eightpix

@eightpix@lemmy.world

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨How would you spell the sound Transformers make when they transform?⁩ ⁨⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago⁩:

  Ee-ahn’-aw-oh(ng)-oo(ng) for robot to vehicle. And quickly.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that the guy who created the hardest quote on conservatives is also a contemporary classical music composer⁩ ⁨⁨22⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago⁩:

  I’ve used this so many times. Now I need to employ Wilhoit’s composition as well.

  Perhaps both, together.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨What do you think is the opposite of Kiwifarms?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago⁩:

  You make an excellent point.

  Perhaps, instead of “celebrating”, the opposite of “[vicious] harassment and [ignorant] hatefulness” is virtuous identification and commitment to learning. Thoughts?

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK: 1930s Germany used Jim Crow America as a model, which was a resurgence of Antebellum American racist policies — segregation, imprisonment, enslavement, and homicide.⁩ ⁨⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago⁩:

  Its centered on the US because they’re harming themselves and everyone else all at once. “Flooding the zone” as it were. What’s there to be done but stand on principle and dominate the narrative.

  Inception, followed by a kick.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK: 1930s Germany used Jim Crow America as a model, which was a resurgence of Antebellum American racist policies — segregation, imprisonment, enslavement, and homicide.⁩ ⁨⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago⁩:

  Thanks for that. And true, Durden was not the best to offer. I meant it to be jarring. I meant it to reach out to the disaffected youth and the millennials and the middle of the road white boys. It is anachronistic. And, you might note, it’s no longer about Douglass in that last sentence. It’s us. We, now, are, and should be, pissed off.

  The thing is, black anger has always been regarded a threat. My anger has always been a threat. So, I picked one of my heroes as a picture. One of the first of ‘the other’ to take command of his own photographic image. But the current state of affairs — which has never changed — caused me to co-opt the words that, in some readings (like the one you shared), spurred on the Tea Partiers, the “basket of deplorables”, and the Red Hats. An inversion, or, if you like, a suplex for those words.

  It was not the smartest, or most apt move. But, it’s what I chose. And published. And am responsible for.

  Thanks for your insight.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK: 1930s Germany used Jim Crow America as a model, which was a resurgence of Antebellum American racist policies — segregation, imprisonment, enslavement, and homicide.⁩ ⁨⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago⁩:

  Added it to my list of upcoming reads.

• YSK: 1930s Germany used Jim Crow America as a model, which was a resurgence of Antebellum American racist policies — segregation, imprisonment, enslavement, and homicide.lemmy.world ↗
  Submitted ⁨⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago⁩ to ⁨youshouldknow@lemmy.world⁩ | ⁨15⁩ ⁨comments⁩
• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK: A real American Civil war will NOT be like Battlefield or COD.⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago⁩:

  Im glad you’ve said this. Before I saw The Death of Yugoslavia, I honestly believed that modern warfare was clean, clinical, and restricted to willing combatants. That the Geneva Conventions, various constitutional statements, and human honour and decency were a part of modern wars. At least since Vietnam.

  No. I was disabused of that notion by this documentary. Yes, I agree, the BBC shouldn’t have the last word on a war in Eastern Europe. The BBC probably shouldn’t have the last word on anything. However, they did happen to have the first word — to me — on the importance of understanding how modern wars get started, how they progress, and chillingly, why they don’t end. It’s a sad, slow, solemn march into oblivion.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Unfortunately, at this point, ICE has "Erik Princed" a US city; over a traffic violation. And the Administration is lying, gaslighting, and giving it cover.⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago⁩:

  I’m not going to argue the utility of the comment.

  I said, didn’t I?, it was a throwaway line — vaguely connected for a 7-minute, TikTok-friendly scene with a cameo by a pretty solid character actor. Anything to keep 10% of readers interested for one more paragraph — this attention economy is the pits.

  You seem like a film/media purist. What consumable, catchy, full-length film helps you to make sense of Mr. Toad’s wild ride into authoritarianism?

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Unfortunately, at this point, ICE has "Erik Princed" a US city; over a traffic violation. And the Administration is lying, gaslighting, and giving it cover.⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago⁩:

  Not pertinent.

  …

  …

  Yet.

  ech@ is right. I threw that reference in there for no good reason.

  Yet, that Jesse Plemons scene (spoiler!) is feeling pretty chilling to some. But that’s all. For now. I had Kyle Rittenhouse vibes off of that. Linked article reminds us, he was acquitted.

  But for whatever an answer to the question is worth: It’s a solid 6.5/10 movie. I’ve not felt the need for a second viewing. Watching America tear itself apart in real-time is a little more pertinent.

