First Looks category archive

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gene Collier is not sanguine. Here’s a bit from his article, in which he defines “Trumpian Democracy”:

Lest you’ve become confused on the principles of Trumpian Democracy, let me again disambiguate them: Votes for Trump, Trump-supported acolytes, or down ballot Trump wannabes and/or lickspittles, are wholly legitimate, while votes for anyone else are obviously fraudulent.

That’s essentially what the two masked men outside a Maricopa County ballot drop box were “thinking” Friday night as they sat with their tactical gear and what elections officials described as weaponry watching Arizona voters, um, vote.

Follow the link for more.

So I’m listening to an episode of That Hammer Guy, a Mike Hammer radio show, at The Old Time Radio Theater (one of my favorite websites), and find that it was sponsored by Trix Cereal, Camel cigarettes, and Esquire Magazine.

Camels and Esquire I can understand, but Camels and Esquire and Trix?

I sense an inconsistency.

At Psychology Today Blogs, Gregory Jantz reminds us that “social” media too often isn’t. Here’s a bit from his introduction:

On the one hand, when used responsibly and in moderation, social media makes life easier and better. It can provide consistent connection and communication with friends and family, and reduce feelings of isolation among the elderly. Social media also creates opportunities to promote a small business and promote awareness about a worthy cause.

On the other hand, misuse of technology and social media can be anything but social. Used unwisely or without discernment, they can be instruments of hatred, hostility, misinformation, and exclusion.

You don’t have to see more than one or two news items about malicious “Tik-Tok challenges” to know that the latter condition is far too common. And don’t get me started on the Zuckerborg . . . .

Follow the link, where he expands on his thought as to how “social” media debases dis coarse discourse.

Aside:

I was once married to a nurse who, in part of her career, was an OR nurse. (She was a very good nurse.)

She was always delighted when drug reps came to the hospital, because they treated the staff to a nice lunch.

But the harsh truth is that, for The Pusher Men, it’s all about the Benjamins.

The AP takes a look at how mis- and disinformation is flooding “social” media and what various platforms are doing to combat it.

My reading is that, of all the platforms mentioned, Facebook’s efforts to ferret out falsehoods are by far the most feeble. Follow the link and decide whether you agree.

Of course, the article does not address “social” media platforms created to foment falsehoods, such as Parler and Truth (sic) Social.

For what it’s worth, I think that Casablanca is the finest movie Amerca has ever produced.

Read more »

At the Idoaho State Journal, Michael Corrigan argues that

Being “woke,” however, if it means becoming aware of injustice and the need to correct it, is a virtue.

Follow the link for his reasonsing.

Aside:

As I’ve mentioned before, “woke” means “aware.” Draw your own conclusions about those who don’t want us to be aware.

I’ve drawn mine.

Michael in Norfolk argues that Herschel Walker is a fitting standard bearer for today’s Republican Party. A snippet:

Frighteningly, in today’s Republican Party where the truth and morality no longer matter, no conspiracy theory is too insane, and holding power is all that matters, Walker is the embodiment of the Republican Party.

Florida Man.

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With apologies to W. Somerset Maugham, one the great writers of English fiction and long one of my favorite authors.

At the Portland Oregonian, Steve Duin wonders why anyone would support keeping Democrats in power in state and local elections, given what he sees as a poor track record*. He comes to a disturbing conclusion.

Why reward the party in power by passing the torch to Democrat (candidate for governor–ed.) Tina Kotek, the long-time speaker of the Oregon House?

Perhaps because Republicans, nationally, are a menace.

Follow the link for his reasoning.

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*I don’t know enough about local Oregon politics to have an informed opinion.

My uninformed opinion is that, however poor the Democrats’ track record might be, the Republicans’ would certainly be worse.

Rex Stout:

One of the brain’s most efficient departments is the one that turns possibilities into probabilities and probabilities into facts.

Stout, Rex, Too Many Clients, (New York: Bantam, 1971), p. 123

At AL.com, Dana Hall McCain reflects on the Alex Jones damages award. A snippet:

The modern digital media culture has given rise to figures like Jones, who have become wealthy by saying whatever outrageous thing generates clicks and views that translate to cash. That money is a strong drug, incentivizing media figures to go further and further with little regard for the truth and how the lies they promulgate damage innocent people.

Methinks she is onto something. Follow the link for the rest.

Off to drink liberally.

At Above the Law, Liz Dye reviews the latest attempts by Alex Jones to hold himself–well–above the law.

Aside:

We passed a service station the other day that had a sandwich board out front reading, “Pumpkin spice oil changes now available.” If I hadn’t just gotten an oil change . . . .

Michelle Goldberg admits that she can’t quit Twitter, if for no other reason that it’s a source of breaking news. She also recognizes that, too often, “social” media isn’t.

So she clutches at a straw:

I have a shred of hope, however, that if Musk makes Twitter awful enough, users will flee, and it will become less relevant. I’m usually wary of arguments that declining conditions are a catalyst to progress — contrary to the formulation often attributed to Vladimir Lenin, “the worse, the better,” worse is usually just worse. I’m going to make an exception for Twitter, though. The best thing it could do for society would be to implode.

Follow the link for the rest of the broom.

Via All Things Amazing, an image site (some images NSFW).