Why social media companies should not masquerade as journalism.

Because of their abject lack of self-awareness at how wretched this is -

UBS on Thursday posted the biggest-ever profit for a bank in the second quarter, following its takeover of rival Credit Suisse earlier this year. The Swiss lender's $29 billion gain was a result of the difference in value between what it paid for Credit Suisse ($3.8 billion) and the value of its balance sheet. CEO Sergio Ermotti also confirmed the bank would cut about 3,000 jobs in Switzerland as part of the integration, which is expected to be just a fraction of its total reduction in headcount globally in the years ahead.

Crapitalism at its worst

Quote of the day - 08-30-2023.

Margaret Kimberley -

It is high time for climate marchers to end their political naivete and denial. Black Agenda Report contributor and editor Ajamu Baraka said, “...the fight for climate and environmental justice is in fact a revolutionary project, requiring mass-global resistance and the expropriation of economic and political power of finance and corporate capital.” What he describes is surely a heavy lift but hoping that the servants of capital will have an epiphany and serve the needs of humanity is to believe in fantasy.

Humans have an infinite capacity for wishful thinking, but a revolutionary project is by definition a recognition that wishes are for fairy tales. Yes, demonstrations must be part of the plan to save life on earth. They aren’t enough though, and appealing to the people who have no shame is not a good use of time. Anyone who marches against fossil fuel production must be ready for very radical political change. Presidents of the United States and the nation’s entire political leadership are errand boys and girls for the capitalist classes. Record breaking heat will only end when capitalism does too.

No one I know could say it better, or more succinctly.

Seems to me that cutting wages - while increasing the workload - is a POOR way to attract new employees.

But then again, I didn't got to business school.

If I did - and did this sort of thing - I should probably have my degree rescinded. The place that would give me such a degree should also not be allowed to continue.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/walmart-cuts-pharmacist-pay-hours-while-workload-piles-up-2023-08-29/

Walmart cuts pharmacist pay, hours while workload piles up

 

Pretty fucked up. If there's a shortage of skilled staff, you should make your place of business more attractive by offering - oh I don't know - a better compensation package, including a higher salary.

 

But wait - there's more!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/walmart-and-other-drug-stores-want-to-help-you-skip-trips-to-the-doctor/ar-AA1fV1f6

 

Walmart and Other Drug Stores Want to Help You Skip Trips to the Doctor

Yep - that's all an example of what a failed system crapitalism is, and how those in the ruling class will only further increase this to squeeze all the wealth and control they can get.

The case of theory vs. practice (expected vs. actual results).

Sure eating 'non-meat' meat sounds good (in theory), in many ways.

But based on what the Non-GMO Project has been reporting about this 'cultivated meat' thing, this is not a good sign (in practice).

In 2017, Memphis Meats submitted a patent involving the use of CRISPR to extend the ability of cells to replicate during cultivation. A 2018 patent assigned to Upside Foods details methods for increasing the efficiency of cell cultures through the development and use of engineered cells.  And although Upside Foods has been somewhat circumspect about stating whether their first USDA-approved offering is or is not the product of genetic engineering, on the Innovation page of the company’s website, it touts a 2018 patent to protect “a GE method for increasing cell density.” 

Another developer of cell-cultured meat (i.e., beef), SciFi Foods, which emerged from stealth mode in June of 2022 after rebranding from Artemys Foods, has been more transparent about its use of CRISPR in the development process. In July 2022, SciFi Foods announced that it was able to reduce its production costs 1,000-fold through the use of genetic engineering. The company is planning to open a pilot plant in the San Francisco Bay Area by the end of 2024. Its first product release is expected to be a plant-based cell-cultured meat hybrid burger.

Go fuck yourself Gofundme!

https://scheerpost.com/2023/08/29/gofundme-freezes-grayzone-fundraiser-due-to-some-external-concerns/

They are a tool of the ruling class, and confirmed so. 

Oh look - censorship coming to Spotify? Really it's the anti-Palestinian kind.

https://www.projectcensored.org/israel-linked-group-attempts-to-censor-pro-palestinian-artists-on-spotify/

As a musician and artist, I find it harder and harder to want to engage in these outfits who try to censor.

That goes against the very nature of art.

Something I learned over the years I've worked in IT.

Watch out when someone (typically higher up than you on the food chain) contiually refers to you as a 'pillar' in the organization.

Pillars never move.