An Impossible Mission
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Look. This movie is about as ridiculous as Scientology. It’s long, rambling, and loud. But it’s about as much fun as you can have at the movies.
Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning, the eighth and presumably final entry in the 30-year action franchise based on the 1960s television show of the same name, is the final piece of a puzzle we didn’t even know we were putting together.
The Mission: Impossible franchise is incredibly solid. While the first three entries, directed by Brian De Palma, John Woo, and JJ Abrams, respectively, were as different from each other as they could have been, all reflecting the director's singular vision of the franchise. The next five films tell a more cohesive narrative story, especially the last four, which Christopher McQuarrie directed.
Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning makes it clear that this is the culmination of not just the McQuarrie films, but of the franchise as a whole. There are throwbacks and easter eggs galore going back all the way to the first movie in 1996. This is the smartest dumb film I’ve ever seen. The concept of “the Entity”, a rogue computer program that will eventually take over all of cyberspace and along with it the totality of the world’s nuclear arsenal, is both terrifying and incredibly silly. Hunt and his team’s plan is ridiculous, convoluted, dangerous, and over the top as always, but this time it’s even MORE ridiculous, convoluted, dangerous, and over the top. As the stakes are, which make no mistake; it is the total nuclear devastation of the planet. Yes, it definitely sounds like Skynet if you were wondering.
The film does reflect our current political climate a bit as there is a cult that has been built around the Entity. This means that NO ONE can be trusted and that Hunt and his team may encounter cult members who want the Entity to win along the way. And by may, I mean will.
We find out through a series of flashbacks that the mysterious MacGuffin from MI3, the so-called “rabbit’s foot,” was the source code for the entity. Remember that puzzle I mentioned earlier? Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning does an admirable job of creating a tapestry of coincidences from all eight movies that were very likely not planned when the first few movies were being made. While this retrofitting does require a bit of extraneous exposition and flashbacks to footage from previous films, it never feels heavy-handed, nor does it feel like they are shoving a square peg in a round hole. It does suddenly feel like the MCU, in that if you missed one movie, you may have missed something important, but rather than leave those fans behind, the movie does a little hand-holding to get everyone up to speed.
Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning is action-packed from the word go. Ethan gets his mission, if he so chooses to accept it, directly from the president. From there, we were off to the races. Tom Cruise as Hunt runs, jumps, kicks, runs, fights, runs, punches, and runs a lot. Often in his underpants. Dude is 62 and looks incredible in his underpants. He almost dies, a lot. The stunts which he does himself are insane and breathtaking. I found myself squirming in my seat during the extended underwater sequence and breathless during the final fight in the air.
The tension is taut the entire movie. Again, if Ethan and team fail, we’re all dead. It builds to an over-the-top climax, where Hunt needs to get a computer poison pill that Luther made to stop the entity from Gabriel, while Paris does emergency surgery on Benji so he can tell Grace how to trap the entity in a magic USB drive all while Donloe, yes the exiled Langley programmer from the first movie has to dismantle an atomic bomb. Yes. That sounds incredibly stupid. But it's thrilling and exhilarating.
The music, direction, and acting all work together to build a compelling action thriller. This movie knows what it is and what it wants to do and it does it in spades.
If you can get past Cruise’s Scientology antics and love big, loud, bombastic, action-heavy cinema, Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning is for you. It’s definitely for me.
The End of an Eras: Saying Farewell to the Eras Tour
It’s been a long time coming…
Two years ago today, our Eras tour journey began in Nashville for Night 2. It was a long time coming indeed…
The Story Of Us
A long time ago, in a significantly different world, in September 2019, Taylor Swift announced LoverFest, a series of bicoastal music festivals in LA and Foxborough, to celebrate her album Lover. This was a simpler time and a simpler era. For everyone. After 13 brutal hours on Ticketmaster, I somehow secured tickets to both shows in California. (the first Great War?) Amazingly for my family, Loverfest was slated around Comic Con, and they also announced the Hella Mega tour. Proximity to Disneyland made this a unique opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime trip for our family, covering all the things we love. We secured tickets to ALL the events, hotel rooms, flights, everything.
This trip was Christmas that year. My kids were blown away by the serendipity of all of these events converging at the same time. Their excitement was off the charts. Then…
On March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency in response to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’d been hearing news stories about this new disease, a cold of sorts with extreme respiratory symptoms and sometimes deadly results. It started in China, followed by a few US cases, and then began ravaging senior living communities. Soon, it was everywhere. Eventually, LoverFest was canceled.
Stop Everything Now
On November 1, 2022, two years after LoverFest should have happened, Taylor Swift announced The Eras Tour, "a journey through the musical eras of my career.”
Rumor had it that if you HAD held tickets to LoverFest and HAD NOT requested a refund before the cancellation, you were given priority access to tickets for the Eras Tour. I have no idea if that is true, but we secured amazing tickets to both Cincinnati shows, June 30th and July 1st, 2023, at a reasonable face value price.
After the dust settled from The Great War with Ticketmaster, we were also given an opportunity to purchase tickets for Nashville, and we were able to obtain great seats for Night 2 on May 6, 2023.
Things were good…
I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
In March of that year, after some health challenges, I discovered I had massive blockages in my heart and would require quadruple bypass surgery. It was the scariest moment of my life. And my first question was, “Will I be able to take my daughter to a concert in May?” My doctor assured me that as long as things went as planned, I would. My surgery, recovery and rehab were a success setting the stage for Emily and I to see The Eras Tour.
Oh Boy, This is Genius! Nashville Night 2
For our first show, there was added excitement as my favorite singer, Phoebe Bridgers was opening for Taylor. We arrived in Nashville, got settled and headed to Nissan Stadium. As we got to our seats, we realized they were incredible! We had an amazing view of the entire massive stage!
We had made the decision to avoid spoilers at all cost, meaning two months and 17 shows worth of spoilers. Emily deleted Instagram from her phone. We had NO IDEA what to expect. We had wild theories, but nothing prepared us for what we were about to see.
