A Different Take on Hong Kong

From Spandrell, a Euro living in Asia. His main idea involves Social Position, and how it determines some of the seemingly irrational actions of modern societies.

Other things that caught my eye:

• Immigrants, we are told, are a boon to the countries they move into. This is not strictly true - it really does depend on where those immigrants formerly lived. The Irish immigrants, although they put quite a strain on the US in the 19th century, had several major advantages: they spoke English, and were familiar with the legal system and customs. Other groups are less easily assimilated. Those who have no familiarity with the language, are illiterate/near illiterate, have religions that are not Jewish or Christian, or have cultural practices considered abhorrent by Westerners (eating dogs, rats, or other nontraditional critters; female infibulation/mutilation; multiple wives), will not fit in well, even after many years of residence, or generations of native-born Americans.
• The Great Climate Change Meme Explodes! Film at 11. (NO, that WON'T happen - the news is still All In for Climate Change). There a link to Watt's Up's more detailed explanation of the Mann trial. The graph below, from Jim's Blog, needs to be widely shared - it encapsulates the fraud involved.

• I don't quite know how to categorize this post on Class Struggle - Modern Societies? The End of Liberalism? But, it's thought-provoking, and interesting, as well.
• It's a contentious and politically-charged issue, but, yes, IQ is important - not the ONLY important thing, but a good starting point. Other factors that MIGHT be more important for less-cerebral jobs: showing up on time, honesty, polite and rational behavior, not being smelly or personally offensive.
• Last, schools have been looking at AI camera systems to try to identify students' emotions to prevent violence. 
• Short story - it doesn't work, because Black faces are too often identified as hostile or contemptuous, compared to White faces.
• Long story - maybe they just ARE more hostile or contemptuous?