unicorn

One has to understand that the US Constitution (including its bill of rights) was written in the 18th Century, when not just the US, but the entire world, was a very different place. Direct democracy was a new idea. There are many horrid aspects to the Constitution, including the Electoral College, the non-democratic Senate, and the virtual impossibility to hold the US President accountable under the law (especially under the current hard-and-fast political party system). I don't think anyone at the time imagined the likes of Trump. The one saving grace is that while Trump has appointed a plurality of the US Supreme Court justices, they are not beholden to him, and he cannot fire them once confirmed. Trump can even, in effect, fire Republican members of Congress by labeling them traitors--and he has done so multiple times. We live under a reign of terror with both Congress and the Presidency under Trump's control, and the mostly Republican-appointed SCOTUS putting few brakes onto his insane policies. We can only hope that at least the SCOTUS is not physically afraid of him--though I have a feeling he can figure out ways to put the squeeze even on them. We simply have to survive this reign of terror until his term is up or until he dies, whichever comes first. I never thought this could happen in the US, but I was wrong.

Wouldn't the abduction and enslavement of Thai citizens into Myanmar qualify? If US citizens were being abducted and enslaved into another country, I doubt the US would sit on its hands (unless, of course, the foreign country had an extremely powerful military, such as China or North Korea).

Shortly following 9/11/01, some form of passport has been required, even for land and sea crossings. Though valid for domestic air travel, even enhanced driver's licenses are not valid for entry into Canada and Mexico. https://www.tsa.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs Q: Can I use my REAL ID card to cross the border into Canada and Mexico and for international travel? No. REAL ID cards cannot be used for border crossings into Canada, Mexico or other international travel. For land and sea crossings (for example by train, car, or cruise ship), one can use a passport card rather than present the passport book, but most people who use the passport card also have a passport book. A Global Entry card (or NEXUS or SENTRI) is also adequate, although one must have a passport book to get such a card. Any international travel by air requires the full passport book.

I must admit that I've been curious for years, though never tempted to go. The festival definitely attracts a crowd of people who are not at all similar to myself. Those running the festival go to very great pains to make sure the site is not accessible to tourists and/or the curious. Money magazine estimated the cost of attending in 2017 to be about $2348 per person, and it hasn't gotten cheaper since: https://money.com/burning-man-how-much-it-costs/ And that's if you don't need to rent an RV.

I'm definitely no expert in that area. It seems, though, that the country's splintered, and all fighting each other. I would think that if the Thai or the Chinese wanted to, they could tell whatever militia is controlling that area to cut the crap, or they'd do it themselves, that this militia would have to listen? Aren't the Thai and the Chinese in a better position? Why would they accept having their citizens trafficked and enslaved? Could the local militia really thumb their noses at the Thai or Chinese while they're fighting their own countrymen at the same time?

You're factually wrong if you think those are cartoons. Those are many examples of actual signs one will see while traveling in Texas (and some other states). If you think those are cartoons and walk past one, you could end up literally dead-wrong. You might not have taken the warnings about pickpockets in Rome seriously, but you'd be an even bigger fool if you mistook those signs as jokes. I remember taking a cruise some years ago with my ex. At the time, it was common for unrelated passengers to be seated together at larger tables during meals. One woman from Texas (single) literally bragged that she owned a backhoe so that she could burry the bodies of any trespasser who wandered into her property. Certainly not a joking matter.

None of which I'm aware. It'll be interesting to see if police authorities will be able to figure out what happened. He could have been murdered at random by some drug-addicted lunatic.

Yes, there are deaths at Burning Man, mostly due to illicit drugs, which are prevalent at that festival. Kruglov was found in a pool of blood--clearly not a drug-related death. I hope the news media follows this story. I'm curious as to why he was targeted.

The way to stop these scams, or at least slow them down quite a bit, is to go after the scammers.

