How TikTok Serves Up Sex and Drug Videos to Minors - WSJ
Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls, Company Documents Show - WSJ
The Insidious, Fake Intimacy of Algorithms (thegospelcoalition.org)
Friday, September 3, 2021
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Neutralize / De-escalate Reactions To Your Christian Worldview By Framing Your Beliefs Within Your Own Story, & Always, Always, Always Listen Well
A few weeks back, I had the good fortune of meeting a new, very close to my age / circumstance (stage in life) friend. And this guy, over the course of about 90 - mostly uninterrupted - minutes, poured out his heart relative to various spiritual, personal viewpoints sprinkled with specific anecdotal accounts of his life as it pertained to his upbringing, vocation, overall temperament, role as a husband / father. By the time we went our separate ways, I sort of felt like his priest post-confession.
The setting in which all of this took place was one of those once-in-a-lifetime milestone events for both he and I (as dads / husbands), therefore emotions were already running high, but too, I did get the sense that he simply wasn't shy about opening up, if given the opportunity.
Nevertheless, it was his emotional state of mind that opened the door, so to speak, for him to be as transparent / forthcoming as he was - for such a time as that. For he needed my listening ear just as much as I benefited from having the opportunity to meet that need.
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Emotions, I believe, are best experienced whilst articulating or scoring our current state of mind (what's actually on our mind). And that may be recalling past experience (memories - both good and bad) or reactions to events in real time. Profanity exists especially to assist us with this, believe it or not.
We're being conditioned though, as westerners, that verbiage isn't worth verbalizing unless they're ears to hear it (besides your own).
How?
The endless chatter of social media (that gives the illusion of actually being heard).
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Taking that into consideration, one of the most sure-fire means to come across as a potential threat to someone's "perch" (familial / vocational, etc.) is to refuse to spew forth your thought life incessantly.
Now, 90 degrees to that approach is letting out your thoughts verbally but in due (on your own) time.
To circle back to my new aforementioned friend, he stated expectantly that I'd reciprocate "my story" to him once he was finished. And, in order to meet his expectations, I did so, but via a personal email exchange a week or so later (as luck would have it, we ran out of time for me to have "a turn").
And this approach worked to my advantage because my story, though just as raw as his, isn't / wasn't at all like his. And to take that truth a step further, my story, by definition, can be quite the polarizer.
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So, let's talk about that word: polarizer. For this isn't usually where individuals care to land as it pertains to their identity.
As fundamentalist (Bible-believing) Christians, within this western culture of ours, we are no doubt going to polarize those around us via how articulate we are regarding our beliefs. And we should. Yet, I would argue, we can minimize this - to some degree - if we're intentional about framing our beliefs within our own story.
And I would argue too, in order to do this well, you should be giving the courtesy to your (hopefully) soon-to-be listener (of your story) first dibs on telling his own.
Then, once that's complete, you can circle back. And if you're savvy (& a quality listener), you can interweave contrasting highlights of your friend's story with yours by using them as jumping off points to carry your Christ-centric narrative along.
There is nothing of greater value within a relationship than listening. Not hearing. Listening. For listening takes work. And everyone knows that. Therefore, you can truly earn someone's trust by taking the time to listen to them well.
Monday, August 30, 2021
Sunday, August 29, 2021
The Sperm Of The (Gulf Of Mexico) Hurricane
Tulane University championed a sperm study post Hurricane Katrina (16-years ago) that resolved the unexpected influx of impregnated women immediately following that catastrophic event. The assumption was that romantic interludes sprang forth from bored couples who were left with "nothing else to do" post-Katrina except have intercourse. But that didn't explain the exorbitant amount of pregnancies that resulted during that natural disaster. For as we all know, birth control practices don't just cease to be when our normal way of life is turned up on end.
Hurricanes borne out of the Gulf of Mexico are unique in that their barometric pressurization is massively low. Because of this, as researchers at Tulane have proven, sperm production within men's testes is uniquely impacted.
Sperm's mobility is a result of flagella. Flagella are "tails" on the end of sperm cells that whip about violently, and therefore propel the cells forward in search of the ovum.
