Can I Please Watch Tubi/PlutoTV/Etc. Without Weird Sweepstakes Slot Ads?

I'll be trying to watch the, "Free," streaming channels sometimes, and over the past year I have noticed a massive increase in advertisements for, "Sweepstakes," slot games. Others are sick of them as well. I was aware of a handful of these casinos-that-aren't-casinos due to having seen/heard  ads for them over various years, such as, "Chumba," which even got Ryan Seacrest to do bits promoting it on the radio. I even tried Chumba long ago back in the day but quit upon realizing that it was going to be little more than a great way to lose money fast. Now,  every single day there is some random new slot game on my television apps. They always start by bragging about how you can win money, often featuring terrible real actors, or even worse, "AI," ones. These advertisements generally aren't promoting the idea of fun or responsible gambling either; they make lofty claims of people winning hundreds or thousands of dollars a day and quitting day jobs to play these virtual slots. It is alarming, and when I looked into it, one YouTube channel dedicated to playing real slots with a safe financial plan discussed how scary these ads are, considering they could appeal to people who know very little about slots and forget how, in the long run, "The House always wins."

I have zero problem with gambling when people can do it responsibly or, against all odds, succeed at it. There are folks with amazing poker skills, from math skills to keep a blank face--and I compliment their ability to have zero, "Tells." I am impressed with people who can sit at a slot machine with a twenty-dollar bill, lose it, and have no desire to get more money and keep playing. I avoid slot machines because there were times in my life when I found it relatively easy to avoid starting them, but once I started playing them finding it really difficult to actually stop. It is better for me to not begin playing a slot game than struggle to quit one due to my personality--I mean, just remember my recent post about how addictive ePack was for me and apply that to a literal slot machine! If other folk want to do poker, blackjack, roulette, slots, or craps they can, however. The thing is, they usually need to go a physical casino or be in a state with strict rules for internet gambling. The aforementioned sweepstakes slots exisit within a huge loophole.

Now, there are the free-to-play slot games where you pay a few bucks a month to have unlimited fake money to enjoy on the slots. Those are truly just fun games where people can't win anything or lose more than some minutes of their time aimlessly playing. Sweepstakes slots are designed where they let you buy credits worth nothing more than, "Fun," but throw in special sweepstakes money you can redeem for real cash after you gamble with it in their games and possibly win extra to get sent to your bank or put on a gift card, or more realistically, end up with zero credits. These sites usually have it hidden somewhere on the webpage on how you can send in an envelope requesting to enter a drawing for more sweepstakes bucks, but that's to keep things in the legal gray area. It's gambling, with a lot less regulation than, "Real," gambling, plus these sweepstakes casinos are legal in more states than they're not. This website I found is relatively in favor of sweepstakes casinos, but still gives a good breakdown of how they manage to operate. Some states shrug at these loophole-exploiting sites, and others have put out PSAs warning folks. 

These apps need a constant influx of new players to make money, however, so they advertise. They want to make the most money possible for the least amount of effort, so the ads are terrible to the point that they almost seem intentionally bad, with cheap sets and unskilled actors or incredibly fake-looking AI. If you're watching Tubi, PlutoTV, or even local news apps that have ads, you've doubtless seen the creepy shiny-looking faces straight out of the uncanny valley cheering or crying (with joy) about the money they won on whatever the latest fly-by-night sweepstakes slot site is. From some of the ads, the new fly-by-night ones seem to be Tang Luck (so much fake crying in the AI ads), Cider Casino, and I'm gonna stop there as I've seen those ads and don't need to list the over 240 other ones according to Deadpin. Remember, these apps technically aren't gambling and don't have to protect your information, have certain payout rates, or do any of the stuff that is legislated and regulated is required to do.

The fellows over at Unlookatable, summing up these ads.

I have enough experience with slot machines to know it is best that I stay away. Would some random person watching Tubi in one of the 30 states where these can operate, who has never played a slot game, learn they have an addictive personality for slots the hard way? They're bored in Ohio and figure 20 bucks couldn't hurt. Only, they aren't those people who can walk away after losing $20, and considering it is as easy as using their smartphone, there isn't really anywhere to, "Walk away." Plus, with basically no oversight, these sites can try to screw-over anyone who does win, and from a cursory look at the internet, often do. The bigger sweepstakes slots that can get Ryan Seacrest or whoever to promote them at least seem to have aspirations of legitimacy. I don't think the sites getting hit with class action lawsuits are as reputable, obviously. I know my limits, but many people possibly do not. These sweepstakes casinos have minimal rules they need to follow, with ads designed to appeal to those desperate for quick cash--it is a problematic combination, clearly. 

Tubi or PlutoTV don't have to ban these ads, they have every right to run whatever they want. I just wish I could request any other kind of ad category while I'm streaming free television. It's wild to think I'm thankful nowadays for ads about erectile dysfunction pills or medicare options when I watch, "The Price is Right," because it's a nice break from AI slop of a golden pig surrounded by money or an, "Interviewer," asking people why they love winning so much money. Yeah, I'll take the boner pills with the couple holding hands in adjacent tubs any day.

