readingtrotskyisfunandfree

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Hot take:

All of media- whether we’re talking about streamers, movies, youtube, tv, music, books- feels like its in a transitory period right now. Movies- with a couple of notable exceptions- are not as good as they were 10 years ago. Same with books. Every video on youtube feels the same. And twitch streamers are often not entertaining, because watching someone sit in front of a screen can only be diverting for so long. 

And I think the reason for this is because all of media is struggling to adapt to the new world we’re in, the world of on-demand, infinite entertainment. For instance, streaming has a great deal of potential, but even among the most popular streamers, watching them can get boring. I think it would be a lot more interesting to watch streamers if the entertainment they provided was closer to reality TV and radio shows- ie, more structured and collaborative- but they aren’t really trying that because people aren’t really sure what the most entertaining things are in the new format, and streamers are locked into contracts which discourage that (popular streamers, for instance, have contracts that make them stream a certain number of hours each month)

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The daily routine of most adults is so heavy and artificial that we are closed off to much of the world. We have to do this in order to get our work done. I think one purpose of art is to get us out of those routines. When we hear music or poetry or stories, the world opens up again. We’re drawn in — or out — and the windows of our perception are cleansed.

Ursula K. Le Guin, Talking on the Water: Conversations about Nature and Creativity (Trinity University Press, October 11, 2016) (via Alive on All Channels)

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Imma keep it real with you, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,

This will not improve...

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much to think about

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List of what I call “tunnel experiences” that I’ve had:

-Watching the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey

-Getting lost on the Paris metro as a teenager, after spending 48 hours not sleeping on the plane from NZ to France

-Reading Paradise Lost

-Reading Capital: Volume One

-Walking though a forest while coming down off ecstasy

-Losing my virginity and getting my first kiss on the same night, with my best friend

-Doing any third-year final English exam

-Almost getting side-swiped by a Cessna, while in another Cessna, over a fjord

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I’m calling it now, Mick Lynch is going to go to the government with a compromise deal that doesn’t address any of the workers’ core demands, and when all this is over, the workers will still have a contract that, after inflation, is a real wage cut. The union bureaucrats aren’t on our side. They sold out the 1926 general strike in the UK, and they’ll do the same to this one too. 

Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has been in the media all day talking about the rail strikes and god what a great spokesperson he has been for them.

Here he is handling some ridiculous line of questioning from Kay Burley who is trying to suggest the union will be encouraging violence on the picket lines and referencing the 1980’s miners strikes, which is pretty absurd for a whole host of reasons:

Here he is calling Chris Philp, a Tory MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport a liar approximately 900 times for spouting nonsense on Newsnight (I can only post one vid so these will be links)

Here he is telling Richard Madeley he’s talking “twaddle” for asking him if he’s a Marxist, which tbh I think was polite because imo Richard Madeley is just a c u n t xx

And if you’ve any uncertainty as to why rail workers are striking, these two clips will be a good place to start

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they were at the house down the street

where were they

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The railway workers’ strike happening in the UK currently will prove decisive for the working class. It’s probable that the union will succeed in sabotaging and selling out the strike- after all, that’s exactly what happened in 1926- but even if this does happen, the eyes of the entire British working class are on them. Even if the unions succeed, they won’t be able to sell out this strike without delegitimizing themselves for great numbers of people. And the sheer number of people participating in the strike- in excess of 50,000- means it is entirely possible that in some regions, workers will form independent committees, and connect their struggle to other sections of the working class. Essentially, this strike has the potential to make far more headway than anyone realizes. 

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Its so crazy that, we effectively have sentient AI now, and all it does is make fun of itself

4chan anons are going to be out of a job at this rate

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It’s funny how google is not only selling our data, but literally giving it away to around 3000-4000 multinationals around the world. 

...which means, its entirely possible that, at any moment, someone could post on reddit a site on the dark web where you can search a person’s name/address/phone number, and read literally all the information google has on them. Like, there’s literally nothing stopping this from happening. The only reason it hasn’t happened yet is because those companies with your data have a vested interest in keeping that info scarce. 

But, the prospect that literally everyone could have their data leaked is honestly hilarious. The information google has on people includes special codes for if you are diabetic, gay, a pilot, the parent of a disabled child, etc- and all of that can be linked to your name and address. 

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The best thing about this joke is that Marx would have understood it

But Confucius has answered them with the final whistle, it’s all over. Germany, having trounced England’s famous midfield trio of Bentham, Locke and Hobbes in the semi-final, have been beaten by the odd goal.

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Chicago by Sufjan Stevens isn't my favorite song but I really want it to be

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Gabriel Pozzo, To Feel Infinite and Boundless, 2021 

Oil on wood panel, 12 x 16 in

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