Ignorance by Milan Kundera.

Coplas por la muerte de su padre by Jorge Manrique.

Dormir al sol, Adolfo Bioy Casares.

Nice! :up:

Those two yellow lines got me puzzled because they are over the corpse and not under. It is as if they were painted after he lay down.

El gaucho Martín Fierro; La vuelta de Martín Fierro by José Hernández.

A really sad day. I lost a Hispanic friend on the forum.

I had several PMs with him, talking about a lot of different things. He was a very active user, and I wondered why he hadn't posted anything for the past weeks. I didn't ask him because I think there is some break or holiday in Argentina, so I thought it was just that.

I didn't know you asked him to behave once, and I am sorry he responded you with bad manners. I honestly believe he is a good person, but he might not have understood how TPF works, and it is true that 2K posts in just a few months is a lot.

When I saw he posted a lot of threads continuously, I thought: "mods would ask him to behave. Otherwise, he could be banned."

Sadly, I was right. :broken:

If these really interesting members would slow down their posting, I believe they would remain here.

Furthermore, he is a professional philosopher in Argentina and has written interesting books. I think he could have been a great user.

I will miss Martín (@Arcane Sandwich).

If Russia wants war with Europe, it's welcome to it because it will lose just as it lost the Cold War. — Benkei

No doubt. But the amount of money and years that would eventually take the following reconstruction could be frightening. Imagine Europe spending years and wasting resources to recover from a war once again.

We always thought that diplomacy was the main venue to solve disputes (I still think it is), but, sadly, the main superpowers are forcing us to spend a lot of money on the army because we no longer can trust them.

This is the way I see it:

The United States of America has never been a friend or an ally, but a partner. They wanted security and prosperity in Europe because this would benefit them. But they never had in mind anything else than defending themselves. The WWII was a good example of that. Until the Pearl Harbour attack, they didn't care about the war in Europe.

I always saw American foreign policy as a threat to Europe and my country, just because of the way they always tried to impose how we should behave in the world they created after WWII. I think they don't really understand Europe; probably, the average American can't point your country on the map; they think we are Mexico or Africa, and I guess they don't know about Slovakia's existence.

Why did we let these guys put their military bases on our land? Time to do self-criticism.

I understand why you Finns are worried; now Trump is fond of a threat to your nation. But let's not forget that he is also very friendly with Muhammad (the dictator of Morocco). What would happen if that mad lad decided to attack Ceuta and Melilla? Will Trump support him? Will Trump threaten Sanchez and Spain as he did with Zelensky and Ukraine?

In the next decades, Europe has to think more about itself! We are older than them. We have more experience in struggling in war or hot zones.

I think @ssu deserves to be tagged or mentioned in your post. The PM of Finns is really worried about the current situation; so too @ssu, I guess. :smile:

Interesting, ssu. :up:

Thanks for letting me know!

@Baden @ssu

I remember having deep conversations about The Troubles with you, lads.

I am currently watching 'Say Nothing' on Disney+. A very well-dramatised version of the Irish and NI issue. The actors are very good, and wow, the scenes are so realistic that it feels like it is happening nowadays.

I thought you would be interested in watching it. :up:

European law has primacy, I’m afraid. — NOS4A2

and

European law has primacy in some matters like obligations and contracts. Yet national law still has its primacy in key aspects like the constitution and criminal law/procedure. Nonetheless, it is important to highlight that the EU law is not about to hold a "primacy" but to get a community acquis with the aim of rowing together in the same direction.

Ukraine becoming a giant blackhole for money... — Tzeentch

It will no longer be a black hole when gas contracts are signed and effective again. Be patient: We’ve been holding on for three years. The key is to resist until we get a better agreement to Europe's interests.

No surprise. It was expected. After the circus of last Friday, Trump even gave us reason to believe that now he is also a threat to Ukraine and Europe.

My honest statement of sorrow for criticising President Zelensky in the past:

Since the last events that took place at The White House (Washington, United States of America), I have been reflecting on what I posted here, (and what is worse) what was my opinion on Zelensky, yet I wasn't even entitled to say that and the other.

