Kickstarter

Kickstarter is an American public-benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowd-funding platform focused on creativity. The company’s stated mission is to “help bring creative projects to life”. Kickstarter has reportedly received more than $1.9 billion in pledges from 9.4 million backers to fund 257,000 creative projects, such as films, music, stage shows, comics, journalism, video games, technology and food-related projects.

People who back Kickstarter projects are offered tangible rewards or experiences in exchange for their pledges. This model traces its roots to subscription model of arts patronage, where artists would go directly to their audiences to fund their work.

I do like the concept because the art world is always begging and Kickstarter puts a brand of honor on begging. Starving artist no more, stand up and ask for the money for brushes and paint and ballet slippers and oboes and face paint to entertain and enrich the society with culture.

But investors (those folks with extra cash to waste) want a return on their investment. With some it might be the pride of philanthropy or a star on the walk of fame? Maybe it will be a sponsorship of the famous in the tabloids? Maybe a cut in the action so if a show or a tune or a painting becomes prized and profitable?

So think about this, if you will?

Soon it will be tax time. Some accountant is shape shifting the numbers of what the government requires to pay the high salaries and keep the lights on and look like all this cash is going to good places and then presents the Tax Table.

Now government, from what I understand, is people who represent you and me and the guy down the block to find ways of making life better for all of us. If we didn’t elect (vote for) a few folks it would be a madhouse of mass confusing with all our different views.

Someone has to decide how we protect people from eating contaminated chickens or driving over rotten bridges or waging wars to protect our shores from everything but plastic waste. Our bureaucracy has formed a system for balance between the judicial and the legislative and the administrative, whether we like it or not, but it was good enough many years ago so we might as well stick with it.

So some guy or gal with a pleasant smile and a nice suit decides to throw their name in the hat (which is the new form of election) and all the rest hope they will do well by our neighborhood and school and kids and protect us from the meanest.

Then in April 15^th, we are told what that will cost us.

Smarter minds have figured out how many bombs and how many planes and how many buildings and roads and monuments and president monster vehicles and wars and humanitarian assistance will cost and here is the bill.

My question is ‘why isn’t this a Kickstarter?’

Do you want to pay for a bunch of bombs? Kick in some cash.

Do you want to pay for immigration denial? Kick in some cash.

Do you want clean water? Kick in some cash.

Do you want a system of sturdy and safe roadways and rails and regulated transportation of your avocados (see # 2) and IPA brews? Kick in some cash.

 Do you want to employ the folks who don’t have enough talent or motivation to find a regular job and become fodder for generals to continue their games? Kick in some cash.

Do you want to fund psychological and medical care for our heroes? Kick in some cash.

I could go on and on but I hope you get my point. Everything cost money and only those who make money can pay for it. You decide.

Just like when you were young and wanted an All American G-I Joe action figure and your parents said, “We can’t afford that”?

You may not have understood it but you accepted their decision because you didn’t have the cash to overrule them. Frustrated? Tough, that is the way it is (unless you want to borrow the debt).

So our government continues to use the credit card to pay for everything that everyone wants and each party puts a political face on the effort to keep employment up and debt down, you and I pay the cost of the unknown.

How much does it cost to keep a missile silo in Kansas fully operational? How much oil does all those tanks and hummers use? What is the National Intelligence University and what does that cost? 

You and I and the guy down the block are all paying for this. Do we really want to?

Would we rather save the whales and the polar bears and those cute penguins? Lets put some money into hugging trees and windmills like the Dutch and more surfing instead of off shore drilling.

If the government put up a ‘kickstarter’ for more planes or bombs or pipelines or space exploration or caring for the sick or maybe a wall, would you chip in?

Think about your philanthropy habits. Save the little puppies and hopefully keep NPR on the air but how are you about the homeless or the addicted or mentally ill? Maybe the government will take care of them. That is why I pay my taxes.

I can’t think it for you you’ll have to decide, whether Judas Iscariot
had God on his side.

Ghosting Friends

Just read an article about ‘ghosting’ and since ‘friends’ is one of my favorite subjects, why not waste a cold, like really cold snow imprisoned afternoon watching play off teams try to make the big leagues in really, really cold weather to make me feel warmer and wasting your time reading this far.

Ghosting is the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. Benching is just the modern incarnation of what we used to call leading someone on. Part of what makes benching so attractive is its plausible deniability.

