Roads Not Taken EP 73

[@nonnyena4267]

Today is "National Hot Tea Day" 1/12/62: Start of Operation: Ranch Hand: the clearing out of foliage in VietNam - mostly w/ Agent Orange News: 1:14 Foreign policy 2:14 US *¹* 3:50 Cultural 4:27 Science 4:50 Economic 5:25 Oddities 5:46 Q-&-A *²* *My footnotes:* *¹* 3:09 Speaker Johnson voted against Inflation Reduction Act, then requested money for _HIS_ District _"FOR MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE"_ So it's true for _his_ district but no one else? Or is he just... _"mouthing the rhetoric"_ to get the funds? *²* 6:23 "Did Newsom cut $100M from Fire Budget?" It has _fact,_ but isn't *_truth:_* He first _added_ a *huge* one-time dispersement for previous fires *then* _decreased_ it by *2 to 3%* _after_ having _increased_ it by 100%.

[@BC25citizen]

Much obliged for the index and footnotes

[@nonnyena4267]

You're welcome but i shoulda tagged the footnotes for _"full disclosure"_ as my opinion /2¢... I post all of Belle, _et. al.'s_ videos on Bluesky -- hoping to get more folk watching, realizing what a good place to "get informed, not inflamed" -- esp with the 4 years of TFG³⁴ crap & FB not even pretending to fact-check & Mu$k running Disinformation Central like...well: i have no simile. ANYWAY -- i add "teasers" on some to encourage viewing, so i just copy-&-paste it here then take advantage of the no character limit bit... Glad it helps.

[@nonnyena4267]

@BC25citizen You're welcome! Though i realize now i shoulda "full disclosured" the footnotes as including *my* opinion / "2¢" I post Belle, _et. al.'s_ videos on another spot & adding teasers to encourage viewing -- hoping to get folk to notice this as a place to "get informed, not inflammed" -- especially with the TFG³⁴ ©rap incoming, FB no longer even pretending to factcheck & Mu$k becoming Disinformation Central like... Well... I ave no simile for it... *ANYWAY*.Since i'm typing it there, i just c-&-p to here, then take a little advantage of the lack of character limits. Glad it's helpful for you!

[@nonnyena4267]

@BC25citizen You're welcome! Though i realize now 🙄 i shoulda "full disclosured" the footnotes as including *my* opinion / "2¢" Glad it helps.

[@nonnyena4267]

JSYK: I post Belle, _et. al.'s_ videos on another spot & sometimes add "teasers" to encourage viewing -- hoping to get folk to notice this as a place to _"get informed, not inflammed"_ -- especially with the TFG³⁴ ©rap incoming, FB no longer even pretending to factcheck & Mu$k becoming Disinformation Central like... Well... I have no simile for it... *ANYWAY*.Since i'm typing it there, i just c-&-p to here, then take a little advantage of the lack of character limits.

[@mistywilson2801]

Mexico just sent firefighters to us. Newsome welcomed them at LAX yesterday. I want that to be known to all those people tooting about immigration. In our time of need, in absolutely unprecedented disaster...."immigrants" came here to help us. The very people the MAGA hate came to offer us life saving assistance. Thank you Mexico

[@beverleycraig2490]

Canadian's are there too...even though Trump has insulted the entire nation, we still come to assistance because we have more class than the orange monstrosity. We're great allies and should not be threatened. Our friendship won't last if the orange orangutan goes through with his economic threats. People it the US should rise up against this in huge numbers if he tries to initiate such stupidity.

[@davidharrison8975]

Good on you Mexico and Canada - Thank you for your assistance! Gee, I wonder why the media is, for the most part, silent on this fact? Complicit?

[@mistywilson2801]

@davidharrison8975 here I'm Cali, they aren't but idk bout anywhere else. Only need we are getting is fire coverage

[@SusanG-qv2wr]

How will LA be rebuilt without immigrant construction workers, documented or not?

[@bobclarke2242]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

They're asking for 15 years for the gold bar criminal but the gold toilet guy gets the White House? Really!?!?

[@crunchystuff3365]

Unbelievable isn't it.

[@katboss4886]

Justice in America I guess

[@crazycatmama2098]

Welcome to ‘Murica.

