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Paul Murray's avatar

Joel, the paragraph beginning, "It's a rainy old day..." is compellingly and charmingly poetic, probably by chance, but effective nonetheless is the near-blank verse (unrhymed iambic), so we'll call it free verse, which does not diminish its vision, imagery, and soulfulness. Bravo. Best always. PM

P.S. My eyes got watery at the mention of cutting the "steaks, thick and juicy". PM

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Joel Bowman's avatar

Cheers, mate! Much appreciated. I’ll be tucking into one of those lomos over the weekend, cooked “jugoso,” naturally. Best to you!

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Juan's avatar

That paragraph is my favourite as well, so vivid and romantic!

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KellyG's avatar

As the COP30 burns in Brazil along with AI stocks and Bitcoin apparently, we can only hope Argentina's utopian recovery accelerates positively, and even trickles up here to US too, but sadly not likely anytime soon.

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Joel Bowman's avatar

Yes, I saw something about the number of so-called “heads of state” at this year’s COP. Some fraction of previous years’ numbers. Some funny bugger nicknamed it COPE30. I chuckled.

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KellyG's avatar

Cope30 love that!

I think that happened at Davos too, at least the 6 of 7 countries completely bailed except for outgoing Olaf Schultz.

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STEVE CAMPINI's avatar

I'm of the opinion that one size does not fit all. Those individuals that prefer a collectivist society should be able to choose to inhabit a collectivist enclave. Those individuals that prefer liberty should be able to inhabit an enclave that enables exclusive protection of property and voluntary human activity. Then all would be free to pursue there own concept of happiness.

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Paul Murray's avatar

Except in the collectivist enclave, no one is free to pursue anything outside of what is determined by the collective. Best always. PM

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STEVE CAMPINI's avatar

True. But that's what they chose.

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Don Hrehirchek's avatar

Then they would have to have a separate state. No!

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STEVE CAMPINI's avatar

Well I'm making a theoretical argument "if" we had the freedom to choose an enclave of our choice. The enclave could be a state, a city state, an island, a county etc. For a free enclave to be feasible it would be necessary for it to be a non political entity. It would have to be a private community governed by contractual agreements and held in some form of a corporation, partnership or agreed upon association.

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Don Hrehirchek's avatar

Yep. that is where capitalism would reign. True capitalism , not overseen by some unknown entity. But what do I know , I live in a dream world of freedom and liberty. I read Ayn Rand books!

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Andre Louw's avatar

Venezuela v Argentina. We have them let the people vote with their feet

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andy's avatar

Some sizes fit none, accounting all the way down to the actual bottom line reveals.

Death by lightning is quick. Death by lightening can take forever.

Charles Guiteau, light in the belfry murderer of Garfield (the fattest cat in the land), is depicted as the heavy who was too heavy for Oneida Community, that free love fiesta.

Well, it's all just social construction was too heavy for the rest of the communitarians, too; they ended up switch-concentrating on making silverware ... one if by land, two if by sea, the utopians will always be with ye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDFiwYuSsOo

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50 Bravo's avatar

Your joy in the restoration of your homeland is palpable…and necessary. Every so often ya need a victory lap.

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Clem Devine's avatar

Can't wait for a Milei to appear in Australia, Joel's homeland.

I'm not holding my breath tho.

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Katy Marriott's avatar

I've been thinking the Porteños are part tissue paper - one drop of rain and the milongas are deserted - but yeah, part witch works too... 🙄🤣🤣

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Joel Bowman's avatar

Part tissue. Love it!

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Richard Smith's avatar

Joel, Positive facts on Argentina, thanks ! Bottom line = it all comes down to the People who pay the freight, what do they wish, and are they willing to unite and fight for their freedom, or get run over again by the next train. Somebody said " When the people lead, the leaders will follow".

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RICH's avatar

As we know, the political cast will take " The road most personally valuable." So we all go to hell, their way!

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andy's avatar

Two sociopaths diverged & the yellowoods conclude, always, to take the lesser evil lane.

That’s probably nowhere to be found in the explanation-definition of “peckerwoods” but maybe etymologists will get around to that eventually.

Wild Bill’s tired of fighting f’ing up before dinnertime, too (David Milch, great —but/because?— demon-filled writer … now in the throes of dementia):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAZ1bKU-vx0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peckerwood

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