Redemption is Sweet: Nathan Chen Takes the Gold :)

I've been a little busy, this week, because somebody's 60th birthday is coming up, this weekend.  Now, who could that be?  Just some guy I know ...  ;)

However, I did just catch the replay of Nathan Chen's free-skate performance in this morning's news feed, sealing the gold :)

After a disappointing performance in PeongChang in 2018 (although he did still manage to become the first Olympic skater to land a quad flip), the Quad King has redeemed himself, and then some - fulfilling the vow he made at 10 years old to take home the  Olympic gold!

You can watch his final free-skate performance, sealing the deal HERE (the video isn't available to embed and share here yet).

If you haven't watched Nathan Chen before, you'll note that he's a stronger athlete than he is a "dancer" or performer on the ice - but it's those difficult quad combinations and the height he achieves on his jumps, to perform that many revolutions, that rack up those points.  

You can have all the stage presence, dance and crowd-pleasing performance skills in the world - but if you can't do the difficult jumps and stick those landings on ice, better to become a stage dancer instead, because fuggetaboudit, when it comes to bringing home the gold. 

'Atta boy, Nathan, we're so proud of you! 

 PS - Especially an accomplishment, considering the COVID situation, and I understand that there is some controversy over the way athletes are being treated that test positive for COVID, the conditions they're being placed in, in quarantine.  

I understand that we have to keep people safe, and I'm all for precautions, masks and vaccines - but they're not prisoners - in fact, they're the world's best athletes - but it is communist China. 

(Anti-mask and anti-vax people, take note - it could be much, much worse for you -  you could be in Communist China during COVID.)

If these reports are true, I'm in hopes there will be consequences from the Olympic committee, and that they will more carefully consider  whether holding Olympic events in current China is a good idea, in the future. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife ...

 

... just finished watching it - and I loved it :)  

Not as good as the first one, but nothing is  - nevertheless, it was a fun walk down memory lane, for us 80s kids :)

Ray, Peter and Winston are there - with Egon in "spirit" (courtesy of an actor, makeup, and CGI).

In fact, the entire movie is a beautiful tribute to Harold Ramis (and yes, I admit it, I teared up lol).

Directed by Jason Reitman, the son of the original director, Ivan Reitman (who coproduced this film), he got as close to the feel of the original Reitman camera angles and 80s "doodley-do" mystery music during scenes.

It's funny - though a movie buff, with a great memory, there are very few movies that I actually remember seeing at the theater, and who I was with, growing up - but one of them was the first Ghostbusters :)

I remember who I was with for what movie and where, for the last 25 years or so, of course, but not every movie while growing up - but the other ones that I remember who I was with and the theater, etc., are the original Star Wars Trilogy (all three, my sister, Kim and Jackie, Margie, and Kim and Jerrie-Lynn), Raiders of the Lost Ark (Darlene), Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (Michele C),  E.T. (Darlene) Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Anthony),  European Vacation (Lissa H),Christmas Vacation (Brian C.) and Batman Returns (Scott S).

(Only one of those was an actual date, actually - once upon a time, before a lot of stuff happened in life, I had a lot of both girl and guy friends, back in the day lol.)

I think those were memorable because the theaters were packed and the audience really reacted loudly, they really laughed out loud and/or cheered for the characters versus some others - or maybe because I just really loved those movies? 

Anyway, I remember it very clearly - I saw the first Ghostbusters my freshman year of high school, with my BF, Heather P - both of us just cheering and laughing hysterically :) 

(FYI, not the same Heather mentioned in the Anne Frank post, that was Heather M, who was a year younger, and whom I didn't meet until my junior year - I had two BFs named Heather in high school ;)

I can't even remember the last time I laughed at loud or cheered at a movie at the theater.

 I think it rarely happens anymore that the theater audience reacts  loudly, like that, to the screen anymore - we just sort of sit there and chuckle, maybe one person in the back says "woo hoo," but no one ever really cheers.  

I don't know if that's a commentary of the quality of the movies or of us, but going to see movies at the theater used to be like an event you looked forward to, it was a fun, interactive thing to do.

