Benvenuto nel Poliverso

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ via Share Funny Videos, Images, Memes, Quotes and more

1 mese fa • •

How companies make money tracking you

How companies make money tracking you - TechEquity Collaborative

Companies aren’t surveilling us just to violate our privacy and make us feel unsafe. They’re surveilling us to make money. This is how.

^{Lili Siri Spira (TechEquity Collaborative)}

#technology

Sundown on the Potemkin Empire: Trump's Trouncing of Ursula Makes For Great Theater, But Little Else?

[Warwick] Powell begins his exegesis with a declaration I agree with: that perception matters more than reality, more than ever today in our increasingly ‘simulated world’, where money and economies themselves are nothing more than grossly over-counted hyper-leveraged debt-and-fiat instruments.
He goes on to argue that Trump’s unprecedented ‘coup’ over abject Ursula was actually a European triumph over the easily-cajoled nectarine narcissist.

But look beneath the bombast, and a different picture emerges. The picture is paradoxically not of European weakness per se (or vassalage as self-loathing Europeans would be tempted to say), but of European entrapment strategy from a position of relative weakness. If anything, this “deal” locks the United States deeper into Europe’s security and economic architecture, not the other way around. And it does so by using the one thing Trump cannot resist: the illusion of winning.
The article above explains that the EU commission already admitted mere hours after the “huge deal” was signed that the promised investment is to come from private corporations which have had no incentives offered to them for such a thing, which means the entire charade is nothing more than another empty show of ‘wishful thinking’, meant to glaze us with a brief PR tableau.
These days, virtually all foreign policy is conducted in this way. The tempo of our hyper-connected digital times has facilitated a kind of simulacrum where no exaggeration, lie, or absurdity is too great so long as it can be quickly flushed away by an even greater one. If one isn’t available, the mainstream media magicians are tasked with waving their hands over some new ‘crisis’ or ‘outrage’ to cover the tracks of whatever needs to be forgotten.
But why, you ask, does Powell ultimately reach the conclusion that the deal is not merely a hologram, but on the contrary a cunning triumph by the decaying Europeans? The answer lies in a compelling thesis that the Maggot Queen’s chief objective was to ensnare Trump and the US in Europe’s politics and the Euro-deep state’s Forever War. He concludes:
By offering inflated figures, headline-making numbers, and “big wins,” the EU ensures that:
- The U.S. defence industry is financially bound to Europe;
- The U.S. energy sector is locked into Europe but with limited capacity to actually deliver on the stated numbers, which means European buyers are back on the market anyway;
- The U.S. financial system continues to absorb European capital, which is only a function of persistent European trade surpluses vis-a-vis the US; and
- Any attempt by the U.S. to reduce its European footprint would now come at an enormous domestic economic cost.
In effect, Europe has engineered strategic entanglement for the U.S. in European security affairs under the guise of submission. Trump thinks he’s winning, but the structural reality is that the U.S. is being burdened with more responsibility, more expectations and more economic exposure.
Now, perhaps the above conclusion is a tad oversold for dramatic effect. Without truly crunching the economic figures in a more thorough way it’s uncertain just how ‘cunning’ or deliberate this European twist really is. But it’s true that under the guise of giving Trump’s ego a much needed economic arm-shot, Europe managed to at least maneuver him into perpetually supporting the European MIC and by extension the Ukraine war. This is not a European victory, per se—it is a grave disaster for the futures of average European citizens—but it is a victory for the Euro-deep state, the Brussels and London cabals controlled by generational private finance, the bankster clan which must hold power at all costs and cannot allow a rival system to emerge on the global stage, much less their doorstep.
As stated above, it can be argued that what we’re seeing is a self-assembly process wherein the inevitable factionalization of the post-globalist world—one based on the ‘open society’ model—is taking place. And the US, knowing it can no longer control this process, nor dominate the newly-rising factions, has simply resigned to carving the world into spheres and engineering a renewed domination of its own sphere as a kind of consolation prize. It is a necessary tactic of retreat: if we can’t be masters of the world, we’ll at least be full masters of our half of it.
At this point, the only transformational certainty lies in the rise of a rival system in the East, which will eventually lead to the demise of the one operated by the Old Nobility. The only problem: it is impossible for them to go down without a fight, and they will have to trigger major war in preservation of their waning hegemony.

Sundown on the Potemkin Empire: Trump's Trouncing of Ursula Makes For Great Theater, But Little Else?

Trump made waves this week with his major economic subjugation of Europe on the announcement of his 15% tariffs, made before a stooped and servile Ursula von der Leyen.

^{Simplicius (Simplicius's Garden of Knowledge)}

#Worldnews

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To The Root Cellar With You

The Potato Museum

Potato historians, scientists and promoters are featured here including authors Redcliffe Salaman, History and Social Influence of the Potato, Lucienne Desnoues, All Potato, Wilhelm Volksen, The Potato in Art and Literature, heirloom potato variety preservationist Donald MacLean, French scientist A. A. Parmentier, American potato scientist and World Food Prize Laureate John Niederhauser and potato art impresario Jeffrey Allen Price.

Potato People and Places

^{potatomuseum.com}

#memes

like this

in reply to crankyrebel

HiddenLayer555

in reply to crankyrebel • 1 mese fa • •

Potatoes will also just start sprouting without any water or soil. Just using the stored nutrients. It doesn't give a shit.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

in reply to HiddenLayer555

crankyrebel

in reply to HiddenLayer555 • 1 mese fa • •

They are glorious in every way!

in reply to HiddenLayer555

SatansMaggotyCumFart

in reply to HiddenLayer555 • 1 mese fa • •

Plus rotten potatoes smell like my mother's asshole.

in reply to SatansMaggotyCumFart

crankyrebel

in reply to SatansMaggotyCumFart • 1 mese fa • •

*Your mother's potato field.

in reply to crankyrebel

SatansMaggotyCumFart

in reply to crankyrebel • 1 mese fa • •

You watch what you say about my fucking mother.

in reply to HiddenLayer555

joelfromaus

in reply to HiddenLayer555 • 1 mese fa • •

in reply to crankyrebel

JamesBoeing737MAX

in reply to crankyrebel • 1 mese fa • •

Yep, this guy went to chernobil without protective gear:

- YouTube

Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.

^{www.youtube.com}

geneva_convenience via World News

1 mese fa • •

geneva_convenience
1 mese fa • •

The Philippine Missile Crisis: U.S. Deployed Arms to the Philippines and No One Noticed But China

Last spring, the United States quietly placed long-range missile launchers within reach of China’s mainland — and almost no one noticed. There was no congressional debate, no televised announcement, and no vote. It was the latest step of a growing military partnership with the Philippines, just across the South China Sea.

The U.S. has been steadily expanding its military footprint in the Philippines as part of its broader strategy against China, a nuclear-armed rival. With little public scrutiny or accountability, Washington is now preparing to deploy a second Typhon missile system to the Philippines. Experts and U.S. officials have widely acknowledged that the confrontational policy could bring the U.S. into direct conflict with China.

“We are being used as a training ground, as an experiment ground for the U.S. missile system,” Mong Palatino, the secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, a progressive civil society coalition, told The Intercept. “It endangers our population, it undermines our security. The lesson here is that we will not be able to be self-reliant as long as we are dependent on a former colonial master like the U.S. in protecting our sovereignty.”

The Philippine Missile Crisis: U.S. Deployed Arms to the Philippines and No One Noticed But China

The U.S. deployment of missiles in the Philippines is an escalation that has angered China and could come back to bite Filipinos most of all.

^{Aída Chávez (The Intercept)}

#Worldnews

like this

geneva_convenience via Progressive Politics

1 mese fa • •

geneva_convenience
1 mese fa • •

The Philippine Missile Crisis: U.S. Deployed Arms to the Philippines and No One Noticed But China

The U.S. deployment of missiles in the Philippines is an escalation that has angered China and could come back to bite Filipinos most of all.

^{Aída Chávez (The Intercept)}

#progressivepolitics

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ via Memes

1 mese fa • •

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
1 mese fa • •

Colonialism never ended

#memes

like this

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

djsoren19

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • 1 mese fa • •

Kinda wild how frequently it's the same religion being used as a cudgel in SEA, SA, and Africa.

jackeroni via World News

1 mese fa • •

jackeroni
1 mese fa • •

Gaza Aid Crisis Deepens: Over 60,000 Dead, 154 Starved to Death

Chaos in Gaza: Aid Convoys Looted, Hunger Crisis Deepens

Humanitarian convoys entering Gaza from Egypt are being looted amid deepening starvation and accusations that Israeli forces are fostering chaos, as WHO reports rising child hunger deaths

^{Anton Kulikov (Pravda English)}

#Worldnews

in reply to jackeroni

UnderpantsWeevil

in reply to jackeroni • 1 mese fa • •

Extremely conservative estimate resulting, in no small part, thanks to the IDF habit of killing journalists.

in reply to jackeroni

Alloi

in reply to jackeroni • 1 mese fa • •

the number is much higher than that, they just dont want to breach official "genocide status" before the work is done.

jackeroni via World News

1 mese fa • •

jackeroni
1 mese fa • •

Zelensky made a mistake and lost — time is on Russia's side — Orban

Zelensky made a mistake and lost — time is on Russia's side — Orban: EADaily

EADaily, July 30th, 2025. The head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, refused peace proposals and now finds himself in an extremely difficult internal situation.

