Open Thread - Friday, January 18, 2019

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 3:20am

In chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state.

Last week, I set a comment record! More comments than any posting stimulated either here or TOP. The preceding Thursday night, I was post beer web surfing, when I ran across the Charles Pierce bit. I replaced the original posting quote and figured the Pierce quote would draw some derision, but I had not anticipated the level of conversation provocation.

Manipulation of the human herd, and reality molding are pet subjects of mine. Along with history revision, and tribalism. I think the reality control project begins with not demanding accountable. For the last few decades, politicians, doctors, clergy, police, military, corporate executives, banks, MIC, gun huggers, the pious, state's rights advocates, property rights advocates, forced birthers, sovereign citizens and many other special interests have not been held to account. The stimuli to the system has resulted in systemic failures and diminished quality of life.

The capitalization of politics stimulated corruption.

I worked with complex systems, and in continuous improvement environments. No change is undertaken without a detailed description of the proposed change/input to the system and a measurement plan. The troglodytes running the show are winging it, and we all suffer for their incompetence.

Obviously, I mis-gauged the stimuli to last week's conversation. The real question remains. About that accountability? Where's the wage growth? The mo' better healthcare? The polite fucking society created by fucking guns? The post racism inclusiveness? The minding your own fucking business? Where are The Libertarians boycotting highways, bridges, parks, airports, …? Why aren't these fucking hucksters accountable? Just fucking asking.

Why hasn't Mark Zuckerberg been held accountable for anything? That's a rhetorical question.

Hypothesis, abstract, discussion and conclusion. Things are funked up and the zombie apocalypse is upon us. The herd is brain washed and wandering untethered.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
~ Rudyard Kipling ~

Have a great funkin' weekend. The thread is OPEN.

Tags:

Open Thread

Friday

funk

chaos

stimulus

accountability

Vote

Comments

Submitted by HenryAWallace on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 4:50am

Good morning, NCTim and all.

Crap. I missed last week's Friday open thread. But, I didn't miss this one, so I'll comment related to this one.

Politicians are the ones who need to be held accountable. And, people like Zuckerberg, doing the bidding of the government, doing for government what the Constitution forbids government to do.

I know of no practical way of holding them accountable, other than the way that their alleged heroes used in 1776. That was has since become nigh impossible, and not very practical. Moreover, even if revolution were not impossible and even if the unarmed left succeeded in prevailing against all the armed "folks" who would shoot them dead on the spot if they even smelled an actual revolution plot, what is the plan for the second after the revolution is won and all the seconds after that?

I have been giving things a lot of thought since Shrub was President and I've read a boatload of political message board posts since then and read, watched or listen to a lot of political commentary since then. So far, all I have is the second paragraph of this post. And money. Not paying income taxes, which, of course, is illegal. And economic boycotts, which, of course are currently legal, although I don't know how long they will last, especially if media assiduously avoids spreading the word, as with the first several weeks of Occupy Wall Street--until they could start publishing negative news.

As far as corporations, stop giving them money. Stop buying stuff you don't need and, whenever possible, barter or buy the things you REALLY need second-hand. If you can put together a community, maybe you and your fellow community members can buy necessary items together and share their use. Put your mind to ways that you can avoid buying new things. And, much as I like to speak of Mr. Google, do you really need facebook, twitter or google? (Why an enterprising techie leftist has not begun alternatives to either facebook or twitter, I'll never know.)

For now, enjoy your weekend and your life, regardless of anything else.

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 7:41am

Alternative?

@HenryAWallace Facebook and Twitter reminds me of the Willie Sutton's reason for robbing banks:

That’s where the money is.

Just replace money with marks/rubes. Why are the profound pronouncements called Tweets, shouldn't they be Twits?

