Catbird

Do people still exist on the Web? Most of the time these days when someone shows me anything from one of the socials, it leads to a conversation about whether it's true or not.
Is it still "social media" if it's just bots we are communicating with?

"Of course we can do democracy at scale. We’re a naturally social, altruistic, democratic species and we all have an anti-dominance intuition. This is what we’re built for.”

Some positivity in today's @theguardian.com From the review of Luke Kemp's new book Goliath’s Curse.

It's the best mood to start my day.

"Social media is a grotesque, tragedy-exploiting, MechaHitler-riddled inferno." - Emma Marris in today's Atlantic

This made me laugh out loud for at least an hour. BRAVO!

Another great point from Ian Bogost in the Atlantic about algorithmic playlists serving up mild mixes: This music is not meant to be listened to directly; it’s used to drown out everything else.
...
This is second-order music listening, in which you experience the idea of listening to music.

I have been struggling with this for a long while: "Long before generative AI began its takeover of the internet, streaming music had turned anodyne—a vehicle for vibes, not for active listening."

The pressure is on for artists to sound equally to compete with AI music slop on playlists.

Why does that plan to blast a small shaft that does deep into the Fordo site repeatedly with missiles sound a lot like the plans to blow up a Death Star?

This is a little hokey but it made me smile today.

Alexis Petridis in @theguardian.com describing the Spotify algorithm: One minute it’s all matey “would you like to listen to Galaxie500?”, the next humanity’s enslaved, living underground mining uranium for a robot. 🤣

Go see a concert in person: we have grown so accustomed to experiencing culture through screens that we can forgot how exciting it is to be in the room where the art is happening, and what it's like to participate as an audience.

Marsalis notes that jazz makes its performers work together without any singular voice dominating. Jazz musicians must find a balance. This is the throughline he sees between jazz and social justice. When everyone commits to a common cause, it takes egos out of the equation.

Stewart Lee in @theguardian.com packs a lot into this statement:
[On Social Media] Truth is a touring lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd with no original members that you’re still listening to in the hope its version of Free Bird will kick ass.

JUNO Winner Crystal Shawanda

• Crystal Shawanda• CD Release Show
With Exclusive Toronto Blues Society Members Ticket Discount

THURSDAY, APRIL 10 @ 7PM ET
LULA LOUNGE – TORONTO, ON
Tickets Here: www.lula.ca/calendar

JUNO Winner Best Blues Album.
Maple Blues Winner Best Indigenous Album.

Agreed

Lucky!

I can 100% relate. And the choice to do 'meaningful work' is what drew me in. I can do 'busy-work' to keep moving, but there is no motivation or joy in that.
Maybe the best thing is to start three different meaningful activities - at least one will produce rewarding feelings to motivate us onward?

I suppose we should take a moment to savour the fruit we eat. Think about how that mango has traveled further in its life than you will. Eat it with gusto.