Phoebe opened the show and was incredible. She opened with her hit Motion Sickness setting the stage for an amazing night. A few songs in she went to the center of the stage and said “where are my boys at?” A query that brought our boygenius bandmates Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker out to sing Cool About It from their recently released debut album. We were losing our minds. They then joined Phoebs and Taylor’s boyfriend at the time Matty Healy for the rest of the show.
After the openers, Taylor hit the stage. Again, keep in mind we had NO IDEA what was coming. And then it happened. The best concert in history. I’ve been to a lot of shows but never experienced anything like this. Weaving through her entire career in block themes for a total of 3 hours and 40+ songs was incredible. During the Red era, Phoebe joined Taylor for Nothing New (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault). This, coupled with the surprise boygenius performance with Matty Healy, made this, IMHO, the most unique show of the tour.
Cincinnati N1, N2
For Cincinnati Night 1, we had a few surprises. First, a local TV station did a news story on Emi and I then, Emi was surprised that we were in the FRONT ROW. The show of course was incredible and culminated with TAYLOR SWIFT POINTING AT ME.
Cincinnati native, and Taylor Swift collaborator Aaron Dessner of The National joined Taylor on N2 making Cincinnati another success.
One More Thing…
Taylor would later add a handful of shows to the Eras tour AND release a new album which would add a whole new era to the Eras Tour. We scored fairly inexpensive but nosebleed seats to N1 and N2 in Indianapolis, the last stop of the US Eras Tour.
The Eras Tour captured the imagination of the world. Swifties watched grainy live streams of every show on TikTok and haters spent all their time disregarding Taylor, the tour, and her fans. But for 3 hours every weekend for two years, we had joy.
I am so fortunate to have been able to make incredible memories with my daughter. Taylor Swift is a singular artist and the Eras tour is entertainment for the ages.
Take me back…
Hayden Christensen Gets His Revenge
Hayden Christensen Gets His Revenge
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Lucasfilm and Disney have re-released Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in theaters for a limited time. The film, which upon its original release, wrapped up the prequel series, giving us a completed Skywalker saga, the fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker. Of course we now have the sequel trilogy adding the legacy of Anakin Skywalker to the saga. At the time the prequel trilogy was in general not as enthusiastically received as anticipated and for a small but vocal cadre of fans, it was much loathed. The complaints about the sequel trilogy, stilted, wooden acting, unnecessary complication of the Force via the introduction of midichlorians, an unbelievable love story, had some validity sure, but some of which existed in spades in the Holy Trilogy, but were accepted in those. Personally, I love ALL Star Wars in varying degrees. I appreciate the continuing stories being told in this universe and have never much joined the fire and pitchfork crew of online haters. And I loved the prequels, particularly Revenge of the Sith. In fact, after seeing it again on the big screen it might be, dare I say, my favorite.
Revenge of the Sith is BIG. Lucas had to wrap up a lot of storylines and deliver Darth Vader to us in some shape. The Phantom Menace (spoilers ahead) of Episode 1, Naboo’s former senator,now Chancellor Palpatine, has been exposed and he’s seeking well, revenge. Revenge has a particular importance in Lucasfilm lore, having been part of the original title of Episode 6. Once it was determined that Jedi don’t seek vengeance, revenge became return and would resolve decades later as a funny joke in Clerks 2. Of course it was resolved here giving Lucas his revenge and giving a nice echo to Return of the Jedi.
Revenge of the Sith follows Palpatine’s ultimate power grab which involves incredibly ambitious plans from taking on a new apprentice, destroying the Jedi, and, you know, assuming control of the entire GALAXY. Which of course he does. Anakin goes from almost a Jedi Master to a Sith apprentice in short order culminating with a lightsaber duel for the ages on the volcanic planet of Mustafar. It’s a big adventure that shows us the tail end of the clone wars, the final execution of Palaptine’s plans and the true dual nature of the Force.
I’ve seen this movie dozens of times. It was my son’s first Star War in a movie theater. The world of Star Wars means a lot to me but this movie has a special place in my heart. Watching on the big screen, focused on the adventure, not distracted by my phone or work, I LOVED it so much. We’re dropped into the action with Anakin and Obi Wan on a rescue mission. We get a HUGE battle and a fun rescue to kick things off. Between battle scenes were given nuggets of drama. Padme’s pregnancy. Palapatine’s growing power grab. We get the Tragedy of Darth Plageius the Wise in that crazy opera house scene. We get Order 66 and sadly, the Jedi purge. This all builds up to Anakin’s turn, which comes at the climax of a battle between Darth Sidious and Mace Windu. Once Anakin turns we know what’s up. Darth Vader v. Obi Wan Kenobi Round 1.
These scene, despite its bombastic ridiculousness transforms me into a babbling fan boy every. Single. God damn. Time. It’s epic. It’s dark. It’s fun. It’s mirrored to an equally epic fight between Yoda and Palapatine. The lightsabers are buzzing and clashing and it’s full on Star Wars glory.
We get a lot of nods to the Holy Trilogy has things wind down. This is no happy ending. This is the bummer of Empire times 1000. And it’s so good.
I’m not going to quibble over Hayden’s acting or the hollowness of Anakin and Padme’s love story. I don’t want to fight over beeping droids or the overuse of CGI. I just want the adventure to wash over me and the lightsabers to buzz in my mind long after the credits roll and that’s exactly what happened.
Speaking of Hayden Christensen, he took a lot of flack back in the day, but history, no doubt buoyed by the good feelings around Anakin’s character from the Clone Wars series, has reconsidered this and there’s a resurgence or emergence depending on your point of view of love for the prequels and for Hayden. It’s well deserved. Seeing him intro the movie and reclaim his legacy made me a little misty eyed.
Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve. A Health Update
I probably should have and wanted to make these health updates WAY more frequent. Heck, I probably should have and wanted to chronicle my recovery on TikTok; I probably could have been a disabled dad influencer for the central spinal cord syndrome community. But here we are, I’m just a guy living with central spinal cord syndrome.