• Unfortunately, at this point, ICE has "Erik Princed" a US city; over a traffic violation. And the Administration is lying, gaslighting, and giving it cover.
  Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ to ⁨youshouldknow@lemmy.world⁩ | ⁨9⁩ ⁨comments⁩
• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Unfortunately, at this point, ICE has legally "Erik Princed" a US city; over a traffic violation. And they're lying, gaslighting, and giving it cover.⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  I forgot to say this in my previous response: I’m sorry that this happened in your state and I hope that Minnesota can do exactly what you’re describing. I heard the AG of Minnesota, Keith Ellison, talk on Democracy Now!

  Wherever the shooter is, the state of Minnesota needs to take custody of him and any evidence. State-level courts need to try him for the homicide he committed. Minnesota needs to convict him at the state level.

  If he’s only ever federally charged, the regime could try the case to appease public opinion. Even if he was convicted federally, -2 could/would pardon him.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Unfortunately, at this point, ICE has legally "Erik Princed" a US city; over a traffic violation. And they're lying, gaslighting, and giving it cover.⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  That’s the thing. The regime says it’s legal. They’re lying. The state has a right to investigate federal exercise of power. If that right is removed, you no longer have a United States. It’s a fief.

  I feel for you all. As I did 2001-2009.

  “When exposing a crime is treated as a crime, you are ruled by criminals.” A painter is beaten by a police officer for the crime of painting a picture of a painter being beaten by a police officer.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Unfortunately, at this point, ICE has legally "Erik Princed" a US city; over a traffic violation. And they're lying, gaslighting, and giving it cover.⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Yes. Lest we forget, Philly PD bombed the city of Philadelphia.

  Note: 9 MOVE members were convicted and imprisoned on questionable evidence in a similar, violent attempt to serve a “warrant”. Unless you, bot, believe that those not charged or convicted are guilty of crimes they were not even charged with, let alone the charges (contempt of court, parole violations, loud noise, animals, illegal weapons posession, threats) the warrants were being served represented in a land where people are innocent until proven guilty.

  8 adults and 3 children dead. For what? Procedure? A monopoly on power? What of the 250 people and 60+ homes destroyed in the ensuing fire?

  All this to say, America is mad racist. Still.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Unfortunately, at this point, ICE has legally "Erik Princed" a US city; over a traffic violation. And they're lying, gaslighting, and giving it cover.⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  “West Philadelphia born and raised…”

  Takes on a spin, no? I prefer the Roots.

• Unfortunately, at this point, ICE has legally "Erik Princed" a US city; over a traffic violation. And they're lying, gaslighting, and giving it cover.
  Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ to ⁨aboringdystopia@lemmy.world⁩ | ⁨13⁩ ⁨comments⁩
• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨What's it going to take to truly stop the US?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Yeah, a whole-country general strike in America would only last a day, two tops. They don’t have the wherewithal to be good neighbours and politically aligned against monied interests the way a nation-state that has a deeper, older history can.

  The history of America is money, interest, and interested money.

  Southern plantations, 17th century land ownership, trade in enslaved persons, ranching, gold prospecting… and war.

  War against the Indigenous, the French, the Spanish, the Mexica, the French again, the British, the Bolivarians, themselves, and then everyone else, forever.

  The way to defeat America is to end its war-making capacity. Explosions, attacks, weathering, budget restrictions, out-competition, and mutually-assured destruction have all failed as gambits. What remains is to undercut the human element — wounding warriors without wielding deadly force. A loss in military preparedness, a disbelief in the stated mission, a war-weariness.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨What's it going to take to truly stop the US?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  None of these things will stop the US. What will is a general strike, a new constitutional convention, and the reconstruction of the nation from the ground up.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Is gold investing a scam?⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago⁩:

  macrotrends.net/…/historical-gold-prices-100-year…

  In August 1976, gold was $35/oz, close to its historical level. By October 1979, it was $380/oz, over 10× increase — peaking (for the 20th c.) in January 1980 at $668/oz.

  20× return in 3.5 years.

  Gold doubled again in value by December 2010, and again by January 2025 — to $2800/oz.

  The all-time high, 20 October 2025, $4377.58/oz.

  125× return in under 40 years.

  I’ve seen it said: it’s not that gold has gotten more expensive. Its that the USD is debased as a currency against the dollar. The gold standard for USD ended in August 1971.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨[deleted]⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  For anyone who hasn’t listened to ALL of the lyrics from that song, go. Do it.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Do boycotts work?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Know what works better than boycotts? A general strike. Stop the economy in its tracks. Have a clear, articulated goal. No leadership. No one to arrest. No one to identify as a troublemaker.

  The trouble, when systemic, is the system. A boycott is meant to strike at an individual or group of allied organization(s). A general strike is the last level.

  Governments tend to be allergic to general strikes. Their reactions are heavy-handed, thoughtless, and reactionary. Howard Zinn recounts several in A People’s History of the United States. But, when primed and done well, it is a demonstration of political will unlike any other. It is a change agent.

  I was in Guatemala in 2015 for the one-day general strike that led to the arrest of then-President Otto Perez Molina. His party had been funnelling tax revenues into a slush fund. Look up #noletoca and #LaLinea. He was removed from the presidency, tried, convicted, and served time.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨So...how the fuck do I trust *anything*?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Sorry. Am atheist. Aren’t churches cults?

