It’s more than mere coincidence that Ted Kaczynski, one of America’s most famous early terrorists, was part of the CIA’s “MK-Ultra” experiments — designed to see how much the human psyche could take before crumbling.
“Thus did Kaczynski’s Harvard experiences shape his anger and legitimize his wrath,” wrote [professor Alston] Chase, who died in 2022. “By the time he graduated, all the elements that would ultimately transform him into the Unabomber were in place…”
• 17 deaths, 736 wrecks so far, involving Tesla’s “autopilot”
• Reddit CEO hosts disastrous “ask me anything” session, stalks off after refusing to answer questions
Under various nom de plumes, I’ve been on Reddit.com for almost as long as Reddit has been there. Some days it’s half my internet browsing. If you use Reddit right, you can walk away smarter after spending some time there (which is not to say that I use Reddit right).
There’s an IPO coming up, though, and Reddit is eager to monetize itself, so they’re pulling the plug on outside apps. That’s seriously stupid, because Reddit in its native state is a relentlessly unpleasant experience. It’s only outside apps and the all-volunteer Reddit Enhancement Suite (RES) that make the site enjoyable. Here’s a quick primer on the facts.
They’re ending API access at the end of the month, and there’ll be no support for ‘adult’ content. I don’t do much adulting there, but Reddit is specifically not for children, so it’s ridiculous if adults can’t be adults on the site.
For now, Reddit says that the pre-re-design “old.Reddit” will remain available, and it looks like RES can continue to exist, but Reddit’s management has lied about such things in the past.
I’m also increasingly annoyed that Reddit has given bots free rein in the comments section and, I suspect but can’t prove, more and more of the posts are by AI chatbots.
Much of Reddit is going dark in protest over all this, and at least some of the largest subReddits won’t be coming back. I’ll be unsubscribing from any subReddit that remains online during the protest.
• Google litters Gmail with more ads, including in-between mails
• Climate change is raising the cost of food
• Top distiller says climate change to crimp liquor supply
• America’s love affair with air conditioning shows a Catch 22 of climate change
• Heat and dryness from climate change is making wildfires much worse
The “rough ride” has been a common cop tactic for a long, long time. Hell, it was common knowledge when I wrote about it in Pathetic Life, 28 years ago, after cops killed Aaron Williams in a “rough ride.”
Randy Cox got a ride that left him paralyzed, and it’s unsurprising that the coverage from AP doesn’t explain “rough rides,” and instead frames it as if it had been accidental.
• San Jose Police union executive facing fentanyl-smuggling charges is fired
• Republican Congressmen call for violent response to Trump indictment
• The dangerous Republican freakout about Trump’s indictment
• Judge overseeing Trump’s prosecution is a Trump-appointed wingnut
• Taking a break from lawsuits to overturn 2022 election, would-be Gov Kari Lake drops a new single
• 12-million Americans believe violence is justified to restore Trump to power
• FCC pretends to fine right-wing bullshitters $5 million for voter robocall scam
There’s no knowing where you’re going
without the porn
• How did birds first take off?
• What is it like to be a fungus?
• What humanity knew and when we knew it, about climate change
• The only physical encyclopedia still in print… and I kinda want one
if it don’t have that swing
• Look for the Union Label — Joe Glazer.
leaves the building
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