tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77158418157338264382024-03-19T03:48:05.343-05:00The Newest RantAll the news that's unfit to printDavid Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.comBlogger3834125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-74740560827239029222024-03-18T18:25:00.001-05:002024-03-18T18:25:17.968-05:00Elon Musk Has Been on Medication This Whole Time and He's STILL The Way He Is?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcwkEVqV6CpikH5M5ol2H4UhUaA8TQvBIchFvztPy38AtogG7Y3x8Wptw15UIFjkbzbsWZMeARWW_fYFWwHeAoYMm4bXeN08N79R37fNMBZCIfOrXcVttYWLXkDzgju7cI-QCT1EFMcNtQXPnit7hr7t_SJNqixGP7A8_htKNauNZvMmkBYQ2jILgZG8/s737/Screenshot%202024-03-18%206.20.53%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="737" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcwkEVqV6CpikH5M5ol2H4UhUaA8TQvBIchFvztPy38AtogG7Y3x8Wptw15UIFjkbzbsWZMeARWW_fYFWwHeAoYMm4bXeN08N79R37fNMBZCIfOrXcVttYWLXkDzgju7cI-QCT1EFMcNtQXPnit7hr7t_SJNqixGP7A8_htKNauNZvMmkBYQ2jILgZG8/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-18%206.20.53%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Wait, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/18/tech/elon-musk-ketamine-use-don-lemon-interview/index.html">Elon Musk has been on a prescription of Ketamine</a> for some time, and even on a drug that mellows you out, he comes across as a hyped-up conspiracy theorist and jerk? What in the Hell he is like without his meds? In all seriousness, I am someone who takes medication for depression and anxiety so I fully support someone taking a substance (as long as it is prescribed and used correctly) if it helps them. Musk has said an actual doctor supplies him with Ketamine and there are, in fact, multiple studies exploring its uses as a drug for mental health conditions. It is interesting to think that someone wealthy has access to experimental uses of a drug without getting in trouble, however, as I imagine if someone at a regular office job even were to prove they had a doctor helping them with a substance that is in a legal gray area they'd be fired.</p><p>I support Elon Musk receiving care from a doctor who is working with him to find the best possible treatment for his mental health. I do not support Musk continuing to be an unbearable asshole regardless of what substances he is using or not. It just is wild to think we've been getting a <i>medicated</i> Musk posting alt-right memes and other B.S. while he runs his companies into the ground. It just goes to show, we all are fighting our own battles. I work to be the best parent and husband I can be while sometimes feeling sad or stressed for no discernable reason and Musk rants about Liberals while microdosing Ketamine. God bless us all.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-26524328252915365812024-03-17T19:31:00.002-05:002024-03-17T19:31:12.786-05:00Today's Quad Con Was Quite a Good Time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMtSXF42NxL6Oj8QotbVmKttNW79ltf9_wg-fsK5ojQDEbyGKwVVqM89kcbo0UlZwqVby4kTtZCbNxIy2JtejRHUEkmgjr90EDTQyERXcNgw5hoY7nBUc7nutGYg5Nrh4MajqSEiHQ9w_FQX3VRMcAkbRMAlw4SByiZ_2wkBmFZxIlhBu7EUMXqOWeJ8/s600/Screenshot%202024-03-17%201.09.29%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="449" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMtSXF42NxL6Oj8QotbVmKttNW79ltf9_wg-fsK5ojQDEbyGKwVVqM89kcbo0UlZwqVby4kTtZCbNxIy2JtejRHUEkmgjr90EDTQyERXcNgw5hoY7nBUc7nutGYg5Nrh4MajqSEiHQ9w_FQX3VRMcAkbRMAlw4SByiZ_2wkBmFZxIlhBu7EUMXqOWeJ8/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-17%201.09.29%20PM.png" width="239" /></a></div><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/coolstuffquadcon/">Quad Con</a> puts on a variety of stupendous shows in the Midwest region and I'm always sure to attend their show in Saint Charles whenever it occurs--with one having happened today! I arrived at the Steel Shop Event Center this morning and an absurd amount of fun was had by myself and Gibson--who accompanied me in his stroller while Clarkson and Samii got a little extra sleep back at the house. I kicked off the event by seeing my friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stardustcondor">Brian Lan</a> who was there repping the <a href="https://www.heroinitiative.org/">Hero Initiative</a>. The Hero Initiative does countless great things for comic creators in need and I can't say enough good things about the organization. I then saw at a nearby table the affable Spike Forester of <a href="https://www.ebay.com/str/lostinspacetoysandcollectibles">Lost in Space Toys and Collectibles</a>. He had a number of cool items for sale! After visiting with Spike I met up with John Chaffee of <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=bigfoot+justice+comics&sca_esv=4ecf938d57668945&rlz=1CAJFMC_enUS980US980&sxsrf=ACQVn0_C6u840NlAaKuf_lYXH3NmfAj0eQ%3A1710697590937&ei=diz3ZfqlOJC3wN4PrpSUqA8&oq=Bigfoot+comics&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiDkJpZ2Zvb3QgY29taWNzKgIIBTIHECMYsAMYJzINEAAYgAQYigUYQxiwAzIIEAAYgAQYsAMyBxAAGB4YsAMyBxAAGB4YsAMyCRAAGAgYHhiwAzIJEAAYCBgeGLADMgkQABgIGB4YsAMyDhAAGIAEGIoFGIYDGLADMhQQLhivARjHARiABBjIAxiwA9gBATIUEC4YgAQYxwEYrwEYyAMYsAPYAQFItQVQAFgAcAB4AJABAJgBtQKgAbUCqgEDMy0xuAEByAEAmAIBoALGApgDAIgGAZAGC7oGBAgBGAiSBwMzLTGgB-kM&sclient=gws-wiz-serp">Bigfoot Comics and Collectibles</a> who had a table near my other friend, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079119986356">Marcus Mosley</a>. Right next to them was the delightful <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bruce.reynolds.73700">Bruce Reynolds</a> and he had a ton of awesome comics as well--you may get the impression by this point some stellar vendors were there of comics!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFRLhhDGv7w6tT3iZcsbN-pLAsio9coI8Xno7jg19uaFpIMFVklq0sW6_WZvWXvWYqdBrnLKlPMs0314Bo86prVwLHwn5C_pj08c9oJDbqu-YnifwYnTw0FlsKQXcpV2_SHc-aAYSuaE5F-dyRsWcpOGnuFNEV-9j8MqGNkfkibW5PDW8SOXU_Yq3WQI/s4032/Showfloor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFRLhhDGv7w6tT3iZcsbN-pLAsio9coI8Xno7jg19uaFpIMFVklq0sW6_WZvWXvWYqdBrnLKlPMs0314Bo86prVwLHwn5C_pj08c9oJDbqu-YnifwYnTw0FlsKQXcpV2_SHc-aAYSuaE5F-dyRsWcpOGnuFNEV-9j8MqGNkfkibW5PDW8SOXU_Yq3WQI/s320/Showfloor.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quiet moment before the show began.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was by no means only comics for sale, however. I saw vendors with Pokemon cards, toys, Legos, and more! The good folks of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BartertownToysandCollectibles/">Bartertown</a> had a bunch of cool stuff they were retailing and a number of tables also had really neat Funko Pops! Besides vendors, I saw a number of creators such as the great guys of <a href="https://www.3bcomics.com/">Biff! Bam! Boom Comics</a> whom I always enjoy chatting with at any show we meet up. I also met an author who was promoting her own self-published graphic novel. Named Ria Leso, she was selling copies of, "<a href="https://inksmoker-studio.square.site/">The Sleepless Ones,</a>" an exciting and scary-looking read without a doubt! The folks from <a href="https://www.theherocomplex.com/">Hero Complex</a> were at the show, promoting their super-hero-centric museum. It sounds really neat and I look forward to the grand opening!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgz4zDOwwx0Nd3h5VDNSKHuxSjiTwlGozllsLgXgLDwVQUf6YkdiaU21acvp4oU8QOCqXljXVDSo4v_18hXjqfmQNTfRHuosJS7hiMb5GkK29QUGnJiF2E2Hh2_9yAs4R8Ug3aT8o7GlkEWT3zosW7TY3pqj_hs7d1fNjQaNataw1PbL7N1cZmf4hO0No/s4032/Busy%20Arrival.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgz4zDOwwx0Nd3h5VDNSKHuxSjiTwlGozllsLgXgLDwVQUf6YkdiaU21acvp4oU8QOCqXljXVDSo4v_18hXjqfmQNTfRHuosJS7hiMb5GkK29QUGnJiF2E2Hh2_9yAs4R8Ug3aT8o7GlkEWT3zosW7TY3pqj_hs7d1fNjQaNataw1PbL7N1cZmf4hO0No/s320/Busy%20Arrival.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The show was busy as it began!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As I continued wandering the show floor I saw some of my chums from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TatertotCollectibles/">Tatertot Comics and Collectibles</a>. We had a great time conversing with them about how much fun we were having at Quad Con! I also saw Eric and Tricia from <a href="https://stlcomics.net/">STL Comics</a>. They had brought a lot of cool new comics as well as some stellar toys. <a href="https://comicbookrelief.com/store/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqdqvBhCPARIsANrmZhMimVNblKPdD_sOBvuT47penhLG1Zxk7Mp5cXGV6_yA1LIFi6aCOzoaAhYxEALw_wcB">Comic Book Relief</a> had some neat goods, including a bunch of cards as well. Before I had to head out because Gibson was ready for a nap I had the opportunity to meet Sean Anderson AKA <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatcomicbook_guy/?hl=en">That Comic Book Guy</a>. He was selling a ton of great comics and I picked up a debut issue of, "The Authority," with the first appearance of The Engineer, who will be in the upcoming Superman movie for a superb price (complicated feelings about Warren Ellis aside, I was excited to get this)! Check him out on Instagram and check my new comic out below:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcWYBvdVv1jh47ztyJ2PqoWN7fjEy9vOLNnKezee_f2GM25EFVWydZJECZQKZ2RcZOMs5iEMkmAwDymGMJZZaAWXmrOI3WFJuNtVZBuZNV-jCJCoOt-N47K8Cu6h9AZC4opwyLJBacqBshwWIVDhai0BF01150S8jnCMIKSJh3OfsZZmWLMK1u4e2FXs/s4032/Authority%20Comic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcWYBvdVv1jh47ztyJ2PqoWN7fjEy9vOLNnKezee_f2GM25EFVWydZJECZQKZ2RcZOMs5iEMkmAwDymGMJZZaAWXmrOI3WFJuNtVZBuZNV-jCJCoOt-N47K8Cu6h9AZC4opwyLJBacqBshwWIVDhai0BF01150S8jnCMIKSJh3OfsZZmWLMK1u4e2FXs/s320/Authority%20Comic.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Today's combination St. Patrick's Day and Quad Con was so much fun! I eagerly await the next Quad Con in Saint Charles--<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/656840733189710/?ref=newsfeed">it will occur on October 20th</a> of this year at the same time and within the same location. It is bound to be great fun just as today's show was!</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-17730490455682538142024-03-16T18:56:00.000-05:002024-03-16T18:56:45.090-05:00The X-Men Are Entering a New Era...and It's a Lot Like the Old Era<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6rntTEDyKbP82tyvAClK0ZklCAgppT8a3yql0hjX00SzMwMuhkavPneI4fKi4QZNYmuRcWSWz5ITyMDA0Y4Z94Eodh4kc6YxPphyr5_oeh0h2f4mJdwiSBqCTnbldsh_PBt-jV4yRLKKuHxbPDpNWCXrsOBDq6lVd8ugdRQtL-vBLE23_GW-3UxLdeU/s3920/X-Men%20New%20Series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3920" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6rntTEDyKbP82tyvAClK0ZklCAgppT8a3yql0hjX00SzMwMuhkavPneI4fKi4QZNYmuRcWSWz5ITyMDA0Y4Z94Eodh4kc6YxPphyr5_oeh0h2f4mJdwiSBqCTnbldsh_PBt-jV4yRLKKuHxbPDpNWCXrsOBDq6lVd8ugdRQtL-vBLE23_GW-3UxLdeU/s320/X-Men%20New%20Series.