We Interviewed Powder Because We Thought He Was Billy Corgan

Posted on by Steve Packosky

Ok, first off, we already fired our intern Colin over this, so please rest assured that it won’t happen again. With that being said, some of the blame should still fall on us for not asking any follow-up questions when he said he grew up with Billy Corgan in a boys’ home in Wheaton City, Texas. We suppose we just let the idea of interviewing the frontman from the Smashing Pumpkins cloud our judgment. 

Anyway, we didn’t realize our mistake until midway through our conversation with what ended up being the protagonist of 1995’s sci-fi drama “Powder”, when our recording devices began malfunctioning in his presence. In our defense, the guy showed up in a fedora with sunglasses, which we just supposed was a new look for the eccentric rock star. Anyway, here’s the interview:

The Hard Times: Wow, it’s so awesome to meet you! We’ve been a huge fan of yours since the nineties.

Powder: Thank you.

HT: So what’s up?

P: Have you ever listened to people from the inside? Listened so close you can hear their thoughts and memories?

HT: Excuse me?

P: When a thunderstorm comes up, I can feel it inside. When the lightning comes down, I can feel it wanting to come to me.

HT: …wow, Mr. Corgan, you really are deep. Are these lyrics to a new song? We really enjoyed “Aghori Mhori Mei”, so we’re excited to hear what more you guys have in store for us.

P: What did you call me?

HT: Billy Corgan. You are the lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins, right?

P: No, my name is Jeremy Reed, but most people call me Powder.

HT: Oh shit, oh shit. We remember that movie. Are you okay with all of this electronic equipment around you?

P: Now that you mention it, I do feel a little…ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!

It was at this point that a line of electricity shot from one of our laptops directly into Powder’s chest and lifted him into the air like a marionette, and we high-tailed it the fuck out of that boys’ home without checking to see if he was okay, which was kind of a dick move in retrospect. That freaky little weirdo could be dead right now, for all we know, or pure energy or whatever the fuck Jeff Goldblum said. We promise we’ll behave more honorably during our upcoming interview with Robert Smith, who our new intern Jacob has assured us definitely isn’t Lydia from “Beetlejuice”.

Local Man Basically the Next Elvis if You Only Count the Abusing Adderall on the Toilet Part

Posted on by Steve Packosky

PROVO, Utah — Local man Adam Kerman was excited to learn that he’s basically the next Elvis Presley if you discount everything but the fact that he abuses Adderall on the toilet in much the same manner as the late superstar, sources report.

“It’s awesome that I’m essentially the next Memphis Flash,” Kerman muttered erratically as he ground his teeth. “I never thought of myself as musically talented, but I guess this flies in the face of everyone in my life who called me a shiftless layabout who will never amount to anything. I’d like to see them shaking their hips on the Ed Sullivan Show or, in my case, blowing a rail of ground-up Adderall while sitting on the shitter instead of going to the dishwashing interview at the Olive Garden that their dads arranged for them. It’s going to feel pretty good when they apologize to me.”

Kerman’s friend Ron Wentzel reacted to the news.

“I guess Adam really is the next Hillbilly Cat,” Wentzel stated. “And honestly, my parents should stop being so concerned about the fact that I spend all of my time doing drugs with him instead of re-enrolling in college or getting a job. I mean, I doubt the people who were hanging around Elvis had people in their lives who were worried about them. I think I’m going to see if Adam still has some Adderall left so I can sit on the toilet and honk it up my nose just like Elvis. It’s about time I did something with my life, so I’m lucky to have a close friend who inspires me.”

Pop culture historian Micah Herald provided her expertise on the matter.

“Many people don’t realize just how much in common they have with their favorite rock stars,” Herald said. “I recently met with a man who’s basically the next Jimi Hendrix if you only count the vomiting in his sleep after drinking too much part, and the next Vince Neil in Southern California recently killed a passenger in his car after drunkenly careening his mid-engine sports car into oncoming traffic. These people’s loved ones need to chill out and let them do their thing, because they’re basically rock gods whose genius needs to be respected instead of called into question.”

At press time, the future King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was seen bringing a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich into the bathroom.

