I'm an environmental economist who researches econ pedagogy to make learning economics marginally less dismal. My pipe-dream is to write a fantasy novel/economics textbook, which is getting closer to reality every day. #economics #TeachEcon #sustainability #DoughnutEconomics #degrowth Profile pic is me smiling in front of a whiteboard with economics gibberish -- cause econ makes me happy. Background is my dog, Freya, who is derpily sticking her tongue out while passed out.
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Published at
2024-05-14T05:17:45+02:00 Event JSON
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Last Notes npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio That's my bad. I could have worded it the other way and said the same thing. (Their headline reported the anti-union sentiment being at an all-time-low. It wouldn't be accurate to say pro-union sentiment is at a high, as it's slightly lower than in 2022.) npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I did not know the Nazi/Stalin connection. Can't say I'm shocked to learn of it though! @npub16k2…244v [@Adam_Cadmon1](https://mastodon.online/@Adam_Cadmon1 ) npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio "Americans should be deeply concerned that Governor Walz, Kamala Harris's vice-presidential running mate, has a longstanding and cozy relationship with China," Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) screams pointing to... school trips to China. Yes, Walz spent a year teaching on China and then organized annual student trips to the country while teaching highschool. How nefarious. https://www.axios.com/2024/08/16/house-republicans-investigate-tim-walz-harris #USPolitics npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I'd challenge the idea it "reinforc[es] the unacceptability of living outside of norms." I think it directly challenges the notions of norms and how they are used to restrict people. Calling them weird puts their awful views of what should be normal into the spotlight. I agree that emotional attacks can backfire. But this feeling of uncomfortableness won't likely work the same way as anger - an emotion they are likely to double down with. Right now, it appears very effective. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Agreed. It's there anything we can do proactively to prevent such blowback? I'm hoping that our appreciation for the goodness of weird will help. It really can only be insulting if you value confirmity, after all. Maybe talking up that aspect here can help us stay proud of our weirdness even as we use the word to insult those less comfortable with being unique? npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Admitting a mistake. I got weird about using "weird" as an insult to the right. It still leaves me a tad uncomfortable and think there are downsides we should recognize. But holy hell does it seem to be effective. For those, like me, who are initially opposed to using the word, I think it's time to reconsider. Cause the benefits of putting the fascists, the rapists, the creeps, the GOP on a back foot far outweigh the costs of our discomforture. Republicans are weird. #VoteBlue #USPolitics npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio A graph that should be headline news everywhere. #ClimateChange https://www.axios.com/2024/07/23/earth-hottest-day-record-set https://objstorage.f7it.net/masto1/media_attachments/files/112/841/500/686/645/745/original/969dc54279e8f27f.png npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio All y'all thinking Americans will vote for Harris are delusional. Do you even know that she eats on her pizza?? "The Vice President's pizza came with anchovies, her go-to topping." -Axios That's a deal-breaker if I've ever seen one. (By that I mean I'm super stoked on #Harris2024 and hope I don't hear other silly reasons not to support her to defeat the party of fascist misogynistic rapists.) #USPolitics #USPol npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Ooo, I hd not heard of Rivers of London, but it looks right up my alley. I'll check it out! Martha Wells is also one of my comfort reads too. I hesitate to compare Monk and Robot to Murderbot Diaries - they are just such very different takes on robot human interactions as well as general feel - but that was the last series I've read that brought me this much enjoyment. I too initially struggled with a they/them POV character. A good struggle I think more should take on though! npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Just finished A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers which deserves a solid 10/10. It truly is a book "for anyone who could use a break." It's a soft #SciFi novella (4 hour audiobook) that is just a joy to read. I've been in a rut recently, and this book helped/is helping inspire me to dig myself out of it. Could not recommend more. (Also I just discovered it's the first in a series. Extra win!) #AmReading https://objstorage.f7it.net/masto1/media_attachments/files/112/768/107/769/678/242/original/4a45f36e4cac13e2.png npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Agreed. That's one reason why Democrats are at such a disadvantage these days. It's so hard to put the gains into easily-digestible sound bites (which the right is genuinely good at, assuming one is not a stickler for truth/accuracy). In general, it's just so hard to get the message out about how/where government is (quietly) working. It's much easier to scream loudly about where it is not working - or not perceived to be working by some, at least. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Always assume plotting a murder. It may not always be most realistic, but it's safest. And it keeps life exciting. I don't let my wife keep cherry pits or appleseeds for this very reason. (And yes, it has come up in conversation. Multiple times. She claims it would 'just be cool to distill poison from plants' but, as I said, it's safer to assume nefarious intent.) npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio You've got a lot of recovering to do in the UK. I'm hopeful that this election is a sign y'all are moving in the right direction (aka away from the right). But you are very right in being skeptical until we see what actually happens. My hope is that this is the beginning of a trend that will keep pushing Starmer and the country left. We shall have to wait and see. @npub15sd…vzgh npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio "Free markets ensure resources are put to the best use for society, that is to say resources are allocated efficiently." This common #economics refrain is bullshit. Take the life sustaining climate with its infinite value - seriously, consider how many trillions we are spending to try to get a handful of people to live on Mars, then realize how dependent they would still be on Earth - that markets value at next to nothing. This is sufficient to know #neoliberalism is dead wrong. #TeachEcon npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Good to give credit where it is due. Happy Friday to you as well. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Haha good advice for sure :) npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Agreed. I wouldn't challenge the assertion that the US (or even Biden) are enabling and funding genocide. I agree that the organizations I'd most trust to make the call of if Israel is committing genocide have all but said that's happening. It's also clear that what is happening in Gaza couldn't happen without US munitions. I think that language is much better to help people on the fence to support US divestment from Israel by being less divisive. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Happy 4th! Though, I'm genuinely not sure what we are supposed to be celebrating today. A SCOTUS imposed return to monarchy? Rampant imperialism? Scaring (and maybe scarring) innocent puppies with loud noises? Something, something 'Murica? Whatever it is we're celebrating, I'm confident this American flag wrapped Cybertruck captures the essence of it. https://objstorage.f7it.net/masto1/media_attachments/files/112/730/338/974/388/375/original/961a4eb5277365d8.png npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I don't disagree with the logic that switching from Biden is a bad move right now, but I think if/how we go about discussing it can be divisive. Challenging people who suggest we should do that and emphasizing how it is bad strategy may be desirable. But I'd like us to move away from language that attacks people who hold that view. I want to frame the discussion in a way that would make it easiest for them to change their mind. That is the focusing on cohesion I have in mind. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I agree with all of that except I'd challenge the claim that it's 'insane people are thinking of dumping Biden' here. I get where these folks are coming from. There are legitimate worries and I don't want to vilify people for having that reaction, in any way. But for those who hold that view, I hope they will stop making it harder for Biden to get elected - it's bad strategy. And, if Biden drops out for any reason, I hope his camp rallies hard to whomever takes the helm. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Defeating Trump (and project 2025 and rising fascism more broadly) is necessary, but not sufficient, to make progress on the many things we care about. In order to achieve any of the goals we value, the left needs to coalesce and work together, perhaps for the first time in US history. We need to build bridges, not sow division. To start, let's all agree to vote for whoever the Democrats put forward (which is out of our hands) and stop fighting about who may be slightly better. #USPolitics npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I recently won a $400 Euro prize for my first short story. I am pretty sure that officially makes me a professional author with a teaching side hustle. I write #fantasy / #SciFi with an emphasis on teaching #economics and you can find my story here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IGVtd_SQznd2fJkI5JgwBQPdO8mMnMgW66yNZJlfQsI/edit As a "professional" I think it's time I got involved in a writing group, anyone here interested in forming one? #AmWriting #Writing #WritingCommunity npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Just in case there was any question that "Biden's age" is a dog whistle "Kamala's color" for those on the right, the GOP wanted to make it abundantly clear for you. From the Axios article: "A new digital ad by the GOP's House campaign arm features Vice President Harris. Why it matters: Trying to leverage concerns about President Biden's age, Republicans are increasingly pushing the idea that a vote for him is really a vote for his running mate." https://youtu.be/Hx0VztBkJYQ?feature=shared (link to the awful ad) https://objstorage.f7it.net/masto1/media_attachments/files/112/722/487/263/965/536/original/2c0d1db54498e277.png npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Truth. But I didn't want that to catch on too hard. Big Steam will fry the planet to outcompete other energy sources. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Same, same. Keep fighting the good fight. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Advancements in geothermal can bring a boost to #RenewableEnergy. This can help supplement intermittent renewables like solar and wind. "Southern California Edison signed a 15-year purchasing agreement for 320 megawatts of electricity from geothermal wells in Utah. That's enough electricity to power 350,000 homes. It's the largest deal for enhanced geothermal energy in the world so far." 