There's a reason every decentralized system eventually finds its way onto a platform: platforms solve real-world problems that platform users struggle to solve for themselves.
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An old-fashioned credit-card imprinter; its handle is a cracked and dirty American flag. Under the slip is a gold Trump Card. Looming over the imprinter is the top half of Trump's face, brooding and squint-eyed; it has been altered to increase its orangeness, to add bloodshot sclera to his eyes, and to add liver spots. At its bottom, the face merges with a bubbling, hellish cauldron of smoke and flame.
Remember: Putin's invasion of Ukraine and the end of Russian gas moved the EU's climate goals in ways that beggar belief: the region went from 15 years behind on its solar rollout to ten years ahead of schedule in just a handful of months:
Having been through the US immigration process (I got my first work visa more than 25 years ago and became a citizen in 2022), it's obvious to me that Americans have no idea how weird and tortuous their immigration system is:
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A suburban house; on the law stand a couple, their backs to it, looking appreciatively upon it. On the lawn is a lawn-flag reading 'Chinga la migra' in ornate script, surrounded by butterflies and flowers. The flag is limned in red spokes.
One woman plaintively called out, "Why does everything get worse all the time?" (Yes, I'm aware of the irony of someone saying that within my earshot):
Halfway through Thomas Piketty's 2013 barnstorming Capital in the 21st Century, he tosses off a little insight that skewered me on the spot and never let go: the notion that a societal condition that endures beyond a generation becomes "eternal" in the popular consciousness:
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EU Defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius on Sunday floated the idea of creating a “powerful, standing ‘European military force’ of 100,000 troops,” lending his voice to a growing chorus of calls for a common continental defense as Russia threatens its neighbors. ...
Well I guess having a EU Commissioner for Defense ( #and Space) , suggesting a security council and a minimum 100K defense force, is a good start to start coordinating stuff indeed.
TIL: #This position has only existed for a year. Added info to the post just now.
Testosterone and it's link to aggression (or lack of thereof)
I found an article with many linked studies on how testosterone affects aggression. The article is centered around cis men with baseline low testosterone levels that started TRT, however, I do think this applies to transmasculine people as well. Posting this because even in trans communities this topic is misunderstood.
TL;DR: individuals with low testosterone levels at baseline that started TRT report decreased levels of aggression, fatigue, tension. Current studies don't report any changes of aggression on average, however, this may wary depending on personality profiles (for example: people with high dominance and low self control traits did become aggressive, but the testosterone itself is not the cause of the aggression)
i have this toxic idea in my head that T will finally "fix" me, rid me of the constant sadness i feel so much shame about. that, instead of crying and freezing up, i will be able to take action more (admirable at least?).
but i already knew the thing with aggression was a myth of the patriarchy. seeing this cemented again gives me hope at least i will abandon such thoughts.
While I formulated the idea of enshittification to refer to digital platforms and their specific technical characteristics, economics and history, I am very excited to see other theorists extend the idea of enshittification beyond tech and into wider policy realms.
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A Gilded Age editorial cartoon depicting a muscular worker and a corpulent millionaire squaring off for a fight; the millionaire's head has been replaced with the poop emoji from the cover of 'Enshittification,' its mouth covered in a grawlix-scrawled black bar.
There's an easy, loose way to do this, which is using "enshittification" to refer to "things generally getting worse." To be clear, I am fine with this:
But there's a much more exciting way to broaden "enshittification," which starts with the foundation of the theory: that the things we rely on go bad when the system stops punishing this kind of deliberate degradation and starts rewarding it.
Europe takes a big step towards a post-dollar world ( pluralistic.net )
https://i0.wp.com/craphound.com/images/11Feb2026.jpg?w=840&ssl=1 ...
Luxury Kafka ( pluralistic.net )
https://i0.wp.com/craphound.com/images/06Feb2026.jpg?w=840&ssl=1 ...
All laws are local ( pluralistic.net )
https://i0.wp.com/craphound.com/images/05Feb2026.jpg?w=840&ssl=1 ...
A little over a year ago my stepfather chose to keep my sister alive, today he is sending her to a full-time care facility. ( old.reddit.com )
This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot. ...
‘European Security Council Now!’ – EU Defense Chief Renews Calls for Common Army ( www.kyivpost.com )
EU Defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius on Sunday floated the idea of creating a “powerful, standing ‘European military force’ of 100,000 troops,” lending his voice to a growing chorus of calls for a common continental defense as Russia threatens its neighbors. ...
The enshittification of labor ( pluralistic.net )
https://i0.wp.com/craphound.com/images/07Nov2025.jpg?w=840&ssl=1 ...
Microsoft, Tear Down That Wall! ( pluralistic.net )
https://i0.wp.com/craphound.com/images/15Oct2025.jpg?w=840&ssl=1 ...