Political leaders don’t just need confidence — they need competence, and America’s problem right now is that the system can’t distinguish between the two. @Daojoan writes for her Index newsletter about the need for discernment. We need institutions, parties and leaders that know how to measure actual competence, not just performance,” she writes. “We need politicians who are humble enough to say, ‘I don't know,’ and voters who don't mistake that for weakness. And we need journalists who can tell the difference between a compelling narrative and a grift.”

https://www.theindex.media/americas-next-top-conman/

#USPolitics #Politics #TrumpAdministration #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Speaking of confidence … is that the only thing AI has going for it? It’s not funny – that’s for sure. For @aftermath.site, Riley Macleod writes about how you can ask Google’s AI search to define any made-up idiom, and it will go ahead and make something up. Some that people have tried include, “you can’t lick a badger twice,” “don’t touch my mother’s goats” and “two cars short of a Winnebago.” It’s very silly, but, says Macleod, that doesn’t mean we should laugh at it.

#Technology #Tech #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Humor #Jokes #Language #Wordplay #Idioms #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Since 2017, it’s been a requirement of Texas law that an outside authority investigate all jail deaths. That’s not happening in Tarrant County, where at least 70 people have died in jail custody since the current sheriff, Bill Waybourn, took office eight years ago. Waybourn — a Republican — was elected for a third term in November, but @bolts looks at how conservatives are starting to ask questions after gun rights activist Mason Yancy died in custody last December. “Some lawmakers’ answer to preventable deaths in county jails looks like a cover up: limit independent investigations, limit public information, limit oversight, limit liability,” Krishnaveni Gundu, co-founder and executive director of the Texas Jail Project, told Bolts.

https://boltsmag.org/texas-jail-death-investigations/

#Texas #Law #Crime #USLaw #USPrisonSystem #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Time for some optimism and connection from the Lone Star State. @TexasObserver shares a poem from Catherine Lu, “What Connects Us.” Here’s a section:

Is our love the horizon? A line where the sky
appears to meet the earth’s surface—
which means if you are the earth, then I am the sky—
which means if you are this house,
then I am the house behind this house,

https://www.texasobserver.org/what-connects-us/

#Poem #Poetry #Culture #Arts #Lifestyle #Texas #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

“Environmentalists have long faced harassment, imprisonment and other forms of retribution in some parts of the world,” writes Sharon Lerner for @ProPublica. “The U.S. has largely been an exception, a place where people and organizations can freely and safely pursue efforts to protect human health and nature — sometimes working hand in hand with the government.” All that’s changed. Lerner spoke to Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice, about the escalating hostility environmentalists face, and what she thinks is behind the Trump administration’s targeting of groups who do environmental work.

https://www.propublica.org/article/earthjustice-abigail-dillen-q-a

#Environment #Environmentalism #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #TrumpAdministration #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

The modern South Africa rose from what @thecontinent’s Simon Allison describes as “the bitter ashes of history’s most sophisticated white supremacist state.” It’s been largely well-regarded ever since. Now, the Trump administration and adviser, billionaire Elon Musk, are trying to change the narrative, with the latter spreading baseless conspiracy theories about “white genocide” in the country of his birth. What is President Cyril Ramaphosa supposed to do? How can any country respond if a former friend becomes hostile? “South Africa’s ruling party – Africa’s oldest political party – has already defeated one white supremacist state. Can it stand firm against another one?” writes Allison.

https://continent.substack.com/p/navigating-the-new-world-order

#Africa #SouthAfrica #ElonMusk #TrumpAdministration #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Canada’s election takes place on Monday April 28. @thetyee’s Jen St. Denis compares the platforms of the three major parties (the Conservatives, Liberals and NDP) on issues such as housing, the economy, health, and that small matter of threats from the downstairs neighbo(u)rs.

https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/04/24/Comparing-Party-Platforms/

#Canada #CanPoli #MarkCarney #JagmeetSingh #PierrePoilievre #CdnElxn2025 #CanadianElection #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

If you want to hit a billionaire where it hurts, aim for the money. @damemagazine’s Nicole Froio writes about boycotts — their history, why they’re important, and how to make them effective.

https://www.damemagazine.com/2025/04/24/how-do-boycotts-work/

#Boycotts #Tesla #ElonMusk #Consumers #Amazon #Target #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

All over the world, wild plants are losing ground, and all over the world, scientists are trying to preserve them for future generations in seed banks. @KnowableMag looks at the tricky art of keeping seeds in deep sleep, and waking them up when the moment’s right.

https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2025/seed-banking-to-preserve-rare-plants

#Conservation #SeedBanking #Science #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a fine diplomatic line to walk. In January, his forces captured two North Korean soldiers who were fighting for Russia. He’s in discussions with Russia to exchange the prisoners for two Ukrainian captives. But @timkmak’s Counteroffensive reports that this may lose him the support of South Korea, an important ally since Ukraine was invaded.

https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/s-koreas-surprising-sympathy-for

#Ukraine #Korea #SouthKorea #NorthKorea #Zelenskyy #RussiaUkraine #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Security engineer @alexhaydock acquired a Wii at the #EMF2024 Swap Shop. He intended to use it to emulate games, but when he realized that it could be used to host a website, he decided to try that instead. @404mediaco’s Samantha Cole spoke to him about how well it’s working, and what he’s planning to do with it (#EMF2026, here he comes). Check out the second link to find out how our friends at 404 are doing, and what they’re cooking up next.

https://www.404media.co/this-website-is-running-on-a-wii/

https://www.404media.co/how-404-media-is-navigating-economic-headwinds/

#Technology #Tech #Web #OperatingSystems #Wii #Nintendo #Emulation #Modding #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Indonesia in Southeast Asia suffers from major food insecurity. @thexylom looks at the rise in community-led urban farms that improve quality of life for gardeners, and are a small step towards food sovereignty for the country.

https://www.thexylom.com/post/jakarta-s-urban-farms-come-to-the-rescue-of-food-insecure-residents

#Farming #UrbanFarming #Nature #Science #Indonesia #Jakarta #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Sad times for Fyre Festival 2 ticketholders (any fediverse folk admitting to having splashed out?) as its founder Billy McFarland has announced the cancelation of the event. But some lucky person will get to buy the brand, which is now for sale. When our @CultureDesk posted about this, they (and commenters) pooh-poohed the idea of anyone wanting to invest in Fyre Festival. But we have an idea: How about @theonion.com purchases the name, makes merch, and donates the money to good causes. We’d certainly pay for a “I went to the Fyre Festival 2, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt” tee.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/fyre-festival-2-cancelled-postponement-billy-mcfarland-b2738450.html

#FyreFestival #BillyMcFarland #NotTheOnion #Music #Entertainment #Festivals #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

And last of all, after another stressful week, a helpful reminder from @TheConversationUS about the benefits of gratitude, why it’s harder to practice in difficult times, and why we should still persevere. “The negative doesn’t need help gaining attention, but the positive might,” writes Monica Y. Bartlett, Professor of Psychology at Gonzaga University.

https://theconversation.com/gratitude-comes-with-benefits-a-social-psychologist-explains-how-to-practice-it-when-times-are-stressful-250882

#Psychology #Gratitude #Positivity #Optimism #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday