The rest of the debate was nothing special. Shortly after it ended, Alexandra called me from a pay phone. She seemed a bit rattled. I told her I was holding the fort, and she should just relax at a local hotel that night instead of driving home. She drove home anyway. I was a bit surprised to meet her at the door.
“You did great. Don’t worry about the press conference. We’ll figure something out. Let’s just go to bed and get some rest.”
The next day at work, my boss called me in.
“Hey, Tom, given what’s been going on, I think it’s best you take a leave of absence til the campaign is over. Don’t worry. You’ll keep getting paid. We’ll leave your desk just like it is. When it’s over, you pick up right where you left off.”
“I’d prefer to keep working, but I see your point. I need to get ready for that press conference.”
“Exactly. Off you go then. If you need anything, call me. I’ll see what I can do.”
I returned to our kitchen. Alexandra was there cradling and singing to Catherine.
“Honey, what should I say at that press conference?”
“Sit at the typewriter and write whatever comes to you.”
So I did that. And this is what I wrote:
Many people have had intense, painful experiences. War veterans like me have had many of them. We often don’t know what to say about them, because we do not want to relive the experience, or we are scared that we will not be believed or that we will frighten people. So often instead, we just say something like “I don’t want to talk about it.”
But we do want to talk about “it”, at least on some level. I chose to go to war for my country because I believed in its cause. Many others were forced to go, which is cruel and unjust. Some of us were forced kill to stay alive. Others were killed or wounded. Even those of us who did not get hurt at all are tormented by the memories of what we heard and saw.
All I ask is that if there is another war, I hope all my fellow citizens will think long and hard about whether it is worth the death and suffering of so many young men in the prime of their lives. And let us not forget all the people on the other side who will surely be killed or wounded, same as every other war.
A long time ago in school, I learned that our country was founded on the ideas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. War runs contrary to all those things.
For that reason, I believe we should never go to war unless attacked. It’s fine to help people in trouble and we should, but we should just stay out of any wars that don’t concern us.
It’s much better for us to give the world an example of how to have a free and prosperous society than to try and force them into being like Americans. Every country is different, and what works here might not work somewhere else.
As for my actions in Amity, Washington, I see no reason to elaborate on what my wife said about them. I am thankful to my family, the Army, and the American people for all the support they have given me. In the end, I hope it was worth it. Thank you and God bless America. I am ready for any questions you have.
“Here you go, my love” I said as she perused the paper.
“Don’t change a word”, she said after reading it.
The day of the press conference came. I wore my old Army jacket for it and said what I had shown Alexandra earlier. After I finished my statement, I called on a few reporters.
“In your opinion, what is the biggest problem with the US military?”
“The dilemma all soldiers face sooner or later is what to do when you get a stupid order. In my view, the solution is to promote soldiers on the basis of standardized intelligence test scores rather than other criteria.”
“Do you think more countries will fall to communism or that communism will eventually take over the world?”
“Some more countries may become communist, but in the long-term, communism is doomed. As an economic system, it simply can’t provide goods and services as well as other systems which allow free markets and private property.”
“Should we fight communist forces directly or aid the countries that do?”
“On the whole, I say no. We do not have a good track record when it comes to fighting communism and doing so is not cheap.”
“Do you yourself have any plans of running for office?”
“No, I’d prefer to stay out of the limelight, though I may publish a book later if I ever finish writing one. I’ll answer one more question. How about you there in the back?”
“You have an unconventional look. Is it a political statement and how does your wife feel about it?”
“I got tired of shaving and having short hair in the Army, so basically went the opposite way as soon as I could. It’s not a sign of solidarity with any group and while I’m not a hippie, I have nothing against them. My wife I think would prefer a more conservative or traditional look. It certainly helps in politics.”
I got a few laughs with that response and felt the conference ended well. Off I went.
We were doing well in the polls and as the weeks and months went by, I became increasingly confident that we’d win the election. There was a chance of a runoff election, but hopefully we’d 51% of the vote in the first round. Regardless of the outcome, I was looking forward to getting back to my old office job. Though if we did win, we’d have enough money that I wouldn’t need to work anymore. That was an intriguing possibility. I could stay home, take care of Catherine, and write.
I bless this post with my First. May the First be with you tonight.
I heard May 4th is Star Wars Day, because May the 4th be with you.
