Survival Of The Fittest

((Continued from The Good Old Days))

A teenaged girl sat awake in her bed, observing the city outside her window. You already know where. Helped her to make sense of the world she'd been born into, let her understand how to navigate it.

Famous man once said "Americans no longer talk to each other, they entertain each other. They do not exchange ideas, they exchange images. They do not argue with propositions; they argue with good looks, celebrities and commercials."

Tell me, have you ever actually met a high school cheerleader? They're just normal people. You should probably already be aware of that.

But, the ones on TV, in movies? No, those mean something more.

Stella Nyquist filled into the shape she found optimal.

Different famous man, let's call him a dead Canadian who worked in marketing, once said "Far more thought and care go into the composition of any prominent ad in a newspaper or magazine than go into the writing of their features and editorials."

General rule: if people aren't thinking about what you're leading them to, they aren't interrogating how you benefit from them being there.

She found it interesting, the etymological root of the word "sophistication".

[+] Lets talk about an enduring American tradition.

An offbeat tune plays. On the screen, there's a yellow license plate sitting against a minimalistic white background. It's a vanity plate, reading "HOLIKOW". Wisconsin-issued, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND". The tune continues to play. Cut to a different license plate. Same background. Vanity plate, "ABV PAR". Florida-issued. The tune continues to play. Next plate. Same background. Vanity, "U4 EA". You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania. The tune continues to play. Next plate. California, OBAYB. The tune continues to play. Next plate. Ge[peach]rgia, PRFXSHN. A jaunty synth beat kicks in. Next plate. TEXAS, YSREBOB. Next plate. NEW JERSEY, WAT-XIT, GARDEN STATE Next plate. GO4DGLD, COLORADO Next plate. NEW YORK, YOTAXZ You hear a voice. He seems friendly, like a wisecracking sitcom uncle. "Instead of trying to give your car a personality," next plate. WEBFUT, OREGON. Next plate. IDAHO, EZ4ME, CENTENNIAL. Next plate. OHIO, HIOFFCR, UNION. "Maybe you should try a car that already comes with one." Cut to a red car against the white background. "The Civic Si, from Honda." Cut to: The Civic Si H O N D A Visit Your Washington Area Honda Dealers. Fade to black.

General rule: People who liked to think they were very clever -- the Nick Lands, the Jordan Petersons, the Curtis Yarvins, the Mark David Chapmans, the Che t-shirts, the 4channers; you know, accelerationists -- often defaulted to the belief that pointing out the existence of superficiality, of performativity, in and of itself amounted to a meaningful criticism of society. These people were not actually very clever, so they were typically unable to grasp any of the implications of this past whatever justified their thin lens of ideologized neuroses. "Pop music is derivative." And so are you. "Las Vegas is so fake." We know. You gonna, liiiiiiiiiiiiike, actually iterate on that thought, or....? "Stella, you sure seem to care a lot about image..." So, how does the image reflect upon the world which is actively shaping it?

The Honda logo appears on the screen, cued by two drum beats. Cut to a man standing on the roof of an urban parking garage, holding the camera like he's an influencer. Behind him, there is a red car. This is the only car visible. Upon close inspection, this car, and the man, are the only things that aren't computer-rendered. "The Honda Civic behind me is next-level awesome." The man says, pointing at the car. The camera swoops out of his hands, across the rooftop, and over to the Civic, revealing that the man is now crouching behind it. "And, it's a hybrid." He says, still pointing. Cut to the Civic driving down a simulated downtown street. Looks like LA, maybe. "It's game on." A noise plays, like someone's hit a powerup in a kart racer. A pink wave pulses out from the Civic, causing several crystalline polygons to float out of the asphalt. "With a 200 horsepower hybrid powertrain, it's the most powerful in a Civic sedan ever." The Civic drives off into a Wii game-esque obstacle course. The Honda logo appears on the screen. Cut to black.

Famous man once said something like: We become what we behold. Don't ask whether something is right or wrong. Instead, try to find out what is going on.

