chapek.notes

What I don't understand is people who aren't interested at all in democracy, don't see the point of it, but then swoon onto a divan when there's a political murder or act of terrorism. Do they get without democracy, that's what "politics" becomes? Power, violence, intimidation, murder, terrorism?

I hate it here.

The first Memorial Day, May 1, 1865.

One of the Democrats' biggest problems is credibility. Trump has ethos (that's how con men succeed) and the Democrats don't. That's because Democrats are seen as poll-watchers who don't stand for anything. You don't overcome that problem by watching more polls.

I finally told my cats they were adopted

I doubt there is a better place in the world at this moment.

Ask yourself what you’d think about another country if a new regime quickly prohibited all government agencies from communicating with the public, then began deleting data from government websites that it deemed unacceptable.

Paul Wellstone

Lesson 1: Do not obey in advance.
Thread of lessons from my book #OnTyranny. Written in 2016.

Came here to say this. “The Coming..” especially.

RIP Snoop D Oh Double G. ☠️ to us now. Idk why we expected more from you, but we did.

Exclusive: Bluesky is getting its own photo-sharing app, Flashes More good news for those looking to exit Meta's social app ecosystem in favor of a more open alternative: An independent developer is building a

Some good news for the visually-oriented social media people amongst us!

My exact predicament - With persistent cat licks and meow-pleas to get up..

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims Key developments on Jan. 7: * Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims * In historic record, Ukrainian F-16 pilot downs 6 cruise missiles in single missi...

Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims; In historic record, Ukrainian F-16 pilot downs 6 cruise missiles in single mission, Air Force claims; and more.

Why I'm quitting the Washington Post Democracy can't function without a free press

Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post cartoonist Ann Telnaes announces she's quit the paper because her editors wouldn't print a cartoon going after Big Tech and media oligarchs paying tribute to to Trump

A new low in mainstream media's post-Trump meltdown anntelnaes.substack.com/p/why-im-qui...

George Orwell
Letter to Victor Gollancz
8 January 1940

Wow. Amazing how Buddhist poets over 2000 years ago perfectly anticipated social media

He died as he lived, clicking “Forgot password,” then checking his inbox for a code, then putting in that code, then setting up two-step verification, and then waiting for the text message that doesn’t come, and then calling the 800 number, and then downloading an authenticator app, and dying.

UnitedHealthcare Group had a profit of $32.36 billion last year by the way. Profit.

For context the budget of the government of Bulgaria was $32.47 billion. Some have estimated that you could end world hunger for around $25 billion a year.

Musk explains his X algorithm

MONTHS AFTER Joe said he would not pardon Hunter, Trump won the election & appointed a man as FBI Director who has spent the last 4 years on every right-wing podcast ranting that he was going to go after Hunter. Obsessed with him. Were you aware of that, critics? Not relevant?

Trump is seizing control of the investigative and prosecutorial powers of the state by staffing them with the most conspiratorial and blindly loyal nominees : Gaetz/Bondi, Patel, Gabbard.

Political retribution is his priority. The rest of governing he doesn’t care about.

Talked with my two Ukrainian English language students today. Their optimism despite everything absolutely blew me away.

Say it!

I’m trying to strike a healthy balance between being informed and being oblivious.

Couldn’t agree more. But if you engage in electoral politics.. do NOT make this your strategy.

Ukrainians optimistic about Trump feel a mix of Biden fatigue and hope for change Despite warnings from some analysts ahead of the U.S. elections that a win by the Republican nominee Donald Trump could become a “worst-case scenario” for Ukraine, the mood in Kyiv after his victory w...

Some Ukrainians pin hopes on new US administration, while analysts caution 'hope alone is not a strategy.'

A poem by Langston Hughes titled "Tired". It reads as the following: "I am so tired of waiting, Aren't you, For the world to become good And beautiful and kind? Let us take a knife And cut the world in two -- And see what worms are eating At the rind."

I've been thinking about this poem by Langston Hughes recently and although it was published in 1931, it remains relevant as ever.

#books #reading #booksky #poetry