Sunday, November 3, 2024

Dear Daily Disaster Diary, Nov.3 2024

 When a fellow tells me he`s bipartisan, I know he`s going to vote against me.

- Harry S. Truman


BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS...


Breaking News: Orban Sprints to Congratulate Trump on 'Landslide' Win, Leaves Putin and Kim Jong-un Fuming!


In a shockingly swift and arguably premature announcement, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has reportedly congratulated Donald Trump on a "landslide victory" in the U.S. elections — two days before Americans even go to the polls. Known for his bold moves, Orban wasted no time in delivering his message of support, sidestepping the minor detail of, well, an actual election.


Sources say Russian President Vladimir Putin, previously confident of being first in line to congratulate his American counterpart, was caught off guard. A source close to the Kremlin revealed Putin's reaction: “Vlad was sipping his tea and waiting for the news, but when he saw Orban’s post... let’s just say, that tea is now part of Russian history.”


Adding to the intrigue, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, reportedly miffed at being upstaged by both Orban and Putin, dispatched his assistant with a “hastily worded, emphatic” congratulations note of his own, complete with colorful emojis. However, U.S. intelligence intercepted a second message, suggesting that Kim may have accidentally DM'd his praise to a Trump parody account.

Analysts are still scrambling to explain how Orban’s premature proclamation will impact the international standings. When asked if he had any insights, Trump himself allegedly commented, “Look, everybody congratulates me. I’m the most congratulated guy you’ve ever seen. It’s huge.”


Sincerely,

Adaptation-Guide

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Dear Daily Disaster Diary, Nov.2 2024

 We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it in full.

- Marcel Proust


Friday, November 1, 2024

Dear Daily Disaster Diary, Nov. 1 2024

 Dreams are nothing but incoherent ideas, occasioned by partial or imperfect sleep.

- Benjamin Rush


Thursday, October 31, 2024

Dear Daily Disaster Diary, Oct. 31 2024

 Life often presents us with a choice of evils rather than of goods.

- Charles Caleb Colton


Q & Adaptation-answer


You guys were never on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, TIKTOK etc. , you never bought a VW or a TESLA. How did you know?


In an age where the world is a screen away, and “engagement” means scrolling through a social feed until it fuels your latest outrage, we’ve opted out. 

That’s right—no Facebook, no Twitter, no TikTok. No Teslas or VWs parked in our driveways. We didn’t “catch on” by accident; it was research, pure and simple. The kind of research that every successful venture should be built on. 

And it led us to a truth as unsettling as it is simple: Big Tech isn’t here for fact-driven dialogue or rational exchanges. It’s here to rile us up because that’s what sells, and nothing rakes in profit quite like anger, fear, and uncertainty.

This business model has a name: “the outrage industrial complex.” It’s an apt phrase for a digital ecosystem built on sowing division and feeding resentment. 

Platforms thrive on tribalism—an endless cycle of “us against them,” using every inflammatory tool at their disposal. Politicians like Trump are Big Tech’s greatest beneficiaries and the ultimate rage farmers. 

Divisive by design, he doesn’t deal in unity; his playbook is all about disunity, hopelessness, and distrust. Because outrage? That’s the fuel keeping his campaign engine revved and his followers fired up.

So, would there even be a MAGA movement without Big Tech? Not a chance.

Our decision to stay off social media wasn’t about a naïve longing for simpler times; it’s a conscious stand against these digital machines that profit from discord. 

Social media’s business model isn’t simply troubling; it’s toxic. 

Our answer? Resist it. 

And “resistance” doesn’t mean glueing ourselves to buildings or resorting to slogans that burn hot and fade fast. Instead, we resist with our wallets.

When corporations openly support those whose values we oppose, we take action. 

Toyota may have its merits, but it won’t get a dollar from us while funding a party bent on dividing Americans. 

Amazon’s out, too—Jeff Bezos may rule the retail world, but we won’t buy from a conglomerate that perpetuates a dystopian level of dominance in media and market alike. 

And when companies stand up for transparency, we support them: hence, our latest subscription to The New York Times because it dared to sue EU President Ursula von der Leyen over accountability. Resistance cuts both ways.

Sure, it’s inconvenient. Sure, it’s a pain to juggle apps to avoid Amazon, or to skip the car for a train, or to find alternatives that don’t have Big Tech’s fingerprints all over them. 

