Posted in: Scientists Hopfield and Hinton win 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics See in context
British-Canadian colleague Geoffrey Hinton
Hinton is not what you would call an AI doomer but he was the one that resigned from Google and sounded the alarm by saying that the back propagation algorithm and transformer architecture he helped develop has several advantages over human cognition. Its rate of learning is proceeding exponentially. An "AI" does not have to have 'human intelligence' and sentience as we know it to be orders of magnitude more intelligent than human civilization.
A Nobel well deserved.
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: Trump rallies at site of failed assassination: 'Never quit' See in context
Trump's smooth brain and policies were on full display, in what must have been an emotional return.
Calling out America's low educational ranking and vowing to abolish the Dep. of Ed. , and citing the highest scores in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Chaaina.
Yup.
Glad we are in agreement that Trump/MAGA is smooth-brained and Trump admires the educational results of socialist nations.
7 ( +9 / -2 )
Posted in: New York Mayor Adams indicted following corruption probe, New York Times reports See in context
The landscape of NYC politics would have been much better in Andrew Yang was elected mayor.
And maybe even today's presidential politics.
5 ( +8 / -3 )
Posted in: Iran says Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Tehran See in context
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the assassination but suspicion immediately fell on Israel, which has vowed to kill Haniyeh and other leaders of Hamas over the group’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw some 250 others taken hostage.
The timing as retribution for the Golan Heights attack is also propitious.
It must have been in button down mode for a while.
-4 ( +2 / -6 )
Posted in: A Trump-Vance White House could undermine European security – and end up pushing Russia and China closer See in context
Weakening this transatlantic link will inevitably strengthen an emerging Sino-Russian Eurasian alliance.
Putin's strategist pointed toward this geo-political strategy.
https://strategiecs.com/en/analyses/alexander-dugin-and-the-eurasian-system-philosophy-and-strategy
1 ( +4 / -3 )
Posted in: Harris claims most of the delegates she needs for the nomination; sets new fundraising record See in context
The huge haul also ensures that Harris and her allies can compete with Donald Trump, who has generated stunning fundraising totals of his own in recent weeks as he fights to return to the White House following multiple felony convictions and an assassination attempt.
Enthusiasm about Kamala and a historic change, a good debate performance and strong platform from Kamala Harris could change the conservation about this election so far.
DJT has had a string of luck recently and it was doom and gloom at the DNC but it could be changing.
As a side note and just to lend a helping hand to the MAGA brothers I am going to do them a favor.
I know their go-to strategy which comes straight from the God emperor himself is to call anyone under the sun who opposes him 'far-left, radical, Marxist socialists'. You see that tired rhetoric on this board all the time.
Well, the father of Kamala, Donald Harris, is a renowned Stanford Marxist economist. Who has even been critical of his daughter's economic policies, focus on identity politics and prosecutorial record.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/kamala-harris-dad-don-harris.html
The Stanford Daily, reporting in 1976, described him as a “Marxist scholar,” and said there was some opposition to granting him tenure because he was “too charismatic, a pied piper leading students astray from neo-Classical economics.”
The more you know...
-6 ( +6 / -12 )
Posted in: Biden's withdrawal injects uncertainty into wars, trade disputes and other foreign policy challenges See in context
With Vice President Kamala Harris being eyed as a potential replacement for Biden, Israelis on Sunday scrambled to understand what her candidacy would mean for their country as it confronts increasing global isolation over its military campaign against Hamas.
There is some pessimism on the Democrat side looking to the DNC but there is reason for confidence moving forward.
It is already being said that Kamala is a woman and POC and won't win in the heartland and swing states.
But Obama went on to victory after a bad debate performance and concerns about banker bailouts and drone strikes against a statesman-like and telegenic conservative opponent like Romney.
Clinton was a woman and widely unpopular but won the popular vote against Trump.
A good debate performance and strong campaign and platform from Kamala Harris could change the conservation.
7 ( +9 / -2 )
Posted in: Biden drops out of 2024 race; VP Harris gets his nod See in context
With Kamala Harris as their opponent the MAGA ugliness will be on full display. We saw that in the Obama years with their ridiculous claims (they were the Tea Party then) that Obama was some crypto-Muslim leftist authoritarian. A woman and POC will bring many of their views to the forefront.
Funny thinking back on it after the Trump years.
Remember Trump rose to politician prominence after being a failed businessman and TV show host with his Obama birther claims.
-3 ( +11 / -14 )
Posted in: Bubble bursts for France's far-right as voters bar it from power See in context
carefully engineered by Le Pen who had sough to clean up her party's image and tap the grievances of voters angry over living costs, strained public services, and immigration.
