papertowels

I've had the same fascination!

A video I really enjoyed was a simplified experiment where they had some cars drive around in a closed loop - a single lane circle.

Traffic jams still inevitably somehow popped up, suggesting that we're simply bad drivers haha. Higher level autonomous cars cannot come fast enough.

Thank you for taking the time to go in depth on your claim. Have a good day!

Is it safe to say that the intent behind your first post was that China has no reason to invade Taiwan in part due to American protections? I originally interpreted it as China has no reason to invade Taiwan, so we should spend less.

I didn't think about that - I can see Taiwans benefit as a bargaining chip.

No, I'm saying it could likely be a DIY project, with the right tools. I've never done it before, but it's a fairly common thing to diy these signs if you're on a budget.

I can't find a source that backs up your claim that the Navy can't blockade Taiwan, can you point it out?

Ultimately, if China truly has no incentive to invade Taiwan, why not just recognize it as a sovereign nation? They haven't, they likely won't, and that to me is enough evidence to show that there is reason to invade - we as armchair strategists simply don't know them.

Does China benefit from the current arrangement in any way that would motivate them to keep the status quo?

China doesn't have the Navy to setup a blockade

Do you have sources that backs up that claim? Just because they didn't do so in a sabre rattling exercise doesn't mean they can't. Afaik their navy is actually quite capable, and actually it's the largest in the world by number of vessels.

As of 2024, the PLAN(PLA Navy) is the second-largest navy in the world by total displacement tonnage[18] — at 2 million tons in 2021, behind only the United States Navy (USN)[19] — and the largest navy globally by number of active sea-going ships (excluding coastal missile boats, gunboats and minesweepers)[20][21] with over 370 surface ships and submarines in service,[22] compared to approximately 292 ships and submarines in the USN.[23]

And even if you get a beach head there(on the West side), it's not Normandy, there's sheer fucking cliffs, and then MORE mountains.

Idk much about Taiwanese coastline, but your wiki article states:

The terrain in Taiwan is divided into two parts: the flat to gently rolling plains in the west, where 90% of the population lives, and the mostly rugged forest-covered mountains in the eastern two-thirds.

Eh, it could very easily be a DIY with a vinyl cutter

Ah, a photoid strike, finally.

FYI, it's a long shot because there's not much availability, but HUD homestore will give teachers half off the list price of a house in its "good neighbor program" (aka in a rougher neighborhood ) if you stay there for 3 years.

In addition, I think you need lower down payments for houses in general through HUD.