Enshittification Lifecycle
13:25 Sunday, 15 January 2023
Current Wx: Temp: 47.79°F Pressure: 1025hPa Humidity: 62% Wind: 9.22mph
Words: 13
The Enshittification Lifecycle of Online Platforms. Kottke links and comments. The marmot concurs.
✍️ Reply by emailInsomnia Notes
11:21 Monday, 15 January 2024
Current Wx: Temp: 63.12°F Pressure: 1016hPa Humidity: 94% Wind: 1.01mph
Words: 872
I haven't been sleeping well with Mitzi away. While I'm not sleeping, I seem to do a lot of "thinking." It's always important to recall that the internal voice is an unreliable narrator, but every now and then it may offer something insightful.
As is probably clear from much of the marmot in recent months, if not years, I've been struggling with my emotions regarding the unfolding climate catastrophe. The cognitive dissonance of the world largely carrying on with business as usual while the collapse of this civilization slowly begins unfolding before us is hard to accept.
So the other night I somehow made a connection between the end of my marriage and the end of this civilization. My marriage ended, but I'm still here. This civilization may end, but people will still be here. Between now and then, there's a lot of suffering, to be sure. But there was suffering in my marriage already, and there's plenty of suffering already in this civilization.
My marriage failed because I, probably "we," but I can only speak for myself, believed things that weren't true. This civilization is ending largely for the same reason. I've been happier living "in truth," than in clinging to things that were instilled in me that aren't true. (For one example, no one is responsible for my feelings other than me. ("I"?) Popular culture tells us that others can "make" us happy, mad, sad, etc. That's a myth that we use to blame others, elevate others, control others, and deny our own responsibility.)
I'm aware that the "five stages of grief" are largely in disfavor today; but I happen to think they are closer to being right than wrong, although I agree that the concept of "stages" can be misunderstood. The boundaries may be smeared, and the process isn't strictly one-directional at all times. There can be plenty of moving back and forth between adjacent stages. And I believe the order I use may be unconventional. That is, some place anger before bargaining, but I believe it's the reverse. That is, "denial, bargaining, anger, depression and finally, acceptance."
We have been in the "denial" stage on climate for decades, since at least 1980. We are presently in the "bargaining" phase, as we half-heartedly embrace measures intended to address the damage we've done to our atmosphere. These will prove to be too little, too late and what follows then will be anger.
What is perhaps unclear to much of the world is that this isn't just an environmental disaster. The myths we believed that allowed us to foul our nest are the same myths that undergird much of our advanced technological civilization, and many, if not all, are the fundamental tenets of "western" civilization. Myths about "freedom," "growth" and "property." Capitalism itself, and many others.
So while the evidence is very clear that our climate system has entered a new, disordered phase as it transitions to some new equilibrium eventually; it's less clear that our civilization has entered a new, disordered phase on a course to "degrowth" or "collapse." (Depending on your degree of optimism.)
Efforts to broker peace agreements in the Middle East and eastern Europe represent efforts in bargaining. The crisis at our southern border is an example of ongoing denial (by both parties, though Republicans are crueler, and happily so).
It hasn't become clear yet that the trajectory of this civilization is one of decline and fall. Musk may actually land a Starship on Mars (and it'll probably fall over), but the course is set. Some elements will continue to rise before all, ultimately, fall. Like the wealth of billionaires.
We will reach the stage of "anger" during the violent collapse of this civilization. How violent it will be is uncertain. We should be very lucky if we can avoid any kind of nuclear exchange, though regional ones at least seem likely.
I don't think anyone can say with confidence when all this is likely to occur, only that the process is underway and it's irreversible. I'm inclined to believe it will be before the end of this century.
Billions of people will die.
What follows immediately will be depression, grief, sadness, remorse. I rather expect there will also be plenty of denial among some of the survivors. ("I was a good German!" An affect, not an aspersion against Germans as a people. A more contemporary example would be "I was a good Republican!" Again, not an aspersion against Republicans as people. They will suffer as much as everyone else.)
Eventually, acceptance. Life will go on. Humanity will not go extinct. I suppose it's possible it could; but I think that's highly unlikely and if it did, well, there'd be no one around to care. The question is, what will we remember?
The seeds of our destruction lie in our own nature. How will we avoid repeating the same mistakes? Perhaps we won't. But we also won't have enormous quantities of fossil fuels to accelerate our growth and hubris. Maybe we'll become wiser if we grow more slowly. I don't know.
But I do know it's not possible to live an authentic life believing in things that aren't true. Believing lies inevitably leads to disaster.
