Bwacton

@Bwacton@mastodon.social

Never on the bird site, but when I heard about Mastodon I thought it would be for old fossils like me, so I joined. Happy to be here as it is a very #Canadian space, warm and friendly. After doing some thinking turns out I’m a devout #atheist. This got me thinking about how churches are subsidized in #Canada, so now I’m going to do something about it. Getting back into print making this fall, the studio is almost finished, look for an anti-dogma series when the studio is up and running.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

damemagazine, to journalism
@damemagazine@newsie.social avatar

The past few weeks in headlines have been an object lesson in how the corporate ignores the complexity of governing in favor of chasing whatever story corrupt GOP operatives shout about the loudest.

Journalists & pundits will tell you that they just report what is happening. But deciding what gets front-page treatment and what doesn’t is a part of the job. A story’s treatment communicates to audiences what level of importance they should place upon it.

https://www.damemagazine.com/2024/02/20/media-cant-stop-stoking-outrage/

Bwacton,

@damemagazine The other thing the #media #fails at is the use of adjectives, when folks were protesting #Vaccines in my small town the local media used a headline that talked about a large protest. When you read the article it was clear it was a small group. We have a population in the 10,000’s and the protest was well under 100. So it was a minor or insignificant number of protesters. It was cheap stab at “click bait” headline or a sever bias from the reporter. Either way a major fail.

Sheril, to random
@Sheril@mastodon.social avatar

✔️ Dissertation defense scheduled

Bwacton, (edited )

@Sheril Congratulations enjoy it. We loved sitting in on our daughters, it was during Covid and they did it via Zoom.

Daojoan, to random
@Daojoan@mastodon.social avatar

In many ways, TikTok represents the apex of socially networked platforms designed explicitly to command human attention and hijack free will.

No other app has weaponised the science of persuasion and vulnerable aspects of human psychology so effectively.

TikTok's format pushes creators and viewers toward short, snackable content meant more for diversion than contemplation.

https://joanwestenberg.com/blog/im-a-creator-heres-why-i-deleted-tiktok

Bwacton,

@Daojoan Thanks this just reinforces my decision not to be on multiple social media platforms. I like to scroll and find something to read, much the way I scanned a newspaper and then read those articles that interested me.

monicarooney, to random

🎶 If I had 83.3 million dollars 🎶
(If I had 83.3 million dollars)

Bwacton,

@monicarooney Very Canadian reference, you may need to explain it to the Americans

taylorlorenz, to random
@taylorlorenz@mastodon.social avatar

Every young journalist should read this fantastic piece on
@drewharwell about his reporting process and coverage of the creator economy. Drew is a master of the craft and there's so much good stuff in here. They reprinted his full story with detailed annotations that add behind the scenes context on his reporting process.
Great read for journalists and non journalists alike to see the vast amount of work that goes into producing top notch reporting https://niemanstoryboard.org/stories/sex-social-media-business-reporting-source-ethics/

Bwacton,

@taylorlorenz @drewharwell This is a story that any one in the content business should read. Thanks for posting it.

vitani4000, to makeup
@vitani4000@nerdculture.de avatar

First of 2024! and paintings are not my strongest forte, so I'm very happy with how this turned out:) My goal is to improve these types of looks:)
🪴

image/jpeg

Bwacton,

@vitani4000 hi there thanks again for tooting! Have you tried Impressionism? It would be hard to resolve the image but i think the effect would be great.

mbonsma, to random
@mbonsma@mastodon.social avatar

I'm sad to be missing my first #TRBAM - too pregnant to go! My amazing colleague Bo Lin will be presenting a poster about our work tomorrow called "Exploring the Geographical Equity-Efficiency Trade-off in Cycling Infrastructure Planning" - please check it out if you're there!

Bwacton,

@mbonsma Hi will you be posting the paper here? There is a need to expand the exchange of information on active transportation. Large cities have the staff and the community (Universities) to plan and move cycling infrastructure forward. Smaller communities don’t have access to those resources for us to plan for the infrastructure.

shadowpages, to random
@shadowpages@mastodon.cloud avatar

This is a hugely important read (warning: It is lengthy).

In Canada, these conspiracy theories are creeping into movements like the Convoy protestors, and more recently Take Back Alberta spouts some of the same conspiracy theories described in here.

