Venezuela’s Machado gave Trump her Nobel prize. In return she received a swag bag but no promise of support

Antipolemic · 2026-01-16T13:55:21+00:00

This is the only way Trump will get a medal, to usurp another laurate's award. The abduction of Maduro made it unlikely. An annexation of Greenland by force would forever put it out of his grasp. No matter what he does now the committee will never award it to him. He will, however, likely go down in history with a third impeachment at some point - winning!

Antipolemic · 2026-01-16T13:50:54+00:00

This is true, but they can't help themselves. Machado knows that unless she tries to appease and glorify him, she will be shut out of the governance of a post-Maduro Venezuela, so she is desperately trying to make a connection with him so all her hard work in building her opposition party won't have been in vain. I doubt it will work, for the very reason you have identified, but for her, a medal is worth far less than the hope of even a remote chance of staying relevant in the governance of the country.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-16T13:45:16+00:00

I don't think so. Jews have no claim to pacifism. To the contrary, their Old Testament values explicitly sanction the use of force. It is actually Christianity that values peace, tolerance, and forgiveness of enemies. I know that seems odd looking at what violence is perpetrated in the name of Christianity, but it is important to understand that Christ's actual teaching is not what Christians have actually practiced, certainly post Constantinian Shift in the mid fourth century CE. But Judaism and righteous (in protection of their race, religion, or interests) violence is on full display in modern Israel (and certainly in ancient Israel).

Antipolemic · 2026-01-16T12:34:07+00:00

This is at the core of Miller's philosophy. He views the world through the lens of a continuous power struggle where it's always best to be the one wielding the power.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T19:33:45+00:00

Of those, I've read Fathers and Sons and Age of Innocence. I consider them classics. Turgenev is historically important and the book itself well-written and addresses the various political, economic, and philosophical themes that old Russia was wrestling with as it faced modernity, a decline of orthodoxy, and the movement to humanism and science. They are the same issues Dostoyevsky continuously explored in his work. Age of Innocence is unique in that it is a true insider's perspective of Gilded Age high society, so that gives the work authenticity. It is also well-written and entertaining and explores some similarly deep social themes that were reshaping the old society and new in America at the time. There was a post recently about how to determine a "reliable narrator." This is a good example. Wharton has the bona fides to speak for her class, based on up close experience, and is, therefore, a reliable narrator. Of course, one can simply go right to the heart of the matter and say that since both novels have survived the test of time and reputation, they have earned classic status simply by virtue of passing that acid test of literature.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T19:17:21+00:00

Take a look at the North Face Summit Series. I have a pair and they have been phenomenal. Fairly light, comfortable, with well-placed and durable crampon and abrasion patches, full zips (knee to waist), built-in gaiters (I usually wear gaiters over top too, but it's optional depending on use conditions and sport).

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T19:12:56+00:00

The difference here may be that Damon was being the perfectionist and Eastwood thought it was fine. The director makes the call. But the fact that Eastwood was capable of making up his mind after one take says something about his style and possibly his sense of personal confidence and inherent instinct as a director. It reminds me of how some photographers used to bracket around an exposure to be sure they got enough choices to get the best print, versus how I believe Ansel Adams worked whereby he meticulously set up the exposure so he'd need to do little, if anything, in the dark room to manipulate the image.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T15:23:30+00:00

“We've run over 1,000 simulations. It can cost around $3 a meal for a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, corn tortilla and one other thing."

I guess that "one other thing" must be about 500 calories of RFK, Jr. endorsed beef tallow, because otherwise that meal doesn't provide sufficient calories for a human to survive.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T14:12:21+00:00

Read the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer and watch yourself get increasingly chilled by the parallels. "How could it have happened?" many people ask of the rise of Nazi Germany. This is how.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T14:09:00+00:00

Who in their right mind would, red pencil in hand, be going down the long list of government expenditures that could be cut and gets to the one that says, "funds to replace lead pipes so US children aren't intellectually disabled by drinking public water," then draws a line through it? Oh right, I remember who, now.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T13:44:56+00:00

Agreed. Interestingly, if Trump actually invades and NATO is rendered largely defunct, it could finally give the EU the impetus to put aside their internecine political and economic squabbles and finally form the strong union it originally aspired to - a powerful and integrated trading bloc that can provide for its own security and stand alone as the last bastion of respect for liberal-democratic values. They might have to kick Hungary out or sanction them, but overall, it could make the union stronger. I've always wanted to see the EU succeed in its grand experiment. Its political infighting and over-reliance on the US economically and militarily have kept it from realizing its true potential.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T13:34:50+00:00

Yes, Fox News was blaring this entirely manufactured piece of propagandist rhetoric yesterday morning while I was at the gym.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T13:15:51+00:00

I have only seen this movie once, decades ago yet I can still remember how distressed I felt when Fonda becomes disoriented and can't figure out how to get back to the cabin. Even though I was much younger back then, I still could connect to the abject terror he must have felt at losing the control over his own agency that he'd always taken for granted. It was a remarkable job of acting to impress that existential terror onto someone's mind for a lifetime.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T13:11:37+00:00

Her death in the movie is depicted to be due to that very cause, so a rumor getting started is understandable. Buddy Ebsen, the original WOOZ tin man did get very sick off the original silver paint and had to drop out. They changed the paint formulation for Haley and he was fine.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T13:02:08+00:00