NFL Cracks Down on Domestic Violence Reporting

Posted on by Kevin Coutu

NEW YORK — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed that the organization is unveiling a new policy to address the domestic violence reporting within the league, sources confirmed.

“We take these matters very seriously,” Goodell said during a press conference at league headquarters. “We expect this new policy will dramatically reduce the number of cases appearing in the news, entering official records, or being discussed publicly or privately. Fans don’t need to be thinking about players hitting their wives when they’re just trying to have fun watching players try to concuss each other. If they were interested in domestic violence, they wouldn’t be watching football.”

Fans expressed strong support for the league’s efforts to maintain focus on football.

“I watch football to get away from that kind of stuff,” said longtime NFL fan Jason Miller. “We’re all paying for the players to play, not to be reminded that domestic violence incidents rise 10% on days when NFL games are played, or that the NFL’s arrest rate for domestic violence is half the national average. Hearing stats like that makes me feel like I’m still in school. Keep that crap out of the game so I can just enjoy the violence the players are inflicting on the field, not off of it, the way it’s supposed to be.”

Experts in sports law and governance noted that the policy represents a significant evolution in how leagues manage sensitive issues.

“This is a landmark moment for institutional control over league narratives,” said sports law professor Dr. Emily Carter. “By minimizing the reporting and documentation of these incidents, the NFL is effectively reducing the frequency with which they must be acknowledged or addressed, particularly in ways that generate sustained public scrutiny or legal follow-up, a strategy that could easily be extended to other areas of concern such as CTE or player safety.”

At press time, league officials confirmed they were exploring similar measures to address people being reminded of the other harsh realities associated with professional sports, like depression and suicide rates after retirement, and those pink ribbons that fans can never remember what they mean.

How Mudflaps Gave Me Unrealistic Expectations About How Often Calvin Pisses on the Yankees Logo

Posted on by Ben Friedman

As far back as I can remember, I have hated the New York Yankees. I hate the joyless corporatism of how the organization is run and how their fans act like they somehow also won all the teams’ World Series titles. But one thing I do love is how I’m not the only one, and apparently, one of the most prominent haters to ever exist is Calvin from the “Calvin and Hobbes” comic, who I’m always delighted to see featured pissing on the Yankees logo of many an 18-wheeler mudflap when I’m driving along the interstate.

Well, curiosity got the best of me, so I decided to finally read the comics to see how much Calvin pissed on (figuratively and literally) the Yanks and their grossly overrated players. Well, I’m sorry to report that all those truck mudflaps were brazen lies because not once in the strip’s 10-year run did Calvin piss on a Yankees logo.

I was clearly misled into thinking Calvin was some devil-may-care, Dennis the Menace type who reveled in desecrating storied, insufferable baseball institutions. Because after dropping $250 for the complete “Calvin and Hobbes” collection, I found that at no point did he whip it out and urinate on the Yankees logo, or anything for that matter. There isn’t even so much as a ‘fuck the Steinbrenners’. What a waste of time!

If you would believe it, the comic’s entire premise is about Calvin and his toy tiger navigating life through the unbridled joy of imagination and exploring the beauty of the world, and sometimes he’s a superhero.

Look, I’m a simple man, and the mudflaps I stare at on the back of tractor-trailers during my commute up and down I-95 convinced me to believe the philosophy of Calvin and Hobbes is that he smirks and pees on things I don’t like. What’s next, Garfield liking Mondays and Lucy letting Charlie Brown kick the football?

Then I thought maybe the creator, Bill Watterson, licensed Calvin’s likeness to pee all over logos because he couldn’t get away with it in print, but no, it turns out he is famously not a sellout and all the comics’ merch is technically bootleg. Someone needs to answer for these lies!

Anyway, I guess what I’m trying to say is, go Red Sox.

Study Shows Shadowboxing Next to Playground Still Best Way to Battle Demons Most Bitch Asses Couldn’t Even Comprehend

Posted on by Cam Berkowitz

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A new study from California State University, Bakersfield found that aggressively and methodically punching the air within five yards of your local park’s swing set is still the most effective way to combat personal demons that the average human couldn’t even picture, let alone summarily defeat in a community space.

