Love a Free Guy

I haven't been to a movie in the theater since the start of the pandemic. With the push of getting them back in, many ups and downs have been seen. If there was one I would want to see, Free Guy is one of my choices. It has been a huge surprise. Critics actually like it and moviegoers have made it gross over 170 million worldwide with nearly 80 million domestically. It dropped to number two in its third weekend, but still holding on.

The fact that this isn't a comedy sequel or anything of that nature is something. It's also different given the glut of horror films dominating over many genres. Ryan Reynolds is still a hot name within these last five years. He can carry a film to some capacity. Shawn Levy has had his hand in doing CG stuff like Night at the Museum and doing more lighthearted material. Also a Fox mainstay since the early 2000s. Video games are a big commodity for adaptations despite this being its own original video game film. A big factor is that the only way to see the film is in the theater as part of an experiment from Disney. This and the new Shang-Chi are Bob Chapek's choices to see how they fare without streaming.

It's a dumb popcorn film. Something to ease our minds. And it's one that hits the right spots for nearly everybody. I can only assume, but it probably does the video game stuff very well and its aware of how goofy gaming can be. There's also a few other notable names including TV actress Jodie Comer and Marvel mainstay Taika Waititi. This breathes in something fresh for Hollywood and probably isn't something that panders. You might see a review if I do see it. Maybe its time to see more original films prosper and bring in a new generation of moviegoers. 

YouTube Videos: Aug 20-26

 

OnlyFans Reversal. What Now?

I wouldn't have imagined going back on what was originally intended. OnlyFans was looking to ban adult content in October. It drew a lot of ire in this short time. Now they are reversing course. Most of the time, I wait to see the full story and do some due diligence so I can get a clear vision of the story.  But this is one I have to react to. I have a feeling OnlyFans wants to avoid a Tumblr situation.

The reason I say this is because Tumblr numbers dropped. Maybe they see value in seeing the complaints and decided to change the decision. There's not a lot to say right now because I'd like to see where the numbers go. Either they get a surge or it gets a small drop. Either way, most of the adult content people will be happy and still do their thing. Hopefully see an update sooner than later.

Game Grading: Is This Trading Places?

Maybe these auction sites are becoming like the Dukes in Trading Places. This sort of stuff began a couple of years ago with a copy of Super Mario Bros. on the NES. It sold for 100 thousand dollars and has since created a niche slice of people wanting crazy money. If stuff didn't happen these last two months, I would have ignored it. A couple things would have caught my attention, though nothing hugely substantial. But not stuff is getting pumped up on games that can easily be found.

There was a Super Mario 64 that sold for over a million and half. Now the question comes into how fake this thing could be with another copy of Super Mario Bros. going for two million dollars. From listening and reading about it, it's not a first print run version or a first year copy. More so a third year copy. Over the years, companies have tried to do grading of games and hasn't fully materialized until 2019. Hard to believe ten years ago prices people wanted from 9.0 graded. That was child's play compared to now.

Getting games you want now these days is a lot more difficult. Prices do play a factor. It will dreadful if it leaked over to PlayStation. Something like Silent Hill goes for over 100 dollars. I can see some jerk off trying to get it graded and it goes for nearly five figures. And the stories of people involved with auction sites having stakes by buying some of these games, there can be pure manipulation on their part. With numbers being hard to come by, it can be anyone's guess on how many games sealed and graded have been sold.

Do I think this market will grow more? After the newest revelations, I don't think so. With these shenanigans going on, I think many will love it when it crumbles. It may not make finding games easier, but at least they won't feel ripped off. My gut tells me another bombshell will occur sooner than later.

OnlyFans Safe For Work?

Plans in October are coming as OnlyFans is stopping with adult content. The site has been around since late 2016 and has been known for that type of stuff. A few years ago, Tumblr stopped with their adult content. I remember that because I also remember reading about the Trump administration trying to stop sex trafficking. Other places like Craigslist stopped with relationship seeking. Why the sudden need to not allow it?