Got fired from my teaching job officially I Friday, but I figured that would happen. Took them 3 weeks to make a decision during which time I attempted to rally my supporters. On the plus side, I’ve made $500 this week from my online AI gig. The math I do there is far more stimulating. I feel like Captain Kirk trying to talk a computer to death.
It’s hard to get an AI to understand Carmichael numbers.
I walked 10 miles today, something I haven’t done in about 4 years. Yay me. On the whole, I feel good, and might be meeting some old Army friends for Halloween.
I’m sorry to hear that. Are you going to give up the teaching thing or look for another job, if possible?
I applied to 2 teaching jobs in my town today. Since moving to Florida a year and a half ago, I have gotten 4 teaching jobs. Got fired from 3 of them and have been suspended without pay from the substitute one since May.
Speaking of that, I got a subpoena for a deposition next month for the case whereby an 8th grader punched me in the face twice. He’s getting charged with felony battery and has a public defender. My guess is his idiot family is going to trial and is pleading not guilty. They can have fun with that, the whole altercation was filmed by the school’s cameras, and the Florida Department of Children and Families absolved me of wrongdoing. This is what I get for not wanting to call the school cop on a guy I outweigh by 60 pounds and his pissant cousin I outweigh by 100 pounds.
Derpy, if you get called to the stand, refer to that little bastard as a wank-stain who isn’t smart enough to eat his own boogers.
I’m oddly on a similar trajectory. Started my second career in Aug, fired in Oct, and my 5th overall gig since returning to America.. but this one is oddly freeing. The same day I got my last residual paycheck, I got confirmed with my new plasma center. Today I got confirmation my background check was cool, to acknowledge Nov 5 as my starting date, and I await further details tomorrow.
I hope the extra stimulation and money of the math gig has a productive future. Life finds a way. Eat or be eaten; adapt or die. Onward, upward, always.
Still stabbing folks?
My mom suggested ages ago I should go into pharmacisting. She must have known health care was where it was going to be at – living in a region now where the only new jobs are in health care it’s kind of clear. I could kick myself. Well, not really cuz I enjoy what I do.
“my online AI gig”
When i type into chatgpt, it’s you typing back, isn’t it?
Seriously, sorry to hear about your teaching gig. Onwards and upwards!
@rhy: Stickin’ stickin’, indeed! This place is in a nicer neighborhood, is closer, and is *much* more chill. According to everything I’ve seen, they are (at least more) serious about advancing folk when they show they’re good at something. That can go many ways for me. (Or?) Yeah, phleb provides stability; ability to relocate; near limitless-ability to expand in medicine; and for now? Provides all I need and more. I’m quite proud and clueless how I came up with such a bonkers plan that is turning out to not be such.
Phlebotomy, and especially surgery, are about the last two things I can think folk will allow to be automated. *Requires* a person – even my generation would refuse a machine to ‘be in charge’ of such shit. However, my gen is retarded and I don’t trust their sensibility. (I fit right into that bracket, but in a completely different ZIP, I reckon.)
Big thing with me: If I can write to earn a living, I’ve accomplished Dream Goal (again). But honestly? I don’t live for work, like some apparently do, like my bro. I work to provide enough $ to do the things I really wanna do.
Be careful what you wish for.
Writing process documentation and project plans is a big part of my day job, and it’s a brutal slog, though technically writing.
Hm… I got stuck today in fact. Nice gal, and she seems to know her shit. First time, every time. I have a lot of experience on this end of the needle and let me tell you, there is a WIDE variety of ability here. Git gud and you can make your victims happy.
I actually enjoy writing technical documentation – unlike many of my developer peers…. I fuss over screenshots and syntax and all that shit. It is definitely a valuable skill that your boss hopefully notices….
*maniacal grin and finger twiddling* Oh. I’ll get goooood… (snaps out).
By the end of the other gig I was getting compliments from several donors. Certainly not all. I was described by one as “more delicate” and I did get a “less stabby [than the other phlebs.” I appreciated that much.
This place also has you shadow/train for 30-days. You can show experience/ ability and bump your pay, supposedly. (Highly doubtful, but a great possibility.) They’ll likely realize I’m not quite a rookie in the game.
@UCS: Nah, writing is a Dream Job but not what I’m focused on. Now, the instability of it is way too dangerous. I LOVED running the Peru Tribune, but print is dead, esp in small towns. (The Danger of the gig led to me going slightly insane for a bit. The news never ends.) Honestly, Fantasy Dream Job is writing and performing stand-up. I could easily get Tight Five’s with a couple bar owners in Peru who run music/trivia/etc nights. I’d like to have some time to send The Babylon Bee some pieces, but for now, stability is certainly the priority.
