Finland Had a Patent-Free COVID-19 Vaccine Nine Months Ago — But Still Went with Big Pharma (Jacobin Magazine)
Rather than helping a research team that had an IP-free vaccine ready in May, Finland’s government sided with Big Pharma.
End of 2020: Nothing to Look Forward to
Embrace this moment we call 2020; next year will be so much worse.
Talking Musk on “Tech Won’t Save Us”
Talking about the cosmic shitshow that is Elon Musk, on Paris Marx’s new podcast “Tech Won’t Save Us”.
Contrapuntal Consciousness (Aeon Magazine)
“Gödel, Escher, Bach” by Douglas Hofstadter turns 40 this year. Bach’s music never had a justified place in the book – but could it find one?
Spit PsyOps Spitballing
If the CIA can mimic people power, why couldn’t the grass-roots, in turn, emulate their PsyOp methods? You might think this type of theorizing is just spitting in the wind, and you’d probably be right.
Ten Jokes, Explained (video)
The first episode in a series of ten animated essays: Ten Jokes, Explained — I. The In-Joke
The New Scientology of Elon Musk
Elon Musk is the perfect hero for our era of reboots and reality TV. Much of the mythos around him consists of tired sci-fi clichés, recycled and sold as reality. And in this way, Musk himself is like an update on L. Ron Hubbard.
The Usefulness of “Neoliberalism”
A leftwing case against the term “neoliberalism” from historian Daniel Rodgers plays into the hands of those aiming to divert criticism.
Michael Haneke to Direct Reboot of “Home Alone”
Michael Haneke talks about his controversial reboot of the Home Alone franchise, and about violence, existential terror, and getting your head stuck in a doggie door.
Kinsley Gaffes: Slavery Edition (Progressive Army)
It’s always fascinating when a public official commits a Kinsley gaffe, and the veil drops for a brief moment.
Limited Hangout 