Purely a Matter of Relevance: All Men Must Serve or How I Learned You Can’t Always Get What You Want

I haven’t written a blog post in a year, so bear with me y'all, I’m a tad rusty.

So let me just get my only real gripe out of the way. They rushed this season so the writing ended up pulling punches and I think took no chances. Everything that happened makes logical sense and it’s how it would work if these people were in real world situations. But it’s not. It’s fucking Westeros. There’s dragons, zombies, magic and timeline warping. To come this long for so many years and just sweep everything away, throw away arcs and give little to any payoff is soft in my opinion. I enjoyed the episode and the endings everyone got, but everyone seemed really blasé about it. Which I get, people who want to live would just fall in line, real life people. But this isn’t real life. This is a world of extremes and has been since episode 1. I feel like there weren’t any chances taken. Honestly though, that’s just me as a viewer feeling that way, what they want to do with the story is on them and I’m not mad at the choices they have made, it just didn’t have any teeth.

The nods to Bran knowing and by in part having that knowledge and lying by omission knew what was going to happen if not actually orchestrating all of this season was nice, but everyone played it off. “Why do you think I came?” Cold blooded but I would’ve been like, “what the fuck Bran, you could’ve said something?!” I kid, but seriously everyone just seemed so placid; “this doesn’t have a happy ending.” In my best Thor voice, “is it though?” Again, I don’t write this show, it’s their choice to create whatever art they want, but I just felt like everything lacked a much needed weight.

The final seasons were like if they threw a bunch of puzzle pieces on the table. Some pieces fit, some they removed. I guess it doesn’t matter that Sam’s a maester and has a pregnant wife and son. I guess we didn’t need a satisfying ending to Cersei, one of the best TV villains in history. I guess we just have to deal with main villains changing hands in a span of 3 episodes with no room to actually breathe. Once it was said and done though only certain pieces were left so tidying it up became easy. They swept all the pieces together instead of meticulously placing them. The first 3 episodes was the Winds of Winter and the last 3 were a Dream of Spring, I guess fuck me thinking that each could’ve gotten a full season each and had room to stretch its legs. But hey, this isn’t my show and I get that. But for the fans out there that think it’s wild that we as viewers don’t get to have an opinion is just as short sighted as the writers cramming it all into 6 episodes.

I’m thinking back on it now, back on the finale and back on the ten years #ThronesYall has enveloped my life and truly, I’m very happy with where everyone ended up. They cleaned everything up neatly. Maybe too neatly for my tastes but everyone got the ending they deserved, minus Cersei.

I give the finale an 8.25/8.5 out of 10 and I give Game of Thrones as an entire show 8.8/10. Quality TV and any hater out there can try and tear it down, but this show was a thing, a BIG THING and it did it’s thing for years. I applaud the actors who were not at any fault for story narrative, I applaud Djawadi for the score, I applaud GRRM for creating a world we love and got to see adventures in and lastly I applaud D&D. They had the impossible task of trying to live up to the hype everyone created and as many short comings anyone wants to point out or hold over their heads, they did their jobs, how well they did it is up for you to choose.

Good friend Jon Zlinsky put it really well.  "In the light of the day, I think I've come around to the ending just.... fine. Like ordering a meal at a restaurant that sounded good bit it didn't really hit the spot.  Yeah it satiated the hunger but you think about what could have been if you just ordered the ribs instead."

I of course just like many of you have theories and wishes of different outcomes. This was a solid finale.  The arcs are closed and the characters are moving on.  Some to where they've always wanted (Sansa), some to where the wind is taking them (Arya), and some to where they need to be (Jon).  In the end though, the viewer and characters alike may not have got what they wanted, but they got what they needed and this kids was purely a matter of relevance.

Purely a Matter of Relevance: Go Out of Your Way to Be a Friend to Those in Need or Happy Birthday, Britt

This originally was going to be a really long blog post, but instead I’m going to use my time to keep it short and sweet and spread some positivity.

