Episode 255: Reasoning & Irrationality

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We humans are funny critters, with loves and hatreds and outright loathings that too often bear no real resemblance to any cogent rationality. Yet it's all we've got. I explore this in Episode 255: Reasoning & Irrationality.

In this episode, I read from: A Seattle Times article on a movie about the old Rainier ads; and Steven Johnson's book, The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic—and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World.

I play: a bit of the trailer for the 1932 movie Freaks; Lord David Puttnam's TED Talk about the media's duty of care; and Pee Wee Herman commenting on large exceptions. Musically, KMFDM backs Mr. Ceglowski in the intro; and I close today with Julie & Rolf & The Campfire Gang doing "Over the Rainbow".

Episode 254: It Can't Happen Here

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Not since the late 1800s has America elected a president twice out of order. Should we worry? Or should we worry about the moneyed forces behind our former president? I explore context everyone should know in this Episode 254: It Can't Happen Here.

On this episode, I read from and referenced: an article from the November, 2023 issue of Smithsonian Magazine; Sinclair Lewis' book It Can't Happen Here; two Wikipedia entries on the fasces and the Business Plot; selections from Upton Sinclair's Lanny Budd series of novels; Jules Archer's book The Plot to Seize the White House; Sally Denton's book The Plots Against the President: FDR, a Nation in Crisis, and the Rise of the American Right; and Chuck Collin's book The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions.


Smedley Butler addresses the Bonus Marchers, 1932.

I play: two newsreels featuring Smedley Butler. Musically, I play Jazzhar's "Books" at the end. Henry Giroux opens the show backed by KMFDM; and I close today with Julie & Rolf & The Campfire Gang doing "Over the Rainbow".

PS: Fun fact: almost completely coincidentally, I will release this episode exactly 90 years to the day of the last day of testimony of the United States House of Representatives Special Committee on Un-American Activities hearings held in New York City. Is that neat or what?!

Episode 253: SaaSsy Pirates Say ARR

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While lots of opinion page ink has been spilled over ASOLs making our lives unpredictable, no one, it seems, has taken the time to think of a good reason why. I explore one both possible and likely reason in this Episode 253: SaaSsy Pirates Say ARR.

In this episode, I read from: Matt Stoller's Big article "Lina Khan verses Planet Fitness"; and Ed Zitron's Where Your Ed's At article "The Next Bubble?" I recount from memory my buddy's time as a professional using various incarnations of hard- and software.

I play: a new intro with Cory Doctorow recorded at the latest DEF CON bashing the biggest maker of office software, all while backed by KMFDM's "Attak." I close now with Julie & Rolf & The Campfire Gang doing "Over the Rainbow".

Episode 252: Stupid ASOLs

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When something is new, its very introduction can cause friction, even havoc. People always wonder how good or bad things could get. In this Episode 252, I offer a bit disjointed ranting on the business end of Large Language Models, or Stupid ASOLs.

In this Episode, I read from: a blog post from an Italian computer scientist concerning her term for ASOLs, SALAMI; and Ed Zitron's article called "The Subprime AI Crisis". I recalled from my 15 years as a professional mariner some details about poop decks and heads, so you would know the difference. (I also mentioned briefly a Reuters article concerning the restart of Three Mile Island, but neglected to mention this in the wrap-up at the end. I apologize for my oversight.)

I played: the ASOL-created "podcast" piece of shit Dr. Kristen Stuppy whipped up.

Musically, I opened with a new intro featuring ASOL-concerned journalist John Herrman backed by KMFDM. I'm closing today with Mistle Thrush.

Episode 251: Let There Be Some Light

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In looking into sources of private propaganda, I am constantly struck on how far back it goes. Today I go back a hundred years to a time when the private electrical power industry was insisting on the title to this Episode 251: Let There Be Some Light.

In this episode, I read from: Jane Brox's book Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light; Chuck Collins' book, The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions; Naomi Oreskes and Eric M. Conway's book, The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us To Loathe Government and Love the Free Market; and an article from the magazine Home Power (issue #27, Feb/Mar 1992, p. 14, author Mike Sagrillo; sorry, I forgot to jot down the title of the article) on how those old home wind turbine and battery systems were put out of commission.

I play: the voice of D. L. Myers invoking the Powell Movement Stinger. Henry Giroux opens the show backed by KMFDM; and I close today with Julie & Rolf & The Campfire Gang doing "Over the Rainbow".

A quick note: I had several pics of advertising the wind turbines I mention at the close of the show. Not only are none of them live links (no surprise there) but a quick search for them has turned up bupkis. I am both perplexed… and conspiratorially minded to think that powered forces are out to erase that historic link. Maybe I should go to bed instead. If you turn up pics of these 1920s wind turbines, please drop a line in the comments below.

