I assume that most of the few of these that actually get made, will end up being parked on rich people's lawns as some sort of weird post-modern art meme sculpture or whatever.

ethereum moved to proof of stake sometime back. BTC and I think a few other (very) minor cryptos still use proof of work which is where the significance power usage goes. Not something I track but I believe the vast majority of non-BTC cyptos are proof of stake or something not proof of work anyway and BTC is the only one that uses proof of work and it used at all. That might not exactly technically correct but it is in the practical realm.

"There are two parties in the US. These parties are centrist, big-tent, and from a policy standpoint, don’t dramatically differ."

If you think this, then I can see why you disagree. I'd have to ask by what measure do you make this claim? Or compared to what exactly? Personally I think this opinion out of date.

In my view, depending on how you look at it, the US has either 2 or 3 parties. Democrats, Republicans and MAGA. Traditional Republicans are so diminished some, myself included, consider them to not even be relevant. Heck Dems are more like traditional Republicans than Republicans are now.

MAGA is not centrist or big-tent and there are enough of them that can break things or hold hostages or say elect a religious lunny to be speaker of the house. They cling to extremist positions and absurd conspiracy theories, and attempt to force their will on to others. They run impeachment proceeding based on zero evidence with the hope they will turn something up to have to talk about and since there is nothing to find apparently, they literally make stuff up. They do not want to fund Ukraine for, some reason, and presently they are winning on that.

Ok, so he's saying that former guy who held money for Ukraine hostage for a political favor definitely won't do the exact thing again or simply out of spite? The same guy who is going around talking about punishing his enemies i.e. anyone who doesn't treat him like a god-emperor? The same guy whose party is currently sabotaging funding for Ukraine right now? Sure Mike.

Oh, wait this Mike Pompeo?

When asked about his knowledge of the controversial call made by President Trump on July 25, 2019, to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which Trump solicited assistance in investigating the son of former vice president and presidential candidate Joe Biden, Pompeo initially said he had little knowledge of Trump's call with Zelenskiy since he had not yet read the transcript of the call. It was later confirmed by officials that he himself had been on the call. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Pompeo

From the article: "I think it would be very difficult to get it done by the end of the year, and the impediment, currently, is the White House policy on the southern border," Turner said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

So says, Mike Turner, Republican member of the most dysfunctional house of reps probably ever due to Republicans.

From the article: "Congressional Republicans are seeking to link their approval for the foreign military assistance to stricter border policies"

Ah yes, the Republicans required border policies be linked to funding for Ukraine, knowing that they will never compromise with the Biden on border policies. The Republicans are holding Ukraine funding hostage for something they want. Hum, where have I heard something like that before...

I don't think he was anyone's favorite. If I recall correctly he was going to lose in Indiana before T picked him up to use him.

How much of an improvement is this than what they currently have or is it just more tanks overall?

I am not sure the people who were in that hospital care that much. Both Israel and Hamas share blame in this situation no matter who's rocket it was.

I think that is all true. He did his best to avoid the deposition and when suddenly forced into it, dropped the case. If I have it right, his witness list was him and Cohen - "my word vs yours" doesn't make for a legit sounding $500M suit. I think it was done purely for revenge reasons. He dragged Cohen through the process, caused significant legal expenses etc.

Oh Vlad, flail some more. Your psychology is so twisted you think an unjust invasion of a sovereign state is something the west forced you to do... or wait I mean, because it was full of nazis and out of the goodness of your heart you had to make it right... or um... pass the vodka.