I get a little bit more exhausted every time I read a criticism of the West’s(and yes, in particular, America’s) handling of Daesh that basically amounts to “what we really need is more troops on the ground and airstrikes so surgical they could give a flea a prostate exam!”
Why in the hell would this suddenly work when it hasn’t been for so long? Just once I’d like to hear someone suggest a more civil approach. What if we took some of that money we’re spending on troops and airstrikes and put that money into these nations’ infrastructure instead?
It seems to me(and I admit I probably don’t know what I’m talking about) that signing up with a group like Daesh is a last resort sort of thing. I think most of these men are probably less concerned with the rhetoric and politics and more concerned with providing for their loved ones. The military is always a good career choice–your job is highly unlikely to be cut, you’ll be well provided for(meals, clothing, lodging, maybe healthcare, depending on who/where you’re serving), your family is usually well provided for, or it’s a way to have a meaningful death in a situation where an early death is more likely. I’d argue it’s not dissimilar to poor males in economically deprived areas of America enlisting with the military cause it’s the only gig in town that isn’t a benefits-free, part-time job at a grocery or convenience store.
If you had access to a job that would provide a secure, happy future for your family, without having to risk your life every day, wouldn’t that be more appealing? If these men had alternatives to joining Daesh, I think most would take those alternatives. Not all, of course, but a fair chunk. And with such a small organistion, that might be enough to stretch them too thin. Not to mention, it would hurt Daesh’s recruitment because instead of contributing to the chaos and destruction, the West would be seen contributing to the job market, and the people’s welfare. It’s harder to sell the elimination of an entity that isn’t bombing your home into an unrecognisable wasteland.
Basically, I don’t think these men want the fall of America as much as they wanted a steady job, and therefore the way to end the threat of Daesh is to provide a better alternative for its recruitment pool. Stop destroying and policing, and start rebuilding and providing. That’s just my relatively uninformed opinion.
You know what’s better than dates for Valentine’s Day? Books! They’ll break your heart just like a relationship, but you don’t have to deal with custody fights over mutual friends afterwards!
Alright so here’s the deal: I need to seriously downsize the amount of stuff I have. However, I have a lot of books. A lot a lot of books. Not to fear, though! Husband got me a Kindle for Crimbo. So I’ve been working to replace a lot of my physical books with electronic copies.
What does this have to do with you? Well, it means I currently have a lot of books that need to go! So I’m having a book giveaway because this is better than giving them back to the thrift shops. Wanted to try a book out but can’t afford it? Now’s your chance! Want to try something entirely different? What an opportunity! Don’t have enough books? Of course you fucking don’t! Have enough books? Don’t fucking lie!
I will ship this shit pretty much anywhere. If you have any questions about whether or not I’ll ship to whatever rock you live under, just feel free to ask!
Rules:
You gotta be following me. I ain’t quite that charitable that I’ll give away shit to strangers, y’see.
Likes do not count. Only reblogs count.
Multiple reblogs are allowed; I will literally never turn down extra exposure to more people I can irritate.
Deadline is 11:59pm EST on 13 February, 2016. Reblogs after that receive only my appreciation, not my consideration.
Three (3) randomly selected winners will be announced by no later than 5:00pm EST 15 February 2016. You’ll be tagged in the announcement post, so make sure to check on that shit.
I am only giving away books. Don’t ask for any of the props in the pictures cause that’s all they are.
Don’t like how I categorised the books? Great! Send me an ask and tell me how far I had my head up my ass! They will be answered publicly.
Prizes:
First Prize — Four (4) books of your choice. You get first pick.
Second Prize — Three (3) books of your choice. You get to choose after the first winner.
Third Prize — Two (2) books of your choice. You choose from what’s left over.
The Books:
That Really Happened! (Nonfiction)
In The Beginning…Was The Command Line, by Neal Stephenson
Knuckle Sandwich, by Jason Peacock
The Confessions of St Augustine
Don’t Stop Me Now, by Jeremy Clarkson
I’m A Stranger Here Myself, by Bill Bryson
A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson
For the Kid in All of Us (YA/Children’s)
Fighting Fantasy: Bloodlines, by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone
Holes, by Louis Sachar
Mr. Funderburk Meets 5A, by Terry Markoff
project e.d.e.n., by B. Mauritz
Be An Interplanatary Spy: Red Rocket, by Seth McEvoy
Shit You Were Supposed to Have Read By Now:
Madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert [NOTE: This book is in French]
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe, by Douglas Adams
Life, the universe and everything, by Douglas Adams
So long, and thanks for all the fish, by Douglas Adams
I’m in the last stretch of uni and in this personal finance class with a prof I really like, he tells stories about people and their money (obviously).
