Category: News
Hammond man gets 80 years for child molesting
A Hammond man got 80 years Friday for two counts of child molesting.
A jury convicted Andres “Andy” Guerra, 48, last month. He said he is innocent and would appeal.
Authorities alleged he first started fondling a preteen girl around 2013. Later, the victim alleged that Guerra’s ex-girlfriend Stephanie Alvarado joined in the sexual abuse, which stopped in October 2015.
His current wife Mellissa Guerra, a Hammond school board member, said she hoped one day he would be “exonerated.” She married him and had a daughter, believing the accusations were false.
“I know he is innocent,” she said, while tearful on the stand.
She would work to clear “his name, no matter how long it takes.”
Her friend, Michaela Spangenburg, a psychologist, told Judge Gina Jones that Andres was “genuine,” “safe” and a “protective father.”
Deputy Prosecutor Michael Stewart said the case — going through the court system for nearly a decade — had been a “long time coming.” The victim recently told him she was “numb” and “empty.” She alleged the repeated abuse, for a time, became her “new normal.”
He asked for 80 years.
Defense lawyer John Cantrell unsuccessfully tried to pick apart some legal technicalities that would add to a longer prison sentence.
Indiana lawmakers changed prison sentencing guidelines in July 2014. For Guerra, that meant his charges were split between two blocks, instead of one charge, Cantrell argued.
He also argued it was “ambiguous” if the victim was under 12 at the time the abuse started, because she couldn’t give exact dates. If she were under 12, that meant Guerra would be a “credit-restricted” felon – meaning he got less credit time in prison.
Cantrell asked for 20 years.
Judge Gina Jones ultimately rejected both of his arguments. She said the two charges also had slightly different requirements.
“I love my kids, all of them,” Guerra told Jones. “I understand the justice system. I just hope you take mercy on that. I just hope you do, your honor.”
Jones told lawyers she would sentence him on both counts. Guerra would be a “credit-restricted felon” in the pre-2014 child molesting charge only.
“The jury found you guilty,” she told Guerra.
Alvarado had a mistrial. Her new trial is scheduled for March 2.
mcolias@post-trib.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/hammond-man-gets-80-years-for-child-molesting/
Liberty contrata a Chris DeMarco, asistente de Warriors, como entrenador, según fuente de AP
Por DOUG FEINBERG
El Liberty de Nueva York contrató al asistente de los Warriors de Golden State, Chris DeMarco, para reemplazar a Sandy Brondello como entrenador en jefe, dijo el viernes a The Associated Press una persona familiarizada con la situación.
La persona habló con AP bajo condición de anonimato porque no se había hecho un anuncio oficial.
DeMarco ha estado con los Warriors durante 13 años en una variedad de posiciones, incluyendo entrenador de desarrollo de jugadores y asistente.
ESPN fue el primero en informar sobre la contratación.
Es la última contratación de la WNBA con antecedentes en la NBA, uniéndose a Alex Sarama (Portland) y Sonia Raman (Seattle), quienes fueron dos de los cinco entrenadores en jefe contratados esta temporada baja en la liga.
El Liberty dejó ir a Brondello poco después de su derrota en la primera ronda de los playoffs de la WNBA. Ella ayudó a guiar al equipo a su primer campeonato de la WNBA en 2024. Recientemente fue contratada por el equipo de expansión de Toronto.
En el momento de la salida de Brondello, el gerente general de Nueva York, Jonathan Kolb, dijo que el equipo estaba buscando “evolución e innovación” y preguntándose: “¿Cómo nos posicionamos para estar en la cima de la liga de una manera realmente sostenible a medida que la liga evoluciona?”
DeMarco ha sido el entrenador del equipo nacional de BaHamás desde 2019. La estrella del Liberty, Jonquel Jones, es originaria de esa nación insular. Ha sido parte de los cuatro campeonatos de los Warriors.
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Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Comunidades de descendientes de esclavos en Brasil exigen reconocimiento de sus territorios
Por TERESA DE MIGUEL
BELÉM, Brasil (AP) — Zaqueu Belém Araújo corta una hoja de un árbol de açaí y con destreza la dobla y la retuerce para atar un extremo con el otro y formar un anillo resistente. Se quita las sandalias, introduce los pies descalzos en el anillo de palma y trepa rápidamente por el tronco del árbol para alcanzar una rama de la preciada fruta.
