Zamboni Alpacalips: Day Two or I'M SO LONELY!

     I begin Day 2 of my exile in my reinforced cardboard, and string bunker hid somewhere deep within the wild unexplored reaches of Washington, DC. I am forced to ponder how pretty much anyone born before the age of the Interwebz and social media feels when they hear anyone under the age of 30 complain about isolation. I mean, I know how I feel when I listen to it, and my feelings aren't exactly kind.
     To properly frame this rant, ponder the image of your standard 20 something. Forced to stay in homes for days and days on end. Their only solace is...the internet...Facebook...smart-phone...Skype...Twitter and a baker's dozen more ways to speak to their friends and family. Now add to this the fact that most have cable/satellite tv and access to pretty much the entire history of entertainment. Hells, some services like Amazon, have actually started offering movies that are currently in the theaters.
     Now, I am not (for the most part) mocking these youngsters for feeling isolated. It doesn't make their feelings any less valid just because my mind boggles and struggles to reboot every time I hear them speak. I am forced to wonder how they would deal with true isolation if the current situation drives them so close to bonkers.
     I won't say how old I am. Elvis was still skinny, and Sean Connery still had a full head of hair when I was forced into this world. Doctor Who premiered right around my emergence, and Star Trek was still many years in the future. I was born about 15 miles away from a town so small it's still not on most maps, and our closest neighbors lived 4 miles away. The nearest sizable town was 9 miles away, and the nearest real city was 56 miles away.
     I give you these tidbits to provide you with an idea about how isolated we were even in the best of times. My two best friends (Mostly by default because they were the only two kids my age within 8 miles) lived a mile and a half and 3 miles away. Going to see them and "hanging out" wasn't a spur of the moment thing. Between working on the farm and school (8 hours in school plus an hour and a half bus ride to and from), the only time we really had to play was on the weekends.
     During the winter, which even in Alabama can get nasty, we might spend days or even a week or more and not see anyone besides the family. We certainly couldn't log onto the internet and Snapchat or Zoom (Man I should get monies for all of these product mentions) with our besties to pass the time. The only reading materials in the house were Momma's bible and week-old copies of the Messenger that Daddy got from his boss. Still, somehow we managed to live together without going too crazy and killing each other.
     I really don't mean this rant as some sort of insult or even real mockery. I lived in a house with no running water and no electricity for the first 6 years of my life, but I would still probably lose my freaking mind if I missed the Interwebz. I'm an extrovert who really hates most people, but I would always wind up fruitier than a nutcake if I were forced to exist with only my sterling personality for weeks on end.
     I guess what I am trying to say is this. Stay strong, and stay calm. Chat with your family on your phones. Keep in contact with your friends on Facebook. Visit with someone and brighten their day via Skype. All of this will end sooner or later, and we will recover. We weren't defeated by Disco or Skinny Jeans, so we won't be beaten by a virus named after a really crappy beer.

Oh, oh, oh...my Corona or Zamboni Alpacalips: Day One

Before I start this rant, let me state that it is difficult for me to make my usual jokes and snipes. I have been battling Diabetes for over 10 years and suffer from a severely compromised immune system. Seeing the sheer stupidity of our so-called leaders in Washington and various idiots around the nation honestly pisses me off. I hear the lies and sheer idiocy coming out of Trump's mouth, and I get angry. I see morons refusing to heed the shelter in place orders and holding massive gatherings, and I get mad. I see the number of infected growing every day and I genuinely get worried. Despite all of this, I see a lot of people doing everything they can on You-tube and other social platforms to encourage and entertain everyone. I see famous people going above and beyond the call of duty to help as much as they can. So, I am inspired. Okay, enough of all the touchy-feely emotional crap, on with the rant!

