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Oops! Elon Musk’s Grok AI Caught Plagiarizing OpenAI’s ChatGPT

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

Soft Launch

Elon Musk's Grok AI was already having a rough launch, with the bot trashing Musk and cosigning a bunch of progressive political causes that are anathema to the increasingly regressive entrepreneur.

Now, add another woe to Grok's rocky debut: users are noticing that it seems to be cribbing from its direct competitor ChatGPT, which is made by Musk's former pals and current enemies at OpenAI.

In response to one query, for instance, Grok made a startling admission: "I'm afraid I cannot fulfill that request, as it goes against OpenAI's use case policy."

Remember, OpenAI didn't make Grok — Musk's xAI startup did, at least in theory. So what's going on?

Excuse Goose

An xAI engineer named Igor Babuschkin quickly weighed in to offer an explanation.

"The issue here is that the web is full of ChatGPT outputs, so we accidentally picked up some of them when we trained Grok on a large amount of web data," he wrote. "This was a huge surprise to us when we first noticed it."

Whether or not that's true, it's increasingly well established that weird stuff does start to happen when AI is trained on the outputs of other AI. And it's not the world's least plausible excuse, either, because we've already seen Google's AI vacuuming up and regurgitating the work of ChatGPT.

"For what it’s worth, the issue is very rare and now that we’re aware of it we’ll make sure that future versions of Grok don’t have this problem," Babuschkin continued. "Don’t worry, no OpenAI code was used to make Grok."

If that sounds like there wasn't much testing on Grok before releasing it to the world... well, yes. As such, observers were quick to drag the excuse.

"We plagiarized your plagiarism so we could put plagiarism in your plagiarism," quipped NBC News reporter Ben Collins.

More on Grok: Elon Musk Seeking $1 Billion for His Potty-Mouthed AI

The post Oops! Elon Musk's Grok AI Caught Plagiarizing OpenAI's ChatGPT appeared first on Futurism.

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Oops! Elon Musk's Grok AI Caught Plagiarizing OpenAI's ChatGPT

Deadline passes for Wisconsin Republicans to put liberal justice Protasiewicz’s seat on April ballot – Channel3000.com – WISC-TV3

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

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Deadline passes for Wisconsin Republicans to put liberal justice Protasiewicz's seat on April ballot - Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3

Mario Cuomo: The Last Liberal Part 1 – Rising up the political ranks – Spectrum News NY1

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

2023 marks 40 years since Mario Cuomo was sworn in as governor of New York for the first time.

Cuomo was one of the most unlikely politicians the state had seen in a long time. The child of illiterate working-class immigrants who owned a grocery store in South Jamaica, Cuomo was a public-school genius who found himself graduating at the top of his class at St. Johns Law School. After taking a few pro-bono cases representing homeowners in Queens, Cuomo found himself encouraged to enter politics by legendary journalists Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill, as well as NYC Mayor John Lindsay. What followed was a wild rise up the ranks, one that included a highly publicized run for mayor, as well as turns as lieutenant governor and New York secretary of state before finally being elected governor.

From the perspective of his advisers and the reporters that covered him some of them speaking about their experiences with Cuomo for the first time we'll find out how Cuomo managed to become a major political figure in the Democratic Party despite having a background that differed from most elected officials.

See more on our Mario Cuomo series at ny1.com/mariocuomo.

ABOUT THE SHOW

NY1s Errol Louis has been interviewing powerful politicians and cultural icons for years, but its when the TV cameras are turned off that things really get interesting. From career highlights, to personal moments, to stories that have never been told, join Errol each week for intimate conversations with the people who are shaping the future of New York and beyond. Listen to "You Decide with Errol Louis" every Wednesday, wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Mario Cuomo: The Last Liberal Part 1 - Rising up the political ranks - Spectrum News NY1

Liberal education is vital to state’s universities — George Savage – Madison.com

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

In the Dec. 2 State Journal article Rothman: Liberal arts safe, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman walks back parts of an email he had sent to chancellors that suggested shifting away from liberal arts programs.

I am pleased that Rothman now says he supports the liberal arts, but I wish he had gone further. I wish he would use his position to publicly advocate for liberal education.

Not long ago, system President Kevin Reilly did just that. Under his leadership, the system accomplished at least three significant things: a system-wide liberal education initiative, an annual student essay competition on topics related to liberal education, and a statewide conference (titled Only Connect) that explored the implementation of liberal education pedagogy.

For starters, I wish Rothman would use his bully pulpit to correct a few common misconceptions:

The word "liberal" has nothing to do with its political meaning. It comes from the Latin liber, meaning to free. Political conservatives can (and should) support liberal education. Also, a liberal education is actually a practical education.

Beyond its personal benefits, which are many, liberal education aims to form good citizens who can think critically.

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Liberal education is vital to state's universities -- George Savage - Madison.com

Dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts job with Tarleton State University | 37572379 – The Chronicle of Higher Education

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

Dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts

Tarleton State University seeks an experienced educator, researcher, and administrator to serve as Dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts.

The Dean serves as the academic officer responsible for executive management of the college and its full range of programs and initiatives; exercises leadership responsibility in advising the college regarding administrative, curriculum, and budgetary matters; and provides a vision that contributes to achieving the goals of the institutional strategic plan: Tarleton Forward 2030. The ideal candidate will be a person who can articulate the importance of the collective disciplines of the college to outside stakeholders, and thinks creatively and energetically about the challenges of the changing demographics in higher education. The position reports to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Institutional Profile

Tarleton State University is an energetic, comprehensive Carnegie R2 Doctoral University: High Research Activity, with the elective Community Engagement classification, and a new member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. The Wall Street Journals latest rankings have Tarleton State fifth among U.S. schools highly recommended by their students and recent alumni.

