Hank Watson's Garage Hour - Cars, Trucks, Beers & Guns

So much show, show little time.  ...Still uploading episodes from 2025 - this one was close at hand.  It starts with a look at distilleries like Jim Beam and others which are having a hard time coping with market movement, and how it's an analog to brewery behavior in years past (including outfits now and gone like Manzanita, Butcher's, Ballast Point, Breckenridge and more), and then overrules it all with the potential alien invasion loaded up on an "asteroid" named 3I/Atlas (perhaps they like beer).  Curveballs continue with extra arms and prehensile tails, and then there's the tale of a mechanic from Normal, America, who has been pardoned for helping diesel truck owners avoid destructive government policies and parts.  Because racecar, the gearhead goons also noticed that the world famous Targa Tasmania was running - right now - and that's good news for drivers who like honest tarmac action and the go-fast community. Don't worry, we got lost too: Kalifornistan continues to make life hard for its citizens by driving refineries out of the state; and don't throw the baby out with the bath water: a good idea like storing cheap electricity in batteries shouldn't be ruined by a few bad batteries that got hung on a wall (and then caught fire).

So much show, show little time.  ...Still uploading episodes from 2025 - this one was close at hand.  It starts with a look at distilleries like Jim Beam and others which are having a hard time coping with market movement, and how it's an analog to brewery behavior in years past (including outfits now and gone like Manzanita, Butcher's, Ballast Point, Breckenridge and more), and then overrules it all with the potential alien invasion loaded up on an "asteroid" named 3I/Atlas (perhaps they like beer).  Curveballs continue with extra arms and prehensile tails, and then there's the tale of a mechanic from Normal, America, who has been pardoned for helping diesel truck owners avoid destructive government policies and parts.  Because racecar, the gearhead goons also noticed that the world famous Targa Tasmania was running - right now - and that's good news for drivers who like honest tarmac action and the go-fast community. Don't worry, we got lost too: Kalifornistan continues to make life hard for its citizens by driving refineries out of the state; and don't throw the baby out with the bath water: a good idea like storing cheap electricity in batteries shouldn't be ruined by a few bad batteries that got hung on a wall (and then caught fire).

Why not finish the year with a geek-strength pile-on: we've got everything from robot cars freezing up in blackouts to electric Jeeps blowing up in garages, rich fat girls getting high and running over the NYPD, the importance of being prepared for your adventure (whether at sea in your sweet fishing boat or on-trail in your busted up rock rig), and electric school busses that can't keep kids warm (let alone work on hills, in the cold, with a load, or in any municipality's budget).  There's also a maddening report on the ongoing inability of bureaucrats to make the Dem's watermelon nightmare of electric everything actually work (stupid physics always getting in the way).  More: another way that pinko Chinese manufacturing is destroying the free world, and some analysis of the problem posed by folks who think the Second Amendment is a second-class right (or don't even have one in backsliding nations like Australia) and that bans on guns will stop the evil in a man's heart (when it just stops law-abiding citizens from defending themselves). Going for broke: a rare exception to the Good Soundtrack/Bad Movie Rule, an Excellent Weirdo R.I.P. for Gil Gerrard (Buck Rogers his own damn self), some Morty & Rick, and music from the Chemical Bros., Prodigy, Bio-Mechanical Degeneration, Josh Wink, Naked Funk, Soul Coughing, Poker Face, Mirwais and Korn.

Why not finish the year with a geek-strength pile-on: we've got everything from robot cars freezing up in blackouts to electric Jeeps blowing up in garages, rich fat girls getting high and running over the NYPD, the importance of being prepared for your adventure (whether at sea in your sweet fishing boat or on-trail in your busted up rock rig), and electric school busses that can't keep kids warm (let alone work on hills, in the cold, with a load, or in any municipality's budget).  There's also a maddening report on the ongoing inability of bureaucrats to make the Dem's watermelon nightmare of electric everything actually work (stupid physics always getting in the way).  More: another way that pinko Chinese manufacturing is destroying the free world, and some analysis of the problem posed by folks who think the Second Amendment is a second-class right (or don't even have one in backsliding nations like Australia) and that bans on guns will stop the evil in a man's heart (when it just stops law-abiding citizens from defending themselves). Going for broke: a rare exception to the Good Soundtrack/Bad Movie Rule, an Excellent Weirdo R.I.P. for Gil Gerrard (Buck Rogers his own damn self), some Morty & Rick, and music from the Chemical Bros., Prodigy, Bio-Mechanical Degeneration, Josh Wink, Naked Funk, Soul Coughing, Poker Face, Mirwais and Korn.

Everything Christmas from Where the Gearheads Are (with a little Judiasm and Islam thrown in), we've got a fun Xmas Day analysis of what's up in OUR world.  Why is it important to focus on being the giver?  How can you put all the phones away - if but for a day?  How do you overcome the challenge of shopping for a geek (shooters, gamers, gardeners, stereophiles and makers worldwide need apply)?  Why is "Sleigh Ride" the best Christmas song (even if it's 70º and sunny)?  Can a Xmas turkey (chili) satisfy all comers?  Is untraditional (or is it non?) Xmas music suitable for old peopled?  Why are old school, classical decorations always better?  ...Same for presents - how are over-the-shoulder throwback gifts always going to hit better than shiny new stuff?  There's also family movies, lost-and-found Xmas tunes, essential fireplaces, the Yule log, helping out the oldsters with their decorations (the effort matters), and lighting for a barbed-wire wreath. More/merrier: Christmas music from Brian Setzer, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Burl Ives, Boston Pops, Sepultura, Mannheim Steamroller, Louie Armstrong, Holst, Louie Primo, Guns 'N Roses, Steve Bennett, Dean Martin, with a little bit of James Bond on top.