Friday, December 31, 2021

Remembering Betty White: TV Icon & Living Legend Passes Away at 99


Hello, everyone. As you all know (to the bitter heartbreak of us all), Betty White has passed away earlier today at the age of 99 - just 18 days shy of her 100th birthday. Personally, I'm shocked, stunned and saddened. She will one of my all-time favorites in the world of acting and entertainment and her works are some of my all-time favorites in television history. 

Here is my history of watching the works of Betty White. 
Of course, like many kids of the time, I first watched her shine in her iconic Emmy-winning role of sweet-but-scatterbrained Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls during reruns of the equally-Emmy-winning series on Lifetime throughout the late 90s and early aughts. Since then, it changed networks (Hallmark Channel and TV Land among them), but I always watched because it was a damn near perfect sitcom, in part because of her charismatic, vivacious, magnetic and multilayered performance and her 1000-watt smile and disposition supported by an equally-talented cast (Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty).

Throughout the years since, I would see her pop up on other sitcoms, talk shows,, news programs and game shows - whether new or old. She was just as sweet, charming, funny and electric as she was on The Golden Girls. Password (the original hosted by her late husband Allen Ludden), Match Game, To Tell the Truth, I've Got a Secret and Just Men! (of which she hosted and received a Daytime Emmy) are just some of the shows she's appeared on and excelled with her contestant partners and on her on own wits and skills.

Speaking of TV Land, her next sitcom -- Hot in Cleveland (on which she stars as offbeat, snarky but up-with-the-times caretaker Elka Ovstrosky) also became a fan favorite of mine, also in part because of her. Her performance as a half-bitter, half-caring, always drunken smart-ass was both hilarious and memorable and is unforgettable. Her hosting gig on Saturday Night Live is also iconic and unforgettable (and I bet the cast and former cast members who guessed will also never forget it) and led to another well-deserved Emmy. And all it took was a successful campaign on Facebook after her surprisingly awesome appearance in a Snickers commercial.

She is also remembered for her roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as Sue Ann Nivens - a local cooking TV show host who is sweet and kind when the cameras are on, and salty, snarky and man-hungry when they're off; and Life with Elizabeth as Elizabeth - a housewife whose zany antics turn her marriage and home life upside down. On the latter, White co-created and produced on the series - the first woman actor in television history to do so, and receiving an Emmy nomination for her work. That is something that should be recognized as a major section of television history. 

Betty is also an avid animal rights activist, giving as much of her time to her fights to give our four-footed, furry friends as she does entertaining us on-screen. Her work with multiple organizations to give animals a better, sheltered and loving life has been documented throughout her life and career, and her efforts in such have been successful throughout the country, with many animal shelters opening up, animals being adopted and praise from magazines and millions for the love and care she's never stopped giving to the friends who needed it the most -- including several cats and dogs she's adopted over the years.

Over the years, I've had the privilege of watching the work of Betty White more and more with each series she starred in, and is always transfixed and amazed by her immense talents and endless charm.

She is one of the biggest, best, brightest, beautiful, brilliant and bombastic talents the world has ever seen. She will be missed, and her life and career will definitely live on for the rest of time and will stand the test of time. Thank you, Ms. White for all of your God-given talents, abilities and love. We are all forever grateful to have you as a vessel for the greatest pieces of American (and even worldwide) entertainment.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

New Superman Comes Out as Bisexual; Conservatives Come Out as Crybabies


Lies, Injustice and the Aristocratic Way. Of course that's the motto of the conservative base, but you will never hear them say that. Of course, I'm making a mocking variation of the classic motto of Superman, whom became the target of the GOP's humorous and humiliating histrionics this week after the latest issue #5 of Superman: Son of Kal-El - featuring the newest variation of the Man of Steel - dropped this week with the announcement that Jonathan Kent, the new owner of the iconic supersuit with the S on his chest, is a bisexual and in a relationship with another man.

That's right. I wrote Jonathan Kent, and not Clark. But that didn't stop conservatives from crying about it on right-wing media and social media - thinking that the Superman in the now viral image of the hero kissing another dude is the one with the beloved secret identity we know and love.

Jonathan is the son of Clark Kent (known to diehard fans as Kal-El on Krypton) and Lois Lane, and in issue #5, he comes out as bisexual and engages in a passionate kiss with Jay Nakamura, a writer for a social media platform. 

