Political Randomness

[Unagi]

give a man a fish...

Stop it with your brevity and efficiency!

It's rare for me.

[Holman]

but why 6x8=48.

I still don't know the answer to this. IS there an answer to this?!

I think the usual answer is that mathematics is a self-contained, self-referential language whose rules are defined only in relation to other mathematical concepts. Because it ultimately doesn't refer to anything outside of mathematics, it's not subject to the changes and interpretations that other-referential systems (such as all human languages) must deal with. Thus, 2+2=4 is always true (given base 10, etc) in a way that "warfare is politics by other means" can never be.

We casually assume that we use mathematics to talk about the world ("Johnny has two apples and Jackie has two apples..."). In fact, when we appeal to mathematics for answers about the real world, we are not translating math into the world but translating the world into math. Thus, the potentially complex question is not "what is 2?" but "what is one apple?"

I'm sure I'm drastically simplifying, but, hey, Humanities guy here.

[Blackhawk]

We casually assume that we use mathematics to talk about the world ("Johnny has two apples and Jackie has two apples..."). In fact, when we appeal to mathematics for answers about the real world, we are not translating math into the world but translating the world into math. Thus, the potentially complex question is not "what is 2?" but "what is one apple?"

I'm sure I'm drastically simplifying, but, hey, Humanities guy here.

Drastically simplifying, he says, as he finishes writing a paragraph that sounds like a mystic trying to describe the inner workings of the astral plane.

[Smoove_B]

but why 6x8=48.

Wait until they learn that this is only true for really large values of 6 and 8.

[Isgrimnur]

The angles of a triangle are only 180 degrees if your spacetime is not curved.

[Blackhawk]

but why 6x8=48.

Wait until they learn that this is only true for really large values of 6 and 8.

They've both graduated. If they haven't learned it by now, they're not going to.

[Carpet_pissr]

but why 6x8=48.

I still don't know the answer to this. IS there an answer to this?!

I think the usual answer is that mathematics is a self-contained, self-referential language whose rules are defined only in relation to other mathematical concepts. Because it ultimately doesn't refer to anything outside of mathematics, it's not subject to the changes and interpretations that other-referential systems (such as all human languages) must deal with. Thus, 2+2=4 is always true (given base 10, etc) in a way that "warfare is politics by other means" can never be.

We casually assume that we use mathematics to talk about the world ("Johnny has two apples and Jackie has two apples..."). In fact, when we appeal to mathematics for answers about the real world, we are not translating math into the world but translating the world into math. Thus, the potentially complex question is not "what is 2?" but "what is one apple?"

I'm sure I'm drastically simplifying, but, hey, Humanities guy here.

Excellent! Thanks, ChatGPHolman!

[Holman]

Excellent! Thanks, ChatGPHolman!

You wound me, sir!

[El Guapo]

And this is what qualifies as a sensible Republican these days, if I understand that correctly.

[GreenGoo]

Tucker Carlson invited to speak in Alberta. And interview and discussion with premier Danielle Smith to follow.

Calgary Herald

Asked about it, the premier's press secretary shrugged it off as just another meeting with a journalist.

“Obviously, she does not subscribe to every view of every interviewer or reporter she speaks with whether that’s the CBC, the Toronto Star, or Tucker Carlson.

So that's hilarious. I'm sure there are more than a few Albertans who think Carlson is the bees knees, but some of the tweets I've seen are hilariously anti-Carlson.

Paraphrasing one I saw "Thank god the province has figured out a way to spend our money that doesn't include healthcare, economy, or *somethingsomethingIcantremember*".

[El Guapo]

Is Alberta the Alabama of Canada, or something?

[hepcat]

Is Alberta the Alabama of Canada, or something?

Spoiler:

[GreenGoo]

Is Alberta the Alabama of Canada, or something?

I think they fancy themselves Texas. Oil, guns, pickup trucks, religion, conservative, angry at the rest of us.

[malchior]

Is Alberta the Alabama of Canada, or something?

It's the pretty much the most Conservative area. As mentioned it's oil country. Edmonton and Calgary all trade in shale oil and have a frontier spirit. I was just there a few months ago and they weren't overtly all that political compared to say MAGA land. Calgary feels a little bit like Austin to me to be honest.

[Blackhawk]

Maybe if the Texans all move to Montana, they can get together with Alberta and form their own nation.

[Max Peck]

Saskatchewan would probably want in on that action. They seem to be trying to out-Alberta Alberta these days. I tend to think of them as Canada's Florida, while Alberta is traditionally Canada's Texas.

[El Guapo]

As an aside, do all of Canada's financial fraudsters live in Vancouver?

[geezer]

Is Alberta the Alabama of Canada, or something?