Then again, I barely can remember the last time I watched a movie at an actual theater, thanks to COVID lol (I think it was Jordan Peele's "Us" in 2019?)

I hate to sound like my grandparents, but it's true - we don't make 'em like that anymore, or at least it's rare - the winning combo of both a good story AND special effects, that also makes you laugh out loud :)

PS - Watch for Sigourney Weaver in the mid-credits at the end, and make sure to watch the scene at the end of the final credits - and yes, she and Peter are still together, married in fact (says the ring on her finger) ;)

Go India Arie (VS. Joe Rogan, Over Repeat Use of the N-Word)

So as mentioned previously, in this post from two days ago, artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell either gave ultimatums or explicitly asked their music to be pulled from Spotify.

We knew that India Arie also pulled her music, but at the time, she said Joe Rogan was "problematic for reasons other than COVID."

She made a video on Twitter, to clarify.

In a nutshell, India says that although she supports people pulling their music off Spotify over his anti-vax misinformation, her decision was based on what bothered her personally even more - his repeated use of the N-word - 24 times.

Now - note she that she said she fully supports his right to free speech, and she's not giving an ultimatum or asking others to boycott - she simply just asked for her own music to be pulled, as a personal choice, exercising her right to disagree and to freedom of speech/expression - over his repeated use of the N-word more than his anti-vax remarks.

She explained further that music artists only get paid 0.003% of the Spotify's profits for their music on Spotify, and Joe Rogan was given a $100-million contract for his podcasts, and that she no longer wanted any of the company profit from the sale of her music to go towards Joe's contract - so she asked them to take her off Spotify.


To be fair, considering he appeared to really listen to Neil Young and responded with what seemed like a sincere apology, that he didn't have to give -  because more people than ever subscribed to his broadcast to find out what all the fuss was about -  promising to include actual science experts on his show, as well as adding an advisory - I also listened to what Joe Rogan had to say in response to India Arie.

(FYI, I always try to listen to what both sides have to say for myself in full anyway, rather than trusting anyone's subjective interpretation of what was said or events ;)

Basically, this time, he responded with an "apology" - that really wasn't ...

 

 In fact, I turned it off after about a minute, because he was all over the board, contradicting himself - he just doesn't get it.

Because first, he says use of the word was taken out of context.

Then he says "There's no context in which a white person should ever use that word." 

Then he goes back on it again, to semi-defend himself again, by saying he was often quoting Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor, or discussing usage of the word. 

Erm - again, you are not black, Joe - and these comedians are.

Secondly, in some of those clips, the context was actually that he was defending using the word, in certain circumstances, i.e. when quoting someone else or like Quentin Tarantino's scripts (which actually were a bone of contention and the subject of controversy in the black community).

IMO, people of color shouldn't even be using that word for each other, either, at this point (especially considering house slaves sometimes referred to field slaves with this derogatory term), because the word brings back a lot of pain, for a lot of people - but white people should definitely never use this word, in any context, because they were the originators of this derogatory term, based on the color of your skin alone, and it's a painful reminder.

Additionally, upon researching further this supposed "missing context," it appeared to me that most of this "missing context" was actually what he's doing now - still trying to semi-justify use of the word in certain circumstances - though there IS no justification for using the full word.

These points that Joe Rogan argues are coming from a place of ignorance and white privilege, he doesn't get it - and it doesn't appear that he really wants to, so it's not likely that he will ever get it.

He also says that he now understands never to use the word, and hasn't in several years.

Erm - I was taught from birth, from my mom (who isn't exactly the most woke person, she's pretty racially clueless - but this one, she was right on) never to use the word and never have.

(I've since used lots of other words, my mother told me not to use lol - but I honest-to-God have never in my life said the full N-word.)


Because I was taught that it was the most demeaning, disgusting, hateful, arrogant word in the English language and reminded everybody of slavery (which I wasn't actually fully educated on until later).


Now - I'm one year younger than Joe, initially raised in white-privileged suburban Cincinnati, and later in Kentucky, by a racist father and a racially clueless mother.

