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BevoAbyss

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  1. Not that anyone cares, but I think that long post above is my big ADIOS to posting on Surly. -- Been thinking about this for a quite a while. -- I have nothing else to add to my collective 715 posts. I am sure I have had zero effect on anyone. -- Kinda like all my projects over the years. So hard to have any impact amid all the mental clutter of life and social media. Y'all are always hilarious, sometimes profound, and occasionally annoying. The football boards are a riot after UT loses a game. Nevertheless, for those here who graduated from UT-Austin (regardless of era), we all share a common bond. -- We attended a hell of a great university. -- I absolutely loved my time in Austin -- the learning, the profs, the friends, the experiences, the Tex-Mex, the music, the bars, the hot chicks (mostly artsy-fartsy in my circles). Oh those brainy smart Texas gals! I will keep creating and writing in my career, as best I can to have a positive impact on the world, even if it is near zero. No grudges, no hate, no anger for any of you. Wish all y'all the best in these dark, dark times. HOOK-EM!
  2. Dang. Massive typo. "... thoughtful critiques that anyone could grasp." Apologies.
  3. “monomania” is that a new legal term you learned for psychological cases. Dude, I don’t know how old you are (and don’t care). Depending on your age, I’m betting you voted for Ronnie Raygun twice, Bush 1 twice, Bush 2 twice, and probably McCain and Romney. I am sure there are many Surly posters who did this. And now y’all are suddenly the expert on whether Raygun set up precedents for Bush 2 and Trump. Lulz. You did not see the precedents, but others did. Many. Going back to the 1980s. Just not the American media or liberal intelligentsia, under control by the sacred texts of the NY Times. Those who posed the issue were marginalized. Hell, I saw it on the UT Campus in the 1980s. Right now, I am very worried about the MAGA LEOPARDS coming for my face. Many others are, too. Here's why (I said most of this once before, right after the election). -- I am torn between continuing any artistic/writing projects (that may have implicit or explicit critiques of Team USA) in public – with my name on them -- and risking a FAFO moment and having my own face eaten by MAGA leopards. My first published critique of the intellectual collapse happening in Team USA -- due to proliferation of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory, and anti-intellectualism – was published in 2005. Twenty fucking years ago. Where? Not in the USA. No way. But in Europe! -- Where it was included in an anthology published by very prestigious publishing house. With my name on it. -- What were y’all fans of Raygun doing in 2005? Since finishing my PhD, I have written dozens of articles and books about art, science, technology, philosophy, culture, film, and so on. Nothing to do with MAGA or Trump or Raygun. Hardly “monomania,” My works are sometimes informed by the great stuff I learned in my PhD from UT-Austin. I also create art, albeit stuff on the artsy-fartsy fringe, some on the “ledge” as the term is here. Rather than be in a silo like most artists and thinkers, I am interested in lots of stuff. Some of that includes politics, the deeper issues causing the politics. -- To that end over the past 10-15 years, I published systematic critiques of MAGA, the Border Wall, Q conspiracy, pseudoscience, cultural collapse, fascism, theocracy, Homeland surveillance, doublethink, and so on. Not rants, not insults, but thoughtful critiques written than anyone could get. About 15 publications in various places, in books, academic journals, and even in online pubs. Not hidden behind an avatar. Not zillions of readers, but dozens to hundreds to thousands. All in public, with my name on them. -- What did most of my liberal friends say: Nah, it’s not that bad. This will pass, etc. Liberals! (I have no conservative friends, as you might imagine. For record, I don’t hang out with active Democrats, either.) ELECTION 2024 The day after the November election, I had coffee with a civil liberties lawyer, who is also an old friend. His recommendation. Start scrubbing the online stuff. NOW. Why? -- The medievalists and fascists are coming, the American cultural and political mind is closing, free speech will be a joke, and the arts/academic organizations will not want to fund anyone or anything that might get them in the MAGA crosshairs. -- So I scrubbed what I could. I know others did. However, some of my critiques can't be scrubbed. They are byond my control, in various books and journals, etc. -- There are days I feel like a fucking coward. Like sick to my stomach. -- Other days, I am just hoping I don’t get in any crosshairs. -- I don’t want a FAFO moment and leopards eat my face. I do okay with $$, but I am not rich enough to split the USA. Still I need funding for income, want to get paid support for my projects, and don’t want to deplete savings and investments. -- Surly friends, the fears are all-too-real in the art and academic worlds. I have friends and colleagues who are people of color, LGBTQ, atheists, liberals, leftists,. and so on. All fearful and sense it is going to get much much worse. -------------------------- TLDR: You can love your Raygun, but some of us knew when Raygun and Falwell got on the stage, big-time trouble was brewing, especially if they got their team in power. They’re in power … heading for total power. And I was out there in the so-called marketplace of ideas, naively doing my minuscule best, to alert people to the dangers. With my name on it. In pubic. I tried, and largely failed to have any effect. What the hell were you doing since 2005 with your name on it? I am out on this topic. Adios.
