Terrorism for dummies: Donald Trump and the art of fabricating a left-wing plot

Culture and society

The alleged “war on men” and the decline in sex among younger people. Building ways into educational processes to address loneliness. How education became a vast financial market in the United States. Christians debate dumping the word “missionary” and its colonialist associations. Fighting and succumbing to Tolkien’s Rings racism. How violent rhetoric leads to violence.

Twitter R.I.P.

I’ve ditched Twitter. I’ve kept my account online because I’ve had problems with impersonators in the past (seriously, who would want to impersonate me? Don’t they know I already have impostor syndrome?) and there are some people I mainly reach via DM, but I barely look at it — and when I do, it’s mainly to keep up with some friends in the Twin Peaks community and for high-quality dog content. There are plenty of good people that I’ve come to know on Twitter, but the sheer level of stupidity and rancour on it outweighs the positives, at least for me. That Musk is busy destroying his US$44 billion purchase is comparatively a minor issue for the moment.

As readers with longer memories will recall, I used to be quite the evangelist for social media. I think a lot of my analysis from, say, War On The Internet way back when was correct. What’s probably changed are my observations of what the much-vaunted “interconnectedness” I lauded actually delivers in practice, and that the toxic aspects of social media — which I always acknowledged — are just as scalable as the positive ones, and if anything are perhaps more so. Social media has also had the misfortune, if you can call it that, to occur at roughly the same time as neoliberalism was inflicting a horrific toll in terms of alienation, tribalism and identity crises across the West, meaning there were always plenty of negative attributes to amplify, no matter what the good ones were.

Anyway, I’ve moved to Tribel, which is a ghost town compared to Twitter, and that’s actually its best feature. I feel much better without Twitter in my life and found it surprisingly easy. Meanwhile: what extremely online people are like in real life, and how awful they are. Elon Musk doesn’t understand the basics of media, and it shows — if only he’d read some Chomsky. Rob Horning grapples with leaving Twitter. And how Musk’s stupidity on verification is costing Twitter millions in desperately needed revenue.

Crows sit, and watch and wait… knowing their time will come. Evil is patient. So, so patient.

Crows are even smarter than previously thought and may soon be writing Proustian sentences (I exaggerate a tad but not much). For those who want to welcome our new crow overlords, how to befriend one. Octopuses throwing stuff at each other (can we get them on Twitter?). The first video game and the enthusiasm it inspired. Europe is warming even faster than everywhere else. Photons going back in time — episode number 7883 of “How seriously weird is quantum physics”.

It’s mourning, in America. GOP mourning.

The GOP is now turning on itself after the midterms, with a revolt against their House leadership. The DeSantis boomlet is going to end badly for the Republicans. Fox News and other recent establishment converts to the anti-Trump cause will soon discover they can’t control public support for the former president. Hillbilly Elegy author and incoming senator JD Vance espouses a particularly unpleasant kind of autocracy. How Trump and his Homeland Security chief tried to fabricate a left-wing terrorist plot. The stupidity of access journalism and the journalists who live by it.

Things are going well in Russia

Russia enforces patriotism classes in schools. Russia’s fascists get increasingly angry about Russia’s performance in Ukraine, and the criticism is increasingly close to Putin. France warns that a clash between the West and imperialist Russia is inevitable. The rise and fall of Kremlin propaganda outlet Russia Today. And Netanyahu’s return to power in Israel will be a cause for celebration in the Kremlin.

The yarts

A new biography of J Edgar Hoover reveals a more human, and less independent, figure than previously believed. The week in American culture — a history. Perspectives on Prince — including Nick Hornby’s comparison of Dickens and Prince. Paul Newman’s self-loathing and guilt. And Melvin and his guests discuss Berthe Morisot.

Finally

More crow content. And still more crow content. And bonus greyhound content for anyone whose watch needs winding.