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SteveThompson

@SteveThompson@mastodon.social

PhD. Rhetorics of terrorism, media, and AI. Taught at Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth, UC Davis, Clemson.

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SteveThompson , to Art
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Photographer wins lawsuit against alleged painter who plagiarized her work"

https://boingboing.net/2024/05/17/photographer-wins-lawsuit-against-alleged-painter-who-plagiarized-her-work.html

"Two years ago, I wrote about Jeff Dieschburg, an artist in Luxembourg who took [w]ork by others, made trivial edits, and won awards with paintings of the results."

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Billionaires willing to kill democracy for trillions in tax breaks"

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/5/16/2241045/-Billionaires-willing-to-kill-democracy-for-trillions-in-tax-breaks

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
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"Media Ignore Quietly-Revised UN Figures of Hamas-Reported Civilian Deaths"

https://honestreporting.com/media-ignore-quietly-revised-un-figures-of-hamas-reported-civilian-deaths/

"In December,...civilian casualty figures reported by ...indicated discrepancies...reported numbers, particularly those of women and children compared to men and combatants, are significantly exaggerated.

A May 9 OCHA update...significantly altered the portrayal of casualty figures...the effectively conceding the untrustworthiness of Hamas figures...parroted by various media outlets."

SteveThompson OP ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"The claim that the vast majority of casualties (approximately 70%) are women and children has been reported widely by the international media, which cite the Gaza Health Ministry as their source while frequently failing to mention that it’s run by Hamas.

Despite these revisions being available on OCHA’s website for days, the international media has blithely continued to regurgitate erroneous statistics in countless articles."

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
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"What American Fascism Would Look Like"

https://newrepublic.com/series/37/trump-2024-american-fascism-series

"It can happen here. And if it does, here is what might become of the country."

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"OpenAI inks deal to bring Reddit content to ChatGPT" 🤔

https://www.axios.com/2024/05/16/openai-reddit-chatgpt-deal

SteveThompson , to Tesla
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Eight hundred protesters attempt to storm German Tesla factory"

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/may/10/tesla-protest-germany-factory

"Demonstrators opposed to expansion of factory near Berlin claim it would damage environment"

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Trump vows to reverse transgender student protections ‘on day one’"

https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/4656405-donald-trump-transgender-students-athletes-title-ix-lgbtq/

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"The Nasty Problem of Cleaning Up Space Junk at 17,500 Miles Per Hour"

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-space-junk-problem/

"To fix Earth’s tricky orbital debris problem, startups and governments are testing everything from kamikaze satellites to robotic grappling arms."

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"EDITORIAL: Trump not even trying to hide his disdain for democracy, rule of law"

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2024/may/08/trump-not-even-trying-to-hide-his-disdain-for-demo/

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"This Isn’t Justice"

https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2024/05/this-isnt-justice-legal-experts-blast-cannon-for-postponing-trump-case-indefinitely/

“This is news but it’s hardly unexpected..." Joyce Vance wrote. “Judge Cannon seems desperate to avoid trying this case. This isn’t justice. defendants aren’t the only ones with speedy trial act rights, we the people have them too.”

“After the election,” professor of law and former chief White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter commented, “if Trump wins Jack Smith gets fired, the case gets dismissed, and Judge Cannon is ready for SCOTUS.”

SteveThompson OP ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@mastodonmigration Didn't think he'd win in 2016.

SteveThompson OP ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@mastodonmigration It's part of a bigger picture and if he wins, the far-right global movement along with the far-left global movement will ultimately kill democracy..

SteveThompson OP ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@DrJay @mastodonmigration

"Paul Ryan Confirms He Won’t Vote for Trump"

https://politicalwire.com/2024/05/08/paul-ryan-confirms-he-wont-vote-for-trump/

SteveThompson OP ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@mastodonmigration @DrJay It's long overdue. From the late Colin Powell to Laura Bush, where is the resistance, really?

SteveThompson OP ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@mastodonmigration @DrJay Meanwhile, on the other side...

