This week we mark the end of our holiday break by discussing some of our ‘favorite bits’ of 2008. Topics covered in this show include Anonymous, The end of Neo-Paganism as we know it?, Patriots and the Georgia Guidestones and of course Obama (or in this case OBAWWWWMA).
Joining me for this episodes banter is Sir Raymond Wiley and Lord Austin Gandy from ye olde Out There Radio and the all new Disinformation The Podcast.
Of course Lady Claire Lumiere delivers us the latest Weekly Weird News and the Nobleman that is Daddytank serves up another great MySpace Heroes in the shape of:
District Of Evolution – New Paper Crusader
Magnetic Stripper – set 5a
Zabutom – Leningrad Vodka Rush
A Boy And His Recorder – Ice Cream Chuck
The episode of Out There Radio that Raymond plugs with no shame throughout the show can be found at www.outthereradio.net
Join us weekly again from now, as we examine counterculture, the Occult, underground and all the usual good stuff…so you don’t have to.
Enjoy
Hi Ken et al, thanks for fielding my e-mail. Point taken about the need for thick skin when inviting multiple angles on a controversial subject. And not having a one-world view all the time of course I understood that as the basis for inviting Randi in the first place, and it was a bold and defining step for your show. Really I was commenting on HOW Randi was presented (i.e. as is, as he would be on most shows, without any obvious alchemical reaction as it were against the counter-blast of the likes of Wilson) – but that was your prerogative and it did ruffle feathers effectively. As I said later in the e-mail i’m also aware of the significance and importance of Randi’s work within its own sphere.
Thanks for another cool show, Happy New Year.
J
This was a great episode. I knew nothing of the Georgia guidestones. Is there an equivalent in the UK ? I loved the phrase “clipothic sludgefest” (well done American chap) and was particularly interested in Ken’s description of the 7/7 attacks as “alleged”. Slip of the tongue or secret knowledge ? I would also like to say that as a sceptic it is nice to have people like James Randi and Jon Ronson on. As Ken said it keeps a sense of balance to the show which keeps me and my fellow demographic of sceptics and cynics interested.
Good episode. On the point regarding the state of neo-paganism, I think Austin has hit the nail right on the head. The internet has completely stripped the mystique from the idea of neo-paganism. Newcomers are no longer able to stumble across information, as I did when I was a kid, and allow it to take root in their own private worlds over a period of time. When I first started reading Crowley for instance I didn’t meet anyone who even knew who he was for years. By the time I did find some fellow travellers I was ripe for moving to the next stage. These days, a kid can hear about magick or witchcraft and within moments have the whole thing laid bare – and usually in the worst, most prosaic way possible, online. There’s no time for personal experimentation before being put off by visiting forums or websites peopled by vocal nobodys who spend so much time online that they never get further than their own PC, let alone cast a circle or join a group. It really is such a shame. The internet is like a pernicious drug. It delivers everything – except experience.
neo-paganism shot itself in the foot with it’s childlike adherence to ’60’s hippieideology,bizarrely coupled with anti-semitism and misogyny,and slave-like insistence on polyamory,itself a transparent philosophy. i fully understand that there are some who absolutely can’t pursue the mainstream monogamous lifestyle,but those who insist on wearing it on their sleeve are,how you say,”uberdorky”. also, any self-proclaimed “holy man” ought to be shot on site. you do not correct the errors of judeo-christian dominance by blindly repeating them.
I am a holy man! Shit!
I’m starting to think that I am being a little flippant with my selection of music for the end of the show. On reading the average comments posted on this website it might be more appropriate to be playing Wagner and some Gregorian chant type bollocks. Never has one man been so utterly out of his depth. Can we have a dunce section for people who like to guffaw at Weird News and read reviews of stupid video games ?
