2016: The worst year ever?

People have been upset at the headlines: terrorist attacks, police shootings, Zika, Brexit, Syria, etc. People have been upset at those lost this year: Prince, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, George Michael, etc. then Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds one day after the other. If that wasn't enough, the United States goes through the craziest election campaign ever and Donald Trump wins the electoral vote to becomes the next president of the United States. I've read several articles from the major news outlets reporting on people calling 2016 the worst year ever. Is it? Is it really? Everything in perspective.

On January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. What's going to happen? Nobody knows. We can speculate. We can guess. We can prognosticate based on past performance, but we really have no idea of what will happen. Good? Bad? Nerve-racking, isn't it?

According to the scholars (Wikipedia), George W. Bush may not be the worst president, but he's down the list. During his administration (2001-2009), I make note of the following: (We can dicker about the exact numbers, but what I say is a fair estimate.)

• 9/11 (supposedly knew about this in advance and did nothing).
• War in Afghanistan (cost $2 trillion - Washington Post).
• Muslim registry (NSEERS: 93,000 cases, not one terrorist conviction).
• War in Iraq (cost $3 trillion - Washington Post). Do I need to bring up how Bush lied about WMDs? He lied!
• use of torture.
• email scandal (22 million emails "lost").
• NSA domestic spying.
• Katrina failed response.
• the 2008 Financial Crisis, the worst crisis since the 1929 Stock Market crash.

Is Trump really going to top that?


Let's go out on a humorous note. Yes, it's been tumultuous. Yes, it's been crazy. But ya gotta laugh. After all, it beats sobbing uncontrollably.

2016: The Movie (Trailer) - Friend Dog Studios - Dec 28, 2016

References

web site: Friend Dog Studios
When we screw around, we don't screw around.

Twitter: @FriendDogStudio

YouTube channel: Friend Dog Studios

Slate - July 22/2016
Is 2016 the Worst Year in History? by Rebecca Onion
The question of how to determine a “worst year” in history piqued my interest. So I decided to ask a group of historians to nominate their own “worst years” and to reflect on what constitutes a “really bad year.” Ten brave souls agreed to play this parlor game with me. Here are their picks.

NY Times - Dec 282016
2016: Worst. Year. Ever? by Charles Nevin
The best of times, worst of times thing also depends heavily on which side you’re on: Consider, again, 1776, and 1066, 1815, 1865, 1918, 1945 and, of course, 1492... You know, on the whole, I think we’re probably better off with 2016. At least, there’s not much of it left. What could possibly go wrong?

2016-12-31

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Bruno Mars: 24K Magic

Instead of the official music video, I'm showing the live version from the 44th Annual American Music Awards held on November 20, 2016, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. This is hot. This is a spirited performance: good choreography, nice back-up vocals, and the band is really tight. This must have been quite the show to witness.

Tonight
I just want to take you higher
Throw your hands up in the sky
Let's set this party off right

Players, put yo' pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y'all trying to do?
Twenty four karat magic in the air
Head to toe soul player
Look out uh

Pop pop, it's show time (show time)
Show time (show time)
Guess who's back again?
Oh they don't know? (go on tell 'em)
Oh they don't know? (go on tell 'em)
I bet they know soon as we walk in (showin' up)
Wearing Cuban links (ya)
Designer minks (ya)
Inglewood's finest shoes (whoop, whoop)
Don't look too hard might hurt ya'self
Known to give the color red the blues

Oh shit, I'm a dangerous man with some money in my pocket (keep up)
So many pretty girls around me and they waking up the rocket (keep up)
Why you mad, fix ya face ain't my fault y'all be jocking (keep up)

Players only, come on
Put your pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y'all trying to do?
Twenty four karat magic in the air
Head to toe soul player
Uh, look out!

