#with no access to true democratic process

[realasslesbian]

Also, I hope Brittany gets off that plane and takes a damn knee on the tarmac just to make all the big mad straight people even madder lmao

[qqueenofhades]

I'm seeing a lot of leftists complain about Biden not being able to do anything and how Republican presidents were able to write executive orders for seemingly whatever they wanted, and I got confused. So i wanted to ask: why does it seem like Republicans can pass whatever they want whenever they want but Democrats can't?

Welp. This is, yet again, another Online Leftist "argument" that isn't correct, doesn't give an accurate view of the situation, and doesn't propose any helpful alternatives. I know that the Republicans can often feel like an overwhelming and unstoppable evil machine, but the truth is that despite the chaos and damage of Trump's four years to American democratic society and sociopolitical norms, he didn't actually pass much legislation -- even with a compliant Republican-controlled Congress from 2016-18. The Republicans didn't even succeed in legislatively repealing the ACA, despite trying zillions of times to do it, and mostly just passed tax cuts for rich people and other bad economic policy, since they could do it with budget reconciliation (the same process that Democrats used to pass the American Rescue Plan with only 50 votes in the Senate and no Republican support). Because budget/financial legislation isn't subject to the filibuster, the Republicans could pass it with the same simple-majority vote. But they didn't really succeed in doing much else.

Next, Trump's most onerous and infamous executive orders -- withdrawing from WHO and the Paris Agreement, the "Muslim Ban," etc etc -- were all in the list of things that Biden reversed on his first day in office. This is why, as myself and others have said, policy based solely on executive orders is never a long-lasting or ideal way to do something, since it's subject to instant repeal if an administration with different ideological priorities happens to succeed you. Besides, this whole "Biden should just executive order everything!!!" demand basically means that he should just... be Trump and try to exercise the presidency like a king? Online Leftists have no patience for or interest in the American democratic legislative process any more than the fascist wingnuts, and while I get the desire for a quick solution, that's still not going to be a magical panacea that fixes everything. It's not an excuse or an escape from having to put in the work.

Right now, Democratic control of Congress is slender and very contingent on whether Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema feel like supporting something in the Senate, and as long as they won't budge on reforming the filibuster, that means Democrats are likewise limited in what they can do from a legislative perspective. It's unfortunate that people deliberately don't understand that there's a huge difference between 60 Democratic senators and 50 Democratic senators, but there is, and since the Obama-era 59/60 Democratic Senate included seats in red states that a Democrat will never win again in the post-Trump era, it's always going to be a matter of very thin margins and major wrangling. None of this is to say that the Democrats shouldn't be doing more; obviously, they should, and I was sharply critical of Biden's initial response to the Roe overturn. Everything I have seen since has confirmed my opinion that the administration wasn't prepared, might not have thought it would really happen even after the draft leaked, and were wary of taking too "drastic" steps or openly trying to overrule the Supreme Court. This results from, as I have said before, Biden's over-reliance on his outdated belief that American democratic institutions will function more or less properly, even if they're currently staffed and controlled by terrible anti-democrat fascist evangelical nutcases. And that is... just not true, unfortunately.

That said, Biden has picked up the pace in recent days: he issued an executive order to maintain abortion access insofar as possible, the Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance that any federally funded hospital must provide a life-saving abortion regardless of state laws, Democrats in the Senate are trying to pass legislation preserving the right to travel out of state for care, and there is talk of Biden declaring a federal public health emergency, which would likewise preserve access at least in the life-threatening cases. None of this happened in the first weeks after the overturn, and I'm glad to see it happening now, even if there are still more steps to be taken. But as I have explained many, many times, an executive order does not magically work everything out and fix it immediately. It directs the relevant federal departments to come up with and implement a solution, and that still takes time and effort. And as I said, it is the least durable and most easily overturned form of policymaking, and should not be the option of first resort for any number of reasons.

The current leftist demand just seems to be "issue an executive order that instantly fixes everything and makes SCOTUS irrelevant so we don't have to feel any guilt about not voting for Clinton and laughing off everyone who warned us that this was going to happen." And that, likewise, is totally unrealistic. Biden can take concrete steps with his executive authority to ameliorate the situation to some degree; he has done some already, and hopefully will be pushed into more. But there is no way to simply remove SCOTUS as a major political piece, or make its decisions irrelevant, or wave our hand and pretend it doesn't exist. There are still obviously far more barriers to abortion care and access than there were while Roe was the law of the land, and that was the direct and intended result of them overturning it. That is not going to disappear.

Anyway. The claim that "Republicans can always do whatever they want and Democrats can't because they just don't try" is not true. As noted, the Republicans didn't actually do that much during Trump's time in office, and all their major victories now are coming as a result of the Republican-hijacked SCOTUS handing down decisions that are not easy to reverse, challenge, or otherwise get around. This is exactly why the Republicans played the long game with the direct goal being to capture the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, and why Democrats need to expand or significantly reform it if any of us plan on having any civil rights again in our lifetimes. But to do that, we need to get an actual working majority in the Senate, hold the House, and then keep the pressure up for the promised filibuster reform and subsequent legislation to actually get done. I know that pointing out that things take time and have concrete steps that need to be accomplished in a certain order isn't as satisfying or pithy as "just do it all now and stop making excuses!!!", but it is, alas, still the case.

[slugtranslation-hypmic]

Hi Slug! If you've listened to the full songs in the new EP, have your opinions of the trailers changed? Also, the new dramas are HEAVY, so if you've listened to them, I'm curious to know what you thought of them. As always, thanks for the translations!

I like listening to Hypmic music on shuffle during workouts, so I've most of the new songs in full by now. I don't think my opinions have changed majorly. I really enjoy Black and White, and Move Your Body Till You Die is a phenomenal work of art.

As for the drama tracks... truth be told, I haven't even listened to the one that came out in April, so I'll read through some TLs now and record thoughts below the cut:

No One Lives Forever, translation courtesy of shinseimcd on Twitter

"Anti-Party of Words faction" Huh, like a government faction? I'm surprised the PoW allows other political parties or at the very least open dissenters. There was talk in some chapters of the manga of them punishing protesters, not to mention the way they crushed the TDD rebellion in its primacy. Either way, interesting, and I hope we learn more about this as time goes on.

Ichijiku and Nemu baking together is really cute lol

I love the way Ichijiku's whole personality shifts around Otome. Gap moe (????)

It's a cool tidbit that Nemu tends to prefer plainer outfits, as that tracks with how she dresses in TDD. Also, Nemu and Ichijiku shopping together is kind of bittersweet, since Ichijiku is clearly using Nemu as a replacement figure for her deceased sister...

Ichijiku secretly wanting to fall on the cute side of the cute/elegant spectrum is a pretty classic trope but a fun detail that's been hinted at already, since we've seen that she keeps a bow collection.

??? Rei's lab is on Battleship Island? Ohhhhhhhhh this is why Twitter was blowing up with controversy right after this track released... The IRL Battleship Island was home to forced labor of Korean and Chinese citizens during the twentieth-century push of Japanese imperialism which was later, iirc, denied in part or totally by the Japanese government to immense international backlash. Using this as a setpiece for Hypmic is oddly provocative, and I can't think why the writers would want to do that. On a much lighter note, this is also a headscratcher to me because isn't this a UNESCO World Heritage Site? The whole point of that is conservation, and I don't think building a clone lab counts as conservation... Unless they're implying the clone lab was built prior to the 1950s? Hm. Let's not go down this rabbit hole.

"I would like all of the True Hypnosis Mics. As well as all the Amemura clones." Oh? Are there more still alive? I thought Honobono ordered the death of the last remaining three... Well, that scraps a piece of writing I was working on LOL

"Your biometric data is required to access the mic storage facility" So how did the PoW get in?

