Guess again.
2025-05-31
Why this isn't a bigger issue - is a result of US Crapitalism trying to shield its crimes.
Forensic Failures: 36 Police-Custody Deaths Should Have Been Ruled a Homicide, Audit Finds
Independent audit finds patterns of racial, pro-police bias in Maryland’s chief medical examiner’s office.
Originally published in Baltimore Beat .
An unprecedented independent audit found that 36 deaths in police custody over a two-decade span in Maryland should have been ruled homicides by the state’s top medical examiner, a stinging rebuke of Maryland‘s past efforts to investigate the deaths of those once held by law enforcement.
The yearslong audit, shared exclusively with The Baltimore Banner ahead of Thursday’s release, cited a likely reason behind the massive failure: racial and pro-police bias in the work of the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which had been led for nearly 20 years by Dr. David Fowler.
Before the audit, the deaths had been classified as accidents, natural causes or simply undetermined. But many of them involved police restraining people during arrests or shocking them with Tasers. The affected cases were spread across the state with the most — 12 — connected to Baltimore.
2025-05-28
Santa's Snow Cat - a review.
My youngest does reading every evening. So I have him reading to me. He normally picks a book and starting reading to me. Last evening, he picked this book.
Oh my.
No, not his reading - it's getting better.
I mean the book.
Never have I seen such a compact and concise combination of capitalism, white supremacy, delusion of a religious kind, and female privilege, all wrapped into a single 'children's' book.
Where do I possibly begin? Well let's start with the plot -
'Santa' is up in the Arctic/North Pole with his favorite 'cat'; his 'snow cat', who's his object of devotion and love (no Mrs.Claus in this book, but we'll get to that later). Oh, and the 'Wind' and 'Moon' are devoted to this cat also.
'Santa' then goes on his yearly 'Christmas Eve' trip to give all the American children (apparently he only goes to once place - New York City) presents. While on the trip (i.e. up high in the sky), the cat falls out of the sleigh and - amazingly - lands safely on the ground without turning into a plop of red furry mush.
The rest of the book is all about this 'cat' trying to then find 'Santa' in New York City, while she goes from place to place, house to house, causing all sorts of destruction, mischief, breaking and entering, foraging in people's houses, trespassing, and general idiocy.
Eventually 'Santa' finds her and saves her. And they return to the North Pole, where they continue their lovefest and devotion.
Yes - that's basically the story. But don't take my word for it. Here's the 'summary' from the book itself -
Santa and his favorite cat search for each other after she falls out of his sleigh and lands in New York City on Christmas Eve.
So let's start deconstructing this mess along the following areas -
Capitalism - Children's books are nothing more than a way to sell shorter/crappier 'content' to really the parents of children. Indeed the idea of taking a fictional character from a religious background is itself something businesses do all the time, and have done so for hundreds of years.
And to be clear, the character of Santa Claus is just that - a fictional character invented by a set of businesses many years ago from religious invention (this this case Western Christianity) to be a vehicle to sell all sort of merchandise (media, toys, etc.).
White Supremacy - Santa Claus is a character of profit, but that's ignoring it's origins. The very idea of a fat jolly white man living in the Arctic/North Pole reeks of racism, colonialism, and imperialism all in one. What about the Indigenous People who'd been already living there for centuries? In any lore told about Jolly Ole Saint Nick, none of them exist. It may have something to do with the reality that those Indigenous People originated from somewhere in Asia, and - by remarkable coincidence - aren't white-skinned.
Delusion - Writing about fictional characters isn't an issue, but pretending to children that they are real is wrong. A lie is a lie is a lie. It always bothered me when presumably grown adults like to convince especially small and young children that 'Santa Claus' will come down their chimney (as if kids today live in homes with those). But just the idea that this character is derived from a 'Christian' character - Saint Nick - speaks volumes about the level of malevolence Christians will go to to inflict their beliefs on others.
Female Privilege And then there's the 'writers' of this book - two (presumably) white women from the birthplace of capitalism itself - England. The actual main character of this book (i.e. the cat) is white and female. The 'cat' is drawn pretty much exactly the same way on every page - with absolutely no emotion or visual impact whatsoever. Certainly no personality. She's all about attention from all the other characters, and an object thereof. She exists only to be loved and devoted to by all the other 'characters'.
So there you have it - just one example of the garbage inflicted on people - both knowingly and unknowingly.
To think, we paid $7.99 for this at Half-Price Books. The writers/publisher should be paying me to have survived their crap.
