Friday, December 5, 2025

Science Fiction Gummies


First we take the nectar from the Cosmic Tree of Sleep, Then send the unused water to a pharmacy in Phreep.


While Connie mixed the flavoring from rock and rye and rust

The Bezos Triplets pounded seven tentacles to dust.


Sharp-eyed onlookers may notice funny forms have been prepared

Into which we’ll pour the lethal essence cubed and squared.


Some on the Board demurred at the use of the literal “lethal” word.

“Think of the marketing,” they protested, like a single giant bird.


Free weed stickers in every bag of Juno and Jupiter’s Gummies

Will overcome any doubts about any damage to your tummies.


Each bag is emblazoned with cartoon depictions of Juno and Jupiter laughing.

If your order is not sent on time, blame it on our under-staffing.


Volunteers recruited to try all the seven flavors

Wound up in the hospital, changed into crazy cravers.


“I feel more aware of my feet than before,” wrote one volunteer on his survey,

Though that could be due to the shoes that he wore, unlaced and cheap, by the way.


Sponsorship of the Red Solar Spy Show brought further renown to the brand

Juno and Jupiter’s Jazzmetal Juggernaut toured as its certified band.


All was fun and games and everyone was getting zoned

Until the day arrived the Galactic Emperor was enthroned.


“Juno, Jupiter, welcome aboard,” boomed Teitel Max the First.

“I will make a deal with you to slake your stoner thirst.”


“You will endorse my reign of fear and greed and broken treaties

And I will allow you to continue to sell your medicated sweeties.”


The cosmic comedy duo exchanged a glance in some alarm.

In all their years of getting high, they’d never yet come to harm.


Juno was the first to speak: “Yo, man, we’ll have to, like, talk to our

attorneys.  We don’t actually own the company.”

Jupiter added, “Yeah, it’s just a licensing deal, you dig?  We can’t 

keep track, we’ve got so many.”


The emperor, unhappy with this show of great reluctance,

Ordered our two heroes to think about it in his dungeons.


“We’ve been in some tight spots before,” said Juno, “But this one is the worst.”

“Be cool,” his friend and partner replied, “It’s not like we are cursed.”


In the gloom and squalor of their cell, Jupiter reached into his jacket pocket

And pulled out an ancient reticule, though some might call it a locket.


“Here,” he told Juno and handed it over, twisting the knob on the top.

Inside were Special Edition Gummies, loaded with double the POP.


Each took a gummy and each took a bite and each took his life on his tongue.

Resistance to tyranny is never so easy or fun as it is when you’re young.


And so we leave our friends as their trip can’t get much stupider.

If you’d like to be a freedom fighter too, then try some of Juno and Jupiter’s!


Thursday, November 27, 2025

Social Unease

 I'll give you an interesting insight into the way my brain works: my big guitar amp has been out of action for over a year.  I finally decided to get it fixed. Found this local guy who does that kind of work.  Go over to his place and drop the amp off.  I get a sort of kindred vibe from him so I start talking.  Without intending to, I tell him about my painting, and my drawing, and my YouTube channel, and then sort of jerk myself up short and say, OK, well, I'll get out of your hair, and left.  I'm driving home a nervous wreck.  I'm having this Want To Break Myself In Pieces reaction.  Any time I have any sort of semi-extended interaction with someone I don't know very well, I'm in a state for an hour or so afterwards.  Did I talk too much?  Did I say something I shouldn't have?  Did I reveal too much about myself?  Did I irritate him?  Did I impose on him?  He wanted me to send him a link to my YouTube channel, so when I got home I did, adding, "Thanks for indulging me."  This happens ALL THE TIME.

Friday, November 14, 2025

My prediction about AI, etc.

The great lesson of the 20th Century was that 'anyone can do it.' It was about the rise of the non-academic.

The great lesson of the 21st Century will be that 'you don’t need anyone at all to do it.' It will be about the rise of the non-person.


Saturday, October 25, 2025

Christian Men of Property

This is from an American history book, "The American Past," by Roger Butterfield, published in 1947.  I want to point out that the conservatives and the Republicans and the fundamentalist Christians of today continually claim that in the "good old days," American history was taught correctly, but TODAY'S history books are nothing but revisionist lies that preach that the Robber Barons were evil, exploitative villains, when actually they were the titanic visionaries who built this country and moved humanity forward into a bright tomorrow.  But here we have an example of a mainstream history book from the glorious days of our sainted grandfathers, taking the side of the labor organizers and casting the anti-union business owners as the bad guys.  I also like the fact that the author makes it clear that, even back then, those Divinely Ordained Captains of Industry were claiming the mantle of "Christian" in order to justify their utter indifference to the living and working conditions of their employees, thereby making the labor organizers anti-Christian and their striking employees a bunch of ungrateful sinners and "criminals."