Sometimes when I see a toot with an image I like but it doesn't have a description, I reply with a description. Here's why, if you're curious about that!

https://www.brainonfire.net/blog/2019/01/09/image-descriptions-on-mastodon/

(It got too long for toots.)

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jul 29, 2021, 16:07

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jul 29, 2021, 16:07

Jul 29, 2021, 16:07

varx - social alt @varx@cybre.space

Join my crowdfunding effort to start an honor-system bank.

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jul 22, 2021, 13:48

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jul 22, 2021, 13:48

Jul 22, 2021, 13:48

varx - social alt @varx@cybre.space

I keep thinking about the unintentionally Extremely Metal thing the physical therapist said to me:

𝖑𝖊𝖙 𝖕𝖆𝖎𝖓 𝖇𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖌𝖚𝖎𝖉𝖊

**varx - social alt** · Jul 19, 2021, 12:49

varx - social alt relayed

**Spice Box Stan Account** @annika@xoxo.zone · Jul 19, 2021, 12:49

Jul 19, 2021, 12:49

Spice Box Stan Account @annika@xoxo.zone

"Logon" is derived from the Greek "logos" ("speech") because when people log on they forget how to shut the fuck up

**varx - social alt** · Jul 20, 2021, 07:04

varx - social alt relayed

**👻™ Goblin 5 🐊🌩️** @witchfynder_finder@cybre.space · Jul 20, 2021, 07:04

Jul 20, 2021, 07:04

👻™ Goblin 5 🐊🌩️ @witchfynder_finder@cybre.space

You ever see an image that you know is going to ruin your life forever?

1be0bf0fc764d8cc.png

**varx - social alt** · Jun 03, 2021, 20:19

varx - social alt relayed

**dynamic** @dynamic@cybre.space · Jun 03, 2021, 20:19

Jun 03, 2021, 20:19

dynamic @dynamic@cybre.space

It's increasingly common for left-activists and progressives to focus on the behavior of big corporations and corporate-government partnerships in making sense of things like climate change denial and divisions withing global warming politics.

A big part of this narrative is the idea that framing environmental issues as ones of "individual responsibility" and "individual sacrifice" has been promoted by individuals and institutions that are working hard to make sure there is no meaningful change.

I believe this narrative is generally correct, but I have some uncertainties about the way this formulation sometimes gets used, and would love to hear others' thoughts.

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jul 06, 2021, 18:09

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jul 06, 2021, 18:09

Jul 06, 2021, 18:09

varx - social alt @varx@cybre.space

"Work" vs. labor, and obligations #2

And sure, all some people will be able to do is enough labor to survive, and can't do anything for others. Or they have some leisure time, but not much. OK! That's legit!

But I don't accept the image of a post-capitalist utopia in which everyone lives a life of leisure. I don't think that's healthy for individuals, and I don't think that's sustainable. There will *always* be things that need doing—planting and harvesting, educating and mentoring, cleaning and building. Global warming alone will bring plenty of challenges that we'll need to meet with willing hands.

Decoupling labor from survival sounds great. But there's no world in which I would want to give up doing labor.

Show thread

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jul 06, 2021, 18:04

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jul 06, 2021, 18:04

Jul 06, 2021, 18:04

varx - social alt @varx@cybre.space

"Work" vs. labor, and obligations

"No one should have to work" is a fine sentiment that I have often agreed with, but I'm not sure I really stand by it anymore. I think it only makes sense for a certain definition of "work" and "have to"—the one where to survive you have to find a paying job, and things like "being a parent" don't count.

How about this, instead? "Everyone has a moral obligation to perform what labor they can for their community."

Maybe that labor is physical, emotional, spiritual, artistic, cerebral... but whatever it is, there's an awful lot of work to be done in this world.

**varx - social alt** · Jun 19, 2021, 05:04

varx - social alt relayed

**goaty goats** @goaty@meow.social · Jun 19, 2021, 05:04

Jun 19, 2021, 05:04

goaty goats @goaty@meow.social

there's something so fundamentally fucked up about not being able to replace the god damn battery in your phone

Show thread

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jul 03, 2021, 14:27

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jul 03, 2021, 14:27

Jul 03, 2021, 14:27

varx - social alt @varx@cybre.space

Amtrak understands the eight genders.