"Fetterman: Progressives who don’t vote will own ‘tragedy’ of second Trump term"

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4651379-fetterman-progressive-voters-trump-second-term/

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"White House hits back at Trump 'Gestapo' comments"

https://www.axios.com/2024/05/06/trump-gestapo-remarks-white-house-fascists-claim

"Instead of echoing the appalling rhetoric of fascists, lunching with Neo Nazis, and fanning debunked conspiracy theories that have cost brave police officer their lives, President Biden is bringing the American people together around our shared democratic values and the rule of law — an approach that has delivered the biggest violent crime reduction in 50 years."

pluralistic , to Random stuff
@pluralistic@mamot.fr avatar

For decades, scammy "book doctors" and vanity presses spun a tale about how Big Publishing was too conservative and risk-averse for really really adventurous books, and the only way to get your visionary work published was to pay them to fill your garage with badly printed books that you'd spend the rest of your life trying to get other people to read:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/07/04/self-publishing/

1/

SteveThompson ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@pluralistic Cool, Cory. But Verso's The Business of Books by André Schiffrin is still a high recommend. A different tangent on the industry reasoning for topical content rejection but nonetheless enlightening. Am really struggling with some of this right now as it looks like theory is reserved for self-publishing and I never intended some of my work to be shared that way. Just not a businessman that way.

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

Trump doesn't even have a dog. That should speak volumes to voters.

"Trump Endorses Kristi Noem's Puppy Killing Book"

https://www.meidastouch.com/news/trump-endorses-kristi-noems-puppy-killing-book

"MAGA are literally the party of killing puppies"

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Trump Repost: Prosecute Liz Cheney 'For Her Crimes'". 👀

https://www.meidastouch.com/news/trump-repost-prosecute-liz-cheney-for-her-crimes

"Trump continues to attack Liz Cheney"

SteveThompson , to Tesla
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Drivers using Tesla Autopilot crashed hundreds of times"

https://www.axios.com/2024/04/26/tesla-autopilot-crashes-elon-musk

"Federal auto safety investigators say in a new report that they've identified hundreds of crashes — 13 of them deadly — in which Tesla's Autopilot system failed to protect its drivers and passengers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) flagged 467 crashes over a period of about 15 months from 2022-23."

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Universal Music’s Copyright Claim: 99 Problems And Fair Use Ain’t One" @mmasnick

https://www.techdirt.com/2024/04/24/universal-musics-copyright-claim-99-problems-and-fair-use-aint-one/

molly0xfff , to Random stuff
@molly0xfff@hachyderm.io avatar

"While more of the is becoming accessible to people with low-end connections, more of the web is becoming inaccessible to people with low-end devices even if they have high-end connections."

@danluu on web bloat: https://danluu.com/slow-device/

https://www.mollywhite.net/micro/entry/202404231317

SteveThompson ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@molly0xfff @danluu Anything Microsoft is now holding up my internet work. Outlook, .docx files, everything they want control over as it crosses my screen throws all interaction on hold until it fully bloats the experience for its own reward and to user derision.

SteveThompson ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@molly0xfff @danluu Anything Microsoft is now holding up my internet work. Outlook, .docx files, everything they want control over as it must cross my screen throws all interaction on hold until it fully bloats the experience for its own reward and to user derision.

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Trump Bashes Jury in Apparent Gag Order Violation"

https://www.meidastouch.com/news/trump-bashes-jury-in-apparent-gag-order-violation

"Trump said in an interview on Steve Bannon's network Real America's Voice, 'That jury was picked so fast. 95% are Democrats. The area is mostly all Democrat. You think of it as a purely Democrat area. It's a very unfair situation that I can tell you.'"

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

Yep. Hamas militants freely disrupting campuses with hate on American soil.

"'October 7 is about to be every day:' Columbia rally sees Hamas support"

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-798049

"A woman in a Keffiyeh shouted at a pro-Israel activist, 'We are Hamas,' outside Columbia on Wednesday. 'We're all Hamas,' she said at the counter-protesters that had rallied outside the university."

