Sheeple

 

  It’s high time we addressed the 14,000-pound elephant in the room: Influencers.

Influencers are individuals who have latched on to an idea of making a living by telling the masses how and what to digest in life.

These influencers have been around for eons in one form or another under various names on a variety of different platforms.

Following World War II, returning service personnel often carried enough of their pay to rid themselves of the khaki slacks and shirts, or olive drab battle dress uniforms, or navy bell bottoms, in lieu of sporty “new” fashions of the post-war time.

Tailors welcomed the GIs with a new version of the regular business suits of the 1940’s: the Zoot Suit. Adopted from black and Mexican cultures, these easily distinguished togs became the fashion of the hip.

Sporting jackets with wide lapels, trousers with pegged legs and pleats, worn over two-toned shoes, along with an oversized pocket watch chain, these haberdashery innovations screamed, ‘I have arrived!’ This overindulgence of extra material to create these suits proudly showed everyone we didn’t need to scrimp and save for the war effort; it was now my turn.

Although short lived, this trend was set by influencers of the era. If you wanted to fit in, you needed to heed the sage advice of people in the know. Period.

Alongside the Zoot Suits were bigger, heavier, more opulent cars. With giant fenders and plush, wide seats, these cars were distinct from the older pre-war models with chrome trim and eye-catching white wall tires. The American culture had turned the corner to a place that was to be desired.

Using popular singers crooning catchy jingles of the time in their advertising, Detroit, then the backbone of American auto manufacturing, produced desirable cars. During radio and a new media medium, television programs, one needed to “See the USA in their Chevrolet.” The other manufacturers had their turn with their own ad wars in print newspapers and magazines, too.

While driving American roads, cigarettes were being pushed by influencers, too. “Doctors” in white lab coats bearing stethoscopes along with those banded mirrors on their heads could be seen everywhere recommending certain ciggie brands as being healthier over those of their competitors. If only.

Those are just a few examples of influencers past who effectively changed the direction and tenor of America.

And it was around these times – the 1940’s through the 1960’s – that people became more status conscience than before. With more people working with new skills in decent paying jobs, people were covertly encouraged to spend their newfound riches by Hollywood actors and actresses who often portrayed characters living lavish lifestyles. And it worked.

Cars seen competing in National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) became very desirable following a win during a weekly race. Using the motto, “Win on Sunday, buy on Monday,” became a tried-and-true slogan around car dealerships.

Today we find ourselves immersed in a continued evolution of life still dictated by influencers. Only today, the wannabe people have become effectively known as “sheeple.”

Sheeple are informally defined as people who are docile, compliant, or easily influenced – likened to sheep.

While the automobiles have been largely switched over from convertibles with lots of chrome to four-door sports cars and chrome less SUV’s, it is almost impossible to distinguish between makes and models and years.

Rather, our new generation of influencers is comprised of people who still like to advise the sheeple on what is best, strongest, smartest, most fashionable, and hip. But just who are these new influencers?

It seems as though they are comprised of popular individuals who – not unlike the jingle singers of yore – have been raised to idol stature in our pop culture.

Names such as Joe Rogan, virtually every one of the Kardashian and Jenner tribe, Beyoncé along with Taylor Swift who share their influence about everything from tequila and exercise clothing to music along with beauty products.

But also, along with this this gaggle of modern culture and everything stylish influencers arises names such as NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Congressclown Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), Senators Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, plus a slimeball named Hasan Piker.

Anyone who regularly dabbles in the day-to-day operations of the world through the news and podcasts have become familiar with the above influencers, perhaps with the exception of Piker. It seems Piker – who I admit was new to me – “has been described as one of the biggest voices on the U.S. left,” according to Wikipedia.

He is “known online by the name HasanAbi [sic]” Wikipedia continues, using streaming to influence as a “left-wing political commentator. His content primarily consists of political and social commentary.” It further states “Piker’s Twitch channel ranks among the platform’s most-subscribed.”

“So what?” you ask.

