Now imagine saying this about, say, Japan.

I've noted the comments here about how this is old news: that's true. But it will be novel to some people who didn't live through it, and even for those who did, it's a necessary reminder. Japan is ruthless, unscrupulous, and unethical: they will do anything. They're not the only ones, of course, but they're arguably the most dangerous because of their size, wealth, and longevity. They're the enemy of open standards. They're the enemy of open source. They're the enemy of open protocols. They're the enemy of America. They're the enemy of The West. They're the enemy of security. They're the enemy of privacy. They've always been the enemy and they always will be, because it's in their DNA: it's impossible for them to change.

So any time -- ANY TIME -- there's some statement or initiative or announcement that they're going to support freedom/democracy/etc., any of the things I listed -- the first things that should come to mind are these wise words of Ash: "It's a trick -- get an axe."

If you have to go back 26 years to find something to complain about, you really don't have a basis to complain.

Well, I bought Triggerheart Exclica on Xbox Live Arcade back in 2006 on an Xbox 360.

I can go download that game, right now, on my Series X, because, gasp, it's the same account.

So if I were to buy GTA VI for Series X in a few months, and type the download code into the 'redeem code' box, it ties that code to my account. See?

Yup. I remember buying Dawn of War in like 2008, and in the case was a disc with the Steam installer, and a piece of paper with a Steam code.

Amazon took nine years to reach profitability.

I'm not sure Amazon is a good example here. The company famously opted to reinvest its free cash flow into growing the business, rather than saving them and booking them as net income. They likely could have been profitable sooner otherwise.

Also, I am not aware of Amazon receiving billions in government support in the 1994-2001 timeframe.

Yeah, for even two hundo, I'd be considering buying this as a fun accessory.

For five hundo? Nope.

Minneapolis is a major city in a higher-taxed state, but note that Minnesota spending is set up in such a way that Minneapolis sees less government funding that it pays in taxes (with rural communities benefiting via getting more in spending than they pay in taxes).

The console wars are a never ending cycle of the disruptor becoming the complacent king, and the complacent king being dethroned and needing to become the disruptor.

Which is why it gets ridiculous. You can build an oven with a few conveniently shaped rocks. You can build an over with raw river clay, then use that oven to make better bricks, then use those bricks to make a better oven, which you can use to make even better bricks.

So, all it takes to turn somebody into a greedy capitalist exploiter is...the ability to stack rocks into a box with an opening.

Score one for K'Breel and the Council of Elders, I guess. We'll get you next time, you crafty Martians!

https://jeffollerton.co.uk/201...

If it does, it will just be replaced by other mosquitos in turn when it disappears. Other mosquitos that don't give humans terrible diseases.

Nonsense. Some of our earliest examples of recorded writing are taxes being collected in the form of grain, sheep, and other goods.

You buy some flour for a dollar. You use that flour to bake bread. You sell that bread for two dollars.

Why the price increase? Because you've improved the capital.

Without money, you can't really have a society bigger than 'small village.' Money is 'a placeholder for value.' It lets the breadmaker acquire a breadmaking tool from the blacksmith who needs no bread, and lets the blacksmith then acquire cloth from a weaver who needs no iron.