“Our team observed subjects facing a variety of personal demons, such as unemployment, divorce, estrangement from children, unrequited love, uncertain sexuality, unfulfilled fantasies based on anime plotlines, and other sources of discontent that your sheltered, coddled asses probably haven’t even heard of,” said the study’s lead researcher, Erica Peed. “The subjects were exposed to new, cutting-edge psychotherapies, as well as the traditional treatment that is shadowboxing in broad daylight next to the jungle gym at a local park. Ten times out of ten, shadowboxing in broad daylight next to the jungle gym at a local park resulted in happier, more well-adjusted subjects.”

Marvin Anziano, one of the study’s participants, spoke about how memories of his childhood dentist’s office repeatedly forgetting his birthday used to cause angry outbursts directed toward his two cats. 

“I used to frequently make loud noises in my apartment, causing Cornelius and Reptar to retreat to the safety of their cat tree,” Anziano said. “But that was before I learned about fistfighting invisible opponents at my neighborhood park. All I have to do is grab a really old sweatband and a gym bag that’s way too big, walk to the park, and start punching! Once I’m sweaty enough that local parents think there’s something clinically wrong with me, I’m ready to pack it up and head home. I no longer have the desire to scream obscenities at my cats, and they no longer tremble in my presence!” 

But not everyone is happy about the progress made by men like Anziano.

“I don’t know what this guy’s deal is,” said local parent Wilson McKinney. “I’m just trying to have a nice day at the playground with my kids, but there’s always some Rocky-wannabe grunting and punching and sweating profusely, like that weird Papa John’s interview. I’d take my kids to the other side of the park, but that’s where the high school kids have their whippet seshes, and I do not wanna piss them off. Part of me thinks he’s waiting for a challenger, a rival! Well it ain’t gonna be me — I’m in head-to-toe Vineyard Vines, chief. These ain’t fighting clothes. Now, maybe I can convince him to come to my dojo, under the supervision of my sensei. Then maybe I’ll take him down a notch!”

At press time, Anziano’s heated moment of personal growth was presenting a significant obstacle for two second graders playing Tag.

RFK Jr. Patents Denim Condoms

Posted on by Casey Smith

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he has patented denim condoms, confirmed sources who haven’t touched seed oil ever since they saw a TikTok about it.

“We all know latex condoms are a mere 98% effective and will give you melanoma if you aren’t careful. Thankfully, I’ve come up with a jean-based sheath that is 98.1% effective against neurological diseases that are typically transferred during sex. But anyway, use the code ‘MAHAFIT’ at checkout for 40% off your order,” said Kennedy. “I’m coming up with so many inventions that have never been thought of before. Polio-Free Ice Cream. AIDs-Free Poppers. Vaccines that will give you a high IQ. Pesticides that won’t make your kids transgender. You call it a phantasm, I call it a market.”

The patent office had just about enough of Kennedy’s crackpot ideas.

“There’s times where I’ll reply to him with debunked 1900s propaganda and he’ll reply ‘See!’ as if I’m encouraging him,” said Greg Manswagon, a clearly exhausted patent office clerk. “To understand this man’s patents, you’ll have to expect long debunked science coming from a neo nazi crack bunker with zero peer revision. I did entertain his WiFi Cancer Net idea, but this was mostly because I felt bad for him. I mean, he pitched his idea while doing pushups at the front desk. What a loser.”

Kennedy supporters, such as Bradlor Crumpton, couldn’t wait to start having sex with Levi’s material.

“I’m not ashamed to say I’m a patriot who has came his jeans more than I’ll ever come in a rubber, with human women coming in at a close 10th thing. Plus, I saw a video about how regular condoms can give you chlamydia. That must be how I got it, even though I’ve never used one,” declared Crumpton.“I bet Jesus never wore Trojan latex condoms, but he definitely slipped some stonewashed denim on his blue collar dong to not have more kids who won’t talk to him. Just like me.”

At time of press, Kennedy suddenly had an idea of a corduroy-based diaphragm for women.

Marlboro Introduces Non-Marijuana Cigarette for Dry 4/20

Posted on by Bob Kerr

RICHMOND, Va. — Tobacco giant Marlboro, in a bid to capitalize on the sober-curious movement, is introducing a line of non-marijuana cigarettes for those looking to enjoy 4/20 stone-free, confirmed sources.

