Remembering Veteran Journalist Gwen Ifill

2016 has continued its strengthening as the worst year for the deaths of well-known, famous and beloved people in the worlds of entertainment and news. And the latest casualty of which is (in the opinion of mine and many others inside and outside the field) one of the very best reporters in news. Veteran journalist Gwen Ifill passed away yesterday afternoon after a long-fought battle with uterine cancer; she was 61 years young.

She was a wonderful journalist through and through. After beginning her career in print as a reporter for the Boston Herald--later moving on in later years to positions at the Baltimore  the Washington Post and the New York Times, she took her talents to television, beginning as correspondent for NBC News. After an illustrious and storied tenure, she left the Peacock Network' News division in 1999, transferring to PBS to become moderator and managing editor of the network's long-running political discussion program Washington Week, and later became co-anchor and co-managing editor (along with fellow news vet and Peeb colleague Judy Woodruff) of the PBS NewsHour in 2013 (she was previously senior correspondent of the program) until her untimely passing.
Ms. Ifill has also appeared on other news programs including NBC's Meet the Press, and was a member of the board at several news-related associations. She was a busy woman and I will forever admire her for that.

When I first heard the news later that night, I was stunned speechless. I was away from my phone at the time (needed to let it charge) and had no idea. I was even more stunned that it was first reported hours ago, but still stinged nonetheless. During coverage of the National Conventions back in July, she looked beautiful and healthy like she never even had fought cancer. Then again that was months ago, and I haven't seen her since October; I thought she went on vacation or on assignment. I was wrong. When it was mentioned on the NewsHour that she was ill, I thought it was temporary. Again, wrong. Sadly. The fact that this came so suddenly hit me (and everyone else who knee her) like a brick wall.
Gosh, she will be missed.

While I've never known or met Ms. Ifill personally, her work in television news has astonished and inspired me to say the least. I've watched the NewsHour since I was in elementary school starting with the era hosted by Jim Lehrer (another amazing vet in news) and has consistently watched ever since for fantastic long-form reporting, interviews with the newsmakers of the day and to enjoy watching the anchors at work (especially Ms. Ifill). (And yes, this is the same kid who loved watching ZOOM, Arthur and Cyberchase among others during the day. So I'm wasn't all the way an Alex P. Keaton-like square.) The cast brought top-notch reporting and a refreshing sense of news every day and I was lucky to have watched as long as I did.

While I enjoyed watching her work on TV, I never realized what Ms. Ifill was at the start of her career under the surface. She was a true trailblazer and ground-breaker; not only for women, but also for African-Americans and African-American women. She was one of the first black women to work at a major network news division and helped lead the way for more black women in the industry for decades. As we have many African-American women--and of other ethnicities--grace our screens over the past few decades, she was still there forging a path for herself to still become of the the best. But she was a was a kind-hearted and gentle person. Despite her sweet side, she still was a tough-but-fair, no-nonsense reporter who wanted the truth and an honest answer for the people and won't stand for anything else. For proof, here is video of a roundtable discussion on Meet The Press she took part in in which she had to raise her voice to get on the level as her male counterparts.
Talk about a tough cookie who kicked butt.

Honestly, this woman is what all journalists (male and female) should look up to for real, honest, open and brilliant reporting and an iron-clad love and willingness for the job. She was a shining star of television news at a time where there were still many and jas always stood out from her white, male, testosterone-filled counterparts.

Gwen Ifill was luminary and icon in the world of television journalism, and none in the future will even come close to touch what she brought to the (round)table. She will be missed, and my love and condolences to her family and her extended families at the PBS NewsHour & Washington Week.
May she Rest in Peace...(and Power...)

"The Picketers are Being Assholes": The Broad Street (Line) Bullies | SEPTA Strike 2016

So...SEPTA is not treating its unionized workers well. They're going to picket for better use of paychecks. And no one in Philadelphia wins. Must be Fall in Philly!


Welcome, everyone . Today I'm talking about the Strike of unionized workers working for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority--SEPTA for short. This is because these workers are being fairly treated by their supervisors at the agency--specifically much better pay, better pensions and other benefits.


Now here's my thoughts on this:
SEPTA is not a great transit agency. They're not even good. From what I hear, they suffer from underdeveloped service (see SEPTA Key), lackluster showmanship, slow wait-times for transport, greedy overseers and disgusting waiting stations across parts of the Philly metro area. But in my eyes, they're...alright. I generally enjoy riding their vehicles, I get to and from my locations on acceptable speed and timeline and enjoy seeing the people and place around me wherever I go. So...I agree with all who think they need to shape up and fix most of everything on their many payrolls to stop being one of the worst agencies taking people around in this country.


But down to this year's Strike: this couldn't come at a worse time. With Election Day looming--and many Philadelphians needing a way besides cars and carpooling to get to voting stations, and of course many of us needing ways to get to work, school and other places across town, picketing has made our daily routines hell. And honestly, it really sucks, but because I don't ride SEPTA too often, it can't be much of my problem, because I usually walk to where I need to go. But for other people, this is just ridiculous and a waste of their important time. I would want a better transit system from the inside out for everyone as much as the next guy, so changes should be made to SEPTA management soon.