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

​@@katboss4886 It's hard to call that justice Kat!

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

​@@crazycatmama2098 We are the land of oddities!

[@margaretnicol3423]

Extra help for vets who breathed in poisons like that was voted against by the Repulsives!

[@greenthumb8266]

They were also used to keep underground pipelines cleared of vegetation so they could see leaks more easily, I grew up with them spraying where I ate berries and picked flowers and our family grew lots of our own food as well, just feet from the “dead zone”. Been sick with one mystery, rare, 1 in a million disease after another my whole life. I’m sure there’s no connection tho, and of course I have no money to pursue answers legally.

[@shawnr771]

@@margaretnicol3423 A good friend of mine died of Agent Orange poisoning. RIP Sam Morris.

[@HattieLankford-24]

​@@greenthumb8266 Try contacting Steven Donzinger. Maybe he or someone in his team would have a referral to someone who can help.

[@SeasonedCitizen]

I've lost 2 friends to Agent Orange 😢

[@cracklingcornbread]

you just gave me my new acronym for the gop instead of the good old party "the Repulsive old party haha ROP has a ring to it (:

[@drewncarolina6381]

Mexican President Sheinbaum said that the large portion of the US which was formerly controlled by Spain and Mexico should be called Mexican America. I love this response to the orange orangutan.

[@dasy2k1]

I also like how Canada suggested (somewhat tounge in cheek) that California and Washington state (plus a few other pesky blue states) could join Canada as provinces which would get them out of the hair of the GOP government... (and used free healthcare as an incentive to their people)

[@colinbrander3402]

Trump said borders are artificial, so can easily be moved. 😅

[@davidbryden7904]

​@dasy2k1 That would be a nice boost for the Canadian economy (at a time when they can use it), and as a born and raised Californian, I approve 👌 😅

[@annala2956]

Forcing people who can effectively work from home to return to office is environmentally horrible and done 100% to control employees in a big brother way. I hate corporations

[@michelleduff6085]

Absolutely first thing I thought 😢

[@Horsewomann]

Absolutely! It’s ridiculous.

[@victoriapearce6145]

That was a Canadian water bomber that was damaged. There are lots of Canadians fire fighters there with you. It will be repaired and back on the job Monday

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@@victoriapearce6145 Mexican fire fighters are there too. But I can see the orange buffoon running them off.

[@HattieLankford-24]

That makes me think of tariffs.

[@TheSuzberry]

Thank you.

[@dieweisseRose2025]

As an Angelino I can't begin to express how grateful I am to Canada... and Mexico, who has sent lots of help as well. I am so grateful that President Biden is still in office... When that orange freak takes over, g-d help us all

[@kellyp136]

The owner of the drone should be responsible for paying for those repairs.

[@private15]

As the USA does not own the Gulf of Mexico, they and trump are not allowed to change its name. He can make a unilateral order to change what you CALL it but that does not mean the rest of the world will follow suit. That is not just vanity, it is ignorance.

[@dieweisseRose2025]

I have freedom of speech and no convicted felon or his goons are gonna force me to call it something that it's not.... It's the Gulf of Mexico!

[@nonnyena4267]

I won't be changing what *_I_* call it -- partly because i'm old & set in my ways, partly because it's one of *_the_* most damn silly bit of nonsense that ever gathered behind his gums then fell out of his mouth, partly because i'm not imperialistic and am staunchly anti-colonialism partly because *_i'm_* not _insane,_ but _mostly_ because i'm not nearly headblind enough -- or _ignorant_ enough -- to be that vainglorious abt my country -- especially not after November 6🙄 just sayin'

[@suzannebrownbill9232]

I'm sure he believes that he can "tariff" the rest of us into submission.

[@angelikalindenau943]

He is welcome to change it on his very own globe. Ehm - would he have one?

[@IBeforeAExceptAfterK]

Personally, I'm all for changing its name. Not to what the Oompa Loompa wants, but some good ones I've heard are the "Gulf of Fragile Masculinity" and the "Gulf of How Does This Lower My Grocery Bill?"

