Author: Tom Fitzpatrick

Life

By on

Laura Loomer, MAGA megaphone and friend of Donald Trump, called Angie Nixon, the Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Florida, a ghetto bitch. This is, of course, wrong and way out of bounds. It is also an irritating diversion from what the media and the rest of world should be focused.

Loomer, an attention seeking asshole, knows that if she says something outrageous, the press will print her bull shit in big bold letters for the whole world to see. So she says something horrible about Nixon. The press, then, asks Nixon for a response to Loomer’s put down which puts her in an awkward position. She can return fire or keep her mouth shut.

What self respecting person wouldn’t respond what Loomer said. So now Loomer gets to respond to what Nixon said and the whole news cycle gets consumed by this attention seeking idiot. This continues until another nut job, perhaps even Loomer herself or the ever talkative Donald Trump beats her to it, says something outrageous for journalists to stir their every growing pot of irrelevance.

So, it gets better. Trump renames Lake Ontario Lake America, right. Now we have the Lake America controversy and the press is lapping it up. What important subjects are not being talked about while Doug Ford, the Ontario premier, grabs headline with his giant sign saying Lake Ontario. Take that Donald Trump. You aren’t the boss of us.

The problem here is that Trump and Loomer don’t care if they look like idiots as long as they are getting headlines and, more seriously, they are driving the media to cover their drivel instead of, for example, say the war in the Ukraine or Gaza or Iran or inflation or the elections or, how should I put this, oh I know, real problems.

Don’t get me wrong, I get why Nixon and Ford responded to these idiots. They are infuriating people. But it is depressing to see so much attention given to these narcissistic assholes and their faux controversies. This is exactly what they want and we are giving it to them every single time their craving for attention strikes them.

By on

Every night, Cisco, my cat, and I go for a little walk in the corridor of our apartment. He saw Bob and I leaving from our front door and figured out that this is the way out, possibly to freedom. At first, he just roamed the halls but after a little while he realized that there were other doors and that those doors could be opened too. So now he stops at the other apartment doors, stretches his body towards the door knob signalling to me that he wants the door opened. When I fail to open the other people’s doors, he looks up at me with disgust.

I tried to make it up to him by opening the doors that led to the trash bins and the fire escape doors which he did enjoy but he still stops at other people’s front doors expecting me to open. I hate to disappoint him. I think I am losing the respect of my cat. A terrible thing.

By on

We moved. One of the onerous tasks involved in any move is changing my address with the various institutions I do business with. In the past this could be done by two simple actions. The first was making a phone call to the institution. The second was a letter to the institution.

In 2026, due to the wonders of modern technology this can be done with a quick visit to the institution’s website. Quick is the operative word here. What would seem like a quick tick of a few boxes in order to retrieve my address has turned into a major production which now involves a trouble ticket to the USA Government one logon for all agencies help desk.

The steps so far:

After my initial logon into Medicare web site, I received a message telling me they were sending a code in order to verify my identity. Done.

They then asked what I wanted to do. I told them change my address which they informed me I could do by choosing one of the four pathways into the Federal Government’s web site. I chose the one I already knew I had a log on in — the USA Government one logon for all federal agencies.

I was informed that I would have to verify my identity yet again. I had to photograph my driver’s license (both sides) and then take a photo of myself. The computer then verified that my driver’s license and photo matched.

I had to verify my social security number.

Then my address appeared on the screen with the option to edit. I tried to edit but I received an unhelpful message informing me that there was an error in my address — most likely my social security number. I checked it was correct. I reviewed my address. It was correct. I tried again to enter. The system found an error in my address but did not point to what the problem was.

I noticed that there was a chat feature. I tried. But before I could chat, I had to verify that I wasn’t a robot. I tried but for some reason I must have missed one of the squares with a car. I tried again but I kept getting a new screen with the same instruction to mark all the squares with a car. I tried several times and each time a new set of pictures appeared with an instruction to mark all the squares with a car. I couldn’t get into chat.

So I searched for a phone number. This proved more difficult than I anticipated as it was nowhere to be found. What ever page appeared on my screen also kept giving me a message that all I had to do was use their system and that it would be a whole lot quicker and easier if just used the internet to change my address. I laughed at this little joke.

Finally, after searching for a few minutes I was able to find a phone number. I called.

I was greeted with an automated message. She asked me what I wanted to do. I told her I just wanted to change my address for Medicare. She told me that I could do this on line and directed me to the USA Government one logon for all federal agencies web site. I screamed numerous times “agent” loudly and clearly. I waited. After a bit of a delay, the automated voice returned. She thanked me for my time and disconnected the line.

