[Climate change: July set to be world's warmest month on record]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Well Brian mate. It was placeholder's chart. I only copied it to show how scientists disagree.

 

I don't know whether there is warming or cooling. In fact I'm not bothered. Was very hot this year in my area. What I don't like is those doom and gloom mongers saying that we will all be underwater in 10 years; and it's all human's fault.

 

This Earth of ours is very robust. It has gone through many changes, and will continue to do so. We must do our bit in keeping it as clean as possible.

 

Well, I certainly understand your feeling.  The doom and gloom does get a bit tiresome, but the warming world will be very different for many of us and for the flora and fauna.  There will be winners and losers.  The problem is the rate at which this is occurring is going to be problematic.  

Our existence and survival is somewhat tenuous.  It won't take large scale crop disasters -- because it was too warm for them, too wet or drought.  We have watched vast stretches of forest burn along with other disasters.  

It's the conflict between groups for resources in areas that are going to be losers that will result in large scale displacement.  Some of that movement happening now is in part due to changing conditions.   

So, no we aren't all going to be sloshing through seawater, or dying of thirst in a massive desert.  Some people will be quite lucky when their cold, miserable area becomes warmer and more hospitable.  

We do need to do what we can to slow the warming down to avoid some of the very nasty things that can happen.   

 

[Bangkok to start using AI in management of traffic flow]

Bangkok traffic will be the real litmus test as to the value of A.I.

 

[Florida Man Governor DeSantis Releases Extremist Anti LGBTQ Ad]

The conservatives are going to be in for a big surprise.  The LGBTQ is very used to fighting for every right they have ever had, pretty much everywhere.  They will not go away.  Gays have always been around and always will.  They are taking on a cause that they can't win.   

 

[Overuse of marijuana linked to surgery complications and death, study says]

The article seems to center more on marijuana use among youth, and that is without a doubt most likely true.  As for the rest of the article, it's sort of like saying drinking makes you drunk.   

 

Pretty much anything that we use has some side effects.  

 

[Suspected cocaine found at White House sparking evacuation]

29 minutes ago, stoner said:

remind me again how much is costs either side to win a presidency ?

 

could you also link to these campaign reform measures please. i would like to read about the proposals made by the dems on this subject. 

thanks. 

Well, I think you could do your own research because this is starting to stay way far afield, but here's one link to tide you over:   https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/553835-gop-resistance-to-election-reforms-shows-disregard-for-us-voters/

 

[Suspected cocaine found at White House sparking evacuation]

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

No, I want one. I know the leftist talking points, what I don't know is how it's undermining democracy. 

 

When the Democrats change voting rules, gerrymander, attempt to overturn elections, lies and changes finance laws it's democracy in action. 

As a general rule, the Democrats don't disenfranchise any group, whereas the Republicans do.  They close voting sites in predominately minority areas.  A good example is the many attempts to limit mail-in voting.  Then there is the Georgia controversial voting law known as Senate Bill 202.

But we are straying from the topic.

[Suspected cocaine found at White House sparking evacuation]

27 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Do you have any specific example(s) of what republicans are doing these days to undermine our democracy? 

 

If you're going to make a statement of fact, does it not need to be supported? 

Voting restrictions: Republicans in several states have proposed or enacted voting laws that opponents argue disproportionately affect minority communities. These laws make it harder for certain groups of people to vote, thus suppressing democratic participation.

 

Gerrymandering:  Republican-led efforts in some states have resulted in skewed district maps that favor their party and undermine fair representation.

 

Attempts to overturn elections: including false electoral slates and culminating in Jan. 6.  

 

Embrace of "alternative facts" and disinformation: Some Republicans have spread misinformation or promoting conspiracy theories, which can erode public trust in democratic institutions and the media. This includes instances where Republican leaders or media outlets have made false claims about election fraud, COVID-19, climate change, and other significant issues.

 

Opposition to campaign finance reform:  Republican opposition to campaign finance reform measures, such as limiting the influence of money in politics or increasing transparency, can undermine the democratic principle of fair representation. They claim that large campaign contributions from wealthy individuals and corporations can skew the political system in favor of those with financial power.

