John Leake is always one of the most interesting men in the room. A Canary with a fresh perspective makes reading his articles a delight. Best wishes to you and Peter for 2025 and thank you both for your informative “Courageous Discourse” channel.
I get it. Out of approx. 20 golf buddies overall in Florida, all college BS degrees or better and conservative mostly, I got blank stares or looks of incredulity when someone brought up the next pandemic might be bird flu and I mentioned GOF research being very concerning. One or two understand everything, a few have asked questions but mostly get nervous and /or defensive. The “citizenship” needs better info and intel.
Unfortunately, many have a tendency to sleepwalk their way through life. It can be painful to realize that you don't necessarily live on the "right side of history," and it is very hard to give up comfort, security, and certainty for discomfort and uncertainty.
Maybe it could be cast as passive, rather than active thinking--with a side helping of excessive pride and attachment. If thinking ends at comprehending the writer's point but never questioning the premises, that's passive. How long does it take for that blind acceptance of a point of view to wear a deep groove in the mind?
I love the definition of college as the place where one learns to live with ambiguity, rather than feel compelled to pick a side and stick to it b/c that's what your father believed, so to say. As a result, over my life I've "outgrown" and left a number of circles of friends. I chose being true to myself.
I've had my sense of "knowing what's going on" on any given subject upset so many times...but that is the essence of critical thought. Being committed to seeking truth, and realizing that a "remodeling of the mind," is ongoing, a lot like the spouse who rearranges the living room furniture a dozen times, knowing there is no definite end point.
I had to accept that change is part of the ground rules: if I wanted to know what's really going on, I had to commit to flexibility and open-mindedness, and be prepared to be kicked out of the clubs that accepted me only for devotion to "eternal truths."
We are in need of creating a long march back thru the institutions to expose the collectivist/communist/globalist subversion that has blinded the majority of people.
Yes, I completely agree. However, as long as we continue to refer to them as "globalists," they will operate under the veil of anonymity, allowing them to orchestrate our collective demise with impunity.
In the past 14 months, Twitter has seen an explosion of people naming the unnameable, and in just the last two days, those with the largest followings have been demonetized!
please share a link concerning your comment. care not what label you call them, just that they do represent a force that seeks complete control and power over the marketplace of ideas and have no issues in covering up truth.
There is a particular group that has collectively made it their mission to dominate the banking sector, control 94% of global media, search engines, dictate immigration policies, Hollywood, pornography, and much of Big Pharma. They also exert significant influence over the judiciary. Many politicians fall under their control, whether through bribery, blackmail, or by ensuring their own people are elected. Despite comprising less than 2% of the population, they account for over 60% of key political institutions.
Henry Ford warned us about this group over a century ago, as their agenda has been unfolding for quite some time.
By referring to them merely as "globalists," you allow them to continue operating behind a veil of anonymity, enabling them to orchestrate our collective downfall without consequence.
If I have to share links to demonstrate who they are then clearly you’re not very involved or paying attention.
“If you want to know who is in charge, simply look at who it is illegal to criticize”
There is only one correct answer and it’s not globalists.
People at the level you describe (golfers/ country clubs and so on ) have made it to a comfortable level in their lives in this society. Why should they want to engage in this? As one commenter writes , and I agree: “ It can be painful to realize that you don't necessarily live on the "right side of history," and it is very hard to give up comfort, security, and certainty for discomfort and uncertainty.”
My mother turns on the news and after "the news" is repeated to her, verbatim, for the entire day: She has memorized the important bits and repeats it back to me, in Italian.
The overriding theme I believe is that most of these “characters” still regard medicine and physicians as holding the keys to better health which is drummed home 24/7. The disbelief I see is reflected by shutting down further conversation. I never can get to the ranking of 67th in health outcomes, worse than Vietnam’s and beside Algeria, lol.
Think of them as petulant children because that is the level of propaganda we now engage with alternative media. We have been lead like children to be egocentric, admiration for prestige, intellect, wealth. They are all hierarchal, easily manipulated. What is not is time spent wisdom, but what you have described is the uncomfortable experience of beginning to change intentionally broken minds from youth.
