Layzeebeaver
Layzeebeaver's JournalDenmark Offers to Buy Michigan, Citing "Strategic Clog Manufacturing Potential"
Denmark Offers to Buy Michigan, Citing "Strategic Clog Manufacturing Potential"COPENHAGEN – In an unexpected diplomatic twist, the Danish government has made a formal offer to purchase the U.S. state of Michigan, citing its "enormous strategic value" and "world-class wooden clog production capacity." The move comes in direct response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s infamous 2019 proposal to buy Greenland, a Danish territory.
“We believe Michigan is an underappreciated gem,” Danish Prime Minister Lars Frederiksen announced in a press conference. “It has pristine lakes, friendly people, and an impressive history of manufacturing and wooden clog craftsmanship. In many ways, it is the Greenland of the Midwest.”
A Generous Offer
The offer, rumoured to be in the range of 250 billion Danish kroner (about $37 billion USD), includes incentives such as lifetime supplies of premium Danish pastries for Michigan residents and exclusive discounts on LEGO sets.
“We want Michiganders to feel at home in Denmark,” Frederiksen said, “so we will also implement a government-backed ‘Hygge Initiative,’ ensuring every household gets a complimentary fireplace and wool blankets.”
The American Response
The U.S. government has yet to formally respond, but early reports indicate mixed reactions. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a brief statement saying, “While we appreciate Denmark’s interest, Michigan is not for sale—no matter how many cinnamon buns they throw in.”
Meanwhile, several Michigan residents were reportedly intrigued by the idea, particularly when they heard rumors that Denmark’s social welfare programs might extend to new Danish territories. “Free healthcare and more bicycles? That doesn’t sound so bad,” said one Grand Rapids resident.
Geopolitical Ramifications
International experts are debating the potential consequences of such a purchase. Some analysts suggest that if Denmark acquires Michigan, Sweden might counter with a bid for Minnesota, escalating tensions in the region.
“The Upper Midwest is up for grabs, folks,” said one political commentator. “At this rate, Norway might stake a claim to Wisconsin by year’s end.”
What’s Next?
Denmark has reportedly sent an official delegation to Holland, Michigan, to discuss terms, including how the state’s clog production could be ramped up for export to Dutch tourist markets. Negotiations may also include whether the Michigan Wolverines would have to rebrand as the “Danish Vikings.”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, when asked about the proposal, responded, “If they want Michigan that badly, they can have it.”
Negotiations are ongoing.
We are ALL Women now...
Seems we get our sex identify AT CONCEPTION. Who knew...
Trump's EO says we are assigned our sexual identity at the time of conception. Failing to recognise that sex is only confirmed biologically once gestation is well underway.
https://boingboing.net/2025/01/22/ridiculous-executive-order-declares-everyone-female.html
TARIFFS are a Quagmire. No one has communicated the actual options
People need to remember that there are only THREE real options here...
OPTION 1: TARIFF: Costs for products entering the US are proportionally increased = High pain to ALL consumers
OPTION 2: IMPORT RESTRICTIONS: Pain to specific consumers desiring a foreign product = reducing a supply restriction means people that really want something (and have the means to procure it) are not really affected = the rich still get what they want.
OPTION 3: DOMESTIC INDUSTRY SUPPORTt = specific in-country rebates that drive consumption of domestic products and services = folks buy domestic stuff AND get what they want AND they get government support to do it - Yes, its still taxpayers paying to support domestic industry, but at least the consumers get something at a reduced cost.
I recommend we go with 3, then it is essential that the nation knows this. Communication is key.
New meaning for M.A.G.A.
This has probably been done before, but here's my attempt...
Mindless Allegiance Grants Authoritarianism
So... I asked ChatGPT 4.0 about fact checking the debate...
now... let's all just take this with grain of salt.
I requested it to access the entire transcript of the debate.
(NOTE: I didn't paste here the actual links provided by ChatGPT - frankly the cut and paste function doesn't work too well from the interface, so if you want them, just cut and past my questions into the ChatGPT interface for yourself and they should be listed.
HOWEVER!!! Please note that the "rev" link provided below is broken and instead refers to the "Third republican presidential primary debate" )
"can you acquire the entire transcript of the recent us presidential debate?"
It's response...
The entire transcript of the recent U.S. presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, which took place on June 27, 2024, can be found on several sources. This debate, hosted by CNN, was notable for its early date and the significant stakes for both candidates. It was moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, covering various critical issues facing the country.
You can read the complete transcript on Rev's website, which provides detailed coverage of the debate, including responses from both candidates on key topics such as the economy, foreign policy, and domestic issues【5†source】【7†source】.
