Random Friday Thoughts — April 15, 2022

As we head into the weekend, some of you are shopping to prepare your Easter feast, some may be coloring eggs and putting together baskets, and others just waiting until Monday to get half-price candy!

Whatever your plans, have a great weekend and thank you for checking out my random thoughts!

HAPPY EASTER!

A flashback to 2001 with Miss ABBA, my golden, as a puppy!

Have a fantastic Easter weekend. I’m be enjoying a feast with my sister. She’s making the meal and I’m making a fun flavored cheesecake. I’ll share a photo next time!

A FUN EASTER THOUGHT

AND, A SERIOUS EASTER THOUGHT

“ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY” IS DEAD!

It’s a sign of the changing times: print (magazines, newspapers, and books), music (digital), and movie (on demand and digital) media is changing and I don’t like it.

I still love to read books and magazines by holding them. I still love to rent movies from Redbox kiosks and I want my favorite movies and series on DVD.

“Entertainment Weekly”, my favorite magazine for decades, started sounding the death knell when it went to once a month in its magazine form.

While it didn’t shock me, I got a notice earlier this week that “EW” will no longer be published and they’ll fulfill my subscription with “People” magazine.

“EW” will still be available online and on social media formats.

“DEXTER: NEW BLOOD”

While many fans saw “Dexter: New Blood”, the ten episode limited series (or the ninth season, but they don’t want you to call it that), in its Showtime run beginning in November 2021, I just watched it on DVD and it completes my “Dexter” series in that format!

You know I don’t believe in spoilers, so I’ll be very careful in my comments. And, if you comment, don’t spoil it for others late to the game!

In August 2021, I wrote: “‘Dexter’ originally ended after eight seasons in September 2013. After 95 great episodes, the series finale was a DUD! By the grace of God, we’re getting another season of ten episodes this fall and winter to make up for that finale! Showtime’s president of entertainment Gary Levine earlier this week said, ‘For me, it’s a revisiting of Dexter and a proper finale for a brilliant season.'” (I gave that eighth and final season a grade of “B” and wrote in 2014, “If the finale hadn’t been so silly, I’d given it an A-.”)

Well, Levine was right about “Dexter: New Blood”! It was a “brilliant season” and a great “proper finale”.

By the fourth episode, I had a theory in place! I was right about what would happen. However, I had the roles wrong! After a certain scene in the final episode, I correctly called how it would end!

It was great seeing Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) again and, this really isn’t a spoiler, Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) as the “dark passenger” instead of Harry (their dad) from the original run.

Jack Alcott as Harrison Morgan was great.

He’s come a long way from how we saw him in the season four finale!

GRADE: A

WELL, SAM IS SORRY!

About a month ago, I expressed that my lovefest with actor Sam Elliott was over after his homophobic and sexist rant on a late February podcast.

I’m still okay with him not liking Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog”, but I took offense to him referring to Benedict Cumberbatch and others in the movie as Chippendale dancers, “who wear bowties and not much else… that’s what all these fucking cowboys in that movie looked like. They’re running around in chaps and no shirts. There’s all these allusions of homosexuality throughout the movie. Where’s the Western in this Western?”

Last Sunday, while promoting his new project, Elliott apologized to Campion, the cast, and his gay friends that have always supported him, “I mean my entire career, from before I got started when I was in this town. Friends on every level and every job description up until today… I’m sorry that I hurt any of those friends and someone that I loved. And anyone else by the words that I used.”

Well, Sam, thank you for apologizing. It may take a little more enticing.

No, silly, not that kind. Maybe getting together for a drink or two (with Katharine, too, of course) would help!

“RED ROCKET”

Simon Rex plays Mikey Saber, a washed up porn star, who returns to his hometown of Texas City, Texas, because he has no other options.

Director Sean Baker brings the same dead end feel to this movie with his characters just trying to make it through the day and life as he did in “The Florida Project”.

Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son are both amazing as the estranged wife and a teenaged girl Saber seduces at the doughnut shop, respectively.

GRADE: A-

“THE FLORIDA PROJECT”

Here’s what I said of Baker’s last full-length movie, “The Florida Project” in March 2018. It ended up being my 14th favorite movie I saw in 2018.

