In just days, the country will elect a new president. I’m excited for two reasons — a shattered glass ceiling and this nightmare of an election will be over.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll also be decking the halls, decorating our homes, visiting with families and friends for the holidays, and vowing to lose weight after eating and enjoying too much Halloween candy, Thanksgiving feasts, and delicious Christmas treats and cocktails.
I appreciate you checking out my random thoughts. As always, feel free to disagree, but do it diplomatically.
THIS IS HALLOWEEN!
THIS IS NOT — AND I REPEAT — THIS IS NOT HALLOWEEN!
I’m very confident that many of you reading my blog today will find this image as disgusting, disturbing, and tasteless as I do.
This is a “Halloween” display in Florida.
It just might be a coincidence that the homeowner is a supporter of one of the most outwardly racist presidential candidates in quite some time.
After the public outcry of seeing the effigy of two dark-skinned men hanging from a tree, supporters of the creative idiot behind this display replied, “it’s just Halloween”.
What? What kind of person looks at this as entertainment?
You know the expression, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Well, this is 32-year-old Rubin Stacy in Florida in 1935.
Is this just “Halloween”? White men and women coming around and gawking at the hanged body of a black man?
By the way, there were children on the right side of the picture witnessing this atrocity. I took the liberty of cropping them out hoping that they became more open-minded in their adulthood than their family and friends in this picture.
This is real life folks! This is what ignorance and intolerance looks like. This is the hate that still thrives today and these people are teaching the same ignorance to their kids and grandchildren.
This is not just Halloween! If that’s as creative as you can, then buy a lighted jack-o-lantern and put it on your porch!
“THE PURGE: ELECTION DAY”
I’ve been a fan of “The Purge” movie series since the first one hit theaters in 2013.
That movie with a budget of $3 million earned $89 million at the box office and the sequel the following year earned even more, $111.9.
“The Purge: Election Year” this year has ended up being the most profitable in the franchise making $118.2 million.
I wrote this back in March before the movie came out this summer, “the similarities to our real life election is ironic (and scary) — a blonde (although much younger) female U.S. Senator is running for president!”
If you’re unfamiliar with “The Purge”, it’s an annual, 12-hour period when all criminal activity, including murder, is legal.
While the original is still my favorite, I did enjoy this one and I’m looking forward to a fourth installment, which hasn’t been announced.
However, I did have a couple of issues with the sloppiness of the script.
It’s March in the movie, yet the trees are ablaze with fall colors (the movie was shot in New England in the fall). Oops!
And, when the presidential election is held in May, one candidate reaches the 270 electoral votes needed to win. Unless our election process changes in the next 24 years (since the movie is set in 2040), that countdown to 270 happens in November.
But, it’s Hollywood — and the future.
GRADE: B-
REDBOX WEBSITE
I love renting movies from Redbox. It’s very economical and I can take a chance on movies I might never watch and not break the bank.
However, the most recent changes to its website frustrates me.
It used to be that I’d click on the location I wanted to rent from and it would list just the movies available in that kiosk.
Now, when you click on a location, it lists the movies, but when you click on a movie, it’ll either pop up if it’s in the kiosk or have you choose a nearby location.
Go back to the old way. Just show me what’s available in the kiosk that I want to rent from!
TWEETERS CAN BE MEAN (AND FUNNY)!
We all know how miserable a lot of people are in life. You know how I know that we know? Look at the their posts on social media and the tweets they send celebrities.
Sadly, I’m a huge fan of Jimmy Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets”. “Sadly” because, like the celebrities reading them, I’m laughing at them, while at the same time, I’m thinking, “f**k you and get a life” to the people that send those tweets!
In honor of ABC’s “CMA Awards 50” this week, Kimmel had some of country’s biggest and brightest stars read mean tweets about themselves.
As usual, Dolly Parton handles everything with so much grace and humor. And, Cassadee Pope and Dan + Shay made me smile.
CALLING SAVANNAH HOME
A couple of months ago, we visited Charleston, South Carolina (during Hurricane Hermine) and Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia.
While in Savannah, I finally watched “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”, Clint Eastwood and Kevin Spacey’s 1997 movie about Savannah that didn’t make that big of a splash or its money back in theaters.
I even saw the Mercer House (now the Mercer-Williams House Museum), where Jim Williams lived, several times on my walks in the city.
I just read the book and I enjoyed it as much as I did the movie.
As writer John Berendt proclaimed in the book, Savannah is the “hostess of the South” and the first question a Savannahian will ask you is “What would you like to drink?”
In the few days that I was there, I could definitely see myself living there and enjoying the southern charm of the city.
Who knows? Retirement is only years away!
PET SHOP BOYS THIS WEEKEND
I’m very excited to see my first Pet Shop Boys concert this weekend in Chicago.
Yes, the Pet Shop Boys, from the 1980s. You know, “West End Girls”!
In anticipation for “The Super Tour”, I went back and listened to every album they’ve released since “Please” in 1986 and ranked my 20 favorite songs from Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.
I know most of you didn’t check out my blog when I posted it earlier this week, so here it is again for you!
Just click on it and make my day. I guarantee that you’ll find a Pet Shop Boys song that you’ve never heard and love it. You can thank me later. 🙂
If you click on that and listened to some of my picks, you now know they’re still producing amazing music thirty years later.
DAYA — “SIT STILL, LOOK PRETTY”
It’s been an incredible 18 months for 18-year-old Grace Tandon of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
We know her as Daya and it was in the spring of 2015 when she released her first single, “Hideaway”.
While it put her on the radio, this summer she topped radio airplay charts with “Don’t Let Me Down”, a collaboration with The Chainsmokers. (Sadly, it’s not on her debut album that I’m blogging about today and I don’t download “singles”.)
Daya’s first full length album, “Sit Still, Look Pretty”, came out in early October and it’s definitely one of my favorite albums of 2016!
