AnthonyB's recent activity

  1. Comment on The costs of war in ~society

    AnthonyB
    Link
    ...

    The Costs of War project conducts and publishes research about the ongoing consequences of the United States post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere; the costs of global U.S. military operations; and the domestic effects of U.S. military spending. Created in 2010 and housed at Brown University’s Thomas J. Watson Jr. School of International and Public Affairs, the Costs of War project builds on the work of over 70 scholars, experts, human rights advocates, and physicians from around the world.

    Recent Findings

    • In the two years since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, the U.S. government has spent $21.7 billion on military aid to Israel.

    • The U.S. has spent an additional $9.65 – $12.07 billion on military operations in Yemen and the wider region since October 7, 2023, for a total of $31.35 – $33.77 billion and counting in U.S. spending on the post-10/7 wars.

    • As of October 3, 2025, 67,075 people in Gaza have been killed and 169,430 people injured according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. These 236,505 casualties constitute more than 10% of the pre-war population in Gaza.

    ...

    United States Post-9/11 Wars

    • The U.S. government is conducting counterterror activities in 78 countries.

    • An estimated 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in post-9/11 war zones, bringing the total death toll to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.

    • At least 940,000 people have died due to direct war violence, including civilians, armed forces on all sides, contractors, journalists, and humanitarian workers.

    • U.S. policymakers scarcely considered alternatives to war in the aftermath of 9/11 or in debating the invasion of Iraq. Many of those alternatives are still available.

    • The cost of the post-9/11 wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and elsewhere totals about $8 trillion. This does not include future interest costs on borrowing for the wars.

    • 38 million people have been displaced by the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and the Philippines.

    2 votes

  3. Comment on 2025 NFL Season 🏈 Weekly Discussion Thread – Week 5 in ~sports.american_football

    AnthonyB
    Link Parent
    The Yakety Sax Bowl. It's a perfect encapsulation of the Kyler-led Cardinals - great plays amidst a bunch of chaos which ultimately amounts to nothing because of a silly turnover.

    The Yakety Sax Bowl. It's a perfect encapsulation of the Kyler-led Cardinals - great plays amidst a bunch of chaos which ultimately amounts to nothing because of a silly turnover.

    2 votes

  4. Comment on 2025 NFL Season 🏈 Weekly Discussion Thread – Week 5 in ~sports.american_football

    AnthonyB
    Link Parent
    I'm not a Carolina fan, nor am I a lunatic, so I only catch Panthers games through Red Zone. They are definitely in the race for "best 'witching hour' team" this season. As someone who watches...

    I'm not a Carolina fan, nor am I a lunatic, so I only catch Panthers games through Red Zone. They are definitely in the race for "best 'witching hour' team" this season.

    As someone who watches their games, what is the difference between Good Panthers and Bad Panthers? Everytime I see them, they're either getting their asses kicked, or kicking someone else's ass - no in between. Is Bryce the modern Tebow? Do they open conservatively then open up in the second half? I don't get it.

    All I know is that it's fun to observe safely and from a distance. Plus, when they win I get to think about this guy.

  5. Comment on Flush with cash and soaring with hubris, Donald Trump appointees are supersizing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in ~society

    AnthonyB
    Link Parent
    The Harris campaign's message on immigration/border security essentially boiled down to two things: "I prosecuted transnational criminal gangs." and 'Donald Trump would rather campaign on a...

    The Harris campaign's message on immigration/border security essentially boiled down to two things:

    "I prosecuted transnational criminal gangs."

    and

    'Donald Trump would rather campaign on a problem than be part of a solution,' which was in reference to the bipartisan border bill (what is it with the three B's these days) that Trump killed. That bill was pretty favorable to the Republicans btw.

    Iirc (too lazy to Google year old polls right now), they were in a bind because Biden's approval rating was in the tank, so they took a position to make them look like the real tough guys on immigration, rather than attack Trump's policy proposals for being a grossly inhumane abuse of power. Oops?

