New NIH ‘Indirect Costs’ Funding Cuts Threaten Universities, Science
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‘Cause They Just Want to Help You
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has, in the last 12 years, returned $17.5 billion to consumers who were ripped off by various financial institutions. Like the recent ruling against Bank of America for double-dipping on non-sufficient fund fees, opening unauthorized consumer financial accounts, and making misleading statements regarding certain credit card rewards. In short, they are a tool to help the average consumer. As a result of that ruling, Bank of America will pay more than $100 million to harmed customers and $90 million to the CFPB’s victims relief fund. Obviously the rich and powerful have hated it since it was started. And so…
Trump administration orders consumer protection agency to stop work, closes building
Make no mistake, this one might stick. Banks and Insurance companies have bought a lot of congresscritters over the years, and only congress can do away with the CFPB permanently.
Yeah, I know, I’ve been hitting the politics a lot lately. Hard to not be sad about it all. Trying not to watch as the rich carve up the only defense we have against their tyranny. Word is, the new administration is going after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (N.O.A.A.) next. Easier to lie about climate change if we don’t keep data on it. Wonder who’s going to warn Florida about the next hurricane?
What the Heck Really Happened in Springfield?
How did it become a political issue? Ambitious politicians never miss a chance to use a crisis as an opportunity. Especially, if you can change the narrative to benefit you. Salesmanship counts, especially among the uninformed and weak minded.
Why Do Some People Say We Need More Babies?
I have wondered about this for a while. I consider myself a Malthusian. Which is to say, I worry about the Earth’s growing population and how that will strain (and indeed already is straining) the ecosystem. So it has bothered me to see the recent obsession by some, with increasing the domestic birth rate. When taken along with recent anti-immigrant sentiment, I just chalked it up to racism. But there is more to it. This video does a nice job of summing up the argument. And also why the argument isn’t that strong.
It is weird that many of the proponents of having more children are also proponents of increased automation and AI. I have a strong belief that adherence to weak arguments comes from a lack of training in logic and rhetoric. Seems all too common these days.
Could This Be You?
Or perhaps someone you know? As we have seen in previous posts, one third to one half of America gets its news from social media. That isn’t the only thing that rings a bell in this video.
On a Smaller Scale, Saving Water and Helping Preserve Your Water Supply
I love living on the Great Lakes in a nice temperate zone. Plenty of fresh water, we just have to be careful about polluting it. But for folks who live where it is dry, this is genius!
Holding Back the Sahara
Last year, while teaching the “Science and Sustainability” class. I learned about this project, and how effective it is. Heck, if beavers can shape all of North America, humans can do much more.
New Cars and Privacy
Most new cars have the same technology as what is described in the article. Shouldn’t your car be A LOT cheaper since you are surrendering any pretense at privacy? After all, how much is your personal information worth?
Subaru Security Flaws Exposed Its System for Tracking Millions of Cars
So it begins…
Yesterday came word that internal memos form the Trump administration instructed several government sponsored science groups cease all communication temporarily, including website updates and press releases. Today, this…
Trump administration’s abrupt cancellation of scientific meetings prompts confusion, concern
Do not forget that this man’s most fervent supporters are vehemently anti-science, and as a populist, he will give them what they want.
R.I.P. Garth Hudson
Garth Hudson, master instrumentalist and last surviving member of The Band, dies at 87
You have to be a legend if you’re the best musician in a band so influential they were just called “The Band”.
Another Battle in the War Against the American Working Class
Gotta love private equity.
Why We Can’t Focus
One of my favorite books is Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death”. Postman eerily predicted the current age of social media as a natural progression of the age of television, and he did it back in the early 80’s. This video does a fantastic job of laying out one of Postman’s best arguments. It is exactly how I feel about the subject.
He mentions a book called “The Shallows” by Nicholas Carr. I’ll be ordering that one as well.
The End of Fact-Checking
My takeaway, one third to one half of Americans get their news from Facebook or Instagram. What the Heck? A sad statistic from our anti-educational and anti-intellectual society. This video has another insightful interview with Scott Galloway. If you haven’t seen his TED talk, please look it up.
Another even better rant by Galloway…
Lidar
LIDAR, LiDAR or LADAR, an acronym of “light detection and ranging” or “laser imaging, detection, and ranging” is a method for determining ranges by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver. (Wikipedia)
When I was at Kent as a Geology major this technology was just coming into play. Field work was rapidly going to disappear. Now using these tools available from USGS (thank you USGS) we can see our own neighborhoods in a new way.
The Great California Insurance War Has Begun
Like in Florida, many insurance companies would like to end home owner’s coverage for some Californians. California is not Florida, there will be a fight.
Insurance commissioner issues moratorium on home policy cancellations in fire zones
In the end though, is it fair to ask insurance companies to take a perpetual loss? Or to ask the rest of America to subsidize the risk Californians take by living there?
Government “Efficiency”
I remember a story from the 90’s. The government discovered that a certain form used an odd paper size and therefore cost a fortune to purchase. So, they changed the form to a more common size (legal 8.5″ x 14 inches I believe). Unfortunately, this meant all the previous forms had to be photocopied to the new size and the special filing cabinets they were stored in had to be replaced. In the end it cost more by far, than keeping the old form size would have cost. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Shattered ‘efficiency’ dreams: Musk could save $2 trillion just by undoing previous reforms
New Riches
Gold is essential, not just for it’s beauty, but for a lot of our technology today.
Geologists Might Have Stumbled Upon the Largest Gold Mine in the World
Different Agenda
Don’t be surprised if the agenda you may have voted for is not the agenda that gets acted upon.
Opinion – Elon Musk wants to ‘delete’ many Americans’ financial lifeline
How Ireland Sees Cleveland
From a new travel series in Ireland. First episode, Cleveland!
Nice review of our fair city!
A Moment of Perfect Beauty
The title is a quote from Babylon 5. It fits.
The Joy of Medicare
Don’t look for it to change anytime soon. We’ll see.
Remember, follow the money. It’s always about the money.
Religious Freedom
To Protect and Serve
Ever wonder how criminals get so many guns? Here’s one way…
North America’s Ongoing, Ignored Disaster
I’m a big fan of the Youtube channel “Geology Hub“. He reports excellent facts of geologic news and oddities. This is pretty interesting. An aspect of our changing Earth I did not know. No surprise, it’s bad news.
Movie Theaters
I recently read the article below on casual movie theater attendance. It is apparently a thing of the past. I’d like to offer an opinion on this.
HOW ABOUT PUTTING BACK THE DANG MARQUEES!!!!
We have a new theater in our neighborhood. I suspect it isn’t doing well, and part of the reason, I am sure, is that I have no idea what’s playing there. Movie theaters mostly removed their marquees a number of years ago. They required manpower to change the sign and since everyone has smartphone (I don’t) then why bother? Well, because no one is going to look it up. That’s why.
It seems so simple, but I struggle to understand why they have not thought of it. Many times in the past I decided to see a movie because I noticed it was showing at my local theater. I might still be out shopping and say “Hey, let’s go see that film.” Modern business leaders are stupid.
The casual moviegoer is a thing of the past. That’s a big problem for Hollywood