It's an empirical fact that Los Angeles has an volatile, indeed apocalyptic, climate. For perspective: at LAX the rainest day ever was November 21, 1967, when 5.60 inches (142.2 mm) fell. By contrast, during the ENTIRE YEAR of 1947 LAX got barely half that — 2.95 inches (74.9 mm)

just got this book in the mail, i indexed it, you must check it out! (cc Nils Gilman and @jonathansblake)

Between Stanford University & UC Berkeley both appointing Str8WhyteCisHetMale business types as President, and Harvard & Yale both reinstating standardized test scores in their admissions processes, it’s pretty clear that DEI Thermidor has fully arrived at the heart of the revolution.

'Apocalyptic narrative no longer has much force as a strategy of environmental communication or aesthetics. The more promising forms of eco-futurist narrative are those seeking to outline new social forms that can emerge from current ecological crisis.' cambridge.org/core/books/abs…

'...a subterranean ontology of emollience...'

El concepto de “planetaridad” describe una nueva condición en la que los humanos reconocemos no sólo que no estamos por encima ni aparte de la “naturaleza”, sino que apenas estamos comenzando a comprender las complejidades de nuestras interdependencias…

noemamag.com/the-third-grea…

“A left critical theory that prohibits the rational, self-conscious articulation of an alternative, future society is not only passive & quietist, but also backs itself into a theoretical corner, encouraging submission to the authority of the status quo.” link.springer.com/article/10.105…

“Recounting of the political theories of Schmitt, Oakeshott, Hayek, Strauss & Rand, Busk identifies a commonly shared political principle: society cannot be designed by human reason. His true opponent is a theoretical left that has unwittingly assimilated such a principle.” 1/2

What’s up with GOP operatives more & more routinely refusing subpoenas? I mean, Leo is not wrong that this is politically motivated — it’s a congressional subpoena: by definition it’s politically motivated — but how is that grounds for refusing to show up? washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/…

Look what just arrived Lee Kump Lisa Randall Oliver Morton

The difference between “billionaires” (in democracies) and “oligarchs” (in authoritarian states) is that the former enjoy essentially complete impunity, whereas the latter can still be brought to heel by their governments. bbc.com/news/world-asi…

The scenario planning catechism: “Can we forestall a future we have foreseen? No matter the likelihood of that future, the first step in its prevention is imagining how it might come to pass, and agreeing that it would be a catastrophe.” nytimes.com/2024/04/11/opi…

Less than two weeks until Jonathan Blake and Nils Gilman's CHILDREN OF A MODEST STAR comes out! Pre-order your copy today, and use code STAR20 for 20% if you order via Stanford Press. sup.org/books/title/?i…

Great news for Berkeley! I worked closely with Rich and he is an incredibly able guy.

The Great Acceleration

'Once, tech workers aspired to 'make a dent in the universe.' Now, they increasingly understand themselves as a disposable source of free cash flow for stock buybacks.' Cory Doctorow NONCONSENSUAL BLUE TICK for Project Syndicate project-syndicate.org/magazine/big-t…

I wonder: What public corporation has the highest ratio of consultants to employees?