2.303: Status Update

So, I started my part-time position at Dollar General over three weeks and during this time, I have come to learn that the position is more physical and strenuous than I had initially believed. In my opinion, the amount of labor and effort required to effectively fulfill the position are certainly worth more than the $7.50 per hour I (and my other part-time coworkers) are paid. *** For a company that saw $20.3 BILLION in revenue in 2015, the fact that much of its in-store associates are paid just over minimum wage is shameful but I digress. *** In my three weeks as a part-time sales associate, I have noticed a significant decline in (1) the number of prompt updates and (2) the number of total updates to John Past 30. I am not going to apologize (an action I have a tendency to take in regards to manners such as this) and I am not to make promises that I will likely be unable to keep because I know that my personal and professional life are only going to become more difficult over the next few weeks and months. But, I will say the following:

I have not and will not give up on John Past 30 as I have other projects in the past but I know that my inability to balance my personal and professional lives will continue to make it more difficult for me to draft posts on a consistent basis.

Professionally, I am working again and I felt as though I had an opportunity to move quickly into a full-time, temporary position at a local medical manufacturing plant but I have heard nothing from the staffing agency in over a week since my "interview" and I worry that I may have been hurt by my overconfidence, lack of manufacturing experience, and abrupt interview with the on-site hiring coordinator (we ran out of time). As for my career goal of returning to the library profession, there is a new opportunity that has arisen at the local technical college. It is a part-time position that promises 29 hours a week and wage of $9 per hour, it is not the ideal situation but (1) it is a position at a library, (2) the library's schedule (it is only open Monday through Thursday) would allow me to continue to pursue additional employment or remain at Dollar General alongside my colleague, and (3) it would give me my weekends and potentially a pathway towards attending Dragon Con and Anime Weekend Atlanta. On the other hand, the position is only part-time, offers no benefits, and pays poorly in comparison to the full-time position at the medical manufacturing plant (I would have to work every day of the week at both the library and Dollar General in order to make close to what I would make in two weeks at the plant). Then again, the work shifts at the library and Dollar General would be more manageable than the likely shift of 19:00 to 07:00 at the plant and with the position at the plant, I am not guaranteed my ideal shift thus meaning I could miss out on both, Dragon Con and Anime Weekend Atlanta. And then, there are the outstanding applications and resumes that I have already submitted. In short, my professional life is an extraordinary mess.

But, not to be outdone, my personal life is not much better. I will start with the positive, my grandfather is out of the hospital but he did have another episode a few days after being discharged. As of now, he is mending at home (slowly). And that is pretty much it for the positives. I am still stressed by the troll and now, it has grown its presence to include a troll ho (I do not know what you call a female troll but this rhymes and I like it). The troll and its ho spends much of its days in its troll cave (our former storage house) and only enters the house when I am not around and while this brings some joy to me; I know that this is only temporary and the result of me failing to block its Internet access (which causes me distress because I am uncertain of what it is planning using our family's Internet access). Meanwhile, the troll's ho has managed to cause me stress and I have not even met it (nor do I want to). It has managed this feat by continuously parking its vehicle behind my family's house rather than park it on the road like any normal (and non-suspicious) individual because that is not suspicious in any way. In truth, I have come to hate being at the house because their presence turns my stomach and causes me intense stress. I know my life would improve vastly if the troll and its ho would simply leave and never return and if there is ANY justice in this world, the criminal justice system will do that for me soon by sentencing the troll to prison. Of course, such an action would mean that something has gone right in my life and we know that this cannot happen because nothing good happens in my life.

Anyways, that is my life--what I have been doing, why I have not been posting regularly, and how I have somehow pissed off some universal force that has the power to heap incredible amounts of negativity on my life.

2.301: Thoughts on Prince

I am not a devout Prince fanatic—I never attended a live show, I only know his most popular songs, the only Prince album I own is Musicology, and my fondest memory of Prince comes from Dave Chappelle—but this does not mean that I do not understand his contributions to the world. Prince was a truly unique and incredible individual with a talent that appeared to be far too much for a mere man to possess and yet, he not only possessed the talent; he mastered it and shared it with the world. My first experience with Prince came from a compilation CD of popular hits of the day and his contribution to the album was “1999”. For me, “1999” represented a far-off period of time in which people would celebrate with great exuberance and joy—a time in which we would party. Of course, I was only 16 years old in 1999 and my introverted, socially awkward personality meant that I spent the turn of the century alone wondering if the Y2K bug would bring about the doomsday scenario predicted by the media. Fortunately, I did become familiar with more songs from Prince: “Raspberry Beret”, “Purple Rain”, “When Doves Cry”, “Diamonds and Pearls”, “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”, “Let’s Go Crazy”, “Kiss”, “Batdance”, and so many more.