Oh, oh oh...my Corona

or

Zamboni Alpacalips: Day One

     I sit here in my cardboard reinforced bunker hidden somewhere in the wilds of unexplored Washington, DC, and ponder how much longer we have before civilization is completely destroyed. I glace worryingly at my 20 Assault Can openers with the mere 2000 cans of ammo and wonder how I will defend myself once the starving hordes discover my location. I count the two cargo trailers filled with toilet paper to try and calculate how long I have before I have to scrounge for moss and soft leaves. I fear for the day when the 22 pallets of Dark Roast coffee I have hidden away runs out, and I am forced to live without caffeine.
     I grew up in the woods, you see. My Daddy, my Momma, the dogs, and me. (All nods to Hank Jr.) I survived that last major apocalypse this nation suffered. Yes, I am speaking of the 70s and Disco. So, this ain't my first rodeo when it comes to the End of the World. However, this is the first disaster where large numbers of people are doing everything they can to make everything worse. People in positions of power are encouraging crowds to gather. Others are spreading the lie that this disaster is all some sort of hoax. The so-called President of the United States seems to be more concerned with making money than he is the health of his people.
     As much as I am angered by the stupidity and callousness of these people, I am not discouraged. As much as it scares me to see how easily these idiots are making things worse, I am not discouraged. As much as it hurts my headparts every time Hair Furrer gives one of his "briefings," I am not hopeless. Because no matter how many of these morons I see, I see just as many if not more people are doing everything they can to make things better.
     Hit You-Tube or any social media site, and you will see hundreds of videos posted by people. These videos range from entertainment like music to how-to videos on ways to make isolation easier. Stars like Sir Patrick Stewart are taking time to read just to try and help. A large number of people are trying to make things better for everyone. This is what encourages me and gives me hope that we can all get through this.
      So to try and do my small part, I am starting a brand new series of rants. I will post one new one every day. My goal is not to be my usual asshole self. Instead, my snipes and barbs will be aimed at amusing and entertaining every one of my readers. (All five of you. You know you are) Not promising that every rant will be a gem, but hopefully, y'all will at least be distracted.
Keep safe, keep happy, and at least keep marginally sane. We will get through this.
End of Rant

Well, I be done seen about everything or Huh didn't see that coming.

Okay so as most of you know (All three of you), I have taken a sabbatical from actually tating on political type stuff. Whether or not this vacation is permanent is still up in the air and is mostly dependent on y'all. I reached the point where the sheer stupidity of both sides of this joke of a government has overwhelmed my sense of outrage. Hells, even the Trolls who normally entertain me are acting even dumber than usual. So, for now, I am not even going to begin to tate about Hair Furrer and his cronies or the NEVER TRUMP crowd. Please stay tuned for further updates as they become available.

Now, having said that, I feel compelled to commentate on the sheer amusement factor that Reboobicans and Trumpservatives have provided. See, the situations with border crashers from Mexico and the situation with Iran/Iraq/Middle East has done something that I never thought was possible. Its got them...wait for it...you ready for this...DEFENDING OBAMA!

No, no, wait. I have not finally lost my last few marbles nor am I on illicit substances (Wait does caffeine count?). I am very serious and honestly just as shocked as you are, but its true. Go to any article about immigration or the trouble brewing in the ME and check the comment sections. You will find a butt load of people trying (and failing) to defend Donnie Dumpsterfire by saying, “But Obama...” over and over again.

Yeah, yeah I know, they've been saying that for years, but usually in a derogatory way that tried to make him look like an incompetent moron. Now, they are extolling the many many things he did while president. Like the immigration crisis. Check the comment sections on any article and you will find the Left complaining about how Trump has locked up and caged children and their families. (which he has BTW) and then you will find the Right trying to defend this by pointing out (Correctly) that Obama deported more Immigrants than any other president and also kept detainees locked up. Gone are the days of “Obama was soft on illegal immigrants” and here are the days of “You think Trump is bad? Look how much more Obama did!”

OK, not enough? How about the current debacle with Iran/Iraq? The Left is all up in arms because Trump used boom booms to kill an Iranian general in Iraq, pushing us closer to another wasted war in the ME. Well, don't worry! Here comes the Right talking about, “Well, Obama launched 1000s of drone strikes and bombings (He did BTW and I have tated on that many times) and expanded Bush the Sequel's war which resulted in numerous civilian casualties. Gone are the days of “Obama was soft on terrorists and wish washy when it comes to to the Middle East.” Now its “All hail the great war monger, Obama! He's so much meaner than Trump.”

I really never thought I'd live to the day when rabid Reboobicans proudly stood up and defended Obama, but it has happened. I dunno, maybe me winning the lottery isn't so unbelievable now.

Say what you mean and mean what you say or "What are you? 4?"

So anyone who has actually read all of these blogs (You know who you are and seriously, get professional help. Reading this sort of thing is not good for you.) knows that I don't like Trump. Of course, they also know I didn't like Obama, Bush Jr. and Clinton. Now I did have a soft spot in my heart (head) for Bush Sr. and I was particularly fond of Reagan. Sure he kind of sucked but at least he had the excuse of Alzheimer which made him our first verifiable mentally ill POTUS. So, yeah, me and politicians are like oil and a match,

During Obama's reign, I was disgusted by the hatred and vitriol spewed forth by Conservatives. No matter how much I disapproved of his actions and policies, the images of him being hung and burned in effigy really chaffed my garters. I railed against it over and over again as Racists compared his wife to an ape and his children to chimps. Liberals proudly proclaimed that they would never do such things no matter how bad a Republican POTUS might be. Well Sherman, set the not so way forward machine to the current day and lets see how that worked out.

Let me preface the rest of this rant with this. I despise Donald Trump. I feel his hatred and bullying has made America the laughingstock of the world. I feel his policies have done more damge to America than the Great Recession. After running on the usual platform of “fiscal responsibility” and ranting against Obama adding trillions to the debt, he has added three trillion dollars to the debt and doubled the deficit in less than three years. So yeah, I don't like Hair Furrer all that much. Okay, now that we have that out of the way, onward and downward!

