I was trying to come up with a good parody for this week when I remembered the old Gershwin song, “Bidin’ My Time.” I went looking for a good backing track, but unfortunately, they were limited. I would have loved to have done Sarah Vaughan’s version of this song, for instance. Alas, I was stuck with a generic rendition in a key that is better suited for a tenor. Nevertheless, I reworked the lyrics to this 1930s era song to describe what Trump is doing now… š
I do love a good Gershwin tune, and since the Gershwins were American composers, it seems kinda fitting… And it did dawn on me that really, we’re all just bidin’ our time until this unfortunate era finally and inevitably ends. Maybe that’s one good reason to smile.
When will his time run out?
Some fellas spend their 80s on vacation Some fellas think retirement is lame Some fellas take up golf and meditation Some fellas can’t remember their own names
But he’s bidin’ his time ‘Cause he’sbeen convicted of so many crimes The whole world’s in a tizzy While he keeps busy Bidin’ his time
Next month, next year Perhaps the end could happen But oh dear, we fear Both his ends will still be crappin’ And he’ll keep bidin’ his time Hellbent on fighting with Iran While voters are regrettin’ He’s still set on Bidin’ his time
Cause he’s bidin’ his time While voters spend their last dimes Beginnin’ on a Monday Right through Sunday Bidin’ his time Natalie’s tending His diapers full of tinkle She must love pee From orange guys who have cankles As he’s bidin’ his time And provin’ his mind’s long past its prime Most of us roll our eyes and Patiently waitfor his demise While bidin’ourtime
Good morning, blog watchers. I woke up to the sad news that 74 year old Peter Byrne, singer and songwriter for the 1980s era synth pop band, Naked Eyes, has just passed away in Los Angeles. Originally from London, Byrne and his late songwriting partner, Rob Fisher, wrote the song “Promises, Promises”… which was in heavy rotation during my youth, mainly because of my ex best friend. She was a big fan. I liked the song a lot, myself. Maybe later, I’ll cover it.
This is a great song. Still sounds good in 2026. Peter Byrne died September 14th.
This is probably the first version of this song I actually knew… I was only 9 or 10 when it was popular.
Naked Eyes also did a memorable synth pop cover of the song, “Always Something There to Remind Me”, which was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. I liked that song somewhat less, although in 2026, I can understand its appeal. They retooled it in a fun, jangly, memorable way, even if it is a bit dated and kitschy now. I think it’s a good morning song that certainly gets the blood pumping.
May Mr. Byrne rest in peace. He and Rob Fisher, who died in 1999, gave us a great 80s song that endures decades later. I read that he’d suffered from a brief illness. I hope it wasn’t too awful for him, and I wish comfort and peace to his loved ones and friends.
Moving on…
This morning, I saw something that initially sort of shocked me in a negative way. But then, after giving it some thought, and checking out some of the reactions, I think I might kind of agree with it, on some level.
The post I’m referencing comes from the Itty Bitty City Kitties, a kitten rescue from the Rockaway Beach area of New York City. Apparently, theyāve just updated their adoption policy, which smacked me right in the face today. Behold:
š³
I’ll be honest. Even though I am far from a MAGA supporter, my initial reaction to this post was not a particularly positive one. I had just woken up, after all, and hadn’t had a chance to read beyond the initial announcement before my Facebook feed scrolled on. The policy did initially seem a bit discriminatory and unfair. But I was intrigued enough to go looking for the post and get more information. Just before I found it, I saw an update that explained the “No MAGA adopters” policy in more detail. Behold:
Well… in that case… š¤
The poster then included some of the screen shots from people who had contacted her about her decision not to allow MAGA folks to adopt. They backlash she got from Trump supporters pretty much supported her hypothesis that a lot of MAGA fans are simply not playing with a full deck. Moreover, it’s HER decision, because it’s HER rescue.
