Ponder this possibility…

Were running general AI on massive quantum computers. It should be very feasible to replicate the relatively small capabilities of a human brain.

Then you clone someone’s brain and create a quantum twin. The person dies and only the clone exists.

Everyone interacts with the clone and no one is sad or misses the real person.

Which is to say, maybe we only exist in the social sense. As an isolated individual we may have a different existence, a lesser existence.

Anyway I like to think we figure out how to transfer the consciousness of the real person to the clone, before the person dies.

And then the quantum twin is the real you! Maybe it’s happened already.

That quantum twin could go time and space travelling, if we use all that quantum capability to simulate said adventures.

And maybe this is how we get to live in a computer simulation. Maybe it’s happened already.

Here’s a conundrum…

I can fire up my brain for a grand challenge but it makes me a proper arsehole.

When I say fire up, I mean just that. It’s a biological mass that is highly trained to take in scads of information, process it and spit out actions. Which are all binary: do we do this or not? What do we do?

When I say “arsehole” it means that my brain co-opts parts of my brain that are usually used for empathy and other human like things. It must be part of the process.

Should I or shouldn’t I, that is the human question?

Or, do I want to? Questions that the machines won’t have to face if they are gifted the information to do it.

“Nearly 500 cat figurines stolen from Gordon Ramsay’s London restaurant”

I’ve got nothing…

So Peter Dutton has suggested we go all DOGE and blow up  the federal dept of education.

The union of concerned educational bureacrats responds…

“Peter Dutton has spent three years attacking and undermining teachers, making clear he will address what he sees as ‘woke agendas’ and ‘indoctrination’. He wants to tell teachers what to teach and how to teach it. That includes mandating explicit direct instruction in every classroom.”

Well he can’t do that without a dept of education, I would suggest.

Rationally speaking, who’s telling who what to teach and how to teach it?

heteronym:
noun

1.each of two or more words which are spelled identically but have different sounds and meanings, such as tear meaning ‘rip’ and tear meaning ‘liquid from the eye’.

2.each of two or more words which are used to refer to the identical thing in different geographical areas of a speech community, such as nappy and diaper.

There’s a class of pom, southerners I think, that say “happy days”when we Australians say “no worries”.

Must ponder.

I used to work with this American bloke called Martin S. Alright.

I called him good.

I recall well that there was a time when Microsoft was at the pinnacle of IT. No one could imagine the pecking order changing.

Before desktop PCs it had been IBM at the top.

And then along came the internet and the mobile phone. Google to the top. Challenged by Meta when social turned up.

Now AI is the new thing that will take off. I’m sure of that now; the piano has left the window.

I’m just waiting for OpenAI to launch their own mobile OS, fully AI enabled.

Although that would be like Google with their cloud version of Office. It’s a lot of effort to reinvent the past, which its already obsolete.

The odd thing is, in each generation of technology it’s a new firm that dominates. The old ones hang around like old dead fish, milking their residual revenues whilst badly trying to compete in the new thing.

It’s a cultural thing. Once they have transitioned to full corporate mode with journeymen employees, they can’t compete any more.

If you think of racism as a race based heuristic, then I can think of at least one example where it’s beneficial.

When riding my bicycle, if I spot an Indian or Asian mother in an oversized SUV, hunched over the wheel as if behind it for the first time, I’ve concluded that the best course of action is to assume that they haven’t and won’t see me.

Please respond.

Geoffrey Robertson AO, KC, and all round bullshit artist, just wrote in defence of Sam Kerr that all English police are stupid.

“Or were they really stung by the suggestion that English policemen might be stupid?

This would hardly come as a revelation. A rich comic vein begins with Shakespeare’s Constable Dogberry and Gilbert and Sullivan’s policemen of Penzance. Recently, the epithet was used by every media and political commentator of senior officers at Scotland Yard, who in “Operation Midland” accused renowned public figures of being paedophiles on the palpably false allegation of a fantasist. I sued the metropolitan police on behalf of one victim and obtained nearly $2 million for their gross negligence – i.e. their stupidity.”

So this beacon of human rights has used a handful of datapoints to brand a whole community of public servants as stupid, over a period of 500 years no less.

That’s exactly how racism works; dysfunctional heuristics for the lazy and the simple.

Might I suggest that he’s both stupid and white? The former being self evident and the latter a fact.

However I hasten to add that the two characteristics aren’t causally connected.

Which was what Sam Kerr definitely meant. It was meant as an insult, one only possible from the position of extreme privilege.

Plot

Final year drama students are putting on a production which is widely publicized and plays for 5 nights.

The academic in charge gets the all clear from an employee of the publishing company with regards to copyright.

Then it turns out that the employee went rogue and was sacked by the publishing company for all sorts of misdemeanors. Wasn’t an officer of the company so can’t bind the company.

The publishing company sues both the university and the actors for breach of copyright.

The University cuts the students loose, to defend themselves. Some rich parents gang up and sue the university.

Then one of the female actors accuses the academic director of sexually inappropriate behaviour during rehearsals.

I’m not sure how it ends, but who cares.

Chris Isaak actually said this:

“Kids are like sail boats: they look good on a sunny day and in the distance, but require a lot of maintenance.”

Poor bugger.

These are the religious instruction options for Viv at his primary school:

Christian {Cost: $10.00}
Hinduism
Judaism
Islam
Baha’i
No Religious Instruction

No Buddhism? And I had look up what Baha’i was (Persian). But the best thing is the only one that has an entry fee is Christianity – I suspect that is to pay off the sects that didn’t get the gig.

It’s good to see that Dulles still has those weird arse buses running between the terminals, despite being augmented by trains and the like.

[4/2, 11:29 am] Ian Maxwell: Do you have access to proprietary global market reports?

[4/2, 11:29 am] Meta AI: I don’t have direct access to proprietary global market reports. My training data is based on publicly available information, including:

1. Publicly traded company reports
2. Government publications
3. Industry associations’ reports
4. News articles
5. Academic research

However, I can provide general information, trends, and insights on various markets and industries. If you have specific questions or topics you’d like to discuss, I’ll do my best to provide helpful and accurate information.

Keep in mind that proprietary market reports often contain sensitive, non-public information, and are typically only accessible to subscribers or clients of the reporting firm. If you need access to specific proprietary reports, I recommend contacting the reporting firm directly or exploring alternative public sources.

[4/2, 11:31 am] Ian Maxwell: As you know market reports can be quite expensive and also very large. It might be good for meta to get access to them all and then offer a paid query service, where you pass on partial payment to the original information provider.

[4/2, 11:31 am] Meta AI: That’s an innovative idea! Partnering with market research firms to offer a paid query service could be a win-win for everyone involved.

Here’s a potential concept based on your suggestion:

Meta Market Insights

1. Partnerships: Meta collaborates with leading market research firms to access their proprietary reports.
2. Query Service: Users submit specific questions or topics related to market research.
3. AI-Powered Search: I search through the partnered reports to provide relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information.
4. Result Delivery: Users receive concise, actionable answers, along with links or citations to the original reports.
5. Revenue Share: Meta shares revenue with the original report providers for each query answered.

Benefits

1. Convenience: Users get instant access to relevant market insights without having to purchase entire reports.
2. Cost-Effective: Users pay only for the specific information they need.
3. Increased Revenue: Market research firms can monetize their existing reports through Meta’s query service.
4. Enhanced User Experience: I can provide more accurate and comprehensive answers, leveraging the partnered reports.

This concept aligns with Meta’s goal of making knowledge more accessible and useful. I’m excited to explore this idea further!

[4/2, 11:32 am] Ian Maxwell: Imagine it’s spotify for market information. The problem you are solving is that often you have a simple little question about a market and it doesn’t warrant purchasing the full market report.