My Daddy always said that respect is given, not earned. Of course he also said that possum boiled in moonshine tasted good so we prolly shouldn't put too much faith in what he said. But “respect” means more to me than treating others with respect. Having respect means not lowering yourself to the same level as all of the idiots around you. Sure, Trump is an idiot. Yes, he is a bully and God knows he's incompetent, but acting like a 5 year old on the playground makes you look just as bad.

Fer example, Trump and the 3^rd Lady went to a baseball game the other night and the crowds immediately launched into Donnie's favorite chant and yelled, “LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!” (Side type note here, why did the Trumps go to a ball game and not take their kid? I mean...baseball....kids...? Not a dig against Trump, just curious.) See whereas I do view the whole scene as sort of karmic payback for all the times he has inflamed his drones with similar chants and seeing it happen on national TV on front of millions of viewers was mildly amusing, it still boils down to stooping to his level.

I guess what it boils down to is this. If you can't argue against a person without resorting to grade school insults and playground antics, then you are no better than the people you rail against. Conservatives did it during Obama and now Liberals are doing the same thing under Trump. When I ranted against Obama, I commented on his extending of Bush era wire tapping and his nearly doubling of the drone and missile strikes Bush started that led to 1000s of civilians murdered in the ME. Now I rant against Trump's raiding of military funds to “build” a useless border wall and the fact that he is well on his way to beating Obama's debt increases. (Okay okay, I do occasionally tate on his really bad wig and his love of greasy fast food, but only on days ending in Y.) To make a long story short (TOO LATE!) I try to make my jibes and rants based off actual things he has done wrong.

When you criticize someone, always try and view how your words and critique will be seen by those who don't necessarily agree with your POV. Playing to your normal audience is easy, but trying to speak to everyone is hard. But hey, that is just my NSHO.

End of Rant

TeamTrees Milestone! or Moving on up...

Just a quick update for my readers (All 3 of you.  Hey Chris!) from the Teamtrees.org.  As of this morning, we have reached FIVE MILLION trees to be planted.  Think about it!  In the short time, this social media event has been running, TeamTrees is already one-quarter of the way to its goal of 20 million trees planted by 2020 and we still have two months to go.  If we can keep this up, we'll exceed the goal by....well a lot.  So come on, people.  Donate, share and promote this idea.  I mean whatever your beliefs about climate change/global warming, there is nothing negative about more trees.

Social Media Saves the World or Youtubers UNITE!

TeamTrees 20 Million Trees by 2020

     Okay, I know this isn't my usual brand of tating, but this is a movement that I fully support and think that can do an amazing thing.  Not too long ago, the extremely popular Youtuber, Mr. Beast reached the amazing goal of 20 million subscribers.  In response to a massive post barrage suggesting that he celebrate by planting 20 million trees by 2020 to help with Climate Change, Beast did a video where he and his team plus hundreds of volunteers spent two days planting as many trees as they could.  Then Beast reached out to other Youtube content creators to help with his goal.  The response was astounding with a multitude of creators from all walks coming together for this goal.  The result was Teamtrees.org where they partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation Arbor Day to plant the 20 Million trees.  As of this writing, the massive movement has reached almost 4 million trees planted.

     So how can you help with this incredible movement?  Simple, for every dollar donated to TeamTrees, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant one tree.  If you donate $20.00, then that is 20 trees planted.  $100.00? 100 Trees!  It's as simple as that.  I am not a Youtube content creator, but we all can do our part.  Got a facebook page?  Post the https://teamtrees.org/ link!  Twitter Account?  https://teamtrees.org/  If you have any sort of social life, post the link.  Tell your friends!  Tell your family!  Tell your enemies!  Tell complete strangers!  Just tell people.  This is your chance to make the world a better place.

End of Rant

Fairness is not situational or Sauce for the Goose.

 Do wanna know what is the number one thing that really HONKS ME OFF? Pandas with machine guns! The second thing that really chaffs my bunions is hypocrisy. The world of politics is full of it (Well to be precise, the whole dang world is full of it, but that would be a much longer Tate and I really don't have either the attention span or the energy to pull that one off.) and I really am getting really annoyed by all of it. That and Unsweetened Ice Tea drinkers. Really, what freaking planet are you nutters from?

