The Konstantino, Author at HARDTIMES

Woman Still Dating Her Ex-Boyfriend

Posted on February 3, 2022 by Dom Turek

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A self-proclaimed “bachelorette” is celebrating six months of being single by going out to a romantic dinner with her ex-boyfriend, sources close to the couple confirmed.

“This is where the magic happens,” said Kina Walker, discreetly kicking a pair of her ex’s boxers under the bed. “Being single has allowed me to really branch out and explore my creative side until about 8 p.m., which is when my ex gets out of work and I go over to his house so we can make dinner together and catch up on Succession. It’s the healthiest breakup I’ve ever had.”

Walker and her then-boyfriend of four years, James Perez, decided to call it quits after realizing they’d be better off as friends who regularly slept together and still said, “I love you,” much to the dismay of her friends.

“I was initially excited to have single Kina back so we could pick up guys from the bar,” said Jenifer Rodgers, Walker’s best friend, “But every time a guy talks to her, she shuts him down because it would be ‘disrespectful to James.’ She says she’s single, but I don’t know any other single people who book couples massages with their exes. She’s not fooling anyone but herself.”

Walker and Perez insist they’ve taken every possible measure to avoid backsliding into a potentially doomed relationship, including blocking each other on social media, and avoiding being seen in public together.

“Welcome to my bachelor pad,” said Perez, unplugging a curling iron Walker accidentally left on before going to work. “I’ve learned that the key to getting over a break-up is setting strong boundaries with Kina and sticking to them, like deleting her phone number and only paying for dinner if it’s her birthday or she’s had a hard day at work. My friends say it seems like I’m still in a relationship, but I actually have a date planned with a really hot girl later tonight. Would a person in a relationship do that?”

At press time, completely unsurprised sources discovered the really hot girl Perez planned on meeting up with was Walker.

We Tried Playing D&D and This Game Is Nowhere Near as Satanic as 80s Republicans Promised Us

Posted on February 3, 2022 by James Knapp

The 1980’s — the decade that gave us parachute pants, Reaganonomics and, of course, rampant Satanic ritual magic disguised as tabletop role-playing games. A simpler time.

Recently, The Hard Times decided to try playing a little Dungeons and Dragons to recapture some of that wonderful, demonic energy that at one time terrified the moral majority so much that they decided to subject a handful of preschool teachers to the most expensive trial in American history. Sounds fun, right?

Imagine our disappointment when we gathered around for our first session, adorned in identical blood-red robes, only to realize that we’d been burned. Satan has almost nothing to do with this game! Like, he does a little bit, but not enough to justify numerous congressional hearings and a made-for-TV movie starring Tom fucking Hanks. Bullshit!

Now we know this may come as a shock to many of you, but we think that the Republicans might have been over embellishing a little with this whole Satanic panic thing.

We tried to adjust our expectations but the damage was already done. You know what our first quest was? We had to rescue a lost goat. That’s it! We thought maybe it was gonna turn out to be Baphomet in disguise and he would usher us through the hell portal or something, but no, we seriously just found and returned some farmer’s lost property. That was the game.

Granted, the farmer did then sacrifice the goat in the name of some sort of tree ghost, but that is hardly a substitute for the dark prince we were promised. Where are the legions of black-eyed children that made Orrin Hatch scream himself erect every night? That’s what they told us this game was about!

Despite the lack of overt Satanic influence, and the fact that it has a bunch of nerd shit in it like math and what have you, this game is still pretty fun. We just can’t shake the disappointment that 80s Republicans lied to us like this.

Well all in all this has been a bit of a setback, but our quest for Satan continues! Next week we’re all going to start reading Harry Potter. Christians used to burn those books so we’ve got pretty high hopes this time around!

Punk Has Surprisingly Nuanced Views on Shania Twain

Posted on February 3, 2022 by Brooks Gray

SALT LAKE CITY — Local punk Elizabeth “Bloodfucker” Matolka elicited mild surprise from her bandmates when she acknowledged a degree of affinity for country-pop artist Shania Twain, sources confirmed.

