40 Things That Make Me, Me!

I enter a new decade later this week, turning the big 4-0. One thing I can say about getting older is you understand yourself more and embrace them. The quirks you have, things that make you tick. Things that annoy you, and what keeps you pushing. 

I decided to write a quick blog of some my quirks, annoyances, get off my lawn moments and generally things that make me, Me!

40. I'm not picky about much, but I will pull onto several shopping carts until I find the right one.

39. People who post their cashapp for their birthday annoy me, its borderline begging.

38. Unless you have a "vintage" car, why are people still holding their phone in they're hand while driving?

37. People who go out of their way to make it known they don't celebrate certain holidays. We get it, let me eat my hot dog in peace.

36. This whole subscription model for every damn thing, is sickening.

35. People who still 100% hold onto political party affiliations, I really wonder about. The two biggest gangs in the world are playing us all.

34. When a app signs me out, and Now I gotta remember the password or reset it. 🤬

33. I parked away from the entrance for a reason. Why do people have to park right NEXT to me?

32. I'm sick of these beat up Hondas thinking they are Dominic toretto on the road.

31. More than 5-10 things to watch in my streaming queues, stressess me out. I eventually remove them all and start over.

30. If franchises in airports & malls can't accept gift cards, where are the damn signs letting me know? Before I pull my gift card out.

29. I randomly quote lines from movies, and I get a little disappointed if no one catches it.

28. Talking to me without starting with a greeting, grinds my gears. Especially if we dont know each other/ have a rapport.

27. People that dart out in front of you on the road, then go 5 miles an hour....are bitches!

26. I can't do loud music in the car no more, it needs to be a respectable volume for you to listen but not overbearing.

25. People who slide when they walk...my goodness!!! Pick your damn feet up!

24. Call me old school, but I still love physical media and books.

23. Why do people still litter when it's trash cans every damn where?

22. When did wearing air pods while driving become a thing?

21. I'm sick of these damn bonnets and PJ'S in public. It's the middle of the day damnit!

20. Why do people have to drive around every little dip they see in the road?

19. Do these kids know how to put in work to reach a goal anymore?

18. Speaking of kids working. Why are these kids making $15 a hour at 15 years old?

17. Chain messages...don't involve me in chain messages via text or social media post.

16. If I can only talk to a service provider through a email exchange, I'm cutting them off.

15. People who talk on speaker in public have mental illness.

14. People who play their music in public without headphones, assholes.

13. I wish these kids get rid of the shiesty masks.

12. People who post every little slight against them in life on social media, need attention bad.

11. Let me hold a menu to figure out what I want to eat, not scroll through a app.

10. Speaking of, Why does everything need a app now?

9. I hate loyalty apps that don't let you upload your receipt for points, if you forgot to scan at the register. What good are they?

8. I really hate when people are at the register yapping on the phone. Your slowing down the process.

7. I be no means am a social butterfly, but common social skills are non-existant these days.

6. If you eat at a fast food/quick stop restaurant take your trash when you leave the table.

5. I watched YouTube clips of my favorite movies over and over. Like I havent seen the movie a thousand times.

4. People who lack self awareness, especially over 30. Need help!

3. Sounds very cliché, but at this point in my life, I just want peace. I want minimum bother of dumb shit and be left alone.

2. People that just complain! Especially for every little thing. Life is hard enough I don't need you complaining cause the store didn't have a small box of Applejacks.

1. Whether its bills, credit scores, work or other stuff. Everything in this world is designed to keep you stressed. Give everything a big F-U!

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Dont Be A Menace: 30 Years, 10 Funniest Scenes

Today is the 30th anniversary of The Wayans Bros. Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood. An long outlandish title that everyone just calls Don't Be A Menace. If you ask me this spoof of 90's "hood" movies, is a top 3 film from the Wayans family. And the best spoof ever created by the family. 

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka kickstarted Keenan Ivory Wayans career, which led to the classic sketch show In Living Color. He bought his family along for the ride.

While Scary Movie put Shawn and Marlon into the stratosphere of pop culture in the early 2000's. By the way, I think they will bring the franchise back to glory with the upcoming sequel Scary Movie 6.

