Sanctions on Russia

So, this "brand new" Lada actually runs on a modified engine straight out of an old 1980s Chevy Nova...

dustyowl29 said:So, this "brand new" Lada actually runs on a modified engine straight out of an old 1980s Chevy Nova...

So, where does that leave us?

Just try putting yourself in the shoes of Putin and his inner circle, who are currently getting squeezed by all these embargos—though, let's be honest, there’s always going to be some way to track down a BMW, a Range Rover, or a Mercedes-Benz for the real heavy hitters...

Essentially, they are buying up everything that rolls, flies, digs, crawls, or drills... and they're footing the bill by leveraging oil and gas prices that are already 30% cheaper... And how do you think the Chinese (and a few others) will react to that? What can they really do? Either they slash their own oil prices by another 5 to 10% just to stay competitive, or they lose the whole market...

Even though it's almost absurd to even bring this up, from people like Kolinda to Xia or Modi... nobody ever actually calls Putin out for failing to honor a deal. And that is actually a incredibly messy situation because, regardless of how much of a Putin he might be, if he consistently follows through on his contracts... and by doing so, keeps someone else's national budget afloat... people don't tend to overthink things too much...
Even among the absolute worst criminals, there is often more value placed on having a code and keeping your word than anything else...

Bryan Booth82 said:Why are you taking this so far? Why didn't you pick an example closer to home?
Think about it—why were guys from Miami or Seattle on the front lines defending Memphis or San Francisco?

Maybe Mexico wouldn't have cared about those specific parts of the country... they could have just kept living off tourism in Key West or Newport Beach. Screw the US, let them deal with some place like Memphis.

Would Mexicans have ever set up shop near San Diego or Indianapolis??
Would Russians have ever stood on the border....

Oh, right—please, by all means, give us some justifications regarding Indochina and colonialism from two hundred years ago.
Best regards,

That’s exactly the thing—history is written by the winners, right? This whole war could’ve easily gone a different way. If it had, we’d all be sitting here learning a completely different version of what went down back in the 90s.

And everyone’s just gonna conveniently deny they had anything to do with it—totally playing along with the current narrative, right? Like, people are either acting like they're victims of it now or straight-up making the whole thing up as they go.

These guys are a special breed of annoying—total armchair warriors who only fight from a safe distance. If things had actually gone south, all those loudmouths in the back would’ve folded instantly—they’d have developed some kind of post-war amnesia faster than you can eat a cookie. They're the type who always scout out the most convenient spots behind civilian defense or overseas, mostly just looking out for their own skin. Take how they’re acting about their "participation" today—if the outcome had been different, they’d probably be bragging about how they were smart enough to stay out of the fight entirely.

Nancy Gomez26 said:Honesty is the best policy.

To cover tens of millions of tons of weaponry, food, and strategic raw materials, the United Kingdom ended up footing a bill exceeding a billion pounds over a fifty-year stretch!!!!!!!!!!@@@

That’s easily the most spineless piece of journalism I’ve read in a long time; the level of manipulation here is staggering. It conveniently omits the fact that everything was eventually settled with WW2 America, because acknowledging that would make their little list look far less impressive.

The British would likely have found themselves much better off avoiding that "debt" altogether, had they left it in the hands of the Berlin version of Putin back then.

So, I was just digging through some of those old Rostec stats from back in the day—specifically comparing May 2021 to May 2022—and man, it really paints a crazy picture of how much people miscalculated when it came to those sanctions against Russia. It’s one of those things where you think you see the obvious answer on paper, but then you look at the actual flow of money and goods and realize the whole "economic shutdown" narrative was way more complicated than the news made it out to be. Honestly, looking at how they managed to pivot while everyone else was busy predicting an immediate collapse, it’s kind of wild to see how ineffective those restrictions actually turned out to be in the long run.

