Fountains of Wayne, "Valley Winter Song" from Welcome Interstate Managers (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary: When I stated last night that I like winter, my interlocutor asked, "Are you serious?" Yes, I like winter. I like, in order, the cold, the dark, & the snow. I am puzzled by & mildly frustrated with Michiganders who do nothing but kvetch about the winter. There are forty-nine other states in the Union, a few with harsher winters, many with milder winters, & a few with no season deserving of the name winter (poor devils!): Stop whining & move to one of those. Or, better yet, embrace the winter as the forge of character it is, a gift from God Most High that has many lessons to teach us if we are humble & willing to learn.
Est. 2002 | "This was a Golden Age, a time of high adventure, rich living, and hard dying… but nobody thought so." —Alfred Bester
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
The Explorers' Club, № MCXXVI
Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of S.T.S.-61-B, Part II
30 November-3 December 1985: Ross & Spring conducted two E.V.A., assembling & disassembling the E.A.S.E. & A.C.C.E.S.S. experiments, studying techniques to construct & maintain future space stations; interior experiments studied human physiology & producing pharmaceuticals; a Getaway Special studied mirror manufacturing; after 109 orbits, the Atlantis landed at California's Edwards.Commentary: E.A.S.E. (Experimental Assembly of Structures through E.V.A.) was a project of the Marshall Space Flight Center while A.C.C.E.S.S. (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structures) was a project of the Langley Research Center.
Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-61-B
The Red Stripes, "Don't Build Twice" from Made in Hong Kong (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)Semper exploro.
30 November-3 December 1985: Ross & Spring conducted two E.V.A., assembling & disassembling the E.A.S.E. & A.C.C.E.S.S. experiments, studying techniques to construct & maintain future space stations; interior experiments studied human physiology & producing pharmaceuticals; a Getaway Special studied mirror manufacturing; after 109 orbits, the Atlantis landed at California's Edwards.Commentary: E.A.S.E. (Experimental Assembly of Structures through E.V.A.) was a project of the Marshall Space Flight Center while A.C.C.E.S.S. (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structures) was a project of the Langley Research Center.
Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-61-B
The Red Stripes, "Don't Build Twice" from Made in Hong Kong (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)Semper exploro.
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Today
Mittwoch, 3. Dezember
New Found Glory, "All about Her" from New Found Glory (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary: Why am I so bitter & cynical about romantic love? Because deep down I'm a hopeless romantic.
New Found Glory, "All about Her" from New Found Glory (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary: Why am I so bitter & cynical about romantic love? Because deep down I'm a hopeless romantic.
"Forget the way she was,
'Cause it's the things she does—
"That make me sing about her!
She knows I care about her!
She says, 'Be gentle, boy, you show a lack of character'…"
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Yesterday
Dienstag, 2. Dezember
Enimem, "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile: Soundtrack from the Motion Picture (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary:
Enimem, "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile: Soundtrack from the Motion Picture (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary:
Operation ÖSTERREICH: Advent—Please Stand By
Please Stand By | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!
Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 330.2 lbs. (12 June 2024)Commentary: It was my intention to resume the Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in in this New (liturgical) Year, but in the busyness of daily life, exacerbated by recent travels, I failed to make the time to acquire a new home scale. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa! Watch this space.
Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 330.2 lbs. (12 June 2024)Commentary: It was my intention to resume the Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in in this New (liturgical) Year, but in the busyness of daily life, exacerbated by recent travels, I failed to make the time to acquire a new home scale. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa! Watch this space.
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Ereyesterday
Montag, 1. Dezember
The Proclaimers, "Wages of Sin" from Notes & Rhymes (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary:
The Proclaimers, "Wages of Sin" from Notes & Rhymes (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary:
"So I hope (Hope, hope, hope and pray),
And I pray (Hope, hope, hope and pray),
That the wages of sin aren't paid today…"
Sunday, November 30, 2025
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the I Sunday o' Advent
The First Sunday of Advent
unknown, "O Come, Divine Messiah" from Journeysongs, Third Edition, Vol. 8 (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary: The album information I have cites the composer, arranger, & translater, but neither the singers nor the musicians who performed this rendition. That is unjust.
