Spin City 0
At SFgate, Erin Rode explores how the right-wing media machine turned a nothing-burger into the conservative* cause celebre.
The topic of the piece is a bridge designed to allow wild animals, including endangered species, to safely cross a busy highway, a project which is slightly behind schedule and slightly over-budget, something that never ever happens with big, years-long projects except when it does.
Rode traces how the events, all of which had been reported as they happened, were repackaged, tied with a bow, and turned into fodder for the wing-nut rage machine.
Here’s a tiny bit, describing one of the outcomes of this process:
It is an inside look into the workings of the right-wing hate factory.
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*And, yes, I know they are not “conservative” in any traditional sense. They are somewhere between reactionary (as in back to 1859) and anarchistic.
Real Big Men 0
At the Psychology Today website, Steven A Hassan reflects on the (mostly online movement called the) “manosphere” and warns that it is, if not a cult, at least cult-like. Given that the Trump maladministration seems infested with text-book toxic masculines, methinks it a timely and worthwhile read.
He makes four main points:
- The manosphere uses the same tactics as cults by regulating behavior, information, thought, and emotion.
- Loaded language like “red pill,” “cope,” and “AWALT” simplifies complex ideas and sabotages critical thinking.
- Framing women as the enemy isolates men from anyone who might challenge the ideology.
- Healthy masculinity resources exist and promote confidence through unlearning unfair societal pressures.
American Stasi 0
From masked marauders to . . . performance artists?
Denial Is Not Just a River in Egypt 0
It’s also how the Trump maladministration approaches U. S. History, but some people are fighting back for truth, justice, and the American way.
Karen Karen-Like 0
Rick Strom finds himself sadly not taken aback by the racism and bigotry which, as far as I cant tell, is the beating heart of MAGA.
Winners and Losers Sharks and Marks, Reprise
0
At the Psychology Today website, Harvard professor of psychiatry Eugene Beresin notes that
He finds this a disturbing and dangerous trend and offers some thought on how to combat it.
Given the constant shilling for suckers surrounding us, methinks it a timely read,
Fly the Fiendly Skies, Reprise 0
Back when I was a road warrior, jetting off on business trips once and sometimes twice a month. Southwest was my preferred airline.
I’m pretty sure that would not be the case today
(And, no, I would have not been subject the “tax” referred to at the link.).
Just Desserts, All the News that Fits Dept. 0
David discusses the drastic fall in ratings for CBS News since Bari Weiss turned it into Fox News Lite and finds some cause for optimism a straw at which to grasp.
Afterthought:
Walter Cronkite would be in tears were he here to see this.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Once again, playing with a gun leads to gun play.
Guns and stupid, guns and stupid.
They go together like love and Cupid.
Let me tell you brother,
You can’t have one without the other.
Fly the Fiendly Skies 0
At Above the Law, Kathryn Rubino reports that Bill Barr finds that he has to wait in TSA lines just like everyone else. She goes on to say