Monday's Random Thoughts

 

A lot of things happening, and a lot of thoughts, so let’s see if we can pound them into some sort of shape.

A DIFFERENT TIME: I’ve been saying that phrase a lot lately. I can trace some of it back to the fact that we had a small high school reunion to celebrate the 35^th anniversary of our graduation (damn, I’m old). Anyway, as we reminisced, there were a lot of things that we shook our heads about that just wouldn’t fly in today’s world.

But as we laughed a lot of that away that night, something came and slapped us across the face this past week, as my alma mater – Anaheim’s Loara High School – ended up in the news for something other than the latest news about our most famous graduate, Gwen Stefani.

Two women came forward to file complaints about a former member of the band direction staff at Loara, who they have alleged groomed then sexually abused them – including fathering a child. (I don’t believe he was officially a member of the faculty at that point – at least he’s not listed as “faculty” in my yearbooks.) It happened during the years I was at Loara, but I didn’t run heavily in band circles, so this came as news to me – but did not surprise me in the least.

There was a lot of things happening around our school that easily could be described as creepy or skeevy. Rumors about relationships – appropriate and otherwise – would find their way around the school. There was one in athletics that probably wasn’t happening, but certainly seemed like it was. And there was a teacher from my freshman year who was absolutely engaging in ways that were wholly inappropriate (even for the time). He only lasted one year at our school.

Friends from my era have come forward as the news has come out to support and confirm at least the knowledge that something had been going on. And there’s no reason to believe there wasn’t, because it was a different time. And considering his age at the time (he’s still an active teacher in the district), it probably wouldn’t have raised as many eyebrows as it should have – and absolutely would have today.

What probably happened at the time was what always happened when one of the girls was “in trouble” (code for pregnant in most cases). They were disappeared off to the continuation school where they wouldn’t be a distraction, or cause more problems. And I don’t mean transferred – I mean disappeared. As in gone not to be mentioned ever again on campus. Mind you – the guys were never “in trouble” in the same way, or accountable. Sure, there were plenty of boys transferred out, but they were there for fighting or being aggressively disruptive. Any other bad behavior – especially when it came to the “conquest” – was winked at, almost celebrated.

That was the era we were in. Teen pregnancy was something that was dealt with by shunning the girls. No one was “out” in the way a high schooler could be today. Sure, I had classmates who were queer, but no one broadcasted it – even when it should have been obvious to everyone. And we grew up using tools and phrases that would get you canceled in a heartbeat today.

It hurts that it took 37 years for this to properly come to light. But I still can’t say I’m surprised. It was a different time.

ON THE MENU: The minute he said it, I laughed. And laughed some more.

Honestly, my first thought was to half joke, “So what? Who made him (and the others) the food police? Who decided that we could eat cows and pigs but not other animals?” (Now, if there was actual theft involved, then, yeah, that’s illegal. But that didn’t feel like the place the outrage was coming from.)

 

But then – after more laughter, and an internet full of remixes and memes – I got to thinking about how bad this really is.

Because think about what this boils down to in the end: Racism, plain and simple. Haitian immigrants – who are here legally – are being targeted for the same reason that they’ve been targeted throughout history. And by calling them out the way they have been, they’ve all but been called savages – another thing that people have used to other peoples throughout the years. Frankly, it feels like he went there because using the word that he really would want to use for them (it starts with n), it might actually finally get him in so much trouble that even he might not recover from it.

It reminds me about how we were always told we would be judged by the company we keep. Well, I’m sure that not every person who supports the former guy is an out-and-out racist. But I sure as hell believe that every racist is supporting him. And by dropping this into the public sphere the way it has been is just bringing out more and more actual hate that we don’t need more of in this world.

MISDIRECT: As more and more of what happened Sunday outside of the former guy’s golf club comes to light, I have been able to back away from the ledge. Because my initial thoughts were getting me ready to jump head on into conspiracy theory range.

For years and years, one of their favorite excuses for … well … everything, was blaming it on a False Flag operation. So, what better way is there to squash all the bad press of the last week than having to be rushed to safety over another apparent attack on his life?

Again, I try not to jump head first into conspiracy theories like that – that’s what the other side does. So I’m glad that I’ve spent the day waiting to see what the reporting bears out as far as what happened Sunday afternoon before sitting down to write this. But man, it remains awfully convenient that after the week of “they’re eating the dogs” and “concepts of a plan,” this distraction came along to change the national conversation. And all the 24-hour news networks dove right into it, dedicating their day (and night) to the story. (As well, they should, I mean, a presidential candidate was almost shot – again – but let’s stick to the facts and not make him out like a martyr.)

