Both. There is a study by Armin Falk and Nora Szech (2013) that experimentally shows that markets can erode moral behavior, as participants were more likely to not save a mouse’s life for money in market settings. This generally extends to the erosion of morality for monetary gain in market systems. Additionally, psychological research indicates that wealthy, successful individuals often score higher on traits associated with the “dark triad” of personality, i.e. narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, which supports the idea that selection plays a role as well.

Fine, Free bird it is.

It’s been a long road getting from there to here.

I hate their current abhorrent nationalism and imperialism, but their anthem is kinda great.

Plot twist: OPs father actually works at the United States Mint (but in an office job)

Worked shortly as a bike delivery guy for a small independent German bookstore. They did deliveries in the small town and you could order books by phone or email. The atmosphere in the shop was chill. The owner was an old really well-read hippie, who was really friendly.The pay was rather shit but I’d say it was overall a good job.

Under the GDPR, employers in the EU can only monitor employees’ work emails if it is necessary, proportionate, and serves a legitimate purpose, such as ensuring compliance or security. Employees must be informed about the monitoring in advance, and clear policies should be in place to respect transparency and consent requirements. Any monitoring must also balance the employer’s business interests with the employees’ right to privacy, ensuring minimal intrusion. Some countries like Germany have really strict interpretations of how to apply the GDPR here.

I usually eat a simple Porridge, but if I want to make something fancy on a weekend I make pancakes for my family.

Yeah but people are highly aware of it and there is even a disclaimer in Email Signatures that everything is tracked. If you are dealing with government ministries in European countries some of the (unofficial) information exchange is done without written record, either at in-person conferences or even through non-work phones.

Highly illegal in the EU. Also highly stupid everywhere else. The big question is “How secure is your user espionage system and can an outsider get acces?”. The data from something like this is a social engineering goldmine.

It’s Twilight Zone, but only the twists

This contest is over. Give this man his 10,000. Dollars.

You’re taking a vacation from normalcy. The setting, a weird motel where the bed is stained with mystery, and there’s also some mystery floating in the pool. Your key card may not open the exercise room because someone smeared mystery on the lock, but it will open… The Scary Door.

Smoking was discovered independently in many cultures with different substances used by different cultures. In the Americas, it was tobacco, while the Scythians of Central Asia used cannabis in ritualistic hotboxes, as evidenced by archaeological finds of smoking tools in kurgans. Other regions, like India and Southeast Asia, saw the smoking of opium and herbs.

In this scenario Lenin does not manage to take over Russia and the warning to the world by the real life examples of Germany and Italy about the dangers of fashism does not happen either. Authoritarianism raises its ugly head later in a world with better weapons and more destructive potential for humanity.

It is one of this places that were built by anarchists without any license and look, smell and feel quite funky. The audience though is really nerdy. So the closest that comes to mind is a Hacker space in a large European city.

Same, probably also got me a good early dose of radiation in Romania

I really appreciate that people in my city place their old books in small boxes with a “zu verschenken” (free to take) sign when they want to give them away. I’ve found many great books this way, along with a few quirky and unusual ones too.

Weird little drinking related story about finding my glasses from my college times: Got accepted for a PhD and wanted to party. Met a good friend and went to a Balkans party with loads of cheap booze. Wake up at 6am in a night bus out of town and can’t find my wallet on me. Run like crazy to the club/bar where the party was. Last people there let me search for my wallet. Only find my glasses in the bar toilet that I didn’t notice I had also lost. Lock credit card and go home happy that I at least found my glasses.

Don’t forget to rub it with lemons to make the invisible ink visible