Also, Happy New Year!
unknown, "O Come, Divine Messiah" from Journeysongs, Third Edition, Vol. 8 (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary: The album information I have cites the composer, arranger, & translater, but neither the singers nor the musicians who performed this rendition. That is unjust.
Also, Happy New Year!
Saturday, November 29, 2025
Bonus! Reunion Song o' the Day
The Loose Ties, "Let's Go Out Drinking" from Champ of the Week (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)
Skammentary: Tonight's the night!
Skammentary: Tonight's the night!
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: Go Blue!
Team 146, Game 12: Michigan v. Ohio State
The Killers, "Mr. Brightside" from Hot Fuss (Mike Papa Wolverine)
Commentary: Cheer up, last season the hated Buckeyes were twenty-one-point favorites & the Game was in Ohio Stadium; this season, the hated Buckeyes are only ten-point favorites & the Game is in Michigan Stadium. Last season, the valiant Wolverines prevailed by the improbable score of 13-10.
The Killers, "Mr. Brightside" from Hot Fuss (Mike Papa Wolverine)
Commentary: Cheer up, last season the hated Buckeyes were twenty-one-point favorites & the Game was in Ohio Stadium; this season, the hated Buckeyes are only ten-point favorites & the Game is in Michigan Stadium. Last season, the valiant Wolverines prevailed by the improbable score of 13-10.
"But it's just the price I pay, destiny is calling me,Go Blue!
Open up my eager eyes, 'cause I'm Mr. Brightside!…"
Friday, November 28, 2025
The Rebel Black Dot Reunion Song o' the Day
The Loose Ties, "Your Last Chance" from Champ of the Week (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)
Skammentary: I didn't think I'd ever get another chance to see The Loose Ties perform all together again. Don't let the opportunity of tomorrow night @ the Soggy Bottom Bar pass you by.
Of course, "Your Last Chance" isn't about that. It's about romance gone wrong, as it always does.
Skammentary: I didn't think I'd ever get another chance to see The Loose Ties perform all together again. Don't let the opportunity of tomorrow night @ the Soggy Bottom Bar pass you by.
Of course, "Your Last Chance" isn't about that. It's about romance gone wrong, as it always does.
Thursday, November 27, 2025
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Thanksgiving Day
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "A Reason to Toast" from the Medium Rare compilation (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)
Skammentary:
Skammentary:
"I'd like to open up by making a suggestion,A Thanksgiving tradition: Wayback Machine.
One that I suggest you're open to,
And then I'll open up the floor and take a question,
After that it's time to tilt a few,
To you and you and you.
"A reason to toast!
A reason to cheer!
A reason to celebrate
It's nice being here!
"You might be wondering just why I called this meeting,
Can't let another moment pass,
Before we move on, please, let's rearrange the seating,
After that its time to raise a glass.
"I'll raise my glass up high to all the friendly faces,
Here and wherever they may be,
I don't know why I never thought till now to say this,
But you mean the world to me…"
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
The Explorers' Club, № MCXXV
Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of S.T.S.-61-B (№ 23), Part I
26-29 November 1985: The Space Shuttle Atlantis OV-104 lifted off from Florida's K.S.C. with CDR Brewster Shaw, Pilot Bryan O'Connor, M.S.1 Jerry Ross, M.S.2/F.E. Mary Cleave, M.S 3 Woody Spring, P.S.1 Charlie Walker, & P.S.2 Rodolfo Neri; Shaw padlocked the hatch, due to his concerns about Doctor Neri; the septet deployed three telecom satellites: Morelos II, Aussat-2, & Satcom-K2.Commentary: S.T.S.-61-B was the second flight of the Atlantis OV-104. The fifty-four day turnaround between the launch of the Atlantis for S.T.S.-51-J (3 October) & S.T.S.-61-B (27 November) remains a spaceflight record, even in these latter days of reusable Crew Dragon capsules.
Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-61-B
Melbourne Ska Orchestra, "When Dean Went to Mexico" from Melbourne Ska Orchestra (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)Semper exploro.
26-29 November 1985: The Space Shuttle Atlantis OV-104 lifted off from Florida's K.S.C. with CDR Brewster Shaw, Pilot Bryan O'Connor, M.S.1 Jerry Ross, M.S.2/F.E. Mary Cleave, M.S 3 Woody Spring, P.S.1 Charlie Walker, & P.S.2 Rodolfo Neri; Shaw padlocked the hatch, due to his concerns about Doctor Neri; the septet deployed three telecom satellites: Morelos II, Aussat-2, & Satcom-K2.Commentary: S.T.S.-61-B was the second flight of the Atlantis OV-104. The fifty-four day turnaround between the launch of the Atlantis for S.T.S.-51-J (3 October) & S.T.S.-61-B (27 November) remains a spaceflight record, even in these latter days of reusable Crew Dragon capsules.
Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-61-B
Melbourne Ska Orchestra, "When Dean Went to Mexico" from Melbourne Ska Orchestra (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)Semper exploro.
Operation ÖSTERREICH: Please Stand By
Please Stand By | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!
Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 330.2 lbs. (12 June 2024)
Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 330.2 lbs. (12 June 2024)
The Rebel Black Dot Reunion Song o' the Day
The Loose Ties, "Becca's Song (I Don't Love You Enough)" from Champ of the Week (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)
Skammentary: True to the mores of third-wave ska-punk, romantic love only produces heartbreak.
Skammentary: True to the mores of third-wave ska-punk, romantic love only produces heartbreak.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Bonus! Song o' Today
Dienstag, 25. November
A New Found Glory, "The Promise" from From the Screen to Your Stereo, Part II (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary: There are innumerable songs titled, "The Promise." This is a cover of the 1987 song by When in Rome.
A New Found Glory, "The Promise" from From the Screen to Your Stereo, Part II (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary: There are innumerable songs titled, "The Promise." This is a cover of the 1987 song by When in Rome.
Bonus! Song o' Yesterday
Montag, 24. November
The Interrupters, "Babylon" from Say It Out Loud (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)
Skammentary:
The Interrupters, "Babylon" from Say It Out Loud (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)
Skammentary:
"Rebel against the kings of Babylon,
Rebel against the kings of Babylon, yeah,
They got their swords and their spears and their bows and their knives,
But we're fighting with our brothers and our sisters for our lives,
Rebel against the kings of Babylon, yeah…"
Bonus! Song o' Ereyesterday
Sonntag, 23. November
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "The Route That I Took" from Pin Points and Gin Joints (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)
Skammentary:
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "The Route That I Took" from Pin Points and Gin Joints (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)
Skammentary:
"Without a drop of the sense that God had gave to a stone,
But in my own self defense, I was not all alone,
I had the partners and the colleagues and the cohorts in crime,
Heaven sent to me hellbend to be one hell of a time…"
The Rebel Black Dot Reunion Song o' the Day
The Loose Ties, "Settle the Score" (live) from Live at the Machine Shop (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)
Skammentary: The Loose Ties are the only band I've ever seen at the world-famous Machine Shop, despite having driven past the legendary venue hundreds of times in my life.
Skammentary: The Loose Ties are the only band I've ever seen at the world-famous Machine Shop, despite having driven past the legendary venue hundreds of times in my life.
Monday, November 24, 2025
The Rebel Black Dot Reunion Song o' the Day
The Loose Ties, "Awesomer Than You" from Champ of the Week (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)
Skammentary: The Loose Ties, Flint's own ska band, are playing a reunion show this coming Saturday, 29 November!
Skammentary: The Loose Ties, Flint's own ska band, are playing a reunion show this coming Saturday, 29 November!
