As I’ve been saying for quite sometime now, I will be leaving social media until after the 2020 US Presidential Election. Obviously with current events, – don’t expect me to be entirely ghost. However, don’t expect much posting or interaction from me either. I’ll still be available on Messenger and I’m begrudgingly getting a cell phone again for the first time in over a year here shortly. Now. Some info/explanation I would like to share before leaving: *Disclaimer One: I am just a random hoe from Indiana on the internet. I only know what I know, and I only know what I’m allowed to know. I have the same access to the same information as everybody else and I encourage you to seek this information out and come to your own conclusions. I’m not making this post public or shareable just to further solidify that I’m not looking for any recognition or engagement. It genuinely makes no difference to me whether or not you look into or believe any of this and as I said I’m leaving social media so the discussion of it shouldn’t even be considered a motive. The only desire I have here is to inform. However even then I am still not claiming supremacy or anything like that. Although I hinder my own credibility by talkin’ shit and crackin’ jokes on here, I normally feel like I have my finger on the pulse of things at least as much as you can nowadays, and, I am now admitting defeat and telling you I have no idea what the fuck is going on anymore. *Disclaimer Two: Everything I am about to say is intentionally triple and quadruple checked for accuracy, caution, and public availability. I won’t go as far as to say that it’s 100% fact just to prove my point, but I will say that if this post get’s Zuck’d and removed by Facebooks algorithms – be suspicious. I doubt that it will, but I wouldn’t be too terribly surprised if it did. #1 – I want to get this one out of the way first, because it’s the most elaborate, sounds the most conspiratorial, and has the highest probability of causing you to lose interest or for this post to lose its credibility. Beyond that, however, this is the most important information in this post and what I consider to be the most important information in the world right now; above Coronavirus (on the top of my list, doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not), our current situation, global warming (on the top of my list, doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not), more important than whatever you this are the top five most important issues in the world right now, which there are clearly many. . Before I go into details please understand that this received widespread and extensive global press coverage and played out publicly through government hearings both in the UK and the United States in 2018, the ladder being Zux congressional hearings here in the US, which I’m sure you remember even just a smidge. This isn’t something that is up for debate or even something that is questioned at large by any group of people. All of the information was, and is still currently publicly available in its entirety. Including all of the aforementioned hearings, and so on. There is also a documentary on Netflix called “The Great Hack” which I have, and continue to encourage each and everyone of you to watch and share (fuck this status, if you want to spread something, spread that) as it explains this in more depth than I ever could. I’m talking about Cambridge Analytica. (This is where shit is going to get wonky, trust me. I refer you back to my disclaimers above.) Also I’m aware that even the name sounds like a conspiracy theory, but I think that was part of the point. I’m avoiding going to crazy in depth with the terminology involved because 1) I want you to seek the information out, and 2) I’ll lose you entirely. It’s really bizarre stuff, and I again refer you to my disclaimers above. Cambridge Analytica, as defined by Wiki (only because it’s the first/most concise description) “was a British political consulting firm that combined misappropriation of digital assets, data mining, data brokerage and data analysis with strategic communication during the electoral processes.” This firm has now been shut down, (but interestingly enough, a lot of the former employees were hired by the Trump 2020 Campaign) but worked for the 'Brexit' campaign in the UK -what was considered to be a political upset as shocking as the victory of Donald Trump, it was shortly before the 2016 election, and surprise – Cambridge Analytica worked for the Trump Campaign as well. (Again, please stay with me, I know how weird it sounds – disclaimers above. This is also the last time I’ll say that.) They developed software, technology, and systems that are “considered a weapon” which they used to gather, analyze, and manipulate the information that is made available to big tech and social networking companies which is gathered from pretty much everything (credit card transitions, obviously cell phones and social media usage, but also think Amazon Echo’s, and Bluetooth toasters, high-tech vibrators, TV’s, all of the vast array of connected devices we use and interact with the develop incredibly extensive personality profiles on us, (they