Caleb Bastow
@calebbastowmm.bsky.social
https://calebbastow.com. Australian writer, knowledge/iced coffee addict, perpetually tired. Here for the ride, I guess.
Reposted by Caleb Bastow
The designation of a state - Iran - as a "sponsor of terror" is a welcome development. To remain consistent, this ought to be applied to other states that meet the same criteria.
The Double Standards of Australia’s IRGC “Sponsor of Terror” Designation
29/11/2025 On Thursday, the Australian government designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism. This is not surprising – although providing scant evidence…
calebbastow.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:41 AM
The designation of a state - Iran - as a "sponsor of terror" is a welcome development. To remain consistent, this ought to be applied to other states that meet the same criteria.
The designation of a state - Iran - as a "sponsor of terror" is a welcome development. To remain consistent, this ought to be applied to other states that meet the same criteria.
The Double Standards of Australia’s IRGC “Sponsor of Terror” Designation
29/11/2025 On Thursday, the Australian government designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism. This is not surprising – although providing scant evidence…
calebbastow.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:41 AM
The designation of a state - Iran - as a "sponsor of terror" is a welcome development. To remain consistent, this ought to be applied to other states that meet the same criteria.
What Spotify needs is a way to just remove any and all AI generated shit off my recommended - Discover Weekly, Release Radar, recommended playlists. If you made your music with AI I don't wanna fucking see it man, you're a parasite. Just give me verifiably real artists, fuck.
November 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM
What Spotify needs is a way to just remove any and all AI generated shit off my recommended - Discover Weekly, Release Radar, recommended playlists. If you made your music with AI I don't wanna fucking see it man, you're a parasite. Just give me verifiably real artists, fuck.
"Whilst philosophy can certainly venture into realms perhaps more esoteric and metaphysical than history is typically associated with, history itself falls into this intermediate space between myth and reality."
History As Story, Dialogue, Art
I cannot recall exactly where I first heard the concept of history being not simply a dry academic discipline, but a constant conversation in which writers and readers from across the ages all enga…
calebbastow.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:21 AM
"Whilst philosophy can certainly venture into realms perhaps more esoteric and metaphysical than history is typically associated with, history itself falls into this intermediate space between myth and reality."
Cut aid, accusations of delayed hostage transfer, and at least 9 killed - Israel seems intent on scuttling another ceasefire as those in Gaza dare to breath a little easier.
Another Faltering Ceasefire in Gaza
15/10/2025 Hardly a week after world leaders heralded a vague and unsigned peace agreement, the first step of a ceasefire once again appears to be faltering. If the definition of a ceasefire is tha…
calebbastow.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Cut aid, accusations of delayed hostage transfer, and at least 9 killed - Israel seems intent on scuttling another ceasefire as those in Gaza dare to breath a little easier.
"Modern slavery today has a much broader definition than chattel slavery, and does include the kinds of labour carried out by miners outside the formal system, along with the abuses they suffer doing that work."
New piece on mining in the DRC:
New piece on mining in the DRC:
Artisanal Mining in the Congo – Slavery, or Agency?
14/10/2025 I finished reading Congo’s Environmental Paradox: Potential and Predation in a Land of Plenty by Theodore Trefon. It was an okay book, informative in a general sense but largely devoid o…
calebbastow.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
"Modern slavery today has a much broader definition than chattel slavery, and does include the kinds of labour carried out by miners outside the formal system, along with the abuses they suffer doing that work."
New piece on mining in the DRC:
New piece on mining in the DRC:
Much is being said about the "concession" to Hamas terror in the recognition of a Palestinian state. But the true concession is not in recognising the reality of Palestinians' existence, but legitimising a contemporary settler-colonial project on their land.
What does a just outcome look like?
What does a just outcome look like?
