Kategorie: Technologie

  • The only correct political ideology?

    The only correct political ideology?

    If Ethereum inventor Vitalik Buterin publishes an article about the only correct political ideology on April 1st, 2024, one might wonder whether it is an April Fools› Day joke.

    Degen Communism

    His article presents a very detailed and elaborate exposition on what is termed «degen communism,» framing it as a forward-looking political ideology that seeks to merge the pursuit of the common good with an acceptance of chaos and risk. It touches on numerous contemporary societal and economic issues, suggesting unconventional solutions that mix principles from various political and economic ideologies, with a particular emphasis on leveraging technology, cryptocurrency, and novel governance models.

    Given the complexity and the blend of ideas it presents, as well as the timing of its publication, it’s reasonable to question whether it’s an April Fools› joke, especially considering the tradition of publishing outlandish or satirical content on this day. However, without specific context about the source or its usual content tone, it’s challenging to definitively classify the text as a genuine proposal, satire, or an elaborate jest. The concepts of «degen» (short for «degenerate»), often used in the crypto space to describe risky speculative behavior, and the historical weight of «communism» suggest a provocative juxtaposition that could be intended to spark discussion, critique current societal trends, or simply entertain.

    European Parlament
    The European Parliament during a plenary voting session

    The proposal of «degen communism» aims to address real frustrations with current political and economic systems by advocating for radical openness, redistribution, and the application of technology to governance and economics. It is imaginative in envisioning a societal organization that embraces the chaos of the internet age, proposing solutions like Harberger taxes on intellectual property, drastic changes to cryptocurrency governance, and innovative immigration policies.

    Whether or not it’s an April Fools› joke, the text serves as a thought experiment on how future political ideologies might evolve in response to technological advancement, societal shifts, and the perceived failures of existing systems. It encourages reflection on the potential for new forms of governance that could emerge from the intersections of technology, economics, and social policy.

    Contemporary Political Thinkers

    In the realm of contemporary political thought, there’s a diverse array of thinkers proposing innovative solutions to modern challenges, ranging from climate change and inequality to technological disruption and political polarization. Here are some notable figures and their contributions:

    Yuval Noah Harari

    An historian and philosopher, Harari has gained widespread recognition for his books such as «Sapiens,» «Homo Deus,» and «21 Lessons for the 21st Century.» He discusses the impact of technology on society’s future, including AI and biotechnology, urging a global approach to governance of emerging technologies.

    Naomi Klein

    An activist and author, Klein focuses on climate change, capitalism, and brand culture. In books like «This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate» and «The Shock Doctrine,» she argues for comprehensive systemic change to address climate crisis and advocates for grassroots activism.

    Nick Srnicek and Alex Williams

    Co-authors of «Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work,» they advocate for a post-work society, leveraging automation and a universal basic income to free individuals from labor’s constraints, promoting a more equitable economic system.

    Kate Raworth

    An economist who developed the concept of «Doughnut Economics,» which aims to balance essential human needs and planetary boundaries into economic thinking. Her work suggests a model where economic activity does not exceed the earth’s capacity while ensuring everyone’s basic needs are met.

    Thomas Piketty

    A French economist known for his work on wealth and income inequality. In his seminal work «Capital in the Twenty-First Century,» Piketty analyzes wealth concentration and distribution over the past few centuries, advocating for progressive taxation to mitigate inequality.

    Marina Gorbis

    The Executive Director of the Institute for the Future, Gorbis explores the implications of rapid technological changes on society and the economy. She advocates for a «socialstructed» future, where technology enables new forms of collaboration and wealth creation beyond traditional institutions.

    Timothy Snyder

    A historian specializing in Europe and the Holocaust, Snyder’s work, such as «On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,» provides a historical perspective on protecting democratic values in the face of authoritarianism and tyranny.

    Cornel West

    A philosopher, political activist, and social critic, West’s work covers a broad range of issues, including race, justice, and democracy in America. He calls for a revitalized national dialogue on race and equality, emphasizing compassion and a moral commitment to social justice.