But that’s what it means to draw a line in the sand. We’ve opted for inconvenient principles over convenient silence. Our wallets are our megaphones. It’s not as easy as tweeting, but it’s worth a thousand retweets.

So, what’s your resistance? Will you spend your money to support what you believe, or throw it into the outrage machine?


Sincerely,

Adaptation-Guide


Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Famous Last Words.....Oct. 24`

 What the American public wants in the theater is a tragedy with a happy ending.

- William D. Howells


Inhofe on Climate Change vs. Terrorism

The climate crisis is one of the most insidious problems of our time, and there’s a reason we’re struggling to address it. 

This isn’t just a matter of policy or technology; it’s a deep-rooted conflict of interests and priorities. The systems we’ve built under capitalism—our economic frameworks, our decision-making structures—are more powerful than our concerns about the climate. 

This is the real problem: no single solution will work because the interests aligned against meaningful action are overwhelming.

Take, for instance, the factory owner who might have an eco-conscious mind but still needs to generate enough returns for shareholders. No matter how green her intentions, if she doesn’t satisfy those shareholders, she won’t have the power to make sustainable choices. 

And politicians? They’re bound by election cycles. For them, any environmental decision carries weight only as far as the next election—and not a day further.

Ordinary citizens, too, find themselves torn. We’re not just members of a global society; we’re workers, consumers, and individuals first and foremost. Yes, we might care about the climate, but we also benefit from the profits of the current system, even if it exploits resources unsustainably. 

So, here we are: a society collectively reaping the gains but individually reluctant to bear the cost of a damaged planet.

And then, there’s the GOP—a political entity that might as well be actively opposed to environmental progress. Sound science confirms that we need to limit pollutants like mercury to protect children and vulnerable communities from toxic air. But with recent decisions, it's become clear that environmental neglect and even, one might argue, "environmental terrorism" are part of their playbook. 

The so-called “pro-life” stance evaporates in the face of policies that allow pollution to compromise people’s health and lives.

The Supreme Court's recent rejection of the Chevron doctrine is a stark example of the courts aligning with powerful corporate interests at the expense of the average citizen. 

The doctrine used to give agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the flexibility to interpret ambiguous laws in favor of protecting the public. 

Now, judges—who are no environmental experts—have stripped the EPA of vital regulatory authority, leaving corporations freer to pollute. 

This abandonment has made the looming environmental catastrophe all the more likely. And while Congress could theoretically fix these issues, the reality is that partisan gridlock has neutered it as a reliable avenue for meaningful change.

In the past two terms alone, the Supreme Court has gutted the EPA’s power to address climate change and water pollution. Consider the recent ruling on cross-state air pollution, in which a 5-4 majority decided to leave Eastern states vulnerable to pollution from industrialized regions in the West. 

This pollution brings devastating consequences, from smog to respiratory issues and even premature death. The party responsible doesn’t care—and why should they? Their allegiance is to ideology, not reality, and they openly dismiss scientific data that contradicts their worldview.

To understand this resistance, we need only look back at figures like the late Senator James Inhofe. 

His infamous 2015 snowball stunt in Congress, presented as “proof” that global warming is a myth, was nothing short of anti-science absurdity. 

Even then-President Obama couldn’t help but ridicule the moment. But Inhofe’s remarks reveal a deeper problem: his belief that humans are powerless to affect God’s creation, that climate change is beyond our control. 

This dangerous ideology fuels the GOP’s resistance to environmental protections. If they refuse to acknowledge the crisis, then data, evidence, and human health are nothing more than inconveniences.

So here we are, facing an environmental abyss with one party choosing willful ignorance over hard reality. 

Accurate data and scientific truth mean nothing to those who refuse to see beyond their narrow worldview. 

The power to change our path lies with each of us, but it’s a choice we all must make—and the stakes have never been higher.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Dear Daily Disaster Diary, Oct. 29 2024

 As soils are depleted, human health, vitality and intelligence go with them.

- Louis Bromfield


Monday, October 28, 2024

Dear Daily Disaster Diary, Oct.28 2024

 Everyone wishes to have truth on his side, but not everyone wishes to be on the side of truth.

- Richard Whately

Is the UN warning of 3,1 C global warming a surprise?


Enough with the 1.5-Degree Talk—Let’s Set Goals That Match Our New Reality

Let’s break it to ourselves: the 1.5-degree climate target is a lost cause. Back in 2022, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) declared that there’s “no plausible pathway” to reaching it anymore. 

