Author: @HppoTweeter

writer of words. Teller of tales. Leaking insanity from every notion.

Heroism in the Office

Posted on by @HppoTweeter in HppoThorns, IronAge

Modern masculinity walks a real fine line these days, that line becomes even slimmer in an office setting. From the 60s to the early oughts, the easiest way to frame a romantic lead as the protector was simply to have him step in against an aggressor. Bonus points if the aggressor is larger in size or has more “intimidating allies. I’m talking about the biker who slaps a girl’s ass or the drunk frat boy who won’t take no for an answer, our heroine showing visible discomfort before the hero steps in. This scene played well until the late oughts then things changed.

The first thing to change was years of these scenes in the media making it socially clear that the aggressor was already in the wrong and the heroine being able to defend herself either socially with a flat out verbal rejection, use of a taser, or more recently her mary sue like combat training. These scenes didn’t necessarily ruin the romance but often provided an opportunity for the male romantic lead to either see her not as someone who needs to be protected but as an equal capable of being the protector if the situation calls for it. 

These scenes create a new problem, because now how can you show the age old dynamic of protector hero and delicate heroine. A dynamic many still enjoy. You can’t just rehash the tried and true aggressor without calling attention to all men as dangerous, even if there are “good ones”. It also frames women as being incapable of protecting themselves. Congrats you’ve alienated a portion of both sexes being independent women and those men who count themselves among the “not all men”. 

Here’s how Mobius threads the needle. In Episode 2, 28 minutes in, we are given a flight plan. Our romantic lead and main character Ding Qi and his potential romantic partner An Lan share an elevator ride. At first the ride is just the two of them catching her up on Ding Qi’s new position as security for her CEO and hints of intimacy brewing. Their intimacy gets interrupted by a flow of people onto the elevator making the space instantly cramped. Here’s where the protector dynamic starts, Ding Qi grabs two hand rails creating a safe space around An Lan who now occupies the corner of the car. As the elevator starts to move it’s important that we see insecurity and then comfort come over An Lan as she doesn’t have to rub shoulders and jostle with the office crowd because Ding Qi is shielding her. Ding Qi looks back at her and checks on her and they exchange glances letting him know that she is fine. Then after we see her smile a careless passenger steps on the foot of Ding Qi. Now normal social etiquette would have most people just be uncomfortable but that’s not what you’d want from a masculine hero. A modern masculine hero needs to stand up for himself in a socially acceptable way though. Ding Qi’s solution was to politely speak up “You’re on my foot.” loud enough that those in his vicinity could clearly hear him but soft enough that only those in his immediate vicinity would hear and everyone could pretend except the offender could pretend like they didn’t hear anything. This allows everyone to save face in the situation where the person stepping on his foot could move and everyone gets to pretend like nothing happened. However, the offender doesn’t move. This time loud enough for the entire car to hear and with an aggressive tone Ding Qi repeats himself, the man turns around sees the challenge and backs down. 

Ding Qi has successfully shown himself willing to protect the comfort of An Lan and stand up for himself against challenges but to do so in socially acceptable ways.

My key takeaways from this scene are

Use of escalating levels of conflict

Talk < Speak with Authority < Return Aggression < Physical

Protection must be given after consent, either implied or explicit 

An Lan puts herself behind Ding Qi and he pins her in the corner, giving her his back. Then checks on her for continued consent/approval.

None of this works if we as the audience don’t have the proper background music and explicit shots of the actors showing their changes in mood and approval. (great directing).

If written it’s easier to simply narrate the characters thoughts and feelings on the event.

Mobius 

https://www.netflix.com/watch/82096030?trackId=200257858&t=<1680&gt;

Georgism revisisted

Posted on by @HppoTweeter in Dialogue, HppoThorns, Uncategorized

Big L walked into work, head buried in his phone. George sat on his stool stooped over the counter. They worked at a small authentic bait shop and boat repair that George’s father passed down to him. Big L wore a scowl, George knew this was going to be the start of another argument based off of Big L’s principles and his news feed that fed him rage every Wednesday. Turns out Mike switched the tuning settings so that every Wednesday Big L would be fed anger inducing content and stories. Personal control of the algorithm’s recommendations was part of an EU law and just like every digital EU law it meant it was practically American as well.

Big L “I thought this was the land of the free.” said as he put his phone away. 

“Freest land we got.” George switched the toothpick he was smoking from one side to the other.

“Then how come the government can come round and steal a man’s land right from under him.”

“They can’t legally, you know, he has to be paid.”

“Here, let me take the shirt off your back and toss you a dollar. Still a theft.”

“Alright, what news has got you this riled up today L ?”

Big L sent the link to George who read over the article, and a few commenter blogs. While Big L clocked and made his first round, checking on last night’s deliveries. “Ah, I see. You’ve mistaken the land of the free for a land with free rent.”

