Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Twenty-Sixth Week
There’s no point denying it when the pandemic began I was frightened amidst the early uncertainty truly, I was scared but that was long ago these days I have no … Continue reading
Where We’re Going, We’ll Probably Still Need Roads – a Review of Paris Marx’s “Road to Nowhere”
You can learn a lot about your society’s relationship to technology by looking at its streets. Are the roads filled with personal automobiles or trolley-cars, bike lanes or occupied parking … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Twenty-Fifth Week
When you hear them say (and you will hear them say) that we have the tools we need make sure to ask them which public health emergency they are referring … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Twenty-Fourth Week
And now when you hear them speak of the public health emergency you have to reply “which one?” * The alarmists and minimizers are united in at least one thing … Continue reading
Singing About the Dark Times – Theses on Doomerism
In the dark times Will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing. About the dark times. – Brecht It sure seems like things aren’t going particularly … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Twenty-Third Week
Despite what you may have heard the good old days were predominantly bad though at least back then it was still possible to believe that we would be able to … Continue reading
All [White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy] is Local
Y’all, it’s bad out there. In case a second concurrent pandemic, Roe v Wade being overturned, and deadly weather caused by climate change weren’t enough, the rising tide of fascism … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Twenty-Second Week
For the virus this will not be the final wave for many of us however this will be the final wave. * Don’t exaggerate it simply isn’t the case that … Continue reading
Jonah, Cassandra, and the Doom-Sayers — Reading Lewis Mumford During the Pandemic
“If we would conquer the hell that now threatens to engulf us, we must not seek merely for a little less hell, we must not content ourselves with a sort … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Twenty-First Week
A year ago we celebrated our independence from the plague though this year there is nothing (not even independence from the plague) worth celebrating. * Fireworks are fitting for there … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Twentieth Week
When we said that we wanted to go back to how it was before the pandemic we did not mean that we wanted to go back fifty years. * If … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Nineteenth Week
You know better than to think this week will be the plague’s last and since you’re realistic you know next week won’t be its last either but don’t feel discouraged … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Eighteenth Week
I have heard it said that in life the only things that are certain are death and taxes that short list of certainties is quite bad enough without having contracting … Continue reading
Is Big Data the Message? a Review of Natasha Lushetich’s “Big Data–A new Medium?”
When discussing the digital, conversations can quickly shift towards talk of quantity. Just how many images are being uploaded every hour, how many meticulously monitored purchases are being made on … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Seventeenth Week
Living in a state of permanent emergency is absolutely intolerable we must reject it completely so that we can return to normal wherein we live in a state not of … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Sixteenth Week
Do not believe that we are exactly where we were a year ago that idea is ludicrous compared to last year cases are now five times higher and of course … Continue reading
How to Pick a Book for the Beach
“Reading is going toward something that is about to be, and no one yet knows what it will be.” – Italo Calvino At risk of being presumptuous, you seem … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Fifteenth Week
I have heard that this wave of the virus (though bad) will not be as bad as the previous wave of the virus and while I hope this is true … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Fourteenth Week
At first a hundred deaths was unthinkable then a thousand deaths was unthinkable then ten thousand deaths was unthinkable then a hundred thousand deaths was unthinkable then a million deaths … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Thirteenth Week
Do not be ridiculous none shall look back on these wretched times and call them the good old days though perhaps we shall someday recall them as the days during … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Twelfth Week
If you have forgotten how to make small talk here is a reminder: instead of speaking of the plague comment on the weather, rather than talk of variants mention local … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Eleventh Week
That we cannot personal responsibility our way out of this pandemic does not mean that you are relieved of all personal responsibility during this pandemic. * For quite some time … Continue reading
“Technology in the Present Tense” – Notes from a Weary Luddite
“The future is not a blank page; and neither is it an open book.” – Lewis Mumford 1. Here is a confession from a weary, self-identified Luddite: For someone … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Tenth Week
Repeat after me: I won’t get sick that happens to others not to me my coworker with the loud laugh acquaintances from school my cousin twice removed neighbors of my … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Ninth Week
Do not delay they say you need to have a plan for what you are going to do if you contract the virus (when you contract the virus) they say … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Eighth Week
By now we should know that if we wait to act until the hospitals are full than we have waited too long. * Take a shovel and dig the hole … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Seventh Week
Prophecy is easy as long as your predictions are modest bold claims are disproven firm dates are always missed the crises that are declared over have a tendency to persist … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Sixth Week
It is very challenging to see it coming when you have tied a blindfold tightly over your eyes. * As long as you’re up to it (seeing as the weather … Continue reading
Balance of Terrors – on Günther Anders
“You should not begin your day with the illusion that what surrounds you is a stable world.” – Günther Anders It has been 70 years since Bert the Turtle instructed … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Hundred-and-Fifth Week
For you who dwell in cities far from the ocean it is pointless to worry about sharks. For you who avoid venturing into the woods there is no need to … Continue reading
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