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UltraMagnus

@ UltraMagnus @startrek.website

Posts
6
Comments
125
Joined
9 mo. ago

  • When DinoCon is doing more than the US Gov

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  • Did anyone in this thread read the article?

    According to the Montana Standard, after his name surfaced in the released files, Horner posted, and later deleted, a social media statement calling his decision to pursue Epstein’s support an extremely poor judgment. He said that while he knew Epstein had been convicted of soliciting prostitution, he was unaware of Epstein’s broader sex trafficking operation until years later.

    Horner wrote that his visit involved only Epstein, staff, and several women introduced as college students. He said Epstein donated $10,000 toward a 2012 DinoChicken conference but otherwise declined to fund his research. “There was nothing weird, inappropriate, or out of the ordinary,” Horner said in the statement.

    The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology released a notice to members last week, cautioning that inclusion in the Epstein files does not alone imply misconduct.

    Those are sketchy circumstances, I think a ban from events is more than fair under the circumstances. Normally I would expect a ban like this to be lifted once feds completed their investigation (assuming no wrongdoing occurred), but obviously the feds aren't interested in investigating, so we may not get the chance to know whether or not there's more to this.

    I think it's fair to expect the justice system to pursue "innocent before proven guilty", but private organizations ban and/or suspend members all the time due to credible accusations, even if they haven't been convicted in a court of law.

  • When DinoCon is doing more than the US Gov

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  • This is a fair take, and I greatly prefer an "innocent before proven guilty" justice system. I think it's also fair for you to read the article before commenting.

    The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology released a notice to members last week, cautioning that inclusion in the Epstein files does not alone imply misconduct.

  • 'Unprecedented': Trump Admin Denies Minnesota Investigators Access to Alex Pretti Shooting Evidence

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  • Taking a case is different from outright barring state authorities from accessing evidence.

    See the Luigi Mangione case for an example of state having free access to evidence even in a federal case... Feds don't seem to have any trouble with sharing evidence there.

  • Twin Cities Unions Planning ‘Largest US Rent Strike in 100+ Years’ as ICE Occupation Drives Eviction Crisis

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  • I know everyone wants to be a doomer about things like this, but Minneapolis has demonstrated clearly to the nation what organization can do. This is a good way to provide solidarity with neighbors who cannot go out and work due to ICE occupation. By making it so that nobody pays rent, it means landlords will not be evicting those who are most vulnerable right now.

    It's a good strategy.

  • Censorship of Colbert interview sparks free speech debate ahead of Texas primary

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  • Yet another instance in which the "free speech" right didn't actually care about the 1st amendment, they just wanted to say the n word on Twitter without people yelling at them.

    I wonder if they realize how obvious it is to others that their morals are a lie

  • Why do they turn Federation into a dystopia?

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  • Strangely, I find old Star Trek more comforting in times like these. Though perhaps that's the nostalgia talking

  • Anti-ICE protesters call for nationwide shutdown on January 30

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  • Community gardens are fantastic! I've only just started getting into gardening. My parents have done it for a long time and use cold frames so that they can get food 10 months of the year.

    Lettuce is super easy - some of its even made its way into my lawn from when I let it go to seed one year, lol.

    My favorite trick is using an empty cat litter pail (the big ones with a lid, not the pour able ones), drill some holes in the bottom, put in a layer of rocks for drainage, and the rest with soil. It's a great pot for growing sale greens, and the handle makes it fantastic for if I need to move it around. We can't recycle the cat litter packs in my county so this is what I do with them

  • Make No Mistake: We Are in a Civil War

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  • Normal answer is absentee voting, but that's part of the reason MAGA has been going after it so hard.

  • Anti-ICE protesters call for nationwide shutdown on January 30

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  • This is a valid concern that folks need to take into consideration. It's all well and good to say that long term liberty is more important than short term security, and I agree with that sentiment, but it's better not to force people to choose.

    This is why there are strike funds. In this case, I would recommend mutual aid - even a small group of 5-10 people can work together to save money by buying essentials in bulk. Larger groups can help each other cover rent, form daycare coops, and so on.

    Best time to start a group was a year ago, next best time is today.

  • Can we have a boring and uneventful week for a change?

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  • I find solace in doing things that will help others and maybe improve the world. Local food pantries and shelters need help now more than ever. Mutual aid groups can also be quite effective if nonprofits in your area are sparse or otherwise ineffectual.

    Perhaps the actions of a few individuals won't change much, but I prefer it to sitting around and waiting for the world to burn to a crisp.

