The Gwen pt. 2 Gliese 2235

by | Mar 9, 2021 | Fiction | 256 comments

 

 

Gliese is one of the farther stars we can reasonably reach, and with Dad’s money, I was able to get a Ship and Charter of Exploration, of course Pops gets 50%, the usual. It seemed like it took longer to crew the ship than fly it, but I finally found five good crewmen, and we gathered the necessities and set off, destination Gliese 2235.2

(memory access 2552)  

I met Gwen just out of high school and we traveled from our home at Luna, first mining on Mars, then I finished my studies on Tycho, celestial navigation, Fusion reaction, you know, the stuff it takes to be a pilot, or even command a ship, I was excited to get my wings then we got to decision time.

(close memory access)

 Do we fly together, with all the rigors of Suspended Ani, or does she go stasis and wait for me? It was common at the time for Wives to wait back then, so we chose that route, 18 years is nothing in this day and age.Or so we thought…

 As is custom, we said Goodbye, and I pressed the Stasis button, I never thought it was the last time I would see sweet Gwendolyn.

 Our journey was uneventful, our arrival as well, low forms of life, and a shit ton of extractable resources, we were Rich! The Charter enables me a monopoly on the planet, and this could be a multigenerational find, ever heard of Kings? They ruled entire planets it’s said, and controlled the very Stars, after setting flags and sending our claim forms back to Mars, we took the slowboat back ,as planned, to get some well earned rest, little did we know what was next.

 

The Chase pt. 2

 “Tycho! I live there Damn it!  Engineering, can we slow this thing down?”

We have spin control, working on thrust, but we are accelerating, and we don’t know why,

“Fine Sir, you are to spin this ship around Luna, and slingshot towards the the Sun,”

The Sun? How are we supposed to clear it? It’s never been done”

“ I guess we’ll find out, Nav, can you set a course that will beat them to Tycho?”

Aye Sir, plotting now… we can do it in 5 days at high gee, 12 hours ahead of them,

“Make it happen, Helmsman”

“ Sensors, we need to get close without being painted again, how’s the cloak working?”

I can’t make out the stupid Romulan schematics, but I’ll figure it out Cap,

“I can’t ask for more  Sir”

We were cloaked, but this odd Black ship could have anything, we didn’t know, so we kept a distance, waiting for comm range with L5 when we were knocked by an energy source that we had never seen before, coming to, I had decisions to make.Fight? What with what? The best we could do is a controlled crash on Luna, and a warning….

To be Continued

 

About The Author

Yusef drives a Kia

Yusef drives a Kia

Punctually illiterate But never late

256 Comments

  1. Brochettaward

    This is a sad First. It is a somber day for The Bro. Don’t cry for me, I am already dead.

    Four Firsts in two days. That’s a lot of bang for the buck. But I may have to take my talents to OnlyFans.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Fuck. Off. don’t sully my posts Asshole,

      • hayeksplosives

        Hi five.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Back At Ya!

  2. pistoffnick

    “…of course Pops gets 50%…”

    10% 50% for the big guy!

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      something about a Piper and Tunes.. it’s a very Libertarian tale,

    • pistoffnick

      Dude, you should renegotiate. Even Hunter Biden does better than that!

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        I can be a Kang! though, let’s see how it plays out…

  3. Hyperion

    Is that a red or orange dwarf, Yusef?

    • pistoffnick

      Raycist!

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Orange, according to my notes, the first we found with Planets, research shows some are Earth like,

      • Hyperion

        Nice, I hear those are the best.

  4. westernsloper

    ….with all the rigors of Suspended Ani,…

    Kind of stepping on Creasotes toes with that line there Yusef.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      I traveled Time Before John Titor, Fuck Thineself,
      /good call,

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Seems you dont like the story anyway, ah well……
      Play to the thirds…..

      • Brochettaward

        I do not like thirds.

      • westernsloper

        Naaa, no problemo with your story. I am not a big sci fi fan so that puts me in the minority in this group it seems. Write away though dood. You know us, we are going to snark at anything. Myself included.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Skol! Bro!

  5. Suthenboy

    I gotta say Yusef, the globes the Messican posted on his article are far more interesting than the one. you did. Just sayin’….

