Zoe Eri, Author at HARDTIMES

Trading in Your Marshall Stack for a Smaller Tube Combo That Breaks up Nicely at Lower Volumes, and Other Signs You’ve Aged Out of the Scene

Posted on January 8, 2024 by Jim Fitzpatrick

The truth is, if you’ve escaped twenty-seven club membership, your chances of aging out of the scene increase exponentially with every year. And it’s a true sadness, and terrible look to not realize that it’s happening to you. But we’ve got your back. Here are 8 signs that it might be time to break up the band, pack things up, and start a podcast or some shit.

Trading in Your Marshall Stack for a Smaller Tube Combo That Breaks up Nicely at Lower Volumes

Ian Mackaye looked so cool jamming the headstock of his SG into his Marshall stack like a samurai disemboweling a foe. And you’ve spent many years trying to mimic this move. But even Ian Mackaye downgraded his stack for a tube combo so he could play libraries in his quieter projects. But you aren’t Ian Mackaye. You’re downgrading your amp because you’ve thrown your back out twice in the past two years lugging your gear down a set of less than four stairs, which cost you a collective two week’s worth of PTO from your day job. Worth it for the glory of playing to the same five friends at a sad dive on a Tuesday night? Sit with that one for a bit.

Buying a Twelve-String Acoustic Guitar

You’ve hit the age where you can finally admit to yourself that Led Zeppelin has some pretty killer tunes. Especially the sad droning twelve-string ballads like “That’s the Way” and “Tangerine.” So you put on your Groucho Marx outfit and picked up a twelve-string from Guitar Center. You convinced your reluctant band to let you bust that bad boy out at a show for a cover of “Unsatisfied” by The Replacements. But the temperature fluctuation in the venue, plus the handful of whiskey sodas you had earlier, got you lost in the choppy seas of retuning, your tuner pedal was unable to keep up. It’s a moment you and the band no longer speak of. So the twelve-string collects dust, except for those pure nights where you serenade your cat with sloppy renditions of your favorite Big Star and Zeppelin tunes. He gets you.

Trading in Your Bass Cab for a Sans Amp Pedal, and Running Your Signal DI Into the PA

The bassists in the other local bands on the bill have stopped replying to your plea to borrow their rig for your set a long time ago. Because you’ve never once returned the favor. In fact, your cab sits at home, serving as a table for your collection of vintage sci-fi action figures you purchase on Ebay, and flip at an inflated price. You’ve made more money (and friends) doing this than you’ve made playing live music in your twenty years of gigging. So you took a little action figure money, bought a Sans Amp pedal, and never looked back, baby.

Adopting Steve Albini’s Waist Harness Guitar Strap Model

You always respected Steve Albini, the king of post-hardcore nerd rage, for his uncompromising vision, but one thing you could never quite get behind was his waist harness guitar strap. It was all just a little too, “kick my ass please,” for your tastes. But lately, your guitar strap has been applying too much pressure on the nerves by your neck and it’s been fucking with your shoulders and arms. Your doctor told you to switch things up, or face permanent nerve damage. So you swallowed your pride, strapped one on, and cried a little when you looked in the mirror. Your pride is hurt, but your shoulders and arms feel much better. Is it all worth it though? Probably not.

You’re Putting More Time Into Your Suicidal Depressive Black Metal Solo Project Than You Are Your Ten-Year-Old Emo-Revival Band

When emo revival blossomed in the 2010s, you were stoked. Finally, you could openly finger tap, play in nominally weird time signatures, and cry/sing about your childhood dog, all while romanticizing your attachment issues. But things with your band, How Long Without, just aren’t the same. Between parenting duties, AA meetings, and losing a handful of bassists to sexual assault allegations, it doesn’t seem worth it to put as much energy into the band anymore. But you find solace now, going into your basement after work, and transforming yourself into Vlargus, The King of Eternal Sorrows. You utilize your 10-watt Marshall practice amp, B.C. Rich guitar, thrift shop casio, and Tascam four-track, to record unlistenable static homages to self-destruction and solitude. And you can rest assured, nobody will listen to this mess, so you won’t have to worry about loading out for this one.

