J.D. Moyer

science fiction author, beatmaker, against fascism

650 and counting…

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On February 22

In Electronic Music

Recently I got curious as to how many electronic music tracks I’ve actually released into the world, including all my aliases, every compilation and remix, etc. For our record label, I have a database, but I didn’t have a list of my own published tracks. I do have a Discography page, but it doesn’t include track names, and I’m pretty sure it has some mistakes and omissions.

So I created a spreadsheet. Take a peek if you’re curious. 650 tracks, including a few that aren’t out yet! I knew there were a lot, but I might have guessed three or four hundred before I made the list.

How many of those are actually good? Well, we (me, Spesh, Mark Musselman, and my other collaborators) thought all of them were good, or even great, at the time we were producing and releasing them. I would say the world agreed with us in a handful of cases, and all those involved some good luck (a famous DJ playing the track, or a famous game commissioning music from us). Jondi & Spesh – We Are Connected stands out, as does Momu – The Dive. But I like to think there are still some gamers out there that remember unlocking the boss track Max 300 – Super Max Me Mix in Dance Dance Revolution. And some of our more recent release are even getting a little traction on Spotify with some very modest playlist promotion (legit ones, not bots!). Like Momu – Infinite Torus.

But mostly I still do it because it’s fun to make music with my friends and put it out in the world.

With that in mind, there’s a new Jondi & Spesh release out now on Beatport. Hope you enjoy, and if you purchase any of my music I’m extremely grateful.

 

Maybe It’s Really Difficult to Enact a Fascist Takeover of the United States

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On February 1

In Culture Rants/Shares, Politics

As the felon-in-chief and his murderous henchmen feebly grasp for unfettered authoritarian rule, it’s becoming increasingly evident that enacting a fascist takeover the of United States is as easy as cajoling a clowder of cats to march in lockstep in full military gear.

Here are the factors working against the current administration’s fascist fantasies:

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How to Destroy Fascism from the Comfort of Your Own Home

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On January 26

In Alternative Economics, Culture Rants/Shares, Politics, Tech

The reigning administration and its most rabid supporters can’t be shamed and can’t be reasoned with. We’ve learned that. Watching clear video evidence of a citizen being murdered for defending a woman who was assaulted, the conservative talking point is “Well, you shouldn’t bring a gun to a protest.” Alex Pretti had a permit for his holstered firearm, and open carry is legal in Minnesota. Pretti was executed, probably because he was defending a woman, reminding the ICE goons what honorable behavior looks like. They were triggered, lost control of their emotions, and murdered him. But MAGA is in too deep to see with their own eyes.

Also, the chaotic evil violence is part of Stephen Miller’s playbook. Murder citizens until they retaliate violently. Then invoke the Insurrection Act, call off the election, and advance the Fourth Reich (Corporate Rule). They’re so unpopular at this point, it’s the only way they can maintain power. They know it and they’re saying it out loud (imagine a link to Curtis Yarvin’s blog here).

I’m all for showing up at No Kings marches, and for liberals exercising 2A. But the most effective way to fight U.S. fascism and the billionaire tech Nazis who support it is much easier. Destroy them the same way we destroyed apartheid in South Africa.

Make them poorer.

The thing is, we don’t even have to bankrupt them. They absolutely cannot tolerate being even a tiny bit poorer. For the obscenely rich, two percent poorer is a really bad day. Five percent poorer is a fucking emergency–they’re calling Trump on his personal mobile to ask him what the fuck he’s going to do about it. Any poorer than that and they’re running for their bunkers and safe rooms, hitting red buttons, activating whatever insane contingency plans they have that probably involve private jets, islands, and underground kale farms. They just can’t handle it.

So how do we do it?

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My Chat with Claude

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On January 17

In Culture Rants/Shares, Tech

I’m pretty much a non-user of AI. I avoid it when I can, partially out of ethical objections (AI is being rolled out with all the care of a 1950s cigarette campaign, with zero caution or consideration of potential harm), and partially due to unreliability (AI generates responses based on statistical probability without any capacity for fact checking, and regularly makes incorrect statements with complete confidence). But I’m also writing about AI in my current work-in-progress novel, so I try to keep up with the meta.

For that reason, I downloaded Claude and asked it where Gary Gygax went wrong. Claude gave an impressive, in-depth response, summarizing where Gygax might have gone wrong in terms of business decisions, game design, and a resistance to changing values and norms among RPG players (less misogyny and racism). Then Claude asked for clarification–what was I getting at?

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What’s Your Wealth Cap?

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On January 14

In Culture Rants/Shares, Money/Personal Finance

Kids these days fantasize about becoming a billionaire instead of becoming a millionaire, because a million bucks doesn’t even buy you a whole house in many California neighborhoods. Not even the fancy neighborhoods, but just the kind-of-nice ones. Inflation and all.

Dr. Evil, pinkie on lower lip, demanding a ransom of one million dollars!

But a billion is still way too much for most people. Not in a moral sense, but in a “you couldn’t spend it on your own needs and wants if you tried” sense. Well maybe you could, if you’re really into luxury yachts or personally owning a spaceship. But most of us don’t even want those things.

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