Republican Thought Speech Police
0
Bruce Schneier and John Penney argue that the actions of the Trump maladministration are having a chilling effect on the exercise of freedom of speech. Their article focuses on college campuses, but methinks it extends much further. Here’s a tiny bit from their article:
Research suggests that surveillance, personal threats, uncertainty and abuse of power are key factors in doing so. The federal government has a clear and systematic pattern of employing these very mechanisms across a number of domains far beyond campuses.
They are evident in militarized raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and in journalists being arrested and indicted for reporting on protests. They are made clear in the long list of political enemies the Trump administration has investigated or threatened, including the Federal Reserve chairman. And they can also be seen in the weaponization of technology, including ramping up surveillance to target critics and protestors.
This New Gilded Age 0
Thom looks at how Ronald Reagan’s legacy of trickle-on economics continues to take its toll, feather the beds of the elite, and erode the middle class.
The Sure Thing 0
You can bet on more reports like this. It’s a sure thing.
We are a broken society.
The Me Veneration 0
Words cannot express my disgust at our national narcissist’s spreading his taint on pleasuring himself with our nation’s currency.
Recruitment 0
The editorial board of the Las Vegas Sun looks at Donald Trump’s slush fund and concludes that
Follow the link and see whether or not they may be onto something.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. (Updated) 0
Ethical? Fuggedaboutit.
At the Psychology Today website, Cami Rosso reports on a study by researchers at Brown University. Here’s a bit from her article:
Addendum:
SFgate’s Drew Magary is less than thrilled about Google’s decision to force AI on users in its search results.
The Rule of Lawless, Reprise 0
I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to suggest that, under the Trump maladministration, the Department of Justice is being turned into the Department of Retribution.
The Rule of Lawless 0
Mary Trump dissects Donald Trump’s gyrations to justify violating the War Powers Resolution to continue to pursue his war of choice with Iran.
American Stasi 0
NJ.com reports on a nurse who gpt ICEd was treated roughly because she was trying to, well, be a nurse:
Bowe said that’s when an officer grabbed the back of her shirt and threw her onto the sidewalk.
More mean for the sake of mean at the link.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
And another “responsible gun owner” feels constrained to flaunt his portable phallus whilst traversing the countryside.
We are a broken society.
“Smile! You’re on Covert Camera” 0
The EFF reports a disturbing trend (emphasis added):
Our findings suggest that the absence of a warrant requirement has fostered a culture of unrestricted access to sensitive location data, allowing agencies to leverage that data beyond the scope of specific criminal investigations.
Much more at the link.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another oxymoronic “responsible gun owner” performs a random act of politeness.
Guns and stupid, guns and stupid.
They go together like love and Cupid.
Let me tell you brother,
You can’t have one without the other.