Episode 250: Addiction Through Engagement

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In business, simply maintaining the same level of profitability every year is regarded as failing; one must grow to thrive. But what if the product design is clearly dangerous to use? I explore this reality in Episode 250: Addiction Through Engagement.

In this episode, I read from: Ian Bogost's 2021 Atlantic article "People Aren't Meant to Talk This Much;" Shoshana Zuboff's book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight For a Human Future At The New Frontier of Power; Jessie Singer's book There Are No Accidents: Who Profits and Who Pays the Price; and my computer's quickie dictionary.

Musically, I play: KMFDM backing Tristan Harris talking about what the tech companies are really doing in the opening. I close today with Mistle Thrush.

Episode 249: Advertising Makes You Fat

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We see slim and slender people all the time, every day… even when none walk among us. This screws with our brains in ways most of us never consider for a second. The bottom line for this phenomenon is the title of Episode 249: Advertising Makes You Fat.

In this episode, I recalled the rough points outlined by Philosophers Bishop Berkeley and Kate Manne, the latter from her interview on This Is Hell! I also recalled as best I could details from an article whose source and title are long forgotten. (I know, I shouldn't do this. I should cite my sources, or not even mention them. Good thing I'm not in academia, ain't it?)

I actually read from: the highlights page for Kate Manne's interview; and Will Storr's book The Status Game: On Human Life and How To Play It.

Musically, I play someone named Jimi Jameson singing "I'm Always Here", which was the opening theme to all but the first season of Baywatch. Mark Blyth introduces the show backed by KMFDM's "Attak", and I close today with Julie & Rolf & The Campfire Gang doing "Over The Rainbow".

Episode 248: More Reasons For Real Worry

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All too often today the forces driving the changes that increase suffering are hidden, unavailable for us to adequately understand, let alone change. Matt Stoller delivers yet another industry machination in this Episode 248: More Reasons For Real Worry.

In this episode, I read from: Matt Stoller's article titled "It’s the Land, Stupid: How the Homebuilder Cartel Drives High Housing Prices." Beyond his primer on Georgist economic theory, it's yet another great tip off that something very fishy is happening beyond what the commercial news blatherers are claiming.

Musically, I play: Podington Bear doing "That's Alright". Matt Stoller himself opens the show backed by KMFDM, and I close today with Mistle Thrush.

A Tiny But Exciting Update

Hey, Dear Listeners. Jim here, begging your indulgence for yet another late episode.

I had a show in the scripting phase, only to realize it was concerning a topic I not only already covered, but covered quite recently. Hey, at least I didn't give this one a name I've used before! (Actually, I used a name I thought was brilliant; it turns out that was because I had used the title's exact turn of phrase in the episode that already covered the topic. At least I'm predictable!)

Not to worry. I just found the perfect topic, a new-ish one that should wow and amaze you, and am right now in the process of transcribing the book notes as fast as my typey fingers can plop and flop on the keys.

Later!


—Jim, your Ad Attacker

Episode 247: Swinging the Hammer of Demonetization

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How communities deal with bad behavior should be an ongoing debate. Private companies, though, today use “community standards” to steal both platforms and the cash they deliver. Hence, Episode 247: Swinging the Hammer of Demonetization.

In this episode, I read from: Joseph Bernstein's Harper's magazine article "Bad News: Selling the Story of Disinformation"; and from comments to a Veritasium video called "The Man Who Killed Millions and Saved Billions ('Clean' Version)" (yes, I scare-quoted "clean;" you'll find out why.) I recount from memory some details from the Vaclav Smil book Enriching the Earth: Fritz Haber, Carl Bosch, and the Transformation of World Food Production.

I play: Ted Stevens explaining the internet; Veritasium's host explaining the necessity of reposting his video; Pee Wee Herman's observations about large posteriors; and President Eisenhower warning of what the nation should resist. Matt Stoller opens the show backed by KMFDM's "Attak", and I close with Julie & Rolf & The Campfire Gang doing "Over the Rainbow".

Episode 246: Why The Rent Is Too Damned High

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Most people today feel they have can choose from whichever experts best confirm their own deeply-seated beliefs. Sadly, this is wrong, and to understand how wrong, I try to answer the question of Episode 246: Why The Rent Is Too Damned High.

In this episode, I read from: two articles from The American Prospect magazine. I also paraphrased a notable quote from Whitelaw Reid, one dating back to 1875, and one that should be forever repeated. By everyone.

I play: a quote about economics that appeared on the short-lived television cartoon version of Dilbert.

Musically, I play: KMFDM backing Cory Doctorow opining about the breakdown of societal norms concerning experts. I close with Mistle Thrush.

Episode 245: Don't Trust Mainstream Media

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Too many grapple today with common but un- or poorly-defined terms, especially "mainstream." What is mainstream? When it comes to mainstream news, I've got a simple suggestion, which I give you in this Episode 245: Don't Trust Mainstream Media.