I already love Superman as a fictional superhero since I was little, but I never thought I would relate to him (or at least a version of him). Now that I can, I can take stock in feeling well represented in comic books (at least as far as I know). So when I heard this news, I was surprised but very happy. 

But whom isn't happy are conservative TV hosts, pundits and politicians.


It's a fictional character in a comic book. He's not real. None of them are. Yet these people think and act like they are. To be fair, I thought Superman was real too years ago, and was disappointed when my grandmother told me he wasn't. I was eight. (I just wish she told me any day but my birthday though. Thanks for ruining my childhood piece by piece, grandma!) Uhhh - meanwhile, these are grown people getting overemotional over print cartoon characters coming out as sexual orientations that are not straight.

And here's the thing: this isn't the Superman we've known, loved and cherished as kids on up for decades. That Superman is still straight and married to Lois Lane (or as -- referred to her as Louis. FREUDIAN SLIP ALEEEEERT! Maybe she's more accepting of LGBT people than we thought). This new Superman is their son. Certainly failed a spot check, didn't you? Maybe it's the fact that you saw grown, older Superman kissing a young man old enough to be his son (and not... well, his son). That is gross. 

Since Supes kissed a dude in a random comic book, conservatives clutched their pearls and whined like there's no tomorrow. Otherwise, if he were straight like his parents, they wouldn't have noticed or cared if he farted deep somewhere in Yellowstone Park.

Then there's , whom cried like Ricky Schroeder in The Champ (in that scene where his screen-boxer dad Billy Flynn dies [it really is sad]) during his appearance on Fox News during his stark raving rant about the history of superheros he was conditioned in changing to his disgust as this one Superman (not THE Superman) came out.


Yeah, umm, about that.

First off, fuck you. Saying that only members of the LGBTQ+ community are sex-crazed creatures that carry and spread STDs is a stupid fucking stereotype. It's proven that Straight people are just as oversexed - if not more - than non-straight people. (Every other rap song these days and the past few decades prove it. And so do the many members of your party.)

There have been comic-book superheroes across the decades that have come out as non-straight and non-traditional but no one noticed until now. And the few you mentioned - Batman, Superman, Spider-Man - were never seen with romantic partners of the opposite sex in the comics (TV shows and movies, yes, but not the point). They always talk to women, and sometimes, the tension is there, but nothing much builds from it. Plus, superheroes have been sexualised pretty much forever. Those top-heavy body-hugging supersuits and rock-hard abs should've been a red flag.

And then there's Dean Cain, whom at least would have some right to an opinion, as he previously portrayed both Kent and Supes in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. But his opinion is still trash to me.

"They said it's a bold new direction. I say they're bandwagoning. I don't think it's bold or brave or some crazy new direction. If they had done this 20 years ago, perhaps that would be bold or brave. But brave would be having him fight for the rights of gay people in Iran."

How, Sway?? How is it bandwagoning if it would be bold and brave in the 90s? Answer: it wouldn't have been in the 90s. If Superman came out as gay, the media would've caused a frenzy. And right-wing would've been just as histrionic; but in the 90s, the places they would've said as much is just CNN, C-SPAN and any public-affairs show that they would demand an appearance. Society and people's acceptance of the LGBTQ community has largely changed and improved during and since that decade and there is a right to create and publish stories about gay people that hasn't happened before. But what hasn't changed is some people's backwards thinking; it just got a bullhorn and worldwide platform. It's not bandwagoning, but you're willing to call it that because gay media is everywhere and people love it but you can't handle it. Just because you played Superman once before, that doesn't make you a gatekeeper to other people who want to portray Superman in any way they want.  Go make yet another straight-to-digital movie and fuck off. I haven't liked him or his opinions for years, and I'll continue to after this example. 


If you don’t like it, that's fine; just ignore it and move on with your day. But that's the problem with the GOP; anything that challenges and disrupts their centuries-old mindset of Manly macho men, women with no say in anything except what goes where in the kitchen and how many children their bodies can handle making, straight/white-only lifestyle, they clutch their pearls and bitch about it to anyone within earshot as if that will make what they think is controversial go away (but it won't) - previously it was in the newspaper, radio and public events with a microphone ; now, it's television, social media and YouTube. This is just one of many "issues" the conservative base in the United States wants to make an issue but isn't an issue. All the Archie Bunkers and -- in America really show their whole ass when it comes to their knowledge of the issues and problems surrounding most everything. They see something that they don't like, cry a river of crocodile tears in front of others, and demand their justice when there's nothing  wrong going on and nothing they can and will do to change it. (And yet, this accuse and mock other people whom want actual change where it is actually deserved.)

