"El!"
That low, guttural, echoing scream was never good. Elin just sat back down at her desk, but Chief Cam Glendale, a below-average sized brown haired, brown eyed man with a kind of Napoleon complex didn't give a shit.
"My name's already pretty sh..."
"Listen to me very carefully--" Cam interrupted abruptly with a kind of soft, seething tone. Cute and cuddly like a bear attack. Elin was about to say something semi-sarcastic and self-important, so it was best that she, maybe-probably didn't get to say anything this time. "--If you so much as breathe in a way I don't like, I'm going to suspend you without pay. How is it. That every time. A major event. Is happening here, like, I don't know, a fucking press conference for a pretty peculiar murder that just happened last night, YOU'RE M.I.A!?!" Cam emphatically slammed his hand down on her desk to promote attention. He liked the staccato of his inflection when he scolded people. Kinda like he was "Chief Dad" on the force. Elin winced with her left eye, neck cocked in the same direction as if she just heard nails run along a chalkboard. She got out of her chair, went behind Cam, and slowly closed the door; thus, lowering the curtain on the stage-show given to the rest of the station.
"Now that we have a scosche more privacy, I just want to be sure whether your question was rhetorical or brazenly obtuse," A silence descended upon the room. Cam's face looked like a Bob-omb inside his head was about to explode, but Elin continued before he could utter another sound. "You're the only person in this office that knows my side gig. Yes, I was late. I fucked up. No excuse. I shoulda been here on time for Broward's fucking everybody-calm-down-it's-no-big-deal conference, but here's your problem: I'm the best you got. The Carrolly Murders. The Ribbon Project. All of that shit was me bringing the fuckers in! The fucking Tropicana Cult--do you remember those fuckers!? The leaders literally got people to believe that if they gambled for them that their god would give them some immortal life, and..."
"Alright alright." Cam knew that the list was going to continue as long as he let it. He knew the truth, and the truth was she's right. Elin is a meteoric pain in the dick, who has never presented well to the media, but she gets the job done exactly when it needs to be.
"Plus, you and I both know that his bullshit, Care Bear persona he has in front of the cameras only hurts this city and..."
"That's enough! I heard you, but so help me--you don't get to live by your own rules. You know procedure. Put your fucking pants back on, and get here when you're supposed to." Cam paused for a moment, "Oh, and quit shitting all over Jim. He's. Not. The problem."
Cam opened the door to head back out into the station, but before he could, Elin grabbed his arm and looked directly into his eyes, seriously.
"Elin. Ee. Lin. I'm not your fuckin' friend."
Dry heat and petty crime were the only two things anyone living in the greater Vegas area could count on. Every once in a while a serial killer or cult seeped through the wood works, but the scary part wasn't that they happened, it was that hardly anyone would notice. In a city wrought by the footsteps of tourists year-round, it was never easy for law enforcement to keep people as safe as they could be. And the "Whatever Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" slogan that attracts millions of people to The Strip every year, doesn't exactly beg for the best behavior.
"Jim, come here!" Elin finally started investigating into the Flag Pole Murder, as eloquently dubbed in the station-wide email sent from Cam. Jim, whose desk is three work spaces outside of Elin's office, turned to face his other coworkers, who were much closer, barked like a dog, and then proceeded to meander in her direction. He entered.
"So, Cam does it to you. You hate it. Then you do it to me. How am I supposed to feel?"
"Like you have a job that you love, and a boss that you love more. Can you head to the evidence room and grab me the rope and the vic's clothing from the F.P.M.? I'm going to head down to the examiner's room today to see if I can snag some prints." Jim glared back at Elin without saying a word. Elin, still looking down at a swath of preliminary report papers, looked up quickly to see the body language of a pissed off Jim, "Please!?"
"Yes. Be right back." Jim turned to leave the office, but before crossing back into the station mustered up some confidence to turn back and face Elin, "Ya know, you could ju..."
"Piss off, James!"
"Right," and with a deep sigh, Jim left.
END OF PART 2
Monday, October 29, 2018
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
We Talkin' 'Bout Standards, Not the Game
Buckle your seat belts, ladies and germs.
I haven't written a politically charged post in quite some time, and the one stressed thread in the seam that has kept those opinions in is close to snapping. In order to release some of that pressure, let me just talk about one quick little topic: Standards.
In case the news hasn't hit your social media feed(s), Elizabeth Warren took the DNA test that Trump bribed her to take a couple years ago for $1M towards a charity of her choice if the results came back positive. His words. No, really. Trump said that. It wasn't written. It wasn't some words put into his mouth by a liberal cog whom writes some meaningless blog no one reads. He said it. On camera. Indisputably.