If you’re new here, you can get caught up on The Fall, a six-month update, and a one-year update. TL;DR, I fell in my backyard and was temporarily paralyzed; I underwent surgery, headed to physical therapy, developed a hematoma, was paralyzed again, had another surgery, and then had lots of recovery, PT, and OT.
We’re now a little over a year since my second surgery.
Yesterday, I saw my surgeon, Dr. Michael Kachmann, for what will likely be the last time. He said the installed hardware looked good, and given my situation, my progress is far beyond what he could have hoped. He also said that at this point, any future gains and improvements will be slower and less prominent. With that, I am winding down physical therapy after a year.
So where am I? Well, I’m not paralyzed, which is fantastic, and I’m not in a wheelchair, which is equally fabulous. So what can’t I do?
I can’t move my neck/head very far in any direction.
I have limited strength in my right and left arms and hands.
I have limited dexterity in my right and left hands.
I have limited mobility in my left shoulder.
I have severe atrophy in my shoulder and hand muscles.
As you can probably imagine, this makes a lot of things, especially things I need and love to do, difficult. BUT not impossible. Of course, most of my hobbies (gaming, vinyl records) require my hands.
The general prognosis is that this may be as good as it gets. And If so, that’s OK.
Truth is, things could definitely be much, much worse. But I’m positive I have an excellent support system and desire to improve, so we’ll get there.
Thanks to everyone who followed along on my journey, and thanks to everyone who helped along the way.
Deep Sea Diver’s Billboard Heart Captured Our Heart
On Billboard Heart, the fourth album from Seattle’s Deep Sea Diver, and their first on Sub Pop records, demonstrates an incredible depth of emotion, talent, and a much-needed reminder of how awesome a killer guitar solo is.
Deep Sea Diver is vocalist/guitarist Jessica Dobson’s project. Her unique voice and badass guitar playing are supported by a talented band, including her husband, Peter Mansen, on drums.
I got turned on to this band on their last album, 2020’s Impossible Weight, a nearly perfect album released at a perfect time. We needed music like that to get us through the worst early parts of the pandemic. Billboard Heart comes at another desperate time and again provides escape and relief when we need it most.
Deep Sea Diver’s unique sound, propelled by Jessica’s unique voice and outstanding guitar, is the star of the show, but the songs are expertly crafted with driving rhythms, crashing drums, and echoey production that sounds modern and classic simultaneously.
Dobson crafts catchy melodies, driving riffs, and fun solos. Songs like Emergency harken back to an emerging alternative sound from the 80’s punctuated with a crunchy driving guitar riff you can’t help but air guitar along to.
What Do I Know and Shovel, two songs released ahead of the album’s release, feature the best the band has to offer. The guitar solo in What Do I Know is wild and reaching, a tremendous showcase of Dobson’s skill. Shovel features tempo changes and highlight Jessica’s voice around a memorable showcase of new waveesque production.
The highlight of the album is the ballad Always Waving Goodbye. It’s a powerhouse tune that showcases Jessica’s vocals and guitar. A catchy memorable anthem with another amazing guitar solo!
In many ways, Billboard Heart feels like a direct sequel to Impossible Weight. The themes, sound, and production are all very similar to the last album. There’s even a killer feature on Let Me Go by Madison Cunningham, a spiritual successor to Sharon Van Etten’s appearance on the title track of Impossible Weight. Impossible Weight was one of my favorite albums of 2020, and Billboard Heart has already taken up a place in my heart for 2025.
The Incredible Hulk II: A Hyperbole Free Review of Captain America 4
I went into Captain America Brave New World with little expectations. Well, I love the MCU and haven’t felt the perceived decline as some other fans have. I must admit that some excitement has gone away from the prospect of a new Marvel movie some 16 years in. However, I was excited to see the movie in the theater with my son. What I didn't expect to enjoy the movie as much as I did.
I also never expected to see a sequel to The Incredible Hulk. make no mistake. Captain America Brave New World is a direct sequel to the Incredible Hulk, the first movie in the MCU, while people forget this movie. It is definitely MCU Cannon, and it certainly is now. I was always a fan of that movie and the sequel made me like it even more.
Captain America Brave New World is the first outing featuring Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie as the new Captain America. He has big shoes to fill as Chris Evans, who played Steve Rogers, was a beloved character. As the MCU moves on, it's time to pass the shield. Sam got the shield at the end of the endgame, and we saw him struggle with the promotion in the TV series Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In Captain America, Brave New World, Sam Wilson has been serving as Captain America for a while and is kicking ass. Harrison Ford replaces the late William Hurt and the role of Thunderbolt Ross, who we learn is now the President of the United States.
The setup for this movie is that the celestial Island, first seen in the Eternals, well seen by a few, very few, is home to a new element called adamantium. and every country has a led claim to the island of this new element. President Ross is trying to get a treaty signed that will give fair access to the adamantium. His relationship with Wilson’s Captain America has cooled, and in fact, he asked him to restart the Avengers.
What I like about this movie is it's not a world ending threat they're facing. It's not an Avengers level threat, but certainly, the stakes are high. It's more of an espionage thriller, like The Winter Soldier or a mission. Impossible movie just was superheroes.
The action is top-notch, and the fight scenes are very well done. Since I went into the movie not knowing much, I was surprised that it wasn’t very predictable, and I was having fun as the story unfolded. The villains here, the Leader, Sidewinder, and eventually Red Hulk, are all great.
Things fall apart a little at the end. The final scene after the final fight looks terrible for some reason. I'm not sure if it was a reshoot on a green screen, but it looks awful. The score was forgettable. And there is a narrative choice at the end of the movie that doesn't make any sense. There was a clear way to handle things that, for some reason, the writers in the room just completely overlooked. Despite this obvious misstep, Captain America, Brave New World, not only serves as an excellent sequel to The Incredible Hulk but also as a full circle resolution to Ross’s storyline, which has been a thread throughout the entire MCU. Harrison Ford Ford is incredible in this role, and I hope we get a few more movies with him playing Ross.
Ignore the reviews, forget the fanboy vitriol, put on your Captain America shirt, and go have a good time with this movie. Check out my son’s review of the movie here.
