Purple Peppers Picked By Patricia

Taking the Risk Out of Democracy:: Corporate Propaganda versus Freedom and Liberty
by Alex Carey.

Published in 1996 but I think it was all written long before that date.
It was a precursor to manufacturing consent, I think.

The main idea of the book or essays in it is that

1) Democracy increased in 20th century
2) Corporate power increased in 20th century
3) Corporate powers ability to undermine democracy increased in 20th century, through the use of propaganda

And also:
4) The difference between "democracies" is that people have their thoughts controlled whereas in dictatorships they get controlled through violent means.

You can't understand much about politics until you learn this or rather simply start thinking about it, imo.

Btw, I am making a search engine that can help find these books for you, and remember them . It needs to work out or im back to wage slavery again lol.

nice rikd, poker is still very beatable but I don't know about u. learn to save 20k then you can grind.

Rikd u still play StarCraft join my team with Neilly n we play against whammm

I don't know how to play StarCraft.

On July 23 2024 05:48 Stroggoz wrote: Taking the Risk Out of Democracy:: Corporate Propaganda versus Freedom and Liberty by Alex Carey. Published in 1996 but I think it was all written long before that date. It was a precursor to manufacturing consent, I think.

I would pin the writing of the book to 1985-1986. Manufactured Consent was 1988 so it all makes sense.

The main idea of the book or essays in it is that 1) Democracy increased in 20th century 2) Corporate power increased in 20th century 3) Corporate powers ability to undermine democracy increased in 20th century, through the use of propaganda And also: 4) The difference between "democracies" is that people have their thoughts controlled whereas in dictatorships they get controlled through violent means. You can't understand much about politics until you learn this or rather simply start thinking about it, imo.

I have been thinking about it. I'm about half way through the book. 1 thing about this year's elections is X as the largest digital media presence. Twitter was this thing that kind of became a left wing biased media. Where as now X is running under the guise of truth / free speech but in reality it is just to further Elon Musk's business interests. Elon Musk allegedly will be donating to a PAC for "America" (The America PAC) that will likely end up in Trump's campaign vs Sam Bankman-Fried giving absurd money to Biden. If I had to guess Trump has for ease sakes 66.6667% chance to win. It really all could be because these VCs are deciding to go Trump and flex their public relations muscle. Project 2025 is also a brilliant negotiation move for the republicans. That fucking horseshit is thanks to the Heritage Foundation. Still around since the early days. I haven't seen any democrats really come out and say Project 2025 is horseshit and not even in the ballpark buddy. Maybe because my X algorithm would not allow me to see anything like that.

Btw, I am making a search engine that can help find these books for you, and remember them . It needs to work out or im back to wage slavery again lol.

I'm hoping it works out obviuosly. Who the fuck wants to be a wage slave?

I havn't read paid much attention to politics lately, but i glanced through project 2025. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite so extreme in the last few decades, policy wise. I'm guessing the game-plan is to to aim for the moon and if they get a tiny fraction of what they want then its still a great victory for the republican party.

On July 25 2024 05:03 RiKD wrote: Show nested quote + On July 23 2024 05:48 Stroggoz wrote: Taking the Risk Out of Democracy:: Corporate Propaganda versus Freedom and Liberty by Alex Carey. Published in 1996 but I think it was all written long before that date. It was a precursor to manufacturing consent, I think. I would pin the writing of the book to 1985-1986. Manufactured Consent was 1988 so it all makes sense.   The main idea of the book or essays in it is that 1) Democracy increased in 20th century 2) Corporate power increased in 20th century 3) Corporate powers ability to undermine democracy increased in 20th century, through the use of propaganda And also: 4) The difference between "democracies" is that people have their thoughts controlled whereas in dictatorships they get controlled through violent means. You can't understand much about politics until you learn this or rather simply start thinking about it, imo. I have been thinking about it. I'm about half way through the book. 1 thing about this year's elections is X as the largest digital media presence. Twitter was this thing that kind of became a left wing biased media. Where as now X is running under the guise of truth / free speech but in reality it is just to further Elon Musk's business interests. Elon Musk allegedly will be donating to a PAC for "America" (The America PAC) that will likely end up in Trump's campaign vs Sam Bankman-Fried giving absurd money to Biden. If I had to guess Trump has for ease sakes 66.6667% chance to win. It really all could be because these VCs are deciding to go Trump and flex their public relations muscle. Project 2025 is also a brilliant negotiation move for the republicans. That fucking horseshit is thanks to the Heritage Foundation. Still around since the early days. I haven't seen any democrats really come out and say Project 2025 is horseshit and not even in the ballpark buddy. Maybe because my X algorithm would not allow me to see anything like that.   Btw, I am making a search engine that can help find these books for you, and remember them . It needs to work out or im back to wage slavery again lol. I'm hoping it works out obviuosly. Who the fuck wants to be a wage slave?

