Yeah. You have a large number of attractive and poor people trying to get prestigious roles and a few gatekeepers who know they can get what they want from at least some of them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a human was cloned. The issue right now seems to be resolving the ethical issues over the technical ones.

Stargate SG1

Various forms of mental deterioration cause a lot of the elderly to lose their abilities they had when they were younger. Old people doing dumb things is a rather common tragedy.

Her birthday is close enough.

I kind of dread people celebrating me, usually in part because the times around that celebration are busy and stressful for me so I can do the performative gratitude that people expect when it happens.

Then it devolves into conversations of what is wrong with you (why are you broken) or what is wrong with this (why do you hate me).

Oh, I try keeping my friends away from her.

I expect that China is likely investing in 1 due to industrial policy. When 2 happens, it is going to collapse the industry.

Likely, Lemmy will be illegal in those countries. However, given the federated nature, I expect a more whack-a-mole approach to banning.

I don’t look at it is taking care of the unemployed.

Ireland has punched above its weight for centuries in producing cultural works. This is Ireland investing in its arts community directly by having its struggling artists be able to spend more time making art instead of other jobs.

A thriving arts scene creates prestige for the country, provides amenities to the local population, and increases tourism.

Why are you putting the decisions of others on me?

I’m not denying the slavery. I’m stating what the decisions are that are influencing choosing the UAE as a vacation destination.

The issue seems to come from visiting places that are likely to have police shoot and/or arrest you for not speaking the local language.

Or he got a bribe from the first bridge owner.

China may not be perceived as a military threat, but it is credibly an economic threat. China is returning to a state where Europe has difficulty conducting trade with China as China will only accept natural resources for trade. That can be dangerous for an economy with a large safety net, declining productivity, and little in terms of natural resources.

The EU is comprised of sovereign entities, but those entities have chosen to give up certain competencies to the Union for various benefits. The EU already handles trade diplomacy and monetary policy through democratic institutions; it isn’t that hard to imagine that could also take on competencies related to defense.

The EU also could share the competency of defense with the various nations. After all, there are other countries which have sub national entities that have their own militaries.

The complaints about the arms industry/the cost of war has been around since recorded history.

AI server farms has only been around for a few years.

I had a guy buy me two drinks at an expensive Vegas bar. He didn’t really even want to talk.

You chose to write a response in a different language than the rest of the thread then critique my translation.

It isn’t a contradiction but clarification. Your response implies a binary truth where only one statement can be correct. I’m noting that both statements can be correct at the same time.

Before you try to think I’m going to argue otherwise, cartel violence doesn’t justify an American military response.