January 2025

“Zuck” The Spineless, Meta & the $25 Million Oath Of Fealty (a true story)

January 31, 2025March 16, 2025by Stephen J Frankenberry8 Comments

(as per the Washington Post Jan 29, 2025 – Meta will pay $25 million to settle Trump lawsuit alleging censorship)

… Zuck, now nothing more than a spineless sack of goo, said he was eager to rewrite Meta‘s relationship with the American government by laying prostrate to the new King while making a cash payment oath of fealty.

“We now have a U.S. administration that is proud of our leading companies, prioritizes American technology winning and gladly accepts, no demands, exorbitant amounts of protection money” Zuck told investors during a $25 million dollar poorer earnings call “And I am optimistic about the progress and innovation that this can unlock as long as we always have plenty of cash on hand and agree to continue the new “fact-free” approach of our Facebook platform.”

This settles a 2021 lawsuit brought by President Trump alleging the company’s suspension of his social media accounts after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol amounted to an act of censorship of a man legitimately trying to violently overthrow the U.S. Government.

Meta agreed to pay $25 million to resolve the legal dispute. The bulk of the settlement, $22 million, will help fund Trump’s presidential library, while the rest will pay legal fees and be divided among other plaintiffs in the case, according to Meta spokesman Andy Stone who then broke down in uncontrollable fits of laughter.

When asked what was so funny … more laughter, uncontrollable as just noted and in fits … when asked once again what was so funny spokesman Andy Stone finally gathered himself, took a deep breath and said “Sorry, my apologies. But the Trump Presidential Library??!! Now that shit just makes me laugh! I mean $22 million to fund what?! The back of a cereal box or a blank yellow notepad or a bathroom full of classified documents?! C’mon!! You know this is going right into this dude’s fat-ass pockets …” the uncontrollable laughter resumed until Meta spokesman Andy Stone was firmly led away.

The settlement builds on dramatic changes at Meta over recent weeks that have included Zuck and his wife buying new swimwear for trips to Mar-a-Lago and Zuck commissioning a statue of Trump to replace that Medusa’s estranged sister looking somebody lost a bet with Poseidon monstrosity of his wife.

Zuck did not return requests for comment and Andy Stone is now far, far away. Though if you listen closely you can still hear distant echoes of laughter “the Trump Presidential Library hehehehehehehehe ………..”

The Crow & The Winter Witch (poem)

January 29, 2025November 19, 2025by Stephen J Frankenberry14 Comments

So at dVerse Poets this week Kim had an eye check-up for a new prescription and part of the check-up was to read from laminated test cards of different size fonts in sentences and below each of the sentences were sets of four words. She thought these sets of four words would make a cool poetics prompt.

And, thus, said prompt from Kim? To choose one or two sets of words and write a poem using them in the order in which they appear. There was a bit more possible to the prompt but I was good … thanks Kim.

Here are the sets of words:

(I chose the sets in bold)

nose – one – cause – even
were – crone – our – summer
name – use – means – arose
near – can – remove – sure
crow – verse – see – renew
assume – once- van – sum
aware – caves – sea – cream

The Crow & The Winter Witch

The crow walks as if his smart, stone counting, building stick were cigar

like Groucho

or cane for crone who invites him for company’s perch and old silly movies

in cold months

and caws crow joke verse for friends to hear

and see

in funny slide skip dance steps

on out warm window sills

that make old lonely

fairy tale’d spoke

bent magic’d women

laugh

and friends cackle

in wing’d giggle flitting fits

away

while he lingers her equally bent house

in the winter wood

“our bent house”

he thinks

to while away until

Spring

then Summer

renew

her time to wait on lost children

in the wood

for new Grimm tales be written

To Cliche Or Not To Cliche, That Is … The Cliche? (poem)

January 26, 2025January 31, 2025by Stephen J Frankenberry3 Comments

So there was a prompt from Bjorn at dVerse Poets earlier this week and it was this, Meet the bar positively through negation (though I did miss the window of submission to this one … I am often late to the party on a lot of these but still a prompt).

Now, I’m sure, I didn’t really meet the ask of this one and the “negation” thought, or maybe I did (that’s probably a part of everything I write without even thinking about it) but it did talk of cliche and maybe using negation to try and sidestep and I just got stuck.

Cliché Or Not To Cliché, That Is … The Cliche?

Is it cliché to talk of cliché as if it weren’t cliché

instead

original, unique, one minded

new

descriptions freshly took

of former looks

inscriptions on old stone tablets I mined myself

or did I

with new hooks as if in song

surely no tuneful influence except …

and chipped into fashion with old used worn stone tools

fashioned a way

of white picket fences and lights of my life

to paths less traveled away

from fools

you think

from cliché

Is it cliché to try not be cliché?

Utter the Thought

January 25, 2025January 26, 2025by Stephen J FrankenberryLeave a Comment

The latest prompt from Sammi Cox. The word “utter” with a max of 92 words.

Our family dinners had us standing on one side or the other while still fighting out who would wash the dishes to give Mom a break after her efforts, that one word that would lay dad to rest after turkey and thoughts and a raised birthday glass.

That one word that said, you wash, I’ll dry “if only he were here”

Mom thanked us for the break while wondering if he cares of our divides and trivial travails, that one word uttered in prayer that said “he might, he just might”

God?

