Collection of worrying incidents

[fresh_42]

CALGARY — Tyra the Tyrannosaurus, the lovable landmark that towers over the Drumheller skyline in the heart of the Canadian Badlands, is facing an extinction-level event.
she would shake things up, before her purported demise.
Send her down for one last chomp.

MSN

I like that sign many Canadian stores have now: "All our products are either made in Canada or imported from Europe." Maybe I can hope for the price of Maple syrup to fall?! I already switched my peanut butter brand to one made in the Netherlands. And it even tastes better.

 

[morrobay]

Well, it's the choice of the American people who decided to prefer ruining their economy rather than having a female president. Since that was what it really was about. My compassion is currently very limited.

Not about a female president, Biden would have lost too. Tulsa Gabbard would have gotten my vote. The American people you are not referring to voted out an administration that had open Southern border policy ,( a mess that the Trump administration is cleaning up) As well as an administration sending billions down this Ukraine rabbit hole. That is billions that should be spent upgrading US infrastructure: airports , rails , ports , bridges and highways , inner city upgrades. And against this institutionalized trans gender business. And by the way Hillary Clinton lost for her,/Obama policies. With all the immigrant horror stories in Europe I'm kind of surprised by this obsession/ diversion? with the US.

 

[fresh_42]

With all the immigrant horror stories in Europe I'm kind of surprised by this obsession/ diversion? with the US

Maybe this has not so much to do with immigration policies, but rather with:

- threatening war against Denmark
- violating human rights by the arbitrary and indefinite arrests of European citizens, and their treatment
- tariffs on European goods
- breaching existing contracts
- allying with dictatorships
- interfering with European politics
- canceling visa
- detaining people with valid green cards

I guess I could find even more reasons, but I'm too disgusted to search for them. Every single one of the above is sufficient to call the USA an enemy of Europe. That's not an obsession, that is the sad truth about the current US administration.

And by the way: which horror stories? I think you should reconsider your news sources.

 

[EricDMMiller]

Now that fraud is legal in the US due to the pardon of Trevor Milton, and with DOGE beginning to dismantle the SEC, Elon had his company, xAI, buy X (twitter) for $45B.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/musks-xai-buys-social-media-platform-x-45-billion-2025-03-28/

 

[morrobay]

And by the way: which horror stories? I think you should reconsider your news sources.

I'm surprised Le Pen and the AfD have not been voted in. At least There is hope in Italy. Just do some searches. https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/sweden-immigrants-crisis/

 

[dlu]

A bizarre headline

Canadian company bypasses UN agency and seeks U.S. approval to start deep-sea mining

If the U.S. granted Vancouver's Metals Company permission to mine in international waters "it would be a major breach of international law," said one lawyer

nationalpost.com

Canadian company bypasses UN agency and seeks U.S. approval to start deep-sea mining​

The Metals Company in Vancouver said late Thursday that it is seeking permission from the U.S. government to start deep-sea mining in international waters, potentially bypassing the International Seabed Authority, which has the power to authorize exploitation permits but has yet to do so.

The Metals Company, a Canadian startup, says it will seek approval this year to launch the world's first deep-sea mine in the eastern Pacific Ocean, by working with one of the few countries that never joined the ISA: the United States.

 

[fresh_42]

I'm surprised Le Pen and the AfD have not been voted in. At least There is hope in Italy. Just do some searches. https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/sweden-immigrants-crisis/

1. It is not at me to provide evidence for claims that you have made.

2. RN and AFD are already too strong since many idiots follow them. Idiots, because fascism has never solved any problem. Au contraire, fascism generates problems on so many levels.

3. Meloni is at least too close to being a fascist if she isn't already.

All your examples, including your comments about the current US administration, show me that you favor fascistic positions. At this point, it does not make any sense anymore to argue. There is no reasonable way to debate with fundamentalists. Their judgments are already carved in stone and they are immune against facts. One cannot argue by reason with people who build their opinions without reason.

