One thing I would add about oligarchs is that they cooperate with governments in some way, receiving aid from them and so supporting the person in power. It's a parasitic relationship. Many Russian oligarchs got their start when the Soviet state was imploding, when the KGB fed them money so they could privatize state institutions (oil, etc.) Huge American tech companies also rely on government contracts--Amazon's AWS, for instance. A scientist I used to work with told me that Google participated in one of the intelligence community's incubator programs. I can say no more on that one, mostly because I don't have first-hand knowledge. (The scientist was the model for the Ferber character in my story Black Vault, so if you've read that you know to trust Ferber at your own peril.)
I highly endorse this Clerks rewatch. It’s a favorite around here, though with the kids we can’t quote it the way we used to. (One day they will learn that Caitlin is based on Caitlin from Degrassi and their heads will explode)
You mention two artist that springs memories up. My first concert, at 15, was Toys for Tots in Atlanta. I convinced our Dad to take a few of us to see these great bands I was growing up with: Boston (first tour, horrible, they didn't know how to play outside the studio), Styx (Crystal Ball tour, a ballerina came out first and danced in all her pink in the dark), Dr. Hook, The Manhattens and... Exile. "Kiss You All Over" was a recent hit then and the only song I knew, but I remember that moment well.
At 17 I was working at a popular Atlanta record store, Oz Records, where we had a yellow brick road, a tape "castle" with flying monkeys (they delivered tapes to the cashier overhead), and a large Great and Powerful OZ video setup. Before you entered the store there was an immense pinball aracde and in the back a roller skate shop. Which leads me the first time I encountered Paul Davis. Him and his lady would - imagine this - skate into the store, he was wearing shimmering / reflective blue shorts, his long blond locks went all the way to his knees, and of course he had a ZZ Top sized beard. It was quite a look and everyone would turn to look at them as they glided by. They came in the store all the time and he was always nice to everyone. He signed something for me one time.
Then there's the time Marky Ramone pulled down his zipper when I was taking him to the bathroom...but that's another story...
I agree. I don't remember him being that public though, touring, etc. Spent the morning watching Dick Clark interviewing Paul and checking out TV appearances like Solid Gold dancers flitting around Paul's "65 Love Affair"
when you hit a point in your new podcast where you wanna talk music for a bit, I'm your guy. I can talk the other stuff too. But music, we could go for days.
I really enjoyed the SNL 50th anniversary. I didn't realize just how long I've been watching that show. And the movie on Netflix about the first episode wasn't so bad either. (Not entirely accurate of course).
I stay on X/Twitter and the others so I can keep track of what is going on and state my opinions under various handles. If I live in an echo chamber of just shiny, happy people, I won't know who the monsters are and how I can help to destroy them. I've seen all kinds of the same misogynist, racist garbage on Bluesky as I have seen on X so there's no escape from the monsters anyway.
I agree 100% with your take on the oligarchs. Right now these ass wipes are bending their knees in fealty and kissing the ring. Fast forward to six or so years from now and it’s really not much of a stretch to imagine a vast majority of the public bloviating about how wonderfully altruistic these gazillionaires are for investing in this fantastic project that’s going to benefit mankind and blah blah blah when really, at the crux of this, will simply be the amassing of power and wealth. Yes, truly a keen observation.
This has been decades in the making, as the purveyors of the Friedman Doctrine continue to milk the decaying carcass of late-stage neoliberal capitalism for all it's worth. There are better ways, of course, but they don't accelerate wealth accumulation for the powers that be enough for them to give a damn.
I watched the Yacht Rock documentary on your recommendation and was not disappointed. I'm a fan of much of the heavy stuff like you, but as kid I spent hours in my parent's cars listening to Cross, Loggins, stealy dan, fw Mac, the doobies, Toto. The documentary hit a lot of points in 90 minutes. Jeff Pocarro was probably the most talented of those session musicians, gone to soon as he was living the rock star life to hard.
YEP!!!