If you turn on the radio, you’ll hear the title track, which is one of the ten most played songs in the country.
What I love about Daya, other than her voice, is her maturity and the material she choose for this album, as a teenager.
In addition to the two hits, my other favorite standout tracks are “Words”, “Back To Me”, “Cool”, “U12”, “Talk”, “Love of My Life” and “I.C.Y.M.I.”.
Several stations across the country are beginning to play “Words”, although it hasn’t been officially picked as the third single.
It has my approval!
HALLOWEEN & A PUBLIC SERVICE REMINDER!
My favorite Halloween costume this year comes from Brooklyn, New York.
This 8-year-old not only set out to get candy, but he’s also lining up votes for Hillary Clinton.
And, one of his moms, Deb, says that’s not a wig. Now, that’s a lot of hair!
Of course, homophobic idiots, internet trolls, and uneducated-Donald Trump supporters took this as an opportunity to bash the parents, the little boy, and Hillary, but all I can say about that is, “bless their hearts”.
Please vote Tuesday!
We have to keep Trump away from the White House! In doing so, we can send a strong message for him to get out of politics, too.
Good riddance Donald!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
I’m just days away from seeing my first Pet Shop Boys concert and I’m so excited. I’ve only waited thirty years for this.
Saturday night, I’ll be seeing Neil and Chris from the second row in Chicago, Illinois. I’ve never had concert tickets this close!
The “Super Tour” kicked off on my birthday (October 13) in Chile and the North American leg started in Las Vegas about a week later. It’ll continue through the end of November before moving to Europe.
Sadly, American radio audiences only got a sample of the brilliance of the Pet Shop Boys. The duo only charted six Top 40 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, but five hit the Top Ten.
Their chart run started with the #1 hit “West End Girls” in May 1986 and ended with the #18 smash “Domino Dancing” in December 1988.
That’s really sad because the Pet Shop Boys have consistently released incredible music in the past twenty-five years.
“Electric, which came out in 2013 was one of my favorite albums of the year.
Here’s what I wrote at the time: “Unless you’re a die-hard fan, many people think that when an act releases their twelfth studio album of original songs that the music may be stale. It’s also true that many artists play things safe and produce the same music they did when they released their first album. That is definitely not the case with “Electric”, the latest Pet Shop Boys album.”
And, this year’s “Super” is that and more.
In honor of Neil and Chris, here are my twenty favorites Pet Shop Boys songs (not just hits) so far. I say “so far” because I know there’s more incredible music to come.
“IT’S ALRIGHT”
“YOU ONLY TELL ME YOU LOVE ME WHEN YOU’RE DRUNK”
“RENT”
“HAPPINESS”
“I WANT A LOVER”
“WAS IT WORTH IT?”
“PAZZO!”
“NEW YORK CITY BOY”
“I WOULDN’T NORMALLY DO THIS KIND OF THING”
“AXIS”
“LOVE COMES QUICKLY”
“WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAMES”
“THE POP KIDS”
“VOCAL”
“THURSDAY”
“HEART”
“IT’S A SIN”
“WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?”
“ALWAYS ON MY MIND”
“WEST END GIRLS”
I’m ready to party with the Pet Shop Boys this weekend and “burn this disco down before the morning comes”!
October 2016 is history now and it goes down in the record books with temperatures over five degrees above average and as one of the fifteen warmest Octobers on record.
Now that November is here, we typically see big temperature drops from the beginning of the month to the end of the month.
We start the month with an average high of 57° and a low of 38°. By the end of the month, we lose about fifteen degrees.
The average highs and lows at the end of the month are 41° and 24°.
If you like extremes, the warmest November temperature in the Quad Cities is 80°, back on November 1st of 2000 and 1933.
The coldest November temperature for the metro area is -10°. That was set back on November 29, 1891.
In a typical November, we pick up 2.56″ of rain and melted snow. We’ve had as much as 6.77″ in November 1992 and as little as 0.18″ in November 1904.
As for snow, the average for November is 1.2″. We’ve had as much as 15.6″ in November 1974 and there were five years on record with not a flake of snow.
If you think back to last winter, it was an interesting one.
We picked up 9.9″ of snow on November 20th (2.9″) and 21st (7″).
That broke the record for the biggest two-day November snowfall in the Quad Cities.
However, after that, we only picked up 14.2″ of snow for the rest of the winter for a 24.1″ winter total in the Quad Cities.
The average snow for a winter in the metro area is 31.6″.
We’re up to the last weekend of October. It might be hard to believe, for some, that in the next couple of weeks, some radio stations will be switching over to continuous Christmas music. Bring it on!
Thank you for checking out my random thoughts and have a great Halloween weekend.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
It’s been a few years now since I last dressed up for Halloween. In 2010, we had a big Halloween party and I dressed as Lady Gaga at the 2009 MTV VMA show.
I even tortured my golden retriever, ABBA, by putting the wig and outfit on her, too!
This Halloween, for our morning show, a local haunted house, Skellington Manor in Rock Island, Illinois, took me and my co-anchors, Emily and James, behind the scenes.
To make the deal even sweeter, they made us up as a pumpkin, a broken doll, and a skeleton.
Thank you Jenn, our amazing make-up artist, and Penni, the owner of Skellington Manor and our hostess!
2016 ELECTION — HALLOWEEN STYLE
While some people just put out pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns at Halloween or for fall, some like to go all out with decorations.
And, some get creative. Check out this cool display in my neighborhood in Moline, Illinois. Incorporating this scary election season into Halloween makes it even better.
R.I.P. PETE BURNS
The world lost a creative force and an early LGBT ally this past weekend.
Dead or Alive lead singer and fashionista Pete Burns died of massive cardiac arrest.
For 1980s music fans, he was cutting edge, not only in dance clubs, but on the international pop scene.
