Pride Month in 2023 is Needed More Than Ever

It's June and Pride Month. In 2023 it is clear why Pride is needed more than ever. Anti-LGBTQ sentiment seems to be everywhere. A number of politicians want to make it impossible to function in society as a gay/bi/trans person with all kinds of absurd laws. Random hateful people scream with rage if a company has items that express support for LGBTQ individuals and it's disturbing. Bigots feel emboldened to shoot up Budweiser beer cans or tear down displays at Target and their disgusting statements of loathing are said with little concern for others. 

Some people ask why we need Pride, and I tell them to just look at the state of the World today. It would be nice if being LGBTQ was just another aspect of a person in the same way some of us are left-handed, and some of us have different colored eyes--just an interesting fact about people. However, our LGBTQ friends continue to face persecution so we have to fight harder than ever to help them fight against the tide of hate. I've been asked why a cisgender and straight male like myself cares about LGBTQ folks and the simple answer is I'm a human with empathy and not a jerk. I guess there are just a lot of people out there who'd rather hate anything different from them than try to understand and empathize, and that's quite a tragedy.

Later-March Links and News

Later On But Not the End

I've done links at the start of months, ends of months, and even in the middle. How about we try some links towards the end of a month but not quite at the end? Yeah, that sounds fun.

Them Thar Links & News

Budweiser should have just let Spuds rest in peace.

That Spuds Mackenzie ghost-ad during the most recent Super Bowl seemed to be hated by everyone for a variety of reasons. This fascinating write-up by the AV Club breaks-down how some mascots just have to die--both figuratively and at times literally.

You know, people are always saying such great things about Netflix (much of it true) so this article caught my eye saying how there still are some things Netflix could stand to learn from Cable. Namely, content curation.

There is something to be said for short and uninspired-but-decent first-person shooter games. Those solid 7/10-ish rated games that maybe have a cool, "Hook," but never take advantage of it, or which have zero good ideas but just are a solid good time. I liked this piece just because it actually mentioned, "Singularity," which is a game I thought only I remembered.

We've brought this whole, "Internet of Things," and homes being hacked on ourselves, as this editorial discusses. Honestly, the idea of being able to unlock my doors or adjust my lights/thermostat/etc. with my phone made me immediately paranoid about security risks--and I'm someone who loves technology as opposed to a cranky tech-hater!

As more and more discussion is had about cutting money to the arts, I wonder if the point will arise about how funds are at times given to artwork people find, "Disgusting/Gross/Politically Wrong." I say that because it isn't too far a step from not funding art people dislike to banning things that folk consider obscene. It sounds silly, but remember Mike Diana? If not, read-up on him here.

I loved the old, "Peggle," games and hated the pay-to-play, "Peggle Blast." I am not alone in this feeling.

Shepard Smith is probably the one and only person at Fox News I like, so its fitting many of the Fox News-faithful despise him.

Back in the day I navigated my web-browser to, "Homestar Runner," religiously. It still exists but is by no means the phenomenon it once was. This massive oral history makes a good read if you are/were a fan however or simply curious what all the fuss was about in the past.

Lastly, when will Marvel just give-up on trying to make the Inhumans a thing? Seriously, the brand itself just lacks much of any appeal.

Have A Great Month's End!

I hope everyone has a great end to their March, just look out for that lousy Smarch weather.