Fredericks MIND Thing

According to the Cambridge Dictionary madness is defined as “stupid or dangerous behaviour” and one doesn't need to look too hard to see it all around us. From destroying our natural environment, ignoring the negative effects of human behavior on the climate, to allowing a congenital liar in an obvious state of intellectual decline to have a chance of returning to an office he incited violence in order to avoid vacating previously, the list seems endless.  Living in a society where nominating and electing cowards and criminals to higher office is a common occurrence is nearly enough to drive a sane person to despair. It is important to remember that the mad and the stupid are not the majority. They are loud and flamboyant and the media tends to give them a disproportionate amount of attention. The sane and the sensible are the majority in this country. If we can avoid despairing and remain focused and motivated we can as a country overcome the serious threat of antidemocratic authoritarianism. Let us not forget to hope, nurture, and laugh.  Especially to laugh at the madness and stupidity and carry on.   Nietzsche on the madness of crowds,        Sea of Madness,    Insanity is a great virus,     Rachel Powell's media bubble,   Dumb or insane?     Rubio strongman,     Rebecca Lavernz is going to prison,   Michelle Goldberg on Trump's projection,     Susan Glasser Tu Quoque,        Ulysses S. Grant  and the dividing line,       Crazy pants bing bing,   Wrestle the deep state,        More projection         Madness is stupid.   Cambridge definition of Madness,     Guns and environmental destruction,   Crazy consumerism,          Riding and ranting in the van,        Derrick Bonhoeffer on Stupidity,   How ‘bout that?       

This one took a while, obviously. Learning of Dave from Knoxville's death, one of this podcast's most long term and enthusiastic supporters, took the wind out of my sails for a while. He is deeply missed, but one must carry on. So, I will.   Good luck, Dave from Knoxville,       Trump, DeSantis and their supporters are relentless,     Merchandising,   The Republican debate,     Indict the M.F.er,      Christian Trump supporters,       Christian or Communist,  Mug shots,     Wheels of justice,      No violent response,     Wrong leaders,      Stress fear, morality,    Fascism,     Failure of the Media,        Fascism, top of the list,      DeSantis - cruel, selfish, stupid,      Slitting throats,     A.I. morality,      Mortality and Hope.

Fight The Woke   This episode has been extremely difficult to complete. It's a depressing topic and Governor Ron DeSantis and his ilk are constantly doing more provocative things. DeSantis, in particular, with his constant desire to stay in the media spotlight ends up continuously pulling political stunts and passing laws that are harming the state of Florida and many other people as well. While the courts are rejecting most of the worst laws, many people react to them being passed because they don't have the luxury of hanging around to see if they might be declared unconstitutional. The cruelty, bigotry and overt racism we're seeing displayed by members of the far-right is intended to provoke their opposition into hating them with the same intensity that the hate others. It's a trap best avoided. I'd like to ignore the abhorrent behavior, but that seems irresponsible and dangerous. The best thing to do, as far as I can determine, is to stay Woke and remember they are the minority no matter how much attention the media gives to their outlandish antics. Let's act accordingly.       Woke defined-No, not really.     Fight The Woke.     M.L.K.'s Deathversity.   Woke B.S..     Bethany Mandel.     DeSantis' Woke-ocracy.        Potter Stewart.     Wokism is destroying our country.       Persecution complex.      I'm Woke.     Intentionally vague language.       Parental Rights in Education.     Legalistic phase of fascism.     Nazis like Desantis. Take back America by banning history.   Ignorance is bliss?      Is our children learning?   Being Woke is being liberal.      Tolerate?   CRT is anything that addresses race.   Bud Light-Symbolism and spectacle.  They are the minority.   Abortion ban.     Culture Wars distract attention from poor governance.   Wasting time.     Cruelty is the point.   Jeff Sharlet- Fascism is theater.      Performative non-sense.   Big money influence.     Amanda Marcotte- Goading the opposition.   Stay Woke!

I recently had an opportunity to interview comedy writer Andy Breckman and the station manager of WFMU Ken Freedman. Together they host the stunt radio program Seven Second Delay on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.. We talk about music, fascism, politics, cancel culture and comedy. It was fun.   Podcasting.      The evolutionary ladder.     Fascism. Kapo.     Johnny Thunders in Michigan.       Ken's Trump prediction. Cancel Culture.     Dave Chappelle.      David Feldman. Sweet memories.    Tony Shalhoub.        ChatGPT jokes. Anti-Comedy.     High Radio Criticism.  

