It was so nice sharing some of my “Random Friday Thoughts” last week. It was even better that it was read and well received. For those of you that took the time to check it out, thank you!
As I always say, if you disagree with me, that’s fine. Do it diplomatically!
With that being said, my first thought today may not sit well with some. Don’t take it out of context, so read it all before you comment! 🙂 And, don’t take it personally!
Have a fantastic weekend!
STIMULUS CHECKS & UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
While I’m expressing my displeasure of how misaligned the pandemic unemployment compensation program is, I’ll cut it short in light of what’s going on now in America.
There have been a couple of times in my life that I collected unemployment and let me tell you, the checks are NOT enough!
Since unemployment benefits are only a fraction of what you’d make by working, people living on unemployment alone find it hard to make ends meet.
But, now, with the pandemic unemployment compensation program, it’s become a joke and I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t tick me off!
With an additional $600 a week on top of the unemployment checks, there are people not working that are making more money than essential workers working through this pandemic!
I know people that are benefiting from this financial windfall, so please use the money wisely!
I’ve worked through this entire pandemic and it’s a little upsetting that I’m clearing less on payday than some of those out of work!
People should NOT be making more money by staying at home than they would be making if this had never happened and they were working!
If this ever happens again, the pandemic unemployment compensation program needs to regulated better! On the positive side, I’m happy taxpaying Americans got a stimulus check!
Okay, I’m off my soapbox!
“HANNIBAL” IS NOW ON NETFLIX!
There are several topics that I’ve written about extensively over the past eight years: Hillary Clinton, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Christmas, food, travel, and “Hannibal”.
What? Yes, I mean Hannibal Lecter and the NBC television series that ran for three season!
Well, after all this time, it’s now on Netflix! So, please, binge watch and see what you (and America) missed during its original run.
So, why should you watch it? Here’s what I’ve said about the show in the past:
April 3, 2013: “From the trailers, I feel that NBC is definitely pushing the envelope with the network’s standards and practices department with the gore and violence. But, then again, this is a story about serial killers and a cannibal. This isn’t Disney!”
April 5, 2013: (after seeing the premiere episode): ” it was incredible, gory, suspenseful, and psychologically stimulating.”
February 28, 2014: “If you didn’t catch this incredibly creepy, gory, and complex series, you’re missing out on great drama and television.”
I’m not alone! This is what “Entertainment Weekly” wrote about the season 2 premiere. (By the way, it gave the season two finale an “A-” also!)
May 16, 2014: “NBC’s ‘Hannibal’ is without a doubt one of the best shows on television. I’m so thrilled that the network has enough faith in the critically acclaimed, but severely ratings-challenged drama to renew it for a third season.”
August 14, 2015: “This was definitely one of the most intelligent, thrilling, artistically creative, and well acted shows on television. Maybe it was too intelligent!”
“THE POLITICIAN”
I loved season one of Ryan Murphy’s “The Politician” and I can’t wait to see season two, which premieres June 19, 2020, on Netflix.
Jessica Lange is mesmerizing as white trash conniver Dusty Jackson!
(Here’s the trailer to season one, so I don’t spoil anything for season two!)
And, I’ve said it before that in “another place and time”, I could see being married to star Ben Platt! 🙂
Here’s a Ben Platt extra — “The Rain” — check out that voice and those moves! 🙂
“HOLLYWOOD”
After watching season one of “The Politician”, I thoroughly enjoyed the seven episode series, “Hollywood” (also from Ryan Murphy).
It’s based on Scotty Bowers’ book, “My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars” and the documentary “Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood”.
It’s a very honest and risque look into Tinseltown. It’s amazing that it was so open about “homophobia” and “racism” in Hollywood back in the heyday! (Oh hell, who am I kidding? It’s still rampant today!)
Another bold move for the series was having the mesmerizing Patti LuPone, at 71-years-old, in a lead role.
She plays the wife of a studio head that ignores her at home — in every way — so she hires a young, hot escort!
Their small talk on their first tryst definitely gets “three snaps in a z-formation”! (Quickly scroll past the LuPone GIF if you’re easily offended!)
JACK (David Corenswet): “You want an honest answer?”
AVIS (LuPone):
Now, I’m finally watching all 154 episodes of “The West Wing”!