The ungrateful Hasan Piker

Making the rounds to both get his dangerously sleazy message out, as well as to massage his overinflated ego, Piker is now saying the quiet part aloud. The esteemed HasanAbi was recently being interviewed on a New York Times (NYT) podcast when he seemed to projectile vomit his belief that, according to his moral ethics, theft of groceries was “Okay,” but only from a store like “Whole Foods.”

Stealing vehicles was acceptable, as well. What he drives, and where it is currently parked, was conveniently left out of the conversation. Probably because he didn’t want his car pilfered.

Stealing from a small store or a corner deli was no bueno. On the other hand, Piker spoke about his thoughts on the murder of United Healthcare executive Brian Thompson, by Luigi Mangione, who gleefully stated that “finally, someone can actually do something about healthcare.” Nice guy, Hasan.

Further ruing the fact Democrats hadn’t done more during the wake of Mr. Thompson’s murder to address the crisis of America’s healthcare system, Piker added that the late “Mr. Thompson can be accused of ‘social violence,’” msn.com offered.

He even went so far as to mention that America deserved 9/11 – referring to the Muslim terrorist attack with hijacked planes – in 2001.

Keeping in mind that this POS himself is a proud Muslim who was born and largely reared in the United States, attending American colleges at the University of Miami as well as Rutgers. Now Piker is showing his appreciation for all this nation has done for him and his family.

By the way, this 34-year-old guy moved to Los Angeles, California in 2021, where he bought a $2.7 million, 3,800-square foot house in West Hollywood. Please reread that last sentence; I’ll wait for you. This is the same fellow who just told his followers it was fine to steal from stores.

Here’s the rub. The legacy media has the morality and direction of wet dishrags, constantly haranguing against The President, his supporters, The Right, and anyone concerned with “the rule of law,” trying to keep our nation on the track of safety and morality. Need more proof?

Other influencers who openly espouse antagonism to stoke anger among the masses include CNN’s Jake Tapper, and late-night television’s Stephen Colbert. Both of these embarrassments appeared on Colbert’s show to imply President Trump was actively working against the First Amendment.

In a clearly uncomfortable skit, Tapper pulled out a pocket handkerchief emblazoned with a crayon-like scribble regarding freedom of speech. Evidently, these two influencers were preparing to make a public scene at the recent White House Correspondents Dinner with their mass media buddies using these pocket silks as props.

The enthusiastic crowd cheered and hollered at this gag that was supposed to appear ‘grass roots’ in nature but clearly wasn’t. Ha ha.

This very fine line of espousing hate, violence, theft, and the utter disruption of a civil society is easy to cross. Unfortunately, undoing the rhetoric can be very difficult, maybe impossible.

Witness the influencers who, just a mere year, or so ago, were openly marching while chanting to ‘kill all Jews.’ This public display of hate was applauded by many, many college students, many of whom will eventually be working alongside, even living next door to these same people they openly hate and wish dead today. (Not the forward thinking in our youth for which one would hope.)

Influencers have their place in society but must remain tempered due to the ability to alter the minds of sheeple. And such influencing is clearly resulting in the weak minded being easily misled toward a dangerous goal: the dissolution of the United States.

Influencing others on the latest music, the best women’s stretch clothing, most shocking conspiracy du jour, current fashion t-shirt, or most shocking comment for office water cooler talk, is palatable. Unfortunately, excusing violence and mayhem, while encouraging death and destruction is not.

‘Nuff said.

Catch-22

 

  Whether you’re visiting EasternShoreFishAndGame.blogspot.com for the first time, or a repeat reader, you are in for a treat today.

This is an historic time – after publishing these flashes of brilliance for over 15-years – when you are being treated to the shortest story to ever appear here so, don’t get too comfortable.

Here it goes:

My sainted wife and I enjoy some of the familiar fare of ‘cop shows’ on television on a regular basis. We tune in to these ‘reality’ shows largely for entertainment which are often peppered with crimes, investigations, and subsequent arrests, all in the name of entertainment.

