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.…

Do current events have me too blue for the movies, or is this just a so-so batch? Today’s selections include respected films by big-name moviemakers, but mostly I shrugged. Half of Julia is pretty good, and the entire seven minutes of Jump. Judge Priest (1934)Judgement (1999)Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)Jules and Jim (1962)Julia (1977)Jumbo (2024)Jump (2020)…

Police told to be ‘as vague as permissible’ about why they use Flock ICE has been illegally entering homes without judicial warrants since last summer, sources say Arizona: Protesters — on the sidewalk, impeding no-one — are drive-by maced by Secret Police Arizona: MAGA sheriff hosts MAGA-only drone demo California man awarded $6.8-million for false…

From Pathetic Life #20 Sunday, January 28, 1996  Instead of Christians at the corner, today we had Krishnas. And I prefer the Krishnas. At least they don’t preach, don’t use amplifiers, and when they smile it looks sorta like genuine happiness instead of an order from God (You Will Smile At The Non-Believers). Of course,…

Eating french toast alone at Mrs Rigby’s Diner a few mornings ago, I was thinking I should say hello to the old woman with a sad face. She’s often there, eating alone at the same time I’m eating alone, and there she was. It was the perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation. We were…

From Pathetic Life #20 Saturday, January 27, 1996 My eyes popped open at 4:30 this morning, and sleep was over. That’s hours earlier than I’d hoped, and the first thing on my mind was taking yesterday off from selling fish. What was I thinking? I can’t afford days off. Funds are low and income is…

Google AI Overviews cite YouTube more than any medical site for health queries, study suggests Reprompt: The single-click Microsoft Copilot attack that silently steals your personal data Google Gemini prompt injection flaw exposed private calendar data via malicious invites Latest ChatGPT model uses Elon Musk’s Grokipedia as source, tests reveal AI now allows propaganda campaigns…

All my life, I’ve stupidly swallowed claims that America must limit immigration, that people desperate to escape their hellhole countries should fill out the right forms and wait in line for five or ten or twenty years while the US immigration and naturalization process moves at its quarter-of-a-snail’s pace. From that unquestioned assumption springs everything…

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. Samuel Alston2nd…