Poison

Hi Dear Readers!

I hope this blog post finds you and brings you joy, insight, and/or action steps for defeating the Diabolical Forces in the Universe (DFUs).

This is your weekly reminder to get off of social and mainstream media (SMSM) as soon as possible, because it is POISON. Exposing yourself to those media puts you into an alternate reality that increasingly no longer corresponds to ACTUAL REALITY. This can put you in real danger and make your life pretty miserable - due to the heavy bias of SMSM toward grievance, negativity, hate, divisiveness, and toxicity. There is no way I can convince you of this other than to persuade you to abstain from SMSM for about a month and notice the difference in your perception of reality and your mental state. You will see things more clearly, and you will be happier and smarter. All I am asking you to do it PUT IT TO THE TEST. 

Of course, doing so requires ABSOLUTE abstinence from SMSM. That is difficult for most people, because of how addictive SMSM is (by design). But if you successfully fast from SMSM for a month, please leave a comment and share your experience.

Fin.

The Attention Economy

How does it feel to be a product? A commodity? Bought and sold?

Because that's what you are. It's what we all are, with rare exceptions.

That's not exactly true. Your whole being is not necessarily being traded on the free market of the Attention Economy. But your attention is. And to the extent that your attention is linear and finite, you are being exploited, with zero compensation for your attention.

That's wrong. Or at least it is my thesis that it's wrong. Your attention has value and you deserve to be compensated for it. At a minimum, you should deny your attention to those who would exploit it (social and mainstream corporate media, and its neediest and most obsequious characters) until/unless you are compensated for it.

My attention costs $60/hour ($1/minute) and I will gladly sell my attention to any buyer for that price. Social and mainstream media presume to demand your attention FOR FREE! And perhaps there is value in that for you. You get to use social media applications FOR FREE because the companies that make those apps are SELLING YOUR ATTENTION to other companies (advertisers) willing to pay a premium price for your attention. But...you are seeing NONE of that monetary compensation. Does that seem fair to you?

Perhaps your attention (and the time you spend sacrificing it on the alter of the attention economy) could be better spent creating REAL VALUE for you. Here are some ideas:

Read books.

Learn a skill or hobby.

Exercise.

Go out to eat.

Make a meal at home and enjoy it.

Have sex.

Walk in nature.

Meditate.

Play board games with friends and/or family.

Learn/play a sport with friends/family.

Those are just a few ideas that popped off the top of my dome. I'd now ask/challenge you to compare those ideas with whatever value it is that you think you get from social/mainstream media. Please share in the comments.

And...GO!

Fin.

Get Off the Internet Soon

In late 2024, I reminded my readers and followers to get off social and mainstream media (SMSM) ENTIRELY in early 2025, and stay off it. While I have no idea who heeded this very timely, accurate, and real warning, I do know that those who have abandoned SMSM consistently are in a much better place in 2026.

I am now calling for people to abandon, disenfranchise, and boycott the entire Internet. This may seem like a bridge too far. It isn't. The Internet is now poison to the mind, body, and soul. It's information has been scientifically shown to be low value and of questionable credibility. You are literally smarter and happier when you are OFF THE INTERNET. Not everyone can or will get off the Internet. That is unfortunate. But those who can should and MUST if there is to be any hope for humanity going forward.

The Internet algos will work very hard to hide and bury this post so most people do not see it. Hopefully, you are not "most people" and you do see it...then also heed it. Because you future well being depends on it.

Fin.

Travelog Imminent

Hi Dear Readers!

I hope this post finds you and brings you joy, insight, and/or actions steps for defeating the Diabolical Forces in the Universe (DFUs). Pro Tip: One of the easiest ways to thwart the DFUs is to be positive and kind to others. And "others" includes not just your fellow humans, but also all sentient creatures. That's one of the reasons why a vegan diet is one of the three Tenets of the Church of Bike With Joe (CoBWJ).