Potentially to be taken seriously, I guess. It's not even a religious type of issue. Adult content is not something billions of people are into. There are some, but not to the level that I think others believe it is. Not to mention the stigma associated with it. While I wouldn't say it's extremely harmful though I see more negatives than positives, pornography is not normal and never has been. It is not exactly healthy, either. Yet, people flip out. The vocal minority. Sex workers having to find other venues to make money. That's also another issue in regards to adult content. How many of these people are of legal age? 

I'm not saying the majority of these workers are underage, but you have to take things into consideration. This isn't something to take lightly. Like I said, the attempt to stop sex trafficking was a big deal a few years ago. It's why some websites stopped offering certain features in fear of misusing said feature. In the case of OnlyFans if they are looking to be taken serious, businesses and companies don't want to be associated with lewd content. There was an episode of Bar Rescue from 2015 where a particular bar had a couch that was used to shoot porn. That's a big turn off. I know it's apples and oranges, but still.

More than likely, there will be another site that will provide that niche content. If the Tumblr numbers are anything to go by, OnlyFans will struggle. I'd be willing to say that this will be an endless cycle and these sites and other future websites will keep repeating the same thing over and over.

YouTube Videos: Aug 13-19

 

Geeks and Jocks: Bonus Episode 4

Another special bonus episode:

https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Bonus-Episode-4-e162c0q

New season of the podcast begins in mid-September. 

Best Trevor Moore Sketches

The shock is still kind of here. Last week had the sudden death of comedian Trevor Moore. He was the founder of The Whitest Kids U'Know, a sketch comedy group that has a very huge cult following due to their material. I have been a fan for a little over a decade discovering their TV show. I'd like to say my favorite sketches. One from each season and a couple of honorable mentions.

Season 1: Lincoln: Probably their most well known. Moore plays John Wilkes Booth and wants to enjoy Hamlet. To his annoyance is President Abe Lincoln, who is played by Zach Cregger. The absurdity of the leader of the nation taunting him and causing Booth to snap and kill him. Over the top, but still holds its own 14 years later. Honorable mentions include Astronaut Mess and Bigfoot vs. Gravedigger/Monster Truck. Watch his mannerisms in the latter sketch.

Season 2: I Teached a Whale: Moore is a child who pisses off Mrs. Lambert (Cregger) about his story and she wants proof of him getting a whale's tail off. What works is the people they meet, which is the whole Whitest Kids group (there's only five members) and the desperation to get a whale. A few jabs at the teacher and the reasons of not having whales. Really fun sketch to watch. Honorable mentions are Oh Shit and Nail Gun.

Season 3: Wheel of Money: Everything you can do to anger Trevor is here. Bad contestants, legal issues and chaos at the. The myriad of reactions. There's a lot of sketches from this season that deserve mention. Foot Touch is really funny. Yellow Mustard-ed, Little Rascals, Gandalf, Trent Reznor, Earthquake, Horses Love, Table Monster, Grapist, Back Seat, Jerkocaust, and Helicopter Wife Cheating. Really funny ones that he shined in.

Season 4: Chicken, Not Kitten: It's one of those sketches that the twist is funny and you will grasp why Moore's character doesn't care for health inspection. A sense of being a douchebag and his outfit. The reactions from the health inspector and highway department guy are what give the sketch plenty of chuckles. Honorable mentions are Pussy Salad (that's the actual name of the skit) and Hunting Housecats.

Season 5: Teacher's Union: Not a starring sketch for Moore, but how he portrays the evil teacher is gut busting. All five members have reasons to laugh in this one. To be honest, this is the only season I'm not overly familiar with due to IFC censoring the show because of adding commercials. If I had to put honorable mentions, Careful Commandos, Old Folks Home, and Ants.

What are your favorite sketches that Trevor Moore did? Just think about some of the things he did that made you laugh and became a fan. 

YouTube Videos: Aug 6-12

 

Bob Jenkins: A Generational Voice

If you were to piece together the best of NASCAR broadcasting, you can nail down who you'd want for play-by-play. Back then, you had Ken Squier for CBS and TBS. There was Mike Joy at TNN and CBS before doing his current run at Fox. And then you had Bob Jenkins, who just passed away from a fight with cancer. If there was ever a time to be in the right spot at the right time, he was that and put together a very long tenure at ESPN.