Today with all the communication between people not requiring face time, this seems as normal as making a profile on Tinder with a photo of a fashion model and stats that would make Kim leave Kanya. Since I don’t do chatting or Tweeting or whatever other form of shooting out quick quips to entertain the microwave-mind society I can only relate to the theme ‘ghosting’ from past experiences?

If the definition is about breaking up a relationship (friendly or more so) with a tweet or a text or a sad face emoji, then maybe fading away would be better than the harsh reality that you don’t care about the other person’s emotions. Are we that harsh? You decide.

The cars are moving faster now so I guess the roads are getting clearer. If everyone drove the way they drive when the roads are covered in ice, it would be safer for those of us exposed on two wheels but that is just a dream that speed limit is obeyed. Although the temperature is in single digits some of the snow is disappearing. It is so cold it is not melting. The snow is evaporating. A quick buffet fixin’s and all is gone. That makes tomorrow’s decision a bit tougher.

Enough about me, this was about ‘ghosting friends’. My take on that subject are the photos from long ago (before there were selfies and someone else had to hold the camera) with groups of people smiling and looking very happy to be in each other’s company. If they are not family, they are friends. Might be a party or a holiday or a day at the beach with possible schoolmates or team members or just random folks who like to hang out together. As you look at the faces, can you name the people? At one point you were all friendly but times change.

Some go to college far away and some stay home. Some get married while others stay single. Some start families. Some buy houses. Some go to jail.

There are many reasons we lose touch with people we held so dear long ago and still we classify them as friends. Who are we kidding? I’ll let you decide.

The wants and needs change, the amount of money we make and spend, our values and even political affiliations will become evident when we meet again. On re-introduction we do the normal description of job title, housing area, offspring, pets, cars and hobbies.

Other than talking about ‘ole times’ and filling in the gaps to stories each remembers differently, there may not be friendship anymore. It is the normal progression of life. Different experiences can be discussed but without an intense session of ‘who, what, where, when and why’ we can nod politely and ask for another glass of wine. How could that person turn into this person? I’ll let you decide.

Memories fade and a few reminders might jolt a time and place but that was then and this is now. They don’t know who you are anymore than you know them.

Now and then the reconnect clicks and you pick up where you left off. Still it is rough around the edges because of time and space.

Some friends are purposely ghosted because another meeting would be harmful. Maybe the parting was not pleasant or even costly, so why remember? Maybe declare to yourself the face in the picture has departed this life and put a period on the relationship?

Some friends were nothing more than muscle to help you move your overwhelming boxes of books and records or people who sold you dope so you stayed connected with them for another score or some were just people who were in your team or club or band who spent so much time together were named ‘friends’. There were friends who were roommates who you bunked with in a dorm or an apartment, and then there were friends who you could touch and allowed to touch your body. Those were ‘special’ friends.

I’ve been ‘ghosted’ and have ‘ghosted’ (sorry Mr. Bennett. Not sure of the conjunction function). When people moved away and lost touch other than a card in the mail or an occasional visit, they fall off the radar screen. Some people become interested in something that is not your cup of tea so they go their way and you go yours. Some find a new ‘special’ friend and you move down the priority list. Some feel promoted to a different caste and lose interest in former selves. Is this good or bad or just life? I’ll let you decide.

Unfortunately photographic evidence can touch a brain cell to remind you in your dreams why that face was important in your life. Maybe these are our ghosts?

I’ll let you decide.

The television has been placed for viewing if I can figure out all the remote controls, the wine is breathing and the dust has not settled from removing the phone line plug with another one for this evening project. “Walk Away Renee” is on the play list that seems appropriate and the guitar stands ready for some strumming. The snail mail has been thrown away so maybe check one more if any of those ‘friends’ on social media have anything interesting to say. I’ll decide.

 

Day 5: How are those New Year’s Resolutions holding up?

While most of the people I know are snowed in and retired, there are a few poor saps that still have to dig their way out to drive on icy roads in freezing weather to an office or shop to participate in the age old adage known as “WORK!”

Sure they are young and healthy enough to make the effort and besides they still need the paycheck instead of being on the government dole. The lucky ones can work from home and call it a ‘snow day’ but don’t use a sick day. Why waste those unless you fell while shoveling in which case you better have your mother write you an excuse.

It is only day #5 of the New Year.

