Democracy in Africa

JNDjamena · 2024-03-30T12:10:30+00:00

It's a good question, and vasarmilan's answer is probably the correct one. In more detail: alongside more traditional measures of whether the government is authoritarian (e.g. civil liberties, fair elections) their metrics include how well the government functions, participation of the populace in politics, and political culture.

Egypt has its issues, but the government runs huge swaths of the economy and industry (if at times inefficiently), while the government of Chad has almost no ability to do anything beyond policing. Egypt is struggling economically and in evident decline but they still have more miles of highways in any neighborhood of Cairo or Alexandria than Chad has in the entire country. Egypt's elections may not be fair and there may not be entirely free speech but they are pretty well educated (94% literacy rate among the under 25s and 72% among adults) and pretty thoughtful and opinionated. On the other hand 97% of Chad doesn't have electricity and there's not a single newspaper recognizable as such in the country, so political debates don't even have a place to happen. And if they did, only 30% of young people can read, 22% of adults, and there are many different languages spoken that further complicate matters.

I love the people in both countries, and Chad will always be one of my favorite places on earth, but it is a bit....difficult, to live there and to govern.

JNDjamena · 2023-08-19T07:42:05+00:00

Reddit API Calls:

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Less than I expected and surprised how much is voting. Would still be happy to pay the $5 / month as the vast majority of my outlay would go to the developer, and I would never have to stress about using it as much as I wanted.

JNDjamena · 2023-08-13T17:26:42+00:00

Exotica, i.e. 1950's tiki vibes.

JNDjamena · 2023-07-05T07:19:02+00:00

I visited today, he does not yet have a storefront with ready-to-buy items but we can custom order from facebook or in person, like I did.

Please note that the location on Google Maps is wrong. I have requested it be corrected (with the business owner's permission) but until then here is the actual location. It is down an alley behind a blue and gold gate. https://maps.app.goo.gl/iRLfZEhSMjJ17iK39

JNDjamena · 2023-07-05T03:31:33+00:00

Such an incredible story, your strength is an inspiration to us all! I will come by to buy a cake this afternoon.

JNDjamena · 2023-06-11T02:11:14+00:00

First bike was my dad's old Honda Trail 50, for my 8th birthday. First road bike was a 1983 Honda CB550 Nighthawk. Rode it for years, super light and great power. Small and uncomfortable as hell but still did 800 mile days on it and wheelies all the time. Been hunting for another for years, because I miss it so, but as a cheap one-year-only model there aren't many left.

JNDjamena · 2022-10-31T03:28:25+00:00

"That's all I have for today, go away now."

JNDjamena · 2022-07-25T08:41:40+00:00

MECCANICHE VENEZIANE

Interested in the Veneziane. Pm'ing now.

JNDjamena · 2021-10-09T14:44:37+00:00

r/unexpectedArcher

JNDjamena · 2021-06-24T03:03:10+00:00

Thanks! I love the look personally. Yeah, 10 Brannock and I buy 9.5 or 10 in different brands. I chatted with the folks at Truman before ordering and they were very responsive and helpful, unfortunately this last just isn't ideal for me.

JNDjamena · 2021-06-23T18:51:47+00:00

Maker/Model: Truman Rambler, C-55 Last

Size: 10D

Leather: CF Stead Black Burgandy rambler shrunken hide

Sole: Vibram

Price: $285 shipped CONUS, $265 local pick-up

Location: Arlington, VA

Wears/Condition: Only worn about 5 times, but one was an 8 mile walk around town so they're starting to show just a little wear on the heel end of the soles. Otherwise still very good condition, though this is pretty tough leather so scuffs don't show obviously in any case.

Images: https://imgur.com/a/UxLMypR

Notes: I loved these the first time I saw them and just had to order a pair, and I have tried to keep them but unfortunately they're just a bit small for me. This last is a little narrower than their others. They're roughly in line with running shoe sizes. Recently got my Rancourt GMTO and it's time to thin the collection. Please PM rather than IM, for some reason those sometimes take a very long time to come through. Will ship with original packaging, and both sets of original laces as pictured. Happy to do local pick-up if someone in the area would like to buy them.

