james choice

karl marx was a philosopher, economist, and revolutionary who is known for his contributions to the field of sociology and his critique of capitalism. marx is best known for his ideas about class conflict, the labor theory of value, and the concept of historical materialism, which posits that the development of societies and economies is driven by changes in the means of production.

marx introduced a number of important terms and concepts that have had a lasting impact on literature and intellectual thought. some of the most notable terms and concepts introduced by marx include:

alienation: the idea that individuals are separated from their own humanity and from the products of their labor as a result of the capitalist mode of production.

class: a group of individuals who share a common economic position in society and who are united by their common interests.

class consciousness: the awareness that individuals have of their own class position and the ways in which it shapes their lives.

dialectical materialism: a method of understanding social and economic phenomena that involves the synthesis of opposing forces or ideas through the process of conflict and resolution.

exploitation: the act of using or manipulating someone or something for one's own advantage, often at the expense of others.

historical materialism: the idea that the development of societies and economies is driven by changes in the means of production.

labor theory of value: the idea that the value of a product is determined by the amount of labor required to produce it.

proletariat: the class of wage-earning workers in a capitalist society.

surplus value: the difference between the value of a product and the cost of the labor required to produce it.

these terms and concepts introduced by marx have had a significant impact on literature and intellectual thought, and they continue to be widely studied and debated to this day.

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.

if you know you know.

(see: roman abramovich)
(see: mikhail khodorkovsky)
(see: boris berezovsky)

there are a few different ways in which psychologists have attempted to explain masochistic epistemology. one explanation is that it may be related to an individual's sense of self-worth and their feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy. according to this perspective, masochistic individuals may believe that they are not worthy of knowledge or understanding, and that they must suffer in order to earn it.

another explanation is that masochistic epistemology may be related to a person's attachment style. individuals with an insecure attachment style may have a harder time trusting others and may be more likely to engage in masochistic behaviors in order to feel a sense of control or to avoid abandonment.

it is worth noting that while masochistic epistemology may be a belief held by some individuals, it is not a widely accepted or mainstream view in psychology. most psychologists would argue that knowledge and understanding can be gained through hard work and effort, but that suffering is not necessarily a necessary component.

reno's wildest flood? gotta be the one from 1997. it wasn't just a bad storm. it was chaos.

back-to-back warm pacific storms hit right after heavy snowfall. rain melted snow fast, and the truckee river couldn't handle it. water levels peaked at 13.9 feet in downtown reno. that's major flood stage.

the stats?
• over $1 billion in damages across nevada and california
• reno's downtown underwater for days
• more than 1,500 homes and businesses damaged
• thousands evacuated
• unr and the airport shut down

bridges were submerged. roads turned to rivers. even the casinos took a hit. fema had to step in. locals still call it the "new year's flood" because it hit just as 1997 started.

the aftermath pushed reno to rethink flood control completely. today, the truckee river flood project is a direct response to what happened back then.

imageimageimageimage

the term "coup de grace" is a french phrase that translates to "blow of mercy" or "stroke of grace." it is typically used to describe a final, decisive action taken to end someone or something's suffering, often in the context of war, battle, or other violent situations. in essence, it is a merciful act that brings about a swift end to something that is already in a state of defeat or decline.

here are a few examples of how the term "coup de grace" might be used:

in a battle between two armies, one side might inflict a significant amount of damage on the other, leaving their opponents weakened and struggling. at this point, the victorious army might choose to deliver a "coup de grace" to their foes, launching a final, decisive attack that ends the battle and puts their opponents out of their misery.

in a more personal context, imagine that someone is seriously injured and in great pain, with little hope of recovery. in this situation, a doctor might decide to administer a "coup de grace" by ending the person's suffering through euthanasia or other means.

in some cases, a "coup de grace" might be used metaphorically to describe the final, decisive blow in a non-physical conflict. for example, a company might be struggling financially and on the brink of collapse. a major investor might step in and provide a significant amount of funding, essentially delivering a "coup de grace" to keep the company from going under.

doublethink is a term coined by george orwell in his famous novel 1984 to describe the act of simultaneously accepting two contradictory beliefs as true. in the novel, the ruling party of oceania uses doublethink as a tool of propaganda to control the thoughts and actions of its citizens.

it refers to the ability to hold two conflicting ideas in one's mind and believe them both to be true. this is a dangerous concept because it allows people to accept lies and manipulation as truth, leading to a society where facts are distorted, and reality is constantly being redefined.

here are a few examples of doublethink in action:

war is peace: in 1984, the government convinces its citizens that war is necessary for peace. this is a prime example of doublethink, as it is impossible for war to bring peace.

freedom is slavery: another example from 1984 is the idea that freedom is actually a form of slavery. the government claims that by taking away people's freedom, they are actually freeing them from the burden of making decisions.

ignorance is strength: the ruling party of oceania encourages its citizens to be ignorant and uninformed. they claim that this ignorance is a form of strength, as it allows people to focus on their work and not worry about the world around them.

political correctness: in modern times, the concept of political correctness can be seen as a form of doublethink. while it aims to promote tolerance and respect, it can also be used to silence dissenting opinions and limit free speech.

advertising: advertisers often use doublethink to sell products. for example, a company may claim that their product is both "all-natural" and "scientifically proven." these two claims are contradictory, but by using both, the company hopes to appeal to a wider audience.

there are many different approaches to taking revenge, and some argue that seeking revenge is not a productive or healthy way to deal with conflicts or wrongdoings. here are a few examples of different philosophies and approaches to taking revenge:

an eye for an eye: this approach is based on the idea of reciprocity, and holds that when someone does something wrong or harmful to you, it is justified to do something wrong or harmful to them in return. this approach is often associated with the saying "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

forgiveness: this approach involves letting go of anger and resentment towards someone who has wronged you, and choosing not to seek revenge or retribution. many religions and spiritual traditions advocate for forgiveness as a way to find inner peace and move on from conflicts.

restorative justice: this approach focuses on repairing the harm caused by wrongdoing, rather than seeking punishment for the person who caused the harm. restorative justice involves bringing the offender and the victim together to discuss the harm that was caused and finding ways to make things right.

holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. - buddha

if i’ve learned anything from my major, and if all the articles and research have taught me a bit about social science, it’s that it is impossible for him to win the election.

