ABrockwell @aebrockwell@social.cleverlibre.org

A large study confirms that curiosity is an important predictor of academic achievement - across the board but particularly for low-income kids: https://is.gd/zLBk8u.
Painfully ironic given the curiosity-killing practices (scripted direct instruction, behavior management, etc.) that such kids get in spades.

“Now I am sitting here in the #USA, I have to look at the extraordinary attack on libraries, and #books for #children in schools,” he said. “The attack on the idea of #libraries themselves. It is quite remarkably alarming, and we need to be very aware of it, and to fight against it very hard.”

Rushdie spent years in hiding with police protection after Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for his death over the novel “The Satanic Verses.”
https://apnews.com/article/salman-rushdie-public-appearance-freedom-of-speech-02d429629e1daee57a49b53995ef71c5

It's now TWO YEARS and 135 days since Donald Trump's Jan 6 terrorist attack. In any other first world country he'd already be charged with crimes. Instead Trump is running for President where he's actively spewing more lies to delegitimize our democracy. Indict trump for Jan 6!

No 'collusion' necessary. These authoritarians are openly allied.

"Russia’s Latest Sanctions on U.S. Officials Turn to Trump Enemies"

"The Russian Foreign Ministry offered no specific explanation for why they would be included on the list but did say that among its targets were 'those in government and law enforcement agencies who are directly involved in the persecution of dissidents in the wake of the so-called storming of the Capitol.'"

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/21/world/europe/russia-sanctions-trump.html

#fascism #trump #russia

Was supposed to be road tripping today but with an air quality index of 9+, had to turn around and go home. Unpacked the cooler and this happens
#Caturday

It used to be Democrats versus Republicans, liberals versus conservatives, left versus right.

That is over.

It is now democracy versus authoritarianism.

The 2024 election is fast approaching. Know the stakes.

The thing about this corruption and criminality—George Santos, Clarence Thomas, Rudy Giuliani, Trump—is that it’s so obvious. So brazen. As if there’s no need to hide it.

Robot outsources menial job to low-paid human so it can focus on painting and writing

https://chaser.com.au/general-news/robot-outsources-menial-job-to-low-paid-human-so-it-can-focus-on-painting-and-writing/

@w7voa Christiane Amanpour is an amazing journalist and human being. She is far too good to be associated with CNN.

Many powerful quotes here, such as this one:
“I refuse any more to say or to concede that we live in a post-truth world because that is lazy and it is ultimately a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Amanpour said. “We need to seek to provide and defend the truth.”

If you're rolling your eyes at the number of political posts in your feed, keep in mind that we're at the tipping point of authoritarianism here in the US (and other countries). For example, a political party is deciding whether women live or die in childbirth. The stakes are high, and we'll post about it.

I try to balance my posts with politics and lighter stuff. When it's a politics-heavy day, that balance may tilt toward the political end. But I"m not going to ignore reality altogether.

It seems very very bad that ahead of a hearing meant to inform how this sector gets regulated, the CEO of one of the corporations that would be subject to that regulation gets to present a magic show to the regulators.

>>

This is the message. Shout it from the rooftops and beat the GOP to death with it.

President Biden cites facts that white supremacy terror is America’s greatest domestic security threat—and MAGAs lose their minds.

Here’s the thing.

I’m Muslim. I don’t feel attacked when people condemn the Taliban because Taliban do not represent Muslims and I proudly take the lead in condemning Taliban terrorism.

If you’re MAGA white and feel personally attacked when Biden condemns white supremacy terror—you are absolutely telling on yourself.

CNN's Licht justifies giving the most dangerous politician in America its platform once again as an even that "made news" -- but Trump's relentless lying had absolutely nothing new in it.

What CNN created was a prime-time entertainment show. Its effect, if not purpose, was to spray gasoline on the fires that threaten to consume our democracy.

I used to ask why a self-respecting journalist would work for Fox "News" -- and now I have to ask the same thing about CNN.

Intellingence is the ability to see patterns in what seems like noise.

Unfortunately, so is delusion.

Shame on CNN. That was disgusting.

In the words of Garry Kasparov:

"If you give would-be fascists all your microphones and megaphones they don’t need guns to take over."

https://twitter.com/Kasparov63/status/1656464868965318656

Powerful op-ed from CNN contributor and former Capitol cop Michael Fanone:

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/cnn-trump-town-hall-abomination-michael-fanone-1234732510/

“An obsession with gauging accuracy of individual posts is misguided. To strengthen information ecosystems, focus on narratives and why people share what they do.”

#misinformation #SocialMedia #communication

https://issues.org/misunderstanding-misinformation-wardle/