While he and his band may not have achieved the chart success of other English acts at the time like Culture Club and Duran Duran, Pete endured and stayed in the spotlight long after radio hits became obsolete.
Mainstream America knows Dead or Alive from their two Top 40 pop hits, “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”, which reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 and the #15 smash “Brand New Lover” in 1986.
Both of those songs reached the Top Five on the Dance Club Play charts in America — “Brand New Lover” hit #1 for two weeks. They scored five other Top Ten dance hits.
Two years ago, I read Pete’s autobiography, “Freak Unique” and wrote this blog, which I’m happy to say, prompted a Twitter correspondence between the two of us.
Here’s that blog and it’ll open in a new window, so you won’t lose your place in today’s blog!
The season seven premiere slaughtered not only its competition Sunday night with 17 million viewers, but in the key demograpics (ages 18-49), it had a 8.4 rating! That’s higher than “Sunday Night Football”, “Empire” and “The Big Bang Theory”.
Ratings were also up 22% over the season six finale. I guess everyone had to tune in to see what main character was bashed to death by Negan and his trusted barbed-wire baseball bat, Lucille.
Well, thank God, Rick survived, but he’s definitely a broken man!
Oops, I should have said, “spoiler alert”!
I’m kidding. I’m not going to mention who died at the hands of Negan. However, if you’ve been online since Sunday night, there’s no way you could avoid knowing who died!
But, the brutal outcome didn’t really come as a shock to me. Here’s what I wrote in my “Random Friday Thoughts — August 5, 2016” blog about the show and the cliff hanger:
“We already know that a major character is savagely murdered. My guess is Abraham, but an online poll has Glenn at 36% and Abraham at 32%.
Here’s a thought: Why not shock everyone and just have Negan go completely batty and kill off TWO PEOPLE? We wouldn’t expect that!”
Surprise, two people died!!!!!!!!!!
The season seven premiere was the second most watched “The Walking Dead” episode ever. The most watched was the season five premiere with 17.3 million viewers and 18-49-year-olds demo of 8.8.
THE “WEEKEND UPDATE” VIEW OF RIGGED ELECTION
We’ve all heard Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s claims that this year’s election is rigged — because he’s losing in polls.
On “Saturday Night Live”, “Weekend Update” host Michael Che has an opinion.
He says it’s “weird” that Trump is just now pointing out that the system is rigged. Che says, “There were 43 white-male presidents in a row, then one black guy and maybe a woman and now you’re sensing a pattern of unfairness?“
Che goes on to add, “An old white billionaire is on TV arguing that the system is rigged, and my black ass is arguing that it’s not. This just feels wrong.”
His “Update” co-anchor Colin Jost adds his thoughts about how silly it is for Trump to accuse the media of rigging the election against him because he’s the greatest thing to come along for them.
Jost asked, who the networks would rather cover, “a grandma who loves secrets or a human air horn who screams every thought in his head and can’t swing his arms without grabbing a lady’s ass?”
“FREE STATE OF JONES”
War is brutal and this Civil War drama, based on a true story starring Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey, is no exception.
The opening scenes are ultra violent. However, it’s the racism of the 1860s that’s heartbreaking.
McConaughey plays Newton Knight, a Mississippi farmer that worked as a medic in the Confederate’s fight against the Union. He was opposed to slavery and became a deserter after the death of his soldier nephew.
The movie follows the plight to freedom before and after President Lincoln freed slaves.
As I said many times, the whole premise of the Ku Klux Klan, is so sad and disgusting and is such a disgrace to mankind.
GRADE: B
RACISM –THEN AND NOW
While the KKK plays a prominent role in “Free State of Jones” and in American history, it’s even sadder that a century after the Civil War, we saw how prevelant the KKK was in the South.
Hell, even now 150 years after the Civil War, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is still waging a race war. However, he’s not just directing it toward the African American population, there’s Muslims, and the list goes on and on.
Remember to vote November 8th for the future of America and tolerance. Send Trump and his group of deplorables* away.
*For the record, not all Trump supporters are deplorable. Many are just disillusioned with the political scene and mistakenly think that the change they want can only be brought about by this blowhard!
VOTE NOVEMBER 8TH!
This endorsement approved by me!
KELLY CLARKSON WAS A SNEAKY YOUNGSTER
Pop star Kelly Clarkson is working on new material and she says it’s some of her favorite.
She recently told “Entertainment Weekly” that she had to sneak and listen to anything risque growing up.
Kelly says, “I was only allowed to listen to Christian music and, funny enough. Reba McEntire, [whose songs are] all about adultery. I was definitely not supposed to listen to TLC or Madonna … and I definitely did.”
So, in honor of that, here are two of her “bad” influences, including her mother-in-law!
“REBEL HEART TOUR” COMING SOON
Last October, I was fortunate to see Madonna’s “Rebel Heart Tour” in Saint Paul, Minnesota and it was phenomenal.
It was my fourth Madonna concert (I saw the “Confessions Tour” in 2006 and the “Sticky & Sweet Tour” in 2008 in Chicago and “The MDNA Tour” in Las Vegas on my birthday in 2012.)
In December, the “Rebel Heart Tour” is coming to Showtime!
I can’t wait for the DVD release.
The 82 shows made $169.8 million with over one million attending the concerts across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
TOP SELLING SONGS OF 2016
It might be hard to believe that there are only nine weeks left in 2016. Maybe not since we’re already into the holiday(s) season with Halloween on Monday.
With that being said, here are the top five selling songs of the year, so far.
At #5 is Justin Bieber “Love Yourself” (1.76 million downloads), Drake is at #4 with “One Dance” (1.9 million downloads), Lukas Graham’s “7 Years” is at #3 (2.03 million downloads), Flo Rida’s “My House” is at #2 (2.14 million downloads), and the most downloaded song in 2016 at 2.16 million is Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop This Feeling!”.
