Dž b Kulenović said:I don't campaign for any political option in America, mainly because the one I would support doesn't exist. Therefore, I am apolitical.
By simply posting in a politics forum, you are being active. Furthermore, your political preference doesn't necessarily need to be a registered party. You admitted that you would campaign if such an option existed... that is exactly how political movements and parties are formed. Nothing exists from the start.
Dž b Kulenović said:Apolitican is apolitical in the sense that they aren't politically active. Most of us are apolitical (meaning we don't take action), yet we still hold our own opinions and convictions, don't we? And frankly, we can be quite vocal about them, right? 😵
That’s incorrect. He is active; he campaigns for a specific historical political stance just as you do.
And you think he was being non-partisan in Biograd just a few months ago?? Thompson: The biggest traitors are Clinton and Kajin http://www.javno.com/home/hr-hrw...i-kajin_272283
Where and when will it be possible to purchase Windows 7 here in the States? Furthermore, what kind of pricing should I expect, and how many computers am I permitted to install it on?
And who exactly is forcing you to watch Fox? If you want actual substance, read the Wall Street Journal or Bloomberg Businessweek, or just catch Business Insider on CBS... It's obvious that this specific crowd is what the advertisers are chasing.
Lawrence Robinson5 said:From the perspective of the observer—the one actually doing the perceiving—it honestly doesn't matter if you're deep in conversation with some absolute genius, an average Joe, or even just a total idiot. You’re still gaining insight either way. But look, only someone truly wise understands that nuance and actually makes a conscious effort to lean into it. Just because some fool doesn't realize there's a real lesson to be learned from it, doesn't change the fact that everything we are is shaped by our interactions with others, no matter how much they might annoy us. To me, true growth means constantly reminding yourself of that reality. I'm just throwing that out there, that's all...
The author argues that those positioned at the source of information—the so-called intellectual elite—possess the exact same capacity to predict "black swan" events or the future as the general public.
The only distinction is that these elite thinkers operate under the delusion that they can actually predict anything, whereas the average person at least understands their own limitations.
goldencobra5 said:The Industrial Revolution kicked off in the United Kingdom. You had the rise of manufacturing, followed by the invention of the steam engine and its integration into the textile industry... What on earth does any of that have to do with the United States?
He's referring to 9/11, which I mentioned earlier as one of those unpredictable events that continue to shape our present reality.
Do you honestly believe anyone could have predicted that a small group of destitute women preaching about one God in an intensely hostile Roman environment would eventually become the most dominant religion on the planet?
Edward Flores4 said:Is it just me, or are you trying to compare the Renaissance—this massive, organic cultural shift that swept up hundreds of thousands of people—to American domestic terrorism, which is a calculated act carried out by a handful of politicians?
I really hope you aren't!
"American state-sponsored terrorism."🤣 Just another one of those proponents of massive conspiracies and shadowy masterminds pulling the strings from the dark.
In my view, the world is far more chaotic than that, but we aren't here to debate conspiracy theories. We are discussing how seemingly impossible events impact history and humanity as a whole.
goldencobra5 said:The truth is, people don't actually sit down and map out these grand trajectories. Most human behavior is just a chaotic, elemental mess driven by nothing more than raw greed and the basic instinct to survive. Everything truly consequential happens either by pure, unadulterated chance or through the sheer force of visionaries—individuals who are themselves such unpredictable anomalies that you can't possibly account for them in a blueprint.
Who exactly sat down to orchestrate the Industrial Revolution? Who could have possibly planned the Renaissance?
Precisely. Even if there had been a blueprint, no one could have possibly predicted the outcome.
Take the internet, for instance. In its infancy, it was largely ignored; even the most prominent Wall Street analysts didn't give it much thought. Now, try to imagine the modern world without it and consider the sheer scale of its impact on humanity today.
And that is to say nothing of accidental inventions.
The author’s point here is that we are conditioned to ignore anything deemed impossible or highly improbable. Because we reflexively dismiss these events, they catch us off guard—yet these are exactly the types of occurrences that shape our future. He refers to them as "Black Swan" events.
