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by liberal japonicus This came across my morning reading, it’s an analysis of a Chinese news broadcast on Ukraine. Tucker Carlson makes an appearance. The report is from early in the conflict and one hopes that Chinese viewers don’t have as short and febrile a memory as we seem to have in America and are … Read more

by JanieM Maybe we need a reboot. Here’s a thread for talking about whatever comes up. Ukraine? Covid-19, which is by no means finished with us, even if most of us think we’re finished with it? The soon-to-be-rising price of flour? The falling value of people’s savings? The fact that many, many systems are kind … Read more

by liberal japonicus The discussion about ‘tankies’ in the comments had me thinking about a number of things. I imagine all of you have seen various discussions of how the Ukraine conflict has laid bare some racist thinking. If you haven’t, these two Daily Show segments can probably catch you up. Here and here Or … Read more

by liberal japonicus A thread for non Ukraine stuff. Mentioned in the comments was a shortage of brass as it relates to ammunition. I wanted to make a cutesy comment about how I didn’t think there was really a shortage of brass (with the meaning of gall, chutzpah, etc) and went off to look for … Read more

by liberal japonicus I thought I should open a thread for more talk. There’s lots of Ukraine stuff to read about, and here are a few things that caught my eye This Vox article about Putin’s war strategy If you aren’t familiar with Bellingcat, check them out I wouldn’t put a huge amount of weight … Read more

by liberal japonicus Though we’ve not talked about Ukraine much, I see a few rumblings. A lot of outlets shared Fiona Hill’s shade on Trump, cause clickbait baby! but the whole interview has a lot more stuff. https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-health-economy-fiona-hill-1cb4fee8f64b41479468a07eb32ad304 If news outlets had done another deep dive into the cesspool that was Trump’s foreign policy, that … Read more

by liberal japonicus I’ve been getting notifications for Noema Magazine (https://www.noemamag.com/) that often has articles on topics that might be in the wheelhouse of folks here. I’m tempted to toss up several of them, but rather than do that, if folks find an article they are interested in, send it in and I’ll make it … Read more

by liberal japonicus First a classic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKHFZBUTA4k So, I realize that this is pretty much true with every generation, such that you have the meta-joke of the neaderthal telling his offspring that Ugh had to kill wooly mammoth with bare hands, he have no fancy club. But I’m really struck by the number of posts … Read more

by liberal japonicus So many idiots, so little time. 3 economists tell us that the lockdowns had no effect on the death rate. I don’t like to crap on other fields of study, but if you aren’t going to include all the inputs (like anti-vaxx sentiments and open resistance to measures), seems a bit off, … Read more

by Michael Cain Today the Senate Judiciary Committee approved antitrust legislation sponsored by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that would require Apple, Meta (Facebook), Amazon, and Alphabet (Google) to effectively separate the platform and application portions of their businesses. I will be fascinated to see how far up the software stack they try … Read more

by liberal japonicus To get things started https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/31/there-is-nothing-more-magical-resurrected-theatre-brings-ancient-greece-to-life I was a latecomer to plays, and I still find it difficult to read them. And I’ve never been to a classical Greek play, but this seems like a nice bucket item. Anyway, an open thread for any theatrical experiences out there.

by liberal japonicus Here Otherwise, an open thread.

by russell a bit of local history.  local to me, at least – the events described here all occurred within a mile or two of where I live.   plus ca change.  I wonder if the bit about the local militia stand-off at the bridge is a peek at our future.  

by liberal japonicus Former pope Benedict admits making false claim to child sexual abuse inquiry “Tell me, Martin,” he said. “Weren’t some of the popes—of course, not our present man, or his predecessor, but some of the old popes—not exactly … you know … up to the knocker?” There was a silence. Mr Cunningham said: … Read more

by liberal japonicus This just popped up Common Security Approaches to Resolve the Ukraine and European Crises and I thought it would provide an opportunity for folks to discuss this. Of course, it should come as no surprise that the Republicans seek to make hay out of this Dems torpedo Cruz’s bid to sanction Russian … Read more

by liberal japonicus Just to get things started: This be the verse Have at it.