I went back to the website and after vigorously depressing a few keys I came upon a screen that allowed me to complete a trouble ticket to their help desk. I completed. I should have an answer within 24 hours.

All this to change my address which, if I talked to an actual human being, I am fairly certain could be done in less than a minute.

But, no, I had to use the easier and quicker web site.

My address has not been changed after about 45 minutes of trying.

By on

Mike Lindell lost the Minnesota Republican governor nomination by about 45,000 votes. Because this doesn’t even come close to Minnesota’s threshold for a state funded recount, the losing candidate has to pay for the recount. Lindell want that recount so he must pay close to a million dollars for this recount. A recount that he will surely lose. Throwing one million dollars down the drain to learn something that you already knew for free.

Now I am only too glad that he is spending money on this losing cause since this means this million bucks can’t be used to defeat Democratic candidates later. It still sticks in my craw though. It is an insult to anyone who a million dollars actually means something.

It is also depressing because his hidden motive is to discredit American elections. He doesn’t care that he will lose a million because he is publicizing his belief that the American election system is a fraud and it isn’t to be trusted. Any speculation about fraud just adds fuel to the fire. But, hey, it is his million dollars, right?

This is precisely the problem. This isn’t money to reinvest in his business or to buy a home or even to keep his mistress in jewels and chocolates. It is to discover that he has lost an election. Something he already knows.

Anyone making so much money that they can throw it away in such a careless manner simply has too much money. The money would be better spent giving every derelict in Los Angeles a steak dinners and a bottle of whiskey — at least someone would be happy in the end. But no Lindell wants a recount just for the thrill of undermining the integrity of American Elections. That is it.

By on

I haven’t been to a concert in quite some time but apparently pooping in your seat so you don’t miss any of the show is now a thing.

Well, I don’t know what to say about this except I don’t think missing a few minutes of a concert, and I am talking about the Beatles here or the Rolling Stones or anyone for that matter, would cause me ever to decide to take a dump on my seat at a concert in front of thousands of other people just because I don’t want to miss “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” What the fucking fuck. WTFF.

And this article is blaming it on kids brought up during COVID. You mean that kids who were brought up to wash their hands a million times a day and wear a face mask to stop the spread of disease are going to find it perfectly OK to spread their diseased filled fecal matter to thousands of unsuspecting music fans? Huh?

GEEZUS.

By on

What kind of asshole kicks a sea lion? For fun? And his friends laughed? So, what a bunch of assholes. To top it off, also kind of stupid because what would have happened if the sea lion decided to fight back?

Don’t say this is typical teen age fun either. Hurting an animal for your own amusement is sadism and is unacceptable. Let’s see what happens to the young man at sentencing. Not much, I am afraid.

By on

I am a little skeptical of reports that the US Navy is having difficulty resupplying ships stationed in the Middle East. The US Navy has had ships going all over the globe since World War II. So they have had over 80 years experience in this type of operation. Now I can see them running short of weapons as a lot of missiles and bombs have been depleted due to use in the war and it would take time for new weapons to be made. But food and toiletries? How can that be?

Yes, the Abraham Lincoln has had their tour of duty extended. But why is this such a hurdle? Supply ships should be able to get to it without difficulty? Can’t they fill up a couple of planes full of food send them to Middle East and keep on flying them until the ships are resupplied? I haven’t heard about attacks of resupply ships, so what is happening to keep these ships from being resupplied?

The reports of attempted suicides are troubling as well. Is this just low morale based on having the tour of duty extended? Or is this just normal wear and tear of people confined to a ship for too long? How many suicide attempts are there in a tour? Can’t they rotate people out of the ship and replace them with fresh sailors?

The Lincoln is not isolated in the ocean. People can get to it. Replaced supplies and staff should be a no brainer.

Am I missing something from this report.

By on

I saw this ridiculous meme the other day about why you should be a Christian. 17th Century philosopher Blaise Pascal first proposed it and it is a doozy.

The crux of the idea is that believing in God is harmless. What do you lose if there is no God. When you die and there is no God, you get buried and that is that. You are dead. On the other hand, if you act like you believe, you gain eternal life. It is worth the gamble.

Huh? I mean huh? The all seeing all knowing God isn’t going to catch on that I am faking it. My understanding of Christianity is that you have to believe in order to gain heaven. Faking it doesn’t quite work for God and He doesn’t give you credit for trying.

By the way this is also a God who I am supposed to be terrified of because he knows all my sins. If tricking Him is this easy, I’m sure I could also get away with a few sins as well.