It is somewhat humorous that as I draft this post, I find myself awestruck at the number of songs I can recall and the fact that I am able to recall of these songs stands as an example of the immense reach his music possessed. To be honest, I am uncertain of how many other artists I could repeat this feat with. Undoubtedly, Prince’s longevity plays a significant role in why I am able to recollect so many incredible tracks but it also speaks to his transcendent nature that throughout the course of his career; he was still able to produce music that could resonate with the ever-changing faces of music fans. Anyways, I think I will leave here and end this post by saying:  RIP Prince.

2.298B: (Not So) Random Topics 007

This week's Random Topics will not feature any topics generated by the Blog Post Ideas Generator instead this week's column will feature a (not so) random topic that I want to touch on (very) briefly:

Political Discourse

I know that people are tired of hearing or reading about the dwindling state of current political discourse but I felt the need to express a few thoughts on the matter.

(1) The negative rhetoric amongst campaigns is nothing new but the quality of the debates has diminished. Let's face the following fact: Donald Trump's "plain speak" is nothing more than personal ignorance and condescension toward the electorate. When I hear an individual making a statement about how he (and I use the pronoun "he" in this instance because let's face another fact: the vast majority of Trump supporters are male) is able to better relate to Trump because Trump speaks in the same manner he speaks, all I hear is the following:

"Donald Trump speaks to me like a child because Trump believes that he is superior to me because he has his name plastered along the sides of tall buildings and he is on television."

To be honest, I find this apprehension towards speaking at a level higher than grade school to be rather disheartening. I have never understood why people insist on having leaders that are relatable and/or on par with them intellectually. Personally, I want a leader to be better than me because I know that (1) I am not as intelligent as I believe to be the case and (2) other world leaders are not as ignorant as I am as well. Possessing a greater intellect and utilizing a higher degree of discourse are not things to be shunned but rather things to be possessed by a leader. Why would I follow a leader that is no smarter than me?

(2) There is a difference between political devotion and political obsession. You will these sort of individuals amongst the ranks of every political campaign; the supporter that is annoyingly abrasive toward any sort of perceived slight against his/her candidate of choice. A particularly good example of this sort of brash behavior can be seen amongst "Bern Bros" that have come to the basic conclusion that any sort of negative action against Sen. Sanders is either (1) a part of an elaborately-designed conspiracy orchestrated to hinder his campaign or (2) the result of an individual being ignorant or out-of-touch (e.g., the attacks on Rep. John Lewis following his endorsement of Hillary Clinton).

I firmly believe that if we are able to accept the notion that political discourse should be of an elevated status as well as informed, then we may be able to push beyond our current state of juvenile-level discourse.

2.298A: Pitch Notes (4.18)+1

RESULTS (11 April - 17 April 2016):

Wednesday, 13 April

West Ham United 1:2 MANCHESTER UNITED

The FA Cup - Quarterfinal Round | Upton Park

Sporting Kansas City 1:2 COLORADO RAPIDS

Major League Soccer | Children's Mercy Park

Saturday, 16 April

MANCHESTER UNITED 1:0 Aston Villa

Barclays Premier League | Old Trafford

Sunday, 17 April

FC DALLAS 2:1 Sporting Kansas City

Major League Soccer | Toyota Stadium

NOTES:

For Manchester United, the preceding week could not have gone much better. The Red Devils advanced to the semifinal round of The FA Cup and defeated Aston Villa in the Premier League (consequently, Manchester United's victory against Aston Villa "officially" relegated "The Villans" to the Football League Championship). Meanwhile, Sporting Kansas City (SKC) endured a week that would best be forgotten.

In other football-related news, Atlanta United announced its plan for a state-of-the-art training facility in Cobb County that comes with an estimated price tag of $60 million!

