6.13.2020

Oh that Ralph Waldo

The Conspiracy Theorists Masquerading as Journalists - The Atlantic

To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson: The louder someone talks about how "the mainstream media won't cover this," the faster you need to count your spoons


"The more he talked of his honor," is what Emerson said, actually. But close enough, I guess.

So near and yet so far: Is this verdict now in?

The Coronavirus Will Win - The Atlantic

In the fullness of time, many books will be written about why a country as rich, powerful, and scientifically advanced as the United States failed quite so badly at coping with a public-health emergency that experts had predicted for many years. As is always the case, competing explanations will quickly emerge.

6.12.2020

This is just about perfectly perfect

The Technology 202: Biden targets Zuckerberg as his campaign mounts a Facebook ad blitz - The Washington Post


Trump is feuding with Twitter, Biden is feuding with Facebook, which is exactly what the fuss about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is about. Section 230 protects online content platforms like Twitter and Facebook from, with certain specific exceptions, being sued over content posted by users. Conservatives hate Section 230 because they contend it results in too much censorship, which they feel is unfairly directed at them (e.g., by Twitter); liberals hate Section 230 because the feel it results in too little censorship, giving voice to opinions they disapprove of (e.g., by Facebook, as above). 

Here's more, from EFF:

Luckily, I'm not planning on being there anyway

President Donald Trump's Tulsa rally attendees must 'assume all risks' on coronavirus exposure, agree not to sue campaign - masslive.com

For future reference

The Cybersecurity 202: Cybersecurity experts give a thumbs up to the Apple-Google coronavirus alert system - The Washington Post

"There is no perfect balance between fighting the virus and protecting privacy…[But] the capability offered by these companies represents a useful step," said Sam Visner, director of the National Cybersecurity Federally Funded Research and Development Center, which is managed by the Mitre Corporation.


There seem to be no apps now available taking advantage of this system, but there are sure to be some soon. It's still a personal decision whether you want to use one or not but the technical dimension of that decision is worth reviewing.

Two guys who deserve each other

Buckle Up, Zuck, Now Joe Biden Is Gonna Petition the Heck Out of You

As for clearer rules on threats of violence and election misinformation, Facebook has carved out gaping exceptions and contorted itself into thought pretzels in order to avoid politically uncomfortable decisions

6.11.2020

Between the lines

LOL maybe we need more of this kind of behavior, less Twitter


NOTES FROM

War Time

Mary L. Dudziak

June 11, 2020
3. What Kind of War Was the Cold War?

Nearly 350 people in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, bared their backsides in the direction of the Soviet Union as a sign of contempt

Excerpt From

Mary L. Dudziak. "War Time." Oxford University Press, 2012. Apple Books.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Who keeps letting this guy out of the basement?

Biden: Military Will Remove Trump From the White House if He Refuses to Leave

6.09.2020

Fame comes to our pleasant valley

Northampton officer's burger comment during protest against police brutality goes viral, appears on comedian John Oliver's HBO show, 'Last Week Tonight' - masslive.com


Oops.

If it's not one thing, it's another

The Halloween tree in June

6.08.2020

Staying right on top of things

A US recession began in February in the face of coronavirus

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy entered a recession in February as the coronavirus struck the nation, a group of econom...

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Is this the writing on the wall?

Numbers are such fun!

Shutdowns prevented 60 million coronavirus infections in the U.S., study finds - The Washington Post

All the news that's fit for you to read, you mopes

New York Times editorial page editor James Bennet resigns after uproar over Tom Cotton op-ed - The Washington Post

Publisher A.G. Sulzberger said, "Blah de-blah blah blah."


(Yes, you're right, I'm feeling a little bitter about the newspaper I read for half a century.

("But don't forget," Sulzberger also said, "we used to be great.")