“Country-pop is the worst pile of shit ever pinched off by the corporate scum who run the record business, but Shania didn’t create that world, she just conquered it,” said Matolka, bassist for local horror punk band The Period Havers. “She grew up really poor and struggled for years grinding it out in small-town dive bars, and I mean yeah, she eventually sold out and did Vegas and all that, but after what she’s been through, who the fuck wouldn’t? And did you know she almost lost her voice because of her battle with Lyme disease? It’s fucking insane.”

The Period Havers drummer, Cleopatra “Clitface” Deeks, reported that Matolka began her lengthy Shania Twain rant after an offhand comment by lead vocalist, Gertrude “Diarrhea” Alcalde.

“We were in an Uber on our way to rehearsal, and ‘You’re Still the One’ came on the radio. We see Betty kind of bopping along, so Gertrude goes, ‘Yo Betty I didn’t know you were such a Twain head’,” said Clitface. “And then Betty starts going off for two hours about how Shania’s songwriting is better than Mutt Lange’s, that he gets too much credit, and he’s a piece of shit for fucking Shania’s best friend when they were married. Like, we get it, Shania Twain doesn’t totally suck but can you please shut up anyway?”

Ethnomusicologist Elaine Montgomery noted that in punk subcultures, neurotic hand-wringing about the concept of authenticity, known as ‘cred’, is not uncommon.

“International country-pop couldn’t be further from punk rock aesthetically, but Shania Twain’s life story exemplifies a certain working-class, DIY ethos that punks revere,” she explained. “But unlike 99.99% of punks, Shania Twain achieved mainstream success, which of course leads to the ‘sell out’ label. In short, a punk like Ms. Bloodfucker can’t help but love Shania Twain, but hates herself for it, and tries not to give a fuck at the same time. It’s cognitively and emotionally taxing.”

At press time, members of The Period Havers were seen burying their heads into nearby couch cushions after a bartender dared bring up Britney Spears.

Wife Wondering How Concerned She Should Be After Catching Husband Watching Old Skate Videos

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Patrick Crooks

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Local woman Katie Sandoval has been reconsidering the stability of her marriage after walking in on her husband watching Zero Skateboards’ 1997 video “Thrill of it All” in their basement, confirmed distraught sources close to the couple.

“Scott (Larsson) was into skateboarding as a teenager but, to the best of my knowledge, this is the first time he’s watched one of those types of videos in the 10 years we’ve been together,” said Sandoval from her sister’s house. “I should have known something was up when I found a bunch of old Thrasher magazines hidden in a paper bag in our closet. It became a real issue when I was on our computer, almost all the suggested videos on YouTube were skateboarding related. I made a joke about it at dinner and he got real quiet and the next time I used the computer, the history had been cleared.”

“I really just hope this doesn’t lead to him trying to skate again, he’s almost 40 and I’m pretty sure his ankles would turn to dust,” Sandoval added.

Larson dismissed his partner’s concerns as being ‘overblown’ and nothing to stress about.

“I love Katie, but she spends too much time reading between the lines,” the 38 year-old software engineer said while searching for PDF versions of old CCS catalogs in a private browser. “It’s nothing more than morbid curiosity. I mean yeah, it’s great to see that skateboards these days a little bit wider than when I was back in my prime. I think that’s progress. And yeah, I do miss waxing ledges behind supermarkets and skating there until the cops come. But at this point I actually find more joy in watching people skate, especially some of the vintage stuff. The pants were so wild.”

Psychologists state that while some nostalgia is healthy, becoming too wrapped in it could be signs of deeper issues.