"Creased Comics," by Brad Neely Serves as a Reminder of his Longtime Hilarity

Brad Neely has been around for some time, making comics, animated YoutTube videos, and having whole cartoon shows created out of his genuis/madness. "Creased Comics," is a new book which collects a chunk of his earlier-ish work, the stuff that helped him go from being in a student newspaper to eventually writing for, "South Park," and getting his weird stuff like, "China, IL," on the air (Cartoon Network's Adult Swim has often been a home for wild material). Neely has always had this amazing absurd air to his work, the kind of thing where you get it or you don't. Plus, even when you sometimes do get it, ya still really don't! 

"Creased Comics," serves as a showcase for how Neely's been making odd stuff for decades, and it has been a hoot for years too. The pieces within this book are basically all one-panel gag strips, but the best pieces tell a whole story that exists outside of the frame. A bald eagle angry that a human fell out of the wheelchair it was carrying (to feed the person to its young). A grandmother known for always getting, "In a pickle," finding herself about to engage in a footrace with Satan for the souls of the grandkids. One of my favorite--and quite dark--pieces, a young boy who faked his death, patiently watching out of his assumed parents' sight as they put his favorite toy car by his grave and he considers how long he has to wait to reacquire the toy. Here's that one as it cracked me up:

Neely has some short text pieces between the strips that discuss just how he started making comics, and why. A weird childhood, a strange sense of humor, and the metaphor of basically opening his mental window, "Open," and seeing what flutters in are all aspects of how we end up with his, "Creased Comics," and anything else bizarre-yet-enjoyable he's crafted. Witnessing Neely spill his clever and twisted psyche onto the page with pencil and ink is a rewarding activity. You think, you laugh, and you say, "What the Hell?" It's good stuff.

5 out of 5 Stars.

Netflix Unveiled an (Official) Big Look at, "Grand Theft Auto VI," Today

It was annouced awhile ago that on August 27th, Netflix would host a special 26-minute-ish release of, "Grand Theft Auto VI," footage. It would feature actual gameplay and the like running on a PS5. Then, someone started leaking a bunch of videos under the name, "Cyberleek," whilst hyping up a new cryptocurrency. That only vaguely hurt the momentum for the reveal today, with Cyberleek just dumping a bunch of the memecoin--another cryptocurrency grift, what a shock--with the footage going live at 3PM Eastern and resulting in a lot of excited folks. Oh, and if you lack Netflix but want to see the, "Special Preview," it will hit YouTube later today (9PM Eastern).

I didn't bother watching much of the randomly, "Leaked," footage over the past couple of weeks, but did log onto Netflix at 2PM (Central Time, represent), and enjoyed what I saw of the game that Rockstar did want to showcase. I mean, it looks like GTA, as one would hope. There are fast cars, gunfire, drugs, explosions, some satirical digs at American society, and what looks to be a lot of sidequests/optional activities. There were glimpses of riding around on a pontoon boat, shooting some basketball, scuba diving, cars racing on a track, skydiving, playing tennis, and lifting weights in the gym (there is doubtlessly more). It all seems fun and insanely good-looking with some celebrity voices clearly evident even if Rockstar won't confirm them yet (I swear that was John Leguizamo and Bobby Moynihan I heard), but what actually piqued my interest had to be the quiet moments. 

I wrote some time ago in response to the first trailers that the, "Grand Theft Auto," series is not really known for subtlety or people behaving in a manner other than, "Terrible." Seeing the two main characters you'll play as--Jason and Lucia--appearing to have a relationship that is supportive, loving, and non-toxic was a bit of a shock then and remains surprisingly encouraging still. In the bits of the game Netflix/Rockstar unveiled, we witness a cute little place owned by Jason and Lucia; they talk in a thoughtful manner, do little flirty jokes, and otherwise seem to really be in love. Others and I seem to truly hope there is a way to play GTA VI where they both reach the game's conclusion alive and happy, as opposed to turning on each other or ending up like some tragic Bonnie and Clyde situation. I also appreciated a subdued scene where Jason speaks with a retired(?) criminal who tells a story from his youth about a malfunctioning carnival ride he was smart enough to leap off of while a friend who held on ended up cracking their skull and dying--the moral seems to be you need to know when to, "Get off," the ride/crime lifestyle. Between a dedicated couple and a wisdom-filled older dude, these oddly thoughtful and introspective moments illustrated to me how, "Grand Theft Auto," might just be growing up a bit with the fanbase. There's still plenty of juvenile humor and mayhem, however, because this is still GTA.

The game is clearly going to be massive, whether you just stick to the main story or try to explore every nook and cranny. I remain annoyed about certain stuff, such as the lack of a physical disc option and the mini-fiasco of it being $80 or $100 with, "Extra," features as opposed to a single version of the game. Still, I'm sure this is going to be a huge release, and there are many people excited to finally play GTA VI. I, for now, remain committed to waiting a bit longer for a possible disc release and/or an edition that includes everything without as much of a premium--like those, "Game of the Year," editions we'll see sometimes. I'm sure a lot of people are going to be up late/still awake early on November 19th, however.

