Episode 154: MFA Mander's Four Arguments: An Introduction

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It should come as no surprise that, though influential and important, certain books suffer in reputation simply because they question more dominant media. I give an overview in such a book in this Episode 154: Mander's Four Arguments: An Introduction.

In this episode, I read from Jerry Mander's 1978 book, Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television. I also recount from memory interesting tidbits from Jane Brox's 2010 book Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light. In future episodes, I hope to use material from her book to support my quibble with Mander's insistence that electricity was the watershed invention that changed humanity forever. I also hope this will not diminish Mander's conclusions, but rather clarify them.

Music-wise, I played Lee Rosevere's "What's Behind The Door" throughout, including at the close, just for fun. I opened the show once again with KMFDM, this time backing Mark Stahlman's observation about television targeted advertising.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 153: No News Is Still Bad News

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I admit it: I tend to get distracted and wander off topic. Today, I get back to observing the collapse of journalism—and trying to prevent it—with some unhelpful help from public radio personalities in this return Episode 153: No News Is Still Bad News.

I read from two books by Robert McChesney and John Nichols: first, Our Media, Not Theirs: The Democratic Struggle Against Corporate Media; and then from The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again. If you want a truly deep dive into journalism, go read these guys' books.

I play: The BeeGees, in reference to Brooke and Bob; On The Media's episode titled "No News Is Bad News"; KMO from the C-Realm Podcast giving us a sarcastic "great"; Tenacious D doing snippets of "The Government Totally Sucks", that from their hilarious movie, The Pick of Destiny; Raphae doing "Intro"; and Visciera doing "Seething". I opened with KMFDM backing Jeff Jarvis, and I'm closing today with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0, attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 152: The Nuisance Economy

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Once and a while, it's good to expend a little more effort in order to expend a bit less effort. It's complicated. Anyway, enjoy the result, a chat with Chad Hill of the Hip Crime Vocab Blog in this Episode 152: The Nuisance Economy.

I would highly encourage you to check out Chad's blog, but do keep in mind that, since he cares not one whit about checking his readership metrics, he won't even know you were there unless you leave him a comment, which, I'm sure, he will appreciate.

I open today's show with Mr. Ceglowski's observations about what makes a good advertiser, that backed by KMFDM's "Attak"; and I close today with Julie and Rolf and the campfire gang doing "Over The Rainbow".

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0, share-alike, attribution, and non-commercial license.

Episode 151: A Rare Opportunity to Reimagine

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Never let a good crisis go unexploited, said someone, somewhere. It's good advice. It allows us to see what we've been missing, and maybe what we should keep missing. That's the idea in this Episode 151: A Rare Opportunity to Reimagine.

In this episode, I read from: The Wikipedia page for Philip Henry Gosse; the Stephen Jay Gould article "Adam's Navel", found in his 1987 book, The Flamingo's Smile; and the Amanda Mull article "Pandemic Advertising Got Weird Fast", published in the Atlantic magazine.

I play: audio from an online parade of pandemic advertising (that you really should see for yourself); and an expletive deleted ad introducing the Amanda Mull podcast extra from On The Media. Musically: the real Bee Gees briefly signaled mention of Bob Garfield and Brooke Gladstone; and Podington Bear's appropriately-titled "Button Mushroom". KMFDM's "Attak" backed Amanda Mull herself for the opening; and I'm closing once again with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 150: Ligers and Tigons and Joe

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Don't you hate it when someone comes along and makes you realize that everything you've grown used to supporting is just as toxic as what you really despise? I confront the compromise and the damage done in this Episode 150: Ligers and Tigons and Joe.

In this episode, I read from: my computer's quickie dictionary; emails from Nancy Pelosi and the DCCC; and Anne Nelson's book Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right. Expect more from that book. It's right up the alley of this show.

I play: Joe Exotic entertaining Stephen Colbert from prison; D. L. Myers voicing the Powell Movement Stinger; and George Takei doing his signature Oh, My, that one from an episode of Futurama. Musically, I play: Podington Bear doing "Climbing the Mountain"; and Jahzzar doing "Wind". I open with Bernie Sanders bemoaning the concentration of media, that backed by KMFDM; and I close today with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 149: Watching the World Go To Health

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You exercise, and for what? Today, the devices that help you work out work against you, reducing your fitness sweaty efforts into further fodder for surveillance profits. That's what I cover in this Episode 149: Watching the World Go To Health.

In this episode, I read from Shoshana Zuboff's The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight For a Human Future At The New Frontier of Power. Again, this is a book well worth the slog, even through the notes.

I play: audio I pulled from a video sent to me by C-Realm host KMO of Professor Zuboff sharing her research and observations. Music-wise, I include: Lee Rosevere doing "Betrayal"; and Podington Bear doing "Rarified". KMFDM backs Professor Zuboff herself for a new surveillance capitalism opening; and Julie and Rolf lead the campfire gang in "Over the Rainbow" once again.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial episode.

Episode 148: …and Bernie 2020

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What happens when a presidential candidate’s positions threaten not just the business of news, but also offend the sensibilities of those personalities who are paid so very well to present it? I explore this phenomenon in Episode 148: …and Bernie 2020.

In this episode, I briefly quote McChesney and Nichols' Dollarocracy: How the Money and Media Election Complex is Destroying America. I also quoted War of the Worlds 1938 radio broadcast coverage from the New York Daily News.

Ga'an's "I of Infinite Forms II" provided the montage backing music. In order of their vocal appearances were Douglas Rushkoff, Chris Matthews, James Carville, and Anand Giridharadas. Rushkoff and Giridharadas provide the counterpoint analysis to the foot-in-mouth escapades of Matthews and Carville. I open with Team Human guest Mark Stahlman backed by KMFDM, and I close with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Oh, and once again, the days have been crawling soooo slowly since the lockdown that I just plum forgot what day it was yesterday, resulting in this, yet another inexcusable late posting. My Bad.