Her? Heart stop beating? Oh for fuck's sake, is Rei's wife also in a coma? How many fucking characters are in a coma in this series... Whichever mfer invents a device that restores people from comas with no significant brain damage will make a fortune in this universe

"And I won't try anything funny." I do not believe this for one instant

Hmm, the framing of Otome planning this and the way she brushed past talk of countermeasures for the anti-PoW faction implies that Rei is heading this faction.

Oh, so they couldn't get past the biometric locks after all, I see.

I strongly dislike the idea of thirty clones for thirty mics and the nonchalance in which Rei goes, "Yeah, I'll ship them off to Chuuouku" like they're a parcel and not human beings, but that's my personal bone to pick w/ this character and setting.

I was intrigued by the notion of the PoW holding caucuses, implying there's some sort of democratic process in terms of choosing their own party members or positions, but the JPN audio doesn't specify that exactly.

"We no longer require the cooperation of Jakurai Jinguji." I know that this took like four years in real time, but in terms of the Hypmic universe... I mean, Jakurai didn't even do anything for them, did he? He went through all that moral dilemma for nothing, as far as I can tell. (I get that it sets up the reconciliation with Ramuda, but that's it? Seriously?) That's disappointing to roll it back so quickly.

"During the Division Rap Battle, the people of our nation will be focused on the tournament, giving us the opportunity to use the True Hypnosis Mics to mind hack the Anti-Party of Words faction who stand in our way, ultimately pulling them over to our side." Otome always has the most batshit plans. God bless. A consequence of her needing to drive the plot forward is that she'll say some of the truly silliest things I've ever heard. What a complete misappropriation of government funds lol. Also... is this stating there are only 30 dissidents (????), or can the True Hypmics brainwash more than one person at a time?

"Once that is complete, we will move on to other countries. And when we have taken over the world, then, in the true sense of the word, peace through the power of words will be achieved." LMAO? I'm sorry, this isn't very considerate of me, but in my initial impressions of this, I am well and truly gobsmacked. What in the actual fuck. How many clones will die for this? How much money will it cost? How does she think she stands any chance at governing so many people across such an area, even with a downsized population after WWIII? Homie... Never change, Hypmic, you are the wildest.

I can't believe Ichijiku is so whipped she's willing to go along with an absolutely nonsensical plan for world domination. Ma'am, Otome is not going to fuck you, and even if she is, it's not worth it! Ma'am!!! I'm sorry, I'm being petty and not giving this a lot of in-depth thought but LORD this is a trip on first read.

A FUCKING CLONE UPRISING AT THE HANDS OF REI? HAHAHAHAHA.

"World domination, huh, what a joke." Man after my own heart.

I'm actually quite interested in how this "mics are disabled forever" thing works. I guess the mics have a kill switch in them? I vaguely recall someone saying that in the manga years and years ago... Oh yeah, it was Ramuda in TDD 12. Huh, interesting if that was intentional foreshadowing (I'm not sure if I want to be that charitable). At any rate, can't everyone in the room just get new mics? Or does it affect their speakers and such too? I'm curious how that works, like if you build an affinity with a certain mic or some nonsense.

"looks like we won't be having any Division Rap Battles from here on out." Ah, and this is why the other half of Twitter was up in arms like "No more DRB??? End of Hypmic??" I guess.

The Block Party tracks are quite long, and since it's getting rather late for me, I'm going to leave off here for the moment. I'd like to continue this at my next available opportunity... WHAT a ride. Not sure when that will be, but I will add to this with a reblog when I can. And I know it's been months since this track came out, but I would love to hear other people's thoughts. I wasn't around much when it first launched, so I missed most of the commentary on it.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Isabela Dias at Mother Jones:

Earlier this week, the Biden administration officially announced a long-anticipated border crackdown. The executive action—which relies on the same presidential authority former President Donald Trump invoked to enact an entry ban on travelers from Muslim-majority countries—circumvents a key provision of US law: The legal right to seek asylum, regardless of where or how a person enters the country. Under Biden’s order, with narrow exceptions, only migrants coming to official ports of entry will qualify for asylum after encounters at the border reach a certain threshold. This may sound wonky. But it is in line with what Biden vowed to try to do as the November election approaches: shut down the border “right now.” And, still, not even a Democratic president gutting asylum has placated the anti-immigrant fearmongers on the right.

Even before Biden gave his speech about the new border proclamation, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri was live on Fox News calling the measures “mass amnesty” for “illegals.” He was echoed by Stephen Miller, a former senior adviser to Donald Trump and president of the “lawfare” America First Legal group, who wasted no time cherry-picking sections of the executive order and sharing them without context to baselessly claim the new rule gives “fast-pass entry to unlimited numbers of fighting-age” migrants. “This border EO makes mass migration permanent,” Miller wrote on X. Not to be outdone, House Speaker Mike Johnson—who declared the now-defunct bipartisan senate border deal “dead on arrival”—called it “window dressing” and said President Biden is “allowing thousands of illegals to cross because he wants to turn them into voters.” None of this is true. The proclamation halts the entry of migrants between ports of entry when apprehensions at the border average 2,500 per day over the course of a week. The suspension can only be lifted 14 days after that number drops to a seven-day average of 1,500 daily encounters, meaning it would be in effect for at least 21 days. How could that not be considered a harsh enforcement measure?

Yes, the rule allows for exemptions for unaccompanied minors, victims of “severe form of trafficking,” as well as in some cases based on “operational considerations” and “urgent humanitarian” circumstances. And it doesn’t affect the processing of claims from asylum seekers through the CBP One cellphone application at ports of entry. But we are talking about a fundamental violation of asylum law and the Refugee Convention on the part of the Biden administration to appease right-wing anger over migration. “President Biden’s action sets a dangerous international precedent as a first-of-its-kind numerical cap on asylum,” Amy Fischer, director of refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International USA, said in a statement, “limiting the number of people who can claim asylum in the United States.”

Plus, this is far from the first restriction. The Biden administration has already limited access to asylum with another ban known as “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways.” It created a “presumption of ineligibility” for asylum if migrants can’t show that they made an appointment on the flawed CBP One app to come to a port of entry, had previously sought and been denied protection in another country on their way to the United States, or qualified for narrow exceptions under “exceptionally compelling circumstances.”

President Joe Biden (D) gave everything the right-wing immigration restrictionists wanted, and it’s still not good enough for them, as they continue to whine about Biden giving out “mass amnesty” for undocumented immigrants.

[mariacallous]

Twenty-five years ago, as a State Department speechwriter, I worked with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to secure ratification by the U.S. Senate of NATO’s first enlargement since the 1950s. Like all of us who advised Albright, I felt passionately that bringing Central Europe’s new democracies into NATO was morally right and in America’s interest. But we also believed it was vital to set the highest possible bar for aspiring members. The United States insisted on admitting only Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic to NATO during that round—rejecting calls by some European allies to add more countries.

“NATO is a military alliance, not a social club,” Albright told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. New members had to be ready to contribute to its military missions and committed to its democratic values. They could not bring unresolved internal or border conflicts into NATO—the whole point of the process was to induce them to solve these problems before joining. Back in 1998, for example, we had to be confident that Hungary wouldn’t make territorial claims on neighboring countries with Hungarian minorities.

NATO kept its door open to more members after that first expansion. We expected the biggest test would be bringing in the Baltic States—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—because that would mean bringing states that had once been Soviet republics into the alliance. That Rubicon was crossed in 2004, without any serious harm to NATO-Russia relations. But I didn’t think Ukraine would ever join them. When NATO declared in 2008 that Ukraine “will become” a member, without offering a pathway for membership, I worried it was making a promise that might prove impossible to keep, even if Ukraine fixed its then-profound problems with corruption and democratic governance.

Russia’s full-scale invasion, and Ukraine’s heroic defense of NATO’s founding values, has changed all that.

At the coming NATO summit this July, NATO should offer Ukraine a Membership Action Plan—the first formal step toward membership. It should make clear that Ukraine’s ultimate accession depends solely on actions within its control, not on what Russia does or on the ultimate resolution of the war.