“Huh, Look at the guy in the article. Ted, he owns that house and he doesn’t want to sell. He shouldn’t be forced to do something he doesn’t want to do.” 

“In an ideal world, yeah he wouldn’t be forced to do anything. But Ted here isn’t being forced off his land, he is refusing to sell for 300% above market rate and trying to get people to donate to pay off his new tax bill.”

“I read that article and it didn’t say anything about him refusing to sell.”

“Didn’t they teach civics in school?”

“Yeah, after we memorized the 65 states and what the vice-president’s star signs were.”

“The article doesn’t need to say that Teddy here is refusing to sell his land to a buyer because that’s the only way that the Government can take his land. Whenever a buyer wants land someone else has they have to pay that person and pay the local government taxes for a period of years. Let’s say I find out my neighbor has a diamond mine under their property and I have the money to hire crews to come and mine it but my neighbor doesn’t want to sell it to me. I’d go down to city hall to see what if any taxes they are paying on that property and make both them and the city an offer. If I can convince the mayor or his tax collector that I can pay more in taxes and I’ll buy the land from my neighbor, then the government will go to my neighbor and let them know look George here would like your land and is offering you this much money and he is willing to pay us this much in taxes. My neighbor could go, alright I’ll pay that much in taxes and tell George to fuck off. That’s roughly the way the system works. Teddy here could buy a yacht with how much money he is turning down.”

“You think there is a diamond mine under Ted’s house?”

“I think you don’t just offer someone three times the value of their house for no good reason. And you don’t turn it down. Remember when you offered me a buck for my shirt, Well I bet if I offered you a 100 you’d walk around in just your overalls and boots for the day.”

“Fair point. Something bugs me about this. Like you can’t actually own your own home. What about property rights?”

“Property rights are a fancy way of saying, government backed ownership. If the government wanted all the land and to take your rights, you got two options: get rid of the government or give up what the government wanted.”

“So I could buy out this store and shop from you, and the government would kick you out?”

“Not with what I pay you. But if you win the powerball, sure.”

“You’d be happy about that?”

“I’d have a lot more money, probably consider it a wash. Maybe I’ll retire.”

TechTemperance the dating App for Techno Puritans

Posted on by @HppoTweeter in Family, HppoThorns, IronAge, Techno Puritan

Techno puritan dating app “TechTemperance”

The Techno Puritan Federation has decided to monetize romantic evangelism. Taking a cue from the LDS singles churches, The Techno Puritans have gone digital. 

“It’s not about getting revenue from exploiting the lonely. It’s about solving a problem, and that’s why we don’t care about turning a profit from the app itself. It’s about creating a healthy and happy base for the Federation for generations to come.”

Critics of the App have stated that this nothing more than a russian funded orthodox christian honeypot, which seeks to exploit it’s users by funneling them into the cult, with it’s promises of creating “successful” relationships and by “successful” they mean explicitly hetrosexual relationship for the purpose of making women into baby factories. They’re advice is to “STEER CLEAR and STAY QUEER” direct words from Efreet Alimony (“Islam’s most progressive Imam” -Vanity unFare)

The Designers think that the applications unique restrictions, restrictions they brand as features, will allow users to spend enough time, digitally at first, with potential matches. Biological women who have hit their head on a rock and wish to use this handmaiden esq. App must have three other people, verified with phone numbers, facebook pages, and bank accounts, register as her guardians. These guardian’s will be given the profiles of potential matches and they will select the user’s potential matches. Those selected matches will be her only options for an entire month. Ladies and Gentlemen we have gone back to regency level women’s rights and a cavemen’s idea of women as property. Disguised as women’s safety. 

“We think that in the modern era, it’s not the fault of the 20 something looking for love, hopped up on hormones and hallmark romance, that women are vulnerable to ill intentioned actors. Having the courtier’s motives, online profile, and text’s via the app under the scrutiny of not just his potential wife but of some of her closest community. All of whom have the power to potentially veto the toxic actor, should give an extra sense of safety beyond sending a friend a screenshot of a man and a location where the murder investigation should start.”

Disregarding the attempts at humorizing the real threat every man poses against women, the App explicitly excludes Transgendered women from joining. While the App is free to biological Cis-women and their guardians, it does require a deposit which is forfeited if the user is found to be transgender. Not just shaming but to steal from our transgender sisters, another sign that the capitalist user licenses hold more power than the constitution.

When asked what if a woman doesn’t have three people who are willing to be her guardians.

