I recently wrote that Facebook should be regulated like a utility, but maybe social media is more like an addictive, harmful drug than a utility. The companies that push social media on us are like drug dealers. Given my libertarian sympathies, adults should generally be free to use the drugs they want, but society should regulate promotion and distribution of the substance and protect children from being preyed upon by the dealers.

The real problem with Facebook's behavior is the revelation of its rampant institutional lying. In the XCheck story, we learned that after Facebook spent more than $130 million to create an Independent Oversight Board to oversee its content-moderation decisions, Facebook executives routinely lied to that board. Facebook told the Oversight Board that XCheck was only used in "a small number of decisions," even though the program had grown to include 5.8 million users in 2020.

"We're not actually doing what we say we do publicly," and the company's actions constitute a "breach of trust," reads a confidential internal review done by Facebook.
We also learned -- shockingly -- that the CEO and COO of the trillion-dollar behemoth are regularly involved in decisions of what posts to remove when such posts are made by certain people who are exempted from Facebook's community guidelines and content-moderation procedures. This is all while Facebook asserted that it applied the same standards to everyone.

Apparently, XCheck was created to mitigate "p.r. fires" or negative media attentions when Facebook takes the wrong action against a high-profile VIP. Even worse than the existence of the XCheck program was Facebook's dishonesty about it, reflecting the state of mind of a company that knew it was doing something wrong -- and still did it anyway.

These revelations strengthen the case that Facebook likely serves increasingly as the censorship arm of the US government, just as it does for other governments around the world.

That last sentence gets to the heart of the matter, and explains why collective action against social media dealers has been so slow: the elite class wants to control our speech, and is happy to use social media dealers to do it.

Facebook is soma.

What is soma in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley? In the context of the novel, soma is a recreational drug that several of the main characters take throughout the story. The government in Brave New World strongly encourages individuals to take soma as a way to increase the happiness and complacency of the population. Soma can be taken as a pill or as a powder and can also be released as an aerosol. It is freely available to everyone in the novel. Its inclusion in the text is central to the novel's themes of complacency and resistance in society as well as the theme of escapism.

This production transforms the thorniest of current South African issues into a metaphorical satire that crackles with wit, charm, heartbreak and unswerving honesty

This EMF Radiation Blocking Hoodie from Bon Charge looks like it’s just the ticket for these warm winter nights. And when we say warm, you know we’re not just referring to the temperature, right? According to some very sensible people, over exposure to high levels of electromagnetic radiation can be a very not good thing. Now before we all head off and find a deep bunker somewhere, it’s not just the levels, but also the type of radiation that matters....

The post EMF Radiation Blocking Hoodie Keeps You Safe. Maybe. appeared first on The Red Ferret Journal.

Fr. Lawrence Farley argues that we must show love for all people—male or female, straight or gay or transgendered—but as we articulate and transmit our Christian culture to our young and to our catechumens, we must also take care to include a traditional understanding of gender.

Michael James Maybell channels years of expertise into his work with Planet Earth Communications

HVAC manufacturers are prepared for the refrigerant transition to A2Ls but are finding that there is still strong demand for R-410A equipment.

We had Fed speakers on Tuesday US time, Kashkari watered down the prospect of a December rate cut ... didn;t rule it out but he sounds shaky:

• Fed's Kashkari: The fundamentals seems strong and I'm optimistic that will continue
• Fed's Barkin: Fed in position to respond appropriately regardless of how economy evolves
• Fed's Waller: Makes no comments on economy or monetary policy outlook

The agenda ahead includes another three. The times below are GMT/US Eastern time format:

• 1435/0935 Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Lorie Logan gives opening remarks before hybrid "Energy and the Economy: Meeting Rising Energy Demand" Conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Kansas City
• 1800/1300 Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President Alberto Musalem speaks before an Economic Club of Memphis luncheon
• 1830/1330 Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Jeffrey Schmid gives luncheon keynote before hybrid "Energy and the Economy: Meeting Rising Energy Demand" Conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Kansas City

If you missed the so-called Great Recession because you were too young to know or care what a TSP was, it's your turn! Welcome to the new updated version of Hard Times.

The post Surviving, maybe even thriving in the bear market? first appeared on Federal News Network.

Three-time Oscar nominee Torill Kove, who won the Academy Award for her short 'The Danish Poet,' is back in the Oscars race this year with a new film about her memories of growing up in Kenya.

The following article, Maybe Tim Walz Shouldn’t Bring Up ‘That Gay Guy’, was first published on The Black Sphere.

Tim Walz is no stranger to controversy. After lying about his military record and China, people are wondering what else is he lying about...

Continue reading Maybe Tim Walz Shouldn’t Bring Up ‘That Gay Guy’ ...

Curling Canada says the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ont., will operate under Ontario's current public health measures and an approved framework from the office of the chief medical officer.

Evidence suggests that the earlier Chinese Salt Typhoon breach of American telecoms may have led to the potential hacking of two presidential campaign officials' iPhones.

Crypto may not work long-term as a currency, thanks to volatility and fraud concern issues. But the blockchain technology on which it relies might be here to stay

This week on RPG Cast, Kelley falls asleep for four years and misses the announcement of Kingdom Hearts 4. Chris is a five year old with beefy fists. Sam tells us how her video game marriage life works. And we all agree that Bidoof is our buddy.

The post RPG Cast – Episode 627: “Maybe His Feet Are Nobodies” appeared first on RPGamer.

The Francis Ford Coppola film is now available to rentalopolis.

“It might feel like 2064 on the surface, but in its nostalgic, rechargeable heart, the show parties like it’s 1999.”

Rowenta Brand Ambassador Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry discusses how allergens affect our health, and the importance of removing them from our homes.