Sunday, November 23, 2025
The Explorers' Club, № MCXXIV
Operation AXIOM: Between the Wars
24 November 1925: William Frank Buckley Junior was born (died 27 February 2008); he founded National Review magazine (1955-present) & hosted the television series Firing Line (1966-1999); a principal architect of the Cold War conservative movement, as distinct from the isolationist Old Right, W.F.B. purged fringe conspiracy theorists like the John Birch Society from the conservative coalition.Stand athwart history, yelling Stop.
24 November 1925: William Frank Buckley Junior was born (died 27 February 2008); he founded National Review magazine (1955-present) & hosted the television series Firing Line (1966-1999); a principal architect of the Cold War conservative movement, as distinct from the isolationist Old Right, W.F.B. purged fringe conspiracy theorists like the John Birch Society from the conservative coalition.Stand athwart history, yelling Stop.
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Christ the King
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Melania Rea, "You Are My King (Amazing Love)" from Mercy: Songs for Holy Week (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)
Melania Rea, "You Are My King (Amazing Love)" from Mercy: Songs for Holy Week (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)
Saturday, November 22, 2025
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: Go Blue!
Team 146, Game 11: Michigan @ Maryland
The University of Michigan Marching Band, "The Victors" from Forever Valiant (Mike Papa Wolverine)
Commentary: While this isn't a night game strictly speaking, a 4:00 P.M. kickoff at this time of year, along the Eastern Seaboard, is trending toward twilight. Most of this game will be played under artificial light.
The terrible Terrapins are a young club with a true freshman quarterback, but so are the valiant Wolverines. I do not understand why so many of my fellow Michigan fans are sanquine about last Saturday's victory over the plucky Wildcats, which required a last-second field goal. There is perilous peril in the D.M.V.!
Go Blue!
The University of Michigan Marching Band, "The Victors" from Forever Valiant (Mike Papa Wolverine)
Commentary: While this isn't a night game strictly speaking, a 4:00 P.M. kickoff at this time of year, along the Eastern Seaboard, is trending toward twilight. Most of this game will be played under artificial light.
The terrible Terrapins are a young club with a true freshman quarterback, but so are the valiant Wolverines. I do not understand why so many of my fellow Michigan fans are sanquine about last Saturday's victory over the plucky Wildcats, which required a last-second field goal. There is perilous peril in the D.M.V.!
Go Blue!
Friday, November 21, 2025
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day
Alien Ant Farm, "Smooth Criminal" from ANThology (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary: I don't necessarily prefer Alien Ant Farm's cover of "Smooth Criminal" to Michael Jackson's original, but today it was the cover, not the original, running through my head.
Commentary: I don't necessarily prefer Alien Ant Farm's cover of "Smooth Criminal" to Michael Jackson's original, but today it was the cover, not the original, running through my head.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Operation ÖSTERREICH: Please Stand By
Please Stand By | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!
Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 330.2 lbs. (12 June 2024)
Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 330.2 lbs. (12 June 2024)
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day
Slow Gherkin, "In Love with Moviestars" from Run Screaming (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary: Listening to Guster's "Barrel of a Gun" yesterday, I could not help but think of "In Love with Moviestars." So, here you go.
Commentary: Listening to Guster's "Barrel of a Gun" yesterday, I could not help but think of "In Love with Moviestars." So, here you go.
"In love with moviestars,
I've been living out a fantasy,
Because I couldn't do it by myself,
I'll just play it out vicariously…
"In love with moviestars,
I'll write a song to say I love her,
And all her dialogue's about me,
I'll fill one absense with another.
"We went so far (We went so far),
In love with moviestars,
We went so far (We went so far),
In love with moviestars…"
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day
Guster, "Barrel of a Gun" from Lost and Gone Forever (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary:
Commentary:
"I know a movie star,
I've got her plastered to my wall,
Just like we're dear old friends,
Like she already knows me.