^EADaily

#Worldnews

in reply to jackeroni

individual

in reply to jackeroni • 1 mese fa • •

who comes up with this crazy bullsit?

in reply to individual

freagle

in reply to individual • 1 mese fa • •

It was literally a world leader on Polish TV. If you had read the article you would know that

in reply to individual

Cryan24

in reply to individual • 1 mese fa • •

Russian trolls like the op

in reply to individual

jackeroni

in reply to individual • 1 mese fa • •

Tell me you're a liberal who doesn't read articles without telling me you're a liberal who doesn't read articles 🙄

in reply to jackeroni

individual

in reply to jackeroni • 1 mese fa • •

huh?

in reply to individual

folaht

in reply to individual • 1 mese fa • •

Welcome to Lemmy where there's a lot of communists who are not agreeing with the narrative of liberal, socdems or greens media of US/EU/UK.

Russia is winning because China is communist and therefore winning.
I don't know what the average Lemmy tankie thinks of why the Soviet Union lost,
but my reasoning is simply, lack of solid fossil fuels and too early in the game
to rise through solar & wind power or even natural gas.
China had bitumen coal and a better version of a people's democracy since Deng imho.

US has lots and lots of coal compared to any country in the world,
so even with its half-baked liberal democracy
it still was able to thrive above the rest until recently.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

in reply to folaht

individual

in reply to folaht • 1 mese fa • •

😅 wild.

jackeroni via World News

1 mese fa • •

jackeroni
1 mese fa • •

Trump announces 25% tariffs for India from August 1

Despite friendly relations between the two countries, the US has done "relatively little business" with India "because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade b…

^TASS

#Worldnews

in reply to jackeroni

tla

in reply to jackeroni • 1 mese fa • •

Instead of click bait headlines, let's try realism: "USA to pay 25% import tax on goods from India".

in reply to jackeroni

weremacaque

in reply to jackeroni • 1 mese fa • •

So this is a lot more dire than people think because a lot of medications are manufactured in India.

Dem Bosain via Privacy

1 mese fa • •

Dem Bosain
1 mese fa • •

To amend the Controlled Substances Act to require electronic communication service providers and remote computing services to report to the Attorney General certain controlled substances violations.

“(1) GENERAL DUTY.—In order to reduce the proliferation of the unlawful sale, distribution, or manufacture (as applicable) of counterfeit substances and certain controlled substances, a provider shall, as soon as reasonably possible after obtaining actual knowledge of any facts or circumstances described in paragraph (2), and in any event not later than 60 days after obtaining such knowledge, submit to the Attorney General a report containing—

“(A) the mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number, and electronic mailing address of, and individual point of contact for, such provider;

“(B) information described in subsection (c) concerning such facts or circumstances; and

“(C) for purposes of subsection (j), information indicating whether the facts or circumstances were discovered through content moderation conducted by a human or via a non-human method, including use of an algorithm, machine learning, or other means.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4518/text

#privacy

like this

in reply to Dem Bosain

UnderpantsWeevil

in reply to Dem Bosain • 1 mese fa • •

Lolz. Didn't Trump just pardon Ross Ulbricht?

What a joke.

Trump pardons Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht

Trump said he had called Ulbricht's mother to let her know he had granted her son a full pardon.

^{Christal Hayes (BBC News)}

in reply to Dem Bosain

Capsicones

in reply to Dem Bosain • 1 mese fa • •

WTF? We're gonna be required to narc on people struggling with addiction now, even if they're trying to quit? That's bad for everyone involved. I sure won't be hosting nothing in the US again if this passes.

in reply to Capsicones

hansolo

in reply to Capsicones • 1 mese fa • •

Noooo, AI mods and Admins on every platform will do it for you. You, as a mod, simply have to maintain plausible deniability that you were illiciting more details and not warning people about not sharing info.

You know, just like being trans - keep your questions about everything a secret or you'll be arrested.

in reply to Capsicones

golden_zealot

in reply to Capsicones • 1 mese fa • •

Paragraph 2 which it references does not include cases of possession or purchasing for personal use, so those people should be fine.

in reply to golden_zealot

Capsicones

in reply to golden_zealot • 1 mese fa • •

In practice, it's impossible to determine the purpose of purchases. If someone talks about their experience of buying from a dealer without further context, you'd have to narc. Or, you open yourself up to legal liabilities.

Besides, people buy on behalf of others all the time. People share with others. Substance use is often not a solitary activity. This law would create a situation where it's risky for you if you do not narc every time.

in reply to Capsicones

golden_zealot

in reply to Capsicones • 1 mese fa • •

Valid points.

in reply to Dem Bosain

etherphon

in reply to Dem Bosain • 1 mese fa • •

Lol go fuck yourselves. I smell some massive hypocrisy.

in reply to Dem Bosain

Irdial

in reply to Dem Bosain • 1 mese fa • •

The bill suggests that violations may be “discovered through content moderation conducted by a human or via a non-human method, including use of an algorithm, machine learning, or other means.” Automated snooping on people’s private correspondence should constitute unlawful search. Fuck that.

in reply to Dem Bosain

hansolo

in reply to Dem Bosain • 1 mese fa • •

Holy fuck.

Basically, if you've ever posted anything about a controlled substance online, the new Palantir - powered super-surveillance state will hold that data until it's ready to either use it to fuck you harder, or as all they need to fuck you if they don't like you.

in reply to hansolo

golden_zealot

in reply to hansolo • 1 mese fa • •

No (at least not per the language of the act) . Paragraph 2 which it references does not include cases of possession or purchasing for personal use, or personal use itself etc. You have to have spoken about specifically making or selling fentanyl, meth, or prescription pain meds or stimulants (and falsely claiming to be a doctor).

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

in reply to golden_zealot

AngryRobot

in reply to golden_zealot • 1 mese fa • •

...For now.

in reply to hansolo

Ŝan

in reply to hansolo • 1 mese fa • •

Trump does a ton of drugs! I know a guy who'd been at parties where he personally witnessed Donald snorting huge, fat lines of cocaine. That's not even counting all of the crack he'd smoke. Enough to kill a horse. He'd send out his people and they'd come back with just pounds of cocaine and crack.

What he really like, though, was Angel Dust. Man, that guy could put away epic amounts of Angel Dust, and then he'd stumble around the room groping anything with legs. I heard that when Donald Trump was on a dust binge he'd break out his stash of the child pornography, drop trou and just start wacking it there in front of everybody. Christ, Donald Trump loves his angel dust and child pornography.

That's what I heard.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

in reply to Dem Bosain

golden_zealot

in reply to Dem Bosain • 1 mese fa • •

Big piece of this is paragraph 2 referenced, which reads:

“(2) FACTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES.—The facts or circumstances described in this paragraph are any facts or circumstances establishing that a crime is being or has already been committed involving—

“(A) creating, manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense—

“(i) fentanyl; or

“(ii) methamphetamine;

“(B) creating, manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a counterfeit substance, including a counterfeit substance purporting to be a prescription drug; or

“(C) creating, manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense an actual or purported prescription pain medication or prescription stimulant by any individual or entity that is not authorized, which includes an individual or entity that falsely claims to be a practitioner.

in reply to golden_zealot

etherphon

in reply to golden_zealot • 1 mese fa • •

So is this all about pharma profits then?

in reply to Dem Bosain

schnurrito

in reply to Dem Bosain • 1 mese fa • •

annnnnd it's bipartisan

The worst bills in the US Congress are always supported by both parties, I suspect so there is no way to vote against them.

in reply to Dem Bosain

bacon_pdp

in reply to Dem Bosain • 1 mese fa • •

Oh no, we will have to encourage everyone to use end to end encrypted communications and help encourage good opsec skills

in reply to Dem Bosain

Majestic

in reply to Dem Bosain • 1 mese fa • •

Hmm how long until Hollywood sees this and demands the same of anyone discussing engaging in online piracy?

Also an interesting thought. What if this isn't actually meant to get all drug producers or users talking online but the companies? This could be meant to be used as a threat and a sledgehammer against the tech companies. Basically they pass this, let them rack up not reporting anything for months, years, then come and hit them with a lawsuit demanding internal moderation logs and data and threaten to rake them over the coals for thousands of built up violations BUT then they offer to instead drop all that in exchange for them changing their moderation policies in a certain political way to suit the administration and some token reforms to address the law which won't be scrutinized further if they comply with the political censorship wants.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ via Canada

1 mese fa • •

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
1 mese fa • •

Carney Helps Poilievre Attack Women's Rights

Carney is doing what his voters FEARED Poilievre would do

^{Christo Aivalis}

#canada

geneva_convenience via Europe

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geneva_convenience
1 mese fa • •

Over 100 lawyers ask ICC to investigate Macron and French ministers for Gaza genocide complicity

French lawyers have submitted a request to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for an investigation into the role of French officials "in the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide" by Israeli forces against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

In a 56-page communication made public by the French investigative media outlet Blast on Monday, the 114 lawyers named President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu and 19 lawmakers of the National Assembly's European Affairs Committee.

A communication to the ICC is the equivalent of a criminal complaint to the court on an alleged crime falling under its jurisdiction.

Over 100 lawyers ask ICC to investigate Macron and French ministers for Gaza genocide complicity

French lawyers have submitted a request to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for an investigation into the role of French officials "in the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide" by Israeli forces again…

^{Elodie Farge (Middle East Eye)}

#europe

jackeroni via Memes

1 mese fa • •

jackeroni
1 mese fa • •

There would be a lot more informed lemmy liberal users if they would just pick up a book sometime

They probably also wouldn't be liberals anymore though

#memes

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

in reply to jackeroni

Xulai

in reply to jackeroni • 1 mese fa • •

There would be a bigger leftist movement if the CIA’s saboteurs weren’t so successful at insulting /alienating liberals - which they do deliberately because they know an honest and educated liberal is most likely to become a leftist.

