[thepossum]

hrothgar, on 2025-March-22, 04:16, said:

Tough *****...

1. Trump has been atrocious for the stock market. I suspect that its going to get worse before it gets better
2. The market doesn't always go up. If you don't understand this, you probably shouldn't be investing
3. We were due for a correction almost regardless

FWIW, I had considered retiring a couple years back. I decided not to because while I had "enough" money for a comfortable retirement assuming average returns, I would potentially be very exposed to a major correction and returns had been too good for too long. So, I decided to keep working. And, right now, I expect to keep working for another five or so years (because I too am down a fair amount and I need to recover this, make up for years where my portfolio is going down rather than up, and then have that buffer in place for the next down turn)

And yes, this really sucks

But you know what? There's a whole bunch of people in the world who are actually going die because of Trump, Musk, and the like.
And a whole bunch more who are going to be tortured or lose limbs or ...

So, spending my time bitching relatively insignificant concerns?
Not really high on my list of priorities.

You know what I have done? I've increased the number of charities that I am supporting, because there's a bunch of folks who need this money more than I.
(Just a couple days back, I "adopted" a couple giant Gambian pouched rats that are doing minefield removal in Siem Riep. And I'm volunteering time and $$$ at the local food pantry.

Now, I know your a "Libertarian" - and in my view of the world that means you're pretty much equivalent to a sociopath - but grow up.

This really isn't about you.

Defending trump

Though I could trust you

But any chance to attack me again

Stop being such an ignorant apologist for the arrogant bullying of your country and administration against the rest of us

Some of us talk for the world, not just ourselves

And yes I regard myself as something on the liberal libertarian side of this world sick of fascist bullyboys like USA

But keep your ignorant defamation of superior tendencies to yourself. People who believe in everyone's rights and freedoms against the likes of you

Shall I continue. I was speaking up for the world ag ainst the dangers of fascism and bullying and you attacked me suggesting I was just talking about me
Cannot you not even see hints and generalise and understand that the current obnoxious fascist tendency of your adminsitration is polluting our whol world and poitic

People like me aree at risk of Nazi style deeportations which they are taking about here now. Stop being an ignorant pig bully for once Richard. Uf you want to pick on the bad guys not me. I stand for justice for the world. Not sure you or USA do or ever did

I know USA has a tendency not to look outside it's borders. Not me who thinks its just about me mate

What I was writing about was a serious betrayal of trust by your coutnry/ administration. Not just my few savings. If you are too think to understand a point don't attack me again. USA used to have so many friends, allies and trust - including people like me. I think there eeds to be clarification on global investment too. Many of us have invested our whole life savings or contries have in funds with entities they hopefully can trust not to mess them around. That was such an arrogant statement. And we do not have control. We expect them to be invested wisely and for those we invest in to be worthy

And yes whhen the world goes Nazi and aggressive and militatirist many people tend to die

But forgive me a small indulgence. That after a long life of sacrifice to this world, and saving what I could, near the end of my life I have earned peace and comfort and don't like my trust being betrayed that way either. All I want is peace and to enjoy my meager savings. But the fascists everywhere are deternined to deny us that. And they often engage in other Nazi type traits of defmation, corruption, gossip, lies and anythingagainst those who call them out or are a threat. I am selfish aand want to enjoy the few years I have left on this planet. If you all want to kill each other go for it after I am gone

I stood up againt bullies my whole life and faced the downside of that. I stood up for qusality and doing things well and professionally and ethically. I even faced the downsides of that too. Yoou know how dirty this world is. Maybe you don't unless you have had a lifee like mine

And some of that scum is too close to home here. I do not like feeling scared every day for my safety and my future. I have earned the right to peace. Probably more than almost anyone on this planet. That's for all thos who don''t know me and my lfie

So yes it's about me and billions of other you arrogant ****

I am guessing you are a US citizen iving in the USA and no real scum around your hood. Not all of us are that lucky

I believe it is the most sensible thing to do to look after your own mental physical and well-being first - without greed and selfish oppression of others - and then if you have any resources left do what you can for the rest of the world. Not much use being out on the street