2025-05-27
Finally. Someone says the obviously quiet part out loud - Rich People Want Fascism.
That's been the case for over 100 years.
2025-05-26
As far as the United States in '1984' goes ...
My own view is that in Orwell's book, Oceania is essentially the US Crapitalist Empire, and fusing of the remnants of the previous British Empire.
Five years after George Floyd's murder.
The last five years have shown us that we must do more than mobilize. As Malcolm X said — we are not outnumbered, we are out-organized.
The power of the people created unprecedented threats to the racist, capitalist system in 2014 and in 2020 that forced unimaginable concessions from the ruling class. But with local and national progress in perpetual danger of being reversed, we need to build strong political organizations that are capable of defending hard-won mass victories through coordination and escalation. We know that the state has learned from the mobilization of the masses in 2020 — we too must learn. The movement of 2020 taught us that we can only defeat repression and racist policing if we are organized enough to strike at the root of this rotten, capitalist system.
Death and Destruction of brown children.
https://mondoweiss.net/2025/05/amid-catastrophic-food-insecurity-child-illness-in-gaza-turns-deadly/
Amid ‘catastrophic’ food insecurity, child illness in Gaza turns deadly
Illnesses that were manageable before the war
are turning deadly amid "catastrophic levels" of food insecurity in
Gaza, and 19 months of genocide have now led to the spread of new
diseases, reaching record numbers.
That those who control US Crapitalism will never be brought to justice for the crime committed, should be confirmation that it cannot be 'reformed'. It cannot be 'fixed'. Its rough edges cannot be softened.
It doesn't work for the majority of people on the planet.
It's works only for a small group of wealthy and powerful corporations and billionaires. And they themselves are wrecking it in the hopes of moving to a more fascist one.
It's a reminder that this small group of wealthy and powerful corporations and billionaires are psychopaths and criminals.
RIP Pepe.
José “Pepe” Mujica: The revolutionary who never surrendered his ideals
A living embodiment of resistance against capitalist excess and a testament to the enduring relevance of revolutionary values in contemporary politics.
During his presidency (2010–2015), Mujica’s revolutionary ethos manifested in bold policy decisions. His administration conducted legal rectifications, not as moderate reforms but as radical assertions of sovereignty and people’s rights. His stance against neoliberalism was uncompromising: state power existed to serve the people, not enrich elites.
Mujica’s decision to donate 90% of his presidential salary to social causes and continue living in his modest farmhouse rather than the presidential palace embodied his belief that political leaders should share the material conditions of those they represent. This was not mere symbolism but revolutionary praxis – a deliberate rejection of the trappings of power. His criticism of consumerism was not a liberal gesture; he was deeply critical of neoliberalism and believed that preserving our planet would only be possible by stopping the insane consumption system that serves the Global North.
His foreign policy maintained an anti-imperialist edge, challenging multinational corporations and advocating for Latin American solidarity against global capitalism. In international forums, his speeches echoed revolutionary figures, offering searing critiques of consumerism and environmental destruction while calling for global solidarity among oppressed people. Additionally, mainstream media attempts to exaggerate and decontextualize his criticism of the Venezuelan government; meanwhile, they overlook his praise for the Chavista movement and recognition of Maduro’s efforts as Chavez’s legitimate successor in advancing the Bolivarian Revolution.
2025-05-21
Yeah where are all the fucking feminists in the West?
Oh yes - if white, it's alright.
If brown, keep it down.
https://mondoweiss.net/2025/05/the-war-where-womens-bodies-lost-their-rights/
Even now, on the 100th year of his birth, Malcolm X remains far ahead of his time.
You have to wonder if this all contributed to his death -
It was also on his 1964 trip to Africa and the Middle East that Malcolm traveled to Palestine and during his stay in Egypt met the leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) who educated him on the history of Israeli Zionist settler colonialism, prompting him to advocate for the support of the Palestinian struggle against Israeli apartheid. He wrote an essay, Zionist Logic , and he once again led the way in helping us through his example of international solidarity to decolonize our thinking and actions.
Malcolm explained that in the U.S. the press and many people refer to this country as America and because of U.S. exceptionalism not acknowledging that America is a continent not a country. He goes on to talk about the important fact that there are more Black people in Brazil than there are in the U.S. and combined with all the other South American and Caribbean countries the force of the Black population united is a potential force against the Empire.
