best cat ever.
(see: #315)

current president of turkey, also served as turkey’s prime minister from 2003-2014, mayor of istanbul from 1994-1998. founder of the justice and development party (2001).

is a refusal to buy from or deal with another person, company, or nation.

they were young boys who sold newspapers to earn money - instead of going to school. image

one of the most addictive games i have ever played in my life. even though it is not very common in my generation, i could barely quit playing it.

philosophy is interested in questions instead of answers.

"i'm going to walk to the bridge. if one person smiles at me on the way, i won't jump."
(see: #918)

yet each man kills the thing he loves,
by each let this be heard,
some do it with a bitter look,
some with a flattering word,
the coward does it with a kiss,
the brave man with a sword!

some kill their love when they are young,
and some when they are old;
some strangle with the hands of gold:
the kindest use a knife, because
the dead so soon grow cold.

some love too little, some too long,
some sell and others buy;
some do the deed with many tears,
and some without a sigh:
for each man kills the thing he loves,
yet each man does not die.
oscar wilde

here are a few famous quotes on love from some of history's most notable philosophers:

— "love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." - aristotle
— "love is not consolation. it is light." - simone weil
— "love is the expression of the one who loves, not of the one who is loved." - soren kierkegaard
— "love is the affinity which links and draws together the elements of the world... love, in fact, is the agent of universal synthesis." - pierre teilhard de chardin
— "love is an endless act of forgiveness. forgiveness is me giving up the right to hurt you for hurting me." - beyonce giselle knowles-carter
— "love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit." - peter ustinov
— "to love another person is to see the face of god." - victor hugo
— "love is an untamed force. when we try to control it, it destroys us. when we try to imprison it, it enslaves us. when we try to understand it, it leaves us feeling lost and confused." - paulo coelho

sobiyet is a traditional turkish dessert made of phyllo dough filled with cream or a mixture of crushed nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. it is similar to baklava, another traditional turkish pastry made with layers of phyllo dough and a filling of nuts, but sobiyet is typically made with a circular shape and a filling of cream rather than nuts.

the word "sobiyet" is believed to be derived from the persian word "şöb," which means "cream." this refers to the creamy filling that is used in sobiyet. the dessert is believed to have originated in the ottoman empire and has a long history in turkish cuisine.

to make sobiyet, thin layers of phyllo dough are layered in a circular pan and then filled with a creamy filling made of milk, sugar, and cornstarch or flour. the layers of dough and filling are then baked until the phyllo is crisp and golden brown. once baked, the sobiyet is drizzled with a syrup made with sugar, water, and sometimes lemon juice or rosewater.

sobiyet is a popular dessert in turkey and is often served at celebrations and special occasions. it is also a popular street food and can be found at bakeries and cafes throughout the country. it is typically served in small slices and is often garnished with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a dusting of ground nuts.

freedom of speech, or the ability to freely express one's thoughts and opinions, was a concept that was explored by several ancient greek philosophers.

one of the earliest philosophers to discuss freedom of speech was socrates, who believed in the importance of questioning and challenging established beliefs and ideas. socrates believed that the pursuit of truth and knowledge was more important than the fear of offending others, and he famously stood by his beliefs even in the face of persecution and death.

other ancient greek philosophers, such as plato and aristotle, also recognized the value of free expression and the importance of allowing individuals to engage in open and honest dialogue. plato, in particular, argued that the ability to freely express one's thoughts was essential for the functioning of a just society.

however, it's worth noting that the concept of freedom of speech as we understand it today was not fully developed in ancient greece. in fact, many ancient greek philosophers believed that certain forms of speech, such as blasphemy or treason, should be restricted. nonetheless, the ideas of socrates and other ancient greek philosophers laid the foundation for modern ideas about the importance of freedom of speech and the value of open and honest dialogue.

aristotle's rhetoric is a theory of communication that was developed by the ancient greek philosopher aristotle. it is based on the idea that effective communication requires understanding the audience, the speaker's goals, and the context in which the communication takes place.

there are three main elements of aristotle's rhetoric:

ethos: this refers to the credibility or character of the speaker. a speaker with a strong ethos is more likely to be trusted and believed by the audience.
pathos: this refers to the emotional appeal of the argument. a speaker who can appeal to the emotions of the audience is more likely to persuade them.
logos: this refers to the logical appeal of the argument. a speaker who presents a well-reasoned, logical argument is more likely to persuade the audience.

to win an argument using aristotle's rhetoric, it is important to consider these elements and try to establish your own credibility, appeal to the emotions of the audience, and present a logical argument.

here are some examples of how to use aristotle's rhetoric to win an argument:

– establish your credibility: if you are an expert on the topic you are discussing, make sure to highlight your qualifications and experience. this will help to build your ethos and make your argument more persuasive.
– appeal to emotions: try to connect with your audience on an emotional level. this could involve sharing personal stories or using anecdotes to illustrate your point.
–use logic: make sure to present a well-reasoned, logical argument. use evidence to support your points and address any counterarguments.

