[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 1 points 8 hours ago

Totally normal prison sentence

[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 2 points 1 day ago

I stepped up my usage of Anki. Been using it for language learning, but I want to branch out and use it for general memory and learning. My weakness in education is that I often stop short of the details, satisfied learning only the broad concepts. I suppose my attitude has been, if I understand the concepts, then I can reproduce any particular detail as needed. But at this point, I really ought to do better with trivia because it does matter and is often practical.

I imported a couple shared decks. One for trigonometric identities, and another for geography. I'll add these in with my daily language flashcards. Moving forward though, I want to create my own cards. Should be better for learning, and I can make them more personal e.g. friends' birthdays or coworkers' names.

[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 3 points 2 days ago

Unless it’s a country in the Bible

[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 23 points 4 days ago

Why did I read “dead” instead of “dad”

Rorschach’d the title too hard

[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 2 points 4 days ago

the fact that you get ripped off in the deal doesn't change that

What deal? When does the typical American sign it?

I dont accept the dichotomy of colony-or-neglected-region. It’s ruling class versus the working class, always has been.

It’s not realistic or useful to conceive of entire societies as class-conscious conspirators. No country has ever achieved that kind of uniform ideology, not even the Soviets nor communist China.

Abstract theory is of far lesser importance compared with the material circumstances of one’s own life, in terms that one understands. This generally means issues local to one’s town, neighborhood, and household. Thinking larger than that is pretty much unnatural and requires dedicated effort.

A backward family in, say, rural Kansas is going to be mostly aware and educated of their immediate issues, like the success of their farm and the stability of their family. All other issues of politics are viewed through this lens. When Junior joins the military, his family celebrates because it’s a path to economic stability for them, and they have little reason to doubt US foreign policy propaganda. They have no tangible experience that might be had in Ferguson or Philly or NYC. They’re basically ignorant (though not necessarily more ignorant in every way compared with the urban proletariat)

[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 4 points 4 days ago

US is imperial core. It’s just that the whole labor-aristocracy thing has been greatly exaggerated. Whenever I hear that I just want to ask them if they’ve ever been to Philly or Baltimore or NYC or LA or Portland or… or, or. There is so much poverty in the US, and its visibility is a feature - a warning to the proletariat who barely clasp a semblance of an income.

The economy in the US is highly financialized, this is true. But the fact that this is nevertheless necessary labor is demonstrated by 1) the fact that it is hired at all in private industry, 2) the profound aggression by which the state fights unions and other collective efforts.

[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 29 points 5 days ago

h3 particle

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submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by quarrk@hexbear.net to c/movies@hexbear.net

Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but

spoilerThe plot cleanly maps to the European “Jewish Question”, except dragons are the Jews in this story. The Hidden World is Israel, a place to put all the dragons because the Vikings are too ~~antisemitic~~ antidraconic to coexist peacefully; and gosh darn it, it’s too hard to change their minds. EVEN THOUGH a central theme in movies 1 and 2 is the opposite: that the people of Berk can change their minds about dragons, and that people generally can overcome bigotry. All of that goes out the window with the third movie.

[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 3 points 6 days ago

I think we don’t disagree significantly. I had in mind the Democrats generally losing elections up and down the ballot as they fail to respond to the undermining of what little democracy did exist in the US. There’s a real possibility that MAGA solidifies control over the entire government for more than the usual back-and-forth of presidential terms. If that happens, the Democrats won’t be taken seriously anymore by anyone except their most dedicated followers.

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submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by quarrk@hexbear.net to c/art@hexbear.net
222

That’s it

81

With thunderous applause?

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submitted 1 month ago by quarrk@hexbear.net to c/news@hexbear.net

Article

Finland's track gauge is changing: "We are starting from the north, and we have strong support from NATO," says Minister Lulu Ranne

The Nordic ministers issued a statement on military mobility between the countries.

Finland is preparing for a change in track gauge.

Finland is planning to switch to the European standard gauge. According to Transport Minister Lulu Rante, the government must make a national decision on changing the gauge by July 2027.

Changes to the track gauge would start north of Oulu.

The project is based on improving security of supply and military mobility, as well as developing cross-border connections to Sweden and Norway.

This is not just a Finnish issue, but a joint project of the whole of Europe and NATO, Ranne said at a press conference for the informal meeting of Nordic transport ministers in Helsinki.

According to Rante, now is the right time for Finland to join the standard width.

