This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
This video is my full review of Ultimate Spider-Man #2 by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto. This refreshing new vision for Peter Parker and Spider-Man continues to unfold after such a powerful first issue. After choosing to embrace the powers he was denied, Peter must now learn how to be Spider-Man as an adult, a father, and a husband. And the results are truly amazing. Enjoy!
Filed under Jack's World, Marvel, Spider-Man, YouTube
Like many Americans of a certain age, I was elated when I heard that Jon Stewart, the Walter Cronkite of an entire generation, was returning to the Daily Show. It may sound strange, being so thrilled with a comedian returning to a job he hasn’t done in almost 10 years. But Jon Stewart is no ordinary host/comedian.
This is a man whose comedy, wit, and insights made the news palatable for millions of people who were disillusioned, dissatisfied, and mostly disinterested with the issues of the day. He could take something as complicated as gun control, abortion rights, international relations, and war and present in a way that most ordinary people could understand and even laugh at.
But the comedy didn’t come from making light of these issues. They were a natural byproduct of Jon Stewart’s innate ability to confront the absurdities and the bullshit that often lay at the foundation of these issues, as well as the people or institutions who were supposed to deal with them.
It didn’t matter where anyone was on the political spectrum.
It didn’t matter if they were republican, democrat, or independent.
If there was even a trace amount of bullshit behind the political machinations, Jon Stewart would highlight it, confront it, and present it in a way that made it feel important. It’s a big reason why, despite an increasing amount of political polarization, Stewart often ranked high as a trusted name for people of many persuations.
But there were also times when comedy was not enough or not appropriate. In those instances, Jon Stewart could be both serious and passionate. When Congress threatened to cut benefits for 9/11 responders, Stewart made a very public, very impassioned plea that ultimately resulted in the benefits being passed. If you need any proof at just how powerful one voice can be, just watch the testimony for yourself.
There’s a lot more about Jon Stewart that I can say. I understand he’s one of those rare celebrity figures whose voice carries more weight than most. But I’ll dispense with those sentiments because, after seeing him return to the Daily Show and demonstrate his remarkable skill for confronting bullshit, I have one important message for him
Jon Stewart, on behalf of America and everyone who cherishes the values it espouses, please run for President.
I know it’s a hallow and somewhat absurd plea. It’s not like Jon will ever read this, but I’m not the only one who has made this plea. Others with far larger platforms have implored him to run. Even though Stewart has gone on record as saying he doesn’t want the job, that just makes him even more qualified in my mind.
Now, I love America. And I consider myself a proud American. But I don’t deny that this country I love has taken a dark, disturbing turn in recent years. Between the rise of Christian Nationalism and the rollback of basic rights, we are not heading down a good path. And if we’re not careful, we could end up electing the kind of narcissistic wannabe despot who would gladly destroy America’s democratic institutions for his own personal vanity.
You know who I’m talking about. I won’t say his name. I refuse to give him more attention than he deserves.
But Jon Stewart is the perfect candidate to counter that kind of self-centered bullshit. He’s not just someone with the wit and charisma to appeal to voters. He’s not afraid to directly confront toxic people with toxic politics, even on live TV. If you need a reminder of how effective he is, just watch this.
During contentions times like this, there aren’t many individuals who can navigate the bullshit and resonate with people of many backgrounds. I would even make that case that none of the candidates currently running for President or showing an interest in running have what it takes to do the job.
But Jon Stewart is one of those individuals. He might very well be the only person whose name, skill set, and public persona is strong enough to carry both an election and the duties necessary to undo the damage that has been done to America.
Yes, he’s a celebrity.
Yes, we’ve already had a not-so-fun experience with celebrities becoming president.
But in times like this, we can’t let the past obstruct the present. When a country and a society is on a bad path, we need to rally ourselves and others to navigate these dangerous forces. Nobody can do it alone. One leader isn’t going to fix everything. But someone like Jon Stewart is one of the few who could help America realize that it’s not too late.
I don’t claim to know what will happen with American politics in the days leading up to the election. I just know that, even if there’s no such thing as a perfect candidate, Jon Stewart is pretty damn close.
Filed under Current Events, political correctness, politics
This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
This is my quick, unscripted reaction to Madame Web. Enjoy!
Filed under Jack's World, Marvel, Movie Reviews, movies, Spider-Man, YouTube
Today is Valentine’s Day.
Being a fan of romance and having written my share of romantic content, I like to think I appreciate the sentiment of this day as much as any straight man. For that reason, I encourage everyone who is lucky enough to have a special someone in their lives to make this day count.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a minor gesture or needlessly elaborate.
It doesn’t matter if it’s sappy, cliched, or corny.