Es así como se ha cosechado la baya de açaí durante generaciones en los quilombos brasileños —comunidades formadas por descendientes de esclavos fugitivos—. La técnica, que es mínimamente invasiva, no daña los árboles y ayuda a preservar los bosques de la Amazonía.
“Entendemos que mantener vivo el bosque también nos mantiene vivos”, dijo Erica Monteiro, una de las aproximadamente 500 residentes de Itacoa Miri, una comunidad de calles sin pavimentar a unos 40 minutos en embarcación desde la extensa ciudad de Belém, donde se celebran las negociaciones climáticas de la ONU.
Durante la conferencia sobre el clima, que comenzó a principios de este mes y concluirá el viernes, tanto habitantes de los quilombos como pueblos indígenas han presionado al gobierno para que emita más títulos de propiedad, que consideran fundamentales para defender sus derechos y proteger los ecosistemas donde viven.
Lucha por la supervivencia del bosque
Mientras su madre muele las bayas de açaí recién cosechadas de la palmera, Monteiro explica que esta fruta es primordial en los quilombos. Es una fuente importante de alimento y, al preservar las técnicas tradicionales de cosecha y producción, protegen el frondoso bosque que rodea sus comunidades.
“Nuestra vida es esta lucha por garantizar que el bosque siga vivo. A veces el precio que pagamos es muy alto”, agregó.
Monteiro, coordinadora de Malungu —una asociación de quilombos en el estado de Pará— es una de las líderes afrodescendientes más destacadas de la región. Su lucha por proteger sus tierras de la tala ilegal y la invasión para ranchos ganaderos y el cultivo de soya ha significado llamadas telefónicas amenazantes, intentos de extorsión e intimidación.
Es por eso que su comunidad luchó durante años para lograr lo que pocos afrodescendientes en Brasil consiguen: obtener un documento que reconozca la propiedad de sus tierras.
Existen casi 2.500 quilombos en la Amazonía brasileña, pero sólo 632 han sido oficialmente mapeados por instituciones del gobierno federal, según un estudio reciente de la Coordinación Nacional de Comunidades Negras Rurales, una asociación de comunidades quilombolas.
“Si no se puede demostrar que la tierra pertenece a la comunidad, las empresas agropecuarias terminan lo que en Brasil llamamos ‘grelhando’ (asando), que significa falsificar documentos a su favor”, dijo Monteiro.
A través de Malungu, Monteiro ayuda a otros quilombos en el largo y costoso proceso para obtener títulos de propiedad para que otros puedan beneficiarse como ellos lo hicieron hace más de 20 años, cuando obtuvieron los suyos.
Desde entonces, su comunidad ha recibido financiamiento filantrópico de la Fundación Ford y la Climate and Land Use Alliance (Alianza para el Clima y el Uso de la Tierra, o CLUA), de la cual The Associated Press recibe fondos para su periodismo climático. El apoyo es evidente en Itacoa Miri: cuentan con un centro de salud y una escuela, además de electricidad y agua corriente.
Lucha contra un basurero
La situación es muy diferente en el quilombo de Menino Jesus, no lejos de Itacoa Miri. Recibieron sus títulos de propiedad apenas en noviembre del año pasado, y correspondían a menos de la mitad del territorio que reclamaban, según Fabio Nogueira, un residente local.
A unos 500 metros (550 yardas) de su humilde casa de ladrillo, una empresa llamada Revita ha intentado instalar un vertedero que, según Nogueira, amenaza con contaminar los acuíferos de la zona, de los cuales ellos dependen para la pesca y su vida diaria. Revita no respondió a un correo electrónico en el que se le solicitaron comentarios, y no hubo respuesta en el número de teléfono registrado para su sede.
“Tememos que tanto los manantiales allí (donde se planea construir el vertedero) como el agua de nuestros pozos se contaminen con los líquidos residuales producidos por los desechos”, dijo Nogueira, vicepresidente de la asociación territorial de Menino Jesus.
Él y su comunidad llevan años de luchar contra el vertedero, y han expuesto que nunca fueron consultados. La Defensoría Pública presentó una demanda en su nombre ante el Tribunal de Justicia del Estado, pero no ha sido admitida hasta el momento.
“Nos sentimos impotentes”, expresó. “Tememos que no podremos sobrevivir aquí debido al hedor y la contaminación que vendrán después”.
La comunidad de Menino Jesus exige la titularidad de las 2.160 hectáreas (aproximadamente 5.340 acres) de terreno que afirman que han pertenecido a sus habitantes durante generaciones. Hasta ahora, sólo se les han reconocido 640 hectáreas (aproximadamente 1.580 acres).
