Because I once clicked on a Facebook post about Secretariat’s win in the 1973 Belmont Stakes, I now get lots of Secretariat content shoveled at me on that platform. The other day a pic came up, allegedly of Secretariat racing in the Belmont, except that the markings on the horse were wrong, the tack was wrong and the horse was going the wrong way on the track. Many of these garbage postings are from groups with names like “We love secretariat,” no capitalization, or from accounts attached to individuals allegedly named “An Du” or “Moo Iu,” or suchlike. In other words, they’re AI crap.
The explosion of AI crap is not confined to a crap platform like Facebook. So-called pink slime journalism is everywhere, too. The other day a local lunatic posted a story from one of those sites, and it’s obvious — stories based on data scrapes about school testing, all with the same picture. Weird hiccups like opinion columns from 2021, themselves aggregations of crap published elsewhere, popping up on the home page. The parent company publishes dozens of these things in Michigan alone; their domain registry is anonymous, of course.
People sometimes ask if I miss journalism. I do not.
Facebook, or Meta, made news yesterday when Mark Zuckerberg announced he was bending the knee and shitcanning the platform’s fact-checking, in favor of “community notes,” the same as Xitter does. My first reaction: Facebook does fact-checking? I haven’t seen a checked fact on that shit-tastic platform in ages. Even the AI Secretariat got past.
I have a decent monthly stipend doing social-media work for one client. If I didn’t, I’d be outta there justlikethat.
In other news at this hour, Los Angeles is on fire. Hope LA Mary and any readers we might have out that way are staying safe. Kate and I just texted, and she wondered if the unpaid interns who succeeded her at her 2019 gig are stuffing the boss’ valuables into their own cars and fleeing in those cars, while the boss evacuates in some more dignified conveyance, maybe a golden helicopter or a flying limo. Not that she is bitter, but those four months turned her into a hard-core lefty.
Funny how there are some people who go through a rough period as a bottom-of-the-ladder underling and think, “I can’t wait until I’m a boss and can shit on people, too!” and others think, “When I become a boss, I will never shit on people the way I was shit on.” Proud to have raised the latter type, but I can’t take credit for it. Like all human beings, she basically emerged from the womb fully herself. I just fed her.
OK, work calls.
Deborah said on January 8, 2025 at 10:46 am
So far I’ve quit Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads in that order, and so far I’m happy to have done it. I only quit Instagram and Threads yesterday, so we’ll see. As I said before I’m still on Bluesky and so far have no reason to quit that, yet. If they sell it to a billionaire I’ll probably kiss that goodbye too. I waste a lot of time on social media, never posting, only reading others. Maybe they’ll kick me off thinking I’m a bot.
443 chars
Joe Kobiela said on January 8, 2025 at 10:58 am
Kate find a house yet? My daughter signed on a 2 bed 1bath in Bellevue for 180,000, perfect for her and her cat, completely remodeled with a big yard, nice neighborhood.
Pilot Joe
180 chars
alex said on January 8, 2025 at 10:59 am
Like all human beings, she basically emerged from the womb fully herself. I just fed her.
Don’t sell yourself short. I was raised by a drama queen who was harshly judgmental and toxically negative, and it’s probably why I didn’t have my head screwed on like Kate does when I was her age. You’ve done an excellent job of encouraging her to be herself and to pursue what she loves. I was raised to be ashamed of myself and to be afraid to try anything lest I fail and it took me decades of work to undo that damage. And my situation wasn’t particularly unique.
I certainly don’t want to diminish the good things my parents did for me, but it came at quite a cost. And to my mother’s credit, she herself acknowledged that her own mother was a harridan to beat all and that she didn’t want to be like her mother. Unfortunately all she did about it was to zone out on Zoloft instead of getting some counseling.
I’ll shut up now. I just get triggered about it sometimes.
982 chars
LAMary said on January 8, 2025 at 11:30 am
Just a quick report from LA. There are at least 4 fires burning to the west, north, northeast and west of my house. The skies are red, yellow or grey depending on which direction you look. Last night the wind gusts got up to 70mph. This afternoon they are suppsedly going to get to 90mph.
I am ok other than a cough from the smoke. I have my go bag, my pets’ go bags and some water and food in the back of my station wagon.
Tell Kate that the fire started in a neighborhood where a lot of her fellow interns employers probably live. Pacific Palisades, north of Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, south of Malibu.
Anyway, I’m safe, my sons are safe, we’re all LA tough from years of fires and earthquakes. You people who whine about snow… feh.
Keep a good thought for us.