I'd be happy to give Son of Kal-El a read and enjoy it whenever I get the chance. I enjoy Superman media and this will be an awesome comic.

I wish this was a non-issue, but I also wish I could enter a cheap bathhouse and end up having swc with Oscar Issac, Rami Malek, Idris Elba, Weird Al and Lupin III, so we can't always get what we want. As soon as progress and positive change comes in this country, there will be people (specifically in the GOP) who will cry and whine about it and demand it all stop and go back to the good old days (see the dorks who scream "cancel culture" and YT commentators who say TV sucks now), while actually ignoring the actual issues that needs to be addressed and improved (see every other thing mentioned in Congress today on C-SPAN like infrastructure and climate change - which is real) or else we're all going to a version of hell we'll see and live through before some go to the well-known one. If only there is a great, honorable, extraordinary, true-blue superhero that'll save us from all the evils and suppression of society. Oh wait... he's not real. Or straight. 

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Bigger, Balderdash-er, Bullshit-ier ||| BET Awards 2021 Nominations: My Thoughts

As we're a week away from the biggest night Black entertainment (now known ridiculously as "the culture"), The 2021 BET Awards Nominations are in, and no surprise, the producers and the committee are not even trying.

Friday, April 30, 2021

EDREWtorial: 19 Charges &Counting Part 2 -- Josh Duggar Jailed and Not Guilty on Federal Child Porm Charges


Just as I was happy to live my life without one of TLC's family size disgraces of humanity taking space in my subconscious, but they keep on squatting.

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Andrew Addresses "Undergrads"

 


Hey, guy!

That's right, folks.

Welcome to my quick brief review of Undergrads.

This animated series on MTV focuses on four young men - Nitz, Rock, Cal and Gimpy - navigating through the ups and downs, highs and lows, climaxes and tribulations of their first year in college. Created by Pete Williams (whom also voices all of the fearsome foursome. No seriously, I mean hot damn), it aired for one season from April 22 to July 13, 2001.

I haven't gone to college (at least yet), but from watching the whole thing, I can take this series at it's word spinning the college experience (at least all of it aside from the academic facet [cause we don't see them in class]). Each episode features at least one facet or -- of college life as seen through the POV of the main characters. Frat life, alcohol, wild and crazy traditions, sex, roommates, money, work, making friends, finding yourself, piecing together your future - you name it, they've made a hilarious, borderline case-study on it.

The main four characters are life-long best friends and men you definitely would find someone in college:
- Parker Walsh aka Nitz is the shy and dull yet sane, normal, focused, sensible and all-together everyman who goes to generic and totally in-the-middle-of-nowhere State University
- Rocko is the loud, muscle-bound, overly-crazy wannabe frat boy (whom doesn't even go to the the college that features the frat. He goes to community college) with an excruciatingly personal relationship with sex and alcohol and equally-so hatred of...
- Calvin Evans aka Cal, Nitz's State U roommate and the sweet and friendly but painfully-dimwitted pretty boy who succeeds more in getting in the pants of every sexy chick who sees him than on the books (and avoiding Rocko).  And finally...
Justin Taylor aka Gimpy, a super-duper-nerdy tech genius able to talk to and help our his friends from the comfort of his own dorm (which he almost never attempts to leave) at Tekerson Tech.
All four features the well-known cliches of college students but otherwise represnt them nicely. Also major credit to Williams for voicing all four perfectly and giving them their own voices to match their personalities. 

