For the government, our identity is almost equal to our (Dutch) Social-Fiscal number, or our Social Security number (eg, USA). That number contains some relevant information, like our name and birthdate (source). Wikipedia: “[..] the Social Security number has become a de facto national identification number for taxation and other purposes.“...
Late May 2024, I published my Dutch language blog: Is radicalisation a consequence of feeling powerless? Today’s blog is an open rather than a closed question. The trigger for this blog was a discussion with a friend, who lives abroad for at least a decade. I suppose that “detail” is relevant. I have made a diagram that is - ultimately - based on the diagram as used...
Apparently, collective guilt is an issue for Germans and for Russians (eg, German collective guilt, Russians And Collective Guilt). However, it might only be a media and/or a political topic (eg, DW-2019, Hungarian Conservative-2022). At least, guilt is an emotion rather than ratio. How about individual and/or collective victim roles?? “Victim mentality is...
Monday, the Dutch PM said something that (very) many people (probably) believe as well: migrant integration has failed (eg, Volkskrant). In my view, not only in the Netherlands but also in Europe and in USA. Blaming Angela Merkel’s 2015 comment (“Wir schaffen das”) is relevant though too simple. The context of the PM’s remark is relevant: the Amsterdam soccer riots....
Early August 2024, a federal judge ruled that Google has used its position to "violate fair competition laws" (eg, Wired-2024) and thus acted as "an illegal monopolist" (eg, The Verge-2024, Wired-2024). Consequently, a "Google breakup is on the table, say DOJ lawyers" (eg, FT-2024, The Verge-2024). My question is simple: in whose interest is a Google break-up??...
Recently, I had a telephone call with someone who has been single for more than 20 years. Her voice and our conversation felt pleasant. Later that day, I wanted to ask her a question about our conversation. She refused a second call. The next several days, she sent me those annoying “Good Morning” images. Initially, I replied by writing: good morning and have a nice...
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