This began in earnest six decades ago with my massive naturally groupthink TV Boomer generation and perhaps 8% who considered themselves the chosen, the egocentric.
We now know many of the names and what they have been up to for six decades as their offspring attempt to go global.
Well I'd still like one to find out for myself! LOL! But yes dealing with clueless people AFTER FOUR FREAKING YEARS OF THIS BS is mind numbing. Along with frustrating!!! There's alot of really smart people that are just flat stupid! I'd rather have common sense than be book smart! If you're rich due to a career, but die from a rona shot due to no common sense...what's the point? That faster Porsche isn't going to fit in their coffin!
I think we ought to make more of a fuss - that those who took the shot were gullible and do not think for themselves. In fact, I don't think I can learn much from anyone who took the shot. I just don't trust their judgment and that must creep into other areas of judgment. This is something we shouldn't let them forget - they put the world through torture and tried to force their idiocy on others because of their unfounded fears. Will they do it again?
I think what he means is that Steve Kirsch took the covid jabs (Moderna, if I am not mistaken), but when too many that he knew who were also jabbed were dropping dead or having heart attacks, he started to make the connection.
The story of his "conversion" is very fascinating.
After he informed a woman that the shots were (of course) safe, she informed him that four family members had all died within a month of getting the shot.
It was just days later that his carpet cleaner showed up wearing a mask; Steve asked him why he simply didn't get the two shots and be "protected". When the man informed him that he had a heart attack fifteen minutes after his first shot, Steve said to himself that he was being lied to.
One of the reasons that art fraud is so hard to prosecute is because very few people want to come out and admit that they were duped (usually, out of no small amount of money); there may be a similar concern among those who got the jab. But Steve Kirsch has been indefatigable in his campaign against these shots; we are privileged to have him on our side.
I agree that we are indeed privileged to have Steve Kirsch doing all of this analysis. I have been following him from the beginning & watch every VSRF on Thursday evenings. His latest, from today, are the results of a survey he did on covid "vaccinated" family members. He concluded from this survey that 1.2 million in the U.S. have thus far died from these products. If you do not subscribe to his substack, you can find it on the home page for his substack. He really is tireless in his efforts to demonstrate the harms associated with these so-called "vaccines". My hat goes off to him.
I agree that we're privileged to have Steven Kirsch on our side. He's like a bulldog who's caught something -- got his jaws clamped tight, won't let go for anything, and shakes it hard over and over and over. Determined to not let go until the "safe and effective" BS about spikeshots is limp, shredded, totally DEAD.
Yes he lost sight in one eye. That's true he did fall for it. I can't imagine how he could or how anyone could. To me it was glaringly obvious, but I never felt so alone as for that time where everyone was falling for the bs and I knew it the very first day that it was bs.
I too fell for the Legacy Media and The Prestige thinking that they were giving me the truth. All that changed in 2016 with Trump's win. And the vitriol and the antitrump narrative that was being shouted by all these prestigious legacy media. And what I never understood was that the information they proposed were never truths but opinions. And they never acknowledged that. And they would have to do mental gymnastics to explain certain things especially if the events did not fit their narrative.
"what I never understood was that the information they proposed were never truths but opinions"
Agreed. They like it when one can't see the difference. In contrast to what I was taught studying economics c.1980, the normative is now routinely conflated with the positive.
The closing of the mind is a puzzling phenomenon that I too have observed among highly educated people who as a research scientist I interacted with on a regular basis. Indoctrination by the legacy media was certainly a factor but social control and preservation of standing within the community was perhaps more important. The climate change debate with which I was engaged as a scientist opened my eyes not only to the corruption of science but also the large impact that the main stream media exerted on the views of educated people with regard to so-called anthropogenic global warming. But what was most disconcerting to me is when I pointed out some scientific weaknesses of the AGW hypothesis, they became very upset and proceeded to attack me personally. I saw the same reaction with the COVID scamdemic and was ultimately kicked out of a group of professionals who had been meeting for New Years dinner for almost 30 years for not taking the shots. One should never underestimate the power of mind control with the threat of social exclusion. Needless to say, with minds like these we are in big trouble because as stated of Ayn Rand: you can ignore reality but you can’t ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.