——Jim

Episode 147: Blankstorm '95, CoVID-19, and…

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You might only realize how interesting the times in which you live really are when it's hard to distinguish which is worse: the reality surrounding you; or the commercial reporting on that reality. Hence, Episode 147: Blankstorm '95, CoVID-19, and…

In this episode, I read from: my computer's quickie dictionary; and from Jenny O'Dell's book How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. I play the voice of former head of news for both the CBC and NPR Jeffry Dvorkin, a clip I pulled from his interview on Candaland.

Musically, I play: Visciera doing "Seething"; and Podington Bear doing "Grapefruit". I open with KMFDM backing then Mayor of Burlington Bernie Sanders, and close with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 146: Hitler Was An Ad-Man

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Perhaps if more people understood how insulting the tenets of advertising are, or how poorly ad-men regard their audience, more might avoid it, or consider restricting it legally. Consider the title of this Episode 146: Hitler Was An Ad-Man.

In this episode, I read from: from my computer's quickie dictionary for the definition of Liberalism; and from Tim Wu's The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads. (Again, all of the quotes, from Hitler, Goebbels, and Lerner, came from Wu's book unconfirmed. I hope they are accurate.)

I play: Senator Ted Stevens sharing his understanding of the Intertubes; Gene Wilder explaining to Cleavon Little why he should expect disappointment from the locals; Sydney Greenstreet demonstrating what in advertising works best; and listener Vincent once again correcting my French pronunciation with some good French cursing. (In his cursing, he says: "No, that is not it, shit!")

Musically, I insert: Podington Bear's "Firefly"; and Jahzzar's "Lullaby" and "Reflections". KMFDM opens with Justice Stevens pointing out just one of the problems with the Citizen's United Not Timid majority decision; and I close today with Julie and Rolf leading some campfire singing.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Bonus Episode: Radio's Second Chance

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Sometimes, rare books are rare not because they have no value, but because their value is perceived as topical only for a certain time. Sometimes, though, good ideas suggested for one time prove timeless. Hence this Bonus Episode: Radio's Second Chance.

In this episode, I read from: Victor Pickard's Battle for Media Democracy; and from Charles Siepmann's 1946 book Radio's Second Chance.

I open the show with a fragment of KMFDM's "Attack", and I play Lee Rosevere's "Curiosity" throughout.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0, attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 145: All Is Fare In Law and War

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Some episode topics for this show are too obvious to even mention…until they affect me more grievously than a simple plea to get another credit card. I discuss that targeted, personal aspect of direct mail in this Episode 145: All Is Fare In Law and War.

In this episode, I read from a Wikipedia entry concerning the Supreme Court's 2018 Janus Decision. I mention a group listener Kevin turned me onto, a guerrilla art outfit called Advertising Shits In Your Head. These guys create what look like real ads, posters in kiosks and the like, but when you actually read them, totally indict the companies the posters mock. Oh, to have that kind of talent! I also play: a snippet of Brad Parscale opining on some of the tools of his trade; and D. L. Myers once again reading the Powell Movement Stinger.

Musically, I play: Podington Bear doing "Skeptic". I open with KMFDM's "Attack" backing Justice John Paul Stevens reading a selection from his dissent on the Court's Citizens United Not Timid decision; and I close with the Pietnastka's "Salto" (the intro of which I play earlier in the show).

(Also, just a reminder, these show notes pages are the bestest place for you to leave comments on the show. The chances I will find comments left in other places scattered around the internets are slim to none, sadly. So, please, leave comments here.)

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 144: WTN: The Thought Leader Three-Step

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Whenever you step on a stage, it's important to remember your lines, even if the very act of memorizing and later reciting those words warps and dominates your thinking… off-stage. I explore this in this Episode 144: WTN: The Thought Leader Three-Step.

In this episode, I read from: Anand Giridharadas' Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World; and from Daniel Drezner's The Ideas Industry. I recall without quotes an experiment first published in the Atlantic magazine.

I play: 100% Chevalier doing "La Mallette"^* (which hammered out some segues); Podington Bear doing "Outmoded Waltz"; and Lee Rosevere doing "Under Suspicion"^*. Henry Giroux was backed by KMFDM's "Attack" in the opening; and I'm now closing with Julie and Rolf leading the campfire gang in "Under The Rainbow".

Oh, and while you're here, leave a comment! If you leave it elsewhere, I'm unlikely to see it, or even know of its existence. Just saying. I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

^*Once again, things on the Inter Tubes, like source links, get moved around. I'll have to go through that music file of mine and do some serious updates. Soon. I promise.

---

Update: Friday, February 7, 2020: Through some Charlie Foxtrot of the data world, as listener ric2 pointed out to me, this episode uploaded for only a few minutes, then linked out giving a 404 error. I think I've fixed that; I need a few folks to try downloading to know if my delete-and-reupload works (the data equivalent of unplugging it, waiting, and plugging it back in).

More disturbingly, while trying to triage the FUBAR, I discovered I was unable to search for my podcast on the Fruity Toons store! It's happened before, so I'm not sure what gives. If anybody who subscribes through the Fruity Toons pod-aggregator will be so kind and let me know if it works for them, I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks!

Episode 143: Maybe They Do Care

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A lack of any response from communicants can grow into frustration, over time building into a sense of utter hopelessness. By watching what they do, one can sometimes infer that someone might indeed be listening. Hence Episode 143: Maybe They Do Care.

In this episode, I relied on my own frail memory. If I got any recollections down right wrong, that's on me. I played: excerpts of ad and donation begging from both Radio Lab and Reveal; and a snippet from the Fight Club rules as voiced by Brad Pitt. Musically, I played two from Podington Bear, first "Sensitive" and then "Running On Empty". Because I mentioned the On The Media BGs (Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield), I also played the real BGs. KMFDM opened the show with Mr. Ceglowski, and I'm closing today with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 share-alike, attribution, and non-commercial license.