It's the pretty much the most Conservative area. As mentioned it's oil country. Edmonton and Calgary all trade in shale oil and have a frontier spirit. I was just there a few months ago and they weren't overtly all that political compared to say MAGA land. Calgary feels a little bit like Austin to me to be honest.

Eew.

[GreenGoo]

As an aside, do all of Canada's financial fraudsters live in Vancouver?

Yes.

I have somewhat racist views on that based on zero evidence, so no more comment. Hah. It's not as bad as that sounds.

edit: Unless you include politicians, in which case Ontario does just fine.

[GreenGoo]

Saskatchewan would probably want in on that action. They seem to be trying to out-Alberta Alberta these days. I tend to think of them as Canada's Florida, while Alberta is traditionally Canada's Texas.

Saskatchewan is hit or miss (imo), but Alberta is always role playing as Texas.

[malchior]

Behold the grandeur of their deliberation!

[GreenGoo]

Look at that fucking guy (Alabama senator) grinning his ass off while he puts hundreds of people's careers on hold and cripples the military's ability to function.

There should be a professional slapper slapping his face every time he opens his mouth.

[Holman]

NYC mayor Eric Adams is under suspicion of campaign funding violations, including acceptance of secret payments from Turkey.

Last night he was approached by FBI agents who immediately seized his phones.

Adams is such a weird guy. Turkey? Really?

[hepcat]

...well, it IS almost Thanksgiving!

...

...yeah, I'm sorry about that. I'll go now.

[Blackhawk]

...well, it IS almost Thanksgiving!

...

...yeah, I'm sorry about that. I'll go now.

I was working on a WKRP joke (something about "that'll never fly..."), but you saved me the shame.

[Isgrimnur]

Richard Adjacent strikes again.

[Carpet_pissr]

Richard Adjacent strikes again.

Please. SIR Richard Adjacent....The Third.

[Isgrimnur]

Richard Adjacent strikes again.

Please. SIR Richard Adjacent....The Third.

He's in several medical journals.

[hepcat]

Jesus, whatever you do, don’t bring up medical oddities around carpet. He’s got images that can scar you for life, and he’s not afraid to use them.

[Carpet_pissr]

Jesus, whatever you do, don’t bring up medical oddities around carpet. He’s got images that can scar you for life, and he’s not afraid to use them.

You refer to the reverse thigh pics, yes? LOL...those are from my "Category 1" pic library level...i.e. "safe for all viewers", and "will not possibly cause scarring". Category 3 is where things get interesting, and have been known to cause teeth gnashing and hair pulling. Don't tempt me.

[Blackhawk]

Well, I do have a rather large indentation behind one of my clavicles that's a little hard to describe, and my neck is asymmetrical, with the right side wider than the left...

[Alefroth]

Weird development out of Argentina:

They recently had an election where extremist Libertarian "mini-Trump" Javier Milei was considered the favorite. In the final tally, he came in second to a center-left candidate, so now there will be a run-off.

But in an interview last night, well... You don't even have to speak Spanish to get the gist.

Today is the day. Milei is slightly favored.

[Daehawk]

says not found on my end..I see nothing.

[Daehawk]

Look at that fucking guy (Alabama senator) grinning his ass off while he puts hundreds of people's careers on hold and cripples the military's ability to function.

There should be a professional slapper slapping his face every time he opens his mouth.

This....and hard.

[Alefroth]

And Milei wins handily-

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... l-concedes

[malchior]

The political establishment in Argentina uniting behind the finance Minister when inflation is running 140% seemed like a solid plan. How did it go wrong!?

[Holman]

It's going to be nuts. I assume there will be calls for his resignation within 6 months.

The question will be whether the military sides with him.

[Carpet_pissr]

The man had a VERY awkward and disturbing paranoid (schizophrenic?) episode during an interview that aired on TV. Not sure if it was this thread, but somewhere I called it that that ended his political career, it was so bad.

I would say I can't possibly understand how anyone would vote for him after that, but we have our own little special example...and to be clear, I'm talking about Trump, here.

[Holman]

The man had a VERY awkward and disturbing paranoid (schizophrenic?) episode during an interview that aired on TV. Not sure if it was this thread, but somewhere I called it that that ended his political career, it was so bad.

I would say I can't possibly understand how anyone would vote for him after that, but we have our own little special example...and to be clear, I'm talking about Trump, here.

This is a case of Argentina being willing to try *anything* but the status quo.

They've got inflation over %140 and a history of of swapping back and forth between dictatorships and elected leaders within living memory. I believe they've made a huge mistake here, but it's not one that's impossible to explain.

[Alefroth]

So is Milei's big plan just austerity?