Good idea! I'm a quick reader, but I need to multitask.

Once I joined a library reading contest and read 5000 pages of political science and other nonfiction in a single summer, but I never placed. Then the next year I caught on, blazed through 21,000 pages of cahmix, and won an iPad Mini. I've never read another comic book since then, out of spite (and standards, tbh).

I've always liked large books ever since I was a kid, but only recently have I learned to appreciate poetry, so I'm hoping that will heighten my appreciation for classic literature. I'm more of a nonfiction guy, though.

Although I also saw this film recently that made me finally realize the artistic potential of painting. I've got to just pick something and go with it, but I can't make up my mind. https://letterboxd.com/follow_freeman/film/the-mill-and-the-cross/

Aha, gimmie a sec

https://www.4kdownload.com/?source=videodownloader

@Harazu Keshtah This is an app that doesn't require a browser and does have some neat features such as playlists and subs, but if you want just a site, then use savefrom.net.
https://www.4kdownload.com/?source=videodownloader

Well, you might still want to give the other one a try. Anyway, I gotta go. Thanks for the book recommendations; you guys have some great taste!

insert some variation on the "One does not simply walk into Modor" meme

There's a joke about Ford having a Kickstarter and the Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter ads saying you'd make bad guys cry harder than anime fans on *prom night* in there somewhere, but I'm not sure if I'm kek enough to go there.

Did they ever disclose the full contents of the behind closed-doors two-question polygraph test?

Who is this Metokurist Murdochian Archiver/Jim guy and why do so many of his vids whine about Sargon? And how does his channel have over two million views?https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEL5udLvhpEOG8Lc9O-xbmQ/videos

There's plenty of factions and all that, but it's much stranger and messed up, thematically,

@Fitzydog This is WH40K https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkMXr33Wk8Y
You have all these bugs and demons and aliens running around, a hyperpowerful human empire (that happens to be a thinly veiled fascist metaphor, not like Starship Troopers, though) that hates everyone else, and a God Emperor of Mankind doing astral battle in a realm beyond mathematical dimensions in order to prevent elder gods from invading the universe.

Reality as created by Mad Libs.

Hey, the food's artificial, why not have the food servers be artificial, too?

Say, that kinda ties into what Mr. Friedman himself says at the beginning of this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaZXPCVQDvM

Wait, let's rewind and actually engage with zaddy instead of making memes. If everyone owns the means of production together, where's the structure to keep things efficient?

Erm, yeah to having profits?

Sorry to flood you while others are addressing you, zaddy, but I think it's important I say It'd be helpful to exactly what it is you're advocating for, so we're on the same page (first rule to a civil discussion). And I don't see what debunks the incentive argument, for that matter.
Like you say socialism, so what does that entail in your book?

Yeah, I know Z said that, but everyone's got their own definition of these things. Not that I like socialism in any incarnation, but it helps to know what someone else is thinking.

Even in ideal conditions, what's so good about taking people's earnings and giving it to people who have not earned them?

Ah, well, sorry we didn't change your mind. If you prefer a one-on-one discussion instead of being overwhelmed by numbers, I wouldn't mind if you DMed me (though I'm rarely online).

I'll add that a government with the power to control everything the populace owns is going to cause problems, no matter how it's implemented.

If government has the power to control all mans of production and income and what you own (if that's what you're advocating, correct me if I'm wrong), then, yes, they have too much power.
Also, other guys, let's just engage here. No one's mind was ever changed by being called names.

yeah, i know that's how it goes here, just being devil's advocate.
Hold on, may I add one more thing before you leave, zaddy?

I take objection to the notion that regulation is the way to stop monopolies (excepting direct antitrust laws, of course) because Mega ConGlomCorp or whatever has the money to tank regulations and wage hikes that smaller businesses don't have the money or resources to survive. There's precedent of big companies advocating things like minimum wage hikes and government regulation (can link if needed but will need a few minutes), presumably to kill off smaller businesses. Thoughts?
EDIT: Oh, and to say nothing of how smaller businesses don't have the legal resources to navigate the labyrinthine law code.

I agree. What do you think of my thoughts on regulation hurting small business instead of the large ones they're supposed to keep in check, though?

Value of work can be a pretty subjective area. Do any of you think there's any good objective metrics to use, or would you say that it's best to let the market decide?