This is also how to spot a fed in the wild.

in reply to Xulai

anarchoilluminati [comrade/them]

in reply to Xulai • 1 mese fa • •

Are you implying that Communists who insult or otherwise alienate liberals are fed saboteurs?

in reply to anarchoilluminati [comrade/them]

Xulai

in reply to anarchoilluminati [comrade/them] • 1 mese fa • •

I’m saying that attacking the very people most likely to take your side is classic sabotage behavior.

Doing so only makes sense only from the perspective of someone who wants to ensure no large leftist movement in the west.

Then attacking, ridiculing, and dog piling on the real leftists that point this out further sabotages any meaningful leftist movement. As already demonstrated here.

in reply to Xulai

ShimmeringKoi [comrade/them]

in reply to Xulai • 1 mese fa • •

One problem with that presumptuous line of thinking:, liberals are not most likely to take our side: any cursory breeze though a history book (or look at the news) will show that they just take fascism's side while sanctimoniously lecturing leftists.

This is like when liberals complain about leftists "splitting the movement" by daring to have standards. There is no splitting, you are not in the movement. Fedjacketing people for pointing out that genocide enablers aren't comrades won't magically make you a leftist.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

in reply to Xulai

BrainInABox

in reply to Xulai • 1 mese fa • •

But liberals aren't likely to take our side by definition. Who do you think is running those saboteur operation? Monarchists?

in reply to Xulai

Cowbee [he/they]

in reply to Xulai • 1 mese fa • •

It's more sabotage behavior to call leftists agitating liberals to get them to read theory feds. Rather than trying to provide alternatives to get liberals to read theory, you're defending liberals against leftists while claiming to be a "real leftist." That's wrecker behavior.

Unknown parent

Rumo161

Unknown parent • 1 mese fa • •

To imply that you cant have a thought about a better future without reading the righrt book is big gatekeeping energy.

in reply to Rumo161

YappyMonotheist

in reply to Rumo161 • 1 mese fa • •

'You' can, you just have to be a big brain erudite to come to conclusions that took several intellectual giants' work throughout centuries. The kind of mind that comes once every thousand years a la Solomon.

Respectfully, you just cannot conceive it because of Dunning-Kruger and because you've never been in a position in which you had to 'create a working ideology for society from scratch'. A part of me also thinks that "saying you need recipes to cook complex meals is big gatekeeping energy", then I fuck everything up and remember I'm both ignorant and naturally incompetent when it comes to cooking. No, we WANT to believe it's different, but it's not, and a wise person understands their limitations.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

Unknown parent

Cowbee [he/they]

Unknown parent • 1 mese fa • •

Education is still important, because people's openness to new ideas depends on their current material conditions. As conditions decay, radicalization increases, and so does people's willingness to get organized and read theory.

in reply to Rumo161

Cowbee [he/they]

in reply to Rumo161 • 1 mese fa • •

It's more that leftists have been discussing and bringing about better societies for centuries, agitating and organizing, so if we want to take things seriously we need to learn from what works and what doesn't. That's why I made an introduductory Marxist-Leninist reading guide. It's to help people new to theory.

Cowbee [he/they]

2024-11-12 13:19:57

Read Theory, Darn it! An Introductory Reading List for Marxism-Leninism

"Without Revolutionary theory, there can be no Revolutionary Movement."
Vladimir Lenin, What is to be Done? | Audiobook
It's time to read theory, comrades! As Lenin says, "Despair is typical of those who do not understand the causes of evil, see no way out, and are incapable of struggle." Reading theory helps us identify the core contradictions within modern society, analyze their trajectories, and gives us the tools to break free. Marxism-Leninism is broken into 3 major components, as noted by Lenin in his pamphlet The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism: | Audiobook
Dialectical and Historical Materialism
Critique of Capitalism along the lines of Marx's Law of Value
Advocacy for Revolutionary and Scientific Socialism
As such, I created the following list to take you from no knowledge whatsoever of Leftist theory, and leave you with a strong understanding of the critical fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism in an order that builds up as you read. Let's get started!
Section I: Getting Started
What the heck is Communism, anyways? For that matter, what is fascism?
Friedrich Engels' Principles of Communism | Audiobook
The FAQ of Communism, written by the Luigi of the Marx & Engels duo. Quick to read, and easy to reference, this is the perfect start to your journey.
Michael Parenti's Blackshirts and Reds | Audiobook
Breaks down fascism and its mortal enemy, Communism, as well as their antagonistic relationship. Understanding what fascism is, where and when it rises, why it does so, and how to banish it forever is critical. Parenti also helps debunk common anti-Communist myths, from both the "left" and the right, in a quick-witted writing style. This is also an excellent time to watch the famous speech.
Section II: Historical and Dialectical Materialism
Ugh, philosophy? Really? YES!
Georges Politzer's Elementary Principles of Philosophy | Audiobook
By far my favorite primer on Marxist philosophy. By understanding Dialectical and Historical Materialism first, you make it easier to understand the rest of Marxism-Leninism. Don't be intimidated!
Friedrich Engels' Socialism: Utopian and Scientific | Audiobook
Further reading on Dialectical and Historical Materialism, but crucially introduces the why of Scientific Socialism, explaining how Capitalism itself prepares the conditions for public ownership and planning by centralizing itself into monopolist syndicates. This is also where Engels talks about the failures of previous "Utopian" Socialists.
Section III: Political Economy
That's right, it's time for the Law of Value and a deep-dive into Imperialism. If we are to defeat Capitalism, we must learn it's mechanisms, tendencies, contradictions, and laws.
Karl Marx's Wage Labor and Capital | Audiobook as well as Wages, Price and Profit | Audiobook
Best taken as a pair, these essays simplify the most important parts of the Law of Value. Marx is targetting those not trained in economics here, but you might want to keep a pen and some paper to follow along if you are a visual person.
Vladimir Lenin's Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism | Audiobook
Absolutely crucial and the most important work for understanding the modern era and its primary contradictions. Marxist-Leninists understand that Imperialism is the greatest contradiction in the modern era, which cascades downward into all manner of related contradictions. Knowing what dying Capitalism looks like, and how it behaves, means we can kill it.
Section IV: Revolutionary and Scientific Socialism
Can we defeat Capitalism at the ballot box? What about just defeating fascism? What about the role of the state?
Rosa Luxemburg's Reform or Revolution | Audiobook
If Marxists believed reforming Capitalist society was possible, we would be the first in line for it. Sadly, it isn't possible, which Luxemburg proves in this monumental writing.
Vladimir Lenin's The State and Revolution | Audiobook
Excellent refutation of revisionists and Social Democrats who think the State can be reformed, without needing to be replaced with one that is run by the workers, in their own interests.
Section V: Intersectionality and Solidarity
The revolution will not be fought by atomized individuals, but by an intersectional, international working class movement. Intersectionality is critical, because it allows different marginalized groups to work together in collective interest, unifying into a broad movement.
Vikky Storm and Eme Flores' The Gender Accelerationist Manifesto | (No Audiobook yet)
Critical reading on understanding misogyny, transphobia, enbyphobia, pluralphobia, and homophobia, as well as how to move beyond the base subject of "gender." Uses the foundations built up in the previous works to analyze gender theory from a Historical Materialist perspective.
Frantz Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth | Audiobook
De-colonialism is essential to Marxism. Without having a strong, de-colonial, internationalist stance, we have no path to victory nor a path to justice. Fanon analyzes Colonialism's dehumanizing effects, and lays out how to form a de-colonial movement, as well as its necessity.
Leslie Feinberg's Lavender & Red | Audiobook
Solidarity and intersectionality are the key to any social movement. When different social groups fight for liberation together along intersectional lines, the movements are emboldened and empowered ever-further.
Section VI: Putting it into Practice!
It's not enough to endlessly read, you must put theory to practice. That is how you can improve yourself and the movements you support. Touch grass!
Mao Tse-Tung's On Practice and On Contradiction | Audiobook
Mao wrote simply and directly, targeting peasant soldiers during the Revolutionary War in China. This pair of essays equip the reader with the ability to apply the analytical tools of Dialectical Materialism to their every day practice, and better understand problems.
Congratulations, you completed your introductory reading course!
With your new understanding and knowledge of Marxism-Leninism, here is a mini What is to be Done? of your own to follow, and take with you as practical advice.
Get organized. Join a Leftist org, find solidarity with fellow comrades, and protect each other. The Dems will not save you, it is up to us to protect ourselves. The Party for Socialism and Liberation and Freedom Road Socialist Organization both organize year round, every year, because the battle for progress is a constant struggle, not a single election. See if there is a chapter near you, or start one! Or, see if there's an org you like more near you and join it.
Read theory. Don't think that you are done now! Just because you have the basics, doesn't mean you know more than you do. If you have not investigated a subject, don't speak on it! Don't speak nonsense, but listen!
Aggressively combat white supremacy, misogyny, queerphobia, and other attacks on marginalized communities. Cede no ground, let nobody be forgotten or left behind. There is strength in numbers, when one marginalized group is targeted, many more are sure to follow.
Be industrious, and self-sufficient. Take up gardening, home repair, tinkering. It is through practice that you elevate your problem-solving capabilities. Not only will you improve your skill at one subject, but your general problem-solving muscles get strengthened as well.
Learn self-defense. Get armed, if practical. Be ready to protect yourself and others. Liberals will not save us, we must save each other.
Be persistent. If you feel like a single water droplet against a mountain, think of canyons and valleys. Oh, how our efforts pile up! With consistency, every rock, boulder, even mountain, can be drilled through with nothing but steady and persistent water droplets.
"Everything under heaven is in utter chaos; the situation is excellent."
Mao Tse-Tung

Revolution. Socialism. Liberation. - Freedom Road Socialist Organization | FRSO
Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) is a national organization of revolutionaries fighting for socialism in the United States. Our home is in the working class.
^{admin (Freedom Road Socialist Organization | FRSO)}

in reply to jackeroni

Cowbee [he/they]

in reply to jackeroni • 1 mese fa • •

The Principles of Communism is really a nice intro to communist theory, I have it as the first work read in the introductory Marxist-Leninist reading guide I made. That being said, it likely isn't creating a communist yet, just planting the seeds for one. Education doesn't have to just take the form of telling others to read theory, explaining concepts also helps, like imperialism.