Men's testes are constantly manufacturing a gosh-awful-lot of sperm cells each day, and under normal atmospheric conditions, these sperm have flagella that are all the same length. But within the unique atmospheric conditions needed to manufacture a Gulf of Mexico hurricane, sperm's flagella length & energeticness is massively impacted.
Therefore, for about 2-3 weeks following a hurricane event, those men who're situated (hunkered down) within the direct line of the storm's impact will likely see their sperm production mutated as such for better (mind blowing sex) or worse (additional dependents) via these sorta now hipster single cell organisms.
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A sperm cell must puncture the ovum (or egg) within a woman's fallopian tube successfully in order for a zygote (fertilized egg) to spring forth. The pathway up through the woman's reproductive organs is chemically hostile to the sperm, therefore most do not survive the journey. Hence, when the few who do successfully locate the ovum attempt to penetrate, most are unsuccessful, due to physical degradation (fatigue).
But this precludes the small window of occurrence of the Gulf of Mexico hurricane sperm (for those certain geographically & atmospherically situated guys).
These little buggers can travel up to 5x as swiftly than their normal flagella-ed brethren. And as we know, accelerative speed not only equates to ovum penetrative power but far less exposure to those nasty uterus toxins.
Hence, females are successfully impregnated with stunning efficiency by their all-the-while ignorant mates...unbeknownst to them.
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Another outcome of the Tulane study solved the prophylactic question as well. At least regarding condom usage.
It was successfully proven that these Gulf of Mexico hurricane sperm were so vivacious / energetic that standard latex condoms weren't of high enough millage to hold them back (inside the rubber). Often, upon ejaculation, these little buggers would simply power their way through the rubberized membrane, instinctively seeking out their target like so many heat seeking missiles.
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In conclusion, as we all know, a man's orgasm is a result of sperm's flagella "tickling" the stud's uretha gleefully as it ferries its way "to infinity and beyond". This is what causes the intense pleasure of the man's reproductive organs at orgasm / ejaculation, with particular emphasis at the penis' head as the sperm blow past the authorities in pursuit of their final "launch" outside of the dude's body.
As such, Gulf of Mexico hurricane sperm, with their "super flagellas" exhibit such over the top orgasms for men, that the urge to have sex no doubt increases exponentially.
This too, per the Tulane study, accounted for another factor in the sizable pregnancy uptick post Hurricane Katrina. In essence, the average coastal dude became a stud overnight. In spite of the fact that his pad had no electricity or potable water to speak of.
Therefore, be mindful, all you guys down in NOLA / along the Gulf Coast. Though the hetero sex you participate in over the next few weeks will be arguably the most intensely pleasurable of your life, you're moreso likely going to end up with a(nother) kid to tend to as a result.
As I've always said, pregnancy sex is the best sex. But especially during the few weeks after riding out a Gulf of Mexico hurricane.
Friday, August 27, 2021
(In)Toxic(ated) Masculinity
There're gas stations surrounding our 'hood at the Reservoir along with numerous liquor stores, bars (one that even lets you throw axes after a few drinks), "discount" tobacco and CBD (whatever that is) stores. This area has truly "matured" into the "last stop before home", particularly over the past few years.
This region that we've lived in (multiple decades) is right on the edge of the oldest developed portion of the ginormous Ross Barnett Reservoir "resort area" (on the outskirts of Jackson). "Resort areas", by definition, have recently been given legal credence to many of the aforementioned retailers. In other words, they wouldn't be allowed within this area otherwise. And this recent "Resort area" legislation was, of course, spearheaded by legislators who now own (all or a portion of) many of the leasable properties ("strip centers") here within this particular region of "The Rez".
We even have one of those - very recently added - standalone bag-o-ice robo-dispensaries out in the parking lot of a 40+ year old strip center! Of which, a few bags are just perfectly suited to fill the cooler (that's full of booze) in order to keep it nicely chilled for the start of the weekend.
I mean, this area has become about as white trash Mississippi as you can get. As such, all that's really missing now is an Asian massage parlor. It's no doubt morphed into a microcosmic anti-Madison.
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I was just out and about (earlier today) gassing up our vehicles (in preparation for next week's forecasted natural disaster) at one of these gas stations here adjacent to our 'hood, and I realized that it was right at 5 PM on a Friday afternoon. I had to go into this particular station to retrieve my receipt (pump printer paper was either out or jammed), and whilst doing so, was instantly struck by the scene.