735254a15db0def0.png

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jun 27, 2021, 00:12

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jun 27, 2021, 00:12

Jun 27, 2021, 00:12

varx - social alt @varx@cybre.space

💡 A blank keyboard, but the keycaps have a chalkboard surface.

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jun 26, 2021, 13:29

**varx - social alt** @varx@cybre.space · Jun 26, 2021, 13:29

Jun 26, 2021, 13:29

varx - social alt @varx@cybre.space

race shitposting (reductio ad absurdem)

I'm white. To put it another way, I'm a group of one (1) people.

That group is 100% white, and therefore illustrates systemic racism.

Even worse, that group has made no effort to become more black!

**varx - social alt** · Jun 25, 2021, 12:07

varx - social alt relayed

**Sylvhem** @Sylvhem@eldritch.cafe · Jun 25, 2021, 12:07

Jun 25, 2021, 12:07

Sylvhem @Sylvhem@eldritch.cafe

Emojis are a trick made by non-English speaking people in order to make Americans use Unicode.

**varx - social alt** · May 24, 2021, 10:32

varx - social alt relayed

**pappaulven** @anarchiv@todon.nl · May 24, 2021, 10:32

May 24, 2021, 10:32

pappaulven @anarchiv@todon.nl

[at the post office]

"I need some stamps, please."

"What value?"

"IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY. IT'S ABOUT SENDING A MESSAGE."

"S-Sir?"

"YOU HEARD ME"

**varx - social alt** · May 13, 2021, 05:27

varx - social alt relayed

**nosimpleway** @nosimpleway@dads.cool · May 13, 2021, 05:27

May 13, 2021, 05:27

nosimpleway @nosimpleway@dads.cool

I've decided that "People just don't want to work anymore" has some serious "Girls just don't date nice guys" energy

**varx - social alt** · Jun 17, 2021, 08:51

varx - social alt relayed

**Z̈oé** @uint8_t@chaos.social · Jun 17, 2021, 08:51

Jun 17, 2021, 08:51

Z̈oé @uint8_t@chaos.social

Microsoft Teams let you join a meeting that's scheduled to happen in 2 days and lets you wait without telling you and I think that's beautiful

**varx - social alt** · Jun 17, 2021, 07:46

varx - social alt relayed

**blinry** @blinry@chaos.social · Jun 17, 2021, 07:46

Jun 17, 2021, 07:46

blinry @blinry@chaos.social

How it started / How it's going

**varx - social alt** · Jun 16, 2021, 13:47

varx - social alt relayed

**Christine Lemmer-Webber** @cwebber@octodon.social · Jun 16, 2021, 13:47

Jun 16, 2021, 13:47

Christine Lemmer-Webber @cwebber@octodon.social

Old Vegetarian Rambling On About Days When Menus Only Had One Non-Meat Option https://www.theonion.com/old-vegetarian-rambling-on-about-days-when-menus-only-h-1847083112

**varx - social alt** · Jun 10, 2021, 21:32

varx - social alt relayed

**☆ Dmitri ☭** @yogthos@mastodon.social · Jun 10, 2021, 21:32

Jun 10, 2021, 21:32

☆ Dmitri ☭ @yogthos@mastodon.social

Weird how our media culture doesn't extend the idea of presenting both sides of the issue to economics. We'd sooner see a loon debate whether the Earth is flat than a Marxist economist debate merits of free markets.

**varx - social alt** · Jun 10, 2021, 20:42

varx - social alt relayed

**phooky** @phooky@octodon.social · Jun 10, 2021, 20:42

Jun 10, 2021, 20:42

phooky @phooky@octodon.social

@nev I used to try to do this on the train to work a decade and change ago, I think I was able to hold a 4-simplex in my head for like ten seconds a couple of times. It's a lot like drugs in that respect-- did I see the fourth dimension or just think I did?