“We don’t have the best answer for people who can not conduct themselves well enough to have friends or family…”

He then proceeded to offer me tips about how to find and make meaningful relationships. After my ears stopped bleeding from the ten thousandth time I’ve been mansplained too, we discussed the most controversial restriction the app demands. There are five levels of a potential relationship. If a user and her courtier advance themselves to level five, then the courtier has access to all the messages she made to others using the app and he can decide whether or not to remove the women’s ability to chat with other men.

All of these restrictions, or features, are meant to streamline dating so that marriage is reached within six months of a user and her courtier reaching level five. While we think that is operation warp speed levels of promise. The founder’s state that they have discounts and in most cases free access to their martial contract services, fancy words for prenuptial agreements.

The one nice thing I will say about this app is that for the desperate Biological Cis-gender Women is that once you decide to take back your life and leave the app. Your “commitment” deposit is returned promptly.

  • An interview with S.A. Tire.

Response to TaX the Rich

Posted on by @HppoTweeter in Uncategorized

The following its a Response and breakdown of

Gary Stevenson latest video

0:52 why is that when you give money to rich people it doesn’t lead to investment?

1:00 when a rich person invests it doesn’t necessarily lead to the production of new productive capacity

1:20 when you want to create new investments to create new productive capacity …

  1. you need someone to fund that investment (this is the role of capital)
  2. you also need profit investments to exist
    1. to make a productive investment you need a customer

3:53 the impoverishment of the middle class has lead to lack of customers

(the middle class does not have enough capital to warrant investment in products and services that cater to them)

evidenced by the parts of the economy that have grown luxury services for the rich

4:57 A capitalist economy is very flexible, it will provide stuff to the people who have money (aka capital, AKA fiat)

5:30 Mr. beast as an example what investments should be directed at, poor communities that don’t have access to medical or other essential services, due to their lack of capital

(it is not profitable for investments to meet the needs of the poor because they are poor)

6:23 you need to deal with the distribution

If you don’t change the distribution then all of that new investment will be luxury

7:13 there is a fundamental imbalance of power and resources, you are in a competition with the rich for resources

Thesis statement the ONLY WAY to solve this problem of distribution is to tax the rich

There is another way and this to solve the problem not of total distribution but to solve the problem of initial distribution. With an Inflation Based UBI of 2.5%, meaning that Adult citizens receive periodic payments in that nations sovereign fiat currency to total amount of which is an annual increase of 2.5% of the nations total monetary supply.

This program does not require or care about a nations GDP, CPI, or an metric other than a nation’s total monetary supply. The amount will increase as the nations monetary supply increases.

It would provide all the tangible benefits that have been observed in pilot program, information of which can be found at https://www.scottsantens.com/ the leading expert in UBI, who unfortunately believes that violent based redistribution is the best method of funding UBI.

Inflation Based UBI solves all the problems outlined by Gary Stevinson in regards to incentive structures, by creating a customer base worth catering to. No one want to build new apartments for a town that relies on the operation of a single Tesla factory, what if the factory shuts down before profits can be made?

Why doesn’t Tax the Rich ultimately work as a method of redistribution?

Well just look at history, there are general cycles where wealth becomes too concentrated and the fundamental incentive structures break down and fail to provide for increases in general population desires and quality of life.

But ultimately is that besides the rich spending their resources on Luxury and Assets, they also spend them on the access and acquisition of more political power and influence. Warlords spend money to raise bigger armies and ultimately in a bid to acquire more resources. Financial Investors (BlackRock) spend their money to Acquire more shares ultimately gaining access over the direction of companies, which provides them with more power over corporate PACs and business lobbies. Banks will seek to position former employees, family members of employees, in government and in reverse offer highly compensated positions to former politicians or regulators, in order to increase their power and influence over the bodies that regulate them. (https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/xkiiog/this_moment_from_the_house_committee_on_financial/)

Power will seek to consolidate and increase itself, over and over.

An Inflation Based UBI does not solve for this motivation. What it does solve for is the fundamental problem of capitalism

That Capitalism only caters to the demands of Capital.

By providing regular payments of cash directly to individual adult citizens without a work requirement. Everyone can have access to their “fair share” without the need for taxation, which is theft enforced by the only monopoly a government has and that is violence.

Without violence and Without taxation

Inflation Based UBI

leave a comment and let’s discuss

Design document for a Fraternal Order of UBI

Posted on by @HppoTweeter in Dialogue, HppoThorns, UBI

UBI

Purpose:

In order to show that a Fiat backed currency can be desired and establish an INFLATION based UBI.

Thesis:

There is one thing that money can’t buy and that is honor and status.

In order to establish the idea that a pure voluntary fiat is capable of existing for longer than a session of the board game monopoly, It is my recommendation that Socialite Clubs establish themselves around this central premise. In this document you should find a rough outline for the structure and order of such a society, as well as answers to some problems and solutions that may be encountered.

