Record of the Month

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there!    

I didn't have any new music for January. Well, I mean, I could have had I known about Lone Justice's "new" record. 

Yes. Quotations. 

Technically, Lone Justice hasn't had a new album out since 1986. Their output was limited - only two albums in quick succession. 

The band was branded as Cowpunk, which is somewhat apt. They were a ragtag collection playing rough traditional-ish music, who ended up with a slick producer and a record company mandated cover of an established artist's song. As their producer, Jimmy Iovine, was also producing Tom Petty, well, that's how they got their first single, "Ways to be Wicked". 

Still, in mid 2024, with zero fanfare (since there probably only 9.023 people alive who still know of the band) Lone Justice released Viva Lone Justice. 

The songs are not new. Most of the recordings are not new. Well none of the originating tracks are or were. 

There are a few from cassettes (!) when the band was new and very raw. These are cleaned up a bit with 21st century technology. As Maria McKee, the lead singer, did some work here and there with former band members in here solo capacity, one contributed to music on her disk You Gotta Sin to Get Saved (which is a great album, btw). 

But there was some unused music that didn't make that record. The Lone Justice members who were not part of those You Gotta Sin sessions added their parts on separately making it a band product. 

Viva starts with one of those songs, "You Possess Me".  It's sparse musically, but McKee's vocals shine, which is the point of this track. 

Then the tracks change to what I'd consider a vocally challenging would-be holler song with "Jenny Jenkins".  You'd have to love the outliers in Lone Justice's repertoire to appreciate this. 

Actually, that is true of the rest of the disk. There is no slickness of the first track or their first two disks. This is raw. Equal parts Cow and Punk. 

They band does a live version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You".  It is fine but not superlative, like it could have been. 

With Viva Lone Justice, you get 10 "new" songs that run less than a half an hour. 

It was an interesting experience and I'm glad it is out, but I don't see many replays. 

Money (That's What I Want)

We are not supposed to buy anything tomorrow.  

Well, liberals or people mad at the new administration are not supposed to spend a dime. The internet says so. 

This is a way of economically - and very temporarily - crippling establishments that support BLOTUS and his ilk, and for those who have reversed their DEI policies. 

There are lists out there of whom not to patronize.  

To make it easier, don't purchase anything from anyone tomorrow - it's not that difficult. Or should you, make sure it is an independent or local store. 

I mean, if it's "KKK Chicken" or "Aryan Cleaners" (we get your whites really white), you might want to skip those. 

But not making a purchase for one day isn't really all that difficult. Pack a lunch. Make your own coffee. 

To make this longer lasting, start shopping differently. That is our plan.

It is super easy to cut out things like Wendy's and McDonalds. No doubt it is better for our bodies as well. I rarely go to Target, but can find Tylenol and disposable razors elsewhere easily enough. We never use Walmart or Hobby Lobby. I'm not buying a Harley, so problem solved there. I don't fly much anymore, so dinging some airlines isn't tough. 

Ditching things like Proctor & Gamble is more difficult. They are such a large conglomerate who owns so many things and distributes so many products, it is a little tricky to not use them to some degree no matter where you shop.

With enough planning I can certainly minimize utilizing amazon. Getting rid of it for good is tough - they've made it tough. We've made it tough. 

And I'm ok with this hurting all their businesses, as their corporate values are based on the greenback dollar. Maybe their stock price dropping due to sales projections will make that more of a threat than the government threatening them if they continue DEI practices. 

Don't get me wrong - they dropped their DEI shit because it was a program that wasn't revenue generating to them. But like 2016, there is a man in charge (well, men) who make it easy to hate and where you don't actually have to wear your white hood anymore. They're all hypocrites. 

Back to sales projections. One really big day will be bad for a quarter report, but that's about it. Should things just resume, it's a blip. 

ALLEGEDLY, people are saying that Target has lost $14B since their termination of DEI.  I'm calling bullshit. 

If their annual report is real, in 2023 Target had $107B in revenue. All revenue - including investments. To lose $14B since January 2025 seems highly unlikely.  However, if that is projected out over 3-5 years that number might be correct.  

MIGHT. 

And there are ways to course correct that 10% supposed loss too over that 3-5 year period. Close a few stores, cut staff.  Boom. You're done. 

But either way, I'm not sure I believe the internet on the $14B number. I'd need hard data on that. 

Sustaining the hurt is actually the only way it hurts. Even if I can do a little part - hopefully if nothing else, it will be better for the small businesses I will try to utilize. 

Song by: Flying Lizards

Cooking with Blobby

Again, maybe this should be more of a food blog. I'm not sure I could keep up with new recipes though. 