The scene which screamed 5 PM on a Friday afternoon.
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A former friend, who's no longer here in Jackson, and I were chatting many years ago about how his beer stash within their family's fridge would inevitably be tampered with whenever his son would have friends stay overnight for a sleepover. And he found this amusing.
I remember asking him (this dude is a pastor) why he "occasionally" drinks beer at all. And ultimately, he answered that question by admitting that it's simply too cool to not.
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When I worked for the State of Mississippi between 2006-2012, I befriended a fellow bureaucrat (who didn't work within my bureau but tangentially to it). And this dude warmed up to Rob very quickly (to the point that it was a little freaky). I remember doing my darndest to minister to him (at arms length) through our friendship (succinct chats at work, etc.), but that all seemed ridiculous to continue with once he admitted to his true love.
I can still see his face when he stated that he - without any exception - drank 8 to 9 beers a night (that he purchased on his way home from work). The grin was unmistakable. It was one rooted in (in)toxi(cated) masculinity.
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So what exactly was that scene that I just recently witnessed at our one of many Reservoir gas stations?
Men being men. Cool men, in particular.
And what does this mean exactly? I'll be honest with you. I'm not really sure. For I'm certain booze doesn't taste nearly as good as some other beverages.
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Earlier this week, I stopped into (arguably) the most well established haberdashery in Jackson in order to purchase a gift certificate. It had been over a decade since I'd darkened the door of this retailer, and immediately upon walking in, I was instantly transported to my teen years when my mother used to bring me there (there was - back in the '80s - a boy's clothing offshoot upstairs).
The smell of the store, the style of the furnishings, even the scale of the space, relayed masculine comfortableness. And it wasn't a comfortableness that encouraged lingering (for men DO NOT linger), but as you might expect, retail efficiency.
And this points back to where we live out here at the Reservoir, which arguably has become - over the past 10 years - a masculine retail encampment.
And a big part of this has to do with booze. Lots and lots and lots of booze.
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Booze is a massive revenue producing liquid. It takes time and energy to brew, and trends force breweries to stay one step ahead of the masses' taste buds / specific definitions of cool.
But it's not just the booze itself. For I'm convinced it's just as much the purchase of the booze and the ice and so forth that's part of this very significant masculine identifier.
When I was faced with the scene at the gas station, the line was at least three patrons deep - all men - holding their respective case(s) of booze. Each of them knew the Persian clerk behind the counter by his first name (& he knew theirs), for I could hear their banter during the transaction. One of the patrons also purchased some sort of fruit flavored cigarettes to go with his weekend booze. I know this because it took him awhile to decide on what flavor (there looked to be +/-50 on display).
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There aren't that many retail hotspots solely dedicated / designed for / paying homage to men. But I'm now convinced that we do sort of live in one of them. Who'd a thunk? Cheers!
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Sunday, August 22, 2021
Friday, August 20, 2021
Crossgates Baptist Church Samson Society - NEW TIME / DAY - Starting Tomorrow, (8/21)!
The Samson Society group that meets at Crossgates Baptist Church is now meeting (starting tomorrow - 8/21) on Saturday mornings at 7 AM.
For more information contact Mr. Bo Hust at bhust20@gmail.com or (601) 270-5820.
Thursday, August 19, 2021
MSRP / Impulse Buy / Loss Leader - The Economy Of Internet Porn
We are all consumers. As modern, 21st century human beings, we must be, for we have basic needs that we ourselves - more often than not - are unable to meet (pragmatically), and this positions us to take on the role of a typical western consumer (purchasing food, clothing, or shelter).
Many of you know how cheap I am relative to fast food, and I'm like this because I revile in the ubiquity of retail storefronts. For they serve as a constant reminder of how costly it is to consume (for I too, ain't no farmer). Therefore due to this ubiquity, avoiding this 2021 retail reality is quite difficult (if not impossible) to achieve, for there are so many storefronts - main street & virtual available to us (w/ more and more coming each day) that cater to just about everything imaginable. Thusly, I SO OFTEN FEEL TRAPPED WITHIN THIS RETAIL ECONOMY, and in turn protest by keeping my wallet close to my vest.
So what is retail, and why does its ubiquity offend me so?
Retail, in concept, is as follows: precisely packaged, marketed, and pitched goods at the very top of a supply chain. As a side note to that statement, for the wealthy, methodically / unabashedly paying retail price is often (though certainly not always) seen as a sign of "what it means to be" truly affluent. As such, retail represents the most convenient, most polished, most effortless consumer transaction available (that also happens to be the most pricey), and this is because the retail pricing structure is so heavily layered (from deep within) relative to its specific narrative (supply chain arc). A narrative that had to take place (& justifiably be paid for) in order to bring a consumer all of the convenience, polish, and effortlessness therein.
There's Rob's summary of the concept of retail from Econ 101.
I want to revisit this statement before we go any further (expounding on more econ lessons in relation to Internet porn), for I believe it speaks to the notion of entitlement which is just about as pagan a term as there's ever been, and we don't need to miss that.
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Working at the Chick-A-Fil in Northpark Mall throughout high school gave the teenage version of Rob a firsthand look at retail fast food (fried chicken sandwiches and fried potatoes) consumers.
Chick-A-Fil is in line with other companies like Applebee's and Chili's (franchised restaurant chains) or Nissan in that they appeal equally to both whites and blacks. And this is a critical cultural accomplishment for these companies relative to the massive monetary success they've achieved. For so many companies that set up retail operations here in the Deep South ultimately fail because their business model isn't successful in "traveling" between races.
Therefore, I as a 15-17-year-old, was exposed to all manner of economic class (impoverished blacks to wealthy whites) of Mississippian whilst working part-time at the Chick-A-Fil.
I can recall one busy summer Saturday at lunchtime, watching in awe as a rich, white (& very tall) woman exclaimed repeatedly to my cashier colleague, "I don't care what it costs, just give it to me like I asked!"
What she was referring to was a uniquely customized order (for her and her beautiful - and all very tall - family) that had my co-worker befuddled.
In a similar vein, I sold a minivan (I was a Chrysler / Plymouth new car salesman one summer whilst in college) to a ostentatiously rich, white guy during the long since defunct "Mississippi Fairgrounds Sale" of 1991. After he'd decisively agreed on a final purchase price, I lead him to the "Business Office Tent" (in order for him to write a check for the purchase).
To my horror, in spite of the line of customers waiting it out quietly under the big top (there in the stifling summer heat), he traipsed directly to the front of the line. And after pushing a lady aside, he sat down in one of the two "Accounting Guy's" chairs and proceeded to carry out all the necessary paperwork relative to his cash purchase / retail transaction for his new luxury minivan (1991 Chrysler Town & Country).
From there, all I could do (as a 19-year-old) was hope I wouldn't be fired (I wasn't) once the dealership I was working for returned to its Highway 80 location the following week.
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Western corporations most salient, reliable consumer are children (& adults who consume like children).
There's a nugget of truth from Econ 101.
Why is this? Because children embody the notion of entitlement. If you're short on understanding what the word entitlement means, simply think of a (western) child's self-centered outlook on almost everything.
Too, children have little to no impulse control, and this is why so much retail merch is displayed prominently at the check-out line within most retail big box stores / restaurants / convenience stores. Retail impulse buys account for a massive amount of revenue for companies. And, it's all exorbitantly overpriced incidentals (junk drinks, junk food, junk magazines, junk toys) that children (& adults who consume like children), in particular, can't seem to resist.
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Now, let's take these econ concepts that we've reviewed / explained so far and attempt to apply them to Internet porn.
Firstly, the Internet represents the highest echelon of retail. It is not only the retail zenith but the city floating in the sky. And primarily, this is due to the illusion (I can't stress that enough) of privacy that the Internet provides the consumer. For what is the most bothersome aspect of having a storefront retail experience (big box / restaurant / convenience or specialty store)?
Zero privacy. Instead, you're inconvenienced by all of those other consumers (of various races / socioeconomic backgrounds) that you're forced to share the retail store with.
And that's so very...unentitled. And those folks are so very difficult to "justify" all those impulse buys to (whilst around them).
Combine that Internet consuming "luxury" (privacy) with the impulse buying setup of impulse buying setups. For it's simply a click, and another click. And one more click. And everything just magically appears (as you've ordered it up) right in front of your eyes. And from there, you're experiencing the novel giddiness of technological entitlement.