So long as what you for the one you love is genuine, sentimental, and loving, it’s worth doing. This is the kind of day where you can show that special someone just how much they matter to you. Even if they already know, just make an effort to remind them. Go out of your way to be extra romantic. Don’t do it because you want something romantic or sexy in return. Do it out of love.
That’s what Valentine’s Day is all about. Do things out of love and do them with heart.
But if you’re like me and you don’t have that special someone, then you can still enjoy Valentine’s Day. I freely admit that in years past, I did not like this day very much. Being single and alone on Valentine’s Day can be rough. Seeing other couples do something special feels like a gut punch reminder that you’re single, alone, and have nobody to cuddle up to on a cold winter night.
However, being single on Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate feeling loved. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate more and more the love I get from friends, family, and those close to me. It may not be romantic, but it’s definitely genuine. And as you get older, you come to appreciate that kind of love just as much.
Now, I’m not sure if I’ll ever meet that special someone. I’m not getting any younger and meeting people these days is more challenging than it was when I was young. But I won’t let that discourage me. And I won’t let that undermine the love I feel from those close to me. Valentine’s Day, to me, is a nice reminder of just how loved I am. And that’s worth celebrating.
So, with this sentiment in mind and heart, I wish everyone, single and non-single alike, a safe and happy Valentine’s Day!
Filed under romance, Uncategorized
It’s finally here!
Today is a day football fans and sports fans, in general, have been looking forward to all year!
It’s Super Bowl Sunday! And as a lifelong football fan and sports fan, I couldn’t be happier.
Now, that’s not to say I’m happy with the match-up. I’ll go on record as saying that, when the NFL playoffs began, one of the last match-ups I wanted to see was the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers. Beyond just being a repeat of Super Bowl LIII, these are two teams that most NFL fans outside their respective fanbases are sick of seeing in the playoffs.
I’ll also go on record as saying that I was rooting against these teams in every NFL playoff game this year. I would’ve much rather seen my local team, the Baltimore Ravens, make it to the Super Bowl. I also wouldn’t have minded seeing the Detroit Lions, the Buffalo Bills, or even the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl.
But in football, you don’t have much control over how games play out or how the ball bounces. Like it or not, the 49ers and the Chiefs played better than every team they faced. They made big plays when they needed to be made. They took advantage of their opponents’ mistakes. Hate the match-up all you want, but there’s no question that these two teams earned their right to play in Super Bowl LVIII.
At this point, I’m just hoping for a good, competitive game. That’s what we got last year when the Chiefs inched out a win over the Philadelphia Eagles. I hope we get something similar this year. It’s bound to be different, given the make-up of both teams. This Chiefs team is not the same offensive powerhouse they’ve been in years past, but they have shown that they can win defensive struggles while still putting up points. And the 49ers have what might be one of the deepest rosters, in terms of skill position, as well as one of the best coaching staffs in all off football.
On top of all that, this will be the first Super Bowl to ever take place in Las Vegas. For a city that didn’t have a single professional sports team six years ago, that’s quite a moment. And having been to Las Vegas, I expect there to be a party like no other before, during, and after the game. It is what Las Vegas does best and I hope it sets a good precedent for future Super Bowls.
While I wish I could join that party, I’m perfectly content with my yearly Super Bowl setup. Later this afternoon, I’ll start cooking a large batch of chicken wings. I’ll set a table up in front of my coach, load it with snacks and beer, and turn my surround-sound speaker system to watch the game. And when kickoff finally comes, I’ll be ready!
I don’t know who will win. So long as it’s a good game, I don’t really care. It’s the Super Bowl. It’s about more than the game. It’s the culmination of everything this past NFL season has been building towards. Having followed it since the preseason, I am so ready!
Filed under NFL, sports, Uncategorized
As a general rule, I do not look to celebrities to inform my opinions on politics. And I strongly recommend that approach for everyone. Getting your politics from a celebrity is like getting medical advice from a plumber. It’s both misguided and irrational.
That even applies to celebrities with the star power of Taylor Swift. I’m fully aware that, in terms of celebrity star power, she’s on a very different level compared to most. I even referenced her when I said nobody should ever be as famous as Michael Jackson. Be that as it may, she might very well be the only one to come close to that level of star power.
Now, I don’t consider myself a full-blown Swifty, as they’re called. But I do have friends and relatives who are as passionate about all things Taylor Swift as I am about superhero comics. And I totally respect that. I get that kind of passion. But even those die-hard Taylor Swift fans understand on some levels that she’s not a political figure. She’s an entertainer and, by far, one of the most successful of the past 25 years.
Then, there are those who are angry at Taylor Swift for her recent politics. But unlike other instances in which celebrities mix star power with politics in objectively awful ways, this anger is even dumber than usual. It barely even has anything to do with politics, which makes it even dumber when people try to put a political spin on it.
