Something that's been bugging me all my life. Everywhere I go, whenever someone talks about their dreams and goals, they often have a moment where they feel that they should taunt others that didn't make it where they have. I myself have been guilty of this attitude in the past and all it does is risk alienating me from others, be it friends, family or even potential fans. Humans in a sense, deep down are competitive in nature, mainly because each one of us either thinks the world revolves around us or barring that we vow to make it so. Rich people buy up more land, so no one else can have any. Governments enforce laws every second, to make sure the next generation doesn't have it as easy as the previous. The classes below are no exception either. Because of envy and greed, the middle to lower classes are willing to do anything just to be noticed by those higher, let alone be one of them. Including killing those that stand in their way. No fucking joke.

Now I got nothing against competition. When it's friendly. When the insults are just all in good fun. I don't knock on those that see and enjoy the world that way. My main problem is that why is Life the most unfriendly competition in the history of everything?

Turns out I wasn't the only one that felt that way. There was a scene in John Carpenter's They Live where Nada and Frank argue about America's ideals in the 1980s. This was during the time when some people got sick of Reaganomics.

To put it lightly Nada before finding out the truth, was idealistic, believing that hard work would give him the chance to get on top and retire in peace. While Frank talks about life being a competition. He specifically mentions they put you at the starting line and the name of the game is "Make it through life." Only everyone is out for themselves and looking to do you in at the same time. That's what bothers me. People have this notion that to get ahead you have to hurt others simply because they are in your way.

When I started CIEIR, one of my main goals was to eliminate that bullshit. Kill it for good. I believe that every human being should have an easy life. How they get there is up to them, but at the same time I don't plan on leaving people behind or stepping on others in front of me to get here. If it takes to my fucking death, I will keep on going until I either get lucky or some snot nosed punks with that bullshit mentality decides I'm too big of a threat and tries to take me out.

Life shouldn't be about hurting each other, it should be about helping each other along the way, but that's just me.

What do you all think?

One thing I was fond of growin up, was what I like to call Swear Bait songs. For those who don't know what I mean, they are songs that are a rhyme scheme, that makes the listener think the singer is swearing. The most famous being, Miss Susie. However my faves out of them are Old English Folk Song, which the late great Bob Saget covered in his Standup "That Ain't Right." As well as South Park's Mrs. Landers, sung by Stan's on again off again girlfriend Wendy Testaburger. I like them because they seem more risque than the first song. The best thing about them is that regardless of how you do it, the song is easy to make lyrics out of. Allow me to Demonstrate:

A long time ago in a far away Dock.

The sailors were sitting there stroking their...

Cats and their Dogs while they wait at the shore.

Along came their wives whom they think they are....

Nice and reliable, they know what to say.

You think with how close they are they might be....

Friends and good neighbours who have all their backs.

A sailor is under the docks smoking....

Pipes and cigars after a long day with fish.

The first mate is starboard and taking a.....

Break from swabbing the deck down on his luck.

Would do anything for a really good.....

Time with his wife and his kids without lie.

If you do not like it then fuck off and die.

I encourage each and every one of you to come up with your own.

1. What's the name of the Ursine that ratted out a president? Bernstein Bear.
2. What do you call Black Friday in Dallas? The Texas Wal-Mart Massacre.
3. What do you call a cop out camping? Pig in a blanket.
4. To the owners of the 2021 Whirlpool WRS321SDHZ Refridgerator. If you can confirm to me that fridge is running, then DON'T JUST STAND THERE READING THIS!! CATCH IT!!
5. What do you call spending a few minutes, reading and trying to get the first 4 jokes? A massive waste of time.

I just saw Ghostbusters Afterlife. One of the running gags is Phoebe Spengler pumping out lame jokes, so I thought I'd see if I could top her off, by telling lame jokes of my own.

I was originally gonna try to sell digital copies of all my cavas art on Ko-Fi, but found that at least one may be too disturbing to sell. So I looked around for places that would allow more artistic freedom. In other words, ones that let me go as disturbing as humanly possible and still profit off them. I found this site:

https://www.foundmyself.com/STMusicianCIEIRMusic

While I'm mostly advertising my own artwork on this I reccomend any artiists out there to look into this. Maybe you could be able to profit off your own stuff there.

The Beautiful Face of Duality and Deception Bandcamp

Much like my other canvas painting based albums, this one comes with a free digital copy of the original art. However unlike the other canvases, I won't sell this one on Ko-Fi, because it may qualify as too disturbing for their site. So needless to say until I find a more adult themed site to sell them, you'll only get a copy through this.