SteveThompson , to NYC
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"NY AG asks Trump civil fraud judge to declare $175M bond ‘without effect’"

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4606053-ny-ag-trump-civil-fraud-judge-declare-175m-bond-without-effect/

"State lawyers said in court filings Friday that the former president and his co-defendants — the Trump Organization and its top executives, including his two eldest sons — failed to prove the surety Trump used to obtain the bond actually has the money to back it."

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Ronan Farrow on the Scheme at the Heart of Trump’s New York Trial"

https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/political-scene/ronan-farrow-on-the-scheme-at-the-heart-of-trumps-new-york-trial

"A back-room deal between the former President, his then lawyer, and the C.E.O. of American Media plays a central role in the criminal felony charges he faces in Manhattan."

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Russia Just Helped Swing a European Election"

https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/04/17/slovakia-president-pellegrini-russia-election-interference-disinformation/

"Slovakia’s new Russia-friendly president won office with the help of a barrage of pro-Kremlin disinformation."

SteveThompson , to Tesla
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Tesla asks shareholders to back $56bn pay for Elon Musk rejected by judge"

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/apr/17/elon-musk-tesla-pay

"Delaware court in nullified compensation deal based on carmaker’s market value in January, calling it ‘unfathomable sum’"

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

While it may be a symptom, Trump is not testing "his gag order" as much as he is running with his underlying root reinforcement to act above the law and get away with it.

"Trump Posted Multiple Attacks on Witness Michael Cohen to His Campaign Page"

https://www.meidastouch.com/news/trump-posted-multiple-attacks-on-witness-michael-cohen-to-his-campaign-page

"Trump continues to test his gag order"

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

Here they go again with the special treatment that has gotten him off the hook his whole life with others expected to pay the price

"Trump lawyers acknowledge civil fraud bond was issued without ‘certificate of qualification’ but say AG’s complaint ‘should be set aside’ anyway"

https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/not-the-only-evidence-of-justification-trump-lawyers-acknowledge-civil-fraud-bond-was-issued-without-certificate-of-qualification-but-say-ags-complaint-should-be-set-aside-anyway/

"Trump lawyers said that James’ questioning of the bond was unnecessary and “sparse,” so she should shoulder the costs of the court fight."

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Mark Cuban says he's proud to pay $288 million in taxes this year, unlike a certain former president"

https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-cuban-proud-to-pay-taxes-unlike-certain-ex-president-2024-4

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

There is no evidence of significant voter fraud in US elections. When there is an incident, it's usually them. Real message here is they need watched.

"Voter data expert hired by Trump on Johnson election claims: ‘He should know better’"

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4592028-voter-data-expert-hired-trump-johnson-election-claims-he-should-know-better/

"A voter data expert who was hired by the Trump campaign in 2020 to look for voter fraud criticized claims by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) about election integrity Friday."

CultureDesk , (edited ) to Cats
@CultureDesk@flipboard.social avatar

Cats are finally getting their Hollywood meow-ment, according to the Hollywood Reporter, with moggies taking lead roles in shows like "Ripley," "A Quiet Place: Day One," "The Marvels" and "Argylle." James Hibberd talks to directors Matthew Vaughan and Steven Zaillian about casting troubles and the influence of Taylor Swift, and to animal trainer Jo Vaughan about how she gets our feline friends to do what they're told. Just for fun, tell us which of these you think is the most iconic movie cat. For the sake of this poll, we're not considering animated cats, nor other felines, so sorry Simba, Baby and the Cowardly Lion, you're out of luck.

https://flip.it/9pQe0D

SteveThompson ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@CultureDesk

That Darn Cat

GottaLaff , to Random stuff
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

The GOP Fascist Party, folks.

Via Scott MacFarlane:

A 71st House Republican has signed on to co-sponsor Rep. Matt 's resolution to formally express sentiment of U.S. House that Donald did not engage in insurrection: Del. James Moylan (R-Guam)

SteveThompson ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff It's always party over country with them, even when it's egregious.

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

Technically, people are behind algorithmic behavior. Fediverse is not immune to this troubling phenomenon, miscommunication or bias, considering manual procedures in place based on decision-making.