Trying to Hold Your Own in the Pit for the First Time in a While and Totally Eating Shit

You just weren’t thinking when you planted yourself four feet back from center stage before Twenty Minute Commitment’s set. Seconds into their first tune, a moderately intense pit broke out. But this time you didn’t scuttle off to the side. Shit at the office was pretty tense. Might feel good to let off some steam. Ope! Nope! You immediately lost your balance, fell on your side, and spilled your drink all over the floor like a total asshole. Luckily, a couple of youths scooped your sorry old ass off the floor, and you shuffled to the back. You popped a couple Ibuprofen, drove home, and replied to some work emails before bed. Never again.

Complimenting a Hardcore Vocalist After Their Set, Then Encouraging Them to Give Their Old Man a Break; He’s Probably Trying His Best

“Fuuuuuck. Your set totally killed. And man, your vocal delivery is on point. You have a real presence, and you ride the wave of making the crowd feel like you might completely annihilate them, while also making sure everyone is taken care of and ultimately safe. That’s a hard balance to maintain, and you do it brilliantly. And listen, I get what you’re saying about your dad. He sounds like a real dick. But man, I am sure he’s just trying his best. The reason he’s coming down on you so hard is all rooted in fear of the realization that he can’t keep you safe in this brutal, uncaring world, and he doesn’t want to lose the person he loves more than anything else on this earth. Go fuck myself? Yeah, totally. Great set. Sorry.”

Requesting That Your Band Opens the Show So You Can Sneak Out the Back of the Venue After Your Set and Get To Bed at a Reasonable Hour

Opening a local show used to feel like such a burn. Nobody would see the set you and your buds worked so hard to perfect. But as you’ve gotten older, you’ve realized that half of the time, the opening bands get just as much of an audience as the closers do, and sometimes the closers get even less of an audience. So, you’ve quit fucking around. Now you and your band volunteer, every time, to open up the show. You look like selfless heroes, but the real reason you’re doing this is so you can sneak out the back of the venue after your play, get home before ten o’clock, enjoy a cup of Sleepy Time Tea, and hit the hay at a reasonable hour so you can show up to work bright eyed and ready to impress the boss.

Aging Metal Singer Sadly Enters “Dye My Soul Patch Jet Black” Period of Life

Posted on January 8, 2024 by Chris Bratton

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Marcus Ulrich, the lead singer of local thrash metal band Christknuckle, was reportedly spotted at Walgreens asking employees which black hair dye brand worked best on small patches of facial hair, security cam footage confirmed.

“Nobody bats an eye any time Scott Ian dyes his beard black, nobody tells Nikki Sixx that his goatee looks like Rudy Giuliani’s sweaty sideburns threw up on it. What is so strange about tweaking your look when a crowd begs for you to be up on stage?” said Ulrich while gently running a comb through the small patch of hair below his lip. “I simply had to get a chain wallet because it just went the best with my new jeans, you know the ones with huge crosses on the pockets and ripped knees. Seriously though, you should’ve seen me fifteen years ago, I was a metal god. And I’m still that same guy, except I tan now.”

A regular at the venue the Bug Jar, Amy Jones, remembered an awkward run-in with Ulrich.

“It was like there was a void beneath his lower lip, it was the most unnatural-looking patch of hair I’ve ever seen. Someone also asked to look at his Hamms Beer hat and he got really pissed and yelled PISS OFF! I’m pretty sure he was balding underneath it, though the side hair reached far past his shoulders. He also kept saying shit about how the new generation sucks and how our generation remembers how some dive bar I never heard of used to be,” said Jones. “He was definitely like twenty years older than me, but kept shooting devil horns with his hands and sticking out his tongue every time I asked how old he was.”

Music Sociologist Lee Boswell described some other curious behaviors of metal singers passing the age of 50.

“Generally we see most people fade from social media as they age, but 50 is where TikTok begins for them. There is a lot of pointing at the camera and hand gestures, which is all the more fascinating because it’s done with so many rings,” Boswell chuckled, “Sometimes it’s impossible to tell whether they are wearing more rings or belts, what a curious bunch!”

