#gilded age 2.0

[juspeczyk]

i should have the government-protected right to call my work up and be like, yeah i need the week off. yeah it's the disorders. yeah i'm gonna go to the beach and play arcade games now all the kids are back in school. which i suppose technically i CAN do but it's called "calling out" (feel bad for putting pressure on my coworkers) (not that bad, because they'll be under pressure regardless, but still) or "scheduling time off" (relies on my brain having any semblance of normalcy and ability to do things in a rational, timely manner)

[thedanceronthestreets]

Why is the only "shocking" scenario i can think of oscar outing john and getting him into prison, lichrally nobody would care

[mostlysignssomeportents]

A year in illustration (2024), Part three

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/12/07/great-kepplers-ghost/art-adjacent

Part one

Part two

Live Nation/Ticketmaster is buying Congress

I had a lot of fun scouring Victorian woodcuts for cool tentacles to add to this image. The garish concert lights in the background were a fun find – I was halfway through using them when I realized that the image came from my old pal Matt Biddulph, who has many claims to fame, but my favorite is that he once sarcastically called the area in Hackney where some tech startups were clustered "Silicon Roundabout" and then experienced the monkey's paw curse of having the government turn this into an official designation.

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/30/nix-fix-the-tix/#something-must-be-done-there-we-did-something

(Image: Matt Biddulph, CC BY-SA 2.0; Flying Logos, CC BY-SA 4.0; modified)

The specific process by which Google enshittified its search

Around April, I realized I needed a visual signifier for "enshittified Google" – I created a cartoon mascot with the head of a poop emoji, colored in the original Google logo colors. I put him into "The Junior Partner Speaks," an old ad for Pacific Woolens and Worsteds, which I've since used several times:

https://craphound.com/images/juniorpartner.jpg

I'm very fond of using the homely old original Google logo as a way to differentiate pre-enshittificatory Google from modern, enshittocene Google.

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/24/naming-names/#prabhakar-raghavan

Podcasting "Capitalists Hate Capitalism"

Real Gilded Age corruption-heads will instantly recognize the editorial cartoon image of Boss Tweed as a suited figure with a sack of money for a head; his body language is impeccable, conveying a sneering disregard for decency and others' wellbeing. He works very well inserted into this tapestry of feudal peasants threshing grain.

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/18/in-extremis-veritas/#the-winnah

No, "convenience" isn't the problem

It's stupidly, unnecessarily hard to find hi-rez scans of Rube Goldberg cartoons online, but this one is perfect and it was a delight to lovingly crop out all its little details. Throw in Cryteria's HAL 9000 and a Matrix code waterfall and you've got a perfect image of the complex, hostile traps of digital systems.

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/12/give-me-convenience/#or-give-me-death

The unexpected upside of global monopoly capitalism

This one's pretty subtle! I mostly just added the monocle, mustache and top-hat to the fallen head of Goliath in Bosse's 17th century engraving of the triumphant David. The planet Earth in David's sling is a NASA image and thus in the public domain.

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/10/an-injury-to-one/#is-an-injury-to-all

How to shatter the class solidarity of the ruling class

Goodness, but "canceled" is a tedious cliche. If you must describe someone being ejected from polite society, please consider the far more delightful "defenestrated," not least because the many paintings and etchings of The Defenestration of Prague gives us a lot of public domain visual material to work with when illustrating such events.

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/08/money-talks/#bullshit-walks

(Image: KMJ, CC BY-SA 3.0, modified)

General Mills and cheaply bought "dietitians" co-opted the anti-diet movement

The minute I saw this unsourced midcentury commercial illustration of a scientist working in a chem lab, I knew I'd get a lot of mileage out of it; I spent a long flight productively slicing it onto layers so that I could replace his head and put arbitrary objects in his flask:

https://craphound.com/images/labflask.jpg

I've used him before, but putting the Trix rabbit's head on him and sticking a box of Cocoa Puffs in the flask worked great.

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/05/corrupt-for-cocoa-puffs/#flood-the-zone-with-shit

Too big to care

I spent the whole flight to SXSW last year slicing up a super hi-rez (10,000px wide!) image of Hieronymus Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights," slicing out individual demons, with special attention to the hoof-footed, anus-baring demon in a hat with a whole secret demonic clubhouse in its rectal cavity. At the end of that flight, I had a very funny conversation with my perplexed seatmate, who was dying to know what the actual fuck I was working on.

