Reading the 20th Century discussion
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Welcome to The Midnight Bell (a virtual pub and general discussion thread) (2025)
Alwynne wrote: "There are campaigning organisations like 50501 which also lists events, forms of action taking place or useful to support:https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
There's also Indivisible which publishes pra..."
I would be careful about the 50501 organization. Its website is rather sketchy. I was in a Zoom meeting this week that included ex-CIA and current defense contractor personnel and several people expressed concern about the possibility that it might not be what it seems. As one guy said, there are many bad actors who work by trying to dilute a movement by siphoning off some of the effective efforts. He also was concerned that such actors can also be collecting lists of names that they may use for their own purposes.
G wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "There are campaigning organisations like 50501 which also lists events, forms of action taking place or useful to support:https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
There's also Indivisible whi..."
I'm not using the 50501 site but you can view events without logging in, and if like most people you use a VPN fairly privately. It's also possible to cross-check events as many are linked to other organisations. But you do you.
It's interesting you say six weeks, Curtis Yarvin cited April as the time when everything would be in place for his concept of the tech bros revolution, but I assumed it was hyperbole/garbage. He's a weirdo and pretty fringe but then again a lot of the Silicon Valley guys seem not to have noticed that. And it's impossible to work out what playbook Vance, Trump and Musk are working from, and even if they're working from the same ones. Even in terms of Project 2025 some aspects are being put into practice, others like stay close to allies like the UK clearly not! For example, is the Greenland plan solely based on Trump's aspirations? Or does it hark back to Peter Thiel's stated desire to move into that territory to build Prospera 2.0? Who knows?
Personally I think the UK and the rest of Europe should be moving away from the US, and looking at whether it's possible to buy time by increasing pragmatic links with China - which is looking pretty sane right now. Obviously there are lots of lovely Americans. But I've never been particularly pro close ties with America, wasn't happy about Iraq, Afghanistan etc
But whatever happens, this area of the world is going to get more and more unstable as climate change bites, and there's an increasing scramble for resources. In the West we've been incredibly fortunate post WW2 compared to so many other areas, so maybe it's just our time.
Alwynne wrote: "G wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "There are campaigning organisations like 50501 which also lists events, forms of action taking place or useful to support:https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
There's also Indiv..."
I think one of the things that makes it hard to pick the essential out of the chaos is Trump himself: the senile Trump is visibly more unhinged than the earlier version. And even more cruel and vindictive than before. He is harming everyone everywhere, seemingly doing stupid stuff just because he is drunk on his own power. No one here is sure how seriously to take his threats against Canada, Mexico, Greenland, Panama. I take them pretty seriously, because I understand that rhetoric is never empty, and in his case often he says out loud what he intends, then just backs down if there is too much outcry. Some of his administration's antics are childish--Kristi Noem jumping across the dividing line with Canada and saying "51st state" for instance. But childish insults cause harm. And at the level of international relations they cause a lot of harm.
To be honest, even if we find a way to corral and remove Don (and he could be impeached and removed right now, based on his violations of the Constitution, if only Republicans cared about Constitution and law), I'm not sure what the longer way is for us, because he's managed to do decades' worth of damage to our government and because the people who follow him have been cultivated for 50 years by a right-wing white supremacist media machinery that driven by lies and money. That problem is not going to go away. Yet the systems of our government have all been resistant to the idea that right-wing radicalization is one of the most dangerous threats to our country.
Ben wrote: "An example of what Americans are facing.The Governor of Maine stood up to Trump publicly at a meeting. This is the result, a demonstration of how the people of the State will be punished for the ..."
My mother was a recipient of citizen by birthright. Her parents had moved to San Francisco from Canada. And so she always had dual citizenship. Going one way she'd be asked where she was born and going the other way she'd be asked where her mother was born.
He is so petty. But it sounds as though Musk has been somewhat demoted. Giving more power back to agency heads.
Sonia wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "Ben wrote: "He doesn't yet have complete control, and overt violence would be counterproductive, except against migrants and other disfavoured groups. But these measures will weaken..."The number of SSA offices may depend on the state. I noticed it said that there were 8 in Maine. It's a small state. Wyoming has 6. A large state but not large In population. They supposedly have more cattle than people. My state is fairly large and has 33 offices.
Alwynne's list - I am not sure but I don't think I was familiar with half of those listed. Although some my be strictly New York or California organizations. But since I seem to be on a number of "sucker" lists I am familiar with a number of groups.