Fall 2023 brought another all-time high enrollment, outpacing many institutions nationwide. A total of over 14,500 students is up over 10% from 2019, making Tarleton the fifth fastest-growing university in Texas.

The university offers 84 bachelors, 39 masters, and three doctoral degree options, with 10 additional research and health professional doctorates proposed for 20242028. For their majors, students choose from seven academic colleges Agriculture and Natural Sciences; Business; Education; Health Sciences; Liberal and Fine Arts; Science and Mathematics; and the Mayfield College of Engineering.

Tarleton State University is a proud member of The Texas A&M University System and serves students on the main campus in Stephenville, its growing Fort Worth campus, in Waco, and on the A&M-RELLIS campus in Bryan. True to Tarletons values of excellence, integrity, and respect, academic programs emphasize real-world learning and address regional, state, and national needs.

Joining NCAA Division I in July 2020 as the ninth full-time member of the Western Athletic Conference increases national recognition for student-athletes and academic programs, positioning Tarleton State as a frontrunner for anyone seeking a university education. Among numerous milestones, its storied rodeo program boasts eight national team titles and 29 individual CNFR (College National Finals Rodeo) champs, making it a top pick for many cowgirls and cowboys.

Tarleton Student Body

Over 50% of Tarleton State students are first generation with no family tradition of seeking a post-secondary degree. Others are legacy students following their parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents as proud defenders of the purple and white. Some graduate from the only high school in their rural county, and some transfer from large urban community college districts.

Tarleton State students are a diverse group (almost 40 percent report an ethnicity other than white) from all parts of Texas, 48 states, and 47 countries. Over 80% receive some form of financial assistance, and 37% are Pell Grant eligible. They love the university its people, its traditions, its commitment to student triumphs in and out of the classroom.

The university is fast approaching status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution with almost 23 percent of its student body identifying as Hispanic in fall 2023.

The Class of 2027 is over 2,700 students and represents the largest, and most well-prepared group of incoming students in the universitys 124 years proof that Tarleton State is quickly becoming one of the nations premier comprehensive public universities.

Financial Stability

Tarleton States comprehensive operating budget for fiscal 2022 was $276 million, giving the university sound financial footing. The universitys largest-ever comprehensive capital campaign recently met its $125 million target 18 months ahead of schedule. These campaign dollars will strengthen student success, enhance the academic experience, elevate Tarleton States institutional profile, and fortify the schools infrastructure. Tarleton State saw the second-highest percentage growth in funding in the A&M System (only behind A&M-College Station) as part of a record $1.19 billion appropriated to the System by the 88th Legislature. The university also received a $5 million exceptional item, reflecting its contributions to research and innovation in rural healthcare. Tarleton State annually generates an estimated $1.2 billion for North Central Texas and $2 billion in added income for the state. College of Liberal and Fine Arts

The College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) is dedicated to providing an academically challenging education through exemplary teaching, significant research and inspired creativity. Home to 298 faculty and 26 staff who serve over 1,500 undergraduate majors and over 250 graduate students, the college manages a budget of almost $10 million and consists of the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Public Administration, which houses the departments of Criminal Justice and Public Administration, and six additional academic departments: Communication Studies; English and Languages; Government, Legal Studies, and Philosophy; History, Geography and GIS; Performing Arts; and Visual Arts and Design. The college offers 22 baccalaureate and five masters degrees, as well as the PhD degree in criminal justice, and plans to seek system and state approval for a new PhD program in Public & Applied Humanities.

COLFA Points of Pride

Named for a distinguished Tarleton alumnus and chairman of the Texas A&M Board of Regents, the Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center opened in 1980, and is considered a crown jewel of Tarleton States Stephenville campus. The facility features a theater, an auditorium, two workshop theaters, band and choir rehearsal halls, music and art design labs, and an art gallery.

Criminal Justice Research: The college is home to four dedicated research institutes that are nationally recognized for specialized work that is addressing challenges and issues in the criminal justice system: The Institute for Criminal Justice Leadership and Public Policy; the Institute for Homeland Security, Cybercrime, and International Criminal Justice Studies; Institute for Predictive and Analytical Policing Science; and the Institute for Violence Against Women and Human Trafficking.

The Texas Folklore Society is the second oldest folklore organization continually functioning in the United States, after the American Folklore Society founded in 1888. Chartered in 1909, The Texas Folklore Society held its first meeting at the University of Texas in 1911. The society has stimulated the recording and study of Texas rich folk culture, has attracted both laymen and scholars, and has distributed its publications throughout the world.

Responsibilities of the Dean

Required Qualifications and Credentials

Preferred Qualifications

Emphasized commitment to student success demonstrated through impactful and transformative educational opportunities; Experience in launching and sustaining masters and doctoral programs; Accomplishments in building institutional capacity for research and creative scholarship. Procedures for Applying

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include the following components, as separate .pdf documents:

A detailed letter of interest addressing the responsibilities and qualifications outlined above; A full curriculum vitae with relevant administrative and scholarly accomplishments and responsibilities; A list of five professional references, including names, titles, organizations, phone numbers, and email addresses, noting the candidates relationship with each reference. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. Application packets only accepted online at: https://www.tarleton.edu/jobs/externalapplicants/

Apply directly to posting: Dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts

The search will be conducted with a commitment to maintaining confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Finalists will participate in on-campus interviews that may include a public presentation. A background check (including identity, degree verification, and criminal records scan) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered this position.

Candidate materials received by January 15, 2024, will be given full consideration, although applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Tarleton State University provides equal opportunity to all employees, students, applicants for employment, and the public regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information or veteran status.

