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George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

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Re: George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

#321
post #7

It also had a (possibly smaller) resurgence after the Snowden revelations.[1] I only wish that Orwell's masterpiece was better understood and appreciated. In addition, I should point out that the book's title is "Nineteen Eighty-Four", not "1984". [1] http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/1984-rockets-amazon...

> In addition, I should point out that the book's title is "Nineteen Eighty-Four", not "1984".

So it is....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Nineteen_Eighty-Four#Requ...

Re: George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

#322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you honestly don't believe the world is unambiguously better now than it was 20-30 years ago, you've been living under a continental plate the entire time. The world has gotten better in almost every way including the rapid fall in poverty rates, more reliable sources of food and medicine, and better access to technology for even the poorest folk. All the problems that seem so overwhelming now like the threat of n…

"and better access to technology for even the poorest folk" I hear this one a lot, I don't think it matters or is relevant. I've spent time in third world countries I met people sleeping, working and eating in rubish dumps, and they're not even considered the poorest! I didn't see them running around with technology, nor do I see how that would change there situation much.

I live in India and many poor people have cellphones or basic smartphones. They did not have that earlier.

Re: George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

#323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you honestly don't believe the world is unambiguously better now than it was 20-30 years ago, you've been living under a continental plate the entire time. The world has gotten better in almost every way including the rapid fall in poverty rates, more reliable sources of food and medicine, and better access to technology for even the poorest folk. All the problems that seem so overwhelming now like the threat of n…

"and better access to technology for even the poorest folk" I hear this one a lot, I don't think it matters or is relevant. I've spent time in third world countries I met people sleeping, working and eating in rubish dumps, and they're not even considered the poorest! I didn't see them running around with technology, nor do I see how that would change there situation much.

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Re: George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

#324

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you honestly don't believe the world is unambiguously better now than it was 20-30 years ago, you've been living under a continental plate the entire time. The world has gotten better in almost every way including the rapid fall in poverty rates, more reliable sources of food and medicine, and better access to technology for even the poorest folk. All the problems that seem so overwhelming now like the threat of n…

> the world has finally recognized and united around solving the single greatest threat to our civilization If it's CO2 you are talking about, Trump already said he doesn't give a shit. EDIT: sorry for citing wrong ("world" instead of "majority of the world", wasn't intentional), but even then, you don't get a majority without the USA.

> EDIT: sorry for citing wrong ("world" instead of "majority of the world", wasn't intentional), but even then, you don't get a majority without the USA.

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

The United States isn't even in the top five for CO2 production per capita and it's completely dwarfed in absolute terms by China which contributes 30% of the world's CO2 compared to the US's 15%. The United States is the last major holdout so yes, there is a very clear majority and American anti-intellectualism is the last major political obstacle.

Regardless, all of the worst polluters on that list are rapidly adopting renewable energy and even profit-at-all-costs capitalism can't stop demonstrably cheaper and more sustainable energy sources from taking over.

Re: George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

#325

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really wish people and the media stop over emphasizing about every gaffe and focus on real news stories. For instance, the "alternative facts" comment/incident is being talked about everywhere, from TV news channels to news parody shows to talk shows to social media etc. But, at the same time it seems like there is so much more important news that one would think deserves more attention like the executive orders, w…

In one respect, the gaffe is insignificant to current events. In another, it's vastly more important, because while small it erodes the underpinnings of the system by which we actually disseminate information. It's like having to choose between being upset about the person that mugged you for $500 on the street, or the bank that surreptitiously added 0.05% APR or the loan you just got for your house. One feels more i…

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Re: George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

#326
post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Na, he just won in a near landslide. Sure Pence could have won too, but he's nowhere as capable as Trump taking on the established false left-right MSM.

What landslide he barely slid in a electoral vote disaster, despite the electoral vote being meant to be used against men like Trump

> he barely slid in a electoral vote disaster, despite the electoral vote being meant to be used against men like Trump

Did you not pay attention to the election at all?

Re: George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

#327
post #319
post #290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yea, I know that's the official line. But it would be fairly easy for a lawyer to argue otherwise.

That is what lawyers get paid for, but no attempt to impeach Obama was made for accepting the Nobel peace prize which indicates any such argument would have no chance of succeeding, would not be valid.

But Obama did turn down the cash part of the prize, only accepting the medal and diploma, specifically to avoid any such potential problems.

Re: George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

#328
post #316

Kind of ironic given Bush and Obama were the ones to expand the surveillance state, Hillary demonised the shit out of Russia to try create an enemy/scapegoat, and here Trump is, only a few days in power, not having done anything particularly bad. Also, I should add - for Democrats out there who keep trying to compare Trump to Hitler, say he's fascist, etc... That weak rhetoric is what gave you guys your worst electio…

If you think Trump did nothing bad then you missed the last 24 hour news cycle. Hillary is a little old lady who ran for president a long time ago so I'm not sure why you brought her up. And also an outsider here, but I've seen Republicans call Obama a lot worse things then Hitler. So apparently weak rhetoric works well on the right.

Did calling Obama "Hussein" have a positive result on their popularity? I don't think so. Maybe there's a pattern.

Re: George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

#329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you honestly don't believe the world is unambiguously better now than it was 20-30 years ago, you've been living under a continental plate the entire time. The world has gotten better in almost every way including the rapid fall in poverty rates, more reliable sources of food and medicine, and better access to technology for even the poorest folk. All the problems that seem so overwhelming now like the threat of n…

"and better access to technology for even the poorest folk" I hear this one a lot, I don't think it matters or is relevant. I've spent time in third world countries I met people sleeping, working and eating in rubish dumps, and they're not even considered the poorest! I didn't see them running around with technology, nor do I see how that would change there situation much.

I have also lived in a third world country among these people for years and saw a ton of evidence of the benefits of better access to tech. Even if they couldn't buy it. Easier communications, access to information etc. so... anecdotes right.

Re: George Orwell’s 1984 is currently the top selling book on Amazon

#330
post #316

Kind of ironic given Bush and Obama were the ones to expand the surveillance state, Hillary demonised the shit out of Russia to try create an enemy/scapegoat, and here Trump is, only a few days in power, not having done anything particularly bad. Also, I should add - for Democrats out there who keep trying to compare Trump to Hitler, say he's fascist, etc... That weak rhetoric is what gave you guys your worst electio…

If you think Trump did nothing bad then you missed the last 24 hour news cycle. Hillary is a little old lady who ran for president a long time ago so I'm not sure why you brought her up. And also an outsider here, but I've seen Republicans call Obama a lot worse things then Hitler. So apparently weak rhetoric works well on the right.

Can you give an example? Being compared to Hitler is pretty high on my list so I'm interested.

And how did that thetoric worked for right if Obama won?

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