Recently, an anonymous Walgreens employee also leaked that Ulrich has inquired which Dr Scholl’s inserts work best in steel buckled boots and if baby powder works for adult men in leather pants.

Eight Songs We’re Listening to This Week While The Merciless Beat of Time Marches On

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Corey Montgomery

Another year has begun, just like the year before it, and sadly, the year before that one. While many take the completion of another set of calendar pages as an opportunity to reinvent themselves, you have decided to maintain your rapidly stagnating personal status quo. We get it, change is scary and resolutions are hard to keep. There’s an easy fix though! For centuries people have used their musical tastes as status symbols. Countless listeners have long used their changing preferences as a vague proof of growth. Why shouldn’t you?

Judging by your excitement over MCR’s ‘Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge’ turning twenty this year, there’s a solid chance you haven’t really delved into anything new for quite some time. That’s where we come in. Our experts in the field of new sounds have scoured the internet to present you with a list of eight songs that have come out much more recently than 2004. We’ve also done the backbreaking task of compiling them into a new playlist which will be constantly updated all of 2024. If you want to see what 2023 was like check out our selections from last year: playlist for your consumption. Stop wasting your life and read on.

Snõõper “for yr love”

Following a fantastic debut LP – which we designated as one of our favorite albums of last year – as well as an incredible one-off single “Company Car,” Nashville’s Snõõper are continuing their well-earned 2023 victory lap with the release of a chaotic cover of The Zombies classic “For Your Love.” Over what appears to be a sped up and warped sample of the original track, the quintet paints a sonic masterpiece complete with melting vocals, blown out guitars, and a brisk runtime that cuts the original arrangement nearly in half. The rendition is so quintessentially Snõõper, you wouldn’t have a hard time convincing us they actually wrote the ‘60s hit in earnest.

Sprints “Heavy”

The up and coming Dublin indie quartet Sprints just released their debut album ‘Letter to Self’ and it’s a stunner. Mixing elements of noise, post-punk, and indie, the band maintains a cacophonous, yet accessible, wallop. Punctuated by the powerhouse vocals of Karla Chubb, Sprints is an absolute force to be reckoned with. Their latest single ‘Heavy’ provides a perfect snapshot of what the album holds. Ferocious guitars, insanely catchy hooks, and a backbeat that will have you halfway into the ground before the final notes ring out.

Kid Kapichi “999”

If you’ve been looking for a barnburner track that you can dance to while simultaneously expressing your hatred for the police, then look no further than Kid Kapichi’s latest single ‘999.’ Armed with the band’s penchant for brutal riffs and scream-along hooks, ‘999’ is a fiery call to arms that absolutely does not let up. Since its release we have had to bolt all staff desks to the folder to prevent flipping, but that hasn’t stopped multiple chairs from being hurled through our office windows.

Trey Magnifique “I Could Get Used To This”

It’s a new year, which means a new you. And that new you wants one thing and one thing only: smooth-ass jazz saxophone. Fortunately, Trey Magnifique has you covered, having released his 63rd album of smooth instrumentals entitled ‘Mature Situations’ last November. As the song’s title suggests, it’s not hard to imagine yourself ‘getting used’ to the mellow sounds that permeate the entire album. Seeing as your only New Year’s Resolution was to bring your blood pressure down to a non-lethal rate, it would be well advised that you include this in the rotation moving forward.

Alkaline Trio “Versions of You”

Alkaline Trio are gearing up to release their 10th studio album ‘Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs’ this month. Their most recent single ‘Versions of You’ finds the band in their grooviest form yet. Syncopated bass and drums tumble over a hypnotic riff that lightly borders on the edges of math rock, creating just enough pocket space for some of Dan Andriano’s most cutting vocals ever put to tape. If The Police did way more pills in the ‘80s, it’s possible they could have cut something similar.

Bib “Two Faced Planet/Bitter Mind”

It’s been nearly four years since Omaha’s Bib released their dizzying hardcore masterpiece ‘Delux.’ Just as we all were starting to wrap our heads around how deliriously epic that album was, the quartet announced their new EP ‘Biblical’ with a set of two singles that further cement their status as one of the most exciting bands in the genre. Unfortunately, the staff has been so riled up by this drop, that we’ve had to temporarily ban both ‘Two Faced Planet’ and ‘Bitter Mind’ from being played during office hours. Our Managing Editor can only withstand so many spin-kicks to the head before quality starts to plummet.

