Attack Ads! The Podcast

Everyone seems aware of the appalling working conditions afflicting the poor in the 18th century; fewer seem aware, though, of what rationale drove employers to such torture. I dip into a book from that period in this Episode 192: The Right To Be Lazy. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2022/02/episode-192-right-to-be-lazy.html

Today’s society values industry and work, specifically hard and grueling work. This has happened before. We should look to the 1877, where good advice was given in an essay, the title of which I've stolen for this Episode 191: An Apology For Idlers. Find the Show Notes At: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2022/01/episode-191-apology-for-idlers.html

With all the bad news in which we wallow, it's natural to feel the need to do something. Sadly, that is just what the people who got that news to you would like you to do. Better instead to follow the advice of today's Episode 190: How To Do Nothing. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2022/01/episode-190-how-to-do-nothing.html

Every now and again, I discover a quote I deem relevant enough to share. Less often, I’m moved enough to share most of the original source. In this Bonus Episode, I read from one of those rare finds: FDR's 1938 Message to Congress on Curbing Monopolies. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/12/bonus-episode-fdrs-1938-message-to.html

Context is everything. Sadly, context is often lost in the transition to digital communications. We need to remember that, especially when the context is not happy, cheery, with nary a care in the world. Hence, Episode 189: Memento Mori, Motherfacer. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/12/episode-189-memento-mori-motherfacer.html

Of course, not all we learn in commercial media can be trusted. It's always good to remember, though, how tenacious some efforts at mis- and disinformation become, swirling to form something described by the title of Episode 188: The Hyporeality Vortex. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/11/episode-188-hyporeality-vortex.html  

I'm sometimes embarrassed to admit that I might produce this show even without an audience; it's therapeutic. It's good to know people do listen, and often share their provocative thoughts, which prompt this Episode 187: Sharing A Little Mulled Whine. Find the Show Notes, Pim, at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/11/episode-187-sharing-little-mulled-whine.html

Jerry Mander's 1978 book still packs rhetorical punch, enough that reviewing the notes I took on it lead me to realize a cause, perhaps, of today’s extreme political sectarianism. I'll dive into that in Episode 186: An Internal Scarcity of Contentment. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/11/episode-186-internal-scarcity-of.html

I’m worried. To me, America may be suffering enough social anger—technically called "political sectarianism"—to lead to upcoming upheaval, perhaps in the near future. I'll discuss this in today's Episode 185: Destabilizing Our Collective Understanding. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/10/episode-185-destabilizing-our.html

Henry Ford wrote in 1926, “The machine is a symbol of man's mastery of his environment.” He also wrote other things of “public service” and the “wage motive” you should hear. I'll share these concepts in this Episode 184: His Tomorrow Is Our Today. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/09/episode-184-his-tomorrow-is-our-today.html

We all have preferences for products, habits that sometimes last most of our lives. We should, though, be aware of what product makers can do to get us hooked… before we’re even born. With apologies to Ricky Martin, Episode 183 ¡D'Liv'rin' In Vivo, Boca! Show Notes can be found at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/09/episode-183-dlivrin-in-vivo-boca.html

I've shown how the Kellogg's six-hour day became just one form of work sharing during the Great Depression. I haven't shown you yet why this schedule option was all but abandoned. Consider the title of this Episode 182: The Fight To Guide The Plodders. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/08/episode-182-ksd-fight-to-guide-plodders.html

Under standard business practice, any company action needs to be cleared by its owner and manager. Therefore, when a company does a thing, look to those people. I look at Kellogg's ultimate authorities in this Episode 181: Kellogg, Brown, and Roots. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/08/episode-181-kellogg-brown-and-roots.html

Something fascinating happened 90 years ago; but today, almost no one knows about it. Knowing it was amazing requires, though, knowing what happened… before. I try to correct that historical loss in this Episode 180: The Calvinistic Worship of Toil. Find the Show Notes at:  https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/08/episode-180-ksd-calvinistic-worship-of.html

Not knowing how a system works, one seeks answers when that system fails. Sadly, if the sought answers are wrong, one may extrapolate between similar systems, perhaps disastrously. I share my market bubble theory in Episode 179: How to Blow a Bubble. Find the show notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/07/episode-179-how-to-blow-bubble.html

Time to update you with some new, and some merely clarifying information on topics I have already covered. Why? There's magic in advertising, dark magic; but the more you know about it, the less it works on you. Hence, Episode 178: Knowing the Trick. See the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/06/episode-178-knowing-trick.html

People often seem stupid. Sometimes, though, they simply don't have better choices. Their reactions are guided by innate morality, even if others vehemently deny what the people are collectively reacting against. Hence, Episode 177: WTN …and Disgust. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/06/episode-177-wtn-and-disgust.html

Having only two viable presidential candidates to choose often leaves voters confused, especially when it later becomes clear that lately the two parties are not very different at all… when judged by their actions. Hence, Episode 176: WTN …and Betrayal…. Show notes for this episode can be found at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/06/episode-177-and-betrayal.html

Unions are more than just meetings and yelling at each other. I think. It sure seems that way. No, union activity in the workplace is a show of strength for one purpose only: to note the importance of the subject of this Episode 175: Negotiation, and…. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/05/episode-175-negotiations-and.html

Those who make our cars today have figured out ways to make our behavior pay. Shoshana Zuboff gave us this lesson in her book; but I may have stumbled on a perfect example at work. I'll fill you in on my theory in this Episode 175: Car(Un)Jacked! Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2021/04/episode-175-carunjacked.html