Timberlake’s song is from the “Trolls” movie that hits theaters next Friday, November 4th.
CHRISTMAS INSANITY WITH MISS PATTI LABELLE!
While it’s not even Halloween, it’s the holiday(s) season.
With several major country Christmas releases coming out today, it’s time to move begrudgingly into the merry holiday.
We all know that Miss Patti LaBelle can command a stage, but here’s a flashback performance for the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony for President Clinton (Bill) in 1996 where the diva almost had a meltdown! 🙂
Ironically, “This Christmas” was the title track of her 1990 holiday album. You’d think she’d be a little more familiar with the song or, at least, rehearsed it some before hand?
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Ah, the weekend is here again and to kick it off, here are a few of my random thoughts.
I appreciate you checking them out and have fun this weekend!
LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY — THANK GOD!
Regardless of which candidate you support in this year’s presidential election, I’m sure most of us agree that we can’t wait for November 8th to get here so we can vote and put this long, nasty campaign behind us!
The three presidential debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are history and a CNN/ORC poll conducted after each debate shows that Clinton won all three by margins of 35%, 23%, and 13%.
After watching the first two, I decided that I could not and would not subject myself to another ninety minutes of watching an immature and unprepared old man act like a child.
And, did I call that one correctly? 21 seconds into video proves me right!
My summation: An adult is talking and a spoiled brat without manners interrupts and starts name calling. Said grown adult maintains cool – PRICELESS!
THE DEATH OF A CHILD BEAUTY QUEEN
This Christmas will mark the 20th anniversary of the shocking death of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey in her Boulder, Colorado home.
Two decades later, there have been no arrests, but there’s widespread speculation about who killed her and how and why she was murdered.
I just finished reading “Perfect Murder, Perfect Town” by Lawrence Schiller.
If you want to know more about the investigation instead of just the soundbites you remember from the news two decades ago, this is a well written and well researched book.
Here’s what I took away from the 600-plus pages: There were many dedicated and thorough detectives working to solve the crime, but the murder investigation (that was called in as a kidnapping) was pretty much botched from the beginning with police failing to secure the crime scene, there was a major disconnect between the Boulder Police and the district attorney’s office and this made each side look like amateurs to the nation and the world, and finally, that unless someone confesses one day, the case will never be solved.
JONBENET’S KILLER
Be careful who you accuse of murdering JonBenet.
On October 6, 2016, her brother, Burke Ramsey, who was nine at the time of her death, filed a defamation lawsuit against Dr. Werner Spitz, who accused Burke of killing his little sister.
Burke and his attorneys are seeking a total of $150 million in punitive and compensatory damages. They may also be filing new lawsuits against CBS soon.
Burke, now grown, agreed to an exclusive interview with Dr. Phil to talk about his life and sister’s murder.
While Burke, his family, and their friends should be presumed innocent in JonBenet’s death until proven otherwise, one thing that Burke is guilty of is being rather creepy and unnerving in the interview.
You’re talking about the savage murder of your little sister on Christmas Day and you’re sitting there smiling like you’re unstable or medicated. That’s just an observation. It was awkward.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?
No one really knows what happened Christmas night 1995 in the Ramsey’s Boulder mansion. No one, that is, but the killer(s).
But, as I mentioned above, almost everyone following the case then and now, have theories on who killed JonBenet. After reading Schiller’s book, I feel I know a little more than the average person following the murder. I definitely know more than I did twenty years ago.
I would love to throw out my theory, but I don’t want to be sued by Burke Ramsey or anyone else…
THIS IS A WORK OF “FICTION”
… so here’s a ripped from the headline, “fictional” treatment that could become a Lifetime movie.*
A family comes home from a Christmas party and before their two children go to bed, one wants a snack. While the older child is eating from a bowl of fruit, the younger sibling grabs a piece from the bowl and pops it in her mouth and runs off. The older child grabs a flashlight from the kitchen counter and a foot chase ensues. The older child strikes his little sister in the head with the flashlight. This blow is not intended to kill, but to put the younger child in her place. The parents put the children to bed, but realize that something is wrong when the little girl becomes unresponsive. At that point, instead of taking the younger child to the hospital or calling 9-1-1, they panic and stage a crime scene to cover up the accidental, unintentional death.
This isn’t far-fetched. I grew up with a little sister two years younger than me and we definitely had our fair share of arguments and fights growing up.
*The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
MARCO RUBIO, THANK YOU!
In the past, I’ve blogged about how much former Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio scares me because of his LGBT views.
While I still want to keep him at arm’s length, he has come around and spoken out on a couple of issues that Republican politicians and their supporters need to face.
First, Rubio is disputing Donald Trump’s claims that this year’s election is rigged.
Rubio says, “This election is not being rigged. There is no evidence behind any of this, so this should not continue to be said.”
And, finally, about the WikiLeaks smear campaign against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Rubio says in a statement:
Here’s what I had to say about Rubio in a blog earlier this year when he was still a contender in the Republican race for the White House.
Former Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Governor John Kasich also disagrees with Trump in thinking the election is rigged.
Kasich says, “Look, to say that elections are rigged and all these votes are stolen — that’s like saying we never landed on the moon, frankly. That’s how silly it is.”
MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK HEATHER MOONEY HER THOUGHTS!
“THE WALKING DEAD” FINALLY RETURNS
“The Walking Dead, one of the best shows on television, returns for its much anticipated seventh season Sunday night.
If you don’t already know by now, this is a mini-spoiler:
When the season six finale ended, baddie Negan and his barbed-wire covered baseball bat, Lucille, bashed to death a major cast member!
Director Greg Nicotero says this episode is “the most emotional episode I’ve ever shot.”
It’s about time to have Rick back again! (That is, if he’s not killed!) 🙂
HE WASN’T ALREADY “OUT”?
