic impact here, not whether or not someone "loves" Russia.

The thing is, economics doesn't care about your personal feelings or political ideologies.
When sanctions—which are essentially just political products—are applied, they stifle the economy, and everyone ends up paying the price for that political decision,
though clearly, those who imposed the sanctions feel the sting most acutely.😉

The sanctions weren't what caused Russia to invade Ukraine.
It's like saying 1995 happened before 1991. Besides, these sanctions hit you too, even if you're siding with the Russians. Most people—especially Ukrainians—would give anything to have these sanctions gone.

urbanotter said:Honestly, if I had to pick just one from this list of ten, it wouldn't be hard at all.😉

https://hr.expertevolux.com/top-samy...lej-iz-kitaja/

They’re likely much more affordable than those big-name brands from Europe, which are struggling right now because their production lines are stalling due to a shortage of components coming from the East.
At this rate, you might manage to find a European car on the lot, but don't expect it to have a functioning touchscreen.😁

On top of that, they're often missing basic wiring harnesses entirely.
https://www.dw.com/bs/kako-rat-u-ukr...iju/a-61125247

What is it about Russia that makes you such a huge fan?
You don't speak Russian, you've never actually been there, and you've never even held a Ruble. You haven't bought a single Russian product in your life.

urbanotter said:Russia is going to shift its trade focus toward the East and toward the BRIC nations, which they are looking to expand by adding more members.
They’ll try to source the goods they traditionally imported from Europe from other parts of the world instead. Right now, Russia is seeing an unprecedented trade surplus, and when you have that kind of capital, you can always find someone to sell you a car or even basic groceries, while they also begin manufacturing a larger portion of what they used to import themselves.

Chinese cars aren't bad at all, and Brazil produces quite a lot of them too.

However, Europe seems destined to deal with more expensive gas, because the cost of LNG will never be able to compete with the price of gas delivered directly via pipelines.
It’s a simple matter of logistics: the process of liquefying the gas, transporting it on LNG tankers, and then regasifying it is expensive, no matter where in the world Europe sources it from.

Since heating accounts for roughly 30% of imported gas usage, the industrial sector will feel the biggest hit, and with those higher input costs, entering a recession seems almost inevitable.

Sanctions can be a double-edged sword; you can easily end up falling into the very hole you were digging for someone else.

It's a shame people didn't embrace Chinese cars sooner. Maybe then you'd actually own one yourself.🙂

Michael Davis9 said:At its core, money is really nothing more than a tool—it’s just a practical way for us to make exchanging goods and services a whole lot easier.

Historically speaking, the Russian Federation has always relied on the European Union to supply those high-end, high-value goods—we're talking heavy machinery, specialized chemical products, intricate industrial components, and all sorts of sophisticated equipment used for everything from energy extraction to large-scale manufacturing.

When you look at the reality of these sanctions, it’s becoming pretty clear that Russia is hitting a massive wall. They're finding it increasingly difficult to actually buy and import most of what they need, which is why they're facing such an enormous deficit right now. I’ve been looking closely at the recent numbers, and honestly, seeing such a significant drop in imports really caught my eye. It’s one of those shifts that feels like more than just a minor fluctuation; it's a signal that deserves some real thought. When you see import volumes sliding like this, it usually points toward a deeper change in consumer demand or perhaps some tightening in the broader economic landscape here in the States. I can't help but wonder how much of this is a reaction to shifting domestic spending habits versus larger supply chain adjustments. It’s definitely a trend worth watching as we navigate the current economic climate. .

So, it looks like they’ve got plenty of cash on hand, but when it comes to actual assets, there’s nothing to show for it.

If Germany can't get their gas situation sorted out, they’re headed straight into a recession, and honestly, that’s going to drag a massive chunk of the entire European Union right down with them.

Just imagine if the gas supply had been cut off six months ago—we wouldn't have had nearly enough time to get those storage facilities filled up to the brim like we have now.

You can't know more than the Russians; they see everything. If they think you're criticizing them, you could end up behind bars.🙂