“Un título definitivo nos da la seguridad legal de que esta tierra pertenece a la comunidad y que otras personas no pueden tomar posesión de ella”, añadió Nogueira.
Él cree que, si estos territorios son reconocidos oficialmente, los bosques de castaños y açaí se conservarán.
Es por eso que Monteiro, de la comunidad de Itacoa Miri, recalca que el gobierno brasileño debe prestar atención a las comunidades afrodescendientes y reconocer la propiedad de todos los quilombos en Brasil.
Agrega que comunidades como la suya también deberían recibir compensación —tanto de Brasil como de otros países— para preservar el bosque. Uno de los anuncios más importantes de la COP30, que finaliza esta semana, ha sido la creación de un fondo para financiar la conservación de los árboles. Monteiro expresa que se muestra escéptica, ya que otros fondos para la protección de los bosques no han llegado a su comunidad.
“Estamos haciendo lo que el mundo debería estar haciendo, que es preservar el bosque”, dijo Monteiro. “Y estamos pagando un precio muy alto que muchos países no quieren pagar”.
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Teresa de Miguel está en X como @tdemigueles
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La cobertura climática y ambiental de The Associated Press recibe apoyo financiero de múltiples fundaciones privadas. La AP es la única responsable de todo el contenido. Encuentre los estándares de AP para trabajar con filantropías, una lista de patrocinadores y áreas de cobertura financiadas en AP.org.
Lake County groups giving away turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving: ‘The community has been through a lot’
Distribution of free turkeys for Thanksgiving by not-for-profit organizations and others is a tradition in Lake County. Some of those handing out turkeys are doing it differently this year.
Organizations like Cool Ministries Food Pantry will provide complete Thanksgiving meals to people who come to their location in Waukegan on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. through Wednesday.
Others like the Mano a Mano Family Resource Center — its turkey distribution comes in December for Christmas — will be delivering half of the turkeys to families afraid to leave their homes and the rest from a central location.
“ICE is still in the area,” Dulce Ortiz, Mano a Mano’s executive director, said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. “Some community members are afraid to come out of the house, so we’re going to deliver 250 by coming to their homes.”
Lake County residents seeking a turkey or more for their Thanksgiving meal Thursday can take advantage of several programs handing them out Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the Waukegan area.
Mindy Lindholm, the executive director of Cool Ministries in Waukegan, said it has already started handing out a box to prepare a Thanksgiving meal, as well as food for the rest of the weekend, at its location on Glen Flora Avenue in Waukegan.
With a box big enough to feed eight people, she said the Thanksgiving package contains turkey, stuffing, corn, a mix for rolls, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and a dessert.
“They tell us the family size and we give them their holiday meal and four days’ worth of food as well,” Lindholm said. “We’re here for anyone who lives in Lake County.”
Lindholm said people continue to come to the food pantry despite the fear she senses in the area. They average approximately 7,000 patrons a month.
“Things have been unsettling for a lot of people,” she said. “They feel uncertain with what is happening.”
Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said in an email he is “grateful” for the local restaurants and community organizations that are offering free Thanksgiving meals to members of the community at a time when there is widespread stress.
“Their generosity reminds us what the holiday season is all about,” he said. “It has been a difficult year for so many, so it is more important now than ever for us to come together to support one another. That is the Waukegan way.”
Hamaas Ibrahim, the executive director of the Urban Muslim Minority Alliance (UMMA), said the organization will be handing out 225 Halal turkeys — appropriate for people who observe Muslim dietary rules — and 75 turkey breasts.
Ibrahim said meat will be distributed between 1 and 4 p.m. Tuesday at UMMA’s Harvest Market at the corner of 10th Street and McAlister Avenue in Waukegan. UMMA will also be giving away 100 turkeys from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at Royal Furniture in Park City.
Clyde McLemore, the executive director of Black Lives Matter’s Lake County Chapter, said his organization is providing turkeys to families who are part of the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or are on Medicaid.
McLemore said he is taking precautions to make sure recipients of the turkeys do not encounter ICE agents. To receive the meal of turkey, corn, sweet potatoes and dressing, they must register online on the Black Lives Matter Lake County Facebook page.
State Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, traditionally gives out a turkey and a ham for Thanksgiving meals. She provided 100 to people on Nov. 14 this year.