The core idea is that most events capable of significantly altering the course of society are initially ignored or dismissed as being statistically impossible. That is precisely why it is referred to as the Black Swan theory.
Edward Flores4 said:I mean... think about it. What has a bigger impact on the trajectory of your own life: some standard, predictable Tuesday spent grinding away at your desk in an office building, or getting clipped by a car while you're just crossing the street?
Truly fascinating stuff. 😁
Or perhaps two planes crashing into a skyscraper.😉
I am currently reading *The Black Swan*, and I find it difficult to shake the impression that there is an immense amount of truth packed into these pages. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Swan_(book)
To put it succinctly, rare and entirely unpredictable events—the kind no one could possibly anticipate even in their wildest dreams—exert the most significant influence on the trajectory of human history.
The term "Black Swan" serves as a metaphor for something fundamentally contrary to expectation and impossible to foresee. Essentially, prior to the discovery of Australia, the world believed only white swans existed; they were the universal symbol of whiteness, and it never occurred to anyone that a black swan could actually exist.
I don't believe religion is the primary driver here, though it’s worth noting.
My observations come from my time spent with Libyans and Albanians.
Back in the early 80s, I traveled to Libya with some older gentlemen. Most of the workforce there consisted of foreign contractors—people from places like the Philippines or Germany. The local Libyans, however, rarely actually performed any labor.
The common consensus among everyone was their sheer laziness. Even as a kid, I couldn't help but notice how they would just lounge on mattresses in the shade all day.
During Ramadan, the situation worsened significantly. Instead of just sitting around smoking, they would spend most of their time sleeping.
That said, I must admit that the Albanians (Muslims) gave a completely different impression. They seemed like incredibly industrious people; when working for themselves—whether in construction or running their own businesses—they worked tirelessly from dawn until dusk.
That is precisely where the discrepancy lies. There are only about 50,000 South Ossetians living in South Ossetia. You essentially have two parallel governments operating simultaneously, while the economy and basic infrastructure are practically non-existent. Attempting to maintain a sovereign state for just 50,000 people is simply unrealistic; without Russian intervention, the whole thing would have collapsed long ago. That said, having 2 million Albanians provides at least some semblance of a foundation for a state. A population of 50,000 is smaller than a city like San Diego...
Many critics who oppose the independence of Mexico often draw parallels between that situation and these two Georgian regions. Even President Saakashvili warned Russia not to play with fire. Honestly, how realistic is it for a place like South Ossetia—with only 80,000 residents, about 35% of whom are Georgians—to actually declare independence? Abkhazia only has a population of 200,000.
Adam Lewis said:He could've asked what's actually concerning about being 215 lbs, right?
Personally, I don't think you're fat enough to be starving yourself like that. Maybe you're just dealing with some drinking issues and trying to blame the extra weight instead. I'm in the same boat, honestly... I'm sitting at 220 lbs right now and I'm about 5'10".
If you swapped out the booze for actual hobbies or something, you'd see results 100% of the time.
I hit the gym every single day, but the real struggle is that I just end up eating way more after.🙄
Actually, I am not starving myself; I eat reasonably and maintain moderate activity. I can't pinpoint where the calories are coming from, so I have concluded they likely stem from wine and bourbon. I don't drink beer, nor do I consume sugar—I simply don't have a sweet tooth. I generally prefer salty and spicy foods.
I don't know; to me, hitting 215 lbs is alarming because I have never been this large before. As for alcohol issues, I haven't had any problems yet. I don't drink bourbon every day, though I might have an aperitif every third day, but I do have red wine with my meals daily, and I usually consume more than a full glass.
Harold Stewart3 said:So, how many times a day are we actually eating? If you aren't giving your body enough fuel, it just starts hoarding everything... everything... because it thinks there's a shortage coming. I hear people asking all the time, "How am I gaining weight when I only eat twice a day?" Well, that might be exactly why...
If everything else is dialed in—consistent meals, working out, staying active... and I can tell you move around quite a bit and stick to healthy stuff—then maybe it's worth getting your thyroid levels checked out somewhere like the Mayo Clinic.
I am not overweight. I am 185cm and 98kg. Most of my weight is concentrated in my stomach and love handles. I typically eat three meals a day.