770 chars
Scout said on January 8, 2025 at 12:06 pm
Checked in on our family in LA, they’re reporting power outages and eerie, smoky skies. They’re fine, but staying indoors as the air quality is dangerous.
What Alex wrote really spoke to me. I agree that healthy, excellent parenting is key to well adjusted grown kids. I’ll give Nancy credit for raising a good one, even if she won’t give it to herself.
356 chars
Jeff Borden said on January 8, 2025 at 12:18 pm
After Lumpy won, I read a number of stories encouraging people not to obey in advance of his elevation to the throne bequeathed him by Elmo. Zuckerberg us a perfect example, but so is Bezos, etc. Craven cowardice.
Parenting must be the most difficult job imaginable. To see your child blossom into an adult with integrity, passion and empathy is an enormous accomplishment. Most of us know some wonderful people whose kids turned out to be the polar opposite. Kudos to Nancy and Alan.
487 chars
Deborah said on January 8, 2025 at 12:26 pm
I agree, it seems like you and Alan did a good job raising Kate, she seems like a great kid.
LA Mary good to hear from you, sorry you are in danger, sounds like you are doing the right things.
My husband has a sister who lives in Pasadena which is close to one of the fires, I don’t think they are in an evacuation zone, or warning zone but it’s hard to tell.
Our cabin would be flattened if we lived in CA where the winds are so strong right now. Our structural engineer worked out that it would survive 90 mph winds, which in 2015 when our cabin was under construction the winds historically weren’t anywhere near that, but a year or so ago gusts were clocked at 70. So we have come up with a plan to strengthen our structure. Winds are the killers now days.
769 chars
Julie Robinson said on January 8, 2025 at 1:53 pm
Glad to hear from you, Mary. We have family in Pasadena and so far, so good. Two people have already died and others who refused to evacuate reportedly have “significant injuries”. Burns are so horrific, and I reminded myself of that while baking cookies at Christmas time. Lordy the pain.
I’m waiting at an urgent care center right now while our daughter is back in the little room. Yesterday she fell off her bike and messed up a knee and a wrist. 24 hours and a call to an NP, she’s getting X-rays. Nothing looks broken to me, swelling isn’t too horrible, pain is quite high.
She’s 44 and hasn’t seen a doctor in years, much to my frustration. Buy like Nancy says, you birth them and feed them and the rest? Is not under my control.
741 chars
Sherri said on January 8, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Kids come out of the womb who they are, but it is possible to fuck them up. I knew I wanted to raise my kid differently than I had been raised, so I paid a lot of attention to parents of kids that I liked, and what I saw in common were parents who showed their kids unconditional love, set clear boundaries they were willing to negotiate with the kids, and provided a rich environment for the kids to learn.
My MIL would always comment on how much I was willing to negotiate with my daughter. My response was, why not? I always let my daughter know when certain things were non-negotiable and why, and the rest, well, in the long run, it just works better if we come up with something we both agree on.
706 chars
Dorothy Michalski said on January 8, 2025 at 2:10 pm
Kate is a reflection of her wonderful parents and that’s as it should be. You deserve much credit, Nancy (and Alan) and don’t forget that.
It is indeed a fine joy to have good kids. We are fortunate that way, too. I thank my lucky stars all the time that they are the people they are.
I don’t know anyone else besides Mary in LA so I’m worrying about her a LOT. A guy I went to grade school with is a retired LA police officer but I have no idea where he lives now. Another grade school friend who was also a neighbor used to live there, but she and her wife relocated to the Philippines a number of years ago. I don’t like thinking about how frightening it would be to have to flee those circumstances and lose everything, with the added worry of getting burned or worse in the process.
792 chars
Heather said on January 8, 2025 at 2:18 pm
I remember studying genetics in high school biology and the teacher telling us that in his experience, nature trumps nurture. He said he’d met a lot of great kids with terrible parents and vice versa.
But yes, parenting can have a big impact! I was lucky enough to have a wonderful mom until I was 16 (my dad, not so much). While I definitely had some issues, my upbringing really saved me from getting into serious trouble in my teens and 20s.
448 chars
Brandon said on January 8, 2025 at 2:24 pm
Who here is on Mastodon?
24 chars
Julie Robinson said on January 8, 2025 at 2:43 pm
Yesterday I reported an anti-vax post on Facebook, showing a baby who died, supposedly due to aluminum in vaccines. Within a few minutes, it came back as not a violation of community standards. So the announcement came as no surprise. I’m only on FB and Instagram, haven’t checked out Bluesky yet.