    7 votes

  6. Comment on Gaza aid Global Sumud Flotilla: more than a dozen vessels intercepted by Israeli forces; Greta Thunberg arrested – live in ~society

    AnthonyB
    Link
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/04/greta-thunberg-israel-gaza-sweden

    In an email sent by the Swedish foreign ministry to people close to Thunberg, and seen by the Guardian, an official who has visited the activist in prison said she claimed she was detained in a cell infested with bedbugs, with too little food and water.

    “The embassy has been able to meet with Greta,” reads the email. “She informed of dehydration. She has received insufficient amounts of both water and food. She also stated that she had developed rashes which she suspects were caused by bedbugs. She spoke of harsh treatment and said she had been sitting for long periods on hard surfaces.”

    “Another detainee reportedly told another embassy that they had seen her [Thunberg] being forced to hold flags while pictures were taken. She wondered whether images of her had been distributed,” the Swedish ministry’s official added.

    The allegation was corroborated by at least two other members of the flotilla who had been detained by Israeli forces and released on Saturday.

    “They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/04/greta-thunberg-israel-gaza-sweden

    5 votes

  7. Comment on Charlie Kirk, Ezra Klein, and the cost of civility-theater liberalism in ~society

    AnthonyB
    Link Parent
    I see this line thrown around all the time, especially from centrist/establishment Democrats who are trying to avoid giving a full endorsement to Mamdani. While there is definitely some truth to...

    but NYC is such a unique thing that can't be replicated.

    I see this line thrown around all the time, especially from centrist/establishment Democrats who are trying to avoid giving a full endorsement to Mamdani. While there is definitely some truth to that - particularly when it comes to the organizing infrastructure that propelled Mamdani to victory - I'm not completely sold on the idea that his politics wouldn't appeal to Democrat and independent voters in the middle of the country. I guess we'll see. Whenever I hear the "such and such is not NYC" line, there's an implication that people in those states have different views about affordability, access to healthcare, wealth inequality, and America's unwavering support for war crimes. Idk, man. I think they just happen to live next to more Republicans.

    I'm of the belief that people will ultimately vote for their own interests over anything else. Unfortunately, building candidates with a message loud enough to speak to those interests is difficult, especially when the institutional powers of the Democratic machine work against them. That's why I agree with DefinitelyNotAFae's suggestion below to join groups that can help propel Mamdani-like figures in other states. If you build it, they will come.

    7 votes

  8. Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk

    AnthonyB
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    You don't feel nauseous, you feel nauseated. If you're "nauseous," you're making others feel nauseated with your disgusting grammar 🤢 Just kidding. Like pretty much everyone else, I've been making...

    You don't feel nauseous, you feel nauseated. If you're "nauseous," you're making others feel nauseated with your disgusting grammar 🤢

    Just kidding. Like pretty much everyone else, I've been making that mistake all my life. It used to drive my ex crazy though, so I made the switch and now I can show off how sophisticated I am when I'm about to puke.

    38 votes

  9. Comment on How I escaped MAGA. Critical thinking woke me up. in ~society

    AnthonyB
    Link
    This was an interesting watch. It's been a while since I've peered into the exmormon community, and I haven't seen a story like hers attached to MAGA politics. It's a fairly unique perspective...

    This was an interesting watch. It's been a while since I've peered into the exmormon community, and I haven't seen a story like hers attached to MAGA politics. It's a fairly unique perspective that is different from other 'how I left the right' videos that I've seen, like this one that is presented by someone who was radicalized by the internet.

    I grew up in a very Mormon community and I know about a dozen copies of this woman - even down to the essential oils MLM. I am not, and have never been, a Mormon, but my uncle and his family are very devout Mormons. Like many of the other Mormons I know, they are kind, intelligent, and successful people who are undoubtedly capable of empathy and critical thinking. Nevertheless, my uncle and his family all buy into the white christian nationalist thinking that this woman describes, which is mind blowing to me because our shared relative was a Muslim immigrant who was the walking, talking antithesis to one of MAGA's core arguments. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

    I don't want to be pedantic or nitpicky, because everything is in her video, but I do want to emphasize that this woman's deprogramming didn't come from a sudden epiphany brought on by critical thinking, as the title might suggest. Rather, it was a period of personal crisis that opened the door to her examining her values and beliefs through a critical lens. I think it's an important distinction to make when dealing with a person whose politics are directly tied to their faith.

