by cameron | Nov 23, 2011 | Brisbane, climate change, Iran, media 2.0
According to Neiman Journalism Lab:
“Dan Schultz, a graduate student at the MIT Media Lab (and newly named Knight-Mozilla fellow for 2012), is devoting his thesis to automatic bullshit detection. Schultz is building what he calls truth goggles — not actual magical eyewear, alas, but software that flags suspicious claims in news articles and helps readers determine their truthiness. It’s possible because of a novel arrangement: Schultz struck a deal with fact-checker PolitiFact for access to its private APIs.”
(via Bull beware: Truth goggles sniff out suspicious sentences in news » Nieman Journalism Lab.)
It’s a fascinating idea. Imagine browsers having a plug-in that is able to fact check all sorts of data using sources such as Wikipedia. It could have a huge impact on the future of news media. Imagine reading an article on, say, climate change in The Australian, and this “truth goggles” plug-in pointing out all of the inconsistencies in their reporting.
Or imagine reading Hilary Clinton ramping up the case for invading Iran because they are weaponising uranium, but have “truth goggles” pointing out that there is no evidence to support this claim.
Of course, this process doesn’t *need* to be automated with an algorithm. Chrome extensions like “Glass” allow people to comment on websites. For example, see this screenshot of a comment I left using Glass on a story in the Brisbane Times today about News Ltd corruption allegations from former QLD senator Bill O’Chee.
Could we all use tools like Glass to subvert the ability of the mainstream media and certain blogs to spin bullshit to their readers? Of course there is always the comments section of most sites these days, but perhaps they tend to get moderated and news sites promote comments by their faithful believers. Would Glass-like tools also get corrupted by flame wars? How do we keep them clean and useful? User moderation ala Wikipedia?
by cameron | Oct 16, 2011 | Brisbane, Culture Jamming
It looks like the moderators at Wikipedia aren’t sure whether or not the #Occupy protests are significant enough to allow into its hallowed halls.
I would imagine that if the protests are getting mainstream media coverage (as even the smallish Brisbane protest received yesterday) then it would be significant enough for Wikipedia.
by cameron | Jul 1, 2011 | Brisbane, Podcast
I first met Kieran Salsone a few years ago at a BTUB not long after I moved to Brisbane. I’d already known him via his Twitter handle websinthe. I knew from the comic he used to write that he had a sharp political mind. But it wasn’t until I caught up with him for a cigar a few months ago that I discovered that he also lead a polyamorous love life. As he, his fiancé Naomi and his girlfriend Rachelle all came out on Facebook this week, I thought it would be a great time to get him onto the show for a chat about polyamory. Has marriage had its day?
by cameron | Jun 22, 2011 | Brisbane, Uncategorized
Jason ordered a couple of iPad2s for us several weeks ago which haven’t arrived yet. Here’s the shipping notification we just received from Apple.
- May 26th – Picked up from Shenzhen
- May 27th – Arrived Singapore
- May 29th – Arrived Frankfurt
- June 3rd – Delivered in Good condition, Istanbul
- June 9th – Picked up from Istanbul
- June 18th – Arriived Shenzhen
- June 20th – Arrived Hong Kong
- June 21st – Awaiting departure to Brisbane
- 21 Jun 2011 06:22:35 Hong Kong Shipment Received At Transit Point.
- 21 Jun 2011 09:11:33 Hong Kong Shipment In Transit.
- 21 Jun 2011 11:21:48 Hong Kong Shipment Received At Transit Point.
- 21 Jun 2011 17:03:56 Hong Kong Shipment In Transit.
- 21 Jun 2011 21:00:00 Hong Kong Shipment Lost. Recovery Action Underway.
Looks like Apple’s shipping system needs some work.
by cameron | Feb 23, 2011 | Brisbane, CIA, geopolitics, Podcast, Wikileaks
My guest today is Australian author, journalist, blogger and Middle East specialist, Antony Loewenstein.
Links for today’s show:
“What has Wikileaks ever taught us?”
American Being Held for Shootings in Pakistan Worked as Blackwater CIA Contractor
Britain suddenly discovers that democracy is a jolly good idea?
Robert Fisk on Libya
Hamas calls US veto on anti-settlement vote ‘immoral’
This podcast is sponsored by Suave Outdoor Living, contact them for Brisbane Pergolas