With all the allegations of sexual misconduct by several women against former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, I guess anchor Shepard Smith coming out as gay earlier this week is no big deal.
Personally, I thought he already identified publicly as gay!
It’s almost 2017 and a person’s sexuality should never be what defines them. Some may even ask, why should we care? It’s his business.
I think it’s important for people, even at Smith’s age (early-50s), to have role models if they feel they’re living a lie or can’t be themselves by staying in the closet.
Come out, come out! It’s freeing and it’s liberating.
Congrats Shepard!
THAT P-WORD AGAIN!
My favorite new comedian and satirist Samantha Bee drives home another winning commentary on the Donald Trump and Billy Bush recording!
You know the one that started the debate on kissing and grabbing whatever you want — if you’re a celebrity (or Trump).
Oh no! You’re going to hear the p-word again and according to Samantha Bee, that word isn’t “presidential”.
This is too funny and I’ve never even heard some of these expressions!
I sure hope Samantha is still as funny after the 2016 presidential election is over in just under three weeks!
MICHAEL BUBLE IS BACK (AND IT’S NOT EVEN CHRISTMAS)
For Michael Buble fans, it’s been a long wait for his ninth studio album (seventh major label release), “Nobody But Me”.
The three-and-a-half year wait is over.
While I enjoyed his early 2013 release, “To Be Loved”, the new album is fantastic!
My early favorites are “I Believe in You”, “On an Evening in Roma (Sott’er Celo de Roma)”, “Today is Yesterday’s Tomorrow”, “God Only Knows”, “Someday” (a duet with Meghan Trainor), and the title track.
Here’s the first release from the album. While I featured the lyric video some time ago, the “official” video just came out last week.
“WAITING IN THE WINGS — THE MUSICAL”
When it comes to mainstream movies, there are Oscar worthy ones, some great ones, and some that true turkeys (and not the Thanksgiving kind). You know the ones — the ones that remind you that you’ll never get those two hours of your life back.
It’s even harder to find those gems in the LGBT movie genre because there are fewer of them being made.
My favorites are still “Longtime Companion”, “Latter Days”, “Shelter”, “Make The Yuletide Gay” and “Lilting”, my favorite movie that I saw in 2015. (Okay, it has nothing to do with my innocent crush on Ben Whishaw!)
When I saw the trailer for “Waiting in the Wings: The Musical”, I thought it had potential to be funny. I also knew that it could easily leave the rails.
The musical is written and directed by Jeffrey A. Johns, who’s also the star.
Johns plays Anthony, a small town Montana man who lives for musicals (and Disney). He enters an online contest and heads to New York to make his mark on Broadway.
However, there’s a casting mix-up and Tony, a stripper (played by Adam Huss, who was also entertaining in 2010’s “Is It Just Me?”), gets Anthony’s role and naive Anthony has to learn to strip.
The movie also features Lee Meriwether in a touching and supporting role. Shirley Jones and Sally Struthers also make cameos.
I really fell in love with Rena Strober, who plays Rita, the lead in an Off-Broadway play. She gets to play sweet and catty, but most of all, her voice is incredible.
Yes, you have to suspend disbelief at times, but isn’t that why we watch movies?
My only complaint is that Rebekah Kochan is underutilized. She was so crass and so much fun in Q. Allan Brocka’s “Eating Out” movies.
GRADE: B
HE REALLY IS INVINCIBLE — EVEN IN DEATH!
Michael Jackson died more than seven years ago, but he’s still the top earning dead celebrity.
In 2016, his estate earned $825 million!
$750 million of that is from the sale of his half of the Sony/ATV publishing catalogue. Back in 1985, Jackson paid $47.5 million to buy the original Beatles-packed ATV.
At #2, with $48 million, is “Peanuts” (and Charlie Brown) creator Charles Schulz.
Golf legend Arnold Palmer came in third with $40 million.
Elvis Presley ($27 million) and Prince ($25 million) round out the top five.
“NASTY, NASTY, NASTY”
Okay, back in 1986, in my formative party years, we knew all about those “nasty boys” thanks to Janet, Miss Jackson, if you’re nasty.
Now, in 2016, in our increasingly all-inclusive world, we have a “nasty” woman (or maybe a few of them). 🙂
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
The weekend is almost here. You know I love my weekends and I start counting down to them when I walk into work Monday mornings.
I greatly appreciate you taking the time to check out my random thoughts. I think about a lot of things and writing not only gives me an avenue to express myself, but it gives me a chance to process all of the things that are happening in the world.
So, bear with me this week even if you’re over this year’s circus of a presidential election.
I also have random thoughts that are not about politics. But, I feel it’s worth mentioning.
As always, if you disagree with me, just do it diplomatically.
SECOND DEBATE HIGHS AND LOWS
Here’s a shocker — I’ll say a nice thing about Donald Trump.
He did better in last Sunday’s debate. However, he also did a better job of showing he knows nothing about the job of president!
When asked repeatedly about what he’d do in Syria, he ranted and raved for minutes without ever answering the question. I swear he thought they said, “cereal”. It confused him and he didn’t know what to say — like most of what he said all night!
He did have one nice thing to say about Hillary before saying he didn’t agree with much of what she said.
TELL HIM THE WAY IT IS!
My favorite celebrity tweet of the night came from Shonda Rhimes, the creator of “How To Get Away With Murder”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, and so many more ABC hits.
Look on the bright side, it’s all over in just a little over three week! Get out and vote!
SHE SAID WHAT(!) IN THE BEST QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Republican strategist and political commentator Ana Navarro made headlines last week in the wake of Donald Trump’s “Access Hollywood” secret recording degrading women.
In 2005, he was recorded boasting that because he was a celebrity, he could kiss anyone he wanted and could even grab their p***y.
In this video, Navarro shocked television censors when she stood up to Trump bobble head Scottie Nell Hughes.