While I’d rather not get into all the drama surrounding Taylor Swift’s foray into politics, going back to 2020, the current source of outrage is this. Taylor Swift is dating Travis Kelce, the star tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs. And her presence at Chiefs games has had a significant impact on both the ratings of those and the overall interest in this relationship.
Naturally, the NFL loves the extra attention they’re getting from Swift’s legion of dedicated fans. But there is also a sizable crowd of angry, politically motivated individuals who hate the attention she’s bringing to the games, as well as the “politics” she’s engaged in. And I put “politics” in quotes because the criteria these people are using is too stupid for me to put into words.
Officially, the only real political activity Swift has engaged in since 2020 is encouraging people to register to vote. She never told anyone who to vote for or even what party to vote for. She just used her massive platform as a celebrity to get people out to vote. In most circumstances, that’s an objectively good thing. Getting people to participate in the democratic process helps the country, as a whole.
But unofficially, those who hate this brand of “politics” think she and Travis Kelce are part of some elaborate conspiracy to rig the 2024 Presidential Election against their side. They genuinely believe in a real, tangible conspiracy theory that has shadowy political forces manipulating Swift into influencing the upcoming election in a certain way.
Again, it is too stupid for words. I could write an entire book on how stupid it is, but it still wouldn’t be enough.
So, without getting too deep into the politics, I just want to convey one important message to those who are angry with Taylor Swift, her politics, her current relationship, and her public persona.
Getting angry at her for such petty reasons is a huge mistake.
That’s not a warning or anything. That’s just a simple, logical observation. Because targeting public figures for their political views is bad enough. We’ve already seen this same crowd of angry reactionaries target companies, comedians, school boards, and even a children’s hospital.
Yes, they actually got angry at a children’s hospital. That, alone, should tell you all you need to know about the nature of these peoples’ anger.
But going after Taylor Swift is different. She is not someone who is unaccustomed to public scrutiny. She has been a celebrity for over a decade, long before the current political climate. She also is familiar with dealing with hostile fans. So, she’s likely not going to be intimidated by that sort of fiery rhetoric.
Most critically, Taylor Swift has legions of passionate fans who won’t hesitate to defend her. And in this case, they would be perfectly right in defending her because she’s doing nothing outrageous. Again, all she has done since 2020 is encourage people to register to vote. And the fact that this is what enrages these reactionaries so much is both telling and pathetic.
It’s as though they know for a fact that if more people vote, they’re more likely to lose major elections. They’re aware that their views are unpopular, untenable, and just plain wrong. And the only why they have a chance of winning is if enough people aren’t motivated to vote.
That, in and of itself, is pretty egregious. But take another step back and look at the larger message this outrage is sending. These people are utterly outraged at Taylor Swift, one of the most successful and celebrated entertainers of all time, for simply not agreeing with them politically. The way she carries herself, the way she navigates the world of celebrity, and the political stances she’s taken in the past are just too much for them.
And that, simply put, is pathetic.
On top of that, these reactionaries are telling Swift’s legion of fans that they hate her for this one simple disagreement. And many of those fans are young, passionate, and likely weren’t even interested in her politics until people from a certain end of the political spectrum started attacking her. How do you think they’re going to feel about those who hate her? Moreover, how do you think that’s going to impact their voting habits?
Personally, I still don’t care about Taylor Swift’s politics. Even if she didn’t agree with me politically, I would still have her songs on my workout playlist. Whenever there’s a disagreement like that with anyone, celebrity or otherwise, it’s just easier to shake it off.
But that apparently isn’t enough for these angry, reactionary whiners. They still feel compelled to attack her for the sin of not going along with their agenda. And they really think they’re more powerful than Taylor Swift’s legion of fans.
Well, if they really think that, by all means. Keep trying to villainize her. Keep pretending that hating her won’t have a significant influence on young people who love her music. Just don’t be surprised if the consequences aren’t something you can easily shake off.
Filed under Celebrities and Celebrity Culture, politics, rants
This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
This video is my full review of Ultimate Black Panther #1 by Bryan Hill and Stefano Casalli. This newly-rebooted Ultimate universe continues to evolve in major ways after the events of Ultimate Invasion. And now, Wakanda is set to become the front lines for who will control the future of this new Marvel universe.
King T’Challa finds himself in the midst of an emerging conflict. Khonshu and Ra are waging war on the rest of Africa. And T’Challa has no Avengers to aid him. It sets the stage for a war the likes of which we’ve never seen before as the chaos of this new Ultimate universe continues to evolve. Enjoy!