The MAGA fans don’t like it when “lefties” try to force them to do things they don’t like, like be decent to people in the LGBTQ community, or stop being blatantly racist. They want to round up black and brown people and kill US citizens on a whim. š¤·āāļø So why shouldn’t the decision maker for the Itty Bitty City Kitties rescue have that same prerogative to make policy decisions for her organization? She rejects racism, sexism, and bigotry. Good on her for that! I think a person can be in favor of robust immigration laws without condoning what ICE is doing to other human beings, and then publicly cheering about it!
Personally, as someone who has long adopted dogs from a variety of beagle rescues, as well as our good friend Meg, I don’t know that I would automatically assume someone can’t be a good pet owner just over their politics. But I have to admit, someone who feels like it’s okay to send hateful private messages and threats to a cat rescue over adoption policies, probably isn’t going to be the best candidate for adopting a pet. Because, after having watched MANY YouTube bodycam videos, I know that those types of unhinged folks often end up getting arrested, and then their pets wind up at animal control. That is NOT the place where any pet wants to be. Especially one that has already been traumatized!
Also, having read the poster’s reasoning for not wanting to adopt out her cats to MAGA fans, and then seeing the actual proof behind her reasoning, I have to admit that she’s made a solid point. People who are still devoted to the Trump cult in 2026, and choose to ignore the MANY human rights issues with Trump’s policies– especially the ones who are cheering on ICE– are not safe people.
The United States’ legal system used to guarantee due process to all people. Now, folks are being rounded up, chained, and shipped off to fucking Africa and Central America, all because Trump and his billionaire cronies are racist creeps. Anyone who supports that shit is a garbage human who cannot be trusted, and doesn’t deserve the love, trust, and loyalty of a pet.
What led up to this policy?
Well, I’m sure I don’t know the whole backstory, because before this morning, I had never heard of Itty Bitty City Kitties. Bill and I don’t adopt cats because he’s very allergic to them, although we both like cats. But I did see this post, which was recently highlighted:
I do wish people would stop using the name “Karen” as an insult… but… I also, I initially misread Pedro’s name as “Pedo”. š«Ŗ
Below is the rescuer’s response.
Well… she’s got a point.
Other pages don’t have this policy. Karen and her ilk can always follow and adopt from them. There’s certainly no shortage of pets needing homes. Freedom loving Americans should be fine with this rescue’s right to choose with whom they will do business, especially when living creatures are involved.
Furthermore, I like the rescuer’s spunk. I hate it when people tell me to “shut up”, too. Fuck them. š¤·āāļø If you love America, shouldn’t you embrace freedom of speech and expression? That’s in the goddamned Bill of Rights, after all. You don’t have to like what someone says. Just move on to a place that is more to your liking, and live and let live.
As for Karen’s comment about the page losing followers for “being political”, frankly, I think she’s wrong. I had never heard of this rescue before this morning. I don’t live in the United States. If I did live there, it’s doubtful I’d live near New York City, and so it wouldn’t be practical for me to adopt from Itty Bitty City Kitties. And as long as I’m living with Bill, I can’t adopt a cat, due to his allergies. But I will probably follow that page, because I like the rescuer’s style. She’s funny and smart, and when it comes to MAGA and MAGA followers, I think she’s mostly right.
Maybe not every Trump supporter would send her things like this (some of the screenshots from her post):
But an awful lot of them seem quite fine with it. And if this is how they treat fellow human beings, I wouldn’t want to see how they treat defenseless animals who can’t fight back in a fair way. Sending this kind of nastiness to strangers really does reveal a lack of humanity and decency, and a willingness to support cruelty to other living beings.
So… now that I’ve had some time to think about this issue, I say kudos to the people behind Itty Bitty City Kitties. I commend you on doing your best to find the best and most humane people to adopt your cats. The MAGA folks can find somewhere else to adopt. I’m sure most of them truly are harmless… just like transgender people who simply want to pee in peace, and brown people who want a better life for themselves and their families. š¤·āāļø
I’m also sure it’s certainly not the first time some of these MAGA creeps have heard someone say “No pussy for you…” š¤ They’ll get over it. š¤
I’ve got a couple more nights alone, as Bill flew off to Prague this morning, and will be spending the next two nights out the outskirts of Brno. Bill and I visited Brno a few years ago. It’s a really nice city. But he won’t have time to explore, because he’s got business to attend. So, while he’s gone, I’ll be sitting here in Germany, thinking about our upcoming vacation, which commences on October 1st.