While we’ll still remain calm and stay away from the conspiracy ledge, I do have one remaining question for all those supporters of the former guy: Can we talk about gun control now? I mean, that’s two people who got close enough with an assault rifle who apparently meant him harm. Is now the time we can talk about it?

 

Setting the Record Straight (I hope)

Can we just get a few things straight, please?

You can believe whatever you want ... but it doesn't always mean it's true. For example:

• Children are not having operations to change their gender at schools. You're telling me that a school that is struggling to find enough money to provide their teachers enough supplies is all of a sudden conducting operations? Really? You believe that? Have you been to your local school lately? Most of them can't afford bandages let alone conduct surgeries. Oh, and none of them are using kitty litter to use the bathroom, either, so get that thought out of your head. Teachers ain't got time for that.
  
  
• Teachers are not indoctrinating your children. If they had the power to indoctrinate their students, then the students would get their homework done, listen to instructions, understand how to log in to their laptops without help, not talk during lessons, not fight ... you get the idea. The one thing teachers are trying to do is to teach them how to be better people. How to be more accepting of others. Understand the meaning of the golden rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (without relying on the Bible). Maybe if they learn to accept people, we'd have less bullying, fighting, and mental health issues.
  
  
• Infants that have been born are not being killed. People would be going to jail for doing that. If a child IS born and dies ... that happens. There are some who are stillborn. Pregnancy and childbirth is not always perfect. Things go wrong. Some children are born in hospitals that don't have the proper tools to keep them alive if there is an emergency. And some mothers DIE in childbirth because people don't think it's important for there to be proper prenatal care for pregnant women. If you care so much, help provide more prenatal services across rural areas instead of putting up more restrictions and road blocks that put the lives of the mothers and children at risk.
   
• No one is coming for your guns. We don't want them. If we wanted guns, we would have guns. The thing is, however, we want there to be rules for safety. You have to complete training and pass a test before you're issued a driver's license - why shouldn't you have to do something similar to have a weapon? A gun safety class every few years doesn't seem like it would infringe on anyone's right to own a gun. Insurance or a background check seems simple, too. And a weapon of war does not need to be in the hands of anyone not in war. You can't just go out and buy a tank as your primary vehicle. (Yes, I get that you want to be able to "hold the government accountable," but really, is your life that bad - and would you know it when you saw it?) School children especially aren't threats, so can we leave them be to grow up without gun violence?
  
  
• Your religion - your faith - is yours and yours alone. And, again, there is no government war against your beliefs in the United States. (Have to choose the words carefully, because there certainly is a war being fought over religion in other parts of the world.) Remember, most of the early English settlers in this country were fleeing for religious freedom. They were being persecuted for the way they wanted to practice their beliefs, to the point that they were subject to fines, imprisonment, and execution for going against the official Church of England. So advocating for the government to adopt rules based on one set of religious beliefs feels antithetical to why people came to this continent in the first place. And the founders believed in the freedom of religion and expression so much that they made it the first amendment to their Bill of Rights. Sure, a lot of those who were seeking their religious freedom were different factions of Christianity, but when you make a point of writing down "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," people might take notice and believe it applies to everyone. So stop trying to make laws because that's what your religion says. Some of us have other beliefs - or not practice a religion at all.
  
  
• Not everyone who disagrees with you is against you. We don't have to fight over every little disagreement. Not all of us are ever going to agree on every little thing. But we can talk to one another to come up with solutions that will be beneficial for (or acceptable to) the majority of people. That has been the way our country has worked for hundreds of years - compromise. Working together for the believed betterment of our country.
  
  
• You can have your own beliefs, but you cannot have your own facts. And while history is written by the winners, it's not always a complete accounting. No winner is going to tell about all the corners they cut to get there. The people they stepped on or over. Just because something doesn't fit in your worldview doesn't mean it's wrong. Just because you learned it in school doesn't mean you got the whole story.
  
  
• People who are "different" - gay, trans, nonbinary, whatever - aren't out recruiting. They're just living their lives without having to hide. Again, just because you don't agree with their lifestyle doesn't mean you have a right to take it away from them. And, no, in a lot of cases, it's not a choice. Can you imagine choosing to live a life where you were being ostracized (or worse) at every turn? Who would consciously do that to themselves? For many, the choice they face is live freely or commit self harm up to and including suicide. 

