the best and most useful music app. just switched from apple music. spotify has provided a better user experience so far.

pros:

always dark theme

has a podcast section

creating a session allows you to listen to music with friends

supported by many 3rd party platforms

accurate music, playlist, and podcast suggestions

finding/following friends

has the most number of users. so it is easy to share music with other users

hulu and spotify bundle

great apple watch app

has a larger turkish music library. i don't know whether this is the same for all genres

cons:

compared with apple music and spotify, spotify has more complicated theme

no simultaneous lyrics. no lyrics at all

salt bae

that giddy feeling you get feeling the first nips of winter in the air, seeing christmas lights pop up around the city more and more, seeing ornaments and tinsel galore adorning the shelves in every shop, gazing up at the moon and half expecting to see a sleigh in the sky

a person who takes extreme pride in his or her own country, to the exclusion of others.

was the first democratic president to win reelection since franklin roosevelt.

for what it's worth.

seize the day.

first among equals.

the queen's death will kick off 'operation london bridge', which is a meticulously drawn up plan to deal with the eventuality of the death of the head of the state.

first set up in the 1960s, the plan of action was meant to be followed for 10 days after the monarch's death and has been revised several times over the years.

among other things, the plan was aimed at ensuring a smooth transition of prince charles* to the throne. according to the protocol, he will officially be announced as the king a day after the demise of her majesty.

until 1966, the referees used to warn the players and the managers verbally without any significant repercussions on the foul they have made.

however, if a foul is too clumsy and a player had to be sent off, the referee must tell the player to leave the field.

this norm had many flaws in it, and it was made pretty evident in a particular game.

the quarter-final between england and argentina was full of drama, fouls, and controversy, all at the same time. one specific incident took place, and the argentinian captain committed an offensive foul on an english player.

this left referee ken aston no option but to send the argentinian captain off.

but since the player was full of anger and agitation, he continued playing the game and said he didn't hear the referee's warning of sending him off earlier.

after such a high-profile game ended in such a controversy, a new solution was needed to make sure the players listen to the referee's warnings and signals.

finding the answer was also given to ken aston, and he got inspiration from traffic lights.

therefore, he suggested that fifa introduce cards into the game.

a yellow card would mean it is just a warning for the foul committed and shouldn't be repeated, whereas the red card told that you have to leave the field as the challenge committed is a major one and could have injured the opposition player.

this move turned out to be a phenomenal one not only on a short-term basis but also in the more extended scheme of things.

the 1970 fifa world cup was the first time this rule was implemented in a major tournament involving countries worldwide.

game theory is a branch of economics and mathematics that studies strategic decision-making. it is based on the idea that people and organizations often make decisions by considering how their actions will affect the actions of others.

in game theory, a "game" is a situation in which two or more individuals or groups (called "players") make decisions that simultaneously affect each other's outcomes. these decisions are often modeled as "strategies," and the outcomes of the game are determined by the combination of strategies chosen by the players.

an example of a game in game theory is the "prisoner's dilemma." in this game, two suspects are arrested by the police and held in separate cells. each suspect is given the option to confess or remain silent. if both suspects remain silent, they will each receive a small punishment. if one suspect confesses and the other remains silent, the confessing suspect will go free while the silent suspect will receive a severe punishment. if both suspects confess, they will both receive a moderate punishment.

in this game, each suspect must decide whether to confess or remain silent, without knowing what the other suspect will do. the outcome for each suspect depends on the combination of strategies chosen by both suspects. if both suspects remain silent, it is the best outcome for both of them. however, if one suspect confesses and the other remains silent, the confessing suspect will go free while the silent suspect will receive a severe punishment. therefore, each suspect has an incentive to confess, even though confessing is not the best outcome for either of them.

this game illustrates how individuals may make decisions that are not in their own best interests when they are interacting with others and trying to anticipate the actions of their opponents. game theory is used to analyze and understand situations like these, and to make predictions about how people and organizations will behave in strategic situations.

