Thank you for this! I didn’t know about these eReaders. I’ll take a look. And yes, it’s tough with Amazon, that octopus! Still, I’ve been surprised by how good all of this feels. It’s like when a very irritating and exhausting colleague quits. All of a sudden, there is peace!
I probably have a few years on you, but I've been expecting this since 1973 -- that was the year of the oil embargo with long lines of cars waiting for gasoline. Things were looking up for the USA for a decade starting in 1963 after Silent Spring was published. In 1973 I thought people in the US would finally wake up, but no, after the oil embargo America went back to la-de-da. The blinders have never come off and now we have a country divided between those who have their eyes open and accept the future, and those who find their plight so scarry they refuse to accept the world has changed. It has always been fear based. Half of this country feels they have been screwed over but they don't know who to blame. The truth is there is no one to blame -- as Pogo said, 'we have met the enemy and they are us'.
Well said. Some people say the crisis was inevitable, that it all has to burn down so that we can remake it. Inevitable or not, I am worried because so many people are heading for suffering.
Thank you for this. I am largely divested ( still read the NYT). But I think we need to go farther to cause financial pain on these anti-democratic forces. Countries imposed economic sanctions against the oligarchs supporting Putin in his incursions into the Ukraine ( both before and with the war). I think we need to lobby our governments to put similar economic sanctions on Musk, Theil and other supporters of the Trump regime who are actively undermining international human rights international institutions like the International Criminal Court and democracy in countries other than the US.
It’s an excellent thought. I do wonder how willingly (and how quickly!) the international community could mobilize. Here in Sweden, we are all in shock.
The ubiquitous part of the broligarchy that seems to be impossible to lose is our cellphones. In Canada, governments and others rely on cellphone apps to make payments, to supply bus schedules make appointments, issue warnings, register complaints and supply other necessary information. In the interest of "efficiency" other means of communication, like email, in person meetings and telephone calls from phones that don't track one's location are becoming increasingly unavailable. If you resist using cellphones because your eyesight is less than spectacular, thanks to cataracts or you arthritis is acting up, it is assumed you are senile or being difficult or just need education to understand technology. Okay, I admit to being difficult , but I just don't like the idea of some darned noisy piece of technology constantly telling the Broligarchs' companies where the heck I am and I hate the fact that I can't really leave the darned thing at home if I am doing something other than walking to a destination. I also suspect that the phone can listen when not in use...I know it sounds a tad paranoid. But before they had installed the useless AI on android phones, my granddaughter screamed "Hey Google" and my Android phone woke up from across the kitchen.
I am in a similar spot in Sweden. My official government ID, which I use for everything, is an app. There is almost no cash. Everything is visible. I would like to opt out and to operate through some analog route, but there isn’t one
Thanks for these tips. Still in the US, but have severed as many ties to the malicious tech nets as possible. Meta platforms gone; X-itter long ago. WaPo, NYT canceled. Amazing Prime too. 🖖
I won’t support any organization that is supporting the dissolution of democracy. My outlook is similar to yours regarding where this is headed. Heaven help us all (I’m an atheist).
What amazes me is the fact that the digitization of public services and administrative tasks doesn't come along with tax reduction and increased efficiency. Instead, users have to try and repeat until the platform registers their query or validates their data input. If you aren't in the system, you don't exist. The Tech broligarchy is in bed with Big Brother, and they will give birth to totalitarianism 4.0. What's not to like?
I don’t have twitter, meta- facebook was kind of hard for a few days. Amazon, and for the last 1 1/2 years no tv. I use cash for smaller purchases. Plenty of books and dvds at the library. The only nyt game I missed was wordl, but the website for Brittanica has a game called Octordle that you can play in a practice option as much as you want not bound by a daily deadline. I do Bluesky and CoSo sporadically so I don’t lose touch with the whole world. Only really miss the dog videos though. An app just for that would be nice.
The time and money is now redirected to my planning my garden to be ready for spring and stocking up on necessary goods at thrift stores. Maybe things will work out so that this will be unnecessary, but I will still be ahead of things. Like quitting tobacco, the unexpected bonus is regaining control of externalities and increasing self efficacy.
