Monday, February 28, 2022

Our Government At Work

So I had to renew my passport this year.  I sent it in back in September and got it back in February.  Having to get a passport is annoying in the first place (here's a brief history of how they came about; mainly, they were a World War I "emergency" that never ended:  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-passport-became-improbable-symbol-american-identity-180962064/), but having to wait six months for something that should take all of three weeks (anyone piping up about just having to pay a bit extra for the expedited service should shut up now as it's yet another example of how the rich cut lines)--a week to mail in, a week to process, and a week to mail back--is super annoying and yet another example of our "beloved" American government being badly run.  Instead of doing something sensible like run efficiently so the passport process only takes the three weeks it should, the government spends my, and your money (if you're American), tax money doing stupid stuff instead.

For example, they printed up a bunch of flyers recommending that Americans get fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before using the passport and traveling internationally.  I got one along with my new passport.  OK, I know you've likely experienced metric tons of propaganda about how the vaccines are "safe and effective", so I might sound like someone from Mars when I point out that's not the case, but please try to have an open mind.  If the vaccines actually worked, we wouldn't have seen the explosion in cases after the vaccines were introduced (lowering the bar to say they prevent hospitalizations and deaths doesn't cut it) nor would we see all the odd injuries and deaths that have resulted, usually cardiac related and probably a side-effect of the mRNA vaccines (I can cite personal examples, as can you likely, but the number of celebrities getting injured or dying unexpectedly or mysteriously before their time is one that probably all of us are familiar with).

Again, the point of this post is that instead of being efficient and fulfilling their responsibilities properly, the American government is badly run.  Instead of cleaning up their act, the government wades into areas that are outside their (using "their" instead of "its" here to emphasize that the government is made of people who are responsible for decisions and actions and consequences) scope such as an individual's health, or Russia's relationship with Ukraine, or spying on everyone's telecommunications, and so on and so forth.  Given how badly the government performs its own responsibilities, it's easy to see that going outside the scope is typically disastrous (with luck, we won't all be blown up with nuclear weapons in the blunder du jour, the Russia/Ukraine war, and, by the way, here's some background on that you might find a refreshing antidote to all the mainstream media out of context war hysteria:  https://scheerpost.com/2022/02/11/oliver-stone-american-exceptionalism-is-on-deadly-display-in-ukraine/).

No doubt this complaint is an exercise in futility (and I've worked in government so I can testify personally to it being badly run--so is much of private enterprise but I don't pay taxes on that, so I don't care as much), but Uncle Sam, get your shit together!  Once there's no national debt, my tax refund doesn't take six months to get back, I get my passport renewed quickly (if I have to have one at all), you don't waste tons of money doing stupid stuff, and so on and so forth, then we can have a conversation about expanding your responsibilities (I'll tell you likely no then as well, but at least then I'll be willing to hear about it--until then, shut up about it and stay in your lane, as the old saying goes). 

If you need a laugh after your latest interaction with government, then please read Edna's Employment Agency, my latest novel.

Sunday, February 20, 2022

Updated Bear And Snake Strip For The Biden Era!

This marks the third time that I've run this gag, but since it's a year into a new presidential administration, here we go (it might be funnier if I just crossed out the previous presidents' names, but I just erase the old one and insert the new one, so the word balloons don't get too messy):






Given Biden's inflation, I'm not sure how far $5 goes at Steak And Snake anymore, or even the real life Steak And Shake, but I left the strip otherwise as it was in 2010.  If Trump wins again in 2024, then I can probably just run the 2018 version again without having to change anything.  If Biden wins, then The Thirsty Bear And The Hungry Snake will see you in 2030!  Otherwise, if someone else wins, then this strip will get updated and recycled in 2026!

And I've published a couple of other novels since Blog Love Omega Glee.  They are Frequently Asked Questions About Being Dead and Edna's Employment Agency.