With a lot of organizations providing Thanksgiving turkeys, Ortiz said Mano a Mano is doing its distribution between 4 and 5 p.m. on Dec. 17 at the Round Lake Sports Center to provide Christmas dinners for people.
Mano a Mano is partnering with state Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, Lake County Board member Esiah Campos and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the Lakes. Half will be given out at the sports center, and the other half will be delivered to homes.
After more than two months of intensive DHS immigration enforcement activity in the area, Ortiz said she hopes the holidays will provide a respite for people.
“The community has been through a lot,” she said. “The holidays are a time of fellowship with community members, and it is needed now more than ever.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/lake-county-turkey-giveaways/
The Monsters’ Ball
The Monsters’ Ball
Authored by James Howard Kunstler,
“…the Democrat Party is no longer a political party. It is an insurrectionist crime syndicate that will torch the Constitution to stay in power.”
– Stephen Miller
The old joke goes: A-list actor is having lunch with studio chief. Studio chief says, Didya hear so-and-so (well-known Hollywood agent) dropped dead this morning. His heart. A-list actor says, Gee, I didn’t know he had one.
Kind of brings to mind the late Veep Dick Cheney, who actually did have a heart, but one so grotesquely diseased that he had his first near-fatal infarction at age thirty-seven, followed by surgeries galore, and finally, at age 71, a heart transplant that, quite remarkably, kept him going another thirteen years — long enough to function behind-the-scenes as a senior Deep State cheerleader and strategist through the Trump years. Daughter Liz Cheney, of course, did the political dirty-work, most notably on Nancy Pelosi’s sketchy J-6 Committee, prior to being voted out of office in the 2022 Republican primary for Wyoming’s at-large U.S. House seat with 28.9 percent of the vote to Harriet Hageman’s 66.3 percent.
And so, yesterday, Dick Cheney’s funeral took place at Washington’s National Cathedral, the greatest assemblage of bloodsuckers since the Hammer Film Studio went out of business in 1979.
Joe Biden was there, perky as all get-out for somebody with stage-four prostate cancer, shaking hands with Mike Pence, who pulled him over the finish line in 2021. John Brennan, coupster superbus was there. Ditto John Bolton (awaiting trial). Most cheekily of all, Dr. Fauci, the father of Covid-19 and its little helper, the Covid vaxx, was seated next to MSNBC’s loss-leader, Rachel Maddow, who famously declared in 2021, “The virus stops with every vaccinated person!” (Not.)
Also on hand, former president “W,” Mitch McConnell, Al Gore, Nancy P, Adam Schiff, Chief Justice Roberts, Veep-of-all-Veeps, Kamala Harris, and many more.
Mysteriously absent: both Clintons and both Obamas — though Bill’s office explained that he had “a scheduling conflict.”
Notably uninvited: President Donald Trump and Veep JD Vance, a downright snub, let’s be plain about it.
And with it, perhaps a message: Behold the whole gang that has labored tirelessly for a whole decade to run you out of office and stuff you into a prison cell is here to gossip and plot against you some more! Nyah, nyah. . . .”
The contrast was pretty stark: MAGA against everybody else inside the DC Beltway. Mr. Trump was certainly at the funeral as a sort of spectral presence, since you can be sure that the only thing they were chattering about was how they were finally going to get him. . . somehow! (After years of spectacular failure and astonishing reversal-of-fortune.) You might also sense what desperation lurks behind their elitist bravado. Some of these birds are headed into court themselves, perhaps to prison. The prospect must seem acutely unreal to them.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has become the Scarlet Pimpernel of US political history, brave, intrepid, and resourceful, driven by a chivalric hatred of tyranny and injustice while seeming to be a comedian, mocking his persecutors as he escapes one plot after another. Don’t you wish you’d been a fly-on-the-wall at the funeral, and whatever after-party they were all at? The odor of fear must have been eye-watering.
The whole wicked business appears to be lurching toward crisis now as Mr. Trump works implacably to disassemble the treasonous scaffold they operate off of. At midweek, a claque of Democratic Party Senators and Congresspersons, led by former CIA-employee, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, released a social media video appearing to prompt mutiny in America’s armed forces. Their script implied that Mr. Trump was issuing illegal orders, which officers could (and should) refuse to carry out. They offered no examples of such illegal orders.
It’s probably safe to say that they want Americans to think that any order issued by Mr. Trump as Commander-in-chief is ipso facto illegal because. . . because. . . well, because Trump! And it is all of a piece with their former rallying cry “our democracy,” flaunted by the worst gang of ballot fraudsters, free speech squashers, and lawfare lizards ever seen in this land.
