Ralph Litzinger
@raferlitz.bsky.social
I think we knew this but it is interesting how Trump’s reign of terror, and the genocide in Gaza, has disappeared much of the critical work on surveillance. This is thus a welcome report, especialky as tech execs kiss rhe ring and sing Trump’s praises. apnews.com/article/chin...
US tech companies enabled the surveillance and detention of hundreds of thousands in China
U.S. technology firms such as IBM, Dell and Cisco largely designed and built China’s surveillance state, an AP investigation finds. The tech companies deny wrongdoing.
apnews.com
September 9, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I think we knew this but it is interesting how Trump’s reign of terror, and the genocide in Gaza, has disappeared much of the critical work on surveillance. This is thus a welcome report, especialky as tech execs kiss rhe ring and sing Trump’s praises. apnews.com/article/chin...
If I lived in Taiwan, and for all my friends with deep ties to Taiwan, I would be very worried. As for Ukraine, this had all been a gift from Trump.
Xi’s Parade to Showcase China’s Military Might and Circle of Autocrats www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/w...
Xi’s Parade to Showcase China’s Military Might and Circle of Autocrats www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/w...
Xi’s Parade to Showcase China’s Military Might and Circle of Autocrats
www.nytimes.com
September 2, 2025 at 4:05 AM
If I lived in Taiwan, and for all my friends with deep ties to Taiwan, I would be very worried. As for Ukraine, this had all been a gift from Trump.
Xi’s Parade to Showcase China’s Military Might and Circle of Autocrats www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/w...
Xi’s Parade to Showcase China’s Military Might and Circle of Autocrats www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/w...
Arundhati Roy on How to Survive in a ‘Culture of Fear’ www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/m...
Arundhati Roy on How to Survive in a ‘Culture of Fear’
www.nytimes.com
August 31, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Arundhati Roy on How to Survive in a ‘Culture of Fear’ www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/m...
The discussion concludes with an analysis of techno-authoritarianism, highlighting Silicon Valley's historical hostility to democracy and its prioritization of technologies that advance surveillance and social control.
millennialsarekillingcapitalism.libsyn.com/the-obscuran...
millennialsarekillingcapitalism.libsyn.com/the-obscuran...
Millennials Are Killing Capitalism: The Obscurant Function of 'Artificial Intelligence' with Edward Ongweso Jr
In this episode, we speak with Edward Ongweso Jr about "artificial intelligence" and its implications, particularly concerning corporate interests and historical parallels with labor control. Edward c...
millennialsarekillingcapitalism.libsyn.com
May 16, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The discussion concludes with an analysis of techno-authoritarianism, highlighting Silicon Valley's historical hostility to democracy and its prioritization of technologies that advance surveillance and social control.
millennialsarekillingcapitalism.libsyn.com/the-obscuran...
millennialsarekillingcapitalism.libsyn.com/the-obscuran...
Reposted by Ralph Litzinger
Numbers to cite for calling NC representatives about N.I.H. policy changes (on top of everything else)- this is the impact on jobs and funding in North Carolina. I hope every colleague at Duke, UNC, & all NC Higher Ed who can, will get calling.
I am beyond furious. @gregpak.net helpful script below
I am beyond furious. @gregpak.net helpful script below
February 8, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Numbers to cite for calling NC representatives about N.I.H. policy changes (on top of everything else)- this is the impact on jobs and funding in North Carolina. I hope every colleague at Duke, UNC, & all NC Higher Ed who can, will get calling.
I am beyond furious. @gregpak.net helpful script below
I am beyond furious. @gregpak.net helpful script below
Reposted by Ralph Litzinger
As someone who has reported on AI for 7 years and covered China tech as well, I think the biggest lesson to be drawn from DeepSeek is the huge cracks it illustrates with the current dominant paradigm of AI development. A long thread. 1/
January 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
As someone who has reported on AI for 7 years and covered China tech as well, I think the biggest lesson to be drawn from DeepSeek is the huge cracks it illustrates with the current dominant paradigm of AI development. A long thread. 1/
Reposted by Ralph Litzinger
Just terrifying that this totally inexperienced and capricious opportunist, in thrall to a mash up of extremist ideologies, the most coherent of which is savage misogyny, is about to be one skipped beat of an obese elderly man’s heart away from the presidency.
