Back to Basics
Mike reflects on the dangers of domestic terrorism targeting electrical infrastructure, explaining the vulnerability of power substations. Pivoting to the subject of addiction and recovery, he describes his father's sobriety as a source of inspiration. revealing his ambition to launch a transformative camping retreat that would aim to subtly guide participants through healing experiences to aid in overcoming undesired addictions.
This is Mike George coming at you live from Crimson House in Alexandria. First of all, thank God for people who actually speak up when they can't hear me, otherwise this whole effort would be a total waste of my time. It is a gorgeous 20-degree day in December, and honestly, it’s just amazing to be alive. With all the negativity and "shit shows" in the news and politics, sometimes you just have to bring it back to basics and enjoy what’s right in front of you. TV lives on drama and clickbait, but these raw livestream episodes are different. If you want high production value, go watch HBO.
I love seeing the kids in this neighborhood playing outside and taking up the streets; it makes the cars actually slow down, which is how a street should be—teaming with life, not just cars. It does irk me, though, that the city built this residential area without a single sidewalk. Speaking of struggles, AT&T pulled the plug on my phone because I’m a month behind on the bill—Mama T is not happy. So, I’m on Wi-Fi only, and if you’re trying my 614 number, it’s disconnected. I’m using my 740 Crimson Rouge number as a landline now.
Looking at all these leaves on the ground, I really have to wonder: why do we rake leaves? I’ve always thought they were there for a reason, like a natural thermal blanket to keep the grass warm through the winter. Plus, it’s just a layer of "dead shit" that eventually breaks down into natural fertilizer. I get sweeping the walkways so people don't slip, but raking the grass seems like doing extra work that actually works against you. I’m lazy, but I’m also practical. I compost and recycle for the same reason—it’s easier to take out one tiny bag of trash than a giant bag full of bulky plastic. The city doesn't pick up recycling, so I walk mine over to Target, which takes plastics, metals, and glass all in one bin.
It really pisses me off when my electronics don’t work because, honestly, having a Master’s in Electrical Engineering should mean my house is on point. But I’m constantly a step behind, whether it’s the Bluetooth audio or these "smart lights". I bought different brands that don't want to talk to each other, and it’s a total lack of standardization. It took me 36 hours just to set up lightbulbs, which is embarrassing. We have the audacity to think AI is going to take over the world when we can't even get light bulbs to work together. Humans are way more "basic" than we like to think.
On a more serious note, look at what's happening in Ukraine with the weaponization of energy. Russia is shooting down power lines to cut off electricity as winter hits. Now, just today, I saw that two electrical substations in North Carolina were shot up, leaving 50,000 people without power. Designing and maintaining substations was my "bread and butter" at my old job, and it’s terrifying to see people emulating that Russian playbook here. We’re actually having to build giant concrete walls around critical transformers to protect them from domestic terrorism. This is why we can't have nice things, kids.
Anyway, it's 22 degrees out, so I'm not wearing a shirt—the internet rewards a little sex appeal, and if it gets people excited about science and engineering, I’ll do it.
I haven't been able to dance with WANDA lately because her speakers are shot, so I’ve rechristened my big JBL speaker "Madam Speaker" in honor of Nancy Pelosi. I even built a contraption that inserts the speaker into a lamp to create a resonant chamber for a natural boost.
I’m also really proud of a broadcast I did yesterday about humility. I think Facebook needs a "Humbled" react icon so people can actually acknowledge when they’ve learned something new or realized they were wrong. I stopped being silent in 2020, but I'm trying to find that balance between speaking out and not just being an asshole. I’ve even been off weed for five days and haven’t become a "raging cunt" yet. I view the right to weed like people in Louisiana view their guns—it’s an American right, but it requires judgment and responsibility.
One thing that really confounds me is the addiction to car culture here. I stay in shape just by walking, but I can't get a single friend to walk the half-mile to the gay club, Bottoms Up. They insist on driving after pregaming, which is absurd. To me, car culture is a behavioral addiction just like meth or phones. That’s why I got rid of my car—if I have one, I’ll be a lazy fucker and use it for everything.
My big goal for 2023 with Crimson Rouge Studios is to host a spiritual camping retreat. I want to design an immersive experience—maybe with augmented reality like Pokémon Go—that helps people guide themselves through addiction recovery without it being a "sit in a circle" meeting. It’s a lofty goal, but I can't just sit by while people die around me. We have to start caring. Take care of yourselves, and take care of somebody else.
