The Return of the Kittens

For years and years I included a critter video in my daily blog. Cats and dogs, chickens, iguanas–all kinds of pets. And I think my readers liked it.

And then came six weeks in the hospital, complete with Chemo Brain. When I came out, my memory was pretty well shot. I’m told that’s temporary, but I’d like to get my memory back, thank you.

See, I know that I’m forgetting stuff and I work my brain to try to get back into The Present. And yesterday–or was it the day before?–voila! That’s what I’ve left out–the good old critter video. So let’s go back to posting those, shall we?

Or would you rather I showed more politicians?

Byron’s TV Listings, March 1

The Essential TV Guide Fall Previews of the 80s, Part 5 ...

G’day, boys ‘n’ gulls–and welcome to March! Byron the Quokka here, with this weekend’s televisual treats lined up for you, courtesy of Quokka University. Without further ado, dig these samples!

Saturday

4:15 a.m.  Ch. 48  INSOMNIACS’ THEATER–All sorts of stuff

Host Lispin’ Larry Thmith introduces episode 231 of My Coccyx Won’t Quit! The Werner Schmegeggi Story, starring Yi-Fan Hao and Freddy the Field Mouse. This week: Werner learns how to bake a T-shirt. Special guest: Man who thinks he’s Sargon of Akkad, but doesn’t look it.

7:06 a.m.  Ch. 16  DRIVEL!–Public affairs and idiots

If you’re feeling like you can never face that waxy build-up on your kitchen floor, or your pet screech owl letting it all hang out in the middle of the night, then Drivel! is the show for you–six solid hours of blah-blah-blah, guaranteed to put you to sleep. Certified idiots discussing non-existent issues: does that sound familiar?

8:30 a.m.  Ch. 08  MR. POYZIN’S NEIGHBORHOOD–Horror and suspense

This week: Survivors of Mr. Poyzin’s victims get together to keep him from getting his own TV show. Zelly the Wart Hog: himself. Yogurt-face: Linda McCrock., Brought to you by Osbert’s Paint Chips.

9:15 a.m.  Ch. 37  TV’S MOST HATED HOSTS–Anthropology

Who are the most obnoxious hosts on TV? [My vote’s for that guy who laughs uncontrollably as he reads the nooze.] Who will wind up being tossed screaming into the live volcano? They’re up against the most vengeful and vicious fans in all of TV Land! So hang onto your hat…

Meet the Quokka

Byron the Quokka signing off

God’s Stuff: Baby Elephants

Something about baby elephants raises my spirit when I see them. Like, “Hey! I live in a world designed and put together, and governed, by the God who dreamed up baby elephants and made them real.” And He cares for us, who are by no means as cute as baby elephants.

Animals can tell us more about God than we realize.

Return of the Cat Video

I’ve only just realized it’s been ages since I posted a cat video. Chalk that up to chemo-brain, throwing blankets over my memories.

So here’s a heart-warming pet video, a cat and a squirrel. We don’t have those gorgeous red squirrels here in New Jersey, more’s the pity. But our grey squirrels are pretty friendly.

The Fool on the Grill

Sen. Chuck Schumer shows us how not to BBQ : r/BBQ

[Thanks to Phoebe for the heads-up.]

Why, our U.S. senators are just plain folks! Look, here’s Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer grilling a cheeseburger. Heck, it’s like being governed by your favorite uncle.

Note the slice of cheese placed on top of the raw hamburger. This raises the question: how is he going to turn the burger? Won’t that get rather messy? Or is he only going to cook the burger on one side?

Decisions, decisions! Maybe he’ll put some ketchup on it, too… before he turns it. But what the heck, it’s only a photo-op, isn’t it?

It’s said that Davy Crockett once defined a senator as “half horse and half man.” Which half of the horse would represent Chuck Schumer?

Now I’ve Heard Everything

Skeleton X-Ray - Rocks In His Head Stock Illustration ...

Aha, I knew it! Rocks in the head… all the classic symptoms

Ain’t the university grand? Get a load of this from the U. of San Diego:

Racist Geologic Formations of Subjecthood” (https://www.campusreform.org/article/new-geology-study-explains-rocks-can-help-heal-racism/27520).

What? You think that’s just a lot of gobbledygook? Well, then, try this on for size:

Conceptualizing Black Humanity Through Geopoetic Intimacy and Resistance: Memory Making Blah-blah-blah

Or do either of these two make you want to run out and liquidate your bank account so you can enroll at SDU:

Gender Communication (Come on, that’s too easy). Okay, then, this’ll do ya–Critical Whiteness and [Something–who cares?] Practices.

“Rocks heal racism,”

Go ahead, read the article. I challenge you to explain it. If this isn’t the biggest pile of Wock-wock on the Internet… I’ll throw rocks.

Enter the Cyclops (‘Oy, Rodney’)

Oy Rodney – Lee Duigon

Suddenly the sun was blotted out, and the great horned head, its one eye shining in the fog like a polished spatula before it scoops up any pancakes, slowly rises over the humped back of Pnath Hill… It is the Cyclops.

