OT: 119th Obsequious Banter Thread: April Foods Day

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

I don't know. 1883, Krakatoa (indonesia) eruption was heard in London. That is pretty Amazing.

The sound waves went around the planet many times if I remember correctly. Also a big earthquake on the New Madrid fault line in the 1880s rang church bells in Boston

 

[Flybynite]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1828892853822538206

Man. Gonna have to start putting all food in a huge ass cauldron and just cook stuff until it all falls apart and turns into gruel.

 

[trostol]

That's what they get for being so damn expensive

 

[VladDrag]

Since we seem to have some Volcano experts here, has there have been any talks/attempts to prevent them from exploding?

I have a project I love where students research natural disasters and try to figure out how to limit their damage. It is the ultimate cross-curricular activity. My favorite for stopping Volcano damage was to "Plug the hole", which is probably just going to make it worse. Most kids focus on how to limit the damage after they go off, such as directing lava low, containing debris with giant nets, and filtering the ash out of the air.

No - not right now.

But somewhat tangential, there’s something called the Kardashev scale that details certain abilities of civilizations. A level 1 civilization can access all energy available on its planet. Which should include preventing earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Kardashev scale - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[swami24]

Some people have way too much time on their hands.

 

[Embiid]

I'm sure they aren't the only ones..

Kroger executive admits company gouged prices above inflation

Kroger's senior director for pricing Andy Groff said the grocery giant had raised prices for eggs and milk beyond inflation levels.

www.newsweek.com

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

I'm sure they aren't the only ones..

Kroger executive admits company gouged prices above inflation

Kroger's senior director for pricing Andy Groff said the grocery giant had raised prices for eggs and milk beyond inflation levels.

www.newsweek.com

But some people want to blame the government.

 

[swami24]

If everyone does it, and the government doesn't step in on the collusion, then they are at fault.

 

[Embiid]

But some people want to blame the government.

If tariffs are supercharged like they are being suggested ....it will get even worse for U.S. "consumers"....(check that...citizens)

If everyone does it, and the government doesn't step in on the collusion, then they are at fault.

That is what antitrust is for...and that is how this was discovered. But some like the so-called "free market" of no regulation....

 

[Embiid]

Oh look another ultra religious hypocrite ..

Texas megachurch faces exodus of worshippers after a sex abuse scandal set off a summer of turmoil​

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/29/us/gateway-church-scandal-texas/index.html

 

[trostol]

I'm sure they aren't the only ones..

Kroger executive admits company gouged prices above inflation

Kroger's senior director for pricing Andy Groff said the grocery giant had raised prices for eggs and milk beyond inflation levels.

www.newsweek.com

oh that's lovely to hear as my company is being bought by them lol

 

[Embiid]

oh that's lovely to hear as my company is being bought by them lol

Is that a definite. I thought they were trying to prevent the buy out through anti-trust?

 

[trostol]

Is that a definite. I thought they were trying to prevent the buy out through anti-trust?

There is like 2..3hearings going on atm...but they feel confident that it will go through..I kinda hope so cause they have to run it better than Albertsons does

 

[Flybynite]

If tariffs are supercharged like they are being suggested ....it will get even worse for U.S. "consumers"....(check that...citizens)


That is what antitrust is for...and that is how this was discovered. But some like the so-called "free market" of no regulation....

the free market has always been a myth. It's a changing landscape where a country does need to try to protect itself... but at the same time also recognize the financial penalties that can be placed on its own citizens by wielding tariff's haphazardly.

If you look at China right now they are producing EV with state funding that are being sold for maybe 1/3 to 1/4 of their actual value. If they were allowed to export those vehicles and sell them in the US it would severely undercut anything produced (or partially produced) in the country and sold.

This was pretty common place tactics by US companies in the US market in the 1800s and into the 1900s and why monopoly laws came into place domestically. You had companies willing to undercut and take losses in order to drive competitors out of business and then control the market.

At which point once they controlled the market they could reap the benefits and raise up prices significantly. China wants to do that at a global level.

But where 'haphazardly' comes into play. Saying a policy like "and we'll add 10% tariff to every product from China" is just ridiculous. That's just going to be passed onto US consumers. It's not high enough to change any plans to import those products to the US, it just means they likely get sold at a higher cost while exported. It also does nothing if it's a specific product or material that is being state subsidized and intended to try to disrupt the US market for that product.

 

[Embiid]

the free market has always been a myth. It's a changing landscape where a country does need to try to protect itself... but at the same time also recognize the financial penalties that can be placed on its own citizens by wielding tariff's haphazardly.

