b89 (4.28-1.2020): this is the new normal

this is the new normal [1]        
by n. ormal
 
there’s no such thing as normal
this is nothing new
the future isn’t anything that you or i can do
the normal isn’t anything that you or i can see
 
this is the new normal
the constant (changing) scene
_______________________
 
·       be-cause the new normal is constant change, over and over and over again.
·       it’s the groundhog day of infinite possibilities.
·       if we can tap into that, then our evolution is something to be embraced… not feared. 

_____________________________________

[1] martino, j. (4.28-1.2020). this is the new normal. book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino.

  

b89 (4.27-2.2020): save the best for now

save the best for now [i]         
by don twait
 
save the best for now
save the best for now
there might be no tomorrow… so:
save the best for now
_______________________
 
·       every now moment not lived fully is a lost gem.

the idea of inhibition and holding back is a man-made construct designed specifically 

to keep you from having more fun than 

the old men who made the rules in the first place. 

_______________________

 [i] martino, j. (4.27-2.2020). save the best for now. book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino.

  

b89 (4.27-1.2020): everybody's out

     everybody’s out [i]          
by goi n. gout
 
the parking lot is crowded
i feel like fool (in mask)
some people don’t know distance (or at least they don’t know math)
they clearly don’t believe the things elected leaders say
 
everybody’s out/about
as if it’s all okay
_______________________
 
·       and, who knows?  maybe it is all okay.

·       maybe it is just slightly more dangerous than the flu.

·       maybe the economy is more important than trying to screw with a curve.

·       one thing’s for sure: after being locked in the house for a couple of weeks, and after dividing “county population” by “deaths” on their cell phones, usa-ians (at least those in gaston county, nc) are taking their chances.

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[i] martino, j. (4.27-1.2020). everybody’s out. book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino.

  

b89 (4.26-1.2020): it's on!

it’s on! [i]          
by al torry terror
 
·       it isn’t (officially) on until someone establishes territory.
   o   so far, there have been no fights.
   o   so far, it could be mis-interpreted as ‘sharing.’
   o   so far, the untrained eye might even think: ((sharing))
 
…but noooooooo…
 
event-u-ally, someone is going to take possession of some real estate.  someone is going to think “this is mine!”  someone is going to feel the need to fight… for her/his right…
 
…and, at that moment, it will be on!

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[i] martino, j. (4.26-2.2020). it’s on! book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino.

  

b89 (4.26-1.2020): inject me with some lysol

inject me with some lysol [i]
by r. a. ining

inject me with some lysol
please spray me down (with glue)
help me do a line of comet (we can see this through)
anything to keep me from contracting the disease:
the one that makes me want to watch grown morons (on tv)
_______________________

yes… it is an addiction… and a disease.

• i’m all lit up (with confidence) in our govern-mental decision-making processes:

"we are going to win this war, against this invisible enemy."  

((and soon!))

"we are going to find a cure/vaccine." 

((i think… very quickly))

"the economy is going to be better than it has ever been." 

((and i think it’s going to happen quicker than most people think))

"our country is run by the people, with the people, and for the people!"

• when the economy is robust, all of the billionaires and politicians and c.e.o.’s who got rich from insider trading… well, their riches are going to trickle down to me?

• maybe i’ll get to buy a (2-for-2-dollars) gmo ham sandwich: “hold the mustard… but can you sprinkle some round-up on that?

• i’m going to get the virus, eventually. in fact, i think i’ve already had it.

i’m going to recover ((very quickly. you might say “miraculously”)) 

…or die ((very quickly)).

…and, if i die, it will all be part of a greater plan ((a lovely plan)) 

...a plan for the people.

_______________________________
[i] martino, j. (4.26-1.2020). inject me with some lysol. book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino.

b89 (4.19-1.2020): ray of light

ray of light [i]

by l. ightness

another dark and gloomy covid-doomy groundhog day

but (somehow), through it all, there was this bright and shiny ray

_______________________

 you… are that ray of light.

 just flowing your flow, and without even knowing it… 

you brighten every-body’s Now moment.

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[i] martino, j. (4.19-1.2020). ray of light. book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino. 

b89 (4.18-1.2020): so nice to talk with you

so nice to talk with you [i]           
by connie v. ersations
 
so nice to walk (and think about the things that we’ve been through)
so nice to talk, just smile & talk,
so nice to talk (with you)

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[i] martino, j. (4.18-1.2020). so nice to talk with you. book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino. 

b89 (4.15-2.2020): i'm off (to risk my life)

 
i’m off (to risk my life)  [i]         
by grocer y. s. hopping
 
i’m off, to risk my life (as everybody knows)
i’m off to risk my life, to risk my life:
 
at trader joe’s
__________________
 
·       to be quite honest, i’m happy just to be able to shower, drive, and shop.  if trader joes is the death knell that finally takes me out, i’ll attempt to sip a little two-buck chuck as my final toast!

