legios

Thing is Ukraine doesn't have a defense pact with the US. The US is doing this out of (insert any number of reasons ranging from stability in the region, strengthening ties, propping up military manufacturers etc).

The Philippines have had a defense pact with the US since 1951 and basically means if things can't be resolved diplomatically the US will commit not just arms but fighting forces to the joint defense of the nation.

To quote Wikipedia - 'In a 2022 meeting, US Vice-President Kamala Harris reportedly assured Philippine president Bongbong Marcos that "an armed attack on the Philippines armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US Mutual Defense commitments."'

Australia too. Hentai showing underage people is illegal here. From my understanding it's all a little grey depending on the state and whether the laws are enforced, but if it's about victimisation the law will be pretty clear.

I've spent a lot of time in the US. I'm 6'5", shaved head, big beard, tattooed.... The number of neo-nazis who thought I was 'one of them' was horrible.

I'm SUPER left (in Australia I'm closest to The Greens). But skin heads thought I was a white supremacist nazi because I looked like them... I had to (politely) tell them to fuck right off.

Edit: One night in a bar in Fargo, ND (of all places) after some skin heads tried to complain to me about 'the black man' and I moved them along, a bunch of black guys came over to me and I won't lie I was worried they thought I was a skin head. The conversation was "You're one big motherfucker. How're you doing?" and realised I was an Aussie and we just got hammered. It was fucking awesome.

I can present a link - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/27/sweden-seeks-to-stem-deadly-rise-in-youth

It's actually quite a positive story though (I think). Crime is up but the police commissioner is pragmatic about how to try to curb it through early intervention etc.

Hahaha, I remember OctaMed. My older brothers had A500s then A1200s. I had a CD32 for a while too until realised it was a dead platform (although Liberation kicked arse).

I know that feeling lol, I had 'friends' who were only friends because they got games from Singapore and the UK and I'd just want to pirate them but we weren't actually friends.

I remember that too. So many memories... Curious as to whether you were an Amiga person too? I've found Commodore wasn't very well known at all in the US but the UK, Australia and most of Europe it was super popular.

For quite literally years I couldn't remember the name of that game so thank you! I use VICE these days as an emulator and one of my friends had that game but literally couldn't remember the name.

My kitty still isn't terribly well. Her temp is down though which is positive but seems she has possibly a skin and ear infection. Skin I can deal with... Ear infection she is going to claw the shit out of me.

My other cat doesn't recognise her (since she's been bathed, showered and has topical cream on her) so she's kinda being shitty but there's no fighting, just hissing.

Otherwise I'm doing OK? Work has been a stressor lately since I can't seem to make progress on a few things, but realising I need a mentor (relatively new workplace) to help me progress. My boss is honestly a bit meh and a terrible mentor so seeing if I can get one somewhere else in the org.

Quiet weekend planned, and looks like the weather will be kinda meh. Also trying to figure out Christmas. My family wants me to visit them in ~~hell~~ Warrnambool but I'm not inclined to go... Although it's the only time I can really see my brothers but the rest of the family I clash with super quickly and I have shitty memories of growing up there so it brings a lot of anxiety,, My new partner is supportive and will go with me but I don't think I want to inflict that on her... So we'll see.

As someone who grew up with a Commodore 64 I present Bruce Lee

(oddly I can't upload gifs so apologies for the link)

I used to work in restorative justice and you'd be surprised at the benefits for the offenders AND the victims/families of victims when I worked in criminology so I've had this conversation with the victims.

Does it always work? No. But when it does does it improve things? Generally yes. It's not black and white.

In Australia I know a lot of people who vote purely based on how their parents voted. That includes people voting against their own interests and refuse to do any research that might change their minds...

Do you believe in rehabilitation? Would you say your values are exactly the same now as they were when you were a child? Do you think that people who grew up in unhealthy environments come out of it with a well-formed sense of psychonormativity?