The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Fountains of Wayne, "The Man in the Santa Suit" from the Out-of-State Plates compilation (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: This morning was my Knights of Columbus council's annual Breakfast with Santa toy giveaway to the children of needy families. Our man in the Santa suit, a Knight, views being a Santa Claus as a vocation, working not in the mall but only for charitable events, especially those that serve children with mental impairments & developmental disabilities.

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day!

The Aquabats!, "Santa Claus's Party!" from I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas Too! E.P. (Captain Thumbs Up!)

The Explorers' Club, № MCXXVIII

Operation AXIOM: Between the Wars
11 December 1925: Pope Pius XI promulgated the encyclical Quas primas ("From the first…") in response to the Great War & the global wave of revolutions (1917-1923), reminding a secularizing world that true peace is only possible when Christ reigns as King in the hearts of men; the Feast of Christ the King was added to the Church calendar from 1926 & adopted by many Protestant groups.

Commentary: From 1926-1969, the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King was celebrated on the last Sunday before All Saints' Day (the last Sunday in October); since 1970, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe is celebrated on the last Sunday before the First Sunday in Advent (the last or second-to-last Sunday in November).

Lest we forget.

Bonus! Song o' the Day: In Memoriam

The Blues Brothers, "Sweet Home Chicago" from The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack Recording (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: In memoriam Steve "The Colonel" Cropper (21 October 1941-3 December 2025). Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, Cropper was friends with future Booker T & the M.G.s & Blues Brothers bandmate Donald "Duck" Dunn (24 November 1941-13 May 2012).

Requiescat in pace.

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Reel Big Fish, "Lickle Drummond Bwoy" from the Happy Skalidays E.P. (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: Probably R.B.F.'s most roots ska-sounding song.

The Explorers' Club Special: December 1915

Operation AXIOM: The World War
In December 1915, the Central Powers conquered Serbia, the British Indian force in Mesopotamia was beseiged at Kut-al-Amara, the Western Front took an ever more recognizable shape, & a young poet was killed, later to be memorialized in his fiancée's memoir, Testament of Youth.

The Wayback Machine Tour of the World War: December 1915
"The Explorers' Club," № CDLXXIV: The Serbian Campaign, Part IV: The Battle of Kosturino (6-12 December 1915)
"The Explorers' Club," № CDLXXV: The Siege of Kut, Part I (7 December 1915)
"The Explorers' Club," № CDLXXVII: General Sir Douglas Haig replaced Field Marshal Sir John French as commander of the British Expeditionary Force (19 December 1915)
"The Explorers' Club," № CDLXXVI: The Death of Roland Leighton (23 December 1915)

Lest we forget.

Bonus! Song o' the Day: In Memoriam

The Blues Brothers, "Soul Man" (live) from Briefcase Full of Blues (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: In memoriam Steve "The Colonel" Cropper (21 October 1941-3 December 2025). Cropper also played the guitar on the original recording of "Soul Man" by Sam & Dave.

"Play it, Steve!"

Requiescat in pace.

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)

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Bite Me Bambi, "Holiday Cheer" from the Holiday Cheer single (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: Always drink responsibly, ladies & gentlemen.

Bonus! Song o' the Day: In Memoriam

Sam & Dave, "Soul Man" from the Rhino Hi-Five: Sam & Dave compilation (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: In memoriam Steve "The Colonel" Cropper (21 October 1941-3 December 2025). Cropper played the guitar on the original recording of "Soul Man" & is called out by name by Sam Moore, an aside repeated by John Belushi on the Blues Brothers' cover of "Soul Man" a decade later.

"Play it, Steve!"

Requiescat in pace.

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

The Chinkees, "Christmas" from Peace through Music (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: This Advent & Christmas, please do something concrete to remember the poor. The King of the Universe was born poor, with a stable for His delivery room & a feeding trough for His bed.

"Sometimes, Christmas isn't like T.V.,
Some kids got no presents under their tree,
Their plates are empty, there's nothing to eat,
Holidays just remind them what they haven't got.

"That's why now sometimes, Christmas hurts!

