Octopus Overlords

El Guapo wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:42 pm

malchior wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:41 pm Do democracies really fix their mistakes? The recent track record has not ... been super solid either.

In general and over time, yes - at least better than the alternative. Plus, part of our problem is that our democratic institutions have been breaking down, impairing our ability to fix mistakes.

malchior wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:48 pm

El Guapo wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:42 pm

malchior wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:41 pm Do democracies really fix their mistakes? The recent track record has not ... been super solid either.

In general and over time, yes - at least better than the alternative. Plus, part of our problem is that our democratic institutions have been breaking down, impairing our ability to fix mistakes.

Yeah I'm more talking about the very recent trend across a decent chunk of the advanced economies we are seeing. It definitely feels like a big shift is occurring and I can point at areas where dictatorships are outperforming us too. It's a weird time.

malchior wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:36 pm

Pyperkub wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 2:20 pm

malchior wrote:BTW I don't know if anyone else has noticed but Twitter has to my eyes dramatically altered it's algorithm. I'm seeing non-stop hard right (read strong fascist) voices that I don't follow. I followed a few for visibility and now they dominate my newsfeed. It is sorted by 'Top Tweets' but when I switch to latest Tweets it looks more normalized. They are pushing hard right content all of a sudden.

Latest Tweets is definitely the way to go (and use an adblocker).

I figured it out. It was definitely the 'Top Tweets'. The settings are local and I had done a clean install on my new rig. Still the behavior is almost useful. I can switch to right-wing propaganda mode by changing to 'Top Tweets'. What's head scratching to me is again the same followers, same behaviors since I'm logged in, but I'm being delivered stuff that has maybe 100 likes, low follower counts, but is essentially radical right-wing bullshit. How are those the "Top Tweets"?

El Guapo wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:51 pm

malchior wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:48 pm

El Guapo wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:42 pm

malchior wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:41 pm Do democracies really fix their mistakes? The recent track record has not ... been super solid either.

In general and over time, yes - at least better than the alternative. Plus, part of our problem is that our democratic institutions have been breaking down, impairing our ability to fix mistakes.

Yeah I'm more talking about the very recent trend across a decent chunk of the advanced economies we are seeing. It definitely feels like a big shift is occurring and I can point at areas where dictatorships are outperforming us too. It's a weird time.

I don't think there's any question that dictatorships can outperform democracies at times (particularly flawed democracies), but over time I don't think there's any real doubt that democracies are better at self-correcting.

Freyland wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 11:57 pm I vote "no".

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 11:44 pm Do we even qualify as a democracy anymore?

A former CIA officer who spied on Qatar’s rivals to help the tiny Arab country land this year’s World Cup is now under FBI scrutiny and newly obtained documents show he offered clandestine services that went beyond soccer to try to influence U.S. policy, an Associated Press investigation found.

The monthslong FBI probe focuses on whether Kevin Chalker’s work for Qatar broke laws related to foreign lobbying, surveillance and exporting sensitive technologies and tradecraft, said two people with knowledge of the investigation who requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss it.

The FBI has seized the electronic data of a retired four-star general who authorities say made false statements and withheld “incriminating” documents about his role in an illegal foreign lobbying campaign on behalf of the wealthy Persian Gulf nation of Qatar.

New federal court filings obtained Tuesday outlined a potential criminal case against former Marine Gen. John R. Allen, who led U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan before being tapped in 2017 to lead the influential Brookings Institution think tank.

It’s part of an expanding investigation that has ensnared Richard G. Olson, a former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan who pleaded guilty to federal charges last week, and Imaad Zuberi, a prolific political donor now serving a 12-year prison sentence on corruption charges. Several members of Congress have been interviewed as part of the investigation.

Per Speaker Pelosi spokesman: “Paul Pelosi underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands."

malchior wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 2:53 pm Loving how they seamlessly switch over to crime be high in San Fran.

https://mobile.twitter.com/gtconway3d/s ... 5367460864

Jaymann wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 9:21 pm Apparently there has been a steep drop off in Karens.

The Northeast is the region with the lowest crime rates. The property crime rate in the Northeast was 34% lower than in the rest of the country, and the violent crime rate was 26% lower than in other states.

Four of the bottom five states by property crime rate in 2020 were in the Northeast, as well as all five of the lowest states by violent crime rate. New Hampshire and New Jersey were in the bottom five states for both property and violent crime.

States in the South and West had the highest crime rates in 2020. Washington, DC, which is in the South, and New Mexico, which is in the West, were in the top five states for both property and violent crimes.

pr0ner wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 1:27 pm Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul was violently attacked in the Pelosis' home this morning by someone who was there looking for Nancy. Paul suffered blunt force injuries to his head and body, and the attacker had him tied up while waiting for Nancy when the police arrived.

Isgrimnur wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 10:21 pm There are five 10yo boys running around with the name Karen.

Max Peck wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 11:27 am

Isgrimnur wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 10:21 pm There are five 10yo boys running around with the name Karen.

And they're probably all from Armenian families.

The female name stems from Scandinavia while the male has Iranian roots.
...
Karen has a different meaning in Armenia as it is linked to an ancient Iranian family. The House of Karen (or Karin, Caren) was one of seven powerful aristocratic families in Iran

Isgrimnur wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 11:42 am

Max Peck wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 11:27 am

Isgrimnur wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 10:21 pm There are five 10yo boys running around with the name Karen.

And they're probably all from Armenian families.

TIL

The female name stems from Scandinavia while the male has Iranian roots.
...
Karen has a different meaning in Armenia as it is linked to an ancient Iranian family. The House of Karen (or Karin, Caren) was one of seven powerful aristocratic families in Iran

Max Peck wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 11:27 am

Isgrimnur wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 10:21 pm There are five 10yo boys running around with the name Karen.

And they're probably all from Armenian families.

Alefroth wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 3:26 pm It's nearly Sunday. It was quieter in Brazil than I thought it would be.

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/28/11319620 ... onaro-lula

Alefroth wrote: Sun Oct 30, 2022 6:15 pm 90% counted and Lula is up by 1%.

I wonder if Brazil has an automatic recount system.

Holman wrote: Sun Oct 30, 2022 6:17 pm

Alefroth wrote: Sun Oct 30, 2022 6:15 pm 90% counted and Lula is up by 1%.

I wonder if Brazil has an automatic recount system.

I wonder if Bolsonaro won't just declare martial law at midnight.

Alefroth wrote: Sun Oct 30, 2022 6:23 pm Maybe arrest the Electoral Court and charge them with corruption?