It seems angry people with authoritarian tendencies are asserting themselves everywhere. What is driving their anger and divisiveness? The primary driver appears to be fear inspired by false information. Since the 1960s, the United States has made significant progress is advancing civil rights and acceptance of diversity. New technology has made it much easier to disseminate false information and stir up peoples' emotions.  This is certainly not the first time things like this have happened in this country and odds are it is not the last. We, Americans, must stand together and resist the efforts of those who wish to disrupt our country and destroy democracy.     Bumper sticker guy.     Flag wrapped cross.         Let's go Darwin.   Fear.     Fearful of what?      Tourist visit-Andrew Clyde.   Ignorance is bliss.      WOKE.      Feelings.   Fascism.     Anoracracy.       Paradox of Tolerance.    Democracy and Fascism.      Failure of the Media.   They got the guns.     Not a Cult.     Qanon.   Comic books and Rock and Roll.     Moral Panic.   Frightened people want to frighten others.   Truth is Weirder than Fiction.

Come On America   So much is happening so quickly that is is difficult to focus on what's most important.  We are bombarded with endless threats both purely imaginary and dangerously real. How much faith should we have in our fellow citizens? Do they see what we see the same way? Lordy, I hope a lot of them do. And they vote Tuesday -if they haven't already, that is. Come On, America.   Back in the van and recording.      Two weeks until the election.   The Trump Distraction.       Focus on Fascism.     He won't run again.   Who is not sick of him?     The Grift.      Trumpheads.   Conserving what?     Reactionary republicans.        So long mangroves.       Goodbye rainforest.      Zombie ideas.   Trickle down.      The Rise of Fascism.     God, Guns and Trump.   The Party.     Positive signs.     How Bad the Scum?   Paul Pelosi Attacked.        Weird Sympathy.      Kari's Gonna Win.   Doubt Priming.    Little Insurrections.        Trying to Rule by Spectacle.      Could Lose Democracy.         Come On America.  

Democracy is designed to allow citizens to present arguments  and debate their merits in the marketplace of ideas. Words, ideas and evidence were to be used to determine policy. What we are experiencing currently is the result of one party being bereft of ideas. The lack of ideas forces them use other methods of persuasion. This explains the increase we are seeing in use of misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy theories as well as threats of/and actual violence. The Republican Party seems to have decided its best course, at this time, is to deny reality, break the rules as needed and threaten those that point out what they are doing. Fortunately, they are not the majority. Unfortunately, that may not be a guaranty that they don't gain power over the levers of government. As they have been rather successful in gerrymandering, court packing and the taking of key state offices, particularly Secretaries of State, the likelihood of them achieving  victory is not slight. If such a victory occurs, it is certain they will take even more steps to reduce the power of the majority.    We are all terrorists.   F.B.I. definition,       Brian in Palmetto wants the guns.       Civil war over what?     Guns, pal.     Many shot, many die.     I want to kill.          The Big Lie is working.     The Bully Minority.        No policy, but a burning desire for power.       Riots in the streets.        Not more people just a bigger megaphone.       The media is the message.     Enragement.     Just say no.      I don't want to know.      Thought terminating cliches.     Theodore Roszak on violence.             Most are not evil, just stupid.      Stupidity the same as evil.       Performative  Moronics.      Vote in November while you still can.      

The United States seems to be awash in violence, from overzealous police to armed street gangs to determined mass murderers.  Who benefits from this situation? Media organizations, certainly, right wing hate groups, as well, but, I'd say, none benefit more than arms manufacturers.   G.W. Bush intro.          Buffalo shooting.     Stochastic Violence.   This is tyranny.        W.  Bush was right?        Don't say terrorism.   Ominous rant.     Guns are not the solution.       Heroic fantasies.   Movie watchers led by a "Reality" T.V. guy.      Easy prosecutions.   Violent talk leading to violent actions is predictable.   Chaos theory.       Why advertisers seem to like anger.        Replacement theory.     White supremacy is a hoax.    Only one race.   Tucker says, "just say that it's true."      Bushmaster Man card.        Ryan Busse- Gun Fight.            Diabolical marketing.      

