Stories | Remote Control King
This Just Sounds Dirty
Published Dec. 30, 2008
Halley’s Comet appeared when I was nine. It came late at night. I was watching TV on the couch, dozing. There was a big fuss about it; every commercial break, a news anchor would tell us ...
Rain Made a Clown of Me
Published Dec. 23, 2008
Rain made a clown out of me. Not one of those funny clowns, if there ever was such a thing, but rather a sad-faced, hobo clown who forever looks as if his coffee is cold, ...
Shrek You!
Published Dec. 17, 2008
A nation doesn’t leap off of a cliff and fall into chaos; it slides over the course of months. In 2001, Argentina started that slide. By 2002, the price of food had rocketed 200 times ...
Hang in There, Baby Published Dec. 10, 2008
People have called me a “hater” because I’m quick to give my opinion on most everything and usually within my stated opinion the word “crap” ... More Comments (15)
I Am Genghis Khan Published Dec. 3, 2008
I am Genghis Khan. Bill Bryson, in his book A Short History of Nearly Everything, explains how lineage works by starting out: “If your two ... More Comments (2)
Rubber Duck and Ceramic Cat on the Lam Published Nov. 25, 2008
Rocky, my rubber duck, is tunneling out of the bathroom. I know he’s tunneling because upon morning muster and inspection he’s been congenial and respectful, ... More Comments (2)
Lost in Time Published Nov. 19, 2008
Sweet merciful crap! Through means I’d rather not discuss, I’ve managed to transport myself back to the Mesozoic period. The dishwasher and eight-track cassette player ... More Comments (3)
Ollie's Not a Huge Dork Anymore...Is He? Published Nov. 12, 2008
My roommate wandered in while I was watching a movie on TV. We’re still settling into our new place and she was retrieving and placing ... More Comments (2)
The Losers' Future Published Nov. 5, 2008
We’ve focused so exclusively on the election that I’m unsure I’ll know what to do with myself when it’s over. I write this two days ... More Comments (2)
Movin' On Up Published Oct. 29, 2008
It sat there, not ominous or inimical, but mysterious. The TV. I’ve moved in with a roommate to save some money this year and to ... More Comments (6)
Ollie 2012! Published Oct. 22, 2008
George W. Bush is an American hero, and let me tell you why: because if he can make it, anyone can. All it takes is ... More Comments (2)
What to Watch During an Economic Meltdown! Published Oct. 15, 2008
Like a donkey on a tilt-a-whirl, I have no business being in a kitchen. With that in mind, I’m going to share some of my ... More Post a comment
The Palin Analogies Published Oct. 8, 2008
Waiting for Sarah Palin’s appearance at the vice-presidential debates was like waiting for one of those predator crab things to latch onto my face and ... More Comments (15)
The Creepy Factor Published Oct. 1, 2008
Good lord, I need to get out of this slum. While watching TV the other night, a knock came at my screen door. “Does José ... More Comments (3)
The Narcoleptic Dingo Published Sept. 24, 2008
As my superhero alter ego, Narcoleptic Dingo, I plan to attack Washington and Wall Street. Sure, sure, the trio of supervillains, Fedsy McMoneychanger, the Tax ... More Comments (9)
Moron Proves Theory of Natural Selection Published Sept. 17, 2008
Since one of my ex-girlfriend’s ideas of the most fun one could have was to sprinkle red wine about my bedroom floor, I decided I ... More Comments (9)
John's Jowls Published Sept. 10, 2008
Herpes simplex A through Q saw fit to land on my face and create a tiny ecosystem of interconnecting blisters and communities. I’m going to ... More Comments (11)
Celebrity Gossip Edition Published Sept. 3, 2008
I busted my damn foot. I was in ninja school; we were practicing that throw-the-egg-full-of-explosive-powder-down-and-disappear thing when the new guy in the purple sweats disappeared ... More Comments (4)
Obama and Ollie Published Aug. 27, 2008
Obama picked me to be vice president! And I picked Kermit the Frog to serve as my vice vice president, along with undersecretary Michael Phelps. ... More Post a comment
Olympic Issues Published Aug. 20, 2008
Here I sit, hunched over my pad of yellow stickies and pile of inconsequential receipts, my crayon poised in shaking fingers, and I’m livid. I ... More Comments (4)
Donde esta el Wampeer? Published Aug. 13, 2008
Nobody's ever asked the question "What if a vampire and a zombie were trapped together in a sealed room?" Until now. You see, here at ... More Post a comment
Ollie Ewok Published Aug. 6, 2008
I look like the most reviled creature on Earth, and I’ll tell you what it is: an Ewok. If you don’t hate Ewoks, you’re not ... More Comments (6)
The Holiday Edition Published July 30, 2008
Here at Tablecloth Cape Studios we strive to stay ahead of the competition. While other news outlets blather on about sunscreen, we’re going to stuff ... More Post a comment
John Holmes Mysteries Published July 23, 2008
The two most embarrassing elements of my existence are (1) I enjoy girl folk music, and (2) I occasionally wake up, still drunk from the ... More Comments (2)
Al-Qaeda built my coffeemaker Published July 16, 2008
Its internal workings comprise several kludgy elements. Inside it are: the wiring of a movie time bomb that forces my coffeemaker to count down from ... More Post a comment
Go Away, History! Published July 9, 2008
“Que mas?” the girl said, swishing her black hair over her ear. "Que mas?" She turned from me, held her arms above her head, and ... More Comments (4)