Wdg: We have witnessed the total corruption of the progressive elite that control the pillars of Western society. In a biblical descriptive model written 2000 years ago, it is the living out of Romans chapter 1
I couldn’t agree more. But the “progressive elite” are neither progressive or elite by definition. How about regressive zombies who seem blissfully unaware that they are destroying the future of their children, assuming they have any, and all humanity. I think it was George Orwell who state that when words lose their meaning, we are on the road to tyranny.
It's not just legacy papers like the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post, but higher education, esp. in medical fields, as well. I suspect it take a trained mystical mind to survive those while retaining healthy skepticism.
Crystal - your comment reminds me how, in recent years, people have been convinced to provide free advertising to clothing makers, by purchasing items with those giant company logos / names on them. Paying for the privilege of being walking commercials!
I’ve considered that myself. It’s crazy. And the other thing is that they’ve chosen to do this with what was once the ‘high end’ ‘exclusive’ brands… like it must say how far above poverty they are or something… and so many people have these mega overpriced logos that it’s meaningless anyways.
Yes, it has become obiquitous. A number of times, I’ve wanted to purchase a sweatshirt of jacket which was nice, but the giant company name was covering the entire front…no thanks. Back to the thrift store!
I could possibly see being a little behind on the WSJ (only because their editorial page is still respectable) but believing the NYT is not only a reliable source of info let alone prestigious is bizarre. I remember reading Newsweek cover to cover in the mid 90s & believing I was finally being responsible about being informed about the world & politics. After about a year of reading weekly I could see these same authors pushing an opinion/agenda & no longer felt I was being informed but rather being led to their conclusions. How can these “intelligent” men not see it? Even you could start to recognize your Porsche was inferior before being told by someone.
I’m confused by your comment - when did I use the word inferior? . I was in my 20s when I read Newsweek & realized it was crap. It was my first foray into reading ”news/nonfiction” & discerned this so I think I’m ahead of the curve…or at least these intelligent NYT readers.
well, when you own a car like that you are always comparing it to similar ones and very quickly realize it is "inferior" as you say. That, and you can NEVER go fast enough!
My son owns a 1200HP Dodge Viper, 3 times HP of my old Z.
It seems like we are two mirrors facing each other with reflections that recede infinitely. In 2016 when the Seattle Times published my essay, Why Trump will make a good President, the most amusing comment, among the dozens that simply hurled insults, was that I was obviously a low information voter.
A friend of mine tells me that Elvis is still alive and that Trump has actually been in charge for the last 8 years and when I ask her to show me her evidence she shows me a pdf file that I tell her I could have produced in an hour or so but she simply will not accept that a bit of writing produced by God knows who on a piece of paper proves nothing.
That is no different from your friends reading the legacy media and not bothering to ask about the agendas of those writing these pieces or indeed whether they are just straight out lying to them.
As the old saying goes "The grown man knows the world he lives in" and it seems your friends simply never grew up. They still believe standing armies are there to defend them. The founding fathers knew different which was why they banned a standing armed forces except for a short period and only then if the US was actually invaded.
Your friends will awaken, too late, when the friendly standing armed forces kick their door in and shoot their dog to save the planet from its farts. ....... Americans are always too late to the party and this time the party is being held at their place.
Elegantly put. I had lunch with four highly intelligent friends this past weekend, and twitched a bit when the subject of chat turned to politics. As I feared, the limit of their exploration was the "papers of record." I truly appreciate writers like yourself, and fearless interviewers such as Tucker Carlson, to mention only you two, for bringing other voices to our attention. I don't know all, but I know enough that I have to choose my viewpoint in conversation carefully lest I pull back the Wizard's Curtain and challenge carefully curated beliefs.