My Friends Over at Magnitude 10 Comics Have a Giveaway to Celebrate Their Two Year Anniversary!

Magnitude 10 Comics is run by my friend, Jeff. It is celebrating having been in existence for two years by running an anniversary giveaway! Yes, via the Magnitude 10 Comics YouTube channel, there will be, "...a special Livestream Event, Sunday August 16th 2026 at 3pm CST." The prize is a McFarlane Toys Joker statue, which would look quite snazzy in your place of residence, I'd bet!

Registering is easy with a variety of options. You can comment on one of the YouTube videos, send an email, or text 573-810-3889 to indicate your interest in the giveaway! If you aren't local to the Saint Louis area, do keep in mind you'll need to provide a mailing address if you win. In the meantime, while we wait for the event next month, go check out the Magnitude 10 Comics YouTube channel and enjoy some great videos!

Flashback Friday: "Video Killed the Radio Star," Serves as a Good Metaphor for Much of Popular Culture

I randomly will think of the song, "Video Killed the Radio Star," on occasion. This isn't a, "Music Monday," post because while I think of the song it is quite old and I'm going to talk more about what it represents as a metaphor. It is a great song by The Buggles, however, and there is a fantastic cover of it by The Presidents of the United States of America (the band, not literal Presidents). It was one of the first songs to get a music video, interestingly enough, being the first ever music video aired on MTV. Seriously, at 12:01 AM on August 1st, 1981, it appeared as MTV launched with music television (I will spare you a joke about how MTV dropped music videos long ago, as everyone tells those). The song is arguably about how the rise of television/video has made the traditional radio celebrity obsolete. It is fitting that such a song kicked off MTV and even though the idea of, "Video," is outdated, it still stands as a metaphor.

Video killed the radio star. Internet killed video star. Social Media apps killed the Internet celebrity. It keeps moving along with the new generation latching onto something popular that the older generations decry as rotting their brains. "Stop listening to that radio and do something productive! Stop watching that television/VCR! Get off the internet websites or chatroom! Stay away from Youtube or Facebook! Quit using TikTok! It keeps moving along with many thinking their old way was better and this new technology is wretched and destroying the good old ways. How dare you youth watch T.V. and wreck your eyes! Get off that internet with all the dangerous strangers! You kids with your mini-video TikTok celebrities don't recognize how better it was when we had long YouTube videos that required us to pay attention for more than 10 to 60-second bursts! Video keeps killing the radio star with, 'Video," and, "Radio Star," constantly evolving.

I'll admit even though I try to stay informed on popular culture I don't always, "Get it," anymore. Back when I was a teen we liked to actually play video-games and would only look at an internet video of a game if we needed to figure out how to get past a difficult segment (or maybe re-watch a cool moment/cinema scene). The idea to me of watching someone streaming themselves playing a game for hours upon hours simply does not appeal to me. A guy or gal chatting with everyone as they play a video-game sounds fun for the person playing who gets to talk with everybody tuning in, but I have zero desire to be one of those people who observe them playing--I'd rather play the game, myself! Someone reading my thoughts on this probably is rolling their eyes right now and saying, "Okay, Grandpa, you clearly don't get it," and that is my point! I'm the old fogey in this case. There is hope, however.

Many of the old ways do manage to stay around and evolve. Radio is still here and we all enjoy it. Folks listen to radio shows in the morning and when driving. There are apps to stream radio too, and podcasts are like a modern talk radio on the internet that people adore. We don't gather around the big old radio in our living room, but it still has found a way to be important and present in the modern-day. We don't rent VHS tapes or DVDs as much but we stream movies and shows quite a lot. Even books have found ways to incorporate technology from e-readers to people discussing and promoting books on things like social media (BookTok and such). Video killed many of the radio stars, but it didn't kill them all.

The song goes, "Video killed the radio star," and it serves as a fantastic metaphor for much of popular culture. Many new things come and trample the old ways that either disappear or evolve. This isn't a good thing or a bad thing, it is just the way it simply is. The older folks look back with a yearning as they remember how things once were and the younger people think it outdated (or maybe appreciate it as nostalgic in the manner teens getting into VHS tapes these days or vinyl has made a mini-resurgence in the formats). Video killed the radio star, but it didn't completely wipe them out, in other words. I do wonder if the Buggles realized how potent a concept they had all those decades ago and I thank them for it.

"Doggyland," is Further Proof Snoop Dogg Loves to Try Anything

If you ask Snoop Dogg to try something out the odds seem to be good he will say, "Yes." He might co-host a cooking show with his friend Martha Stewart. He might hang out at the Olympics. Perhaps he will be the voice for a GPS program. He could release a cookbook (with a foreword by the aforementioned Stewart), open a cannabis coffee shop, narrate a show on Animal Planet, or run a youth football league for teenagers. He's also still making music when he's not busy being a Grandfather and some of that music is actually geared towards little kids via, "Doggyland."