A memorable event was me in the hospital spring 2020, woken up at 4am and stabbed six or seven times – without success – and the nice young girl had to call up another lady to get it done. A sort-of xray gizmo got involved. That’s when I realized it’s a skill.
I’m not veiny so I’m not sure how current chick is getting it done so easily. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
lol Just noted this.
HELL NO.
I hate “project planning” with the heat of 1,000 suns. I let my boss do that shit.
Derpe should we be worried about you? I get any one job not working out. Three in a row is concerning.
“That’s when I realized it’s a skill.”
Yeeeep. It combines comfort, medical ‘bedside manner,’ plus you’re stabbing someone in the arm with a needle.. and you have to do this to many people with haste. Admittedly, plasma centers are not at all like the medical training I got. Way bigger needles and they have to stay in for 40-70 min. With generally poor folk who are there to get their money and get the fuck out.
Hospitals have those little delicate needles!
😱 Is that blood donations? Yah, never done. I was not eligible for many years so fuckit.
Hospital route sounds way preferable to me, if you can get it.
they have to stay in for 40-70 min
That’s about what platelet donation took, when my dad was getting his stem cell transplant.
It wasn’t bad at all, once they got the return line correct – they needed to call in a more experienced phlebotomist to get that right. I had an impressive hematoma from that.
Mine took about 12 hours over two days. The lines in and out were a gizmo that has since been removed and I would rather not think about ever again.
I’m actually pretty good at it. Well. For a rook I’m damn good. And I didn’t ‘last’ cuz I made an, admittedly stupid, ‘being a Good Samaritan’ mistake. Most newbies are college grads tryin’ to get into a hospital. They can’t handle the donors, neighborhood, staff, everything.
I have made mistakes. I’ve never hurt anyone outside of normal needle pain. My errors involved pretty hefty blood spills. Took a while to understand the donors are poor, there to make money, and take it WAY better than ya’d expect. Psychological overreaction certainly played a role.
Another reason a new start, a fresh face in a nicer neighborhood is fairly divine. Ya only get one shot at a first impression. My knowledge, persona and more may make this extra fortuitous and lead to higher work. Mandatory cross-training, labwork included. That, would be a lovely direction. I’d also be a great PR person, sadly(?).
I get it, I think.
It didn’t occur to me that donor jabs might be done in a different location from hospitals. I do approve seeking a better neighborhood.
I had a budding hotel career that started in literally the worst neighborhoods you could imagine. Scary shit. Sometimes just relocating does wonders.
Best part of donor plasma centers: We want plasma for product. Donors want money. We pay them for their time and contribution.
It’s a great demonstration of the Market finding a moral way to get shit done. The inward morality of the job? Huge plus.
👍🏻🤘🏻
I can’t give blood or plasma. My veins are too small.
There are ways, not terribly pleasant.
With my veins, that’s a hard way to earn $100.
This article has some relevance to this installment of the story:
***
Contrary to Hines’ narrative of authorial evolution, Damon Knight recounts in his introduction to A Century of Science Fiction (1962) that Hamilton wrote the story in 1933 but couldn’t find a publisher as it was “too gruesome, too horrible.” Found later by Leigh Brackett in a file, Hamilton rewrote the tale–and I’m glad he did!
Edmond Hamilton argues that returning spacemen will experience similar trauma to that of war veterans. And just like we glamorize war in media, the dangers of space travel (both physical and mental) are sanitized by gaudy pulp adventures. The story succeeds as a complex analysis of the tales we tell each other to obfuscate traumatic experiences and give comfort to those suffering loss.
…
The Second Mars mission, twenty rickety and cramped rockets, sets off to acquire cheap uranium. Suffering the internal organ-crushing terrors of takeoff, a rocket-splitting landing, Martian disease, isolation, and an abortive mutiny, Sergeant Frank Haddon returns a different man. Like a veteran from a foreign war, Haddon must confront not only his own experiences but also the grieving relatives of his dead companions, who see him as the last connection to their loved ones.
…
Haddon, struggling with the cognitive dissonance created by what he remembers and what he must vocalize, returns to his small Ohio hometown—and he realizes that his lived experience will only upset those who do not have the same memories.
