cuteroid

the u.s. calls itself a democracy, but in practice it’s more like a system that just looks like one on paper.

first off, the u.s. is not a true multi-party system. it’s structured to push everything into two poles: democrats and republicans. technically there are other parties, like the green party, libertarians, and a few others, but the system is designed so they can’t really compete.

why? because the u.s. uses a “winner-takes-all” voting system. whoever gets the most votes in a state wins all the representation, and everyone else gets nothing. so if a candidate gets 49% of the vote, they get zero representation. smaller parties with 2 or 3% of the vote get completely shut out. over time, voters learn that voting for anyone besides the two big parties is basically wasting their vote. so even if someone likes what the green party stands for, they’ll think “if i vote green, it’ll only help republicans win.” tactical voting becomes the norm: “i can’t pick what i really want, but at least i can try to block what i really don’t want.” this is why third parties get called “spoilers.”

then there’s money. running for office in the u.s. costs millions. the big parties can easily tap into corporate money. the media focuses only on the two big parties, and third parties barely get heard. parties that aren’t seen as having a shot get treated like a joke.

the most blatant example of the system’s flaws is the electoral college. americans don’t elect their president by popular vote. they vote for electors, and those electors decide. with 538 total electors, a candidate needs 270 to win. this system makes it possible for someone to lose the popular vote by millions and still become president. it’s happened more than once: in 2000, al gore got about 540,000 more votes than bush and still lost. in 2016, hillary clinton got around 3 million more votes than trump and still lost. so “one person, one vote” isn’t really a thing here. the system also forces candidates to only campaign in swing states. voters in places like california or texas basically get ignored.

now add lobbying. the 2010 citizens united supreme court ruling made things even worse. it said that spending money on elections is a form of free speech. so now corporations, unions, and the super-rich can pour unlimited money into “super pacs” that run ads and shape public opinion. politicians can’t really win without tapping into this money. and after the election, these donors have huge influence on what laws get passed. ordinary people have little voice compared to big donors.

so how do americans still think they live in a democracy? because at this point “democracy” is more of a brand than a real system. like “freedom” or “justice” or “peacekeeping.” it’s a label people have been taught to be proud of since childhood. public schools teach that the u.s. system is unique and the freest in the world. the media repeats this constantly: “look at china, look at russia.” they never say “look at switzerland or norway.” so americans grow up believing “sure, our system has flaws, but it’s still the best.”

for most people here, democracy means: do we have elections? yes. can i vote? yes. can i criticize the government? usually, yes. so that must mean it’s a democracy. but things like fair representation, media monopolies, and the influence of money barely register for most people. criticizing the system feels like criticizing america itself, and people get defensive. it’s less about what democracy actually is and more about what it symbolizes. for many americans, democracy isn’t a functioning system, it’s part of their national identity.

the mandalorian is basically star wars meets the wild west — but with cooler helmets. it follows din djarin, a badass bounty hunter with a strict code, as he roams the galaxy taking odd jobs and trying to keep his adorable sidekick, grogu (a.k.a. baby yoda), safe from shady villains and imperial leftovers. think space cowboys, epic shootouts, and unexpected heartwarming moments — all while rocking the best armor in the galaxy.

elon musk's family background is rooted in dutch and english ancestry, and his grandfather was reportedly a nazi fanatic who even served in a nazi-supporting party in canada. later, after moving to south africa, he aligned himself with pro-apartheid views. musk's father apparently followed the same path: he was wealthy enough to own an emerald mine but is also infamous for having a child with a daughter he adopted when she was only four—an act many consider beyond appalling.

it's not exactly surprising that someone from such a family might have difficulty developing into a well-adjusted individual. he's practically the living embodiment of the phrase "not even a parent could love him." neither his parents nor his own children seem to want much to do with him—no small statement for someone with at least a dozen known kids. it's a pitiful situation, really.

to treat a person who can't even show genuine love to his own daughter like some kind of revolutionary leader borders on willful ignorance. he's driven by power, money, and approval, and shows no trace of moral values in the process. if you're still under the impression that he's anything but self-serving, it might be time to take a harder look at his actions.

here are a couple of examples of how aristotle's rhetoric has been used in real life and history:

in a political campaign: a political candidate might use aristotle's rhetoric to win over voters. for example, they might establish their credibility by highlighting their experience and qualifications, appeal to the emotions of voters by discussing issues that are important to them, and present a logical argument by outlining their policies and addressing potential concerns.