And a woman came in wearing a skin tight jumpsuit made of stretchy fabric like a pair of tights. No visible lines whatsoever. No undies I guess. Can you tell I’m a little bored?
480 chars
jcburns said on January 8, 2025 at 2:50 pm
Me, Brandon. Also on Bluesky.
29 chars
Dexter Friend said on January 8, 2025 at 3:15 pm
First day this, first day that…yeah. Let’s invoke the 25th and remove this moron pronto. On the first day. It’s Golfo de Mexico anyway, really. Military takeover of Panama Canal Zone, why, the talk alone should rally Congress as to what a disaster is coming to 1600. Canada? What the hell is wrong with this demented bastard? Now Donnie is in Greenland trying to arrange a deal “for security”. Do you feel me here? STOP this idiot Donald from taking the oath. Nobody, NO BODY has ever seen anything like this except at the demolition derby at the county fair.
Just because I know that many of the people I met as a young soldier were and are from LA, and we know LA Mary is there, and my ex’s sister and family live there in Eagle Rock, plus numerous other cyber pals, I have been monitoring the fires all along. I know Jay Mohr lives in Pacific Palisades, or did before his divorce anyway, and that burned all the way down to the ocean.
Pogo is gone now for over 3 days. It’s easier on me, anyway, as I had been bracing for weeks.
I loaded up her cans and bags of food and with some cash$ dropped it off at the humane shelter. I am too advanced along to have another dog that would outlive me. My daughter in Commercial Point has 3 dogs. I wish she didn’t live 188 miles away. The Findlay daughter has 2 of those pretty, exotic cats. The Florida daughter has 2 Weimaraners.
1394 chars
Joe Kobiela said on January 8, 2025 at 3:36 pm
Dexter,
Next time you’re in Auburn let me know and I’ll bring my English Cream Golden Retriever Allie and you can pet and snuggle her all you want.
Pilot Joe
164 chars
Sherri said on January 8, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Saw a post on BlueSky renaming the Gulf the “Gulf of How Is This Going To Lower Egg Prices”
A reminder that whether intentionally or just because he’s addled, Trump’s meanderings just distract from his inability to deliver on his promises to make life better for his MAGA faithful.
292 chars
Mark P said on January 8, 2025 at 4:33 pm
We have two dogs, one around 10 but healthy, and a big German Shepherd mix maybe six or seven years old. I feel the same way about any possible replacement dog — I don’t want them to outlive me. If the situation arises, I might look for a senior dog that otherwise might not get adopted.
291 chars
Julie Robinson said on January 8, 2025 at 5:07 pm
Dexter, my mom is on cat #3 since she became too old for another pet. The cat distribution network knows who is in need, both for animals and humans. Have a chat with your daughters, because one of them would probably agree to take another dog. Living by yourself is too lonely not to have a companion.
Daughter didn’t break anything; got the rest, ice, compress, elevate advice, which she had been doing already, and a prescription for an anti-inflammatory. Hoping for a quick recovery. The bike has damage including a broken spoke, so it also went to the clinic.
Finally heard from Pasadena family, who still have a home, but have friends who don’t. The fire is only blocks away. They are already traumatized.
719 chars
David C said on January 8, 2025 at 5:44 pm
I’m always surprised that working for anybody doesn’t turn everybody into hard-core lefties.
92 chars
Dexter Friend said on January 8, 2025 at 6:49 pm
Thanks for the well-wishes. However, I am not able to have another dog. No more cats either. Right now I am just stunned watching the ultra-disaster in LA County.
163 chars
Jason T. said on January 8, 2025 at 9:05 pm
Brandon & JC:
Me. I love it. It has a little bit of a learning curve, but no worse than using email or WordPress for the first time.
My personal blitherings are here:
https://union.place/@jaythurbershow
My professional balderdash is here:
https://federated.press/@tubecityonline
295 chars
Sherri said on January 8, 2025 at 9:52 pm
Here’s the important thing to remember about Facebook and fact-checking: fact-checking, moderation, and related activities do not bring in revenue. Most software companies I’ve been around, the focus is on revenue. Yes, those features might have some marginal impact on not losing revenue, but they don’t produce revenue, they are an expense. Revenue is good, expense is okay as long as it produces revenue, expenses are tolerated as long as revenue is high, but expense that don’t produce revenue are always vulnerable.
Plus Zuckerberg isn’t interested in fighting with Trump. From what I can tell, Zuckerberg has no deeply held beliefs about anything other than himself.
686 chars
Julie Robinson said on January 9, 2025 at 8:52 am
Just read that a friend’s daughter and family in Altadena lost their house. But of course, this has nothing to do with climate change, it’s because the Democrats are in charge in California.