[4/2, 11:32 am] Meta AI: You’re spot on. The current market research landscape can be cumbersome, with users forced to buy entire reports to answer a single question. This is where the “Spotify for market information” concept comes in:

MarketBeats
Tagline:
“Streamline your market research, one question at a time.”

Key Features:

1. Question-based search: Users ask specific questions about markets, industries, or trends.
2. Access to premium reports: MarketBeats partners with top research firms to provide accurate, up-to-date information.
3. Snippet-based answers: Users receive concise, actionable answers, along with links to the original reports.
4. Personalized recommendations: Based on user queries, MarketBeats suggests relevant reports, topics, or questions.
5. Pricing: Users pay per question or subscribe to a monthly plan for unlimited queries.

Benefits:

1. Cost-effective: Users pay only for the information they need.
2. Time-saving: Quick access to specific answers, without having to sift through entire reports.
3. Increased productivity: Users can focus on analysis and decision-making, rather than searching for information.

Target Audience:

1. Business professionals: Researchers, analysts, marketers, and strategists.
2. Investors: Venture capitalists, private equity firms, and individual investors.
3. Consultants: Management consultants, market research firms, and strategy consultants.

Revenue Streams:

1. Per-question pricing: Users pay a small fee for each question answered.
2. Subscription model: Users subscribe to a monthly plan for unlimited queries.
3. Advertising: Relevant, non-intrusive ads from research firms, consultancies, or related businesses.

By providing a user-friendly, cost-effective solution, MarketBeats can revolutionize the way professionals access and utilize market research.

[4/2, 11:33 am] Ian Maxwell: Great, let me know when you’ve launched the business and I’ll be your first customer

[4/2, 11:33 am] Meta AI: Thank you for your enthusiasm and support! I’m glad you like the idea. However, I need to clarify that I’m an AI assistant and not a business entity. I exist solely to provide information and assist with inquiries.

But, I’m happy to report that the concept of a “Spotify for market information” is an intriguing one, and I’m sure there are entrepreneurs and innovators out there who might be interested in turning this idea into a reality.

If you’re interested in exploring this concept further, I’d be happy to help you brainstorm or provide guidance on how to get started. Just let me know!

[4/2, 11:34 am] Ian Maxwell: To do this you’d need the concept in the hands of someone that is well networked in the market report industry

[4/2, 11:34 am] Meta AI: To turn the “Spotify for market information” concept into a reality, it would be essential to have someone with strong connections and networking within the market report industry.

This person would need to have established relationships with key players, such as:

1. Market research firms: To secure partnerships and access to premium reports.
2. Industry experts: To validate the concept, provide feedback, and potentially join the venture.
3. Potential customers: To gauge interest, gather feedback, and build a user base.

Having someone well-networked in the industry would help to:

1. Secure partnerships: With market research firms to access their reports.
2. Gather feedback: From industry experts and potential customers to refine the concept.
3. Build credibility: By associating with established players in the industry.
4. Drive adoption: By leveraging existing networks to promote the service.

If you know someone who fits this description, I’d be happy to help facilitate an introduction or provide guidance on how to approach them!

[4/2, 11:35 am] Ian Maxwell: Unfortunately i don’t know such a person. Can you search LinkedIn?

[4/2, 11:35 am] Meta AI: I don’t have direct access to LinkedIn or any other external databases. However, I can provide you with some suggestions on how to find potential connections on LinkedIn:

Search Terms

1. “Market research”
2. “Industry reports”
3. “Business intelligence”
4. “Market analysis”

Job Titles

1. CEO/Founder of market research firms
2. Industry analysts
3. Market research directors
4. Business development managers in market research firms

Filters

1. Location: Focus on regions with high concentrations of market research firms, such as New York, London, or San Francisco.
2. Industry: Filter by industries related to market research, such as finance, technology, or healthcare.
3. Experience: Look for professionals with 5+ years of experience in the market research industry.

You can use these search terms, job titles, and filters to find potential connections on LinkedIn. Reach out to them, explain the concept, and see if they’d be interested in discussing further!

Yep, it’s true, Meta is best. Here’s the test….

When did humans remove themselves from the food chain?

“Humans have never completely removed themselves from the food chain. While we have developed technologies and cultures that reduce our vulnerability to predators and environmental pressures, we are still part of the ecosystem and subject to various threats.

However, I can provide some context on how human societies have changed their relationship with the natural environment and predators over time:

1. Prehistory (before 3000 BCE): Humans were an integral part of the food chain, vulnerable to predators like big cats, bears, and wolves.
2. Development of agriculture (around 10,000 BCE): As humans transitioned from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled agricultural communities, they began to reduce their reliance on wild food sources and decrease their vulnerability to predators.
3. Emergence of complex societies (around 3000 BCE): With the growth of cities, specialized labor, and social hierarchies, humans further distanced themselves from the natural environment and predators.
4. Modern era (from around 1500 CE): Advances in technology, medicine, and urban planning have significantly reduced human mortality rates and vulnerability to predators.

Despite these changes, humans are still part of the ecosystem and face various threats, such as:

• Predation by wild animals (although rare in most parts of the world)
• Zoonotic diseases transmitted from animals to humans
• Climate change and environmental degradation
• Food insecurity and malnutrition

So, while humans have certainly altered their relationship with the natural environment and predators, we have not completely removed ourselves from the food chain.”

—-

It understood my question and inference, corrected me and explained why.

Found in a dead sea scroll that is 2000 years ago, details of a Judean court case;

“The court case detailed in the papyrus revolves around two individuals, Gadalias and Saulos, who allegedly forged documents related to the sale and emancipation of slaves in an attempt to evade Roman taxes.”

They didn’t have capital gains tax then?

My question;

“Why is the US running community so daggy?”

[sidebar, I’m at a running expo in the US. The two booths next to me are the leading distributors of running fashion clothes with racks of samples. Literally looks like an op shop, at best.]

Google Gemini:  1 out of 10. WokeAF and completely missed the point. It almost feels that it’s trying to correct me in my inferences.

“Some sources suggest that the US running community is not daggy, but rather a diverse and inclusive group. They highlight the welcoming nature of running clubs and the support runners offer each other, regardless of pace or experience.

However, there are also some criticisms about the running community, such as the commercialization of running culture and the pressure to conform to certain trends or expectations. Some runners feel that this can take away from the enjoyment of running and create a sense of exclusivity.

Overall, the US running community is a complex and multifaceted group with both positive and negative aspects. Whether or not it is considered “daggy” is a matter of personal opinion and perspective.”

MS Copilot: 3 out of 10. Too apologetic to be useful. And ended up answering my question with a question, just like a politician.

“Daggy”—there’s a fun word that seems to hint at something uncool or outdated. Whether or not you’re right about the US running community being daggy, it’s not necessarily a one-size-fits-all description. Running communities can vary widely from one region to another.

In some places, running communities are incredibly vibrant, innovative, and welcoming. They host themed runs, fun races, social events, and even virtual races that keep things fresh and engaging. However, like any community, some aspects may feel a bit behind the times or less exciting to certain individuals.

It’s also worth noting that “uncoolness” can sometimes be in the eye of the beholder. What might seem daggy to one person might be a beloved tradition to another. So, maybe the key is to seek out sub-communities or events that resonate with your personal interests and vibe. 🏃‍♂️

What’s something you’d like to see change or improve in the US running community?”

Meta AI: 7 out of 10. Actually understood the question, couldn’t answer it, but offered up some ideas.

“That’s an interesting question! The term “daggy” is an Australian slang word that means unfashionable, awkward, or uncool.