Jeffery Combs

There are character actors, working actors, action actors, money actors, art actors, Nicolas Cage, but nothing like Jeffery Combs. This was a guy who would literally do anything you tell him in terms of acting. Want an over the top performance? You got it? Want something more subdued and grounded? He's your man. This guy could play anything. Heroes, Villains, Anti-Heroes, Bystanders, Minions, even a Cameo by him would take one of the most Z rated movies and make it worth watching.

Born in 1954, Combs has been acting since his Highschool days. While he's been in movies before, he didn't achieve his first major break until met by Stuart Gordon and Bryan Yuzna. Who wanted to adapt the H.P. Lovecraft Comedic Horror "Herbert West: Re-Animator"

The story itself written in 1922, but the movie itself made in 1985. It tells the tale of Herbert West, an obsessed mad scientist, who wanted to find the secret to life and death. Using a formula that brings the dead back to life, but with disasterous results. Ever since the success of that role, he's had 2 sequels and even went so far as narrating the original story on an audio book version. Not to mention him typecast in other Lovecraft and horror genre roles. However, unlike most actors who'd be stuck in one role, in his case the hammy, creepy, scientist obsessed with his work. Combs with barely any effort whatsoever has fought and won against it, by playing other types of roles to expand his range.

In terms of the Lovecraft films, he's played the innocent, but traumatized Crawford Tillinghast in From Beyond. With fellow Re-Animator Co-Star Barbara Crampton playing the role one of the mad scientists.

Playing H.P. Lovecraft himself in Necronomicon.

To playing an atoning father mourning the loss of his child in Castle Freak. And that's just the Lovecraft stuff.

The man has played everything you can imagine, from Aliens on Star Trek, to Superheroes like The Question. If here was a bingo card of the roles he'd play, he'd be neck and neck with Morgan Freeman. The only reason Combs comes short, is that unless he plans to play one, he hasn't played a God yet. Brainiac from Injustice doesn't count.

What makes him stand out amongst most actors, is whether he's hammy or serious, he is very good at convincing the audience that what he sees and what he experiences is real.

As a bit of a joke I often wonder how Herbert West would handle the modern world today.

Jeffery, you brought decades of entertainment to us all and if we're lucky you'll continue to do so. I salute you.

Over the years, we've often got our own perspectives of the world. Whether it's what god/gods to worship if not at all. Which Political Party represents our needs the most. Whether or not the Earth is, round, flat, oblong whatever. Things that seem to make sense to some, but are considered at best ridiculous or at worst down right crazy. Yet when you think about it, really hard, despite our differences and disagreements, there are a lot of things we all have in common.

For example, whether you're a religious person or not, with the exception of a select few, we all agree that this planet is more than just the land we stand on. It's a living breathing organism and in all honesty, myself included we are very guilty for exploiting what used to be a plentiful area. I myself am a Carnivore, I smoke, I love cars and motorcycles and just recently according to some people, I'm contributing to worse crimes against the Earth by making, selling and advertising NFTs. However at the same time, I've also thought of ways that could potentially help reverse the damage. For example, do not trust any government funded scientists. Regardless if they happen to be right on some things, it's a known fact that the worst of them, are paid to downplay or exaggerate the effects of their respective field.

Now I don't mean, don't trust all environmental scientists, medical doctors or anything like that, as even within the government, there are trustworthy people whom have earned their credentials. But the ones that appear more on TV, than actually actively working on solving the problem, no matter what country they are from or what political party is in control at the time, are not to be trusted. Period. The ones that actually want to do their job, get less of a voice and don't deny it. While this was from a fictional version of a real life authority figure, I quote James Malone regarding how the Untouchables. He said "If you're worried about getting a rotten apple. Don't go to the barrel. Get it from the tree." Granted at the time, he was talking about finding police officers that are incorruptible, with the solution being to pluck them out straight from the academy, but I think it applies to everything. The scientists I suggest one trusts are the ones not only fresh out of College or University, but at least had a year of field work. Why? Because the respective governments, have not seen enough potential to recruit them, bribe them and use them to further their own careers. Meaning these people are scientists first and Capitalists and Opportunists next to never. Meaning they are less likely to bullshit if say for example they say we are all gonna die from this or that. Not only that, but when not distracted by things tempt them into selling out, they actually focus more on the work and would even find viable solutions.

The next thing is also science related, but it's mundane, yet effective. Over the years, I've stumbled upon a lot of alternatives, to the foods we eat. I'm not talking about things like Beyond or Impossible Meat. This actually predates it.