One reason to be serious about Ukrainian membership is that experience has validated the original argument for bringing new members into NATO. In 1997, Albright predicted NATO enlargement would “expand the area of Europe where wars do not happen,” and that turned out to be true. Since then, Russia has only attacked countries not yet protected by the alliance—Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.

Experience has also disproved the belief that nations could gain security from Russia by foregoing their aspirations for NATO membership in deference to its concerns. It’s often forgotten that Ukraine adopted a law prohibiting joining military alliances in 2010. Russia invaded anyway in 2014, stealing Ukrainian territory and giving Ukraine’s neighbors reason to fear that their borders were no longer secure, either.

So the old reasons for Ukrainian NATO membership have become stronger; the old fears of provoking Russia have become moot. But there is also a new argument for Ukrainian membership, one that stems naturally from a question that every American and European government is now asking: How do we define Ukrainian victory and Russian defeat?

If the current war were solely about sovereignty—about upholding the principle that borders can’t be erased by tanks—then there could be only one good answer to that question. Ukraine would have to regain all of its territory. And that should remain our common goal.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goal in Ukraine is clearly not just to grab land; nor is land the only thing Ukrainians are defending. U.S. President Joe Biden has said that Ukraine’s “brave resistance is part of a larger fight for democratic principles,” and if that is true—if this war is partly about preserving Ukraine’s freedom to build a democratic society and to align itself with countries that share its values—then Ukraine joining NATO as a strong, pluralistic democracy would also count as victory. It would arguably be as huge a blow to Putin as Ukraine regaining Crimea. It might thus relieve the political pressure Ukraine’s leaders feel to complete that military task more quickly than realities on the ground might allow, and focus them, constructively, on the work required to integrate seamlessly with the Western alliance.

The alternative some have proposed—offering Ukraine security “guarantees” that fall short of NATO membership, as the United States does for Israel, might help until full membership is achieved. But they are no substitute. The United States and Israel don’t have a mutual defense treaty because Israel doesn’t want one—in part because it fears a formal alliance would limit its freedom of action. Ukraine, in contrast, has been asking to assume the responsibilities of joining our alliance. It is a European country suffering exactly the kind of attack NATO was created to prevent, and it’s proving that it is ready and willing to interpose itself between the attacking nation and NATO’s other members—to defend their freedom as well as its own. How can NATO say no to such a country’s aspirations for membership without signaling hesitation to actually guarantee its security, and without validating Putin’s claim that Ukraine is part of a special Russian sphere of influence? There really is only one security guarantee that is taken seriously in Europe, and that is NATO.

That still leaves the question we posed 25 years ago: Can we bring into NATO a country with an unresolved conflict, without obligating the U.S. military to join that conflict? That is a serious and legitimate concern, especially since it is in the nature of an active conflict to expand unpredictably. But the answer cannot be to wait to admit Ukraine until the current war definitively ends. That would give Russia an incentive to never end the war—the very opposite of what NATO’s original enlargement conditions were designed to achieve.

Article 5 of the NATO treaty says that if a member is attacked, each ally must take “such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain” security. That is a serious legal obligation, even if it does not require going to war in response to every small provocation. But we would still get to define its contours in advance of Ukrainian accession.

If, for example, Russian troops were to still occupy some Ukrainian soil when Ukraine is ready for membership, allies could reach an understanding that Article 5 would not oblige them to take direct part in Ukraine’s operations to regain those remaining territories, but that they would take all feasible measures to stop a further Russian invasion. This would guarantee the security of that large part of Ukraine that its troops have protected and liberated, without committing American Marines to storm Crimea.

For those worried that Ukraine might take dangerous escalatory actions, NATO membership also would provide some insurance. Article 4 of the NATO treaty would require Ukraine and its new allies to “consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the Parties is threatened.” Ukraine would have more security; it would also be more embedded in NATO’s military and political institutions, with less freedom to act independently. It would be far better to bring Ukraine into such a structure than to let it remain an extremely well-armed free agent.

Of course, there is still fighting to be done before Ukraine can fully join the alliance. All of NATO’s members will have to be convinced. And Ukraine will have to ensure it is politically and militarily ready. But that is all the more reason to start the formal process now. A democratic Ukraine joining the West is a big part of how this war ends. And Ukrainians should know what they must do to make it happen.

[blockcertsblockchains]

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[uberstrainer]

Human Monocyte Enrichment with pluriSpin: The Ultimate Tool for Researchers

This blog introduces the pluriSpin system as the ultimate tool for researchers, providing precise, versatile, and accessible human monocyte enrichment with highly viable and functional cells.

In the dynamic field of cellular research, the enrichment of specific cell populations holds the key to unlocking crucial insights. Human monocytes, as key players in the immune system, are often the focus of investigations exploring their roles in inflammation, immunity, and disease. This blog explores the significance of human monocytes in research and why researchers require the best tool for cell enrichment techniques, shedding light on how the pluriSpin system emerges as the ultimate solution.

Human Monocytes: Navigating the Complexity of Immune Responses

Understanding the Role of Human Monocytes

Human monocytes are versatile immune cells, serving as the precursors to macrophages and dendritic cells. Their ability to navigate through the bloodstream, infiltrate tissues, and respond to inflammatory signals makes them pivotal in immune surveillance and defense. Researchers delve into the intricacies of monocyte behavior to unravel their involvement in various physiological and pathological processes.

Key Applications of Human Monocyte Research

Inflammation Studies: Monocytes play a central role in the inflammatory response. Investigating their behavior provides insights into the mechanisms underlying inflammation and its resolution.

Immune System Modulation: Understanding how monocytes contribute to immune system modulation is essential for developing targeted therapies for autoimmune diseases and immunodeficiencies.

Disease Pathogenesis: Researchers explore the involvement of monocytes in diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, and infectious diseases to identify potential therapeutic targets.

Why Researchers Require the Best Tool for Human Monocyte Enrichment

Precision in Cell Isolation: A Prerequisite for Accurate Results

Achieving reliable and reproducible results in human monocyte research hinges on the precision of cell separation technology. Enriching monocytes with minimal contamination ensures that downstream experiments are reflective of the true characteristics of these immune cells. Researchers require a tool that guarantees untouched and highly purified monocytes for robust and accurate analyses.

Compatibility with Diverse Applications

Human monocyte research spans a spectrum of applications, from immune cell stimulation studies to cytotoxicity assays. Researchers need a versatile tool that not only ensures the purity of isolated monocytes but also maintains their functionality. The enriched cells should be immediately available for cultivation, differentiation, compound screening, and other high-throughput screening (HTS) applications, catering to the diverse needs of researchers in the field.

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The ideal tool for human monocyte enrichment should not be confined to specialized laboratories with advanced equipment. Accessibility is key, and researchers, regardless of their laboratory setup, should be able to incorporate the tool into their workflows seamlessly. A user-friendly system that does not demand special training or additional equipment democratizes the process, empowering researchers across various settings.

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At the core of the pluriSpin® system lies the immunodensity cell isolation reagent (pluriSpin®). This meticulously designed solution facilitates the binding of unwanted cells, setting the stage for a seamless density gradient centrifugation. The result is a pool of highly purified monocytes, ready for immediate application in a myriad of research endeavors.

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In the quest for understanding the intricacies of human monocytes and their pivotal roles in immunity and disease, researchers need a tool that aligns with the complexities of their work. The pluriSpin® system, with its precision, versatility, accessibility, and the promise of highly viable cells, stands as the ultimate solution for cell enrichment. As researchers continue to unravel the mysteries of the immune system and its responses, pluriSpin® becomes an indispensable companion, opening new avenues for innovative discoveries in cellular research.

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[kp777]

By Jake Johnson

Common Dreams

Sept. 20, 2023

"If automatic registration can make the voter rolls more accurate and make the system of enrollment and registration more efficient and user-friendly," argued one observer, "that could make voters less susceptible to that sort of demagoguery."