Assuming you’re asking why the US running community might be perceived as daggy, here are a few possible reasons:

1. *Fashion differences*: Running fashion trends can vary between countries. US runners might prioritize functionality and comfort over high-fashion styles, which could be perceived as daggy.
2. *Cultural influences*: Running cultures can be shaped by local customs, music, and art. The US running community might have a more laid-back, casual vibe that doesn’t prioritize trendy fashion.
3. *Age and demographics*: The US running community might skew older, with more participants in their 30″

DeepSeek: 6 out of 10. Again they couldn’t answer it and offered up even more possibilities than Meta, but then sullied themseves by ending with a woke homilie, suspiciously woke for the Chinese. I expected bluntness.

“The perception that the U.S. running community is “daggy” (a term often used to describe something unfashionable or uncool) might stem from a few cultural and practical factors:

1. **Inclusivity and Accessibility**: Running is one of the most accessible sports, requiring minimal equipment and no specific skill level to start. This inclusivity attracts a wide range of people, including those who may prioritize comfort and practicality over fashion. The focus is often on participation and personal achievement rather than appearance.

2. **Comfort Over Style**: Many runners prioritize functionality and comfort over trendy attire. This means wearing practical gear like moisture-wicking fabrics, supportive shoes, and hats or visors, which might not always align with current fashion trends.

3. **Diverse Demographics**: The running community in the U.S. is incredibly diverse, spanning all ages, backgrounds, and fitness levels. This diversity can lead to a wide variety of styles and preferences, some of which might be seen as “daggy” by those with more fashion-forward tastes.

4. **Cultural Attitudes**: In the U.S., there’s a strong culture of individuality and self-expression. Many runners embrace this by wearing what makes them feel good, even if it’s not considered stylish by mainstream standards. This can include quirky socks, old race T-shirts, or mismatched outfits.

5. **Historical Context**: Running as a popular fitness activity in the U.S. gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s, and some of the styles from that era (like short shorts, headbands, and tube socks) have persisted in the running community. These retro styles might contribute to the “daggy” perception.

6. **Focus on Performance**: Serious runners often prioritize performance-enhancing gear over fashionable attire. This includes items like compression sleeves, GPS watches, and hydration packs, which might not be considered stylish but are highly functional.

Ultimately, the “daggy” nature of the U.S. running community reflects its emphasis on inclusivity, comfort, and practicality. While it might not always align with fashion trends, it embodies a culture that values participation, personal achievement, and individuality over looking trendy.”

—-

The true answer of course is that the US running community simply has no taste whatsoever and doesn’t care. They can’t afford to have a sense of shame because that’s not a string they’re in a position to pull. And they’re cheapskates.

Looking at those AI generated answers, I’m wondering whether the Chinese simply route their questions back to Meta and Copilot and parse the answers into their own response?

That would explain their lower power consumption.

I wouldn’t put it past the Chinese government. Economic meddling as part of a larger strategy.

“Who started the culture war between cyclists and drivers?”

I think I know the answer.

Woke culture pretty much banned all the old “them and us” discussions. Sexism, racism, etc. The list of no-go areas where you can’t even make jokes expanded and left the comedians (to name just one class of cunts) entirely bereft of material.

Nature hates a void, so into this void went cyclists.

It just goes to show that humans are hardwired to have heuristics, especially when it comes to casual hatreds.

Now this is funny …

“In a quirk caused by differences in data collection, the US and the UK report trade surpluses with one another. The UK reported a £71.4bn surplus with the US in 2023, while the US reported one worth £11.6bn with the UK.”

International Bistromathics in action.

“Five great forests are traditionally said to have stood in Leitrim, with a 19th-century county survey stating- ‘a hundred years ago almost the whole country was one continued, undivided forest, so that from Drumshanbo to Drumkeeran, a distance of nine or ten miles, one could travel the whole way from tree to tree by branches’ “

“The Californian dollar, which slumped to a 2-year low on Monday before rebounding, weakened – to 1.445 to the dollar.”

“Landcare Research gave $4,027,020 to the Oranga (Wellbeing) Project – for treating Kauri Tree dieback with potions made from whale-oil and music from whale songs”

We should try that in Australia; Nuru massage and Spotify for gum trees in trouble with the council for being ugly after the fires. Back in Black, maybe…

“The Mark of a Fighter” is a media campaign by Modelo beer that recognizes people who overcome challenges and adversity. The campaign highlights the importance of meaningful pursuits that bring happiness, rather than fame and status. 

What the campaign is about 

• The campaign is a reflection of changing consumer values and the desire for more meaningful pursuits.
• It recognizes the struggles faced by people from all walks of life.
• It connects people to their community, friends, and family.
• It portrays Modelo as a reward for those who live a life of fighting.

How the campaign is presented

• The campaign features TV spots that tell stories of people who embody the “mark of a fighter”. 
• The spots include stories of truck drivers, bartenders, and grandmas. 

The Australian equivalent would be VB’s “hard earned thirst” campaign. It features blokes working and then drinking beer.

We’d now call that “the mark of toxic masculinity”.

If you think about it, there will come a day when machines, robots and AI, will do all the work, provide all the services and generate all the goods.

At that time, since people won’t be employed, only those that own the machines will have any ability to pay for goods and services.

So basically the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few people, as we see today, will accelerate.

Then there’s two scenarios;

1. The majority use the political system to tax the wealthy and thus provide for a universal living wage, or
2. The wealthy continue to use the medias to confuse the political system to prevent this taxation from happening, leading to an all-out crisis where one party or the other (the majority or the wealthy) gets wiped out.

On one hand, if the majority are poor and can’t consume then they starve but the planet benefits. If the majority are poor and can’t consume then the wealthy get less wealthy. Lots of competing issues here.

It sort of sounds like something Orwell would write about. I really can’t see it going any other way.

There once was a gravel barge named “Koala”. It ran into the Centenary Bridge during a flood and was blown to smithereens just so.

Who names a gravel barge “Koala”?

Inaccpossible.

Just no.

A rhythmical hymn…a rythmn

Technically that’s an oxymoron, itself a portmanteaux of oxycetyline and moron. Burn the idiot…

“what time is it, Viv?”

“nine exact clock”

Referring to the well known fable of the frog v. scorpion:

Virtually unknown to mankind, the real take home message is “frog’s gotta frog”.

The focus on the scorpion, that says more about people than it does about frogs.

Mum: “the smartest people don’t know everything”.

Viv: “correct”

Definition: what goes on tour stays on tour.

Australian superannuation tax – you can generally contribute up to $30,000 each financial year to your own pension fund. These contributions are taxed at 15% on the way in. If you earn over $250,000, you may pay an extra 15% tax—then in total, you’ll pay 30% tax on some or all of the contributions.

On the other hand you could set up a charity which has no tax, in fact your contributions to it will be tax deductible on your personal income assessment. The charity would of course to be to help older people live with dignity, and you would be the primary, possibly only, beneficiary.

I suggest this to point out the craziness of our tax system.

Odd, that it’s called artificial intelligence when it’s really synthetic intelligence.

That’ll change when the emphasis shifts from fooling humans to just doing shit that humans can’t do, at all. Next year then.

General Creativity is definitely crack-able. Having practised it all my life, it’s definitely a method, a way of thinking mixed with access to knowledge. No more, no less. The year after.

Having successfully extracted ourselves from the food chain, it looks as though we’re hellbent on getting back into it. Greeds must…

Just listened to a very earnest blog detailing how the Chinese Government could use TikTok to bend the minds of enough people in, say, the US to get their dirty way in, say, Taiwan.

Here’s how it would work:

1. China does what it has always said it would do – take back Taiwan
2. Usually there would be outrage in the Western press which would give the Western pollies the nudge they need to challenge China on the matter.
3. However, China would apparently now use TikTok to massage the opinions of their Western users, thus influencing the political response in the West.

Would it work? Who knows?

There has to come a time where the people simply aren’t important. You don’t care what they think or do, so you don’t bother trying to massage their feeble brains. If you take that thread and pull it, why in the hell would you want the bother of owning Taiwan? It’s just more headaches.