For a while, I fell out of the podcast groove, but I'm jumping back in. So much has happened during my absence that I didn't even touch on the idiot trucker convoy or the idiot Elon Musk maybe-purchase of Twitter. I do address minority rule, performative moronics, gerrymandering, engage in a brief authoritarian rant and end with a playful sound collage.   Shouldn't record in the van.      Judgeships and minority rule (Marty Moore).   Election militia.       Enforcing unjust rule.         Performative moronics.   Putin/DeSantis-  misinformation and ignorance.          Fill the information space with garbage.     Authoritarian rant.   Collage- People Are Saying

What a year just was and what a year the next one promises to be. Not a recap show or a prediction show. Just an update.    New Port Richey Christmas Parade -with helicopters.   War on the holidays.     Oh Mee Chrone- Covid 19's latest iteration.    Cordyceps.        Trump and DeSantis.       Madness is spreading.   Concerns about 2022.        January 6th and the Big Lie.   Steve Inskeep's Truth Sandwich.       Sam Harris and the Impossible Debate.   Conspiracy Theories are now based on repetition not "evidence."   The fascistic minority.      Feeling nonplussed.   Democracies have died before.      Don't talk about Florida voting laws.   Bad information.     Idiot propaganda.    Becky the Robot.          An invitation to stop the steal.

You can be sure it is coming without knowing when or how. Violence is being elicited by politicians and certain parts of the media. They appeal to an aggrieved minority of citizens who view violence as an acceptable political tool. Rather than modifying their political approach or adjusting their arguments, they believe they can advance their cause through the use violence and threats thereof.  When combined, their obsession with weaponry and their unwillingness to participate in basic health measures presents us with what amounts to an existential threat. A significant segment of the populace display a total disregard for the health and safety of their fellow citizens if they do not share their selfish, destructive and false minority beliefs.   That's Bullshit.      Failed arguments evoke violence.     Fight.   Treat them rough.      Stochastic violence.     Fighting words.   Don't say terrorism.     You Ess Aay.     Try to hurt him.   Specific non-specific threats.     Disinterested law enforcement.   Rage engagement.      Resist normalization.   When do we kill these people?     Extreme polarization.   Joining the enemy.     Herman Cain confusion.   Absurd analogies.     How to respond?    Is unity possible?   Democracy may not be the answer.    Obstruction confession.

This one took forever. Had trouble keeping ahold of a narrative through-line. There's too many issues.    Tourists or terrorists?     Boots on the ground.    Don't call them terrorists. I don't like American tourists.     Foul children.     Reality denial. Beliefs so strong they become facts.       Not a fact guy. Too many issues.          Almost everyone will get inoculated. Patriotism.     Not a fact guy.       Will not comply. Taliban mirror.      Endless conflict for endless purpose.      Truth sandwich.     Critical thinking.     Save us.      

Despite the title, I tried to stick to accurate observations about actual, factual information. As I worked on this episode, I attempted to find glimpses of daylight with only intermittent success. These are dark times we are living in.   Issac Asimov- Cult of Ignorance.       The Big Lie and Liz Cheney.   Facebook.     Gary Kasparov.      No such thing as truth.   Facebook is not a credible news source.     Rumble.   A pleasing amount of misinformation.    News from advertisers.   Rage engagement.     Comfort from conspiracy.   Karl Rove on Reality.     False certainty trumps honest uncertainty.   Efficacy vs. effectiveness.     Voltaire: Doubt not pleasant.   CDC modified suggestions don't mean stop washing your hands.   Conspiracy without the theory.       No evidence; no problem.   Clown with a flamethrower.       The willfully ignorant using science to dismiss science.   Misinformation harming others.     Driving drunk without a seatbelt.   Liz Cheney, Andrew Clyde and Laura Ingraham.   Tired of being owned.

Tried like hell to get this episode up by the 4th of March since there was a potential repeat of the Capitol Siege from January 6th. As this is typed, the Capitol is virtually empty as most business has been shut down for the day due to credible threats of violence.   Information overload short-circuiting brains.         Adults more susceptible to misinformation.     President Trump, save us.      Bullshit.     Stolen by whom?        Rule of Law Defense Fund Robo-call.   The Siege was planned.      Stop the steal.   Ali Alexander.     Take the Capitol.        Fight for Trump.     Traitor Pence.      Let's tell Trump.   Hiding with the maskless.     Spreading hatred and Covid.   Insanity.     Carol D. Sanders - Science prankster.   Super Bowl prophecy.      Republicans hate Trump.

I've had a hard time keeping up with what has been happening. Talk about destroying truth and ruling by spectacle, we have seen it in spades, recently. It feels like we are are in the middle of a very transitional time. It's going to be a while before we see how these events shake out.   Going out with a bang.      Chaos and violence.      Emotion leads to action.   Trumps signs still up.       Violent reaction.        Pathocracy.   Dr. Brandy X. Lee.     In Trump Country.     Disinfect the White House.   Gabriel Sterling.       It has all gone too far.   It's just wrong.     Bob Good you get the virus.   No sanity.        Serious phony pandemic.   New year.         Trump, Raffensperge and his lawyer.   How far will they go?        Recalculate the vote.   Costly in many ways.     The data you have is wrong.   Twitter taken from Trump.      The Capitol Siege.   Defile the Capitol.     Fighting Democracy.   Law and Order.     We love you.     You will pay.   Go home now.      

