, oh.

I just meant to note that in dreams (and hallucinations and such), the perception and the perceived are the same, which isn't the case for anything extra-self.

For example, I'm not (identical to) your dream-me. (No need to apologize if you slap me in a dream, I wasn't harmed. :smile:)

Actually, I think you already noted that:

but different from — Jack Cummins

If we were to deny the difference, then we'd converge on solipsism.

One significant difference is the "dreamt about".
I'm not "the me in your dream".

Just keeps getting better...

Who Is Doug Wilson? Pentagon Defends Pastor Who Led Christian Prayer Service
^{— Nick Mordowanec · Military.com · Feb 18, 2026}

What the fvck are those people doing at the Pentagon?
Isn't their church good enough for their rituals?

:snicker:

First it was "Ep-who?" or something.
Then "No such dossier".
Then "Hoax".
Then "Deep state Biden conspiracy" or something.
Then "Fabrication by Obama".
Then more misdirection.
Then... (add/swap/repeat whatever)

All this from government officials in-the-know, paid employees of the US people, lying to everyone.
I'm thinking more than a slap over the wrist is warranted.
Credibility is gone.
Well, at least the Kremlin and Beijing (and @NOS4A2) are cheering at the chaos, I'm sure.

Was trying to make sense of this, but gave up:

Trump claims leaders call him ‘The President of Europe’ (Aug 26, 2025)
Trump thrashes European leaders in wide-ranging interview: ‘I think they’re weak’ (Dec 9, 2025)
Trump claims Europeans say he could ‘lead them’ (Dec 12, 2025)

I'm thinking Trump is liable.

Chlorine Dioxide, Raw Camel Milk: The FDA No Longer Warns Against These and Other Ineffective Autism Treatments
^{— Megan O’Matz · ProPublica · Feb 18, 2026}

Anyone else?

Flawed ‘Epstein Files’ disclosures undermine accountability for grave crimes against women and girls: UN experts
^{— UN · Feb 16, 2026}
Epstein files: ‘No one is too wealthy or too powerful to be above the law’; rights experts demand accountability
^{— Vibhu Mishra · UN · Feb 17, 2026}

The White House hasn't dealt with this crap appropriately.

He's dished out threats before — Feb 12, 2026

Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years
^{— Dominick Mastrangelo · The Hill · Feb 11, 2026}

House Trump takes a different approach:

Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer Kathy Ruemmler to resign after emails show close ties to Jeffrey Epstein
^{— Ken Sweet · AP · Feb 13, 2026}
Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer Kathy Ruemmler to resign after emails show close ties to Jeffrey Epstein
^{— AP · Feb 13, 2026 · 36s}

Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries! Our Trade Deficit has been reduced by 78%, the Dow Jones has just hit 50,000, and the S&P, 7,000, all Numbers that were considered IMPOSSIBLE just one year ago. In addition, TARIFFS have given us Great National Security because the mere mention of the word has Countries agreeing to our strongest wishes. TARIFFS have given us Economic and National Security, and no Republican should be responsible for destroying this privilege. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP — Donald J. Trump · Feb 11, 2026

He's dished out threats before. Almost made it standard procedure.

Chokehold
^{— Nora Benavidez et al · Free Press · Dec 2025}

not allowing missiles on Russia’s border — Mikie

Too late for that.
Not that there ever were nuclear missiles on their border (or Ukraine's).
Do you think Putin will declare a "special Finland military operation" if the Finns install systems to shoot down nuclear missiles?

Defense of Ukraine need not be NATO, though Budapest turned out useless.
I'm sure the Ukrainians would accept some other sufficient defense agreement.
But that might well (also) get in the way of the Kremlin's plans, even if it meant peace and no NATO.
What are the chances that Putin would hand back the occupied territories?

, what part isn't happening?

(this earlier comment already happened)

Were you referring to 's comment?

