"AI:" Draining the Wellsprings

In last Wednesday's Richardson/Krugman discussion, extractive industries and "AI" were touched on briefly and I got to thinking about "AI." It is extractive, and what it extracts is culture. It seems that through the miracles of modern technology, the very rich have found a way to drain the wellsprings of culture.

The Flapping of Butterfly Wings: July 11

Various Bluesky remarks I wish to preserve

Freedom 250: Chaos on the National Mall

So, there’s a thunderstorm alert, the revelers have been asked to take shelter. Some are refusing. Almost all the buildings are closed, since it’s a holiday. Some have taken shelter in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, prompting the remark that conservatives have finally been brought to visit there. The Chinese scholars are saying Heaven has stripped us of its Mandate. The Jews are talking about Jewish space lasers.

Boize moi!

To a Socialist, on the Infiltration of the National DSA

The socialist Nathan Newman has written a good explainer on how it is that the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have both produced one of the worst policy platforms and some of the best politicians of our time. The entire piece is worth reading.

Notes on Trump v Slaughter

Today the Roberts Court handed down a decision in Trump v Slaughter in which the Six Oathbreakers of the Roberts Court decided that regulatory agencies couldn’t possible be independent of the king, er, President unless they were the Federal Reserve and also made a shout-out to the traitors of the Confederacy. Paul Krugman remarked that this decision “makes it extremely difficult for the economy to function.” There’s a lot of legal and economic commentary by experts, and I am here adding a few notes of my own.

Antifa, or Glonzo and the Anarchists

A short piece, intended to clear the air.

If 25% of the population believed that a creature called ‘Glonzo’ caused high power prices by chewing through transmission lines, any competent politician would be negligent in not trying to find a way to exploit this. – William B. Fuckley

Antifa shows up ready to rumble; the fascists show up ready to kill. – Raven Onthill

24 Hours of Epic Snark

The past 24 hours have really been something; I think I’ve posted more snark on Bluesky than I have in any previous day. I’ve collected the posts here, to establish a baseline.

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Why do I even bother doing theory when we’re going to be hip-deep in ICE, and there’s probably going to be a global recession that will make 2008 look like a picnic?

Everyone brace!

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