There are only Two mandatory positions of power that must exist. That is the office of President and Treasurer. It is recommended that a clubs start with no less than 5 members.

The Club should form around any number of shared and voluntary interests. It is preferred that they do not associate upon the promise of mutual aid as by mutual aids very nature there will be those in want incapable or lacking talent for self governance seeking membership.

Examples of activities a club may form around,

Sports leagues from fantasy football -> sponsoring/playing of pickleball.

Enthusiast hobbies: Board Games, Video Games, Book Club, Motorcycles.

Etc.

Whatever the Club forms around should be oriented as a leisure activity and of affordable expense for all potential members. This means that unless Polo and Skiing become activities of the masses, it is recommended that cost be considered.

After a club has formed, Elected it’s First President and appointed it’s First Treasurer, It may begin collecting dues and issuing it’s own club fiat currency. Numbers listed here are examples and should be changed as the club sees prudent, documented appropriately and publicly.

Example Club:

Hell’s Readers is a bi-weekly book club.

They have the additional requirement of attendance as part of their “in good standing” clause. Members are allowed to miss 2 meetings per quarter and remain “in good standing”. More than 4 missed meetings or a total of 12 in a two year period will automatically remove an offender from club membership.

Club dues: $5 a month

Club UBI: 5-HR Bucks a week to All Dues Paying Members

The only official use of HR Bucks is for bids on the clubs next read.

They have decided on a silent bidding system to determine which book will be read next. Where only the lowest and the winning bids are taken from members. In the event of a tie for the winner, bidding will be suspended until both or all books have been covered. It is the Presidents job to count bids and keep in confidence the identity of the bidders. Failure to keep information in confidence, is grounds for special election to remove the President.

The HR bucks collected from the lowest and highest bidder, will be destroyed and their serial numbers retired.

This has been an example of what works best as a small club. If the club grew beyond what would be a reasonable size for a bi-weekly book club, It should in good order start founding additional chapters. For example, when the Club grows beyond 20 members before reaching 30 members additional chapters should be considered. Creating 2 new chapters with at least 10 members, a Chapter President and a Chapter Treasurer. The HR bucks must remain consistent and interchangeable between both chapters.

How could a club incentivize it’s members trade HR Bucks amongst themselves in lue of $

While I think that so long as the clubs membership remains dedicated to fellowship and their shared passion of reading this system works just fine. However if you wish to put a higher demand on HR Bucks, then additional services from the club could be offered. Personally I recommend that a club engage in an annual or semi-annual activity of high social value. For this book club I would recommend that they seek to hold a public reading and Q&A with authors that are selected through the Club’s bidding process. Additionally regardless of the Club a Cash burning ceremony is always a good idea, where the person who pays the most HR Bucks gets to be the Grand Poo-Hah or Great Queen of Letters, or whatever title the Club finds appropriate. Being treated like Royalty for a day is a worthy reward for removing inflation based currency from the system.

Why should their be Additional incentives to spend a Club’s UBI?

By creating additional incentives, you’ve created additional demand for a Club’s Currency. Honestly I see much of this demand being filled by friendly games of poker or skill, between club members. For it gives them something of value to wager, without affecting a members financial pride. But It could result in trades of services and favors, backed by one persons Club Bucks.

“Hey Steve, you are really good at finding the best trip packages and I’d like to surprise my wife for her birthday. Can you help?”

“Just give me 50 HR bucks and I’ll get you the links, Jody. For 80HR plus cost, I’ll book it for you.”

In the above transaction Steve would have likely done it for free, had he not had a strong desire for HR Bucks. Doing it this way does not create a favor debt owed by Jody and removes much stigma from the interaction.

Why should we trade favors when we can trade a social currency?

The Canteen (quick fic)

Posted on by @HppoTweeter in IronAge

“The usual?” Ricardio the bar tender asked, eying me for either recognition or trying to recall if he remembers what that is. He didn’t turn his back waiting for me to tell him the truth. How this prick knows, I can’t magine. But he earns his tips that’s for sure.

“Stronger, today Ricky.” He nods twice and pours me three fingers of mercury vodka and two shots of mash bitters. Then starts making another.

“It’s in the eyes you know.”

Throwing back the first glass. “What?”

“Whatever you’ve lost this time. It’s more than pride, pride is in the lips. Loss is in the eyes.”

“Sure thing.”

Sliding the next glass under my nose. “You’re not going to find it at the bottom of a bottle. But you know that.”

“Just need some time, Ricky.”

///

Finally a step-up, working security for Krok. His last dog was shot down over getting between him and a junkie. Now I’m that dog, 750 Kroner for covering the weekend deals. Krok has got to be the easiest gig. I mean running was fun and the adrenaline was exciting, but I got a baby girl now and have to be a bit more responsible. All I got to do is be seen, be mean, and throw myself between him and either a pinch or a punch.