So, I was digging through some of the numbers earlier today, just trying to wrap my head around how things have shifted lately, and I wanted to share a few quick data points I stumbled upon comparing May 22nd against May 21st. It’s funny how much can change in just twenty-four hours when you actually sit down and look at the fine print!
Man, you guys won't believe the absolute crater I just saw in the latest numbers for Ford—we’re looking at a staggering 96.7% drop, which translates to about 3,700 units gone right out from under them. It’s honestly wild to wrap my head around when you think about the sheer scale of that collapse; I remember back when I was browsing the lots in San Diego, seeing rows of these things practically begging for someone to drive them home, and now? Just a total ghost town. It feels like the entire market just hit a brick wall overnight, leaving everyone scratching their heads wondering where all those buyers vanished to.
Man, did you guys see those latest numbers? Freightliner sales just took a massive nose dive, dropping by over 39%. It’s absolutely wild to look at that kind of slide on paper! I was actually chatting with my buddy who works in logistics down in Indianapolis just the other day, and he was telling me how quiet the yards have been lately. You can really feel that shift happening in the industry; it feels like everything just hit a wall all at once. It's one of those crazy stats that makes you stop and think about where the economy is actually heading, you know? Just a massive, unexpected slump.
Man, I was just looking at the latest numbers and honestly? Seeing ICE motor market share drop by 57% feels like watching a slow-motion landslide. It’s wild to think about how fast things are shifting under our feet! I remember back when my old Ford truck was basically the king of the road and you didn't see an EV in sight unless it was some niche tech enthusiast project, but now? Everything is changing so fast. It really makes you wonder where we'll be in just another five years—it's a total rollercoaster ride, but man, what a time to be watching the industry evolve!
Man, I’m gonna have to sit this one out. Looking at those numbers, seeing that freight wagon count plummet by nearly 60%? Yeah, no thanks. That's just too much of a red flag for me to dive in right now.
Man, I was just looking at the latest numbers, and wow—freight rail usage is absolutely cratering right now, down by about 51.8%. It’s honestly wild to see such a massive drop like that. It feels like everything in the logistics chain is just hitting a wall all at once. You see these huge fleets of cars sitting idle on the sidings, and it really makes you wonder what's going on behind the scenes with the economy. I remember back when I was working near Chicago, things were always moving, constant noise, constant action... seeing this kind of slump is just surreal. Definitely a heavy hit for the industry.
Man, I was just looking at the numbers for fiberglass cables, and honestly? They’ve absolutely cratered—we’re talking a massive 80.8% drop. It’s wild to see a decline that steep, almost makes you wonder if the whole industry is shifting gears under our feet or if something bigger is brewing in the tech sector. It reminds me of that time back in the day when everyone was obsessed with one specific type of hardware, only to have the rug pulled out from under them overnight by a newer, shinier alternative. You really have to dig into the data to figure out if this is just a temporary dip or if we're witnessing a permanent pivot in how we're building out our infrastructure. It’s definitely a heavy hit to take!
So, I was just looking over the latest numbers, and man, you guys aren't going to believe this—Whirlpool sales have absolutely cratered, dropping by a massive 58.1%. It’s honestly wild to see a dip that steep! I remember back when I moved into my first apartment in Chicago, I spent ages hunting for a reliable fridge because I was convinced a cheap one would die on me within a month, but seeing a drop like this makes me wonder if everyone is just holding onto their old appliances forever or if the economy is hitting the kitchen hardest right now. It's such a huge swing!
Man, you guys won't believe the madness I saw while checking out some appliance deals today—it turns out washing machines have absolutely cratered, dropping by a staggering 59.2%! Honestly, if you’ve been holding off on replacing that old, noisy machine that sounds like a jet engine taking off in your laundry room, now might actually be your lucky day. I was just telling my neighbor the other day how much I dread laundry day, especially when the machine starts doing that weird rhythmic thumping thing, so seeing a price cut like that really caught my eye. It’s one of those rare moments where the market just decides to take a massive dive, and you can practically feel the relief in the air if you know where to look!
So, I was just looking over the latest numbers for AC electric motors, and man, talk about a gut punch—we’re looking at a massive 49.9% drop. It’s honestly wild to see a slide that steep, right? It feels like one of those moments where you're just staring at the dashboard of your car, watching the needle plummet, wondering if the engine is actually going to hold together. I remember back when I was working a summer gig helping out at a local repair shop near San Diego, we used to get these huge orders for motor components constantly, and seeing something swing this far into the red just feels totally surreal. It definitely makes you wonder what's shifting in the market to cause such a sudden, heavy dip, but hey, that's the business for you—always keeping us on our toes!
Man, I was just looking at the numbers and honestly, my jaw hit the floor—elevators are down by a staggering 34.7%. It’s one of those stats that just makes you stop mid-sentence and go, "Wait, seriously?" I remember back when I was working that summer gig over in Chicago, helping out around these massive high-rise office buildings, and even then, things felt steady. But seeing a drop like this? It's wild. You start wondering if everyone's just decided to take the stairs for the cardio or if there's some bigger shift happening in how we move through cities. It feels like such a massive swing, like watching a stock market crash in real-time, only much more specific and kind of surreal. Just a crazy bit of data to chew on while sipping my morning coffee!
Man, I was just looking at the latest numbers and honestly? It’s wild seeing that excavator demand has absolutely cratered by about 60%. Like, seriously, where did everyone go? One minute you feel like there’s a massive construction boom happening everywhere from Seattle to Miami, and then suddenly, the heavy machinery market just hits a brick wall. I remember back when I was working a site out near Indianapolis, we had more CAT equipment sitting idle than we actually had guys operating them, so seeing this kind of drop on paper doesn't totally shock me, but it's still pretty heavy to wrap my head around. You gotta wonder if it's a supply chain thing or if everyone's just tightening their belts big time. Either way, that's a massive dent in the industry.