One particular program we enjoy features a number of varying police and sheriff departments with officers who become familiar over time. This specific show’s badge wearers – who sometimes colloquially speak to the camera – offered his opinion following a DWI arrest on a “live” (read: time delayed) broadcast just the other night.

This aside featured a sheriff’s deputy wearing a campaign-style hat offering his opinion on the apprehension of this suspected drunk driver.

Now is an excellent time to point out that I have never been arrested, stopped, or suspected of driving under the influence of anything other than love.

In any case, this deputy looked directly into the camera and proudly pointed out that “No one should

ever drive drunk from a bar.” A stupid remark? Actually, more stupider than that.

Which leads to a rhetorical question: Why do many municipalities demand ample parking before bars are open for business? A true Catch-22.

This episode’s segment demonstrated just how low the bar is to get a badge in at least one jurisdiction.

Mark Twain appropriately said, “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

By the way, a subsequent ‘breathalyzer’ test proved the arrested individual was NOT above the limit and later released at the Sheriff’s Office.

Gotta be the First

 

  Only last week civilization reached another monumental rung on the ladder of history.

As I am writing this, an American space rocket from NASA has passed from circling the Moon, including the so-called Far Side. The Moon, for your edification, is viewed from Earth on only one side. This fact has been true since anyone can recall. Flying around the entire Moon is important because it has never been done before.

Aboard this spaceship – Artemis II – is a gathering of four specially selected astronauts which, I’m guessing not by chance, appear to reflect the make-up of America. In this group is one white man, one black man, one white woman, and one Canadian. I know, I know, I didn’t identify the Canadian’s sex or race, but suffice it to say, someone at NASA is clearly paying back a debt or needed to convert Metric measurements.

In any case, this historic mission has generated an amazing amount of interest and hoopla throughout the world because it involves so many firsts.

During one of the many press group meetings between Earth reporters and the space capsule via teleconference, a reporter simply had to ask a question that was simultaneously both expected and cringe worthy. And that’s a hard feat to accomplish.

The aforementioned black astronaut, Victor Glover, was tossed a question with – what else? Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Without missing a beat, this reporter dragged race into this for all the tribalists watching and later reading the recaps of this significant accomplishment by not only Glover, but also the other three crew members. Were they already forgotten because they aren’t black?

The query took a path along these lines: ‘How does it feel to be the first black man to fly around the Moon?’

After all, there is a woman seated alongside    
this black man who happens to be the first woman to fly around the Moon. Lest we forget there’s a white man aboard plus a Canadian, who I would consider “firsts” of each special category in which they neatly fit or identify.

But it seems as though Astronaut Glover is first and foremost an astronaut who realizes and enjoys his career as a team player. He quickly interjected his response by poo-pooing the racist reporter’s question by shifting the emphasis towards what this meant for humanity rather than race.

All four Artemis II occupants brought something special to their historic trip, traveling further into outer space than any other humans as yet. That, in and of itself, should be celebrated and held up as a monumental achievement for all of society to applaud and use as a barometer for future space exploration.

That being said, I offer accolades of ‘Job well done!’ and wishes for more inclusiveness rather than exclusions based on shallow, uncontrollable traits.

Missing in Action

 

 
Practically daily, we meander through life without noticing the most obvious things before our eyes.

Take, for instance, this time of year. Roughly six weeks ago, Phil, The Groundhog from Pennsylvania, predicted Spring was near. According to Phil, who disappointingly saw his shadow, foretold this remarkable information even though he was manhandled and fondled by top hatted groundhog wranglers. But Phil was right; we were in for six more weeks of winter.

As if on cue, a quick trip into the backyard will reveal gnarly weeds, desperate dandelions, and other spiteful lawn distractions have suddenly arrived just before this years’ inaugural mowing. Before this congregation of eyesores, those flora pests were missing from our thoughts. Just as were the robins.

Robins are said to be a sure sign of Spring. They were elsewhere during the winter months avoiding the snow, ice, plus terrible freezing winds, in an attempt to be to able to find water and food for survival. But it was their absence that we didn’t notice; their return, on the other hand, seems akin to an epiphany.

