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A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint, November 6, 2026

Retail Therapy and Dining Out (or more adventures with PapaDeanBear and PapaDan.)

Another day, another adventure that is my life. Yup, PapaDeanBear is back with another one of his long winded blog posts.

The previous day (11/5,) I told Dan about a new Chinese/seafood buffet that opened up in the toxic floating mall/domed city from “Logan’s Run” (aka DestinyUSA, one of my favorite places to go (not, there is no Sanctuary.)) Yesterday, we went to the cigar store (for cigars and lottery tickets) and the dispensary (to get cannabis gummies.) Today, I said I wanna go to the supermarket (didn’t feel like running the six miles to Wallyworld, and Price Chopper is a five minute drive from our house.)

Yeah, you see where this is going…PapaDeanBear…mildly stoned…in a supermarket.

Dan: “All we need is milk and bread.”
PDB: “Hold my coffee.”

Now, when you go grocery shopping with me in tow, let’s just say that papabear drives the hubby nuts with his antics. So, we cruise past the deli department, I notice store-brand artichoke and spinach hummus is on sale, and I haven’t had hummus in a while. In the cart it goes. I notice a display for store-brand spring water (Dan mentioned we needed some,) 24 packs on sale, three for ten dollars. In the cart it goes. Now we are doing the cruise the store and see if there is anything else that we need (or want.) He found frozen haddock fillets, buy one get one free. I’m always down for haddock. Down to the dairy department, a gallon of milk (store-brand of course,) then as we were going down the dairy isle, Dan asked me if I was going to get some cheese. I hadn’t had any in a while so I went and got three packages of (store-brand) cracker cuts, consisting of pepper jack, habanero cheddar, and New York extra-sharp cheddar.

Now the real fun begins…

We cruise down the front of the store, ducking into aisles as needed to get what we need. (None of this going one way down the aisle shit, I do what the fuck I want.) Dan stops in the baked goods aisle, grabs a couple of loaves of Freihofer’s bread (on sale, two for six dollars.) I duck down the soup aisle and pick up a couple of six-packs of Maruchan ramen noodles (soy sauce and beef flavors, my favorites.) I look around all the ramen because there is one specific item that I wanted but can’t find it, but then I smack myself on the head and mutter to myself, “Dean you fucking idiot, the Asian foods are one aisle over!” Soooooooooo, I go over to the next aisle (Dan had left me the cart at this point, because, dear readers, you know of my husband’s ability to open a wormhole and transport himself to another section of the store.) Sure enough, I found what I wanted…CHILI CRISP! (I toss a teaspoon full in with my ramen to perk it up.) Now it’s time to get “the goodies.” Meaning crackers and cookies. Two boxes of Ritz fresh stacks (jalapeno pepper and zesty herb) and two party size packages of Oreo’s (Original and Golden.) One large box of Cheez-Its. One last stop, the coffee aisle. Two big boxes of K-cups, Eight O’Clock original blend (on sale) and (store-brand) decaf. Whew, now I am done.

(An aside: You notice that Dan and I purchase store-brand items as much as possible. The quality is just as good as the name brands and they cost less. We generally don’t buy name brands unless it is on sale or it’s a specific item that they don’t have a store-brand equivalent (such as the ramen noodles.) – PDB)

So, papabear gets into the register queue, puts down the order divider, and starts loading things on the belt. Where is Dan, might you ask? I see him over by the health and beauty aisle, talking to someone familiar. I push it out of my mind for the moment, because I am more involved with checking out, bagging the groceries, and paying for it all. Once that is done, I wheel everything out to the Compass, pop the hatch (I have my own key fob,) and load the groceries and the bottled water in the ass end (just a little automotive Tetris, newbie level, not warehouse-club-stock-up-for-the-apocalypse-level.)

Once the load-out is done, I secure the Compass and walk back into the store, and corral Dan. I was going to chastise him, but then I recognized the woman that Dan was talking to. It was our friend Ginny, and one of her sons. She used to work with Dan at the hospital, and she was at our wedding fourteen years ago. Since we haven’t seen each other in a while, we shot the shit for a bit and then we had to get home. I won’t bore you with the details of unloading the Compass and putting everything away (you’ve seen this movie before.)

So we have a few hours to kill, so we usually do the same shit that we usually do, which is me on my dual-monitor workstation ingesting the news and political shit on YouTube, and Dan is in the living room playing either r/slash videos on YouTube, or a Tetris clone, all the while RuPaul’s Drag Race is on the big screen.

