Aviously

Because, aviously…

It’s Gonna Be May – #SOTD

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May 10, 2018

It’s May, and I haven’t done a Song of the Day in a bunch of weeks…so here are some of the songs I’m listening to…and the first three are really really good.

No Tears Left To Cry – Ariana Grande

The more I listen to this song, the more I like it…and I think the top of the Chorus is a great show of her vocal range.

Right now, I’m in a state of mind
I wanna be in, like, all the time
Ain’t got no tears left to cry
So I’m pickin’ it up

This Is America – Childish Gambino

When I first saw this music video on Sunday I was riveted. Anyone who knows Donald Glover from Community knows the funny side of him. Meanwhile, there’s a whole ‘nother group of people who know him from Atlanta. But this video and song are an awakening to a lot of people on his talents, and the reality that most of America are all too familiar with.

This is America
Don’t catch you slippin’ up
Look what I’m whippin’ up

These Days – Rudimental feat. Jess Glynne, Dan Caplen, and Macklemore

I hope someday we’ll sit down together
And laugh with each other about these days
All our troubles, we’ll lay to rest and
We’ll wish we could come back to these days

Heaven – Kane Brown

The lyrics I quote below I find are just so real and are what draws me into this song.

Everybody’s talking about heaven like they just can’t wait to go
Saying how it’s gonna be so good, so beautiful
Lying next to you, in this bed with you, I ain’t convinced
Cause, I don’t know how heaven
Could be better than this

1,000 Strong

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May 9, 2018

It was the first Monday in May, 2014, and I’d just had a bad experience at the Apple store, and needed a place to vent about it. And vent I did. And then I spoke about race…and morality…and Boko Haram…and Shakira…and how to fix NYC. And that was just the first week of “Avi’s Travels”.

Over time Avis became a nickname, and me traveling through my mind and thoughts became a topic for me to write about, as I wrote every single weekday, taking off for holidays or vacations.

And exactly halfway between that launch day and today (2 years ago tomorrow), it became “Aviously”, and now I’ve reached post number 1,000.

I have struggled at times to want to write, and want to continue, and every time I’ve dragged myself to the keyboard and found something, sometimes things completely mundane, to write about.

I definitely haven’t done it for the readers and “hits”, because those numbers are incredibly low…as are comments and likes and all the other fun stuff that the Instagram Millenials like to crave.

The posts that have gotten the most hits have unfortunately been ones that people end up on after looking up deaths and remembrances…like the three friends I’ve lost over the last few years (here, here, and here).

If it were up to me, people would come and give their thoughts on my TV Reviews, especially my focus on originals from Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu.

Or they would come in for my original intent, travels…although I never went anywhere when this all started…but since then I’ve had a lot of fun going through Virginia (and the highly recommended National Museum of the Marine Corps), over the border to Niagara, along the really snowy streets of Boston, or of course to the best place I’ve visited so far: San Diego.

And of course, there’s the thing that started it all, April 15, 2013, over a year before the website started: Song of the Day.
It was the daily thing I did before this site, posting a song of my choice every single day on social media for almost two years…from Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People to Nobody Love by Tori Kelly…over 300 different songs.
And on here it has turned into occasional posts under the “SOTD” headings…and my yearly Song of the Year lists, for five years now, with usually a Top 10 list, expanding to the Top 20 in 2017, all from my own favorites.

This week I’ve been feeling like I want to give it all up again, and I never know when I’ll just wake up and say I don’t want to write on here anymore…but for today you’ve got me! And spoiler: You have a new #AvisTravels coming up in June, in the form of a road trip!

Murder on the Orient Express

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May 8, 2018

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie is one of the classic books that everyone is supposed to read…editors note, I never got past the third chapter. And the bore I discovered in those pages, transferred right on over to the big screen.

Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) can spot what’s wrong from a mile away.

I can only see the world as it should be. And when it is not, the imperfections stand out like the nose in the middle of the face.

