I don't think it has ever happened before that the people in charge of any given industry have come together to ask for more government regulation. So the fact that the AI people are doing so now should get our attention.
This is happening because these captains of industry understand that there is a significant chance their products will annihilate mankind within 10 years. It should frighten us that the people who know the most about what's happening are the ones who are the most frightened.
Back in the Before Times, when we could take it for granted that the people running the world's most powerful country were sane enough to want to avoid the end of human civilization, we would've expected that something would happen as a result of these warnings. There would be some sort of moratorium, some kind of discussions would take place, commissions would be appointed, and there'd be at least some attempt to pump the brakes.
But not now. DJT is so disconnected from reality that any negative information that somehow gets past Natalie Harp is just dismissed as fake news. There is absolutely zero chance Trump does anything, which probably guarantees nobody else in the world will either.
But I could be wrong! I thought Ronnie Raygun was going to blow up the world in the '80s, and somehow cooler heads prevailed. Maybe the cyborgs will just decide to be nice to us. Right?
I keep hearing never trust the government.
Ok. But I trust the Billionaires, Oligarchs and Tech Giants even less. Additionally, they are already too big to fail on their own. They have too much money and too much power. Ironically, it is only government that can control them. So pick your poison.
Strong democracies can and should limit monopolistic and anti-competitive actors. The current administration favors authoritarian rule and a congress that does nothing except tax cuts for the rich and regressive taxation for the poor (tariffs and healthcare policies). We just witnessed the largest shift to regressive taxation in history and the resulting largest redistribution of wealth from the average person to the ruling class (billionaires). If you think about it, it makes no sense so please stop voting for it.
This includes tech giants, especially the creators of AI, which clearly needs to be regulated.
There is a modern-day Teddy Roosevelt out there, and we need him/her.
A Vote for the Billionaire Class is a vote wasted.
Bizarre
JD (Joe Dickhead?) Vance comes to Europe and gives a speech that shows how staggeringly ignorant he is about Europe. Of course, the orange one thought it was fantastic. Trust in Amerika as a reliable ally is evaporating fast. I suspect it'll end in trauma sooner rather than later.
It's all just truly unbelievable
I cannot believe people really thought voting for all this bs was a good idea
What the FUCK happened to this country?
Welcome to 1984
Knock knock at your front door
There was an interview with Steve Bannon....
....prior to the election, where he said (paraphrase), "If trump wins, they will go all muzzle velocity. Shooting shit off so fast that the media and the public can't keep up. BREAKING NEWS overload. Distractions from something else."
I tend to believe him.
God damn them all
_l_
Adams
Eric Adams tramps little bitch on a very short leash. As a New Yorker I must say Adam’s must go and go now. I sent our Gov a get him the hell out of there now message. If there are other New Yorkers here send her a message now to remove this Scumbag SOB POS!
There is a bill out there....
....to make his unfortunate birthday a national holiday. It coincides with Flag Day. Time to shelve that holiday it seems.
I mean, all the other days/months of remembrance are shelved as well, correct? Broad paint strokes.
Day of mourning...
....might be more appropriate.
Celebration Days... (Different subject)
Well, the 420 movement/meaning/celebration, in the US or where ever is kind of a holiday. Good so!
Problem with 420 here is, if you announce/intend to celebrate that day, has a very bad taste, based on our history. It was AH birthday.
It's off topic, but I had the feeling to mention.
Heads up - never again.
G.
Not off topic Gerd....
....the fact that AH was born on 4.20 only means one needs to expand one's consciousness even more.
Ein prosit, Gerd
Y'all be cool
Doing what we can
Sheryl Crow donated her Tesla to NPR (national public radio) to be auctioned for public radio funding. NPR and PBS are both likely on the chopping block. I give a modest amount every year to NPR (actually to CPR - Colorado) to keep my classical station going. I listen almost every evening to "Night Music" after 9pm to soothe myself to sleep.
Cheers
Ha! Hegseth flunked out of officer training school, lol.
"don't believe him"
it's just all
muzzle velocity
when enuff shit is thrown
against the wall
something is bound to
(of course it's all just his)
shtick
End of an era?