(Oh, and for my perpentious listeners who were wondering why I released this episode a day late… I… took a nap? That went long? Like, a day long? It totally happens. Right?)

Episode 142: 2020 Hindsight

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New year looks back should be done when conditions grant the best insights. What better sight is there than that described as 20/20? Hence, Episode 142: 2020 Hindsight.

In this episode, I read from: a Guardian article interviewing a NYTs editor, and the headline from Fox News it generated; Shoshanna Zuboff's book, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism; from Robert McChesney and John Nichol's book Dollarocracy; and a Guardian story listener Kevin sent me concerning companies pulling back from listening in on their customers (something mainstream media insists they simply do not do). I play: Frontline's James Jacoby interviewing Brad Parscale for a 2018 documentary.

Musically, I play: et^* doing "Intro" and "Black"; and Podington Bear doing "Nocturne Opus 27 Number 1". KMFDM opens with Bernie Sanders correcting the record about what news does; and I close with et.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

^*Note: Again, the internets have concealed from finding… or scrubbed, in this case, I've no idea which… an entire band whose album I downloaded many years ago. I'm so going to have to update them files. I apologize for the continuing lack of linkage.

Episode 141: Campaign Season Greetings, Now Chunky Style!

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Sometimes, a company’s announcement causes not ripples but waves. Some laugh and grab their surfboards, while others panic and shout "Tsunami!" I look at one such policy change in this Episode 141: Campaign Season Greetings, Now Chunky Style!

In this episode, I read from: my computer's quickie dictionary; one, two, three articles concerning Searchie VP Scott Spencer's policy announcement via blog post; Scotty's post; and a quick quote from Dollarocracy by McChesney and Nichols. I play: Alexander Nix bragging about his company in ways that had everyone associated with it in complete denial; and Brad Parscale telling Frontline's James Jacoby in 2018 why FuckBook personnel worked with him on the 2016 election.

Musically, I play: the Vince Guiraldi Trio doing "Skating"; and Podington Bear doing "Trader Ho Hey". KMFDM backs Soledad O'Brien in a new opening for the show; and I close this show with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my shows under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 140: As The Plots Thicken

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Take just about any phenomenon, and with enough searching it's usually possible to discover the first instance… or at least the first really, really popular occurrence. Serial broadcast drama is my focus on this Episode 140: As The Plots Thicken.

In this episode, I read from: Tim Wu's The Attention Merchants; from the findings of the Commerce Department's 1922 hearings on the future of radio; and from a Wikipedia page about Amos 'n' Andy. I play two recordings from the Amos 'n' Andy show, one of them probably a record released for the 1928 presidential election season, the other from their eighth anniversary broadcast featuring Walter Huston. (Oh, drat! The link for that last mp3 seems to be expired, along with the entire website!)

I also play the theme for the Amos 'n' Andy, a tune called "The Perfect Song"; and Jahzzar doing Moonxine "Part VII". I open the show with huckster Clark Gable backed by KMFDM, and I close with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 139: WTN: Fail to the Chief

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As we learn from George Orwell, the words we use limit what thoughts we can entertain. The Powell Movementeers spent millions over the decades to limit our political language, giving us what I hope to illustrate in this Episode 139: Fail to the Chief.

In this episode, I read from: my computer's quickie dictionary; and Wendy Brown's book Undoing the Demos. I play: the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz accusing the Wizard of humbuggery; D. L. Myers voicing the Powell Movement Stinger; and president Barack Obama speeching from his neoliberally humbuggered 2013^* Inaugural and State of the Union speeches. (Seriously, I can't believe I used to think that guy was liberal in any way.)

Musically, I play: Raphae doing "Opening"; and Rue de Prague doing "From Limbos". [Note: For some reason, the links to these bands are defunct, and I therefore cannot provide links to these songs.] KMFDM backs Noam Chomsky in the opening, and I close with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

^*I realized too late for re-recording that I had mistakenly said 2012 in the closing credits, not 2013. I regret the error.



NB: Happy news! D. L. Myers, voice of the Powell Movement and its stinger, has published his first book of poetry, Oracles from the Black Pool!

Episode 138: Digital Psychopathy

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When machines can read your expressions as well as humans, we should worry, especially when such predators, be they human or machine, feel not the slightest tinge of remorse. Hence, Episode 138: Digital Psychopathy.

In this episode, I read from: Shoshana Zuboff's Age of Surveillance Capitalism; and a Scientific American article by Kevin Dutton. Going by memory, I recount: a focus subject from the British documentary The Detectives; and Kevin Dutton's book The Wisdom of Psychopaths. I also play: Kevin Dutton talking about his book; The CBS Weekend News, amplifying some bad research; and Bill and Ted talking to themselves, from their Excellent Adventure.

Musically, I play: Lee Rosevere's "Content" and "What's Behind the Door", two tunes I used to separate and later join the two topics I spoke about today; and Podington Bear quite appropriately doing "Degradation". KMFDM backs Bruce Livesy commenting about relative corporate power; and I close with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0, attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 137: Something Else In The Air

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To understand the national anger at the first radio commercials, I find it helps to understand first and foremost that these ads came right into the home… like an intruder's pungent fart. Hence, Episode 137: Something Else in the Air.

In this episode, I read from: Tim Wu's The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads; and from a web site Mr. Wu turned me onto, one he himself used as a source for another of his books. It's a history of early radio, and an interesting one at that. Beyond the general overview I used several sub-pages, which contained lots of scans of historic content.