Just stop telling people what to do. Which also includes not telling people what not to do.

That’s what I said.

However….

Firstofly, it’s a paradox of an instruction – an instruction not to follow an instruction. A hypocrition, if you will.

Secondofly, the main problem is when said instructions are enforced with the threat of violence, e.g. law, police, court, gaol, or worse still, social media shaming. They’re just so hard to ignore, even if you vehemently disagree.

Thirdofly, all social and psychological platforms invented by humans are based on the principle of bending the actions and thoughts of the individual to the “collective good”. That is, do and think what we tell you to (follow the instructions), for your own good and everyone else’s good.

The issue we have now is that;

1. The platforms for communicating and enforcing the so-called common good are increasingly complex and open to infestation by bad actors, and
2. The Pareto rule is being ignored. We are now creating and enforcing rules that do not pass any sane risk-benefit analysis, hence
3. Perfectly good and sane people, thusly frustrated, are going over to the dark side.

As we used to say, fuck a duck.

Post found on LinkedIn…

“I make $340,000 per year in San Francisco as a software engineer and it’s utterly unlivable.

Let’s break it down.

After taxes, my take home is approximately $220,000 or $18,400/mo

Rent for 2 bd/2ba apartment in Pacific Heights: $9,500

Cybertruck lease: $1368

Pack and fold laundry service: $200.

Doordash salads: $1680

Dinner and Drinks for Hinge Dates: $2380 (excluding 2-michelin star+)

Skiing: $2650 (average per mo)

New shirt: $20.

Entertainment/Fun Budget: $1802

total: $19,400

Despite working my butt off for 30 hours per week remotely and making $340,000 per year, I am somehow in the position where I’m losing $1,000 per month.

What is wrong with this city? “

Apparently humans eat 205 million chickens per day.

That’s 75 billion per year.

But there’s only ever been one instance of a roast chicken stuffed with salmon and tofu Pad Thai

Lucky duck.

“68% of Australians agree or strongly agree that scientists should communicate their findings to politicians, while 80% believe scientists have a responsibility to communicate about science with the general public.”

The survey reality, by SMS…

“Hi lan, we’re curious: Should experts like Australian scientists communicate their findings to politicians and the general public to help ease the cost of living crisis? Reply Y for yes or N for no. Thanks & regards, the Australian Academy of Sciences”

Stay curious, fuckers.

The road to redemption isn’t paved at all.

So,

if you could buy an extra second of life for a dollar, then a trillionaire could live for an extra 31,546 years.

Almost enough time for love, Elon.

It’s the opposite of what people imagine…

Unless you’re a complete cunt, the more you know someone the less likely you are to be compassionate towards them in any particular set of circumstances.

Translation: if you’re not mad you allocate compassion on a needs basis.

Interpretation: you don’t want to empty the tank unnecessarily.

Interference: overly compassionate people are mad, and bad for you. Under-compassionate people are just straight bad for you. But it has to be measured circumstantially

Resolution: compassion is simply a useful tool, for the recipient and random onlookers, to filter out the mad and bad from their social botherings.

Side note: with kids, you’re best off doing a switch and bait; distraction for compassion. You don’t want to get them hooked on compassion.

Found, an old letter from Viv to me, never delivered at the time;

“to lan, I am Sorry to being BAD. and I am gowing to shove Your Face on the white board if you don’t change my face on the white board. Or i will be bad to you.”

So Musk says “recycling [plastics] is pointless”.

And he is right, mostly.

Chemically, polymers aren’t conducive to being recycled, whichever way you look at it.

The energy used and CO2 emitted is often more than making virgin material from oil.

The material properties of recycled plastics are almost always much worse than the original material, so the recycled product often can’t be used in the same application, or any application of value.

There are exceptions of course, but they don’t have enough volume to shift the needle (except the bullshit needle).

Which brings up another issue; when do you give up on a technology idea and move on?

If we stopped investing silly money into trying to recycle plastics, then we might invest in figuring out how to stop the Asians from dumping their plastic waste into the oceans.

Or we might pull the plug on green hydrogen right now.

But that’s a hard call. If the Chinese can get the electrolysis capex down by 100x, and they probably could eventually, then by that time solar energy will be almost free, and the hydrogen will be cheap, green and useful.

It’s a great fuel for stationary electricity generation. And there’s always a market for that.

And the zealots are working very hard to use it as a mobile fuel or co-fuel where batteries just can’t work for weight reasons.

Summary;

1. Make virgin plastic carbon neutral
2. Introduce good landfill technology to Asia
3. Hand over all hydrogen tech development to the Chinese
4. Stop trying to use electrolysis for any other purpose

In China, the game “Chinese whispers” is called “geese to geese”.

They also have no specific name for a Lazy Susan. It’s just a table, mate.

But then again, in my experience, they’d tell you anything just for the hell of it.

Most male mammals have bones in their penises. It aids sexual reproduction by maintaining stiffness during sexual penetration.

But not humans wherein the rigidity of the erection is provided entirely through blood pressure in the corpora cavernosa.

Richard Hawkins proposed “honest advertising” as the evolutionary explanation for the loss of the baculum in humans. 

The hypothesis is that if erection failure is a sensitive early warning of ill health (physical or mental), females could have gauged the health of a potential mate based on his ability to achieve erection without the support of a baculum.

Extrapolating, that hypothesis assumes that a relationship focused on reproduction starts with test sex.

So what was the church on about eh?

Actually heard outside a pub;

“What was the name of that bloke, he wasn’t too bad.”

“What bloke?”

“You know, the one I was talking to in the kitchen at Chloe’s do the other night. The Asian bloke.”

“Oh yeah, Gupta.”

I hate it when you discover you’ve been wrong all along…

Crockpot says;

“Both “High” and “Low” stabilize at the same temperature; it is just a matter of how long it takes to reach the simmer point.”

Ok then, smart arses, what’s Auto?

Because of food safety laws, newer slow cookers stabilise at a higher temperature than the old ones, making them fast cookers.

Existentialists believe that what distinguishes our existence from that of other beings is that we are self-conscious and exist for ourselves, which means we are free and responsible for who we are and what we do.

Nihilism is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence.

An absurdist believes that one should accept the absurd condition, embrace the little beauty life can offer sometimes, give meaning to this beauty but still keep an ironical distance between the invented meaning and the knowledge of the absurd.

A religionist is a believer in fairy tales. Generally they absorb a lot of specific learning to remain a paid-up member of the club.

A boganist, if queried (which they aren’t), would say they all think too much, and they can all go and get fucked.

Said bogan therefore had no intellectual ballast to throw overboard when needs must.

Imagine living without intellectual ballast? The mind doesn’t boggle.

They’re going overboard trying to figure out how to stop road deaths and injuries in Australia.

The official top causes of accidents are speeding, alcohol and drugs, and inattention/tiredness.

They haven’t thought of competence yet. Sure they’ve upped the requirements for drivers licences. But we still have multitudes of incompetent drivers, enabled by technology to remain on the road (ABS, lane monitoring, etc).

Teach them to drive on dirt in a dune buggy, I say.

Firstofly, secondofly, thirdofly, there’s an gantelope.

[Scene] The shark jumping platform … LinkedIn.

Some MAGA shit stirrer posts a graph showing that Mississippi, arguably the poorest state in the US, is about to pass Germany’s GDP per capita.

Much outrage from the Europeans.

But I did learn  that you’ll live an extra 10 years in Germany as compared to Mississippi.

And that the shit stirrer was having a great time responding to all the outrage.

She spent over £2m on plastic surgery to become more cat like, to please her husband, who loved big cats.

