First things first, let’s acknowledge the reality of the situation. Yeah, things are messed up. There’s no denying that. Pretending everything’s groovy when it’s not is just gonna lead to more stress, and stress is a major no-no in the Dudeist lifestyle. The Dude abides, but he also acknowledges. He sees the crazy, the anger, the whole shebang. He just doesn’t let it get him down, man.

Now, how do we do that? That’s the million-dollar question, or, you know, the slightly-above-minimum-wage question, depending on your current financial situation. The answer, like most things in life, is a complex one, but it can be broken down into a few key principles:

1. Take it Easy, Man: This is the cornerstone of Dudeism. Seriously, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the negativity, the first thing you need to do is chill. Take a deep breath. Have a beverage. Listen to some Creedence. Just relax. The world isn’t going to end if you don’t obsess over every single bad news story. In fact, it might actually improve. Remember, the Dude abides. He doesn’t freak out. He just… abides.

2. Choose Your Battles (and Maybe Don’t Choose Any): There’s a lot of stuff to be angry about in the world. A lot. But you can’t fight every battle. You’ll just burn yourself out and end up more frustrated than when you started. Sometimes, the best thing to do is just let it go. Not because you don’t care, but because you need to conserve your energy for the things that truly matter. Sometimes, the most Dude-like thing you can do is just walk away.

3. Find Your Tribe: Surround yourself with people who lift you up, not drag you down. Find people who share your values, who make you laugh, who remind you that there’s still good in the world. These are your people, man. These are the people who will help you keep your rug clean and your spirits high. Find your tribe, and stick with them.

4. Practice Radical Acceptance: This doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything that’s going on. It just means you have to accept that it is happening. You can’t change the world overnight. You can’t even change most people’s minds. But you can change how you react to it all. You can choose to focus on the good, to find the silver lining, to believe that things will eventually get better. It ain’t always easy, but it’s the Dudeist way.

5. Do What You Can: While you can’t solve all the world’s problems, you can make a difference in your own little corner of the universe. Volunteer your time, donate to a worthy cause, be kind to your neighbors. Even small acts of kindness can have a ripple effect. Remember, the Dude abides, but he also helps out when he can.

6. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously: Life is too short to be serious all the time. Laugh at yourself. Laugh at the world. Find the humor in the absurdity of it all. The Dude is a serious dude, but he also knows how to have a good time. Don’t forget to enjoy the little things in life, man. A good burger, a cold beer, a game of bowling with your buddies. These are the things that make life worth living.

7. Remember the Tao of the Dude: The Dude is a simple man. He doesn’t need much to be happy. He has his rug, his Caucasians, and his friends. He abides. He takes it easy. He doesn’t let the world get him down. And that, my friends, is the key to living a good life, even in a world that seems to be going crazy.

So, next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by the negativity, just remember the Dude. Take it easy, man. Find your tribe. Do what you can. And don’t forget to enjoy the little things. Because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go grab a Caucasian and listen to some Creedence. The world can wait.

They look at every problem with an absolute mentality. “This side is right. That side is wrong. Let’s get those wrong people.”

“…those wrong people.” Got it. “We got ’em labeled man. They’re the bad ones. They’re going to hurt us if we don’t hurt them first. All of them. They’re all the same.”

You know what’s easy? Slapping a label on something. “Good.” “Bad.” “Delicious.” “Gross.” Something good can’t have something bad in it, right? Surely something delicious can’t also be gross. These labels make things easy. It gets labeled and I don’t have to go any farther. Hell, I don’t need to think. I can just simply go through life, check the label, and move on. If it doesn’t have a label, whatever it looks closest to is probably right so just slap a label on it for what it looks like.

Now, if everyone experienced the world the way I do, my labels would make sense. Hell, they might even be genius. I might be an asshole, but I’d always be right.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. You might be surprised to hear this, and it might not even make sense to you but before you slap a label on it, check it out man. This is a big secret and I’m gonna tell you about it.

Most people don’t see everything the way you do. In fact, pretty much nobody sees everything the way you do. So we are not right, and we’re certainly still assholes, which by many measures is probably the worst combination of labels to have. Wrong Asshole.

“Well dude, thanks a lot. Thanks a lot for making things more difficult. You mean I gotta look into everything? I have to look past a label to make sure it’s correct? That seems like a lot of fucking work.”

Yep. It is. It’s constant work. In fact, it’s damn hard to do. It goes against our nature to look past labels. That organ between our ears is a labeling machine. The longer it runs, the more labels it’s got stockpiled up. It’s fast too, man it can label something before you even know what’s happening, and it only gets faster with time.