Defcon 1
I am surprised to see very little coverage, outrage, and action around yesterday’s announcement that TFG has declared himself a dictator.
Let’s back up. Last year, the Supreme Court granted presidents blanket immunity. Joe Biden chose not to use this unlimited power, even after TFG won the 2024 presidential election. Now, empowered by the Supreme Court decision, surrounded by yes men, and with the system of checks and balances eroded to the point of ineffectiveness, he is using that power to enact revenge on his enemies and assume complete control of our government.
This dangerous declaration, delivered via Executive Order, sidesteps the constitution and sweeps away the final vestments of the system of checks and balances. From here, things will get darker and more dangerous for any person who disagrees with this dictatorship.
Of course, TFG is a bumbling clown, and his actions are akin to a bull in a china shoppe; this is just laying the groundwork to future King JDV. While not much smarter than TFG, JDV’s indoctrination into fascism was far more sophisticated. He is a puppet of Peter Theil and an instrument of the authors of Project 2025. Once King JDV is crowned, he will be swift and efficient at dismantling what’s left of our Republic and steering us farther to the right by quickly implementing regressive policies that can not be challenged by the courts and will take decades to unravel, if they ever can be.
Folks, this is Defcon 1, the most urgent time in our country’s history. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with this manual and prepare to push back.
Call your representatives, let them know your displeasure, vote in any elections you can, and stay informed.
As mentioned, I’ll be going dark for a bit as I consider my next steps. Godspeed, rebels.
You Can Pry My Antidepressants From My Cold, Dead Hands
Someday, someone, maybe me, will write volumes about how the lack of empathy on the right is one of the biggest, if not the biggest problem that’s divided our country and shredded our democracy. Sure, there’s tons of other issues, money, education, racism, bigotry, xenophobia and the rise and acceptance of fascism. But at the core of it all is a lack of empathy that drives all the rest of these issues.
Today, I’m focused on one aspect of the absolute horror show we are collectively living through, the war on health.
Presented of course as Make America Healthy Again, the right’s attack on health in America has been planned for a long time. Set aside the fact that our country is dangerously unhealthy. Ignore the fact that we are the only developed nation that does not provide universal healthcare. Those things, are bad, sure, but what’s worse is as a nation we’ve decided under the new fascist regime to actively deny science, dismantle preventative healthcare, and keep America as sick as possible. That’s always the conservative agenda, to keep some group down, while shrouding those true initiatives under the guise of freedom.
TFG’s appointment of RFKJR and his subsequent confirmation has accelerated the right’s assault on health and put everyone in the country on notice and in danger.
One specific front which they have quickly made a priority is mental health. In general the right’s approach to mental health is that it isn’t really real. A “suck it up” buttercup approach to “snowflakes” who are “hysterical” best defines how many on the right feel about mental health. Science, research, and lived experience tells us mental health is as important as physical health, that there are real, debilitating mental health diseases, and that those diseases are diagnosable and treatable.
Mental health can be managed, improved, and treated by therapy, exercise, and medication. 76 million Americans are on some type of psychiatric drugs, about half of those Americans including myself are on an antidepressant.
I was prescribed an antidepressant after suffering PTSD and depression following an accident which paralyzed me in 2024. Previously I’d addressed childhood trauma through therapy.
My medication has made a discernible, positive impact on my life. When I miss taking it, there is a noticeable dip in my mood.
During the 2024 presidential election cycle, RFKJR threatened to take people on antidepressants and force them into labor camps without their meds and without access to the internet. Now, he’s been given the power of the position of as Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the full support of TFG, a madman with virtually unlimited, unchecked power. And he’s taking that threat and turning it into action and policy.
I’d be willing to bet that of the 76 million people on antidepressants that some of them are republicans. Some of them may even be fervent supporters of TFG. Now, like me, a “radical leftist” they are in danger of losing access to life saving medicine and are at risk of being placed in a labor camp. I am not real happy about this very real prospect. I’d hope NO ONE is. The problem is however that a rampant lack of empathy on the right means they quite frankly don’t give a shit what happens to me, they don’t give a shit what happens to anyone. As long as their cult figurehead has power and is wielding that power to own the libs, they are not only willing to sell me out, but will happily line up themselves into these forced labor camps.
I’m terrified for the eventuality that I will no longer be allowed to access to medicine that makes life bearable for me to live. For MILLIONS of others those medicines are life saving. But TFG, RFKJR, and their supporters don’t care. Conversely, I’ll do everything in my power to fight for my right to keep my meds and my freedoms while also fighting for THEIR right to do the same. All while they continue to hate me and worship a rapist.
Dangerous times ahead. Times where psychiatric medications will be more important than ever. And we are on the precipice of losing it all.
AJ’s Cheesesteaks Brings A Philly Legend to Cincinnati
Every so often you come across a sandwich that defies everything. A sandwich that defies expectations and makes you rethink dining out. That challenges you to consider your place in the universe. And when such a sandwich appears in the most unexpected of places, it’s even more special. AJ’s Cheesesteaks outside Madisonville in Cincinnati, Ohio, is serving such a sandwich.
Now, I recognize the initial reaction is “A good cheesesteak? In Cincinnati? Right.” And I understand that gut reaction. Usually, results are mixed when a regional delicacy is attempted to be replicated outside a 50 or so-mile radius of its creation. For example, Cincinnati has Penn Station. A regional chain serving up cheesesteaks. Perfectly serviceable sandwiches sure, but no one claims that the replicate the authentic Philly experience. But it’s what we had. I cannot imagine eating at Penn Station ever again.
AJ’s started out as a food truck slinging subs and fries from a Norwood parking lot. The good word of Ty’s (the owner, AJ, is his son and the restaurant's namesake) sandwiches spread and eventually moved to a brick-and-mortar at the corner of Whetsel Ave. in Madisonville. You’ll know you’re near as the smells of grilled steak waft through the neighborhood, beckoning all who love expertly seasoned and grilled thinly sliced steak to enter their doors.