In this episode, I read from: Tim Wu's book The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads; Upton Sinclair's book The Brass Check: A Study of American Journalism; Robert W. McChesney and Ben Scott's 2004 book Our Unfree Press: 100 years of Radical Media Criticism; and Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols 2010 book, The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again.

I played: Matt Taibbi from the November 30, 2022 Munk Debate; and Jeffry Dvorkin from his appearance on the podcast Canadaland. Musically, Bernie Sanders opened the show backed by KMFDM; and I'm closing today with Mistle Thrush.

Episode 244: Adam Smith's Invisible Handjob

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All political philosophy is propaganda, an attempt to describe both the way things are and proscribe the way things should be. Let me give you an example written over a quarter of a millennia ago in this Episode 244: Adam Smith's Invisible Handjob.

In this episode, I read from: David Graeber's book, Debt: The First 5,000 Years; from Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments; from Brian Merchant's Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech; and from my quickie dictionary.

I play: a new intro featuring Douglas Rushkoff in the opening, noting that tech giants of every age do not do the things they do in a complete vacuum devoid of other people, backed as usual by KMFDM. I close the show with Julie & Rolf and the Campfire Gang doing "Over the Rainbow".

(Also, I played but neglected to mention two audio snippets, the first from the short-lived television cartoon Dilbert; and the second from then Senator Ted Stevens "describing" the inter-tubes. I also neglected Podington Bear's musical backing provided by a tune called "Quatrefoil". I forgot to mention those bits in the audio credits. Oops. Sorry.)

Episode 243: FOB Dear George

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It's inevitable. One day, you’ll find a writer who doesn't agree with a topic you wholeheartedly embrace enough to snidely attack it and distort the facts. There goes your remaining trust. I cover this in an open letter called Episode 243: FOB Dear George.

In this episode, I read from: George Monbiot's 2022 book Regenesis: Feeding the World Without Devouring the Planet; my computer's Quickie Dictionary; and an article about a farmer in Illinois heating his chicken CAFOs with poop.

Musically, I play a brand-new introduction with Tony Brasunas and backed by KMFDM; and I end today with Julie & Rolf & all the others in the Campfire Gang doing "Over the Rainbow" as they joyously shave years off their lives by choking on the methane, nitrous oxide and black carbon around that evil, evil campfire. (Damn, I miss that campfire. Thanks, CoVID.)

Episode 242: The Art and Craft of Resublimation

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Advertisers have been stealing good ideas for years and using them to crassly push their products. It's only fair, then, that we mock those ads, perhaps enough to destroy their sales effectiveness. Hence, Episode 242: The Art and Craft of Resublimation.

In this episode, I read from: Tom Wolfe's 1968 book, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, which I recounted (probably incorrectly) from memory; my Quickie Computer Dictionary; and Tim Wu's book The Attention Merchants: The Epic Struggle to Get Inside Our Heads. Just a few more Wu's Attention Merchant episodes, and I'll be caught up with Wu's tale.

I played: Marshall McLuhan from the movie Annie Hall criticizing some jerk in a movie line; and Timothy Leary's famous "turn on" slogan.


Now this is subversive resumblimation!



Musically, I blasted you with several versions of a tune that dominated the seventies. Here's a link to the song's Wiki page so you can untangle the many versions and see how long each stayed on the charts. Mr. Ceglowski opens the show backed by KMFDM, and I close with the New Seekers doing their version.

Episode 241: TANA, ATU Edition

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In my last episode, I questioned use of the word "accidents," which take focus away from the hazards that cause them. Why? Because hazards can be fixed. I'll give you some real-world examples of good places to start in this Episode 241: TANA, ATU Edition.

In this episode, I once again read from Jessie Singer's book, There Are No Accidents: The Deadly rise of Injury and Disaster——Who Profits and Who Pays the Price. I also read from a report from Fat Pencil Studio, the computer experts hired to create the footage demonstrating the visibility obstructions in the 2010 Portland bus accident.

Musically, I played a new intro from Jesse Richardson backed, as usual, by KMFDM. I'm closing today with Mistle Thrush.

Ten Freakin' Years!

This very short episode is merely a brief calendrical announcement and celebration. Enjoy.

Episode 240: There Are No Accidents

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For too long, the question of what is “safe”—and who should take the blame when it isn't—has been muddled in the name of profits. Maybe we should avoid the word “accident” itself. I'll explore that question in this Episode 240: There Are No Accidents.

In this Episode, I read from Jessie Singer's 2022 book, There Are No Accidents: The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster——Who Profits and Who Pays the Price. Seriously. I highly encourage anyone out there to check out this book. It's not perfect——no book is——but it does explore in detail how badly moneyed interests have misinformed us about who should take the blame.