[+] June 28, 1914

All the time Some people just want to lie on beaches in the Caribbean (all the time) Some people want to do crazy things to green amphibians (all the time) Some people want some people to do as they please (all the time) We just want to have a good time (all the time) All the time All the time All the time All the time Some people go "booo," they go "quack quack," they go "keek" Some people have nothing and want nothing and are free Some people want to burn the world with their greed We just want to have a good time Just want good time We just want good time Just want good time We just want good time I just want good time We just want good time I just want good time All the time We just want to have a good time tonight We just want to have a good time all the time We just want to have a good time tonight We just want to have a good time all the time Some people want pussy, pussy, pussy, marijuana Some people want nothing, only staying home with mama Some people want nothing and need nothing and are free We just want to have a good time I just want good time We just want good time Just want good time We just want good time Just want good time Just want good time All the time

Take into account: The source of the message. The intended contents of the message. These may be explicit, implicit, or subliminal. The characteristics of the intended recipients of the message. Age, race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, employment status, level of education, psychological characteristics, attitudes, beliefs, personal values, confidence, vulnerabilities. Do not assume everybody will be affected by a message in the same way. The goal of the market researcher is to assess what types of messages will affect what people in what situations.

Prisencolinensinainciusol In de col men seivuan Prisencolinensinainciusol ol rait Uis de seim cius nau op de seim Ol uait men in de colobos dai Trrr - ciak is e maind beghin de col Bebi stei ye push yo oh Uis de seim cius nau op de seim Ol uait men in de colobos dai Not s de seim laikiu de promisdin Iu nau in trabol lovgiai ciu gen In do camo not cius no bai for lov so Op op giast cam lau ue cam lov ai Oping tu stei laik cius go mo men Iu bicos tue men cold dobrei goris Oh sandei Ai ai smai sesler Eni els so co uil piso ai In de col men seivuan Prisencolinensinainciusol ol rait Ai ai smai senflecs Eni go for doing peso ai Prisencolinensinainciusol ol rait Uel ai sint no ai giv de sint Laik de cius nobodi oh gud taim lev feis go Uis de seim et seim cius go no ben Let de cius end kai for not de gai giast stei Ai ai smai senflecs Eni go for doing peso ai In de col mein seivuan Prisencolinensinainciusol ol rait Lu nei si not sicidor Ah es la bebi la dai big iour Ai aismai senflecs Eni go for doing peso ai In de col mein seivuan Prisencolinensinainciusol ol rait Lu nei si not sicodor Ah es la bebi la dai big iour

So, evaluate the values, fears, desires, and symbols of the collective American psyche.

[+] October 31, 1922

"I just think it's, liiiiiike, interesting. Supermarkets and slaughterhouses are actually kind of similar, in terms of their design methodology." Stella Nyquist says. The teenaged boy imagines her laying ass-up naked on a bearskin rug like she's Cassie from Euphoria.

"I just think it's, liiiiiike, interesting. Supermarkets and slaughterhouses are actually kind of similar, in terms of their design methodology." Stella Nyquist says. The young man, five years her elder, thinks she's arrogant, and pre-emptively attempts to refute the point he believe she's making.

"I just think it's, liiiiiike, interesting. Supermarkets and slaughterhouses are actually kind of similar, in terms of their design methodology." Stella Nyquist says. The old man, five decades her elder, thinks she's surprisingly well-spoken for a teenaged girl.

None of the three men paid attention to her actual observation. They paid attention to what she meant for their worldview.

So, let's reframe it in a way they'd actually pay attention to.

The world-renowned blackjack player, mathematician, and chemist Dr. Henry Tamburin once said, "When you enter a casino, remember that you are entering a place of business run by very shrewd business people who understand human emotions."



Different famous man once said: One thing about which fish know exactly nothing is water, since they have no anti-environment which would enable them to perceive the element they live in.

America operated on a similar principle. The difference was, fish didn't get defensive about it.

Did you know, the same regions of the human brain activate when we're thinking about ourselves as when we're thinking about other people?

She thought it was interesting.