Today is Britt’s birthday and although she isn’t here I want to take a moment to celebrate. “Celebrate you say?” Yes. Celebrate the life of someone who has and will continue to touch the lives of many.

So do me a favor. Text a friend. Share a kind word to a stranger. Everyone is out here dealing with issues that most will never be aware of. Remind those people they are not alone. That they don’t have to battle their demons on their own.

It’s much better to take a moment out of your day to brighten up someone else’s. So here’s to you Britt and to the masses out there fighting the good fight.

This was purely a matter of relevance.

Purely a Matter of Relevance: Social Media Meme Farmer Wrongfully Incarcerated or Why Does Zuckerberg Hate The Pixies?

Hey there boils and ghouls. Noticed an absence over the last 24? Yup, you guessed it. I was in FB jail. But for what you ask? What lewd content did Reese share? What ass eating analogy pushed it over the edge?

It was a song.

A goddamn song. I shared “Where Is My Mind?” by The Pixies yesterday while listening to it on Spotify. I hit the share button, I didn’t even add any text. I just hit post. Shortly thereafter I tried to open my FB app and I was greeted by this (*see attached screenshot*). I filled out a reply as you could see and hit send. The very next screen then tells me I have been banned for 24 hours.

Now I sat on this and thought long on how this came about. There was no nudity, no profanity, hell, there wasn’t any text that went along with link at all. I have deduced that only a handful of things could have transpired:

1. Someone really fucking hates the ending of Fight Club.

2. Zuckerberg was preemptively banning me before I could do something actually worth chastising.

3. A friend, follower or some random asshole reported my post which instead of actually doing any due diligence, FB hit me with a banhammer.

3 is the most likely of these scenarios.

Listen, I post a lot of polarizing and down right atrocious stuff and have never been banned (besides that one time I made a school shooting joke, whoops 🤷🏾‍♂️). Even in that case it was a light hearted poke at a meme that obviously ruffled someone’s feathers.

The point I’m trying to make is that if you feel offended you have every right to flex your keyboard muscles and report someone. I don’t think it’s the best resolve but it’s your life and you have that option if you so choose it.

But if you’re salty at me for my posts or opinions, voice them. Or actually report a post that is in violation of some rule. Miss me with that shit reporting a goddamn song link that I wanted to share with the world.

I run a business and 3 podcasts through FB which I am constantly fielding messages and comments, I don’t have time for your games. I’m just trying to keep you kids smiling in the face of this sick sad world, nothing more nothing less.

If you have something to say, say it, if not, bye Felicia. This has been purely a matter of relevance.

Purely a Matter of Relevance: The Savage Meme Manifesto or When Did I Become That Guy?

Very recently a close friend of mine called me out for my ridiculous memes I post. My gf although being somewhat indifferent wholeheartedly agreed that my posts are over the fucking top and somewhat uncalled for. I even have a couple people recently ask why I even do this. When did I become that guy?

If you haven’t noticed, I do a lot of shit online. A store, 3 podcasts, a blog, an all but deceased band and even acting like I’m gonna get into stand up. So I’m marketing myself on the internet on a constant and daily basis. Nothing is better for marketing than traffic. Each view, like, comment or share is increasing my organic reach and it shows. I’ve had these people ask why don’t I start a page so it’s not on my FB profile so it’s not a reflection of me.

Firstly, I have created pages for numerous ventures. MULTIPLE pages. I have invited my entire friends list to those pages. Sadly, it just doesn’t work that way. I have 3,000 friends, I send out 3,000 invites, and my pages only have anywhere from 100-300 likes on each of my pages. I post from those pages and it gets hidden by FB’s algorithms or pushed down for paid content. My organic reach from my personal page is simply stronger and better equipped to entertain people.

Secondly, none of your FBs are a true reflection of you. If you see something on FB and your first reaction is to judge whoever posted it based on the life they uphold on social media, I think that’s a problem within itself. All of our social media personas are just that; personas. If you want a prolific true representation on the internet of someone get off of FB and used LinkedIn.