It's hard to think that ESPN cared more about non-NBA and non-NFL stuff. NASCAR was one of their early broadcasting packages and the Cup series was around in 1981 up through to 2000. Home to many notable races including the first Brickyard race in 1994. Many classic Atlanta races such as the final race of the 1992 season. Final races ever at Riverside and North Wilkesboro. Jenkins was there. Whether it was with Larry Nubar the first seven years or the combo of Benny Parsons and Ned Jarrett, you had excitement coming from this crew.

This was one of ESPN's first deals with anything that wasn't college sports. Auto racing was something they invested in and the sport ballooned to high popularity as it got more mainstream. NASCAR became more than just a Southern sport. The network would get to expand throughout the 80s with the NBA, NHL, NFL, and much more like Tennis and even wrestling. Jenkins also was a part of calling the Indianapolis 500 for many years, something I did not know of.  He was an Indiana native. To be around that for 60 years as a fan and later on to call races, that's a life well spent.

Jenkins would still work with ESPN a little bit after the Cup series moved following the 2000 seasons. He would go to NBC Sports as well where he ended his run in 2012 to take care of his wife who would pass from cancer that same year. Today's batch of broadcasters do not get the same kind of love that he had. You'll never see a guy like him again. One of the true treasures of auto racing and broadcasting. 

Love Gov Falling Down

This should be a movie at this point. No joke. There was that Bombshell movie that didn't do well a couple of years ago. I don't think Andrew Cuomo's allegations would be a hit in theaters. You have to hand it to New York Attorney General Letitia James. She's pulling in a lot of work to find the dirty laundry. Earlier in the year, Cuomo went from loved to very hated quickly due to how he handled nursing homes and sexual harassment allegations. More has opened up recently and more women are speaking out. This is where many are speaking against him.

From AP News, even a number of Democrats are not on the side of the Love Gov. That even includes Joe Biden. I think New York is tired of the antics of Cuomo and how he has handled things in recent memory. It's not just one or two women. This is ten plus women. Maybe even more. Stories are going to come out from others who may have been afraid initially to say what happened to them. Pressure is on the governor to resign and he has refused to step down. Impeachment has been the table since at least March. If the time to strike is now, they better get it done quick.

It's not even the first time sexual stuff with a New York governor has occurred. I point to Eliot Spitzer a couple years into his tenure. I also have to wonder if father Mario Cuomo shaped his boys up to treat women in a specific way and how to live lavishly in politics. Andrew is feared for a reason and can dictate many things. He even scared his own wife when they were together. And according to the AP article, the lawyers are bashing James for favoring the women and siding on their stories.

I don't think James is in it to be girl power. She has seen something heinous and has opened up a pandora's box of problems that Cuomo created and no one knew prior. This is the instance where you understand why MeToo exists despite many not using it properly or hiding behind it as a shield. Do I see jail time? Maybe. I think he gets a little bit of time if convicted or a huge fine. As far as politics go, he will never see the public spotlight again for anything huge.  

YouTube Videos: Jul 30-Aug 5

 

Chicago Cleanup

Pretty disappointing to say the least. This fall will mark five years since the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series. A feat hadn't seen since 1908 at that time. That game 7 is one of the greatest games ever played. For me, it doesn't top Super Bowl 42. The way the Cubs were, they should have won at least another World Series. And last week's trades signal a bitter end to players that were catalysts to ending the drought.

Closer Craig Kimbrel was sent close by to the White Sox. That will help bolster the bullpen on the other side of Chicago. Kris Bryant goes to San Francisco. It adds another good bat to a team that has gotten out of a slump the last couple of seasons. Javy Baez goes to the New York Mets. Anything for run support to help compliment their pitching. Anthony Rizzo goes to the New York Yankees. A left handed batter could mean the difference for making the playoffs this year. I know Bryant wanted to get paid, but the Cubs weren't going to. Been a good player since coming into the league, but enough for a big contract? Something the team may regret.