The United States 2020 presidential election is almost over, although the current resident of the White House has yet to concede. I'm not thrilled with the with outcome, but am learning to accept it. The American electorate did the best it could with what it was given to work with. However, a very large percentage of the country's population vehemently disagrees with that sentiment.   Selling Trump gear.              No more bullshit.       Qanon.    Smash the Delusion.      The media says Joe Biden is president.      Mixed reactions.     Revolutionary rush.      Wow Rudy wow.   Joe Biden is stealing the election.     Feeling kinda numb.   Something broken.     Status quo Joe.   Trump inspired aggression.      Arrogant obnoxiousness.   Qanon.     The Great Disappointment.   What's in store for Q's followers?         The desire for belief trumps all.       Bent American psyche.   You never know.        

Rebellion of the Senseless Junior calls.     Road Noise.      Not Gonna take it.Anti-masker Ann from Zephyrhills.        Herd Mentality.Panic mentality.      The lingering thing.Not Conspiracy theorists.     Qanon.      Move forward in a positive direction.      Trump is a light worker (Lori Ladd). Vague assertions and accusations.      Proud God Trump.The word is Q.     Antifa doesn’t exist.     White Supremacy.Alice Markwick says.     Thugs on a plane.Republican Party now a cult.     BLM.He’s spreading the virus, disinformation and violence. Vote him OUT!

When addressing misinformation in the modern world there really is no clear place to start documenting it. Nor does there appear to be any end to the supply of inaccurate information.  This episode focuses on QAnon, an unknown individual or group, that posts on anonymous message board, sending out vague assertions and meaningless strings of letters and numbers that are presented as secret messages. These assertions are then interpreted by followers as to portend a societal upheaval that will lead to mass arrests and a transformation of society. There is little to no evidence that supports these ideas or claims, but that doesn't stop millions of Americans from believing and acting upon them.   QAnon,     Covid 19,     Who's Q?      Q Drops,     The Storm,   Real crimes,     Sherlock Holmes' reasoning,        Taiwan and Hydroxychloriquine,   Information Age,        Herman Cain back from the dead?       Caveat Emptor  

The United States is being rocked by a combination of a deadly virus and mass protests against police violence. The police response to the anti-violence protests has been to increase the use violence.   The Coronavirus is still with us.      Police violence is still with us.   Protests against police violence are still with us, too.   Meet the force professionals.  Where are the Second Amendment folks?   That's not a chip on my shoulder.     Feeling hopeful.   Lost in the data stream.     The same racist path.   Proper behavior reduces the need for government.   Masks: a manufactured controversy.        All about division.   The  mask crazies of Palm Beach County.          Republican/Christian death cult.      Polarized environment.   Portland secret police.     Hitler was  elected.   The majority is not being fooled.         Domination collage.    

I've put two months into this one, yet it feels incomplete. The fire hose of events we are experiencing is nearly impossible to stay on top of. This episode includes scarves, hydroxychloroquine, Hanlon's Razor and a Trump apology! It's time for an investigation.        Shocker.        Hydroxychloroquine.   President Carnage.     I'm not a doctor.         Scarves.       Hanlon's Razor applied to anti-lockdown protesters.          Both sides of the president's mouth.      Will not see diseases.   Data-Stockpile.     Too long?         Confusing politics with entertainment.   Covered in blood.     Ready to rock.      I was wrong.     Made a mistake.   Not mentally sharp.     I apologize.

Since my last episode the president was impeached by the House, but found not guilty by the Senate. Apparently, he was guilty, but not guilty enough.  As that process was playing out, a novel Coronavirus was making its way across the globe. It's made its way to the United States and it has led to an unprecedented national response. Now a large portion of our country is spending most of their time at home and we're trying to keep a safe distance from each other and we're disinfecting everything we come in contact with.   Guilty, but not guilty.      The Senate obstructs justice.         If the president does it, it's not a crime.       Maybe the truth is not important.   Lying gets the job done.      Covid 19 from Coronavirus.      We need a leader.   Draining the competence.       Bryant Culpepper and the hair dryer cure.   Terrible.      Looking for answers..        It may work.           What the hell do you have to lose?         May kill you.          One good thing.     Sources: CNN, C-Span, MSNBC, Associated Press, On Point, WH.gov

