Off topic galore

[BrownOuttaSpec]

Stuck behind paywall. Any TL/DR available...

ChatGPT made this summary:
Drug use is rampant in the Los Angeles Metro system, with 22 deaths since January, mainly due to suspected overdoses. Serious crimes such as robbery, rape, and aggravated assault also increased 24% in 2022 compared to the previous year. Matthew Morales, who boarded the Metro Red Line at MacArthur Park, overdosed on fentanyl on a Tuesday afternoon in March. Commuters have abandoned the Metro train system due to the presence of drug users and homeless people. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported that between November and January, there were 26 medical emergencies, the majority of them suspected drug overdoses. The station sits next to an open-air drug market, and gangs control the area, with many vendors on the sidewalks part of the larger drug economy. Social justice advocates argue for less policing on the system, while the transit agency's head of security is asking the board to expand the agency's transit officers. The transit officials committed $122 million over the last year, placing 300 unarmed "ambassadors" to report crimes and help passengers.

 

[Krugerrand]

Traveling. Typing on iPhone. Tired. Old and Irritated. Coping with old clients asking about things they should have done last year. Bad typist.

You need a vacation. Just not on my mountain.

 

[Krugerrand]

I feel stupid... but I want this. Our mountain bike club has a brand they bust out for special events like tools, shoes, passed out drunks...

I need it for my mountain cattle.

 

[bkp_duke]

ChatGPT made this summary:
Drug use is rampant in the Los Angeles Metro system, with 22 deaths since January, mainly due to suspected overdoses. Serious crimes such as robbery, rape, and aggravated assault also increased 24% in 2022 compared to the previous year. Matthew Morales, who boarded the Metro Red Line at MacArthur Park, overdosed on fentanyl on a Tuesday afternoon in March. Commuters have abandoned the Metro train system due to the presence of drug users and homeless people. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported that between November and January, there were 26 medical emergencies, the majority of them suspected drug overdoses. The station sits next to an open-air drug market, and gangs control the area, with many vendors on the sidewalks part of the larger drug economy. Social justice advocates argue for less policing on the system, while the transit agency's head of security is asking the board to expand the agency's transit officers. The transit officials committed $122 million over the last year, placing 300 unarmed "ambassadors" to report crimes and help passengers.

300 unarmed "ambassadors"

To LA I would simply say this:

 

[MC3OZ]

I need it for my mountain cattle.

So being passed out drunk on your mountain is safe?

 

[Krugerrand]

So being passed out drunk on your mountain is safe?

Depends.

 

[2daMoon]

Depends.

I can see how that could offer a safe advantage when passed out drunk on one's mountain.

 

[TN Mtn Man]

ChatGPT made this summary:
Drug use is rampant in the Los Angeles Metro system, with 22 deaths since January, mainly due to suspected overdoses. Serious crimes such as robbery, rape, and aggravated assault also increased 24% in 2022 compared to the previous year. Matthew Morales, who boarded the Metro Red Line at MacArthur Park, overdosed on fentanyl on a Tuesday afternoon in March. Commuters have abandoned the Metro train system due to the presence of drug users and homeless people. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported that between November and January, there were 26 medical emergencies, the majority of them suspected drug overdoses. The station sits next to an open-air drug market, and gangs control the area, with many vendors on the sidewalks part of the larger drug economy. Social justice advocates argue for less policing on the system, while the transit agency's head of security is asking the board to expand the agency's transit officers. The transit officials committed $122 million over the last year, placing 300 unarmed "ambassadors" to report crimes and help passengers.

How do I say this nicely?? Given the crime on the Metro system, just how ******* stupid do you have to be to advocate for less policing?

 

[TN Mtn Man]

I need it for my mountain cattle.

Are those the ones with shorter legs for the uphill side?

 

[bkp_duke]

How do I say this nicely?? Given the crime on the Metro system, just how ******* stupid do you have to be to advocate for less policing?

It's LA. If you haven't been there . . . they are "special" stupid.

 

[unk45]

You need a vacation. Just not on my mountain.

On one now on my island.

 

[Unpilot]

Surprising that this is coming from the forward-thinking state of Mississippi.

Mississippi ranks the second-worst state in the country according to the U.S. & World News report. The state has been in the bottom of rankings since 2017 due to low levels of healthcare access, poor health outcomes, high poverty rates, and an educational system in crisis. Nearly a fifth of residents have no access to healthcare. Meanwhile, the state has the nation's highest prevalence of obesity, at 38.7%. Per capita income is the country's lowest, at $25,300 a year.

Edit source: Quality of Life by State 2023

 

[M|S|M MYP]

Mississippi ranks the second-worst state in the country according to the U.S. & World News report. The state has been in the bottom of rankings since 2017 due to low levels of healthcare access, poor health outcomes, high poverty rates, and an educational system in crisis. Nearly a fifth of residents have no access to healthcare. Meanwhile, the state has the nation's highest prevalence of obesity, at 38.7%. Per capita income is the country's lowest, at $25,300 a year.