The problem of parks may seem trivial unless you happen to live in a town that lives and dies on tourism, which, at least in North Carolina, includes a fair number of towns.
I found this very illuminating, it's an episode of The Majority Report with Sam Seder in which he poses questions to a cross-section of Trump supporters. I thought it was interesting because the young voters represented didn't fit the image of the Trump supporter being presented in British media or taking shape in the popular imagination. They were articulate, committed and basically saw Trump as a means to an end. So basically strong conservative, individualistic, capitalist mindset inflected by Christian belief in many ways they seemed to me quintessentially American:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js15x...
Alwynne wrote: "I found this very illuminating, it's an episode of The Majority Report with Sam Seder in which he poses questions to a cross-section of Trump supporters. I thought it was interesting because the yo..."That was entertaining. Most seemed to be living with half-knowledge or truths. Maybe that's what comes from watching Fox, not sure because I don't watch their "news". I've enjoyed Sam Seder for years. Years ago, he used to be a regular guest with Rachel Maddow when she had her radio show on Air America.
Jan C wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "I found this very illuminating, it's an episode of The Majority Report with Sam Seder in which he poses questions to a cross-section of Trump supporters. I thought it was interestin..."Definitely a zealous lot but the image of the Trump supporter promoted here tends to be 'redneck' and 'hard of thinking.' I think these people make it clear that's not the case. I think they're just unashamedly right-wing, likely as not they keep dog-eared copies of Atlas Shrugged close to hand!
Although I still don't get how American conservative Christians reconcile put-your-granny-on-an-ice floe Rand with NT teachings - witness Vance scrambling to justify his rather narrow interpretation of the call to 'love thy neighbour' when challenged by Rory Stewart. All the British equivalents I've encountered interpret the NT as broadly left-wing and tend to be either Labour or Green Party supporters. The only ones I've met who aren't either consider themselves apolitical or have ties to American churches.
Alwynne wrote: "Although I still don't get how American conservative Christians reconcile put-your-granny-on-an-ice floe Rand with NT teachings "It's so hypocritical. But there was a very well-funded and successful movement in the 1980's here in the US to shift the love-your-neighbor Christians (who as I recall prior to that were more left wing as you describe the UK) over to the far right, primarily using abortion propaganda, and now they preach politics from the pulpit. I don't see how these two ideologies would fit in someone's head, so I have to think they are deluded.
We were talking about Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy on another thread: an American friend has lent me his copy and it is fantastically illuminating.
I'm only about 50 pages in so far and am on a chapter about the radicalization of the church which speaks to our questions above:
'the true meaning of the gospel of St. Matthew, [Michael] Novak argued, was not to pursue social justice but to promote the capitalist institutions of property, markets and free enterprise' which argument he based on Matthew 25:29 'for whoever has will be given more... whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken away from them' - sheesh!
'Over subsequent decades, a significant number of ultra wealthy Catholics heard the call of the gospel as Novak interpreted it, and they poured their energy and money into the defence of capitalism against the alleged heresy of the social gospel.' (p. 51)
I'm now on Project 2025 and Opus Dei.
I like Stewart's approach a lot: 'as a reporter, I like to look first and theorise later... this book is therefore a collection of dispatches from the front lines of the current assault on American democracy'.
I'm only about 50 pages in so far and am on a chapter about the radicalization of the church which speaks to our questions above:
'the true meaning of the gospel of St. Matthew, [Michael] Novak argued, was not to pursue social justice but to promote the capitalist institutions of property, markets and free enterprise' which argument he based on Matthew 25:29 'for whoever has will be given more... whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken away from them' - sheesh!
'Over subsequent decades, a significant number of ultra wealthy Catholics heard the call of the gospel as Novak interpreted it, and they poured their energy and money into the defence of capitalism against the alleged heresy of the social gospel.' (p. 51)
I'm now on Project 2025 and Opus Dei.
I like Stewart's approach a lot: 'as a reporter, I like to look first and theorise later... this book is therefore a collection of dispatches from the front lines of the current assault on American democracy'.