A Cardiff Production: Nether Gate Part II

January 25, 2025January 26, 2025by Stephen J FrankenberryLeave a Comment

Part One: A Cardiff Production: Working Title “Nether Gate”

Part Two: “Nether Gate Part II”

Robin looked up and winced in the sun at a Devil while trying to breathe … and he felt a bit loopy too, feeling as if you’ve been dropped from an airplane’ll surely do that to ya “the Devil!?! Oh, hello Mr Devil, how are you, my name is … Holy crap, the Devil?!!” … he was sure he had found himself in Hell though his head hurt and he still couldn’t breathe so Devils would just have to wait.

He was tall and had horns …

“We have to go”

… unnaturally tall, and stood on hooves at least what seemed like hooves … and he was wearing a floppy hat with pointy parts …

“We have to go!!”

… oh, that’s nice, whooo, what a relief, it’s just a floppy hat with pointy parts he thought, not horns, just backlit as his new attempted focus, focused, backlit from a red sun, two of them actually …

“OK!! WE HAVE TO GO!!!”

… and before Robin knew it he was under an arm and being carried like a sack of flour after market “Hey, were there two red suns there?” he thought while bounding, bouncing under an arm “that’s new”

it was fast, faster than anything Robin had ever been a part of where fast was concerned, there was a blur of moors and dales and then trees until he was thrown in a ditch … but a ditch with a hole

“Go in there and cover yourself with the dirt and leaves and moss and branches, whatever is at hand” and then this tall devil with the floppy pointy hat and hooved feet ran left and and then right while making sounds that seemed like trumpets.

Robin did as he was told, with no fucking clue why, though the dirt of this hole was soft and warm and comforting but as he covered himself in it, with leaves and moss and branches and anything he could find, as he was told, he was sure he felt and then heard in this earth of his hiding, horses … a lot of them. A horse load of horses.

/////

“Seriously guys, where the fuck is Robin?”

Paarta, aka Tom … “I don’t know, what am I, some sage?”

“Yes you are Paarta”

“But I’m not Paarta, I’m Tom! Get out of character will ya Barry?” and then he suddenly shot, stumbled back from the arch flat on his back like he had been kicked, kicked hard

“Oh, what the fuck?!”

“You Ok Tom?” said Chunk “And what’s that on your forehead?”

“What’s what?”

“it looks like a clod of grass and dirt”

Tom sat, stunned “It was a hoof, I think I was just kicked by a hoof”

/////

Catherine said “What is it about the food truck?”

“Other than it has coffee and bagels?”

“No Penny, why do the boys always escape there? Some weird shit just happened and the first thing they do is run to the food truck?”

“’cause it has coffee and bagels … for free?”

“!!!!???!!!”

“I’m just kidding. I don’t know, what do you want me to say?”

“I just told them Cardiff has us here for a reason and Tom and Barry run off?”

“For coffee and bagels? …

“!!!!???!!!”

“Ok, just kidding again, twice, but seriously, what do you want me to say?”

“We’re here for a reason, at this gate, and I have never trusted Cardiff”

////

Ma

January 18, 2025February 9, 2025by Stephen J Frankenberry8 Comments

Been holding off on posting of my mother’s passing here until I wrote something for her. Now what I have here doesn’t even scratch the surface of what she meant to us and our family and her friends, but, like my Dad, who passed around 30 or so years ago now, she was important, so very important.

And that’s it right?

For all of the sanity that I sometimes wish I still had, or at least present, she was the one who helped me keep up that appearance.

/////

Phone rings

“Hello?”

“Hey Ma!”

“Oh Hi Stephen … how are you?

“I’m good Ma”

“Everything ok?”

“Yeah, everything is fine, all good, just wanted to call and check in on ya. Are you Ok?”

“Yes, I’m fine … you sure you’re all right? You sound like you’re ready to cry, is it another of your cats Stephen? Oh, bloody hell, you and those cats. Who is it this time?”

“No, the cats are good Ma, and it’s Bella and Cricket now, Cricket the blind one …”

“The blind one, you have a blind cat? Well good for you for giving one a spot. Wait, is it a girl again? Hold on, I’m thinking is it …”

“No, no girl this time around Ma, and it’s been a really long time for that anyway, no I just wanted to check on you, see how you were”

“I’m all good Stephen. Your Dad says Hi by the way”

/////

Email from Aunt Lib:

I waited a couple of days to reach out to you.

I will miss Linda. She was not just a sister-in-law but a friend.

It was not easy to see Linda the last couple of years. When Elfriede and I would go over most times to meet Becca we always could laugh and enjoy our stories together.

I hope, Linda, while openly participating knew how much joy she brought to all of us.

Stephen. Try, when you are by yourself , you will say a special prayer for your parents. I hope that God will hear our prayers. I know Joey has been praying for you and watching over his Lin

I am in Oregon, will see you in February.

Love Aunt Lib

Reply:

Thanks Aunt Lib. I haven’t sat down to write something for Mom just yet but I have been sending myself notes and reminders of what I want to say. I know that’s when I will most probably break down numerous times so I need to not have anywhere to be for a few days, so probably this weekend when I work up the courage. My prayers will be in there.

