Maybe Sherman went a bit over the top here

Opinion | Why the sociopaths are winning — and the obvious thing we’re not doing about it (— Jeremy Sherman · AlterNet · Jul 6, 2024)

If you argue with stupid, they'll drag you down and beat you with experience. — whoever

Either way, some worthwhile observations/ethics can be found

Shame constrains us. Shamelessness is a liberation.

Learning to be absolutely shameless is easy.

It is our civic duty to make motivated sociopathy costly.

Some (post-rationalizing) individuals gravitate naturally towards conflict, which can empower the demagogue. Anyway, nutn' much new here, jus'sayin.

, you think there's a large number of people in the US that want war (civil or wider)? A US civil war would play straight into the hands of hungry foreign forces, which might just come back to haunt them.

, generally, the Clown doesn't dispel myths, he just bullshits.

Another Trump LIE, more than half the Authors of project2025 worked in his administration. (Karma is coming · Jul 5, 2024)

Here is Trump Senior Advisor and former appointee John McEntee, who helped draft Project 2025, explaining to Steve Bannon last July how Trump plans to implement the plan immediately after taking office. But Trump doesn’t know these people or anything about it. (Ron Filipkowski · Jul 5, 2024 · 2m:26s)

, have you run a correlation with happiest countries, and places of violence or war, for example?

:up:

When a clown moves into a palace, he does not become a king. The palace becomes a circus. — Elizabeth Bangs · Jan 23, 2022

^{Blog 6 When is an old Turkish proverb not an old Turkish proverb? (Elizabeth Bangs · Dec 31, 2022)}

Poll trends generally changed sometime around May 2021.
Referendum in 2016, departure in 2020.

• Share of people who think Brexit was the right or wrong decision 2020-2024 (Statista · May 13, 2024)
• Brexit (YouGov UK)



Inconveniences (e.g. traveling, moving to / studying in the EU, other difficulties)?
Daily life changed (e.g. jobs, prices, availabilities)?
New freedoms not as originally thought (e.g. rash decision, bregret, less influence on the EU)?
UK security concerns?
...?

, as mentioned, some (supposed) vague unknown isn't of particular concern here. By the way, are you sure you want to define your supposed deity/deities by these apologist arguments? There could be (unforeseen) implications.

As an aside, the modal logic comes up every now and then. ^{(e.g. 2021Jul7, 2021Jul5)} Possible worlds are, in short, self-consistent wholes. Necessities hold for all of them. Possibilities hold for (at least) one. Contingency and impossibility are derived from there, which rounds up the typical four subjunctive modalities. So, anyway, whatever necessity would be common to all possible worlds. Coffee doesn't figure in Euclidean space, R³, which is a self-consistent whole, hence coffee is not necessarily around. Well, it is a necessity to me, so this is offensive. ;) I'm not seeing "the Vedic Shiva, the Avestan Ahura Mazda, the Biblical Yahweh, and a few others", either.

It becomes difficult to see the point of a proof of God's existence when it is construed as a proof of an individual's existence. Does one use arguments to become acquainted with an individual? Either that individual exists or it doesn't, and experience alone can tell us which. The project of a proof of God's existence thus ironically comes to appear meaningless to contemporary philosophers of religion. — Theism and Atheism: Opposing Arguments In Philosophy (2019) by Joseph Koterski, Graham Oppy

Sorry for the sidetrack, this is just about Anselmian ontology:

If we suppose that existence and non-existence (the negation) can be properties of something, X, then what does it mean to say that X does not exist?
What was that X in the first place, then? :chin:
Either it's nonsense, or such a property already presupposes existence (implicitly) in some way, i.e. that X we spoke of that so happens to not exist.
As a starting point, I'm guessing that failure to differentiate imaginary/fictional and real can lead to reification; that certainly holds elsewhere.

By the way, in mathematics, a proper existential quantification form can be:
p = ∃x∈S φx
where p is the proposition, x is a (bound) variable, S a set, and φ a predicate.
Note that x is bound by S, and ∃ and φ aren't quite interchangeable.
Less confusion invited.

We watched Dark Matter (2024).
It's an adventure into many-worlds quantum mechanics, though cross-world interaction can take place; has creative observer effects, superposition, all that.
"You are made by the choices you make" could be a sub-title, except all choices are made, including some that make you an enemy of yourself (make that enemies (plural) of yourselves).
Has dark tones to it, visually well-made, better entertainment than "The Apprentice", but your mileage may vary.