The background here is made up of desaturated, magnified brushstrokes from Van Gogh's "Starry Night."

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/04/teach-me-how-to-shruggie/#kagi

Red Lobster was killed by private equity, not Endless Shrimp

I inserted a rogue's gallery of "evil boss types" from various editorial cartoons into this vintage Red Lobster ad, including Boss Tweed, an impatient guy from a midcentury John Falter commercial illustration, possibly for a radio station (?) and a William Gropper sketch for a cartoon making fun of the business lobby's opposition to the New Deal.

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/23/spineless/#invertebrates

You were promised a jetpack by liars

The newsie with the great grin makes a reappearance in this one, beneath a jetpack flyer taken from a 1928 Amazing Stories cover by R Frank Paul. The control panel is one of several midcentury electronics consoles I've spent idle hours cropping out (this one comes from a Schlitz ad depicting a HAM radio enthusiast). The hypnotic head is from the October, 1953 cover of Doll-Man, likely by Reed Crandall. I started playing around with halftoning with this one, on the background, as a way of hiding the JPEG artifacts that emerged when I uprezzed small source images. It worked really well.

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/17/fake-it-until-you-dont-make-it/#twenty-one-seconds

AI "art" and uncanniness

I was so happy with how the extra fingers on this Victorian woodcut of a hand on a Oujia board planchette came out. And the green tinting worked perfectly with the Code Waterfall background.

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/13/spooky-action-at-a-close-up/#invisible-hand

Part four

[dramioneasks]

HP FESTS: Dramione Teratophilia Fest (Part 1)

Dramione Teratophilia Fest 2.0 2023:

Grace Period by TeTe91 - E, WIP - After all the hardships and challenges Hermione had to face during the war, she is left empty-handed. Instead of a reward, she finds herself in a hopeless situation and struggles with the closed door to her previously bright future. Upset with the hand she has been dealt, she no longer sees any reasons to play by the rules, or even be good. Who better to unleash her anger onto than Draco Malfoy.

Coup de Grâce by ChaosAndCrumpets - E, WIP - The only place Hermione Granger finds some semblance of her former self is - inexplicably - in the arms of Draco Malfoy. But something so unnatural is sure to have wider implications. Then people start to die.

A Captured Moment by peachy_V, Roseheira - E, one-shot - Many wolves die having never experienced the love and devotion that can only come from one's true mate. And for the longest time Draco thought his fate would be condemned to a loveless life. Yet here she was, his mate. Conveniently brought to him, tied up like a present, and ready to be claimed by him.

Shadow Pact by Serpent_Sortia - E, WIP - “From Glittering Love to Gilded Betrayal! Golden Girl Heartbroken by Cheating Scandal” Or, what happens when a certain demon offers to help Hermione get revenge on her cheating ex?

Eternity by emmarauren - M, one-shot - Hermione Granger would wait an eternity for Draco Malfoy to love her back. Even if he is eternally a beast.

Bound by Darkness by BlueZeldana - E, WIP - Draco Malfoy had been living alone for years and no one knew he was alive. He was a murderer now, and the magic of his victims ran through his veins making him more and more powerful with each life he took. The only thing he cared about was power. Until a Muggleborn witch stepped into his manor and ruined everything.

Thick as blood by pinkhairandbooks - E, one-shot - You’re a Vampire Slayer and you find out that your soulmate is the Vampire that you are tasked to kill and almost killed you. What now?

The Claiming by Kayka - E, 5 chapters - The men of the Malfoy line have maintained a carefully guarded family secret for generations. Perpetually exhausted Hermione Granger is simply trying to get through her Thursday.

Starve This Sin by belladeexx - E, WIP - An age-old saying: An Angel on your right and the Devil on your left. In this case, Draco Malfoy is the pesky lust demon on the metaphorical left side of every shoulder Hermione interacts with. He's a constant thorn in her wings, albeit an attractive thorn she can't stop dreaming about, but a thorn nonetheless. After all, he's just a harmless demon on his knees begging for a taste of heaven. Who is Hermione to forbid him of it?

messy eater by riddikulus_puff - E, one-shot - Hermione Granger thought she had learned her lessons when it came to seeking food out during her nightly adventures as a newly turned vampire, but it seemed that she really hadn't learned anything. She had been given the title of "messy eater" when it came to her desperation and hunger and always seemingly made a mess of things. Usually, Hermione found that she could clean things up herself after satiating her hunger but it seemed as though that wasn't happening this time. Draco Malfoy, an older vampire who was more expressed with quelling his hunger, was nearby when Hermione needed help with cleaning herself and the crime scene up. He was used to this, his father being the one who originally turned Hermione and introduced her to him. Draco acted as a shadow for Hermione to follow, supposed to protect and show her the ways of the vampires.

