04/23/20 ||| A Michelle Wolf, Eric Weinstein & Ryan Holiday kinda day

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 ••• Michelle Wolf: The Media Is Hopelessly Addicted to Trump ||| The Daily Beast •••

One of my little, but physically bigger, brothers sent me this opinion piece today. Really loving me the sharp-witted brain and tongue of Michelle Wolfe these days. She was on Joe Rogan awhile ago and I remember really loving the interview. (JRE with Michell Wolf) How comedians have become one of the best sources of truth is an important question. Maybe for a later time.

Like many of us my first introduction to her comedy was her unexpected and fitting roast of The-Orangy-One at the the White House correspondence dinner in 2018. That routine was a breath of fresh air for many of us silenced by our own fatigue over the years following the election. The human mind just isn’t built to grapple for so long with so much impossible information. Everyday the antics from the White House were out-doing the previous days with crazier and scarier shit… With the news cycle now being pumped into our faces in deafening 27/7 intervals it’s only natural that some of us have tune it out to survive. To get on with my life I learned to take small gulps of the insanity once or twice a week. It seems though that about 40% of the population learned to cope in a different way. They got free by taking their brains completely off-line. Guess they found it easier to accept the daily deluge of paper-thin lies and obvious contradictions as the truth than to deal with the cognitive dissonance the rest of us content with . These fine folks, mostly nestled far outside the ‘big cities’, learned to watch the action like a home team sporting event. They picked their team and root away even as the players are firing machine gun into the stands.

Another thing related to this line of thinking… Is it really surprising that someone so clearly detached from any of the decent moral teachings of the Bible has the evangelical vote? It’s not hard to find the tie that binds in this case. Back to it. Here’s Michelle’s great OP-Ed from the The Daily Beast.

Click for full article

 

••• 31: Ryan Holiday on the Portal w/ Eric Weinstein •••

Click to hear podcast.

A few hours ago I was gearing up for a run. Or paring down actually. It’s a beautiful, sunny day here in Austin and I saw no point in anything besides the minimal clothing requirements. Before setting out I was flipping for the next podcast to dump into my head. I’d just finished the Joe Rogan episode I mentioned yesterday. When I run I don’t really enjoy listening to people talk. It’s usually some chill music for me. Or nothing besides my own rhythm and thoughts. Exercise I typically find to be a great time to disengage from the world and an even better time to get closer to some hypnotic, meditative state. Running is perfect for rocking the present.

Since CV19 however I’ve had little reason to go on long drives which is where I usually consume the bulk of my programs. Driving and cooking meals are my windows for this. Food always takes about 30 mins for me to dish a dish and it’s one of my favorite spaces in the day for podcasts (and phone calls for that matter) but I only cook twice a day and the shows are piling up.

Anyways I happened on episode 31 of the Portal; a show hosted by one of the most brilliant people on the planet Eric Weinstein. This guy is truly over the top in his encyclopedic like knowledge and infinite reservoir of curiosity for all things. He can be a bit much for some personalities to take and it’s understandable; there’s often an air of entitlement when he’s delivering opinions or interlocking with a guest. I’ve done my best to overlook all that because there’s an incredibly interesting mind beyond his more jarring and less-savory human qualities. When you’re an honest-to-god polymath at the top of the intellectual pack and and many of the brightest minds on the planet look up you maybe the underlings could cut some slack? No one is perfect and everyone is a little weird once you spend enough time with them.

His guest is Ryan Holiday who is a resident of Austin I just found out. Neat. I’m halfway through his book The Perennial Seller. He has a smooth flow that makes for easy and pleasant reading. This particular book, although short, is taking awhile because I don’t wanna miss anything. This one truly has my attention; it’s about making and marketing products (including art/music) that lasts for decades. Currently I’m in the 11th hour of releasing a long overdue album but great advice can’t be had too late.

I have only made it about 1/4 of the way through this 2:30hr show and posting here and now seems a little premature but I guess I am excited to share. It’s always a thrill to hear my favorite personalities talking the talk.

