MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! From Heather Cox Richardson today:

It looks as if Trump’s war on Iran has cost the U.S. the lives of thirteen service members, injuries to 400 more, and at least $132 billion so far in immediate costs, lost income, and higher consumer costs, only to leave the U.S. in a significantly worse place with regard to Iran than before Trump started bombing. 

The costs to the world have been significantly higher in terms both of lives—beginning with more than 175 Iranian schoolchildren and their teachers—and of economies.

Here’s a nice summary of Mr. Art of the Deal’s Memorandum of Understanding Memorandum of Fucking Surrender.

Well done. Plus, so much winning even beyond Iran!

Trump Administration to Pay $765 Million to Cancel 4 More Wind Projects  

Reflecting Pool algae blooms have roared back, reaching highest levels in years 

Republicans fear Trump is hurting their chances.  He can’t understand why. 

Seems clear to me that Convict Donny is spiraling down the drain. Even his cult members can see the decline and the dementia. The incompetence. The only real question is does it come to a head before or after he’s completely ruined the US.

The article about the Feds paying companies to stop wind farm developments is particularly galling. Because Trump has some weird phobia about wind farms, he’s spending our tax dollars to stop them. Sure, I’d go all NIMBY if there was one planned for my neighborhood, but farms in the god-forsaken TX panhandle, or atop some uninhabited mountain ridge…let them be. It’s mostly free energy. But spending our money just to buy the investors out – that’s criminal. I’m sure at this moment multiple VCs are spinning up new wind farm developments, anticipating they’ll get a zero risk buyout from the US government.

On more esoteric subjects, I’m spending some time trying to grok both sides of the AI argument by reading the incredibly verbose advocates of each side:

Argument A – AI is economically unfeasible and is a dead end, supporting only Capex-focused investors.

Argument B – We’re already in The Singularity, and AGI (artificial general intelligence) and ASI (artificial super intelligence) are just around the corner. AGI and ASI will transform the world.

Proponents of each are quite persuasive. It’s also possible that both extremes are true. This is turning out to be a very, very interesting period for tech and society. I keep wishing I hadn’t checked out of professional life.

Now, off to work. Gotta clear leaves off the driveway and fix some of the window smears our window cleaners left yesterday. Nothin’ but fun.