A three-day train ride, full of anonymity, and the gentle rocking…where anything can happen, and happen it does, as Poirot takes a ride on the Orient Express a murder unfolds, and it’s left up to him to figure out who is guilty and why.

They loaded the film up with superstars, in an attempt to make it watchable…from old-timers like Judi Dench and Johnny Depp (who is so out of his regular element), to up-and-comers like Daisy Ridley and Leslie Odom Jr.
Michelle Pfeiffer, William Dafoe, Penelope Cruz (who is extremely religious (read: weird)), and Josh Gad are among the others rounding things out.

The movie is antique and classic, and it’s just too slow moving to get pulled into, while at the same time there is just too much info to care for any of the characters.

Don’t bother wasting your time watching this one, getting a 5.5 out of 10.

My Next Guest: Tina Fey

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May 7, 2018

The fifth installment of the David Letterman Netflix series, and it’s a good one.
So far he’s had a President, an actor, an activist, and a musician…and now he goes to a comedian/actress/director Tina Fey, the funniest potential guest…the next and last one for this season will be Radio Shock Jock Howard Stern.

Dave starts off talking to the crowd about vaping before bringing in Tina on the subject.

She talks about her kids watching videos on the Nintendo Switch, Lorne Michaels and being the first female lead writer at Saturday Night Live, the Don Fey scholarship at Temple University, as well as her book “Bossypants”.

It sold all of these copies in hardback, also in paperback, and this Spring it’s coming out with no cover. -Dave

Tina breaks down a bit getting personal, talking about receiving the Mark Twain Award and her parents being able to see her get it. They also discuss her husband Jeff Richmond, who plays piano for improv and composed the sounds for 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
This leads to Tina and Dave doing some improv with some help from “Yes, and…”

Dave: I’m not as dumb as I look.
Tina: How can you be?

Dave heads out to the Athenian Room in Chicago, where Tina spent some of her time, to talk with Jazz and Chicago Blues legend Buddy Guy, who made numerous appearances on The Late Show throughout the years.

The Audacity of the NFL

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May 4, 2018

Last weekend was the NFL draft, and as always it was filled with shenanigans when announcing picks. From David Akers taunting Cowboys fans to a parrot flying in the pick for the Buccaneers.

But the one that is supposed to be a “feel good moment” is the one that is the craziest when you really look at it.

Ryan Shazier was a Wide Reciever for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but during a game against the Bengals he took a hit and went to the ground, unable to move his legs with a “spinal contusion”.

But thankfully for him, he is on the long road to recovery, and is now up and moving, with a little help…and last week they paraded him out on stage to announce their Round 1 pick.

While I think it’s amazing and great that he is in recovery, it’s a little strange that the very league that caused him to be in this state is now using his walkability as a celebration…without them, he would never be in this state.

On a more common level: Can you imagine if Takata had an ad with people who have shards in their face from their airbags, going out and driving cars with new and improved Takata airbags?

The Steelers are doing right by him and paying out the rest of his contract as a “bonus”…but this league has been a train wreck for years, and this is just another cherry on the cake.

John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous

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May 3, 2018

John Mulaney heads to Radio City Music Hall for his latest standup special “Kid Gorgeous”. I have always have mixed thoughts on John, loving him in Oh, Hello on Broadway, but hating his sitcom on FOX.

Well now he is out there on stage, doing what he’s best at: standup. Talking about he has always been better than the Nazis, Leonard Bernstein, and Stranger Danger…and that’s just the first ten minutes.

That line never gets a laugh. But once you write it, it stays in the act forever.

One of my favorite bits is him talking about colleges asking for donations after you graduate…as if the $100K+ you gave them for your degree wasn’t enough…and that’s just the start of the college scam.

I was in Connecticut recently, doing white people stuff.

Every comedian and their unfunny mother is making jokes about President Trump and politics these days, but his take on it is somewhat different, simply by using a horse in the hospital analogy.

“How come you weren’t mad at the last guy?” “Because I wasn’t paying attention.”

