Link: Insert Title Blog

I came across a blog called 'Insert Title Blog' 2 or 3 days ago. Its a treasure trove of well researched and well constructed arguments for points of view that I subscribe to. Now I can rip off it's content to argue my own points.

If you consider yourself progressive in terms of social thinking, you should check it out.

5RT - 13/12/2006

The first post in my new category '5 Ridiculous Things'

Inspired by the increasing amount of ridiculousness I have been exposed to lately, I have created a new category that will house posts about 5 random things that are ridiculous. I was originally going to call it '5 Ridiculous Things of the Week', but that was too long and required a commitment to post every week which just ain't gonna happen.

So without further ado, on to the ridiculous ...

• Cars with any kind of flames on them

You can't help but agree with this. Just to clarify, I am talking about street cars. If its Bathurst or whatever that slightly less ridiculous.

• Any shopping complex around Christmas

So many people. So many purchases. So much ridiculousness.

• The TV show 'The OC'

I caught about 3 minutes of this the other night. That was enough to make me laugh out loud at the ridiculousness.

• Rockhampton Birch Carol and Coyle.

For not showing A Scanner Darkly as soon as it was released.

• Real Estate

The words/phrase just doesn't make sense. Plus, everything about it is ridiculous. Extra points go especially to any type of Real Estate Agent.

Book: Anti-Capitalism - A Beginner's Guide

The title of this sets it up quite well. I am only half way done reading this but so far I find it hard to fault. The author deserves credit for before entering into the conversation, setting up the context for the book by explaining why a "Beginner's Guide" is so relevant to the issue at hand.

You soon gain an appreciation for the complexity and diversity of what is labeled as the 'Anti-Capitalist Movement' in a way that doesn't belittle or degrade the reader. From the outset it feels like a worthwhile reading exercise, but that is coming from someone who doesn't have highly evolved ideas about anti-capitalism and indeed capitalism itself. What really comes out is that anti-capitalism is a revolutionary movement in that at it's base is not ideologically driven, which makes it unique to almost all prior forms of world view. Similarly, anti-capitalism can not even be defined as a 'world view'. The author uses the term post-ideological to illustrate this. We are now seeking something more abstract and meaningful than ideology itself.

Another attractive feature of this book is that, for me, it legitimises the vague yet pervasive feeling that the very core of our culture is taking us in the wrong direction. I find it easy to oppose Capitalism on moral and humanistic grounds, but this book will help me understand how to oppose it on more tangible, common ground level. I have no doubt that Capitalist sponsored Consumerism will kill us all if we do not significantly change direction. Even if we do course correct, I am not sure we will make it (but you have to hope).

So if you are reading this and have an interest in understanding why life filled with logos, products, promises of glory and shiny things feels so utterly inexplicably unfulfilled, I suggest you read this book.

Links

• Book @ One World Publications
• Book @ Melbourne University Bookshop
• Author's Home Page

Big ups to Tanya for lending the book to me.

Moved In

I have finally managed to get my domain moved to the fantabulous TextDrive. It only took a gazillion emails to the extremely ridiculous hostingu (no link intentional) who I purchased the domain name through to get this to happen. In the end, I went around them and contacted the wholesaler who they use directly.

Word to the wise, do not give any money to Hostingu.com at all, ever.