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Before I conclude this edition of "Pitch Notes", I wanted to take a moment to say that I am truly sorry for the poor quality of this particular series. When the idea originally came to mind, I thought that I was going to be able to post insightful and thought-provoking editorials about the beautiful game as it pertained to me but that has not happened. Instead, this column has become nothing more than a rehashing of information one could find anywhere else. Of course, all of the issues I have with this column is the result of my own personal neglect. I know that as a commentator on the beautiful game, I fall way behind others in terms of actual football knowledge since I have never played the game but I sincerely believed that my passion for my clubs, my national team, and the game would at least permit me a rational opinion; I was wrong. I was wrong to believe that I had the focus to remain passionate at the level required to provide an informed opinion and because of this shortcoming, "Pitch Notes" has been an utter load of rubbish. So, I am left with a few choices to make over the next few days and weeks as it concerns "Pitch Notes" but for now; I appreciate those willing to put up with this dribble up to now.

2.296: Happy Thoughts

I write a lot about the things that irk me so today I am going to write about a few of the things that bring a smile to my face.

Attending Conventions

Earlier today, a friend and I attended the Atlanta Comic Convention and while I was unable to find any deals, I did get a cool new tee shirt as well as the satisfaction of helping a friend reacquire his lost childhood collection. I love attending conventions--anime conventions, comic conventions, science-fiction conventions, and more. One will rarely find me happier than when I am at a convention. I love the costumes, the panels, the musical concerts, the dealers room, and most of all, I love being surrounded by my fellow fans. I could genuinely write an entire post dedicated to conventions but I will not because I have other things to discuss.

Hanging Out with Friends

I do not have many friends and most of my friends are typically preoccupied with other responsibilities:  families, significant others, jobs, and so on. But on the few occasions I have to simply hang out and relax with them, I savor it and try to make it last for as long as possible. My friends have this misconception about me. They have a tendency to think that in order for us to hang out, we need to have money (or spend money). Yes, I do appreciate when my friends chip in for fuel but it is not necessary. If all we do is stand in a parking lot and have a conversation with one another, then I am happy. I simply long for companionship.

Money

I know that there are plenty of euphemisms and sayings about the negatives of money but it is a vital (if not, essential) part of our existence. When I have money or more accurately, disposable income, I am happy. In truth, what can make one any happier than knowing they do not have to worry about paying the next bill. Sure, money can bring about its own issues but it sure makes life much easier when you have it.

Anyways, these are just a few of the things that make me happy.

2.295: Anime Queue Crush 003

In this edition of Anime Queue Crush, I discuss the third most popular anime series on Crunchyroll: The Asterisk War.

To be honest, the basic premise of The Asterisk War feel too familiar but this is not a condemnation of the series. If anything, it is a statement about the difficulties of developing an original or unique idea within the entertainment industry. As for The Asterisk War, it is series set in a rebuilt post-apocalyptic world in which gifted beings are divided amongst various academies and then encouraged to participate in battles amongst themselves in an exercise devised to exhibit superiority of a particular academy/multinational government conglomerate. Of course, the school-based drama features many of the common tropes associated with the genre: a new and mysterious transfer with an untapped source of power and skill, a potential harem composed of the mischievous and unabashed pursuer, the childhood friend, and the aloof tsundere that will eventually come to realize her "true" feelings for the male protagonist, gratuitous lingerie scenes, and many more overused tropes. Personally, I am not entirely sure if I will find particular satisfaction from finishing the series but my inability to simply drop a series will keep me watching. I suppose I could stand to find out more about our mysterious male and female leads as well as what the class president is scheming.

2.294: Smash the Stash! 005

Y: The Last Man Deluxe Edition, Volume I

Brian K. Vaughan

Pia Guerra

Jose Marzan, Jr.

After some time, I finally got around to reading Y: The Last Man. And my initial impression is that is a promising book that definitely leaves the reader wanting more. But given the hype around the title (developed primarily by a former coworker during the course of my three years in the library system), I was expecting more from the start of the series (as though the deaths of every man on the planet were not enough). Along with its "slow" start, I was frequently annoyed by the actions and attitude of the book's lead protagonist, Yorick. Of course, I am far from certain about how I would behave and react if I were in his position. Regardless, I am intrigued to learn more about what caused the catastrophe and whether or not Yorick and his cohorts are able to allude those that would prefer to see the last man on Earth dead long enough to restore some semblance of normalcy to the world.

