Reading

Created
Tue, 08/10/2024 - 01:30
They will defend disinformation to your death It’s been an article of conservative faith for as long as I can recall that government ought to be run more like a business. On that topic…. A long time ago, in a high school far, far away, a decade before the breakup of Ma Bell, I read a book about corporate rip-offs. It included a tale of a private school bus service in Greensboro or High Point, NC that (IIRC) had a run of burned-out clutches in its fleet of brand new buses. Despite his repeated complaints, the owner kept getting the runaround from the maker’s regional manager who claimed that no other customers had experienced similar problems. This was a lie. The owner had contacted other fleet owners by long distance and letter (remember when this was) and had a file of receipts. Yet the regional manager insisted the breakdowns must have been caused by the service’s drivers. The money quote went something like this: “He was lying to me. I knew he was lying to me. He knew I knew he was lying to me.
Created
Tue, 08/10/2024 - 01:24
We all heterodox economists who have chosen the road ‘less traveled by’ know that this choice comes at a price. Fewer opportunities to secure ample research funding or positions at prestigious institutes or universities. Nevertheless, yours truly believes that very few of us regret our choices. One doesn’t bargain with one’s conscience. No amount of […]
Created
Tue, 08/10/2024 - 00:00
How it ought to work Thousands of people, government agencies, military, and private volunteers, responded to Hurricane Helene’s devastation in western North Carolina. Don’t let the People of the Lie tell you otherwise. The official death count here is mounting. Our county sheriff reports over 70 so far. Search and rescue teams expect to find more victims among the tangles of branches and debris left behind by the flooding. Neighbors helping neighbors Not only is the military here, but an army of volunteers. Drew Reisinger, Buncombe County Register of Deeds, turned his office into a relief center for coordinating welfare checks on thousands of people unaccounted for (mostly because of lack of cell service, thankfully). Many of those processing incoming reports worked remotely. Everyone has heard that Asheville’s drinking water system will be down for weeks, so they’re sending in cases of bottled water. And cases. And cases. And cases. Thank you. What they’re missing is you can’t flush your toilet (or bathe) with bottled water.
Created
Mon, 07/10/2024 - 23:00

Niccolo Machiavelli

When one child refuses to go to school, ignore their insolence and lavish praise on their compliant sibling. Malcolm puts on his shoes perfectly! Malcolm gets a toy from the prize jar! Once the first child succumbs and leaves on time, swiftly punish their infraction by fashioning a mini-guillotine from the bagel slicer. Decapitate their Paw Patrol toys one by one while both children watch in horror. Hang the severed heads around the house. Wave the bagel slicer threateningly every morning.

Friedrich Nietzsche

There are no higher powers, least of all yours, and your parenting has no purpose. Your child will become an adult regardless of this one morning. So, who cares if you’re late? Rejoice in the chaos of absent expectations.

Created
Mon, 07/10/2024 - 22:17
One of the most interesting developments in the little world of political theory / philosophy in recent years has been the mass resignation of the editorial teams of both Philosophy & Public Affairs, and Journal of Political Philosophy. Public statements from both groups suggested they were disturbed by their existing publishers’ injunctions to publish in […]
Created
Mon, 07/10/2024 - 22:00
October 7, 2024—Today, we can expect a parade of treacly sycophantism, brazen sociopathy, and humanist admonishment. They write for their mark, the reader they assume…
Created
Mon, 07/10/2024 - 16:00

ΑΝΟΙΚΤΗ ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΕΘΝΟΥΣ ΠΟΙΝΙΚΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟΥ 7η Οκτωβρίου 2024 Αξιότιμοι δικαστές του Διεθνούς Ποινικού Δικαστηρίου, Όταν τον Ιανουάριο μάθαμε ότι το Δικαστήριό σας αποφάσισε να εξετάσει τις καταγγελίες για όσα συμβαίνουν στην περιοχή Ισραήλ-Παλαιστίνης, αναθαρρήσαμε. Η ανθρωπότητα χρειάζεται ένα Διεθνές Ποινικό Δικαστήριο που να διασφαλίζει το Διεθνές Δίκαιο και να είναι έτοιμο […]

The post Ανοιχτή επιστολή των Γιάνη Βαρουφάκη & Μπράιαν Ίνο προς τους δικαστές του ΔΠΔ με αφορμή την επέτειο της 7/10: Κινητοποιηθείτε τώρα, αλλιώς το Διεθνές Δίκαιο «τελειώνει» appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.

Created
Mon, 07/10/2024 - 16:00

OPEN LETTER TO THE JUDGES OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT 7th October 2024 Dear Judges of the International Criminal Court, When we heard in January that the Court on which you sit had decided to hear the case concerning the situation in Israel-Palestine, we were encouraged. Humanity needs an International Criminal Court that upholds the […]

The post Brian Eno’s & Yanis Varoufakis’ Open Letter to the Judges of the ICC, on the anniversary of 7th October: Act now or International Law withers forever appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.

Created
Mon, 07/10/2024 - 11:39
We start the week reminded about Gough Whitlam standing up against Israel, protests across Australia and around the world seek ceasefire, Richard Marles on the ABC, A statement from the Jewish Council of Australia, and IDF soldiers reveal their own identities when they post their crimes on social media. Spanish actor Javier Bardem has spoken Continue reading »