THIS PIECE SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO ROBNESS' HEART. IN THE YEAR OF 2011, HE JUST GOT BACK FROM THE TRIP OF HIS LIFE AT BURNING MAN ONLY TO FIND OUT THE DRUMS OF PROTEST AGAINST THE 2008 FINANCIAL CRISIS WAS WELL UNDERWAY. WHILST WORKING AT A RESTAURANT IN HERMOSA BEACH, HE WOULD HOP ON THE BUS TO AND FROM DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES TO PROTEST AGAINST CORPORATIONS LIKE BANK OF AMERICA WHO PLAYED A SEMINAL PART IN THE BAILOUTS. THE OCCUPATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES REACHED A CRITICAL POINT AND MADE IT INTO THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS, BUT THE MOVEMENT SLOWLY FIZZLED AND ONLY THE MESSAGE GOT ACROSS, NO REAL CHANGE ESTABLISHED. AS WE FAST FORWARD TO WHAT MAY LIVE AS A 'DAY OF INFAMY,' A GROUP OF REDDITORS ON A FORUM CALLED /R/WALLSTREETBETS MANAGED TO TAKE DOWN MELVIN CAPITAL, A FIRM THAT WAS CAUGHT SHORT SELLING AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE COMPANY GAMESTOP. DURING A PANDEMIC, THIS WAS SEEN AS A SLEAZY MOVE AND THUS THESE GROUP OF 'RETAIL INVESTORS' MANAGED TO FIRE AN ARROW OVER THE CASTLE WALLS OF WALL STREET ITSELF AND MANAGED TO TAKE A SCALP FOR THE WORLD TO SEE, SENDING MELVIN CAPITAL WITH LOSSES IN THE BILLIONS. THE FALLOUT OF THIS EVENT TRIGGERED MASS MANIPULATION FROM TRADING PLATFORMS LIKE ROBINHOOD TO STOP TRADING IN AN EFFORT FOR WHAT SEEMED BY MANY TO PROTECT THESE VERY HEDGE FUNDS THAT WERE SUFFERING MASSIVE LOSSES. THE BIG TAKEAWAY FROM THIS EVENT IN U.S. HISTORY, IN MY OPINION, IS NOT ONLY DID IT UNITE BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM(TED CRUZ AND ALEXANDRIA CORTEZ FINALLY AGREEING ON SOMETHING), BUT IT ALSO BECAME A MOMENT WHERE THE ENTIRE NATION FINALLY REALIZED THE SCOPE OF FRAUD THAT WALL ST. HAS BEEN PRACTICING FOR GOD KNOWS HOW LONG. THIS WAS THE MOMENT EVERYONE REALIZED, WITH THE HELP OF CURRENT FAST AND MOBILE TRADING TECHNOLOGY, THAT THE GAME WAS NEVER IN THEIR FAVOR......IT WAS ALWAYS IN THE HANDS OF THE SMALL FEW.

THIS IS PART OF THE ‘LAST CONFIRMATION’ BLOCKCHAIN FINE ART COLLABORATION SERIES WITH NORMAN HARMAN X ROBNESS VIRTUAL(FORMERLY CYBERPOP)