"Communicating With Elon Musk’s X Is Like Traversing a Scorched Hellscape"

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/04/elon-musk-x-twitter-communications-customer-support-hell/

"Its algorithm booted me with little explanation. Maybe that’s for the best."

GottaLaff , to Random stuff
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

🎯

Via Scott MacFarlane:

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reaction to 's statement on :

“Let’s wait a few weeks and see what his new position will be.”

SteveThompson ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff Check back November 6.

SteveThompson , to Non Political Twitter
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Elon Recreates The Lords & Peasants Bluecheck System He Hated, But Makes Sure It’s Even Dumber"

https://www.techdirt.com/2024/04/05/elon-recreates-the-lords-peasants-bluecheck-system-he-hated-but-makes-sure-its-even-dumber/

"There is something amazingly humorous in watching Elon Musk work his way ass-backwards and blindly to recreating (but much worse) the mostly- systems he destroyed blindly upon taking over Twitter."

@mmasnick

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"'Incompetent' Aileen Cannon Will Be Taken Off Case: Ex-Trump Lawyer"
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/incompetent-aileen-cannon-will-be-taken-off-case-ex-trump-lawyer/ar-BB1l4k41

"A lawyer who worked in Donald Trump's White House has predicted that Judge Aileen Cannon will be removed from the former president's classified documents case."

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"The Court’s scenarios are fundamentally flawed"

https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/the-courts-scenarios-are-fundamentally-flawed-jack-smith-blasts-trumps-fictional-pra-defense-and-tells-mar-a-lago-judge-she-must-make-decision-promptly/

"Jack Smith blasts Trump’s ‘fictional PRA defense’ and reveals why Mar-a-Lago judge ‘must’ make decision ‘promptly’"

SteveThompson , to Cats
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

Let sleeping cats lie…Linda lying low.
#

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Liz Cheney gives warning to Supreme Court"

https://www.newsweek.com/liz-cheney-supreme-court-warning-donald-trump-1884501

"Cheney warned the justice system cannot be "incapable" of holding Donald Trump accountable before the election in November."

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

He's perfectly poised for leading a Christian Nationalist movement.

"Trump is selling ‘God Bless USA’ Bibles"

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/4557605-trump-god-bless-usa-bibles/

"Former President Trump made a pitch Tuesday for 'God Bless USA' Bibles that he is selling in partnership with country musician Lee Greenwood ahead of Good Friday and Easter Sunday."

SteveThompson OP ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@mastodonmigration Ties in to my initial post, didn't know it before:

Lee Greenwood: “I mean, he could have used any Bible at all, but because it has the documents of our Founding Fathers, I think that makes it unique,” he added.

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/4562267-lee-greenwood-god-bless-the-usa-bible-trump-haters/

The Trump bible seems meant to stimulate Christian Nationalism, it seems, blending the Word of God and the Founding Fathers two into some sort of sacrosanct singular volume that white nationalists can pull out as definitive when they need it.

SteveThompson OP ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@mastodonmigration

Ties in to my initial post, didn't know it before:

Lee Greenwood: “I mean, he could have used any Bible at all, but because it has the documents of our Founding Fathers, I think that makes it unique,” he added.

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/4562267-lee-greenwood-god-bless-the-usa-bible-trump-haters/

The Trump bible seems meant to stimulate Christian Nationalism, blending the Word of God and the words of the Founding Fathers, into some sort of sacrosanct singular volume that white nationalists can pull out as definitive when they want.

scalzi , to Random stuff
@scalzi@mastodon.social avatar

Today was the first day that I have encountered this painting by Wayne Thiebaud, and I have to say that it makes me deeply uncomfortable

SteveThompson ,
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

@scalzi Reminds me of my old neighborhood in Bankers Hill, San Diego.

SteveThompson , to Random stuff
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social avatar

"Amid 'a growing sense inside the Washington bureau that Comcast sees its news division, which has been subject to recent layoffs and other cuts, as a divisive nuisance to be stripped down,' there was anger not only at the hiring of McDaniel, but the $300,000 price tag."

https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2024/03/nbc-insiders-pissed-over-ronna-mcdaniel-hiring-as-maddow-reaction-awaited-report/

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