[@thomasarmstrong9327]

That JP Morgan wants 30,000 people to work in their offices instead of from home (or wherever) seems like it stems from several things: 1) justification for ownership/leasing of corporate cubicle farms that have been largely vacant, 2) determination that remote work aids morale too much, 3) fear that remote work doesn't allow for enough micro-(mis)management of employees. I'm sure the smart folks who watch this video can find other things to add to the list.

[@annala2956]

You nailed them! I'd add...business /restaurants around the cubicle farms get more money from employees when they're on-site, so corporations are getting benefits from those businesses (cheaper catering for corporate events and probably other tax benefits).

[@ADHJkvsNgsMBbTQe]

Stealth layoffs to juice the bottom line for the benefit of c-suite executives who have stock options.

[@bobclarke2242]

Some remote workers will resign, which will reduce JP head count & drive up earnings.

[@AdamBladeTaylor]

1) Some people will refuse and quit. So the company makes them self fire themselves instead of openly firing them and being called out for layoffs. 2) Company wants to justify the building space they're renting or own. So need it filled. 3) On site businesses (gyms, food court, etc...) want more bodies present to make more profit. 4) Management wants to better monitor what employees are doing. 5) Happy employees are less afraid to speak up for themselves and feel less pressured to surrender to management demands. 6) People working from home are far more efficient, but companies want slaves not happy productive workers. If employees are working efficiently there's less excuse for the company to fire them. If they're stuck in the office and getting far less done the company can say they're not working efficiently enough and fire them.

[@GlenaGarrett]

So the USA changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. We'd spend billions just to be out of synch with the rest of the world on a basic geographical feature. JFC, these people need critical thinking skills as well as serious mental health help.

[@randallthomas5207]

Guess Mexico can change the Gulf of California, to the Gulf of Baja.

[@jeremy4148]

DOGE just found their two trillion in savings by not making the change.

[@murrayfeck]

Standard vs metric, daylight savings, we might be a touch out of step already

[@vforwombat9915]

crazy old man screaming at the sky. should not even be covered.

[@flor9389]

Please don’t call it return to work. Remote workers are more productive. Return to office is such a bad business decision - and more worker exploitation. My daily commute was 1-1.5 hours each way. I didn’t get paid for the extra 2-3 hours to sit in an office on Zoom half the day. When I went remote during COVID, I saved several thousand dollars a year, was healthier and happier. I became a teleworker and am retiring, in part, because of our RTO policy.

[@daleheun7222]

Return to office is an attempt to reestablish more control over the workforce and also to refill empty properties and the impact they have on local economies

[@bonniebrush94]

Good luck in all your endeavors!

[@flor9389]

@ thank you! It’s an early retirement but my bucket list is long. One of the things they changed with RTO is the TW renewal process which happens every year. I just don’t want the hassle.

[@elebenty5709]

The account I put $25 a week in for Starbucks pre-COVID had over $600 when we went back to the office. Quite a wake-up call. I only go there when we travel now.

[@michelerokes3665]

Obama is too polite of a person to sit next to Trump and snub him during the eulogy of another president.

[@talbotcolleen]

I wish he would have tried. Joking with him was beyond the pale.

[@SynchroScore]

@@talbotcolleen But think of it this way: MAGA people are getting all butthurt about it. Anything to make them mad about something silly.

[@talbotcolleen]

@@SynchroScore ... why in heck is MAGA offended that Obama is chummy with Trump? Oh... I get it... it's that racism issue again... they don't like the optics of their cult leader being friendly with a Black man, especially if it's Obama... right?

[@hollivybez]

As an Angeleno we are grateful for all the help that has come to battle the fires - especially our neighbors Canada and Mexico.

[@AdamBladeTaylor]

Being kind and friendly Canada always comes to the aid of their mentally challenged southern neighbor. We'll make sure you have your backpack and mittens and pin your name to your shirt. We find it adorable that you pretend to be a real country. :p

[@krisfrederick5001]

Beau and Belle are my fact checkers. I don't need facebook

[@tabularasa0606]

Facebook is so 2010.

[@carolbulmer8253]

Exactly!

[@bobclarke2242]

Strongly Agreed 🙂⭐️🇺🇲

[@jerrygullett8427]

TY 4 a voice of sanity in this chaotic news cycle Like elaborating on Gov.Newsoms funding on fire I'm sick of news/media will b 4 next 4 yrs or more TY

[@keepscats7936]

Everyone should read the wonderful little book "How to Lie with Statistics." Truncating charts, "comparing" charts that have different scales and more are all explained. These techniques have been around since 1954 when the book was first published.