“Mr. Larson is at the age where men begin experiencing mid-life crises, so while it’s not unusual for him to look back fondly at activities from his youth, it’s important to make sure it’s not maladaptive nostalgia,” noted psychologist Dr. Jeff Gergen. “Watching old Transworld videos in his spare time is probably fine, so long as it doesn’t interfere with everyday activities like work and sex. Now, say he starts spending his spare time hanging out in the 7-11 parking lot and getting chased out of city squares by security guards? Well, then you might want to consider getting a professional involved.”

At press time, Sandoval wasn’t sure if she should be relieved after seeing the skate videos replaced by World War 2 documentaries.

Man Can’t Wait for Directionless, Improvised, Five-Hour-Long Grateful Dead Biopic

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Richard Circuit

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Local deadhead Patrick Thames expressed excitement over Martin Scorsese’s upcoming biopic of the Grateful Dead which is expected to be mostly improvised, completely directionless, and way longer than it needs to be, friends of the tye-dye enthusiast confirmed.

“I’m hoping they start with Jerry’s childhood, then slip into his early bluegrass stuff, then into his mid-30s for a bit before seamlessly going back into Jerry’s childhood for like eight more minutes,” said Thames, 54, to no one in particular. “I’ve been scouring the forums, and most of the diehard theorists think it’s gonna be childhood, Woodstock, addiction, Red Rocks, diabetes, then back to an epic childhood jam. I’m okay with that, as long as they take a break in the middle to show a random assortment of trippy stock images over a soundtrack of unintelligible screeches.”

Thames’ friend, Gary Farber, is just as enthusiastic about the release, going as far as setting his itinerary for opening night.

“You know I’ll be at the theatre at midnight with my tape recorder, waiting to make an unlistenable copy of the movie’s sound. I’ll have to show up early so I can make sure I score a ticket in the theatre lot,” said Farber, 80, as he added beads to a neon vest. “I heard they’re filming the whole thing in one take on a random night in the woods of upstate New York. Then they’re just gonna release it unedited, no matter the quality of the audio or video. So authentic.”

For five years, director Martin Scorcese has been preparing for this project, immersing himself in the creative process of the band.

“I have spent four years doing acid on a bus, and then the past twelve months working myself up to go out there and wing it,” said Scorcese, who landed the gig after Steven Spielberg was fired for writing a script and ruining the movie’s spontaneity. “We were able to get Jonah Hill for pretty cheap because we’re only filming for five hours total. He’s been getting ready by doing absolutely no research so he can really make it up on the spot.”

At press time, a local Velvet Underground fan turned off the trailer for new documentary after realizing it didn’t even blow out his TV speakers.

Now That Britney’s Free, What Should My Next Thing Be?

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Brooks Gray

On November 12, 2021, Britney Spears became free. For leaders of the #FreeBritney movement like me, 11/12 was our 9/11, except in reverse. November 12 was the day a disaster was undone and the twin towers of Britney’s dignity and autonomy were resurrected. Okay cool. Now, what should my next thing be?

For years, I poured my heart and soul into the cause. I posted thousands of times on Instagram, designing and selling Free Britney merch, and even strongly considering going to law school to help destroy the evils of conservatorship. So now that’s it’s over, what should I throw my entire identity into next?

The Captivity of Britney was a long and traumatic 14 years for Britney Spears and, honestly, for me. I lived, breathed, and posted through all of it to the detriment of my emotional and professional well-being. Day and night I fought for my queen online, insisting that Brit should have the freedom to go to In-N-Out Burger, see her children, or sign a deal for a lucrative Las Vegas residency without her father’s permission.

But life goes on and there are many other worthy causes that could use an identity-less social shapeshifter like me. Criminal justice reform, equal rights, and anti-gun violence are all good causes, but if I’m honest with myself, these issues lack a certain je ne sais quoi compared to rescuing the Princess of Pop from her gilded cage.