Edit source: Quality of Life by State 2023

Doesn't help when local heroes like Brett Favre 'allegedly' is linked to a welfare scandal involving the misappropriation of roughly $77 million. Way to give back to your community.

 

[2daMoon]

Elon is a man of basic principles that are easy for any thinking person to find acceptable.

He eschews subtle attempts at manipulation under the guises of being "Woke" or "Politically Correct" and has no qualms with calling those out who try to bully others into following any narrative with a purpose that smells of being nefarious.

He is humble, and finds it easy to admit his faults and mistakes rather than try to paint them in a different light. He has also shown repeated examples of a motivation to make amends.

Elon often shows generosity and a willingness to help others when he sees a need.

Elon embraces life with a sense of humor that accepts the irony it delivers without becoming upset or depressed about it. Rather, he seems to find motivation in adversity and continuously strives toward making the world a better place for all.

This mindset of his is not appreciated by many. Particularly, those whose own efforts are more about making things better for themselves through coercion, manipulation, and strong-arm tactics. Elon is quick to reveal such attempts and point out bullies for who they are, exposing them and their tactics. While, in doing so, teaching anyone paying attention how to more easily identify the deployment of such methods.

The world needs more people like Elon. People who will call a shovel a shovel, and if it is full of BS, will use that as fertilizer to transform the world into something more beneficial to those who live here.

His is but one example after another of how to use first principles in order to apply oneself in a way that is most likely to net the best outcome. If only each one of us could find this level of conviction to consistently filter reality in such a way, the world would transform overnight into something quite a bit more wonderful.

Anyone who cannot appreciate these shining attributes, and model them for themselves, should be easy enough to identify... and to avoid.

 

[JRP3]

He eschews subtle attempts at manipulation under the guises of being "Woke" or "Politically Correct" and has no qualms with calling those out who try to bully others into following any narrative with a purpose that smells of being nefarious.

Nonsense. He's fully fallen under the yoke of extreme insane conspiracy theories, including the false idea that "woke" is the most extreme threat to humanity. That is so far divorced from reality that it's not even in the universe of possibilities. He himself is guilty of spreading large amounts of "BS". He's also quite petty and vindictive, most recently made obvious with his unwarranted attack on a valuable disabled employee of Twitter. Your glorified "version" of Elon is as disconnected from reality as he seems to have become.

 

[2daMoon]

Nonsense. He's fully fallen under the yoke of extreme insane conspiracy theories, including the false idea that "woke" is the most extreme threat to humanity. That is so far divorced from reality that it's not even in the universe of possibilities. He himself is guilty of spreading large amounts of "BS". He's also quite petty and vindictive, most recently made obvious with his unwarranted attack on a valuable disabled employee of Twitter. Your glorified "version" of Elon is as disconnected from reality as he seems to have become.

Thank you for volunteering to exemplify the traits of those whose Elon's actions encourage us to avoid.

Edit: for clarity

 

[JRP3]

Thank you for volunteering to be an example of whom to avoid.

Indeed, avoid people such as myself if you wish to cling to your distorted view of reality.

 

[2daMoon]

Indeed, avoid people such as myself if you wish to cling to your distorted view of reality.

Some people believe their view of reality is "right" and, because of that, also believe everyone who disagrees is wrong.

Others realize how EVERY "view of reality" will be "distorted" by the filters each individual has created to perceive reality through.

Some apply themselves to adjust their filters as they go, knowing it is impossible to perceive all of reality.

Others feel more comfortable holding their perspective static, and defending their never-changing view while fully immersed in the very dynamic landscape reality offers.

 

[FireMedic]

Indeed, avoid people such as myself if you wish to cling to your distorted view of reality.

I commend you 2 for disagreeing and debating in a civil manner. Unfortunately too often we see people unwilling to engage people with whom they disagree.

I fall somewhere in between the two opinions shared in this conversation; but I think that this importantly highlights the fact that there can be different views on a subjective topic, such as Elon’s political leanings, and public behavior.

As I’m sure you’re both aware, nobody will win this debate; and as usual I enjoy hearing both sides, whether or not I agree.

 

[JRP3]

Some people believe their view of reality is "right" and, because of that, also believe everyone who disagrees is wrong.

Others realize how EVERY "view of reality" will be "distorted" by the filters each individual has created to perceive reality through.

Some apply themselves to adjust their filters as they go, knowing it is impossible to perceive all of reality.

Others feel more comfortable holding their perspective static, and defending their never-changing view while fully immersed in the very dynamic landscape reality offers.

The difference between us seems to be my willingness to acknowledge Elon's flaws as well as his strengths. Unless you think all of his behavior is ideal and that he has no flaws.