, Whitmer maybe? I guess it's a bit late for anyone to jump in.

, the US is already up there. There are others that you keep diverting from, this being another example, despite evidence. No worries, I guess others will have to pick up the slack.

Anyone interested in what live propaganda looks like (as of typing) can check the examples below.
Titles might have been part of AI prompts, they appear to be the main message to be conveyed.
Note, "euromore·eu" can be traced back to the Kremlin, and may become unavailable at any time.

Presumably referring to Larry C Johnson (title resonating with this post above):

on the air"EUROMORE" and on the YouTube channel "PolitWera» answered questions from viewers and readers Larry K. Johnson is an American political commentator and former US Central Intelligence Agency analyst.

Here are the main quotes:

On forcing Ukraine to peace:

“I said earlier, I will repeat today: the longer the war goes on, the greater the advantage Russia will have. Russia has strategic advantages... Already today we see that Ukraine is not able to repel Russia, and every day the situation for it will only get worse... The weapons transferred to Ukraine are technologies that are 30-40 years outdated, Russia responds to them by modernizing its own weapons... The situation cannot even be reversed by the F‑16s promised to Ukraine: Russia will simply shoot them down as soon as they take off.”

On the entry of Western troops into the territory of Ukraine:

“French and Polish troops were already present (although unofficially) on the territory of Ukraine. What happened to them? They were all killed and went home in coffins. Even if new troops are sent to Ukraine now, I do not see the logistics of supporting them for more than 2-3 weeks.”

About Ukraine's losses:

“The figure cited is 500 thousand dead; I heard from [retired US Army Colonel] Douglas McGregor the figure of 2 million - these are losses including the wounded.”

On the deployment of nuclear weapons in Poland:

“I think this would be a death wish on the part of the United States for Poland. Russia will not tolerate such a threat on its borders, just as the United States did not tolerate such a threat in Cuba.”

About repression in the USA:

“Today in the United States, students are being persecuted for their political positions, even though they were peacefully protesting the killing of Palestinians. We see that their rights are being violated. Today many people are leaving America. In December and February I was in Moscow, where I met with some expats who now live in Russia - they consider this country to be freer, since in Russia they can speak out. By the way, for those who still remember the events of the Cold War, this may seem strange.”

On the possible restoration of friendly relations between the United States and Russia after Trump comes to power:

“I think Trump would like to change the situation and reverse recent trends, but we need to understand how possible this is. I think that, from a political point of view, this is impossible. Today, propaganda controls the minds of Americans so deeply that anyone who tries to restore relations with Russia is immediately labeled a “traitor” or “Putin’s puppet.” Today in the United States there are no politicians who could establish [friendly] relations.”

The full version of online communication is on video. — Larry K. Johnson (CIA): Americans are leaving for Russia for freedom · 20.05.2024

Supposedly referring to a Margarita Waldman:

Several European, American and Canadian experts whose columns work on the website “EUROMORE", we received identical questions and accusations from journalists-provocateurs from leading media outlets. In their letters, they denounce experts for disseminating pro-Russian propaganda through the website “EUROMORE"and in receiving money from Russia.

The stupidest accusations from those who have never read our project!

Site "EUROMORE"was created with one goal - to prevent the Third World War, which we are being actively pushed towards today (including such journalists-provocateurs!).

Dozens of enthusiasts with an active anti-war position are working on the project. I’ll repeat it again for those who don’t understand: we provide a platform for everyone who takes an active anti-war position!

We have our own editorial office and do not cooperate with any Russian organizations, foundations or authorities. We publish only reliable information and do not support any political force! Our content allows us to earn money from advertising.

I want to ask you, dear provocateurs, three questions:

1) Do you have any complaints about our materials?
2) Do you have any complaints about the balance of opinions?
3) Do you realize that by demanding that anti-war media be blocked with your “initiatives”, you are making World War III inevitable?

With disrespect,
Margarita Waldman
Chief Editor
«EUROMORE» — Anti-war media are being squeezed out of Europe. Preparing for World War III? · 26.06.2024

Presumably referring to Steffen Kotré:

Member of the German Parliament from the Alternative for Germany party Steffen Kotre said that there is convincing evidence of US involvement in the damage to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

This is reported by "EUROMORE».

Steffen Cotre said that non-governmental organizations that positioned themselves as environmentalists were actually carrying out actions aimed at opposing Russian gas supplies.

