Well, sure, but Israel is literally surrounded by enemies. It doesn’t seem like it because of big daddy USA. But without them they could easily team up and attack from multiple sides. Especially if they get backing from Russia/China/UAE .

I dunno, just spitballing here, I’m no expert

No idea why you’re downvoted. You’re right. USA not existing would suck for many people, yes. Especially Israel. Europe not so much.

Okay, you consider it a cheat answer, that’s fair. But, just for the record, pokemon is a fantasy series. And the pokemon are a race of monsters.

But for a more typical answer, I’d go with either dragons cause they’re usually powerful and intelligent and can fly or warcraft’s taurens cause they’re like a hippie version of a minotaur. Strong and intelligent but with an affinity for nature. A tauren druid being a very fun combo with tons of versatility.

First gen Pokemon? Or is that cheating?

Makes me feel like when I have a small bit of a song stuck in my head and I’m desperately trying to think of what follows so that I can properly look it up but I can’t. Feels like there should be more of a follow-up in the chorus after “strawberry fields forever”. As it is, it feels like a jingle for a company named strawberry fields.

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/08/27/satellite-imagery-shows-vast-destruction-in-rafah/

You’re on the wrong side of Lemmy for these kinds of opinions. Over here Ukraine is the aggressor and the global south are a beacon of hope for the future of mankind. Puked a little in my mouth just typing that.

Maybe you’re right, dunno. To me they just seem like useful idiots of authoritarian regimes. People that legit believe the shit they’re saying. I hope you’re right, that’d make the whole thing a bit less sad, imo

Also, do you happen to have some examples? Because the best I’ve heard so far is people accusing users such as linkerbaan or whatever it was, based on the fact that they appeared to be posting during times that coincided with the east European working hours.

I’m just quoting Wikipedia. Not sure how that’s making me a lover of far right think tanks. You’re free to edit it and provide sources for it and it’ll be changed if it’s wrong.

And yes, metrics such as 7/10 people can’t afford food. Not metrics such as “the country with only one political party is more democratic than western countries”.

Anyway, we’re back to square one. Me quoting sources, you dismissing them and not providing anything in return. Typical. Anyway, nobody’s gonna read this far down anyway, so I’m out. Or storming off, as you like to put it. Mark another victory in your calendar. xD

Again, it was terrible quality of life before the liberalization which started 30 years ago, because that’s why it started, and it’s gotten worse, not better since. Stop trying to blame it on the pandemic, it was bad before it as I’ve already said and you’ve ignored.

As for the other stuff you’ve mentioned: Good for them on the LGBTQ and healthcare stuff, that’s a great thing, however…

“Human rights in Cuba are under the scrutiny of human rights organizations, which accuse the Cuban government of committing systematic human rights abuses against the Cuban people, including arbitrary imprisonment and unfair trials.International human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have drawn attention to the actions of the human rights movement and designated members of it as prisoners of conscience, such as Óscar Elías Biscet. In addition, the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba led by former statesmen Václav Havel of the Czech Republic, José María Aznar of Spain and Patricio Aylwin of Chile was created to support the Cuban dissident movement.”

“Press freedom is an ongoing issue in Cuba. The country has ranked low on the Press Freedom Index, a list published by Reporters Without Borders which reflects the degree of freedom that journalists, news organisations, and netizens have in a country. Cuba has been ranked among the index’s “least free” countries for a decade."

As someone whose family lived under a similar regime I can tell you one thing: quality of life is more than stats. Stats can be good while real quality of life is shit. Which is what appears to be happening there. Which is what usually(probably always?) happens under authoritarian regimes.

Well? What happened? Thought it was a good example? And not another failure in which the people are suffering while the “president” is a rich fuck?

And for those that aren’t aware, this “liberalization” had nothing to do with personal freedoms, it’s talking about the economy. And it started 30 years ago. And it’s getting worse, not better, despite all that time. Any day now, however…

Ok, I’ll spell it out for you, maybe you’re just that dense. This is a quote from the link, right below the title. The literal subtitle of the article: “seven out of 10 Cubans have stopped eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner due to lack of money or shortages”.

If that’s not an explanation, then I’m sorry, maybe we have different definitions for the word. So there you go. My definition of poverty in this case is people not having food to eat.

Again, this was at the top of the article, which you’d have seen if you were interested, which you’re obviously not. As we’ve already established, only pretending to be a “lefty”

Oh, I’m not restarting this conversation with you. You’ve showed your colors when you told me that an article that explains my stance wasn’t an explanation of my stance. Only reason you and others like you sre not blocked is because I get a chuckle out of seeing your nonsense, plus I like to help pointing it out for others that might not know it’s nonsense.

Look, one of the more active ones. Tell us again how Cuba is a great example of communism working as intended.

Hanlon’s razor, my friend. Lemmy is either filled with “bots” for no better reason than to try to persuade the 5k active users which will not be persuaded or it’s just another bunch of random people, a good percentage of which will always be idiots.

I think the latter is a lot more likely, don’t you?

It might depend from person to person? I agree with you, tho. That’s also my preferred method.

However, if the stuff you’re reading is fairly dense and not that well organized, you’re gonna have a harder time than watching a well written educational video or lecture and taking notes along the way.

Yep. Agreed. Unplanned bits are often very memorable. Took shelter in a random café in Vienna and had amazing cakes. My favourite memory from that trip, I think.

Have a broad plan, but don’t fuss about sticking to it too much.

Except the pictures bit. There I disagree.I like taking pictures of touristy stuff and such. Because It’ll help me remember the way I experienced the place. And pictures of stuff in museums because it’ll help me remember what I enjoyed most. I don’t wanna have to look up a list of all the expositions later on in order to find something I wanna review or share with someone.

Others have said it, but I’ll stress it some more. Don’t overplan. Whenever I go somewhere I make a list of all the places I wanna go to and I only schedule one place/day. Two at most if they’re small things. But don’t plan a museum in the morning and then a second place/museum in the afternoon, for example. You’ll never make it to the second place. Or you will but you’ll be too tired to enjoy it.

1-2 places/day are enough. Trying to cram too much stuff into a day will ruin your trip, really.

Never read the Quran, but had a coworker who claimed the quran explains a ton of science, including recent science. She also believed in creationism and therefore also thought evolution was bs, so I didn’t put much basis into her words.

Elections are this sunday. Nobody’s been elected yet.