Through the basketball program I coach for connected to the nonprofit that’s like an extension of my heart, I met a kid tonight who was born in Odessa. He got up to go to school one morning and his mom said he couldn’t go because they were under attack. In our program I probably am who you think I am…not the best basketball coach (my son is) though I’m getting better. But this kid, man,..can you imagine waking up to that? To tanks rolling in. Or the threat of that. I met his dad after practice just long enough to tell him his son is always welcome and shake his hand. I don’t think his son knows the first thing about basketball, and I got an impression he may have issues with ADD, but someone might have shown up or should have shown up for my broke ass Irish family when we became Americans. Doesn’t matter if he knows basketball…he needs a place to be welcomed and loved regardless I asked him during a break if he knew the progress Ukraine had made in Russia and he said, “not really cause we’re Americans now” and I had to walk away so I wouldn’t embarrass myself with tears
It does one good to hear these things. They are personal, individual and tiny. But because they are personal, individual, and tiny, they are HUGE and show the humanity from many different angles. Props.
[Hollywood emotional drama music, heavy on oboe] In a story of unlikely friends, this rookie* youth sports coach, played by Owen Wilson, meets a war refugee boy, played by Timothée Chalamet, who's never seen a basketball. Their one incredible season together will melt your heart in the movie Cannes can't quit buzzing about... Let It Rain. * = changed to avoid defaming source material
"We're just trying to sell movie tickets here. It's all about the story, kid." EDIT: I changed it, probably even a better fit for Owen Wilson's "wowwuwww" shtick. (*taps cigar. grins*)
A classic mix-up: 1. Ukraine vehicle blunders into T-intersection facing Russian armored vehicle. 2. Second Russian armored vehicle comes in from the crossroad of the T and stops right in front of Ukraine vehicle 3. Ukraine vehicle hits reverse and GTFO, Russian vehicles proceed to blow the **** out of each other.
Ukraine struck the ferry Conro Trader at the port near the Kerch Bridge in Crimea. The railroad car ferry was reportedly fully loaded with fuel at the time. The ferry later sank.
[Politico] Putin on Kursk failure: Not my fault Russian leader says Ukraine’s gains sound like a you problem. Very weak look from Mr. Macho-tough-guy.
Ukraine did use long range missiles. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ukraine-uses-long-range-atacms-russia-first-time-rcna148309
Why is that odd? A third of those in Washington in Congress and the Senate do not want Ukraine to win their war with Russia.... there are certainly political incentives to getting that information back to Russia either directly through politicians or indirectly through spy networks.
From what some of my Soldier of Fortune friends that have been in this war have told me - this type of thing isn't really that uncommon. The level of training and ability of most of the Russians and some of the Ukrainians has been abysmal. Russians especially have been killing lots of other Russians from incompetence. The Ukrainians have some older soldiers that are very good and some Americans that are veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan War that are very good - but not enough to last forever.