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Dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts job with Tarleton State University | 37572379 - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Students need to stop turning their backs on liberal arts degrees – North Texas Daily

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

The pressure to pursue a STEM major in college has steadily grown over the years, causing the arts and humanities to be overshadowed in exchange. The liberal arts are a necessary pillar of education that deserves to be valued and maintained.

The number of jobs requiring STEM qualifications has surged by 34 percent over the past decade, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Students have been told sciences are the future of our world and the most practical thing to study in college. Following that advice is usually at the disparagement of a liberal arts education, calling it a "useless degree."

The notion of a useless degree is misperceived because any form of education and learning will never be useless, and a liberal arts education is valuable. Most people who belittle arts and humanities usually do so from a place of ignorance. They misconstrue the liberal arts as being associated with the modern political idea of liberalism, or the opposite of being conservative.

Rather, the term liberal arts refers to the Latin word liberalesmeaning "free," as opposed to "subjugation" or "enslavement." The term was used during the Middle Ages to distinguish from the servile arts, which were vocational careers such as medicine, engineering and business. The liberal arts were considered the education of a free person in society unconstrained by the sole purpose of production, with the ability to learn liberating knowledge.

The fundamentals of a liberal arts education are grounded in the idea of broad interdisciplinary teachings that serve to create critical thinkers who recognize the interconnectedness of all knowledge. This form of education should be applied and taught to all majors, and would especially benefit the sciences. Being able to relate formulas and numbers to the arts and humanities would help foster creativity, innovation and remind students of the human aspect of their disciplines.

Instead, universities and their federal funding are adopting a hard stance on turning colleges into vocational schools, investing more within their STEM departments and phasing out the arts. The National Endowment for the Humanities budgetwas only$180 million in 2022, and the National Science Foundations budget lapped that number by 50 times, according to The New York Times. The future of higher education is now blindsided with the prospect of creating a world of scientists and business professionals, approaching students as cogs needed to fit within the business world framework instead of as learners.

Even politicians are pushing toward the death of liberal arts education. Miguel Cardona, the current secretary of education, said Every student should have access to an education that aligns with industry demands and evolves to meet the demands of tomorrow's global workforce. Insinuating the sole reason for education is to meet industry demands instead of self-fulfillment or the development of moral virtues, qualities philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle intended education to create for individuals.

What these advocates of a strict STEM paradigm fail to recognize is that only some are suited for science and math. Whether it is because they do not find enjoyment within the numbers or they simply do not have the predisposition for a mathematical aptitude, no one should feel pressured by industry demands or STEM job qualifications.

Students should pursue whatever major they are passionate about or what brings them enjoyment. The construct that some majors are better than others or prepare you for life better needs to be reevaluated. Most majors within the arts and humanities focus on the human aspect of their disciplines and are well-versed in soft skills such as communication, adaptability and creativity. Eighty-nine percent of recruiters in LinkedIns 2019 Global Talent Trends report claimed people who did not get hired lacked these skills.

Although many value the sciences as being more vital to society than the arts, the need to value the cultivation of culture and the understanding between people that the liberal arts establish must always remain a priority within education. After all, what is the point of doctors saving lives and engineers crafting towers if there is not music to be heard or art to witness?

That begins with universities and federal organizations recognizing the importance of a liberal arts education and implementing more funding and opportunities for liberal arts colleges. Core requirement courses must extend to include more classes within the humanities and arts for STEM majors to foster a holistic education rather than a technical one.

Steve Jobs said it best: Technology alone is not enough. It is technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that [] make[s] our heart sing.

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Students need to stop turning their backs on liberal arts degrees - North Texas Daily

DeSantiss Education Policies in Florida Drive Out Liberal-Leaning Professors – The New York Times

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

Gov. Ron DeSantis had just taken office in 2019 when the University of Florida lured Neil H. Buchanan, a prominent economist and tax law scholar, from George Washington University.

Now, just four years after he started at the university, Dr. Buchanan has given up his tenured job and headed north to teach in Toronto. In a recent column on a legal commentary website, he accused Florida of open hostility to professors and to higher education more generally.

He is not the only liberal-leaning professor to leave one of Floridas highly regarded public universities. Many are giving up coveted tenured positions and blaming their departures on Governor DeSantis and his effort to reshape the higher education system to fit his conservative principles.

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DeSantiss Education Policies in Florida Drive Out Liberal-Leaning Professors - The New York Times

Don’t knock the economic value of majoring in the liberal arts | Brookings – Brookings Institution

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

For years, economists and more than a few worried parents have argued over whether a liberal arts degree is worth the price. The debate now seems to be over, and the answer is 'no.'

Can we please lighten up on knocking the value of a liberal arts education? With a recent spate of bad press for liberal arts departments on university campuses, many commentators conclude that the writing is on the wall. When it comes to economics, I argue the liberal arts still belong on college campuses: The liberal arts pay.

There are many reasons to be legitimately concerned about the direction the humanities and other liberal arts have taken in recent decades. Course enrollments and declared majors have plummeted across many disciplines since the pandemic, ranging from history to foreign language. This is the continuation of a decades-old pattern: According to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Humanities Project, the share of humanities degrees out of all bachelors degrees peaked in 1967 at 17.2% and by 2018 had fallen to 4.4%.

Research universities also continue to turn out humanities doctorates for whom job prospects are bleak. Liberal arts colleges have been at risk for decades.

Despite arguments that a liberal arts education may be exactly the right preparation for a world in which routine tasks are taken over by AI, students are apparently not yet persuaded. Thus, humanities departments in colleges face very real budget pressures, including sometimes the risk of being eliminated. Indeed, West Virginia University is eliminating all foreign language degrees, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney has also proposed cutting its theater and philosophy programs.

