The unimportant news thread

[Todd]

Deep Rifts at UN Loss and Damage Talks Cast a Shadow on Upcoming Climate Conference

Developing countries oppose the U.S.-led plan for the World Bank to host the new climate fund, and question the credibility of developed countries that have failed to deliver on other climate promises.

Loss and damage includes impacts like the permanent loss of lands and homes to sea level rise, the costs of rebuilding infrastructure damaged by flooding and the loss of revenue from agricultural crops destroyed due to drought. Globally, climate economists say the measurable annual cost to developing nations will reach an estimated $400 billion by 2030, and soar above $1 trillion by 2050.

I obviously can't speak for anyone else, but I have the utmost faith that the UN will get this mess all sorted and that the governments of advanced economies will cheerfully fork over tons of lucre to aid their poorer brethren.  If history has taught us anything, it is that large political entities act with kindness, amity, and an unfailing generosity of spirit.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Workers with in-office jobs spend about $31/day that they wouldn't working from home.


https://moneywise.com/employment/americans-spend-51-dollars-a-day-when-they-work-at-the-office-heres-what-employers-need-to-change?utm_source=syn_oath_mon&utm_medium=C&utm_campaign=35306&utm_content=oath_mon_35306_spend+about+%2431+more

[Todd]

From Reuters: This year 'virtually certain' to be warmest in 125,000 years, EU scientists say

Fortunately, consumers in high income economies avoid unnecessary consumption and the world has aggressively cut back on aggregate greenhouse gas emissions for the last several decades, so this should be a blip, never to occur again.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Figure on Led Zeppelin IV cover identified as Victorian Wiltshire thatcher.


https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/08/led-zeppelin-iv-cover-photo-revealed-victorian-wiltshire-thatcher?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Only 8% of the millionaires in the USA consider themselves as wealthy.


https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/10/survey-31percent-of-millionaires-say-they-are-part-of-the-middle-class.html

[Todd]

From ICN: Planned Fossil Fuel Production Vastly Exceeds the World's Climate Goals, 'Throwing Humanity's Future Into Question'

Among the 20 top fossil fuel-producing countries, the U.S., Brazil and Saudi Arabia foresee significant increases in domestic oil production, while Russia, India and Indonesia all project substantial increases in coal.

Inger Andersen, the executive director of U.N. Environment Program, said in a statement accompanying the report that "governments' plans to expand fossil fuel production are undermining the energy transition needed to achieve net-zero emissions, throwing humanity's future into question."

Cited in the ICN piece, and directly from the IMF: Fossil Fuel Subsidies Surged to Record $7 Trillion

[drogulus]

    Stocks won't go much higher next year, Wall Street bear predicts


    First.....hahahaha, he's, like, a bear, OK?

    Second....a word of warning. This does not mean stocks will go up.

[BWV 1080]

Today was declared 'Original Ninfa's Day' in Houston, celebrating Mama Ninfa and the birthplace of fajitas

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture/restaurants-bars/article/original-ninfas-day-50-anniversary-tex-mex-18487955.php#:~:text=The%20city%20of%20Houston%20declared,its%2050th%20anniversary%20this%20year.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Credit card debt soars in the USA.


https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/09/average-credit-card-balances-top-6000-a-10-year-high.html

[Todd]

From AP: Fiery right-wing populist Javier Milei wins Argentina's presidency amid discontent over economy

I admit I don't follow Argentinian politics, but here are some other headline descriptions of the election:

WSJ: "Javier Milei, a Self-Described Anarcho-Capitalist, Is Elected President of Argentina"

FT: "Radical libertarian Javier Milei elected president of Argentina"

NPR: "Javier Milei, a radical libertarian populist, elected president of Argentina"

NBC New York: "Self-described anarcho-capitalist appears to win Argentina's presidential election"


Hmm.  I have doubts that the corporate press is reporting in a dispassionate way.  If anyone here is a published authority on Argentinian politics, I should like to know more.  In the meantime, I am modestly happy that an Anarcho-Capitalist now leads a lesser power. 

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Former US President Donald Trump congratulated Mr Milei on his victory, saying he would "Make Argentina Great Again!".

[JBS]

From AP: Fiery right-wing populist Javier Milei wins Argentina's presidency amid discontent over economy

I admit I don't follow Argentinian politics, but here are some other headline descriptions of the election:

WSJ: "Javier Milei, a Self-Described Anarcho-Capitalist, Is Elected President of Argentina"

FT: "Radical libertarian Javier Milei elected president of Argentina"

NPR: "Javier Milei, a radical libertarian populist, elected president of Argentina"

NBC New York: "Self-described anarcho-capitalist appears to win Argentina's presidential election"


Hmm.  I have doubts that the corporate press is reporting in a dispassionate way.  If anyone here is a published authority on Argentinian politics, I should like to know more.  In the meantime, I am modestly happy that an Anarcho-Capitalist now leads a lesser power. 

The one factoid I know about him is that he admires Margaret Thatcher.

I guess La Guerra de Las Malvinas will now become el malestar previo.

[Todd]

It looks like Milei digs the 70s:

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

OpenAI Staff Threaten to Quit Unless Board Resigns.


https://www.wired.com/story/openai-staff-walk-protest-sam-altman/

[Karl Henning]

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Americans ditched big cities during the pandemic. Now many are regretting it.


https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-regretting-moves-from-city-to-suburbs-housing-crisis-millennials-2023-11

[drogulus]

Credit card debt soars in the USA.


https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/09/average-credit-card-balances-top-6000-a-10-year-high.html

    I just got an AMEX card. I got a mailing with an offer, something I usually tear up. This time I applied online and was approved, got the card in the mail and lived happily ever after so far.

    Now I have 3 cards. One is for monthly expenses and is paid immediately every month, another is for larger stuff like an auto repair or a new toy like maybe a PC or a 12" alnico speaker with 101db/w sensitivity.

    Card III is for I don't know what. Maybe it fits into the last slot in my wallet and that's all.

[Spotted Horses]

Card III is for I don't know what. Maybe it fits into the last slot in my wallet and that's all.

If you don't use it at all they may just cancel it.

[drogulus]

If you don't use it at all they may just cancel it.

     It's OK with me.



     I might buy something. What should I buy?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

It's OK with me.



     I might buy something. What should I buy?

Onsen (waffle) towels.