Monday, February 14, 2022

Exclusive Preview Of President Biden's State Of The Union Speech!

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere.  Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place!  And ain't I a woman?  Look at me!  Look at my arm!  I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me!  And ain't I a woman?  I could work as much and eat as much as a man--when I could get it--and bear the lash as well!  And ain't I a woman?  I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me!  And ain't I a woman?

I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel.  This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly.  Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today.  This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.  So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself--nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.  In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory.  I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

And so, my fellow Americans:  ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.  Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace.  The war is actually begun!  The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!  Our brethren are already in the field!  Why stand we here idle?  What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have?  Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?  Forbid it, Almighty God!  I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

I think you all know that I've always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are:  I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help.  A great many of the current problems on the farm were caused by government-imposed embargoes and inflation, not to mention government's long history of conflicting and haphazard policies.  Our ultimate goal, of course, is economic independence for agriculture, and through steps like the tax reform bill, we seek to return farming to real farmers.  But until we make that transition, the Government must act compassionately and responsibly.  In order to see farmers through these tough times, our administration has committed record amounts of assistance, spending more in this year alone than any previous administration spent during its entire tenure.  No area of the budget, including defense, has grown as fast as our support for agriculture.

Why is it that Joe Biden is the first in his family ever to go to a university?  Is it because I’m the first Biden in a thousand generations to get a college and a graduate degree?  That I was smarter than the rest?  Those same people who read poetry and wrote poetry and taught me how to sing verse?  Is it because they didn’t work hard?  My ancestors, who worked in the coal mines of northeast Pennsylvania and would come up after 12 hours and play football for four hours?

Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play.  It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials.

I will end this.  This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated, and I’m not working for you.  Give me a break, man.  Don’t be such a horse’s ass.  No, that’s a great asset, what a stupid son of a bitch!  I probably have a much higher IQ than you do, I suspect.  In Delaware, the largest growth in population is Indian-Americans, moving from India.  You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.  And I’m not joking.  I mean, you’ve got the first sort of mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean.  That’s a storybook, man.  Clap for that, you stupid bastards.  We’ve got to recognize that a kid wearing a hoodie may very well be the next poet laureate, not a gangbanger.  Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.  Let’s do push-ups together, man, let’s run, let’s do whatever you want to do.  Let’s take an IQ test, all right?  Well I’m telling you, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.  Jill, if there's ever a problem, just walk out on the balcony here, walk out and put that double-barrel shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house.  Let's go Brandon, I agree.  My fellow Americans, I close today where I began, with a sacred oath.  Before God and all of you I give you my word.  I will always level with you.  I will defend the Constitution.  I will defend our democracy.  I will defend America.  I will give my all in your service thinking not of power, but of possibilities.  Not of personal interest, but of the public good.  And together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear.  Of unity, not division.  Of light, not darkness.  An American story of decency and dignity.  Of love and of healing.   Of greatness and of goodness.  May this be the story that guides us.  The story that inspires us.  The story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history.  We met the moment.  That democracy and hope, truth and justice, did not die on our watch but thrived.  That our America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world.  That is what we owe our forebearers, one another, and generations to follow.  So, with purpose and resolve we turn to the tasks of our time.  Sustained by faith.  Driven by conviction.  And, devoted to one another and to this country we love with all our hearts.  May God bless America and may God protect our troops.  Thank you, America, you lying, dog-faced pony soldiers.

For more laughs, better read Edna's Employment Agency while you still have money before Uncle Joe's inflation strips away all your savings or before he blows us all up playing chicken with Russia over Ukraine or you stroke out from getting the twelfth booster of his "safe and effective" Covid vaccine.

Monday, February 7, 2022

Liner Notes For Severe Platter Damage!

