Subject: Winter Solstice Greetings from Blastfishing's Bipolar Express!
   From: Brian Madison
   Date: November 26, 2005
     To: listserv


"The Memeticist"
 Edition 2


"The Memeticist"
 Edition 2


"It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong."
                                                      --Thomas Sowell


--> In this issue: Almost-new Products, New Pages, and Free Stuff.


(Coming to you direct from the 2nd-largest clothing-optional office building in mid-town Manhattan...)

Greetings once again, fellow traveler!

Need some painfully unique holiday gifts for that college kid and/or cranky relative who are always so hard to buy for? Zen Master This has been tirelessly toiling away these past months in the well-heated Blastfishing/General Memetics labs in his never-ending mission to Save Humanity From Itself. We recently announced and added these fine new products to our website, by popular demand of our ever-growing Army of Memetic Insurgents (AMI)...


Magnetic Sticker Holders Save Valuable Auto Paint Jobs
======================================================

Peel your Blastfishing.com bumper sticker, stick it to the magnet, then attach the magnet to the car. Voila: removable bumper sticker! Made of heavy-duty 0.030” FMRS (flexible magnetic rubber stuff). $1.50 each.


Boutique T-shirts are All the Rage
==================================

Yes, we have finally put 10 of our finest precision-engineered memes onto t-shirts! Just imagine the memetic damage you’ll do to unsuspecting normals when you proudly stroll down the street, across campus, or through the shopping mall with “You’re inadequate; buy more stuff” emblazoned across your chest! No one’s been arrested for this yet, but we’re certain it’s only a matter of time. Our complete line includes:

   You're inadequate; buy more stuff
   Remember: the whole system depends on you not asking too
     many questions
   It's not that life's too short; it's that it's too full
     of distracting, pointless crap
   Thou shalt think for thyself
   Love your country, fear your government
   As long as there is power to be sold, there will be
     money to buy it [w/graphics of Republican elephant and
     Democrat donkey]
   Act like nothing's wrong
   So, what have we learned from all this?
   Outsource executive management
   Our survival requires bold, decisive, visionary
     leadership. So basically we're all screwed


They are simply stunning: white silkscreened artwork on black Hanes Heavyweight tees in 100% cotton. Shirts are $15.00 each and are available in Medium, Large, and X-Large. Don’t wear clothes? Buy a few for a college kid you know and/or as holiday gifts for those cranky relatives who are always so hard to buy for!


Buttons, Buttons, Who’s Got the Buttons?
========================================

WE’VE got the buttons, baby! Put ‘em on your jackets, put ‘em on your backpacks, put ‘em on your purses, put ‘em on your guitar straps, put ‘em on your hats! This last option is especially popular with gymnosophists (got a good dictionary?) who purchase our “Why wear clothes?” buttons. Our complete collection of 21 designs includes:

   Don’t trust anyone over >30< >40< >50< 60 [w/“> <” = cross-out]
   Why wear clothes?
   Just say gnosis
   Remember: the whole system depends on you not asking too
     many questions
   You're inadequate; buy more stuff
   It's not that life's too short; it's that it's too full
     of distracting, pointless crap
   Thou shalt think for thyself
   Love your country, fear your government
   As long as there is power to be sold, there will be
     money to buy it
   Act like nothing's wrong
   So, what have we learned from all this?
   Outsource executive management
   Our survival requires bold, decisive, visionary
     leadership. So basically we're all screwed
   The journey is the point
   Conform or we will crush you
   Steal your life back
   It's too late for me; save yourself
   Power is a drug...we are ruled by addicts
   Anti-establishment hippie troublemakers rule [w/cross
     graphic]
   The louder the shout, the bigger the doubt
   Never, never, never trust the ruling class


Clinically proven to make anyone instantly 31.47% more attractive, cure dropsy, and remove that stubborn clog. They are simply stunning: white artwork on black background, 1” diameter, and plastic coated. Buttons are $1.00 each. Don’t wear buttons? Buy a few for a college kid you know and/or as holiday gifts for those cranky relatives who are always so hard to buy for!