'Green' tech can't save us from #ClimateChange but can be part of a solution. https://www.npr.org/2024/06/30/nx-s1-5021658/geothermal-energy-a-lesser-known-form-of-clean-energy-scored-a-big-win-this-week npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Cheers for the insights! Yeah, I'm concerned about the French elections as well. I am hoping there is a sharp rebuke of the far-right, but that is mostly just wishful thinking without any factual basis for expecting it. Fingers crossed it turns out better than many are fearing :/ npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio As a USAian, I don't pay enough attention to Europe and its #politics (it's a personal falling I'm working on), so I admit I don't have deep insights into this. But this seems bad... "Hungary's populist Orbán to take over EU presidency as many issues hang in the balance" Everything I know about Orbin makes me cringe. Can any of my European peeps help me get a sense of how much the EU presodency matters and how much a populist dictator in that role could fuck things up? https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/hungarys-populist-orbn-eu-presidency-issues-hang-balance-111553638 npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Unsurprisingly, young folks are "relying on the bank of Mom and Dad" more these days. Much of it is due to rent hikes, inflation on necessary goods, and stagnated worker pay (things the article largely omitted). But the rise in discretionary spending on "retail therepy" cannot be ignored. "Increasingly, there are memes like 'retail therapy' or 'little treat culture' equating mental health with impulse spending," which is #consumerism bullshit at it's finest. https://www.axios.com/2024/06/30/vacation-dining-americans-splurge-axios-vibes #ecinomics npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I like @npub1f5n…2tcs's answer. But I think if I had those kind of resources the action I would take would be to also buy a few politicians and get them to push for climate action and, probably just as importantly, institute much more progressive taxes. (Inequality is one of the biggest drivers of climate change.) While I agree individual action is great, I wouldn't want to waste those resources and this seems most direct. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio That makes sense to me. Unless you build in something like fission power - the breakthrough of which always seems to be a few decades away - or space/interplanetary habituation, population decline seems to be a given. Do you often consider it to be smooth and gradual or is there a tipping point that causes a distinct change? For instance, I could see gen Z (or maybe Alpha) who were raised on clinate change fears refusing to procreate en masse. @npub1zpl…sshp npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Yes, that is certainly a crisis of fertility, and one I'm sure not included in the study here about changing demographics either... npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Look, I've heard a lot recently about how dangerous batteries are in water (more dangerous than sharks, I think, if I followed the deranged rambling right) so I wouldn't try that approach. Instead just fund team orca ;) @npub1ekj…wjxt @npub1mvk…8tmn npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Literally one billionaire could fund the caring for all the elderly. It's not about lack of labor so much as society deciding to allocate resources towards where we need it (rather than yachts and trying for a wealthy few to live forever). @npub13p3…s0ff @npub1mvk…8tmn npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Full yes. The largely sustainable economies of Native Americans was taken by military force (much of which was biological warfare) and we, today, largely attribute the success to a "superior" economic system. Not to mention how fundementally connected property rights are to US slavery. We really should question how central property rights are to current economic systems and its role in preserving power dynamics. @npub16ys…d7fj npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I don't know. Obviously one can go overboard with government intervention, but I don't think we are close to that point. Take the healthcare example. The US spends dramatically more on healthcare than anyone else and has some of the worst health outcomes compared to other's wealthy companies. This isn't from too much government, it's from it being a privatized system (particularly insurance) designed to maximize profits, not well-being. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I think where we probably disagree most is how much 'free choice' there is in our system. If folks have the 'choice' to work at their minimum wage job during a pandemic or lose their house, I define that closure to coercion, if not exploitation. Obviously your example is different, but I see most of the world - the poor - as having almost no free choice and, thus, see capitalism as a failure of equity (and also efficiency, but that's a whole other argument unrelated to this post). npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Yeah, or literally kill ourselves during a pandemic 'for the economy.' I would love if everyone could agree that, as you said, the economy is created to serve people, not the other way around. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio No, CNN, there is no "fertility crisis" and, in fact, we should be celebrating that populations will begin falling. Hopefully that happens before the predicted 2064. Changing demographics that will "upend the consumer culture upon which mature economies depend" is a problem of the economic system, not birth rates. Time to move past the Ponzi scheme that relies on ever-increasing growth as the man-made economy is easier to change than biophysical constraints. #degrowth https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/25/investing/premarket-stocks-trading/index.html npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I think it's necessary to keep in mind they did not have a seat at the table when the lines were drawn and very much have grounds to dispute it. But that are undeniably escalating the situation, challenging the established international order in the region. They are challenging the US, and others, for dominance in an increasingly aggressive way, which scares me. Rightly or wrongly, China is seeking to exert more influence in the region and challenging the US and allies for it. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio That's fair, I think it's right to call out the US bias that I am certainly susceptible to. That said, given that an international tribubal in TheHague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China (though stopping short of declaring sovereignty), it is challenging to see China's actions as benign. Have the Philippines also engaged in escalation? Sure. But China is unilaterally declaring it's ownership of the South China Sea and becoming increasingly aggressive on defending it. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio It's an interesting world we live in. And by interesting I mean scary as hell in weird ways. Putin is doing his nuclear saber rattling - which is being echoed by some in NATO - while China is rattling literal sabers in the South China Sea. Ok technically the weapons used to slash the Philippines' rubber boats were "an axe and other bladed or pointed tools." Close enough to literal sabers for me. China is escalating in another conflict to test US response. Scary times. https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/20/asia/philippines-footage-south-china-sea-clash-china-intl-hnk/index.html npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Yeah. I like that an awful lot. Cheers and I'll try to remember to reach out to let you know how it went! npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Most (maybe all?) of the Just Stop Oil distributions have not damaged the art, to my knowledge. I've heard their recent action at Stone Henge could cause damage to rare lychen though. So it seems like, from the guidelines you provided, that would be within the bounds of acceptability? I definitely agree we are heading to a dark-oligarchical place where it is becoming illegal to challenge the wealthy, if we are not already there. Dystopic awfullness abounds. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Very much of interest! Thanks for the insights and recommendation. I like the idea that, even if the different factions aren't directly working together, they are serving their own roles. I would be curious if that book addresses how large each flank should be, ideally. If I'm to choose to ally myself with one camp, which should I choose? Does it depend on the relative sizes of the groups currently? Not expecting answers to those, just questions it brought to mind! @npub1hfw…pfwr npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I like that a lot and will read more into it. As a preview, do they discuss what routes/actions are most persuasive to that largest group? It seems to me, that's really what the question boils down to. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Thanks for the rec! I'll check it out. I really like that take of looking at the end results of protests. While I think there are some casualty issues - can we clearly point to the disruption as what caused it to be successful or are protests where there is more clearly a 'right side' more likely to go violent? Also, I would say the environmental movement has been largely unsuccessful (so far) and has deployed disruptive elements, like Green Peace. Is that a good counterexample? npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Yeah, I think that would be a really interesting direction to take it. Understanding the psychology and sociology of how ideas and sentiments spread through society would be an essential piece to understand the benefits (and the costs, maybe to a lesser extent). npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio So breaking laws is fine and good to advance the cause (in your view). But how do we know it will advance said cause? Does stopping traffic do more harm than good? What about spray painting Stone Henge or gluing oneself to the Mona Lisa? It's only a start to say it's fine to break the law, it doesn't fully answer if and when we should. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio 2/2 I hope to create projects for my upcoming Law and Economics and Environmental Economics courses, and would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about it! I'm liking less for opinions about what is right, and more for ideas on what we would need to know to come to a more informed understanding of the underlying issues. What analysis would you like to see done? Also, any research and examples you wonderful fediverse folks can steer me towards are very appreciated! npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio How disruptive is too disruptive? At what point does activism go against the cause activists are fighting for? Should we break the law to promote what is right? Most of us have opinions and thoughts on this, I know I do. But I can't say I have an informed opinion. I'm eager to discuss how we would answer these and quantify whether the benefits (like raising awareness of issues) outweigh the costs (like turning off people from the cause). #StudentProtests #ClimateChange #JustStopOil 1/2 npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio For instance, my mind goes to looking back at Green Peace - a prime example of a disruptive environmental movement/group. Do we have evidence whether their actions helped or harmed the causes they were fighting for? The only way I'd be interested in this conversation is if we progressed past annecdotes and the 'I thinks' and, ideally, both approached it with humility and a desire to learn the answer, rather than trying to defend the opposing sides we enter from. @npub1jl3…vgvn npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Umm, it's an app. And by that I mean I have no idea whatsoever ;) npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Yeah, that would be an unfortunate casualty. It sounds like what they're using isn't very intense, but I could see it damaging the lichen, especially if they are already struggling with a changing climate. That said, if they are inevitably going to die off due to climate change, losing some earlier is a drop in the bucket. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio #JustStopOil took their activism to Stone Henge, spraying the stones with orange paint - which is cornstarch based and will wash off in the rain. Their goal is to continue to raise awareness, so #ClimateChange doesn't drift to the back of our collective minds. This obviously needs to be coupled with action. But as time to act continues to dwindle, I know I'm becoming more and more supportive of this disruptive behavior. https://abcnews.go.com/International/environmental-protesters-spray-orange-paint-stonehenge/story npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I like that you set your goals with time travel to something reasonable and worthwhile. Kill Hitler or prevent Archduke Ferdinand's assassination? Nah, let's tweak a popular movie to see what happens ;) npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Now I'm picturing a theater errupting in laughter as Wilson floats away. I will not forgive you for this. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Water wars are a real and growing danger. I'm actually surprised more cross-border conflicts haven't erupted over fresh water yet. But they are brewing... npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Anyone taking bets on how long until the GOP changes it's platform to include something like "North Korea is great, very good people there, been our allys very long time." https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/19/asia/north-korea-russia-putin-visit-thursday-intl-hnk/index.html npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Are you making the argument that it's not *just* education and that the US is becoming more segregated, more broadly? If so, I definitely agree and that is a large part of what's driving this trend. That said, the push for charter schools - what I saw referred to here recently as "segregation academies" - is also helping drive it. Both routes still produce two-tiered system where wealthier, prodemenantly white kids have access to better education. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segregation_academy npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Haha so it's both "obviosly bad" and I'd also need to spend $40 an hour for you to teach me what is obvious? Take care and I won't miss your less-than-stimulating conversation. @npub1thv…jkz4 @npub1akj…7u7q npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio My father in law is a climate change denier and also a quant in the finance sector. I think the insurance industry is the only avenue to convince him that it's happening and that we are already seeing the effects. So far, it has been less than successful, but I have hope. The more articles like this, the greater the chances of success. @npub1k8l…rpdx npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I agree. But I'm not sure they thought it was worth doing. It hasn't even been two years since it stopped being a constitutional right, after all. Not sure they had time or even the numbers to pass out before the 2022 elections. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio A bill to enshrine a federal right to abortion is in the works. "The floor action sets up the third vote this month on protecting women’s access to reproductive health care, following votes on the Right to Contraception Act and the Right to IVF Act. Republicans blocked both measures." Stop claiming democrats prevent progress with the BS "rachet theory". The reason more progress isn't made is because there arn't enough elected folks on the left. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4726213-schumer-bill-right-to-abortion/ #USPolitics #VoteBlue npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I sure hope so. But there is still pretty good odds Trump backs out of the dabates in the last minute. Even better odds that there is literally nothing he can do or say to sway his voters away, so even a catostrophic debate blunder results in only a blip in the odds of him being elected. Again, I truly hope you are right, but I'm not taking it for granted. @npub1ym8…0kz7 npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Last year's historic decline in crime is continuing. I wish more people knew it... "New data released this week by the FBI reveals that both violent crime and property crime have dropped precipitously this year. The data, which is subject to revision, compares crime in the first quarter of 2024 with crime in the first quarter of 2023. It shows substantial drops in every category, including murder (-26.4%), rape (-25.7%), robbery (-17.8%), and property crime (-15.1%)." https://popular.info/p/the-most-important-crime-statistics npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Much appreciated. I'm not sure if there is anything to do but let the emotions run their course and think on the feels. Will let you know if I think of anything though. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I don't usually post this kind of thing, but it's been a weekend of complicated feels. A close friend just realized she is gay. I'm thrilled for her discovering her truth, but grieve for her marriage to a loving husband. My uncle (60) took a fall and hit his head yesterday. He's unresponsive and they'll likely pull the plug today, father's day. My two cousins are devastated. I'm not sure how I feel as I haven't talked to him since he went full MAGA in 2016. Lots of emotions I'm figuring out. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio "Like everyone, you think you are rational, but you are not. Rationality is not a power you are born with but one you acquire through training and practice." - Robert Greene in The Laws of Human Nature npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio That's a good question. I think I see some similarities here, but open to other suggestions. I am not sure if it is a perfect analogy, but sometimes models break down when taken too far. Though I don't think we have reached that point yet ;) @npub15lm…llkx https://objstorage.f7it.net/masto1/media_attachments/files/112/616/046/702/555/171/original/428dad1e98baca74.png npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Standardization?? That would go against free markets and competition, the horror! I genuinely didn't know about France's approach and will look more into it. Thanks for the insightful comment. @npub1mxw…n7uy npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Let's see... cruel for the sake of cruelty? Check. Throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way? Check. Utterly despises the poor? Check. ... Yeah that checks out! @npub1uk7…7mx4 npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Agreed, I think the allegory was meant as climate change. But the immediate nature of the threat makes it a better fit, perhaps, to rising tide of right-wing fascism. Which, in a lot of ways, is the same fight. The only way to make progress on climate change is to prevent the climate change deniers of the far-right from gaining power. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Remember when you were reading A Song of Ice and Fire (or watching Game of Thrones, for the plebians here) the anger you felt as the Great Houses of Westeros fought amongst themselves, ignoring the growing White Walker threat? Great, now replace "walker" with "supremacist" and reflect on your actions today. If your actions are not geared mostly to fighting the possibly world-ending threat (and I don't think that's hyperbolic), now would be a great time to recalibrate. #Politics #Fantasy npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Not even economists agree on what is meant by "capitalism" so you are in fine company haha. We can certainly have a system that relies on markets - one fundemental aspect of capitalism - and I can't imagine a system that would be better than one with regulated markets. And I don't necessarily see breakdown as necessary to transition away from capitalism (or whatever our current system is). I also hope for a smoother, just transition to something better @npub1gg4…euuk npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I'm struggling to find good writing advice that fits my personal style. I'm not really a plotter nor discovery writer. Anyone know of a good writing advice book or blog or whatnot from a successful writer who bounces around between ideas, sections and projects and struggles with deep fears of completing anything? That seems to be more my style and I'm looking for a mentor in it. #AmWriting npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I mostly agree. Though once private ownership of capital is capped, I'm not sure it would be "capitalism" anymore. Regardless of what it's called, I cannot see a system that exalts in, and depends upon, unending growth to be viable. This core aspect of capitalism needs to be excised to have any chance of sustainability. I think that goes beyond the regulated-capitalism you describe, though it would definitely be a major improvement to what we have now. #degrowth @npub1gg4…euuk npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Truth. Though the bubble isn't quite as drastic as Truthsocial, Tesla does produce things of at least minimal value, after all. But I agree it's share price is as inflated as Musk's ego, and intimately connected to it. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I haven't been able to find as much on specific technologies and direct impact on ecological pressures. Most of the research seems to focus on energy use, which is impacted by technology and a decent proxy for ecological pressures. That said, I don't think it fully addresses your questions and definitely does not get down to the micro-scale you are most interested in. Alas. And yeah, now just to find time to read and internalize all of that info! npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Ok, finally circled back around to this! Here are some sources that I think relate https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/20/13566 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378020307512 - This one is global, not micro, but may have some good insights. I like the line "But ‘sufficiency’ is far more materially generous than many opponents often assume." https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-019-0497-9 - This one I like the case studies it chose: India, South Africa, and Brazil to get real-world examples of energy requirements in different systems. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio It's always nice getting a little good news in the feeds :) npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Judges: the largest and most lingering impact of elections, few deign to notice. I think the tide is changing on that. I hope it is. But this is still the first post I've seen directly make the connection to who appointed the judge who overturned this horrific law. I appreciate you continuing to hammer the point home that judges matter, and we (indirectly) choose them. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio While bridges may be banned from being lit in rainbows for 'freedom month' in Florida - what the remaining 49 US states rightly call #PrideMonth - there are still things to celebrate there today! "Florida's gender-affirming care restrictions are unconstitutional" "The bottom line: Tuesday's ruling permanently blocks enforcement and applies to all transgender Floridians." Happy #Pride everyone! https://www.axios.com/2024/06/11/florida-ruling-gender-affirming-care-unconstitutional npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I know that's common knowledge in the circles we run in. But damn I wish that was more widely known. Profits over people is not a recipe to benefit common people. Yet many (most?) have been brainwashed into believing it leads to the best outcomes. @npub1a6c…mqgc npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I was thinking something more like Ai.Robot but yes, an image in that vein is certainly what comes to mind. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio That's becoming the smarter move by the minute.. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Good thing we don't need to pay people to even be visually literate, much less artistic. Amiright? God I hate AI so much. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Same. I don't think I even noticed how bad the illustration was, but you are spot on calling it out as AI generated. It really is the worst possible timeline... npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio For all that is holy, this is wholly terrifying. Apple "envisions a future where a ubiquitous AI system that knows all about you can use that knowledge to surface the right information and take action on your behalf" ... or, far more likely, on behalf of whomever controls said AI. Seriously, how much convenience do people think they'll gain that it outweighs the potentially horrifying reductions in privacy and control (all of which is in addition to huge energy use). https://www.axios.com/2024/06/11/apple-ai-iphone-moment npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I'm still hoping the Lincoln-Project-Republicans come out of the woodwork this election and vote like they know democracy is at stake. Not expecting, but hoping. Fingers crossed. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Colorado has been trying this weird thing since 2017 - give unhoused people homes. Intuitively, "giving people who are homeless a place to live, no strings attached, not only changes their lives but can save public money." Two more housing complexes are being built (one opening next week) using this successful template, adding 100 units. Mental health services, peer support specialists and case managers will be available to residents but not required. https://coloradosun.com/2024/06/05/housing-homelessness-mental-health/ #homlessness npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Agreed. I still haven't figured out what useful skills MBA programs teach, but have no difficulty pointing to swaths of harmful, lasting impacts. @npub1a6c…mqgc npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio It all starts somewhere. I like this idea! Think about how much sleeker other options would look in comparison. Companies would have more freedom to advertise and design their non-plastic bottles. And there are many goods that already have glass alternatives. Go down the isles of a grocery store and there are often (more expensive) glass options for most goods stored in plastic. A little nudge towards those wouldn't hurt. @npub1a6c…mqgc npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio It's 'fun' to see that almost every bad outcome we are experiencing was thoroughly discussed in board rooms first. And that profit was a good enough reason to make the world worse. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I'd take the over on 40 years, and wager a sizable sum. It may be closer to dealing a blow wthe US never recovers from. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I get that. It makes it much harder when people on here react so intensely, seemingly at random. I have had a hard time calibrating and don't even have autism to point to. I'd encourage you to remember that when people on here flip out when you are trying your best, it probably says more about them than you. Obviously keep reflecting on if there are things to learn how you can improve in communicating, but, like that convo, even when you communicate well shit still happens. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio Yes. Fully agreed on that. We shouldn't be stooping to those levels. It just makes us look bad. @npub1ywm…qdga npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio And I definitely am not arguing against how you choose to defend yourself from attacks, MJ (nor anyone else). I don't have nearly the experience of being attacked on here, and come from far too high a place of privilege to have any input on if/how/when it is appropriate to swear at folks in such situatios. So my comment(s) definitely should not be interpreted in those contexts, and were not intended to be. I appreciate you bringing that up to give me a chance to clarify! @npub1ywm…qdga npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio You both bring up good points. I'm not sure I'd call "racist" namecalling, and maybe not even "asshole" . Calling out someone for racism is more a statement of fact, in my mind. Calling out negative, harmful behavior is different than using the trendy name calling that I see as always harmful. "Eloon" or "Genocide Joe" or the like are names that are intended to insult supporters of the person as much as the person themselves and always detract from the conversation, imo. npub165ct04kdzaq7wtqsqthqawk5cygyamgfusv0m4mr2tusqhm4v88q9ltdlq Kyle Montanio I like that approach; I try for similar. The name calling, especially, is something I'd like to see people move away from. Even with characters we all largely despise, like Trump, I just don't see the use in calling names. It gets far worse when we do it to each other. It just makes it so much harder to find the things we agree upon or even the roots of where we differ. @npub1ywm…qdga