Imperialism - ProleWiki

Imperialism is the highest stage of the capitalist mode of production, in which monopolies and cartels become the prevalent economic force of society. Lenin synthesized...

^ProleWiki

Cowbee [he/they]

2024-11-12 13:19:57

Read Theory, Darn it! An Introductory Reading List for Marxism-Leninism

"Without Revolutionary theory, there can be no Revolutionary Movement."
Vladimir Lenin, What is to be Done? | Audiobook
It's time to read theory, comrades! As Lenin says, "Despair is typical of those who do not understand the causes of evil, see no way out, and are incapable of struggle." Reading theory helps us identify the core contradictions within modern society, analyze their trajectories, and gives us the tools to break free. Marxism-Leninism is broken into 3 major components, as noted by Lenin in his pamphlet The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism: | Audiobook
Dialectical and Historical Materialism
Critique of Capitalism along the lines of Marx's Law of Value
Advocacy for Revolutionary and Scientific Socialism
As such, I created the following list to take you from no knowledge whatsoever of Leftist theory, and leave you with a strong understanding of the critical fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism in an order that builds up as you read. Let's get started!
Section I: Getting Started
What the heck is Communism, anyways? For that matter, what is fascism?
Friedrich Engels' Principles of Communism | Audiobook
The FAQ of Communism, written by the Luigi of the Marx & Engels duo. Quick to read, and easy to reference, this is the perfect start to your journey.
Michael Parenti's Blackshirts and Reds | Audiobook
Breaks down fascism and its mortal enemy, Communism, as well as their antagonistic relationship. Understanding what fascism is, where and when it rises, why it does so, and how to banish it forever is critical. Parenti also helps debunk common anti-Communist myths, from both the "left" and the right, in a quick-witted writing style. This is also an excellent time to watch the famous speech.
Section II: Historical and Dialectical Materialism
Ugh, philosophy? Really? YES!
Georges Politzer's Elementary Principles of Philosophy | Audiobook
By far my favorite primer on Marxist philosophy. By understanding Dialectical and Historical Materialism first, you make it easier to understand the rest of Marxism-Leninism. Don't be intimidated!
Friedrich Engels' Socialism: Utopian and Scientific | Audiobook
Further reading on Dialectical and Historical Materialism, but crucially introduces the why of Scientific Socialism, explaining how Capitalism itself prepares the conditions for public ownership and planning by centralizing itself into monopolist syndicates. This is also where Engels talks about the failures of previous "Utopian" Socialists.
Section III: Political Economy
That's right, it's time for the Law of Value and a deep-dive into Imperialism. If we are to defeat Capitalism, we must learn it's mechanisms, tendencies, contradictions, and laws.
Karl Marx's Wage Labor and Capital | Audiobook as well as Wages, Price and Profit | Audiobook
Best taken as a pair, these essays simplify the most important parts of the Law of Value. Marx is targetting those not trained in economics here, but you might want to keep a pen and some paper to follow along if you are a visual person.
Vladimir Lenin's Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism | Audiobook
Absolutely crucial and the most important work for understanding the modern era and its primary contradictions. Marxist-Leninists understand that Imperialism is the greatest contradiction in the modern era, which cascades downward into all manner of related contradictions. Knowing what dying Capitalism looks like, and how it behaves, means we can kill it.
Section IV: Revolutionary and Scientific Socialism
Can we defeat Capitalism at the ballot box? What about just defeating fascism? What about the role of the state?
Rosa Luxemburg's Reform or Revolution | Audiobook
If Marxists believed reforming Capitalist society was possible, we would be the first in line for it. Sadly, it isn't possible, which Luxemburg proves in this monumental writing.
Vladimir Lenin's The State and Revolution | Audiobook
Excellent refutation of revisionists and Social Democrats who think the State can be reformed, without needing to be replaced with one that is run by the workers, in their own interests.
Section V: Intersectionality and Solidarity
The revolution will not be fought by atomized individuals, but by an intersectional, international working class movement. Intersectionality is critical, because it allows different marginalized groups to work together in collective interest, unifying into a broad movement.
Vikky Storm and Eme Flores' The Gender Accelerationist Manifesto | (No Audiobook yet)
Critical reading on understanding misogyny, transphobia, enbyphobia, pluralphobia, and homophobia, as well as how to move beyond the base subject of "gender." Uses the foundations built up in the previous works to analyze gender theory from a Historical Materialist perspective.
Frantz Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth | Audiobook
De-colonialism is essential to Marxism. Without having a strong, de-colonial, internationalist stance, we have no path to victory nor a path to justice. Fanon analyzes Colonialism's dehumanizing effects, and lays out how to form a de-colonial movement, as well as its necessity.
Leslie Feinberg's Lavender & Red | Audiobook
Solidarity and intersectionality are the key to any social movement. When different social groups fight for liberation together along intersectional lines, the movements are emboldened and empowered ever-further.
Section VI: Putting it into Practice!
It's not enough to endlessly read, you must put theory to practice. That is how you can improve yourself and the movements you support. Touch grass!
Mao Tse-Tung's On Practice and On Contradiction | Audiobook
Mao wrote simply and directly, targeting peasant soldiers during the Revolutionary War in China. This pair of essays equip the reader with the ability to apply the analytical tools of Dialectical Materialism to their every day practice, and better understand problems.
Congratulations, you completed your introductory reading course!
With your new understanding and knowledge of Marxism-Leninism, here is a mini What is to be Done? of your own to follow, and take with you as practical advice.
Get organized. Join a Leftist org, find solidarity with fellow comrades, and protect each other. The Dems will not save you, it is up to us to protect ourselves. The Party for Socialism and Liberation and Freedom Road Socialist Organization both organize year round, every year, because the battle for progress is a constant struggle, not a single election. See if there is a chapter near you, or start one! Or, see if there's an org you like more near you and join it.
Read theory. Don't think that you are done now! Just because you have the basics, doesn't mean you know more than you do. If you have not investigated a subject, don't speak on it! Don't speak nonsense, but listen!
Aggressively combat white supremacy, misogyny, queerphobia, and other attacks on marginalized communities. Cede no ground, let nobody be forgotten or left behind. There is strength in numbers, when one marginalized group is targeted, many more are sure to follow.
Be industrious, and self-sufficient. Take up gardening, home repair, tinkering. It is through practice that you elevate your problem-solving capabilities. Not only will you improve your skill at one subject, but your general problem-solving muscles get strengthened as well.
Learn self-defense. Get armed, if practical. Be ready to protect yourself and others. Liberals will not save us, we must save each other.
Be persistent. If you feel like a single water droplet against a mountain, think of canyons and valleys. Oh, how our efforts pile up! With consistency, every rock, boulder, even mountain, can be drilled through with nothing but steady and persistent water droplets.
"Everything under heaven is in utter chaos; the situation is excellent."
Mao Tse-Tung

Revolution. Socialism. Liberation. - Freedom Road Socialist Organization | FRSO
Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) is a national organization of revolutionaries fighting for socialism in the United States. Our home is in the working class.
^{admin (Freedom Road Socialist Organization | FRSO)}

in reply to Cowbee [he/they]

NotMushroomForDebate

in reply to Cowbee [he/they] • 1 mese fa • •

At the very least it would get people to start grasping what communism even is, instead of them creating vibes-based strawmen in their heads that they argue against.

in reply to NotMushroomForDebate

Cowbee [he/they]

in reply to NotMushroomForDebate • 1 mese fa • •

Oh for sure, I'm not arguing against reading it, after all, but just pointing out that it isn't quite that easy.

in reply to Cowbee [he/they]

NotMushroomForDebate

in reply to Cowbee [he/they] • 1 mese fa • •

I'm not disagreeing, I meant for The Principles of Communism specifically because it's such a short read. If most people read it just once it would save so much time that's usually spent clearing up misconceptions in conversations.

I wish most people would start with that instead of the Manifesto of the Communist Party (or "The Communist Manifesto" as most people call it). It gets through most of the misconceptions in a much faster and simpler way. I like that you have it listed first in your reading list.

in reply to NotMushroomForDebate

Cowbee [he/they]

in reply to NotMushroomForDebate • 1 mese fa • •

Yep! I agree, that's why I put Principles in my list and not the manifesto.

jackeroni via Memes

1 mese fa • •

jackeroni
1 mese fa • •

Liberals parroting liberal media: Churchill was a hero!