She's as perfect as she seems,
Lifts me right out the mezzanine,
I finally fell in love,
I'd been waiting forever…"
Monday, November 17, 2025
Sunday, November 16, 2025
The Explorers' Club, № MCXXIII
Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of the Buran, Prelude
10 November 1985-15 April 1988: The O.K.-G.L.I. test vehicle (A.K.A. the Buran Analog B.T.S.-02) conducted twenty-five test flights, piloted by Rimantas Stankevičius & Igor Volk, Anatoly Levchenko & Alexandr Shchukin, & Ivan Buchurin & Alexei Borodai; the O.K.-G.L.I. was fitted with four jet engines for taking off & climbing to altitude before gliding back to the ground as the Buran spaceplane would.Commentary: Most episodes about Soviet spaceflight will continue to follow the fiftieth anniversary track (Soyuz capsules & Salyut space stations), but since the Buran was the Soviet answer to the Space Shuttle, it seemed more fitting to follow the Shuttle's fortieth anniversary track.
The Buran O.K.-G.L.I.'s 1985-1988 flights were the equivalent of the Space Shuttle Enterprise's 1977 Approach & Landing Tests: "The Explorers' Club," № DCCCVIII.
Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: Buran Test Flights
Robbie Williams, "Straighten Up and Fly Right" from Swings Both Ways (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)Semper exploro.
10 November 1985-15 April 1988: The O.K.-G.L.I. test vehicle (A.K.A. the Buran Analog B.T.S.-02) conducted twenty-five test flights, piloted by Rimantas Stankevičius & Igor Volk, Anatoly Levchenko & Alexandr Shchukin, & Ivan Buchurin & Alexei Borodai; the O.K.-G.L.I. was fitted with four jet engines for taking off & climbing to altitude before gliding back to the ground as the Buran spaceplane would.Commentary: Most episodes about Soviet spaceflight will continue to follow the fiftieth anniversary track (Soyuz capsules & Salyut space stations), but since the Buran was the Soviet answer to the Space Shuttle, it seemed more fitting to follow the Shuttle's fortieth anniversary track.
The Buran O.K.-G.L.I.'s 1985-1988 flights were the equivalent of the Space Shuttle Enterprise's 1977 Approach & Landing Tests: "The Explorers' Club," № DCCCVIII.
Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: Buran Test Flights
Robbie Williams, "Straighten Up and Fly Right" from Swings Both Ways (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)Semper exploro.
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the XXXIII Sunday in O.T.
The Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
The O.C. Supertones, "Perseverance of the Saints" from Supertones Strike Back (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)
The O.C. Supertones, "Perseverance of the Saints" from Supertones Strike Back (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)
Saturday, November 15, 2025
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: Go Blue!
Team 146, Game 10: Michigan @ Northwestern
Big D and the Kids Table, "Chicago" from How It Goes (Mike Papa Wolverine)
Commentary: Go Blue!
Big D and the Kids Table, "Chicago" from How It Goes (Mike Papa Wolverine)
Commentary: Go Blue!
Friday, November 14, 2025
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Bonus! Mambo Song o' the Day
Tito Puente, "Señor Burns" from Songs in the Key of Springfield: Original Music from the Television Series (Mike Papa Whiskey)
The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day
Lou Bega, "Mambo № 5 (A Little Bit of…)" from A Little Bit of Mambo (Mike Papa Whiskey)
Commentary: I tried to answer the question, "What is ska?," posed by a fellow catechist & she asked, "Like 'Mambo № 5'?" No, not like 'Mambo № 5.' I mean, mambo is in the title, after all; the song's not called "Ska № 5." In fairness, though, she probably doesn't know mambo is a genre of music, & I didn't have the time to explain the history of both ska (Jamaica) & mambo (Cuba).
Commentary: I tried to answer the question, "What is ska?," posed by a fellow catechist & she asked, "Like 'Mambo № 5'?" No, not like 'Mambo № 5.' I mean, mambo is in the title, after all; the song's not called "Ska № 5." In fairness, though, she probably doesn't know mambo is a genre of music, & I didn't have the time to explain the history of both ska (Jamaica) & mambo (Cuba).
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