So, going out to dinner. I heard about this Chinese/seafood buffet on Facebook, and I suggested to Dan that we should try it. So, I pulled on my gray Carhartt hoodie (one of the perks of working for BCI, they never went bargain basement on the clothing that they gave us) because the temperature was going down and topped it off with my camo BCI hat. Off in the Compass we go for the fifteen minute drive to Destiny USA. Since we’re in the car, what does papabear do (mind you, I ate a couple more gummies and drank a can of cannabis-laced soda before we left) when he and Dan are in close proximity to each other? Care to venture a guess?

Yeah, papabear starts going off on politics. The main subject…Pete Hegseth (aka Kegsbreath, aka the poster boy for roid rage) and how utterly unqualified he is to run the Department of Defense (or WAR, as he likes to call it.) Given that the House and the Senate have shifted blue, the odds that Hegseth will be impeached is high, especially since Representative Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) introduced articles of impeachment. (Lets just say that Kegsbreath has pissed off a LOT of people on both sides of the aisle.) (Another aside: If Trump gives Hegseth a preemptive pardon, it does not shield him from impeachment.)

The conversation is cut short as we arrive at the mall, park the Compass, and then go to the skybridge that goes over Hiawatha Boulevard to the mall itself. While we are walking across, I look at all the screens suspended from the ceiling blaring advertisements, (they’re pushing IKEA pretty hard,) and comment to Dan that we are pretty close to a “Brave New World” scenario. (You can blame my love of science fiction, dear readers.) So, we reach the mall itself, go to the nearest directory (touch screen, mind you,) and locate the restaurant. (Ain’t technology grand?) An escalator ride down one level, a short walk, and we’re there.

The restaurant…well, it’s pretty much the standard Chinese buffet, but with a heavy seafood component. One thing that was…well…glaring was the décor. Now, when I go to a Chinese buffet, I expect a certain décor. You expect Asian themed artwork, Chinese calligraphy, soft Asian music in the background. Nope, not here, not a fucking chance. For one thing, there were dolphins all over the place, SILVER FUCKING DOLPHINS! Like, some bright boy used CRISPR to splice the DNA from The Silver Surfer into dolphin embryos, and this is the end result. Mind you, I don’t mind dolphins, as a matter of fact I think that they are magnificent highly intelligent creatures. But silver dolphins? Yikes! And the music…some sort of techno stuff that I didn’t recognize (my techno tastes run more to Kraftwerk.) Yeah, papabear had a little bit of sensory overload. (Focus Dean, focus.)

I’m not a big seafood eater (I’ll make exceptions for deep-fried haddock, scallops, and clams) but the sushi bar caught my eye. Once were seated and our drink orders taken (Starry lemon-lime soda for Dan, hot tea for me,) off to the sushi I went. I hadn’t had sushi in a while, but I knew what I liked (California roll mainly.) So I grabbed what I wanted, then looked for the wasabi. Found it, and took a little dish of it with me. Papabear forgot one thing…WASABI CLEARS OUT YOUR SINUSES! (Oops.) The rest of the food actually was pretty good, and they had steamed buns with black bean filling which thrilled me. The rest of the meal was spent eating and of course, papabear going on about politics. Then dessert…there was a green cake with a vanilla icing I suppose, and another that looked like flaky pastry layered with cream…okay I will try them. The green cake, I would think that it would be matcha flavor, but nope. Just cake with green food coloring. The flaky pastry was exactly what it was, flaky pastry layered with cream. Now, since the pandemic, the buffets have been moving away from self-serve ice cream, and more to prepackaged single serve. But I found the diamond in the rough…Scooter Crunch Bar! That made my evening. Once we are done and I settle the bill, we venture back into the proto-dystopian temple of consumption and commerce. I ask Dan if he would like to stroll around a bit, and he says yes.

Now, when I am in this state of mind, I become some sort of grade-B cultural commentator who thinks he is like Henry Rollins. Game on. Snark is online and fully charged. Targeting system online. Target lock…HOT TOPIC. Dan and I go in, and all I had to say was…HOLY SHIT! When did Hot Topic become so dark/goth? I remember when it was more light and humorous. Is it a reflection of how the younger generations feel right now? It even bothered Dan. I said, “Well, if I ever go goth, I’ll know where to shop.” Dan just said, “Yeah right, uh-huh.” (Yeah, Dan knows when I am full of shit. – PDB)

Onward! So we stroll some more, and I point out how many storefronts are empty, a sure indication that the economy is kind of fucked at the moment…prices rise, people have to cut back and concentrate on the basics such as food, housing, health care, utilities. No disposable income. Next thing you know, “store going out of business” signs. (To quote Number Six in Battlestar Galactica, “All this has happened before and will happen again.” Ummmmm, should I lay off the science fiction references? – PDB) I have never seen less traffic on a Friday night than tonight.