  4. Let's see now. We got former Conservatives defending Reagan as a Teflon God .... and yet saying it's not a precedent related to MAGAs who see Trump as a Teflon God. Hilarious... and terrifying. The level of doublethink is staggering.
  5. Well we can tell which Surly posters were "Young Conservatives" or Republicans at UT. -- Those still defending their Teflon God: Ronnie Reagan.
  6. Sorry Twice: Nothing telegraphs privileged frat boy ... like saying my list is just "little anecdotes" -- Go tell that to the millions (mostly people of color) incarcerated by Reagan's ramped up Drug War ..... with all the raids that ignored the Bill of Rights and laid the foundation for ICE -- Go tell that to women who can't get an abortion because of the Reagan-Christian war on abortion and reproductive rights. Women fleeing to get abortions, bleeding out in hospital parking lots. Forced to give birth. Anecdotes? -- and so on. The list is clear. You refuted nothing. Just apologia for your fellow frat boys Republican worldview Reagan laid the foundation for MAGA-Trump. Ignoring clear facts and irrefutable arguments is the clear hallmark of Conservatives, Republicans .... and MAGA. Go look in the mirror, dude. Adios.
  7. RE: Reagan and MAGA-Trump While I appreciate the PBS traditionalist history provided by Twice, it left out some key aspects of the Reagan era, perhaps because it does not fit into his worldview or selective memory banks. 1. Reagan Worshipped Like a God >>> Trump Worshipped Like a God I was at the University of Texas in 1984. Reagan was a freaking God to the frat boys, “Young Conservatives,” and Libertarians. Across America, Republicans worshipped him like a God as well. Sure seemed cult-like to me; not as bad as MAGA and Trump, but the worship was there. Still is. Hell, some Surly posters still wax poetic about him. Reagan was swept into office in a winning brew of Hollywood glam (albeit B or C level), rapidly escalating evangelicalism, a stagnant economy, supposed free market ideology, the hysteria of propagandized patriotism of the Cold War, all anchored by a yearning for the “good ole days.” 2. "It’s Morning Again in America" >>> Make America Great Again. — In the wake of the hippies of the 60s and the 1970s inflation and tepid Carter administration, Reagan was all about Making America Great Again. After all, his famous TV ad said “It’s Morning Again in America”! Largely celebrating small town white America, along with marriage, white picket fences, big American flags, etc. An obvious, spot-on foundation of MAGA. 3. From Hollywood Celebrity Glam >>> World Wrestling Celebrity Glam Don’t scoff. That B or C-level Reagan celebrity "glam” sets the stage ... for D-F level Bush the baseball team owner ... to Z-level celebrity glam of Trump, in which celebs, glitz, and $$$ wow the rurals and less educated. From Hollywood B level star to loser Baseball Team to World Wrestling. What a crater. 4. Reagan + Moral Majority >>> MAGA crusades and against science and abortion. Reagan openly courted the Moral Majority and Jerry Falwell, thus marrying the Republican Party to religion, specifically Evangelicals, Fundamentalists, and Creationists. The anti-science, anti-evolution, anti-abortion crusades had a political home. A clear precursor to MAGA and the overturing of Roe v Wade. 5. Breaking Down Wall Between Church-State — Reagan got the “Equal Access” bill passed that permitted students to have religious gatherings in school. In the name of “freedom,” of course. Thus, starting the erosion of the wall between church and state, which was accelerated by W’s “faith-based initiatives” and MAGA White Christian Nationalist regime. Again, Reagan is a clear precursor. 