That quote comes straight out of Chapter 531 (or whatever) of Violet Crepuscular’s immoral classic, Oy, Rodney. If you’re looking for interminable romance with bells attached, pilgrim, you’ve found it!

But back to the Cyclops!

From his perch on the root of Coldsore Hall, the American adventurer Willis Twombley, who thinks he’s Sargon of Akkad, ostentatiously takes aim at the cyclops’ single eye.

“If there’s anything I hate,” he cackles, “it’s a fake cyclops. Those dang-nab Elamites were always trying to run that scam. Well, here comes payback!”

Lord Jeremy Coldsore interrupts, with an unbecoming belch. “I say! Won’t that gentleman get rather fierce, if you take pot shots at him?”

“You just leave the cyclops to me, Germy!”

He takes careful aim, checks which way the wind is blowing… and shoots.

The bullet pings off the cyclops’ horn and wounds a woolly mammoth who has already been winged once and isn’t happy about it.

With an ear-piercing trumpet, the mammoth bears down on Lord Jeremy’s front door.

“And that’s all you get for now!!” adds Ms. Crepuscular. “There is a point where shilly-shallying must give way to pure suspense, or the reverse will happen and then you have a stupid book.”

Is the woolly mammoth really on the brink of being ...

(An Elamite hoax?)

Wimmins Is Wimmins!

Monty Python - Happy International Women's Day from the ...

Look heer! This hear It Is “a” pixture Of A Wimmin and awl yiu Fashists “Out thare” yiu can Jist get Bent!!!!

And heer I amb on Satterday insted “of” Sundae becawse “that” doap Lee he nevver “knows” “waht” Day it is!!!!!

So it “is” Up to I, Joe Collidge, to re-mind yiu Awl “that Woak is Woak” and bye this heer tyme Neckst Yeer yiu beter Be Woak oar yhule Be” Sowry”!”!” Doughnt be thincking Darnold Trumpt that he Can “Saive” yiu!!!!

Yes!!! A “man” can Turn into a Wimmin!! And A Wimmin she Can “turN” into “a Man”!” We whil maike It A Law!!!!!!!! I amb In Fayver of a Law that yiu shood awt to has yore Secks chainged evry yeer.

[Waht? Waht say? Im sapposed “to Be” heer Fryday???? Sints wen?? Haow didd I wynde up Heeer on Satterday??]

Egskuze me, i Has got “to Go” and treye “to Fynde” a Callender!!

Byron’s TV Listings, Feb. 22

TV Guide June 29, 1970 S. Florida daytime - Retro TV ...

G’day, boys ‘n’ gulls! Have we got TV for you this weekend! Byron the Quokka here–with a small sample of what Quokka University has lined up for you. Let’s get started!

Saturday

6:46 a.m., Ch. 42  THE BUNDLES!–Paranormal suspense thriller

They twitch. They shift their position when no one’s looking. They make funny noises. Can super-detective Fong Hsueh-ting crack the case before it cracks him? Tonight: The bundles turn up in Mrs. Fogg’s (Peggy Cass) linen closet and get her charged with witchcraft. Sister Mucilage: Linda Hunt

11:00 a.m., Ch. 14  THE POPPY GULUMPHO SHOW–Variety of a very low order

The Cross-Eyed Chorus! Dog sings Dixie! Boy who thinks he’s a bat! Poppy’s got ’em all–even after being banished from all the major networks. Featuring Doc Trotsky and his People’s Revolting Band.

3:11 p.m.  Ch. 56  I’VE GOT A SHAMEFUL SECRET–Sort of a reality show

Can host Sylvia Algae’s team of crack busybodies ferret out the most shameful secrets among the studio audience? The whole country’s still buzzing about that guy who peed the rug when he was 26 years old and got his nephew blamed for it. Boo, hiss!

4 p.m.  Ch. 08  NOSY AUNT FIFI–Melodrama (with obnoxious organ music)

Nosy Aunt Fifi (Sharon Sharalike) bites off more than she can chew when she pokes her nose into the diaries of local Mafia chieftain Vinnie “the Protozoan” Colooch (Wade Boggs). Has her luck run out? Song: My Coccyx Feels Funny.

There! That should get you started.

Quokka Spotting | How & Where to See Rottnest Island's Quokkas

Waiting for my ship to come in! Byron the Quokka, signing off.

 

So Where’s the Cyclops?

Oy Rodney – Lee Duigon

[Holy moly, I am tired! Can I finish the post, d’you think?]

There’s supposed to be a cyclops terrorizing Scurveyshire, and a woolly mammoth stampede, and newts (Yes, newts). Violet Crepuscular, the Queen of Suspense, has a hefty bag of tricks.

Everybody’s holed up in Coldsore Hall. Outside, the June Taylor Dancers make whoopee with the mammoths. But I can’t find the cyclops!

Cyclops hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy

See? This is what I’m looking for. Violet has misplaced her cyclops. It could happen to anyone.

And now I think I need a rest.