Gorth

Never forget

For starters, you really need to separate the two. The government form is not tied that firmly to the economic system as you suggest. "Free" market economy exacerbates inequality even worse than communism. Sure, someone gets a lot richer, but just to take Australia as an example (stopping at 2019 where everything went to hell anyway), the GDP went up. Wealth maximizing had never been greater. Yet for the majority of the populating, their disposable income had never been lower. As Trump likes to put it, cut some red tape and get rid of regulation. Because, the GFC was such a great success right? I'm sure Fox News is still waiting for a way to pin that one on Obama. Tl;dr; anyone really believe an unregulated market economy doesn't lead to monopolies? If so, I have a very distinct looking, classy tower in Paris I want to sell. In short, a reintroduction of serfdom. As for democracy, a system that depends on majority votes is completely at the mercy of whoever controls popular opinion. In short, whoever controls mass media and social media. Russia picked up on that very fast, trying to sway popular opinions, sometimes overt, sometimes covert. I mentioned the example with Berlusconi in Itale previously. Trump is another good example of the least qualified getting the job because the media loves it. Especially the Murdoch press (who owns among other things Fox) How will you prevent corporate interests from influencing elections so politicians can get elected on their own merits and not as a tool for wealthy "special interest" groups taking lobbying to the next level? Edit: The above question is for me the key. No, I don't have an answer, I wish I did, because, you know, criticizing is easy, coming with suggestions is a lot harder. But identifying problems is usually (at least in computer science) a good start for working on solutions. A witty take on it. The difference between wealth and income probably applies to other countries too I think

Sorry, in that case, the world has less true democracies than true communist regimes.

I'm not too worried about AI being able to copy patterns... I'm more worried when it gets creative and nobody sees what's coming before it's too late.

Meh, the only really dangerous animal down here with a beak is the platypus (it's venom is lethal) At least it can't fly Edit: I was wrong, not about the flying part, but only the male platypus has venomous spurs on its hind legs. Looks harmless, right? and I had forgotten another animal that it's recommended not to get to close to: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2019/4/why-the-cassowary-is-the-worlds-most-dangerous-bird-568931/

I don't think there is anything wrong with spin-off games. I wouldn't mind some third person game set in the POE setting. Could even be a different time period, like exploring past events.

How old is this song exactly? I could've sworn I used to listen to it before leaving Europe almost two decades ago

You just described Xi's long term strategy for moving jobs to China

German TV (living in the border region, I had more German language than Danish tv channels to choose from) was quite open minded about things in the 70's. What's not to love about gratuitous nudity and violence (not being mutually exclusive either)

It sort of gives my age away... I loved Zardoz (when it finally aired on TV)

It was a slow start. I didn't remember that JA2 1.13 had all those complicated inventory mechanisms, where even the effin hats have pockets Just liberated Drassen, waiting for the inevitable counter attack. Trying to train a few more militia men, as they do make the fights a bit easier once you get a foothold. I have Steroid in my team, but as funny as I find his Arnold Schwartzenegger schtick, he is not worth it at the moment. Sticking with Barry, Grunty, Ivan, Fox and myself. Wolf is busy or he would have been my next acquisition. Also, choosing weapons at Bobby Rays seems a bit more overwhelming than I remembered it being (even for 1.13) edit: I know they are "simplistic" by todays standards, but I love the little interludes between Elliot and Deidranna (Elliot, you idiot... slap, slap!) edit2: Poor Igor is in ICU. Survived the retaking of the mine with about a pixels worth of health bar left. Fox used her last medpack to prevent him from bleeding to death. I need to get Ivan, his big brother, to look after him. Still trying to decide whether i should execute Pablo or not (the corrupt airport shipping guy), I seem to remember there being some benefit later on if you let him live (and steal from your shipments)

The problem with that is, he's selective in what media he directs his ire towards (generally those who calls him out on his lies). I pity the US if they wake up some day and Fox News (or any of the the Murdoch Press owned garbage) is the only mainstream news channel, constantly parroting his words as if they had some kind of truth in them. Not going to invoke Godwins Law here, but use Italy as an example of how bad things can go when a rotten to the core populist is in bed with 90% of the media. As for injecting bleach and using hydroxychloroquine against Covid19.... I mean, if people are stupid enough to believe him, by all means, give those brave souls a Darwin Award. I only have one beef with it. The latter is a known treatment for other diseases and a rush on the stocks of something of no value to them whatsoever, could kill a lot of other people who legitimately need it, in the process. The stockpiling of toilet paper shows how intelligent the masses are sometimes.