Sound-wise, I play: Sydney Greenstreet's evil industrialist character from the 1947 movie The Hucksters; and Monty Python's Terry Jones and Eric Idle, from the "Nudge, Nudge" sketch. Musically, I play: Metastaz doing "I'm"; Pietnaska doing "Superator"; and Podington Bear doing "Bad Seed". Clark Gable, also from The Hucksters, opens the show backed by KMFDM, and I close with Julie and Rolf doing "Over The Rainbow".

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

(Oh, and concerning the week-late posting, I came down with a bit of visiting family. They were where my attention was directed. It happens.)

Episode 136: Something Amazing In The Air

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Technology sometimes makes history dramatically, changing the way its witnesses think of the future forever. Today, I focus on one such unveiling, and link it to the first days of radio, in this Episode 136: Something Amazing In The Air.

In this episode, I mostly read from Stacy Schiff's A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, an account of Benjamin Franklin and other of our country's founders stationed in Paris to advocate for their Revolutionary position.

Audio–wise, I was once again graced with listener Vincent doing me a solid and recording himself not just pronouncing the French names well beyond my Anglicized voice's ability, but also scolding me with some choice curses. Thank you very much, Vincent! Again, it is a treat for me to edit audio that while working on fitting the sounds in this show just makes me giggle. Oh, and keep listening, everybody, for a treat after the show's closing!

Musically, I play four from Podington Bear: First, there was "Midnight Blue", like the brothers' balloon; next, "Bright White"; and finally, appropriately, "Ideas". (The fourth Podington Bear tune, "Vox Bubble Rumba", was added in the extra feature at the end of the show; I regretfully didn't mention it in the closing credits.) KMFDM backs Clark Gable bitching about radio in the opening (which I played in the middle, because why not?), and I close the show with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 share-alike, attribution, and non-commercial license.

Episode 135: Sweat the Petty Stuff

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Most of us are today packing a small, flat tech rectangle, something that provides hours of staring opportunity. Is that gadget using its microphone to betray our secret desires? I'll dip into this possibility in this Episode 135: Sweat the Petty Stuff.

In this episode, I relate two funnies and a serious from co–worker Todd. I also read from a BBC article with a surprising number of amateur grammatical mistakes contained within.

I play: Jahzzar doing "Studie I"; Lee Rosevere's appropriately named "Under Suspicion"; and Podington Bear's "Post". (I must apologize! The links to that material will take, I guess, a few days to update. The music web site is down for maintenance. I will update the music links as soon as it's back up!) KMFDM opens the show backing Tim Bousquet; and I close with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share–alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 134: The Opposite of Pride

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Broadcasting ads hither and yon is bad enough. Today, though, advertisers can target their ads. What happens when those in the crosshairs are unable to resist? Who is to blame, then, for harm? I ask that in this Episode 134: The Opposite of Pride.

In this episode, I play quite a bit from the Reveal episode "Harpooned by" Fuckbook. Go, now, if you can, and listen to that episode. Your anger will thank you. I read: from a bit from my computer quickie dictionary; and from Shoshana Zuboff's The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for A Human Future at the New Frontier of Power. I refer as well to an episode of Search Engine, which now appears defunct, sadly. Here is the only clue I could find.

Musically, I play three tunes who titles alone recommended them. First was Jahzzar's "Nightmare" (started twice), then Podington Bear's "Lip Gloss", and finally Lee Rosevere's "Intervention." I open with KMFDM backing a Mr. Ceglowski; and close with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 133: The End of the Myth

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Sometimes, things I recently read about happen in real life, giving relevance to those books I keep diving into… and more evidence that my reading (and this show) is on the right track. I share one coincidence in this Episode 133: The End of the Myth.

In this episode, I read from: Shoshana Zuboff's book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for A Human Future at the New Frontier of Power (I'll be reading that a bunch more in the near future. Promise); I also read from my computer's quickie dictionary; and I quote about the only meme anyone seems to remember from the movie Up.

Musically, I play three tunes from Podington Bear. "Samara" was woven throughout the show, just to show the thematic change points. I picked the other two tunes for their titles as well as their tunage. These titles held relevance for what information I was sharing as they played: "Gathering" backed that aha! moment for what the Searchies could do; and "Relinguish" is what we end up doing with our private information today as a result. I also played Weird Al Yankovic's version of The Brady Bunch theme. KMFDM backed Bernie Sanders in the opening, and I'm closing today with Julie and Rolf and the Campfire Gang doing "Over the Rainbow."

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 132: No, Alanis, It Really Isn't

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Dictionaries are bound to have errors. What I found surprising is how many not just dictionaries but also others defined a pretty common word so egregiously wrong. So, I try to get that definition right in this Episode 132: No, Alanis, It Really Isn't.

In this episode, I read from: a website correctly bemoaning the lack of definitional accuracy concerning the term irony; a bit of Anthony Burgess's introduction to the re-release of his novel A Clockwork Orange; a Wiki page on CPB director Ken Tomlinson; details about Bill Moyers and President Johnson, from John Nichols & Robert McChesney's Dollarocracy: How the Money and Media Election Complex is Destroying America (Nation Books, 2013); and another Wiki page on Underwriting Spots. I also related some remembered quotes and plot details without using their original sources.

I play: from the movie Reality Bites, Ethan Hawke's "definition" of irony; and from SCTV, Joe Flaherty and John Candy getting the definition right. Musically, play: the Necronomikon Quartett's "Tube Music Part IV", woven into the episode; and Lee Rosevere's short "Theme From Penguins on Parade". KMFDM backed Mark Blyth in the opening, and I'm closing now with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 131: The Keys to the Treasure

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Online advertising is now an insufferable bastard. It forces regulators to verbally suck up to those they oversee, and journalists to participate in the crimes on which they report. I share this hot ironic mess in Episode 131: The Keys to the Treasure.

