Recent posts

#1

Off the Record / Re: ICE misconduct megathread ...

Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 07:49:47 AM

Seems to me like two sides talking past each other.

The fact that camera phones are ubiquitous and the internet facilitates near instantaneous sharing of information is clearly a good thing, exposing the absurdity of the lies being pushed by officials in real time.

The fact social media is dominated by a small number of corporatized platforms motivated to privilege the spread of disinformation and slop is a bad thing.

Both things can be and are true at the same time.

Picking up on this, I fear we're just in a short window until AI video doctoring becomes good enough that it manages to completely muddle the picture (thanks also to social media) even when there's footage available of a controversial incident. Or even if there isn't.

One of the positives that came out of the death of poor Mr. Pretti is the fact that we're still capable of creating some sense of consensus around factual truth when it stares you in the face - even this morally bankrupt administration had to eventually walk back their lies - but how long will that last?

Yes, AI imaging will make things worse. But social media misinformation is already here.

#2

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 07:43:18 AM

No, we are fooling ourselves if we think it can't happen here. A reminder that 30% of conservative party members are Maga supporters.

Sometimes you can be a bit of a stick in the mud

If by stick in the mud, you mean a person willing to say uncomfortable truths - Yes, I accept that as accurate.

On the topic of it could happen here, the CBC podcast Front Burner did an episode this morning on how MAGA is influencing the Alberta separatist movement.

If you are worried about me calling out the fact that the Quebec government uses the Notwithstanding Clause because their legislation violates the constitutional rights of Canadians who are not in the majority in Quebec, well that too is a fact.

So let's not fool ourselves.

#3

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Tamas - Today at 07:28:05 AM

The truth is, the UK is still a very comfortable place to live for most people. There are obvious storm clouds gathering around housing and other infrastructure, but these are not nearly bad enough to prompt people to take a risk at potentially disturbing the comfort they have accustomed to.

#4

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Grey Fox - Today at 07:12:36 AM

I blame Meta and it's ad business. Everything on the web is about creating engagement because that generates revenue.

I use these 3 extensions: privacy badger, ublock origin, adblocker ultimate. I don't think I've seen an ad, on any website, in a decade.

You're the exception. My nephew has a quite licrative business creating content for others so they can extract revenue out of engagement and ads on TikTok and Instagram.

#5

Off the Record / Re: It Was Nice Knowing You Al...

Last post by Richard Hakluyt - Today at 06:19:49 AM

Volatile markets when you are creating the volatility = profit

#6

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by celedhring - Today at 04:59:54 AM

I don't have an English source but apparently 5 European diplomats confirmed anonymously that Fico, Slovakia's Putinist maffia boss (official title Prime Minister) told EU leaders on their recent meeting that he was terrified by Trump's mental state after the two spoke.

Here you have:

https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-florida-robert-fico-eu-summit-nato/

#7

Off the Record / Re: Mongerings - The Banal, Od...

Last post by Richard Hakluyt - Today at 04:20:27 AM

Very different behaviour to the Ribble which is outside my door; which is tidal and can rise or fall by 2 metres in the matter of an hour.

https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/station/9588

#8

Off the Record / Re: ICE misconduct megathread ...

Last post by Tamas - Today at 04:10:16 AM

Yeah, AI is a worry (in Hungary, Fidesz is making heavy use of it already, although only in mocking videos I don't think they expect even their followers to truly believe authentic), but hopefully it will ultimately swing the pendulum back in the sense that it will make people seek out trustworthy, larger organisations (newspapers and such) as sources of news rather than relying on ChadAlpha69 on Twitter for their news updates.

#9

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Tamas - Today at 03:43:54 AM

I don't have an English source but apparently 5 European diplomats confirmed anonymously that Fico, Slovakia's Putinist maffia boss (official title Prime Minister) told EU leaders on their recent meeting that he was terrified by Trump's mental state after the two spoke.

#10

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Tamas - Today at 03:31:18 AM

Looks like Trump today put conservative 2nd amendment people to the real test as to what's more important to them:  Trump or 2nd amendment.  Early indications seem to go in favor of 2nd amendment.

Colour me sceptical. The essence of the far right is to close ranks behind a leader like the good cowardly submissives they are.