Will the Democrats Betray America Again?

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Will the Democrats win the Senate? If so, the seeds of destruction may have been planted. The mysterious forces of the so-called mainstream Dem party are already agitating against real reform. These are the people behind the Obama absolution of the rich and criminal classes in 2008 Oh no they will say! We can not reform the courts or work against real racism in this country. Lets do one or two symbolic fixes and then go back to our betrayal of social justice and workers rights. Lets not fix the Electoral College, we might want to steal an election ourselves one day. Then, the base, which has respond to the call to save the Republic from Trump, Kavanaugh, McConnell, etc will ... what will they do when the Dems start calling for "bipartisan" ship which is code for racism and surrender to the rich? 

 The Mystery Eight Ball does not say. It says "reply hazy try again later".

 

 

Shinae Tassia -April 22, 2017

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My worst suspicions were confirmed when I heard today that my friend, Shinae Tassia, who had disappeared on me several years ago and known to be in bad health, passed away on April 22nd of 2017. 

Abandoned in Seoul Korea when a few days old, she was adopted by a Sicilian family in this country. She ran away and lived in Central Park when she was informally adopted by a (gay) couple in Brooklyn. I knew her from the American Museum of Natural History where she was on the systems team. A friend there told me that she was probably of Romulan origin. I found the waves of anger that were visible around her to be very appealing. 

Good bye, Shinae.

Excellent Ranting Websites

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Many people think I spend too much time reading web sites that make me upset.  They are right of course.  Here is a list of such web sites for your benefit.

1. Pure rant

https://www.rawstory.com/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/

2. Often Ranting

https://slate.com/

https://www.salon.com/

3. Rarely Ranting

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/

https://www.vox.com/

This is a good list.  Please check them out!

Jim Houston and Donald Trump's Policies

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At the end of March, Jim Houston died in the hospital after what was apparently several days of severe respiratory distress. We had to break into his house to find him, he lasted a few hours at the hospital. They were not sure if it was respiratory, a stroke, a heart attack, or something else. Jim was in good health, although he was overweight. He was 62 years old. He was a member of various Academy and ASC committees and so would every week be at some social event, such as the ASC clubhouse where there would be perhaps 50-100 people in close quarters.

At the time, COVID-19 tests were not readily available, nor were his doctors particularly sensitive to the fact that COVID-19 mortality was not just respiratory (like the flu) but could indeed show such effects as what Jim died of (ie stroke, heart failure, neurological). So we do not have formal tests that prove that Jim died of COVID-19, but we all think he did. I am told that the state of CA may indeed go back and check to see, how they do that I do not know, but I presume that they have blood samples in the freezer.

Jim was one of my best friends.

There are some things I think are reasonable to conclude from this.

First, that the official numbers are low. I know at least two people who died of the coronavirus who are not on the official death statistics. Jim was not tested and the second person tested negative which makes his friends scratch their heads because if he did not die of the coronavirus we dont know what he died of (heart attack the day before he was going to be hospitalized for severe respiratory symptoms).

Second, Trump was warned by the CIA and others of the danger of a pandemic in January at the very latest, if I understand the situation. Had he warned the American people, and had people known not to congregate in the March time frame, and were told to wear a mask, I am sure that Jim Houston would not have died at that time. Maybe he would have gotten the virus later, maybe we all will, maybe we will die of it eventually, but not at that time.

Therefore, I blame Trump and his policies for my friends death and I do not take kindly to those who push theories that you dont have to wear a mask. I dont know what is going on in Sweden, but I sure as hell know what is going on in the USA and I dont think this is funny or subtle.

Thank you.

 

3D and Learning Things on Spec

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A friend wanted me to learn a variety of technologies involving 3D on spec (i.e. for free) because he thinks it will be good for me and it will help me to make money.  I am sure he is sincere.  I promised to write a blog post which will attempt to explain the situation.

1. I am not sure the exact numbers, but I would guess that I spend at least half my time (as integrated over some period of time) learning new things on spec.  I learn them because they will help me do projects I want to do and because I think they are important to know about.  Examples are machine learning, so-called physically based rendering, Tensorflow, Arnold, Python, Javascript.  Therefore, if there is something new to add to the list of things I learn on spec, then it needs to get in line, there is a lot in the queue ahead of it.

2. I have no particular hope or interest in making money with 3D.  I dont think it is very likely so telling me "learn this and you will make a lot of money" means nothing to me.  I do hope, however, to do good work, possibly but not necessarily with 3D, in some sense of the term "good work".  That may mean research, or an art project, or perhaps a public service project of some sort.  However this is not for you to say, nor is it for you to say what skills I will need to do that.    

 3. I sincerely doubt I will be permitted to make a living going forward, and even if I am permitted, I doubt it will be with computer graphics.  You dont agree with that?  Fine!  Offer me a job.  Be specific.  Put it in writing.

4. I spent a great deal of time in Hollywood.  Every asshole is trying to get work for free.  Just do this and you will make a lot of money.  How do you say "fuck you" in Hollywood?  "Trust me".

5. I have had non-subtle experiences with things that are universal formats, or which are designed for the production flow of a large corporation.  The individual need not apply.  It isnt designed for the individual nor is it useful to him/her outside of the context of the large corporation.

6. Therefore, if you want me to do something for free, I suggest you make your best case and then leave it alone.  If I can, I will.  If I dont think it is worth my while, then I wont, at least not at that time.  Very often, in things like this, it may be that I do get to it, but in my own time.

I have no doubt my friend means well.

Blocked from FB for being Pro Biden

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I guess Facebook is banning people who support Biden.  If you donate to a Democrat and somehow that gets posted on Facebook, then someone on Facebook says such a post is offensive, then you are blocked.

There is no way to protest.

Time to nationalize Facebook.

Still Time to Prepare REDACTED for Revolution

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I realize you are too important to have a conversation with me, but I still think it is a mistake that you are not arming REDACTED for the coming revolution, even if I am uncertain what side you will be on. Better safe than sorry, I always say. A dozen or so anti armor weapons, some RPGs and of course a few SAMs as bought on the ever helpful darkweb. I could see you maintaining a covert communications channel based on the plumbing and infrastructure of underground NY, or maybe laser/microwave line of sight over the park to the East Side or perhaps over the river to NJ. A stockpile of a couple of hundred AR 15s and several 10s of thousands rounds of ammunition, whats the harm? Not to mention a first aid station. Lets not be stupid here, which ever side you are on, the indications of approaching violence are clear and present. I am ready to come by and help out! You only need to call!

 

No Tax Returns? No Constitution

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Even after the NY Times report and another ruling by an appeals court, there are still no released tax returns.  The reason is obvious: we have a completely corrupt justice system in this country that needs to be entirely removed and replaced, probably by violent revolution.  What else would work?   Oh yes, and that Supreme Court nominee who was (is?) a member of an extreme Christian group, nominated by a traitor and criminal, and jammed into the court by the right wing minority party.  Legitimate?  Of course not.  Too bad the US Constitution utterly failed.