In my view the media was the most free its ever been about a 100 years ago. One of the big differences between the robber barons and today's capitalists, is that the robber barons didn't have much ownership control over the media. It was also a period where kings had largely lost their power (at least in western europe) to cut off the heads of those they disagree with. So, around the mid 19th century to 1920's, there was a period where there was a decent amount of free speech, and low levels of advertising and propaganda. That's basically what I get from reading Bertrand Russells talks on the subject in 1922.

We are living in truly dark times of media totalitarianism at the moment.

You are wise to avoid politics and build something (which I look forward to seeing). I get really into politics at times. It's mostly a waste. I don't mind reading good books but this daily influx of propaghanda / rhetoric / negotiations. All of these candidates are there for self-interest. After all this time and attention and potential future time and attention I am not even going to vote for any candidate in November.

I am not ready to go to sleep. I tried waking up at 9am today but I didn't have anything scheduled and slept in until 1:45pm. I would like to wake up at 6am or 8am but it's always difficult for me unless I have a reason to be up that early and if I'm honest with myself I don't have a reason to be up that early.

My job search is struggling. It's really putting handcuffs on me the fact I don't feel confident driving fully. I can go to the grocery store or pick up my medications but past that there is fear. It's exposure therapy I guess it can take some time. Searching for remote jobs is pissing me off. I just want a job with some money coming in. The way out is through.

Am I right where I belong? My intention was not to be unemployed for this long. Another blemish on the resume that is sorely not needed. I have been able to read a lot. I have been able to walk a lot. I am addicted to X. I've lowered usage but then that attention has gone to Discord servers. A job would solve a lot of these problems. I don't have a job though so I'll have to figure something else out. Run an experiment cutting X out is probably prudent. Hell, I'm still addicted to LP. It's not that addicting though because no one is around.

I am grateful for:

- Massive Attack
- Hot sauce
- Popsicles
- Bagels
- Whitney Webb

I learned today that the CIA, NSA, FBI has a list of names that if there is an unpopular war or financial crash that these people on the list can be thrown in jail with out due process. It is related to the TIA (Total Information Analysis(?)) that is now a private arm of the CIA and relates to the goal of being able to grasp someone's entire life (everything they can get their hands on) to again make pre-crime arrests. I am probably on the list for being on record that I wanted to harm Nancy Pelosi and went to the psych ward in hand cuffs... or my blogs at certain epochs on here. I was definitely "unhinged" which I hate that word because it's used so often as rhetoric to tear someone down. I don't have any guns though and don't plan on getting any guns so that is in my favor and most importantly I don't want to harm anyone. I just worry that once you are on "the list" that you are on there forever.

There are apps that enforce blocking/limiting app use. Cold turkey is one of them. You may find that of value.

I think the last five times i mention politics you've bought up the CIA randomly. I would worry much more about unemployment on CV than CIA making silly lists.

I just finished the tv show Succession. I finished all 4 seasons pretty quick. I won't give any spoilers but it's a case of HBO pulling through for me when I am stuck on lockdown basically. At times it felt like I was using a drug. It got me immersed. It got me high. I laughed, I cried. Good fucking show. When it was over it felt a bit sad. I watched the creator commentary and the creator of the show said he was sad to having to end it all. There was really no where to go. Even the 4th season felt not as good.

It got me wondering about me. I was thinking about how I will never be as "successful" as my dad at least in terms of corporate success. That ship has sailed long ago but I was thinking I may never have a partner, never have kids, never have a house, never have a lot of things. What does Schopenhauer say? Something about don't try to be happy or don't expect to be happy and the misery is not as bad. I have some serious mental illness. I sometimes wonder if I'm autistic to some degree. I have anxiety about driving to the barber and getting a haircut. There are no fairy tale endings we just have to keep making choices until we die.