It is day #5 and some businesses shut down but few can afford that. Restaurants, though pressed with the extra demand of people taking ‘snow days’, make a good profit during the wintery mix. No one who has plodded through the snow is going to fuss over an overpriced alcoholic beverage.

It is day #5 and while other jobs you hope will never close, even on snow days, follow their usual routine and deadlines. You don’t want your house to be on fire because you were lighting candles for warmth and you call 911 and don’t get an answer. I personally feel for those smucks who are out there right now repairing broken water mains. Who knows where that water is coming from and who in their right mind would want to be splashing around in water in temperatures like this, but there they are. Their dedication (and hopefully padded paychecks) is keeping out toilets flushing.

It is day #5 as the wind blows the powder off my roof in the image of white smoke and I notice many in my neighborhood have not moved their vehicles. Perhaps their workplace is closed or they are telecommuting or their kids are staying home from school and instead of leaving them alone to reap havoc on the cat, their better judgment is to stay home and take an unpaid holiday (bosses love those). “Why don’t you get bundled up and make an igloo and some snow angles, then I’ll take you to the doctor?” “You want to help mom bake some burnt cookies while dad watches those naked people on the computer?” “How about you go down to Jimmy’s house and mess with his folks until around 10PM or so?”

It is day #5 and I think about how I used to work for one of those places that never closed. I’d wait for the bus that could go through most snows like a tank or sometimes trudge the five miles to only find an empty office. Even on snow days, a newspaper of some sort would be printed and though distribution was slow but like the mail would always be delivered, bringing the anxious readers a wrinkled and wet newspaper full of last weeks news. The rest of the day was applying all the layers again to repeat the journey home in the dark. Wonder where the boss was?

It is day #5 and I can sit back and enjoy my accumulation of toys and gadgets to entertain myself. Maybe the best part of ‘snow days’ is the quiet. No one is out blowing leaves or cutting the grass. Too cold for nosey neighbors to be yelling over the fences at each other and the dogs don’t want to stay out very long after doing their business spoiling the white blanket.

It is day #5 of the New Year and one will wonder how the resolutions are holding up? Is that goal of exercising and diet fading with binge movie watching under piles of blankets and those huge bags of chips you loaded up with before the storm? Is that extra bottle of wine helping you get more sleep or are you just passing out? Is the vacuum cleaner become a scarf rack? Are those healthy salads are being pushed aside for a giant pot of steamy stews and soups sopped up in freshly baked bread slattered in butter? Not to worry, you never get out of your stretch pants.

It is day #5 and this caged animal has only ventured far enough to feed those less fortunate surviving these temperatures but at least they will have full tummies. Evaluating the stockpile I see I have gotten rid (that means stuffed my face with) all the cookies and sweets given as Seasonal gifts. Last of the year for cookies/cakes/pies is my resolution but time will tell if I get a sweet urge. There are still several bottles of wine that I will rationalize as an alternate for normal exercise. Look, it is my excuse so I’m sticking with it. I think I can stretch out the critter crewe’s food for another day but then Sunday I’ll have to make the ultimate decision. Watch the weather and decide later.

It is day #5 and as I’ve said, when it gets cold (or for any crazy reason) we eat. It the cupboards are full, we will devour until they are empty. How long will it take for the pizza to get here? Since it is too early for supper and already the morning gruel has passed on and as previously noted all the snack temptations are gone what is a po’ boy to do? POPCORN!! Eureka! There is a little popcorn left from when time began and the air popper will force the little kernels to explode into a tasty treat drizzled in some oily mix and a sprinkle of ground sea salt. That will keep my mouth active so I won’t be talking to myself.

It is day #5 and most New Year resolutions (or traditions) have been to purchase a NEW coffee cup, a NEW pen and a NEW toothbrush. I haven’t seen any cups that have enticed the change in over a year, I haven’t seen any pens (and I look for I am a graphic utensil junkie) that looks and feels any better than the one I’m using to write checks and the toothbrushes are at the Tummy Temple three miles away. I guess I’ll put up with the weird grunge embedded in those plastic bushings.

It is day #5 and the sun is shining and the breeze is making the last of the bamboo dance in front of me. Mister heat is blowing hard and the water still flows. Dominion Power (the new name for Vepco) is holding up so I can wander the world and talk (type) to people I don’t even know. Now, about that popcorn….

