Both Russia and Ukraine welcomed foreign troops to come help them, but there are no official US or British troop deployments to Ukraine. Any such people there are serving as regular Ukraine militia. I know some Ukrainians in the US Army, so it wouldn't surprise me if someone like them went to Ukraine to notionally fight with the Ukraine forces, but secretly act as US military advisers. The war in Ukraine is a huge military intelligence gold mine.

I was recently asked by an online not unattractive female stranger if I was interested in an online date because we live so far apart, I declined, not being sure of the implications. I can understand this when already in a long distance relationship with someone, but straight off the bat so to speak, not so much. Was this a scam and would it descend in to sex chat quickly, it all seemed just a little bit 'iffy' to me. What do you think, was I seeing a Red Flag that wasn't really there? Or was it a scam?

No doubt a solicitation for "sex chat". "She" probably would have asked you for CC#s shortly.

It's not just about smartphones. It's also their wallet, their app store, the watches. When developers want into the app store (the only one available on iPhones) they are limited to Apple Pay for in-app purchases and relatively huge transaction fees. That hurts competition and the customers.

U.S. hits Apple with landmark antitrust suit, accusing tech giant of stifling competition

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/apple-antitrust-lawsuit-justice-department-iphone-apple-watch-imessage/

"Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in remarks at Justice Department headquarters. "Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies break the law."

As a person who's worked in the software industry for decades, I'm not too concerned about some aspects of the lawsuit, but Apple has been pulling too many shenanigans for too long. Mostly, they've been absolutely shafting competing app developers and hardware makers like Samsung, Microsoft, Sony and countless small startups obliterated along the way. It's alright to protect their brand and their customers, but crushing competition--especially rivals with better ideas happens too often. Apple makes some good products, but they're not always the best and shutting out competitors artificially raises prices and delays some improvements by years.

Anyway, I'll be watching this story. What do you guys think of the DOJ and several states suing Apple?

Like my showers to stay clean but I camp pretty minimal. I like a base camp which just costs of my pickup, no camper, just sleep in truck. Rig me a way to shower at base, then backpack out from there for one or two nights. And when I do that I don't use a tent, just a cheap tarp that can be rigged up tent like but usually just put part of it below my sleeping bag and part on top. Keeps dew off me. Wake up, make coffee and breakfast. Roll up and back on trail. I like a true back country trip or nothing at all so it's not about comfort. I'm on a ranch so my day to day is probably like camping to some.

Different strokes for different folks. I've done all types of camping such as tents, camper shell, pop up camper on pickup, hard side camper on pickup, travel trailer, etc.

For me, the comforts of a 4x4 pickup with overhead camper is the best all around. SHOWER! hot water,toilet, running water, beds, dinette to sit at, heater, windows, lock on door, refrigerator, you name it easily win the day.

Sounds like you always try to be the good guy and the women leave you to be with the bad boy. Stop trying to make them happy and worry about what makes you happy. That's what women do, that's what men should do. If both sides meet in the middle than you have something, if one side is only willing to acknowledge their own needs and not your own than you have nothing. Be a man and stand up for yourself.

It seems like Farid's answer is the most suitable...

It is only your ex's who can answer your question...

And maybe you already have the answer, it's not you it's her, she didn't plan it, it just happened... (as you stated earlier)...

I would hazard a guess that without your realising, you and your partner grew apart...

And you didn't put closure on it, you got married again and then she left or you left...

Men and Women don't want partners who are carrying emotional baggage, it's over, close that book and throw it away (unless you have kids together - in which case you need to keep those bridges open, for the sake of your children)...

And thinking about it, or discussing it, shows that you have not put closure to it...

It gives the impression that you're thinking "what did I do wrong?"

I love the "Reason, Season and a Lifetime (3 Reasons)" poem or story or whatever it is that you call it...

It explains beautifully, the 3 reasons about relationship breakdown, and help put closure on the topic of why did it happen...

Reason, Season and a Lifetime

People always come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, or to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are. They are there for a reason,you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die, Sometimes they just walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilleed; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.


When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends.

LIFETIME, relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people anyway, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being part of my life…..

Man, you sound deranged, are you off your meds or missed your last anger management class? I’m not sure where your from but I think there may have been break out from your local loony bin.

Two sides to every story. Going by what you said, that you are a good person and paying bills, it's more than that. I'm not choosing sides, but did you and your exes ever talk, do things together, have fun? Maybe something missing there?

The mini puppet J Biden isn't intellegent according to his accomplishments while in office, which is next to None. I do not believe most things in Media because they are run by Libral Socialist Marxist.
I have better resources.

Funny! Why do you democrats always try to equate republicans with low intelligence. Is it because we think men can’t have babies, we think there is only two sexes , man and woman.. maybe it’s because we believe in a secure nation with secure borders.. the democrat judges and DAs are harborers of crime . they let rapists and murderers out w/ no bail, but they stifle the rights of protesters and hold them for years with no chance of bail.. that equals hostages.. . Believe me when I say you reap what you sow, these unconstitutional laws the Biden justice system practices will come back to bite your democratic party in the ***..