Do you ever just think: the world has become too clever by far? And, kind’a, left YOU behind? I’m fine, I’m a high tech dude fully conversant with all electronic wizardry and smart phoniness that you could be. But don’t’cha just worry at times when you’re looking for a book and it knows where you are within half a postcode? That Google searches bring up Amazon offers relating to the search, of stuff you’d previously looked for? I google ‘windscreen wipers for a mini’ and up come seven offers of tennis balls. I buy a lot of tennis balls. Not much good for wiping windscreens.

This is because its just too fucking clever. Too fast. Too automated. And, without wishing to sound too paranoid: because they know too much about us.

This, I learned today, is what happens when you visit youtube. You want to see Lionel Messi’s latest goal or revisit California Dreaming by the Mamas and the Papas and you know one of those really annoying adverts will probably pop up first. That you can ‘skip in 5… 4…. 3…’ Well that advert is there because advertising companies have bid, whilst you’re waiting for the connection to youtube, all of half a second, in an auction with some clever google ‘doubleclick’ device, after first checking your browsing history to see what you’ve searched for previously. And on that basis, if you’ve spent time researching say cars, then the agency for Mercedes, or Ford, will bid higher than companies representing feminine hygiene products and so before you can enjoy Mamma Cass you have to watch a fucking pick-up trundling offroad around the countryside for 18… 17… 16… seconds.

The problem is that some of the most viewed things on youtube are evil, nasty things relating to ISIS, to right-wing extremists, to all manner of baddies, and Kim Kardashian. And when the adverts are played, the sites get a part of the fee. Extremist sites as well as those of vain women with massive arses, are supposed to be banned, blackballed, removed by youtube. But the postings can remain there, as they seem to do, and thus when you buy your next Mercedes E Class, half of the door mirror was paid to fucking ISIS.

Its awful. Its wrong. And its up to google to sort out the mess.

Meanwhile, my new phone arrived yesterday and I’m scared to use it. Once I turn it on the entire digital world will know all there is to know about me.

Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.

Happy Thursday

A xxxx