I know just what you mean. It’s as if there are no longer any subjects that are okay to discuss ‘normally’ any more…even the weather, which used to be the one ‘safe’ topic (it always results in someone saying whatever weather pattern occurring is due to ‘climate change’…I tried saying that, no, it’s called ‘weather’. I’ve given up, though. Of course, the worst part about this is that we are essentially self-censoring…mostly in order to maintain our sanity and keep our few remaining friends, I suppose.
It's not a good trend, eh? I think it's time for citizen scientists to share their findings on how to unlock this heinous formula to divide and conquer...
Great story as usual and an excellent analogy with Porsche. I like you had always wanted a 911 since I was a boy. I too came upon some extra income and purchased my Porsche, the difference being it was a 993 version and still air cooled. So sorry mate the 996 was rubbish, 😂
Rubbish indeed. The 993 was as undrivable in turns as every other 911 to date, but at least it had character. After that beauty the 996 was like morning breath. Electronics have turned the uh, unusual choice of rear engine into a good sports car, but boy are they now corporate barges.
That's a great story, John. . . . about the car and about your demeanor. I am just guessing you did not refer to the gray lady and others quite as "rubbish" though. You are more considerate than the Brit, I figure.
I went through a series of used sports cars myself and had lots of fun driving way too fast. I started exactly the same way too-- a used 280ZX for $2000, ha. Primitive by comparison to your 996, but it was a lot of fun, spent a fair amount of time rebuilding the body/ painting it. Eventually, I ended up with a Nissan twin turbo 300Z, again used, only $10,000. Not sure, but it would likely keep up with your 996-- 450 HP after upgrading.
Yeah, frankly I'm a bit anxious about the consequences of their eventual consciousness. I can't relate to being so routinely low-info, and then coming into shock about the true nature of weighty subjects. Could result in some unexpected and dysfunctional mass reactions.
I think it will be too late. Once people clue in. In a way I will find this amusing. The truth has there all along. Personally tired of the anger being slung at me. Faith is not easy.
That's the upside. Meanwhile, the pain can be reduced by being mentally ready to die (only half joking there). Also, I hope you don't think our problems will end in 4 years, or that it depends on which political party is dominant.
I’ve noticed that whenever someone uses the word ‘hope’ is used in a comment, it isn’t based on reality. Yes, I’m sure you think I’m being cynical. Reality, truth, facts - these are what matters.
Agreed, but often they matter only in the end. The rubber band of perception and belief can be stretched pretty far, and that's how our "betters" get away with so much.
This happens because, for all humans, *all* "truth" is ever only an approximation, one that can potentially be upended at some point in the future. No matter how powerful the illusion otherwise. On that level, we're all "low information people".
EDIT: My "ready to die (only half joking there)" I think is better stated "in standing up for what's right, prepared in the way one, and those one loves, think proper to suffer losses, up to and including death."
John Leake is always one of the most interesting men in the room. A Canary with a fresh perspective makes reading his articles a delight. Best wishes to you and Peter for 2025 and thank you both for your informative “Courageous Discourse” channel.
Thanks Chris, very kind of you! And thanks for reading my work! Best wishes to you for prosperous and healthy 2025!
I get it. Out of approx. 20 golf buddies overall in Florida, all college BS degrees or better and conservative mostly, I got blank stares or looks of incredulity when someone brought up the next pandemic might be bird flu and I mentioned GOF research being very concerning. One or two understand everything, a few have asked questions but mostly get nervous and /or defensive. The “citizenship” needs better info and intel.
Unfortunately, many have a tendency to sleepwalk their way through life. It can be painful to realize that you don't necessarily live on the "right side of history," and it is very hard to give up comfort, security, and certainty for discomfort and uncertainty.
Maybe it could be cast as passive, rather than active thinking--with a side helping of excessive pride and attachment. If thinking ends at comprehending the writer's point but never questioning the premises, that's passive. How long does it take for that blind acceptance of a point of view to wear a deep groove in the mind?