The Kremlin typically declares these as their justification:

• bad bad NATO/West, needs to go away (†)
• bad bad Ukraine, needs deNazification + demilitarization (†)
• bad bad Ukraine, genocide on Russian-speakers

Apart from their usual bombing and such, the Kremlin

• employs heavy-duty crackdowns domestically
• employs heavy-duty crackdowns in occupied areas + Russification
• employs offenses against others externally (†)

You don't need access to classified information to exemplify their rhetoric (propaganda) and their hostile acts (unless you're in Russia perhaps).
House Trump exceeds them in sheer amount of (in-your-face) lying/misrepresentation, though.

Here's a snippet of examples of the first two and the last • above (†) in chronological order, that coherently go together:

• Russia’s Influence on Europe’s Far-Right Violent Extremism
• The children of Severomorsk are told that neighbouring Nordic countries support Nazism
• Two foreigners detained for displaying Nazi symbols in Pechersk, Kyiv, - police. PHOTOS
• Two foreign nationals detained in Pechersk district for displaying Nazi symbols
• From Moscow with chaos: How Russia unites extremists across Germany
• Chats: Wie Putin seinen Krieg der Desinformation auf Wiens Straßen führt
• In Austria, an FSB network disguised as "Ukrainian Nazis" was exposed
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting media corporation, Moscow, December 15, 2025

A short summary is that the Kremlin circle more or less says that the better part of Europe supports/is Nazist, and they've engineered some supposed evidence.
Anyone in Europe can tell how ridiculous it is; they're talking post-truth alternate world; plus, Kyiv is decidedly not a Nazi rule; the Russian government is worse than those they accuse.
There's a lot of such evidence, from or corroborated by several independent sources, spanning a decade (well, more).

Hmm... Cause for concern?

Trump’s FBI Sends Ominous Note to Election Officials About Midterms
^{— Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling · The New Republic · Feb 6, 2026}

The Ukrainians have, by and large, favored the EU among given options in polls since 2004, though not always more than 50%; more than 50% have favored the EU since 2017.
NATO is a different matter; polls only went over 50% (less than 60%) in 2014, and over 80% in 2022; the reasons for these increases should be clear.
Ukraine had a relatively modest army until 2022/2023 (seemingly demilitarizing in 2013), and a relatively modest military budget until 2022; all that changed with the 2022 invasion.
Well, the Kremlin has other plans — other plans for Ukraine, regardless of their wishes.
As of 2022, NATO did not have nuclear weapons on Russia's doorstep (or Ukraine's); the converse cannot be said, and, in 2023, Putin's Russia deployed nuclear weapons in Belarus.

No, I don’t think so. — Mikie

Does that include cables and whatever else?
Do you deny the sad state of Belarus...? — Feb 6, 2026

, yeah, saw that. :/

Trump shares a racist video that depicts the Obamas as primates in a jungle
^{— Bill Barrow, Josh Boak · AP · Feb 6, 2026}
Trump shares racist video depicting Obamas as apes
^{— Colleen Jenkins, Daniel Wallis · Reuters · Feb 6, 2026}

No, I don’t think so. — Mikie

Does that include cables and whatever else?

Do you deny the sad state of Belarus...?

Implications? — jorndoe

No: — Mikie

Hm?

If one believes Russia wanted to conquer Ukraine— which it never did — Mikie

For the time being, they want Ukraine to become more like Belarus. ^{ap, euronews} The Ukrainians said "No". End of story. (you don't have to repeat all the Kremlin tales in the thread)

So, you don't think satellites are in the crosshairs? (Maybe not cables and whatever else, either?)

Implications?

Russia ‘intercepts Europe’s key satellites’ placing NATO satellite at risk
^{— Satnews · Feb 4, 2026}

Space Threat Fact Sheet
^{— US Space Force · Dec 2025}

Now it seems that the Trump-lovers are eager trying to say that all Western countries are as corrupt as the US is now. — ssu

..., and House Trump babbles about a dire invasion by immigrants in Europe, and meanwhile the Kremlin claims that the better part of Europe is Nazi, ... :D (It's almost like they're cooperating/competing in airing incompatible propaganda.)

Not long ago, Trump inadvertently admitted listening to Putin before both US and French investigations. This was about the alleged bombing of a large residence of Putin's. (Irrelevant either way.) Trump is a Russotoady (or worse).

