They are building it? Who is “they”? Surely not the local Kevin Costner salt-of-the-earth characters converting part of a cornfield into a baseball diamond to coax some crooked ballplayers back to life.
Shiny objects do “work.” So does cheese in a springtrap.
See the USA (in your Chevrolet), back in the good old spit & polish post-WW2 Ozzie & Harriet days …
… But Ozzie Osbourne was on his way, even then, too. (Maybe you guys are Ozzie fans.) Because the 50’s were just so “real progress.”
Materialism takes materialists to the mat, dislocates various joints, chokes ‘em out.
And oxygen deprivation is a negative feedback loop. Damaged brains beget evermore damage.
(Sing it Madonna. Have you seen her, lately? Unrecognizable.)
Bling-a-lings & bribes & “One ring to rule them all (one ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them).
Blinded by shine is why we can’t have nice things.
But Potemkin packaging? Oh, yeah.
The shine evinces nothing so much as corruption & criminality. Always has it been thus, always will it be thus.
“Look on my works, ye mighty, & despair! …” over & over, in place, again.
Ozzie & Harriet, Ozzy Osbourne, Ozymandias.
The Field of Sapiens Dreams is this changeless Procrustes-oyster bed, fractal-layered full of phlegm-filled bivalve rocks, that pump out pearls in the same bio-mechanistic way idiot savant Rainman counts spilled toothpicks & cards.
Rule-proving exceptions aside, of course.
Black pearl-pills are expensive. Too expensive? Compared to what?
***
Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose
Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free … 🎶
A little geopolitical background, compliments of Grok: The Zangezur Corridor is the proposed transport route connecting mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia's southern Syunik Province (historically called Zangezur). This idea gained traction after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War as part of peace talks, with Azerbaijan and Turkey advocating for it to create a direct land link. Armenia has resisted full extraterritorial access, insisting on its sovereignty over the route
Iran has long viewed the Zangezur Corridor as a direct threat to its national security, economic interests, and regional influence in the South Caucasus. These concerns have intensified following the August 2025 U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which granted Washington exclusive development rights over the corridor (rebranded as the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" or TRIPP) for a 99-year renewable lease, while keeping it under Armenian sovereignty. Tehran has labeled this a "strategic encirclement" and a "red line," with officials warning of potential military responses if it proceeds unchecked.
This may explain Azerbaijan’s rush to build an autobahn to this region — to facilitate the movement of men and equipment, if (and/or when) they are needed.
I used to do Conversations with Casey back in 2018/19 with Doug. We had some really good, timely conversations, and Casey readers always appreciated his insights. I'm glad you're keeping it alive Matt!
Went to Georgia last year hiking for a few weeks in the Tusheti which is still the most stunning unspoilt region on the Russian border. In a few months I will be hiking in Armenia. I only hear interesting things about Azerbaijan and need to visit. All these countries are seemingly scared of the big bear and history tells one that to live there might be a bumpy ride.
They are building it? Who is “they”? Surely not the local Kevin Costner salt-of-the-earth characters converting part of a cornfield into a baseball diamond to coax some crooked ballplayers back to life.
Shiny objects do “work.” So does cheese in a springtrap.
See the USA (in your Chevrolet), back in the good old spit & polish post-WW2 Ozzie & Harriet days …
… But Ozzie Osbourne was on his way, even then, too. (Maybe you guys are Ozzie fans.) Because the 50’s were just so “real progress.”
Materialism takes materialists to the mat, dislocates various joints, chokes ‘em out.
And oxygen deprivation is a negative feedback loop. Damaged brains beget evermore damage.
(Sing it Madonna. Have you seen her, lately? Unrecognizable.)
Bling-a-lings & bribes & “One ring to rule them all (one ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them).
Blinded by shine is why we can’t have nice things.
But Potemkin packaging? Oh, yeah.
The shine evinces nothing so much as corruption & criminality. Always has it been thus, always will it be thus.
“Look on my works, ye mighty, & despair! …” over & over, in place, again.
Ozzie & Harriet, Ozzy Osbourne, Ozymandias.
The Field of Sapiens Dreams is this changeless Procrustes-oyster bed, fractal-layered full of phlegm-filled bivalve rocks, that pump out pearls in the same bio-mechanistic way idiot savant Rainman counts spilled toothpicks & cards.
Rule-proving exceptions aside, of course.
Black pearl-pills are expensive. Too expensive? Compared to what?
***
Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose
Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free … 🎶
A little geopolitical background, compliments of Grok: The Zangezur Corridor is the proposed transport route connecting mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia's southern Syunik Province (historically called Zangezur). This idea gained traction after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War as part of peace talks, with Azerbaijan and Turkey advocating for it to create a direct land link. Armenia has resisted full extraterritorial access, insisting on its sovereignty over the route
Iran has long viewed the Zangezur Corridor as a direct threat to its national security, economic interests, and regional influence in the South Caucasus. These concerns have intensified following the August 2025 U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which granted Washington exclusive development rights over the corridor (rebranded as the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" or TRIPP) for a 99-year renewable lease, while keeping it under Armenian sovereignty. Tehran has labeled this a "strategic encirclement" and a "red line," with officials warning of potential military responses if it proceeds unchecked.
This may explain Azerbaijan’s rush to build an autobahn to this region — to facilitate the movement of men and equipment, if (and/or when) they are needed.
This is great, looks awesome . You guys are the best.
I loved Istanbul. Great city!
I wonder how much they budget for guns? You can purchase a lot of roads when you don't buy guns.
I used to do Conversations with Casey back in 2018/19 with Doug. We had some really good, timely conversations, and Casey readers always appreciated his insights. I'm glad you're keeping it alive Matt!
Went to Georgia last year hiking for a few weeks in the Tusheti which is still the most stunning unspoilt region on the Russian border. In a few months I will be hiking in Armenia. I only hear interesting things about Azerbaijan and need to visit. All these countries are seemingly scared of the big bear and history tells one that to live there might be a bumpy ride.