Started this episode the first week of the new year. "Finished" it in the third week. Didn't mention Lev Parnas simply because I had to draw a line somewhere. Mostly drew from the impeachment proceedings and a little bit from the Iran fiasco.   Welcome to 2020.       What is truth?        Destroy truth rule by spectacle.   Facebook promotes falsehoods.      News from advertisers?      Iran disaster.   Fighter jets.     Truth isn't truth.        The Depravity.   Destruction of truth.     Facts mean nothing.     The clock and the calendar.   Let the voters decide?        That happened!     Jeff from New Port Richey.   Somebody's version of the truth.   Thanks to C-Span, WMNF's Rob Lorei and Radioactivity, Buzzfeed and the Tampa Bay Times for material and inspiration.  

The madness is unending and I am finding it impossible to to keep up on a day to day basis. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen.   I hate senior citizens.     Hate.      No health care.       We Don't care.   These people are electric.      Energizing the swamp.      A little different up here.   Blackmail.        Article II let's me do whatever I want.        Fake leader.   Emoluments.         I give it away.          Get the Kurds out.   We left the Kurds out.          We left.   Hardest thing I have to do.            I do whatever I want.   No one ever mentions Article II.                  It's all over.       Thanks to CNBC and C-Span for clips.

Robert Mueller spoke to Congress recently, although it doesn't seem that recent. I read the executive summaries and, apparently, so did Garry Trudeau, creator of Doonesbury.   Fredericks read the Mueller report (Executive Summaries).       The Doonesbury coincidence.    Trump's take.         Adam Schiff questions Robert Mueller.         Volume 1 Page 54.    Swift-boating has nothing to do with the truth.        Fredericks interviews Mueller.   Outro.     Thanks to C-Span for Schiff/Mueller sound and Slate for Trump shouting from under the helicopter.

Ignorance is pervasive in the age of information.     Dan Rather: Rational people don't understand Reagan.        Myth, storytelling, deception.     Ignorance is a choice.   Ignorance is important.       Hail Trump.   Lost.     We are not great.       I choked all my friends.   I love rich guys.     Evil done quickly.   Not a great country.       Lose all your friends.   He's Alive.     Sources: C-Span. WMNF-Radioactivity Rob Lorei, Free Music Archive. The Twilight Zone.Modest Mussorgsky

A Phone-centric Foundscape. Guaranteed 95% Trump-free!     Hello.     See you at the rally.         Get arrested. Kindly press One.      I got your voicemail.      Uhhhhh. Blingk.       New Port Richey calling.     Fabulous. Zero.     It will be deleted.     You're special. Thee Extended Uhhhh.        I repeat. Delete it.        

Trump, God and guns: if they love them, you can't reason with them.     Overthrow the president.         What do you do with kooks? Snakes.       How minds work.        The Unpersuadables. Talking with Trumpers is like talking with fundamentalist Christians. Summary of Lies.         Russia is Finally Russian.        Trump Russia activity.  No Russia, no nothing.        "I don't know my conclusion." #@%^$&* Idiot.      Magic Phrases.      Let's Obstruct Justice. Beef Folks and Ridiculous Farmers.     So Calm. Mean Things.      Treason.      Bob Mueller and the 18 Killers. Farmers, Do The Right Thing!         Demean Congressman Green. Just Wait It Works Out.     Audio clips from CBSN, MSNBC, NBC News, C-Span, ABC        

The redacted Mueller report has been out for a couple of weeks now. Here are some early takeaways from it.   The Russians interfered in the 2016 election.     Russia is waiting.   The media were right about Russia.            Not collusion/Just working together.   To exonerate or not to exonerate.     A nice Comey dinner.       Dealings in Russia.   Maybe confuse people.      I'm a very smart guy.      Fake media did too good a job.   Judge Andrew Napolitano regarding Trump and obstruction.       Turned around world.     FOX News.        Twelve ongoing investigations.        Hold on!      

Where is the Middle Ground? For two months, I’ve been struggling with this topic and as I prepare to post this episode, I don’t feel I’ve reached a suitable conclusion.Emotion and reason don’t have to be at odds, do they? Mustn’t there exist a middle ground where two sides can reach a compromise? Is compromise possible if one side claims to hold certain ideals and values and then casually discards them as the political winds change direction?Is a fruitful conversation possible when one party argues disingenuously?     Quote from Daniel Patrick Moynihan.           Quote from Ronald Reagan.      Arms for hostages.      Facts and evidence don’t matter.           The emotional response. Deciduous values.          American Conservatism is not based on politics. Two sides of Lindsey Graham.           Nicole Hemmer- Miller Center. Where's the middle ground with racists, anti-vaxxers, flat-Earthers, man-made climate change deniers? Science is a conspiracy.             How to negotiate a compromise.