Cabin Fever

Do you have it yet? You know being stuck inside, no work, no school but hopefully electricity for television and video games.

I went looking for an image to match the feeling of being cooped up inside for multiple days when it is cold as a witches tit outside and found there is some movie or some kind of violent and bloody thing called “Cabin Fever”. Why am I not surprised?

This is day two and I don’t expect to even try to motivate in the world that I can view through my windows until next week. Sunshine and the stock of wine will help to take the sense of desertion away but we can only do so many things to entertain ourselves.

After a day of cooking yummy stuff to fill your tummy and refrigerator and get every plate, bowl, pot and pan in the house dirty, you retire to the sofa to watch mindless shows called entertainment.

Unfortunately cold (unlike hot) gets the fingers numb and dry skin itches and so many layers get bulky. Even the toilet seat is cold.

People call this ‘inclement’ weather. What is this inclement? The Google says it is harsh, intolerable weather. Schools and businesses close down due to inclement weather. What about people? There are some who are harsh, unforgiving, intolerable and just needed to be avoided.

So after looking at the boob tube until your eyes glaze over, you try and find a game or a book or some other distraction of your time cooped up inside.

For some ‘creative’ types this imprisonment is a blessing. There is no better excuse than to focus on your passion without interruption…. Other than let the dog out now and then.

After all the seasonal decorations are put away, this can be a wonderful time to go through those photo albums. Do you even remember the people in the snapshots? What is amazing, if you give it time, is to look at the items of clothing you are wearing and remember the feel of the material. That jacket was too small or that shirt was really a terrible color even in a black and white photo. If you haven’t gone dementia this can be rewarding to figure the time when your parents could afford or not fashionable clothing along with automobiles, sofas, kitchen appliances, etc. Check out your prom photos.

If you are really, really lucky you can be entombed with your family. Not only are your kids bored by doing the same things they would normally do but they also brought home every disease possible from school the day before the snow. Nothing beats family time like battling for the bathroom.

Unless you are drunk or tearing down wallpaper, you turn to the Internet to distract you from your cocoon situation. Emails only go so far and what is ‘fake’ or ‘real’ news, but the DOW is up over 25,000 (that is good if you are making a killing on Wall St.) and the chip in your computer can now easily be hacked by ‘spectra’ or ‘meltdown’ and you can lose all your photos of your kids along with your bank account. You can order some new sweaters that Santa didn’t bring you but the UPS trucks can’t get through the snow either. Maybe an Amazon drone can drop off that Beyonce CD you never really wanted until now. Don’t get too complacent for the Feds want to start cracking down on the states that just want to get high. While your wife is barfing out her guts in the porcelain throne you can quickly switch to those naughty sites your kids linked you to. Listen to some music that you already have on vinyl, cassette, CD, mp3 or stream some boring movie on your 3” phone screen.

If you want to be really creative (term used lightly) film your kids (or dogs) playing in the snow. Everyone wants to see that. Be adventurous and drag your kid on a sled behind your car until it skids on ice and you spend the rest of your day calling your insurance agent. Besides you wife will love you more by spending her evening patching up her bleeding children.

How about writing a book? Everyone wants to write a book and we all think we have ideas everyone wants to read (just like our snow kids movies), but after about an hour and three or four pages, it is time to open that next bottle of wine if you can get your mother-in-law out of the potato salad. “Write a Blog…” you think would be easy. You can show your interest in gardening or sewing or knitting or scrubbing kitchen floors and feel satisfied you have enlightened the entire world. The first post might enthrall you but after a few more hours, it becomes work.

Rationally you could use this time off to do those chores you have be procrastinating on. Maybe a few sit-ups (if you can get down to the floor) or push-ups (if you can get back up off the floor) and maybe a few curls with a beer in your hand. How about cleaning out the microwave?  When was the last time you did that? With the encrusted crud in there you will be back in line for the bathroom. How about going through your cluttered closet and sorting out those lovely reminders that you will never be that size again? Memories are hard to throw away. Try something simple like dusting! No, that won’t work because that leads to sweeping and vacuuming and finding strange items on the floor which leads you into trying to figure out where they came from like some weird NCIS program. How about ironing your socks? That will take about an hour or two and a few band-aids.