The Dunning-Kruger effect. If I had my way, people should pass a written exam in this before being allowed to post on social media https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08d53s8/the-importance-of-knowing-you-might-be-wrong

Sounds like morning sickness Seriously reply... get tested for virus? Could also be food poisoning Edit: I know from a salmonella survivor, that it supposedly feels like someone is cutting up your intestines with a white hot knife.

I think we can quickly agree, Nato is a relic of the past. Like all obsolete things, it's struggling with it's own identity crisis. Europe would be better off with their own military superstructure. Would also mean getting Turkey out of the club. Edit: Since Australia is already part of the Eurovision Song Contest, I can't see why they couldn't join a European military alliance too

Those are not necessarily mutually exclusive Getting bored. Like, boooored. Really, really, BOOORED! Dammit Good thing i managed to move interstate just in time for everything to close down, depriving of some of those things I had been looking forward to do Ah well, Australia Zoo will open again some day. Hopefully the animals are thriving with a gawking audience in the meantime. If you're not from here and you ever get to visit Queensland, I can recommend it. The animals actually have lots of space and room to live. Edit: I used to have an annual pass to the place. Might get that again. Also on the todo list, a membership of the 24/7 gym next door to my place once they reopen https://www.australiazoo.com.au/

I was about to crack some bad joke about China not being able to afford it, already owning 1.1 trillion dollars of US debt (bonds). But then I realised, that is only a drop in the ocean when it comes to US debt (more than 30 trillion dollars iirc.). While checking the numbers, I ran into an interesting list of countries with the least debt. A surprising list, that if anything, convinced me, debt free does not equal a good place to live. http://poweredbyorange.com/10-countries-with-the-lowest-debt-available/ Unless you really fancy migrating to Afghanistan, Russia, Botswana, Congo, UAE etc.

It even got approved

That made me think of the scene from The Holy Grail (Monty Python), where the peasants wants to burn "a witch", despite having no clue how identify a witch.

Back when I was young and stupid (I'm no longer young), I replaced a blown fuse with rolled up alufoil. Absolutely mindblowingly stupid. But that's what you you do in a rural area at 2am and no replacement fuses and convenience stores open (and a fridge with food you can't afford to replace when you're a student) Edit: A friendly neighbour gave me a spare fuse the morning after to replace it.

How about a "Transformer" house? Origami in action! The amazing homes that build themselves https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-30318261

Need more Rammstein....

Somebody in South Dakota is not happy with their governments response to the outbreak... Probably going to end in some heavy handed crackdown, as these aren't some alt-right gun toting morons of the kind that Trump seems to favour. Actually, they seem way too intelligent to be Trump supporters. The Cheyenne River and the Oglala Sioux have put up road blocks and checkpoints. -- The chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe, Harold Frazier, issued a statement in response to the governor on Friday, saying: "We will not apologise for being an island of safety in a sea of uncertainty and death." "You continuing to interfere in our efforts to do what science and facts dictate seriously undermine our ability to protect everyone on the reservation," he added. -- Oglala Sioux President Julian Bear Runner says Ms Noem's decision "threatened the sovereign interest of the Oglala people". "Due to the lack of judgment in planning of preventative measures in response to the current pandemic, Covid-19, the Oglala Sioux Tribe has adopted reasonable and necessary measures to protect the health and safety of our tribal members and our other residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation," he is quoted as saying by the Argus Leader. -- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52615311

The guy didn't really want to be in the plane in the first place. The plane obviously didn't want him there either Yeah, can laugh a bit at it since nobody died. Want to bet, the guy got a retirement gift to remember?

Same here. If anything, If I neglect the haircut for too long, I end up with "Microphone" hair, looking like some 70's relic. Never mind that I am some 70's relic