ROLEY

Category: The Verbs

  • The Verbs: May 2025

    Watching: 1923, Paramount+

    I am completely invested in Yellowstone. It doesn’t hurt that Sam Elliott was in 1883, 1923 is just loaded with actors I like, and Yellowstone was one of the best shows on TV at the time, with characters who were both horrible and compelling. Costner made a huge mistake leaving, but Kevin is going to Kevin.

    Reading: A Peoples’ History of the United States, by Howard Zinn.

    History is usually written by the victors, not the vanquished. As such, there are things you may not know. This book is not a definitive source for the side you aren’t taught in school, but it’s a damn good starting point. A lot of people consider this to be a heretical book, and Zinn to be too leftist and American-hating. I don’t. Your mileage may vary.

    Jamming: Pink Floyd, Meddle thru The Final Cut

    Deep diving into the Floyd for the period that most people will tell you is the correct era to be listening. I was on a podcast a while back that asked me to select the Rush Tracks I think people should listen to as a jumping off point. This is my return trip. There’s one more I really want to do, that I don’t think they’ve done yet.

    Podding: Call Jonathan Pie, S2

    If you don’t know Jonathan Pie, you need to correct this. He’s a satirical character who skewers the news, news broadcasters, and politics. More UK driven than anything else, but he lowers the boom at the EU and USA very well.

    Working: I’m still having a hell of a time with that video project, I’ve started it and junked it several times over the past two months. I’m still on it, but I’m going to set a goal of having it done by the end of the Summer. So, Labor Day?

  • The Verbs: April 2015

    Watching: Bosch Legacy, Season 3

    Bosch, for my money, is one of the best shows on TV. Legacy is the last season that Harry Bosch will be the main character, although he may be in the spinoffs as a side character. If you haven’t caught this, it’s on Amazon Prime. Watch this.

    Reading: Careless People, Sarah Wynn-Williams

    Memoir about life behind the scenes at Meta/Facebook. Here is your periodic reminder that Facebook was not invented for altruistic purposes, and Mark Zuckerberg has never done the right thing without being dragged to it.

    Jamming: Tracy Chapman, Self titled.

    There is no better time to listen to this album than RIGHT. NOW.

    Podding: Amicus, with Dahlia Lithwick.

    Dahlia Lithwick has been covering the Supreme Court forever. I trust what she has to say about the Court, and the law.

    Working: I’m suffering from a bit of second thoughts about the video. I’ve scripted three separate versions of something ad aborted halfway through. So, taking another whack at it.

  • The Verbs: March 2025

    Watching: Death In Paradise, BBC

    With the new season starting to show up on BritBox, I decided to do a rewatch of the whole thing. Yes, it’s a cookie cutter kind of crime procedural, but it’s very British, very fish out of water, and very funny at times. In this day and age, it’s comfort food to keep my mind off of what’s going on in the world. You have to find bits of joy in things somewhere or you’ll go nuts. Here’s one of mine.


    Reading: The Great Shark Hunt, Hunter S. Thompson

    I’ve never watched Fear and Loathing. I did watch The Rum Diary, which got my curiosity up to actually read Hunter. Also, I grew up reading Doonesbury, and Uncle Duke is…well…yeah. Hunter reminds me of that guy who listens very carefully to everyone’s advice, and then does whatever he was going to do in the first place.

    We’re talking about HUNTER. Not ROLEY, HUNTER.


    Jamming: Who Let The Dogs Out, Lambrini Girls

    Heard the song “Company Culture’ on Strombo, and sometimes you just need some thing that kicks your ass. I submit this for your gluteal destruction.



    Podding:  Reclaiming, Monica Lewinski

    Yes, Monica Lewinski. If anyone knows about taking back the narrative of their life, I think she does. She has conversations with people who have dealt with some great difficulties, and how they did it. If you know me, it’s right up my alley.


    Working: My goal for March is to make a video. It is not a TikTok or a reel, but a video. Horizontal storytelling is what we did in the pioneer times.

  • The Verbs, February 2025

    Watching: Silo, Apple TV+

    Reading: A Theater for Dreamers, by Polly Samson

    Jamming: The Ocean Blue, Self-Titled (1989)

    Podding: Transmissions, the definitive story of Joy Division/New Order

    Working: I am still working on consistency on this page, slowly renovating the studio, and weeding out my photo library of approximately 4,000 pictures, which includes duplicates and trash photos that should not be there.

  • The Verbs, January 2025

    Watching: 1923, from the Yellowstone series (Paramount +)

    Reading: The Black Echo by Michael Connelly

    Jamming: Live 1978-1992 by Dire Straits

    Podding: The Black Dahlia Serial Killers by Wondery

    Working: Right here on this site. I’m just working on creating content for now.