A few things came out of this news: 1. Democrats, Warren supporters, and people who just like the truth looked at the facts and said, "Ha! It's the birther shit all over. Wrong again. Give her charity-of-choice the money, Trump!" 2. Trump FIRST denied ever saying this. Camera shows that not only did he say it, but he also called her racial slurs and condescended the #MeToo movement in the same sentence. 3. Some Republicans called BS. Even if it's not BS, she loses. Trump wins. She played his game. "This is why Democrats lose." 4. Trump admits to the bribe, but he then stipulates he would have to test her personally--himself. No, really, he says that, too. On camera. Indisputably--in order to grant her the $1M. 5. A Cherokee Native American makes a statement saying the DNA test doesn't matter. She's not Native American enough to call herself Native American. 6. Elizabeth Warren's political currency decreases. Trump uses Cherokee's words to tarnish ancestry and, potentially, her career.
That's the basic layout. So why the unrest? Good question.
The problem here isn't that Elizabeth Warren's political currency decreased, but rather why Elizabeth Warren's political currency decreased. Why does racism, misogyny, and, ultimately, trash talk prevail over truth? I don't actually know the answer to the question, but I know it's reality.
To give Republicans credit, they're not wrong. They're not wrong when they say, "This is why Democrats lose." That certainly does seem to be the case. "This" being the constant and undying search for the truth, for facts, for decency. Many democratic politicians care so much about the truth that they do not recognize how "uncool" the truth is nowadays. What it looks like to me is that people--because I'm not so sure it's just Republicans anymore--don't want the truth; they don't want political correctness; they don't even really want to talk about policy--they just want to be entertained. So, by Elizabeth Warren getting the DNA test done "the people" got what they wanted! They got entertained! The aforementioned domino effect from 1 to 6 seems to be what people *really* wanted based on their reactions. So, why doesn't Warren get credited for the entertainment value? That's easy: Trump's the MC and Warren's the heckler.
"Why" identified.
We come full circle. Is this the standard we want our country to be held to? Do we want entertainment value to supersede the values of truth, trust, and loyalty? No. We don't. Even the people that believe that's what they want don't want that. Our country's democracy is at stake if we allow entertainment to rule over truth.
If you want to know why people show their emotions--wearing their hearts on their sleeves--when others belittle them for seeking the truth--that's why. The potential to lose our democracy. The potential for all of the positive change our country has experienced over the last decade being wiped away, because too many people are caught up in the game not to realize how detrimental playing along impacts our society.
We're better than this. Let's keep trying to raise our standards instead of allowing racism and misogyny to win the day.
Hard to believe this still needs to be said in 2018.
- PatInTheHat
I haven't written a politically charged post in quite some time, and the one stressed thread in the seam that has kept those opinions in is close to snapping. In order to release some of that pressure, let me just talk about one quick little topic: Standards.
In case the news hasn't hit your social media feed(s), Elizabeth Warren took the DNA test that Trump bribed her to take a couple years ago for $1M towards a charity of her choice if the results came back positive. His words. No, really. Trump said that. It wasn't written. It wasn't some words put into his mouth by a liberal cog whom writes some meaningless blog no one reads. He said it. On camera. Indisputably.
A few things came out of this news: 1. Democrats, Warren supporters, and people who just like the truth looked at the facts and said, "Ha! It's the birther shit all over. Wrong again. Give her charity-of-choice the money, Trump!" 2. Trump FIRST denied ever saying this. Camera shows that not only did he say it, but he also called her racial slurs and condescended the #MeToo movement in the same sentence. 3. Some Republicans called BS. Even if it's not BS, she loses. Trump wins. She played his game. "This is why Democrats lose." 4. Trump admits to the bribe, but he then stipulates he would have to test her personally--himself. No, really, he says that, too. On camera. Indisputably--in order to grant her the $1M. 5. A Cherokee Native American makes a statement saying the DNA test doesn't matter. She's not Native American enough to call herself Native American. 6. Elizabeth Warren's political currency decreases. Trump uses Cherokee's words to tarnish ancestry and, potentially, her career.
That's the basic layout. So why the unrest? Good question.
The problem here isn't that Elizabeth Warren's political currency decreased, but rather why Elizabeth Warren's political currency decreased. Why does racism, misogyny, and, ultimately, trash talk prevail over truth? I don't actually know the answer to the question, but I know it's reality.
