July, 2023 archive
Dinosaurs Redux 0
I saw pick-up truck yesterday with a bumper sticker reading, “This vehicle is fueled by recycled dinosaurs.”
I thought of that when I saw Brian Greenspun’s column in The Las Vegas Sun. He notes that temperatures in Vegas and around the world are breaking records and argues that dinosaurs are still with us. A bit of his article:
That is if the dinosaurs of today — let’s call them the elected leaders who insist on doing the bidding of the carbon-based industries around the globe — will start making decisions designed to prolong life rather than shorten or downright end it!
Personally, I am somewhat less than optimistic.
Strategization 0
Follow this link if you are curious to see a graphical representation of the strategy likely to be adopted by Donald Trump’s lawyers.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Bruce Schneier points out the ChatGPT and similar “AI” bots work by mining data produced by others, then spitting in back out.
He proposes that those whose data is mined deserve to be reimbursed for their contributions. Follow the link for his reasoning.
All That Was Old Is New Again, Reprise 0
Thom reminds us that, as Mark Twain once observed, history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.
All That Was Old Is New Again 0
Davidson College Professor Isaac Bailey reacts to a message that he received that started out by addressing him with “Hey, boy!”
I commend the complete article to your attention.
Precedented 0
In his letter to the editor of the Las Vegas Sun, Gil Eisner is sees shadows from the past.
I do hope he is, as my old boss used to say, in error, but I fear–oh, never mind.
Legends in Their Own Minds 0
Methinks Atrios is onto something.
Courting Disaster 0
Robert Reich argues that the current Supreme Supremacist Court has gutted the legal concept of “standing,” that is, of who under the law has the capacity to bring suit in court. Here’s a bit of his article:
Bad enough that three of the justices now in the majority were appointed by a man who lost the popular vote, who was impeached twice, and who promoted an insurrection against the United States. And two others were appointed by a man who also lost the popular vote and led the nation into war in Iraq under false pretenses.
Now that the court has obliterated the guardrail on what it can consider, there are no limits to what this least democratic branch of government — and its extremist majority — might do.
And Now for a Change of Pace 0
Afterthought:
I’ve always enjoyed Henry Mancini’s music, ever since the first time I heard the theme from Peter Gunn.
I finally got to watch Charade, which we taped from the Movies TV Network, which offers some excellent viewing. I quite enjoyed to film (though, I must say, we found the very last scene just a wee bit chintzy).
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Oklahoma State Superintendent of Schools moves to whitewash (I choose that term advisedly) Oklahoma’s history.
Establishmentarians 0
Farron argues that the Republican Party in no longer a political party in any traditional sense, but rather has become little more than a tool of right-wing evangelical they-call-themselves Christians.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another “responsible gun owner” chooses to settle a dispute with his politeness.
And yet another child is sacrificed upon the NRA’s altar of lead.
None So Blind . . . . 0