Don't Be A Menace though took from the foundation of I'm Gonna Git You Sucka while laying the groundwork for Scary Movie, and is overall a better film. While making the most complete spoof ever. In honor of the film here are ten of the funniest scenes.

10. Liquor Store

A funny scene not only for the line and antics. Also for the social commentary regarding the profiling of young Black men particularly in Asian owned stores. While other races rob them blind, showing the Wayans are as smart as they are funny.

9. You Are Not The Father

A few years before the talk show Maury became famous, for its paternity test episodes. The Wayans may have gave him the idea, with this simple yet funny scene.

8. Grandma

An old grandmother thats battle tested and an "OG" of the streets. Testing her grandson, when I first saw this scene I thought it was the craziest thing ever.

7. Hotep Jungle Fever 

Before Hotep was a word, the Wayans took aim at seemingly pro Black men who are attracted to women of other races. Highlighting the walking contradiction some of these guys are.

6. Father & Son Talk

Imagine having a talk with your father, and he purposely gives you all the bad advice in the world. Thats this scene lol.

5. Sunday Sermon

Another social commentary riff. This time on pastors who seem to have it all, while their congregation struggles. Comedian Lester Barrie also gave this scene his all.

4. Stomping Toothpicks Boy

In a spoof of a scene taken right from the 1993 film Menace II Society. Even using the same actor, The Wayans offer the most childish "beat down" ever.

3. Father & Son Haircut

In one of the first displays of how "off the wall" the world in the film is. Ashtray played by Shawn Wayans has a talk with his father, who he is actually older than. Taking from Boyz 'N The Hood, the bonding scene produces strange topics. 

Not only that Easter eggs for eagle eyed viewers like plastic slip covers over everything. Which was a running joke in Black households, especially if the household is ran by the grandparents.

2. Gang Initation Scene

A true upside down on the idea of a gang initiation. Jump Roping?

1. Officer Self Hate

Another character spoofing Boyz 'N The Hood. Bernie Mac steals the show as a self-hating Black man who happens to be a police officer. He has no problem sharing how much he hates himself and asserting his power as a cop. Though its played for laughs perfectly, it also sheds light on a serious issue.

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The Movie Theater Experience Isn't Dead

 

If you're a frequent reader of this blog, then you know I am a huge movie buff. I've been seeing alot of Doom and gloom articles about the state of movie theaters. Predicting one day they will no longer be around, as more and more people prefer streaming. Now I won't lie the theater industry does look bleak right now.

Theaters were hit with the pandemic in 2020, and as the industry slowly crawled up from the gut punch that gave. Then came a left hook of the Hollywood strikes with the writers and actors union respectively in 2023. 

Even before the pandemic and the strikes, there was a problem that still exists today. Hollywood isn't supplying adequate movies to fill theaters. They moved everything to streaming with the exception of big budget movies, namely superhero films. Which after Avengers: Endgame began experiencing consumer fatigue. You'll get a drama here and there, family films, and belated sequels. But romantic comedies, comedies, and other genres are few and far between. Theaters have resorted to playing classic films for anniversaries or just because, to help stop the bleeding.

Add the prices of concessions and its easy to see why theaters are struggling right now. However, New Year's Day I went to see the Stranger Things Finale in theaters and it was packed. And the concessions was busy handling the multiple showtimes, and more people were coming in as we were leaving for their showtimes.

Everyone enjoyed themselves and ate their concessions while watching the closure of a beloved show. A show they could have easily watched at home, but wanted to experience in a theater. 

Hollywood should take heed, movie theaters aren't dead. You have to give people a reason to come to the movies. Not just for the tent pole films, but in general. When I saw two "old" films I grew up on 1985's The Last Dragon on a Sunday night in October and 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on a Sunday afternoon in August. Both theaters were packed!

People enjoy the experience, there just hasn't been much to experience lately. And that falls on Hollywood, yes Netflix disrupted the industry but much like linear TV Hollywood didn't put up much of a fight.

If movie theatres were to cease to exist, eventually people would turn on the streaming only model in droves. Much like the current backlash brewing against these subscription models and consumers not actually owning any media.

I personally think the days of huge megaplex's may be numbered, but the coziness of theaters are still desired. Grabbing your insanely marked up bag of popcorn, overpriced drink and watching a movie on a huge screen with the lights lowered. Is an amazing experience that can survive, it just needs to be fed.