TEEN PRIME “thingies”

In case you missed it, Berlin’s math rock legends TEEN PRIME surprise released their 8th album over Christmas, and it is as astounding as it is baffling. In true fashion for the duo, ‘no. 8’ is a dense, sprawling, and utterly massive journey through frenetic drums, fuzzed out guitar lines, and head spinning arrangements. While it can be a lot to wrap your head around, we highly recommend starting with ‘thingies’ and working your way out of the maze from there. We’ll wait for your review once you get your head strapped back on.

Like we said before, we know you’re too lazy to look these up yourself, so we did it for you. Click here to like and follow the official What We’re Listening To playlist for 2024 and trick your loved ones into thinking you’re relevant again.

Man Out to Fancy Dinner with Girlfriend Stares Longingly at Dive Bar Across the Street

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Ben Friedman

MINNEAPOLIS — Local man Dan Stanford was accused of derailing date night at an upscale restaurant after he spent most of the evening gazing longingly at the dive bar across the street, patrons have reported.

“I’m really trying to be in the moment and enjoy dinner, truly! It’s not my fault I have a clear view of the alluring neon beer signs beckoning me inside. You think I want to pay $23 for a cheeseburger when I could be eating 50-cent wings and loading up the jukebox with ‘90s hardcore?” said Stanford. “God, I bet it smells like Pabst and cigarettes in there. You know, the scent of a good time. If I tell my girlfriend the charcuterie board is blowing right through me, I can sneak out the bathroom window and catch the end of happy hour.”

Stanford’s girlfriend Kelly Jones could tell he was preoccupied throughout the entire meal despite her attempts to redirect his attention.

“All I wanted was one night we don’t go somewhere I can barely see and have to dodge pool stick-wielding drunks. This place had a six-week waitlist on top of it being our five-year anniversary, the least he could do is not look at that fucking hole in the wall like he’s pining for some unrequited love,” said Jones. “I mean, they’re pairing wine with every one of these six courses, does he really need his alcohol served in a dirty pint glass to feel happy? And to think I finally brought him somewhere he has to tuck in his shirt.”

The dive bar’s owner admitted that much of their revenue comes from patrons escaping insufferable dining atmospheres.

“See, the trick was to never sell out as the neighborhood started gentrifying. This street was overrun with investors cranking out high end restaurants a few years back, and to their credit it’s served the area well. But I can safely say half of our patrons are people who’ve ditched those places once they realize they’ve paid for a black Russian marked up by 400 percent,“ said Max Blum. “We’re like a pierced alternative girl at a party full of rich assholes. We may look out of place but you can be sure as shit we’re a hell of a lot more fun.”

At press time, Stanford was on the brink of being kicked out after attempting to replicate the dive bar experience by slamming six shots of rail whiskey and demanding the bartender change the music from Vivaldi to Crass.

Security Blanket? This Woman Brings Her IBS Everywhere

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Tim Sheard

Meet Ashley Hightower, a 28 year-old-college graduate from an upper-middle-class family. Like a lot of us, she has severe anxiety, but she manages that with her coping mechanism of choice, which is having chronic IBS that she carries with her everywhere.

Ashley has lived alongside this enabling affliction for nearly a decade and, despite the mess she makes in every public bathroom she enters, she considers IBS to be an invisible illness and she’s hoping to spread awareness.

“Nobody sees the countless crumpled brown baby wipes, the bloody hemorrhoids, and the bed covered in empty foils of Gas-X that I’m saving for an art project at my Aunt’s gallery next March. All they see is a well-off white woman with a perfect rack. It’s really hard,” Ashley lamented.

Luckily, Ashley doesn’t have to deal with her delusions all alone. She has been an active member of a Facebook support group, Angels for IBS, for years. There, she has met other like-minded and foul-bowelled baddies who also never want to get better. The group has even provided Ashley access to exclusive scholarships and grants for disadvantaged people making an identity out of having IBS.