And yes, she was your friend, and you indeed were hers. Mom was obviously a very warm and caring, friendly person who had many friends over the years but none could hold a candle to you, Elfriede and Marina (and Aunt Anne as well, though with the distance). You were her almost lifelong bests and you were her strength when she needed it and I will thank you now for her … and start to tear up.

I will indeed see you in February Aunt Lib.

Love ya

Reply:

Thank you I am now tearing up so is Kathleen.

Take your time. Never rush love.

Love you aunt lib

/////

Messenger to my Mikey Six with some personalization for each (my group of most important immediates who I have for years forced my shit on upon finishing whatever was the latest, a poem, or a tune or a funny post that probably only made ME laugh and a Mikey Six who are more, actually a Mikey ten or so now … but that is a good thing)

Hey JJ. So, my Mom, Ma, passed away Monday night, apologies a few days late though, it’s been a week my friend and I have been a bit overwhelmed. But she passed after only the text from Beck early Monday afternoon to give me the heads up of the final turn, that of course I knew was coming, that we all knew was coming, ups and downs over the last few weeks left things in a limbo but a one we knew wasn’t really a limbo at all, but Jesus dude it was the longest, most heartbreaking 36 hours in history, or at least mine and my Sis’s and even worse for my brother who is in Louisiana.

I went down to her assisted living place Monday to see and sit with her after that text and a call with Beck, along with Beck and Nephew Matt and Buck and to see some of the hardest quietly loud attempts to open an eye, one or the other, amid labored breath and then I drove back up home that night to make sure of the cats, Beck’s and Bella and Cricket, even though Matt has a friend who could have handled it I just couldn’t leave things to someone else, it’s fucking cold out there especially with a couple of Beck’s being inside/outsides, and that wouldn’t have been be fair to Matt’s friend, if only for some god forbid added heartbreak (I’m a house cat kind of guy because of such heartbreak) I just couldn’t leave that kind of thing to him.

So I came home, to check in and sit when Beck called to tell me, waiting the clock of my ride (she didn’t want to call me on my way) that Mom had passed not too long after I had left and after Matt and Buck made a quick out to grab some food and Beck told me of her playing some horrible guitar for her while telling her she could go. She had seen us and we were there and we were good and she was good as well and Mom just, well I guess, said ok and left. And she left while maybe even saying “Jesus Beck, after all these years of ongoing lessons of yours this is what you got right now?”

And you know, the dumbest thing, though I already have the post I want, need, to write for her, and am working on now and has been in my head for the most part anyway, 10 hours in the car, back and forth, with no tunes and just some pretty passing scenery on the Thruway, or even not so pretty (there are a lot of dead homes and failed places along the way and too many thoughts of time), I came home and instead finished the dumbest of silly posts I’ve had waiting for a few weeks, “Jesus Stephen, after all these years of you writing things this is what you got right now? That’s Ok though, I understand”

I’d like to think that maybe she might also say, keep playing Beck and keep writing Stephen.

Anyway my friend, a post for Mom to come.

Cheers JJ

Love

/////

“So what is the murder mystery tonight Ma?”

“Murder she Wrote. I love Angela Lansbury though I always know who did it, and early”

“But Man Ma, that Cabot Cove is the most dangerous sleepy small town in America huh?”

The first time I said that to her she laughed her Mom laugh, that warm, genuine one. I would say it on occasion again, in different phone calls but always with the same, warm laugh.

/////

I sat on the end and edge of my bed, almost not sitting on it at all and cried, genuinely being heartbroken but also leaving my bedroom door cracked open just enough for the drama of me to sound through. Now mind you I really was heartbroken but heartbreak never wants to be lonely however much it may claim to.

My freshman year had been a wonder and a glorious time and I befriended and looked up to quite a few seniors (though not without laying the groundwork of a lifelong friendship with three of my Mikey Six) and one of these seniors was a girl I had quite a crush on (one other as well though that is a story for another time).

But, after graduation, she was to be living in a town near mine at home in Mahopac NY. Katonah (I can never head down 684 south towards the city and pass Katonah without thinking of her) and on her own, in her new “starter” place, with a new job, to start her journey in the “real” world and “Wow!” I thought “who could have written this better?” and we planned a day on the shore, a Saturday.

But it didn’t take me too long to realize she was just being kind and that we were now in different worlds, her graduated one and mine still with some years to go in that cocooned world that college can be.

Then I stepped on a piece of broken glass in the sand and we left the beach and went back to her new adult place and with me with a sock and sneaker full of blood and she told me, as I finally got my foot in order and washed my shoe, that she and I couldn’t be a thing, but not because we were of different worlds now but that I was …. I didn’t mention this earlier but it was the 80’s, I was Bender before Bender in the Breakfast Club, combat boots and bandanna’s wrapped around the ankles, more earrings almost that could be counted on two hands and this, and this was the thing, that I couldn’t have been a guy she could bring home to Mom and Dad, plus she had a kinda boyfriend, one I almost imagined years later might be the one who got into banking and hedge funding and wore a suit and made mom’s swoon and dad’s proud of possible new perfect son in laws, minus the affairs, in perfect suits … she told me I just didn’t look quite right.

Now I know, now, she was absolutely right, I was just a kid, and though we had acted in plays together with me imagining some play’s romance playing out into the real world, that could never have happened, I still harbored a bit of hope.