The Western Concession of Palestine
22/09/2025 “Today the Albanese government extends a hollow gesture of false hope to the Palestinian people. For the Israeli people, it extends a chilling act of concession to the Hamas terrorists w…
calebbastow.com
September 22, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Much is being said about the "concession" to Hamas terror in the recognition of a Palestinian state. But the true concession is not in recognising the reality of Palestinians' existence, but legitimising a contemporary settler-colonial project on their land.
What does a just outcome look like?
What does a just outcome look like?
Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and its leaders stand accused of inciting it.
We cannot say we didn't know.
We cannot say we didn't know.
The UN Declares Genocide in Gaza
17/09/2025 The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner has released a report stating that Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinians. This report is nothing new for those who hav…
calebbastow.com
September 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and its leaders stand accused of inciting it.
We cannot say we didn't know.
We cannot say we didn't know.
Starting to read the UN report stating that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestians.
For those who have been paying attention, this has been obvious since late 2023.
For those aware of the history and trajectory over the last 70 years, it is tragically unsurprising.
For those who have been paying attention, this has been obvious since late 2023.
For those aware of the history and trajectory over the last 70 years, it is tragically unsurprising.
September 17, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Starting to read the UN report stating that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestians.
For those who have been paying attention, this has been obvious since late 2023.
For those aware of the history and trajectory over the last 70 years, it is tragically unsurprising.
For those who have been paying attention, this has been obvious since late 2023.
For those aware of the history and trajectory over the last 70 years, it is tragically unsurprising.
"Another collapsed residential tower in Gaza City, a father carries his child’s remains in a white bag. I tab over to join a friend in a game online.
It’s just another day."
It’s just another day."
Seeing Violence
15/09/2025 I do not blame anyone who has refused to watch that video from last week. I have sympathy for those who did see it and who were affected by it, whether because they had never seen someth…
calebbastow.com
September 15, 2025 at 11:33 AM
"Another collapsed residential tower in Gaza City, a father carries his child’s remains in a white bag. I tab over to join a friend in a game online.
It’s just another day."
It’s just another day."
"Those who have spent years peddling lies about “transgender ideology”, like Charlie Kirk, are also the same people who have openly discussed the “great replacement theory” and made claims that non-white people are culturally and biologically more violent and less intelligent."
Solidarity With the Trans Community a Litmus Test Against Far-Right Rhetoric
15/09/2025 The moment the video and news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination went viral, so did the speculation and the unhinged rhetoric on social media. Nowhere was this clearer than the unrelenting …
calebbastow.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:46 AM
"Those who have spent years peddling lies about “transgender ideology”, like Charlie Kirk, are also the same people who have openly discussed the “great replacement theory” and made claims that non-white people are culturally and biologically more violent and less intelligent."
Charlie Kirk's assassination and the immediate aftermath raises important questions about political violence. What constitutes political violence, and what is recognised as such? Was this inevitable in the United States?
What next?
What next?
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk and Political Violence
13/09/2025 Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a college campus in Utah. I’ll leave it to the mainstream press to follow the live details, and another piece to go over the reactions both before the sh…
calebbastow.com
September 13, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Charlie Kirk's assassination and the immediate aftermath raises important questions about political violence. What constitutes political violence, and what is recognised as such? Was this inevitable in the United States?
What next?
What next?
Another piece from 2019 on anarchism and the intersection with feminism. My knowedlge of those two topics, separately and combined, has grown (I would like to think), but this still holds up quite well in my view.
calebbastow.com/2025/07/14/a...
calebbastow.com/2025/07/14/a...
Anarchism and Feminism: Free Speech, Understanding, and Growth
(Editor’s Note 14/07/2025: One correction to be made here – not only was calling my previous website “Anarchist Rising” premature, it was also incomprehensibly cringe and I …
calebbastow.com
July 14, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Another piece from 2019 on anarchism and the intersection with feminism. My knowedlge of those two topics, separately and combined, has grown (I would like to think), but this still holds up quite well in my view.
calebbastow.com/2025/07/14/a...
calebbastow.com/2025/07/14/a...