 

Last thing: Alex Morgan is a badass. That's all.

Monday's Random Thoughts

Some things floating around the brain as we start a new work week...

JUST PLAIN WEIRD: With the changes at the top of the Democratic ticket, the political upheaval has helped energize more than half of the nation and bring some optimism back into the country.

But it has also helped shine a light upon the cruel nature that some people think is just part of the masculine experience in the U.S.

Gus Walz's appearance at the Democratic National Convention professing his love for his father was one of the single-most touching moment that has probably ever happened at a political convention in the history of political conventions. But the idea that there were people out there that found it as an opening to attack America's masculine decline ... well, that weird characterization didn't go far enough.

As someone with a child who has ADHD and social interaction issues - and has spent time around children and teens who cover the range of the socioemotional spectrum - I recognized right away that Gus was someone who - while not necessarily autistic - was someone who would be considered on the spectrum. But that didn't stop the trolls from coming out.

You can read about some of them from USA Today. I love the irony of the childless (I'm guessing non-cat) lady Ann Coulter being one of those who decided to troll the teenager with a now-deleted post. Wonder how she feels about the Vice Weird candidate's thoughts on childless people's stake in America's future?

Thankfully, it also brought out tons of defenders. Up and down Threads, there were people coming out to defend Gus and his family. An opinion piece from the New York Times (gift article) talked about how this might be the moment that can raise awareness of what some of the growing number of neurodivergent children. They are socially awkward. They tend to not know how to react in situations the same way as everyone else. They usually have zero to very few friends. 

But they are also very sweet. They tend to be loving to those who are loving to them. They don't have time or energy to be worried about proving their manhood to others - though they are competitive in their own ways (mine is ultra-competitive with his video game play).

And here's the thing: What's wrong with that? Does the world need more people who shoot first and ask questions later? People who are more concerned with whether or not the world considers them a strongman who is large and in charge rather than showing real human emotion. What are we saying? Are we back to the old men can't cry? (Oh, and women can't laugh?)

It comes back down to what your values are. So many people get upset when they get painted with a wide brush when it comes to who they support. For example, it's easy to say that not all Trump supporters are racists, but it seems as if a large percentage of racists support Trump, so all those "non-racists" get lumped together with the racists. 

So, after all the years of preaching family values, a real family with real love and affection shows up, and suddenly they're attacked by some of the trolls from the right just because the teenage son showed actual emotion. Thankfully it was mostly only hard-core trolls, but again, is that the company other people should want to keep? Or should there more condemnation of attacks - and a realization that not every family, and not every child - is the same?

We should all learn the lesson of the Walz family. Love and support are what should make the world a better place.

MORE WEIRD: One of the things that stood out to me from the DNC was the love and joy that was being spread amongst the participants. Beyond the emotion of Gus Walz, you saw parents and children interacting throughout the event, and it was ... amazing.

And it really shined a light on the differences between the two sides. There were hugs and smiles and dancing (Chuck Schumer really should stop) and interactions that felt genuine. It raised some questions in my mind about the guy on top of the other ticket:

Do you think he ever changed a diaper? Do you think he ever spent time consoling one of his kids when they were sick overnight? Has he even taken the time to hold one of his grandchildren? And where was the loving family support after the attempted assassination at the convention? The whole narrative going into the convention after he was shot was that we would see a calmer, softer, different Trump. And, sure, some of his family was there after his acceptance speech, but when you compare to the feelings we saw at the DNC, can you honestly say there was love amongst those people? Or was it a transactional appearance? 

And that's not even questioning what Gretchen Whitmer questioned: Has he ever been shopping at a grocery store? He did that campaign event with a bunch of groceries lined up behind him recently, and my thoughts immediately went to A) Does he even know what those products are?; B) Which member of his staff went shopping for them? and C) Would he even use any of them himself?

Look, the economy is going to be a big issue during this election, and questioning rising prices is absolutely something I expect him to do (I don't remember necessarily hearing any solutions). But, again, does he really care - I don't really see him doing the shopping for the family. I'm sure we'll hear more over the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

AGELESS MARVEL? The news out of San Diego Comic-Con is a couple of weeks old at this point, but the big news from the Marvel panel was the casting of Doctor Doom for the next round of Avengers movies.

And while I have nothing but respect for the work Robert Downey Jr. has done over the last decade and a half as Tony Stark ... isn't he getting a little long in the tooth to be playing Victor Von Doom? 

