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Original Message:

From: ShadowFist23
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:46:37 -0500
To: laramie
Subject: discordian colouring book as advertising

Hullo Laramie,

I've been rediscovering Discordianism lately, and happened again
across your lovely Discordian Colouring Book. I had always meant to
tell you how awesome it is, so here I am!  They're wonderful images,
and it would be nice to get more people seeing them.

I had been thinking about pamphleting or something, and it occurred
to me that individual pages of your book with some text added above
and below (e.g. learn more about discordianism here [link to the PD]
and see more from the artist here [link to your website]) might have
the dual purpose of turning more people on to Discordianism and
potentially netting you some referrals and hopefully some sales!  It
might also be fun to make sure the pages were numbered and include the
text "collect the whole set" somewhere in there too.  Also a copyright
notice, for your protection.

Handily the pages hosted at POEE.org fit to 8x11 with some space at
the top and the bottom that would be ideal for this.  If you like the
idea I'll design a frame for them to go in and present it to you for
your approval.  If you like it I'll set up the images (and again
present them for your approval) and then post them to the
PrincipiaDiscordia.com site for distribution as a GASM ("Golden Apple
Seed Mission").

Whaddaya think?

Yours,

-sf23!

Reply:

from   laramie   dreamspell.net
to   shadowfist23
date   Sat, Nov 29, 2008 at 6:14 PM
subject   RE: discordian colouring book as advertising
      
HI!

Happy synchronicity! I was just thinking that it was time to do something
to remind people of Discordia, and of coloring books. Sounds like a great
plan. I look forward to seeing the frame you come up with.

- Laramie Sasseville

I can of course create the frames myself, and I will if none of you spags step up.  But my time is limited and my layout skillz rusty, and I'm sure one of you WOMP rats could make something in 5 or 10 minutes that would look better than something that'll take me 30 or 40, when I can find the time to get around to it. 

Text to use:
(header)
A Discordian Coloring Page for you to enjoy!
Read the Book at http://www.principiadiscordia.com
Page X of 30 - Collect them all!
(footer)
copyright Laramie Sasseville  1982 - all rights reserved - used by permission
See more of the artist's work at http://www.dreamspell.net

The images are here: http://poee.org/living/GetBook.aspx?BookPageID=15

Design considerations:
- This is fundamentally a teaser campaign, so the design should be as spare as possible to avoid distractions and keep to the point: the links
- Same text for all images, apart from the page number
-  I did say "frame" in the email but I'm not certain the images require one, a header and a footer alone might be plenty
- The images themselves contain the subversive content and can stand on their own
- The use of the phrase "Read the Book" when referring to PD.com gives the curious some additional direction as to where to go when they hit the site, as the same phrase appears right on the homepage
- Text should clearly legible in a 1st generation photocopy, ideally so in a 2nd or 3rd generation one so the font shouldn't be too fancy
   
Comments:
This is primarily a teaser campaign, so it should be minimalist - the pictures are the hook, the message is the weblink.  This will hopefully result in some people ending up reading the Principia and/or The Black Iron Prison, both proven recruiting tools.  It will hopefully net Laramie some web hits as well and maybe some sales - the timing is right close enough to Xmas that it might also result in a few Discordian Xmas presents being bought and given, and I happen to think that's pretty cool.

Inspired in part by vexati0n's recent Critique: "Now, while people might read a flyer or a pamphlet, they won't spend much time reflecting on it."   Using an image as a hook bypasses the "tl;dr" effect.  If we can tease people to surf to the site, we have a better chance of them sticking around and reading.

Print 'em, leave 'em wherever.

I was imagining folding pages into thirds and applying a label to the outside.  I'm open to suggestions there, though again it should be enticing but simple and pretty up front, like "Hey, this colouring page is for you!  Yeah, YOU!  Enjoy!"  Potentially just written by hand, but it might be good to format something for printing too.

edited to add a link to the images

 Much of the practices of the numerous magick, religions, cult and self-help schools are designed to create within the self a belief that is useful - either to the believer or to the community promoting the belief.  While sometimes based in objective and measurable facts or supporting evidence, more generally these groups utilize something called faith which is to say a belief that is grounded in belief.  This curious process, not unlike pulling oneself up by one's own bootstraps, can be utilized by the Adept to effect positive change.

