CBC has whitewashed Israel’s crimes in Gaza. I saw it firsthand
Working for five years as a producer at the public broadcaster, I witnessed the double standards and discrimination in its coverage of Palestine—and experienced directly how CBC disciplines those who speak out
„Two of the 3 victims specifically singled out by the NYT in a marquee exposé published in December, which alleged that Hamas had deliberately weaponized sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attacks, were not in fact victims of sexual assault, according to the spokesperson for the Kibbutz Be’eri, which the Times identified as the location of the attack.“
A misplaced image above the headline (found on the Guardian) adds an ironic commentary on how #Trump sucks the soul out of art to benefit him. #SinéadOConnor#Music#MassMedia
I am in passport control. I can see my face on a screen. The technology recognises me and lets me through. I scan codes showing my vaccination status and recent Covid test results. The machines assess the data regarding my health and microbiology. Through into the waiting room, people are staring into little screens. A strangely large number have the camera flipped, and are capturing their faces at different angles, as if they've forgotten what they look like. I open my laptop and join in. I give my details to a company to enter the digital realm. Adverts tailored to my personality pop up. They know me better than I know myself.
@MeeMee #HighStrangeness
Reality turns into a Philip K. Dick narrative.
In 2006, Philip K. Dick's android was sent to Mountain View, California, to meet with Google employees, when it vanished. It was apparently lost by an airline.
An #Android animated mannequin of #PhilipKDick goes rogue. 😂
Recently, I finished a book that sounded like exactly the kind of book I would love, and watched a movie about which I knew nothing other than it was made by a director whose first film I adored. And in both cases, my expectations didn’t quite line up with my experience.
Everything shapes the way we respond to art. The colours on the book cover. The font choice. The first words. The words on the back cover, which the author didn’t write. The blurbs. The paper. The price of the book. The author’s social media presence. Some of these things can be ignored. Some are part of the process. #ReadingExpectations#Novels#Books#MassMedia#Reading#MassMediaExpectations
For all those #ScienceFiction#Writers ou there, here is an #AllternativeHistory#AlloHistorical change that could produce interesting results - what if Taylor Swift's current interest, Travis Kelce, was not a NFL player. Consider the Swift impact on other lesser appreciated activities that Kelce could have chosen.
For Example:
I'm sure there are other possible endeavours that don't have as wide a public following as the #NFL that could have acquired The #Swifties enthusiastic attention. 😂
"Reimagined Realities, False Memories and Generative AI: A Journey between the Real and the Synthetic - and Hopefully Back."
In the ever-evolving complexity of reality and fabrication, we find ourselves standing at a junction where the two become almost indistinguishable, thanks, in no small part, to the advancements of Generative AI. This technology, akin to the human phenomenon of fostering false yet cherished memories, crafts digital narratives that blur the lines between the real and the artificial.
In a recent episode of "Redefining Society Podcast," we got deep into this topic, painting a vivid picture of a world where the synthetic and authentic intertwine in photography and advertising, creating a complex yet fascinating landscape that forces us to question the very fabric of reality.
As we move forward into an era of democratized fabrication tools, it becomes imperative to foster a conversation that navigates this intricate terrain with a sense of caution and awareness, encouraging discourse that looks beyond the binary of positive and negative.
I invite you to read the full exploration in my latest newsletter. Share your thoughts and join the conversation that scrutinizes the depth of reality and the role of Generative AI in molding it.
Be sure to share it with others, subscribe for more insights, and comment to steer this necessary discourse.
Powerful and Continuing #Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of #patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. #Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
Disdain for the Recognition of #HumanRights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, and long incarcerations of prisoners.
Supremacy of the #Military
Even when there are widespread #domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
Rampant #Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional #gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to #abortion is high, as is #homophobia and anti-#gay legislation.
Controlled #MassMedia
Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation or by sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Government #censorship and #secrecy especially in war time, are very common.
Obsession with #NationalSecurity
Fear of hostile foreign powers is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
#Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s policies or actions.
Protection of #Corporate Power
The #industrial and business #aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
Suppression of #Labor Power
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor #unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
Disdain for #Intellectuals and the #Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to #HigherEducation and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other #academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
Obsession with #Crime and #Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the #police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego #CivilLiberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
Rampant #Cronyism and #Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
#Fraudulent#Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by #SmearCampaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control #voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
This post is a summary of Fascism, Anyone? by Lawrence W. Britt published in 2003 by Free Inquiry magazine."
@DoomsdaysCW
> Historian LawrenceBritt studied the fascist regimes... and found they had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism
Disturbing how many of these can be seen in the election campaigns of the parties in the new NZ coalition government 😳