For God's sake, I've made it quite clear that I don't disagree with you regarding the egregiousness of the crime. The only difference between us is that I don't believe that victims are responsible for crimes committed unto them, and you do. You were not responsible for being pickpocketed, though you were apparently foolish in how you secured your money in one of the most pickpocket-prone cities on the planet. As I've said, I believe that the best way to discourage further crimes is to prosecute the guilty to the full extent of the law, and I certainly believe they should throw the book at the murderer (although playing ding-dong-ditch at 11 PM in Texas is not wise). No one's posting cartoons. You're hallucinating.

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2025/09/03/burning-man-homicide-victim-identified-as-vadim-kruglov-37/85952607007/ "The man found dead at Burning Man has been identified as Vadim Kruglov, 37, a Russian who was living in Tacoma, Washington. Kruglov was found dead in a pool of blood on Aug. 30. The Pershing County Sheriff's Office put out a plea on Aug. 31 for help identifying the victim. He was identified using fingerprints, according to the sheriff's office...". I wonder if he was a refugee or asylee from Russia. Could the FSB have been involved? In any case, it looks like Vadim had a Билет в один конец (one-way ticket) from Russia to the US. 😢In any case, Vadim Putin could also find himself with a Билет в один конец to The Hague if he ever steps foot in the EU...

A woman here in Los Angeles lost $431,000 to a scammer who sent her AI images on WhatsApp, convincing her that soap opera actor Steve Burton (who's married) was in love with her and needed the money. 🫢 https://people.com/woman-loses-life-savings-after-scammers-use-ai-to-pose-as-general-hospital-star-11800052 "...KABC reported that the scammers first approached Ruvalcaba on Facebook Messenger before switching over to WhatsApp. She told KTLA that she initially sent more than $81,000 before selling her family's condo and giving the $350,000 in proceeds to the scammer. Ruvalcaba's daughter Vivian told the outlets that her mother has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and said the victim believed it when the fake Burton told her he needed money after his home was destroyed in a fire...". The daughter is trying to make the company who purchased the property held responsible for the loss, arguing that Mrs. Ruvalcaba lacked the mental capacity to sell her home, but I can't see how that could be successful. If that lawsuit were successful, that would imply that all home sellers would be required to undergo a mental health assessment by a mental health professional to certify mental capacity. Unless a court had previously determined that she was incompetent, the buyer would have no way of knowing of any alleged mental health problems.

I certainly agree with you that 20 years would be far too lenient a sentence. Although, unlike you (apparently), I don't believe victims are responsible for crimes, that photo was obviously flipped (manipulated) to crudely (and ineffectually) attempt to hide the fact that the photo was taken at the victim's 6 year birthday party. In other words, while it is ostensibly a photo of the victim, it shows the victim when he was essentially half the age of when he was shot. Why not show his baby pictures? Of course, no one should be shot while they're running away, least of all for a fairly harmless prank. I'm sorry you were pickpocketed in Rome. While you probably should have been more careful, the reality is that lenient laws and lax law enforcement in Rome result in crime being more common than it needs to be.

My sister was in town, so we had dinner with her and her daughter and discussed, among other things, our upcoming travels. My husband and I mentioned that we're taking a cruise to Antarctica in a few months, and my sister mentioned that she was dunked in the Southern Ocean, where the freezing temperature of the ocean water is -2C, and she mentioned that she'd also done so in the Arctic Ocean at a similar freezing temperature. We both chimed in that we were quite certain we wouldn't partake in such an adventure. I've always thought that such activities were foolish (in fact, I'm surprised that it seems no one has suffered a medical calamity while doing such activities). I've also always thought it ridiculous that people risk their lives and suffer extreme hardship just so they can say they climbed Mount Everest (or similar). I feel somewhat less strongly about challenges which are simply very painful and challenging, but at least not very life-threatening. We're friends with a married couple, one 28 and the other 39, for example, who've recently climbed Mount Whitney (in June) and trekked to Everest Base Camp about a month ago. After the first climb, one could barely walk for 1 week, and the other for 2 weeks. They described the trek as beautiful, but fairly miserable, with both having explosive diarrhea for a couple of days. I followed their journeys on social media, and expressed admiration for their tenacity. I must admit, I'd love to make it to the summit of Mount Whitney, but would only do so if it were possible to get up there on the back of a mule. If I'm to undergo a difficult challenge, there has to be a limit to the degree of discomfort, as well as a high reward. The most arduous things I've done are a climb up Fuji-San, and the hike to Waterwheel Falls and LeConte Falls in Yosemite. I would say that the scenery was worth it, especially the Yosemite scenery, although if there had been a cog railway or funicular to those falls, I'd have chosen those (those options are much more likely in the Alps than in US National Parks). Waterwheel Falls: LeConte Falls: So will you undergo hardship to experience unique views? How about just for bragging rights?

