I read the post. What is fascinating is how much and how recently I dismissed “tankie” rhetoric out of hand like that, until a couple of very patient comment threads where I suspended disbelief, asked broad, open-ended questions, considered the answers given, and actually read any links provided and looked up other sources, besides. I only vehemently disagreed with a few points, and having already realized how much my own history (world and US) had been whitewashed or simply omitted decades prior, started rethinking cherished beliefs still held, and went waaaay back to a technique used in a college class (university, though not really by global standards, but I did luck into a few really good professors, before adjuncts were so widely used), “critical thinking” which was a prereq of syllogistic logic, which was required, along with a bunch of soc classes: we were presented a controversial topic each Monday, required to state our side, and by Friday were required to turn in a well-researched and cited essay convincingly arguing the opposite stance. It already changed my views on a lot, so I just started doing the research and credible source cites without paper, which turned out to be a lot faster and easier than it was then, obviously. Holy moly, I set out to prove myself wrong and easily did so with mostly mainstream sources, it just took learning how to search, which I’m still doing. It’s just that we’ve been brainwashed from birth, and since I’m right on the cusp of boomer/x Gen, if this old dog can do it, anyone can, with sufficient time, which seems deliberately constrained by the capitalist mechanisms. I have more time than many, but still regular responsibilities and obligations, and it’s still not as rapid as I’d prefer, and my brain is slower now, but if people could suspend disbelief and rather than try to prove themselves right, which leads to confirmation bias, try to prove themselves wrong, imagine the world we could have! And that’s not having even dug deeply into theory, yet.

I guess not, having grown up with them.

What? OMG. 🤣 Explains a lot everything.

It’s also toxic

Plus the employees and customers could enjoy the fruit. Free fruit already gathered may entice more customers for other things. I guess food stores may not like the idea.

So the BLM lied about the (Cliven and sons) Bundy cattle degrading US property? No, I don’t sympathize with them, just saying the answer may be somewhere between each extreme. Key word: “may,” because I’m not a conservation scientist and people are people.

How do they handle that?

Hear me out; hire a few more municipal employees, care for the trees/pick the fruit, place in “blessing boxes” in public spaces, post office, library, DMV, tax office, town/city hall, worship venues etc? Employees can take what they need too?

Mine too.

Surveillance society is a bad idea, period.

About the time some billionaire/politician/LEO/judge out other influential/affluent person is recorded in a compromising position.

What happens when QR codes are obsolete because some newer, smaller technology is in place?

Never listen to what the GOP says, look instead to what actions they take, as that is a much better gauge of their thinking. Actions speak louder than words.

I’d say that’s good advice about anyone and everyone, tbh.

Iirc, there were 11? Saudis on that plane, 2 Iraqis. When planes were grounded and couldn’t fly into or out of the USA, the Saudi royalty and entouragewere allowed to fly out. Then there was Bandi Bush.

Please dm me the mod-removed link.

What are typhoons?

I was wondering if this came before or after sharpiegate.

, in my case, the U.S. government asserted a dangerous, dangerous new global legal position. Only U.S. citizens have free speech rights. Europeans and other nationalities do not have free speech rights, but the U.S. claims its Espionage Act still applies to them, regardless of where they are. So Europeans in Europe must obey the U.S. secrecy law with no defenses at all.

On what planet does that sound less than completely sociopathic?

Also I had no idea Barr was ex CIA. It explains a lot and contradicts a lot. I’m very confused by Barr.

“we tortured some folks” what? That doesn’t qualify as holding accountable? /s because it’s sadly needed.

Maybe. I’m just so used to it on another instance by moderators who ever ban for “civility”, it doesn’t even phase me. Maybe read past the words to the meaning. And don’t wander into any irc channels, if that causes you offense.