chapotraphouse

Context: Twain wrote a satirical piece in 1905 written from the perspective of King Leopold II. The satire here is that Twain's Leopold is defending his actions in the Congo Free State. The whole thing is great and I encourage everyone to give it read as a biting critique of colonialism. But in this section, Leopold is blaming the Kodak company for exposing the horrors (instead of blaming himself for the horrors). I think the connection to Gaza is self-evident:

[Studies some photographs of mutilated negroes—throws them down. Sighs] The kodak has been a sore calamity to us. The most powerful enemy that has confronted us, indeed. In the early years we had no trouble in getting the press to “expose” the tales of the mutilations as slanders, lies, inventions of busy-body American missionaries and exasperated foreigners who had found the “open door” of the Berlin-Congo charter closed against them when they innocently went out there to trade; and by the press’s help we got the Christian nations everywhere to turn an irritated and unbelieving ear to those tales and say hard things about the tellers of them. Yes, all things went harmoniously and pleasantly in those good days, and I was looked up to as the benefactor of a down-trodden and friendless people. Then all of a sudden came the crash! That is to say, the incorruptible kodak—and all the harmony went to hell! The only witness I have encountered in my long experience that I couldn’t bribe. Every Yankee missionary and every interrupted trader sent home and got one; and now—oh, well, the pictures get sneaked around everywhere, in spite of all we can do to ferret them out and suppress them. Ten thousand pulpits and ten thousand presses are saying the good word for me all the time and placidly and convincingly denying the mutilations. Then that trivial little kodak, that a child can carry in its pocket, gets up, uttering never a word, and knocks them dumb!

It was a cool gift and I liked the paraglider part with all the guys. I had fun with it. I'm sorry I didn't make a thank you post earlier but I didn't know it was for me. Doing nice things for each other is part of what makes Hexbear such a welcoming community.

What the fuck is wrong with the Germans? Can't they be normal for just a decade, please?!

Linky: https://xcancel.com/Ruairi_Casey/status/1843186603914924088

Just two brainless wojaks yelling at each other while the world gets wrecked by climate change

https://fxtwitter.com/POCHOWEK/status/1843350755048337619

Long live the resistance!

https://theonion.com/my-way-or-the-fairway/

I guess this is Dorf?

https://www.yourtango.com/self/walmart-store-tells-employees-meet-management-before-resigning

I find this whole thing very concerning.

one of them met yahyah sinwar in the tunnels. the tunnel system sounds incredible. absolutely incredible. death to the apartheid state. may it crumble in our lifetimes like South Africa did.

this makes me really want to create a show/documentary/podcast/etc with first person stories from people in Gaza and the West Bank. Especially with people involved in militant organizations, but just their personal stories etc... re-humanize palestinians. ya know?

also a great documentary that I loved that you should watch is Gaza Strip.

PS if you have first person narrative accounts from militants in Palestine, please post then in the comments.

Paint now has built-in AI image bullshit.

Death to Microsoft.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-yield_investment_program

I know, not the same.

ELON FIX YOUR ALGORITHM

What is the point of this website anymore other than personal clout. When was the last time you interacted with actual human being on X

r/CyberStuck thread

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ssi-rules-families-poverty/

The Supplemental Security Income program (SSI) was created in 1972 under the Nixon administration to provide financial support to low-income seniors and disabled people. An effort to federalize state-level adult support programs across the country, SSI is a means-tested program—there are financial requirements to be eligible. In the case of SSI, as of its last adjustment in 1989, enrollees cannot have savings of more than $2,000 as an individual or $3,000 as a family. Furthermore, SSI beneficiaries are prohibited from having retirement accounts, life insurance policies, certain types of personal property, funeral/burial policies, and access to other types of income.

[emphasis mine]

OMG I'm gonna test some means!

from https://xcancel.com/ytirawi/status/1842242729436201158