patrickbrianmooney

[patrickbrianmooney]

The photograph shows an instant: that instant at which Guevara's body, artificially preserved, has become a mere object of demonstration. In this lies its initial horror. But what is it intended to demonstrate? Such horror? No. It is to demonstrate, at the instant of horror, the identity of Guevara and, allegedly, the absurdity of revolution. Yet by virtue of this very purpose, the instant is transcended. The life of Guevara and the idea of fact of revolution immediately invokes processes which preceded that instant and which continue now. Hypothetically, the only way in which the purpose of those who arranged for and authorized the photograph could have achieved would have been to preserve artificially at that instant the whole state of the world as it was: to stop life. Only in such a way could the content of Guevara's living example have been denied. As it is, either the photograph means nothing because the spectator has no inkling of what is involved, or else its meaning denies or qualifies its demonstration.

John Berger, "Image of Imperialism” (1968), collected in Understanding a Photograph (2013)

[patrickbrianmooney]

The Biden administration has confirmed that it has the authority to revoke the visas of foreign nationals who are living in the U.S. but who support terrorist groups such as Hamas – just as Republicans are urging the government to crack down on pro-Hamas foreigners.

In a letter to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the State Department confirmed that Hamas is a designated foreign terrorist organization and that the State Dept. has the power to revoke visas.

(via Biden admin says it can revoke visas of Hamas supporters | Fox News)

[patrickbrianmooney]

Strength by itself is just bullying, capitulation by itself is an invitation to get fucked; only mixed strategies survive. Everything is personal, but they know that too. They can smell pandering like a fart. If you treat them like they're a treasure box where if you just tweak them the right way, the policy you want falls out, you're already fucked. They'll misjudge you, so be ready to use that.

James S.A. Corey, Babylon's Ashes, ch. 33

[patrickbrianmooney]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Patrick Mooney (@patrickbrianmooney)

Snow falling outside the Acme Foundry in south Minneapolis's grain-mill district, just off of highway 55. 10 January 2024. Film Ferrania P30 exposed at box speed and stand-developed in dilute Kodak HC-110. File no. 1412-28A.

[patrickbrianmooney]

Ramiro Ledesma's achievement was to define the program of a Spanish fascism, something that no other sympathizer or would-be Spanish fascist had been able to accomplish. Yet Ledesma was clearly no Duce; though he possessed clarity, intensity, and decisiveness, he lacked charisma. He could define a sort of Spanish fascism in doctrinaire terms, but it was quite doubtful that he could give it successful political leadership. That would require more sensitive and charismatic direction, and also more favorable opportunities. Such a combination of factors first began to coalesce under the leadership of José Antonio Primo de Rivera.

Stanley G Payne, Fascism in Spain, 1923-1977

[patrickbrianmooney]

Biden is carrying out his crackdown in alliance with, and at the instigation of, America’s leading fascists and antisemites, such as Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and senators Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley.

On Tuesday, Hawley and Cotton were joined by other leading Senate Republicans, including Lindsey Graham and Charles Grassley, in demanding that Biden go even further. The senators’ letter welcomes Biden’s statement condemning “antisemitism,” but calls on the administration to carry out criminal prosecutions and deportations of participants in the demonstrations.

(via Biden launches police state crackdown at US universities - World Socialist Web Site)

[patrickbrianmooney]

I begin to get the feel of this writing. It's just a matter of recalling everything and omitting some things, only you have to get the proportions right.

Brian Aldiss, Earthworks (1965), ch. 1

[patrickbrianmooney]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Patrick Mooney (@patrickbrianmooney)

Snow on a locked bicycle in south Minneapolis's grain-mill district, just off of highway 55. 10 January 2024. Film Ferrania P30 exposed at box speed and stand-developed in dilute Kodak HC-110. File no. 1412-29A.