✍️ Reply by emailFurther to the Foregoing
12:19 Monday, 15 January 2024
Current Wx: Temp: 64.53°F Pressure: 1017hPa Humidity: 94% Wind: 0mph
Words: 194
It occurred to me that I didn't mention why the five stages were relevant in the preceding post. Rather than edit it, I'll just add this.
Chiefly, they describe the process by which we accommodate loss or profound change in our circumstances. We are habituated creatures, and profound change can be unwelcome or upsetting, even as it is often strongly desired at the same time.
Our climate is changing profoundly. Our civilization has changed and is changing profoundly. For the better? There are people who like to be "glass half full" contrarians, and who promote the notion that things have never been better! And yes, the trajectories of many metrics are positive, until they can no longer be sustained by the myths that fueled them. The myths have been frayed for quite some time, and now they've begun to unravel.
The five stages can offer a framework to understand what's taking place, and what is likely to come.
The old disclaimer from Groundhog Day was that I'm an authority on nothing. I make all this shit up. You're encouraged to do your own thinking.
That's still the case. I'd be happy to be wrong.
✍️ Reply by emailMisery Hall
12:32 Monday, 15 January 2024
Current Wx: Temp: 64.89°F Pressure: 1017hPa Humidity: 94% Wind: 3.44mph
Words: 208
The infirmary at the Naval Academy was referred to as "Misery Hall." I only went there twice. Once when I had the flu, which caused me to miss my boxing final. And the other time was because of the makeup final in boxing. I couldn't count the number of fingers in front of me correctly.
Anyway, I refer to our house here, fondly, as "Saul Hall," because it's largely Mitzi's creation. But we're going to be hosting her recovering sister for a few weeks until she's fit enough to travel again. Hopefully not in "misery."
Mitzi has extended her time away until Monday, when she'll pick up her sister and bring her up here to continue her recovery. So I've got a few chores to do to get ready to receive her. Our spare bedroom also serves as Mitzi's office and she's been doing some consulting work in recent months. so I'm going to get her set up in the "dining room" (it's more of an "area") so her sister can have a space of her own while she's here.
And then there's the "tidying up." Mostly that means my "office." I'm blogging about it because that's more fun than actually doing it.
"Procrastination, thy name is marmot!"
✍️ Reply by emailMore Reasons to Avoid Florida
12:50 Monday, 15 January 2024
Current Wx: Temp: 65.5°F Pressure: 1017hPa Humidity: 94% Wind: 3.44mph
Words: 72
I happened to hear this radio program yesterday and I thought I'd share it here. It's The Florida Roundup, which is a weekly (Fridays) program on current issues in Florida. The main guest segment was about coastal migration, and I thought it was fascinating. The paper the guests authored is here.
Anyone who is contemplating retiring in Florida should take into consideration the changing dynamics of the state's climate, coastline and demographics.
✍️ Reply by emailThis Mourning Dove
06:01 Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Current Wx: Temp: 44.04°F Pressure: 1028hPa Humidity: 67% Wind: 6.91mphWords: 6
Also shot yesterday afternoon. JPEG SOOC.
✍️ Reply by emailTest Copy Link With Highlight
06:28 Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Current Wx: Temp: 43.57°F Pressure: 1028hPa Humidity: 67% Wind: 6.91mph
Words: 80
Let's give this a try again...
Ok, that worked. It's not Wikipedia. Maybe I should try it there again...
Dad took a slow boat to war...
That works too. Perhaps because it's not a heading? Let's try that...
Aha! It will not create a link to a highlight if the highlighted text is a heading.
But not to the heading above.
Investigation concluded. Now I need a PopClip action for Copy Link With Highlight.
✍️ Reply by emailStrikes and Gutters
07:28 Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Current Wx: Temp: 44.13°F Pressure: 1029hPa Humidity: 64% Wind: 5.75mph
Words: 140
Jack worries he's lost interest in photography.
I'd say not to worry. I've been kind of going through a dry spell myself. Partly it's lack of inspiration. I'm not enamored of my visual surroundings. There's little of interest, apart from the birds.
I took a bunch of pics in New York, but none of them were especially "creative." Most of them were just capturing personal memories. (Snow!) I wasn't thinking about the camera and how to use it to "make" a photograph. A couple of shots, maybe. And I wasn't especially happy with the results.
And it's been cold lately. (Relative term.) When it warms up a little, I'll toddle on back into the preserve and look for something that captures my attention.
I think you just need a change of scenery, Jack. Or a change of perspective. It'll happen.
✍️ Reply by emailMom and I
08:04 Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Wx: Temp: 21.72°F Pressure: 994hPa Humidity: 87% Wind: 12.33mphWords: 410
A pleasant visit, if somewhat sad. Each time I see her, she's just a bit more diminished. Her mind is still sharp, and I'm grateful for that, but her mobility is very limited.