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Black Panther #1 (2016-Present)

Ta'Nehisi Coates

Brian Stelfreeze

I am wholly unfamiliar with the Black Panther of the Marvel Universe aside from the hype surrounding the character's debut within the MCU in the upcoming Captain America:  Civil War. In truth, I am more familiar with the writer of the series, Ta'Nehisi Coates. Coates's Between the World and Me is a beautifully written book describing the modern black struggle in the form of a letter written by a concerned father to his teenage son. Anyways, it was Coates's manner of expressing the modern struggle of blacks in America that piqued my curiosity about his take on Marvel Comic's most prominent black character. After reading this initial issue of the series, I am left to wonder about whether or not I should have read more about the Black Panther prior to reading this issue because I felt lost at times while reading the issues. Of course, my inclination towards being confused by comics and graphic novels did not detract from my appreciation of the issue and my anticipation for the next issue of the series.

2.293: Quick Blurbs 006

Spider-Man

Spider-Man:  Homecoming? I see that Sony is hell-bent on making sure audiences know that Spider-Man is a teenager. I cannot wait to see the crazy antics Peter Parker gets into as he struggles with the angst of trying to find a date while still learning to be a superpowered vigilante.

C-3PO

What a cheap yet clever ploy from Disney/Marvel? Want to know why an iconic droid suddenly has a new arm in the latest Star Wars film? Buy the comic! Honestly, I don’t care that much about it but I was always more of a Trekkie anyways.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Not content with allowing their more talented younger sister, Elizabeth, take the spotlight, Mary-Kate and Ashley decided to get “trending” by posting a promotional “first public selfie” for Sephora. I guess that’s good for them and it’s nice to know that they are still around but do I really care? No.

Justin Bieber

OMG, the Biebs can color within the lines! I was half-expecting him to urinate on the page and then hurl it at an elderly couple as he sped by them in a residential neighborhood. Okay, that was mean spirited but come on now—a kindergartener could do better.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams is in the upcoming Doctor Strange film but I thought we knew that already. The big question is what character is she portraying. If you can answer that for me, then go for you. Anyways, the teaser looked good and I’m anxious to see the film.

2.292C: Random Topics 006

To be honest, I did not have an opportunity to know and learn from the majority of my grandparents. My paternal grandparents lived in Laos and Thailand and passed away many years ago. On my maternal side, my grandmother, who took care of me during my infant years, passed away when I was in second grade and she resided in Virginia. So, if I were to learn anything from any of my grandparents, then it would have to be from my mother's father (or my grandfather) since he is the only grandparent that I know closely. In fact, he is the grandfather that I have been keeping an eye out on for the past week.

So, what, if anything, have I learned from my grandfather? Not much. I wish I could say that my grandfather and I have held meaningful conversations but there remains a language barrier between the two of us. But this feels like a cop out reply so I will say that I learned to be appreciative of others around me.

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I am going to call it an evening here since I am growing tired and it is almost "Day 293".

2.292B: Pitch Notes (4.11)+2

So, I could be flipping channels between Kobe Bryant's final game and the Golden State Warriors historic pursuit of 73 WINS in a single season but I have decided to draft my second post of the day:

First, I want to say that I really need to change this header for Pitch Notes. I know that this only the fifth(?) installment of this column but I have never been a fan of this banner. (I'm just saying.)

RESULTS:

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

UNITED STATES 7:0 Colombia

Women's International Friendly | Pratt & Whitney Stadium (Hartford, CT)

Saturday, 9 April 2016

New York Red Bulls 0:2 SPORTING KANSAS CITY

Major League Soccer | Red Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ)

Sunday, 10 April 2016

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3:0 Manchester United

Barclays Premier League | White Hart Lane (London, England, UK)

UNITED STATES 3:0 Colombia

Women's International Friendly | Talen Energy Stadium (Chester, PA)

NOTES:

It was mixed bag of results this week as the United States Women's National Team (USWNT) continued to make their case for equal pay by dominating their Colombian counterparts twice and by a combined score line of 10:0 meanwhile Sporting Kansas City (SKC) reclaimed the top spot in the Western Conference following a 0:2 road result against the defending Supporters' Shield winners. On the other hand, Manchester United were soundly defeated by title-contenders, Tottenham Hotspur. The defeat means that United now trails its "noisy neighbors", Manchester City, by four points for the fourth and final UEFA Champions League spot.