So big in the news recently is rape/sexual assault/harassment. We had Brett “I LIKE BEER” Kavanaugh making his bid for the Supremes, which to me is stupid. I mean whitest dude ever trying to join a legendary Black group? I mean that is just stup...what? Oh Supreme Court! That makes much more sense. Sorry about that. Before that we had Donald “Stable Genius” Trump being accused of improper sexual conduct. Heck, before that we had Bill “There is a Sax in my pocket” Clinton with the numerous accusations of a dozen or so women. I mean, you can't swing a Mitch McConnell without hitting someone who has been accused of sexual misconduct.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not mocking the victims of sexual assault or making light of their claims. Quite the opposite, I believe that anyone whether they be Male, Female or Eggplant should be heard and taken seriously when they claim to be the victims of a sexual attack. (As a side note, I also believe that those who are accused should be considered innocent until proven guilty and treated as fairly under the law.) What I am mocking is the rampant hypocrisy that is being shown over and over again by...well pretty much everyone.

So, the most current contender for “Most inappropriate advances made in a career” Oscar is Joe “King of the Memes” Biden. He has been accused by (at last count) 3 women for making advances that “made them feel uncomfortable.” Nothing has been proven yet and old Joe deserves the benefit of the doubt until proof is found, BUT (My gawd! What a big but!) that is not what this rant is about. (You know I have spent more time telling you what this rant isn't about than I have actually saying what it is about? And yet you are still reading? Well I assume you are still reading. For all I know, you nodded off after the first paragraph or went and got coffee. If you did, make mine extra strong with heavy cream.) As per usual, both sides are up in arms over all of it and as per usual, the hypocrisy is flying higher than Dumbo after somebody mixed his hay up with marijuana. (Cannot believe I spelled that right first try.)

So, before preceding further lets recap in what I like to call A Brief History of Hypocrisy. (All due respect to Dr. Hawking.) Bill “Getting Ahead in Office” Clinton has been accused by a bakers dozen of women of rape/Sexual Assualt/inappropriate actions. Now, none of the attacks have ever been proven, but many of the accusers stories are telling. So Conservatives have pretty much condemned the man as the most evil, lecherous demon that ever walked the Earth even though there is still no hard evidence to prove he did it. Liberals, on the other hand, have pretty much ignored the accusers and even vilified them while raising Billy Boy up on a pedestal so high the man should be dead from nose bleeds.

Fast forward to Trump's push to become POTUS. Another bakers dozen of women come forward and accuse Hair Furrer of rape/sexual assault/etc. Again, no hard evidence to prove or disprove their stories. Here the hypocrisy teeter totter miraculously flips. Conservatives who believed the Clinton Accusers whole heartedly scream, “THERE'S NO PROOF! WHY DID THEY WAIT SO LONG TO COME FORWARD? THEY ARE JUST AFTER HIS MONEY! ITS ALL A PLOT!” Meanwhile, the Liberals who cried, “(Insert previous screams here)” over Clinton's accusers were now on the “WE BELIEVE THEM/HE'S EVIL!” train.

Ok we can skip over “Beer” Brett since we covered him already and move on to Meme Joe Green. (See what I did there?) So, before continuing, I do want to point out that the accusations I have seen so far (May have missed one or two so don't yell at me) against Biden definitely fall under the “Inappropriate actions” section of this rant. His actions do not sound overtly sexual to me, just the actions of a old dude from an old time doing what old dudes did. I don't say this to excuse his actions, just to point out that he (As far as I know) did not rape anyone or even “Grab them by the posse!” (That is what Trump said, right?) However, the Hypocrisy Hour Glass of Doom has turned once again.

Liberals are saying things like “Well, that is just the way things were back then” and “He didn't mean anything by doing that” and even the tried and true “If this actually happened, why did they wait so long to report it?” Conservatives are predictably going with believing the accusers and doing everything they can to destroy Biden because he may well be one of the few serious threats to the Toupee that walks like a man getting a second term.

See, here is my thing (OMIGAWD, put that away!). You can't let your moral compass be guided by your politics. If you think that the accusers in sexual assault cases should be believed no matter what, that is okay. It is not precisely fair, but it is okay. If you believe that the accused should be believed no matter what, that is also okay. Again, not fair, but okay. At least you're consistent. However if your morals flip flops with your politics, then you are a hypocritical piece of crap and that is not okay.

Because of the “why did they wait so long/just in it for money and publicity/etc” groups on both sides, actual victims of sexual assault are often too afraid or too ashamed to come forward after an attack. When no one believes them and they are mocked and ridiculed, they feel safer just keeping quiet and living with the horror and shame some animal forced upon them. It is time we started treating possible victims fairly while still protecting the possibly innocent accused. I made a lot of wise cracks and jokes in this blog, but the actual subject is not funny or a joke. It is high time we started to give the victims the help they deserve and punish the monsters so severely that it shows we care. It is also high time, we remember the truth of “Innocent until proven guilty” and protect the accused until such time as it has been proven they are monsters. I actually let the vast majority of hypocrisy go because it would be just too exhausting to cover it all, but this hypocrisy should not be ignored because either way, some innocent person is going to be hurt.

End of Rant