I dont know why, but boxing always seems to bring out a writers best work. This is no exception - fantastic prose here Mr. Nolan. Just fantastic.

You are correct sir. Not sure about the tour bit, but they're very protective of their boats, even just being near one can get them worked up. I've been on my bass boat in the sturgeon bay shipping channel and been shooed away for getting too close with my phone out taking pictures of an unfinished yacht.

The video of them is beautiful.

Yes, but people are pedantic because it happens on every story. When you know the difference it gets really, really tiring to read.

Russia matters, quite a bit - however, if a country wants to joing a mutial defense treaty, so be it. Montenegro brings very little by way of self defense - they just make it harder for Russia to keep invading shit. Russian expansionism isnt good for anyone. If this keeps that in check, so be it.

Dont agree, but that was damn funny.

Probably not that hard, but unwise. Turkey uses the Bosphorus as much as anyone, and making it impassible like that would be one hell of a desperation act.

Shore emplacements and mines could close it for a while, but in an age of smart (or liberally applied dumb) bombs, could eventually be dealt with by the Russians…

‘Building an island in the middle of the sea’ wouldnt be that hard, actually, given that the Chineese are doing it in the middle of the ocean. Closing the straight (perminatly) would be stupid for a number of reasons, but its not particularly hard, unless someone was shooting at you and trying to stop it. The river is…

People around here have no idea how NATO works, but they tend to assume that its US controlled because...’murica, i guess. You could spend a lifetime explaining it. Try and tell them that a Turkey cannot invoke article 5 over an act of their own aggression though, please. Good luck.

I feel like at a point, Turkey felt like they had to act or they were going to be completely out of credibility. Especially with the allies that the Russians cut the corner to go bomb. Its kind of like when your annoying kid brother kept poking you until you’d punch him and then use it to get you in trouble for…

I hear you, and I totally screwed up my response in that I wasnt more clear. I got defensive when I got lumped in with those flaming piles of human garbage, so we’re tied in the ‘seemingly reasonable people snarking at each other over a topic they probably agree on’ game. (Also, I played one (3) too many rounds of bar…

Understood, completely. I don’t like the troglodytes any more than you do, I assure you. Actually, the fact that some of them probably took (and then starred) my response because they thought I was one of them (a reasonable read, now that I go back) makes me feel a little dirty.

This is exactly why HamNo is right - disband the US. I want nothing to do with the group of racists who elected him, and we cannot both be equally represented by one government. As I am a believer in freely elected government, the only logical conclusion is to no longer be members of the same country.

Can i be on your christmas list? You seem to be very, very good at it.

I ADORE this beer. I bought a four pack intending to age three of them. I have one left.

Can all pedants be as polite as you? i like you, you seem cool.

I mean, i really like cats, sooo.....

Will miss you - I’d say best of luck, but i dont think for a second you’ll need it.

Where were people with THAT fetish back when I would have qualified?

NO! You cant leave me. Why are all the best in Gawker media leaving me? WHY AM I SO HARD TO LOVE!?

*sigh* Again, not what i was insinuating - I was commenting on the style of the response, which is very deadspin.