It is a time of freedom and fear, of Gaia and of borders, of many paths and the widening of
a universal toll road, emptying country and swelling cities, of the public bought into
privacy and the privacy of the public sold into invisible data banks and knowing
algorithms. It is the time of the warrior's peace and the miser's charity, when the
planting of a seed is an act of conscientious objection.
These are the times when maps fade and direction is lost. Forwards is backwards now, so we glance sideways at the strange lands through which we are all passing, knowing for certain only that our destination has disappeared. We are unready to meet these times, but we proceed nonetheless, adapting as we wander, reshaping the Earth with every tread. Behind us we have left the old times, the standard times, the high times. Welcome to the irregular times. Adbusters is doing something really nifty, and I'd like to share it with you: The Blackspot Sneaker. Yes, adbusters, the folks who sponsor Buy Nothing Day, are advocating that you buy something. But wait, there's more! Advantage #1: The Blackspot Sneaker will either be made in Missouri or in a union-run shop using fair labor in Asia. Advantage #2: The Blackspot Sneaker is not branded, except with a spot where a swoosh should be. Advantage #3: You'll look ever-so cool wearing one. Kind of like a black low-rise Chuck. Advantage #4: If the Blackspot Sneaker makes any dough, it will be poured back into the Adbusters monkey business operation, which exists to torment big soulless corporations. Ha ha ha, ho ho ho, we are Santa's elves. Whoops, got off track there. The point is that for the first time in a while, you can buy a sole with soul, without a questionable ethical background, and with proceeds to benefit a nervy muckraking operation. Interested? Production will begin in early 2004. To learn more about Blackspot Sneakers and how to get your grubby paws on a pair, read the Salon.com article about this outfit and then visit Blackspotsneaker.org yourself. Of course, knowing snarky snarky Adbusters, this could all be some fictional thing meant to prove some kind of point. Return to the Irregular Times Main Page
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