As is evident, being missing in action is – well – evident, if you know what’s missing. And therein lies the issue. We, as children, were not taught to think in those terms. We were told to appreciate what we have; the ‘missing’ wasn’t part of the equation.

Which leads us to today’s story of analysis into what is evident in our lives, as well as what is not. Strap yourself in for a fun ride to find those things that are no longer before our eyes: missing in action.

A few short years ago, we were treated to a running joke named President Barack Hussein Obama. He was handily elected to the presidency following two tumultuous terms of President George W. Bush. Bush’s first four-years in office were blackened by horrific terrorist attacks inside the sovereign borders of the United States of America.

Although attacks of lesser degrees had been committed over the years, this heinous display of hatred toward Americans by Muslims was able to be conducted due to naïveté on the part of Americans.

For decades, our nation believed anyone desiring a better life in the United States should be welcome as part of the Great Melting Pot of Freedom experiment. And for roughly two-centuries, this system worked with great success. Until September 11, 2001, that is.

Foreigners arrived on our shores, en masse, often with a mere suitcase of personal items, others wearing only inner tubes for flotation, to join society in an attempt to start life anew. Jobs, opportunities, housing, sanitary conditions, religious freedom, safety, besides a legal system that applied to all, were the attractive draws for legal immigrants seeking to help our nation thrive.

Once here, these ‘transplants’ learned English, while adopting new cultures, to be better suited to find employment. Unfortunately, those radical Muslim terrorists, along with angry Central and South Americans, brought hate and spite with them. What was missing was something called assimilation.

Nearly immediately taking to the streets to demand welcoming gifts, these illegal transplants were adamant they had no intention of learning English, American culture, doffing their native costumes, or following the Democrats’ earnest plea to “follow the rule of law,” much less assimilating in America.

Need proof? These arrogant miscreants snatched their free cellphones, gift cards, meals, housing vouchers, and transportation tickets with one hand while proudly holding flags of their origin countries with the other.

Missing in action? Equally proud Americans to stand face-to-face with these societal dregs to demand their removal from the finest nation out of the 193 countries, worldwide.

Also missing were politicians needed to stand tall against these human-like leeches to proclaim, “Enough! Go home!”

Pious pols from both sides of the aisle were much too busy pandering for votes in order to retain their seats on the guvment Gravy Train of Posterity. Helping their constituents sneak across our borders to enter the Land of Milk and Honey, slimy politicians from toilets such as Somalia found ways to match those efforts exhibited by South of the Border Congressional Representatives.

Always looking for the loophole, they worked into applicable legislation that often treat illegal immigrants better – giving them more rights than natives – all to continue the grift of helping the downtrodden seemingly vanished when constituents begged for relief from these decades-long invasions.

Missing? Prosecutors, District Attorneys, as well as jurists whose jobs are to mete out appropriate and timely justice against those who don’t follow laws keeping neighborhoods safe, secure, and palatable to everyone. Rather, only the newcomers are granted “special” protections and latitude in cases involving many heinous crimes.

But just how are these un-American vermin able to fly under the proverbial radar with impunity while conducting hustles of drug dealing, child sex trafficking, gang activities, and theft/shoplifting? By hiding behind the words “racism” and “xenophobia.”

Usually spewed by sleazy Democrat politicians, as well as their loving constituents, those words are the trump cards in any conversation, much as trump cards in pinochle. If you find yourself losing a debate or conversation, the losing participant interjects their barbed word to end any further discussion.

In this case, missing in action are everyday people with spines, armed with information, to aver their displeasure over those smarmy tactics and loopholes willing to complain to their Representatives to “do your job!” If not, they, too, are missing in action.

Senators and Congressmen are employees of We the People. They get paid lots and lots of money, plus perks, extended vacations, with some receiving the occasional kickback. They regularly have their overly large egos massaged, while rubbing elbows with A-listers. But it’s their job to do the will of their constituents – those who cast votes for them – who want to know their issues are addressed.

If not, there’s another election upcoming. And should your Representative be missing in action, their résumés should be updated. Just sayin’.