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Tuesday that unless they deliberately opt out, eligible residents of the key battleground state will now be automatically registered to vote when they obtain or renew their driver's license or ID, a step that voting rights groups applauded as a win for democracy—and an important counter to right-wing election deniers.

An estimated 8.7 million Pennsylvanians were registered to vote last year but more than 10.3 million were eligible to register, a gap that Shapiro said automatic voter registration (AVR) could help to fill by removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

"Pennsylvania is the birthplace of our democracy, and as governor, I'm committed to ensuring free and fair elections that allow every eligible voter to make their voice heard," said Shapiro, who timed the announcement to coincide with National Voter Registration Day. "Automatic voter registration is a commonsense step to ensure election security and save Pennsylvanians time and tax dollars."

"Residents of our Commonwealth already provide proof of identity, residency, age, and citizenship at the DMV—all the information required to register to vote—so it makes good sense to streamline that process with voter registration," he added. "My administration will keep taking innovative actions like this one to make government work better and more efficiently for all Pennsylvanians."

As The Washington Post's Greg Sargent noted in a column Tuesday, the governor's move comes as the Pennsylvania GOP "continues to elevate election deniers to positions of local importance, in effect feeding doubts about the state's voting system itself."

Shapiro defeated election denier Doug Mastriano, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, in Pennsylvania's gubernatorial race last year.

"If automatic voter registration is well received in Pennsylvania, it could act as an antidote to that MAGA mania," Sargent argued. "That's because efforts to weaken public confidence in elections often seek to exploit existing public beliefs that the system is cumbersome and prone to human error and hacking, even if those beliefs are wrong. If automatic registrationcan make the voter rolls more accurate and make the system of enrollment and registration more efficient and user-friendly, that could make voters less susceptible to that sort of demagoguery."

Shapiro's office pointed to a 2021 study by the Public Policy Institute of California showing that early state adopters of AVR have seen significant boosts to registration and higher voter turnout.

With Pennsylvania included, two dozen U.S. states and Washington, D.C. have implemented some form of AVR, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Kadida Kenner, CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project (NPP), celebrated Shapiro's announcement as a step that "will undoubtedly help to close the voter registration gap, especially in communities of color where the gap is most pronounced."

"NPP looks forward to continuing our year-round work of civic education, voter registration, mobilization, and advocating for additional necessary steps to improve Pennsylvanians' access to democracy such as same-day voter registration and true early voting," Kenner added.

[mousathe14]

I have a lot of issues with the whole AI “art” thing, especially as a life long artist about to graduate with their Comp Sci BS and with plans on getting into a PhD for Machine Learning.

I’m no tech bro, I’m a creator and troubleshooter, and my issue, in addition to the art theft, is the gross misapplication of these tools.

Those tech bros go on about improving workflow and democratizing art as though this skill we’ve spent all these years of our lives developing is being gatekept by some mysterious art elite. Rather than, you know, something they could all do if they bothered to pick up a pen and paper and had a genuinely creative bone in their bodies.

Since the very beginning these people have always been going about this the wrong way. Stealing art or the written word or whatever to train their models and then trying to resell the results as more content to consume. It’s idiotic. Putting the cart before the horse one might say.

What needed to be done was to make the technology accessible to individuals to improve what we could do for ourselves. These things shouldn’t be ready made generators built on the labor of others, everyone should be able to have their own end-user-friendly version of the technology behind the generators.

I don’t want a machine that can make something by taking the work of others. I don’t want nor need an algorithm trained on every piece it can find on Art Station!

I want to have my own algorithm that I can train on my own art so that it can be a tool to enhance the things I’m already doing in my own art style.

I want a machine that has taken everything I’ve done and then help me with the next things that I do.

If it’s trained enough on my art style it can finish things I don’t want to finish in my own style like backgrounds, or be a means of character creation that I can alter and finish myself.

And instead this technology is being used all wrong by a bunch of profit driven technology worshipping true thrives obsessed with trying to automate the human element out of creative labor so they can better fellate their shareholding corporate overlords.

It’s all so very disgusting. But if I were to put on a silicon valley dirtbag hat on for a moment, my version of how this technology should be used can be easily turned into a profitable venture while still giving something that’s an actual tool in the hands of creators without theft.

It’s software and processing as a service, obviously. This machine learning lark is process intensive and if you just maintain a cloud service that artists can have a piece of to train with their own art in a boxed off environment then congrats, everybody kinda sorta wins. But you know what, those capitalistic pigs don’t deserve that kind of win-win.

Best find a way to make an end-user-friendly open source machine learning art program and spread it around and hope for the best. This kind of thing can’t only be in the hands of people that learned linear algebra and C.

[stephenjaymorrisblog]

The Need to Breed

Stephen Jay morris

9/10/2023

©Scientific Morality

Have you heard the latest conspiracy theory spewed by Marjorie Taylor Greene? It’s a doozy. What’s going to happen is that President Biden will drop out of the presidential race because of health problems, and the Democratic Party will replace him with Michelle Obama as their nominee. The media loves Right wing conspiracies because they are so absurd and bizarre. These idiotic theories have outright ruined it for legitimate conspiracy theories from the Left. You don’t hear the latter anymore because the establishment media suppresses and ignores them. The Left consistently has documented research data at their disposal, supporting any such theories, which can be accessed by anyone who wants to see it. But, as for the Right wing Chuds? They make the shit up! They have childlike imaginations that their minions find cute and entertaining, and validating. So, the media broadcasts all the Right wing’s conspiracies via press releases.

Americans regard conspiracy theories as if they are jokes. Plus, Americans can’t distinguish Left wing conspiracy theories from Right wing ones. The American people laughed at the John Birtch Society in the 60’s. Now, White, working class Christians believe everything that Qanon says!

There is nothing wrong with theories; they are at the heart of the scientific process. A hypothesis leads to a conclusion. However, it must be proven with evidence, or it is disproven. Do the Chuds subscribe to that? Fuck, no! They believe in faith; that God told it to them in a dream. Therefore, it must be true!

I stopped believing in conspiracies years ago. People write you off as a nut case. If you are perceived as such, people will hold their ears and walk away from you.

Guess what? In the secrecy of my own mind, I still develop theories. I will expose one of them here.

The question in my mind is: why are White Christians so opposed to abortion, birth control, and all types of contraception?  Is it because of the Ten Commandments? No. What is the racial common denominator of the Fundamentalist Evangelical movement? They are all White, Anglo Saxion protestants. They fear that White people are becoming a minority in the United States of America. They are latent White supremacists. So, what is it they claim is killing off the White race? War? Poverty? Natural disasters and pandemics? No—none of this. They are threatened by sex! Interracial sex. Interfaith marriages. Have you seen the “woke” commercials featuring Black and White couples? My God! These illustrate clearly why the White population is decreasing!

There is a campaign afoot for a White Baby Boom. And, you can’t have a baby boom with the specter of abortion and condoms everywhere! It doesn’t matter if the child is illegitimate or born within the confines of marriage, if it is a White baby, it must be saved! Do you really, REALLY feel that Christians have compassion for the health of a fetus? Well…they do, but only if the fetus is White. “But how can you tell if the fetus is White?” you ask. The fetus will be wearing a Make America Great Again cap and have a tattoo on its arm. What if the fetus is Black? The Christians will then form a prayer circle and pray for a miscarriage.

This is just a thought experiment of mine. But all knowledge and objective truth comes from theory. Prove me wrong—I dare you!

[themarvelhorse]

2022 Year in Review

How should I look at the stars tonight?

The Weather Station’s song (above) gave me something to think about for the New Year. A celebration justifiably, or is it really something to mourn, given how we treat how the past year has gone, and we always hope the next year will be kinder?

I’m going to do a relatively short review, a summary, in the hopes that I can try to settle on what I’ve done, what’s happened, and what needs to be done. Also try to work on my ability to not ramble.