I’ve been trying to think of something to write about, as we continue to be bombarded by news, rage bait, and utterly ridiculous commentary by the masses. Sometimes, I really just want to go back to 1986. That wasn’t a terrible year for me. I was a freshman in high school, and deep into my horse career. I miss those days, even if I do remember quite a few adolescent meltdowns and unpleasant fights with my family of origin.
As I was about to watch yet another political video attempting to sway my vote in the upcoming elections, I had a memory flash. I don’t remember if it was last night or the night before last. I was sitting at our table, listening to music on my HomePod. I heard the familiar strains of an old song by Restless Heart, an 80s era country-rock band that had some radio friendly hits when I was a teenager.
Now… I actually like Restless Heart. I liked them back in the day, too. They were talented musicians who had tight harmonies and a non-offensive country-pop sound that really appealed to me, given my southern Virginia upbringing. I loved their big hit, “I’ll Still Be Loving You”, which was a number one song in 1987. A few years later, I bought their Greatest Hits CD from BMG Music Club, and listened to it all the time when I was a student at Longwood College (now University).
During my younger years, I just focused on the band’s music, which I legitimately enjoyed… even though it was very commercial and “country pop”, and didn’t have lyrics that conveyed the most earth shattering or profound messages. In those days, I didn’t care about politics, feminism, sexism, human rights, or even racism… I’m not proud of it, but that’s the honest truth. It took some dramatic life twists to get me to the obnoxious liberal “feminazi” I’ve been accused of being today. š¤
In the 90s, I just wanted to get a good job and find a husband. š³ I never did find the job… but I did end up with a nice husband… a southern one, no less. Thankfully, he’s got substance, and respect for me as a human being. I wish I could say the same thing about more of today’s men. They seem less respectful today, than they were when I was young.
But I do remember, back in the 90s– when I was young, and supposedly at my most physically attractive and malleable– I wasn’t considered all that desirable by men. I would have never been the woman described in the Restless Heart song, “That Rock Won’t Roll.” I’m ashamed to say, I might have been considered more of a “pick me”, although I’ve never had the type of personality to tolerate being treated like a doormat. Maybe I wanted to be picked, but I didn’t put up with disrespect. I never have. That’s why I’ve only been intimate with Bill. š¤·āāļø
I honestly liked this song, back in the day… but those lyrics… CRINGE! š¬
LYRICS (this song kind of reminds me of a beer commercial)
Every little move she makes Is gonna catch somebody’s eye You ought to see all the double-takes When she goes walkin’ by But she’s so distant She seems so cold Everybody says that rock won’t roll
They say the girl’s got a heart of stone That rock won’t roll Oh, but she’s too pretty to be alone I’ve got all this love inside me And I’ve just got to see If that rock won’t roll
I’ll give her everything I’ve got I’m gonna change her point of view I’ll keep tryin’ and I won’t stop Until the love in her eyes shines through When I show her This heart of gold Then we’ll see if that rock won’t roll
They say the girl’s got a heart of stone That rock won’t roll Oh, but she’s too pretty to be alone I’ve got all this love inside me And I’ve just got to see If that rock won’t roll
I’ve got all this love inside me And I’ve just got to see If that rock won’t roll Oh, she’s so pretty But that rock won’t roll Ooh, and I’ve just got to see If that rock won’t roll
That rock won’t roll I just can’t believe that rock won’t roll
Songwriters: Bob Dipiero / John Scott Sherrill
So, I was sitting at the table, and “That Rock Won’t Roll” came on… I was kind of enjoying it, because it was a familiar old song. And then I listened to the chorus:
They say the girl’s got a heart of stone That rock won’t roll Oh, but she’s too pretty to be alone I’ve got all this love inside me And I’ve just got to see If that rock won’t roll
All of a sudden, I blurted out “So… let me get this straight. Guy sees beautiful woman alone in a public place. She is giving off signals that she doesn’t want company. He decides he’s going to pursue her anyway. He’s going to keep bugging her, trying to get her to see his ‘heart of gold’. Why? Because ‘she’s too pretty to be alone.’ And ‘he’s got all this love inside’… that clearly, he thinks she wants or needs.” š«Ŗ
Bill was listening intently as I rattled all of this off… realizing that it’s “just a song.” And then I said, “Have I got this right?”