#memes

like this

in reply to jackeroni

Dessalines

in reply to jackeroni • 1 mese fa • •

Some actual Churchill quotes. This is who repeatedly gets voted the "Greatest Briton" by the British people.

"It is, thank heaven, difficult if not impossible for the modern European to fully appreciate the force which fanaticism exercises among an ignorant, warlike and Oriental population. Several generations have elapsed since the nations of the West have drawn the sword in religious controversy, and the evil memories of the gloomy past have soon faded in the strong, clear light of Rationalism and human sympathy. Indeed it is evident that Christianity, however degraded and distorted by cruelty and intolerance, must always exert a modifying influence on men's passions, and protect them from the more violent forms of fanatical fever, as we are protected from smallpox by vaccination."
"I think we shall have to take the Chinese in hand and regulate them. I believe that as civilized nations become more powerful they will get more ruthless, and the time will come when the world will impatiently bear the existence of great barbaric nations who may at any time arm themselves and menace civilized nations. I believe in the ultimate partition of China — I mean ultimate. I hope we shall not have to do it in our day. The Aryan stock is bound to triumph."
"I propose that 100,000 degenerate Britons should be forcibly sterilized and others put in labour camps to halt the decline of the British race."
"I think a curse should rest on me — because I love this war. I know it's smashing and shattering the lives of thousands every moment — and yet — I can't help it — I enjoy every second of it."
"One might as well legalise sodomy as recognise the Bolsheviks."
"I do not understand this squeamishness about the use of gas. We have definitely adopted the position at the Peace Conference of arguing in favour of the retention of gas as a permanent method of warfare. It is sheer affectation to lacerate a man with the poisonous fragment of a bursting shell and to boggle at making his eyes water by means of lachrymatory gas. I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes."
"There is no need to exaggerate the part played in the creation of Bolshevism and in the actual bringing about of the Russian Revolution, by these international and for the most part atheistical Jews, it is certainly a very great one; it probably outweighs all others."
"One may dislike Hitler's system and yet admire his patriotic achievement. If our country were defeated, I hope we should find a champion as indomitable to restore our courage and lead us back to our place among the nations."
"I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place."
"I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion."

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Churchill voted greatest Briton

War-time leader Winston Churchill is voted the greatest Briton of all time, following a nationwide BBC poll.

^{news.bbc.co.uk}

like this

in reply to Dessalines

小莱卡

in reply to Dessalines • 1 mese fa • •

“There is no need to exaggerate the part played in the creation of Bolshevism and in the actual bringing about of the Russian Revolution, by these international and for the most part atheistical Jews, it is certainly a very great one; it probably outweighs all others.”

almost indistinguishable from Hitler

in reply to jackeroni

petersr

in reply to jackeroni • 1 mese fa • •

Grok, is this true?

jackeroni via World News

1 mese fa • •

jackeroni
1 mese fa • •

NATO member criticizes West over Ukraine/Gaza geopolitical ‘menu’

Countries criticizing Russia are often “very quiet” on Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza, Norwegian FM Espen Barth Eide has said

^RT

#Worldnews

rocket9 via Technology

1 mese fa • •

rocket9
1 mese fa • •

Adding Text to Your Ebitengine Game

- YouTube

Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.

^{www.youtube.com}

#technology

Pro doesn't like this.

jackeroni via World News

1 mese fa • •

jackeroni
1 mese fa • •

Kremlin declares Russia ‘immune to sanctions’

Kremlin points to Russian ‘immunity’ from sanctions

The Russian economy has withstood years of pressure over the Ukraine crisis, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

^RT

#Worldnews

trevor via Technology

1 mese fa • •

trevor
1 mese fa • •

Adding Text to Your Ebitengine Game

- YouTube

Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.

^{www.youtube.com}

#technology

Technology reshared this.

in reply to trevor

trevor

in reply to trevor • 1 mese fa • •

This video complements the text tutorial at trevors-tutorials.com/0006-add…

Trevors-Tutorials.com is where you can find free programming tutorials. The focus is on Go and Ebitengine game development. Watch the for more info.

The Go Programming Language

Go is an open source programming language that makes it simple to build secure, scalable systems.

^go.dev

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ via Censorship

1 mese fa • •

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
1 mese fa • •

UK Users Need to Post Selfie or Photo ID to View Reddit's r/IsraelCrimes, r/UkraineWarFootage

“If visibility of r/IsraelCrimes is being restricted under the Online Safety Act, it’s only because the state fears accountability,” moderators say.

^{Emanuel Maiberg (404 Media)}

#censorship

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ via Science

1 mese fa • •

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
1 mese fa • •

Building Blocks of Life in Deep Space Could Mean Life Extends Further Than Once Thought

Learn more about the prebiotic molecules who's origins come from deep space.

^{Rosie McCall (Discover Magazine)}

#science

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ via Share Funny Videos, Images, Memes, Quotes and more

1 mese fa • •

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
1 mese fa • •

The Cycle

#funny

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

slowmorella

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • 1 mese fa • •

how about killing time while making the vertical line on the bottom left line up with the lines of the arrows above it, you monster.

in reply to slowmorella

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to slowmorella • 1 mese fa • •

🤣

silence7 via Climate - truthful information about climate, related activism and politics.

1 mese fa • •

silence7
1 mese fa • •

Researchers Are Resurrecting Billion-Dollar Disaster Tool Trump Killed | Nonprofit Climate Central has hired the scientist behind a key database of costly weather disasters to rebuild it.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-05/researchers-will-rebuild-billion-dollar-disaster-tool-trump-killed?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc1NDQyNTg4MywiZXhwIjoxNzU1MDMwNjgzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUMEpGTUlHUEZIUVYwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJDODQyRERFMUM0RDI0OUVDQUQ5REU4NDhDQkZGNUNBOCJ9.CDk1aZjICe2hCJYiHAfS3iEtz6WQ7sq_1lYbPglqphg

#climate

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ via World News

1 mese fa • •

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
1 mese fa • •

Volodymyr Zelenskiy Needs to Rescue His Own Presidency

archive.ph/aIvKA

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-07-28/ukraine-s-volodymyr-zelenskiy-needs-to-rescue-his-own-presidency

#Worldnews

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

folaht

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • 1 mese fa • •

Why do US media companies find it obligatory to call the Special Military Operation a "full invasion"?

A) There's never been a plan to invade the Western half of the country.
B) they never do so with Israël's invasion of Palestine, NATO's invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan,
which ARE a full invasion.

Do they get paid by the CIA for this?

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

vfreire85

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • 1 mese fa • •

this article has the stench of sunken costs.

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ via World News

1 mese fa • •

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
1 mese fa • •

Trump imposes 25% tariff on India plus ‘penalty’ over ties to Russia

US president calls Delhi a friend but criticises policies such as buying arms and energy from Russia amid Ukraine war

^{Richard Partington (The Guardian)}

#Worldnews

jackeroni via World News

1 mese fa • •

jackeroni
1 mese fa • •

The foreign ministers of 15 countries are ready to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly

The foreign ministers of 15 countries have supported the consideration of the possibility of recognizing Palestine. This is stated in their joint statement, which was released by the French Foreign Ministry.

^{newsmaker newsmaker (English News front)}

#Worldnews

Arthur Besse via Space, the final frontier

1 mese fa • •

Arthur Besse
1 mese fa • •

'A City on Mars' is a reality check for anyone dreaming about life on the Red Planet

It wasn't until maybe a year before we were done writing — and we wrote for four years — that we decided this book is actually about why space settlements aren't coming soon.

^{Sharmila Kuthunur (Space)}

#space

in reply to Arthur Besse

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to Arthur Besse • 1 mese fa • •

I really don't understand the obsession with Mars to be honest. The Moon seems like the obvious choice for building a permanent outpost. It's much closer, so if anything happens then there's at least the possibility of sending help. It doesn't have atmosphere meaning that you don't have to deal with problems like dust storms. It also has far lower gravity so it would be possible to build infrastructure like space elevators, and lack of atmosphere makes high speed maglev trains possible.

While living on the surface would be problematic due to radiation and dust, it would be possible to build large underground habitats. It might even be possible to find lava tubes and simply pressurize them. There wouldn't be any actual reason to go outside. We already know there is water and all sorts of minerals on the moon as well, so it would be possible for the outpost to be largely self sufficient.

If industry was bootstrapped and a space elevator built, which can be done with current technology, then it would be possible to send effectively unlimited amount of stuff into orbit from there. You could build large space habitats, and space ships designed to stay in orbit that just dock with the elevator. This would pave the way to making deep space missions of the kind we could only dream of now.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

jackeroni via World News

1 mese fa • •

jackeroni
1 mese fa • •

Defeated On Battlefield Kiev Responds With Terror

Nazi Regime gonna Nazi

https://southfront.press/defeated-on-battlefield-kyiv-responds-with-terror/https://southfront.press/defeated-on-battlefield-kyiv-responds-with-terror/

#Worldnews

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

jackeroni via World News

1 mese fa • •

jackeroni
1 mese fa • •

Russian Troops Push into Kupyansk as Northern Encirclement Tightens

Following intense fighting on the northern frontlines, Russian forces have reached the northern outskirts of Kupyansk, marking a significant breakthro...