Let’s keep moving…and we run across a mall mainstay. Spensers. Had a pretty eclectic collection of gifts to choose from. I remember when they were the exclusive retailer of LavaLamps. Now, whoa! It’s become more…sexual. They had the usual pop culture t-shirts, (Dan pointed out a couple of House, M.D. shirts, because I can be a bit like him at times.) Venture deeper in the store, and it goes a little out there…novelty lingerie and jewelry, actual phallic shaped candy, a beer bong funnel with the end being…well…phallic. (Yikes!) And there were t-shirt racks, and it had some of the rudest things on them that I would never add to my collection of my shirts. (I have two, count them two shirts that are rude, one of them has been seen on Facebook and YouTube, but I would never wear them in public. – PDB) I pointed them out to Dan and he said, “Yeah…right.” (Which is Dan-speak for “That is fucked up,” which only said in the privacy of our car or home.) So we exit Spensers, and head back into the mall. More walking, and we get to the end of the mall where Macy’s is anchored. Up the escalator to the second level, and we start walking back the way we came. While walking back, Dan spied out of his little eye…Yankee Candle, another mall mainstay. Ooookay, I know where we are going, we’re like the Enterprise being pulled in by a Borg tractor beam..resistance is futile, y’know? (Oh come on, you know I couldn’t resist putting in a Star Trek reference. – PDB) It’s changed a lot since I have been there, lots more different candle types. The salesperson actually helped us pick out scents that would be good for our kitchen. We start going back because we’re getting a little tired. We pass by the Apple store, and it’s like nope, AMD Ryzen 5/Windows 11, and Android for me. We continue our walk back, all the time me making snarky (and sometimes profane) comments about the stores we pass (and Dan giving me “the look” when he thinks my comments go a little too far.) So, we make it back to the skybridge, down the escaltor to ground level, and get back to the Compass.

The drive back home is more or less a repeat of the trip down, getting into political discussion. The topic this time was Susie Wiles resigning as Trump’s chief-of-staff, and Stephen Miller being elevated to the post, which is what he really wanted, unfettered access to Trump without Wiles running interference. (There are too many theories floating around about this, such as Wiles was pushed out, she stepped down for her health (because she is a cancer survivor,) or she just got sick of the bullshit (mainly Miller and Natalie Harp doing an end run around her to get to Trump,) and said “fuck it I am out of here.”) But then, he has to contend with the Natalie Harp factor. Trump is obsessed with her because she uses her sycophantic devotion to make him feel good (which aggravates both Melania and Ivanka to no end.)

Let’s face it everyone, this little internecine war that is happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is going to get weirder and worse. The Democrats taking both the House and the Senate more than likely has thrown Trump into a mental tailspin, and who knows what the fuck he is going to do next?

Stay informed, folks. Stay vigilant.

-30-

(c) 2026, Dean A. Basler Jr. all rights reserved.

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More Retail Therapy for PapaDeanBear, and assorted thoughts. (September 8, 2026)

Note, the events described took place on September 5, 2026

Part 1: Pregaming retail therapy

Going out for some more retail therapy with the hubby…we actually blocked out some time, but I had a few things to do first. One, clip digital coupons for the warehouse club that we go to. (Note: The hubby and I have been getting a little paranoid lately because of all the problems in America, the Ukraine, and the Middle East. We have been not hoarding, per se…but going overstock on certain things we need just in case we need to hunker down. Canned items, cleaning supplies, emergency freeze-dried food, batteries, and so on.) Okay, coupons digitally clipped…if there is something that we need when we see it, I can search with my phone and see if there is a coupon for it (and clip it right then and there.) I print out the coupon list on our Hewlett-Packard OfficeJet Pro 9015 printer (which Dan bought without my input, he just went with HP because I said so,) staple it together with a Swingline desktop stapler (in beige, not red sadly. Big “Office Space” fan here,) and go on to the next step. (While this is going on, I am consuming cannabis gummies and cannabis-infused cola, this is important later in the narrative. I have social anxiety on top of a mild case of agoraphobia, and cannabis helps me deal with it. – PDB) On to part 2.