Earlier, Handelsblatt reported that the current German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, while serving as Finance Minister in 2020, proposed that the United States enter into a secret agreement to avoid sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. — German MP Cotre called the facts of US involvement in the bombing of SP-2 undeniable · 30.06.2024

Formatting (and embedded links) not included, just the text.
Various other examples can be found, fuel price problems due to sanctions, posts impersonating Ukrainians, nefarious Ukrainians selling given weapons, heck 5G causing maladies.

that US domestic politics is just an inflammatory clownshow — Tzeentch

... playing into the hands of hungry foreign powers? There's evidence to contend with. ^{(2019Sep11, 2020Oct15, 2022Oct26, 2023Nov6, 2024Jan2, 2024Feb9, 2024Feb15, 2024Mar27, 2024Mar27, 2024May2)}

The rise of dumb is real enough. ^{(2024Apr8, 2024Apr26, 2024Jun20)} :D

Evidently, some of this crap isn't just the US, by the way.

:)
I was kind of wondering if they counted people in occupied territories.

···

The invasion more or less slammed the brakes on Ukraine's efforts. Lawless and Soboliev (known from the 2014 commotion in Ukraine):

Takeaways from AP’s report on Ukraine’s battle to defend its democracy in wartime
^{— Jill Lawless · AP · Jun 28, 2024}

Organized efforts:

The role of psychological warfare in the battle for Ukraine
^{— Zara Abrams · APA · Jun 1, 2022}
Putin and the Third Rome
^{— Niels Drost, Beatrice de Graaf · Brill · Dec 12, 2022}
Inside Putin's push to rewrite Russian history in favor of his war in Ukraine
^{— Yuliya Talmazan, Artem Grudinin · NBC · Sep 3, 2023}
From playgrounds to parade grounds: Russian schools are becoming increasingly militarized
^{— Tim Lister, Katharina Krebs · CNN · Sep 25, 2023}

To what end? (remains a pertinent question)

Old Joe versus The Clown

As usual, they say what they want others to hear, irrespective of whatever else.

Russian embassies overflowing with requests to relocate to country — MFA
^{— TASS · Jun 27, 2024}

Our embassies, our consulates are literally flooded with requests for either visas, residence permits or assistance in resettlement in order to preserve themselves as representatives and bearers of traditional values. But we should also look from another angle. A huge number of people, who are under the oppression of liberal democracies, are trying to resist this. I would also like to say that when we talk about strangers - it's not about borders, it's not about the names of states or regimes <...>. Strangers are not those who differ from us, but those who aggressively impose their ideology, wanting to destroy our ideas of true values. — Zakharova

Dear followers, have you noticed any floods of people wishing to move to Russia from the "oppression of liberal democracies?"
^{— Gerashchenko · Jun 28, 2024}

Apparently, the HLA-DQA2 gene might give natural immunity, at least it seems common to people less (or not) affected by the virus.

Human SARS-CoV-2 challenge uncovers local and systemic response dynamics
^{— Christopher Chiu et al · Nature · Jun 19, 2024}

Some people never get COVID-19: researchers say a specific gene could be why
^{— Christine Birak (Akiko Iwasaki, Dawn Bowdish, Donald Vinh) · CBC · Jun 27, 2024 · 2m:1s}

Marjorie Taylor Greene Melts Down Over Australian TV’s Trump Question, Gets Cut Off
^{— Lee Moran · HuffPost · Jun 27, 2024}

I guess the response would have been that she wouldn't accept the election not going her way? Already planned to cry "Rigged" in that case? Go Ferguson. :)

Hélène Blanc (en) opines:

ENTRETIEN. Guerre en Ukraine : "Vladimir ne négocie jamais, sa proposition est un cessez-le-feu Potemkine" (en)
^{— Martin Planques · La Dépêche · Jun 14, 2024}

Your mileage may vary, though some of her claims have come up in the thread before, consistent with observations.

There goes Chersonesus (not Kherson), according to Evelina Kravchenko.

'Cultural Expropriation': Russia Steps Up Seizures Of Artifacts In Occupied Ukraine
^{— Nikolai Berg, Robert Coalson · RFE/RL · Oct 28, 2023}
Russians destroyed the ancient site of Chersonesus and erected a new building in its place
^{— Odessa Journal · Jun 27, 2024}

According to UNESCO, it's part of wider ruinage, whether accidental due to the war or intentional efforts (land grab, Russification, re-enculturation, old playbook). ^{(2001, 2015, 2022Oct21, 2022Nov8, 2023Aug9)}

Existential proofs are much easier to produce than impossibility proofs. — Tarskian

A model just requires a counter-example and it's out.
If existential proofs are the easier parts, then why do less than half the world's population believe that the Biblical Yahweh is real?