  • Venezuela's government accuses US of attacking civilian, military installations in multiple states

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  • Exactly. I can understand being glad the mafia boss is dead, but it's a "change in management" not liberation

  • Venezuela's government accuses US of attacking civilian, military installations in multiple states

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  • I think that's a fair perspective - though I am certainly concerned about Trump starting wars without going through congress, as well as the precedent this sets for invading other countries without cause. (Granted, historically, the US has done both, but that doesn't make it right). Additionally, this could just mean Venezuela swaps out this dictator for a US-friendly dictator.

  • Gen Z men are moving away from MAGA in droves, polls show

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  • I think this is a more nuanced take on the situation. I would agree that folks who are directly impacted by an issue are more likely to be impacted by it. Original comment seemed too absolutist too me.

    I think there are 22yo who can be impacted by the issue of taxes while being poor (Though they may end up on the other side of the argument). For example, issues of food stamps and medicare-for-all affect all ages. A 22yo might have a strong opinion in favor of taxation for these purposes. A conservative making an ad hominem argument on the basis of age in this case (e.g., that they are simply being manipulated by the radical left) would be clearly incorrect.

    I also think, as more of a moral argument, you shouldn't need to be directly impacted by something in order to support/oppose it. I am not on food stamps but I absolutely think we should have them (or perhaps "upgrade" it to UBI to avoid nonsense on what poor people are allowed to buy).

    In any case, dismissing someone as simply being manipulated is not a good approach in general. It could be a good approach when we are specifically talking about the person overselling on confirmation bias from ChatGPT, but it is a poor way to change minds as a general tactic.

    Is there any particular language I should adjust to avoid being "aggro"? I did say that I hated their argument. And I did call them hostile after their last sarcastic response to me trying to extend an olive branch.

    Is that going too far? "Touch grass" is about the same level, I would think, but I've been wrong before and I'll be wrong again.

  • U.S. Military Killed Boat Strike Survivors for Not Surrendering Correctly

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  • Apparently, waving two hands instead of one hand.

    Under no circumstances should you expect a random civilian from another country to be familiar with specific US military procedures, particularly when they are clinging to the wreckage of their ship to avoid drowning.

    And this is besides the fact that shooting shipwreck survivors in the first place is a war crime, regardless of whether they were surrendering.

    Everyone in the chain of command on this one needs to face prosecution.

  • Gen Z men are moving away from MAGA in droves, polls show

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  • If you enter into debates with weak ad hominem arguments about someone's age, you aren't going to change minds and you will be steamrolled by anyone with an understanding of the topic.

    Skimming your recent posts, I don't think our political views are particularly different, so it's in both of our interests if you are using the best arguments possible on these topics. This was not an attack on you as a person, so your hostile response is unnecessary.

  • Gen Z men are moving away from MAGA in droves, polls show

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  • I suppose I did simplify your argument.

    I'll restate, then: it's erroneous to say that any young person/22yo with a strong opinion on taxes is being manipulated. Although life experience may prevent naivete in some cases, I think it's incorrect to make a bold assertion like that because older folks are capable of being manipulated and younger folks are capable of being discerning and having the critical thinking skills to avoid manipulation.

    I would also take issue with your follow up on whether owning property impacts whether or not someone's opinions on economic issues are well defined. I don't think people need to be personally invested in an issue to have a nuanced opinion on it, though it can certainly help (and you definitely want to consider interested parties when it comes to property tax- i.e., before a city raises property taxes, they should take into consideration property owners with fixed incomes, who do tend to be 60+)

    I get that you were just making a short comment and didn't intend to go deep into the weeds on it, but I find these kinds of assumptions dangerous.

  • Nvidia insists it isn’t Enron, but its AI deals are testing investor faith

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  • It's a bad position to be in. If they crash it will be bad, but if they keep growing and then crash it could be worse.

  • Gen Z men are moving away from MAGA in droves, polls show

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  • I kinda hate the premise that young age automatically makes you stupid or your opinions a result of manipulation. Someone in their 60s can be just as stupid as a 22yo, and a 22yo is also capable of having nuanced thoughts about politics and taxation. "Young=naive" is a bad trap to fall into when evaluating political opinions and feeds into the old adage about people becoming conservative as they get older.

    I think this person is just stupid on their own, regardless of their age.

  • Trump wants to bring Japan's 'cute' tiny cars to America — but it may not be easy

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  • Also a valid point - it's not necessarily a lack of options that's preventing people from buying more efficient cars. "Lack of options" is more in play in choices to use public transport or drive