He also touches on his time as a writer on Saturday Night Live and his interactions with Mick Jagger, how technology has sped everything up these days, and how we spend most of our time trying to convince robots we aren’t robots.

I recommend this special to anyone needing a laugh and give it an 8 out of 10.

The Week Of #Review

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May 2, 2018

Adam Sandler has a contract with Netflix, and as they get released, they get better and better. It started with the terrible The Ridiculous 6, and then turned into typical Sandler movies with The Do-Over and Sandy Wexler. But as they get better we get Sandler teaming up with Chris Rock for a fantastic comedy.

Long Islander Kenny Lustig (Sandler) is marrying off his daughter (Allison Strong) to the son of Dr. Kirby Cordice (Rock). But hilarity ensues during the week of the wedding, as he quickly offers up his house to anyone that needs a place to stay, plus insisting on paying for everything, despite Dr. Cordice being loaded.

The two-diamond hotel that’s hosting the wedding party is falling apart, with leaking ceilings and a lack of amenities, and a constantly smiling/laughing manager who just can’t get a handle on things.

Meanwhile, Uncle Seymour, who lost his legs to diabetes, gets honored as a WWII veteran, and the story peaks at the trampoline house bachelor party. The scenes of Sandler carrying him around are laugh out loud funny, especially when needing to take him to the bathroom.

But the standout of this movie, surprisingly, is Steve Buschemi. Playing the creepy cousin, Seymour’s son, he steals the attention whenever he is on screen, and makes Adam look somewhat normal.

Don’t laugh too hard. That’s a trigger.

This movie gets an 8 out of 10.

Google Project Fi

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May 1, 2018

I’ve been shopping recently for a cell phone plan that fits my usage, or rather what I want to use, and it’s been hard to find one that is priced fairly for one or two users.

All companies seem to be geared towards giving better rates for more users, which works great at getting more people on board, doesn’t make any sense now with the unlimited plans. For example, on Verizon’s Unlimited plans, it costs $150 less a year (per line) to get 4 lines at a higher quality, then it does to get only 2 lines at lower quality.
Which just isn’t fair to individuals and small families…I can’t just make up new people for my accounts.

But amongst my searches, and I’ve looked closely at Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, I’ve rediscovered a network that I’ve known about for a while…and even convinced other people to change to…and is really the perfect one for people that don’t use a lot of data: Google Project Fi.

Here are some things to know about Project Fi:

  • Unlimited Talk and Text
  • Runs on 4G Networks with Sprint, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular
  • First line: $20. Every additional line: $15
  • You only pay for data as you use it, and it’s about $0.01/mb (or $10/GB) – Sign up for 2GB, and get charged $20. Only use 1.3GB? Get a $7 refund. Use 3.2GB? Get charged an extra $12. No “overages” or “fees”, and once you cross 6GB, it doesn’t cost any more…so basically a cap at $80 (+ taxes and fees) for the first line.
    It’s shared data when you add lines, and the level of “Free” moves up. 10GB/2 lines, 12GB/3 lines, etc.
  • Unlimited Texting and same data rates in 170+ countries
  • Adding a tablet is free…and you only pay for the data you use, no cost for the line

Summer Movies

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April 30, 2018

As we prepare to enter May, it’s time to look ahead to the best movies to expect this summer!! (Or at least the ones I’m most interested in)

Deadpool 2 – May 18

Deadpool changed the Marvel world, by allowing the movies to be R-Rated and dirty and still raking in millions of $$. This sequel is bound to be great.

Solo – May 25

Han Solo, the Millenium Falcom pilot from Star Wars lore, gets his own spinoff showing the start of his career, and how he met up with Chewbacca and Lando.

Ocean’s 8 – June 8

The Ocean series is heading towards the women, but will Debby Ocean be able to live up to what Danny Ocean made famous?

A Kid Like Jake – June 8

Claire Danes, Priyanka Chopra, and Jim Parsons star in a movie about a 4-year-old who is gender non-conforming and about to enter kindergarten.

