our 66th weekly open mike Let’s see what happens when your host (me) has nothing to say. Step right up, speak your mind, tell a story, sing a song, whatever. 2/7/2026 Anything goes itsdougholland.com ← PREVIOUS          NEXT →

Well, now I’ve done it — spent every penny of the money Bill paid me yesterday, and more, on printing, postage, and envelopes, getting the January issue of the zine into the mail. It ain’t great, but at least it’s out. And now my grand total net worth is $21.71. From Pathetic Life #21 Tuesday,…

State prisons in the United States became more violent and nearly 50% deadlier over the past five years Justice Department unit on police misconduct sees staffing plunge and probes scaled back, sources say Alabama: Collinsville police chief Stephen Malone resigns following aggravated assault arrest ‘You’re going to kill me!’: Black man pleads for his life…

every movie ever made, in alphabetical order (we’re in the J’s, with anti-alphabetical cheats) Junior (2011) Junior High School (1978) Junk Mail (2024) Junk Shop (1965) Junkopia (1981) Juno (2007) Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) Jupiter (2018) Deep Space Nine: “Past Tense” (1995) — — — Junior (2011) An adolescent girl is sickened by her own…

Trump calls for Republicans to “take over” elections States and individual counties run American elections, but Trump wants Republicans — not even the federal government, but Republicans — to run elections. When that happens, there might as well be no elections. House Speaker welcomes Trump call to ‘take over’ elections, claims Dem wins appear ‘fraudulent’…

Not quite often enough to be often but also not rarely enough to be rarely, a chunk of yellowed white or an old filling chips off my teeth when I’m chewing something chewy — popcorn, licorice, a peanut butter sandwich, etc. This morning, though, a filling came out intact in my sleep. I awoke choking…

Being old, death gets my attention, so I read the obituaries. This is a collection of recent obits for people whose work touched my life, because I want to say thanks, or maybe give ’em a final fuck you. There’ll be a roundup like this once weekly, until I’m on the list myself. Roger Allersartist,…

From Pathetic Life #21 Sunday, February 4, 1996  Telegraph Avenue was rained out today, so I stayed home and started editing the next issue of the zine. There’s no wringing an interesting story out of that. The radio was on in the background, though, and the only station that’s not a 24/7 insult to anyone’s…

For thirty years I was far away, but now I’m back, living again in Seattle. It’s the city where I grew up. In my 20s and 30s, I lived in half a dozen houses and apartments all over the city — north, south, Queen Anne, south again, the U district, and downtown — but never…

In my dream, I was hanging from a window sill very near the top of the TransAmerica Pyramid, not quite ready to let go and get cheese-gratered all the way down, but considering it. From Pathetic Life #21 Saturday, February 3, 1996  Awake again, whoa! I don’t like suicide dreaming, and have no idea where…

Era of ‘global water bankruptcy’ is here, UN report says Suppressed climate report warned of mass migration and nuclear war Excerpt: “This government is hiding the true danger of climate change from the people,” a source close to the development of the report claimed. “We need to have an honest conversation about the risks we…

It was overcast in downtown Berkeley, and no vendors were set up on the side of the street where I’m supposed to sell. From Pathetic Life #21 Friday, February 2, 1996  Being a loner and introvert, I’d probably prefer to have no vendors near me, but it’s a practical mater — if no other vendors…

every movie ever made, in alphabetical order (we’re in the J’s, with anti-alphabetical cheats) Jumper (2008) Jumping (1984) Jumping the Blanket (1895) The Jungle (1952) Jungle (2017) Jungle (2024) Jungle Hell (1956) Jungle Jitters (1938) Jungle Woman (1944) — — — Jumper (2008) This opens with believable high school hijinks and cruelty that would’ve led…

FBI raids Georgia election office to get 2020 ballots for “stolen election” faux-investigation Republicans introduce their biggest attack on voting rights yet Excerpt: The “Make Elections Great Again Act” would require photo identification, require mail-in ballots to be received by Election Day, require voters to opt-in to voting by mail, ban ranked-choice voting for federal…

From Pathetic Life #21Thursday, February 1, 1996 Regurgitation to greet the new day — I don’t think I’m sick, but yesterday’s bedtime snack of six sandwiches and two bowls of ramen emerged as a bitter lump in my mouth this morning. Seems a fitting summation of my life so far.  Washed away the residue with…

Independent experts alarmed by child rights violations in US immigration procedures ICE begins real estate buying spree for future concentration camps Alabama: 47-year-old inmate dies at the Birmingham City Jail California: One Oakland police officer made $490,000 in overtime, but the city can’t find records detailing much of what he did California jailers killed inmate…

From Pathetic Life #20 Wednesday, January 31, 1996 Today, at last, a letter from Sarah-Katherine arrived. It’s sweet and upbeat, recounting some of the things she did on her planning trip to New York City. She is nuts for the place, has always wanted to live there, and now she’s about to. It’s a dream…

our 65th weekly open mike Let’s see what happens when your host (me) has nothing to say. Step right up, speak your mind, tell a story, sing a song, whatever. 1/31/2026 Anything goes itsdougholland.com ← PREVIOUS          NEXT →

I’ve been an insomniac since adolescence, and get two or three good nights’ sleep annually, usually drug-assisted. This morning I woke up extra early. Couldn’t get back to sleep, troubled by everything but yesterday’s fondue — Sarah-Katherine, Mom, money, etc. I’m not even sure how I’ll afford the stamps to mail out the next issue…

Before reporting to work at Black Sheets, I posted some “I’ll do anything” flyers on Market Street, around Van Ness, because I’ll be broke soon if the phone doesn’t ring. Call me please, and I’ll scoop your cat’s litterbox, type your memoirs, do your shopping, paint your porch, wash your windows, remove your tonsils, whatever.…