In recent weeks, I've been uploading pieces from my old site into an archive on the new site. Some, like the below, I've posted on the main feed too.
This older piece on anarchism and violence does suffer from a slight lack of nuance I'd add in today, however the core premise I would still hold to.
This older piece on anarchism and violence does suffer from a slight lack of nuance I'd add in today, however the core premise I would still hold to.
Anarchism and Violence
(Editor’s Note 14/07/2025: I did not have the phrase at the time, but “prefigurative politics” encapsulates what I was trying to say here. It is the idea that the world of tomorro…
calebbastow.com
July 14, 2025 at 11:19 AM
In recent weeks, I've been uploading pieces from my old site into an archive on the new site. Some, like the below, I've posted on the main feed too.
This older piece on anarchism and violence does suffer from a slight lack of nuance I'd add in today, however the core premise I would still hold to.
This older piece on anarchism and violence does suffer from a slight lack of nuance I'd add in today, however the core premise I would still hold to.
Part of me wishes I remembered this app more often, so that I could actually post commentary, ideas, musings, shit posts.
And then then other part of that appears when I open it goes, yeah but I have probably have betted things to do with my life.
Be back in a few weeks I guess.
And then then other part of that appears when I open it goes, yeah but I have probably have betted things to do with my life.
Be back in a few weeks I guess.
May 8, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Part of me wishes I remembered this app more often, so that I could actually post commentary, ideas, musings, shit posts.
And then then other part of that appears when I open it goes, yeah but I have probably have betted things to do with my life.
Be back in a few weeks I guess.
And then then other part of that appears when I open it goes, yeah but I have probably have betted things to do with my life.
Be back in a few weeks I guess.
Peter Dutton's assumption that university students are being "indoctrinated" by a lecturer or course is amusing to me, because my experience over 7 years at two different universities was largely me arguing against or at least challenging the course content - from the left...
April 3, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Peter Dutton's assumption that university students are being "indoctrinated" by a lecturer or course is amusing to me, because my experience over 7 years at two different universities was largely me arguing against or at least challenging the course content - from the left...
Spent the weekend with a close friend and her family, celebrating their child's first birthday.
I saw the story about the number of children killed that evening after the party, whilst watching her crawl about with her toys.
Our government's silence and inaction is sick. This is beyond words...
I saw the story about the number of children killed that evening after the party, whilst watching her crawl about with her toys.
Our government's silence and inaction is sick. This is beyond words...
Hey Penny's intern, hope you're well. Is @senatorwong.bsky.social 'gravely concerned' yet, because I'm fucking appaled
Israel just committed *the largest child massacre in its history*, according to Haaretz. Two hundred Palestinian children murdered in a single day, with direct support from the US and UK, and zero outrage from Western media. What stage of barbarism is this...
March 23, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Spent the weekend with a close friend and her family, celebrating their child's first birthday.
I saw the story about the number of children killed that evening after the party, whilst watching her crawl about with her toys.
Our government's silence and inaction is sick. This is beyond words...
I saw the story about the number of children killed that evening after the party, whilst watching her crawl about with her toys.
Our government's silence and inaction is sick. This is beyond words...
Reposted by Caleb Bastow
Condemn. Start calling it a genocide. Stop the mass gaslighting. Expel Israeli ambassadors. Support the South Africa case at the International Court. Rip up weapons contracts with the genocidal regime. Isolate this apartheid state diplomatically like the world did with South Africa. A million things
March 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Condemn. Start calling it a genocide. Stop the mass gaslighting. Expel Israeli ambassadors. Support the South Africa case at the International Court. Rip up weapons contracts with the genocidal regime. Isolate this apartheid state diplomatically like the world did with South Africa. A million things
Can't seem to do polls on this app, so. First thoughts when seeing the acronym 'MLM'?