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      TPTB did the the art,

    • westernsloper

      Yusef needs to request more body painted female soccer fans for his next installment.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        I can get in front of such things, Yum…

      • Suthenboy

        Somewhere around here I have some B&Ws I did back in the day. One is a body painted nude…I used a black background and painted out her arms with black tempera paint so that the camera couldn’t see her arms and posed her as close to the Venus de Milo as I could. I then tinted the prints with gold chloride.
        I won first place in a photo contest at the museum in shreveport. It was good enough that someone stole the damned print out of the museum.
        The model was a dead ringer for the Venus. People kept going up to it and looking very close then asking me if it was the statue or….?

  6. Yusef drives a Kia

    The Rule of Thirds,
    1/3rd of them hate you,
    1/3rd of them like you,
    !/3rd don’t give a Fuck,
    Play for the Third,

    • Brochettaward

      Of course 1/3 of them hate you started off telling the First of all Firsters to fuck off. You won’t be welcome on my Onlyfans site.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Thank God for that…

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        that’s a blessing

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        You have very good thoughts, why do you embarrass yourself this way? Leave it be Buddy youre an old friend, relax, like Steve says,

      • Hyperion

        He can’t help it. His cravings for dick while claiming everyone else is gay are overwhelming his vague semblance of reason.

      • blackjack

        Already not welcome, it’s right there in the name.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        He is an intelligent guy, why he does that is beyond me,

      • Hyperion

        See above, his insatiable craving for penis, yet inability to get any, has caused brain damage.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        It cant be that difficult to find Gay, is it?

      • Hyperion

        It is when no one likes you. Aww, I feel bad, I don’t want to be mean to Broketard, he’s just such an asshole, lol.

      • blackjack

        He’s actually pretty cool, outside of his firsting persona. I get it, but the blowback is part and parcel.

      • Tundra

        I like him.

        The appeal of this freakshow is the freaks. We kick the shit out of each other, but deep down we know that we are all brothers and sisters.

        Well, maybe sister.

      • Brochettaward

        If I were gay, I’d be swimming in cock. The gays love me. I wouldn’t have to resort to the glory holes and poorly lit parks for my flings like you, Hyperion.

      • Mojeaux

        What Tundra said.

  7. blackjack

    Here’s my soundtrack.

    Cool story, thanks!

  8. DEG

    The best we could do is a controlled crash on Luna,

    Ouch. Not a good place to get standed.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      or stranded….. we’re going the long way,
      / next time…

      • DEG

        PROOFRAD!

    • Hyperion

      The Moon is a harsh mistress, you know.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Gravity Assist, FTW! wait and see..

  9. westernsloper

    Yusef. I noticed some poor lost soul is trying his hand at a disc golf store in this hole in the wall town I live next to. (lost soul as in most store fronts for odd hobbies last a couple months. Just ask the home brew store guy) It is on my list of things to do to go buy a starter bag of discs from the guy. I have doubts if he will make it as a business but I figure I would just as soon buy some discs from him as Amazon because he is giving a shot at a business.

    • Cy Esquire

      Wowa.. avatar throw back!

    • Hyperion

      Fuck off, Tulpa! Don’t say you’re not a Tulpa! That’s exactly what a Tulpa would say!

      Oh, and music before the new normal. Gotta love it.

      • Cy Esquire

        Well a hearty fuck off to you too. I’m getting another beer!

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        I didnt get the FY either, Sup Cy,

      • Cy Esquire

        High five man. Writing isn’t easy. Sci-fi is even harder. Kudos to you sir.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Thankee Sir, I am writing a bit ahead of posting, so I have no idea how the story ends, of how how long it will take, as long as ther is interest, I will write, until a Conclusion,

      • Hyperion

        I already have one, slacker!

      • straffinrun

        Cy is a Tulpa?

      • Cy Esquire

        I thought I was an FBI plant? … why not both?

      • Hyperion

        Tulpa Brennan, of course!

    • blackjack

      My first actual buy-tickets-hitchhike to Santa Barbara-concert was the Running On Empty tour. I am a fan.

      I don’t listen to him enough, these days.

      • zwak

        I saw Jane’s Addiction in SB back in the eighties.

        That was a fucked up show.

      • blackjack

        You cannot beat the Santa Barbara bowl for a venue! That year I saw Bonnie Raitt, the Allman bros and Santana there too.

      • zwak

        I loved seeing shows at the Ventura Theater if I was going to go south for a show. Saw some great bands there; Smithereens, Marys Danish, The Creatures.

