My flatmate Dean and I haven't spoken yet this year, which is glorious. Things aren't quiet, though because even when he's not talking to me, he's tends to be talking.

In my bedroom I can hear everything that happens in the kitchen, and he likes to cook, so he's in the kitchen a lot. And talking. Sometimes he's talking to Robert, my other flatmate. Other times he's talking on the phone.

Dean's conversations with Robert last about an hour, every time, sometimes longer. Phone calls, half an hour, at least. And he says the same things, both times. He does most of the talking, usually about cooking, and these three things keep coming up over and over:

• "I only work three days a week, and that's the way I like it." Around this, spring myriad stories of how the restaurant wanted him to work a fourth day one week, and he did, and how the restaurant wanted him to work a fourth day a different week, and he didn't, and how much they appreciated it when he did, and how much the place fell apart when he didn't.

• Whatever he cooked yesterday, and the day before, and how everyone loved it, and what he's planning to cook tomorrow, and next week, and how he knows everyone will love it.

• In his cooking stories, the words "executive chef" keep popping out from the babble — the executive chef said this, the executive chef wants that, and always, the executive chef really liked [whatever Dean prepped yesterday]. Dean is seriously crushing on the executive chef.

It is mighty tiresome hearing these conversations through the wall once or twice daily, but it's a thousand times better than hearing it in person, without the wall.

When I was writing Pathetic Life in the '90s, it scored me some dames. Zines been very very good to me. Never expected it, but my oh my, what a fringe benefit.

Of course, my beloved wife Stephanie was first drawn to me from my writing, and she's by far the best thing that's ever happened to me. And before Steph, there was Sarah-Katherine, who I've mentioned a few times, and at least one more woman whose name I've forgotten. Sorry about that. Forgetting her name is kinda scummy, but I have limited RAM remaining.

Well, I'm writing again, and have been for about three years now. So where are my groupies, dang it?

My sister unknowingly exposed me to COVID at breakfast on Saturday. CDC says I'm supposed to quarantine for ten days. I might, but also might not.

I dearly love being a homebody and hermit, but once I a while I need to get out of the house. It's been three days and I am itching for a bus ride — a bit of time being nominally part of the world, instead of watching movies and surfing the web.

Yeah, there's no way I'm going to make it ten days behind the door in my bedroom. Sorry if that makes me a horrible human, but I was already a horrible human.

I've told my flatmates I was exposed, and when I come out of my room I'm masked in the kitchen. And when I bust outta here, I wouldn't go to the restaurant, because I'd have to unmask.

On the bus, though, I wear a mask and sit as far as feasible from anyone else. Even on the sidewalk I'm masked by habit, and everyone who's not an idiot has been vaccinated, so I'm planning a slight excursion tonight or tomorrow.

Probably tomorrow. The view out the windows of the bus is better by daylight.

News you need,
whether you know it or not

• Seattle School District sues social media firms over youth mental health crisis

Seems like a long shot, but I'm intrigued.

• Decades late, the FCC might start cracking down on terrible telecom prison monopolies. Maybe.

• Climate change could cause "disaster" in the world's oceans, say UC Irvine scientists

• Economic losses from hurricanes become too big to be offset by the US if warming continues

• Fungi that cause serious lung infections are now found throughout the U.S.

• Global pollinator losses causing 500,000 early deaths a year – study

• Single-use plastic cutlery and plates to be banned in England

• Appeals court hands immunity to TSA agents who forced man to delete his recording of them

• His video sparked a probe into police misconduct. Then the traffic stops started.

• "I begged them not to shoot him," she said.

• George Santos flashes "white power" sign during Speaker vote

• There was a punk show on BART Friday night

As long as the bands avoid rush hour this seems like a great idea. Transit ridership is still down from the pandemic, it ought to sell some train tickets, expose the bands to new audiences, and anyone who hates the music can walk to the next car. No downside, all upside — so of course, BART shut it down.

• NASA discovers precious gemstones on Mars

Mystery links
Like life itself, there's no
knowing where you're going

• Click

• Click

• Click

Clicks ahoy

• Goddard College: the history of a self-sufficient, anti-fascist institution

First college I've head of where I would've been happy to attend.

• Did anti-vaxxer deaths from COVID swing elections?

• How Stokely Carmichael helped inspire the creation of C-Span

• Everything you didn't know about The Shining

• Getting to know your nuclear bombmakers

• No parking in the bus lane, please.

• Hydra: The Greek island that banned wheels

• Weasel war dance

♫♬ Mix tape of my mind ♫

• All I Think About Is You — Harry Nilsson

• I Drove All Night — Cyndi Lauper

• Mah Na Mah Na — Piero Umiliani

• Run Through the Jungle — Creedence Clearwater Revival

• Wooden Ships — Crosby Stills & Nash

Eventually, everyone
leaves the building

• Frank Galati

• Bernard Kalb

• Joyce Meskis

That's a fine obituary for Ms Meskis, not to be missed. She sold my zine in her store, and we traded a few notes, but I never knew she was as cool as she was.

• Adam Rich

• Fay Weldon

1/10/2023
Tip 'o the hat to Linden Arden, ye olde AVA, BoingBoing, Breakfast at Ralf's, Captain Hampockets, CaptCreate's Log, John the Basket, LiarTownUSA, Meme City, National Zero, Ran Prieur, Voenix Rising, and anyone else whose work I've stolen without saying thanks.
Special thanks to Becky Jo, Name Withheld, Dave S, Wynn Bruce, and always extra special thanks to my lovely late Stephanie, who gave me 21 years and proved that the world isn't always shitty.