Warning: This is not censored like my statement three lines up!
Kudos to you Ana. Speak the truth. Sometimes that’s harder to swallow for some!
EARLIER THIS WEEK, I HAD MUCH MORE TO SAY…
Since my thoughts here are random and I don’t want to write chapters, I posted a blog about the Donald Trump and Billy Bush scandal and what it meant to me earlier this week.
If you missed it Wednesday, here it is (if you click on this link, it’ll open in a new window and you won’t lose your place here.)
Since I posted that blog on Wednesday, I’ve gotten great feedback. Not everyone agrees with me, but we have that right. As I said above, you can disagree, just do it diplomatically.
ANOTHER BIRTHDAY
On Thursday, I celebrated another birthday.
It was a low-key affair. We’ll be celebrating with dinner and cake next week when my sister, Tammy, and Gretel are with us.
As I celebrate another year of life, I think back to my favorite birthdays.
Let’s see, there was my 50th, two years ago, sipping champagne at the Moulin Rogue after a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower after a dinner cruise on the Seine River. Thanks Ray!
After that, it was on to Tel Aviv, Israel, one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited.
In 2012, we were in Vegas and I saw Madonna on the “MDNA Tour”.
And, of course, I’ll always cherish my birthday in 2011. It was the last one with my golden retriever, ABBA, my best friend.
Finally, while I don’t remember it, here’s a photo of my first birthday celebration in 1965.
Not bad for a premature baby born six weeks early weighing only four pounds before dropping down to three pounds and spending the first six weeks of his life in the hospital!
LOBSTERS
No, I’m not talking about the movie, “The Lobster”, even though it was a great movie with Colin Farrell and Ben Whishaw.
This is about the lobsters that sadly find themselves one day swimming in the ocean and then on plates served with drawn butter.
I was reading an article in “Coastal Living” and I learned that regardless of their original color, lobsters turn red when cooked! The exception is the albino (white) lobster that remains white.
By the way, some other lobsters colors include red, yellow, blue, and blue-green. As you’ll see in this video, some of those are VERY RARE.
See, my thoughts are random!
“EMPIRE”
The cast of Fox’s “Empire” have something to say about the upcoming election.
But, where’s Terrence Howard????
COULD THE ELECTION BE RIGGED?
Donald Trump supporters definitely think so.
Full Frontal’s Samantha Bee sent two correspondents out to get to the bottom of the latest conspiracy!
As you see, this only applies if Hillary Clinton wins the election!
“THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN” — THE NOVEL
Back in my “Random Friday Thoughts — July 24, 2015” blog, here’s what I wrote about Paula Hawkins’ amazing debut novel, “The Girl on the Train”.
“This is a definite hands down, take the train, bus, car, bicycle, or whatever means necessary to pick up this book! Actually, you probably already have since “Variety” reports “The Girl on the Train” is the fastest-selling adult novel in history, having sold more than two million copies in the U.S. alone since it was published in January.”
In the book, Rachel is an alcoholic, divorced woman who becomes obsessed with a couple she sees on a regular basis from the train she takes into London.
One day, Rachel sees something strange that will trigger a series of events that will have you feverishly turning the pages to see what’s real, what’s not, and what really happened. It’s a page turner until the end!”
“THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN” — THE MOVIE
Last Friday, the movie adaptation of the book came out in theaters. It debuted at #1 in the United States with $24.5 million. It’s global opening weekend box office draw was $41.2 million.
From book to movie, the location was changed from London to New York City. This also meant that Rachel’s drink of choice had to be changed.
Sadly, there were no gin and tonics in a can on the train. I won’t tell you what her movie drink is — spoilers. 🙂
I sure hope when the Oscar nominations are announced in early 2017 that Emily Blunt’s name is on the list.
Blunt, as Rachel, was so compelling, sad, and heartbreaking. I teared up when she took her first sip on the train.
Haley Bennett (Megan) was also a strong force in the movie.
If you loved the book, you’ll love the movie. For me, it started out a little slow. That’s because I read the book. However, the pace quickly picked up.
If you haven’t read the book, this is one psychological thriller/drama that you’ll definitely want to see.
GRADE – “THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN” — THE MOVIE: A-
GRADE- “THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN” — THE NOVEL: A
“TIMELESS”
Time travel as a premise for a television series is not a new idea. The new NBC series, “Timeless” is the latest to take this on.
In the premiere episode, a time machine that the government was unaware of (shock!) was stolen by an evil man (Goran Visnjic).
A ragtag trio consisting of a college history professor, a soldier, and a scientist working for the company that created the time machine are brought together to track him down.
I admit that the promos and print ads featuring the very sexy Matt Lanter caught my attention first. I took notice of the show and its premise.
After the premiere, which took us back to 1937 and the Hindenburg explosion, and the second episode (Lincoln’s assassination in 1865), I’m hooked on the show.
It’s still early in the run, so you have a chance to catch up.
“HOLDING THE MAN”
This Australian romantic drama film was released late last year and is based on a 1995 memoir by Timothy Conigrave, an Australian actor, writer, and activist.
It tells the story of his life with his partner, John, from the time they met in high school in the 1970s to John’s death in the early 1990s.
It’s not too often these days to see a gay movie with a central plot line centered around AIDS. Today, it’s more about coming-of-age or marriage equality.
But, other than vital to their lives and the decades it covered, it’s important in 2016 to see this story line. People are still getting infected daily from HIV and people die daily from AIDS.
Younger men and women, whether LGBTQ or not, are becoming less familiar with the AIDS epidemic that took so many of our loved ones and friends in the 1980s and 1990s.
“Holding The Man” is not just a AIDS movie. It’s a love story and a touching one and the lead actors, Ryan Corr and Craig Stott, are adorable as a couple.
GRADE: A-
PICK HIT
Kelsey Waldon is from Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky, just down the road from where I grew up in Mayfield.
