@violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

violinguy

@violinguy@mastodon.world

Ontario Canadian fiddler. I lean left but moderately I am a part time street musician

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. For a complete list of posts, browse on the original instance.

rbreich , to random
@rbreich@masto.ai avatar

John Deere has laid off roughly 1000 workers so far this year.

But the company reported a profit of over $10 billion in 2023.

Its CEO received $26.7 million in total compensation.

And it spent over $7 billion on stock buybacks.

Textbook corporate greed.

violinguy ,
@violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

@rbreich workers don't matter. Only pleasing shareholders to these bastards.

lowqualityfacts , to random
@lowqualityfacts@mstdn.social avatar

Good for her.
https://patreon.com/lowqualityfacts

violinguy ,
@violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

@lowqualityfacts I thought she fought vampires. I stand corrected.

violinguy , to random
@violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

@pluralistic Would it be safe to say if the choice is between an old dumb appliance or a new one Internet connected it would be better to take the old one lest you get wrapped up in control and subscription fees ?

pluralistic , to random
@pluralistic@mamot.fr avatar

As a science fiction writer, I find it weird that some sf tropes - like space colonization - have become culture-war touchstones. You know, that whole "we were promised jetpacks" thing.

--

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/17/fake-it-until-you-dont-make-it/#twenty-one-seconds

1/

violinguy ,
@violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

@pluralistic Uncle Sucker. Hahaha.

randahl , to random
@randahl@mastodon.social avatar

Investigation shows, Trump likely owes USD 100,000,000 in taxes, because he illegally wrote off the same loss twice.

Yes, I know it is VERY hard to believe, that such an honest, standup guy, would do something like that. So out of character.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/11/politics/donald-trump-taxes-irs-report/index.html#:~:text=Former%20President%20Donald%20Trump%20could,Times%20and%20ProPublica%20reported%20Saturday.

violinguy ,
@violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

@randahl I am shocked, shocked and appalled.

pluralistic , to random
@pluralistic@mamot.fr avatar

All digital businesses have the technical capacity to enshittify: the ability to change the underlying functions of the business from moment to moment and user to user, allowing for the rapid transfer of value between business customers, end users and shareholders:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/19/twiddler/

--

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/24/naming-names/#prabhakar-raghavan

1/

A collection of 1950s white, suited boardroom executives seated around a table, staring at its center. The original has been altered. In the center of the table stands a stylized stick figure cartoon mascot whose head is a poop emoji rendered in the colors of the Google logo. The various memos on the boardroom table repeat this poop Google image. On the wall behind the executives is the original Google logo in an ornate gilt frame.
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    • violinguy ,
    @violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

    @pluralistic hella yes. Truest thing I've read in days.

    Strandjunker , to random
    @Strandjunker@mstdn.social avatar

    The United States owes Hillary Clinton a presidency.

    violinguy ,
    @violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

    @Strandjunker sorry ,no do overs.

    randahl , (edited ) to random
    @randahl@mastodon.social avatar

    I remember when the Tesla brand was synonymous with innovation.

    Now, it is synonymous with casting doubt on the legitimacy of the US justice system in front of your 181 million followers.

    Buy another car.

    (The following is posted in a thread about Trump being on trial in New York in the hush money case:)

    violinguy ,
    @violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

    @randahl Billionaires gonna billionaire.

    lowqualityfacts , to random
    @lowqualityfacts@mstdn.social avatar

    Wise words from a wise man.

    violinguy ,
    @violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

    @lowqualityfacts to the guy who did the

    Little Caesar Caramelldansen GIF

    18+ pluralistic , to random
    @pluralistic@mamot.fr avatar

    With Pluralistic, the solo blog I founded 4 years ago, I've moved into longer, more synthetic essays that try to connect the things that caught my attention today with all those things I've written about for the past two decades. That's also proven very fruitful:

    https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/20/fore/#synthesis

    2/

    violinguy ,
    @violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

    @pluralistic I wanted to see ELO one last time soon like I did at the CNE in the 70s. Can't afford to go. Only scalped Ticketmaster tickets available. Could muster $200.

    Elo Out Of The Blue GIF

    yaelwrites , to random
    @yaelwrites@mastodon.social avatar

    @pluralistic I was worried my expectations would be too high but your book is mind blowing; thank you for putting it out into the world 💕

    violinguy ,
    @violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

    @yaelwrites @ChrisWinters @pluralistic Phew.

    rbreich , to random
    @rbreich@masto.ai avatar

    The Republican budget proposal released this week...

    -Cuts $1.5 trillion from Social Security

    -Repeals Medicare's ability to negotiate drug prices

    -Nixes Medicare's $35 out-of-pocket cap on insulin

    All to pay for trillions of dollars in tax cuts skewed in favor of the rich.

    violinguy ,
    @violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

    @rbreich Make no mistake about it vote for Biden for the future of social security. Hold your nose if you have to.

    luckytran , to random
    @luckytran@med-mastodon.com avatar

    There are many people who can't afford to take days off work even when they are ill. The CDC should be recommending that employers give workers paid sick leave, not making it easier for bosses to exploit workers by saying it's fine to work when you are sick.

    violinguy ,
    @violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

    @luckytran people used to come into the call center and work and hacking coughs then spread through the whole room in a few days.

    elizabethtasker , to random
    @elizabethtasker@mastodon.online avatar

    I’m in a long line for the bag drop at the airport. A robotic cart joined the queue. It alternated between demanding people move in Japanese and English, and voicing the same demands at a variety of barriers.

    People have done their best to acquiesce to its demands, but it’s now stationary and shouting in multiple languages.

    violinguy ,
    @violinguy@mastodon.world avatar

    @elizabethtasker welcome to the Brazil style future.

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