It involves two people.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Post

Meet Mark Post. This man was a hell of a genius because before Beyond and Impossible came about, he was the main go-to guy for an alternative to the slaughter house. Yet despite that, he was still able to create something that qualifies as a meat product. Not a plant based product that happens to be meat. An actual meat product you can eat without feeling guilty about how many animals were killed. Why? Because none at all. Using beef as his first foray, what he did was, using the same tech to create stem cells, replicating the muscle fibre and fat cells that are used in the average burger. Dubbed the FrankenBurger by the media. however there is one slight fault. The tech used to make it, is very expensive. Which in turn makes at least one of those burgers, also very fucking expensive. I believe however that if enough people funded his work, that he may find a way to mass produce the meat, making it not only cheaper, but an even better alternative than what we're used to fresh from the slaughterhouse. I know if I had the capital for it, I'd pay whatever I could to make that a reality. I once corresponded with the man himself through email. More or less suggesting other things to use that tech for. Such as replicating skin cells to make an alternative way to make leather. He not only responded, but he was already way ahead of me on that department. Even directing me the site dedicated to that https://www.qorium.earth/en/

I suggest you check that one out, even for curiosity sake.

2. https://soylent.com/pages/about-the-company

This site above is the brain child of one Rob Rhinehart. A computer engineer, who believed the body can be hacked as well as computer. To test this theory out, the man went and made his own formula in which it covered every basic nutrition humans were required to survive and stay healthy. He called it Soylent. Named after a fictional company from the 1970s classic Soylent Green. Though despite the namesake, this one is not made out of human remains.....that I know of. Whether he knew it or not, there is potential beyond simply keeping us full and healthy. For those that don't know what I'm talking about. Ever since the show Star Trek The Next Generation came out, many people from fans of the show, to legit scientists have fought tooth and nail to create a gadget that could satisfy the world if done right. The Matter Replicator. In the show, the replicator uses energy from the ship's power source to recreate and reassemble matter to just about anything you want. Especially food and beverages. Now we all know that Matter cannot simply be created out of thin air as the show demonstrates, but all matter can be repurposed and rebuilt with the right technology. A big example being 3D printers, that started out as re-assembling plastic into various things from toys to key components to gadgets. However some genius figured out a way to re-purpose and re-assemble food ingredients to make various dishes. Even custom making fine details such as decorations on the sides. They started with desserts, but tried to move on to other products, the goal being to find a way to make solid foods while in space. Without Zero Gravity effecting it. One food in particular they are succeeded in, is making Pizza.

What does this have to do with Soylent? Whether Rhinehart knew it or not, he basically reduced food matter to it's most basic form with his patented formula. If one were to find away to use the printer to re-purpose and reassemble food, using the soylent formula as their raw ingredients, then you've pretty much covered all food related issues. If he had the money and resources available for it, they'd not only be able to make a crude version of said replicator, but also be one step closer to solving world hunger. 

Part of why these figures don't get the respect they deserve is because the very people that fund their own "Experts." try their hardest to scare you away from them. They hike up the prices for the resources needed while at the same time advertise their cheap, unhealthy fast foot shit. Pretty much using basic psychology on the human race's collective greed and stinginess to their advantage. Even the impossible whopper or beyond meat, is guilty of this too, because when you get right down to it, you're still eating cheap, greasy, salty, unhealthy shit in a box. The only difference being the source of said grease. While at the same time put it in our own heads that we need them, more than they need us. When in fact, they need us to survive. Bare in mind, regardless of which party was in charge, these same people decades ago tried to convince us that Global Warming was bullshit and now they're saying it's not bullshit.  And it's not just one government one country. It's all governments all countries. Whether you're democrat, republican, libertarian, centrist, communist, socialist or god forbid a fucking Nazi, it doesn't matter. Mainly because you'll get fucked either way. 

In conclusion, when you get right down to it, regardless of how fucked up the world is, we are much better than we give ourselves credit for. If we just stopped paying attention to the bullshit being spewed on respective news stations and actively worked hard, no problem is an obstacle. No matter how big of a mess gets made, it can always get cleaned up. We just have to fight and fund for the tools to do it.

So let me know what you think and even go so far as express your own ideas on how to reverse the known damages to the world.

"It is February 2nd. The Groundhog comes out of his hole and sees a shadow. It is the shadow of my right front tire. That means winter will last another six weeks, but not for him." -Red Green

The latter half is not an open question, but an honest one. However I'll get to that later.

While it may not seem so, I am very fascinated with many cultures all around the world. Regardless of how many agree or disagree with their politics or certain parts of said culture, I've always been fascinated by the historical value of it regardless if it's part of my own background or not. If I had the money, I would pretty much buy every known religious text and at least a souvenir from each country in hopes to connect the world in various ways. So naturally Black History Month is right up my ally.