Yeah, I thought it was the latter, I just go out of my way to make sure I'm on the same page as everyone else before I assume anything.

The Politisition.

The Politinquisition?

Oh, I thought this was the best political alignment test, but I suppose it is a bit dated. https://www.breitbart.com/video/2012/11/05/play-the-romney-obama-boxing-game/

@Deleted User Do you think taking care of the poor should be done by an overarching system or for the populace/individuals/private charities to do on their own accord?

Classlessness and all that.

I do have some food for thought I think you fellows may appreciate; first question, do you think Communism is silly for counting on people to be so moral as to be ok with being forced to work for no reward in order to provide for others? Follow-up question after this.

Ok ok, but my question. I have a follow-up you may find interesting.

Oh, no, I meant you guys, here.

First question, do you think Communism is flawed for counting on people to be so moral as to be ok with being forced to work for no reward in order to provide for others? Follow-up question after this.

Ah, well, what zaddy said about "rewards" in Communism does bring us back to the matter of execution over concept, what with inefficiency and government corruption and all.
My follow-up question was going to be this: Would you say capitalism requires people to be vigilant hawks wary of who they buy from and who they vote for, and to be more self-reliant whenever possible? If so, how would you say that's more moral than Communism's forced morals?
And then after hearing suggestions from you, I was going to offer my own ideas on the matter.

That reminds me, I'd like to hear some of your favorite textbooks sometimes, but that's off-topic. Although it may be helpful to suggest some good ones for zaddy.
@M4Gunner Uh, oh, does my profile pic count as anime? It's from Castlevania.

Hey now. Not changing any minds that way.

I don't think acting like what SJWs think right-wingers are is going to do anyone any good.

Maybe perspective with how worse things could be could help. Anyone have any particularly elucidating links to how working conditions are under socialist countries? Although I suspect that'd lead us to saying the country isn't "ideal" socialism, it could still prove useful.

Well, hey, having a laptop is a sign that things could be far worse. Granted, I gather the laptop was in some way essential to your livelihood, but most people in the world would never even get the chance to get a laptop. @Deleted User

Having to work to survive is kinda the point.

@Deleted User The point is that you have to work hard to get what you want. Most people in the world don't have the chance.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/06/01/astonishing-numbers-americas-poor-still-live-better-than-most-of-the-rest-of-humanity/#4c8b89e454ef

Hold on, hold on, I wanna say something.

Lemme take the stage for a minute here, if you please.

@Deleted User I think the point is that there is no easy way. I don't want to downplay your struggles, however anecdotal they may be -- heck, I'm well below the poverty line, myself, and between jobs, and can't even afford things I'd like, and have to depend on my neighbors to some extent. But I think that, while we shouldn't be complacent in our standards, it may help us to realize how good we have it here compared to the rest of the world. https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/06/01/astonishing-numbers-americas-poor-still-live-better-than-most-of-the-rest-of-humanity/#4c8b89e454ef
And, as shdowhunt60 suggested, we do indeed have many resources to help us achieve better! Resources most people in the world would kill to have. Isn't that worth something?

@Fitzydog Well, that seems to have just gotten you in circles. Don't you want to try a new approach?

Well, I suppose that if we can't agree on sources like these [https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/06/01/astonishing-numbers-americas-poor-still-live-better-than-most-of-the-rest-of-humanity/#2a74850654ef] being accurate, even though I have seen no proof to suggest it's wrong, then we're an an impasse. Oh, well, I've got to go, anyway. Thank you for hearing me out, @Deleted User !

Oh, that chart does interest me. See, we're using statistics now, we've gotten further than name-calling and anecdotes ever did. Unfortunately, I really do have to go, but I'll check that out later to see if it's flawed or if it's on to something or what. Thanks! @Deleted User

She mentioned about how that computer science class, which could be very practical, was too hard. All this is a cultural thing, I'd say; thing about capitalism is that while it's not foolproof (nothing is), it's so effective and elevating that it makes us forget how good we've got things compared to the rest of the world, and we end up creating more problems trying to solve the inescapable (and often minor) ones we have. Oh, well. Anyway, I'm off. Good day!

