Who was projecting that global energy related CO2 emissions would increase from 34 gigatons to 50 gigatons between 2014 and 2040? Was that a reasonable projection? What was it based on? Is this evidence of “progress” or inaccurate projecting into the future?

I can project that the murder rate will increase 50% between now and 2050, and then when the murder rate only goes up 10% I can say, “omg, we’ve made such great progress on the murder rate,” even though it still went up, because it didn’t go up as much as I projected it would. But was my projection likely or even feasible in the first place?

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Probably someone who lives in the southern US, where it rarely snows. This wouldn’t be unusual for someone living in many northern states, especially those around the great lakes. But to a southerner, this might as well be a different planet. They will close schools and businesses even for relatively light snow in the South. It frightens and bewilders them.

I know. I was siding with Rand Paul here.

A deal to end the 41-day government shutdown is running into turbulence, thanks to a single Senate objection: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

Senate Republican and Democratic leaders say they need to resolve Paul’s objection to a provision in the government funding package before they can accelerate consideration of the bill. The provision would restrict the unregulated sale of intoxicating…hemp-derived products like Delta-8 at gas stations, corner stores, or online without federal regulation.

I mean, do we really need this provision, right now? I’m not necessarily opposed to federal regulation of Delta-8 products, but can’t we address that at a later date? Let’s get the government open and worry about Delta-8 later.

People want validation not advice, even if that advice could fix their problem.

How do I know this isn’t just a pic someone snapped of guy in parking lot crying because he just lost his job, or because he was just informed that his mom died?

It’ll get worse.

If you’re a right wing libertarian or neoliberal who believes that governments are always corrupt, inefficient and incompetent, the best way to prove yourself right is to ensure that the government is always corrupt, inefficient and incompetent.

Hoping’s fine just don’t hold your breath.

And if capitalists cared about inequality, I’m sure they’d be very worried about this.

Neoliberals do not like populism. They’re not fully committed to democracy, either. Or, at least, their support for democracy is conditional. Friedrich Hayek, one of the architects of neoliberalism, once said:

Personally I prefer a liberal dictator to democratic government lacking liberalism.

I think it’s worth noting that this is not unique or exclusive to neoliberals. Really, any ideologue or technocrat will only ever support democracy conditionally.

I’m sure the free market will provide for all these people, right?

20% of nothin’ is nothin’.

She…has a net worth of around $50 million.

That’s about 260x the median net worth in the US.

…bunch of escaped, infected monkeys are roaming the expressway.

Despite the sweltering heat, don’t unroll your windows…

'cause those monkeys seem confused and irritable.

I helped a family member with their Windows PC a few days ago and, omg, I hate using Windows. It’s so bloated and unintuitive. It’s a mess, and it seems to get worse every time I use it.

No it won’t.

Oh no, this train is not slowing down. It can’t. In fact, it has to speed up. At least, the currency debasement has to speed up.

The Chinese model being superior to the US model is not a revelation, we’ve known this for decades:

…if a country’s goal is economic growth above all other considerations, the truly winning combination would appear to be neither liberal democracy nor socialism of either a Leninist or democratic variety, but the combination of liberal economics and authoritarian politics…or what we might term a “market-oriented authoritarianism.”

• Francis Fukuyama, The End of History and the Last Man, 1992

There’s no better socioeconomic model than the Chinese model IF the goal is economic growth “above all other considerations.” Should we value growth above all else? I don’t think so, but many people do, especially the rich and powerful.