I'm grubbing down on some tofu steaks this morning. The recipe is very simple. I take a block of super firm tofu (a whole 'nother level of firmness above extra firm...but if you only have extra firm, put it in a tofu press overnight and it will be super firm by morning) and cut into into six large and thick rectangular slices. I put about two TBSP of oil in a fry pan and heat it on high. I put the tofu steaks in the fry pan and as the tofu starts to brown on one side, I add herbs and spices to the exposed side. Then I flip the steaks and season the (now brown and oily) other side. Once the original side has browned, I flip them one last time and turn off the heat. I let them sit a bit, which seems to enhance the flavor. You can use whatever spices and seasonings you want. Today, I used black pepper, garlic powder, turmeric, rosemary, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, and salt.

In other news, a Travelog is imminent. So, stay tuned to this blog for the next two weeks if you want to live vicariously through me on a fantastic trip to the tropics.

Fin.

The Kingdom Has Been Delayed

Hi Dear Readers!

I hope this post finds you and brings you joy, insight, and/or action steps for defeating the Diabolical Forces in the Universe (DFUs).

Ugh...bad news. The Kingdom has been delayed by an overload of DFUs effing up the Plan. This is not a Church of Bike With Joe (CoBWJ) thing; it's a Christian thing. But the CoBWJ keeps close tabs on the Christian Church (as vulnerable to DFU deception as they are!), and our goals and aspirations (at least on paper) are often aligned (i.e., to do better as human beings, collectively). The DFUs, however, continue to do poorly as human beings, and they have been multiplying at an accelerated rate - doing MUCH damage. So, the Cosmos (aka, God in some circles) has postponed the Kingdom (as the Christians call World Peace), I'm told, until humanity gets its s**t together and disenfranchises the DFUs. It's a shame, because so much progress was being made up until a little over a year ago. The Cosmos is very disappointed. But it's not rocket science...the Kingdom requires a solid foundation of positivity, love, kindness, compassion, dignity, civility, equity, and justice, and the DFUs are currently illustrating NONE of these things, significantly damaging humanity's standing in the Cosmos.

I know some of you are thinking, "That's unfair! I have been a pretty good human being. Why should I have to be penalized for the DFU's BS?"

I know, I know. But...humanity is a collective aspiration, and that's part of the problem. Humanity just isn't collaborating well at all right now. This is how the DFUs like it...but regardless, no Kingdom for you!

The fix is pretty simple though. Just disenfranchise the DFUs. It requires following the respective tenets of your respective church or religion (not perverting and bastardizing them for cruel and selfish goals). I cannot speak to the tenets of other religions or creeds, but if you are a member of the CoBWJ, it's straightforward: eat a vegan diet (huge positive karmic impact), exercise daily (relieves negativity), and abstain from all social and mainstream media (eliminates 99% of all toxicity from your life).

I have spoken. Take care!

Fin.

Decommodify

Hi Dear Readers!

I hope this blog post finds you and brings you joy, insight, and/or action steps for defeating the Diabolical Forces in the Universe (DFUs). I guess my posts must be stimulating more joy and insight for you, because the DFUs are really prevalent right now. So, I'll work on content that generates more action steps. But also, I'll need you guys to think outside the box a little more too. The DFUs are not going to destroy themselves!

I thought I had been pretty explicit and directive as to the BEST action steps for defeating DFUs. It is primarily BOYCOTTING social and mainstream media (SMSM). Aerobic exercise can bring joy and eating a plant based diet can bring insight, but only abstinence from SMSM disenfranchises DFUs from your life.

Think of it this way...when it comes to SMSM, you are a COMMODITY. More correctly, your ATTENTION is a commodity. And it's a profitable commodity for the SMSM companies and their corporate advertising overlords. There are actually companies out there whose SOLE SERVICE is to make SMSM more addictive and glue your eyeballs to screens more tightly and for longer times [SOURCE]. You might hold the common misconception that SMSM advertising has no impact on you and doesn't influence your spending habits. If that were true, why do advertisers spend BILLIONS on ads on SMSM? Seems like a real waste of money if they aren't getting any return on that investment in terms of sales and profits. So, if you want to keep holding that misconception, this post is NOT for you.

