Chris Ekman
@chrisekman.bsky.social
I was so fascinated by this horrible thing that Mom bought it for me as a gag gift. I still have the box and the catalog listing; the clock itself is probably kicking around somewhere, amidst all the stuff I tell myself I'll go through one day. I can't say that I find it all that funny any more.
November 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I was so fascinated by this horrible thing that Mom bought it for me as a gag gift. I still have the box and the catalog listing; the clock itself is probably kicking around somewhere, amidst all the stuff I tell myself I'll go through one day. I can't say that I find it all that funny any more.
But then, as the maestro used to say...
November 9, 2025 at 7:11 PM
But then, as the maestro used to say...
I don't think I'm doing this right.
November 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I don't think I'm doing this right.
The neighborhood jack o'lanterns are starting to reveal their true natures. That, or the Void is taking hold of them.
November 8, 2025 at 9:29 PM
The neighborhood jack o'lanterns are starting to reveal their true natures. That, or the Void is taking hold of them.
Just to credit the original artist, that appears to be based on an illustration from Mad magazine, issue #531, parodying Norman Rockwell. It looks like someone used AI to recreate the image, and it's pretty close, but I don't know why they would.
November 1, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Just to credit the original artist, that appears to be based on an illustration from Mad magazine, issue #531, parodying Norman Rockwell. It looks like someone used AI to recreate the image, and it's pretty close, but I don't know why they would.
I even got some compliments on my costume, which was just the Zappa mask and cheapo pitchfork, plus a cloak from a Jafar costume.
Though one group of kids objected. "We're Christians, we don't like the devil!", one said. Thank God, or whoever, I didn't have that Boingo song playing when they came.
Though one group of kids objected. "We're Christians, we don't like the devil!", one said. Thank God, or whoever, I didn't have that Boingo song playing when they came.
November 1, 2025 at 12:36 AM
I even got some compliments on my costume, which was just the Zappa mask and cheapo pitchfork, plus a cloak from a Jafar costume.
Though one group of kids objected. "We're Christians, we don't like the devil!", one said. Thank God, or whoever, I didn't have that Boingo song playing when they came.
Though one group of kids objected. "We're Christians, we don't like the devil!", one said. Thank God, or whoever, I didn't have that Boingo song playing when they came.
Is Trump going to be collaborating with Musk, or competing?
October 28, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Is Trump going to be collaborating with Musk, or competing?
I have just acquired a couple Halloween masks. One is from 1960; the other is new, as part of an especially ludicrous box set that, as a hardcore maniac (& sucker), I couldn't resist.
No-one under 30 will recognize either of these. So the question is, which will be more upsetting to small children?
No-one under 30 will recognize either of these. So the question is, which will be more upsetting to small children?
October 25, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I have just acquired a couple Halloween masks. One is from 1960; the other is new, as part of an especially ludicrous box set that, as a hardcore maniac (& sucker), I couldn't resist.
No-one under 30 will recognize either of these. So the question is, which will be more upsetting to small children?
No-one under 30 will recognize either of these. So the question is, which will be more upsetting to small children?
October 23, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Turnout was very good, far more than I could capture. It's a bit of a shame that they couldn't have had it on the city Common again, where there would have been more passersby. But really, it couldn't have gone better.
October 18, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Turnout was very good, far more than I could capture. It's a bit of a shame that they couldn't have had it on the city Common again, where there would have been more passersby. But really, it couldn't have gone better.
It's no wonder so many conservatives were so intimidated. Look at this guy waving a skull and crossbones flag! That's practically stochastic terrorism. He must be a member of the dreaded Black Bloc.
October 18, 2025 at 9:01 PM
It's no wonder so many conservatives were so intimidated. Look at this guy waving a skull and crossbones flag! That's practically stochastic terrorism. He must be a member of the dreaded Black Bloc.
Just spent a perfectly beautiful afternoon at the No Kings protest in Worcester, MA, along with the other Hamas terrorists, antifa agitators, paid Soros operatives, and the hate America crowd.
October 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Just spent a perfectly beautiful afternoon at the No Kings protest in Worcester, MA, along with the other Hamas terrorists, antifa agitators, paid Soros operatives, and the hate America crowd.
To illustrate the point: this place used to be a cozy little diner, then it closed when the owners retired, and now it's nothing but a big Trump billboard.
October 18, 2025 at 4:32 PM
To illustrate the point: this place used to be a cozy little diner, then it closed when the owners retired, and now it's nothing but a big Trump billboard.
Good turnout, and good drive-by response, for the No Kings protest in my town, Barre, MA. It can't match the throngs in the cities, but we're in the rural middle of the state, and in one of its more conservative regions. Trump won here in 2016 and 2024, and very nearly won in 2020.
October 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Good turnout, and good drive-by response, for the No Kings protest in my town, Barre, MA. It can't match the throngs in the cities, but we're in the rural middle of the state, and in one of its more conservative regions. Trump won here in 2016 and 2024, and very nearly won in 2020.
I was also going to do one with John Roberts as a vampire, and title it What We Do In The Shadow Docket. I might still attempt that, but it would have been better for Halloween.
October 18, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I was also going to do one with John Roberts as a vampire, and title it What We Do In The Shadow Docket. I might still attempt that, but it would have been better for Halloween.
Even more embarrassing, I tried again a few days later with a different source photo and angle, and botched that too. The lines are cleaner, but somehow I gave him a winsome expression and plump, kissable lips. Olivia Nuzzi might like it, but it doesn't look a thing like him.
October 18, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Even more embarrassing, I tried again a few days later with a different source photo and angle, and botched that too. The lines are cleaner, but somehow I gave him a winsome expression and plump, kissable lips. Olivia Nuzzi might like it, but it doesn't look a thing like him.
It seemed sound enough when I started, but the more I tried to patch the flaws, the more it fell apart. The biggest, fundamental flaw is that the eyes are all wrong, and that dooms the whole thing.
October 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
It seemed sound enough when I started, but the more I tried to patch the flaws, the more it fell apart. The biggest, fundamental flaw is that the eyes are all wrong, and that dooms the whole thing.
Off to the protests today. I only wish that I had made a new sign.
I wanted to do one about RFK Jr., parodying an album cover by the Dead Kennedys, but I botched the caricature.
I wanted to do one about RFK Jr., parodying an album cover by the Dead Kennedys, but I botched the caricature.
October 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Off to the protests today. I only wish that I had made a new sign.
I wanted to do one about RFK Jr., parodying an album cover by the Dead Kennedys, but I botched the caricature.
I wanted to do one about RFK Jr., parodying an album cover by the Dead Kennedys, but I botched the caricature.
Fall has begun in earnest. It's turned cold and drizzly. The weekend barbecues at the farm are ending, and the farmers' markets, flea markets and yard sales are winding down. But the surest sign is that people are dressing up their little dogs.
October 12, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Fall has begun in earnest. It's turned cold and drizzly. The weekend barbecues at the farm are ending, and the farmers' markets, flea markets and yard sales are winding down. But the surest sign is that people are dressing up their little dogs.
One of my neighbors has set out their jack o'lanterns, and a handsome bunch they are.
October 12, 2025 at 7:17 PM
One of my neighbors has set out their jack o'lanterns, and a handsome bunch they are.
Unrelated, except that it's nearby: I've always liked the Atomic Age signage of this (surprisingly not defunct) dry cleaner. It'd make a great little location for the Fallout TV series.
(They were heavily fined for failing to clean up hazardous waste - so it really would be perfect for Fallout.)
(They were heavily fined for failing to clean up hazardous waste - so it really would be perfect for Fallout.)
October 8, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Unrelated, except that it's nearby: I've always liked the Atomic Age signage of this (surprisingly not defunct) dry cleaner. It'd make a great little location for the Fallout TV series.
(They were heavily fined for failing to clean up hazardous waste - so it really would be perfect for Fallout.)
(They were heavily fined for failing to clean up hazardous waste - so it really would be perfect for Fallout.)
I spotted this street sign near my office today. It turns out it was part of a series of signs by local artists, put up by the city during the height of Covid. It's so well camouflaged that I've been passing by it for years and never noticed it until now.
I looked up the text, and found out that...
I looked up the text, and found out that...
October 8, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I spotted this street sign near my office today. It turns out it was part of a series of signs by local artists, put up by the city during the height of Covid. It's so well camouflaged that I've been passing by it for years and never noticed it until now.
I looked up the text, and found out that...
I looked up the text, and found out that...
One difference I noticed is that the Faire feels more... queer, I guess? That's not a criticism. I always knew it was at least a little queer; my favorite character was court fop Percival DeGagé. And I'm sure there was a lot that went over my head as a kid. Like they always said, and still say...
October 6, 2025 at 3:03 AM
One difference I noticed is that the Faire feels more... queer, I guess? That's not a criticism. I always knew it was at least a little queer; my favorite character was court fop Percival DeGagé. And I'm sure there was a lot that went over my head as a kid. Like they always said, and still say...