If you haven't already heard it somewhere else, please take a look at the following link. I urge everyone to opt out of the "agreement" by sending an e-mail using the information in the first few posts: https://www.reddit.com/r/discordapp/comments/9p5uyp/latest_tos_update_revokes_your_right_to_sue/

This is Discord trying to revoke your right to sue them in class-action suits.
You must opt-out within 15 days or you lose the ability to opt out forever. Crl+F "template" to see what you should send in your opting-out email, should you choose to send one.

Mm, wondering how many demands for recounts are on the way, though.

Leaked footage of Antifa monitoring the results. https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/461948233711616013/509097717998288927/John_Wick_Woke.jpg

I hope that the few bad candidates who do win are so far left and bad at their jobs that they undermine their positions.

Page refreshed, Dems won 3 seats. But still, just this after all that press and shading voting near the border?

"REEEEcount" will be the word of the next few weeks. Unless they decide that they're worried of voter fraud coming up on their side.

Oh, yeah, and those voters from people who had died and whatnot, too.

Off subject, but I saw NY Times saying that #WalkAway was by Russian bots.

Is there some sort of site where I can see which amendments got passed in my state?

Did someone say something about Cruz? How is he doing?

Cruz'd better win. I think it was Beta who snubbed Cruz's offers to engage in debates. You know a candidate is bad if he refuses to have his positions challenged.

Better use @ here if anything, but anyway.

Still, on a national scale, this is much closer than all the celebrity endorsements and all that would have us believe. However, what troubles me is that these are new voters turning the tide, it seems.

People say it's the most important year every year. And with all that huffing and puffing and advertising and shady voting practices and all, we're fortunate things didn't turn out worse. I can't say I'm terribly surprised, what with President Trump being the easiest target they could ask for, but perhaps it says a lot that the Left didn't do better than they did.

The one good (?) thing about people getting so stressed out at each other and throwing polite pretenses out the window (think Clinton's "comments to the effect of "we can't be civil with these people"; etc) is that more people may see these political figures for who they really are. The push for going more in the direction of socialism reflects this; at least there's slightly less guile there. The question will be this: will voters be well-educated enough to what they're seeing form the left, on policy and character, is nothing but bad news?

Yeah. That's the thing. Not nearly enough people know the things they should. There would be much less confusion and strife if people read their Sowells and Friendmans, or at least the original documents.

Hmm.... https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1060028384317792257

Oh, yeah, that angle. The last Congress doing nothing to help out the guy their voters elected President couldn't have done them any favors.

Oh, man, I'd love to see some sort of comparison chart showing campaign spending among congressmen.

Hmm. We'll just have to see what sticks and what is just the pendulum effect. But, honestly, with the most divisive President in the last... 20 years, at least, it begs a lot of questions as to how things were still so close.

Oh, I didn't mean worst or with the most questionable history. Although maybe I'm overestimating the divisive effect here, anyway.

I have to wonder what things would look like now if we had someone who was, say, the exact same with policy but less of a controversial figurehead to raise pitchforks against.

No, they'd spit acid at anyone, he's just an easier target.

Query: anything practical we, just as ordinary fellows, should be doing in the immediate aftermath of all this?

Besides staying and keeping others well-informed, of course.

Oh, hey, you're Australian? I just finished watching *Wake In Fright,* have you heard of that, @Silver0Fox ? That was a weird movie.

In *Wake In Fright,* Donald Pleascence and his redneck friends shoot kangaroos and drink a few metric tons of beer. It was weird. I thought the community in that movie actually seemed pretty nice, but that's off-topic.
Anyway, I'm off to bed. If it's any consolation, things could have been worse, and I think that as the left becomes more extreme, we'll be better off for it, so long as we educate people on good policy and ethics. Have a good one!

Oh, funny thing. The other big Australian movie held in high regard in artistic circles? Is titled.... *The Last Wave.*

Which way did it flip?

[looks up *Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert*]
Guy Pierce in drag? What the heck?
And, anyway, back on topic, what's important is that if any nonsense happens because of this shift in power, we have to make sure people know it's due to leftist policy. They *will* be using Russia/whatever investigations as distractions, though, so keep that in mind.

True, but there'll always be something or other.

@Goblin_Slayer_Floki Good points; I hope you're right, even though we're talking about people who can get water out of a rock when it comes to pointless outrage. Anyway, good night, all, and take cheer that all this wokeness didn't result in worse.