^{Anonymous103 (South Front)}

#Worldnews

ZeroHora via World News

1 mese fa • •

ZeroHora
1 mese fa • •

Trump announces 25% tariff on India and unspecified penalties for buying Russian oil

https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-russia-india-9e388a55583e7007149819c52f0fd71b

#Worldnews

in reply to ZeroHora

Chainweasel

in reply to ZeroHora • 1 mese fa • •

It still won't get us to stop talking about the Trumpstein files.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

in reply to ZeroHora

☂️-

in reply to ZeroHora • 1 mese fa • •

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

BennyTheExplorer via Asklemmy

1 mese fa • •

BennyTheExplorer
1 mese fa • •

OK, not to be runde or anything, but why is your banner AI generated

In my opinion, AI just feels like the logical next step for capitalist exploitation and destruction of culture. Generative AI is (in most cases) just a fancy way for cooperations to steal art on a scale, that hasn't been possible before. And then they use AI to fill the internet with slop and misinformation and actual artists are getting fired from their jobs, because the company replaces them with an AI, that was trained on their original art.
Because of these reasons and some others, it just feels wrong to me, to be using AI in such a manner, when this community should be about inclusion and kindness.
Wouldn't it be much cooler, if we commissioned an actual artist for the banner or find a nice existing artwork (where the licence fits, of course)?
I would love to hear your thoughts!

#asklemmy

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ doesn't like this.

in reply to BennyTheExplorer

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to BennyTheExplorer • 1 mese fa • •

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the tech itself. Your issue is with capitalist relations and the way this technology is used under capitalism. Focus on what the actual problem is. dialecticaldispatches.substack…

A Marxist Perspective On AI

AI has become as a deeply polarizing issue on the left, with many people having concerns regarding its reliance on unauthorized training data, displacement of workers, lack of creativity, and environmental costs.

^{Dialectical Dispatches}

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

teagrrl

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • 1 mese fa • •

I read your link. I think my main issue is the framing as though AI is just a new tool that people are afraid of similar to the introduction of the camera.

Even outside of capitalist exploitation, AI generated art suffers from an inherent creative limitation. It's a derivative and subtractive tool. It can only remix what already exists. It lacks intention and human experience that make art meaningful. The creative process isn't just about the final image. There's choices, mistakes, revisions, and personal investment, etc. No amount of super long and super specific prompts can do this.

This is why a crude MS Paint drawing or a hastily made meme can resonate more than a "flawless" AI generated piece. Statistical approximation can't imbue a piece with lived experience or subvert expectations with purpose. It is creative sterility.

I can see some applications of AI generation for the more mundane aspects of creation, like the actions panel in Photoshop. But I think framing creative folks' objections as an act of self preservation as though we are afraid of technology is a bit of a strawman and reductive of the reality of the situation. Although there are definitely artists that react this way, I admit.

It is true that new tools reshape art. The comparison to photography or Photoshop is flawed. Those tools still require direct engagement with the creative process. In the link you provided the argument is made for a pro-AI stance using the argument that the photographer composes a shot and manipulating light. In contrast to AI which automates the creative act itself. That's where their argument falls apart.

As for democratization goes the issue isn't accessibility (plenty of free, nonexploitative tools already exist for beginners) and that is something that could be improved. AI doesn’t teach someone to draw, operate a camera, paint, reiterate, conceptualize, and develop artistic judgment. It lets them skip those steps entirely resulting in outputs that are aesthetically polished and creatively hollow. True democratization would mean empowering people to create.

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ doesn't like this.

in reply to teagrrl

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to teagrrl • 1 mese fa • •

Even outside of capitalist exploitation, AI generated art suffers from an inherent creative limitation. It’s a derivative and subtractive tool. It can only remix what already exists.

There's little evidence that this is fundamentally different from how our own minds work. We are influenced by our environment, and experiences. The art we create is a product of our material conditions. If you look at art from different eras you can clearly see that it's grounded in the material reality people live in. Furthermore, an artist can train the AI on their own style, as the video linked in the article shows with a concrete use case. That allows the artists to automate the mechanical work of producing the style they've come up with.

It lacks intention and human experience that make art meaningful.

That's what makes it a tool. A paintbrush or an app like Krita also lacks intention. It's the human using the tool that has the idea that they want to convey, and they use the tool to do that. We see this already happening a lot with memes being generated using AI tools. A few examples here. It's a case of people coming up with ideas and then using AI to visualize them so they can share them with others.

This is why a crude MS Paint drawing or a hastily made meme can resonate more than a “flawless” AI generated piece.

If we're just talking about pressing a button and getting an image sure. However, the actual tools like ComfyUI have complex workflows where the artist has a lot of direction over every detail that's being generated. Personally, I don't see how it's fundamentally different from using a 3D modelling tool like Blender or a movie director guiding actors in execution of the script.

I can see some applications of AI generation for the more mundane aspects of creation, like the actions panel in Photoshop.

Right, I think that's how these tools will be used professionally. However, there are also plenty of people who aren't professionals, and don't have artistic talent. These people now have a tool to flesh out an idea in their heads which they wouldn't have been able to do previously. I see this as a net positive. The examples above show how this can be a powerful tool for agitation, satire, and political commentary.

Those tools still require direct engagement with the creative process

So do tools like ComfyUI, if you look at the workflow, it very much resembles these tools.

the argument that the photographer composes a shot and manipulating light. In contrast to AI which automates the creative act itself

I do photography and I disagree here. The photographer looks at the scene, they do not create the scene themselves. The skill of the photographer is in noticing interesting patterns of light, objects, and composition in the scene that are aesthetically appealing. It's the skill of being able to curate visually interesting imagery. Similarly, what the AI does is generate the scene, and what the human does is curate the content that's generated based on their aesthetic.

AI doesn’t teach someone to draw, operate a camera, paint, reiterate, conceptualize, and develop artistic judgment. It lets them skip those steps entirely resulting in outputs that are aesthetically polished and creatively hollow. True democratization would mean empowering people to create.

Again, AI is a tool and it doesn't magically remove the need for people to develop an aesthetic, to learn about lighting, composition, and so on. However, you're also mixing in mechanical skills like operating the camera which have little to do with actual art. These tools very much do empower people to create, but to create something interesting still takes skill.

Workflow - ComfyUI

^{docs.comfy.org}

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

teagrrl

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • 1 mese fa • •

It honestly just seems like you want AI to be a stand in for creative thinking and intention rather than it actually enabling creative processes. Your examples you provide don't teach those skills. Everyone has ideas. I have ideas of being a master painter creating incredible paintings, I can visually imagine them in my head, AI can shit out something that somewhat resembles that I want. It can train on my own style of [insert medium]. But I am always at the mercy of the output of that tool. It would not be a problem if it were a normal tool like a camera or paintbrush. But when you use a thought limiting tool like AI it gives you limited results in return. It is always going to be chained to the whatever that particular AI has trained on. Artists develop a style over years, it changes from day to day, year to year, AI cannot evolve, yet an artist's style does just through repetition of creation. AI creates the predictive average of existing works.

I think the biggest thing here is that AI is a limited tool from the ground up rather than enabling creativity. You can't train AI to develop a new concept or a new idea, that's reserved to humans alone. It's that human intangibility that's yet to be achieved via AI and until sentience is achieved you're never going to get that from a limited tool like AI. If sentience is achieved, you'd have to recognize its humanity and at that point prompts are no longer needed, it can create its own work.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ doesn't like this.

in reply to teagrrl

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to teagrrl • 1 mese fa • •

It honestly just seems like you want AI to be a stand in for creative thinking and intention rather than it actually enabling creative processes.

I think was pretty clear in what I actually said. I think AI is a tool that automates the mechanical aspect of producing art. In fact, I repeatedly stated that I think the intention and creative thinking comes from the human user of the tool. I even specifically said that the tool does not replace the need for artistic ability.

Everyone has ideas. I have ideas of being a master painter creating incredible paintings, I can visually imagine them in my head, AI can shit out something that somewhat resembles that I want.

This is just gatekeeping. You're basically saying that only people who have the technical skills should be allowed to turn ideas in their heads into content that can be shared with others, and tough luck for everyone else.

But I am always at the mercy of the output of that tool. It would not be a problem if it were a normal tool like a camera or paintbrush.

That's completely false, you're either misunderstanding how these tools work currently or intentionally misrepresenting how they work. I urge you to actually spend the time to learn how a tool like ComfyUI works and what it is capable of.

It is always going to be chained to the whatever that particular AI has trained on.

What it's trained on is literally millions of images in every style imaginable, and what it is able to do is to blend these styles. The person using the tool can absolutely create a unique style. Furthermore, as I've already noted, and you've ignored, the artist can train the tool on their own style.

AI cannot evolve, yet an artist’s style does just through repetition of creation.

Yes, AI can evolve the same way artist evolves by being trained on more styles. Take a look at LoRA approach as one example of how easily new styles can be adapted to existing models.

I think the biggest thing here is that AI is a limited tool from the ground up rather than enabling creativity.

With all due respect, I think that you simply haven't spent the time how the tool actually works and what it is capable of.

It’s that human intangibility that’s yet to be achieved via AI and until sentience is achieved you’re never going to get that from a limited tool like AI

Replace AI in that sentence with paint brush and it will make just as much sense.

If sentience is achieved, you’d have to recognize its humanity and at that point prompts are no longer needed, it can create its own work.

You're once again ignoring my core point which is that AI is a tool and it is not meant to replace the human. It is meant to be used by people who have sentience and a critical eye for the specific imagery they're aiming to produce.

Lora models and how to use them with Stable Diffusion (by ThinkDiffusion) | Civitai

An introduction to LoRA models LoRA models, known as Small Stable Diffusion models , incorporate minor adjustments into conventional checkpoint mod...