Part 2: Papabear’s ablutions

Now that the clipping is done, it’s time to make Papabear presentable. I usually go a couple of days between showers, given that I am pretty much home most of the time now. (That goes into my sense of paranoia that I have been feeling given all the news that has flooded the airwaves and the Internet. I’ll come back to that in a bit.) Into the shower my fat ass goes. (Stop imagining me naked, you pervs!) I had to unwrap another bar of Irish Spring (my soap of choice) because I wanted to get clean. Hot water always. Scrub my body, get the stink off. Next, rinse my mouth out with Walmart store brand cool mint Listerine. Then, the pièce de résistance…shampoo. Now this fat old man has been growing his hair out for a long time…and I have been wearing a big beard on and off for the past 31 years. Suave 2-in-1 for men, I don’t waste fucking time (it goes back to before I retired from BCI, and would have to get up at 3:15 am to get ready to be at work at 5:00 am.) A nice hot shower is one of the simplest pleasures you should NEVER deny yourself, and it gets you in a good frame of mind. The cleansing complete, it’s time to dry off and gear up. Safety orange Buckeye Corrugated t-shirt (used to get them for free every year before I retired, and they didn’t cheap out on them.) Black Stanley rip-stop work shorts, held up by black suspenders (my pants slip down if I wear a belt.) White AND1 ankle socks and my black Sketchers Slip-Ins (damn, they’re comfortable.) (And no, I did NOT go “commando,” I wore underwear. Pervs.) Then to accessorize. Casio WaveCeptor watch on left wrist, wallet in my back pocket, keys and vape in my right front pocket, smartphone (Galaxy S20 5G) in my left pocket. (Trust me, having a smartphone is necessary when shopping with Dan. I swear to fucking god, he has the ability to conjure up a wormhole and transport himself and the cart to another section of the store. Usually I will call him, and politely ask where he is. If I am pissed off though, then I text him “WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU???” Tie my hair back? Nah, I channel my inner hippy and let the hair flow. And a hat of course, it was between my camo BCI hat, and my denim bear paw (in pride colors) hat. The bear paw won out. On to part 3.

Part 3: The Trip To The Wholesale Club

Now that I am clean and fit for human consumption, it’s time to go to the warehouse club (oh alright, I will tell you which one it is, and it ain’t Costco (although I like going there also.)) Don’t snicker, don’t laugh…it’s BJ’s Wholesale Club. (And your filthy minds just kicked in. Pervs. Stop watching “Beavis & Butthead.) I climb into the Compass in the passenger side and Dan starts the car and drops it into drive. (Note, at this time the cannabis that I consumed earlier is starting to kick in, and I become a bit more…loquacious. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. – PDB)

Because of the Interstate 81 viaduct/clusterfuck that is ongoing, Dan decided to take the long way around to East Syracuse (where the warehouse club is located,) which is to pick up Interstate 481 (which will become part of 81 when the viaduct becomes fully operational) and go the long way around to pick up Interstate 690, which will take us to the Bridge Street exit that the warehouse club is located on. Basically, 11 miles from where we live. I ask Dan to change the satellite radio to the 70’s station, because a Michael Jackson song came on, and we both are sick of hearing him on the 80’s channel. (Nothing against him per se, just that we’re both sick of hearing his music on constant rotation on the 80’s channel. Way to go, SiriusXM.) But like we usually do, we make conversation. About what? Usually I drive the conversation in the car, and for the past few years it usually winds up being about politics. I tend to keep up with politics a lot more than Dan does (you can thank MeidasTouch, Michael Popok, Jack Cocchiarella, Brian Tyler Cohen, and David Pakman for that.) I’ve become downright obsessive about keeping politically aware since Trump’s first term. Basically, I caught Dan up with the latest efforts of Trump to fuck with mail-in voting and being slapped down by The Supremes time and time again, even though the court skews conservative (which in Trump’s addled mind means that they’re in his pocket.) Oh, and we talk about Pete Kegbreath (oops Hegseth) and his efforts to “reshape” the military. (Like getting rid of *qualified* military officers, because they expose all his shortcomings as a leader.) Okay, enough of that…we’re at BJ’s (stop the goddamn snickering, you pervs.)

Part 4: Finally, At The Wholesale Club!

