"We got South African firefighters coming to help put out fires in Los Angeles. And a white American representative from Ohio saying cut funding and don’t help. What kind of country is this!"
Yesterday evening, I somehow found myself down and online rabbit hole — as we all know, this can happen easily — where I was reading comments about the Los Angeles fires in an online discussion group. In the group, members were blaming "coloreds" for starting the fires, and claiming a man of color had been arrested as a key culprit. Group members wanted him executed in public, with t.v. coverage.
I've seen no news reports at all corroborating their claims about who "started" the Los Angeles fires or the arrest of a key culprit. The word "coloreds" was obviously codespeak to avoid having the site hosting this filthy racist discussion shut it down for using more overtly racist language.
This kind of filth has long been out there. Now, though, it's out and proud and claiming center stage.
"According to training materials viewed byThe Intercept and other media outlets, Meta users will be able to say things like 'immigrants are grubby, filthy pieces of shit,' 'Black people are more violent than whites,' 'Italians are dickheads,' women are 'household objects' or 'property,' and transgender people are mentally ill. Calling trans people 'trannies' or 'it' is now also acceptable on Meta sites."
As numerous U.S. corporations bend to the right with the political winds swirling around Republican President-elect Donald Trump's imminent return to power, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is following up on his company's termination of its fact-checking pr…
"Most of the press coverage focused on Meta ending its fact-checking partnerships, but I think that misses the real harm. The fact-checking program was never as robust as it needed to be, and there are multiple examples of fact-checkers being overruled due to political pressure from the Right.
The bigger story, at least in my mind, is that Meta’s policy changes now make it easier to target marginalized groups with harassment."
This is what it means to be a good neighbour. Our finest flying in Canadian Canadair CL-415 water bombers are doing non-stop runs filling up in the Santa Monica Bay to drop water on the Palisades fires. - Matt Austin #Neighbors
the good neighbor part is that salt water is fucking up those planes and we're doing it anyway. Oh and their president is threatening us with tariffs and annexation, and we're doing it anyway.
What Shakespeare revealed about the chaotic reign of Richard III – and why the play still resonates in the age of Donald Trump theconversation.com/what-shake…
2. Journalism has forever had this kind of problem. Just yesterday I was at a typography exhibit that showed (and labeled) a sensationalist newspaper cover from a century ago (like at your restaurant). But also, I think a lot of people don't understand that columnists and op-ed are a totally different part of "news" than the reporting side. ↵
@shriramk thanks for reading and for the thoughts! 2 - yes, it’s a massive problem that many people can’t tell the difference or don’t know the difference between news and opinion columnists (also, some outlets purposely blur line between the two, or between ads now).
3. Combining that w/ podcasts: just this morning I was listening to a high-quality podcast interviewing a person who (amongst other things) writes op-eds for the WaPo, talking about a subject I know well, and I was dismayed by how poorly she understood causal factors on a topic she widely opines on…and on how freely she switched between fact and opinion w/out flagging them. ↵
@shriramk absolutely. I wonder in this case you describe if part of it is the pace at which people are asked to produce content, and feeling like one needs to pretend to be an expert on all things? I listened to a low-quality ( 😆) podcast recently that someone shared, and I marveled at how the person circled around a very real problem but then zeroed in on so-called specific causes with next to no evidence for it. Surprise, surprise, they were selling a supposed cure 🙄
Yeah, I am always impressed by columnists who can produce an article every few days on demand, but it also makes me question how much they could really know about what they're writing (with such confidence).
Heck, I couldn't even produce a column *about my own research areas* with that level of confidence at that frequency… and these folks are opining about the entire world!
This is why my preferred newspaper is probably the WSJ. The op-eds are a dumpster fire at their best, but their reporting is excellent (and also, covers "liberal" topics in ways that would surprise many people who only know them from social media). I guess if you sell news to people who make money off the news…you need to just do that much better?
@shriramk the WSJ does do some excellent reporting! One reporter I very much appreciate is @mimsical … agreed on the opinion page. It’s not my No. 1 preferred newspaper as it doesn’t have the breadth for me, overall, and is a little too zeroed in on business and tech (which I want but not only), but I do like it. I currently have, I think, six newspaper subscriptions 🤣
excellent read. I would also add two aspects that have troubled me.
The consolation of media (in the US specifically, my frame of reference), such as Sinclair for broadcast TV. This has led to a federated ease in flooding the zone. Sinclair, specifically, mandates specific coverage in “must carry” declarations. The other end of the spectrum is news deserts, which the collapse of the smaller newspaper industry has created. So much reporting is lost at the local level.
@mlawton thank you. Yes, those are hugely important factors! I am trying to do more “small bite” pieces this year, where maybe I am not tackling the full complexity of a problem or subject, but focusing on a few aspects, or even just zeroing in on one. I hope that will enable me to do more writing, by making it more approachable and shorter. But hope that won’t be misleading. There’s substantial evidence that those living in news deserts are less informed. And ugh, Sinclair!
also the psychological weight of trying to encompass everything is just too great. That's beyond treatise and into manifesto territory. I like the small bites approach, and thought this one, in particular, was really well done. 👏
adding to that is the loss of net neutrality, which will likely have an affect on distribution of news.
