We used to have binary sex, but now we have identity flex

We used to have traditional norms, now we have diversity storms

This is hilarious. The U.S. Corps of Engineers has dangled a $42 million carrot to replenish sand on beaches in front of expensive houses but the homeowners don't want it at the expense of having to create public access easements (because federal dollars can only go towards improving public, not private, beaches). This town is going to get annihilated by the next big storm because these little tyrants want to keep their beaches private.

and transitions into a new egalitarian way of being that will stave off the climate crisis and being everything into harmony"

Like how many words do you need to reinvent the thing. A lot of those types are just ignorant libs who need a push, but I think some of them, like Roger Halan or Jem Bendell, are maybe avoiding saying the words intentionally for any number of reasons.

Sonic the Hedgehog is not just a beloved video game character; he's a cultural icon with layers of meaning waiting to be explored through the lens of "Demiurgic Sociocultural Realism." This exciting framework brings together diverse perspectives like Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism, Ian Wright's Dark Eucharist concept, Slavoj Žižek's insights on ideology and fantasy, and the Marxist conception of capital as a demiurge.

In Sonic's universe, we see echoes of capitalist realism, where certain norms and structures are ingrained and accepted as part of the natural order. The iconic act of collecting rings in Sonic games takes on a deeper meaning within this framework, symbolizing not just a game mechanic but also the pursuit of material wealth and success, mirroring real-world capitalist pursuits.

Ian Wright's Dark Eucharist concept adds a fascinating layer to Sonic's adventures. The ritualistic act of Sonic collecting rings becomes a form of consumption that sustains his ability to progress and survive in the game world. It's like Sonic's own version of a power-up, tied to the larger narrative of capitalist realism where material accumulation is often central to achieving goals and overcoming challenges.

When we look at Sonic's narratives and character arcs through Slavoj Žižek's ideas, we uncover themes of ideology and fantasy. Sonic's heroic quest to thwart Dr. Robotnik's oppressive rule becomes a fantastical narrative of resistance against dominant ideologies and power structures. This resonates deeply with players, tapping into our desires for empowerment and agency in challenging unjust systems.

Furthermore, viewing capital as a demiurge in Sonic's quests sheds light on the overarching influence of power structures. Dr. Robotnik's relentless pursuit of control, often symbolized by his quest for the Chaos Emeralds, mirrors the capitalist demiurge's drive for control and accumulation of capital at the expense of others. Sonic's role as a challenger to this hegemony becomes even more significant in this context.

In conclusion, "Demiurgic Sociocultural Realism" invites us to embark on a thrilling journey of exploration and analysis, uncovering the hidden depths and cultural resonances of Sonic the Hedgehog. It's not just about high-speed platforming; it's about unraveling the layers of meaning and societal reflections that make Sonic a timeless and captivating character in the world of gaming and beyond!

Link to the project: https://www.openinterpreter.com/01

Link to the GitHub: https://github.com/OpenInterpreter/01

Get in here losers

We're dunking on everything

I joined Turchin and a few others who were establishing a new field—a new way to investigate history. It was called cliodynamics after Clio, the ancient Greek muse of history, and dynamics, the study of how complex systems change over time. Cliodynamics marshals scientific and statistical tools to better understand the past.

The aim is to treat history as a "natural" science, using statistical methods, computational simulations and other tools adapted from evolutionary theory, physics and complexity science to understand why things happened the way that they did.

One of the most common patterns that has jumped out is how extreme inequality shows up in nearly every case of major crisis. When big gaps exist between the haves and have-nots, not just in material wealth but also access to positions of power, this breeds frustration, dissent and turmoil.

"Ages of discord", as Turchin dubbed periods of great social unrest and violence, produce some of history's most devastating events. This includes the US civil war of the 1860s, the early 20th-century Russian Revolution, and the Taiping rebellion against the Chinese Qing dynasty, often said to be the deadliest civil war in history.

All of these cases saw people become frustrated at extreme wealth inequality, along with lack of inclusion in the political process. Frustration bred anger, and eventually erupted into fighting that killed millions and affected many more.

Perhaps one of the most surprising things is that inequality seems to be just as corrosive for the elites themselves. This is because the accumulation of so much wealth and power leads to intense infighting between them, which ripples throughout society.

In the case of Rome, it was the wealthy and powerful senators and military leaders like Julius Caesar who seized on the anger of a disaffected populace and led the violence.

This pattern also appears at other moments, such as the hatred between southern landowners and northern industrialists in the run up to the US civil war and the struggles between the Tsarist rulers and Russia's landed nobility during the late 1800s.

Meanwhile, the 1864 Taiping rebellion was instigated by well educated young men, frustrated at being unable to find prestigious positions in government after years of toiling away at their studies and passing the civil service exams.

What we see time and again is that wealthy and powerful people try to grab bigger shares of the pie to maintain their positions. Rich families become desperate to secure prestigious posts for their children, while those aspiring to join the ranks of the elite scratch and claw their way up. And typically, wealth is related to power, as elites try to secure top positions in political office.

These patterns probably sound familiar. Consider the college admissions scandal in the US in 2019.

Donald Trump is only one recent and fairly extreme version of this motif that pops up time and again during ages of discord

If the past teaches us anything, it is that trying to hold on to systems and policies that refuse to appropriately adapt and respond to changing circumstances—like climate change or growing unrest among a population—usually end in disaster. Those with the means and opportunity to enact change must do so, or at least to not stand in the way when reform is needed.

FYI in 1917 Lenin stormed the ice palace and took it from the snow queen

Let's fucking goooooo