As we neared the new shop, guided solely by scent, we encountered a couple meandering down the street toward us. “Headed to AJ’s?” They queried. We sure are, we replied absently, the smell of grilled steak intensifying the closer we got to the restaurant. “It’s so good! You’re going to love it!” They shouted enthusiastically, obviously intoxicated by the cheese and steak filling their bellies. My excitement grew proportionally to match their expressed elation.
AJ’s could not be more unassuming. It’s a small space with limited seating. Filled with the intoxicating aromas of steak, seasoning, fresh bread, and lingering smoke. A simple board gives you your choices. Several different cheesesteaks in 7 or 9-inch variants with a variety of tasty accouterments, including cheese, onions, banana peppers, bacon, mushrooms, and jalapeños. There’s also fries and a fridge full of soda. Subs can be customized to order with any of the aforementioned accouterments.
I settled on a steak with cheese, onions, and jalapeños with a side of fries. The sandwich was huge, stuffed full of deliciousness, and the heavily seasoned fries nestled alongside the sandwich.
I’ve been to Philly only once. The taste of the subs I had there decades ago is still fresh in the recesses of my mind and taste buds. AJ’s honors Philly’s culinary legend and then some. Expertly seasoned steak and grilled topping are stuffed into an imported Amoroso roll and served hot and fresh. Waffle fries are generously, and I mean generously, coated in the same delicious seasoning that covers the steak.
To say everything is outstanding is an understatement of sorts. The sandwich bursts with umami flavor. The steak, melted cheese, and toppings intermingled in a delicate dance of flavor. It’s both simple yet complex. The seasoned fries complemented and improved the flavors of the sandwich.
Look, someone from Philly may come here, take only a look at this sandwich, scoff, and walk away, dismissing it as a local one-off version of Penn Station on the right roll. But I have a feeling this not only honors Philly’s top culinary legend but gives Cincinnatians a chance to enjoy one of America’s great sandwiches whenever we like.
My recommendation is to run not walk to AJ’s Cheesesteaks and immerse yourself and certainly become a Cincinnati legend.
DEI Is Not The Devil. Vote With Your Wallet By Supporting Companies That Support DEI.
The latest boogeyman being demonized relentlessly by TFG and the conservative cancel culture cabal is DEI. Now, DEI, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, is simply an arrangement of ideas and philosophies by which organizations can recognize inequity at their organizations and work towards creating a more diverse workforce that is equitable and inclusive. That’s really it. It aims to ensure that more voices are heard and that qualified persons from all backgrounds have a fair opportunity. Sounds fine, right? Innocuous even. But to the radical right, anything that challenges the status quo, anything that appears to give non-white, non-cis, non-men acknowledgment or opportunity, is inherently bad. Their fragile patriarchy is so threatened by anyone who is the slightest bit different than them. We’ve seen this time and time before. With Affirmative Action, Title IX, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Equal Rights Amendment. Remember, these people are against equal rights for women.
While we all recognize that TFG's attacks on DEI are inherently racist, I think we're ignoring the subtext about how deeply racist they actually are. While DEI is intended to help organizations acknowledge shortfalls in the diversity of the workforce, improve equity, and increase inclusion, the attacks on DEI are not that they're just unfair, but that by improving these things, you're actually diluting the quality of your workforce by diversifying it. Ergo, a more diverse workforce is a less qualified workforce. Which is, of course, is utter nonsense and dangerously racist.
Yes, the most qualified applicant for a job or promotion should absolutely be considered based on skills, experience, and qualifications. DEI simply provides guidelines for applying principles equally and also helps improve diversity. There are literally mountains of evidence to support the assertion that a diverse workforce is better and more productive. But supporting diversity goes against the patriarchal need for control. It’s also an easy dog whistle to alert and enrage racists, a large part of the GOP base.
As we tread carefully into an uncertain future, it is important to keep our values front and center. One way to do so is to support good organizations and vote with your wallet. Now, I get it. Most large organizations are inherently bad. Like individual people, no one is perfect. Things like price, convenience, and location can impact your purchasing choices. What I am saying, is vote with your wallet when you can. Support companies that share or reflect your values and do not support those that don’t. Shop local. Support Black, women, LGBTQ, and other minority-owned small businesses. Let your voice be heard.
Here is a non-comprehensive list of companies that are committed to DEI initiatives.
Here is a non-comprehensive list of companies that are NOT committed to DEI initiatives.
Amazon
Ford
Lowe’s
John Deere
Tractor Supply Co.
McDonald’s
Meta
Starbucks
Target
Toyota
Walmart
A Year Ago, I Was Paralyzed
One year ago today, I was paralyzed from the neck down.
January 22, 2024, was eerily and ironically, much like January 22, 2025. Cold, and the remnants of a recent winter storm still coated the ground with snow and ice. I was working from home and not thinking that today would radically change the trajectory of my life.
My backyard Jan 22, 2025 looks much like it did Jan 22, 2024
Around 10:30 that morning, I let Buster and Belle out to go potty. Belle, our puppy, had and still has a predilection for eating her own poop. She had recently started eating Buster’s. So when they make, we needed to pick it up as soon as possible. Buster started to do his business, and I went outside. In the above photo, you’ll see our yard has a hill. Buster was at the crest of the hill between the shed and the first pine tree. I bent over to pick up his droppings, slipped, and fell.
My body went vertical, and I slammed hard on the ground on my back.
Initially, everything went fuzzy for a second. The sky above me and a branch I could see lost color and went out of focus. Then everything was fuzzy, and I felt woozy. Then, the scene above me flashed back into focus. I was conscious; I could see, but I was lying flat on my back.
Suddenly, I was aware that I could not feel anything below my neck and could not move. It was probably the most terrifying moment of my life. I did not have fall detection on my watch turned on. Technology fail. I immediately began screaming for help. “Please help me. I’ve fallen in my backyard, and I am paralyzed. Please, someone hear me and call 911.” I then would try and activate SIRI to call 911. It did not comply. So, for four minutes, I alternated between screaming for help and begging SIRI to activate.