Well, I'm pleased to notice that you do agree with it. While there are prudent steps one can take to reduce ones risk of being pick-pocketed, the fault lies in the criminal, not the victim. Certainly one has to be careful in places like Paris, Naples, and Rome, but victims are not responsible for their crimes. A woman is not "asking to be raped" just because she wears sexy clothing in a park at night. Any rape is the fault of the rapist. That does not mean one should abandon caution and common sense, nor ignore warnings related to specific places. If anything, it should be local police authorities' responsibility to go after pick-pockets. I saw a video once of someone who taped multiple pick-pocketing episodes in Naples, and police were nowhere. It really wouldn't take that much effort. I strongly condemn anti-gay laws as seen in many Muslim countries and sub-Saharan African countries (and Russia). Do I think those laws are awful? Yes. Would I smooch a man in a public park in Iran, Saudi Arabia, or Aceh Province in Indonesia? No, no, no. Would I wear a rainbow shirt in Russia? Hell no. Would I play "ding-dong-ditch" in Texas? No. How about doing so at 11 PM? No, no, no, no, no, no. That being said, the murderer in this case will almost certainly be prosecuted, and probably convicted. But I'm glad that you agree that one has to have common sense, as well as awareness of local dangers, regardless of how one feels about local laws. I'm not one for being "dead right."

I forgot to mention that Potato Dreams of America is available to stream free on Amazon Prime and Tubi (at least in the US).

I'm not defending (in fact, I deplore) the lax gun policies prevalent in Republican-led states. However, when traveling outside one's home state, it behooves one to be aware of local laws and customs, and not doing so is foolish. I also decry laws forbidding gay sex. For the most part, I avoid going to such countries, but have on occasion (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Qatar). When I do go to such countries, I adjust my behavior accordingly. I can't say for sure why, but pickpocketing is generally rare in the US. According to this source, Detroit and Baltimore are the only cities in the world's top 26. Maybe it's because those tempted to pickpocket in the US are aware that they run a real risk of being shot if caught in the act. https://sites.google.com/view/travel-for-a-purpose/travel-for-life/travel-tips/26-worst-cities-for-pickpocketing That being said, one is certainly more likely to be robbed at gunpoint in the US. https://matadornetwork.com/read/worst-us-cities-for-pickpockets/

Texas welcome sign (ironically, the word "Texas" meant "friend" in some local languages. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/texas-origin-of-name "The word texas (tejas, tayshas, texias, thecas?, techan, teysas, techas?) had wide usage among the Indians of East Texas even before the coming of the Spanish, whose various transcriptions and interpretations gave rise to many theories about the meaning. The usual meaning was "friends," although the Hasinais applied the word to many groups-including Caddoan-to mean "allies." The Hasinais probably did not apply the name to themselves as a local group name; they did use the term, however, as a form of greeting: "Hello, friend."..."

