Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from 2025

2025 NBA All-Star Weekend - "Throw this format in the trash"

There's no other way to put this, the NBA has a serious problem on their agenda going forward regarding All-Star Weekend. What was once the standard for All-Star presentations and must-watch television has quickly turned into social criticism and an entity that undoubtedly reminds fans of what used to be.  Simply put, NBA All-Star Weekend is broken.  I don't want to pile on like we expect the talking heads and personalities to do. This is fixable. Like everything else in sports. However, this...what we experienced tonight, is not it.  Other quick thoughts on the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend:  The Skills Challenge was cool when it was first introduced. Now, it's become over-produced. The map of the floor, the gadgets involved, and even the rules...just ask Chris Paul and poor Victor Wembanyama.  By the way, the constant camera focus on both of them following the "disqualification" had such "Principal Office" vibes.  The Three-Point content remains the purest...

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/9/25

3 Up 1. Eagles Defensive Live - I'm no football aficionado or even a huge fan - but what the Eagles front four on defense did was dominating.  1a. Philadelphia Eagles - Congratulations to Eagles fans and the city of Philadelphia on the Super Bowl win.  2. Kendrick Lamar - I'm sure it'll be controversial - we all knew it would be going in. Throwing my two cents into the arena of public opinion, I thoroughly enjoyed Kendrick's performance. I'm a fan, so that's easy. Tough night to be Drake though. Yikes!  3. Human-Like Teeth in Pigs - Science can be cool. But stories like this are absolutely amazing.  3 Down 1. Plan for Education? - Look, I'm all for cutting wasteful spending from the government. However, I also want to know the plan to replace or support the areas that are being cut. Eliminating the Department of Education? Ok, cool. What's the plan after that? 2. USAID - We live in a VERY blessed country. My heart is with the countries and people who re...

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/2/25

3 Up 1. Costco Pay Increase - Costco is doubling down on DEI policies. Now, it's offering its workers a liveable wage? We're in a weird world where this is the company receiving strong threats of boycotts and investor backlash. Kudos to Costco. 2. Kidney Transplant - We've got transplants now from pigs - PIGS! It's really cool to read about. But really, much like the above "Up" - we're in some weird times right now.  3. Beyonce - It's amazing to think that Beyonce is the first black woman to win a Grammy for Best Country Album. There are two things there for me - 1) Did it really take this long for a black artist to win? 2) When it's all said and done, Beyonce's legacy will need layers and time to be broken down and appreciated.  3 Down 1. Aviation - Why are planes crashing, falling out of the sky, and all sorts of other things? What. Is. Going. On?  2. Government Layoffs - Soooooooo, anyone else sort of worried about the job market getting fl...

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 1/26/25

3 Up 1. Inauguration Day - It's kind of nice when the transition of power happens peacefully, right? Without any drama? The county needs less drama right now. I'm not sure what the next administration will bring, but the inauguration didn't feel all that abnormal - which is good.  2. Baseball Hall of Fame Class 2025 - It's a tremendous class full of very deserving players. Much love for Ichiro and Sabathia - loved watching them both.  3. Higher Education Enrollment - Welp, when we expected the big enrollment cliff to happen, we get this news?! Higher Ed on the rise?! What?! I'm excited about this, but with expected changes in education to come, it's going to be interesting to see how long this lasts.  3 Down 1. January 6th Pardons - Come on. I'm trying to give this Trump administration a chance. I really am. But this move is not it for me. Not. At. All.  2. DEI Term - Add DEI to the other buzzwords that elicit outrage and strong feelings without a complete ...