Finally, one of my neighbors happened to let her dog out and heard my screams. “Where are you? What happened?” I recognized the neighbor as Patty and began talking to her. “Patty, it’s Rich. I’ve fallen, and I’m paralyzed. Please call 911.” I still had my faculties and was able to communicate. Patty asked for my address and called EMT. Soon, another neighbor, Michelle, was hopping fences and telling me she was coming to help. I warned her of the slippery conditions as she jumped over the fence and made her way to me. She’s a nurse. How can she help? I told her I fell and couldn’t move. I think I’m paralyzed. She said she would help me and call 911. I said 911 had been called. She went to my house and got a blanket. Michelle retrieves my phone and calls Rebecca. I tell her I've fallen and cannot move. She's on her way.
After a few minutes, I could feel my legs. I moved one. Then the other. “I can move my legs,” I sobbed. Michelle said “thats’s great! Take it easy, though.” I continued using my legs but was aware I could not feel my torso area. Soon, I can lift my shoulders, but my arms are useless. My fingers are jello—more terror. I keep moving my legs and lifting my shoulders. I'm so cold. So scared.
Patty, Michelle, and my mother-in-law Linda are now all at my side as we await the EMT.
EMT arrived in about 9 minutes. They assess the situation. Where I'm at on the snowy hill is precarious. They plan to dig their heels into the snow and through the dirt to secure themselves to get me on a backboard and up the hill. Soon, the plan is in motion. I'm on the board and up the hill. On the stretcher. In the ambulance.
On the way to the hospital, I begin to feel my fingers and can start to move them. A moment of relief.
We arrive at the hospital, and the trauma team is assembled. They begin assessing me. Rebecca arrives and sees I am moving. I hear the surprise and relief in her voice.
X-ray. CT Scan. MRI. STRESSFUL
Tests revealed an existing condition on my neck and spinal cord that would have required surgery anyway. The fall caused my spinal column to squeeze my spinal cord, causing a bruise and, ultimately, a permanent condition called Central Spinal Cord Syndrome.
Eventually, my legs started to move. By the time the EMTs arrived and loaded me up, my arms had begun to move. At the hospital, they cut off my favorite Boba Fett/Ohio shirt. And began the long process to where we are now.
The cut off shirt.
I had my first surgery on January 26th. Dr. Michael Kachmann performed the surgery. Essentially, this was a surgery that was going to have to happen anyway, as I’d been having problems with my neck, but the injury expedited and complicated things. I came out of surgery and began rehab. I could now move everything except my arms and hands, which could move but not well. Prognosis was good and rehab began in earnest. Eventually, I was discharged and moved to a rehab hospital to continue my recovery and rehabilitation.
Things were going well until the morning of February 5, 2024. I woke up with some pain in my neck that had not previously been there. I couldn’t sit and eat breakfast without pain. As the day progressed, the pain increased. I would try and do PT or OT sessions but the pain became overwhelming. An X-ray was ordered, but it never happened. By the evening, the pain had become pretty unbearable. My wife and my nurse, Sarah, were concerned. “This isn’t like him,” Rebecca expressed. Sarah called the doctor and explained the X-Ray never occurred and my pain had increased. They sent me back to the hospital. On the way there in the ambulance, my pain became so intense. I could not lay on my neck without extreme, searing pain. I arrived at the hospital and waited. An X-ray and MRI were performed, and I was admitted to the hospital to await the results.
During admission, my pain intensified to where I was thrashing in my bed. Suddenly, unexpectedly a familiar sensation. Paralysis. I was on my side and couldn’t move. I told my nurse. She didn’t believe me. “Try and move your leg,” she said. “I can’t move,” I replied. She realized this was bad.
Have you ever seen any television medical drama? ER, Gray’s Anatomy, Chicago Hope? Yeah, that’s what happened next. Instead of watching the action from the outside, I had a full patient POV of total medical chaos. Within moments, my room was full of people.
I started to fade. I could feel myself slipping. “Call my wife. Tell her what’s happening. Tell her I love her.” I won’t say I ever “saw the light” or anything. I did not have an “out of body” experience. But I could feel myself getting weaker and literally slipping away like very slowly falling asleep. I was scared. I heard them shouting things I knew from the aforementioned TV dramas to be bad. “He’s crashing!” “BP 80 over 40!”
Dr. Randall J. Hlubek stepped in for a vacationing Dr. Kachmann. He explained we were going into surgery. A hematoma had developed in my neck. It was unexpected and rare, especially for this long after my initial surgery, but it happened. It was pushing on my spine, causing the paralysis.
I woke up again at Bethesda North. This time, I could not move my arms and hands very well—the secondary trauma on my spine, which complicates an already complicated situation.
Thus began the next part of my journey. I spent the next eight weeks in the hospital, at two different rehab facilities, and fighting my insurance company. I’ll spare the details, but those were the toughest 8 weeks of my life. I could not have made it without the support of Rebecca, Wes, Emi, family and friends, and the most amazing nurses, PTs, and OTs.
Yesterday, I completed my 52nd round of physical therapy. After being paralyzed twice last year, I now have a significantly improved range of motion in my arms. They are still weak and nowhere near 100%, but I am alive, moving, and improving.
Thanks to everyone who has supported me this year. My family. My doctors. My nurses. My AMAZING physical and occupational therapists. My IRL Friends. My internet friends. I love you all.
Here’s Where The Sundays Began…
The Sundays were an incredible jangle/dream pop band from the 90s who honestly should have been much bigger.
Everyone knows the hit from their debut album, the legendary Here’s Where the Story Ends. A veritable earworm that causes even the most jaded of music fans to tap their toes and sing along. What you may not know is their debut album, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic is packed full of songs that are just as good!
Harriet Wheeler’s voice is as haunting and mesmerizing as they come. A very early precursor to some of the similar female voices of today, like Phoebe Bridgers, beabadoobee, and Waxahatchee. Layered over jangly guitars, dream pop arrangements, and Cure-like beats, The Sundays were a perfect bridge from the 80s to the 90s.
Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, released 35 years ago today, still sounds as vibrant, energetic, and haunting as it did upon its release. Wheeler’s voice and David Gavurin’s guitar create soundscapes that surround you and compel you to hear more. If you know and love Here’s Where the Story Ends you’ll enjoy the rest of the record for sure. I invite you to revisit this classic.
I have this album on picture disc, and while the sound suffers, its a really nice piece and one of my prized possessions in my collection.
The Absolutely Very Best No Questions Asked Albums of 2024
I will not be taking questions at this time.
Jack White No Name
Pom Pom Squad Mirror Starts Moving Without Me
beabadoobee This is How Tomorrow Moves
Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department
Charly Bliss Forever
Katie Gavin What a Relief
Soccer Mommy Evergreen
Conan Gray Found Heaven
Green Day Saviors
Waxahatchee Tigers Blood
The Cure Songs of a Lost World
Beyonce Cowboy Carter
Pearl Jam Dark Matter
Sabrina Carpenter Short n’ Sweet
Towa Bird American Hero
Joywave Permanent Pleasure
Allie Goertz Peeled Back
Kim Deal Nobody Loves You More
Hilkin Mancini Band Hilkin Mancini Band
GNX Kendrick Lamar
World Spine Day
On January 22nd, 2024, I fell in my backyard, resulting in paralysis, permanent injury to my spinal cord, and a condition called Central Spinal Cord Syndrome. You can read more about this harrowing tale here and here.
On World Spine Day, I’m reflecting on the accident and focusing on the positive strides I’ve made since then.
“World Spine Day aims to raise awareness about spinal health and spine disorders among all involved stakeholders, provide a forum for ongoing discussion about the burden of spinal disorders, and promote an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to easing the burden of spinal disorders. This is especially important because millions of people around the world often have little awareness of or access to conventional healthcare resources to help them take care of spinal pain and disability.”
It’s appropriate that today, I could do one of the most essential keyboard shortcuts for any Mac user, Command-Tab. I’ve not been able to easily use this oft-used shortcut regularly until today.
It’s wild to consider that less than a year ago, I was paralyzed from the neck down. For a moment, I thought, this is it. Then, when I was paralyzed a second time due to a hematoma, I really thought, this is it…Rebecca constantly reminds me how far I’ve come. It makes me think how far I can go.
But thanks to doctors, physical and occupational therapists, science, medicine, perseverance, and support, I’m walking and so much more. I’ve not mentioned this much, but at my last visit with my surgeon, he said, “You’ll never be back to normal.” Normal. What a word. While that usually would get me down, and it did a bit, it also motivated me to establish my normal and get to the best place I could be. My arms are still incredibly weak. My left hand doesn’t work great. It’s limiting, this disability, but it's not going to stop me.
Anyway, on World Spine Day, take care of yourself, don’t fall, and be excellent to each other.
A Rose by Any Other Name
As a kid growing up on the west side of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the 1970s, you didn’t have much choice other than to worship Peter Edward Rose. Charlie Hustle, as he was known was a legend around these parts. To be honest, I was never much of a sports fan, even as a kid , but my father was, which means I saw plenty of Reds games as a kid, including watching Pete Rose play. It was such a part of our culture that even someone that wasn’t in the sports could get excited. I was much more interested in movies, including a science fiction movie that came out in 1977, and that’s where my true passions lie.
In any case, Pete Rose was a legend, he overcame any limitations he had simply by hustling. It was kind of his whole thing: he won the World Series and went on to have more hits than any other player in the history of baseball. I met the man a few times, including at a book signing where I got his famous autograph that he would shill to anyone for any price.
Of course, his reputation, including gambling on baseball and allegations of sexual abuse, became part of his legacy, so much so that the person with the most hits in the history of the game will never be in the Hall of Fame. My worship of Rose eroded with my interest in sports ball. But you cannot ignore the impact Rose had on the city.
Pete Rose passed away yesterday, leaving behind a tarnished legacy, but one that most fans are willing to ignore because of his legend. Facebook is full of tributes, and rightly so, but let’s not forget who Pete Rose really was: a flawed man who was pretty good at baseball.
A Short N Sweet Sabrina Show
Last night my daughter and I attended the opening night of Sabrina Carpenter’s 2024 Short N Sweet tour at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. I am a recent convert to Carpenter’s music as I love attending shows with my kids and who knows how many times they’ll want to see shows with their old man.
The excitement in Columbus was palpable. Carpenter has been rising up the charts with her latest album, Short N Sweet, and recently built her army of fans by opening for one Taylor Allison Swift on the Eras Tour. Being open night added to the excitement as we didn't know what to expect, and there was no early access to the setlist, no pictures of merch, and nothing.
We arrived in Columbus in plenty of time to check out the merch, soak up the good vibes, meet some fellow fans, and get in line to enter the venue. The merch booth was set up outside, and it was total pandemonium, so we waited to get a merchant inside. We did take advantage of the photo opp.
The show was sold out so the house was packed. We settled into our seats for the show, and made friends with the fans around us.
The stage appears to be a simple one, stage, middle walkway and a mini heart shaped stage at the end.
The show is set up as an old timey TV variety show. Pre-recorded segments take you through the day of a TV channel, complete with end credits at the end. It's a clever set up. The stage turned out to be more complex, with steps, a living room, bed room, bathroom, all the standard stuff lol. The heart-shaped mini stage served as a sunken living room couch for mid-show antics and a riser, bringing Sabrina closer to the fans in the cheap seats (us).
Production value is high, the band was tight, and Sabrina sounded good and looked great during several costume changes. The show was unexpectedly “short and sweet”, only an hour and half. Any veterans of the Eras tour will be surprised at how quickly they get home. But the shorter show made for a tight performance. 21 songs from her two most recent records. Plenty of crowd interatctions and plenty of screaming.
Overall this was a fun, high energy show. I adore spending time with my daughter doing something we both love so dearly. You can find videos from the show on my insta, TikTok, and YouTube.
The highlight of the night, other than the hype encore of Espresso, was meeting my new best friend, Jesus F. Christ!
