the definite article 28
a real variety, and some good stuff!
For those with an eye to Europe, an interesting article explaining the governmental crisis in France
The author discusses the shortcomings of rationality pointing a way towards a society of value and meaning in a world dominated by AI.
https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/ethics-wont-save-us-from-ai
Nathan Diamant expresses his frustration that the Antisemitism Awareness Act, bill that would enable universities to rein in pro-Jewish genocidal demonstrations by tying together antisemitism and any-Zionism. The bill has bi-partisan support but is not being brought to the floor because some lawmakers don’t want their name associated with it - out of fear from the extreme left.
no-more-political-games-pass-the-antisemitism-awareness-act-now
Tom Rogan of Unherd places the fall of the Syrian regime as an expression of changing power projections in the Middle East.
https://unherd.com/newsroom/fall-of-assad-leaves-putin-isolated-and-powerless/
Two articles from the Free Press on the significance of the regime change in Syria.
This is two-part series by Walter Russel Meade on the historical antecedents of Trump populism. Good, but a little dry. If you really want a zinger of a read, try All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren. I rate it among the ten best book I’ve ever read, and sometimes I think it in the top 5. It is, I believe, a fictionalized account of the life of Huey Long, who was a Trump style populist in Louisiana in the ‘30s, I believe. The more I hear about Trump, the more this fiction seems relevant to our days. And it is damn good writing.
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/rebel-yell-part-one
An article by Marilyn Simon who writes how, as an innocent 15 year old young woman working in a rowdy, bawdy diner kitchen, she learned the power of her femininity. I hope you do not find it offensive. I found it charming. A lot of what she write can be a bit racy - I like it and I hope you subscribe to her substack.
https://quillette.com/2019/04/04/notme-on-harassment-empowerment-and-feminine-virtue/
More long-form interview with Bari Weiss. This time with Marc Andreessen, a friend of Elon Musk and one of the founders of Netscape and a spate of other IT companies. OK – I had no idea why Musk, Ben Horowitz, Andreessen, David Sacks, Peter Thiel, Bill Ackman – these intelligent, wealthy, successful entrepreneurs – threw in with Trump. Andreessen spells it out. Again, if you were born to only hear nasty things about Trump, and great things about Biden, you will not enjoy it, But if you are interested in learning a point of view that makes sense whether you agree with it or not, it is worth your while. One thing I really liked – Andreessen has his bones to pick about the Biden administration and their negative views on tech and AI specifically, but Andreessen’s view on America is very positive and that’s a nice thing to hear. And there are some insights on Trump that I had never heard. Ah, the book excerpt from McMasters – you’ve got to hear that! Really! I’ll post it below.
Certainly listen to this! It is the don’t miss of the week!