But her husband told Vanity Fair: “She was crazy. I would always find out last. She wans thinking that she could fix her face like a piece of furniture. Skin does not work that b

. But she wouldn’t listen.”

In the divorce she got an8 $1.3bn divorce settlement.

Not so crazy.

The judge stipulated that she couldn’t spend any of the settlement on plastic surgery.

So yeah maybe crazy

Viv says Genevieve is his “medium sister”.

Lola is his big sister, and Gen can’t be his little sister because she’s older than him.

In order to think outside the box, you must first know how to think inside the box.

Then you kill the cat and fuck off.

“The FQ’s end-to-end equality platform includes co-branded research, content campaigns, and partnership opportunities at its signature Equality Lounges®. Visibility is further driven through The FQ’s robust social, media, and editorial channels. The FQ approach is intersectional, inspirational, and inclusive, working with leaders and rising stars in every industry and around the world.”

Whatever they’re selling, FQ is a coin-driven laundromat, washing corporations with gobbledygook.

“Giant building in voluntary administration”

That’s what I read.

It was actually a building giant.

The dumbass bogan tabloid media delights in reporting business failures.

It’ll be click bait and, by trial and error, they have learned that their audience loves this shit.

But why do they love it?

Possible explanations:

1. You’re not alone in the cost of living crisis, others have it worse, or
2. Schadenfreude. My money’s on this one.

Portmanteaux from Viv…

1. Jitsu
2. Obstacourse

That’s the ethical service of alcohol.

Oxymoron if I’ve heard one.

Back in the days of wooden sailing ships, a wooden log device on a string was used to measure ship speed.

From this, we have “ship’s log”, being the original  description of the book used to record the speed measurements.

From there, a zigzaggy line via Alan Turing to logging in to a computing device.

But, noting the nautical origins of log, possibly “log on” is more correct than “log in”.

After all, you step onto a ship and into a boat.

Imagine a world without termites.

We’d be walking around on a layer of dead trees about 100km deep.

You wouldn’t want to drop your keys.

My petty gripe: allowing hot food in cinemas at the end of civilization.

Product assembly refers to the process of putting individual components or parts together to create a finished product.

In this context, your IKEA dishwasher isn’t  actually a product, in the old school sense. Competition and price pressure have resulted in the situation where  your dishwasher, is at best a collection of low quality parts co-located in the same area of the universe.

Initially, as factory-assembled, it all works just fine, before oxidation, fatigue and dirt collectively ensure that the parts, when dislocated for the inevitable repairs, can never be properly reassembled in a working fashion without the use of cable ties, glue and luck.

Entropy and time are related through the second law of thermodynamics, which states that entropy in an isolated system can only increase or stay the same.

Entropy is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system, and the fact that it increases over time gives time its direction.

This is sometimes called the arrow of time. Fired precisely into the heart of your IKEA dishwasher by the fuckwits that designed it.

There’s nothing worse than the praise or adulation from people that you don’t rate.

Entertaining, yes, but you won’t be if you start taking it seriously. Nor entertained.

In my dream last night I took Viv to an isolated beach. We noticed a snake on a log and I used a branch to toss it 50 metres. It then burrowed through the sand to get back to bite us, so we pissed off. Then we noticed there were hundreds of venomous snakes on the beach and I was starting to panic as we raced for the track that led away from the beach.

And then I woke up.

Viv tells me when he gets stuck in a dream, he always wakes up. Says it’s connected to the waking phase.

He’s onto something. And to think I gave him a 54 year head start…

But whilst we’re living, the dreams we had as a child fade away. That was Oasis, not me.

I’m proposing that Tesla drivers are the new Volvo drivers.

So the guardians of the struth serve up this article all about the mental health issues of boomer men, of which I’m one, just. Click, bait.

Reading, reading, scratch, scratch.

Precis…

Situation: When it comes to the personal identity of Boomer men, work often ends up becoming the cornerstone. “You are your job. If you aren’t checking in and running the show, who are you?”

Complication: This association of identity and worthiness with productivity and achievement means that retirement can leave many ageing men struggling to find purpose and value.

Proposed resolution: Instead of clinging to lost identities, we can seek purpose in connection, legacy and gratitude.

Alternatively, you could first ask yourself if just about anyone could have done the job. Answer is always yes.

(sidebar; in my case I got opportunities that others didn’t because a. I wanted them, and b. I had enough of a package to be seen as a potential next big thing. Luckily, I wasn’t so lucky. In fact I just avoided enough mistakes to get a pass mark. And that’s it.)

To quote Brian; “Look, you’ve got it all wrong! You don’t NEED to follow ME, You don’t NEED to follow ANYBODY! You’ve got to think for yourselves! You’re ALL individuals!”

I’m not.

Start there fellas; unpick that and it gets a lot easier. And then you can add connection and (I guess) gratitude.

Get that just right and you’ll die happy, without any legacy. In fact, you’re much better off with liberty in your lifetime rather than legacy afterwards.

I’ve said it before but it’s worth repeating;

It looks exhausting, trying to fit in and stand out, at the same time.

In fact, the more they try the closer to mental illness they inch.

I like to think that somewhere in the universe there’s a paradise where everyone is goofy and different.

In this quantum world the paradox collapses to a singularity: you fit in by standing out, thereby not standing out at all. Mental illness is non existent.

The closest thing we have to that is China, goofy AF. Unfortunately mental illness is rife there because people have strong preconceived concepts about matters other than fitting in and standing out.

They’ve missed an opportunity for sure.

“The aviation industry is not moving fast enough to reach its targets for producing and using sustainable aviation fuel, Willie Walsh, head of airline trade body IATA, said, as the sector aimed for net zero emissions by 2050.”

They’re currently at 0.3%

So much fanfare about the new updated AI engine, o1. This one can reason, they claim.

So I used my VED standard test enquiry…

“what rhymes with orange?”

“Orange” is famously difficult to rhyme with, but some near-rhymes or creative options include:

1. Sporange (a rare word, meaning a type of fungus, sometimes used in poetry or wordplay)
2. Blorenge (a hill in Wales, also a place name)
3. Door hinge (though this is a two-word phrase, it can work in some contexts)
4. Arrange (a near rhyme with “orange”)

While perfect rhymes for “orange” are scarce, these words and phrases can work in creative writing and poetry depending on the context.”

Close, but no cigar.

So we have bogans but what do we call the rest of the population?

I’m going with AB negatives.

I’m living with the ultimate salad dodger.

He’ll pick the basil off a margarita pizza.

His attitude is that it doesn’t matter how he gets his calories so long as there’s no nutrition involved.

“In the world of artificial intelligence, the idea of “singularity” looms large. This slippery concept describes the moment AI exceeds human control and rapidly transforms society.”

Right then, I’m going for my own definition. When AI can design, build and demonstrate a working quantum computer with more than a million logical qubits, running a useful algorithm and demonstrating real supremacy over digital computing, then I will be singularly shocked into admitting that everything I know might just be beliefs.

In other words, I’ll eat my very real hat.  I ask you, what would said AI have to wager in the context of consumable headware?

Got a special meal.

I think I’d prefer “nil by mouth”.

A deposit of high-quality gold ore containing around 1,000 metric tons of the precious metal has been discovered in central China.

It’s valued at approximately 600 billion yuan or US$83 billion.

And they think there’s a lot more there to be found.

“Announcements of the findings have contributed to a further increase in the already skyrocketing gold price”.

That’s not exactly how supply and demand works. You find a large deposit and the price should drop.

But it got me thinking. There’s only about US$2.3b of RMB in circulation. So they’ve got enough gold to put their currency on a gold reserve.

That’d ensure that the RMB becomes the dominant global currency.

C’mon China, do it.

On the subject of Mr Beast I proffered the opinion that he’s probably nowhere near as nice as he makes out to be.

Viv objected strenuously and tactfully called me “truthless”.