Bill chuckled and said, “I think so.”
“That Rock Won’t Roll” is an old song. It was eventually a number one hit after it came out in August 1986. Forty years later, the mindset is still pretty much the same as it was in the 80s, only men are even more obnoxious and rude about it.
Every day, I see comments from countless men who think that women have an obligation to be desirable to them… willing to be approached by them, less they be dismissed as “bitches”. And yet, the women aren’t allowed to be “too willing” or have a “high body count”.
Women are expected to be pretty and sweet, and not too offensive to a man’s ego. They are also expected to be smart and capable of paying their own bills. They shouldn’t make more money than men do… and if a man gets a woman pregnant and he doesn’t want to be a father, he shouldn’t have to pay child support. But she also shouldn’t be allowed to make the decision terminate a pregnancy on her own.
Above all, if a man sees a beautiful and obviously single woman sitting alone, he should be encouraged to approach her, even if they arenāt acquainted. And if she’s not interested, he’s allowed to keep pursuing her, all in the name of “romance”, neatly packaged in a country pop song. š
Meanwhile, a woman who isn’t so “pretty”, but might actually be interested, gets ignored. The guy isn’t immediately attracted to her. She might have a warm heart, a generous spirit, strong work ethic, a keen wit, and talent. But she’s not “too pretty to be alone.” Maybe she’s just “cute”… or perhaps she’s even “homely”. He’ll overlook her for the pretty woman who’s “cold”, “distant”, and not remotely interested. Then, if the pretty one won’t yield, maybe the guy will settle for the “fat chick.” She can still have sex with him, and will be expected to put out, even if she’s not “too pretty to be alone.” The guy can always turn out the lights, right? š And if he bought her dinner, she “owes” him. š¤Ø
I know it’s just a song… and an old song, at that. And I know that maybe some people will think I’m reading too much into it. On the other hand, music matters to a lot of people. Look at how much money pop stars can make, if they get famous. People hear these songs and their messages, and those messages resonate. They do help shape attitudes and opinions.
Restless Heart went defunct a few years ago, but I still listen to their music sometimes. I know I’m not the only one. I even still enjoy their music. But I also feel like people should stop and think about the messages imparted by lyrics in songs like “That Rock Won’t Roll”. I’m not saying they should necessarily be changed. That song is 40 years old, after all.
I just think that maybe people should pay more attention to ideas like the ones in this song… especially as so many people insist that all lives are “sacred”. Not everyone is going to be “pretty”, but everyone has needs. Everyone has strengths. Looks aren’t everything. And sometimes people do want to be left alone, and shouldn’t be shamed for it. It doesn’t mean she “has a heart of stone.” Why would you want to be with someone with a “heart of stone”, anyway? Especially just because she’s “pretty”?! Beauty fades, but narcissistic sociopathy is FOREVER! š«Ŗ
I used to be sad that I wasn’t “prettier”, back when I was younger. I saw a lot of my friends dating, and thought I wanted that, too. Now that I’m older, I’m actually kind of grateful that most men didn’t see me as someone worth pursuing. It seems like it would be exhausting to be attractive to men… especially those with “so much love inside them”… which I assume was actually probably cum. š¤
Because, when it comes down to it, the guy sees the pretty woman alone, and his ultimate goal is, most likely, just to fuck her. Or maybe to use her as a trophy of some sort. He’ll try to sweet talk her into giving him what he wants. And then, when the prettiness fades, he might move on to another “too pretty to be alone” woman… if he manages to convince her that he’s full of “love”, rather than just feeling horny. Either scenario is pretty gross.