Mr. Trump responded a bit intemperately on his Truth Social platform, telling the claque that their seemingly seditious act could be answered with the death penalty. He was in error on that. That is the penalty for treason outright. The law on “seditious conspiracy,” US Code Title 18 § 2384, calls for a fine of not more than $250,000 ((adjusted for inflation under 18 US Code § 3571), and a maximum prison sentence up to twenty years.
Anyway, that stunt was not exactly a win for Party of Chaos, but it does make you wonder what their next move is going to be. A Seven Days in May style military coup, perhaps? More likely this was a lame rearguard action by a party in retreat and disarray. The angels of justice are coming for them and they know it, despite the machinations of their allied judges to gum up every earnest Article II effort attempted since 1/20/25 to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Even while the people try to settle into the cradle of Thanksgiving hearth and harvest, the wicked creep around setting their traps.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 11/21/2025 – 16:20
Worship news: Christmas tree sale and AYCE spaghetti dinner
Crown Point
Christ Presbyterian Church: 7416 E. 109th Ave. — Christ Presbyterian Church will have an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner beginning at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 22. The dinner will include salad, spaghetti and meatballs, homemade desserts, and a beverage. The cost is $12 for adults and children over 12 years old, $6 for children 5 to 12 years old, and children under 5 years old eat for free. The event will also have carryout meals available. For more information, visit: https://allevents.in/crown-point/ayce-spaghetti-supper/200029135415115.
St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church: 101 W. Burrell Drive — St. Matthias will have a “Pick 7” food distribution event from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Nov. 22 at the Parish Hall. Those interested will be able to pick seven items from available options, and the shopping order will be determined by random draw. For more information, call 219-663-2201. St. Matthias will have a mental health dinner and workshop from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 23. The workshop will guide participants through the Sound Relationship House, a research-based framework developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman. For more information or to register, visit: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/mental-health-dinner-and-workshop.
Dyer
Faith Church: 100 W. 81st Ave. — Faith Church will have Thanksgiving services across its campuses on Nov. 26. The Dyer campus will have service at 5:30 p.m., with the nursery available for infants up to 3 years old, while the Munster, Beecher and Cedar Lake campuses will have service at 7 p.m. and the Highland campus will have service at 6 p.m.
Gary
Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N. Grand Blvd. — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at Marquette Park United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments to follow in the Fellowship Hall.
Hammond
Faith United Church of Christ: 3030 175th St. — Faith United Church of Christ holds its worship service at 10 a.m. on Sundays, followed by fellowship and coffee.
Saint Joseph Catholic Church: 5304 Hohman Ave. — Saint Joseph Catholic Church will have “Donut Sunday” on the last Sunday of every month after the 9 a.m. Mass. Free coffee and donuts are provided at the church hall.
Highland
St. James the Less Church: 9640 Kennedy Ave. — All are welcome to come and celebrate with a Thanksgiving lunch from Noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 27 at St. James the Less Parish. For more information or questions, contact Whitney Lenart at (812) 369-1672.
Merrillville
Diocese of Gary Office: 9292 Broadway — The Diocese will be accepting donations hats, scarves and gloves for the Caps for Kids campaign at its Merrillville office through January. The Diocese is assisting the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, District Council of Gary, to collect new or handmade hats, scarves and gloves. Checks can also be mailed to “Caps for Kids,” c/o St. Vincent de Paul, 2714 169th St., Hammond, IN 46323. For more information, call (219) 769-9292, ext. 88251.
Our Lady of Queen of Martyrs – South Campus: 8303 Taft St. — Join Bishop Robert J. McClory in celebrating Simbang Gabi at 4 p.m. on December 20. Simbang Gabi is a Filipino Christmas tradition of nine days of Masses during the Christmas season. A reception will follow the Mass.
Munster
St. Thomas More Church: 8501 Calumet Ave — Monsignor Weis Council 10596 Knights of Columbus will hold its annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale beginning Nov. 28. Hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Those who are interested can walk the tree lot to find their perfect tree, and treats are available for kids. Proceeds support local charities, and orders are cash or check only.
Schererville
Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church: 1 West Wilhelm Street — Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, in partnership with Knights of Columbus Council 12177, will hold its Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 23 in Saint Patrick Hall. All proceeds will support its Good Samaritans Ministry.
To submit worship news, email cnance@post-trib.com.
Is AI A Catalyst For Growth… Or For Collapse?