[@dcy665]

Back in the last century I noted that Apple was covered with Pie Charts. ???, wah? If you compared actual numbers they did alright, but the pie charts made it look better. One item always stood out to me; Education discounted sales because they never explained the profit margins. Yet, anyone could apply and get the discounted price, even if you didn't finish the form, or were not actually qualified. This was before their switch to Intel processors. I have paid less attention to Apple finances this century.

[@bjdefilippo447]

A valuable addition to my stats & research methods courses, and way cheaper then the alternatives.

[@l.griffin2324]

Good Sunday morning, folks! Sitting down to breakfast with Belle. Loving the "Roads Scholars" nickname!

[@shawnr771]

To change the name on the map only requires 1 sharpie. The only map that has to change is the one Chump looks at.

[@crunchystuff3365]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@johnanthony2545]

🎯 Power of sharpie god is all that matters to this guy. Was given to him by Sharpie God a big huge god with tears in his eyes over come with the presence of greatness. 😂

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

Excellent point Shawn! Fine point!

[@HattieLankford-24]

Put a child lock on his computer that gives.... customized search results.

[@SynchroScore]

@@HattieLankford-24 I actually saw a KZbin ad earlier today for a "conservative search engine" because I guess they're fragile little snowflakes who are triggered by facts that don't support their political beliefs.

[@georgiarn3915]

My uncle was drafted and went to Vietnam despite being married and having a very young son. He was exposed to Agent Orange and developed throat cancer. He died before his 60th birthday. Yet my mother's family are staunch Republicans. 🙄

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

Happy trails fellow travelers! Let's learn something new together today!

[@Erin-Thor]

Good Morning ☀️ Victoria! I feel smurter already! 👋🏽💛

[@SaberToothBicycle]

Gtsy Victoria!

[@ankem4329]

Hello again Victoria 👋🤓 nice travelling with you

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@@victoriajohnson-parratt6975 I wasn't late to class today 😉. Hope you're well!

[@katboss4886]

Yea, road tripping with Victoria. Good morning!

[@stefankwiatkowski5241]

Billions for a vanity project? Remember the guy who proposed it has gold (or just gold-plated?) bathroom fixtures! What's a billion or three of someone else's money?

[@michaelgreaves2375]

Maybe we should just double down and rename the Atlantic to The American Ocean... and the Pacific too! We can rename all of the mountain ranges to The American Mountains! OOOOOH! Let's rename the sky!

[@jenniferf1518]

Belle, I so appreciate your down to earth, common sense thinking about the cost of renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. Thank you.

[@donaldmrambojr5695]

😊 Happy travels, fellow "Roads Scholars"!😉

[@roadswithbeau]

I love roads scholars. 😆

[@katboss4886]

I brought snacks for everyone. 🏈🦅🧀🏈✌️🌎

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

The more I learn, the less smart I feel.

[@maxwelledison5366]

What would it cost to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico? Whatever international credibility the United States has left.

[@dieweisseRose2025]

Truth!

[@vforwombat9915]

will it? serious question: do other countries have country specific names for international bodies? like China and the south china seas, for ex. i don't know he answer to this, but if the answer is yes, the other countries will just ignore president grandpa's simpson's actions.

[@Jedi_Vigilante]

@@vforwombat9915 Other countries do often have different names for landmarks and geographical features... but they are usually traditional names with extensive histories that are used in place of names given by colonists. For example, India does not refer to itself as India in many circumstances, instead preferring Bharat or Hindustan. Most of the rest of the world uses the name India, and within India they usually do as well when dealing with international issues/trade, but they do still refer to themselves differently. The thing is, both of those names have deep historical roots, while the name India was imposed upon them by colonizers. That is not the case here. If he were to change the name to what was traditionally used by the Olmecs (or even the Aztecs or Maya) then that would at least be reasonable by international standards. This is just a petty man doing petty things, and will be perceived as such. Whether the U.S. military strength will allow foreign leaders to be as publicly flippant about this as it deserves is another matter...

