- New bipedal robot from Boston Dynamics is amazing, terrifying, and pitiful all at once
- We already knew that tech workers can be immature and insensitive, but this suggests that elite wealth/education isn't doing a good enough job on race issues either (and living in the cosmo. Bay Area doesn't guarantee racial awareness either)
- BTW, MS-FB-Google are ~2% black, and Apple is super-diverse at 8%
- This Trump thing has evolved from a joke/curiosity to real national concern; if he wins the nomination, then ALL OF US seriously have to volunteer (and get our networks to do so, also) to help his main rival, if we care about America
- http://youtu.be/DRauXXz6t0YIt is understandable for some to oppose abortion, but this video describes the almost cruel/vindictive ways that some red state governments obstruct patients and providers. America is not even going after ISIS this passionately.
- More John Oliver recently vs. Trump: http://www.vox.com/2016/2/29/
11132366/john-oliver-donald- trump-last-week-tonight As his GOP rivals said, the guy is a glorified watch salesman; all talk/image no substance. Maybe supporters are voting for the name, just like Clinton I guess (I assume most of her supporters can't really articulate her major career accomplishments and Senate voting record). We buy based on what we think the benefits of the brand are, and brand ultimately leads to happiness more than product features. But Oliver's point was that the "Trump" image has nothing to do with the candidate/man (he can understand why people like the mythical notion of a "Donald Trump" leading America, but that is not what we'll get on inaug. day). Actually his actions only merit the "Donald Drumpf" brand.Very entertaining, but the only downside is that it could help Rubio/Cruz (whose stated policies are not that different to those of Trump). However, I don't know which of these guys pose the greatest challenge to Hillary (I support Sanders, but I know the odds are against him).
Showing posts with label hbo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hbo. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
News potpourri
Saturday, November 22, 2014
A scathing indictment of US lotteries
Like most enterprises involving a lot of $, the lottery has been pretty crooked in the US from the start.
And it doesn't really make sense for the state to prohibit sports
betting and other gaming, while it holds a monopoly on a $68B business
that contributes only 1% to education (with untold billions in social
costs).
Lastly, several states (CA, IL, etc.) have or are considering (NJ, others) selling stakes in their lotteries to private investors, in order to shore up their shaky budgets. Like many public asset sales, this usually works out to the detriment of the public. Investors want ROI, and will find new, unhealthy ways to increase the number of players/losers (an idea floating around is online sales).
Lastly, several states (CA, IL, etc.) have or are considering (NJ, others) selling stakes in their lotteries to private investors, in order to shore up their shaky budgets. Like many public asset sales, this usually works out to the detriment of the public. Investors want ROI, and will find new, unhealthy ways to increase the number of players/losers (an idea floating around is online sales).
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Recent perspectives on income and the wealth gap
Bill Maher: the super rich have an oversized egotistical victim complex. Libertarians and conservatives can cut the crap, because most of the founding fathers commented that concentrated wealth is a danger to democracy (and back then the existence of a billionaire capitalist was less plausible than the Fountain of Youth).
A caller on KQED: debating the minimum wage is a straw man until America implements more humane labor practices and expectations. Otherwise we're not much different than Tsarist Russia.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Will McAvoy pwns the Tea Party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
I know we've talked about the TP before, but it's scary and shameful on all of us that we allowed a group of such hateful, delusional people to participate in gov't and even push it around (maybe now we know why corrupt Karzai isn't thrilled about a power-sharing peace deal with the Taliban?). I wish Anonymous or some other tech-savvy group would hack the GOP convention and play this during a big speech. You can start watching at 2:25 if you're pressed for time.
Again, shame on the MSM that I actually learned a lot of new things from the Daily Show and HBO's Newsroom during this campaign season. I know Sorkin can be over-the-top (and did he accidentally compare an old black lady to a stray animal, or accuse the TP of doing so?), but I think Newsroom is refreshing and you actually care about the characters' struggles (and admire them for it). Too bad it won't shame any of the current big anchors into being actual journalists.
I know we've talked about the TP before, but it's scary and shameful on all of us that we allowed a group of such hateful, delusional people to participate in gov't and even push it around (maybe now we know why corrupt Karzai isn't thrilled about a power-sharing peace deal with the Taliban?). I wish Anonymous or some other tech-savvy group would hack the GOP convention and play this during a big speech. You can start watching at 2:25 if you're pressed for time.
Again, shame on the MSM that I actually learned a lot of new things from the Daily Show and HBO's Newsroom during this campaign season. I know Sorkin can be over-the-top (and did he accidentally compare an old black lady to a stray animal, or accuse the TP of doing so?), but I think Newsroom is refreshing and you actually care about the characters' struggles (and admire them for it). Too bad it won't shame any of the current big anchors into being actual journalists.
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