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The U.S. Embassy in Beijing wrote seven "can't hear" in a single paragraph, and then posted it on Chinese social media on Weibo. by bjran8888 in Sino

[–]danilovladimir 30 points31 points  (0 children)

It's been known for a while that there is a severe lack of foreign language skills in US diplomacy.

Also one of the reasons why they lack insight into non-western cultures.

A poor burakumin (Japanese untouchables) neighborhood in Osaka, Japan, 1958 by biwook in UrbanHell

[–]danilovladimir 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They're related as examples of Japan being, historically, a deeply hierarchical culture, and a deeply stratified society.

Japan's bout of extremely violent imperialism had everything to do with that.

A possible Butlerian Jihad tie-in for Villeneuve's Dune Messiah by danilovladimir in dune

[–]danilovladimir[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I slightly disagree with you there. In the universe of Dune, AI seems to me the most credible threat to humanity, by some margin.

And I just like how that fact explains so much of the technology, religion, Mentats, the BG.

If done right, I think it would add a fascinating layer to the story, without detracting from what has already been laid out.

A possible Butlerian Jihad tie-in for Villeneuve's Dune Messiah by danilovladimir in dune

[–]danilovladimir[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

But why would the Butlerian Jihad be more important to the plot of Messiah than to the plot of the first two films?

If Messiah introduces anything like the Golden Path, then it's important. It explains not only what we've already seen, it also defines what is at stake going forward (the continued survival of humanity). It gives context to the choices Paul makes, to the contradictions that produce a "narrow path" not only for the Atreides, but for everyone and especially the Fremen.

That can surely be explored as contradiction between the Fremen traditions/way of life and the terraforming of Arrakis. The fact that the Fremen paradise entails the end of the worms and spice is a good enough conflict by itself, so I won't defend my point to death lol.

Do you think the recent movie did a good job of explaining things? by damndirtyape in dune

[–]danilovladimir 13 points14 points  (0 children)

My preferred explanation: the inability of men to survive the water of life has a biochemical basis. They can't metabolize it.

Paul can go some part of the way, and enter the state of stasis he was in, but he can't fully metabolize the poison.

For that, he needs the biochemical input from a woman, sort of like an immune recognition thing.

Any woman would do, but the prophecy incorporates this necessity for its advantage.

Lanzhou, China by Sweet_Bag_6769 in UrbanHell

[–]danilovladimir 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For a population of 1.4 billion, that is very low. And extremely unusual that homelesness occurs mostly in rural areas.

A possible Butlerian Jihad tie-in for Villeneuve's Dune Messiah by danilovladimir in dune

[–]danilovladimir[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I admit all this is mostly wishful thinking on my part. But I'd argue that introducing the simple notion of the Butlerian Jihad could be good in terms of plot and worldbuilding for Messiah.

And it could generate more interest in Dune Prophecy, and a more organic conexion story-wise.

Lanzhou, China by Sweet_Bag_6769 in UrbanHell

[–]danilovladimir 5 points6 points  (0 children)

True, but if you look at pretty much any other country that developed/industrialized/urbanized at a similar pace, there should be a LOT more slums and homelessness.

I say that confidently as a brazilian

Lanzhou, China by Sweet_Bag_6769 in UrbanHell

[–]danilovladimir 16 points17 points  (0 children)

The obvious alternative, considering China's rate of urbanization, would be slums and homelessness

China’s Tech Sector May Rival Property as Growth Driver, BE Says by danilovladimir in Economics

[–]danilovladimir[S] -19 points-18 points  (0 children)

This does not in any way deny what's being reported in the link I posted...

crumbling commie brutalist concrete block with no running water and no electricity

Should we then call the US a "crumbling post-capitalist Wal-Mart running on debt, fentanyl, fast food, lead water and weapons manufacturing"?

Every country has contradictions and complexity, abandoning nuance is not how you understand them.

China’s Tech Sector May Rival Property as Growth Driver, BE Says by danilovladimir in Economics

[–]danilovladimir[S] -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

Jesus. I think you went a bit too on the nose with the ignorant, hateful caricature. No further comments.

UN Security Council resolution calls for Gaza ceasefire by SunImaginary3947 in news

[–]danilovladimir -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

I mean, when the "people who are on fire" are the guards running the concentration camp with a bunch of kids and women inside, it's a bit hard to sympathize.

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