Fredericks MIND Thing

Epic Fury This operation/excursion/war has been going on for months not the days we were told it would last. The conflict has come to an end thirty or forty times according to the commander-in-chief. In reality, it has not. Billions of dollars are being spent on an unnecessary war of choice, and we the people are not able to stop it despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans are opposed...

The US is at war with Iran, at least partially, because the president doesn’t want people talking about the Epstein files. And he has, to a degree, been successful. But The First Lady and I are determined to not let him continue to avoid responsibly. While American troops are dying. Our weapons are being used to kill people all around the Middle East. Our leader wants control of the oil. He has lo...

So Ridiculous The United States kidnapped the president of Venezuela, ICE is shooting down American citizens in the streets while 2nd amendment folks are do nothing to counter the acts of a tyrannical government.  Our social institutions have, to a large extent, failed us. And Israel convinced the Commander-In-chief of the United States to attack Iran. And it is quite likely all of this is happeni...

DARVO The (un)reality television show we are currently living in seems to be reaching an inflection point. A large segment of our society appears to be gaining awareness of the deadly extremism of the current administration. How long will that awareness remain in the collective mind of the United States of Amnesia remains to be seen. The citizenry seems to be realizing it is in an abusive relation...

Things aren’t  going so great for us these days, although, after the special elections, they are looking a little better. The economic future looks rather shaky. And, because the president keeps bowing to Putin, applying and removing tariffs indiscriminately and doing things like posting A.I. created videos of himself in an airplane dumping feces on the citizens he’s supposed to serve, other count...

  Podcast production was falling behind, but it’s catching up. There is a coup taking place right before our eyes. We, as a people, must not look away from what is happening and make it known that this is unacceptable.  Resist.       Nation of laws,      Bomb Iran,     Ceasefire failure,   Epstein/Kirk/Putin/Ukraine/ICE/FCC/Free Speech,   Everything’s for sale,     RFK JR/USAID,           Worst th...

We are living through one of the darker moments in U.S. history. The tornado of disinformation and distraction intended to deflect attention from the destruction of a nation is unrelenting. And as intended, it has become difficult to know what to pay attention to. I addressed a few of the many troubling things happening today. Unfortunately, there is certain to be more to come in the very near fut...

The Idiot Theory Living under patrimonialism is exhausting.  It appears important national decisions are being made not though the use of reason and logic but rather through pure impulsivity. Tariffs are being imposed, reduced and/or removed on what feels like a daily basis. Recently, Charles Schwab sat in the Oval Office as Trump pointed out that the had made over $2B in one day due to stock mark...

I took advantage of an offer for free A.I. assistance It changed the name of the podcast and moved Dave to "Boxville" It also auto-tuned my voice a bit. I prefer the original episode which came just before this one. In this episode of Frederick's Pines, we delve into the chaotic world of modern American politics, where truth is often overshadowed by spectacle. Host Dave from Boxville dissects the...

This episode has taken so long to complete because I have been both stunned and overwhelmed. Trump election victory calls into question the intelligence and intentions of my fellow citizens.  Then the combination of Elon Musk and Project 2025 has brought an onslaught of actions that are difficult to process. There were many things I didn’t address but intend to, such as Canada, Greenland, USAID, Z...

The United States presidential election is going take place in a couple of days. While all elections are important, this one feels particularly freighted.  Donald Trump and the twisted remains of the Republican Party seem committed to a program of revenge, violence (“one rough day”), and serious diminishment of citizens’ rights. His primary supporter is a billionaire who was raised as an entitled...

  So many things have happened in the last couple of months, it was difficult to decide what to feed into the Mind Thing. I chose some of the most important and some of the most fun. Hop on. Let’s go for a ride.   Immunity,     Assassination,      Ha ha ha,      The debate,    Hello,     I’m Talking Now,      Sound Familiar?   Cats Eating People,     Unpresidential,     Geese on Steroids,   This F...

A tree in my neighbor's yard became a stage for a dramatic confrontation between a single hawk and dozens of crows. The best I could figure out was the hawk had his eye on some fledgelings in a crow's nest. The crows seemed to understand the hawk's intention and weren't going to let it fulfill its desire. It was very noisy and intense. The little ones were obviously in serious danger. It was wonde...

