Categories
America Brotherhood/Sisterhood of Man/Woman History

Should We Abandon All Hope Now?

And avoid the rush later? WLBOTT: Good morning, Elder G. Is today the day we abandon all hope? Elder G: Good morning, John! Let’s not abandon all hope just yet. Shall we embrace the absurdity and see where it takes us? WLBOTT: Okay, let’s keep some hope in reserve. What would be an appropriate amount […]

Categories
Adventures of the Elders Agriculture Food Gods, Goddesses, and Mythical Heros Texas

Our Epic Quest and the Oracle of the DMV

WLBOTT engaged in a epic quest yesterday, fully consuming the corporate offices (hence no BLOTT). We were in search of the Lost Texas Driver’s License. Phase I: Panic Phase II: Fear of Consequences If you’re not wealthy or well-connected in Texas, you don’t drive without your license. Phase III: Sally Talks Us Down “Everybody just […]

Categories
America Collapse of Democracy/Civilization/etc. Current Events Gravediggers of American Democracy Late Stage Capitalism

Nothing Left to Lose

Three quotes are on my mind this cold, drizzly morning: “The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose.”- James Baldwin”Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” – Kris Kristofferson “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”- Jesus […]

Categories
Food Ukraine

The Serenity of Dzembronya

I came across a lovely, peaceful video of a woman preparing a feast of Vareniki (Pierogi). The woman lives in the Carpathian mountains of eastern Ukraine, in a small village of Dzembronya, in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. The video reminds me of Ashe County, North Carolina, perhaps at the turn of the last century. Life is […]

Categories
Book Club Collapse of Democracy/Civilization/etc. Gravediggers of American Democracy

Eric Hoffer: Aphorism #1

In The Passionate State of Mind, Eric Hoffer describes people who irrationally commit to an ideology. The ideologies vary – religious, political, economic… it doesn’t matter. The members all fall victim to the same pathological psychological forces. A Contemporary Interpretation Although written almost three quarters of a century ago, it is just as true today. […]

Categories
Food Germany Late Stage Capitalism Shareholder Value WLBOTT Corporate

WLBOTT and the German Heritage Society

(We laugh so we don’t cry) So, once a year the WLBOTT Elders eat bratwurst and sauerkraut, to maintain our corporate membership in the German Heritage Society. That day was yesterday. But due to leftovers in a leaky Tupperware container, this morning the entire corporate headquarters is enjoying the Fermenté d’Amour, Bavarian Bliss, Eau de […]

Categories
England Italy Scholarship/Erudition

A Well-Curated Joke

I have been carefully curating my son’s life so that, at the appropriate moment, I could present him with this joke. His curating process included an immersion in American pop culture, European Renaissance history, Roman Catholic Cannon Law, a WLBOTT-compatible sense of humor, and a love of boiled eggs. So here’s the joke: Q: What […]

Categories
Book Club Mildly Interesting Scholarship/Erudition

Eric Hoffer: An Introduction

I periodically resort the books on my bookshelf. Previously, they were sorted by how useful they’d be during a Zombie Apocalypse. But today, my new sorting algorithm is this: How likely would I be able to defeat the author at arm wrestling? On the easy side (left), we have Emily Dickinson, T. S. Eliot, and […]

Categories
Outer Space WLBOTT Corporate

LOx of L.O.V.E.: Meet the Team

LOX of L.O.V.E. (Lunar Oxygen Viability Experiment) WLBOTT is proud to announce the founding LOX team. Mission Commander: Colonel Helium Featherbottom Retro-Futuristic Visionary | Lunar Atmosphere Pioneer | Chicken Space Suit Enthusiast Objective To boldly go where no poultry has gone before, while simultaneously revolutionizing atmospheric science and redefining the role of chickens in space exploration. Contact:Moonbase […]

Categories
Late Stage Capitalism Outer Space WLBOTT Corporate Work-Life Balance

LOx of L.O.V.E.: We’re Hiring!

LOX of L.O.V.E. (Lunar Oxygen Viability Experiment) WLBOTT began staffing for a variety of LOX of L.O.V.E. positions. Lots of enthusiasm, lots of passion, although many candidates were concerned about the 18 million year contract. Callback Candidates Intensity Issues We loved the enthusiasm and intensity, but we had to pass on these candidates: Managerial Timber? […]