You Can Never Have Enough Fridgie Magnets
=========================================

Derived from the above-mentioned buttons. Under clean-room conditions, we surgically remove the captive pin from the button and glue on a heavy-duty magnet. Only the patients which pull through are sold to customers, after a thorough post-op recovery. “Steal your life back” is a popular one with dieters. Our complete collection of 21 designs includes:

   Don’t trust anyone over >30< >40< >50< 60 [w/“> <” = cross-out]
   Why wear clothes?
   Just say gnosis
   Remember: the whole system depends on you not asking too
     many questions
   You're inadequate; buy more stuff
   It's not that life's too short; it's that it's too full
     of distracting, pointless crap
   Thou shalt think for thyself
   Love your country, fear your government
   As long as there is power to be sold, there will be
     money to buy it
   Act like nothing's wrong
   So, what have we learned from all this?
   Outsource executive management
   Our survival requires bold, decisive, visionary
     leadership. So basically we're all screwed
   The journey is the point
   Conform or we will crush you
   Steal your life back
   It's too late for me; save yourself
   Power is a drug...we are ruled by addicts
   Anti-establishment hippie troublemakers rule [w/cross
     graphic]
   The louder the shout, the bigger the doubt
   Never, never, never trust the ruling class


It is rumored that McGyver recently used one of our fridgie magnets and a bit of twine to prevent Hoover Dam from bursting. They are simply stunning: white artwork on black background, 1” diameter, and plastic coated. Buttons are $1.50 each. Don’t have a fridgie? Buy a few for a college kid you know and/or as holiday gifts for those cranky relatives who are always so hard to buy for!


This Just In: Bumper Stickers Rock
==================================

Ah, yes, the bumper sticker; the quintessential American existential commentary in short-form! Picture these classic beauties on your (or someone else’s) car...

Fun...
   Plead insanity
   If God had meant for us to be naked, we would have been born that way
   I'd rather be anatomically correct than politically correct
   Support the U.N. treaty to ban mimes
   Rich and famous (in a parallel universe)
   Having a near-life experience
   Must. Stay. Conscious.
   The best things in life are free ... if you steal them
   Deliberate subversity
   I'm so metal I have the unlisted number of the beast
   Our survival requires bold, decisive, visionary leadership. So basically
     we're all screwed.
   Feed the waifs [w/stick figure]
   Question authority (unless they're giving you someone else's stuff)
   Outsource executive management
   Go skinny-dipping
   Nude isn't lewd
   Why wear clothes?

Consumption, creation, distraction...
   You don't create art; art creates you.
   Seek constant distraction
   You're inadequate; buy more stuff
   Define enough
   It's not about what you consume; it's about what you create

Freedom...
   It's a free country, but try explaining that to the IRS.
   U.S. out of my wallet
   Love your country, fear your government
   Never, never, never trust the ruling class
   Repeal the PATRIOT act

Geek...
   Byte me, nibble me, twiddle my bits
   The Little Penguin That Could [w/Tux, the Linux penguin]
   LINUX OR DIE
   Power of Penguin [w/Tux, the Linux penguin]
   Visualize World Linux
   Ride the Penguin [w/Tux, the Linux penguin]

Paranoid Fun...
   Conform or we will crush you
   Contents under pressure
   Act like nothing's wrong
   Don't freak out. Okay ... freak out
   It's too late for me; save yourself
   Now would be a good time to panic
   Remember: the whole system depends on you not asking too many questions.
   Keep telling yourself "It's only a movie."
   I will not go quietly

Poking Fundies...
   Anti-establishment hippie troublemakers rule. [w/cross]
   No smug fundies
   Visualize the fundies in their undies
   Thou shalt think for thyself
   The louder the shout, the bigger the doubt
   Fundamentalists have all of the answers and none of the questions