That is exactly the problem with all of your posts. You focus on your prejudices and argue starting from there. E.g. your reference does not quote facts, it is a comment of one man and it's not at me to verify his claims. Things do not become true by replacing one opinion by another. Furthermore, you did not provide data for comparisons with other artificially formed groups of people, and no general trends, you spoke of Europe and then named the comparably small Sweden, you did not consider the consequences of the alternatives, and so on.

4. Last but not least: your own lifestyle would be impossible if your host country would apply your political positions!

 

[fresh_42]

Here is another one (incident):

A French University Is Offering ‘Scientific Asylum’ For US Talent​

Recognizing the shift, European institutions have already started acting. For instance, France’s Aix-Marseille University recently launched Safe Place for Science, a three-year, €15 million program aimed at attracting 15 American scientists specializing in climate science, health research, and astrophysics. Within 24 hours of its announcement, the program received 30 applications. The university is now coordinating with the French government and other European institutions to expand the initiative, signaling a broader movement toward “scientific asylum.”

That was the clickbait. However, the article is worth reading but admittedly written a bit like a comment.

A French University Is Offering 'Scientific Asylum’ For US Talent

In just six weeks, the Trump administration has enacted drastic measures severely impacting American scientific research. These actions, comparable in

wonderfulengineering.com

E.g.

If the EU were to commit even €25 billion annually, it could reshape global scientific leadership. A report commissioned by the European Commission has already suggested doubling the current Horizon Europe research budget of €95 billion over seven years. Investing in research has historically proven beneficial, with postwar U.S. studies showing a 200% return on non-defense R&D investments.

Pushing the idea further, the EU could not only recruit American researchers but also entice entire academic institutions to establish secondary campuses in Europe. Currently, U.S. universities operate 29 full-fledged campuses across Europe, in addition to numerous smaller study centers. With mounting pressures on academic freedom and funding in the U.S., more universities may find a European presence increasingly appealing.

If restrictions on institutions like Columbia persist, American universities may begin considering Europe as a safeguard against domestic instability.

The decline is really fast!

 

[placebo]

Well, it's the choice of the American people who decided to prefer ruining their economy rather than having a female president. Since that was what it really was about. My compassion is currently very limited.

While I'm sure there was an element of sexism to some extent, I don't think this is really the choice people were making. The problem has many facets.

People who took Trump's threats seriously tended to vote for Harris. A lot of voters seemed to think Trump wasn't really going to follow through on his threats (if they even were aware of them), but they apparently didn't notice the people he was surrounding himself with. It didn't help that the mainstream media tended to sanitize and normalize Trump's rhetoric. It made his threats sound less dangerous than they really were.

Many people have short memories. Jonah Goldberg in his conversation with Sam Harris noted that his conservative friends who decided to support Trump had the attitude "Sure he was annoying during his first term, but the economy did great!" They conveniently forget or discount, for example, the botched response to the pandemic where he was responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans.

Some people were really struggling economically under Biden's watch. In an episode of The Daily podcast, they interviewed some people who were being priced out of the housing market in Las Vegas. One roommate had to comfort another one who was in tears because she thought she'd be homeless the following week. I could certainly understand why people in situations like this would be reluctant to vote for more of the same, even if Trump was the alternative.

Before the election, I was curious about how anybody reasonable—the cultists are lost causes—could support Trump, so I'd seek out podcasts, interviews, and articles that covered what these people were thinking. A lot of them seemed to believe some of the BS that the right-wing media was spewing. Biden and the Democrats were remarkably ineffective in communicating with voters.

I'm sure I could think of more but that's just what comes to mind off the top of my head.

 

[Grinkle]

I was curious about how anybody reasonable—the cultists are lost causes—could support Trump

Same here. The closest I got to a comprehensible answer was along the lines of "He's a good businessman, and I really need four good years of returns to set me up for retirement."