      • Hyperion

        This is all I can think of when reminded of them, lol.

        Been Caught Stealin

      • pistoffnick

        “You are NOT an imposter.”

    • pistoffnick

      “I’ll get up and do it again…..Amen”

      Story of my life recently.

  10. Suthenboy

    Sadly I must go to bed. I have been up since 3am. A drunk old man isn’t built for these kinds of hours.
    As always Yusef I enjoyed the write up.
    just for fun one more:

    https://postimg.cc/VdnTqjsV

    Nineteen sixty…something. Does anyone else remember those? Bigwheels were really fun for kids.

    • Hyperion

      I was one years old, so I don’t remember.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Big Wheels! Yay!

    • pistoffnick

      I had a Big Wheel. My neighbor had a Green Machine.

      Green Machines were better.

      We road them around our small neighborhood just under the ramp from the bridge. The older kids would race their cars off the bridge to try and catch air. The danger was scintillating. /still alive!

      • Hyperion

        MY little brother had a Green Machine. That was in like 1972 though. He was such a little dick that I liked to sit on the front porch and hit him in the head with these little green apples when he rode his Green Machine by, lol.

      • DEG

        I remember Green Machines. My one set of grandparents had one at their house for when the grandkids visited. It was cool.

      • rhywun

        I had a Green Machine too. Loved that thing.

    • blackjack

      Yup, had one of them. I remember big wheels being those plastic trikes with the pedals. My brother and I raced them (the plastic trikes) downhill in SF and got bloodied all to hell. They would grind up on the flat side streets and eventually fall apart while riding way faster than intended. Good times.

      • blackjack

        This is a Big Wheel.

      • pistoffnick

        Yep. Mom made us put a flag on a pole on it so we could be seen better.

      • Playa Manhattan

        My brothers and I used to play crash derby in those. Wrapped the plastic wheels in duct tape so you couldn’t hear it coming.

    • The Gunslinger

      I don’t think we ever had a big wheel. Too poor. Definitely never had the green machine.

    • The Other Kevin

      I had one of those! It was perfect for me, as I couldn’t really pedal.

  11. Tundra

    …ever heard of Kings?

    I have!

    Nice story, Yusef! The sky’s the limit, brother!

    • Hyperion

      I heard about them shitlords.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      I would like to visit you this year, 300 440 miles? no biggie, I travel light years!

      • Tundra

        Yes! Maybe I’ll come out there and you can teach me the Zen golf!

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        I plan on Golfing from now til October, traveling the weekends, and finding new courses, I’ll be up your way, and show you the Zen,

  12. straffinrun

    Hi Fi Sci Fi from Y. Thanks.

    • Tundra

      Fuckin’ A.

      Hi Fi Sci Fi!

      Nice suggestion, straffin!

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        HELL YEAH!!!!!!

  13. Rothbardsbitch

    Oooh I love sci fi, especially space colonization stories! We need more tv shows centered on this premise.

    I got suspended from Reddit, because after I had a few drinks I read a thread about poor little Princess Meghan and said she looked white and her son looked even whiter. Then I said all this royal drama made me wish for an American royal family led by God Emperor Trump with Prince Barron as his successor. Ended it by saying it seems to me orange people are the ultimate minority anyways.
    So they suspended me for three days. No humor allowed on Reddit apparently.

    • DEG

      Reddit is for porn.

      • Rothbardsbitch

        Really because I’ve always had a difficult time finding a good porn sub they like to mix the dudes with the chicks and ban a lot of of subs.

    • Toxteth O'Grady

      Heh.

      I worry about the endotropia that he seems to share with his cousin Louise (Edward’s daughter).

      A commenter on the Fox site called her “Jussie Smollett in a dress”.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Que?

      • blackjack

        It sounds like a special BMX park where all the jumps make you land on the front wheel?

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        Meghan and son.

    • Chipping Pioneer

      I did not know that Meghan Markle was black until someone (Oprah, maybe?) pointed out to me that she was. Whatever.

      • rhywun

        And Americans are supposed to nod and smile along in sympathy with all the oppression she’s suffered.

        And I have to admit, I thought Oprah was above this sort of garbage. I guess I was wrong.

    • Hank

      There was a time when you could call the Royal Family racist. Ever hear of the *Royal* African Company? The Lipton Tea Company sold tea, the Royal African Company sold Africans. Maybe some people’s ancestors at Glibs came to what is now the U. S. through the Company’s auspices.

      But then the Brits did a 180 and decided that slavery should be suppressed, not just for the U. K. but for everyone else too. (then they switched again and played footsie with the Confederates, but that was only for four years).

      So now it’s cool again and the royals are nice and woke. Britons never shall be slaves, until slavery itself becomes woke under another name.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Sweet! I’m gonna fish this year, I’m surrounded by water,

      • Hyperion

        Yes, you are, too much great fishing in your area.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        And my Sunfish, and my Kayaks, and the neighbor who offered to tow me upriver as far as I want, oh yea, summer fun, here we come,

      • Chipping Pioneer

        Poll question: What are the best fish to go fishing for?

      • Tundra

        Smallmouth.

      • Tundra

        Wait, that’s retarded.

        Fun or food?

        Smallies are the funnest.

        Walleye are probably the tastiest and trout are a close second.

      • Chipping Pioneer

        You might be overthinking this.

      • Tundra

        Huh.

        That’s never happened before…

      • pistoffnick

        Salmon (smoked) are the pinnacle

        Catfish (fried) are divine.

        Suckers (pickled) are a close third.

        I had beer battered cod last night that reminded me of my early adulthood. It was good.

      • Chipping Pioneer

        Fishing and eating are different verbs.

      • pistoffnick

        Beer battered.

      • pistoffnick

        Beer battered cod.

        I used to prep for the weekly Friday night Fish Fry in my hometown.

      • Playa Manhattan

        I never eat fish. They live in water.

        That’s where fish shit and fuck.

      • pistoffnick

        200 lbs. of cod. I defrosted them and prepared the batter on Thursday night for the Friday night fish fry. I won’t say if I sampled the beer (I did, I was 16 or 17) when I made the batter.

        People came from miles around. It was that good and it was a good deal.

      • Tundra

        Would.

      • KSuellington

        Tuna. Pound for pound they fight harder than any fish.

      • Stillhunter

        The one that are biting.

    • Rothbardsbitch

      Always wanted to learn how to fish and hunt, no Dad to teach me though. Eventually, I want to learn, just kind of awkward for a grown man who has no idea what he is doing at least I feel that way.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Come on up, if you want, we have it all,

      • Rothbardsbitch

        Thank you!

      • Rothbardsbitch

        What state are you in?

      • Fourscore

        I’ve taught a few folks how to hunt/fish. Whenever you have the time we’ll do it. Even throw in a cabin for free.

      • Rothbardsbitch

        Wow that is very generous! Thank you! May I ask what state you in?

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        MI/MN, respectively. See forums.

      • Fourscore

        MN

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        I’m just ahead of you on the learning curve, having hunted 3 or 4 times total, and a few of those were dove hunts which shouldn’t count.

        It certainly does feel awkward being a grown man learning how to hunt, but I’m sucking it up this spring and will try to do spring turkey season.

      • dbleagle

        I didn’t start hunting turkey until I was 49, except for one hopeless hunt in 2001. They are dumb as a box of rocks but as wary as a cat in a rocking chair store. Turned out they are a fun hunt. The learning curve is not too steep. Remember they have great eyesight for movement and hearing, but no real sense of smell, and if you can get a Tom thinking of fight or f*ck you have a good chance of a shot.

      • rhywun

        if you can get a Tom thinking of fight or f*ck

        Does this involve acting out some sort of girl-turkey dance?

      • rhywun

        Well that’s no fun.

      • Don escaped Cancun

        great answer

      • blackjack

        “Gentlemen! Put your hands together for Brittany on the main stage. She’s trying to work her way through “avoiding Thanksgiving” school, o please tip her extra well.”

      • Rothbardsbitch

        Did you hire a guide or have a friend/family member show you how?

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        Mostly family/friends. My dad took me pheasant hunting once or twice as a teenager, but no dice. I went with a BIL the first time dove hunting and then went a couple times alone or with newbies.

        It’s mostly the unknown unknowns that make me hesitate. Unwritten rules on public land, how to track down the best location for each species, etc.

      • Cy Esquire

        WE never got to go this fall. I didn’t forget about you. This reel is one of a few I’ve gotten lately. Trying to get the full 6 to set up for gulf trolling this next fall. I’ve got the boat (that of course needs fixing) and trying to slowly put together the gear. Picking up a nice Penn Senator today after work for $50, quite the score.

