December 9, 2020
2020: The Year of the Infodemic
In 2020, Disinformation Broke The US: Lies about science, civil rights, and the vote itself have turned Americans against one another. "Disinformation and its fallout have defined 2020, the year of the infodemic. Month after month, self-serving social media companies have let corrosive manipulators out for dollars, votes, and clicks vie for attention, no matter the damage..." [more inside]
A MERRY CHRISTMAS IN THE FACE OF DOOM
"Meteors are raining down, zombies marching through your town, tidal waves are heading right your waaay..." Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy wrote and performed a song about Christmas in 2020, and @JoshFlowers on Twitter edited clips of RiffTrax Christmas videos into it. It's APOCALYPSE CHRISTMAS. HO HO HO
"And the closest person to that point is actually up in space."
"You're three or four months on the boat... you're three or four months alone... and you're in the most rough and inhospitable areas in the world. You sail past the point... that is the furthest away from land." Pieter Heerema talks about competing in a previous edition of the Vendée Globe, a quadrennial round-the-world solo sailing race. [more inside]
Dark Side of the Moon as College Ensemble Pice
An amazing performance, in its entirety, of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" by students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Via the A.V. Club.
The States V. Facebook
Today, a coalition of 48 states lead by NYS AG Letitia James have filed a lawsuit against Facebook, asserting the company has violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. (SLAssociated Press) [more inside]
The Incredible Lightness of Being
Aerial cable cars aren’t just for tourists and expos - they’re a legitimate city transport mode worthy of serious evaluation. Long Branch Mike at London Reconnections tours examples from Rio de Janeiro, Medellin, La Paz, Brest, Toulouse, Marseille, Paris, Vancouver, Portland, London, and beyond, looking at the different families of aerial cableways, cabin and tower design, and more.
Someone will remember us I say …….even in another time
"I'm a song catcher."
The Guardian interviews Chris Strachwitz, founder of Arhoolie Records. Just in advance of a free stream of the documentary 60 years of Arhoolie (on Thursday Dec 10, 8 pm EST/5 pm PST), a discussion with the 89-year-old founder of one of the record labels instrumental in capturing, documenting, and popularizing many styles of folk and working-class music. [more inside]
Covid vaccines set to begin rollout
Governments around the world are beginning to implement COVID-19 vaccine programs. Most people will experience mild reactions if any to injections however the UK warns people with a history serious allergic reactions shouldn't receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after two people experienced adverse reactions to the inoculation. [more inside]
Coup or counter?
Turkey, Poland, or America? Zeynep Tufekci argues that Trump is attempting a coup to stay in power after losing last month's election. She then invites MetaFilter's own Maciej Ceglowski to offer an opposing perspective and hosts his rebuttal in her same Substack transmission. [more inside]
This Person Exists
A website showing the real faces of real people used to train This Person Does Not Exist, without their knowledge or consent. [more inside]
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