Second verse for the hustlas (hustlas) gangstas (gangstas)
Bad bitches and ya ugly ass friends (haha)
Can I preach (uh oh) can I preach (uh oh)
I gotta show 'em how a pimp get it in
First, take your sip (sip), do your dip (dip)
Spend your money like money ain't shit (whoop, whoop)
We too fresh
Got to blame in on Jesus
Hashtag blessed they ain't ready for me

I'm a dangerous man with some money in my pocket (keep up)
So many pretty girls around me and they waking up the rocket (keep up)
Why you mad fix ya face ain't my fault y'all be jocking (keep up)

Players only, come on
Put your pinky rings up to the moon
Hey girls
What y'all trying to do?
Twenty four karat magic in the air
Head to toe soul player
Uh, look out!

everywhere I go they be like
Oh, soul player
Everywhere I go they be like (oh, soul player oh)
Oh everywhere I go they be like (oh, soul player oh)

Now, now, now watch me break it down like (uh)
Twenty four karat, twenty four karat magic
What's that sound (twenty four karat, twenty four karat magic)
Come on now
Twenty four karat, twenty four karat magic
Don't fight the feeling invite the feeling

Just put your pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y'all trying to do? (Tell me what y'all trying to do)
Twenty four karat magic in the air
Head to toe soul player (Hands up!)
Put your pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y'all trying to do? (do)
Twenty four karat magic in the air
Head to toe soul player (twenty four karat) uh, look out

References

Published on Nov 27, 2016 by Bruno Mars

Wikipedia: 24K Magic (song)
"24K Magic" (pronounced "twenty-four karat magic") is a song by American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars. It serves as the lead single from his third studio album of the same name, and was released on October 7, 2016 for digital download and streaming by Atlantic Records... "24K Magic" is a "synth-heavy" funk, disco and contemporary R&B song.

Wikipedia: Bruno Mars
Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and choreographer. ... In 2014, Mars lent his vocals to Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk". In 2016, he released his third studio album 24K Magic with the lead single of the same title released on October 7, 2016. To date, he has sold over 100 million singles and albums worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. Mars has landed six number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 since his career launched in 2010, attaining his first five faster than any male artist since Elvis Presley.

official web site: Bruno Mars

YouTube: Bruno Mars - 24K Magic [Official Video]

2016-12-30

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Move Review: La La Land

My last movie review was May 2015. Did I stop going to the movies? No, I didn't. But I hadn't really seen anything worth commenting on. Until now.

Musicals can be an acquired taste. There's nothing more realistic than somebody walking down the street and spontaneously bursting into song mixed with a dance number in which passersby join in with synchronised precision. Ha, ha. If life were only that way.

Musicals have, as a central goal - it may be their raison d'être - to tug at our heart strings spawning unbridled bouts of emotions accompanied by a welling of tears. We're choked up. We're verklempt.

Writer and director Damien Chazelle, with the help on-screen lovers Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, has succeeded. It started slow, but the emotional finale had me wiping away tears: I'm actually a sentimental old fool. Aren't we all a sucker for love? Aren't we all overcome by nostalgia when our lovers don't get together, but all of us, including the principals, have a vision of what life would have been like if chance had seen fit to bring them together?

As of this writing, Rotten Tomatoes rates it at 92%. Not everybody goes to Rotten Tomatoes, but it is usually my first stop in assessing whether or not to see a film. I hate walking out of the movie theatre saying, "I want two hours of my life back!" And I'm certain musical is not at the top of your list of entertainment to go see, however in this case, it did succeed.

In a nutshell: Emma Stone plays Mia Dolan, aspiring actress. Ryan Gosling plays Sebastian Wilder, a jazz pianist with principals. A starving jazz pianist I should add. Our star-crossed lovers keep not meeting, then meet, fall in love, and are eventually forced by fate to go their separate ways to fulfill their individual destinies. In all this, there's song and dance, just like in real life, no? Okay, a musical like any superhero movie requires a suspension of belief, the acceptance of a premise no matter how outlandish. Once you get over that hurdle, anything goes. And like Superman, Mia and Sebastian fly. Just go see the movie.

Miscellaneous facts about the film

* This is the third movie featuring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone:
Wikipedia Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Wikipedia: Gangster Squad (2013)

* La la land has a double meaning.
Los Angeles is known as La La Land, obviously where aspiring entertainers go to (try to) fulfill their dreams.
Merriam-Webster: a euphoric dreamlike mental state detached from the harsher realities of life

Final Word
Recommended. Bring a tissue or two. Oddly enough, I enjoyed this much more than Christmas's big blockbuster Rogue One. That's sacrelege I know, but sentimentality won out over CGI.


References

Rotten Tomatoes: La La Land (2016): 92%
La La Land breathes new life into a bygone genre with thrillingly assured direction, powerful performances, and an irresistible excess of heart.

