December, 2020 archive
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
E. J. Montini relates news of the unreconstructed, in Arizona no less.
Words and Deeds 0
Juanita Jean notes the discrepancy.
The Fifth Freedom 0
The writer of a letter to the editor of the Seattle Times has a question (follow the link for the entire lettter):
Popularity for Sale 0
It’s no surprise to those who pay attention that you can buy likes and followers and sharers (choose the term favored by your particular “social” media platform of choice) for your “social” media presence. What is surprising is how cheap it is to do so.
That’s about a thousand fake friends for a dollar. Never has love been so cheap.
Follow the link for more about the study in question.
Popularizing Populism 0
“Populism” in American politics has meant many things, from legitimate reform movements intended to improve the economic status of the “populace” to those designed to appeal to its prejudice and bigotry. Lately the latter meaning has been dominant, so much so that in much of what passes for discourse, the former meaning has been forgotten.
In a longish article at Psychology Today Blogs, Eyal Winter considers the latter meaning–the appeal to prejudice and bigotry–and the tactics that its exponents use to attract, keep, and mobilize their followers. Here’s tiny little bit:
I commend his piece to your attention. It is a timely read in these viral times.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
24-year old Jarquese Harris stated that his friend had left an AR-15 rifle in the house and that his friend’s grandmother did not want it to leave the house.
Harris attempted to take the rifle outside and accidentally pulled the trigger, not knowing that the safety was off or that the gun was loaded, the media report says.
Thus passeth another day in NRA Paradise.
Just the Vaxx, Ma’am, Meets Dis Coarse Discourse 0
AL.com carries a round up lies being spread on “social” media about COVID-19 vaccines.
We are a society of stupid.
American Exceptionalism 0
David runs the numbers. (Warning: Short commercial at the end.)
Meta: Shaun Mullen 0
It has been a year.
I have removed the link to Shaun Mullen’s obituary from the sidebar.
I was privileged to have had breakfast with him many years ago at a small cafe in Newark, Delaware.
He was a friend.
