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Popular culture. Music. Sports. Television. Good Times

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Eight Major Issues With The "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" Movie That Continue To Bug Me To This Day

Eight Major Issues With The "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" Movie That Continue To Bug Me To This Day

With another Christmas season very suddenly upon us, we’re met with the return of the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer television special once again. Now, I’ve seen the 1964 movie countless times, but in recent years, I’ve found myself more and more baffled and perplexed by the beloved holiday classic.  Simply put, Rudolph has just not aged well. Watching it now, it’s obvious that it has some issues and that it has enough of those issues for the special to now be seen as both problematic and

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

I’ll Be Here With The Pigeons: A Parking Garage, A Pandemic & A Pregnancy

I’ll Be Here With The Pigeons: A Parking Garage, A Pandemic & A Pregnancy

Our flight from Philadelphia was at around 11 in the morning on Saturday. My wife and I said goodbye to our daughter and to our dog and also to my sister and our niece. They had come up the night before to watch over our daughter and pup. Then we hit the road, knots in both of our stomachs. This was not a normal trip. This was not a vacation and this was not for a wedding. This was a mission; a mission to get our daughter, who was currently resting comfortably in the womb of our surrogate,

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

With Me And Phish, Everything Is Right Again

With Me And Phish, Everything Is Right Again

Quarantine started around St. Patrick’s Day. The sequel to quarantine, Quarantine 2: The Pseudo Quarantine began a few months later; I don’t remember exactly when but we’re still there now. A third installment of the series is still in development as the writers can’t decide what direction to send the plot in. Over the course of both versions of quarantine, I’ve learned some things about myself. I learned that I can get past the itchy phase of growing a beard but ultimately, I’m not into ha

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Sublime's Legacy Shouldn't Be Taken For Granted

Sublime's Legacy Shouldn't Be Taken For Granted

May 25, 2021 is the 25th anniversary of Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell’s death. This piece was originally written in 2013 but has since been updated. Optional music accompaniment can be found here. Up-strokes on the guitar, but not as slow as reggae and not as fast as ska. A bass line that had tinges of funk and hip hop in it. The bassist was usually the talented one. Drums held together by sixteen notes on the high hat and high-pitched snare drum hits. It’s the sound of Sub

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Should Phish Be In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?

Should Phish Be In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?

On Tuesday, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced nominees for the class of 2022, a list of acts highlighted by Rage Against the Machine, Beck, Eminem, A Tribe Called Quest, and Dolly Parton. Yes, Dolly Parton is not in the Hall of Fame. Neither is Lionel Richie (as a solo artist) nor Pat Benatar. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, like most Hall of Fames (and awards in general) doesn’t really make a lot of sense. Now, for the most part, the general consensus is that this crew of nominees i

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

The Ten Best Moments From "Game Of Thrones"

The Ten Best Moments From "Game Of Thrones"

As we sit here, ten years removed from the premiere of Game of Thrones and nearly two years since the show ended, it’s easy to think back to the show and the massive set pieces and battles, shocking deaths, and breath-taking episodes. The big stuff is largely what separated Game of Thrones from everything else on television. The show just felt so enormous, certainly more massive than anything you’d have expected to see on television and anything we had seen up until that point.  To this day

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Don't Expect To See A Rock Band Play The Super Bowl Half Time Show Anytime Soon

Don't Expect To See A Rock Band Play The Super Bowl Half Time Show Anytime Soon

The halftime show of the 2022 Super Bowl is not messing around. In the first Super Bowl held at the brand spanking new SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, hometown boy Dr. Dre is taking the helm, captaining a ship that includes Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige. You could make an argument that two of those performers (Kendrick and Eminem) could probably headline the show on their own. But Dre has assembled them like Infinity Stones and much like Thanos is set to do some damage.