If even I understood why, as a white person, never to use this word in any context - how is it that you didn't know, Joe?

Also, why were you ever, at any time, defending use of the word instead of trying to help get rid of its use?

My racist dad said it, often, and in fact, I remember some neighborhood friends offering me money to say the word, and I refused.


Now - generally, I tend not to feel that most words are "bad," unless they're an insult -  but even with those, different English cultures place varying weights on these words.

For instance, in the UK, a "sod" is a mild insult, usually accompanied by a the word "poor" before it - i.e. "the poor sod,"  to  make it sound like empathy, but it's actually an insult.

For Americans, this phrase is used a bit like  "bless his heart" is said here, in the American South, about a clueless person, to sound like empathy, to cover an actual insult.

Regardless, the word "sod" means nothing at all, here in America, except soil lol.  

Also, "bloody " is a mildly bad word in the UK (more just rude/crass), but the word has no meaning here in America at all. 

Also, the F word carries less weight in the UK, than it does in America, it's not considered as offensive, because there are worse "swear" words you could say in the UK.

Even in America, we can't agree - some Americans consider "crap" a bad word, others don't.

I avoid certain words out of personal taste/distaste preference, and to be appropriate and respectful, but I largely think it's stupid to label simple words, which exist to communicate and express, as either "bad" or "good."


HOWEVER, the N-word is the exception.

Though we may find other words personally distasteful, crass, or inappropriate -  IMO, the N-word is the only truly "bad" word in the English language., because of its origin and history.

 In fact, though I often give people more of the benefit of the doubt much longer than I should, if a white person ever uses the N-word, in any context, that's all the information I need to immediately know that they have a truly selfish, greedy, ugly soul, and I want nothing more to do with them.


There is no appropriate situation or context for that word, it's always insulting, and it always stops dead further conversation, in an uncomfortable silence, as if someone dropped a bomb in the room.


So to me, though I find other words personally distasteful, only the N-word is truly a "bad" word in the English language - truly disgusting and offensive, and I cringe any time that anyone uses it, white or black.

Now - before I come off sounding like some kind of self-righteous saint for refusing to ever in my life say the N-word, even when the neighborhood kids offered to paid me   - I still was initially raised in a place of ignorant, white privilege and implicit racial bias.

So what I did do, unfortunately, was after sneaking and watching "Roots," being horrified and profoundly affected by it - later, at age 10, my friend and I recreated in pretend play some scenes from "Roots"  - in Afro wigs and blackface :(

I know, right?

In my 10-year-old mind, I was trying to empathize and identify with the characters in Roots, and only later, did I understand that there is  no context in which blackface is okay - none - even if you think you're trying to empathize and help people of color.

Because the truth is, when you, as a white person, say the N-word or dress in blackface, regardless of the context or your intent - they're not hearing another word you said - because they're in pain, from an old deep wound - as if someone just punched them in the stomach.

I had forgotten about this, until about 5 years ago, this friend showed me a picture of us - and I was horrified.  

The picture looks especially bad, because my character looked really angry at my friend's character, though both of us were in black face and wigs.

Trying to remember the context, I think  that I had also since read "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and we were sort of mixing the two stories for our play story, trying to depict how we thought house slaves treating field slaves like lesser beings wasn't helping the situation,  that they should be in unity - as if that situation was simple to sort out.

Yes, I know - again - no.

I had no true idea, at that point, of the complexities of  that dynamic, what people had to do, trying to survive, especially because of skin color - so I had no business doing this, and I didn't get it (until later).

Though no one saw this re-enactment but the two of us and her mom, who took the picture - and I know she knew why we'd done it and she'd never show the picture to anyone else (because it makes her look just as bad as me)  - I felt horrible :(

So I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize for that - I'm so sorry for any pain or perpetuation of the problem that could've caused -  just know that I'm ashamed of it.

Though there is no defense, just to explain, just know that at the time -  in my 10-year-old mind - I cluelessly imagined that combined private play of "Roots" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was coming from a place of deep respect and empathy.

