Exiled in America...Pearl Jam compass

MK106165

Hi guys,

I can't believe I've been a Pearl Jam fan since 1991 and this is my first post to the forum. What the hell is my problem? lol Anyway, as a long time fan I think I have a pretty good idea of the tastes and political views of the majority of PJ fans. So, I wanted to make a plea to you guys to support me and my book Exiled In America: A Gen-X Journalist's View on Life, Politics, Culture, Religion and Social Control in the 21st Century.
This is not a corporately backed book (I guess I didn't scream loudly enough about mice having human brains to interest corporate houses). I really just chose to to say the hell with it after my 30th rejection letter stated in a handwritten note that circled two items in my proposal letter "world run by public relations persuasion specialists" and "right wing whack jobs" with the response "not for us" and "your criticisms seem inflammatory, not our style." I just decided to go unfiltered since it is an anti-corporate fascism and anti-media model. There is no synergy or corporate glad handing for these guys to promote.
A little about me briefly: I worked as a journalist/editor for daily and weekly newspapers for a decade for companies like Gannett (Shreveport Times) and the Sun-Sentinel Community Newsgroup (Florida). I was also a national music journalist for publications like Metal Edge, Metal Hammer and Creative Loafing, among others. I quit in 2003 because I was tired of the corporate ethics trumping journalistic ethics. My experience in Shreveport, especially following 9/11 (you might recall Barksdale Air Force Base was where Bush first addressed the nation is in Shreveport) really was the final straw for me.
So, decided to get my Master's in communication/rhetoric and I've been teaching rhetoric/persuasion/effective speech from the classical concepts of Cicero at Penn State ever since. My goal was help young students about to enter society gain the critical thinking skills they would need to defend themselves and really understand how rhetoric operates. Assessing credibility (ethos) and having what I call a BS detection kit is critical for a member of society not to become one of what Plato called the masses of asses who could not be trusted to know when they were being led astray by rhetoric.We teach our course from a civic engagement standpoint, so these skills are critical. I had been wanting to write a book for a long time, but it didn't all gel in my head until the Tea Bagger explosion at the town halls in Summer 2009. My book is a visceral response to that blending journalism and academics in the tone of George Carlin. I assure you it doesn't suck. I would not promote it here or anywhere if it was not something of which I could be proud.
In addition to the political themes explored here which I know will be of interest to you guys, the music section is heavily, heavily grounded in my Pearl Jam experiences and their comments as well. I am using them as an example of what is RIGHT about music because they deliver "something sacred" to the audience. So, PJ fans there is definitely a huge Pearl Jam presence in this book. I did send a copy to the band a while back (an advance copy) and hope they enjoy it. I would love to hear any feedback from you guys as well. So, help a brother out will you?
The platforms for voices unfiltered by corporate censorship are vanishing rapidly. There is a 1,000 word blurb on the Buy Books on the Web link (don't worry, this book is NOT another Super Size Me...it's just the intro to pervasive effects of advertising in the greater picture of the multi-pronged assault on us and our reasoning abilities). I have also included the link to it on Amazon (also available through Borders...Barnes and Noble in January). Anyway, thanks for reading. All those who value reason and facts....and like George Carlin and Bill Hicks will enjoy this book. Thanks again and take care.
Mark E. Kohler
Communication Arts and Sciences Penn State

http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/product ... 414-6176-5

http://www.amazon.com/Exiled-America-Ma ... 588&sr=1-1

eyedclaar

Is the prose in this book broken out into seperate paragraphs by any chance?

BinFrog

tldnr

RKCNDY

BinFrog wrote:

tldnr

Cree Nations

eyedclaar wrote:

Is the prose in this book broken out into seperate paragraphs by any chance?

lol

MK106165

That's very funny. Thanks for the constructive comment. And yes, it IS. Sorry for the long message with no paragraph breaks. I guess I got carried away. If I edit the post, will that please you? As you can see by the link to the 1,000 word blurb...it IS.

PureandEasy

My apologies to the OP, I've been spending the last few minutes trying to decipher BinFrog's reply.

Too late, do not resuscitate

most likely, too long, did not read

I actually did read it and I generally agree with the basis of your thoughts, but I don't know that I would want to read an entire book about it

I wish you luck though. My niece attends Penn State, I'll have to ask her if she took your class

Cree Nations

Sweet Jebus, you joined in 2002 and this was your first post, lurk much? Welcome

MK106165

Thanks for your reply PureandEasy. You could just read the music and religion part. Anyway, about your niece, I teach a required GEN ED course CAS100A, so if she hasn't taken it yet I'd love to have in the class. Take care.
Mark K.