And while veteran climate diplomats might whisper that it’s “technically” achievable, the reality is that this target has become practically unattainable.

To put it plainly, the solemn promise made by the world’s nations in 2015—to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century—is dead. 

It’s expected that within just a few years, likely in the early 2030s, this highly symbolic benchmark will be crossed.

And frankly, that’s a bombshell. Because where do we go from here? Who will take on the thankless task of telling young people, with some credibility, that the world won’t come crashing down because this target wasn’t met? 

Who will own up to the failures that got us here, and who will step forward—credibly—to promise that the 2-degree goal will be our next hard stop? 

And how many fear-mongers will jump at the chance to fuel panic and division?

It’s high time for our leaders to tell it like it is: we’re losing the 1.5-degree target, and here’s why. 

Since the Paris Agreement of 2015, “climate action” has become a hazy buzzword in government policies around the globe, but also a fountain of frustration. 

Promises, both formal and informal, have gone unfulfilled. Efforts to steer national policies along a globally agreed climate path have stumbled, while earlier progress has been reversed, and more ambitious goals have been left gathering dust.

The truth is, we need a complete rethink—starting with ditching the 1.5-degree mantra that no one really believes in anymore. 

New goals must be grounded in reality, aimed at helping us adapt to a world that is warming despite our best efforts. 

It’s time to set objectives that reflect our new normal and can drive real, tangible change.


Sincerely,

Adaptation- Guide

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Dear Daily Disaster Diary, Oct. 27 2024

 Knowledge of means without knowledge of ends is animal training.

- Everett Dean Martin


 Preparing for the Next Pandemic - A Matter of National Security and Responsibility

In the wake of COVID-19, governments worldwide have been given a harsh reminder: the next pandemic isn’t a question of if but when. 

This isn’t just a health issue; it’s a matter of national security, economic stability, and public trust. Pandemic fatigue may be real, but ignoring the hard-earned lessons from COVID-19 is simply not an option.

A recent report offers Canada a comprehensive guide to ensure we’re better prepared when the next crisis strikes, and its recommendations are timely, practical, and achievable. 

It wisely avoids the contentious headlines of pandemic politics – vaccine distribution woes, nursing home disasters, lockdown frustrations – and instead zeroes in on how we can gather and use information to make better decisions. 

The four focus areas, risk assessment, science advice, research coordination, and data management, are the foundation of a resilient response to any future health crisis. Here’s a look at what must change and why:

1. Risk Assessment: Knowing Our Strengths and Weaknesses

It’s not enough to calculate the risk of a pandemic. Governments also need to measure our actual preparedness. During COVID-19, static measures (like the number of testing labs) were woefully inadequate. It turns out that dynamic measures – like how quickly we detect, report, and act on a new outbreak – are what matter most in an active crisis. 

To future-proof our pandemic response, governments must establish and regularly test these benchmarks, ensuring they’re met under real-world pressures. A key recommendation is to implement continuous testing and practice drills. This would not only gauge readiness but also highlight gaps needing urgent attention.

2. Science Advice: Centralize It and Make It Actionable

Clear, reliable scientific advice is the backbone of an effective response. In the chaos of COVID-19, scientific guidance often appeared fragmented or delayed, confusing the public and policymakers alike. The report suggests a more centralized and coordinated approach, where public health advice is swiftly and consistently communicated. Science, after all, is only as useful as the trust it earns. To safeguard that trust, science advice should be communicated transparently and free from political influence.

3. Research Coordination: Prepare, Don’t Scramble

The COVID-19 pandemic saw an incredible acceleration in research – but imagine if we’d had coordination mechanisms in place beforehand. The report recommends investing in a permanent research coordination framework that bridges health, industry, and security policies. This would help us hit the ground running on treatments, testing, and vaccines without the delays caused by piecemeal collaboration. By strengthening these research networks and setting priorities in advance, we avoid scrambling for answers and instead focus on rapid, evidence-based solutions.

4. Data Management: Real-Time Information Saves Lives

COVID-19 taught us that data is power – and in a pandemic, it’s the power to save lives. The report calls for a major overhaul in how data is collected, shared, and used across sectors. Governments need a real-time data system to track the spread of disease and allocate resources effectively. More importantly, this data should be accessible not only to public health agencies but also to researchers and local leaders, ensuring that decisions are made based on the best possible information.