These days, I scroll through social media tirelessly in search of a cause. That is until I realized something about myself. Life is not basing my life around a movement. I need to be an individual and think for myself. And to me, personally, I can’t live in a world where Jason Momoa doesn’t fork over every cent to my goddess Lisa Bonet. #TeamBonet

Lighting Guy Resents Being Mistaken For Sound Guy

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Marie Cartier

OAKLAND, Calif. — Nick Takanaka, the resident lighting technician at The Corner, is reportedly nearing his breaking point after being constantly mistaken for the venue’s decrepit, incompetent sound guy, sources close to the gaffer’s tape enthusiast confirmed.

“I put alot of effort into making this place a great experience for the performers and audience with the limited resources I have,” said Takanaka, while attempting to untangle and coil a haphazard pile of XLR cables. “I sourced and installed a whole new grid of color-changing LEDs in preparation for our reopening. And I’m able to program the lights in real-time with the performances, creating some pretty trippy effects. So when someone asks me why there’s still a constant buzz in the speakers or why any amount of bass creates a rattling sound, it takes a few years off my life. People don’t care enough about techs to know that the buzz problem is (Dirk) Hannigan’s job. He barely does a soundcheck and I don’t think he’s even ever set up a monitor.”

Even frequent performers and patrons do not seem to be able to distinguish between lighting and sound roles at the venue.

“Nick’s lighting makes my band’s videos look sick when I post them on Instagram. I’ll always ‘accidentally’ upload videos with no sound because people would assume it’s our fault that our instruments sound like we are playing inside an underwater garbage truck, ” said musician and person-smoking-a-spliff-outside Abby Ortega. “Whenever I ask him to fix the sound he freaks out and screams that it’s ‘not his fucking problem.’ I’ve tried bringing my own sound guy, but a random dude in a tactical vest pulled a knife on him and told him to stay away from the soundboard.”

Though Takanaka insists that Dirk Hannigan is particularly unreliable, it seems that the “sound guy problem” extends well beyond one venue.

“We’re seeing increasing stratification in pay and skill level in the sound field lately,” reported UC Berkeley Stagecraft professor Kate Wilson. “There is a huge disconnect between the skills needed for quality sound engineering, and what most people are willing to pay. In this environment, a sound tech with rudimentary skills can make himself indispensable in exchange for minimum wage and beer. I think it’s because so many people get confused by the whole input versus output thing.”

At press time, Hannigan had caused a sudden evacuation of the venue due to ear-splitting feedback that he was trying to fix with one hand while lighting a cigarette.

Into the Wild 2? This Woman Just Turned off Her Phone

Posted on February 1, 2022 by Ciara Murphy

Are we looking at the next “Into the Wild?” San Diego woman, Courtney Woodridge, has felt a strong connection to Chris McCandless since first watching Into the Wild last week. Venturing into the unknown with nothing but a rucksack and a positive attitude, Chris made a brave decision to travel in search of himself. Just like Courtney who, in an identical parallel, has turned off her phone.

“His story is really inspiring and I think the journey he went on should be followed,” Courtney posted shortly before venturing into her own unknown. “It’s an ideology I can really get behind, and watching his story made me realize how similar we are in spirit.”

When asked what specific parallels she can draw between herself and McCandless, Courtney reflected that she is also looking to get in touch with her true self. Plus, she also listens to a lot of Pearl Jam and has been on a bus.

We were interested to learn more about what preparations Courtney has taken. In her final Instagram pic, she had only a packed bag with warm clothes, three paperback books, and a two-bedroom townhome with every possession she’s owned since childhood.

A local bartender reported that Courtney sat at the bar last night, sans-phone, talking to fellow partons in an attempt to become one with nature. To those who doubt her, Courtney graciously understands. “This lifestyle isn’t for everyone and I don’t expect people to understand why someone would choose to live a more natural, primitive life.”

Courtney concluded her final post to state on record that changing her name to “Anastasia Sugartits” was a separate decision that had nothing to do with “Into the Wild.”