To give Republicans credit, they're not wrong. They're not wrong when they say, "This is why Democrats lose." That certainly does seem to be the case. "This" being the constant and undying search for the truth, for facts, for decency. Many democratic politicians care so much about the truth that they do not recognize how "uncool" the truth is nowadays. What it looks like to me is that people--because I'm not so sure it's just Republicans anymore--don't want the truth; they don't want political correctness; they don't even really want to talk about policy--they just want to be entertained. So, by Elizabeth Warren getting the DNA test done "the people" got what they wanted! They got entertained! The aforementioned domino effect from 1 to 6 seems to be what people *really* wanted based on their reactions. So, why doesn't Warren get credited for the entertainment value? That's easy: Trump's the MC and Warren's the heckler.
"Why" identified.
We come full circle. Is this the standard we want our country to be held to? Do we want entertainment value to supersede the values of truth, trust, and loyalty? No. We don't. Even the people that believe that's what they want don't want that. Our country's democracy is at stake if we allow entertainment to rule over truth.
If you want to know why people show their emotions--wearing their hearts on their sleeves--when others belittle them for seeking the truth--that's why. The potential to lose our democracy. The potential for all of the positive change our country has experienced over the last decade being wiped away, because too many people are caught up in the game not to realize how detrimental playing along impacts our society.
We're better than this. Let's keep trying to raise our standards instead of allowing racism and misogyny to win the day.
Hard to believe this still needs to be said in 2018.
- PatInTheHat
Friday, August 3, 2018
Incandescent (Part 1)
Red, compact fishnet stockings lie flat on the brown shag carpet of a once-nice, 1970's style hotel room floor. On the tan sheets of a contemporary King-sized mattress sleeps a male, half-naked forty-something with the only thing keeping him from complete indecency--although, it's probably a little late for that--a white, yellow-stained undershirt.
"Hey. Hey! Get the fuck up. GET. THE. FUCK. UP! Come on, let's go!"
Elin, a tall, young black haired blue-eyed Russian wearing nothing but a red bra and matching panties bursts out of the adjacent bathroom with no fucks left to give. The mess of a man on the bed is still struggling to move quicker than a Dead Sea snail.
"Hey!!" Elin yells again. This time she stomps to the bed and shoots her lips to his ear. She starts with a whisper.
"The fuck out of here right now. THE FUCK OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW!"
The listless man finally gets up and sits at the foot of the bed. He smirks.
"What's with all the yellin', sweetheart? Got somewhere to be?"
"YUP!"
Done with his lack of energy, Elin grabs his pants, his socks, his shoes, and chucks them out the door. She then comes back to him, grabs him by the back collar of his black button-up shirt that he just managed to get on, drags him out of the hotel room, and releases him over his shit. Before he's able to let out more than a "Hey!" she slams the door at his face.
"Shit. Wait." After taking just a few steps back towards the bed, Elin turns back towards the door. She opens it, walks over the bore, picks up his pants, pulls out his wallet, takes the money that he owes her, and throws the wallet back at him.
"See ya later, baby," she says, this time with soft sexiness, and shuts the door one last time.
A vixen? No. A depraved woman on the last leg of her life? Fuck no. Late? Well...always. She is a voluptuous sex worker by night and the Captain of the LVPD by day. The only fucks she gives are during her night shifts, and even then it's all for the money. Behind the lights and charisma of the Vegas strip, it's a tough town, and sometimes the only way to beat it is to be it.
Jim, Elin's twenty something male secretary was waiting patiently at his desk in the station until he decided to shoot his boss a quick call. He sported a short beard, but the personality didn't fit. With brown hair and kind, blue eyes Jim didn't exactly present as a walking threatopotamus.
"What is it, James?"
"Per usual: coffee's on the desk, Cam is already bitching about something, and Mayor Ken is doing a press conference at 10am."
"10am!?!?"
"Yeah, remember? Dead woman tethered to..."
"...the flagpole. Yeah. Right. Fuck. He's doing the conference at the station, right? Figure out a way to stall! I'll be there in 5."
She would not be there in 5. Or 10. But 15 minutes later, a disarranged Elin spilled into the police station where, as if only to be an eye-roll personified, Jim, waiting patiently by the door, held an outstretched cup of coffee in his left hand.
"I couldn't stall him that long. In fact, I think he's...just getting done."
"Did you even stall...at all?"
"Define 'stall.'"
Elin sighed loud enough for moonlings to hear.
"Look, I realize I get paid to basically cover for you, but I can't help you suck less at your actual job." Jim was done. He enjoyed having Elin as a boss, because he knew he could be straight with her just like a friend would be in trying situations. The problem was that Jim would either receive the short end of the stick in the form of colleague backlash or Elin backlash. This time, he needed Elin to know that today she can kindly fuck off.
"Are you telling me to fuck off?" Elin sarcastically inquired.
"Kindly, yes."
"Fair enough. Now get out of my face."
As Jim returned to his desk, Elin meandered to her office while handling glares from the rest of the station.