Other characters include:
- Jessie, a smart, level-headed and frankly badass friend (and later crush) of Nitz. She has a spunky and lightly fierce personality that I love and many of the moments from the series I love involved her. It's no wonder the producers based much of her on her VA, Jene Yeo. Plus, Nitz doesn't deserve her, but I want her to be with him to see her be happy. I wish I were friends with someone like her. 
- Kimmy Burton, Nitz's since-high-school crush who leaves him speaking gibberish whenever they cross paths. Not only is she completely unaware of Nitz's infatuation of her, she's also a bit ditzy, self-centered and so involved in every other student activity at State U - probably for no other reason than to advance her own standings at the college and in life. As much as I originally wanted Nitz and Kimmy to get together, there's nothing about her that gravitated to me or even like. Except her crushing on a guy she doesn't know is gay.
- Mump, Gimpy's minion and a fellow student at Tekerson Tech. He does things for Gimpy from fetching items from the web to emptying his bedpan (gak). He adores Gimpy (platonically) and sees his "relationship" with the latter as if it's a friendship (which Gimpy to give credit does genuinely appreciate). I like Mump; he is one of the most noble and unselfish characters in the show (except that one time when he couldn't handle Gimpy spending time with Cal and Rocko to make money from other slightly-irreputable services) and his sweet, gung-ho attitude lifts my spirits. Every time he appears makes me happy and anticipate the jokes and gags that come with him. 
- The Dougler, the Rooming Assistant of Chilton Hall (Nitz and Cal's dormitory) who acts like he's in the 1960s - a decade he obviously wasn't born in. Despite bis tries, his avoidence from social activities make the other students only barely acknowledge his existence. His mellow and quirky personality are like a pot hit - short, sweet, mind-altering and nonsensical to explain afterwards. Also his frustration after being told to go to hell is funny as hell.
- Rita, the RA of Gimpy's dorm at Tekerson Tech. She runs the place with an iron fist and takes no crap from anyone - especially Gimpy. Her actions make me laugh (and intimate me a bit) and thanks to Gimpy's childish and one-upy antics, make me sympathize with her. There was no love when Gimpy tricked her into Cal's arms (and junk) to run the dorm to a wasteland - making him realize rules are rules for a reason.
- Jessie's boys
 -- Rob Brodie, an overhyped loudmouth who makes something out of nothing.
-- Kruger, a foul-mouthed pessimist with no (****) to give about anyone, and
-- Dan... He laughs. He's like... the non-talking pet in a Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Seriously, he just laughs and he doesn't talk ever. It's like he's a human hyena nothing else.
Honesly, I really like these three more than the main four. They just seem more pleasant to be around during their short appearances on-screen. I must mention, as funny as they are, Nitz, Rocko, Cal and Gimpy seem like people I really wouldn't want to be around. Ever. Their actions (while funny) are the catalyst to me avoid all of them at all costs. Well, maybe Nitz I'd like to hang with... as long as he doesn't flake on me to try and fail to get under Kimmy.
- Mark, a drama major at State U. Kimmy crushes on him hars, but she doesn't know he's gay. He even has a boyfriend named Lance.
-
These characters complement the main four incredibly well and well-represent more cliches of college life.

The Writing is really good. Each episode follows a certain aspect of college and college life -- see above. I like they take a piece of college life, expand a bit on it and twist the plot to near absurd levels for laughs amd ties it up with a great conclusion and clever joke to end things (too bad the same can't be said about the finale). One detail I adore is the character development of Jessie in regards to her feelings for Nitz. As she grows more fond of him - and makes it more obvious, he still isn't getting it and still wants Kimmy, whom becomes the bane of Jessie's existence. This causes her to outright spell it out for him, but its too late.

The Amination is great for the time. The smooth designs of the characters and cracked exteriors of the buildings are well endearing. 

In conclusion, this series is a funny and enjoyable watch for anyone who loved college life, are going to college, are in college or would love TV shows or movies that male fun of college life. 

This show deserved more than one season, despite being on MTV and not being named Daria and Beavis & Butthead. Fortunately for the fans (which now includes me) - whom made a very passionate pleasure for its return, there will be more to come. Over 15 years of copyright and ownership issues led up to a silver lining. In 2018, creator Pete Williams announced that he has picked up ownership of Undergrads and, later in September, started a crowdfunding venture towards a film adaptation of his creation. The goal was $115,000. It was met late the following month. here's videos of the progress.










Congrats to the crew and cast (yes, there's more than just Pirate Pete) and especially the fans on the success of reviving the show and here's to a successful project. If you still wanna help out or at least pique your interestin updates on the project, here's the link. Even a dollar can help, and it's definitely worth the contribution. 


As for the show itself, it's on YouTube. It's a quick binge and *slurp* totally worth your time, guy.

Thanks for checking in, and I'll see you again soon. 

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Atlanta Spa Shootings

Before I give my opinion on this tragedy, please check out the article about it on Wikipedia. (Yes, it's not the more credible website but it's volunteers did a great job with its information and keeping us informed with its updates. 

