As all old comrades know, the political mantra around here is, “Remember, kids, when you’re smashing the State, keep a smile on your lips and a song in your heart.”
So, today’s Hero of the Revolution medal goes to whoever hacked a few Seattle crosswalk signals to play a deepfake of Jeff Bezos’ voice urging caution … not when crossing the street, but when taxing the rich.
Instead of the little robotic voice that tells you to wait until it’s safe to cross, at least five intersections in Seattle last week played something like this: “Hi, I’m Jeff Bezos. This crosswalk is sponsored by Amazon Prime with an important message. Please don’t tax the rich, otherwise all the other billionaires will move to Florida, too.”
The Seattle recordings ended with a song by comedian Bo Burnham.
Too bad there isn’t a video component to these easily-hacked signals. Someone could add a clip from Monty Python’s sketch “The Ministry of Silly Walks,” with deepfakes of Bezos, Musk, Zuckerberg, et al., screeching about how they’ll all goosestep off to Epstein’s Island, submarine bunkers, or Mars if they’re not left unmolested to use all us little people as household help and/or fuck-puppets.
Call it “The Ministry of Silly Shits.”
Mad Blog Media 
That’s genuinely funny.
Those intersections are just a few blocks from Andy and Liz’s apartment.
Is Andy still riding a bike?
Yes he is. Didn’t get many miles in during the wet winter but is now making up for it. He reads Patrick’s work but doesn’t comment. His Trek got recalled for a total disc brake replacement, so it is in the shop this week.
That’s a rough climate for cyclists. Makes ’em fierce, though. I covered cyclocross nats up there a couple of times and them peoples was tougher’n whang leather.
You can’t make this shit up. Or the shit about selling out an ally to the Rooskies, either.
Videos with all the recordings are on YouTube. There are some with Musk too. All deep-fakes, but hey, who cares since we’ll take good humor and entertainment from anywhere we can get it these days since there’s none of that coming out of D.C.
Oh, and if you want the Silly Walk crosswalk sign, then I have a personal photo of that, if this URL can show up here, and if it is allowed.
https://www.davidwattsphotography.com/Vacation/Day-Trips/i-9hFfFpF/A
Now that’s cool. Well done, sir.
Nice!
There it is: Laugh where, when, and while you can, sez I. Look at all those snarling mugs in the news and laugh at ’em. They hate that shit.
Nice pix! I grew up in Illinois.
Well, I have a new Gibson that needs a strap button installed and some breaking in. So, a little digital downtime is required to prepare for the next jam session on Saturday.