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.

2.279: Quick Blurbs 004

Wendi Deng

My initial reaction to this topic:  EW!  I am rather open-minded when it comes to sexual intercourse but the thought of sleeping with someone that has slept with Rupert Murdoch is repulsive.  Of course, I am a bleeding-heart liberal with an intense distaste for the man responsible for FOX News.

Emily Ratajkowski

(1) Who?  And (2) why?  Topless Kim Kardashian is a topic should have died weeks (if not, years) ago but the media thrives off this nonsense as evidenced by its perpetual rehashing of the topic.  Personally, I am done with it and will be skipping it in future columns.

Finding Dory

Will Finding Dory be as good as Finding Nemo? Who knows? But I am willing to find out when it hits Netflix in a year or two. Personally, I enjoyed Nemo and while I have some reservations about the necessity of Dory, I understand why it exists.

Wheel of Fortune

I cannot remember the last time I watched Wheel of Fortune but to answer a thirteen (?) letter puzzle is somewhat impressive. Though after watching the entire video, I sort of felt bad for the his opponents but I suppose the man wanted to get paid.

William Shatner

Paternity lawsuits are serious. For many, paternity lawsuits are the only means of ensuring both parents are accountable for the decision to conceive a child. There are legitimate issues surrounding such cases but simply because one party’s a celebrity or the amount being requested seems absurd doesn’t diminish the process.

2.278: Distractions

I have been distracted the past few days. In between starting a new job and serving as host for my younger cousin, I have allowed the quality of my post to dwindle to lower than usual.

First, I am in the process of starting a new job. It is far from my ideal position but it is a start and it is a (very) small source of income.  The new job is with a friend (if I have said it before, I will say it again:  NETWORK!) at a growing discount retail chain. I hope this will mark the start of an upward trend in my life and allow me the opportunity to shed the unwarranted stereotypes associated with unemployed individuals seeking employment.

Second, I have spent much of the past three days with my extended family because a cousin was visiting. I actually did not mind the situation because I actually like this cousin. I know that sounds horrible but long-term readers of John Past 30 will know that my relationships with many members of my family are (to put it nicely) strained. Fortunately, I am able to enjoy the company of this particular cousin and I do not mind spending time with her.

Anyways, everything is back to “normal” as my cousin returned to California last night and all of the paperwork I needed to complete regarding my new job is finished; I simply have to wait for it to be processed. I know that the quality of my posts has never been too high but I hope that I will be able to publish better dribble than what I have been publishing over the past couple of days.

2.277: Random Topics 004

Warning:  Use These 5 Tips at Your Own Risk

1)  DON'T brush your teeth at least twice a day

2)  PAY for college tuition with a credit card

3)  TAKE OUT a private student loan

4)  LISTEN to They

5)  ACCEPT life advice from Snapchatting hip-hop moguls

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The benefits of... sexual intercourse

I would not know because I have not had sex in a very long time.  But, I am a firm believer that a number of great tragedies could have been averted if only the perpetrators of these tragedies were able to have sex.

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The Cheater's Guide to... ruining a friendship by sleeping with your friend's wife.

1)  Find a friend

2)  Make sure your friend has an attractive (and sex-crazed) spouse

3)  Fuck the spouse while your friend is at work

4)  Regret your decision despite how good the sex felt

5)  Respond to your regret by cutting your ex-friend (and their spouse) out of your life

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Sorry for the half-assed column and the terrible jokes but I am feeling rather poor at the moment and I needed to draft this column now or I may not have a chance to draft it later today.

2.276: Pitch Notes (03.29)

RECENT RESULTS:

GUATEMALA 2:0 United States MNT

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying | Friday, 25 March 2016 | Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores

NOTES:

With all of the domestic league clubs I support on hiatus because of the international break, it was time for the United States men's national team (USMNT) to take the spotlight as it resumed the group stage action in CONCACAF 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying. And while the USMNT managed to find itself in the spotlight following the match, the USMNT garnered the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Prior to the start of the match, a key statistic being thrown about was the fact that the USMNT had not lost a match against Guatemala in twenty-one straight meetings. Well, the USMNT lost to Guatemala on Friday.

In an embarrassing and shameful display of questionable coaching tactics and abysmal player performances during the opening half of play, the USMNT found itself behind 2:0 at halftime. The second half saw a better performance from the players as they managed to "challenge" the Guatemalan goalkeeper multiple times and in quick succession at times. Unfortunately, the efforts of the USMNT seemed as though they were intended to make the Guatemalan goalkeeper appear as though he was a world class goalkeeper as the USMNT attackers continuously struck the ball directly towards the goalkeeper.

And 2:0 is where the match the ended, leaving the USMNT in a difficult must-win situation against a national team side that the USA should have easily managed a positive result against.

