Maedhros

Witnessed something pretty odd today. An anti-Islamist organization had a demonstration against Islam in a park downtown, with hundreds of counter-protesters showing up and making a lot of noise. At the same time, maybe only 30-40 metres from all this noise and chaos, a couple was getting married. They were seemingly unfazed through it all. I wonder if they cursed their timing, or whether they found some humor in it.

So we should just let kids suffer instead, because we're too afraid to make mistakes? I think it's far more important to learn from mistakes, and try to fix what didn't work. I know what your "fix" would be, and I'll disagree with you again...so there isn't really any point in continuing this discussion, we'll have to agree to disagree.

That's your response? If you're not abusing your children, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Children have rights too, and should have the freedom to grow up without abusive parents. There's a lot of propaganda going on in Poland, and in hardcore Christian communities (both Norwegian and foreign) about barnevernet, you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. Does the system work perfectly? No, mistakes have been made for sure. The people who work there are only human after all. However for the most part they do a lot of good, and have saved thousands of children from growing up in dire households. You'll also be pleased to know that changes are in the process of being made, and that the number of children being taken from their parents have gone down a lot. Having worked with them myself (and having a girlfriend who moved to a foster home with their help when she was young), I believe I have some knowledge in this matter. ---- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/pound-sterling-brexit-no-deal-boris-johnson-us-dollar-euro-exchange-rate-a9026451.html The pound struggling due to the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. Great news for me considering I'm going there next week!

We just live in different worlds. I don't see how any puppeteer is bad for my life, as long as he's benign. Not that I belive in a puppeteer, we chose our system because we like it. If we disliked it, we'd change it. You don't think it's possible to give away something, and then gain something in return because you define freedom as "freedom from constraints". Anything Big Brother does, takes away your freedom. I just define it differently than you. For me it's a fair exchange. I pay high taxes, in return I get safety and prosperity, and lots and lots of perks. Like my 15 weeks of paid paternity leave, my 35 days of paid holiday a year, or this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_to_roam I could go on and on about the perks, but you get the point I'm sure? How is that not giving something away, and ending up with more? Of course, that's all dependent on the system being fair, which was my point in the first place. Seeing your taxes go to waste must be hell.

I don't see any walls or pupeteers. Only people willing to give more for the greater good - and more room to play in as a result. You don't think poor people are more likely to get education if it's free/cheap? I think this is rather where the walls of seperation you speak of are. Some might be able to climb over them, but for many the walls are unneccessarily tall. But it's pointless to discuss any further if you truly believe everyone has the same chance in life. It's a de facto / de jure thing. I'll concede that my analogy wasn't well thought out though! On a sidenote, on parenting...currently enjoying my 15 weeks of fully paid paternity leave. Just one of many ways a state can provide freedom!

Safety and freedom goes perfectly together. When you are safe, you are free to do whatever you want knowing that you'll always have a pillow to fall back on. When you are not safe, everything you do is a big risk, and your choices in life are more limited. I don't believe everyone has a real chance of getting education. I mean sure, in the sense that everyone can work hard, be the best kind of man, and that kind of naive thinking - but not realistically. You don't get to choose your parents, or the environment you grow up in. The government can be likened to a parent. If it's a good one, it's hugely beneficial to your life. If it's not...

Thanks for clarifying. Tax is technically theft, but to me it's still very acceptable as long as those money are spent in creating a safer and more free society where everyone has a real chance of getting education, work, decent healthcare. If the government isn't any more reliable than the mafia, your analogy works.

Went to a 1* Michelin restaurant named Renaa, and was not dissapointed. Warm service from beginning to end, including a guided tour of the hotel they recently moved in to. The dishes (of which there were around 20), were mostly based on Norwegian sea food. The wine pairings were sublime, and we even got some extra wines since the sommelier noticed that we were wine buffs. I feel like a lot of Michelin restaurants in Europe don't really deserve their star(s), but in this case more of them would be warranted.

Out of curiosity, do you dislike high taxes as a matter of principle, or because you think the money will be misspent? Did you approve of Trump's tax cuts, even though it added to the deficit?

https://www.humblebundle.com/games/crusader-kings-2-bundle Can't recommend this enough for people interested in history, rpg and simulator games.

How is it possible to lie so much on just one topic? A reddit post covers Trump's history of lies related to 9/11: https://old.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/cjcn0x/trump_tells_911_first_responders_i_was_down_there/evckl4h/

No, I'm a Liverpool fan. Have been since my father indoctrinated me when I was 5 years old. So finally going to Anfield is gonna be special.

Probably gonna level to 60, then quit. For me the leveling process was always the interesting bit. Can't be bothered with raiding or pvp, too time consuming.

Got tickets for the opening match of the Premier League next season, finally going to visit Anfield. Can't wait! I think this season will be even easier for City though. Can't see Liverpool getting 97 points again, especially with Klopp refusing to buy new star players. That's both Klopp's strength and weakness - he absolutely loves his players and truly believes in them, which leads to him not wanting to replace them, or buy competitors for them (seemingly).

Yes, the government should always fear the people, and consider themselves servants rather than masters. That's one of the reasons why I think that politicians should not be able to enrich themselves when in power, or when campaigning. Their wage should be on the same level as a normal job. I'm not referring to a non-democratic powerful state. Of course such entities will fail. I don't disagree on the second part. Though I suspect I interpret it in a way you don't intend. It all comes down to how you define "freedom".

Safety IS freedom. When you know someone's got your back, it's easier to pursue your goals (= free). A good government that represents the people CAN exist, and that's far more preferable to an absent one.

Strange and wonderful. Happy 4th of July!

Pretty interesting interview with Noam Chomsky. On US foreign policy, the Iran situation, Trump and Co creating alternate realities ("China is killing us!"), and more. https://truthout.org/articles/noam-chomsky-trump-is-consolidating-far-right-power-globally/

Geralt looking good:

They're doing alright. Their reputation in third world countries (and Eastern europe) is horrible though. It's a huge problem for parents here who don't understand how they work. Yes, you're not allowed to beat your kid...that doesn't mean you're supposed to refrain from setting boundaries for it. I'm a big sympathiser for them in most of those scandal cases that happened some years ago. Because of confidentiality rules they couldn't really defend themselves properly to the public, so we only got to hear it from one side. From my experience with them they've been thourougly professional. Children should have the freedom to grow up without abusive parents. My own girlfriend was given a new foster home by barnevernet and her life changed for the better because of it.

I live in a "big government" country - the cops here aren't even armed. Big governments are fine as long as you have fair political elections, and a relatively educated population. I think it's also important to have laws that prevent politicians from enrichening themselves, which seems to be the case over there. It's fully possible to have a larger degree of social and economic justice from the state without losing any "freedom".

There aren't really a lot of scenarios that makes much sense here. Framing your enemy to gain casus belli has been known to happen in history. On a sidenote, Japanese Tanker Owner on the attack: https://www.thedailybeast.com/japanese-oil-tanker-owner-says-us-is-wrong-about-gulf-attack

Shinzo Abe is currently in Teheran for diplomatic talks. Would be really strange if Iran decided it was a good idea to attack a japanese oil tanker amidst that. This smells more of Mossad/Saudis to me, sanctioned by Bolton/Pompeo/Trump. Manifactured crisis.

10, 796 false or misleading claims in 869 days, not bad: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/?utm_term=.db6d5f34fbfd