In this episode, I read from: the British Information Commissioner's Office report (a PDF) titled "Update report into adtech and real time bidding"; John Patrick Leary's book Keywords: The New Language of Capitalism; and an article that discusses the ICO's report called "Behavioural advertising is out of control, warns UK watchdog". Sound-bite-wise, I play: Indigo Montoya's observation on definitional accuracy from the 1987 movie The Princess Bride; and, once again, Pee Wee Herman's observation about big buts.

Musically, I play: Podington Bear's "Forces" and "Lost and Found"; Lee Rosevere's "Quizitive"; and Omyiga's "Cripple Pigeon". KMFDM backs a new intro with a man named Maciej Ceglowski. Listener Kevin sent me that perfect sound-bite recommendation. The entirety of his talk is also worth a watch. Of course, I close with Mistle Thrush.

You can find links to all of that material at the show notes at AttackAdsPodcast.Blogspot.com. I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 130: Vermin Feed on Forgotten Trash

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If you camp, protect your food, for the woods are full of opportunists quite happy to swap their diet of bugs and berries for your candy and cold cuts. Sadly, we must do the same at home, as I explain in Episode 130: Vermin Feed on Forgotten Trash.


Grandpa's Bear Yogi
with goat, name forgotten.

In this episode, I run myself off at the mouth, relying on a recent revelation and backing it with reminiscences related to both camping and the early intertoobs. I open the show with Bruce Livesey backed by KMFDM doing "Attack", and close today with Julie & Rolf and the Campfire Gang singing "Over The Rainbow" Hawaiian style.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 129: Mined The Gap

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More forms our opinions than just what we read or hear. Habits, both social and not so much, might enlarge the chasm between us and others, a widening that may provide commercial interests an exploitative opportunity. Hence, Episode 129: Mined The Gap.

In this episode, I mostly read from: Jerry Mander's 1978 book, Four Arguments For the Elimination of Television; a bit from Tim Wu's The Attention Merchants: The Epic Struggle to Get Inside Our Heads; a bit from Upton Sinclair's 1953 book The Return of Lanny Budd; and a smaller bit from my computer's quickie dictionary. I synopsize a great Wired article on prosopagnosia called "Face Blind." I also played: just for fun, a bit of Ted Stevens' 2006 speech defining to congress what the Internet really, really is; and D. L. Myers once again provided the voice of the Powell Movement Stinger.

Musically, I played: Johnny Ripper doing (appropriately enough) "Error, Inc."; Lee Rosevere doing "Ice Chimes"; Pietnaska doing "Dahlia"; and Podington Bear doing "In My Head". KMFDM backed Henry Giroux in the opening, and I am closing once again with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

And don't forget to check out listener Kevin's new audio endeavor, "The Next Ten Billion Years: Ugo Bardi & John Michael Greer as read by Kevin Arthur Wohlmut" over at the Future Fossils Podcast!

Episode 128: Mind The Gap

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I know you're likely tired of my recent obsession with the term "stereotype;" but there is benefit to understanding that gap between our understanding of a thing and complexities inherent in the thing itself. Hence today's Episode 128: Mind The Gap.

In this episode, I read from: Arlie Russell Hochshchild's book Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning On The American Right; from my computer's quickie dictionary; from two essays by the Archdruid John Michael Greer; and from a Vox article.

Musically, I play: Lee Rosevere's "All the Answers"; Graham Bole's "We Are One"; Jahzzar's "Forgiven Not Forgotten"; and Podington Bear's "Forces". I also play some most unfortunate comments from a former candidate for political office. Mark Blyth was backed by KMFDM's "Attack" in the opening, and I'm closing now with Mistle Thrush's "It's All Like Today"

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Oh, and I'm posting on a Thursday for very special [reasons]!

Episode 127: Brand, Demand, and Target!

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Once the First World War removed the tarnished and tawdry reputation propaganda had with business, advertisers were able to expand their reach and hone their technique. I share three of their new tricks in this Episode 127: Brand, Demand, and Target!

In this episode, I read from Tim Wu's book, The Attention Merchants: The Epic Struggle to Get Inside Our Heads. To give you an inkling on how dense and thorough this book is, let me blow your mind just a bit: I have not covered any material past page 65. There's still lots more in this book to cover! And cover it I will.

I play: Sydney Greenstreet's marvelously evil character from the 1949 movie The Hucksters, expounding on the proven science of advertising; and Gilda Radner, Dan Ackroyd, and Chevy Chase from an early Saturday Night Live sketch (sadly, it seems the owners have scrubbed it from the video service between production and release). Musically, I play: Jahzzar doing (quite appropriately) "Ads", which broke up the advertising techniques three; Podington Bear doing "Dog and Pony Show" behind Molly's dirty undies; and Lee Rosevere doing "Sad Marimba Planet." KMFDM backed Henry Giroux in the opening, and I'm closing today with Julie, Rolf, and the campfire gang doing "Over the Rainbow."

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 126: Self Evidence

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To wrap this whole use of propaganda against the citizens that started in the Great War, I thought I'd share my personal journey both within and outside of the myths pounded into us through the television we watch in this Episode 126: Self Evidence.

In this episode, I read from: Tim Wu's fabulous book, The Attention Merchants: The Epic Struggle to Get Inside Our Heads; and from my computer's quickie dictionary. I further paraphrased the investigative work of Robert Parry.

I play: President Lyndon Johnson talking to Everett Dirksen concerning Tricky Dick's latest trick; and Ronald Reagan giving his inaugural speech. Musically, I play: an elevator version of "The Girl From Ipanema", made more or less famous in the movie The Blues Brothers; The Nora Bayes version of "Over There", which happens to have been the first version released; Lee Rosevere's "The Secret to Growing Up"; and Podington Bear's "Sensitive". KMFDM backed Chuck Mertz's ironic question in the opening, and you're now listening to Mistle Thrush's "It's All Like Today".

