levy

this may have permanently ended the possibility of fair and democratic elections in turkey.

i once considered buying a tesla until the u.s. elections made it painfully clear what kind of person elon musk really is. after seeing his behavior and the values he promotes, i couldn't justify supporting him. and i'm not alone. people around the world have been backing away from tesla, with some even going as far as setting their teslas on fire.

in germany alone, tesla sales have dropped by 75%. the company's stock has lost billions of dollars in value. and have you noticed that when you post something critical about tesla on twitter, the engagement seems to disappear? that's not a coincidence.

if you're thinking about buying a tesla, think twice. there are better alternatives out there from companies that don't come with this baggage.

for che guevara, revolution wasn't just about winning battles with weapons. it was about planting the seeds of change in the human spirit. he dreamed of a world where no one would exploit another, where the poor, the workers, and the oppressed would finally be free. che didn't fight for short-term victories — he fought to build a future.

in the mountains of cuba, the valleys of bolivia, and the heat of africa, che wasn't just a soldier. he was a teacher. he taught people to read and write, to defend themselves, and most importantly, to resist. because for che, revolution started not on the battlefield, but within the human soul.

but he also knew that ideals alone weren't enough to sustain a revolution. without sacrifice, discipline, and constant struggle, even the most beautiful dreams would fade. he could have lived comfortably after the cuban revolution's success but that's not who he was. he believed the fight wasn't over, so he kept going.

even when he was surrounded in the bolivian mountains with only a handful of comrades, che still believed in the future. in his final moments, he stood tall because for him, revolution was a path you could never turn back from once you began walking it. that path continues today, in the hearts of those who still speak his name and carry his legacy forward.

the english poor laws were like the original social safety net – but with some serious strings attached. dating back to the 16th century, they were designed to help the poor and unemployed, but not necessarily out of compassion. local parishes were put in charge of providing relief, which meant that help could vary wildly depending on where you lived. if you were able-bodied but out of work, you were often forced into workhouses, where conditions were harsh and meant to discourage laziness. the laws created a divide between the "deserving" poor (the elderly, disabled, and sick) and the "undeserving" poor (those seen as capable of working). over time, the poor laws shaped attitudes toward poverty and welfare, laying the groundwork for modern social policies — but also for some of the stereotypes and stigmas that still exist today.

the raft of the medusa is more than just a painting—it's a haunting depiction of human desperation and survival. created by theodore gericault in 1819, it portrays the aftermath of a tragic shipwreck off the coast of senegal, where over 150 people were left stranded on a makeshift raft. only 15 survived. the painting captures the moment of both hope and despair as the survivors signal to a distant ship on the horizon. gericault's use of dramatic lighting and contorted bodies reflects the chaos and horror of the event, while the pyramidal composition leads the eye upward toward the flicker of salvation. it's not just a historical narrative—it's a raw exploration of human resilience and the thin line between life and death. image

a direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or reject a particular proposal, law, or policy. referendums are often used to decide on constitutional changes, independence, or major national issues.

the term originates from latin referendum, meaning "something to be brought back," and was first used in political contexts in the 18th century. the earliest modern use of referendums can be traced back to switzerland, where they became a key tool for direct democracy.

historical example:
– the 2016 brexit referendum, where uk citizens voted to leave the european union, impacting global politics.
– switzerland, known for its frequent referendums, has conducted hundreds to decide on various national policies. switzerland holds the record for the most referendums conducted globally, making it a pioneer of direct democracy.

meet baron von sebottendorf—founder of the thule society and one of the most fascinating figures of early 20th-century` europe`.

born in 1875, he moved to istanbul in 1901 at age 26, became an ottoman citizen, and worked as a maritime merchant. while in turkey, he immersed himself in bektashi, sabbatean, and masonic circles, and studied sufism, kabbalah, and other eastern philosophies.

after world war i, he returned to germany with all that knowledge and started organizing nationalist socialist workers' movements to combat the rising threat of communism. one of the most notable was the thule society, often linked to the occult influences behind nazism. he had a reputation for machiavellian tactics—at times allowing high-ranking party members to fall into communist hands so he could frame them as "martyrs" for the nationalist cause.

although he founded the german national socialist workers' party, it eventually came under adolf hitler's control, and he and hitler began to drift apart. by the 1930s, he was exiled from germany by the gestapo and returned to turkey. during world war ii, he worked as a double agent for both germany and britain. in 1945, he tragically ended his life by throwing himself into the cold waters of the bosphorus.

check out elon musk's whole h-1b drama. remember when he forced twitter employees into a new "take it or leave" agreement? if you look at photos after that ultimatum, you'll see very few white americans left. most of the remaining folks look like they're on h-1b visas. (yeah, i'm guessing from appearances, but let's be real.)

once musk took over twitter, he discovered the "benefits" of using h-1b labor—big-time. he fired a ton of engineers, but someone still had to keep the place running, and that burden fell on these h-1b holders.

why them? because if the boss says "who do you think you are?" and they can't find another job within 60 days, they'll be forced to leave the country. meta did something similar. and if home is india, you can imagine the predicament—when your boss says "jump," you don't have many other options. anyone who's endured six years on h-1b (unless their company files for a green card right away) knows it's not just "go back home." it's more like "good luck making it back here again anytime soon."