by liberal japonicus Japan’s Shift to the Right: Computational Propaganda, Abe Shinzō’s LDP, and Internet Right-Wingers (Netto Uyo) Abstract: In recent years, academic research and investigative reports have brought to light several cases of computational propaganda (i.e. orchestrated attempts to manipulate public opinion or the outcome of elections via social media), as well as proof … Read more

by liberal japonicus This post has been rattling around in my mind and the recent discussion has me try and put this up, though it is unfinished. First, a name that I knew, sort of a second order relationship (I know several people who knew him) popped up in this headline What Joe Manchin told … Read more

by liberal japonicus My mom, who passed away in 2007 from melanoma, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the 80’s, so I found this article quite interesting https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/01/a-very-common-virus-may-be-the-trigger-for-multiple-sclerosis/ The fact that they screened for over 200 viruses makes the conclusion much stronger. Pity we live in a time when a big chunk of the population … Read more

by liberal japonicus Wow, three posts within 7 days. Truly, the world is going to hell in a hand basket. I earlier posted this, wondering about the current scandal de jour in the UK. If you aren’t up on it, that has “leveled up”, to quote a Conservative catchphrase. If you don’t know, previously, a … Read more

by liberal japonicus https://late-light.com/issues/issue-1/death-drive-nation Haven’t read a lot of Freud, though I may have to. Here’s the final graph, but fair warning, you will look really dumb if you just comment on this paragraph and not read the whole thing. That our headlong rush into a grim future of yet more death has been precipitated … Read more

by liberal japonicus Jan 6th that is, thinking of the joke about the weather: Everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it. Which shouldn’t be taken as a statement of principle, just an observation. Anyway text of Biden’s speech, and the video and this analysis should get us started. Point to other … Read more

by liberal japonicus I just made a comment equating the average pro Brexiteer with the typical MAGAite, which I think is true. However, I’m pretty sure that on the other side of the spectrum, there are pretty massive differences. A few articles from the Guardian. This, by Polly Toynbee, is a relatively cheery assessment of … Read more

by liberal japonicus A bit of Japanese culture for y’all. As you approach the end of the year, when you realize that you will only meet them in January rather than in the days remaining in December, you say ‘Yoi otoshi wo [omukae* kudasai]’ which roughly translates as ‘have a good new year’. And when … Read more

by liberal japonicus As we head into the new year, my feed is filled with the coming omicron wave. Here in Japan, there is trepidation, but there is also a sense of wtf, brought on by things like this: https://fortune.com/2021/12/07/japan-world-oldest-country-covid-19-death-daily/ https://www.npr.org/2021/12/22/1067024865/japans-puzzling-covid-lull https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/japan-omicron-covid-19-cases-numbers-20211222.html All pretty baffling. While my Japanese is ok, engaging in the back and … Read more

by liberal japonicus Just a random topic that seems interesting https://interestingengineering.com/energy-storage-trains-work-power-gravity That or anything else.

by liberal japonicus This twitter thread, via Paul Campos at LGM is especially interesting to me because I have a student doing a graduation thesis comparing Spiderman and Spiderman: India and one of the things that has come up is caste. Unfortunately, there is no regular link and I am not sure how to embed … Read more

by liberal japonicus Alternative title; The War of Jenkin’s Ear revisited The ostensible casus belli began with the maiming of Jenkins following the boarding of his vessel by Spanish coast guards in 1731, eight years before the war began. Popular response to the incident was tepid until several years later, when opposition politicians and the … Read more

by liberal japonicus I’m sorry folks, this started off as a comment, but ended up too long. I’ve seen some stuff of Scott Atlas’ book https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55141055 Now, I did get him confused with some of the other idiots, like this loser https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/us/politics/ronny-jackson-white-house-doctor.html and who could forget this guy https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/14/harold-bornstein-trump-ex-doctor-dies-459293 which I would normally feel bad … Read more

by liberal japonicus All the angles are here https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/dec/02/facebook-owner-meta-takes-down-chinese-network-spreading-fake-covid-posts Discuss that or something else!

by wj This term’s abortion law case (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization) looks to be a big deal. But what is likely to come of it? And what should we hope for? Just to be clear at the start, 1) I personally think abortion should be legal, 2) IANAL, but I find the Court’s … Read more

by liberal japonicus I suppose it is that everyone will learn their Greek alphabet https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/26/the-guardian-view-on-the-b11529-covid-variant-caution-needed Just in case you need a refresher Haven’t had very much discussion here lately, so an open thread for anything about Covid that has caught your eye. I hope I won’t regret putting this up.

by wj There have been lots of progressive arguments put forward for adopting UBI (Universal Basic Income). I expect everyone here is acquainted with them. But let’s face it, those who can be persuaded by those arguments are already on board. So what I propose to do here is to make a conservative case for … Read more

by liberal japonicus https://spacexmania.com/1/archives/1091?fbclid=IwAR1J7oI9rXxBr5-rleofoLsqTuHsJoAxfK70Q6JlEpgc9_ubWjT7xpib2SM

by liberal japonicus I had scheduled this earlier, but ended up publishing it with the former Oct date, so maybe folks didn’t see it. Or maybe they did and thought it was so trivial as to pass uncommented on. But anyhoo… I don’t know if you all are up on the Squid Game, but one … Read more