All things which neo-liberal and conservative and alt-right forces push, and which the left addresses with focused policies, sans the illogical xenophobia.
A triumph for French rationality!
2 ( +7 / -5 )
Posted in: Biden's shaky Trump debate alarms Democrats, raises questions for his campaign See in context
Ahead of the debate, Biden confined himself to nearly a week of "debate camp" with top advisers at the Camp David presidential retreat in the mountains of western Maryland, an indication of how important his campaign considered Thursday night. It didn't reflect on his performance, critics said.
It seemed over-preparation in that trying to get through his talking points and being exasperated trying to respond to Trump's stream of consciousness alternate reality was too much for Biden.
While Biden struggled, Trump rattled off a series of well-worn falsehoods like migrants carrying out a crime wave and Democrats supporting infanticide.
If sticking with all your obvious lies and doubling down were a virtue, Trump still has that in . His supporters seem to follow this style too.
"Trump is Trump, every word out of his mouth is bs. But Biden sounds old. And lost. And that’s going to matter more than anything. So far, this is an absolute nightmare for Biden," Joe Walsh, a former 2020 Republican presidential candidate who has been critical of Trump, said on X.
It seems Republicans and Democrats have found some consensus about this debate.
-5 ( +6 / -11 )
Posted in: A sometimes halting Biden tries at debate to confront Trump, who responds with falsehoods See in context
Trump is an existential threat to American democracy and on the record as wanting to wield authoritarian powers to set up a fundamentalist corporate backed rogue state.
https://www.americanprogress.org/series/project-2025-exposing-the-far-right-assault-on-america/
He showed the dangers of his chaotic incompetence during his administration and it is astonishing to me that he is steps away from the White House again.
President Biden is the so-called leader of the free world but he is not the man to oppose Trump.
It is time for some deep soul-searching amongst the American political establishment.
0 ( +5 / -5 )
Posted in: 5 activists suspected of graffiti in Tokyo's Jingu redevelopment area See in context
The four foreign nationals and one Japanese in their 30s to 60s are suspected of scribbling, "Let's protect everyone's Jingu Gaien," on temporary walls surrounding a work site near the Jingu baseball stadium early in the morning on July 12 last year, according to the police.
Make a nice stencil like Banksy and you might get paid for that.
They certainly should not be punished worse than the many corporate and political defrauders of the public who get away with suspended sentences and bows.
But I am not hopeful.
9 ( +15 / -6 )
Posted in: Japan household spending sees first rise in 14 months See in context
Japan's household spending rose in April for the first time in 14 months, official data showed Friday, as wages grow at the fastest pace in three decades.
Yesterday:
https://japantoday.com/category/business/update2-japan%27s-real-wages-fall-for-record-25th-straight-month-in-april#comment-4237480
The figure was up 0.5 percent on-year with more money spent on education, clothes and transport, including cars, according to the internal affairs ministry.
The economic wizards at the Ministry see going back to school expenses as the sign of a rebounding consumer market.
Masamichi Adachi and Go Kurihara at UBS said last month that in Japan, the "prospect of consumption looks rather good" as "nominal wage growth is expected to accelerate".
Great use of the word 'nominal' meaning 'very small; far below the real value or cost' or 'existing in name only'.
The economic propaganda has truly reached pathetic levels.
3 ( +17 / -14 )
Posted in: Lower house passes political funds reform bill in response to scandal See in context
> Kishida, however, agreed to Komeito's demand to lower the line to 50,000 yen to enhance transparency during his meeting with the party's chief, Natsuo Yamaguchi, at the prime minister's office last week.
Many LDP lawmakers have opposed reducing the threshold, as they believe the move would discourage companies and individuals who do not want their support for specific parties to be unveiled from buying fundraising party tickets, pundits said.
Don't worry! These bigwigs and corporates who want their influence on the levers of power hidden can still buy party tickets in batches up to 49,999 yen!
Just a little more extra work for those accountants who end up taking the fall when the LDP graft hits the headlines.
-3 ( +5 / -8 )
Posted in: I'm focusing on issues that cannot be put off, such as political reforms and the declining birthrate See in context
I'm focusing on issues that cannot be put off, such as political reforms and the declining birthrate
And his signature issue, "New Capitalism" , lies forgotten as wages continue their negative slide and labor is squeezed by rising prices.
Not that he was going to move forward with any of these issues.
-3 ( +0 / -3 )
Posted in: Japan's real wages fall for record 25th straight month in April See in context
The last couple of PMs have exhorted them repeatedly to pay more, but they refuse. Blame them.