“It’s like Make-a-Wish, but for IBS and not terminal leukemia,” Ashley explained.

Angels for IBS gave Ashley the confidence to show her true self to people in her day-to-day life as well. “I joke with my coworkers about it now. I tell them all the juicy details. This one time I even yelled ‘My cup runneth over!’ as I ran down the hall to the bathroom, shit dripping down my leg. It’s been so freeing being able to live my truth,” Ashley said with a smile. She used to live a stifling life of not constantly sharing the intimate details of her bowels with anyone who will listen.

Ashley’s newfound confidence initially relieved some of her symptoms. However, she has always been very committed to her community and takes all necessary measures to keep suffering in loudness. “I had to up my intake of coffee and soft cheese at first, but thankfully I’m back to weaponizing my IBS as a get-out-of-jail-free card to bail on any of my commitments,” said Ashley.

Angels for IBS has recently partnered with another popular Facebook support group named Anemic5Ever to organize an outreach brunch targeting other boring young women. Both support groups value the safety of their communities and take a very serious anti-bullying stance. They warn that anyone using gaslighty or invalidating language suggesting there may be permanent solutions to either of these issues will be swiftly blocked.

37-Year-Old Turns Down Taking Back Sunday When Driving By Teenagers

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Jose Balderas

LOS ANGELES — Local self-described “elder emo” Jasper Berkeley, 37, turned down the volume to his car stereo playing Taking Back Sunday’s 2002 classic “Cute Without The ‘E’ (Cut From The Team)” in a knee-jerk reaction when stopped at a red light next to a Jeep full of teenagers, snickering sources confirmed.

“It wasn’t that I was embarrassed or anything. Yeah I could see them pointing at me, and one of them rolled their eyes so hard I thought she was going to black out, but I maintain that I turned the music down out of politeness,” remarked Berkeley. “I know at that age kids need to be really focused on the road and not have any distractions make them lose that focus. Yeah, they were playing music and talking too but I didn’t want to add to the ambient noise. We made brief eye contact and I heard them laughing but it was definitely because it was a funny moment, not because I was hitting the chorus at full volume doing my best Adam Lazzara. Couldn’t have been, because they would have been cheering me on if that was the case.”

Daisy Bata, one of the teenagers in the Jeep, was not able to capture the moment on their phones fast enough to their dismay.

“When we pulled up next to the Subaru we almost thought it was my dad because he also plays those types of songs when he’s alone in the garage. We kept trying to get his attention after he turned the volume down to give him a thumbs up for his performance but he ignored us.” relayed the 18-year-old high school senior. “He seemed kind of scared, almost like he was in a bad neighborhood and didn’t want to bring any attention to himself. But we still wanted to give him a thumbs up for effort because we love people who feel young.”

Behavior Expert in the new field of ‘Millenial Embarrassment of Nostalgia’ Donald Canard explained this new phenomenon.

“Whereas previous generations love to compare their nostalgia as superior to the newer generations, we found that Millennials seem to have anxiety when having to present it to younger folks out of fear of being judged and being labeled as ‘uncool,’” clarified Canard. “The music, fashion, and trends of early 2000s kids who are now adults still hasn’t retro’d therefore the kids who are trendsetters now don’t find any value in their elder’s past. Once a younger group of kids re-discovers this era and makes Fashioncore a thing again then it won’t be so bad. And if that never comes, we may have a social crisis in the near future.”

At press time, Berkeley was given a second written warning at work for playing From Autumn to Ashes’ “Short Stories With Tragic Endings” too loud in his cubicle.

Republican Lawmakers Break Ground on “Never Remember 1/6” Memorial

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Tim Sheard

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers today broke ground on a new memorial to not commemorate the insurrection riots that took place in and around the Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021, multiple self-described American patriots confirmed.

