From Pine View Farm

April, 2023 archive

QOTD 0

Paul Hackett:

We’re not going to spread democracy at the business end of a M16 held by a 23 year old Marine.

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Note to Comment Spammers 0

I run Akismet.

Give it up.

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A Tune for the Times 0

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The (Willfully) Blind Eye 0

At the Des Moines Register, Ivan Webber asks a question.

(The back story.)

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Still Rising Again after All These Years 0

As I’ve mentioned before, Richard Nixon’s “southern strategy” has come full circle and consumed the Republican Party.

It is now the party of George Wallace and Bull Connor.

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The Climates They Are a-Changing 0

Image of giant tornado approaching a farm house.  Voice from house says,

Click to view the original image.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Yet another child . . . .

We are a broken society.

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Republican Family Values 0

Michelle Goldberg is an optimist. She suggests that Republicans are starting realize that, in their crusade against abortion, they may have overreached.

She may be right, but my guess is that in order to retain the support of the right-wing evangelical they-call-themselves Christians, Republicans will double-down.

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Disparate Treatment, Reprise 0

And this surprises you how?

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QOTD 0

Jack Paar:

Now that man can fly through the air like a bird … and swim in the sea like a fish, wouldn’t it be wonderful if he could just walk the earth like a man?

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A Tune for the Times 0

Mangy comments at the Youtube page:

The “party of law and order” and “states’ rights” is certainly melting down over a state daring to attempt to uphold the law when it comes to Donald Trump. Suddenly, breaking the law is just “something everybody does, so no big deal. Cut the guy some slack!” At the same time, Hunter Biden owning a laptop has become an issue they believe threatens our core principles.

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Disparate Treatment 0

Frame One, captioned

Click for the original image.

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Unbalanced, Unchecked 0

Thom argues that Florida Man is going full-on fascist.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Politeness rides the school bus.

We are a failing state.

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Artificial Covert Intelligence 0

At Psychology Today Blogs Steven Hassan, who has spent four decades studying the use of “undue influence” in cults, politics, and relationships, explores the darker potential of AI. A snippet:

By gathering data on individuals’ online activities, including their search history, social media posts, and browsing patterns, AI algorithms can create a profile of a person’s preferences and interests. Cult leaders and dictators can use the information to create individually tailored content that reinforces their ideology and manipulates people into following their beliefs.

We already know that “social” media isn’t.

In view of the “golly gosh gee whiz” attitude with which many are greeting the AI/ChatGPT hype, I think his piece is worth a look.

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When They Show You What They Value, Believe Them* 0

Caption:  Vote based on what they hold dear.  Image:  Candidate A holding school children.  Candidate B hold assault rifles.

Click to view the original image.

_________________

*With apologies to Maya Angelou.

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Twits on Twitter 0

Photoshopping twits.

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QOTD 0

Morrison Waite:

We know that this is a power which may be abused; but that is no argument against its existence. For protection against abuses by legislatures the people must resort to the polls, not to the courts.

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A Toon for the Times 0

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Decoding de Code 0

Robert C. Koehler explains the unstated wishes of those who are “anti-woke”:

Please, dear Lord, make America great again. Bring back the days when white supremacy was simply the way things were, when America was overtly and indisputably racist and proud of it: proud of its segregation, its racist laws, its outright voter suppression, its lynchings and cross burnings and Klan terrorism, etc., etc., etc. Now all this stuff is just history, and the woke culture wants to teach it to our kids in a negative way, as though it were wrong.

Follow the link for context.

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