Notices by Ben Lockwood, PhD (benlockwood@ecoevo.social)

American capitalism is essentially pure grift at this point. Nearly every ad is either for sports gambling or AI, with a few weight loss drugs sprinkled in for good measure.

I think when the maga era is finally over and we’re able to fully quantify its effects, we’ll see it as one of the largest transfers of wealth from the working class to the wealthy in American history

Can’t say this loud enough: Environmental issues are working class issues

Generative AI is a Faustian bargain. Every use of it weakens you. Maybe you occasionally save a few minutes, but you are diminished for it. With each use you are further from your human potential.

It’s entirely possible to have a world with guaranteed housing for everyone, solar and wind powered energy, fast and free public transit, high quality education and healthcare for all, well-funded libraries, healthier food, and a shorter work week. Those things are achievable now. Today.

Capitalism is an irrational economic system. Its internal contradictions cannot be reconciled, and it requires never-ending expansion, exploitation, and waste in order to maintain itself. A rational economy would instead be based on sufficiency, wellbeing, and the efficient use of resources.

Top-level post for my #monsterdon posts

Join us during the #watchparty at 9pm EST for this 1980s horror gem.

Tubi Link:
https://tubitv.com/movies/100049107/the-stuff?utm_campaign=web-sharing&utm_source=web-social-copy

My Review:
https://brlockwood.earth/2026/08/22/nature-as-capitalisms-tabula-rasa-in-the-stuff-1985/

Nice looking snow nothing wrong with that I’m sure #monsterdon #TheStuff1985

David Lynch commercial for The Stuff #monsterdon #TheStuff1985

This guy seems like he’s got too much charisma and his body can’t hold it #monsterdon #TheStuff1985

Director to the dad: dial up your dad vibes to 11 #monsterdon #TheStuff1985

That joke lands every time #monsterdon #TheStuff1985

Who among us hasn’t had one of these days at the grocery store #monsterdon #TheStuff1985

A phone call AND an appointment in the same day? Unhinged #monsterdon #TheStuff1985

Destroy AI

Bluesky now appears to be showing different trending topics to different people. I discovered it since I have a personal and Brief Ecology account there. Just another notch in the "do not trust that platform" column

RE: https://infosec.exchange/@jerry/117010558642656575

And a huge thanks to @tripofmice for creating/maintaining @bookwyrm - which is by far the #fediverse network I use the most after mastodon

Uh yes actually that’s exactly what I want for America

The useless loop of students using AI to write papers that professors use AI to grade is the ultimate endpoint of treating education as a product rather than a process.

Notifications were a mistake. I no longer wish to be notified. Of anything. Ever.