    • juris imprudent

      50lb line? You’re going after something substantial.

      • Cy Esquire

        Tuna, Wahoo, Marlin… eventually. Going to start with some reef fishing first. Not going to make the big jump to 150miles until we’ve throoughly tested everything out. So, initially just Spanish mackerel, cudas and whatever is biting within 35 miles of the gulf shore.

    • Hyperion

      Nice! We’re getting ready to move this late spring to a place that has a lot of great fresh water fishing. I haven’t fished in so long, I miss it a lot. I have mostly lighter gear, several Shimano open face spinning reels. No baitcast reels like that, most guys I knew who had one of those were fishing for Largemouth Bass in heavy cover.

      I like river fishing a lot, especially Smallmouth Bass. But love pan fishing as well, crappy and all that.

      • Hyperion

        Really, my next move will be fishing in Brazil for Peacock Bass. My wife has a cousin who lives in Mato Grosso Do Norte and they fish for them all of the time. They’re like the on steroids version of a Smallmouth.

        Now I’m really getting hyped for some fishin.

      • Cy Esquire

        Those are some beautiful fish. It’s on my bucket list, not too high but it’s on there.

  14. Rothbardsbitch

    Also rewatching Marvel films after WandaVision and two things pop out. One is Scarlett Johanssen’s character is definitely the bravest, holy shit was that Hulk scene terrifying if you really think about it. Also Cap actually uses a gun in the film, he should have a gun at all times a big Desert Eagle since he can handle it to supplement his shield real missed opportunity there.

    Finally highly recommend The Ritual a British/Netflix horror film about one of Loki’s sons. Really cerebral, no real jump scares. Sort of like The Witch.

  15. juris imprudent

    So tonight was a culinary adventure – my first ever attempt at risotto. Flavor wasn’t bad, but I didn’t have the technique quite down as there were a few slightly crunchy bites. However the veal chop turned out superb, with a reduction from left over sauce when I made Tuscan-style ribs. That and a nice green salad.

    • Chipping Pioneer

      What were the flavours in your risotto? It takes longer than you think — a lesson in patience.

      • Chipping Pioneer

        Or: this is a four-beer meal prep.

  16. egould310

    The Sun? How are we supposed to clear it? It’s never been done”

    Rhymes. ?

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Ooh, yeah, hmm, a start for a new song? I have source material…
      /Thanks, for real,.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Shit Dude, an Opus, a song for every chapter, I’m nuts that way,

    • blackjack

      Well, I’m not the one in the sun.

      • blackjack

        Yes, There is actually more.

    • Chipping Pioneer

      I cannot clear it in a boat. I cannot clear it on a goat.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        But you would clear it if you could

      • blackjack

        That’s a little racist, you’re cancelled!

  17. Muzzled Woodchipper

    Wandavision is a show that highlights the perils of top-down government.

    • Cy Esquire

      I couldn’t get through the first episode.

  18. Chipping Pioneer

    Well done, Yusef! Reminds me of some of the weird science fiction that I read as a kid.

    A propos of nothing … has this site ever booted anyone off?

      • Muzzled Woodchipper

        Really?

        I always thought of John as a grumpy conservative, but one with his head on reasonably straight for the most part, and willing to debate honestly.

        But who knows?

      • hayeksplosives

        I thought John left in a huff of his own free will.

      • Raven Nation

        I believe John was banned as was, I think, Robert. Eddie left in a huff.

      • The Bearded Hobbit

        Or in a minute and a huff.

      • rhywun

        Who was Robert?

      • Raven Nation

        I think that was his name. His first post dissed SP, then there was some racist crap. He got Swiss’s head on a stake gif.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        Isn’t there an article about exactly this? I’m not sure which year’s archive it’s in, though.

      • egould310

        Robert was a carryover from TOS. I think he is a libertarian. He is a racialist. As far as I know, he never advocated for government force against anybody, or espoused white supremacy, or Nazism. Welcome to freedom, where you’re free to have personal beliefs that others may not agree with.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Libertymike? I think that was one. And the guy with issues in Idaho (not Spud!). Or maybe it was the same one.

    • straffinrun

      Free Society maybe.

    • Chafed

      Yes. FIS got the banhammer for racist posts.

      • Chafed

        FOS. Thanks autocorrect.

