No Laughing Matter

by | Dec 18, 2021 | Beer, First Amendment, Food & Drink, Media | 122 comments

To think I was having trouble choosing between making fun of another “rednecks in the mist” article as interpreted by neocons or the return of sailing ships.  Turns out I forgot New Zealand was still a thing.

This is my review of Almanac Brewing Hypernova Volume V:

Seriously, the Kiwis gone done lost their minds.

While I’m training myself not to click on Facebook’s comments section – and that addictive rush of outrage of reading the horrendous views of strangers – the haha emoji is unavoidable. It takes just one person to click that avatar of vitriol and the post and my newsfeed is tainted forever. Even on stories where the comments are turned off, you’ll still find that little androgynous face of scorn.

My experience of social media is now like being followed everywhere by Nelson Muntz from The Simpsons – like every earnest view I hold is a source of belittlement for the world.

In a way it has become the emoji of the moment. The emoji of Brexit, Donald Trump and the anti-vaxxers. A weapon of the trolls in the time of the culture wars.

So how did the emoji of joy become the emoji of hate?

Nobody hates you, they’re just laughing at you. As people like me, have laughed at people like you since the beginning of time.  Its not hatred.

As people were given more ways to express their views on Facebook, it soon became clear that, as journalist Daniel Walters wrote, the haha emoji is “an A-hole”. Walters said, rather than laughter, the emoji had been “pressed into service for a more sinister purpose: Derisive mockery of sincere statements”.

“Make no mistake, Facebook’s laughing face emoji is laughing at you, and it’s doing so in a way far more infuriating than simply a written-out ‘ha ha’ or ‘lol’.”

The sneering contempt of Grinning Squinty was used to belittle millions around the world. A journalist writing on Medium said the emoji had even been used to discredit victims of sexual abuse in India and the #MeToo movement.

C’mon now, #metoo made a mockery of itself.

Elevating Grinning Squinty to the status of Facebook reaction has also given the “A-hole” emoji outsized power. The reactions at the bottom of the post are not weighted to represent the number of people who click on a certain reaction. A single click on Grinning Squinty and it’s anchored to a post and an ocean of hearts and likes can’t wash it away. In a global pandemic, when social media feels more toxic and divisive than ever, this has made Facebook feel even more like the home of sneering bullies.

Okay I stopped there.  If I can’t finish an article, I can’t in good conscience request you do the same.  Just imagine being so emotionally fragile an androgynous yellow face laughing at your self-imposed psychological maladies forces you to seek further therapy.

 

So this beer…this is something else.  Almanac made a lactose-laced sour ale aged in oak barrels.  Flavored with plums, nectarines, vanilla and pluots.  I know what you’re thinking, “a pluot?”  Yes, a pluot.  This is the fruit from a plum tree cross pollinated with an apricot tree. Everything about this beer is what happens when man decides to pretend he is God.  While the oak gives it a pleasant finish, it is a concoction so sour I was literally in tears.  Mostly because I spent $7 for this one can, and its really damn sour.  Some of you will like it. Almanac Brewing Hypernova Volume V: 2.1/5.

About The Author

mexican sharpshooter

mexican sharpshooter

WARNING: Glibertarians.com contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. https://youtu.be/qiAyX9q4GIQ?t=2m22s

122 Comments

  1. Yusef drives a Kia

    Let it warm up a bit if it’s that sour, You do know how to sour Messy,
    Emojis as hate? Whatever keeps toy up at night.

    • Brochettaward

      21 minutes later, no replies. That’s because this is the worst attempt at a First in the history of the site.

      • mexican sharpshooter

        I’m sorry you #2.?

    • mexican sharpshooter

      I just don’t like sours. I don’t think warming it will improve that.

      • LCDR_Fish

        Had some amazing sours and goses (do they count as the same thing). All depends on the brewer.

      • RBS

        Edmund’s Oast in Charleston, SC brews some excellent sours.

      • l0b0t

        All of the component ingredients sound delicious. If there were a sweet version I would drink a great deal of it. I’m just not fond of sour things.

  2. Mojeaux

    Image FTA:

    15 people were seen floating motionlessly…

    Yeah, that wake behind the boat is totally motionless.

  3. Drake

    That beer… It makes no sense. How about you just make a nice brown ale and serve the fruit separately?

  4. westernsloper

    return of sailing ships

    #axshully a proper sail sucks rather than pulls like a kite.

    • Spudalicious

      Unless you’re running downwind!

      • westernsloper

        Whatever. That’s not THE POINT!

      • Plinker762

        No love for the broad reach?

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        That’s just tacky, quit with the Jibe!

      • dbleagle

        Just luff it alone or Swiss not be abeam-ing at us.

      • juris imprudent

        Seems you can sail through the narrows, so I wouldn’t worry about Swiss and the gays.

  5. Fourscore

    Biden’s behavior around kids is repulsive. I hope the White House Easter Egg Hunt is cancelled for his tenure.

    • mexican sharpshooter

      ?

    • Lackadaisical

      Didn’t know HM’s nickname was Silicone Saturday.

  6. westernsloper

    Flavored with plums, nectarines, vanilla and pluots.

    JFC. Thanks for taking one for the team.

    • westernsloper

      ?

    • mexican sharpshooter

      ??

    • rhywun

      To be fair, people are catching it at home – not the office or the supermarket.

      I mean if they think any of that stuff is going to help… knock yourself out and leave me alone.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      That’s the crypt keeper, not a doctor.

    • R C Dean

      He’s awfully old to be a resident. Couldn’t they find a real doctor?

  7. LCDR_Fish

    Back at Gourmeltz. Starting with wings – overpriced (due to Brandon) or otherwise. Miss the good ones.

    • mexican sharpshooter

      ?

    • Lackadaisical

      Wings have been overpriced for years, but I’m sure Biden hasn’t helped.

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        What about popes’ noses?

      • LCDR_Fish

        Well the ones there see consistently at least double the size of the ones a lot of delivery places use.

  8. westernsloper

    I don’t know what I think about that. Youtube tells me this is “my mix”.

    • westernsloper

      ^this was supposed to be an re to 4×20

  9. rhywun

    only for Bulwark+ members

    Oh noes! ☹️

  10. rhywun

    The emoji of Brexit, Donald Trump and the anti-vaxxers.

    OFFS.

    #moveon already!

    • mexican sharpshooter

      ?

  11. rhywun

    sneering contempt

    That’s rich.

  12. Gustave Lytton

    https://katu.com/news/coronavirus/governor-kate-brown-repeatedly-dodges-katus-covid-19-questions

    Speaking ha ha. Poor journalists getting ignored. Welcome to the party, pal. Shame and personal honor are dead among the political elite. There are no repercussions for hypocrisy. The only thing that would restore the mantra of Caesar’s wife is to start adorning lampposts with those hypocrites. But they’ve surrounded themselves with the law and armed security to prevent that from happening or even being slightly annoyed.

    • R C Dean

      “they’ve surrounded themselves with the law and armed security“

      Bring extra mags.

  13. Raven Nation

    Well, whatever magic Bielsa had working for Leeds seems to have disappeared.

    • rhywun

      Not watching, but I liked Arsenal better when they were sucking.

    • Ted S.

      There was actually a game played in England today? I thought every last person had the coronavirus.

      • whiz

        Arsenal-Leeds was the only EPL game played. About half the Championship and League One games were played.

      • Raven Nation

        There was a game in Scotland that was abandoned half-way through the second half because of fog. After the abandonment, one of the mangers was fired.

  14. Lackadaisical

    Did a little shopping around town- no mask, still got service, and I wasn’t the only one (there was one other guy).

    • Gender Traitor

      Went to a winter “farmers’ market” (ackshually mostly crafts) just over the IN state line to hear some musician friends play, had a hell of a time finding the place, another hell of a time finding a place to park, and finally was greeted with a “Masks Required” sign. WTF, Richmond???

      • Animal

        Still no masks up here in the valley. Went to Wasilla yesterday for groceries, saw maybe two masks, both on elderly people.

        Glibtopia North, folks. Glibtopia North.

      • westernsloper

        Western CO is same as far as masking goes. You left the state because you lived on the wrong side. Full sun and vit D absorption opportunity today. How is your cloud cover there in Glibtopia North?

      • Animal

        You have a different state legislature and Governor over on the Western Slope? Anyway, we didn’t leave Colorado primarily for political reasons, but for personal ones – we just like it here better.

        Cloudy and snowing here today, but if I’d wanted sunny and warm all the time, I’d live in Miami.

        Still Glibtopia North.

      • westernsloper

        To each their own. No, we do not have a different Gov or leg. We just ignore the ones we have. It is called noncompliance.

      • dbleagle

        Otherwise known as “Irish democracy” as well.

      • westernsloper

        If I had known and planned accordingly, I would live where you live dbl. That is a nice place. Alas, I didn’t.

      • westernsloper

        No Tox it doesn’t. I lapsed into before times thinking so forgive me.

      • Fourscore

        Ask about the mask recycling bin. Pick one out going in and leave it for the next mask less person on your way out.

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        Is that like free umbrella rentals? 😉

    • Gustave Lytton

      Why stop there? Let’s debate whether suicide booths can be mandated.

      • Lackadaisical

        I think that is McArdle’s position effectively (as in, no, you cannot mandate things that may harm people).

  15. l0b0t

    I just returned from two area supermarkets (Stop & Shop, Key Foods) and a pharmacy (CVS). S&S had a giant sign out front making sure everyone knew that masks were required for entry. i was one of three unmasked person in the building (all of us, old white guys) but no one said a word about it. Key Foods had a giant new sign as well but masking was at about 30%. A crew from the firehouse was there doing their start-of-shift big shop; none of them were masked. CVS had almost 100% compliance, but, again, nobody said a word to me about donning a muzzle.

    • westernsloper

      Very few people here are brainwashed into thinking masks do anything. There are a few but I assume they either have a masters degree or are transplants,

    • R C Dean

      Yeah, I quit complying with signs months ago. I haven’t worn a mask unless I’m paid to except for one airline trip since early this year.

  16. l0b0t

    [Squeals with delight] Release date for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands has been announced, March 2022 – https://youtu.be/uJkaaTXmBEQ

  17. Ted S.

    So this beer…this is something else.

    What else is it?

    • Fourscore

      Paper weight?

      • Tres Cool

        A dessert topping? A floor wax ?

      • mexican sharpshooter

        Its a frogurt..

  18. Ownbestenemy

    Waiting here for flat fix and tire rotation. Picked up $100.00 in spices. Snack food for the business and ate at Windy City Beefs. Chicago dog and fries. It’s a nice day out but this is why I don’t leave the house…it’s expensive out there.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      I got my Kia stuck in park last night, this morning I did some google Fu and fixed the shifter button, I was worried for a bit, but she runs great again!

      • Fourscore

        Good, Yusef. Not like the old days when you could drive down to the shop in 1st gear, if necessary. At least the clutch didn’t freeze

  19. R C Dean

    I’m putting together an early exit proposal for my bosses. I’m just about done with the corporate environment, what with the diversity crap, the. ‘Vid hysteria, and babysitting emotionally fragile “professionals”.

    Better to cut a deal while I can. Before I say or do something irretrievable.

    • Tres Cool

      I thought it was better to be fired than resign ?

      • Brochettaward

        I refuse to leave or stop going to any place before I’m banned, fired, trespassed or locked out.

      • westernsloper

        +1dirty dick the bosses coffee cup.