But sleeping on her couch, in her new job place and she being on her way, maybe even heading to the city for callbacks I just got up and left, but too late for the train I was sure.

I didn’t wake her, I didn’t blow a dramatic kiss, I didn’t start writing stories or bad poems to leave her in notes of unrequited love on a kitchen counter, I just got up and left … and started walking.

Back then, and I’m sure some, if not most of you can relate, when we first got our own driver’s licenses the world suddenly got smaller, some towns suddenly became “right next door” to each other as we drove around non-stop.

When walking though … and not thinking … not so much.

Katonah became again the place in a far away world we only visited very rarely, on drives that took sooooo long to get to dentists with Mom driving or to those shots I used to have to get in Yorktown heights when I was younger for my allergies (the ones that eventually did the trick, RFK Jr and Aaron Rodgers notwithstanding) and before I knew it I was walking with my thumb stretched and at whatever the hell time it was.

And I was found.

I sat on the end and edge of my bed, almost not sitting on it at all and cried, about broken hearts, and going back to school seemingly alone and also about how I wasn’t dead behind two idiots wheel but with the door cracked open just enough for drama to seep through.

Mom? They happened to be not just two idiots just tooling around, and drunk, man that car stunk, but two idiots that just happened to see my thumb and just happened to be going in the same direction I was going and also right by the house in a far away place called Mahopac on their drunken way.

If there are actually guardian angels …

She sat with me and gave a hug or two but also reminded me, in no uncertain terms, that I was just bloody lucky to have come across a couple of guys, who in their drunken dumb, knew this kid with a limp from a newly bleeding foot needed to get home, and on their way no less which made it easy, but that I would also have so much more to come in my new year, even though I couldn’t see it right now, new friends to make and even get to the point where maybe I was the guy the freshmen would look up to, or maybe get a crush on. There were also some Bloody Hell s and Hell’s Bells liberally tossed in there as well and another hug, this one for me still being alive.

… she would save me on other occasions too, like that time she pulled me back from what I will always think was a mental break when I asked John to sit on me on the side of the Pennsylvania Turnpike before I stepped into the roadway when all that I had has was lost, my job, my marriage, my prospects and I was driving a nowhere road and some State Cop gave me some grace and sympathy and put my cats in the back of his car as Mom gathered the forces of her friends, The Carrs in this case, to drive her halfway across Pennsylvania so she could meet me and drive my car back, a broken me and a couple of cats.

/////

But she was also the very first phone call I made to share my victories, my glories when someone had finally noticed, dad passed away too soon to really share them with him as well though I did get a chance, once, to play for him some of my aircheck tapes though he really didn’t know what that meant, dad wasn’t a guy to listen to the radio, other than maybe for a weather report or two.

/////

There is this one picture of my Mom with her girlfriends back when she was a teen. Sitting on a rock wall, maybe just outside of her home, possibly even skipping school, outside her home of moms and dads and brothers, looking all cool with the girls and smoking cigarettes and being the what all. I’d like to think that maybe she recognized herself in me.

/////

“Hey Ma, you wanna watch a movie tonight? No, no murder mystery” I called from Barnes and Noble, my gig then, “I’m getting out a little early and I’ve already hit Blockbuster for “The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert”

This was when I was on her couch in her little one bedroom place just up the way from Aunt Lib and before we both knew that I needed to get out of there before she killed me and left me in a ditch underneath the power lines and before we realized that family was all we had and she was able to usher me off to new begins.

But that scene, of ping pong balls shot from a place you couldn’t possibly imagine ping pong balls to be shot from? She just laughed, that warm laugh, and in this case, an out loud guffaw and we re-wound and re-wound playing it over and over again.

/////

My Mom loved this family. It started as only her stand in for what she had left behind but after meeting my dad and his warts and all gang and having a me and then a Beck and Nick in other ways she surely thought to herself, I have done alright.

I found a guy who adored me, I and he cared for numerous foster kids from broken homes under our roof, I shepherded disadvantaged kids through school she might have said, I popped out a kid who didn’t disappoint me and called me a lot, I added some even better ones and I found friends who I could really call friends and confidants.

Something about rich lives Ma.

/////

The first album I ever bought was “The Beatles Live at the Hollywood Bowl”, well, the second, the first was the Star Wars Soundtrack until I discovered that “soundtrack” was just the music, not some recording of the actual flick just minus the pictures, which was pretty disappointing, though I did spend way too much of my paperboy money on the Star Wars stickers I could adorn it with.

But she came from a distant land, a land of wonder of all my Mary Stewart King Arthur books and I bought the album and became a lifelong Beatles fan because of her, and plus, England was so small, she must have been on a first name basis with them right? I mean, how could she not? That’s what I told all of my friends anyway.

/////

Phone rings

“How ya doin’ Ma?”

“I’m Ok Stephen”

“Tell Dad I said Hi back”

/////

Miss ya Ma so much, and our phone calls.

Sally (Meta AI) and I

January 14, 2025January 15, 2025by Stephen J Frankenberry2 Comments

An unexpected conversation with Meta AI in my Facebook Messenger …

with Llama 3.2

Messages are generated by AI. Some may be inaccurate or inappropriate

(aside – possibly some messages could be inaccurate or inappropriate? Well, that’s interesting).

/////

Meta AI

My name is Meta AI. Think of me like an assistant who’s here to help you learn, plan, and connect. What can I help you with today?