The only reason to leave is when the marines are off duty and looking to save some damsels. They come here for a fight, lucky the glow bright. General Rockhard sends his rookie’s here to test them against his brother’s racers. I always liked watching that scuffle. In true fact, I met my baby mama right over by the iHeart box. I tossed one of the racer’s back into the fray, He was being thrown and would have landed on her and her girls night out table. Course being a proper crimesman, I can’t stick around for when the station boys show up at start tazing everyone.

Tonight seems like the port is empty and the deals will be with the regulars.

///

“Because I wanted to play pool?”

Mindy scoffed. “You want to see Gavin on his key-ter?”

“Oh, is he playing here tonight?”

“Honey just don’t throw your panties at him.”

“I’m not going to embarrass you.”

“Just being here is embarrassment enough. How am I to attract the attention of a rich captain? When this is where the bilge crew drinks?”

“You’re dressed to the nine’s look how scared all the men are to talk with you.”

“Ten’s honey, I am a ten of ten even here.”

To the Georgist Revival,

Posted on by @HppoTweeter in Uncategorized

No

My issue lies not with the immutable fact that all wealth is derived from physical property, for the rest is a thot upon your head. No, no no my issue with a land value tax is that until land value can accurately be assessed by market powers, it remains a levy of violence for which central authorities will, can, and are incentivized to abuse.

Opening all land up to the market as to determine it’s taxable value is the only way to decentralize assessment.

Example

Jake owns an apple orchard next to Jon’s wheat farm. Both are of equal size and the value of each has been determined equal. Jake has been making a killing selling apples and has a supreme profit, if he wished to expand his land he would need to purchase a third of Jon’s, the third bordering his property. Jon refuses to sell. That’s the end of it, for whatever reason Jon has decided that the production and potential supply of apples will be limited. Jon is sovereign over his farm and the choices made therein, it is his right.

But it is not a natural right bestowed by god that man should possess anything. Georgist acknowledge that Jon’s land belongs to the community and his participation in such community is not wholly a voluntary agreement. He supplies wheat and collects fiat to pay his tax bill, least he lose his farm to the violence of the state. But it is his right to deny Jake’s dreams of expansion. It is his right to deny balance between the supply and demand curve, by producing more wheat than the market optimally demands and denying it from a greater supply of apples.

Jon could petition the local governance and state that he is willing to purchase the portion of land for X dollars and as a result the governance can rely on Y increase in taxation. Jake could agree that he should now pay Y in taxes and if and when he fails to meet that tax rate upon the third he wishes to keep, then the sale will begin. Jake will receive X minus owed taxes and Jon will receive the land and be obligated to pay Y for a minimum time agreed upon by Jake. If Jon fails to make a payment then the land will be offered for repurchase by Jon at whatever rate Jon initially paid for it. Effectively resetting the tax rate of the land. The Governance body’s only position here is not to determine how much funds they need based on their quarterly salaries or what the value of the land is. The market has decided that the land is worth whatever someone will pay for it, not just in the sale but as a taxation burden upon the individual making the purchase.

I suspect that Georgism is seeing a revival because it does not conflict with the wealth holders of IP or trademark. The companies that can open a new factory halfway across the world to spend in fuel and logistics, just to save from taxation burden. Wealth is derived from the land; ores, veggies, and solar power have spatial requirements and produce wealth when extracted or cultivated. But which of these three are most valuable for the society, the free market will let you know who should steward this land for if they do no turn a profit and pay their tax than the land should not have the force of violence known by the label private property attached.

Limerence

Posted on by @HppoTweeter in Uncategorized

Black fades back.

The stone walls of the sacrifice room were lit only by a single red ritual candle. Amy could see with her new eyes as though it was bright as day from that single candles flicker. The glow from where the flame met the red wax hide which stones were covered in Josh’s burnt flesh and charred blood. The stone bricks and support beam overhead were lit by the the yellow of the flames tip, looks more Carrey and less Pollock she thought certainly intentional. A hunk of flesh splattered to her right as she approached the spot Josh summoned … well her new master. Speaking to the void his body stood moments ago. “And I thought we were going to spend the rest of my youth together. I was even going to give you a child or two. Now I guess I should thank you. I will be forever young and without want thanks to the introduction you’ve made for me tonight. Thank you, Josh,” Amy tilted her head at the last whole piece of Josh “Doll, what’s this?”

“Oh doll, it seems as though you’ve misplaced your heart as well.” Amy bent over at the hips, a perfect right angle, her new hair touched the stones before she grabbed Josh’s heart by the tips of her four inch stiletto like obsidian black nails. Her expression of childlike wonder as though looking upon a brightly colored raspberry ball of cotton candy. Her tongue moistened with the thought a taste at the last bit of love contained inside.