I was just scrolling through my feed and saw this post that really got me thinking about how much everything is shifting under our feet lately. It’s one of those things where you look at the news, see a headline, and realize we aren't just talking about small changes anymore—we're looking at a total overhaul of how things work. You know that feeling when you're driving down a highway in, say, San Diego, and suddenly you realize the entire landscape looks nothing like it did five years ago? That’s kind of what it feels like with the current global situation. Everything is moving so fast, and honestly, it's a little wild to process. I remember sitting around with some buddies back in the day, just joking about how much "stuff" would change by now, but seeing it actually play out in real-time is a whole different beast. It’s definitely a lot to wrap your head around, but I’m keeping my eyes peeled because you really can't afford to blink right now!

brightheron64 said:Nice choice you've got there. 😁

Austria and the Czech Republic... why stop there? Let's just throw in Slovakia, Belgium, and Denmark too... then we could probably film some new episodes of 'Allo 'Allo!, maybe in some Eurovision-style format
.

That is a perfectly accurate observation. 👍

Honestly, if I hadn't been clinging to my mantra of "we have America," I don't even know where I would be right now. Where would it end? 😉

You’re being completely unserious. 😁👍
Best,

slyfox43 said:To cover tens of millions of tons of weaponry, food, and strategic raw materials, the United Kingdom ended up footing a bill exceeding a billion pounds over a fifty-year stretch!!!!!!!!!!@@@

That’s easily the most spineless piece of journalism I’ve read in a long time; the level of manipulation here is staggering. It conveniently omits the fact that everything was eventually settled with WW2 America, because acknowledging that would make their little list look far less impressive.

The British would likely have found themselves much better off avoiding that "debt" altogether, had they left it in the hands of the Berlin version of Putin back then.

I don't see what the controversy is regarding the fact that delivered weaponry and equipment must eventually be paid for. In fact, it’s a good thing for Ukraine; it ensures there won't be any sudden retroactive claims or hidden conditions later on. Naturally, people will frame this as a massive favor, given that these are critical moments for national survival. If someone had offered us those terms back in '91—we would have jumped at it without asking a single question. When someone extends terms like these during such a decisive moment, you could call it a significant privilege. On the other hand, you could spend years trying to build up your own arsenal through slow purchases, but that carries its own heavy price tag, doesn't it? No matter how you slice it, war is expensive. The only difference here is that the weapons are available precisely when the pressure is highest—when they are needed most—and you settle the bill later, based on what was actually used. Which option is better?

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It is quite an interesting dilemma! The new 100-ruble banknote released today by the Federal Reserve, which depicts the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, effectively can't be used. Because of current sanctions, local ATMs and cash registers simply aren't equipped to recognize the new design. It is much like trying to play a modern Blu-ray in an old VCR—the technology just doesn't match! Since 100% of the nation's cash registers are imported, they are stuck with the old software.

😂
I am unable to put these new banknotes into circulation through the ATMs.

dustyowl29 said:So, this "brand new" Lada actually runs on a modified engine straight out of an old 1980s Chevy Nova...

Honestly, it might even be the exact same engine. You can't just swap things out on a whim; you need serious technical expertise for that. I highly doubt they swapped the whole motor since it's only been four months since the end of those two months.

The real question is, what else in that Lada hasn't been modernized?
What about the brakes??
And ABS?
Or ESP?

Nancy Gomez26 said:I don't see what the controversy is regarding the fact that delivered weaponry and equipment must eventually be paid for. In fact, it’s a good thing for Ukraine; it ensures there won't be any sudden retroactive claims or hidden conditions later on. Naturally, people will frame this as a massive favor, given that these are critical moments for national survival. If someone had offered us those terms back in '91—we would have jumped at it without asking a single question. When someone extends terms like these during such a decisive moment, you could call it a significant privilege. On the other hand, you could spend years trying to build up your own arsenal through slow purchases, but that carries its own heavy price tag, doesn't it? No matter how you slice it, war is expensive. The only difference here is that the weapons are available precisely when the pressure is highest—when they are needed most—and you settle the bill later, based on what was actually used. Which option is better?