Assuming this is true though, the reason SMSM is free for you to use is because you are not the customer. You are the PRODUCT. Unlike other non-sentient products that are bought and sold in volume, you actually have some autonomy and self advocacy over your attention (the commodity that corporate players are buying and selling). You can withhold it. You can demand something in return for your attention (i.e., positive change). The struggle is that SMSM is ridiculously addictive, as I alluded to earlier. When you go on your phone, tablet, or computer, you probably don't think about the fact that you are offering up your attention to these SMSM companies for free and getting nothing in return. In fact, you are giving up valuable time and resources you could more productively direct toward something else (like...read a GD book, FFS!).

So, that is why boycotting SMSM is important. Yes, you are a tiny nothing in the huge volume of attention being bought and sold on the attention commodity markets. And that fact might be depressing enough to fuel your complete apathy about doing anything about it. But if enough of us reclaim our attention and put a price on it, we can facilitate change (because the Corporate Overlords will notice the impact on their profits) AND maybe even profit from it. 

I currently abstain from ALL SMSM. If SMSM companies want my attention, they can name their price, but I have to get something in return for my attention, time, and resources. Until they, they can all f**k right off.

Fin.

A Fine Weekend

Hi Dear Readers!

I hope this blog post finds you and brings you joy, insight, or action steps for defeating the Diabolical Forces in the Universe (DFUs). There's a lot of negativity out there and the DFUs feed and thrive off that. So, if there is one single thing you can do to undermine the DFUs it is BE POSITIVE. Put positivity and love and joy and compassion and kindness out into the world. It is anathema to the DFUs.

I had a great birthday weekend. Friday night (my actual birthday, with caveats), Deborah, my folks, and I went to the Nitty Gritty pub for dinner. It's a birthday themed place and they have lots of vegan options on the menu. I treated myself to a vegan milkshake, along with my usual vegan Impossible cheeseburger. On Saturday, it was mostly a chillaxed day. I don't remember what all we did entirely, but I know I spent some time rehearsing songs in the evening, in anticipation of Sunday's GUPPY EFFECT rock-n-roll show at the Brix Cider Haus in Mt Horeb WI. Sunday was largely dedicated to prepping for and executing said rock-n-roll show and it went pretty great. I give it a solid A minus. Of course, I managed to squeeze in a DFU destroying Peloton workout every day. It fills me with such positivity and joy to know that every time I get on the Peloton bike trainer, I am depleting DFUs of their precious life energy. I encourage everyone to try it. You'll feel great afterwards. The "runner's high," as they call it, is essentially the feeling of absorbing life energy from DFUs.

Alright, well...I can lead a horse to water, but you know the rest. If you want to reverse the toxic grievance and negativity that is eating the world (like Langoliers), you have it in your power to engage the three things that will accomplish this: 1. Vegan diet. 2. Daily aerobic exercise. 3. Abstinence from social and mainstream media. If you don't believe this is the secret to success, try it for two weeks (a fortnight) and you'll see.

Take care.

Fin.

Dues Dee

Hi Dear Readers!

It's a rare Tuesday (Dues Dee) post and I hope it finds you and brings you joy, insight, or action steps for defeating the Diabolical Forces in the Universe (DFUs). The DFUs have been annoyingly pesky lately, but please stay hopeful and engaged in intentional positivity, the only antidote the DFU negativity. It may be helpful to keep in mind that Karma can only be slowed down...never stopped, and definitely not reversed.

I normally do not post on Tuesdays because I am too busy seeing marriage and family therapy clients. But I have a rare respite from that today, due to the fact that Deborah has a procedure for which I am the designated driver. I will be seeing clients later today, but my morning is largely free from all but the aforementioned responsibilities.

You may be asking, "Why are you telling us this?" If that's the case, then I am very glad you are asking that...not because I have a good answer, but because it means you are reading this, which in turn means the AI Algo was unsuccessful in burying this post from public view. And if that's the case, then I should probably use this opportunity to remind you that social and mainstream media (SMSM) are toxic and addictive and should be avoided at all costs (for valid reasons described in prior posts on this site, which you should definitely peruse!).