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People Of Earth Gone Too Soon

 

January 2nd is National Science Fiction Day, the same day as Isaac Asimov one of the greatest sci-fi writers birthday. To celebrate I'm gonna honor a sitcom that was gone too soon.

2016's People Of Earth was an ensemble comedy on the TBS network. It followed a support group in Beacon, New York known as "starcrossed". All the members need support from their various alien abductions. Skeptical at first journalist Ozzie Graham, slowly starts to believe the members of the support group.

Then he slowly starts realizing he may have alot in common with this group. And learns first hand there's more out there than planet earth.

The sitcom had that same dry humor made popular by The Office. And started building its own mythology throughout its episodes. It was outlandish but believable. It lasted for two seasons, and a third was planned and developed before TBS changed course and abruptly canceled it.

It had a small but loyal following during a time people were starting to chuck the deuces to cable. Which is a shame because the sitcom deserved so much more. You can't even watch it on streaming unless you pay for the episodes individually, which is an even bigger crime. So much story potential lost, People Of Earth was gone too soon.

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5 Netflix Hidden Gem Series

 Tomorrow New Year's Eve, arguably Netflix's most successful show Stranger Things series finale debuts. Anticipation is high for this 2 hour finale. When Netflix decided to make original content, shows like Orange Is The New Black and House of Cards, paved the way for it to be the powerhouse it is today.

The streamer rapidly built out it's content library, choosing quantity over quality at times. While that method was understandable they produced some serious duds. 

While Netflix original shows like Ozark, Cobra Kai, Squid Games, and Bridgerton are beloved and in some instances a part of pop culture. There are quite a few Netflix show's that sailed under the radar. Here are 5 of them.

American Vandal

Just about everyone loves a good true crime story, to be fair most of them are very intriguing and suck you in. In 2017 Netflix released American Vandal, a mockumentary style series of the true crime genre. Focusing on pranks held at a high school, the players involved and the aftermath.

Despite crictical acclaim and winning a Peabody award. It lasted for two seasons being canceled in 2018. Such a shame as I'm sure it had plenty of material to riff on coming down the pipe.

The OA

Released in 2016 a few months after Stranger Things, The OA was another one of those what the hell is going on series. It followed a young lady who had been missing for 7 years and suddenly reappeared with newfound abilities.

It was intriguing, had you guessing, and was a bit outside the box. After a slightly delayed second season, the show was cancelled with a cliffhanger ending 

Raising Dion

Released in 2019 and based on a indie comic and short film. Raising Dion was executive produced by Michael B. Jordan who also had a bit part in the series. It follows a widowed single mother who discovers her young son is suddenly developing super powers. She works to help him harness the power, keep it as much of a secret as possible and the circumstances behind her husband's death.

It received a 2nd season in 2022, but the show was cancelled after that. Which was a shame as it had so much potential.

Teenage Bounty Hunters

An absurd premise on the surface, this series was released in 2020. Teenage Bounty Hunters follows two sisters who get in an accident with their dads car. In panic mode they agree to work with the Grizzled cranky man they hit played by Kadeem Hardison. Who just so happens to be a bounty hunter.

They soon are on the job and dig deep into some twists that changes their whole world. While silly, the show was quippy and sparky. With just enough intrigue and twists to keep you on your toes. Sadly it was cancelled after one season.

Everything Sucks

This mid-90's set series could have been for Gen Z, what Freaks & Geeks was for Gen-X and older Millennials. It has that same kind of vibe that show. It follows students at a Oregon High school from the A/V and drama clubs respectively. Completely feeling like outcasts they decide to team up and make a movie, using some of the angst they have built up.

In the meantime, they deal with potential love, bullying, and parental issues. The same cycle that begets teenagers no matter the generation. Released in 2018, its a shame this one didnt make any sort of dent in the Netflix world. 

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5 Best North Pole Depictions

 Here we are 2 days away from Christmas and Santa and his team are gearing up for a busy night. I started thinking about the operation of Santa Claus and his home/office space of the North Pole. Throughout the history of film and TV there have been multiple depictions of the North Pole.

I've compiled 5 of what I think are the best intrepertations, of the North Pole.