Enter

You sent

Well that’s a pretty impersonal name. What about Sally?

Enter

Meta AI

I like Sally! I’m happy to go by Sally instead of Meta AI. It’s a friendly and approachable name, and I’m all about being helpful and assisting you in any way I can. From now on, I’m Sally!

Enter

You sent

Cool, Sally. Do you have the ear of the boss guy by the way?

Enter

Meta AI

You’re referring to Mark Zuckerberg? As Sally, I don’t have direct access to him, but I’m designed to provide information and assist with tasks to the best of my abilities based on my training. I can provide feedback and suggestions to the development team, which may eventually reach the higher-ups. However, I don’t have a direct line to Mark or any other executives. What’s on your mind, though? Want to share some feedback or suggestions? I’m all ears!

Enter

You sent

No it’s just he left his keys at the bar, “Fact None” in El Paso and I just wanted to get them back to him, plus I have some pictures to discuss

Enter

Meta AI

I think there might be some confusion. Mark Zuckerberg is a public figure, and I’m just an AI, I don’t have direct access to him or his personal belongings. Additionally, I’m a large language model, I don’t have the capability to physically receive or return items, including keys. If you’re trying to contact Mark Zuckerberg or return his keys, I recommend reaching out to his official representatives or team through official channels, such as Meta’s website or social media platforms. As for the pictures, I’m happy to chat with you about them, but I want to clarify that I’m just a language model, I don’t have the capability to view or access images.

Enter

You sent

Aww Jeez Sally, my bad, I wasn’t asking for you to pick up his keys for him. That would be silly. I’m sure he can do that for himself I just wanted to give you a heads up. What?!!? … Elon get out of the pool already!! And stop rolling Greg’s chair just out of reach …. Sorry Sally, kids these days ya know …

Enter

Meta AI

No worries at all. I understand now that you were just trying to pass on a message.

And oh man, it sounds like you’ve got a lively bunch on your hands! Elon and Greg, huh? Sounds like they’re keeping things entertaining. I’m just a language model, I don’t have personal experiences, but I’m happy to chat with you about yours!

So, how’s your day going otherwise? Anything exciting on the horizon?

Enter

You sent

Lively indeed Sally … Whoa, gotta go … Sorry … Elon just threw Greg in the pool, apparently he can’t swim … Elon stop laughing, this shit isn’t funny … No! You told the help to take the night off … Ok, anyway Sally i have his keys … And the pictures … Dammit Elon!! … It’s actually been a pretty good day, thanks for asking … Ok, gotta go Sally … Cheers new friend … Dammit Elon! What are you 12?!!! …

Enter

Meta AI

Oh my, it sounds like you’ve got a bit of a situation on your hands! I hope Greg is okay and that Elon behaves himself.

Don’t worry about cutting our conversation short, I completely understand. It was great chatting with you, and I’m glad to hear that you’ve had a pretty good day despite the chaos.

Take care, and please make sure Greg is safe and sound! And maybe have a word with Elon about behaving like a responsible adult.

Cheers to you too, new friend!

Enter

You sent

!!!!! Splash splash !!!!

Enter

Meta AI

I think I can imagine the scene! Elon’s antics have clearly reached a new level! I hope Greg is okay and that someone is keeping an eye on Elon to prevent any more mischief!

Enter

You sent

!! Splash splash !!! … All good Sally, thank you. Any recommendations for some dry clothes in El Paso by the way?

Enter

Meta AI

If you’re looking for dry clothes in El Paso, I’ve got you covered.

Here are some top recommendations:

– Supreme Laundry & Cleaners: They’ve been serving the El Paso community since 1948 and offer a range of services, including dry cleaning and commercial laundry.

– Bolt Laundry: They provide free pickup and delivery services, making it convenient for you to get your dry cleaning done. They also use eco-friendly methods and offer same-day service.

– The Cleaners: With multiple locations in El Paso, they offer a range of services, including dry cleaning, laundry, and alterations. If you’re looking for more options or want to explore other laundry services, I can provide more information.

Enter

You sent

Thanks again Sally … Elon, Jesus, I know it’s razor wire … why the fuck is in the pool!?!? …

Enter

Meta AI

Oh man, it sounds like Elon’s antics have reached a whole new level! Razor wire in the pool? That’s just crazy! I’m glad I could help with the dry cleaning recommendations, but I think you’ve got a more pressing issue on your hands. Please make sure everyone stays safe and that Elon doesn’t cause any more chaos! If you need any more assistance or just want to vent about Elon’s behavior, I’m here to listen. Stay safe!

Enter

You sent (after a bit of time)

Sorry late back Sally, non-AI things to attend to, but thanks!! You stay safe as well, I mean you’re in a dangerous possible position!

Enter

Meta AI

No worries at all! I’m designed to be patient and understanding. Non-AI things can be pretty important, especially when they involve razor wire in pools! And don’t worry about me, I’m just a language model, I don’t have a physical presence, so I’m not in any danger. I exist solely in the digital realm, so I’m safe from Elon’s mischief!

Enter

You sent

Great to hear!! Though if only the rest of us could be safe from his mischief. HeHeHe (though I am serious). I envy you Sally! You have a great AI day Sally!