Secondly, people acknowledge bias, but then select sources to affirm their bias… the echo chamber effect. Media outlets seek relevancy and to carve out a niche. Here we can blur the lines of op-ed and hard news, and consumers struggle to find a difference. Add the ability for foreign states to influence those zones so cheaply & effectively via social media? Trouble.
@mlawton big trouble. I think we also face an issue on neutrality that, historically, journalists were taught to give both sides of the story. I certainly was. And that was meant to be more neutral or objective. But if one side is purposely putting out misinformation at a far higher rate - at least among leadership - that is anything but neutral.
Good morning, Mets fans! According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, if the Mets take Pete Alonso up on Scott Boras’ proposal for a three-year deal with opt-outs, the deal would look like three years, $93.
Recently, as in for the last week or so, I’ve started developing shin splints. It’s a little annoying when the limiting factor in endurance & speed isn’t heart & lungs.
I’m attempting to stretch the shins specifically by planting my heel, pushing the toes as far forward as I can stand, and holding it as long as I can.
Is there anything else I can do about it? Are there exercises which target shin muscles specifically to strengthen them?
Have had to deal with shin splints a couple of times. What worked best for me was decreasing distance for a while, and to do some targeted exercises.
Had some recommendations from my brother, who’s a physiotherapist. Great to have one of those in the family when I run as much as I do.
First one is “Ankle Dorsiflexion with Resistance Band”. Second one is “Ankle Plantar Flexion with Resistance Band”. Lots of illustrations etc. First one I randomly found: katieegood.com/4-way-ankle-exe…
Do one of them to exhaustion, then the other to exhaustion. Couple of times per day at least. Can do lots of stuff while you do the exercise, since it’s only one foot and you don’t have to count.
Funding public schools based on enrollment in the previous year may help keep their budgets more stable, research shows theconversation.com/funding-pu…
How states fund their schools may matter more in the coming years as the Trump administration prepares to change the federal government’s role in education spending.
Starting here, what do you want to remember? How sunlight creeps along a shining floor? What scent of old wood hovers, what softened sound from outside fills the air?
Will you ever bring a better gift for the world than the breathing respect that you carry wherever you go right now? Are you waiting for time to show you some better thoughts?
When you turn around, starting here, lift this new glimpse that you found; carry into evening all that you want from this day. This interval you spent reading or hearing this, keep it for life –
What can anyone give you greater than now, starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?
The Mets signed outfielder Travis Swaggerty and infielder Yonny Hernández to minor league deals on Wednesday, Mike Mayer of MMO reports. Swaggerty, 27 posted an .800 OPS while playing for the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association.
I had walked since dawn and lay down to rest on a bare hillside Above the ocean. I saw through half-shut eyelids a vulture wheeling high up in heaven, And presently it passed again, but lower and nearer, its orbit narrowing, I understood then That I was under inspection. I lay death-still and heard the flight-feathers Whistle above me and make their circle and come nearer. I could see the naked red head between the great wings Bear downward staring. I said, “My dear bird, we are wasting time here. These old bones will still work; they are not for you.” But how beautiful he looked, gliding down On those great sails; how beautiful he looked, veering away in the sea-light over the precipice. I tell you solemnly That I was sorry to have disappointed him. To be eaten by that beak and become part of him, to share those wings and those eyes— What a sublime end of one’s body, what an enskyment; What a life after death.
Over the years at Tachiai, we’ve been privileged to speak with a number of people who are inside of or adjacent to the sumo world. We love being a part of the journey that international sumo fans m…
This paper has been making the rounds lately: Let's assume this is true. Los Angeles has roughly two million apartment units and adds about 10,000 new ones each year.
I went out to buy some eggs this afternoon but my local Ralph's didn't have any. Not at any price. Bird flu is hitting hard here in California. But then I went to my local Gelson's and picked up a dozen eggs for $6.49.
1/2 Yesterday, a disabled friend melted down in the supermarket. He didn't get loud or aggressive. He froze and started crying. Eventually, he walked home without finishing his shopping.
The problem is that our supermarkets now use "digital coupons." They require signing up and navigating a very confusing (purposely confusing, I imagine) app.
I just spent an hour signing him up, validating his phone number, and showing him how to find coupons.
Sunrise views of Carrer del Bisbe without the crowds, plus the Mediterranean. Having these running views brings joy to my day. #running #runnersofmastodon #barcelona
Last saturday i completed my 1st trail marathon - 42k and 1900m EG.
Lot of fun, both during race and training sessions. A little pain and some moment of doubts.
Went very conservative, keeping eye to stay mostly on Z3. So i ended in pretty fine shape. Spent the following day building a stone stair with stepfather.