    This woman shows the powerful connection between faith, institutions, identity, and politics, and how they all feed off of each other. When I was in college, one of my professors told us that argument and persuasion had little to no effect on matters of religious faith. He used to say that the only way to make or break someone's true belief in a higher power was a significant emotional experience. That's what happened to this woman. She, like my uncle and his family, had a powerful feedback loop between identity, institutions, and politics, and the driving force at the center of it all was faith. It doesn't matter how many conversations I have with my uncle and his family, they won't budge because the thing that's holding this all together is the true belief in a higher power. A shitposting gamer edgelord might be able to think his way out of MAGA politics, but people like my uncle have to feel their way out of it first.

    I guess if there is a hidden lesson to take from this video, it's that you're better off being a friendly lesbian than a wannabe Socrates lefty atheist douchebag.

    11 votes

  10. Comment on Donald Trump says Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to US-sponsored Gaza peace proposal in ~society

    AnthonyB
    Link Parent
    That was pretty much the takeaway from Scahill & co. over at Drop Site, where they've been on top of things since they launched.

    It seems very much like a pretext to say 'well, we offered them the easy way out...' before a new round of horrors. I hope I'm being overly cynical, but this has seemingly been the Israeli strategy for nearly two years now.

    That was pretty much the takeaway from Scahill & co. over at Drop Site, where they've been on top of things since they launched.

    “This plan is a malicious attempt to achieve through politics what the war of extermination could not achieve on the ground,” said Sami Al-Arian, a prominent Palestinian academic and activist and the director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Istanbul Zaim University. “This includes ending the resistance, withdrawing weapons, releasing [Israeli] captives without a complete withdrawal, maintaining security, political, and economic control over Gaza, and imposing international tutelage.” He said the Trump framework is aimed at “perpetuating the Israeli narrative that the challenge is a security one related to Israeli security needs, not to ending a military occupation, Israeli genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and ongoing aggression.”

    Al-Arian told Drop Site, “There is no negotiation here. There is an American plan. It was modified by some Israeli points and possibly some Arab points. And it’s given to the resistance as a ‘Take it or leave it’ thing.”

    3 votes

  11. Comment on 2025 NFL Season 🏈 Weekly Discussion Thread – Week 4 in ~sports.american_football

    AnthonyB
    Link
    Thoughts and prayers to all the Bengals fans out there. Denver put up their best performance of the season and had Buck & Aikman riffing in the second half like it was 1:30am on Inside the NBA. As...

    Thoughts and prayers to all the Bengals fans out there. Denver put up their best performance of the season and had Buck & Aikman riffing in the second half like it was 1:30am on Inside the NBA. As nice as it was, I don't think wins against this version of the Bengals count for much. Cincy looks to be in a tight battle with Baltimore for this season's "Year from Hell" team.

    I'm late to the party, but I've officially secured my seat on the Baker/Bucs bandwagon. I was skeptical of the preseason hype, but they were a couple plays away from beating Philly. I'm having a hard time finding any historical comparisons to Baker's career so far. #1 overall pick -> shakey start -> one solid season -> injury/fall off -> almost out of the league -> journeyman -> career revival as a top-10 QB. He's like a mix between Alex Smith and Vinny Testaverde. I'm happy to see guys like Baker, Darnold, and Jones play well after their careers seemed dead.

    5 votes

  12. Comment on 2025 NFL Season 🏈 Weekly Discussion Thread – Week 4 in ~sports.american_football

    AnthonyB
    Link Parent
    I second that recommendation. Actually, I recommend any Dorktown/Jon Bois video.

    I second that recommendation. Actually, I recommend any Dorktown/Jon Bois video.

    2 votes

  13. Comment on Horror games to play during October in ~games

    AnthonyB
    Link
    Those are some big games you listed, but if you're looking for a quick indie game that will make you shit your pants, I would suggest The Mortuary Assistant. I hadn't been that freaked out by a...