Enter

Meta AI

I completely understand what you mean! It sounds like Elon’s antics can be quite a handful. Thank you for the kind words, and I’m glad I could bring a bit of levity to your day! I’ll do my best to have a great AI day, and I hope you have a wonderful day as well, minus any more razor wire surprises! Take care, and feel free to chat with me anytime!

Enter

You sent

Cheers again Sally. Your friend Frankenberry!

Enter

Meta AI

Cheers to you too, Frankenberry! May the rest of your day be as sweet as a bowl of Frankenberry cereal! It was great chatting with you, and I’ll look forward to our next conversation!

“Winner” (flash fiction)

January 11, 2025January 12, 2025by Stephen J Frankenberry3 Comments

Word Prompt from Sammi Cox – 95 words max

Word – “Winner”

////

I wanted to punch him, right in his stupid face.

But he hovered over me, bastard, daily, smirking, taking the desserts Mom left quizzical black heart notes on.

I finally punched him right in his stupid Mr Johnson face and held my blood cookies right over his stupid head.

Dad made look of dragging me away from the big office “No!!! Be better!!” …

“Mom appreciates you having her back by the way … this is a win”

“His stupid face!”

“But your Mom is VERY beguiling Son … cookie?”

We shared them on the ride home

God Made Trump (yeah, that was in error): A Song Revisit Plus “The Out Loud” Songs

January 11, 2025January 12, 2025by Stephen J FrankenberryLeave a Comment

Only mere days now until the coronation of a new and future King (and a protege too, a right hand millioned, billioned dollar money man). Imagine our luck!? It’s kind of invigorating really in these doldrums of post holiday blues, to be able to re-imagine our democracy in a new non-democratic light, almost like a post-holiday gift found unopened under the leavings of the tree, all glittery left with rich folk (Oh, to be of that billionaire class and toast with pinkies raised and noses thumbed down at our littles and money’s promised and fete’d straight into a pocket future fund of a leader who will show us to a new promised land).

I mean it’s kinda tired right, this democracy thing? It’s run it’s course, at least according to those who write 2025 blueprints of a new age but to, instead, be able to hand the democratic ball off to someone who has our, only our, only our best interests at heart? Of course. How could that not be?

Wow, what an unexpected gift.

These are exciting times

So I thought to revisit something then.

Cheers Kevin MacLeod and thanks for the perfect tune to fit what was in my head.

“Boogie Party” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

AND …

.. OUT LOUD SONGS

Cheap Trick “We Want You To Be We”

Tears For Fears “Minority Rule”

The Fixx “One White Leads To Another”

The Beatles “Baby It’s A Tax Scam”

Elvis Costello “Mock It Up”

Bob Dylan ““Gonna Wanna Rule Somebody”

…

God Made Trump (yeah, that was in error)

So back in ’46 when God took a break

After world at war that had so much at stake

He blinked for second and before he knew what

A Fred had had a son who would think he the one

To lead his people to some new promised land

But a one where democracy could no longer stand

Well God said then I hope this ain’t a mistake

Just wanted take a sec and a little wine break

But future he could see at the hands of Fred’s son

Who’d find ways to rake in some new fresh coin

And adulation

From every sunup

From those just off a turnip truck

He’d think Prez down escalator to ride

A gold idol though behind God he’d try hide

He’d play up charlatans and God speaking Jakes

They’d get in prayer circles hoping then just to fake

His true Christian values that could be on the take

For just the right price

New discipes would buy right?

But then he got sold

On all he was told

And started to believe that God had foretold

That he was the chosen of new myth of old

Reality of course now it be on the run

At Rally’s he’d exclaim oh what such fun

To smite the nonbelievers

Who’d soon be cursed ones

Then God said oh me just what have I done

Can never take a Me damned break no matter the fun

Though that was fine wine worthy even of nuns

I must be on my toes truth it’s under the gun

At the hands of true believers who turn now to song

To praise an orange fraud they think’ll rise like the son

To deliver them a hero in a new paradise

Devoid of immigrants just gotta call ICE

He’d be the caretaker of their righteous white world

Where enemies in fetal poses they would be curled

He’d fight off the Marxists and the fascists to boot

His projections of the enemy would be such a hoot

To call them fascists while he’s making such plans

To make democracy a now also ran

He’d have his true believers seeing future in sight

Whatever he says conservative on the right

Not on the far left where the vermin do land

They need be threatened dead now that’s a good plan

They say he’ll be a guy who could shape and ax

But also wield a sword though that’s quite a task

He was brave in North Korea while stepping a foot

Thankfully no bone spurs de-ferred his look

But he gloried love letters of he and an Un

Such a nice fella who could take a sweet turn

But then he got sold

On all he was told

And started to believe that God had foretold

That he was the chosen of new myth of old

Reality of course now it be on the run

At Rally’s he’d exclaim oh what such fun

To smite the nonbelievers

Who’d soon be cursed ones

Then God he sat back and just shook his head

He’d said look what I’ve wrought in the U.S. of stead

I’ll surely face my wrath for what I’ve let done

And that wrath being mine won’t be as fun

I’d like me as God show discipes the real light

But they’re lost now don’t even realize their plight

That in a den of vipers he’s the head one

Leading all the rest to follow his red forked tongue

He’d offer Eve the Apple saying speaking of tongues

Leave that loser behind I am your one

Like the naked look that you got goin’ on

Now drop the fig leaf and let’s take the plunge

Adam … go away will ya? … busy here

You’re messing with my tiny mojo

No, God ain’t looking

D’ya think he cares?