It’s funny you mention growing food, because we are thinking of buying a place somewhere in southern Europe, probably France, and because of climate change and the global political picture, it’s very difficult to know how to proceed. Will we need a well, a garden, chickens and long guns? Or will we season tickets to the ballet and decent china? Will there still be cities or no? Will there still be communal living? No clue
I don’t know what’s going to happen, how things will go, but I’m not leaving. I feel like there’s a move to terrorize us out of our country, homes, our space, and our lives. (Vultures after property, real estate, etc. Cue Tom Petty, Won’t Back Down). I understand that high profile political figures are at greater risk and understand having a plan, but many can’t leave. It seems as if it’s playing into their hands.
I have enough space for a small garden and a bit of memory of how to get started. I had a neighbor who gave me eggs for a while, chickens are a possibility in the future , I’ll study them in the mean time. There’s bird flu within a hundred miles of me, so I’ll wait on that. My general plan is to be as self sufficient as is practical.
It’s a bit like when I quit smoking, in that there was an addictive quality to social media and television. I did quit watching tv for several years when I quit smoking because commercials triggered cravings, so I’m not surprised at how this is playing out. I have a bit more time and mental energy for other things. I think I used somethings, especially fb, to procrastinate.
As for shopping, what kind of economic instability may come makes cutting spending imperative personally and politically. Corporations can’t buy elections without money, I’m not giving them anything optional.
I do feel differently. I’m old enough to remember much simpler days and I like the peacefulness. I spent decades in the southwest, back in New England now. Rain became the most important factor in my relocation, political stuff was a close second.
During the 2020 election campaign, Joe Biden and Democrat super PACs received hefty donations from Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Netflix and Twitter. In 2024, tech billionaires and Silicon Valley heavy hitters financially supported Kamala Harris because they didn't want Trump to be president, reported npr.org in August 2024. Some lose, some win.
Ecosia is a great alternative to google - plus they give to the environment. Also, Libby and hoopla are Ereader alternatives
Having trouble cutting the Amazon cord. Hope I can!
Thank you for this! I didn’t know about these eReaders. I’ll take a look. And yes, it’s tough with Amazon, that octopus! Still, I’ve been surprised by how good all of this feels. It’s like when a very irritating and exhausting colleague quits. All of a sudden, there is peace!
I probably have a few years on you, but I've been expecting this since 1973 -- that was the year of the oil embargo with long lines of cars waiting for gasoline. Things were looking up for the USA for a decade starting in 1963 after Silent Spring was published. In 1973 I thought people in the US would finally wake up, but no, after the oil embargo America went back to la-de-da. The blinders have never come off and now we have a country divided between those who have their eyes open and accept the future, and those who find their plight so scarry they refuse to accept the world has changed. It has always been fear based. Half of this country feels they have been screwed over but they don't know who to blame. The truth is there is no one to blame -- as Pogo said, 'we have met the enemy and they are us'.
Well said. Some people say the crisis was inevitable, that it all has to burn down so that we can remake it. Inevitable or not, I am worried because so many people are heading for suffering.
Thank you for this. I am largely divested ( still read the NYT). But I think we need to go farther to cause financial pain on these anti-democratic forces. Countries imposed economic sanctions against the oligarchs supporting Putin in his incursions into the Ukraine ( both before and with the war). I think we need to lobby our governments to put similar economic sanctions on Musk, Theil and other supporters of the Trump regime who are actively undermining international human rights international institutions like the International Criminal Court and democracy in countries other than the US.
It’s an excellent thought. I do wonder how willingly (and how quickly!) the international community could mobilize. Here in Sweden, we are all in shock.
I understand. I hope that you weren't directly affected.
The ubiquitous part of the broligarchy that seems to be impossible to lose is our cellphones. In Canada, governments and others rely on cellphone apps to make payments, to supply bus schedules make appointments, issue warnings, register complaints and supply other necessary information. In the interest of "efficiency" other means of communication, like email, in person meetings and telephone calls from phones that don't track one's location are becoming increasingly unavailable. If you resist using cellphones because your eyesight is less than spectacular, thanks to cataracts or you arthritis is acting up, it is assumed you are senile or being difficult or just need education to understand technology. Okay, I admit to being difficult , but I just don't like the idea of some darned noisy piece of technology constantly telling the Broligarchs' companies where the heck I am and I hate the fact that I can't really leave the darned thing at home if I am doing something other than walking to a destination. I also suspect that the phone can listen when not in use...I know it sounds a tad paranoid. But before they had installed the useless AI on android phones, my granddaughter screamed "Hey Google" and my Android phone woke up from across the kitchen.
