What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Valmy]

I think that people with gender dysphoria is different than people who believe that gender is a social construct.  Why must I be either cruel or kind?  Why can't I just be ambivalent?

Well being cruel or kind is an act. Being ambivalent is a feeling. And I do find trans-ness a little annoying, I am old and set in my ways. But I can just address them how they want to be addressed and treat them like human beings you know?

I guess I don't really understand the second part. I mean what you do as a gender is a social construct, each human society has different rules for which gender you display. Is it somehow against the laws of science for some people of a sex to act a certain way and another to act a different way?

[The Minsky Moment]

Promotions put you back on probation? Is that an American thing? Here probation is your first three months, usually.

Either way, 10% new hires or promotions sounds weirdly high. Nerfed CDC and a antivax administration, what could go wrong?

Reading between the lines it is someone who moved into a management position.  It would be common here for that person to have a probationary period as well.  But the outcome of a failed probation is different.  That person would be removed from their management position and go back to their previous job.  They would not lose their employment entirely.

The key takeaway is that someone promoted internally to a management position is the person perceived as among the strongest of their cohort.  So the effect of the policy is to cull the best workers.

[Valmy]

Yeah, I'm not getting back into this.  This is policed very, very heavily.  The moment you ask even basic questions about it people literally want to throw you in a concentration camp.

Oh this? This is nothing. You should see the shit I get when I say we should be nice to trans people out in the regular internet. I hate women and want them all raped. I want to destroy society.

Or say wind energy is actually pretty good. Oh god does that make me a corrupt dishonest paid shill of big governobusiness.

[Barrister]

I obviously can't force you to engage in social discourse with your fellow citizens. But I won't stop telling you I think that is an obligation you have as a member of civil society.

I can ignore you too, unless vM removes the feature.

I have found the "ignore" feature quite useful here.

Now - I will often click through to see the post, and even sometimes respond - but it's a useful self-reminder of "do you really want to do this"?

Sometimes I really do.

Somtimes I decide that no, I do not.

[Barrister]

Yeah, I'm not getting back into this.  This is policed very, very heavily.  The moment you ask even basic questions about it people literally want to throw you in a concentration camp.

Oh this? This is nothing. You should see the shit I get when I say we should be nice to trans people out in the regular internet. I hate women and want them all raped. I want to destroy society.

Oh say wind energy is actually pretty good. Oh god does that make me a corrupt dishonest paid shill of big governobusiness.

I see a lot of that kind of shit on Twitter - but you get it in real life?

[Valmy]

Yeah, I'm not getting back into this.  This is policed very, very heavily.  The moment you ask even basic questions about it people literally want to throw you in a concentration camp.

Oh this? This is nothing. You should see the shit I get when I say we should be nice to trans people out in the regular internet. I hate women and want them all raped. I want to destroy society.

Oh say wind energy is actually pretty good. Oh god does that make me a corrupt dishonest paid shill of big governobusiness.

I see a lot of that kind of shit on Twitter - but you get it in real life?

I said the regular internet. I am smart enough to not bring up these topics in real life  unless I am confident in the company I am keeping.

[Sophie Scholl]

Now - I will often click through to see the post, and even sometimes respond - but it's a useful self-reminder of "do you really want to do this"?

Sometimes I really do.

Somtimes I decide that no, I do not.

"The three things you must always ask yourself before you say anything: 1) Does this need to be said 2) Does this need to be said by me? 3) Does this need to be said by me now?"
-Craig Ferguson

[crazy canuck]

Promotions put you back on probation? Is that an American thing? Here probation is your first three months, usually.

Either way, 10% new hires or promotions sounds weirdly high. Nerfed CDC and a antivax administration, what could go wrong?

Reading between the lines it is someone who moved into a management position.  It would be common here for that person to have a probationary period as well.  But the outcome of a failed probation is different.  That person would be removed from their management position and go back to their previous job.  They would not lose their employment entirely.

The key takeaway is that someone promoted internally to a management position is the person perceived as among the strongest of their cohort.  So the effect of the policy is to cull the best workers.

