The Absurd Arena – Useful Idiots Discussion Board Week of 11.28
For the Useful Idiots who think they can talk back to a podcast.
Hey Useful Idiots,
After a chaotic month of midterm election fever, weird 2024 kickoffs, and Thanksgiving (somehow just as stressful?), it seems this week we finally have a moment to breathe, watch the snow fall from a solitary perch, listen to music, return to the normalcy of work. Or, perhaps, we’ve only found the eye of the hurricane.
But before the week brings us into December, dragging the frenzy of runoffs, holidays, and government shutdowns back into our faces, the soft November snow turning to icy sleet – rapping at the window, trying to break in – let’s take this moment for ourselves.
Whether that means unplugging for a bit, getting back to your book, or catching up on the two-hour Norm Finkelstein interview, all we can say is:
We want to hear your thoughts on the nonsense. But remember, this is the absurd arena, which means you can talk about anything you want: 2024 predictions, the Georgia runoff, the World Cup, your book, that album, the mean things those neighborhood kids say to you.
As usual, the best comments will be read on the show. Here’s the starter prompt:
What do you do to escape the nonsense? Is being “informed” actually important, or does it merely lend importance to the people in charge? What questions do you have for Aaron and Katie?
I play music to bypass the nonsense. I also write about the nonsense in an academic capacity. I find writing about existentially dreadful things to actually get my mind off of my own existential dread about becoming nothingness or whatever it is one becomes. And Wife and cats. Very helpful nonsense distractors.
I recreated the recent Dinnergate event at the Real White House, Mar-a-Lago, with miniature furniture and Barbie Dolls.
All the sociopolitical drama evaporates when one is focused on creating the perfect "wines" (by mixing soft drinks and fruit drinks with 10% real fruit juice) to complement a seven-course anti-kosher meal.
Tensions over who's going to be whose veep to whose numero uno evaporated into shared belly laughs when the maid dropped Melania's boeuf en croute on the floor in a scene right out of an old Lucy Show. (Requisite head of flaming hair present!)
"Be best!" Mr Fuentes cracked, to uproarious peals of delight. Even Melania busted up, in spite of herself!
They quickly ordered a fast food buffet and a delicious time was had by all.
But now I have to clean up the mess and the Adderall I stole from my nephew's backpack is wearing off.
Getting through tomorrow will need a whole 'nother coping device.