END OF PART 1
"Hey. Hey! Get the fuck up. GET. THE. FUCK. UP! Come on, let's go!"
Elin, a tall, young black haired blue-eyed Russian wearing nothing but a red bra and matching panties bursts out of the adjacent bathroom with no fucks left to give. The mess of a man on the bed is still struggling to move quicker than a Dead Sea snail.
"Hey!!" Elin yells again. This time she stomps to the bed and shoots her lips to his ear. She starts with a whisper.
"The fuck out of here right now. THE FUCK OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW!"
The listless man finally gets up and sits at the foot of the bed. He smirks.
"What's with all the yellin', sweetheart? Got somewhere to be?"
"YUP!"
Done with his lack of energy, Elin grabs his pants, his socks, his shoes, and chucks them out the door. She then comes back to him, grabs him by the back collar of his black button-up shirt that he just managed to get on, drags him out of the hotel room, and releases him over his shit. Before he's able to let out more than a "Hey!" she slams the door at his face.
"Shit. Wait." After taking just a few steps back towards the bed, Elin turns back towards the door. She opens it, walks over the bore, picks up his pants, pulls out his wallet, takes the money that he owes her, and throws the wallet back at him.
"See ya later, baby," she says, this time with soft sexiness, and shuts the door one last time.
A vixen? No. A depraved woman on the last leg of her life? Fuck no. Late? Well...always. She is a voluptuous sex worker by night and the Captain of the LVPD by day. The only fucks she gives are during her night shifts, and even then it's all for the money. Behind the lights and charisma of the Vegas strip, it's a tough town, and sometimes the only way to beat it is to be it.
Jim, Elin's twenty something male secretary was waiting patiently at his desk in the station until he decided to shoot his boss a quick call. He sported a short beard, but the personality didn't fit. With brown hair and kind, blue eyes Jim didn't exactly present as a walking threatopotamus.
"What is it, James?"
"Per usual: coffee's on the desk, Cam is already bitching about something, and Mayor Ken is doing a press conference at 10am."
"10am!?!?"
"Yeah, remember? Dead woman tethered to..."
"...the flagpole. Yeah. Right. Fuck. He's doing the conference at the station, right? Figure out a way to stall! I'll be there in 5."
She would not be there in 5. Or 10. But 15 minutes later, a disarranged Elin spilled into the police station where, as if only to be an eye-roll personified, Jim, waiting patiently by the door, held an outstretched cup of coffee in his left hand.
"I couldn't stall him that long. In fact, I think he's...just getting done."
"Did you even stall...at all?"
"Define 'stall.'"
Elin sighed loud enough for moonlings to hear.
"Look, I realize I get paid to basically cover for you, but I can't help you suck less at your actual job." Jim was done. He enjoyed having Elin as a boss, because he knew he could be straight with her just like a friend would be in trying situations. The problem was that Jim would either receive the short end of the stick in the form of colleague backlash or Elin backlash. This time, he needed Elin to know that today she can kindly fuck off.
"Are you telling me to fuck off?" Elin sarcastically inquired.
"Kindly, yes."
"Fair enough. Now get out of my face."
As Jim returned to his desk, Elin meandered to her office while handling glares from the rest of the station.
END OF PART 1
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
13 Reasons (Season 2 Review w/ Spoilers)
Hello, readers! It's been a while since I've written into the blogosphere in paragraph form, so I thought it only fitting to send my greetings and salutations. Hope you've all been well.
The following is a review of Season 2 of the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why that centers around the aftermath of a female student--Hannah Baker--whom commits suicide and leaves behind a set of tapes that give her reasons for why she decided to end her own life.
The setting comes 5 to 6 months after Hannah's death, and the season revolves around the previously unanticipated court hearing between Hannah's parents and the school. Similar to last season, the characters, the actors, and the writers of the show are the reasons that this season hits a home run. Not only does the show continue delving into the first season's core themes i.e. depression, suicide, rape, and assault, it ups the ante with new, lesser mentioned themes across the mainstream that include teenage drug use, school shooters, and--on a lighter note--the kind of unity that creates life long friendships despite the seemingly impossible-to-handle life moments.
Every actor does an exceptional job at creating awkward to ominous characters. A super special shout out deserves to be given to Justin Prentice who plays Bryce Walker on the show. It's an extremely difficult character to play: An antagonist that quite literally rapes his problems away. Thankfully, there has been a major outpouring of support and love for him to have the courage to play such a despicable role. (As a brief aside: There are videos of Justin reading letters from fans online who specifically express their gratitude towards him. It's very touching and worth the watch. but I'd recommend having a tissue or two nearby).
