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Comment by almost_usual | Hacker News Reader

And as the Earth burns away and we choke on the smoke we rejoice as we have our AI entertainment and we can go quietly into the night.

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I think the air quality is far better today than it was in the 30-40 years ago. I moved to Los Angeles in the late 80s and in the first six months didn't even realize that there were mountains all around us. I just couldn't see them because of the smog. I can see the mountains clearly today.

That's my anecdotal evidence.

Now do Beijing.

Damn, the wheels on those goalposts must be diesel-powered.

“It’s less smoggy in LA.” Is the “it works on my machine” of climate change denial.

It’s a global problem, and acknowledging that isn’t moving the goal posts. It’s reminding you that a first down is not a touchdown.

Yes, but that's an entirely different problem I would say.

The parent complained about having to work more when the tools get more efficient, insinuating that the fruits of advancement go only to the business owner. I commented only on that.

Lol. Nobody is choking on smoke. The earth is fine. Humans may make life slightly more difficult for themselves in the next century or two due to global warming, but those difficulties will be more than offset by advances in technology, even under pessimistic assumptions.

No one except most Canadians, the West Coast, Midwest, and Northeast of the US.

And Texas too apparently: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/environm...

Is there anywhere in the continental US not affected by wildfire smoke? Hawaii is probably doing alright.

Wildfires are periodic and affected by forest management not just heat

Doing pretty well in Phoenix. For as long as the AC keeps up!

They are getting choked by Chinese pollution.

This link is the parents speaking, nonetheless another data point [0}

I'm respiratorily at risk to particulate matter in the air (partially my own fault for cigarette smoking for many years, partially happenstance via a house fire/smoke inhalation), and the air quality has been a bastard in ON Canada this summer. It certainly has affected my outdoor activities.

[0] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/nine-year-ol...

I wish I shared your optimism, but I feel like we're running out of road while accelerating.

A good portion of NA is literally choked in forest fire smoke.

Erm. We are choking on smoke.

Its also the case that HappyMemes are very much as profitable (if not more) as home air filters.

Liars may not know they are part of the zombie horde .... but they do their master's will anyway.

Localized toxic pollutants in air (smoke etc.) and water have been significantly reduced compared to 100 years ago.

However we have been too slow to reduce the CO2 emissions that are causing climate change exactly because it doesn't have an immediate local toxic effect.

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