Trained Brains
@trainedbrains.bsky.social
Love to learn something new everyday.
Reposted by Trained Brains
Gen Z see local engagement as a direct strategy for change. Recruiting them to run for local office (as @runforsomething.net does!) is a key way to re-ignite their trust in democracy. dellavolpe.substack.com/p/the-system...
March 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Gen Z see local engagement as a direct strategy for change. Recruiting them to run for local office (as @runforsomething.net does!) is a key way to re-ignite their trust in democracy. dellavolpe.substack.com/p/the-system...
Reposted by Trained Brains
‘Prelude to privatization:’ Social Security confirms workforce reduction targets, continues to shutter offices www.govexec.com/workforce/20... via @GovExec
‘Prelude to privatization:’ Social Security confirms workforce reduction targets, continues to shutter offices
Despite most of the agency being exempt from deferred resignations and the government-wide hiring freeze, early retirement and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments are now available to the entire a...
www.govexec.com
March 4, 2025 at 3:24 AM
‘Prelude to privatization:’ Social Security confirms workforce reduction targets, continues to shutter offices www.govexec.com/workforce/20... via @GovExec
Reposted by Trained Brains
Call it by its name: Trumpcession
March 4, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Call it by its name: Trumpcession
Reposted by Trained Brains
then what is the business model here?
A proliferation of niche media isn’t ideal either - the incentives push creators towards audience capture. Something is ecologically off.
These creators + journos are eventually going to have to (re-)consolidate.
www.noemamag.com/the-new-medi...
A proliferation of niche media isn’t ideal either - the incentives push creators towards audience capture. Something is ecologically off.
These creators + journos are eventually going to have to (re-)consolidate.
www.noemamag.com/the-new-medi...
The New Media Goliaths | NOEMA
The internet has allowed independent creators to thrive, finding niche audiences for everything from nudes to salad recipes. But it’s also spawned silos that incentivize propaganda.
www.noemamag.com
January 31, 2025 at 5:54 PM
then what is the business model here?
A proliferation of niche media isn’t ideal either - the incentives push creators towards audience capture. Something is ecologically off.
These creators + journos are eventually going to have to (re-)consolidate.
www.noemamag.com/the-new-medi...
A proliferation of niche media isn’t ideal either - the incentives push creators towards audience capture. Something is ecologically off.
These creators + journos are eventually going to have to (re-)consolidate.
www.noemamag.com/the-new-medi...
Reposted by Trained Brains
Listen to @davetroy.com explain how he can tell when callers to CSPAN get their talking points and disinfo from FOX News or Alex Jones, and why we are so divided as a nation. Clips by @chattjazz.bsky.social, full podcast here: www.patreon.com/c/PoliticsWi...
January 30, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Listen to @davetroy.com explain how he can tell when callers to CSPAN get their talking points and disinfo from FOX News or Alex Jones, and why we are so divided as a nation. Clips by @chattjazz.bsky.social, full podcast here: www.patreon.com/c/PoliticsWi...
Reposted by Trained Brains
Check out Sage Stossel's wonderful graphic essay of the historical impact of editorial cartoons. A must-read:
www.sagestossel.com/editorial-ca...
www.sagestossel.com/editorial-ca...
January 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Check out Sage Stossel's wonderful graphic essay of the historical impact of editorial cartoons. A must-read:
www.sagestossel.com/editorial-ca...
www.sagestossel.com/editorial-ca...
Reposted by Trained Brains
Interesting piece explaining Trump’s first week in office. Flood the zone to create chaos. Demand loyalty to the leader, not the rule of law.
Cruelty and Loyalty
On zone-flooding fatigue and the tenets of autocracy
buff.ly
January 28, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Interesting piece explaining Trump’s first week in office. Flood the zone to create chaos. Demand loyalty to the leader, not the rule of law.
Reposted by Trained Brains
This is true of journalism too! Readers are just as unstinting about scanning the first few lines and then noping out if the writing isn’t good (even if the info IS)!
That’s why the lede/nut graf is so important! What are you writing about? Get to the point. Say it clearly and with some energy!
That’s why the lede/nut graf is so important! What are you writing about? Get to the point. Say it clearly and with some energy!
For the writers upset that one short fiction editor can tell within the first few sentences if a story is a "no," I have even worse news for you:
This is nearly all short fiction editors.
This is nearly all short fiction editors.
Authors! Submitting your story to an open call? As someone reading through 400+ submissions for an anthology, some tips:
Opening paragraph/sentence: I can tell within the first few sentences if a story is a 'no.'
'Maybes' turn to 'no's' by the end of the first paragraph. Brutal, but it's true.
Opening paragraph/sentence: I can tell within the first few sentences if a story is a 'no.'
'Maybes' turn to 'no's' by the end of the first paragraph. Brutal, but it's true.
January 12, 2025 at 5:45 PM
This is true of journalism too! Readers are just as unstinting about scanning the first few lines and then noping out if the writing isn’t good (even if the info IS)!