And if our meagre resources keep being squeezed by certain powerful players we could all be out on the street, and as something of a non-greedy libertarian socialist type who plans to leave this world with what he came into it with attacking me attacks a lot of other people too. And I believe some of us not only have earnend the right but actualy act in ways to call out fascism, greedy capital theft and aggressive posturing and threats of global conflagration. People deserve all their rights, some of us actually put our mouths ad what little is left of our reducing capital in callling out and trying to support those your country seems to hate and squeeze and attack. And similar tendencies in other countries too. And I maye seem to bignote myself but very few on this planet would have sacrificed a life the way I have, and faced such obnoxoious cruelty and oppression and corruption. I try to call it all out but those in power incuding politicans and the law do not seem interested. Not even professionals. that is my only hope that any deportaion would go through a coirt so I could get acces to a court. But I very muh doubt Nazis have much respect for due process either. That was always my deefence agaist maliciously brought action. The amount of evidence against so much corruption. And much of that evil and corruption and cruel harm is against so many countless millions or even billions around the world it is no wonder it is being silenced. So please Richard. You and nobody ever dare say it is all about me again

I have taken the unusual step of renouncing my citizenship to protect myself against future deprotation laws, but also to consider standing for the Senate or the Reps here. Is on my bucket list to be a ballot at least once before I die. As a libertarian you may think it is strange to even partake in such a system. But sometimes you have to stand and see what happens. We all have the right to staand. And we all have the right to call out that disgusting pretence of democracy USA has at the moment. Always was the corporations running the show I guess but this time

Apologies for the rant but I tend to take obnoxious personal attacks a bit sensitviely at times. And people know that too. And I tend to face more than my fair share ona multiptude of forums. Often people behind aliases - at least we know each other's idkdentiy here. Sometimes I feel those or some of those who attack me and try to wind me up with personal attack know full well too much about me and the risks I face, and the very powerful enemies or interests I have stacked against me. So much systemic corruption that I am the only one calling it out it seems

As a relatively new Australian, I have always felt the place lacked a certain confidence intrenationally and was rather too pronse to grovelling to so called allies like the USA. A bit more confidence is called for methinks. Not just attacking and mining all our capital, but also Federal health schemes too. Mind you as a liberatarian free amrketeer I think so much free money is a mistake and easy to mine. We are supposed to trust the FDA. We have the pretence of a bit more scrutiny and protection. But as in everything we are rather too closely tied to USA - markets, approvals everything

There I go again. They will take my libertariian badge off me. But seriously why can we not trust the corporations and rsearchers and professionals and government not to protect us from harmful products. What went wrong. Who runs it all. Like products known to cause terrible harm being pushed on the planet - especially the FDA sphere for around 50 years - and everyone going along with it, and covering it up. Is everyone owned these days and who by. A few people can hold their heads up. The rest can claim betrayal. Although some of us would argue insufficient professional scrutiny

And eventually in life some of us have enough knowledge and experience and the professional training and ethics, and the existentially driven lack of much future motivation or ability to call it out. And we tend to face attack for it. Finally, very sorry. That is not self-righteousness either. We have all been wned to a greated or lesser extent though our lives. It is not good for career progression or even safety to call things out. That is why I have my won consulting business. Still active in a retired sense. And self- funded. Not really owned but able to be silenced at any time. Seemingly I have not yet been selected for total closure and silencing by the system that does own us. I hope my few savings will see me safely to the end of my life. Some of us are still "owned" produly (n my case) by professions who I hope have not found cause to sanction me yet. And know who I am and all my motivations. They could easily kick me out if I step out of line

[hrothgar]

 thepossum, on 2025-March-30, 17:57, said:

Defending trump

Though I could trust you

But any chance to attack me again

Stop being such an ignorant apologist for the arrogant bullying of your country and administration against the rest of us

Possum, I assure you that

1. This isn't personal in the slightest
2. I would respond identically to any Libertarian who comes around looking for sympathy because their portfolio is suffering
3. (Or for that matter, looking for sympathy for most anything)

[helene_t]

I just posted this update to a British statistician mailing list:



Dear colleagues,

I would like to draw your attention to new US government regulations that affect those statisticians who work with US based collaborators and/or intend to submit data or evidence to US based regulators, publishers or conferences.

The new regulations will be distributed in their entirety later today. For now I will just highlight the most important details:

Gender, sex, and pronouns:
- Singular "they" and other novel pronouns should not be used. Refer to individual humans as either he, she, or "he or she".
- Use "sex" rather than "gender" in tables and figures. The categories are genetic sex but this does not need to be stated except if explaining what assay was used for DNA testing.