Know this: Belief is a powerful tool.  What we believe strongly affects how we perceive the world, and how we act in response to it.  It naturally follows that certain beliefs are useful for certain purposes - they confer a benefit that makes them worthwhile. 

Like many in this modern age, I have frequently described myself as "spiritual, but not religious."  By this I mean that I place value in certain intangibles - a generalized positive feeling for other beings, an appreciation of the complexity of the design of the world in which we live, a sense of connectedness to humanity and the universe as a whole - without wanting to be tied down to the structures of established religions that give those thoughts and feelings a more concrete form, mostly due to the perceived negatives that accompany those religions.

Nevertheless, having the ability to address one's spiritual needs in a more concrete way is one of the primary advantages of religion. Discordianism is, among other things, a tool for constructing structures and beliefs to this end.  What follows is the construction/deconstruction of a belief that I hold to be True.  I present it in the hope that it may be useful, and True, for you as well.

First, some basic points:

1. The universe loves you. This can be reasonably concluded from the fact that you exist at all. You have been given a gift: the opportunity to explore, to play, to grow and to be happy.

2. It is useful to feel loved.  Anyone who has ever been hugged by anyone ever knows the joy this brings. This is fairly straightforward.

3. It is more useful to be loved by a person than an abstract force.  'Your mom loves you' has a stronger meaning than 'someone loves you' and is easier to connect with and to feel.  Further, when you know your mother (for example) loves you, you also know she continues to even when she's not in your sight.

4. It is impossible to prove or disprove the existence of God, but it may be useful to assume it.

5. Defining God as a creator, a Prime Mover, that which is responsible for existence of the universe and as a general generative force, it is reasonable to view this force as female in character. Creativity and the generation of life is associated with mother/female and this is an appropriate connection for the human mind to grasp.

6. Merely by looking around oneself, it is relatively apparent that the driving forces of the world are those of change. 

  With these ideas in mind, it should be apparent that it is appropriate and useful to personify 'God' as Eris: She fits the bill really very nicely.  Making this attribution allows several associated philosophical extensions and explanations that fit well within the human mind and provide a good model with which to view the world, and delivers a number of benefits.

  Primarily: Eris loves you.  The ability to see and feel this can be a great and constant comfort.

Having a part in all creation, all things can be thought of as Eris' children and She their mother.  Like any good mother She doesn't play favourites and wants you to work stuff out for yourself; She wants you to better yourself and Think For Yourself.  Don't you want to make your Mother proud of you?  Of course you do.

Eris is like unto the mother that when confronted by a child saying "My brother keeps hitting me!" says "Well, make him stop."  The whole idea of answering prayers would be much like giving favour to the pleading child rather than the rest of the kids. No mom likes to be whined at either - prayer as a result is rarely effective and occasionally dangerous.  That isn't to say you shouldn't tell Her that you love her now and again, but there's no reason to belabor the point: your Mother knows you love Her as long as you say it now and again.

None of this is to say She is utterly benevolent- what mother doesn't fuck with her kids now and then?  Eris is a little weird and a little crazy after all - much like the universe.  But no matter how weird She gets, She still loves you.

It is useful to know that.

Standard disclaimers: This works pretty well for me, and that's all I can say for sure.  I am very aware it could be better written; I prefer a more Socratic dialog.  You mileage may vary.  Not available in all regions.  The management is not responsible for improper use, or for that matter for proper use.  Clean your room, eat your vegetables and remember to walk the damn dog so he doesn't shit on the carpet again.

Hail Eris.

No, seriously, chocolate cake in 5 minutes. Here's the original recipe:

Ingredients:

4 Tablespoons cake flour
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons milk
3 Tablespoons oil
1 Mug


Instructions:

Mix flour, sugar and cocoa in mug. Spoon in egg, mix. Add milk, oil, mix thoroughly.
Put in microwave for 3 minutes at maximum power (1000watt)
Wait until it stops rising and sets in the mug.
Tips contents of mug onto saucer and enjoy!

This is very dangerous.