Stop! Drop! And Roll! Published July 2, 2008
All through elementary school, my classmates and I were treated to instructions, both live and on VHS tape, detailing what we should do if we ... More Comments (2)
Goodbye, Ol' Girl Published June 25, 2008
Like an elderly pet, my television shows signs of physical and mental decline. And not one of those throwaway pets like a county-fair goldfish; no, ... More Comments (7)
Super Why? Published June 18, 2008
The city is a procrustean bed for man’s wildness. His heart and eyes disfavor straight line and timidity. Children know this. Set a child down ... More Comments (6)
Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance! Published June 11, 2008
Kim Cattrall is a vampire. By night, Kim Cattrall feeds on Hooters girls innocently making out with each other in the parking lot. I haven’t ... More Comments (2)
Chimp People Published June 4, 2008
Some people look like chimpanzees, and that’s the truth of it. I’m not being mean or hurtful. You’ve seen that person who looks like a ... More Comments (3)
A Letter to My Neighbors Published May 28, 2008
Dear Poor People Who Live Next Door to Me, I am dreadfully sorry to bother you, but could you be a little quieter, please. Propping ... More Post a comment
Seinfeld Meets Garfield Published May 21, 2008
Conversation between Garfield and Seinfeld Seinfeld: Hey there, Garfield. Looks like you’re having a tough weekend. Didn’t know you liked the sauce so much. Garfield: ... More Comment (1)
The Drunken Clowns of Vegas Published May 14, 2008
If you’re a complete debauchery amateur, Vegas is racy. Other than that it’s about as provocative as birthday cake. Considering my 20s, gambling, booze, drugs, ... More Post a comment
The Underpants Tablecloth-Caped Avenger Published May 7, 2008
Hold on to your butts, kids! Here comes another installment of...The Underpants Tablecloth-Caped Avenger! Disguised as my nebbish alter ego, Johan Awesome, I patrolled an ... More Comments (3)
An Open Letter to American Babies Published April 30, 2008
An Open Letter to All American Babies:You were born in the United States. You are a human being, so therefore you have the right to ... More Comments (2)
Where the Hell's My Hot Sauce? Published April 23, 2008
The question was, Where the hell is my hot sauce? As with so many little mysteries in my life, the answer is, I’m retarded. Situated ... More Comments (2)
Hair Lip Published April 16, 2008
— May 1, 2000 Not only was I late for work, but my car’s booster engine fouled up. It didn’t explode or anything, it streamed ... More Post a comment
Quick, Who's My Favorite Ninja Turtle? Published April 9, 2008
Bleakness rent my spirit. For days I pinched the bridge of my nose and squinted. I pushed at the inside corner of my eyes until ... More Post a comment
The Statistics Issue Published April 2, 2008
Crowded on the shelf and partially hidden by other books, the bright yellow spine of the stupidest book ever glared out to me, The Complete ... More Post a comment
Almost a Boy Scout Published March 26, 2008
For a long time, the only development project in my neighborhood belonged to a swarm of wasps building a papery hive in the corner of ... More Post a comment
America's Sweatiest Fatties Published March 19, 2008
This is true. I know my reputation for oddball fiction and addled fantasy damages my credibility, but I swear, this is true. A spider and ... More Post a comment
Queen of the Southern Mines Published March 12, 2008
My dad still lives in our hometown of Sonora. Folks call the area different things, depending on what they want to sell you. It’s “God’s ... More Comments (2)
How the Nightly News Should Be Published March 5, 2008
How the Nightly News Should Be: Today, billions of people survived. Of our species, less than one percent was killed, raped, or burglarized. So, don’t ... More Post a comment
Gangland Ollie Published Feb. 27, 2008
I live above a liquor store in City Heights. The store’s sign stands out in the neighborhood, as it’s the only one in English. Across ... More Comments (2)
The Ass Beating List Published Feb. 20, 2008
There’s that old sentiment that the world would be monumentally better off if a list of people received a hefty ass beating. You know what ... More Comment (1)
How We've Started to Suck Published Feb. 13, 2008
In Esztergom, Hungary, I saw for the first time in my life a dioramic representation of how human beings have managed to overthrow nature and ... More Comments (4)
Nemesis Ad Published Feb. 6, 2008
My Personal Ad on an Internet Dating Site: This isn’t for dating. I’m not making this profile to get dates. This profile is to audition ... More Comments (2)
Interview with a Billboard Published Jan. 30, 2008
I Interview the Billboard Down the Street Me: Hey, how’s it going? Billboard: Not bad. It’s been rainy, but I usually get good sun, just ... More Post a comment
Lost Published Jan. 23, 2008
All anybody really wants is to be naked. Well, there are other things that one might want, but “nude” sits — on a towel, one ... More Comments (3)
Kazoo Hero Published Jan. 16, 2008
They may not do it this way down here, but in my little town in the hills, kids slept outside when the weather was right. ... More Post a comment
Hungarian Plumbing Published Jan. 9, 2008
Hungarian plumbers are all great fans of M.C. Escher, I’ve deduced. They don’t just see the artist’s creative works as pleasing concepts but more as ... More Comment (1)
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