"Doggyland," is a 3D show for younger kiddos designed to be educational. As the website explains, the creators are,  "Snoop Dogg, October London, and Claude Brooks--Executive Producer of Hip Hop Harry." The show itself, "...features a colorful cast of dogs in a vibrant world where they sing, rap and dance to fun and educational songs that teach learning and cognitive fundamentals for kids all around the world." "Doggyland," can be watched for free online and has a variety of toys/merch/party supplies that relate to the show. It is, in fact, quite fun and I appreciate the, "Affirmations," song as it focuses on the importance of believing in yourself and how you're constantly improving as a person. Give it a look:

Snoop Dogg, children's entertainment mogul in addition to everything else, I suppose! I appreciate the focus on loving oneself and others while having fun learning--all good things to instill in children. I guess the only thing limiting Snoop Dogg from trying something out is if somebody hasn't asked him to do something yet!

Considering Everything Our Government Could Focus On, It Worked to Ban TikTok?

We've got Ukraine and Russia in a war. Israel and Hamas are fighting as other nations hint at entering the conflict (such as Iran) to the point World War III seems possible. The rights of anyone with a Uterus are constantly being threatened with abortion being made illegal by politicians who want to ignore the will of the people who tell them to keep it legal. LGBTQ+ individuals are under constant legal and sometimes physical assaults. The Supreme Court is a joke. I could go on with what our Government could work on fixing, but instead, it seems to look at everything and go, "You know what? Let's try and ban a social media app!"

Facebook/Meta, YouTube/Google, and the rest all invade our privacy, but they're American companies so apparently that's okay. However, if a company has some Chinese-related ownership like TikTok, suddenly that's a problem. Elon Musk has American citizenship now so he can do whatever he likes with Twitter/X, but for some reason, we really care about privacy only when it comes to TikTok, according to our two-faced politicians--on both sides of the political aisle! Republicans who espouse a free market for some reason don't think that applies to TikTok and Democrats are looking for an easy win on something after looking like a joke these past number of years. Democrats are professionals at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, to alter a common saying. I mean, Joe Biden has been President and is going to run again against a man he handily beat who is currently in a criminal trial, yet Trump polls better? Us Liberals are not enthused with Democrats even if the alternative is fascism so we support them, but don't think I blindly love anyone with a, "D," next to their name in Congress either.

That puts us into the here-and-now where Congress has passed a law stating if TikTok's Chinese-related ownership doesn't sell to another company it could end up banned in America. Biden signed the law and I just shook my head at these out-of-touch politicians saying, "Seriously?" This is an easy win for Democrats to make Republicans look like old fogies who hate technology by taking a stand for younger voters (tons of folks who are 18 to mid-20s and even older people use TikTok, it isn't all kids) who could very well not care about any other issues but vote for Biden if he said, "Nah, Conservatives, TikTok is a-okay with me." Democrats love to screw up any chance they get to look good, though, so here we are. TikTok has about 9 months to make sure there is no Chinese-adjacent ownership or is banned. I'm all for privacy, but Zuckerberg gets to spy on us as much as he wants because he's an American, I guess. Hypocrisy and corruption reign, which in a way is the most American thing about all of this.

From Bootleg Tapes to Faux Funko Pops, Pop-Culture Fans Create All Kinds of Wild Stuff

Back in the day fans of bands would sometimes make bootleg tapes of their rarer B-sides, lives shows, and so forth. The Grateful Dead is a big example of this, but it has happened with many music artists. Fan-created VHS tapes abounded too, as well as shirts and other not-quite-legit merchandise. With the rise of Youtube and such you now see that stuff streaming online more, but fan-created products that both celebrate an artist and cash in on their name remain to this day. Hence, when I read this article by James Powel for, "USA Today," about what are essentially bootleg Funko Pops of Taylor Swift, I smiled in recognition of a time-honored trend.

Homemade Funko Pops are a popular industry. With some careful wording (always just say, "Figure," and never, "Funko," for instance) you can find all kinds of custom Funko Pops on Etsy or other sites. The trend is common with other popular items that maybe haven't had an official product made for them as well. I have a number of not-Lego minifigures of Moon Knight that I've bought at conventions or online from those who make custom ones that--again--are not Lego, but if we're honest are bootleg Lego. Moon Knight is finally getting an official Lego figure, but plenty of other fan-made options have been around for years.

Lego, but not Lego.

If you love something specific in popular culture (a movie, television show, band, comic, or etc.) you've undoubtedly met fans who feel the same way. A number of those fans have probably found a way to express that affection through unofficial/bootleg products. They continue to exist in a legal gray area (besides when trying to pass a fake off as authentic as that gets shut down fast) and are an intriguing way to see how we as a population interact with the mass-media products we love. Whether is a fanzine about comics or a DVD with clips of an old concert, if an official item doesn't exist, the odds are good fans will make it themselves.

Can Someone Explain Mr. Beast to Me?

