In May, 2025 former Palantir employees warned that the company was becoming a Sauron-esque force for evil—in essence, resembling the crystal stone after which it was named.
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Tag Archives: Terry Pratchett
Peter Thiel, Palantir, and Sauron
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, Palantir, Peter Thiel, power corrupts Comments closed
To Counter Moral Collapse, Read Pratchett
Good young adult fiction like Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching series can instill anti-authoritarian values in young people.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged authoritarianism, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Shepherd’s Crown, Tiffany Aching Comments closed
Pratchett on the Excitement of Invention
Pratchett’s “Raising Steam” highlights the vibrancy of invention and also the importance of a multicultural society in making new inventions work.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged inventors and inventions, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, multiculturalism, Raising Steam Comments closed
A Thieves Guild to Manage Crime
Pratchett uses his Thieves Guild to satirize those who think perfection in our society is achievable.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged crime in America, crime prevention, Guards! Guards! Comments closed
Conquering the Darkness Within
Pratchett’s novel “Thud!” is a plea to find inner strength rather than yielding to blind rage.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Buch-Cheney administration, Donald Trump, Islamic fundamentalism, Terrorism, Thud!, Tom Nichols Comments closed
Pratchett on How Guns Possess Us
Note: If you wish to receive, via e-mail, (1) my weekly newsletter or (2) daily copies of these posts, notify me at rrbates1951@gmail.com and indicate which you would like. I promise not to share your e-mail address with anyone. To unsubscribe, send me a follow-up email. Tuesday I’ve been listening to Terry Pratchett fantasy novels as I drive […]
Trump, “Vermin” and Terry Pratchett
In “Snuff” one of Terry Pratchett’s angriest book, the author takes on racism, ethnocentrism, and intolerance.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Art, Donald Trump, Fascism, intolerance, racism, Snuff Comments closed
Pratchett’s Response to Intolerance
Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching novel “I Shall Wear Midnight” is a good counter to Christofascism.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Christofascism, I Shall Wear Midnight, MAGA, Tiffany Aching, witches Comments closed
Good Omens and Vladimir Putin
To imagine the reluctance of Russian soldiers to fight, check out this scene in “Good Omens.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Good Omens, Neil Gaiman, Ukraine invasion, Vladimir Putin, war Comments closed