Saturday, March 06, 2021

The Jackson 5ive | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday! …Show 71






















Stop! This cartoon show is all our own,
Let’s not take it slow,
Let’s cause some mess and sing our so-ongs

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday! …Show 71

















Flintstone! Pebbles Flintstone!
She’s the modern, stone-age teen Lucy.
Next door - to Bamm-Bamm Rubble/
They will make their mark in history.
Let’s ride - with their buddies down the streets/
Through the courtesy of Bamm’s two feet.
When you’re with Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm,
Have a yabba-dabba-doozy time,
A dabba-doozy time....
But look out foooor Schleeeeprooooock!

Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday… Show! 71




 

The Funky Phantom | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday! ...Show '71






















Here’s the story… of a cute young lady…
who is thirsty-trapped by two teen horny dudes.
She is sweet with hair of gold… eyes like water…
her skirt’s too short and wildy shrewd.

It’s the story… of Skip and Augie…

they're too busy charming this girl, but are duds.

They are all talk… little time for friendship ... how are they all good buds?


Then the one bad rainy day, they’re out past midnight…

They’re in a bando, no plans to just go home…

They changed a clock and freed a plasmic soldier...

That’s the way they then met the Funky Phantom


The lilywhite Phantom…

The ghastly Phantom…

Now they’re friends with the campy and dead even Funky Phantom!

(Doo-doo-de-doo Doo-doo-dee-duh-doo!)

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Morgan Wallen is Sorry for (Getting Caught) Saying The N-Word

Rolling Stone

There's a saying: "When someone tells you who you are, believe them".

There's another saying: "A drunk tongue speaks a sober mind."

There's a saying in the workplace: "Don't defecate where you eat."

There's a saying on a short-lived newsmagazine TV show:
"If you don't want to be on Page Six, DON'T DO IT!"

If only Morgan Wallen adhered to these sayings.

The country music star made an utter fool of himself this week, when he again got caught on a viral video with his head up his ass. This time, instead of doing something dumb that cost him something important (that being jamming with and kissing attendees at a local bar party, causing his October 10 appearance on Saturday Night Live to be cancelled [he would later perform on the show during its December 5 episode]), he said something dumb that cost him something important (he got caught drunkenly yelling the N-word to someone in reference to someone else outside his home.)

I don't have much more to say, so here's the video for
 your viewing (dis)pleasure and interpretation.


Since the video's recording back on January 31 and its release by TMZ on February 2, a few radio companies ordered their stations to remove his music from airplay, CMT cut visual ties with him, the Academy of Country Music deemed him and his album ineligible for nominations for their award, the streaming sites dropped his discography, and his record label Big Loud suspended his recording contract indefinitely. Basically, those companies "miss-me-with-that-bullshit"-ed him real quick. And I don't blame them. After unsurprising backlash, Wallen admitted to using the word and issued an apology.

This both aggravated and amused me. The aggravation comes from the obvious fact that he said the n-word out loud. But that halfway turned into amusement when I learned he was drunk at the time. Seconds after, I thought "wait a minute, that doesn't excuse him for saying a racial slur". Then I got mad. While the radio station drop was admittedly shocking and a bit wild, I felt absolutely no sympathy for Wallen. You guys already knew my thoughts about him during the college party scandal that postponed his SNL appearance in my review of the episode (Lorne Michaels still was way too forgiving), and my opinions not only still hold up, they're reinforced here. I don't know what it is with Morgan, but to me it seems like he's a self-destructing dude. Every time something big happens to advance his career, he goes and fucks up everything - leading up to a calm before a storm and after that should've destroyed his career for the better. But because people are forgiving to him (read: foolishly willing to part with their money to this fool), he bounces back harder than Big Sean in 2017. So maybe after this he thought he's invincible and decided to do whatever he wants and prey on the open nature of the weak-minded in the hopes that they'll defend and protect him and his career so keep on moving on because they see him as a good ol' country boy working hard and paying his dues to make it in the big time. At least that's how I see it; because there are idiots out there (including many in the comments section of the above video [some of them black people according to their avatars]) scoring Olympic gold in mental gymnastics trying their damndest to justify Wallen (whom if you've forgotten is a white man) saying the most degrading, demeaning and disgusting racial slur of all time. Some of their bullshit excuses include "Oh he was drunk", "It's just a word", "He was calling his friend that", "He said nigga" (the video showed he said the '-er' version because there are five stars spelling out the 'igger' part, and he admitted it in his apology) (and as '-a' that is any better), "The person who recorded it was waiting for a payday" and "He was saying that on his property and the person recording it is stalking him by illegally recording him" (even though he was outside saying it in public walking to his property, and the person recording it every right to do it because it is legal; being fully outside on your property doesn't protect you from being recorded). And to tack on the last point, the video begins seconds before the infamous sentence, showing some type of dispersion happening one night after bar-hopping, with the person recording what they thought was a public disturbance (and/or they probably recognized Wallen's voice and wanted to record him up close) and also caught something they didn't expect. 