Crap. I missed last week's Friday open thread. But, I didn't miss this one, so I'll comment related to this one. Politicians are the ones who need to be held accountable. And, people like Zuckerberg, doing the bidding of the government, doing for government what the Constitution forbids government to do. I know of no practical way of holding them accountable, other than the way that their alleged heroes used in 1776. That was has since become nigh impossible, and not very practical. Moreover, even if revolution were not impossible and even if the unarmed left succeeded in prevailing against all the armed "folks" who would shoot them dead on the spot if they even smelled an actual revolution plot, what is the plan for the second after the revolution is won and all the seconds after that? I have been giving things a lot of thought since Shrub was President and I've read a boatload of political message board posts since then and read, watched or listen to a lot of political commentary since then. So far, all I have is the second paragraph of this post. And money. Not paying income taxes, which, of course, is illegal. And economic boycotts, which, of course are currently legal, although I don't know how long they will last, especially if media assiduously avoids spreading the word, as with the first several weeks of Occupy Wall Street--until they could start publishing negative news. As far as corporations, stop giving them money. Stop buying stuff you don't need and, whenever possible, barter or buy the things you REALLY need second-hand. If you can put together a community, maybe you and your fellow community members can buy necessary items together and share their use. Put your mind to ways that you can avoid buying new things. And, much as I like to speak of Mr. Google, do you really need facebook, twitter or google? (Why an enterprising techie leftist has not begun alternatives to either facebook or twitter, I'll never know.) For now, enjoy your weekend and your life, regardless of anything else.

—

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

Submitted by jbob on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 5:42am

The war on drugs is alive and well in NY

I was pleased to hear that the governor wants the democratic state congress to pass some form of legal recreational cannabis. Then the details and the push back started to show...
My state assembly rep. Patricia Fahey has been mostly progressive until now. She is already back pedaling in this op-ed after promises to legalize it.

Impaired driving is one of the most serious problems facing New York, as it has been with states that have legalized the drug. In Colorado, the percentage of traffic fatalities where those involved tested positive for marijuana increased from 10 percent of fatalities to 20 percent a year after legalization. While that figure reflects only use, not impairment, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that marijuana legalization has increased traffic accidents by as much as 6 percent in states that have legalized.

There are a couple of negative reports out there concerning driver safety and cannabis legalization. One is from Columbia university and the other is from the insurance institute that does the crash tests. The drug policy alliance disputes these findings in a report they have published..
Now I find out that Cuomo wants to keep "grow your own" illegal for recreational users. Hey if you grow your own the state won't make money on taxing it.

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 7:34am

And

@jbob

Now I find out that Cuomo wants to keep "grow your own" illegal for recreational users. Hey if you grow your own the state won't make money on taxing it.

And the bill's sponsor/donor's don't get exclusive rights to cultivate.

—

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 8:14am

Heh

@jbob

—

Submitted by Raggedy Ann on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 6:00am

Good morning, Tim ~~~

Accountability is good for you and me, but not for the 1%. Tsk, tsk, I thought you knew that.

Back in 2008, when I asked the president of of our university to hold certain people to account for their violation of policy, who do you think got thrown under the bus? They are never held to account unless someone is willing to put their head on the chopping block.

I was president of the staff of the u (about 5,000 folks) for a year and it was a year of contention for me and them. At every meeting, I was calling out some behavior or other. Do you think any other staff president has been willing to do it since?

It's why accountability is lacking. People are afraid to speak truth to power. It's risky. I still do it every chance I have. As a regular "citizen" of the u, I still write letters to the editor (sent to and published by both the u-rag and the local rag) calling out their crap. Someone has to be willing to take that risk. So, that, to me, is how accountability works and doesn't work.

I have to say, the freshman class in congress seems to want accountability. This might be a new phenomenon. Stay tuned.

Have a beautiful day and weekend, folks!

—

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 7:55am

I got fired

@Raggedy Ann … by "the university", for making noise. While a student, I was a user consultant for Computers and Information Systems. We were part time employees, meaning no benefits and less than 28 hrs/week. I was agitated by consistently getting schedule for more than 28 hours, while taking a full course load and commuting. I emailed the department head, copied in the department staff and the under graduate advisor for the Department of Computer Science to ask for full time status or a better schedule, shift differential for students who worked overnight and better staffing. The computer room where I worked had just received over 50 Apple IIe. Nothing was bolted down, nor were the mice secured. Plus the line printer was down a flight of steps, meaning you had to leave the room for 10-15 minutes when something was up with the printer. I referred to the situation as "The Great Apple giveaway". I was fired within 24 hours. The student employees thoroughly enjoyed my rant and the under graduate advisor complimented my chutzpah.