“This movie about people down on their luck and finances living in a “project” (The Magic Castle Motel) in Kissimmee, Florida (near Walt Disney World), is sad and incredible.

The real star of the movie is Brooklynn Prince, who plays 6-year-old Moonee.  She’s spectacular for a child actor expressing a happy childhood of not knowing just how bad things are in her life.

Bria Vinaite, is great as Moonee’s white trash mother, Halley.

My sister and I grew up in a bug-infested apartment and we didn’t have much during our childhood, so I could definitely relate to this movie.

Willem Dafoe earned a “Best Supporting Actor” Oscar nomination for his role as Bobby, the manager of the motel.”

I gave the movie a “B+”!

GLORIA GAYNOR DEFINITELY SURVIVED!

“I Will Survive”, Gloria Gaynor’s #1 worldwide hit, became an anthem for women and gay men after its late-1970s release.

Thanks to the incredible Kylie Minogue, Gaynor, the 78-year-old music legend, is back.

“Can’t Stop Writing Songs About You” is the third release from Minogue’s late-2021 release “Disco: Guest List Edition”.

Both women look and sound amazing. Get ready to dance around your living room!

It’s hard to believe that Gloria Gaynor only scored two hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Grammy Award-winning “I Will Survive” topped the chart in March 1979 and her first hit, “Never Can Say Goodbye” reached #9 in 1975.

“Goodbye” was first a #2 Hot 100 smash for the Jackson 5 in 1971, a #22 hit for Isaac Hayes that same year, and a worldwide Top Ten hit (#2 on the Billboard Dance Club songs chart) for The Communards in 1987.

It’s still one of my favorite hi-NRG songs, so I’m sharing it here, too, because I’m sure many of you might never have heard it!

“BLUE BAYOU”

This underrated gem is one of the most touching and heartbreaking movies I’ve seen in a long time.

While not a “true story” about one person, it’s a true story compiled from many people’s lives that were torn apart by the immigrations practices in the United States.

It was my #7 movie I saw in 2021.

GRADE: B+

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!

Anthony

Random Friday Thoughts — May 14, 2021

It’s already the middle of May and before you know, Memorial Day and the “unofficial” start of summer will be upon us.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my random thoughts.

PANDEMIC PETS

I saw a sad story that a large number of pets bought or adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic are ending up in shelters now that people are heading back to work!

I’ve heard this about rabbits at Easter and Santa bringing pets to family that underestimate the amount of love and attention it needs.

How sad and tragic! 😦

#PUG20-SOMEDAY

As you know, #Pug2020 was pushed back to #Pug2021 with the pandemic. Since it’s already May, it’s looking more likely that it’ll be #Pug20-SOMEDAY.

Since I’m waiting to move into a more modernized apartment in my complex, the pug is on hold.

Plus, now that I’m vaccinated, I want to travel some when more of the world is vaccinated!

SO, TO HONOR PUGS (& THE CARPENTERS…

AND, MY FAVORITE THE CARPENTERS SONG

VACCINATION RATES

Here in the U.S., we’re doing great. 35.8% of Americans are fully vaccinated and 46.9% have at least one shot.

In Illinois, 35.3% are fully vaccinated and 49.7% have one shot down!

However, worldwide vaccination rates pale in comparison. Only 4.3% are fully vaccinated and 8.7% are halfway there. 😦

MORE TRAGEDY IN INDIA

Earlier this week, dozens of bodies were found floating down the Ganges River in eastern India as the country battles a heartbreaking surge in coronavirus infections.

While authorities don’t know the cause of death, 71 bodies were retrieved from the river Monday night alone!

A local official, Surinder, in Ghazipur says, “Due to the shortage of wood, the dead are being buried in the water. Bodies from around 12-13 villages have been buried in the water.”

Overall, India has had the second highest number of confirmed cases with over 24 million and over 262,000 deaths. Experts say the real figures are likely much higher!

The United States still leads the world in cases (32.8 million) and deaths (584,000+)!

ON A BRIGHTER NOTE… “SCHITT’S CREEK “

I was late to the party, but I finally got around to binge watching “Schitt^$ Creek”. OMG, it was too funny!

Every cast member is excellent, but my favorites were Catherine O’Hara (Moira Rose), Annie Murphy (Alexis Rose), and Emily Hampshire (Stevie Budd). Okay, I absolutely loved Alexis!