When her master said she would never be in want of food again and laughed was this is what he meant. The devil. She thought It wouldn’t be that easy being a dark one. Josh’s heart pulsed a weak beat with nothing to pump it was just a twitch. She should have been startled but her new body wasn’t fazed. Raising the heart to her lips she gave a quick sniff. Her master’s scent was faint but his magic and blood was all over Josh’s weak beating heart. Well I guess I’m not the only immortal he made tonight. Oh doll, we will be together forever now.

Upon exiting the sacrificial chamber, she eyed the shelves for the perfect container for her handheld immortal companion. Jars cliche, what am I suppose to keep it on my night stand. A wicker basket, ho but for the curious that’d be hard to explain, and while my skin is now red I won’t be on my way to grandma’s house soon. Doll’s that’ll be perfect. “Perfect, let’s find you a new body love.”

After much debate she decided upon a faded white patchwork doll wearing a suit. “Oh you will look so cute, my little executive Josh. Don’t worry about going to the office, I’ll be making the money around here. Your only job is to look at me with those big black orbs and let me see how beautiful and sexy I am in your eyes.”

Amy unbutton the top two buttons of the doll’s three button blazer but with her nails so long she couldn’t get a solid grip with the sides of her fingers. She grew angry with the length of her nails and they retreated from her stare back into her fresh blood red fingers. Neat. With the coat open she popped the stitches in the dolls chest and pulled out some of the fluff tossing it aside in disgust as though it’s texture was slime on he fingers. Josh’s heart continued to beat faintly pressed between her hand the doll’s chest. Was he gaining strength or was he excited with the idea of having a body?

“Pardon me miss, may I borrow this?” Amy spoke to another doll who had thread needles jammed over her felt eyes. Removing the needle caused the felt eye to fall on the floor. “Thank you.” She closed Josh’s open wound, fluff still leaking out. She buttoned up his coat and grabbed him by the tie as though it was a rope.

“Well I really only like the idea of having you. And now I’ll have you forever and without you leaving, lying, or just ruining it with your words… oh doll, you’ll be my favorite. Shame you thought you could have been the first. Let’s go doll.” Amy slung him over her shoulder “We are going to raise hell and bring our master’s paradise to earth.”

Amy’s hips swished wide with each step. Her new patchwork friend bouncing as any small sling bag would, held tight over her shoulder by it’s silk black tie. Joshua didn’t need to draw breath anymore, but the tie against his new throat still gave him the sensation of choking.

This has been a submission for “The Companion” prompt under the category of flash fiction. https://ironage.media/prompt/the-companion.html

Motivational Misquotes

Posted on by @HppoTweeter in Uncategorized

I have a beef to pick with these types of quotes.

They feel good… yeah well so does heroine Janet. But man is the withdrawal a Bitch.

Section 1: why this is wrong

Section 2: how to apply deliberate thought whenever you pass these thought traps in the future.

Section 1:

Sentence ONE is using a grounding method. Something that you will agree with as it is something universally experienced.

There will be times in life when no matter what you do for some people it will never be good enough.

Yeah that checks out that will happen sometimes. Okay now that you AGREE, and are in a bad head space. I bet you remembered when that last time that hurt was. It’s okay you know some people give others take, you are allowed to feel like you should have gotten more.

Sentence TWO is our affirmation. This is the thought we want you to have. Make you strong and it is easy to agree with. The fault is with the other. Motivational quote has your back. You go girl!

Do not change who you are just to seek for someone’s acceptance and approval.

What nonsense is this? Well then why should I change myself? Should I be after my own approval?

What if I really really feel compelled to receive this persons attention, acceptance, approval, endorsement? What if they are my boss and I need to pay rent so my child isn’t homeless? Maybe I could become a morning person for work?

Sentence THREE is affirming our affirmation

Always stay true to you.

Because that can’t be false it lends false credibility to the shit advice in the middle of this sammich.

1 true 2 nonsense 3 true

How can you not be true to yourself. You are always you? If you lie to yourself well I guess you are good at practicing self deception, is that not still you?

Now if this line read

Always be your best self

That’s a whole other concept, that is something you should strive to be. Whether your ideal is strength, kindness, or talented. That self would take work… we don’t want that.

Sentence FOUR is the consequence, if you don’t do this or you fail at this you will suffer

Those who truly love and respect you will always be by your side.

If you feel alone, Well I guess no one truly loves or respects you… what else could be the answer.

If you have only one or two people you count as close, you can go ahead and close yourself off from others outside your circle since if they truly loved and respected you they would be by your side.

If you betray your true self of course you can suspect those around you to betray you as well.