^civitai.com

in reply to BennyTheExplorer

jsomae

in reply to BennyTheExplorer • 1 mese fa • •

Wouldn’t it be much cooler, if we commissioned an actual artist for the banner

I hate it when AI is used to replace the work an artist would have been paid for. But uh, this is a random open-source forum; there's no funding for artists to make banners. Rejecting AI art -- which was voted for by the community -- just seems like baseless virtue signalling. No artist is going to get paid if we remove it.

But like if you want to commission an artist with your own money, by all means go ahead. You'll still most likely need another community vote to approve it though.

in reply to jsomae

SanguinePar

in reply to jsomae • 1 mese fa • •

That doesn't change that real artists who made real art will have had their work used without permission or payment to help generate the banner. I'm with OP.

in reply to SanguinePar

jsomae

in reply to SanguinePar • 1 mese fa • •

If I drew something myself, those artists would also not be paid. I can understand a deontological argument against using AI trained on people's art, but for me, the utilitarian argument is much stronger -- don't use AI if it puts an artist out of work.

in reply to jsomae

SanguinePar

in reply to jsomae • 1 mese fa • •

Yeah, but if you drew it yourself then they wouldn't expect to be paid. Unless you plagiarised them to the degree that would trigger a copyright claim, they would (at worst) just see it as a job that they could have had, but didn't. Nothing of theirs was directly used, and at least something original of theirs was created. Whereas AI images are wholly based on other work and include no original ideas at all.

in reply to SanguinePar

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to SanguinePar • 1 mese fa • •

You haven't explained how it would be different in any way. Human artists learn by emulating other artists, and vast majority of art is derivative in nature. Unless a specific style is specified by the user input, AI images are also not plagiarised to the degree that would trigger a copyright claim. The only actual difference here is in the fact that the process is automated and a machine is producing the image instead of a human drawing it by hand.

in reply to SanguinePar

rumba

in reply to SanguinePar • 1 mese fa • •

Real artists use uncited reference art all the time. That person that drew a picture of Catherine the Great for a video game certainly didn't list the artist of the source art they were looking at when they drew it. No royalties went to that source artist. People stopped buying reference art books for the most part when Google image search became a thing.

A hell, a lot of professional graphic artists right now use AI for inspiration.

This isn't to say that the problem isn't real and a lot of artists stand to lose their livelihood over it, but nobody's paying someone to draw a banner for this forum. The best you're going to get is some artist doing out of the goodness of their heart when they could be spending their time and effort on a paying job.

in reply to rumba

SanguinePar

in reply to rumba • 1 mese fa • •

Real artists may be influenced, but they still put something of themselves into what they make. AI only borrows from others, it creates nothing.

I realise no-one is paying someone to make a banner for this forum, it would need to be someone choosing to do it because they want there to be a banner. But the real artists whose work was used by the AI to make the banner had no choice in the matter, let alone any chance of recompense.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

in reply to SanguinePar

rumba

in reply to SanguinePar • 1 mese fa • •

So what's the solution for this board, they should just put up a black image? Should they start a crowdfunding to pay an artist?

It's a really bothers an artist enough they could make a banner for the board and ask them to swap out the AI. But, they'll have to make something that more people like than the AI.

in reply to rumba

supersquirrel

in reply to rumba • 1 mese fa • •

But, they’ll have to make something that more people like than the AI.

No, it does not have to be better than the AI image to be preferable.

in reply to supersquirrel

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to supersquirrel • 1 mese fa • •

Speak for yourself.

in reply to rumba

patatas

in reply to rumba • 1 mese fa • •

The banner could be anything or nothing at all, and as long as it isn't AI generated, I would like it better

in reply to patatas

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to patatas • 1 mese fa • •

I, on the other hand, would not.

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

patatas

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • 1 mese fa • •

Perhaps we should ask ChatGPT what to do about this?

in reply to patatas

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to patatas • 1 mese fa • •

or perhaps you could stop perseverating

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

patatas

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • 1 mese fa • •

Not sure where I'm doing that - have been having some pretty interesting conversations with others tbh. My point is that you wouldn't outsource that decision to ChatGPT, so why is the creation of a banner image outsourced to one of these inherently dehumanizing systems?

in reply to patatas

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to patatas • 1 mese fa • •

dialecticaldispatches.substack…

A Marxist Perspective On AI

AI has become as a deeply polarizing issue on the left, with many people having concerns regarding its reliance on unauthorized training data, displacement of workers, lack of creativity, and environmental costs.

^{Dialectical Dispatches}

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

patatas

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • 1 mese fa • •

Will read your link, but when I saw the phrase "democratising creativity" I rolled my eyes hard and then grabbed this for you from my bookmarks. But I'll read the rest anyway

aeon.co/essays/can-computers-t…

Edit: yeah so that piece starts out by saying how art is about the development of what I'm taking to be a sort of 'curatorial' ability, but ends up arguing that as long as the slop machines are nominally controlled by workers, that it's fine actually. I couldn't disagree more.

Elsewhere in a discussion with another user here, I attempted to bring up Ursula Franklin's distinction between holistic and prescriptive technologies. AI is, to me, exemplary of a prescriptive process, in that its entire function is to destroy opportunities for decision-making by the user. The piece you linked admits this is the goal:

"What distinguishes it is its capacity to automate aspects of cognitive and creative tasks such as writing, coding, and illustration that were once considered uniquely human."

I reject this as being worthwhile. The output of those human pursuits can be mimicked by this technology, but, because (as the link I posted makes clear) these systems do not think or understand, they cannot be said to perform those tasks any more than a camera can be said to be painting a picture.

And despite this piece arguing that the people using these processes are merely incorporating a 'tool' into their work, and that AI will open up avenues for incredible new modes of creativity, I struggle to think of an example where the message some GenAI output conveyed was anything other than "I do not really give a shit about the quality of the output".

These days our online environment suffers constantly from this stream of "good enough, I guess, who cares" stuff that insults the viewer by presuming they just want to see some sort of image at the top of a page, and don't care about anything beyond this crass consumptive requirement.

The banner image in question is a great example of this. The overall aesthetic is stereotypical of GenAI images, which supports the notion that control of the process was more or less ceded to the system (or, alternately, that these systems provide few opportunities for directing the process). There are bizarre glitches that the person writing the prompt couldn't be bothered to fix, the composition is directionless, the question-marks have a jarring crispness that clashes with the rest of the image, the tablets? signs? are made from some unknown material, perhaps the same indistinct stuff as the ground these critters are standing on.

It's all actively hostile to a sense of community, as it pretends that communication is something that can just as well be accomplished by a statistical process, because who cares about trying to create something from the heart?

These systems are an insult to human intelligence while also undermining it by automating our decision-making processes. I wrote an essay about this if you're interested, which I'll link here and sign off, because I don't want to be accused again of repeating myself unnecessarily: thedabbler.patatas.ca/pages/ai…

Can computers think? No. They can’t actually do anything | Aeon Essays

For all the promise and dangers of AI, computers plainly can’t think. To think is to resist – something no machine does

^{Alva Noë (Aeon Magazine)}

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

in reply to patatas

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to patatas • 1 mese fa • •

Feel free to keep tilting at windmills I guess.

in reply to BennyTheExplorer

RaivoKulli

in reply to BennyTheExplorer • 1 mese fa • •

People are so dramatic over AI

in reply to RaivoKulli

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to RaivoKulli • 1 mese fa • •

I feel like it's just perseveration at this point. This tech exists, it's not going away, people just have to learn to live with that.

in reply to BennyTheExplorer

Cowbee [he/they]

in reply to BennyTheExplorer • 1 mese fa • •

Right now, anti-AI rhetoric is taking the same unprincipled rhetoric that the Luddites pushed forward in attacking machinery. They identified a technology linked to their proletarianization and thus a huge source of their new misery, but the technology was not at fault. Capitalism was.

What generative AI is doing is making art less artisinal. The independent artists are under attack, and are being proletarianized. However, that does not mean AI itself is bad. Copyright, for example, is bad as well, but artists depend on it. The same reaction against AI was had against the camera for making things like portraits and still-lifes more accessible, but nowadays we would not think photography to be anything more than another tool.

The real problems with AI are its massive energy consumption, its over-application in areas where it actively harms production and usefulness, and its application under capitalism where artists are being punished while corporations are flourishing.

In this case, there's no profit to be had. People do not need to hire artists to make a banner for a niche online community. Hell, this could have been made using green energy. These are not the same instances that make AI harmful in capitalist society.

Correct analysis of how technologies are used, how they can be used in our interests vs the interests of capital, and correct identification of legitimate vs illegitimate use-cases are where we can succeed and learn from the mistakes our predecessors made. Correct identification of something linked to deteriorating conditions combined with misanalyzing the nature of how they are related means we come to incorrect conclusions, like when the Luddites initially started attacking machinery, rather than organizing against the capitalists.

Hand-created art as a medium of human expression will not go away. AI can't replace that. What it can do is make it easier to create images that don't necessarily need to have that purpose, as an expression of the human experience, like niche online forum banners or conveying a concept visually. Not all images need to be created in artisinal fashion, just like we don't need to hand-draw images of real life when a photo would do. Neither photos nor AI can replace art. Not to mention, but there is an art to photography as well, each human use of any given medium to express the human experience can be artisinal.