That’s why the lede/nut graf is so important! What are you writing about? Get to the point. Say it clearly and with some energy!
That’s why the lede/nut graf is so important! What are you writing about? Get to the point. Say it clearly and with some energy!
Reposted by Trained Brains
If you're looking for useful study resources for students, one site I recommend is @thomasjfrank.com's College Info Geek (also his YouTube channel @Thomasfrank). Some materials are a bit outdated, but they are all nicely done (w/ relevant evidence). I've assigned some videos in my class. #EduSky
Studying and Learning
If you want to be a successful student, you need to perform well inside and outside of the classroom. This means that reading textbooks, doing homework,
collegeinfogeek.com
January 12, 2025 at 11:21 PM
If you're looking for useful study resources for students, one site I recommend is @thomasjfrank.com's College Info Geek (also his YouTube channel @Thomasfrank). Some materials are a bit outdated, but they are all nicely done (w/ relevant evidence). I've assigned some videos in my class. #EduSky
Reposted by Trained Brains
“Trump aims to preside over an increasingly reactionary and expansionist nation where tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and a thousand faceless oil and gas execs plunder our planet and dismantle any fact-based reality in pursuit of personal wealth and power.” open
'Doctor My Eyes'
If you want to understand how drastically our world has changed try to imagine a social media company banning a Donald Trump account in 2025.
open.substack.com
January 12, 2025 at 8:56 PM
“Trump aims to preside over an increasingly reactionary and expansionist nation where tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and a thousand faceless oil and gas execs plunder our planet and dismantle any fact-based reality in pursuit of personal wealth and power.” open
Reposted by Trained Brains
Mexico and Canada helping in California says two things:
America has neighbors it doesn't deserve; and
America is better at handing out blame *after* a disaster than making preparations *before* a disaster.
America has neighbors it doesn't deserve; and
America is better at handing out blame *after* a disaster than making preparations *before* a disaster.
January 12, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Mexico and Canada helping in California says two things:
America has neighbors it doesn't deserve; and
America is better at handing out blame *after* a disaster than making preparations *before* a disaster.
America has neighbors it doesn't deserve; and
America is better at handing out blame *after* a disaster than making preparations *before* a disaster.
Reposted by Trained Brains
I was talking with a reporter the other day about this. They asked why I thought guys like Bezos, Soon-Shiong, and Zuckerberg were suddenly so open with their Trumpy politics. I said that I thought it was because Elon Musk showed them that they could and they wouldn't face any real repercussions.
the big tech world has wanted to be as openly ‘anti-woke’ as elon musk has been, they’ve long agree with him but figured social sentiment was firmly against reactionary world views. now that musks gambit paid off, we’re going to be seeing more of this for awhile
Rogan interview with Zuckerberg that dropped this morning is something to behold. basically him dumping years of anger at the media, the government, social discussion
clearly all pent up for years and now allowing himself to do it because of Trump coming to power
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k1e...
clearly all pent up for years and now allowing himself to do it because of Trump coming to power
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k1e...
January 10, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I was talking with a reporter the other day about this. They asked why I thought guys like Bezos, Soon-Shiong, and Zuckerberg were suddenly so open with their Trumpy politics. I said that I thought it was because Elon Musk showed them that they could and they wouldn't face any real repercussions.
Reposted by Trained Brains
Not everything is terrible: Pretty impressive cookbook with some very ballsy food photos. www.michaelmina.net/myegypt/ And with an intro that lays out how hard it is for immigrants to get accepted in the melting pot.
My Egypt
In My Egypt, Mina brings readers to contemporary Cairo and Alexandria to share the foundations of Egyptian cooking and hospitality.
www.michaelmina.net
January 10, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Not everything is terrible: Pretty impressive cookbook with some very ballsy food photos. www.michaelmina.net/myegypt/ And with an intro that lays out how hard it is for immigrants to get accepted in the melting pot.
Reposted by Trained Brains
"‘Wildfires will get worse as the planet gets warmer’, says climate scientist" | My full interview today with #Channel4News UK: www.channel4.com/news/__trash...
‘Wildfires will get worse as the planet gets warmer’, says climate scientist
We spoke to Michael Mann, a climate scientist from the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania.
www.channel4.com
January 10, 2025 at 9:18 PM
"‘Wildfires will get worse as the planet gets warmer’, says climate scientist" | My full interview today with #Channel4News UK: www.channel4.com/news/__trash...
Reposted by Trained Brains
The stock portfolios of more than two dozen members of Congress outperformed the market in 2024.
This isn't due to luck or skill. Lawmakers can use privileged information to trade stocks while they’re supposed to be working for you.
Make no mistake, it’s legalized corruption.
This isn't due to luck or skill. Lawmakers can use privileged information to trade stocks while they’re supposed to be working for you.
Make no mistake, it’s legalized corruption.