California joins UN health network following US departure from WHO
^{— Jasper Ward, Rod Nickel · Reuters · Jan 23, 2026}

:up:

Trump’s First Year In Office
^{— The Onion · Jan 29, 2026}

:grin:

Fueling the idea that House Trump is going to retire to Sochi with an "Adios, suckers":

Opinion | How Trump Has Used the Presidency to Make at Least $1.4 Billion (archive)
^{— The New York Times · Jan 20, 2026}
CNN reporter taken aback by 'staggering' report about Trump's wealth during second term
^{— Robert Davis · Jan 20, 2026 · 4m:27s}

Trump lied again:

Boston theaters are empty for the Melania documentary (— Axios · Jan 29, 2026)
Bizarre ad allegedly pays you to watch Melania Trump's new movie (— UNILAD · Jan 29, 2026)

Well, at least it's not serious in this case. :sweat:
$50 + free ticket to go see the movie? I suppose I might. :)

, it gives an impression of Trump trying to tie up "loose ends".
In the current environment, independent observers need to be present...

Vance, Noem, Miller, Bovino, maybe others, lied straight to everyone's faces without hesitation.
Heck, some threw around terrorist accusations.
For someone in those positions in particular, that's not good enough, and a slap on the wrist won't do.

Maybe they took Trump's example?

People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook. — Nixon 1973 (somehow came to mind)

Renée Good (1988–2026)
Alex Pretti (1988–2026)

EDIT

Conservatives Say Renée Good Was Brainwashed By Bible Into Loving Thy Neighbor
^{— The Onion · Jan 15, 2026}

They are blocking streets, lighting fires, waving foreign flags, and making “trans autonomous zones” — NOS4A2

Is that what they did?

Renée Good

Alex Pretti

, Mussolini was popular for a while.
I suppose there are various reasons that people don't react effectively/cohesively (and timely). :/
The US could use that by now.

In other news ...
Newsom says Davos appearance was canceled under pressure from Trump (— Guardian · Jan 21, 2026)

The Clown
▸ says the Arctic needs protection from Putin (provided by him)
▸ invites Putin to his "Board of Peace"

:brow: What's going on here?
His creepy Putinfatuation isn't going to divide the Kremlin and Beijing.
But his backstabbery could send allies China's way instead.
Canada just met up with China and Qatar; could become a trend.

Carney Says Canada’s Old Relationship With the U.S. Is Over (— WSJ · Apr 25, 2025 · 1m:11s)


Trump on Canada-China trade deal: ’If you can get a deal with China, you should do that’ (— CBC Radio Canada · Jan 16, 2026)

US says Canada will regret decision to allow Chinese EVs into their market (— Reuters · Jan 17, 2026)

Should Greenland ask China for protection from the US? :grin:
Seems ridiculous, yet not more ridiculous than what comes out of House Trump.

EDIT: seems like I repeated some of your comment

, Mercouris and Christoforou's infatuation with the Kremlin is a bit creepy. :) Usually a waste of time. But, a fine testament to the freedoms they enjoy that the Kremlin's subjects do not.

, those Trumposts (composts) tend to have some mix of factual errors (or lies), bullshittery, misrepresentations, mudslinging, self-praise (or narcissism), select pretense, ... The populists inhale it nonetheless.

As C. S. Lewis explained, the pagan gods weren't simply altogether false but are instead to be understood as distorted images of the real one. — BenMcLean

The Jews don't put much divine stock in Jesus; he wasn't the Messiah according to them. Christians call Him God. Muslims say He was another prophet, superseded by Muhammad, and that Christianity has been polluted.

This isn't about truth. It's about clinging to stories, and that's what most adherents do.

The $money part of the story comes with prominent names and big numbers:

Trump's rich friends have big plans for Greenland (original dansk)
^{— Mikkel Secher · TV2 · Jan 15, 2026}

Some rich folks looking for more riches.
And Trump is talking about his Golden Dome thing.