If all this stuff starts to bore you as you stare at the walls, start thinking about your taxes. A diversion from any other is reality. It is still January but it won’t be long, so start getting all your papers organized.  What can you deduct? What fees did you pay? What kind of mileage did you get on your old hand-me-down vehicle? Are your kid’s braces really worth it? When did you last get the furnace checked? Can we still afford a gardener and a pool boy? Why does your wife want a new refrigerator when this one you got in college still works fine? Why do haircuts cost so much?

That will snap you back to the real world. Better open that third bottle of wine.

Anyone want to play checkers? Chess? Monopoly? Candyland? Where is the interface?

“Echo, order a pizza” (Wonder how long that will take to be delivered?) How do driverless cars do in the snow?

The dog just ate some of that leftover fruitcake and decided to share it with everyone in the living room. Grandma now has the squirts and the upstairs bathroom. Your kids want to trudge over to their friend’s house to play video games in the middle of the night. Uncle Hugo just called from Florida and said, “It is snowing here”.

Mother has cleaned up the dishes; Fido’s unwanted addition, locked the kids in the closet and opened the window in Grandma’s room.

We both sit side-by-side in front of the fake fireplace roasting our three-layer socks under enough blankets to keep the chill manageable with rosy cheeks toast each other with yet another glass of wine.

Guess what? Tomorrow we get to do it all over again.

Somebody Said The “S” Word!!!!

So the year has started off…brisk. Chilly, as they say has been the forecast for several days so the champagne bottles are in the recycling and whatever reminders of last year went down the alley in a big truck yesterday. Thanks guys!

When the temps stay below freezing, I hibernate. Hibernation is not my forte but if the sun is shinning and it is not raining I will find something to pass the time and not crawl back under the covers.

I will still need to wander out on the frozen tundra to spread a little grub for those who can shop or pick or dig for the abundance and they seem to appreciate it. Also put out some water but it freezes. The attempt is made.

Today as the folks who stand in front of the green screen say, will be the warmest for the week. Making sure this is not some folly to get me outside in the fake weather, I check other sites and watch the number rise. I look out the window at my thermometer that is 10 degrees off but I know that.

Two days of adjusting to four walls, it will be a nice break to get back outside and get some physical exercise instead of just reading. The next few days seems I will be hibernated again but think my stores have been stocked to survive the cold. As long as Mister Heat blows up my pants leg and the H2O doesn’t turn to ice and the power stays on for light and meals, I’ll survive the cold.

If not…? Well I’ve been there before so I might get through anyway.

Once the stated degree meets my expectations, I start the process of layering. Much like the space folks do, there is a regiment of what goes on first and then the next and then the next until I’m the Stay Puff man.

The first outdoor breathe of the forest is not too bad and the sunshine is almost as bright as the past few nights under the full moon. I convince myself to enjoy the movement of stayed body parts noticing the pile of ice from the New Years Eve party dumped in the alley has not melted.

The constant motion gets the mind free of living in spider webs but not everyone is aware. Bundled in thick coats on heated seats the chauffeur’s metal machines still zip through red lights and turn without signals – Be Alert! 

This isn’t a bad ride for the wind is nil and there is no traffic to speak of until I get close to the destination.

The two entrances into the Tummy Temple are covered in ice. I pause and let all the confused drivers find their way before riding around sure disaster. As I tie up my steed I can see the traffic is picking up.

Once inside confirms my fears. It is not ‘ole folks day’ but someone has said the ‘S’ word. All the carts are missing. I weave through the crowd to the other staging area and there are no zippy-do-dah carts that I prefer. I pull out one of the dreadnaughts and steer past a golf cart wiping down with disinfectant wipes.

This cart pulls to the right and feels like pushing a trash dumpster but I’ll make it through. No faces are recognizable but there is some eye candy.

I’d made a list and checked it twice but grabbed more wine than expected due to the little bag they give you to put the bottles in have 6 slots instead of 4. I’d forgotten. There are just so many selections to have with my dinners for the week ahead but will try to stick with local and sweet.

I pick up hopefully enough grub for the family and stake out the assembly lines. It seems everyone got the ‘S’ word memo and the baskets are brimming with sugar, starch, sodium and all that other stuff you shouldn’t be putting into your mouth, especially with the New Year’s resolution of losing weight.

I find my spot in line and wait my turn while bag after bag after bag is filled and then the next bag and bag is filled. Wesley sees me and I say, “You were too busy”. The woman behind me doesn’t understand I’m a frequent flyer.