2.275: Reviewing Zootopia

Zootopia (2016)

I honestly cannot remember the last film I watched from Walt Disney Animation Studios (I am not counting Disney Pixar films) but I am certain that it was not as good as Zootopia. When I first heard about Zootopia, I brushed it aside as yet another animated feature anthropomorphic animals but this film was seriously good; much better than I could have imagined and far better than it should have been.

The premise of the film is simple: a bunny (voiced by Ginnifer Godwin) achieves her life's dream of becoming a police officer only to be confronted by the realization that her optimistic perception of the world (or more specifically, Zootopia) is flawed by the inherent prejudices that exist within it. I would continue to go further in explaining the plot of the film but I would risk spoiling the film.

With Zootopia, Disney managed to strike a fine balance between an entertaining and fun film for all ages with a message of tolerance and seeing beyond the prejudices that are passed on through the generations. Some will say that such a message does not have a place in a children's film but there is a good chance that the individuals raising such a complaint are close-minded, paranoid individuals with a warped perspective of the world (or Trump supporters).

I would highly encourage parents to take their children to see Zootopia or do like I did and go see it with a friend.

2.274: Drop a Like 002

It's time for another edition of "Drop a Like", my bi-weekly look at the YouTube videos I felt the need to share, let's get started:

Our first video is a trip down (a slightly altered) memory lane as Jimmy Fallon and actor, rapper, and voice actor(?) Ice T reflect upon some of Ice T's work as the voice of many of our childhood icons. It goes without saying that things are not as we remember.

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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is finally in theaters this weekend and the reviews have not been so kind to the DC Comics/Warner Bros. movie tasked with setting the foundation for the DC Comics cinematic universe.  Of course, the poor reviews are not entirely lost on Ben Affleck as demonstrated by his reaction when questioned about the topic.  (Almost assuredly, the facial expression is not an actual representation of his feelings about the movie or the reviews.  I mean, Affleck did star in Daredevil and directed and star in Gigli--I think he can handle some criticism.) Anyways, cue the Simon and Garfunkle!

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Our final video of the week comes courtesy of Vox and my newest favorite source of news and political commentary, Liz Plank. In the premiere episode of her latest YouTube project, 2016ish, Plank sits down with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada to discuss a number of topics including the potential influx of American immigrants into Canada following the 2016 Presidential Election.  Now, I try not to get too political in my entertainment columns but it is a fun, interesting, and informative video involving one of the rising stars in North American (if not, global) politics.

2.273B: Smash the Stash 003

Old Man Logan #3 (Secret Wars 2015)

Brian Michael Bendis, Writer

Andrea Sorrentino, Artist

In this issue, Logan finds himself at the sprawled out at the feet of Apocalypse, engaging and eventually being trounced by a Thor, and then cast out of Technopolis by War Machine Thor into the Deadlands where he is left to fend for himself against a surrounding horde of Venom symbiotes and zombies.  To be honest, what actually happened in this issue?  Logan learns the "truth" about Battleworld and now seeks an audience with Doom but what actually happens?  I suppose he exacerbates the festering animosity between Apocalypse and Doom by giving cause for Apocalypse to engage a Thor though Apocalypse's forces are easily repelled by the "goat-headed" Thor.  Aside from this moment, it does not seem as though this issue advances the plot in any manner; it is simply filler.

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Ultimate End #5 (Secret Wars 2015)

Brian Michael Bendis, Writer

Mark Bagley, Artist

I have always been a fan of the Miles Morales character despite having little familiarity with the character.  I suppose the idea of a young, ethnic individual carrying the mantle of one of the world's most renown superheroes played a significant role in my appreciation for the character.  Regardless, Morales takes center stage (kind of) in the final issue of this mini-series as it is up to him to (1) stop the conflict between the heroes of the Marvel-1610 and Marvel-616 universes, (2) convince the heroes that their god, Doom, is not a god at all and simply a villain that managed to garner god-like powers, and (3) lead the heroes into a seemingly impossible conflict in which the fate of all the worlds of Battleworld is unknown.  In terms of actual action within the pages of the book, it was all very limited but the manner of which the plot was carried out did manage to elicit a bit of emotion from me.  Of course, this book may have further spoiled the Secret Wars finale but we all know that the heroes would triumph; they always do.  By the way, I will The Punisher his due as it was he that (1) subdued gray Hulk from crushing Morales as Morales tried to convince the heroes and (2) was left behind by the other heroes and forced to confront the Thors thus perishing.

2.273A: Real [Librarian] Talk

Article:

“In praise of non-degreed librarians” by  Michelle A. Schingler (23 March 2016)

A couple of non-related odd points before I proceed with my post:  (1) I was originally introduced to this article by a former coworker that shared the article on Facebook and (2) the author of the article is another former coworker from my previous position.