On a lighter note I’m seeing that Zuckerberg has divorced his wife and married Jonathan Van Ness, and that he’s also died of COVID and syphilis. And no one is fact checking them.
372 chars
JodiP said on January 9, 2025 at 9:47 am
Thank you Mary, for checking in. I migrated to BlueSky. However I will still use my FB But Nothing group to give things that I can’t take to the usual places. I am not posting very much any way because I’m focused on decluttering, going to the gym and seeing friends.
I read stuff on Substack. Dr. Richardson was a hard read today. I am so fearful about the next administration.
383 chars
David C said on January 9, 2025 at 1:18 pm
On a lighter note I’m seeing that Zuckerberg has divorced his wife and married Jonathan Van Ness, and that he’s also died of COVID and syphilis.
Community Notes: Zuckerberg divorced his wife and married Bat Boy from Weekly World News.
248 chars
Deborah said on January 9, 2025 at 3:35 pm
Someone I follow on Bluesky did an experiment on Facebook posting there that the reason Zuckerberg’s hair is fuller is because he’s been injecting himself with his children’s blood.
181 chars
Sherri said on January 9, 2025 at 6:33 pm
As we watch neighborhoods in LA burn to the ground, after unprecedented flooding in North Carolina, etc, etc,…
I had a conversation in a FB group with an acquaintance just a couple of days ago. It was started when the priest of the church the acquaintance and I both used to attend posted about The Episcopal Church ending any investments in fossil fuel companies. This guy was annoyed by this, and said it was things like this that had made him leave TEC, that politics didn’t belong in church.
I said that churches were always political; the very existence of TEC was a political response to the American Revolution. Caring for the environment can certainly be justified Biblically, and disinvestment from fossil fuel companies is compatible with that.
He said it’s just left wing virtue signaling, and that if churches want to do politics they should pay taxes. Again, I pointed out that churches can and do participate in politics, up to what is allowed by IRS regulations (essentially, don’t support candidates) and that when people say churches shouldn’t do politics, what they’re usually saying is, I disagree with what that church is doing.
I didn’t change his mind, didn’t expect to, but I just find it interesting and sad that people can watch everything happening and ignore inconvenient truths.
1334 chars
Deborah said on January 9, 2025 at 6:51 pm
As if conservatives haven’t been practicing virtue signaling since I’ve been alive. I don’t get the hypocrisy of that.
118 chars
Little Bird said on January 9, 2025 at 7:14 pm
I will not be getting rid of Facebook. Facebook is how I was able to help find the body of a very good friend. She died in her apartment THREE WEEKS AGO, and it was only after I, and another friend started messaging her local friends and family that anyone tried to get into her apartment. The local police were called for a welfare check, but they went to the wrong apartment. It’s been a painful tearful couple of days. And it just keeps getting worse. Two of her cats starved to death and were found next to her body, while a third one is still alive and somewhere in the apartment.
Facebook was absolutely instrumental in my being able to contact the people who did eventually get the apartment property manager to open the door.
742 chars
alex said on January 9, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Well, on a brighter note, the Supreme Court declined to get involved with Trump’s sentencing tomorrow in New York.
114 chars
Sherri said on January 9, 2025 at 9:09 pm
Conservatives aren’t hypocritical. They just don’t have the same set of values you think they do. Remember Wilhoit’s Law:
Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.
315 chars
brian stouder said on January 9, 2025 at 10:12 pm
Sherri – agreed. Dick Nixon, for one. D tRump, for another. Nowadays I sometimes ponder how my perceptions and interpretations have evolved, and indeed – how comprehensively the ‘supply-side’ of ALL of (our)information/perspectives has changed. Definitely a ‘paradigm-shift’, if ever there was one!
350 chars
alex said on January 9, 2025 at 11:51 pm
On an even brighter note, why look who just croaked: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/arts/music/anita-bryant-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.oE4.QXN0.WHwMMVEzj1N4&smid=url-share
Her mean-spirited anti-gay crusade was at its zenith when I was in high school. Her showbiz career then nosedived commensurately with the consciousness that she helped to raise. Perhaps I should be hailing her for all the good that she unintentionally did. But I’m not. She couldn’t even make it in Branson, that’s how fucking toxic her brand became, and there you have it.
561 chars
JodiP said on January 10, 2025 at 11:30 am
Little bird, I saw your story and the role FB played. I am so sorry that your friend died and that it took so long to find her. It’s just horrible. Sending love and comfort.
174 chars