2023 archive
Overloaded 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, the Hospital, Health, and Addiction Workers Group argues that, thanks to cell phones, tablets, 24-hour “news” channels, and the like, we are overloaded with news. Indeed, I would add that much of what passes for broadcast “news” coverage is not information about things that have happened–that’s news–it’s opinion and even mis- and disinformation (think Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems) masquerading as opinion.
They point out that
It’s one thing to be informed, quite another to be constantly alarmed.
Follow the link for some suggestions for reaching a healthy balance between being informed and being panicked.
Aside:
I avoid television news completely (except when there’s a snowstorm).
I read the local rag and visit various news web sites–mostly legitimate newspapers–and don’t subscribe to news alerts on my “devices” (I do subscribe to various RSS feeds, but they lie there quietly until I choose to look at them). I also spend large portions of the day away from news; heck, I don’t even like to listen to the one-minute hourly NPR headline summary on my local classical music station.
Being informed without being overloaded is depressing enough these days, thank you very much.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
And another “responsible gun owner” commits a random act of politeness.
And, in more news of the polite . . . .
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.
Blowback 0
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gene Collier finds himself dismayed, but somehow not surprised, by the reaction of (some) Republicans to President Biden’s announcement of the “U.S. National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism.” He observes that
Follow the link for his reasoning.
Food for Thought, It’s All about the Algorithm Dept. 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Riccardo Dalle Grave discusses the association between “social” media and eating disorders in teens. He makes three main points; follow the link for his exploration.
- The use of social networks is associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.
- Viewing and uploading photos and asking for negative feedback seem particularly problematic.
- The parental role in ensuring their children’s safe and helpful use of social networks cannot be understated.
There’s nothing healthy about a culture which values self-promotion above all else.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
At Above the Law, Joe Patrice reminds us that, just because the machine said it, it ain’t necessarily so.
Fiefdom of Religion, Reprise 0
Sam and his crew talk with Will Sommer, politics reporter for The Daily Beast, about who buys into QAnon and why.
Fiefdom of Religion 0
Michael in Norfolk has an interesting theory as to why Republicans have started to attack public schools and public school teachers.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Given the hype nay, absolute swooning over “artificial intelligence,” I believe you will find the thoughtful discussion of it and of its implications on the latest Bad Voltage podcast to be well worth a listen.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another oxymoronic “responsible gun owner” treats his child with politeness.
We are a broken society.
Precedented 0
Bill Adkins, writing for the Lexington Herald-Leader, sees an echo of the past (I saw the article at the Las Vegas Sun). A snippet:
Today in the United States, 7.2% of the population is LGBTQ. That’s about 24 million people. This year, nationwide, legislatures have passed 21st-century versions of the Nuremberg Laws. They have passed at least 45 laws so far that attack LGBTQ marriage, endanger their employment and their First Amendment rights, limit what can be taught or discussed in schools and make them victims of persecution. The politicians also target those who defend the victims of these laws, as the Republicans did when they attacked the education commissioner in Kentucky.
I have cited this quote from Mark Twain before, and we see proof of it daily: “History does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes.”
I commend Adkins’s entire piece to your attention.
