Topix Underground

I actually don't read anything about politics or the news except the most sensationalized headlines on the internet. I'm like a fat broad in the checkout line that gets her world view from the front page of the National Enquirer on the rack, but she's too cheap to spring 6 bucks for it. She'll opt for the king-size Snickers instead.

Are you kidding? Like I have skin in the game. I don't give a shit. I would never leave my own house if I could get away with it. There is zero reason for me to interact with the rest of the world except by neurotic typing in the middle of the night because that really is how meaningless it all is.

I don't know who my congress..man?...woman... is. I don't know what district this is, who the senator(s) are. I know Trump's President, Vance is VP. Rubio is ...Sec O state...I think.  And Whitmer's the governor.  I voted for Reagan once when I was 18  and Trump once this last time. And it's all based on very topical perception. Reagan understood that. It's presentation, like restaurants..put a GD strawberry on the plate and raise the price...it'll fly. I'm totally onboard with that.

I am moved by the spirit.

The British are right about one thing. Twitter..X...whatever it's called is by far...way far...the most influential force in media and it's caused kind of a contagion that has spread throughout virtually every media form. You cannot trust the veracity of ANY cable news show, network, newspapers, magazines...everything. It is 100% propaganda, motivated by profit, ideology or sheer evil. Truth is not a priority, perception is.

And this is all so well crafted and so dazzling in delivery that you stop caring what the truth is anyhow because that really isn't the point.
The point is reacting blindly and specifically without thought because 'clicks' and 'likes' are the product they sell. Followers, exposure, approval. Every inernet-computer-phone-tv 'feed' is filled with scrollable 'content' designed to mesmerise whoever it is they are trying to influence.  Excuse me for being a traditionalist but I think drugs are much less harmful. This bullshit has hypnotized a huge portion of a generation into being self-loathing, sexually confused nitwits.

As far as product design, it's the same as cigarettes - engineered to maximize the addictive potential.

Do they scan your ID there?

I went with a mate to check out a local recreational dispensary and even though I made it plain that I was not going to buy anything, the gatekeepers insisted on an ID scan.  Not just see it, scan it into their system.  I declined their demand and walked out the door.