August, 2023 archive
“Old Times There Are Not Forgotten” 0
Michael in Norfolk argues that today’s Republican Party wants to bring back those old times.
A Picture Is Worth What Is a Picture Worth?
0
Mike Littwin muses about the worth of one particular picture which lately been much in the news. A snippet:
Yes, it was a highly choreographed attempt to appear, at once, both powerful and persecuted. I’d say it’s working.
Follow the link for the rest of his musings.
All That Was Old Is New Again 0
Der Spiegel has a fascinating interview with MIT economics professor Daron Acemoglu on the effects of advances in technology on society, with a focus on AI. As he looks at the effects of technological changes in history, Acemoglu sees parallels. Here’s a tiny little bit from the article.
DER SPIEGEL: But it is true that humankind has indeed benefited a lot from new technologies.
Acemoglu: That is the reason we have to go so far back in history. The argument that you just gave is wrong. In the past, we’ve always had struggles over the uses of innovation and who benefits from them. Very often, control was in the hands of a narrow elite. Innovation often did not benefit the broad swaths of the population.
DER SPIEGEL: Has the standard of living not risen steadily?
Acemoglu: Today, we are so much more prosperous than the people in earlier ages, that’s true. But there is a tendency to think that the path between must have been a straightforward and inevitable process. We all tend to gloss over the difficulties on the way.
DER SPIEGEL: What do you mean exactly?
Acemoglu: Take medieval windmills, a very transformative technology. It changed the organization of textile manufacturing, but especially agriculture. But you didn’t see much improvement in the conditions of the peasants. The windmills were controlled by landowners and churches. This narrow elite collected the gains. They decided who could use the windmills. They killed off competition.
I commend the complete interview to your attention.
Aside:
You can see this playing out in the current AWG SAG-AFTRA stike.
The Malicious Myth of the Self-Made Man 0
David and his guest discuss the fallaciousness of the fanciful fable and the perniciousness of its perpetuation.
The Unforgiven 0
At the Portland Press-Herald, Victoria Hugo-Vidal unloads about the fuss over President Biden’s attempts to lift the yoke of student loans from the necks of college students.
I commend her article to your attention.
Aside:
When I went to college, tuition was still within the reach of middle class families. My parents could afford my tuition and I did not need student loans. But that was before Ronald Reagan became president.
Reagon’s toxic trickle-on economics has gutted the middle class, eroded working class incomes, and imposed a crushing burden of debt on college students.
Foxy Shady 0
Yet another Fox News story turns out be, well, a story.
Base Desires 0
Michel in Norfolk argues that Hillary Clinton was right about the deplorables. A snippet:
A Tune for the Times 0
Mangy wants wonders why the “party of law and order” is angry at the rule law and order.
Tubervillainy, Reprise 2
Just read it.
Afterthought:
Many of the traditions and norms in our federal government are based on trusting that elected officials will act in good faith.
We are now faced with the new Secesh, still rising again after all these years, who act in bad faith.
Facebook Frolics 0
Devilish frolics.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society,” Updated 0
Politeness again becomes child’s play.
We are a failing state.
Addendum:
Oh, and speaking of life in NRA Paradise . . . .
Happy Birthday to Me 0
This blog is 18 years old today.
It may be drivel, but it’s my drivel.