This year I:

Held a constituency meeting with my MP about divesting from fossil fuels

Went to more local climate group meetings

Helped my mom move into her new apartment and as well as help with some health issues

Got got a contract in my field for the longest period of time I’ve had a job at a single place

Did some outreach and engagement for my local democracy group as a founding member

Had a presentation for some kids at a local school about environment and the election

Came up with so many new ideas for future projects I’d like to see done

Spent time in downtown Toronto to get a taste of true city life

Completed another school (micro)-certificate

Helped coordinate a couple climate events

Sewed some small holes in some shirts

Maintained enough of an exercise routine that I haven’t lost significant progress on (as I have in the past)

Realized I have a mild case of ADD

Tried keeping in contact with friends and family

And what has that resulted in?

The constituency meeting wasn’t a directly personal win, but 8 months later there was another push to divest away from international fossil fuel projects. 3 months later, Canada made that commitment advocates asked for

Tried to help get signatures for community support for climate action locally but well... we barely made progress on our goals. It did highlight an issue we’re asking another local institution for help on though

Municipal outreach helped fill a gap and people really appreciated what we were trying to do, but its hard to tell if we made a dent in engagement. It didn’t matter much either way, since failing the provincial election led to the current provincial government eroding democratic processes at the provincial and municipal level alike.

Provincial democratic outreach came out to a loss - provincially, only 17% of eligible voters voted for the party in power. Which has led to so many more problems. I went to two different ridings for voter engagement one turned out fine but the other, not so much

The job was good! Learned a whole lot, and my co-workers assured me that everyone who does this job goes on to do great things. It just ended the other day, so onto new paths ahead.

Was inspired by the micro-certificate and how to help change at the grassroots level

I’m picking up more on repairing, sharing, and reusing old things, and trying to do that more and more. Small steps in living a more sustainable life

I’m doing better at understanding myself, where my problems are that need improvement and how I can address them

I got more time with my family at least, even if some of my closest family  seem to be declining in health overall.

Unfortunately, a lot of those things that could facilitate me doing better are the things I do not have access to. I realize the good causes, the struggle, it connects back to this, but the great catch is that both can worsen health.

I talked to my doctor. She told me she would not be retiring for at least another year. She’s already delayed her retirement by a year. She told me there’s too many people who need help. I think she's one of those people, and she was going to retire because of the toll it took on her health. I talked to another doctor about my mom’s health. He told me that while we both tried our best, there wasn’t really much hope because there was no one else out there in the province to provide the medical help she needs. (She’s alive and high functioning right now). You're screwed if you try to look for a new G.P. The hospitals are screwed. There’s very little out there to support anyone getting better in this province. All because Premier Doug Ford decided to screw everyone else over (not only in health, but in so many more sectors essential to human life)

I swear to god, this world will break my heart~

I swear, it already has.

But what has been planted? And what has sprouted?

A guidance doc that was used exclusively for years that I led has now been publicly released and my name is among the list of authors

Youth I’ve spoken to might just believe in their future now (I've planted a seed that would not have been planted otherwise)

Our local democracy group has people wanting more of it! People want things like this!

Ford’s fucked up and corrupt and people know this, people have mobilized to stop him. Some of it has worked, some may take more time.

It’s not obvious, but talking with your elected reps and advocacy works

Knowledge - I’m more knowledgeable about my field and the work, and the conditions of my family members than I was before. Could I do it better if I was given a second chance? I certainly hope so. I think there will be a second chance.

But how many second chances can we get before the damage is too great? If we plant seeds and they sprout, only to have a big bully come in and trample it, dig it up and toss it in the trash, and plow the ground with salt?

So, how should I look at the stars tonight?

I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. People come to me for help or advice for some reason, that's not just something, that's a lot. I hope I can guide them to what they need.

And even if they don't, I'll still do what I can, where I can. I’ll still draw inspiration from those who are fighting harder than me, and others who light up life with their goodness, simply by being who they are. For those kids that ask me what they can do, if we can actually survive what’s coming. I always tell them what I believe in my heart to be true. We can do it. We just need to have the will. Its very hard to have any will to do even the bare minimum we need to do to survive in this world though, I know.

This year has shown me that there's a lot we don't see, we don't know, we may never know. Its hard to know or believe our vote will count, if our protests make change, if a single act of kindness is even appreciated by a stranger. But it's worth trying. Nothing to really be proud of except that you tried. Even if all you try to do is make it another day. Speaking as someone who's been shown kindness and has tried to spread that kindness and give hope, you never know who your kindness might reach, and what wonderful things that person might do.

So I will continue on as I always do, with spite and hope - one in each hand. One for defiance and one for love.

Or what your evilness and corruption might do. Who it might harm. I will not go gentle into that good night.

All the best to you good people this New Year.

[shutupdevvie]

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Everyone in Canada is free to practise any religion or no religion at all. We are also free to express religious beliefs through prayer or by wearing religious clothing for example. However, the Charter also ensures that others also have the right to express their religious beliefs in public.

We’re free to think our own thoughts, speak our minds, listen to views of others and express our opinions in creative ways.  We’re also free to meet with anyone we wish and participate in peaceful demonstrations. This includes the right to protest against a government action or institution.

However, these freedoms are not unlimited. There may be limits on how you express your religious beliefs if your way of doing so would infringe on the rights of others or undermine complex public programs and policies. For example, you may have religious reasons to object having your photo taken for your driver’s license, but this requirement may be linked to a need to stop others from unlawfully using your identity. In addition, the Charter does not protect expression such as hate speech that involves threats of violence or that takes the form of violence.

The media also have certain fundamental freedoms, and are free to print and broadcast news and other information. The government can only limit what the media prints for justifiable reasons set out in law. For example, a magazine cannot print slander, which is an untrue statement about a person that may hurt his or her reputation.

Democratic rights

Every Canadian citizen has the right to vote in elections and to run for public office themselves. There are certain exceptions. For example, people must be 18 years old or older in order to vote.

Our elected governments cannot hold power for an unlimited amount of time. The Charter requires governments to call an election at least once every five years. An election could be delayed, however, during a national emergency, like a war. In this case, two-thirds of the members of the House of Commons or, in the case of provinces or territories, the legislative assembly must agree to delay the election.

The Charter makes it clear that elected representatives of legislative assemblies must sit at least once a year. This holds Parliament and all other legislatures responsible for their actions.

Mobility rights

Canadian citizens have the right to enter, remain in, and leave Canada.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents have the right to live or seek work anywhere in Canada. Governments in Canada can't discriminate based on what province someone used to live or currently lives in.

However, laws can set certain rules for when people are able to get social, health and welfare benefits. For example, you may have to live in a particular province for a certain length of time before getting health benefits from that province. Also, provinces with an employment rate below the national average may create programs that are only available to its own socially and economically disadvantaged residents. These programs encourage the residents to stay in the province and contribute to the workforce.

Legal Rights

Right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure

The Charter protects everyone’s reasonable expectation to privacy. This means that no one can search you, take away your personal belongings or access your personal information without clear legal reasons.

Authorities acting on behalf of the government, such as the police, must carry out their duties in a fair and reasonable way. For example, they cannot enter private property or take things without good reason. Police are required to get a warrant from a judge before searching someone’s home.

Interactions with the justice system

The Charter sets out rights that deal with the interaction between the justice system and individuals. These rights ensure that individuals are treated fairly at every stage of the justice process. This is especially true if an individual is charged with a criminal offence.

Protection against unreasonable laws

The Charter protects everyone against unreasonable laws that could lead to imprisonment or harm their physical safety. The law may still comply with the Charter if it is consistent with a basic set of values. For example, there must be a rational link between the law’s purpose and its effect on people’s liberty. Also, laws should not have a severe impact on people’s rights to life, liberty or security of the person.

Protection against arrest without good reason

The Charter also says law enforcement agencies cannot take actions against individuals that are random or not backed by good reasons. A police officer, for example, must have reasonable grounds to believe you have committed a crime and must tell you why you are being arrested and detained. You also have the right to consult a lawyer without delay and to be informed of this right. Finally, you have the right to have a court decide whether this detention is lawful. If you believe your detention is not legal, the Charter protects your right to challenge it.

