| Time |
Event |
| 8:32a |
Thugs engage in physical violence against blacks
Australian thugs engage in physical violence against blacks,
then resist being held responsible, much like American thugs.
The blacks in Australia are indigenous rather than of recent African origin,
but they seem to get similar treatment.
|
| 8:32a |
Attempting to predict political collapse
Attempting to predict political collapse from big data.
That dooH niboR and the poverty it causes leads to political collapse
is a truism. That idea of "overproduction of potential elites" as a
major factor is less obvious, but over the years I've seen reference
to large numbers of unemployed university graduates cited as a factor
in civil unrest.
Since this theory is based on mathematical modelling, ultimately it
will succeed or fail like any scientific theory.
|
| 8:32a |
Fake it till you make it
Uber ran for years at enormous losses to create the impression
that it had to succeed and that it was a good investment. This
general approach has been dubbed "Venture predation".
Under a good government, this sort of thing would land executives in
prison.
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| 8:32a |
So-called "chevron deference"
*The so-called “Chevron deference” doctrine stipulates that the
executive branch — not the federal courts — has the power to interpret
laws passed by Congress in certain circumstances. Conservatives for
years have fought to overturn the doctrine, a move that would empower
legal challenges to federal agency regulations on everything from
climate policy to workplace safety to overtime pay.*
Justice Thomas changed his position on this question after payments to him,
and reportedly to his wife as well, from people with interests in the outcome.
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| 8:32a |
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| 8:32a |
Ohio abortion referendum
Ohio will vote on a referendum to legalise abortion. Republicans have
just passed a law to schedule a vote on making such referendums
require a supermajority to pass. They plan to rush this vote so it
will alter the rules for the abortion referendum.
Why August? I suspect that some voters will be on vacation in August and might
have difficulty voting no for this change.
|
| 8:32a |
ChatGPT legal filing
*A lawyer used ChatGPT for legal filing. The chatbot cited nonexistent
cases it just made up.*
This goes to show how foolish it is to think of ChatGPT
as "intelligence". It is not capable of having knowledge,
understanding, desires, or plans. It has no idea of truth
or falsehood.
|
| 8:32a |
Debt ceiling deal will fast-track the Mountain Valley pipeline
*The debt ceiling deal
will fast-track
the Mountain Valley pipeline, and limit the scope of environmental
reviews for future developments.* That will kill people; the
uncertainty is about the order of magnitude of how many people.
|
| 9:17a |
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| 9:17a |
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| 9:17a |
Recycling plastics can release microplastics
*Recycling [of plastics] can release huge quantities of microplastics.*
After installing an additional filter, the plant released 6% of the plastic
input as microplastics. (Before that, it was more.) Even the air
around the plant is full of microplastics.
Washing machines also release plenty of microplastics.
The only way to arrange for most washing machines to have filters is
for the government to do it to people's washing machines, and those in
laundries. The amount of trouble involved in getting and installing a
filter will dissuade most people who are busy.
One of the menaces of plastic waste is that it blocks drainage systems in
countries too poor to clean them out. |
| 9:17a |
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| 9:17a |
Texas woman threatened with arrest for seeking abortion
*Pregnant Texas woman [who was] threatened with arrest if she left
hospital to seek abortion is suing over the endangerment of her life.*
In all, eight women have joined this lawsuit. |
| 9:17a |
Keeping the government running under threat of debt ceiling
Governments threatened with the debt ceiling should not hesitate to
use questionable maneuvers to keep the government operating — and
they should not try to go to court to argue for them. Biden should do
what is needed, then let the Republicans sue if they wish.
If government lawyers were to argue in the Supreme Court, in advance,
that the maneuver id lawful, the current right-wing politicized court
would have every motive to rule "it is unlawful", and thus strengthen
the Republican hostage-takers.
However, if Republicans file that case after the maneuver is used,
then a ruling of "it is unlawful" would mean instantaneous default.
Even the right-wing justices would hesitate to do that. They would
have to find a way to avoid that. |
| 9:17a |
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| 9:17a |
River coming close to Line 5 oil pipeline
Due to erosion, a river has come close to the Line 5 oil pipeline.
Various sorts of accidents and bad weather could pollute the Great Lakes.
Activists call for shutting down the pipeline as a precaution against
a disaster that would be impossible to repair. |
| 9:17a |
Right-wingers dominate Brazil's congress
Right-wingers dominate Brazil's congress and are acting to handicap
environmental protection by cutting funds to the environment ministry.
The Amazon rain forest is close to dying, that is, transforming into savannah,
and that change could lead to global disaster,
it would make sense for other countries to donate money
to Brazil's environment ministry. |
| 9:17a |
Heat stress death and injury statistics
*Heat stress can kill up to 2,000 workers and cause an additional 170,000 injuries on job sites across the United States annually.*
A proper heat stress standard for workplaces could prevent that. |
| 9:17a |
Southern ocean overturning circulation
*The Southern Ocean overturning circulation has ebbed 30% since the 90s,*
and it is continuing to slow further. This could lead to big
changes in climate and and sea level. |
| 9:17a |
US nuclear power plants vulnerable to physical attack
US nuclear power plants, and their stored wastes, are vulnerable to
physical attack and to cracking their computers.
It would be stupid and dangerous
to build any new ones — but rich jerks want to do it anyway. |
| 9:17a |
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| 9:17a |
Oath Keepers founder gets 18 years
*Far-right Oath Keepers founder sentenced to 18 years over January 6 attack.* |
| 12:02p |
Tories demonizing disabled people on benefits
*A decade after the Tories demonized disabled people on benefits, it's
happening again.*
If you are a non-rich working Briton, and your tax burden for
supporting worthy causes such as helping the disabled is high, don't
blame them! Blame the rich bastards who avoid contributing their
proper share -- by supporting Tories.
|
| 12:02p |
Putin forces capture city of Bakhmut
The Putin forces have more or less captured the city of Bakhmut.
They lost tens of thousands of soldiers doing so.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has 3/4 surrounded the city by capturing high
ground around it. My partial knowledge of military history suggests
that the safe thing for the Putin forces to do would be to pull out of
the exposed salient which the city has become. I don't think they
will, though. I think Putin's ego is bigger than his tactical
understanding.
Maybe Ukraine should rename the city to Putingrad to make sure they
don't pull out of it. |