Is AI A Catalyst For Growth… Or For Collapse?
Authored by Charles Hugh Smith via OfTwoMinds blog,
Yes, AI is a catalyst. But for what is not yet knowable.
The current narrative holds that the big problem we need to solve is conjuring up cheap energy to power AI data centers. Fortunately for us, the solutions are at hand: building modular nuclear power plants at scale and tapping North America’s vast reserves of cheap natural gas.
Problem solved! With cheap energy to power all the AI data centers, we’re on a trajectory of fantastic growth of all the good things in life.
Let’s consider the implicit assumptions buried in this narrative.
1. The unspoken assumption here is AI will solve all our problems because it’s “smart.” But this assumes the problems are intellectual puzzles rather than self-reinforcing, self-destructive structures fueled by corruption and perverse incentives embedded in the system itself.
2. The assumption is that if we replace human workers with apps and robots, that will automatically generate Utopia. But this is based on a series of baseless, pie-in-the-sky assumptions about human nature and the nature of social and economic structures.
3. The assumption is that being “entertained” by staring at screens all day is the foundation of human fulfillment and happiness, and so getting rid of human work will usher in Nirvana. The reality is humans are hard-wired to find fulfillment in purposeful, meaningful work that is valued by others. Staring at “entertainment” on screens all day isn’t fulfillment, it’s deranging and depressing.
This is human nature in a nutshell: Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.
4. Another assumption is that every technological revolution generates more and better jobs by some causal mechanism. But there is no law of nature that technology inevitably creates more jobs than it destroys, or that the resulting jobs are more rewarding. That recent history supports this idea doesn’t make it a causal law of nature. By its very nature, AI destroys jobs while generating few replacement jobs.
The handful of top AI programmers are paid (or promised) millions of dollars; the industry doesn’t need more than a handful of top designers because AI can generate its own conventional coding.
5. This narrative assumes AI will be immensely profitable and the profit motive will push its limitless expansion. But once again, there are no laws of nature that every new technology is inevitably immensely profitable just because it’s a new technology.
If the projected use-value doesn’t materialize, the investment in the new tech is mal-invested–a stupendous waste of capital chasing a delusional pipe dream. Some percentage might generate some use-value, but this use-value may be obsoleted long before the massive initial investment pays off.
6. Even if the new technology continues expanding, the speculative bubble can deflate 80%. This is the lesson of the dot-com era: that the Internet continued to expand didn’t mean the speculative bubble continued inflating: the speculative bubble is not the same thing as the actual use-value in the real world.
The Internet continued expanding even as the dot-com stock bubble collapsed. In other words, this is the best-case scenario: if the use-value of AI is questionable, then the losses can approach 100%.
Here’s how this feels in real-time:
7. Perhaps the greatest assumption being made is that there is some law-of-nature inevitability in AI’s eventual supremacy. From the perspective laid out in What We’ve Lost, AI’s influence on systemic problems is zero because AI can’t reverse moral decay, and it actually reinforces destructive concentrations of capital and power in oligarchic cartels.
In other words, AI is a force not just of disruption (i.e. creative destruction) but of disorder, for its promoters are not accountable for its consequences, which are already visibly corrosive and potentially disastrous.
8. Every trend and every technology reaches an extreme version of its initial state. This extreme can be transformative–but not necessarily in the way proponents anticipate. AI could also be a catalyst for collapse, as the mal-investment on a vast scale bleeds the system of capital while generating consequences which destabilize a system already on the verge of disorder due to extremes of wealth-income inequality and unaffordability.
Put another way: AI is the ultimate projection of disruptive technology, but there are no guarantees that its consequences won’t catalyze systemic collapse.
9. AI boosters assume the public will either embrace or be forced to accept their AI dominance. That there could be pushback against AI supremacy that itself catalyzes disorder leading to collapse doesn’t enter their blinkered worldview.
Here is how the public may well view AI oligarchs:
10. Technocrats love to declare victory because their models indicate victory is inevitable. But models aren’t reality, as things get left out of models without the model builders being aware of what was left out. Consequences generate second-order effects that aren’t included in the projections.
Things always look great when simplified into a chart based on projections and data selected to support the shared delusion.
Yes, AI is a catalyst. But for what is not yet knowable. Never mind, here are AI’s boosters presenting their version of the “Five O’Clock Follies.”