by considering these elements of aristotle's rhetoric, you can craft a persuasive argument that is more likely to be effective in winning over your audience.

every time i hear that phrase, i think of soldiers during world war i or world war ii. they were writing letters to their loved ones from the trenches while bullets and shrapnel flew overhead.

how busy are you, really? are you busier than a soldier who's about to take a bullet to the chest?

if you remember the old grimm fairy tale, rumpelstiltskin could spin straw into gold. he made a deal with a young woman: guess his name and she keeps her baby. at first it seemed impossible. but once his name was spoken, the power shifted. knowing the name changed everything.

researchers alan levinovitz and awais aftab say the same thing happens in real life. giving something a name can give us power over it. especially when it comes to illness. they call this the rumpelstiltskin effect.

why a name feels like relief

think of a headache that lingers for days. or exhaustion that never seems to end. the uncertainty can be scary. what if it’s serious?

but once a doctor gives you a diagnosis, even before treatment starts, you often feel lighter. because now it has a name. a name cuts through the unknown. it makes the struggle real, and it makes sense of the worry.

more than just medicine

a diagnosis doesn’t only launch treatment. it validates the patient. hearing a doctor say it out loud tells you this is not just in your head. that recognition builds strength. studies show people often report higher satisfaction after receiving a clear diagnosis. it’s not only about healing the body. it’s also about calming the mind.

finding your people

a name can also connect you to others. once something has a label, you can search for support groups, talk with people who share the same journey, and feel less alone. a single word can open the door to a community. and sometimes that community is what keeps people going.

the internet twist

today it’s easy to type symptoms into a search bar and come up with a name yourself. that can feel reassuring even without a doctor’s input. levinovitz and aftab note that naming alone can bring comfort.

but it’s not without risks. misdiagnosis online can fuel unnecessary fear. still, the human mind prefers a label over uncertainty.

the power of words

psychology has long known about the placebo effect. believing something will help can make it work. in the same way, simply having a diagnosis can reduce symptoms. sometimes words carry as much weight as medicine.

the shadow side

labels can also hurt. in mental health, some diagnoses carry stigma. instead of empowering, they can isolate. as psychiatrist ronald w. pies reminds us, no one should be reduced to their diagnosis. labels should help people, not trap them.

a new idea still growing

the rumpelstiltskin effect is a new concept. there’s no massive data yet. but early research suggests words might be more powerful than prescriptions.

one day doctors might discover that the most healing thing they offer is not only medicine. it might be the name they give to what you’re going through.

because sometimes, just like in the story, saying the name changes the ending.

right now, what’s happening in new york city is honestly absurd. rent has gone completely out of control. even studio apartments are going for four to five thousand dollars a month. so mamdani says, “i’m going to freeze rent increases, and the city will build affordable housing.” can he actually do that? i have no idea, because it’s a complicated issue. the mayor can’t just snap his fingers and freeze rent. the state government has to approve. we’ll see how that plays out. at the very least, i think he’ll try.

public transit is a whole separate disaster. the subway system is falling apart. half the stations don’t even have elevators. they replaced the old metrocard with this new omny system, but it barely works. you used to be able to buy unlimited weekly or monthly metrocards, but they removed those. now omny claims you ride 12 times in a week and then it becomes unlimited, but then you check and your balance is negative instead of unlimited. it’s a mess.

food prices are skyrocketing. i see it where i live. there’s a trader joe’s nearby, and everyone shops there because at least it’s a little more affordable and the quality is good. other grocery stores are empty because everyone flocks to trader joe’s. and it makes sense: if you’re paying thousands for a tiny studio, of course you’re waiting in line for cheaper groceries.

anyway, what i’m saying is: people here are hungry for food that is both good and affordable. so mamdani says, “the city should run its own grocery chain. not for profit. its mission will be to provide good, affordable food.” it’s like the public city cafeterias i̇mamoğlu started in istanbul, and i fully support that idea.

new york’s city budget is around $130 billion. so the money exists to do these things. but of course, it’s not that simple. for example, he says public transit should be free. but the transit system is run by the mta, which is a state organization, not a city one. so mamdani would need to negotiate with the state. either the city covers the revenue the mta would lose, or the city starts its own bus system in selected neighborhoods as a pilot.

he also talks about free healthcare clinics. that’s actually realistic because it already exists in some form. there is a program called nyc care. i was unemployed for a while and enrolled in it, and for a year i didn’t pay a single dollar for hospital visits. if he expands that, it’s already a win.

he also promises free childcare, a $30 minimum wage, and higher taxes on the wealthy. we’ll see how much of that he can actually deliver.

but here’s what i want to emphasize: this guy won as an openly socialist candidate in the capital city of capitalism. that means something. it means you cannot just buy new york. people are saying “enough.” new york is not only wealthy folks in the upper east side. we live here too. you can’t just pretend we don’t exist.

cuomo’s side poured millions into trying to defeat him. trump supporters and billionaires backed cuomo. and even with all that money behind his opponent, mamdani still won.