events around the world

Well that narrows it down.

Our imaginations have always fallen short with regard to World War III. The only thing anyone can visualize is total nuclear destruction, but this world definitely has another actual world war left in it where conventional forces fight it out across multiple fronts, largely through proxies but orchestrated by the major powers. The world economy will plunge into chaos for a decade or more. The political situation in every country around the world will turn to shit. Fascism will bloom and commit mass atrocities. Oh shit… that’s all already happening.

They don’t need to do 90% of the shit that they do, but “it’s their culture” and everything.

Have microplastics been declared non-kosher?

I mean I see the point that people used to live without these things but I’m not sure how much it matters. Any of us could be exhorted to give something up and it would be a poor consolation to say “people lived without xyz for centuries!”

Medieval times are hardly some kind of healthy baseline everyone should be prepared to return to. Much though we may all be just about to.

It’s not really a question of antisemitism - this is a kerfuffle between Jewish groups.

The ultra orthodox in Israel are on a whole new level of Judaism with prescribed clothing, hairstyles, foods, language, sabbath rules, and marriage practices. Many in-groups around the world insulate themselves by creating all these little divides with the out-group. “Oh no, you can’t eat with them - their food is contaminated and dirty. Of course you can’t marry one of them!”

So there’s quite a cultural divide between them and every other Jewish person there, many of whom are devout but live a modern lifestyle, and many of whom are just cultural members of Judaism, citizens of Israel, and not religious at all.

The reason disposable cookware is a division point has to do, I expect, with keeping kosher / observing the sabbath. Kosher isn’t just for food - a plate or spoon can be kosher to use or not, depending on whether it has ever touched anything “unclean.” Single-use plastics new from the box have never touched anything. And washing dishes counts as doing work (a sabbath tabboo) but dropping a plastic plate in the trash might not count. Hence: anything that affects single-use plastics may have an acute impact on the orthodox because they believe they need these things to adhere to their religious and cultural prohibitions.

I’m not justifying, just explaining. I think this shit is cuckoo.

The ultra-Orthodox community … use disproportionate amounts of disposable kitchenware

Is this because it’s kosher? I remember once a family member was going to host an ultra-orthodox person and had to figure how to cook for them. Everything got cooked in tin foil because that’s fresh and new and won’t be contaminated. I wonder if the disposable kitchenware is the same thing.

There are so many countries even further down this path of collapse whose leaders hold on for long long periods. I mean if Russia follows the Syria recipe, then Putin’s children will rule for decades after he dies.

I’m not saying it does, but as an adult you are responsible for your choices. None of what you’re saying would ever stand up in court.

They go on their gut, not on data. And that too is a choice they make as adults which I think we can hold them responsible for.

I’m saying they are adults and they have some responsibilities. I have lived in a place where thought options were actively suppressed, and I know how much freedom and information access Americans have. It’s true there is abuse and manipulation and lying out there. But no, I am not comfortable calling MAGAts victims and blaming someone else for how they vote. They are indeed getting fooled, but let’s be real: it’s a “fool me twice” situation in Trump’s second term.

I’m confused… China is dependent on oil imports flowing through the strait of Hormuz. Much more so than the US is. In fact the US maintains a naval presence in the region specifically so they’d have the capability to block that strait and starve China of oil. China produces very little oil of their own, though they have coal up the wazoo. Blocking that strait is the US’s main card to play if China invade Taiwan.

That’s fairly true of everyone and everything. We are born into a culture and it influences us greatly. I don’t think adults get any kind of a pass because of that. Certainly Americans of voting age have options about what to think and believe, regardless of where they start out.

I’m an American and I hate to break this to you but the people elected this clown. That’s how it works here. You didn’t vote for him? Okay. But until you’re doing absolutely everything you can to prevent people like him being elected, you don’t get to just shrug off responsibility. I know exactly two people who are doing everything they can, and neither of them is me.

Death from the sky wherever we judge it to be right. It’s some Death Star shit.

All because Trump pressured the rest of NATO and wants more money they signed an agreement promising to do so.

Seriously. We’re supposed to regard Iran as an existential threat that is worth any price to neutralize. Okay, boomers.

Now we’re saying that it’s ethical to join the military because they’ll pay for you to have a baby. Is that really a serious argument?

I’m being generous. I mean the revolutionary and civil wars weren’t exactly imperialism. But you’re right there are older examples to be sure. Like what we did to Mexico.

“Housing.” As in a cot to sleep on? You can get the same at a homeless shelter or by landing yourself in jail.

“Healthcare.” Hm yes the military has a great reputation for taking care of the folks maimed in the line of duty after they’ve sent them into harm’s way. Don’t join the army for your health, y’all!