Based on individual loyalty and connections, and on rewarding friends and punishing enemies (real or perceived), it can be found not just in states but also among tribes, street gangs, and criminal organizations.

It is not defined by institutions or rules; rather, it can infect all forms of government by replacing impersonal, formal lines of authority with personalized, informal ones.

Yet another truely horrific choice. Only loyalty to Trump matters to him.
Learned a new term today. Copied from the Atlantic.

Patrimonialism is less a form of government than a style of governing.

Congrats!

Condolences about Border.

Bookshelf with clay and wax dragon figurines and drinking goblets with pewter dragon stems.

Started with the Hobbit, then FotR and got about half way through the Two Towers, age 14 (circa 1972). My older brother's. Discovered some Tolkien short stories at the library which started my interest in dragons. Chrysophylax art projects shown. Read the trilogy completely a few years later.

Congrats!

Really lovely, thank you!

Sigh and waaaaah!

I'm so glad you had that experience. I know my turn at hiking the Grand Canyon was a highlight of my life.

Condolences!

I am a patreon supporter so your stuff shows up reasonably quickly on FB as well as in my email, but it showed up immediately here.

That certainly fits the theme of the others in this bizzaro world.

Congrats!

Congrats!

Did similarly several days in a row from anxiety then wondered why I was weepy. Ate a half a pizza and felt much better, lol.