Politics...
   As long as there is power to be sold, there will be money to buy it
     [w/Democrat donkey and Republican elephant]
   If we stop toppling their governments, can we stop giving them foreign aid?
   All elites are suspect
   My senator can out-grab your senator
   Power is a drug, and we are ruled by addicts
   Disgusted 2004 [w/Democrat donkey and Republican elephant]
   Force prevails where reason fails
   Democrats rob you; Republicans beat you. Choose wisely. [w/Democrat donkey
     and Republican elephant]
   The lesser of two evils is still evil [w/Democrat donkey and Republican
     elephant]
   You can't kill an idea with bombs and bullets
   Our leaders turn us against one another
   You are not their government. They are not theirs.

Recovery and Growth...
   Hours are more precious than dollars
   Choose happiness
   Happily undistinguished
   It's not that life's too short; it's that it's too full of distracting,
     pointless crap.
   The journey is the point.
   got dreams?
   What are you waiting for?
   >Should< [w/“> <” = cross-out]
   Recovering grownup
   Some settling of contents may have occurred during journey
   Duhkha happens
   Just say gnosis
   Don't trust anyone over >30< >40< >50< 60 [w/“> <” = cross-out]
   >Fear< Hope [w/“> <” = cross-out]
   Enlighten-up
   Steal your life back
   So what have we learned from all this?
   Happiness costs
   Don't do what you should; do what you must
   The best things in life are closer than you think

Recently demonstrated by Kelley’s Blue Book to add 31.47% to the value of any car. They are simply stunning: white artwork on black background, 3" x 11-3/8", with UV-resistant vinyl and ink. Stickers are $2.00 each. Don’t have a bumper? Buy a few for a college kid you know and/or as holiday gifts for those cranky relatives who are always so hard to buy for!


Free Stuff and Other Business
=============================

If you haven’t been to our website lately, check out our new additions:

  --We now accept payment by Paypal and check (mail order)
  --Priceless ruminations by Zen Master This in a
    sermon titled “Let’s Put a Big Dent in the Memesphere”
  --Customer photo page: Please forward photos of you
    enjoying your precision-engineered Blastfishing/General
    Memetics memes; we'll put 'em on this page. The
    stranger, the better! But wait, it gets even better:  
    we’ll send you one FREE sticker, button, or magnet of
    your choice for each photo we use!
  --Four different animated .GIFs -- “Variety,” “Freedom,” “Poking Fundies,”
    and “Geek” -- which you can add to your blog or website to help spread
    the word about Blastfishing. Put one of our .GIFs on your blog or
    website, and we’ll send you one FREE sticker, button, or magnet of your
    choice!


Advertising is HIDEOUSLY expensive. In order for us to successfully carry-out our mission of Saving Humanity From Itself, we need the support of every AMI member out there in the web’s thriving Independent Minds eek-o-system. Please help us and get free stuff for yourself!


We can never get enough word-of-mouth advertising, either. Please be sure to tell everyone you meet on your journey about Blastfishing.com! (Please consider forwarding this e-mail to a few friends, too!)


Our products and our website are continually evolving; we have received many excellent suggestions from our AMI in the past, and we hope this continues. Please, don’t be shy about sending us your ideas. If we use an idea of yours, we’ll send you a FREE sticker, button, or magnet of your choice!


Finally, we have been exploring our first “giving back to the world” program. We are considering giving a portion of our profits to a worthy organization. Our favorite so far is WITNESS (www.witness.org):

     WITNESS uses the power of video to open the eyes
     of the world to human rights abuses. By partnering
     with local organizations around the globe, WITNESS
     empowers human rights defenders to use video to shine
     a light on those most affected by human rights
     violations, and to transform personal stories of
     abuse into powerful tools of justice.

We welcome your thoughts on this.


That’s all the news for now, from what may very well be the ONLY company that EVER mattered!

Best Regards,


s/BAM/                   s/ZMT/

Brian Madison            Zen Master This (Immortal)