Umair Haque (previously) is on fire: If the Point of Capitalism is to Escape Capitalism, Then What's the Point of Capitalism? "You can see it in stark, comic terms. What are Bezos and Musk doing? Trying to flee to Mars. What's Gates doing? Recommending you books to read, and trying to save the world with charity. LOL — how ironic. These are different forms of freedom from capitalism. Maybe on Mars, we can build a better world. Maybe through ideas and philanthropy, we can solve the problems that corporations can't. All the capitalists I see are trying to win freedom from capitalism, in one way or another. Aren't they?" (via Kottke)
Capitalism is self-annihilating, not self-perpetuating
NPR's Planet Money explores the economics of super hero intellectual property
I've been reading comics my whole, and among the many things they've given me, one of them was my first real entry into understanding the many complications of creators' rights and intellectual property. Comics are supposed to be a cheap, affordable art form for easy mass consumption … but they can also be cash cows.… READ THE REST
11 US cities are piloting Universal Basic Income programs, with more to come
From Bloomberg City Lab: Fueled by a growing group of city leaders, philanthropists and nonprofit organizations, 2021 will see an explosion of guaranteed income pilot programs in U.S. cities. At least 11 direct-cash experiments will be in effect this year, from Pittsburgh to Compton. Another 20 mayors have said they may launch such pilots in the future, with several… READ THE REST
Tracking the Rise and Fall of the American middle class with shopping malls
One of the best parts of Wonder Woman 1984 was the present-day opening sequence, of our lasso'd heroine battling some petty crooks at a shopping mall, interspersed with clips of our villain-to-be, Maxwell Lord, trying to sell fake oil securities through sleazeball infomercials. It's a perfect little microcosm of the early 80s, with the subtle… READ THE REST
The Patriot mask is 100% made in the USA — and right now, it's up to 60% off.
The Patriot mask is 100% made in the USA — and right now, it's up to 60% off. The world has changed. And while the ravages of a global pandemic may be slowly subsiding, some of the aftereffects promise to linger for years to come. Masks are now a part of our daily lives, with… READ THE REST
Adjust your bass and listening experience with the Skullcandy Crusher Evo headphones
Maybe you're just like Meghan Trainor. Maybe you're really just all about that bass. If you can't imagine listening to your favorite music without some low-end register all but guaranteed to rattle your gut and shake loose a few internal organs, it's worth giving the Skullcandy Crusher Evo Sensory Bass Wireless Headphones a healthy listen. And… READ THE REST
This optical illusion area rug will shred your room's space-time continuum (it won't)
There are area rugs that tie together a space. There are area rugs that offer a unique aesthetic to give a room a different look or feel. Then there are area rugs that do both of those things while also filling in the Venn diagram of supremely messing with your mind. And you better be ready.… READ THE REST