The way I (state certified smoothbrain) think of it is this: Cash reserves serve as short time collateral when a state is shopping on credit (which states usually do). So your transactions need to be backed by a currency your trading partner is willing to accept.

Other types of reserves exist, but these usually need to be converted first, which adds a layer of delay and transaction that makes it a more long term thing.

Not sure how correct it is, but I find that this oversimplification works and is correct most of the time.

Such things happen when one decides to start a money burning competition with a block of countries with a combined GDP roughly 25 times that of russia.

I often see the argument “Which part of your country would you be willing to cede in the name of peace?”

Normally this would be a valid argument, but in trumps case, I’m sure he’d gladly cede California or some other blue state if it meant he gained something from it. He has no scruples or integrity, and thinks other heads of state are the same.

Currently waiting for my order at burger King. I was headed out the door to pick up some plywood in the nearest town, just as two of my kids returned from school. They asked if they could come too. We’re currently about to head back, but wanted to pick up something for the one hour drive back.

“Obama was fine” ???

Did you not see his tan suit? The humanity…

Be sure to include that reference to BenFranklinsDick

I can’t claim that I understand what you’re going through, but I do claim that I understand your reasoning. My dad went through the same around a decade ago.

Seeing him try chemo made me conclude that living means more than surviving. Make sure your family understands this part.

Come to think of it, it’s almost 10 years to the day since he died. I never questioned his choice, and I’m happy that he got to the end on his own terms rather than being pestered by family pressuring him to endure a kind of pain that we could never understand.

EDIT: Just for the record, I’m all in favor of at least trying treatment - It works well for many. If it is truly insufferable, treatment can be aborted.

Same. When I was on 5 week offshore rotation I usually did the night shift. It’s quieter, fewer people around, and my arctic ass doesn’t like the equatorial sun. Beyond my lifelong affliction of inability to fall asleep in a timely manner (fixed by audio books), I slept better then than I’ve ever done since.

Singapore. Spent a lot of time there on a few occasions, and I really like the place. Best barbecue I ever had was at Decker BBQ. And best sushi I ever had was nearby. Clarke Quay area, iirc.

Alternatively, downtown Kuala Lumpur. Awesome street food.

Personally, I do it because trumps last name is more rare/recognizable than his first. With her it’s the other way around. It’s less ambiguous that way.

As a tangent, I do think a presidential race between Donald Duck and Ed Harris would be less mentally taxing.

She’s his colleague. Maybe even work wife, even if they’ve only spoken via teams telefax.

Apart from the jetlag it’s not too bad, actually. I’ve had worse jobs that didn’t take me to the far corners of the world.

In 2009 there were like three people in line in front of me. Must’ve taken at least 30 seconds before an available election official could check my ID. It was extremely early in the early voting period, and there was only one place open that early. I was going to be abroad for the next month, so I had to vote that day.

When not voting early, I can’t recall there ever being a line.

“2009 election, you say??”

Norway.

I played a lot of D&D back in the day, and while I’m normally not a superstitious person, we did have a dice jail for poorly performing dice. That light blue d20 was a repeat offender.

Yes; pollsters and advertising platforms. They’ve got to be raking it in these days.

BuT tHeY wErE WrOnG iN 2016!1

Yes, and no. They estimated a slightly higher chance for a Hillary win over a Donald win, but they were well within the margin of polling error, and they have been for every election. Plus people have a tendency of over-valuing a “51% chance to win”.

While this is good news, it could mean nothing.

EDIT: 538 explained it better than I ever could:
"Statistically, too, there is no meaningful difference between a 50-in-100 chance and a 49-in-100 chance. Small changes in the available polling data or settings of our model could easily change a 50-in-100 edge to 51-in-100 or 49-in-100. That’s all to say that our overall characterization of the race is more important than the precise probability — or which candidate is technically ahead.”

2k@120

I’m not that picky in terms of resolution, but I am when it comes to FPS.

But in all honesty, 2k@60 would be fine too.

“IT Support”.
Shore support specialist for this production system (server cluster) used offshore. I spend most of my time “available, on standby”.

They see me postin’
They hatin’
Patrolling and trying to catch me postin dirty

I’m WFH with a pretty chill work day except I’m on standby 24/7 in case of something stupid happens at work. So not much would change for me, honestly.