[patrickbrianmooney]

'There's a thing that happens,' Avasarala said, 'when unthinkable things become thinkable. We're in a moment of chaos. Everything's up for grabs. Legitimacy itself is up for grabs. That's where we are now.'

James S.A. Corey, Nemesis Games, ch. 50

[patrickbrianmooney]

If your landlord can kick you out on a whim, if your boss can deport you, if your parents can throw you on the street, or if your ability to survive is conditioned on the generosity of strangers, you can never go to brunch, you can never escape the realities of politics, and your salvation is something which will take more than elections to win.

So when liberals, even the most well-intentioned and caring liberals, tell us that they would be at brunch if Trump lost in 2016, they are admitting that their stated commitment to human dignity is barely skin deep.

(via Brunch, American Liberalism, and Delusions of Mediocrity | by Matthew Barad | Medium)

[patrickbrianmooney]

Guevara died surrounded by his enemies. What they did to him while was alive is probably consistent with what they did to him after he was dead. In his extremity he had nothing to support him but his own previous decisions. Thus the cycle was closed. It would be the vulgarest impertinence to claim any knowledge of his experience during that instant or that eternity. His lifeless body, as seen in the photograph, is the only report we have. But we are entitled to deduce the logic of what happens when the cycle closes. Truth flows in the obverse direction. His envisaged death is no more the measure of the necessity for changing the intolerable condition of the world. Aware now of his actual death, he finds in his life the measure of his justification, and the world-as-his-experience becomes tolerable to him.

John Berger, “Image of Imperialism” (1968), collected in Understanding a Photograph (2013)

[patrickbrianmooney]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Patrick Mooney (@patrickbrianmooney)

Graffiti on the side of a warehouse in south Minneapolis's grain-mill district, just off of highway 55. 10 January 2024. Film Ferrania P30 exposed at box speed and stand-developed in dilute Kodak HC-110. File no. 1412-16A.

[patrickbrianmooney]

Winning over anarchosyndicalists was to become a long-cherished goal of Spanish fascism, lasting well into the 1940s but never achieving much success.

Stanley G. Payne, Fascism in Spain, 1923-1977, ch. 3

[patrickbrianmooney]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Patrick Mooney (@patrickbrianmooney)

Snow on train tracks in south Minneapolis's grain-mill district, just off of highway 55. 10 January 2024. Film Ferrania P30 exposed at box speed and stand-developed in dilute Kodak HC-110. File no. 1412-16A.

[patrickbrianmooney]

'Apparently,' Amos said, then lifted a thumb to point after Stokes. 'Did he think I was joking about something? 'Cause I was just telling him how the sun comes up in the east.' Peaches lifted a shoulder. 'In his mind, we're the good guys. Everything we say, he interprets that way. If you say you don't care if he lives or dies, it must be your dry gallows humor.' 'Seriously?' 'Yep." 'That's a really stupid way to go through life.' 'It's how most people do.' 'Then most people are really stupid.'

James S.A. Corey, Nemesis Games, ch. 45

[patrickbrianmooney]

Why it matters: NBC News says Harris' net-negative rating of -17 is the lowest for a vice president in the history of its poll.

NBC News poll: Kamala Harris hits record low for VP net favorability

[patrickbrianmooney]

Guevara found the condition of the world as it is intolerable. It had only recently become so. Previously, the conditions under which two-thirds of the people of the world lived were approximately the same as now. The degree of exploitation and enslavement was as great. The suffering involved was as intense and as widespread. The waste was as colossal. But it was not intolerable because the full measure of the truth about these conditions was unknown—even by those who suffered it. Truths are not constantly evident in the circumstances to which they refer. They are born—sometimes late. This truth was born with the struggles and wars of national liberation. In the light of the newborn truth, the significance of imperialism changed. Its demands were seen to be different. Previously it had demanded cheap raw materials, exploited labor, and a controlled world market. Today it demands a mankind that counts for nothing.

John Berger, "Image of Imperialism” (1968), collected in Understanding a Photograph (2013)