My Love, My Moon by Art_emis, magicalmolly - E, one-shot - Hermione is filling in as the substitute Herbology Professor for Neville and hating it. While gathering materials in the Forbidden Forest one night, during the full moon, she's attacked by a werewolf. When she goes to hunt them down and demand that they leave the school grounds she finds out that the werewolf is none other than Draco Malfoy. But he's no ordinary werewolf and his attack has left them connected to one another in an unbearable way.

I See You by art_emissss - T, one-shot - The familiar thrill of the hunt only began to seep into her blood, and her skin itched with anticipation. Or: the one where Hermione miscalculates and gets something out of it.

there's always a straight way to the point by B_LovedHunter - T, one-shot - Hermione becomes an Animagus just in time for the start of her 8th year. Surprise. She's a cat. While roaming Hogwarts, she comes across a very distressed Draco Malfoy. Against her better judgement, she decides to comfort him. It turns out Draco is a cat person. **** “Granger came to find me in the library today.” She stopped purring. He kept stroking her absently. “She said she forgives me. I don’t know how or why, but she does,” He sighed deeply. “I believe her. Maybe you’ll meet her one day. She has a lot of wild hair and she’s a swotty, annoying sort–” WELL. “But she’s good. She’s good, and brilliant. Pretty too. She’s always been all of that, even when she had rather large teeth.” Well. “Don’t worry, love. Not as pretty as you.”

An Abysmal Riptide by Bana_Bhuidseach - M, WIP - To catch a siren one must set sail on a moonless night at the peak of the storm, to capture a siren one must risk meeting death by the relentless sea and its razor sharp rocks, to capture a siren sometimes it means losing ones mind and life in the process and the captain of the ¨Sea Dragon¨is about to find out what that means when he encounters her, the sweetest thing on this side of hell.

When Stars Align by art_emissss, thatblondebitvh - E, WIP - The one where Draco Malfoy fucks around and finds out.

Waiting For The Bite by rapunzerelli, Sophiesstreet - E, one-shot - Members of notoriously rivaled species, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger have only two things in common: a mutual hatred and a soulmate bond they unfortunately share. But when their lives are threatened by lingering followers of Voldemort and their bond forces them to protect each other, they find themselves thanking fate instead of blaming it.

For a Good Time by ymer - E, one-shot - Draco Malfoy finds a mysterious spell that starts as a dream before turning into a nightmare.

By These Fearful Places by ohthedrarry - M, 2 chapters - In his youth, Draco Malfoy had been little more than the disgraced son of an executed Senator. Hunger forced him to teach himself to hunt and risk his mortal life in woods ruled by the gods. Artemis took pity on the young boy and sent a woodland nymph to save him from a mountain lion who stalked him while he slept. Draco returned to that same forest ten years later, a man whose reputation exceeded that of even Odysseus. Fame and fortune gifted to him by his patron goddess no longer satisfied him. He craved the touch of that nymph who’d saved his life – and would risk everything to take it.

Never Let You Go by cauldronofmenace - M, one-shot - Draco is a vampire. Hermione is his prisoner. She has sexy dreams about him and he's happy to make them a reality.

The Sun and Her Shadow by daydreamstory, Ivmaruva - E, WIP - She travels across barren stretches of an eternal night to find him. He waits for her there, on the dark side of the moon.

Blood Moon by NinaBinaBallerina - E, WIP - Under a blood moon, Lycans hunt the forest for their mates. And Draco Malfoy knew just the witch he wanted to sink his teeth into.

You’re Everything a Big, Bad Wolf Could Want by LaLuneMoonstone - E, 2 chapters - A trip into the forbidden forest under the waxing crescent to get herbs for potions plus a new read cloak lands Hermione in a mate situation. Little red riding hood never had to deal with this, or did she?