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Let's Be Honest With Ourselves About Corn Mazes

Let's Be Honest With Ourselves About Corn Mazes

Corn mazes. They have become an integral part of any good old-fashioned festive fall weekend, right up there with pumpkin and apple picking, hayrides (both traditional and haunted), and devouring anything pumpkin-spiced. If you’ve embarked on a day trip to a local farm during the pleasant, but flawed fall season then there’s a good chance that the farm has some sort of corn maze. And with that most likely being the case, there’s an even better chance you’ve either dove right in and attempte

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Let's Talk About Christmas Music

Let's Talk About Christmas Music

My relationship with Christmas music is up and down at best. I can willfully admit that I straight up like some songs, can tolerate others and can sure why not a few more. There are also a handful of Christmas tunes I can’t hear without having flashbacks of being in the chorus in fifth grade and serenading the various old people homes and hospitals of the greater Portland area. I’m not sure if these are good memories, bad memories or just memories. Regardless, Christmas music- I am generall

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

I Can Admit That I Was ( Mostly ) Wrong About The Snyder Cut

I Can Admit That I Was ( Mostly ) Wrong About The Snyder Cut

You need to be able to admit when you’re wrong in this life of ours. Own your mistakes, kid. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don’t do this, when they duck, dodge, and dive the things they’ve done and the statements they’ve made. Come on now. That’s bush league. I am, therefore, here to admit that after watching Zack Synder’s Justice League, I was wrong. In a BroBible piece that went up before the release of the movie, I said that essentially, fans should prepare for the worst. T

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Don't Think About That Snow, Think About This Snow

Don't Think About That Snow, Think About This Snow

It’s going to snow, kids! Well, maybe. Reports as of Thursday afternoon are a little scattered if you will. For instance, I look at AccuWeather and it says we’ll either get one to three inches or at least a foot. Middle ground? There is no middle ground. This storm, Winter Storm Kenan, is as divided as our gosh darn political system in this country, am I right? But yes, Winter Storm Kenan. It could be a doozy. If there weren’t more pressing matters right now like Joe Rogan explaining w

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

The End Is Near

The End Is Near

For me personally, quarantine began on St. Patrick’s Day 2020. I remember because I spent the day teaching our daughter how to draw leprechauns and unless I’m mistaken, I’m hard-pressed to think of another reason why I would be teaching a four-year-old how to draw leprechauns. Well, I guess if we were big Notre Dame fans but no, that is not the case. So it was St. Patrick’s Day and now it’s almost another St. Patrick’s Day and this has lasted a year. The four-year-old is now a five-year-old

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

The Five Best Movies About Taxes

The Five Best Movies About Taxes

Ah, yes, another Tax Day is upon us. I hope that you’ve either A) finished and completed your taxes or B) have found a way to lie low for a while if you’ve decided not to do your taxes this year. It’s only a matter of time before the cops come calling, kid. Ultimately there is nothing entertaining, fun, or enjoyable about taxes. Tax returns are kind of cool. However, they are slightly less cool if you remember that tax returns are essentially the government returning some of the money you’v

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

25 Questions About "Christmas With The Kranks"

25 Questions About "Christmas With The Kranks"

We’ll start here: Christmas With the Kranks is a terrible movie. It’s bad, really bad. As a movie, it should be relieved that it’s a Christmas movie because that’s the only reason why people continue to watch it. Well, unless you’re a hardcore Tim Allen head or you gear your movie-watching towards those that only include a scene in which Jamie Lee Curtis barely has any clothes on. I mean if that’s the case, you’re basically watching Christmas With the Kranks and True Lies on a loop. That’s

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

25 Questions About "Christmas With The Kranks"

25 Questions About "Christmas With The Kranks"

We’ll start here. Christmas With the Kranks is a terrible movie. It’s bad, really bad. As a movie, it should be relieved that it’s a Christmas movie because that’s the only reason why it still gets play. Well, unless you’re a hardcore Tim Allen head or gear your movie-watching towards those that only include a scene in which Jamie Lee Curtis barely has any clothes on. I mean if that’s the case, you’re basically watching Christmas With the Kranks and True Lies on a loop. That’s a weird way to liv

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

I Know It's The Christmas Season Because i saw That Corona Commercial

I Know It's The Christmas Season Because i saw That Corona Commercial

It’s the Christmas season. I know this because of the amount of emails I’ve received in the past few days from stores and businesses I shopped at once four years ago. And I know this because we have lights up outside of our house (first house on the street you lazy chumps!) I know Christmas is coming in hot because Thanksgiving is behind us, the looming threat of endless Christmas movies has emerged on radar screens and nearly every weekend in December is already full of some sort of Christ

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Hey, Maroon 5's First Album Was Really Good