I defended with high emphasis that Zelensky was a puppet of both Biden senior (the President) and Biden junior (Hunter), but after watching the heated discussion with Trump and Vance, I regret now all that I thought. I ranted at him about gas prices and how everything went up because of the war crisis.

Nonetheless, Zelensky pointed out something critical: We signed a gas contract. A gas contract, yes.

I opened my eyes and awoke from my ignorance. It turned clear to me that Ukraine is a country full of natural resources whose sovereignty is subdued to different empires. Russia in the past and America has interest now.

It would be very difficult to be a president of a nation where bullies want to huddle you up and rip off your land. Look, it is not about to be pro-Russian or pro-Ukraine, yes? It is about how people from Eastern Europe are defending their dignity. We live in countries where natural resources are low, but imagine that you have some, and your destination depends on what deal is done at a random desk in a Western nation.

Too bad. I regret what I thought and posted in the past, but intelligent people rectify. Kudos to Zelensky for facing Trump.

3/3/2025.

Spanish are even less are thinking of taking back their old possessions. — ssu

We declined the fantasy of taking back our old possessions since the day we lost them all! :rofl:

My damn pure, beautiful and sweet language :heart:

It is suggested that ADHT is when higher frequencies dominate, and schizophrenia is when lower frequencies are too strong. — Metaphysician Undercover

Wow! It is very interesting. Isn't it? Thanks for the link to the article. It amazes me that those frequencies can actually be drawn on a paper so we can figure out what they look like. Science is helping us to understand things again. Now, it is time for a cookie!

and

It is very interesting the topic of brainwaves. I look forward to reading what you both write about it.

I like the point of @Mijin that the "theta state" is also related to our creativity. I think the following image is pretty illustrative:

Have you ever applied that mathematical formula to something?

Is it intended to be used for research purposes?

Yep, well said. China will be the way forward in the conquest of the universe. They are already doing interesting things on both the Moon and Mars. But our obduracy towards them doesn't help to value them.

Haha. Probably, that's the way he speaks to his cabinet. Astonishingly, a total circus.

A bit baffled that "DOGE" also affects the budget of the James Webb telescope. Since Musk is supposedly very interested in the universe, he should invest but not cut the funding of that scientific project. I think NASA (or other rich corporations) will save the project. Fortunately, he is not the only moneybag in this world.

I remember when we used to share beautiful pictures taken by the telescope. I hope we will continue to do so.

You can't imagine how much I will appreciate you for that. Well, these IA programs are already pretty obnoxious to me, but not as much as 'tokens' and other corrupt/trap-like digital coins or goods.

All of them were poorly written and explained. I wrote them without having an order in my mind. My emotional spring has betrayed me once again.

"Ready and willing to invest a lot more in our security."

And Rutte has said it as secretary general of NATO.

Did he throw down the gauntlet and the EU took up the challenge?

Demons (sometimes also called The Possessed) by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

I agree with everything you said. I can only see benefits from being in the select EU membership. It is obvious the big change we experienced since 1986. From a poor and isolated nation to a European and developed country, which is likeable for most of you because we are friendly. Even VOX (the far-right political party) roots for Europe, but in a mode closer to Hungary or Le Pen, but no way do they do negative speeches on Europe or the European Union itself.

The only thing I dislike is that I perceive that there are still some negative prejudices against us. The coronavirus crisis was a good example of that. I remember Mark Rutte and the Finance Minister of The Netherlands saying very negative comments on Spain and Portugal. But I didn't feel frustrated about their view but the fact that it is actually true our politicians suck at managing budgets. Alas, we always had corrupt politicians and despotic kings. :sad:

Oh, it is not surprising to me that there is an important community of Spaniards working in Finland. Low incomes and unemployment are the most tough troubles in modern Spain. Since our politicians don't seem to find the solution, my fellow countrymen decide to go to other EU countries, searching for better-paid jobs.

Let's remember that membership either to NATO or the EU is voluntary — ssu

I know it is voluntary but...

It depends on the nation we are referring to. We were forced to join NATO (1982)—when most of the Spaniards didn't want to—as a previous step to join the EU (1986); that was what we really wanted since Franco's death. Felipe Gonzalez was treated as a traitor in that period of time, but many years later he admitted that Reagan forced him to join NATO if Spain dared to be an EU nation. We don't know if he threatened Felipe Gonzalez, but probably he did, and we were in a social context where we felt the necessity to be friends with Western democracies.

