Observations at year’s-end. This will be a Trump-free list… unless you count sub-text.

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The final two weeks of the year used to be the most boring weeks of each year… and they still are. It’s a pain in the ass to go to the supermarket, let alone buy anything at any other sort of store. Traffic sucks, and often the weather does too (not this year over in my neck of the woods, but your mileage may vary on that).

Whatever broadcast television is out there that I enjoy is not out there at year’s-end. However, there’s so much stuff on my TiVo and through streaming services that this is no longer a big deal. Actually, that’s kind of good news: people recommend streaming stuff to me all the time, and some arouse my curiosity. Others make me somnambulistic.

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Speaking of television, I had a bit of a Victor Buono film-fest here a couple months ago, and I had a wonderful time. Evil was never so gentle; wit was rarely so sharp.

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The Who released their first new-material album in 13 years, and the reviews have been extremely positive. Most said something akin to “this is the best new Who album in 40 years.” I can be something of a cynic, so each time I thought “well, sure, but this is only their fourth original album in 40 years.” I also dismissed this observation as the mutterings from people who could not deal with Keith Moon’s death – understandable, but overly dismissive.

Well, once again I was full of shit. Who, the name of the album, really is their best new album in 40 years. The lead track, “All This Music Must Fade,” is one of Pete Townshend’s absolute best compositions ever, ever, ever… so there. You will never hear it on American broadcast radio, at least not uncut, and that is a strong comment on just how fucked up our hypocritical morality truly is.

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While I’m still in the mood to comment on Christmas culture and the music racket, I was thrilled to note that Brenda Lee was #2 on last week’s Billboard charts. If you don’t know who Brenda Lee is, you’re missing out on one of the great voices of our time. Go ask your great-grandparents.

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In what may be the greatest post-adolescent act of rebellion of the year, Marty Scorsese’s daughter gift-wrapped her Christmas presents to her father in Marvel super-hero paper. I think I want to marry her.

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In 1969, political activist (and MC5 manager) John Sinclair was busted in Michigan for possession of two – count ‘em two – joints. He was given a ten-year prison sentence. Public protests abound, and John became a cultural hero to many. He was let out of prison after serving more than two years, which is still a ridiculously stiff sentence.

Pot became legal in his home state on December 1, 2019. He stood in line awaiting the opening of his local store. As a show of respect, everybody else in line let John go first. He was, in fact, the very first person to purchase legal weed in Michigan. The press asked him if he felt vindicated, and John responded he would feel vindicated if the police returned his two joints.

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It’s amusing to note that both of our only-two political parties are silent about the one issue that will bring voters from “both” sides out to the polls – the virtual legalization of cannabis. Not to mention the ongoing real legalization of cannabis. Yeah, the moral minority still wags the tail, doesn’t it?

And, besides, isn’t “cannabis” a breed of Egyptian dog?

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This is the end of the year, but it is not the end of the decade. Do the math. There was no Year Zero. At least, not yet.

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Whatever you do, do not end the year by saying, or even thinking, “well, next year can’t possibly be any worse.” Thou shalt not tempt the gods and goddesses of irony.

As Nicky Graham wrote nearly 40 years ago, we can make it if we try. I know 40 years is a long time. Don’t give up.