“Today, we unveil a memorial in honor of an event that we can’t really recall even happening,” said Senator Rand Paul from the alleyway behind a Waffle House. “The events of that day are undoubtedly vague in all of our collective memories as a nation. I think maybe it was cold that day and cloudy? Can’t recall much else myself, tried looking at my daily calendar and there wasn’t much to speak of. I think the Eagles were playing the Cowboys that Saturday, who can really say?” continued Paul while looking at his phone and walking back to his motorcade. “With this monument, we can ensure that January 6th, 2021 is a day we certainly will never remember and we can all stop talking about it now and forever.”

Some supporters of former President Trump say they are excited to visit the memorial once it is completed to relive a date that for them does not in any way bring up painful memories.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to them being done building that memorial so I can visit and not pay my respect,” said Frank Dunlap. “I seen [sic] that they will be selling shirts and flags that say ‘Never Remember 1/6‘ printed on them, and I think it’s important for everybody in the country, led by President Trump, to continue to not remember what happened on that day three, or five, or ten years ago or whatever the liberal media would have you believe. I was at the Capitol that day and I honestly don’t remember anything happening, business as usual.”

Political analyst Morgan Lewski says the memorial shows signs that unbelievably there may in fact be a divide in the country on what is actually reality that runs along political lines.

“As shocking as it may sound, I believe we may have two sides of the political spectrum in this country who don’t agree on some things, especially the concept of observable truth,” said Lewski. “On the one hand, you have reasonable people who saw what happened that day and actually remember, and on the other, you have right-wing nutjobs who would love to just talk about anything else. Personally, I say we go with the Right’s perspective. We’re all fucked anyway so we might as well get weird and invent our own reality.”

At press time, witnesses claim to have seen members of Trump’s staff placing boxes of classified documents into the hole dug for the monument.

Guy From Your Floor in College That Only Knew How Play Intro for “Today” Announced as New Guitarist for The Smashing Pumpkins

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Reuben Blanchard

CHICAGO — Shortly after The Smashing Pumpkins began holding open auditions for a new guitarist they shocked the world by announcing 38-year-old Jared Buchford, the guy from your floor in college who only knew how to play the intro for “Today,” as their newest band member.

“His audition tape really stood out because he didn’t bother with professional lighting or sound, he recorded in a dark basement straight into an old iPhone,” said Pumpkins’ commander-in-chief Billy Corgan. “I mean for one thing, out of all the videos we received he was the only one playing a round-back Ovation acoustic guitar that was missing a string. That really showed he was willing to push the envelope. There was just something so raw and powerful about the way he kept getting angry at himself and saying ‘wait, hold on, lemme start over’ every time he messed up. I can’t wait to show that power to the world. After only a couple tries and then accidentally dropping his pick in the sound hole, he pretty much nailed the intro for ‘Today,’ or as he called it, ‘the doo-doo diddley part,’ which is how I’ve always referred to it in band practice as well.

Buchford himself was surprised to get the call from Corgan.

“I actually hadn’t touched the guitar since college, and I had to ask my niece to tune it. And the strings were pretty gross. But eventually, it all kinda came back. Just like riding a bike or driving a car,” said the Worcester, Mass. native who has two DUIs and a “Boondock Saints” poster on his wall. “But I can’t wait to learn the rest of ‘Today.’ I also liked that ‘vampire’ song. And that other one too. I know working with Billy is going to be great, he seems like a really fun guy.”

While the move by the group may seem bizarre, rock and roll archivist Charles Farrelly says it’s becoming more and more common for bands to find members in unconventional ways.

“Classic rock titans Journey famously found their current vocalist Arnel Pineda via YouTube,” said Farrely. “But it doesn’t stop there. Queen met ‘American Idol’ contestant Adam Lambert when they guested on said show, leading them to ask him on tour. And metalcore giants All That Remains found their vocalist Phil Labonte when he was yelling conspiracy theories into a megaphone outside an Applebees.”

At press time, Buchford was reportedly headed to a Guitar Center to “see what they have that’s under 100 bucks.”

Aging Folk Singer Has “This Machine Kills Plantar Fasciitis” Sharpied on Each Orthopedic Shoe

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Chris Bowen

TULSA, Okla. — Local folk singer John “Ramblin’ Gamblin’” Shandling, age 41, took a firm stance against chronic foot pain by scrawling “This Machine Kills Plantar Fasciitis” on each of his orthopedic shoes, several Steinbeckian sources report.

