My hope is that can be nullified or at least ignored by the next administration (if we have one). I’m hoping that it isn’t getting much attention because Trump pretty much has the power to direct the IRS to terminate any investigations that he wants. But trying to rope it in with this “settlement agreement” perhaps makes the corruption seem a tiny bit less obvious because then it’s not Trump’s executive order but, rather, a settlement negotiated by his legal team. A stupid distinction, but his administration frequently looks for ways to paint a turd so that his supporters will gobble it up without question.

Yep. The Nuremberg Trials began or at least affirmed the very important precedent that “I was just following orders” is not a viable defense against being a fascist piece of shit.

Recently within the past few months, I remember seeing a viral clip of one of the human stick-figure type robots in a demonstration at some kind of mall (probably in China but I can’t recall). The robot started malfunctioning, and the handlers had to physically restrain the robot so that it wouldn’t malfunction erratically around the audience or people simply walking by.

Most of the comments about the video were laughing at how silly and stupid the robot was behaving, but all I could think was: If that thing was just a little bit stronger, the human handler wouldn’t have been able to physically restrain it. That robot would immediately become a real physical danger to literally everyone in the vicinity.

Also, first, this store doesn’t seem self-contained, so eventually the robot will start sweeping/vacuuming the entire mall. And second, it would be a hazard to have this thing cleaning when there are a bunch of people walking buy and into the store. People typically don’t set their roombas to start cleaning when they have a bunch of guests over.

I don’t know if this is the same or at least similar, but I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of a generation starship that is moving toward the universe either toward another planet, in search of another planet, or simply as an indefinitely mobile home. It’s wild to imagine generations being born and living on the starship without having any real understanding of the place that humans came from. Stories of Earth would start to seem like wild folklore and mythology rather than actual human history.

Eventually, some generations may become angry that the decision to live on this starship was made by other people many generations before them, and now everyone on the starship is cursed to live under that decision. Was the starship navigation designed so that people may one day change the course? Or perhaps enormous safeguards were put into place to ensure that the ship kept going toward the initial objective because all other options were decidedly much much worse for everyone.

Lol what a perfect description

A bunch of civil unrest will follow, but it will be unorganized. Things will be a bit crazy for awhile, but eventually most of the demonstrators will be quashed, imprisoned, disappeared, or worse (and Trump regime will want everyone to know and believe the worst is happening). The Trump gestapo (ICE) will have gained training and more funding from the GOP traitors, so that even an organized uprising that may finally be formed will also be easily quashed.

This doesn’t have to be our future. But it’s scary how plausible it feels.

Yes, I think we need to give them and others a soft landing spot where they can save at least a little face. We should help them lean into the narrative that “Trump lied and tricked his supporters into thinking he had virtuous, selfless objectives.” The more we scold them for not seeing what we’ve been screaming for over a decade, the more likely they will dig their heels in just to save face.

Cognitive dissonance is a very powerful drug.

For your cats is an absolutely beautiful purpose and reason we all still need you as long as we can have you. Also, there’s an inevitable piece of news that will make at least 75% of the entire world instantly erupt in celebration. I’ll be very sad if my time comes before that happens.

I think another reasonable thing is for our justice systems to tie human responsibility/culpability to the actions of AI (or whatever we may be calling these computing advancements in the future).

Replace the buzzword “AI” with “computing advancement” or (more broadly) “technological advancement.”

I think that makes it easier to see how the analogies in the comic strip are meaningless to the basic pattern that our technology has been advancing and will continue advancing, unless or until societal collapse (and maybe not even then if, by then, technology has reached the point where it can start creating its own advancements).

Can someone explain this to me… Because the lawsuit was filed in federal court and had a judge working the case, the judge has to approve the settlement. But Trump came to this agreement with the DOJ and withdrew the case in a way that wouldn’t require the judge to approve it. But doesn’t that mean that this agreement is technically not a settlement to the case, and therefore it is meaningless?

A girl I’m dating fits this person’s stereotypical description of latinas to a T. And she also considers herself introverted 🙄

My portfolio looks fantastic, but that has to remain untouched for at least 2 more decades. Feels weird to see that while simultaneously looking for better grocery store deals and cutting down on fun spending like restaurants, happy hours, and clothes. I never spent a ton on those things yet the little bit is now having a real impact on my monthly budget.

I think the ban is on using VPNs to circumvent the prediction market prohibition, not on using VPNs whatsoever.

I can sort of taste the soapiness that those people dislike, and yet I still fuckin love cilantro.

And, when mainstream media periodically interviews republican congressmen who happen to be opposed to the Trump admin’s latest corruption/idiocy, why the hell do they never ask “Since you’re against these illegal/irresponsible actions… what the flying F are you gonna do about it?”

Me to a T. Funny to see some of my friends chasing fancy stuff and worshipping rich celebrities living their fancy lives. One buddy was jaw-to-floor shocked when I said I couldn’t care less about Bezos’ wedding.

Thanks for the detailed history. That was fun to read, and you landed it perfectly back at the initial site.

Why is it that during every MTG interview from a mainstream journalist, wherein MTG criticizes Trump for doing something illegal, the journalist NEVER asks her (or any Republican congressman in a similar situation) the very basic fucking question…

So… as the party in power… what the fuck are you going to do about it?