What Do I Know? I’m Just a Clown
Sept. / Oct. 2026
Advice from Martin “the Clown” Barry
Dear Clown,
I am writing on behalf of a friend who is in a bad relationship, and I would like to have your advice on what to do. I have known Nicole* since we were 11 years old. She was put to the side by almost everyone in her life. We talked about this often and we identified some of the bad ways she coped with never being a priority. As adults, we both stumbled through relationships, but Nicole would tend to end up stuck in bad places at times and this is her current situation. This guy has her cornered economically, he is extremely insecure and narcissistic, and he tells her to move out every time they have the slightest disagreement. We have discussed this and she wants to leave, but her resources dry up almost immediately. The situation has begun to affect her health. What would you recommend?
Sincerely, Frightened For Her
Dear Frightened,
These situations are never good, and they only tend to get worse. If you have availability, offer her space at your place or assist her with getting her out of this and into a shelter or rental space. Reminder that this is crisis management time and that she can grab essentials to get out quickly. If she has things to move later, this can be handled with law enforcement present. Also bear in mind that your support will be needed until she gets on her feet. It is wonderful that she has a friend like you.
Be safe! Clown
Dear Clown,
A very dear friend died recently, and it has impacted me harder than I had anticipated. I have not been motivated to do much at all and it is bothering me that someone so young could be gone already. This is the strangest time I have ever had, and I don’t know where to start to get away from it. Help?
Sincerely, Mourning
Dear Mourning,
Grief is a monster. The love we have for the person that died now has no place to go and it can damage us. We don’t have a choice in this matter and that compounds the problem. The best recommendations I can offer include making yourself go out and enjoy something, trying something new, leaning on friends and family, and grief counseling. The motivation wall will chip away, and you will feel like yourself again. Just don’t give up.
Keep breathing, Clown
Dear Clown,
If you punch yourself and it hurts, are you strong, or are you weak?
Sincerely, Unyun
Dear Unyun,
Don’t punch yourself.
Sincerely, Clown
Dear Clown,
My job has adopted an AI enterprise platform, and I am resistant to use it due to what has been going around about data centers and water usage. So far, only one division of our company has made AI use mandatory. If possible, I would like to avoid using this altogether. What would you advise?
Sincerely, Human Tech
Dear Human Tech,
Your feelings on this are valid. Early data suggests enormous depletion of freshwater sources for data centers. The strangest thing about this is that AI only functions based on what we have learned and recorded and it takes less water to hydrate humanity. Many people are not fans of the derivative work that these programs put out. If you are able to get involved in the deployment and responsible use of these tools with your company, it may soften the blow a bit. If you are in a situation where this is an inevitable wave coming your way and you do not want to be part of it, you may wish to seek alternate employment.
Written by a human, Clown
Do you have a question for the Clown? Write him at [email protected]
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