"Sometimes, sometimes, Christmas hurts (Sometimes, Christmas hurts),
Sometimes, sometimes, Christmas hurts (Sometimes, Christmas hurts),
Sometimes, sometimes, Christmas hurts (Sometimes, Christmas hurts),
Sometimes, sometimes, Christmas hurts (Got no presents)…"

The Explorers' Club, № MCXXVII

Operation AXIOM: The 60th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, Part III
8 December 1965: Pope Paul VI closed the Council with Mass in Saint Peter's Square, with 300,000 in attendance; the day before, he & Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople read out the Joint Declaration & Pope Paul lifted the excommunication of the Orthodox that dated back to the Great Schism in 1054; simultaneously in Istanbul, the Orthodox excommunication of Catholics was lifted.

Bonus! Song o' the Day: Vatican II
Alpheus, "Unify" from Unify (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: The Catholic-Orthodox Joint Declaration of 1965 didn't fully heal the schism between East & West, but it was a significant step toward obeying the Lord's command of unity.

The Wayback Machine Tour of the Second Vatican Council
"The Explorer's Club," № CMVII: The Second Vatican Council Opened (Part I)
"The Explorer's Club," № CMLIV: Pope John XXIII Died & Pope Paul VI Was Elected (Part II)

Semper exploro.

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Reel Big Fish, "Skank for Christmas" from the Happy Skalidays E.P. (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"…And of course when I say 'skank,' I'm talking about the ska dance, and nothing else. Merry Christmas!"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the II Sunday o' Advent

The Second Sunday of Advent
Sufjan Stevens, "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming" from the Sufjan Stevens Presents Songs for Christmas Singalong (In Stereo Hi-Fi) compilation (A.K.A. Songs for Christmas) (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Hope & endurance.

Bonus! Song o' Pearl Harbor Day

Operation AXIOM: The 84th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Glenn Miller, "String of Pearls" from Glenn Miller's 50 Finest (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: We are now farther away in time from the Attack on Pearl Harbor (eighty-four years) than Pearl Harbor was from the Battle of Fort Sumter (12 April 1861, eighty years), which marked the start of the American Civil War. Sit with that for a minute.

"December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy…."

Lest we forget.

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

The Optional Memorial of Saint Nicholas, Bishop
The Klezmonauts, "Santa Gey Gezunderheit" from Oy to the World: A Klezmer Christmas (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: The culture starts "celebrating" Christmas too early (immediately after Hallowe'en, judging by the inflatable yard decorations in my neighborhood) & stops celebrating way too early: Christmas doesn't end on 26 December, it starts on 25 December & lasts twelve days! We mark the Christmastide (from the Nativity of the Lord [25 December] to the traditional Epiphany of the Lord [6 January, the current observance of the Epiphany having been transferred to a moveable Sunday] with appropriately sacred music. So, what to do with all the fun secular Christmas music? Our solution here at The Secret Base is to wait on Christmas music until the feast of Saint Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus, & then highlight those songs 'til Christmas Eve. Enjoy!

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

The Cranberries, "Dreams" from Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Not Us? (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Sweet fancy Moses, Dolores O'Riordan's voice was phenomenal!

Bonus! Song o' the Day: In Memoriam

Otis Redding, "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" from Platoon: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: In memoriam Steve "The Colonel" Cropper (21 October 1941-3 December 2025). Cropper co-wrote, produced, & played on "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay."

Requiescat in pace.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

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.

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.

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.

"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:

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.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Ereyesterday

Montag, 1. Dezember
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…"

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!

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!

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.

"But it's just the price I pay, destiny is calling me,
Open up my eager eyes, 'cause I'm Mr. Brightside!…"

Go Blue!

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.

Bonus! Reunion Song o' the Day

The Loose Ties, "O.K., Sure" from Champ of the Week (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

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:

"I'd like to open up by making a suggestion,
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…"

A Thanksgiving tradition: Wayback Machine.

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.

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)

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.

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.

Bonus! Song o' Yesterday

Montag, 24. November
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:

"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.