The Banshee of Biddeford Pond by atomicbombshell - G, one-shot - no summary

La Appel du Vide by CSIsui - E, one-shot - “Flora has always been the most innocent and, at the same time, the most perverse medium for symbolism all throughout history.” Draco once heard in her lecture. “From Georgia O’Keefe to Shakespeare and ancient history, flora has been the favourite when it comes to cheeky sex symbols.” And she was right

[wordsbeforeflowers-always]

Gardenia

The gardenia (genus) is a flower that symbolizes purity and gentleness. However, this symbolism often depends on the color of the gardenia. For example, the white gardenia best fits this meaning. Another symbol of the gardenia is secret love between two people and also joy. Finally, we must note that the gardenia symbolizes everything related to the spiritual world, especially pure attraction. It’s a mystical flower associated with the power of attraction and positive energy.

Amazing facts about gardenia flower

Gardenia is a genus of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Madagascar and Pacific Islands, and Australia.

The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus and John Ellis after Alexander Garden (1730–1791),

Cultivation :

Gardenia jasminoides is cultivated as a house plant. This species can be difficult to grow because it originated in warm humid tropical areas. It demands high humidity to thrive, and bright (not direct) light. at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight through a sunny window. Make sure your Gardenia soil is moist and well-drained. Gardenias need at least 1 inch of rain (or equivalent watering) each week. Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) is also known as cape jasmine and is an evergreen shrub that typically grows to a height of 3 to 8 feet, depending upon the cultivar. Spread is usually about the same as the height. The foliage of well-fed shrubs is glossy, dark-green, 2- to 4-inches long and half as wide. Flowering is from about mid-spring to mid-summer, and many species are strongly scented.

Description :

Gardenias are evergreen shrubs and small trees growing to 1–15 metres (3.3–49.2 ft) tall. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three or four, 5–50 centimetres (2.0–19.7 in) long and 3–25 centimetres (1.2–9.8 in) broad, dark green and glossy with a leathery texture.

Scent of gardenia:

gardenia smells more feminine than jasmine, creamier than ylang ylang, and lighter than tuberose. Interestingly, the gardenia flower is capable of changing scents throughout the day.Their long lasting, fragrant white flowers bloom from late spring to fall.

History of :

In France, gardenias are the flower traditionally worn by men as boutonnière when in evening dress. In The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton suggests it was customary for upper-class men from New York City to wear a gardenia in their buttonhole during the Gilded Age.

In Tiki culture, "Donn Beach", aka Don the Beachcomber, frequently wore a fresh lei of gardenias almost every day at his Tiki bars, allegedly spending $7,800 for flowers over the course of four years in 1938. He named one of his drinks the Mystery Gardenia cocktail. Trader Vic frequently used the gardenia as a flower garnish in his Tiki drinks, such as in the Scorpion and Outrigger Tiara cocktails.

main features of the gardenia:

The gardenia has large, lush leaves.

There are many varieties of this plant species.

Gardenias are originally from Asia.

Meaning behind white gardenia :

the white gardenia stands out because it has the greatest symbolism. The white color of its petals symbolizes the purity of a loved one, the purity of a relationship, etc. Gardenias in this color convey peace and harmony

Meaning behind red gardenia:

The red gardenia symbolizes the secret love between two people. Like red roses, red gardenias are also a symbol of passion and love, but associated with secrecy. Usually the gift of red gardenias is a silent way of saying “I love you.” Red gardenias convey several feelings, not just love, towards a person. They also show: admiration, respect, Red Gardenia flower meaning- Affection for deep love and promises is all we need in life. The Red Gardenia symbolizes love at first sight. etc.

Yellow Gardenia flower meaning- How about having a sweet memory of someone unconsciously? The Yellow gardenias flowers symbolize dreams.

Orange Gardenia flower meaning- Every person deserves someone who can be there every time. The Orange gardenia flowers symbolize hope.

Pink Gardenia flowers meaning- What’s better than giving a fresh start in any relationship? Pink gardenia flowers symbolize beauty and renewal.

128 species in this genus, as follows:

Gardenia actinocarpa Puttock

Gardenia anapetes A.C.Sm.

Gardenia angkorensis Pit.

Gardenia annamensis Pit.

Gardenia aqualla Stapf & Hutch.

Gardenia archboldiana Merr. & L.M.Perry

Gardenia aubryi Vieill.

Gardenia barnesii Merr.

Gardenia beamanii Y.W.Low

Gardenia boninensis (Nakai) Tuyama ex T.Yamaz.

Gardenia brachythamnus (K.Schum.) Launert

Gardenia brevicalyx Rakoton. & A.P.Davis

Gardenia brighamii H.Mann

Gardenia buffalina (Lour.) Poir.

Gardenia cambodiana Pit.