to avoid falling into fallacies, it's important to be mindful of the logical structure of your arguments and the evidence that you use to support your claims. here are some tips for constructing arguments and engaging in discussions without falling into fallacies:

clearly state your position: make sure you know exactly what you want to argue and that you can clearly articulate it. this will help you stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked.

use evidence to support your claims: don't rely on unsupported assertions or personal beliefs. instead, provide evidence to back up your arguments. this could include citing relevant research, providing examples, or using logical reasoning.

consider alternative perspectives: it's important to be open to the possibility that your perspective may not be the only one. make an effort to understand the perspectives of others and consider whether they may have valid points.

avoid ad hominem attacks: don't attack the person making the argument, rather focus on the argument itself. personal attacks are a sign of a weak argument and only serve to derail the discussion.

be aware of common fallacies: familiarize yourself with common fallacies such as the ad hominem, straw man, and slippery slope. this will help you spot them in your own arguments and in the arguments of others.

by following these tips, you can help ensure that your discussions and arguments are well-reasoned and free from fallacies.

taylor swift is a funny and interesting singer-songwriter who is loved by the young generation for her relatable lyrics, catchy melodies, and impressive live performances. she is also known for her candid personality and her willingness to share her personal life with her fans.

here are some of the things that make taylor swift different from other singers:

– she writes her own songs. this means that she is in control of her own artistic vision and can share her own stories and experiences with her fans.
– she is a master of storytelling. her songs are full of vivid imagery and relatable characters, which makes them easy to connect with.
– she is a great performer. she puts on high-energy shows that are full of excitement and passion.
– she is relatable. her songs often deal with topics that are familiar to young people, such as love, heartbreak, and friendship.
– she is funny. she has a self-deprecating sense of humor that makes her fans feel like they can relate to her on a personal level.

here is a funny quote from taylor swift that shows her sense of humor:

"i'm not a businesswoman, i'm a business, woman."

taylor swift is a talented and successful singer-songwriter who has won numerous awards, including 11 grammy awards. she is also a cultural icon who has been praised for her authenticity and her willingness to stand up for what she believes in. she is a role model for young women everywhere, and she is sure to continue to be a force in the music industry for many years to come.

here are some reasons why young people love taylor swift:

– she is relatable. her songs often deal with topics that are familiar to young people, such as love, heartbreak, and friendship.
– she is authentic. she is not afraid to be herself, even when it means being vulnerable.
– she is empowering. she encourages young women to be strong and independent.
– she is a good role model. she is kind, compassionate, and hardworking.
– she is talented. she is a great singer, songwriter, and performer.

istanbul mayor ekrem imamoglu, a leading opposition figure from the republican people's party (chp), has emerged as a symbol of resistance in turkey's evolving political scene. renowned for his reformist approach and strong connection with urban voters, he gained national prominence after winning istanbul's mayoralty in 2019 under contentious circumstances. his recent detention on charges of corruption and terrorism has triggered widespread protests, heightened economic uncertainty, and renewed debates over democratic freedoms in turkey. the incident is seen as a critical juncture in a long standing power struggle between the government and its critics.

timeline of key events

march 18, 2025
istanbul university annuls imamoglu's degree amid allegations of irregularities, a decision that jeopardizes his eligibility to run for president.

march 19, 2025
turkish police surround his residence in istanbul early in the morning. despite sending a message of resolve on social media, declaring that he would not give up, imamoglu is detained along with over 100 others on charges including corruption, extortion, and alleged ties to terrorism.

march 23, 2025
he is formally arrested on corruption charges and transferred to marmara prison. authorities accuse him of leading a criminal organization connected to municipal contracts and by extension influencing ties with designated terrorist groups.

march 24, 2025
mass protests erupt nationwide in response to his arrest. the government enforces restrictions on public gatherings and social media, while economic indicators show a sharp downturn amid rising political uncertainty. international voices call for upholding democratic processes, underscoring the broader impact of these events.

