Mevari Navalo
@mevarinavalo.bsky.social
Just some nerd who is weirdly into the bard performance feature in FFXIV. I also sometimes talk about other video games, music I like, techy things, and traveling.
I think you have this idea that the French were going around pillaging and looting these gems at gunpoint all across the world, but I'm like 90% sure from what I'm seeing that they were just obtained via boring ol' trade.
I'm not a fan of imperialism, but I prefer to be realistic about its evils.
I'm not a fan of imperialism, but I prefer to be realistic about its evils.
October 19, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I think you have this idea that the French were going around pillaging and looting these gems at gunpoint all across the world, but I'm like 90% sure from what I'm seeing that they were just obtained via boring ol' trade.
I'm not a fan of imperialism, but I prefer to be realistic about its evils.
I'm not a fan of imperialism, but I prefer to be realistic about its evils.
Okay, so, as an example... the emeralds in one set were sourced from Columbia. Which Columbia WAS a colony... specifically a SPANISH colony, not French. And I think it might have already been independent by then.
Another set featured gems from Iran and Turkey... which would have been the Ottomans.
Another set featured gems from Iran and Turkey... which would have been the Ottomans.
October 19, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Okay, so, as an example... the emeralds in one set were sourced from Columbia. Which Columbia WAS a colony... specifically a SPANISH colony, not French. And I think it might have already been independent by then.
Another set featured gems from Iran and Turkey... which would have been the Ottomans.
Another set featured gems from Iran and Turkey... which would have been the Ottomans.
I mean, from what I can tell the pieces were assembled and made in France, whereas the jewels came from all sorts of places via trade with other countries.
I can't see anything about the gems being 'plundered'. Not all gems are stolen via war, it's much easier to just trade for them.
I can't see anything about the gems being 'plundered'. Not all gems are stolen via war, it's much easier to just trade for them.
October 19, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I mean, from what I can tell the pieces were assembled and made in France, whereas the jewels came from all sorts of places via trade with other countries.
I can't see anything about the gems being 'plundered'. Not all gems are stolen via war, it's much easier to just trade for them.
I can't see anything about the gems being 'plundered'. Not all gems are stolen via war, it's much easier to just trade for them.
I mean, I appreciate your sentiment, but the stolen jewels were actually French crown jewels rather than artifacts plundered from other places.
October 19, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I mean, I appreciate your sentiment, but the stolen jewels were actually French crown jewels rather than artifacts plundered from other places.
"It's not gay if it's a brojob"
May 15, 2025 at 12:24 AM
"It's not gay if it's a brojob"
Obviously things are bad right now, but the best case scenario right now is that the dems take back the house and senate in the 2026 midterm elections.
That won't happen, however, if moderates continue to side with Trump like they do now. It also doesn't help if leftists keep Dem-bashing.
That won't happen, however, if moderates continue to side with Trump like they do now. It also doesn't help if leftists keep Dem-bashing.
March 12, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Obviously things are bad right now, but the best case scenario right now is that the dems take back the house and senate in the 2026 midterm elections.
That won't happen, however, if moderates continue to side with Trump like they do now. It also doesn't help if leftists keep Dem-bashing.
That won't happen, however, if moderates continue to side with Trump like they do now. It also doesn't help if leftists keep Dem-bashing.
Here's the problem: Unlike the first election, Trump actually WON the popular vote this time! Right now the strategy is to swing those people BACK to their side, and there's a very real concern that too much shouting and feet-stomping is detrimental to that... and honestly it doesn't help anyway.
March 12, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Here's the problem: Unlike the first election, Trump actually WON the popular vote this time! Right now the strategy is to swing those people BACK to their side, and there's a very real concern that too much shouting and feet-stomping is detrimental to that... and honestly it doesn't help anyway.
Obviously, Trump is not Biden, so the situation is not the same, but the worry is valid: that throwing too much of a stink will make the Dems look like they're having a temper tantrum and alienate people.
