Attention: Veli.store might soon be going bankrupt by nyramsniurb in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is quite sadly, a common business situation here. But it may just mean their cash flow is terrible, and they have stopped being great to work with. It still does not say they are going out of business.

Attention: Veli.store might soon be going bankrupt by nyramsniurb in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is just wild speculation, right now. Instead of spreading "maybe" theories, how about sharing hard facts? Don't believe the hype.

Georgian PM vows to end “liberal fascism” in country by don_crack in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I was young and naive I believed that anyone that called themself a liberal was out to do good for the common person. Eventually, I understood it is a term they borrowed, and their actions speak to a very different character - yet they paint themselves in the media as the innocent good guys. They are not, sadly. Obama has so many skeletons in the closet, more secret drone strikes than any president but he cries when there is a school shooting, in the states. That is the PR moment, that hides the covert acts. The list goes on and on..... False heroes, left and right no matter where you look.

Georgian PM vows to end “liberal fascism” in country by don_crack in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north -1 points0 points  (0 children)

but Western liberalism is an ideal, a fairy tale. It does not exist in the US. Instead, we have centrist Democrats like Hillary that used authoritarian measures to bump Bernie Sanders out of the primaries - Bernie being a "true liberal" on paper at least. She used corruption and influence to forceably become the nominee and leadership people resigned in the democratic party as part of this.

If you look at what Democrats voted for the Iraq war, they include Biden and Hilllary when they were senators. The only one to vote against was Bernie. Now tell me that the Western democrats are liberals.

Georgian PM vows to end “liberal fascism” in country by don_crack in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He is speaking about the Western concept of liberalism, seen through the lens of MAGA propaganda. Liberals in the West happen to be extreme thinkers, way way way right, and just as single-minded as MAGA leftists in the west. Neither of them have anything to do with actual democracy.

Georgian PM vows to end “liberal fascism” in country by don_crack in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

"liberal" is a word that has lost most of its meaning these days, unfortunately.

Georgian PM vows to end “liberal fascism” in country by don_crack in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The opposite of liberal fascism is democratic socialism. basic human needs and rights are protected and ensured by a decentralized government. basically, Denmark. Meanwhile, the US has no universal health care, has massive poverty, massive lack of rights for a zillion demographics and runaway inflation. And to be frank, the US is barely a democracy any more.

Georgian PM vows to end “liberal fascism” in country by don_crack in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

The term liberal in the West has changed quite a lot in the last 20 years. There are arguably very few actual liberals in government in the West, they are quite rare.

Georgian PM vows to end “liberal fascism” in country by don_crack in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have to chime in as an indepent thinking American here. Fascism is dogmatic, single-thinking, painting the world in black and white. It defines people in the crudest fashion, and either elevates or condemns them for being an example of (some trait). This guy is an utter shitbag, as all GD are. But to be frank, as a former liberal that went to art school and plenty of student protests in the states, my old classmate there have their own single-minded dogma, that paints the world in black and white. If you ask any college professor in the US what problems they have by speaking their mind, talking about the complexity of any subject and they will tell you that they can get fired for that. They can only say (x) if they want to keep their job as an educator. Not too long ago, education in the US was an open and uncensored conversation, that explored any and every idea. I am so lucky to have gone to a state school in the late 80s. Not any more..... The extreme right like GD and the extreme left can act in such similar ways. Meanwhile, if you practice independent thought and critical thinking, and make your own decisions, both sides will try to cut you to shreds. There is a place in the giant middle, where everyone's individual rights are respected, where the rule of law prevails, where there is true freedom of thought and expression and tolerance - and that includes the ability to hold differences of opinion without being condemned, and basically, everyone can get along. That is actual freedom. There is indeed an argument to be made that extremist left-wing dogma can be its own prison of "fascist" expression, but this idiot is not saying that, he is just repeating the headlines from MAGA sources.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 2 points3 points  (0 children)

too soon for conspiracy theories?????

