October 2019 – If there is something

Fortnite powers down. Millions of boys reunited with loved ones.

Parents and siblings are rejoicing today after reuniting with missing family members thought lost forever. The popular video game Fortnite powered down Sunday leaving only a black hole visible on the screen and millions of players confused and unable to log in.

John and Patty Perkins were seated at their kitchen table finishing dinner Sunday when the basement door opened and their dazed thirteen year old son appeared in the doorway. “Mom, Dad, it’s me, Dylan,” he announced as Patty rushed to embrace her son.

“We never lost hope. We always knew you were out there somewhere and would come back to us. Come, let me fix you a plate,” Patty said seating Dylan at the family table, the boy’s arms extending four inches beyond the ends of his shirt sleeves.

Not everyone was greeted with hugs and tears of joy, however. “When I came down from my attic, there was another family living in our house,” said a shaken Justin Cartwright. “If anyone knows where Bill and Diane Cartwright have relocated, please let me know.”

After the official Fortnite Twitter account tweeted out “This is The End,” stunned players around the globe began the process of reintegrating back into society. Some are finding it difficult to adjust to a world that has changed drastically in the last few years.

“Our son has missed a lot of school,” said one father. “He doesn’t know how to drive a car and he’s distraught over missing the end of Game of Thrones. Right now, we’re just taking it one day at a time.”

Over 200 captains sign letter to Congress in support of Captain Kangaroo

A letter containing the signatures of over 200 captains was submitted to Congress today in support of their colleague Captain Kangaroo. The letter expressed profound disappointment over remarks made by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz in which he characterized the beloved children’s show host as presiding over kangaroo courts. The letter read in part:

“We are deeply saddened that a Member of Congress would so carelessly and callously disrespect the name and rank of an honorable American to make a political point. We call upon Representative Gaetz to issue a public apology to Captain Kangaroo, and to clarify the record regarding the Captain’s distinguished service to our country and generations of television viewers.”

Additionally, a number of signatories shared their fond remembrances of the much loved and widely respected Captain Kangaroo.

Captain Merrill Stubing wrote: “I was fortunate enough to attend officer’s training school with Captain Kangaroo. A finer man I’ve never known. After his retirement, he took many a voyage with us on the Pacific Princess and he always occupied a place of honor at the Captain’s Table. How dare Rep. Gaetz besmirch such a gracious and highly regarded man.”

Captain James T. Kirk added: “Captains Log: It has come to my attention that a Representative of the U.S. Congress on Earth has spoken ill of my cherished friend and colleague Captain Kangaroo. I have a good mind to transport the ill-mannered villain up here and smack that contemptuous smirk off his face.”

Captain Barney Miller added: “When we picked up Mr. Green Jeans for public intoxication, Captain Kangaroo dropped everything to come down to the precinct and bail out his friend. He sobered him up with some of Sgt. Yemana’s coffee, took him home and put him to bed. That’s the kind of guy Captain Kangaroo is.

Other signatories included such notables as Captain America, Captain Morgan, Captain Beefheart and Captain Sensible.

Free speech is killing the New York Times. Gray Lady can’t stop publishing bullshit.

The New York Times is doing some heavy duty soul searching these days as the 168 year old daily newspaper wrestles with the reality that everytime pen is put to paper, a key is stroked on a keyboard, or ink is printed on the page, untruths and fabrications seem to pour out of the Gray Lady like a devious meth addict spinning a yarn for their probation officer.

Reports out of the newsroom suggest editors are considering changing the newspaper’s motto from “All the news that’s fit to print” to “It’s not a lie if you believe it,” borrowing the advice George Costanza gave to his friend Jerry on the nineties television comedy Seinfeld. “All we’re trying to do is come up with the best possible lie,” is another Georgeism kicked around many a NYT editorial staff meeting.

In what appears to be a cry for help, the Times recently published a piece entitled “Free Speech Is Killing Us,” in which the author, Andrew Marantz, seems to admit what many have been thinking for awhile – someone needs to step in and restrain the Times before it does more damage to itself. If ever a daily newspaper was in need of an intervention, the Times surely qualifies.

