April 30, 2022
Structural Stupidity
The Atlantic delivers a solid summary of why algorithmically-driven social media is harmful to common culture and democracy itself, ending with a few ideas about what can be done to course correct. [more inside]
the threat R poses
He Was 5'7". After Surgery, He’ll Be 5'10".
For Scott, demeaning comments about height are everywhere — whether in his personal life or in pop culture. “When I see a woman that is 5'8", I’m like, ‘That’s a tall woman,’” she says to the camera. “But when I see a man that is 5'8", I’m like, ‘Look! A garden gnome!’” In the comments, users had added to the bit: “No because who let him out unsupervised.” Humiliation flashed across Scott’s face. “Before the surgery, I was 5'7". I was not even a garden gnome to her.”
Vocal ANALYSIS of RUSH's "Tom Sawyer"
International opera singer and vocal coach Elizabeth Zharoff* does an analyzing First Listen of Rush's 1981 song Tom Sawyer [19m]. Her level of delight and wonder is overwhelmingly charming. Also, because I don't want to make two Rush posts in a row, Alex and Geddy in conversation with George Strombo, April 15, 2022. [46m, entirely open conversation about a lot of subjects, please watch if you're a Rush fan] [more inside]
…its evolution from dude bro comic to terf Q horror vacui screed.
Twitter user @bitterkarella read 20 years of the Sinfest webcomic (unrolled) so you don't have to (and you shouldn't).
On his Garbage Day blog, Ryan Broderick read the thread so you don't have to (but you should) and summarizes it, in part, as "…the comic’s 22-year evolution actually gives us a startling insight into how a very specific kind of internet man would shift from angry nerd to anti-'woke' transphobic fascist." [more inside]
“I won't be coming home tonight, my generation will put it right”
Land of Confusion was a 1986 hit by Genesis (No. 4 in the U.S. and No. 14 in the UK). The video featured many political and celebrity puppets from the UK TV show Spitting Image, most notably Ronald (the video being based on a dream he is having) and Nancy Reagan, an allusion to 2001: A Space Odyssey, and much more detail. The video won a Grammy, and was nominated at the MTV music video awards but ironically lost to Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer. Previous FPP with commentary.
Why Your iPhone Adds Annoying Typos While Fixing Others
Tpying truble? During the iPhone’s first 15 years, its keyboard software has evolved, but it still sometimes flubs your lines. Here’s how it works and what you can do about it.
(archive.today link)
Klaus Schulze, 4 August 1947 - 26 April 2022
Klaus Schulze, German composer and pioneer of electronic and ambient music, has died. He leaves behind more than 60 solo albums and collaborations. [more inside]
City In A Bottle
Wizardry!
The greatest cabaret duo who ever graced a stage, Ronnie Dukes (1931-1981) and Ricki Lee (1933-1986) perform a spectazmatically swingin'-daddy, spellbinding rendition of The Who's classic rock classic, "Pinball Wizard." (h/t @rhodri)
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