The Wonderful, Wild, Weird World of Weezer
It's hard to believe it's been 30 years since Weezer dropped their self-titled debut album. But 30 years it has been. To celebrate, the band is touring arenas, putting on one of their biggest spectacles ever. Voyage to the Blue Planet is indeed a spectacle—a wonderful, wild, weird celebration of one of rock's weirdest bands. The show's centerpiece is, of course, a performance of what is affectionately known as the blue album in full from front to back.
The band is certainly going all out for this tour. It's a Broadway-style spectacle complete with aand supported by high-quality visuals, scripted scripted story segments, and costume changes.
The show is a journey in every sense. It begins with the band literally blasting off as they embark on a voyage. Along the way, they encounter a series of enemies, complications, and other adventures, all of which are presented as a backdrop to a three-act performance. This narrative structure adds a unique and exciting dimension to the show Voyage to the Blue Planet.
Act one begins with a handful of rarities and deep cuts and follows the band through a wild set full of bangers. Weezer fans, young and old, have plenty to delight them in act one. From big performances of big hits like Hash Pipe and Dope Nose to deep cuts like Every Friend of Diane’s.
Act two found the band in the Pinkerton sector of an asteroid belt. This gave the band an opportunity to play nearly half of the Pinkerton record, including my second favorite Weezer song, "You Gave Your Love to Me Softly." Well, it is not from Pinkerton. It is from the same era and was included on the soundtrack to the movie Angus. Pinkerton fans were thrilled with this set.
Act three, of course, found the band landing on the blue planet, home to the Weezerites and Rivers himself. The planet had fallen on hard times and needed to be saved. The only way they knew how was by playing the blue album in its entirety.
If all of this sounds silly to you well it was very silly, but it was also completely on brand and so much fun. The band sounded great, particularly rivers, voice and guitar. The mix was excellent. You could even hear Scott's base very clearly in the mix.
Overall, this was an excellent show. I've seen Weezer countless times over the years, and this was one of my favorites, possibly one of the best shows I've ever seen.
A Twisted Take on Twisters
Twister, oh, does anyone see through you?
You're a twister, oh, an animal
Twister, the unexpected and timely sequel to the 1996 Jan de Bont storm cloud thriller, Twister stormed into theaters earlier this year, delighting fans young and old, who’d been clamoring for this sequel since Twister...Ride it Out closed at Universal Studios Florida.
Twisters is more remake than sequel. The film is structured very similarly to the original. The film opens with a twister traumatizing storm chasers Kate and Javi leading to Kate to take an office job in New York while Javi continues chasing storms. Eventually, Javi needs Kate to chase storms again and they find themselves up against rival chasers led by YouTube star Tyler Owens. There’s no reference that I saw to the original. Kate is not Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton’s kid or Palpatine’s granddaughter or anything.
Chasing ensues.
A tornado destroys a small town. It destroys a rodeo. Kate and Tyler team up and are obviously very attracted to one another. It all leads up to the big showdown between Kate and an F5 twister.
Like the original, Twisters is brisk and fun. Both movies seem ridiculous and dumb but there’s something catchy about both. I found myself kind of enjoying this movie.
The soundtrack is another story. The original soundtrack, a WB vehicle headlined by Van Halen, was a tour de force featuring other 90’s luminaries like Lisa Loeb, Shania Twain, Goo Goo Dolls, and Belly. The new soundtrack is all country all the time and it’s all terrible. It’s mostly background tracks so you can overlook it, but it is a serious downgrade.
Overall, this isn’t a terrible way to waste two hours.
Twister, oh, I shouldn't have trusted in you
Twister, oh, a-na-na-na
Alien: Too A Hyperbole Free Review
Alien: Romulus is a chronological sequel to Ridley Scott's original sci-fi horror movie, Alien. It takes place in the Alien timeline between Alien and Aliens. The film could as easily been called Alien 2 or Alien: Red as it was called Romulus. Romulus, we learn is, in addition to being a cool-sounding word, is also one of two sections of a derelict spacecraft where most of the film's action occurs. For the remainder of this review, I will refer to the movie as Alien: Too.
Alien: Too continues the tradition of Ripley by featuring a female lead named Rain. Rain is an orphan living on a mining colony with her "brother" Andy, a synthetic human programmed by her father to care for Rain. Rain discovers her contract has been extended when she was supposed to be able to leave. Obviously distraught, Rain seeks comfort from her friends and ex-boyfriend, who conveniently have a plan to steal a ship and head to the aforementioned derelict spacecraft to retrieve cryotubes so they can go to a new planet nine years away.
I bet you can guess where this is going.
The beginning of Alien: Too looks remarkably like a mix of the look of Alien and Alien 3, set against a Fede Alvarez (director) backdrop. Once they hit the ship and the action quickly ramps up, the red aesthetic kicks in. It all looks great. A little dark, but i think that may have been my theater's projection.
There's not a whole lot of need to go into the rest of the plot. There are facehuggers aboard and soon one of the group i face hugged. A Xenomorph chest bursts and chaos ensues. Plotwise its more like the original movie. A small group of prey in a confined area is menaced by Xenomorphs. Yes, there are lots of them. I was a little unclear how since there was just one person infected. There was scene where i guess one was in a mouse maybe? I dunno. It's fine, because eventually, we see Rain shooting the fuck out of Xenomorphs in low gravity and it's cool. As is the aftermath which includes floating acid blood.
Alvarez modernizes and Alvarez's the heck out of Alien: Too. The gore is amped up, and there are plenty of the director's signature scenes and screams. There is also plenty hat tips and head nods of fan service. There are plenty of recreated scenes from Alien and Aliens, including a tad cringe-worthy recycling of a line from Aliens. The movie even tries to legitimize the Prometheus movies with a plot point from those movies prominently featured.
All in all, Alien: Too is a fine entry in the series, much better than the Prometheus movies and not as good as the first two. I had fun visiting this world and seeing Alvarez's work without having to have nightmares from watching Evil Dead. Ultimately, the movie is remarkably unnecessary but it is fun, tense, and competently made.