Hardly a week goes by in which the Times doesn’t print something to embarrass itself and erode its credibility. Just in recent weeks, the Times got called out by most print publications for its misleading Kavanaugh reporting, Brett Stephens appeared to have an angel dust fueled bed bug freakout, and David Brooks is writing opinions based on imaginary conversations and he’s not even trying to pass them off as real. In the old days, a Times writer would at least try to create cover for their imaginary sources. Now, I guess they’re just putting their rich fantasy lives on full display. Following the Times is like watching a celebrity self-destruct in public. The Gray Lady is about one or two bullshit stories away from stripping off her clothes and wandering naked up and down Eighth Avenue.

Now the NYT wants the government and big tech to step in and put the brakes on free speech, arguing that dozens of lives would be saved by preventing young men from being radicalized in seedy online message groups. The Times does have some experience in this area having exposed YouTube’s diabolical algorithm and its sinister scheme to radicalize young men into the right wing. The Gray Lady’s efforts to suppress speech bore fruit as YouTube, and some social media sites, either deplatformed or severely restricted the content of a number of creators.

The Times is right. Free speech is killing the New York Times. Despite continuing to do valuable reporting, the Times can’t stop itself from undermining its credibility by foisting a lot of bullshit on the public. Emboldened by recent successes restricting the speech of others, the Times now presses forward with an even more ambitious agenda to sell out the First Amendment and censor detractors and competitors. I guess this is how the NYT plans to become ‘the paper of record’ again.

Scientists observe quantum superposition of large molecules. Man’s dream of spending more time at the pub about to be realized.

For years, Ben Stump’s life crept along at its petty pace from day to day with little variation in routine and little hope for escaping its dreariness. Then, suddenly, one miraculous morning, there was change. The sun shone brightly on Ben and old hopes and dreams at once came back into focus. On this morning, Ben read the news that scientists had demonstrated that giant molecules could be in two places at once. It would be only a matter of time, Ben thought, before the miracle of quantum superpositioning would free him to do the same.

In addition to spending the evening on the sofa with the wife watching the most recent episode of The Voice, Ben could also be down at the pub, throwing back cold ones and chain smoking with his friends. While he toiled at his unfulfilling job, he could simultaneously occupy a bar stool, eat peanuts and play scratch off tickets. Even during those monthly hook-ups with his wife, he wouldn’t have to miss one second of the football game as he would also be down at the sports bar bathed in the glow of a hundred big screen televisions. “Oh glorious day,” Ben rejoiced!

However, in short order, dark clouds began to crowd out the sunlight that had momentarily entered Ben’s life. He imagined himself seated on the sofa with Mrs. Stump watching Dancing With The Stars while simultaneously sitting with her in bed watching a Hallmark movie. He couldn’t shake the thought of the pair attending church on Sunday while also spending the day antique shopping. The specter of the monthly hook-up doubled and then doubled again. Horror stacked upon horror! Throwing away the newspaper, Ben vowed never to superposition himself again.

Add helping the elderly cross the street to the list of hate gestures

Last week saw the ‘OK’ hand gesture and ‘Bowlcut’ hairstyle added to a list of hate symbols used by far-right extremists. Events in Hamilton, Ontario over the weekend would seem to indicate that consideration should be given to other gestures as well.

Video posted online of an antifascist demonstration outside Mohawk College shows protesters taking a brave stand against the time-honored tradition of helping elderly people cross the street. Masked antifascist protesters blocked a crosswalk outside the college, preventing an elderly couple from passing. Holding firm to their most deeply held antifascist convictions, the protesters shouted “Nazi scum” at the pair, one of whom was using a walker.

“It’s been known for some time that fascists will often use kind gestures, like assisting the elderly, to signal other fascists in their midst,” said one anonymous antifascist protester. “Of course, these practices are not just limited to helping someone cross the street. A fascist might hold the door for someone, or give up their seat on the bus to a pregnant woman. Although these gestures might seem harmless enough, make no mistake, these are symbols of hate, and if we have to inconvenience the elderly and disabled to take a stand against hate, then we’re willing to do it.”

The protests weren’t just confined to crosswalks, other antifascists blocked wheelchair ramps and pepper sprayed service dogs. “Service dogs were big with Nazis,” said one protester clad entirely in black, an eye sporting a monocle peered over the top of his face mask as he brandished a telescoping baton. “Fascism has many disguises,” he remarked, pointing at the elderly couple who had given up trying to cross the street and turned back.