Rights after arrest

If you are charged with an offence under federal or provincial law you have the right to:

be told quickly of the offence you are charged with

be tried within a reasonable amount of time

choose not to testify at your own trial

be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a fair and public hearing by an independent and unbiased tribunal

only be denied reasonable bail with cause

be tried by a jury for serious charges

be convicted only for an act or omission that was a crime at the time it was committed

only be tried or punished once for an offence

receive the lesser punishment if the punishment for the crime changes between the time it was committed and the time of sentencing

Protection against cruel and unusual punishment

In addition the Charter protects everyone from cruel and unusual punishment. This includes torture, excessive or abusive use of force by law enforcement officials. Also, sentences of imprisonment must match the seriousness of the crime committed. For example, an extremely long prison sentence is not appropriate for a very minor crime.

Rights in Court

The Charter offers certain protections if you are accused of a crime and must go to court. This includes your right to a quick and reasonably speedy trial. This trial must be fair and done by an unbiased court that assumes your innocence until you’re proven guilty. You are also entitled to an interpreter during court proceedings if you do not understand the language or if you are hearing impaired.

Anyone who is a witness in a trial has the right to not have incriminating evidence used against them in later proceedings. For example, if you admit to a crime while acting as a witness in court at someone else’s trial, the police cannot use it to prove your guilt in court later. Perjury, which is lying during legal proceedings, is the one exception to this rule.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act protects people under the age of 18. For more information on this act, check out this guide to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Equality rights

Equality rights are at the core of the Charter. They are intended to ensure that everyone is treated with the same respect, dignity and consideration (i.e. without discrimination), regardless of personal characteristics such as race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, residency, marital status or citizenship.

As a result, everyone should be treated the same under the law. Everyone is also entitled to the same benefits provided by laws or government policies. However, the Charter does not require the government to always treat people in exactly the same way. Sometimes protecting equality means that we must adapt rules or standards to take account of people's differences. An example of this would be allowing people to observe different religious holidays without losing their job.

Governments can also promote equality by passing laws or creating programs that aim to improve the conditions of people who have been disadvantaged because of the personal characteristics listed above. For example, governments can create affirmative action programs targeted at increasing employment for persons with disabilities.

Official language rights

The Charter establishes that English and French are the official languages of the country and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada. It also establishes principle of advancement or progression of the equality of status and use of the official languages by Parliament or by the provincial legislatures. Parliament acted on this principle of advancement in 1988 by passing the Official Languages Act and by providing, in the Criminal Code, for the right to a trial in the official language of the accused. Many provincial and territorial governments have also passed language legislation.

The Charter establishes that everyone has the right to use English or French in any debates and other proceedings of Parliament. The statutes, records and journals of Parliament must be printed and published in both languages, and both language versions are equally authoritative.

Everyone has the right to use English or French in, or in any pleading in or process issuing from, any court established by Parliament.

Any member of the public also has the right to communicate with and receive services in English or French from any head office of an institution of Parliament or government of Canada. They have this same right from any office of an institution where there is a significant demand for communications with and services from that office in such language; or where due to the nature of the office, it is reasonable that communications with and services from that office be available in both English and French.

Similar rights apply in New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province in Canada. In fact, members of the public in New Brunswick have the right to communicate and obtain services in either English or French from any office of an institution of the legislature or government of New Brunswick. The English and French linguistic communities in New Brunswick also have equality of status and equal rights and privileges. This includes the right to distinct educational institutions and cultural institutions that preserve and promote those communities.

Minority-language education rights

Every province and territory has official language minority communities (French-speaking communities outside Quebec and English-speaking minorities in Quebec). Section 23 of the Charter guarantees minority language educational rights to French-speaking communities outside Quebec, and to English-speaking minorities in Quebec.  It applies to all provinces and territories.

Canadian citizens living outside of Quebec have the right to send their children to French schools if:

their mother tongue is French

they attended French primary and secondary schools in Canada

they have child who has attended or is attending French primary or secondary schools in Canada

Canadian citizens living in Quebec have the right to send their children to English schools if:

they themselves attended English primary and secondary schools in Canada

they have a child who has attended or is attending English primary or secondary schools in Canada

This right to minority-language instruction applies where there’s a large enough number of people to justify it.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS

[allieisacrybaby]

Fundamental freedoms

Everyone in Canada is free to practise any religion or no religion at all. We are also free to express religious beliefs through prayer or by wearing religious clothing for example. However, the Charter also ensures that others also have the right to express their religious beliefs in public.

We’re free to think our own thoughts, speak our minds, listen to views of others and express our opinions in creative ways.  We’re also free to meet with anyone we wish and participate in peaceful demonstrations. This includes the right to protest against a government action or institution.

However, these freedoms are not unlimited. There may be limits on how you express your religious beliefs if your way of doing so would infringe on the rights of others or undermine complex public programs and policies. For example, you may have religious reasons to object having your photo taken for your driver’s license, but this requirement may be linked to a need to stop others from unlawfully using your identity. In addition, the Charter does not protect expression such as hate speech that involves threats of violence or that takes the form of violence.

The media also have certain fundamental freedoms, and are free to print and broadcast news and other information. The government can only limit what the media prints for justifiable reasons set out in law. For example, a magazine cannot print slander, which is an untrue statement about a person that may hurt his or her reputation.

Democratic rights

Every Canadian citizen has the right to vote in elections and to run for public office themselves. There are certain exceptions. For example, people must be 18 years old or older in order to vote.

Our elected governments cannot hold power for an unlimited amount of time. The Charter requires governments to call an election at least once every five years. An election could be delayed, however, during a national emergency, like a war. In this case, two-thirds of the members of the House of Commons or, in the case of provinces or territories, the legislative assembly must agree to delay the election.

The Charter makes it clear that elected representatives of legislative assemblies must sit at least once a year. This holds Parliament and all other legislatures responsible for their actions.

Mobility rights

Canadian citizens have the right to enter, remain in, and leave Canada.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents have the right to live or seek work anywhere in Canada. Governments in Canada can't discriminate based on what province someone used to live or currently lives in.

However, laws can set certain rules for when people are able to get social, health and welfare benefits. For example, you may have to live in a particular province for a certain length of time before getting health benefits from that province. Also, provinces with an employment rate below the national average may create programs that are only available to its own socially and economically disadvantaged residents. These programs encourage the residents to stay in the province and contribute to the workforce.

Legal Rights

Right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure

The Charter protects everyone’s reasonable expectation to privacy. This means that no one can search you, take away your personal belongings or access your personal information without clear legal reasons.

Authorities acting on behalf of the government, such as the police, must carry out their duties in a fair and reasonable way. For example, they cannot enter private property or take things without good reason. Police are required to get a warrant from a judge before searching someone’s home.

Interactions with the justice system

The Charter sets out rights that deal with the interaction between the justice system and individuals. These rights ensure that individuals are treated fairly at every stage of the justice process. This is especially true if an individual is charged with a criminal offence.

Protection against unreasonable laws

The Charter protects everyone against unreasonable laws that could lead to imprisonment or harm their physical safety. The law may still comply with the Charter if it is consistent with a basic set of values. For example, there must be a rational link between the law’s purpose and its effect on people’s liberty. Also, laws should not have a severe impact on people’s rights to life, liberty or security of the person.

Protection against arrest without good reason

The Charter also says law enforcement agencies cannot take actions against individuals that are random or not backed by good reasons. A police officer, for example, must have reasonable grounds to believe you have committed a crime and must tell you why you are being arrested and detained. You also have the right to consult a lawyer without delay and to be informed of this right. Finally, you have the right to have a court decide whether this detention is lawful. If you believe your detention is not legal, the Charter protects your right to challenge it.

