The sun also rises

 Just like...

Last Ceausescu speech

Even in communist countries, leeching from your citizens - no matter how much you claim to be doing it 'for their own good' - is considered poor form. At some point, people who have eyes to see and brains to think, see the light and act. There comes a time when people don't buy the BS anymore and break out of their apathy, even - maybe especially - as the aging despot desperately tries to consolidate and project power.

Sic semper...

Rider in the storm

 

I'm 6' 1" on foot, but atop this rig, about 6' 3".

I don't like to ride during thunderstorms. 

 

I couldn't help chuckling when this song came on the playlist.

Apropos, I suppose.

In case you're wondering, the 'artist' notation is

The Last of the New Yardbirds.

Note to self

Despite knowing better, and having possibly the best collection of motivational books outside of Half Price Books, I've somehow allowed myself to wallow for a bit in self-pity. Oh, I go out to the pub with friends on trivia night, and, although I don't dance on the table (truthfully, I usually nurse a single beer - those specialty brews are not cheap - for the evening), I'm most times the liveliest member of our group. I go to church on the weekends, and show up when they need help for special events. Sometimes, infrequently, I'll attend another church as well, where I know lots of people. I smile at strangers in the grocery store, start conversations with people I don't know. 

Yet most of the time, I keep my own company. I'm tuned in to the news, monitor a handful of blogs, and frequent some Youtube channels about tools, aviation, guitars and music, and engines. As noted before on these pages, I consider myself an 'extroverted introvert' - it's not an ordeal to be with people, in fact I enjoy it, but being a hermit is my inertial state. 

After listening to Brad Barton's forecast, I deemed it safe to take an early morning bike ride, and figured a sausage biscuit wouldn't hurt since I generally eat responsibly. Getting the 'senior coffee' was a plus. As I sat down to eat, I noticed the sky had darkened and the wind had picked up. The weather that was deemed unlikely at 7:00 a.m. had arrived about four hours early. After waiting for the downpour (and lightning) to subside, I started back home, joyfully singing along with my Bluetooth speaker in the drizzle. And I thought to myself, "this is living!"  

This song came to mind: 

 

This song was next on Youtube when I looked up the TK song. I've not heard it for years, but it seemed appropriate in context of what's going on in the world, so I'm posting it also. 

 

It's well past Memorial Day, but thank you to all the Pvt. Andrew Malones.

A poet and a one man band

 A shame these guys can't get along, but a blessing for the musical memories they've made.

So grateful to have seen them in '83 at the Cotton Bowl.

Most Peculiar

They positively never would've believed modern headlines at the soda fountains of either of the drug stores on 4th Avenue, back in the town where I was born.

Owing to a discussion the week prior, I wore a P-Mac (Macca for you Britons) concert🔹t-shirt to trivia night at the pub last week. My crew quizzed me as to why the graphic on the back was of the Beatles. "Because he was IN the Beatles..." Duh!  Truly, you're more likely to sell more shirts if you co-reference the Liverpool lads than just the McCartney tour itself (Wings Over America possibly notwithstanding).

Over the weekend, I happen'd upon an article ranking the former members' 66 post-Beatles albums. Unfortunately - but unsurprising - Mr. Starkey's efforts pretty solidly anchored the bottom 10. George and Paul constituted most of the middle of the list, with John's works beginning to appear in the top half or third.

Obviously, McCartney, having outlived all but Ringo, has the most output. And, for the sake of transparency, I'll disclose that I've always skewed more to the Mac than the Len of the group - not slavishly so, though, and I have [vinyl] works from both in my collection. John has generally been regarded, by the 'public' and critics, as the group's 'genius'.  So, I was a bit surprised when the #1 album by a former Beatle was not his.

What was it? All Things Must Pass, which I don't think I have in the archive. I might have to snag a CD for cheap off of Ebay.

🔹The t-shirt was from the 2014 'Out There' tour.

Rescue underway

 While most of the top levels of our nation's 'leadership' are MIA regarding competent planning and execution of our exit from a certain south/central Asian country, I have been able to confirm that we've inserted elite undercover intelligence operatives to assist in smuggling trapped Americans and friendlies to safety.