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The X-Men have spent the last 5 or so years on Krakoa with their own nation-state. Various plots from the past came together to take the X-Men to one logical conclusion they'd form their own country and tell the rest of Earth to put up with it because they're sick of being hated by a humankind they wanted to protect. Magneto tried it on a small scale with Genosha, but Krakoa was a massive undertaking and resulted in some cool comics thanks to a major change in the usual X-Men status quo. It was never going to be permanent.</p><p>This coming Summer the X-Men will <a href="https://www.thepopverse.com/x-men-bases-base-marvel-uncanny-exceptional-alaska-chicago-new-orleans?fbclid=IwAR1xaVIrWJUOr8EQWkB-izeH5GvpefFCEOAzbzpAtRDhjsZ8CEHwlIZQxsg">be back to living amongst regular humans</a> in various cities where they'll hide out in military bases or such.<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/the-90s-are-so-back-in-x-men-comics-for-better-and-for-worse/?fbclid=IwAR1RG6epXBYA4iug6N94su9yum3aavPVfKo2jv1VgWm55rk0RucndL9nqWQ"> It feels like a major step backward into the 1990s</a>--something others have observed. The brand has had so much growth the past two decades and now we're reverting to the old ways? Perhaps I'm just bitter as I didn't really, "Get into," the X-Men until the early 2000's when Grant Morrison delivered what I feel is the best run on the series ever (no shade at Claremont). Their run on, "New X-Men," was amazing and changed so much that Marvel then sprung, "House of M," on everyone and made mutants incredibly endangered. Eventually, mutants started gaining bigger numbers and were then put on the editorial backburner whilst Marvel tried in vain against all logic to make the Inhumans popular and a replacement for the X-Men. That was until Jonathan Hickman ushered us into the Krakoan age in 2019 with, "House of X," and, "Powers of X." That resulted in some stellar comics, but it is coming to an end...and we're going back to how the X-Men were in the 1990s when I had minimal interest in the brand as a wee lad and preferred to read about Spider-Man (he's been through some changes for sure too, but that is a whole different article).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOb7nG2yC9r5jZDA6ZTVtIHDzBT7gjgoExIDZ0NwgudhkNFmz3mn_T0DcL5GU7a6W5Q23L0ZQ1UkkM6mYX8RSx12CagkkzQen2d1bLB6vV22FldrZixWiD9s7as3kKlG8k2smtsXu4BqpOGlI6jvK34wiAxT2Wm2VsGFkaV5EYgnKLeZ79lOAsztNj8o/s2048/Multiple%20Series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOb7nG2yC9r5jZDA6ZTVtIHDzBT7gjgoExIDZ0NwgudhkNFmz3mn_T0DcL5GU7a6W5Q23L0ZQ1UkkM6mYX8RSx12CagkkzQen2d1bLB6vV22FldrZixWiD9s7as3kKlG8k2smtsXu4BqpOGlI6jvK34wiAxT2Wm2VsGFkaV5EYgnKLeZ79lOAsztNj8o/s320/Multiple%20Series.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><p>I'm not surprised with the vaguely retro revert (say that three times fast) the X-Men are getting. After all, that, "X-Men '97," show is coming to Disney+ and enough time has passed from the 1990s that folks are now nostalgic for it. Still, I didn't really like the X-Men then and besides Wolverine (he was always cool) could have cared less about all the other characters. The creative teams on the three big books are great and the other series could be good, but I just can't muster any excitement to go back to the old ways. </p><p>I got into the X-Men during a period of huge change and always enjoyed the X-titles the most when things besides the usual, "Mutants protecting humans who hate and fear them," motif was used. I adored the aforementioned, "New X-Men run." I had a ton of fun when for a good year or so a team of X-Men was in space, I had a great time with, "House of M," and enjoyed the fallout of that event. The Krakoan age was insanely creative even if way too many comics were released relating to it (there was a ton of stuff to read if you wanted to keep up to date). When the X-Men are simply hiding out in a mansion or in old military bases in between going on missions to save humans who curse them out for being, "Dirty Muties!" I just don't care. It was done from about 1963 to 2000 and done especially spectacularly for years by Chris Claremont in <a href="https://readtherun.com/">one of the longest uninterrupted runs in comics ever (1975-1991)</a>. Old fans who miss the 90s are probably excited and younger comic fans might be intrigued who didn't live through the past stories. As for me? I said the creative teams look great (Jed MacKay and Gail Simone are both amazing writers and Ryan Stegman is a stellar artist, to name some folks), but I may just skim the new main books and secondary titles unless one manages to really grab my attention. Time will tell.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-62879847630266995412024-03-15T20:37:00.000-05:002024-03-15T20:37:59.421-05:00Make Sure to Attend the Quad Con in Saint Charles this Sunday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurNZ0UobPqhX0ICgMZ5TU1n0GhS9F0MdqeSBy5PY3cvtQYXguWgHgynaZSXSRio3UWXngk8pdB7nwO2pz8z6iKrYwCvA9DcXv2aUE5VkUJpfeREz11BTPzq2PmE30_uRvWwYOvGsLDsrWhnL6weVJKKn2Ja9ygfRYMpTlIUyWCITyGUxsrOxIHw9iuYI/s526/Quad%20Con%20March%20Show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurNZ0UobPqhX0ICgMZ5TU1n0GhS9F0MdqeSBy5PY3cvtQYXguWgHgynaZSXSRio3UWXngk8pdB7nwO2pz8z6iKrYwCvA9DcXv2aUE5VkUJpfeREz11BTPzq2PmE30_uRvWwYOvGsLDsrWhnL6weVJKKn2Ja9ygfRYMpTlIUyWCITyGUxsrOxIHw9iuYI/s320/Quad%20Con%20March%20Show.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I always love it when the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/coolstuffquadcon">Quad Con happens at the, "Steel Shop," in Saint Charles</a>. It's a big mixed-use space that perfectly fits all the numerous vendors and creators I always love seeing at the con! The Quad Con will have comics, toys, video-games, art, and more! Cosplay is always encouraged too and I look forward to some rad outfit. I will doubtlessly find some fun stuff to take home at this Sunday's Quad Con and encourage everyone to go to 49 Lawrence Street on March 17th between 10AM and 4PM. Wear some green too, as it is Saint Patrick's Day!</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-36344470542638528672024-03-14T17:00:00.000-05:002024-03-14T17:00:46.147-05:00"Wail," Comic Advance Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrdYb4NIAXhLYOIfNI6oMgp0huG5t7qsJ4NgABUjBBJvQbNUd1BS__QKOxWYlO1EYE959zHbnGRPzJt8rO3mo08qO4uCh0QaGUEk-XSJtG-qDcbWZyytbjMYcz-VHiS-_91azXRL3wu5Z03AtjIlFiW8uucUceNNZxyHB8xZuxD7cW-AFP8Qgr7ckvJs/s644/Screenshot%202024-03-13%209.56.26%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="644" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrdYb4NIAXhLYOIfNI6oMgp0huG5t7qsJ4NgABUjBBJvQbNUd1BS__QKOxWYlO1EYE959zHbnGRPzJt8rO3mo08qO4uCh0QaGUEk-XSJtG-qDcbWZyytbjMYcz-VHiS-_91azXRL3wu5Z03AtjIlFiW8uucUceNNZxyHB8xZuxD7cW-AFP8Qgr7ckvJs/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-13%209.56.26%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>I took the opportunity to read an advance digital copy of, "Wail," from <a href="https://bluefoxcomics.com/">Blue Fox Comics</a> and it was quite creepy and sad--that's a good thing as this is a bit of a horror-themed tale! Written and drawn by Richard Fairgray, it follows a woman named Beth dealing with a lot of regret and unsaid things in life that she worries may be too late to tell--even with ghosts involved. This is a story of love, longing, and taking advantage of informing people how we feel while there is time. So yes, I enjoyed, "Wail," a lot.</p><p>Fairgray's art is fantastic, whether set in the present time where characters are sad and mourning, or in flashbacks that contain more enthusiasm and optimism. Once the supernatural aspects occur in the story his illustrations are perfectly creepy without being over the top--this isn't exactly a scary story so much as one that makes us fearful of opportunities missed during life. I appreciated the backmatter too where Fairgray discusses his belief in ghosts and artistic process. There will be a Kickstarter campaign for, "Wail," run by <a href="https://bluefoxcomics.com/">Blue Fox Comics</a> in the near future so keep your eyes peeled and make sure to get yourself a copy of, "Wail."</p><p><i>5 out of 5 stars.</i></p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-43418479394526277962024-03-14T10:55:00.001-05:002024-03-14T10:55:30.221-05:00Pi Day and 314 Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOPbdXhCY89uRJ9-6yZDfK_hSq8Ki-b6NUgW_L9cENAnKPYIEaOfTNkzNILm9kENT6O5jWIetp65EfQIs6JuTStVDWsOr9AslCU-T5x5S1KsNBrVk2tHXTbfou9lGkW3HqN9qWJKXht8h2pqskmmMZumnFCBwp1R7Ljko6trPWyyYjP3q_ZKrMfcbqMA/s1012/Pi%20Day%20and%20314%20Day.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="1012" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOPbdXhCY89uRJ9-6yZDfK_hSq8Ki-b6NUgW_L9cENAnKPYIEaOfTNkzNILm9kENT6O5jWIetp65EfQIs6JuTStVDWsOr9AslCU-T5x5S1KsNBrVk2tHXTbfou9lGkW3HqN9qWJKXht8h2pqskmmMZumnFCBwp1R7Ljko6trPWyyYjP3q_ZKrMfcbqMA/s320/Pi%20Day%20and%20314%20Day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Within Saint Louis, many phones have an area code of 314. Also, the first few digits of PI (which as far as we know never ends) are 3.14 when you write them out. Hence, on March 14th, Saint Louis gets to celebrate Pi Day and <a href="https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/list-314-day-deals-and-events-to-enjoy-in-the-st-louis-area/">314 Day</a>. Make sure to have your favorite flavor of pie and then enjoy things that are heavily associated with Saint Louis! </p><p>If you aren't aware of Saint Louis-related stuff, that would include but is by no means limited to: Edible items such as toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, and Imo's Pizza/any pizza with Provel cheese. Some landmarks to learn about would be the famous Arch, the Botanical Garden, and our Saint Louis Zoo. Then, you could play some music by Chuck Berry, Josephine Baker, Michael McDonald, Scott Joplin, and Nelly. Happy Pi Day and Happy 314 Day!</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-87667275959294569982024-03-13T20:45:00.001-05:002024-03-13T20:45:31.660-05:00Is Fighting in the NHL Something of a Bygone Era and Outdated?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5xB8TsxViy2K2hClPu3siBXDfsAmFjJTKD98zu4eepPzD778U4QBbExirjMOfZbKmxK1mtNGdOZV3UnjSJBb_Z-ZFjalddjc1aNs7pSIG5U8weaJTFsCWDhzF_9Guj-VbytFH4_NGy59OR1NeC5jZhcP2HNsWxT9dqZCGoClm_DnnqQrvz7PDoDfipU/s275/Hockey%20Brawl.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5xB8TsxViy2K2hClPu3siBXDfsAmFjJTKD98zu4eepPzD778U4QBbExirjMOfZbKmxK1mtNGdOZV3UnjSJBb_Z-ZFjalddjc1aNs7pSIG5U8weaJTFsCWDhzF_9Guj-VbytFH4_NGy59OR1NeC5jZhcP2HNsWxT9dqZCGoClm_DnnqQrvz7PDoDfipU/s1600/Hockey%20Brawl.