I love the definition of college as the place where one learns to live with ambiguity, rather than feel compelled to pick a side and stick to it b/c that's what your father believed, so to say. As a result, over my life I've "outgrown" and left a number of circles of friends. I chose being true to myself.
I've had my sense of "knowing what's going on" on any given subject upset so many times...but that is the essence of critical thought. Being committed to seeking truth, and realizing that a "remodeling of the mind," is ongoing, a lot like the spouse who rearranges the living room furniture a dozen times, knowing there is no definite end point.
I had to accept that change is part of the ground rules: if I wanted to know what's really going on, I had to commit to flexibility and open-mindedness, and be prepared to be kicked out of the clubs that accepted me only for devotion to "eternal truths."
as a friend used to say
"as I've got older, there has been an extraordinary increase in the number of things that I know absolutely nothing about"
We are in need of creating a long march back thru the institutions to expose the collectivist/communist/globalist subversion that has blinded the majority of people.
Yes, I completely agree. However, as long as we continue to refer to them as "globalists," they will operate under the veil of anonymity, allowing them to orchestrate our collective demise with impunity.
In the past 14 months, Twitter has seen an explosion of people naming the unnameable, and in just the last two days, those with the largest followings have been demonetized!
please share a link concerning your comment. care not what label you call them, just that they do represent a force that seeks complete control and power over the marketplace of ideas and have no issues in covering up truth.
There is a particular group that has collectively made it their mission to dominate the banking sector, control 94% of global media, search engines, dictate immigration policies, Hollywood, pornography, and much of Big Pharma. They also exert significant influence over the judiciary. Many politicians fall under their control, whether through bribery, blackmail, or by ensuring their own people are elected. Despite comprising less than 2% of the population, they account for over 60% of key political institutions.
Henry Ford warned us about this group over a century ago, as their agenda has been unfolding for quite some time.
By referring to them merely as "globalists," you allow them to continue operating behind a veil of anonymity, enabling them to orchestrate our collective downfall without consequence.
If I have to share links to demonstrate who they are then clearly you’re not very involved or paying attention.
“If you want to know who is in charge, simply look at who it is illegal to criticize”
There is only one correct answer and it’s not globalists.
Oh bs crap about collectivist/ communist/globalist subversion
People at the level you describe (golfers/ country clubs and so on ) have made it to a comfortable level in their lives in this society. Why should they want to engage in this? As one commenter writes , and I agree: “ It can be painful to realize that you don't necessarily live on the "right side of history," and it is very hard to give up comfort, security, and certainty for discomfort and uncertainty.”
The phrase "college BS degrees" adds dimension to the context of this article.
Great comment. People have much to keep them occupied and active research into the world is in short supply for lots of folks.
My mother turns on the news and after "the news" is repeated to her, verbatim, for the entire day: She has memorized the important bits and repeats it back to me, in Italian.
She is a well informed 92 year old... 😉
The “citizenship” needs a better attitude.
FIFY. We're able to get better info -- they can too.
Won't help. They're not trained mystics.
The overriding theme I believe is that most of these “characters” still regard medicine and physicians as holding the keys to better health which is drummed home 24/7. The disbelief I see is reflected by shutting down further conversation. I never can get to the ranking of 67th in health outcomes, worse than Vietnam’s and beside Algeria, lol.
Think of them as petulant children because that is the level of propaganda we now engage with alternative media. We have been lead like children to be egocentric, admiration for prestige, intellect, wealth. They are all hierarchal, easily manipulated. What is not is time spent wisdom, but what you have described is the uncomfortable experience of beginning to change intentionally broken minds from youth.
This began in earnest six decades ago with my massive naturally groupthink TV Boomer generation and perhaps 8% who considered themselves the chosen, the egocentric.
We now know many of the names and what they have been up to for six decades as their offspring attempt to go global.
Well I'd still like one to find out for myself! LOL! But yes dealing with clueless people AFTER FOUR FREAKING YEARS OF THIS BS is mind numbing. Along with frustrating!!! There's alot of really smart people that are just flat stupid! I'd rather have common sense than be book smart! If you're rich due to a career, but die from a rona shot due to no common sense...what's the point? That faster Porsche isn't going to fit in their coffin!