The need for funding is great, but the EU can support the planning by up to 50 percent and the construction by about 30 percent. However, implementation will not happen quickly. Work can start in the early 2030s at the earliest, Ranne emphasized.

– Of course, we are very pragmatic and realistic, we cannot do this in five years. We are planning until the end of the decade, and maybe in 2032 we can start construction.

Ministers gather to discuss transport from a military perspective

The transport ministers of Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark met today in Helsinki.

The ministers issued a joint statement on military mobility and security of supply.

The Nordic transport ministers also agree that the planning of the national transport system must take into account preparedness, military mobility and security of supply, the ministers declared and assured their consensus.

According to it, "it is important to recognize" cross-border military movement.

– It is important for all of us that the Nordic countries cooperate, even when it comes to logistics-related matters, not only military but also civilian, Finnish Minister of Transport Lulu Ranne said at a press conference.

– The current geopolitical situation, together with Finland's and Sweden's NATO membership, further emphasizes the importance of comprehensive Nordic cooperation.

Ranne stated that the transportation sector is also the basis for military operations.

– If the transportation system is destroyed, then our military forces, our equipment, our defense forces cannot function. And protect us, defend us as they should.

Informal meeting on transport

The ministers also agree that preparedness, military mobility and security of supply should be taken into account in national transport system planning, in close cooperation with the defence authorities. The transport ministers also recognise the importance of regional Nordic cooperation and information sharing within the NATO context.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has also increased cooperation between the Ministry of Transport.

The informal meeting of Nordic transport ministers focused on cooperation in transport system planning and maritime safety. The ministers discussed transport system cooperation, including from a preparedness perspective, and received an update on the European track gauge.

The ministers issued a joint statement. The statement highlights the importance of cross-border military mobility, civil preparedness and security of supply in both the Nordic transport system strategy and the countries' national transport system planning.

Tomorrow's talk about shadow fleets in the Baltic Sea

The informal meeting of transport ministers will continue tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14. The ministers will discuss maritime safety, including the shadow fleet.

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submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by quarrk@hexbear.net to c/news@hexbear.net

Additional Link to Hegseth’s directive to the Secretary of the Army is partially visible here (pdf didn’t archive well; you can visit the .mil link if you wish)

Hard to tell if this is more DOGE-inspired nonsense or a serious effort to clean up their act. Probably the latter. Hegseth is a true believer and really wants war with China

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submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by quarrk@hexbear.net to c/movies@hexbear.net

is a bad movie. I watched it for the first time, and it didn’t age well.

Movie starts out with RW wowee blatantly objectifying the first Vietnamese woman he sees… then thinking he sees her again, because haha every Asian looks the same right guys? cue theater audience wheezing

He ends up stalking her across town and bribes her teacher $20 to teach her class. Again, they’ve never spoken to each other, she was literally just walking along the street and he’s convinced that they will fall in love.

It doesn’t get better. I’m not trying to write a plot summary but it’s a couple hours of boomer humor mixed with orientalism, war propaganda, anti-communism, racism (you’re supposed to laugh when RW attempts to speak Spanish to communicate with the locals), and homophobia (there is one gay character and he is portrayed as a sexual deviant who likes taking creep photos of GI’s ankles)

The portrayal of the Vietnamese people was in general, fake and unbelievable. Unless you believe it’s realistic that a girl would fall in love with her stalker when they can barely even communicate to each other.

3/10 there were a couple funny lines, and the general structure, pacing etc of the film was ok

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Amogus (hexbear.net)
submitted 5 months ago by quarrk@hexbear.net to c/earth@hexbear.net
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Whataboutism (hexbear.net)

Thanks, NYT

[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 110 points 7 months ago

The natural human reaction to all of this is to first be horrified that a husband and father of two children was murdered.

This is just bad faith

[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 116 points 1 year ago

CEO Sundar Pichai said, "We have a culture of vibrant, open discussion... But ultimately we are a workplace and our policies and expectations are clear: this is a business, and not a place […] to fight over disruptive issues or debate politics."

  • Our apolitical business decisions
  • Their disruptive protests

A billion-dollar contract with Israel is a political decision. There is no way to oppose it except politically. Own the decisions you make Google.

[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 118 points 2 years ago

No, China doesn’t count because that would challenge my worldview. I know I’m right, I just haven’t figured out how yet.

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quarrk

joined 3 years ago