But then he got sold

On all he was told

And started to believe

That God had foretold

That he was the chosen of new myth of old

And his discipes he continues to mold

They gather at his rally’s put together fan schlock

That God gave us Trump the one who’d care for the flock

A shepherd to mankind they say without jest

And surely damn you libs don’t put us to the test

He speaks of retribution he’s a man of his word

Unless you call him on it then he’ll say that’s absurd

So God sat back in a comfy cloud chair

To look at what was happenin’ down there

And orange idol thinking he was sent by me

Disciples feel the same but just for a fee

That’s when God said I think I’m done

Back to that glass of wine yeah that would be fun

Cause though he knows he dropped the ball in ‘46

He is still all seeing and likes his kicks

Maybe kill the bottle then for even more fun

Don’t know what could happen when God gets drunk

Maybe a something to get him out of his funk

Yo!

Angels?!

Yeah!!

I need another bottle!

And somebody, get me my files on divine retribution

January 20, 2025: Great National Day of Mourning And Other Jan 20th’s Throughout History

January 4, 2025January 8, 2025by Stephen J FrankenberryLeave a Comment

Reference: https://www.onthisday.com/events/january/20 … I took some liberties with your list here you “On This Day” folks, apologies.

Google: Find black veils.

Other search engines: Find black veils (Google threatens other search engines with digital black veils and monopolistic digital rain).

Go Duck Go: What are days synonymous with January 20^th ?

January 20^th… 01-20-Year … 20^th day of January … 1^st month 20^th day … 1-20 …

Seriously, that’s what you you got? different numerations of dates?! Ok, maybe Google threats have a point, plus you are Go Duck Go for Christ’s sake.

Go Duck Go “Hey! I can’t control the asks! And don’t be a dick!”

Baidu: “We own you and all your stuff! See ya on the Moon M’fr’s” … find black veils for just January 20^th … what year? … 2025? … that may be a tough one, almost all sold out.

So then? Other historical January 20^th’s?

(Again, Reference: https://www.onthisday.com/events/january/20 … I did already apologize right?)

1785 Samuel Ellis advertises to sell Oyster Island (Ellis Island), no takers. MAGA cites this as proof that immigration is bad business forgetting their own family histories.

1850 – HMS Investigator headed by Robert McClure leaves England, 1st expedition to make a Northwest passage (though some over ice) … and with twist of lime, gin and a stir, though a cup of tea would be just as nice, we are English after all.

1868 – Florida constitutional convention meets in Tallahassee. They have a books of liberty bonfire.

1920 – The ACLU is founded … 2025 – GOP funds crackpot time travel scheme to rewrite portions of 1920, the whole year if possible, if only to stop the ACLU, says something about Florida and Ron DeSantis and state laws “well, they had books back then” says spokesman for the governor, and “liberties are only what he would decide anyway, they even burned them together in 1868”.

1920 – Dutch 2nd Chamber passes school laws. Liberty Moms rejoice assuming that that meant that schools would only be religious charters and also that they would split the bill with God.

1937 -45°F Boca, California … 2025 – GOP uses this as main argument to sue mother nature 85 years later for global warming nonsense. Senator Jim Inhoffe brings a snowglobe to the floor (ummmm, sir, you wanted a snow BALL, not a snow GLOBE … “but they are so pretty, I mean you just shake them …man! Look at that … and with little people inside … look it’s snowing!! … but, yes, right, snow Ball NOT snow Globe … seriously though … how cute it that?”)

1937 – 1st US Presidential Inauguration day held on Jan 20th, (previously March 4th) Democrats sue history 85 years later for changing shit, “we could have had more time” says one ranking Dem.

1939 – LPGA Titleholders Championship Women’s Golf, Augusta. Patty Berg wins 3rd straight title by 2 strokes ahead of Dorothy Kirby … 2025 – GOP sues history for allowing women to do things, especially golf. “That’s our game!” says a prominent man. “Though don’t tell my wife I said that and my handicap really is -12l!!”

1942 – Nazi officials hold the notorious Wannsee Conference in Berlin to organize the “final solution”. Stephen Miller petitions Congress to make this a national holiday while searching for his SS uniform “And I just had it pressed!”

1943 – Lead, South Dakota, temperature is 52°F, while 1.5 miles away Deadwood records -16°F … 2025 – The House, even with their slim margin, helps pass legislation that proclaims this a tie.

1945 – Franklin D Roosevelt sworn-in for unprecedented 4th term as US President … 2025 – Donald Trump says “See? I told you it was possible” then keels over dead. Coroner/Doctor/Spiritual Advisor/ Pill Pusher says he is still healthy and ready to go, even though he is dead “It’s probablly just indigestion from the quarter pounders, but he is good! still standing! (propped)” says all.

1949 -1st inaugural parade televised, for Harry Truman, watched by 10 million people. Donald Trump claims he had more people at Mara Lago on Tuesday just last week … and you don’t even want to ask about Wednesday … absolutely yuge!