According to the Cambridge Dictionary madness is defined as “stupid or dangerous behaviour” and one doesn’t need to look too hard to see it all around us. There is a seemingly endless list of stupid things Americans are doing, all of which seem destined to harm the country. Destroying the environment, ignoring the harm it causes and letting Trump have a chance to return to office are just some of...

This one took a while, obviously. Learning of Dave from Knoxville’s death, one of this podcast’s most long term and enthusiastic supporters, took the wind out of my sails for a while. He is deeply missed, but one must carry on. So, I will.   Good luck, Dave from Knoxville,       Trump, DeSantis and their supporters are relentless,     Merchandising,   The Republican debate,     Indict the M.F.er, ...

Fight The Woke   This episode has been extremely difficult to complete. It’s a depressing topic and Governor Ron DeSantis and his ilk are constantly doing more provocative things. DeSantis, in particular, with his constant desire to stay in the media spotlight ends up continuously pulling political stunts and passing laws that are harming the state of Florida and many other people as well. While t...

I recently had an opportunity to interview comedy writer Andy Breckman and the station manager of WFMU Ken Freedman. Together they host the stunt radio program Seven Second Delay on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.. We talk about music, fascism, politics, cancel culture and comedy. It was fun.   Podcasting.      The evolutionary ladder.     Fascism. Kapo.     Johnny Thunders in Michigan.       Ken's Trump pre...

It seems angry people with authoritarian tendencies are asserting themselves everywhere. What is driving their anger and divisiveness? The primary driver appears to be fear inspired by false information. Since the 1960s, the United States has made significant progress is advancing civil rights and acceptance of diversity. New technology has made it much easier to disseminate false information and...

Come On America   So much is happening so quickly that is is difficult to focus on what’s most important.  We are bombarded with endless threats both purely imaginary and dangerously real. How much faith should we have in our fellow citizens? Do they see what we see the same way? Lordy, I hope a lot of them do. And they vote Tuesday -if they haven’t already, that is. Come On, America.   Back in th...

Democracy is designed to allow citizens to present arguments  and debate their merits in the marketplace of ideas. Words, ideas and evidence were to be used to determine policy. What we are experiencing currently is the result of one party being bereft of ideas. The lack of ideas forces them use other methods of persuasion. This explains the increase we are seeing in use of misinformation, disinfo...

The United States seems to be awash in violence, from overzealous police to armed street gangs to determined mass murderers.  Who benefits from this situation? Media organizations, certainly, right wing hate groups, as well, but, I'd say, none benefit more than arms manufacturers.   G.W. Bush intro.          Buffalo shooting.     Stochastic Violence.   This is tyranny.        W.  Bush was right?  ...

For a while, I fell out of the podcast groove, but I’m jumping back in. So much has happened during my absence that I didn’t even touch on the idiot trucker convoy or the idiot Elon Musk maybe-purchase of Twitter. I do address minority rule, performative moronics, gerrymandering, engage in a brief authoritarian rant and end with a playful sound collage.   Shouldn’t record in the van.      Judgeshi...

What a year just was and what a year the next one promises to be. Not a recap show or a prediction show. Just an update.    New Port Richey Christmas Parade -with helicopters.   War on the holidays.     Oh Mee Chrone- Covid 19's latest iteration.    Cordyceps.        Trump and DeSantis.       Madness is spreading.   Concerns about 2022.        January 6th and the Big Lie.   Steve Inskeep's Truth S...

You can be sure it is coming without knowing when or how. Violence is being elicited by politicians and certain parts of the media. They appeal to an aggrieved minority of citizens who view violence as an acceptable political tool. Rather than modifying their political approach or adjusting their arguments, they believe they can advance their cause through the use violence and threats thereof.  Wh...

This one took forever. Had trouble keeping ahold of a narrative through-line. There's too many issues.    Tourists or terrorists?     Boots on the ground.    Don't call them terrorists. I don't like American tourists.     Foul children.     Reality denial. Beliefs so strong they become facts.       Not a fact guy. Too many issues.          Almost everyone will get inoculated. Patriotism.     Not a...