She was one of six artists that “Entertainment Weekly” featured as up-and-comers, ” The New Queens of Country” in a recent magazine article. Last week, I featured Margo Price.
If you like real, traditional country music, then you’re going to love “I’ve Got A Way”.
Listening to Waldon, I couldn’t help but imagine this collection of songs sung by another of Kentucky’s icons, Loretta Lynn.
So, until my favorite Kentuckian Patty Loveless releases another album, I’ll enjoy Waldon’s debut and maybe check out the newly recorded Christmas collection from Loretta Lynn, “White Christmas Blue”.
FINAL BIRTHDAY THOUGHTS
To all of you that took the time out of your day to send me birthday wishes, thank you very much. I appreciate each and every one and I hope I responded to all of you.
Here are a couple more that I got — one by mail and one by email. If you follow me on Facebook, you’ve already seen them! 🙂
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
As a presidential election draws closer, people wonder, especially candidates, what skeletons will come out of the closet and those skeletons have nothing to do with Halloween.
Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign started imploding last Friday afternoon when TMZ released an audio recording from eleven years ago when Trump was talking to Billy Bush for “Access Hollywood”.
In the very damning recording, Trump made crude comments about Bush’s colleague, the show’s anchor Nancy O’Dell.
Trump said, “I moved on her, and I failed. I’ll admit it. I did try and f**k her. I moved on her very heavily… I moved on her like a bitch. But I couldn’t get there. And she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything. She’s totally changed her look.”
So presidential! And, don’t even start to respond, “that was eleven years ago and he wasn’t running for president”. You really think that the then 59-year-old man has grown up and now respects women?
That was just the beginning! Trump went on to say that because he was a celebrity, he could kiss anyone he wanted and could even grab their p***y.
It’s a sign of the times that after last weekend, that crude word for female genitalia is now mainstream and I could have just spelled it out with the ***.
BILLY BUSH SHOULD BE FIRED!
In full damage control mode, here’s what Bush had to say about the leaked audio conversation, “Obviously I’m embarrassed and ashamed. It’s no excuse, but this happened eleven years ago—I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I’m very sorry.”
I’m sorry. What was that? At the age of 33, being “younger, less mature” is an excuse? You should have the developmental skills as a man and professionalism as a journalist to know this was wrong way before 33!
At first, NBC didn’t feel the same way I do about punishment for Bush.
He wasn’t even going to be reprimanded. However, Sunday night, NBC suspended Bush from the “Today Show”. It’s now unsure if and when he’ll return!
As Donald would say on his old show, “You’re fired!”
NOW, WHAT TO DO ABOUT TRUMP?
If you’re a Donald Trump supporter, did that “Access Hollywood” recording bother you?
Trump made matters worse during Sunday night’s presidential debate when he apologized, but quickly dismissed those comments as “locker room talk”!
I guess I didn’t spend enough time in locker rooms to know that.
All I know is that having money or being a celebrity gives no man entitlement to grab someone’s daughter, granddaughter, niece, or neighbor’s p***y!
Every damn one of us is related to a woman and they should not be subjected to Trump’s version of “locker room talk”!
It’s scary!
THIS STORY GOES ON AND ON…
Many people are still defending Trump.
However, two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro isn’t one of those people and he didn’t hold back on how he feels about Trump.
On Saturday, Oscar winner Jon Voight, a staunch Republican and Donald Trump supporter lashed out at De Niro in a series of tweets, especially about De Niro wanting to punch Trump in the face.
Here’s the one I have issues with and I tweeted back at him.
If you followed the time line, that recording of Trump and Bush took place in September 2005.
Nancy had just gotten married that summer to her current husband, Keith Zubchevich.
How do you think Nancy and Keith and their children feel today about having to hear this crass and crude “locker room talk”?
Jon Voight, how do you think a rape victim, woman or man, feels?
Yes, Trump’s words do hurt people!
Donald Trump, politics aside, you’re a disgusting, narcissistic, creep that should learn to respect people — not just women.
That respect could start with self-respect and loving yourself.
And, Billy, you were already married at the time when you were laughing along with Trump.
I hope your wife forgives you and I hope you work very hard to make it up to your three daughters.
A strong cold front will bring us the coldest air so far this season.
Before the front arrives, temperatures are starting out well into the 60s.
Showers and thunderstorms will become more widespread as Wednesday progresses. Those showers will exit early this evening with clearing skies overnight.
With diminishing winds tonight, lows will drop to around 30° across our far northern hometowns and into the low-to-mid-30s in the Quad Cities.
A “Frost Advisory” and “Freeze Warning” has been issued for much of eastern Iowa and parts of northwestern Illinois Wednesday from 2-9 a.m.
If you have some plants you want to save, you’ll want to cover them this evening or bring them indoors.
October is here and I’m excited that cooler days are in the forecast and the holiday seasons are right around the corner. (Notice I said “seasons”? While Christmas is my favorite, I do love my Halloween candy and the Thanksgiving feast!)
Now that the summer heat is giving way to fall temperatures, we’ll probably be eating fewer Popsicles.
But, it’s always the perfect time for ice cream!
As political as I get sometimes, I admit that I really want November 8th to get here and have this long, drawn out election cycle and 2016 presidential election behind us.
Thank you for taking the time to check out my random Friday thoughts and as always, if you disagree, do it diplomatically!
CREEPY CLOWN SIGHTINGS
I’m not sure what’s behind this sudden fascination with creepy clowns showing up and freaking people out.
I’d venture to guess that social media and 24-hour news cycles are huge factors for us hearing so much about it. Aren’t those two always to blame? 🙂
When it comes to creepy clowns, this is the creepiest by far! On the brighter side, this particular “killer clown” in no longer a threat to anyone.