The current UCP govt in Alberta seems to be using variants on this in its constant picking fights with Ottawa as well.

https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/sovereign-citizen-movement-united-states

Bwacton,

@shadowpages We need as citizens to do everything we can to eliminate the movement. If you see a bogus license plate call it in. The police will stop and impound the vehicle. These vehicles are unlicensed and uninsured so if they have a collision and you’re hit by one, you could end up paying the bill. Taking away their movement is the first step.

mattblaze, to photography
@mattblaze@federate.social avatar

Margie's Candies, Chicago, 2015.

Excessively sweet pixels at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/21135096034

Bwacton,

@mattblaze The thing I like about this photo, aside from it being a great shot, is that it captures the artistry of the Neon. I don’t know if you took a course, but I love your composition of your photographs. If you didn’t take a course, you should teach one. Thanks for sharing your photos this year.

mattblaze, (edited ) to photography
@mattblaze@federate.social avatar

#photography nerditry.

My usual paper for most of my B&W work is Photo Rag Baryta, which I've been working with for about 10 years. It's a glossy, warm white, heavy, moderately textured barium coated paper made by Hahnemühle.

I've recently been experimenting with a newer version, Photo Rag Matte Baryta, which renders as less glossy in the unprinted/white areas but becomes glossier in the darker areas. It's an interesting effect, but I'm not yet sure if I like it.

Bwacton,

@mattblaze Not sure if they will work with inkjet printers but there are a lot of choices for achival quality screen print papers. When I get the chance after Christmas I’ll cut some down to size and see if they work.

Daojoan, to random
@Daojoan@mastodon.social avatar

I wrote an article about why men and women shouldn't call themselves boys and girls because adulthood and age isn't something to hide from

I got an angry email accusing me of trying to destroy gender by banning people from saying boy and girl.

Further evidence that people don't read articles. They simply react to them, in the way they are programmed to by their political and ideological tribes.

Bwacton,

@Daojoan This can happen with friends as well, their political bias doesn’t allow them to hear things that are inconsistent with their views. Quick way to figure out if you want to stay friends with them.

emmalbriant, to Futurology
@emmalbriant@mastodon.online avatar

In case you missed it - this is my response to the #cyberattacks - now attributed formally to the Russian FSB #intelligence agency - and resulting false smears which disrupted my attempt to counter Russian propaganda denying atrocities in Ukraine last year. https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2023/12/hacking-is-far-more-than-a-security-issue-it-chills-free-speech/ #disinformation #conspiracytheories #journalism #socialmedia #hacking #cyber #Security #commodon @potemkinvillage #freespeech

Bwacton,

@emmalbriant @potemkinvillage Hi we need to keep this issue front in centre in all the NATO alliance and allies to create a unified response. There needs to be at least symmetrical response if not an overwhelming response.

godlessmom, to philosophy
@godlessmom@mas.to avatar

I made a list of some amazing books for atheists and anyone wanting to explore atheist thought.

I think one of the highlights of my work was when I got to speak to Sasha Sagan about her book, which made this list.

#atheist #atheism #books #amreading

https://www.godlessmom.com/post/atheism-in-literature-20-must-read-books-for-skeptics

Bwacton,

@godlessmom Your reading lists for Atheists, not a single title is in the local library. I’ve tagged a few so that hopefully they will order them in.

godlessmom, to philosophy
@godlessmom@mas.to avatar

There were so many to choose from but here's ten of the most influential atheists in history. Who would you have included?

https://www.godlessmom.com/post/top-10-influential-atheists-in-history-and-their-impact #atheist #atheism

Bwacton,

@godlessmom Hey Great Post, loved the article.Are you still doing the Qdropped podcast?

Bwacton,

@godlessmom I can imagine, could reopen old wounds. I did really like that last articel you posted. Have you guys got enough snow now to have some fun in it. We’re about a month behind the Nordic trails are still in rough shape.

dangillmor, to random
@dangillmor@mastodon.social avatar

The ransomware attack on a poorly secured health care system is evidence of a provider's incompetence, sure. But it's also an attack on people's lives.

Someone is going to die in one of these cases, and the ransom criminals will have committed outright murder.

