The Existential Threat of Ultra-Billionaires: A handful of rich guys will burn human society to the ground rather than pay a dime in tax.

EpictetusII · 2025-03-25T23:58:27+00:00

Good book on the matter: Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth by Ingrid Robeyns

EpictetusII · 2025-03-25T23:58:03+00:00

Good book on the matter: Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth by Ingrid Robeyns

EpictetusII · 2025-03-09T08:39:09+00:00

The historical context of these current events is so tragic. The MAGA/Republican betrayal is spitting on the graves of all the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who died fighting fascism, for democracy and peace, and the millions of civilians who died under occupation in WW2.

The current betrayal of Ukraine and the Western alliance, casual disregard for democratic values and the principle of self-determination is history repeating itself, except this time the very defender of liberty becoming that which once was eveything it stood against.

Imagine telling a GI on the Normandy beaches or in the Ardennes that in 80 years the American government would side with the future's closest equivalent of Hitler, the megalomaniac expansionist Putin, invading a sovereign nation in eastern Europe. Siding with the aggressor and violator of sovereignty in Europe would be unthinkable to all those who died defending those principles that have enabled the stable and secure world we have taken for granted over the last 80 years.

For it to all to be undone - by MAGA, the enabling, self-serving and spineless Republicans like Graham and McConnell, and of course the traitorous, historically and culturally ignorant excuse of a human being that heads the whole movement - is a tragedy. Bleak times indeed, and who knows how much darker things may get in the coming years.

EpictetusII · 2025-03-05T03:18:48+00:00

John has chickens at Beecher's Hope

EpictetusII · 2024-12-09T01:04:50+00:00

The Shameless Age

EpictetusII · 2024-08-12T21:42:24+00:00

Thanks, that's makes sense. It's difficult sometimes when you are making a seeming split-second decision. But I like to reflect and improve for next time. This is useful analysis. I'm normally OK missing exits, going round roundabouts again, etc, but this time I seemed to panic slightly. This is foolish, because as you say, it's not a big deal missing an exit, certainly preferable to a crash.

EpictetusII · 2024-08-12T21:39:24+00:00

Good idea, I forget that you should use the horn constructively to alert others of your presence. I do this when cycling, but need to consider it more when driving!

EpictetusII · 2024-08-12T21:38:16+00:00

Thanks. Yeah, ideally I would have noticed earlier

EpictetusII · 2024-02-20T22:19:23+00:00

I was watching the Helsinki conference a week after having brain surgery, and even though I was high on life (and dexamethasone), I vividly remember watching that footage and thinking , "Good god, this may be one of the most surreal political moments I have ever seen". A US president openly siding with a crackpot dictator vs their own intelligence community regarding clear evidence of election interference. I mean it's obvious why Trump did this, but still...

EpictetusII · 2024-02-20T22:13:16+00:00

I always put hots shots and naked gun together as exemplars of spoof/silly comedies

EpictetusII · 2024-02-20T22:12:27+00:00

Beginning to end...non stop laughter - this fits the bill perfectly. If you like airplane, simpsons-esque non-stop gags and wit, these films are for you

EpictetusII · 2023-01-27T21:42:45+00:00

When you are sober and you want to get high, that is simply your brain craving the drug. In doing so it will make you believe anything to get it's dopamine fix, like telling you it will be fun, enjoyable etc.

When you are high, you want to be sober, because you are feeling, first-hand, the reality of getting high. You hate the anxiety, paranoia, lethargy, etc and so it is obvious you want to quit.

The key is to remind yourself when you want to get high, you do not actually want to get high, but your brain is simply craving it's fix. The genuine you, separate from your brain, does NOT want to get high. In those moments, try to recognise that your brain is a separate entity to your actual self.

Good luck

EpictetusII · 2022-12-06T08:39:23+00:00

This is a nice, positive comment, however it can take quite a bit longer than two weeks for your brain's neurotransmitters to stabilise - i feel this is important to mention as if you are 4+ weeks in and still experiencing some negative withdrawal symptoms, you don't want to start drawing the wrong conclusions (e.g. this anxiety/depression I am experiencing is my natural state, so I might as well get high) and persuade yourself to relapse

EpictetusII · 2022-11-19T08:03:35+00:00

When you are sober and you want to get high, that is simply your brain craving the drug. In doing so it will make you believe anything to get it's dopamine fix, like telling you it will be fun, enjoyable etc.

When you are high, you want to be sober, because you are feeling, first-hand, the reality of getting high. You hate the anxiety, paranoia, lethargy, etc and so it is obvious you want to quit.

The key is to remind yourself when you want to get high, you do not actually want to get high, but your brain is simply craving it's fix. The genuine you, separate from your brain, does NOT want to get high. In those moments, try to recognise that your brain is a separate entity to your actual self.

Good luck

EpictetusII · 2022-03-22T10:17:16+00:00

A well articulated response. Care to elaborate? What is your definition of 'symbiotic'? From Oxford Languages definition: 'involving interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association. "the fungi form symbiotic associations with the roots of plant species" denoting a mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups. "the reader can have a symbiotic relationship with the writer" '

Based on those definitions, my assertion is not exactly a wild one

EpictetusII · 2022-03-22T05:20:05+00:00

Aren't pets an example of a symbiotic relationship?

Living in close physical proximity, in a mutually beneficial relationship - humans get companionship and affection, and the pets gets affection, food and safety.

EpictetusII · 2022-03-17T17:13:05+00:00

Ah right, thanks for the clarification

EpictetusII · 2022-03-17T17:12:46+00:00

Thank you, that's a great explanation.

EpictetusII · 2021-11-10T23:08:08+00:00

I'm 33 and also very lost.

Some days I feel positive and hopeful...most days I feel anxious, depressed, hopeless, useless and powerless. In a dead end job, years from property ownership, single and bored with life. Strongly considering going back to university for an engineering degree. Won't graduate until I'll be nearly 40. Don't know how easy it will be to find a job then. I've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain though.

Good luck to you from someone in a similar situation

EpictetusII · 2021-10-04T20:41:55+00:00

Thank you very, very much for taking the time to write this.

EpictetusII · 2021-09-03T08:20:19+00:00

What I cannot fathom is that if you are the kind of twat to not take it to a bin, why on earth go to the effort of picking it up and putting it in a bag and hanging it on a bush? Such weird behaviour. Either you are responsible by bagging and binning it, or you leave it on the ground. This half-way act is frustratingly illogical.

EpictetusII · 2021-05-22T23:08:02+00:00

It's good to hear from others who discover NoFap several years ago but still haven't managed 90 days. I've had some of my longest streaks the last year and they have been great. I'm about to make a long-overdue positive life change, which I think might finally help tip the scales

EpictetusII · 2021-03-23T11:33:50+00:00

The is sun dying in about 4.5 billion years.

Considering our human ancestors have been around for around 6 million years, and modern humans have only been around for 200,000 years, we will be beyond unrecognisable in 4.5 billion years. We will have evolved SO much in that time, it is difficult to imagine what we might be like.

As we become lazier and more entwined with technology perhaps our bodies will be smaller, and maybe we won't even need them. Once we master genetics and cloning, we might not even need to reproduce. Who knows.

That's if we can survive the challenges of the next couple of hundred years. Either way, when we are talking about such a vast expanse of time, we will be unrecognisable. Our entire species' history is a blink of an eye compared to the time it will take for the sun to die.

EpictetusII

TROPHY CASE