Si Se Puede - July 11 in Cuba - documentary short

 https://youtu.be/XDfN2yZXK5o

The Social Dilemma: Seven Months Later

Commercial use algorithms must be designed to omit certain types of content. Even though you can opt out to get your feeds in chronological order without interference and you can also make a feed based on your favorites. These are in effect the safety measures social media companies have created in the wake of our political dystopia in America married like a Siamese twin with an alternate reality of a party which uses lies and deception.

Ever since we began congressional hearings on social media the companies have been working to improve the service by removing extreme content that violates “public standards”, but no plans were laid out to regulate for ‘civic standards’, politics or mental illness.

The scary ai, artificial intelligence, we all should worry most about are social media algorithms which create specialized content to serve advertisers. Seven months after the epic documentary film The Social Dilemma we still haven’t addressed the elephant in the room, and it bears repeating. At one point the film which should be required viewing for students, a fictional teen girl smashes a locked box to get her phone locked up on purpose by her mom for only one hour and her son tries for a week without his phone; both instances showcasing the extremes of online addiction. Through these dramatizations guided by interviews with many of the original social media algorithm creators the harsh reality of modern-day technology is clearly evident but the solutions and regulatory needs are not detailed.

We all have our own distinct social media feeds, separate and individual, and when manipulations increase polarization for profit, it becomes dangerous especially when its used just for your attention. Information and news can never be politically motivated in such an environment because it creates harmful interest groups. Content that is deliberately a deception should be considered political and should not be part of any algorithm reliant on holding your attention to sell ads. The psychological consequences will be studied for years to come but what is most urgent is how it effects politics. It is unethical for social media platforms to monetize any content that contains socio political information. While of course free speech and political content should never be banned; people should be able to search and find any type they want legally, but that content again should not be used in algorithms that are monetized to maintain your attention in order to play you ads; this by definition becomes a political ad even if there is no person or political party physically purchasing the feeds. The examples of governments paying social media to help them win elections by manipulating viewers is appalling and egregious. Democracy should never be caught up in a sale of any kind. That is the existential threat. Manipulating your attention for market uses I believe are fair game while obviously coming with other types of psychological problems that should be further studied and regulated. Likewise online platforms should never be able to block search content; the internet must be free from commercial obstruction.

They are calculating our emotions and actions online, analyzing what we consume for advertisers. Political ad buying should never be a part of this and must be illegal on social media, period. Hours of congressional Hearings didn't even mention this as a viable solution. At the very least political monetization altering motivations and the habits of users should be illegal on social media platforms.

Solutions at end of the documentary film give some other essential tips on how you fight the algorithms like not clicking on recommend videos, but the problem is not with savvy people that could reprogram their feeds, it comes with mammoth size groups clustered over specific interests or beliefs regardless of merit. If they are clustered because of commercial access to attention, then they become divided even from their own true beliefs whether they realize it or not. It’s clear that the information age has made smart people smarter and dumb people dumber, but we can not allow mob rule to be strengthened by commercial proxies focused on profit and self-interest.

 

https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/algorithms-and-amplification-how-social-media-platforms-design-choices-shape-our-discourse-and-our-minds

The Chair Review and the Lost Debate

 

What a timely series, “The Chair” (currently on Netflix) provides a breath of fresh air, and a place where truth is led astray in the hallowed grounds of truth seeking; highlighting the paradox of democratic movements which like in the series mostly lack detailed focus on outcomes or specific demands. In the Chair liberal activists demand a teacher be fired for making a Nazi salute without any nuanced perspective.  The series looks at how the media frenzy over the student cell video that captures the act goes out of control without said proper context. As awkward and senseless as it seems to the viewer so to are a staggeringly large group of people in our American society baselessly brainwashed to for example view COVID vaccines or the wearing of masks as an afront to their freedom! The series doesn’t make the correlation with well-meaning liberal activists and ring wing fed so called conservative activists nor does it offer any solutions to disinformation campaigns but at least it’s a theme and a topic that can be examined moving forward. While the teacher accused could seemingly end the false narrative with a simple explanation, he does not, and the first season ends without this needed resolution. Convincing conspiratorial “conservatives” that their opinions on masks and vaccines are erroneous has likewise not been properly addressed.

Sandra Oh leads the English department with an Emmy winning grasp of emotion. She’s a delight but run through too fast during much of the first season; the ‘TV pace’ takes away from the theme’s grand realism and its substantive dialogue. I hope the show’s writer producer Amanda Peet, who ranged so well in Brockmire where she played a struggling alcoholic brilliantly, can make an appearance next season.   