What YOU want the Dems to do does not match what OTHER people want the Dems to do.
What YOU want the Dems to do does not match what OTHER people want the Dems to do.
March 12, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Obviously, Trump is not Biden, so the situation is not the same, but the worry is valid: that throwing too much of a stink will make the Dems look like they're having a temper tantrum and alienate people.
What YOU want the Dems to do does not match what OTHER people want the Dems to do.
What YOU want the Dems to do does not match what OTHER people want the Dems to do.
Here's something I'd like you to ponder: when MTG did her bit to Biden, do you think that impressed anybody besides conservatives? Do you think it actually hurt Biden in any particular way?
I'd say, if anything, it made Biden look better, and probably alienated a bunch of people.
I'd say, if anything, it made Biden look better, and probably alienated a bunch of people.
March 12, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Here's something I'd like you to ponder: when MTG did her bit to Biden, do you think that impressed anybody besides conservatives? Do you think it actually hurt Biden in any particular way?
I'd say, if anything, it made Biden look better, and probably alienated a bunch of people.
I'd say, if anything, it made Biden look better, and probably alienated a bunch of people.
Oooor you can just throw up your hands, give up now, and let the fascists take over. Which I'm pretty sure is EXACTLY what they want.
March 12, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Oooor you can just throw up your hands, give up now, and let the fascists take over. Which I'm pretty sure is EXACTLY what they want.
Your next chance to vote is next year in 2026 during the midterm elections. It's going to be hard to screw things up THAT bad by then.
Best case scenario: Dems take back the house/senate. If that happens, our ability to say 'no' to Trump becomes only stronger.
But that's only if people vote.
Best case scenario: Dems take back the house/senate. If that happens, our ability to say 'no' to Trump becomes only stronger.
But that's only if people vote.
March 12, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Your next chance to vote is next year in 2026 during the midterm elections. It's going to be hard to screw things up THAT bad by then.
Best case scenario: Dems take back the house/senate. If that happens, our ability to say 'no' to Trump becomes only stronger.
But that's only if people vote.
Best case scenario: Dems take back the house/senate. If that happens, our ability to say 'no' to Trump becomes only stronger.
But that's only if people vote.
I mean, we've already seen how Russian troll farms will stoke leftist sentiment against the Democratic party in order to weaken the liberal's position in favor of the conservatives. It's not a stretch to imagine they're at least a little behind the recent 'dems bad and weak' trend.
March 7, 2025 at 5:31 AM
I mean, we've already seen how Russian troll farms will stoke leftist sentiment against the Democratic party in order to weaken the liberal's position in favor of the conservatives. It's not a stretch to imagine they're at least a little behind the recent 'dems bad and weak' trend.
Two reasons: First, being petty and vindictive is more of a conservative trait.
The second is that when MTG was asked to sat down, she sat back down. When Al Green was asked to sit down, he refused, which was a breach of rules. Oddly enough Al Green broke more rules than MTG did.
The second is that when MTG was asked to sat down, she sat back down. When Al Green was asked to sit down, he refused, which was a breach of rules. Oddly enough Al Green broke more rules than MTG did.
March 7, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Two reasons: First, being petty and vindictive is more of a conservative trait.
The second is that when MTG was asked to sat down, she sat back down. When Al Green was asked to sit down, he refused, which was a breach of rules. Oddly enough Al Green broke more rules than MTG did.
The second is that when MTG was asked to sat down, she sat back down. When Al Green was asked to sit down, he refused, which was a breach of rules. Oddly enough Al Green broke more rules than MTG did.
I have a feeling this trend of dem-bashing is gonna end up hurting things in the 2026 election. I'm almost half-convinced it's conservative propaganda at work.
March 7, 2025 at 5:09 AM
I have a feeling this trend of dem-bashing is gonna end up hurting things in the 2026 election. I'm almost half-convinced it's conservative propaganda at work.
