Hyperreality

-4 F = -20 Celsius.

Potiomkin villages” (and subsequently Potiomkin anything eg. Potiomkin AI).

Potemkin village:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potemkin_village

Apparently the original story is largely a myth:

... the tale of elaborate, fake settlements, with glowing fires designed to comfort the monarch and her entourage as they surveyed the barren territory at night, is largely fictional. ... "Based on the above said we must conclude that the myth of 'Potemkin villages' is exactly a myth, and not an established fact." ... The close relationship between Potemkin and the empress could have made it difficult for him to deceive her. Thus, if there were deception, it would have been mainly directed towards the foreign ambassadors accompanying the imperial party ... it is possible that the phrase cannot be applied accurately to its own original historical inspiration. According to some historians, some of the buildings were real, and others were constructed to show what the region would look like in the near future, and at least Catherine and possibly also her foreign visitors knew which were which.

You asked a question, they answered it seriously. You may disagree with that answer, but responding with a meme makes it clear you're not a serious person.

It's especially jarring because we're talking about literal war crimes, the holocaust and possible genocide in Gaza. You don't seem to grasp the suffering that entails, and seem to think it's all a bit of a joke. Just another topic to have a fun little internet argument over.

Like you're some 13 year old kid posting an emoji response to a decapitation video on 4chan.

It's not a great look to be honest.

Western media are often controlled or influenced by the Chinese or Russian government, through their proxies.

Eg.

In July 2014, the Daily Telegraph was criticised for carrying links on its website to pro-Kremlin articles supplied by a Russian state-funded publication that downplayed any Russian involvement in the downing of the passenger jet Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. These had featured on its website as part of a commercial deal, but were later removed. As of 2014,[needs update] the paper was paid £900,000 a year to include the supplement Russia Beyond the Headlines, a publication sponsored by the Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the Russian government's official newspaper. In February 2015, the chief political commentator of the Daily Telegraph, Peter Oborne, resigned. Oborne accused the paper of a "form of fraud on its readers" for its coverage of the bank HSBC in relation to a Swiss tax-dodging scandal that was widely covered by other news media. He alleged that editorial decisions about news content had been heavily influenced by the advertising arm of the newspaper because of commercial interests. Jay Rosen at New York University stated that Oborne's resignation statement was "one of the most important things a journalist has written about journalism lately". Oborne cited other instances of advertising strategy influencing the content of articles, linking the refusal to take an editorial stance on the repression of democratic demonstrations in Hong Kong to the Telegraph's support from China. ... In October 2017, a number of major western news organisations whose coverage had irked Beijing were excluded from Xi Jinping's speech event launching a new politburo. However, the Daily Telegraph had been granted an invitation to the event.

In other words, even western media are also often biased in favour of China.

Ebook reader. Prefer an actual book, but the price of ebooks be much better arrr.

They haven't ruled it's genocide yet. That'll take years. They've ruled there is sufficient evidence to investigate if what has happened is genocide. Note all the caveats and qualifiers:

The court ordered Israel to refrain from any acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts in Gaza. "At least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the (Genocide) Convention," the judges said. The ruling required Israel to prevent and punish any public incitements to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and to preserve evidence related to any allegations of genocide there.
Israel must also take measures to improve the humanitarian situation for Palestinian civilians in the enclave, it said.
However, the court did not demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, something that Israel says would allow Hamas militants to regroup and to launch new attacks on the country. The court also said it was "gravely concerned" about the fate of hostages held in Gaza and called on Hamas and other armed groups to immediately release them without conditions.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/key-takeaways-world-court-decision-israei-genocide-case-2024-01-26/

For context: over 10 million people died in the Congo Free State. It is generally agreed that it wasn't a genocide, because it wasn't intentional. It is possible that the ICJ will ultimately decide what happened in Gaza is not genocide.

His poop is bigger than my house.

At least 5. Arguably the Israel-Gaza situation, Russia- Ukraine, Sudan(also with Russian involvement), China's treatment of the Uyghurs, and Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya.

Obviously, those screeching loudest about genocide X, are inevitably entirely quiet about genocide Y, while accusing country Z of hypocrisy. I haven't named any sides, but if anyone reads this comment and thinks I'm talking about them, perhaps it's time for some introspection.

Not that whataboutism is particularly relevant for those suffering. But hey, why would anyone let human suffering and nuance get in the way of some political point scoring, real politik or a nice online shouting match.

Meanwhile we walk ever closer towards the precipice of the climate apocalypse. If it's isn't already too late.

Fuck not brushing your teeth regularly and having unbrushed teeth from lunch till night time.

I try to brush my teeth three times a day. Used to have regular issues, now I don't and my teeth are less yellow.

No brainer.

Great news to be honest. I hope disney sees a similar spike in profits so they can make more great shows for me to pirate.

a site with more adverts than article words

Ublock origin, firefox on android allows you to install extensions.