STILL WATCHING…
I had free HULU for a week this spring, so I watched 20 of the 36 episodes of “The Handmaid’s Tale”.
Elisabeth Moss and Ann Dowd are amazing and even though he’s not a nice guy, Commander Waterford (Joseph Fiennes) is so hot!
And, Max Minghella (Nick) is so beautiful in the f***ed up dystopian world of “Handmaid’s”!
“CHROMATICA”
If you’re ready for some fun dance (and disco) music to brighten your days with all of the unrest across the U.S. and the Covid-19 pandemic, Lady Gaga’s new “Chromatica” fits the bill!
My favorite songs on the album are “Free Woman”, “Fun Tonight”, and “911” (makes me think of Murray Head’s “One Night in Bangkok”)!
My other favorites are “Alice”, “Sour Candy” (with the South Korean group Blackpink) and “1000 Doves” — in addition to the first two hits, “Stupid Love” (#5) and “Rain On Me” (#1) with Ariana Grande.
And, I hate to admit that the duet with Elton John doesn’t do much for me, which is shocking since I love both artists! (It was a good song until the last 15 seconds — epic fail to an otherwise decent song!)
Please tell me that when “Enigma” comes on that it sounds like she’s saying “I’ll be your enema” instead of “enigma” if you’re not really paying attention! Maybe it’s just me. 🙂
GRADE: B
However, if the album only consisted of the first ten songs, I’d give it an “A”. But. the last part of the CD brings the grade down!
LADY GAGA JOINS AN ELITE GROUP OF WOMEN
With “Chromatica” debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, it becomes her sixth chart topper!
This places her in a five-way tie for fourth place among women with Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift.
Janet Jackson is in third place with seven #1 albums, Madonna is second with nine, and the leader is Barbra Streisand with eleven!!!
Jay-Z leads men with 14 chart toppers and the Beatles lead all artists with 19 #1 albums.
HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY “LOVERS”
One of my favorite Kylie Minogue songs turns 10 years old this week. It’s definitely one of the sexiest, button-pushing videos ever!
Due to its erotic nature, the video was banned or censored in many Asian countries including Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia!
Kylie says, “I think, yes, it’s sexy but I also think it’s very touching and sensual and the message is love.”
While the song reached the Top 5 in many countries, it only hit #1 on one chart — the American Dance Club Songs chart! Go U.S.A. deviates! 🙂
The video has been viewed more than 24 million times! 🙂
ALSO READ…
Three books I’ve read this spring on my walks around Lake Decatur are 2004’s “Chasing The Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer” by David Reichert.
It covers the notorious serial killer that targeted young prostitutes in the Pacific Northwest.
Also, there was 2009’s “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” by Seth Grahame-Smith — a parody novel/mash-up of Jane Austen’s 1813 classic, “Pride and Prejudice”.
My favorite line in the book was from an annoying character that I prayed would be devoured by zombies! No such luck! 😦
“I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in – and I am sure my dinners are good enough for her, since she is an unmarried woman of seven-and-twenty, and as such should expect little more than a crust of bread washed down with a cup of loneliness.”
So catty! Meow!
And, I read “Julie & Julia” (2005) by Julie Powell, which is based on real life.
Many of you know of this book from the 2009 movie starring Oscar Best Actress nominee Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams as Julie Powell.
“TALKING TO GIRLS ABOUT DURAN DURAN”
I also finished Rob Sheffield’s humorous look of growing up in the 1980s and how the music ( “best.music.ever” — my description of the 1980s) shaped his life.
DURAN DURAN
Since the book is more about the music and the decade rather than Duran Duran, here are a couple of pictures I took when I saw them on the “Paper Gods Tour” in Las Vegas in 2016.
Here’s a snippet of my 4th favorite Duran Duran song, “The Wild Boys”, live from that concert!
And, here are my three favorite Duran Duran songs!
“HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF“
“THE REFLEX”
“IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW?“
DURANNIES, YOUR FAVORITE?
Let’s hope this doesn’t start World War 3, but who was/is your favorite?
For me, it’s Roger Taylor!
He’s followed by Simon, John, and Nick. Sorry, Andy!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Anthony
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 