current events
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Addressing Student Use of ChatGPT for Cheating
ChatGPT is a thing now, and teachers of every level and discipline that ask students to write papers are trying to figure out how to stop students from just having the computer do their homework for them. My way is to look at the sources first, because ChatGPT will generate bibliographies that look real but… Continue reading
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The UCR Student Conduct Saga
The Student Conduct Office at UCR has a fairly terrible reputation already, but I would like to make available for everyone the exact details of their abuse in my case. We begin with an email from Kyle McStay on August 5, subject line “Student Conduct – Notice of Interim Suspension”. Below is the text of the email:… Continue reading
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Stop voting based on identity
Kylie Cheung (@kyliecheung on Twtter) put it well: “To be clear, Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign relied on “identity politics”—specifically, the rage and insecurities of white men. In fact, he relied on “identity politics” substantially more than Clinton’s campaign, which offered in-depth economic proposals for affordable and accessible health care, housing, and job growth that… Continue reading
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Some Comments on Psychiatry, Re: Marianne Williamson
Marianne Williamson has been getting some attention for her rather obscene claims about healthcare. But I think there’s an important discussion to be had here; inability to pay isn’t the only thing harming people in the current system. I present the following four facts: 1. Most psychiatric disorders don’t have well-understood mechanisms. For most conditions,… Continue reading
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How sure you need to be depends on what you’re doing (Or: As usual I think social media discussions are missing a more fundamental disagreement, this time about a SCOTUS nominee)
Brett Kavanaugh is being considered for a position on the Supreme Court of the United States. He’s also been accused of sexual assault. This information has been all over social media lately, and there seems to be, as there often is, a fundamental disagreement behind the arguments. On the surface, we see basic support versus… Continue reading
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A brief example of the disingenuity of states’ rights champions
So, California wants to have its own emission standards for automobiles. They want standards that are stricter than the national standards. Some other states do, too, but California is the one that really upsets the anti-environment right because there are so many cars in the state that California standards are effectively national standards. Where are… Continue reading
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Another attempt to bring out the two most critical points in the abortion debate
A month or two ago Ireland made a stride towards legal abortion, and the US made a stride in the opposite direction. Abortion is always on the political table though. I imagine a perfect pregnancy-prevention mechanism would cool the flames quite a bit, but even then, people can change their minds, and the question will… Continue reading
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Even if the Bible is not the law, it is the document a lot of Americans look to for values
In the US, a lot of people are Christian. Christianity is a big enough force in the country that the “Religious Right” is a thing. While not all Republicans are concerned with religion, it’s at least a staple of the party, and any conservative politician will at least pay lip service to it. The Trump… Continue reading
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Brick-and-mortar stores are complaining that online stores not having to charge sales taxes is unfair; they’re right, what an occasion to end sales taxes!
Though it’s a state government leading the charge, the good justification for changing the law isn’t the one in the state’s interest. I see two complaints here: The state government wants more revenue. Online sales generally lower the amount of in-state sales, so the sales tax revenue is reduced. Physical retailers have to charge more… Continue reading
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In good news: Philadelphia’s top prosecutor is going against the trend of ruining as much life as possible
He’s suggesting “wild” ideas like offering very low sentences instead of caging people for extended periods of time. And recourse for people being wrongly punished. Continue reading
About Me
I write things, mostly about philosophy, psychology, and politics. I also make music and art.
nichiyes.com 