  19. rhywun

    Fun article about the brainwashing of America’s royal children and how their parents are terrified to speak out against it because, well, Ivy League.

    • Tundra

      Excellent. Thank you for the link.

      • rhywun

        It’s pretty depressing to think that these poor kids are our future.

        Whitney Houston is rolling in her grave.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        Why? They learned to love themselves, like way too much.

      • Tundra

        I’m not convinced. My kids and a LOT of their friends are true shitlords. Kids decorate their laptops – it’s a thing. One of my son’s buddies had a “Taxation Is Theft’ sticker on his.

      • Muzzled Woodchipper

        The best outcome of this bullshit will be those who refused to buy in and cause trouble.

      • Brochettaward

        Yea, but your kids and his friends are probably going to be members of the productive class. Solidly middle class, workers.

        The ones that article talks about are going to be part of the parasite class. The bureaucrats, politicians, judges, and journalists who get to rule over your kids and his friends.

        And your vote, for whatever it counted for before, no longer matters. They’ll just steal the elections if they have to.

      • Playa Manhattan

        I’m getting so tired of “Taxation is Theft”.

        It’s so fucking stupid.

        Taxation is robbery.

      • rhywun

        Interesting point.

      • Muzzled Woodchipper

        That’s quite the thin hair you’ve split.

        Bravo.

        And I agree by strict definition and pinpoint usage.

        But as a slogan, it sucks.

      • Tundra

        It’s both. So much of it is invisible to the victim, though.

        If it were understood as robbery, the sound of woodchippers would echo across the land.

        Theft.

      • Muzzled Woodchipper

        It’s because people associate taxes with “Muh ROADZ!” and not with the barrel of the gun enforcing them.

      • TARDis

        I like extortion, but it sucks as a slogan too.

    • straffinrun

      There is a beautiful side effect of that. Charles Murray writes about “super zip codes” forming among the elites and how that concentration of brain power and wealth can destroy social cohesion. Well, if they are gonna do the woke shit, those super zip codes are gonna devolve quickly. Regression to the mean FTW.

      • Hank

        As the article says, “Fluency in woke is an effective class marker and key for these princelings to retain status in university and beyond. The parents know this, and so woke is now the lingua franca of the nation’s best prep schools.”

        Elites can be taught really stupid things and still remain elites, so long as they aren’t taught to stick their tongues in electrical sockets or sell all they have and give to the poor.

        Think of all the students under Professor and later President Woodrow Wilson.

      • straffinrun

        Bad ideas will rot a brain. They won’t go down without a fight, but so what? There are always prices to pay for freedom.

      • Hank

        But sometimes it takes a great national defeat to expose the elites’ weaknesses.

        So everyone falls when the elites get their comeuppance.

      • straffinrun

        Sure. It’s possible that’s what it takes. I accept those terms rather than perpetuating the current path.

      • Hank

        I think that, unlike the defeat of certain countries in 1945, the defeat of the U. S. would *not* be followed by a better set-up for the defeated party. In fact I’m nationalistic enough to think the world as a whole would be the loser.

        But such a defeat for the U. S. could happen at the hands of another power which is less divorced from reality, but also less benevolent. *cough* China *cough*

      • straffinrun

        If the US is peddling race and grievance based bullshit, I feel no allegiance to it. Every decent person has a line where they would no longer support their country. I’d rather see the US fail than succeed in becoming what corporate wokeism is trying to turn it into.

      • hayeksplosives

        Staff, and that is part of why new immigrants and young Natural born citizens have a harder and harder time being a melting pot, a nation.

        If you are taught that your country is evil and racist and has brought nothing but strife to the world, why would you be proud of it? Why defend it verbally, let alone with your life?

      • rhywun

        It’s why we have “leaders” in Congress who actively and proudly hate the US.

        It’s a bit mind-boggling.

      • Hank

        Or for the atheists and other non-Presbyterians among you, think of Princeton back at an even earlier time when it was supposedly a big Presbyterian center.

      • zwak

        I would say that all of these schools, the Ivy League and the seven sisters, are already regressing to the mean. They are returning to being finishing schools. They only really offer social mores for the upper class at this point.

      • Muzzled Woodchipper

        The biggest advantage they offer is their name on your diploma. It means you were taught The Right Things By The Right People. It’s a wink to remind whoever is reading your CV that you’re elite.