 

It seems that with MP3s and streaming that the liner notes of the lp and cd eras in recorded music have been going extinct.  I really enjoyed reading Fuck Facts, for example, that The Dead Kennedys used to tuck into their albums or a surreal story that Robyn Hitchcock would thrown in or even Sting just including the lyrics and some background info on the songs.  I have encountered some great liner notes as of late, but it's rare.  For example, I've really been enjoying the Jon Savage liner notes for the series of 1960s and 1970s music compilations that he's been making for Ace Records.  Inspired by the hope of keeping the art of liner notes alive, I created 58 pages of liner notes for Severe Platter Damage.  You can download them or just read them at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nA6Yi2FDREAabZtCkjK-UG72jJq8-pE9/view?usp=sharing.  I made the font big since I didn't have to worry about cramming a bunch of text onto a cd booklet or whatnot, which is one reason for the page count, so you won't need a magnifying glass to read these like would sometimes be the case on some cds and even lps.  The notes just include the lyrics and some background on the songs, but it should be fun for anyone who likes the album, which, of course, you can listen to here:  https://soundcloud.com/wredfright/sets/severe-platter-damage.

If you really miss the good old days of vinyl, then you can order the Yeast? 7" here:  https://www.wredfright.com/2018/05/yeast-warehouse-find.html

Monday, January 31, 2022

Alternative Incite Interviews Wred Fright!

The new issue of Alternative Incite is out, and it's a fun read as usual!  This one, #5, also has an interview with me!  Thanks to publisher Joe Smith for the interview!  If you want a copy of the zine, please contact Joe at https://butter-lamb.com/, joe3ofcp AT AT AT gmail DOTT Com (if you're human, then you'll be able to figure out the email address from that, but let's help Joe avoid the spammers by not listing it the standard way, eh?), or PO Box 3067, Laurel, MD 20709 USA.  The current issue is $4.  I think that's postpaid, and he also may be open to trades if you are a zine publisher or whatnot, but ask him first to make sure.

If you want to read more Wred Fright, then please read Edna's Employment Agency.

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Between The Lines Podcast!

 
My buddy Mark Justice has a new podcast going where he interviews fellow authors.   I did episode 3.  Mark and I chatted for a couple of hours about writing.   I had a nice time, so thanks to Mark for the opportunity!   He was even nice enough to give me a webcam since otherwise we were rolling audio only for me.   Visually, it's probably not that interesting since it's two guys sitting in front of a webcam, but I did try to get a sixth grade play background with the curtains and change hats and stuff to increase the visual appeal a bit, so if you do watch it you can enjoy seeing me in different headgear, but it can also be enjoyed as an audio only podcast.

If you want to read some of my books, then you can find them at https://www.wredfright.com/p/the-wred-fright-library.html.  If you want to read Mark's books, then you can find them at https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Justice/e/B08N8GPSNP?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1642975704&sr=1-1.

Monday, January 17, 2022

New Single!: "It's Not Such A Wild Weekend"

NRBQ had a great song a couple of decades back called "It's A Wild Weekend", so I thought it would be funny to write an answer song about someone having a boring weekend.  Musicwise, the weird bit is a tape recorder that didn't seem to be working (it gave a great screech), but I managed to get it to work.  Fortunately, I got the screech recorded as well.  Lyrics are below:

Friday night, and I just got off work.
I'm looking to have some fun.
But I just moved to this town,
and I don't really know anyone.
I don't want to hang out with coworkers.
I already see enough of them.
I just want to have a good time.
I sure do wish that I had a friend.

It's not such a wild weekend.

Saturday, and I'm listening to NRBQ.
I have no invitation to an afternoon BBQ.
I could go out to a bar tonight,
but I think I'll stay home and not get into a fight.
At least the cashier at the store talked to me;
that's about as good as I'll find for company.
I'm so lonely I may go to church it seems.
At least I'll have some buddies tonight in my dreams.

Sunday, and sleeping in is no sin.
I should volunteer at a soup kitchen,
so next weekend I won't want to scream
when the boredom gets too extreme.
Got to find something to fill the abyss of the empty hours.
Do some reading and maybe take a walk and smell some flowers.
I heart Mondays because at least then I have something to do.
I can't wait to see this weekend through.