Over the last month or so, I captured several interesting callers to a couple of my favorite News/discussion radio programs (Radioactivity and Executive Session) on WMNF in Tampa, Florida. I took those calls and added some recent comments from the President, Lindsey Graham and Orrin Hatch (from CNN), ran it all through the mind thing and here's what emerged. Enjoy. What's going on?         Weird Gilligan's Island coincidence.              Sex and Demons.   N.R.A. killers.          Evil's gonna win.         Can't take that serious.   Crazy powerful.         Russians.          I don't care.   Steal tremendous amounts.          Directions.                Don't give a sh*t.   We need help.         Hate gangs.        I don't care.  

A bully can deny your reality. We have a president who can repeatedly lie blatantly and yet continue to receive professional media coverage befitting the office. When he should rather be disregarded as an unreliable source of information and ignored. It seems people are no longer outraged when the president directly contradicts himself. While some are dismayed, many others find it humorous, the truth drifts a few more degrees away from the national attention, as we are swept up in a whirlwind of falsehoods, half-truths and obfuscation.   Power tends to corrupt.         Great men are almost always bad men.   Bullies.        The response to power.        Definition of "bully" Dictionary.com.   Rude, terrible person.         Suppression.         NEWS = pain.   Excuse me.       Racist people.        Fake I.C.E..   I want protection.         Collusion.        No fair Supreme Court.   There will be blame.        Terrible difference.     Sources: CNN, FOX News, The D.C. Shorts, A.U.R.N., April Ryan, Abby, Phillip, Jim Acosta, Peter Alexander, Yamiche Alcindor

A barely political collage about voting, prescription drugs and New Port Richey Bob among other things.   We can all agree.     Fight equal rights in Florida.   Prescription drugs for murderers.       General Buttadu.   Maybe we'll cut Social Security.        I'll be your veterinarian.   Your registration has expired.         Stand up for Crime.   Fight the community not special interests.       Fraud for congress.        New Port Richey Bob.   Prescription drugs for Florida.           Vote for me today.   I don't know what's going on.

This one's a bit dark and didactic. It's kind of difficult to discuss retribalization while staying positive. Toward the end of the month, I came across a rich vein of additional tribalist information, much I was unable to include. This topic demands to be revisited. It will, hopefully with a lighter approach, next time.     Electric information movement.          Information bubbles.           Naive idealism.         Abandon that thinking.           Quote from Marshall McLuhan Playboy interview 1968.   World Pool.         Identity quest.         Facebook.   Youtube information silos.         The narcissism of minor differences.   "it's Even Worse Than It Looks,"         Norman Ornstein,   Thomas Mann,        Healthcare.        Fool for the Enlightenment.        The illusion of separation.         Show don't tell.   A new goal for humanity.      

Introductory explanation.        The Woodward interview.     The cone of silence around Trump.      What are you gonna do? They don't tell me.        You do know I'm making billions.        Afraid. Feel badly for Russia.       We are all corrupt.       Play horrible games. The American people lost big.   Keep the swamp.

 Lately, whenever I cast my inspiration net, I come up with mostly Trumpian topics. This disturbs me, because I am certain many other things are happening. However, I must work with what I catch. So here it is.   For future episodes I may have to shift from net casting to hunting mode.   What you are seeing is not happening.       Not the truth.        Putin powerful.   Believe fake crap.      Stick with us.       Corporate criminal iceberg.   I admit it: Trump admits Russian meddling.         The problem is the president.   I don't need this country; I can buy anything.     Usless and petty.   Not the truth.     Flipping.       Hey, Putin, that's a lot of money.   Make up lies.      More crazy than Lincoln.      Trump in Tampa.   Sessions knows Russians.     Nobody knew.   Crazy excuse for a president.       Space Force.    I know all about...  

