Blake Victor Kent

People who *want* AI to "take all the jobs" are significantly deceived. What happens then? Even with UBI, we lose the societal interdependence that comes with belonging to a complex division of labor. The likely result is people with too much time on their hands and social conflict.

"Those who can, do; those who can't, teach."

That was the old conventional wisdom. Now we have a bunch of lazy faculty using AI to teach and grade their students. Here's the new idiom:

'THOSE WHO CAN, DO. THOSE WHO CAN'T, USE AI."

Check out that ratio👀

Imagine being proud of deregulation that will cause real harm to people and the planet. We are governed by deranged, sociopathic clowns.

Almost this entire class of GOP legislators is going to be known forever as the Trump-Epstein Republicans.

"They're real losers" says D.C. area man of Olympic athletes who himself can't walk 18 holes of golf.

The TPUSA All-American Halftime Show™ is to the Super Bowl Halftime show as Harvest Fall Festivals are to Halloween.

Weird that @TPUSA called their half-time show "All American" bc it's pretty obvious the Super Bowl half-time show was also All American.

Look, can we just be honest. Evangelicals have always been envious of artistry & culture, so they create and prop up their own less-good version of the legit cultural product (CCM, God's Not Dead, Left Behind, etc.). The TPUSA halftime show is no surprise. It's business as usual.

Reminder: the same folks pissed about Bad Bunny performing in Spanish have no problem with Paula White performing in tongues.

Pro tip: If YOU'RE the President and all the Olympians are criticizing the country, maybe the problem is YOU, not them.

Gonna tweet this and log off: MAGA doesn't get to tell you who loves America or how they get to love it. Enjoy the games (SB and Olympics)!

I went to a USWNT vs. Chile match and to be perfectly honest, chanting "USA, USA, USA" just felt gross. I could tell the crowd was uncomfortable as well, given how half-hearted it was. We've got a problem. A big one.

We have, for years now, seen Trump: Push, Connive, Threaten, Bully, Tantrum, Lie, Gaslight, Pressure, Demand, Domineer, Blame, Manipulate, Cheat & Steal. This is the behavior he displays publicly. Why would we expect anything different about his private behavior in the dark?

Here's how justice works in America. If you're Black or Brown & you "fit the description" you are hassled, harassed, arrested, accused, sentenced, or deported. If you're white & especially rich & powerful and you "fit the description" (Epstein Files), you are shielded.

"You can't ever vote Republican." "You can't ever vote Democrat."

These are both deeply flawed statements. No party can be given carte blanche to do whatever they want bc the other has been so thoroughly demonized. Parties must be able to lose support for doing the wrong thing.

"Locker room talk" isn't usually just locker room talk, and innocent people aren't usually dogged by dozens of accusations.

Josh Tom on the new Florida "sociology" textbook.

Observation: Posts from Allie Beth Stuckey and her ilk only solidify in/out group. Winners/losers. Righteous/unrighteous. Is that really what we need from Christian leaders? What do we gain and what do we lose from these unbending approaches to civic life?

What do Sociologists Think of Megachurches? Correspondence with a former student

I'm back to doing some public writing on Substack. Today I share correspondence with a former student who is interning at a megachurch. If you're interested in hearing from me from time to time, please consider subscribing to the substack! Thanks.
open.substack.com/pub/blakevic...

The @nfl has rules about conduct, but in American politics the federal govt can just lie with impunity.

I need you all to understand something for those of you who think you know what this black woman who has lived in racist America really thinks. I know this is hard for you all, but some of us saw this coming for years, decades even. So understand, I am not being snarky. I am grieving.

"Are you a Christian?" is no longer a meaningful question. The title "Christian" has been stripped of any consequential or coherent meaning.

The only question that matters now is: "Are you Christlike?"

Never had less respect for Christians bothsidesing our national problems than I do now.

There is no comparison, either qualitatively or in proportionality, and to suggest otherwise is fantasy, cowardice, or both.

We can debate tactics. There is no debate on blame.

If you think "being like Jesus" is using the blunt power of the state to conform the nation to your likeness and image, you're gonna want to get your tithe money back. You got robbed.

Don't you dare try to justify the murder we just saw.

Excerpt of an immigration statement from bishops of the Free Methodist Church.

Anyone else lean into the current moment with students last semester?

Just finished this one from Ryan Burge. I’ve read all his books (even been a peer-reviewer for a couple) and this one is my favorite. Clear, accessible description of American religious trends and their implications for politics. Church groups could read this and benefit.

We don't want Greenland, we want *green* *land*. Bring back the *real* @EPA, @NatlParkService, @BLMNational et al. Reported missing Jan 20, 2025.