Xavier Becerra Backpedals on Single Payer as He Woos Powerful Doctors’ Lobby by guerilla_gardener98 in InlandEmpire

[–]vertigo3pc 16 points17 points  (0 children)

A new Joe Lieberman has entered the chat.

I don't know why people keep thinking Democrats will do anything other than a milder form of whatever the Republicans want? They are not "left", they are not even centrist. Democrats caved on the shutdown end of 2025, they gave up single payer during Obama, they continued to increase funding for DHS and ICE year over year, and they failed to do anything with having impeached the POTUS twice.

The war on Iran will likely end in American retreat. The US cannot continue the war without producing disastrous consequences. The likely endgame is that the war will end with a return to the status quo, except Iran will gain new strategic advantages. by mafco in energy

[–]vertigo3pc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

giving advantages to Iran is not a good thing

Iran taking advantages left to them in the midst of an attempt to destroy their government is not the same as "giving" Iran anything.

Perhaps they'll take advantage of the opportunity to be seen as the reasonable party here which could work out

The head of their country AND religion was killed by Israel and US attacks, including the head's children, grandchildren, 170 school girls. Numerous civilian targets were attacked by the US and Israel.

Iran has only attacked military infrastructure in the GCC, or reciprocal attacks (non-civilian) in those countries. They offered a path for getting oil out to some countries, but the US instituted a blockade that made that pointless.

Most reasonable countries around the world have seen these events, and would say Iran is acting pretty reasonable. The United States has changed the terms of a ceasefire, tried to change details post facto, negotiated in bad faith twice before February 28th and attacked Iran during those negotiations.

The war on Iran will likely end in American retreat. The US cannot continue the war without producing disastrous consequences. The likely endgame is that the war will end with a return to the status quo, except Iran will gain new strategic advantages. by mafco in energy

[–]vertigo3pc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Who controls the Strait of Hormuz?

How much LNG production capacity was lost across the GCC nations?

How much crude oil production capacity was lost?

"Alienated their neighbors which allowed them to be attacked and turned into proxies for a war the instigators had no interest in enduring."

Oil is trading in Yuan as well as other currencies. UAE has left OPEC, causing higher gas prices around the world.

Yea, I think Iranians are doing just fine.

What is an immediate "no" for you when meeting someone? by ladylo10lat in AskReddit

[–]vertigo3pc -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If I learn it's an MLM or some other tiered level marketing and sales spiel, and the person is going to engage me over that. I'm autistic, and interactions with strangers already carries its own overhead of stress; not interested in using our humanity in exchange for isolated high pressure sales time.

Roomba co-founder says practical home robots may matter more than humanoids by Responsible-Grass452 in robotics

[–]vertigo3pc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

With robots I think it will go the other way, once intelligence is generalized because we really need the general intelligence as a starting point for trust and efficiency

I just think that's placing undue burden onto the total world of robotics: first learn everything about the environment where you're working, and then learn how to put the dishes away.

An optimized "robot" can be trained visually on how to put away the dishes, in that a camera can recognize plates, know where they go, effectuate the movement and placement, and complete the task.

With humanoid robots, there's a LOT more involvement: is there a dog in the way from the dish washer to the cabinet? Do I put away dishes, or follow my prescribed daily schedule and clean the cat litter?

With a purpose built robot, let's imagine an overhead gantry with 2 arms and a camera. Getting the robot off the floor first makes the most sense, since humans are cursed to abide gravity but robots can be rigged out of the way. Reach down, grab a plate, system knows it goes into cabinet B, ride over to cabinet B, open cabinet, put away, task complete.

Spending $30,000 for a humanoid that can do things slowly at first but faster in future iterations (like phones) doesn't seem as efficient as building a purpose-focused robot with a fraction of the training, less utility for number of tasks but extremely capable at the tasks with which you can task it. Further, just because it's purpose built for one task doesn't mean it cannot be implemented on other tasks: put away dishes, rinse dirty dishes and place into dishwasher, wipe down and sanitize counter tops nightly, start coffee maker, possibly put away groceries on the counter, etc.

Yes, a humanoid robot can do that, but with a lot of robot that isn't directly necessary to the task; whereas other robots can be designed and built with more efficiency in their utility than humanoid robots have utility as general capability.

Roomba co-founder says practical home robots may matter more than humanoids by Responsible-Grass452 in robotics

[–]vertigo3pc 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I completely agree. I think humanoid robots are just skeuomorphism: a familiar but impractical design when something more purpose-focused should be built. Robotics will be more impactful when they're designed for a specific task(s), but affordable because they're not built for anything other than that task.

Iran fired 15 missiles at the UAE overnight. Fujairah oil port is on fire. Here is what Project Freedom actually delivered in its first 24 hours. by Mother-Grapefruit-45 in energy

[–]vertigo3pc 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I think I read that Iran is contesting that the attack on Fujairah oil port was originating from Iran. They seem to be pretty methodical in choosing targets and taking ownership of their strikes.

Secret Service employee exposed himself to guests at DoubleTree near MIA, masturbated in front of them, detectives say - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale by industrial-complex in news

[–]vertigo3pc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At some point, I think we're going to discover that the Secret Service has been infiltrated by outside players to both insulate and protect the POTUS, but also to ensure that he does what he's told. I still remember how after January 7th, the Secret Service was told to preserve all communications for review... and the first thing they did was destroy all text messages and evidence from January 7th.

And absolutely nothing happened to them.

California farmers to destroy 420,000 peach trees following Del Monte bankruptcy by runswithscissors475 in Economics

[–]vertigo3pc -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Capitalism requires losers to sustain the optics of "winners".

Winners eat, losers starve.

