From Pine View Farm

The Dream and the Nightmare 0

Martin Luther King, Jr., thinks,

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Yet another child . . . .

Police in Grand Rapids say a 3-year-old was taken to the hospital Saturday after apparently shooting and injuring themselves accidentally.

I will concede that a toddler may indeed have shot him- or herself “accidentally,” because a toddler would likely not understand the consequence of picking up a portable phallus, but someone’s negligence allowed him or her to do so.

We must needs hold oxymoronic “responsible gun owners” responsible.

But we won’t, for we are a society of stupid enraptured by our portable phalluses.

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It’s All about the Algorithm, Disinformation Superhighway Dept. 0

Image of words

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“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0

Kean University Professors Christopher M. Bellitto and Frank Argote-Freyre hear a rhyme from over the millennia.

We look much further back (than some other writers whom they cite–ed.) to see how the Roman Republic, which lasted for about 450 years, transformed itself into a dictatorship in only a few decades.

We are sad to report that our modern republic – like Rome at that moment – is not well. The era of Trump offers interesting parallels with the reign of the dictator Sulla (138-78 BCE), who marched on Rome from exile in 82 BCE and slaughtered his enemies.

Follow the link for their parsing of parallels.

__________________

*Mark Twain.

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Stray Thought 0

Yes, it can happen here.

Finish reading this post »

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QOTD 0

H. L. Mencken:

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

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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,

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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

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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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