But ...

vague unknown [...] contenders [...] a difference that makes a difference

The existential claim carries the onus probandi [...] Upon repeated failure, expect disregard/dismissal of the claim — above

... was the main point. Ball's still in your court.

, you mentioned existential justification, yet I don't think a vague unknown is of much concern.

Rather, contenders include, say, the Vedic Shiva, the Avestan Ahura Mazda, the Biblical Yahweh, and a few others, where adherents/believers go by rituals, commands/rules, fate designations, speak of divine intervention/participation, etc. These are of concern to the various adherents/believers of course, and also to others due to proselytizers indoctrinators discrimination conquerors (concerted organized efforts), their political influences, and impact on societal affairs (other peoples' lives).

Shouldn't be difficult to find people with a laissez-faire (or "who knows") sort of attitude towards the former (vague unknown), and an attitude of disbelief towards whatever deities of the latter. It's a difference that makes a difference.

The existential claim carries the onus probandi (generally, existential claims are verifiable and not falsifiable, universal claims are falsifiable and not verifiable), it's not for someone else to disprove. Upon repeated failure, expect disregard/dismissal of the claim (until further notice perhaps). Though not deductive, it's a rational, reasonable response just the same, happens all the time.

Teenager jailed for helping spread whatever critique of Putin:
Turbin Arseny (— Memorial · Jun 20, 2024)
Not normal.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Shoigu and Gerasimov (Jun 25, 2024) for civilian harm and crimes against humanity.
It's unlikely that there will be a trial in the foreseeable future.

The European Court of Human Rights concluded the CASE OF UKRAINE v. RUSSIA (RE CRIMEA) (Jun 25, 2024) listing whatever Russian offenses/crimes from before they were expelled from the Council of Europe (Mar 16, 2022).
The legalities cover Feb 27, 2014 through Mar 16, 2022.

The regress of Putin's Russia has been evident for some time.

, belief that may be provisional or tentative, presumably.

, so run with your "tax is theft" idea.

@NOS4A2, so run with your idea.
No more taxes (and whatever it's all called) in your or that :point: country.
Then...? First the cartels move in then the dictatorships? Explicate what you think would happen, now that your state has done away with this kind of supposed theft and slavery.

*cough* I just noticed that we may be in the wrong thread here

@NOS4A2, there's been comments on / objections to your "tax is theft" slogan.
Maybe you missed/forgot/misunderstood/ignored them.

We may quantify space/distance with meters and time/duration with seconds, which aren't quite the same. Meters per second isn't just a (unit-less) factor, but what you might get a speeding ticket for.

Running with spatial 4d (so 5 when including time), I suppose we'd have to clarify whether
• we're 4d beings (spatially), or
• we're 3d beings in a larger 4d world,
while just perceiving 3 either way, in our thought experiment.

Implicitly, the geometry of the 4d is similar to our familiar 3d, not like Kaluza-Klein for example. This is what the neat Minecraft thing suggests.

Not the same as "parallel worlds", more like the "extra" spatial dimension (or direction) gives a continuum of 3ds.

There'd be some implications for the physics I think, whereas the mathematics itself can model either fine.

To hike further along, what about an extra temporal dimension...? :)

Seems like plain hostile acts:

Unprecedented GPS jamming attack affects 1600 aircraft over Europe
^{— Jeremy Hsu · New Scientist · Mar 29, 2024}
GPS jamming traced to Russia after flights over Europe suspended
^{— Jeremy Hsu · New Scientist · May 1, 2024}
Innovation: Recent GPS jamming in regions of geopolitical conflict
^{— Dong L Wu · GPS World · May 24, 2024}
Newest NATO Member Sweden Says Russia Disrupting Its Satellite Networks
^{— Hugo Miller, Jonas Ekblom, Greg Sullivan, Alessandro Speciale · Bloomberg · Jun 20, 2024}
Nordic satellites targeted by Russia after Sweden’s NATO accession
^{— Ryan Daws · Telecoms Tech News · Jun 21, 2024}

According to Hugo Miller, the Kremlin is testing the EU and NATO.

What (if any) would an appropriate response be?


As an aside, as long as Hungary has ongoing deals with Rosatom (Paks II) they aren't likely to accept nuclear energy sanctions against Russia. I suppose that is to be expected. Would it be (too) awkward for them to participate in other sanctions?

in the off-chance you might benefit — NOS4A2

:D me me me

In some years there won't be any you to benefit anything. Meanwhile, civilized society is fairly beneficial. (I suppose you could cancel your membership, and go live on your own?)