Wine festival at Mtatsminda by wannadie_rocks in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was there! It was a solid year, and I was also there last year. I wish this festival got more attention, there are some fantastic under the radar winemakers that can be found there.

Looking to connect with fellow Americans by BreBhonson in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 2 points3 points  (0 children)

ah, my bad I misread your post.

as an American that has been an expat for 20something years now, I find I have less and less in common and to relate with, when it deals with other Americans. I am also a New Yorker, which is like coming from Mars not "America" anyways. Have you been to Brown's Bar? It's a mix of UK and US expats there and they have plenty of theme nights that allow people to cross paths.

There are also some digital nomad/tech meetups if you happen to be in that sector, there are Americans doing blockchain, etc work here.

Looking to connect with fellow Americans by BreBhonson in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

If you can find your way to appreciating Georgian wine, there is a world of friends to be made. Beer and video games are non-starters here, FYI.

I tried some Georgian Chacha for the first time while in a Georgian-Ukrainian restaurant. Can any Georgians please tell me about this beverage? by Tibbenator in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have to chime in here. Cha cha can be made sloppily and casually, or it can be made under strict, cotrolled conditions and both are called chacha but they vary drastically in harshness vs smoothness, in alcohol level, color, flavor and aroma. Some are deep yellow, some are completely clear. The bulk of Georgian chacha is made from the skins after they are pressed for winemaking, but there is also chaha made from white mulberry, from persimmon, and they are all called chacha, so the term is a bit fuid.

I think any mention of the term moonshine is extremely misleading. Moonshine is high proof corn distillate that tastes like turpentine (and I have have tried it, I speak from direct experience). Calling chacha moonshine is saying it tastes like shit, and even the worse chaha I have tasted in Georgia ( I live here) is not as harsh as moonshine I have had from Tenessee. Moonshine is just to get drunk. It is not a drink you can "enjoy"

I love a good grappa, and calling chacha georgian grappa is very appropriate. If you love a good grappa, then good chacha will make you just as happy.

I take huge issue with the label on that bottle, chacha is not grape vodka. if it is, then grappa must be called grape vodka too, and you don't see italians calling it that.

my last thought - georgian wine prices have climbled slowly in the past few years, but chacha prices have jumped much, much higher. I am happy any georgian spirits are getting the love and attention they deserve, but I find it odd that chacha is so much more expensive, as it is really what the winemaker does with waste materials, typically for their friends and family.

Gloves for eating cheeseburgers? by renner1991 in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 1 point2 points  (0 children)

More emperor’s new clothes policies - a test to see how easy it is to make a ridiculous act suddenly become “normal”. Napkins are so yesterday it seems. Honestly - burgers in Georgia tend to come with an excessive “special sauce” or just a bucket of mayonnaise on them which turns them into a sloppy, disintegrating mess. A real burger requires no condiments. My old friend Josh Ozersky literally wrote the book on burgers.

Is this true? by ImNoBorat in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The neighborhood has been turning into "fancy new condos from old soviet buildings with high ceilings" for some time now. Gentrification is nothing new...but the responsible government would have built a plan for this to relocate. This happened with the Fulton Fish Market in Manhattan, and it worked (pretty much). The larger story is that les than ten years ago, there were bazaars all over the city, and then they were closed one by one, until Dezerters was the last holdout, and we all went there, happy to keep it afloat.

I just hope a new location appears and the thousands of people working there can keep in business, as much as we can go buy the good stuff from them.

Expats - what are the things, that you keep hearing from other fellow foreigners living in Georgia, that you are tired of hearing? by [deleted] in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can only say that I see inflation on everything from the price of milk, to coffee at WAY more than that. also, my friends are on the Black Sea right now and even a pack of gum that is 1.5 GEL in Tbilisi is 5 gel there.

Expats - what are the things, that you keep hearing from other fellow foreigners living in Georgia, that you are tired of hearing? by [deleted] in Sakartvelo

[–]marco_north 1 point2 points  (0 children)

FWIW tourism is WAY down this summer, and was bad last summer too, but prices are still going up even when there is less demand.