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Happy trails Roads trippers.

[@roadswithbeau]

Hi

[@Erin-Thor]

Howdy Comfy & Belle!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@@roadswithbeau good morning! Thanks for everything y'all do!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@@Erin-Thor high, are you staying warm? Most of the snow from Friday night has melted here.

[@Erin-Thor]

@@comfortablynumb9342 - Yup, same here, just a few dirty pockets here and there.

[@Feezec]

When i went to high school in the 2000s, the school still had globes displaying the Soviet Union

[@dieweisseRose2025]

😆🤣😆

[@michaelgreaves2375]

When I was in school, we had a globe that was so out of date it had the state of Manchukuo in northern China.

[@SaberToothBicycle]

Sunday driving with Belle at the wheel! Happy to be riding along with the rest of the Internet People. ❤

[@donaldmrambojr5695]

Good morning, Tim! Always a pleasure to be riding with you!

[@shawnr771]

Good morning.

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

It's a good Road to travel with pleasant passengers like you Tim!

[@Erin-Thor]

Morning everyone! 👋🏽🤠

[@roadswithbeau]

👋

[@shawnr771]

Howdy.

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

Have a happy hot tea day Erin-Thor!

[@slreneau2]

Good morning, Erin-Thor! 🎉

[@Erin-Thor]

@@shawnr771 - Hello Neighbor Shawn! Looks like a beautiful if not slightly cold week ahead, with a slight chance of more snow! ❄️ 👍🏽😎

[@randallthomas5207]

Return to Work, sounds like a force out at least some of them. So, we don’t have to lay them off and pay severance.

[@elainegoad9777]

Lemon Ginger Tea- Yum ! And good for you !

[@poorsusanliber]

My current favorite.

[@richardshaw7673]

I am a retired Union Officer. I once had client exposed to Agent Orange at a SAC base in the US. It was used to clear sight lines around the base.

[@bjdefilippo447]

Plus the testing for it and other agents was done at Egland AFB, so I'm sure there are disease clusters nearby.

[@lindanannini-ug1lt]

Love your series. Hope you are taking care of yourself. Thank you.

[@donaldmrambojr5695]

In oddities...WHERE'S VANCE ❓

[@shawnr771]

Chump replaced him with Muskrat.

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

I said that too good Donald!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@@donaldmrambojr5695 Apparently replaced by a South African fascist.

[@abegilbert5113]

Vance is like jello. When the heat is on he just slides right out of the way.

[@davidharrison8975]

Did you mis-state this? Shouldn't it read "Where is the oddity Vance"? Just checking... ;-)

[@lynnlobliner3933]

Add'l info regarding the So Cal fires: #1 The super scooper plane (on loan from Canada, who has 2 of these) is not expected to be out of service long - the hole is said to be superficial. #2 8,000 firefighters from many US states AS WELL AS from Mexico and Canada.

[@CricketsBay]

In oddities: Where's Vance. Also in oddities: Mike Johnson temporarily escapes MAGA Brainworm Virus and becomes Environmental Justice Warrior.

[@kreiner1]

I'm a little afraid to make a bingo card for 2025, because we would have to put the most ridiculous things on it, and they may happen. 😮😮

[@daiakunin]

Have a good Sunday fellow roads travelers!

[@666ruth666]

I need to spend more time on this channel. I so appreciate your even-tempered delivery of actual facts. As a longtime Southern California resident, I know everyone is out there just chomping at the bit to hate us and make us wrong about everything. It's just not the case.

[@destinycircle820]

Re: changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico - and that name-change would only happen in the US, because the entire rest of the world will laugh that idea right out of the room and they'll then ignore it. Re: ending remote work - Because, yeah, those companies are paying for commercial real estate, and they're darn well gonna get their money's worth! And commercial real estate brokers and management companies have to stay in business, so they're not going to allow everyone to work from home either!

[@euniceaugust2197]

Thanks Belle and that was great.