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[i] martino, j. (4.15-2.2020). i’m off (to risk my life). book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino.

[ii]“two buck chuck” is trader joe’s “economy” wine.

b89 (4.15-1.2020): delusional

delusional  [1]        
by d. lusional
 
when things get back to normal
when we group hug (and sing)
when we pack home-field stadium
when we do anything
 
when we can go to church and bars and restaurants and schools
when things get back to normal, when…
 
we are:
delusional
__________________
 
·       we.are.delusional.
 
·       because we have already seen the end of “civil-i-zation” as we knew it.
 
·       …and… this sloooooow armageddon has been a loooooong time process that we have been in (for a couple of decades, minimum).
 
·       for anyone who is (really, really) watching, life (as many of us knew it) is already, over.  in fact, the way we’ve lived it has contributed directly to our own demise, as (of course) it must.
 
·       i think i don’t have any other choice but to just sit back… and watch the show.  maybe enjoy a little virtual pop-corn with my virtual girlfriend.
 
we have been delusional for quite awhile, now.
 

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[1] martino, j. (4.15-1.2020). delusional. book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino.

b89 (4.14-1.2020): the problem with religion

the problem with religion  [i]          
by isman
 
god can drown his creatures, kill his children, hate his gays
but (when bad things happen) “the lord works in mysterious ways”
__________________
 
the problem with religion…
·       is that men made it up:
   o   they created gods in their own image.
   o   they might have been trying to explain the unexplainable, but…
      §  men learned that religion is a great way to control the feeble-minded.
      §  men learned  that religion can bring them money/power.
·       is that men tacked-on “belief” as the key element:
   o   believe what we believe.
   o   believe and you’ll be saved. 
 
the problem with the man-made god…
·       is that men credit him with everything good, while not holding him accountable for anything bad.
   o   in fact, when things go bad, men blame it on “not being religious enough.”
·       is that men state that god can do no wrong (he is perfect).
·       is that men state god can break his own rules.
·       is that men pretend to know what god thinks, feels, & wants.  any 3^rd-grader could deduce that an all-powerful being wouldn’t have any “wants.”
·       is that he is given every excuse possible, even to the point of “the lord works in mysterious ways” and “everything happens for a reason, in god’s plan.”
·       is that men would have us believe that god answers prayers. 
 
there is no accountability in religion.  religions aren’t taxed (in the usa) which allows them to thrive.

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[i] martino, j. (4.14-1.2020). the problem with religion. book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino. 

b89 (4.13-1.2020): this game is over (done)

this game is over (done) [1]          
by gameo v. erdude
 
the fat lady is singing
but this is still a game
but you might think that (“maybe that’s a little bit insane”)
but you might hope and pray that there is something you can do
this game is over (done)
i think (you thought) you knew
__________________
 
·       capitalism… when (like a virus) left unimpeded and unchecked, explodes like cancer.
·       the super-rich get super-richer, and the body/workers become collateral damage.
·       even while saying (tongue-in-cheek) that “we’re all in this together” and “we all need to make sacrifices” our out-of-control capital-virus (leaders) seek to make even more $$$ during the crisis.
·       do not expect the super-rich to help out the worker-bee.
·       do not expect the politician to help out the worker-bee.
 
the worker-bee’s american dream has been all-wet, for some time, now.
 
this game is over (done).
 
it just looks like there still might be a game on.  it’s a re-run, and the fat lady is already singing.
 

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[1] martino, j. (4.13-1.2020). this game is over (done). book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino. 

b89 (4.1-5.2020): inside-out & upside-down

inside-out & upside-down ^[1]            
by u. oxy & ima moronic

alternative tile: oxy-moronic

inside-out met upside-down on cyberlife.com

just about the time when upside’s dad met inside’s mom
shared an online double-date (apart-together, fine)
ordered jumbo-shrimp from icy-hot club 69

gave each-other even-odds amid the static-flow

made impromptu plans for a spring fling (at stop-n-go)
never realized that inside’s dad was upside’s preacher
it was no small miracle (she was his student-teacher)

clear misunderstanding (when dad showed up in a gown)

with his homemade chili: inside-out and upside-down

------------------------epilogue--------------------------------

mom thought that it was bittersweet (wise fool/bionic twin)

oxy & moronic:

upside-down and outside-in

_______________________

[1] martino, j. (4.1-5.2020). inside-out & upside-down. book 89: april fools. © 2020 by joal martino. 

* oxymorons: it's seriously funny when jumbo shrimp can be alone together while a friendly takeover leads to civil war in a small world that is growing smaller, as guest hosts grill devout atheists about impossible solutions to intense apathy using alternative facts.