Filed under Jack's World, Marvel, superhero comics, YouTube
I know it’s been a while since I talked about Neuralink. A few years ago, I followed news about this endeavor closely because I genuinely believed that brain/computer interfaces was an important technology to develop. These days, I still believe that. I think it has only become more vital as the progress in artificial intelligence has accelerated.
However, there’s a reason why I haven’t talked much about Neuralink in quite a while. I admit some of that is because some pretty significant world events got in the way of following technology trends. However, a much bigger part of my disinterest came from the one behind Neuralink, Elon Musk.
The long and short of it is this. I once respected and admired Elon Musk for his efforts to develop new and emerging technology. But then, once I started scrutinizing him, his background, his business practices, and his tendency to make ridiculous promises that he can never keep, I came to the conclusion that Elon Musk isn’t just an unscrupulous businessman. He’s an asshole.
Believe me, there’s a lot I could say about him, but I prefer not to. Insulting someone with billions of dollars and access to high-priced lawyers is risky these days. I’ll just say that the combination of COVID-19 and buying Twitter didn’t really break Musk. It just exposed the kind of person he really is and that person is not one worthy of respect.
Now, with respect to Neuralink, there is still some real value behind the company, the efforts, and the technology. Integrating the human brain with technology isn’t just a promising field. It might very well be necessary if humans are to adequately adapt to a future in which there will likely be machines much smarter and more capable than any person who has ever lived. Even if AI never becomes as intelligent as an average human, having humans that can interact with it on a more intimate level could fundamentally change our species and our society for the better.
And to that end, Neuralink has officially taken a critical first step. According to NPR, the company has successfully implanted its first brain chip into a human participant. We don’t know many details, nor do we know the identity of the person who received the chip. We only know what was conveyed in the announcement, which is rarely something you can take at face value with Elon Musk.
But even if you don’t trust Musk, and you shouldn’t, this feat has been in the works for a while. Neuralink has been actively recruiting volunteers for implants for over a year now. And this effort was authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The primary participants, at least for now, are those who have suffered brain or spinal chord injuries. So, it’s not like Neuralink is accepting applications from those who just want a brain chip for no reason.
That approach is to be expected. Even Musk has said that the initial efforts with Neuralink will focus on helping paraplegics or those suffering from conditions like ALS. If and when the technology matures, then it’ll expand access to other users, but still for therapeutic purposes. Eventually, it would get to a point where brain implants aren’t just treatments. They would be like smartphones that people willingly purchase and have implanted.
And it’s that last part where I believe proponents of this technology should temper their hopes. Until we know more about the patients, the nature of the brain implants, and the impact on the participants, nobody should be eager to get one themselves. These brain implants are not about to become the next iPhone. This is a technology that needs much more investment, refinement, and development.
And if history is any guide, you really shouldn’t trust someone like Elon Musk to deliver that level of advancement. Despite the persona he tries to convey, he is not Tony Stark. He is not a brilliant scientist or inventor. He just hires those kinds of people and has a nasty habit of screwing them over.
He is, and always has been, a salesman first. He may very well be a genuine futurist trying to make a better future, but his tendency to get into petty feuds on social media and say objectively dumb things should give everyone pause. But at the end of the day, he’s an obscenely wealthy, incredibly out-of-touch businessman.
That means he likely sees Neuralink as just another business that he hopes will make him even richer than he already is. Even if he believes in the inherent value of the technology, he will exploit it for billions if it ever becomes a viable commercial product. That’s just how billionaires operate. And given the distressing tendency for billionaires to be psychopaths, it would be unwise to give Elon Musk or anyone like him access to your brain.
Now, I’ll say it again. This technology is important and what Neuralink achieved is a vital first step. The successful operation of one brain implant means it’s no longer on paper. This technology is officially real. Like the first person who drove a car or the first person to fly a plane, this is a major leap in our ongoing efforts to develop better and bolder technology.
We don’t know where this feat will lead or whether it’ll pan out in any meaningful way, but it’s worth being hesitant and a little extra cautious. It’s not wrong to trust in the sincere efforts of others who want to improve the lives of others. But it’s always wise to be skeptical of the intentions of unscrupulous billionaires with inflated egos.
Filed under Artificial Intelligence, Neuralink, technology
This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
In preparation for the Super Bowl, I made this video sharing some personal experiences with how I’ve watched this incredible game and why it means so much to me. I’ve been a big football fan all my life and the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal for all those who play it.
And while I’ve watched many great Super Bowls over the year, the one I remember watching most fondly was Super Bowl XLII when the New York Giants upset the undefeated New England Patriots. It was a hell of an experience and one we may never see again in football. But it gets to the heart of why I love the Super Bowl so much. Enjoy!
Filed under Jack's World, NFL, sports, YouTube
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