Malazan Empire: Azath Vitr (D'ivers - Viewing Profile - Malazan Empire

Scrolling through my social media feed... I saw a video that at first I thought was an amusing AI parody of MMA, which turned irritating when it veered into glorifying Trump... then I realized it wasn't AI. It was the real UFC heavyweight championship broadcast.

I hadn't realized just how thoroughly the UFC has become a propaganda engine for Donald Trump. And RFK Jr, and Elon Musk...

Right after Jon Jones lands a beautiful spinning back kick to the ribs to crumple Stipe Miocic---finishing him with a few punches on the ground to win the heavyweight championship, and doing a lewd lackadaisacal little victory dance, pumping his fists by his hips in a way that UFC commentator Joe Rogan interpets as "oh, he did the Trump dance" (but Trump pumps his fists from much higher up, so WTF?)---the camera cuts to a close-up of Trump beaming and clapping. And then behind him in the crowd RFK Jr stands up to give a standing ovation---and bask in the psychological association with the joy and wonder of the moment.

It's tragic to see the one sport I used to love to watch corrupted by Trumpism.

Now that it's become popular and mainstream, it's being used to get young men to vote for Trump. 56% of men between the ages of 18 and 29 who voted voted for Trump.

Day five of my fast, and I'm feeling fantastic.

Hunger not an issue at all. I've had to force myself to eat my chocolate. In fact yesterday instead of my allotted 8 tablespoons I just had 6---but my bowels have had a bit of time to adjust to the decreased fiber intake so it ought to be ok.

Got the food I'll eat when I break my fast out of the freezer to thaw and didn't feel any desire to eat it at all. It feels like I'm full to overflowing with spiritual energy (of course I'm basically an atheist, though technically agnostic---in the sense that I acknowledge I could be completely insane and not realize it, and so rationally must be agnostic about that as well).

Haven't had to reduce myself to the absolute depravity of playing video games. (Kidding, video games can be great, I just find them too addictive... and generally not as rewarding overall, for me, as other activities. But not kidding about not playing.)

But I think I'll treat myself to watching a tv show for the first time in a long time---to binge on the last season of Vox Machina. Maybe that critically acclaimed new Batman cartoon too if there's time.

Really, instead of stuffing themselves on Thanksgiving, most Americans would be better off fasting for five days... if not five months, given how obese most of us are. Moses and Jesus both supposedly fasted for 40 days---and it was only after 40 days that Jesus was hungry? Hmm. Why don't all those Christian fascists try that---and "if they die, they die" (going to Heaven in their dying minds...).

But I'll be ready for Thanksgiving with my family---a bit early to avoid the crowds on public transport---and our tradition of eating Indian food for Thanksgiving. Or maybe the local Nepalese-Indian place this year... I love their palek paneer.

Macros, on 16 November 2024 - 12:19 AM, said:

So long as we remain bound by the geographical distortions of the electoral college, the Senate, and gerrymandering, that would probably only make things worse.

But to get rid of the electoral college and the Senate, we'd have to go through... the Senate (2/3rds majority). And then have 75% of the state legislatures (dominated by Republicans even moreso because of gerrymandering) approve.

An executive with the loyalty of the military who would be willing to forcibly abolish the current system and replace it with a more just one might actually be welcome, if it could be done with minimal carnage.

Even so, I don't think democracy is the best answer for the future. Most Americans are too ignorant, too gullible, and too evil.

But Go*-Emperor Trump---or Musk, or Vance---is also even worse...

Quote

Yikes...

And that's the guy they had doing "fun" daytime chats on Fox and Friends?... And advocating for war criminals, of course...

Thinking trying a speed run of Inquisition and the DLC to distract me from fasting... from this evening to Monday morning. When it first came out I bought a new laptop to play it, spent days worth of hours exploring, did all the side quests, then got annoyed by the main plotline and never bothered finishing. Got the "Game of the Year" edition for free last year which I think includes the DLC. What's the fastest way to get through with minimal gameplay (without console codes if they exist)? Story mode with main fire rift mage and Dorian as lightning necromancer for the fire immune? Or maybe I'll finally get around to doing Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire instead....