My understanding is that Zelensky did what my ex-girlfriend tried to get me to do once -- I'd worked out a deal for a used truck, it was time to go pick up the truck, and she goes "Well you should demand this this and this" it's like... no, we're just going to sign the paper, the deal is made. Walking in and trying to change the terms of the deal after it's already made isn't in line with masculine honor.
A counter-point to this is that it is pragmatic to push back hard during what was supposed to be the celebratory press conference given that the nation's future is on the line. Honor is a someone deontological thing. You may do something dishonorable because it is the practical necessity, but it doesn't make it honorable, and it's equally pragmatic to recognize that if you act dishonorably you may face consequences.
The state department worked out the deal, they were at the white house for what was supposed to be a photo op, and instead Zelensky started posturing for the media. This was not honorable conduct, so Trump and Vance tore a strip off of him.
The EU is apparently pissed off with the US, but the EU is pathetic. They pretend to be pacifists, but in reality they just try to bully the US into fighting their wars for them so they can look down their nose at the US while sitting on their high horse. The EU at this point is basically a US dependent that doesn't act like it but comes running to daddy every time they get in a tough spot. The most terrifying idea for the entire continent is that the United States will stop being the big bad bully they attack it for being, because it'll mean they have to protect themselves.
Ironically, the Europeans brought this upon themselves in part by their constant lobbying to make America more European. If the US remained the practical people they were prior to the world wars, the might have been able to maintain a global Empire. Pretending they're the same sort of failed society as Europe only dragged the US into failure themselves (and now they need to pull themselves out of it) -- If the US had stayed the practical people they were prior to the end of World War 2, then they could have been strong indefinitely.
A counter-point to this is that it is pragmatic to push back hard during what was supposed to be the celebratory press conference given that the nation's future is on the line. Honor is a someone deontological thing. You may do something dishonorable because it is the practical necessity, but it doesn't make it honorable, and it's equally pragmatic to recognize that if you act dishonorably you may face consequences.
The state department worked out the deal, they were at the white house for what was supposed to be a photo op, and instead Zelensky started posturing for the media. This was not honorable conduct, so Trump and Vance tore a strip off of him.
The EU is apparently pissed off with the US, but the EU is pathetic. They pretend to be pacifists, but in reality they just try to bully the US into fighting their wars for them so they can look down their nose at the US while sitting on their high horse. The EU at this point is basically a US dependent that doesn't act like it but comes running to daddy every time they get in a tough spot. The most terrifying idea for the entire continent is that the United States will stop being the big bad bully they attack it for being, because it'll mean they have to protect themselves.
Ironically, the Europeans brought this upon themselves in part by their constant lobbying to make America more European. If the US remained the practical people they were prior to the world wars, the might have been able to maintain a global Empire. Pretending they're the same sort of failed society as Europe only dragged the US into failure themselves (and now they need to pull themselves out of it) -- If the US had stayed the practical people they were prior to the end of World War 2, then they could have been strong indefinitely.
The painful dichotomy in Canada: in February it's either warm or it's sunny it's not both.
If you owe the bank 81 dollars you've got a problem. If you owe the bank 81 trillion the bank has a problem.
I'm shocked that fascism still doesn't work even when it's supposed to be nice. How dare the "private sector" (government contractor) do this?
Racoon infiltration is loosely correlated with AfD support.
What are the racoons telling these people?
What are the racoons telling these people?
Photograph of the US government, nsfl
With all the layoffs in government this year (up to 1 million, they're saying) the US is on track to potentially be in recession this year.
Which is one of those things that hides the real story. If you're 500lbs and cut your number of calories you'll feel terrible -- at first. But as your body shrinks, you suddenly find it easier to move. You find you have more energy. You find you can do all kinds of things physically you could never do before. Eventually, you feel better than you ever have in your life, and you'd never want to go back.
GDP is a bit deceptive because it incorporates private industry, exports, and government. If you ever want the GDP to go up then, you just take out a bunch of debt and spend a bunch of government money. Doesn't do anything, and in fact all these totally unproductive people remove people and goods from the productive economy, but number went up!
I guess I can't completely assume every government job is wasteful -- I like not getting murdered by criminals, and not eating food that's going to kill me, and being able to drive to the next town over is important -- but we're finding things like teaching gender studies to the Taliban, or paying intelligence operatives to talk about how much they like peeing on people. That's not a productive use of money.
Which is one of those things that hides the real story. If you're 500lbs and cut your number of calories you'll feel terrible -- at first. But as your body shrinks, you suddenly find it easier to move. You find you have more energy. You find you can do all kinds of things physically you could never do before. Eventually, you feel better than you ever have in your life, and you'd never want to go back.
GDP is a bit deceptive because it incorporates private industry, exports, and government. If you ever want the GDP to go up then, you just take out a bunch of debt and spend a bunch of government money. Doesn't do anything, and in fact all these totally unproductive people remove people and goods from the productive economy, but number went up!
I guess I can't completely assume every government job is wasteful -- I like not getting murdered by criminals, and not eating food that's going to kill me, and being able to drive to the next town over is important -- but we're finding things like teaching gender studies to the Taliban, or paying intelligence operatives to talk about how much they like peeing on people. That's not a productive use of money.
sensitive media
At 41% of the word target for my next book tonight. Which probably means I'm going to overshoot my word target since I'm still in the first of four arcs. Still pretty happy to see things are moving along, I've only got one more major scene to complete in the first arc. Might end up not mattering as much since I might trim some fat as I edit.
Actually lots of sickness out there this winter.
Most people are just making life work. Turns out it sucks in the winter and you can get sick.
Most people are just making life work. Turns out it sucks in the winter and you can get sick.
If you control the printing press, it's unlikely you'll publish your own expose, so I tend to agree.
"Haha, what if we can prove Trump was doing shady shit with Epstein? Then we'll have to lock him up!"
Your proposal is acceptable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpuPN3bT3Xw
Your proposal is acceptable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpuPN3bT3Xw
I saw a few videos about it and a news article, but it doesn't sound like this drop is the one that matters yet. The FBI hid the good stuff, and now she has to go get it and go through it separately.
Honestly, the idea that an illiterate person could pass high school (or even grade school) should be a grounds for every person who gave the illiterate student committing seppuku.
Sorry teachers, you've gotta do it, you've brought tremendous shame to your ancestors.
I don't make the rules.
If I did illiterate people wouldn't graduate High School and everyone would learn fighting and horseback riding.
Sorry teachers, you've gotta do it, you've brought tremendous shame to your ancestors.
I don't make the rules.
If I did illiterate people wouldn't graduate High School and everyone would learn fighting and horseback riding.
Funny how their stance on immigration changed so quickly and now they want to punish an African as harshly as they can.
Yeah, you just have to ask: "How many of the Fortune 500 could you buy every year with one year's federal budget, and how much of that money goes to Fortune 500 companies, and why?"
Suddenly it becomes clear that you've got this 1000lb elephant on the bed, and it doesn't matter if you're the elephant or not you're going to be pulled towards it.
Suddenly it becomes clear that you've got this 1000lb elephant on the bed, and it doesn't matter if you're the elephant or not you're going to be pulled towards it.