Inside the United States

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Via the Global Post, a satirical article makes a stab at writing about America the way that American journalists write about foreign nations.

“BOSTON, Mass. — Human rights activists say revelations that the US regime has expanded its domestic surveillance program to private phone carriers is more evidence of the North American country’s pivot toward authoritarianism.

The Guardian, a British newspaper,reported this week that a wing of the country’s feared intelligence and security apparatus ordered major telecommunications companies to hand over data on phone calls made by private citizens.

“The US leadership in Washington continues to erode basic human rights,” said one activist, who asked to remain anonymous, fearing that speaking out publicly could endanger his organization. “If the US government is unwilling to change course, it’s time the international community considered economic sanctions.”

Dobri Dobrev

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Djado Dobri ot selo Bailovo tumblr_mmw382pEYB1s3ggdno8_r1_1280 tumblr_mmw382pEYB1s3ggdno3_r1_1280 tumblr_mmw382pEYB1s3ggdno2_1280

Via Mark Shea: “98 year old Dobri Dobrev, a man who lost most of his hearing in the second world war, has traveled 25 kilometers every day for decades from his village in his homemade clothes and leather shoes to the city of Sofia – a trip he made by foot until recently – where he spends the day begging for money.

Though a well recognized fixture around several of the city’s churches, known for his prostrations of thanks to all donors, it was only recently discovered that he has donated every penny he has collected — over 40,000 euros — towards the restoration of decaying Bulgarian monasteries and churches and the utility bills of orphanages, living entirely off his monthly state pension of 80 euros and the kindness of others.”

 

Patreon

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Patreon gets it. This is how creatives (especially ones who make pirate-able things) can to make a living: through patronage, the way artists have supported themselves since time immemorial. It’s like Kickstarter, except you pledge to give the artist X amount of money each time they release a new piece of content. The artist are getting paid for their work, the patrons get perks like Hangouts with the artist or free tickets, and piracy of the artist’s work only draws more attention to them, which results in more patrons.