I wonder how long European governments will cling on to the idea that America is their ally. Now that the orange one has aligned himself with Putin and has dissed most of Europe in as many ways as he can, the belief that he gives a shit about Europe has disappeared. We should have expected it as he made it clear in his first term that he admired authoritarian leaders such as Putin and Kim Jong Un above those of democratic countries. I guess all good things have to come to an end.
Donald called Zelenskyy a dictator....
....and called himself king in the span of a couple of hours.
I'm sure he was "just kidding" though.
Education
So when will whatever’s left of your education system announce the compulsory Russian language classes?
I’d say what I think about your president but I’m concerned I might get prosecuted once he declares himself Emperor of the world.
I hope I am wrong and the future will be bright but I just can’t see it.
Favorite "Protest" Song
Keep faith good folks, beyond anything else right now. It's not easy for me, despite my own eternal optimist label. So, let's try a therapeutic exercise for us music lovers.
What should the new "Song of the Resistance" be?
I humbly suggest "What's So Funny bout Peace Love and Understanding". I wish every band could play this as their encore until the fog lifts. Either the Elvis Costello version or the Nick Lowe version would do, since I love both. So, what song would you all like to see?
What's so funny bout PL&U
That song has been on my mind for almost four months now
I did a top version of it at karaoke a few weeks back
FDT
I'll throw in a really, really good protest song....
....Talkin' About A Revolution - Tracy Chapman.
Hells yes.
trumps "king" comment is being interpreted as "just trolling" by conservatives as 100% expected.
Me? I prefer leaders / public servants that lead and don't "troll" their constituents as a joke. Its not funny and sense very dark clouds ahead.
Politicians shouldn't get in the way
I think of their role as being to serve, not lead.
It's not a protest song, or a song at all in the hands of Jimi Hendrix, but his version of "Star Spangled Banner" at Woodstock says more than a thousand words.
Inspiring Song Choices Indeed!
Those are all such wonderful songs! Also, as parody goes, James Taylor sang Okie from Muskogee on an bootleg from 1970. He also did Pretty Boy Floyd, so I think that balances it out quite nicely for me.
And the song works so well for drunk karaoke. Maybe not in Oklahoma, for my own safety. But can you imagine a woman singing "Deportee, Plane Wreck at Los Gatos"? There wouldnt be a dry eye in the place. Woody was so ahead of his time, lyrically and emotionally. Music is so often the perfect canvas for protest. Be well, my friends.
Songs
I remember listening to a transistor radio under the bedclothes in 1970 to Radio Geronimo. They had a great segue between CSNY ‘Ohio’ and the Hendrix version of ‘Star Spangled Banner’. Very moving.
For protest songs you can’t go wrong with ‘This land is your land’ by Woody Guthrie or the similar sentiments in ‘Big backyard’ by Molly Tuttle.
It would be wonderful to think that ‘We shall overcome’ might still be true.
Bob
Get Up, Stand up…
Bob
Chimes Of Freedom
Freedom - FZ
“The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.”
FZ: Interview Jim Ladd 1977
Google....
....Indiana Governor Dolly Parton books.
Yeah.
Also. Google Vikings punter Huntington Beach to see what the Democrats SHOULD be doing.
It's Alright Ma,
I'm Only Bleeding
I guess CPAC is happening....
....and Steve Bannon doubled down on the nazi salute. Must be a Thursday.
Word online is that donnie is going to sack the USPS, even though they are self funded.
Get ready for more expensive shipping my fellow physical music ordering fans!
DOGE email
Here are the 5 things I did last week:
(not that Elon has the right to know)
1. GD - 10-2-76 DaP 53
2. Eagles - On The Border LP
3. GD - Taper's Section
4. GD - Jam Of The Week
5. GD - Grateful Dead Hour
So get off my back DOGE!
Cheers
Better one from Colbert:
What did I do last week?
1. Your Mom
2. Your Mom
3. Your Mom
4. Your Mom
5. Your Mom
Favorite "Protest" Song
Question?
Who cares about nature?
In Rome, all the countries of the world, with the sole exception of the US, agreed a funding plan to reverse the decline of nature.
