As I quietly watch the whales die

[bedpanartist]

While I watch the whales die, I get a morbid satisfaction in the fact that behind my disgust for these putrid creatures, that the words of Benjamin Franklin ring true today in the modern American suburban landscape.

"He that's secure is not safe."

"I conceive that the great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by false estimates they have made of the value of things."

"If you desire many things, many things will seem few. "

Truer words could not be spoken today.

As I sit here typing at the keyboard of this gas station computer, working the graveyard shift, doling out gasoline, high-fructose corn syrup by the gallon, energy drinks, cigarettes, lottery tickets, black and milds, blunt wraps and Steele Reserve by the case to a cast of ever changing characters playing a bit role in the history of the early 21st century, something is almost eternally unnerving about the typical character of the typical customer in this oh-so-typical gas station in this oh-so-typical blacktop nirvana in the heart of it all - Southern, Ohio.

Collectively, we have truly turned into a shit rubble pile of in-cable humanity. I am not happy to report this truism, but it must be said, in no uncertain terms, over, and over and over until we collectively understand and correct this beast, or die like whales caught in a high tide of Biggie Sized expectations and driven by a million fantasies of human acceptance - the most essential cog in the American beast - the need to be accepted by others, no matter what the cost to our fortune, belongings, community, and ultimately, personal dignity.

American consumerism, in it's many forms of Freudian advertorial inspiration and foundation, has truly turned the typical American incapable of any conversation or consideration of normality outside of the drive-everywhere happy-go-lucky Jetsonesque world of highways, parking lots, Jesus Christ mania, bad Clear Channel Radio spitting out Nickleback and Fiddy Cent through the speakers of forever meandering through Burger King parking lots nationwide while Monday Night football offers up another episode of big bad ass knockin' your faggot ass dick in the dirt.

more here:

http://phatcitynews.blogspot.com

[villager]

1. Some good writing there. Whose blog is it?

n/t

[bedpanartist]

2. The resurrected Fat City News

A writers group I've been involved with for years - Fat City News. Used to be fatcitynews.com

if you were on the web back in the days of Mosaic, you might well remember it.

I've got an old archive of FCN from the old days:

http://bedpanart.com/fcn

Yeah, I wrote that. Thanks!

[villager]

3. Then you're a good writer. Nice work!

:thumbsup:

[barbtries]

4. love the writing

i emailed it to my writer son, who's working on a story partially set in ohio. i'ma blogroll you too.

[bertman]

5. "Collectively, we have truly turned into a shit rubble pile of in-cable humanity."

I think I know what you mean by "in-cable" but I'm not sure about it. Nonetheless, I agree 100%.

That said, this is some powerful stuff. Well done.

[drexel dave]

6. k&R

kicked at least

[drexel dave]

7. podcast of said essay

As I quietly watch the whales die:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kM9sNRyF5cw

[cliffordu]

8. Nice work. too late to recommend, but kicked, anyhow.

[drexel dave]

9. Thank you very much

truly.