DonkeyCigars

Yea real question and I'll take my lumps as a dummy and just google it because I'm apparently beyond stupid, but just to try and defend my question: I had covid-19 (pre-vaccines as an option) and it kicked my butt. I've also been vaxxed around the same time as Abbott with same vaccine. Just curious if you can be asymptomatic and not know it at all. Like, nothing, not even a little bit of fatigue or headache or whatever it is that presents as allergies, etc.

Could you be covid-19 positive and not know it because you aren't subject to daily or weekly testings and are asymptomatic? This has made me think. I was fully vaxxed Pfizer around the same time as Gov. Abbott, and you just never know these days...

This sounds very reasonable and a great policy for all those who would attend; respects everyone's rights and freedoms by law and seems to strike professional yet empathetic and understanding tone for all. I'd be pleased with this.

CRT: Critical Russian Theory. But kidding aside, really interesting and thought-provoking post. You sound like you've seen some things.

It was so bad. How they made Key such a horrible character and person and the chemistry between the two leads so garbage, I thought I'd never know. Then I saw it was a Lorne Michaels vehicle and welp. Must have been a money grab for Key, is all I can think. I kept holding out hope it would be hilarious and cool like:

Enough about America, what about Afghanistan now?

I agree with the tweet that you have to walk away from the bad investment and not get suckered into the sunk cost fallacy. Especially with this factoid I just read: "The group [Taliban] is thought to now be stronger in numbers than at any point since they were ousted in 2001 - with up to 85,000 full time fighters, according to recent Nato estimates." Oof.

The new construction build model of them building the house and taking bids over zoom still seems to be the norm. I wonder if we will ever go back to the old way.

Thanks for the solid response. I guess I keep going back to thinking about the idea that a Muslim-led investment (and protection of investments) would have not only been financially smart for Muslim countries of means (Oil rich, Arabs), but selfishly it would have been better for Americans geopolitically (re: keeping China and Russia from raping Afghanistan for minerals and lithiums to sell to demand hungry companies).

You read this sentence, "Why hasn't Iran helped Afghanistan through incentivized alignment and partnership (aka financial profit and political strength) to get out of the stone ages and build a wealthy national state on the backs of natural resources the rest of the world needs? They've shown you can do this and still be a theocratic Muslim monarchy." , and interpreted it in the way you just characterized it? And you think the one trolling in this interaction is me? You are the one who knocks, Waltcat09.

Dude, what? I asked a question, someone informed me I had a mistake about my premise, and I thanked them and revised the question, to which someone who is clearly very informed and sharp on the regional politics and history had a good answer. But yea, sorry I didn't double major in Middle Eastern Studies and International Politics and don't read international news enough for you (or a 5 year old?) and that means I'm a troll. OR you are just being petty and haughty that you are smart and well-informed on a specific subject and your frenemies on the internet are not. Cool. You are cool.

Wait, what. What's the story here?

Touche, touche.

Thanks again, in my quick reading up of this, it appears Afghans are more closely and ethnically Persian (and neighbor Iran), than obviously Arab. I guess same question, but substitute Iran. Why hasn't Iran helped Afghanistan through incentivized alignment and partnership (aka financial profit and political strength) to get out of the stone ages and build a wealthy national state on the backs of natural resources the rest of the world needs? They've shown you can do this and still be a theocratic Muslim monarchy. Because now all that mineral wealth and lithium demand that China will rape and pillage from Afghanistan is going to fund more hundreds of billions into China's anti-west, anti-American coffers and they are already doing well enough with the full control their government affords them. Oh well, nevertheless.

Well that answers that then. I guess they are second class citizens of the Muslim world and thus the lack of support and help. Thanks.

It's fine, I guess. Nothing wrong with it unless you subscribe to the theory of "Good is the enemy of Great".

It sounds like Afghanistan is about to be raped and pillaged by those with the means (read: China/Russia) to come in and set up operations mining the crap out of their minerals and lithium. Afghanistan is estimated to have $3T worth of mineral wealth in the ground. What I'm confused about geopolitically is Afghanistan's relationship to the rest of the Arab brothers. The Middle East seem to look at each other communally, in some ways, that Afghanistan doesn't get the benefit of. Afghanistan, with some Arab help and the right leadership and culture, could have been an up-and-coming mini-Qatar or something with their natural resources. Instead they are essentially Arab Aggies, drinking ranch water dirty well water and tending to goats while 'Bama China/Russia abuses them and drinks their milkshake. And ultimately, our enemies have a great story to tell to their people and the world abroad who doesn't pay much attention, that furthers the narrative that we are in a tailspin; right, wrong or indifferent.

So, the consensus is that the show's writers and producers have relegated Ted Lasso to Scrubs level of play. Way to make the extra pass into ruining a good thing, Apple+!

From your link, they summed up basically what I was trying to say here:

At the core, it's probably 100% this. We kids aren't alright.

Wait, I was told this show was not realistic because the show isn't about sticking to the details of European soccer and being well researched and consistent on schedules and rules and such, but it's just a charming Wichita State coach being a fish out of water. Regardless, it was (is?) a culturally relevant and interesting and fresh show. The fear is that it regresses to the "Emily in Paris" mean and some of you people are here for that.

To your point. I watched two episodes of that schmigagooden show on a plane because I love Key & Peele and it was maybe the worst premise of a show I’ve ever seen. How they made Key such an unlikeable character is crazy.

I think Ted Lasso season 1 was more than just a stupid SitCom you’d see on CBS or whatever you are describing and saying our expectations should be. I think you’ll see viewership and/or critical review tank if this season doesn’t rebound in the next 2/3 Of the season as it goes to a “meh, nice to have” as you describe versus a show of cultural relevance and importance, as it’s been. IMO.

Touché. Masters of the Universe. But in the Tom Wolfe way, not the sad, nerdy way of MCUniverse.