Phil Landmeier @shuttersparks@social.cleverlibre.org

I was on a podcast where kids asked two people questions to decide who was the fake and who was the real expert.

The host said that early on, the kids chose the fake every time because the actors answered every question confidently and the experts would hedge or even sometimes say, "I don't know."

They eventually told the fakes to be less confident so the kids would pick the expert sometimes.

It just occurred to me this is now real life with #chatGPT (but nobody is telling it to back off).

Truth.

I need your help…

NPR is leaving Twitter but they are planning to focus on Instagram

We need to tell them to join the Fediverse

Many of their journalists’ accounts, as well as their main account, haven’t been active on mastodon. Tell them how much we need them here. (In fact, they should have their own instance)

Use the link, tell NPR we are waiting for them here and spread the word far and wide:

https://help.npr.org/contact/s/

A #JuniorDoctor speaks:

'We need the government to recognise the crisis that’s happening in our healthcare system; recognise that junior doctors are instrumental to fixing that crisis; and pay us what we’re worth'!

#supportourNHS #SupportTheStrikes

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/11/junior-doctors-strike-pay-nhs-corridors

I have in my entire career so far treated zero complications of mifepristone, and maybe a half dozen from medical or surgical abortion overall. I have treated thousands of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) overdoses, scores of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) overdoses, and dozens of baclofen (Lioresal) and alprazolam (Xanax) overdoses. I’ve watched people die from aspirin overdoses and aspirin-related bleeds. This judge in Texas is a disingenuous lying scumbag.

This is the MOST DANGEROUS event so far in the country's lurch to fascism.

This is a Republican governor telling right-wing fascists to start shooting.

He's saying it is OK now, no one will hold you accountable if you murder "those people."

"Texas governor seeks pardon of man convicted of murder in Black Lives Matter shooting"

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-governor-seeks-pardon-man-convicted-murder-black-lives-matter-shooting-2023-04-09/

#fascism #civilwar

If armed bank guards can’t stop a killer before he kills, how do they expect armed teachers to?

My father volunteers at a preserved World War Two “Liberty Ship”, the John W. Brown, docked in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. These ships were built “on the cheap”, with only 5-year expected lifespans, and using late-1800s steam engine technology (fueled on “Bunker C” coal)! Their primary purpose was to transport supplies, and later, personnel. Very few remain, and this one’s kept as a floating museum. Dad helps out with the radio room and similar equipment. (More in Alt Text.)

You folks were super enthusiastic about my posting more on Mastodon, so let's try this.

RT/boost and let's see if there's interest in a regular #Ukraine thread!

Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

For the last year, I've been tracking a notorious Russian unit known for its role in killing 100s of civilians.

This past month we published how we found them.

#GovernmentCorruption

We told y’all it would happen, and it is happening. Women are being forced to carry to term, and deliver, fetuses that cannot survive. For anyone wondering, anencephaly is a condition where the brain partially or fully fails to develop — there is either very little brain, or none at all. These babies cannot survive, because they don’t have a brain.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/04/06/1168399423/a-good-friday-funeral-in-texas-baby-halos-parents-had-few-choices-in-post-roe-te

Speaking as an anesthesiologist that's spent more time in labor and delivery than most non-obstetricians will spend in their lifetimes, I cannot stress this enough: innocent people will die if mifepristone is outlawed. And it won't be in a few weeks or months— it will happen within hours. Judges should not be practicing medicine. Full stop.

Florida officials deleted data, stats from dubious COVID analysis: report | Ars Technica

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/04/florida-officials-deleted-data-stats-from-dubious-covid-analysis-report/

It has been known for 2 decades that Clarence Thomas is thoroughly corrupt. No charge will ever be levied against him for his corruption as long as Republicans hold more than 1/3 of the US Senate.

David G. Savage: Los Angeles Times reported about Justice Thomas’ gifts 20 years ago. After that he stopped disclosing them

#clarencethomas #ussupremecourt #corruption #GOP
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-04-06/the-times-reported-about-justice-thomas-gifts-20-years-ago-after-he-just-stopped-disclosing-them