I suppose it depends on the story that they will tell ... and what technology they use. And, honestly, I could see it becoming a Pedro-Pascal-as-The-Mandalorian situation, where there's a stunt man/actor who is on set in the suit most of the time, and the voice and glamour shots are all Robert Downey Jr. 

And all they announced him for was the Avengers movies ... not the Fantastic Four movie - which is where we should first meet Victor according to Marvel lore. 

In the end, it will all come down to how it's presented and the hype around it. I'm sure everything will be fine and all the fanboys will be excited and gush about his new trip into the Marvel Universe as it expands. 

But we're also at the point where most of the main players have already officially stepped aside (Chris Evans' appearance in Deadpool and Wolverine was an epic troll) or probably going to age out of their current roles. Age comes for us all, and we can't expect these actors to continue playing the same characters beyond a certain time frame - which means Kevin Feige and Disney need to start thinking of ways to reboot their cash cow.

Make American Graffiti Again - 2024 Edition

When we first moved out to the Inland Empire to further our journalism careers, the general consensus for most of us from Orange County, we were heading out to the sticks. Fontucky. Rialtohoma. 

We have since lived out here for more than half our lives at this point - more out here than behind the Orange Curtain. We've seen the region grow. Become more and more like Orange County, with more and more housing, more shopping, and more of everything.

But every once in a while, something happens to slap you in the face to remind you of the region's past - and some of those who live here that were part of those early judgments of the region. The IE can grow, but it doesn't mean it's completely grown up and left the Tucky part of Fontucky behind.

Every day after I drop our son off at school, I head away from the school toward the freeway to get me to work.You cross a heavily traveled railroad crossing (lots of freight trains), past a recycling yard, and heavy machinery rental businesses, along with logistics and trucking companies. The street Ts at what is basically a freeway frontage road that doesn't have much to speak of.

When you reach the T, there is a hill across the freeway, where at the bottom of it is a now-closed roadhouse restaurant/bar called the Stop Inn. At the top of the hill is a condemned structure that has been overrun with graffiti. But for a long time, there was a big sign supporting Donald Trump. 

It's been gone now for a couple of years. But given the upcoming election, I was almost dreading the return of pro-Trump propaganda up there. Not because I think that someone shouldn't have the right to speak their mind, but because, well, the building is already an eyesore, and having that would just make it more so.

But it didn't show up on that building. It showed up on the billboard that is part of that property. In handwritten black paint. And it wasn't just a pro-Trump message - it was an attack on everyone else.

That first message showed up on a Thursday morning. And it left me a little shook. Because, why? Why make it "personal" like that? The thing is, you know that the person who did that was really proud of himself. "I'll show them."

When I headed off to work Friday morning, the billboard had changed. 

I can only imagine that the person who made this change said, "I fixed your sign for you."

(For the record, we drove by on the freeway Saturday, and dude number one had been back up there and added back the 2024, and changed his attack to "antifa," because that's soooo much better.)

So, yes, no matter how much the Inland Empire has change, it's still kinda the same. There's still people out here who's best idea of a comeback is just to insult you rather than actually have a conversation.

MORE FORMER PRESIDENT: The freeway trip was out to Moreno Valley to take care of an issue with my new glasses (in that I ordered them in May, and they still weren't completed in August).

Anyway, we got parked and were greeted by a car parked in a space for the disabled that was decorated with stickers and flags supporting the convicted felon former president. One of the stickers ready "Trump Won." *eyeroll* Time to move on, people.

We finished our business and returned to our car, and the owner of that car was at his car.

Now, I want you to close your eyes and get the image in your mind of what someone parked in a disabled space, lives in the Inland Empire, and supports Trump might look like. And you would probably be right.

 

 

OK, so dude didn't have a bottle in his hand and was generally better dressed. But, man, when we saw the car, I know we each had a vision of what the person driving that car looked like, and the stereotype we each envisioned turned out to be pretty damn close.  

 

So, yeah, the Inland Empire has grown up and mostly become a purple region - but there are still holdouts that are going to be loud and proud about loving the freedom they get from living out in what was once considered the "sticks" of Southern California.

 

The only problem is that the "sticks" are getting smaller and smaller as developers come in to try and carve out every piece of property they can for warehouses and more homes that less and less of the people who currently live out here can afford. And no matter what candidate you support, getting that to change is going to be a heavy lift. 

 

ONE LAST THING: We have a podcast! Just a pair of Gen Xers sitting around talking and reminiscing about the crazy things we went through and dealt with. Come over and check it out when you can.
 