Not necessarily the best workers, but certainly the future leaders of the organization.

[HVC]

Now - I will often click through to see the post, and even sometimes respond - but it's a useful self-reminder of "do you really want to do this"?

Sometimes I really do.

Somtimes I decide that no, I do not.

"The three things you must always ask yourself before you say anything: 1) Does this need to be said 2) Does this need to be said by me? 3) Does this need to be said by me now?"
-Craig Ferguson

I miss his late show. I could really use robot cohost right now.

[Sophie Scholl]

I miss his late show. I could really use robot cohost right now.

It remains my all-time favorite Late Night show ever. Especially the final years plus where he just gave zero fucks. Geoff Peterson, Secretariat, amazing interviews, rambling amusing intro monologues. It was near perfection. ...and now it is gone. 

[frunk]

Now - I will often click through to see the post, and even sometimes respond - but it's a useful self-reminder of "do you really want to do this"?

Sometimes I really do.

Somtimes I decide that no, I do not.

"The three things you must always ask yourself before you say anything: 1) Does this need to be said 2) Does this need to be said by me? 3) Does this need to be said by me now?"
-Craig Ferguson

I miss his late show. I could really use robot cohost right now.

He recently did an interview with Josh Robert Thompson, the voice of Geoff.

[HVC]

I miss his late show. I could really use robot cohost right now.

It remains my all-time favorite Late Night show ever. Especially the final years plus where he just gave zero fucks. Geoff Peterson, Secretariat, amazing interviews, rambling amusing intro monologues. It was near perfection. ...and now it is gone. 

His was the only late night I ever liked. He ranged from irreverent to Peabody award winning with such ease. Great interview skills, although some of his stuff might not fly anymore with female guests (no more harmonicas ).

@frunk thanks! I'll have to check it out.

[The Minsky Moment]

I see a lot of that kind of shit on Twitter - but you get it in real life?

Deep in the heart of Texas!

[viper37]

Those just sound like excuses. Understandable excuses but that's still not really a defense against Yi's claim.

But the US has pulled out of numerous treaties.  And it's not the first time it has slapped tariffs on allies because your industries are non competitive, following your refusal to follow environmental advancements.

Canada has a similar problem with a part of its industry now.  China has surpassed us in many fields because we refused to invest in climate science.

I don't see what any of this has to do with European contributing to its own defense.

Defense isn't free.

And Europe is contributing.

I just gave you the link to prove it.  Defense spending are on the rise again.

If you need to see it graphically:
https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2024/6/pdf/240617-def-exp-2024-en.pdf


Only an handful of countries are below their 2% target and below the 20% spent on equipment expenditure.

Canada, Italia, Belgium, Portugal, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Luxemburg.


The first 3 are problematic.  I can't say I have not been vocal about Canada.  Portugal has had economic problems, but their military expenses are rising.  The other 2 are recent additions and they are rearming. Gotta give them some time.  They had Soviet armament and were supposed to buy American hardware, I think.  I guess it's a risky move now.

Spain is just beginning its economic recovery phase.  Luxemburg is Luxemburg.  Their use to NATO has never been for military hardware.  Nobody expects a Luxemburg SSN to lauch a first strike against America newfound ally.

The US spends more than most because it wanted to protect its vital commercial interests.

But it is a moot point now, as America has announced its surrender to China and Russia.
Defense stocks drop after Trump says Pentagon spending could be halved

American commercial interests will be replaced by Chinese and Russian interests in most countries faster than they already where since 2016.  It's like seeing the fall of the Western Roman Empire in slow motion, the client kingdoms losing their access to trade, Britannia being told to fuck off and die, then Gaul and Africa.

People like Yi somehow seems to believe it made Rome richer and stronger, with its people more secure.

[Valmy]

I see a lot of that kind of shit on Twitter - but you get it in real life?

Deep in the heart of Texas!

I definitely would get some hostile reactions if I shared ideas like that in mixed company. And it is not always obvious who is mixed company and who isn't.