[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Apologies for only skimming the debate so far. I think Sister Basilissa made the point that the commercial aspects of the war alone are sufficient to justify it. Exposing inefficient practices to market forces always poses an existential challenge.

Think about it. If the engine of industry produces a more lethal force at similar cost in time and money (but I repeat myself) then the side that puts forth a less efficient, less ruthless military will sustain losses. Justifiably so, for they are objectively inferior as decided by the market - the fact that it is a "war" rather than any other theater of competitive activity is utterly irrelevant.

As a man of principles, I only hope for the more efficient process to outcompete the lesser one. It's not even hope, it's a fact. One must thank the Higher Power that one is alive to bear witness to the devastation. But of course one is alive because one is more efficient that ones competitors. I will drink to total annihilation of the loser - whoever it may be.

[MitzaLizalor]

Originally Posted by Dr. Anthony J. Toole

total annihilation

It's worth pointing out that that could be achieved using rocks just as well as molten lead or anything else requiring technology. Has anyone made a molten lead projecting device? I know bows and arrows have come on enormously and a clockwork "water pistol" delivering a pencil beam of molten lead (or boiling oil) would be silent and lethal. But so was the rock, of course.

[WWJDnow]

Ah, I see. You simply were not whipped enough when you were a child or exposed to the King James 1611 Version Bible. Well, at least you're saved, even if you are a bit impertinent with men. Under the circumstances, I think you turned out about as well as could be expected.

[MitzaLizalor]

Originally Posted by WWJDnow

Ah, I see. You simply were not whipped enough when you were a child or exposed to the King James 1611 Version Bible. Well, at least you're saved, even if you are a bit impertinent with men. Under the circumstances, I think you turned out about as well as could be expected.

Thank you for your kindness. There were Bibles on the bookshelves, which I read, not all KJV as it happens my family being Methodists, interspersed with other books on geometry – which I also read. Perhaps that explains my interest in clockwork which although minimal does make me wonder why there are no clockwork tanks? “Surely with modern materials, such as are used in batteries, but not the same materials probably, some very effective springs could be made,” I wonder. Then you could wind up your tank, like winding up a crossbow, and you'd never run out of fuel! When the spring ran down, in an emergency, a crank handle could be provided for everyone to take turns winding it up again.

I did hear Ukrania used to celebrate Christmas on the wrong day, January or something, but no longer do. Is the Ukranian Orthodox Church now Christian?

[Basilissa]

Originally Posted by MitzaLizalor

Is the Ukranian Orthodox Church now Christian?

I'm afraid not, Sister. They might be getting closer to Catholics, but not to True Christians™. That means that even if they manage to save themselves from the Russian invasion, they are definitely not Saved™ and will burn forever in Hell for their wicked ways.

[Joanna Lytton-Vasey]

Originally Posted by MitzaLizalor

I did hear Ukrania used to celebrate Christmas on the wrong day, January or something, but no longer do.

I don't understand why anyone would do that. It's not as though the weather is better in January. Could it be to take advantage of the post-Christmas sales to reduce the cost of festive gifts and food?

[MitzaLizalor]

Another reason to be offended. By going half-price on festive accoutrements (although I've noticed the wine never seems to be on clearance) who suffers? The people selling them! And lets face it, I strongly doubt the mosque gifte shoppe will be selling plastic airborne sleighs, jingle bells or velvet flying reindeers with tinsel horns. Christmas puddings? Very unlikely. Glazed ham with cloves? No. They would be sold at Christian outlets so whether the Ukranian Orthodox is now Christian or not, it's Christians who will pay the price.

[WWJDnow]

I have a plan for peace between Israel and Hamas.

The founding fathers of the United States were among the smartest people who ever lived. They were smart enough to ensure that, when God gave the continent of North America to the white man, we white Americans killed off almost all of the Native Americans who were squatting on our land in the course of our expansion to the Pacific. The most effective weapon we used was the smallpox-infused blanket. Then we shoved the rest onto reservations built on land that white people didn't want, and bought off their complicity by letting them build casinos.

The Israelis, on the other hand, were not as smart as our founding fathers. They killed off only a small portion of the natives whose land they stole, the Palestinian Arabs. (If only they'd listened to the advice that the Pastors at the Landover Baptist Church gave them in 1948, to kill off all of the Arabs that they could, they wouldn't be facing the hostage crisis they do now.) Now Gaza is more or less the equivalent of an Indian reservation--even Egypt didn't want that land, and we all know how desperate the Gyppos are, and the expansion of the settlements in the West Bank is slowly but surely leading to the reservationing of the rest of the Palestinians.

I think it is too late to give the Palestinians smallpox-infused blankets. The liberal p*ssies in Congress would probably insist on retaliating against the Israelis. But there's no reason on God's green Earth that we can't buy peace and the return of the hostages by letting the people of Gaza build casinos. And who knows more about building and running a successful, luxury casino property than Donald Trump? He could make the Gaza Strip even bigger than the Las Vegas Strip.

If Joe Biden really wants Middle East peace, he needs to start building Trump-branded luxury casinos throughout the Gaza Strip.