Before Sunrise

In this "After Dark" episode during the wee morning hours before sunrise, Mike reflects on his Asian/Caucasian heritage, his childhood love of board games, and the irony of digital data persistence. He speaks frankly about the financial pressures he's facing, delivering a prayer regarding rent and groceries.

This is Mike George coming at you for Open Mike LIVE… ‘After Dark' — or maybe 'Almost Light,' depending on how you look at it. I’ve always been a fan of the dark; it’s just more fun.

I’m coming to you from Alexandria, Louisiana. It’s that awkward hour where some of you are waking up for work while I still haven’t gone to bed. It reminds me of the Sunday morning Metro in Montreal, where the club kids and the churchgoers all end up on the same train. That’s the vibe here today.

I have to start with a little disclaimer: I am not a harm to myself or anyone else. I’ve had the 'wellness police' show up during my streams before, so let’s just get those magical lines out of the way now so nobody calls them this time.

I’ve been thinking a lot about technology and the cloud. It’s funny to think we can delete things, but with all the redundancy out there, everything is basically saved forever. I’m a bit of a hoarder myself—though much more reasonable than my mother was!

You know, I’m an 'Asian Caucasian,' and I was trying to decide which sounds better: an 'Asian Caucasian Persuasion' or an 'Asian Caucasian Sensation'? I'll let the audience decide on that one. I’m also a big games nerd, though it’s been hard to find board game groups here in Alexandria. I’ve been looking back at some of the game ideas and mazes I used to design as a kid.

It’s actually a beautiful, foggy morning. I can hear the birds starting up, and the temperature is a perfect 68 degrees—in December! Thank you, Lord, for that weather. Since I’m in a spiritual mood, I think I’ll even offer up a freehand prayer. Dear Lord, thank you for the mangoes being three for a dollar, and please help me get through the day without getting evicted. I’ve been under some serious financial pressure lately, and I’d really like to not disappoint my landlord.

I’m going to play some music now and see if 'Copyright Karen' takes me down. I’ve got some Ellie Goulding, Arcade Fire, and Busta Rhymes ready to go. That Busta Rhymes song, 'First of the Month,' used to be a happy one, but now it just fills me with rent-day dread!

Well, the sun is officially coming up, which means it’s no longer After Dark.' I’ve got to get to work. Take care of yourselves, and for goodness' sake, take care of each other. Bye for now!