The bill is a bit more than usual but I got some high-end stuff and it will be the last payment for a week so it all equals out. I make my way back into the air and while packing my bags notice the traffic has gone beyond a hurried flow. The traffic has become the panic parade. You can see it in their faces. You can hear the horns blow. The fear of losing consumption before the possible flakes has taken over.

I calmly wait my turn on the tarmac watching the actions play out. The clouds are moving in darkening the day but still the cold has not been painful. My pony gets me home safe and sound and I reward her putting her in the stall next to her buddy. I announce the ‘banquet is open’ before stacking the stores for the next couple of days. Once inside I see the message got out.

Changing back into my snuggly clothing I pick up the post with coupons to shops I have no idea where they are, insurance for things I don’t have and the ever-present request to hear better. Tonight I will settle down before the big screen and decide what to put in my face to continue life. Some old Pink Floyd will wake the neighbors but it is not dance music.

The next couple of frosty days will be spent doing inside chores except for a brief meeting with an old colleague for he has the ability to drive a mobile machine. It has been many years so I’m sure we will have some good stories to tell.

The rest of the week Puppywoods will be closed. What will happen if the countryside becomes covered in white? The weather is out of my control but let it ‘S-word’ and we’ll find out.

End of Year Report 2017

Another year and another 12 months of rain and wind and snow and heat and sunshine and cloudy and changing shadows and dancing trees has passed at Puppywoods.

·      10 trees cut down and removed.

·      Cut down and ground out a pile of Bamboo and ivy

·      Bird seed 4 lbs. @ approx. 6 a week = 4 x 6 x 52  = 1,248 lbs

·      Peanuts 12 oz (de-shelled and unsalted) x 7 x 52 = 273 lbs.

·      Blueberries @ 4,380 oz a year = 273.75 lbs.

·      BEER 16 oz x 12 x 7 x 52 = 69,888 oz = 546 gal. / 35 kegs

So what else did I do for 2017?

• Had my stove fixed for $ which required thinking and re-plugging after a power outage.

• Two tires replaced and annual pony check-up .

• Take down old fence and put up new fence in the rain but well done.

• Got 4 pairs of shoes (a lot of shoes for two feet).

• Got 5 new windows and the chimney patched. Seems if you feed these buggers they get mischievous.

• Moved all the guitars upstairs and broke two handles in the process.

• Cut up so much wood had to buy another circular saw.

• Also had a rug or two and an electric tiller delivered?

• Bought a hoe but soon realized it was not a big enough hoe so had to walk down to the hardware and buy another heavy duty hoe.

• My 8-year-old phone finally wore out from non-use so I had to get a new one and it was FREE!

• Poured a ton of root rot on the stumps in the yard but will tackle them in the spring.

• For my birthday, bought another guitar. Why? Got to do something special to reward myself sometimes.

• Had to get the electrical connection outside rewired after the grinder cut the cord.

• Transferred a bunch of music from cassette to CDs while clearing out old, tired and stretched tapes.

• Had a battle with the roaches and found they were coming from where the floorboards will be installed. I always win.

• Went to the 50^th high school reunion and was surprised how much I didn’t know about all these kids; then or now. Still it was a good reason to gather some old friends and walk through the halls where I wasted 3-years of my life.

• Got to enjoy the screened porch through the spring and summer nights.

• Got a bunch of ‘nimrodstudios’ t-shirts printed just for a whim. Now I really don’t need any more t-shirts.

• Wore out some more shorts that went into the ragbag.

• Went to a couple of concerts alone and found some new friends to join my party.

• Read some interesting comments on the 1,400+-blog posts but that is ‘Just Another Life’.

• Music for 2017:

Jethro Tull • The Shaggs • David Wilcox • Lewis Ross • Jeff Foxworthy • Tori Amos • Band Aid • The Electric Croude band • Tom Chaplin • Warren Zevon • B-52’s • the Beatles • Tom Waits • Susan Aston & Gary Chapman • The Smithereens • The Sandals • Neil Young • Schoolhouse Rock • The Piano Guys • Them • Julie Driscoll w/Brian Auger and the Trinity • The Animals • Talking Heads • Sufjan Stevens • Herbie Hancock • Robert Fripp • Frank Zappa • OrKestr Percussion • Tommy Tutone • Aretha Franklin • The Dubliners • Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes • Walk the Moon • David Bowie w/Laurie Anderson • Butthole Surfers • Courtney Barnett • Scheila Gonzalez • Grateful Dead • Brookyln Express • Aynsley Dunbar • John Hiatt • David Williams • Todd Rundgren • The Bobs • Ensemble Modern • R.E.M. • Black Sabbath • Max Richter • King Crimson • Ben Folds • Fats Domino • Jefferson Airplane • R.L. Burnside • The Hold Steady • Tash Sultana • Jimmy Herring • Sam Haug • Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band • Leon Redbone • Tom Petty • Peter, Paul & Mary • Billy Joel • Steppenwolf • Rolling Stones • The Doors • Hair • Mark Maysey • Eric Burton & the Animals • Frankie goes to Hollywood • Simon & Garfunkel • Donovan • Country Joe and the Fish • Dropkick Murphys • Bob Dylan & Joan Baez • The Swingle Singers • Don McLean • Lola Blomfled • The Darlings • Supertramp • KT Tunstall • Steely Dan • The Stooges • The Righteous Brothers • John Mayer • John Lennon • Del McCoury • Play for Change • Flo & Eddie • Bill Parsons • The Deep • The Band • Randy Newman • The Mothers of Invention • The Beach Boys • Voyager • Etta James • Emmylou Harris • Jr. Walker and the Allstars • Regina Spektor • Ike and Tina Turner • Vanilla Fudge • Little Feat • The Persuasions • Sylvan Esso • Doug Clark & the Hot Nuts • Dr. West’s Medicine Show • Eddie Cochran • Limp Bizkit • Carly Rae Jepsen • The Drifters • Robert Earl Keen • Joan Osborne • Kraftwerk • Was (Not Was) • Woody Guthrie • The Who • Eddie from Ohio • Lawrence Welk • Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn • Richard Thompson • Dawes • Paul Revere & the Raiders • The Haden Triplets • Joni Mitchell • Anaïs Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer • Ravi Shankar • The Hollies • Jack White • Fun • CSN • The Fugs • The Whiskey Gentrys • The Rutles • John Mayall • Tommi Eckart • Fountains of Wayne • Roger Daltry • The Flying Lizards • Chick Corea & Bobby McFerrin •  David Gilmour • Sheila Nicholls • Alan Holdsworth • Alison Krauss • Klaatu • Neil Innes • John Kay • Chuck Berry • Bishop Briggs • Velvet Underground & Nico • Elgar • Mike Batt • Henry Hall & his Orchestra • Danny Gatton • Carrie Newcomer • Todd Snider • Einstein on the Beach • Meryl Cadell • Led Zeppelin • Pentangle • Peter Gabriel • Keith Richards • John Prine • Elton John •

 

• Books: 1 • Television Series: 0 • Reading: Beyond numbers

The rest of the year was spent with news of an opioid epidemic, wildfires, hurricanes, mass shootings, porch pirates and lots of politics filling the Internet and radio and television. If that wasn’t enough, everyone and their brother wanted to toss their opinions, judgments, bigotry and misogynic comments in. Thousands were fleeing pain and suffering and it was called migration. Immigrates not welcomed here? Sexual harassment allegations popped up suddenly with #MeToo pink hats and figures of fame fell like dominos. Statues erected to the losers were fought from both sides. While the legislators couldn’t decide on the flavor of the day, the courts and law enforcement were busy while localities tried to figure out how keep a delicate economy going and the war(s) drag on.

You say you want resolutions?

• 2018 Resolutions

There are only so many things I can control, so I will listen and read the ‘news’ but try to stay away from bellicose opinions. I’ve cut back on most of my appetite but maybe need to count calories – including comments. More greens and salads could become the daily diet. Those wild splurges of ice cream or cookies are done. Had enough of feeling blotted? The big challenge will be giving up the Silver Bullets. Habits (addictions?) are hard to break but there is little excuse to keep consuming this water as the prices keep rising. That means my other bad habits will have to be put aside for productive activity. These are the same promises we all make to ourselves the beginning of every year but they quickly fail. There is no one else to blame if I don’t (can’t/won’t) accomplish minimal goals. No gym time (learned my lesson there) but can walk more. The hardware store is just the right distance to walk and bring home a bucket of paint. At least that is the idea. Dust off those bathroom scales and put up those big mirrors to remind Santa only comes once a year. Plenty of indoor projects like painting, sanding, sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, scraping, hooks, dusting, banisters, rugs, vacuuming, 3-mo’ windows, floor polishing, and then home decoration and framing. Phew! That doesn’t include what will happen outside after the snow and ice melts. Will my battle with the bamboo win or just be at a truce until I can attack again? Pull up the rotten stumps or have the grinder back? Try out a new painter on a small project and put up some plastic wrap on the dormers to see how that would work on the entire house.