Lastly, also just know that I know better now, why it's still painful, regardless of intent or context, and would never do that again -  and that I still learning, working daily to look for and rid myself of any residual residual white-privilege/implicit racial bias ignorance :(

Nevertheless, we all are a product of an institutionalized system of implicit racial bias and have more to learn.

However - the difference is what we do after we understand how much pain it brings others. 

The first group is those of us who, after understanding why it causes pain,  now understand, apologize, and are now "woke" - we truly feel remorse and would never do it again.

Then there are people who know these things bring of pain to others, they just don't care - because their right to "free speech" is more important (unless it affects their following/paycheck ;)

Which group are you in? 

Unfortunately for Joe Rogan, his explanation dips in and out of both categories, but appears to ultimately fall in the latter group.

Because above all, it's become clear that  Joe Rogan will do what's best for Joe Rogan, his wallet, and his fight to stay relevant, after his one-hit wonder supporting-cast TV role in the 1990s, and a UFC announcer -  regardless of the pain and/or loss of life it has brought to others. 

Some Post-Ice-Storm Visitors :)

So we had an ice storm, yesterday, which layered what we call "black ice" on the roads (ice you can't see because it's so clear), followed by a light snowfall on top (making it extra dangerous) - but this morning, some nature babies dropped by for some food :) 

These two are still pretty young, very playful - and I like to believe they're Miss Gibbley's babies (though likely not).

As you may have read, in September 2020, my husband found Miss Gibbley on road, having been hit by a car, after having giving birth to two babies a couple of months prior, which she used to bring to our balcony with her to eat.

There are a few other squirrels that drop by on occasion, too.  These two, in particular, are very well mannered and patient, like Gibbley - but only Gibbley had no fear of us.

She would literally eat out of my hand, lay stretched out on the balcony rail with me and take a nap, in the summer,  when I was sitting outside, and she would literally come to the French door windows and scratch twice, then run up on the balcony and wait for me :)

She was the prettiest, smartest, sweetest, friendliest squirrel - she was such a  comfort, during COVID lockdown, after Snuggy Pug passed away in late March of 2020.

Miss you, Snuggy Pug and Gibbs :(

But, so as not to end on a sad note, we enjoy all our visits from all of our nature babies, courtesy of the big birch tree near our balcony :)

True Story: My Husband's Confrontation with Trump-Supporting "Kentucky Kroger Karen" Today lol

As I've said, I don't like to use the term "Karen," because even though it's often true, we have no  male equivalent, though plenty of men act this way, too - mostly white males in the Republican party ;)

And yet there are true women Karens out there - and sometimes, the shoe fits.

This time, however, the shoe was on the other foot - my husband was the one asking for customer service assistance, after he admittedly made a mistake, just to see if anything could be done.

We're about to have an ice storm, this afternoon, so my husband was rushing around this morning, trying to make sure our horse was set, and went by Kroger's for a few items in case we're stuck in for a day or so. 

 He went by a different Kroger than we normally go to, Chinoe (pronounced "Shin-uh-way," believed to be Native American ) Kroger, which although is smaller and less busy, it's also in a wealthy, white, conservative part of town.

Unfortunately, he realized he left the bag with chicken in it at Kroger's.

He immediately called the store and the lady at the customer service desk was completely rude.

Now truth be told, my husband, being from Detroit, has less patience with rude people than I do (unless I have a migraine lol), but I don't blame him on this one.

Rude Kroger CSR: "Well, no one's turned anything in, so you're out of luck.  You need to check your bags or cart before driving away."

 

Mark:  "Yeah, I know, you're right, I was in a hurry, with the ice storm coming, but I literally just left, you can check the time on my receipt - any way we can check the cash register or the carts? I was at the third one from the left." 

"I'm on my way back, right now, to look myself, but maybe you could do a quick scan before I get there, and if you find it, hold it for me before someone else gets a free chicken?"

 

Rude Kroger CSR:  "No."

 

Mark:  "No?  No, meaning you won't hold it, or no, you won't check? Did you seriously just say no?" 