Mr. Beast

I am online a lot so I've heard of Mr. Beast. I have seen some of his videos. He is quite possibly the most popular, "Influencer," in existence, worth nearly a billion dollars. I don't get why because I don't get it. His videos are perfectly fine. He usually has some silly contest or gimmick where he gives money to people if they do a challenge. To his credit, I've never seen a nasty/gross/otherwise mean-spirited challenge. I know he has faced criticism for, "Public altruism," like when he did a video paying for surgery to help people with vision issues see better. Mr. Beast, or Jimmy Donaldson if we're using his real name, seems like a pleasant enough dude. Why is he so popular though? Why do I not find myself entertained by his videos like other folks who comment with the affection of a borderline cultish love? What am I not getting?

I'm 34 and nearing 35. Am I just too old to get it? Do the younger folks adore Mr. Beast because they find his videos really entertaining in some fashion? Is he hyped up a lot because folks like to fantasize about Mr. Beast giving them a ton of money somehow or some way (kind of like how when you buy a lottery ticket you're paying a couple bucks to get to imagine what it would be like to have a windfall)? His earlier videos were fun little viral stunts that he did, I see some charm in those. Maybe kids love him because he used to be a teenager making silly little videos and now he's stinking rich--is it a, "If he can do it anyone can," type of thing?

I don't like Mr. Beast. I don't dislike Mr. Beast. I simply don't get Mr. Beast. Can someone explain him to me? Anyone is welcome to do so. A fan can do so. A hater can offer an opinion. Hell, Mr. Beast can call me up and explain what his deal is to me if he feels like it in-between making videos or apparently doing branded food delivery among other projects. I just want to get it, whatever it is. That, or maybe I am too old and should go back to remembering the 2000s and our viral-video stars of that era. Whatever happened to that kid who bit Charlie's finger?

I Got a Comic at the Dollar Tree That Ties-In With Their Toy Line--And it is Actually Fun!

I was at the Dollar Tree with my wife and son browsing for various objects and noticed something interesting. There was a comic themed for the, "Final Faction," toys (and apparent animated series on YouTube). Titled, "Final Faction: First Impact," it involves the various soldiers who fight space aliens known as the Kharn. It's a bit like G.I. Joe mixed with Starship Troopers. You have troopers with various themes, creepy aliens, lots of accessories, and the whole thing is a little bit future-retro and tongue-in-cheek.

The plot of the comic centers on how in 2050 a comet strikes the moon. This reveals how long ago an alien race (the Kharn) were coming to Earth but got stuck in a form of space hibernation that resulted in a bunch of space debris forming around their massive ship--the moon was essentially a super dirty alien space ship, in other words. The First Faction is formed to fight the aliens and the comic climaxes in an epic battle within Death Valley. The Kharn are driven off (for now) but the back of the comic advertises how a second issue will be coming featuring a battle against the invaders within Costa Rica. It's good fun.

The toys that go with the comic.

The script of the comic is by Tony Osborne, who has worked on a variety of movies, television shows, and now comics. The art is by Chris Marrinan, who is known for his work in the past with Eclipse, illustrating, "Wonder Woman," and being the artist on, "Captain America," some years back. These aren't just random people, they are actual folks with experience, and it shows in how the comic is actually really good. It has a fun vibe like you're reading a tie-in comic for an old kid's cartoon, and the vintage feel is clearly intended with some faux-ads (by Pete Mcdonnell) at the back of the comic for funny fake products. It is a throwback to as if you're reading some old floppy from the 1980s at your local drugstore.

"Final Faction: First Impact," cost me about $1.35 to purchase (the Dollar Tree raised prices due to inflation a bit ago) and was arguably more entertaining than some full-priced comics that are hitting the stands at comic shops. Hence, I give this 5 out of 5 stars. Plus, this is an ingenious way to promote the toys. You've got the Youtube cartoon, the comic, and now the toys, all at your local dollar tree for a price that will make parents shrug and go, "Fine, we can couple because they're cheap." You can watch the show and read up on the toys at the Dollar Tree website for, "Final Faction." Give it a chance, it's really fun.

I Love this Cover of, "So Into You," by Donald Glover/Childish Gambino

As many of you know, I like hearing interesting covers of songs. I enjoy unique/weird ones a lot and how when they're done well they can just sound snazzy. Lately, I've been really digging one that was recorded some years ago with Donald Glover AKA Childish Gambino. He does the original version of, "So Into You," by Tamia--it later had a remix of sorts by Fabolous which featured her (two versions, actually, with one having Ashanti, it's complicated). You can hear the original song right here and then I've helpfully embedded Glover's cover below:

How did I not know about this until recently? I'm a fan of much of Glover's work (I still need to watch, "Atlanta," but I'm working on it), and this is just plain snazzy.

The Classic Comic Collector Gave Me a Shout-Out in His Latest Video!

I previously made a post about my friend Scott AKA The Classic Comic Collector. Well, we made a trade and he gave me a shout-out in his latest video discussing his newest comic deals. Look at the video below:

Thanks again to Scott for the deal and perhaps in future videos he'll discuss even more trades we make...you'll see soon enough!

