leicsmac

The first harvesting machine (and other associated agricultural devices). A landmark that allowed the development of modern civilisation as we know it and made the lives of everyone immeasurably easier. And Internet porn.

I'd rather The Expanse than oblivion tbh (though for me the former leads to the latter in short order anyway), but yeah, fair points all.

Point of order: IMO inequality is bad morally and also practically because it detracts from our ability to face those kinds of natural (or manmade) threats, so I'd say it's more an adjutant to them than being more threatening by itself.

Right answer. This popped up a few months back and I'm copypastaing my own thoughts from there as they still apply" The Good: AI has the potential to solve an extremely large number of problems that humanity has both now and in the future. Calculations and repetitive tasks, production of resources and oversight thereof that would be much more efficient than a human, solving complex logistical problems where a human could not...and that's just a very few of a multitude of potential uses. It has the potential to make this world so much better and render humans so much freer by giving them the most valuable resource of all - time. The Bad: However, such utilisation is only as good or bad as the people who utlilise it, and therein lies a big problem - it can also be used to oppress and control in a way that no other civilisation has had at its fingertips until now, due to the sheer amount of elements it can be put in charge of. It can also be used to further inequality and thus civil unrest by putting a lot of creative artists out of jobs while furthering profit for those at the top who control it. The science fiction scenario of it being put in charge of weapons of mass destruction that are then used to destroy us is fanciful (because a decision to remove humans from such decision-making really isn't going to happen because everyone is aware of that exact trope), but it doesn't have to be that direct to cause a great deal of suffering to human civilisation. So, overall, it's the same as any other tech development - dependent on the humans who control it - only on a much larger scale than tech developments in the past, even more than the steam engine or the Internet. We should embrace it, but we must also be damn careful.

Well, this is a proper Deadwood-style bloodbath. Might actually give England a chance to jump into 7th by the end and qualify for the Champions Trophy...

Good to see India making the most of home conditions.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67242386 Human fossil fuel emissions are threatening a key climate threshold more quickly than previously thought, a new report says. Researchers say the world may be committed to breaching the 1.5C limit by 2029, rather than the mid 2030s. They say record average emissions of carbon dioxide over the past three years are a key factor. They also point to a having a better understanding of how the burning of fossil fuels affects the atmosphere. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67271688 There are already signs that deep divisions could hamper progress at the UN's crucial COP28 climate summit. More than 70 environment ministers and 100 national delegations have been meeting in Abu Dhabi ahead of talks that begin in Dubai on November 30. Many delegates doubt that a summit hosted by a petrostate - the United Arab Emirates - can shepherd the world towards a low carbon future. This year is on track to be the hottest ever recorded globally. ...what was it that folks say about Nero, fiddling and Rome burning?

IMO Social media is a (darkly) interesting one in that it's a hugely powerful tool that can be used to further both good and bad, and our advancement of tech has really outpaced our ethical understanding of it.

Absolutely. However, that the club was in such a precarious financial position that it could be toppled by one lawsuit from that player and their agent was not down to those two individuals. IMO there were a variety of factors and culpabilties going on in that very dark time, and even though we're all Leicester fans here (or most anyhow) it would be remiss to stick our heads in the sand and not consider that one of those factors and responsibilities was financial mismanagement by our club that did hurt people and businesses.

Why on Earth can the TMO system work so well in terms of such communication in rugby, but they evidently make such a dogs breakfast of it in VAR/football?

My own experience with folks from the UK attests to this too. Or when there is conflict, it goes from 0 to 100 in a second and ends in a punchup rather than a debate.

Yes they do!

Yeah. Time was Murray would be the one inflicting such comeback situations, rather than be the subject of them. Still bugs the hell out of me that he had to play at the same time as the three greatest players who ever lived.

Agreed, but I'd add that this isn't the first issue on here that has raised (or could raise) divisive emotions to that degree. On the general topic: yeah, what Finn said.

de Minuar seems to have become something of a nemesis in the twilight of Murray's career - that's the latest in a few rather frustrating losses to him. Speaking personally I don't think he'll wander off into the sunset just yet - Wimbledon 2024 would be as good a place as any for that.

Thought I'd open this one up. India-Aus Test looks like it's shaping up for a good finale - all four results possible!