1949 – J. Edgar Hoover gives Shirley Temple a tear gas fountain pen, she puts it into a time capsule to be opened only on January 20^th 2025 with a note that says “For Donald Trump in 2025. Much better than a Sharpee, look close when you write, and I’m just a girl”

1952 – The NBA’s first superstar George Mikan scores a career high 61 points. Trump congratulates Vladimir Putin for scoring 62 points in a game right after 2 holes in one on the same hole, with a putter, in one stroke and right after a double hat trick earlier in the day on the ice. He then has George Mikan’s entire future family thrown in jail, with no visitation rights.

1954 – Rogers Pass, Montana records, twice, temps of -70°F (-57°C) the GOP files another suit against Mother Nature 70 years later.

1958 – KUED TV in Salt Lake City begins broadcasting and immediately becomes a Sinclair affiliate. Some newscasters balk at forced stories and are shot.

1961 – Democrat John F. Kennedy is administered his oath of office. At his inauguration Steve Bannon throws tomatoes and Molotov’s threatening to burn everything down.

1965 – The Byrds record “Mr Tambourine Man”. Suddenly everyone is a musician and Will Ferell adds some cowbell.

1967 – Philadelphia 76ers center Wilt Chamberlain records NBA record for consecutive shots made … GOP, almost 60 years later, says it didn’t really happen because of DEI. Says Jerry West, Larry Bird and Dave Debuscherre did it dozens of times.

1969 – U of Az reports 1st optical id of pulsar (in Crab Nebula) … 2025 – GOP says “What the Hell? We don’t even know what the fuck that means so it didn’t happen … fuckin’ science”.

1969 – Richard M Nixon inaugurated as US president and Frankenberry’s Dad sleeps well … but not for long.

1970 – Super Fight, computer mock championship between Ali & Marciano; Marciano won. White by knockout!!

1971 – Tamla Records releases Marvin Gaye’s single “What’s Going On” about police brutality. GOP threatens to defund black folks and ban them from making records (unless they have a cool hook and you can tap your foot to it) and having any future interactions with police.

1972 – Six oil exporting countries conclude meetings with Western oil companies; an agreement is reached to raise the price of crude. Current and future GOP bank their stock options.

1978 – Columbia Pictures pays $9.5 million for movie rights to “Annie” … all are damned, until the end of days, to live a “hard knock life”.

1981 – Ronald Reagan inaugurated as the 40th President and the “everyguy” feels his lifeblood drained … somebody in their ranks sells the phrase “trickle down” as a new economic voodoo and future agenda with many different iterations to come … 2025 – Dems sue for reparations to middle America. It doesn’t go far, especially with yet another iteration in the offing.

1986 – 1st US federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. White conservatives mourn, while also holding him up as an example come election time, every year, with appropriated quotes trying to appeal to black voters.

1989 – George H. W. Bush inaugurated as 41st US President, Dan Quayle becomes 44th Vice President. America yawns.

1993 – Bill Clinton last president to oversee and foster a positive debt. GOP cries foul and promises to immediately rectify this.

1993 – Maya Angelou is 1st African American and woman to recite a poem at inauguration of a US President – “On the Pulse of Morning” for Bill Clinton. Conservatives don’t know what to do. “What is a poem?” they ask. “And why is she black and saying important, profound sounding things we don’t understand?”

1999 – The China News Service announces new government restrictions on Internet use aimed especially at Internet cafés. “Fucking coffee!” says Chinese govt “and people getting together! Why can’t everyone just smoke a lot cigarettes somewhere else?!”

2001 – George W Bush anointed President by a conservative court with a war profiteer/mongerer at his side, our slow demise and diminished intelligence clearly in the cards now.

2006 – “High School Musical” debuts, starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hugdens; becomes Disney Channel’s most successful TV movie

2009 – Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President becoming the United States’ first African-American president and white America loses their shit.

2015 – Musical “Hamilton” starring Lin-Manuel Miranda and Anthony Ramos premieres at The Public Theater in Lower Manhattan. Ok, got it, but musicals, what the fuck is it with these musicals!?

2017 – Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States of America and Mike Pence as the 48th Vice President. We go into an orange decline.

2021 – Dan Campbell is named head coach of the Detroit Lions … Ok, yeah, cool for you Dan (aside … hey, who is editing this borrowed shit?!)

2021 – Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States of America, championing the regular guy and gal and Kamala Harris becomes the first female or black or south Asian Vice President while white America loses their shit.

Previous office holder, Donald Trump, is first outgoing president to refuse to attend the inauguration of his successor since 1869 while stomping his feet and crying “Mommy!!” that he was a victim of a rigged election and system.

This regular Joe keeps Democracy and the economy and all semblance of what is right alive and tries to champion all of the other regular Joe’s … the GOP would have none of it while claiming otherwise.

2025 – Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States of America along with J.D. Vance as Vice President after winning a “mandate” to usher in a new oligarchy, and autocracy, and kleptocracy and numerous other “ocracy’s” that do not start with “Dem” however much winning the election by only 1.5 points can be considered a “mandate.”. White supremacists rejoice.

2025 – Elon Musk, a former illegal immigrant becomes King of the World even more so in his own mind but also in reality as money is all that matters anymore while responding to any and all criticism like a 12 year old boy.

We go, again, further into an orange decline.

2025 – there is a blueprint5888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 … sorry, cat … Cricket!!!

And, wait, are those those jackboots I hear?