I can't believe it's June! School is ending (only a month or so after it started here), our baby is nearly due (June 16, so we're on daily watch), and I've been in my pool every day for weeks. Life is very good, yet the world seems to be falling apart. I wonder if this is a function of the media -- either everything is blown out of proportion, or all of this stuff was always happening and we just didn't know about it. It's probably some combination of those, plus the fact that the system is rigged (not by race as many would like to believe) and insulates most of us from macro consequences. It's good that life is good! That being said, none of the links this week are particularly fun. Sorry!
Reprivatizing Fine Art In The Name of Equality by Angela Nagle
https://angelanagle.substack.com/p/reprivatizing-fine-art-in-the-name
The art world seems particularly primed for a collapse. I can't think of anywhere more disconnected from reality and more susceptible to hostile ideology. I predict that as the current art institutions succumb to their rot, we will see a return to beauty as a guide and traditional forms returning to prominance. It will probably be a good century for Mozart, Monet, and other Masters both new and old.
Amazon Prime Is an Economy-Distorting Lie
https://mattstoller.substack.com/p/amazon-primes-free-shipping-promise
Vanessa and I have discussed for a year how we would like to stop supporting these mega-companies. Amazon was always one where the free-market-libertarian in me could never quite put my finger on what was wrong. Matt Stoller does a great job here shining light on how Amazon Prime actually screws up the market for nearly everything.
Word Games by Leighton Woodhouse
https://leightonwoodhouse.substack.com/p/word-games
I'm sick of the neo-racist crap ("actually THEY'RE the real racists!"), but this is a particularly good piece detailing a rhetorical trick that seems to be spreading all over the place
Reprivatizing Fine Art In The Name of Equality by Angela Nagle
https://angelanagle.substack.com/p/reprivatizing-fine-art-in-the-name
The art world seems particularly primed for a collapse. I can't think of anywhere more disconnected from reality and more susceptible to hostile ideology. I predict that as the current art institutions succumb to their rot, we will see a return to beauty as a guide and traditional forms returning to prominance. It will probably be a good century for Mozart, Monet, and other Masters both new and old.
Amazon Prime Is an Economy-Distorting Lie
https://mattstoller.substack.com/p/amazon-primes-free-shipping-promise
Vanessa and I have discussed for a year how we would like to stop supporting these mega-companies. Amazon was always one where the free-market-libertarian in me could never quite put my finger on what was wrong. Matt Stoller does a great job here shining light on how Amazon Prime actually screws up the market for nearly everything.
Word Games by Leighton Woodhouse
https://leightonwoodhouse.substack.com/p/word-games
I'm sick of the neo-racist crap ("actually THEY'RE the real racists!"), but this is a particularly good piece detailing a rhetorical trick that seems to be spreading all over the place