(see: burning man)
(see: lake tahoe)
(see: death valley)
(see: las vegas)
(see: area 51)
(see: reno)

let me know.

house of the cutest cat* in the world.
imageimage

best cat ever.
(see: #315)

if you can keep your head when all about you
are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
but make allowance for their doubting too:
if you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
or being hated don't give way to hating,
and yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

if you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
if you can think - and not make thoughts your aim,
if you can meet with triumph and disaster
and treat those two impostors just the same:.
if you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
and stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

if you can make one heap of all your winnings
and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
and lose, and start again at your beginnings,
and never breathe a word about your loss:
if you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
to serve your turn long after they are gone,
and so hold on when there is nothing in you
except the will which says to them: "hold on!"

if you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
if all men count with you, but none too much:
if you can fill the unforgiving minute
with sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
yours is the earth and everything that's in it,
and - which is more - you'll be a man, my son!

rudyard kipling

its citizens live to make president erdogan, his family, and oligarchs richer.

example:

"according to the world bank's figures, five turkish construction companies, the limak holding, cengiz holding, kolin, kalyon and mng holdings are among the world's top ten tender-winning companies."

link

the world's first modern war.

began as a video rental service by mail in 1997. a decade later, it began streaming videos online. netflix now creates its own web television series.

an antique chair that was designed to read... from the 1800's. image

a formative novel about a protagonist's psychological and moral growth from their youth into adulthood.

human zoos, also known as "ethnographic expositions" or "human exhibitions," were a form of entertainment that featured live displays of human beings, often from non-western cultures, as a way of showcasing their perceived differences from western society. these exhibitions were popular in europe and the united states in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and were often presented as a way of educating the public about different cultures and societies.

the history of human zoos can be traced back to the 18th century, when european explorers and colonizers brought back specimens of exotic animals and plants from their travels to be displayed in zoos and museums. in the 19th century, these exhibitions began to include human beings as well, often in a way that was degrading and demeaning.

one of the first recorded human zoos was the "negro village" exhibition at the 1878 world's fair in paris, which featured a group of people from dahomey (now benin) in west africa who were displayed in a village-like setting. this exhibition was followed by others in europe and the united states, including the "indians of north america" exhibit at the 1893 world's fair in chicago, which featured native americans from various tribes living in replicas of their traditional dwellings.

human zoos became increasingly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and were often used as a way of reinforcing racial and cultural stereotypes and presenting non-western cultures as inferior to western society. these exhibitions were widely criticized for their dehumanizing and degrading treatment of the people on display, and for the way they perpetuated harmful stereotypes and prejudices.

in the mid-20th century, human zoos began to fall out of favor as attitudes towards race and culture began to change and people became more aware of the harm they caused. today, human zoos are generally considered to be a deeply troubling and unethical aspect of the history of colonialism and racial discrimination, and they are widely condemned as a form of exploitation and dehumanization.

pooh-pooh is a term that refers to the act of dismissing or belittling something as being unworthy of serious consideration or attention. it can also refer to the act of expressing contempt or disdain for something.

for example, someone might pooh-pooh an idea or suggestion by saying "that's a ridiculous idea" or "that's not worth considering." this can be done in a dismissive or contemptuous tone of voice, and it conveys the idea that the person believes the idea or suggestion is not worth considering or discussing.

another example of pooh-pooh might be someone who dismisses a concern or issue as being insignificant or unimportant. for example, someone might pooh-pooh a concern about climate change by saying "it's just a natural cycle" or "it's not a big deal." this can be done in a dismissive or contemptuous tone of voice, and it conveys the idea that the person believes the concern is not worth considering or addressing.

in order to avoid pooh-poohing something, it is important to consider all ideas, concerns, and issues with an open and respectful mindset, rather than dismissing or belittling them without careful consideration. this can help to create a more open and respectful dialogue, and it can encourage people to consider a wide range of perspectives and viewpoints.

imagine a guy who looked at the entire history of philosophy, religion, and morality and basically said, "yeah, we got it wrong." that is nietzsche. he is the philosopher who did not just think outside the box. he stomped on the box, set it on fire, and said we need to build a whole new way of thinking from scratch. born in 1844 in germany, nietzsche was a professor of classical philology before he became a full-time thinker and writer. he was not exactly popular while he was alive, but after he died, his ideas lit a fire across modern thought.

nietzsche is important because he called out the foundations of western civilization. he said things like "god is dead," which is not really about religion fading, but about the collapse of old values that used to give people meaning. once those old certainties are gone, we are left in a world where we have to create our own meaning. that is terrifying but also freeing. nietzsche wanted people to stop being followers and start becoming what he called the "übermensch" or the "overman," someone who creates their own values and lives boldly without crutches like traditional religion or herd mentality.

his style was wild. he did not write boring academic papers. he wrote books that felt like a mix of poetry, prophecy, and a punch in the face. no long arguments full of careful logic. just fierce, brilliant, sometimes chaotic writing that made you either want to fight him or follow him. books like "thus spoke zarathustra," "beyond good and evil," and "the birth of tragedy" are not easy reads but they hit hard. zarathustra especially is written like a strange new bible where the main character is trying to teach humans to grow up and own their existence.

one of nietzsche's big ideas is the "will to power," the force inside living things to grow, expand, assert themselves, and overcome challenges. it is not just about survival. it is about thriving and pushing boundaries. another huge idea is "eternal recurrence," the thought that life might repeat itself infinitely, so you should live as if every moment would happen again and again forever. it is a mind-bender, but it was nietzsche's way of forcing you to think about how deeply you value your own life.

an interesting detail is that nietzsche wrote his most famous works while battling intense health problems, loneliness, and the growing signs of a mental breakdown. in 1889, he completely collapsed in turin after seeing a horse being whipped. he spent the last years of his life in a state of insanity while his sister took control of his works and messed with them to fit her political views, which caused a lot of confusion later on about what nietzsche actually believed.

despite all the myth-making, nietzsche was not a hater of life. he loved life, but he thought loving life meant being brutally honest about it. no sugarcoating, no fairy tales, just the raw, terrifying beauty of existence. that is why he is one of the biggest names in existentialism, even though that term came after him. without nietzsche, there is no sartre, no camus, no modern rebellion against easy answers.

in short, nietzsche asked the scariest and most exciting question. if all the old rules are gone, what are you going to do with your freedom.

a russian oligarch who played chess with power in the '90s - kingmaker, exile, and enigma. rose with the empire, fell out with the czar, and died wrapped in conspiracy.

nudge theory is about guiding people without forcing them. place fruit at eye level and people choose it more often. set savings programs to enroll automatically and people save more. small changes in how choices are presented can lead to better decisions. tiny shifts. big results.