Every day, I am so grateful for Bill. He’s not just my husband. He’s my best friend. He loves and respects me… and would never dare approach someone who clearly wants to be left alone. I’m not just a pretty package to him, and he’s not just a wallet to me. Neither of us has a “heart of stone”. Physical attractiveness is no substitute for actual substance, decency, and humanity.
Restless Heart does have other songs that are good… and they don’t all convey this problematic message that sounds a little “date rapey”. Maybe later, I’ll listen to some of those songs. Or maybe I’ll just take a nice, long nap. Or practice guitar… which I’m going to do now, since I’ve shared this very important message.
Happy Tuesday morning, y’all. I’m sitting here in my office, pondering life, and remembering some unpleasant conversations I had a few years ago with people from my hometown. I can’t help but feel some slight Schadenfreude for a few of those ignorant folks who were egregiously rude to me, and tried to insist that I didn’t know what was what. š
Sorry… it’s just that people have been underestimating me for my whole life. It gets super old. Especially when it often turns out that I was right about something, and they were wrong. “I told ya so”, and all of that… š
In some ways, I’m really sorry I was so right about Trump and his deleterious effect on gas prices. Trump’s disastrous policies are going to cost a lot of people even more money that they don’t have. So many of these folks from my hometown were so sure he would make life better for them. They were so quick and eager to ignore Trump’s obvious character flaws and the many disasters of his past.
They were certain Trump’s focus was on improving their lives. They couldn’t stand the idea of a Democratic person in the White House, especially an accomplished Black woman. So they voted for a demented, grifting, narcissistic pedophile, who has been a loser his whole life, and only projects the illusion of actual success.
In short, they got hoodwinked… And now we’re all paying the price. š¤¬
Tennessee Brando had some good stuff to say about this phenomenon today…
Yeah… I’m glad MTG is no longer stumping for Trump, but she helped put him in power. So… honestly? Fuck her and the horse she rode in on.
I’ve seen lots of people who voted for Trump lamenting about how hard it is to get by these days. So many farmers are complaining about how government programs, that had helped them so much in the past, have been cut or completely scrapped. They are whining about how Trump is now importing beef from Argentina, and pissed off that some Americans are now vowing to only buy food from the few farmers who voted “blue”.
Unfortunately, I think it’s going to get to a point at which it will be hard to vote for one’s principles. At least, it will get that way if something isn’t done about Trump very soon. People are choosing between paying for food or getting their medication. Truckers are threatening to strike, which I think they should. But it will mean shortages and higher prices for the barest of necessities. And there could also be a situation in which people canāt even get the basics at affordable prices.
All of this ass pain comes about because people wanted so badly to “own the libs”, and treated our elections like a fucking football game. Or they voted based on race or sex… or political party. They ignored things that matter, like CHARACTER. I’m not saying that Democrats are perfect angels, but Kamala Harris is a MUCH better person than Trump will ever be. If she were POTUS, we would NOT be in this situation… complete with Trump denying the press access to the White House because he’s so offended by the truth about how badly his second term is going. š¤¬
So, with that in mind, I want to write about a few people from my hometown of Gloucester, Virginia, who, between 2022-2024, were SO SURE they knew better than me.
I’ll start with an incident from the summer of 2022. At that time, people were somewhat less polarized than they are in 2026. A friend of mine– someone I knew and rode horses with in the 1980s– posted about how high gas prices were. She paid $125 to fill up her tank. Joe Biden was the POTUS.
