October, 2023 archive
Chaos Agents 0
Robert Reich, not one given to wild ravings, fears that there is method in the madness. Here’s how he opens his article; follow the link for his reasoning.
Reagan is still revered, especially by Republicans, but his negative view of government has morphed into an authoritarian fervor within the Republican Party.
And that fervor has become the basis of a strategy — led by Trump — for seeking to persuade the rest of America that the nation is ungovernable as a democracy and therefore in need of an authoritarian strongman.
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
Those friends served to you by the algorithm, well, remember, there may not be much there there.
One more time, “social” media isn’t.
You don’t use it.
It uses you.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Atrios makes a pretty good case that, if history is not precisely repeating itself, it is certainly echoing loudly.
The Climates They Are a-Changing 0
It’s October and I’m running the blankety-blank air condtioning for Pete’s sake.
Vaccine Nation 0
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gene Collier comments on Florida Man’s losing a suit about propagating mis- and disinformation about the severity of the COVID pandemic in Florida. Here’s a couple of snippets; follow the link for the details.
The new method made it appear the virus was instead declining just as DeSantis was running for a second term for governor and keeping no secrets about his White House ambitions.
(snip)
All of this could be sloughed off as common Floridian slapstickery if it weren’t for, you know, all the dying.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
One more time, “responsible gun owner” is an oxymoron.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
(Don’t) Show your politeness on “social” media.
And another random act of politeness.
We are a failing state.
Republican Family Values 0
Emma and the crew discuss Jim Jordan’s legacy from his time at Ohio State.
The Weather Vane 0
The Kansas City Star’s Melinda Henneberger reviews recent events in the Republican Party, particularly in the House of Representatives. She comes to a disturbing conclusion and offers a way of predicting what might happen next.
And none of the current chaos on or off the Hill makes any sense unless you ask yourself this question: What would Putin do?
Follow the link for her reasoning.
Look in the Mirror 0
At the Portland Press-Herald, Victoria Hugo-Vidal muses on mistrust of government, then echoes the famous line uttered by Walt Kelly’s Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
A snippet:
The idea that government is a bad, scary, untouchable thing is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Computer security expert Bruce Schneier has written another long and detailed exploration of the current kerfuffle over AI.
In the light of all the real stupid billed as “artificial intelligence (for example), it is a timely and worthwhile read.
Lies and Lying Liars 0
Thom unpacks yet another Republican lie, this one about events in Israel.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
The hunt for politeness continues.
One wonders, was it his furry ears or his howling at the moon . . . .
One more time, “responsible gun owner” is an oxymoron.