Video game developers are notorious for long hours in the “crunch” during the time before product releases… and “crunch” can last a year or more in some cases. For example, in boasting about how hard everyone worked on their latest release, Rockstar Games’ CEO boasted of 100-hour weeks from many staffers. Labor activists are, of course, outraged. The Outline investigates the danger of exploiting a desire for “meaningful work” in creative industries.
The game, a cowboy open-world adventure called Red Dead Redemption 2, does sound impressive. The article featuring that long-hours boastfulness from New York Magazine is worth a read. The game, scheduled for release next week, features 1,200 (unionized!) actors, 700 of them with dialogue– the CEO boasted that they were, for a while, the largest employer of actors in New York City. There are 300,000 distinct animations including hundreds of different kinds of individual plants and animals simulated and scattered around a vast western landscape. There’s a weather system, of course, so realistic weather patterns play out around you as your character wanders about with his six-gun. The weather affects everything else in the game, to the extent that the majestic stallions realistically majestic testicles which expand or contract with the temperature, and sway more in warm weather than cool weather.
Is it art? Is it art worth working 100-hour weeks for? Dying for?
I’m taking economics 101 here are my hot economics takes
Speaking of gross simplifications, here’s the introduction to a problem on international trade: “Suppose France and Spain produce only cloth and wine. Assume that each country uses only labor to produce each good, and that the cloth and wine made in France and Spain are exactly alike.”
In my personal economics microcosm, I’m fighting with the Mass Department of Unemployment Assistance. My claim from the 2017 layoff was closed when I got a second freelance gig this fall, but I still had 4 unused weeks of benefits. With my two freelance gigs slowing down, I should regain eligibility and be able to tap those last few dregs of my unemployment insurance.
Unfortunately, the temp agency I worked for still has me listed as an employee, even though it’s not giving me any work or money. So when I tried to re-open my claim, I was rejected and asked for additional proof of unemployment. They’re working on the review, but say that due to a large number of claims they may take a while.
I guess the economy is good enough that the Unemployment office can’t find enough staff to review claims. Or maybe there’s just a lot of people out of work?
Decline of the west
- Steve King (R-IA) is an explicit white nationalist and everyone in Iowa is fine with that.
- One of the largest foster care organizations in South Carolina won’t place any children with Jewish or Catholic families. A Jewish Trump supporter wonders why she’s getting hurt.
- Republicans are lying about their health care position, which is why a congressman beat up a journalist who asked about it.
- Trade wars are good and easy to win. Which is why the US is fighting with Rwanda about used clothes.
- Rep Joe Kennedy hits it with the charts.
Twitter Curation
Jamelle Bouie reminds us of the incredible badassery of the flag of the 22nd Regiment of Colored Troops.
This cloud formation is incredible.
This sort of joke is one of the best things about Twitter:
Always a bridesmaid, never the Brideslord, summoning the nation’s brides to war with a mighty blast of the brideshorn.
— Sandra Newman is objectively frightening (@sannewman) June 15, 2016
Cultivating joy
This kitty
The charming restoration of this badly damaged vintage cast-iron pan.
From /r/natureisfuckinglit: The secretary bird has pretty dope eyelashes.
This watermelon-dog.
Goats in sweaters.
Owl sneezes.
Secretly Ironic 