We have salmon once a week - usually Mondays. I'm not really tired of it, as you can prepare it different ways, well to a degree. But I thought it would be nice to try a different kind of fish. 

Normally, that is tilapia because it's pretty forgiving now matter how you make it. While 710 is too nice to say it, I don't think he enjoys tilapia, so I'm going with cod. Baked cod at that. 

Fish - unless you're doing horribly elaborate, is pretty easy to make. Yes, overcooking does it no favours, but that's true of lots of proteins. 

Ingredients 

Yield: 4 servings 

4 (4- to 6-ounce) skinless cod fillets  (I used two 7oz fillets, as my fishmonger thought it better)

Salt and black pepper 

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley or dill (or 1½ teaspoons dried) 

1 tablespoon minced scallions or chives 

1 medium garlic clove, minced, or ½ teaspoon garlic powder 

1 small lemon 

Preparation 

Step 1 Heat the oven to 400 degrees. 

Step 2 Pat the cod fillets dry with a paper towel and place them in a baking dish large enough to hold them without crowding. Season all over with salt and a few grinds of pepper. 

Step 3 In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, parsley, scallions and garlic. Zest the lemon over the bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons) and mix well with a fork. 

Step 4 Brush the herb mixture all over the fillets, turning to coat on both sides. Squeeze half the zested lemon over the dish, then cut the remaining lemon half into wedges. 

Step 5 Bake until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork, 14 to 18 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the fillets. Spoon the juices over the fish and serve hot, with the lemon wedges alongside.

It was all fine. A little underwhelming to me, though 710 really liked it. Perhaps the filets were under seasoned (i.e. salt).  I always under use salt, but in this case, I think it needed it. I almost never salt things on my plate, but I did this. 

I think I over herbed too, but I don't think that overpowered anything. I think I should have squeezed more out of that half a lemon than I did. But overall the sauce tasted good. Perhaps using butter instead of olive oil? 

And the cooking time was more than 18 minutes. Perhaps the filets were too large for that cooking time. 

I'd try again, but play around a bit more. 

Site of the Month

.....kind of. 

Yes. Soft White Underbelly has a website, but at a subscription cost of $10/month. I think we all know how cheap I am, so.......that isn't happening.  

The site bills itself as "people who are frequently invisible in society—the unhoused, the sex worker, the chronic drug user, the runaway, the gang member, the poor and the sick".

All (or at the very least, a lot) of the interviews done are on YouTube. 

Jack - the guy to your left - popped up in my YouTube feed and I'm shallow enough (and honest enough) to say his looks are what got me to click play. 

His segment was just called Long Road to Redemption. I had no idea what I was really clicking on. 

What I really had no idea was what rabbit hole it would take me down. 

The "invisible to society" thing goes a lot deeper than what Soft White Underbelly lists in their short bio. It's quite the range and to be frank, not easy to get through some, and some not at all. 

The interviewer, Mark Laita, treats each interviewee with dignity and respect and asks seemingly not so deep questions (most of the time) that elicit some pretty raw and revealing stories. Some are half hour segments, some well over an hour. Some are multi part videos or follow-ups over the years. 

Yes, years.  

There are hundreds of these videos on YouTube (at no monthly charge). 

I feel like I have watched a lot, but I haven't even remotely scraped the surface. Honestly, there are only so many you can watch before needing a break. 

One thing that stands out is what is usually the first question: "what was your childhood like?".

The majority start off by saying {paraphrasing} "it was very normal......" with some additional notes. But then they will tell somethings that are very much not 'normal', but in a way to a lot of these folks, it is their normal - or what they've come to see as normal. 

I am not a psychologist (though I have one!) or sociologist, but in their own way, they are extremely fascinating.  .....just pace yourself. 

My Music Monday

Ahhhh.....the unofficial beginning of the week. 

I'm still pulling new music. I'm going on record that most of you might not enjoy today's selection, but I think it's important. 

A little over a week ago, Macklemore released a new song, "fucked up". 

I listened to it on the iTunes and last Sunday during our weekly call, we discussed it a bit. 

I think Jon and I were the only ones to hear it. Well, I heard it. He saw it. At that point I had not seen the accompanying video. 

The discussion, as short as it was, brought up the fact that, at least in the white music world, there currently aren't a lot (if any) protest songs. This isn't the 60's or early 70's, yet the threats we now face are arguably more important that what was sung about then. 

It could be argued that through the decades there are dozens of protest songs in rap music, but Gaga singing "born this way" is more declarative and not really much else. 