Rights after arrest

If you are charged with an offence under federal or provincial law you have the right to:

be told quickly of the offence you are charged with

be tried within a reasonable amount of time

choose not to testify at your own trial

be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a fair and public hearing by an independent and unbiased tribunal

only be denied reasonable bail with cause

be tried by a jury for serious charges

be convicted only for an act or omission that was a crime at the time it was committed

only be tried or punished once for an offence

receive the lesser punishment if the punishment for the crime changes between the time it was committed and the time of sentencing

Protection against cruel and unusual punishment

In addition the Charter protects everyone from cruel and unusual punishment. This includes torture, excessive or abusive use of force by law enforcement officials. Also, sentences of imprisonment must match the seriousness of the crime committed. For example, an extremely long prison sentence is not appropriate for a very minor crime.

Rights in Court

The Charter offers certain protections if you are accused of a crime and must go to court. This includes your right to a quick and reasonably speedy trial. This trial must be fair and done by an unbiased court that assumes your innocence until you’re proven guilty. You are also entitled to an interpreter during court proceedings if you do not understand the language or if you are hearing impaired.

Anyone who is a witness in a trial has the right to not have incriminating evidence used against them in later proceedings. For example, if you admit to a crime while acting as a witness in court at someone else’s trial, the police cannot use it to prove your guilt in court later. Perjury, which is lying during legal proceedings, is the one exception to this rule.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act protects people under the age of 18. For more information on this act, check out this guide to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Equality rights

Equality rights are at the core of the Charter. They are intended to ensure that everyone is treated with the same respect, dignity and consideration (i.e. without discrimination), regardless of personal characteristics such as race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, residency, marital status or citizenship.

As a result, everyone should be treated the same under the law. Everyone is also entitled to the same benefits provided by laws or government policies. However, the Charter does not require the government to always treat people in exactly the same way. Sometimes protecting equality means that we must adapt rules or standards to take account of people's differences. An example of this would be allowing people to observe different religious holidays without losing their job.

Governments can also promote equality by passing laws or creating programs that aim to improve the conditions of people who have been disadvantaged because of the personal characteristics listed above. For example, governments can create affirmative action programs targeted at increasing employment for persons with disabilities.

Official language rights

The Charter establishes that English and French are the official languages of the country and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada. It also establishes principle of advancement or progression of the equality of status and use of the official languages by Parliament or by the provincial legislatures. Parliament acted on this principle of advancement in 1988 by passing the Official Languages Act and by providing, in the Criminal Code, for the right to a trial in the official language of the accused. Many provincial and territorial governments have also passed language legislation.

The Charter establishes that everyone has the right to use English or French in any debates and other proceedings of Parliament. The statutes, records and journals of Parliament must be printed and published in both languages, and both language versions are equally authoritative.

Everyone has the right to use English or French in, or in any pleading in or process issuing from, any court established by Parliament.

Any member of the public also has the right to communicate with and receive services in English or French from any head office of an institution of Parliament or government of Canada. They have this same right from any office of an institution where there is a significant demand for communications with and services from that office in such language; or where due to the nature of the office, it is reasonable that communications with and services from that office be available in both English and French.

Similar rights apply in New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province in Canada. In fact, members of the public in New Brunswick have the right to communicate and obtain services in either English or French from any office of an institution of the legislature or government of New Brunswick. The English and French linguistic communities in New Brunswick also have equality of status and equal rights and privileges. This includes the right to distinct educational institutions and cultural institutions that preserve and promote those communities.

Minority-language education rights

Every province and territory has official language minority communities (French-speaking communities outside Quebec and English-speaking minorities in Quebec). Section 23 of the Charter guarantees minority language educational rights to French-speaking communities outside Quebec, and to English-speaking minorities in Quebec.  It applies to all provinces and territories.

Canadian citizens living outside of Quebec have the right to send their children to French schools if:

their mother tongue is French

they attended French primary and secondary schools in Canada

they have child who has attended or is attending French primary or secondary schools in Canada

Canadian citizens living in Quebec have the right to send their children to English schools if:

they themselves attended English primary and secondary schools in Canada

they have a child who has attended or is attending English primary or secondary schools in Canada

This right to minority-language instruction applies where there’s a large enough number of people to justify it.

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[panelki]

To Europe “po Blatu”

It seems that less-than-democratic regimes in the Balkans and the Caucasus are entertaining the feeling that Victor Orban’s Hungary represents their access point to the European Union on their own terms. We are witnessing the revival of a very Soviet concept of “blat” on European soil. Anyone who has lived, even for a fleeting moment, in the Soviet Union is familiar with the concept of “blat.” Linguists say the concept was apparently born in the Russian Empire’s petty criminal underworld and denoted a person, who, while not being part of the thieving enterprise, could provide vital information or access to coveted property. In Soviet gulags, the meaning of “blat” changed : it now meant someone in the prison system who was willing to provide access to goods or privileges that inmates were not allowed. As the gulag subculture and jargon expanded throughout the Soviet Union, to get things “po blatu” (or “through blat”) evolved to mean accessing goods and services that ordinary Soviet citizens were not entitled to — from toilet paper to caviar to Bolshoi theater tickets — through a conveniently placed facilitator or intermediary. Today, European Union membership is one such coveted privilege. Yes, it can be accessed legally, but many entrenched regimes would prefer not to pay the high price of adapting their system of governance — simply because the rule of law, free elections and free media might mean the demise of their own rule. So they seek a roundabout way. Enter Victor Orban, self-professed ideological architect of another, “illiberal” Europe — “the Dark Continent” to borrow the title of Mark Mazower’s excellent historical review, which argues that nothing was preordained in the emergence of democratic Europe, and that another European ideology — of petty nationalisms, fascism, and authoritarianism - was just as potent. True, Hungary was a functioning democracy when it entered the European Union. But as it stands now, Budapest is a beacon of hope for all those profiteering leaders convinced that all the talk of rule of law, human rights, and freedoms emanating from Brussels is just empty ideologized banter — just like the communist ideological cliches were in the late Soviet period. They hope their man on the inside — one Mr. Orban — could unlock the door from within, providing access to the coveted structural funds and other EU goodies that could cement their regimes for posterity, by preventing the collapse of badly managed economies. But can Orban do that, really? Given the EU’s complex decision-making structure, especially when it comes to membership, the correct answer is probably “no”. But in this game, just as often in politics, perception matters more. Accession to the EU is a multi-stage process. Given that EU membership is popular with electorates — for political, but also mercantile reasons - clearing each stage brings electoral benefits to the ruling parties and politicians, not to mention the ideological boost. By showing they advance toward the EU without changing their ways, they can demoralize the opposition and further undermine it electorally. This was apparently the thinking of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili when he rolled out the red carpet in Tbilisi to EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi in mid-November. Mr. Varhelyi is known as Orban’s close ally. He has been called “Orban’s man in Brussels” by respectable Deutsche Welle, and even the “Voldemort of enlargement” by no less respectable Politico. The Georgian and Hungarian prime ministers signed a declaration of “strategic partnership” in October, and Varhelyi has met Garibashvili, who governs the country on behalf of his boss, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, on at least four occasions in one year. Oliver Varhelyiand Irakli Garibachvili, in November. // Varhelyi’s Twitter account As always, the tone was cordial, with the Commissioner pointing out that “the economy is apparently doing great” judging by the capital’s main throughfare, and ducking questions about the ruling party pressuring the opposition. Yes, he paid pro forma lip service to the reforms necessary for Georgia to get the status of a candidate state. But the main thrust of his commentary was about ensuring connectivity — oil and gas pipelines, and perhaps internet cable — to authoritarian Azerbaijan, which has become an energy lifeline to the EU. Garibashvili has been irritated by hundreds of thousands of Georgians hitting the streets over the summer when his government failed to secure the candidacy alongside Ukraine and Moldova. Tbilisi’s official line on the war in Ukraine repeats almost word for word Orban’s own messaging about his government securing “stability and security.” Just like Hungary’s ruling “Fidesz”, the ruling “Georgian Dream” has articulated the message about the “duplicitous western conspiracy” to use Ukraine as an armed stick to beat Putin’s Russia with. Kim Lane Scheppele demonstrated brilliantly how that message helped Orban defeat the united opposition in the last elections and to cement his power to the extent that it no longer seems to be possible to unseat him through constitutional means. Now Mr. Ivanishvili aims to keep Garibashvili’s unpopular government in place by using similar tactics. Georgia is not the first to try and use the Hungarian “blat”. Serbia’s authoritarian ruler, Aleksandar Vucic, has taken many a leaf from Orban’s playbook. He has also courted Commissioner Varhelyi to advance on the EU path, while muzzling the media, bullying the opposition, and staying as ambiguous as possible about Putin’s regime. Dysfunctional politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina have tried to do the same. Where does this leave the European Union? Of course, Mr. Orban’s motives are not altruistic. He has been the enfant terrible of the EU for a while now, at odds with Brussels on too many counts. The front he put up together with Poland to protect himself from tougher EU sanctions has weakened considerably, as Budapest increasingly diverged with Warsaw on Russia. But helping Brussels out in getting Azerbaijani oil and gas may compensate that damage somewhat, while grooming the regimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Georgia as potentially grateful candidates may bring dividends down the road. This is a dangerous path for the internal coherence of the European Union as a value-based alliance of states. If the ability of Ukraine to resist the Russian aggression has demonstrated anything, it is that cohesion based on values is not only ethically admirable, but it also underpins the state’s resilience against undemocratic foes. The Ukrainian resistance — and Putin’s brutal recklessness - has opened eyes wide shut in the Western capitals to the expediency of admitting new members. But admitting governments that cynically defy the EU’s own rules would only boost the pattern of “negative convergence” where increasingly seasoned European democracies come to resemble dysfunctional central and Eastern European polities. It seems now that Europe is aware of the challenge. The European Commission has blocked €7.5bn in cohesion funds to Hungary, while the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs has requested an investigation into the conduct of Commissioner Varhelyi for “deliberately seeking to circumvent and undermine the centrality of the rule of law reforms in EU accession countries.” Does this signal the end of the authoritarian and oligarchic “blat” in Europe? Anything is still possible.