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div><p>Sports evolve. Rules change. The basketball of today is nothing like its original format. Football has changed a lot too. Hockey has seen many alterations, but one thing that has persisted is a fondness for, nay an endorsement of, fighting. It <a href="https://theweek.com/feature/briefing/1018995/why-fighting-is-allowed-in-ice-hockey">is somewhat in the sport's DNA</a>. Players will get irritated enough with one another they, "Drop the gloves," and engage in a good ol' bout of fisticuffs. The NHL will itself lean into how this attracts attention while ignoring how a number of enforcers suffered the same traumatic brain injuries from fighting that we see in other physical sports such as boxing or football. The NFL has made some effort to address CTE and other concerns but the NHL basically shrugs when certain guys want to throw down. Is fighting in hockey--and the NHL in particular--outdated and something that should be discouraged or outright punished</p><p>There is no easy answer to such a question. Hockey is a game of grace and speed, but it is a very physical sport too. Certain actions are verboten (boarding) and others will get you slapped with a penalty, but while fighting will get you in the box it isn't as big a deal as if a baseball player or basketball player threw a punch at someone. The, "New York Post," is a bit of a tabloid paper, but I'll be darned if Phil Mushnick's article, "<a href="https://nypost.com/2024/03/07/sports/nhls-promotion-of-fighting-is-sick-and-out-of-touch/amp/?fbclid=IwAR1TSWC9rBExEklBFDWLDO3YVNEfyC0JccnHzYC5v1-f0Y0wzTCpMUeh_1s">NHL’s promotion of fighting is sick and out of touch,</a>" doesn't make some valid and calmly-presented points in discussing how two men punching each other should be less of a draw for the sport and more of an embarrassment (also, a player discussed in that a piece <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-news-matt-rempe-hot-water-after-dirty-elbow-hit-devils-jonas-siegenthaler">is now in trouble for a dirty hit</a> some days later). Now, when I was a kid and would watch some hockey I'll fully confess I was eagerly awaiting someone to get pissed off enough they took off their gloves and started throwing haymakers. I'm a grown-ass man now, however, and I enjoy hockey and want to see people playing a game of skill. I don't have a problem with the sport getting physical or a fight happening. I also don't <i>crave</i> it as some fans seem to do. I'm not sure what the solution would be for fighting and how it is treated in the NHL, but I think sooner than later something official will need to be said or done.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-42482487253493227282024-03-12T13:19:00.000-05:002024-03-12T13:19:38.553-05:00Television Tuesday: "The Vince Staples," Show is Short but Superb<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWloSo9Sn9l6PxRhDypuL_g0yRQld0MBWT5jx5Q41re0sCKjXMNBBbb2YRJ93kNbxTCJK_bUkQiLRtxJnIuBnS31268gyIdljqy8cmR2qvqgIcV68Rkj0oQxBgNJ1jg-Qsj_aFEaPJBwBDHKEWAX-5dkr8Vsn5W1uFJVAYAbz2SPKibP4cytX1w0oyzck/s1280/Vince%20Staples%20Show%20Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWloSo9Sn9l6PxRhDypuL_g0yRQld0MBWT5jx5Q41re0sCKjXMNBBbb2YRJ93kNbxTCJK_bUkQiLRtxJnIuBnS31268gyIdljqy8cmR2qvqgIcV68Rkj0oQxBgNJ1jg-Qsj_aFEaPJBwBDHKEWAX-5dkr8Vsn5W1uFJVAYAbz2SPKibP4cytX1w0oyzck/s320/Vince%20Staples%20Show%20Header.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>"The Vince Staples Show," is a Netflix production starring a semi-fictionalized version of rapper/actor/entrepreneur, Vince Staples. At only five episodes which are as brief as 18 minutes or a little under a half hour, you can binge the whole show in the time it would take to watch most movies. That's okay, although <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/15/the-vince-staples-show-review-this-joyously-weird-comedy-is-ludicrously-suave">some glowing reviews</a> observed with a little disappointment how the show, "...<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-vince-staples-show-is-too-short-review-netflix-2024-2">feels like an appetizer that only scratches the surface</a>." As for what, "The Vince Staples Show," could be categorized as, it features episodes that mostly stand-alone but with little callbacks as Vince navigates life as someone somewhat famous and somewhat wealthy in a vaguely absurdist and off-kilter Los Angeles.</p><p>"The Vince Staples Show," takes place in reality, but not. Things happen that are a bit surreal and just plain <i>off</i>. Whether its a theme park mascot taking offense to Vince bumping into him while he tries to find an open restaurant within the park or a bank robbery that takes a humorous turn when the robbers recognize Vince as a friend, weird shit just kind of happens around Vince and he does his best to attempt to roll with it. I've heard comparisons to, "Atlanta," and its sometimes fantastical elements, but I think a lot of folks are bringing that show up as both it and, "The Vince Staples Show," involve rappers who are also actors. If anything, "The Vince Staples Show," reminds me of, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," a comparison my wife, Samii, stated too when we were watching the show. Just like the characters on that show, Vince often has an idea or goal, and has to go through a bunch of people or obstacles in an attempt to achieve what he's after (Vince is at the aforementioned bank trying to get a loan for a cereal idea, for example). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrTs9jXMBJVeUatD-vU65wD6S2CJ2Ul3V1ezR5ewdeJXQG4vJjX8YUR_F9JTZGNuqSCHPP-VFJNeFXo9TtvsMps2HmiMG78Joc8adgMe_rx5aqS6P0G5_o3pd8cQMPNCczdvl_fCZWSgcMYY5Kj_NDAghDB90WSlY-iPW7beWQrCVghjJMdmzbE_GQMQ/s3000/Vince%20Staples%20at%20the%20Bank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="3000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrTs9jXMBJVeUatD-vU65wD6S2CJ2Ul3V1ezR5ewdeJXQG4vJjX8YUR_F9JTZGNuqSCHPP-VFJNeFXo9TtvsMps2HmiMG78Joc8adgMe_rx5aqS6P0G5_o3pd8cQMPNCczdvl_fCZWSgcMYY5Kj_NDAghDB90WSlY-iPW7beWQrCVghjJMdmzbE_GQMQ/s320/Vince%20Staples%20at%20the%20Bank.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vince ends up knowing the robbers at the bank he's trying to get a loan from.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>On, "Sunny," it is often a scheme that the gang of characters is trying to enact to the detriment of others, but Vince is less of a malignant force than anyone on, "Sunny," even if he clearly is by no means a hero as his show makes clear. He's just kind of <i>there</i>, putting up with weird shit happening the best he can. Sometimes that means assisting his mother at a family reunion as she attempts to find out who else brought Mac & Cheese in an attempt to show her up. Sometimes that means running for his life when an old schoolmate with a relatively unexplained grudge tries to hunt him down around town. "The Vince Staples Show," and, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," share some formatting, and both are darkly hilarious, but Vince's show is also its own unique and weird beast.</p><p>You don't need to watch every episode of, "The Vince Staples Show," in one sitting. You can, but I watched it in pieces over a chunk of days and enjoyed it just as much as if I'd binged the program. It is a fantastic show with the third and fourth episodes being my favorite (the family reunion and trip to the theme park). The first episode is actually the weakest, in my opinion, meandering a bit with Vince locked up briefly with some odd characters after getting pulled over for speeding. It's not a bad start to the show by any means, it is just that everything else fires on all cylinders after that slightly awkward kick-off. Overall, however, this short debut season I'd rate <i>5 out of 5 stars</i>. I hope we get more (and possibly longer) seasons!</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-77565434095357221332024-03-11T12:54:00.000-05:002024-03-11T12:54:32.113-05:00Now Warner Brothers Discovery is Going After Video-Games<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDvDYHfvIVeZ332lRHPKIjqZxy84uVJ58i9mctHlUtTKkFcBc6OrS4UC3vSeH03L0naWe20MN154C43opPU_SxFXT1H6A5mZNzUcDCcTdooU9Eq2gwm0VkH8Buow47aKD5Y9k1Aiw3uUTmI8C-Re8QzzLnmU8bOubkaGdpZ4l3OunbIz-5gXDF6IkUcM/s727/WBD%20AXE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="727" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDvDYHfvIVeZ332lRHPKIjqZxy84uVJ58i9mctHlUtTKkFcBc6OrS4UC3vSeH03L0naWe20MN154C43opPU_SxFXT1H6A5mZNzUcDCcTdooU9Eq2gwm0VkH8Buow47aKD5Y9k1Aiw3uUTmI8C-Re8QzzLnmU8bOubkaGdpZ4l3OunbIz-5gXDF6IkUcM/s320/WBD%20AXE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>David Zaslav is the head of Warner Brothers Discovery and he has essentially slaughtered whole franchises in the name of saving money. He <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warner-bros-discovery-streaming-profit-2023-q4-earnings-report-1235832538/">cut 2 billion to make 100 million in profit</a> (so yah?) and everyone seems to dislike him. Thanks to him the, "Batgirl," movie got thrown in a vault, "Westworld," got canceled, tons of shows were taken off HBO MAX--which he renamed simply MAX--and impossible to find anywhere legally due to a lack of a physical disc release, and so forth. Now, Zaslav's bloodlust seems to have expanded to video-games.</p><p>Warner Brothers Discovery has announced a number of games will be retired/delisted from online stores that are associated with the WBD brand in some capacity. <a href="https://www.polygon.com/24093815/warner-bros-adult-swim-games-steam-delisting">Anything cool relating to Adult Swim</a> shall be off online marketplaces or Steam and the focus for games in the future will be just four big franchises with more live service games. The four franchises are Harry Potter, anything relating to DC, Mortal Kombat, and Game of Thrones. Oh, and yes, WBD is fully aware the live service-focused, "Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League," game has performed horribly but like a gambler who is already on a terrible losing streak, <a href="https://kotaku.com/warner-bros-free-to-play-suicide-squad-harry-potter-1851309669">WBD wants to double-down on live service and, "Free to play," games</a> in the hope their luck/the gaming population, comes around. Expect less fun indie games that you can simply buy and look forward to more big ol' franchises delivered via microtransactions. That is really exciting to imagine. Excuse me, did I say exciting? I meant excruciating.