"Okay, I literally just left the store.  I'm just asking you to please check, or someone else can check, maybe your manager, and hold it for me?" 

"Sorry, it was just one of those big packages for $9 bucks or I wouldn't care, I've got the receipt, I'll bring it."

She says nothing, puts him on hold.

Manager gets on -  though my husband didn't ask to speak to the manager.

Manager: "Hey - well, I'm sorry, it looks like somebody after you must've gotten a free package of chicken, but no problem, just come back and get another one, no worries, we're all hectic with this ice storm coming."

So my husband goes back, with his receipt, and goes to customer service.

Unfortunately, it was the rude lady. 

 

Rude Kroger CSR:  "You're not getting another package of chicken, we see this all the time.  You're just trying to get free food!"

 

Mark:  "Are you kidding me with this?  Lady, your manager just told me to bring my receipt and get another one." 

" I may be in my dirty barn clothes, for my horse, but I'm a data analyst for FCPS, I can afford food, it's just I literally just left the store." 

"You should be used to that in Lexington, by now - some of the wealthiest horse-farm owners in Lexington may come in muddy from head to toe, dealing with their horses, but less so in this suburban area, I guess. Still, you never know who you're waiting on."

 

"But I tell you what we can do now - since you're so sure I'm stealing, why don't you go get that manager, and you can explain why you're not doing what he said - PLUS get the security footage, while you're there.  Then the three of us will watch it together, so we can all see what really happened to the chicken.  I'll make time.  Go on, then, since you're so sure you're right :)"

 

Rude Kroger CSR:  "Fine, go get the chicken, but hurry up."

 

He gets a package and she rings it through, then gives him a lecture, loudly, so that everyone around can hear.

Rude Kroger CSR :  "Next time, check your bags and cart again.  People?  It's your responsibility to check your bags and your cart, not ours, we don't have time for this."

 

Mark:  "Lady, I've already told you, you're right, it was my mistake and I was sorry for the trouble, but enough with the attitude. I definitely don't need your lectures." 

"My mind is on my old horse, right now, with the ice storm coming.  Don't you ever make mistakes while worried and preoccupied?"

 

Rude Kroger CSR:  "Not like this."

 

 

Mark:  "Oh, okay.  What is your problem?  What are you, the chicken Nazi?" 

"For all I know, YOU could've taken it,  yourself, which could be why you wouldn't even check when asked." 

 

"Let me ask you a question -  did you vote for Trump?"

 

Rude Kroger CSR:  "Yes, I did!" 

 

Mark:  "I thought so, that explains  your overly suspicious, arrogant attitude, projecting your own tendency to lie, cheat, and steal onto everybody else, as distraction. Have fun storming the capitol!" 

 

- and he left.

 

LOLOLOL!

Go Mark!

Neil Young/Joni Mitchell VS. Joe Rogan/Spotify - And The Ambulance Blues

 

Unless you live under a rock, you have heard by now that Neil Young gave Spotify an ultimatum - either Joe Rogan and his disinformation podcast or his music - "Either he goes or I go."

Well, considering most people under 30 don't even know who Neil Young is -  and Spotify has a multimillion-dollar contract with Joe Rogan for his #1 podcast on Spotify - Spotify basically said "Bye, Neil" and pulled all his music.

Then Joni Mitchell asked for hers to be pulled in solidarity with Neil. 

Now, those of you under 30, you have no idea how significant this is.

Neil Young and Joni Mitchell were two of the most important protest voices in the late 60s and early 70s against Vietnam, imperialism, and anti-oppression.

So although you may not think it's a big deal and not care, and even Spotify does not - the Baby Boomers from that era, who still distrust Democrats because of Vietnam (not realizing the party has changed, though loyalty should never be tied to a party anyway, as things change over time - it should be about current platforms and people), and incredibly support Trump and anti-vaccines stances - do care and are listening. 

Apparently, lots of people really like Joe Rogan as a person, interpersonally, so there's lots of surprising support for him on social media, a lot of people saying things like, "I don't agree with you, but go Joe Rogan."

