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Wednesday, May 31. 2023

WSJ: Your Next Big Move Should Scare You. Your gut says no. Here’s why you shouldn’t always listen to it.

AI MAKES S**T UP

Marc Andreessen on A.I., Bitcoin, and Billionaires - Is the A.I. breakthrough for real this time?

Climate activists were in for a surprise after they tried to hurl orange powder at London's famed flower show

Plants cause global warming now

UMich botanical garden employs DEI manager, hosts ‘confronting racism’ training

200,000 cows to be culled in Ireland in order to meet climate targets

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Says American Pushback Against Woke Politics Is "Scary"

“We Have a Captive Audience”: Boston University to Require Students to Take Social Justice Writing Courses

About Chomsky: Manufacturing Dissent - Activists and opinion-formers on the Left and Right have been persuaded that living under anything besides the kind of governance they want means they’ve been cheated.

Elon Musk Pulls Twitter from European Union’s ‘Anti-Disinformation’ Agreement - French Digital Minister threatens to ban Twitter if it doesn’t follow EU rules.

Randi Weingarten Has Zero Credibility

Dethroned. The apparent impending demise of The King’s College is instructive about the pitfalls lying in wait for even the best-intentioned institutions of higher education.

Chronicle: Higher-Ed received billions in Covid-Relief funds. Where did it go?

The Great Student Loan Nonpayment Boondoggle Is Over

"A little more than a year ago, I attended a virtual symposium on “Nudges in Health Care...”

Why The Media Is Attacking Free Speech

Ann Colter not loving Trump: How not to be President

A New World Order:

Countries around the world have tired of feeling pushed around by America, of having the terms of their relationship imposed from Washington. Ironically, in a war that is supposed for democracy, these countries want to have a say in their own foreign policies. And we should not ignore the increasing economic power of China..

France Contemplates the Bear - A novel presenting Putin’s worldview sympathetically has taken France by storm.

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 06:49 | Comments (38) | Trackbacks (0)

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QUOTE:

Plants cause global warming now

No. That's not what the paper finds. Plants sequester carbon, and more plants mean more carbon is sequestered. However, as the planet warms, plants will not sequester as efficiently as they otherwise would due to higher rates of respiration. Assuming the paper is correct, that means calculations of the increase in atmospheric carbon will be somewhat higher than expected. See Huntingford et al., Implications of improved representations of plant respiration in a changing climate, Nature Communications 2017: "New global datasets describe upper canopy dark respiration (Rd) and temperature dependencies. . . Our analysis suggests Rp {whole-plant respiration} could be around 30% higher than existing estimates."

#1 Zachriel on 2023-05-31 08:40 (Reply)

Quibble-DickZ: Assuming the paper is correct, that means calculations of the increase in atmospheric carbon will be somewhat higher than expected.

Now assume the paper is incorrect.

#1.1 Zachinoff on 2023-05-31 09:36 (Reply)

Just assume that nearly everything that the I’m not a commie but I support everything that is commie posts, is full of half truths and missing information. As a recent example he tried to equate the left actually banning books, with a library in Florida moving a book from the kiddie section of the library to the young adult section of the library. Because Florida, and DeSantis is the actual incarnation of Hitler, not like all the other pretend Hitlers from Eisenhower to Trump.

#1.1.1 B. Hammer on 2023-05-31 10:41 (Reply)

B. Hammer: Just assume that nearly everything that the I’m not a commie but I support everything that is commie posts, is full of half truths and missing information.

Claim: Paper says plants cause global warming.
The claim is false: Paper says plants reduce global warming, but not as much as previously believed.

Whether the paper is right or wrong, the article misrepresented the results of the paper, just as you misrepresent our views.

#1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2023-05-31 11:10 (Reply)

Quibble-DickZ: Whether the paper is right or wrong,
.. we just like to argue anyway.

#1.1.1.1.1 Zachinoff on 2023-05-31 14:03 (Reply)

I scroll down until I see the troll's name. Then I ignore it. As with all evil it has no power over you that don't give it. Look away. Turn it off. ;)

#1.1.1.1.1.1 Lord Heathen on 2023-05-31 14:50 (Reply)

B. Hammer: As a recent example he tried to equate the left actually banning books, with a library in Florida moving a book from the kiddie section of the library to the young adult section of the library.

Where did we claim that?

#1.1.1.2 Zachriel on 2023-05-31 11:12 (Reply)

Three Years Later, No Justice for BLM Insurrection in D.C.

QUOTE:

Not only has Graves not charged any suspects involved in the 2020 riots under his watch, but his office also helped negotiate a settlement between the Justice Department and Lafayette Square rioters, who sued the government for violating their civil rights during what Graves called “racial justice demonstrations in Lafayette Square.” The settlement with Black Lives Matter D.C. required Park Police and Secret Service to update their policies to protect those who “peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights.”