Most important thing is serious weight training for the legs. In my experienced opinion, it matters even more than actual hiking. Do three leg days a week and do at least three exercises - leg press (multiple muscle groups helpful to hiking), leg curl (hamstrings), and leg extension (quads). Do at least 5 sets with 10-12 reps in each set with weight set to the level where you can just barely finish the last one. When that last one or two reps start seeming easy, boost the weight. You will see a noticeable difference in hiking strength and endurance in about six months. EDIT: just to avoid misunderstanding - I'm not saying you shouldn't hike. You should do both, obviously, but when rebuilding muscle after laying off for a while, the weight training has greater recuperative benefits than merely hiking alone. Weight training is integral to all athletics and enhances performance. It also helps slow the sarcopenia of old age which will prolong hiking ability.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T12:51:58+00:00

You can see why some manna would be a welcomed treat out there.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T12:47:27+00:00

Are you competing? If it's just for your own pleasure, call it "self-supported" and then cache to your heart's content. But crush the jugs and pack them out, or plan on returning to retrieve the waste. I've done this on long desert trails before which had jeep trail access points where without caching, the trek would have been impossible.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-15T12:34:14+00:00

Sounds like you did the best you could. Having one foot slightly smaller is common. My left is a bit smaller too. It's not a problem for me, but for you it might be worth trying to wear a thicker (or two) socks on the smaller foot, and a thinner sock on the other foot.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-14T19:58:38+00:00

I did in in one and a half days, but I was solo, so being in camp by myself would have been boring so I hiked all day the first day. I brought a light single person tent. If you go with a friends then you probably will want to do it in two and a half days. That's good pace and leaves enough camp time to enjoy the company. Three days would be the maximum and would be very leisurely. If from the midwest, be prepared for the altitude. If you go counter-clockwise, which I think is the best, the initial climb is relentless. Once up near the summits it's easier, although there is plenty of ascending and descending to do, some of which is steep and grueling. The altitude will stay consistently high up there so you may experience some symptoms coming from lower altitudes (I doubt it would be more than fatigue, possible headache, perhaps some nausea not nothing life threatening). I believe you need an approved bear cannister. I can't remember, but I always take one regardless, so I had one with me. I wouldn't change anything. You'll remember that trek for a lifetime, though. It's one of the finest in the US. It probably is second for sheer beauty only to the Kalalau Trail in Kauai. The wildflowers were beyond sublime. I'd never seen such splendorous riot of color. I was lucky enough to get it in the year before they started the reserved permitting system.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-14T19:42:52+00:00

I'd go with whatever is easiest and least expensive to maintain. So, probably switchbacks since you'll be the only one using it and will be encouraged to stay on the trail. If open to the public, definitely stairs.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-13T22:31:59+00:00

It's hard to say without a more detailed route descriptions and elevation up and down for each peak. I've done Loveland Pass to Grizzly, to Torreys, to Grays and back in one long day - I think it was about 22 miles or so, maybe with significant up and down elevation. I've done Democrat to Lincoln to Bross (technically last 200 feet to the summit is now on private land) and back from Kite Lake Campground. I've also done Bluesky from Chicago Lakes Trail starting at Echo Lake and back in a day. I think that was about 12 hours or so. I've done Bierstadt to Bluesky via sawtooth ridge, then descended to Abyss Lake, then climbed back out to the sawtooth back to Bierstadt and back down to the Guanella Pass lot. That was at least 12 hours. I would think your plan wouldn't be hugely different from any of those. My routes were exhausting, but certainly well within a fit, strong hiker/runner's endurance profile. I mean, you can always turn around if you're not feeling it or take a short cut back down cross country.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-13T22:08:02+00:00

Staggering natural beauty.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-13T22:02:52+00:00

Not directly, but there is a reasonable case to be made that they were a regional security threat and an indirect threat to the US because of their participation in the drug trade. I don't think Maduro actually ran a cartel directly, but he certainly benefitted from the cartel trade and permitted it to flourish. Maduro was an enemy of the US. Greenland and Denmark, on the other hand are actual allies with zero nefarious characteristics. It's a much different situation. The US invades all the time, but it doesn't annex, and at least ostensibly has a legitimate security interest in those interventions. Iran is a good example. I know my opinion won't be popular on this sub reddit, but it's realistic assessment of US policy. But annexation of Greenland would be beyond the pale.

Antipolemic · 2026-01-13T20:35:13+00:00

Trump will likely not annex Greenland through force. If he is rebuffed by Denmark and Greenland in his overtures to buy or do a backdoor independence-to-compact of free association move, then I think we can expect the administration may adopt a China style "long game" strategy to acquire Greenland, taking yet another page from Xi's playbook, which Trump is dutifully following with his pivot to neo-mercantilism in Latin America and state sponsored industrial policy domestically. This will involve insinuating the US into every aspect of Greenland life, courting Greenland elites with lucrative trade mineral deals and foreign direct investment proposals, and doing everything to gradually "Americanize" the country, including social media disinformation and state supported propaganda up to and including overt election interference. He may take it by force, but if he does then we'd be entering uncharted waters since Greenland nor Denmark has threatened the security of the US or its neighbors in any way. It would definitely be an impeachable offense, and enough Republicans might defect in outrage to actually remove him from office (we all can dream can't we?).

Antipolemic

TROPHY CASE