MK106165

LOL...thanks Cree Nations.

PureandEasy

Hey, he said he sent a copy to the band. For all we know the next Deep issue could list it as "recommended reading" by one of the band members.

and we all know what that means. It might as well be Oprah saying read this.

It'll be on the best seller list in no time.

MK106165

PureandEasy wrote:

Hey, he said he sent a copy to the band. For all we know the next Deep issue could list it as "recommended reading" by one of the band members.

and we all know what that means. It might as well be Oprah saying read this.

It'll be on the best seller list in no time.

That would be a dream come true to say the least.

81

i thought they were going to stamp the logo on the pot hole? either way, whatever. if they want to fill holes and put a logo on it, so what.

WhyGo77

I am buying a copy...not only because I want to help you out - but I think it looks like a good book.

Best of luck.

MK106165

81 wrote:

i thought they were going to stamp the logo on the pot hole? either way, whatever. if they want to fill holes and put a logo on it, so what.

It's about subsuming OUR communities for CORPORATE communities. It leads to a culture where people don't matter, only corporations do. Ever heard of Citizens United vs. FCC. If you don't care...fine, perhaps we can stamp an Exxon logo over the front of your house since you don't seem to mind if your community is for sale or not. This is the same mentality that allowed Gov. Rick Perry to mandate Gardasil shots for girls in Texas so his buddies (Merck lobbyists) could line their pockets. When corporations get to make the rules, name every building and spray paint their logos onto everything, where do people fit into your scheme of life?

MK106165

WhyGo77 wrote:

I am buying a copy...not only because I want to help you out - but I think it looks like a good book.

Best of luck.

Thanks very much and I would appreciate any feedback you might have after you read it. Merry Christmas!

PureandEasy

MK106165 wrote:

81 wrote:

i thought they were going to stamp the logo on the pot hole? either way, whatever. if they want to fill holes and put a logo on it, so what.

It's about subsuming OUR communities for CORPORATE communities. It leads to a culture where people don't matter, only corporations do. Ever heard of Citizens United vs. FCC. If you don't care...fine, perhaps we can stamp an Exxon logo over the front of your house since you don't seem to mind if your community is for sale or not. This is the same mentality that allowed Gov. Rick Perry to mandate Gardasil shots for girls in Texas so his buddies (Merck lobbyists) could line their pockets. When corporations get to make the rules, name every building and spray paint their logos onto everything, where do people fit into your scheme of life?

Ok, you're starting to interest me more . . . maybe I will check it out.

It does make you sick sometimes, all this corporate sponsored crap. They've changed the name of the professional hockey arena here five times in the last ten years it seems. Nobody even calls it by it's real name because it changes so often.

They just better not touch my baseball park. Although it is a corporate name, I happen to like it.

These corporations do have too much power, that's for sure.

MK106165

PureandEasy wrote:

MK106165 wrote:

81 wrote:

i thought they were going to stamp the logo on the pot hole? either way, whatever. if they want to fill holes and put a logo on it, so what.

It's about subsuming OUR communities for CORPORATE communities. It leads to a culture where people don't matter, only corporations do. Ever heard of Citizens United vs. FCC. If you don't care...fine, perhaps we can stamp an Exxon logo over the front of your house since you don't seem to mind if your community is for sale or not. This is the same mentality that allowed Gov. Rick Perry to mandate Gardasil shots for girls in Texas so his buddies (Merck lobbyists) could line their pockets. When corporations get to make the rules, name every building and spray paint their logos onto everything, where do people fit into your scheme of life?

Ok, you're starting to interest me more . . . maybe I will check it out.

It does make you sick sometimes, all this corporate sponsored crap. They've changed the name of the professional hockey arena here five times in the last ten years it seems. Nobody even calls it by it's real name because it changes so often.

Thanks very much for your post. I hear you on the stadium thing (which I mention in my book as well). It really is overwhelming sometimes. I have no idea where some arenas are any more since you are correct, the names seems to change every year. I can't believe I actually saw a concert at a place called Jiffy Lube Live. The Comfort Dental arena is another one of my fave WTF names? I am big Miami Dolphins' fan and the stadium built privately by Joe Robbie has had many ridiculous names, none worse than Land Shark Stadium after Jimmy Buffett's beer brand. It will always be Joe Robbie Stadium to me! Take care.