I am in a similar spot in Sweden. My official government ID, which I use for everything, is an app. There is almost no cash. Everything is visible. I would like to opt out and to operate through some analog route, but there isn’t one
Great!
Thanks for these tips. Still in the US, but have severed as many ties to the malicious tech nets as possible. Meta platforms gone; X-itter long ago. WaPo, NYT canceled. Amazing Prime too. 🖖
I love it! And, yes, it’s going to be an ugly struggle, sadly.
I won’t support any organization that is supporting the dissolution of democracy. My outlook is similar to yours regarding where this is headed. Heaven help us all (I’m an atheist).
Interesting! What was your thinking?
What amazes me is the fact that the digitization of public services and administrative tasks doesn't come along with tax reduction and increased efficiency. Instead, users have to try and repeat until the platform registers their query or validates their data input. If you aren't in the system, you don't exist. The Tech broligarchy is in bed with Big Brother, and they will give birth to totalitarianism 4.0. What's not to like?
I don’t have twitter, meta- facebook was kind of hard for a few days. Amazon, and for the last 1 1/2 years no tv. I use cash for smaller purchases. Plenty of books and dvds at the library. The only nyt game I missed was wordl, but the website for Brittanica has a game called Octordle that you can play in a practice option as much as you want not bound by a daily deadline. I do Bluesky and CoSo sporadically so I don’t lose touch with the whole world. Only really miss the dog videos though. An app just for that would be nice.
The time and money is now redirected to my planning my garden to be ready for spring and stocking up on necessary goods at thrift stores. Maybe things will work out so that this will be unnecessary, but I will still be ahead of things. Like quitting tobacco, the unexpected bonus is regaining control of externalities and increasing self efficacy.
It’s funny you mention growing food, because we are thinking of buying a place somewhere in southern Europe, probably France, and because of climate change and the global political picture, it’s very difficult to know how to proceed. Will we need a well, a garden, chickens and long guns? Or will we season tickets to the ballet and decent china? Will there still be cities or no? Will there still be communal living? No clue
I don’t know what’s going to happen, how things will go, but I’m not leaving. I feel like there’s a move to terrorize us out of our country, homes, our space, and our lives. (Vultures after property, real estate, etc. Cue Tom Petty, Won’t Back Down). I understand that high profile political figures are at greater risk and understand having a plan, but many can’t leave. It seems as if it’s playing into their hands.
I have enough space for a small garden and a bit of memory of how to get started. I had a neighbor who gave me eggs for a while, chickens are a possibility in the future , I’ll study them in the mean time. There’s bird flu within a hundred miles of me, so I’ll wait on that. My general plan is to be as self sufficient as is practical.
It’s a bit like when I quit smoking, in that there was an addictive quality to social media and television. I did quit watching tv for several years when I quit smoking because commercials triggered cravings, so I’m not surprised at how this is playing out. I have a bit more time and mental energy for other things. I think I used somethings, especially fb, to procrastinate.
As for shopping, what kind of economic instability may come makes cutting spending imperative personally and politically. Corporations can’t buy elections without money, I’m not giving them anything optional.
Good for you. I like your spirit!
https://www.britannica.com/games/octordle/free
Good for you! I’ll take a look at Octordle. Tell me, how has your life changed since you took these measures? Do you feel it in the day to day?
I do feel differently. I’m old enough to remember much simpler days and I like the peacefulness. I spent decades in the southwest, back in New England now. Rain became the most important factor in my relocation, political stuff was a close second.
During the 2020 election campaign, Joe Biden and Democrat super PACs received hefty donations from Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Netflix and Twitter. In 2024, tech billionaires and Silicon Valley heavy hitters financially supported Kamala Harris because they didn't want Trump to be president, reported npr.org in August 2024. Some lose, some win.