America Made a Choice Yesterday.

Yesterday was November 5th, 2024. America made a choice. More than half of this nation decided it was okay with a man who is a racist, rapist, and raging narcissist becoming President one more. A man convicted of 34 felonies and who would not be able to work in a number of jobs or cast a vote in many states has been chosen to lead the USA. I can almost excuse the people who voted for Trump in 2016 as we didn't know how bad things would get. Then they got bad. After Trump lost his attempt to be reelected an actual coup happened at the Capitol that he rooted for. Despite January 6th, despite the felonies, despite all of it, Trump ran again, won his primary, and proved that maybe America isn't better than this.

We aren't better for our women who have had their reproductive rights under attack due to Trump's first Presidency that allowed him to appoint a Supreme Court that undid Roe V Wade. We aren't better for our citizens of color or migrant workers who just want a piece of the American dream. We definitely aren't better to our LGBTQ+ residents--especially those who are Transgender and seem to constantly be used as a scary prop by conservatives despite being regular people who just want to live their lives. We are not a Nation trying to do better, we are one that is going back to some dark and twisted times. Enough of the country heard Trump and liked what he said that he won. They don't care if his empty promises of filling their pockets also meant taking away their rights--at least, not as long as, "The right people are hurt," as the saying goes. It's the return of a monster, and the only thing different is this time he's even angrier and has a new VP.

Ah yes, Trump has a new Vice President because his last one (Mike Pence) followed the rules of the Constitution after Trump lost to Biden. This angered Trump and his supporters who said Mike Pence should be hanged. Now Trump has a critic-turned-lapdog in the form of J.D. Vance. Trump has a Senate reclaimed by the GOP too. Don't think that just because a number of states have voted to give people abortion rights (one of the few silver linings last night was my State of Missouri voted in favor of that) the Federal government will avoid pushing through a National ban while drunk on power. They said they wouldn't, but since when has Trump and the GOP been honest?

If you voted for Donald Trump this time around I hope you are prepared for the consequences of your actions. Kamala Harris represented some peace and stability, and Trump represented unpredictable and dangerous mayhem. I don't know what kind of dark days are ahead, but come January of 2025 things are going to get quite worse. I've lost a lot of faith in this Nation for choosing to go backward into hate instead of forward into progress. I'm mourning what I thought my country could be, but clearly isn't, in other words. America got the President it apparently deserved in the end, and that's crushing to witness.

If You're a Citizen of the USA and Haven't Already, You Need to Vote!

Do you live in the United States of America, Washington D.C., or a Protectorate of our Country? Well, today is the day to vote! There are National, state, and local elections, so don't think wherever you live it doesn't matter to vote--it does! I won't tell you how to vote (although if you read my blog even a little it would be pretty obvious how I plan to choose on candidates and issues), but I'll tell you that you need to go do it! I voted late last month and have seen many news reports about others doing the same. Should you be a citizen of the USA and be legally allowed to vote, you ought to do it ASAP! As I said, it isn't just Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, there are tons of things that impact your state and local region you can vote on, so exercise your rights and impact your home the best way possible, with a ballot!

Music Mondays: Quincy Jones Has Passed

Quincy Jones was not a music producer. He was the music producer. He has just passed away at the age of 91 and left behind a legendary catalog of tunes in which he had been involved. From Michael Jackson to Frank Sinatra, movies to television, the man did too much to list and I won't even try. I'll just say without him music as we know it would be a lot different (and lacking). He made the World's soundscape a lot better with his creations. He will be missed.

I (Briefly) Swung By the ToyMan Show Today!

Sometimes when I visit the ToyMan show I am able to be there for a solid chunk of time. However, I was able to visit today but it was a bit abbreviated. I got there somewhat later in the day than usual as I had a morning activity with Clarkson, so he came with me to the show, too, and I enjoyed walking around and looking at everything! When we got to the show we made sure to say howdy to my friend Spike Forester of Lost In Space Toys and Collectibles. He was fun to talk with as always and then we saw my chum Tom of Alliance Comics, Toys, and Games. He was doing well too. I saw the awesome Marcus Mosley and we conversed about all the impressive comics he had brought to the show for sale. Some of the crew from Tatertot Comics was present as well and we talked about how I'm pumped for their upcoming show at the end of this month!

