Been a student. Been a clerk. Been a salesperson. Been a manager. Been a teacher. Been an expatriate. Am a husband, father, and chronicle.
From my review:
"This is one of those rare books that changes what I think a book can be.
“A beautiful meditation on the human condition as coupled to the — so-called — “Overwatch Effect.” It took me a while to catch the rhythm of the book, but once I was in, I was in.”
I read it just after it won the Booker Prize. But, I didnt know it had won the Booker Prize when I read it.
Someone handed me Gravity’s Rainbow after finding out I’d read Blood Meridian. He said the words, “only you” after handing me the book as he was leaving the country.
I tried. Fuck me I goddam tried.
That really is too bad. Dukat is an excellent antagonist.
Character: Frank Underwood
Actor: Kevin Spacey
He really was just playing himself. Power is the only language they speak.
Character: Wonder Woman
Actor: Gal Godot
A cold, invulnerable, classic beauty whose persona screams “I’m better than everyone.” Not sure whether I’m talking about Diana Prince or Gal Godot.
Finally…
As much as Rogan annoys me, I encountered his character on NewsRadio before I encountered him on the podcast. He was supposed to be a blunt object to contrast the others’ as radio personalities, businesspeople, and reporters.
A question, then. To whom were enslaved persons being sold? Within Africa, it was expensive in terms of time and resources. No plantations, no national- or international-scale socioeconomic reinforcing the institution.
The biggest slave traders were from Africa
That, my friend, was not on an industrial scale until the Europeans created a transnational market for it.
Yes, slavery is a part of many histories. Prisoners of conflicts, poverty, inter-family disputes, etc. led to people being enslaved. It was also normal, to the point of socially reinforced, to free slaves. This was known as manumission.
The transatlantic trafficking in humans, and the perpetual enslavement of their descendents was on a scale unlike anything before. They were the “biggest” slave traders only if/when you neglect all the descendents born into bondage. That is a virtually unique stain on human history.
Further, in virtually every society on earth, it was not “race-based” bondage. It was debt-bondage or honour-bondage as an alternative to being killed in battle. There was a path to freedom, and a comparatively short one compared to institutionalized slavery.
This is monstrous, but the first Europeans going to Western Africa to enslave people. It must have been clumsy, awkward, brutal, violent, and coercive. In short, one of humanity’s most callous, idiotic moves.
If I could interact (using modern tech), I’d sink every one of those ships with mines and drones. I’d monitor boats from space. I’d send a few of the slavers back knowing — and telling — only that enslavement will destroy them and Africa is not theirs to exploit.
The rest who survive would be taken care of, taught the strengths of diversity, other cultures, and West African ways of living. They would be the welcome wagon for any Europeans to return. Their tasks: stave off invasion, disrupt slaving activity, open negotiations with Europe. Undo the scourge of that institution and the attendant supremacy that followed.
Then, I’d set the same protections for the Americas. Unfortunately, Asia is accessible over land and contact predates my selected moment.
IDGAF if — as consequence — it sets human development back by 400 years of labour, resource exploitation, and “progress”. It’s worth it.
If you really want some solid Graeber, who tag-teamed with archaeologist David Wengrow, read The Dawn of Everything.
The cake is a lie and hierarchy is horseshit. Humans have left exploitative social structures (read: empires, Capitalism) and reorganized society before and we can do it again. There is physical evidence for thousands of years.
I’m just impressed that Im not the only one who’s seen this movie. I own one of the (probably) few remaining DVDs.
Early in YouTubeland (circa 2008-2010) there was a user called AntiConsumer. Content was all taken down and the profile disappeared.
I’d love to know where to find some of that material now. There were clips from documentaries, ads, lectures and more. Might have seen my first bits of Michael Parenti there. Im pretty sure that my firat exposure to Wesley Clark’s “7 countries in 5 years” talk was from there.
Indian food is right up there in my food heaven with Thai, Chinese, Korean, Mediterranean (Turkish, Lebanese, Greek) and Jamaican breakfasts, beef patties, roti, and jerk everything.
Why do you suppose humans aren’t well equipped to deal with negative emotions? Also, why do you suppose people have so many more negative emotions than we did in the past?
I’m nearing the half century mark. I work in education. I used to work in sales and retail. I’ve traveled to most corners of the planet. I read widely. I can attest, humans aren’t well equipped to deal with negative emotions and people have so many more negative emotions than we did in the past. This is the Internet.
Also, I’m not shitting on therapy. Therapy is keeping the wheels on this bus I’m riding. That said, therapy often fails at addressing underlying causes precisely because the dreck we exist in — and are forced to wade through — drives us back to therapy.
“It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted in a profoundly sick society.” ~ attributed to Jiddu Krishnamurti
Art nouveau, Dark deco, solarpunk, minimalism, Japanese wabi-sabi.
I got this book at prerelease. Love it and the YouTube videos that started it.
Dark mode should be the default on phones, websites, programs, apps, and all electronics.
My AMOLED screen draws less power this way.
I never thought Saturday morning cartoons would be horrible.
They are, now, horrible. That’s not just my “old” talking. With reboots, similarities, and call-backs, there’s not really anything that is groundbreaking. Safe-bet, focus-grouped, merchandisable intellectual properties.
At least, all the ones I’ve stumbled upon.
Ads stuffed into everything.
Native advertising in my Reddit feed before I quit Reddit.
Unskippable ads in YouTube. Remedied only by Firefox and uBlock.
The sheer quantity of ads on Amazon Prime and CBC Gem keep me from those streaming platforms. Others will go that way soon enough.
The last straw were the ads in the launcher I used to use for Android. NovaLauncher got dropped in a hurry.
I’m worried about ever buying a car that will hold me as a captive audience to be advertised at. Ads on screens in bathrooms, elevators, and at gas pumps all irk me.
Every time I think we’ve hit rock bottom in this nightmare… some fresh shard of hell emerges.
I only recommend to follow your interests. Reading the blurbs will ruin nothing. I saw the Power of Nighmares, then found out about Century of the Self. HyperNormalisation came out soon after I finished those. I have so many more to see.
This was nearing the end of my “predominantly documentaries” phase of viewing films. I was geographically limited in being able to access them as freely.
Now, I’m piling a lot of information into my head from books. My focus is on Canada’s journey toward Reconciliation, the crime of genocide, and the power structures that facilitate crimes against humanity.
Like, I know I should just read Hannah Arendt, but I havent gotten to her yet.
I got 200 pages into Gödel Escher Bach, meaning to pick it up again. And yet, still, it sits on my shelf daring me to read it.
It’s been 11 years.