Roman Clodia wrote: "We were talking about Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy on another thread: an American friend has lent me his copy and it is fantastically ill..."That sounds promising. Interesting interpretation of Matthew, particularly as meant as parable rather than direct commentary. It's more usually understood as related to knowledge of Christ/spirituality, so the more that someone follows Christ and Christ's teachings the more they'll benefit on a spiritual level i.e. the closer they'll be to God and the kingdom of heaven. Some translations actually underline the reference to a relationship with Christ. Also ignores wider context, like Matthew 19:23/26 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God," the moneylenders being thrown out of the temple etc
But selectivity when it comes to religion seems a common occurrence thinking of Vance and his issues with the good Samaritanhttps://www.catholicnewsagency.com/ne...
Alwynne wrote: "But selectivity when it comes to religion seems a common occurrence thinking of Vance and his issues with the good Samaritan"
Exactly. Stewart talks about the new schism in Christianity and, in the Catholic groups she investigated, the split between self-named 'Franciscan Catholics' ranged with the current pope and believing in a 'social gospel' and the others like Vance.
I'm just starting a chapter on school board wars and Moms for Liberation.
This book is giving me exactly the insight I wanted: eye witness accounts with the necessary history and analysis to understand the context.
Exactly. Stewart talks about the new schism in Christianity and, in the Catholic groups she investigated, the split between self-named 'Franciscan Catholics' ranged with the current pope and believing in a 'social gospel' and the others like Vance.
I'm just starting a chapter on school board wars and Moms for Liberation.
This book is giving me exactly the insight I wanted: eye witness accounts with the necessary history and analysis to understand the context.
Roman Clodia wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "But selectivity when it comes to religion seems a common occurrence thinking of Vance and his issues with the good Samaritan"Exactly. Stewart talks about the new schism in Christi..."
I only recently realised what a force illiberal Catholicism was in America, I've been dipping in and out of Judith Butler's Who's Afraid of Gender? and she devotes quite a lot of space to the impact of the rise of right-wing Catholicism.
Pope Francis also quite an important figure politically, I read that Meloni holding back on some of her more destructive right-wing ideas/potential policies because she doesn't want to be seen to go/go against him. Can only hope his replacement has a similar take on things so she continues to be kept in check.
You've reminded me I still haven't got to that Butler yet.
I've finished the first part of Stewart on 'money'. This is an over-simplification but essentially what ties together the religious fundamentalists, the racists, the culture warriors, the climate deniers and the extreme nationalists is the ecosystem of dark money. The huge and increased wealth disparity has, it is claimed, led to the one percenters believing that tearing down democracy and a public state is a means of protecting their wealth as well as being an exercise in wealth creation. The amount of funding going in to support all aspects of the neocons is genuinely shocking.
There are moments which would be almost funny if they weren't so infuriating and tragic: the mom who is campaigning to ban Anne Frank's diary from schools because she's heard about its 'homosexual content'. The irony of banning a book that for many of us was our first exposure to the human costs of fascism would surely be lost on her.
Moving on to 'lies' next.
I've finished the first part of Stewart on 'money'. This is an over-simplification but essentially what ties together the religious fundamentalists, the racists, the culture warriors, the climate deniers and the extreme nationalists is the ecosystem of dark money. The huge and increased wealth disparity has, it is claimed, led to the one percenters believing that tearing down democracy and a public state is a means of protecting their wealth as well as being an exercise in wealth creation. The amount of funding going in to support all aspects of the neocons is genuinely shocking.
There are moments which would be almost funny if they weren't so infuriating and tragic: the mom who is campaigning to ban Anne Frank's diary from schools because she's heard about its 'homosexual content'. The irony of banning a book that for many of us was our first exposure to the human costs of fascism would surely be lost on her.
Moving on to 'lies' next.
Roman Clodia wrote: "You've reminded me I still haven't got to that Butler yet. I've finished the first part of Stewart on 'money'. This is an over-simplification but essentially what ties together the religious fund..."
I get that, it's because so much of it seems too absurd to be real. If you're reading about Project 2025 btw you might find the Project tracker interesting, compiled by someone who's not a supporter, it matches policy points in the document to government actions:
https://www.project2025.observer/
That tracker is helpful, thanks.
I'm wondering when Stewart was writing this book given that it was published in February this year. It's out of date already so it would be great if she were to continue to post her dispatches from the frontline.
As you say, so much is almost too absurd to be real: a section on pseudo-academics churning out incel nonsense as if it's fact or strategy is almost funny... until you see they're employed at Ivy Leagues.
There's an especially enlightening piece about the establishment of the Hamilton Centre for Classics and Civil Education within the University of Florida within one year and with $13m in funding. It has the power to appoint its own staff in classics, history and the humanities and its own curricula with no oversight from the existing university faculties - essentially an enclave under the University umbrella which is not answerable to university governance.