It's both bewildering and laughable that people see this man as being one of their own to quickly defend him instead of getting out of dodge to protect themselves as they witnessed him committing a big no-no in public life. Fuck, another country hitmaker, popular duo Brooks & Dunn, called Wallen's public flagging "censorship". Listen here, boys -- THIS IS NOT CENSORSHIP!!! Morgan never said the word in his music or in a speech; he said the word in public - in front of other people - on public property. It's not like he had a recording studio in his pocket and hit record on everything he spoke as he went and is protected. Everyone has the right to say whatever they want, but they must remember that saying whatever they want carries consequences (and he's getting a major dose of them right now). But they always seem to forget that the moment they open their mouths (and not just when they're hammered). So shut the fuck up and stick to what you know - because throwing around trendy buzzwords in the right context that certainly isn't "political" is not one of them.

If you're a black person saying that it's just a word and that you're okay with white people saying both versions of nigger, you're either a moron lying out of your ass or are better at sarcasm than I will ever be. If you're white and see no problem with one of you're own saying nigger our loud anywhere, you're worse than he is (#sorrynotsorry). And I don't wanna hear shit about how rappers get to say it and not white people; whites shouldn't say it because slave owners used it as a demeaning, degrading term meant to put down slaves. Rappers say it as one of the ways to take the power of the slur back to the black community (and partially because that's the only interesting thing they have left over their shitty bars, weak-as-water flows and ultra-repetitive beat-work). It's not just a word; it's a racial slur - a racial slur that carries on centuries of pain, abuse, suffering, disgust and terror. I think no one should have any excuse of saying that or any other slur, but white people especially -- cause come on. I'm not saying nor thinking all of them do it (obviously), but if you really feel the need to shout racial slurs (as a stress release or something), even though you're not supposed to, at least do it in front of a mirror; at least your audience of one is satisfied. And if/when they actually complain about being told not to use it and being called racist if they do it -- as if the air of superiority still lingers on, it makes me just laugh seeing those types of people cry their crocodile tears about not doing something they still think their race seems good at. Other than drinking.

Remember, being drunk takes every stupid thing you can think of at that moment and turns them into actually saying and doing every stupid thing you can act on. Inhibitions be damned. Being drunk doesn't nor shouldn't excuse anyone for being a self-humiliating dumbass and disruptor of the peace no matter where you are, and people defending other people doing dumb shit they should keep to themselves while wasted in front of others as just being drunk are just as bad for brushing off and enabling this behavior. Which Wallen's fans did almost immediately after the video hit the ether, which I expected like clockwork to my annoyance and amusement. Then I realized Country fans are mostly like Wallen so no surprise there.

And that's when Morgie here told them not to. Wallen then posted an apology video a few days later, telling his fans not to defend his actions in the video or enable them. 

I didn't watch more than once because I felt it just as disingenuous as the last, and it's obvious as to why he made both: to get back on the good graces of his record label and the media, and... oh yeah, MONEY. He needed to make more bank that way to he can make music again and then make more money. But he didn't have to do that because his fans already made Mr. Monopoly rich. Again, Dangerous stayed at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart for a fourth week. I wouldn't be surprised if all this blows over and Wallen - instead of staying with Big Loud - went the independent route to score even more bags without the middleman. And he can say nigger (or any word he knows he shouldn't) as many times sober as he wants without any record company hovering over him. I'm just joking... (Or am I?)