We took her to dinner in her wheelchair at her community dining room. I learned that my brother comes every night to wheel her to dinner and back to her apartment. We met her friends, Lee, Shirley and Marilyn, all in their 90s, Shirley at 98. They all seemed to love Mom and it was nice getting to know them. Mitzi is just a wonderful communicator.
After dinner we watched Airport, which Mom didn't recall seeing before. We had just seen it recently, but I love the movie and I enjoyed seeing it again with Mom.
I got to see two of my sisters. Beth is a nurse and she was there when we arrived. It was fun catching up with her. She has chickens and Mitzi brought a bunch of cardboard egg cartons, which Beth really appreciated. She lives about 45 minutes away from Mom and comes once a week to help out and check on Mom's health.
Diane was there yesterday morning when we got back from breakfast. She's there I think four times a week to help Mom out of bed in the morning and take care of the housework.
I'm grateful for my siblings who have stepped in so selflessly to be there for Mom. There's a wound care nurse who comes once a week to look at her feet, and we thought we had arranged for a palliative care nurse service, but Beth says it seems to have fallen through the cracks, and she's reaching out to another provider.
Mom remains cheerful and upbeat, saying, "What other way is there to be?" She's looking forward to going to Buffalo in July for her granddaughter's wedding. She'll be 93 in September, and that's another goal she's set for herself.
I'm glad we went. The drive out was pleasant, sunny most of the way, and dry. It was raining lightly most of the way home, but temps remained above 40°F the whole way. It's 18°F outside now, and it snowed briefly last night. A nice dusting to make everything pretty again, but no significant accumulation.
Some "work" today on the marmot and a project for the Tinderbox community.
Anything to distract me from the darkness descending on America.
The beat goes on...
✍️ Reply by emailDeliver Me From Nowhere
08:33 Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Wx: Temp: 21.31°F Pressure: 996hPa Humidity: 86% Wind: 12.33mph
Words: 104
I purchased Deliver Me From Nowhere (Whatever "purchased" means today. I guess I bought a limited, revocable license that might be withdrawn at any time because reasons.) and we watched it last night. It's not a Springsteen biopic per se, as it only covers the months of his life around the creation of Nebraska.
I thought it was very well done, and I enjoyed it a great deal. It left me wanting more, but I'm a fan so I guess that's to be expected. Great performances all around.
I feel as though I ought to undertake a round of intensive Springsteen therapy.
Maybe later.
✍️ Reply by emailNuremberg
08:42 Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Wx: Temp: 21.09°F Pressure: 998hPa Humidity: 88% Wind: 15.84mph
Words: 435
I rented Nuremberg last weekend. Not a bad movie to rent, I'm not convinced I'd be inclined to watch it again, though I probably will if it comes up on a streaming service I subscribe to.
Russell Crowe's portrayal of Goering was convincing, though Goering lost a lot of weight while in detention, which wasn't portrayed in the movie.
The movie takes a lot of license, but isn't utterly misleading. Gilbert and Kelley never had a physical altercation. I think the real value of the movie was that it prompted me to buy The Nazi and the Psychiatrist. Kelley is a fascinating figure in his own right.
I'd say Judgment at Nuremberg is probably a better movie about the Nuremberg trials. I'm actually not aware of any others, which is surprising I think. May just be my ignorance.
One comment I read at the Holocaust Museum's web site (Currently down for maintenance until the 19th, because of course.) was that the interest people had in the psychological makeup of the Nazis was based on a desire for some meaningful distance between the Nazis as people and the allies. That distance doesn't exist. There was nothing different about the Nazis, they were just human beings at their worst.
My daughter texted me asking me to recommend a book "to make me smarter." I told her to read Erik Larson's In the Garden of Beasts.
Therein is a quote reportedly from Rudolf Diels, first head of the Gestapo.
In a conversation with a British embassy official that occurred at about this time, quoted in a memorandum later filed with the foreign office in London, Diels delivered a monologue on his own moral unease: "The infliction of physical punishment is not every man's job, and naturally we were only too glad to recruit men who were prepared to show no squeamishness at their task. Unfortunately, we knew nothing about the freudian side of the business, and it was only after a number of instances of unnecessary flogging and meaningless cruelty that I tumbled to the fact that my organization had been attracting all the sadists in Germany and Austria without my knowledge for some time past. It had also been attracting unconscious sadists, i.e. men who did not know themselves that they had sadist leanings until they took part in a flogging. And finally it had been actually creating sadists. For it seems that corporal chastisement ultimately arouses sadistic leanings in apparently normal men and women. Freud might explain it."
Nazis walk among us every day. And ICE is creating sadists to walk among us every day.
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