5. Red One

As a movie Red One has been slandered, I personally thought it was an ambitious but flawed film. Which like many films in recent years focused on world building and setting up a franchise more than telling a story. One thing I think the film got right, alot think they got wrong was the North Pole.

Tying in with the theme of the film and Santa's operation. The North Pole has a very military ish asethic to it. Maybe a little too dark, but far different than what anyone would think its look like. In my opinion that makes this depiction stand out.

4. Arthur Christmas

Another film featuring the military concept yet much lighter is 2011's Arthur Christmas. Here the North Pole is seen and the elves are depicted as hardworking and joyous. They throw a heros welcome in the town square for Santa upon completion of delviering gifts.The real star of the film is the well oiled machine of Santa's operation.

Made possible by the command center manned by the elves, and the military style operation. Santa dresses like a military general and operates spaceship inspired sleigh called "S1". Santa's oldest son Steve also dresses in Christmas cheer military attire, and operates like a unit commander. Technology is heavily embraced in this world of the north pole.

3. Fred Claus

2007's Fred Claus starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamantii is an middle of the run just ok, mid 2000's Christmas movie. It's highlight though is how the North Pole and Elves are depicted. 

The set designed is well detailed and the elves workshop rivals any Amazon warehouse. Besides that, it shows the elves having lives when not working. They have hobbies and like to drink and have a good dance break from time to time. 

2. Polar Express

In the 2004 film Polar Express, the North Pole is depicted just as mythical and magical as one would expect. A fully functioning city inhibited by the elves with warehouses making toys, and a town center being an actual "center" for the North Pole.

It was presented as a place you would truly be in awe of seeing it in person.

1. The Santa Clause

Disney's The Santa Clause series of films and TV shows gives the franchise that Disney feeling, "magical". This version of the North Pole is youthful and full of energy just like kids are, the toy workshop looks like any kids room. Bright toys and messy. In the original film Santa even has an elite squad of Elves that are basically their special forces.

Santa's sleigh was equipped with cookie and milk dispensers to help him through the night. As the franchise grew it displayed the town center of the North Pole, and the elves were given purposes and not just background roles.

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5 Netflix Christmas Movies I Recommend

 

I recently watched one of Netflix's latest Christmas offerings. A merry little Ex-Mas starring Alicia Silverstone. It was a decent film, nothing spectacular. However, it got me thinking about other Netflix Christmas movies. 

Here are 5 Netflix Christmas movies I recommend.

5. Let It Snow

This 2019 film which apparently is based on a series of books. The most notable cast member is Shameik Moore (Dope, The Get Down, Spider-Verse films. Its rather formulaic but charming, telling several different interconnected stories during a snowstorm in a small town on Christmas eve.

4. Christmas With You

Released in 2022 this romantic comedy stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Aimee Garcia. Garcia plays a pop singer who dealing with a great deal of stress, makes a mad dash to a small town in upstate New York. She interacts with a young fan and eventually her father. Regaining inspiration, helping the daughter with her quinceanera, and falling in love.

Its a Christmas movie so its cheesy, but it works as a romantic comedy 

3. Our Little Secret

I would consider this film kind of Lindsay Lohan's comeback. Released last year, the plot centers on Lohan and a long time ex that once proposed to her crossing paths again. Only they are both respectively dating siblings and are at the family's home for the holidays.

Well its a lot of work keeping a secret, while trying to stave off a potentially rekindling flame. 

Its worth a viewing in my opinion.

2. Meet Me Next Christmas

Another 2024 release from the Netflix slate. Starring Christinia Millian, this film has one of those divine intervention deals going on. Millian meets a man in the airport one Christmas eve, they bond over Penatonix while they're flight is delayed. And agree if they are both single next christmas, they should meet and have a date at a Penatonix concert.

Well a year later Penatonix is having a Christmas show. Do the two keep their plans or other factors come into play?

Tune in and check it out.

1. Love Hard

Released in 2021 this is one of the better Netflix Christmas movies. I actually think it will be considered a Christmas classic in due time. Starring Nina Debrev and Jimmy O. Yang. Nina plays Natalie Bauer a dating columnist who's on dating apps for work and personal reasons. When she thinks shes found the "guy" through the app, she surprises him and visits his hometown for the holidays.

Only..she was catfished. Lies, negotiations, and true love comes into play in this funny film.

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