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-18822836815416458812024-03-10T18:16:00.001-05:002024-03-10T18:16:03.867-05:00It's Mario Day and is When Daylight Saving/Spring Forward Occurs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI6U2eRtbMjjbwpUKhbLoLij1meAVyOA0K-I90_LlG1kBRQ65GMMzx62gNtAvOq996tXbNp0H-PgIH9gM_Efp5iK5Q2xDwOSplFX_X49VrPDm3ZN5xYNdz5AMKF8P10_b0Jm3_0yyJLzxL1DZApq2RqOG_WPYhETDf4ax-m78SdTy0KC8jyWXw4Zvz68/s1099/Mario%20and%20Daylight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="1099" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI6U2eRtbMjjbwpUKhbLoLij1meAVyOA0K-I90_LlG1kBRQ65GMMzx62gNtAvOq996tXbNp0H-PgIH9gM_Efp5iK5Q2xDwOSplFX_X49VrPDm3ZN5xYNdz5AMKF8P10_b0Jm3_0yyJLzxL1DZApq2RqOG_WPYhETDf4ax-m78SdTy0KC8jyWXw4Zvz68/s320/Mario%20and%20Daylight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Today was an interesting mash-up of notable sorta-holidays. March 10 is also known as Mario Day because if you write MAR10 it looks like Mario. I believe this started out as a thing fans did but now Nintendo loves to acknowledge it and make a big deal out of it too (just be careful with your fan celebrations as Nintendo loves to sue people who infringe upon them in any minor way). In addition to Mario Day, we sprung forward an hour during the night and entered Daylight Saving Time. For years I thought it was, "Daylight Savings," but apparently you don't need to add that last S. </p><p>I've <a href="https://www.thenewestrant.com/2019/03/daylight-saving-time-starts-tomorrow.html">discussed before</a> how the whole springing forward and falling back annoys me, so I'll refrain from doing that today and just look on the bright side that we literally have a bright side of it staying light longer in the evening by a whole chunk of time as of today. So yes, this March 10th you can celebrate Mario and a little extra daylight whilst you struggle with losing an hour of sleep if you live in America (<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/states-without-daylight-saving-time/">but not Arizona, Hawaii, or certain territories</a>). Have a good one, ya'll.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-46004489764967881992024-03-10T11:51:00.003-05:002024-03-10T11:52:09.020-05:00I Missed the ToyMan Show Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNp1xdiS62GnCw02lfhAGLcAwGK1q1V2P5jAhVISaT-tsPeI3Y1X7dG2TrSOTqwMTHXEa0yjZkzY50Tg2uSPhdt667LlyDOImykNwUtvhTH_XoVNSqNlPRSOh1DiZYCt5ms0Fnmx9WfKtFv5DfWMxdR_dLfPRvqWND0JNrRKaLDbPjWyB4e5rUlGw6dM/s241/ToyMan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="241" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNp1xdiS62GnCw02lfhAGLcAwGK1q1V2P5jAhVISaT-tsPeI3Y1X7dG2TrSOTqwMTHXEa0yjZkzY50Tg2uSPhdt667LlyDOImykNwUtvhTH_XoVNSqNlPRSOh1DiZYCt5ms0Fnmx9WfKtFv5DfWMxdR_dLfPRvqWND0JNrRKaLDbPjWyB4e5rUlGw6dM/s1600/ToyMan.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div>The <a href="https://toymanshow.com/">ToyMan Show</a> was today but due to a stuffy baby keeping us up over the entire night, I was far too exhausted to attend the show this morning and have an obligation in the earlier-ish afternoon. If you have a chance still today I'd encourage you to swing by! The next show is May 5th and I hope to attend that event. It is always a fun time!</div>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-18862879545028350862024-03-09T12:40:00.002-06:002024-03-09T15:42:00.829-06:00We Warned You Anti-Choice Zealots Would Come After IVF. Birth Control is Next, By the Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguZFPCxXfn6sJqdJ0Ey-DkV15GfYww94De6NSMRbne7yLZj1uL0w0sHq-SwzbSMBpiNF8oJ37eAa2HLRDpXDNqDEgcsMvkdzv-BuKxMKyaS3iFVCVtszia8Vkpz_F4Un_1LQKTiQMJw9rIYy55ksNPYs-Yhwi4uvl7_CQBAtBsc44wn_Gopg7UnJaklQ/s745/Screenshot%202024-03-09%2012.37.57%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="745" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguZFPCxXfn6sJqdJ0Ey-DkV15GfYww94De6NSMRbne7yLZj1uL0w0sHq-SwzbSMBpiNF8oJ37eAa2HLRDpXDNqDEgcsMvkdzv-BuKxMKyaS3iFVCVtszia8Vkpz_F4Un_1LQKTiQMJw9rIYy55ksNPYs-Yhwi4uvl7_CQBAtBsc44wn_Gopg7UnJaklQ/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-09%2012.37.57%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>When the <a href="https://www.thenewestrant.com/2022/06/im-disturbed-and-disgusted-today.html">Supreme Court undid Roe Vs Wade</a> and destroyed abortion as a Federally protected right those of us who are pro-choice warned you. We told you that women would be stuck with nonviable pregnancies in states that wouldn't let them abort a fetus with zero chance of survival. We warned you that women having miscarriages would potentially be prosecuted now that they were little more than incubators and the fetus they carried had the full rights of an actual living baby. We also said that IVF would be at risk as those are fertilized eggs. Yes, they are in a petri dish and frozen in a lab, but if life begins at conception, then those are equal to a freshly-born baby in the eyes of anti-choice zealots. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/embryos-ivf-abortion-personhood-laws-ffe4f4d326469a97fef999254ca86eea">They're playing a long game</a>, and they are unfortunately winning.</p><p>I was not surprised in the least when a judge ruled a fertilized egg used for the intention of IVF was a human baby and had the full rights of a real human. I also wasn't surprised that Republicans quickly tried to backpedal and talk about making exceptions because these are people who want babies who are doing IVF so <i>of course</i> they would do all they could for these women. <a href="https://www.reckon.news/news/2024/03/who-gets-to-afford-ivf-in-the-us-how-alabamas-ruling-exposes-the-unequal-access-to-family-building.html#:~:text=White%20women%2C%20over%20the%20age,75%25%20of%20participants%20were%20white.">Some have pointed out</a> that a significant number of those who do IVF are wealthy white women. A chunk of that demographic might have voted Republican and be upset to discover that banning the right to choose how to control their bodies involves IVF too. After all, people <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/03/alabama-ivf-ruling-embryo-fertility-pregnancy/677663/">doing IVF want a baby</a>, they aren't getting an abortion! Well, guess what? When you decide that a fertilized egg is a baby with no exceptions, that means no exceptions. Zero wiggle room. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpeLogotDBGwuyYAnvfSggCJ3EXCa8xh1GqjhQmOZ9713oxdSDtZJKYO7m4A_GiNoVcC8RCAUlQGqEa-5vfKktTYmLvgOrbRpLyeLrUiNKI-Elt8yRHLz2ItWXcRCyJqn2MmJ2jXQ4EZrjTXbWeBRjfEPbHyB5BViHEK0CpMN4DY5GdbfHjC1CwOWMNE/s477/IVF%20Pic.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="477" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpeLogotDBGwuyYAnvfSggCJ3EXCa8xh1GqjhQmOZ9713oxdSDtZJKYO7m4A_GiNoVcC8RCAUlQGqEa-5vfKktTYmLvgOrbRpLyeLrUiNKI-Elt8yRHLz2ItWXcRCyJqn2MmJ2jXQ4EZrjTXbWeBRjfEPbHyB5BViHEK0CpMN4DY5GdbfHjC1CwOWMNE/s320/IVF%20Pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IVF</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Whether you need an abortion because your baby will be born with a terminal illness like Tay-Sachs, were raped, just don't want to have a child, or <i>do</i> desperately want a kid but have to do IVF, you're out of luck. That's because this was never about protecting babies, it was about controlling women or anyone with a uterus (not everyone with a uterus identifies as a woman, after all). It isn't about kids, it is about control and making sure you don't have it over your reproductive organs. IVF was a piece of control for those who wanted a child but, hey, no exceptions. You know how the Plan B pill is not an abortion but could theoretically keep an egg from being fertilized or a fertilized egg from implanting? <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/birth-control-ban-alliance-defending-freedom-rcna119675">They're going to come for that next</a>.</p><p>I'm not exaggerating. Tons of anti-choice groups <a href="https://nwlc.org/resource/dont-be-fooled-birth-control-is-already-at-risk/">want to make Plan B illegal and then have their sights set on regular ol' birth control</a> under the guise of it harming women. Yet more control that women will have stripped away. Condoms will probably be legal still, however. After all, men/anybody with a penis can choose if they want to wear those or not and nobody wants to control a man's body--heaven forbid! Go ahead and tell me I'm being silly. Tell me that once abortion became a state's issue Republicans wouldn't hint at a federal abortion ban (they have). Tell me they wouldn't go after IVF as you stated a year ago (they've gone after it). Tell me birth control-related pills aren't next because you'd have been wrong about everything else so what's to stop you being wrong about this? It is all about taking reproductive control away from anyone with a uterus and giving that control to cisgender (and of course straight) men. If you can make it harder for LGBTQ couples to have a kid by banning IVF that's just a nice bonus as they're living in sin anyway, right Conservatives?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZHWPpbjvP9iuRA-KkuLdWbObnQvX9fSXjUd8OfWThYmxZwTtM25LWSxJTQXlUTDPWe8sM-wXIDFJELXdKtYD4-00FRgzPJbh15fcUyAOB1puffNt-9XIT3pUZmcBLuHdBk6AFcb-LqKIFNBAfxfvPA9mxgHIn8FwpCdpocGlbdFK9U54vJuGvMqvjwM/s907/Plan%20B.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="907" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZHWPpbjvP9iuRA-KkuLdWbObnQvX9fSXjUd8OfWThYmxZwTtM25LWSxJTQXlUTDPWe8sM-wXIDFJELXdKtYD4-00FRgzPJbh15fcUyAOB1puffNt-9XIT3pUZmcBLuHdBk6AFcb-LqKIFNBAfxfvPA9mxgHIn8FwpCdpocGlbdFK9U54vJuGvMqvjwM/s320/Plan%20B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Taking away the right to have an abortion was just the first step of many. They won't stop until we live in a reproductive dictatorship. You can say I'm engaging in hyperbole, but so far they've followed every step I and other reproductive health advocates have said they would. They've trampled on a bunch of rights so far on their march to total control, what's to stop the anti-choice lobby from stopping now besides us speaking out and voting for politicians who will stand against their bullshit?</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-82541908414452170932024-03-08T14:27:00.000-06:002024-03-08T14:27:23.982-06:00Film Friday: "Watch Dogs," Could Actually Work Quite Well as a Movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNK8B_475t7jsHvZjw1QTDvctnaOYmjPKAbbDs8gCvjZ6AI02wERpPJaDK-44UkMLNAiBetnmVt17oh6miXs1AAuNzd51T6ea_WEP1bmzg0bnVSirbC2ie_APODPoSlLM7O1ZqFk9ezAK6u__3rksQPXdwQXCmDRbA1o4OFkQ_8PR-2xspIOsJSixu_c/s715/Screenshot%202024-03-08%202.18.04%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="715" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNK8B_475t7jsHvZjw1QTDvctnaOYmjPKAbbDs8gCvjZ6AI02wERpPJaDK-44UkMLNAiBetnmVt17oh6miXs1AAuNzd51T6ea_WEP1bmzg0bnVSirbC2ie_APODPoSlLM7O1ZqFk9ezAK6u__3rksQPXdwQXCmDRbA1o4OFkQ_8PR-2xspIOsJSixu_c/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-08%202.18.04%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>I remember back when the first (surprise) trailer for, "Watch Dogs," dropped. June 4th, 2012, at the now-defunct E3. It was an intense cinematic that showed us a weird near-future with a cell phone that could hack almost anything. The trailer was intense, had amazing visuals, and oozed with style. Then the game itself came out and was...well, <a href="https://www.thenewestrant.com/2014/05/watch-dogs-initial-impressions-on.html">perfectly fun but not absolutely amazing</a>. There was a solid sequel and, "Watch Dogs: Legion," which was <a href="https://www.thenewestrant.com/2020/11/watch-dogs-legion-impressions.html">passable but lacked much of any spark</a>. That debut trailer for the first game, though, it just had something special and made me wonder once or twice, "Would this concept actually work better as a movie or show?" Now I have my answer as a, "Watch Dogs," flick <a href="https://deadline.com/2024/03/watch-dogs-movie-talk-to-me-sophie-wilde-1235849646/">has