It’s Probably available everywhere podcasts can be had. I listen in the Apple iPhone app; here’s that link:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-portal/id1469999563#episodeGuid=gid%3A%2F%2Fart19-episode-locator%2FV0%2FvWnLrFUwSgXyEvUlRwtclxEraQkXoH0WfsrUD60bZqU

 

 

04/22/20 ||| Ericommended

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 ••• Eric Recommended = Eric0mmended. Get it? •••

I think have an idea that I believe will serve us both well… Probably me more than you but still.
For starters I will be leaving WordPress open in my browser from now on. Typically I always have an iPad setup on a table ready with a Bluetooth keyboard so with the slightest inclination I can jot down thoughts or write journal entries. I could, and often do, do this on my laptop but I find there it complicates things. The ease of plunging myself into an infinite amount of knowledge is often too great. Of course an iPad provides the same temptation but the workflow with those things tends to be more of a pain-in-the-ass affair. It’s just easier for me to stay put on an iPad.

The point I will try to get to without any more unnecessary tangents: EricOmennended is my “daily briefing” of what’s good of what I find throughout the day. Like many of you, everyday I’m happening across great articles, videos, podcasts and music. Once consumed they mostly fall into oblivion. There is definitely value in having a personal archive and that’s why I write in a journal. I’ve been doing that off and on throughout my life but it’s only this last half a decade that I’ve been getting more fervent about it.

To me time is a mystery. It comes and goes and doesn’t always leave proof it was ever here. Sometimes I find it hard to believe I even existed 10 years ago. My nightly dreams often feel more real than the scanty memories of my past. Somewhat later in life I learned the value of keeping a personal record. Not sure exactly the point it dawned on me but I wish it had been sooner. Reading entries from even a few years ago is sometimes like reading the writings of someone else who lives one dimension removed from ours. What’s really great is how even some of the most simple accounts such as “I woke at 8:30am and went to the dentist appointment” can unlock tons of surrounding images and supporting memories that also happened that day. It’s the same as trying to remember some weird dream where one silly detail can help the whole thing bloom into existence again.

That said I’m mostly going to be using this to post “stuff” I find during the day and probably won’t get too crazy with prose or proofing for that matter. These entries will be more of an extension of my personal journals which would bore you to tears I’m sure.

••• 2/21 ‘Letters From an American’ Post •••

Anyways the first thing I want to mention was sitting in my inbox when I woke up. My last couple posts were about Heather Cox Richardson and I think she’ll prob be a fixture here since her work is a fixture in my information funnel. Her blog “Letters From an American” is just too good.  >>>> https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/april-21-2020

••• Joe Rogan w/ Tom O’Neill •••

Though I’m getting pissed with Joe Rogan these days (he promises to vote for Trump because Biden is too decrepit. My beef is that a comatose Biden would fare better than this noxious mouth-scab running train on democracy) but he does still tend to have on great guests even as the onslaught of CV19 rages on. I’ve been listening to this interview for a few days via the apple podcast app. Prior to this I knew little to nothing about the Manson murders and didn’t care that much. But this guy, Tom O’Neill has uncovered all kinds of government conspiracies and secret groups dating back to the 50’s. Not to be filed under ‘conspiracy theory bullshit’ tho. Its not. This dude has been investigating these murders, Charlie, and FBI for 20 freaking years. It’s wild. He cites real sources and has the proof in hand. It’s a long one but well worth it.

 ••• Wired – Hold the Line •••

I’ve been getting wired magazine for years and I have no idea why but I’m glad I do. I typically read these cover to cover. Although having them around is killing my book reading rate it’s still worth it. The newest issue came a couple of days ago and as is now customary I let it sit under my shoe rack for a few days. Supposedly this kills any Covid-19 virus that may be attached. Anyways the first article, a letter from the editor type thing, is well worth blogging about.

https://www.wired.com/story/coronavirus-covid-19-hold-the-line-editors-note/

Trust Smart People Pt.2

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Yesterday I bopped off a quick piece intended as an excuse to post a link to the wonderful blog site “Letters From An American”; authored by Heather Cox Richardson. Supposing’ I didn’t really need an excuse to post a link on my own blog but it seemed bit lazy to without some sort of a preamble.

This morning however I stumbled into the same long patch of thoughts I was treading in last night but this time more intention was warranted than I previously allowed. Guess I wasn’t quite done. In the end I think I stole some phrases and direct thoughts from yesterday’s post but I don’t mind. Consider them one in the same; the second being a better developed extension, or a first draft that was prematurely published.