claimed to have 5,000 ‘data points’ on *every* American voter in 2016) divide us into groups based on that information, and this used aggressive (refer back to the Wiki definition.) targeted marketing techniques fed through social media that included fake news, suppression of news, suppression of feed activity, algorithms to censor information, I mean the list goes on and on – with the one and only goal of swaying, distorting, confusing, and changing the minds and opinions of the general public. Separate information to separate groups as defined by that data information. Again, think back to how bizarre that 2016 election cycle was, how we were all annoyed at the thought of Thanksgiving because there was no way that it wouldn’t be a conversation, much less an argument. Think how that really hasn’t changed. A lot of the tactics they used I saw in real time and noticed the unauthentic nature of in real time however none of it made sense beyond just not making sense, until I saw this documentary on Netflix, and then did extensive research into the topic after/because of that documentary (The Great Hack, if you don’t wanna scroll). Mind you, Zux congressional hearings had came and gone throughout the time inbetween and I *thought* I was paying attention. You won’t understand it though until it’s laid out in detail for you and I hope that you all, like me, understand it it enough without understanding to go seek it out and understand it. As I’ve said, I think this is the most important issue in the world right now and I truly think your political position or beliefs make no difference because we can all agree on two things: shit didn’t make sense then, shit doesn’t make sense now. I had planned on, have acted on, and now am encouraging more than ever that people are educated on this information as 99% of political campaigning is happening on social media. Especially in 2020, especially after 2016, especially with Trump, and especially with Rona. 2016 was the first time it was used (“Russian Interference”), which is why not many of us know about it, and also means this year it is supercharged. As I said I watched this play out in the 2016 election without understanding it, knew it was going to happen with more force around this time of this year, and assured all my assumptions when I watched it play out with the Coronavirus. (This is why 2016/20 elections and coronavirus have become so political and divisive) I’ve also seen tons of it going on with the current protests and riots. If the thought of a Netflix documentary makes you suspicious, or you would just like a more elaborate and “official” understanding – All two days, ten hours, and 600 questions of Mark Zuckerbergs congressional hearings can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ValJMOpt7s Brittany Kaiser, who is the former director of programme development at Cambridge Analytica / turned whistleblower testified for the U.K. Parliament’s Commons Culture Committee (she is pretty much the public face of the scandal, as well as the documentary, so you can find a lot of information with/of/by her, however I am strictly only sharing the official government hearing) which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZAvQzRhJ0I&t=6s Whistleblower Christopher Wylie testified before the U.K. Parliament committee which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5g6IJm7YJQ As well as the US Congress, which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCpDi57x4uc Alexander Nix, CEO of Cambridge Analytica testified before the U.K. Parliament which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqKU0gqY7oo Besides (obviously) the information provided in those *very* extensive videos, I personally did not provide information beyond what you would get from the documentaries trailer, which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX8GxLP1FHo And the last bit of information I will provide is a Q&A with the investigators, journalists, and filmmakers behind breaking the story and making the documentary, which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX8GxLP1FHo It would not be possible for me to give you a summary more elaborate yet condensed, or access to information more straightforward, raw, unbiased, and unfiltered. (I believe there are/around 24 full hours exist within those links.) You chose what you want to do with it. #2 Frustratingly, this one has “Theory” in the title. However do not let that take away from its relevance, as it is really more of a examination, investigation, and summarization of American Culture and History that just so happens to formulate a pattern which just so happened to predict a period of social and political chaos specifically in the United States and specifically within this general timeframe. It’s founders, Neil Howe and William Strauss, published and began sharing this research back in the 80s, with their first book “Generations” and have continued to educate, elaborate, and explain its phases and the meaning of those phases as we pass through them culturally, and it goes without saying that would only be possible if the theory stood up – which it has. It is referred to by several names, including