6. Astrology Readings >>> Complete MAGA Idiocy Into the White House Nancy and Ronnie had regular astrology readings in the White House, which caused a media outcry for fears of astrologers advising Reagan on Cold War matters. Yet, more anti-science and idiocy. Eventually, leads to MAGA and Q and Trump’s idiotic birther conspiracy. 7. DEA and Mass Incarceration >>> ICE Concentration Camps Reagan ramped up Nixon’s Drug War massively, leading to the sprawling industrial prison complex. Targeting mostly people of color and inner cities, before spreading across nation. Busting down doors, No Knock Raids, masked agents, etc. Again, a clear precedent for ICE, mass raids, “detention center” concentration camps, militarization of America, etc. — Republicans love throwing people in jail, especially people of color. With MAGA, they will get around to anti-MAGA artists, writers, intellectuals, TV talk show hosts, etc. 8. Teflon Tough Guy God Reagan invaded Grenada, had the Iran-Contra scandal of outright lies, the grant rigging in HUD, fired numerous EPA officials, the Savings and Loan collapse, various scandals and corruption in the Defense Department, and so on. Did not matter. He was a God. Seems cult-like to me. In the end, Reagan was a Teflon tough guy God, worshipped by tens of millions of Americans and Evangelical Christians… not unlike you know who.
  8. Lulz. Gaslighting again. What's going down in Team USA is the Reagan-Falwell-Moral Majority GQP wet dream! Reagan too was viewed as "outside the establishment" by being a movie star turned politician. Like Trump, he was a "Democrat" turned Republican. He rallied those conservatives, frat boys, and low education, low income, rural types who felt the GQP was not fascist enough, racist enough, Christian enough, and patriotic enough. There is a clear through line from Reagan/Moral Majority to Bush 2/Tea Party to Trump/MAGA. The end goal was a Medieval Anti-Science Fascist America ruled by White Christian and billionaires. Quit making excuses for the GQP. This is their American dream.
  9. Surly Law Dogs: Where the hell are the inexorable Wheels of Justice? Where the hell is the collective wisdom of the Justices, Courts, legal scholars that will stop this madness? Face it: Y'all were fucking clueless about what is ultimately going down in this country. Y'all were little more than gaslighters for the mystified "conservatives" and others in Surly who just could not believe that was going down in Ronnie Reagan's and W's super-patriotic Team USA. Cheerleaders of the Drug War, the GQP has always loved throwing people of color in jails. Now they get to add artists, writers, intellectuals, professors and any others they claim is a threat to their pre-shrunk worldview. What is happening now is the Reagan-Falwell-GQP wet dream! -- A Medieval Anti-Science Fascist America ruled by White Christian fanatics and billionaires.
  10. Rolex invited Trump to the US Open in hopes of tariff relief. So fuck Rolex far, far into the future ... -- When are the Surly high rollers gonna trade their Rolex for another outrageously expensive watch?
