From Pine View Farm

A Tune for the Times 0

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Karen Karen-Like 0

Karen wields a mean meme.

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It’s All about the Algorithm 0

Goat approaches Pig and Rat, who are holding their phones.  Goat says,

Click for the original image.

In the algorithm, “engagement” means “enragement.”

Learn more about The Chaos Machine.

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This New Gilded Age 0

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The Privatization Scam 0

At the Idaho State Journal, Randyu Sttapilus argues that it’s all about the Benjamins.

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Republican Family Values 0

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett highlights the hypocrisy.

Via C&L, which has commentary.

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Facebook Frolics 0

Zeynep Tufekci offers a theory as to why Mark Zuckerberg seems to have thrown his lot in with Donald Trump (while simultaneously getting rid of fact-checking). Here’s the gist:

Zuckerberg told (podaster Joe–ed.) Rogan that “one of the things that I’m optimistic about with President Trump is I think he just wants America to win.” And then he got to the heart of the matter: He suggested that Trump use the power of the U.S. government to defend Meta abroad — for instance, from the huge fines that the European Union has imposed on it for violating data privacy and antitrust rules.

Follow the link for context.

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QOTD 0

Roger Bacon:

To ask the proper question is half of knowing.

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A Tune for the Times 0

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“But It’s the Only Possible Explanation” 0

At Psychology Today Blogs, Jeffrey S. Debies Carl takes a two-part dive into why persons spread conspiracy theories. One of his most disturbing findings at persons may benefit from doing so, but the evidence that they do benefit from fomenting falsehoods is all around us in dis coarse discourse. I commend both articles to your attention.

Here are his summaries of the main points from both parts (emphasis added):

Part One, titled Why Do People Spread Conspiracy Theories?

  • Many people assume people who spread conspiracy theories will be subject to ridicule.
  • Research suggests that conspiracy theories might actually improve the reputations of people who spread them.
  • Spreading conspiracy claims and thinking positively of those who spread them might be part of human evolution.

Part Two, titled Does It Pay to Spread Conspiracy Theories?

  • A new study examines the reputational consequences of spreading conspiracy theories.
  • The findings show that conspiracy claims can either improve the reputation of spreaders or harm them.
  • Social conflict improves positive reputational outcomes of conspiracy spreading and minimizes negative ones.

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Derange Brew 0

Title:  Sorcerers Apprentice.  Image:  Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg before a witch's cauldron graced by a map of the globe.  Next to them sits a broom that looks like Donald Trump.  A cabinet behind them holds containers of

Click to view the original image.

One more time, “social” media isn’t.

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The Privatization Scam 0

Via Cliff’s Edge, Matt Robison and Anne Kim parse the preverication.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

It is generally considered not a good idea to play with one’s portable phallus.

Musical NotesGuns 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.

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Dis Coarse Discourse 0

Florida Men.

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Have You Been Assimilated by the Zuckerborg?
Do You Want To Free Yourself?
0

My friend got a message yesterday from a friend informing her that said friend was leaving Facebook “because facts matter.”

Coincidentally, this appeared in my feeds:

the EFF offers some pointers as to how to dis-assimilate oneself from the Zuckerborg.

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QOTD 0

Livy:

Men are only too clever at shifting blame from their own shoulders to those of others.

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A Pillow of the Community 0

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Macho, Macho Men* 0

At the Tampa Bay Times, Stephanie Harris reacts to Mark Zuckerberg’s claim that we need a more masculine culture. A snippet:

“I think a lot of the corporate world is pretty culturally neutered,” Zuck told fellow noted Caucasian man Joe Rogan. “Masculine energy is good, and obviously, society has plenty of that, but I think corporate culture was really trying to get away from it. I think having a culture that celebrates the aggression a bit more has its own merits that are really positive.”

So true. Men have been ignored for too long. As the nation writes this next chapter, it is crucial to refocus our attention on them. After all, we have been allowed to have credit cards in our own names since, what, 1974? And women run a whole 10% of Fortune 500 companies. What are we even whining about?

_______________

*Methinks the text-speak shorthand for this term in this context is “WATB.”

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Know Them by the Company They Keep 0

As cynical as I have become been made, I must admit that this rather takes me aback.

I expect that my father, who was in the Ardennes, would be appalled.

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The Fires Liars This Time 0

GOP Elephant standing amongst ruins of California fires says,

Click for the original image and the artist’s commentary.

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