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

in reply to Cowbee [he/they]

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to Cowbee [he/they] • 1 mese fa • •

It's worth noting that the argument regarding massive energy consumption is no longer true. Models perform better than ones that required a data centre to run just a year ago can already be run on a laptop today. Meanwhile, people are still finding lots of new ways to optimize them. There is little reason to think they're not going to continue getting more efficient for the foreseeable future.

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

Cowbee [he/they]

in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • 1 mese fa • •

Fair point, but I do think that until we see more widespread adoption of renewables in the US and other heavy-polluters, energy use in general is a hot topic we are already beyond capacity for. There needs to be a real qualitative leap to green energy some point soon, and we can't just rely on the PRC to electrify the world if the US is intent on delaying that shift as much as possible.

in reply to Cowbee [he/they]

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to Cowbee [he/they] • 1 mese fa • •

Oh I completely agree there.

CoderSupreme via Asklemmy

1 mese fa • •

CoderSupreme
1 mese fa • •

Are the UK and China Authoritarian?

I've often heard that China is authoritarian, particularly due to events like the suppression of student protests in Hong Kong. However, I'm curious about more recent examples. Conversely, I've been hearing about the UK's Online Safety Act being used to target Wikipedia editors and silence protests, which raises questions about authoritarian tendencies there as well. What specific examples do you have that demonstrate whether these countries are authoritarian or not?

#asklemmy

in reply to CoderSupreme

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to CoderSupreme • 1 mese fa • •

The term authoritarianism is utterly meaningless because all governments rely on coercion to maintain their authority. The state is fundamentally an instrument that’s used by the ruling class to maintain its dominance. The whole notion that political systems can be neatly categorized into authoritarian or democratic binaries is deeply infantile.

The reality is that every government derives its authority from its monopoly on legal violence. The ability to enforce laws, suppress dissent, and maintain order is derived from control over police, military, and judicial systems. Whether a government is labelled authoritarian or democratic, the fundamental basis of its power lies here. Therefore, the only meaningful questions to ask are which class interests it represents, and to what extent can it be held accountable to them.

What ultimately matters is which class controls the institutions of state violence. In capitalist democracies, the government represent the interests of the economic elites who fund political campaigns, own media outlets, and control key industries. Western public lacks the mechanisms necessary to hold the government to account, and the ruling class is disconnected from the broader population. That’s precisely what’s driving political discontent all across western sphere today. Meanwhile, in so-called authoritarian regimes, the ruling party serves the working class as seen in countries like China, Cuba, or Vietnam. Hence why there is widespread public trust in these government and they enjoy broad support from the masses.

in reply to CoderSupreme

ImplyingImplications

in reply to CoderSupreme • 1 mese fa • •

The UK has multiple political parties and free democratic elections. Just because the current government passed a law you don't agree with doesn't mean the country is authoritarian.

in reply to ImplyingImplications

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆

in reply to ImplyingImplications • 1 mese fa • •

Imagine thinking that the number of parties have anything to do with how democratic a country is. 🤣

Alas Poor Erinaceus via Palestine

1 mese fa • •

Alas Poor Erinaceus
1 mese fa • •

US labor activist Chris Smalls assaulted by IDF during Gaza aid trip, group says

I would really like it if Chris Smalls ran for political office.

DRAFT CHRIS SMALLS 2026/2028

US labor activist Chris Smalls assaulted by IDF during Gaza aid trip, group says

Freedom Flotilla Coalition says Smalls was ‘choked and kicked’ after aid ship trying to reach Gaza was intercepted

^{Adria R Walker (The Guardian)}

#Palestine

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☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ likes this.

in reply to Alas Poor Erinaceus

geneva_convenience

in reply to Alas Poor Erinaceus • 1 mese fa • •

Apparently Israel singled him out and he was the only one so severely physically harmed.

Wonder why...

Peter Link via politics

1 mese fa • •

Peter Link
1 mese fa • •

They Saw Their Neighbors Taken Away by ICE. Then They Made a Plan.

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/33893336

By Michelle Goldberg
July 30, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET

The widespread raids that have upended life in Los Angeles may soon spread to other cities, especially now that Republicans in Congress have increased ICE’s budget to $27.7 billion, up from about $8 billion. (That’s more than that of most militaries.) “We are a petri dish,” Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles told me. “They’re experimenting with us. If they come and make this stand in Los Angeles, then they can scare all the other cities, just like the universities have been scared, just like the legal firms have been scared.”
Yet if Los Angeles is a testing ground for mass deportation, it’s also a place to see how the resistance is evolving. Though there have been some big anti-Trump marches this year, many of those most horrified by this administration are looking for more immediate, tangible ways to thwart it. The movement against ICE in Los Angeles — one that is starting to take root, in different forms, in cities like New York — is part of a growing shift from symbolic protest to direct action.

archive.ph/91twe

Peter Link

2025-07-30 12:59:56

They Saw Their Neighbors Taken Away by ICE. Then They Made a Plan.

By Michelle Goldberg
July 30, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET
The widespread raids that have upended life in Los Angeles may soon spread to other cities, especially now that Republicans in Congress have increased ICE’s budget to $27.7 billion, up from about $8 billion. (That’s more than that of most militaries.) “We are a petri dish,” Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles told me. “They’re experimenting with us. If they come and make this stand in Los Angeles, then they can scare all the other cities, just like the universities have been scared, just like the legal firms have been scared.”
Yet if Los Angeles is a testing ground for mass deportation, it’s also a place to see how the resistance is evolving. Though there have been some big anti-Trump marches this year, many of those most horrified by this administration are looking for more immediate, tangible ways to thwart it. The movement against ICE in Los Angeles — one that is starting to take root, in different forms, in cities like New York — is part of a growing shift from symbolic protest to direct action.

archive.ph/91twe

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/opinion/ice-immigration-protest-resistance.html?unlocked_article_code=1.aU8.UpOG.sxZOVrT_AdPs

#politics

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

Peter Link via United States | News & Politics

1 mese fa • •

Peter Link
1 mese fa • •

They Saw Their Neighbors Taken Away by ICE. Then They Made a Plan.

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/33893336

By Michelle Goldberg
July 30, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET

The widespread raids that have upended life in Los Angeles may soon spread to other cities, especially now that Republicans in Congress have increased ICE’s budget to $27.7 billion, up from about $8 billion. (That’s more than that of most militaries.) “We are a petri dish,” Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles told me. “They’re experimenting with us. If they come and make this stand in Los Angeles, then they can scare all the other cities, just like the universities have been scared, just like the legal firms have been scared.”
Yet if Los Angeles is a testing ground for mass deportation, it’s also a place to see how the resistance is evolving. Though there have been some big anti-Trump marches this year, many of those most horrified by this administration are looking for more immediate, tangible ways to thwart it. The movement against ICE in Los Angeles — one that is starting to take root, in different forms, in cities like New York — is part of a growing shift from symbolic protest to direct action.

archive.ph/91twe

Peter Link

2025-07-30 12:59:56

They Saw Their Neighbors Taken Away by ICE. Then They Made a Plan.

By Michelle Goldberg
July 30, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET
The widespread raids that have upended life in Los Angeles may soon spread to other cities, especially now that Republicans in Congress have increased ICE’s budget to $27.7 billion, up from about $8 billion. (That’s more than that of most militaries.) “We are a petri dish,” Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles told me. “They’re experimenting with us. If they come and make this stand in Los Angeles, then they can scare all the other cities, just like the universities have been scared, just like the legal firms have been scared.”
Yet if Los Angeles is a testing ground for mass deportation, it’s also a place to see how the resistance is evolving. Though there have been some big anti-Trump marches this year, many of those most horrified by this administration are looking for more immediate, tangible ways to thwart it. The movement against ICE in Los Angeles — one that is starting to take root, in different forms, in cities like New York — is part of a growing shift from symbolic protest to direct action.

archive.ph/91twe

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/opinion/ice-immigration-protest-resistance.html?unlocked_article_code=1.aU8.UpOG.sxZOVrT_AdPs

#USA

Questa voce è stata modificata (1 mese fa)

Peter Link via United States | News & Politics

1 mese fa • •

Peter Link
1 mese fa • •

They Saw Their Neighbors Taken Away by ICE. Then They Made a Plan.

By Michelle Goldberg
July 30, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET

The widespread raids that have upended life in Los Angeles may soon spread to other cities, especially now that Republicans in Congress have increased ICE’s budget to $27.7 billion, up from about $8 billion. (That’s more than that of most militaries.) “We are a petri dish,” Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles told me. “They’re experimenting with us. If they come and make this stand in Los Angeles, then they can scare all the other cities, just like the universities have been scared, just like the legal firms have been scared.”
Yet if Los Angeles is a testing ground for mass deportation, it’s also a place to see how the resistance is evolving. Though there have been some big anti-Trump marches this year, many of those most horrified by this administration are looking for more immediate, tangible ways to thwart it. The movement against ICE in Los Angeles — one that is starting to take root, in different forms, in cities like New York — is part of a growing shift from symbolic protest to direct action.

archive.ph/91twe

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/opinion/ice-immigration-protest-resistance.html?unlocked_article_code=1.aU8.UpOG.sxZOVrT_AdPs

#USA

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☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ via World News

1 mese fa • •

☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
1 mese fa • •

US wakes up from REM sleep but China’s rare earth grip tightens

archive.ph/MOhtK

US wakes up from REM sleep but China’s rare earth grip tightens

Despite efforts to build domestic capacity, the US is turning to China for critical rare earth minerals — essential for electric vehicles, electronics, and national defence — as part of a new trade framework.

^{Djoomart Otorbaev (TRT Global)}

#Worldnews