As with the wider project, there is so much grievance and resentment against the academe with its insistence on rigour and evidence. This is the opposite, of course.
I think the biggest takeaway for me so far is how deep, how well organized, and how long this project has been planned - as well as how much dark money is being thrown at it in so many tranches and via so many seemingly separate initiatives.
I'm wondering when Stewart was writing this book given that it was published in February this year. It's out of date already so it would be great if she were to continue to post her dispatches from the frontline.
As you say, so much is almost too absurd to be real: a section on pseudo-academics churning out incel nonsense as if it's fact or strategy is almost funny... until you see they're employed at Ivy Leagues.
There's an especially enlightening piece about the establishment of the Hamilton Centre for Classics and Civil Education within the University of Florida within one year and with $13m in funding. It has the power to appoint its own staff in classics, history and the humanities and its own curricula with no oversight from the existing university faculties - essentially an enclave under the University umbrella which is not answerable to university governance.
As with the wider project, there is so much grievance and resentment against the academe with its insistence on rigour and evidence. This is the opposite, of course.
I think the biggest takeaway for me so far is how deep, how well organized, and how long this project has been planned - as well as how much dark money is being thrown at it in so many tranches and via so many seemingly separate initiatives.
Ah, on climate denial, some on the religious right aren't so much denying as simply believing that climate breakdown is all part of god's plan.
Again, I almost want to laugh at the 'spirit warriors' until it's clear that they really do believe that scientists, academics, anyone believing in rationalism and empathy is a literal demon. As well as, of course, 'sexual deviants'.
Again, I almost want to laugh at the 'spirit warriors' until it's clear that they really do believe that scientists, academics, anyone believing in rationalism and empathy is a literal demon. As well as, of course, 'sexual deviants'.
Roman Clodia wrote: "That tracker is helpful, thanks. I'm wondering when Stewart was writing this book given that it was published in February this year. It's out of date already so it would be great if she were to c..."
The money makes such a huge difference, similar issues with the anti-abortion wing which tends to go along with it, and the tech companies implicated yet again
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...
https://www.techtimes.com/articles/30...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-613...
Roman Clodia wrote: "Ah, on climate denial, some on the religious right aren't so much denying as simply believing that climate breakdown is all part of god's plan. Again, I almost want to laugh at the 'spirit warrio..."
Exactly, I met a guy like that once who worked in the arms industry, I asked if he didn't find it difficult given his faith, he said that the chosen would be saved, the others wouldn't. So basically didn't matter how people died!
Although again this seems to be primarily driven by an American version of evangelicalism, I know people in the Green party who are fundamentalist British Christians who think that they should be taking care of the world created by God. They call it stewardship, they are anti-abortion though.
Thank you for posting about this book, RC. I'm in line for it whenever it comes in at my library. I've been reading about "Dark Enlightenment," and fear this is where we're headed. Have you heard of it? I guess it's been around quite a while, but not exposed much in the news. It seems to go beyond Ayn Rand to an anti-democratic elitist feudalism. The founder of this idea is a hero of Vance an the tech bros, I believe.
I didn't want to go googling something like that, but found info on an academic website here: https://www.populismstudies.org/Vocab...
Kathleen wrote: "Thank you for posting about this book, RC. I'm in line for it whenever it comes in at my library.
I've been reading about "Dark Enlightenment," and fear this is where we're headed."
Yes, this book does a fantastic job of tying up all the elements of the neocon right without downplaying their own individual agendas. Stewart is calm and rational, unemotional throughout, even with a wit that is still serious.
Here's my review if you're interested though I've only touched on so much in this book:
www.goodreads.com/review/show/7424799963
I've been reading about "Dark Enlightenment," and fear this is where we're headed."
Yes, this book does a fantastic job of tying up all the elements of the neocon right without downplaying their own individual agendas. Stewart is calm and rational, unemotional throughout, even with a wit that is still serious.
Here's my review if you're interested though I've only touched on so much in this book:
www.goodreads.com/review/show/7424799963
Alwynne wrote: "The money makes such a huge difference"
It really does, and I've quoted some of Stewart's figures in my review. Notable to see what Russia has been funding alongside the US.
It really does, and I've quoted some of Stewart's figures in my review. Notable to see what Russia has been funding alongside the US.
