Episode 8: The Buck Starts Here

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With Episode 8: The Buck Starts Here, I hope to blow a few minds with a tidbit of information about the functioning of our capitalist system . . . some have said the core function that defines capitalism itself. What's more than a little surprising to me, at least, is the fact that one can find this bit of simple—nay, fundamental, even trivial information if one knows where to look; but without that bit of guidance, the search for how money works has become so completely obscured as to sound down right esoteric if not ludicrous. Could it be that commercial forces have decided to obfuscate this fact? I think so.

Some places to look for this information could be (but are far from limited to) certain episodes of the C-Realm Podcast where I found the source material for the audio montage heard in the middle of Episode 8. In order of appearance on the C-Realm, we find in the montage Ellen H. Brown (from #102: A Vocabulary of Control), John Michael Greer (from #262: Assume the Can is Open), Thomas H. Greco (from #265: Legal Tender and the Credit Clearing Function), Dmitri Orlov and Richard Heinberg (from #266: A Black Hole of Debt), and Charles Eisenstein (from #272: Emperor of What). Doug Lain has not articulated the tidbit himself as far as I am aware, but I included his voice as well (from #269: A Better Laugh Track).

If these voices are not enough, I could also provide a reading list from books these guests have written on this very subject. I intend to speak on this topic in future episodes, though, and have half a mind to read from these books as support for said episodes, so just stay tuned to this RSS feed.

Ably backing those worthy voices was "Servant Eye" by Ga'an.

Jan Wong's voice in the new Journalism Intro comes from Jesse Brown's Canadaland podcast (episode 32: "Jan Wong Isn't Over It").

And finally, many thanks to John McKenna for his kind permission to share with you his song, "Mayfly." I would share a link to more of his work; but modest man that he is, he didn't provide any. If you'd like to comment on this song, be it in praise or in pan, leave such commentary in the show notes and I'll make sure to pass it along to the artist.

Episode 7: Longer, Slower, Uncut

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In Episode 7, Longer, Slower, Uncut, I consider what some call Slow Television, content that refuses to be contained in limited time slots and constrained by the manic and incessant pace of commercial advertising. Really, in a digital cable television reality, why shouldn't someone have a channel that shows nothing but puppies frolicking, sleeping, eating, and all without commercial interruption?

Seriously. Why not?

Supporting content and inspirational material from This American Life episode #233, "Starting From Scratch", featuring the story "Puppy Love"; from On The Media's episode "I Want My Slow TV!"; and from Stephen Fry's Podgrams, Series 2, Episode 4, iTunes Live Festival.

Brief music selection by Ludwig von Beethoven, Fifth Symphony. First musical interlude from Charles Atlas, "Signal Flags". Closing interlude music from Omyiga, "Hypnogogia".

Oh, and for those that want a feed instead of individual downloads, plug http://attackads.libsyn.com/rss into your feed gatherer. Lemme know in the comments section if there are problems. Once Certain Quite Major and Unavoidable Family Problems are better resolved, I'll have more time to smooth the bugs out of the more popular feed portals; but not until then, I'm afraid.

Episode 6: We, Branded Bipedal Billboards

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In Episode 6: We, Branded Bipedal Billboards, I muse on the tribal drives that cause us to join with others in supporting certain endeavors, and note how this tribal drive is often hijacked by those with a pecuniary interest and used as a means of spreading commercial messages through our very outerwear, sometimes without our notice.

Early music, "The World is a Toilet" from Turmoil.

Closing music from Lee Rosevere, "Dreaming is a Private Thing."

A very short opening snippet from Wagner's opera "Sigfried" can also be heard.

Episode 5: Freak Show Porn

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In Episode 5: Freak Show Porn, we consider people like Jeff Yeager, an author who celebrates his life as a cheapskate. For those suffering personally in this economic downturn, Mr. Yeager's advice can help greatly. Good luck getting it, though, especially on our commercially funded media, at least without an unnecessary filter of denigrations and distortions that make Jeff—and people like him—look like freaks.

Intro: The opening sequence from the 1932 movie "Freaks".

Closing music: "Ode To A Baby Snowstorm" by Ghostly Dust Machine.

Episode 4: Tools and Their Boxes

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Episode 4: Tools and Their Boxes Concerns what happens when advertising dogma creeps into civic life. We've seen all too much of this corruption of our common spaces, what with our stadia and arenas branded not by the names of their builders as was traditional, but with names reflecting whomever bid the highest on the name and only the name, leaving the bulk of construction and maintenance for someone else to worry about.

Sadly, it could be—and might just become—quite a bit worse. In this episode, I examine one such so far failed attempt shove commercial branding onto my home state's transportation infrastructure, and my dream esprit de escalier response to the committee who proposed it.

Bear in mind, folks, that this bill was reintroduced without amendment in January of 2014. Head here to follow its "progress." If they dare reopen public comment, I will be there.

Other voices from the record of the House Transportation Committee from Tuesday, January 22, 2013.

Music backing my rebuttal speech: "Bomb Run" from the Dr. Strangelove soundtrack, and the unforgettable conclusion to Leonard Nimoy's extraordinary rendition of "If I Had A Hammer."

PS. This episode was recorded before Mr. Adams' unlikely scenario involving a fictional Johnny actually played out, at least in part. I was somewhat surprised at that.

Episode 3: The Drapes Must Not Clash!

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With Episode 3: The Drapes Must Not Clash!, I introduce an analogy and what I hope to be a running theme within the podcast: media content and styles that conflict with the advertising funding mechanism, themes and modalities that therefore are marginalized, dismissed or outright ignored. How many are shunned might surprise!

Middle orchestral music: "Le Petite Jardin" with Les Gauchers Orchestra by Lee Maddeford. Also squeezed in there is "Piggies" by the Beattles.

Closing tunage: the finale to "It's All Like Today" by the fabulous band Mistle Thrush. Really, I'd love this band even if my wife's cousin wasn't the base player!

Episode 2: Conslicked of Interest

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Episode 2: Conslicked of Interest concerns a recent scandal from Canada. When people who report the news also make money from the people who are often discussed in the news, shouldn't the reporters admit as much and disclose this possible conflict of interest? A growing number of people in Canadian media think so, especially after Jesse Brown of the Canadaland podcast broke the story. This, of course, raises another interesting question . . . which I'll save for listeners.

The Canadaland episodes in question: Rex Murphy is Paid by the Oil Sands and the CBC Won’t Disclose or Discuss it, followed by Jonathan Kay Defends Rex Murphy, followed by the triumphant Mansbridge's Oil Pay Makes the News. I excerpt a bit from each for the show.

I read from this article regarding the danger automobiles pose to children.

Middle Music: Wurliztraction, "The Manitoba Sprat Cat".

Closing tunage: Omyiga, "Skip the Happy Ending".

I apologize for the late release of this episode of Attack Ads!, due to a technical issue. Technically, yesterday I forgot to release it.

Episode 1: Smelling the Wet Dog

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In Episode 1: "Smelling the Wet Dog", I introduce the concept and motivation behind this project. Let my affliction guide my conviction!

Intro: music from "Attak-Reload" by KMFDM with pithy voice observations made by Dmitri Orlov on The Extraenvironmentalist Podcast.

Middle music, "Ember" by Podington Bear.

Closing Music "Chasmeaon" by Ga'an.