* * *
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Tyler Durden
Fri, 11/21/2025 – 15:45
Lake Forest Library holds public presentation on planned renovations and upgrades to its building
Lake Forest Library officials are planning the next phase of renovations, focusing on restoring several of the building’s historic rooms ahead of the library’s upcoming centennial.
On Nov. 11th, the library hosted a public presentation outlining plans to upgrade rooms originally designed by local architect Edwin Clark as part of the building’s 1931 construction.
“This library is so much more than a building; it is a reflection of the community,” board member Emily Van Bel said.
The proposed renovations include the building’s vestibule, foyer, rotunda, the Friends Reading Room, the reference room and the Reference Annex. Executive Director Ishwar Laxminarayan said the reference room and Friends Reading Room were last renovated in 1995–96.
Architect Alexander Kirkhaar told attendees the goal of the project is to restore the rooms’ original “Scandinavian elegance.” He and fellow architect Philip Hamp presented a conceptual design that includes restored furnishings, re-created original features such as Clark-designed ceiling vent covers and chandelier light shades, relocated service desks and computer stations to improve accessibility, new paint and flooring, and upgraded lighting.
“We can create a more balanced architectural ensemble,” Kirkhaar said of the proposed lighting changes.
Laxminarayan said the total cost of the renovation has not yet been determined, but he anticipates receiving a preliminary estimate in early 2026. Funding sources are still under discussion, though he indicated they could include a combination of library reserves, support from the Lake Forest Library Foundation, the Friends of the Lake Forest Library, and private donations.
The library board is expected to vote on construction contracts in February, according to Laxminarayan. That would lead to construction potentially beginning in fall 2026 and concluding by mid-2027. Whether the affected rooms will remain open during construction has not yet been decided.
“We will have clarity on this only after the general contractor is hired,” Laxminarayan said. “Our staff is brainstorming ways we can continue providing services to residents during the construction period.”
The historic room restoration is the latest in a series of recent improvements to the library building. In August 2023, repairs were completed on the building’s dome. In 2024, the library finished restoring murals by Russian-born artist Nicolai Remisoff in the rotunda. More recently, work began on upgrades to the library’s exterior courtyards, a project expected to be completed by the end of this year or in early 2026.
If the historic rooms project moves forward, library officials plan to shift their focus to broader master planning for the rest of the building. Areas identified for future attention include addressing the library’s parking shortage, expanding ADA accessibility, adding group study spaces and improving access to certain parts of the collections, among others.
“We hope these changes will enhance adaptability and show this community that we are deeply committed to preserving and maintaining this building for the next 100 years,” Laxminarayan said.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/lake-forest-library-presents-possible-upgrades/
Treasury To Block Tax Credits For Illegal Immigrants Under New Trump Administration Rule
Treasury To Block Tax Credits For Illegal Immigrants Under New Trump Administration Rule
The Treasury Department plans to issue regulations barring illegal immigrants and certain foreign nationals from receiving a range of refundable tax credits, a move the Trump administration says is necessary to ensure federal benefits are limited to those eligible under longstanding law.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that the department will implement new rules defining who may claim income tax credits covered by the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, or PRWORA. The law restricts access to federal public benefits for individuals who are not U.S. citizens or qualifying residents.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are enforcing the law and preventing illegal aliens from claiming tax benefits intended for American citizens,” Bessent told Breitbart.
The regulation will specify that the refundable portions of the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Additional Child Tax Credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Saver’s Match Credit constitute federal public benefits. As a result, the Treasury Department said, illegal immigrants and other foreign nationals will not be eligible to receive them.
“Treasury’s Office of Tax Policy and the Internal Revenue Service have worked tirelessly to advance this initiative and ensure its successful implementation,” Bessent said. “Their diligence and professionalism reflect this administration’s determination to uphold the integrity of our tax system. We will continue to ensure that taxpayer resources are directed only to those who are entitled under the law.”
The rule follows a recent opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department, interpreting these income tax credits as federal public benefits that fall under PRWORA’s eligibility restrictions.
Research has indicated that illegal immigrants receive substantial refundable tax credits each year. A 2021 report from the Center for Immigration Studies estimated that illegal immigrants with Social Security numbers receive roughly $2.9 billion in cash payments annually, including $2 billion from the Earned Income Tax Credit and $890 million from the Additional Child Tax Credit. The report also estimated that illegal immigrants filing with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers receive between $870 million and $1.6 billion in Additional Child Tax Credit payments.