For more Wred Fright music, listen to the Yeast? 7"!

Monday, January 10, 2022

Tales From The Virus Panic #4: "Correlation Does Not Imply Causation"

Jessica's husband was nagging her to get her virus booster shot.  He had gotten his yesterday.  He felt great he said.

A prominent local doctor had died suddenly after reportedly getting his booster.  When Jessica told her husband this, he said it was a coincidence and that correlation does not imply causation.

The local hospitals joined together ran a television commercial with the sound effect of a patient on a ventilator urging people to get vaccinated and boosted.  Jessica saw it several times while watching her favorite police show.

When the news came on after the cop show, the cheerful announcer announced that a famous comedian had died unexpectedly.  Jessica looked it up online and saw that the comedian had recently gotten his booster shot.  Jessica heard a voice in her head say, "Correlation does not imply causation."  

A famous politician tested positive for the virus despite being vaccinated and boosted.  Her spokesperson said the politician was thankful for the vaccine that was safe and effective and urged all Americans to get vaccinated and boosted.

On Facebook, a post from an antivax cousin noted that a 13-year-old boy had died from a heart attack after getting a booster shot.  Another cousin replied that "Correlation does not imply causation."

Jessica didn't feel so great after she had gotten her second shot.  She wasn't looking forward to getting another.  Plus it had seemed like she had just gotten it.  She didn't need a tetanus booster for a decade.  She wondered why she needed this booster so soon.

Her soccer-playing teenage son liked to watch British soccer.  During a game, one player collapsed and was taken from the field.  It turned out he had had a heart attack.  When Jessica asked if the soccer league required vaccinations, her son just mumbled, "I don't know, but even so correlation does not imply causation."

Jessica did some Googling and discovered that the mRNA vaccines were originally developed to treat cancer but repeated doses proved to be too toxic so they were redeveloped as vaccines because those only required one or two doses.  Now people were supposed to get boosted every 5 months.

Some researcher who helped to develop the mRNA technology said the vaccines weren't safe and got banned from Twitter.  Bluechecks said the stuff he was saying was full of logical fallacies of the post hoc nature.  They noted that "correlation does not imply causation."

Her teenage daughter liked to post on Reddit.  She sometimes showed Jessica what she was reading (but never what she was posting).  She laughed at some man who hadn't wanted to get the booster because he said the vaccine didn't work.  Then he had caught the virus, developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, and died.  He had earned a Herman Cain Award.  Jessica told her daughter that it wasn't nice to laugh at the misfortunes of others, and her daughter said she wasn't laughing at his misfortune.  Just his stupidity.

One of her friends who had refused to get vaccinated emailed her an article about a life insurance company in Indiana noting that deaths had risen 40% among those aged 18-64 in the last year.  It wasn't entirely clear from the article what the cause was, but Jessica's friend said it was because of adverse reactions to the vaccine wherein the body started attacking itself.  But Jessica remembered her husband saying "correlation does not imply causation."

Jessica got an email that she had a new message in her medical chart from the hospital system.  When she logged in, she was annoyed that it was just a reminder to schedule her booster shot.

On Instagram, friends posted about getting their booster shots.  One of them never posted again.  At 46, he died of a heart attack.  Someone suggested the booster shot had something to do with it, and another wrote, "Bullshit!  Correlation does not imply causation!"

Jessica and her family were invited to her niece's wedding in the spring.  A small asterisk at the bottom of the invitation asked that no children younger than 5 be brought to the wedding and reception and that all guests be fully up to date on their virus vaccinations including the latest booster.

Her husband kept nagging her about getting her booster.  She wondered if she punched him in the face and broke his jaw, would he still say "correlation does not imply causation" when she denied that her punch had broken his jaw?

