CoddCast

Who knew America was the one who named the water between the south eastern United States and Mexico? Apparently Donald Trump knew because he just announced the name will be changed from 'The Gulf of Mexico' to 'The Gulf of America' - which, all politics aside actually does audibly sound better.  I don't plan to regularly cover politics because, speaking of saturation (previous blog post), there is no shortage of that online. However on occasion if the Trunqster does something funny, or motivated my Merica! side I can't help but make note.  Case in point the upcoming 250th American birthday bash- of which I plan on doing a full series on. Good times. -Codd

I'm all for gravy. The best kind. But not the poorly constructed recipes of nonsense & story telling. Allegedly the term "conspiracy theorist" was coined as a way to marginalize anyone who was skeptical of the official story behind JFK's assassination. With the number of major media outlets totaling something you could count on one hand, a slip of disclosure on JFK or any topic behind held from the public, required swift & thorough action. For a time during COVID, I personally thought that was one of the main objectives for "slowing the spread" (of information) for "viral" transfers of rapidly escaping truth. However the stark contrast between the tightly controlled media outlets of the 1960s with the vast outlets of information channels (broadcast tv, cable tv, internet tv/streaming, radio AM/FM, CB radio, podcasting, social media, print media, virtual periodicals,etc) there have long since been too many points of failure to maintain the o...

Someone I know who's made the jump from military service to private security has mentioned the recent United Health Care CEO event has sparked beefed up security for anyone who happens to find themselves at the top of large companies.  Indicative of a larger trend? Over reaction? It's still early in the 1st quarter of this grabbler football game, but it does appear to be the silver lining for those who work in private security.  -Codd

Yes I'm aware the games may be fixed and it's entertainment- but I'd be lying if I said it isn't a good day when the Chocago Bears beat the Greenbay Packers. Not just because the historic rivalry, but in particular because it feels like it's been forever since it's happened. I won't be going full WWE fan "it's still real to me damnit!" but it's still fist pump worthy. Go Bears -Codd

A little birdy told me, through the telephone, that he heard through the grapevine you have a scarlet letter.  If I were so motivated to disrupt an event of a public figure I thought was 'the bad man' I could whip up the following recipe that is apparently fool proof- Step one: whip up some nonsense article that alludes to a zeitgeist terror trigger about said public figure. (make sure not to go beyond alluding, so it isn't libel). 10 seconds before you publish, send an email asking for comment but then include at the end of the article they wouldn't respond. Step two: Update their Wikipedia with "...has been accused of" with a source link that is hot off the presses. Step three: Call venue of your new obsession & pressure them to cancel based on "wHaT iS wRiTTeN aBoUt" them. Extra points if the scary info is newer. For some reason that's the secret sauce. Step four (if needed): If the venue holds strong or isn't convinced; try step three...

Hopefully TikTok survives the beyond the next two weeks, if nothing else- it's one of the last, somewhat meritocratic art space for short-form comedy. Once Vine, then old YouTube and now TikTok.  One style I enjoyed watching, (which to my knowledge wasn't given a name) was what I'm coining "Template Comedy." TikTok is notorious for taking part in trends where it's very monkey-see-monkey-do. However, on occasion, you will come across someone taking part in said trend, but only in it's templated-form. That is to say, they don't do their own unique take or artistic signature, but rather speak as if they were an empty madlibs with directions.  Honorable mentions for other genres/styles include 'Meta' and '4th Wall Breaking' comedy. This will also occur in trending virtual skits, but is certainly not limited to them. Well into taking part in a trend, while also alluding to the fact the creator is purposefully trying to take part in the trend...

Maybe Yes, Maybe No - Who's To Say? Seasons, weeks, days & nights are cyclical, but stories are arcs. As the parable of the Farmer's Son explains, each life event has the potential to direct circumstances. Was the moment that just happened a signifier of something bad? Or was it the catalyst necessary to get to a greater good? In the moment it may be painful or blissful, but has it fully played out yet? The answer is it's always playing out on how you take it. Always turned into or not turned into whatever (current) 'end' result- by choice. External interpretation & nay-sayers be damned. For everything that has ever happened has had a moment when it had never happened before, right before it did.

 How many times are you going to think the football is kickable, Charlie Brown? For those unaware, Elon Musk has begun following the same protocol of shadow bans, debanking and outright removal that he allegedly used to rail against. It's almost as if the ones shouting how they can be trusted with the ring of power, behave the same way everyone before them did- even in a MAGA hat. The answer is and has always been to build & grow your own platforms. Even if Elon was once the hero people believed he was, (jury still out & not looking good) it's infantile to think he would then never take a ticket. In Elon's case, cashing in said ticket- where he uses his ability to manipulate the platform he bought, for his own goals.  Here's the next level though, there's nothing wrong with that. It's actually on you for falling for it. The only hope, however waning, is for Charlie Brown to play football elsewhere.  -Codd

Predictions for 2025.  History doesn't repeat but it certainly rhymes.  On one hand it would appear we're in a time when A.I. & targeted analytics will take our engagement to feed us back our own desires in the "news"- and on the other hand there still appears to be an element of stimulation testing where what is put on the "news" is to shape a narrative to move mass consciousness. Maybe it's both. A manipulative two step. Either way, what matters most is where you put your thoughts & actions. I initially expect 2025 in the political realm, to rhyme with, and look earily similar to, events in 2017. That being said, the push for a "golden age" vibe does open the door for some great possibilities. Very much looking forward to engaging with & paralleling the world's fair plans for America's 250th. -Codd

New year, new me? Many musings go unrecorded. Reflections, predictions and innovations. It's time that changed.  First post & test post.  Happy 2025. -Codd