Kathleen wrote: "Thank you for posting about this book, RC. I'm in line for it whenever it comes in at my library. I've been reading about "Dark Enlightenment," and fear this is where we're headed. Have you heard..."
I've posted about it before on here, it's a right-wing version of accelerationism that is based on the idea of speeding up various forms of social breakdown in order to bring about a new order. The left-wing version was intended to pave the way for a form of communism and was a trend in left-wing politics here for a while but never really took off. It traces back to Warwick University philosophy. The right-wing version was espoused by Nick Land in The Dark Enlightenment, and became popular in the US in Silicon Valley, and with guru-like Curtis Yarvin also popular with Peter Thiel, Musk and Vance.
The idea is a tech gov, so a nation becomes like a company run by a CEO with the masses basically enslaved to the system. Yarvin then advocates imprisoning critics and fitting them with VR to keep them pacified - which sounds crazy but experiments with VR already taking place in American prisons although to help long-term prisoners readjust to changes on the outside. Also some of the tech bros associated with Yarvin have made a recent, huge investment in VR. Musk and Vance have links to dark enlightenment and Yarvin but essentially a mash-up with Ayn Rand's ideas and with ideas from right-wing Catholicism and Christianity. Sometimes referred to as neoreactionary (NRx)
https://hopenothate.org.uk/2018/12/01...
https://english.elpais.com/usa/2024-1...
https://www.thenewatlantis.com/public...
https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/201...
https://www.ft.com/content/02217acf-a...
https://arcmag.org/the-gods-of-silico...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/201...
It's basically authoritarianism with a tech spin. So not really that much different from what Putin, Orban et al are already doing i.e. clamping down on women's choices, clamping down on gay rights, authoritarian government, imprisoning dissenters just with a different philosophical spin/ideological justification. Both Orban and Putin also exploit religious institutions and use them to support/justify their actions. So, the goal is more or less the same. Trump is not part of NRx but more of a Randian engaged in democratic backsliding so more like Orban and/or Modi.https://carnegieendowment.org/researc...
The sort of things outlined by Steven Levitsky in How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future
The good news is that policy analysts say that western Europe/Canada/parts of East Asia showing little sign of moving in this direction despite the rise of far-right parties.
Roman Clodia wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "The money makes such a huge difference"It really does, and I've quoted some of Stewart's figures in my review. Notable to see what Russia has been funding alongside the US."
Evangelical churches in the US must be very wealthy, members tithe, so at least 10% of income going direct to their church.
And one of the insidious things is how that church money is being used on what are essentially Republican political and recruitment campaigns but because they're arm's length, they're unregulated and the money isn't being formally accounted for.
As well as the churches, there are also all the shadowy religious foundations and organizations like Opus Dei who are deeply involved.
As well as the churches, there are also all the shadowy religious foundations and organizations like Opus Dei who are deeply involved.
Another thing I found fascinating is the extent to which covid was a radicalising event for so many Americans in a way that I hadn't realized. It brought out all the various conspiracy theorists: the libertarians, the 'gay plague' people, the apocalyptic preppers, the homeschoolers, the small/zero government. Churches refused to shut their doors, encouraged in congregations and told them they could overcome the demon virus by praying.
Alwynne wrote: "I've posted about it before on here."I'm sorry Alwynne--I forgot I probably heard about The Dark Enlightenment first from you! Thank you for the details.
Alwynne wrote: "The good news is that policy analysts say that western Europe/Canada/parts of East Asia showing little sign of moving in this direction despite the rise of far-right parties.
I'm especially glad to hear this.
Roman Clodia wrote: "Another thing I found fascinating is the extent to which covid was a radicalising event for so many Americans in a way that I hadn't realized. It brought out all the various conspiracy theorists: t..."It comes up in Project 2025 strong condemnation of pressure on churches to close, something about souls/religious communion being highest priority. And yes, the conspiracy theorists went wild, it did spread here too but I think not to the same extent. Quite weird, does she have any inkling of why Covid was such a galvanising force? All I did was up my subs to streaming services!
Also the church issue quite odd compared to here, emphasis in British evangelical church that the church is the people who can assemble/link anywhere, no need to meet in a set space. Based on the NT I seem to remember. So Zoom or meeting outdoors in a park just as possible. Maybe the church leadership thought they'd lose donations, if people not there to be pressured in person? The homeschooling interesting too, apparently Trump supporters keen on the closure of the Dept. of education as think will allow for homeschooling to increase. Also giving back power to individual states potentially means the red ones may have more ability to have religion-related, restricted curricula in theirs.
