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By Flipline_Tony, February 20, 2026 1:05 pm

Vol. I: Issue 009                                                                                             February 20th, 2026

During the Chicken Wars, a lot of big name chicken sandwich shops shutdown, leaving one standing at the top, Papa’s Cluckeria. But empty storefronts were not the only collateral damage from that era. Three robotic employees from Mortadello’s Bird Meat were left without a home and without a job to do.

Those orphaned BotWursts were taken to the Gurth’s only robo shelter, DeFragness, over in Oilseed Springs. And lately, a lot of you have been asking the same question. What happened to them?

So I took a trip to Oilseed Springs to find out. After a full tour of the facility, I sat down with the director and got answers. Then I got an even better surprise, I met the BotWurst trio themselves. They’re going by new names now, Oneita, Twoodles, and Kirk. I spent a good hour talking with them, and I will tell you this, despite the cold metal exterior, they were down-to-gurth and genuinely fun to be around.

They told me they’ll be staying at DeFragness for three more months before heading out on their own. They are excited, but also a little nervous about life outside the shelter, and that makes sense. It’s a big leap, and they know it.

When the day comes that these three walk out into the world, I will be there with a helping hand and to bring you the real update from the ground, because Duke’s Gotcha covered!

Hiya friends!

That is so sweet, I really loved that update, Duke. Speaking of sweet things, I want to thank whoever the thoughtful mystery person was who sent a box of chocolates to my desk on Saturday. It absolutely made my day, and yes, I shared. A little. Hehe.

Now, onto the weather for Scrapple Hill: a chilly mix Saturday (39 and 22) turns into snow Sunday, stays cold Monday in the mid 30s, then we get a little break Tuesday and a sunnier bump Wednesday near 42 before more wintry chances roll back in late week.

So, keep the cozy plans ready, watch for slick spots early in the week, and grab that Wednesday sunshine if you can.

The Mumph here, and this one was all Steamers. New Pepperton rolls Whiskview 5 to 1 at Griller Stadium. Winner, New Pepperton. MVP, Robards.

Steamers led 2 to 1 after one, blew it open to 4 to 1 after two, then closed it out 5 to 1. Robards ran the show from the right side with clean breakouts and quick transition play for a multi-point night. Ristrell and Frotham kept the pressure on with long possessions, and Tamplin’s gap control and first passes kept the attack coming in waves. Whiskview got a little spark from Pippard, but New Pepperton took away the middle late and Cremins stayed calm, giving up just one.

And the way Robards kept turning Whiskview’s rushes into Steamers chances, holy smokes, it was like watching Kasey O deliver her devastating tilt-a-whirl slam.

My two cents, this was a complete win, and the Steamers carry real momentum into the showcase..

Hello out there!

Yesterday on my lunch break, I did what I usually do, I took my sandwich and went for a walk to clear my head. I was cutting down Galleria Drive, then slipped into my usual back alley shortcut on the way back to work, the kind of alley most people pretend does not exist. That is where I found something I was not expecting.

Four paintings, arranged along the cinder block wall like a gallery that never asked permission. Each one enormous, roughly eight feet tall and four feet wide. At first glance it looked like somebody had hung framed pieces back there, but then I stepped closer and realized the frames were part of the trick. The art was painted directly onto the wall, and what looked like hand carved wooden frames had been nailed into the block to sell the illusion. Not cheap scribbles. Not random tags. This was deliberate. Someone took time.

The portraits were of solitary figures walking past those frames, people you would pass every day without looking up, without slowing down, without remembering. The figures were haunting and beautiful, built with a four color stencil style that made them feel both simple and impossibly alive. It did not feel like an artist asking for attention. It felt like an artist forcing us to notice the ones we are trained not to see.

I stood there for ten minutes, finishing my lunch, completely transfixed. Then a police officer arrived and asked if I was the perpetrator of the vandalism. I told him no, and then I made the mistake of asking the question I already knew the answer to. Were they going to keep the paintings up?

He said, “Not a chance. We’ve got a crew on the way to cover this up.”

I will not pretend I handled that well. I told him people needed to see them, even if it was only for a few more days. He shook his head, waved me off, and started stringing up caution tape across the alley like a curtain coming down.

I do not know who the artist was. I only know I would like to meet them. And for those of you who are curious, I posted the photos I took on my HeadCase page, because the paintings have already been painted over, right on schedule.

And that’s The Scoop.