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Journalism is maximally profitable when it is maximally useless.

The stories that are the easiest to sell ads against are the ones that are relevant to the most people. The stories that are the most useful to any given person are likely *not useful* to people outside their community.

I don't need National news, excepting in very rare circumstances.

I need local news, which is only covered in very rare circumstances.

Sure! It's good for me to know what's happening in US or Global politics, but what happened at last night's school board meeting or city council or county commissioner's meetings has way more Impact on my life.

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RT @PjotrSauer
My friend and thoroughly professional journalist @evangershkovich has been arrested by the FSB on obviously bogus espionage charges. Journalism is not a crime. Evan should be released immediately
themoscowtimes.com/2023/03/30/

The undead are vulnerable to fire?
Buddy, let me tell you what else is weak against fire: goddamn everything. If you need to destroy something, try fire, I always say

A few days ago, @TexasObserver was on its deathbed. Now the crusading nonprofit newsroom is getting a second chance after raising $300,000 in a crowdfunding campaign:

texastribune.org/2023/03/29/te

#texas #journalism #news

Testing out Bard (Google's "AI") 

So far I've asked it technical questions (tell me about Class 0A ESD protection / tell me about ACES-Hy), paranoia questions (will OSIRIS-Rex bring an alien virus back from Bennu?), philosophy questions (What is the purpose of life?) and it's been all right with all of them. I asked if drag queens should be banned in Florida, and it provided 4 drafts, all with an emphatic 'no'.
Fun, but I'm not sure how useful.

I’d much rather listen to a guy in drag read β€œMy Two Dads” in a public library than go through another active shooter training or lockdown in my school.

Yay!! I picked up my big shy boi from boarding!! We rode the BART back to the neighborhood and now we're people watching, sniffing things, and getting coffee.

I love this lug.

(Mood enhanced also because shenanigans.)

Easiest way to spot a #German writing #English:

"Can you please fill in all your informations"

An excerpt from my internal monologue during this morning's bicycle ride.
---------------------------------------
Hmm. That little bird I saw yesterday was so charming. Bottergat. What's the other name for a bottergat again?
Cape Bimbo.
No! Hahaha.
Cape Dildo?
OMG no!
Dildo. No! Bimbo? Bimbo. Bimbo! Dildo. Bimbo!
WTF, brain? OK I'll give you something to distract you. What's a good translation for "bottergat?"
Hmm. Butter-arse? Butter-bum? Butter-butt! Name comes from their bright yellow butts.
*grinding noises* Also known as a Cape Bulbul *bing!*

#ActuallyAutistic
#ThingsISaw #Today
#CyclingLife

We fucking did it, y'all. We fucking saved the Texas fucking Observer and I'm so fucking happy rn. #TexasNeedsAnObserver

"In middle age, I'm forced to recognize that nothing short of being who I am will resolve my profound inner confict. The word 'transition' is terrifying but, however catastrophic the process of coming out may be, I'll not be much good to those I love if I'm burned out, incapacitated, or dead."
texasobserver.org/i-am-a-trans

#LGBTQIA #Texas #trans #essay #TXlege #politics #USpol

Hey, #People of #Mastodon! You saved a newspaper today!
The @TexasObserver was slated to close at the end of the month. But no more!

The #Fediverse has demonstrated that it is the home of independent #journalism, and I am so proud to have been here and witnessed it all!

@ScottSoCal It's what cults do. They also spawn MLM "businesses" (pyramid schemes) designed around affinity fraud. Businesses selling snake oil products like "supplements" that are considered unethical or even illegal outside of Utah.

uspol / Thread TLDR 

So to summarize:

Does the RESTRICT act ban VPNs? No.

Does the RESTRICT act *give the White House executive power to ban VPNs*? Yes.

Is Joe Biden going to use the RESTRICT act to ban VPNs? Probably not.

Would the Supreme Court *allow* Joe Biden to use the RESTRICT act to ban VPNs? Probably not.

But would a future President Trump, or President DeSantis, use RESTRICT to ban VPNs? Yes!

And would the Supreme Court let Trump/Desantis do it, if it was them and not Biden? Yes!

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This is a first. Instead of ending an article by saying, β€œDid I miss anything? Tweet it to me!” I’m giving readers my mastodon address.

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