You answered the quandary yourself. Exhort. Urge
That is not how a government acts when it wants things to get done.
The LDP controls the purse strings to the lavish corporate welfare and subsidies and tax breaks they give to Japan Inc.
Make them contingent on a greater share of profits going to labor.
That is if the government is sincere in its push for higher wages, which I am not sure about.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Tokyo government to launch dating app to boost birthrate See in context
Many social media users expressed skepticism over the plans, with one saying, "is this something the government should be doing with our tax?"
Old news socialism for the rich deja vu ; they have been doing it for a while.
Dentsu needs that corporate welfare. Most certainly the results will be the same.
https://www.businessinsider.com/japanese-government-dating-services-2016-10
https://www.economist.com/asia/2019/10/03/japans-state-owned-version-of-tinder
6 ( +6 / -0 )
Posted in: 'Fist of the North Star' manga artist draws Mad Max’s Furiosa, presents artwork to George Miller See in context
The series I drew, 'Fist of the North Star,' took inspirations from your film, 'Mad Max 2.' I never imagined that, 40 years later, I’d be able to meet you, and I am truly grateful to you. It is an honor to be able to meet you.”
As a fan of Fist of the North Star and George Miller, the manga wore this influence on Kenshiro's sleeveless gauntlets.
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: Kishida forced to to make concessions on political funds reform See in context
Earlier this month, Komeito, whose slogan is "clean politics," rejected the LDP's proposals to amend the political funds control law, saying Kishida lacks seriousness in reforming rules on money in politics despite the recent fundraising scandal.
Ironic that collusion with tax exempt religious orgs and under the table contributions was all the rage last year in the wake of former PM Abe's assassination; yet this year a religiously affiliated political party is pushing for reform of the LDP's tax evading under the table campaign contributions.
The LDP has also been urged to review the rules on how to report the usage of the so-called policy activity funds provided by parties to their senior lawmakers. The funds are not subject to disclosure, even when expenditures reach hundreds of millions of yen.
There should be a study on the efficacy of 'urges' when done to those in wealth in power. It must be very low.
That is why when the powerful want results, they use the forces of coercion and compulsion, not urges.
2 ( +5 / -3 )
Posted in: Trump tries to move past his guilty verdict by attacking the criminal justice system See in context
Trump has portrayed himself as a passionate supporter of law enforcement and has even talked favorably of officers handling suspects roughly. But he has spent the last two years attacking parts of the criminal justice system as it applies to him and raising questions about the honesty and motives of agents and prosecutors.
Trump loves hanging judges when they quickly round up and sentence minority youth.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65197862
Trump loves FBI G-men except when they are investigating him. Then the FBI are all deep state far left Marxists.
Trump loves the police except when they are fighting against a mob of his riled up supporters trying to overturn an election result.
13 ( +17 / -4 )
Posted in: Trump supporters call for riots and violent retribution after verdict See in context
“Until and unless he accepts the process, the extremist reaction to his legal troubles will be militant,” said Ware, a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Trump may be able to continue campaigning and accept the GOP nomination, evading jail time for the charges in this case.
But ironically it seems his pronouncements and the extreme reactions of his followers lend more credence to the much more serious charges related to Jan. 6th Capitol attack.
His dog whistles are more like klaxons.
16 ( +18 / -2 )
Posted in: Apple to allow iPhones to function as My Number cards See in context
Those with a My Number will be able to use their smartphone in place of the card when interacting with public service providers like their municipal or tax office.
All a person's transactions including commuting data and other cashless transactions could be increasingly scraped. The possibilities for data leakage are endless.
Not good news for the many who are getting by in this economy with labor that is more or less off the books and already have to deal with a more and more granular invoice system.
Meanwhile , LDP bigwigs and corporate insiders will continue to do things the old-fashioned way with envelopes of cash passed individually or through intermediaries, avoiding all those troublesome bureaucratic tax hassles.
4 ( +16 / -12 )
Posted in: To fend off tourists, town starts building big screen blocking view of Mount Fuji See in context
Yoshihiko Ogawa, who runs a more than half-century-old rice shop in the Fujikawaguchiko area, said the overcrowding worsened in the past few months, with tourists gathering from around 4-5 a.m. and talking loudly. He sometimes struggles to get his car in and out of garage.
“We’ve never thought we'd face a situation like this,” Ogawa said, adding he is unsure what the solution might be. “I suppose we all just need to get use to it.”