I think we ought to make more of a fuss - that those who took the shot were gullible and do not think for themselves. In fact, I don't think I can learn much from anyone who took the shot. I just don't trust their judgment and that must creep into other areas of judgment. This is something we shouldn't let them forget - they put the world through torture and tried to force their idiocy on others because of their unfounded fears. Will they do it again?
Some, like Steve Kirsch, learned better.
Not sure what you mean.
I think what he means is that Steve Kirsch took the covid jabs (Moderna, if I am not mistaken), but when too many that he knew who were also jabbed were dropping dead or having heart attacks, he started to make the connection.
The story of his "conversion" is very fascinating.
After he informed a woman that the shots were (of course) safe, she informed him that four family members had all died within a month of getting the shot.
It was just days later that his carpet cleaner showed up wearing a mask; Steve asked him why he simply didn't get the two shots and be "protected". When the man informed him that he had a heart attack fifteen minutes after his first shot, Steve said to himself that he was being lied to.
One of the reasons that art fraud is so hard to prosecute is because very few people want to come out and admit that they were duped (usually, out of no small amount of money); there may be a similar concern among those who got the jab. But Steve Kirsch has been indefatigable in his campaign against these shots; we are privileged to have him on our side.
I agree that we are indeed privileged to have Steve Kirsch doing all of this analysis. I have been following him from the beginning & watch every VSRF on Thursday evenings. His latest, from today, are the results of a survey he did on covid "vaccinated" family members. He concluded from this survey that 1.2 million in the U.S. have thus far died from these products. If you do not subscribe to his substack, you can find it on the home page for his substack. He really is tireless in his efforts to demonstrate the harms associated with these so-called "vaccines". My hat goes off to him.
I agree that we're privileged to have Steven Kirsch on our side. He's like a bulldog who's caught something -- got his jaws clamped tight, won't let go for anything, and shakes it hard over and over and over. Determined to not let go until the "safe and effective" BS about spikeshots is limp, shredded, totally DEAD.
He has also been jab injured.
Yes he lost sight in one eye. That's true he did fall for it. I can't imagine how he could or how anyone could. To me it was glaringly obvious, but I never felt so alone as for that time where everyone was falling for the bs and I knew it the very first day that it was bs.
Denise Ward: In response to your closing question: Yes.
Actually 5 years.
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
it is 5 yrs since they unleashed the Great Madness on us; after several years of planning
but you can NEVER go fast enough!
Especially with a state Trooper on your tail.
Here, buy them this tee shirt. It might be simple enough for them.
https://shop.babylonbee.com/products/conspiracy-theory-t-shirt
If they don't get it, then list out a number of conspiracy theories and the experts' explanations of them.
I know. I just heard from a friend that Gates does good work through his charities. I didn’t bother explaining to him what Gates is actually doing.
Why not? Maybe he hasn't heard the truth about Gates and would thank you for the info.
I too fell for the Legacy Media and The Prestige thinking that they were giving me the truth. All that changed in 2016 with Trump's win. And the vitriol and the antitrump narrative that was being shouted by all these prestigious legacy media. And what I never understood was that the information they proposed were never truths but opinions. And they never acknowledged that. And they would have to do mental gymnastics to explain certain things especially if the events did not fit their narrative.
"what I never understood was that the information they proposed were never truths but opinions"
Agreed. They like it when one can't see the difference. In contrast to what I was taught studying economics c.1980, the normative is now routinely conflated with the positive.
The closing of the mind is a puzzling phenomenon that I too have observed among highly educated people who as a research scientist I interacted with on a regular basis. Indoctrination by the legacy media was certainly a factor but social control and preservation of standing within the community was perhaps more important. The climate change debate with which I was engaged as a scientist opened my eyes not only to the corruption of science but also the large impact that the main stream media exerted on the views of educated people with regard to so-called anthropogenic global warming. But what was most disconcerting to me is when I pointed out some scientific weaknesses of the AGW hypothesis, they became very upset and proceeded to attack me personally. I saw the same reaction with the COVID scamdemic and was ultimately kicked out of a group of professionals who had been meeting for New Years dinner for almost 30 years for not taking the shots. One should never underestimate the power of mind control with the threat of social exclusion. Needless to say, with minds like these we are in big trouble because as stated of Ayn Rand: you can ignore reality but you can’t ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.