been announced with Sophie Wilde to star</a> as the protagonist/main character. Here is a YouTube video I found of that original trailer, by the way:</p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvjQHtH7K9g?si=tiCjTy7mGI2siz7-" title="YouTube video player" width="460"></iframe><p>The, "Watch Dogs," game gave you power but couldn't give you too much power lest it breaks the game. You could mess with stoplights, gain mains, have brief blackouts happen, tweak cameras, and more but it was all within the technical limitations of your gaming console and to a degree where you still faced a challenge within the game. The plot also was a bit drab in the first game as the main character (a man named Aiden Pearce) was basically out for revenge against a big corporation to avenge the death of a loved one and oh look, my own eyes are glazing over at this potboiler setup. The games had a vibe though, just like that first trailer, and if the movie can nail that vibe of being a techno-thriller where all our information is at the hands of corporations and hackers, that would be fun. </p><p>Plus, all this is even less far-fetched than when, "Watch Dogs," was first announced way back as I mentioned in 2012. Now our entire lives truly are on our phones and computers with it easy for nefarious forces to access us. What's to stop corporations/politicians/or rebels from taking advantage of literally everything being interconnected? One just hopes whoever has this power doesn't also have nefarious goals. This was all just announced so we are a long way away from even a movie trailer let alone a concrete release date. That said, with the right vibe and a halfway decent story (plus a hefty enough budget for cool technological effects) I'd wager a, "Watch Dogs," movie could be very enjoyable.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-64902650066476668722024-03-07T20:12:00.000-06:002024-03-07T20:12:25.959-06:00I Tried out the, "Dirty Soda," Trend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDT2RcQGOvvqNMxmPIqNxK8Ww8nODbO0lj5BGCmw1BBgwRaq7la8oDNnwoRR1KgZYGNHHxR_F8iSyxK_XcRTAGrsfQrkiYnX1KCAXOZmpFjdQtV2J3ntEuWT-RdP5Ro-4-rpK02Ro_VIzaY0b22S0z-TIRdsfcCRGVk4lzteXeeDIlnzErDFsGoART6vY/s572/Screenshot%202024-03-07%207.58.01%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="572" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDT2RcQGOvvqNMxmPIqNxK8Ww8nODbO0lj5BGCmw1BBgwRaq7la8oDNnwoRR1KgZYGNHHxR_F8iSyxK_XcRTAGrsfQrkiYnX1KCAXOZmpFjdQtV2J3ntEuWT-RdP5Ro-4-rpK02Ro_VIzaY0b22S0z-TIRdsfcCRGVk4lzteXeeDIlnzErDFsGoART6vY/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-07%207.58.01%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>You may have heard of, "<a href="https://www.today.com/food/trends/what-is-dirty-soda-rcna26689">Dirty Soda</a>." It originated in Utah. Apparently, Mormons are not supposed to drink coffee <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/news/what-is-dirty-soda-tiktok">but can have cold caffeine such as sodas</a>. They also abstain from alcohol. However, doctoring up your soda is perfectly okay as it isn't hot caffeine or booze (don't question it, religions never make sense the more you examine any of them). This led to the rise of, "Dirty soda," in Utah with chains such as, "Swig," being huge there. What is a dirty soda, however? Oftentimes a soda with some creamer and other flavors--the most popular variation seeming to be creamer, coconut syrup, and lime. Whether you need a mocktail or just want to make your soda a little more interesting, dirty soda seems to be sweeping the nation. People are adding all kinds of flavors to Diet Coke, Mountain Dew, and the like. Coffee Mate has even teamed up with Dr. Pepper to make a creamer <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/03/06/coffee-mate-dr-pepper-dirty-soda-creamer/72865738007/">explicitly designed to be added to the soda</a>.</p><p>I can't yet find the aforementioned special creamer in stores but it is relatively easy to make a dirty soda at home or Sonic has a promotion to, "Make it dirty," in any beverage. Out of the proper context saying you're going to pull-up to Sonic and, "Make it dirty," might sound a little risque, but in this case, I used the phrase to add some creamer and flavoring to my Large Dr. Pepper soda I purchased today. I found the drink pretty refreshing, reminding me of a Dr. Pepper float with a bit of a bite to it thanks to the lime. This dirtied-up blend apparently included coconut but I honestly did not taste it. I just found my soda a little extra-smooth with the cream and pleasant enough I gulped it all down on the drive home. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkTmqzzoNAmuH_Prah7IJHgxgr7zEzJnI3_bJkD-O7dtDY3qWQSgG4BdjiCweLwbh-zJ8yyr2uDAVJLQKIKwyD8Mmukc8eMNAEBTr2baV7hKuNsOkOxNX9AgBLtCU9JkrhLhvucXCoMM0kSNRPyf1qMBLcTdVL_f-ecR_vB15j4O7BRlOIh3SHkBKcls/s375/Dirty%20Soda%20Creamer.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkTmqzzoNAmuH_Prah7IJHgxgr7zEzJnI3_bJkD-O7dtDY3qWQSgG4BdjiCweLwbh-zJ8yyr2uDAVJLQKIKwyD8Mmukc8eMNAEBTr2baV7hKuNsOkOxNX9AgBLtCU9JkrhLhvucXCoMM0kSNRPyf1qMBLcTdVL_f-ecR_vB15j4O7BRlOIh3SHkBKcls/s320/Dirty%20Soda%20Creamer.webp" width="256" /></a></div><p>Keep in mind with dirty sodays how it does--obviously--add more calories to put these things in your soda. Plus, if you are sensitive to dairy like me having a dirty soda that involves dairy (not all of them do) can be a bad choice for your stomach. I took my lactose pills however and I was fine. I'd try other styles of dirty sodas if the trend continues to grow but I wouldn't say my sodas <i>have</i> to be dirty by any means for me to enjoy them.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-45064042843888210542024-03-06T18:14:00.002-06:002024-03-06T18:14:42.025-06:00Today's New Hockey Card Release is the Biggest One Awhile; The "Upper Deck Series 2, 23-24," is Causing a Ruckus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIEr-cwzX_1Umhj_YYhe8pZOC3KFxt6vFthMiv8OEf0suf-9909JKAoG4jUL0DgiIorq6P1wMgqa6vV6Du8Hl3Q_cussxrDowa_tDDPQd_qqd1GrX9i1QOVSWOUb46s3P5q97QiRauWvwwE-g7uKgB8IRx3yLW-aXAx-uYdvmC1x9JYoO3h4-eqHbyo4/s844/Screenshot%202024-03-06%206.07.16%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIEr-cwzX_1Umhj_YYhe8pZOC3KFxt6vFthMiv8OEf0suf-9909JKAoG4jUL0DgiIorq6P1wMgqa6vV6Du8Hl3Q_cussxrDowa_tDDPQd_qqd1GrX9i1QOVSWOUb46s3P5q97QiRauWvwwE-g7uKgB8IRx3yLW-aXAx-uYdvmC1x9JYoO3h4-eqHbyo4/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-06%206.07.16%20PM.png" width="194" /></a></div><p>There are a variety of hockey card lines that exist. From the official NHL-branded ones Upper Deck does to Leaf with their cool cards. There is a, "Main," line that lot of folks collect with various releases throughout the season. Somewhat unimaginatively titled, "Upper Deck Series 1, Upper Deck Series 2, Upper Deck Extended Series," this is the go-to for folks who want to dabble in hockey cards but have less interest in more esoteric lines such as, "SP Game Used," "Artifacts," "Allure," or the like. Today, March 6th, 2024, was a huge day for card collectors. The official rookie card (or as it is called in this case, "Young Gun,"card) for Connor Bedard became possible to find in boxes/tins/blasters/etc. of, "Upper Deck Series 2 23-24," product. It has caused long lines, insane prices online, rage-filled internet posts about the prices, and generally is a wild time to be into hockey cards. Why? <a href="https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/news/connor-bedard-young-guns-card-has-collectors-eagerly-anticipating-upper-deck-series-two-hockey-release">One person is to blame/thank, Connor Bedard</a>.</p><p>Connor Bedard was the first-round draft pick and at only 18 years old plays at a level in the NHL that shows an amazing degree of skill usually found in more established players. Those prone to hyperbole have said he's this generation's Gretzky (that remains to be seen) or that he's at least already at the level of Auston Matthews or Sidney Crosby despite being so new to the NHL. There are plenty of times when players come out of a minor league with potential but can't manage in the big-name league (I was living in Cortland, New York when Tim Tebow joined the New York Jets as an NFL player and was there for Summer Camp with everyone convinced that would be the Jets' year). Bedard has been doing amazing stuff, however, with an admittedly awful team, the Chicago Blackhawks. He is the shining beacon of hope for that team right now and even though a jaw fracture took him out of play for some weeks, he's been back and continues to impress. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MFy_dG_25rpEjgMr53oXUEK-wdwpneoGN2aY1lA1x05ah4QXt9dn4J7sk436qUbz7mYtbijDD47ZzohjXLTMebLcdCD4nVgN2w5oy1ivRYkp6kDy55ieeo6aCnaU1Bg-Y58eDkRAgZKb68YqvW0SaxcShOB77kEn0vw1QyYA6rTYrckNW5dXhTQPpzM/s1500/priced%20out%20card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1500" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MFy_dG_25rpEjgMr53oXUEK-wdwpneoGN2aY1lA1x05ah4QXt9dn4J7sk436qUbz7mYtbijDD47ZzohjXLTMebLcdCD4nVgN2w5oy1ivRYkp6kDy55ieeo6aCnaU1Bg-Y58eDkRAgZKb68YqvW0SaxcShOB77kEn0vw1QyYA6rTYrckNW5dXhTQPpzM/s320/priced%20out%20card.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front and back of the card everyone is after.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>This is by no means Bedard's first card. A little, "Draft day, " card was included as a surprise in some, "Upper Deck Series 1 23-24," sets and goes for $500, easily. His cards from when he played in the Canadian Hockey League are popular too. There have even been other NHL-affiliated sets with a Bedard card featuring him decked out in his Blackhawks uniform. People don't care though, they want that, "True," rookie card and are hunting the Young Gun. Boxes that <i>could</i> contain his card were preselling for $300 or so with the 22-23 years boxes about $100-$150 upon release (of any of the series), to give you an idea how much this box is inflated by Bedard-mania. Some stores are selling whole cases for thousands, blaster boxes (little mini boxes with a handful of random packs) that normally cost $25 are going for $50, and so forth. </p><p>Anything that might have Bedard's Young Gun card included is being price-gouged by many stores because as of this minute when I check eBay his regular Young Gun card goes for anywhere from $780 to a little under $1,000. People could pull even rarer variations of that card but it is all random, making this like a lottery where you maybe will have a lucky ticket for a small win, could randomly find a jackpot, or most likely end up with a bunch of other cards of minimal value (at least compared to Bedard). Buying packs of sports cards is a gamble, but up until recent years, it was a cheap gamble with hockey, at least. While baseball cards have always garnered insane money and their hobby boxes are wildly priced, hockey cards have been mostly ignored and cheap outside of quite old cards, rookie cards of big names (e.g. Gretzky), and so forth. Bedard has drawn a lot of attention to hockey cards, however, and there is only so much supply to meet the demand. Hence, people are either sitting out this box due to feeling priced out of the hobby, paying crazy prices, or if they're lucky know of a retailer/friend who will sell them a box for a reasonable price.