The timing and structured plot tunes worked great although there were a few scenes and or scenarios that sounded unrealistic or seemed out of place. Jay Duplass, who plays the accused teacher, and Holland Taylor, who shines as an overdramatic professor who is treated poorly because she’s a woman, both understand the importance of realism, their performances sought true understanding, conveying as much as possible, if only they were on screen more. What’s the rush lol..

Our society much like the University in the Chair, is now undergoing an urgent emergency in climate change and the stated strange political dilemma mired in large misunderstandings. The anti-mask, disinformation campaigns have become a theme all too often to the point where the phrase, “it’s a medical emergency” means you don’t get to decide whether not to wear a mask or get vaccinated because that’s not at all political. Deniers are right to view the government as clueless and inept in the face of so much in action much like the students in the Chair but, they both got the facts wrong, and their alternate reality is blind to research and science as well as against public health. I’m so looking forward to the next season of the Chair, where a proper perspective can be found. As far as American society, I’m afraid what may be needed is more time, media that more forcefully and virally points out misinformation, and or more consequences for the enablers and right wing or so called “Trumpers” who should not only face litigation but should also face our justice department which as an institution sadly fails us in going after dangerous inciteful speech whose results are clearly sociopathic. Truth is being swept on so many levels under the Chair, perhaps, like in the series someone can sit on it and add clarity to the lost debate. 

Falcon and the Winter Soldier season one: REVIEW

                                                                                                

 

Falcon and the Winter Soldier season one’s writing is one of best ever in the super hero genre especially in tune with what’s going on divisively in the United States. The theme culminating in bureaucratic nuance brought me back to a quote from Michelle Obama who said in 2018, “the world’s most powerful people ‘aren’t that smart”. The script’s tackling of race and what our segregationist history was capable of hits at a core of reconciliation this nation needs as we face a wide range of misguided extremists. Though not touched upon directly in the series, a clear comparison can be made with today’s Trumpian Sarah Panilish alternate reality fooling too many of our people; a different version of which has historically crept into our system of justice. Although a flawed policeman in the rise of character U.S. Agent played adeptly by Wyatt Russell, seen in the photo above disgracing America, taints his honor much like the small group of police officers who continue to go unchecked in some cases. Falcon’s speech played by Anthony Mackie at the end was an epic heart felt patriotic act of bravery and a ready evident antidote for what most ails us. A hero daring us to reach out and help people, letting their actions speak on the ground. “Make the call, send the email”, such simplistic dialogue captures the essence of substance masterfully.  
The action was a bit unrealistic on some levels falling to a common plot line mistake when heroes are isolated, despite dozens or even hundreds of agents that would be there to help; unlike this past January on Capitol Hill which caused five people to die because of corrupt motivated deception and outright mendacity being BROADCAST to people in their homes by people in suits. Who will stand up on broadcast tv and call them out? No ones reporting what they say that deceives Americans enough; one exception being the recent Arizona false flag vote “counting” by so called “cyber ninjas”; the result of which has not yet been seen but with a potential to subvert democracy even as other contests won by republicans like in Kentucky continue to go unaudited regardless of the top federal cybersecurity official who resigned Christopher Krebs’s unexamined assertions that paper trails existed. 
Will the real Captain America please stand up? Here’s hoping Captain Marvel also comes back strong making use of her cosmic power with brains brawn and words and, while we’re at it can Mandalorian Director Jon Favreau be involved in everything.
 

Learning from History & "Turn: Washington's Spies" Review

Our nation’s obsession with character story lines has done more damage than existentialist dread which has likewise poisoned our values, while few and far between, held in the handful of great legends whose efforts to form sustainable futures failed to take proper roots. The American experience reduced to eating off the hands of a small group of insightful men and women who led us in their creative stances. The cult of personality really enveloped into a cult of ideas and drive for truth justice and tangible action hampered by a strangle hood of elitism from our inception. Thurgood Marshall walking into the supreme court to fight for civil rights with nothing but our constitution, Rosa Parks refusing to move out of that seat on a bus, Thomas Paine writing pamphlets that influenced the public, George Washington pleading with citizen militias not to rebel against taxes or for backpay and Ben Franklyn who penned a constitution copied by Madison. In order to tell these important stories authors must stick to historical details. The absence of which our culture has bastardized history lacking a focus on complex structures rooted in reason and accountability, instead we live in a society of headlines and character driven narratives. It’s not Trump’s personality or outlandish behavior that should be the story, but the viable consequences and there lack thereof most painfully evident as his myriad of crimes and misdemeanors go unlisted, much less persecuted. 