Musically, I play: a lick from the classic banjo soundtrack to the movie Deliverance; and the nineteenth-century chorus from the worker-rights song "Eight Hours," as sung by Cincinnati's University Singers from the 1978 album The Hand That Holds The Bread: Progress and Protest in the Gilded Age; Songs from the Civil War to the Columbian Exposition. KMFDM's "Attack" backs Bruce Livesy in the intro; and I close with Mistle Thrush.

Episode 239: What I Do With The Mad That I Feel

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My show is reactive: things happen, and I react to them. This happened recently when the number and tone of commercials in my podcast feed spiked. I cover this and speculate on why it happened in this Episode 239: What I Do With The Mad That I Feel.

In this episode, I read from J. C. McQuiston's letter concerning radio advertising from the August, 1922 issue of Radio News called "Advertising by Radio. Can It and Should It Be Done?"

I played: two episodes of On The Media, one from November 3rd and the other from November 10th. (Keep in mind that if you go to the links and listen for the same ads I excerpted, you probably won't find them, simply because ads are inserted dynamically, and mine date back to the original releases.) I also played Mr. Fred Rogers testifying before congress in 1969.

Musically, I played: some incidental music from the old radio drama Dragnet; and Podington Bear doing "In My Head". KMFDM's "Attack" backed Tim Bousquet in the opening, and I'm closing now with Mistle Thrush's close to "It's All Like Today".

Episode 238: The Third Estate Rising

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Politics in America comes down to the DEMs vs. the GOPs, right? One represents wealth, and the other claims the hearts of regular people, right? Well, it’s more complicated. I'll explore this complicatedness in this Episode 238: The Third Estate Rising.

In this episode, I read from: a 2018 RAND Corporation paper titled "Truth Decay: An Initial Exploration of the Diminishing Role of Facts and Analysis in American Public Life"; William Rosen's 2010 book, The Most Powerful Idea in the World: A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention; Joel Kotkin's 2020 book, The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class. I shared from memory the origin of the word "churl," something I got from The History of English Podcast.


An image from the James Galbraith article mentioned below.

I also shared a James Galbraith article, "Inequality and the 2016 Election Outcome: A Dirty Secret and a Dilemma."

I played: Jimmy Fallon and his band backing and slow jamming the neoliberal utterances of Barack Obama. KMFDM backed an opening with Martin Luther King, Jr. in honor of Black History Month, and I'm closing today with Julie & Rolf & The Campfire Gang doing "Over the Rainbow".

Episode 237: Spare Me The EULAgee!

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We all suspect our devices are increasingly using their microphones and cameras to snoop on us. Over the years, I’ve explored that suspicion. I’ll go over some of that history, and finish with some news, in this Episode 237: Spare Me The EULAgee!

In this episode, I read from: Dr. Beet's blog and others who continued the outrage; Shoshanna Zuboff's book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight For a Human Future At The New Frontier of Power; one article from The Daily Beast, two articles from Gigaom, and two more from 404 Media; a Fruitie web page; and a page stored in the Internet Archive.

I played: smart tv owner Peter Kent interviewed by the BBC; quickly deleted audio from a smart tv maker's web site; On The Media's Brooke Gladstone interviewing Congressman Walter Jones; someone named Brie Thomason introducing a video showing infrared flashes; and The CBS Evening News trying to discredit the myth that phones listen in. KMFDM opened the show with Shoshana Zuboff; and I'm closing today with Mistle Thrush.

Episode 236: Madison's Farcical Tragedy

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I introduce a new word in this episode more to point out that it does not represent a new concept, but rather a very old one. The problem of controlling this recent outbreak due to an old story is the topic of this Episode 236: Madison's Farcical Tragedy.

In this episode, I read from: a transcript for a speech given by danah boyd on agnotology; Robert McChesney and John Nichols' 2013 book, Dollarocracy: How the Money and Media Election Complex is Destroying America; and Robert McChesney's also 2013 book Digital Disconnect: How Capitalism is Turning The Internet Against Democracy.

I played: Brooke Gladstone from On The Media interviewing Brian Stelter; David Simon giving testimony to Congress about the collapse of newspapers; and D. L. Myers invoking the haunting Powell Movement Stinger. Musically, KMFDM backed Jesse Richardson in a new opening segment concerning the best and worst of we humans; and I'm closing today with Julie & Rolf & The Campfire Gang doing "Over the Rainbow".

Addendum, February 11, 2024: It has quite recently come to my attention that I am, as was once pointed out to me in friendly correspondence, dumber than dried dog shit. Near the end of this episode, I promised a link to a radio thing that kinda sorta confirmed suspicions I voiced in this episode.

I forgot to provide the link. Hence, I am that dumb. Dried dog shit dumb.

Here's the link to that Here & Now story as previously promised.