“We are extremely excited to have a non-marijuana option for people who want to commemorate the holiday, but would still like to remember where they left their keys at the end of the day,” said Marlboro spokesperson Marcus Kerrigan. “We know that everyone wants to celebrate the holiday of herbs, but we here at Marlboro recognize that some people would prefer a healthy alternative to weed. With our selection of marijuana-free cigarettes, people can enjoy toking that won’t make them polish off a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch while watching a single episode of ‘I Think You Should Leave’ before falling asleep at 6:30 p.m. on the couch”

The campaign has some people excited, such as Martine Nixon, who considers herself a reformed reefer ripper.

“It’s great that I can smoke up with my friends without the pressures of enjoying cerebral jokes or creating interesting music,” said Nixon before heaving a sigh as she lit up one of Marlboro’s patented non-wacky tabacky cigarettes. “And if I can be honest, it’s nice to just puff, puff, without all that passing because no one around me wants anything to do with these cigs. And I like that it still contains all the hazardous ingredients of a cigarette. It’s like my body won’t know the difference.”

However, some detractors are cautioning faux-potheads that just because the cigarettes lack the THC compound, it may not be the wisest choice to ring in Mary Jane’s big day.

“It’s a cigarette,” said oncologist Dr. Tina Haliwell. “It’s a major carcinogen. If you don’t want to get high on 4/20, then you don’t have to smoke anything. Chew a piece of gum or suck on a lollipop if you have to put something in your mouth. Eat a giant turkey leg. Or drink a 24-pack of Coors Light and do meth. I don’t really care what you do, just don’t smoke cigarettes.”

At press time, Haribo announced that it plans to release a line of non-ganja gummies for the upcoming festivities.

Owala Designs Bottle Specifically for Parents To Drink Booze During Boring Children’s Events

Posted on by Jesse Kubanet

LEHI, Utah — Trove Brands, the exclusive drinkware brand behind Owala, announced a new bottle designed specifically for parents to drink booze during their children’s incredibly boring events, confirmed sources.

“There was a hole in the recital and little league alcohol consumption market, and we really needed to do something about this,” said Michael Sorenson, CEO of Trove Brands. “We just needed something to put beer, wine, or Mike’s Hard Lemonade in when I have to go to my daughter’s choir concert. I love my daughter, don’t get me wrong, she’s my world, but she doesn’t even have a solo. She’s just up there singing in a group of kids I don’t really give a shit about. What a snoozefest. It’s five o’clock somewhere and that somewhere is the elementary school auditorium.” 

A spokesperson for Owala said the special display will be in between Jack Daniels and Barefoot Contessa. 

“My son just started kid-pitch baseball, and he can’t throw or hit a slider for shit,” slurred mom influencer Cindy Bauchmann, who has over 750,000 followers on Instagram. “I would do and will do anything for my son, but I’d preferably like to do it a little buzzed. If I can have a few at a youth baseball game, why can’t I discreetly drink a 32 ounce bottle of Pinot Grigio when my son and his friends walk and/or hit every batter they face?”

Stephanie Carsons, the Associate Director of the Institute of Child Development for the University of Minnesota’s famed Child Psychology Center, praised Owala for giving something back to parents who support their children.

“Showing up is the name of the game. Your blood alcohol levels are irrelevant,” said Carsons. “We all know the things our kids do are really, really boring. Hell, my kid is playing soccer right now. Soccer. I live in Minnesota. You do the math on that. It fucking sucks. If I’m sitting out there supporting the K-Pop Demon Hunter Kickerz or whatever name they chose, it’s important for kids at that age to have some decision-making autonomy. I’m absolutely going to be doing it with a 64 ounce ice-cold gin and tonic in my Boozala. Cheers.” 

At press time, Trove Brands announced that they will also be manufacturing a bottle for alcohol consumption specifically at boring office jobs.

Feel Old Yet? The Nazi-Saluting Kids in the “Jeremy” Music Video All Work in the Trump Administration Now!