Thirdly, it’s funny. Shock value is an amazing tool that brings multiple eyes to my page through my creating, sharing and reposting of savage memes. Is it stupid? Sure. Is it ethically questionable? Sure. Does it work though? Absolutely.

I’m writing all of this as less an explanation for why I have become this over the top meme farmer and more as a declaration to anyone that is questioning my actions or feel disgusted by them. I’m sorry if your friends or family have to witness the awful things I post but I do it because someone’s going to do it anyway, so I might as well use it as a device to generate traffic to my page, which when pushing a product that is literally just yourself, my page gaining attention of any type is a positive in the end.

In summation, I’ve made my peace with my mother and my god for the things I post. I don’t wish you to unfollow me or unfriend me over it, but I can’t make everybody happy all of the time so I might as well not try but I do apologize in advance for the crazy shit you’re going to see when you follow me.

What do you think? Should I stop? Should I create another page to be lost in the sea of thousand of others? I want to know your opinions. Just remember as always, this was purely a matter of relevance.

Purely a Matter of Relevance: People Get Offended Too Easily These Days or No, People Have Been Offended For Years And You’re Just Now Listening

Purely a Matter of Relevance: People Get Offended Too Easily These Days or No, People Have Been Offended For Year’s And You’re Just Now Listening

Perspective. It’s one of the key elements of daily living. Even down to its most basic form. Without light bouncing off of objects and refracting in our eyes we wouldn’t be able to see anything and would walk into walls and off of cliffs like lemmings to the slaughter. In its more advanced forms perspective is what gives us the ability to have empathy and look at situations in a light you might not have considered prior.

So in the time since my last post some instances have arisen that bring things like perspective to the forefront. Nothing can create a better chance for perspective to come into play like when discussing topics that touch the nerve of many individuals. 

I gaze towards the pachyderm in the corner. His name tag reads racism. Let’s acknowledge him.

If you have a pulse, an internet connection and don’t reside under a rock then you are well aware at this stage the marketing faux pas H&M made last week. If you’re unfamiliar, the ad in question viewed a young black child wearing a hoody that read “coolest monkey in the jungle.” Now before I get too far into it and let me state that no, I was not offended by it. Alas, I know many people that might very well be, and justified in their reasoning for it as well. In wake of the ad I have seen the example of short sighted perception rear it’s ugly head. “People get offended too easily these days,” or comments akin to “sad little snowflakes are getting their panties in a bunch.”

First off, if this is how you view the world at large, let me point something out; You are part of the problem. I’m sorry buddy, people haven’t just recently become offended by every little thing. People have been offended by these types of systemic racism and insensitivities for quite some time now. We live in an age where everyone’s reactions and thoughts have become center stage, and now people’s views and opinions are able to be viewed under a microscope on a global scale. Personally, I am grateful for it. No longer must we be forced to live in the dark and not know how our fellow men and women are affected by the inequalities of our society. Social media has created a forum for discussion of these topics and by way of this an ability to learn and understand the issues and plights those less privileged than yourself must go through.

Open your eyes and ears but more importantly, open your hearts. Only then can we as a people move forward to a more peaceful tomorrow, but ay, what do I know?

This has been purely a matter of relevance.

PURELY A MATTER OF RELEVANCE: New Year, Same Black Dude or The 2017 State of the Union

Well the calendar has changed. We rang out the old year and dragged in the new to much fanfare and joviality. As we make our coffees and fry up our chicken embryos to help shake the cobwebs of last nights indulgences, I will take the opportunity to reflect on the last 12 months.

What a shit show it has been. Not nearly as many tragic celebrity deaths as the year prior, there were still a multitude of negativities and moments of distress that blanketed the majority of 2017. From the politics, to the terrorism. The hurricanes to the blatant and out right racism. This was the year where Rick and Morty fans made it hard to publicly want to claim you are a Rick and Morty fan.

Talk about depressing.