The objective has been reached…and we step into a clusterfuck. Parking lot filled, the cart corral is seriously down in available carts. We get a cart, and step into what I can call “retail paradise.” No glaring neon, the only noise is emanating from the MASSIVE HDTV displays. (Dan looks at me and says one word… “No.” He knew I was looking at the 85” OLED sets.) There was a display for Tide detergent pods, and sure enough I had a coupon for it. Game on. On the last BJ’s run, I had purchased AA and AAA batteries. Since the in-store coupon was still valid, I purchased C and D cells. You never know when you need them. The next hour was an exercise in “do we need it,” and the answer is usually “yes.” Now, given that our rug-wearing, fake spray-tan, narcissist who resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue decided to get into a pissing match with our neighbors to the north over tariffs and considering that the majority of our paper products are made with Canadian timber, Dan and I both agreed that we should double our stocks of paper towels and toilet paper just to be prudent. And of course, I had store coupons for them. Berkley-Jensen (BJ’s store brand) and Charmin.  (We both remembered the run on towels and TP during the pandemic, and the “prepper persona” kicked in at that moment and we both decided it would be prudent to stock up on the paper products and batteries. – PDB) Next up, cleaning supplies. More laundry detergent, more Oxi-Clean, more Palmolive dish detergent (it softens hands while you do dishes.) Once we collected all the non-food items we need, we move on to the grocery section, which is my favorite part of shopping here. Dan picks up a package of boneless and skinless chicken breasts (he divides them up and individually wraps them and then puts them in the chest freezer that we have downstairs in the cellar.) Better With Cheddar sausages, and a two pound tub of cottage cheese (my choices.) Single-serve packages of Frito-Lay snacks in a 30 pack. Same thing with cookies, normally I would grab a couple of party size packages of Oreos at Wallyworld or Price Chopper, but this time it was Fig Newtons and Lorna Doone shortbread cookies. (I’ve been restricting myself in terms of snacks, and portion control is the way to go.) 8-pack of diced tomatoes, an 8-pack of Amy’s Organics lentil and vegetable lentil soups (mainly because I like lentil soup and of course, I have a coupon for it.) And Dan then reminds me about the coffee, and since I have coupon for Maxwell House (not a coffee snob here) in the cart it goes. Now we’re getting into the personal care (what used to be called health and beauty aids) section of the store, and the only thing on the list is body wash, (Dan prefers it over bar soap.) But then I spy with my astigmatic eye…DARK CHOCOLATE SEA SALT CARAMELS! (Oh yeah, Papabear is gonna get those!) Now to the checkout. The one thing that Dan is adamant about is going to a regular checkout, and not the self-scan. (I have no problem with it, but we did have a rather full cart.) Checkout goes smoothly, and then the final total comes up: $424.00. Another chunk outta my Visa card (it’s not a credit card, it’s a debit card. I don’t buy things unless I have the cash available to cover it.) Now to play automotive Tetris, which means put everything into the ass end of the Compass. Didn’t put the seats down this time, because we didn’t have a lot of bulky stuff aside from the paper products which went in the back seat.

And we get to the final chapter in this retail therapy post:

Part 5: The Trip Home and Subsequent Unpacking

The trip home was a little different. Instead of going Interstate 481, we take Interstate 690 to the exit that is on our way home. More talk about politics in general. I pop a couple of Altoids in my mouth, take some hits off my vape (nicotine, not cannabis) and just have a leisurely drive home. But the challenge is yet to come…unloading the Compass. First step, unlock the front door. Second step, locate the orange and white menace and restrict him to one room (usually it’s the upstairs half-bath but in this case it was Dan’s bedroom.) Final step, prop the front doors open so we can move things from the car to the house efficiently. (The reason I restricted BeBe to one room, that way he doesn’t get underfoot and/or try to escape through the front door. Also, we have to move things down to the cellar and he has a tendency to sneak downstairs when we aren’t looking, and then I have to shake the container of Temptations (a cat treat) to lure him back upstairs.) Finally, we can relax. I get a cup of decaf from the Keurig, park my ass in front of my workstation, finish the cigar that I had going before we went shopping, and log in and catch up with our world in crisis.

Part 6: The Final Synopsis

Why am I writing this? Well, we all have to have coping mechanisms in these uncertain times. Mine is writing (always have been a bit of a literary bastard, and besides, I took writing courses when I was in college.) Dan has needlepoint, and he listens to r/slash on YouTube. We both have shopping, making sure that we are prepared when the shit really hits the fan. I am starting to believe that when it does, it won’t be an outside enemy that precipitates having to bug out at a moment’s notice, but civil unrest that will cause everyone to hunker down and ride it out. That is what I have been prepping for, and I managed to get Dan on board with it.

Again, I may be reading too much in the current state of this fragile world we live it, but with the current leadership (what a fucking joke) we have right now, a president who is trying to remake Washington into a replica of his shithole in Mar-A-Lago, a secretary of defense who has the position because HE LOOKS GOOD ON TV, a FBI director who couldn’t investigate himself out of a paper bag, and has his own brand of booze (shades of Trump Vodka anyone) and an attorney general who constantly drags his feet in regards to the Epstein files and complying with court orders. And now that we have a populous that is getting sick and tired of all the fucking shenanigans coming out of Washington, which has been reflected in polling numbers across the political spectrum that show that the American public in general is pretty sick and fucking tired of the constantly changing rhetoric that indicative of a president who DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK HE IS DOING!

