Sometimes I write about how popular culture either directly - see this one about punk singer-songwriter TV Smith - or indirectly is 'about' how the world works/policymaking. Recently I've been bingeing on the "Rene Ballard books by Michael Connelly (better known for his Harry Bosch and Micky Haller novels - Ballard is in the same... Continue Reading →
"Thankfully "Behind the Blip" doesn't subscribe to the fetishes of computer science. The essence of software is revealed through sarcasm. "Sarcasm is truth," Fuller claims. For a frequent collaborator with the collective Mongrel, this is quite apposite: the term comes from an an Ancient Greek verb meaning 'to tear flesh like dogs'. Those accustomed to... Continue Reading →
One of the easiest ways to win is to confuse your opponents so much that they simply don't even know they are in a fight. Saves time and treasure if you can do this, obviously. I could go on and ON about Gramsci this, hegemony that, blah de blah. Let's go for a couple of... Continue Reading →
tl:dr - Two academics have written a good "here's how Tony Gramsci can fill in some of the major gaps in the MLP and maybe make it useful" article. On the downside, it's probably only particularly accessible to folks who know their Gramscia and their sustainability transitions stuff. The article is called "Regime resistance and... Continue Reading →
Policymaking (and implementation) rule our social lives, whether we know it or not. The advantages and disadvantages (visible and largely invisible) accruing to different types of person are, however, not the subject of popular song. I ain't gonna change that, obvs, but I am gonna write about some of the (few) examples I know. Several... Continue Reading →
ONLY one member of the public attended Annual Council today. That's probably good, because outrageous contempt for democratic norms and conventions was on full horrible display. New councillors (there are 10) usually get their first choice of which of the six scrutiny committees to sit on. Scrutiny is vital to try to stop the Executive... Continue Reading →
Two of my favourite mental tools are OODA loops and the fable of cat belling. I'm going to describe both and then put them together as best I can. Why? Because I think it reveals something useful about "activism", such as it is. OODA loops are an insight developed by an American fighter pilot, John... Continue Reading →
Here's the text I prepared and delivered for what was, in the end, a deeply unsatisfactory debate held recently. I am Dr Marc Hudson. Speaking as editor of Manchester Climate Monthly, I put the case “that Extinction Rebellion has done more harm than good to the movement towards climate action.” I will stick to XR... Continue Reading →
Another hot take about what may be coming. The USP for this one is that It tries to use some academic theories but in plain English It admits up front - “who the hell knows?” It actually foregrounds the crucial question other posts (e.g. this otherwise interesting one) ignore - “who is going to bell... Continue Reading →
You can look at the top of a fountain of water and think it is static. But it is only there because of a constant flow of water, versus gravity. (1) The perception is an illusion. In strange days like these, we can see this (whether it's always full supermarket shelves, or ICU beds, or... Continue Reading →
marchudson.net 