Incredibles 2 – June 15

Sicario: Day of the Soldado – June 29

The first movie in this series was surprisingly good, but will the second one be as good without Emily Blunt?

Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6

Ant-Man wasn’t terribly good…will Evangeline Lilly be able to rescue Paul Rudd?

Shock and Awe – July 13

This movie may be a great follow-up to Looming Tower, as Woody Harrelson, Jessica Biel, and Tommy Lee Jones star in a movie about journalists covering Bush’s invasion of Iraq on claims of “WMDS”.

Mission Impossible: Fallout – July 27

Rogue Nation was decent, but not great…but this is one of those series’ that will never die, and can always put in some Tom Cruise action to pull in some viewers.

Christopher Robin – August 3

Winnie The Pooh and the Hundred Acre Woods are coming to the big screen with a grown-up Christopher, and no imagination…but Pooh and his friends will help him find it again. The movie stars Ewan McGregor is Christopher and Hayley Atwell (who was amazing in Agent Carter) as his wife.

The Spy Who Dumped Me – August 3

This comedy with Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon find themselves wrapped up in a conspiracy, as Mila’s ex-boyfriend is revealed to be a CIA agent.

American Idol Bracket

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April 27, 2018

Today’s bracket is American Idol contestants who have gone on to have some success. Yes, there are a lot more than the eight listed below…as well as some that have had more fame than the ones on this bracket (like Jennifer Hudson), but it’s my bracket, so its ones that I listened to at one point or another.

Be prepared…there’s a lot of song puns.

One fault of building my own brackets, and spoiler alert, is that the higher seeds are likely to always advance. In the Amazon vs. Hulu bracket there were some upsets…but I prefer to use brackets made by others, like the ones used for Netflix, Marvel, and Disney vs. Pixar.

 

ELITE EIGHT

Carrie Underwood vs. Clay Aiken – Carrie Underwood — Clays fame launched him into a run for US Congress, but our “All-American Girl” moves on thru

Katherine McPhee vs. Lauren Alaina – Lauren Alaina — This was my toughest decision of the first round. Katherine’s fame led her to shows like Smash and Scorpion, and I was “Terrified” to eliminate her, but Lauren is “Doin’ Fine” these days, and has the potential for a great career

Kelly Clarkson vs. Adam Lambert – Kelly Clarkson — Adam’s career is mostly a “Ghost Town”, and Kelly has been “Stronger” all the way up now to a judge on The Voice

Chris Daughtry vs. Kellie Pickler – Chris Daughtry — Kellie is “Tough”, but “It’s Not Over” for Daughtry in the first round

FINAL FOUR

Carrie Underwood vs. Lauren Alaina – Carrie Underwood — Lauren’s “Road Less Traveled” will end in the Final Four as there is no reason to “Remind Me” that Carrie is the better of the two

Kelly Clarkson vs. Chris Daughtry – Kelly Clarkson — “Piece By Piece” Kelly is better than Chris, Daughtry and his band had their moments, but “It’s No Surprise” that Kelly is going to the Championship

CHAMPIONSHIP

Carrie Underwood vs. Kelly Clarkson – CARRIE UNDERWOOD — I think it was pretty obvious from the beginning that it would end up here. And Carrie as “The Champion” wasn’t the easiest choice, but “Behind Those Hazel Eyes” Kelly is one of the toughest people to come out of the competition. She was the first winner, and 16 years later she is still at the top of her game. The reason she lost though, is that her recent music has fallen off from the highs that “Breakaway” set. “Since U Been Gone”, “Because Of You”, “Breakaway” (the song), and the aforementioned “Hazel Eyes” were all songs that stand up against the test of time…but “Love So Soft” and “Heartbeat Song” just don’t match up.
But after all that goodness about Kelly, it’s Carrie that I would pick between the two. From “Jesus Take The Wheel” to “Cowboy Cassanova” and “Something in the Water” to “Last Name” she has a wide range of songs that I would throw onto playlists. Add to that hosting the CMA Awards for 10+ years, including the 2018 show this November.

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