The Hit List - Radio Silence

I used to listen to a lot of rock radio. Don’t judge. Remember: I’m from the pre-internet age before Spotify and YouTube. Back in the day, it was radio (or MTV, which once upon a time actually played music videos). I had no choice.

I also used to drive a lot. So the radio was always on. I don’t dig silence (I’d be a terrible monk) so there always needs to be noise in my driving world. Preferably BLARING. I loved jamming down the freeway with some Iron Maiden or Motley Crue blasting in my ears and the wind in my hair (no, I did not own a convertible – I smoked back then so the windows had to be open).

And oh, those metalhead boys! Swoon! I have a soft spot for lanky, long haired men (I’m looking at you, Jared Leto). Although my musical inclinations leaned to punk rock, I preferred the prettier, leather clad dudes that tended to hang in those metal clubs. They were also less angry and more fun.

But times have changed. Most of the metal lovin’ dudes that I knew from back in the day cut their hair and got mad. Not mad about the demise of Pantera (which is a legit reason to get pissed off). I’m talking gun-loving, female hating, right-wing mad. It’s no longer a fun party when the boys aren’t pretty and the topics lean towards bigotry and fear.

I blame that on the rock stations. Over the years, the DJs have morphed from sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll long-haired bad boys into right-wing crazies that look like…dads. In polo shirts. They’ve gone corporate (big corporations own most of these stations so you know they are controlling who is hired and what is said). Ewww. Even the cool chick DJs – who I used to think were mighty awesome – are less rad and more rah-rah for war ‘n stuff.

WTF?! What the hell happened?

Where is my sex and drugs and fight for your right to party fun? And why the hell did Metallica cut their hair? Where is Tommy Lee when you need him? Come on!

It’s gone. All gone and smothered by fear talk. Anti-women stuff. Anti-poor, anti-gay, anti-anything-that-isn’t-a-white-male with “family values” and a love of guns.

Not cool.

And so not rock and roll. The great mystery of how my long-haired brethren became fear-filled dads who no longer rage against the machine – solved!

It’s a bummer. And I can’t bear to listen to it any more. Radio silent. Over and out.

My radio gets very little play these days. Instead, I can load up an iPod with hip-hop grooves sprinkled with some metal and French pop (and maybe a little Pitbull for good measure). I no longer have to listen to hate speech or fumble with the dial to flip stations when that crap pollutes my airwaves. I have a choice. And I’m taking it.

My cat, TaoZen, has his own Facebook page!

Other stuff:

Oh Pitbull – how I love you!

I’m always on the hunt for new music. I’m checking out this list of 25 Artists You Need to Start Listening to in 2015.

Not sure how to achieve your desires? My friend Debra Smouse has a list of questions you need to ask yourself. Read it, contemplate those questions, and start actualizing your dreams.

11 Things You Didn’t Know about Fight Club. Because you need to know these things.

I learned about Coffitivity, an app that creates ambient sounds from coffee shops, from The Fired Up and Focused Challenge. I’ve been using it and hey – it works for creative output! Ha!

Sagittarian Mind is one of the smartest astrology minds on the net. I LOVE his Sun/Moon blends. Gemini/Scorpio – nailed it, dude. This is a hip astrology blog that every astro-buff will want to bookmark. I always learn new things here.

In Myers-Briggs, I’m an INFJ. This cat edition explains ’em all pretty well.

Want to know my favorite tarot deck? I shared mine and so did a few other tarot professionals over at Guiding Echoes. If you know me well, you won’t be surprised by my choice.

Just for bloggers: The Blogcademy is launching The Blogcademy Online on January 29th.

Add this to your list of must visit places next time you’re in San Jose: The Enigma of the Winchester Mystery House.

I watched some documentary on “masking” this week. What’s masking? Glad you asked. Learn more about it here. I found it fascinating and felt a lot of sympathy for those life sized dolls.

Speaking of dolls, in some Japanese villages the dolls are taking the place of humans as the populations dwindle.

I also learned about “lactivists” this week. I encountered those militant breastfeeders back when I had children too. Here’s a clue: let women figure out how they want to raise their kids themselves, m’kay?

The new congress is taking credit for the economy and are out to ban abortion asap. Sigh.

This teacher finishes his student’s doodles. How cute is that?

Check out these “fashion of the future” sketches from 1893. Someone was wwwwaaaayyyyyy off.

Tierney Sadler wrote a beautiful post about how spiritual growth can be a lonely process.

Want to learn tarot? Little Red Tarot has a lovely tarot course just for you. PS it’s insanely cheap!

I’m searching for an ideal backpack. This one by Marc Jacobs is sweet: Marc by Marc Jacobs Domo Arigato Mini Packrat Backpack, Black, One Size

I drink a LOT of tea. This YouCopia TeaStand 100+ Tea Bag Organizer, White looks super-handy.

In my quest to be more organized and to coupon my face off, I found this beauty: Jokari Cabinet Door Coupon Pockets (Yes, I use coupons and am an avid coupon-er. Lame but true.)

What Would Keith Richards Do?: Daily Affirmations with a Rock and Roll Survivor. Good question. Drugs?

I do NOT need another cookbook but I can’t help but pick up this one every time I’m in the bookstore: The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. It’s gorgeous and the recipes look uh-may-zing!

What I’m Grateful For:

Freedom of choice

A long day at the office followed by a good meal

Viewing pictures of my daughter’s trip to Italy in real time

Floss that glides nicely

Heart shaped sticky notes

The internet

Extra peppermint gum

A husband who shovels and does dishes – and still has long hair and isn’t scared of the world

Soundtrack for 1/10/15: “The Last DJ” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Tom always gets it.