Here’s the entire post that I put onto my personal facebook page a few minutes ago:

When it comes to following the daily happenings most of us are getting worn dangerously thin and right now just isn’t the time for our collective indifference. I totally get the urge to disengage. Everyday we’re faced with a whole new heap of problems thrown on top of yesterday’s heap of unresolved problems… ad infinitum. Tracking reality has become overwhelming and begins to seem impossible to the frazzled brain. At times it feels like we’re blindfolded and barreling towered the center of the earth on a hyper-speed rocket launched in exactly the wrong direction. Exhaustion in this state is pretty much inevitable; there’s really nothing more fatiguing and unmotivating that not knowing what the fuck is going on when caught in a crisis that is directly impacting your life in every way. Here are a three simple rules I have established for myself that have helped me tremendously. #1) Limit intake of US big-media; esp the extreme left and right. #2) Don’t take anything Kim Jong Trump says seriously or anyone under his erratic sway for that matter. Unfortunately even the good Dr. Fauci is restricted to what “truths” he’s allowed to express on any given day. And anyways Dear Leader is using the pandemic as a way to secure his reelection (god-fucking-forbid) instead of trying to help us through this in the most efficient manner possible. Everything he says is being filtered through the twisted prism of his selfish interests and gross narcissism. #3) Listen to SMART people not beholden to the main-stream narrative. Folks who are free to criticize all manner of political viewpoints, leaders and financial interests without fear of retribution. The internet has thankfully provided the cover for the independent mind. We have access to innumerable up-standing, honest humans with powerful; finely calibrated brains that are trying to understand and pass on to us, what is ACTUALLY going on. There’s one bright light in this obscure star-field I wanna turn you guys on to. Heather Cox Richardson, an American historian and best selling author, who is writing some of the most coherent and thoughtful takes on our current situation. Please check out her fantastic blog “Letters From an American” then sign up for her email updates. The times are dark and we have a bonafide maniac ranting from the captains-chair; slyly dismantling our democracy and his presidential constraints as our eyes slowly glaze over. Now just isn’t the time to look away. – and thx to Jodie J. for hipping me to this site. It’s a been great dose of daily sanity.

Attached Link:

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/april-20-2020

 

 

 

If You Want to Survive Then Trust Smart People.

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That’s it. If anything can be gleaned from these layers of chaos that are everyday being heaped on us then it’s just to trust smart people. No one really has their hands on the controls; there’s no all knowing being behind the curtain pulling the dials and levers. There’s just people, lost in the wilderness and trying to find their way safely out. And at the same time, much to our detriment, there’s mentally ill narcissist standing on the captains chair babbling and screaming incoherently. Yeah don’t listen to that fuck. He’s dangerous and he actually HATES our freedom. How his bald-eagle hat Walmart-buying-Chinese-made-USA-Flag-shirt wearing supporters don’t seem to see what he’s actually up to is a whole other subject all together.

Luckily for us there are serious people in the wings analyzing, predicting and adding to the pool of our current understanding with their wonderfully intact and fine-tuned brains. Heather Cox Richardson is one person I place in that category. A friend recently turned me on to her website where she publishes a good number of well-written and well-thought out writings each week.

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/

She’s Gonna Wake Up and She’s Gonna Shake Us Off

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NOTE: I originally wrote then published this piece on www.eric-bettencourt.com, my music site.

A few years ago I was slogging through the long but great book Collapse by Jarod Diamond. It’s a study on the systematic failings of some of history’s greatest societies and the lessons we could potentially learn from them. Around this time I was sitting on a few melodic pieces of what would eventually become the song Shake Us Off. For a few years it remained mostly incomplete; it had basically stalled. It wasn’t until I finished the masterfully devastating novel The Road by Cormac McCarthy that I was sparked back into action again; dragging the tune to within a few yards of the finish line. The rest of the tweaks and changes happened slowly, most of it fell into place as I was shaping up the recordings for what would eventually be An Underwater Dream, the album it landed on.

I haven’t told anyone this because I feel weird but WTF… after the initial writing rush I was overtaken with some pretty heavy emotions and had myself a VERY unexpected sob. This has only happened once before with songwriting. What Works I started in the heat of an intense and imploding relationship. Crying just isn’t one of my go-to moves. It usually takes quite a lot.

Weary Traveler, which I posted to my Youtube channel a few weeks back, was completed within this same time-frame and basically cut from the same cloth though of a vastly different color. Both Shake Us Off and Weary Traveler really are one-in-the-same sentimentally. It’s not a coincidence they’re back-to-back on the record. Both were born out of my obsession and infatuation with the looming possibility of societal collapse which will probably always be a threat in the “not-too-distant future” of every generation.

To read the rest of the article head here… https://www.eric-bettencourt.com/shes-gonna-wake-up-and-shes-gonna-shake-us-off/