TIL that in 2018, Swaziland changed its name to Eswatini, and this was partially to prevent confusion with Switzerland. [source, comments]

Song of the day 🌍😇: https://open.spotify.com/track/4Q3hBy0MbmIPLeQcPP0HcX?si=Olhu6pnoSfuLBH0lNVjCpQ

The Economist poses the important questions these times: ja nee, is klar

SUDAN WAR: WHO GAINS?

Sudan’s grim civil war has now raged for over 6 months and claimed the lives of more than 9,000 civilians. That’s the official toll, but it’s feared the real number could be far greater. The deadly conflict looks like a straightforward power struggle between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces militia, but there’s a lot at stake for other countries. Here’s a look at who stands to gain and lose from this devastating war.

Hear Us Roar: https://t.me/AfricanStream

Song of the day 🚕🔥: https://open.spotify.com/track/2Yqe6OYSTI5AKuWtLW5Uh1?si=EDoZMnDXTq6ZqWSff-JKbA

Good Idea: Do not legalize client-side chat scanning.

https://tutanota.com/blog/chat-control-criticism

Seriously, this is a slippery slide into "We" by Samjatin...

🤖💬Several EU member states, including Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Estonia, and Slovenia, have opposed the current CSAR draft. They argue that the proposed client-side scanning, also known as chat control, which would involve mass surveillance and undermine encryption, is disproportionate and illegal.

The legal experts of the EU Parliament's Scientific Service have concluded that CSAR's chat control provisions would violate fundamental rights, particularly Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

TIL that China's population actually decreased by 850,000 in 2022 as it has a birth rate of -0.6 per thousand in the said year. [source, comments]

Good idea: End corporation personhood
https://youtu.be/Y888wVY5hzw

Die Berliner Bodenpreise sind in den letzten 15 Jahren um das Achtfache gestiegen: https://interaktiv.tagesspiegel.de/lab/ausgebaut-berlins-explodierende-bodenpreise-machen-wohnungsbau-unbezahlbar

TIL: President Franklin D. Roosevelt never invited Jesse Owens to the White House following his triumphs at the 1936 Olympics. In Germany, Owens had been allowed to stay in the same hotels as whites at a time when African Americans in many parts of the United States had to stay in segregated hotels. [source, comments]

The last two general strikes in the United States both took place in Oakland, California—one in 1946 and the other on November 2, 2011, exactly twelve years ago.

You can read a comparative analysis here discussing how they can inform anti-capitalist strategies today:

https://crimethinc.com/TwoGeneralStrikes

Good Idea: Try to find your significant other in the wild.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/oct/28/its-quite-soul-destroying-how-we-fell-out-of-love-with-dating-apps

🤖💬The allure of dating apps appears to be fading as more people seek alternatives. Over a decade since their inception, these apps have witnessed a decline in users and growing frustration, with many feeling disillusioned and overwhelmed by shallow interactions. Issues with spam, bots, and superficial judgments based on appearance plague the app dating experience, leading to a sense of insecurity and frustration. Some argue that these apps encourage ableism and impolite behavior, with little accountability for such actions. There's a growing desire to return to more traditional ways of meeting people, such as attending events or asking friends to set up dates, emphasizing real-life connections over digital ones. The quest for genuine, meaningful interactions is pushing people to explore alternatives outside the world of dating apps, offering a sense of optimism and fulfillment. While these platforms once held the promise of love and connection, many are now seeking deeper, more authentic ways of building relationships.

Song of the day 👨🏼‍🦳💣: https://open.spotify.com/track/34Qr8Ik6JkwbRTdj3AhQd2?si=7uLQpbc1T2u-DxTUhd5NNA&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1EplmQPLcr0KkJ

TIL that the Guano Islands Act of 1856 allows any US citizen to claim any unclaimed island anywhere, as long as it contains deposits of guano (bird excrements used as fertilizer). [source, comments]