Mammon category archive
Behind the Scenes 0
Sam and the crew take an in-depth look at what’s behind the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
Rebecca Watson takes an in-depth look four recent studies of the effects of the Zuckerborg’s algorithms. She discusses not only what the researchers reported, but also what limits the Zuckerborg placed on their studies and how many grains of salt you need to digest the research.
Or you can read the transcript, which includes links to various citations in the video.
Twits Own Twitter 0
In related news, Paul Krugman asks, “What’s in a name?” A snippet:
And he’s been flailing wildly ever since.
Facebook Frolics 0
Have you been assimilated by the Zuckerborg? You might be due some ducats.
This New Gilded Age 0
One of the things that often escapes us is this: most of the persons working in the entertainment industry are not stars and don’t make big bucks (for an additional perspective on this, listen to the first part of this podcast).
Sam and the crew shed some light on what’s behind the current SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood writers strike.
This New Gilded Age 0
Sam and his crew discuss Fran Drescher’s comments on the Hollywood strikes.
Precedented 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Patrick L. Plaisance sounds a cautionary note about chatbots and other AI tools, urging us to not make the same mistake again. A snippet:
Notwithstanding all the benefits of social media connectedness, our failure to seriously address its harms, coupled with the conceited, unrestrained culture of Silicon Valley, has arguably left us diminished in many important ways. The dark side of our digital platforms has contributed to economic disparity (Heuer, 2015), political tribalism (Bail et al., 2018), eroded concentration levels (e.g., Zhao et al., 2021), data exploitation, cyber-bullying—the list goes on.
In the light of the strikes by the screenwriters guild and SAG-AFTRA, as well as suits for copyright infringement, this is a particularly timely piece and well worth the few minutes it will take to read it.
Twits Own Twitter 0
In a related vein, Paul Krugman wonders why tech bros seem somewhat prone to buying into conspiracy theories. A snippet:
Image via C&L.
Sonya Sotomayor Sets the Standard 0
Kathryn Rubino reports as Above the Law.
Dinosaurs Redux 0
I saw pick-up truck yesterday with a bumper sticker reading, “This vehicle is fueled by recycled dinosaurs.”
I thought of that when I saw Brian Greenspun’s column in The Las Vegas Sun. He notes that temperatures in Vegas and around the world are breaking records and argues that dinosaurs are still with us. A bit of his article:
That is if the dinosaurs of today — let’s call them the elected leaders who insist on doing the bidding of the carbon-based industries around the globe — will start making decisions designed to prolong life rather than shorten or downright end it!
Personally, I am somewhat less than optimistic.