Thurs Blogcast: Does AI make us better workers?
December 11, 2025
A request for your consideration from Producer Dragon
My daughter-in-law's father (my grandson's OTHER grandfather) is in need of a bit of help.
He has a very rare condition called Loeys-Dietz that causes the thinning of artery walls. He currently has a brain aneurysm that needs to be 'clipped' as soon as possible. There are plenty of wonderful surgeons in Colorado that can do the procedure, but none of them are knowledgeable about performing it on someone with his condition. There is an amazing surgeon at the Mayo Clinic who is an expert in both Loeys-Dietz and vascular brain aneurysm surgery. Here's the catch, their insurance doesn't cover out of state procedures, so they need to come up with the money to pay for it.
Please take a moment to look over their GoFundMe, share the link, and if possible, please donate.
Thank you!
Dragon
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Just One Thing: Trump returns to rallies
Please read and subscribe to my Substack!
Here's the start of today's Substack note: Trump returns to rallies - by Ross Kaminsky
I think stories like this from Politico are missing the point: ‘Never going to be pitch perfect’: Trump loyalists see an imperfect messenger - POLITICO
Literally nobody other than political analysts or inexperienced political strategists cares about the content at a Trump rally. Sure, if somehow he were magically another person -- someone who gave specifics about what he’ll do about an issue such as “affordability” and stay on point -- then maybe people would care.
But the content of Trump’s rhetoric at rallies is meaningless in every way but one:
Trump returns to rallies - by Ross Kaminsky
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Today's Guests
Professor Vasant Dhar teaches business and data science at the NYU Stern School of Business. We'll discuss how humans can make themselves (namely their employment) AI-proof, or at least AI-resistant. (See second link below).
NYU Stern - Vasant Dhar - Robert A Miller Professor of Business
ChatGPT at three: How AI is changing work and productivity
Brave New World podcast series: https://bravenewpodcast.com/
His latest book, Thinking With Machines at: http://bit.ly/3Hjh96j
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Other Stuff
I know, it's an important bill with a lot of stuff, but really we should NEVER have a 3,000-page piece of legislation. I suspect there is literally not one person on earth who has read it, or has read even 20% of it. It's a bunch of various things cobbled together by lobbyists and a few politicians in leadership and then stuck together with Krazy Glue.
House passes NDAA, $900 billion defense policy bill, in 312-112 vote - CBS News
I think the arguments against this are nonsense, and it’s just defense contractors wanting to keep their right to bill $1000/hour for repair services. Congress quietly strips right-to-repair provisions from 2026 NDAA despite wide support
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Some sports stuff:
The new oldest player in the NFL: Philip Rivers trades retirement for Indianapolis Colts return - Axios Indianapolis
Looks like the stadium is back on track: $50 million for Denver Summit stadium cleared by city council committee
Denver Summit FC stadium back on track to stay in Denver
Denver council committee advances Denver Summit FC stadium deal
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Clever, but evil: Denver man accused of spoofing state’s ID app to forge digital driver’s licenses, get lines of credit | 9news.com
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Should the US do this (putting aside questions of constitutionality)?
New Australian law restricts kids on social media
Australia’s social media ban is a flawed approach to protecting children
Age verification errors see some under-16s retain access to banned social media platforms - ABC News
As for Colorado, don't forget this: Court Blocks Colorado Law Requiring Social Media Warning Labels 11/07/2025
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Wow (in a bad way): Fired Michigan coach Moore in custody, suspect in alleged assault - ESPN
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Look at the incredible number of new humans predicted in poor countries. Europe better get a handle on their immigration policies or they will be overrun far more than they are already. I note also that 3 of the top 6 and 4 of the top 9 are Muslim countries.
Mapped: Global Births by Country in 2025
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Oh, you must be kidding: In-N-Out Removes '67' from Its Ordering System After Viral '6-7' Trend
Yesterday at church the Bible readings started on page 66-67 of the missal, and my 5-year-old went absolutely nuts repeating "six seven" like 10 times. And now I think we need to make this narrow exception to the first amendment and ban these numbers forever.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) December 10, 2025
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The US seizes an oil tanker leaving Venezuela: US seizes oil tanker off Venezuela as Caracas condemns 'act of piracy'
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Sure, why not? Jeana, who has way more fun out in the town than I do, will help me and you understand all this:
$10,000 for decor and more: Here’s what it takes to build holiday pop-up bars
29 pop-up bars where you can find holiday cheer in Denver and beyond
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I get it and I don't entirely hate it and other countries have similar provisions and even the US has something that's only moderately different, with an employment provision, but it seems to me that if a foreigner can get the right to not pay tax on non-US income, then an American should get that right too.
The thing we already have that's somewhat similar: EB-5 visa - Wikipedia
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Astroturf often works: National Republicans Propped Up Jasmine Crockett to Push Her Into a Senate Run - NOTUS — News of the United States
Remember, Dems did this a few years back spending a bunch of money in Republican primaries to get ultra-MAGA types to be the GOP nominees so that Dems could beat them. And they had some success.
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I have to say that given the difficulty and risk of this work and the cost of living around Telluride, the offer from the resort doesn't seem like something I'd take if I had that job: Telluride ski patrol union rejects resort's pay plan, setting up a strike
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I think this is a stupid rule and can you imagine how much it will bog down visa processing? Trump’s ‘chilling’ social media snooping rule imperils World Cup, critics warn – POLITICO
I know the Trump team has a lot of overreaching rule ideas but I suspect that this one is so stupid that it will be quietly withdrawn.
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The climate grifters still won't stop.
A Huge Retraction, the Usual Playbook, and Reason for Optimism
Authors retract Nature paper projecting high costs of climate change – Retraction Watch
Climate Change Study Predicting Dire Economic Damage Is Retracted - WSJ
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If you thought you were gonna get to dump your student loan debt on to taxpayers through Biden's illegal plan, think again:
Education Department announces deal to end Biden's SAVE student loan plan
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I need to learn more about this. One thing I know: Trump overestimates the profit margins of health insurance companies.
Trump backs Senate GOP bill to give Americans $1,500 checks for health care — here’s who qualifies
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Today's Video
Wait, is that real or some kind of little wind-up toy?
@aurahcyz006 Out for a walk with my little noodle dog 🐕 🍃
♬ Cupid - Twin Ver. (FIFTY FIFTY) (Sped Up Version) - FIFTY FIFTY
Someone is cranky!
@jessbrownsberger have to bring this back out every year!! Merry Christmas 🫶🏽
♬ original sound - jessbrownsberger