It is easy to "get used to it" and just cluck with disapproval at the uncouth foreign wad when you are directly profiting from the weak yen, tourist economy and LDP/BOJ policies.
But what about the people who work at these shops and who actually have to deal with tourists on a daily basis for a minimum, non-living poverty wage?
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Judge tells Trump lawyer in hush money trial he is 'losing all credibility' See in context
He said Trump was a fixture on the National Enquirer's front pages, and a survey found 80% of the magazine's readers said they would back him if he ran for president.
Colour me not surprised.
Especially given the sources of the citations, links and evidence the MAGA mob always uses to back up their "claims."
If Trump lawyers rely on the same insight and logic...
I imagine if he had a legal ace up his sleeve he could get away with a slap on the wrist in this case of a hush money payment; it is not like it is unheard of in a case of a politician's infidelity.
Election tampering and insurrection on the other hand...
8 ( +8 / -0 )
Posted in: Trump meets former Japanese PM Aso; criticizes strong dollar against yen See in context
“When I was President, I spent a good deal of time telling Japan and China, in particular, you can’t do that,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. “It sounds good to stupid people, but it is a disaster for our manufacturers and others.”
"When my good friend Taroo Asu was Prime Minister of Japan, look at this sharp-dressed man, the economy of Japan was never better. With the weak yen and Asoo's leadership the people of Japan never were so winning, they almost got tired of winning.
Like here in America, which I made great again,before the big steal, Mr. Aso had to suffer a witch hunt by the woke mob, the leftists who hate when everyone is prosperous. "
Trump was close with Shinzo Abe, the former Japanese prime minister who was assassinated in 2022, and their relationship underscored the premium Trump puts on personal ties when it comes to foreign affairs.
Telling that the leaders of nations that have strong democratic socialist traditions and egalitarian, broad based prosperity were almost universally repulsed by Trump.
10 ( +13 / -3 )
Posted in: Kishida cracks jokes and invokes 'Star Trek' as he and Biden toast U.S.-Japan alliance at state dinner See in context
Wonderful!
3 ( +8 / -5 )
Posted in: Japanese businesses brace for life with interest rates See in context
Article is a nice bit of Japan Inc. propaganda which like other recent issues has little bearing to the economic landscape of Japaneses labour.
Japanese companies have long stuck to a commodity deflation and BOJ QE policy asset inflation : hoard cash from record profits and cut costs form labour benefits and wages. That left the labour economy in a vicious cycle of moribund growth and falling wages versus real cost of living.
Fixed it for you.
The reality is:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/economics-blog/2016/sep/28/quantitative-easing-qe-pernicious-effects-favour-wealthy-tax-middle-class
-1 ( +7 / -8 )
Posted in: Record 63% of Japanese in financial stress, poll shows See in context
The average annual household income for people on a tight budget was calculated to be 7.12 million yen, compared with 8.78 million yen for households who are not under stress,
I reckon a large % of people are not making near that but still being fully taxed. And having to access food banks while hustling for work.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230710/p2a/00m/0na/020000c
Add up all this % of the disaffected and the % making out in this economy is vanishingly small.
That is Neo-feudalism.
0 ( +6 / -6 )
Posted in: 'Oppenheimer' finally premieres in Japan to mixed reactions and high emotions See in context
Communism demand elevation of the party above all else, above hunanity, above god, above self.
He affiliated with groups supporting civil rights for African-Americans and immigrants in racist 30's and 40's America.
And union members being oppressed by capitalists even though he came from a wealthy family.
It mad him a good and humane man, and even his development of the A-bomb came from a desire to oppose evil regimes.
Quite a contribution to humanity.
4 ( +5 / -1 )
Posted in: 'Oppenheimer' finally premieres in Japan to mixed reactions and high emotions See in context
Oppenheimer was a flawed, brilliant genius and truly an "American Prometheus".
https://time.com/6898636/robert-oppenheimer-communist/
As such his contributions that will go down in history deserve to be examined and discussed.
-1 ( +1 / -2 )
Posted in: Trump's climate change denial and green rollbacks poised to fuel warming
Does P.M. Ishiba play Golf? Abe did. https://www.mofa.go.jp/na/na1/us/page4e_001018.html
Posted in: Ishiba seeks meeting with Trump this month, following Abe example
Yep. Ski jumper Eddie The Eagle and the Jamaican bobsled team come to mind. I was a big fan of…
Posted in: Raygun retires from breaking after 'upsetting' Olympic backlash
If Trump stays true to his promises Awfully quiet yesterday eh P?
Posted in: China bracing for fresh tensions with Trump over trade, tech and Taiwan