In the upstairs area, I had the chance to see my stellar author friends including Jessica Mathews, Linsday Hornsby, and Debbie Manber Kupfer. The three of them are all stellar creators of cool stuff! Besides all the folks I know at the ToyMan show there were plenty of vendors with everything you could need ranging from comics (my first love) to assorted toys, Funko Pops, video-games, Laserdisc (of all things), diecast cards, and any other exciting fandom you could think of--the ToyMan show is always jam-packed with awesome wares! Plus, the delightful Scott Innes (famous voiceover actor) was present at the show again due to how great it went the last time he attended. A bunch of fans were very excited to see him and he was chatting with many people and taking lots of pics. It was another superb Toyman show even if I was there a bit shorter than usual. I eagerly look forward to the Christmas season show this December 8th--that is sure to be a humdinger of good time!

TGI Fridays Filed for Bankruptcy and I'm Vaguely Sad For Them

TGI Fridays is nobody's favorite restaurant. I don't know of anyone who outright hates it either, however. It is one of those chains that is simply, "Fine." When you think of a restaurant that has decent food and the occasional good promotion you honestly probably think of Applebee's first. Then...maybe Olive Garden because those breadsticks hit the spot. But then, you think of TGI Fridays, I'd wager. They're good enough food when you're looking for a good enough time. Hence, I wasn't overly upset to see the chain is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but I did feel a slight bit bummed. After all, those potato skins are legit yummy fresh out of the oven.

Still, TGI Fridays has struggled over the years, with the pandemic hitting the brand hard as well as the fact it always seems to lag behind competitors folks think of along with the brand such as Chili's or the aforementioned Bee of Apples. I do hope the company can make things work as Chapter 11 isn't an utter declaration of insolvency like some bankruptcy numbers (I don't understand how exactly it all works). We shall see what can be done to salvage the good-but-not-great name of TGI Fridays in the coming months. Who knows what could happen, after all? Flavor Flav apparently helped save Red Lobster, so anything is possible these days.

Flashback/Film Friday: "The Terminator," Still Impresses 40 Years Later

The, "Terminator," movies have had so many come out that the timeline is an utter mess with some flicks relatively well-regarded and others dismissed as barely worth a mention. That said, the original, "The Terminator," still is a damn good movie and--I'd argue--even better than the beloved sequel due to how outright intense it is on a small-scale. "T2," goes bigger with some wild setpieces, but the first movie is taut and scary thriller. A lot of credit goes to the casting of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the robotic killing machine both frightening us while also almost seeming like he's equally as liable to crack a smile and wink as if he's in on the gag. Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn make perfect foils as well, however, and this, "Small," movie managed to build quite the franchise whilst showcasing how James Cameron knew how to make a damn good movie--and still does (the, "Avatar," flicks are admittedly good fun to watch, regardless of popular criticisms).

"The Terminator," is 40 years old now, and while some special effects aren't quite as impressive these days, it still stands up quite well in the light of our modern-day computer effects and general tech-wizardry. It's a movie that barely clocks in at an hour and three quarters--with credits--but it crams so much excitement into that lean running time you have nary a chance to catch your breath with all the action and suspense outside of maybe one relatively quiet and sweet lovemaking scene between Hamilton's Sarah Connor and Bieh's Kyle Reese. A scene that actually explains how her son, John Connor, will be born in the future and fight against the robots who want to use time travel to eliminate him from the equation--so we get to see Hamilton and Biehn naked and it serves a plot purpose!

Biehn and Hamilton

Cameron famously claimed that "The Terminator" came to him in a fever dream while he was sick in Rome filming his first flick, "Pirhanna 2." While I would never want Mr. Cameron to be so sick he dreams up an apocalyptic hellscape of a robot-run future, I am glad something amazing came out of his illness. Some of the, "Terminator," movies are a mixed bag, but that first one nailed it and made quite the foundation all the other movies built off of. It just became available on Amazon Prime to stream at no extra cost too, so go watch it!