 

Did you want more?

[What the Supreme Court’s LGBTQ rights decision means]

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

 

<snipped>

I've refused sales to people before, when I had no legal right to.  But a moral obligation to myself and others.

So, do you consider yourself to be morally superior to gays, or are they just morally inferior?   

Who are the others that you are upholding your moral obligations for?

[Titanic sub firm: A maverick, rule-breaking founder and a tragic end]

15 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Someone asked me if I thought all the Titanic sub jokes were in bad taste.

 

I said, "No, I don't think they're in bad taste. I also don't think they're jokes.

 

"I think we're at a point in society where the friction between regular people and the ultra wealthy is fostering genuine hate, and I don't think it's unjustified.

 

"Why would the average man mourn the death of a billionaire taking a frivolous expensive trip and having the hubris to ignore the risks?"

 

15 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Someone asked me if I thought all the Titanic sub jokes were in bad taste.

 

I said, "No, I don't think they're in bad taste. I also don't think they're jokes.

 

"I think we're at a point in society where the friction between regular people and the ultra wealthy is fostering genuine hate, and I don't think it's unjustified.

 

"Why would the average man mourn the death of a billionaire taking a frivolous expensive trip and having the hubris to ignore the risks?"

Your comment is interesting.  Around the same time, a boat loaded with 750 migrants sank off the coast of Greece.  At least 350 migrants drown.  It was largely ignored or dropped from the news cycle in a nanosecond.  The news was squarely focused on how much air was left in the sub.   

We know that many of the remarks about migrants drowning focus on how it's their own fault, where did they get the money, why don't they stay home and make their own country better, etc., etc.   But we get chastised for less than solemn remarks about the enormous amount of time the news has spent on 5 people in a sub.    

[Hunter Biden-linked account received $5 million days after threatening messages: 'Sitting here with my father']

It's all very confusing.  As near as I can tell, somebody said that somebody heard that something happened, but nobody seems to know for sure if it did -- except for some people want to believe it did.  And then a business partner in China paid money to a law firm in the US.  Is that right?   

 

[Trump says he's been indicted in classified docs probe]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

I believe that the additional tapes given to him and his defense team, were the ones supplied by his own defense during the initial discovery.  He has walked himself into a corner.  His own words and the signing of legislation to enhance the penalties for the crimes he is now indicted for are what should be slapping him in the face.  He made his bed and now must lay in it.  Just read he may now be spending more time with Kari Lake who he tried to assist and still stands by the Election was stolen rhetoric.  One wonders if there are tapes of them discussing the criminal indictment after the fact. 

Kari Lake has her own battles ahead:   

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer sues Kari Lake, her campaign for defamation

 

 

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Maricopa County’s top election official is taking legal action against former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake due to her reported lies about the 2022 election. Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer filed a defamation lawsuit on Thursday against Lake, Lake For Arizona, and Save Arizona Fund, Inc., a corporation that fundraises for Lake.

According to the 104-page lawsuit filed Thursday in Maricopa County Superior Court, Richer is going after Lake for two central claims about the 2022 election in Maricopa County.

 

https://www.azfamily.com/2023/06/23/maricopa-county-recorder-stephen-richer-sues-kari-lake-her-campaign-defamation/

[Trump says he's been indicted in classified docs probe]

Why do I have a feeling that they are processing an application to make Mar-a-Lago a private prison?  

[NATO's largest-ever air force drill sends message to Russia]

1 hour ago, BenStark said:

And what has a waste of tax payers money to show off to do with defense?

 

Has any NATO country be invaded?

No, and it is precisely because they are a member of NATO and spending money on defense.

[‘We Need to Start Killing’: Trump’s Far-Right Supporters Are Threatening Civil War]

Most psychologists will tell you that the best indicator of future violence is past violence.   Trump has shown us that he is very much capable of unleashing unprovoked violence.   He, and he alone, discredited the 2020 election.  He started the Big Lie and he has perpetuated it.   He instigated the Jan. 6 insurrection.   