He also elaborated on Congo where he exposed the neo-colonial proxy killers of Patrice Lumumba like Moise Tshombe and Mobutu Sese Seko and explained that the US paid mercenaries who were committing mass murder dropping bombs on African villages but he said there was no outcry even from white liberals because they made it appear that it was a humanitarian project. He warned that,“They will do it to them today and do it to you tomorrow.” Malcolm was prophetic. History would record that 20 years after his death the Philadelphia police department under direction of the first Black mayor, dropped a bomb on the MOVE organization 40 years ago this month killing 6 adults and 5 children.
2025-05-19
So the Toronto Maple Leafs exited another year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.
(NOTE: I actually started writing this post A WHOLE FUCKING YEAR AGO WHEN THE LEAFS LOST GAME 7 TO THE BRUINS IN 2024)
There's been a lot of back and forth among the media, fans (and likely AI too) about why, why again, why repeatedly and why since 1967.
A lot of good points have been mentioned along the way (along with a ton of emotional hyperbole and excessive whining and complaining); all of which don't really get at the root of the issue.
Indeed - even now after the supposed 'leadership' of the team has made some 'changes' - and have already been roundly criticized for the moves being strictly performative; which I don't dispute - I still don't believe any of it still tackles the larger and more basic issue that's going on.
So ... Why haven't the Toronto Maple Leafs won a Stanley Cup since 1967?
The short answer: It's not in their owner's business model to do so.
The long answer: Well that's going to take awhile.
But to understand things, you'd have to 1st go back ~ 60-70 years.
Back in the Original Six era (1942-1967) there were six teams: Montreal, Toronto, New York, Boston, Chicago, and Detroit. Each of the teams' owners were in it to make money, but not necessarily for the reasons above. They were owners who owned a lot of things, lots of different business, or were wealthy family outright. In other words, the teams that were owned weren't exactly a central component of their businesses. On top of that, because each team was in a different city; and thus was technically in a different market - none of them directly competed against each other for profit. And I think all the owners understood that as long as they stayed as they were, each one of them can have their own slice of the profits.
In this regard, the only thing each team at that was really competing for, was the Stanley Cup. And that lined up with their 'customers' (i.e. fans). So on things went for 45 years.
Then along came broadcast network television and the opportunity to take their sport across all of North America. Suddenly there was a LOT more money to be made, and the owners figured out in short order that they could get the bulk of it if there were more teams. More teams means more games, and more television and more money. Granted they were anti-union from the very get-go, and they didn't relish the idea of more players out there (I truly think they thought a union would never happen after the 1st attempt; but we'll get to that later), but I think the realized they could play the long-game with any union, corrupt their leadership, and eventually have them going along with pretty much anything they wished for.
And teams in big cities figured out also that they can make more money in a big population base through television, advertisements, merchandise ... all of which would out-draw the arena ticket sales. Selling out arenas was still important, but not in the way of winning games every night.
Rather, it meant selling LOTS of tickets, as in bulk like season-tickets, or bunches of tickets to other corporations who'd in-turn offer it to their employees. Eventually the sale of the tickets became less a function of going to see one's team win, and reduced to merely a social event that drew in money.
NOW ... fast forward to today. And consider all those points, but magnified with the Internet, with Social Media, with endless 'content' about a team online, chats, posts, pictures, memes, and so on. And even the players themselves get into it. Suddenly winning a championship isn't as important as one's 'brand', one's online presences, how many clicks they get, how many likes, The sponsorships, the deals, and so on.
It's come full circle - or perhaps it's always been that way.
Professional sports is a business. That's how it started, and today it's only more so. Ironic in that what many 'fans' (i.e. customers) want from the 'product they 'buy' (i.e pay tickets to see their team win the Stanley Cup) isn't what the 'teams' (i.e. corporations) actually provide. Instead, the illusion of success is what most are being conned into - the idea that this team 'could' win, maybe not this year, but next year, or next year, or next decade, but KEEP BUYING, KEEP SPENDING, KEEP BELIEVING, AND KEEP GIVING IN, AND GOING ON.
So .. how do fans 'fix' this issue?
From a socialist perspective, I think competition to be the best is all good and fine, but you need to take the profit motive out of it. Bar any corporations and all the mass monied interests from owning and controlling things ... that's a start.
But from a capitalist perspective, there is a (albeit short-term) option ...
Stop buying the product, Stop supporting the 'team', because it isn't actually one, nor has it ever really been. Encourage new 'businesses' (i.e. new teams) to form in these markets where essentially monopolies and oligopolies have formed, and force the existing 'businesses' to put out a better 'product..
