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#71

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by The Brain - December 31, 2025, 08:41:29 AM

You mean where you give your DNA to a company to find out if you are 0.06% Native American/Laplander/Swede/Irish/etc, but now the police can subpoena the company to find out if you are a match for the Zodiac killer?

That, and stuff where they identify relatives to you (and therefore you) even if you yourself have never submitted DNA.

#72

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by crazy canuck - December 31, 2025, 08:25:50 AM

Jesus Christ man.

I mean fuck that rapist guy but that is some pretty blood chilling shit.

We are all going to have to choose to live in the dark ages just to avoid constant control and monitoring aren't we?

Granted even if the government couldn't do that without a warrant, everybody else can already do it so maybe it doesn't really make that much of a difference. It is always just depressing to be reminded of it.

I wouldn't call the time before search engines the dark ages.  I think it was preferable in many ways.

#73

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by crazy canuck - December 31, 2025, 08:23:25 AM

A general observation: many US government organizations have historically been heavy hitters globally, their regulations and assessments have carried some weight worldwide in many industries. That prestige is starting to evaporate, since US government is a joke now.

The CDC was the gold standard. Now they post antivax stuff on their website. 

There was a time when our courts found judgments of US courts to be helpful when analyzing novel legal issues.

#74

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by HisMajestyBOB - December 31, 2025, 08:22:10 AM

So far the USCPSC's social media account has flown under the radar. 

#75

Off the Record / Re: Are we in the opening scen...

Last post by Tamas - December 31, 2025, 07:22:35 AM

I think we may be the closest we have ever been. Sure the Cuban Missile Crisis was pretty close and there were other crises but it feels like those were part of a "game" largely understood and more importantly adhered to by all the major participants.

We do not have that now. The two nuclear superpowers are both led by fascist cleptocracies, with America in particular run by a demented fool. Sure Putin is probably also falling apart slowly but he has a grasp of world politics.

And, not unconnectedly, we are seeing the rapid melting away of the old post-ww2 order. At one hand Russia has been proven to be an absolute paper tiger with "only" their massive nuclear arsenal keeping them at the big boys' table. On the other hand America has lost all willingness and thanks to Trump, ability, to act as a stabilising force while being very happy to be the opposite.

All this seems far more chaotic toe than the cold war era ever was, although I appreciate I am looking back at the latter in hindsight.

I think things spiralling out of control into a global armageddon is a reasonable scenario. Unlikely, but entirely possible.

#76

Off the Record / Are we in the opening scenes o...

Last post by Josquius - December 31, 2025, 06:24:55 AM

So its been quite a year....
So many norms being broken and general fucked upness around.
Is this the new normal and its all down hill from here?
Or can good times be in the future?

#77

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Tonitrus - December 31, 2025, 04:44:54 AM

You mean where you give your DNA to a company to find out if you are 0.06% Native American/Laplander/Swede/Irish/etc, but now the police can subpoena the company to find out if you are a match for the Zodiac killer?

#78

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by garbon - December 31, 2025, 04:42:28 AM

I'm not sure why the Department of Labor has someone tweeting out these things in the first place. Is NASA going to start tweeting about manifest destiny next? The Parks Service about the Monroe doctrine?

If only we could disband social media companies...

#79

Off the Record / Re: Dead Pool 2025

Last post by Solmyr - December 31, 2025, 04:41:07 AM

Another The Wire actor, Isaiah Whitlock Jr. (Senator Clay Davis). Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit!

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/isiah-whitlock-jr-the-wire-death-b2892452.html

[The Parks Service]

#80

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Tonitrus - December 31, 2025, 04:39:08 AM

I'm not sure why the Department of Labor has someone tweeting out these things in the first place. Is NASA going to start tweeting about manifest destiny next? The Parks Service about the Monroe doctrine?

Now I'm going to need to find a small sticker of Yogi Bear saluting for my national parks pass..