—

Submitted by Raggedy Ann on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 8:46am

There are consequences for taking a stand.

@NCTim
I've experienced this my whole life. I don't seem to learn, either - I just keep on speaking up.

When I was in the good fight with the administration, they tried everything in their playbook to intimidate me, make me quit, etc. They couldn't fire me, which helped. I just kept coming back at them. I just kept my name in the newspaper. I embarrassed them at every turn.

It was fun. I still find it fun, although it's a new administration. I won't let them off the hook. No one gets a free ride!

—

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 9:07am

You know

@Raggedy Ann … how to push buttons! Sandbagger! Funkin' 'eh.

—

Submitted by Raggedy Ann on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 9:15am

Working on that button pushing....

@NCTim
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra-WJZyBkGY]

—

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Submitted by Tall Bald and Ugly on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 6:22am

Last week

ya Got me.

peace

—

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 9:11am

Heh

@Tall Bald and Ugly I was all set to wander out and about, when things took off, but resisted jumping in with my own rant. Maybe the Patriotism as a manipulation tool monologue or a morality versus wealth diatribe. But alas, it was really nice out and the pub opens early on Fridays. I went for a Ducati ride, workout, late lunch, chair nap and out to the pub for Friday evening.

—

Submitted by Tall Bald and Ugly on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 10:04am

Kinda got that

@NCTim feeling when you mentioned singing back-up. I'm feeling disjointed(NO!) on people I Know having a clue(intelligence) Not seeing this bullshit for what it is-BullShit(apologies to bulls shitting everywhere)!
But you did Well pushing buttons, congrats. I'm glad burntout chimed in the other day, made me look at things a bit differently on motives for actions and such.
He ain't as dumb as he'd like us to believe if he can come up with That observation And express it so well.
Green over the Duc ride.

peace

—

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 9:30am

thanks for the kipling mr. tim

and filling the minutes with seconds of good tunes

Here is the complete list of musicians in this version by the Mingus Big Band from the album Blues & Politics
Steve Slagle
Randy Brecker
Frank Lacy
John Stubblefield
Chris Potter
Ryan Kisor
Alex Foster
Jack Walrath (an alumnus of one of Mingus's last bands),
Vincent Herring
Ronnie Cuber
John Hicks
Seamus Blake
Jimmy Knepper
Alex Sipiagin
Earl McIntyre
Boris Kozlov
Donald Edwards
Helen Sung
David Kikoski
Wayne Escoffery
Craig Handy
Orrin Evans
Conrad Herwig
Scott Robinson
Greg Gisbert
Lew Soloff

—

question everything

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 9:51am

Serendipity

@QMS Just last evening, I was talking to someone about seeing MBB. Jazzfest ~25 years ago. It was simply amazing, there was a bassoon player holding down the bass line.

RK inspired via East LA and Disney .

—

Submitted by eyo on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 11:15am

blah blah blah, jobs.

This is about jobs, the future of jobs in Sonoma County. grim
Report tells a tale of two Sonomas and the missing middle
There's a link to the PDF report over there but why bother? Funk it.

Highlights of the 'State of Working Sonoma 2018

One in four Sonoma County residents live in families receiving annual incomes of about $50,200 for a family of four.

Women, Latinos and other people of color experience the highest rates of poverty and disproportionately comprise the working poor.

A living or self-sufficiency wage for Sonoma County is $23 an hour, but about three-quarters of the new jobs created between 2014-2024 will pay less than that.

Nearly one in two Sonoma County renter households are rent burdened and pay more than 30 percent of their gross monthly income for rent; one quarter are severely rent burdened and pay more than 50 percent for rent.

Grim solidarity with the bottom twenty, I have it.

The State of Working Sonoma report states, “the top 10 percent of wage-earners in Sonoma County have seen a 26 percent increase in wages since the late 1970s… while the bottom 20 percent have seen their wages drop by double digits in real terms in the last four decades.”

The growth of the working poor population can have an impact on more than just the economy.

“Folks are working two to three jobs with no time for family or to help children with their education,” Bennett said.