      • westernsloper

        Good to see the vid didn’t end you.

      • hayeksplosives

        It depends. On one hand, if you are involuntarily terminated, you qualify for some unemployment assistance while you job hunt. But many potential employers ask the question, in writing “Have you ever been involuntarily terminated? If so, explain the circumstances.” Not necessary a show stopper, but you have to come up with a good way to answer.

        Most places will ask why you left your previous employers anyway. You just need to phrase your answer well and it’s no biggie.

      • RBS

        Getting fired as an attorney is…less than ideal.

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        RBS! Howza Carolines? (I forget which is yours.)

      • RBS

        South. It’s basically fourth summer here right now.

      • ElspethFlashman

        Hope I die before I get old….

  20. Fourscore

    My granddaughter in a small village in Alaska emailed that a lot of her fellow teachers are not renewing their contracts, some are first year but others are longer veterans. The replacement pool is apparently smaller as well, if the rumor mill is working properly. She and her husband are undecided until Jan, when they have to sign their new contracts. Looks like they will stay another year though, they have projects that they want to see more progress on.

    Covid is a helluva of non-disease with so many unexpected side affects.

    • westernsloper

      I think the side affects were fully expected by those who planned this. *taps tinfoil hat*

  21. Sensei

    Never change BMW. Never change class action ambulance chasers!

    BMW Facing $5-Million Lawsuit For Design Flaw Involving Cupholders

    In an absolutely classic BMW move, it would appear that BMW put the SRS module (aka airbag control and the like controller) underneath the cupholder. Who could have conceived that something in the cupholder could leak or spill and short out a module underneath it with little or no protection against water infiltration.

    • juris imprudent

      No German would interrupt his ultimate driving experience with disgusting American popular drinks? And I don’t imagine Germans drive around with open containers of beer.

      • Sensei

        That certainly used to be the case. Mind you having multiple ashtrays and smoking while driving wasn’t a distraction…

    • Ted S.

      Spoiler, but that’s actually a plot point in the Glenn Ford movie Fate is the Hunter.

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        New TCM Remembers as of today. I wonder if they roll over deaths in weeks 51-52 into the next year’s. Also noted that they still say “actress / comedienne”.

      • Ted S.

        It depends on how important the person who dies is. When Peter O’Toole and Joan Fontaine died near the end of the year several years back, the piece was re-edited.

        And they finished it up pretty recently to include Lina Wertmüller, Michael Nesmith, and Cara Williams

    • Toxteth O'Grady

      Great cars before they inflicted iDrive, and eliminated blinkers.

      • Sensei

        Loved them until they computerized the cars.

        Believe it or not, they actually do have blinkers.

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        On a blinker-fluid subscription plan, maybe.

        I miss the E30…

      • Sensei

        I had an E30 and E36.

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        Aw, gettin’ verklempt… I think we would still have the E30 at least for Sundays if it hadn’t overheated. (Melted the computer? I wasn’t there…)

  22. UnCivilServant

    Just got back from Winter Steel. Managed sub 4 second times consistantly. (That’s not bad.)

    Didn’t mange to give away all of my brownies because people left before the work was done and I only started giving them away when everything was wrapping up.

  23. rhywun

    Looking at the TV schedule…

    “Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl”

    AYFKM?

    • juris imprudent

      Sounds more like a bong than a bowl.

  24. juris imprudent

    Bureaucrats SCIENCE!

    It’s enough to make you suspect that the real objective of Fauci and friends was expansion of government authority rather than protection against disease.

  25. kinnath

    The Press Finally Publishes the Obvious

    Breakthrough COVID-19 cases—that is, infections in people who have been vaccinated—”greatly enhance immune response to variants of the virus,” a new study has found.

    The study, conducted by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University, found that a breakthrough infection “generates a robust immune response against the delta variant,” according to a summary of the findings. Researchers also believe that the immune responses from breakthrough infections caused by other variants, such as Omicron, will be similar.

