Notices by Aram Sinnreich (aram@aoir.social)

The psychology of MAGA (and all bullies and creeps) in a nutshell:

They're scared of everything and they want you to be scared too so they don't feel so bad about being so scared.

They're jealous of your joy and generosity and optimism. Hold onto those feelings, and share them whenever possible.

Bravo American Bar Association 👏👏👏

https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/02/aba-supports-the-rule-of-law/

The US gov is asking for public feedback abt its new #AI strategy, presumably replacing Biden's AI Bill of Rights.

They want to remove "unnecessarily burdensome requirements," presumably like regulation, accuracy, and accountability. Now's the time to speak up.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/06/2025-02305/request-for-information-on-the-development-of-an-artificial-intelligence-ai-action-plan

That email from Hulu that you probably deleted says they'll be serving ads to their "ad free" subscription customers.

People keep saying stuff to me like "it's gonna be a long four years"

My dude

Do you really not understand what's going on here?

An autism diagnosis doesn't excuse you from being a Nazi, and it's insulting to autistic people to suggest it does.

Finally! Bookshop.org now sells ebooks.

You can buy a digital copy of "The Secret Life of Data" without fattening the pockets of data billionaires.

Get it here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-secret-life-of-data-navigating-hype-and-uncertainty-in-the-age-of-algorithmic-surveillance-aram-sinnreich/20412106?ean=9780262377812&digital=t

What's a good online general retailer that hasn't donated $ to Nazis or reneged on their DEI promises?

@janneke great book, great series. Is there a theatrical adaptation?

I just saw a teen theatre production of Hadestown (my kid was Hermes) and I am here to tell you

✅ Theater will save us all
✅ Music is medicine
✅ The kids are alright

What the hellish fuck is happening at Instagram

This @WIRED interview with @marklemley is a great short read for folks interested in #copyright, #fairuse, #GAI, #AI, and the hideousness of the fascist turn in #bigtech.

https://www.wired.com/story/lawmaker-meta-copyright-cases/

Who's got a good suggestion for conferences focused on data + policy? #academicchatter

This is exactly the kind of technological resistance that @jesse and I highlighted in our book "The Secret Life of Data."

https://www.404media.co/developer-creates-infinite-maze-to-trap-ai-crawlers-in/

Can I just tell you all for a moment how much I fucking hate predictive text. It's like that annoying guy at the party who keeps trying to finish your sentences for you. Except you can't walk away and get another drink (at least not on cloud-based MS Word).

Maybe entrusting a foundational pillar of democracy to a bunch of private equity firms, billionaires, and multinational vertically integrated megacorporations was a bad idea I dunno https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/22/cnn-to-lay-off-hundreds-of-employees-post-inauguration.html

At this point, it's appropriate to treat people and institutions that still use Twitter as Nazi collaborators.

Make it part of your basic background check before you hire someone, date someone, trust your kids with someone, or shop for goods and services.

Good gods, my teenage pantheon is going down in flames. #JulesFeiffer thank you for teaching me that black lines on a page could dance and sing. Thank you for elevating the Village Voice from fishwrap to fine art gallery. Thank you for being a proud feminist and lover of humanity. https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/01/21/jules-feiffer-cartoonist-humorist-pulitzer-dead/

No news or socials today

⚡️ https://americansongwriter.com/scrapped-david-bowie-tapes-from-1974-sigma-sessions-have-been-discovered/