From Hillbilly Elegy to the White House.
It’s wild when you think about it.
And while many Democrats were skeptical of his book (some weren’t), I don’t think anyone would have predicted this back in 2016.
It’s wild when you think about it.
And while many Democrats were skeptical of his book (some weren’t), I don’t think anyone would have predicted this back in 2016.
January 19, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Just terrifying that this totally inexperienced and capricious opportunist, in thrall to a mash up of extremist ideologies, the most coherent of which is savage misogyny, is about to be one skipped beat of an obese elderly man’s heart away from the presidency.
The Island Where Environmentalism Implodes - on the search for nickel (think Tesla or your EV) and New Caledonia. www.newyorker.com/news/the-wee...
The Island Where Environmentalism Implodes
New Caledonia is home to thousands of species found nowhere else—and to nickel that companies like Tesla desperately need.
www.newyorker.com
November 23, 2024 at 9:25 PM
The Island Where Environmentalism Implodes - on the search for nickel (think Tesla or your EV) and New Caledonia. www.newyorker.com/news/the-wee...
On 4B- more of a feeling than a movement? Good overview and analysis by E. Tammy Kim.
November 23, 2024 at 8:28 PM
On 4B- more of a feeling than a movement? Good overview and analysis by E. Tammy Kim.
Silicon Valley’s Militarism has its roots in the Cold War. It’s resurfacing under Trump. Trump’s Election Is Also a Win for Tech’s Right-Wing “Warrior Class”-
November 18, 2024 at 12:31 AM
Silicon Valley’s Militarism has its roots in the Cold War. It’s resurfacing under Trump. Trump’s Election Is Also a Win for Tech’s Right-Wing “Warrior Class”-
Humanity Surprised It Still Hasn’t Figured Out Better Alternative To Letting Power-Hungry Assholes Decide Everything - The Onion
November 17, 2024 at 9:47 PM
Humanity Surprised It Still Hasn’t Figured Out Better Alternative To Letting Power-Hungry Assholes Decide Everything - The Onion
When is the paperback due out?
While most investigations of Chinese workers focus on migrant labor, Chinese Workers of the World by Selda Altan
explores Chinese labor under colonial regimes within China through an examination of the Yunnan-Indochina Railway, constructed between 1898–1910
www.sup.org/books/title/...
explores Chinese labor under colonial regimes within China through an examination of the Yunnan-Indochina Railway, constructed between 1898–1910
www.sup.org/books/title/...
November 17, 2024 at 8:23 PM
When is the paperback due out?
The exodus to Blue Sky is happening, finally.
Over the past week, the social media site Bluesky's growth has exploded, more than doubling to 15 million-plus users, as people seek alternatives to X, Facebook and Threads.
Bluesky Is Growing Up. Maybe Too Fast.
The fledgling social media site has been flooded by people seeking alternatives to Facebook, X and Threads. It hasn’t all been easy.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2024 at 7:55 PM
The exodus to Blue Sky is happening, finally.
Reposted by Ralph Litzinger
Our waiting issue is finally here. “Get in Line” features stories on the inevitable and the long-overdue: doomsdays and digital utopias, health care and political unity.
They say patience is a virtue, but we’re on borrowed time. Start reading now.
They say patience is a virtue, but we’re on borrowed time. Start reading now.
no. 76—Get in Line
CHOOSE YOUR PRECIPICE. The grist that makes modern life will run out at some point—when will we tap the last barrel of crude, blow through the remaining stocks of helium, deplete those rare metals…
thebaffler.com
October 29, 2024 at 2:58 PM
Our waiting issue is finally here. “Get in Line” features stories on the inevitable and the long-overdue: doomsdays and digital utopias, health care and political unity.
They say patience is a virtue, but we’re on borrowed time. Start reading now.
They say patience is a virtue, but we’re on borrowed time. Start reading now.
Reposted by Ralph Litzinger
"When universities like Harvard shifted their definition of ability, large segments of society adjusted to meet that definition," David Brooks writes, The effect was transformative: www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
www.theatlantic.com
November 14, 2024 at 9:26 PM
"When universities like Harvard shifted their definition of ability, large segments of society adjusted to meet that definition," David Brooks writes, The effect was transformative: www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...