Hey, Maroon 5's First Album Was Really Good

Maroon 5 are set to release their seventh album on Friday. It’s called Jordi. The album features Megan Thee Stallion, the late Nipsey Hustle, Stevie Nicks, and a couple other people. Wonderful. I couldn't care less. However, there was a time, a long, long time ago, back when George W. Bush was president, the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry was must-see TV, and CD books were a thing when I actually cared quite a bit about Maroon 5. It seems borderline nuts now, but the passage of time is n

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Red Hot Chili Peppers Albums Ranked

Red Hot Chili Peppers Albums Ranked

It doesn’t feel as if history has been all that kind to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and while they’re reportedly working on a new album, it remains to be seen if anyone is reportedly waiting to hear it. I mean, I am, but I might be in the minority there. But such is life for a band once they close in on nearly four decades together. At a certain point, an act faces a fork in the road. One path consists of playing the hits and keeping things going, while the other path is made up of new material an

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

You Got Soul? The Commitments Always Will

You Got Soul? The Commitments Always Will

It’s a movie about a soul band. They’re from Ireland. When it comes to describing the movie The Commitments, that’s a good place to start. The 1991 film is about a young Irishman’s dream of forming the best band soul band to ever come out of Ireland. An Irish soul band might not sound right, but in young Jimmy Rabbitte’s eyes, it makes perfect sense. If soul music is a product of the disenfranchised, then who better than the Irish to take a crack at it. Or in his words: With

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Ghost Tours And Ghost Hunts? You Can't Go Wrong With Either One

Ghost Tours And Ghost Hunts? You Can't Go Wrong With Either One

If asked, I would generally recommend both a ghost tour and a ghost hunt. They are the same, but different. In the end, it comes down to what you want to get out of it. You want an experience, you want some history, you want a little bit of both, possibly with a drink in hand? Now, I’m able to speak with some semblance of authority on this matter because I’ve been fortunate enough to have participated in both a ghost hunt and a ghost tour. What can I say? I’m down for such things once October ro

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

The 12 Song Album Challenge

The 12 Song Album Challenge

Back in the day, we had greatest hits albums. Although they were better suited if you were just getting into a band that had a fairly extensive catalog. What usually happened was that after you had collected a handful of CDs by a particular artist, your next get at your favorite record store was a block of blank cassette tapes because it was time for a mixtape. But even then, a lot of mixtapes were comprised of a variety of artists. Either way, a mixtape was made up of a lot of songs. If me

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

The Best Songs Of 2021

The Best Songs Of 2021

Ah yes, 2021: a year that began with an attack on the capital and just kept getting weirder from there. The pandemic sadly never left but at least Adele came back. Adele not being able to stop the pandemic might literally be the only thing she can’t do and if she could work on that, it’d be great. In addition to Adele returning, Taylor Swift set out to rerecord her old songs, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak teamed up, the Foo Fighters continued to be as reliable as duct tape and St. Vincent o

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Hey! Let's Focus On Some Of The Good Things That Happened In 2020

Hey! Let's Focus On Some Of The Good Things That Happened In 2020

2020 has been a pretty massive bummer. Yes, it’s true. However, saying it over and over again isn’t going to make it any worse or any better, nor is continuing to focus on all of the reasons (all 5,479 of them) why 2020 has been so bad. We need to focus on the positives, kid and yes, even in this God-awful flaming pile of dog feces that has been 2020 there are positives. Here are 20 good things that happened this year. 1. We Took So Many Walks Around Our Neighborhood So many walks

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

When The Local Record Store Closes Its Doors

When The Local Record Store Closes Its Doors

In the summer of 2010, my lady friend (who would go on to become my wife) and I took a trip up to Maine, back to my hometown of Portland. She had been to Maine before but I don’t think she had ever been to Portland and I was excited to show her around. We checked out the waterfront, the boats I used to work on, my high school, a couple of my favorite bars, the pizza place my buddies and I went to all the time in high school, and Bull Moose Music, a local record store in town. Putting into w

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

Press Space Bar To Continue

Press Space Bar To Continue

There is today, a today where computers are not only everywhere, but borderline mandatory. And today, these computers are capable of amazing things. Things like Facebook and watching Netflix and designing Power Point presentations and watching YouTube. These computers I’m assuming have games on them, or the ability to have games loaded onto them. I only say assume because I don’t play computer games. I don’t consider taking a Buzzfeed quiz to determine which character from Dazed and Confused I a

Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O'Connell

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