This person's wife works for an auto parts mfr - I suspect he's sweating bullets now.

When I pointed out to him that the greatest threat to him having four good years was Trump's promises of tariffs, he asked me why I think Trump wants tariffs. I could tell he knew they weren't a good idea, and when we ended that line of conversation he said "I hope he doesn't really implement them." I could also tell he only watched Fox News, and he didn't have much in the way of objective explanations for anything he was voting for or against.

I believe post-pandemic inflation was a global phenomena caused primarily by supply chain interruptions and secondarily by many governments providing fiscal relief to their populations. He believes (I assume he still does) that it was caused by Biden, and he wasn't really cognizant that inflation was a global thing, not just in the US. I told him that, and he believed me, but it didn't move the needle on his thinking, as far as I could tell.

He was really wanting a reasonable conversation as well, but I could tell after about 15 minutes talking to him that he just didn't have a broad enough media diet to make balanced assessments of his perspectives and to possibly question them. I was giving him new, uncomfortable ideas, and he listened, but I was just one voice for 30 minutes, and he gets a daily couple hour (I am guessing) diet of Fox News with completely different messaging - there was no way for me to break through that.

I've known him since high school, we've been friends for decades. Its a very sad thing for me that I can't break through the Fox News fog. Its like Saruman's spell on Theoden to me, and apparently I'm no Gandalf.

 

[fresh_42]

I've known him since high school, we've been friends for decades. Its a very sad thing for me that I can't break through the Fox News fog. Its like Saruman's spell on Theoden to me, and apparently I'm no Gandalf.

You are still lucky. I have those in my family!

 

[placebo]

I believe post-pandemic inflation was a global phenomena caused primarily by supply chain interruptions and secondarily by many governments providing fiscal relief to their populations.

I think the supply-chain problems alone would have caused a temporary spike in prices, which would return to normal as production resumed. In the US, the overall increase in price level was caused by the sharp increase in money supply during the pandemic, which is how the federal government paid for all the relief programs.

If you look at the M2 money supply for instance, it grew at a fairly constant rate until Feb 2020, when there was a sharp jump, and afterward grew at a faster rate than it did in the pre-pandemic years until it peaked in 2022. When all that money is pumped into the economy, inflation is almost sure to follow. The subsequent downturn in M2 was the Fed trying to slow the economy down without tipping it into a recession.

M2

View data of a measure of the U.S. money supply that includes all components of M1 plus several less-liquid assets.

fred.stlouisfed.org

I assume other countries financed their relief efforts the same way, so it's not surprising they also experienced rising prices as their economies reached full employment.

 

[Grinkle]

@placebo I'll start a new thread to discuss post-pandemic inflation, I'd like to continue and don't want to distract from this thread.

P

Economy Thread 'Causes and remedies around post-pandemic inflation'

Mar 29, 2025

I believe post-pandemic inflation was a global phenomena caused primarily by supply chain interruptions and secondarily by many governments providing fiscal relief to their populations.

I think the supply-chain problems alone would have caused a temporary spike in prices, which would return to normal as production resumed. In the US, the overall increase in price level was caused by the sharp increase in money supply during the pandemic, which is how the federal government paid for all the relief programs.

If you look at the M2 money supply for instance, it grew at a fairly...

• placebo
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Global & International Politics

• 

 

[EricDMMiller]

Trump is not joking about his third term:

Trump says he’s ‘not joking’ about third term — and notes this apparent loophole: ‘There are methods’

Trump, 78, told NBC’s Kristen Welker in a Sunday morning phone call that “a lot of people want me to do it.”

nypost.com

 

[Grinkle]

Trump is not joking about his third term

I agree he's not joking or trolling. His age works against him, here. If he were 60, I'd be certain he'd make some play for a third term. As it is, I believe he might, but maybe when the time comes he just won't have it in him any more, due to age.

I initially wrote this as a longer post with some dark scenarios that have been in my head for a while, but I couldn't bring myself to actually post them.