Gardenia candida A.C.Sm.

Gardenia carinata Wall. ex Roxb.

Gardenia carstensensis Wernham

Gardenia chanii Y.W.Low

Gardenia chevalieri Pit.

Gardenia clemensiae Merr. & L.M.Perry

Gardenia collinsiae Craib

Gardenia cornuta Hemsl.

Gardenia coronaria Banks

Gardenia costulata Ridl.

Gardenia crameri Tirveng.

Gardenia cuneata Kurz

Gardenia dacryoides A.Cunn. ex Puttock

Gardenia elata Ridl.

Gardenia epiphytica Jongkind

Gardenia erubescens Stapf & Hutch.

Gardenia esculenta Stokes

Gardenia ewartii Puttock

Gardenia faucicola Puttock

Gardenia fiorii Chiov.

Gardenia flava (Lour.) Poir.

Gardenia fosbergii Tirveng.

Gardenia fucata R.Br. ex Benth.

Gardenia fusca E.T.Geddes

Gardenia gardneri Puttock

Gardenia gjellerupii Valeton

Gardenia gordonii Baker

Gardenia grievei Horne ex Baker

Gardenia griffithii Hook.f.

Gardenia gummifera L.f.

Gardenia hageniana Gilli

Gardenia hainanensis Merr.

Gardenia hansemannii K.Schum.

Gardenia hillii Horne ex Baker

Gardenia hutchinsoniana Turrill

Gardenia imperialis K.Schum.

Gardenia invaginata Merr. & L.M.Perry

Gardenia ixorifolia R.Br. ex Hook.f.

Gardenia jabiluka Puttock

Gardenia jasminoides J.Ellis

Gardenia kabaenensis Y.W.Low

Gardenia kakaduensis Puttock

Gardenia kamialiensis Takeuchi

Gardenia lacciflua K.Krause

Gardenia lamingtonii F.M.Bailey

Gardenia lanutoo Reinecke

Gardenia latifolia Aiton

Gardenia leopoldiana De Wild. & T.Durand

Gardenia leschenaultii D.Dietr.

Gardenia longistipula Y.W.Low

Gardenia magnifica E.T.Geddes

Gardenia mannii H.St.John & Kuykendall

Gardenia manongarivensis Rakoton. & A.P.Davis

Gardenia maugaloae Lauterb.

Gardenia megasperma F.Muell.

Gardenia moszkowskii Valeton

Gardenia mutabilis Reinw. ex Blume

Gardenia nitida Hook.

Gardenia obtusifolia Roxb. ex Hook.f.

Gardenia ornata K.M.Wong

Gardenia oudiepe Vieill.

Gardenia ovularis F.M.Bailey

Gardenia pallens Merr. & L.M.Perry

Gardenia panduriformis Pierre ex Pit.

Gardenia papuana F.M.Bailey

Gardenia philastrei Pierre ex Pit.

Gardenia posoquerioides S.Moore

Gardenia propinqua Lindl.

Gardenia psidioides Puttock

Gardenia pterocalyx Valeton

Gardenia pyriformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.

Gardenia racemulosa Korth.

Gardenia reflexisepala N.H.Xia & X.E.Ye

Gardenia reinwardtiana Blume

Gardenia remyi H.Mann

Gardenia resinifera Roth

Gardenia resiniflua Hiern

Gardenia resinosa F.Muell.

Gardenia rupicola Puttock

Gardenia rutenbergiana (Baill. ex Vatke) J.-F.Leroy

Gardenia sambiranensis Rakoton. & A.P.Davis

Gardenia saxatilis E.T.Geddes

Gardenia scabrella Puttock

Gardenia schlechteri Bonati & Petitm.

Gardenia schwarzii Puttock

Gardenia sericea Puttock

Gardenia similis (Craib) Craib

Gardenia siphonocalyx Valeton

Gardenia sokotensis Hutch.

Gardenia sootepensis Hutch.

Gardenia stenophylla Merr.

Gardenia storckii Oliv.

Gardenia subacaulis Stapf & Hutch.

Gardenia subcarinata (Corner) Y.W.Low

Gardenia taitensis DC.

Gardenia tannaensis Guillaumin

Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn.

Gardenia tessellaris Puttock

Gardenia thailandica Tirveng.

Gardenia thunbergia Thunb.

Gardenia tinneae Kotschy & Heuglin

Gardenia transvenulosa Verdc.

