We went nuts over a balloon! Thank you for saving us, Rihanna

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We went nuts over a balloon! Thank you for saving us, Rihanna
It ought to be a "teachable moment": This country is deeply unhinged. Now back to fake history and George Santos

By BRIAN KAREM
Columnist
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 16, 2023 9:00AM (EST)


(Salon) Scientists cannot explain human consciousness or how we got it.

That explains politics.

Some believe they understand it.

That explains religion.

Who the hell knows how we achieve consciousness?

That explains the rest of us.

We struggle to figure it all out, often with inadequate information and limited time to verify it. Some say the resulting cultural ennui from this predicament has given rise to the popularity of zombie movies, lack of sense of humor, bland pop music and politicians who lack bladder control. But enough about George Santos.

Dystopia seems to be our creative narrative for the future.

....(snip)....

Nothing is more emblematic of our national delusion than our recent obsession with several things shot out of the sky by fighter jets over the past week. Some have taken joy in the spectacle and some are terrified, but corporate media is just happy to have product to sell. We can't get enough.

It's not aliens. It's not the beginning of World War III (unless we're really stupid). It's not my son flying his toy drone.

....(snip)....

No matter. The world went nuts. Republicans went nuts trying to capitalize on others who went nuts. The comments, many of them insipid and stupid, most inane and some comical, left me shaking my head. The frenzy, in retrospect, was a seminal moment that shows just how damn delusional we are — even as we remain nominally conscious. ............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2023/02/16/we-went-nuts-over-a-balloon-thank-you-for-saving-us-rihanna/