Check Out the Classic Comic Collector on YouTube!

I've written about awesome YouTubers before such as my friend Alex the Comic Hoarder, and now I have another cool person to discuss. Scott AKA The Classic Comic Collector. He does all kinds of neat comic videos and I have been especially interested in his quest to go from a bunch of dollar bin books to an, "All-Star Comics," #8 via solely doing trades. He recently posted a video about his 4th/5th rounds of trading-up to hopefully eventually get his grail. It's neat to think he'll go from some dollar bins titles to something so big, and he's been doing pretty well so far. I actually just did a trade with him that he'll talk about in a future video when he discusses later rounds! I'd recommend giving Scott's videos a view and subscribing!

The Newest Rant 10th Anniversary Giveaway Announcement--Attempt 2

The winner of the first random drawing did not contact me within 48 hours (with less than an hour left to email me). Therefore, I have just now run the random drawing again (with the first winner not in it this time) and the winner now is Josh Muskat/Djrat! Here is the video on Youtube of me doing the drawing. You have 48 hours to email me at davidbitterbaum@gmail.com and claim your prize!

The Newest Rant 10th Anniversary Giveaway Winner Announcement

As can be seen above, the winner of my giveaway for a CGC 9.6 copy of, "Spider-Man Unlimited," #1 is Mike Bernardo. I did the drawing this early afternoon after the 11AM deadline to enter with a comment. The video of me doing the drawing can be seen here. I entered all the names in the order they commented and then ran the randomizer. Mie Bernado has 48 hours from now to email me at davidbitterbaum@gmail.com and claim his prize! Thanks again to Comics Heating Up for helping me to promote this giveaway too.

"Dark Side After Dark," is a Fun YouTube Show!

I enjoy an assortment of podcasts and YouTube shows, so when I heard one of my favorite local comic shops around, The Dark Side Comics & Games, was doing a show titled, "Dark Side After Dark," I was intrigued! The show features Rob (who owns Dark Side) along with his friends Brandon, Ryan, Thomas, and Jacob (who is offscreen). In the debut episode, they discussed trading card games, which I am not too familiar with, but their laid-back and humorous banter made the show really enjoyable even if the more technical-talk about the trading card games went over my head a smidgen.

Plus, every episode aims to be around 25 minutes to 45 minutes long, which is nice and to the point compared to some shows or podcasts that ramble on for 3-4 hours. I'd encourage you to check out the first episode at this link, and be sure and visit the official website of The Dark Side Comics & Games as well. They have an online store you can buy from too!

Yet Another Streaming Service? Really?

Hey you, remember when the idea with Cable was that you could pay one flat fee and get a whole lot of content? Remember how eventually it got broken-up into various tiers of content, followed by other, "Premium," channels and then stuff got so fragmented it pissed everyone off? I remember.

Oh, hey you, yeah you again. Remember how when the idea of streaming shows kicked-off it was just one or two streaming services that allowed you to get all the content you want in basically a single place, much like cable was early-on? Yeah? I imagine you notice now how with all these different individual streaming-services that carry different fees and have differing content it kind of feels like the pain of when cable got so fragmented, doesn't it? It is annoying as Hell to think you need to get on one app for their exclusive program and then switch-over to another for reruns of a show you love, and yet another for some other damn show and now you're paying more than you ever did for cable just to get the handful of programs you like. Well, I have news. No, it is not good news, it is just news. We're getting another streaming service!

Say hello to HBO MAX and then after, "Hello," feel free to go, "Hell No." Now you'll be able to enjoy/despair over a bunch of content owned by Warner Brothers being exclusive to yet another streaming-service you have to shell-out dough for. You can now pay to access certain shows from the CW that won't be coming to other streaming services that used to carry the shows, like that upcoming, "Batwoman," program. There will be exclusive content too you'll have to get this service for, and Netflix is going to lose the rights to, "Friends," so if you ever want to be able to (legally) stream that again get ready to buy HBO MAX because could you be anymore tired of this shit? Oh, and there is HBO too, obviously, so who knows how that affects the standalone HBO-streaming service.

Yes, this is truly a brave new world we are entering. We'll be able to enjoy watching, "Orange is the New Black," on Netflix, then switch to Hulu for some of, "The Handmaid's Tale," followed by activating our Disney+ to watch a classic Disney cartoon, then we'll start streaming HBO MAX to catch-up on, "Westworld," before we turn-on Amazon Prime's service for some, "Good Omens," and then our smart-device explodes in our hands from the sheer stress of all these damn services existing with me having not even named all the most notable ones (CBS All Access, YouTube Red, countless more niche services)!

At this point it might actually just be cheaper to have Cable with a DVR and to pirate your favorite streaming shows (I don't endorse this at all, I'm just observing the costs). Hell, it might even make more sense to just buy a DVD collection of a one of those streaming-shows whenever they sometimes come out as paradoxical as it sounds for some folk to be buying DVDs nowadays. I'm sorry if I sound snippy, but I feel like this whole war of streaming services is turning into a huge mess where the biggest victim is the consumer.

