Philosopher’s Stone-Quest-Dark Forest

It sure seems like we’re in a dream these days. More importantly, if you create content about current events it gets more surreal by the day. Learn more in Philosopher’s Stone-Quest-Dark Forest, Bob Davis Podcast 806.

Dreams or A Nightmares?

First of all I was going to do this podcast about dreams. Then I thought more about what is really bothering me these days. It is the sense that nothing seems real anymore. Rumors. Labels. Innuendo. Scapegoats. Lies.

A Dreamlike Dark Forest

Furthermore it feels like we’re all stumbling through a dark forest. Hence there’s no sense of where we are or how to get out. Moreover there’s a dreamlike quality to what passes for current events.

Using The Metaphor of The Philosopher’s Stone

Why not talk about the practice of Alchemy and the search for the Philosopher’s Stone. Similarly why not use metaphor as a way forward. Consequently we’ll do it in Philosopher’s Stone-Quest-Dark Forest, Bob Davis Podcast 806.

Base Metals Turned Into Gold

Alchemy was considered a spiritual and scientific pursuit back in the day. Going back to ancient Egypt and China, making it’s way to Europe by way of the Arabs in the 700’s. Alchemists searched for a clarifying agent known as The Philosopher’s Stone in their quest to turn base metals into gold.

Purification Of The Soul

Most noteworthy the stone was also said to have had the powers of immortality and healing. In addition, it helped the alchemist achieve purification of the soul. Sure seems like we need something like that these days.

Frustration and Anger Reign

Especially relevant is the feeling I get from talking to my friends all over the political spectrum who seem lost. Consequently frustration and anger reign supreme. It’s clear we need something new. Something that clarifies. Encourages purity. Enables Action. Something that saves the day.

Finding The Stone Within Ourselves…The Way Out?

Finally fighting and manipulating is everywhere. We won’t find the stone on a social media feed or Fox News. We can only find it within.

Sponsored by Reliafund Payment Processors and Ryan Plumbing and Heating Of Saint Paul

Philosopher’s Stone-Quest-Dark Forest

Will 1968 Unrest Shockwaves Echo In 2018-Podcast 670

Every now and then it’s necessary to break it down. Why does a long time political observer and analyst find it more difficult to talk about politics these days? In Will 1968 Unrest Shockwaves Echo In 2018-Podcast 670.

Rhetorical Partisans

Some say the US hasn’t been this politically divided since 1968. At least in 1968 we were fighting about specific issues. It seems to me we’re fighting over a person in the present time frame.

Demanding Loyalty

Attack Trump. Defend Trump. At any cost. Ideas and principles aren’t important. Commentators are running for office, under the employ of some partisan organization, or supporting a person or point of view. Will 1968 Unrest Shockwaves Echo In 2018-Podcast 670.

Garbage In Garbage Out

Social media, the Internet and so called news sites spew a constant stream of invective, misinformation and outright lies. They are so busy predicting the future they put Tarot Card Readers and Astrologists to shame.

Read It and Weep

Denying our freedom to choose what we think about an issue based on facts, in the quest to demand loyalty is the height of folly. In Will 1968 Unrest Shockwaves Echo In 2018-Podcast 670. We end up shouting at each other; partisan mobs, not an informed electorate.

Sponsored by Reliafund and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Will 1968 Unrest Shockwaves Echo In 2018-Podcast 670

 

Weekend Radio Pre Show Rehearsal Show Prep-Podcast 667

When you get the last minute call to ‘fill in’ on the local radio station you have to prepare. As a podcaster it might be fun to try out some content for the radio in the podcast format. Late at night before the show I sat down to record Weekend Radio Pre Show Rehearsal Show Prep-Podcast 667.

Where Do I Find The Radio Show?

If you want to hear the actual show this podcast spawned, you can find it here. It turned out to be significantly different from the rehearsal. Radio and podcasting are two different mediums. Podcasting itself is growing quickly. A good portion of what passes for radio listening might actually be people listening to their favorite radio show podcasts.

Where Partisanship Comes From

These days we’re crushed by an avalanche of advocacy media. Much of the content we see, read and hear is created by advocacy think tanks and is designed to persuade not inform. We’ll talk about it Weekend Radio Pre Show Rehearsal Show Prep-Podcast 667.

Reacting Rather Than Thinking

My new thing is, with so much sharing and posting of advocacy pieces on social media we tend to spend a lot of time reacting rather than thinking. No wonder the country continues to grow more partisan every day. We hear so much we have to react to these days, there’s no time to think about what we need.

Presidential Tweets Distract

We miss major stories because we focus too much on things like presidential tweets. One of the big ones this week was the Federal Reserve’s decision to withdraw stimulus. With Puerto Rico controversy taking center stage next week, what else will we miss? In Weekend Radio Pre Show Rehearsal Show Prep-Podcast 667.

There’s a lot of content on a lot of different topics in Weekend Radio Pre Show Rehearsal Show Prep-Podcast 667. It turned out to be a great way to rehearse for the radio show Saturday afternoon.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating in Saint Paul

Weekend Radio Pre Show Rehearsal Show Prep-Podcast 667