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Respectful Missive

Dear Life, the Universe, and Everything,

As per my last email, I requested a calm, quiet set of twilight years.

After the first 2/3 of my life, I felt I was owed that. Personal issues, a professional life that can be best described as ‘spirited’, and, let’s face it, rather horrific consequences for normal life choices have been the sweat equity that earned me a small measure peace as I trudge toward the grave.

Instead, you continue to throw everything, up to and including the kitchen sink, at me. I will not go over already well-trodden ground, but half a century of chaos, heartache, and what some would call deliberate malice on your part have convinced me that a well-deserved respite from all that has been truly earned.

Being a patient soul, I am reaching out, yet again, to request that you fulfill the commitment you made when I was told “the suck won’t last forever”. I not only embraced the suck, I have nurtured it, put it through good schools, and provided for its upkeep and entertainment for decades.

It is time for the suck to leave the nest and make a life for itself. I, it’s unwilling host, am spent and withered.

Yes, life is better now that it has been in the past. Yes, I have some leisure time, my occupation has been rearranged so that I no longer fear the ringing of alarms and telephones, and my family is both healthy and well provided for.

However, taking into account the latest headlines, the reports from both spouse and spawn, and the disapproving look I get from multiple medical professionals, it is clear that there is still much work to be done.

Please take this gentle reminder as a nudge toward doing the right thing. Failure to do so will leave me no option except to retain counsel and pursue satisfaction through the courts. Nobody wants that, so please make the right choice.

Sincerely,

Tom.

P.S. – Please say hello for me to the Void. I haven’t screamed into it in quite some time, and I don’t want it to feel neglected.

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by daddybear71 on March 10, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Thought for the day
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by daddybear71 on March 10, 2026

https://daddybearsden.com/2026/03/10/respectful-missive/

Today’s Earworm

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by daddybear71 on March 10, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on March 10, 2026

https://daddybearsden.com/2026/03/10/todays-earworm-954/

Today’s Earworm

The Marines got this.

We got Dave Matthews whining about a breakup.

There is no justice in this world this side of the grave.

1 Comment
by daddybear71 on March 7, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on March 7, 2026

https://daddybearsden.com/2026/03/07/todays-earworm-976/

Persian Gulf Shanty

There once was a ship that put to sea

The name of the ship was the Shahid Bagheri,

The ship blew up, her bow dipped down

Oh, blow, torpedo boys, blow!

—

Soon may a submarine come

And blow us all to kingdom come!

One day, when the sinking is done

We’ll swim to shore and go

—

She had just begun to launch her drones

When she was sent to lay with Davey Jones

The crew all cried out in fear

Knew they’d never make it home.

—

Soon may a submarine come

And blow us all to kingdom come!

One day, when the sinking is done

We’ll float to shore and go

—

Just as a missile hit her bow

We knew we were really boned now

All hands to the rafts, jump into the water!

But the boat went down below

—

Soon may a submarine come

And blow us all to kingdom come!

One day, when the sinking is done

We’ll paddle to shore and go

—

No drones were launched, no rockets fired

No infidels found, no targets acquired

Our boat held together with bailing wire

And watch our magazine blow!

—

Soon may a submarine come

And blow us all to kingdom come!

One day, when the sinking is done

We’ll row to shore and go

The Bagheri’s half a league under water

Sent to the bottom by somebody’s daughter

A young lass flying an F-18

Sent our drone ship down below

—

Soon may a submarine come

And blow us all to kingdom come!

One day, when the sinking is done

We’ll drift to shore and go

—

As far as I know, our fleet is gone

Blown to hell before the break of dawn

Tehran won’t accept our calls

And my raft just sprung a leak!

—

Soon may a submarine come

And blow us all to kingdom come!