But making this even worse, is that the Workers and their union is taking their picketing to a new low: going to the Regional Rail stations and blocking the trains and non-union workers from getting to them and riders who actually have places to get to. That is some bullshit.
In my opinion, The Picketers are being Assholes. Apparently, they believe that since they're on strike, no one should get better treatment than they do, and so everyone has to suffer. But I hate to break it to you guys: NO ONE BUT YOU IS ON STRIKE! THEY HAVE ACTUAL OTHER JOBS THEY WORKED HARD FOR AND NEED TO GET TO! AND THE FACT YOU ARE DISALLOWING EVERYONE ELSE FROM SIMPLY DOING SO, MAKES ALL YOU WORKERS LOOK LIKE PETTY, CHILDISH, GREREDY, CONCEITED, HYPOCRITICAL, BULLYING TAINT LICKS!!
It's bad enough that you chose the day a week before one of the most important, yet feared and unwanted Elections in US history to start grabbing signs and wearing shirts in the cold wanting more pay (not more pay, better pay.)  and more pensions (which IMO is a more reasonable argument), but to blockade trains and their workers from
I would say "run them over" like some other dipshits in comments sections all across local news station websites articles featuring this dumb strike, but these people have jobs, families and lives to live for. Taking them just to continue our day makes you just as bad as they are. (And if you're just as bad as SEPTA workers on strike, you've fucked up.)


So, SEPTA workers, do us all a favor and be reasonable while sticking to your guns to make your heightened pay a thing. Until then, screw off for making us all go down with you being the scumbags you all are. SEPTA, screw you until you actually become something we can all tolerate (which will take years, maybe decades). And city of Philadelphia, chin up. This Strike could be all over before you know. The last one in 2009 took six days until a deal was reached; I'm sure this one will last as long, if not less (hopefully). If not, prepare for a living nightmare that will end with a burning, stinging pain that is a union ruining daily transit life for all of us because they still aren't satisfied with the decrepit benefits they so longingly "fought" for, thanks to an equally terrible agency that would put their earnings money over our needs of getting around safely.
God, are we f**ked.

"Harvey Beaks" is Ending

I know, I'm a little late but...

Harvey Beaks...is ending.
And...I'm okay with this. Not exactly all the way happy, but okay nonetheless.

The announcement was made during an interview creator CH Greenblatt did on RebelTaxi's Pizza Party Podcast in September, in which he would not continue the series for a third season. The reveal is at 32:55 (it's best to start a little earlier.)


I've always prepared myself for when an animated series ends after a short run, but then end up close to a blubbering mess anyway. But soon after, I smile and look back on how great that series is and how lucky I was to have watched it for as long as I have. And Harvey was one of those series.

My opinion about The Beaks has stayed the same since I reviewed it last year. It's simply a wonderful creation of animation that has stood out among the rest. And there was a lot of amazing new programs that we all loved, so that says a lot. The setting, plots, characters and production was something else because of how lush, smooth, off-beat and mellow it looked and felt. Everything matched the others in the tone it set for, with took it far away from Nick's other offerings, which was the biggest breath of fresh air I could take in these days. And I miss that.

When I first heard that Harvey was ending, I was shocked and a little hurt inside. I felt it could go on another season, but hey, it's not my show, so my opinion in that regard doesn't count. Then I heard that the decision to end it was of creator CH Greenblatt. I sighed a sigh of relief now knowing he  wanted to end it, not Nick. But alas, it still stings me.

While I've heard  about the halt of production in general, I haven't heard of many other stories in the writer's room about how Nick has treated Harvey. After Nick took new episodes of The Beaks off the air in Spring of last year (along with those of other originals), many fans were pissed. Automatic assumptions of poor treatment--or even cancellation--have flooded social media for weeks, especially on Tumblr, where CH and the writers frequent. I myself haven't noticed because I haven't watched much live TV in quite a while and I haven't been through Tumblr either. I wish I should have though. Anyway...
CH has later reassured fans that it wasn't the case; even going as far as calling it "a disservice from the truth". In a post on Tumblr, he explained:

"Everyone remain calm. We’re not off the air. And it’s not just us getting this treatment. They stopped all premieres (animation and live action) except Pig, Goat, Banana, Cricket for the summer. Hopefully they’ll re-run the show so folks can become more aware of it in the meantime. We should be back with a big push come late summer/early fall.

We’re not thrilled about this, but we’re still making episodes full steam ahead and I promise they will get out there eventually."
Even if he is just as annoyed about the rumors and stuff as we all were, I find Carl's open honesty and happy reassuring palpable and refreshing. Seeing him so true to his fans while not browbeating anyone was kinda sweet.

I'm so very happy we all got the chance to see this man's second creation; it was just as unique, inventive, hilarious, visually pleasing and memorable as his last Chowder. I'm really eager to see where CH goes next. He's a great storyteller and producer that's had his dues, and deserves all the success he's gotten over the years.

Harvey Beaks is one of the best Nick shows today and deserved its praise and respect. Especially as Nick has gone through a bit of resurgence lately, as this, Pig Goat Banana Cricket (IMO) and The Loud House have given the Splat a much-needed shot in the arm in term of animated series, along with the upcoming and highly-anticipated Hey Arnold! and Rocko's Modern Life movies, along with. Nick is on a nice roll right now, and it's all thanks to this series.
Thank you everyone at Harvey Beaks for everything.