Amsterdam!

Are We Here Yet 4&5, and a useful concept from Adam Curtis

Hypernormalization

I really enjoyed Russell Brand’s brief but intense Searcher period - when he was clean and meditating and trying to get smarter. After the first Trump election I got a lot out of his podcast, which had brilliant guests and sprawling, progressive conversations. And I was real sad to watch him lose his mind to the YouTube algorithm during COVID. Whatever, I’m getting used to it.

All that to say: this talk by Adam Curtis is from Brand’s show, but with Brand’s interruptions removed. That’s why it sounds odd. But Curtis is super-astute, and his explanation of Hypernormalization is very useful in these weird fucking times.

I hope you’re doing alright. Stay cool.