Wdg: We have witnessed the total corruption of the progressive elite that control the pillars of Western society. In a biblical descriptive model written 2000 years ago, it is the living out of Romans chapter 1
I couldn’t agree more. But the “progressive elite” are neither progressive or elite by definition. How about regressive zombies who seem blissfully unaware that they are destroying the future of their children, assuming they have any, and all humanity. I think it was George Orwell who state that when words lose their meaning, we are on the road to tyranny.
It's not just legacy papers like the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post, but higher education, esp. in medical fields, as well. I suspect it take a trained mystical mind to survive those while retaining healthy skepticism.
THIS!!!
It’s like buying a t shirt for hundreds of dollars just because the supreme logo is on it.
Crystal - your comment reminds me how, in recent years, people have been convinced to provide free advertising to clothing makers, by purchasing items with those giant company logos / names on them. Paying for the privilege of being walking commercials!
I’ve considered that myself. It’s crazy. And the other thing is that they’ve chosen to do this with what was once the ‘high end’ ‘exclusive’ brands… like it must say how far above poverty they are or something… and so many people have these mega overpriced logos that it’s meaningless anyways.
Yes, it has become obiquitous. A number of times, I’ve wanted to purchase a sweatshirt of jacket which was nice, but the giant company name was covering the entire front…no thanks. Back to the thrift store!
Me too! No big logos and 99% of my clothes are thrifted. Best way to get the actual quality stuff too.
Great analogy CA!
Thanks Arnold.
I could possibly see being a little behind on the WSJ (only because their editorial page is still respectable) but believing the NYT is not only a reliable source of info let alone prestigious is bizarre. I remember reading Newsweek cover to cover in the mid 90s & believing I was finally being responsible about being informed about the world & politics. After about a year of reading weekly I could see these same authors pushing an opinion/agenda & no longer felt I was being informed but rather being led to their conclusions. How can these “intelligent” men not see it? Even you could start to recognize your Porsche was inferior before being told by someone.
Inferior? Back when my dad subscribed to Newsweek, I found it to be a masterful psyop.
I’m confused by your comment - when did I use the word inferior? . I was in my 20s when I read Newsweek & realized it was crap. It was my first foray into reading ”news/nonfiction” & discerned this so I think I’m ahead of the curve…or at least these intelligent NYT readers.
well, when you own a car like that you are always comparing it to similar ones and very quickly realize it is "inferior" as you say. That, and you can NEVER go fast enough!
My son owns a 1200HP Dodge Viper, 3 times HP of my old Z.
It seems like we are two mirrors facing each other with reflections that recede infinitely. In 2016 when the Seattle Times published my essay, Why Trump will make a good President, the most amusing comment, among the dozens that simply hurled insults, was that I was obviously a low information voter.
Happy New Year!
Why did you bother pitching it to the NYT? hee hee
Love this story. Great analogy.
A friend of mine tells me that Elvis is still alive and that Trump has actually been in charge for the last 8 years and when I ask her to show me her evidence she shows me a pdf file that I tell her I could have produced in an hour or so but she simply will not accept that a bit of writing produced by God knows who on a piece of paper proves nothing.
That is no different from your friends reading the legacy media and not bothering to ask about the agendas of those writing these pieces or indeed whether they are just straight out lying to them.
As the old saying goes "The grown man knows the world he lives in" and it seems your friends simply never grew up. They still believe standing armies are there to defend them. The founding fathers knew different which was why they banned a standing armed forces except for a short period and only then if the US was actually invaded.