I commented that gas prices are high where I live, too, and have been so for years. I meant it as an offhand remark, but some others from our hometown got offended. I remember one woman in particular, someone I didn’t know personally, but ran into many times on mutual friends’ posts, until I finally blocked her ass, gave me a ration of shit about life in Germany. She claimed that people here live in houses the size of her kitchen and pay shit tons of taxes. She insisted that Trump was the answer to bringing gas prices down. š
Another person from our hometown wrote that Germans don’t have to drive as much. It’s true, there are more public transportation options in Germany and other parts of Europe, but I assure you that Germans drive a lot, too. And they do pay a lot for gas. It’s just part of life. The person seemed to get a little irritated when I clarified that I’m an American from Gloucester, and I know how it is. I mean… how dare I be an American, live in another country, and point out that America is not the end all, be all of life. š¤Ø
Both of these ladies were convinced that life in Europe sucks, and life in America is better. I doubt either of them had any personal experience– at least not recently. And they both were convinced that it was Joe Biden’s fault gas cost so much in 2022.
But in 2026, it’s far worse… and this time, it truly IS the president’s fault, because he started a war in Iran, and the Iranian leaders have blocked the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation. Trump refuses to negotiate with them, and is instead focused on putting his name on the Kennedy Center and his ugly face on Mount Rushmore. So… gas is higher than ever. And it IS Trump’s fault… and theirs, for voting for him. š
Moving on…
In another Biden era incident, I remember a rather heated discussion I got sucked into, involving someone else from my hometown. This was a guy who still lives in the Hampton Roads area, and is a committed Trumper. He was beside himself with rage, because of the price of gas in 2024. He couldn’t drive his boat as often as he wanted, and he was absolutely SURE it was Biden’s fault. š¤£
Below is a quote from him:
The fact that my taxes are higher, inflation is on the rise (bidenomics), gas is high due to the Biden shutting down our pipeline and making it hard to run my boat on the weekends, we are not independent on our own energy, the green new deal that isnāt green (killing whales and wildlife), funding Ukraine that needs to hurry up and just lose already because they are a hole that we are putting money in. Immigration laws donāt exist because of Biden and now we have millions and millions fleeing in the country, (Iāve seen a bunch of illegals in Virginia already)
But you guys being the āsmart peopleā of the group canāt explain any policies, or what Biden has done for America! Its great to know all of you donāt have a brain
This dude took me on, and then suggested that I shouldn’t vote, because I don’t live in the United States, even though I pay taxes to the United States… and I live in Germany because my husband works for the Army. š
Well… a couple of years on, with MAGA Republicans fully in charge of everything, gas prices are now higher than they’ve ever been. This dude was going on about Biden… but look at Trump today. And I’m the one who’s “clueless” about politics? Wow… wonder how his boating is going in 2026. š¤£ I don’t know, because I blocked him, too.
Here’s a quote from 2023, from someone else from my hometown who insists that Trump was better…
āyou just donāt like Trump. I donāt have to like someone to know when they were doing a good job. I didnāt like Trump the person. But I sure as hell liked this economy and gas prices when he was in there!ā
Then, he added āis this economy better? If you say yes, you have to quit watching CNN and the View.ā
Yeahā¦ an economy Trump inherited from Obama. š
And finally, there’s this…
I have actually written about $1.89 gas guy a few times. If you are interested in his “pearls of wisdom”, š¤Ŗ you can click on the tag and find the multiple instances in which I highlighted his “insight” into how politics work, and the “genius” of putting Trump in power, even though he’s literally a fucking criminal. š
In 2022, people from my hometown were bitching about not being able to buy things. But how is it for them now, with a POTUS who is so focused on his worthless vanity projects, has gotten us into a pointless war with Iran, is fucking over truckers, farmers, college students, government workers, retired people, children, the military, immigrants, the press, educators, medical professionals, women, homosexuals…? I could go on and on. š
ā¦at least itās going to America!! Both Bidenās making money left and right off other countries including Ukraine and China and we steady sending them money over there and buying all their high priced resources! At this point i really donāt think anyone cares what Trump is doin with his money if he can get us back to 1.89 gas, normal grocery, house , car prices and restores our all the foreign relations that Biden has ruined!!
š¤£š¤£š¤£
And this…
mmm mmm mmm. Iām not a Trump supporter, I just didnāt want Biden bc of exactly whatās happening! U donāt see the big picture! Itās all coming down to 1 world government and 1 world money system! We were the last hope to fight that! Now with Biden and his puppets in officeā¦.its a done deal! Weāve totally been sold out to the world! U think itās bad now, u just wait!! So thank u and all these other idiots that have supported this party that have drastically sped up the process! I suggest u go dig deep in REVELATIONS and find JESUS!!!