I was going to include this evening's results in this edition of Pitch Notes but I decided to try and preserve some of this columns integrity by waiting until the next column.

2.292A: Reviewing Dawn of Justice

First, I will admit that there have been far too many days since I last wrote something of "substance" but I aim to rectify this deficiency TONIGHT! In the brief free time during the course of tonight's Sporting Kansas City match and Kobe Bryant's final game, I will be writing and it starts NOW!

Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice

Could someone turn on the lights? Because it seemed as though the sun never rises in either Metropolis or Gotham City (or the DC Extended Universe) and when it does, it always seems dreary and dull. I get it--I understand that aside from being the sequel to Henry Cavill's first outing as Superman, Man of Steel, Dawn of Justice (because I cannot bring myself to type out Batman "V." Superman) is supposed to set up DC's cinematic universe in the build up to the Justice League film. In this regard, it kind of succeeded though everything felt rushed; Dawn of Justice did "introduce" the members of the cinematic Justice League (kind of). As a standalone film, Dawn of Justice was just not good. Superman bored me, Lex Luthor made me want to punch Jesse Eisenberg in the face more, and Batman was okay but that who sequence in which the focus of the film shifts because he learns that his mother and Clark's mother share the same name was a bit ridiculous. I sincerely wanted Dawn of Justice to be good but the truth is that DC/Warner Bros. still has no clue as to how to make a Superman film enjoyable.

2.288: Drop a Like 003

Let's get right to it!

Come on, you had to know that this was going to make it in. I can only assume that from now (or more accurate, last December) until the day I pass on from this world, Decembers will be synonymous with Star Wars. Last year's The Force Awakens kicked off the run of new Star Wars films scheduled to be released every year until 2019 (though we all know that Disney will continue to milk this cash cow until the chickens come home to roost). Regardless, let the hype train for Rogue One leave the station NOW!

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The good people at the isthishowyougoviral YouTube channel are back and this time, Bert and Ernie are here to regulate some fools.

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I'm laying on the Star Wars hype thick in this edition of Drop a Like as the guys over at ScreenJunkies released an Honest Trailer for The Force Awakens and not too surprisingly; it is an awful lot like A New Hope.

2.287: Real [Life] Talk

Sorry, but I am putting Smash the Stash on hiatus this week because we I need to talk. I promised that I would discuss some of the things that have been happening over the past week and I will. I plan on discussing the matter in brief now (I cannot go into all of the details because it would take too long to recall and then transcribe). There is a quote often attributed to the playwright George Bernard Shaw that says:

I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.

Well, I have been wrestling with a pig and yes, I feel dirty. The pig (or as I like to refer to him: "the troll") is my mother's good-for-nothing son from another man and against my better judgment; I have found myself wallowing in the mud with it on multiple occasions this past week. The first incident occurred on Sunday or my first "full" day of new employment (I will get into this later) and it involved juvenile name calling and pity threats of physical harm from it and on my end; it involved a call to 9-1-1. Eventually, I resolved any potential issues with the law enforcement officials (again, against my better judgment) in concern for my mother.

In truth, I should have charged it with simple assault (verbal threats of physical harm against another) but I relented upon consideration of my mother's well-being. Most likely, the charge would have only been a misdemeanor but if coupled with its pending charges of Possession of Schedule 2 Narcotics and Possession of Controlled Substances and considering its prior criminal offenses, this would have assured a prison sentence.

The second incident occurred just moments ago and stemmed from its contempt for other people's (i.e., my) property (i.e., clothes). Before I left this afternoon to escort my mother to visit my grandfather at the Emergency Room of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, I started a load of laundry because I needed to wash my only work uniform for tomorrow's shift. When my mother and I returned home this evening, it had removed my clothes from the washing machine and placed it on top of the dryer; replacing my load of laundry with a load of its own. So, when I questioned it about why my wet clothes were sitting on top of the dryer while its clothes were in the dryer, it responded as it always does with bitter juvenile name calling and threats of physical violence. I am not afraid of this petulant troll, but I am not about to engage in fisticuffs with the imbecile simply because it is its sole response to any questioning of itself. But, I erred in trying to argue facts with the pea-brained troll and once again, I found myself wallowing in the filth alongside the troll.