Give me a break. They keep preaching about how Ukraine is fighting this war for them and instead of them—which is literally true—and now they want to charge them for the very weapons being used to effectively fight for US geopolitical interests too... Americans are using this conflict to reshape the global landscape, or does anyone honestly believe they're just helping Ukraine out of pure humanitarian concern?

I'm not saying Ukraine shouldn't get help—they definitely should—but we need to be realistic. Charging Ukrainians for weapons in this specific context would be pretty pathetic.

🙏🙏

Linda Collins3 said:Give me a break. They keep preaching about how Ukraine is fighting this war for them and instead of them—which is literally true—and now they want to charge them for the very weapons being used to effectively fight for US geopolitical interests too... Americans are using this conflict to reshape the global landscape, or does anyone honestly believe they're just helping Ukraine out of pure humanitarian concern?

I'm not saying Ukraine shouldn't get help—they definitely should—but we need to be realistic. Charging Ukrainians for weapons in this specific context would be pretty pathetic.

Of course, it doesn't matter if Ukrainians end up paying off the cost of this aid for the next 20 or 30 years; what matters is that they are killing Russians and Russians are killing them.

The priority is that the weapons are being utilized, regardless of whether the Ukrainians pay for them or receive them as "aid."
Since there is no such thing as a free lunch, someone eventually picks up the tab, even if it ends up being the American taxpayer.

It would actually be fair if they covered it themselves, considering they are far wealthier than the Ukrainians who are currently fighting to serve the interests of an elite class.

It doesn't matter what breed of horse you're riding, whether it's a thoroughbred or a workhorse,
what matters is that the dust is kicking up behind it.

In the end, whether people believe it or not, I truly feel for those Ukrainians and the Russians too—not just because lives are being lost, but because they seem so incredibly naive.

You fight, you give your life for someone else's agenda, and then you get stuck with the bill; I suppose that's just how it goes.🙏🙏

Linda Collins3 said:Give me a break. They keep preaching about how Ukraine is fighting this war for them and instead of them—which is literally true—and now they want to charge them for the very weapons being used to effectively fight for US geopolitical interests too... Americans are using this conflict to reshape the global landscape, or does anyone honestly believe they're just helping Ukraine out of pure humanitarian concern?

I'm not saying Ukraine shouldn't get help—they definitely should—but we need to be realistic. Charging Ukrainians for weapons in this specific context would be pretty pathetic.

In this conflict, Ukrainians are primarily fighting for their own freedom, which indirectly serves all of us. This war was thrust upon them; they didn't initiate the aggression, they simply endured it. It is an event dictated by circumstance. At the end of the day, someone in the West had to foot the bill for those weapons regardless. And eventually, someone will have to pay for the replacements once current stock is depleted. Weapons age; technology becomes obsolete. Much of what remains unused will eventually need replacing or refurbishing. This is how it will play out. The financial arrangement for Ukraine is actually quite advantageous given our current geopolitical standing. They essentially have access to everything now, with the understanding that they will settle up later—once they are capable. And they will only be capable once the war concludes and the economy is rebuilt. Perhaps some donations will occur. The Ukrainians understand that once the West has placed its bets on their side, it isn't in anyone's interest to let them sink—mostly because of who will be left to settle the debts. Furthermore, purchasing these arms triggers a chain reaction. The US buys older equipment from NATO partners—much of it manufactured under old USSR standards—and what replaces it? Western-made hardware. This leads to immediate military modernization, increased sales for the defense industry, and significant R&D investment fueled by fresh capital. There is even the possibility that Ukrainians might sell back any of their own gear that proves effective during this struggle.

Linda Collins3 said:Give me a break. They keep preaching about how Ukraine is fighting this war for them and instead of them—which is literally true—and now they want to charge them for the very weapons being used to effectively fight for US geopolitical interests too... Americans are using this conflict to reshape the global landscape, or does anyone honestly believe they're just helping Ukraine out of pure humanitarian concern?

I'm not saying Ukraine shouldn't get help—they definitely should—but we need to be realistic. Charging Ukrainians for weapons in this specific context would be pretty pathetic.

If you're going to claim they say that constantly, then give me names and dates.

They'll settle up in the future for what they already should have provided, but nobody planned for Russia trying to wipe out the Ukrainian military entirely. You've got donations, financial aid, humanitarian stuff, and finally, Lend-Lease.

Linda Collins3 said:We’ll offer you a fair price for the chance to fight for our interests...