Will any of this happen; time will tell?

Maybe we will go to another war using the BIG BOMBS that might/might not work after 50 years?

Maybe get wiped out by natural disaster, mass shooting or politics?

Maybe a new form of chemistry will wipe us out or maybe some big rock from outer space will drop by leaving us to make oil like the other dinosaurs.

Maybe those rich folks with some extra cash in their pockets will tickle down and pull the country of discontents up by their bootstraps?

Maybe the politicians will listen to the people who elected them (or those who bought them?) and focus on taking care of potholes and homelessness?

Maybe the people will take to the streets and reclaim their rights?

Maybe the different warrior governmental agencies will squash the revolution? Maybe we can become a third world country?

Maybe someone will come out with some new good music?

Maybe there will be a good movie and good writing instead of constant retreads?

Maybe the creative minds will create something more useful than an app to tell us when to brush our teeth?

Maybe it is a new year. Take a deep breath and turn the page. Change a bad habit for a new good routine.

Can you do this?

JustAnotherLife continues…

This will be a decade since I started writing this (crap, journal, therapy, nonsense, obscenity, philosophy or whatever you want to call it).

If you are one of the 200,000 readers you can make your own opinion on my view of life because it is only my view of daily events and experiences.

Some post have been researched and some are just straight stream-of-conciseness.

I’ve appreciated the comments through email and enjoy expanding the subject and even find a different point of view informing.

Looking through the last year (and some previous years) I seem to write repeatedly about certain subjects. These must be forefront on my mind as the years go by.

This year is was:

• Discovery • Winners • Indigenous persons • Fiancée • Mommy • Project Done • Fear • Listening • Obituaries • Alone • Loose Screws • Trash pick-up • Bad guys • Data • Losing friends • Artificial Intelligence • Vetting • Story telling • Contemplation • Decisions • Awards • Gentlemen’s Club • Time • Beatle boots • T-shirts • Sirens • Observer • Trump • Blindness • Debt • Immigration • Parties • Pee • Advice • News • Health Insurance • Trash • Affection • Investigation • Clouds • Mystery girl • Crisis • Bonzo-time • Binging watching • Ah Ha! • Puppywoodspeak • Cynical • Transition • Anti-Life • Drunkenness • Death • Pvt. Salt’s • Walls • Cruelty in Entertainment • Phones • Allegations and Accusations • Brands • Starting Over • Shoes • Sex • Born Again • F**King Beatles • FoMO • Conversation • Lost • Clots • Borrowing • Strangers • War • Daddy • Rain • Emotions • Freedom of Speech • Intellectual Genocide • Adventures • Tummy Temple • Firefighters • Collusion • Collaboration • Health • Heat • Complaining • Paranoia • Blasphemy • Appreciation • Funding • Pathetic • Minority • Statues • What do you know? • Eclipse • Branding • High School Reunion • FREE! • Beau-Beau • Weeping • Jobs • Sailing with David • Beer to the power guy • Mass shootings • Receipts • Escape • Summer • Town Crier • Un-follow • Bystanders • Me2 • Donations • Abstinence • Putting on a show • Off Road • Making Friends • Girl Next Door • Birthdays • Dreams • Lipstick • Lost in Music • Roots • Sleeping • Giving • Alt-Facts • Creepy Christmas • Spooky Santa • Another Creepy Seasonal Tradition • Mo’ Fake News... • Giving • Waking Exhausted • Santa lives in my neighborhood • Learning • Turmoil @ Tummy Temple • December 25 • Brain Freeze • Road Trips • Eating • Great Depression • Garage Band Love • Sensitivity

There are an average of 145 posts per year from lonely rainy nights to frustrated ranting.

These are just the thoughts that many of us probably have but I write them down then post them to the world.

Certainly not all the emotional, psychological, or philosophical thoughts or opinions are worthy of the time reading but they are my summary of a year gone by and my impression of it.

Thank you for reading.