They just better not touch my baseball park. Although it is a corporate name, I happen to like it.

These corporations do have too much power, that's for sure.

MK106165

PureandEasy wrote:

MK106165 wrote:

81 wrote:

i thought they were going to stamp the logo on the pot hole? either way, whatever. if they want to fill holes and put a logo on it, so what.

It's about subsuming OUR communities for CORPORATE communities. It leads to a culture where people don't matter, only corporations do. Ever heard of Citizens United vs. FCC. If you don't care...fine, perhaps we can stamp an Exxon logo over the front of your house since you don't seem to mind if your community is for sale or not. This is the same mentality that allowed Gov. Rick Perry to mandate Gardasil shots for girls in Texas so his buddies (Merck lobbyists) could line their pockets. When corporations get to make the rules, name every building and spray paint their logos onto everything, where do people fit into your scheme of life?

Ok, you're starting to interest me more . . . maybe I will check it out.

It does make you sick sometimes, all this corporate sponsored crap. They've changed the name of the professional hockey arena here five times in the last ten years it seems. Nobody even calls it by it's real name because it changes so often.

They just better not touch my baseball park. Although it is a corporate name, I happen to like it.

These corporations do have too much power, that's for sure.

Sorry, my post back got buried within your text....oops!


Thanks very much for your post. I hear you on the stadium thing (which I mention in my book as well). It really is overwhelming sometimes. I have no idea where some arenas are any more since you are correct, the names seems to change every year. I can't believe I actually saw a concert at a place called Jiffy Lube Live. The Comfort Dental arena is another one of my fave WTF names? I am big Miami Dolphins' fan and the stadium built privately by Joe Robbie has had many ridiculous names, none worse than Land Shark Stadium after Jimmy Buffett's beer brand. It will always be Joe Robbie Stadium to me! Take care.

81

MK106165 wrote:

81 wrote:

i thought they were going to stamp the logo on the pot hole? either way, whatever. if they want to fill holes and put a logo on it, so what.

It's about subsuming OUR communities for CORPORATE communities. It leads to a culture where people don't matter, only corporations do. Ever heard of Citizens United vs. FCC. If you don't care...fine, perhaps we can stamp an Exxon logo over the front of your house since you don't seem to mind if your community is for sale or not. This is the same mentality that allowed Gov. Rick Perry to mandate Gardasil shots for girls in Texas so his buddies (Merck lobbyists) could line their pockets. When corporations get to make the rules, name every building and spray paint their logos onto everything, where do people fit into your scheme of life?

how much is exxon going to pay me to put their logo on my house? if the price is right, my roof is for sale. fyi, there are companies out there that will wrap your car in advertising for a fee. is that wrong? i just don't see an issue with a company paying extra to fix stuff.

that said, i agree there is a lot of fraud and pocket lining in .gov. no need to look any further than what is going on in NY right now.

MK106165

81 wrote:

MK106165 wrote:

81 wrote:

i thought they were going to stamp the logo on the pot hole? either way, whatever. if they want to fill holes and put a logo on it, so what.

It's about subsuming OUR communities for CORPORATE communities. It leads to a culture where people don't matter, only corporations do. Ever heard of Citizens United vs. FCC. If you don't care...fine, perhaps we can stamp an Exxon logo over the front of your house since you don't seem to mind if your community is for sale or not. This is the same mentality that allowed Gov. Rick Perry to mandate Gardasil shots for girls in Texas so his buddies (Merck lobbyists) could line their pockets. When corporations get to make the rules, name every building and spray paint their logos onto everything, where do people fit into your scheme of life?

how much is exxon going to pay me to put their logo on my house? if the price is right, my roof is for sale. fyi, there are companies out there that will wrap your car in advertising for a fee. is that wrong? i just don't see an issue with a company paying extra to fix stuff.

that said, i agree there is a lot of fraud and pocket lining in .gov. no need to look any further than what is going on in NY right now.

Hey, if that's the type of world you want to live in, you're in the right place. I would highly suggest you watch the original Rollerball to see where I think this is going and why it needs to curbed. I tend to take the Bill Hicks approach on this out of control marketing and advertising...I don't want to live in a Minority Report world. Here's Hicks' view on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDW_Hj2K0wo