I suspect that part of the political push to eliminate the humanities, especially from off-campus sources, is connected to the myth that the price of college has skyrocketed. In fact, the real price of college attendance has been falling modestly in recent years. Consequently, the share of undergraduates taking out student loans and the loan values are also down slightly.

Since Im an economist, in what follows Im going to stick to earnings numbers. But I also recognize there is more to a career than earnings. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences reports that responses to the statement I am deeply interested in the work I do are about the same for majors in the arts, humanities, engineering, and social sciences, although responses were a little higher in education and the natural sciences. And for a good reminder that careers are not all there is to life, see this article by a former poet laureate of Mississippi who writes, Students who master written and spoken communication can change the world.

Angst notwithstanding, here are two facts that are both true:

Heres a picture that illustrates why both are true.

Using data from the American Community Survey (ACS) collected between 2017 and 2021, Ive looked at graduates falling into one of four categories: education ended with a high school diploma, education ended with an associate degree, education ended with a bachelors degree in a liberal arts field, and education ended with a bachelors degree in a field other than liberal arts. Using the categories provided in the ACS, Ive defined liberal arts majors as Area, Ethnic, and Civilization Studies, Linguistics and Foreign Languages, English Language, Literature, and Composition, Liberal Arts and Humanities, Fine Arts, and History. Everything else Im categorizing as not liberal arts. The figure above gives average annual wage and salary income for each kind of degree. (The latest data is for 2021, so all the figures are in 2021 dollars. The sample is for ages 23 through 65. For a similar analysis with slightly older data but a broader listing of majors, see The College Payoff.)

For fact number one, compare the dark blue liberal arts bachelors bar to the orange bar for other majors. The latter is considerably higher. On average, people with a liberal arts degree earned only $50,000 a year while those with other degrees earned $65,000. Thats a big difference. (Median earnings are lower than average earnings of course, but the gap isnt much different$37,000 versus $50,000.)

For fact number two, compare the dark blue liberal arts bar to the light blue bar for those earning only a high school diploma. The liberal arts bar is much highergetting a liberal arts degree is a good investment compared to not going to college at all. On average, the liberal arts degree led to a $50,000 annual income compared to $28,000 for those stopping at the end of high school. (Median earnings are $37,000 versus $21,000 for high school only.) A $12,000 annual difference in earnings will, over a lifetime, more than pay for a college education. Suppose one worked for 35 years after graduation. The lifetime difference would be $420,000 (ignoring inflation). That way, way more than makes up the cost of tuition plus and foregone earnings from a student not working while in college. Unsurprisingly, pay associated with an associate degree falls in between what liberal arts bachelors degrees earn and what one gets with a high school diploma. Its worth noting that employment rates in the data also follow a similar pattern: strongest for non-liberal-arts bachelors holders (81.9%), followed by liberal arts bachelors holders (78.5%), then associate degree holders (77%), then high school graduates only (64.4%).

An important part of the story is that right out of college, liberal arts majors do not earn much more than high school graduates, though this understates earnings potential over the long term. Earnings for all college graduates rise rapidly after graduation and continue to rise for decades. In contrast, the age-earnings profile of high school graduates is relatively flat. One hidden advantage of majoring in non-STEM fields is that students learn general skills that last a lifetime, where the specific skills in more technical subjects often have a shorter shelf life and differences between majors eventually narrow later down the career path.

The picture above shows average earnings for holders of each credential across different survey respondents ages; this provides a plausible pathway for earnings over the course of ones career (though its possible nobodys career path looks exactly like this). At age 22, the liberal arts line is not much higher than either the high school or associate degree lines. But the liberal arts bachelors line rises very rapidlymuch more so than is true for either high school graduates or those whove earned an associate degree. You can also see that graduates with bachelors degrees outside the liberal arts do begin their careers earning noticeably more than either liberal arts majors or high school graduates, and the gap grows over time. For example, at age 50, the average earnings with a liberal arts degree are $67,000 a year. Thats not as good as a non-liberal arts degree at $81,000, but its quite a bit better than an associate degree at $49,000 or a high school diploma at $33,000.

One hopes that students go to college for more than just the financial value of the degreenot just for their own sake but also because society needs a citizenry equipped to think broadly. But that hope aside, liberal arts degrees do pay. They dont pay as well as other college degrees, but they do pay and policymakers need to be clear-eyed about that before running roughshod across humanities departments. The humanities are indeed in trouble, but its silly to say that a liberal arts degree is not worth the price.

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Don't knock the economic value of majoring in the liberal arts | Brookings - Brookings Institution

Norman Lear, producer of TVs All in the Family and influential liberal advocate, has died at 101 – West Hawaii Today

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

Fashion for a Cause raises $11K for American Cancer Society

Dec. 10, 2023

Waikoloa Beach ResortLast Friday, the American Cancer Society and Kings Shops teamed up to produce a very fashionable fundraiser at the malls Center Stage. The successful evening of style and purpose raised over $11,000 for the ACS Clarence T.C. Ching Hope Lodge Hawaii, located on Oahu offering free lodging for cancer patients and their families

Norman Lear, producer of TVs All in the Family and influential liberal advocate, has died at 101 - West Hawaii Today

Kremlin Taps Liberal Businessman to Oppose Putin in 2024 Election Report – The Moscow Times

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

Russian businessman Alexei Nechaev will stand in as President Vladimir Putins liberal rival during Russia's 2024 presidential race, the independent news outlet Mozhem Obyasnit reported Tuesday, citing two anonymous sources in the pro-business political party he created nearly four years ago.

Nechaev, who owns one of Russias leading cosmetics companies Faberlic, stepped into politics when he founded the New People party in the run-up to the 2021 State Duma elections, which saw the party secure 15 seats in the 450-seat lower house of parliament.