A lot of them involve people who just came into some new money, and the amount is 10 – 20k. And every time this amount comes up, he always seems to tack on “Which isn’t much” or “Which isn’t a lot.”
I’m sitting, thinking to myself, it took me 10 years to come up with 20k and it was purely out of luck really that I have it. I think 20k just sitting around IS a lot of money. I mean, in the grand scheme of things? No. But in cash? Or very liquid? I think it’s a lot.
I am finding it harder and harder to live with the fact that I’m a poor guy pretending to be middle class. I grew up upper middle class and over the years it’s been a very slow decline into working class. It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that I’ll never see the type of money or nice things everyone I associate with has. I mean.
$20k isn’t a lot? I could buy a house with that. I am trying to buy a house with that. Sure it’s a shittastic house but it’s a place to live all the same.
I remember the realization that I had just enough money to realize I didn’t have enough money. That was a sad few weeks for 27 year old me.
To top it off, everyone I know wants Trump to win presidency. My current closest friend said he’d move to Norway if Bernie won.
“At least their system works,” he says. “Our’s would be a shit hole.”
Sigh.
I can kind of see where he’s coming from. The highest wage I’ve ever earned was ~$20k pa, and it was not a lot. Those were pretty lean times. I might’ve been comfortable with a more reliable car, but one particularly nasty repair forced me into a horrible check advance cycle I was lucky to crawl out of.
But as a lump sum? Like a bit of inheritance or lotto money? Used wisely that is a lot of money. Spent recklessly, it’s not quite a mid-range new vehicle.
Out of curiosity, if you don’t mind, what are your friends’ reasons for wanting Trump to win?
“Trump is a businessman.” I don’t talk politics with anyone. I just stay silent so I’ve never asked for more specifics. This is what they say about Trump. But if I want to make assumptions, I am assuming that they believe Trump will be able to make some sort of budget for the nation and tear at the debt, and/or negotiate better deals with various government contracts and (maybe?) foreign affairs.
I mean, it certainly is possible Trump is just spouting crap to win and doesn’t mean what he says. But the whole thing puts a bad taste in my mouth.
And yes, the prof was specifically speaking of lump sums each time.
To me, ‘Trump is a businessman’ is the most bogus qualification for being president. This is a country, not a corporation. Besides, all that tells me is that he knows best how to accumulate wealth…at the top of the pyramid. His corporations have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy four times, including just shutting down one business when there were no buyers for it and its debt.
So yes, he is a businessman. But a savvy businessman only knows how to make themself wealthier. They won’t necessarily know a damned thing about how to improve others’ situations and will see any other person in a similar position(e.g., another head of state, in this instance) as an adversary or competitor. A dangerous mindset for politics.
I’m in the last stretch of uni and in this personal finance class with a prof I really like, he tells stories about people and their money (obviously).
A lot of them involve people who just came into some new money, and the amount is 10 – 20k. And every time this amount comes up, he always seems to tack on “Which isn’t much” or “Which isn’t a lot.”
I’m sitting, thinking to myself, it took me 10 years to come up with 20k and it was purely out of luck really that I have it. I think 20k just sitting around IS a lot of money. I mean, in the grand scheme of things? No. But in cash? Or very liquid? I think it’s a lot.
I am finding it harder and harder to live with the fact that I’m a poor guy pretending to be middle class. I grew up upper middle class and over the years it’s been a very slow decline into working class. It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that I’ll never see the type of money or nice things everyone I associate with has. I mean.
$20k isn’t a lot? I could buy a house with that. I am trying to buy a house with that. Sure it’s a shittastic house but it’s a place to live all the same.
I remember the realization that I had just enough money to realize I didn’t have enough money. That was a sad few weeks for 27 year old me.
To top it off, everyone I know wants Trump to win presidency. My current closest friend said he’d move to Norway if Bernie won.
“At least their system works,” he says. “Our’s would be a shit hole.”
Sigh.
I can kind of see where he’s coming from. The highest wage I’ve ever earned was ~$20k pa, and it was not a lot. Those were pretty lean times. I might’ve been comfortable with a more reliable car, but one particularly nasty repair forced me into a horrible check advance cycle I was lucky to crawl out of.
But as a lump sum? Like a bit of inheritance or lotto money? Used wisely that is a lot of money. Spent recklessly, it’s not quite a mid-range new vehicle.
Out of curiosity, if you don’t mind, what are your friends’ reasons for wanting Trump to win?
Because they take up so much space and weight in luggage I shipped all my heaviest coats and my Delta jumpsuit and now it’s so cold and I don’t have anything properly heavy enough and I am so cold I can barely think straight but I’m still gonna grab a fucking half dozen donuts and some coffees and go lead the charge into the stacks to try and get my library in decent shape for my successor…the poor bastard.
Waiting for Winter 