        They no longer have the advantage of being academically elite. 100 years ago you couldn’t find top scientists and engineers at your average state school.

        With the proliferation of education (a net good) the state and smaller schools started to be able to attract talent, and once the level of highly educated people hit a critical mass the elite schools had to find another way to remain elite because getting a solid education can be had at a whole lot of places these days, without the astronomical cost of the Ivy League.

        Woke-ism is their path.

        Although while buried in the weeds of utter stupidity, I’m generally a humanist. We will find a way out of this shit. You can’t unring The Enlightenment, no matter how hard they try.

      • hayeksplosives

        Bring woke means never having to say you’re sorry.

        But more importantly,

        Being woke means never having to prove you’re competent.

      • Tejicano

        It seems to me that being properly “woke” is not just never having to say you’re sorry, it negates the possibility that you could be guilty.

        And accepting “wokeness” is more important than any thing or thought you could produce. It is its own intrinsic truth.

      • rhywun

        Unfortunately all this shit filters down to the masses; already is, in fact. My company – in a pretty unwoke field, mind you – is making its first forays into this crap. I heard that “affinity groups” are coming.

        I am 100% convinced that all of this is a deliberate attempt to destroy us. Whether from China or Russia or just inspired by their ilk – who one might notice that they don’t subscribe to any of this crap – doesn’t matter.

      • Muzzled Woodchipper

        It’s an all out attack on American identity.

        Those things that we used to teach us as kids? Cancelled.

        We’re now being taught that a very myopic strain of diversity rules uber alle, but what they really mean is white people dating back to the founding are bad, and they’re being overt about it.

        Honestly, I can’t imagine how this doesn’t die sooner rather than later, but it will go to the furthest extreme before it will start to pull back. I’m not sure we’re quite there yet, but the pendulum will swing again.

      • Chafed

        Affinity groups = KKK and Black Panthers. Maybe some tongs too. Good times.

    • Muzzled Woodchipper

      This is a great link, and absolutely describes some of my thoughts on my kid’s private school.

      They’ve gone to teaching anti-racism, and although my kid sees through the bullshit, many don’t, and they’re being force fed a heaping pile of shit.

      I’ve thought about mentioning it, but I’m not exactly sure how. Many of the parents in my older kid’s grade are all for it, because they lack even a basic understanding that “anti-racism” is nothing more than anti-white.

      I suppose I need to actively seek out like-minded parents, but doing that covertly ain’t easy in a small community.

    • grrizzly

      Americans are pussies. Fuck them. Every single one of them. And the more education and money they have the more I have contempt for them.

  20. Yusef drives a Kia

    Good Night Kids, see you in the Mornin, ’bout 5 hours from now,
    Cheers, and thanks for readin,

    • egould310

      Good night, my prince.

    • hayeksplosives

      Good night, driver of Kia.

    • TARDis

      thanks for readin

      Thanks for writin’

      I missed the first part, but search works.

      Not much into Sci-F writing these days, but as someone else said, colonization is interesting.

  21. CPRM

    Got around 60 F today. drove into the big city of Green Bay, bought some comics, hugged some kids (not in that way, pervs!) Now relaxing with some beers.

    On my playlist as of late, since it is march.

  22. Muzzled Woodchipper

    Don’t worry guys. Democrats know what’s best for everyone despite their own preferences:

    There has been some pushback to this provision from businesses — and independent contractors themselves, who are afraid it could restrict their ability to continue to freelance. But House Democrats argue the bill would not restrict an independent contractors’ flexibility.

    Workers: But we don’t want that.

    Democrats: Sure you do. You’re gonna love it. The union bosses said so.

    https://www.vox.com/22319838/house-passes-pro-act-unions

    • CPRM

      Just like that California law made to stop Uber, but was so broad it made bar bands pretty much illegal. Our betters ladies and gentlemen.

      • Muzzled Woodchipper

        And then was shitcanned by voters because even dumbass Californians knew it was bullshit.

      • hayeksplosives

        And even the campaign to shit can it had to be built on emotional appeals in ads.

        Everything is fucking emotion these days.

        Nut up, America.

      • Chafed

        *Thunderous applause*

      • Muzzled Woodchipper

        “Daniele Sanchez, latinx, transgender Uber driver lost the job flexibility xe needs to help pay for xer M>F transition.”

      • hayeksplosives

        I didn’t know you did freelance commercial script writing!