My personal hardships even tried to break me; the loss of my grandmother, the ending of a 12 year on again off again tumultuous relationship, and that time I was inches away from death. It’s been a wild ride, smooth at very few times and bumpy at best for the most part.

In spite of all these lingering issues and tragic happenings, the light of joy and vitality that burns within me will never stop glowing. I made some choices that have already begun to brighten my path. Cut some problematic people from my journey, went full on head first back into podcasting, writing and comedy, met an amazing person who is completely ok with me being an awkward 15 year old child, as well as even opened my own mildly successful online clothing store. As the Chuck Palahniuk quote goes, “it's only after you have lost everything that you are free to do anything.”

So as I finish this cup of coffee from my amazing R2-D2 mug, I look forward as to what 2018 has to offer. Both of my occupations are moving forward into bigger and better realms and I am having a hand in the progress of both. Establishing an even bigger internet presence as I push forward to produce and star in another podcast and get back into doing stand up. New music from my all but defunct metal band. A vacation to Austin, TX for SXSW. Shit guys, this may even be the year Reese finishes his novel (THAT’S LAUGHABLE).

All jokes aside, I thank you guys for reading these posts, watching my shows, liking my jokes and tagging me in those ass eating memes. I have an insatiable urge inside of me to entertain and if it wasn’t for you guys I would just be dancing and singing into a mirror to a one man crowd that didn’t want to come out in the first place and would rather be home in pjs watching anime. The past year I’ve learned a lot and now I’m ready to make even more mistakes so that I can learn that much more from the running gag we call life.

I love you guys, all of you. This was purely a matter of relevance. Happy New Years!

REESE'S BEST OF 2017 LIST

Greetings and salutations! Today on the blog I’m taking a look back on the BEST OF 2017! Make sure to like share and comment your choices and argue with me about mine! Instead of simply doing a top ten albums list like last year I’m doing my top 3 of multiple mediums and since it’s the holiday season I have an added treat in the form of my top Christmas themed topics! ON TO THE LIST!!!

TOP 3 CHRISTMAS SONGS:
1. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song
2. Wham! - Last Christmas
3. August Burns Red - Carol of the Bells

Honorable Mention(s): Elvis - Blue Christmas, David Bowie and Bing Crosby - The Little Drummer Boy

TOP 3 CHRISTMAS FILMS:
1. A Christmas Story
2. Charlie Brown’s Christmas
3. Die Hard

Honorable Mention(s): National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

TOP 3 ALBUMS OF 2017:
1. Run The Jewels - RTJ3
2. Lana Del Rey - Lust For Life
3. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

Honorable Mention(s): Fabolous and Jadakiss - Friday on Elm Street, Joey Bad@$$ - All-Amerikkkan Bad@$$, Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

TOP 3 FILMS OF 2017:
1. Blade Runner 2049
2. Baby Driver
3. John Wick 2

Honorable Mention(s): Get Out (only a mention because I haven't seen it)

TOP 3 VIDEO GAMES OF 2017:
1. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
3. Destiny 2

Honorable Mention(s): Horizon: Zero Dawn, Cuphead

TOP 3 TV SERIES OF 2017:
1. Stranger Things Season 2
2. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Season 2
3. Game of Thrones Season 7

Honorable Mention(s): The Punisher, Vikings Season 5 (not higher cause it's only 2 episodes in)

TOP 3 CELEBRITIES OF 2017:
1. Jason Momoa
2. Jason Momoa
3. Jason Momoa

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

TOP CELEBRITY DEATHS OF 2017:
1. Chris Cornell
2. Chester Bennington
3. Bill Paxton (GAME OVER MAN, GAME OVER!)

TOP 3 SCUMBAGS OF 2017:
1. Harvey Weinstein
2. Kevin Spacey
3. You

AND THAT'S IT!  Please leave some comments, like and share.  Tell me what you would've done different!  It's not like I care, but ayyy, we can talk it out!  Love y'all kids, and I'll see your pretty faces in 2018!!!