    Credits

    • Picture from the The European Parliament during a plenary voting session from europarl.europa.eu
  • Elektromobilität von Rainer Maria Rilke

    Elektromobilität von Rainer Maria Rilke

    Im Namen des Windes und des stillen Regens,
    Hört zu, ihr Menschen, die ihr widersteht,
    Der Zukunft winkt, lässt flüstern ihre Zeichen,
    Ein neues Tor zur Welt sich langsam dreht.

    Die Elektromobilität, sie trägt das Licht,
    Zur Rettung eines Klimas schon im Wandel,
    Doch kritisch seid ihr, zweifelt an der Kraft,
    Der Technik, die uns führt aus dunklem Tandem.

    Die Akkus, sie sind schwer und doch so mächtig,
    Sie halten uns’re Welt auf rechter Spur,
    Doch fragt ihr nach der Herkunft jener Macht,
    Die Lithium und Kobalt liefern nur.

    Die Minen dieser Welt, sie graben tief,
    Für jene Schätze, die die Menschheit braucht,
    Und doch, wir wissen wohl, sie hinterlassen
    Verwüstung, wo die Erde einst gezeugt.

    Doch forschet man, nach Alternativen sucht,
    Um die Natur in ihrer Pracht zu wahren,
    Recycling und die grüne Extraktion,
    Sie öffnen uns’re Herzen, Zukunft klaren.

    Es ist ein Tanz auf schmalem Grat, wir wissen,
    Dass Elektromobilität nicht heilet,
    Allein die Wunden, die der Wandel schlägt,
    Doch gemeinsam können wir’s, das Ziel erreichen.

    So lasst uns Hand in Hand, ihr Zweifler, Kritiker,
    Den Pfad beschreiten, der die Welt erneuert,
    Denn nicht allein die E-Mobilität,
    Sondern das Miteinander uns befreiet.

    Rainer Maria Rilke, wenn er noch lebte und liebte.

  • Twenty Twenty-One

    Twenty Twenty-One

    I had been trying to switch this WordPress blog’s theme from Twenty Twenty to Twenty Twenty-One already when it was first released a couple months ago, but somehow didn’t like the result of my first attempts in customizing the latest release of the WordPress default theme.

    And I really liked the way how I configured Twenty Twenty’s start page with a full screen background image, so I pulled back and kept the old Twenty Twenty theme. Here’s how it looked like on desktop and mobile:

    Twenty Twenty

    Screenshot: Twenty Twenty Desktop View
    Screenshot: Twenty Twenty Mobile View

    Twenty Twenty One

    Today, I gave it a second try and finally have a version, that I really like. Here’s what I did:

    • create a new Twenty Twenty-one child theme
      • to be able to override theme stylings and still update WordPress automatically without loosing any customizations
      • to be able to override theme settings, because I’m using VersionPress to auto-commit all updates and even config changes
    • configure the new child theme in the theme’s customizer settings
    • re-arrange the start page in Gutenberg
      • remove the background image
      • replace two short codes with Gutenberg blocks
    Screenshot: VersionPress Commit History in WordPress Admin Panel

    Desktop View

    Screenshot: Twenty Twenty-One Desktop Dark Mode: On
    Screenshot: Twenty Twenty-One Desktop Dark Mode: Off

    Mobile View

    I really like the dark mode toggle on the bottom right side. The theme even respects the user’s dark mode settings, so if you have set your PC or phone to dark mode, you should see the dark mode version right away.

    One thing that needs fixing is the color of the comment, retweet and like icons. The contrast in dark mode is far from ideal. That’s probably not an easy fix, though, so I’ll let it slide for now.

    About Twenty Twenty-One

    Twenty Twenty-One is a blank canvas for your ideas and it makes the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg) your best brush. With new block patterns, which allow you to create a beautiful layout in a matter of seconds, this theme’s soft colors and eye-catching — yet timeless — design will let your work shine.

    Twenty Twenty-One can elevate your portfolio, business website, or personal blog.

    Screenshot: Twenty Twenty-One screenshot.png, i.e. how it looks like in the theme settings of the WordPress admin panel

    Here you can play around with and preview the theme. If you are a WordPress user already, you can preview it from your own admin panel as I’m sure you already know.