Roman Clodia wrote: "Oh, and even before the election, Ukraine's resistance was dubbed a 'woke war'."Also odd, especially since Ukraine relatively conservative politically.
But did see research on this in the UK a while ago:https://infodemic.eu/
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/investigating-t...
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/policy-institut...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles...
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1...
I wonder what research's been done since on UK conspiracy theorists and/or the persistence of conspiracy theories?
Haha, you're applying logic and rationalism, Alwynne, which is not what these people are trading in! That's what I find most difficult (well, one of the things...) that you can't actually have a sensible, rational, evidence-based conversation with the people caught up in all this: it's all about crazy, unhinged, fear, hate and feelings of grievance.
'Woke' because they're resisting the admired authoritarian Russia which is successfully suppressing all that gender and LGBTQ+ 'nonsense' while being true to its Russian culture under the supreme patriarchal Putin. Apparently.
'Woke' because they're resisting the admired authoritarian Russia which is successfully suppressing all that gender and LGBTQ+ 'nonsense' while being true to its Russian culture under the supreme patriarchal Putin. Apparently.
Roman Clodia wrote: "Haha, you're applying logic and rationalism, Alwynne, which is not what these people are trading in! That's what I find most difficult (well, one of the things...) that you can't actually have a se..."Okay that makes sense, Putin has been very successful in cashing in on a resurrection of Eastern Orthodoxy.
I did find this report on conspiracy theories which looks promising:
https://demos.co.uk/wp-content/upload...
And yes, am a bit of an ultra-rationalist atheist, so don't believe in fairies or demons or ghosts or alien overlords or even star signs. And find it difficult to understand why anyone else would. Although would love to see a dragon!
Ooh, dragons - now you're talking! My secret guilty pleasure at the moment is Fourth Wing 🤭
Generally agree with you but am rather attached to being a Gemini!
Generally agree with you but am rather attached to being a Gemini!
Kathleen wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "I've posted about it before on here."I'm sorry Alwynne--I forgot I probably heard about The Dark Enlightenment first from you! Thank you for the details.
Alwynne wrote: "The good..."
No need for any kind of apology! Glad to help, the sources I've listed are respectable ones and/or by respectable journalists, so nothing too out there!
Roman Clodia wrote: "Ooh, dragons - now you're talking! My secret guilty pleasure at the moment is Fourth Wing 🤭Generally agree with you but am rather attached to being a Gemini!"
I've been wondering about Yarros, I love fantasy novels but have had a few disappointments, so never sure what's worth trying.
I'm not much of a fantasy reader so probably not the best person for recommendations but I'm obsessed with Fourth Wing. Definitely romantasy but it's quite brutal so there are high stakes and the characters are great, including the dragons.
If it helps, lots of reviews compare it to A Court of Thorns and Roses but I found that book more or less unreadable and don't see the connection - it feels more akin to Divergent to me but on a bigger, more adult scale.
If it helps, lots of reviews compare it to A Court of Thorns and Roses but I found that book more or less unreadable and don't see the connection - it feels more akin to Divergent to me but on a bigger, more adult scale.
Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm not much of a fantasy reader so probably not the best person for recommendations but I'm obsessed with Fourth Wing. Definitely romantasy but it's quite brutal so there are high stakes and the c..."Thanks I liked Divergent and The Hunger Games series, so that sounds very promising.
With all that's happening, we also have the crisis at the Internet Archive. This interview will interest you."What Happens if the Internet Archive Goes Dark?"
https://www.kqed.org/news/12031980/wh...
I have stopped receiving notifications on Goodreads from this group. I remember Ben had gone through something similar. Did you find a solution Ben?I haven't changed my settings or anything. I don't know what the trouble is.
Anubha wrote: "I have stopped receiving notifications on Goodreads from this group. I remember Ben had gone through something similar. Did you find a solution Ben?"
I've heard other people say they logged out completely then logged back in again and notifications were back. You could also trying clearing your cache and/or cookies.
I've heard other people say they logged out completely then logged back in again and notifications were back. You could also trying clearing your cache and/or cookies.
And, if you're using a browser, try this link....
https://www.goodreads.com/topic?discu...
It's what I always use. It brings up all my groups and I can see which discussions have new posts. I prefer this to getting notifications for all the discussions I am following
https://www.goodreads.com/topic?discu...