Toronto is a prime example. I think it actually can house two, if not three teams. Montreal can house two teams. If you want your teams to actually win, have other teams in those cities, and force the existing ones to come up with a better team. As long as they are monopolies and oligopolies who continue to be supported by fans, they have NO incentive to improve or doing anything other than what they've always done.
No. The players there aren't losers. The coaches, trainers, managers, and so on. They know how to run a hockey team. Many of them even have experience in winning the Stanley Cup. But it will simply not happen in Toronto, as long as MSLE has a monopoly on that city, and have no real reason to change.
And in case you think otherwise, in case you think none of what I said is true ... look at this image and tell me you can't admit you've been duped or played or conned -
2025-05-18
Survived another weekend of work.
Technically we finished early.
However there was some issue afterward. Some missed steps, or missing data.
I'm sure I'll get blamed for it. I'm sure there are lots above my pay grade who are waiting to point their dirty fingers at me.
We'll see.
2025-05-15
2025-05-14
The connection between Black Liberation here in America, and the Liberation of Palestine - could not be more clearly connected.
https://blackagendareport.com/black-people-palestine-and-maintenance-empire
Historically within the U.S., there exists a decades-long history of those fighting for Black liberation who developed a broader perspective in analyzing our material condition within the belly of the beast. Unfortunately, many people remain focused on our internal experiences as though they operate isolated from the rest of the world. Analyzing our circumstances within the heart of empire causes confusion when we don’t see the connections as one global, functioning system run by the descendants of the same people who first began colonizing the globe centuries ago. When some activists —such as Ethel Minor, secretary to Malcolm X at the time of his assassination and later communications coordinator for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee —turned their lens outward, a picture formed that revealed a direct relationship between the actions in which the U.S. and its collaborators engage abroad that produce adverse conditions inside the U.S. Minor’s article, The Palestine Problem: Test Your Knowledge , was key. Just like Ghassan Kanafani saw the struggle for Palestinian liberation as tied to the broader global fight against imperialism, exploitation and white hegemony, so too did Black people inside the imperial core once we looked.
2025-05-13
2025-05-10
Capitalism in the US has always been about cosplaying Communisim.
Along with pretending it's about democracy, meritocracy, and of course, individualism.
It's none of those things.
If you want further evidence that billion-dollar American corporations are complicit in the Israeli Genocide of brown people in Palestine, look no further than Google.
Believe that's false (or a big run-on sentence)?
Think and understand -
2025-05-08
I should try and enjoy the weekend while I can.
One never knows when things will turn to shit, and fast.
2025-05-07
'Learn to Code' - worshipping at the alter of software development.
Not that I know much about this channel, but he makes some very interesting points about IT in general.
But the main takeaway I get from this, is that ultimately, any piece of technology, any skill, any 'innovation', when under the control of a small group of powerful interests, will ultimately use it to their advantage only.
And, they'll discard or dispose of it the second it's not.
Yes, it's the Capitialist System that IS the problem.
That problem being that it doesn't work for the majority of people in any given country - why?
Because it's a system set up to distribute wealth and power to a small group.
It does so by prioritizing greed, destruction, and ultimately profit over all else.
I seriously wonder how the Western Imperial powers are connected to this.
Calls for peace grow as threat of all-out war looms over South Asia
As the civilian casualty toll rises in the fallout of India’s strikes against Pakistan on May 7, many have called for the nuclear-armed nations to de-escalate and engage in dialogue
2025-05-06
The psychopathic criminality is on full display here.
Lest you think posting this is somehow making Zionists feel proud.
“We have reached the stage of genocidal fervor where new Israeli life is literally celebrated through the destruction of Palestinian life,” said Heidi Matthews, a law professor at York University in Toronto.
2025-05-03
Losing narrative control is a big fear of the controllers of Western countries - why?
https://consortiumnews.com/2025/05/02/__trashed-14/
Actions speak louder than words. Talk is cheap. A picture is worth a thousand words. These aphorisms exist for a reason. Past a certain point there is only so much that mountains of verbiage can accomplish when people are seeing history’s first live-streamed genocide playing out right before their eyes.
Whoever controls the narrative controls the world. The average human life is dominated by mental stories, so if you can control the stories they are telling about what’s going on, you can control the humans.
Losing narrative control is losing real power. That’s why Israel’s supporters are growing increasingly anxious.
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