“Life Is A Catch-22 Problem” (A Prose Poem)

by Anton Martin Smith antonmartinsmithwrites@gmail.com

The problem with being an intellectual, be it faux or otherwise,

Is that you can’t but help be trapped into negative thinking.

This is because ‘intellectuals’ want to understand ‘The World’,

Or should I say Need to understand The World –

And,

If you haven’t already noticed,

The world always but always, has a lot more problems than solutions.

This is why all in all, having ‘brains’ is far more of a curse than a blessing.

Yes – ‘The Garden of Eden’ orientation is correct:

Ignorance is (for all us distant dystopians) unfortunately – bliss.

Yes – ignorance of the unnecessary is natures ‘go to strategy’.

So – should we should ‘act dumb coz that’s natures leaning?’ – I hear you ask?

Well, that’s a tricky one – as ‘Nature’ is also often a beast in itself –

It will happily sacrifice the few for the good of the many –

With no tears shed.

Our indulgence in the unnecessary is why, by 2025, the only ‘true thing’ happening here on Earth is:

THE FABLED ‘CATCH 22’ Scenario – summed up with this dictum –

“You’re damned if you do & you’re damned if you don’t”

Now I could tell you the real solution to this – & forgive the vulgarity – this very “poopy sandwich” –

But then again, my latest money scamming psychiatrist has diagnosed me as ‘anally retentive’* –

And the prior souless shrink before that one also diagnosed me as ‘a narcissist’ –

And the one before that as a ‘compulsive liar’.

So I will respect their judgement –

So I’m not going to contradict those fine-living parasitic assholes, & tell you the answer to the aforementioned,

Life is a Catch 22 problem’.

But I will tell you what my suddenly retiring fourth-last-dodgy-money-grubbing-psychiatrist told me in my & his & my last session:

“You’re on your own buddy”**

With this casual undiagnosticly inclined in-passing phrase, he was inadvertently the only shrink ever who had ever told the truth, in the history of psychiatry.

And now my friends this prose must end unsatisfactorily –

But luckily, as always the only one who suffers is the reader/listener –

I the writer will scoot by the seat of my pants as always, & end up reaching for a well chilled beer from the fridge.

& Amen to that!

*This topic of anal retentiveness makes my mind wander – I wonder if it’s acceptable for a plumber to speculate on a customer’s bowel motions?

**This line should be said in a weird American accent.

P.s. I apologise for this bastardry, so badly disguised as a poem. All those cranks I’ve been seeing must be rubbing off on me. But I guess I should take that as a compliment.

“T-rugby or more simply – Trugby” (A Humorous Idea/Blog Post)

“T-rugby or more simply – Trugby” by Martin Anton Smith

I have a new idea “Tea Rugby”. It’s like normal Rugby, but at any moment a player can say “Tea!”. After the cry of “Tea” then play immediately stops & a very big Tea urn is brought out on wheels to where the last play was. The players then have cups of tea handed out to them (in order of total caps played). After the last man finishes the last bit of tea, play resumes with the players returning to their same individual spots as when the cry of “Tea” first went up. It’s kind of a twist on the Basketball “time out” – this is a “Tea out”. The English will love this new idea!

P.S. The amount of “Tea Outs” is only limited to the total tea that is on hand at the particular venue of that particular game.

P.P.S There will be a prize for the player with the “least dirt on his jersey”, & another for the player that “touches the ball the least”

P.P.S If the Tea runs out mid-pour for any of the players, this means it is a “free for all” & whichever team/player gets to the ball first (which is placed at the last point of play) can use it to score a try – with no regard given for the former player positioning when “Tea” was called.

”Use The Sauce, Luke” (a skit)

by Martin Anton Smith

New Star Wars Movie!!!!!

I heard their is a new Star Wars movie (My very own spoof idea, in fact) where it has an alternate timeline.
Luke decides to not ever join the Jedi’s, & despite Yoda & Obiwan’s pleas, he decides to flip burgers for various transiting aliens (the Naboo etc) on the planet called Mos Isley.

The movie is called “Use the sauce Luke”. It culminates with Yoda & Obi-wan agreeing to stop harassing Luke at the Drive through window, & the also agree to quit the Force & work with Luke at the Drive Thru.