***
link
I put down the Expanse novels to go watch the TV show lately*… and one of the things I like is the attention to details such as the physical dangers of space travel.
*after five novels I kind of think the TV show is better done, plot- and pace-wise. I already watched some, stopped at the beginning of S04. I just acquired the last two seasons on bluray. Was disappointed to see that S06 is only six episodes and I’m not sure how they can squeeze nine books into 5 and a half seasons but I’ll reserve judgement until the end, I guess.
How’s Babylon 5 going?
Quiet, you.
You’re killing me Rhywun. If I remember correctly, you left off somewhere in season 3. That’s when the show takes off.
They did a great job with the TV show.
That last season tried to cram a bit too much in but it’s still pretty satisfying.
Expanse?
Yeah, I love it. I inhaled S01 – S03 when they first came out. Stopped at S04E01 and just picked it up again. I thought S03 was a bit rushed but that was before I read any of the novels and honestly… I think they made some good editorial decisions. The authors were heavily involved, which helps.
I also have no idea how the fuck they got David Strathairn to play a Belter pirate but he’s awesome.
That guy is fantastic in anything I have seen him in.
Amos is my favorite character and I’m looking forward to see what happens next season in Baltimore which I have already read the novel of.
I need a whole spin-off Amos series (which we’ll never get). That actor kills it.
Reading the books I had him as a black dude – because “Amos” and ” Baltimore” but that actor absolutely nails the restrained sociopathy of Amos – a guy who isn’t totally sure how to be a regular person but who’d like to be. If only because it’d make Naomi and, later, Holden happy.
Yeah, Amos’ moral compass is something to behold.
Oh and yeah, that actor is amazing. Nailed it from scene one.
The casting on that show is just great overall.
I don’t do scifi (altho I do have a bit of a soft spot for DS9), but I fucking LOVED The Expanse. My favorite character, Alex, unfortunately is a letch IRL so they had him stroke out on the show.
Now it could be that it was because of all the Mormon references which were really well done and respectful (because, yes, we COULD pull that off), but I really really liked it and I want to be Crisjen when I grow up.
I heard about that and because it’s current year I had to wonder how true it is. Details were lacking when I checked a couple weeks ago. Another reason I’m skittish about the last season.
lol I might join the Nauvoo if they’d have me.
I got married in Nauvoo.
That sounds about right. Needless to say, I will start over.
I really do like it. I just got distracted by life.
Auto-generated Romanian captions on an English clip:
https://platedlizard.blogspot.com/2024/10/romanian-captions-glitch-on-boondocks.html
Odd…
I blame Pie.
Yeah if any post cries out for his input.
Can confirm… I also get Romanian as the suggested CC option. Weird.
Thad Kerosky is one of my friends from Peace Corps. I met him again at our 15th anniversary reunion in July and showed him evidence of the weird things that have been happening to my laptop, phone, and other electronics. He’s a computer expert and has worked with Coding for Congress.
More about him: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thadk/
I asked him what I should do. He said that since I can’t keep NSA from fucking with my stuff, I should just relax and roll with it.
If they wanted to imprison or kill me, they’d have done it already.
https://platedlizard.blogspot.com/2023/07/nsa-zersetzung-gaslighting.html
It’s a good thing I wasn’t sleeping with my locked, cocked, and ready to rock AK in my hands when those FBI guys came to my apartment last year.
I’m a member of AMVETS, which is like the VFW or the American Legion. I was invited to share my story briefly with them. My blurb was: I was an Arabic linguist in the Army assigned to NSA, where I did intel work for combat operations.
that makes no sense whatsoever the first word isn’t even a word.
lol Watching The Exorcist on Sundance and all the doctors are smoking.
Goddamn I want one.
you want a doctor or an exorcist?
A cigarette.
well go buy a carton
Why not all three?
A smoking-hot Doctor-Exorcist?
videos from my feed:
Gaza Genocide 2040
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEyKTu5dHaI
Men In Canada’s Parliament Don High Heels To Raise Awareness About Violence Against Women
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5Jn33tG9_o
The propaganda is strong in this one.
I’m tired of living in a declining society. Wading through the drug paraphernalia left behind as the result of the idiotic decriminalization experiments. Listening to the pro-baby murderers whine about getting their fucks infringed. Greed and envy getting tossed around like entitlements. I just want off.
decriminalization is not the issue. lack of public order is.
Then stop, move out of whatever shithole you’re in that is littered with needles, and turn off your TV and radio. If you want to watch sportsball or sommat simply tune out during the commercials.