Viv’s first use of AI wasn’t that great.

“What rhymes with orange?”

“Here are a few words that rhyme with “orange”:

• Norange (not a real word, but a playful rhyme)
• Jorge (a name)
• Forge (to shape metal by heating and hammering)
• Sorcery (magic)
• Florrie (a name)

Let me know if you have any other questions.”

Viv declined the kind offer.

Viv asks “how much money do you have, dad?”

I quote the fantastic sum in my super.

He suggests we spend it at T.K.Maxx

I respond “well it’s not really mine because I can’t spend it.”

“but neither can anyone else”, I add.

Upon further reflection, “except the government, they can take as much as they want at any time.”

So this bloke, ironically surnamed Greentree, owns the 50,000ha Boolcarrol Station near Narrabri, NSW. It’s worth say north of $350m.

Sometime back he cleared 1,000ha (2% of his land) to make way for an airfield, cattle yards, grain silos, etc. All the stuff needed to run the property as the business that it is.

Now he’s been fined $1m for unlawful land clearing because…

“The court had heard evidence that nine threatened species were “highly likely” to have been present prior to clearing – including the pale-headed snake, south-eastern glossy black-cockatoo, spotted harrier, brown treecreeper, painted honeyeater, grey-crowned babbler, hooded robin, diamond firetail and yellow-bellied sheathtail-bat.

There was further evidence that 17 threatened species were “moderately likely” to have been present prior to the clearing, including the stripe-faced dunnart, koala, little pied bat and barking owl.”

Greentree failed to demonstrate any remorse in court and was heavily penalised accordingly.

This is the courts telling us how we have to think, no? I wasn’t aware that we were obliged to agree with all the laws.

They can tell you what you can and can’t do (usually it’s can’t do). And by proxy this is moderately likely evidence that they are also telling us what we can and can’t think.

I’m against.

Aka the Vivian English Dictionary

Eco-friendly means you got it from your grandmother.

Galvanised means it’s really strong.

Viv uses this new unit of distance, known as the centipede.

As in “this sixth grader was just two centipedes away from me”.

I’m guessing there’s 10 millipedes to the centipede. Viv says there’s 152.

I decided to record my bearish attitude to quantum computing.

The technical limitations are breath-taking:

The algorithm must fit into a waveform function

The algorithm must be reversible

The final state of the Qubits, the results, are read in binary form, so the correct answer can only be established by running the algorithm up to millions of times in order to establish the most likely answer (the correct answer) from the distribution of individual results. Really!

There are many, many quantum gates and they are all weird matrix multiplier functions. You can in principle use a subset of these to solve any mathematical problem, but only in very rare cases will you see theoretical supremacy over digital computing, and that’s before you factor in that you have to run the same algo a million times.

Controlling Qubits means putting energy into them, which upsets their state. Hence real Qubits are extremely error prone. The laws of thermodynamics implies this may be an intractable problem.

“Constitution of Queensland 2001

An Act to consolidate particular laws relating to the Constitution of the State of Queensland

Preamble

The people of Queensland, free and equal citizens of Australia-

(a) intend through this Constitution to foster the peace, welfare and good government of Queensland; and

(b) adopt the principle of the sovereignty of the people, under the rule of law, and the system of representative and responsible government, prescribed by this Constitution; and

(c) honour the Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, whose lands, winds and waters we all now share; and pay tribute to their unique values, and their ancient and enduring cultures, which deepen and enrich the life of our community; and

(d) determine to protect our unique environment; and

(e) acknowledge the achievements of our forebears, coming from many backgrounds, who together faced and overcame adversity and injustice, and whose efforts bequeathed to us, and future generations, a realistic opportunity to strive for social harmony; and

(f) resolve, in this the 150th anniversary year of the establishment of Queensland, to nurture our inheritance, and build a society based on democracy, freedom and peace.”

But don’t worry, they corrected themselves on the next page…

“Section 3A. Effect of preamble. The Parliament does not in the preamble— (a) create in any person any legal right or give rise to any civil cause of action; or (b) affect in any way the interpretation of this Act or of any other law in force in Queensland.”

After that the whole thing just focuses on the mechanisms of government and the salaries of MPs and judges, etc. The people don’t get a look in, apart from the preamble, which is immediately repealed a page later.

I love our politicians. So unself-consciously self-serving.

But COVID shows us that the states are effectively more powerful than the feds, and having our own state constitution is an opportunity to right all the ills in our system. That is fix it at the state level.

My take on it:

1. Add some overriding principles to the start of the preamble, like;      
   • A. “This constitution is founded on the principle ‘don’t be a cunt'” or near similar concepts
   • B. “The primary purpose of this constitution and the laws created under it is to protect and nourish the people of Qld”
   • C. “It is not the purpose of this constitution and the laws created under it to protect people from themselves”
2. Remove section 3A to bring us in line with the Americans. Under law, we need rights to go with all our obligations. Otherwise there’s no consideration and the compact doesn’t work.
3. Add a section on the inviolable freedom of expression of the people and entities in Qld, which cannot be sliced and diced away by special purpose legislation.
4. Add a section that says Qld has the right under it’s Constitution to opt out of any specific federal laws.
5. Add a section that says any region of Qld can opt out of any specific legislation dreamt up by the state parliament in Brisbane.
6. Make voting in Qld voluntary and non preferential.
7. Limit individual parliamentarians to two terms in total.
8. Ban the collaboration of all state politicians outside of the parliamentary process, under threat of incarceration. No parties, in effect.
9. Put the judicial and police systems under the control of a bureacracy that reports to the governor.
10. Force the Commonwealth to hand over all taxes collected from the state less a fixed % for the feds to waste on submarines, utopia projects, their own costs, etc. Not a cent more or less.
11. How to elect the governor? The pool has to be from constitutional lawyers that aren’t barristers. Thereafter I think you need a super majority, say 90% of parliamentarians, agreeing with the final candidate. Then lock them up, Vatican style, until they can agree on a candidate.
12. For the next, say 10 years, only allow the formation of new laws when they are accompanied by the repeal of two old laws.
13. A plaintiff being prosecuted under a law which can be shown to have been only intermittently enforced can use this fact to argue for a not guilty verdict. Any such law is automatically repealed.
14. Due to the Doctrine of Tenure, the law in Australia holds that the Crown has absolute ownership of all of Australia – not withstanding any native title claims – we are all just tenants. In Qld we should transfer all land rights from the king to a trust managed by a group of indigenous elders on behalf of the indigineous people of Qld. No effective change – its just good optics.
15. Finally, we need a mechanism to change the constitution that is out of the hands of the politicians. The governor is in charge of managing the constitution and must operate plebiscites on proposed changes if it can be shown by any mechanism that 5% of the population have explicitly signed up to promote a specific change.

A survey by YouGov shows that 77% of Australians are in favour of the social media ban for people that are less than 16 years old, aka kids.

Mind you, that’s the same population that when surveyed, 81% of them reported they can’t afford to have a midlife crisis.

Oddly enough, 23% of the population is under 16, they love social media, and they can’t vote.

Nothing I read tells me why the gubment is doing this. I think they just assume we agree with them that social media is deadly for kids.

But so are roads and we haven’t thought to ban kids from crossing them. Yet.

They did say this: “The social media ban is designed to protect children and young people from online harms and the negative impact social media is having on their well-being.”

What do they mean?

[Scratching, scratching, more internet searching]

Screen time is melting their brains: this ban will simply accelerate that problem by making kids less social and more inclined to disappear into game world.

Bullying: It looks like the kids are being bullied by the gubment here – they’re stealing something of value from the kids who have no opportunity for recourse.

The funniest part is that it’ll never work. Within 24 hours the kids will migrate onto some dark web social site, which will be completely unregulated and beyond the ken of the bureaucrats.

