Washington Post: "Facebook and YouTube’s vaccine misinformation problem is simpler than it seems"

"On Friday, President Biden said Facebook is “killing people” by spreading misinformation about the coronavirus vaccines. On Monday, he changed his tune. “Facebook isn’t killing people,” he amended, instead blaming a handful of disinformation merchants who use the platform.

Whether Facebook is or isn’t killing people depends on your definitions. What’s clear, regardless, is that Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms have played a major role in the anti-vaccine movement. And they continue to do so, despite some sincere efforts by the companies to combat the trend.

...

So now you have two media realms: a traditional media realm in which information must be both true and interesting to reach an audience, and a social media realm in which it must only be interesting. Guess which one is bound to become a magnet for conspiracy theorists, hoaxsters, propagandists, disinformation operatives, grifters and peddlers of false cures?"

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/07/21/facebook-youtube-vaccine-misinfo/

Q&A on Franklin Matters - July 22 at 1:30 PM

Get your Franklin questions answered on Thursday, July 22 at 1:30 PM. 

This is a virtual event coordinated with the Senior Center = "Franklin Matters Q&A with Steve Sherlock"

email adoggett@franklinma.gov to attend

Q&A on Franklin Matters - July 22 at 1:30 PM

 

Budget and wind energy top what's happening in Franklin and Medway for July

View this email in your browser Governor signs budget Governor Baker signed the $48.07 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) that was passed unanimously by the Legislature earlier this month. This budget maintains fiscal responsibility, does not cut services, and makes targeted investments to address emerging needs, safeguard the health and wellness of the most vulnerable populations and ensure residents will benefit equitably as the state recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn More FY22 budget includes local aid for Franklin and Medway Revolution 250 The FY22 budget included language from Rep. Roy's bill establishing the 250th American Revolution Anniversary Commission. You can find the exact language by clicking here. This commission will allow Massachusetts to adequately prepare for the anniversary and to compete for national opportunities and decisions such as bringing the Tall Ships to Boston in 2026 or the World Cup to Foxborough in 2026. Massachusetts could also be eligible for federal grants that will provide lasting economic, cultural and historical benefit to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The letter to the right is from the Mass Historical Society thanking Rep. Roy for his work on the legislation. Learn More Copyright (C) 2021 State Rep Jeff Roy. All rights reserved. State Rep Jeff Roy State House Room 43 Boston, MA 02133 The newsletter was shortened for publication here, for the full set of contents please visit https://mailchi.mp/387b8814f876/march-2021-newsletter-5131934?e=6ead984465

Invisible Stories - #8 - "Tending to the Wounds of Homelessness During the Coronavirus Pandemic"

"We all agree. Wounds must be healed"

Mark Horvath (@hardlynormal) tweeted on Sun, Jul 11, 2021:

Invisible Stories is a mini-doc series that goes beyond the rhetoric, statistics, political debates, and limitations of social services to examine poverty in America via a medium that audiences of all ages understand and can't ignore. 

Link to the 8th of the series: https://youtu.be/SmQhqFxiBWU

For more about Wound Walk OC  = https://woundwalk.org/

Link to the series: https://t.co/Y0NRNIujar 

Shared from Twitter:    https://twitter.com/hardlynormal/status/1414284287034155020

Note: I met Mark at a social media conference many years ago and have been following his work. This series is very well done. Yes, the series is set in LA but homelessness is an issue all around us whether visible or not. 

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival - Saturday, Jul 31, 2021

One day fest - in person or online

Falcon Ridge Folk Fest Sat, Jul 31 View this email in your browser The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival this year is a one day event either in person or online.  Please visit https://falconridgefolk.com/ for tickets and information. Many Circle of Friends favorites will be performing. Please see below. The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society.  Please visit http://www.circlefolk.org/  for more information.

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

Now Announcing: The Gathering Makeover Series!

How do we gather people now?

You're invited to The Gathering Makeover I'm thrilled to announce The Gathering Makeover, a free four-part video series to re-imagine how we spend our collective time as we ease back into our communities. After 16 months of doing things very differently, many of us are now wondering how to bring people together and show up to gatherings again.  As schools re-open, administrations are asking: Who do we bring back first? How do we take care of our teachers? What's the purpose of a school? As offices debate bringing staff back in person, they're asking: What is the core of our work? Who needs to be part of what? What and who benefits from in-person connection? How do we hybrid gather well? As we get invited to parties and picnics and potlucks again, we get to ask ourselves: Who are my people? How open am I to the new? How do I want to spend my time?  We're living through an extraordinary moment and have the rare opportunity to actually pause and makeover how we come together and spend our time.  So, how do we make the most of this moment? Let's navigate this together. The Gathering Makeover will give you the permission, inspiration, and tools to rethink one crucial gathering that matters to you and your people as we re-emerge—from parties to classrooms to boardrooms. You'll start to explore what you'd like to be doing rather than what you've always done. Starting July 28 at 3pm EST, I'll host a live workshop every Wednesday at the same time four weeks in a row. Joined by a special guest, I'll address some of the new gathering pressures we're navigating and creative ways to think about them. Each workshop is part conversation, part coaching, and part Q&A. Learn More and Reserve Your Spot RSVP by clicking the button above so we know to expect you! You'll receive a personal log-in to access the livestreams and their recordings. We'll also share additional resources, announcements, and reminders related to The Gathering Makeover. Hope to see you there,  Priya

Drawing Democracy: "communities of interest"

Drawing Democracy (@DrawingDemMA) tweeted on Tue, Jul 20, 2021:

Throughout the redistricting process, we hear a lot about identifying "communities of interest," but what does that actually mean? We break it down for you here ⤵️ #Redistricting101 #FairMapsMA https://t.co/cuC3qwEqWs

(https://twitter.com/DrawingDemMA/status/1417562703640637440?s=03)

Drawing Democracy: "communities of interest"