First Amendment rights these days are in the eye of the beholder—or in this case, the lead government prosecutor who decided to turn a blind eye to a six-month campaign of terror in the nation’s capital in 2020 so he could keep his sights on people who participated in a mostly nonviolent, comparatively brief protest on January 6.

https://amgreatness.com/2023/05/29/three-years-later-no-justice-for-blm-insurrection-in-d-c/

#2 feeblemind on 2023-05-31 09:06 (Reply)

I'm thinking that as long as Boston U accepts federal money and its employees like their paychecks, we taxpayers have a captive audience and might want to negotiate a reciprocal obligation: that they prove they've mastered some basic economics and biology.

#3 Texan99 on 2023-05-31 09:36 (Reply)

The problem that Ann Colter and other never Trumpers have is that we were there to see it all and no amount of rewriting what happened will make us believe what she says. For example she claims that Trump could have done many things during his first two years with a Republican majority but didn't even try. Two important points about that: We saw the Republican leaders actively and eagerly sabotage Trump at every turn. Second, we saw the Democrats weaponize the FBI and intelligence agencies to cripple Trump. No president has ever faced this kind of insurrection.

She also tried to accuse Trump and Jared of only working hard to use their power to make money when in fact Trump lost money as president. Also Trump and Jared put together a extraordinary peace plan in the Middle east, something no one else has done.

What Ann Colter and the rest of the never Trumpers don't understand that what the swamp did to destroy Trump didn't just harm him they harmed all Americans, stole the votes of citizens and irreparably harmed our country. This trait of destroying voters and the country to make Trump look bad is the one consistent thing the never Trumpers have in common no matter if they are Republicans or Democrats.

#4 OneGuy on 2023-05-31 09:40 (Reply)

Excellent synopsis.

#4.1 Zachinoff on 2023-05-31 09:54 (Reply)

Trump has his faults, to my mind his attacks on DeSantis and now McEnany is evidence of one, but Coulter attacked Trump for not building his wall when congress refused to allocate any funds for it. I won’t read her columns anymore.

#4.2 mudbug on 2023-05-31 10:38 (Reply)

Yes, very good.

@mudbug isn’t strange that two bombastic mud slingers don’t get along with each other?

The great gift that is Trump, is that he exposed the many outright frauds in the Republican ‘leadership’. These pretenders never wanted to actually conserve any part of the culture that made America great. The pretenders are so much easier to spot, thanks to Trump.

#4.3 B. Hammer on 2023-05-31 10:48 (Reply)

We all have faults so I don't hold it against him too much though I think that particular fault is unfortunate. He made mistakes last time. I suspect he's learned from them and will be better should there be a next time which I expect.

#4.3.1 mudbug on 2023-05-31 12:27 (Reply)

'Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Says American Pushback Against Woke Politics Is "Scary"'

I've rarely seen a larger faggot.

#5 Maniac on 2023-05-31 09:41 (Reply)

Canada has a problem. Trudeau is a tyrant and under Canadian voting laws even a solid majority of voters cannot vote him out of office. Trudeau has created a alliance with immigrant politicians to capture the Canadian government and the parliament protects this anti-Canadian takeover. I think Canada is screwed.

#5.1 OneGuy on 2023-05-31 10:51 (Reply)

Maniac: I've rarely seen a larger faggot.

Nothing like a little homophobia to advance the discussion.

OneGuy: Trudeau is a tyrant and under Canadian voting laws even a solid majority of voters cannot vote him out of office.

Huh? It's a parliamentary system. The leader of the largest party is typically appointed prime minister by the governor general on behalf of the monarch, and it takes a majority of parliament to pass legislation. However, a majority of parliament can move to remove a prime minister through a vote of no confidence. In the most recent election, Trudeau's Liberal Party won 160 seats out of 338. Though not a formal coalition, the Liberals typically work together with the New Democratic Party to form a working majority. Not sure how you thought it worked.

#5.2 Zachriel on 2023-05-31 11:36 (Reply)

I should add that the NDP has an agreement to support the Liberal government until 2025 against any non-confidence vote. The party has 25 seats, just enough to keep the Liberals in office.

Though I view this agreement as inherently "weaselly" (during a recent public service strike, the NDP ended up simultaneously supporting the strikers and the very government they were striking against; I'm not sure how you square that particular circle), it's an entirely legitimate parliamentary manoeuvre.

In 2025, there must be a federal election under the fixed-date provisions of the Canada Elections Act, so that's when the government - and its NDP fellow-travellers - will have to face the voters.

#5.2.1 JJM on 2023-05-31 12:20 (Reply)

"homophobia"

A typical weasel word from the left. 'Faggot' would imply disdain or contempt for homosexuality, certainly not fear.

I doubt the comment was intended to 'advance the discussion.' It's not all about you.

#5.2.2 eeyore on 2023-05-31 12:53 (Reply)

I see what you did there and you know what I mean.

#5.2.2.1 Zachinoff on 2023-05-31 14:11 (Reply)

eeyore: 'Faggot' would imply disdain or contempt for homosexuality, certainly not fear.

Semantics? The original meaning was "fear of humans," but language evolves. In any case, we were using the modern sense of the word.

#5.2.3 Zachriel on 2023-05-31 13:02 (Reply)

"the modern sense of the word."

Thank you for exactly proving my point of 'weasel word.' The word speaks for itself. Regardless of the dictionary definition everyone knows what 'Phobe" means.

#5.2.3.1 eeyore on 2023-05-31 21:15 (Reply)

eeyore: Regardless of the dictionary definition everyone knows what 'Phobe" means.

And homo means mankind. So, are you actually trying to claim that homophobia still means fear of humans? That's silly.

#5.2.3.2 Zachriel on 2023-06-01 07:57 (Reply)

Homo used as a prefix means 'same, moron.

#5.2.3.2.1 eeyore on 2023-06-01 08:08 (Reply)

eeyore: Homo used as a prefix means 'same, moron.

Homo is Latin for mankind. Homo in homophobia originally came from the Latin homo, not the Greek homos as in homosexual. The use of homophobia to refer to aversion to homosexuals is generations old.

Words evolve. Homophobia came from a Latin prefix attached to a Greek root, while homosexual came from a Greek prefix attached to a Latin root. A new meaning came from a conflation of the two, then a bit of drift to the modern meaning.
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=homophobia

None of this justifies the slur.

#5.2.3.2.2 Zachriel on 2023-06-01 08:37 (Reply)

JJM: Though I view this agreement as inherently "weaselly"

Heh. "Weaselly" can be a synonym for politics. The NDP didn't walk away empty-handed.

#5.2.4 Zachriel on 2023-05-31 13:07 (Reply)

"'Weaselly' can be a synonym for politics."

Indeed.

While I have little use for the NDP, it's the sort of tactic any Canadian political party might be tempted to use under certain circumstances to advance its own interests.

#5.2.4.1 JJM on 2023-05-31 13:38 (Reply)

There are a few provinces who have expressed that Trudeau should go and they reject his tyranny and are talking about leaving Canada's government. The system IS set up so that elected officials can do anything they damn well please BUT what options does that leave honest citizens when what they please is tyranny? Canadians know that the government took some of their rights away from them and they will never get them back. I'm simply saying that what is brewing in a few of the provinces is NOT tea.

#5.2.5 OneGuy on 2023-05-31 16:58 (Reply)

Oh, don't be such a faggot.

#5.2.6 Maniac on 2023-05-31 21:36 (Reply)

Ukraine: Bleeding Out

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/05/ukraine-bleeding-out.html

#6 feeblemind on 2023-05-31 10:01 (Reply)

The US is not capable of fighting the artillery ground war that is the ace card in Russia's war with Ukraine. The Ukraine leadership, like the US leadership, is in it for the money. Grab all you can and then split the scene. US corporations think there will be a fat rebuilding card to play but Russians also see the Blackrock corporatist grab and, at this point, see no reason to settle anything with the US hogs at the trough. They will keep grinding up Ukraine until it does not exist. Then the NATO bullying will end and the Euro's will have to find a solution. I suspect that that some eastern Euro's will side with Russia and there will be another realignment. Don't bet that Kosovo will survive. They may have to make a run for Turkey. The last of the Muslims in Europe could well be in the Crimea area.

#6.1 indyjonesouthere on 2023-05-31 20:32 (Reply)

UK Enters Worst Period Of Strikes Since Thatcher As Gov't Calls For Price Controls

Price controls would be a disaster. It will only create scarcity and empty shelves.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/uk-enters-worst-period-strikes-thatcher-govt-calls-price-controls

#7 feeblemind on 2023-05-31 10:27 (Reply)

Price controls never lead to any other result but empty shelves, but we never, never, never get tired of trying them.

I get people who worry about others who can't afford something important that's become expensive, but surely the only solution is for those of us who can afford it to buy it and give it to people who can't. That way the people who make it will keep making it, and we can put our money where our mouth is.

Price controls are a way to try to force other people to fund our favorite charities--when it's not even our birthday and they aren't trying to think of a present we'd enjoy.

#7.1 Texan99 on 2023-06-01 10:56 (Reply)

Regarding the WSJ article: missing was any reference to a good prayer life. Take everything to the Lord in prayer. A well formed conscience, begins and ends with prayer.

#8 B. Hammer on 2023-05-31 10:55 (Reply)

Are the usual suspects going to be protesting the slaughter of 200,000 innocent cows? Or is this going to be the omelette/eggs shrug?

#9 Jerryskids on 2023-05-31 12:39 (Reply)

If countries around the world are tired of being pushed around by America, just wait until the Chinese take over.

#10 RebeccaH on 2023-05-31 15:10 (Reply)

Yup. No one ever accused the Chinese of having an altruistic foreign policy.

#10.1 Gringo on 2023-05-31 18:13 (Reply)

The Chinese actually have the same foreign policy as every other country:

"What's good for the PRC is good for the world."

#10.1.1 JJM on 2023-06-01 07:24 (Reply)

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Wednesday, May 31. 2023

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