Gardenia trochainii Sillans

Gardenia tropidocarpa Wernham

Gardenia truncata Craib

Gardenia tubifera Wall. ex Roxb.

Gardenia urvillei Montrouz.

Gardenia vernicosa Merr. & L.M.Perry

Gardenia vilhelmii Domin

Gardenia vitiensis Seem.

Gardenia vogelii Hook.f.

Gardenia volkensii K.Schum.

Gardenia vulcanica K.M.Wong

Ask me to know more

[auroravanrhijn]

Possible Inspiration for Maud Beaton 2.0

Elizabeth "Betty" Bigley a.k.a Cassie Chadwick

She was a Gilded Age scammer who used a false identity as the illegitimate daughter of Andrew Carnegie to swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars from wealthy individuals and banks alike. After she was caught, her trial became a media circus with Carnegie himself attending. Her story in particular reveals a lot about how gender roles and propriety in the era could be leveraged by an ambitious con-man to get what they want.

Her schemes seems different from Maud's (possible) scheme. Obviously, like any historical analog, the narrative we are seeing would probably just be broad strokes. But, I think it is revelatory to examine the real historical events of the time and how they differ from what we see on TV. I urge you to look into it if you are interested!

[honey-badgers-library]

The Mist Walker’s Must-Have Mixtape

1. Eleanor Rigby

Look at the lonely people!

Eleanora la Fay paced around her kitchen as the toaster pastry began its cooking cycle. The glowing timer above the toaster was nothing new, although Eleanora did change the color setting from time to time for a minor change in scenery. The song played on the old stereo Nimue la Fay fixed up on one of the rare occasions she came home to rest. It looked like an ancient jukebox from almost two hundred years ago, with its bubbly shape and faded gold paint. The neon lights glowed on the misty, cloudy day. Eleanora la Fay loved the old thing… even if Nimue had to add a bunch of tubes and wires and a magic-to-electricity converter on the inside that leaked out into two bulky handle-looking things on the side.

The toaster timer was a lavender color with a light blue hand. She noted about a half a minute left on her birthday breakfast and nodded in approval. Was a birthday cake toaster pastry a bit much for the fifteen-year-old’s breakfast? Possibly, but Eleanora needed food and she forgot to buy groceries last night after coming home from her shift at the damn grocery store. Ironic, wasn’t it?

The pastry popped with a ding and a woosh, the teenager grabbed a plate and held it still as the food fell pristinely on her plate. She grinned at the house, “Did ya see it? I got it right this time!”

Nothing responded to her prideful grin and exclamations of glee, but Eleanora didn’t mind.

She ate the pastry in peace and quiet of her small, rundown home. Ironically, making a mental list of what needed to be done when she got home from work, and her neighbors had told her, she needed to rest and enjoy her childhood. “So the windows need to be cleaned, the sheets need to be washed — should I vacuum the floor today? What do you think?” The brunette asked in between bites of her breakfast. Once more the house did not reply, and Eleanora nodded decisively.

“You’re right,” she continued after the beat of silence. Her tongue on the roof of her mouth to free the sticky, goey shell that stuck itself to her teeth. “I should cook instead of cleaning the floor. I can do that tomorrow.”

All the lonely people, where do they come from?

She almost left without it.

She almost left without it — the only other useful, good gift Nimue gave her.

How?

How could she even — it didn’t stop Eleanora from clutching the Walkman 2192 to her chest, its headphones hung around her neck. Her footsteps measured themselves against the broken asphalt that led into the town square. Memento Mori, North Carolina was a rundown, practical ghost town in the middle of nowhere. Years ago, in an attempt to bring about the historical version of Disney World, a small business group created Memento Mori. A small amusement park that brought about the glorious Gilded Age complete with ghosts from necromancers and dresses that seemed to have jumped out of history books.

It failed miserably.

But at least they were able to sell the land to town developers which made the business enough money to become Walkman 2.0 Co., the very music player company that created the thing Eleanora clutched to her chest. The girl placed her headphones on her head and spoke aloud, “Hey, Walkman, please use the mood setting!” Eleonora clipped the Walkman to her jeans as the holographic discs switched, going from the green circle to the red and noting the change of modes.

Fifteen minutes later, the fifteen-year-old clocked in for her shift at Stefan’s, the only grocery store for miles. “ —nora! Take the headphones off!” A booming voice broke through her music as the ringletted-brunette took her headphones half-off. From the device people could hear some of the song: Father McKenzie writing some words of a sermon no one will hear—.