This was my favorite, favorite, favorite Alexis moment. I won’t say what happened just before this to illicit this response, but I watched it time and time again. LOL

Of course, the comedic timing of the Levy family: Dan (David Rose), Eugene (Johnny Rose), and Sarah (Twyla Sands) was vital to the show’s success.

And, the addition of Noah Reid (Patrick) and his romance with David made the shows even sweeter. I absolutely loved when David performed Tina Turner’s “Simply The Best” for Patrick. (This’ll have to do since YouTube doesn’t have the video!)

And, then Dustin Milligan (Ted Mullens)

and Steve Lund (Jake) made the Schitt’s Creek experience even sexier! Oh, you just gotta love humor and eye candy!

One of my favorite Moira lines: “David, your inability to retain information that doesn’t directly pertain to you might actually require medical attention!”

Speaking of David, we have things in common.

My two favorite are Mariah Carey and our love of eating!!! And, we could have a third if any of you know a “Patrick” in his 40s or 50s in Central Illinois! 🙂

The six-season series is on Netflix.

RIP NICK KAMEN

Unless you spent time in dance clubs in 1986, most of you probably haven’t heard of Nick Kamen.

The English singer and model died last week at the age of 59 of bone marrow cancer.

His only hit in the U.S. was in 1987 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart when “Each Time You Break My Heart” made it to number five.

He had his friend Madonna to thank for that.

She recorded a demo of the song, but passed it on to Nick.

“Each Time” also reached the Top Five in the U.K. and to the Top Ten in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden. 

However, here’s how many of you that were obsessed with MTV back in the 1980s knew Nick — from his modeling days with this Levi’s 501 commercial.

Last week, Madonna remembered her friend with this tweet:

“THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT”

I mostly read biographies, autobiographies, and books on real events. However, I deviate into fiction sometimes.

And, I normally like to see a television or movie version based on a fiction book first. (Reading “Hannibal Rising” before seeing the movie spoiled that for me. Or, maybe the movie version of “Hannibal Rising” was just bad!)

Yet, I just read Chris Bohjalian’s 2018 book, “The Flight Attendant”, and it’s incredible.

An alcoholic flight attendant wakes up in Dubai after hooking up with a hot man in first class on her flight.

The one night stand or doing the walk of shame would be the least of her problems. She wakes up and the bed is covered in blood! His throat has been slashed and she can’t remember what happened!

Did she do it????

It’s now a HBO Max series that was renewed for a second season (expected in late 2022).

Since I don’t have HBO Max, I haven’t seen it. But, read the book.

“THE ROAD TO JONESTOWN: JIM JONES AND PEOPLES TEMPLE”

Jeff Guinn’s 2017 book was a concise and compelling read.

Here are some final things Guinn shared that you might not remember or have known:

Jones’s personal physician and Jonestown’s doctor Larry Schacht had been working to perfect a cocktail of Flavor Aid, tranquilizers, and potassium cyanide to make it taste less bitter.

When Jones asked one of his girlfriends in his inner circle, Maria Katsaris, if it was quick, she said yes and then lied, saying “it’s not supposed to be painful at all.”

Yet, in “The Poisoner’s Handbook”, Deborah Blum writes, “The last minutes of a cyanide death are brutal, marked by convulsions, a desperate gasping for air, a rising bloody froth of vomit and saliva, and finally a blessed release into unconsciousness.”

This all led to the Jonestown tragedy where more than 900 of his followers were poisoned with that cyanide-laced Flavor Aid drink. (One-third were children that were killed first and found at the bottom of the mass of people.) 😦

PARTING THOUGHTS

Even today, people don’t recall any of the good that Jim Jones did before he became delusional and a drug addict.

What people remember is “not drinking the Kool-Aid” when it comes to religious leaders and institutions and politicians and their fanatical views.

Sadly, it wasn’t even “Kool-Aid”. It was the cheap imitation, “Flavor-Aid” — just like Jim Jones was a cheap imitation knockoff of God!

ANOTHER NICK KAMEN FAVORITE

“I Promised Myself” from 1990 was another one of my favorite Nick Kamen songs.

It reached #1 in Austria and Sweden and the Top Five in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!

Anthony