The Treasury Department said the new regulations will apply beginning with the 2026 tax year. (h/t Capital.news)
Tyler Durden
Fri, 11/21/2025 – 15:25
Detienen a siete funcionarios por el asesinato de un popular alcalde del occidente de México
Por MARÍA VERZA
URUAPAN, México (AP) — Siete funcionarios de la ciudad de Uruapan, en el occidente de México, fueron detenidos por su probable participación en el asesinato del alcalde de esa localidad, cuya muerte conmocionó al país y desató protestas en distintas ciudades.
La Fiscalía del estado de Michoacán —donde está Uruapan— dijo en un breve comunicado que fueron aprehendidos siete servidores públicos de esa localidad por el homicidio del alcalde Carlos Manzo, ocurrido a inicios de mes, pero no ofreció detalles.
Las detenciones ocurren a tres días de la captura en Morelia, capital de Michoacán, de un hombre identificado como Jorge Armando “N”, alias “El Licenciado”, quien sería una de las personas que presuntamente participó en la planeación del homicidio.
Los detenidos fueron llevados al Centro Penitenciario Licenciado David Franco Rodríguez y serán puestos a disposición de un juez, detalló la fiscalía estatal.
Algunos de los arrestados fueron sacados de la Casa de Cultura, antigua sede del ayuntamiento y junto a la plaza central donde fue el asesinato, en medio de un fuerte despliegue de seguridad formado por efectivos del Ejército, la Guardia Nacional y agentes estatales, según constató la The Associated Press.
Funcionarios del equipo de Manzo y ahora de su viuda y actual alcaldesa, Grecia Quiroz, grababan las detenciones entre lágrimas y sin poder creérselo porque quienes iban subiendo a las camionetas de la fiscalía estatal eran sus antiguos compañeros, personal del círculo más cercano del alcalde asesinado, confirmaron dos personas a la AP que pidieron el anonimato por seguridad.
“El Licenciado” fue identificado como integrante de una célula delictiva de Michoacán vinculada al poderoso Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), según informó esta semana el secretario de Seguridad federal, Omar García Harfuch.
La detención se dio tras el análisis de llamadas telefónicas, mensajes de texto y videos que permitieron identificar a una parte de los miembros del grupo que participaron en el homicidio, entre ellos el joven identificado solamente como Fernando Josué, quien acompañó al tirador horas antes del crimen y que fue localizado muerto junto a otro hombre identificado como Ramiro “N” el 10 de noviembre en una carretera de Uruapan.
En Michoacán, que es el principal productor de aguacate y limón del país, operan células del CJNG, la Familia Michoacana y las organizaciones locales Los Viagras, Los Caballeros Templarios y Los Blancos de Troya.
Las autoridades locales aún no han logrado determinar el móvil del asesinato del político independiente, de 40 años, que murió el primero de noviembre en un hospital de Uruapan tras recibir siete impactos de bala que le realizó un joven pistolero que lo atacó en una plaza de esa ciudad en medio de decenas de personas que participaban en las celebraciones del Día de Muertos.
El agresor, Víctor Manuel Ubaldo Vidales, de 17 años, falleció en la plaza tras ser tiroteado por la seguridad del alcalde.
En el parque central de Uruapan la escena del crimen se mantiene acordonada con las velas, una catrina y las flores de cempasúchil del Día de Muertos ya marchitas. A su alrededor en distintos lugares de la plaza el suelo está empapelado con mensajes de duelo y exigencias de justicia.
“Que La Paz no nos cueste la vida”, “ni un paso atrás”, clamaban los escritos, la mayoría firmados con el dibujo de un sombrero y un lazo negro.
Manzo contaba desde diciembre de 2024 –tres meses después de asumir el cargo– con protección y en mayo se había reforzado su seguridad con personal de la policía municipal y 14 efectivos de la Guardia Nacional tras recibir amenazas de los grupos delictivos.
La muerte de Manzo desató protestas en Morelia, Uruapan y Apatzingán, donde el 19 de octubre fue tiroteado el dirigente de los productores de limón de esa región Bernardo Bravo.
En medio del malestar que generó el asesinato de Manzo, la presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum anunció el 4 de noviembre el “Plan Michoacán por la Paz y la Justicia” para reforzar la seguridad en el estado con más de 10.000 elementos federales, y activar un “esquema integral” que incluirá programas sociales y económicos para atender las causas de la violencia, uno de los ejes de la política de seguridad que instauró desde que llegó al gobierno hace un año.
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La corresponsal de The Associated Press Fabiola Sánchez contribuyó con este reporte desde Ciudad de México.