If you look at China right now they are producing EV with state funding that are being sold for maybe 1/3 to 1/4 of their actual value. If they were allowed to export those vehicles and sell them in the US it would severely undercut anything produced (or partially produced) in the country and sold.

This was pretty common place tactics by US companies in the US market in the 1800s and into the 1900s and why monopoly laws came into place domestically. You had companies willing to undercut and take losses in order to drive competitors out of business and then control the market.

At which point once they controlled the market they could reap the benefits and raise up prices significantly. China wants to do that at a global level.

But where 'haphazardly' comes into play. Saying a policy like "and we'll add 10% tariff to every product from China" is just ridiculous. That's just going to be passed onto US consumers. It's not high enough to change any plans to import those products to the US, it just means they likely get sold at a higher cost while exported. It also does nothing if it's a specific product or material that is being state subsidized and intended to try to disrupt the US market for that product.

Free market means "free" from regulations and no thought/consideration to the "law of the jungle"...but trickle down zombie economics is still the prevailing orthodoxy in this country and in business schools despite all the historical evidence that it is Ayn Rand and Chicago School inspired trash.

I mean adopting your economics to an egotistical novelist is not the most prudent approach to economics although we know it really only serves narrow interests....hence why it won't go away.

People need to understand that monopolies are actually antithetical to Capitalism. You have schools of thought that twist Adam Smith so cynically.

You need some tariffs and yes targeted but that across the board extremist talk is just foolish even if for public consumption to seem tough on China. Unfortunately, you can't decouple from China with crazy tariffs...you will only invite your own doom and make your economy more of the anticompetitive toll booth economy it already is...

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

Oh look another ultra religious hypocrite ..

Texas megachurch faces exodus of worshippers after a sex abuse scandal set off a summer of turmoil​

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/29/us/gateway-church-scandal-texas/index.html

It’s unbelievable how many people fall for grifters wanting to take their hard earned money.

 

[Rebels57]

Oh look another ultra religious hypocrite ..

Texas megachurch faces exodus of worshippers after a sex abuse scandal set off a summer of turmoil​

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/29/us/gateway-church-scandal-texas/index.html

No one is less Christ-like than these Megachurch Evagelical scumbags. Im surprised they didnt applaud his sexual abuse.

 

[Embiid]

No one is less Christ-like than these Megachurch Evagelical scumbags. Im surprised they didnt applaud his sexual abuse.

 

[Embiid]

This is soooo exciting!

Project Rattlecam | Explore the Secret LIves of Rattlesnakes | Rattlesnake Cam

Join the collaboration between Project Rattlecam, Cal Poly, and Central Coast Snake Services to study and raise awareness about the importance of rattlesnakes in the ecosystem. Discover our mission...

rattlecam.org

 

[Embiid]

A lot of techno babbel but sounds amazing.

6G revolution begins: Researchers achieve record-breaking data speeds

An international team has developed a tiny silicon device that could double the capacity of wireless networks, bringing us closer to the promise of 6G and beyond.

studyfinds.org

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

A lot of techno babbel but sounds amazing.

6G revolution begins: Researchers achieve record-breaking data speeds

An international team has developed a tiny silicon device that could double the capacity of wireless networks, bringing us closer to the promise of 6G and beyond.

studyfinds.org

Oh cool that ought to really rile up the conspiracy theory nutjobs

 

[Tripod]

So yesterday I nearly cut off the entire tip of my left index finger with pruning shears like a jabroni....luckily it was mainly the corner tip and mostly the skin with part of the nail. No bone or other damage but close per the xray. Should regenerate. Have some gnarly bloody pics of the finger but not sure they can be posted? Looks like something out of Halloween. Was bleeding like a mofo and had to go to the Lankenau ER which is always a clown show in the city....

Such a fun experience but luckily ok and not my dominant pimp hand and fingerbang digit

May change my handle name to LittleFinger to challenge @BigToe...
View attachment 903457

Just seeing this now.

As someone who lost a chunk of their tow in a mowing accident, you can certainly grow it back!

Good luck!

 

[Beef Invictus]

Just seeing this now.

As someone who lost a chunk of their tow in a mowing accident, you can certainly grow it back!

Good luck!

 

[Starat327]

Went to the zoo yesterday and I took this just for you, @JojoTheWhale

 

[JojoTheWhale]

Went to the zoo yesterday and I took this just for you, @JojoTheWhale

View attachment 904243

That's the same face I made as I was explaining to my wife that I can't go shopping with her today because college football is back.