That Innsmouth Look
October 29, 2021
One used mass media to promote his barely-disguised virulent racism and horrific visions of humanity subjugated by incomprehensible, formless entities. The other was H. P. Lovecraft.
I wonder what Zuckerberg named his cat, though?
Previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously.
The most brilliant bookshops in the world | Financial Times
October 27, 2021
The most brilliant bookshops in the world | Financial Times:
FT writers nominate awe-inspiring places to get your literary fix, from Mumbai to Buenos Aires
This story sits at the intersection of Bookstores and Architecture, every single location breathtaking.
The eyes of the world are upon Minneapolis, understandably and deservedly so. Voters in Minneapolis and people around the world are questioning the conduct of city employees all the way up the chain of command to the mayor.
Here it’s important to remind people once again that in Minneapolis’ current system of governance, the mayor has sole authority and oversight of the Police Department and is at the top of the chain of command. Put another way, when it comes to the Police Department, Minneapolis already has a “strong mayor” system of government. So the failure to provide a timely after-action report is, like the Police Department itself, the mayor’s responsibility.
Former Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges basically answers why we need to say No to more executive control by the mayor’s office and Yes to police department reform… On that front, doing Nothing is what we’ve essentialy done so far, so doing Anything is better and the city council is more directly representative of their wards, more answerable to them.
Google ‘colluded’ with Facebook to bypass Apple privacy • The Register:
The alleged Jedi Blue partnership between Google and Facebook, outlined in the initial complaint, is explained in more detail in the latest filing. The two companies, it’s said, have been working closely to help Facebook “recognize users in auctions and bid and win more often.”
“For example, Google and Facebook have integrated their software development kits (SDKs) so that Google can pass Facebook data for user ID cookie matching,” the amended complaint says. “They also coordinated with each other to harm publishers through the adoption of Unified Pricing rules…”
Don’t be… Something? That sounds familiar, but who was it about…
Thousands of workers across the U.S. would rather lose their jobs than be vaccinated | MPR News
October 24, 2021
Thousands of workers across the U.S. would rather lose their jobs than be vaccinated | MPR News:
Across the country, employers are firing workers for refusing to comply with vaccine mandates. Some people are opting to quit their jobs rather than take the shot.
Good. If I show up to any job and refuse to use the safety equipment, they’re in their rights to show me to the door, and this is no different.
Southlake school leader tells teachers to balance Holocaust books with ‘opposing’ views
October 14, 2021
Southlake school leader tells teachers to balance Holocaust books with ‘opposing’ views:
SOUTHLAKE, Texas — A top administrator with the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake advised teachers last week that if they have a book about the Holocaust in their classroom, they should also offer students access to a book from an “opposing” perspective, according to an audio recording obtained by NBC News.
Gina Peddy, the Carroll school district’s executive director of curriculum and instruction, made the comment Friday afternoon during a training session on which books teachers can have in classroom libraries. The training came four days after the Carroll school board, responding to a parent’s complaint, voted to reprimand a fourth grade teacher who had kept an anti-racism book in her classroom.
Actual nazi behavior.
Vaping: FDA approves e-cigarette in US for first time – BBC News
October 13, 2021
Vaping: FDA approves e-cigarette in US for first time – BBC News:
Explaining the FDA’s reasoning, Mitch Zeller, its director for tobacco products said: “The manufacturer’s data demonstrates its tobacco-flavoured products could benefit addicted adult smokers who switch to these products – either completely or with a significant reduction in cigarette consumption – by reducing their exposure to harmful chemicals.”
This is a surprisingly sane ruling so far. I would rather vape than smoke, and I know I have felt better heath-wise since switching.
Tik Tok shows how social media uses transphobia as a gateway to further radicalization | Boing Boing
October 12, 2021
Tik Tok shows how social media uses transphobia as a gateway to further radicalization | Boing Boing:
Media Matters has found that Tik Tok’s algorithm has identified that interest in transphobic videos is a signal that showing right-wing GQP style videos will generate even more views, incidentally, this helps radicalize folks.
Why saying “I don’t see race at all” just makes racism worse |
October 11, 2021
Why saying “I don’t see race at all” just makes racism worse |:
In a way, color blindness makes the civil rights movement a victim of its own success: Legal segregation is over, so now it must be up to people of color to finish the work themselves. As Bonilla-Silva puts it, if racism is no longer actively limiting the lives of people of color, then their failure to achieve parity with whites in wealth, education, employment, and other areas must mean there is something wrong with them, not with the social systems that somehow always benefit white people the most.
Social scientists look to this question — whether you believe that racism is to blame for disparities or that Black people just need to work harder — to help them determine what they call racial resentment. And racial resentment, in turn, is a predictor of opposition to policies that would improve the economic security of millions.
Pocket Realities 