I don't think what's described in the article, him being Vance's running mate with an agreement that Vance would then resign, is at all viable. It would have to be something much more overt and coup-like if it were to happen.

If the Dems re-take the house in 2026, I don't think anything he tries could be successful..

 

[Jonathan Scott]

CNN article:
Trump is using the power of government to punish opponents. They’re struggling to respond
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/30/politics/trump-punish-opponents/index.html

 

[Rick Delta]

Anyone who travels to the USA now has only themselves to blame. Why play lottery when there is little to gain but indefinite detainment under inhumane conditions violating human rights without the possibility of a legal consultancy or appealing a court is at risk?

I know already of two German citizens being arrested and mistreated for no or ridiculous reasons. (I've read there were more but I cannot find reliable data.) It is safer to visit North Korea since at least its rules are clear. Not that I would recommend either. Norway is also beautiful. And safe.

"The best argument against democracy ....... is a 5 minute conversation with the average voter"

 

[Grinkle]

"The best argument against democracy ....... is a 5 minute conversation with the average voter"

That doesn't resonate with me, personally. I'm not sure even how to loosely think about what average might mean in that colloquialism.

If I'm going to attempt to boil down my own sentiments on Democracy, I'll go with -

"Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried" - Winston Churchill

I'm concerned America is poised to find that out.

 

[fresh_42]

Trump is not joking about his third term:

Trump says he’s ‘not joking’ about third term — and notes this apparent loophole: ‘There are methods’

Trump, 78, told NBC’s Kristen Welker in a Sunday morning phone call that “a lot of people want me to do it.”

nypost.com

CNN article:
Trump is using the power of government to punish opponents. They’re struggling to respond
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/30/politics/trump-punish-opponents/index.html

This method is already well-known. I call it Putin's Principle to avoid speaking out the name that otherwise would be on number one of the list, historically and synonymous with plain evil.

Putin
Erdogan
Orban

There are several others in South America, Africa, and Asia whose names I do not remember, plus several attempts, e.g., Berlusconi, Kaczynski, etc. The former East Block appears to be particularly vulnerable to the extreme right. Has probably to do with oscillation.

That doesn't resonate with me, personally. I'm not sure even how to loosely think about what average might mean in that colloquialism.

If I'm going to attempt to boil down my own sentiments on Democracy, I'll go with -

"Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried" - Winston Churchill

I'm concerned America is poised to find that out.

 

[fresh_42]

"Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried" - Winston Churchill

I'm concerned America is poised to find that out.

And I thought "Democracy may not be optimal but it is the best we have" was Popper. Maybe not really a contradiction, however, I couldn't find a reference.

Here is another one:

"The defense of democracy must consist in making anti-democratic experiences too costly for those who try them; much more costly than a democratic compromise" ~ Karl Popper

I can already see the bill, but the Americans do not seem to care.

 

[EricDMMiller]

You don't need to be in the position to exercise power of the position. In 2008, Medvedev warmed the Presidency seat for Putin, while Putin was formally the Prime Minister, and had all day-to-day presidential authorities and roles assumed by that office.

In the US, Vance and any other shill could run as the President/VP ticket in 2028. They are elected, Trump is named as Speaker of the House, and then President Vance and VP XYZ resign. I believe that this is a more "technically not illegal" method of doing it.

They could also just say "Führer it is.

 

[Grinkle]

I believe that this is a more "technically not illegal" method of doing it.

I does seem to be at least kindof-sortof arguably not against the letter of the constitution, I guess up to SCOTUS if the spirit matters or not.

The reason I don't think that is viable is perhaps naive on my part. I don't think the Republicans could win an election if they were running on such a squirrel-ly scheme. I think it would turn off enough voters that they would lose, even if the election were to be held tomorrow while Trump's popularity is still close to where it was on Jan 20th. Like I said, maybe naive, but I think that's a bridge too far for enough voters to elect such a ticket. Trump didn't have a very big margin in any of the swing states, him claiming a mandate is, imo, a gross overstatement of the election results at-large.