The strongest character this season is the school counselor, Mr. Kevin Porter. While an argument can be made for any one of the characters i.e. Alex Standall, who we discover in the beginning of the new season unsuccessfully committed suicide with a gun shot wound to the head, Mrs. Baker, who needs to handle most of the court procession on her own, because her ex-husband is seeking comfort from another woman, or Jessica, who keeps being reminded throughout the season of being raped or sexually assaulted. Mr. Porter, though, has a particular kind of character development that demands to be paid attention to. In the first season, Mr. Porter comes across as an aloof rookie Jr. Psychologist who wore the proverbial tin helmet to help make pretend that nothing bad happens to kids in school. In his numerous conversations with Hannah, nothing specifically clued him in to give feedback to her parents or help her when she needed it the most. His inability to connect with any student in a way that showed his genuine concern ultimately lead to fights on school property and Hannah's death. While he is not directly at fault for those occurrences, it's clear by the end of the first season that his lack of effort and inexperience serves as intangible linchpins that start the domino effect of unfortunate events.
Mr. Porter in the second season is a man to be reckoned with. Stricken with the guilt of Hannah's suicide, he starts to make it his mission to clean house. Knowing that Bryce raped Hannah and Jessica, Mr. Porter makes it his personal mission to be sure Bryce doesn't go near Jessica once she returns to school. The scene in the men's bathroom is specifically momentous, as he puts Bryce in a choke hold and slams him against the bathroom wall, thus asserting that he, not Bryce, is in control of the overall situation. And before they leave, he's sure to tell Bryce not to be seen anywhere near Jessica unless he wants more physical repercussions. Mr. Porter even ends up visiting Justin's mom's house, where he gets in a physical altercation with her boyfriend Seth while needing little provocation. Later in the season, Mr. Porter testifies in court where he explicitly apologizes to Mrs. Baker during his testimony through tears. In the most heart wrenching moments of the season, Mr. Porter says with remorse, "I coulda done more. I coulda stopped her from walking out that door. She didn't just leave. I let her go...I was just tryin' to do the right thing. I was following protocol. Protocol probably needs to change. But more importantly, Kevin Porter needs to change. Mrs. Baker, I didn't mean to let your daughter down...Sorry."
Much to the chagrin of the viewing audience, the Bryce Walker saga comes to a disappointing end. While he ends up on trial for Jessica's rape he is found guilty, but the judge only sentences him to 3 months probation. Infuriating? Yes. But as the writers explain in the after show segment "Beyond the Reasons," which immediately follows the last episode of season 2, the average sentence for a young, white male first offender of sexual assault is extremely lenient. Anyone who finishes watching the season, but feels like there are more questions than answers, it would be advisable to watch "Beyond the Reasons."
While this article includes plenty of spoilers, I'm going to hold back from spoiling the ending. Many of the themes/tropes used within the confines of the show are for the purposes of getting a larger conversation going regarding mental health issues, sexual assault, bullying, and the like. I hope that if you're someone who was able to get through the show that you continue to have an open mind when it comes to issues, such as the aforementioned conversational points, you may not understand very well.
I give the second season of 13 Reasons Why a solid 9 out of 10. The effort it must have taken the writers and show runners to produce this kind of show with the delicacy and study that they did is impressive and--for the purposes of getting a global conversation going--inspirational.
If you are someone who has been a victim of any of the show's themes, please only watch this series with friends or loved ones. And I'd advise even further not to binge watch the series due to the show's emotional heaviness. Please take breaks.
- PatInTheHat
The following is a review of Season 2 of the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why that centers around the aftermath of a female student--Hannah Baker--whom commits suicide and leaves behind a set of tapes that give her reasons for why she decided to end her own life.
The setting comes 5 to 6 months after Hannah's death, and the season revolves around the previously unanticipated court hearing between Hannah's parents and the school. Similar to last season, the characters, the actors, and the writers of the show are the reasons that this season hits a home run. Not only does the show continue delving into the first season's core themes i.e. depression, suicide, rape, and assault, it ups the ante with new, lesser mentioned themes across the mainstream that include teenage drug use, school shooters, and--on a lighter note--the kind of unity that creates life long friendships despite the seemingly impossible-to-handle life moments.
Every actor does an exceptional job at creating awkward to ominous characters. A super special shout out deserves to be given to Justin Prentice who plays Bryce Walker on the show. It's an extremely difficult character to play: An antagonist that quite literally rapes his problems away. Thankfully, there has been a major outpouring of support and love for him to have the courage to play such a despicable role. (As a brief aside: There are videos of Justin reading letters from fans online who specifically express their gratitude towards him. It's very touching and worth the watch. but I'd recommend having a tissue or two nearby).