I am not sure how this will all shake down.  Whether he is nominated, wins the presidency or not, he will continue to spew the hate.  Both his ego and his finances are bolstered by the hate and division.   Violence is just a part of his playbook.   

 

[The Army will, once again, fall short of its recruitment target]

3 minutes ago, Tug said:

Not surprising at all lots of good paying civilian jobs available we haven’t been attacked (yet) no really strong draw for anyone to join up.That being said if it hits the fan America will be there!

Well, being a person who values life, especially my own.  I'd be inclined to join when all is well in the world!

 

The military used to have a lot of foreign recruits who were then given the option of citizenship.   As I recall, Trump threw many of them out of the military and sent them back to their country of origin.  

[For Donald Trump, the 2024 campaign is more than a race to return to the White House — it's a fight to stay out of prison.]

1 hour ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Considering he went out for a leisurely game of golf after being indicted shows he doesn't gave a hoot about these political charges. 

It is a sad indictment on him and those who support him that they have such a low opinion of the law.  

[Tucker Carlson drops first episode of bare-bones Twitter show]

This is some of the typical right-wing propaganda.  The number of views has little to do with the number of watchers.  But it sounds like that's about all they have.  For those who are interested, take a look at the front page of any section of the forum, and it will show you the number of views and the number of replies.   Some of those topics have thousands of views but very few responses.   

 

[Tucker Carlson drops first episode of bare-bones Twitter show]

Is 'sweaty and rat-like' a case of projection?

 

[VA blasted for replacing American flag with pride flag at veteran cemetery, state GOP demands its removal]

9 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

The veterans interred there all fought under the American flag. It is the ultimate 'inclusive' one to fly. They did not fight and die under the pride flag. 

And a number of those who died were gay, but that was against the law, against military rule and were grounds for dishonorable discharge.  The percentage of self-reporting gays is actually higher in the military than the civilian population.  But, hey, those people who gave not only their lives, but their identity apparently do not have the right to be honored.   Take the time to think about that.  

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5538666/

 

[Exclusive: Mar-a-Lago pool flood raises suspicions among prosecutors in Trump classified documents case]

If he wanted to scrub the servers, he should have consulted with Hillary.   

 

[California's earliest Black settlers bought land only for it to be stolen. Their descendants want it back.]

Well, there are 574 recognized Native tribes in the US.  They haven't had much luck on actually getting real estate back.   They still get it taken away, though.   

 

I wish them the best of luck.

 

[Trump lawyers visit Justice Department]

Plea deal? 

[1,000 women hold a sit-in at the Colorado Capitol to push for an end to gun violence]

9 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

According to the article, this is what the protestors want;

 

The plan was for the sit-in to continue until Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order declaring a 30-day state of emergency, suspending the sale of guns during that period and ordering “a total ban on all guns and a comprehensive, mandatory buyback program.”

 

Lofty goals. Completely unobtainable and unrealistic, not to mention unconstitutional.   Does any country in the world have these restrictions? With the exception of North Korea and possibly China.

 

Something tells me these ladies are in for a loooooooooong summer. 

I think you mean lofty goals.  I think if they get even a small step toward their goals, there will be a drastic decrease in mass shootings.   

 

 

[1,000 women hold a sit-in at the Colorado Capitol to push for an end to gun violence]

23 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Somewhat ironic that they choose to protest during Pride Month, when the shooter who motivated their action was a member of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

Nothing like a deflection from the problem.   You see, the problem isn't Pride Month, it isn't the LGBT community, it's guns.  There are no mass shootings without them.   

 

[I love electric vehicles – and was an early adopter. But increasingly I feel duped Rowan Atkinson]

Every technology has a downside, and every technological advance has faced challenges.  My next vehicle will be an EV.   Even if the electricity it uses is dependent on electricity generated by oil or coal, it doesn't always have to be that way.   More renewable energy is being generated daily.   

 

If I buy a conventional car, I will be dependent on oil forever.   

 

Oh, and I see, OPEC, or at least Saudi Arabia, is cutting production.