Here is a snippet of the proposed script:

Obiwan: Use the sauce Luke!
Luke: That’s what I’ve been doing all year dummy!
Yoda: Hot Pink Uniforms, great they are!
Luke: I thought I’d got rid of you guys!
Obiwan: Fair enough – You tired of us…but we got lonely! We ain’t as tough as we make out!By the way…how is your Father?
Luke: Pretty good, he owns the Franchise – but now he calls himself “Darth Feeder”
Yoda: ha ha ha Funny you are Master Luke!
Luke: Their ain’t nothin’ funny about the Galactic Burger Biz Yodes!
Obi-wan: Luke Are you sure your not “using too much of the sauce”?
The scene ends with “Darth Feeder” walking in breathing heavily, taking his helmet off & handing out overtime slips to them all & cursing the drunk aliens tha come into the drive thru after the alien bar closes.


(End scene )

“The Canberra Jobseeker Bites Off The Correct Amount He Can Chew” (Political Satire)

by Martin Anton Smith

Jobseeker: I’m looking for a new role

Recruitment Officer: Ham or Cheese

Jobseeker: No I want a job, that’s why I’m here!

Recruitment Officer: But Isn’t eating tasty food better that working?

Jobseeker: How did you get a job as a Recruitment consultant?

Recruitment Officer: I’m moonlighting as a Caterer; we can talk jobs later – so I can sell you a Ham for $5 or a Cheese for $7

Jobseeker: But I have no money – that’s why I need a job!

Recruitment Officer: If you buy a sandwich, I’ll give you a job.

Jobseeker: If you give me a job, I’ll buy a sandwich.

Recruitment Officer: Ok Ok – your job will be in Food Prep

Jobseeker: Ok I’m desperate – I’ll do it – when do I start?

Recruitment Officer: Right now – make a Cheese & then a Ham Sandwich, pay is $1 per sandwich.

Jobseeker: Done can I have my two dollars?

Recruitment officer – yes here it is (pays them).

Jobseeker: Thanks this is a move in the right direction.

Recruitment officer: Ok now to complete our bargain – here are the two sandwich’s, $12 dollars please.

Jobseeker: But I only have the $2 you paid me to make them both!

Recruitment Officer: True – & that’s why I am prepared to offer you a $10 ‘Sandwich Mortgage’ at very reasonable rates!

Jobseeker: This is all just a giant Scam isn’t it! Where are you morals you shyster!

Recruitment Officer: Welcome to the exciting new world of work in 2024! Sorry what’s that word you said – Morals? Is that a new type of sandwhich?

Jobseeker: Man – I’ll never try to get a job for the Australian Treasury again! I never knew this is how you make your surpluses!

Recruitment Officer: Let’s just say “Sandwich-o-nomics” has been a fantastic fiscal policy ever since Keating left office!

Jobseeker: Damn – I should have known we were still stuck in the Howard Years!!

Recruitment Officer: Sadly this is true – & you Australian battlers have been screwed like mad! The good news is “Sandwhich-o-nomics” has allowed Canberra Politicians to cream it!

Jobseeker: You charlatan…you swindler…you…you….snake oil salesman!

Recruitment Officer: Do you need some? We sell it at the Parliament doors 100% quality Snake Oil as pressed by the aging John Howard himself!

Jobseeker: hmmm…desperate time call for desperate measures…Do you have any Keating snake oil – that stuff might actually work!

Jobseeker: Hey hey hey – what do you think this place is? A free market? This is Howard era ‘Sandwhich-O-nomics’ my friend – competition is not needed wanted or desired!

Jobseeker: ok ok – give me the Howard snake oil then.

Recruitment Officer: Ok it’s $10 per bottle

Jobseeker: Do you take sandwiches as currency? Thanks to you, that’s the only way I can pay you.

Recruitment Officer: Man you’re really getting into the swing of Sandwich-o-nomics” – I feel a surplus coming on!

Jobseeker: I would protest but this Aussie Battler has had their life squeezed out of them!

Recruitment Officer: haha Sandwich-o-nomics strikes again!