The strongest character this season is the school counselor, Mr. Kevin Porter. While an argument can be made for any one of the characters i.e. Alex Standall, who we discover in the beginning of the new season unsuccessfully committed suicide with a gun shot wound to the head, Mrs. Baker, who needs to handle most of the court procession on her own, because her ex-husband is seeking comfort from another woman, or Jessica, who keeps being reminded throughout the season of being raped or sexually assaulted. Mr. Porter, though, has a particular kind of character development that demands to be paid attention to. In the first season, Mr. Porter comes across as an aloof rookie Jr. Psychologist who wore the proverbial tin helmet to help make pretend that nothing bad happens to kids in school. In his numerous conversations with Hannah, nothing specifically clued him in to give feedback to her parents or help her when she needed it the most. His inability to connect with any student in a way that showed his genuine concern ultimately lead to fights on school property and Hannah's death. While he is not directly at fault for those occurrences, it's clear by the end of the first season that his lack of effort and inexperience serves as intangible linchpins that start the domino effect of unfortunate events.
Mr. Porter in the second season is a man to be reckoned with. Stricken with the guilt of Hannah's suicide, he starts to make it his mission to clean house. Knowing that Bryce raped Hannah and Jessica, Mr. Porter makes it his personal mission to be sure Bryce doesn't go near Jessica once she returns to school. The scene in the men's bathroom is specifically momentous, as he puts Bryce in a choke hold and slams him against the bathroom wall, thus asserting that he, not Bryce, is in control of the overall situation. And before they leave, he's sure to tell Bryce not to be seen anywhere near Jessica unless he wants more physical repercussions. Mr. Porter even ends up visiting Justin's mom's house, where he gets in a physical altercation with her boyfriend Seth while needing little provocation. Later in the season, Mr. Porter testifies in court where he explicitly apologizes to Mrs. Baker during his testimony through tears. In the most heart wrenching moments of the season, Mr. Porter says with remorse, "I coulda done more. I coulda stopped her from walking out that door. She didn't just leave. I let her go...I was just tryin' to do the right thing. I was following protocol. Protocol probably needs to change. But more importantly, Kevin Porter needs to change. Mrs. Baker, I didn't mean to let your daughter down...Sorry."
Much to the chagrin of the viewing audience, the Bryce Walker saga comes to a disappointing end. While he ends up on trial for Jessica's rape he is found guilty, but the judge only sentences him to 3 months probation. Infuriating? Yes. But as the writers explain in the after show segment "Beyond the Reasons," which immediately follows the last episode of season 2, the average sentence for a young, white male first offender of sexual assault is extremely lenient. Anyone who finishes watching the season, but feels like there are more questions than answers, it would be advisable to watch "Beyond the Reasons."
While this article includes plenty of spoilers, I'm going to hold back from spoiling the ending. Many of the themes/tropes used within the confines of the show are for the purposes of getting a larger conversation going regarding mental health issues, sexual assault, bullying, and the like. I hope that if you're someone who was able to get through the show that you continue to have an open mind when it comes to issues, such as the aforementioned conversational points, you may not understand very well.
I give the second season of 13 Reasons Why a solid 9 out of 10. The effort it must have taken the writers and show runners to produce this kind of show with the delicacy and study that they did is impressive and--for the purposes of getting a global conversation going--inspirational.
If you are someone who has been a victim of any of the show's themes, please only watch this series with friends or loved ones. And I'd advise even further not to binge watch the series due to the show's emotional heaviness. Please take breaks.
- PatInTheHat
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Roam
Here she comes
The one
That called the
Monster
Home
Brushed the
Spider Web
Took a book alone
And read
That star gazers
Can't choose which
Stars to gaze
Didn't phase her
She said
"Not by my
Eyes"
She is a
Storm
Born
From seemingly
Insurmountable nightmares
All of which were
Conquered
Quietly with
Air fare that
Made sure she
Was not
Nowhere
But rather
"There"
A new state that
Made her
Aware
The thunder is
Her heartbeat
And her love
Shocks
Like
Lightening
Tears falling like
Rain drops
On to a
World
Previously unknown
Cold hands
Covering warm face
Streetlights flickering as
The sun of
Brotherly love
Embraces and
Father time is
Acknoweledged
"You can't create
The world in
Seven days"
He said
"But you can
Be
Someone's world
In an instant
Just remember
Be your world
First
And the rest
Will work"
Her heart opens
And the
Sun
Shines through the clouds
"This is my moment
I'll make myself proud"
- PatInTheHat
The one
That called the
Monster
Home
Brushed the
Spider Web
Took a book alone
And read
That star gazers
Can't choose which
Stars to gaze
Didn't phase her
She said
"Not by my
Eyes"
She is a
Storm
Born
From seemingly
Insurmountable nightmares
All of which were
Conquered
Quietly with
Air fare that
Made sure she
Was not
Nowhere
But rather
"There"
A new state that
Made her
Aware
The thunder is
Her heartbeat
And her love
Shocks
Like
Lightening
Tears falling like
Rain drops
On to a
World
Previously unknown
Cold hands
Covering warm face
Streetlights flickering as
The sun of
Brotherly love
Embraces and
Father time is
Acknoweledged
"You can't create
The world in
Seven days"
He said
"But you can
Be
Someone's world
In an instant
Just remember
Be your world
First
And the rest
Will work"
Her heart opens
And the
Sun
Shines through the clouds
"This is my moment
I'll make myself proud"
- PatInTheHat
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
NOprah
There seems to be a trending fascination among Americans that watching the world burn is actually pretty fun.