Okay, that is all I have to report on, basically retail therapy is just another escape from the shitty world that we are currently experiencing. Or is it? PapaDeanBear, signing off for now.

– 30 –

(c) 2026, Dean A. Basler Jr., all rights reserved.

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A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (August 11, 2026)


PapaDeanBear’s Monday…Retail Therapy, New Kicks, Watch Service, Dinner, and my Orange and White Menace.

The hubby and I headed to the temple of retail hell (aka DestinyUSA) that has pretty much become the domed city from “Logan’s Run.” (There is no sanctuary.)

But papabear digresses…first up, new shoes.

The ones that I have are a little worse for wear, so I got some Sketchers Slip-Ins which have Goodyear soles for slip resistance, (which they actively market to senior citizens such as myself.) Next, some sandals. Again, Sketchers. I found a pair that I liked and was pretty close to the ones that I had a while back and I wore out. 133 dollars spent

.

(The new kicks)

Next, the watch.

This watch basically has sentimental value. It’s a Casio WaveCeptor analog watch with a small LCD display that shows the date. I have had this watch since 2006, when I bought it to replace a Casio DataBank watch that pretty much broke. All I have had to do is replace the battery, and set it when I got home. (I actually have to get the little owner’s manual out because setting it is a little convoluted!) 33 dollars spent.

(My Casio WaveCeptor analog watch)

Finally, the supermarket. The hubby wanted to get a few things for dinner. Family pack of ground beef (he wanted to make meatloaf,) side dishes of my choice (I told him flat out not to bitch about what I chose, in this case was pre-made sides in the meat case.) Picked up milk, bread, eggs, cookies (Classic and Golden Oreos,) and pre-sliced snacking cheese (habanero cheddar and smoked gouda.) 103 dollars spent.

At the end of Papabear’s Retail Therapy, the total came out to 270 dollars.

As for the orange and white menace, he is basically stoned on catnip and was being a goofball, so papabear had to take photos of him.

(BTW, dinner was meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, baked cheese potatoes, and french green beans. – PDB)

-30-

(c) 2026, Dean A. Basler Jr., all rights reserved.

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A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (August 6, 2026)

Fucking around with AI

Decided to play with ChatGPT:

create a fictional interview about the wife of a bald, short and skinny deputy chief of staff to the president and how she can’t be sexually satisfied until she sings the praises of a sociopathic malignant narcissist president who expresses joy at cutting social welfare programs because the wrong people might get benefits, and that gives the aforementioned deputy chief of staff a pathetic erection.

*****

Absolutely—here’s a fictional, darkly satirical interview that keeps the sexual element suggestive rather than graphic.

**“He Gets So Excited When They Cut Medicaid”: An Interview With the Wife of the President’s Deputy Chief of Staff**

**INTERVIEWER:** Thank you for agreeing to speak with us. First, how would you describe your husband?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Oh, he’s very loyal.

**INTERVIEWER:** I meant physically.

**MRS. WEXLER:** Oh. Well, he’s short. Very short. Bald. Very skinny. He looks like someone assembled a human being from spare parts and then forgot to add confidence.

**INTERVIEWER:** And yet he’s Deputy Chief of Staff to the President.

**MRS. WEXLER:** That’s the funny part. He has enormous power. He just doesn’t have much else.

**INTERVIEWER:** What do you mean?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Let’s put it this way: my husband can get the President to fire a cabinet secretary before breakfast, but he can’t reach the top shelf without a step stool.

**INTERVIEWER:** How did you two meet?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He was working on the President’s first campaign. He came home one night absolutely glowing because the President had spent twenty minutes explaining that poor people were ruining America by receiving government benefits.

**INTERVIEWER:** That was romantic?

**MRS. WEXLER:** For him? Apparently.

**INTERVIEWER:** What happened?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He told me, *“You should have heard him. He was so happy.”*

**INTERVIEWER:** Happy?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Ecstatic. Apparently the President had discovered that someone somewhere had received $38 in food assistance while technically owning a used automobile.