the “Neil-Howe Generational Theory”, “The Saeculum Cycle”, or my personal favorite, but the more ominous sounding “The Fourth Turning.” As I said above, it began with simply researching American Culture throughout history, and developed into this elaborate 4-phase cycle which has held true dating back to the fourteen hundreds. Developing the theory of this cycle was not the intent, yet became undeniably clear when complying research, and, as I said, has held true throughout American History from the 1400s to present day. As I also said above, Howe and Strauss discovered, developed, published, and presented this information in the late 80s and still do to this day as it still becomes a relevant topic of conversation as our culture passes through the phases. Much like Cambridge, it seems like a daunting, conspiratorial, and overwhelming topic to delve into – except it’s not. It goes something like this: The average human lifespan (Around 80-90 Years) is a period in which cultural perceptions, conditions, norms, and experiences shape the identity and direction of American Culture. (In simple terms – Generations.) As generations are born, grow, become active and prevalent, and eventually become outdated and die out, only to be replaced by the next, they interact and influence both themselves, each other, and the culture in such ways that just happen to formulate this four-tier cycle. Obviously the defining circumstances change, and the timeline varies slightly, but the pattern always remains the same. We are currently in the last phase of this cycle, (which is how and why Howe and Strauss have been predicting/warning of social and political chaos around this time). To try my best to explain, I’ll lay out the most recent cycle, and again keep in mind: this has held-steady throughout American history all the way back to the 1400s, and that we are currently in the fourth phase of the cycle. The following is a basic summarization of how each four phases of the cycle plays out, followed by the last two iterations of this cycle in American history. Again, we are in the fourth phase of the second iteration of this cycle currently. Much like the hearings with Cambridge, the following information is straight from Wiki for time, clarity, and correction purposes: ----------------- Phase One: “High” According to Strauss and Howe, the First Turning is a High, which occurs after a Crisis. During The High, institutions are strong and individualism is weak. Society is confident about where it wants to go collectively, though those outside the majoritarian center often feel stifled by the conformity.[38] Phase Two: “Awakening” According to the theory, the Second Turning is an Awakening. This is an era when institutions are attacked in the name of personal and spiritual autonomy. Just when society is reaching its high tide of public progress, people suddenly tire of social discipline and want to recapture a sense of "self-awareness", "spirituality" and "personal authenticity". Young activists look back at the previous High as an era of cultural and spiritual poverty. Phase Three: “Unraveling” According to Strauss and Howe, the Third Turning is an Unraveling. The mood of this era they say is in many ways the opposite of a High: Institutions are weak and distrusted, while individualism is strong and flourishing. The authors say Highs come after Crises, when society wants to coalesce and build and avoid the death and destruction of the previous crisis. Unraveling’s come after Awakenings, when society wants to atomize and enjoy. Phase Four: “Crisis” According to the authors, the Fourth Turning is a Crisis. This is an era of destruction, often involving war or revolution, in which institutional life is destroyed and rebuilt in response to a perceived threat to the nation's survival. After the crisis, civic authority revives, cultural expression redirects towards community purpose, and people begin to locate themselves as members of a larger group. ------ The last two iterations of this cycles in American History have played out like this: Missionary Generation 1st Turning: High: Reconstruction, Gilded Age 1865–1886 (21) Lost Generation 2nd Turning: Awakening: Missionary Awakening/Progressive Era 1886–1908 (22) G.I. Generation Hero 3rd Turning: Unraveling: World War I, Roaring Twenties, Prohibition 1908–1929 (21) Silent Generation 1925–1942 (18) 4th Turning: Crisis: Great Depression, World War II1929–1946 (17) ------ Millennial Saeculum (74 + years) Baby Boom Generation 1st Turning: High: American High 1946–1964 (18) 13th Generation (GenX) 2nd Turning: Awakening: Consciousness Revolution, Fourth Great Awakening1964–1984 (20) Millennial Generation 3rd Turning: Unraveling: Neoliberalism/Culture Wars1984–2008 (24) Homeland Generation (GZ) 4th Turning: Crisis: Great Recession, War on Terror 2008– (This would now include Coronavirus and Current Events, obviously) ------- Without the knowledge of this information I would not have mentally survived the coronavirus situation to be honest, and that is why I am sharing it with you all before leaving as I feel it provides at least some sort of explanation, understanding, and clarity to at least the questions of “Why?” and “What the fuck?” as I know this shit has, will, and especially is now weighing on people heavily. I will redirect you to my disclaimers above one last time. Tell you all that I love you, am with you, am thinking about you, and am reachable on Messenger for now, and a new phone again shortly. What you choose to do with this information is up to you, and although I think social media is incredibly useful, especially at a time like this – it has undeniably been weaponized against us and it really ramps up around election time. It is manipulated by multiple groups and individuals from within this country and without, all with contrasting motives and agendas, and if you can’t tell by how many people you have unfriended/been unfriended by within the last week alone – it only divides and confuses us, as opposed to connecting and informing. (*Most of the time.) I’ve spent most of my quarantine working on some really dope projects, some of which explore both of these topics more in-depth, and wish I could use those mediums to present this to you, however I fear time is not on my side here and I think this is crucial now, however I will be sharing those with you shortly. I have no choice but to check into this shit at this point, so I’ll be around, creepin’, peepin’ – but not a lot, and not very publicly. I just realized I didn’t provide any links to The Fourth Turning, however Neil Howe and William Strauss have been publishing books and doing interviews on the topic since the late 80s and it is widely available. One last thing I would like to share with you is a list of “The Most Unbiased News Sources” which I complied with information by AllSides.com, a website I found recently which presents each and every news story with three different articles – one from “the left”, one from “the right”, and one that is "neutral." It’s a great resource (for as far as you can trust any resource in 2020) that has a lot of great systems in place for helping you really understand what’s going on to the best of your ability. STAY AWAY FROM FOX NEWS, AND CNN, BUT ESPECIALLY FOX NEWS. Associated Press – ap.org The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. Its members are U.S. newspapers and broadcasters. AP news reports, distributed to its members and customers, are produced in English, Spanish and Arabic. The AP has earned 53 Pulitzer Prizes, including 31 for photography, since the award was established in 1917. npr.org National Public Radio is an American privately and publicly funded non-profit media organization based in Washington, D.C. NPR differs from other non-profit membership media organizations, such as AP, in that it was established by an act of Congress and most of its member stations are owned by government entities. It serves as a national syndicator to a network of over 1,000 public radio stations in the United States. BBC News – bbc.com/news BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online news coverage. The service maintains 50 foreign news bureaux with more than 250 correspondents around the world. Fran Unsworth has been Director of News and Current Affairs since January 2018. Reuters – Reuters.com Reuters is an international news organization owned by Thomson Reuters. Until 2008, the Reuters news agency formed part of an independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data. Since the acquisition of Reuters Group by the Thomson Corporation in 2008, the Reuters news agency has been a part of Thomson Reuters, making up the media division. It was established in 1851. The Hill – thehill.com The Hill is an American news website, based in Washington, D.C. which began as a newspaper publisher in 1994. It is owned by Capitol Hill Publishing, which is owned by News Communications, Inc. Focusing on politics, policy, business and international relations, The Hill coverage includes the U.S. Congress, the presidency, and election campaigns. On its website, The Hill describes its output as "nonpartisan reporting on the inner workings of Congress and the nexus of politics and business". In the comments here shortly, I’ll be posting the link to a downloadable PDF File for any of the few possible reasons you might need this. I’ll also be sharing this one time in the morning for more visibility, and then I won’t be active for as long as I feel like I need to entirely detox for, and then I’ll occasionally be back here and there to share some dope ish w/ y’all. Do what you would like with this. Do whatever you have to do to get yourself properly informed and to stay that way (for at least the next few months, its hard I know but more important than ever), make sure you’re registered to vote on Nov. 3rd, and do whatever you can to make a positive difference in this world. You don’t need me to tell you this shit is FFFFF’ED up. Get the fuck off here, and go spend some time with your family or do something productive. For one of apparently a few different reasons, you might not have the chance much longer. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. You are not alone. Nobody knows what the fuck is going on, bro. I love you all. Stay safe out there. Don’t give up without a HELL of a fight. Peace. Sten.