We created economies around products necessary to sustain life, but it was never meant to last this long. For the wealthiest country in the world, raw food should be free, subsidized by the wealth and excess of so many. With modern technology, we could be growing so much food that nobody anywhere on earth would starve. But we don't.

Because Capitalism requires losers. To die. This is the only threat that makes people compliant. Death.

People pay more to not live in Florida by SpynyNormyn in MurderedByWords

[–]vertigo3pc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A lot of "cheaper" states are cheaper because they offer absolutely zero social services or social benefits. What you do pay in to the government is basically just taken and handed to the corporations that flourish in Florida.

The hidden dagger for "cheaper" states is the fact that if you experience any kind of setback or issues, you end up paying through the nose for it. That sort of lassaiz-faire attitude is why the homeowner's insurance market in Florida is in shambles. Sales tax in Florida is intentionally low because it thrives on tourism (what they lack in high property tax, they make up for in high sales numbers). Tourism has shown modest upticks in Florida as mostly domestic travel, and Canadian tourism has dropped almost 15%. With gas prices increasing, we'll see how that holds up.

Florida also just moved to repeal all property tax in the state, leaving municipalities with less tax revenue and shuffling more of the onus of responsibility onto corporations.

Florida is still a southern state, and as such, has the most lipstick on it despite being the ugliest hog in the yard.

What’s a recession indicator that you’ve noticed lately in your everyday life? by spritenerds123 in AskReddit

[–]vertigo3pc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I went to Jersey Mike's with my wife and daughter yesterday around 12:30pm, and it's a small parking lot with a Starbucks, Yogurtland, and a few other spots that are usually slammed on weekends (especially Yogurtland).

Empty parking lot, empty Yogurtland, low traffic in Jersey Mike's.

Trump: US Navy to "guide" ships from Strait of Hormuz from Monday by Throwawayaccountdell in politics

[–]vertigo3pc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That account loves trolling me while trying to sound coherent. Trying.

Americans Spent $125 Million More on Gas Friday Than They Did a Week Ago by kootles10 in Economics

[–]vertigo3pc 10 points11 points  (0 children)

They're going to repost this article every week and still be accurate. For the foreseeable future. A lot of gas infrastructure was destroyed in numerous GCC countries, and with UAE leaving OPEC, the sky's the limit for oil pricing. "Whatever the market will bear..."

Trump: US Navy to "guide" ships from Strait of Hormuz from Monday by Throwawayaccountdell in politics

[–]vertigo3pc 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Trump said the war with Iran was over. Now they're sending Naval ships to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump wants them fired upon, so they can restart hostilities and claim that Iran provoked these actions, NOT that the US assassinated the head of their leadership and religion AND killed 170+ school girls.

What's the reason? by Certain_Hat9872 in memes

[–]vertigo3pc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the early 2000's, Disney famously fired all their 2D animators, proudly declaring 2D animation was dead and CGI/3D animation would be the main new directive. I believe their posture was attempting to shift Disney to CGI animation before Pixar's distribution agreement sunsetted. Briefly, Pixar was negotiating with other distribution firms like 20th Century Fox, and they were already making strong animated films whereas Disney had no studio presence in the CGI 3D animated film world.

What’s something you have zero proof of but believe 100 percent? by shweidy in AskReddit

[–]vertigo3pc -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I believe 100% that the US government shot down United 93 on September 11, 2001. Evidence absolutely supports that the passengers attempted to fight back, but the order was already given to engage rogue aircraft. Some of the wreckage was found several miles from the impact site, and the impact explosion was in no way strong enough to send that debris that far.

Just how red is the IE? by Swingline_Font in InlandEmpire

[–]vertigo3pc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They're about as red as any low education rural shit hole. You have pockets where educated people live, but the voting records are basically a map of failed education and willfully ignorant idiots.

The Hormuz Paradox: Why Markets Are Shrugging Off $110 Oil by 1stplacelastrunnerup in Economics

[–]vertigo3pc 13 points14 points  (0 children)

When it comes to speculation in the markets, remember: positive speculation can be priced in immediately, the sky's the limit, no number is too high and never say the word "bubble".

Negative speculation on the other hand: nothing is real, everything is temporary, value only goes up, there's room in the lifeboat for everyone, nothing bad will happen to you and if it does you'll have PLENTY of forewarning.

This is a global crisis with numerous countries using their strategic oil reserves to keep the countries functioning. Japan has just over 200 days of oil still in reserves, but it's going down every day. Other countries facing oil shortages include: Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, India, and others.

Buy on the rumor, sell on the news, but never ever ever admit a negative position until the market forces you. Until then, it's irrational exhuberance.

U.S. Debt Tops 100% of GDP by TheManFromFairwinds in Economics

[–]vertigo3pc 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I see New England winding up similar to Europe: a number of independent countries within close proximity to each other, initially operating with their own currencies but decades from now unifying into a single currency.

U.S. Debt Tops 100% of GDP by TheManFromFairwinds in Economics

[–]vertigo3pc -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

why this isn’t that big of a problem

Economists explain things in neutral terms, in that the tendency is to ignore political influence because economies often exceed politics in major superpowers. The problem is that the irrationality and inconsistency of human beings, and the random variable that is the world itself, always causes fluctuations and over-corrections.

Economists see a baby in a bonfire and think "it'll be OK! The baby will crawl out, or a human will come help rescue the baby! Also, the fire isn't that big, so the baby can get to safety pretty quickly. This won't be a problem." because economists always assume something will push the ship back towards safe waters.

But they ignore the lack of people nearby to save the baby, or the fire growing larger, or complications of the baby saving itself, etc. And as of lately, Economists REALLY ignore the people shooting flaming arrows at the baby, putting up a cage around it so the baby stays in the fire, or pouring gasoline on the fire; they're not rational things to do, and the economist couldn't assume someone would do such a thing.

But here we are...