the roman empire was essentially the world’s first luxury superpower, a civilization that conquered continents, siphoned wealth from every corner of its reach, and then spent centuries arguing with itself about whether silk, purple, pearls, and fancy dinners were ruining its soul. it was a place where armies marched in iron discipline, but senators still passed laws about how many oysters someone could eat at a party. in other words: a giant engine of power constantly wrestling with its own taste for glitter.

one of the most interesting aspects of the roman empire was its laws regulating luxury consumption. these sumptuary laws, which began in the republic and continued into the imperial era, were meant to protect public morality, maintain class order, and prevent economic excess. as rome’s military conquests brought in massive wealth such as gold, silver, silk, pearls, spices, and exotic goods, the elite began living in extreme luxury. these laws attempted to restrain that growing extravagance. ironically, they were often ignored, especially by the upper classes and sometimes even by emperors themselves. some of the most notable examples:

lex oppia

one of the earliest and most controversial of these laws was lex oppia, passed in 215 bce during the harsh years of the second punic war. with the treasury nearly empty, the law limited women to no more than half an ounce of gold, banned brightly colored clothing (especially purple dye), and forbade women from riding in carriages within the city. the goal was to encourage frugality and direct resources toward the war effort. luxury was seen as encouraging greed, which in turn fueled corruption. when the war ended and carthage’s wealth began flowing into rome, women grew increasingly frustrated. in 195 bce, they organized large street protests demanding the law be repealed, and they succeeded.

lex orchia

some roman senators tried to win elections by hosting extravagant public banquets or directly bribing voters with wine, oil, or money. this practice was called ambitus. to combat it, the lex orchia law (182 bce) limited the number of people who could be invited to such feasts.

lex fannia

however, romans quickly found loopholes. since lex orchia restricted the number of guests, wealthy hosts simply claimed everyone present was a family member. so in 161 bce, lex fannia shifted the restriction from the number of guests to the cost of the banquet. spending limits were set at 10 asses on ordinary days, 30 asses on holidays, and 100 asses for weddings. luxury foods like oysters, imported fish, and delicacies like songbird tongues were banned. this law applied only within the city of rome.

lex didia

wealthy romans then began hosting extravagant feasts outside of rome in places like pompeii and capua. so in 143 bce, lex didia extended the limits of lex fannia to all of italy. it also rewarded informants. a slave could report a luxury violation seen at market, and authorities would confiscate part of the owner’s property. this was the beginning of a formal informant culture.

lex aemilia sumptuaria

by 115 bce, demand for luxury goods had grown so much that prices rose dramatically. lex aemilia imposed import restrictions on sweets, incense, and foreign wine, and set maximum legal prices for many goods. even asparagus was given a government approved price limit. purple dye and silk were the most restricted luxury items. tyrian purple was made from thousands of sea snails and cost more than gold. only the emperor could wear a fully purple garment. senators were limited to clothing with a narrow purple stripe. during tiberius’s rule, silk clothing for men was banned entirely as both morally corrupting and economically harmful because it drained rome’s gold reserves through trade with china.

lex julia sumptuaria

in 46 bce, julius caesar introduced lex julia, which banned extravagant furniture, pearls, and expensive perfume. ironically, while enforcing these laws in rome, caesar was said to have received a pearl worth around six million sesterces from cleopatra. at that time, a roman soldier earned about one sesterce per day. even lawmakers did not follow their own laws.

later developments

in the 1st century ce, emperors augustus and tiberius continued restrictions on silk and purple luxury items. nearly two centuries later, as rome’s economy continued to weaken, emperor diocletian issued the edict on maximum prices in 301 ce, attempting to set price caps on nearly every good and service in the empire. it also failed, and soon after, rome entered a long period of decline and fragmentation.

in short, in ancient rome the color purple caused endless political and economic problems. purple was not just a color. it was a symbol of power.