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["Can't Even Bring Themselves To Denounce Neo-Nazis": Texas GOP's Internal War Over Hitler Apologists]

""Can't Even Bring Themselves To Denounce Neo-Nazis": Texas GOP's Internal War Over Hitler Apologists"

As per the article:

"Don't hang out with people who praise Adolf Hitler! It should seem like an easy guideline for anyone to follow, as well as the personal preference of most people. But for Republicans in Texas, asking them to stay away from neo-Nazis is seen very differently. To conspiratorially-minded conservatives, it is a "Marxist" plot against them. Which is why, on Saturday, leaders of the Republican Party of Texas voted down a resolution barring members from associating with anyone "known to espouse or tolerate antisemitism, pro-Nazi sympathies or Holocaust denial."

That that this even had to be put up for a vote is a sign that the "don't pal around with Nazis" rule is viewed by many in the Texas Republican Party as too onerous a restriction. This entire situation started in October when it was revealed that Jonathan Stickland, a former state representative and current leader of the Defend Texas Liberty PAC, held a 7-hour meeting with some of the most repugnant people in American society, including Nick Fuentes, a loudmouthed Hitler apologist who has called for "holy war" on Jews and declared, "all I want is revenge against my enemies and a total Aryan victory." Matt Rinaldi, the chair of the Republican Party of Texas, was also seen entering the building during this time but denies being at the meeting, despite being an outspoken ally of Stickland and his far-right agenda."

It's really just another case of Republicans being Republicans.

Here's the link:   Republicans vote against denouncing Neo-Nazis

I dunno, I'm personally very careful about anything restricting anti-semitism, since there's a bill stating that any opposition to the actions of the Israeli government is anti-semitism.  Considering the Israeli government is currently committing genocide barring folks from associating with anyone who opposes them seems a bit problematic to me.

People need human contact, that includes conversation, which an AI might manage, or a human interacting remotely, it also includes touch, thus the need for realistic cyberskin, and it requires being able to smell one another, not the aroma, but the pheremones.  We're constantly communicating chemically and that's one of the basic social needs that we have, even if we aren't consciously aware of it.  For a robot caretaker to properly take care of someone they'd need to not only feel, but smell like a human.  Presumably we'd replace the "I'm at work, I'm annoyed by this needy helpless person" pheremones a human caretaker would have with "I love and care about this person and am fulfilled by taking care of them" pheremones, that might come from a devoted loved one.

Thanks for the insights. To me, robots are just machines, and I doubt my perception of them will ever change. But, even to me, it does make sense to "humanize" them for human caregiving purposes.

I haven't met a robot that felt or smelled like a human yet, but I suspect that would make me way more likely to think of it as a person, even if I knew it was just a machine rationally.

People need human contact, that includes conversation, which an AI might manage, or a human interacting remotely, it also includes touch, thus the need for realistic cyberskin, and it requires being able to smell one another, not the aroma, but the pheremones.  We're constantly communicating chemically and that's one of the basic social needs that we have, even if we aren't consciously aware of it.  For a robot caretaker to properly take care of someone they'd need to not only feel, but smell like a human.  Presumably we'd replace the "I'm at work, I'm annoyed by this needy helpless person" pheremones a human caretaker would have with "I love and care about this person and am fulfilled by taking care of them" pheremones, that might come from a devoted loved one.

["Engineers develop breakthrough 'robot skin'"]

"Engineers develop breakthrough 'robot skin'"

As per the article:

"Smart, stretchable and highly sensitive, a new soft sensor developed by UBC and Honda researchers opens the door to a wide range of applications in robotics and prosthetics.

When applied to the surface of a prosthetic arm or a robotic limb, the sensor skin provides touch sensitivity and dexterity, enabling tasks that can be difficult for machines such as picking up a piece of soft fruit. The sensor is also soft to the touch, like human skin, which helps make human interactions safer and more lifelike."

So, this is a second group that's also developing 'robot skin.'

Here's the link:   https://techxplore.com/news/2023-10-breakthrough-robot-skin.html

My wife and I were just talking about this, not the development but the need for it.  A popular use for robots is as caregivers for the elderly or disabled and one of the things that all humans need, that the elderly and disabled often only get from their human caretakers, is touch. Robots with humanlike skin could fill that need although I maintain that they would also need to exude pheremones.

I'm still around, and my life is going pretty well.  I've just learned the wisdom of shutting the hell up.

Is he toast, or is it an appearance of the Messiah?  Why not both?

["House Republicans aren't done slashing food assistance and fighting over social issues"]

"House Republicans aren't done slashing food assistance and fighting over social issues"

As per the article:

"After clamping down on food stamps in the debt ceiling deal, House Republicans now want to take a whack at WIC, the food assistance program for low-income women, infants and young children.
GOP lawmakers have proposed curtailing funding for WIC in the chamber's version of the US Department of Agriculture's annual spending bill. The legislation could force some families to wait for aid for the first time in years, as well as limit their ability to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.

It's among the party's latest efforts to cut federal spending by limiting benefits, reducing enrollment and adding work requirements to the nation's safety net."

Nothing more clearly shows The Republicult^tm is the willing tool of the oligarchs than this type of legislation. Tax cuts are more important to THEM than feeding poor women and their children. 

Here's the link:   https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/31/politics/wic-benefits-cut-culture-war/index.html

This doesn't have anything to do with tax cuts, making sure poor people starve is important to their agenda, tax cuts are too, and they will sometimes pretend starving poor people is to make them possible.

So tiktok is full of Iranians, it looks like they're having a revolution, but if you believe tiktok Occupy and BLM were revolutions.  Anyone know what's going on?  I feel like the media is being fairly quiet about it because nobody I have mentioned it to face to face had heard anything.   

Well that isn't going to happen. What is with this setting being derailed by breakups?  First time it was me and my girlfriend, this time my wife's boyfriend broke up with her.  I think if I use this setting again I need to make sure there are no romantic relationships between players.

Planning a new campaign in this same setting. Not Vietnam this time, exact location in the multiverse not clear yet but we'll get there. Characters so far include a wizard brain in a jar, a dragon, and a shaman who is hallucinating it all.

I'm pretty sure waffles has been here longer than I have.

Too many to talk about...and I've had enough memories that my memory is like Swiss cheese.

There were certainly more women active on the board back then. What did you guys do to chase them away?

The Commander
DIA

It varies depending on the lady in question. Despite being probably the creepiest guy on the board I don't think I was personally responsible for any of them.

MORE EVIDENCE

https://www.politicalorphans.com/something-weird-is-happening-on-facebook

If the theory is true, then lots of money is being spent to form profiles of bots, which is a fun thought.

Is it Tuscon that is filled with hippies?  My only experience in Arizona is some training I did at Fort Huachuca down south.

The Commander
DIA

There's less hippies than anywhere in the pacific northwest, but more than Phoenix for sure.

I just read through this entire thread, and I am quite surprised how philosophical it got at times. Hilarious as well. Of course, given the topic, there was a fair amount of lewdness, but also insightful commentary.

The downside is it makes me nostalgic for some of the folks who are no longer active on the board.

The Commander
DIA

Tell us about the people you miss and why, that's half the fun nowadays.