[dorematrix1]

The Evolution and Impact of 3D Game Development

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital entertainment, 3D game development has emerged as a cornerstone of the gaming industry. From its early rudimentary beginnings to the sophisticated, immersive experiences available today, 3D game development has continually pushed the boundaries of technology and creativity. This article explores the journey of 3D game development, its current state, and its future potential.

The Genesis of 3D Game Development

The roots of 3D game development can be traced back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the advent of vector graphics. Games like "Battlezone" and "Elite" pioneered the use of 3D graphics, albeit in a rudimentary form. These early attempts laid the groundwork for future advancements by introducing the concept of a three-dimensional space in which players could interact.

The real breakthrough came in the 1990s with the advent of more powerful hardware and the development of sophisticated rendering techniques. Games like "Wolfenstein 3D" and "Doom" by id Software introduced true 3D environments, allowing players to navigate through spaces with a sense of depth and realism previously unattainable. These titles were instrumental in popularizing the first-person shooter genre and demonstrated the potential of 3D graphics in gaming.

The Rise of 3D Engines

The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the emergence of dedicated 3D engines, which revolutionized game development. Engines like Unreal Engine, Unity, and CryEngine provided developers with powerful tools to create complex 3D environments and realistic physics. These engines democratized game development, enabling independent developers to create high-quality games without the need for extensive resources.

Unreal Engine, developed by Epic Games, became particularly influential due to its versatility and robust feature set. Its introduction of features like real-time lighting, advanced physics, and realistic character animations set a new standard for the industry. Unity, known for its user-friendly interface and cross-platform capabilities, became a favorite among indie developers and educational institutions.

Technological Advancements

The continuous advancements in hardware and software have allowed 3D game development to reach new heights. Graphics processing units (GPUs) have become exponentially more powerful, enabling the creation of highly detailed textures, complex shaders, and realistic lighting effects. Techniques like ray tracing, which simulates the behavior of light in real-time, have brought an unprecedented level of realism to games.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have further expanded the possibilities of 3D game development. VR headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive offer immersive experiences, allowing players to step into virtual worlds and interact with them in a natural way. AR games, such as "Pokémon GO," blend the real world with digital elements, creating unique and engaging experiences.

The Future of 3D Game Development

The future of 3D game development looks promising, with emerging technologies poised to revolutionize the industry once again. Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to play a significant role, with advancements in machine learning enabling more realistic non-player characters (NPCs) and dynamic game environments that adapt to player actions.

The integration of blockchain technology could also transform 3D game development by enabling decentralized game worlds and economies. Players could have true ownership of in-game assets, which could be traded or sold outside the game's ecosystem.

Moreover, cloud gaming services like Google Stadia and NVIDIA GeForce Now are making high-quality 3D games more accessible by offloading the processing power to remote servers. This could lower the barrier to entry for both developers and players, allowing for more diverse and innovative games.

Conclusion

3D game development has come a long way from its humble beginnings, continually evolving and adapting to new technologies and player expectations. Today, it stands at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and artistic creativity, offering experiences that are more immersive and engaging than ever before. As we look to the future, the potential for further innovation and growth in 3D game development is boundless, promising exciting times ahead for both developers and gamers alike.

[shivanshri]

Accessible Luxury: American Diamonds Shine

In the world of fine jewelry, American Diamonds are making a significant impact, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional gemstones. These lab-created beauties are not only dazzling in their brilliance but also symbolize affordability and accessibility for jewelry enthusiasts worldwide. In this blog, we'll delve into the allure of American Diamonds, exploring why they have become a symbol of luxury that's within reach for everyone.

The Appeal of American Diamonds

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Beauty Without the Price Tag

American Diamonds offer the same stunning sparkle and beauty as natural diamonds but at a fraction of the cost. By harnessing advanced technology, these lab-created gems emulate the brilliance and clarity of their mined counterparts, allowing consumers to indulge in luxury without breaking the bank.

Ethical and Sustainable

Unlike natural diamonds, which are often associated with environmental concerns and ethical issues, American Diamonds are created in controlled laboratory environments using sustainable practices. This ethical production process resonates with consumers who prioritize transparency and responsibility in their purchasing decisions.

American Diamonds: Accessible Luxury

Making Luxury Attainable

For many consumers, the allure of luxury jewelry has always been tempered by prohibitive price tags. American Diamonds are changing that narrative by offering luxury pieces at a price point that's accessible to a broader audience. This democratization of luxury allows individuals from all walks of life to experience the joy of owning exquisite jewelry without financial barriers.

Catering to Diverse Tastes

American Diamonds come in a wide range of styles and designs, catering to diverse tastes and preferences. Whether you prefer classic solitaire rings, vintage-inspired earrings, or contemporary pendant necklaces, there's an American Diamond piece to suit every style and occasion. This versatility further enhances their appeal and accessibility to a broad spectrum of consumers.

The Versatility of American Diamonds

Everyday Elegance

American Diamonds aren't just reserved for special occasions; they're perfect for elevating everyday looks with a touch of elegance. From simple stud earrings to delicate pendant necklaces, these versatile pieces add a hint of sparkle to any outfit, whether you're running errands or meeting friends for brunch.

Statement Pieces

For those times when you want to make a bold statement, American Diamonds shine brightest. Statement rings, statement earrings, and statement necklaces adorned with dazzling gems instantly elevate your look and command attention, making you feel like a true style icon.

American Diamonds are more than just gemstones; they're symbols of affordability, accessibility, and ethical luxury. With their stunning beauty, ethical production process, and accessible price point, American Diamonds offer a compelling alternative to traditional mined diamonds. So why compromise on style when you can sparkle with confidence and conscience? Embrace the allure of American Diamonds today and elevate your jewelry collection with pieces that shine as brightly as your values.