This is my way of dealing with the onslaught of serious nonsense and insanity we've been presented with. Includes the More Crazy Remix.   Civilty.     This is crazy.     Take the children away. Knock the crap out of them.     All kinds of crazy.     Above the law (pardon myself).     Win with lying. Make America sorry.     Kim Jong-Un loves rockets.     I am so smart. Toe trail.     Look at the finger.     Russia, come back in. The More Crazy Remix. Sources: ABC News 7, C-Span, CNN, CNBC, FOX News, Seth Meyers

Went to San Francisco earlier this month. Lovely place, lots of culture and history, although kind of chilly for a Florida guy. Good-if pricey- food, music and beer. Glad I had the expeience. I gathered auditory ambience from various points along the way. Then I blended some of them into the following collage.   Heading to San Francisco.         Planes and trains.              Airbus A380 for perspective.   Asian flute players in the park.           Ambulance in the streets of San Francisco.   Innov Gnawa in Yerba Buena Park.           Electric violinist- Happy Birthday.   Babbling brook in the Redwood Forest.        Electric violinist- Jingle Bells.        Walking through Chinatown.            The hotel and elevator.           BART to airport.   Train to parking/ "Cutting it close, pal."        The Last Stop!    

This one took forever. Don't know whether it was the topic or the timing, but I felt like i was looking for water in the middle of the ocean. It was everywhere and, frankly, overwhelming.   What the hell is going on?        The expanding topic.          Infopocalypse.           Computer generated opinions.     Russian bots/trolls.         M.I.T. study Twitterbots.          Humans prefer the inaccurate.   Facebook problem.         Algorithmic anomaly.         Misinformation uptick featuring The Russians.   Make America hurt itself again.         Internet Research Agency.          Number One Tricky.   Tim and Mark are sorry.      Cambridge Analytica.         Three most influential fake stories.    Alex Jones and Sandy Hook.          Destroy truth and rule by spectacle.         Newspapers not Bots.   Facebook takes steps to reduce inaccuracy, it back fires.  

The dog's name is Max. He recently became a member of the clan. He is big, rambunctious and not very well trained. I take some chances.       Say "hello", Max.        The Elk Antler.            Opening the package.              If I die, thanks for listening.         Grateful and disappointed?       You can break your teeth.   Didn't chew my face off.     Coulda made podcast history.          When you reach a certain age.     Dedicated to Trapper.

This collage started out playful, but took a rather dark turn sonically. I just followed it. Featuring: Spanish records, steamboats, fruitflies, sirens, stools, snores, a door and more.     Listen carefully.       Fruitfly drum.        Donde esta Juanita? Repeata.           Cleaning out the van.       Steamboat. Ambulance passing.      Digital glitch.     The Stool. The door.

Been collecting and mixing this stuff for months. Finally had time to put it all together.   You have messages.    Get matter resolved.   You're sick.    Matter resolved. Walk electric.     We have thousands of dollars.      I have rainbows.        Simple ideas.      On other line.      Andy New Port Richey.        What he left?      Health problems.      Ummmmm.       Heads up.       I gotta rainbow.       I'd like to know.   I've have an issue.      Nope.       Running out of cool.   Computer expired. Can't stand....           Get my message?         Maximum storage time.   Bye bye.      

This year, Richard Thaler won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. His research points to the fact that humans are economically irrational. Homo Economicus is a simplifying construct that has, for years, been the basis of economic theory. It assumes all economic actors are "rational" and only interested in maximizing personal utility. That is not true.   There's this guy...           Richard Thaler wins Nobel.         Francis Edgeworth.   Financial forecasters vs. weather forecasters.       The Japanese Miracle.   Examples of irrationality.       Rejecting Homo Economical Rationalism.   Bounded Rationality.       Most cooperative species on Earth.   Empathy, sympathy dread.       Paul Piff's Study (Ted Talk - 2014).   Science advances one funeral at a time.       Goodbye Homo Economicus.

Admittedly didactic and dark, this episode examines the ongoing attempts to dismantle signs of African-America success, thoughout American history. Next one will be lighter, it has to be.   GENTILE.        Undoing Obama's actions.      Dismantling African-Americam accomplishment.   Black Wall Street destroyed.        Rosewood, Florida.     Bad logic.   Good guy goes bad.         Infidel Gun & Gear.        Fortune Taylor's name restored.       Highways and stadiums displace communities.      Baader Meinhof.     Renaming Denali.          Unraveling progress.          Outrage becomes disappointment.   Quote from Sam Rayburn.    Repeal care, Die.     Sources: theroot.com, racewithhistory.org, richardwolff.org.

We thought Irma was going to hit us as a Category 4 turned out to be a weak 2. I had planned on this podcast being a little more exciting. However, I'm not complaining, really.   Emergency.    What we're expecting.         It's only stuff.          Pasco alert: Fear of looting.          My cat Byron's is outside.      Final boarding up.        The morning after with Clay Pigeon on WFMU.   Tired and philosophical.      Water is more important than electricity.        Cicadas.   More storms on the horizon.           Cleaning up.           