It's what I always use. It brings up all my groups and I can see which discussions have new posts. I prefer this to getting notifications for all the discussions I am following
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Alwynne, I share your concern. I am sorry my country's leadership has taken the turn it has. However, I'd suggest that you are significantly underestimating several things in your critique. To be clear, I am NOT suggesting that you are underestimating the danger the Trump regime poses to the world.
The United States is a fundamentally decentralized society, despite its 235 years of central government. It is also much larger and considerably less homogeneous than the UK or any other part of Europe that I can think of. Parts of our country (notably our South) never have had a commitment to liberal democracy at all. We have been under attack by Putin for more than 10 years, and that attack has shown substantial success in furthering the divisions that had already arisen (thanks to 50 years of far right rhetoric and disinformation). Additionally, we do not have much of a civic tradition of in-the-streets protests. The 2020 protests are an exception, of course, but I'd argue they were made possible by the circumstances of Covid lockdown. Additionally, our labor practices make it very hard for people. Everyone I know, whether they are a physical earning half a million a year, or a coffee shop barista making $7.50 an hour, is worked to their absolute maximum, because that is how work is structured here. That leaves very few people with any free time or energy to give to protest. We've had a very stable form of government over many generations, which makes it hard for many to believe that they are seeing what they are seeing. And the regime and its Republican enablers continue to lie about their "mandate" and the popularity of what they are doing. There's also the shock. Even though I am one of the historians who knew this is pretty much what was going to happen, it's still a shock to see it happen, and happen so quickly. There have been details that surprised me (and that is true of the historians whose work I follow, who know even more about WCN and Project 2025 than I do). And the wide ranging nature of the attack makes it hard to know what to focus on. I'm not sure Elon and DOGE, bad as they are, is the real danger. I think Vought & 2025 are.
Add to this the complete failure of MSM (most of which is now owned by Trump sycophants, or by large corporations who need favors from Trump for their other endeavors).
These are all factors that inhibit the kind of response I think I see you calling for. Yet, there is a response, and it is gaining momentum. I do not know if you are adequately informed about the protests that are taking place. We are having more than daily street protests in DC. I know, because I know people there who are taking part in them, and posting on social media, including photos of large crowds. We are having street protests in other cities. Sometimes in large cities--friends of mine were at a protest in support of science in Philadelphia yesterday, and while I can't estimate numbers from the photos, I can see it was a pretty large crowd. On a work day, when people had to take off work to attend. There are protests of hundreds or thousands in many smaller towns or cities on a regular basis.
Congress has the power and the Constitutional responsibility to stop this. That is why we are flooding their offices with phone calls, and when possible, with in-person visits. They are annoyed with us, but we're still doing it. Many people I listen to say that there Republicans are getting nervous. Will they wake up and do the right thing? I'm not holding my breath, but if they did that would be one way off this ledge. And if they don't, at least they know they are defying the will of their constituents. Meanwhile, a number of them have apparently spoken privately of their fears about their physical safety. People more in the know than I are taking these fears as legitimate. Presumably this is why Trump let so many violent insurrectionists out of prison. I am beyond disgusted at the unwillingness of most of the Dem congressional delegation to show leadership. Their options are pretty limited, given they are in the minority in both houses, and also given the corrupt Supreme Court which has helped create this nightmare with its flagrantly unconstitutional rulings about presidential immunity. But they could be doing more to slow the Republican agenda in Congress. They could be speaking out. They could have orchestrated a sustained protest to the speech this week, e.g. by getting up in small clusters and walking out, or by planned outbursts like Rep. Green's that would require a recess while they were evicted. Instead they wore color coordinated clothes and waved ping pong paddles--and even that, apparently, was against the instructions of their leaders. I am beyond disgusted by Jeffries. He looked so good in the last Congress, but now he's just letting America burn down (and very likely the world along with it), assuming he'll get a big majority in 2026. I think it is very likely he will get no seat in 2026 because there will be no election, unless he gets of his duff and does his work now.
I feel an acute sense of urgency. I estimate we have not more than 6 weeks before this dictatorship, which is already much farther along in consolidating its police powers than I expected, has enough control to make resistance much much harder than it is now.
So I guess I'd say that there's more happening than many realize, but also not nearly enough.
One thing we have to be very careful about: no violence. The quickest way for American protest movements to lose public support has always been when there is violence. Even when the violence comes from outside the movement. That's what happened to the labor movement in 1886 (I'm referring to the Haymarket affair), but that is hardly the only example.