2016: End Of Year Thoughts.

What an interesting year.

Seems like the even-numbered years have the most surprise in them, while the odd numbered years tend to just be downright shitty. But so much seems to have happened, both good and bad such that well, it's special.

Unfortunately, fucking Blogger has a limitation on the number of labels I can apply to a single post. So because I have so much to bloviate on for 2016, I thought I'd break it down by topic and pontificate.

Because of course, that's what all my millions of devoted readers want!


Music:

Completed two more releases of original material. It wasn't always easy, despite having the ideas, the words, etc. all laid out. Finding inspiration at times was definitely challenging, but somehow I succeeded. It really feels good to see a body of work finally coming together after all these years. I think in 2017, the challenge will be to really record many of these releases and see about finally releasing them (all the while still continuing to write).

And, I finally returned to live performances in a number of venues. A couple were some acoustic sets at some local coffee shops, while another at the end of the year involved some younger folk as part of a rock band effort for some good causes. It really opened my eyes up to the idea that young kids with drive, inspiration, and opportunity can really make something of themselves. I'm sincerely hoping they'll be time to do more of each in the new year.

It was also good to see CV jr finally take up music as well. He's got a good aptitude to sing (and the lungs) - now if only he can channel his attitude.

On unrelated notes perhaps, it was good to see AC/DC back on the road (and in standard tuning!), along with Guns 'n Roses. And Metallica put out a new record that sounds pretty good (at least better than some of their efforts from the mid-to-late 1990's and early 2000's).

Life:

One of the surprises for 2016 was learning I'm going to be a father again. More like shock really - it wasn't something I really thought of. Never really figured the Mrs. and I were really that fertile, but there you go. We'll see what joy that brings to the rest of the family. Of course taking care of a new one requires a ton of money and security - two things I don't have a whole lot of. I did make some headway in my career at work in the sense that I pretty much found a new opportunity and brought to the attention of management. Now we'll see if they come through and do the right thing and get out of my way to make this opportunity a success.

Health and wellness:

At the same time, I aged. Yeah I know, no one gets any younger. But let's face it - by next year I'll be full on into middle age. While I regret all the things I never did, I have to constantly remind myself that there's so much ahead for me to look forward to. Of course I've always had issues with myself. Neck pain, chest pain, skin issues, ingrown hair, body hair, not enough hair, too much hair there (I sound like George Carlin). And even if I'm not looking or appearing the way I want to - or I become an object of ridicule online or to people around me - I really should let that go and not give a fuck. The fact is I'm still me, and I can do what I've always liked to do, and that's what's important.

News and politics:

What can I say? Like many, I'm not happy about the prospect of Trump and right-wing taking over the country again. But on the other hand, they are connected with the establishment, and really it's better to see the disaster coming ahead of us, than have the wool pulled over our heads while it happens. What do I mean by that?

I mean that the country really dodged a bullet in Hillary Clinton losing the election. She really would've been a lot worse for the country than Trump. How so? She was the establishment's choice to oversee the country's dismantling. And I think she along with her supporters really believed in their delusions that it was somehow her 'right' to become President Of The United States. As if it were done by ascension. As a result, had she been anointed into the position the media would've largely hidden the terrible things she'd do in the name of said establishment from public view.

Not to mention that it was an insult to those who legitimately had issues supporting her to be called of all things 'sexist', or that by not supporting her, we were for Trump. What fucking bullshit that is.

Hillary Clinton was no feminist - and she represented white women in the 1% - that's all. I'm honestly glad she didn't win.

Looks like my prediction (Option #1) came true.

She and the Democratic Party really set back forward progression of any progressive movement in the United States for sure.

Here are the four reasons I didn't vote for her -

1) Legacy of poor choices - Her experiences demonstrates both a penchant for a) making really bad choices and b) never really learning from them.
2) She broke the law - the private email server controversy was of her own doing and frankly she should be held accountable.
3) She cheated to get the nomination - this was born out by the Wikileaks capture of the DNC emails. We also know now that the her campaign, the DNC, and the media all colluded together to ensure Sanders didn't win. And all this despite all the corporate cash, establishment backing, kow-towing to Wall Street..
4) She ran a very poor campaign - Her campaign was extremely self-centered and really all about her ("I'm with her" - kind of like "I'm with stupid"). And she offered nothing more than really 'vote for me; I'm not Trump'. No real platform, no real standing up for Americans, no supporting any good cause (had she supported the Standing Rock nation in their fight against DAPL as Jill Stein and Bernie Sanders did, she might have won over some of their supporters).

I thank her for her time allegedly in public service. I hope she leaves to a private live now takes care of her health.

Despite all this, there was a positive realization. That is, for any type of system of government to really work, people really need to be involved. They can't sit on their asses watching other people go about wasting their lives and their time. One needs to be really involved and really develop a sense of community with people around them. That's how real positive change happens. I saw some of that in Bernie Sander's campaign - people really came out and he delivered a real message that really resonates with people. A real shame that he was prevented from continuing his run. But that drive has started, and I can only hope it can be carried forward by the people who believed in it.

Debunking the Right-Wing Movement:

Make no mistake. She was the right-wing's (and establishment's) Option A, to Trump being Option B. Nothing good will come out of either of them.


Vulturing on Culture:

But don't expect much change to take place too soon, no. We're stuck with an establishment media filled with moronic corporate stenographers, people who call themselves hipsters who really are idiots. And of course, we have so many people caught on in themselves so much (selfie stupidity) - they top all else (Selfie. Cutie. Foodie, Dummy).

It's actually far more serious than that. Somehow I get the feeling it'll get worse before it gets better.

Entertainment:

We lost a lot of people in 2016 - Glenn Frey, David Bowie, George Martin, Burt Kwouk, Carrie Fisher, Kenny Baker, Prince, Alan Thicke, Florence Henderson, Lonnie Mack. Maybe it's just an aging thing, but I find it sad to see so many people go. It's a natural part of life I guess.

But more than that, I really feel like I'm out of touch or not knowledgeable or even interested about really thing that's marketed to entertain. Games, music, films, etc. All of it is really beyond me at times. It's something I'm both concerned and not too concerned about. On the one hand, I don't want to become stodgy and conservative an live in a delusional cocoon of my own making and liking. On the other hand, I know what I like and what I don't really like; and I shouldn't waste time with the latter.

That being said, I think it's a case of maintaining an open mind while at the same time appreciating what I enjoy. I think that's the best way from going bonkers.


So many other topics that I'll leave to some other time.

Misandry - that terrible Ghostbusters remake - total man-hatred. Glad to see hatred fail and fail miserably.

Star Wars - Darth Vader kicks ass!. And Rogue One turned out to be a film that wasn't nearly all 'white woman' as the trailers made it to be.

Travel/Canada - Finally went to Candytown! Short and sweet but fun nevertheless.

Okay, I'm rushing things now, but bottom line is, despite the troubles from this year - I look forward to 2017.