Race and ethnicity:
- Use "race" rather than "ethnicity". This should be based on skin colour, i.e. white, black, yellow or brown.
- The category "Native American" is deprecated but it is not clear what should replace it as "American Indian" or "red" could be misunderstood. For now, they can be lumped into "other".

Specific countries and other placenames:
- Turkey and Burma should be referred to by those names.
- The borders in North America (including Greenland and Panama) are sensitive and are best blurred if one needs to present maps of North America
- Use "Gulf of America"
- Use Wade-Giles romanization of Chinese proper nouns

Measurement units and datetime:
- Use American units and date formats throughout.

Religion:
- For tabulating religion use Christian/Catholic/Jewish/other. Note that "Christian" refers specifically to protestant denominations, other Christian denominations can be lumped together into "Catholic".

Thank you for your attention

Helene

[jillybean]

Vile. I don't know how to respond as I watch the USA continue it's backward slide.

[barmar]

jillybean, on 2025-April-01, 07:51, said:

Vile. I don't know how to respond as I watch the USA continue it's backward slide.

You think it's bad watching it, try being in it.

[benellis58]

Trump is ruining the USA and probably the whole world. That's not a surprise. What is sad and surprising is that there are so many incredibly stupid Americans who voted for the piece of trash.

[mycroft]

I was out tonight (for almost the last time this season) listening to these guys. They ended with Twisted Sister's "We're Not Going to Take It", with 30, 40 dancing freaks you would expect to see at the bridge tables next week, all of whom are singing along.

All I could think was "any of you voted Republican last year, or are voting Conservative end of the month, sit TF down. You're the Dad." (yeah, I know. We all are, to some extent.)

But seriously, best John Fogarty impression outside of, well, John Fogarty (but no Tragically Hip this time).

[johnu]

New Trump tariffs include countries with penguins but no people
Rachel Maddow frequently finds unusual takes on the insanity that is Convicted Felon Trump.

Among the list of countries that Convicted Felon Trump had put tariffs on, Jan Mayen Island and Herd & McDonald Islands have zero permanent populations and no commerce. The Keeling Islands have a population of 593 and subsidence economy based on fishing and limited farming. Same for the Tokelau Islands. All were hit with 10% tariffs.

The Falkland Islands, yes, those Falkland Islands, have around 3200 people and were hit with 41% tariffs. Their economy is based on fishing, tourism and sheep farming.

Apparently the list of countries on Trump's tariff list wasn't big enough so his handlers put everything they could find on the list.

In other news, that tariff list has been expanded. Atlantis and El Dorado have been hit with 500% tariffs for hiding their locations from the Trump administration. Middle Earth has been hit with 1000% tariffs for refusing to let JD Vance and his wife into their world.

Breaking news: Trump wants Atlantis to be the 52nd state, El Dorado will be the new Fort Knox, and Middle Earth will be the 53rd state.

[thepossum]

Recession day

Otherwise known as the day MAGA walked into a party with all their old friends, friends who have put up with their arrogant antidociality for ever, accuse them all of being antisocial, spit in their faces, and no doubt will be crying very soon and wondering why nobody likes them anymore

A country whose corporations with the assistance of their government and military have bullied the world and their economies and corporations, daring to lecture the world about fair trade

A country who's insular arrogance and huge coroprations would not know the meaning of fair trade or ethics. One detemined to bully places into letting down their safety defences to allow totally free trade in known to be exgtremely dangerous products

Bullying governments, communities, businesses, whole industries all over the world

Just because history has seen similar arrogance does not mean MAGA need to emulate it

Fair and free trade and a well running economy requires top level information on all the rubbish being pushed on people. Did I add the other parts of the fascist scheme. media and academe backing up their BS for years

That is called fascism. Everything working in unison against the well being of the people and the world. It ended in a terrible way before. I imagine it may not be any better this time but there may not be an end to it this time

Trying to tech the world a history lesson perhaps. I doubt they have the intellect and sophistication to even put such a course together

Like some very signficant industries going from being so innovative and successful and loved and respected, to totally bullying dirty corporate greed. How geerations change. And sadlly the people who have brought in some of the most obnoxious tech disruption around the world are now calling all the shots over there are they