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 125: I Want You, Two

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We're still at that turning point in history in this episode, this time when one country used the proven techniques of its ally to reverse a campaign promise and involve itself in a Great War. Hence, Episode 125: I Want You, Two.


Image here. Sadly, we lost the mustache war to the Brits.

In this episode, I read from: Tim Wu's The Attention Merchants: The Epic Struggle to Get Inside Our Heads; from two articles of Columbia Magazine, published by the Washington State Historical Society; and from the Wikipedia entry on the 1917 Espionage Act. I play a bit of Pee Wee Herman from the 1985 movie Pee Wee's Big Adventure, and through the episode work the 1917 Billy Murray version of George M. Cohen's "Over There". KMFDM backs Chuck Mertz in the intro.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 124: I Want You

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Today, I explore a turning point, the historic but still fairly recent time when an English-speaking country chose not to order its citizens into battle, but to convince them to do so. The main message is this episode's title: I Want You.


Poster found here. Mustache seen everywhere.

In this episode, I share: a bit about phonics and the alphabet, detail I got from Kevin Stroud's great History of English Podcast; some detail about English nobility pronunciation-versus-spelling from Upton Sinclair's Lanny Budd novels; the Wikipedia page for Lord Herbert Kitchener; and details about Great Britain's entry into the Great War from Tim Wu's book The Attention Merchants: The Epic Struggle to Get Inside Our Heads.

I play: Lee Rosevere's tune, "The Dead Past" (the title alone seemed appropriate enough); and Enrico Caruso's version of "Over There". I open with Chuck Mertz from This Is Hell backed by KMFDM. I hope to explain why I played the Mertz introduction… later.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 123: The Fungus and Mould of The Obscenery

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At the height of their popularity, patent medicine nostrum pushers engaged in so many extreme acts of outdoor commercial vandalism the era was termed The Age of Disfigurement. I describe it in this Episode 123: The Fungus and Mould of The Obscenery.

In this episode, I read from: James Harvey Young's 1961 book, The Toadstool Millionaires: A Social History of Patent Medicines in America before Federal Regulation; the Wikipedia page for Benjamin Brandreth*; and from my quickie dictionary. I play: a bit of Daffy Duck, first from "Ali Baba Bunny", and then from "The Abominable Snow Rabbit"; and a selection from Herman Melville's Moby Dick, read by Michael Bracewell. That selection came from something called the Moby Dick Big Read, where each chapter of the book is read by a different reader.

(I just finished The Big Read series myself; it was hit and miss, depending upon the reader in question. For you fans of Benedict Cumberbatch, though, I highly recommend his reading of the chapter called "Brit"; it is the best interpretation of the series by far. Oh, and you really must hear John Waters read the chapter regarding the whale's penis: it's the chapter called "The Cassock.")

Musically, I play Jahzzar doing "b-rain". I open with KMFDM backing Clark Gable, and close with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

*I failed to mention both listener Vincent's pronunciation assistance and the Wiki page in the closing credits. I regret the omissions.

Episode 122: A Map Without Utopia

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There's a lot wrong out there, but it's not enough to simply point it out and shout, at least for me. If you insist on wandering through Wrongville, you may never get to leave if you have only this Episode 122's title: A Map Without Utopia.

In this episode, I discuss extemporaneously, without script, free style, a few discussion points, all while showing why my various first titles were just plain unacceptable. I bitch about the lack of an Internal Revenue Service pre-filing preparation service, as is common in many other countries. I groan about the Supreme Court's erosion over time of a workable definition of corruption. I wail about how the big banks, being largely silent owners of pay-day lending operations, pay to keep legislators silent about pay-day lending operations, and mention the movie Maxed Out that discusses just this. I also give a passing whine about how drug distributors made some bank by spreading the geld and redefining how much damage they could do before what they did became illegal. Finally, I quote Oscar Wilde.

I play: the Bee Gees, in reference to Bob and Brooke from On The Media; D. L. Myers, invoking the Powell Movement; and longest-time listener L33t Minion (well, longest-time voluntary listener, at least, with apologies to Bleak Nemesis for not mentioning him more often), who voiced today's "great." KMFDM and Justice John Paul Stevens give the opening, and I close once again with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 121: Good For Whatever Ails You

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Too many ads today owe their stylistic inspiration to old time pitches for patent medicines, empty exhortations promising far more than the elixirs they bottled could deliver. All that—and so much more!—in this Episode 121: Good for Whatever Ails You.


Read all about Clark Stanley!

In this episode, I read from: Tim Wu's book The Attention Merchants: The Epic Struggle to Get Inside Our Heads; and a couple of Wikipedia articles, Patent Medicines and Medicine Shows.

I play: Podington Bear's "Whiplash String Swell"; The Freak Fandango Orchestra, doing "Requiem For a Fish"; and a bit of Visciera's "Watch the Room Burst". KMFDM backs Clark Gable in the opening; and I close today with Julie and Rolf doing "Over the Rainbow."

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Bonus Episode: Propaganda, An Introduction

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Sometimes I find something that should be shared in its entirety. It helps when the author of that something is generous with the permission that makes sharing possible. Such is the case with this Bonus Episode: Propaganda, An Introduction.

I do hope Professor Miller's essay (found in this edition of Edward Bernays's 1928 book Propaganda) clears up the history of that problematic P-word for you as much as it did for me. Once again, thank you very much, Professor Mark Crispin Miller, for your permission to read it here.

Musically, I played just the intro to KMFDM's "Attack," as usual, and close the show with Mistle Thrush's "It's All Like Today." To introduce Professor Miller's essay, I played a bit of Podington Bear's "Elephants on Parade".

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 120: Call It What You Will

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You can call it propaganda, or you can call it bias, or you can call it undo pressure from funding sources involved in the topic. I call this Episode 120: Call It What You Will.