As for me, I just wish Joe would go visit a COVID ICU, compare the  numbers for the unvaccinated, vaccinated, and boostered, himself.  He could even poll the patient families to find out if they were vaccinated or not.  

All his questions would be answered, he'd find out that he's completely wrong, then go away in shame, never to be heard from again.

But he doesn't - because he's getting too much money and attention spreading disinformation without fact-checking or evidence-based science ;)

To his credit, however, Joe took Neil Young very seriously, being that he is a fan, and gave an apology for not having more scientific experts on his podcast, and vowed to do better, as well as put a voiceover advisory to his show.

Now, you may say, "Oh, Spotify made him do that, his bosses made him do that" - but the truth is, Joe didn't have to say or do anything at all, but count his cash lol.

And yet still -  too little, too late, Joe - it's not enough - and the damage is done.

And all of this, he should've done before now, when God only knows how many we've lost as a result of his disinformation.

As for Neil Young and Joni Mitchell - as always, I applaud you and what you were trying to do,  and thank you for all you have done - but unfortunately, "an ambulance can only go so fast" ;)

You would think 50 years was enough time, but history teaches us it takes much longer, unfortunately, and humans are still humans and political, greedy creatures nonetheless.

Ambulance Blues - Neil Young and Crazy Horse 

Some Crazy Anti-Vax Dude In the Parking Lot - Bye, Have Fun Storming the Capitol, Buddy!

 

So I'm sitting here transcribing, like I do, albeit it slower because of a mini-migraine, when I hear some dude talking about as loud as he could outside.

I go outside to see what's going on and who it is, only to realize he doesn't live here.  He's apparently waiting for someone, but has his car door open, talking so loud on his phone that he's practically yelling.

What he was doing was reading articles about the Canadian truck convoy over the vaccine mandate, to someone on the phone, on speaker.

He's like, "They've descended on Ottawa and what Trudeau needs to do is surrender. The Canadian government needs to surrender! Surrender to us, Goddammit!"

I didn't say anything, but was thinking ...

Dude - may I remind you that we live in the U.S., not Canada, and we have no universal mandate?

I can't speak for Canada, but as for U.S. -  we're not surrendering sh*t, to your disinformed, paranoid, angry-Karen, crazy ass lol.

Geez, stop talking so loud, man, and at least shut your car door - I'm trying to work, here, plus I have a migraine - and you do not want to have to deal with me when I have a migraine, I'm far less patient lol.

Then my neighbor comes home, who is a basketball coach for a  local private Christian school, and I realize he's here to talk to him. 

So I go back to typing, when I still hear this guy, talking as loud as he can, even louder now, because he's closer.  Though L lives downstairs, I can still hear him as if he's right outside my door, so I turn my audio up.

And yet I can still hear him.

I go to the door and open it, trying to determine if he's trying to start something with L, ready to call the management office if so.

I realize that L hasn't let him in - smart move.  

So they're talking outside in the breezeway.  Something about not receiving a schedule?

Though this guy is talking loud, L gets actually gets quieter, he stays very calm, but also not his normally friendly self, with this guy, basically just informational.  Because he got quieter, I couldn't hear what he was saying, but something like:  "Okay, well, I'm sorry if you didn't get one, it wasn't intentional.  That's why I posted the schedule at the website, just in case, but here's a copy if you need it."

The guy was trying to be polite, trying to hide his very clear anger and paranoia with everything, but it was very clear he was fit to be tied.

So I called Mark, a bit worried that this guy was going to try to start something with L, because clearly, he's just angry and wanting to start something with somebody. 

Mark reminded me that L was not only smart, but a former marine, and would have no trouble keeping this loud-mouthed, skinny, whimpy white guy in line if he stepped too much, and to just lock the door and where the mace was, in case it was needed lol.  

(I also took his license plate number down, just in case lol)

He finally left, thank God, I'm not sure what his problem was - we don't typically have people like that in this community.

Whatever - have fun storming the castle (or the capitol), buddy! 

(Princess Bride reference alert lol)