I am with you Gustave. It is tough sometimes.
I am listening to this right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx0qBgkaULU
Prior to that I was watching a lengthy explanation of geological history, specifically about banded iron formations and the great oxidation event in earth’s history.
I am struck by the contrast of those two things, one a celebration of the beauty of music and the other an exploration of the natural state of the universe and how uniformitarianism plays into our understanding of it, and popular music and the global warming scam.
Popular music is about me. Me, me, me. How I feel. What I want. What I see blah blah blah. Global warming crap is a pure scam, an effort to confuse people into prostrating themselves and ceding their individuality and money to a bunch of grifters.
The contrast in the two perspectives could not be more stark.
What you mention – the dope problem and abortion issue are no different. They about overly self-indulgent people crashing into existential crisis’ and self-destruction – of course trying to drag everyone else down with them.
The Hyperbole is right. Find something to focus on that is not about the mass narcissistic personality disorder that mankind suffers from.
Check this out: https://www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/comments/dbihn4/1906_singer_sewing_machine_i_picked_up_today/
It’s a freakin’ work of art. The blueing, the gold inlay, the function…a true testament to the industry, ingenuity and art we are capable of.
I looked it up because my mother was puzzling over what ever happened to her mother’s machine…when I showed her that photo she was astounded that such things are still around and said her mother’s machine was identical to that one. I sure wish I had it now.
The yin and yang, we can never escape it. I found out that a cousin of mine stole the machine and sold it for dope money.
Dont despair. I am going to repair that. Instead of buying myself a new gun I plan on buying one of those to give to my grandchildren.
Dont despair, there is hope. Focus on the good. It’s out there. You can still find it both in yourself and others.
Wakey, wakey. 1 week to the end. Are you ready?
⏰🌞💥
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lbqMD7YrGGQ
🎶🎶
The end of what?
I expect the shitstorm to come after what passes for the election happens. If the crooks can’t blatantly rig it, they will send their marxist cadres to terrorize urban areas so the country becomes ungovernable. If they manage to steal it, I think we will have to fight them to prevent what they will do to punish the unwashed masses that dared to stand u to them.
If Hitler wins you’re obliged to riot, amirite?
Morning you nihilistic defeatists.
What about me? 🙁
Good morning, U, Sean, Suthen, and Teh Hype, and good afternoon, Pie!
You hadn’t shown up yet.
How are things with you?
Good, thanks! It’s already in the 60s here, and I’m getting a bit of a head start on month-end reports…although now I have another Board meeting to listen to and write up the minutes. 😒 How about you?
It’s 34 here, with an anticipated high of 61, climing to a high of 80! on Thursday.
I guess it won’t snow on Holloween this year.
It’s probably going to rain on Halloween here. Sorry, all you little moochers!
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/10/whoa-daughter-powerful-chinese-communist-official-reveals-tim/
Fake news. He ain’t straight.
I knew a man who, after having five children and outliving his wife of many decades decided that he was in fact gay and shacked up with a dude.
Some people are just confused.
Yeah, that’s what I thought also. Tim? If he steps out of his marriage it aint gonna be with a woman.
You people are just jealous of his sky high testosterone level.
I finally found the slogan that represents how I feel.
“Make Orwell Fiction Again”
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1851139012146389330?s=19
Today in media bias news, my podcast feed from the ABC (Australia) radio breakfast show included an interview with Christopher Steele about his and Bob Woodward’s new books.
Needless to say I didn’t download that one to listen to.
As hacktastic as Woodward (and Bernstein) is, Steele takes the cake…a walking talking intelligence service cutout who oughtta be in prison.
Re: Gaza Genocide 2040
I watched the video with the sound down, but I get the gist of it.
There’s apparently a “Gaza’s Holocaust museum” that some grandparents take their grandchildren to visit. After looking at the exhibits of horror, the pretentious children angrily ask the grandparents why they didn’t stop this, the grandparents look down in shame rather than explain that Gaza was infested with terrorists that had the avowed purpose of killing off every Israeli. I bet this hypothetical museum doesn’t give any information about the 10/07/2023 attacks, or the numerous previous attempts by the surrounding nations to destroy Israel.
Nope. It’s just, “Israel is the new Nazi Germany, full stop. The Israelis are monomaniacal murderers, who kill for no reason. This had nothing to do with Israel defending itself from an existential threat.