Macklemore straddles this line though right? The list of successful white rappers is basically the front section of a pamphlet. 

Admittedly, I own none of his music, but I like him as the artist and him as the person. He's a gay ally. He publicly struggles with his sobriety and is very human about it all. So, when he releases a protest song - my ears prick up. 

Yours should to. 

I don't know Macklemore's reach, demographically speaking. His output is limited to two collaboration disks with Ryan Lewis and two solo disks. And with a title like "fucked up", I don't know what XM radio (I'm guessing you can forget FM) does with that. 

The message is important and hopefully it reaches some ears that help pick up the cry. We need all voices for what is happening right in front of us. 

Due to age restriction, you can go directly to YouTube here. 

Ice

Dr Spo calls Michigan "the Land of Perpetual Snow and Ice".

One could argue that Cleveland is the same. I mean, there is only a lake separating us - and at the far western corner of the state, not even that.  

Where I went to the first half of kindergarten, it's been told that while the school was in Ohio, part of the school playground resided in Michigan. But I don't claim to me a Michiganander - or whatever they're called. 

Yesterday, on this the 173rd day of February, it was more of the same. 

Oddly, no new snow or ice, but no warmth either. The blue sky is just a ruse. Lake Erie is 90% covered in ice. This what I call "Hoth in Summer".   

Yesterday's a.m. run was cooooooold. 14°F. Felt colder. The plan was to run south but the paths were bad, allegedly, so we ran north. The path was spotty at best. As far as I know no one fell, but as I didn't run the minimum or maximum amount - like the 3rd bear, my distance was jusssssst right - at the turn, I ran by myself. Which was fine. 

Today's a.m. run looks to be 25°F.  I might push the distance to meet yesterday. I know that I'll be running alone. The Sunday crew never goes above 5.25 miles. 

Sweat wicking clothes or not, while I am warm running, afterwards in that temp, you get pretty cold. The wet on your back is not all wicked away. 

Ice is still ever present on our drive and dog walks. 

If the weather people are to be believed, on Tuesday we will be above freezing for the first time in weeks. Maybe even the first time this month. I'm not holding my breath. Maybe we will turn a corner on this. 

It is time this week to make some determination about springtime races. I think I have a plan, I just need to sign up and commit. 

Song by: Daniel Lanois

Golden

Two of each this week. Shep. Simon and Bailey. 

Shep returned to daycare after 3 weeks. 

I feel I'm being judged after picking him up to go home. 

For all his faults, he is a handsome dude. 

Barky.  What Bailey does best - other than look cute. 

Snow. Snow. Snow. Ice. Snow. Ice. 

Hair is still growing back, but his Carhartt is keeping him warm. 

Sigh. 

Bailey in the golden hour. 

Song by: Milky Chance

Empty

I guess it's one of these no-post posts. 

The image suggests a more philosophical approach is applicable here, but I honestly don't think I'm that deep. 

Well, I know I'm not. 

"We" are pushing 21:00 and I got nothing to offer. Perhaps I never have. 

Now that is philosophical!!!

(it isn't). 

If it's any consolation, tomorrow is dog and cat day.

Song by: Garbage

Going Up

I'll get off the Sad Train for a moment. 

Oh, hell, it's a long trip, I'm not getting off anytime soon, but I'll keep plugging away. 

Yesterday, I passed the 7 Million mark for readers. Or bots. Or AI. Or all of the above. 

Do I care how I got there, or that I got there?  

Honestly, I am not sure I care either way. I got there. It's the destination, not the journey.  ....or something like that. 

My stats are all over the fucking place. Usually nothing under 300 "reads" per day, but sometimes pushing 40,000. It has certainly been sporadic over the last year. Some 5 million hits in the last 18 months. It's weird. 

In the big scheme of thing, I think it means nothing, but it's like LinkedIn - he who dies with the most 'contacts' wins. 

At one point I said I'd monetize it, but truth be told, I'm just lazy about it. I've done zero research as to how to make it happen and what the $$$$ benefits are for me. It's probably as much work as starting an Only Fans site...................I assume.  For either, it sounds like a 1099 would be involved and working with this government seems inhospitable. 

By the end of this month, I should only be 900,000 away from 8,000,000. 

Song by: Echo & the Bunnymen

Down

I'm barely getting news blips and those  that do come through are just making me fucking down. Like, REALLY down. 

And most, if not all, are Musk related. 

For some reason, Tesla is getting a $400 million dollar contract from the U.S. Government. 

People at the FDA who were looking at Musk's Neurolink were all let go. 

People at the FAA were let go and replaced by Space X personnel. 