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A side note:
Back when I consumed mucho amounts (hours and hours) of gay porn online, it took me awhile to figure out a bizarre physiological side effect.
For I'd come away (sorry) with super dry eyes. So dry, in fact, that I was unable to do much of anything to stop the intense stinging (& subsequent redness) for hours on end. Therefore, my only recourse was to lie down with my eyes shut.
What was happening was as follows: Whilst consuming Internet porn, my brain was so pleased with its private, overly entitled viewing experience of naked people having sex that it simply told my eyelids to cease blinking throughout. Therefore, for hours on end, I'd blink far, far less than needed to keep my eyes healthily moisturized. And, of course, that no blinking Internet porn consumption session took quite a toll on my eyeballs. Ouch.
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One final econ 101 nugget for you here at the wrap up of this post.
Nintendo keeps a steady revenue stream intact by selling Mario, Link, and Zelda. (Those same tired cartoon characters from the '80s.) These are intellectual properties that are owned by the company, and this is what consumers (of all ages) purchase from Nintendo (mostly around the holidays) in the form of video games.
Nintendo also happens to sell video game consoles, but these are loss leaders and not part of their forecasted revenue stream. A loss leader is a retail gimmick that companies use to capture consumers indirectly. As such, companies position loss leaders to handcuff consumers into only purchasing their intellectual property (because it won't work at all or nearly as well elsewhere).
Think of the Nintendo Switch. This console may very well become the most purchased in the history of console sales (in the next few years). The Nintendo Switch is a loss leader for Nintendo. As such, it's sold at a loss to them in order to get more and more of the devices into the hands of consumers - all over the western world.
Why is this important to Nintendo?
Because it handcuffs the consumer to Nintendo's tried & true intellectual property: Mario, Link, and Zelda.
From there, Nintendo sells retailed priced video games that only work on the Nintendo Switch. And arguably, most of these games are simply upgraded rehashes of the same platforming, FPS, third-person action / adventure concept. Concepts brought to life via an Italian plumber, pointy-eared elf teenager & his bug-eyed girlfriend.
How might this translate to Internet porn?
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There're only so many ways to fuck. And there're only so many types of individuals one can observe fucking.
Internet porn consumers know this. And their brains know it too. Yet, there are characters (porn models) online who provide a somewhat familiar narrative (story) to the fucking. Let's dub them Bettie Breast Implant and Henry Bigdick.
Porn tube channels (offering loss leader "free porn") will only satisfy a consumer for so long, taking their favorite hardworking porn models into account. No doubt, these consumers are eventually going to desire more. More intense, more extreme, more hard, hardcore. Or perhaps it's just that continual craving for the very latest performance from that specific porn model(s).
But this is going to retail cost them. Plus, it may very well usher them into promiscuous behaviors as a result as they fall further and further down the rabbit hole.
Sexual intimacy was created by God to only be experienced - as a distinct representation of Christ's relationship to his church - within the marriage bed. Husband and wife together. Working collectively to pleasure each other.
It's not watching naked people fuck. It's not lust. It's not the same rehashed scenario scripted out by Bettie and Henry in the least. It's a beautiful, unique experience that embodies / represents love to the highest degree. (Even if there's no money shot.)
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So what's the takeaway?
Thanks to such the individual novelty embodied within today's Internet-capable technology, many of us are behaving like idiots. Idiots who're acquiescing more and more towards discarding any remaining semblance of our adult sensibilities. And we're all being screwed by tech-savvy companies. Companies much more interested in their bottom line than our well-being. As such, we're now within the golden age of the entitled, retail consumer. It's an age built on the illusion that we're actually fully in control (& completely comprehend the methodology behind) of our own hyper-convenient retail consumption.
Unfortunately, that's the farthest thing from the truth. We have lost all control, and very few understand who's actual behind the curtain. Therefore, until you wake up and realize just how uninterested these companies are in you and yours well-being, you're simply one additional dumbass sheep that's "addicted" to Internet porn.
Wake up! Grow up! Set yourself apart! As a Christian, you are a child of the King! Be holy because you are holy.
You're not rich. You (& I) have been duped.
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