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I agree with the sentiments of the article though I may not share the same romanticized view for why “non-degreed librarians” continue to serve in the positions they serve.  In the past, I have shared my opinions on the absurdity of the librarian certification process and the uselessness of graduate degrees in Library Science in regards to public libraries.  And yesterday, many of the beliefs I held on these topics were confirmed in the Facebook comments section for this article.

Within the comments, the distinction between “degreed librarians” and “non-degreed librarians” became very clear.  Librarians (i.e., individuals possessing graduate degrees in Library Science and certification) were quick to find the errors in thought processes of Ms. Schingler and library assistants (i.e., non-certified individuals without a related graduate degree).  According to “Librarians”, the title of “Librarian” is a professional designation reserved only for those that completed an accredited MLS program.  The “Librarians” were quick to point out that simply because an individual works within a physician’s office does not make the individual a physician.  Touché—in this regard, the “Librarians” are correct; I would not walk into a physician’s office and ask the receptionist at the front desk to conduct a thorough examination of my prostate because (1) the individual at the front desk was not hired to perform such a duty and (2) I would likely be asked to leave or risk having law enforcement called on me.  And that first reason for why I would not approach the front desk receptionist to conduct a prostate examination for me is where the assertion of the “Librarians” goes awry.  The receptionist at a physician’s office is typically not hired to serve in the role of the physician whereas library assistants are oftentimes hired to fulfill the roles of “Librarians” in the absence of a “Librarian”.  By making such an assertion, the “Librarians” are proving my past assertion that one of the reasons why the arcane institution of professional certification for librarians continues to exist is to create a false level of importance or significance to the designation.  In reality, the title of “Librarian” is only significant to those that “wasted” the additional time and money to earn the degree.

And the worst part of the situation was that the “Librarians” continued to grasp at straws while attempting to demonstrate their significance to the world.  In the mind of some “Librarians”, it is inconceivable that a “non-degreed” library employee could grasp the concepts of various classification systems without a graduate-level degree or state-issued certification.  In one heated exchange, a “Librarian” said as much while at the same time quickly dismissing the notion of an individual’s right to express an opinion much less an opinion that was in contradiction to his own.  And when dismissing contradictory opinions became too burdensome, the “Librarians” returned to the previous notion that they were important ones that were responsible for bringing professionalism to the field and that they were responsible for ensuring “Librarians” are paid adequately for their unique and certified skill set.  I am sorry to burst your bubble but professionalism is the result of individual actions in regards to the responsibilities they are expected to fulfill and your unique skill sets are part of the reason why lowly “non-degreed” library employees get paid so poorly.  And the belief that “Librarians” are professionals while “non-degreed” library employees are simply paraprofessionals is the pinnacle of unwarranted pretentiousness.  Allow one more opportunity to scale that pretentiousness and it is an analogy that has become a personal favorite:  In the state of Georgia, one most either possess or be in the process of obtaining a graduate-level degree in a library-related field in order to even apply for certification.  Meanwhile, in the state of Georgia, no collegiate-level degree is needed to apply for certification to be an engineer albeit it would be difficult to obtain such certification without some academic foundation.  But, the point of this analogy is that the difference between a certified and non-certified engineer could be the lives of others that are endangered from faulty engineering while the difference between a certified Librarian and a non-certified library employee is that it may take slightly longer for a patron to locate their obscure material request.  And yet, the profession in which the lives of other could be endangered by an engineer’s negligence and lack of qualifications does not require a collegiate-level degree to obtain certification while the profession of little to no consequence does.

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I suspect that my opinion is an unpopular opinion especially because I diminish the value of an entire class of individuals’ academic degrees but I will say it is not a total wash.  Within an academic setting, a graduate-level library degree could be of some importance in that one could use it to obtain an instructional position where one could then perpetuate the same false ideas concerning the significance of the degree.  But, within a public library setting, hands-on experience is more than the equal to a graduate degree.

2.272: Quick Blurbs 003

Malcolm in the Middle

To be honest, if you are talking about Malcolm in the Middle today and you are not talking about Bryan Cranston, then I do not care.

The Matrix

(1) I have never seen any of The Matrix trilogy and (2) enough with the fan theories!  Fan theories are nothing more than speculation conjured up by individuals with too much time on their hands.

The LEGO Batman Movie

The LEGO Movie was "AWESOME" and one of the most memorable characters from the movie was LEGO Batman so to see Will Arnett reprise the role for a spin-off movie is good news for fans; it should be a fun movie.

Wonder Woman

So Warner Bros. released a "women of Themyscira" teaser image for the upcoming Wonder Woman movie and it is what it is.  I am personally hyped at Wonder Woman finally receiving the big screen treatment.  By the way, Robin Wright looks like a total badass.