  11. About the liberal intelligentsia, MAGA world, and the rise of a fascist-medieval-corporate dictatorship On my (allegedly lame) Penthouse Forum road trip across Trump's America, me and my travelmate met up with some of her friends from art and academic worlds. All card-carry MAGA-hating liberals! (Gotta admit, the Penthouse comment had me LOL'ing). Over margaritas in Tucson, we were having a casual conversation about Trump-MAGA America. Astonished at the seeming lack of understanding of the dire situation in the convo, I remarked that we are heading backwards in a fascist 1930s Germany world and a premodern antiscientific medieval world, imposed with AI and high tech from billionaires. This is brief approximation of the following dialogue. Prof: "Nah, it won't get that bad. I'm seeing some pushback. We'll get things back under control." Me: "You must have kids and read the New York Times on the reg" Prof: "How did you know?!?!" (Genuinely surprised). Me: (I laughed) "Easy, the Times has been enabling, normalizing, and gaslighting liberals, academics, and secular America about GQP-MAGA for 3-4 decades. The entire existential function of the Times is to keep the liberal intelligentsia in line and believing in American virtue and exceptionalism. Plus, you have kids, ya gotta believe it is gonna get better soon." Artist 1: "You really believe all that?" Me: "Absolutely. It's happening right before our eyes. But the legacy media are afraid to say it or unwilling to see it. Therefore, many liberals and Americans can't see what is right before their eyes. Team USA is doing mass deportations, dismantling science, attacking rights of women and people of color, rigging elections, building concentration camps, and turning the National Guard and Pentagon against citizens by installing a military-backed dictatorship--DC first, LA, Chicago, and sanctuary cities, then the rest of America." Artist 2: This is depressing, but I agree this shit is happening. I quit reading the Times a long time ago. Prof 1: "Well, the Democrats can .... " Me: I dismissed his comment mid-sentence with a wave of the hand ... "The Dems have no serious pushback beyond Newsom texts. Let's just move on. What's happening in the Tucson, Arizona, and LA art scenes?" (one artist was from LA). And we proceeded to have a cool conversation about art world stuff.... and some great fajitas and margaritas. Tucson has fantastic Mexican, Spanish, and Native American-influenced food. Similar discussions have happened with liberal friends in Dallas and elsewhere. Simply in denial. And they read the Times.
  12. I know it, you know it, some here know it. Most everyone in America hasn't a clue. Including liberals, Dems and the mass and legacy media. As for "open warfare," I don't see any open war lasting for more than a few minutes. Once ICE agents open fire, or the National Guard go Kent State, mowing down hundreds of protestors live on CNN, any serious resistance will be over. The police and the Second Amendment fan boys will all side with ICE, Nat'l Guard, and the military. Hell, the ICE fascists and Second Amendment fans will open fire on sanctuary cities with pleasure. The holy New York Times will say it was an unfortunate, but necessary measure to insure American stability for the world and financial markets.
  13. Nah, didn't have to "get in" ... she was pretty much peeling off the jeans after we got in the hotel rooms.
  14. SUMMER ROAD TRIP ACROSS TRUMP’S AMERICA This summer, a long-time female friend -- with benefits, UT alum, 16 years younger, fit and attractive, randomly met at art conference, no-so-humble brag! -- called me out of the blue and asked if I would ride with her from DC to Tucson. She had taken a leave from her job to spend time taking of aging mom who needed to be moved to rest home in not-so-hot of a city. Since I am between art and writing projects, I said sure and drove back to East Cost in a rent-a-car. Our goal was to take a leisurely drive across America, see some sights, catch up on things, and keep phones in our bags. No freaking screens and texting, while other is driving. Our focus was our lives and the increasingly insane world we saw directly with our eyes. Regarding what one sees from a car going down interstates through big cities and two-lane highways through small towns, some patterns became clear. Some predictable, others insightful about the state of America. We drove through Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. I drove back through Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia etc. — Our drive was not only the interstates, as we drove on many two lane highways through small towns. Let me begin with a funny story that I shared on the football board. GRUMPY OLD VOLUNTEER FANS Outside Knoxville early one morning, we stopped in a rando Starbucks to use the rest room and grab some coffee. Literally, the only customers in the place were two old pot-bellied codgers (probably in their