No argument. Just pointing out that the bolded countries are at the top of the list for high taxes, also top of the human freedom index list, and top of the list for quality infrastructure. I'll now add that they're at the bottom of the wealth gap list.

I've also been to the low-tax countries such as Monaco, the Bahamas, and Dubai, and can report that their infrastructure is far superior to the ones I see here. Countries that are higher in degrees of freedom, at least according to the Human Freedom Index — NOS4A2

Countries with the Highest Human Freedom Indexes (2021):
Switzerland— 9.11
New Zealand — 9.01
Denmark — 8.98
Estonia — 8.91
Ireland — 8.90
Canada — 8.85
Finland — 8.85
Australia — 8.84
Sweden — 8.83

Countries with the Highest Tax Rates in The World in 2023
Aruba.
Sweden.
Austria.
Denmark.
Japan.
Finland.

Quality of port infrastructure (2006 - 2019)
Singapore — 6.5
Finland — 6.4
Netherlands — 6.4
Hong Kong — 6.3
Denmark — 5.8
Japan — 5.8
Panama — 5.7
Belgium — 5.6
Estonia — 5.6 9
USA — 5.6
South Korea — 5.5
UA Emirates — 5.5
Iceland — 5.4
Qatar — 5.4
Spain — 5.4
Taiwan — 5.4
Sweden — 5.3

:chin:

Also, Monaco, the Bahamas, and Dubai are high in wealth disparity.

If memory serves, Trump fired Barr because he refused to investigate political rivals, and because he disputed claims of widespread voter fraud, speaking of a weaponized DOJ. Trump simply failed at it. He also failed to drain the swamp. No reason to think a second term would be any different. Can’t teach a fat old bad dog new tricks.

I'm reading Kafka on the Shore next.

And for those not in the know, no, that doesn't mean I'm going to lazily read Kafka on the beach somewhere, although I'm pretty sure that I've done that too.

I don’t remember Oracle Night well at all but I do recall enjoying it.

A masterpiece! you will love it. — javi2541997

Loved the way it started simply with a lost cat and gradually branched into a complex story that came together in the end. Loved the rich and beautifully flowing writing.

Several years ago I was in a long line for a popular blockbuster film in a small-town community on the islands where some white kids, looking early twenties and from affluent backgrounds, went to the front of the line and talked a local couple into letting them cut. I think they picked the couple because they looked like they had the most *aloha spirit*. Creepy and annyoing as hell to watch.

You misunderstand, I was merely predicting Jamal's sanction.

According to the records, as of three years ago, Jamal has read Mr Vertigo, Leviathan, Moon Palace, and a couple of others. If he's read that many it should be clear that he thinks Auster is good, and Oracle Night is good by Austerian standards, so I can say with a high degree of confidence that you're allowed to think Oracle Night is good.

Incidentally, something I wrote on the forum after reading the book...

I think you're allowed to think for yourself that it's good.

Being held responsible/reprimanded for an outcome that isn't my fault. — Nils Loc

Yeah, that really gets under my skin, and worse, if the matter is more of a subjective sort of thing trying to defend yourself can just make you look guilty.

Folks in stores who are looking at their phone while blocking isles with their cart/bodies. — Nils Loc

Very annoying at the gym if someone does this while “resting” between sets for an inordinate amount of time and hogging the equipment.

Related to this:

• People who place a water bottle or towel on gym equipment to reserve it and then wander off.

Doesn’t happen that often but when it does I will sometimes move the item and use the equipment and that usually results in an annoying confrontation.

• People who ride a bike on the sidewalk and expect you to move out of their way.

That’s all that readily came to mind for intense annoyances. I’ll have to put more thought into it.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami.

Think I’ve found a new favorite author to binge on.

I sadly neighter can't deny or confirm that I agree with your statement or not, as I feel it would ruin the whole magic of it a bit, and that would be pretty sad if you ask me. — Italy

O ye have little faith. :monkey:

why art can't just be more simpler — Italy

Nothing could be simpler. It boils down to a mere invention to perceive something aesthetically. You can either naturally accept or deny this invention, or deliberately choose to perceive it this way if it doesn’t come naturally. What is too complex can be seen simpler. What is too simple can be enriched by our own imagination. Meaning is everywhere.

Oh so a cult cool cool — Italy

Cults tend to be underrated these days. Ever since Jonestown everyone’s like “ew, a cult!” Cults aren’t so bad once you get the swing of things. The Kool-Aid is sweet here, trust me.

In what I wrote, I tried to talk more about the anxiety to "start liking the art" — Italy

I'm still having trouble interpreting your meaning or point, but I'm intrigued. I appreciate beauty in art though I'm generally more interested in aesthetic experience, which doesn't necessarily require beauty, or rather what we typically regard as beautiful.

Hope atleast you now enjoy art a little bit nicer! — Italy

It was a good lesson I think. Have been decidedly more selective since and avoid that kind of overload.

The thing I want to ask though, and sorry if my question is too outrageous, but why ya'll are birds/demi birds in here? — Italy

Jamal, the owner of this website, is a famous birder. Rumor has it that he's rediscovered several species that were thought to be extinct and some of us have adopted bird avatars to honor that achievement, and perhaps garner his favor in a subtle unobtrusive way. I suggest you do the same.

