2018 archive
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
Anne Applebaum explains.
I don’t agree with her wholeheartedly, because she doesn’t differentiate between the actions of Facebook and those of Facebook posters, nor does she remark on the credulousness of the American Facebook user. Nevertheless, as regards how Facebook and other anti-social media platforms manipulate the material that Facebook users see when they log in, I submit that her piece is worth a read. Said manipulation may not be “publishing,” but at the very least it is some form of “polishing.”
A snippet:
At the same time, Facebook has declared itself free of responsibility: The company continues to argue that it is not legally liable for material that appears on its platform because it is not a “publisher,” even though it behaves in every other way like a publisher, including by collecting advertising revenue that used to go to publishers. The result is that anyone who seeks to spread false information on Facebook or any other social-media site is, in practice, no longer bound by laws on libel or false advertising that were explicitly designed to stop them.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Politeness is child’s play.
Randolph believes the boy may have thought the purple handgun was a toy.
The Climates They Are a-Changing 0
Look at the weather widget, over there —-> on the sidebar.
This is not right.
I fully expect that, within a century or two . . .. oh, never mind. Nobody cares.
America’s Problem: Magical Thinking 0
In the Raleigh News and Observer, Billy Maddalon suggests that it’s time for Americans to face America’s reality. A snippet:
(snip)
All of these problems persist because we refuse to learn from what other countries have done to solve these same challenges. Remember, we’re different, better, smarter, we’re exceptional. Screw the facts!
Follow the link for the rest; it’s worth the three minutes of your time.
Aside:
This condition is a natural consequence of having a major political party that has set as its mission the destruction of the common good.
Facebook Frolics 0
Blocked and silenced (unless, of course, you are a Russian Troll).
“Failed State” 0
E. J. Dionne is not sanguine.
On gun violence, the United States has become a corrupt failed state.
More at the link.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
The call of politeness . . . .
The victim was struck by gunfire and was taken to an area hospital. On Tuesday morning, officials announced that the victim died.
All the News that Fits 0
Excerpt:
The biggest fake news problem is that we have a lot of stupid people who believe fake news.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Be polite when you go to the club.
Thus passeth another day in NRA Eden.
Subtitular Substitution (Updated) 0
Last night, we watched an episode of Perry Mason.
We had the subtitles turned on, because we often watch BBC shows and some of us find the accents problematic. The subtitles were screwy.
Here’s an example (I’m ferinstancing here):
- I’d like you to meet Detective XXXX Tracy. He’d like a Manhattan XXXXtail.
Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up.
Addendum, Later that Same Evening:
In another Perry Mason that we watched this evening, the word “suspicious” was rendered “suxxxxious.”
The stupid, it burns.
“The Safest City in Florida” 0
Mike recalls that Parkland, Florida, was once named the “safest city in the United States.”
Warning: Language and lots of it.