even though my own h-1b experience was in the public sector, i've still felt that sense of being stuck. in private companies—especially under ceos like elon musk—some h-1b folks end up in a situation worse than modern indentured servitude. actually, it's just straight-up servitude. if you're from a country like belgium, you might just say "to heck with this" and head home to a decent life. but if you're a young engineer from india, where are you going to go? you can't just bail out and fly home without losing your future here.

anyone who's spent years on an h-1b in the private sector understands this. if these big companies truly cared about improving stem in america, they'd start by fixing our k-12 education instead of constantly importing cheap labor. if they were sincere, they'd solve the ridiculous green card backlog for indian professionals.

but honestly, their main goal is to grab a pliable, underpaid workforce and push down wages for everyone else. musk jump-started that by gutting twitter, and other companies are following his lead.

homo economicus, often referred to as the "economic man," is a theoretical construct in classical and neoclassical economics. under this model, individuals are assumed to:

– act rationally and consistently to maximize their self-interest (or "utility").
– have complete or near-complete information about available choices.
– weigh costs and benefits to make optimal decisions.

the father of western philosophy. over 2,300 years ago, aristotle, one of the greatest thinkers in human history, shaped the foundation of western philosophy, science, and ethics. his work continues to inspire modern thought, proving that wisdom truly knows no bounds.

why aristotle matters:
1. philosophy pioneer: aristotle's writings on metaphysics, ethics, and politics laid the groundwork for centuries of intellectual exploration. his philosophy bridged the gap between science and spirituality.
2. father of logic: he invented formal logic, introducing concepts like syllogisms that remain relevant in critical thinking today.
3. scientific method: aristotle's observational approach to biology and the natural world set the stage for empirical science.
4. ethics of virtue: his idea of achieving "eudaimonia" (a flourishing life) through virtuous actions still resonates in self-help and leadership.

interesting facts about aristotle:
• teacher to a king: aristotle mentored alexander the great, influencing one of history's most legendary rulers.
• founder of a school: his school, the lyceum, pioneered interdisciplinary learning, hosting debates on everything from astronomy to zoology.
• polymath extraordinaire: aristotle wrote about nearly every field of study in existence at the time—philosophy, politics, biology, meteorology, and even drama.

aristotle's famous quotes:
– "knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."
– "it is the mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it."
– "happiness depends upon ourselves."
– "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

cristiano ronaldo is the second-best and second-most consistent soccer player of all time, and he hasn't become a champion in saudi arabia for three years.

this book explains, to a large extent, why some societies thrive while others don’t—when combined with average intelligence levels. but why isn’t intelligence alone enough? let me break it down:

we’re all familiar with south and north korea. south korea is incredibly advanced, constantly innovating, producing high-tech goods, and getting wealthier by the day. the country’s per capita income is more than 20 times that of north korea. in fact, due to the poverty and hunger in the north, south koreans are taller and live longer than their northern neighbors. north korea, on the other hand, can’t even feed its people without foreign aid, let alone produce technology.

the reason behind all this is what acemoglu describes as “extractive” and “inclusive” institutions. south korea has inclusive institutions, while north korea is stuck with extractive ones. as a result, while the south is advancing into space, the north is struggling with famine.

but there’s an important point we need to consider: the average iq levels in these two countries. despite north korea’s backwardness and hardships, their average iq is pretty close to that of south koreans. in fact, south koreans have some of the highest average iq levels in the world.

so what does this mean? it means that even after 50+ years of oppressive extractive institutions, north koreans still have an average iq of around 105, just like their neighbors in the south. if north korea’s extractive institutions were to collapse tomorrow (say, north korea reunites with the south), north koreans would likely become just as wealthy, innovative, and successful as south koreans in a short period of time.

this is where the importance of north koreans’ iq comes in. the moment they break free from their extractive system, they have the potential to become one of the most advanced nations in the world. meanwhile, many countries in latin america or eastern europe that are governed by inclusive institutions haven’t reached south korea’s level of development. this is where the average intelligence of a society plays a role.

take brazil, for instance. despite having inclusive institutions like south korea, brazil’s average iq is around 90, not 105 like south korea. that’s why brazil isn’t able to reach the same level of development. so, while inclusive and extractive institutions are key factors in a nation’s growth, average intelligence levels are equally important.

this means that even if countries like brazil have inclusive institutions, they won’t reach south korea’s level of development unless their average iq rises to similar levels. on the other hand, since north korea has high average intelligence, the moment they switch from extractive to inclusive institutions, they’ll skyrocket to south korea’s level.

of course, establishing inclusive institutions requires a certain level of intelligence. the elites who run extractive systems never want to share power, so it’s up to the people to pressure the elites and force them to create inclusive institutions. but for that to happen, the population needs to be aware and capable of demanding change. while some countries in latin america have managed to do this, north koreans haven’t—likely because of east asia’s ultra-conservative, community-over-individual culture.

this conservative, non-individualistic culture stifles creativity in east asia. a simple example is the apple vs. samsung rivalry. apple, a product of western culture, innovates and changes the world, while samsung takes what apple creates and optimizes it. sure, samsung might beat apple with optimized products, but they’ll never make world-changing innovations like apple does. and that’s because of east asia’s conservative culture. could this be linked to genetics? maybe, but research in this area is still too new to draw any firm conclusions.
(see: daron acemoglu)