2024 popular vote results -

Trump - 49.81%
Harris - 48.34%
Other - 1.85%

 

[EricDMMiller]

I does seem to be at least kindof-sortof arguably not against the letter of the constitution, I guess up to SCOTUS if the spirit matters or not.

The reason I don't think that is viable is perhaps naive on my part. I don't think the Republicans could win an election if they were running on such a squirrel-ly scheme. I think it would turn off enough voters that they would lose, even if the election were to be held tomorrow while Trump's popularity is still close to where it was on Jan 20th. Like I said, maybe naive, but I think that's a bridge too far for enough voters to elect such a ticket. Trump didn't have a very big margin in any of the swing states, him claiming a mandate is, imo, a gross overstatement of the election results at-large.

2024 popular vote results -

Trump - 49.81%
Harris - 48.34%
Other - 1.85%

Well, your theory does presuppose free and fair elections.

We could also see Trump's team win a 99% majority with their scheme.

 

[Grinkle]

Well, your theory does presuppose free and fair elections.

Touché. (That’s all the French I know, btw).

 

[fresh_42]

I would laugh if it weren't so incredibly sad:

Texas children poisoned after RFK Jr touts vitamin A as measles treatment​

Texas hospitals are treating children with vitamin A poisoning after Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, promoted the supplement as a treatment for measles.

The Covenant Children’s hospital in Lubbock, a city in north west Texas, is looking after a small number of patients who all required treatment for measles but who also had elevated levels of vitamin A that was causing abnormal liver function, Texas Public Radio reported.

There have also been reports of measles patients with abnormal liver function in neighbouring New Mexico.

Texas children poisoned after RFK Jr touts vitamin A as measles treatment

Vaccine-hesitant parents are taking treatment into their own hands after claims from the US Health Secretary, experts fear

www.telegraph.co.uk

(conservative)

What will it take for politicians to intervene and put an end to this government nightmare?

Here is the current price list (lookup MMR):

Current CDC Vaccine Price List

Review the current CDC vaccine price list.

www.cdc.gov

in case you want to know how much RFK Jr. values your children's health.

 

[morrobay]

I would ask where is the surgeon general who is and advisor to the secretary of HHS. And an MD. Although RFK jr outranks the surgeon general , the surgeon general can intervene . https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/index.html

 

[fresh_42]

I would ask where is the surgeon general who is and advisor to the secretary of HHS. And an MD. Although RFK jr outranks the surgeon general , the surgeon general can intervene . https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/index.html View attachment 165

That would require a certain level of curiosity and affinity to science in the first place.

Those cases, however, are obviously foolish people who believe authorities would always advise them in their best interest. Reasonable people know about the benefits of vaccines and usually about the dangers of vitamins, too, with the exception of ascorbic acid. Your argument is pointless. RFK is a laughing stock for any educated adult. Even I know that he is simply an idiot. The problem is uneducated people.

 

[Grinkle]

The problem is uneducated people.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[fresh_42]

Some free measles vaccine clinics in Texas are closing due to federal funding cuts​

Texas healthcare officials are cancelling 50 planned vaccination clinics as measles spreads throughout the state. The decision comes as the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services have cut funding, which was originally allocated to communities during the pandemic.

50 free measles vaccine clinics in Dallas won't happen due to federal funding cuts

The CDC and HHS have withdrawn $11.4 billion nationally.

fortune.com

Darwin Award on a whole new level!

 

[Borg]

Some of the federal workers that I know haven't been forced back to the office because of their collective bargaining agreements. Looks like the Orange Buffoon doesn't like that.

Trump Moves to End Union Protections Across Broad Swath of Government

An executive order signed by the president would cancel collective bargaining for hundreds of thousands of workers, the largest federal employees union said. The union was preparing legal action.

www.nytimes.com