Happy Halloween 2024!

I want to wish all the folks who are celebrating the holiday a happy Halloween! I always enjoy Halloween as I am a fan of pumpkins/pumpkin spice, adore the Fall season (although it's been weirdly warm), and enjoy spooky as well as not-too-scary fun! If you're going to trick-or-treat or attend a party do please be safe. Also, keep in mind that as it is Thursday you may still have responsibilities the next day whether you're nursing a candy hangover, alcohol hangover, or a mix of the two--so take it relatively easy if needed! Anyways, have a fun day and night, everyone!

The, "DC Versus Marvel Omnibus," is Out Today, Still Somewhat to My Surprise

I continue to be amazed that Marvel and DC via their parent companies have been able to play nice again enough to publish an omnibus of crossovers between the companies over a decade ago. Seriously, the last time the big two interacted was, "JLA/Avengers," and that only got a very small reprint to honor George Perez as he was in late-stage cancer with the proceeds going to a charity. However, "DC Versus Marvel," has an omnibus out as of today, as was rumored for a bit, and found itself solicited against all odds. Could this be a sign new crossovers could happen? Someday will we get an insanely epic movie where DC and Marvel face off (it would make all the money)? This could be a, "First step," to bigger things, is my point. In the meantime while we await possible future crossover comics/films/etc. you can buy a copy of this omnibus today at all finer comic shops or internet retailers.

Television Tuesday: Late-Night Talk Shows Are Losing Viewers

I've always enjoyed late-night talk shows. Some hosts have appealed to me more than others, but between the networks, there is usually one person I love to tune in and see (Stephen Colbert is quite a hoot). That said, the talk shows on late at night seem to be losing relevance and viewers at an alarming rate. The format is stagnating, and it isn't clear what can be done. YouTube was at first seen as a threat, but then shows realized embracing it as a tool was wise (look at James Corben with his carpool karaoke getting insane numbers of views). However, podcasts apparently are creeping up in popularity more and more, cutting into the idea of these shows with their short and edited interviews with notable folks are worth watching when you can listen to a long chat ranging in topics with various podcast hosts. 

The old folks are watching late-night hosts and the young folks are listening to something titled, "Call Her Daddy," in other words. The format needs updating, but what the solution could be remains to be figured out. I don't listen to/watch streams of too many podcasts, but they are getting popular to a wild degree over the years. If network television can figure out a way to utilize those better perhaps something can be done about the hemorrhaging of viewers/listeners/etc. We shall see.

Remember: It's Better to Include than Ignore

I wrote back in February about how, "When it Comes to Disabilities, Our Nation Needs to Remember the Importance of Inclusivity AND Accessibility--Plus Keep them Affordable!" That piece was more about governmental entities needing to take better steps to help those who have a disability feel included in the world via accessibility- things can be absurdly expensive even with insurance, after all. That said, people down to the individual level need to remember it is better to include those who are, "Different," as opposed to simply ignoring/forgetting them. A friend of mine posted the above meme and it really struck me because of how true it is.

Just because a child is in a wheelchair, stimming, or has any kind of disability that doesn't mean you need to, "Not stare," and ignore them. I always prefer children to ask why my son, Clarkson, sometimes claps, makes certain sounds, and uses a talker as opposed to ignoring us. Clarkson communicates differently but he still loves playing with other kiddos via jumping with them on a trampoline, climbing on things at various play-zones, and so forth. I don't want parents to tell their children to not stare at Clarkson, I welcome them having questions and wanting to learn about Clarkson so they know the best way to interact with him and be his friend.

Inclusivity isn't just something our government or community needs to do. We as individuals are responsible for making sure those who are, "Different," can feel included whether they are children or adults, with a visible or, "Invisible," disability. It is okay to acknowledge my child is different. Ignoring how he has Autism won't help anyone. Acknowledging he is different via your guidance as a parent can help foster acceptance. That helps everyone, from my kiddo to yours. Knowledge is power, and we all have the power to understand and embrace our differences.