April Brings Showers, and Links!

April Brings Torrential Rain

We are into early-April now, and based on all the flooding issues affecting people here in Missouri, clearly there have been plenty of, "April Showers," in addition to the downpours we got at the end of March (so much for it coming in a like and lion and leaving like a lamb). I've got an assortment of interesting news and links so let's just dive-into them as opposed to swimming in one of the overflowing rivers, shall we?

A Sampling of News

The whole time Bioware was promoting, "Anthem," it just sounded a bit like an unclear concept of a game that was going to be a mess. It has not done well critically or commercially since its release and according to this big article from Kotaku (where they spoke with a number of developers under the condition of anonymity) that's because for quite a lot of its development the game was a shambling mishmash of ideas and half-formed concepts. Yeah, I have no desire to play it.

It is depressing to learn a comic creator I liked, Jai Nitz, has turned out to be a serial harasser of women who forces his unwanted affections upon them. Whenever I spoke with him via Twitter a few times or met him at a Wizard World show in the past he was perfectly pleasant and polite with me--but then again, I'm a 30-year-old male, and Nitz apparently really likes to creep on barely-legal or just-of-drinking-age women. As more women have come forward Nitz has stated he plans to leave comics and seek counseling for his behavior.

Considering how much my wife and I enjoyed the first season of, "The Umbrella Academy," it is great news to hear the show is officially renewed for a second season on Netflix with everyone having re-signed on for 10 more episodes of zany madness. Plus, this means Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá will have to keep making more comics to give the show further material to draw from, so it is a win-win all around for us fans of the printed and streamed versions!

A random 49-second video of lights being tested.

There is a strangely-fascinating website that loads only Youtube videos with the default filename--e.g. they are watchable by the public but were uploaded more for one person to watch or just to send to the uploader's friends. This results in an assortment of random filmed pieces. When I used it I witnessed a dog running-through an obstacle course as its trainer hollered directions, a man giving a speech at a Turkish-American community center about cultural identity, an adorable little-kid dance recital, 7 minutes of someone's cat eating dry-food and then grooming itself, and some grainy footage of fireworks over a lake. As someone who has always been intrigued by the kind of odd-stuff found on Public Access channels or the more esoteric cable stations, this is the kind of thing I find quite interesting.

A woman who quite possibly could be a foreign spy was able to infiltrate President Donald Trump's favorite hideaway, Mar-a-Largo, with all kinds of tech equipment including a thumb-drive loaded with Malware. How did she get into what was supposed to be an extremely secure area considering Trump was there golfing (not shocking) as she wandered about? She lied about having a reason to be on the property. That's it, she lied and people took her word for it until she got her story mixed-up and a receptionist called the cops upon realizing something was amiss. What the Hell, people? Is this a case where Trump's resort needs more security or has our President's incompetence simply worn-off onto Secret Security as well?

I want to watch Jordan Peele's new take on, "The Twilight Zone," as soon as possible, having seen it getting reviews that range from, "Good," to, "Amazing," depending on what reviewers think of particular episodes. It is annoying as Hell however that I might have to buy a subscription (however brief) to CBS All-Access in order to get to watch the damn show beyond its premiere (which can be streamed for free, for now at least). Maybe when I have some free time to binge the show after all the episodes are released I'll take advantage of the free trial-week and attempt to engulf the whole season before I have to pay any cash.

I haven't reviewed it yet as I wanted to read another issue or two so as to really get a handle on the direction of the series, but, "Assassin Nation," by Kyle Starks and Erica Henderson had a stellar first issue I loved, and I look forward to the above-pictured second issue due April 17th. I look forward to more of who I already feel is the breakout character, "Fuck Tarkington."

For those who have been following, "The Immortal Hulk," you may know it has become a smash-hit series with earlier issues now fetching a pretty penny as well as there money being made off issues from previous series that feature characters now playing a role in the comic. One thing that many people had debated was if Bruce Banner's on-again-off-again girlfriend Betty Ross would manifest any kind of Hulk-powers as the general theme of the comic has been a person who once had Hulk-abilities can develop them again without warning. The problem was people didn't know if Betty would turn into Harpy or Red She-Hulk, having been one decades ago and the other a handful of years in the past. This resulted in everybody buying/selling Betty's first appearances as Harpy AND Red She-Hulk in a panic. Well, today's release of #16 of, "Immortal Hulk," revealed that after almost getting mortally wounded in an earlier issue Betty has turned into...a Red Harpy. I find this fun as it means everyone wins in their predictions, kinda!

Lastly, the trailer for the upcoming, "Joker," movie was released and it looks quite different from any other DC film that has been released lately. This is not necessarily a bad thing considering just how much damage Zack Snyder arguably did to the brand before DC realized it was okay to lack an interconnected Universe of flicks and just make interesting movies instead.

Have a Great Month!

I hope we all enjoy April as it has a lot going on (for me especially) and that everyone manages to stay dry.