One day, when the sinking is done

We’ll swim to shore and go

3 Comments
by daddybear71 on March 4, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by daddybear71 on March 4, 2026

https://daddybearsden.com/2026/03/04/persian-gulf-shanty/

Attention to Orders

Citation

Chief Warrant Officer Five Eric A. Slover distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, above and beyond the call of duty, on January 3, 2026, during a mission in Venezuela, in support of Operation Absolute Resolve. Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover piloted his MH-47 as the lead aircraft of the operation, tasked with executing a highly complex infiltration through hostile Integrated Air Defense Systems to safely deliver military forces. During ingress, Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover skillfully led the helicopter force through a dense jungle valley in a mountainous region, navigating marginal weather conditions, numerous topographical hazards, and near insurmountable surface to air threats. Upon touching down at the designated landing zone, Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover’s aircraft was immediately engaged by multiple machine gun positions at close range. The hostile fire resulted in 15 armor-piercing rounds entering his cockpit, with four rounds striking his leg. Despite the intense and effective enemy fire, and at great personal risk, Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover maintained his situational awareness and aircraft’s position in the line of fire to ensure the safe infiltration of the military forces. After the force disembarked, and despite suffering significant life-threatening injuries, Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover identified hostile heavy machine gun positions that were engaging his aircraft and targeting the ground forces. He maneuvered his aircraft to enable his door gunner to deliver effective fire, successfully neutralizing the threats. Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover’s heroic actions undoubtedly saved countless American lives and ensured the complete and overwhelming success of the mission. His gallantry under fire and extraordinary valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

by daddybear71 on February 28, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on February 28, 2026

https://daddybearsden.com/2026/02/28/attention-to-orders-17/

Today’s Earworm

by daddybear71 on February 26, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on February 26, 2026

https://daddybearsden.com/2026/02/26/todays-earworm-975/

News Roundup

From the “Let My People Go” Department – Residents and tourists in the Canary Islands are dealing with a swarm of locusts. The multilegged visitors apparently hopped over from the Sahara due to the weather in the vacation spot. Local authorities are breaking out the frog gigs and eclipse glasses, just in case. In unrelated news, Southern California seems to be dealing with an abundance of mosquitoes at the moment. I guess the Good Lord decided to smite somebody who deserves it, for once.

From the “Shifting Strategies” Department – Several wine companies in Northern California have either cut back production or outright closed wineries. As the percentage of adults who regularly drink alcohol continues to decline, I expect to see more and more purveyors of mid-grade grape flavored hooch meander into the sunset. Interestingly enough, Gallo just bought a bourbon company near here. I guess when one door closes, another opens. In this case, it just opens another path for customers to stumble down while singing “Seven Spanish Angels” at 2:30 in the morning.

From the “Meet the New Boss” Department – The Louvre, recently robbed in broad daylight, has announced a new director after its previous leadership was guillotined fired. The new chef du chaud has been tasked with overseeing renovations, improving security, and sweeping out his predecessors extensive collection of large shoes and red rubber noses. All of this will be, of course, paid by ticket sales, once they figure out who has all the money from the past decade’s worth of tickets.

From the “Watch Your Lanes” Department – An Amazon delivery vehicle has been recovered safely after it got stuck in the mud on a British military firing range. The driver blamed GPS directions for his errant routing. Sources indicate that local lance corporals have been spotted wearing new watches and high-end sneakers while carrying several cases of energy drinks and toilet paper into their barracks in muddy uniforms. An inquiry by His Majesty’s government is expected to be held to look into deficient marksmanship.

by daddybear71 on February 25, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on February 25, 2026

https://daddybearsden.com/2026/02/25/news-roundup-269/

Shorn, Not Skinned

I’ve been watching the news about proposed tax increases in New York and California. Unsurprisingly, these are targeted at wealthy people and businesses, as seems to be normal operating procedures for states that find themselves drowning in red ink. Said red ink appears, again unsurprisingly, to have originated in exorbitant spending on things that keep the poor from burning things down and the rich writing campaign donation checks.

To quote the emperor Tiberius – “It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them.” Telling folks, who have the means to pick up and leave when they feel like it, that they are going to have to pay even more for the privilege of living in a congested hellscape reminiscent of something out of a 1980’s “decade after next” dystopian action-thriller is a great motivator move all of their assets outside of your reach.

Everyone hates taxes when they’re applied to them. Something as small as a 1% increase in sales tax or adding a bit to the cost of a pack of cigarettes or a six-pack usually becomes a political hot potato, even if the stated reason for the increase is something everyone wants.

Here in Kentucky, it seems to go this way:

“We need to raise taxes because the high school is using history textbooks from 1976.”

“Don’t tax my soda and candy bar! Tax smokes instead!”