While most people view this month mostly for the civil rights movement and for good reason as figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X has been so ingrained with it that even to this day, them and other figures have been talked about for damn near a century. It is also the month to show appreciation for black culture as a whole, whether it's African Culture, Carribean Culture or even Western Culture. From Harriet Tubman to Muhammed Ali, there has been so much ingrained from the west alone. Athletes, Inventors, War Heroes or even just regular every day Joes that got a chance for fame, glory and an opportunity to help change the world and help the race and culture as a whole be more recognized for it. Of course, there have been speedbumps along the way which I won't mention because this is not a political newspost. However as a whole the culture has persevered and endured a lot by themselves as well as with allies of other races. Yes including white people.

However, with all that said there is one question that always intrigued me. Something that I've always wanted to know since I first knew about the differences in race? Where do these specific colour names come from?

When you get right down to it, a white person for example, unless very pale or suffering from a skin condition, isn't really white in terms of colour. When you take a close look at their skin, depending on nationality and environment, their skin colour is more of a pink, beige and in some cases through tanning, light brown.

A black person, doesn't really have black skin either as, like I said before, depending on nationality and environment, they range from Light to Dark Brown.

Someone who is in middle eastern asian, is referred to as brown, but that does make sense because save for a select few who have a more paler pigment, they range from light to dark brown in terms of skin colour.

Then you have the one's that make less sense. For example, before they changed it for political correctness, The Natives were referred to the following: Redskin, Red man. I've met Natives, Canada is full of them and it doesn't take me much to visit a reservation. Hell, while it's small compared to the rest of my background which is mostly European, I myself am native. Their skin often ranges from light tan to dark brown. Not a single one shows any red unless it's on their ceremonial paint of their respective tribes. One could say cartoons like Peter Pan brought out this misconception, by giving the Natives a reddish brown look. However, they had to have gotten the idea from somewhere even if it's bullshit.

Then there's Far East Asians. Whether they're Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Laos, Vietnamese, Filipino and so on, they are often referred to as one colour. Yellow. Yet unless they contracted some sort of sickness(Which let's be reasonable a white person would turn yellow if they got afflicted with something too), their skin colour ranges from pink, to beige and in some cases a tan or dark brown.

On top of these being completely inaccurate, they come across as just as racist as what many oppressors including self-loathers do on a daily basis. I often wonder where it comes from.

Funnily enough, while I myself was thinking of this for a long time. Recently the whole thing was inspired by a comedic moment in the famous Blaxploitation movie Shaft. For those that don't know, Shaft was a series of movies that starred Richard Roundtree as the title character. A private detective that goes through extreme lengths to get the job done. Basically the African American equivalent to Dirty Harry (Both who's first movies were released in 1971.) The actor later reprised his role twice in two Shaft Movies starring Samuel L. Jackson. In one scene he's butting heads with NYPD Lt. Vic Androzzi. Bare in mind this movie takes place both in-universe and IRL in 1971, just 7 years after the Civil Rights Act was officially passed. If you though tensions between the African American/Canadian communities and local law enforcement was bad now, back then both were constantly at each other's throats trying to get used to one another. Even if you happen to be black and working for law enforcement, it doesn't make things easier. As shown when Private Eye Shaft often refuses to give Police Lt. Androzzi any intel regarding certain crimes he knows about. So naturally in a movie that was in the early 70s they made it as funny as possible, albeit with stuff that wouldn't fly today. Such as race related roast offs. None so over the top as this scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzabuGq1wIE

In it after butting heads with Androzzi, both let one snark each before they part ways for their parts of the adventures. Androzzi takes a black pen and puts it next to Shaft's face saying "You ain't so black." Shaft counters by saying "You ain't so white baby." while putting a white coffee mug next to Androzzi's face. To me, while it wouldn't fly today, I just thought it was a hilarious scene, but it did get me thinking. Where exactly did this classification come from and would it be more politically correct to change it or are we so used to the labels that we just can't?

That aside, I hope this year's history month goes on successfully and who knows, maybe if we all got to know each other a lot more, we'd not fight each other all the time.

Death's Weeping Rose

Death's Weeping Rose is now available on Bandcamp. The album consists of the two songs and as an incentive, those who purchase the album will receive a digital copy of the original painting absolutely free. The actual copies I sell on Ko-Fi are around $5 a copy. Which makes this offer practically a steal. I also included digital copies of my other arts, in their respective albums and tracks.