PinnedMember-onlyIndex? Meet ListsEasy access to my stories by category — Welcome to my world of writing. Though I’m never sure what I’ll write about next, I have no shortage of ideas and it’s all good in terms of enjoyment. I started writing here in October 2020 but some stories were written earlier. TMI? You be the judge The top two stories are my most popular…Index3 min readIndex3 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·PinnedMember-onlyWe’re the Disunited States of AmericaOur tax dollars buy bullying, not representation — The US of A is no longer a melting pot or even a salad bowl. Instead, rich Ol’ Uncle Sam is all about keeping our preferred colors separate — Blue rights, Red lefts, Green money dominant — while paying lip service to rainbows and equity. We Are Broken Do politicians’ parents teach them…Politics7 min readPolitics7 min read
Published inThe Pub·PinnedMember-onlyDining with the Dead and Other Improbable GuestsHow to respond when the Grim Hacker invites you for drinks — R.S.V.Peeing to the Grim Hacker, aka Grimsby Hackney — Thanks for inviting me to your fantasy pre-dinner drinking session. I’ll be there toting a box of Peter Vella Cabernet Sauvignon, which per their website is “created in a light-bodied, easy-to-enjoy style with soft notes of cherry fruit and a wonderfully smooth finish.” For those without a clue,Writing Prompts6 min readWriting Prompts6 min read
Published inCounter Arts·PinnedMember-onlyI Loved Going to the Movies with DadIt didn’t warp me in any meaningful way — My father was a freethinker regarding movies the way my mother was about books. He’d take me to any movie of my choice when I visited during school vacations. I remember seeing Easy Rider with him, which was released in 1969. I turned 11 in 1969. He lived in a…Movies3 min readMovies3 min read
Published inMuddyUm·2 days agoMember-onlyOnce There Were Two Little Skunks Named …In and Out, who dreamed of burgers — A short time ago, in a forest far, far away, two little skunks named Out and In lived in a den with their ma. They were like yo-yos! Ma could barely keep up. Whenever In was out, Out was in. When…Humor2 min readHumor2 min read
Published inMuddyUm·Aug 29Member-onlyOur Latest Contest Is An Epic FailMudditors are set up to fail, so that $100 is yours — Have you ever failed? Are you failing now? Yes, unless you recently submitted a funny story to MuddyUm about failure. Contest rules are below — look for the skulls 💀. We just can’t win but apparently, editors are encouraged to participate. Gary Chapin appreciates Mudditorial participation, also known as advertising…Failure3 min readFailure3 min read
Published inMuddyUm·Jul 31Member-onlyGRRR — An Unholy Take on the Perils of Automated Grammar CorrectionLaughing our way to the piggybank with help from ChatGPT — It’s my first time using ChatGPT for new story titles. From my prompts, which didn’t define GRRR, ChatGPT suggested the title & subtitle below for this newsletter — second in the Grammarly series. Grammarly, the Unholy Enemy of GRRR: A Hilarious Take on the Perils of Automated Grammar Correction Laughing…Newsletter4 min readNewsletter4 min read
Published inMuddyUm·Jun 4Member-onlyPoughkeepsie, Puh-kips-eye, Puh-kips-oh, Puh-kips-ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-haThe lament of an envious writers retreat nonparticipant — She asked a free-spirited tipster, “Why the H should I go to Puhkipser?” He consulted his balls, Then made a few calls — And predicted a few tipsy quipsters. She thought off the bat, oh what fun — There’s a jolly good chance of some puns. …Poetry4 min readPoetry4 min read
Published inMuddyUm·Jun 1Member-onlyTotally Worth a Brain FreezeAn homage to ‘Shaving Cream’ with apologies to Benny Bell & Dr. Demento — For Those Who Aren’t Familiar — ‘Shaving Cream’ is a novelty song wherein the rhymed word — which begins with the letters SH — is replaced by “shaving cream” and the second & fourth lines in each verse rhyme with “it.” I chose FU & “fudge ice cream” along with “ck.” Fudge Ice Cream There’s times when I want…Parody3 min readParody3 min read
Published inMuddyUm·May 29Member-onlyThe Gospel According to GRRR Says the Only Bad Writer Is a Grammarly DenierWhat if Grammarly and ChatGPT had a baby? — If ChatGPT informed Grammarly, we might really have something. The titles above “Writers Weigh In” are my ChatGPT prompts. Back-ticked text highlighted in grey is ChatGPT’s response — slightly edited. Can you tell which parts are me? The only bad writer is a Grammarly denier If you refuse to use Grammarly, you might as well be wearing a…Newsletter4 min readNewsletter4 min read