(see: 2020 united states general election)

he's unquestionably the greatest athlete of all time. the guy even has an olympic gold medal.

his national team career is by far better than messi's and c. ronaldo's.

a film that ties together the stories of two women in different times, running parallel to virginia woolf's beautiful life. it was extremely moving. for a very long time american-made films have felt shallow and lacking in depth to me. i think after a long time it became one of those films that sticks with me and affects me. a woman is another woman's homeland. that she is. sometimes she becomes inspiration through the books she wrote.. a hundred years later, no less. to her sisters, for whom even a room of one's own is still a luxury.. just like in the film. she draws out the mrs. dalloway inside her.

--spoiler--
in one of the entries someone called it the story of three spoiled broads. how much it wears people down, the way shallow people belittle mental matters, labeling those who perceive the world differently as fragile, spoiled, pathetic. this perception is actually funny, because that's the film's core issue too. virginia woolf, clarissa, and laura are people who struggle to turn chameleon.. but when the matter is womanhood, those who define themselves as outside womanhood think the burdens are part of woman's existence. some shoulder those things handed to them later on and don't make a sound. some can't bear it.. they either pretend to bear it, or construct another fiction, or write.. once again a room of one's own came to my mind. woolf had a very strong stance, it seems. the film chose to reflect that stance a little quietly.

i'm not sure woolf was really as flat a character as this. because we hear a pretty strong voice and presence both in her fiction and in her essays. we do see in the film, though, that woolf brought out everything she witnessed and couldn't make sense of through fiction. the flow of the fiction, and the fact that this flow is actually the pattern in both woolf's life and the other women's lives too..

one morning mrs. dalloway decides she'll buy flowers for herself today. but what about the times when everything is normal yet inwardly doesn't sit right? going into an endless role and captivity.. truth be told, the structure of society has always counseled us toward this. at the slightest conflict the woman is set apart and branded. that's why even if you're bleeding inside, your outside absolutely must smile.. just like laura's smile, the most pain-filled smile i've ever seen.. let her smile, that's enough, because even if she's hurting nobody cares.. while watching the film i often wondered how it would have been if woolf too had known her illness* and maybe had been able to access modern medicine. would she still have walked into that river? maybe she wouldn't have, who knows.. woolf left this world just one year after the discovery of the first modern bipolar medication.

the laura character was, in my opinion, the most heart-piercing side of the film. the fiction transformed the fact that laura, just like virginia, would be heading toward her own death. and laura chose to leave behind and run from a life that was perhaps never asked of her, that she never even asked of herself.. while watching, of course you feel sad. richard's running after his mother, but the woman not being able to breathe in that life either.. a part of you that wants to judge wants to attack easily. just like the way someone who sees laura at the end of the film says, is she the monster.. but what about the monster's story? the film does exactly this, actually.. it lays out before our eyes both the monster's story and the victim's story. the rest is left to our own depth. just like it was said in the entries above, spoiled broads or real broads.. it's left to us to think about that too.

lastly, the jackass who's laura's husband. man, how can a person be this blind. turns out they can, but there you go.. let me go and buy myself a flower from back home too. and let's live. like mrs. dalloway and laura..
--spoiler--

it's unheard of for a company with an annual revenue of $18.67 billion, one that operates at a loss and will keep operating at a loss for years, to reach a valuation of $1.77 trillion. i can't say what'll happen in the short term, but in the long term i'm certain the people investing in it are going to get slapped.

anyone who gets on the waiting list for one of these, and anyone who brags about making the list and scoring a watch, is a straight-up sucker. period. because all those waiting lists they run worldwide are fake. they're just manufactured "situations," artificially created so that demand, mystery, or whatever you want to call it keeps climbing.

let me tell you what that so-called "list" actually is. there is no official list kept anywhere, in any central database, least of all over in switzerland or wherever. think of it as nothing more than getting your name added to the dinky little contact list of whatever sales rep happens to be working that one boutique in your area, because you're an eager buyer who isn't quite vip enough.

rolex makes plenty of watches, but the authorized dealers are out here inventing imaginary lists to fake a shortage and juice the demand. dig a little and they'll tell you your spot on the list, or the reason you couldn't just buy the watch you wanted and got dumped onto some junk list instead, comes down to your "purchase history." meaning you've gotta build a relationship with that sales rep and buy other watches from them first. all of this, of course, assuming you're not vip enough :))

these lists are such a joke that a guy i know who got "added" to the list here in turkey ended up picking up the exact same watch within a few days while on a vacation in some european city.

okay, say you do make the list. don't go thinking there's some system ticking along like clockwork (no pun intended). think of it more like waiting in line at the bank, except people who show up after you, the ones richer than you, a little more prestigious, or who've already bought a few watches, just walk right past you. they get their watches in a matter of months while you look up and realize you've been sitting on that list for 2-3 years.
man, this is an entry/mid-level luxury watch at the end of the day, what waiting list? the way they act you'd think they were selling me antimatter.