If you’re too young to know, that’s John Wayne Gacy, a serial killer and rapist that murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978 inside his Chicago-area home. Let me tell you, as a teenager when that killing spree was exposed, it creeped me out big time.
A decade or so later, I had a “too close for comfort” brush with Jeffrey Dahmer. That’s a story for another time!
KIM KARDASHIAN ROBBED AT GUNPOINT
Reality star Kim Kardashian West was reportedly robbed at gunpoint earlier this week at her Paris hotel residence by five men dressed as police officers.
While she was “badly shaken but physically unharmed”, it had to be a scary ordeal!
At least $11 million in jewelry was taken including a jewelry box worth about $6.7 million and a ring valued at $4.5 million.
Unless I win the lottery, I’ll never know what it’s like to have that kind of money and anything of that much value in my house.
The thing that baffles me most about the ordeal is that if someone had that much money or jewelry, wouldn’t you keep it at a safer location like a bank or a vault?
In Kardashian West’s case, if she wanted any particular piece of her collection that was safely tucked away, she could have someone fetch it for her!
MAGIC MIKE MISFIRE
I really enjoyed “Magic Mike”, but I hated the sequel.
Now, James Marsden reveals that he regrets not signing on for the movie.
Well, that makes two of us. Okay, three if you count Ray and I know the number doesn’t stop there!
With that in mind, if Marsden is still up to strip down, this might actually excite me for a third installment!
“FEAR THE WALKING DEAD” SEASON FINALE
The second season of AMC’s “Fear The Walking Dead” wrapped up last Sunday night with back-to-back episodes for a two-hour finale.
While the first season’s six episodes were slow, it was still enjoyable. However, the second season was stronger and much more powerful.
The finale featured one of the most intense “walker” deaths of the series. It was a wrenching scene that lasted beyond the comfort level and that’s a good thing.
We also saw one of the show’s original cast members die. While the death may not have come as a surprise, how it was executed was a shocker to me. I tweeted the actor about his amazing two seasons and he liked the tweet.
While I gave the season and the finale a high grade (see below), I have a complaint.
It’s becoming monotonous when the characters disembowel a walker and smear the blood on themselves now that they’ve learned they can walk freely among the walking dead by doing that.
This is much more believable and is done with more intensity on “The Walking Dead”. And, it isn’t overused as a gimmick.
If “Fear The Walking Dead” is going to keep doing this, why not make it a “chore” and each day for several hours, people can go out, get exercise, and rid themselves of the walker population in their area. But, this would be boring.
That’s my only complaint and I can’t wait for season three in 2017.
GRADE: A-
“THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN”
After what seems like an eternal wait since I read the book, “The Girl on the Train” finally hits theaters this weekend.
I’ve highly recommended the Paula Hawkins book several times in my blog and I can’t wait to see the movie, which I think will easily debut at #1 in the U.S. and at worldwide box office.
“WILL & GRACE” TAKE ON VOTING
If you miss the NBC hit comedy, “Will & Grace”, you got a treat around the time of the first presidential debate.
The cast gathered ten years after the comedy left television to raise awareness on the importance of voting in this November’s election.
This is hilarious (and even borderline offensive to some).
Disclaimer: it’s definitely not made for NBC’s “standards and practices”!
A LESS “BRAGGADOCIOUS” LOOK BACK
Comedian Randy Rainbow takes a much different approach to last week’s first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
I think this is the best skit I’ve seen him perform.
“MONEY MONSTER”
This Jodie Foster-directed suspense thriller starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Jack O’Donnell (“Unbroken”) was high on my list to see this summer when it hit theaters.
Life got in the way, so I caught it on DVD.
I’m glad it worked out that way because I wouldn’t have been too happy if I had spent $35-plus for tickets, popcorn, and sodas.
Don’t get me wrong. I’d watch Julia Roberts read the newspaper.
The story was intense and the way it ended was fulfilling, but I had higher expectations.
I guess most of all, I want to see Foster back in front of the camera!
GRADE: B
“RISEN”
This movie about the search for a risen Jewish messiah (yes, Jesus) was a modest box office hit earlier this year.
The $20 million movie grossed $46.1 million and most of that was here in the United States.
It was an entertaining movie without being too preachy for those that proceed with caution with religious-based movies.
The very sexy Joseph Fiennes plays Clavius, a Roman tribute, assigned to investigate the story of Jesus rising from the dead. By the way, Jesus is played by Cliff Curtis, who plays Travis on “Fear The Walking Dead”.
One thing that cracked me up was the silly MPAA rating at the beginning of the movie.
For this one, it warned viewers of “Biblical Violence”.
Okay, while implied more than glorified with blood and gore, the movie was rather savage, at times, and violence is violence. Putting the word “biblical” in front of it doesn’t make it less painful or deadly, right? 🙂
GRADE: B-
PICK HIT
I admit that since I don’t hear any new music from my country favorites on the radio these days and I’m not a fan of “bro-country”, I don’t make it a point to listen to the genre.
However, Canadian country music star Brett Kissel is one of my new favorites even though he doesn’t get airplay on American country radio.
Recently, “Entertainment Weekly” showcased several women making inroads in the country music field. Two of them stood out to me.
Margo Price, who was born in Aledo, Illinois, in Mercer County, just down the road from the Quad Cities, is one of them.
Her debut album, “Midwest Farmer’s Daughter”, which hit #10 on the Billboard Country Album chart earlier this year, features some great country music.
“4 Years of Chances” is a favorite of mine.
Next week, I’ll feature another standout and if you like traditional country music, you’ll love it.
ANOTHER PICK HIT
As I’ve stated before, “7/27”, the latest CD from Fifth Harmony is a great album.
It’s already produced the #1 hit “Work From Home” and the smash “All In My Head (Flex)”.
“That’s My Girl” is their latest release.
Right now, it’s at #36 on the Top 40 radio airplay charts.
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 