“No matter how much I wanted all those things I needed money to buy, there was some devilish current pushing me off in another direction—towards anarchy and poverty and craziness. That maddening delusion that a man can lead a decent life without hiring himself out as a Judas Goat.”

-H.S.T., The Rum Diary

Black Flag playing a show at San Pedro High School, probably in 1981 (the year Rollins joined the band).

San Pedro is working class part of Los Angeles, home to the the main port of L.A. (and thus to dockworkers, stevedores, teamsters, sailors and seafaring men of every stripe).  San Pedro High School boasts a number of notable alumni, though none are as important as Mike Watt, D. Boon and George Hurley, who graduated in 1976 and went on to form the seminal punk rock trio Minutemen.  Fans of 1980s teen dramas may recognize the high school as the setting of 1987′s Some Kind of Wonderful, with Eric Stoltz and Lea Thompson.

As D. Boon sang on History Lesson Part 2, “our band could be your life.”

If I were to buy a motorcycle it would be a mid-70s Honda from the CB line.  The bike picture above happens to be a 1975 CB550F, which was part of Honda’s “Super Sport” range.  The 544cc air-cooled 8-valve engine made 50 bhps with a top speed of 102 mph.  They were competent bikes that handled well and rode smoothly for short to middle distance highway rides.  You weren’t going to win any quarter mile races, but you’d likely to live to talk about the adventure.

For me it’s the aesthetics that make them so compelling.  The simple bench seat, the graceful gas tank, the flat bars, the 4-into-1 exhaust, the chrome finishes, and, of course, those 70s color schemes!  Candy Garnet Brown. Polynesian Blue. Starlight Gold. Jet Green.  And, of course, Candy Jade Green, which is what the bike pictured above features.

Someday…

Here’s to living life, taking chances and conquering fears in the new year.

This is where my head is at today, thanks to a bit of overindulgence at an office holiday party last night.  I’m far too old to be out carousing until witching hours these days, especially when the next morning finds me jarred awake by a bouncing three year old boy.  Fatherhood and hangovers are a terrible mix.

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never–this is my symphony.”

-William Henry Channing

Or maybe it’s their gun in the barrel of a soldier’s gun iconic moment?