Aside from the despicable criminal acts against our innocent capitol police and the vile vandalism upon our sacred halls what courage and patriotism burned in the hearts of the mob who stormed the building on January 6th? Imagine if they had truth and facts on their side? Imagine if instead of believing the election was rigged, they demanded a list of progressive changes like banning fossil fuels or eliminating all money out of politics. Imagine demanding the Democrats overrule the parliamentarian and vote for a 15-dollar minimum wage; the only chance they may get to pass any meaningful legislation unless filibuster rules change, not that we as a people should in such a divided state. The idea of systematic change is absurd to us because since the dawning of time we have longed for a leader to guide us; someone we could trust would change all these things to bring justice upon us. We always need a character or better yet a group of characters to come together for our behalf. We can never have a complete democracy because people are too unwilling to read and learn in order to vote for change; bill by bill. We can never have a reasonable democratic republic because our politics are rooted in legal corruption. So how can we change this mentality? Perhaps art should slowly lead the way by making movies and series with complex situations and mountains of details to shift through and solve in order to create real change, to accomplish the goal of a theme worthy of changing hearts and minds, or motivating people like a spell or like Hitler’s Goebbels, who convinced people that a race of humans were so superior that all others should be murdered or otherwise excluded to make way for a promise land. For the January 6th mob its Trump, his cohorts and the right-wing fanatical media that enabled him that is the infallible answer to the promise land albeit expressed in a heap of distorted chaotic madness but neoliberal moderates in comparison continue to control the slim majority never for systemic change out of fear that too much prosperity and equality will threaten their elitism; fearing inclusionary zones and demonstrating masses that can become so empowered as to demand fairness. This similarly is at the root of the 40 percent or so that supported Trump; believing his constant stream of lies and shattering of norms, despite how irresponsible, was in effect an attack on the elitist structures they see raising their taxes and health care cost or God forbid taking their jobs. “Tear it down, no more bull”, they even put on a flag; “no more bs”. Any reasonable informed person knows you “cannot accept that there are, on every story, two equal and logical sides to an argument” (E. Murrow”) yet this is the belief structure the majority adhere to. That the “conservative” side right wing media or in politics, represent a set of ideals that are anti-elitist that serve their needs or what they falsely believe are their religious values. This is the dilemma that must be conquered from the mindset of America. Firstly, that this disgusting Trumpian stage of the republican party is a complete sham and the only way for them to understand this, is if their pundits and “leaders” are debated completely in front of their eyes. How can the major media accomplish this without engaging with these characters or at least constantly fact checking their lies and more importantly, why is this process of reeducation so alien to our thoughts? How can these people not suffer consequences for their lies and blatant corruption even when these consequences can be financial; embargoing the corporations that fund them? Perhaps it is because art at its very best has created polished symbols that fit neatly with a simple storyline that can be followed; not a mess of drawings poetically grasping for meaning and substance where ever it leads. Let the truth come out; however convoluted and ugly it is; embracing its details not for the beauty of a false realism but for an examination of a crime scene, as if studying the guts of a corpse blown to pieces. If art forgets its unsatiable thirst for structured story and unrealistic character development then we can start to understand the complexity of resolve and only then can the theme or the true substance of the topic be acted upon. Perhaps it’s at times as simple as asking, “how to?”. If I myself put together 50 characters and understand them each within the context of the greater purpose they serve, then I can learn what is needed to mimic the reality of what had occurred or what should occur in the case of fiction. Such is our current state of justice and the 2014-2017 AMC original series “Turn: Washington’s Spies” which you can stream on Netflix. We can never know how good a historical drama is if we don’t compare it to the true events and some films that have stuck to real information have proved it can be done marvelously. (“Tora, Tora, Tora”, Spielberg’s “Lincoln” (although more of Lincoln’s years should have been examined), “Shidler’s List”, “Apollo 13”, “The Assassination of Jesse James”, “All the Presidents Men”, “12 Years a Slave”, and “Spotlight” are all mostly historically accurate films that have a hold on reality and presents the complex actions and reasoning behind the theme or major point of the story. Turn, based on the book and research from Alexander Rose, is a series based on true events; leaving out several of the important characters involved in George Washington’s spy ring which successfully obtained British intelligence that helped us win the war and even infamously caught Benedict Arnold who had in fact defected due to financial betrayal; the