Jobseeker: Can I have a loan?

Recruitment Officer: Sure first just squeeze this snake’s oil into this bottle & sign this document.

Jobseeker: That better be a real snake.

Recruitment Officer: In Sandwich-O-nomics nothing as guaranteed.

Jobseeker: Oh brother!

Recruitment Officer: Yes we can recruit him too!

Jobseeker: Where is the door?

Recruitment Officer: Under Sandwich-o-nomics there are no doors – only windows.

Jobseeker: So ‘Sandwhich-o-nomics’ has really got me screwed 100% no matter what I do!?

Recruitment: It’s a beautiful system – now excuse me I must pray 3 times on the hour to the grand Poobah of Sandwich-o-nomics

Jobseeker: Is that John Howard?

Recruitment Officer: Are you angling for a promotion?

Jobseeker: Have you got any jobs making antique watches?

Recruitment Officer: Yes – but it’ll cost you 3 months salary.

Jobseeker: Who do you think I am? Paul Keating?

Recruitment Officer: I thought you were him! That’s why made all this crap up!

Jobseeker: Shhh don’t tell anyone….I’m here to secretly scuttle the AUKUS deal

Recruitment Officer: Sorry I don’t sell those deep-sea sardines in brine water.

Jobseeker: Oh good I’ve already won! that was easier than i thought! I retire forthwith!

Recruitment Officer: I will remember you always! Lets celebrate! Ham or Cheese!

Jobseeker: Cheese please – I’m not one to ham it up!

Recruitment Officer: Touche!

“Let Me Introduce To You The ‘Yoinkdollar’ “(A Poem)

A Poem By Martin Anton Smith martinantonsmith@gmail.com

The Yoinkdollar Is Not A Crypto Scam

The Yoinkdollar Is Not A Currency Per Se

The Yoinkdollar is Not A Precious Metal

The Yoinkdollar Is Not An Electronic Transfer

The Yoinkdollar is Simply An Expression

Of How Some Honest Lucrative Normal Money Was Made

More Specifically the ‘Yoinkdollar’, As I Have Coined It

The Yoinkdollar Is Associated With Good Luck Or Windfall

And In Its Wider Definition Also Involves Physical Theatrics

It Therefore MUST Be Only Involve Cash Payment

As Theatrics & Eletronic Payments Don’t Tend To Mix Well.

You Definitely Cannot Say “Yoink” To A Computer Screen

Some Wag Might Call The Yoinkdollar

An Instance of getting ‘Easy Money’

I Would Disagree And I As The Creator Of The Term

I Would Say The Yoinkdollar Is At Base This:

The Nexus Of Good Trade, Good Luck & Good Comedy-

Let Me Explain Further Detail My Good Fellows

Who Have Gathered Here Today In Your Multitudes

To Learn Some Exciting “Yoinkdollar Theory”

Let Me Now Continue This Spritely Informative Education

Yes The Yoinkdollar Is A Lucrative Trade BUT

The Trade Is Done In the Real Economy

That Of Creating NEW Goods & Services

Thus, It Has A Large Egalitarian Component

The Simplest Way Is A Simple Real World Example

For Example: I Did The Dishes For Old Lady Doris

It Took Me 10 Minutes She Gave Me 20 Bucks

That My Friend Was The Earning Of 20 Yoinkdollars

Oh And I Forgot To Mention ‘Yoinkdollar Etiquette’

When The Goods Or Services Have Been Delivered

And The Cash Has Beed Handed Over By Doris Or David

It Is Good Manners For The Yoinkdollar Earner To Say

“Yoink”

At The Exact Moment The Cash Hits The Entrepreneurial Palm

And This Must Be Done In A Friendly Cartoon Character Like Voice

To Not Do So Is Very Bad Manners For the Yoinkdollar Trader

It Is Akin To Going To Turkey & Not Having Cup of Tea

Or An English Breakfast Tea In Ye Olde England

Or It Is Like Drinking Earl Grey Tea & Not Knowing

That Bergamot Is The Key Flavonoid

And Now This Lecture Is Over

Thankyou For Listening To My Poem Slash Exposè

On the Soon To Be Almightily Popular “Yoinkdollar”

Do Try It AT LEAST Once – It’s A Lot Of Fun.