mid-70s), both decked in Volunteer tee shirts and caps. I am just wearing jeans and cotton shirt, nothing to connect me with any school. I could not resist, so I said: “Y’all gonna let them Longhorns take over the SEC” Tennessee Codger 1: Takes off his Vol cap, rubs his balding crown, and merely takes a breath shakes his head. Tennessee Codger 2: “Yeah, it was a big mistake to let them in the SEC” … said with scowl on face. Me: “Yep, they’re gonna kick butt this year. They ain't like the Aggies” Codger 2: "No shit they ain't the Aggies!" I amble over and grab the two coffees and banana bread. About this time, my friend emerges from bathroom and as we walk out the door, she flashes the HOOK'EM sign and laughs. (Looking rather smoke in her tight jeans, boots and red hair; yeah she likes to flash her good looks for the locals. We were meeting some of her friends for lunch in Nashville, so she was dressed for the occasion.) Codger 1: “What the hell?” Codger 2: “Them God Damn Longhorns! TRUMP TEXAS Here's some insanity in Texas. On the right side of I-20 in west Fort Worth, there was a Trump (airbrushed to look GQ handsome) billboard that said something to the effect of: “Born in New York, with the Spirit of Texas” Lulz. Interestingly, very few Trump signs or flags on the trip (unlike how it was a few years ago when I drove from East Coast to Texas to visit my brother). Now, the flying of an American flag means MAGA. At least that is my assumption until proven otherwise. RELIGION GALORE We saw zillions of churches/steeples, dozens of religious billboards/various signs promising salvation and eternal life, several religious anti-abortion signs, even 2 anti-evolution billboards. Heading into Knoxville, there were 2 giant bright electronic billboards positioned on both sides of the highway. The billboard on left side of highway was flashing JESUS (all caps), the other was flashing SAVES (all caps). So, entering Knoxville, interstate drivers see this flashing glory:: JESUS … SAVES JESUS … SAVES JESUS … SAVES NEAR ZERO SCIENCE We saw only ONE sign that referenced anything to do with science, a local science exhibit. Far west of Nashville, there was a Rest Area that had a Solar Power Exhibit in a separate room. Sponsored by University of Tennessee, it was very impressive, Sadly, of the 30 or so cars and trucks there when we stopped, she and I were the only people who looked at the exhibit. No doubt, that exhibit will be dismantled soon. Ohio had a rest area with murals celebrating John Glenn and NASA. All in all, in the visual landscape near highways and in small towns, America seems to have zero need for science, except for docs and dentists. THE ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CATASTROPHE ZERO! Yes, zero signs referencing the environment, climate disruption, global warming, or anything to do with resource conservation, etc. Of course, there were signs directing people to state and national parks, the true gems of America. We hit a few for brief hikes and though beautiful, we could also tell the parks were understaffed. Some billboards promoting good ole fossil fuels to "protect America's future." Drill baby drill! LOTS OF MAGA DUDES IN BIG ASS PICKUP TRUCKS. There were zillions of big pick up trucks (especially) with gun decals, flag decals, MAGA-oriented stickers, patriotic slogans, religious decals, etc. If the pick-up was pulling a trailer of tools, then the likelihood of the driver being having some kind of MAGA-oriented decal increased. We could often see their Oakley sun glasses and goatees And these were some tail-gaiting fuckers! AK-47 BILLBOARD Of course, there were a few signs promoting the local gun and ammo store. In Indiana, there was even a billboard advertising AK-47s for sale, with a billboard wide photo of one. Insane. COMMERCE FLOWING, SO FAR In the places we stopped, hotels, bars, and restaurants were busy. The mall parking lots (we saw from highway) had plenty of cars and trucks. Many Amazon 18-wheelers, so Bezos is doing okay. LACK OF RESTAURANT WORKERS Interestingly, several restaurant asked for our "patience" as they were short-staffed. We even hit a McDonald’s drive through early one morning in a small town and they had a sign saying they were short staffed. I wonder why! Food was good, people friendly, at least in restaurant and hotel settings. TL/DR SUMMARY Trump’s America is the nation of BUY, EAT, PRAY, and PARTY DOWN ON PLANET EARTH … followed by SALVATION! With DAMNATION for the non-MAGA true Americans. The environment and ecosystems have zero chance. ZERO. So does secular scientific civilization. We have a culture in sheer denial of what is going down and going to happen in this country. Fascism and medievalism are on the march across Team USA.
  15. The United States is a full-on threat to 21st secular global civilization. Don't be surprised when the nukes come out. That's the full meaning of Hegseth speech.
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