"Paradoxically, systems accused of being undemocratic are probably better equipped to survive, at least in the short and medium term. They have to constantly demonstrate to citizens that they are capable of solving their problems, whereas a traditional democracy believes that democratic turnover itself is a remedy for problems. In reality, swapping out one party for another changes almost nothing, which only exacerbates discontent."

It's amusing that this post received likes but no zaps (and also 2 imposter replies).

Zapping is for cucks. You don't take out yr wallet and give someone a dollar bill when they say something interesting. You just say 'good point', ie give them a like.

One more piece of evidence that @gladstein either 1) directly works for Western intelligence or 2) is a useful idiot

Not a very coherent exposition, imo

This only works for a few early 'influencer' types

A flawed understanding of human ancestry illustrated by a base 2 progression that most ppl moderately familiar with computers know off by heart. I'm not seeing the 'coolness' here

False equivalence between Bitcoin and nostr.

It remains unproven whether nostr has the right design to survive state pressure or other attack vectors. I personally don't think it does but anyway it remains to be seen.

Not to mention they're all US American characters (blurghh)

Disagree that he would have loved it but anyway, arrogant of you to speak for dead ppl

Both the top and the bottom are materialist takes, and thus in my view, misguided and sterile.

Against all United / Union superstates.

1 has already gone - the USSR

I look forward to the breakup of the 3 remainling ones - the USA, the UK and the EU.

The UK is a spent force and will probably lose Northern Ireland soon, its first colony.

The EU, a project pushed upon Europe by the USA to give it easier control over the sub-continent, never had its own sovereignty (unlike the other 3) and will not last many decades more; perhaps as few as 1 or 2. Good riddance.

And the USA? Clearly it is very sick and on an irredeemable path to failure now. But while its disappearance from the world stage will be a great boon, having been by far the greatest source of evil since the end of WWII (and much evil before too), this period of its decline and fall is also a great danger to the rest of the world, as it is so chaotic and destabilising and violent.

> hiding your head under a hat “for OPSEC”

i.e. exactly what Satoshi Nakamoto did

(Otherwise I agree with the main point of the post)

I like throwing a ball against a wall and catching it

30 to 50 years is way too generous, imo. I don't see 'crypto' (not Bitcoin) making it to the end of the decade. And good riddance.

Replying to the #NaturalSkincare tag (and not the Beef tallow tag), the best and most natural skincare (and haircare) is what your own body produces. It's a mix of oils, waxes and esthers and is produced by your own body with all the benefits of biofeedback. It goes by the (slightly unfortunate) name of *sebum*.

So best skincare is to not strip away the sebum that your body is producing to naturally protect and nourish it. Not stripping it away means not using soaps and detergents on your skin (and hair). Basically what's called 'water only'. In addition, try to keep the water cooler, because hot water also strips away the sebum more. (Cold) water only will give you naturally glowing, elastic and not dried out skin, i e youthful skin.

All prizes end up getting gamed. Best to discount them as a signal of value.

On the other hand, I only found you because of the silly controversy around yr cancelled talk (and then started following).

If you rely on any reporting from the New York Times on China then you are getting played. They run a constant anti-China propaganda campaign (which far too many ppl lap up uncritically).

> IMO kissing someone after a cigarette vs a cigar is quite different.

Interesting take.

I do agree that if you're going to smoke then pure tobacco leaf is the best option. I went through a brief smoking period and during that time I made it a rule to only smoke Nat Sherman's and cigars on this principle.

Most of these look fake (posed) and uncool.

And there's nothing pleasant in kissing a woman who smokes.