Great comments all around, just make sure I’m the one that get’s to shoot Austin on sight. He’s always bumming cigs off of me and I’m tired of it. ADRIAN has a good point about the internet stealing the mystery from it all, but let’s face it, the “real thing” is a bit of a let down too. It’s hard to find people to look up to if you have a critical mind. Where is the new media? JAMES, I am in total agreement on your points about the failure of neo-paganism, and you are talking about things that few will touch. The equality of the sexes may be addressed on paper, but there is always an imbalance that exists in the real world groups, and it manifests as both misogyny and misandry (man-hatin’). The “slave-like insistence on polyamory,” as you put it, is a problem that a minority of neo-pagans are displaying. What to me is worse is the obvious ‘infiltration’ of most pagan groups by the BDSM/Swinger subculture. Sure there is crossover, and that is totally fine. Hell, polyamory and chains and whips and all that shit are fine with me too, but don’t confuse one sub-culture with the other, it just makes it seem like you’re looking for a piece of ass. Anyway, there is a lot more to be written about this, and I hope to see your comments as I prepare a more solid report on this phenomenon within the occulture. The wheel is turning. DADDY TANK, I have a music request. DJ lobsterdust, “Queen vs. Satan.”
Raymond
Your comment re: “the real thing” certainly holds water inasmuch as fantasy almost always trumps reality – in ANY walk of life. I guess that’s why so many people these days end up in World of Warcraft or Second Life, where fatties become supermodels and terminal dullards morph into gallant rogues.
In terms of Occult groups – how on earth can a student who has spent all adolescence dreaming of satanic rites in torchlit caverns below European castles reconcile the reality of their local coven/Golden Dawn/OTO body meeting in a community hall or the front room of someone’s house? Couple that with the fact that any occult progress entails HARD WORK and it’s not hard to see why so many vocal newbies end up bored and packing it in once they realise it’s not all lightning bolts and wizards. One must come to realise that external trappings, though useful, are not where it’s really at. Self-discovery isn’t a fashion statement and it doesn’t dress in black to spook out the ‘profane’ world.
According to an old story, a lord of China once asked his physician, a member of a family of healers, which of them was the most skilled in the art.
The physician, whose reputation was such that his name became synonymous with medical science in China replied,
“My eldest brother sees the spirit of sickness and removes it before it takes shape, so his name does not get out of the house.
“My elder brother cures sickness when it is still extremely minute, so his name does not get out of the neighbourhood.
“As for me. I puncture veins, prescribe potions, and massage skin, so from time to time my name gets out and is heard among the lords.”
In the light of this parable, may we not deduce that TRUE neo-paganism, or occultism, is just as alive as it always was, regardless of how active the ‘scene’ is?
Just a thought.
Regards
Adrian
I, needless to say, dress in black to spook out the profane world.
When you see the “Real Thing”, there’s no mistaking it. My issue with the internet is not a problem of availability of information so much as it is an issue with the signal-to-noise ratio that such a free arena creates. It can take years before you ever see the “Real Thing”, if you ever see it at all, but trying to learn about magick online is like browsing free porn galleries and mistaking it for sex. At best it might lightly titillate for awhile, but at best you lose interest after a few minutes of furious masturbation, and at worst you set yourself up as that kid who talks about how awesome sex with a pillow is.
The analogy should be killed now before it gets any larger and fights back.
I’m with Adrian. I think the “Real Thing” is still making the big sweaty nasty behind closed doors, while the outside world humps its pillows into oblivion.
And that was the kind of comment only a mojito or two in the middle of the day can inspire.
I’ll raise a glass to that.
I was speaking merely of my experiences with neo-pagan groups where the high priest demands that he have the so-called “king’s right” with any member’s girlfriend, and one cannot bring a female acquaintance to one of their parties without watching her like a hawk. Being the sort of person who likes to talk loudly in coffee-shops, a guy walking around with a Crowley and tons of Abramelin-esque jewelry is usually after one thing, and I’m guilty of being that guy in my misspent youth. Then i grew some self-esteem. the classic “king of the hill” ep where bobby joins the “covenant of artemis” and is asked to drink dog’s blood was a wake up call for me. as for that high priest, he’s now on welfare and lowered to selling his line of shit to 15-year old emo kids. they deserve him
To be honest (while carrying on the less intellectually stimulating thread of this conversation) I thought you were taking the piss when you asked me to play DJ Lobsterdust – “Queen vs. Satan.” but it turns out he exists. Interesting moniker. Interesting tune. I’ll play it even though it deviates from my core gimmick, that being that I only play music I find. I’ll just pretend I found it. Ner Ner Ner-ner Ner.
Hello. And Bye. 🙂