[+] October 6, 1939

Spike: People don't get shot at Degrassi. They just don't! Emma: You talk about Degrassi like it's achieved sainthood. It's a school. Spike: That's my point. Snake: Look, we just didn't. None of us took Rick's bullying seriously. It would be an understatement to say that he was unpopular. Toby: (sarcastic laugh) Unpopular? Ashley: How about full-on psycho? Certified freak? The guy made us the lead story on the 6:00 news!! (Toby gets up) Kate: Ashley! Ashley: He shot Jimmy, Mom! I want an answer. Who was this guy who shot him, if not some psycho? (Toby slams the door) Emma: He was Toby's friend.

medium(n.) 1580s, "a middle ground, quality, or degree; that which holds a middle place or position," from Latin medium "the middle, midst, center; interval," noun use of neuter of adjective medius "in the middle, between; from the middle" (from PIE root *medhyo- "middle"). Many of the secondary senses are via the notion of "intervening substance through which a force or quality is conveyed" (1590s) and "intermediate agency, channel of communication" (c. 1600). From the former, via application to air, etc., comes the sense of "one's environment or conditions" (1865). From the latter comes the sense of "a print publication" (1795) which later grew into the meaning in media. In spiritualism, "person who conveys spiritual messages," by 1853. In painting, in reference to oil, watercolor, etc., by 1854. The notion is "liquid with which pigments are ground or mixed to give them desired fluidity." Happy medium is the "golden mean," Horace's aurea mediocritas.

Rue Bennett: Now as a beloved character that a lot of people are rooting for, I feel a certain responsibility to make good decisions. [Side-eye into camera] But I relapsed. In all fairness, I did say in the beginning I had no intentions of staying clean. But I get it. Our country's dark. And fucked up. And people... just want to find hope. Ethan Lewis: Somewhere. Rue Bennett: Anywhere. And if not in reality, then in television. Unfortunately, I'm not it. [Takes a sip of cough medicine directly from bottle]

Frankly, Stella did not find these fictional people or their fictional problems particularly interesting or sympathetic. She was not in the business of plagiarizing her regrets from the dreams of middle-aged screenwriters unable to distinguish their fears and insecurities and their platonic ideals of youth from reality. Like they thought they knew her better than she knew herself.

Nobody knew Stella Nyquist better than Stella Nyquist, and that was she was most comfortable with.

Famous man once said something like: In television, images are projected at you. You are the screen. The images wrap around you. You are the vanishing point. The screen automatically becomes the real world for the TV user, and is not a substitute for reality, but is itself an immediate reality.

Same famous man actually said: Our electrically-configured world has forced us to move from the habit of data classification to the mode of pattern recognition. We can no longer build serially, block-by-block, step-by-step, because instant communication insures that all factors of the environment and of experience co-exist in a state of active interplay.

[+] August 19, 1953

I used to think that I should watch TV I used to think that it was good for me Wanted to know what folks were thinking To understand the land I live in And I would lose myself And it would set me free This is the place where common people go A global franchise; one department store Yes, there were many awkward moments I had to do some self-atonement Well, if I opened up Well, it would set me free I know, I like Behold and love this giant Big soul, big lips That's me and I am this Everybody gets a touched up hairdo Everybody's in the passing lane Had a reason that she touched all channels The weird things that live in there I took a walk down to the park today I wrote a song called "Just Like You and Me" I heard the jokes from the sports reporter The rival teams when they faced each other The more I lost myself, the more it set me free How am I not your brother? How are you not like me? Everybody's in the hotel lobby I'm blending in here, yes, I am I feel it moving in my arms and fingers Touch me and feel my pain It's good to lose and it's good to win sometimes It's good to die and it's good to be alive Maybe someday we can stand together Not afraid of what our eyes might see Maybe someday understand them better The weird things inside of me

Last boyfriend'd broken up with Stella because she never let him see her with her clothes off. Wanted it to matter, she'd said. He responded by sending her a dickpic. Expected a reciprocal response to something she'd never asked for. Liiiiike he was doing her a favor. She blocked him. Which he took to mean she hated him -- and tee-bee-eyyyyyych, she did. But that hadn't really bothered him before then. Anywaaays, good luck, fuck offffffffffffffffffffff guy. Spending her next month single. Didn't need to worry until her classmates swarmed to her in August like sharks to blood.