And then think, add in all that tech control against countries and individuals. Oh let's pull the plug etc

I live in a country who's history is very brutal but more recently has been shafted by two major empires in only 100 years, and still seem naive enough to think those old countries care about them

We come up to a sacred day here very soon, a day when we remember the sacrifices, many totally unnecessary, our brave service men and women have made for those ignorant empires over that century too

Most people learn from history but sadly, referring back to how ignorant bullying corporations have undermined everything of worth on this planet., you would be lucky to find a decent course anywhere. Maybe a course that thought they were good. therin lies the problem

And now an administration run by a glorified real estate developer - with a very cruel way of getting his mates to clear land - and one of those techs who I hate to suggest has mined and abused the corporate power of US techs, but appears to be like the rest

Every country is brought up with ridiculous myths. Some used to develop insight and critique those myths. Sadly the zeitgeist seems to be against that too now. Just because you speak a lot of rubbish from high authority does not make it true, no matter how many times you repeat it

But the tactics are well known and being repeated. You can change histiry, delete history, rewrite history, even defame and bully and even kill or exil those who speak out. That has all been done before. Those who know. Wo remember what it was ike before. Who have seen the total degradation of everything of value. Who experienced the worst cruelties of their fascist corruption and have evidence against them. Not just defmation against whole groups but aginst targetted individuals. Silence, isolate and defame the people who know the truth. Well known list of tactics and atributes of some unplesant tendencies though sadly rather recnt, and maybe to be repeated, history

MAGA eh. They may be lucky and have nobody left to write up their sad demise

A bit like a sad rewrite and variation on whatever Margaret Atwood's weird shotrlived regine was in the Handmaid's Tale.

Seemingly all Europe can do is relive the wars against the Nazis and make parallels with some huge threat from Russia. Let's all arm up for it

But th markets falling. Did they not already have it factored in. What gives?

I love a huge amount about the USA, a huge ammount of their culture, their liberatrianism lol, their entrepreneurship ("same word in English"), so many things. A place I often wish I had had the opportunity to live and work in. But did they have to dumb down the whole planet. I hateto think what they have done to any of my old schools. Dunning Kruger everywhere I imagine

Just recovering from Covid what can we hit all the poor people wiith next. I know. MAGA. I just hope my funds managers buy up bargains when they can

Gilead, just remembered. Strange that there was a pharma company called themslves that too

"Are there any questions?"

EDIT I could not resist with aplogies to Margaret Atwood

"
The period commonly referred to as the MAGA Era remains a subject of intense academic scrutiny, though the precise details of its collapse remain elusive. Fragmentary accounts suggest a confluence of economic instability, legal entanglements, and shifting public sentiment, though whether these forces led to an abrupt downfall or a gradual erosion is still debated. Scholars continue to analyze primary sources—archived social media posts, court transcripts, and the remnants of state propaganda—to piece together the final days of the movement and the fate of its central figure. Some theories posit exile, others a quiet retreat from public life, and still others suggest a dramatic denouement lost to time. Regardless, the MAGA Era stands as a cautionary episode in the study of populist movements, the fragility of democratic norms, and the narratives constructed by those who remain to tell the tale."

"Are there any questions"

[kenberg]

I ask supporters of Donald Trump to consider the possibility that this support was an error.

[hrothgar]

kenberg, on 2025-April-04, 08:52, said:

I ask supporters of Donald Trump to consider the possibility that this support was an error.

ken, that is completely unfair

Think how much worse this would have been if we had elected Harris!

[kenberg]

I appreciate Richard's dark humor. Yes, I do. Becky did also, and I plan to mention it to my daughters. But!

Many DT supporters were frustrated by the diredction the Dems were moving in, I get that, and the thinking was "Trump will do something". Well, Trump is doing something.

Trump is president and will be president next week, next month, next year. But we do have a Congress, and people do have a voice. Members of Congress and ordinary folks have to give the matter some thought. The damage cannot be completely undone but maybe we can do something. Keep it from getting much worse, maybe do some repairs. But Step One has to be an acknowledgement that what is happening is a mistake.

Trump wants to have an impact. I seriously doubt that he much cares whether the impact is good or bad, just an impact so his power and importance are acknowleged.