The Right unites to fight to protect a statue of Robert E. Lee  that he wouldn't have wanted. Antifascists use violence to resist those promoting violence. Sure punching Nazis seems like fun, it is not very creative. Absurdism and satire may be a better approach.     Robert E. Lee on Civil War monuments.         Trump and the White-Nationalist code.   Sean Patrick Nielsen (WVTF/Radio IQ).         David Duke,        Ronald Reagan.   Blood and soil.     No Nazis.      False equivalency.        We are Alt-Right.   Justice delivered.     Unite us.     They hate dishonest people.     I hit them.   Jews will not replace us.      HATE.       Hatred and violence has America.   Killing Jews.     Donald Trump is evil.       Condemn Obama.      Anarchists.   Honest media.         Antifa.       Punching Nazis = fun not creative.        Thanks to WTVF/Radio IQ, PBS Newshour, MSNBC, Brennan Gilmore (filmed car attack).

It is disturbing to feel the pull of the impending political crisis on one’s attention. Every attempt to turn one's attention away for any  length of time fails. It seems like we’ve entered a transitional time and the outcome(s) could be dire. Looking away feels like complicity. Russian interference: not just smoke. Comey's firing. Putin’s disinformation technique. Trump and Russians. Trump’s attraction to powerful men. The Big Story. Russian relations. No Fuzz. They’re laughing at us. Punch ladies in the face. Firing history. Russians very powerful. Am I stupid? New FBI director. Never stop fighting. American anger. Wreak the world. Russian uniform. Illegal. Look at how I give up. Bad situation. Pence really bad. Give up. Sources: Late Show with David Letterman (NBC), Executive Session (WMNF-88.5 Tampa), CBS News, Lester Holt NBCNews, On Point with Tom Ashbrook (NPR), The Minutemen-Paranoid Chant.

Foundscape #8.  IRS Scammers, wrong numbers, marketers, soundboard girls and confused women provided the grist for the Foundscape mill.   Get arrested on serious charges.       Call from Mom: my bowels.          I'm not sorry.   Don't be a statistic.         Don't get arrested.            Press 9.        Siri: the Third Density.       I am a real live person.         Hang up.

One of the greatest benefits of doing this podcast is I get to take potentially annoying data from ordinary life, be it political phone calls or -as in this case- a need for some technical support, and play with it. It goes from being an irritation to a source of inspiration.   Report a problem.        Support.            Need a new battery.            Verify.          Fredericks Inc..       Hear the crackling?           Blame me.   Aw right, all right.      Blah blah.       I wanna mislead you.          You're being recorded.      Fantastic.    Goodbye.  

Everytime I post an episode, I feel like I'm abandoning it rather than finishing it. This one in particular. Trumpian intrigue seems unending. Sure, he's president and we should be paying attention to what he says, but what he is saying is mostly absurd. What are the tweets and Sean Spicer distracting us from. Today, Spicer labeled Propublica, one of the best investigative groups working in the English language, "a left-wing blog." What is the administration attempting to hide? I'll give you my answer in collage form.   Business with the Russians.       Very interesting fascists.       Fascists to the forefront.         He's not joking.        Russian connections.       Hold on, butty but.         I'm afraid to understand intellegent crickets.       I have connections.   Seems like I'm answering facts.          I'm a fascist.

Take disinformation, distractions and falsehoods run them through the Mind Thing and something resembling truth emerges.   Do your job.        Gotta work it.      Ranting and raving.         Good at sucking up people's money.   The leaks are real.       FOX and Friends: Good drug-dealers.         Incredible racist.   The "Fake People."      Gout.        Horrible agenda.         Nuclear weapons.          Chaos.   Bad dudes.       Sessions, Franken and the Russians.       Mike Flynn.      Wrestle the truth.   Nothing to love.      The leaks are real.      The wall.      Fighting the NEWS.   

Truth not Trump is the topic this episode. As the most ubiquitous member of Trump's lie machine, I'll focus on the Mistress of Misdirection Kellyanne Conway. There are some encouraging trends emerging and we'll take a brief look at some of them.   The victims of the Bowling Green Massacre.                  Truth.                Predictions from Fantasy World.         Tabloids: The Nation's Subconscious.              Factchecking Fredericks.               Kellyanne and Jake Tapper (CNN).   Skillful evasion.          The media wakes up.           Kleptocracy USA.              Trump's aspiration: Vladimir Putin: Most powerful man in the world.   Talk about fake news.        Haters in the Hate-Hole.            Spicer babble.