Why are South Koreans so cool?







By the way, my next door neihbors growing up were South Korean and they were cooler than dry ice in Antarctica.


I think my problem really is that I am an artist that can only muster up mundane art. I've tried a lot of different forms of expression and it's all mediocre. I'm too sensitive. I'm not made for corporate America. When I bombed out of my nepotistic situation I got visible tattoos on my arms symbolically representing that I would never again work in corporate America. The tattoos are just kind of there today. I don't have a shot of getting back into corporate America so they were unneeded. I do like tattoos though. The whole process. I don't know if I'll get anymore. It was kind of a big thing 10 years ago and I'm seemingly perpetually broke so it seems silly.

On the bright side I'm no longer obese. Maybe that is the one thing I am doing well in at the moment. At one point I was pushing 260 lbs. which is a lot and I was terribly unhealthy. I've lost 35+ lbs. and I want to keep going. My fighting weight is probably ~170 lbs. We'll see if I can get there.

Grateful for:

- South Korea
- Korean BBQ
- Music
- My parents who basically still have to take care of me due to my mental illness. Although so far I've done ok with them being gone on vacation.
- Succession on HBO

I can't sleep atm so you know what that means. Blog time! (Jeers from the audience).

I was feeling quite empty before I found Succession. Have you ever been in the midst of peak TV and achieved transcendence? I'm over the hangover of not having that in my life. I started reading a new book (Introduction to Systems Theory by Luhmann) and a new show my guitar teacher suggested (Carnivale on HBO).

I should be using all this time to work on something I love but I don't have the space to paint and my novel is kind of shitty in my view these days. I haven't been motivated to work on it. Then there is the job hunt which I can only manage for so much time in a day. I am kind of allowing myself to just hop from one experience machine into another experience machine looking for The Entertainment. Entertainment so good I piss myself and shit myself and eventually die of dehydration (David Foster Wallace).

The thing with this blog is I start listening to good music and writing stuff out and it improves my mood. That's not a surefire thing but it is a thing sometimes.

I feel like my spirit is wavering. Too long in almost total isolation. At least I have my cat. He is my saviour. Schopenhauer has a lot of great things to say about solitude. Great men are made in solutide. High intellect finds themselves prefering solitude. Maybe these things are true and don't get me wrong I value my solitude but not for 4 weeks straight in isolation.

On August 01 2024 05:37 RiKD wrote: Grateful for: - South Korea - Korean BBQ - Music - My parents who basically still have to take care of me due to my mental illness. Although so far I've done ok with them being gone on vacation. - Succession on HBO

Whaddya know? I can't sleep.

My best friend is in jail again, in the psych ward again, or God forbid dead. Abrupt no communication like last time meant jail. He was not well. I knew it was only a matter of time. He has bipolar 1 like me. That's me if I don't take my meds and communicate with a psychiatrist. Scary part is that may be me even if I do those things.

My second best friend ghosted me tonight. She is a leftist and we were agreeing how manicured lawns are stupid and then I went in probably a little too heavy on beating capitalism and blah blah blah and that I envied people that can play the game and keep their spirit. We'll see how this turns out.

I have no notions of beating capitalism by myself but maybe garnering some small victories for myself and my community. I think someone like Byung-Chul Han has done this. He gardens, he plays his piano, he sings, he writes 3 lines for an essay. I think the line that got me was "I envy people that can play the game and keep their spirit." It's a mix of jealousy and envy but in that moment damn was that true yet laced with bitterness and resentment. I hope she didn't mean I was talking about her but she has played the game and kept her spirit so how does she respond?

Then there are my AA "friends." How could they care when I have not cared for years? They don't call because I don't call. For all they know I'm out drinking. That's usually what happens when people dissapear.

Then there is my therapist churning up time talking about the Olympics and the after-math of Trump getting shot. To be fair she asked if I was "ok" about 45 min. through the session and I honestly said "no."

I have to axe X but I need a replacement. I was thinking either the New York Times and / or some alternative media.

I have to axe LP but that is the doozy. Almost 20 years in my veins. I think I can eventually do it.

I told her I liked to mow the lawn and wave at neighbors because it makes me feel normal.

She said doing normal things makes us feel normal.

What a life we have rikd, we have a lot of stories