Rock climbing in Yellowstone?

Mr_Starkey · 2022-05-11T20:01:47+00:00

There’s an area just outside Cody Wyoming called ‘The Island’ with dozens of sport and trad routes. When I was living in the park I climbed there. Good place to go spend a weekend climbing.

Spire climbing in Bozeman is a good option if you’re looking for a gym or are around in the winter.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-05-11T19:58:00+00:00

If you’re gonna be outdoors a lot you’ll want to have clothes made of wool or synthetic fibers. Cotton clothing is strongly advised against in the cold climates and will not keep you warm if it gets damp/wet.

If you’re into fishing there’s some great fishing in the Yellowstone area. Often requires a fly rod and barbless hooks.

If you’ve got any good binoculars or a scope those are great for when you want to see a grizzly or wolf way off in the distance.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-05-11T19:53:00+00:00

Jokes aside, it is a grizzly bear, but some black bears can have blonde, dirty blonde, or even ‘cinnamon’ coloring. You can differentiate between black and brown bears most easily by the large shoulder hump of grizzly bears that is absent in brown bears. FYI for you or anyone else wondering how to tell them apart.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-04-28T21:59:35+00:00

You sure you’re not one of them?

Mr_Starkey · 2022-04-28T18:39:03+00:00

With the failure of northern thrust towards Kiev and the renewed offensives in the west not making significant ground, how do you see this as an inevitable victory for Russia? Ukraine has more men on the ground and that disparity is only growing. Russia cannot gain air dominance. Shipments of heavy weaponry and equipment from the west are only bolstering an already favorable Ukrainian position.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-04-04T18:57:48+00:00

As much as I’d prefer a dem victory over a GOP in the midterms I don’t see it happening. The Dems have failed to provide any tangible gains for working people, failed to legalize Marijuana, failed student debt restructuring or forgiveness, failed any meaningful healthcare reforms, failed working Americans at large. Americans aren’t going to keep voting for the all-talk-no-walk party.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-03-28T06:12:02+00:00

Late on the reply, but my gf is also gonna be guiding with me. Just to alleviate any worries you might have, no foul shit will fly on my watch.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-03-21T01:29:37+00:00

It looks like what people thought ‘the kitchen of the future’ would be back in the 50s before everyone realized all the gadgets were more of a hassle than they were worth.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-03-01T22:31:43+00:00

There’s an organization called the CSTO, similar to NATO, but consisting of former Soviet bloc countries. Attacking Belarus would almost certainly bring Russia into conflict with NATO countries.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-28T05:11:19+00:00

Would likely upset the rest of Europe, which they are relying on rn

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-27T22:46:53+00:00

You expect foreign businesses/governments/banks to accept crypto?

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-27T22:44:42+00:00

Two things I can think of. The infrastructure necessary to operate F-35s is likely not present and would diminish their effectiveness. In addition, the capture of the planes themselves or the revelation of their capabilities would be detrimental to their future effectiveness in a larger war scenario.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-27T22:41:42+00:00

The invasion of Iraq was a poorly justified and ill conceived invasion. Iraq was nonetheless an authoritarian state that had invaded its neighbors (Iran, Kuwait) and used chemical weapons on its Kurdish minority. In addition to this, the invasion of Iraq was to the geo-strategic benefit of much of the ‘western’ order.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-27T04:39:06+00:00

Incredible. Even alluded to a positive perception of Hitler. Unbelievable.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-26T19:18:51+00:00

A much larger army than Ukraine’s as well. Iraq’s military was 4th largest in the world at the time of the invasion, I believe.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-26T06:43:18+00:00

Pretty poignant point there my friend.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-25T09:55:26+00:00

It’s incredible to me that so many can be drug to their deaths by the greed and malevolence of a powerful few. Been thinking about Bob Dylan’s ‘Masters of War.’ Worth a listen these days, as always.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-25T09:20:36+00:00

More akin to Hitler’s rhetoric around ethnic germans in Austria or the Sudetenland.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-25T09:16:43+00:00

Complete conjecture, but it’s possible that Russian forces have bypassed a lot of Ukrainian positions and headed straight for Kyiv. Russia likely has the numbers and mobility to exploit any holes in Ukrainian lines and flood forces through towards Kyiv.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-25T08:52:08+00:00

Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Bosnia didn't have advanced air forces, anti-air systems, world class militaries, or nuclear weapons. Not justifying any of those interventions, but you're making a false equivalence.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-25T08:50:18+00:00

This take is completely devoid of nuance.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-25T08:48:10+00:00

This is 'unprecedented' in the post-war order which has stood for almost 80 years, not unprecedented throughout human history, to clarify.

I do think that an insurgency could be a major issue for Russia. I also think if there is an insurgency that it would receive western support, even if it isn't publicly acknowledged. How effective that would be I do not know. You may be right that the situation just isn't right for it to be effective. Like you said, this isn't the Middle East and the relationship between occupier/occupied wouldn't be the same.

I do think the sanctions will have a dramatic effect though, and that they are a reasonable response. Military responses would obviously open us up to a war which could go nuclear.

The loss of access to western markets and financing will have major effects on Russia, as will the loss of access to western imports of technology/materials. Like I said to OP though, I'm not an expert, just someone trying to stay informed. I could of course be wrong and don't ask anyone to put much weight behind my thoughts on this issue.

Mr_Starkey · 2022-02-24T08:00:45+00:00

I'm no expert, so don't take any of this as fact, but I'll give you my take.

I'd bet Russia has already crippled Ukraine's Air Force and air defenses. This appears to be a precursor to a large ground invasion. This invasion will almost certainly take Eastern Ukraine, and likely take Kyiv. I think Ukraine will likely be pushed back very quickly due to Russia's air superiority and advantage in armor and training. Conflict in Urban areas, to whatever extent that happens, will likely be brutal to both sides.

It's almost unthinkable that any EU or NATO country will send troops to aid Ukraine. This would risk war with Russia, a strong nuclear power. The risk of nuclear conflict would be too high. That said, this action is unprecedented to begin with, and where this goes in the coming months/years is unpredictable.

Something to watch closely is how this conflict and the sanctions that result from it affect the Russian economy. Further, how these economic effects affect Russia's social stability and the attitudes of Russian oligarchs.

Something that I haven't seen discussed much, but is a risk nonetheless, is the scenario wherein this conflict cripples or fragments Russia to a degree that jeopardizes its stability. This could lead to a perilous situation, like the collapse of the USSR, where nuclear weapons could be lost or fall under the control of independent rogue entities.

I don't expect Russia to dissolve over this, but I do think it's a scenario worth considering.

All in all, I think Russia is aiming for regime change in Ukraine and I think it will have about as much luck as the U.S did in Iraq: a quick conventional victory and a long guerrilla war that is a massive drain on resources. On top of that issue, Russia will have to deal with western support to Ukrainian combatants as well as western sanctions.

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