"The game's over, you know. It was a great game--the greatest--but it's over now. So I'll tell you a story--I like telling stories. I tell the best stories. It's wonderful, it really is. I want to people to understand me. I got a new name for myself, it's the best name, the best. I call myself the Mule. Not because of my strength, obviously--though that's great too! I'm a very strong guy. And not because I'm sterile--no, I'm not, just ask Melania and Ivanka!"
Trump lost his second election (his only general election against a man). My recollection is that the Mule was undefeated, and seemingly invincible, up until the end.
True, but you're being too analogically literal. This was just a metaphor. The Mule was the wildcard, unpredicted by Hari Seldon. So it is with Bryan's observation: "Is there any common thread, to help me avoid further surprises in the future? The only one I see is Trump, who really is a surprising figure on so many levels."
> I was shocked that transgenderism became so common that I personally know multiple people with trans children. Darwinian evolution just tells us less about human sexuality than I imagined.
I don't think transgenderism can be separated from Asperger's syndrome, in my experience they're very correlated. And I think Darwin's theory can account for Asperger's. Whether that's because genes that cause Asperger's are adaptive in small amounts but maladaptive with more, it's because of inevitable deleterious mutations, because it actually is adaptive in the ancestal environment, or some other reason, I think it still fits in the framework
In the years that followed, I became familiar with a few acquaintances in the media and entertainment professions. Their siloed insularity was a revelation.
And my business changed to supporting manufactures and machine shops in the western PA and NY areas. The owners, managers, and skilled trades people in those businesses have a more realistic world view. They are a pretty good bellweather regarding how things are going. Note that Trump's tariffs are pretty much hated by this group.
I have never watched Dexter, but I want to clarify that caption. Bryan is saying there were 97 episodes, 95 of the first 96 were good and then the 97th episode - the finale - was surprisingly bad? I want to know which of the first 96 he didn't like and why.
Why don’t you sign up for cryonics? You’re nonconformist when it comes to parenting and cutlery, so why not nonconform in something far more consequential?
Trump is our reality’s version of Isaac Asimov’s Mule.
"The game's over, you know. It was a great game--the greatest--but it's over now. So I'll tell you a story--I like telling stories. I tell the best stories. It's wonderful, it really is. I want to people to understand me. I got a new name for myself, it's the best name, the best. I call myself the Mule. Not because of my strength, obviously--though that's great too! I'm a very strong guy. And not because I'm sterile--no, I'm not, just ask Melania and Ivanka!"
Trump lost his second election (his only general election against a man). My recollection is that the Mule was undefeated, and seemingly invincible, up until the end.
True, but you're being too analogically literal. This was just a metaphor. The Mule was the wildcard, unpredicted by Hari Seldon. So it is with Bryan's observation: "Is there any common thread, to help me avoid further surprises in the future? The only one I see is Trump, who really is a surprising figure on so many levels."
> I was shocked that transgenderism became so common that I personally know multiple people with trans children. Darwinian evolution just tells us less about human sexuality than I imagined.
I don't think transgenderism can be separated from Asperger's syndrome, in my experience they're very correlated. And I think Darwin's theory can account for Asperger's. Whether that's because genes that cause Asperger's are adaptive in small amounts but maladaptive with more, it's because of inevitable deleterious mutations, because it actually is adaptive in the ancestal environment, or some other reason, I think it still fits in the framework
The key is to give up hubris. Endemic to academics. And to consider Frost's late 50s poem "How Hard It Is to Keep from Being King
When It’s in You and in the Situation".
You are underestimating how much most people are driven by emotions
Trump's 2016 win over Hillary surprised me.
In the years that followed, I became familiar with a few acquaintances in the media and entertainment professions. Their siloed insularity was a revelation.
And my business changed to supporting manufactures and machine shops in the western PA and NY areas. The owners, managers, and skilled trades people in those businesses have a more realistic world view. They are a pretty good bellweather regarding how things are going. Note that Trump's tariffs are pretty much hated by this group.
I was definitely surprised by Trump winning nom. I was working for MO GOP at the time, and his steady march over the competition was surreal.
In 2022 I also would have bet money against Putin invading Ukraine for real.
I have never watched Dexter, but I want to clarify that caption. Bryan is saying there were 97 episodes, 95 of the first 96 were good and then the 97th episode - the finale - was surprisingly bad? I want to know which of the first 96 he didn't like and why.
Why don’t you sign up for cryonics? You’re nonconformist when it comes to parenting and cutlery, so why not nonconform in something far more consequential?