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpsvdiPLSOGygAFSkcA7baDlMHgk_LJRgpDFcUVC6a0XpSB_Gb0qmfsu49G9cMQxsS8G9j2BLXBmItmTodyLBjd5siiidb0zQNBPfpwXa-WuBvWwsHA7nkcWZNVXdkS8XFaCT0-qeKkvieEEkySoZnZ8AIZQeFFbzhlmV11m0r7F3L5VJiayLV36aW5Y/s1482/Screenshot%202024-03-06%206.10.54%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="1482" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpsvdiPLSOGygAFSkcA7baDlMHgk_LJRgpDFcUVC6a0XpSB_Gb0qmfsu49G9cMQxsS8G9j2BLXBmItmTodyLBjd5siiidb0zQNBPfpwXa-WuBvWwsHA7nkcWZNVXdkS8XFaCT0-qeKkvieEEkySoZnZ8AIZQeFFbzhlmV11m0r7F3L5VJiayLV36aW5Y/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-06%206.10.54%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recent confirmed sales, not just asking prices, but cards actually selling for that!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Will Bedard-related cards keep their value? I do not know. Barring some sudden career-ending injury he should have many productive years in the NHL and could very well lead a team to the Stanely Cup; I'd wager that will happen when/if he gets traded at some point to a team with better players because besides Seth Jones on the Blackhawks (a solid defenseman), Bedard is kind of alone in his talent. I suppose if someone goes and buys a Bedard Young Gun for $800-ish that could very well be a smart investment or end up looking foolish in a few years. That's all long-term though and for the short-term it is all about Bedard. God bless anyone with the budget to invest in him.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-2916770136056834672024-03-05T19:31:00.002-06:002024-03-05T19:33:39.698-06:00I'm Just Glad Sinbad is Doing Alright<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJAEqEYgxiZEOw93fc_LMS3xBVafFycjLEegXOxNtiDQCbIp2vjIMkAg_pGzP1PtobiB3IKLUFbO8DV0puNlL2KxIZMh7E5i-LK0K5YJ54BuZWgyR24wWyAfADxNg3qh8LRg8P77QJCPqhKLRlmmSpvF78PSxc2N_515abv8ustjOc06lTqrGRj4FSvo/s353/Screenshot%202024-03-05%207.32.08%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="211" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJAEqEYgxiZEOw93fc_LMS3xBVafFycjLEegXOxNtiDQCbIp2vjIMkAg_pGzP1PtobiB3IKLUFbO8DV0puNlL2KxIZMh7E5i-LK0K5YJ54BuZWgyR24wWyAfADxNg3qh8LRg8P77QJCPqhKLRlmmSpvF78PSxc2N_515abv8ustjOc06lTqrGRj4FSvo/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-05%207.32.08%20PM.png" width="191" /></a></div><p>I've been a fan of Sinbad since I was a kid. The man was always funny whether it was the 90's or his special in 2010, "Where U Been?" where he addressed how people felt like he tended to randomly disappear from the public eye and reappear. Plus he was hilarious in a guest spot on, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," among other appearances. In 2020 Sinbad had a stroke and needed a chunk of time to recuperate. <a href="https://www.avclub.com/sinbad-stroke-first-public-appearance-support-1851308733">However, he has made a lot of steps in his recovery</a> and is making (virtual) <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/05/entertainment/sinbad-stroke-return-miracles/index.html">public appearances with plans for in-person ones too</a>. With the World seeming like it is metaphorically and literally on fire at times, a little good news is nice to hear. I'm just glad Sinbad is doing alright because he's a funny and (by all accounts) nice guy.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-55185578017719953482024-03-04T19:07:00.004-06:002024-03-04T19:07:45.758-06:00A College Student Was Accused of Cheating...for Using Grammarly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8A9QdrsSE6g_8YqKfzUn-gouqLJe3ovaESQ2skZrUIjysCT-6cNRnL4kY7UCRvDABTDaEdYXZk9BW0kqP6BEKwqcca-xDSCjmddeBb5qCwh2f7J4RiDgsTom8uUlSU6l3IWflJZlAz01QEqbEqtRT3OMgD5iGK8YSHAGZIraWC-E1dES80q0cvt_y7os/s717/Marley%20Stevens%20and%20School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="717" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8A9QdrsSE6g_8YqKfzUn-gouqLJe3ovaESQ2skZrUIjysCT-6cNRnL4kY7UCRvDABTDaEdYXZk9BW0kqP6BEKwqcca-xDSCjmddeBb5qCwh2f7J4RiDgsTom8uUlSU6l3IWflJZlAz01QEqbEqtRT3OMgD5iGK8YSHAGZIraWC-E1dES80q0cvt_y7os/s320/Marley%20Stevens%20and%20School.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I use Grammarly. There is a paid version that can recommend different phrasing but the free version is great for picking up on things like misspellings, iffy grammar, or unnecessary hyphens (a lot of two-word phrases don't need hyphens, but, "Two-word," does, funnily enough). I'd recommend the free version of Grammarly to everyone and if you think the paid version would assist you I'd say to go for it as well. However, if you're in college you maybe need to be careful as a young woman named Marley Stevens was <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/tech/ai/student-fights-academic-probation-ai-tool/?fbclid=IwAR01F-sdlbbbhvCYLBqw5u-txHDZSjHiyMqVMUpUOgdemGlo6Bee61nQXcs">put on academic probation after a paper she wrote got a zero grade</a>. The reason? Various paper-checking systems claimed she used A.I. in some fashion to, "Write," her paper and she has steadfastly declared she only used Grammarly.</p><p>Where this gets a little complicated is how apparently Grammarly (at least the fancier levels) <i>does</i> use a degree of generative AI. This meant the professor felt Marley was, "Unintentionally cheating," even though the school itself tells students to use Grammarly! I'm not sure if we need to be perturbed at the professor, school, Grammarly, or the general ways A.I. is causing a ruckus these days. Grammarly, to their credit, has offered to speak to Stevens' school (University of North Georgia) and offered $4,000 for her GoFundMe she created to help pay for college with her scholarship possibly in jeopardy due to this fiasco. Ya'll, was I not just saying the other day how, "<a href="https://www.thenewestrant.com/2024/02/a-willy-wonka-themed-event-turned-out.html">AI is advancing at a rate much faster than people seem ready for,</a>" if I may quote myself. Should it be a fact that Grammarly uses A.I. than a college would have every right to tell students not to use it if that were said college's policy. However, if some university is going to encourage students to use a program such as Grammarly and then punish them, that is a prime example of A.I. resulting in muddied waters and people not knowing how the Hell to consider what is and isn't kosher with A.I. Things are only going to get worse and messier with A.I. before they get better, aren't they?</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-58550247988164339762024-03-03T18:45:00.002-06:002024-03-03T18:49:21.198-06:00The Latest Spector Club Show Was a Hoot!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje18NU5SN3aUtO-SHfJMCj4ebb4K6kzulJhVBqL_nOXIeLC0iBJ6L-t6llpxi2Fr_JlDy2zZ8c_bZM9bBdJ6M2KhBe7xkdwsMw3962Unne0Mf7ulS4iNn4-RsuV6IdH5nBx-rWgLKqVw7E1EVaHEGu1IAX0Qlzx7d9LGHcxJs5BSCjFbgClCaDxFWMDlU/s603/Screenshot%202024-03-03%205.59.01%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="484" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje18NU5SN3aUtO-SHfJMCj4ebb4K6kzulJhVBqL_nOXIeLC0iBJ6L-t6llpxi2Fr_JlDy2zZ8c_bZM9bBdJ6M2KhBe7xkdwsMw3962Unne0Mf7ulS4iNn4-RsuV6IdH5nBx-rWgLKqVw7E1EVaHEGu1IAX0Qlzx7d9LGHcxJs5BSCjFbgClCaDxFWMDlU/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-03%205.59.01%20PM.png" width="257" /></a></div><p>Today I spent the morning in Shrewsbury enjoying a really fun comic show! Put on by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078540588477">Spector Club</a>, I have posted previously about the times I've had a table selling stuff. I was not a vendor today, but I enjoyed being a patron and getting some stellar comics to add to my collection. I kicked-off my time chatting with Jack Thomas of <a href="https://fortresscomics.blogspot.com/">Fortress Comics</a>. His area was full to the gills with Silver and Golden age comics. It was some impressive stuff! Then, I said hello to Spike of <a href="https://www.ebay.com/str/lostinspacetoysandcollectibles">Lost in Space Toys and Collectibles</a> and we talked about how busy life had been! I talked with the stellar fellows of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TatertotCollectibles/">Tatetot Comics and Collectibles</a> and picked up this, "Green Lantern," ratio variant comic from them:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijjyJoS4O5DhJOPSjcAi4y6WOzYrIteAcisrXr8-3K5LSoCbEeyeXcLCbNUVnSmiqkMxzr-srrhWW5IA6eXPV3xaXt_hZXZwbstUFWno2rqxgpzNRHjj_5fM9N8ZPrXgOXidpk3lnsZo8NFgZC7QrbNMIkAKv1kMmKiI9w3cLtRJKu80u6aVXOrRgEV4/s1000/Green%20Lantern.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijjyJoS4O5DhJOPSjcAi4y6WOzYrIteAcisrXr8-3K5LSoCbEeyeXcLCbNUVnSmiqkMxzr-srrhWW5IA6eXPV3xaXt_hZXZwbstUFWno2rqxgpzNRHjj_5fM9N8ZPrXgOXidpk3lnsZo8NFgZC7QrbNMIkAKv1kMmKiI9w3cLtRJKu80u6aVXOrRgEV4/s320/Green%20Lantern.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I had a chance to talk with John Chaffee from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bigfootcomicsandcollectibles">Bigfoot Comics and Collectibles</a> and then saw my good friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bruce.reynolds.73700">Bruce Reynolds </a> as well as the lovely Tom of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alliancectg">Alliance Comics, Toys, and Games</a>. It was fun catching up with them as well as Vince from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vktoys29">VK Toys</a> who was kind enough to trade some stuff with me so that I could grab this X-Men comic:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtbY2VglpWkoe6WQ8Y6UGi2bJOnnrSwszooTw3U1sCvVCDJBo5Flx3dcosw8MiKbjHZpA5Qzv3WdYKyj0pn77Mud9uW4lCxzqhxDm9ZKSdBVH_W47jyBMSo-hxAvFj4ax1WC1gGulmCgwzZd8kA4b0UkZX_m6EE8AfWqkPeJzkCU5QH39_ogAO6vaaTQ/s1000/X-Men%20Adventures.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtbY2VglpWkoe6WQ8Y6UGi2bJOnnrSwszooTw3U1sCvVCDJBo5Flx3dcosw8MiKbjHZpA5Qzv3WdYKyj0pn77Mud9uW4lCxzqhxDm9ZKSdBVH_W47jyBMSo-hxAvFj4ax1WC1gGulmCgwzZd8kA4b0UkZX_m6EE8AfWqkPeJzkCU5QH39_ogAO6vaaTQ/s320/X-Men%20Adventures.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>As I was digging in the boxes of various vendors I had fun conversing with my fellow comic fans and it was apparent everyone was having a great time! I also talked with Dave from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063801750422">All-American Collectibles</a> as well as David from <a href="https://callistocomics.com/">Calisto Comics</a>! I bought two snazzy Spawn Comics from Eric and Tricia of <a href="https://stlcomics.net/">STL Comics</a>. Check them out:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBDd8Qo3MgDIs9yNiW00YoeH8i-oZz8Bw-ZK6mRRCk0o8D9s6m8vqeJ0RG3E_2CrUFoWuyTVIXU5ujiRUsKGc47TswbgOsJhU5_-hD_2CeQdkQ82a9ZtCACpnT2EY_f7bhg12jjwiiQnOvdg0zUEeqY9eBZERqgBVVCshIAXY8WL8vpNwTwyt8gd4v6U/s1500/Spawn%20Comics.