If you stream using a Roku stick, then you know the home page is a moving animation of "Roku City," an animated landscape featuring iconic references to our favorite movies and shows, which changes with the seasons, new streaming debuts, and paid commercial ads (like Capital One or Coca-Cola).
Your job, as the viewer, is to name as many and it is your job, as the viewer, to name as many as you can.
On the Roku Theater Marquee, though it is usually a premiere of a big box office movie now streaming, when someone in the entertainment world dies, they often give tribute here.
Today's tribute is the most iconic line that Patrick Stewart uttered as Captain Picard from Star Trek - "Make It So." 🥲
This, of course, means "Make it happen."
Thus, with this election week coming up, let's remember Patrick by saying "Let's DO this, fellow Dems - MAKE … IT … SO!"
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PS - I have seen the resurfaced clips of him dressing down James Cordon, praising his harshness with Cordon onstage as "owning him."
However, IMO, that wasn't Patrick's finest moment - and the only time I know of where I think he publically acted an ass - and neither came out of that looking well.
Patrick later apologized to James for that, having imbibed too much liquid courage.
I think it was meant to be a sort of humbling of James Cordon, whom we all watched get a little too big for his britches, who became infamous for being very nice to the biggest celebrities in the room, but snubbing or being rude to the "nobodies."
I think that's essentially what Patrick was trying to say that night, because you can hear it in his overall message to him.
Patrick can't stand that sh*t - because he was a very direct, genuine person and can't stand phoniness or arrogance in celebrities, especially the younger ones.
Also, though not public knowledge and his children never spoke on the matter, Patrick himself said his greatest regret was being an absent father for his children, being overly obsessed with work and that he was paying for it now.
I think coming from a household with Domestic Violence, he initially had difficulties with knowing exactly what a father and husband were supposed to be and only knew how to work as escape from home life.
So ... when we lost Dolly, we could not find a flaw.
With Patrick, though rare flaws appeared, he always apologized for them and took responsbility.
Only the bravest and best of men are capable of that.
In fact, I had just put him in my post about people from the UK I'd like in my neighborhood that I was working on and he was on it already.
Ironic that he died after a "brief battle" with Lewy body dementia - because his character on Star Trek, Captain Picard, struggled with an incurable brain virus that caused a more slowly progressing dementia that they couldn't fix even in the 24th century.
In fact, in the show "Picard" on Paramount a few years ago, he actually dies from this and heart issues, but his consciousness is transferred to a "golem" or clone body, which also dies in the last season, until Q brings him back.
So all of these years, we thought that Q - played by John de Landis - was an annoying, troublemaking, sometimes cruel superior life form/alien, who just popped up whenever he felt like it just to annoy Picard, just because he could.
Picard seemed to be his favorite toy and he'd invariably show up at the worst possible times - and he had the ability to stop time or create time travel and torture Picard with regrets.
HOWEVER, in the very last episode of Picard, Q finally reveals that although he's not God, he IS a special breed/highest order of "Watcher" (angel) assigned to watch over humanity (though there are other watchers over other alien life forms), who is both in awe of humans and disgusted by them, but can do nothing to them without higher council approval.
He reveals the reason he has done all to Picard all these years is because he has been training Picard to become a Watcher assigned to watch over humanity himself, having been one - as the higher council believed Picard was among the best of us humans and we needed him, but they had to test him during his worst moments, including ridding him of a human's worst fear - death.
At least that's what I recall, it's been a few years.
Very cool spiritual-esque ending, right?
Very much a departure from Star Trek, which unlike Star Wars, left little to no room for God or spirituality or "magic" - and thus many didn't like the "Picard" series, but I did.
Everything was still explained by science, to include Q himself, basically an energy form that can take whatever shape it wants and use any wormhole to get anywhere, anytime, and can stop, create a ripple in, or reverse time, for the group or just for one individual, like a practical joke, and then heckle humans about their reactions to it, if he likes.
So in the end, Star Trek allows for the intersection of science and spirituality, essentially explaining that it's all just a matter of perspective - in other words, spiritual matters can be explained by science - but does that make them any less spiritual?
Regardless, Picard becomes a Watcher over humanity - how I wish that were true - for both the character and the human playing him, Patrick Stewart, right?
Regardless, thank you, Captain, Godspeed - watch over us well - on to new frontiers ...
PS - And yet, God?
Not sure what's up lately, but it seems like you're taking all the wrong (white) people!?!
They have been the closest thing we've had to angels on earth in one way or another - we needed them during these trying times - but okay, have it your way. I guess.
On the other hand, I'll try to remember the entire point of the arc of Picard's story that I just mentioned above -- "some things are blessings in disguise" - either to keep that person from suffering more or to prevent others from suffering, either now or in the future as a result.
(Not everything, but some things).
Hoping that's true, I know a couple of things in my life has been - I just wish more had been? lol
And it's a cool thought that loved ones watch over us after they pass.
Now, before I tell it, you need to know that when FCPS bought the old Lexmark building, they found black mold and had to clear it before they could move in and it's tested every year no - which very well COULD explain this.
Nevertheless, here's what happened ...