1. Multi-Level Marketing
2. Marxism-Leninism-Maoism
3. Men Loving Men
4. Other?
1. Multi-Level Marketing
2. Marxism-Leninism-Maoism
3. Men Loving Men
4. Other?
March 23, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Can't seem to do polls on this app, so. First thoughts when seeing the acronym 'MLM'?
1. Multi-Level Marketing
2. Marxism-Leninism-Maoism
3. Men Loving Men
4. Other?
1. Multi-Level Marketing
2. Marxism-Leninism-Maoism
3. Men Loving Men
4. Other?
Reposted by Caleb Bastow
American Jewish activist and former director of Human Rights Watch @kennethroth.bsky.social explains why Gaza IS a genocide
March 23, 2025 at 10:15 AM
American Jewish activist and former director of Human Rights Watch @kennethroth.bsky.social explains why Gaza IS a genocide
Not me accidentally running all the code on a csv file for an SQL database instead of just the command I intended to select and having "DROP DATABASE IF EXISTS" at the fucking top.
Thankfully, I have backups and it's all recovered. This is how I imagine the internet is held together too.
Thankfully, I have backups and it's all recovered. This is how I imagine the internet is held together too.
March 23, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Not me accidentally running all the code on a csv file for an SQL database instead of just the command I intended to select and having "DROP DATABASE IF EXISTS" at the fucking top.
Thankfully, I have backups and it's all recovered. This is how I imagine the internet is held together too.
Thankfully, I have backups and it's all recovered. This is how I imagine the internet is held together too.
The Conversation published a piece on Friday in which the author defended Australia's current trajectory on AUKUS, suggesting that there cannot yet be a plan B.
Hardly compelling arguments aside, scrutiny ought to be applied regarding who exactly funded the piece in the first palce...
Hardly compelling arguments aside, scrutiny ought to be applied regarding who exactly funded the piece in the first palce...
Alice Nason in The Conversation – A Response on AUKUS
16/01/2025 On Friday, The Conversation published an article titled “Not yet time for a Plan B. Australia must stick with AUKUS – for better or worse” by Alice Nason. The premise of the article is t…
calebbastow.com
March 16, 2025 at 10:21 AM
The Conversation published a piece on Friday in which the author defended Australia's current trajectory on AUKUS, suggesting that there cannot yet be a plan B.
Hardly compelling arguments aside, scrutiny ought to be applied regarding who exactly funded the piece in the first palce...
Hardly compelling arguments aside, scrutiny ought to be applied regarding who exactly funded the piece in the first palce...
Well I know what I'll be listening to on repeat while I'm sick over the weekend! Last two Starset singles were meh, but this is incredible, and has MNQN vibes.
🎶don't be surprised what the night brings
when you search the dark, you get dark things🎶
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1Qm...
🎶don't be surprised what the night brings
when you search the dark, you get dark things🎶
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1Qm...
dark things
YouTube video by STARSET - Topic
www.youtube.com
February 28, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Well I know what I'll be listening to on repeat while I'm sick over the weekend! Last two Starset singles were meh, but this is incredible, and has MNQN vibes.
🎶don't be surprised what the night brings
when you search the dark, you get dark things🎶
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1Qm...
🎶don't be surprised what the night brings
when you search the dark, you get dark things🎶
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1Qm...
I don't even have kids and here I am trying not to tear up into my morning banana before work.
Entropy comes for us all, and it is equal parts beautiful and horrifying.
Entropy comes for us all, and it is equal parts beautiful and horrifying.
This week on Fully Ramblomatic, two unusual things: a mostly text based game, and sincerity.
This week on Fully Ramblomatic, @yahtzeecroshaw.bsky.social reviewed Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector.
Presented by Incogni.
Presented by Incogni.
February 26, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I don't even have kids and here I am trying not to tear up into my morning banana before work.
Entropy comes for us all, and it is equal parts beautiful and horrifying.
Entropy comes for us all, and it is equal parts beautiful and horrifying.