For further information and to access the full transcript, visit:
- [Rev's Third Republican Presidential Primary Debate Transcript](https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/rnc-third-republican-presidential-primary-debate-transcript-november-8-2023)【5†source】
- [Ballotpedia's Presidential Debate (June 27, 2024) Overview](https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_debate_(June_27,_2024))【7†source】
These sources provide a comprehensive look at the debate, including each candidate's statements and key moments.
Then I requested a fact check - no other qualifications or biases on my part.
"is it possible for you to scan the entire transcript and conduct a fact check"
Now, the results were sketchy but interesting. It appears the model is attempting to be balanced. My take on this is that one would need to specifically take each question and answer and feed it into ChatGPT to get an unbiased view (I haven't don't that yet)
But regardless, here is the RAW output. Thought folks might be interested to see the result. ( have inserted my NOTES in parenthesis)
/begin
Sure, I can conduct a fact check on key statements from the recent U.S. presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump held on June 27, 2024. Here's a fact check of some notable claims made during the debate:
(NOTE: I didn't ask for the "Notable Claims", this seems to be coming as a natural outcome from the question asked to ChatGPT and how the interface processes it. Also, the "smiles" are a direct result of the text that chatGPT outputs and the scheme that DU uses for posting smiles - there is no implied smiles here. It's just a anomaly))
1. **Joe Biden's Claim on Job Creation
*
- **Claim * "During my administration, we created more jobs in two years than any administration in history."
- **Fact Check * According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy added about 12.4 million jobs from January 2021 to January 2023, primarily due to the rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic recession. While this is a significant number, it includes recovery jobs, not entirely new job creation. This claim is partially accurate but lacks context.
2. **Donald Trump's Claim on Border Security *
- **Claim * "Under my administration, we had the most secure border in history."
- **Fact Check * Trump's administration did implement stricter immigration policies and built portions of the border wall. However, there were still issues with illegal border crossings, and data on overall border security effectiveness varies. While border security was a priority, the claim of being the "most secure" in history is subjective and debated among experts.
3. **Joe Biden's Claim on Healthcare Costs *
- **Claim * "We have lowered prescription drug costs for millions of Americans."
- **Fact Check * The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included provisions to lower prescription drug costs, such as allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for certain medications and capping out-of-pocket expenses for seniors. This claim is mostly accurate, reflecting recent legislative changes.
4. **Donald Trump's Claim on Energy Independence *
- **Claim * "We achieved energy independence for the first time in decades."
- **Fact Check * The U.S. achieved net energy exporter status during Trump's administration, largely due to increased domestic oil and natural gas production. This claim is accurate, reflecting a significant shift in U.S. energy dynamics.
5. **Joe Biden's Claim on Inflation Reduction *
- **Claim * "We have significantly reduced inflation compared to where it was when I took office."
- **Fact Check * Inflation rates have been volatile due to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues. Recent data shows a decrease in inflation rates from their peak in 2022, but it remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. This claim is partially accurate but needs more context.
6. **Donald Trump's Claim on Military Spending *
- **Claim * "We rebuilt the military and increased defense spending more than any administration."
- **Fact Check * During Trump's administration, there were significant increases in defense spending, with budgets growing each year. This claim is accurate, reflecting a focus on military modernization and readiness.
These fact checks provide an overview of the accuracy of key statements made during the debate. For a full and detailed fact-check, it's advisable to consult multiple sources such as [FactCheck.org](https://www.factcheck.org/), [PolitiFact](https://www.politifact.com/), and [Snopes](https://www.snopes.com/).
From my perspective I can see several key takeaways:
1) The model has been influenced to be balanced - who determined the balance and who monitors it is something to ponder and question aggressively
2) You can't make broad questions and expect specific answers - the model will always try and summarise - so therefore you need to be prepared to get specific before you formulate your question
3) with proper governance and oversight, this could be a powerful tool for "real-time" fact checking - but the danger is that the people using it will bias their questions and oversight based on their predilections.
Interesting times ahead!
Fridays speech by our President brought tears to my eyes...
...especially the last 10 seconds. Holy crap! Well Done Joe!
POST DEBATE RECAP: Who would you choose to babysit your kids...
....let alone be president?
OR... for those of you who have chosen not to have kids (like me), please substitute "Kids" with...
pet
collection of valuable antiques
IRA
Social Security
future
or anything else that is highly valuable (to you)
Hope that clears things up for potential pollsters...
popped back to Detroit this last week
first time in 8 years.
Happy to see cannabis selling legally.
I purchased a battery operated "Vape"pre- loaded with 88% THC (it looked like an oil) Wow! It was great!
My friend Don, had a couple of hits and was nearly unable to make it out to dinner - lol.
Sadly, I was unable to bring it back to the UK, so I left it with him.
Jeeze, I wish it was legal here in the UK.
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