Wikipedia: La La Land (film)
La La Land is a 2016 American romantic musical comedy-drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle and starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, and Rosemarie DeWitt. The plot follows a musician and an aspiring actress who meet and fall in love in Los Angeles. It is the third film to feature Gosling and Stone as lovers, following Crazy, Stupid, Love and Gangster Squad.

YouTube: La La Land (2016 Movie) Official Behind-The-Scenes Featurette

YouTube: La La Land (2016 Movie) Official Featurette – The Music

YouTube: La La Land - "Lovely Night Dance" Film Clip

YouTube: La La Land (2016 Movie) Official TV Spot – “Take Your Breath Away”

YouTube: ‘Mia & Sebastian’s Theme (Late For The Date)’ - La La Land Original Motion Picture Score (partial)

YouTube: LaLa Land OST - Mia & Sebastian’s Theme (partial) - solo piano by JayM

MsMojo - Dec 9/2016
YouTube: Top 5 Must-Know La La Land Facts

2016-12-28

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Justin Timberlake: Can't Stop the Feeling

I got this feeling inside my bones
It goes electric, wavey when I turn it on
All through my city, all through my home
We're flying up, no ceiling, when we in our zone

I got that sunshine in my pocket
Got that good soul in my feet
I feel that hot blood in my body when it drops
I can't take my eyes up off it, moving so phenomenally
Room on lock, the way we rock it, so don't stop

And under the lights when everything goes
Nowhere to hide when I'm getting you close
When we move, well, you already know
So just imagine, just imagine, just imagine

Nothing I can see but you when you dance, dance, dance
A feeling good, good, creeping up on you
So just dance, dance, dance, come on
All those things I shouldn't do
But you dance, dance, dance
And ain't nobody leaving soon, so keep dancing
I can't stop the feeling
So just dance, dance, dance
I can't stop the feeling
So just dance, dance, dance, come on

Ooh, it's something magical
It's in the air, it's in my blood, it's rushing on
I don't need no reason, don't need control
I fly so high, no ceiling, when I'm in my zone

'Cause I got that sunshine in my pocket
Got that good soul in my feet
I feel that hot blood in my body when it drops
I can't take my eyes up off it, moving so phenomenally
Room on lock, the way we rock it, so don't stop

Under the lights when everything goes
Nowhere to hide when I'm getting you close
When we move, well, you already know
So just imagine, just imagine, just imagine

Nothing I can see but you when you dance, dance, dance
Feeling good, good, creeping up on you
So just dance, dance, dance, come on
All those things I shouldn't do
But you dance, dance, dance
And ain't nobody leaving soon, so keep dancing
I can't stop the feeling
So just dance, dance, dance
I can't stop the feeling
So just dance, dance, dance
I can't stop the feeling
So just dance, dance, dance
I can't stop the feeling
So keep dancing, come on

I can't stop the, I can't stop the
I can't stop the, I can't stop the
I can't stop the feeling

Nothing I can see but you when you dance, dance, dance (I can't stop the feeling)
Feeling good, good, creeping up on you
So just dance, dance, dance, come on (I can't stop the feeling)
All those things I shouldn't do
But you dance, dance, dance (I can't stop the feeling)
And ain't nobody leaving soon, so keep dancing

Everybody sing (I can't stop the feeling)
Got this feeling in my body (I can't stop the feeling)
Got this feeling in my body (I can't stop the feeling)
Wanna see you move your body (I can't stop the feeling)
Got this feeling in my body
Break it down
Got this feeling in my body
Can't stop the feeling
Got this feeling in my body, come on

References

Published on May 16, 2016 by justintimberlakeVEVO

Wikipedia: Can't Stop the Feeling!
"Can't Stop the Feeling!" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Justin Timberlake for the soundtrack to the film Trolls, for which he serves as the executive music producer.

Wikipedia: Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he appeared on the television shows Star Search and The All-New Mickey Mouse Club as a child. In the late 1990s, Timberlake rose to prominence as one of the two lead vocalists and youngest member of NSYNC, which eventually became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.

official web site: Justin Timberlake

2016-12-25

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Funny Stuff - December 13, 2016

See? Donald isn't the only one who can be politically incorrect. Grab 'em by the funny bone.

2016-12-13

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