I go to the same spot every night Wanna get in your head You just want to get out of it Say so many things with those reckoning eyes Wanna get in your head You just want to get out of it She rolls around with an entourage She's all dolled (Dressed) up like a movie star With those flash, flash eyes from behind the bar With those fuck me eyes (Eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes) You drive yourself crazy right 'round the clock Got crazy temptation for you, marigold But she don't know love, far from it But she don't know love No you don't feel proud in your Sunday best And you wanna go sulk where you know she'll be there (To talk to) To see (How hung) How hung up you can be 'Cause she runs circles around you She don't even have a clue What's the lowest thing of all Is she'll never even know just how you feel Put her in your movie Will that make her real? I'll put her in my movie To make her real I'm feeling kinda crazy, I'm feeling kinda mad The dreams in which we're famous are the best I've ever had I'm feeling kinda crazy, I'm feeling kinda mad The dreams in which we're famous are the best I've ever had You're the best I've ever had You're the best I've ever had Have you seen yourself today? You don't look great, set yourself straight I feel good, but so alone I feel great, just take me home The people's champ is failing me I'll stay around, but just to leave The future's bright, or barely there Can’t tell tonight, or even care Can you just Love, love, love me? Can you just Love, love, love me? You drive yourself crazy Right 'round the clock Got crazy temptations for your marigold But she don't know love, far from it But she don't know love You drive yourself crazy (Love, love, love, love) Right 'round the clock 'Cause your marigold is the only thing you've got But she don't know love, far from it But she don't know love

[+] June 17, 1972

MacReady, carrying the bottle and glass, limps over and sits down behind a gaming table. There is a chess set and several decks of cards. The two men continue to eye each other. CHILDS (continuing) So you're the only one who made it. MacReady begins setting up a nonelectronic chessboard. MAC READY Not the only one. CHILDS The fire's got the temperature way up all over camp won't last long though. MAC READY Neither will we. CHILDS Maybe we should try and fix the radio ... try and get some help. MAC READY Maybe we shouldn't. CHILDS Then we'll never make it. MacReady puffs on his cigar. He relieves a small blowtorch from under the table and places it beside him on top. MAC READY Maybe we shouldn't make it. CHILDS (beat) If you're worried about anything, let's take that blood test of yours. MAC READY If we've got any surprises for each other -- we shouldn't be in any condition to do anything about it. (beat) You play chess? They regard each other for a moment. Childs painfully sits down across from MacReady. CHILDS I guess I'll be learning. MacReady grins and hands the bottle to Childs. Childs smiles back and takes a healthy swig. EXT. COMPOUND - NIGHT The fires smolder on. Bright embers dance in the blackness pushed by the soughing wind. FADE OUT

White Camaro driving up and down Laaaas Vegas Boulevard. Lit up like Times Square at night. Eiffel in the background. If New York and Los Angeles were about producing American culture, Vegas was the city about consuming it. Teenaged girl, long wavy red hair, influencer makeup. DEVIANTS ARE SACRIFICED TO INCREASE GROUP SOLIDARITY. THERE ARE TOO FEW IMMUTABLE TRUTHS TODAY. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTITUTING THE MEANING OF THINGS. YOU CAN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE SOMETHING THEY'RE NOT. YOUR OLDEST FEARS ARE THE WORST ONES. Watching the truisms scrolling across the ARIA's valet entrance like a news ticker.

CUT TO - INT. SOUTHERN REACH FACILITY/MEDICAL WARD - NIGHT - a medical ward. LENA is walking down it, with a DOCTOR alongside, and two SPEC OPS SOLDIERS following. DOCTOR It was miraculous. It happened the same night that the Shimmer disappeared. His blood pressure stabilised, and his pulse rate started to rise. By the next morning, he was not only awake. He was lucid. Coherent. They have reached a door in the ward. Through the glass panel, LENA can see KANE inside. Sitting at a chair. Gazing out of the window. DOCTOR (CONT’D) There’s no trace of abnormality anywhere in his system. LENA I’d like to see him alone. INT. SOUTHERN REACH FACILITY/WARD ROOM - CONTINUOUS LENA enters. Closes the door behind her. KANE looks round, and they lock eyes. Neither speak. After a moment, LENA goes to the WINDOW. Looks out at the NIGHT SKY. LENA Are you Kane? Silence. Then KANE gives a slight shake of the head. KANE I don’t know. Beat. KANE (CONT’D) Are you Lena? LENA hesitates. Then turns to face him.

[+] November 9, 1989

A teenaged girl sat awake in her bed, observing the city outside her window. You already know where. Helped her to make sense of the world she'd been born into, let her understand how to navigate it.

Stella Nyquist rolled over and kissed the girl's cheek. Gazed out the window too for a few seconds. Then, kissed her collarbone. Rested her head against hers, let her eyes drift closed.

Last week of summer break.

Wasn't Stella's bed.

[+] September 11, 2001

((Ingrid Mueller's parents weren't home.))