Well, the man will probably be charged with murder, since the boys were running away. One caveat which one should add to the story was that this prank happened at 11 PM, when one would hope parents would know where an 11 year-old is. Of course, that's no excuse for the heinous murder, although it does give some context. Things also do vary quite a bit from state to state. One has to be especially careful in red states, especially Texas, because anyone can be carrying a concealed weapon, even out in the streets, not to mention in one's own property. In Texas, and some other states, one does not even have to fence one's property or put up No Trespassing signs. All one has to do it slop on some purple paint on a tree every 100 feet (30 meters), or on a post every 1000 feet (300 meters) in unforested land. You cross that, and you may be shot. I stayed at a hotel in a rural area in Texas near Big Bend National Park once, and there was a notice that if a guest were to climb a hill behind the hotel, he could be shot without notice. One does have to be mindful of local laws and customs. https://www.ktsm.com/news/what-do-purple-fence-posts-mean-in-texas/ If you’re in the woods and come across a purple stripe, whether it be painted on a fence post, tree or somewhere else, you may not know what it means. While the unusual sight may make a nice backdrop for a photo, it’s also meant to convey an important message. As fall weather ramps up and hunting season continues, remember that in Texas, a purple stripe means “no trespassing,” so if you see one, don’t go beyond it. In Texas Penal Code §30.05, if a property is fenced, posted with at least one sign, or marked with purple paint, it is illegal for anyone to enter. The fine or jail time for trespassing in Texas can be up to $2,000 or up to 180 days. The law specifies the purple marking must consist of “vertical lines no less than eight inches in length and not less than one inch in width, and the bottom of the mark not less than three nor more than five feet from the ground.” The marking must also be placed at locations that are readily visible to any person approaching the property on trees or posts “no more than 100 feet apart on forest land or 1,000 feet apart on land other than forest land.” Typical Texas/red state sign:

Well, not having and using a smartphone does represent backwardness and technophobia. It helps me drive or go on public transportation, and is even necessary to get into most entertainment venues, at least here in Los Angeles. The only venue I know of which will even issue paper tickets in LA is the LA Opera (which, after all, caters mostly to senior citizens). Had our friend (as mentioned in the OP) not gotten into us in for free as VIP's, I would have needed my iPhone just to get my tickets. I did need to use the phone to enter the parking garage (in downtown LA) and to get out. One could waste massive amounts of time if one didn't use the navigation application, as the app tells the user the fastest way under current traffic conditions (and sometimes even corrects itself with other suggestions en route, as traffic conditions change). I'm a season subscriber to Broadway in Hollywood, for example, and they informed me that paper tickets are NOT an option. I do agree that simply calling someone on his cell phone number without first texting to ask if it's an OK time to call is a bit rude. The whole point of the different methods of communication are that they are appropriate for different time frames and purposes. (1) Direct phone call without texting first. Rarely appropriate, but OK for true emergencies (such as a friend or hospital telling you a relative or close friend was taken to the hospital or in an accident and needs immediate help). (2) Texting. These are best suited for something quick, which is not an emergency, but for which one would like an answer within a few hours. The texter would be expected to understand that he won't get a response if the person he's texting is in a business meeting, at the theater/opera/movies, at a social dinner, having sex, or driving (although I have hands-free capability/BlueTooth in my car). However, it's reasonable to expect a response within several hours. (3) E-mail. Something which is non-urgent, and may require more input, such as asking a friend about plans for getting together in the not-near future, business requests, and so on. Reasonable to expect a response in 24-48 hours. (4) Snail mail. Mainly for distant and/or very formal requests, such as a save-the-date for a wedding, wedding invitations, 30-year high school reunions, formal parties, and the like. I do recognize that there are certain people I know who won't respond to certain methods, and I have to learn which methods they use, but that just represents stubbornness on their parts. For example, I have one friend wouldn't answer a text to save his life (or the life of anyone he loved), but will answer cold phone calls (I consider a call without a text first to ask if it's OK, to be a cold phone call). Of all of these methods, texting is the easiest and can be done at a convenient time (for example, after the movie is over). There is no rational reason to completely refuse to use it (though, again, I do understand that such people exist, mostly elderly).

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the movie also stars the dreamy Jonathan Bennett: