A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (September 14, 2025)

Hello Dystopian America!

Here’s the NEWS!

Brian Kilmeade makes a statement on “Fox & Friends” that mentally ill homeless who refuse to get off the streets and/or help or treatment should be euthanized by lethal injection. Nazi Germany under the leadership of Adolph Hitler proceeded to exterminate 250,000 mentally ill/disabled people.

His words: “Or involuntary lethal injection or something — just kill ’em.”

After walking back his statement, he doesn’t get punished by Fox News.

Matthew Dowd, a political analyst for MSNBC made this statement about Charlie Kirk while talking with MSNBC anchor Katy Tur:

“Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”

BOOM! Immediate termination by the higher-ups at MSNBC. And this is happening while Comcast is preparing to spin off MSNBC as a separate network, and controversy and antagonizing the government would make that impossible.

Gee, sounds like shades of Stephen Colbert getting shitcanned right before the Paramount/CBS-Skydance Media merger, which was pretty much orchestrated by Donald Trump because he controls the FCC, ergo the broadcast licenses of the CBS O&O (owned and operated) television stations.

(And if you have been watching Colbert, you have seen him just push everything to the limit on his show, because they cancelled him and they can’t do a goddamn thing about what he puts on short of pulling the plug and having Colbert sit out the rest of his contract.)

Is the mainstream media running scared? You’re goddamn right they are. And this is the first step in the slide to an authoritarian regime, control the media to control the narrative. Then they can feed the public any kind of bullshit that that they can dream up in their twisted little minds.

(I wrote a blog post in August 2021 about a weird fucking dream I had that sort of touched on the dystopian nightmare that we have now.)

https://deanbasler.com/2021/08/14/a-curmudgeons-viewpoint-august-14-2021/

Trump is sickly, mentally ill, and delusional. All this bullshit that he does such as paving over the Rose Garden to make it look like his shithole “resort” in Florida, building a new ballroom at the White House, because “the American people want it.” NO WE FUCKING DON’T!

What do Americans in general want? Affordable groceries. Affordable housing. Health care without restrictions. Being able to worship in their own way. Being able to love someone openly regardless of gender.

What have we gotten?

An attorney general (Pam Bondi) who just parrots whatever rises to to the surface of Trump’s adderal-fueled pea brain.

A communications director (Steven Cheung) who looks like the rotting corpse of the Pillsbury Doughboy who also parrots whatever rises to to the surface of Trump’s adderal-fueled pea brain.

A deputy chief of staff (Stephen Miller) who at the base is a self-hating Jew and chief architect of the Trump administration (Joseph Goebbels reincarnated?)

A FBI director who has no fucking clue how to run the FBI (Kash Patel) and can’t provide a straight answer when he is grilled by Congress. Not to mention his deputy (Dan Bongino, who does have law enforcement experience) who was more concerned with being a media personality than a law enforcement official. (And was slammed by former colleagues in the Secret Service as basically a grandstander.)

A White House press secretary (Karoline Leavitt) who is basically nothing more than eye candy for Trump and just keeps broken-record-ing the same shit over and over when grilled by the White House press pool.

And to top it all off, a sociopathic businessman (Elon Musk) who was brought in to “improve efficiency and reduce costs” in government, but according to projections, will potentially increase the deficit to $2.6 TRILLION by fiscal year 2035.

And to top it all off, there is the main man himself, DJT (and his demented Tattoo JDV, Fantasy Island anyone?) constantly changing the fucking goal line because he is a superficial sociopathic malignant narcissistic unhealthy sack of shit who shoves his tongue so far up the assholes of strongmen and dictators that Febreeze should be carried by his protective detail to mitigate the shit-smell that comes out of his mouth when he speaks.

Am I fucking scared? Yes! I am fucking scared! The current administration is turning against anyone who isn’t white, straight, Christian, and greedy.

There are signs of life in the American political landscape, though. The MAGA base is starting to show cracks in the foundation, as the tariffs and hardline ICE crackdowns are destroying trust in the government. Governors of states (JB Pritzker in Illinois mainly) are telling Trump to NOT send the National Guard into cities to “assist” law enforcement like they did in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. (As of this writing, Trump has backed off Chicago and is now saying that he is going to send the National Guard to Memphis, TN to “combat rampant crime.”)

Also, there is independent media that should be watched and read, such as Mother Jones and The MeidasTouch Network. Sure, the mass media is good at shoving the big picture at you, but they are driven by advertising dollars. They don’t want your attention to stray from the pretty flickering picture box with all the ads blasting their audio at you in Dolby Atmos.

Okay, I got a bit verbose again (blame the cannabis sativa gummies, cigars, and dark roast coffee) so I am going to wrap this up by saying:

VOTE IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS! I think that there will be a larger turnout than in the general election that brought Trump back to power, because the vox populi have seen what has happened over the past eight months. If public sentiment is any indication, both the House and the Senate can be swung over to the left, and act as a check valve on whatever bullshit Trump can dream up in the remainder of his term.

I am Dean Basler, and I support (and also wrote) this message.

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(c) 2025, Dean A. Basler Jr., all rights reserved.

A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (September 9, 2025)

There is something that I have been noticing on my Facebook feed…since Trump started his second term, I have been noticing a drop in pro-Trump posts from people in my friends list. Is the fact that Trump has created turmoil with his blatant racism (i.e. ICE raids where they have NO FUCKING BUSINESS BEING THERE such as courtrooms, schools, and private businesses,) his sucking up to some of the worst dictators in the world, and his isolationist and schizophrenic policies concerning tariffs which has upended the economy and enriched his cronies, has turned pretty much everyone against him (which includes Republicans who used to be pro-Trump.) But the evangelicals that he courted in his first run are sticking with him, despite all the despicable character flaws that he shows.

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(c) 2025, Dean A. Basler Jr., all rights reserved.

A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (December 25, 2024)

I know that I haven’t posted anything in my WordPress blog in a long time, but with the whole big push towards AI, I thought I would mess around with ChatGPT and see what kind of outrageous shit it could come up with. My prompts are in italics, the ledes are in bold.

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write a satirical Onion story about donald trump’s fetish involving ketchup, overcooked steak, and diet coke

Donald Trump Reveals His Unusual Fetish for Ketchup, Overcooked Steak, and Diet Coke: ‘It’s a Power Thing’

New York, NY — In a stunning revelation, former President Donald Trump opened up about an unusual and deeply personal fetish involving ketchup, overcooked steak, and Diet Coke, calling it “an expression of power and dominance.” Trump, who famously claimed to prefer his steak “well done” and “with ketchup,” sat down for an exclusive interview with The Onion where he explained his passion for the trifecta of culinary oddities.

“It’s simple,” Trump said, reclining in a chair, a massive Diet Coke in hand. “When you’re a winner, you don’t need to worry about what people think. Ketchup is bold. Steak is bold. Overcooked steak? Even bolder. You don’t just eat it, you control it.”

Trump went on to describe the “complexity” of his fetish, stating that the charred exterior of a well-done steak represents his ability to “toughen up the weak,” while the gooey, thick red ketchup symbolizes his “endless strength, which nobody else can replicate.”

“I don’t care what anyone says about the meat being ruined. It’s not ruined. It’s enhanced. The meat can’t tell me what to do. The ketchup can’t tell me what to do. It’s freedom. It’s America. The Diet Coke is just a cherry on top of greatness.”

Insiders close to the former president confirmed that Trump often insists on having his steak cooked for at least 45 minutes, resulting in a charred, blackened exterior and an almost completely gray interior. Despite the widespread ridicule from culinary experts, Trump is unwavering in his insistence that his version of steak is the “best ever, by far.”

“Trust me, nobody knows steaks like I do,” Trump added with a grin. “When it’s overcooked, it’s like a metaphor for how I approach life—burn it all down and start fresh. Ketchup? Perfect. It’s like the icing on a cake, but for men. Strong men. It’s a sign of strength. That’s why Diet Coke is involved. It’s the drink of a winner.”

According to sources, this fetish has caused a number of awkward moments at Trump Tower, where staff have been instructed to prepare multiple steaks at varying levels of doneness, only to have Trump discard anything less than “brutally overcooked.” One source described a particularly bizarre dinner where Trump screamed at a chef for serving a “perfectly good steak,” before dunking it into an entire bottle of ketchup and declaring it “not nearly enough ketchup.”

“I’m telling you, if you’re not putting ketchup on your steak, you’re not living,” Trump declared, sipping his Diet Coke in what could only be described as a moment of deep self-reflection. “It’s like a luxury, and I’m the richest person to ever enjoy it.”

Despite the bizarre nature of his fetish, Trump’s unapologetic enthusiasm has sparked a wave of imitators, with some social media users taking to Twitter to post their own well-done steaks drowned in ketchup, often with the hashtag #TrumpDiet, to show their support for the former president’s “culinary genius.”

At press time, Trump was seen standing by a grill, fervently applying ketchup to his latest steak, while sipping Diet Coke and muttering about “winning in the kitchen and in life.”

add a follow up from of the japanese prime minister walking out because donald trump had kobe beef ruined because of his fetish at a state dinner

Japanese Prime Minister Storms Out of State Dinner After Trump Drowns Kobe Beef in Ketchup

Washington, D.C. — A high-profile state dinner at the White House descended into chaos last night after former President Donald Trump, in a move that shocked dignitaries and world leaders alike, insisted on having his premium Kobe beef steak cooked to the point of irreparable ruin and then smothered in ketchup. The act, described as “culinary sacrilege” by some, prompted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to dramatically walk out of the event.

The incident occurred after Trump, seated next to Prime Minister Kishida, requested that the renowned chef prepare his Kobe beef “well done,” against all traditions of the prized meat, which is revered for its tender, marbled texture. The request was met with some hesitation, but the chef complied, only for Trump to proceed with his ritual.

“Look, if it’s not crispy and burnt to a crisp, I’m not eating it,” Trump reportedly told the staff, who were visibly dismayed. “And don’t forget the ketchup, folks. Lots and lots of ketchup. More ketchup than you can handle. That’s how winners eat.”

Upon being served the overcooked steak, which was now more akin to a leather shoe than the luxurious Japanese delicacy, Trump poured an entire bottle of ketchup over it. The sight left many attendees visibly uncomfortable, but the true breaking point came when Prime Minister Kishida, who had been patiently watching the unfolding spectacle, finally stood up, his face a picture of horror.

“I cannot,” Kishida reportedly muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. “This is an insult to the culinary art. To Japan. To the very spirit of Kobe beef.”

Sources close to the Japanese delegation said Kishida was visibly agitated as he took his leave, muttering something about “honoring tradition” and “the loss of dignity.” He was quickly escorted out of the White House, followed by a few aides who appeared equally disheartened by the turn of events.

Meanwhile, Trump, completely oblivious to the diplomatic disaster unfolding before him, was seen dunking another piece of the charred meat into ketchup with abandon, nodding with satisfaction.

“It’s not just a steak; it’s a statement,” Trump declared to those still seated at the table. “If you can’t handle a well-done steak with ketchup, then you don’t know power. It’s a man’s meal. It’s a winner’s meal.”

When asked about the incident later, Trump’s spokesperson defended his actions, saying, “The former president is simply a man of bold tastes. He doesn’t follow rules. He makes his own rules. If the Prime Minister couldn’t appreciate the genius of this steak, that’s on him.”

However, critics were quick to weigh in on the diplomatic blunder. “This is a national embarrassment,” said one unnamed White House advisor. “Kobe beef is the pinnacle of Japanese culinary artistry. To ruin it like that is unforgivable.”

At press time, reports indicated that Prime Minister Kishida had returned to Japan, where he held a private meeting with his staff to discuss possible future responses to the diplomatic incident, including the possibility of sending a formal “steak apology” to the United States.

include a very pointed statement from former german chancellor angela merkel about donald trump’s behavior and her support of the japanese prime minister’s action

Angela Merkel Supports Japanese Prime Minister’s Bold Walkout, Slams Trump’s “Culinary Disrespect”

Berlin, Germany — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has joined the chorus of international voices condemning Donald Trump’s recent actions at a state dinner, where he famously ruined a prestigious Kobe beef steak with excessive overcooking and an entire bottle of ketchup. Merkel, known for her diplomatic finesse and no-nonsense approach, offered a pointed critique of Trump’s behavior and expressed full support for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s decision to walk out of the event in protest.

In an exclusive statement released from her office, Merkel said, “What happened last night was not merely a breach of culinary standards, but a deep disrespect to the culture and traditions of Japan. Kobe beef is more than just food; it is a cultural treasure, and treating it in such a careless, destructive manner is beyond the pale.”

She continued, “I fully support Prime Minister Kishida’s decision to leave the event. Sometimes, standing by one’s values is more important than sitting through a diplomatic dinner, especially when those values are rooted in respect for others. Japan has a long history of craftsmanship, and to see that disrespected in such a way is truly unfortunate.”

Merkel, who has often been lauded for her measured and diplomatic tone during her tenure as Chancellor, did not hold back in her condemnation. “This is not about steak,” she said. “This is about understanding and respecting the legacies of other cultures. If one cannot grasp the importance of something as basic as a meal, how can one engage meaningfully on the global stage?”

While many international leaders have remained silent on the matter, Merkel’s strong statement has added fuel to the growing discontent over the event. Political analysts speculate that her remarks could signal a shift in how European leaders, particularly in Germany, view Trump’s unorthodox approach to international diplomacy.

At press time, Merkel had received widespread praise for her bold stance, particularly from those advocating for a return to more traditional diplomatic norms and respect for cultural sensitivity.

include pointed and profane responses from japanese citizens over this and have celebrated japanese-american actor george takei weigh in

Japanese Citizens Outraged Over Trump’s Ketchup-Fueled Steak Disaster, George Takei Weighs In

Tokyo, Japan — The fallout from Donald Trump’s infamous treatment of Kobe beef at a recent state dinner has ignited a firestorm of anger among Japanese citizens, many of whom are furious at the former president’s blatant disrespect for one of their nation’s most prized culinary traditions. The backlash has been swift and intense, with numerous public figures, including celebrated Japanese-American actor George Takei, offering their pointed—though decidedly profane—responses.

The incident began when Trump requested his Kobe beef be cooked “well done,” a culinary crime in itself for such a rare and delicate cut of meat, but it escalated when he doused the charred steak with an entire bottle of ketchup. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, unable to bear the insult, walked out of the event, leaving Trump to continue his indulgent meal unperturbed.

On social media, Japanese citizens expressed their outrage with a mix of disbelief and profanity. One user, Kenji Tanaka, tweeted, “What the hell is wrong with that guy? You don’t ruin Kobe beef like that. It’s not a damn hamburger! Trump’s treatment of that steak is an international disgrace. Ketchup? On Kobe beef? I’m f**ing livid.”*

Another Twitter user, Aiko Yamaguchi, shared a meme of Trump with a bottle of ketchup, writing, “When you think your steak is ‘powerful’ but it’s just a burnt pile of disrespect. I’m speechless. This is why I hate that guy.”

In an even more pointed outburst, Tokyo-based chef and food critic Hiroshi Saito said, “Trump is a joke. He has no concept of how real food should be treated. Kobe beef is a symbol of Japanese pride, not some meat you throw ketchup on because you can’t taste the difference between quality and garbage.”

The outcry in Japan has been compounded by the diplomatic implications of Trump’s actions. Many see the incident as a direct insult to Japan’s national identity, with some even calling for a formal apology from the United States.

Amidst the public uproar, Japanese-American actor George Takei, best known for his role in Star Trek and his vocal activism, also weighed in on the debacle with his signature blend of sharp wit and biting sarcasm.

“I’m not just disappointed, I’m furious,” Takei said in a statement. “Kobe beef is a piece of art, a masterpiece of the culinary world, and Trump—well, he wouldn’t recognize a masterpiece if it slapped him across the face with a well-done steak. He’s the kind of guy who would probably put ketchup on a Picasso and call it ‘bold.’ Well, guess what, Don? You’re not bold. You’re just a culinary disaster.

Takei continued, “I can’t even fathom how someone could be so disconnected from the beauty of fine food. This is beyond ignorance; it’s cultural vandalism. And for a sitting Prime Minister to walk out? That says everything. My blood pressure has never been higher.”

While Takei’s comments were widely praised, many in Japan are still seething over Trump’s behavior. The episode has sparked a wave of online petitions calling for the U.S. to issue a formal apology, with some even suggesting that future diplomatic visits should include a crash course in Japanese culinary etiquette—starting with the basics of cooking beef properly.

Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Trump remains unrepentant, claiming that his actions were a display of “true American power,” and defending his choice to drown the steak in ketchup as a mark of “individualism and strength.” However, it seems the diplomatic fallout may have irreversibly soured U.S.-Japan relations—at least until someone else can clean up the mess… with perhaps a bottle of hot sauce instead.

include trump’s youngest son’s public statement about how embarrased he was over his father’s actions

Trump’s Youngest Son Speaks Out, Expresses Embarrassment Over Father’s Ketchup-Fueled Kobe Beef Disaster

New York, NY — In an unexpected turn of events, Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, has publicly expressed his embarrassment over his father’s recent antics at a state dinner, where the former president insisted on ruining a premium Kobe beef steak with overcooking and an excessive amount of ketchup. The 18-year-old son of the former president, who has generally kept a low profile, issued a rare statement that was sharply critical of his father’s behavior and the diplomatic mess it created.

“I honestly can’t believe what I saw,” Barron said in a candid statement. “Kobe beef isn’t just food, it’s a national treasure. My dad’s behavior wasn’t just disrespectful to the Japanese culture; it was disrespectful to everyone in that room. I’m really embarrassed.”

Barron, known for staying out of the public eye during his father’s presidency, didn’t mince words when discussing the infamous steak incident. “I don’t even know where to begin,” he continued. “To ruin a steak like that—let alone pour ketchup on it—is… I don’t know… it’s not normal. And then the whole walking out of the dinner thing with Prime Minister Kishida? I couldn’t even watch. My friends were texting me, asking if I was okay. I mean, I wasn’t okay.”

Sources close to the Trump family say that Barron, who has been described as “introspective” and “quiet,” was particularly upset about the cultural disrespect displayed during the dinner, calling the incident a “bad look” not only for his family but for the United States as a whole.

“I know my dad does a lot of things that are… controversial,” Barron added, “but this was just beyond the line. I don’t care if you’re the former president—some things are just basic decency. I’m not proud of this.”

Barron’s statement has drawn both surprise and praise from many observers, given his historically low public profile. Political pundits speculate that Barron, now in his late teens and increasingly distanced from his father’s political career, may be carving out his own identity separate from the Trump legacy.

“My dad doesn’t always make the best decisions, and I think this was one of his worst,” Barron concluded. “That wasn’t my steak. That wasn’t how we were taught to treat food, or people, for that matter.”

The rare public critique from Barron adds another layer of complexity to the growing international uproar over his father’s actions, with many wondering whether it signals a deeper rift between the Trump family’s younger generation and the public persona of Donald Trump.

As for the former president, he has yet to publicly respond to his son’s remarks, though insiders close to the Trump family suggest he may be privately frustrated by the criticism. Meanwhile, Barron’s comments have sparked conversations online, with many fans of the Trump family expressing sympathy for the young man and a newfound sense of respect for his willingness to speak out.

At press time, Barron was seen quietly dining in a Manhattan café with friends, reportedly choosing a much more modest meal—nothing resembling well-done steak, and definitely no ketchup.

include the japanese government cutting off diplomatic relations with the united states over this incedent and other world leaders throwing in their support

Japan Cuts Diplomatic Ties with U.S. After Trump’s Ketchup-Fueled Steak Scandal, World Leaders Rally in Support of Japan

Tokyo, Japan — In an unprecedented move, the Japanese government has officially announced the suspension of all diplomatic relations with the United States following the scandal at a recent state dinner, where former President Donald Trump infamously ruined a premium Kobe beef steak with overcooking and excessive ketchup. The diplomatic fallout from the incident, which already saw Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida walk out in protest, has escalated into a full-blown international crisis.

In a statement released by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government declared, “Japan cannot, in good conscience, continue diplomatic relations with a country whose former leader has shown such blatant disregard for our culture, heritage, and food traditions. The destruction of Kobe beef, a symbol of Japan’s pride, was not merely an insult to Japan but an affront to decency itself. Effective immediately, we are suspending all high-level communication and cooperation with the United States.”

The statement went on to express deep frustration over the lack of a formal apology from the United States, adding, “We have extended the olive branch of diplomacy, and in return, we received nothing but disrespect. Japan will not be made a joke of in the eyes of the world.”

This drastic decision comes after a week of mounting tension following Trump’s actions at the state dinner. The former president’s insistence on drowning a perfectly cooked Kobe beef steak in ketchup, paired with his dismissive attitude toward the cultural significance of the meal, sparked outrage across Japan and the international community. Prime Minister Kishida’s walkout was seen as an act of principle, but the Japanese government’s latest move marks an irreversible rift in U.S.-Japan relations.

In a show of solidarity with Japan, leaders from around the world have expressed their support for the Japanese government’s decision. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who had previously joined former Chancellor Angela Merkel in condemning Trump’s actions, voiced his support for Japan’s stance.

“Japan has every right to demand respect for its culture, and I stand with them in this decision,” Scholz said in a public statement. “What happened at that dinner was not just a culinary insult—it was a breach of global decorum. We cannot allow such blatant disregard for another country’s heritage to go unaddressed.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, who had been quietly watching the situation unfold, echoed Scholz’s sentiments, saying, “This is not just about food; this is about respect. And what we saw last week was a complete lack of respect for one of the most revered culinary traditions in the world. Japan’s decision is not only justified but necessary for the preservation of international dignity.”

Even countries with traditionally closer ties to the United States, including the United Kingdom and Canada, have expressed support for Japan’s bold action. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak released a statement saying, “As an international community, we must stand together in defense of cultural integrity. Japan’s decision is a powerful message to all nations that respect cannot be taken for granted.”

In the United States, the diplomatic fallout has been swift. While former President Trump has continued to downplay the severity of the incident, calling it a “non-issue,” critics have pointed to the growing isolation the U.S. faces on the world stage as a result of his actions. Foreign policy experts are warning that the suspension of U.S.-Japan relations could have long-lasting effects, especially given Japan’s position as a key ally in the Asia-Pacific region.

Back in the U.S., Trump’s youngest son Barron Trump, who had already publicly expressed his embarrassment over the incident, remained silent as the diplomatic crisis continued to unfold. However, political analysts suggest that the younger Trump’s disavowal of his father’s actions may indicate growing frustration within the family regarding the fallout.

At press time, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had indicated that it would be sending formal notifications to all major international bodies, including the United Nations, about its decision to suspend relations with the United States. Meanwhile, the White House has yet to issue an official response, but sources within the Biden administration have indicated that they are closely monitoring the situation.

As the diplomatic storm intensifies, world leaders and citizens alike are waiting to see whether the United States will take steps to rectify the situation—or if the world will be left with a permanent fracture in one of its most important alliances, all over a well-done steak, ketchup, and a Diet Coke.

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©2024, Dean A. Basler Jr., all rights reserved

A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (September 11, 2021)

A Dark Anniversary

20210911_184617

 

It’s been twenty years since The United States lost it’s innocence. Twenty fucking years. And now look at where we are. And here is what I remember from that tragic day:

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September 11, 2001, I was working in the information technology department at Agway as a systems operator. Dan had been at the emergency room at University Hospital (now Upstate Medical University) as a health care technician for over a year now. I was working that day when the news came out that a plane had struck on of the towers at the WTC. My boss had a portable TV in his office and I saw what had happened. We had an emergency operations center with larger TV’s, so I went up there. That is when I saw the towers fall. Everyone who was there was in shock. I immediately went back down to the computer center, and tried to access the news sites on the Internet. No such luck, the net was severely congested with all the people trying to find out information. I immediately called Dan from work and asked him if he knew. The hospital was on lockdown during the crisis, and he couldn’t talk very long. 9/11/01 was one of the most frightening things that had happened in my life. Knowing that terrorists struck a major blow to our country was once of the most disconcerting things that I have ever experienced.

Almost a year later, I was down in New York City for NYC Pride, and I couldn’t even go to the WTC site. I don’t think that I could have handled it.

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It’s now September 11, 2021. A lot has happened since then. I was laid off from Agway six months later, spent a year and a half as a front-end meat robot (point of sale cashier in a supermarket) and four years after Agway, got a job in a corrugated box (what you would call a cardboard box) factory, where I remain after 16 years. I bought my own house, got married to Dan (my now husband) in 2012, and am living pretty much a comfortable life. I suffered a mild heart attack in 2020, and yes I am still alive and kicking.

And we’re (and I am using the collective “we” in this sense) trying to get through the COVID-19 pandemic, no thanks to the anti-maskers/anti-vaxxers that cry about their “civil liberties” being violated. (When will these ASSHOLES ever grow the fuck up?) Yes, I am pro-mask/pro-vaxx. I trust the science, not what some fucking quack/conspiracy theorist says on the Internet.

And we have survived hands down, the worst *period* fucking *period* presidency ever. (Thanks to “The Newsroom” for that.)

Twenty years. A lot of changes. The Internet is ubiquitous, everyone is pretty much reachable because of the proliferation of smartphones, you know what people are doing instantly thanks to social media. Streaming media means that we don’t have to go out to the movies or rental stores for visual entertainment. Music? There are streaming services for that also. Breaking news? We can get it pushed to our phones and computers right when it happens.

Twenty years. In that time, the worst that humanity has to offer has come to the forefront. In 2008, America elected the first African-American to the highest office in the country, the Presidency. And the Republican right did everything in their power to undermine his administration. Constant attacks against his policies, and their efforts to prevent real change in American politics have done more to divide the country. The emergence of the “entitled class” of what passes as human beings has fostered an “us against them” mentality that affects all on a subconscious level. (The “Karen” phenomenon is a prime example of that.) And of course, the aforementioned COVID-19 pandemic, which from what I have seen, is getting worse with the Delta variant and the emergence of the Mu variant. And don’t forget the anti-masker/anti-vaxxer crowd (as I will keep reminding you.) And in 2016, for some inexplicable reason, a misogynistic, sociopathic malignant narcissist was elected to succeed a president who despite all the attacks against him, was able to usher in an era of prosperity and social change over the eight years that he was in office. This again, was the knee-jerk reaction of an entrenched older white-male right-wing political force that saw their control slipping away. So these pathetic cocksuckers choked down their bile, and threw their support behind a candidate that “shared their values” and promised to “make America great again.” They turned a blind eye to his numerous flaws and made the Faustian “deal with the devil.” What they got is a raging beast that they were unable to control and started to lay waste to the country that they were losing control of. That, combined with the apathy of eligible voting age Americans, ushered in four years of a really bad comedy of errors and missteps that has pushed America to the brink of civil war.

On November 5, 2020 collective America actually was roused from it’s apathy and shifted the political landscape from the sociopathic right to the more sympathetic left by voting out the malignant narcissist that tried his best to destroy America. The right-wing so-called “body politic” tried to say that the election was rife with fraudulent votes and “their guy” had really won the election. Since then, there were numerous attempts at tossing out the votes in contested states that had shifted blue in this election, but all the attempts were pretty much stymied by the court system on the federal level. But the real storm was to come.

January 6, 2021. This was the day that America came close to another civil war. On this day, Congress convened to certify the election results (more or less a formality.) Supporters of the malignant narcissist (basically egged on by him at a rally) stormed the Capital to disrupt the counting of the votes of the electoral college. They broke into the Capital building, causing extensive damage, five fatalities, and extensive injuries to rioters and law enforcement alike. Did it stop the certification of the results? Fuck no. The Vice-President finished up the next day, and executive branch of the government shifted from red to blue.

Now we’re at the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The government is more or less left-leaning, and we have a President who inherited the mess that his predecessor created. He’s getting slammed for his mandates on the COVID-19 crisis, and his Vice-President (who is female and not white) isn’t taking any shit from the entrenched white-right-wing that is still in the Senate. The former resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is down in Florida at his shit-hole resort licking his wounds that will probably never heal.

So what is the point of this blog post? Despite the fact that America took a major body blow on September 11, 2001, we survived. It’s been a rough 20 years, but we survived. And we will continue to survive. Basically, it’s a distillation of the human species adapting to changes, and rejecting things that will hasten the decline of the species.

Whew. I can be a long winded old bastard sometimes. But that is me. When I have something to get off my chest, I go all out. Thank you for putting up with the rantings of a misanthropic old fart.

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© 2021, Dean A. Basler Jr.

All rights reserved.

A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (August 14, 2021)

My Weird Fucking Mind

 

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Generally, I don’t remember my dreams, but sometimes they will wake me out of a sound sleep and I have to say to myself, “what the fuck is this?”  Last night was a doozy. 

So I crash about 10:30 last night (it’s the weekend, I usually stay up a little later than usual.)  I do my usual routine, make sure the air conditioning is set to low, put my earplugs in, and put on the nasal cannula for my oxygen generator. So I go to sleep.  Now mind you, I am not a sound sleeper (hence the ear plugs) but I do have to get up in the middle of the night to go pee, around 1am.

Now, my brain must have been in that twilight state between woken and asleep, but I remembered the dream that I had.  They say that dreams are the manifestation of our subconscious, and I think in this case it must have been true. 

Enough exposition, here’s the story:

I am approaching an auditorium, going to some sort of mandatory company presentation (which is a red flag to begin with given that the company I work for usually gives them in the break room at work.) There are security personnel at the entrance, plus a shitload of audio-visual presentation equipment.  I venture into the auditorium, and it is decrepit, and only has half the seats in the front end of the house, maybe enough to seat about 150 people.  Behind that, there is presentation gear, and tables with refreshments (pastries, beverages, and pizza.)  So I am told to find a seat, and they are not the usual theater seats, but look more like the kind of seats that you would find in a high end air travel carrier, like the ones that Emirates uses in the Airbus A-380’s.  While I am going to sit, I run across my friend Christian, who I worked with a long time ago, and have remained friends with.  This is very weird.  The last thing that I would expect was to see him.  I reach out to say hello to him, and he ignores me.  That threw me off right then.  The next thing that I see is my husband, and instead of holding our Great Dane Della, he is holding our long gone Great Dane/Mastiff mix Rosie (sadly gone for 11 years.)  I am wondering why he is here.

Well, a faceless corporate drone tells all of us to be seated for the presentation, so I do so and it starts. The screen lights up, and the narrator starts droning on and on about “operational security.” We are shown images that can only be described as what could happen if we don’t take “operational security” seriously.  The images are dystopian in nature, showing people struggling to survive all the while the voice drones on and on about “operational security.”  What the fuck does “operational security” have to do with the industry that I work in, which is manufacturing corrugated paperboard containers (what you would call cardboard boxes.)  I look around, and everyone (including my husband and Rosie) are transfixed by the imagery that is being shown to them.  I don’t know why I am not affected in that way.  Maybe it is my cynical mind (coupled with the fact that I have astigmatism) is preventing me from being programmed. 

This so-called presentation goes on and on, and the only thing that is on my mind at that point is my full bladder.  Finally, it ends, and they invite us to partake in the refreshments.  My husband comes to me and hands Rosie off to me so he can partake.  So off I go in search of a place to take a leak.  The rest rooms are at the back of the auditorium so I go off with Rosie in tow.  One thing you have understand about Rosie is that she was very protective of me and Dan, and would react when there was a threat.  At the entrance to the rest rooms, there are faceless presentation staff in matching sweat shirts.  As I approach, Rosie starts growling.  They start peppering me with questions, not giving me a chance to respond.  I tell them to back off but they won’t. Rosie suddenly breaks free of me and attacks the closest one to me, grabbing his pant leg and starts shaking her head.  They all back away (and the one she grabbed onto runs away VERY quickly.)  I go pee, and then make my way back to Dan.  I hand her off to him and go and get some what turns out to be quite dreadful pizza. 

As I am noshing on this shit-pizza, I look at the screen, and the credits for the dystopian presentation are scrolling by, and I notice this:

Written, produced, edited, and directed by:
Christian.

I am quite shaken at this point.  My friend Christian, who I know very much is a non-conformist, had a hand in this corporate propaganda clusterfuck.  He would be the last person that I would expect to sell out to corporate interests. 

Dan and I go to leave, and as we make our way to the exit, I run across Christian again.  He sees me, and hangs his head in shame. 

At that point, I fully wake, and try to process this.

Yeah, I got a weird fucking mind.

 

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© 2021, Dean A. Basler Jr.

All rights reserved.

A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (January 3, 2021)

Control (Or the lack thereof.)

 

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Well it is Sunday, and while I was doing laundry, my mind started racing and I got a pretty fucking big bug up my ass. So while while I was taking care of the laundry, I decided to fire up LibreOffice Writer and put my thoughts to actual words on a computer monitor. Read at the risk of your sanity. You’ve been warned.

The one thing that I have taken away from my sixty-two years here on earth is, pretty much everything is about control. People, corporations, politics…there always a constant about it. Control or the lack thereof. You see it every day but by dint of human nature, you will always turn a blind eye to it except when it affects you directly.

