The BigMac Index was actually a really good metric. It's sold nearly everywhere in the world, was a low margin product, and depends on a complex global supply chain that's a good stand-in for other supply chains. It was used as a way to cut-through governments reporting innacurate numbers.
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IDK, ketamine is kinda similar to alcohol; more psychedelic. As someone who has always struggled with depression and has done ketamine, it does seem like it would be a good fast-acting, but short half-life anti-depressant (the afterglow lasts well after the buzz). Never knew anyone who abused it habitually, long term. Heard it messes up your bladder.
Not sure about the insurance thing. Dunno if they had insurance to cover that. I know home insurance doesn't cover arson. I know of a factory owner that burned down his factory and tried to make it look like an electrical failure because his insurance apparently didn't cover arson. I remember a dealership and all its cars burned up during the BLM protests, and the owner claimed he didn't have insurance.
Oligarchs replace most government functions with private entities that they have equity in and funnel tax dollars into their own companies. It looks like they're trying to cause a depression too, so they can buy everything up for cheap (farms, homes, etc). I think they're stupid, but not stupid enough to not realize an economic depression coupled with gutting social safety nets will lead to massive crime waves and riots; so I'm guessing they're planning on a police state and work camps for people they arrest (think that's what they're going to do with many of the immigrants too).
I've heard it postulated they are realigning with Russia and other dictators because we'd lose our normal allies if we became such a society. And they probably have very lucrative deals with Russia as well.
I sucks we don't have a good, inspiring opposition party or something to lead or rally around. Without that, anger will just manifest as unorganized, unproductive riots and violence. "Conservatives" are still pretty brainwashed too; believing whatever they're told by media. They will support the government gunning down and enslaving "criminals," at this point in time. I'd hope that changes when things get hard, but media will work hard to redirect the blame.
Yeah, that was definitely the rationale. Satoshi added the message, “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks,” to the first Bitcoin block. In the early days, most of the community were Tea Party, Ron Paul, Paul Ryan, "abolish the Fed" types. There was a lot of anti-Fed propaganda floating around at that time. There was a big overlap with gold-bugs and Bitcoiners, and Bitcoin's "mining" decay curve was inspired by gold's.
I've never noticed idolizing of Texas or Arizona for their weather. I hear Hawaii has mild summers compared to those states.
I've lived in both cold climates and hot climates. It's pretty much the same, but the seasons are reversed. I.e. it's very uncomfortable to spend too much time outdoors in winter in cold climates, and very uncomfortable in summer in hot climates.
Also, it's more energy intensive to heat than it is to cool (at least with the most common HVAC systems). And warmer climates are more productive for food.
Just finished the first season of Paradise. Started out like a generic mystery/thriller show in a barely scifi setting, but got really good in the later episodes. 2nd to last episode was amazing.