I can understand them: they would be paying much and not getting much — ssu

I don't get it, and that thought rang a bell on an old prejudice. The north feeds the south (Mediterraneans) and East (Romania or Moldova). I hope you were thinking about political relevance or the number of seats when you thought about "not getting much" and "they would be paying much"...

Joining the EU means give part of sovereignty and many things. I get it. But that's the point. Share the best of each country. We were in war for centuries, and look now. That's what I wish Europeans could see and understand. Our old continent already suffered from wars and dictatorships, so no one is entitled to give us lessons of how we should do the things up.

I believe that before building something important as a stronger European Union, we should update the concept.

First of all, the EU should keep pushing forward to get Georgia's membership. We can't let them behind. It is important to lend a hand to those countries. Otherwise, they would think the EU is not relevant enough for improving human rights.

On the other hand, I would ask Norway to join the EU. It is not understandable that this country had a NATO secretary, but their citizens have no voice in European chambers. How can we allow that? Furthermore, they are very clever at managing natural resources, as they usually do with oil in their sea.

United Kingdom: Since Brexit was a terrible mistake, I think our representatives should start to get them in again or something similar. We can't have a WWI and WWII winner out of the EU. This was established exactly to prevent wars amongst Europeans. Also, it is reckless the high costs for not being in the common market. Alas, we had the worst politicians possible.

Ukraine should not be a member of the EU.

Another great version I found. Good memories of Casares' works. :sparkle:

Haven't you ever thought of being a moderator? I think you will be a great mod as well as @fdrake was. :smile:

.

.

Well, perhaps European countries should start to root for the Democrats — ssu

We should not root for anyone but to build a shield capable of protecting us from the coming high-voltage wave when the last pillar of their democracy finally collapses.

.

I am American. — NOS4A2

Sorry, my bad. I think I read you were Canadian somewhere in this long thread.


Fine. Thanks. We approached a similar point, and I hope it will be taken politely, but we can't know what the future holds.

I think you (as well as frank) and others have a weird obsession that we owe you something. A false belief that you are protecting us pro bono. I don't even understand your position since you are Canadian, not American.

NATO and other Western-like and American-ish institutions, like the International Monetary Fund or United Nations, were made to orbit to the side of American interests. It is even funny since the US was the only country in recent history to drop nuclear bombs on another sovereign nation. Hence, I think American foreign policy should have never been entitled to build 'institutions' of the free world. But I understand the context, and Europe was helpless and divided, so we were basically forced to accept the rules of your world.

What you can't do now is destroy what you imposed on us after decades. Dissolving NATO and trying to build an EU military organisation seems the most rational thing to me.

Alas, you guys will always be there. You don't trust the elites of Brussels unless your friends (AfD, for instance) are the ones in charge. It is sad how we always misunderstood Russia. Weren't they the evil here? Because now your 'elected' and 'democratic' politicians are the ones who are threatening. We did a damn effort dispensing Russian natural resources because they were the threat, and look how many economic sanctions our institution put on their shoulders.

Why haven't we done the same when you nuked Japan? Ah, got ya. Because the 'good' ones were acting in that case.

Decades of being a pain in the ass imposing how the world should act: McDonald's everywhere, Hollywood films and flawed Apple devices too. Now, you don't want the rest of the world as your favourite toy because most of us don't buy the paranoia of your convicted felon in charge. :groan:

"Why are we in NATO?" is a question Europeans should ask not you, mates.

One of my favourite authors was interviewed by an editorial of my country in Barcelona. Very cool.

Well said, Tobias. :clap:

EU countries were terrible vassals. They never paid any tribute. :grin: — frank

You guys are always obsessed with the same thing. :roll: What do you really expect? To just cut spending on social welfare to feed your paranoia of not trusting the rest of the world?

If your president even has the guts to threaten Denmark, one of NATO's founding states, what advantage is it to keep paying the tributes?

Now that a year has gone by, could you tell us if you finally got to be a professional roller skater? :eyes:

How much have you skated since then? The council of my town built a skate park, and a lot of folks do skate every hour there. But they are not pros, I guess...