š«Ŗš¤Ŗ
And this…
See thatās the problem right now, any other religion or belief can say what they want to anybody and weāre just suppose to deal with it!! But stand up for God or Christianity and OMG, no no no theyāre a terrible person!! Enough is enough! More Christians need to stand up and quit tolerating this crap! This party traffics children, kills children, wants to kill babies, supports Changing ur gender and wants to take God out of everything in this country! I didnāt make these rules so donāt be mad at meā¦.its God rules! But everyone wants to bend and stretch themā¦smh
Oh my GOD…
And this…
ā¦create jobs!? Ur kidding right!? Most businesses are closing or not operating all days bc nobody wants to work!! There are literally hiring signs on every other business u pass! U hv bought into this media crap so bad that ur completely oblivious to the real world!! Smh
And this (and yes, he was referring to Joe Biden, NOT Trump)…
u voted for a president that canāt talk, canāt walk up a flight of steps, literally cheated through college, has taken credit for speeches he never wrote and pretty much has dementiaā¦ā¦but weāre the idiots!! Lol
ā¦. Doesnāt take much common sense to figure out whoās the idiot here!! Smh
š¤
And finally, this beaut of a comment coming from another friend of a friend who was sure, in 2022, that Trump would fix “Biden’s mess”. š¤š¤¬
Hey yall voted for this! All the experts said if Biden is elected weāll see gas prices and inflation like never before! Hope all the Biden supporters are happy now!! Smh
Wow… so how is that workin’ out for you today, in 2026, sporty? FUCK YOU. šBelow is an AI summary of gas prices in the United States today– September 22, 2026. Just a reminder, y’all. Biden left office in January 2025.
I really don’t think Trump has made things better. Do you? Glad I voted for Kamala.
If you have a spare moment, I highly recommend listening to the very entertaining rant by the red haired guy in this video. He is addressing JD Vance’s plea that we “give him another chance…” It’s hilarious, and it really drives home the way a lot of us wiser folks feel today. Yeah… JD and his Republican ilk need another two years to fuck things up even more? Only a true moron would vote for that!
That very articulate rant is at the very beginning of the video. I don’t know who that guy is, but he’s absolutely right. I admire his energy, and his passion. And for him, maybe I might even muster some compassion.
Unfortunately, the United States is FULL of morons and bellends.
Anyway… that about does it for today. Time to practice guitar and banjo, do some reading, walk the dogs, and muse about what my next parody might be. Have a good Tuesday.
Isn’t that funny? I don’t even remember watching The Gong Show when it was in its original run, because it aired on NBC from 1976-78, and was then syndicated from 1978-1980. During those years, I was a wee lass, and mostly out of the country. We moved back to the States from England in 1978, and I was too busy being a kid to watch silly people doing bad acts on television with Chuck Barris and his raunchy gang.
It wasn’t until I was older that I was introduced to The Gong Show and its offbeat hilarity. But, because I didn’t use the Internet until I was in my mid 20s, I really didn’t see much of that show until I got online. I only heard about it when I watched shows like Three’s Company, and heard Helen Roper (Audra Lindley) talk about it with her husband, Stanley (Norman Fell). Maybe I saw The Gong Show on The Game Show Network, or something like that.
The Gong Show Movie came out in 1980. It was a real motion picture, starring Chuck Barris and his second wife, Robin Altman, who also married him later that year. Chuck was first married to Lynne Frances Levy, with whom he had his only child, his late daughter, Della Barris. Della was also in the movie. She died of a drug overdose at age 35 in 1998. Chuck was married to his third wife, Mary Clagett, from 2000 until his death of natural causes on March 21, 2017.