**INTERVIEWER:** And that excited your husband?

**MRS. WEXLER:** You have never seen a man become so enthusiastic about fiscal policy.

**INTERVIEWER:** How does this affect your marriage?

**MRS. WEXLER:** I have learned that romance, for my husband, is largely ideological.

**INTERVIEWER:** Explain.

**MRS. WEXLER:** There are certain things I have to say.

**INTERVIEWER:** Such as?

**MRS. WEXLER:** That the President is a genius. That nobody understands economics like he does. That cutting food assistance will somehow make America prosperous. That people who need housing assistance are probably scammers. That the President’s instincts are always correct.

**INTERVIEWER:** You have to say these things?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Not *have to*. But if I don’t, he becomes distracted.

**INTERVIEWER:** Distracted?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He starts staring at the television. Then he’ll sigh and say, “The President is surrounded by idiots.”

**INTERVIEWER:** And that ruins the mood?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Completely.

**INTERVIEWER:** So what happens when you praise the President?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Suddenly my husband is paying attention again.

**INTERVIEWER:** How enthusiastic are we talking?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Let’s just say that when the President announces another round of cuts to social programs, my husband develops a remarkable spring in his step.

**INTERVIEWER:** That’s a delicate way of putting it.

**MRS. WEXLER:** I’m a delicate woman.

**INTERVIEWER:** Do you actually admire the President?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Absolutely not.

**INTERVIEWER:** Yet you praise him.

**MRS. WEXLER:** I also tell my husband that the casserole he makes is delicious.

**INTERVIEWER:** And it isn’t?

**MRS. WEXLER:** It tastes like drywall mixed with regret.

**INTERVIEWER:** What does your husband say about the President in private?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He calls him a transformational leader.

**INTERVIEWER:** Does he believe that?

**MRS. WEXLER:** I don’t know. I think he believes that being physically close to power makes him powerful by osmosis.

**INTERVIEWER:** Does the President know about your husband’s… enthusiasm?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Oh, the President knows everything.

**INTERVIEWER:** Everything?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He once walked into a meeting and said, “Wexler, you’re looking very happy today.”

**INTERVIEWER:** What did your husband say?

**MRS. WEXLER:** “Thank you, Mr. President.”

**INTERVIEWER:** And was he?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Let’s just say I had to listen to another twenty-minute lecture about welfare fraud that evening.

**INTERVIEWER:** Is there anything that turns your husband off?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Compassion.

**INTERVIEWER:** Seriously?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Absolutely. Once, during dinner, I mentioned that a single mother might actually need assistance to feed her children.

**INTERVIEWER:** What happened?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He put down his fork.

**INTERVIEWER:** That’s it?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He said, “Don’t start.”

**INTERVIEWER:** And you did?

**MRS. WEXLER:** I asked him whether he thought the President might be wrong about something.

**INTERVIEWER:** How did that go?

**MRS. WEXLER:** We ate dinner in silence.

**INTERVIEWER:** Final question. If you could change one thing about your husband, what would it be?

**MRS. WEXLER:** I’d make him approximately eight inches taller.

**INTERVIEWER:** Why?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Because then, at least, when he stood next to the President on television, viewers might mistake him for an actual adult.

**INTERVIEWER:** And if you could change one thing about the President?

**MRS. WEXLER:** I’d give him a conscience.

**INTERVIEWER:** Does your husband know you feel that way?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Of course.

**INTERVIEWER:** What happens when you tell him?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He gets very quiet.

**INTERVIEWER:** And then?

**MRS. WEXLER:** I tell him the President is a historic genius.

**INTERVIEWER:** And then?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He smiles.

**INTERVIEWER:** That’s it?

**MRS. WEXLER:** That’s marriage.

*****

now add some digs about the size of his member and have her describe it’s length, thickness, and how long he can stay erect

*****

I can keep the joke going with non-graphic sexual innuendo, but I can’t provide explicit measurements or detailed descriptions of his genitals or sexual performance.

**INTERVIEWER:** You mentioned your husband’s physical shortcomings. How does he fare in other departments?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Oh, let’s not pretend the man was issued an impressive set of equipment.

**INTERVIEWER:** Meaning?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He’s a very small man with a very large opinion of himself. I’ll let your readers draw their own conclusions.

**INTERVIEWER:** Is his confidence justified?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Let’s just say that his ego has considerably more girth than anything else he’s bringing to the marriage.

**INTERVIEWER:** That’s a fairly brutal assessment.

**MRS. WEXLER:** You haven’t seen him standing beside the President during a press conference. The President is talking about dismantling the social safety net, and my husband looks like he’s just been handed the keys to a Ferrari.

**INTERVIEWER:** So the President’s policies are more stimulating to him than anything else?

**MRS. WEXLER:** I’m afraid so.

**INTERVIEWER:** How long does that enthusiasm last?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Oh, not long. He’s a government employee, after all. Even his excitement seems to have a budget ceiling.

