Mammon category archive
That Musky Odor 0
Truthout reports . . . .
On October 30, Chief U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown ruled that the NAACP’s lawsuit against xAI and its Mississippi data center, Colossus, could proceed.
In April, the NAACP filed a complaint against xAI — owned by SpaceX — for violating the Clean Air Act by constructing hazardous gas plants without complying with national emission standards or obtaining permits. . . .
This New Gilded Age 0
David discusses those tech bro billionaires who question the legitimacy of democracy because it might stand in the way of their desires.
Precedented 0
.Sometimes, a picture is indeed worth a thousand words.
What’s in a Word? 0
Sometimes, quite a lot.
At The Seattle Times, Steve Edwards describes how the Trump maladministration has redefined a word so as to further endanger endangered species. A snippet:
In the agencies’ own example, if a protected species lives in a tree, it would be OK to cut down that tree and kill the animal so long as the purpose of cutting it down was something other than killing the animal. This view of ESA protection provides no protection at all.
Aside:
Apparently, extinction is a Republican family value.
AI and This New Gilded Age 0
Thom looks at the possible fallout if and when the AI bubble bursts. From the Youtube page:
The artificial intelligence boom is showing clear signs of cracking, from massive tech layoffs to falling stock valuations and skyrocketing power bills for everyday consumers. As tech giants invest hundreds of billions into data centers and infrastructure while cutting tens of thousands of jobs, who really pays the price when the bubble bursts? Thom Hartmann breaks down how the current AI speculation boom mirrors past financial crashes, why corporate monopolies are seeking government bailouts, and what happens to working-class families and the economy when labor power is systematically stripped away.
Arc Angles 0
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Thom argues that the arc of American conservatism is wrong, for it bends towards fascism, spurred on by America’s original sin of chattel slaver.
Watch the video for his reasoning.
This New Gilded Age . . . 0
. . . meet this new “Let them eat cake.”
Trading Secrets 0
Heaven Trumpettes forbid that the public should learn about the stock manipulation.
Facebook Frolics, Reprise 0
From a New Mexico State Department of Justice press release:
The press release also states that the Zuckerborg will have to pay $25,000,000,000 in civil penalties.
One more time: You don’t use “social” media. “Social” media uses you.
Follow the link for details.
This New Gilded Age 0
Michael in Norfolk makes an important point.
This New Gilded Age 0
Via The Sacramento Bee, Daniel de Visé runs the numbers. A snippet; follow the link for context.
The American Dream will cost you $5.3 million over a lifetime.
(snip)
That $5.3 million tab is more than the average American can afford. The typical full-time worker with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn $3.6 million from ages 25 to 64, Investopedia says. Twenty years of Social Security benefits raise that worker’s lifetime income to $4.1 million, still $1.2 million less than the cost of the American Dream.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
A tool for thievery? Via The Sacramento Bee, Tobi Opeyemi Amure and Celine Provini follow the money trail.
Facebook Frolics 0
Ariana Bindman warns you not to fall for the Zuckerborg’s latest strategy for assimilating all before it, via the “personal assistant” dubbed “muse.” Here’s a tiny bit from her article:
Ultimately, Muse isn’t really a personal assistant — it’s a digital panopticon disguised as an imp.
Follow the link for her reasoning, and, remember, you are not using “social” media. “Social” media companies are using you.
This New Gilded Age 0
Thom discusses myriad ways in which the Trump maladministration is empowering corporations and depowering consumers.