Cop Can’t Tell Difference Between Spit in Beyond Meat and Spit in Real Meat

Posted on February 1, 2022 by Tony Morse

DENVER — Local police officer, and unknowing swallower of other people’s spit, Dale Martin admitted he wasn’t able to tell the difference between his normal saliva-drenched order of KFC nuggets and their new plant-based Beyond nuggets, snickering sources confirmed.

“I was skeptical at first, but these new plant nuggets taste exactly like the chicken I’ve been served here for years,” said Martin between mammoth bites of the carefully prepared food. “They have the same crispy skin with the slimy bits that taste like tobacco and energy drinks. There was a time I thought I was done eating fast food, every time I ate out I would find about a dozen pieces of hair in my burger. I haven’t had that issue with KFC, they run a tight ship. That’s why I plan on bringing my kids here if I’m ever allowed unsupervised visits with them again.”

Night manager Denny Taylor confirmed the popularity of the new menu offering among law enforcement professionals.

“Cop after cop comes in here asking for the new special,” the seasoned Chef de Cuisine shared between a phlegmy smoker’s cough and a long pull from his Red Bull. “We always give them something special, but I wouldn’t call it new. As a matter of fact, I’ve been sourcing the same secret ingredients from my chronic sinus infections and stubborn bronchitis for years. We’ve got this one new cook who dips Coppenhagen, and he can regularly hack up plump throat oysters with the consistency of uncooked egg whites. Talented guy, but I’m still teaching him how to spot cops out of uniform. Avenged Sevenfold t-shirts and visible signs of steroid use are always dead giveaways.”

Food scientist Franz Fassbinder discussed the considerable effort that went into creating a product he believes will dramatically reduce humanity’s carbon footprint.

“People all over the country are eating less meat to reduce their carbon footprint and that actually includes a lot of police officers,” said Fassbinder. “We worked hard to find the correct cooking temperature so the nuggets absorb the snot and sputum properly. We gave test samples to thousands of jackbooted piggies to make sure none of them could taste the difference. Once we got the temp right, none of them believed it was synthetic meat. This will allow hard-working fast-food employees to continue spitting with impunity.”

At press time, Officer Martin was at the bar drinking a Coors that appeared much more yellow than usual.

So You’ve Quit Drinking? Here’s How To Start Again

Posted on February 1, 2022 by James Knapp

It’s been over a year and you’ve been crushing your sobriety. Over twelve straight months without a drop of alcohol has led to improvements in your physical and mental health along with a stunning lack of near-death situations. Congrats! Now you’re ready for the next step in your sobriety: Relapsing!

Taking a metaphorical nosedive into a distillery vat is just part of the recovery process. But what about all the drinking knowledge you likely forgot since quitting? Fortunately, we’re here to help!

Remember How Easy it Was to Quit the Last Time
You remember when you quit, right? Quitting cold turkey lasted three days before you caved and wound up in a full-blown bender. Then came the months and months of decreasing your use before finally stopping entirely. That is until you lost out on that promotion and you said “fuck it,” leading to a relapse that ultimately got you fired and caused the end of your relationship. And then finally quitting for the long haul. You remember how easy that was, right? Exactly! You can quit again, no sweat! So pick up that bottle!

Don’t Start Small
It might be tempting, when trying to start drinking again, to just dip your toe back into the alcoholic well. Maybe have a glass of chardonnay with dinner or a tasteful kamikaze while reading Proust. But don’t buy into all that “moderation” bullshit, come back with a boom! Go to your favorite bar and close the fucking place down. Ask for their cheapest whiskey and then drink them dry.

Remember, Liquor Before Beer… if You’re A Coward
Don’t listen to that old nonsense about “liquor before beer.” When you were a raging drunk, you could drink whatever the fuck you wanted whenever the fuck you wanted. Your body is probably still up for the task. The same goes for how much you can drink and how fast you can drink it too. If you used to be able to stomach taking a handle to the face within the span of an hour, then you owe it to yourself to go for it! Otherwise, you’re just moving backward and that’s the last thing you want to do while relapsing.

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