In this episode, you hear: The Real BGs, who helped me signal Bob and Brooke from On The Media; a segment of that show interviewing RT Host Abby Martin from March of 2014; a bit from the very short-lived Dana Carvey Show; Jaron Lanier, once again, from his Waking Up Podcast interview; excerpts from the first two installments of the New York Times video Operation Infektion; and D. L. Myers intoning the Powell Movement Stinger.

I read from: my quickie dictionary; the introduction to Jacques Ellul's book Propaganda; and James Piereson's quote, which I found in Jane Mayer's book Dark Money.

Musically, I play: two from Jahzzar, first "Lemonade" and then "Dial". I open the show with KMFDM backing Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens reading his dissent on the Citizens United, Not Timid decision; and I'm close with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my shows under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 119: My Filter Bubble of Vindication

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Plunging blindly ahead without due regard is one way to do something. A New Year, though, provides a convenient calendar-triggered pause, where one can look back and make sure goals have not been completely abandoned or forgotten. Hence, Episode 119: My Filter Bubble of Vindication.

In this episode, I read from: Eli Pariser's wonderful book, The Filter Bubble:What the Internet Is Hiding From You; A Guardian article on the effects online entities are having on journalism; Now I Know's article on television ads getting sped up even more; a New York Post article on ads in for-hire cars; Chad Hill's comments on a recent episode; and Jerry Mander's also-wonderful book, Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television.

Sound snippet-wise I play: D. L. Myers voicing the Powell Movement stinger; Lili Tomlin's character Ernestine the Operator; and Ronald Reagan's character the Outgoing President. I also snippetize 100% Chevalier's tune "Ghana Ghana" into the segment breaks. A snippet of KMFDM's "Attack" backs a snippet of wisdom from Dmitri Orlov in the opening, and I'm close the show with the final snippet of Mistle Thrush's "It's All Like Today".

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 118: ¡Feces Navidad!

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In one part of the world, at least, the phrase "getting good shit for Xmas" is taken more literally than in others. For a fun look at this region, one intended as levity for what December 25th can bring, I offer the gift of Episode 118: ¡Feces Navidad!

In this episode, I play: The Vince Guaraldi Trio doing "Skating;" and a tune I yanked from the internets.


Holiday Pooping: It's a Catalonian tradition!

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

With that, I wish you all warm and fecund holiday feelings and memories… freshly pinched, and conically presented in a spiral!

Episode 117: Can You Hear Me Now?

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It’s not coincidental that the most irritating advertising arose only after machines increased audiences. Broadcasting and amplification beyond the range of a single voice likewise allowed today’s aural effluent. Hence, Episode 117: Can You Hear Me Now?

In this episode, I read from Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, specifically a section I found quoted in Brooke Allen's book, Immoral Minority: Our Skeptical Founding Fathers.


What's Missing in This Picture?

Sound-bite-wise, I play: William Jennings Bryan's close to his famous 1896 nomination speech; and Alexander Graham Bell saying his name. I revisited both the 1947 movie The Hucksters and the 1950 television production featuring Spike Jones and his City Slickers Orchestra, pulling out of them some classic ads for both now-defunct and wholly-fictional soapy stuff.

To break things up just a bit, I played Lee Rosevere's "Ingenuity" (well, at least snippets of it). I opened with Clark Gable's character Vic Norman bitching about ads while backed by KMFDM; I'm closing the show with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike and non-commercial license.

Episode 116: Gates & Gatekeepers

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The more I dive into media history, the more I find that surprises. For example, did you know there was at one time a chain of theaters that didn't charge for admission? It's a mulling topic for me on this Episode 116: Gates & Gatekeepers.

In this episode, I read once again from Tim Wu's The Attention Merchants: The Epic Struggle To Get Inside Our Heads. As I mentioned, it was a strange, throw-away line from that book, but it got me to thinking, which is a good thing for a book to do.

Musically, I played: Podington Bear doing "Senseless" in its entirety; and snippets from Jahzzar's "Breaking Bad" and Podington Bear's "Forces". KMFDM's "Attack" backed Bernie Sanders in the intro, and I'm closing once again with Mistle Thrush's "It's All Like Today.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 115: With This Pin I Stitch Some Dumb

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Just when you get a good thing going, someone comes along and moves to wreck it. Why? Merely because it doesn't make nearly as much money as it could. Like the witches in the Scottish Play, I show one such player in this Episode 115: With This Pin I Stitch Some Dumb.

In this episode, I play: Brooke Gladstone, trolling for donors; a couple of the commercials Brooke would rather call something else entirely; and Jaron Lanier, interviewed on Sam Harris' podcast Waking Up. I read from one or two web pages for the podcast streamer Stitcher.

Musically, I played: Mudlark, doing "fine ointment"; and Podington Bear, doing "Dimlight." KMFDM backed Chuck Mertz in the intro; and Julie and Rolf sing us out around the campfire and Over the Rainbow.

I'm releasing this and all my shows under a Creative Commons 4.0 share-alike, attribution, and non-commercial license.

Episode 114: Coffee and Water Everywhere

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It's time to once again let my gums flap without a script to guide them. I've done that before; all I need is sufficient anger. In this case the outrage source is the idea that some people are better than others, that because of their circumstances, they prove able to get stuff for "free" that others are denied, even when those others have the cash to pony up for whatever those entitled offerings might be. This is a class-based distinction, and so far too few seem to be sufficiently outraged at the ever-increasing instances of it popping up here and there. I thought I would help spread my outrage in this Episode 114: Coffee and Water Everywhere.

I was inspired/enraged by an NPR article from September 29, 2018, titled "No Cash Needed At This Cafe. Students Pay The Tab With Their Personal Data." I know, right!?

I also play: a dictionary definition from my computer; Martin Luther King, Jr. opening the show with KMFDM backing; and the primary show closer, Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Special Announcement: The Cherry on My Crap Mondae

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'Nuff said.

