Freedom from that control.

Free will can exist because consciousness is an abstraction created by the brain similar to a virtual reality on a computer, where the laws of physics is what the brain builds upon, consciousness is a function of the brain, ans SELF consciousness is a layer above that, constructed by the functionality of the brain, that far exceed normal physical causality.

There’s a reason we have a feeling of free will, if free will didn’t exist, a sense of it would serve no purpose. So Occam’s razor indicates that we shouldn’t have that sense without also having free will.
We can imagine a future far removed from our current state, fantasy and SciFi books are clear examples of that. How would that be possible without free will?

You don’t need determinism for that. Our brains are absolutely fallible, no need and it doesn’t help to punk yourself over that, with or without determinism.
But just as determinism for you can explain bad things happening, so can nondeterminism. We know statistically how fast radioactive matter decay. But it’s impossible to know for a single atom, it could be within seconds, or it could be in a thousand years. We have no way of telling before it actually happens.
Some things are impossible to predict, and some things just happen by accident. Whether the universe made it happen one way or the other, doesn’t really matter.

What matters is that you have a large degree of free will, and you can choose to cope the way that suits you best.
But your own actions are your responsibility.

The funding will be provided under the Danish model, which aims to purchase weapons from Ukrainian manufacturers in accordance with the proposals and needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

This is the model Zelenskyj is recommending, I’m guessing it both helps financially for Ukraine to make their own weapons, and it avoids problems with restrictions on the use of weapons to defend Ukraine.

Denmark has been a very strong proponent for lifting all limitations to only conform to international agreements like the Geneva convention.
Denmark also broke the barrier for aid with the F-16 donations together with Netherlands.

It’s very nice to see other European countries supporting these policies, if EU could agree with this, Ukraine would be much better off, and would probably be able to better handle not getting aid from USA.

They’ve already done that for years. Because it’s low hanging fruit, and most of those countries have strained relationships with USA for good reasons, much like the middle east.

USA has done way too much power-play for control and financial reasons, the Chinese are doing the same now.

but until we have major problems (physical health, homeless, mental health, etc) solved in the US, I don’t give a fuck about our soft power.

Oh boy, I think you are in for an awakening, because losing democratic and humanitarian values in general, will make all of that worse too.
Are you not aware what Nazism does? That’s what you have in USA. If Trump really wanted to solve those problems, he would have the blessings from most countries.

When did you ever see an authoritarian government care about the weakest in their country?

No they don’t, if they did, they wouldn’t escalate threats towards Taiwan. There is much more to be gained from increased cooperation with highly developed democratic countries around the world, but China is fucking up because of nationalistic ideological fanaticism that is very off-putting for democratic countries.

Yes absolutely, China has been going in places where USA doesn’t have a strong standing.
What I’m arguing is that China could go in where USA is actually strong, and create closer relationships.
Except for their behavior lately makes most US allies very cautious towards China with good reason.

The soft power of African countries is limited.

Here’s a Reuters story on it.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovak-protests-build-rebuke-pm-ficos-russian-tilt-2025-01-24/

Headline:

Slovak protests grow in rebuke of PM Fico’s Russian tilt

News stories are of course everywhere, but I like how this one tells the key fact that it’s because of Fico’s pro Russia policy in the headline. 👍

Go Slovakia, may you be successful restoring democratic values to your country.

PS:
For those who might not know, Fico is deeply corrupt, and disappeared for days, only to have pictures identified to be from a Vietnamese extremely expensive Luxury Hotel Suite. There is no doubt he enjoys personal benefits from Putin.

The health care industry isn’t magically made better by one CEOs death.

Are you sure?

At least they are not fascist authoritarians…
Oh wait?

I bet the Chinese are more than eager to take over all the soft power USA currently enjoy.
Fortunately for USA, the Chinese are too stupid to actually do it, because China wants to be a “respected” (as in feared) superpower, in much the same way Russia does.

Hopefully Trump will be out in 4 years, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he hands the reign to someone as bad or worse, and USA will become an authoritarian dictatorship, under the guise of some kind of national security crisis.

Imagine how rich Musk could become if he controlled USA as Putin controls Russia!

Trump is a malignant narcissist, and I’m pretty sure that’s a requirement to have that opinion.

That’s impossible, because he can’t keep quiet.

Flagship phones are crap IMO, my personal hatred for glass as a material used unnecessarily for the back is immense.
Glass sucks in every aspect, it’s slippery, it’s heavier, it’s a finger print magnet, and it’s fragile in a place where you can choose synthetics that are better in every way.
Losing the jack and SD cards suck too, and preventing replaceable batteries is so bad, it’s actually illegal in EU from 2027. I have no idea why that couldn’t have been sooner.

https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/06/22/new-eu-law-to-force-smartphone-makers-to-build-easily-replaceable-batteries

The rules will come into force in 2027.

I’m so sick of this, that I’ve decided NO WAY I’m buying a flagship next time, despite I absolutely love features like an amazing camera and screen.

But they can piss right off with their bullshit, pardon my French.
I bet a manufacturer could get sales advertising that it’s NOT a glass back, and that it HAS mini-jack.
But I also miss the notification LED, how did they figure it was a good idea to remove that too???

The weird thing is they ALL do this shit? Where’s the competition on maintaining well established functions? A mini jack doesn’t prevent use of wireless earphones, but lack of it absolutely prevents the use of wired ones.

It’s completely unfair to accuse Musk of Nazi heiling. Just because he has expressed clearly Nazi tendencies, and his parent were Nazi’s too, that moved to South Africa because white supremacism dominated and was the law of the land.

I’ve tried to correct it and save 3 times now, but my changes don’t show: 🙁

Yes the crowd that will support fascism with their money, do absolutely nothing against it, and then complain why things suck and they’ll never be able to afford to buy a house.

Wow the downvotes are insane here??
Whatever happened with “vote with you wallet”?
Buying a Tesla is as a matter of fact supporting Nazism, which has been clear for a while now. That’s indisputable!
As in literally supporting Nazism! Not just in USA, but also in Europe!

Every steering system that uses a mechanical column, like the Model 3, will eventually develop play

Not true, I own an 18 year Opel Vectra, no issues with play in the steering, and nothing was ever needed to be done to fix it, and no other old cars I’ve driven had it, and I haven’t heard of it as a problem you should to check for before a safety check. The older cheaper worm gear steering racks ALWAYS had it, and it was regulated how much was allowed. but they’ve been obsolete for about 50 years maybe more now.

For a 4 year old car to have it is ridiculous.