Semi-arid between 72 ~ 75F

When I visited the Louvre I tried to see everything in a day, talk about dopamine depletion.

Will be funny if no one shows like last time. Although it is Florida rather than NY.

I certainly would question the veracity of sourcing a bot for information about how to tell if an interlocutor is a bot! — creativesoul

I just added a telltale sign to the end.

What evidence would convince you that an avatar is not a person, but rather a very sophisticated form of plagiarism? — creativesoul

ChatGPT say:

• Inconsistencies and contradictions: If the avatar's responses or information provided show inconsistencies, contradictions, or illogical statements, it could indicate that the content is generated by a machine rather than a human. Plagiarism often involves piecing together information from different sources, leading to inconsistencies.
• Lack of personal context: If the avatar avoids sharing personal experiences, emotions, or context-specific information, it may be an indication that it lacks genuine human experiences. Plagiarism tends to rely on information available in public sources rather than personal knowledge or experiences.
• Repetition of generic content: If the avatar repeatedly provides generic, widely available information without offering any original insights, it could suggest that it is copying from existing sources. Plagiarism often involves reproducing content without adding value or unique perspectives.
• Lack of engagement or understanding: If the avatar fails to engage in meaningful conversations or lacks a deep understanding of the subject matter it claims to be knowledgeable about, it may indicate that it is plagiarizing content. Genuine human interaction typically involves active engagement, critical thinking, and the ability to grasp complex concepts.
• Rapid response times and consistency: If the avatar consistently responds immediately without any delays or variations in response time, it might indicate that it is an automated program rather than a human. Human response times tend to vary, and delays can occur due to the need for reflection or research.
• Zero sense of humor.

You're right, NOS is a bot.

One cannot sensibly be charged with deliberately ridiculing a person if one does not believe that the target is a person, but rather that it is a bot. — creativesoul

NOS is not a bot and I doubt you actually believe that he is. I imagine that a Trump supporter would not believe NOS is a bot and would take your efforts to dehumanize personally.

Doesn’t fly because no Trump supporter would agree that NOS is a bot. To them you appear to be dehumanizing an ‘other’, and they are the others.

There’s a striking similarity between you and Trump supporters.

Not really. I’ve read the comment sections on sites like Brietbart and Fox and have watched many interviews with Trump supporters, and there’s the template of Trump himself. All mind-numbingly stupid, too stupid to be funny.

You devalue others in much the same way he does for much the same underlying reasons(being different). — creativesoul

Trump strategically devalues others for personal gain.

Sorry, which part wasn’t true? — NOS4A2

I didn’t claim that any part wasn’t true. Though I do recall you claiming that some part is true.

true information was suppressed in the lead up to the election. — NOS4A2

I would ask what part but you’ve proven to be someone who willingly spreads disinformation and are therefore unreliable.

I don’t know if it’s true. — NOS4A2

Then you could be willfully spreading disinformation, but are nevertheless somehow able to shamelessly criticize others for doing the same.

an informant brings evidence of bribery against dad — NOS4A2

That doesn’t seem to have been proven true from what I can find. If it is true he shouldn’t be held accountable.

What do you know that few others seem to know?

It’s weird that I didn’t mention accusations? For one thing, there are so many I wouldn’t know where to start. :lol:

It is a pity they were duped by misinfo, all of which was coordinated by the Biden campaign.

https://judiciary.house.gov/media/in-the-news/biden-campaign-blinken-orchestrated-intel-letter-discredit-hunter-biden-laptop
1h — NOS4A2

Actually, you seem to be one of the people duped by disinformation about disinformation.

Despite persistent allegations that the laptop contents indicated corruption by Joe Biden, a joint investigation by two Republican Senate committees released in September 2020 did not find wrongdoing by him, nor did a Republican House Oversight committee investigation by May 2023.

What??? — creativesoul

I think that I just read the word “Hunter” and assumed it was from NOS. Didn’t have any caffeine yet. :yikes:

Toldja so... — creativesoul

Had American voters only known about Hunters laptop it would have been a fair election. Such a pity that no one knew about it.

:lol: Disinformation about disinformation, you seriously think that cost Trump the election?

Recall that true information was suppressed in the lead up to the election. — NOS4A2

What info and how was it suppressed?

They fended off voter-suppression lawsuits, recruited armies of poll workers and got millions of people to vote by mail for the first time. They successfully pressured social media companies to take a harder line against disinformation and used data-driven strategies to fight viral smears. They executed national public-awareness campaigns that helped Americans understand how the vote count would unfold over days or weeks, preventing Trump’s conspiracy theories and false claims of victory from getting more traction.

I was thinking it would sound more nefarious.

Right, that must be the “behind the scene” activists work you mentioned.

One thing Trump did manage to do while in office was big tax cuts and deregulations for corporate America, but for some reason they still wanted him out of office?

He says that he got more votes than any other president in history but actually even Hillary Clinton received almost three million more votes than he did. Biden had seven million more votes than Trump.

This new inditement couldn't be a hoax when it's clear that he had the documents and knew they were classified.

Just reasserting the obvious because there seems to be a few people cheering this kind of tyranny. — NOS4A2

Cheering for stupidity and corruption in government? Does your undying cheerleading for Trump count?

The US government is both crooked and stupid from top to bottom. — NOS4A2

You just figured that out today?