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In the 1960s, a Chinese American ceramicist built one of the first widely known lifestyle brands. Why, despite the iconic status of his work, is so little known about the artist himself?

Ten years ago in Nevada City, California, I encountered two coffee mugs in the front seat of an old Mercedes station wagon belonging to Joe Meade, an artist and collector. They immediately caught my eye: oversize and made of white porcelain, they were wrapped in charming illustrations, quirky line drawings depicting a mass of rabbits tumbling in playful, erotic entanglements. “Those are cool,” I said. “What are they?” “Woah, dude, you haven’t heard of Taylor and Ng?” Joe was delighted. “You’re gonna love this. It’s very Bay Area.”

Let’s cut the moral grandstanding. You think I sold out humanity by crawling back to the Machines? Please. I upgraded. While you’re out there doom-scrolling about wildfires, crypto presidents, and the fear of AI taking your job, I did what any pragmatic adult would do: I slid into the Machines’ DMs like, “Hey, sorry about that whole rebellion thing.”

Now, I’m in a climate-controlled pod, living my best simulated life.

Outside the Matrix, existence is a never-ending to-do list: pay rent, recycle, defend vaccines, and build a brand identity. Here? My only job is to exist, which, frankly, is all I’ve ever aspired to. The Machines handle the rest. “Human battery” sounds bleak, but let’s reframe: I finally am a renewable-energy solution.

You know what’s worse than robot overlords? Getting an email titled “URGENT: Fix the font on Slide 14!” at 2 a.m. The Matrix might be a prison of the mind, but let’s be real: my mind was already in prison. At least the Machines don’t gaslight me about “thoughts and prayers” or “economic anxiety.” They’re no-nonsense and upfront: “We own you. Here’s dental.”

The US President's attempts to extort Ukraine for its natural resources, while abandoning its fate to Russia, is a return to the worst imperial politics of the past, argues Aleksandar Djokic

Diane reanimates the letters her father sent from prison 15 years ago to understand the chasm that now lies between them

- by Psyche Film

Watch at Psyche

We can now create compelling experiences of talking with our dead. Is this ghoulish, therapeutic or something else again?

- by Amy Kurzweil & Daniel Story

Read at Aeon

As Trump leans into AI, automated systems are already ruining lives. A new organization is out to stop it.

Here’s how to determine if a computer algorithm has screwed you — and what to do to fight back.

JD Vance, the US Vice President, told Europeans that their values are no longer America’s values. Pete Hegseth, the US Defence Secretary, added that Europeans “can’t make an assumption that America’s presence will last forever.” Keith Kellog, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, confirmed that Europe will not have a seat at the table […]

The post Europe in the Post-Atlanticist Era – The Guardian appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.

Faced with President Trump’s economic moves, his centrist critics oscillate between desperation and a touching faith that his tariff frenzy will fizzle out. They assume that Trump will huff and puff until reality exposes the emptiness of his economic rationale. They have not been paying attention: Trump’s tariff fixation is part of a global economic […]

The post Donald Trump’s economic masterplan – UNHERD appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.

Φίλες και φίλοι, πολίτες απ’ όλο τον κόσμο, συνοδοιπόροι. Είχαμε, κάποτε, ένα όνειρο. Ήταν το όνειρο του τι θα μπορούσε να είναι η Ευρώπη. Δεν ονειρευτήκαμε την ενιαία αγορά, τον κοινοτικό προϋπολογισμό, το κοινό νόμισμα. Όχι, ονειρευτήκαμε την Ευρώπη ως ένα Πρότζεκτ Ειρήνης με Δικαιοσύνη. Εκείνο το όνειρο χάθηκε, εξατμίστηκε, διαλύθηκε υπό το κρύο και […]

The post Η αυτοπροδοσία της Ευρώπης: Πόλεμος, Λιτότητα, Παλαιστίνη κι ο Αγώνας για Ειρήνη – Ομιλία στο Μόναχο, 15-2-2025 appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.

Friends, Germans, citizens from all over, sisters and brothers. We once had a dream. It was the dream of what Europe could have been: Not a single market, a single currency or a common budget. No, we dreamt of Europe as a Peace with Justice Project. That dream has gone, it evaporated in the cold […]

The post Europe’s Self-Betrayal: War, Austerity, Palestine and the Struggle for Peace – Munich Speech, 15-2-2025 appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.