Your friends will awaken, too late, when the friendly standing armed forces kick their door in and shoot their dog to save the planet from its farts. ....... Americans are always too late to the party and this time the party is being held at their place.
Elegantly put. I had lunch with four highly intelligent friends this past weekend, and twitched a bit when the subject of chat turned to politics. As I feared, the limit of their exploration was the "papers of record." I truly appreciate writers like yourself, and fearless interviewers such as Tucker Carlson, to mention only you two, for bringing other voices to our attention. I don't know all, but I know enough that I have to choose my viewpoint in conversation carefully lest I pull back the Wizard's Curtain and challenge carefully curated beliefs.
I know just what you mean. It’s as if there are no longer any subjects that are okay to discuss ‘normally’ any more…even the weather, which used to be the one ‘safe’ topic (it always results in someone saying whatever weather pattern occurring is due to ‘climate change’…I tried saying that, no, it’s called ‘weather’. I’ve given up, though. Of course, the worst part about this is that we are essentially self-censoring…mostly in order to maintain our sanity and keep our few remaining friends, I suppose.
It's not a good trend, eh? I think it's time for citizen scientists to share their findings on how to unlock this heinous formula to divide and conquer...
Great story as usual and an excellent analogy with Porsche. I like you had always wanted a 911 since I was a boy. I too came upon some extra income and purchased my Porsche, the difference being it was a 993 version and still air cooled. So sorry mate the 996 was rubbish, 😂
Rubbish indeed. The 993 was as undrivable in turns as every other 911 to date, but at least it had character. After that beauty the 996 was like morning breath. Electronics have turned the uh, unusual choice of rear engine into a good sports car, but boy are they now corporate barges.
Chris, hard to argue with your point about turns. It did take some “handling “ to drive fast.
That's a great story, John. . . . about the car and about your demeanor. I am just guessing you did not refer to the gray lady and others quite as "rubbish" though. You are more considerate than the Brit, I figure.
I went through a series of used sports cars myself and had lots of fun driving way too fast. I started exactly the same way too-- a used 280ZX for $2000, ha. Primitive by comparison to your 996, but it was a lot of fun, spent a fair amount of time rebuilding the body/ painting it. Eventually, I ended up with a Nissan twin turbo 300Z, again used, only $10,000. Not sure, but it would likely keep up with your 996-- 450 HP after upgrading.
Thanks John for a year of thought-provoking, very interesting, many delightful, articles.
Excellent point. The world is going to turn upside down for these people because everything they thought was true is total rubbish.
Yeah, but when?
Yeah, frankly I'm a bit anxious about the consequences of their eventual consciousness. I can't relate to being so routinely low-info, and then coming into shock about the true nature of weighty subjects. Could result in some unexpected and dysfunctional mass reactions.
I think it will be too late. Once people clue in. In a way I will find this amusing. The truth has there all along. Personally tired of the anger being slung at me. Faith is not easy.
Yep. The boiling frog always notices when it is too late.
I hear you. I’m getting a 4 year supply of popcorn.
That's the upside. Meanwhile, the pain can be reduced by being mentally ready to die (only half joking there). Also, I hope you don't think our problems will end in 4 years, or that it depends on which political party is dominant.
Anti-Hip - Well said. Every four years, people think they’re going to be ‘saved’; when the elections are merely theater in order to distract folks.
No, no! For the first time in ages we have hope and something to look forward to. Fasten your seat belt. This is going to be FUN!
I’ve noticed that whenever someone uses the word ‘hope’ is used in a comment, it isn’t based on reality. Yes, I’m sure you think I’m being cynical. Reality, truth, facts - these are what matters.
Agreed, but often they matter only in the end. The rubber band of perception and belief can be stretched pretty far, and that's how our "betters" get away with so much.
This happens because, for all humans, *all* "truth" is ever only an approximation, one that can potentially be upended at some point in the future. No matter how powerful the illusion otherwise. On that level, we're all "low information people".
EDIT: My "ready to die (only half joking there)" I think is better stated "in standing up for what's right, prepared in the way one, and those one loves, think proper to suffer losses, up to and including death."