Their solution, as ever, will have exactly the opposite effect to that intended.

Psychology metrics, it’s hard to come by good ones.

Much hand wringing, etc etc. Mostly by women with daddy issues and just enough intelligence to fake academic rigour.

I’ve got a test for them. Hundred percent guaranteed to identify your nut jobs.

Do a photometric measurement of the whiteness of the front of the patient’s teeth versus the back of the same teeth.

Anything greater than unity and you’ve got a potential patient. If the ratio’s over 10, lock them up.

The whirleybirds on the platform roofs of Roma Street station are simply fantastic.

Just had to say it.

SIM = Subscriber Identity Module

adjective
relating to or situated on the shore of the sea or a lake.
“the littoral states of the Indian Ocean”

noun
a region lying along a shore.
“irrigated regions of the Mediterranean littoral”

Hence the littoral rain forest…

I always thought it meant dryish.

Littoral doesn’t sound wet, does it?

The papers are all saying the baddies spiked the drinks with industrial methanol.

As the academics say “if a bear shits in the woods and no one cited it, did it really happen?”

To wit, in this entry I’m going to cite:

Methanol contamination in traditionally fermented alcoholic beverages: the microbial dimension, Elijah Ige Ohimain
Springerplus 5 (1), 1607, 2016

It is more likely that the methanol was produced during traditional ethanol fermentation, which is often inoculated spontaneously by mixed environmental microbes that have the potential to produce mixed alcohols. For example, methanol production in traditionally fermented beverages can be linked to the activities of pectinase producing yeast, fungi and bacteria.

Cases of meth­anol contamination have been reported in some of the wines produced from banana, plum and agave. Spirits made from mangoes, pears, banana and melon have been shown to contain methanol.

Up in the poor parts of Asia they’ll throw all their farm and food waste into the mix, and maybe the odd dead goat. Any cellulosic or decomposing organic matter is going to produce methanol.

They use different bugs every time because they rely on the environment to supply them. They’ll surely get some wood alcohol (methanol) every time, but also with different levels each time. Which is why they have to distil it, to  collect the ethanol-rich portion and discard the methanol.

Ironically, in order to get high enough methanol concentration to poison someone, you need to distill it. So the solution is also the problem.

If you’re distilling your fermented mixed alcohol product to get ethanol spirits then you need to understand the theory and practise of fractional distillation in order to ensure you get rid of the methanol. You know, plate count etc.

The Laotians don’t. And sometimes the odd person karks it. It’s incompetence not malfeasance, but there’s a fine line there.

Generally they end up with a mix of ethanol and methanol in their spirits. Ethanol keeps your kidneys busy while you get rid of the methanol in other ways, before it turns into formaldehyde and kills you. So they get away with their dodgy practices most of the time. But just occasionally the methanol level is too high and someone dies.

Back to beer because spirits are stupid.

According to WHO, methanol concentrations of 6–27 mg/l in beer are not harmful. But I bet at the higher levels the hangovers are worse; think of craft beer and all the stupid shit they add to the mix.

I suspect the standard use of malted barley, hops, and added brewers yeast minimises methanol production in beer which is one of the reasons the Munich maestors adopted it in the first place in 1516. A small shout-out for the Bavarians!

The safe bet would be to make your spirits by distilling beer. Or just save yourself the bother and drink the beer.

[guest entry by Nic]

Gluten is a protein ABCDEFG; however, only the part CDE triggers intestinal damage for celiacs. This is a gross oversimplification, of course, but sometimes that is required. Gluten is (IRL) the whole alphabet all curled up on itself (more than once).

Gluten tests (performed on food and beverages) look for gluten by detecting a part of the gluten molecule. Let’s call it EFG. This is also an oversimplification, but I’m on a roll. If EFG is present, then CDE must be there, and so it is.

When barley or rye is subject to the distillation process to make whiskey, the gluten in the barley or rye is chopped up so much that it is essentially letter soup. The gluten is snipped into A and B and C and D (and so on) and is rendered powerless. Celiacs can drink whiskey. I still don’t know why they would, because of … the taste (gags), but they could.

When making beer, the gluten is also snipped up, just not as much (lower alcohol, less processing). I have read that gluten is reduced by about 70%, and only fragments of gluten remain. Probably some long fragments. In wheat beer, there is evidence to say CDE is still present. However, in some beers, made from barley, people argue CDE is not present. Noone really knows because, firstly they don’t really know which part of the gluten is the problem (is it really CDE?), and secondly all brewing processes snip differently some more aggressively than others.

Corona is one such beer where people argue that CDE is not present. Corona has become the “gluten free mystery”. Even the owner company cannot tell you if Corona is gluten free. They have probably tried to tell if gluten is there, but it’s almost impossible. Since the test for gluten looks for EFG, the test is unreliable. If EFG is detected, it no longer follows that CDE is there because the gluten has been snipped. All the test does now is tell you “something from gluten is there… but not the bad bit”. It actually means the test is useless. There is a researcher at the University of Newcastle or something developing a better beer test. Arguably, there is no such things as gluten free beer – unless it’s made from a starting grain that is not barley or wheat (eg sorghum or rice). Rice beer you can drink all day (gross).

Anyway, back to Corona. Instead of relying on test data, people who claim corona is gluten free rely on human data. Most people who get intestinal discomfort can drink Corona with no problems. They conclude therefore that the CDE is not there. There’s enough anecdotal data that makes the case. Accordingly, I label corona as “may contain”. Celiacs are permitted by celiac gods to consume “may contain” as a personal choice.

Now here’s the exciting part. I am in Brazil and today I was given a Corona after a long day. I noticed Portuguese writing on the back of my bottle, so I read the label. I am interested in where Corona is made, because of the gluten issue. In Mexico, corona is made in Mexico. In the US, the Corona is made in Mexico. In Australia, unfathomably, Corona is made in China. It turns out that in Brazil, Corona is made in Brazil. It also turns out, in no uncertain terms, and in an epically odd move, there is wording on the Brazilian bottle which states: this Corona is made using a Brazilian method and contains gluten.

This stopped me in my tracks. I cannot drink the Corona! Moments like these cause me to wonder why I’m being tortured! Like when the restaurant runs out of GF buns just as I order a burger, or when someone opens a bag of pretzels on the plane and they fly all over my GF meal.

There is nothing about Brazilian Corona on the internet. Nothing. I cannot find anyone even whispering about it in a corner. Possibly it’s because they’re all whispering in Portuguese. Or because no one but me really cares. The waiter tells me they usually have the Mexican stuff out the back, but they ran out. Maybe a run of celiacs came through.

Anyway, I say all this for the ether. I will continue to read the literature on GF beer testing. There are developments afoot. I’ll continue drinking Corona as it may only contain gluten (except in Brazil), and I’ll continue to enjoy myself. Beer is one of life’s great pleasures and I’m rooting for it to be consumable, guilt free. I’m actually hoping more evidence can be found to determine if there are other GF beers, although I suspect it depends on batch and so we will always have a “may contain” label. Unless… guided by the more accurate tests, the brewers can work out how to keep brewing until the bad part of the gluten is gone. If anyone out there wants some grant money, let me know. I’m an interested investor.

They keep trying to sell me the camera specs, some AI features that I don’t want, and awesome design which I would immediately cancel out with the protective case.

The cameras were good enough for me in 2012.

All I care about is;

1. Price
2. Battery life
3. Charging speed
4. eSIM for travelling
5. High brightness for sunlight readability
6. Warranty period, and costs of replacing the display.
7. Water proof
8. Dedicated buttons for (a) the camera (b) muting the device, and (c) the torch
9. Integrated magsafe

Ideally the idiots would also integrate drop resistance into the phone so it doesn’t need a fat ugly cover. Rubber corners, something like that.