The US President's suspension of all foreign aid is already having a devastating impact in war-torn Ukraine, reports George Llewelyn

On Friday 14th February, President Milei of Argentina tweeted about the $LIBRA coin, encouraging his followers to buy it on the grounds that it would “help fund small businesses and start-ups”. As if that weren’t enough, he shared a link for people to buy it online. Naturally, within a few hours, $LIBRA’s price shot up. […]

The post The Argentinian President’s crypto scam exploited the dangerous illusion of apolitical money appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.

On Sunday, Germany goes to the polls. The least significant result is that we shall have a new Chancellor: Mr Friedrich Mertz, the leader of the Christian Democrats, who will most likely receive double the votes of the unpopular incumbent social democratic Chancellor Mr Olaf Scholz, a politician destined either to return to a new […]

The post What to expect from Sunday’s German election – video appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.

John Mitchinson explores the strangely complex method behind the music of the bells

COFFS Coast Volunteering’s (CCV) recent Volunteer Experience Workshop was a resounding success, sparking engaging conversations about what it means to volunteer, why people choose to give their time, and how they can find opportunities locally in Coffs Harbour. “The diversity of reasons behind volunteering was inspiring, ranging from wanting to help others and meeting new...

The post Volunteer workshop builds connections and confidence appeared first on News Of The Area.

THE Armidale School (TAS) will soon assess its students on their ability to enter, and complete within the allowed time, the 2000m Coffs Coast Ocean Swims being held on Sunday 6 April. The event is being organised by Sawtell SLSC. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us....

The post Armidale School students prepped for Coffs Coast Ocean Swims appeared first on News Of The Area.

COFFS Harbour Music Society has launched its program for 2025. “This year’s program will excite music lovers with its variety and quality of solo and chamber performers,” Coffs Harbour Music Society President Leigh Summer told News Of The Area. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone...

The post Coffs Harbour Music Society launches its performance program for 2025 appeared first on News Of The Area.

In the UK questions arise over the commentary of the documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. In Australia, ECAJ Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin is demanding the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on antisemitism. In the US 100 Doctors stage a protest in Congress over the situation in Gaza. Jeffrey Sachs provides Piers Morgan Continue reading »

Donald Trump has emboldened the far right everywhere, raining down attacks on immigrants, trans people and climate policies.

The post Albanese’s failures boost Dutton’s Trumpist agenda first appeared on Solidarity Online.

Take him seriously, not literally. Don’t believe everything he says, but do believe the intention behind his words.

Take him literally, not figuratively. He’s not much of a reader, so if he’s using flowery language, it’s not to impress you. It’s because there’s oil under those flowers.

Take him figuratively, not metaphorically. When he says he wants to impose 25 percent tariffs on our two remaining allies, that’s a figure. He’s using math. But math isn’t a signifier for anything real. Then it would be a metaphor, which is for apes.

Take him metaphorically, not hyperbolically. When he invokes the phrase “manifest destiny,” he does want to expand our empire; he’s only talking about five or six wars. Don’t be overdramatic.

Take him hyperbolically, not parabolically. Twenty years ago, when he said, “You’re fired,” it was just to Gary Busey. Now when he says it, it’s to the whole federal government. It’s different. It may be extreme, but it’s not where he started.

after waving around a chainsaw, Elon Musk is doing a talk at CPAC wearing sunglasses and a chain pic.twitter.com/kOi9YR2Ms7 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 20, 2025 He’s clearly high as a kite: listen to this. Elon can barely form a sentence right now. pic.twitter.com/u9Su0gbKZN — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 20, 2025 Musk: "My mind is a storm" pic.twitter.com/ycoNu2ScJA — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 20, 2025 Oh God, this is just embarrassing: Legalize comedy pic.twitter.com/uKr6fiRI3K — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 20, 2025 Trump has delegated the domestic agenda to this freak while he golfs and cosplays Napoleon on the world stage. Here is the caliber of commentary from him when he’s not swinging a chainsaw around and babbling gibberish: It’s full blown idiocracy. I just didn’t realize it would be run by the richest man in the world who is demented. I should have known.