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Even dreams aren't safe when fascism looms

Even dreams aren't safe when fascism looms

Diagnosing the postmodern condition in 1974, the visionary science fiction novelist J.G. Ballard singled out a key symptom: the growing encroachment on everyday reality of 'fictions of every kind.' By fictions, he meant: 'politics conducted as a branch of advertising,' the 'blurring and intermingling of identities' in a culture unhinged by celebrity worship and commodity fetishism, 'the preempting of any free or original imaginative response to experience by the television screen.' A Freudian and a surrealist, Ballard thought the mass unconscious was creeping, bloblike, into broad daylight, subverting the traditional relationship between dream and reality.

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Oklahoma company seeks to buoy U.S. production of critical rare earth magnets
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Oklahoma company seeks to buoy U.S. production of critical rare earth magnets

Stillwater, Oklahoma — Buried on Round Top Mountain in a remote part of West Texas are rare earth minerals, the metals that could power America's future. Rare earths are a group of 17 elements used in many of the world's most advanced technologies, including semiconductors, electric cars and guided missiles used by the military. Before they can be used, the minerals must be turned into magnets, and China produces as much as 95% of the world's rare earth magnets, according to energy research company Wood Mackenzie. But USA Rare Earth, a Stillwater, Oklahoma-based company, is trying to change that by bringing this critical supply chain back to the United States. "I'd say we're a good 10, 15 years behind," USA Rare Earth CEO Joshua Ballard told CBS News of where he thinks U.S. production of rare earth magnets should be. Inside its warehouse in Stillwater, USA Rare Earth is rushing to assemble massive machines that will eventually produce up to 5,000 tons of magnets per year. According to Ballard, that will equal about 10% of U.S. demand. "Right now, we have to ask permission from China in order to get the magnets and minerals we need for our defense technologies," Ballard said. "...This is an incredible choke point for this country." In April, the Trump administration announced an economic investment deal with Ukraine designed to give the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earths, a move that comes amid the White House's trade disputes with China. Ballard showed CBS News a small-scale laboratory that is showcasing what could be possible. Inside, engineers are refining the volatile rare earth metals, cooking and compressing them into tiny but powerful magnets. "When you think about all these new technologies, whether it's in your phone, there's probably 12 magnets if you have an iPhone," Ballard said. "A car, there's up to 40 magnets in a car. And the strength of them allows you to create smaller technologies with the power of the magnet." And while companies like USA Rare Earth will eventually help lessen U.S. dependence on China, Ballard said that's still a long way off. "It's a long term proposition," Ballard said. "We've got a lot of work to do here. There's a few sites here in America that are working out today. It's not nearly enough. We've got a lot of work to do." Musk alleges Trump's name appeared in Epstein files as feud escalates What to know about President Trump's travel ban on nationals from 12 countries Trump says he's disappointed by Musk criticism of budget bill, Musk says he got Trump elected

Even dreams aren't safe when fascism looms
Even dreams aren't safe when fascism looms

Washington Post

timea day ago

  • Washington Post

Even dreams aren't safe when fascism looms

Diagnosing the postmodern condition in 1974, the visionary science fiction novelist J.G. Ballard singled out a key symptom: the growing encroachment on everyday reality of 'fictions of every kind.' By fictions, he meant: 'politics conducted as a branch of advertising,' the 'blurring and intermingling of identities' in a culture unhinged by celebrity worship and commodity fetishism, 'the preempting of any free or original imaginative response to experience by the television screen.' A Freudian and a surrealist, Ballard thought the mass unconscious was creeping, bloblike, into broad daylight, subverting the traditional relationship between dream and reality.

Trai Hume wants Northern Ireland's young guns to set standard for squad
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time2 days ago

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Trai Hume wants Northern Ireland's young guns to set standard for squad

Trai Hume expects Northern Ireland to feed off the success that has been enjoyed by several of their young stars over the past few weeks. Hume and his Sunderland team-mate Daniel Ballard have been celebrating earning promotion to the Premier League after a dramatic play-off campaign that ended with victory over Sheffield United at Wembley. Advertisement And that came at the end of a month in which Conor Bradley received his first Premier League winner's medal with Liverpool and fellow 21-year-old Justin Devenny lifted the FA Cup with Crystal Palace. Ballard, 25, and Hume, 23, will double the Premier League contingent in Michael O'Neill's squad, something that Hume believes can only help as they look ahead to their World Cup qualifying campaign that starts in September. 'I don't think there's any doubt,' Hume said. 'You're exposing yourself to the best league in the world, so you want to try your best to do well there and if you can, you're going to become a better player because of it. Advertisement 'Obviously me and Dan are still young, Conor and Justin are still young, so hopefully we can have a lot of years in the Premier League and that will only benefit Northern Ireland going forward. 'I have no doubt there's other players in the squad that will get themselves into the Premier League as well. Obviously it's us four at the minute and hopefully we can try and push the lads and bring them up to the standard that we're going to set.' Northern Ireland are preparing for Saturday's friendly away to Denmark and Tuesday's match at home against Iceland, but their eyes are already on September when they begin their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away double-header against Luxembourg and Germany, with Slovakia also in Group A. Playing in high-pressure games like the Championship play-off final is valuable experience ahead of facing the likes of Germany, and Hume said: 'I think it will help us deal with the atmosphere a bit better. Obviously, the calibre of players will be a lot different. I think we will try our best to deal with that. 'I think the big games you do play in, you get used to the emotion of it and the challenge of playing in front of the crowd and not getting caught up in the emotion of the game. Advertisement 'Germany is definitely going to be a lot different than Sheffield United. Like I say, we will just have to try our best to be ready and be focused for it.' Germany are obvious favourites to top the group, with Northern Ireland vying to beat Slovakia and Luxembourg to second place and the play-off spot that would bring. Ballard said they would treat their games against those two nations as cup finals. 'I think we can make a really positive start to the group,' he said. 'I think the games against Luxembourg and Slovakia are going to be really important for us. I think they will all be like cup finals. 'I feel like we have a real opportunity this year to go and put ourselves in a strong spot to qualify.'

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