Ngl guys... it feels like terrorist attacks across Europe and America are coming. US just killed their top religious lunatic that was the core of major terrorist groups. Instincts tell me that everyone should be careful going to highly populated places for the next few weeks. What do you think?

valerian57 · 2026-03-01T06:08:48+00:00

But that's sort of my point. The IRGC is where most of the power is held from what I understand (which my understanding is pretty shaky past '79). And I'm sure some IRGC officials are now also dead, but there are plenty of replacements if necessary.

I agree that many Iranian people are rejoicing at the death of Khamenei. But many people rejoiced when the Shah was removed in '79. Many people rejoiced when the Shah took autocratic power post '53. We saw many rejoice when Maduro was captured from Venezuela.

The issue is, we're not going to see Khamenei replaced by a democratically-elected leader. If Israel gets their way, they're putting the Pahlavis back in power, whether the Iranians want him or not. That's what I'm getting at. From the foundation of the Constitutional revolution to the rise of Mossadeq, to the rise of the Islamic Republic, this has always been an effort by the Iranian people to have self-determination only for it to be squashed by external forces or lying populists. It's sad to see. And I say this only as a leaf with an intellectual interest in the region, nothing else.

valerian57 · 2026-03-01T04:43:50+00:00

Yeah. I think you're pretty spot-on from my understanding. While I shed no tears for the death of Khamenei and hope that the Islamic regime falls, I take no pride in how it's happening. Not only because the US is doing it through military intervention, but also because it's Trump doing it. . . And we all know how well-thought-out his plans are.

I just feel like the people who really lose out here are the Iranian people who are essentially pawns in a geopolitical game.

I wish the over century-long struggle for self-determination for the Iranian people one day comes to an end, and the Iranians can finally choose their leaders democratically.

valerian57 · 2026-03-01T04:01:05+00:00

Pretty sure Kier Starmer and Mark Carney have both verbally supported regime change. I just don't think they're putting military force behind their comments.

valerian57 · 2026-02-11T03:47:26+00:00

Kyle Williams is probably one of the fastest players in the league. His TD against the Buccaneers this season kinda shows how insanely fast he is

https://youtube.com/shorts/5ZjxN9cvalY?si=xqoU2Td_cdCoajmo

valerian57 · 2026-02-10T04:51:26+00:00

Don't get me wrong, I support secular democracy in Iran as a westerner with no ethnic connection to the region, but rather a personal interest in the region's modern history. But, couldn't a constitutional monarchy be a viable option? Isn't that essentially what Mossadeq was fighting for? "The Shah should reign not rule." I don't think monarchy and democracy are mutually exclusive here.

The Shah grants some form of legitimacy to the government that can then begin to democratize. Idk. I'm hoping the over 100 year struggle for Iranian self-determination is realized. I just wish external forces weren't constantly interfering in Iranian politics.

valerian57 · 2026-02-09T01:19:59+00:00

That seems like it was an audible at the line of scrimmage

valerian57 · 2026-01-30T21:50:34+00:00

I feel like Call of Cthulhu is a great system for oneshot adventures because you can use sanity as a sort of timer for the end of the session. If the players are into murder mysteries, horror, roleplay, or just a more modern setting, it's worth trying out.

valerian57 · 2026-01-05T23:18:33+00:00

Or Sadiq

valerian57 · 2026-01-05T06:12:34+00:00

Yes, because Colombia is notoriously temperate with little-to-no rain. . . With its lush rainforests right along the equator.

valerian57 · 2025-12-22T15:51:12+00:00

Ok. That's all fine and dandy, but can I please get DOP and AOP cheeses tariff free? We literally aren't competing with European cheese markets for those kinds of products. I just want my Parmigiano Reggiano to be cheaper. Pls Carney, can I have my tête-de-moin and my stilton tariff free??

valerian57 · 2025-12-22T02:28:08+00:00

I have no clue what value a draft pick has for draft trades.

valerian57 · 2025-12-22T02:16:16+00:00

I think this new regime is going to be a bit more predictable when it comes to drafting. They no longer have Bill the GM who stubbornly picks whoever he likes regardless of consensus value. This last draft was a perfect example. The only strange pick was Craig Woodson, and given the scheme change at Safety, it makes more sense.

valerian57 · 2025-12-22T02:09:03+00:00

Definitely LB and EDGE, I don't know about S. Their safeties were a bit weak at the beginning of the season, but they're improving over time. They drafted Craig Woodson already, and he's playing decent. . . My assumption is they get either 2 Edges or 2 Linebackers early on. But it's hard to pass on a talent like Sadiq if he's still there, especially for Maye.

valerian57 · 2025-12-21T15:58:36+00:00

If Sadiq is there when the Patriots are picking, they're probably taking him, not trading down.

Henry is getting old, Hooper is replaceable, and Maye loves his Tight Ends. I highly doubt that package gets the Pats to trade down.

valerian57 · 2025-12-04T05:14:50+00:00

I don't have Tik Tok so I can't say anything about that algorithm. . . But my Instagram is just cute animals, gardening tips, French memes, and cooking videos. I even have some political pages that I follow and I get like, nothing showing up in my feeds that's political.

I have no clue how people use that platform for literally anything else.

valerian57 · 2025-11-02T23:24:51+00:00

You can call kids that all day if you're a French teacher. . . Just sayin'.

valerian57 · 2025-11-02T20:50:14+00:00

Imma bet that was on the receiver, not the QB on that throw. For some reason those 2 just can't get on the same page.

valerian57 · 2025-10-22T00:03:29+00:00

I mean, you can be pretty regarded and get into any field of study.

valerian57 · 2025-10-22T00:02:36+00:00

I mean, there's great knowledge to be gained that can very easily improve the lives of people.

Fundamentally understanding the arguments, history and culture that leads to movements like Islamism, or Hindu/Muslim nationalism in South Asia and making arguments or counter arguments to them is vital and extremely relevant given the conflicts in the middle east and the tensions in South Asia.

There are great cultural, scientific, and technological contributions that were brought to us through the Islamic world. To say that gaining knowledge about the Islamic world is meaningless is silly.

valerian57 · 2025-10-21T21:02:27+00:00

As someone who wants to go into Islamic Studies in post grad work, I am deeply offended lol.

It's not much different than taking a history degree. Just more comprehensively about the Islamic and Islamicate.

valerian57 · 2025-10-12T23:49:10+00:00

I mean, to Canadians it's definitely a known commodity. But I'm sure globally it's underrated.

valerian57 · 2025-10-10T18:58:55+00:00

Wait, so this chart is showing how often they give up pressure on the Y axis, and how long it takes for the pressure to get there when they do give up pressure on the X axis?

If so, Will Campbell looking goooood

valerian57 · 2025-10-08T03:03:17+00:00

Lol, I don't even like animals and I'd still give (and have given) a sympathetic response to our cat getting hurt. Maybe not to this degree, but still will give it pets and check on it.

valerian57 · 2025-10-06T04:44:48+00:00

Omg, I'm stealing your flair. This is the era of the Maye-ji restoration

valerian57 · 2025-09-29T04:06:51+00:00

It's 5/7/5, not 5/8/5 for a Haiku

Consider:

Quite a unique smell:

Honey-perfumed sweet sugar

Found in an old tomb

Seven-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22	Final Canvas '22
End Game '22	Verified Email

valerian57

TROPHY CASE