Kimbrel has been lights out this year after a couple disappointing years. The Sox have a strikeout machine that can help bolster their lead in the AL Central. Rizzo has been a consistent player in hits and power. He's a free agent next year. Maybe the Cubs weren't confident in having him return. The Yankees could scoop him up for next year. First base has been a problem for at least eight years. Baez has show his potential for four seasons prior to last year. He still has something to show in terms of power. But I question whether he will fizz out during this time with the Mets. That team always has a knack for ruining stars that come from other clubs.

I think the Cubs are looking to rebuild. Not a good year for them. The NL West has the leading wild card teams and they are far behind first place Milwaukee. I don't know what their payroll is, but it's probably not enough to support all four of those players. Start fresh for 2022. See how David Ross handles the new batch of players. Washington is doing the same thing a little bit. Definitely will talk about that story as well in another blog. You do wonder about the dynasty that could have been. That question, we will never know.

Why Olympics Don't Interest Me

Or at least why it doesn't get me excited. I don't have the time and energy to get used to seeing all these competitors throughout the world. Some of the events don't hold my interest. I don't have a lot a reasons. It's one of these things that might surprise people. Sorry if that bothers you, but with working a job, it's hard to find time to see something that I could like. Some stories I'll definitely read, but I'm going to have to pass.

The only other thing that doesn't interest me is NBC. They have had a stranglehold on the Olympics since 1988. Four different decades and they still hold exclusivity on it until 2032. The ratings have not been all that good. Nothing has reached 20 million viewers at any point. I think people are getting burned at how the network does its coverage. Probably tape delays and other stupid shit that turns off viewers. It's not the only reason, but there's more to it if I had to guess. The 2016 Olympics saw a big decline and this year is worse. The pandemic hasn't helped, but that should not be used as a shield for criticism.

So there you go. Sports championships hold my interest a lot more and are more exciting for me compared to the Olympics.

Steam Deck Thoughts

I'm not huge on PC gaming. I find it to be a very obnoxious part of the industry due to the elitism of the hardcore gamers. This has been on full blast for a long time and it was shown a few weeks ago when Steam announced Steam Deck. I decided to wait until the fanboy hype died down a bit to put my thoughts about it. I think the concept of playing PC on a true portable could be possible. Now, there are laptops, but people are not using them solely for gaming unless they were designed specifically for them. But they are bulky.

People want this to overtake the success of the Nintendo Switch. I'm guessing because of all the indie games that have been put on it and combine it with the modern hyped up titles that go onto computers. There are several models and the cheapest is at 400 dollars with 64 gigabytes. That's really good. For the one that is into indies, it's all they need potentially. The most expensive is a 650 dollar one with 512 gigs. According to PC Gamer, microSD cards can be used to add more storage. It will have stuff like Wi-Fi and controller connectivity, HDMI output. It's covering the bases enough. Battery life might be a hassle.

There are two things I would have concern about. One is upgrading. Since the days of the DS and PSP, systems and handhelds have had updates. PlayStation 3 had one back in June for compatibility with movies. Everything currently on the market still gets updates. How long does Steam Deck get updates for its three models? And if so, how long until there are games that can't work on it? Switch doesn't have to worry about that. Neither does PlayStation or Xbox... kind of with some models. People can upgrade with graphic cards and what not, but I can't imagine most will. Why mess something up with your computer and it doesn't do any of the basics.

Two is Valve. They don't have a track record of supporting stuff for a long time. How they handle reception and marketing it will determine if this even survives for a year. I would imagine this would do okay and be out there for a few years. But will the double dipping occur? I have a hard time thinking people will ditch what they have. Anything can happen, though. Other platforms like Windows can be put onto Steam Deck. This comes out next year. PC Gamer said in the second or third quarter for anyone ordering. I'd predict just before next year's summer sale that it will show up on customer's doorsteps. This will not overtake the Switch or any console. It will find an audience, How big it will be will be based on Valve plays their cards.