“Tobacco built this state! Tax booze instead!”

“Bourbon keeps the lights on in the Commonwealth! Tax everyone richer than me!”

In California and New York, it’s “Make the wealthy pay their fair share!” time again. Amazingly enough, the line where “middle-class” becomes “wealthy” always seems to be slightly above where the politicians sit on the economic scale.

Look, I’m not a millionaire, much less a billionaire. But even I see red when I do my tax forms every spring and see just how much of my salary goes toward whatever the folks in Frankfort and DC think are important. Yes, the rich can afford to get lawyers and accountants involved and reduce their percentage paid to Uncle Sam and all his minions. However, in real dollar terms, they pay a huge amount of what keeps the lights on in learing centers.

They eat a lot of grass, but look how much wool they give us!

So, the trick for these states and cities is to tax the rich as much as they can bear without heading for the exit. How much that is depends on your local breed of billionaire, but the nightlife in New York and the great weather in California are a huge draw. If you make them too expensive, no amount of dance clubs or sunset dinners on the beach are worth a fraction of your wealth that can be worked out in your head.

Remember, children, nothing is truly free. Somebody has to pay for bribes and boondoggles free subways and high-speed rail, generous-ish economic opiates that keep their addicts just this side of starving in the cold social services, and wasteful job programs for the politically loyal world-class public education.

If you demonize and punish your highest-producing sheep, don’t be surprised when they pack up their wool and find another flock.

by daddybear71 on February 20, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Politics
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by daddybear71 on February 20, 2026

https://daddybearsden.com/2026/02/20/shorn-not-skinned/

Public Service Announcement

Hi, y’all! Just a quick admin note.

I’ve decided to start weening myself off of this platform and move over to Substack. Not going to completely stop posting here, but when my current year’s contract with WordPress ends, I’ll be folding tents here.

I already post some things over there that aren’t here, and most everything I post here ends up being posted over there.

My substack is https://tomrogneby.substack.com/.

Hope to see y’all over there!

by daddybear71 on February 17, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on February 17, 2026

https://daddybearsden.com/2026/02/17/public-service-announcement/

Blurb

The things that come to mind while I’m having my first cup of coffee, I swear.

————————-

Mister Caudill, what can you tell me about how this ship moves?

Sir! Midshipman Caudill reports that the USS Taylor moves through use of four Musk&Whitney BR459 HW drive engines!

Good answer, Midshipman. Mister Rico, what can you tell me about HW drive technology?

Sir! Midshipman Rico reports that HW, or Heimdall Warp, technology was discovered by Professors Bulsara and May at the Mercury Station research facility in 2046. The drives work by exploiting a new, exotic form of energy Professor Bulsara discovered while investigating what caused a slight wobble in Mercury’s orbit at unpredictable intervals!

And what is that energy called?

Sir, Midshipman Rico reports that the energy used by HW drives is called Field Boson Gate, or FBG, energy! Professor Bulsara posited that this heretofore unknown energy interaction at the sub-quantum level not only caused the planet to wobble on its access, but also was the driving force that kept it tidally locked!

Excellent, gentlemen! Perfect quotations from the textbook. Now, let’s see what all that means. Lieutenant Sirtis and Ensign Staite, can you put that into layman’s terms?

Yes, sir, no problem. The Taylor is drug through the cosmos by four of Elon’s finest Handwavium drives, which utilize some of the less unstable principles of FBG energy theory to transmute drive mass into thrust at between 65 and 85 percent efficiency.

Ensign Staite, anything to add?

Sir, only that FBG physics was discovered when two Englishmen got their vacuum still working perfectly and had a drunken argument about what made that rocky world go ‘round.

Outstanding, ladies. Gentlemen, you will report to Lieutenant Sirtis and Ensign Staite in engineering for the remainder of the week. I want you to get your hands and nice, starched shipsuits dirty. Perhaps a few days crawling around the engines will give you something more than what the academy taught you. We’ve only got six weeks before we have to deposit you back on Deacon Station, and I want you to do something practical to round out your education.

Any questions? No? Good, dismissed.

by daddybear71 on February 17, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Fiction
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by daddybear71 on February 17, 2026

https://daddybearsden.com/2026/02/17/blurb/

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