Shemar Moore

I have never watched Criminal Minds so I have no clue about who Shemar Moore is or who she portrayed in the series.  Regardless, good luck to her in her future endeavors.

2.271: I'M ANGRY!

I am angry!  I am outraged!  I am torn asunder by anguish!  I am actually...meh.

If you read the news or listen to the radio (odd that I would choose two of the most antiquated forms of news gathering), then you would know that we are angry!  We are angry at the bureaucratic suits that have stymied our country's progress!  We are outraged at the greedy Wall Street fat cats that stuff their pockets with ill-gotten gains!  We are furious at the lack of diversity in Hollywood!  And we are pissed at yoga being taught to grade school children!  Seriously!  We are filled with feelings of AAUGH!

Again, not really.  Oh, I will not deny that I am not annoyed by many things (e.g., petty former employers, useless trolls residing in the family storage shed, etc.) but I am not really outraged by anything.  If anything, I am sort of amused by it.  Yes, I understand that there are certain situations that warrant angst (e.g., the continued rise of Donald Trump) but to be so consumed by anger that you become irrational and lose all sense of self is absurd.  As the old adage says:  "Keep calm and carry on".

Personally, I have gotten better at controlling my temper and while I will from time to time "lose it", "it" is generally lost in a harmless, playful manner meant more for jest than actual outrage.  I "rage" on the road to garner a cheap laugh and nothing more.  For me, remaining calm is paramount and if there is something that genuinely warrants anger, then it is important for me to understand why I feel the way I feel.  Anger achieves little--it only hinders the solution.

So rather than lash out in rage, consider what options you can take to resolve the issue that is confronting you and if you still decide that anger is the best course of action, then who am I to argue?

2.270: Random Topics 003

The single most important advice I have to give you is...never go into debt. Only a man that is free of debt is truly free.  I wish I had known this fact but there was no one there to teach me this lesson. If I were debt free, then I would be in a much better position than I am today.  Every month I spend over $700 repaying debt.  Now, if I did not have any debt, then I would be free to use that $700+ on what I want and unemployment would not be such a burden because I would not have to worry about making my next credit card payment or risk being penalized with exorbitant late fees.  Unfortunately, I had no one to explain to me the unnecessary burden of credit cards, private student loans, and other forms financially-debilitating debts.  So, I say to you with all sincerity:  Do not incur debt.  If you wish to make a big purchase (e.g., an automobile or a home), then work and save your money until you are able to afford to purchase the item with cash.  It may take some time and a lot of sacrifices but you will not be tethered to anyone and it will be more cost-effective since you will not be paying interest rates.

---------- || J+30 || ----------

I wanted to recommend you watch...FLCL.  I could have recommended a number of books or television series but I decided to recommend my favorite anime series of all time.  FLCL (or Fooly Cooly) is one of the wildest things I have ever seen--animated or otherwise.  The series features various animation styles throughout its six-episode run and one of the best soundtracks from a television series. The characters are fun and over-the-top even the dour and much-too-mature-for-her-age Eri Ninamori and the plot is something right out of a fanboy's dream.  I want to say much more but I do not want to ruin it for anyone even if it is fifteen years old.  Please, go and watch it!

2.269: Pitch Notes (03.21)

RECENT RESULTS:

Manchester United 1:1 Liverpool

Liverpool Advance 1:3 on Aggregate

UEFA Europa League | Thursday, 17 March 2016 | Old Trafford

Manchester United 1:0 Manchester City

Barclays Premier League | Sunday, 20 March 2016 | Etihad Stadium

Sporting Kansas City 1:0 Toronto FC

Major League Soccer | Sunday, 20 March 2016 | Children's Mercy Park

Notes:

Overall, I would say that it was a good week for my clubs.  Yes, Manchester United was eliminated by its bitter Northwest Derby rivals Liverpool from the Europa League but they were able to claim a massive result against another (in my opinion, more important) bitter rival Manchester City.  The 1:0 result that came courtesy of another Marcus Rashford goal put Manchester United just ONE point behind Manchester City for the all-important fourth UEFA Champions League spot.  Yes, Manchester United are technically in sixth place behind West Ham United on goal difference but being a point out from the Champions League is incredibly important with only eight matches remaining in the campaign.

As for Sporting Kansas City, one could not ask for a better start than three straight wins from the first three matches of the season.  Also, Brad Davis continues to endear himself to The Cauldron as he was responsible for the match-winner Sunday evening against a previously undefeated Toronto FC side that featured reigning MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco and the United States international (and sometimes captain) Michael Bradley.

Both clubs will be off next week for International matches so the spotlight will be on the United States men's national team as they head into a home-and-away pair of matches against Guatemala in World Cup qualifying.