Check out Just Another Gen X Podcast on Spotify:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/justanothergenxpodcast

Click this link to improve your life!

Congratulations!

You clicked through to see how you – yes, you – can have a better life.

Unfortunately for you, this better life is not going to include magical sums of money, instant fame, or any of the material things you desire.

 

So, what is this great and powerful way to a better life?

Reading comprehension and critical thought!

I’m sorry, does that sound hard? Well, no one said getting everything you want in life is easy. It takes hard work to get where you really want in life. Or, at the very least making the world a less scary place.

What does this include? Well, first off, you don’t believe everything someone says on TikTok (or your favorite short-form video service). Because a lot of the people doing those videos aren’t exactly presenting you with all the information you need to know.

Then, when you go to research their claim, please take the time to read the entire story and not the clickbait headline. Headlines are written to draw your attention to read the story – not tell you the entire story. Lord knows I wrote a ton of headlines in my day that were there just to grab your attention, whether they were puns, plays on words, or big fancy graphic displays.

Why do I bring this up?

People got themselves in a panic because someone on TikTok read a clickbait headline that said Knott’s Berry Farm was going to close permanently after Halloween Haunt this year.

Now, let’s ponder how ridiculous that statement is without wading into the details.

First off, Knott’s is the most important park in the newly minted Cedar Fair/Six Flags merger (now under the name Six Flags). It’s one of the only parks in the group that is open year-round, has the most history (and fans that are dedicated to that history), and comes with its own brand name food empire.

Second, the company just invested in renovating its hotel. It just opened a newly renovated Camp Snoopy (another IP that is helping them rake in money). Another renovated area just reopened last year, and one of their flagship roller coasters in once-again (after some delays) being updated.

Lastly (and maybe should’ve been a big clue), they just started selling season passes for 2025 last week.

The click-baiting headline in question (it won’t get a link here), said that Knott’s would close permanently. Once you got about five paragraphs (and two or three ads) down, you found out that, no the park is not closing. But, in fact, one of the mazes that they offer during Halloween Haunt would be closing after this year. Which. Happens. All. The. Time. They change up mazes and reimagine their Haunt offerings every year. It was just time for this particular maze (Wax Works) to be retired.

But the fact that this happened on the heels of what’s happening in our country felt relevant beyond just an amusement park blog.

You see, there’s this guy running for president (again, sigh) who says whatever he wants whenever he wants, no matter how absolutely wrong he is. And he does it over and over and over and over and over and… you get the picture. He spews each and every one of these falsehoods with such conviction or repetition that some people just believe it.

It’s not just him, either - it’s the people he’s surrounded himself with. His running mate, his staff, his sycophants. The all just say what they want no matter if it’s true or not. Even when confronted with provable facts, they just shrug and say it was an exaggeration or partial truth and keep going forward.

When his former opponent did that, he called him old and feeble – not fit for office. How does that work when the shoe is on the other foot?

It’s why we’re seeing more and more Republican centrists coming forward against him (they’re all RINO’s to him, I would guess). They’re tired of being lied to all the time. They’re tired of the anger and name-calling. And, I bet, they’re tired of losing for him, and only him. The number one priority (spoken or not) is to keep him from being even more convicted and out of jail. All that other stuff is there to make the sycophants happy.

In the end, it’s all part of the sales pitch – that’s what he is, after all, a salesman. Yes “real estate mogul,” but boil it down, and it’s just another sales job. Keep people on the hook as long as you can until you tire them out and they buy something – anything – from you. Because if you tell people that this thing is the “greatest” ever and “you can’t live without it,” there will eventually be enough people believing it that more people will buy it and so on and so on.

Of course, that’s just my sales pitch. Only mine comes with no price tag – it’s free! Make your life better through the power of reading comprehension and critical thinking. Or don’t – that’s also free. But don’t get upset when others around you correct your mistakes and question your sources. After all, they were free to make their own choice as well.

Monday's Random Thoughts: Let's Party Like it's 1864

 

I’ve had a few things rattling around in my brain that I felt like I needed to write out and express. And with a few friends saying they missed my weekly blogs, I figured there was no time like the present to get some of those thoughts out.

Wanna know what the biggest one is? It boils down to one word – one number really: 1864.

This is the year we want to go back and get our legal precedence from? When the Civil War was still active? Before Marty took the DeLorean back to the Old West to save Doc Brown? OK, so the last one’s fiction, but when you think about that era in America, isn’t that one of your frames of reference? Want a more historically accurate example? Sure – 1864 is before the events that were depicted in “Tombstone” happened.