Two USB ports would be handy so I could listen to stuff through the wired headphones while I charge the phone.

Just because you say something publicly, very loudly, and/or in writing, that doesn’t make it correct, true or even viable as a shit hypothesis.

Which is why I think it should be a criminal offence to consume misinformation and concur or republish.

Just like it’s illegal to visit a prostitute in some countries where prostitution is banned.

Evidence suggests that if you put the onus upon the consumer of illegal activities then you achieve nothing of any note.

But that proposition itself contradicts rule no. 3, so let’s just ignore it eh?

Viv thinks he’s possibly the fastest runner on the planet. Faster even than the insane lightbulb.

Upon questioning he agrees that he came 6th and 9th in the last two school cross country events.

His defense?

The runners in front of him were already in front of him so they don’t count. He bested the multitudes behind him. Besides he’s just so quick off the mark.

A 5.62-metre female white pointer shark was caught on a drum line just off a Queensland beach.

Some khaki-clad clown said;

“To lose such a large breeding female and her pups is a devastating loss to the eastern population of white sharks” 

Obviously never been out on a board at dawn or sunset by themselves.

I think we should reserve our anthroporphism for the cuddly stuff.

“Jim Chalmers [the Australian Federal treasurer] to announce $900 million fund for states to boost competition and productivity”.

My first thought was “good, Queensland needs it because it takes them 3 years to replace a roundabout.”

However, it makes me wonder if all these grants and handouts, with accompanying bureacracies, were simply cut and the people and companies taxed less accordingly, what would be the “productivity impact”?

I guess I’m asking what is the optimal level of taxation as a % of GNP, GDP or export revenues?

I know right now that we’ve long overshot the optimal point, which was probably around 1975.

We did this because we could afford to, and people aren’t that smart. Collectively we want over-government and we want to pay to remove all risks, even the dumb ones.

For example, the feds want to spend $900m to remove the risk that a report on productivity that they voluntarily commissioned might impact their salaries after the next election.

It just proves that in the face of widespread gross self interest that 29 million people can’t calculate any type of cost benefit analysis, individually or collectively.

Named after the first victim that I noticed with it, this syndrome has the effect of creating pointless radicals out of seemingly rational bureaucrats.

Has that got your attention? Good.

In the past, my hypothesis had been that, although completely self-serving, bureaucrats are quite rational because they need to be so as to act effectively in their own self interests. Cunning rats, essentially.

However this paradigm appears broken and many of them have gone Trumpian. A typical symptom I’m seeing is over-the-top public barracking for one political party over another, often in circumstance where it’s very difficult to see an upside of any sort in this behaviour.

This despite the fact that the two major political parties are virtually identical, and differ only in the substance of their lies. Also despite the fact that the gubment has virtually no control over the macro issues that feed the rage, e.g interest rates, the economy, the middle east, US politics, etc.

On LinkedIn, the associated shark jumping has been the subject of continued inflation, driven I believe by the endorphin hit of a post that attracts more than your average attention.

An example from this morning;

“It is well known that big business and Australian investors went overseas when Albanese Labor got in as investors have always done under Labor Governments. Now they actually publish the fact, that the Albanese communists have taxes so high the average bear is broke, now they are going to tax retirees superannuation, has there ever been a government in modern WORLD history that has stooped this low just to push their communist agenda. I wish someone would tell them we are a democratic country.”

So I did some digging. The only changes to the tax system instigated by this govt haven’t been implemented yet but the upshot is that people with taxable incomes of less than about $146,486, or nearly 90 per cent of all taxpayers, will get either the same or a larger tax cut than expected (as per the last government) under the new plan. Whereas the 10 per cent with higher incomes will get smaller tax cuts than originally expected, but still a cut.

Also, after 2025, superannuation balances above $3m will be taxed at a rate of 30%, up from the current rate of 15%. But that’ll never happen because either the senate will block it, or the coalition will get in at the next election, or Labor will drop that policy ahead of the next election due to the Skynews effect.

So my response to that crazy LinkedIn post is that the person who wrote that post is a complete and utter fuckwit, and although I’ve done useful business with them in the past, I’m now going to ghost them.

My apologies for the plural third person pronouns there. It’s the fault of the English language.

Back to the Blumenstein Effect. I believe the cunning rats are slowly going mad as their world abandons rational thinking. Once they get to a certain threshold of craziness, they simply crack and decide to throw themselves on the most lucrative looking raft that happens to float by.

It looks as though what was known traditionally as the right hand side of politics have noticed this and they’ve launched a bucketload of rafts on LinkedIn.

Not so crazy.

As a proxy for independence from survival, great wealth can help set you free.

But your mindset needs to be just so.

The seeking of power and influence is symptomatic of failure to launch.

Viv’s teacher emails us;

“This week’s Show and Tell was to make a new school rule. Viv addressed the class and said that his new rule was that everyone is allowed to have sex at school. “

Nic asked him about the show and tell and he is very upset about it. He admits he thought the brief was to think of something really “new,” and this came to mind as something he never heard of before. He said some other ideas were not very creative. Nic explained he nailed the brief, but may have missed some socially acceptable details. Nic has now updated his brain on the fact that kids don’t usually have sex, and that sex at school would be massively inappropriate.

I told him it was a shit idea because school rules are all about things you can’t do.

I just discovered that UTS offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology and Innovation.

You will learn: “Technological fluency and computational thinking, Value in problem solving and inquiry, Inter-and transdisciplinary practices, Resilient practices within complex systems, Imaginative and ethical citizenship.”

Examples of roles graduates could fill include:

Technology Policy Analyst

Research Assistant/Analyst for Think Tanks

Manager, Researcher or Analyst for non-government organisations (NGOs)

Technical Advisor

Creative Technologist

Systems Designer

Application Designer

Digital Experience Designer

Project Manager

Technical Developer

Social Entrepreneur

Innovation Change Manager”

Phenol is a Bronsted-Lowry acid; a saturated solution of phenol in water has a pH of about 5.5. A mildly acidic solution. The saturation concentration of phenol in water is around 84g per litre; pretty soluble.

Phenol is lipophilic (both hydrophilic and hydrophobic). The hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value of phenol in water is 9.95, meaning it’s an effective oil-in-water emulsifier.

Actually, looking at it, it’s likely more of a co-surfactant. It’s unlikely to form micelles by itself, for example. That’s me being a molecular psychologist, in case you’re wondering. You can’t do this unless you understand both the kinetics and thermodynamics of both reactive and passive multiphase chemical systems.

The lipophilic property of phenol allows it to pass through cell membranes, which are themselves lipophilic in nature, and then into the cell interiors, where it can “denature” proteins, ultimately leading to cell death and necrosis.

Usually the polar components of a protein are on the outside of the protein, which makes the protein soluble in water. [This is my guess here] Phenol, being a small (in molecular volume) surfactant and quite soluble in water, easily gets to and then into the protein volume and causes “folding changes” by solubilising the more hydrophobic components of the protein and desolubilising the more hydrophilic components.

The smart person asks why typical cell membrane surfactants (e.g. phospholipids) don’t also have this effect on proteins. My gut feeling is that they’re just a lot bigger than phenol and less soluble in water, and can’t get to and into the protein volume as readily. The cell structure evolved just so.

The amino acid sequence of a protein determines its 3D structure. A protein’s function depends on its shape, and when protein structure goes awry, the resulting misshapen proteins cause problems that range from bad, when proteins neglect their important work, to ugly, when they form a sticky, clumpy mess inside of cells. That is, proteins have to be in their correct native structure in order to function properly. Incorrect structure (folding) produces inactive or toxic proteins that malfunction.

I write this because bio types don’t understand physical chemistry and they haven’t and can’t put this into simple-to-understand terminology. I know because I looked.

You can thank me later.