eightpix

Im reading Fledgling by Octavia Butler. My first book of this genre in a long while, and it does seem to live up to its promise that it would break from form.

This was a summer read of mine last year. Good stuff.

Stumbled upon this and thought to fill out a card. Im 7 or 8 from completing the card (need to check if any of my reads are self-published), and I have three BINGOes (both diagonals and the bottom row).

I'm very annoyed that I havent read an author who lives on another continent AND no LGBTQIA+ since May.

I want to give a shout out to Jane Philpott, Health For All as my pick for A5. If you havent read it, regardless of whether you're Canadian, give it a go. Americans, you especially. Canada's healthcare system is by no means perfect. Her efforts to make it better, and the road she has walked to get there are legendary. She is Batman without the billions, a legitimate superhero. If only she could get Canada in general, and Ontario in particular, to listen.

The challenge she overcame was one of moral courage, supporting Jody Wilson-Raybould in leaving Cabinet. The book is full of other challenges she overcame or is currently rising toward.

Toss Kurosawa's Throne of Blood in there.

In addition to the other thread descendants, staring with u/jjjalljs@ttrpg.network:

For all the bitching about capitalism, which basically every country on Earth uses for an economic system

This is only the case because it was instituted at gunpoint. The exploration, colonization, settlement, expropriation, amassment, warfare, thievery, and conquest of the world's economy is soaked in blood, laden in exploitation of people, places, and things and destruction of the commons. You'd know that if you were subject to it. Or, if you'd paused to read, ask, or think about it for 5 seconds.

And, I can't believe I'm saying this in public, "just because everyone is doing it, that doesn't make it right."

• We can vilify, undermine, and lead smear campaigns against unions under capitalism.

• We can break, or prevent, unions under capitalism.

• Our governments can attack us using local, state, provincial, and federal police forces whenever there is a perceived threat to capitalism.

Everything works fucking horribly with those 2781 billionaire capitalists robbing the world blind while blaming the victims.

Imagine that.

I forgot to say this in my previous response: I'm sorry that this happened in your state and I hope that Minnesota can do exactly what you're describing. I heard the AG of Minnesota, Keith Ellison, talk on Democracy Now!

Wherever the shooter is, the state of Minnesota needs to take custody of him and any evidence. State-level courts need to try him for the homicide he committed. Minnesota needs to convict him at the state level.

If he's only ever federally charged, the regime could try the case to appease public opinion. Even if he was convicted federally, -2 could/would pardon him.

That's the thing. The regime says it's legal. They're lying. The state has a right to investigate federal exercise of power. If that right is removed, you no longer have a United States. It's a fief.

I feel for you all. As I did 2001-2009.

Yes. Lest we forget, Philly PD bombed the city of Philadelphia.

Note: 9 MOVE members were convicted and imprisoned on questionable evidence in a similar, violent attempt to serve a "warrant". Unless you, bot, believe that those not charged or convicted are guilty of crimes they were not even charged with, let alone the charges (contempt of court, parole violations, loud noise, animals, illegal weapons posession, threats) the warrants were being served represented in a land where people are innocent until proven guilty.

8 adults and 3 children dead. For what? Procedure? A monopoly on power? What of the 250 people and 60+ homes destroyed in the ensuing fire?

All this to say, America is mad racist. Still.

"West Philadelphia born and raised..."

Takes on a spin, no? I prefer the Roots.

I was surprised by it. It took me the first third to settle into it. After that, it really humanized and gave me much more insight to the original work. Not a must-read but I'm glad I read it.

I don't generally read Batman, but this one had some pretty solid re-imagining.

Holy... you had a tough reading year.

Slaughterhouse Five, Flowers for Algernon, Starship Troopers, Catch-22, Infinite Jest, and Blood Meridian — in ONE year!?

Blood Meridian, alone, took me almost a year to read, toward the end of the Obama years. Flowers for Algernon I finished just before COVID. Slaughterhouse Five and Catch-22 I read in the 'aughts. I havent read Starship Troopers or Infinite Jest yet.

I tip my hat to you, friend. I wouldn't unread a word either.