Generative AI: What You Need To Know

“A free resource that will help you develop an AI-bullshit detector.”  #AI [Link]

Patronage may be the business model for news

I’m soliciting prompts for discussion. This piece is a part of that series. Hunter Walk asks, in two prompts: What's one business model you wish consumers would get more comfortable with because it would be a net-positive for media/news/society? And similarly, what's one

Recycled plastic can be more toxic and is no fix for pollution, Greenpeace warns

“But … the toxicity of plastic actually increases with recycling. Plastics have no place in a circular economy and it’s clear that the only real solution to ending plastic pollution is to massively reduce plastic production.”  #Climate [Link]

Georgia GOP Chair: If the Earth Really Is Round, Why Are There So Many Globes Everywhere?

“Everywhere there’s globes…and that’s what they do to brainwash… For me, if it is not a conspiracy, if it is, you know, ‘real,’ why are you pushing so hard? Everywhere I go, every store, you buy a globe, there’s globes everywhere—every movie, every TV show,

CEO of biggest carbon credit certifier to resign after claims offsets worthless

“It comes amid concerns that Verra, a Washington-based nonprofit, approved tens of millions of worthless offsets that are used by major companies for climate and biodiversity commitments.”  #Climate [Link]

Social Media Poses ‘Profound Risk’ to Teen Mental Health, Surgeon General Warns

“Frequent social media use may be associated with distinct changes in the developing brain in the amygdala (important for emotional learning and behavior) and the prefrontal cortex (important for impulse control, emotional regulation, and moderating social behavior), and could increase sensitivity to social rewards and punishments.”  #Technology [Link]

Seniors are flooding homeless shelters that can’t care for them

“Nearly a quarter of a million people 55 or older are estimated by the government to have been homeless in the United States during at least part of 2019, the most recent reliable federal count available.” Hopelessly broken.  #Society [Link]

Consider me your personal analyst

I’m going to try something new for the next few weeks. I usually write about the intersection of media, technology, and democracy, often in reaction to new developments or something that’s been in the news. But I’d love to know what you’re interested in. So here’

Leaked EU Document Shows Spain Wants to Ban End-to-End Encryption

“Breaking end-to-end encryption for everyone would not only be disproportionate, it would be ineffective of achieving the goal to protect children.” It would also put a great many more people at risk.  #Technology [Link]

NAACP warns Black Americans against traveling to Florida because of DeSantis policies

“On Saturday, the NAACP joined the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Latino rights advocacy group, and Equality Florida, an LGBTQ rights advocacy group, in issuing Florida travel advisories.”  #Democracy [Link]

May Anti-Trans Legislative Risk Map

“The map of anti-trans risk has polarized into two Americas - one where trans people have full legal protections, and one where they are persecuted by the state.”  #Democracy [Link]

Techbro SF

“San Francisco is a dystopian hellhole caught in doomloop and it is all because everyone hates techbros. Well, we are tired of being disrespected. Therefore we are going to attack those who can’t fight back, yes, poor people.”  #Democracy [Link]