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distractionfactory

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distractionfactory , to news in AM radio law opposed by tech and auto industries is close to passing | Ars Technica

If standards aren’t set and enforced for that shielding, it won’t just be radio in cars that don’t work. That RFI travels like a tiny broadband (as in multiple frequencies) radio station… because it is. The impacts are compounded the more cars are like that.

distractionfactory , to news in Automakers Want AM Radios Out of Cars. Congress Is About to Require Them

It’s also the fact that if everyone stops using AM, the RFI pollution from EVs and other tech will balloon even more than it already has. Those frequencies are used for a lot more than just emergencies. I’d bet the push for this came from the military or the FCC.

distractionfactory , to news in Why Americans are bummed out about the economy

I get that CPI is a target for bad faith arguments from people with political agendas, this is because it has been politicized. It’s an important metric for the incumbent to point at to justify their effectiveness if it is favorable. It’s an election year, so that’s even more so the case. It bothers me that it has become such a politicized metric because it can be used to dismiss issues that are of legitimate concern. If the perception doesn’t match the statistics because people are watching doom and gloom on the news then yes, you’re right the statistics are more important than the grumbling of infotainment warriors. However, if the perception differs from the statistics because of personal experience, then it doesn’t matter how well the economy is doing by the numbers overall, the experience of those individuals is still valid. And I am saying from personal experience that it doesn’t feel that my dollars go as far as they used to, enough so that it impacts my options.

The politicization of the statistics concerns me because it is in the best interest of the current administration (whoever that may be) and those advocating for them to dismiss those who are struggling as outliers or bad actors when any kind of national average is going to minimize local or regional factors. It is the politicization of the statistics that makes them more subject to scrutiny in my opinion, especially in a world where natural disasters and extreme weather events are becoming more common place. We may not need the same “basket of goods” as we once did.

distractionfactory , to news in Trump urges US Supreme Court to endorse 'absolute immunity' for ex-presidents

Presidential Immunity would be the single worst outcome for the country, regardless of what happened to Trump himself. It would remove all oversight to the Executive branch. And it would confirm that the Supreme Court is utterly corrupt, because there is no way it could be interpreted as constitutional by reasonable people. Even hearing the case is an obscene waste of time and resources.

I’m embarrassed as an American that we are seeing any of this take place.

distractionfactory , to news in Why Americans are bummed out about the economy

I feel like you’re putting me in a position to argue against the scientific method, but I don’t think that’s actually the case. Statistics can be scientific, they can also be wrong. The scientific process allows for skepticism. To not consider questioning the methods given opposing perspective is not scientific, it’s dogmatic.

The statistics may very well be accurate, but your level of faith in them is disturbing.

distractionfactory , (edited ) to news in Why Americans are bummed out about the economy

That is a shocking take in my opinion, one that borders on delusional. Statistics are the result of specific metrics collected by people who chose what specific data points to collect, the methods of collecting those metrics and chose the methods of presenting the data. They can reveal interesting aspects of reality that aren’t otherwise obvious and can depict a fairly accurate representation of reality as a whole if they are created in ernest using sound data collection techniques, but I’m pretty sure that the most qualified data scientists will disagree with the statement that “statistics are reality”. Especially if anyone in control of any part of that process has significant motivation for them to depict something specific.

Statistics are only meaningful when you put them into context of their intent, limitations and error rate.

Lies, damn lies, and statistics

And even if the statistics hold true in aggregate, it’s not the full picture and can’t accurately describe or predict individual experiences. Perception is anecdotal, so it is not a perfect depiction of reality either. But if perception does not match the data, it’s an indicator that the data might be suspect.

distractionfactory , to news in Why Americans are bummed out about the economy

There is a disconnect between the statistics and reality. I am not sure where, but I suspect inflation is not being calculated correctly. It may be that lower cost items rose at a higher rate, so even though it averages out, it’s harder to reduce spending. 17% doesn’t seem to match the numbers I’ve seen for take out and home prices for example.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what’s on a chart it matters how many things people had to choose to not buy or do because they couldn’t afford it.

distractionfactory , to news in Feds charge Japanese Yakuza leader with nuclear materials trafficking

Archer, he’s got the case! Don’t let him get away! Calm down Lana, it’s empty. I hid it in Ray’s wheelchair while he was distracted.

You did what now? I hid… the plutonium, Lana, it’s this new thing called SPY CRAFT!

What part of extremely unstable and radioactive did you not understand?!

Well, apparently the core concept, Lana. Who do I look like, Marie Curie?

…

Wooooo!

distractionfactory , to news in Canadians worry US democracy cannot survive Trump's return to White House, poll finds - Reuters

And what happens when one of his Republican boot lickers buddies get into office? They can either undo it and let him go or use similar justification to imprison their political rivals even if it’s not as clear cut.

It would be much better for the justice system to handle it. If they don’t, then maybe Biden will need to, but as I said, that is an overall loss if he is forced to.

distractionfactory , to news in Canadians worry US democracy cannot survive Trump's return to White House, poll finds - Reuters

Couldn’t be further from what I want. What I don’t want to do is to give the Republicans, or any party reason to argue that whatever measures are taken against Trump are not lawful. It needs to be unambiguous that he violated the law of the land and establish that precedent so that executive action is not required, encouraged, needed or possibly even allowed. Otherwise we have accomplished literally nothing to protect our democracy, quite the opposite, in fact. Presidential decree is not law and can’t be expected to survive one administration to the next.

Calling it his number 1 job is hyperbole unless it stands up in court. And if it does, I will agree with you, just show me the court case.

That’s the point of checks and balances; to draw a clear separation of power.

distractionfactory , to news in Canadians worry US democracy cannot survive Trump's return to White House, poll finds - Reuters

Flexing his power to attack his political rivals is exactly what he needs to avoid doing. That is what Trump is doing and has been doing and that is the problem. If Biden has to step in, we’ve already failed.

It is in everyone’s best interest that the current President does not do anything other than watch the justice system play out, just like every other US citizen.

There is no action that he can take that will not make things worse.

distractionfactory , to news in Buyers worldwide go for bigger cars, erasing gains from cleaner tech. EVs would help.

Literally having smaller cars available to buy would help. There are very few cheaper aka smaller car options, and even fewer that are marketed well. They have no reason to make small cars when they have spent decades cultivating the market for SUVs and trucks.

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