What I remember about Ronnie Hersh, is that he looked like a 42 year old car salesman at 13. He slicked back his hair, and wore polo shirts with khakis and one of those weird fabric and metal looped belts that absolutely do not work. I have no memory of what his parents served for dinner or of a single topic of conversation or of literally a single other event that transpired. Except that he has an enormous battleship on a high shelf of his wall. Next to that was a white and brown teddy bear. Those must have been the first things I saw because my memory only houses two other objects: A small TV and a SNES.

I first heard Minus the Bear’s debut album in high school, probably sophomore year. Highly Refined Pirates was Highly Fucking Cool Summertime Music. It literally feels like summer. In many ways, the track list was the soundtrack to my adolescence. At first, it was something my developing mind considered movie-like. Carefree nights, maybe on a beach or at a house party. Beautiful ladies amidst (cuz they weren’t women yet). A little bit of alcohol (or a lot, depending on the song) to set the mood; perhaps something more interesting. But the thing is: I’d never had alcohol, drugs or sex. And in fact, I didn’t even really desire to live with reckless abandon.

It’s daylight-savings time, we are about a quarter of the way through the NBA season, and I still have no idea what time it is or what to make of the Lakers, SO, it’s time to sit back and take a look at the season so far and ponders the questions that may leave us at unfulfilled answers. Allow me to be your guide though these vast new realities that I just made up. Follow me and dare to face the unknown. All while pondering the question: What If….?