“Sorry, Stefan,” She dutifully replied with pursed lips. She shut the Walkman off before shoving the headphones down around her neck. Without waiting for another word, Eleanora walked off towards the back. She had boxes of toaster pastries and coffee to pack out.

“Eleonora—”

She turned around, walking backwards and raised an eyebrow. The elderly, Southern gentleman chuckled at the quirk of the brow. She hummed, waiting for Stefan to continue. “Happy birthday,” was all he said. All she did was nod in thanks.

The moment Eleonora disappeared through the double doors around the floral department, the Walkman was back on and she sighed. For the first time all day, Eleonora felt truly alone.

Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there’s nobody there.

She walked home as the mist rose from the ground. Eleanora sighed, her mind wandering to places of grand fantasy and swashbuckling adventure. Of grand flying pirate ships and bright sunny days. Of a world where no one thought twice of a fifteen-year-old stock girl working on a Monday.

The fog grew thicker.

The music grew louder.

The light dulled, making it harder to see in front of her own face.

Eleonora let her feet carry her. They knew where to go. She walked down this road before and she’d walk down it again come morning. Her feet would carry her while her mind gave her comfort of the old movies like the Princess Bride’s fencing scene or the Jet Li versus Jet Li fight of the One at the climax. A life like that would’ve been something, wouldn’t it?

The trees grew thicker with every step.

The fog lifted with every foot too.

She continued walking, seeing but not processing.

Eleonora stopped and then found that her house wasn’t there. She paused the music, took off her headphones and spun around in circles. The trees were all different. Eleonora snapped her neck up. There were stars out, she never could see stars at this time. The house just up and disappeared.

Where was she?

She felt the fear clawing itself out of her chest. The need to panic as her eyes widened and as the night wind blew her down. She began rocking back and forth, her arms grasping each other in order to gain some form of comfort. Her heart beat faster. Her pupils dilated. She couldn’t breathe.

Where was she?

As her voice struggled to work, only one thing came from her mouth. One wish, hope, prayer — one thing she swore never to do again. “Nimue, help please!”

Only the sound of unknown, far-off animals responded to her plea.

[stellanslashgeode]

I mean, if they want to do Gilded Age 2.0 we can get it on. I'm not looking forward to the mix of dynamite and drones but let's go.

tbh it seems like they want us to bring it back

[snailfloss]

amazing caliber of reporting in the gilded age 2.0. do you think there's another bloody handed insurance exec out there reading this and shitting himself

[alexesguerra]