According to Mozhem Obyasnit, the businessman-turned-politician's role in the 2024 presidential race will be to attract liberal voters to the polls, just as his party has done in other elections in recent years.

New People has reportedly already begun work on Nechaevs campaign and is expected to announce his candidacy at its December convention.

Nechaev is also a member of the All Russia Peoples Front (ONF), a political coalition created by Putin in 2011. He has made several pro-Putin remarks during his time in politics, and he has also backed Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Putin is widely expected to announce his re-election bid in the coming weeks, though he has said that he plans to wait until after Russia's parliament officially calls the presidential campaign in mid-December.

The Kremlin has said before that Putin would face no competition if he ran in 2024.

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Kremlin Taps Liberal Businessman to Oppose Putin in 2024 Election Report - The Moscow Times

Laughing Stock: ‘A liberal agenda’ may not be what you think – Tucson Weekly

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

Once every quarter or so, Em Bowen holds forth at Crooked Tooth Brewery with a standup comedy show like no other in Tucson. It has what can only be called standards.

Theyre not the sort of standards some might consider censorship. The subject matter isnt proscribed; rather, Bowen is concerned with quality the quality of the composition as well as the quality of the joke. But their priority concern is how audience members, of any kind, will feel when they leave the show.

As for the name, Bowen said we should regard it as we do any other name Felix, say, or Amanda. Like a humans, the name contains multitudes.

A middle-school teacher by day, they are working toward an advanced degree related to community development. To that end theyre currently focused on publishing their research in learned journals.

For more than a decade, though, Bowen has enjoyed a leadership role in the rarefied company of Tucson writers and storytellers gifted in their craft.

Like Bowen, some are also gifted crafters of jokes, as intelligent as they are gut-busting. Their material is original and their delivery expert. They are comfortable on the stage. They love making people laugh, Bowen said, but There was a lack of spaces that I really wanted to perform in.

Then a friend made it easier. Bowen said. I had this one friend who was a rugby teammate who was working at Crooked Tooth, and I know the owners of Crooked Tooth very well. Ive been drinking the beer that Ben (Vernon) brews since before they were a brewery. So, my friend said, you should do a show on the Crooked Tooth patio.

Bowen considered it, considering all the competing demands on their time. They feared they might drop the ball unless, they speculated, they wanted to do it badly enough to make it sustainable. The No. 1 caveat: It couldnt be a regularly scheduled grind.

Tucson notoriously doesnt show up to things, Bowen said, so I thought, Well, Im just going to make it novel so you cant say, Ill just go next month because it might not happen again for four months.

The particular scene that I tried to create is one that is a bit more curated in terms of content. Comedians making vulgar jokes and jokes with sexual overtones thats still comedy. But I wanted a space in which I was asking people to do punch up comedy.

For example, Bowen said, If I am a white masculine person, Im making jokes about that, but Im not making jokes about black folks or disabled folks. Im not making disparaging jokes of any kind unless theyre in alignment with my own experience.

And I wanted to take it a step further, Bowen said, because, I wanted comedy that, when you walked away from the show, you felt a little bit better about the world, and better in some comedy spaces.

Then they mixed one more challenge into their vision. What if comedy was also being used to critique systems of power? What if this show were a place where we learned what it was like to do comedy that had a little extra stuff in it?

The success of Bowens comedy project can be measured in the fan-base it turns out. The crowd for The Liberal Agenda regularly ranges from 60 to 90 people.

Reflecting on their own standup sets, Bowen said, When I write comedy, it needs to give me a different perspective or make me look at a situation that is challenging and hard, and use it in a way that it creates another meaning, so I can hold it a little lighter and make joy.

I work with children, they said, and I need to have a particular presence of mind in order to go into a classroom with a bunch of 12- to 14-year-olds and hold a world view for them that is hopeful.

Its a writer-mindedness, an impulse. Its how I figure out what I mean and what life means to me.

The Liberal Agenda, Crooked Tooth Brewing Company patio, 228 E. Sixth Street, Tucson, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, Em Bowen hosts Amie Gabusi, Morgan Kuehn, Allana Erikson-Lopez and Zo Thomas

(Hotel Congress/Submitted)

Matt Ziemak and Autumn Horvat host The Switch.

OTHER SHOWS THIS WEEK

Corbett Brewery, 309 E. Seventh Street, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, free, touring comic Jonathan Gregory headlines, w/Nicole Riesgo, Tony Bruhn, Jordan White and Cory Lytle.

Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street, http://www.hotelcongress.com

7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, free, The Switch, a curated cast of comedians makes up jokes around topics guests text in. Matt Ziemak and Autumn Horvat host. Reservations recommended.

Laffs Comedy Caffe

2900 E. Broadway Boulevard,

http://www.laffstucson.com

8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, $15, $20 preferred seating, Sean Finnerty, left Ireland for the United States as soon as he was old enough to drink here and became the first Irish guest of Jimmy Fallon.

Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street, http://www.rialtotheatre.com

7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, tickets start at $30, Ali Siddiq; Saturday, Dec. 9, noon, tickets start at $22.50, Old Pueblo Holiday Radio Show benefitting Doctors Without Borders

Tucson Improv Movement/

TIM Comedy Theatre,

414 E. Ninth Street,

http://www.tucsonimprov.com

$7 each show, $10 for both shows, same night, free jam, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, Cage Match; 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, Improv Jam; 7:30 p.m. The Soapbox with Corey Seemiller; 9 p.m. Improv vs Standup; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, The Meeting and Shatfan; 9 p.m. Ugly Sweaters and Auld Laugh Syne

Unscrewed Theater,

4500 E. Speedway Boulevard,

unscrewedtheatre.org, $8. Variety of comics and shows.