[@davidbryden7904]

It's true," a lie can run around the world before the truth has it's boots on. "~ (GNU)Sir Terry Pratchett ✨️

[@junerussell6972]

Regarding Agent Orange and veterans. It's really difficult for many veterans because they can't always prove that they were in the affected areas because much of the information about their exact place was suppressed. For instance, a friend of mine was a Marine in Vietnam. For years he was denied the benefits he deserved based on his Agent Orange exposure. Because he was "officially" assigned on a naval vessel, they discounted the fact that his unit was frequently put ashore to deal with "situations." He was exposed while on those shore assignments, but because he was assigned to a ship, supposedly it didn't count. (He finally was able to get his disability, but it was difficult.) Another friend went through the same problem with proving he had been "in country" (as they put it.) He was a naval hospital corpsman. He too was assigned to a vessel. But he spent a good deal of time in country working in triage hospitals (where he was *not* supposed to be, according to his credentials or his level of "rank." But when the doctors they had got such bad PTSD from the experience and had to be removed, they unofficially put people like him in charge doing an MD's job, even though they were hospital corpsmen. It lead to horrible PTSD. He had stories that he couldn't tell many people who were not able to handle horrible medical discussions. I'm an MD, so he finally had someone he could tell the stories to. Finally, he was removed from that situation, but not before he had PTSD and Agent Orange medical problems, which lead to his death from heart disease.) He finally got the 100% disability he deserved, but it was not done as quickly as it should have been because of the way they considered who was "in country" (and therefore exposed to Agent Orange) and who wasn't.

[@soulsquest]

CBC News Covered the Drone taking a chunk out of the wing of the Quebec Water bomber.

[@Ron_Lockwood]

Thank you,Belle.😎🇺🇸💙

[@bettylynne7364]

Good morning Roads scholars.

[@RexJordan-s8x]

Thank you Belle again from Sterling Heights Michigan USA

[@paperburn]

Companies are losing huge amounts of money maintaining office space for workers that only show up once a week. And worse yet...Gasp workers are working remotely at vacation spots. god forbid we can not have that! (HR memo you must be working from your home if you have work at home privileges)

[@christinepark1398]

All that should matter is - does the work get done on time and well ?

[@nicholasgallanis7539]

The push to return to the office is a means to layoff employees without the actual layoffs.

[@beverleycraig2490]

Sell some of that office space and convert it to housing. It would make the downtowns be more vibrant. The sidewalks wouldn't roll up when the office workers went home. There would be more restaurants open, grocery stores, and all the other services necessary for the increased population living there (buses etc.). The work gets done still by those at home and the work/life balance improves dramatically. Taking cars out of the commute helps everyone, and reduces air pollution. To me it's a win/win.

[@milot2311]

Thank You Belle and Teamfor the News Highlights and Historical Observations.

[@johnnyrockdog]

Thank you for another informative episode! Thank you for all the fact, checking! Keep up the good work!

[@Allastrology]

For a vanity project -so true!! Thanks again Belle and crew!!!!

[@donaldmrambojr5695]

Menendez should be in prison & NEVER have been elected to public office...

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

It looks like Menendez will get prison and won't be elected again. That should be the gold standard for political criminals.

[@crunchystuff3365]

The same for Trump.

[@s.k.1091]

Brava ….. excellent work Belle and Crew!

[@endfarm]

Thanks

[@hollivybez]

8:20 Newsome is doing a great job - through the pandemic forward

[@alainsavard3680]

Also for California, the current budget doesn't include the firefighters negotiations results, as the contract is not approved yet. The real budget is going to be higher than last year. Truth is so hard, until you really look it up.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Agent orange and similar stuff was tested in Florida during the Vietnam war.

[@shawnr771]

It used to be called Cotton Defoiliant in Texas.

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

Humans are definitely not the smartest species!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@shawnr771 gross. Imagine how much better off they'd be if they grew hemp for clothes instead.

[@michaelgreaves2375]

40 years ago, I learned from my science teacher that the main component of agent orange was 245-D. Not only was it a known carcinogen, it was also a very strong neuro-toxin. It was banned for use long ago and replaced with 24-D, which is still in use.

[@JP-JustSayin]

The moral case for automation lies in its potential to meet human needs, not its service to profit. AI will never be cheaper than exploiting the poor.

[@carolbulmer8253]

Thank you, Belle.

[@terrymoorefield5918]

Thanks, Belle! Great information!

[@RhondaGiuffrida]

Thank you !

