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Showing posts from May, 2023

What's Journalism For, Mr. Chatbot?

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  Is Big AI Going To Take Over Big J? Ya wanna repeat that? (It's already got a foot in that door.) Will It Be "Aligned?" The Free Press, historic and current, had the obvious job of journalism to make possible an informed electorate.  I say “had” because some of the assumptions in that are getting tricky.   Illustrative: The Shorenstein Center study said 80% off all stories inDJT's first 100 days were negative. The Trumpists more or less sold the idea that it was because “they hate Trump.” The right was quick to grab the potential of this. Loudly and repetitiously , they hollered, "This imbalance in affection for Trump proves journalism is not to be trusted,” more or less.  That was one of the kick-offs for the demonization of the MSM. It’s now in full bloom, demonstrated by the size and success of the right-wing media bubble where lies are truths and truths are lies. Half truths… don’t get me started. From the left there were no successful ripostes saying: “Thi

No Wonder People Believe in Gods

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 P areidolia Run Amuck Now is this an old bald guy with a fluffy white horseshoe crown of hair, a mustache and a serious expression, or what? I'm watching You . This fellow looms somewhere on the periphery of the Orion Nebula. He wasn't involved in early man's conjuring of heavenly hosts (or guests), because it takes a Hubble class telescope to see it. Then it takes a good case of P areidolia (seeing faces in clouds, snowbanks, rocks*, piles of poop, etc.) I am thusly infected.  Would you call me a pareidoliac? [Or might it be apophenia ???] I haven't quite captured how this face looks to me.  But, hey, I'm a pareidoliac, not an artist. I'm getting a new portrait artist! * Rock Face

(True) Story Time

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Repeating Perpetual Tail Tales There is a rhythm to reality, and thass a fact. Things go around and come around singing  Deja Vu.  One of our current herd of three Airedales is a senior male, about 14 years old. He had a dramatic youth, bred to be a Schutzhund competitor, which involves rugged training and high expectations. He had one disabling flaw.  He is gun shy, and there are guns aplenty in the dog profession of Schutzhunding, so he was disqualified majorly, and likely embarrassed by his failure.   We rescued him at this low point in his self-esteem, intending to find him a forever home. However, he had a serious chip on his shoulder, a fearsome bark and low tolerance for other dogs. That combo made him very hard to place, so as we did with many other hard-to-place 'Dales, we adopted him. We named him Gunnar. (Har!) No guns Gunnar, Esq. Gunnar is still with us twelve years later, and his story is not finished, but he has become a loveable, loyal, and eccentric old dog dude. S