So Mark was working late and went to the 3rd floor to get some supplies, which have to wind through a bunch of cubicles to get to.
He went in the supply closet and was loading a cart, when he hears a woman's laugh/giggle from one of the cubicles - first one on the left outside the supply closet.
He wasn't scared, he just thought "Oh, someone else is working late, I better step out and let them know I'm here so as not to scare them."
Instead, HE was the one who was scared - because THERE WAS NO ONE THERE.
Not at first, though - he thought they must've gone to get coffee or use the restroom.
So he goes back to loading his cart and then senses that someone is behind him.
Again, he wasn't scared, thinking whoever it was just returned from the bathroom or getting coffee.
So he turns around, just in time to see a shadow figure of a person, which disappears within seconds!
So then he starts frantically going around the floor looking for somebody, anybody to explain it, going "Hello? Anybody here?"
Nope - there was no one there at all - and he checked the next day to see if anyone worked late!
So he called me just before coming home and goes "Some freaky shit just happened ..." and proceeds tells me.
He says he's not going to tell anyone else because he hasn't worked in this department all that long and is afraid they'll think he's nuts.
I said "Well, it could be power of suggestion with Halloween, but ya never know, maybe they HAVE experienced something? Halloween is the perfect time to tell these stories, though, so you have a good excuse lol."
He stays for another hour to do his work and nothing else happens.
Today, he decides to tell the coworker that he's closest too, Corey, Halloween being a good excuse to tell spooky stories.
So Corey says he hasn't experienced anything himself, but others have - and they call that area"The Mousetrap."
When asked why, he said he thinks it's because the way the cubicles are arranged like a maze.
Then Corey tells him to tell their boss, S, who has her own story.
They walk to S and Corey says to Mark, "Okay, tell S what you just told me, your building ghost story."
So Mark starts, and S interrupts him and says:
"Wait, before you start this story, let me guess where you were to prove my own - The Mousetrap on the third floor, right? First cubicle on the left of the closet." (It was.)
"People think we call it that because of the cubicles - and we do - but there's a second reason - because of what it used to be when Lexmark owned it."
"After my own experiences there, I did some research on this building. No one has died here, for sure, but the third floor USED to be where Lexmark stored printing and other chemicals. You had to wear a special suit to enter. Some people reportedly did develop cancer later."
"Also, as you already know, that's where they found the black mold that delayed us moving in 5 years ago."
"Thus, the REAL reason why some of us call it The Mousetrap - once exposed, you can't leave or what? lol "
"Twice, I could've sworn somebody was standing there, but when I looked up, it was a shadow person that disappeared within seconds. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Never heard anything though. It must like you lol."
Great, so ... my husband is hallucinating from residual black mold or old chemicals OR some giggly entity not of this world is in that space has a crush on him - and these are my choices?!? 😂
Insert prayers of protection or talisman here. 😂
So I have a friend that lives in Wisconsin that I met in school who is an avid Brewers fan.
She and her hubby and kids are going to the parade tomorrow.
(Yeah, good luck with having anyone show up for work and school tomorrow, Wisconsin 😂)
I told her to have fun, but be safe - from drunks, mass shooters (wear flak vests maybe?), and from ending up on the national news.
Scratch that - if they end up on the national news for just, like, celebrating, then call/text me immediately.
If they set are involved in like, setting something on fire or are twerking on a lamp post or something, then really, I don't want to know. And I saw nothing 😂
Just kidding - she would never do that. I think. But people do weird stuff when their teams win, as we know full well from living in Lexington and if UK even makes it into the final four, stuff gets crazy, and there WILL be couches and cars on fire or overturned/thrown out windows, climbing up on lamp posts and twerking or swinging off them, and mass injuries with ER visits 😂
In fact, if you Google "Fans setting stuff on fire after win," Google gives you New York after the Knicks won and several instances in Lexington, Kentucky after UK won.😂
(Ah, I'm so proud of the fact that we apparently have so many pyromaniacs here, using UK's wins as an excuse to be destructive.)
Nevertheless, Congratulations! Have fun, Wisconsin!
It's taking something we all know exists, especially in Kentucky, but pretending it doesn't anyway.
(It has nothing to do with her feelings about horses, by the way, she's just making a point - hilariously.)
Even funnier are the comments underneath the Reddit post ...
'
My favorite ... 😂😂😂
This one needs explanation ...
So the ginger ale brand "Ale-8-1" is made here in Central Kentucky. Like our basketball team, people love it and are very protective of it and get crazy if you diss it.
(I admit, I'm not a fan, but don't tell anyone or they'll run me out of town with pitchforks and torches.)
Neither is my husband from Detroit.
He likes ginger ale, but it HAS to be Vernor's made in Detroit.
He only wants it when he's sick or for the Christmas tree (drink up, merry little tree, nothing but the best for you!) - and we could previously only get it at Meijer (although I think Kroger sells it now too.)
Now, if she makes one about Kentucky basketball, she will not just get her car keyed or run out of town, but likely tarred and feathered as well on the way out! 😂
As you know, I've been laid up a bit again after having increased pain last week and discovering I had 4 broken ribs instead of just one (and of course, the vertebral fracture.