[@lanapeterzon]

Thanks Belle and team

[@Mike-kr9ys]

Thanks for this 'Roads Not Taken' episode today. It was a good one! It made the perfect compliment to my cuppa hot tea & a 2nd breakfast. Have a great day!

[@rrrosecarbinela]

Thanks, Belle

[@jeanine1410]

Thank you Belle and Team.

[@margaretnicol3423]

Facebook and X will still have to comply with UK law. The lack of fact checking only applies to the US. ''Rules in the Online Safety Act, due to come into force later this year, compel social media firms to show that they are removing illegal content - such as child sexual abuse, material inciting violence and posts promoting or facilitating suicide. They also says companies have to protect children from harmful material including pornography, material promoting self-harm, bullying and content encouraging dangerous stunts. Platforms will be expected to adopt "age assurance technologies" to prevent children from seeing harmful content. The law also requires companies to take action against illegal, state-sponsored disinformation. If their services are likely to be accessed by children they should also take steps to protect users against misinformation.''

[@beverleycraig2490]

Sadly though it's the US that needs the fact checking the most. There are lots of people in the US who have no critical thinking skills and think everything in writing must be the truth. It's terrifying that social media has devolved into this misinformation circus.

[@dieweisseRose2025]

With the lack of intelligence these two weenyheads are exhibiting... How did they become billionaires?

[@that_morrigan6184]

One of these days I'll remember the email address for questions, but today is not that day

[@roadswithbeau]

Questionforbelle @ gmail

[@that_morrigan6184]

@roadswithbeau putting this in my phone so it can do the remembering for me feels strange 😅 Thank you for the email reminder! (I know it's been said in a video but I couldn't remember which one!)

[@cmax522769]

​@@roadswithbeauTY

[@suzannederusha1370]

My father was a Vietnam vet and he was exposed to agent orange. He was compensated for this years after he was retired.

[@rvictoria8896]

Not sure if you'll see it, belle, but is there any way you can do a video that does a quick show of comparing the gold/copper/bond ratio? I want to maintain an eye on it myself. I know that it isn't the sole predictor. I want to expand my understanding by looking at those ratios with the recessions/economic health with presidents. The visual comparison will help me understand it better. I also know you did videos (including Beau) that talked about it here n there, but it's hard to find with y'all's titles.

[@nonnyena4267]

Last summer Beau did one on this channel *Nostalgia about Trump's economy* that has a ~3.5 minute intro Then cuts to his video on economic indicators. -- there's a link in the description it the original video from Sep 3, '19 as well as one to charts that help make his point. On the other channel, the title is pretty straight forward [for a change😉] Recession indicators or ray of sunshine shouod get you there. [i have a Notes app i "bookmark" vids i reference or repost frequently]

[@rvictoria8896]

@nonnyena4267 THANK YOU. I knew I remembered watching it, but didn't save it. Appreciate you

[@ADHJkvsNgsMBbTQe]

Big orgs trying to end remote work smells a whole lot like stealth layoffs trying to evade legal protections and transparency/reporting requirements. The most valuable and/or highest paid employees are the ones who will leave because they have options. However, it’s only going to juice the stock price in the short term while permanently damaging the company in the long run, so investors better be mindful in my opinion. This is what happens when decisions are made by tie wearing chuckleheads who are too focused on their executive stock options. These c-suite banksters should be held accountable in the future for the damage caused by brain drain. And it’s a great example of why we need the economic checks and balances of collective bargaining. If you provide the value you should have a seat at the table.

[@artboymoy]

Nice little mic drop att the end there.

[@halorail]

Great show Belle

[@zam6877]

I just discovered this news version of your channel I have started to realize that I had lost the habit listening to the news It's terrifying what unknown gaps I must have

[@CricketsBay]

Make sure you're subscribed to @roadswithbeau so you don’t miss any content in this channel.

[@DarkSyster]

When Canada and the USA decided to rename Georgia Strait, Puget Sound, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, it was done so that those other names did not cease to exist but became parts of the larger entity called the Salish Sea. This meant they didn't need to do a whole lot of work changing signs and maps and so for. Newer maps and globes would add "Salish Sea" but the signs would be much the same. Renaming the Gulf of Mexico, a whole different ballgame.

