Taking the early train from Beijing to ChongQing. Ride here was smooth and the streets were almost empty. That looked unusual for the traffic jammed streets of #Beijing
Just finished "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas. In an unusual twist of fate, I had read "Concrete Rose" earlier, which gave me a rich backstory to relate things to. "The Hate U Give" is really good, but I found the resolution of King's arc slightly disappointing, even though the ending was strong. It's definitely not my place to judge Thomas' perspective here, but I do think that the book's broad popularity including among more liberal audiences probably stems at least in part from the way it allows a "the cops have issues but are ultimately-necessary/sometimes-positive" reading that undermines the strength of the core message.
In the end I like Concrete Rose better, but they're both great and I'll be putting Thomas' other books on my to-read list.
#AmReading #ReadingNow
I will once again repeat what I think is a nationally winning campaign for a US opposition party (should any care to exist), now with Berlatsky’s improved phrasing:
❝If elected, I will fight like hell to:
- destroy Donald Trump, everything he has done, and everything he stands for,
- tax the living shit out of billionaires, and
- use that money to repair the damage they’ve done to the US.❞
Not saying that’s everything that needs to happen, or an entire political philosophy, or the solution to everything. Only saying that I think that — simply that — would win elections. Try it and see. You cowards. https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:htdsafwakqmzvuk2oivijzn6/post/3midafsxk3k2p
Yes, it's from the bad place, but Maçães is one of the only international observers with an intact moral compass in 2026.
Well worth a follow. @… https://bird.m…
Sometimes I feel that I could have my introduction much better. So I'll leave another piece here, and maybe one day I'll be able to find it again and use somewhere…
I'm a radical. I believe that every human has a right to dignity in life. Yes, even these people who allegedly "are too lazy to work".
I believe that everyone deserves safety, that nobody should be cold or starve, that everybody should be able to use a toilet or wash themselves, have access to healthcare and public transportation.
I think that restricting access to drinking water and toilets is a crime against humanity. The latter is also plain stupid, because it only leads to people using other places as toilets.
I'm so tired of the postsoviet labor cult (a kind of Polish thing). Seeing labor as a value in itself. Everyone must work, and it doesn't matter whether the work is actually beneficial, or outright harmful.
And last of all, I can't tolerate smokers. There is no excuse to harm yourself and everyone around you, just to satisfy your stupid addiction. And I'm also talking of all the random people who breathe all the toxins because smokers think they deserve to smoke everywhere, all the time.