From Pine View Farm

Political Theatre category archive

A Tune for the Times 0

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The Rule of Lawless 0

It’s something that happens when the lawless try to remake the rules.

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Courting Disaster 0

Father and litle girl walking on the beach.  The girl is holding a shell.  The father says,

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The “Attention Economy,” Dis Coarse Discourse Dept. 0

The “attention economy” refers to how hockey puck spread on “social” media can lead to–er–less than optimal decisions.

That phrase was mentioned almost in passing early in Harry Shearer’s interview with Edward Niedermeyer about Niedeermeyer’s book about Tesla, Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors. I commend the interview to your attention, if only through the example of the “attention economy” at work.

And, remember, “social” media isn’t.

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The Dictator Dictates 0

Donald Trump on television holding a sign reading

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Trolling the Troll 0

Sam and the crew discuss Gavin Newsome’s masterful trolling of Trump and the Trumpettes.

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The New Colossus Narcissus 0

Family visiting the National Portrait Gallery, which now consists only of portraits of Trump.

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Emoluments 0

Farron runs the numbers.

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The Art of the Deal 0

Donald Trump, getting taken to the cleaners in poker by Putin, thinks,

Via Michael in Norfolk, who has commentary.

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Lies and Lying Liars 0

Apparently, the Trump maladministration believes that, if they don’t talk about it, it didn’t happen.

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A Tune for the Times 0

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Precedented 0

Donald Trump opens his mouth and Adolf Hitler emerges, saying,

Via Job’s Anger.

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Devolution, Reprise 0

At Psychology Today Blogs, Matthew Facciani writes about an AI TikTok account that fooled millions into thinking it was real life human being and suggests some steps we can take–not as individuals, but as polity–to protect against such fakery.

He makes three main points:

  1. The viral “MAGA Megan” TikTok showed clear AI traits yet still fooled large audiences.
  2. AI fakes spread by aligning with identity, leveraging networks, and gaming algorithms.
  3. Combating AI misinformation requires media literacy, awareness or our biases, and platform action.

Methinks this a valuable and timely read, especially as Big Tech seems determined to stuff AI down our throats, as illustrated by yesterday’s post about the Zuckerborg.

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The Art of the Steal 0

Frame One:  Donald Trump holds up a map of Texas and says,

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A Loafsome Attack 0

Via Kathryn Rubino at Above the Law, this tribute to the Trump maladministration’s decision to throw the book at someone who threw a sandwich is circulating on “social” media.

Heavily armed law enforcement agent having a sandwich thrown at him captioned,

Rubino’s post has commentary which is well worth a read. A tiny excerpt (emphasis added):

This incident lays bare the hypocrisy of all the early (and empty) rhetoric from the start of the Trump II reign about cutting government waste. MAGA doesn’t want a small government, they want a government that can be bent to their whims. Just like authoritarians everywhere.

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The Policy Statement 0

Donald Trump’s foreign policy strategy in one short paragraph:

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A Tune for the Times 0

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“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0

Over at The Rectification of Names, Yastreblyansky hears a rhyme all the way from Rome.

And here’s a bonus rhyme.

_______________

*Mark Twain.

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Devolution 0

Title:  U. S. Evolution (under Trump).  Image:  Man devolving into monkey.

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The Control Freak 0

Via the Charlotte Observer, the Kansas City Star’s Melinda Hennenberger offers what methinks is a simple lens through which to view the actions of the Trump maladministration. Here’s a tiny bit from her article:

Just about everything that is happening domestically — from an aggressive new review of all Smithsonian exhibits to make sure they are “unifying,” “constructive,” and in sync with Trumpian values, to the determination to defund even community libraries — goes back to his goal of complete control.

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