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Laughing Stock: 'A liberal agenda' may not be what you think - Tucson Weekly

Israels representative in New York resigned to protest Netanyahu. Now hes got some tough words for liberal New York Jews. – Forward

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Dec. 4, 2023. Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)

By Jacob Kornbluh December 4, 2023

Asaf Zamir, the former Israeli consul general in New York, resigned in March rather than support the Israeli governments judicial overhaul plans. But he said some New York liberals are misguided in their opposition to Israels offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in massive civilian casualties.

Zamir, a Tel Aviv resident who is running for deputy mayor in upcoming municipal elections, singled out the progressive New York Jewish Agenda for supporting a statement signed by six Jewish elected officials saying they are deeply distressed by the military campaign and approach being taken by the Netanyahu government in Gaza.

When you take that stand, you are basically saying that Israel has a right to defend themselves, but cant do it in the way every other government in the world would, he said, during a calling it an anti-Israel position.

Zamir, now at the end of a five-day visit to the U.S., suggested that the same group would have condemned Israel had it acted in advance to thwart Hamas planto kill and kidnap thousands of Israeli civilians. We literally have to be raped and die and kidnapped before we have the right to retaliate, he said.

These critics, he said, should balance their sympathy for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza with an understanding of Israels need to root out a terror network that has promised to attack again.

Phylisa Wisdom, NYJAs executive director, said that at a moment of real rising anti-Zionism and antisemitism it was both baffling and short-sighted that an Israeli leader would attack supportive progressive Jewish elected officials and organizations in the diaspora. She said the group is aligned with President Joe Bidens approach, supporting Israels right to defend its borders and citizens while expressing real concern over Palestinian civilian casualties.

After Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, the onset of Israels campaign in Gaza and the subsequent surge in antisemitic attacks targeting Jews in New York, Zamir made an usual offer to Israels government: to fill the yet unfilled consular job for a short period of time, unpaid.

He said proposed working within the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again because Israelis of all political stripes needed to pull together since the attack. Amid the mounting calls for a permanent cease-fire in the U.S., he thought he could be of help, but said he was not surprised that the government declined his offer.

It was not the Netanyahu-led government but its predecessor that selected Zamir as Israels representative in New York in 2021. He resigned amid spontaneous mass protests across Israel following the firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for refusing to support the governments judicial overhaul, which had riven Israeli society, with many considering it a blueprint for undermining democracy and further empowering right-wing parties.

Zamir has kept himself in the public eye since his resignation. In addition to running for office, he has increased his engagement on social media, conducting webinars with Jewish leaders and student organizations. And he recently returned to New York to speak with Jewish leaders and media.

Zamir said he is trying to rekindle efforts he launched during his tenure as consul to reconnect younger, more liberal-leaning American Jews to Israel particularly those who had distanced themselves from it because they disliked Netanyahus policies.

He said he sees American Jews who, still shocked and heartsick over Hamas massacres on Oct. 7, now feel hesitant to speak up for Israel because of the casualties in Gaza and the protests against Israel rocking American college campuses. Physically distant from Israel, he said, they struggle to fully comprehend the complexities Israelis face.

He said hes aiming, in his five-day visit to the U.S., to help younger American Jews understand what happened on Oct. 7 and why Israel must root out Hamas.

Zamir himself affiliates with the left in Israel. He said he has consistently voted for left-leaning parties and as a teenager played an active role in the International Center for Peace in the Middle East, a group comprised of both Jews and Palestinians. But its so clear this time that you have to be very cynical not to call it out as it is, he said.

At the start of the war, Zamir said he was pleased by Jewish Americans support for Israel, and in particular their work to push back against fringe progressive criticism of Israel and politicians and celebrities failures to condemn Hamas. But he said that in recent weeks, progressive American Jews, trying to maintain their standing in progressive circles, have been far quieter on Israels behalf. Many, he said, are condemning not just Hamas, but Israel.

Opting for a middle path during times of war is making a choice, Zamir said. Just like not voting for any candidate implies supporting the one you dislike. Saying both sides are not okay is giving a prize to the bad guy.

Zamir said hes worried that people will forget Oct. 7 in a few months and may revert to blaming Israel for antisemitism in the Diaspora. He suggested that Jewish Americans should follow President Joe Bidens approach to the war, and fully support Israels right to self defense.

I guess he knows something you guys dont, he said.

This post was updated to include a statement by the New York Jewish Agenda.

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Israels representative in New York resigned to protest Netanyahu. Now hes got some tough words for liberal New York Jews. - Forward

Chichester MP criticised by Liberal Democrats over sewage compensation vote – Yahoo News UK

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

Swimmers have expressed frustration at the government over sewage spills (Image: Jolly Swimmers)

Liberal Democrats have criticised education secretary and Chichester MP Gillian Keegan for voting against a compensation scheme for swimmers who get sick from sewage.

The amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill, tabled by Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron, would have allowed anyone who gets sick as a result of illegal sewage dumping to claim compensation from water companies.

However, the proposal was voted down after MPs, including Gillian Keegan, voted against it.

Ms Keegan said the Conservatives have been the first to face this problem square on.

But Toby Wilsher from the sea-swimming group The Jolly Swimmers expressed his disappointment at the sewage situation in Sussex.

Toby, from West Wittering, said: It is a sad state of affairs when swimmers are falling seriously sick from sewage while water company bosses trouser millions in bonuses.

Jess Brown-Fuller, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for the Chichester constituency, said: Its shameful that Gillian Keegan and this Conservative government have once again put water companies profits before peoples health.

It is a complete slap in the face to all those in Chichester constituency who expect their MP to stand up and fight for them, instead of for massive companies who have dumped filthy sewage into our harbours, rivers and waterways.