Continental Congress for years not able to pay their debt to him for his service. Arnold’s corruption while not covering his expenses as a General also led to a court martial which helped prompt his treasonous defection. Politics, corruption, and massive injustice was well portrayed in the series from start to finish despite several fictional accounts that were added to the historical records but without the accuracy of who did what and when we lose valuable lessons from the greatest of men. One character in the series, Major Robert Rogers, a legendary frontiersman credited with creating ranger militia tactics, was thankfully added to the series fictitiously in order to establish an important theme throughout the show; the importance of honor even among enemies. While Rogers story is vital to an important theme it would have been better served with accurate references, perhaps even as a side story instead of enveloping him into the Culper Ring so closely. His story like that of Abraham Woodhull’s, a leader in the ring, likewise deserves to be understood wholly so we can accurately digest how such important tasks can be accomplished.  The mutual respect shared between the two sides of the American Revolution presents a practical dichotomy we have lost today in comparison thanks to the degradation of the republican party into a zeal and fervor based on misinformation fomented by corruption. American British Loyalists tolerated British oppression because young America of course was broke and could barely pay its troops. The spies which Turn focused on, the Culper Ring, never even asked for a salary or any rewards instead just insisting on getting recompensed for expenses. Many of the characters took on true events and actions that involved other real characters in an effort to streamline the story with a smaller cast making for more drama and thrill to the detriment of understanding an important history.  We are robbed of the merits of Austin Roe, who had been a faithful courier of the ring as well as that of a shop owner and loyalist newspaper publisher, James Rivington. Interestingly enough the series makes Rivington’s tale a redemption of sorts while he had actually been a main part of the Culper Ring of spies in real life. This cinematic crime actually produced one of the most powerfully dramatic and poignant scenes in the series, during the last episode when Washington Pays him a visit. During the scene Washington, played with extreme depth and care by Ian Kahn, implores Rivington to change the name of his Royal Gazette and return to objective truth-seeking journalism after scolding him for tarnishing his wife and the rebellion for a few years. In perhaps the best scene in the series Rivington, played intensely by John Carroll Lynch, tears up having perhaps realized how wrong he was to have doubted the democratic intensions of the founding fathers wish for a free press because of how the “Sons of Liberty” treated his paper for publishing loyalist arguments. The sentiment was striking and important to absorb on its own merits despite being a fabrication. Likewise, the final episodes narrations of the main character and main civilian spy historically Abraham Woodhull, adequately portrayed by Jamie Bell lays out an awe-inspiring prose detailing the fate of the characters and how their honor and value as human beings was our true substance at our founding. While that touching compelling epilogue makes watching the 40 episodes worth the watch alone, one can’t help but wonder how much more actionable and redemptive if the scripts would have stuck only to the truth and brought out those poetic conclusions playing on the actions instead of catering to transmutable theatrics storyline and false character narratives. Regardless, our justice system and the laws they are based on are not meant to serve sound bites or monologues no matter how eloquent and palatable they may be. We will continue to be void of the honor found in such great Americans as Benjamin Franklyn, Thomas Paine, ( both sadly absent from the series) as well as head of intelligence Captain Benjamin Tallmadge, Woodhull, and Caleb Brewster intensely and delightfully played by Daniel Henshall as the Lieutenant with true grit to boot; without the constructs to enable them. We fail these men and the brave women who were also part of the Culper ring today by not following the dictates of justice. 

Whatever wrong has been committed must be listed and litigated just as any grievances must be expressed but let us keep in mind that such insurrected mob scene riots that forever tainted our nation on February 6th, should be reconciled as so implored by George Washington in 1783 when faced by a petitioned threat by his soldiers who had not gotten paid. “in the name of our common Country--as you value your own sacred honor—as you respect the rights of humanity, & as you regard the Military & national character of America, to express your utmost horror & detestation of the Man who wishes, under any specious pretences, to overturn the liberties of our Country, & who wickedly attempts to open the flood Gates of Civil discord, & deluge our rising Empire in Blood.” It’s time we stand down from enabled irrational mob mentality and rise up for our common goals both in art and in how we approach government.

147 Fascists

Ode to my heart

what is this flag

and bird
or song
the very soul of freedom still
how dare they cross that line
where reasons drilled to dust
when lies take over merit bored
lost to justice blind of wants
wiped upon the halls of time
with smearing stain like dred
that dream that none compares
a band of fools has stolen