Addendum: Never mind. It was a fishing attempt. It's amazing what 2 hours of sleep and a really crappy day will do to one's brain, though. Ah, fatigue!

That said, I'm going to leave this snippet up just because it jives nicely with a topic I've been mulling about for some time now. Having this snippet will kick-start me into turning that snippet into a full-blown episode.

Thanks for your attention. Carry on.

—Jim

Episode 113: Drab Walls Dance… With Ads

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Once again, I focus my attention on an inflection point, a moment in history when a technological improvement allows manufacturers to apply that tech in a new and previously impossible way. Today's technology is the color poster that, when introduced, made Episode 113: Drab Walls Dance With Ads.


More Chéret! More!

In this episode, I read extensively once again from Tim Wu's 2016 book The Attention Merchants: The Epic Struggle to Get Inside Our Heads. Musically, I play: Graham Bole's "Sunset at Goat Fell"; Lee Rosevere's "What's Behind The Door"; and Podington Bear's "Submerging Blue-Black". KMFDM backs Clark Gable in the opening. I close the show once again with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Special help came today from listener Vincent who gave me much needed assistance with the French language. In the course of editing a show together, I have seldom had as much opportunity to just… giggle. Thank you, Vincent! Your contribution was perfect!

Episode 112: Ragged Dick, Right Here

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Ever wonder why a book was published? Ever since I saddled up and started riding this hobby horse of mine, this podcastic obsession I have with advertising and its deleterious effects, that's a question I can never not ask. I ask it again in Episode 112: Ragged Dick, Right Here, the conclusion to my deep-ish dive into author and cultural dog whistle Horatio Alger.

In this episode, I read pretty extensively from the introduction to Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick, at least from a more modern printing of that book (Horatio Alger, Ragged Dick and Mark, The Match Boy: Two Novels by Horatio Alger, The MacMillan Company, 1962). I think Rychard Fink used Ragged Dick to do his bestest to help thwart the leftist tendencies rising in his time. I also read: from Ragged Dick itself; and from a Politico article concerning the real reason behind the Little House books, an article I highly recommend you read yourself.

Musically, I play: Turmoil's "The World Is A Toilet"; and Podington Bear's "Ideas." KMFDM backs Bernie in the intro, and I close the show with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 111: I've Got Your Ragged Dick

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People have been describing the ascendence of busy business mucky-mucks from poverty to power for over a century as those that lead a Horatio Alger life. The trouble is, I'm willing to bet that precious few of these people so quick to throw out their easy descriptor have ever actually read a Horatio Alger book. Let's correct that in this Episode 111: I've Got Your Ragged Dick.

In this episode, I read from: Horatio Alger's 1867 book Ragged Dick; and from my computer's quickie dictionary. I also gave some plot examples from Upton Sinclair's Lanny Budd series, at least that portion I've read.

Musically, I played Jahzzar's "Storyteller." KMFDM opened the show backing Burlington Mayor Bernie Sanders; and I'm closing the show today with Mistle Thrush's "It's All Like Today."

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 110: Head Banging

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Alas, another diversion from the promised path, this one in a new form! Curious about how best the future of podcasting should proceed money-wise, I consult someone far more expert than I in making podcasting pay, if only a little: KMO of the C-Realm Podcast & Radio, and most recently the GEBB.IO web comic. KMO and I put our heads together for a bit of what I'm calling Episode 110: Head Banging.

I open the show with Henry Giroux backed by KMFDM; and I close with Mistle Thrush.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 109: Casserole

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Sometimes leftovers happen. Why waste a perfectly good ingredient or two or three or seven just because there isn't enough of any one for a meal? Time to toss with pasta, bake, and serve up these perfectly tasty but two-year-old ingredients in Episode 109: Casserole.


Fun story behind these….

In this episode, I read from some old newspapers concerning their opinion of Col. Blethen; D. L. Myers reads the poem "All Is Well" by an Anonymous author from 1912, the poem found in Upton Sinclair's 1923 book The Goose-Step, which reprinted it; and from the depositions of Monica Lewinski.



(I don't remember which ones or where I found them online two years ago. I do remember it was a hell of a hunt for the poorly scanned gif images of the deposition papers without a hint of optical character digitization.)

Musically, I play tiny, tiny bits of: Lee Rosevere's "Thinking It Over"; Jupiter Makes Me Scream's "Shine, Shine, Shine!"; and Pietnaska's "Noakowski." Podington Bear backs the Blethen Chimes poem with "Feldspar"; KMFDM backs Mark Blyth; and Mistle Thrush backs me in the close.

I'm releasing this and all my episodes under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.

Episode 108: Day Breaks

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Well, advertising haters, I think I've finally located the source of the scourge that plagues us: the man who invented the business plan that spawned almost wholly advertising-supported news! I'll tell you all about him in this Episode 108: Day Breaks.

In this episode, I read first from Clive Thompson's Smithsonian article, "Tweet All About It: From 'user-generated content' to political screeds, the future of news happens to look a lot like the past" (from the Smithsonian, Volume 47, Number 2, May, 2016, pp. 43-49), and from the book Beyond News: The Future of Journalism by Mitchell Stephens, who was a major source for Thompson's article. Then I had to read from a whole bunch of websites on printing press history to correct Mitchell Stephens and, by extension, Clive Thompson. I also both read from and play Tim Wu talking about his book The Attention Merchants, which was appropriate because he was the one to turn me on to how both Thompson and Stephens were wrong, wrong, wrong.

Musically, I play Podington Bear's "Nocturnal", Turmoil's "Intestinal Parasite Contamination", and Jahzzar's "Dip". I open as usual with KMFDM, today backing Jan Wong, and I close with Julie and Rolf.

I'm releasing this and all my shows under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution, share-alike, and non-commercial license.