Dozens of lawmakers beat stock market in 2024: Report
The stock portfolios of more than two dozen lawmakers once again outperformed the market as bans on congressional stock trading stalled, according to a new report from the trading trackers at Unusu…
thehill.com
January 8, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The stock portfolios of more than two dozen members of Congress outperformed the market in 2024.
This isn't due to luck or skill. Lawmakers can use privileged information to trade stocks while they’re supposed to be working for you.
Make no mistake, it’s legalized corruption.
This isn't due to luck or skill. Lawmakers can use privileged information to trade stocks while they’re supposed to be working for you.
Make no mistake, it’s legalized corruption.
Reposted by Trained Brains
I do want to applaud Watch Duty for having a very simple and approachable interface for basic wildfire data, like red flag alerts and different evacuation levels: app.watchduty.org
January 9, 2025 at 3:29 AM
I do want to applaud Watch Duty for having a very simple and approachable interface for basic wildfire data, like red flag alerts and different evacuation levels: app.watchduty.org
Reposted by Trained Brains
This is my first time in years experiencing a major local breaking news event from outside a newsroom, and it’s awful.
mattdpearce.substack.com/p/fires-and-...
mattdpearce.substack.com/p/fires-and-...
Fires and the facts
The breaking-news experience is awful for consumers.
mattdpearce.substack.com
January 8, 2025 at 9:23 PM
This is my first time in years experiencing a major local breaking news event from outside a newsroom, and it’s awful.
mattdpearce.substack.com/p/fires-and-...
mattdpearce.substack.com/p/fires-and-...
Reposted by Trained Brains
For SoCal friends,
Here is a list of resources for shelter, animal boarding, free items, and distribution hubs. These places can also use donations (e.g., food, water, masks, and blankets). Please consider donating if you can.
For more info, visit Instagram: mutualaidla
Here is a list of resources for shelter, animal boarding, free items, and distribution hubs. These places can also use donations (e.g., food, water, masks, and blankets). Please consider donating if you can.
For more info, visit Instagram: mutualaidla
January 9, 2025 at 3:23 AM
For SoCal friends,
Here is a list of resources for shelter, animal boarding, free items, and distribution hubs. These places can also use donations (e.g., food, water, masks, and blankets). Please consider donating if you can.
For more info, visit Instagram: mutualaidla
Here is a list of resources for shelter, animal boarding, free items, and distribution hubs. These places can also use donations (e.g., food, water, masks, and blankets). Please consider donating if you can.
For more info, visit Instagram: mutualaidla
Reposted by Trained Brains
Watch this space. US treasury notes are approaching their highest rates in nearly two decades despite the fed cutting rates.
"increases in long-term rates, like the 10-year Treasury rate, might reflect the horrible, creeping suspicion that Donald Trump actually believes the crazy things he says about economic policy and will act on those beliefs." paulkrugman.substack.com/p/is-there-a...
Is There an Insanity Premium on Interest Rates?
Something strange is happening in the bond market. Is it Trump?
paulkrugman.substack.com
January 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Watch this space. US treasury notes are approaching their highest rates in nearly two decades despite the fed cutting rates.
Reposted by Trained Brains
Here’s tomorrow’s front page of the @latimes. All our fire coverage is here, and the paywall has been lifted: www.latimes.com/california/l...
January 9, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Here’s tomorrow’s front page of the @latimes. All our fire coverage is here, and the paywall has been lifted: www.latimes.com/california/l...
Reposted by Trained Brains
Most excellent analysis. This country can't fix a problem it will not confront.
wrote about Meghan McCain attacking Meghan Markle and how white entitlement often leads to the targeting of successful Black people. (which is why class politics aren't an adequate answer to racism.) www.everythingishorrible.net/p/racism-dir...
Racism Directed Against Meghan Markle Matters
Meghan McCain reminds us that successful Black people are targets.
www.everythingishorrible.net
January 7, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Most excellent analysis. This country can't fix a problem it will not confront.
Reposted by Trained Brains
Some people say it takes 21 days to form a #habit, but that's a myth. In fact, I acquired a habit of closing the toilet lid before flushing, right after seeing just one gif (thanks to research conducted here at CU Boulder). No "magic number" for habit acquisition; it depends on multiple factors.
January 8, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Some people say it takes 21 days to form a #habit, but that's a myth. In fact, I acquired a habit of closing the toilet lid before flushing, right after seeing just one gif (thanks to research conducted here at CU Boulder). No "magic number" for habit acquisition; it depends on multiple factors.
Reposted by Trained Brains
Blocking Donald Trump's inappropriate Cabinet Nominees is imperative and it is up to us. Here's a blueprint for how to do it: shero.substack.com/p/blocking-t...
Blocking Trump Nominees is Up to Us
With several important Congressional Hearings to test the viability of Trump's Cabinet nominees on the horizon, there are still some things that the electorate can do to make their voices heard.
shero.substack.com
January 8, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Blocking Donald Trump's inappropriate Cabinet Nominees is imperative and it is up to us. Here's a blueprint for how to do it: shero.substack.com/p/blocking-t...