I wanted to say I don't care about this, but since you're this far in this MMost, that's not true. I don't hate him. And I actually don't want this guy to watch the career he worked so hard for collapse right in front of him (he does make admittedly decent country music), but I don't feel sorry for him for continuing to do and say stupid things in the public eye that jeopardizes his career just as it's taking off. It's as if being famous gives him more leeway to be a slow-witted dolt. And it makes sense for all these companies to drop him from their services (at least temporarily) because they see him as a liability in their businesses in a more open, inclusive and sensitive time in history revolving minority races and ethnicities [and that's without saying we're currently in Black History Month]). 

I don't take much offense to Wallen saying nigger; I honestly don't want anyone of any race (yes, even black) saying this epithet (but I've gotten used to hearing it a lot to get used to it since then).  What I do take offense to is people tripping over themselves in their rushing to defend this guy as if he's a family member worth protecting from the hands of the abusive stepfather (read: the people who have the right to criticize him for good reason). It's as if he's still like one of them, despite the nice expensive home, big-ass pickup truck and bank account that makes your bank account look like your kid's piggy bank. He is not like you anymore and is not on your level anymore. And he probably wouldn't care about you unless you attend his concerts or buy his records. You are dollar bills to him from the last apology tour to the next. He will be back when all this blows over. He'll be back on the radio, on TV, on the award circuit and on the streaming sites. They'll realize that he is a hot country star making Taylor Swift money by Taylor Swift fan-like fans and they can and want get a piece of it when no one remembers this scandal anymore. It's bound to happen, and I won't be surprised. I'll just remember to slap myself if/when I get mad about this and move on from this bullshit. At this point in time, if my favorite artist fucks up, I'll just shut up, point and laugh, because they will get back up and make more money from their pathetic simps of stans.

It's all a matter of time...

Friday, January 01, 2021

Funday Friday: #60 - Thank You for Everything You Do: A Love Letter to the Healthcare Workers

Hi everyone, and welcome to the return of Funday Friday -- my segment where I share to you and discuss recent news stories that that'll make us smile and kick off the weekend on a positive note. And since last year was an extremely depressing and unwanted year, it's time I do my best to become an agent of smiles and cheers. And for this revival, I decided to write this op-ed as a thank you to the men and women of our healthcare and first response industry for all they've done throughout this pandemic.


Hi, folks.

I know words may not mean much. But I hope mine can .

When the COVID-19 pandemic began to ravage our country and the world, nobody knew what consequences we all would suffer during this time. What the symptoms were, how deadly this virus is, how up to capacity our hospitals, ICUs and elderly care centers would be; and how empty our cities and businesses would end up. But throughout, it did not matter. All that would matter to everyone was "how can we survive this?" And "what can we do?" And was not just us normal civilians, but also Essential workers.

 To be honest, we've done the worst in the world. Our mostly idiotic government and pigheded and moronic state officials and citizens, who think it's just a type of flu that'll just go away after a while, have basically turned their backs on the regular folk while we are dying, starving, homeless or jobless (and for some, unfortunately all of those scenarios) and the rest of us are doing our damndest to stay alive. Honestly, I feel so sorry for all of you. You were just doing your jobs, and when it hit, you have to do them as if you're starring in the movie Contagion. (Amazing how that movie half-predicted this whole mess.) All those articles I've read over the past several months written about your heartwrenching position of risking your lives while treating patients on the brink and painful grievances of dealing with shameful people who refuse to take the pandemic seriously and not being able to contact your familes shook me to the core. I knew this pandemic would be horrible for everyone, but you all did not  deserve any of this. I wish our government and fellow man were much more smarter and much less self-serving in this pandemic, so that you guys didn't have to work through all this.

But I just want to take the time to say Thank You. Thank You All for all you have done to help this country fight the Coronavirus crisis in any way we could. Your strength, determination and endurance throughout 2020 under the most damning and devastating pandemic since the Flu of 1918 is both incredible and inspiring. You guys deserve all the praise, love, support, respect and gifts you have been given throughout last year, because without first responders and healthcare workers, most of the U.S. population would've been eradicated before the virus would have been. Now that we're in 2021, and the COVID vaccine is now distributed nationwide, things are hopefully slowing down. You guys (along with the elderly) got the first vaccines, and you deserve them and so much more. It may be another while longer before the Coronavirus is fully (or honestly, mostly) eradicated , but thanks to the hard work and life-saving efforts of our healthcare workers and first responders (along with the scientists who created the vaccine on impressive but short notice) we'll get there soon enough. God bless you guys.