    The study discovered that antibodies in blood samples of those who experienced breakthrough cases were as much as 1,000 percent more effective than those generated two weeks after the second dose of a Pfizer vaccine.

    • kinnath

      “These vaccines are very effective against severe disease. Our study suggests that individuals who are vaccinated and then exposed to a breakthrough infection have super immunity,” Tafesse added in a statement.

      The findings could show “an eventual end game” for the pandemic, added Marcel Curlin, a co-author of the study and associate professor of infectious diseases at the school. “It doesn’t mean we’re at the end of the pandemic, but it points to where we’re likely to land: Once you’re vaccinated and then exposed to the virus, you’re probably going to be reasonably well-protected from future variants.”

      • rhywun

        super immunity

        Science-tastic!

    • rhywun

      The Press Finally Publishes the Obvious

      Now do “zOMGicron doesn’t seem to be killing anybody so whyTF is everywhere locking down again?”

  26. Brochettaward

    ESPN story on Ohio labeling a high school as fraudulent. Apparently, it is being described as some sort of scheme for athletes to play high school sports (which they appear to have not been very good at, either). This happened because apparently there is a class of schools in Ohio that are non-chartered and non-tax supported so they don’t fall under the supervision of the Ohio Department of Education. Can anyone guess what the Ohio Department of Education recommends going forward?

    It identified itself to the ODE as a “non-chartered, non-tax-supported school,” a category that is largely outside of the department’s oversight and that allows for bypassing certain typical systems of operation because of “truly held religious beliefs.” But the department said it couldn’t determine whether Bishop Sycamore had such beliefs.

    The ODE concluded Bishop Sycamore wasn’t a school but “a way for students to play football against high school teams and potentially increase students’ prospects of playing football at the collegiate level.”

    “The cost of this dream for those students wasn’t just the tuition charged to attend the school,” the department said in its report. “The price was the education the students were entitled to receive.”

    The department noted that such schools aren’t under its oversight and don’t require its approval and that it doesn’t have power under state law to sanction Bishop Sycamore.

    The ODE’s recommended changes included amending state law to authorize the department to monitor whether the hundreds of schools listing themselves as non-chartered, non-tax-supported schools are meeting the more relaxed minimum standards for that category and to require corrective action if needed.

    https://www.espn.com/high-school/football/story/_/id/32894888/hs-program-featured-espn-investigated-deemed-scam-ohio-board-education

    • Ted S.

      ESPN story on Ohio labeling a high school as fraudulent.

      “High school” is no way to describe tOSU.

  27. Brochettaward

    The Dangerous Rise Of Men Who Won’t Date ‘Woke’ Women

    In fact, as I was writing this, a dear friend sent me a screenshot of a guy she’s just matched with who describes Jordan B Peterson as his “dream dinner guest”. Yes, the same Jordan B Peterson who thinks that white privilege is a “Marxist lie” and wants millennials to drop their obsession with “social justice”.

    I, meanwhile, recently had to block someone who after matching with me launched into a vile rant about how women are “evil”, “only want sex” and treat men as though they are “disposable”. When I asked him if he hated women he replied that he had “only moderate disdain” for us before asking me whether I didn’t want to date him because I’m actually “pretty rough”.

    • rhywun

      I love when one of you adds a headline and it looks like satire but it’s the actual headline.

      ??

  28. Toxteth O'Grady

    I’m not sure what Dr. JP is on about lately. More emotional than Jack Paar (rather endearing). Nice hands.

    • westernsloper

      My hands are pissing me off. No matter the amount of lotion applied I get first knuckle bleeding cracks. Never had these when I lived in FL!

      • MikeS

        Doesn’t prevent them, but I’ve found New Skin very helpful in healing those cracks.

      • Sean

        O’Keefes.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Soft strong gloves, I’m tired of beating my hands to death.

      • Tres Cool

        Derma-bond (aka Super glue)