It’s All about the Algorithm 0
At the Psychology Today website, Rosanna E. Guadagno argues that “social” media is by design, er, antisocial.
She makes three main points:
- Outrage drives engagement, so social media platforms amplify it by design.
- Reordering social media feeds alone shifted partisan warmth by more than 2 points in a 2025 field study.
- Disagreement is healthy, but contempt is what social media algorithms actually produce and reward.
Follow the link for some hints to avoid the artificially augmented algorithmic anger.
Cancel Culture, Republican Style 0
Thom looks at how and why today’s Republican Party is trying to cancel voters. (Short commercial at the end.)
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another oxymoronic “responsible gun owner” discharges his responsibility. From the police press release:
And yet again we are reninded that “accidentally” and “negligently” are not synonyms.
“Negligently” refers to failing to exercise due care and responsibility, as implied by the phrase “responsible gun owner.”
“Accidentally” is a “Get Out of Jail Free” card for oxymoronic (emphasis on the “moronic”) “responsible gun owners.”
Indoctrination Nation 0
Apparently, the Republican thought police are ready to follow you wherever you go, even into the movie theatre.
Desecration Nation, Reprise 0
SFgate’s Drew Magary visits the Reflection Pool in Washington, D. C., to see how Donald Trump’s “renovation” of it has turned out.
He was not impressed. He says that, thanks to Trump
Follow the link to learn why.
Dangers on the Disinformation Superhighway 0
At the Psychology Today website, Taylor Neff points out that “(s)ocial media is a prominent source of mental health misinformation*.
Follow the link for some pointers to protect yourself from the prevaricators.
And remember, “social” media isn’t.
American Exceptionalism 0
PoliticalProf notices something exceptional.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
An excerpt:
A society moving forward doesn’t need to erase its history. It needs to understand it . . . .
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another “responsible gun owner” exposes a portable phallus to a child.
(snip)
The sheriff’s office says preliminary evidence indicates the shooting was accidental, happening after children gained access to an unsecured and loaded firearm. . . .
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
Thom hears a rhyme from the reign of England’s King John.
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*Mark Twain.