WITH a multitude of floods, wildfires and plagues so far this year (yes, even Ebola, which doesn't interest the West as much... as long as it only kills Africans), not to mention at least three moments when we came close to nuclear conflict (Russia, Iran, China/India/Pakistan) and many plane crashes (before the shares of airlines crashed) we're gradually seeing the economic status quo crumbling, grinding to a halt, one might say "collapsing" (US national debt is about to exceed 27 trillion dollars, 7 trillions more than total US GDP). There are riots in the streets and reactionary misuse of force by the state (what happens in the US is akin to "SS"; see Portland, Oregon).

"There are riots in the streets and reactionary misuse of force by the state (what happens in the US is akin to "SS"; see Portland, Oregon)."I myself still work from home; our main office shut down last week (after more than 20 years), quite likely as a permanent measure because it's impractical to still work in a shared space/office. So we're all remote workers now ("remote" seems like a misnomer when one works locally, from one's own home). Last week we received a document from inside the European Patent Office (EPO), suggesting a lot of layoffs to come. The rumours we heard years ago were true. António Campinos is merely an EPO destroyer, maybe worse than Benoît Battistelli. Patents, i.e. monopolies, are being granted faster than ever (even in the US, in spite of 35 U.S.C. €§ 101) and the passage of wealth from the bottom to the top (it's a class thing, not a race thing) accelerates wildly. Words are being banned for seeming "racist", the general public is being called "looters" (while ignoring "bailouts" for billionaires, which are in effect the same albeit at a vastly bigger scale and with "professionals" in suits taking the loot through "professional" treasuries), and I keep hearing about people who lose their job. People I know, people I speak to...

"Life isn't coming back to normal."Yesterday the gym I had been going to since I was 19 sent an E-mail with somewhat alarming language; "The last 4 months has put a serious financial burden on the business," it said, "because despite the government furlough scheme, we still have many fixed operating costs to pay. This period has been challenging and threatened the ongoing viability of the club. If you are not ready to start using your membership again but feel that you would like to support the club and would be happy to commence paying the membership, then this gesture would be most appreciated."

Life isn't coming back to normal. Our health officials have said the same (earlier this month). The gym reopens this coming Saturday, but there will be many exclusions and restrictions. Over the years I wrote many articles from there (with a portable keyboard, using a PDA between sets) and did lots of readings from there. But now we consider canceling the membership; with sadness. Well, the world has changed. Not for the better. Almost nobody is better off now. ⬆