Top Ten! 9% more chopping! heh I deleted a big rant earlier this morning, about an article on the latest Cloverdale school report. hyper local
District stands out against state, still room for improvement

Click here to embiggen

Fail your way up to a $30k increase, is it happening everywhere? Something is wrong, I think the school system already collapsed. The other guy got a $60k increase over one year, why? Those two are quoted in the article link, they just say "it's hard work". fuck those guys

https://transparentcalifornia.com/

Jeremy S Decker Superintendent
Cloverdale Unified, 2017 $177,315.00
Jeremy S Decker Superintendent
Cloverdale Unified, 2016 $159,892.08
Jeremy S Decker Superintendent
Cloverdale Unified, 2015 $145,081.83
...
Steve D Charbonneau Assistant Superintendent
West Sonoma County Union High, 2017 $127,254.00
Steve D Charbonneau Assistant Superintendent
West Sonoma County Union High, 2016 $63,153.00

I'd rather have the money go toward more teachers, more classrooms, smaller classes, etc. Don't reward bad administrators, give more to the orkers instead. I know, I'm not punching high enough. this sucks

cow-orkers unite
discord sewers club

edit: spelling mistake, and the report link was wrong ~~too~~ ~~twice~~ thrice, thanks instant karma. giddyup trigger

Submitted by eyo on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 12:51pm

Soylent bubble talk from a billionaire venture capitalist

Just in case anyone was wondering where the VC money is headed. This did make me laugh so hard I cried, maybe the "something wrong" is me. First I started over at HackerNews: Investing Prophet Jeremy Grantham Takes Aim at Climate Change where the guys are talking about the linked Bloomberg article:

The next bubble, he seems to be implying, is humans. “The presentation is so severe and raw,” says Morningstar Inc. Chief Marketing Officer Rob Pinkerton, who watched almost 1,300 financial advisers take in Grantham’s keynote speech at the Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago in May. “It really rattled them.”

Grantham’s discussion of overpopulation makes some people uneasy. “Population is a delicate issue,” says Jonathan Foley, a climate scientist who focuses on agriculture and is executive director of Project Drawdown, a group working on responses to climate change. On the one hand, the decision to have children is “one of the most fundamental of human rights,” he says. “Naturally it’s a sensitive topic to bring up, especially coming from the West.” Still, Foley agrees the issue needs to be discussed. “We can’t pretend there are no limits to the planet,” he says. “You need to address the seriousness of this without triggering people to become fatalistic.”

keep going, you can't make this stuff up

“On income inequality, I am left of Karl Marx,” he declares. A father of three and grandfather of six, he applauds the falling fertility rate in most of the developed world. “We have discovered at long last that children are both expensive and incredibly inconvenient,” he says. And as for his perceived adversaries—climate skeptics, oil and chemical company executives, and politicians who fail to take climate change seriously—“perhaps they hate their grandchildren.”

Perhaps rich people taste like pork. Please, I cannot stop laughing at these assholes who don't even know wtf is going on in real life, day after day. It takes them eighty fucking years to figure it out. go faster The HN guys (high wage earners) are so enlightened they say stuff like:

Pharmakon 10 minutes ago [-]
Logically speaking this amounts to betting that the Titanic will sink on its maiden voyage, while you’re stuck on the Titanic.
...
holografix 1 minute ago [-]
No, it’s betting the titanic will sink while you know you’ll be dead before it starts sinking.

Big Short! lol omg fuck those guys. I can't stop raining f-bombs. This one takes all the cake:

lordnacho 45 minutes ago [-]
As a former fund manager, I found his description of current capitalism quite close to my own. Particularly the bit where he says markets are good at a lot of stuff, but not everything.

Has anyone else had that sort of intellectual journey, where you discover libertarianism, you learn all the tropes, you feel very confident, and then after a while you pull back a bit after finding a few issues? And I suppose on the other side of the spectrum as well?
---
[...]
AceJohnny2 16 minutes ago [-]
>[snipped quote]
For most people, that transition happens between the teenage years and adulthood.

LMAO at this point I always give up... again. Future's so bright, you know. good luck
Request for Startups

1. Ocean Phytoplankton
2. Electro-Geo Chemistry
3. Cell-Free Enzyme Systems
4. Desert Flooding

"The next bubble is humans."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_Green