The Buzz 12.05.24

FREE SPEECH

The all-important algorithms that determine what you see and when you see it on social media is largely kept under wraps and constantly being tweaked by the tech companies that control them. A new study suggests that X may have modified its algorithm to boost posts by its owner Elon Musk around the time he endorsed Donald Trump for president in July. According to the study by Queensland University of Technology, Musk’s posts received 138-percent more views and 238-percent more “retweets” since July 13, the day he posted his support for Trump. Other conservative-leaning accounts on X saw boosts in engagement, but Musk’s numbers “outpaced the general engagement trends observed across the platform,” the report found. The authors of the report noted, however, that since X ended free access to its data in 2023, the report was limited by the “relatively small amount of data” it could access. The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post also recently noted potential right-wing bias on the platform since the richest man in the world purchased it.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“One day I want barbecue, one day I want New Orleans.” - Valentina Rapisarda of Bon Ton L’Roy’s Lighthouse Smokehouse, speaking about the Monterey spot’s varied offerings (see story, Eat & Drink section)

GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK

GOOD:

Every evening the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program, or I-HELP, transports people who need a safe place to sleep for the night from pick-up points in Monterey to participating churches around the Peninsula, helping 150 to 175 people each year. Their two buses have seen better days – each has more than 370,000 miles on the odometer. Recently the door flew off of one of the buses and the I-HELP board knew they had to replace it, says I-HELP Board Chair Tom Chapman. They found a used passenger van from a Salinas couple for $12,000. One week later another nonprofit, Interfaith Outreach of Carmel, offered to cover the cost of the van and its branding. The group’s members are excited for the “new” van, but still need to replace the other bus. It’s their Big Idea in this year’s Monterey County Gives!

GREAT:

Good news for Salinas residents and soccer lovers in Monterey County: The Salinas Regional Sports Authority is celebrating the completion of Phase 2A at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. In this phase, unused land was transformed into soccer fields and recreational areas, including a new entrance/exit on Constitution Boulevard. “Our focus is on creating spaces that enhance the well-being of our community,” said Jonathan De Anda, SRSA’s general manager. The SRSC is also launching the She Kicks Classic Soccer Tournament in partnership with North Salinas High School. “This tournament is a celebration of our community’s future,” said Ana Gutierrez, tournament director. “It’s about showcasing the incredible talent of our young women while strengthening connections through competition.” The celebration and kickoff game is on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10am.