You’ll Help Make Goodness Bloom Aplenty

Earn It Freely & Don’t Forget To Say “Yoink”

When Cash Is Tendered & Hits Your Outstretched Palm

Do Try It AT LEAST Once – It’s More Than A Lot Of Fun.

“Breaking News: “Sir Squeeky” The Cat buys Crazy Crunchy Catfood Co. for $30M” (Podcast Transcript incl. Poem)

Welcome To The Baby Wants Its Bottle Poetry Inc, a creative project by Martin Anton Smith, a NZ based creative. In This episode a ” funny I hope” Prose Poem, inspired by my 3 year old Tortoiseshell cat , Squeeky – who is quite the naughty character, and quite the bon vivant. The poem takes the form of a ‘breaking news’ broadcast. Without Further ado, lets begin!

“Breaking News: “Sir Squeeky” The Cat buys Crazy Crunchy Catfood co. for $30M

“Sir Squeeky Wallows” the Eccentric and Highly Intelligent BusinessCat,

Has Announced That After A Hostile Takeover,

He Is Now The Majority Shareholder And CEO

Of the ‘Crazy Crunchy Catfood Inc.’

In His First Comments To The Market, He Announced

“My First Action Will Be Purrrr- fect Quality Control.

I Am Injecting Myself Into The Frontlines of the Business,

As the Top Brass and Singular Taste – Tester.

I Will Taste Test Every Single Biscuit Catfood Item,

That Rolls Off The End Of Factory Conveybelt.

This will Last Until Quality Standards Are Significantly Raised.”

Initially This Commitment to Quality Testing Was Positively Received

By Wall St, With Cat stocks Immediately Rising 59% on The Meow Jones Index,

Leading Market Commentators To Predict A “Bull Run” in Catfood Stocks.

However, This Boom Was Shortlived,

As It Soon Became Apparent That All Factory Supplies of Crazy Crunchy Catfood Inc,

Had Been Taste Tested For A Continuous Two Week Period,

Leaving No Factory Supplies Available to Its Retailers and Customers.

Now The Workers at Crunchy Catfood Are Revolting, Very Revolting.

And The Share Price has Plummeted some 90%.

We Tried To reach CEO Sir Squeeky Wallows for Comment,

However His Also-A -Cat Spokesman, Ms Tabitha Scratch,

Said Sir Squeeky Wallows, “Was Still Busy Quality Taste Testing”.

She Added, “This Was Simply For The Benefit Of The Long Term Major Shareholders”

She Also Stated Sir Squeeky Could Not Take A Direct Phone Call From Us,

As He Was Now So Fat, He Could Not Get His Bloated Paw

Into His Tightly Stretched Suit Pocket, Where His Cell Phone Was Now Permanently Stuck”.

And Besides This, Ms. Tabitha Scratch Continued, “He Could No Longer Fit Through The Factory Doors,

And Would Now Require A Forklift And The Removal Of a Wall,

Just To Leave The Factory”.

When We Asked Ms. Tabitha Scratch If The Company Would Soon Be In Liquidation

She Became Aggressive with Expletive Laden Words about Needing “Tasty Tasty Milky Liquidly Goodness Immediately”,

And When We Further Suggested The Crunchy Cat Company Had “Gone To The Dogs”,

We Heard Sir Squeeky’s Voice Caterwaul From The Backround:

“I’ve Given 8 of My 9 Lives To Be In This Position, and I wont Stand Idly By,

And Listen To False Media Dog Whistling”.

That’s When The Line Became Far Too Scratchy, and We Hung Up.

We Here at The Scratch Post News, will Kept You Updated On This Developing Story,

When More Updates come to Paw, er I mean Hand.

End Of Poem

Thankyou for listening to the Baby wants It’s Bottle Podcast, A creative project by Martin Anton Smith, a NZ based creative. This podcast is available on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.

Published by Martin Anton Smith creations ltd (NZ) © All Rights reserved. No Commercial Use or Commercial Public Broadcast Allowed Without Written Permission. Non Commercial/Educational Broadcast is Freely Encouraged.