Because the moderates actually freakin' vote. Meanwhile the leftists complain online but never vote, no matter how progressive the candidate is.
March 6, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Because the moderates actually freakin' vote. Meanwhile the leftists complain online but never vote, no matter how progressive the candidate is.
Sadly my mother went way off the trump deep end. She's about as far as a leftist as you can get right now. But yes, she did vote.
March 5, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Sadly my mother went way off the trump deep end. She's about as far as a leftist as you can get right now. But yes, she did vote.
Not really. It's performative and achieves nothing.
This is all just leftists wanting more reason to complain about liberals. If the dems did this they'd find something else to complain about instead.
This is all just leftists wanting more reason to complain about liberals. If the dems did this they'd find something else to complain about instead.
March 5, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Not really. It's performative and achieves nothing.
This is all just leftists wanting more reason to complain about liberals. If the dems did this they'd find something else to complain about instead.
This is all just leftists wanting more reason to complain about liberals. If the dems did this they'd find something else to complain about instead.
Leftists don't vote anyway. Moderates do.
March 5, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Leftists don't vote anyway. Moderates do.
Yeah, the dem-bashing is not helping in the slightest. The Dems are already voting 'no' on all the horrible legislation and stonewalling as much as they can, but from a minority position there's only so much they can do.
And raising a performative stink may just end up alienating moderates.
And raising a performative stink may just end up alienating moderates.
March 5, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Yeah, the dem-bashing is not helping in the slightest. The Dems are already voting 'no' on all the horrible legislation and stonewalling as much as they can, but from a minority position there's only so much they can do.
And raising a performative stink may just end up alienating moderates.
And raising a performative stink may just end up alienating moderates.
The RGB lights are a sign of quality!
... Not good quality mind you.
... Not good quality mind you.
February 26, 2025 at 12:03 AM
The RGB lights are a sign of quality!
... Not good quality mind you.
... Not good quality mind you.
The best way to learn ANY new tool is by doing your pet projects, tbh. I got good at C# by writing stardew valley mods.
February 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The best way to learn ANY new tool is by doing your pet projects, tbh. I got good at C# by writing stardew valley mods.
Social security was supposed to be insurance against elder poverty, but it's not insurance if you're paying out to people who don't need the money. Imagine if your car insurance paid out money to people who never got into a wreck or anything.
imo, if you're already wealthy, you should get nothing.
imo, if you're already wealthy, you should get nothing.
February 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Social security was supposed to be insurance against elder poverty, but it's not insurance if you're paying out to people who don't need the money. Imagine if your car insurance paid out money to people who never got into a wreck or anything.
imo, if you're already wealthy, you should get nothing.
imo, if you're already wealthy, you should get nothing.
Technically, your money is already gone. Your money is used to pay the people receiving money from the program. They don't take your money and 'hold onto it' for your retirement.
Social security is not a retirement program, it's a wealth funnel from the young to the old.
Social security is not a retirement program, it's a wealth funnel from the young to the old.
February 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Technically, your money is already gone. Your money is used to pay the people receiving money from the program. They don't take your money and 'hold onto it' for your retirement.
Social security is not a retirement program, it's a wealth funnel from the young to the old.
Social security is not a retirement program, it's a wealth funnel from the young to the old.
As a data engineer myself: data lies all the time. Or more specifically, we're constantly mis-interpreting data, seeing correlations/causations where there are none, or presenting it in dishonest ways to fit our agendas and biases.
Anyone telling you 'data doesn't lie' is probably doing the latter
Anyone telling you 'data doesn't lie' is probably doing the latter
February 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
As a data engineer myself: data lies all the time. Or more specifically, we're constantly mis-interpreting data, seeing correlations/causations where there are none, or presenting it in dishonest ways to fit our agendas and biases.
Anyone telling you 'data doesn't lie' is probably doing the latter
Anyone telling you 'data doesn't lie' is probably doing the latter