Posted on by Steve Packosky

Yeesh, time sure is moving fast for those of us who grew up in the nineties, isn’t it? From hearing our old favorite tunes playing in the grocery store to our childhood video games now being described as “retro”, the near-constant reminders of how old we’ve gotten can sure be exhausting. Well, it’s about to get even worse, because remember the iconic music video for Pearl Jam’s 1992 hit “Jeremy”? It turns out all of the Nazi-saluting children have grown up and are now working in the Trump administration!

Ugh! Feeling old, anyone?

Man, this is so crazy. Doesn’t it seem like yesterday that we were watching these spry youngsters performing the fascist hand gesture and bullying one of their classmates to the point of suicide on MTV? Now they’re apparently all full-grown adults who are basically doing the same thing while in the employ of our current President Donald Trump. Seriously, how does time go by so fast? 

Take, for example, the husky young man with the slightly disheveled hairstyle seated near the back of the classroom, who appears perhaps a little too eager to show off one of the most recognizable demonstrations of Germany’s darkest era. Look familiar to you? That’s right! He’s none other than current Vice President J.D. Vance! Man, he’s really stuck to his principles over these past few decades, hasn’t he? And who’s that studious young lady with the dutiful posture at the head of the last column of pupils? You guessed it! That’s Attorney General Pam Bondi! You can tell she’s had that strong work ethic and slavish, craven lack of principles her entire life!

Wow! While we have to hand it to these kids and congratulate them for their accomplishments, we can’t help but feel like it might be time to start touring some nursing homes for ourselves!

We guess all we can do at this point is throw up our hands and wonder where the time went. It’s going to be difficult rewatching the music video going forward with the newfound knowledge that the pre-pubescent Nazis on the screen are now fully-grown Nazis in charge of running the country, but we’re just going to accept the fact that we’re old and try our best to not let it bother us. After all, with the job they’re doing, it’s not like we’ll even have a country for much longer, which is nice since we can certainly do with one less sign of how rapidly we’re aging!

Report: Hearing ‘One Way or Another’ Still Best Indicator That You’re Involved in a PG-Rated Movie Chase Scene

Posted on by Steve Packosky

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Researchers at the Mayo Clinic concluded that hearing Blondie’s 1978 hit “One Way or Another” is still the best indicator that you are involved in a PG-rated movie chase scene, sources report.

“Our findings indicate that hearing those opening power chords is still the best way to surmise whether a movie chase is about to happen,” head researcher Amrita Bhattacharya noted. “This could be due to a building security guard catching some rad teens rollerblading where they’re not supposed to, or a scatterbrained middle school principal happening upon his coolest student while he’s skipping class. While preventative measures are still being researched, affected individuals can avoid being prominently displayed in these chases by appearing to be as cool as possible, as we all know that stodgy, out-of-touch adults are the most susceptible.”

Unwilling chase participant Gerard Bunnell reflected on the findings.

“I’ve been involved in quite a few PG-rated movie chase scenes, and this definitely makes sense,” said Bunnell. “Whether I’ve just put on my horn-rimmed glasses and sat down on a park bench to read a boring newspaper or am driving my 1985 Pontiac Bonneville to my nerdy finance job, when I start to hear ‘One Way or Another,’ I know I’m about to either have my newspaper fly out of my hands due to the rush of a teenager whizzing by with a bully he just pantsed hot on his trail, or have to stop my car suddenly while some helmeted kid on a skateboard ollies onto my car and does a sick kickflip off of it. I just wish there was a way to make myself cooler so I could avoid these situations entirely.”

Music and film expert Baoli Lee elaborated further on the report.

“These are exciting findings,” Lee provided. “The researchers have done monumental work in linking ‘One Way or Another’ to situations that thousands of people find themselves in every day. I’d like to piggyback on Dr. Bhattacharya’s advice by recommending that targeted individuals try strategies like carrying a skateboard everywhere they go or getting Lasik surgery, because cool people are statistically 63% less likely to have their briefcases opened and papers fly everywhere because they got caught up in one of these chases.”

At press time, Bhattacharya had also discovered that hearing “Bad to the Bone” is a leading indicator that you’re about to be confronted by a Harley-riding bad boy.