When enough of this kind of thing takes place, someone else is going to look for revenge.

Bwacton,

@dangillmor The western world needs a UN level police force that can go in and arrest these criminal and bring them to justice. The Tech companies need to do more in assisting the NATO federal forces in the dectection and apprehension of these criminals, before a death occurs due their malicious action.

br00t4c, to random
@br00t4c@mastodon.social avatar

Kyle Rittenhouse is now broke

#kylerittenhouse

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kyle-rittenhouse-broke-net-worth-b2453651.html

Bwacton,

@br00t4c Always nice to have some good news in my feed. Kyle Rittenhouse broke is a moment of happiness.

Alice, to random
@Alice@beige.party avatar

I like to pay close attention to the flight attendant's emergency evacuation demonstration with hope they'll reward me with a full can of soda.

Bwacton,

@Alice Ok my weirdness is I actually count the number of rows in front and behind me to identify the closest exit. I started that when I started flying with the kids, I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t fail my kids in an emergancy.

Sheril, to science
@Sheril@mastodon.social avatar

Born in 1918, Gertrude Elion faced discrimination in , unable to get a job as a woman. So she volunteered as a lab dishwasher, earning enough $ for grad work at NYU, where she was the only woman in chemistry classes.

Eventually Elion helped revolutionize medicine w George Hitchings. They figured out how to interfere with cell growth, leading to effective drugs for treating leukemia, gout, malaria, herpes & more, earning a 1988 Nobel Prize. https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/women-scientists/gertrude-elion.html

Bwacton,

@Sheril Thanks for posting this Sheril, I started watching the Apple version of this story, Lessons in Chemistry but found it a bit too dark for me (Episode 2) so haven’t pushed through. Have you checked the series out?

dangillmor, to random
@dangillmor@mastodon.social avatar

On a recent international flight the mask-wearing percentage was visibly higher than on other flights in the past year or so.

At least half of the flight attendants were masked, which was also a change.

People are starting to understand:

a) Covid is not remotely done with us, and it really sucks to get it.

b) Masks also block flu transmission.

c) Wearing a mask is a sign of care for others, not just one's self.

Bwacton,

@dangillmor WOW you got Lucky on a recent flight back on a 737-800 loaded, there were only a handful of us masked. None of the crew. Then from Calgary to Kelowna just two of us masked and a lady behind us sniffling and hacking through the whole flight. Thank goodness we have really good KN95s.

Daojoan, to random
@Daojoan@mastodon.social avatar

Update

A transphobic dude on Linkedin was demanding I define what a woman is.

I told him a Woman is someone who thinks he's a dork.

Guess who got banned for violating community behaviour

Hint, it ain't the dude harassing women

Bwacton,

@Daojoan WOW, that guy is as stupid as the guys who think LinkedIn is a dating site.

Bwacton, to Canada

Hi #Canada next up I’ll be setting up a petition on the House of Commons to have all organizations with charitable status file an annual declaration of compliance with the #Canadian Charter of #Rights and #Freedom to keep their Charitable (tax deductions) status. Let’s fight #Hate Stay tuned.

Bwacton, to Canada

Hey #Canada let’s reduce funding to #Hate groups. Yesterday I meet with my MLA and asked her to remove the statutory property tax exemptions from organizations that promote hate and don’t respect the #Canadian Charter of #Rights and #Freedom. I’ve asked that any organization that gets the exemption file an annual compliance with the Charter and with provincial legislation, otherwise they loose the exception and have to pay property taxes. Please boost let’s get this going across Canada.

Daojoan, to random
@Daojoan@mastodon.social avatar

Starting a corporate rock cover band called LinkedIn Park.

Who’s in.

Bwacton,

@Daojoan Can we play In the garden of Greed to Innagodadivda?

mattblaze, to random
@mattblaze@federate.social avatar

Reminder about Mastodon "private" messages. Aside from not being end-end-encrypted (and so visible to instance administrators), they CC anyone @-mentioned ANYWHERE in the body of the message (not just those listed at the start).

They are now called "private mentions" rather than "private messages", but if you don't fully understand the semantics, this behavior may be unexpected and/or cause unpleasant side effects.

Bwacton,

@mattblaze thanks for keeping us non techies safe here, awareness is the first step.

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