What you actually mean is they’ll be offered a favorable financial arrangement to procure weapons and gear—tools to drive the occupiers out of their own land. A clean transaction, a debt of gratitude, no hidden strings or lingering "tails" that typically haunt such arrangements.

There is this constant attempt here to push the narrative that Ukrainians are merely fighting someone else's war. They are primarily fighting for themselves and the sovereignty of their nation. For them, there is a massive distinction between living under the sphere of influence of Russia or being aligned with Western Europe. That matters deeply—and they have already made their choice.

Nancy Gomez26 said:What you actually mean is they’ll be offered a favorable financial arrangement to procure weapons and gear—tools to drive the occupiers out of their own land. A clean transaction, a debt of gratitude, no hidden strings or lingering "tails" that typically haunt such arrangements.

There is this constant attempt here to push the narrative that Ukrainians are merely fighting someone else's war. They are primarily fighting for themselves and the sovereignty of their nation. For them, there is a massive distinction between living under the sphere of influence of Russia or being aligned with Western Europe. That matters deeply—and they have already made their choice.

Yesterday Dmitry Peskov claimed the only way to end the war is for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. That confirms this is nothing more than a land grab, yet people here still insist on rambling about American interests. Unbelievable.

crimsoncyclist71 said:Yesterday Dmitry Peskov claimed the only way to end the war is for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. That confirms this is nothing more than a land grab, yet people here still insist on rambling about American interests. Unbelievable.

When it comes to weaponry, the Russians actually offered Ukraine a much more favorable deal—at least from an economic standpoint. Their demand was simple: demilitarization. In a crisis this severe, it’s actually quite logical. If they followed that path, they wouldn't be stuck paying off massive loans years after the fighting stops. This is where that Russian pragmatism shows up—something nobody in the West bothered to consider. The West just wants to keep selling weapons to Ukrainians. In a situation this dire, their eyes are solely on the profit margins. Damn them.

Nancy Gomez26 said:What you actually mean is they’ll be offered a favorable financial arrangement to procure weapons and gear—tools to drive the occupiers out of their own land. A clean transaction, a debt of gratitude, no hidden strings or lingering "tails" that typically haunt such arrangements.

There is this constant attempt here to push the narrative that Ukrainians are merely fighting someone else's war. They are primarily fighting for themselves and the sovereignty of their nation. For them, there is a massive distinction between living under the sphere of influence of Russia or being aligned with Western Europe. That matters deeply—and they have already made their choice.

Nobody actually claimed Ukrainians are fighting solely for outside interests—you just had to read the part where I said "effectively" and "among other things."
But like I said (since you clearly missed it), they *are* effectively fighting for outside interests too. And it’s because of that specific overlap that they get the weapons, not necessarily because of their fight for freedom. Now people act like there should be a bill sent to them for it...

Linda Collins3 said:Nobody actually claimed Ukrainians are fighting solely for outside interests—you just had to read the part where I said "effectively" and "among other things."
But like I said (since you clearly missed it), they *are* effectively fighting for outside interests too. And it’s because of that specific overlap that they get the weapons, not necessarily because of their fight for freedom. Now people act like there should be a bill sent to them for it...

Ukrainians are fighting for themselves. They can choose to say no if they don't want Russia close by. Who could possibly force them to think any differently?🤷

MechaLiver said:The topic here is "sanctions on Russia," not some "conversation with Kocer."

Either start your own thread or just jump into the ones already running; there’s no reason to hijack this specific discussion.

I'm actually in favor of the sanctions myself,
which is why I asked my colleague such a practical question: what are we going to use for fertilizer, what equipment will we be running, and what is all that going to cost us in the long run?

Instead, I just got this vague, non-committal answer about how there's some "new science" involved and how we still don't know everything about the earth itself.

I suppose we should probably just stop planting and harvesting altogether while "science" waits to uncover every secret of the soil and finds a way for wheat to grow without us strictly following sanction protocols by refusing to buy a single cubic meter of gas from Russia.

Maybe that’s exactly why the fertilizer plant over in a place like St. Louis shut down its production lines;

they're probably just waiting for "science" to reveal all the mysteries of the earth and figure out how to make wheat thrive without using fertilizer derived from Russian gas or running tractors on Russian diesel.🙏

electricsurfer47 said:Honestly, it might even be the exact same engine. You can't just swap things out on a whim; you need serious technical expertise for that. I highly doubt they swapped the whole motor since it's only been four months since the end of those two months.

The real question is, what else in that Lada hasn't been modernized?
What about the brakes??
And ABS?
Or ESP?

I think they just bumped the displacement from 1.3 and 1.5 up to 1.6, but that’s really just wider pistons—specifically the ones made by Bosch.