Now, you may be asking yourself:  "Aren't you (meaning me) engaging in juvenile antics by referring to 'it' as a troll or imbecile and dehumanizing 'it' by referring to the individual as 'it'?" Well, I cannot deny the immaturity of my words and I wholly accept the label of hypocrite, which is far more than it would ever do. As of this moment, I am again wrestling with a pig and I am continuing to dirty myself.

I know I talk a big game about optimism and positivity and yet, I am so easily derailed by the negativity that surrounds me that it would be considered humorous if it were not so tragic. As I have said many times before, I struggle to go against my natural inclination to be negative and pessimistic but at least, I am struggling. I am struggling to better myself. I am struggling to overcome the negativity. I am struggling to overcome the pessimism. I am struggling because I know I can be more!

I talk a lot about my issues with others but I realize that my greatest issue is with me.

2.286: Quick Blurbs 005

NOTE:  Before I begin today's Quick Blurbs, I want to apologize for my sudden reversal into my previous sporadic posting schedule but I have been forced to deal with issues at home (or more accurately, I have been forced to deal with the same persisting issue at home). I will attempt to maintain my daily posting schedule and I intend on elaborating on my recent issues in a future post but please understand that I have no intention of permanently reverting to my previous ways. I love to write and I love to share and while there may be no one else reading my posts, just having a means to express myself is good enough for me.

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Captured at 12:50 EDT on 07 April 2016

Seth MacFarland

This is going to sound sexist but what a pull for Seth MacFarland. Yes, he is funny, he can croon just as well as the next Las Vegas lounge singer, and he is the creator/producer of one of the most popular animated shows on TV but Emilia Clarke is magnificent.

The Mummy

I am thoroughly confused, are they rebooting the Brendan Fraser-led Mummy franchise with Tom Cruise? If so, that is a major coup for the movie studio producing the reboot.  Regardless, I probably won’t see it anyways though I wonder if it’ll launch the film career of another professional wrestler.

Brandon Barash

This was another instance in which I had to ask:  Who? Apparently, he’s an actor on a daytime soap opera not titled Days of Our Lives. Anyways, divorce sucks but one shouldn’t force love when love isn’t present. Hopefully, he remains active in the rearing of his daughter.

Warner Bros.

First, there was another Jungle Book film in production? Second, this is great news for longtime fans of Wonder Woman that have waited so long for a live-action, solo film. I’m personally looking forward to seeing what Gal Gadot can offer as the iconic DC female superhero.

Sherlock

OMG FINALLY! I am an immense fan of Sherlock and this is fantastic news! If you have not seen this iteration of Sherlock Holmes, then you simply must find it and watch it. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are remarkable as Holmes and Dr. John Watson.

2.284: Random Topics 005

The Ultimate Guide to...Happiness!

1) Accept the fact that there is no single guide in the universe that can tell you how to find happiness.

2) Sorry  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯?

I do not have the ultimate guide to anything much less happiness but I will share with you some of the things I have been trying:

Focus on you.

Focus on what you can control.

Focus on what makes you happy.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE HAPPY!

It is a struggle but I continue to persevere because I know that I deserve happiness.

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Stop worrying about things that are beyond your control, Start focusing on the things you can take control of to improve your life and find happiness! (And no, I did not plan this out--it was a genuine coincidence.)

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I will not lie and say that I did not click the "Generate Blog Post Idea" again following the last topic but I decided that concluding this week's edition of Random Topics with the preceding "random topics" would be the best course of action considering the amazing coincidence that occurred.