There’s another problem with labels, both the ones you find and the ones you apply. They lie. The healthiest cigarette is still a cigarette. The healthiest candy bar is still a candy bar. But you might say; “It says healthiest, natural, or no additives; that means healthy, so I’m good.

Now I’m not telling you anything here right? You gotta read the label. Pick it up, read the label, find the truth.

OK, now if you’re keeping up, you know where I’m going next. You’ve already hot-wired that labeling machine. You’re already being skeptical and investigating. You’re already learning the truth on your own, and not taking someone else’s label as fact. You might even be into the next level and starting to hot-wire the machine to investigate before accepting a label.

This complex world isn’t getting any simpler, despite how much we wish it would. There’s people who say it is simple. Just listen to them, use their labels, drink the kool aid, then relax because everything is easy.

Well dude, they’re just Wrong Assholes and the sooner we all realize that the better off we’re going to be.

Take it easy man.

What was that about? Well, Jeff Leb… I mean Bridges said that he was making a public show of support, as a “white dude” for a particular candidate.

Why the ruckus? I guess some people want other people to just stick to the script. Some people want a dude to carry on with some persona. A persona that some folks might assume a lot about.

This was no Port Huron statement, man. This is just an opinion. It’s not a statement of fact, unless of course we’re talking about the fact a dude said a thing, what we’re talking about here is an opinion. Much like assholes, I’m pretty sure that we all have ‘em.

I gotta say that people sure do spend a lot more time and energy expecting the world to conform to some standard they they imagine. They complain and intimidate others who don’t conform to some expectation they have, rather than appreciate those individuals’ unique qualities.

Now here I go, on my own soapbox; I suppose I’m expecting a bit too much from some people. My mom once told me there’s 360 degrees of people to make the world turn. I guess I can’t expect to get along with all of them. Out of the last 360 people I’ve met, I am quite sure there’s more than a few I regret spending the time with.

But like my mom was trying to say, its even those folks, the other 45, 90, 180 or 270 (depending on your particular brand of uniqueness) that we do not enjoy the company of, that do, in some way, get behind this big blue marble and keep pushing it around. Metaphorically speaking of course.

Yep, so to those dudes who think the Dude should have stayed in his lane, kept his yap shut, or otherwise be someone he’s not; to those dudes I say; bummer man. Sometimes you eat the bear and well, sometimes he eats you. Maybe stay out of the woods; because there’s bears and I can’t tell you how they’re gonna react.

By the way, let me buy ya an oat soda and let’s talk about bowling instead?

I gotta tell ya man, had a few years of things always going sideways and bad damn luck.

They say trauma takes many forms, and can have severe impacts on your life. You’ve got your acute trauma, like assault, serious illness or injury, losing a loved one, that sort of thing. Chronic trauma which is repeated events over time like abuse, domestic violence, neglect, and even religious trauma. Then there’s what they call complex trauma which is a combination of the above, swirling around into a nasty trauma soup which nobody wants.

I’m writing this in… what day is it? Midway through 2024. Well we had some shared trauma there didn’t we? Seems like a certain pandemic did a number on us all. Whatever trauma can be had from elections (and their aftermath) is another shared bit if it hit ya that hard.

Then we have some economic fallout – our lives have been changed. So there’s some ingredients we all have in that pot.

This old duder can throw into that pot a fairly abrupt change in relationship status. Loss of job. Moving. And… well I can go on but honestly I’m skirting around the point here, suffice it to say, we all are packing some amount of trauma. Well all got our own complex trauma soup.

I don’t know about your coping mechanisms, but I’ve adapted by always questioning good news, always trying to guess how someone or something is going to screw me over, and fearing the worst result. If I have low enough expectations, I’m rarely disappointed.

I didn’t really realize how cynically and negatively that strategy has impacted me. Sure, a bit depressed, man. A bit suspicious of others’ motives and keeping new people at arm’s length.

Despite my coping mechanisms, I did manage to land a pretty sweet gig. Not as strenuous as being a roadie for Metallica on the Speed of Sound tour, but it sure pays better than being an author of the Port Huron Statement (first draft, of course).

Well, this new job has given me the opposite; at nearly every turn the reasonable or best result has happened despite my cynicism and fear. I’m treated well, and in return I’ve worked hard.

We really gotta take all that to heart and let go a little bit and stop expecting the worst. So much of a joyful moment is lost when one questions that moment.

That’s all I have for now. Hope it helps ya work through something, get out of a rut, or maybe just give ya a chuckle. I think writing it helped me out a bit.

Take ‘er easy dude.

