Zero Stars

Second yearly trip to Aspen, and I'm slurring my words. A bout of drink after a 20 mile bike ride up to Maroon Bells from Difficult Campground below Independence Pass. I rolled into town thirsty for the rich and local friends of Hunter. And I met them. A rich dude stole my jacket. So, what else is new... Aspen, where women dress as the Man With No Name and the men are well-coifed with yak toupees.

As I bound up the side of Black Mesa, seeking the highest point in Oklahoma, I breathlessly expound upon Russia. Another high point... witnessing Pussy Riot receiving the Woody Guthrie Prize for bravely pushing back against the fascists with their machines and machinations. At a bar near Cain's, an attendee showed off his haul of Pussy Riot merchandise telling his mates how it was better than seeing Roger Waters. I wanted to chime in about Waters being a Putin apolgist... but I didn't.

Do I speak Korean? Better than you! Probably. Who knows.  The "Bali! Bali! Hurry! Hurry!" attitude which has allowed Korea to become an Asian Tiger in a flash, has also lead to growing pains. Let's just say everything isn't always "up to code" on the peninsula. A department store collapse, the ferry disaster a few years ago, the numerous fires I witnessed, and now this.  Seoul and its surroundings are well-peopled, crowds are common. Protests routinely fill the streets. The police know how to do this. Apparently they weren't around in sufficient numbers. Calls early in the evening were ignored. But, Korean style, the leaders are rightly being blamed. Shame is real the ROK. Leaders are taken to task via the healthy culture of citizen street action. Ironically it will be packed streets, once again, pushing for justice.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if American leaders were forced to take such responsibility? 

Like many monarchs she was named after a boat... and owned all the money? That can't be right, about the money I mean. Can she yet be converted into a floating hotel after her decommissioning? Listen to a harrowing story from abroad about how I was brutally crushed under lese majeste law by one of her Canadian subjects in the early 70s. I was worried I'd die before her. We hardly knew ya Queenie. Blimey, it just occurred to me, I've also known HMS Charlie the Turd my whole life! Now I have to outlive him too? I sure am glad I don't live in a country where someone thinks he is king of me, and is easily insulted, and... 

This one comes out a bit angry.  Am I a rootless cosmopolitan?  Or just another white suburban college boy.  Just a wiseass from nowheresville. An expat brat. 

Recorded Jan 1, 2022. Vintage White Whine. Aged 400 years. What else is new. Civilians who are disobedient for a cause don't bitch and moan before judges and regret their actions. Unless they are doing bad trouble instead of good trouble. Oops! You find yourself on the wrong side of history, darling? How terribly embarrassing. But please don't sob. Own it. Take it like a man. MLK didn't whine from Birmingham Jail, he laid it on the line.  We are winning folks. This is the last gasp of the Me Generation, and Hippies, and rural olds who've benefitted from government subsidies despite their mediocrity, the poor babies. Just smart enough to know how stupid they are, it must be painful. They don't have the words for their complex emotions, so the bolder of them smash heads and "blow coal" (?!). They are owning themselves. Let's just hope MAGA caves in on itself before the zombies get to us. 

My second podcast of 2021. The first was 6 days before the attempted coup d'clown, so I'm getting this one in just under the gun at 11pm in the midst of our first snow of winter. I'd fully intended to do more podcasts, they were as rare as snowfall. I couldn't be arsed. Now you can hear why I think Orson Welles should be in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, because y'know if the likes of Patti Smith can get in there, well, y'know, why not just everybody then!  What's your least favorite Ted Nugent song?

Larry King didn't prep, and nor do I. Unless you count living as preparation. Be partizan! Don't use hurtful words! Listen to Patti

Is an explanation necessary?

Year in Re(ar)view