2.283: Pitch Notes (04.04)

RESULTS:

United States MNT [4:0] Guatemala

FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifying | Tuesday, 29 March 2016 | MAPFRE Stadium (Columbus, OH)

Sporting Kansas City [1:2] Real Salt Lake

Major League Soccer | Saturday, 2 April 2016 | Children's Mercy Park (Kansas City, KS)

Manchester United [1:0] Everton

Barclays Premier League | Sunday, 3 April 2016 | Old Trafford

NOTES:

REDEMPTION! Or as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz would say:  "There's no place like home." Following their embarrassing performance in Guatemala City, the USMNT demonstrated that the rumors of their demise had been greatly exaggerated by thumping Guatemala, 4:0. Columbus, OH was once again host to yet another USMNT victory as the city and its stadium continue to be kryptonite for visiting opposition.  At present, the USMNT sits in second place in Group C of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying behind Trinidad & Tobago. The USMNT will look to secure its place in the Hexagonal stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying in 2-September as it travels to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:  a victory against the bottom-dwellers of Group C coupled with a T&T win against Guatemala will render the final group stage match between the USMNT and T&T meaningless as both sides will have earned passage to the Hexagonal.

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Well, the perfect start to the 2016 MLS campaign came to an end this weekend as SKC lost at home to bitter rivals Real Salt Lake. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you wish to look at it), I did not have an opportunity to watch the match so I am not able to provide any sort of opinion on the match but it is not as though I had much insight to provide anyways.

On the other hand, I did manage to watch Manchester United's victory against Everton on Sunday morning. To be honest, it felt like a typical Manchester United match featuring a dull opening half of play, followed by a halftime substitution, and then a breakthrough in the second half which leads to a frenetic conclusion in which Manchester United clings and grasps on to their advantage for what feels like ages. Anthony Martial scored the match-winner as well as Manchester United's 1000th Premier League goal and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton was honored by having the south stand named in his honor.

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And now, I will discuss the elephants in the room:  the USWNT's lawsuit against U.S. Soccer and the apparent discord between the USWNT and USMNT that came to light following USWNT legend Abby Wambach's arrest for DUI.

First off, I am on board with the idea of "equal work, equal pay". The USWNT in winning multiple World Cups and Olympic gold medals have done as much, if not more, for the beautiful game in the United States as the USMNT and they deserve to be (1) paid accordingly and (2) subjected to subpar treatment (e.g., being asked to play on unsafe playing surfaces as was the case in Hawai'i and in the final match of the She Believes Cup at FAU Stadium). It is embarrassing that in a country and within a soccer federation that prides itself as being progressive in the area of gender equality, the same federation would pay its women's team for winning a World Cup the same amount as it pays its men's team for simply appearing in the tournament. It is also a shame that women plying their trade within this nation's domestic league are typically paid so poorly that many are forced to (1) share homes out of necessity, (2) take on second jobs to remain afloat financially, or (3) if possible, go abroad to ply their trade for a second club thus reducing their ability to properly rest in between seasons. Anyways, I hope the USWNT are successful in their fight to receive not only equal pay but equal treatment from the U.S. Soccer Federation.

As for the second elephant in the room, allow me to begin by saying:  Abby messed up. Yes, she did own her mistake and publicly apologized for it, but in a world with car-share services like Lyft, uber, or even traditional taxis; there is no excuse for DUI. It is one thing to place yourself in harms way but it is a whole other situation to place the lives of others in harms way and that is exactly what happens when anyone decides to get behind the wheel of a vehicle when intoxicated. And what makes the situation even more difficult for Abby is that her error in judgment will have a negative effect on the public's perception of the USWNT's wage discrimination lawsuit regardless of the fact that the two situations are not related. For an example, simply look at the responses of USMNT regulars Alejandro Bedoya and Jozy Altidore. Bedoya, in particular, was eager to cast shade on Abby and doing so under the guise of responding to Wambach's remarks from December about the USMNT's reliance upon foreign-born players. I will say that Bedoya is within his right to criticize Abby for her lapse of judgment in the lead up to her DUI arrest because Bedoya has a personal connection to the horrendous effects of DUI; witnessing what happened to another USMNT player: Charlie Davies. But the ill will he exhibited with his public response (or ridicule) of the situation speaks volumes of the discord that exists between the two national team sides especially in light of the remarks made by some of the USWNT players comparing the successes of the two sides. I am not saying that there is total discord amongst the two sides but this incident only brings to light the fact that both sides are not on equal footing and they know it.

It is a difficult situation for each of the individuals involved but it serves as a reminder that athletes are human and that they will make mistakes. But they are humans held in an elevated position because of their sphere of influence and that is why they are held accountable for their actions and behavior. Is it right? I would say that it is not but it is how the world views professional athletes. So when an athlete screws up, the public expects an apology regardless of its sincerity and not cries about why they are being forced into a corner and not allowed to openly express their opinions. Personally, athletes should be free to act and behave how they want just as fans are permitted to choose whether or not they like or respect a particular athlete. And yes, I realize that I have trekked off-course in this final paragraph but I felt like expressing my opinion on this matter.

