https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/01/us-manufacturing-economy-contracts-to-worst-level-in-a-decade.html
The experience of Kansas shows that Trumpists will take a LOT of pain before being overrun by people with sense.
«A gauge of U.S. manufacturing showed the lowest reading in more than 10 years in September as exports dived amid the escalated trade war.»
https://warontherocks.com/2019/07/russian-ai-enabled-combat-coming-to-a-city-near-you/
Our modern world:
«In at least one instance, Russian information operations in Ukraine targeted the families of soldiers deployed to the war in the East. The families received a text saying, “Your son is killed in action,” prompting them to call or text the soldiers. Shortly after, the soldiers got a text urging them to “retreat and live,” followed by an artillery strike on the location where the Russian-backed separatists detected a large uptake in cellphone activity. Such coordination demonstrates Russia’s ability to combine electronic warfare, cyberwarfare, information operations, and kinetic force to hurt its adversary not only on the battlefield but also on the home front.»
I think this one tweet right here is a microcosm.
https://twitter.com/emmaogreen/status/1178297055850192896?s=20
«Those who have talked most openly about white supremacy and pushed most intensely for gun reform, immigrant rights, etc., have often found themselves isolated. 5/x»
This is interesting. https://kylejhoward.com/blog/engaging-whiteness-a-wrestle-not-against-flesh-blood/
«In the meantime, we must recognize that seeking to dismantle the oppressive power and privilege of “Whiteness” is not a battle against flesh and blood. It is a battle against spiritual forces who desire to keep people groups oppressed and the reputation of the church marred. As White Christians seek to learn about the history of Whiteness, why it was invented, and what it has done; the anger, sensitivity, and rage they will encounter will be spiritual warfare. As Christians of Color, especially black Christians, seek to engage white Christians on these things we must also recognize that we are entering into a stronghold that the devil has used to cause profound devastation in the church. Satan will not let this go easily. We fight to bring awareness because we cannot allow the devil to continue to hold the church and the world captive to systems of oppression. We must also be careful and faith-filled because the battle to dismantle this stronghold has left martyrs in its wake.»
https://twitter.com/Noahpinion/status/1177638725041311744?s=20
https://twitter.com/threadreaderapp/status/1177651361233682432?s=20
This is an interesting thread. Basically, all the scaremongering about offshoring and automation may be just so much hocum.
(Original NY Times story: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/business/economy/jobs-offshoring.html.)
Wheeeee!!!
«Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee have raised over $100 million in the second quarter. A large portion of that haul came from wealthy donors who gave to their joint fundraising committee, Trump Victory. In August, the RNC raised just over $23 million and has $53 million on hand.
The Democratic National Committee have struggled to keep up. The DNC finished August bringing in $7.9 million and has $7.2 million in debt.»
https://www.umnews.org/en/news/n-e-w-plan-would-create-4-denominations
Oy, vey.
«UM-Forward is proposing legislation that would dissolve The United Methodist Church and form different global churches in its wake.»
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-moderate-middle-is-a-myth/
Interesting article. The middle really is all over the place.
But… these aren’t perfect little fixed points; they can move a bit. And, given two candidates, voters will need to pick one of the two*, so it’s a matter of whoever can position themselves such that the most votes (weighted by the Electoral College, so a rural Wyoming vote counts way more than an urban Los Angeles vote) come to them.
*Yeah, yeah. Two candidates positioned exactly in the middle with either no discernible difference or too many un-discerning voters. Whatever.
Someday, a robot will be able to do this, but I don’t think this is that day.
Anti-vaxxing for profit:
«Since 2015, Cook has made a business out of the anti-vaccination narratives of distressed parents. He has raised over $100,000 through multiple GoFundMe campaigns and then via other platforms after GoFundMe banned him in March. Cook has his own Amazon storefront, where he promotes anti-vaccine books and films, taking a cut of the sales, and raises an unknown amount through his website, accepting donations through PayPal that “go directly to me,” according to his website.
“I and I alone decide how to use the funds,” says the site. Cook says the money has funded anti-vaccine ads, advocacy and “secret projects.” He’s currently weighing the launch of a dating site for people with anti-vaccine views. Cook did not respond to multiple requests for comment.»
Here, Read This 