Elon Musk Elon Musk Contributor(s): Isaacson, Walter (Author) Publisher: Simon & Schuster Physical Info: 2.0" H x 9.4" L x 6.1" W (2.25 lbs) 688 pages When Elon Musk was a kid in South Africa, he was regularly beaten by bullies ... But the physical scars were minor compared to the emotional ones inflicted by his father, an engineer, rogue, and charismatic fantasist. His father's impact on his psyche would linger. He developed into a tough yet vulnerable man-child, prone to abrupt Jekyll-and-Hyde mood swings, with an exceedingly high tolerance for risk, a craving for drama, an epic sense of mission, and a maniacal intensity that was callous and at times destructive. ... For two years, Isaacson shadowed Musk, attended his meetings, walked his factories with him, and spent hours interviewing him, his family, friends, coworkers, and adversaries. The result is the revealing inside story, filled with ... tales of triumphs and turmoil, that addresses the question: are the demons that drive Musk also what it takes to drive innovation and progress Walter Isaacson is the bestselling author of biographies of Jennifer Doudna, Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, and Albert Einstein. He is a professor of history at Tulane and was CEO of the Aspen Institute, chair of CNN, and editor of Time. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2023. Visit him at Isaacson.Tulane.edu. Review Quotes: Shortlisted for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year "Whatever you think of Mr. Musk, he is a man worth understanding-- which makes this a book worth reading." -- The Economist "With Elon Musk, Walter Isaacson offers both an engaging chronicle of his subject's busy life so far and some compelling answers..." -- Wall Street Journal "Walter Isaacson's new biography of Elon Musk, published Monday, delivers as promised -- a comprehensive, deeply reported chronicle of the world-shaping tech mogul's life, a twin to the author's similarly thick 2011 biography of Steve Jobs. Details ranging from the personally salacious to the geopolitically volatile have already made the rounds -- the rare example of a major book publication causing a news cycle in its own right...What Isaacson's biography reveals through its personalized lens on Musk's work with Tesla, SpaceX, OpenAI, and more is not only what Musk wants, but how and why he plans to do it. The portrait that emerges is one that resembles a hard-charging, frequently alienating Gilded Age-style captain of industry, with a particular fixation on AI that ties everything together....Isaacson's book is like a decoder ring, tying the mercurial Musk's various obsessions into a coherent worldview with a startlingly concrete goal at its center." -- Politico "[The book] has everything you'd expect from a book on Musk--stories of tragedy, triumph, and turmoil.... While the stories are fascinating and guaranteed to spark a mountain of coverage, founders and entrepreneurs will also unearth valuable lessons." -- Inc. "Isaacson has gathered information from the man's admirers and critics. He lays all of it out.... The book is bursting with stories....A deeply engrossing tale of a spectacular American innovator. " -- New York Journal of Books "One of the greatest biographers in America has written a massive book about the richest man in the world. This fast-paced biography, based on more than a hundred interviews...[is] a head-spinning tale about a vain, brilliant, sometimes cruel figure whose ambitions are actively shaping the future of human life." --Ron Charles on CBS Sunday Morning "A painstakingly excavation of the tortured unquiet mind of the world's richest man... Isaacson's book is not a soaring portrait of a captain of industry, but rather an exhausting ride through the life of a man who seems incapable of happiness." -- The Sunday Times "An experienced biographer's comprehensive study." --The Observer "Walter Isaacson's all-access biography... Its portrait of the tech maverick is fascinating." --The Telegraph "Isaacson boils Musk down to two men... the result is a beat-by-beat book that follows him insider important rooms and explores obscure regions of his mind." --The Times Publisher Marketing: The #1 New York Times bestseller from the author of Steve Jobs--this is the astonishingly intimate story of the most fascinating and controversial innovator of our era--a rule-breaking visionary who helped to lead the world into the era of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Oh, and took over Twitter. When Elon Musk was a kid in South Africa, he was regularly beaten by bullies. One day a group pushed him down some concrete steps and kicked him until his face was a swollen ball of flesh. He was in the hospital for a week. But the physical scars were minor compared to the emotional ones inflicted by his father, an engineer, rogue, and charismatic fantasist. His father's impact on his psyche would linger. He developed into a tough yet vulnerable man-child, prone to abrupt Jekyll-and-Hyde mood swings, with an exceedingly high tolerance for risk, a craving for drama, an epic sense of mission, and a maniacal intensity that was callous and at times destructive. At the beginning of 2022--after a year marked by SpaceX launching thirty-one rockets into orbit, Tesla selling a million cars, and him becoming the richest man on earth--Musk spoke ruefully about his compulsion to stir up dramas. "I need to shift my mindset away from being in crisis mode, which it has been for about fourteen years now, or arguably most of my life," he said. It was a wistful comment, not a New Year's resolution. Even as he said it, he was secretly buying up shares of Twitter, the world's ultimate playground. Over the years, whenever he was in a dark place, his mind went back to being bullied on the playground. Now he had the chance to own the playground. For two years, Isaacson shadowed Musk, attended his meetings, walked his factories with him, and spent hours interviewing him, his family, friends, coworkers, and adversaries. The result is the revealing inside story, filled with amazing tales of triumphs and turmoil, that addresses the question: are the demons that drive Musk also what it takes to drive innovation and progress?

[shrinkrants]

This podcast episode explains what everyone needs to know about our grossly unequal economic system

Gilded Age 2.0: Scene on Radio Series 7, Episode 7

I can't recommend it highly enough. It's clear, comprehensive, and compellingly produced. If you are not already engaged in the movement to create a more equitable and sustainable world, John Biewen and Ellen McGirt will move you to be.

All our current injustices are intimately intertwined with global racial capitalism. This episode explains its workings in the detail we need without ever being boring or tedious. The link will take you to a page where you can either listen to the episode or download a pdf of it.

(Every episode of every season of this excellently conceived, researched, and produced series is a labor of love that will add to your education concerning our current intersecting crises, and will leave you better prepared to do something to make things better.)

[contemplatingoutlander]

It's the Gilded Age 2.0.

[pumpkinland]

I hate living in the Gilded Age 2.0

[fadingsunsjvj]

Are We Living in the Gilded Age 2.0 ? | HISTORY

https://www.history.com/news/second-gilded-age-income-inequality