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK

Ironically (not really) Musk's DOGE isn't looking into that. 

There are no longer any checks and balances. Conflict of Interest means NOTHING. 

Dismantling democracy for financial gain.....and power.   Period. 

Maybe someone in the government or the courts are really doing something about it - but if so, none of those stories are filtering down. I'm convinced they haven't because they don't exist. 

I've stupidly made calls to my sentator's offices, but they're both new GOP hires........so, if they took the messages at all, they ended up in the circular file. 

Honestly, I feel like I'm living at the end of times. It's all just so fucked up. 

Song by: Stone Temple Pilots

Snow Tunnel

Coming?   COMING?

Fuck man - it's been here since December. Literally and figuratively. 

2024-2025 Winter has been somewhat unrelenting here in the 216. 

I used to bitch about the cold. I've been better about that. When it comes to running, I even prefer it. 

As long as one can get around enough, I don't mind the snow that much. 

Ice? Not a fan. Especially at my advanced age, and the fact that I'm a falls risk. 

This season it's been all three, all the time. Or most of. We didn't even have our "January thaw" this go round. 

The title image was taken on my drive home from Sunday's run. When I left for said run, it was misting. Halfway there it was more than that, but not quite rain. By the time I parked it was snowing.  This was over the course of 22 minutes. 

By the time I was done with my run 50 minutes later, we had 2" on the ground and it was still coming down.  Saturday's run wasn't much better, and it was two miles longer. 

22 minutes travel time to the run. 75 minutes on the way back. 

If nothing else, we fired up the snow blower for the first time this year. I had been clearing the drive by hand (well, and shovel) because I could do  2-3" at a time. When it got to 5-6" and heavy on Sunday, it wasn't worth it - carbon footprint be damned. I had another 3-4" to clear yesterday morning. 

I've run in temps as low as 12°F  but I don't make a habit of it. This evening's run it is calling for low single digit temps, but it feeling well below 0°F.  I'm not one for being a baby (ok....maybe), but should it really be that bad, I'll go indoors for a treadmill. 

Last evening's walk with Shep was literally to the end of the block and back. It was so fucking cold - the tips of my toes were in pain. We were out for 8 minutes. A 5 mile interval run seems just torturous to me. 

I'll just stay home and make meatloaf or something. 

Song by: Watkins Family Hour

My Music Monday

I'm still on new music. Sam Fender has a new disk coming out this Friday. The initial single is today's selection, "People Watching".

Fender had a song out with Noah Kahan, but anymore, who hasn't?  And from his last disk, he had a minor-ish radio hit with "Seventeen Going Under".

Oddly, or not, "People Watching" has a similar sound and vibe as "Seventeen".  Actually, more than a vibe - they are eerily similar. But you know, if it works, there are some artists who'll run that sound into the ground. Or perhaps, it's all they got. 

I have zero idea here, as I have not sought out Fender's music, just hear what comes across XM. 

I'm likening it to that 90s vibe when matchbox 20, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Big Head Todd and the Monster, etc all just sounded so much alike sometimes. I think Fender is the 2020's version of that. More than decent, but nothing horribly original or groundbreaking. Still......I leave it on. 

...oh, and the video doesn't even have Fender in it (I don't think), but stars Andrew Scott. Let's face it, that's enough to keep it on for five minutes. 

Instant Karma

It's been a while since I've done one of these, but it's finally time to clear out screen captures from my phone liberry. 

I like to fuck around with "people" who text me out of the blue, but really have zero connection with me. They are either bots or possibly people who actually type in the wrong phone number to message their "friends". 

The oddest parts are: almost no one ever responds back. I get that with the bots, but.......maybe it's not that odd. 

Anyway here we go. Clear out some time on your calendar, as it's a lot of messages. 

 

Song by: John Lennon

Freedom

We are extremely Shep heavy this week. 

With all his vet stuff, he needed constant supervision, so I was "stuck" as his caregiver. As much as I love him, being truly housebound for a week plus was driving me nuts. 

And perhaps it was the cone, but Simon kept away most of the time, hence his almost lack of appearance this week. I'll do better.

Shep had a tough time with toys and the cone. For a long time he didn't even try. When he did, I still had to hand them to him. 

At the vet. Waiting (and shaking) until the staples came out. 

FREEDOM!

Look at that smile!

And then the celebratory pup cup. 

Sneaking into the tv room. 

It was one of the few times I saw him all week. 

Shep has been unable to roll with the cone. He LOVES to roll. 

He has taken just about every opportunity to do so since he's been healed. 

.....and a Bailey sighting.....courtesy of my sister. 

Song by: Wham!