in a courtroom: lawyers often use aristotle's rhetoric to persuade a jury or judge. they might establish their credibility by discussing their education and experience, appeal to the emotions of the jury by sharing stories about the impact of the case on the plaintiffs or defendants, and present a logical argument by using evidence and legal precedent to support their position.

in a business presentation: a business person might use aristotle's rhetoric to persuade a potential investor or client. they might establish their credibility by discussing their experience in the industry, appeal to the emotions of the audience by highlighting the benefits of their product or service, and present a logical argument by discussing the financial projections and potential return on investment.

overall, aristotle's rhetoric can be used in a variety of contexts where effective communication is important. it can help speakers to persuade their audience by establishing their credibility, appealing to their emotions, and presenting a logical argument.

auvers-sur-oise is a commune in the northern suburbs of paris, france. located in the val-d'oise department, auvers-sur-oise is known for its picturesque setting and its association with the impressionist movement. the town was the subject of many paintings by artists such as vincent van gogh, who lived and worked in auvers-sur-oise for the last few months of his life. today, the town is a popular destination for art lovers, and it is home to the maison de vincent van gogh, a museum dedicated to the artist's life and work. auvers-sur-oise is easily accessible from paris by train, and it offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

the walt disney company is one of the largest and most successful entertainment companies in the world. founded by walt disney and roy o. disney in 1923, the company has grown to include a wide range of businesses, including film and television production, theme parks, and consumer products. some of the most well-known disney characters, such as mickey mouse and snow white, were created during the company's early years, and they have become beloved by generations of children and adults around the world. in addition to its iconic characters, disney is known for its commitment to innovation and storytelling, and it continues to be a leader in the entertainment industry.

charles iii was the king of spain from 1759 to 1788. he was the fifth son of philip v of spain and elisabeth farnese, and he is known for modernizing the spanish economy and implementing important reforms during his reign. charles iii is also remembered for his support of the arts and sciences, and he is credited with establishing the first spanish observatory and botanical garden. he was succeeded by his son, charles iv, who continued many of his father's reforms.

it is being used by outdoor cats as self-heating beds. image

did the cats affect the performance?

alcetas was a prominent macedonian warlord who was mentioned among alexander the great's influential generals. after alexander's death, alcetas was challenged by antigonus, one of alexander's commanders. the war between the two warlords took place in the region of psidia and resulted in alcetas' resounding defeat. alcetas sought refuge in termessos, and the residents of the city provided protection to him. in subsequent months, in order to protect the city from danger, the elders of termessos wanted to hand alcetas over to antigonus, who had set his military camp at the foot of the mountain. alcetas did not want to face a gruesome death, so he took his own life. to this day, his grave lies on a rock wall in the highlands of termessos.

the grave is a 15-minute trek from the colonnaded street of termessos. it is a pleasant hike, not a cumbersome one. the first thing i noticed upon reaching the site was the large rock carving of alcetas on a horse on the wall above the grave. it surprised me greatly to see that this rock carving survived despite harsh natural elements, such as the scorching heat and interminable humidity. image

one of the two cities that could not be captured by alexander the great. imageimageimageimage

history of termessos

termessos is primarily known as the city that could not be conquered by the macedonian emperor and warlord, alexander the great. unfortunately, aside from the journals kept during alexander the great's military campaign in asia minor and a few surviving records from the roman empire era, there are few documents that could illuminate the history of termessos. it is still unknown when and by whom termessos was founded.

the city was first mentioned in history during alexander the great's siege. here are a few known facts about the city:

– despite the fact that termessos was a part of the roman empire, it had always been an autonomous city due to its remoteness.

– in 71 b.c, the roman senate unanimously voted for an act allowing termessos to be autonomous and make its own laws.

– the inhabitants of termessos called themselves the solym people, descending from the pamphylian greeks.

– a severe earthquake hit the city at a yet-undetermined date, destroying the aqueducts and cutting off the main water supply. subsequently, the solyms abandoned the city.

termessos hosts the tomb of alcetas who was one of the generals of alexander the great.

i am returning to my inner world. there is no room for disappointment.

the mate value is evaluated on at least three dimensions:

1. attractiveness/vitality: are we a physically attractive person with an appealing personality?
2. status/resources: are we a winner or a loser? do we have money? are we cultured and well-educated?
3. warmth/trustworthiness: are we a warm, loving, loyal, and devoted person?

if you are high on all three dimensions, you are at the top of the sexual status hierarchy. everyone wants to date you, have sex with you, marry you, and make babies with you. if you are low on all three dimensions, you are at the bottom of the sexual status hierarchy. hardly anyone wants to date you, have sex with you, marry you, or make babies with you.

he has just become a free agent!

for what it's worth.

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