At work, the CEO sent over a memo stating that regardless or not of whether the federal government's vaccine mandate was swatted down by the Supreme Court, the company would require all employees to be boosted by the end of the month (the company had already previously demanded that all employees be vaccinated or face termination).  All employees not boosted would be terminated.  The company also sent along a form that employees were required to sign waiving the company of all responsibility for any adverse effects from the booster.

Two days later, her manager in a team meeting announced that one of the team had died unexpectedly.  When someone asked if she had gotten her booster before the sudden death, the manager said he couldn't share that information, but, in any case, "correlation does not imply causation."

Jessica's husband started sleeping in the guestroom because he had read a news article that unboosted Americans represented a threat to boosted Americans and the virus cases in their area was skyrocketing.  He asked Jessica to consider wearing a facemask in the house until she got boosted.  One morning, he wasn't up when she went to work.  When she came home, the guestroom door was still closed.  When she asked the kids if they had seen their father, they shrugged and went back to the video game they were playing.  Her husband was still in bed when Jessica went into the guestroom.  He had died suddenly and unexpectedly.

Jessica thought "Correlation does not imply causation," and then she thought, "I'm not getting fucking boosted."

This is a work of fiction, but it's based on real incidents.  "[D]ied suddenly", "died unexpectedly", "passed away suddenly", and so on have become regarded in some circles as code for dying from vaccine side-effects (though some will argue it also applies to deaths from overdoses and other causes).  Since most of the deaths ultimately involve some mention of a heart attack and myocarditis has been noted even by the CDC as a side-effect of the vaccine, it's not hard to posit a connection between vaccine and death, though mRNA vaccine proponents continue to insist even in the face of contradicting evidence that there is no such connection.  It took over five years of people dying from Vioxx for the FDA to pull it from the market, and this time a lot more people will have proverbial egg on their faces if these vaccines are indeed not safe, so the connection may never be admitted for the mRNA virus vaccines.  Here are some links for source material:

https://www.ohio.edu/news/2022/01/chsp-university-community-mourns-death-tommy-rees

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/jefferson-township-firefighter-tommy-rees-who-died-while-on-duty-laid-to-rest-1-5-2022

https://www.ohio.edu/coronavirus/vaccine/vaccine-requirement

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/myocarditis.html 

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16211947

https://thecovidblog.com/2022/01/09/bob-saget-long-time-standup-comic-and-television-actor-dead-weeks-after-receiving-booster-shot/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-covid-19-test-positive/

https://www.cleveland.com/coronavirus/2021/12/read-the-firsthand-experiences-of-breakthrough-covid-19-cases-from-your-northeast-ohio-neighbors.html

https://stevekirsch.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-new-normal-13-year

https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/4555832/as-covid-19-causes-premier-league-chaosfocus-turns-to-convincing-vaccine-hesitant-players

https://www.rt.com/sport/541515-football-players-collapsing-debate/

https://www.statnews.com/2020/11/10/the-story-of-mrna-how-a-once-dismissed-idea-became-a-leading-technology-in-the-covid-vaccine-race/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html

https://www.foxnews.com/media/dr-robert-malone-joe-rogan-covid-ingraham-twitter-ban-youtube-censorship

https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/

https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/ 

https://www.thecentersquare.com/indiana/indiana-life-insurance-ceo-says-deaths-are-up-40-among-people-ages-18-64/article_71473b12-6b1e-11ec-8641-5b2c06725e2c.html

https://nypost.com/2022/01/07/supreme-courts-liberal-justices-slammed-over-vax-mandate-statements/

https://www.foxnews.com/media/the-atlantic-mocked-for-revising-headline-asking-if-its-safe-to-hang-out-with-the-unboosted

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/04/us-counts-over-1-million-new-daily-covid-cases-in-global-record-.html 

And if you still want to read anything else after you checked out those links, then read Edna's Employment Agency, where the idiots are fictional and amusing and not in charge of governments and corporations like in real life.