The whole stimulus check debate is a prime example of certain people attempting to exert control over the American people. On the one hand, we have the idiot-in-chief and Democratic left wanting $2,000 stimulus payments to go out to the public. On the other hand, we have the Republican left wanting to deny them because the money can be “better spent” on pork-barrel items that don’t help the American people directly. The pork-barrel projects mainly benefit corporate interests, which in turn gives them the impetus to contribute to candidates who’s self-interests in maintaining control is their primary motivation, not the benefit of their constituents. Mitch McConnell’s state is a shining example of that. The per capita income of his home state of Kentucky is $28,178, while the per capita income of the state of New York (where I reside) is $39,326. 16.3% of the population in Kentucky can be considered in poverty, while the figure is 13.0% for the state of New York. (The data comes from the latest U.S. Census figures.) Why doesn’t McConnell push for more programs that benefit his home state and help lift his constituents out of poverty? It’s all about pandering to the corporate interests that KEEP HIM IN CONTROL of the U.S. Senate. (Although the Senate runoff in Georgia might change that, and that has him shitting his pants. The other thing that bothers me is WHY THE FUCK was he reelected? The best I can figure is, the conservative right or what passes for it now, knew exactly which buttons to push with the populace, which is overwhelmingly evangelical Christian and has a bit of the “Old South” racism still.)

Another example is Donald Trump (otherwise known as the idiot-in-chief.) He’s always defined his life as being in control. From his real estate holdings, his “brand,” all the way to his rise to one of the most powerful positions in the world, it’s always about him “being in control.” Psychiatrists all over have pretty much diagnosed him (despite the presence of Section 7 in the American Psychiatric Association’s Principles of Medical Ethics, otherwise known as the “Goldwater Rule”, which says that it is unethical for them to diagnose and give an opinion of public figures who they haven’t examined) as a sociopath and has malignant narcissism. This is a dangerous combination for someone in control of the United States. You could see his “control” over the past 40 years in the public eye, from all the high stakes business deals that he bulldozed through, his hosting of a “reality” program (The Apprentice,) the 2016 presidential debate, where he stood behind Hillary Clinton’s lectern in an attempt to intimidate her, and up to the present day, where he used intimidation tactics to ram through legislation that is counter to the interests of the American people in general. His constant use of Twitter is another example of him trying to assert control of the narrative. Every time that something goes against his “alleged” Adderall-addled viewpoint, he goes on Twitter and starts whining about various conspiracies that stand in the way of his “control.” Things such as “The Deep State.” “Fake News.” “Rigged Election.” It’s all a grand conspiracy to bring him down and strip him of his “wealth” (which is pretty much a delusion rattling around in his head, supposedly.) His constant denigration of anyone or anything that goes against him is another attempt to exert control over the narrative and keep the bullshit alive to distract the populace from the fact that he is NOT IN CONTROL! The revolving door of people in and out of his employ over the past four years is an indication of someone who is a “bad boss.” People can only stand so much bullshit before they throw up their hands and say “fuck it, I am outta here.” Oh, but everything is fine and dandy because the president “is in control.” (I almost spit up my coffee when I wrote that.)

Now, with Trump throwing his support behind $2,000 stimulus payments to the American people, and his trumpeting that he pushed the COVID-19 vaccine through (which is bullshit because the first one that was approved, the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was developed without government funding,) he again is trying to control the narrative. He wants people to think that he has their best interests at heart, but in reality what he is trying to do is polish the turd that his tenure as president has become. But I see it for what it is, the last desperate gasp of a drowning man. The truth of the matter is, he has never been in control. His insistence of everything being “my way or the highway” has turned most of the American populace and all the movers and shakers inside the Beltway against him, and he can’t fucking stand it. The next seventeen days (as of this writing) are going to be on everyone’s mind because we are going to keep asking ourselves “what the fuck is Trump going to do next?”

Whatever it is, it’s just gonna be another fuckin’ dumpster fire that Biden is going to have to put out.

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© 2021, Dean A. Basler Jr.

All rights reserved.

A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (October 2, 2020)

There is NO SANCTUARY!

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Well, with the news that Cheetolini (and his wife with the resting bitch face) have tested positive for COVID-19, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was true. Given his propensity for not wearing a mask, his attendance at large rallies, the death of Herman Cain, people on his staff testing positive for the coronavirus, and his overwhelming need to be surrounded by people who stroke his ego and not wear any masks, I would say that the odds finally caught up with him. Having it happen almost a month before the election, that does raise red flags.

1: The first debate.  Trump looked and sounded like the total ass that he is.  Biden kept his cool for the most part, but when Biden mentioned his son Beau (who served in the military in Iraq, and then died from brain cancer) Trump immediately went on the attack and started to ramble on and on about his son Hunter. Joe pretty much kept his cool during that personal attack. Trump then interrupted him while Joe was talking about ending the filibuster, and Joe said “Will you shut up man, this is so unpresidential.” Trump getting COVID-19 pretty much put the kibosh on future debates. 

2: The revelation by the New York Times that Trump only paid $750 in taxes for the years 2016, and 2017. Prior to that, it was was reported that he paid no taxes from 2000 to 2015, plus he took deductions on things that would be considered personal expenses such as aircraft, personal residences, $70,000 for hairstyling (when he was hosting “The Apprentice,) and most of all, “consulting fees” to his daughter Ivanka. 

3: His debt load.  Also from the New York Times, it is reported that he is personally responsible for 421 MILLION DOLLARS in loans, and they are coming due within 4 years.  Hell, I still owe about 40 thousand on my mortgage, and I don’t have anxiety over it, but Trump has a major Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.  He thinks that his lenders will be unwilling to foreclose on a sitting president. That is enough to scare the shit out of anyone.