“Plantar Fasciitis is the biggest threat to all us folks who are fortunate enough to be able to walk on our own two feet. And as long as I’m livin’ and singin’, I aim to fight the good fight against it on all fronts,” Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Shandling explained, adding the good people at Dr. Sholes deserve credit for being at the helm of the battle of comfort and proper arch support. “Us folk singers have a duty to spread the word about threats like these. Plus I think Woody Guthrie himself would appreciate and be blown away with the shoe technology we have today. I’m sure he could have used it.”

Member of the Anti-Plantar Fasciitis (or ANTIPFA) movement Rachel Owenowski talks about the working class, grassroots movement to rid the world of the insidious infliction of foot-related pain.

“The ANTIPFA movement has no leaders, no officers, no hidden agendas, and no specific organizational structure. This movement was created, and is run by, people who see the pain caused by P.F. and its rise among aging individuals as a fundamental threat to our quality of life,” Owenowski said passionately, adding P.F. has no place in modern society and must be destroyed. “We see victims of it even at our own rallies! That shows you how important it is for everyone above 35 to be educated, and be equipped with the proper footwear and need to learn proper stretches to alleviate the pain.”

Orthopedic specialist Dr. Michelle Ruiz explains that musicians have always fought on the right side of the battle against foot-related injuries.

“If you think about it, it makes complete and total sense that musicians would stand up to the grim world of foot pain. I’d wager around half of all musicians have to be on their feet night after night performing in front of crowds while standing, and that brings potential hazards with it,” Dr. Ruiz explained. “So that foot pain, and songs like ‘Talking My Foot Hurts Like a Bastard Blues’ really help the common people relate to big shot celebrities like Bob Dylan. Otherwise, the average Joe Schmoe might think he was a sellout or something.”

At press time, Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Shandling was working on a ballad that warned people of the perils of heartburn.

Uh Oh! Dad Left You With the Cart to go Get Bread, and the Front of the Line Looms Ever Closer

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Alex Kitsinger

This certainly isn’t good. You’ve been left alone to watch the cart, and your turn at the cashier is rapidly approaching. But you don’t have money, you’re just a kid, and if something doesn’t change soon you are going to cry so much the store will flood. Your dad said he only needed to quickly grab some bread and that he would be right back, but you see through that bullshit. You know he’s not going to be back anytime soon, he’s probably talking to one of his adult friends about smoking cigarettes and taxes. This is every seven-year-old’s worst nightmare, but I’m sure you’ll be alright.

Your throat begins to dry up, and you feel cold on the back of your neck. Maybe if you try to stand very, very still, both you and the cart will be hidden from sight and you’ll make it out of this alive. That seems like a logical idea. Well, it did seem like a good plan, until you promptly ruined it by sneezing in the most dramatic way possible.

This is going to be fine, trust me. The cashier motioned to the guy in front of you to step forward, which means you’re up next. He has a cart, but on closer inspection, he seems to only be buying butter toffee and cigarettes. Time is running out. You try to peer over the magazines, but unfortunately you’re only four feet tall and can’t see anything over them.

Then you have a genius idea – why not scream that there’s a fire? Then you wouldn’t have to talk to the terrifying cashier at all, though people would quickly realize there is not in fact a fire and you would probably be executed or something like that. That leaves you only one reasonable option: actually starting a fire.

There are lighters for sale right here, so if you just grab one and hold it up to the magazines you’ll be home free. You try it once and nothing happens. The customer in front of you is getting out his wallet, ready to pay. You’re out of time. You flick it again, and again there’s no result. Your tiny little hands are too weak to push down the child safety latch. It’s over.

As you try one more time, it finally works. You have created fire! You bring it up to the gossip magazines, your brilliant plan finally about to come to fruition. You won’t have to talk to the cashier, or anyone! But then finally, after what feels like forever, you see a tall figure on the edge of your vision. You look up, and your father has returned with a single loaf of bread, just as he promised. He looks at you, his expression a mix of confusion and terror.

“Really? I leave for thirty seconds, and you try to start a fire? What the hell is wrong with you?”