I guess that's about it. Don't forget to come to my birthday party on Sunday 1/11 @ the Brix Cider House in Mt Horeb WI.

Fin.

Sunday Funday

Hi Dear Readers!

I hope this blog post finds you and brings you joy, insight, and/or action steps for defeating the Diabolical Forces in the Universe (DFUs).

Recently, I was thinking about GRIEVANCE and how toxic and addictive it is for some people. It's toxic, because when you hold onto grievance, you give up all your power to whomever or whatever it is you are aggrieved about (people, institutions, situations, etc.). Then once you are in this powerless cycle of grievance, you become addicted to resolving it...but it can never be resolved because you have no control over the things you are aggrieved about. So, you're stuck.

As I have reiterated many times in the blog, social and mainstream media (SMSM) is the portal to grievance addiction. It gives you the illusion of control, without any actual control. For example, someone sees a social media post about something they are aggrieved at...so they leave a comment...and that FEELS like action, but it is actually nothing at all. No one cares. No one is influenced. Everyone actually becomes MORE aggrieved, often at the person who commented. See how that leads to exponential toxicity? Or you watch the mainstream media and the newscasters expose some horrible grievance about a well known celebrity...and you think "well, I'm glad that was exposed, because surely someone somewhere will have to do something about that." But...NOPE. Nothing changes. No one does anything. And you've just added hopelessness and frustration to your grievance grab bag.

The solution, of course, is at once simple and counterintuitive: abstain from all SMSM. If you literally can't do anything to solve your grievances, you can at least refuse to let them into your life. I took this approach and my life is AWESOME, with minimal grievance. I got up this morning at a leisurely pace, had an enjoyable cup of coffee, took the dogs out for their walks, and ate a tasty breakfast scramble. I'm about to finish up this blog post, and then exercise for an hour on the Peloton trainer, before Deborah and I take care of a few household chores (arguably grievances, by definition, but very actionable ones).

I realize I can only lead the proverbial horse to water...but if you boycott SMSM for two weeks and don't see an immediate benefit to your mental, physical, and spiritual well being, leave a comment below. Of course, no one is going to leave a comment below for two main reasons: 1. If anyone is successful at abstaining from SMSM for two entire weeks (or even two days), they will see the benefits and 2. Most people will not be able to abstain from SMSM for two weeks (or even two days), because they are already completely addicted to it (the main source of grievance in their lives).

Also, please note, the AI Algorithms are not fond of my philosophy, for obvious reasons. This post is likely to be buried deep in the ether and not be seen by anyone. For that, I am truly sorry. Because this post is the key to freeing yourself from grievance and living a happy, hopeful, high potency life.

Fin.

Off the Algo Sauce

Hi Dear Readers!

Happy New Year! I hope this blog post finds you and brings you joy, insight, and/or action steps for defeating the Diabolical Forces in the Universe (DFUs).

I didn't tell anyone, but...on Christmas Eve 2025, I started a complete and total social and mainstream media (SMSM) fast. Like HARDCORE. No news media. No Facebook. No anything. I even avoided my usual sociopolitical podcasts (not hard, since most of them went on hiatus for the entire holiday week). It was exhilarating! There was a slight withdrawal period of about two days, with some cravings and a smidge of anxiety. But I was logged out of the apps and since it was a holiday, I had a lot of other fun and positive activities to redirect my mind/body to. I sustained this SMSM fast all the way through the start of the New Year (2026) and I did not check Facebook at all until today (1/1/26). And I only checked it today because my marriage and family therapy business does a lot of its outreach and networking through Facebook and I wanted to quickly scan through and see if anything was actionable (not surprisingly...nothing was!).

Well, I had a pretty decent 2025, largely free from toxic people and drama (most of which only have access to me through SMSM). 2026 looks to be even better. My goal is to fast from SMSM for the entire year, with the exception of the first day of each month, when I'll do a one time scan/purge of Facebook. I'll still listen to my podcasts during Peloton workouts. But those are time limited.

OK, have a good year. Bye!

Fin.