4: His “Brand.”  Most of the income he does have comes from the licensing of his name to various ventures around the world.  If (more like when) he loses, his “brand” is going to suffer a major hit in terms of viability.  For someone with malignant narcissism (which Trump has in spades) this would be totally unthinkable.

5: The criminal tax probe by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.  Cyrus Vance Jr. said that they are investigating The Trump Organization for potential bank and insurance fraud relating to properties in Manhattan, not to mention the alleged payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, who claim to have had affairs with Trump before he became president.  As long as Trump is president, he can stymie the investigations to his advantage.

 

So basically, one month before the general election, Trump is getting shithammered on multiple fronts.  Is he looking for an escape?  Is he finally losing whatever shred of sanity he has left?  Who knows.  All I know is that it is gonna get very fucking strange in the next 31 days, and all of us better buckle in and brace ourselves for for a very rough fucking ride.

 

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© 2020 Dean A. Basler Jr.

All rights reserved.

A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (July 27, 2020)

Show me the fuckin’ proof

 

pragmatism

 

Now, I wrote this back in February of 2013:

“I am a pragmatist. I do not speculate, I do not use blind faith to make choices. I need facts to make decisions. I don’t believe in something until I have proof that I should believe in it. I am an advertiser’s worst nightmare. I don’t buy a product because someone says it will make my life better. I have to believe that it will have some benefit to me.”

Now, people that I have thought of as rational people are getting their knickers in a bind because of vaccines again. Yes, they are fast tracking a vaccine for the coronavirus. And I hope that they can find an effective one. I for one, do believe in the value of vaccines. I DO NOT believe that they are the cause of autism. I DO NOT believe that Bill Gates is trying to usher in a “New World Order” by getting everyone vaccinated and have a microchip implanted so we can be tracked by RFID. The autism-vaccine link? It’s been debunked time and time again. I get the flu vaccine every year and guess what? I DON’T HAVE AUTISM! AND I DON’T GET THE FLU! Do a little fuckin’ research and grow a fuckin’ brain, people. Like I did:

Snopes: Study Alleging a Connection Between Vaccines and Autism ‘Unpublished’ By Journal

Mayo Clinic: Autism-vaccine link debunked

Centers for Disease Control: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism

PublicHealth.org: Vaccine Myths Debunked

BBC News: Coronavirus: Bill Gates ‘microchip’ conspiracy theory and other vaccine claims fact-checked

USA Today: Fact check: Bill Gates is not planning to microchip the world through a COVID-19 vaccine

Snopes: Are Bill Gates and the ID2020 Coalition Using COVID-19 To Build Global Surveillance State?

Reuters: False claim: Bill Gates planning to use microchip implants to fight coronavirus

 

tinfoilhat

 

What it boils down to is, if they come out with a  tested, proven, and safe vaccine for the coronavirus, I’ll get it.

Excuse the fuck outta me if my pragmatism gets in the way of you denying me the right to make my choice whether to take a vaccine or not.

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© 2020 Dean A. Basler Jr.

All rights reserved.

A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (July 10, 2020)

Tin-foil Hats, Anyone?

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Are people losing their collective fucking minds? Wayfair involved in human trafficking? All based on something someone posted on Reddit? Where is the fucking evidence? Ever since the whole Jeffery Epstein debacle and the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell, everyone is looking for a boogeyman. You gotta remember, this originated on the r/conspiracy subreddit, which ISN’T a reliable source. It’s pretty much tin-foil hat land there. It’s bad enough that the destruction of America is happening right before our eyes, and bullshit like this makes us lose focus. Snopes has already debunked this, and if people would DO A FUCKING SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH, they would see that it’s bullshit! Fer chrissakes people, GROW A FUCKING BRAIN!

 

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© 2020 Dean A. Basler Jr.

All rights reserved.

A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (July 5, 2020)

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The Kanye Problem.

Really? Even after having a mild heart attack  (it happened on July 1st, and I am fine,) I thought 2020 couldn’t get any fucking worse, but Kanye West announced that he is running for President FOUR FUCKING MONTHS before the election, and he has the support from Elon Musk? Even after the show that he made of kissing Trump’s ass all this time? Is he fucking high? No one takes him seriously. Fer chrissakes, he and Kim “Big Ass” Kardashian named their kid “North.”

He thinks that his “base” is going to support him. He’s hoping that he can tune into the collective rage that happened over the death of George Floyd during his arrest. But the thing is, this crossed racial barriers, and a lot of the people that are protesting are pretty much from the liberal left, which already had a few beefs over unchecked police brutality.

The Republican party is pretty much made up of old, southern, conservative, bible-thumping and probably racist white men (who are scared of what Trump can do to them financially in terms of support.) Given their fear of Trump, they will more than likely pull out all the stops to degrade him and get him to give up, even with the support of Musk (who is pretty much shown his colors that he is a lunatic of the first order, despite the fact that he has done great things in transportation such as Tesla, energy storage, and aerospace travel such as SpaceX.)

Kanye should just shut the fuck up, make music, and continue to bury his face in Trump’s ass. He’s a fucking joke when it comes to politics, and it’s just gonna cause more discord in the political process. Not to mention the fact that he missed the deadline for filing as an independent candidate in six states and filing as a candidate in a major party after the states had held their primaries. Most political pundits just see this as a stunt to take votes away from Biden.

Sheesh, 2020 is really gonna end with a fucking big bang at this point. People call me fucking paranoid for stockpiling survival supplies. I guess that the next few months will tell. Buckle up, boys and girls, this ride is gonna get REALLY bumpy.

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© 2020 Dean A. Basler Jr.

All rights reserved.