Recent posts

#51

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by viper37 - November 23, 2025, 11:20:22 AM

Looking at the polls, I didn't think Quebec sovereignty was really back in force.  It seemed like it was exactly like it was for the last two decades: 35-40% popular support.

Now, with Melanie Joly talk of delivering Quebec into the hands of Donald Trump and a Liberal MP saying we're paving the way for an American invasion of Quebec, I feel like there's something I don't see.  Maybe popular support goes beyond these official numbers? 

The Liberals are in full panic mode, going on with their fearmongering tactics as usual while there's nothing out of the ordinary, except the PQ is seen as a viable alternative to the CAQ and is trying really hard to distract everyone's attention from any union related news to avoid people paying close attention to their links.

#52

Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread

Last post by Admiral Yi - November 23, 2025, 11:18:59 AM

Come on. That's playing too dumb. You don't know what I mean by behind the scenes when I specifically mention it in a paragraph about advertising?

They absolutely do have a monopoly in parts of advertising on a par with their search dominance. Something like 90% of ads flow through their server.

I can infer that behind the scenes means all the activities Google engages in apart from the directly consumer facing aspects.  I don't understand focus.  Who is supposed to focus?  What will their focus result in?  I don't understand the relationship between focus and breaking up the company.  Will more attention be paid to their back room shenanigans once they are broken up?  Will breaking them up make it harder to hide their back room shenanigans?

Google has a monopoly on advertising on their site to the exact same extent the owner of a single billboard does.

#53

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by Syt - November 23, 2025, 10:48:04 AM

S2 of A Man on the Inside on Netflix. It's not Michael Schur's best show (The Good Place, Parks & Recreation, Brooklyn 99, The Office ...) but very sweet an charming. 7-7.5/10. Perfect for a gray November Sunday.

Though with Only Murders in the Building it's another season of a show I watch this year that has an asshole billionaire (obsessed with longevity) as part of its cast. But this time the backdrop is an arts college that's struggling for funding.

#54

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Razgovory - November 23, 2025, 07:17:17 AM

The left loves islam, for reasons unknown.

It's not quite love, but it is a double standard.  There are several related reasons for this.  The Right (Not the Islamic Right of course), doesn't like them so they feel that is a good reason to support them.  They are identified as "Oppressed", and thus more moral than the oppressors.  They don't want to get called Racist or Islamophobic, so fear is factor.  There is also the simple pragmatic element, they don't want to alienate Muslim voters.

The result is the rankest hypocrisy.  Two people hold the same views on homosexuality and gender, a Muslim and a Christian.  Both claim their beliefs come from their holy scripture.  One is held in contempt, and written off as a fascist.  The other is welcomed as an ally.  And if that ally isn't keen on Jew... Well, it would be racist to tell them they are wrong.

#55

Off the Record / Re: Youtube Recommendations

Last post by Syt - November 23, 2025, 05:25:37 AM

One of Weird Al's most iconic videos is "White & Nerdy" (parody of Ridin' Dirty).

One of the best things is Donny Osmond as background dancer in some scenes.

I did not know till now that Al had a video of just them on his channel for the whole song. Donny Osmond is mesmerizing and amazing in this.

"Normal" video. Posted it before, but you can never watch it too often.

#56

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Josquius - November 23, 2025, 05:04:21 AM

Google says it's Arabic for eee by gum

#57

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Crazy_Ivan80 - November 23, 2025, 04:56:15 AM

Over here its Arabs using it. So might be a different wallah.

#58

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by jimmy olsen - November 23, 2025, 04:09:42 AM

So apparently the Russian Duma has rejected Trump's farcical peace plan, saying only total victory is acceptable.

Link?

#59

Off the Record / Re: Quo Vadis GOP?

Last post by Josquius - November 23, 2025, 04:06:03 AM

Even if her aim is to be more of a POS than trump it is still encouraging that someone from The inner circle would feel secure enough to challenge the regime.

#60

Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread

Last post by Josquius - November 23, 2025, 03:59:01 AM

Vertical integration is where the same company owns multiple steps of the supply chain.
A company which owns the farm, the factory, and the supermarket.
In Googles case they own absolutely everything around advertising. Buyer software, seller, exchange.... It's all Google.
Breaking them up could mean focusing on this behind the scenes bit.
But even breaking up the public facing parts of the business would weaken their hold on the advertising market. At the the least takes some seller space away from them, but also weakens the amount of data they have to offer in the buyer tools.

I don't know what "breaking them up could mean focusing on this behind the scenes bit"  means.

Why do you want to weaken their hold on the advertising market?  They're a near monopoly in search, not in advertising.

Come on. That's playing too dumb. You don't know what I mean by behind the scenes when I specifically mention it in a paragraph about advertising?

They absolutely do have a monopoly in parts of advertising on a par with their search dominance. Something like 90% of ads flow through their server.