I mention all of these things, because The Gong Show Movie is a real family affair. It’s rated R, for good reason, because the television version of the show was famously risque, and skirted the edge of acceptability for the television censors, back in the 70s. In a motion picture, more things are allowed. I didn’t find The Gong Show Movie to be that shocking in 2026, but it did include a brief shot of Jaye P. Morgan’s bare breasts. I also heard the word “fuck” uttered a few times.
A trailer for The Gong Show Movie.
Why did I watch The Gong Show Movie? That’s kind of a good question. I very recently downloaded it. I think I did so because Jaye P. Morgan, who was a regular judge on that show, very recently died. I had read about her baring her breasts on the TV show, and I heard that in some markets, they were actually seen before they could be censored. I read that the incident was included in the movie.
But… to be honest, I think I watched it for a couple of reasons. First off, I really like goofy shit. I enjoy Chuck Barris, and I have always thought of him as kind of a lovable kook. I even read his 1984 book, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which included his ridiculous bullshit story about how he was a CIA assassin. I remember checking that book out from the library on Patch Barracks, back in 2007, when we lived in Germany the first time. I see he’s written other books. Yesterday, I even decided to order the one he wrote about his daughter.
Yesterday, I think I got bored, and wanted to watch something funny and silly. I did not want to be reminded of the scary world we’re living in, or hear assholes speak on videos. I didn’t want to read mansplaining comments from males on Facebook. I didn’t want to be outraged by the stupidity of people who insist that every fetus has to be birthed. I simply wanted to be entertained, and not have to do a lot of thinking.
Another trailer…
So I started watching The Gong Show Movie, which really is a very silly film. It helps a lot to have seen the show; otherwise, you might not understand the premise, which is basically about Barris wanting to quit doing his show that was famously a parody of talent shows. Barris was tired of people recognizing him and trying to force him to watch their acts. He grew weary of ratings obsessed executives lecturing and shaming him about the show, as they also profited from its outrageousness.
This film was co-written by Barris and Robert Downey Sr.– yes, the father of the actor, Robert Downey Jr. I see it got low ratings on IMDb, but personally, I found The Gong Show Movie quite entertaining. I think it deserves a higher rating than 4.5 out of 10. People probably panned it because they weren’t familiar with the show, or the idea that the movie doesn’t really have a plot as much as it just makes a statement.
I think it’s worth watching just for some of the guest stars. Danny DeVito, Vincent Schiavelli, Mabel King, Rip Taylor, Jamie Farr, Jaye P. Morgan, and even the USC Trojan Marching Band all put in appearances. There’s all kinds of bizarre silliness, right down to a group of guys dressed as a priest and nuns singing Tom Lehrer’s song, “The Vatican Rag”. At one point, a guy blows out a candle with flatulence. And, yes, you get to see Jaye P. Morgan’s tits, too… not that they impress me much.
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I think we need more of this kind of unbridled silliness on TV and elsewhere. We don’t need more of the slick, AI produced shit we have now. We need to be reminded that we’re humans, and we like seeing humans act nutty. And we all really need to laugh more, and remind ourselves that ultimately, everything is going to be okay.
Was it the greatest movie I’ve ever seen? Of course not. But it wasn’t a bad way to spend an hour and a half. Afterwards, I watched the latest episode of South Park… er South America… I didn’t find it nearly as entertaining. But then, I really love stuff from the late 70s and early 80s.
I found the movie on Apple TV, but you can also see it on Amazon. Or, you can be old fashioned, and order a DVD. You can also watch episodes of The Gong Show on YouTube. I’ve been doing a lot of that, lately. I need to see more of Gene, Gene, The Dancing Machine and The Unknown Comic. That’s a lot more entertaining to me than arguing with idiots, bots, and losers on social media.
Anyway… that about does it for today’s post. I’m getting off to a late start today, because I got up earlier than usual, thanks to Charlie taking a flying leap onto the bed at 4 AM. I got bitten by a mosquito and then had to answer the call of nature. By the time I was done tending to all of that, Bill had to get up for work. I was going to write something earlier, but I was too tired, and needed to go lie down. I’ll probably still take a nap later today.
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