Why doesn't the US feel the need to protect nature?
Why doesn't the USA want to protect nature?
Because there is no short term financial gain to be made I would say. Maybe Trump is put off because he doesn't know how to make a deal with a tree.
Nature?
The closest he gets to nature is a golf course which is not exactly a true natural setting (well maybe Scottish links style courses come close). Lest we forget, this is the moron who blamed California for their wildfires because they aren't sweeping the forest floor. And he is reversing us on the Paris accord in favor of fossil fuels. DOH!
Cheers
Unbelievable
I've just seen the orange turd and his sycophantic sidekick berating President Zelensky at the White house. What were they thinking? Finally they show the true nature of this reprehensible administration. This reflects very badly on the United States. How many more former allies will they alienate?
Have you said thank you once ?
Disgusting.
Why don’t you wear a suit?
What sort of clowns are allowed to be reporters in the US these days?
Hand Picked
Only the "approved" get to report from the White House now. I read that Russian State media was at the cabinet meeting that President Musk was running and in this meeting too. A set up to show comrade Putin the livestreamed insult fest.
Lord help us
Musk walks around in a ball cap and blazer....
....and you have the audacity to question Zelensky's attire?
This was not good. The US cannot be trusted anymore.
And Rubio just sitting there like the little spineless bitch that he is.
And there is a pic of the ambassador from Ukraine sitting with her head in her hands.
It is Galling & Sickening
... to be represented in any way by these (lower than whale crap) people - who are so ignorant and deranged as to behave in such an abusive and completely unacceptable manner.
🤮
Room temperature IQ
bullies with microscopic balls treating a visiting foreign leader in need like that?
Unconscionable!
And yet they are followed by their cult until all fall off the cliff (lemmings).
Beyond pathetic!
"the truth is realized in an instant, the act is practiced step by step."
ON LIVE TELEVISION...
...the king and the jester
continue to show the "FREE" world
what is marching throughout
this hollowed out land
ashes ashes all fall down
Making Their Voices Heard
Protesters in Vermont to JD Vance on his ski weekend:
"Go ski in Russia!"
Cheers
JD in VT
No wonder that so many protesters showed up, yet another example of performance, stay in the spotlight, by broadly announcing where they were going before hand. After such rude treatment of Z so DJT gets to build his hotel in Russia. So yes, JD had to go somewhere else apparently. Video clips can be seen if desired by searching the local CBS, WCAX.
Ghastly people
Trump and Vance seem truly monstrous. I shudder to think what kind of human being would find that performance last Friday impressive. I suppose Putin may have done. In fact, I'll bet he couldn't believe his luck when Trump got voted back in.
W w w . Project2025 . Observer....
....truckin' right along. A third of the way there people!
Clean site.
Speaker Johnson said Zelenskyy should resign because of his lack of decorum in the Oval Office. Two things. One. It doesn't work that way. And two. Hawking Goya products in the Oval Office last term because the CEO tickled his nutsack is apparently acceptable. Fuck this entire administration.
Back in the day
Russia was theee enemy
1984 the book comes to mind
SNL's Opening Skit Last Night ...
... was Right. On. The. Money.
The sad reality that goofballs DJT & JDV dredged up and put into play was so 'bat-bleep' crazy that the all the absurdities SNL presented basically wrote themselves.
Anyway, check it out - if you haven't already done so ...
the sad state of our country
we are in deep trouble im not sure we get out of this one,... the needle and the damage done
re: SNL
Agreed, this was pretty spot on for a cold open not to mention it was like only 24 hours deep from the news cycle. The real life version was a complete shit show, I mean WTF happened to good ole human decency.
Be Well People
Sixtus
Good Samaritan
I’m not a Christian myself so I may have a poor understanding of the parable. Can anyone tell me where the Samaritan asked for a mineral deal after helping the injured traveller.
Does anybody know...?
What does Pootin have that gives him such a hold over the the orange turd? Does Russia have something that America wants or is there some dirty laundry that the turd wants to keep out of the public domain. There must be something that is responsible for the turd's bizarre decisions regarding Russia.