The unimportant news thread

[Karl Henning]

Facts matter:

"Prosecutors argued the conduct of Weisselberg and McConney made the company criminally liable. Two Trump Organization entities — the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corp. — were on trial. Both were found guilty on all charges."

Trump Organization convicted in N.Y. criminal tax fraud trial

[Pohjolas Daughter]

"51st seat gives Democrats true majority
Democrats had already clinched control of the Senate, with 50 seats secured last month, which would allow Vice President Kamala Harris to cast the tie-breaking vote as she does now. But winning a 51st seat, thanks to Warnock's victory Tuesday, comes with important benefits for the Democrats running the Senate and for President Joe Biden's administration."  From CNN today.

More here:  https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/07/politics/georgia-senate-runoff-takeaways/index.html

PD

[Todd]

"51st seat gives Democrats true majority
Democrats had already clinched control of the Senate, with 50 seats secured last month, which would allow Vice President Kamala Harris to cast the tie-breaking vote as she does now. But winning a 51st seat, thanks to Warnock's victory Tuesday, comes with important benefits for the Democrats running the Senate and for President Joe Biden's administration."

Let's hope and pray the Democrats kill the legislative filibuster.

[Todd]

San Francisco Says Cops Can't Use Killer Robots After Public Outcry—For Now

Boo for now, with a hopeful future Yay.  Using lethal robots is a real good idea.  Especially if they come equipped with the latest AI.

[Todd]

ECB staff in pay dispute to hold talks about potential strike

Yes, this is real.  ECB staff may strike.  Let that sink in. 

Europeans.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Roger Federer denied access to Wimbledon (Nice interview with Trevor Noah, but if you want to skip right ahead to the story, start at just shy of 11 minutes into it):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6rKB_UxONE

PD

p.s. Very sorry to hear that his knee is still bothering him.    And good luck and happiness to Trevor Noah post-hosting The Daily Show too.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Roger Federer denied access to Wimbledon (Nice interview with Trevor Noah, but if you want to skip right ahead to the story, start at just shy of 11 minutes into it):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6rKB_UxONE

PD

He did get in in the end.  I added this as a more humorous story though I'm rather surprised when Roger  finally says (and I'm quoting from memory) that "I've won this 8 times...I am a member, trust me".  I don't know how things work at Wimbledon in terms of security, but I was left wondering why this guard didn't phone (whatever...contact in some way) a supervisor at the club particularly as he kept saying that he was a member?  But you need to watch it to understand the story.

PD

p.s. Very sorry to hear that his knee is still bothering him.    And good luck and happiness to Trevor Noah post-hosting The Daily Show too.

[Todd]

Vice president of EU parliament suspended amid suspicions Qatar bought influence

What is it with Europeans, corruption, and soccer?  At least sell your soul for oil or derivatives, sheesh.

[Todd]

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried arrested in the Bahamas after U.S. files criminal charges

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Scientists finally know why people get more colds and flu in winter. CNN.


https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/06/health/why-winter-colds-flu-wellness/index.html

[Spotted Horses]

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried arrested in the Bahamas after U.S. files criminal charges

I trust he will be incarcerated for a long, long time.

[Todd]

I trust he will be incarcerated for a long, long time.

He gave ~$44 million to Democrats in 2022 and claims he gave as much to Republicans via dark money.  (OpenSecrets disagrees: https://www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/top-organizations)  That makes him the second largest donor to the Democrats behind Soros and the fourth or fifth largest Republican donor if his claims are true.  Maybe party stalwarts will plead for leniency for him, like Corey Booker did for Elizabeth Holmes, who likewise donated gobs of cash.  Sorry, Spartacus was being a hero trying to protect a pregnant woman.

If it turns out that SBF's friendships were transactional only, he could get a Madoff sentence - unless he has secrets to share.  Like was Zixiao Gary Wang involved with any foreign governments in any way?  Nah.

[Karl Henning]

US scientists announce fusion energy breakthrough

[Karl Henning]

Scientists finally know why people get more colds and flu in winter. CNN.


https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/06/health/why-winter-colds-flu-wellness/index.html

Most interesting. Go, Mass Eye and Ear!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

US scientists announce fusion energy breakthrough

I heard that story this morning.  It's encouraging news but apparently still decades away from really being able to help us energy-wise.

PD

[Spotted Horses]

US scientists announce fusion energy breakthrough

"Break-even" or "ignition" means that the energy released by fusion is equal to or greater than the energy put in. But you have to be careful read how they define the energy they put in. In the case of the National Ignition Facility, they mean the nuclear energy released is greater than the energy in the laser light sent in. But that doesn't mean that they have practically produced energy. Lasers are not 100% efficient. Maybe they put in 1 megajoule, and got out 1.01 megajoule, but that doesn't take into account that they had to use 10 megajoule to produce that laser light.

[Karl Henning]

"Break-even" or "ignition" means that the energy released by fusion is equal to or greater than the energy put in. But you have to be careful read how they define the energy they put in. In the case of the National Ignition Facility, they mean the nuclear energy released is greater than the energy in the laser light sent in. But that doesn't mean that they have practically produced energy. Lasers are not 100% efficient. Maybe they put in 1 megajoule, and got out 1.01 megajoule, but that doesn't take into account that they had to use 10 megajoule to produce that laser light.

It's still just the beginning, of course.

[Karl Henning]

I heard that story this morning.  It's encouraging news but apparently still decades away from really being able to help us energy-wise.

PD

Just so.

[Todd]

"Break-even" or "ignition" means that the energy released by fusion is equal to or greater than the energy put in. But you have to be careful read how they define the energy they put in. In the case of the National Ignition Facility, they mean the nuclear energy released is greater than the energy in the laser light sent in. But that doesn't mean that they have practically produced energy. Lasers are not 100% efficient. Maybe they put in 1 megajoule, and got out 1.01 megajoule, but that doesn't take into account that they had to use 10 megajoule to produce that laser light.

Here's a handy YouTube video that covers this.  It is from last year, when the same team achieved a Q=0.7.  I think it may be wise to be very skeptical of claims made by politicians about nuclear physics and its potential for energy production.  As it is, maybe to 2070s are possible.  Alas, every environmental expert in the entire world has given 2050 as the critical year, the point of no return, the beginning of the end of humanity, and so on.

[Todd]

Historic biodiversity agreement reached at UN conference

30 by 30.