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I didn’t give much attention to the African Peace Mission to Russia/Ukraine because it had no hope of success but there is one aspect I’d like to note. One of the delegates is President Ramaphosa of South Africa whose country you would call a basket case, if you wanted to insult basket cases that is.

Given the issues of violence, crime, electricity, infrastructure, and an inability of basic services in his country that he either can’t or won’t address it makes perfect sense for him to fly half way around the world to earn brownie points. It’s sort of like Gavin Newsome going after Florida. Much easier than solving problems at home.


For as long as I can remember Muslim were called upon to condemn Jews in general and Israel in particular over their treatment of the “Palestinians”. It was called “genocide” which is odd because if Israel wanted the Palestinians dead they could wiped them out half a dozen times over every week since 1968 and still rest for the Sabbath.

So when the head of the Palestinian Authority went to China you might expect him to have said something about their treatment of the Muslim Uyghers: He did, this

In the statement, the Palestinian Authority said issues regarding China’s policy toward Muslims in Xinjiang have “nothing to do with human rights and are aimed at excising extremism and opposing terrorism and separatism.”

“Palestine resolutely opposes using the Xinjiang problem as a way of interfering in China’s internal affairs,” the joint statement said.

Apparently some Muslims are more equal than others.


This actually makes me think that the GOP might have a chance for real inroads in the US Muslim community. Their hatred of Israel separates them from the GOP and their unwillingness to give into the gay agenda for their kids separates them from Democrats.

But the reality is for all their bluster on the subject in speeches and at colleges Israel is 8000 miles away and doesn’t affect the Muslim community in the US in general or in Michigan in particular. The gay agenda being pushed affects their own kids and community.

Which do you think these families will give priority to?

If conservatives play this right this can change the gameboard in several states really fast.


The most interesting thing you will read today is an exchange between Harvey Risch, Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology at Yale School and a Chatbot called Rebelio on the subject of hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19.

The chatbot gives false and misleading answers to questions until corrected by Mr. Risch and then confirms his accurate information while downplaying it citing consensus. The key exchange comes at the end:

User:

This answer did not answer the question that I asked. All of the errors you made were statements contrary to facts that you verified in subsequent answers. Since you had the correct factual information, why did you cite incorrect facts?

RebbeIO:

I apologize for any confusion or frustration that my previous responses may have caused. As an AI language model, I do not intentionally provide incorrect information. However, I understand that I made errors in my previous responses, and I apologize for any confusion or inconvenience that this may have caused.

I strive to provide accurate and helpful responses based on the information available to me, and I understand the importance of providing correct information, especially when it comes to matters of public health and scientific research. I will continue to do my best to provide accurate and helpful responses based on the information available to me, and I appreciate your patience and understanding.

One must already remember that regardless of bells and whistles all these AI chats are just computer programs, programed by people, some of who have agendas which means the 1st rule of computers applies:

Garbage in, Garbage out.


Finally the most interesting part of the story concerning the Pride Celebration at Dodger Stadium including the anti-Catholic so called “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” is not the 5000 strong protest outside or the prayers and speakers, the large amount of Latino’s among the protesters, the statement from Bishop Barron or even the final attendance of 49K for the game itself agasint their hated rival the San Francisco Giants.

What is interesting the teams decision to hold the ceremony to honor them when there were only maybe 40 or 50 people in the stands. Even that tiny amount of people produced boos. The Dodgers could well imagine how loud those boos would have been if they held their ceremony when the park was full.

Next year will be VERY interesting.

“Herr Haupt, In the day traveling to Stalag 13 he’s slammed him against the wall, tripped him into tree, hit him with a board & pushed him off the truck, always seemingly ‘accidentally’. He’s trying to slay him!”

“Clearly the Ensign is trying to stop the Captain from exposing the plans!” said Hockstetter

“Plans?” Binghamton protested, “I don’t have any plans! Parker’s just a bumbling boob.”

“And killing your commanding officer is against regulations.” Parker added solemnly.

“Bah!” shouted Hockstetter, He was convinced the Captain was lying, although that man DID look like a bumbling boob.

Previously: A Stymied Sortie Next: An Accidental Meeting

“You mean neither of them know they’re on a mission?”

“As far as they know Carter, they were captured by accident”, Hogan replied as they checked their weapons, “Our job is to convince the Germans they’re the real thing & help them find the phony info.”

At that moment Cpl Newkirk gave whispered warning: “Colonel, Krauts at the tunnel!”

Hogan peered out of the periscope in dismay, guards were right at the tunnel exit, no way out. The fake attack on the truck carrying the officers to convince the Gestapo they had invasion plans was stymied before it could start.

Previously An Appropriate Incarceration. Next: Looks aren’t always deceiving

A Good Investment vs a Bad One

Posted: June 16, 2023 by datechguy in economy, gaming
Tags: , , , ,

My son sent me this link concerning a kickstarter campaign here is a screen shot of it’s progress:

With 15 days to go this project is funded nearly 5x beyond what it needs.

Of course in fairness the original Groo dice game was not only hilarious but easy and fun to play so a revival makes sense. I still have my copy from when I owned a comic book store in the 1980’s I remember it fondly and highly recommend it. Based on the response there are plenty of other people who think the same so I suspect this will be a moneymaker for Steve Jackson games.

On the other hand there are some investments that simply don’t pay off:

Those are fully stocked store shelves of this merchandise, as if no one had touched them for weeks. Nobody wanted a Pride chew toy for their pet, nobody wanted Pride children’s wear, or transgender-themed children’s toys (I had to look up what Kidd Kenn was in the blue and pink box on the last in the sequence — a rap star), nobody wanted a Pride baking kit, nobody wanted LGBTQ+-themed liquor, or LGBTQ+ cups to put them in. Notice that the liquor is already on sale. Nobody wanted rainbow kid boots.

That’s shelf space that could have been used for merchandise that people wanted to buy, and in retail, efficient use of shelf space for things that sell is the name of the game. They pay people to determine those things. These items at Target Kearny Mesa were all displayed prominently at the front of the store, no back of the store decision for them. You’ve heard of “dead-naming”? Well, this was “dead-spacing.”

UnexpectedlyTM of course.

The reality is that both of these items are dealing with a niche market. The difference is that the makers of the Groo game aren’t pretending that their market is bigger than it is so they will show a profit. These guys at Target, not so much.