From January 20, 2025:
Be part of the conversation. Join mind reader’s free community of readers analysing capitalism, technology and social change. Start right now.
Neil Gaiman and the political economy of rape
↗︎ ↳Important read. The systemic deliberate devaluation of women to ensure capitalism’s survival is one of the most abhorrent facets of capitalism.—added 7:06am on 20/01/25 ❧
Twice-Born
↗︎ ↳BJP have basically nationalised identity politics as policy. Political games based on religion, region, beliefs, and culture. —added 6:59am on 20/01/25 ❧
From January 18, 2025:
Support independent radical thought. Join mind reader’s growing community of readers thinking deeply about social transformation. Start right now.
Let’s come to terms with some terms. Sorry, I’m not trying to be cute (that’s just effortless). I think it’s important we, as I constantly raise, share a literacy for engagement with big ideas. Sadly, much of the time those big ideas are also terrible ideas — things that dominate our lives, change our ways of being, and interrupt what we might (at least individually) deem antithetical to our being. Ideas, however, are critical and require serious and robust examination as we continually sit in a world dominated by bad ones, and bad faith actors whose entire existence is designed to peddle those ideas. But we also need a binding approach, something that brings us together with hope and possibility – not just doom and gloom about the state of things (which is, admittedly, pretty shit). A few things have pushed this desire to write this morning, some good, some bad. Let’s jump into them. I went for a walk with Harriet Taylo...
Sydney Uni academics ask watchdog throw out antisemitism case
↗︎ ↳Notably the albanese government stands with this witch hunting bullshit, and is empowering it and its colonial crap. The level of narrative manipulation (“it hurts my feelings when you tell the truth”) exerted by those backing a nation unequivocally committing a genocide (as literally ruled by the UN) is so utterly disturbing you wonder where the propaganda begins and ends. —added 6:30am on 18/01/25 ❧
From January 17, 2025:
Like what you’re reading? Join mind reader (free) to get fresh critical analysis delivered directly to you. Start right now.
I Ditched the Algorithm for RSS
↗︎ ↳Strongly recommend RSS. And this is a decent guide for just that. —added 6:47am on 17/01/25 ❧
Will China welcome TikTok refugees? RedNote sees US users rise
↗︎ ↳Federated social media’s image as nerdy and difficult is working double time here, I swear. All these people moving from one corporate platform to another but so few ever engaging with free, open source, distributed platforms. Get Mastodon a marketing department with .01% of Meta and it’d explode. —added 6:43am on 17/01/25 ❧
From January 16, 2025:
Support independent radical thought. Join mind reader’s growing community of readers thinking deeply about social transformation. Start right now.
Despite tensions, US-China AI research collaborations are alive and well
↗︎ ↳It’s interesting how regimes are happy for mutual collaborations because they see the technology as enhancing the aims of capitalism. And likely enhancing their control over workers, etc. despite other international relations. Gives you an indication of how much the capitalist class want to ensure they can erase you through use of AI. Learn to use it, folks, because they’re deliberately mystifying it already. —added 7:21am on 16/01/25 ❧
Minister rejects private health insurers’ proposed premium increases
↗︎ ↳More grist for the anti-Medicare mill here. Keep the prices “low” (hahahahaha) and the erasure of Medicare is a cake walk(?). Thinking of a deranged government. There shouldn’t be private health. —added 7:12am on 16/01/25 ❧
Fairytale in the Supermarket
↗︎ ↳Oh how all our visions and dreams are corrupted by the cancer that is capitalism. It will not stop til there is no good left.
ML Summary"Fairytale in the Supermarket" by Erik Baker explores the evolution of Erewhon Trading Company, a pioneer in the natural foods industry, from its countercultural roots to its eventual unionization. Founded in 1966, Erewhon grew rapidly, reflecting the broader boom in the natural foods market. Discontent among workers led to the formation of a union in 1979, revealing a gap between the company's New Age ideals and the reality of management practices. The founders' commitment to Buddhism and Right Livelihood clashed with the exploitative tendencies typical of larger businesses.
Paul Hawken, an early leader, initially fostered a collaborative work environment, but later struggles with rapid growth led to his departure. The New Age movement's emphasis on entrepreneurship emerged as a response to bureaucratic structures, promoting individualism and creative voluntarism. However, the reality often fell short, as many entrepreneurs faced the same oppressive dynamics as traditional employees. Baker highlights the tension between the aspirational spirit of countercultural entrepreneurship and the harsh realities of capitalist market pressures, emphasizing a sense of disillusionment alongside the promise of transformation.