[@greenthumb8266]

6:13 so the way to win, is to NOT engage with false accusations, information, so as not to promote the narrative thru the algorithm?

[@RodMesa-e2t]

Uh... “There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics” - has been attributed to Mark Twain, who himself attributed it to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, who might never have said it in the first place. So there you go.

[@TheSuzberry]

Lots of JPMorgan’s employees will be looking for work.

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

This decision just seems bad for business Suzanne!

[@margaretnicol3423]

If you have a large office building which is mainly empty apart from meeting rooms I guess you can go two ways. Get everyone back to use the space you have or reduce the space by selling the building and buying a smaller one for meetings or, of course, rent out most of the building a keep a floor for meetings. On the other hand - perhaps they are not being so productive at home so want over your shoulder supervision on them.

[@talbotcolleen]

​@margaretnicol3423 ... or perhaps this is their cowardly way to reduce their workforce without official layoffs?

[@RevLetaLee]

Here in Washington state, prices are rising again since the election. Gas went back up, beef has gone even higher, milk & eggs higher, etc. Can only imagine where it goes from here.

[@peterconlon8234]

I was curious as to the budgeting rumor where Newsome was concerned: good info to know, thanks

[@wendyjohnson1128]

THANK YOU BELLE

[@hollivybez]

6:08 I’ve noticed lies spreading rampantly already

[@annabrahamson4320]

My boss died if cancer from that he was in Vietnam. My brother was a field salesman for a seed company in the early 60s, Mayo Clinic told him his Parkinsons early onset was likely from agent orange which was used here too. He had it beforevhe was 40.

[@jules_az_mi2636]

Hi Belle - I didn't know you had taken over this, too. I love you, and am glad you are growing viewership. I thought I might see Beau here, though. Where is Beau, outside of helping people in Florida?!

[@margaretnicol3423]

You think helping people isn't enough?

[@sharondaj-fineartist9859]

According to my dad, who is a Vietnam vet, EVERYONE was affected by Agent Orange. Directly or indirectly. (Everything goes into the ground, which leaks into the water). He's been trying to get help with that. There are also cases where the descendants of soldiers are affected. My brother and I were both born premature. 1.5 lb for me at 6 mths and 3 lb for him at 8 mths, and we both have disabilities. Was agent orange a factor? Who knows?

[@drunkenfarmerjohn42]

JP Morgan gotta justify that new office building in Midtown Manhattan.

[@nonnyena4267]

A little help? What's on the coffee cups? Anyone?

[@anemiab3746]

The Gulf of Maralardass.

[@serendipityshopnyc]

You may not have had "Mike Johnson, Environmental Warrior" written on your bingo card, Belle, but I bet you had it covered under "Mike Johnson, Hypocritical Opportunist".

[@w4iph]

Just cause Chat GPT can't do the times crossword puzzle doesn't necessarily mean it can't outsmart humans

[@lorainenatalino5534]

I miss “In oddities…Vance”….lol….I still say it in my head…🤷🏼

[@markrenfrow9873]

Hey Ms. Belle and internet folks.

[@talbotcolleen]

Maybe Trump should run his vanity project idea of changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico through his DOGE agency and see what they think of it?

[@michelleduff6085]

Classy as always.

[@susanwoodman3858]

Any country can change how they name geography. The other countries can simply ignore that country’s name for the geographical body.

[@jeffsstuff]

Can someone provide links to the full chart of the CalFire budget as well as the truncated one that’s apparently circulating. This would be a good teaching tool

[@jessie988776]

Canadian fire fighters are also helping

[@Craxin01]

Greed destroys everything.

[@zendarva]

8:25 Our self respect. That's what it will cost.

[@BubblesintheDesert]

Oh great, skynet is building robots, what could possibly go wrong?

[@offtarget1758]

Hello Internet People!!

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

Good morning ot! It's nice to share this Road with you!

[@victoriajohnson-parratt6975]

Good morning ot! It's nice to see you on this Road!

[@offtarget1758]

@@victoriajohnson-parratt6975 👋

[@dren608]

Meta has huge lawsuit on its latest merger, trying to get favor with incoming administration is a shot at getting that lawsuit to go away. Meta owns Facebook