Mammon category archive
The Pusher Men 0
Mike and Farron discuss the “ghoul calculation.”
Aside:
Apropos Mike’s description of drug companies’ sales techniques: I was married to a nurse.. She told me that the staff where she worked always looked forward to visits from drug company reps, because it meant treats all around.
All in the Family 0
Farron visits Eric Trump’s fantasy world.
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
Speaking of “social” media, Dr. Michael Birnbaum, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, points out that more and more young people are turning to Dr. TikTok (emphasis added):
(snip)
Social media-based algorithms may impact and influence help-seeking in ways that were previously impossible and unimaginable (both for the better and for the worse). As a mental health professional working with young people, who are nearly constantly connected to the Internet, my job is often to help them navigate the wealth of information available online to determine what’s good and what’s bad. A critical question for me and many others in this field is how might a person’s social media feed change or evolve as a result of their online activity and if that change can influence important decisions, like the decision to seek mental health care.
Given that “social” media companies seem to act without considering the implications of their actions and that persons seem willing to believe anything they read on a screen (and the more dubious the source, the more credence they give it), I agree with him that more research is needed. And I think his article is well worth a read in the light of the current state of dis coarse discourse.
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*Methinks he might have found a more appropriate word than “exciting.” Maybe “compelling” or “urgent.”
The Crypto Con 0
Afterthought:
On the railroad, we used to refer to the city in question as “Lost Wages.”
Doubting Clarence Thomas 0
Thom runs the numbers.
Behind the Scenes 0
Sam and the crew take an in-depth look at what’s behind the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
Rebecca Watson takes an in-depth look four recent studies of the effects of the Zuckerborg’s algorithms. She discusses not only what the researchers reported, but also what limits the Zuckerborg placed on their studies and how many grains of salt you need to digest the research.
Or you can read the transcript, which includes links to various citations in the video.
Twits Own Twitter 0
In related news, Paul Krugman asks, “What’s in a name?” A snippet:
And he’s been flailing wildly ever since.
Facebook Frolics 0
Have you been assimilated by the Zuckerborg? You might be due some ducats.
This New Gilded Age 0
One of the things that often escapes us is this: most of the persons working in the entertainment industry are not stars and don’t make big bucks (for an additional perspective on this, listen to the first part of this podcast).
Sam and the crew shed some light on what’s behind the current SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood writers strike.
