Few days ago i attended a debate featuring experts delving into the emerging threat of “Techno-Fascism” and how the manipulation of big data can sway elections and public opinion. I went in hoping to gain fresh insights into possible alternatives to this looming issue. However, I found that about two-thirds of the event felt like preaching to the choir, focusing heavily on analysis rather than actionable solutions. It was assumed the audience knew much about the current events (Quote: “I hope that I don’t have to remind you here in Berlin about the historic connections between capitalism and fascism, between technology and Nazism.

As right now i have way too many browser tabs open. In all this chaos it is highly likely that some of these became irrelevant for me now because the content is gone, the topic is out of date or i simply forgot why i had it open in the first place. So i decided to occasionally collect few snippets here and add some thoughts to it from the tabs i found interesting the last few weeks (and therefore can close the tabs).

It is a new year and there is a debate over a general fireworks ban or more penalties for usage of illegal fireworks - again.1 It’s like a sad tradition where people get injured by fireworks2 or get attacked and injured3, buildings get damaged, wildlife is disturbed4 and, as sprincle on top, toxic residue and particulate matter is all over the place5. All this for a short distraction? I was wondering what exactly changed in dealing with fireworks and discovered an exhibition in the Kulturforum about that topic.

It is astonishing how many different pumpkin variants exist with their different color range - from almost white to orange and red to deep green and also blue as i learned. However, the pumpkins in the picture are not Blue Jarrahdale pumpkins and are blue due to the lomochrome turquoise film. As a child i knew only the classic garden pumpkins from movies and books. I can’t remember that i saw much pumpkins in my childhood.