Hammer Mill Days

It's the end of the year, and news organizations far and wide are doing their annual retrospective clip shows. From a production standpoint they are a terrific money saver, no doubt, which would explain why the various networks seem so enthusiastic about it. This is the week when you get a distillation of the year's worst reporting; a big ball of conventional wisdom, served up on a plate. Open wide! NPR's Morning Edition - as reliable a servant of empire as any imperial bureaucrat could hope for - wasted no words in putting one of the world's most dangerous conflicts into the proper context: You can learn a lot about 2014 by tracing the story of one man, Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader hosted the Winter Olympics proudly showing off a place that's near and dear to him, the Black Sea Resort of Sochi. But the feeling of global goodwill there disappeared so quickly. Putin infuriated the West by annexing Crimea then he stirred a deadly conflict in Eastern Ukraine....

Well, so that was Christmas, eh? What the hell. Kind of ... over, isn't it? Hope all of you are having a good holiday season. Sure, there comes a time when the plate is empty, the music falls silent, and the final champagne bubble pops. But take heart, friends ... that time has yet to arrive. So for the nonce, as Governor Scott Walker would say, Molotov! So, what is your holiday story? Can hardly wait to hear it. Here at the abandoned Cheney Hammer Mill, we've been observing the season in the usual way. All the traditional rituals. And of course, the annual holiday podcast. Kind of puny, actually. I don't know, maybe ... 36 minutes of pure lame-ass awesomeness. WE BRING THE AWESOME. I think you can imagine what the low lights might be. Here are some of the highlights: Gold And Silver - Captain Romney sings a song of Christmas cheer from the perspective of an acquisitive, rapacious, mammon worshiper, bent on gain at all cost. Very festive indeed. Easy to waltz to. Co...

Got a lot to say about a lot of things, but not tonight. I will add to this post later with some reflections on, well, end of year reflections. Stay tuned.