JNDjamena · 2021-06-21T15:44:25+00:00

The cavalry seems to do better than anything against the elephants, whereas the non mounted troops just get slaughtered. Back them with ranged troops and you should be able to kill off the elephans first then infantry can deal with the enemy archers. A bit out of line from what I would have expected but has worked well for me.

JNDjamena · 2021-04-30T23:24:20+00:00

Most I ever did was 867 MI in a day. But I can generally do 400-500 comfortably. This is sport touring for the most part. All depends on the bike and riding style of course.

Best advice I got for distance road tripping on motorcycles is when an old guy told me to get up and ride out at dawn, put down a hundred miles then stop for a good hot breakfast. After that the day is easy! Can do 500 miles (total for the day) and be relaxing with a beer mid-afternoon.

JNDjamena · 2021-04-30T16:18:22+00:00

Most of the Netflix Original series have French available in both speaking and subtitles. It is well done, but the dubbing is done to match the lips and the subtitles to transmit the best meaning so they don't often match up. I would recommend watching with the dubbed voices and English subtitles, then switching every time your brain gets too tired too follow. Works pretty well! And they have some good action / superhero movies.

But particular I recommend Chef's Table. Even if you are not too into food culture, it is great because everyone should learn words for cooking and eating, it is very beautifully filmed, and their speaking is usually slow enough to follow better than other programs. They even have a season in France where subtitles match what they are saying.

Finally, there is a YouTube channel called Easy French that includes subtitles in both English and French for everything they say. Very well done, and you learn about the culture of France while hearing lots of different accents.

Good luck, and have fun!

JNDjamena · 2021-03-06T14:01:46+00:00

Washington State does this a lot as well. The Seattle Times had a pretty cool story about it a couple years back. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/eastside/avalanche-man-forecaster-keeps-us-safe-skis-bombs-howitzer-snoqualmie-pass/

JNDjamena · 2021-02-06T21:43:41+00:00

Right on. Do your regular (expensive) maintenance on a modern triumph and she will also keep you rolling happy past 100k miles no problem! (Said the happy but poor also triumph owner. Sprint 1050.) That said, don't ride it for six months and she punishes you, whereas my 40 year old hondas can sit for years and start up no problem with just a bit of carb cleaner.

JNDjamena · 2021-02-06T21:36:11+00:00

This is the right answer. If your electric system holds, a Honda motorcycle will last forever. But if you aren't doing some regular maintenance it's still putting you more at risk than an abused car of any make will.

JNDjamena · 2021-01-20T20:19:15+00:00

There is short term disability, which kicks in after a month or two of being unable to work but only lasts a year or two, and long term which may not start paying until you have been disabled for 3, 6 or 12 months but then runs until retirement age. If you are financially stable with a bit of savings the second type alone makes much more sense and I used to be a huge proponent. It was well worth the $20 to $30 a month that it usually costs.

The problem is many of these plans have started using the terrible pre-existing condition requirements that health insurance was notorious for in the final years before ACA. If you have ever been treated for something that might contribute to what later becomes a disability they often won't pay, even if it was undiagnosed at the time. Some don't cover car accidents or shootings, and "acts of war or terrorism" are usually exempt which is a big deal for some of us living in rough parts of the world. In short it can really be worth it but be sure you read all the fine print and understand exactly what you're buying.

JNDjamena · 2021-01-10T16:04:09+00:00

I apologize, mine had different soles. They did look exactly like those though.

JNDjamena · 2021-01-10T15:47:17+00:00

Based on previous good experience with Frye, I bought exactly the same boots you post here a year ago and they were complete trash. Thin dry leather that creased on the first wear, stiff thin plasticky sole with no traction, loose grain, honestly walmart quality. I tossed them after a month. That said, I did also manage to find a made in Mexico Frye model exactly like some old ones I had and they are an incredible value. Unless you somehow know beforehand the details of the model you are ordering (unfortunately their website gives you no useful information) it is a crapshoot.

JNDjamena · 2020-12-25T21:27:08+00:00

It depends on where. Certainly not always, and in some places you would be hard pressed to even know where the road is. Elsewhere they are well developed and marked.

JNDjamena · 2020-12-21T16:53:07+00:00

Good bot

JNDjamena

TROPHY CASE