The Liberal Democrats have exposed the sewage scandal and will continue to hold these polluting firms to account even if Gillian Keegan refuses to.

Gillian Keegan said that she has always been clear that sewage spills are completely unacceptable.

She said: I share the concerns of residents, but rather than playing political games like the Liberal Democrats - my Conservative colleagues and I have been the first to face this problem square on.

Locally, I have convened a forum with MPs from across the Solent region as well representatives from Southern Water, Ofwat, Environment Agency, Natural England, RSPB and Chichester Harbour Conservancy to drive improvements in water quality in local harbours and the wider Solent region.

Story continues

I continue to hold the Environment Agency and Southern Water to account and meet senior leaders regularly for progress updates on the key asks for my campaign to stop the spills.

As well as more transparent monitoring, Ive made clear I want to end sewage discharges entirely, but as we work to that goal I am campaigning for UV treatment, which kills bacteria, at every discharge point around the harbour, including at Thornham, and better sealing of the network.

At a national level, the Conservatives are the first government to take steps to address storm overflows, with vastly improved monitoring.

This has increased from approximately seven per cent when we came to power in 2010 to 91 per cent now, with 100 per cent coverage by the end of this year.

We have implemented the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan and enforced stringent targets to protect people and the environment, backed up by up to 60 billion in capital investment.

The government have also removed the limit of fines for water companies who dump sewage in our waterways.

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Chichester MP criticised by Liberal Democrats over sewage compensation vote - Yahoo News UK

Norman Lear, producer of TV’s ‘All in the Family’ and influential liberal advocate, has died at 101 – WV News

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

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Norman Lear, producer of TV's 'All in the Family' and influential liberal advocate, has died at 101 - WV News

Populist legacy will weigh on Poland’s next government – Yahoo News

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

Expectations for Poland's pro-EU government which is due to take power next week are sky-high but current ruling nationalists will still be a powerful and influential opposition, analysts say.

A coalition of pro-EU parties headed up by former European Council president Donald Tusk won a majority in parliamentary elections on October 15 against the right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Tusk, who is also a former prime minister, will have his work cut out after eight years of PiS in power.

"There won't be any miracles" as the new government faces daily battles with PiS which "will continue to fight", Jaroslaw Kuisz, a political analyst, told AFP.

"It will be like going through mud" and quick change is unlikely as PiS leaves "a judicial minefield", he said.

PiS will be the biggest single party in the new parliament with 194 out of 460 seats in the lower house and has shown it intends to be a combative opposition.

The party also has allies in the presidency, the central bank and the supreme court, as well as several important judicial and financial state institutions.

It also dominates state media organisations, which have become a government mouthpiece during its rule.

- 'Wreaking havoc' -

Analysts speak of a "spider's web" woven by PiS by putting allies in influential roles with mandates that will last long into the new government's tenure.

President Andrzej Duda is due to step down ahead of a presidential election in 2025 but he could use blocking tactics between now and then, vetoing legislation brought to him by the pro-EU majority in parliament.

The head of state gave an insight into his intentions by initially nominating the PiS prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki to form a new government even though it was clear the party had no majority from the outset.

He effectively gave PiS two more months in power.

Tusk has reacted angrily, saying on Friday that PiS has spent its last few weeks in power "wreaking havoc, destroying the Polish state".

Kuisz said the party has used the time "to reinforce itself institutionally and financially".

PiS has named two former ministers to head up important state financial institutions and new prosecutors.

The president has also approved 150 new judges nominated by a body that was criticised by the European Union as being too much under the influence of PiS.

Controversial judicial reforms introduced by PiS have pushed Brussels to freeze billions of euros in funding destined for Warsaw which Tusk wants to unblock.

- 'Restore Poland's credibility' -

There is also uncertainty over the true state of the economy and there is the budget, which the new government will now only have 15 days to put together.

One key question for the new cabinet will be whether to continue with social welfare payments introduced by PiS and enact campaign promises such as salary raises for teachers and civil servants.

Difficulties in an economy still reeling from high inflation have not prevented PiS from transferring millions of euros into various foundations which experts say will allow PiS to ride out its time in opposition before a possible return to government.

In terms of foreign policy, the future government faces the challenge of resolving tensions with Ukraine, including over a border blockade by Polish truckers.

Tusk "has to restore Poland's credibility in Brussels", said Ewa Marciniak from the University of Warsaw.

"Poland's return to the European mainstream was one of the main motivating factors for voters" who cast their ballots for the anti-PiS coalition, she said.

Since they came to power in 2015, PiS has been constantly at odds with Brussels, accusing the EU of weakening the sovereign rights of nation states.

Tusk has promised that those tensions will ease.

"I am sure that a majority of European leaders will now rely on the Polish position," he said on Friday.

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Populist legacy will weigh on Poland's next government - Yahoo News

Populist legacy will weigh on Poland’s next government – Index-Journal

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

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Populist legacy will weigh on Poland's next government - Index-Journal

ARGENTINA SNUBS BRICS AS ITS FIREBRAND POPULIST LEADER TAKES POWER – The Sunday Guardian

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dook Domini

Milei has already begun to backtrack on some of the key proposals of complete dollarisation and shutting down Argentinas central bank, arguing that it will take time to achieve given the economic crisis.