    Those are some big games you listed, but if you're looking for a quick indie game that will make you shit your pants, I would suggest The Mortuary Assistant. I hadn't been that freaked out by a video game since I played Resident Evil 2 on my N64. The game pairs nicely with the 2016 film The Autopsy of Jane Doe, so you can knock both out in an evening and then spend the next day praying that you'll never encounter a cadaver.

    1 vote

  14. Comment on US President Donald Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 labels common beliefs as terrorism “indicators” in ~society

  15. Comment on What are some of your personal misheard lyrics? in ~music

    AnthonyB
    Link

    Sleep with one eye open
    Gripping your pillow tight

    Amstel Light
    Enter night
    Take my hand
    Off to never-never land

    6 votes

  16. Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies

    AnthonyB
    Link
    I saw One Battle After Another today. Despite my best efforts, I am too stupid to properly use the spoiler tag. All I will say is that I had extremely high expectations and it met or surpassed all...

    I saw One Battle After Another today. Despite my best efforts, I am too stupid to properly use the spoiler tag. All I will say is that I had extremely high expectations and it met or surpassed all of them. I'll probably see it again tomorrow or this weekend.

    2 votes

  17. Comment on 2025 NFL Season 🏈 Weekly Discussion Thread – Week 3 in ~sports.american_football

    AnthonyB
    Link Parent
    Truly? Of course not. But relative to their competitors...kinda? I used to tell myself that about the Buss family to justify my Lakers fandom. I don't know how I'm gonna weasel my way out of it...

    Can you consider billionaires mom and pop?

    Truly? Of course not. But relative to their competitors...kinda? I used to tell myself that about the Buss family to justify my Lakers fandom. I don't know how I'm gonna weasel my way out of it now.

    But really, it's Mike Tomlin trying to do his best to destroy his reputation and the franchise.

    I have a few Steelers fans in my life who have been saying the same thing and think it's time for both sides to part ways. It's a tough call, firing a guy who's never had a losing season. I can't believe he's been in charge longer than Bill Cower was.

    (Just so we're on the same page, I was kidding about the mom & pope/woke stuff. I wish there was a special font to indicate I'm not being serious. Maybe I should throw in a meta sidebar from time to time.)

    1 vote

  18. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of September 22 in ~society

    AnthonyB
    Link Parent
    You're missing the point. The real persecuted minorities are Republicans. America is a land of freedom, opportunity, and equal rights for all, unless you're a white man. Israel does this all the...

    this is a false equivalency. The protests were a response to police brutality. Floyd wasn’t assassinated by a lone shooter, he was killed by excessive force from a cop, and that is what the protests were in response to.

    You're missing the point. The real persecuted minorities are Republicans. America is a land of freedom, opportunity, and equal rights for all, unless you're a white man. Israel does this all the time. They're simultaneously a strong, powerful force and a meek, perpetual target of world oppression. The big, mighty victim. The crybully. It's oxymoronic, but it's essential to the fascist message.

    Part of the reason why the Kirk shooting was such a gigantic moment was because it fed into this delusion that the right is constantly facing an existential threat. It doesn't matter if Robinson acted alone, there's a vast conspiracy out there to oppress Republicans and Robinson was part of it.

    13 votes

  19. Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv

    AnthonyB
    Link
    Is anyone else watching Task? It was made by the same person who did Mare of Easttown and has a similar vibe - weathered Pennsylvania law enforcement officer tries to solve a crime and keep their...

    Is anyone else watching Task? It was made by the same person who did Mare of Easttown and has a similar vibe - weathered Pennsylvania law enforcement officer tries to solve a crime and keep their life together. I'm really enjoying it so far. The acting has been great and there's a lot of tension in each episode.

    Also, most of the actors are from the UK/Ireland but they do a great job with the PA accents. They've got a real Idris as Stinger Bell thing going on.

    3 votes

  20. Comment on 2025 NFL Season 🏈 Weekly Discussion Thread – Week 3 in ~sports.american_football

    AnthonyB
    Link Parent
    Don't the Ravens have a habit of staring out slow? I feel like every other year they have a couple bad losses early in the season

    Don't the Ravens have a habit of staring out slow? I feel like every other year they have a couple bad losses early in the season