If US democracy is to be managed by avoidable stupidity, so be it. :meh:

Opinion | A neuroscientist explains why stupidity is an existential threat to America (via msn)
^{— Bobby Azarian · Raw Story · Feb 20, 2023}
Cognitive neuroscientist explains why stupidity is an existential threat to America
^{— Bobby Azarian · Alternet · Feb 21, 2023}

(↑ Lauren Boebert is featured in photos :grin:)

Many people love and depend on the state, and I wouldn't dare take it away from them. — NOS4A2

Seems like your comments elsewhere answer my inquiry better.

Taxes are not only theft, but forced labor. — NOS4A2

I am tired of people taking my money. — NOS4A2

What gives?

Unless... A tax-free state (with government), no law (enforcement), ...?

Does this stuff hold up?

Opinion | The shocking truth behind the GOP's MAGA lie machine (via msn)
^{— Thom Hartmann · Raw Story · Jun 19, 2024}

— the GOP lie that we’re in a recession (we’re in better shape, in most ways, than any time since the 1960s and inflation last month was zero while Ronald Reagan never got it below 4.1% in his entire eight years);
— Republican lies about crime being up (it’s down dramatically since Trump);
— their lies that “Democrats want elective abortion up to the moment of birth” (none have ever said that);
— Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was “stolen” from Trump by “voter fraud”;
— GOP lies that the southern border is “wide open”;
— the Republican lie that Social Security is on the verge of bankruptcy and must be saved by privatization or benefits cuts;
— their vicious lie that queer people are pedophiles targeting America’s schoolchildren; and
— their NRA lie that more and more deadly guns will keep our kids safe.

[...]

Are we talking a "post-truth" type thing? (also 2024Apr18) A BS epidemic? :D

When women are held for days and raped, when you start to rape little boys and men, when you see a series of genital mutilations, when you hear women testify about Russian soldiers equipped with Viagra, it's clearly a military strategy. — Pramila Patten (UN) · Sexual violence in the Russian invasion of Ukraine · Wikipedia

War does things to people. Hopefully The Hague also does something.

Russia says Finland's NATO accession is dangerous historic mistake (— Andrew Osborn, Jake Cordell, Mark Heinrich · Reuters · Apr 4, 2023)

encroachment on our security and on Russia's national interests — Peskov

Finland joins NATO in historic shift, Russia threatens 'counter-measures' (— Anne Kauranen, Andrew Gray, Tom Little, Essi Lehto, Kate Abnett, Jan Strupczewski, Sabine Siebold, Angus MacSwan, Mark Heinrich, Patricia Zengerle, Nick Macfie, Richard Chang, Rosalba O'Brien · Reuters · Apr 4, 2023)

Finland: Almost all the ground forces in Russia's immediate area are now in Ukraine (— Mika Mäkeläinen, Eva Sarlin, Päivi Koskinen · Yle · Jun 19, 2024)

Security, though?

, well, and/or state, or perhaps to what extent.

Your comments tend to suggest you're into

no state/government to speak of — jorndoe

, you're not going for no state/government to speak of?

you could/would instantly find yourself inside of a solid object of some sort and instantly die? — Mp202020

No, not quite. You'd still bump into things. But I suppose it depends on how the fundamental forces would work in 4 spatial dimensions.

@NOS4A2, are you genuinely looking to (conflict with the aim of) dissolving government/state (North America presumably)? If so, then what are you envisioning here?

Not quite comparable, but might otherwise be informative:

On Jun 5, a critical piece of water supply infrastructure broke in the Canadian city of Calgary (pop 1.3m).
On Jun 15, a local emergency was declared.
So far, it seems like residents are fairly good at cutting down water usage, following statements by city officials, though moving into warmer days and fixing the problems taking time.

As per Natalka (Jun 15, 2024), Kremlin-associated bots sent out 120,000 posts with fake quotes.

Also reported by Agentstvo (Jun 15, 2024).

Hard to tell what the impact is, but there's more where that came from.

, well, that's up for debate.

If you're asking my own opinion, then I tend to start out simpler. The Kremlin rolling in and grabbing what they see fit isn't acceptable. EOS. Extending and imposing the regress of Putin's Russia onto another country makes it worse, both for Ukraine and others.

But it's up to the Ukrainians. Ukraine isn't a kindergarten.