I can agree or disagree with Dems and I can agree or disagree with Republicans, but the way things are headed will not be good for any of us.

Let's give it some thought.

Yes, Richard, things would have been different with Harris. Not what everyone would want, but certainly not what we are getting. Let's do better.

[barmar]

It's fun to laugh about the tariffs for penguin-only countries, but they're the least of the problem -- it's not like we actually import anything from them. They just got the minimum 10% tariffs that were automatically applied to every country as a baseline. No one actually thinks that Trump thought "Gotta stick it to those penguins!".

But the tiny countries like Falkland Islands and St. Pierre & Miquelon got hit with some of the highest tariffs through little fault of their own. The tariffs were based on trade deficits, and there's just no way that a place with 4,000-6,000 people can import enough from us to balance what we import from them.

It doesn't make sense to use a "one size fits all" formula for tariffs.

Some researchers have determined that it's likely the formula came from an AI chatbot.

[barmar]

kenberg, on 2025-April-04, 12:42, said:

Trump is president and will be president next week, next month, next year. But we do have a Congress, and people do have a voice. Members of Congress and ordinary folks have to give the matter some thought. The damage cannot be completely undone but maybe we can do something. Keep it from getting much worse, maybe do some repairs. But Step One has to be an acknowledgement that what is happening is a mistake.

Unfortunately, the Republican side of the current Congress is not very interested in reining in Trump. Maybe this portends a leadership switch in the midterms, but Trump is acting so quickly that he'll be able to do an enormous amount of damage well before then.

I'd like to hope that if that happens, the new Congress will find some of his actions so eggregious that they impeach him again. But I still don't hold out hope that the Senate will flip enough that he could be removed from office.

[kenberg]

barmar, on 2025-April-04, 16:26, said:

Unfortunately, the Republican side of the current Congress is not very interested in reining in Trump. Maybe this portends a leadership switch in the midterms, but Trump is acting so quickly that he'll be able to do an enormous amount of damage well before then.

I'd like to hope that if that happens, the new Congress will find some of his actions so eggregious that they impeach him again. But I still don't hold out hope that the Senate will flip enough that he could be removed from office.

I agree that there is little sign of a significant shift. But tornadoes sometimes appear out of nowhere.

Here is how I remember the Nixon decline. For a long time his supporters remained as supporters. And then they it changed. Suddenly you could not find anyone who acknowledged ever supporting Nixon or voting for Nixon.So I can hope.

I see two prospects.

1. Political: If enough voters change their minds, politicians, some of them, will change their minds.

2. Serious concern for the country. Don't rule it ouit. It's one thing to toe the line for this or that issue, but it can be different when things get as bad as they are now. A politician has to live with themself.

As mentioned before, perhaps I am a cockeyed optimist. As the song says, I can't get it out of my heart.

[pilowsky]

kenberg, on 2025-April-04, 19:11, said:

I agree that there is little sign of a significant shift. But tornadoes sometimes appear out of nowhere.

Here is how I remember the Nixon decline. For a long time his supporters remained as supporters. And then they it changed. Suddenly you could not find anyone who acknowledged ever supporting Nixon or voting for Nixon.So I can hope.

I see two prospects.

1. Political: If enough voters change their minds, politicians, some of them, will change their minds.

2. Serious concern for the country. Don't rule it ouit. It's one thing to toe the line for this or that issue, but it can be different when things get as bad as they are now. A politician has to live with themself.

As mentioned before, perhaps I am a cockeyed optimist. As the song says, I can't get it out of my heart.

Hopefully before the penguins on Heard Island pass a resolution supporting reciprocal tariffs.

[thepossum]

Going well so far

But given my understanding of tariffs.

Is it not the macca loving cheap t-shirt people who are going to feel it most

Disclaimer. I include myself as one of them lol

PS yes I know I should not give away my power that way. And parade around in the most expensicve clothes and restaraunts I can afford

I know I am selfish but I hope my funds managers know what they are doing

[thepossum]

pilowsky, on 2025-April-04, 22:26, said:

Hopefully before the penguins on Heard Island pass a resolution supporting reciprocal tariffs.

[kenberg]

This situation with the penguins is serious. I think we should send Elon Musk down there to work out some arrangement with them. This is so important that Musk should be relieved of all other duties until he comes to a penguin agreement.