**INTERVIEWER:** That’s cruel.

**MRS. WEXLER:** Marriage is cruel. Marriage is looking at the man you love and thinking, *“That’s it? That’s the entire package?”*

**INTERVIEWER:** What happens when the President announces another benefit cut?

**MRS. WEXLER:** My husband suddenly stands taller.

**INTERVIEWER:** Even though he’s short?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Especially because he’s short.

**INTERVIEWER:** And when the President praises him?

**MRS. WEXLER:** He becomes insufferable. You’d think he’d personally negotiated the Magna Carta.

**INTERVIEWER:** What’s the secret to keeping him happy?

**MRS. WEXLER:** Tell him the President is brilliant, tell him poor people are probably gaming the system, and never, ever suggest that the man in the Oval Office might be wrong.

**INTERVIEWER:** That’s quite a prescription.

**MRS. WEXLER:** It has fewer side effects than marriage counseling.

See less

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A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (March 29, 2026)

Papabear had a bit of a crisis…

Let’s just say up front, I am only relating this as a way for all of you to get a little glimpse into papabear’s life. (Bear with me, it gets interesting. – PapaDeanBear)

Yesterday, the house was a bit of a madhouse. My husband had volunteered to do the main course for a spaghetti dinner for our local senior LGBTQ+ organization, SAGEUpstate (link at the end.) Well, in all the madness of moving stuff from our kitchen to the car, our orange and white menace 🐱slipped out. We didn’t notice at the time.

I actually went to the spaghetti dinner later on (had to Uber, goddamnit) to help the hubby with cleanup and loading the car with leftovers and unused canned tomato products and pasta. So my darling hubby and I get back from it, unload the car, and get settled for the night.

The next day, I am looking around for my boy, and I can’t find him. I ask Dan (my husband) if he has seen the cat, and of course he says “Don’t worry about it, he’ll turn up.” (Fuck you very much for your reassurance.) So I am sick with worry. I love my furbabies, they are family.

So, I go through out the day doing things to distract myself, try to dispel my mental agony, like watching some of my favorite YouTube channels. So, I am basically trying to distract myself and failing, and my despair worsens.

About an hour ago (as of this writing,) my hubby barges into my den, and sure as shit, he has the orange and white menace in his arms. What happened was, Dan had taken the house horse (our Great Dane) outside to go potty (we have a fenced in back yard) and she went and chased away a feral cat that was stalking the birds that congregated around the bird feeder. He went to get her to bring her in, and sure enough the goddamn cat was sitting there behind the garage.

Suffice it to say, this cranky, cigar-smoking old man broke down in tears knowing that my boy is safe.

If any of you are an LGBTQ+ senior citizen, here is the link to SAGEUpstate:
https://www.sageupstate.org/

(And my boy’s name is BeBe, short for Butterball. He is a bit of a chonk. The house horse’s name is Della. – PDB)

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© 2026, Dean A. Basler Jr., all rights reserved.



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A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (December 23, 2025)

Papabear here, and the suppression of the truth is in full swing at CBS, Bari Weiss (who was hand picked by David Ellison (and his daddy the oligarch Larry Ellison) and Donald Trump) has thrown away any impartiality of a once revered news organization (CBS used to be called The Tiffany Network because they had very high standards when reporting on current events) and has, along with Fox News and all the other right leaning outlets, have become basically a state-sponsored propaganda machine. There are independent media sources who actually report the truth instead of the bullshit that the Trump administration wants us to swallow. Two of the best examples are MeidasTouch (although Ben Meiselas needs to slow down a bit and get some real rest else he is gonna work himself into a stroke,) and The Young Turks (where one of the hosts, Cenk Uygur was threatened with deportation by Katie Miller (wife of the idiot/alleged fascist Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller) on dipshit Piers Morgan’s podcast.) So, here is the report that CBS suppressed, but has seen the light of day thanks to Global TV in Canada. Sure enough, it’s hit YouTube in the US thanks to Cory Booker (https://www.youtube.com/@CoryBooker.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiehEMlNiCI&t=28s


Merry Christmas, everyone.
PapaDeanBear

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

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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.

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A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (September 9, 2025)

Madness Is The New Normal

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.

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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.

—————

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

Leave a comment Posted on 2020 Election, Clusterfuck, Conspiracy, Corona Virus, COVID-19, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Politics, Tin-foil Hats

A Curmudgeon’s Viewpoint (September 11, 2021)

A Dark Anniversary

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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.