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBDd8Qo3MgDIs9yNiW00YoeH8i-oZz8Bw-ZK6mRRCk0o8D9s6m8vqeJ0RG3E_2CrUFoWuyTVIXU5ujiRUsKGc47TswbgOsJhU5_-hD_2CeQdkQ82a9ZtCACpnT2EY_f7bhg12jjwiiQnOvdg0zUEeqY9eBZERqgBVVCshIAXY8WL8vpNwTwyt8gd4v6U/s320/Spawn%20Comics.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I had such a fantastic time at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078540588477">Spector Club's</a> event today and look forward to the next one on May 12th! If you're in the region around then I'd encourage you to go too!</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-66524731793091124552024-03-02T18:51:00.003-06:002024-03-02T18:51:46.432-06:00SCOUT Comics Blasted Over Creator Nonpayment and General Questionable Behavior--Why Isn't This Getting More Press?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4F7eysTPL1jVRR-0RiOSqwNxanwcqSFnYOAgiGSvU8pb-VEeIzga_eg3NOB2sPea1SAh0moKJLJRoIg8hpSj-kMxi0jNZ3ZWBLSqpKvf3PhrZjz4-QkFhjRJ9z0NQyem0iA2Lbg4vurXPbqkgic-J-KDiewG9cM-mbowKgb5m-a_TfEkKZ0nlails0Q/s630/Screenshot%202024-03-02%206.46.03%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="630" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4F7eysTPL1jVRR-0RiOSqwNxanwcqSFnYOAgiGSvU8pb-VEeIzga_eg3NOB2sPea1SAh0moKJLJRoIg8hpSj-kMxi0jNZ3ZWBLSqpKvf3PhrZjz4-QkFhjRJ9z0NQyem0iA2Lbg4vurXPbqkgic-J-KDiewG9cM-mbowKgb5m-a_TfEkKZ0nlails0Q/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-02%206.46.03%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>SCOUT Comics was a cool little publisher for a while. They put out cool stuff. Then they seemed to start just cranking out more and more books in an effort to get them optioned <i>and</i> the quality of said books really dipped. I rarely read anything from SCOUT now but try the debut issue of a cool-sounding series now and then. However, lately a scandal has emerged regarding SCOUT that we've seen with other publishers too. Unfortunately, SCOUT is <a href="https://www.thepopverse.com/scout-comics-missteps-dropped-the-ball-complaints-concerns-march-2024-entertainment-holdings">turning into another publisher in hot water</a> for not communicating with creators, paying them money they are owed, and so forth.</p><p>SCOUT has <a href="https://twitter.com/ScoutComics/status/1763368135199990180">at least put out a press release</a> admitting, "Missteps," and, "Miscommunication." Perhaps they were too busy to talk to creators with their near-constant shows on Whatnot selling their variant covers. I kid, but from what creators who are speaking out have said, things sound suspect. Talks of threats, lies, and SCOUT seemingly intentionally sitting on sellable stock out of either ignorance or spite whilst refusing to terminate contracts unless outrageous monetary demands were met. It isn't good.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0iQeYi72IXIu80na03bnrWnfmtz2ab_YxetPKTjg1dqFO6LHWA0OMneLL8tqVyCmh7U5g6-TijdqpSpIK1dWt79i3POR-qP_tEn1F1A6-ad5_nd_jDf_g-4i_-KxgurMjZnHxucMOI4K7rV4g2gB94Frcygm2CarQw1lKBoDbi8vlRwrIAUKcgSV2zg/s521/Screenshot%202024-03-02%206.48.32%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="342" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0iQeYi72IXIu80na03bnrWnfmtz2ab_YxetPKTjg1dqFO6LHWA0OMneLL8tqVyCmh7U5g6-TijdqpSpIK1dWt79i3POR-qP_tEn1F1A6-ad5_nd_jDf_g-4i_-KxgurMjZnHxucMOI4K7rV4g2gB94Frcygm2CarQw1lKBoDbi8vlRwrIAUKcgSV2zg/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-02%206.48.32%20PM.png" width="210" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One SCOUT book with a displeased creative team.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Did SCOUT simply drop the ball as it became a bit too big for its britches and will hopefully improve? Would SCOUT have kept pulling questionable moves against creators if a number hadn't gone public? Will SCOUT even survive or end up being another publisher who emerged with a splash but ended up burning out in a relatively short period of time? Time will tell, but it is odd more sites aren't reporting this. </p><p>I linked above to a great article by Chris Arrant at Popverse and saw <a href="https://comicbookclublive.com/2024/03/01/scout-comics-reacts-allegations-lack-of-payment-communication/#:~:text=News-,Scout%20Comics%20Reacts%20To%20Allegations%20Of%20Lack%20Of%20Payment,%3A%20%E2%80%9CWe%20Dropped%20The%20Ball%E2%80%9D&text=On%20February%2028%2C%20comic%20book,hadn't%20been%20answering%20communication.">Comic Book Club</a> mention the hubbub too, but that's about it. <a href="https://bleedingcool.com/">Bleeding Cool</a> loves tabloid drama but has been oddly silent on this compared to other scandals. Then again, they seem to have close relationships with certain publishers and companies (they waited a <i>long</i> time to talk about <a href="https://www.thenewestrant.com/2024/01/cgc-is-in-midst-of-big-crisis.html">the CGC mess too</a>) so maybe I shouldn't be surprised anybody they're chummy with seems to get lighter treatment. I mean, Avatar Press ostensibly still exists and does own Bleeding Cool so when Brian Pulido sued Avatar for the rights to Lady Death that was a huge story weridly enough never acknowledged by the site. There are plenty of other sites that could talk about SCOUT too and while Comics Beat has not yet, I think they will as they're pretty good at digging out the truth in big ol' messes. It just gives me pause when a decent-sized publisher has a huge fiasco going on and it isn't getting as much press as one would expect. Time will tell if this gets more coverage and who exactly it is that covers it.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-34079435177996179942024-03-02T18:11:00.000-06:002024-03-02T18:11:52.630-06:00The new Savory Chili Sauce at McDonald's is Fine but Forgettable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFuoNOHiuk-6rry5pZ-BVfd2v3My0S_8xiZKl2MYUppW-XIKC3vv5n3IEesOH4Oih62y8dPhqlwPtPGWZAZDnTM4ttOzTwo52XHKY1YtR-_la26rgZdj4GPAqBKb72XwJoJzPUN8n4JTlFdjvr_2NNAzEsS5IIZdEoyP22I3cZX4NBhSUAU5FpV7_zXA/s472/WcDonalds%20Sauce.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFuoNOHiuk-6rry5pZ-BVfd2v3My0S_8xiZKl2MYUppW-XIKC3vv5n3IEesOH4Oih62y8dPhqlwPtPGWZAZDnTM4ttOzTwo52XHKY1YtR-_la26rgZdj4GPAqBKb72XwJoJzPUN8n4JTlFdjvr_2NNAzEsS5IIZdEoyP22I3cZX4NBhSUAU5FpV7_zXA/s320/WcDonalds%20Sauce.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I enjoy McDonald's. I like eating there a little more often than I probably should (although I am eating better lately). I like to sample their limited-time goodies they do now and then so when I heard about the <a href="https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/savory-chili-wcdonalds-sauce.html">savory chili sauce</a>, I was intrigued. Part of a weird promotion where the M is becoming a W so that the logo is WcDonald's for some reason <a href="https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/wcdonalds-universe.html">(it relates to an alternate anime-inspired Universe </a>or something), the savory chili sauce was a little bit above average, but not particularly notable.</p><p>When you put some of the savory chili sauce on your nuggets (or dip your fries into it) the first thing you notice is how a lot of soy sauce went into this. If you like soy sauce, that is a good thing, but if you dislike it...sorry. The soy and chili flavors interact well and a moment after you finish eating your bite there is a bit of a pleasant heat from the ginger left over. It isn't <i>too</i> much, but it's there. It reminded me of <a href="https://www.thenewestrant.com/2018/03/ill-be-darned-szechuan-sauce-actually.html">Szechuan sauce</a> without being <i>quite</i> as good. This doesn't come close to beating my favorite sacue--the only short-time dip to come close to challenging sweet and sour (I love it so) would be the <a href="https://www.thenewestrant.com/2023/10/my-thoughts-on-mcdonalds-two-new-sauce.html">sweet and spicy jam</a>. As it is, the savory chili sauce is worth trying and relatively good, but once it and the WcDonald's promotion are gone, few will remember either.</p><p><i>3 out of 5 stars.</i></p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-8317510030547079992024-03-01T20:24:00.000-06:002024-03-01T20:24:42.292-06:00Flashback/Film Friday: "Big Fat Liar," Holds Up Decades Later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h4cBfrMVIez0390au9OdOdeOA38Uz72EkwJZNyJ3IHjFjFxNoWZ1-OrT5KgLrjuuE0V9pdoF86-0lyg5tx_PBMNXX_T5QiCBx_amUTFkTGU5yYfHR1YLqp3_QTzFv2Lh9nM_BLa2njtHTKvzh9c99VOTW20BDgorhherC83jyEfrPbIussfUReLIwaY/s273/Big%20Fat%20Liar%20Movie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="185" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h4cBfrMVIez0390au9OdOdeOA38Uz72EkwJZNyJ3IHjFjFxNoWZ1-OrT5KgLrjuuE0V9pdoF86-0lyg5tx_PBMNXX_T5QiCBx_amUTFkTGU5yYfHR1YLqp3_QTzFv2Lh9nM_BLa2njtHTKvzh9c99VOTW20BDgorhherC83jyEfrPbIussfUReLIwaY/s1600/Big%20Fat%20Liar%20Movie.jpeg" width="185" /></a></div><p>In some recent interviews relating to his fantastic role in, "The Holdovers," actor Paul Giamatti discussed <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/paul-giamatti-big-fat-liar-marc-maron-podcast/">how a number of people still recognize him initially</a> for, "Big Fat Liar." A family-friendly comedy from 2002, it follows a young boy who tends to lie all the time (played by Frankie Muniz). In an attempt to not fail English and be stuck in Summer school he writes a big story a make-u assignment--then gets hit by the limo of a movie exec in town filming a flick. That bigwig happens to be Marty Wolf, played by Giamatti. Muniz leaves his story behind in the limo (by accident) when he hitches a ride in exchange for not causing a scene. Then Marty Wolf steals the story and plans to make it into a huge movie.</p><p>It sounds a little outlandish, but the thing is that Giamatti portrays Wolf with such a sleazy authenticity and determination you find yourself believing, "Yeah, this guy would steal a story from a 14-year-old kid." A number of other talents are in the flick as well, from a shockingly young Taram Killam to Amanda Bynes at the height of her popularity from, "All That," and, "The Amanda Show." Her role is actually relatively understated compared to some of her sketch characters, but this isn't really a movie about her or the supposedly titular liar Muniz, this is Giamatti's showcase. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZLDAeI9f52lTUf34rYEJSY7C-RHyRKKqFyvhtsMDwSZcLdBBF5lLP06G0s5_hHvVG2FnlFyyUb89soJuKjSK3KLIj9b_8WwOij1GvAmoX4mG-KHbWt7jOwblU6mkUWpa-Fe55vluZCUtMwkos7J4n1jPYSi32ric7T0RF9bpT0GMJb9yGrjhiFjNp70/s588/Screenshot%202024-03-01%208.08.01%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="588" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZLDAeI9f52lTUf34rYEJSY7C-RHyRKKqFyvhtsMDwSZcLdBBF5lLP06G0s5_hHvVG2FnlFyyUb89soJuKjSK3KLIj9b_8WwOij1GvAmoX4mG-KHbWt7jOwblU6mkUWpa-Fe55vluZCUtMwkos7J4n1jPYSi32ric7T0RF9bpT0GMJb9yGrjhiFjNp70/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-01%208.08.01%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Whether he's spending half the movie dyed blue due to a prank by Muniz, screaming at elderly women in the way of his car, or beating up (an admittedly aggressive) kid at a birthday party who mistakes him for the clown (due to the blue body paint), Giamatti manages to be over-the-top yet not so outlandish it hurts our suspension of disbelief. Yes, it is a little far-fetched at the end of the movie that a bunch of other Hollywood talents band together with Muniz and Bynes to trick Wolf into admitting he stole the story...but the dude is a huge dick. He screams at John Cho's character with vaguely racist overtones about camera setups, insults the age of a stunt coordinator who requests a single day off for his grandkid's birthday party, and seems to care about only himself at the expense of all others. By the climax of the flick, we're outright cheering to see Wolf finally get his comeuppance. The fact all the ways he gets screwed over are quite funny is just the icing on the cake.</p><p>"Big Fat Liar," came out in 2002 and still is pretty hilarious to this day. Not every single joke holds up and this is a PG-rated movie so don't expect anything <i>too</i> extreme, but yeah, "Big Fat Liar," is another solid example of Paul Giamatti and his acting range. It isn't streaming anywhere, but you can always buy a DVD of it or purchase a digital copy. You ought to, it is pretty fun.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-46868751517725404482024-02-29T20:55:00.001-06:002024-02-29T20:55:06.750-06:00A Willy Wonka-Themed Event Turned Out to be a Sham and the Internet Can't Look Away<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ3y0jnuXh4vMCiEzP-2DSdEuOK9Dwpei_3ecBnM1Lo7Ang9d81jviEBrFgRMBeQbjg6is0w_pwhKOS6nftkT27ef4BolytZoFN9UhQNle2dBKBT1Fei3GpECPpAojIP70hgkBZ5goRDDWt3YUjnD74NnDzt3Lf6rA8bml5MAMjmaLvOEUj4SurDhJ8w/s506/Expectation%20Versus%20Reality.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="506" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ3y0jnuXh4vMCiEzP-2DSdEuOK9Dwpei_3ecBnM1Lo7Ang9d81jviEBrFgRMBeQbjg6is0w_pwhKOS6nftkT27ef4BolytZoFN9UhQNle2dBKBT1Fei3GpECPpAojIP70hgkBZ5goRDDWt3YUjnD74NnDzt3Lf6rA8bml5MAMjmaLvOEUj4SurDhJ8w/s320/Expectation%20Versus%20Reality.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Advertisment versus reality.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>A Willy Wonka-themed event that was careful to emphasize it was not officially related to well-known properties in any way turned out to be an utter joke of an, "Experience." AI ads made it look like people would walk into a surreal wonderland full of candy. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/feb/27/glasgow-willy-wonka-experience-slammed-as-farce-as-tickets-refunded">Instead, they were in a mostly empty warehouse with some cheap decorations</a> and actors/actresses <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13131605/willy-wonka-scam-embarrassed-actress-memorise-ai-script-not-paid.html">who made it clear they had zero interest in being there</a>. The man who played the Willy Wonka-alike himself <a href="https://www.avclub.com/scotland-willy-wonka-popup-scam-glasgow-ai-1851293832">discussed the gig made him cry in his car</a>. It's being compared to such catastrophes as Fyre Fest, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DashCon">Dashcon</a>, and so forth. Everybody loves gawking at a big public mess, and this is one for sure. People in Glasgow paid something like 35 pounds/$45 to be utterly disappointed. Instead of wonderment and chocolate, everyone got a run-down warehouse and glasses of lemonade along with a single (just one!) jellybean. <a href="https://people.com/nightmare-willy-wonka-experience-leaves-kids-in-tears-prompts-police-calls-8601293">Children were left in tears</a> and the police were called as words like, "Fraud," were angrily thrown around.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxDew9QlTc7-EAT-tDmJ001LduDB0w-yXPb8o1zitiMAjbP6mz7fL6sqMyT3oDqIOVZ3hsKRrXdA24D6H9jsvg-bFgVZVWNUY2kfw8Oiy5wPRbf4FP2_mKXHdbztow50G4R1H8PGepIUYZhjFOzO16TLbRboq8Nz7EO5O2UoeEl5XbDLTSSO090uqm60/s409/Wonka%20Fail.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="409" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxDew9QlTc7-EAT-tDmJ001LduDB0w-yXPb8o1zitiMAjbP6mz7fL6sqMyT3oDqIOVZ3hsKRrXdA24D6H9jsvg-bFgVZVWNUY2kfw8Oiy5wPRbf4FP2_mKXHdbztow50G4R1H8PGepIUYZhjFOzO16TLbRboq8Nz7EO5O2UoeEl5XbDLTSSO090uqm60/s320/Wonka%20Fail.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Less magical and more meth-alike.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>If there is one major thing to learn from this it would be that, yet again, AI has been used to mislead people. Whether it is a deepfake of a celebrity, altered voices over phones to scam friends, or making it look like your event is going to be a lot more magical than a run-down warehouse, AI is advancing at a rate much faster than people seem ready for. It wasn't used responsibly here and I am pretty sure that trend is going to continue as long as unscrupulous people can make a buck.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-68103294690440296212024-02-29T00:18:00.001-06:002024-02-29T00:18:15.154-06:00Enjoy the Bonus Day, February 29th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVJMTLAZY4PAdewYRIYxw4fw5VNA9HDamL3XxSe7pb12PrD4sp3cF8Kkxz-1XPaECvEprpbyiszocvHCA2mMr9OqsDBAK7xukIflvX7u3-pypqh2c-GOWDN2m6HOdQEsBQHFQ_5S-f4L8rw_5naRHcwQvUH4JMFvlKyxo0IIO55f_IJGcTGaZQfl4zHQ/s243/Leap%20Day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="208" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVJMTLAZY4PAdewYRIYxw4fw5VNA9HDamL3XxSe7pb12PrD4sp3cF8Kkxz-1XPaECvEprpbyiszocvHCA2mMr9OqsDBAK7xukIflvX7u3-pypqh2c-GOWDN2m6HOdQEsBQHFQ_5S-f4L8rw_5naRHcwQvUH4JMFvlKyxo0IIO55f_IJGcTGaZQfl4zHQ/s1600/Leap%20Day.JPG" width="208" /></a></div><div>2024 is a Leap Year and it is now Leap Day. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2024/02/world/leap-year-meaning-explained-dg-scn/">For a variety of scientific reasons</a>, we have these extra 24 hours this year and I hope everyone makes the most of what has become a bit of a holiday. Let's celebrate because we'll have to wait another four years for this day to come back around!</div>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-42990326842390161172024-02-28T12:22:00.002-06:002024-02-28T12:22:49.330-06:00Happy 7th Birthday to Clarkson!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSK-wLLUmxsHLZgN-ytraa60EsRBArIcUrWtXi-D1ZhgYBxNxI7Kwz22hyZzW9rV18NHVwPshFQQqCsQlBUHjthfOcI-J_iH6Bq1YhNmjwB0MxBcp0KBU6in8EAkN1lbwrdhCWECyKHQ6NmSagpZYklZ1aDM4NYFYtCtbJfJD5V0B8L-xbB1Y9qCxw88s/s1232/Clarkson%20Turning%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="749" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSK-wLLUmxsHLZgN-ytraa60EsRBArIcUrWtXi-D1ZhgYBxNxI7Kwz22hyZzW9rV18NHVwPshFQQqCsQlBUHjthfOcI-J_iH6Bq1YhNmjwB0MxBcp0KBU6in8EAkN1lbwrdhCWECyKHQ6NmSagpZYklZ1aDM4NYFYtCtbJfJD5V0B8L-xbB1Y9qCxw88s/s320/Clarkson%20Turning%207.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><p>It is wild to think that Clarkson <a href="https://www.thenewestrant.com/2017/02/meet-my-new-son.html">was born seven years ago today</a>. He was just a tiny little fellow in the NICU and now he's a lot bigger for sure! Clarkson is getting very skilled at using his talker device to communicate with us and that has been wonderful this year. He also continues to be very sweet and loving, with a great sense of humor. He loves to laugh! This is also Clarkson's first birthday as a big brother and he has been caring and thoughtful with his little bro, Gibson. Samii and I are so fortunate to have Clarkson as our awesome firstborn child. Happy seventh birthday, Clarkie!</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715841815733826438.post-34643631357441228052024-02-27T18:07:00.002-06:002024-02-27T18:07:50.666-06:00Fast Food Surge Pricing Sounds Like an Awful Idea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3ODmMdGKTwW3rUmbf0CyLYR0eNXtzFOdNC68b8NIAiSvKJdgZnV00Sl5_X3v0hA_pY9uahuCOz7opFTGtxY-9e7FTnxZ8SvtcmG_42Z1KP7QCjVsTmDCzr9kXgXYsvDiuv6v4NqiO_fJiSH5PFM58DmEp2x-NKN8cN3ebnalYS4xRoG-l0hdc092UZA/s483/Screenshot%202024-02-27%206.03.39%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="483" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3ODmMdGKTwW3rUmbf0CyLYR0eNXtzFOdNC68b8NIAiSvKJdgZnV00Sl5_X3v0hA_pY9uahuCOz7opFTGtxY-9e7FTnxZ8SvtcmG_42Z1KP7QCjVsTmDCzr9kXgXYsvDiuv6v4NqiO_fJiSH5PFM58DmEp2x-NKN8cN3ebnalYS4xRoG-l0hdc092UZA/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-27%206.03.39%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Wendy's announced in 2025 that it is planning on testing <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/02/27/wendys-menu-surge-pricing/72761277007/">surge pricing</a>. This means during the busiest times of the day food will cost more. Suddenly the dinner rush will also result in your burger/nuggets/fries being higher in price. This is an awful idea.</p><p>Yes, companies such as Ticketmaster and Uber engage in surge pricing. However, Ticketmaster basically has a monopoly on tickets and people absolutely hate the company. Uber engages in this practice at certain times of day and in areas that see a surge of activity--e.g. when a sporting event or concert lets out. It is disliked then too but has some basis in logic. A fast food building, however? That makes no sense. Wendy's does not have a monopoly on fast food that would allow them to pull this kind of B.S. If McDonald's tried it out people would be mad but that is also the biggest fast food chain here on Earth, they can throw some weight around if they so choose, bad press be damned. Wendy's, though? They are known for being funny on Twitter/X with their sarcastic posts--that ain't gonna make people pay an extra two bucks at 5PM for their food. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9v5DQytMmV8cck6VC626GjZZEvRAOWuTj9Q3PxF99bEINVzga1bU8Ax0YSfXInNmx_gkszNwvR7cII7yeQxwz_GRGqOfIlOomPwkMjlkRMJGWscjK2Rr_Hjh6NEtKuuTb7XnT5m3NW-ecQxtLgU3URCHyo2KKIkyz3zbJBozOWdHcxKRLcvBOnBSWbA/s2560/Prices.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="2560" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9v5DQytMmV8cck6VC626GjZZEvRAOWuTj9Q3PxF99bEINVzga1bU8Ax0YSfXInNmx_gkszNwvR7cII7yeQxwz_GRGqOfIlOomPwkMjlkRMJGWscjK2Rr_Hjh6NEtKuuTb7XnT5m3NW-ecQxtLgU3URCHyo2KKIkyz3zbJBozOWdHcxKRLcvBOnBSWbA/s320/Prices.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p>Even if things will supposedly be cheaper at the off-peak hours, so what? Are people going to need to plan to only go to Wendy's at 3PM because that's between lunch and dinner? If a ton of people start going there then wouldn't that become the new peak time anyways? To take an old-time quote and tweak it a little, "That dog don't eat at Wendy's." A big part of me suspects this test of surge pricing won't even occur in 2025 as it is getting such bad press. We shall see.</p>David Charles Bitterbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00112993605550278929noreply@blogger.com1