2.281: Anime Queue Crush 002

And we are back! Anime Queue Crush is back for its second edition and in this edition, I am going to be covering yet another anime series that was not in my original anime queue:  Cyborg 009 vs. Devilman (at least, a major media company using the correct abbreviation for "versus"). Prior to watching this three-episode OVA, which is available on Netflix, I had only heard of Cyborg 009 but never Devilman (though if I did, it was only in passing). Regardless, the following are some of my thoughts on the series or special, but first:

After watching the first episode of Cyborg 009 vs. Devilman, the following thoughts or questions lingered in my mind:

(1) Why did the animators feel the need to give special attention to the breast of the female party attendee during her transformation into Lilith?

(2)  Did the winged-lion demon attempt to strangle Devilman with penis serpent?

(3)  Is Cyborg 009's primary ability only speed and does he normally get his ass handed to him in battles?

Those just a few of the many questions I had after episode one. Aside from these questions, I will say that I enjoyed the classic look of the Cyborgs though the same cannot be said of Devilman's character design. Something about Devilman's looked to similar to many poorly designed characters from the 1980s despite Devilman being from the 1970s. Personally, it appeared as though the animators attempted to update Devilman's appearance but got lazy and stopped in the 1980s.

To be honest, the story felt rather flimsy and hastily put together for the celebration of 50th Anniversary of the Cyborg 009 manga, which is most likely what happened. And honestly, what was the point of the opening battle sequence between the Apollo cyborg and 009? As well as what was the point behind the "high teen" cyborgs, Cyborgs 14-17? My guess is that the writers needed something for the rest of the cyborgs to do during the special so they put together a pointless filler side story. And they did the decision to create the "high teen" side story at the expense of giving any real meaning to the plot revolving around the specials two leads:  Cyborg 009 and Devilman.

I am not saying that the legacy of these two characters has been tarnished in any manner though I have not seen anymore from either character prior to this OVA but there is plenty more that could have been done to at least demonstrate that the effort was not some sort of nostalgic money grab. My recommendation is that if you are truly interested in these two series or characters, then you should skip this OVA and dig deeper to locate either of their original series.

2.280: Smash the Stash! 004

In this week's edition of Smash the Stash, it's a Secret Wars (2015-16) blowout as I finally wrap up Marvel's latest universe-altering event and just in time for its next event:  Civil War II.

Secret Wars #8 (2015-16)

Jonathan Hickman

Esad Ribic

Alex Ross

The Thing bites the dust to Franklin "Von Doom" via Galactus, Groot is reborn, and Valeria is on the verge of revealing God Doom's secret but not before encountering not one but two versions of Reed Richards. And I have not even mentioned my favorite panel (or page) of the entire book:

If one was doubting the powers of God Doom, then allow this sequence in which God Doom literally rips out Thanos's spine. No major universe-altering should be without its epic battle and with Issue #8, Secret Wars has its epic battle.

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Secret Wars #9 (2015-16)

Jonathan Hickman

Esad Ribic

Ive Svorcina

In a story revolving around Victor Von Doom, it should come as no surprise that its resolution would come at the hands of Reed Richards. These long-time foes have been at the forefront of the Marvel Universe since their inception but given the state of the current Marvel Universe (i.e., the Marvel Cinematic Universe); Secret Wars was a proper send off for the "first family of Marvel Comics".  Issue #9 failed to match the levels of epicness displayed in Issue #8 but it did do a few things:  (1) Black Panther was put in the forefront of the issue towards its start and within its epilogue, (2) a certain degree of resolution was provided to the readers, and (3) it managed to write off the Fantastic Four as pivotal superhero team within the current Marvel Comics universe. Undoubtedly, fans of the Fantastic Four will see them again as heroes rarely go away for long especially heroes that are not dead. Also, I should mention that despite the claims saying that Secrets Wars would leave behind ONE primary continuity, Marvel sort of leaves the door open to the reintroduction of complicated multiple universes:  NOT COOL.