One thing I would add about oligarchs is that they cooperate with governments in some way, receiving aid from them and so supporting the person in power. It's a parasitic relationship. Many Russian oligarchs got their start when the Soviet state was imploding, when the KGB fed them money so they could privatize state institutions (oil, etc.) Huge American tech companies also rely on government contracts--Amazon's AWS, for instance. A scientist I used to work with told me that Google participated in one of the intelligence community's incubator programs. I can say no more on that one, mostly because I don't have first-hand knowledge. (The scientist was the model for the Ferber character in my story Black Vault, so if you've read that you know to trust Ferber at your own peril.)
Thanks very much for the insight, Alma. :)
I highly endorse this Clerks rewatch. It’s a favorite around here, though with the kids we can’t quote it the way we used to. (One day they will learn that Caitlin is based on Caitlin from Degrassi and their heads will explode)
Well, now I have "Kiss You All Over" stuck in my head. It'll probably be in my head till the night closes in...
🤣🤣
You mention two artist that springs memories up. My first concert, at 15, was Toys for Tots in Atlanta. I convinced our Dad to take a few of us to see these great bands I was growing up with: Boston (first tour, horrible, they didn't know how to play outside the studio), Styx (Crystal Ball tour, a ballerina came out first and danced in all her pink in the dark), Dr. Hook, The Manhattens and... Exile. "Kiss You All Over" was a recent hit then and the only song I knew, but I remember that moment well.
At 17 I was working at a popular Atlanta record store, Oz Records, where we had a yellow brick road, a tape "castle" with flying monkeys (they delivered tapes to the cashier overhead), and a large Great and Powerful OZ video setup. Before you entered the store there was an immense pinball aracde and in the back a roller skate shop. Which leads me the first time I encountered Paul Davis. Him and his lady would - imagine this - skate into the store, he was wearing shimmering / reflective blue shorts, his long blond locks went all the way to his knees, and of course he had a ZZ Top sized beard. It was quite a look and everyone would turn to look at them as they glided by. They came in the store all the time and he was always nice to everyone. He signed something for me one time.
Then there's the time Marky Ramone pulled down his zipper when I was taking him to the bathroom...but that's another story...
That is WILD! Big Paul Davis fan here. Guy never got the props he deserves, in my opinion.
I agree. I don't remember him being that public though, touring, etc. Spent the morning watching Dick Clark interviewing Paul and checking out TV appearances like Solid Gold dancers flitting around Paul's "65 Love Affair"
when you hit a point in your new podcast where you wanna talk music for a bit, I'm your guy. I can talk the other stuff too. But music, we could go for days.
I really enjoyed the SNL 50th anniversary. I didn't realize just how long I've been watching that show. And the movie on Netflix about the first episode wasn't so bad either. (Not entirely accurate of course).
PS. Thanks for looking out for us. 😊
I stay on X/Twitter and the others so I can keep track of what is going on and state my opinions under various handles. If I live in an echo chamber of just shiny, happy people, I won't know who the monsters are and how I can help to destroy them. I've seen all kinds of the same misogynist, racist garbage on Bluesky as I have seen on X so there's no escape from the monsters anyway.
I agree 100% with your take on the oligarchs. Right now these ass wipes are bending their knees in fealty and kissing the ring. Fast forward to six or so years from now and it’s really not much of a stretch to imagine a vast majority of the public bloviating about how wonderfully altruistic these gazillionaires are for investing in this fantastic project that’s going to benefit mankind and blah blah blah when really, at the crux of this, will simply be the amassing of power and wealth. Yes, truly a keen observation.
This has been decades in the making, as the purveyors of the Friedman Doctrine continue to milk the decaying carcass of late-stage neoliberal capitalism for all it's worth. There are better ways, of course, but they don't accelerate wealth accumulation for the powers that be enough for them to give a damn.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-157337545?source=queue
I watched the Yacht Rock documentary on your recommendation and was not disappointed. I'm a fan of much of the heavy stuff like you, but as kid I spent hours in my parent's cars listening to Cross, Loggins, stealy dan, fw Mac, the doobies, Toto. The documentary hit a lot of points in 90 minutes. Jeff Pocarro was probably the most talented of those session musicians, gone to soon as he was living the rock star life to hard.