Gee thanks

Successful Relationship Advice

Now that I am depressed and sad, and I think that you are the authority on successful relationships I guess I will buy your oils or take your webinar, and if that system you sell doesn’t work it must be because I didn’t try hard enough. I am a failure, maybe I need another batch and another course or a personal coach.

Section 2

Test 1: Does this advice work for a narcissistic asshole or a drug addict?

If yes, then it is bad or non advice

Test 2: Can this be tested?

If no, then it is bad or non advice

Test 3: Does this make me want to stop scrolling and act upon the message?

If no, then I am going to forget it

Test 4: Is this true in all aspects?

Well no, there may be bad habits or attitudes or changes that I may need to make to gain someone else’s approval.

“Infestation”

Posted on by @HppoTweeter in Uncategorized

Day 1 (Morning)

Hey J,

It’s Day 1 again for the thousandth time, last night she punched through the black again. A gorgeous out of focus memory. I go for a hug or to go with her, but she presses my head and keeps me at arms length. Dressed like an angel, bathed in light as she left me to cry. I taste the salt and smell her perfume and coconut shave cream. 42(45) years old, bench 220, certified iron man, trophies mounted in the den, venison and bear in the drop down, I am a man GOD DAMMIT. Not that helpless child. I have the next two weeks off, just on more day…

(Evening)

…Janet is the biggest bitch ever, not just because she is 400 pounds and has bent all the steel chairs in the break room. I just needed to make it through the day. I did, things might be tense after this cleanse and my return but at least this time I got a job to go back to and not a foreman with a black eye. I hadn’t noticed that my arm was still bleeding from when that ho fell on me. Bri pointed out the red on my blue flannel, I thought it wasn’t that deep but then again I don’t think straight and that being the point is why Day 1 comes again. I would be out cold having finished Jeopardy, J they replaced that rainbow guy for the human calculator how long was his streak anyways. Better get to sweating if I am to get some sleep before I drive out tomorrow.

Feeling good and strong now, time to fight those demons.

Day 2(Morning)

Hey J,

It’s Day 2. Last night was the Pakistani. He wasn’t even my first confirmed. I pulled the trigger, he had a gun. Jacoby said that the sweep came up and that his weapon wasn’t even loaded. I guess they made me feel like a tool for that one. Did he not know? Was he set up by his “brothers”? Something in his eyes reminds me of Bri, trust I’ll call it that for now. I’m taking set 2 to McGoggin’s cabin this time. 30 days rations 😉 Janice, Johnathan, Justice, vis gear, tree tent, flares classic and glow, 9 hours of Bowie’s 2018 release LOVING THE ALIEN, crank battery charger, 200 cash, standard sealed first aid kit, a duo pack of cards, and a sealed first aid kit.

(Evening)

After cleaning up the needles and boarding up the window, McGoggin’s cabin looks almost respectable again. Best thing about the solid wood furniture is that applying resin coats was easier than cleaning blood and vomit from the cushions and rugs he kept during Kimberly or was it Candice. I heard her name like twice and after once he called them all “that cunt” anyways. It was an 8 mile hike to the cabin and a 6 hour drive. Now that the place is patched up and the bed sheets changed out. I’ll burn the soiled ones tomorrow.

Day 3(Morning)

Should I be happy the faces have gotten fewer, last night it was the girls from my days with REDWATER. I think I am okay with this small guilt of not having more from my official days of service. I should feel bad and I do, but if this cleanse is just going to the greatest hits that’s okay too. I know J, I am suppose to express the horrors of the dreams and “process” these feelings. But when it comes to the love hostel raid of those REDWATER demons, I am okay with carrying their guilt. Someone should feel bad for the what happened that day. I know those assholes won’t, after all do demons even suffer in hell?

(Afternoon)

Perimeter sweep complete. There is a new gravel road about a half mile from the north border, leading to a wealthy cul-de-sac, Righlty’s Realtor, etched in a granite slab. 5 modern McMansions where the walls are glass except for the sleeping areas on the top and bottom floor. Imagine buying a car you never drive or a view you visit twice a year. Hey maybe they are timeshares J. A quick way to turn a few mil into another dozen. “Each is own.” I know, but fuck wouldn’t there be more to go around if their was more like me who get to the top, stop, and coast. I know there are things I can’t afford like a private jet or a yacht, but I have enough pooled from my dividend that I could take any dam flight or cruise I desire.

Southeast lake looks like carpet clearing, almost full coverage of algae, glad I came out for a hunt and not a fishing trip.

Southwest is still charred from the fires two years ago, dead trees and a grave yard of ashes. I’ll be keeping that out of my sight line. No reason to invite an environmental horror into my PTSDreams.