LONDON

Well, that didnt last long. We will not join the BRICS, said Diana Mondino, who will serve as Argentinas top diplomat in the government of President-elect Javier Milei when he is sworn into office today. Only last August at the summit in Johannesburg, members of the bloc consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South America invited Argentina, along with five other countries, to become new members. It was planned that Argentinas membership would have taken effect three weeks tomorrow, along with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Now the expanded BRICS will consist of ten countries on 1 January 2024 instead of the planned eleven. Although Mondinos announcement appeared to be a bolt from the blue, no-one who followed the far-right populist Mileis election campaign would have been surprised. During the campaign he criticised Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva many times, labelling him an angry communist and socialist with a totalitarian vocation. Brazil is Argentinas biggest trading partner. Milei also harshly criticised China, comparing the government to an assassin and threatening to cut off ties. I would not promote relations with communists, whether its Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Nicaragua, or China, he said in an August interview on Bloomberg Television. China has been a major investor in the Argentine economy and Beijing had been concerned that an anti-China administration in Buenos Aires could harm Chinas extensive interests in the country, ranging from mining to a secretive space station China operates in Argentina. Knowing Mileis anti-Beijing stance, President Xi Jinping had bet heavily on the Peronists candidate, former Economic Minister Sergio Massa, even releasing a $6.5 billion in yuan into the two countries bilateral currency swap account just before voting took place, hoping to help prop up the Argentine economy and prevent further currency devaluation prior to the election. It turned out to be a bad bet by Xi.

In the event, Javier Milei won by a surprisingly large margin of twelve points in the presidential election on 19 November. Now the big question is whether he can turn around the countrys crisis-stricken economy. Milei campaigned on the promise of deep spending cuts and dollarisation, the idea of replacing the Argentinian peso with the US dollar. In promising shock therapy for Argentina, Milei also campaigned on plans to shut the central bank and slash spending. But all this will be hard to implement given the countrys political and economic realities. After the result of the poll was announced, Milei made his customary defiant speech. The model of decadence has come to an end and theres no going back, he declared. He then raised the challenges that faced the country: we have monumental problems aheadinflation, lack of work and poverty. The situation is critical and theres no place for tepid half-measures. In fact, Mileis challenges are even greater than monumental. Government coffers are empty and theres also the not-so-small matter of a $44 billion debt program with the International Monetary Fund. The country has a dizzying array of capital controls and a humongous inflation rate nearing 150 percent. In an attempt to curb the runaway inflation, in October Argentinas central bank had raised the benchmark rate of interest to an astonishing 118 percent. Mileis victory marked a profound rupture in Argentinas system of political representation. The 53-year-old economist and former TV personality shattered the hegemony of the two leading political forces that have dominated the countrys politics since the 1940s: the Peronists on the left and Together for Change on the right. His opponent, the 51-year-old Peronist candidate and experienced wheeler-dealer, Sergio Massa, had sought to appeal to voter fears about Mileis plans to cut back the size of the state as well as his volatile character. In the early part of the campaign Milei outrageously carried a chainsaw as a symbol of his planned cuts, but decided to shelve it in the weeks before voting took place in order to help boost his moderate image. Massas appeal went unheeded.

So now the hard work begins. In recent years, Argentina has lurched from one profound economic crisis to another. The country is also currently in recession, fuelled by a three-year drought that has done much damage to agricultural exports. The harvest of soybeans, one of the nations biggest exports, is barely one-third of five years ago. All this is exacerbating the cost of living crisis, which has already driven poverty levels above forty percent. Meanwhile, Argentina holds the unenviable position of being number one on the debtor list of the IMF. Stringent currency controls have made it hard to move money out of the country, which has led to a black market in pesos whose value has also been falling sharply. During election debates, Milei argued that by stopping the central bank from printing more money, which it has relied on to finance public spending, and replacing the peso with the US dollar, inflation would be cured. Sceptical critics claimed that this would be impractical as the central bank would lose control over monetary policy, and in any case Argentina has insufficient currency reserves to implement the plan. Mileis dollarisation plan is also a worry for economists; but political opposition and Argentinas lack of foreign reserves make the chances of that happening narrow at best. As so often when populists meet reality, since his victory Milei has already begun to backtrack on some of the key proposals of complete dollarisation and shutting down Argentinas central bank, arguing that it will take time to achieve this given the economic crisis. His pragmatism is also likely to extend to foreign policy.

While Mileis control over Argentinas economic fate is limited, hell have an element of free reign over the countrys foreign policy. During the campaign he announced some very large shifts in Argentinas relationships with other countries. The outgoing President Alberto Fernandez had pursued a foreign policy aligned with many of his leftist counterparts in South America, including Brazilian President Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Fernandez built political alliances through the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and recently convinced the BRICS member states to make Argentina one of the countries included in the organisations first expansion. The far-right populist Milei plans to undo all that.

During the election campaign, Milei insisted that his foreign policy would strengthen ties with the free world and avoid contact with communist countries. After the primaries, he indicated that he would freeze official trade relations with China, but his campaign rhetoric is already giving way to pragmatism. Since his win, Milei has softened his stance on Beijing in view of China being Argentinas second largest trade partner, accounting for nearly ten percent of all Argentinian exports. He has also sought to mend fences with Brazils President Lula by inviting him to todays inauguration, an invitation which Lula snubbed by nominating his Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in his place. Maybe its also because Lulas arch rival, former Argentine President Jair Bolsonaro, has accepted an invitation to attend. Javier Milei is hardly the first of that countrys leaders to come to power boldly promising a cure for Argentinas extensive economic and social problems. For decades, new leaders on both left and right of the political spectrum have come to power with a radical reform programme breaking with the past. None of them have had more than temporary success in taking the country out of the malaise that has characterised most of its modern history. Will the libertarian populist Milei break the mould? Probably not. He might even change his mind and decide to join the expanded BRICS!

John Dobson is a former British diplomat, who also worked in UK Prime Minister John Majors office between 1995 and 1998. He is currently Visiting Fellow at the University of Plymouth.

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ARGENTINA SNUBS BRICS AS ITS FIREBRAND POPULIST LEADER TAKES POWER - The Sunday Guardian

Populist legacy will weigh on Poland’s next government – Branson Tri-Lakes news