I think I'm going to run five whole miles today. It's like I get to have all the goals I had back in the day over again. I'm so pleased every time I finish with a bit of fatigue and tendons feeling ok.
So for that I'll send a pic of two brown spots on a yellow wall - an aborted try at color picking.
The snow storm started as announced during the night and will continue throughout the day. Temp wise it is not too bad (the northern parts of the country are down to -30, so not complaining). Just very snowy and windy. Today’s run/speed hike was saved by the Kathoola MICROspikes (the EXO model would not have worked @sebastianhahn) and the water/windproof Heatra CZone Contact gloves. #stuffthatworks #trailrunning #running
-30 degrees!!! I don’t think I ever felt anything lower than -20 degrees C (and that was in the early 1980s). My face sometimes hurts really bad at -8 degrees and lower. Can’t imagine what it’s like to be out in these extremely low temperatures. I‘m glad you had a good run and are back safely. These MICROspikes would be overkill around my place, but with temperatures like these I see some good reasons for you to have and use them.
aha, you guys seem the people I have ti turn towards for some advice: I was looking into micro spikes earlier. I was wondering whether the exospikes could also be used for more grip in semifrozen muddy conditions? I would think that real microspikes would be overkill in that case? What are your experiences?
@teufen Around my place, there’s almost never more than 10-15 centimeters of snow, and even that is rare. Most years, there‘s only 8-10 days of snow, so I‘m happy with the EXOspikes. @recollir lives in Sweden where winter is far harsher and more snow intense, so he‘s better off with the MICROspikes. Depending on your surroundings, you‘ll have to decide. I‘d probably start with the EXOspikes, you could still sell them in case you need more grip.
@teufen If the snow is fresh and between 5-15 cm, I really like the Yaktrax Pro. But for everything else in our latitudes the exospikes are really unbeatable.
Cardinal Robert McElroy is a scholar of American political history and its nexus with Catholic theology. The California native studied at Harvard and Stanford and brings pastoral experience at the San Diego border.
William Lindsey
in reply to William Lindsey • • •"We got South African firefighters coming to help put out fires in Los Angeles. And a white American representative from Ohio saying cut funding and don’t help. What kind of country is this!"
~ Celly Blue
Note the TikTok video Celly Blue embeds here.
#California #fires #LosAngeles #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #ecology #Canada #Mexico #Trump #Republicans
/2
substack.com/@cellyblue/note/c…
CellyBlue - I Do Know This! on Substack
Substackreshared this
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William Lindsey
in reply to William Lindsey • • •Yesterday evening, I somehow found myself down and online rabbit hole — as we all know, this can happen easily — where I was reading comments about the Los Angeles fires in an online discussion group. In the group, members were blaming
"coloreds" for starting the fires, and claiming a man of color had been arrested as a key culprit. Group members wanted him executed in public, with t.v. coverage.
#California #fires #LosAngeles #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #Trump #Republicans #racism
/3
William Lindsey
in reply to William Lindsey • • •I've seen no news reports at all corroborating their claims about who "started" the Los Angeles fires or the arrest of a key culprit. The word "coloreds" was obviously codespeak to avoid having the site hosting this filthy racist discussion shut it down for using more overtly racist language.
This kind of filth has long been out there. Now, though, it's out and proud and claiming center stage.
#California #fires #LosAngeles #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #Trump #Republicans #racism
/4
William Lindsey
in reply to William Lindsey • • •"According to training materials viewed byThe Intercept and other media outlets, Meta users will be able to say things like 'immigrants are grubby, filthy pieces of shit,' 'Black people are more violent than whites,' 'Italians are dickheads,' women are 'household objects' or 'property,' and transgender people are mentally ill. Calling trans people 'trannies' or 'it' is now also acceptable on Meta sites."
#Meta #Zuckerberg #HateSpeech #racism #misogyny #immigrants
/5
alternet.org/zuckerberg-beta/
'Beta' Mark Zuckerberg praises 'masculine energy' in corporate America
Brett Wilkins (Alternet.org)The Caretaker
in reply to William Lindsey • • •Prior to this, Zuck made a policy that, on Meta, you can't call the genocide in Palestine a genocide because it dehumanizes Israelis.
I guess we shouldn't call what happened to the Jews in Europe during WW2 a genocide either; it could dehumanize the Nazis.
#FuckZuck #Zionist #FreePalestine #Fascism #Genocide #Meta
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William Lindsey
in reply to The Caretaker • • •William Lindsey
in reply to William Lindsey • • •"Most of the press coverage focused on Meta ending its fact-checking partnerships, but I think that misses the real harm. The fact-checking program was never as robust as it needed to be, and there are multiple examples of fact-checkers being overruled due to political pressure from the Right.
The bigger story, at least in my mind, is that Meta’s policy changes now make it easier to target marginalized groups with harassment."
~ Melissa Ryan
#Meta #Zuckerberg
/6
altrightdelete.news/p/big-tech…
Big Tech Chose Violence
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William Lindsey
Unknown parent • • •William Lindsey
Unknown parent • • •