  Unpopular opinion.

  Allow me to rephrase: Churches aren’t cults, but they do worship a dead guy, an “I” in sky, and promise that “whosoever believeth” will not die but “have everlasting life.” Christmas, Easter, and Judgement Day — the big three.

  This, on its own, sounds cult-adjacent.

  There’s community, and I guess as long as someone says a prayer for you, remembers your name, or holds on to a record of your existence — I guess that’s something resembling everlasting life. Churches are good at keeping records. Sort of. Depends on what it is, really. If they want to forget, apparently, they will.

  There’s also the proselytizing, “spreading The Word.” And the meetings — almost exclusively on the weekend!

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨So...how the fuck do I trust *anything*?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Betting on chaos, destruction, reconstruction costs, insurance payouts/denials, and instability for a growing segment of the population made many people rich in the 15th to 21st centuries.

  When you are both the cause and the beneficiary of this exercise, that is Disaster Capitalism — an extension of the Shock Doctrine.

  The doctrine itself can capitalize on accidents, natural disasters, political instabilities, and economic downturns.

  Disaster capitalism foments “accidents” (see: Beirut explosion), natural disasters (see: climate change denialism), political instabilities (see: School of the Americas), and economic downturns (see: the Big Short).

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨So...how the fuck do I trust *anything*?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  If I was going to sacrifice my integrity for money, I would start a church.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨So...how the fuck do I trust *anything*?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  I might add, start good trouble. This follows from 5. above.

  Hold your state and federal representatives’ feet to the fire. Protest injustice. Demand transparency and equity. Understand how your local community works. If it doesn’t work, build on that.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨So...how the fuck do I trust *anything*?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Always excellent, The Evolution of Trust, and interactive exercise in Game Theory.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨So...how the fuck do I trust *anything*?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Welcome to the Internet. Hopefully, I read as a good person. I am not a bot.

  I lived as a young adult through Bush II. 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq, Halliburton, Blackwater, and loads of corruption. It was tough to trust anything then. The goal was pure profit.

  Apparently, Dubya was the warm-up presidency for this shit.

  First, let me share a clip from Margin Call, 2011.

  As long as the prevailing mode has been capital, there has been speculation. As long as there has been speculation, there have been lying liars who exploit the system.

  The last few pump and dump bubbles he mentioned (1987, 1992, 1997, 2000, and 2008) are all market crashes I can remember. The market is a casino. Crashes since '08 include 2010 (Flash Crash), 2015 (sell-off), 2018 (cryptocrash), 2020 (Covid), 2022 (Ukraine War), and 2025 (tariffs).

  These were once “once in a lifetime” events.

  Second, everything in the world is designed to generate more:

  • self-serving, self-centered, selfish

  • short-term-focused

  • extroverted, charismatic, vain

  • action-oriented

  • thoughtless

  psychopaths and sociopaths. This ethos runs things because of profit motives, monopolies on the exercise of violence, and the development of contemporary morés rooted in exploitation, expropriation, and (deemed) externalities of colonialism. Identifying some humans as “the other” makes much more inhumanity possible.

  So, I’m here to tell you, it’s real alright. What you’re feeling is real. What you’re feeling against is real. We are immersed in it. Algorithms are doing their best to lock it in.

  Finally, what to do and who to trust.

  Establish your own moral center. Decide what matters to you. Find those who are telling the most truth, especially when tested. Demogogues fall apart under examination. Lies fall apart when questioned. The unchallenged authority is no authority at all. Get the receipts; find primary sources as often as possible. Seek those who share at great personal cost.

  For me, it started with Star Trek. Then, hip-hop. Then, journalists I could trust. Even films that challenge prevailing narratives. I read a lot of books from many perspectives.

  20 years later, Chris Hedges, Naomi Klein, Jeremy Scahill, Henry A. Giroux, Amy Goodman, Arundhati Roy, and Noam Chomsky have never wavered. Films like The Insider, Erin Brockovich, and The Corporation light a fire in me. I’m rewatched David Simon and Barry Levinson’s Homicide: Life on the Street and, hilariously, Murphy Brown.

  Challenge the prevailing narratives. You’re not alone.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Is there or has there ever been information illegal to possess or have?⁩ ⁨⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Julian Assange has something to say about this.

  Edward Snowden has something to say about this.

  Reality Winner has something to say about this.

  Chelsea Manning has something to say about this.

  Woodward and Bernstein had something to say about this.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Has anyone read Klein’s “The Shock Doctrine”?⁩ ⁨⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  I’m starting to think that the Nobel Prize for Economics should be renamed the Nobel Anti-Peace Prize.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Has anyone read Klein’s “The Shock Doctrine”?⁩ ⁨⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Basically, there has always been opportunity in disaster. The Shock Doctrine uncovers the methods of those who engineer or wait for crises in order to capitalize on, or pass profiteering legislation in challening times.