Seriously Arizona?

Look, I understand there are people that are dug in on ending all forms of abortion, and hey, you be you. But this the straw you’re grasping at?

If we’re going that far back, let’s go all the way back. Let’s outlaw the cars you drive to get around. Give up your phone. Say goodbye to your indoor plumbing and electricity while you’re at it. (Honestly, there might be some people who’d be OK with all of that because it would mean no one would be bothering them about their guns – of course, there wouldn’t be semi-automatics, so maybe not.)

That’s the thing about the whole abortion battle that baffles me – the complete disregard of science and technology. We have the ability to know exactly what is going on with a pregnancy for almost every step of the way. Doctors can now know if the fetus isn’t viable. They can diagnose conditions that will put the mother in danger for her long-term health (and ability to have more children down the road) with a level of certainty that if it was cancer, we’d have no problem believing or supporting it.

But for abortion? No. Can’t have that.

Look, again, believe what you want to believe. I’m not here to say that abortion is the answer in every case, but we need to start realizing that not every law or rule needs to be this or that. There has to be spaces in-between – and not just some randomly chosen cut-off date.

How about we start thinking about it this way: Maybe if a doctor (or two doctors if you wish) give their expert opinion, maybe we don’t fight against it. There should always be exceptions for those who are victims of rape and incest. Who knows, maybe if you got off your high horse, maybe you could convince some people that there can be a cutoff date for women to decide to have an elective abortion – but if something changes after that date and there is a medical emergency, then they should still be allowed while under a doctor’s care.

Of course, none of that will happen because it makes sense. And there are too many people who are stuck in the “my-way-or-the-highway” mode of thinking to listen to reason. We see it in the House of Representatives whenever someone suggests that the two sides *gasp* work together to get something done. The extreme members would rather burn the whole thing down than do something that the majority of Americans want done if it goes against their personal beliefs – including abortion, gun control, health care, infrastructure, etc., etc., etc.

But maybe, just maybe, the invoking of 1864 will be a tipping point toward some sanity in this country. We sure could use it.

PRETTY GOOD, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT: So Gwen Stefani (my alma mater’s most famous alum) and her fellow Orange County ska brats played together on stage for the first time in nine years, and all seemed right in the world.

For those who missed it, No Doubt stepped back into the spotlight at Coachella this past Saturday, and sounded pretty good despite the time apart. I watched along on the livestream on YouTube, mostly because I’m not hip enough to spend a weekend in the desert (or, more accurately, my hips wouldn’t survive a weekend at a festival), and was hopeful that it would be a grand return.

I did get a little worried at the start, as they opened with “Hella Good,” which had some Hella Bad sound quality – something I chalked up to them starting on a stage extension that was separate from the main stage. Once they got back to the stage, however, it was all old school Orange County.

Gwen was a foul-mouthed OC Gen X brat, and the rest of the boys rocked out as a group that had been going strong for years, bopping and bouncing around the stage like they did 30 years ago (yes, it’s been that long). Olivia Rodrigo was a pleasant surprise on stage, and she looked excited to be there, and fit right in with the SoCal vibe.

I only had one major quibble: When she introduced “Just A Girl,” Gwen mentioned that the song seems more relevant that it ever has … and then she just left it there. I get not wanting to alienate any fans, but it wouldn’t hurt to use the platform to encourage all the women in her audience to be informed and – if they agree to the sentiment of the song - get out the vote. If not, it seems like there are some that would like her words “Oh, I'm just a girl, living in captivity; Your rule of thumb makes me worrisome” become the law of the land.

QUICK HITS: Wrestlemania 40 was amazing, top-to-bottom. Yes, I watch WWE. And the product has become one worth watching. The stories make sense, they follow logic, and the performers are putting on great shows, worthy of returning the phrase “pro wrestling” to the lexicon instead of “sports entertainment.”

* The Arizona Coyotes are apparently headed to Salt Lake City for next season. Yeah, it’s time for the NHL to get the team out of the 4,600-seat college arena, and into something more appropriate. Not that Salt Lake City’s Delta Center is a perfect location (it was built for basketball – hockey games there aren’t well lit in the corners), but it at least is a professional facility that will be able to better handle the demands that professional hockey places on its arenas.

* The former president’s trial starts today. If you thought your jury summons was inconvenient, can you imagine what the people reporting in New York are dealing with as they show up to the courthouse for their public service? I wish them well.