(Evening)

Logs cut and sheets burned. Some chores shouldn’t be so satisfying, why ever did men leave the woods and settle on cities. Some say women, others say wolves, I bet the college crop says capitalists starved them out. How though, there is food in every bush and fish in every pond.

Day 4(Morning)

REDWATER, Cocaine, Full Sweep, 35 confirmed, 90 fired. 20 armed, 12 under fifteen, screams from those burning in the work house. “We could be heroes, We could be heroes, Just for one day we could beat them” If I could steal time I wouldn’t take back that day. We did some good there, I just wish upon a djinn that I could have done it better. If I had spoke up or had more sway I could have spoken up for a full hostile sweep rather than a full sweep. I could have made the difference, But for that fucking scared child. He is a coward and can’t speak up for what he should. That one is on him. Those screams are for him to suffer.

(Afternoon)

Janice caught me a rabbit clean behind the back of the skull. Shit was ripe with strange ticks though. Yellow-grey carapaces, the length of earwigs and the width of a fat caterpillar. It’s puss smelled of sulfur and methane. I used two bags and hopefully the slurry still attract a coyote or two tomorrow.

My wound has finally closed and I don’t need to change wraps anymore.

Tonight will be the worst, I know it. Justice keeps offering peace, but I am confirmed and their isn’t any doubt what lies after I accept that offer.

(Evening)

I need to get with a dietitian again, I can feel my bones start to crack under the pull of my muscles. How am I to sleep if I can’t exhaust because I got older than I should.

Day 5(Morning)

WATERSTONE, EU, disposal. I did what I had to. Two hours in the bath until my nose started telling the truth about the lye being a dream. After the sun caught the rabbit slurry, that smell returned and had to scrub myself til those red splotches appeared. Vaselined Talcumed before I clothed up again, blessing be that the itching of my clothes keep Justice quiet.

(Afternoon)

At least those bugs didn’t chew through the plastic, and the gasses from their feast didn’t pop the bag either. My hide is set up just a mile from the lake, I found a clean apart that smelled fresh enough. Wild lavender and black berries not heavily picked. Now comes the waiting, well after I climb down and pop the bait. Never mind, J it’s just you and me the gases finally burst the seam. If everything keeps getting so shitty and expensive I will need three bags next time.

Best thing about live recordings is not feeling alone, while literally being alone. And maybe one day the cries of joy will blend with the screams of pain and I can get back to normal like person being.

I saw a fox but she saw me first.

(Evening)

Sun will be down in twenty, being on the edge all day is exhausting. If my haunts hold true though I’d rather not see them tonight. I heard yips 2 hours ago but they won’t refuse a snack if dusk wind blows just right.

(High Moon)

that rabbits nasty infection of tickwigs, headed out under the moon like a square foot of carpet yellow-grey carpet pulsing toward the lake. I watched them shiver blood and guts through Janice’s newest accessory.

Day 6 (Morning)

If the only thing I gained was a reprieve from that time, well last night wasn’t a loss. But had I been paying attention why those tickwigs left. I would have saw that they picked the bitch clean.

(Afternoon)

The lake was completely covered now, and the algae was choking itself losing color fast. If I can’t hunt, what else am I going to do with the time. 4 more days and I can medicate again. Every plan I ever had the world will conspire against it.

(Evening)

Spent the day on the beat trails, and as suspected there isn’t anything from deer or even wild hogs around. The fox watches me though, I left her a trail bar. Her nose is smart enough not to eat those berries containing tickwig maggots. If she was younger and less scarred, I could use the hide. But she has survived many battles and hardly has plume on her tail.

I’m here for the never satisfied hogs or the brutal coyotes, not some geriatric veteran fox.

Day 7(Morning)

WATERSTONE, under Florida, Triangle Job, I never felt so good for getting paid for this one. Never felt worse for losing my ignorance that true monsters walk around in human suits. I’d seen the targets at mass. I didn’t know it yet, why they were hit. Honestly I don’t know for sure whether it was cleaning up deviants or just a power play. I suspect the son of course, his gains where close to half a bill. But could have been any of a hundred reasons he upset the wrong person, something as simple as not showing “proper” respect during a banker’s dinner party. New money has no idea how fragile their fate’s thread is. What I did for those children was a mercy, and the fact their faces bring me a moment of peace during that nightmare. Why did the crew have to be so upset and haunt me? Did they not know? Is it possible they had no idea what their master was? Was the devil himself laughing at me knowing that maybe one day he would have all our souls. They died without last rites. They should be working it off in Purgatory not pissing off my sleep.

Sorry J, this isn’t much of a dialogue and process is it. Maybe next time.

Well I am off to pour 20 gallons of gas into the choke at the lake and bring back nature through a little dino blood magic.

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This has been an Iron Age media submission, Be sure to vote after October 19th 2023.

https://ironage.media/prompt/the-infestation.html