I gotta tell ya, with each orbit, I’m more grateful for each moment I get. I’m pretty happy to share this crazy flying planet with you all; the Donny’s, Dude’s, Marty’s, Brandt’s, and especially the Maude’s, and even the Walter’s. It takes 360 degrees to make this world round and there’s just about every type of person to make it keep on spinnin’.

As I woke up to my latest morning, I was inspired to think about all that got me to this point. There’s been more than a few strikes and gutters. Good times and bad.

Sometimes I was trying to throw those rocks skillfully and I’d gutter like crazy. Sometimes I just wouldn’t give a shit and I’d get a strike. I spent a few league years really dialed in and scoring some respectful games. I also spent the last couple years with some pretty lousy scores. If you get my meaning.

Well, things are looking up for this Dude after all. You could say I found my Creedence, got a new car, and while I might be missing the Donny of my story, I’ve got a pretty bright future to look forward too.

There may even be a chance to attend a Lebowski Fest yet! Yes, that’s right – I still haven’t been to one, and I hope to soon.

Well you all take it easy out here and keep Abiding.

When we’re faced with bad luck, it’s easy to get discouraged. We might start to think that we’re cursed or that we’re just not good enough. But I’m here to tell you that that’s not true. Bad luck happens to everyone, and it doesn’t mean that we’re failures.

The Dude, our patron saint, knew a thing or two about bad luck. He was unemployed, he was evicted from his apartment, and he was even mistaken for a drug dealer. But through it all, he never gave up. He kept his cool, he kept his sense of humor, and he kept on trucking.

So, how do we deal with bad luck like the Dude? Here are a few tips:

• Don’t take it personally. Bad luck doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person. It just means that you’re unlucky.
• Don’t dwell on it. It’s easy to get caught up in the past, but it’s important to remember that you can’t change what’s already happened.
• Focus on the present. What can you do right now to make things better?
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are people who care about you and want to help you through this.
• I know that dealing with bad luck can be tough, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. We’re all in this together. So, let’s all try to keep our cool, keep our sense of humor, and keep on trucking.

Hey man, let’s get serious just for a minute. When shit hits the fan and it feels like the shit ain’t stoppin’, take a deep breath man. Get that whale song tape out, do some tai chi, and take a second. You aren’t alone man – check this out. Here are some specific tips for dealing with homelessness or job loss:

• Reach out to your community. There are many resources available to help people who are homeless or who have lost their jobs. Your local church, government agency, or social service organization can help you connect with these resources.
• Don’t give up. It can be tough to find a new job or a new place to live, but it’s important to keep trying. Don’t give up on your dreams.
• Take care of yourself. It’s important to take care of your physical and mental health during difficult times. Make sure you’re eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly.
• Find your tribe. Surround yourself with people who support you and who believe in you. These people can help you through tough times and keep you motivated.

I know that dealing with homelessness or job loss can be very challenging, but I believe that you can get through this. Just remember to stay positive, stay strong, and reach out for help when you need it.

PS: Just an update to the page to see if it makes it onto the Mastodon feed.

I think it’s safe to say that AI hasn’t exactly arrived to be the thing for its time and place. With most new technology, it seems to be either devoured greedily or reviled fiercely.

There’s more than a few statements out there in support of both, and most of them make sense.

This Dude has to ask himself; who benefits?

“Well, Dude, we think we know.” There is a ton of money waiting for corporations to bring AI to life. There’s a few reasons for that. There’s some measure of uncertainty about the reasons:

• Work is done faster. Well, maybe. Shit breaks down sometimes and work can slow to a crawl. People (as a whole workforce) don’t really shut down like that too often. So maybe not much faster.
• Work is done better. Oh, well if you look at what’s happening now – probably not for a long time. The quality of AI work is usually pretty substandard so far.

There’s one reason you can be certain is driving the money, man.

• Work is done by a machine you pay once for, not by a person you have to pay regularly. The cost of production will drop very soon after adoption and continue to drop. The longer companies take to reinvest (for updates, equipment replacement, etc..), means longer periods of high profit.

The thing is, we have seen quality drop, we have seen prices rise, and we have seen shortages. The MAN is already training us to accept a new world of shitty products, empty shelves, and high prices man…

At least we’re relatively safe though – I mean except for our money, and employment future…

Machines are Nihilists

Say what you will about unchecked capitalism, at least it’s an ethos.

We can’t forget the existential threat of some AI taking control of the military and missiles and shit. AI can’t even get fingers right, and some think we should give it a button to push?

AI doesn’t care about anything (at least for the moment), so why the fuck would we let that clock tick any closer to midnight?

Fuck. FUCK! Ok well at least we can still go bowling. Let’s go get an oat soda and throw some rocks.

Note: If you see an excerpt for this post, I can tell you I let the AI create it to add a little irony to the piece. Hope you enjoy.

Dude got his house broke into how many times? Too fucking much for my calm, I’ll tell you. At some point you try and nail a board to the floor to just slow them down a little bit and of course that doesn’t work (especially when the door opens the wrong way). So, like when to you say “well dude, that’s out of my control so I’m not going to worry about it.”

I think we run into this shit in life on a pretty regular basis. It’s easy to not worry about an asteroid taking you out, getting hit by a bus, or Jackie Treehorn slipping you a roofie.

Where shit gets weird is when we can do something about it, or at least it makes sense that it is something we can control to some degree, but the shit keeps happening.

Sometimes it’s just a new reality we need to come to terms with, and that’s fucking hard man. This aggression will just have to fucking stand. It is here now and we can lose our calm to fight against it, or we can just say “fuck it.”

This fuzzy area between control and not control is where we probably spend too much time. Usually there’s other people involved which make it this way. You can’t control other people’s reactions, but at the same time we have to rely on people (especially those close to us) to behave in a somewhat predictable way.

I don’t have the answers here man, but it seems to me that we have to say “fuck it”, and I don’t mean in a completely give-up-on-this-forever kind of way, but rather in a way that says: Dude, man, I can’t with this right now. I may need to come back to this but right now I’m recognizing that I can’t worry about this right now because it’s just out of my control.

It’s got to be ok to say “fuck it”, and not be a bad thing. It’s a means of self-preservation, self-care, and what have you.

So with that said dude, let’s go bowling.

So like whatever, right? Well man, this exam had some pretty heavy weight on it.

For one thing, this dude has a whole lot more years behind him than coming up. For most of that time, I kinda got by. A little charm, a lot of experience, and more than a few compromises on my salary (“we’d pay more if you were like, credentialed”). Sure, it was “enough” but there was always something that kinda bugged me.

I chalked it up to the pressures of “the man”, the money pit of the education institution hamster wheel, and why does some fucking piece of paper make me more valuable? Valid concerns still – this shit is fucking real man. How many people squander the stability of their financial future on some gamble of education? Will the jobs be there after you graduation? Will they pay enough to give you the lifestyle you want and be able to settle the loans? Fuck no, they…

Ok, I digress… The reality was I felt that failing the education made me a poser. Sure I did the job for decades but I could fail to get a piece of paper that proved it. I had every valid reason to avoid it but they just covered up the real reason. The Dude has gotta know himself to know his true motivations.

Anyway the missing piece of this is that I’ve gotta get on the job market. That half-and-half isn’t $0.69 anymore. It’s fucking $3. There’s no kind Marty giving me a 10+ day pass on making the rent, and that Torino would never pass the smog test – much less me afford the gas.

The pressure’s going on both ways. I gotta get some cash.

So I took my perfectly valid experience, and a few weeks of free study on YouTube, and purchased, then scheduled my exam. Not cheap by the way. Got some skin in the game (and a little blood, dipping into savings if I’m being honest).

I didn’t know if I was going to pass or not. I was confident I knew my shit but not confident some tricky question wouldn’t trip me up. Doubts man. Doubts were starting to kick my ass.

Ok so reach back into my inner Dude. What is The Dude saying right now? Well, the fact is, I may fail. I may succeed. Either way there’s more shit to do man. If I fail, I gotta do some more practice, and take the test again. If I succeed, I gotta collect that paper and start waving it around.

It’s just a step to something else. Let go of the ego on whatever happens and just know there’s another step after – the world doesn’t fucking end. It’s not like I have to look after Cynthia’s fucking dog.

Well as I said, I kept the pressure low and passed it. I saw the “Congratulations…” upon completing and I smiled. It’s nice to have that step behind me. I even let out a laugh because I probably could have done that a long time ago. Then I laughed more because it doesn’t matter. Now matters and I got that step done.

Ok next I have to land an interview and do my first interview in 20 years. Just another step.

Take it easy dude.

This reminds me of my reason for mindful meditation. I can live life by being some reactive automaton which takes actions based on stimulation, or I can exercise a little free will and control my own path.

When I’m not being mindful, I let the automaton take over.

Walter demonstrates some automaton moments when he reacts to Smokey’s foot violation. Even in the moment Walter explains his trigger; “there are rules”. There were no rules in ‘nam and that is his trigger. If Walter were more mindful he may have avoided a very serious situation.

So my friends, this is what the Dude, and I daresay the rest of us, should aspire to – be a bit more mindful in this new year. Get some self-understanding and be gentle. Reactionaries don’t change overnight, and your reactions won’t either. It takes time and grace, give yourself those things and learn to give your ego a break.

Take it easy man.