While people continue to fantasize about what it would be like to live in a Post-Apocalyptic world by watching their favorite TV shows and movies, i.e. The Walking Dead, I Am Legend, The Book of Eli, etc., the signs of a non-fiction version of the apocalypse are displayed on our favorite news stations. For example, channels like CNN and MSNBC regularly have conversations to the effect of the following questions: Is Donald Trump actually going to press the nuke button? Is he going to drive someone else, like Kim Jong Un, to press the nuke button? Is some other fed up, last-leg nation going to press the nuke button, because they have nothing left to lose? These inquisitive scenarios are all hypothetical, but if just one of them happened, then there you have it: A kind of post-apocalypse in the making.
During 2017, we saw the face of the US's potential demise sworn in as POTUS. Similar to how many of us felt on November 9th, 2016, January 20th, 2017 wasn't much better. Many of us could see what was on the way: Social progress derailment, the loss of confidence and support from our foreign allies, the spiraling crash landing of a once great nation. Now that we're in January, 2018, we can all see that we were, fortunately, pretty wrong. Sure, Trump has tried--continues to try--to thwart social progress, to make sworn enemies threaten nuclear war, to masquerade his idiocy with intellect, but overall he's been unsuccessful. Today, social groups, protesters, anti-fascists, and the like are out in droves to maintain some semblance of sanity. The Trump administration has taught us, perhaps more so than any other administration in the history of the US of A, that a presidency does not define the rest of the country and that the government can only lead effectively through partnership with the rest of the American people. I'm confident that we all previously thought that to be true, but the evidence in support is direct. The "Stable Genius" can't solely rely on the horses he appointed to pass country-wide federal laws.
What we absolutely can not do is fight insanity with insanity--the metaphorical "watching the world burn." At the Golden Globes this past week, Oprah Winfrey gave an absolutely magnificent speech upon receipt of the Cecil B. DeMille award. She absolutely deserves the lifetime achievement award, and her speech on sexual harassment, along with her support of the #MeToo movement was powerful! Her work in and out of film has been exemplary. Sure, she may have been the reason for some people we might not like so much, i.e. Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, etc., but I have little doubt that her heart was and always has been in the right place. I even look forward to her performance in the live action remake of one of my favorite books "A Wrinkle in Time." That said, she absolutely should not run for presidency. Though I agree that Oprah would be a better president than Donald Trump, it doesn't mean it should happen. Harking back to overly sarcastic, exaggerated statements like, "Bah! My big toe could be a better president than he is!" The dissection of which would resolve to something like, "1. This is probably true, but 2. It shouldn't happen. Your big toe should not run for presidency. I would guess it's fairly consistently in the dark on major topics."
Ha.
The Trump administration has fostered the formation of hard working, no nonsense protesters as well as, on the other hand, large-scale complacency throughout the country for the desperate desire of having anyone else not named "Trump" as president. It needs to be understood: This. Is. A. Problem. Too. This is not to say that Oprah is a know-nothing bullshitter. She's intelligent. She's kind. Her generosity is right around Ellen level. She has connections. She has the money to run, campaign, etc. But, and similar to the questions we were all asking about Trump, what on Earth does she know about running a country? Does she understand economics on a national and even global scale? Does she know anything about running a military? Does she understand the consequences of both militaristic actions and the lack thereof? Socially speaking, I don't have any questions. I have no doubt that she has the capability of championing minority groups into the future, but we all know that's not all what the presidency is about. This is also not to say that the next president needs to be a seasoned politician. I'm not of that belief. Politicians, as we have seen, have the same capability of running the country into the ground as a non-politician. There are, however, many up and coming politicians, i.e. Kamala Harris, Joe Kennedy III, to name a couple, and others that are great-minded, younger politicians with a solid political background, many of whom have social progress, economic progress, and the gradual ease of aggressive military strategy as major platform attachments.