• Greenland (Denmark) has been in NATO since NATO's formation in 1949
• the US has had military bases on Greenland since the 2nd world war, and just about free access
• if anyone in NATO, including Washington, thinks Greenland should have a different defense posture, then they're more or less free to make it so as per NATO's charter
• as to early warning systems, the DEW Line was decommissioned in 1993 because satellite surveillance worked better
• due to climate change, some more locales on Greenland may become mineable in some decades
• the Greenlanders are open for business
• Russia and China aren't going to invade Greenland, which would trigger NATO Article 5
• the North Atlantic and Arctic aren't overrun by Russian and Chinese navies, which could otherwise be addressed by NATO
• if the US was to invade/attack Greenland, then they would violate NATO Article 1
• the Greenlanders (Danes) said "No thanks" to Trump, period
• by the way, the Canadians said the same

Seems to me like Trump has abandoned any particular interest in democracy, and is going by certain agendas set out by some particular people.
Also seems to me that Europeans need to cooperate, and get their act together.

Putin's preference should be clear enough: Greenland a US state; no NATO.

If Canada was forcefully taken over by Trump, a movement of guerrillas and whatever troubles would emerge. A large anti-Trump voter base would become US citizens. I'm sure Putin would be thrilled about the commotion.

Trump's dumbassery seems to make allies look at China with friendlier eyes. Not because of allies going communist, though.

By the way, Jack Daniel's #7 is getting hard to come by in Canada. The Canadians are serious about boycotting Trump's US.

Ted Lieu clarified in public that Trump can't (legally) invade Greenland (or Canada) without Congress.
Soldiers would be following illegal orders.
Seems unlikely that Congress would go for it.
Whether that'll stop Trump is another question.

Russia or China invading Greenland seems rather implausible, though they're always lurking around.
In the case of China, invading Greenland seems less plausible than invading Taiwan.

action by ICE — Punshhh

I thought previous administrations deported more people without resorting to ICE crap.

If so, then what does House Trump need that crap for?

NSPM-7, issued Sep 25, 2025, looks suspiciously like what Putin did some time back (and has (mis)used).
Not so much directly by wording, but by the potential (ab)use.
I thought there already were laws to deal with such things.
What was missing?

, right.
Trump keeps claiming that the North Atlantic + Arctic are swarming with Russian and Chinese military, which is a bare postulate (+ somewhat implausible as postulated).
Check the earlier comment (Jan 8, 2026).
But, what's stopping House Trump from extending defense based out of Greenland?
(I guess his claims also apply to Canada; what will Ottawa say?)
There isn't much in the way of extending a Greenland-based defense posture, which suggests Trump wants something else.

And if you notice, neither Venezuela nor Greenland are about empire. It's about the stability and defense of things close by. — frank

That's what Trump has claimed a couple of times, among other things (e.g. the North Atlantic and the arctic are swarming with Russian and Chinese military).
How much sense does that make? Check Jan 8, 2026.

Since they're not money-making businesses...

US will exit 66 international organizations as it further retreats from global cooperation
^{— AP · Jan 7, 2026}
These are the 66 global organizations the Trump administration is leaving
^{— AP · Jan 7, 2026}

I'm guessing that military spending isn't going down.

Republished, apropos:

Will the Trump administration attempt to annex Greenland, Canada, or somewhere else? A prominent historian’s take
^{— Dan Drollette Jr, Daniel Immerwahr · Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists · Sep 4, 2025}

Denmark is an old US ally. The US already has bases on Greenland, since the 2nd world war. All in NATO since its formation. The Greenlanders are open to business, akin to whatever other places. House Trump has rambled about defense applicable to Greenland (as part of Denmark) and Canada.

Apart from Trump, there haven't been any particular moves to change that stuff. Extending anything, like NATO or US bases, for example, is probably not difficult (or at least wasn't until Trump, perhaps). Say, after 9/11, a hundred-or-so nations, including Denmark, came to aid the US in what followed, at own expense; what you might expect from allies I suppose.

So, what's missing, according to the Trumpists? A flag? Well, it really seems like it's a flag. Statements from House Trump and Ogles don't make much sense. What's missing?

That being said, previous US administrations have considered offering to buy Greenland. If Greenland is for sale anyway, then how about a bidding war? :D The best offer (not just money) to be considered?

China invested a lot in Venezuela.
What will come of that? (And China's general influence in South America?)
Seems like Trump "told" China to go away.