Mid-January 2019 Links and News to Counter the Cold

Freeze-Out

To think, this January started out so mild and warm...and then the snow came. Right as things are starting to melt the weather reports are saying this weekend may very well be nasty too, so how about we spend our time cooped-up inside by keeping warm with some assorted links and bits of news?

Interesting Things (In My Opinion)

Let's start with an article whose headline sums up my opinion on all these supposed internet-celebrities we have nowadays, "No One is an Influencer if Everyone is an Influencer." Written by Maria Sherman and published by Jezebel it perfectly expresses that all these folk who think having a couple thousand followers on Youtube or Instagram somehow makes them an important celebrity are quite often just the worst (no surprise there) and are mainly interested in little more than making money hocking various products . We all know that famous quote (which is often butchered) about how in the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes? I think we need to tweak that to read, "In the future everyone with at least 15 followers will think they are famous."

The idea that a person would actually get death threats for posting a negative review of a movie (in this case, "Aquaman,") sickens me. That female movie critics seem to get a lot more online abuse for simply having an opinion is equally disheartening.

Kotaku had two recent articles involving Japanese culture and individuals that caught my eye. One was about how the mini-disc (which never caught on too much in America) still has a relatively strong degree of popularity in Japan despite the rise of iPods and other MP3 players. The other article mentioned that Marie Kondo lady who helps people organize their houses/lives and how a comment she made about trying to not keep too many books brought the wrath of the internet upon her. I mean, it isn't like she is coming into people's houses and tossing their books in the trash so I don't quite get the hate.

Watching the internet collectively crack-up like a teenager over how, "Now That's What I Call Music," has reached its 69th iteration (in America at least, they're in the triple-digits in the UK) is funny in a tacky and juvenile way, but funny nonetheless. If you don't get why people think it is funny...um, ask your parents or an older friend.

I know I am alternatively very affectionate towards the works of Tom King or incredibly hard on him for making stuff I think is hot garbage, but I will always say the guy is quite nice. He is assisting in giving-out free comic-books to Government employees affected by the shutdown, which he didn't have to do but is very kind to offer folk who don't have much positive stuff in their lives right now.

Anyone who reads this blog knows I hated when Megyn Kelly took over the third hour of, "The Today Show," and proceeded to drag the whole program down. Therefore, I had no love lost when she was unceremoniously booted from it and the rest of NBC. I like seeing her ex-boss (head of NBCUniversial, Steve Burke) admit putting her on the show was a mistake, but laugh incredulously at how he essentially tries to say nobody could have predicted things would go so poorly. I'm pretty sure I and everyone else saw it coming, Steve.

In, "A comic I never thought was coming back actually is and I'm excited,"-type news, "Sex," by Joe Casey, Piotr Kowlaslski, and (the amazing colorist) Brad Simpson is in fact going to return! I know when it suddenly ended claims were made it'd be back, but I honestly wasn't too optimistic. We are getting, "Sex," Volume 6 straight to graphic novel form, though, in an arc titled, "World Hunger." A joyful surprise like this is the best kind of surprise.

My Dad is certified/accredited/whatever the term is as an Ornithologist. That means he is someone who studies birds. An organization dedicated to that practice as well as conservation, Audubon, made a cool article about just how many interesting birds there are contained within, "Red Dead Redemption 2," and how intriguing accurate the game is at its portrayal of said birds (with a handful of errors here-and-there). I've been meaning to send my Dad a link to the article as I imagine he'd find it cool.

Lastly, President Trump served a bunch of hard-working student athletes who managed to win a championship an assortment of fast food, because America has turned into a twisted fun-house mirror version of itself at this point.

Try and Stay Toasty

I hope everyone stuck in the path of the previous and upcoming snowstorms manages to stay comfortable even with all this frozen precipitation.

The Nostalgic Nerd Part of Me is Sad--Prima Games is Shutting Down

Sit down you young whippersnappers and I'll tell you a story about the era of gaming in the late 90's and early 00's. You see, the internet wasn't quite what it is today and folk would buy these big things called, "Strategy Guides," to have help playing video-games. Yeah, yeah, I know guides are still made these days, but they get a lot less people buying them and sometimes they are almost more like video-game art-books with a bit of gameplay tips thrown in. Those are designed to appeal to collectors with their art-prints and hardcovers, I"m talking about the old paper-guides that broke-down all the stuff the game manual didn't--yes, yes, our games used to have paper manuals too! Well, one company that made a lot of those guides back in the past and has struggled to keep-up with stuff like wikipedia, gamefaqs, blogs, etc. is known as Prima Games...and well, Prima is going out of business.

Another big company, Bradygames, was actually absorbed by Prima back in 2015, so Prima was arguably one of the last big strategy guide companies left. I am sad for the employees at Prima this impacts and the nostalgic nerd part of me is quite distressed. The kids these days really don't know how good they have it when they get stuck in a game, able to look-up written directions or watch somebody else master a difficult part via  Youtube/Twitch/etc. I guess strategy guides are becoming another one of those things made irrelevant by the almighty power of technology.