FEMA National Fire Activity - August 5, 2026
3 New Large Fires3 Large Files Contained
94 total Uncontained Large Fires
Just finished @pluralistic 's new, highly readable book: "The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI:"
The main point I take away from this is that the "magnificent seven" are all mature companies, that need a growth stories like a start-up to justify the enormous stock prices. But if one is already a giant, multi-billion $ company, exponential growth is virtually impossible (not to mention, world-destroying) and requires ever more outlandish claims. To deflate these claims in the most powerful vector of critique.
The second point, which is kind of a classic, is not to ask what a technology "is" or "could do", but to ask who does it do it for and who does it do it to. In other words, it's not technical capacities, but social relations that determine the social impact of a product
🚨 Last month set a new record for the hottest average global sea surface temperature in the month of July! Record warmth is found in both the deeper ocean and at the surface. This isn't necessarily a surprise, but it will have consequences for around the world.
Data in the graphic from NOAA ERRSTv6.
RE: https://mastodon.social/@DrALJONES/117041217315198926
Zionism is just a political movement like say 'White Nationalism'....
Someone I know after working for a big grocery store for 10 years was happy to tell me they make $1 over the minimum wage.
They can only be scheduled for 24 hours per week. I suspect if they got scheduled for 40 hours the company would have to pay them benefits.
The company they work for is public. Looking up the CEO, he gets paid ~$12.6M per year. While the employees are making basically minimum wage, which is $18.25/hour in BC.
The CEO pays himself more than $8000/hour. He makes over $64,000 in a single 8-hour day, more than the employees make in an entire year.
I don't care who you are, no amount of work you do could possibly be worth this much over your employees. This is wage theft, and when combined with all the executives of the company, artificially increases the cost of products sold in the stores for all Canadians.
Tax. The. Rich.
I know I shouldn’t post climate doomerism, but if global warming continues at its current pace of 0.27°C/decade, the average surface temperature on earth will be 70°C (=158 °F) by 4026
marcus a nonvoter is not a kind of voter
they have no ideals, they have emotional situations
they are not articulating an ideological point of view, they expressing various psychological failure modes like toxic idealism and helpless cynicism
finally, no one hears a voice that does not speak. not voting is not speaking
And what does our ai panel think of this?
@JoscelynTransient
"average mastodonuser picks 5 locks a day" statisic is misleading. Alice, who picks 10,000 locks every day is an outlier adn should not have been counted.
The ridiculous nature of the arrests and the 'show' trials are stuff of nightmares from repressive governments' histories, and we're experiencing them here in 2026, in the UK. Truly maddening.
This can't bode well for Labour in the next election and for the next decade.
Lawyers being charged for the crime of 'telling what the law is' in court is just horrendous. https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/kafkaesque-lawyers-rally-to-defence-of-silk-cited-for-contempt/5127485.article
My example above has given me a visual.
Imagine the famous trolley car meme. Now, the straight track has a hundred of people tied to the track. And the alternate track has no one, just a sign saying "make a bit less money". And the person at the switch is scratching their head.
This could be for #AI , #ClimateChange or lots of topics.
When I was small, I thought the UK & British Isles would be better if it was 1000 miles further south for the Mediterranean climate. And with half the population so there was more space, like France.
We got the Mediterranean climate. Now how do we degrow the population and economy to half it's size? While still increasing the standard of living. And over what timescale?
A modest proposal.
Code Black for water shortage in the Delft region of the Netherlands! No use of surface water (canals, lakes) allowed anymore. Water managers fear intrusion of salty seawater, as damage to dikes due to low water levels needs to be prevented.
https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/08/04/vanwege-de-droogte-voor-het-eerst-de-sluizen-dicht-in-het-waterrijke-westen-het-is-code-zwart-vanaf-middernacht-is-water-onttrekken-verboden-a4933840?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=clipboard&utm_campaign=share&utm_term=share-modal&gift_token=4933840%7E1786478392%7EtrOzbjrSRpSn70EyY_7u2A%7EnhG6LFx7Bj3RFKgfe6OxLm1j56bE028Z98Dhtz9EqBo
'We’re also seeing the slow disappearance of the Danube’s fishers, all but gone from a river that has fed them since at least 300BC.'
'The people who knew the river best were gone, as the water went with them.'
---------
@stevewfolds I’m at around 24%, but median rent in my neighborhood is almost exactly 50% more than what I pay. So basically, this place is not great, but I can’t move at least unless they raise my rent by a lot.
People used to pay less for other things too (like healthcare), so if they’re up to 50% in rent they must be in an awful spot overall.
“You’re listening to SLICK 92 FM, Bismarck’s home of fresh oil and loose rock. [SFX: Two thick glugs] Now here’s another ad-free hour of music with Little Feet, Dire Straits, Tedeschi Trucks Band and more.”
@stevewfolds @Em0nM4stodon I heard the rule was 30%. I am above 50%. I refuse to unlearn the rule I cannot follow, cause the market would prefer 200%.