    • rhywun

      Good grief do they ever take a day off?! Every day it’s some new horror from Nancy. JFC.

      • Chafed

        The Terminator’s metal head is modeled on Nancy’s smile.

      • slumbrew

        That’s the most amazing thing I’ve seen today.

        Also:

        “Samuel L. Jackson is credited as Candy’s voice”

        Holy shit.

      • Muzzled Woodchipper

        It’s not that they’re tirelessly working to come up with this stuff.

        It’s been waiting in the wings. I’m sure the Democrats have been shitting out bills at a furious pace these last 4 years, never meant to see the light of day until they had A Mandate™️.

    • Toxteth O'Grady

      Janus v. AFSCME, hulloooo?

  23. Timeloose

    I made some excellent Swiss steak tonight on the grill. It was one of the most tender and flavorful steaks I’ve ever made. I picked up a pack to make chicken fried steak, but it was too nice out this evening.

    It took a lot of prep to make it tender but wow. I needle tenderized it very aggressively, marinaded it in soy, chili sauce, oil and one juiced lemon. Grilled it quick to about 145 DEG.

    It’s a cheap cut compared to my usual preference, but beef prices have been ridiculous lately.

    • Muzzled Woodchipper

      I totally heard that in your voice.

      Kudos on the good dinner.

      We had dry rub pork chops with rice and Brazilian beans.

    • hayeksplosives

      Ooh, I’m in the mood. Thanks—Off to watch…

    • CPRM

      I saw a jewelry commercial the other day, the actress was a plus size model (slim by sconnie standards), but the actor was a chiseled male model. Why does body positivity only work one way? When will my hero Chris Farley be seen as the male pin-up he deserves to be? There outta be a law…

      • Gustave Lytton

        The period October 1997 to February 1998 doesn’t exist for me. Chris will live forever.

        That his cousin is the CEO of Ford proves we’re in a simulation.

      • CPRM

        plus or minus 1 2gether ft Kevin Farley?

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Good stuff! thanks

    • CPRM

      Hey, all of Bushes bad policies were immovable objects for all 8 years of Obama, fixing literally Hitler’s policies will take even longer. I feel safe saying anything a democrat president ever does wrong from here on out can be blamed on Orange Man Bad.

  24. Yusef drives a Kia

    Hey there Glibs, I don’t sleep, I just put myself on the charger for a few hours,
    Carpe Carpio!

  25. Yusef drives a Kia

    Carlson keeps talking about what the rich “owe Society” then JD Vance repeated it, that’s when Tucker lost me,
    I owe no society anything, sounds Commie to me,
    /see above link, I owe you nothing…..

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Steyn however is awesome, who knew?

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        Steyn’s great and funny too, sarcastically vicious in a way that I can appreciate. Carlson’s a populist who’s good on war and from that bunch I’ll take what I can get.

      • Gender Traitor

        If Steyn took over Limbaugh’s time slot, I might just find a way to tune in regularly.

      • TARDis

        #metoo.

        Mornin’, Red.

      • Gender Traitor

        Mornin’, TARDy!

  26. Yusef drives a Kia

    A 60 day stand down? they are purging the Military, Fuck,
    /Powder, dry goods, canned

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Cool, I grew up right next to the Mountains in the background, I miss my Mountains more than the ocean,

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      It’s bad enough when people use a turd as a pen in a public restroom, much less in a common area. From the looks of the guy he probably needs a heavy dose of Risperdal and quick too.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Like a rabid dog, some people need to be put down,

    • Chipwooder

      Dando? He must have taken the decline of the Lemonheads really hard.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Poor Evan….
        Great minds, dammit!

  27. Sean

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-09/hackers-expose-tesla-jails-in-breach-of-150-000-security-cams

    Companies whose footage was exposed include carmaker Tesla Inc. and software provider Cloudflare Inc. In addition, hackers were able to view video from inside women’s health clinics, psychiatric hospitals and the offices of Verkada itself. Some of the cameras, including in hospitals, use facial-recognition technology to identify and categorize people captured on the footage. The hackers say they also have access to the full video archive of all Verkada customers.

    • Hank

      And it seems the media know about this because the hackers bragged about it, which I’m guessing not all hackers do.

      • rhywun

        A lot of “hackers” provide a useful service in pointing out security flaws. That’s one reason to brag about it.