Implementation: The Only Way to Make Progress

Let’s be clear: a list of recommendations is meaningless without follow-through. The government must not only commit to these measures but also provide transparency on timelines, costs, and progress. This transparency isn’t just good governance – it’s accountability, a way to ensure public trust and demonstrate commitment. Implementation will be the true test of Canada’s readiness for the next pandemic.

A Call to Action

The time to act is now. If governments don’t adopt these recommendations, they’re leaving us vulnerable to another national crisis. 

And if they fail to report on their progress, it signals a lack of seriousness in protecting Canadians’ health and security. COVID-19 laid bare the intersection of health, industry, and national security. 

We have the knowledge and tools to prepare for the next crisis – now, it’s up to our leaders to turn that knowledge into action.

This report is a wake-up call, a step-by-step guide to a safer future. Let’s make sure it doesn’t gather dust on a shelf.


Sincerely,


Adaptation-Guide

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Dear Daily Disaster Diary, Oct. 26 2024

 The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Billions In Pandemic Relief Funds Lost To Fraud

Q & Adaptation-answer

"I am in Europe and cannot believe what is going on in the US. You guys have the library and the facts. Please advise".

Answer:

Dear baffled European,

Welcome to the American paradox—where "In God We Trust" is printed on every dollar bill, yet the real creed seems to be “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” 

You’re absolutely right; the devotion to wealth runs deeper than any slogan. And in the "CONservative" playbook, that means prioritizing money and power over common sense, let alone public health or fair governance.

The pandemic’s handling laid bare the ruthless priorities at work here. 

It was like a high-stakes game of Monopoly where cheating wasn’t just tolerated; it was expected. 

Sure, both parties have skeletons, but the fleece was deep, and the scandalous profits seem more lopsided than ever. 

If America’s con artistry were an Olympic sport, the Conservatives would be gunning for gold, given their flair for bending rules in epic fashion. 

It’s all very American—smooth talkers and slick deals, from James Rockford’s 1970s cons to Saul Goodman’s scams—making it seem like swindling is a badge of honor rather than a moral failing.

Trump? He’s just the latest poster child for a particular brand of teflon-coated celebrity politics. 

Here’s a guy with more lawsuits than we can count, never a day behind bars, and still adored by millions. 

The Supreme Court, on top of it all, has bent over backward to let him live the American fantasy of untouchable power and wealth. 

Forget "land of the free"; Trump’s America is "land of the free-for-all." He’s relatable in all the wrong ways—obesity, unchecked ego, a brashness that would make even Wall Street blush—and yet, this strange idol worship persists.

Imagine if he looked like George Clooney, with the gravitas to match. At least the cult of personality would make some kind of sense. 

Instead, we’re left scratching our heads as an ex-reality star is treated like the country’s political messiah.

But then, after electing a former actor (who didn’t exactly play the part of an intellectual heavyweight) and a president who could barely string a coherent sentence together, maybe this era was always inevitable. 

America has turned politics into reality TV; the drama’s addictive, but it’s toxic. It’s a circus, and everyone’s complicit, either by tuning in or pretending it’s just business as usual.


Sincerely,

Adaptation-Guide






Thursday, October 24, 2024

Dear Daily Disaster Diary, Oct. 24 2024

 BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS......



"BRICS" Vows to Go Net Zero by 2025, Trump Declines Invite, Says 'Windmills Are for Losers'


BRICS has long sought to present a united front against what its members see as an unbalanced global order that is dominated by the United States and Western Europe.

Some members believe that the current global order is kind of made by the West, for the West! 

The fact that Russia has drawn 22 leaders and representatives from over 30 countries to Kazan, even two and a half years into the war, not only proves that Putin is far from isolated on the global stage but underscores the irrelevance of the ICC warrant. 

More alarmingly, it signals that the war in Ukraine has transitioned from a crisis to an entrenched status quo, tacitly accepted as part of the international order. 

The normalization of such a devastating conflict illustrates a disturbing level of complacency and complicity from the global community, revealing a grim new reality in international relations.


Sincerely,

Adaptation Guide

Dear Daily Disaster Diary, Nov.3 2024

  When a fellow tells me he`s bipartisan, I know he`s going to vote against me. - Harry S. Truman BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING N...