Thus, lots of binge-watching.
I just now caught the latest episode of Abbott Elementary.
So I knew that country line dancing adopted the electric slide and put a country spin on it - but who knew you could do the electric slide to the very white Coldplay's "Viva La Vida?"
I admit, I am among the stereotypically white audience of Coldplay lovers - but I also love the electric slide, and never even considered putting the two together.
Apparently, it can be done - I guess - hahaha! 😂
Hahahaha! I ... guess that works?
Though we LOVE Jacob, and he's LGBTQ, sometimes he can go a little white-savior nerdy lol.
He's at his best when he lets his predominantly black audience help him lead (and make these boring school meetings and assemblies more fun)!
So .... my husband just told me he doesn't know what the electric slide is and has never done it.
Wait, WHAT?
How is that even possible?
He's from Detroit?
It's done at every wedding, every barbecue, every club at least once ( think, though it's been a while since I've been to a club), every ... everything - because it's so easy everyone can do it at they're own pace and with their own style.
You can dip deep and hop on your spin or you can just do it slow and slow and smooth and cool.
Then I remembered that he was deployed for most of the 90s and missed that whole period of music and dance and when we met, we were past the age of friends' group weddings, and our kids or nieces or nephews weren't of marriage age yet.
So he asked me if it was a line dance, like a country one done in Nashville.
Well?
Yes and no.
The electric slide came out first, and it originated from the American Caribbean Black /Latino community - white country line dance just, um, borrowed (appropriated it) and put a country spin on it.
Speaking of which, black and Latino and LGBTQ people don't mind you enjoying their music and culture and maybe even putting your own little spin on it, nor does LGBTQ - as long as you give them credit and don't pretend you originated it - and most importantly - don't enjoy their stuff, but then turn right around and vote against/otherwise crap on their community.
Also, you need to be clear you're not doing it in a mocking way, and also be deferent and grateful about it, like in a "Thank you for teaching me this" sort of way.
There's a lot of black vernacular that has become popular in our culture in general and there's a debate about whether white people should be using it. And it's also the language of LGBTQ and there's overlap!
So is it appropriation?
Some say yes, others say no.
I admit, I use a lot of it myself - but there is something to be said to how you grew up and who you surround yourself with.
I grew up in a multiracial charismatic evangelical church in Cincinnati.
Also, my parents are Kentucky blue collar, and I've lived in the South for 37 years - and there's some overlap there as well - and I equal parts white friends and people of color.
However, perhaps the most influential to me "coming up" was that I was a Gleek in high school and thus, after I left evangelicalism, they the LGBTQ community embraced me and I was an early public adopter/embracer of the LGBTQ community during the advent of HIV/AIDS.
Also, in addition to being a gleek, I worked in in the restaurant business all through college and as supplemental income all throughout my adult life, and if you do that, you will invariably work with people of different races, ethnicities, and LGBTQ, there's no avoiding it - they will likely become your best friends!
(To the degree that if I had to work exclusively with other straight, European-heritage, overprivileged white people now, not only would I not know what to do because I don't fit neatly into that box, either, but I'd likely also die of boredom and lack of spice.)
Point being, you tend to incorporate the language of the people around you as you come up - creating a sort of personal mix of all your influences, right?
Case in point, use of the word "Girl" - which originated in Southern black culture, with overlap by the LGBTQ community, and now used in general vernacular, especially in the South - has become like the new "Dude" for people of all races (though I say both because I've had different influences and friend groups I came up with).
You can say it as a term of endearment, like "Girl, listen to THIS" with your besties, including your male gay friends.
Or you can say it in a "WTH are you doing?' kind of way, like "Girl ... No."
It's short, but it makes a point very quickly and with tone alone.
(You never want to use it in formal situations, though, like with your boss or your mother-in-law. 😂)
Back to the origin of electric slide, point being, the dance actually began in the black-Caribbean community.
Specifically, it caught on with this particular song "Electric Boogie" by Marcia Griffiths ...
She recorded it in 1983, but it didn't catch on until the video in 1990.
When you heard this song in the 90s, you HAD to get on the dance floor and do it, because everyone CAN do it, at their own pace, from age 5 to 95!
Though they do a more complicated version in the video, the typically done electric slide is in a video at the bottom.
I did it at clubs and parties and backyard barbecues in the 90s, but it's become a staple at weddings - at least cool ones.
While white weddings were doing the chicken dance (which I hate, by the way - white people, please stop doing it at your wedding unless your guests request it 😂), black people did the electric slide - to the degree that now, all races usually include it at their wedding because everyone can do the electric slide at their own pace,
Regardless, it's very sad that my husband has never done the electric slide and this must be rectified immeeeeediately - as soon as I'm all healed up! 😂
For now, I showed him this tutorial video - which starts with the boring basics, which you CAN do that way, but they increasingly add the personal spice, which is what makes it fun!
I think I said once on here that the new form of protest should be dancing, in my opinion - specifically, the electric slide or the cha-cha slide - and other people had the same idea and it's catching on!!!
This one is a public protest of utility rate hikes, changing the words of "Electric Boogie" to specific situational protest language, performed by all races of all ages ...
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