The biggest lesson anyone can learn from the past election is to take elections in general more seriously. A country is not a game show--it shouldn't be run by a game show host. A country is, more than land, the people whom inhabit it. And if the majority of the people who inhabit it are genuinely afraid of someone leading the country into a deeper pit of ignorant marginalization, economic disparity, and an overall fear for well being, then maybe we should listen.
- PatInTheHat
While people continue to fantasize about what it would be like to live in a Post-Apocalyptic world by watching their favorite TV shows and movies, i.e. The Walking Dead, I Am Legend, The Book of Eli, etc., the signs of a non-fiction version of the apocalypse are displayed on our favorite news stations. For example, channels like CNN and MSNBC regularly have conversations to the effect of the following questions: Is Donald Trump actually going to press the nuke button? Is he going to drive someone else, like Kim Jong Un, to press the nuke button? Is some other fed up, last-leg nation going to press the nuke button, because they have nothing left to lose? These inquisitive scenarios are all hypothetical, but if just one of them happened, then there you have it: A kind of post-apocalypse in the making.
During 2017, we saw the face of the US's potential demise sworn in as POTUS. Similar to how many of us felt on November 9th, 2016, January 20th, 2017 wasn't much better. Many of us could see what was on the way: Social progress derailment, the loss of confidence and support from our foreign allies, the spiraling crash landing of a once great nation. Now that we're in January, 2018, we can all see that we were, fortunately, pretty wrong. Sure, Trump has tried--continues to try--to thwart social progress, to make sworn enemies threaten nuclear war, to masquerade his idiocy with intellect, but overall he's been unsuccessful. Today, social groups, protesters, anti-fascists, and the like are out in droves to maintain some semblance of sanity. The Trump administration has taught us, perhaps more so than any other administration in the history of the US of A, that a presidency does not define the rest of the country and that the government can only lead effectively through partnership with the rest of the American people. I'm confident that we all previously thought that to be true, but the evidence in support is direct. The "Stable Genius" can't solely rely on the horses he appointed to pass country-wide federal laws.
What we absolutely can not do is fight insanity with insanity--the metaphorical "watching the world burn." At the Golden Globes this past week, Oprah Winfrey gave an absolutely magnificent speech upon receipt of the Cecil B. DeMille award. She absolutely deserves the lifetime achievement award, and her speech on sexual harassment, along with her support of the #MeToo movement was powerful! Her work in and out of film has been exemplary. Sure, she may have been the reason for some people we might not like so much, i.e. Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, etc., but I have little doubt that her heart was and always has been in the right place. I even look forward to her performance in the live action remake of one of my favorite books "A Wrinkle in Time." That said, she absolutely should not run for presidency. Though I agree that Oprah would be a better president than Donald Trump, it doesn't mean it should happen. Harking back to overly sarcastic, exaggerated statements like, "Bah! My big toe could be a better president than he is!" The dissection of which would resolve to something like, "1. This is probably true, but 2. It shouldn't happen. Your big toe should not run for presidency. I would guess it's fairly consistently in the dark on major topics."
Ha.
The Trump administration has fostered the formation of hard working, no nonsense protesters as well as, on the other hand, large-scale complacency throughout the country for the desperate desire of having anyone else not named "Trump" as president. It needs to be understood: This. Is. A. Problem. Too. This is not to say that Oprah is a know-nothing bullshitter. She's intelligent. She's kind. Her generosity is right around Ellen level. She has connections. She has the money to run, campaign, etc. But, and similar to the questions we were all asking about Trump, what on Earth does she know about running a country? Does she understand economics on a national and even global scale? Does she know anything about running a military? Does she understand the consequences of both militaristic actions and the lack thereof? Socially speaking, I don't have any questions. I have no doubt that she has the capability of championing minority groups into the future, but we all know that's not all what the presidency is about. This is also not to say that the next president needs to be a seasoned politician. I'm not of that belief. Politicians, as we have seen, have the same capability of running the country into the ground as a non-politician. There are, however, many up and coming politicians, i.e. Kamala Harris, Joe Kennedy III, to name a couple, and others that are great-minded, younger politicians with a solid political background, many of whom have social progress, economic progress, and the gradual ease of aggressive military strategy as major platform attachments.
The biggest lesson anyone can learn from the past election is to take elections in general more seriously. A country is not a game show--it shouldn't be run by a game show host. A country is, more than land, the people whom inhabit it. And if the majority of the people who inhabit it are genuinely afraid of someone leading the country into a deeper pit of ignorant marginalization, economic disparity, and an overall fear for well being, then maybe we should listen.
- PatInTheHat
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