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 1/19/25

3 Up 1. Israel and Hamas Ceasefire Agreement - This seems like a pretty big deal considering all of the layers that come with this conflict. Ending this peacefully is of the utmost importance.  2. Bob Uecker - Legend. I'll forever remember Uecker for his role in the Major League movies. In some ways, baseball would be awesome if we had more announcers like him. Except, you realize the dude was one of a kind.  3. MLK Weekend - The weekend is always reflective of how far we've come. It has a different vibe this year, but is still salient for us all to realize.   3 Down 1. Home Insurance - It's a shame how insurance companies are finding their way out of coverage for floods, fires, and other natural disasters. Especially after the recent fires in LA, home insurance coverage has to be examined further 2. Extreme Weather - Some crazy things are happening all over the Globe. Have been for a while.  3. Meta Changes - Well, as the Presidential administration changes, w...

Quick Ponder: Parental Reverance

Are these the moments of hard work and sacrifice, in front of my kids, that I hold my parents in reverence for? 

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 1/12/25

3 Up 1. California Fire Fighters - From nearby and even across international borders (some even imprisoned), a lot has to be offered to the firefighters who made their way to Southern California this week to help control this massive natural disaster.  2. Human Spirit - People who opened their homes to others. Businesses that provided free services and assistance. The outpouring of donations and so much more. People can be awesome at times.  3. Medical Debt - This seems like a pretty big deal, no?! Why should your health and the needs for your care affect your credit score?  3 Down 1. California Wildfires - Awful. There's not much you can place into words here that would capture so many people losing their homes, their lives, and everything. 2. Politicized Wildfires - As much as the human spirit took center stage, of course, we gotta make things political in this nation. Because, you know, there's an opportunity to do so.  3. Extreme Weather - There's just a whole l...

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Brother (2022)

What is it about?  Two sons of a Caribbean immigrant in Canada face questions and obstacles regarding masculinity, identity, racism, family, community, and personal dreams.  Who is in it? Lamar Johnson - Michael Aaron Pierce - Francis Marsha Stephanie Blake - Ruth Kiana Madeira - Aisha Favorite Scene:  [spoiler alert] After a failed audition, and before the police once again, Francis emotionally says to all of his loved ones, "we dreamin, that's all, we're just dreamin" Favorite Quote:   "Our immigrant parents cleaned toilets, took care of other people's f----ing kids, took shit all day, struggled with rent, were chronically tired...all for us." Review:  Brother sat on my trusty "My List" on my NetFlix account for two years. The overall description of the film, of Caribbean immigrants and a family, intrigued me due to my similar background. After finally giving myself the green light to engage in this film, I'm upset it took me this long. B...

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 1/5/25

3 Up 1. Happy New Year - We made it around the sun one more time! Wishing all of you the very best in 2025.  2. Minimum Wage Hike - 21 States are increasing their minimum wage mandates. That's good! Our wage vs. cost of living issue remains a salient topic, especially with a new Presidency beginning in a few weeks. Here's to hoping this is a step in the right direction.  3. Hilde Dosogne - This is absolutely incredible. It's the first I've learned of this feat - never knew this was a thing in 2024. 366 marathons! Someone get this lady a month of free recovery care! 3 Down 1. New Orleans Terrorist Attack - It absolutely sucks to start the new year with such a tragedy. Just bad vibes overall. So heartbreaking for the victims and the city. There are a lot of weird ideologies happening in the world right now.  2. Puerto Rico Power Outage - PR always seems to suffer from these outages. What made this one so terrible was the timing and the duration of the outage. Here's ...

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Chemical Hearts (2020)

What is it about? A teenage boy finds love and life experience in a troubled girl who transfers to his high school.  Who is in it? Lili Reinhart - Grace Town Austin Abrams - Henry Page Favorite Scene:  [spoiler alert] Austin figures out the first piece in Grace's story with a Google search.  Favorite Quote:  "Adults are just scarred kids who were lucky enough to make it out of limbo alive" Review: Chemical Hearts got me. It really did. Another in my series of random picks and this one slowly went from background happenings to having me deep in thought and some feelings.  Chemical Hearts came out of nowhere on the expectations spectrum (I had no knowledge of it before) and delivered in a big way. The film is highly profound and leaves you - at least it did for me - thinking about the person I used to be during that time, the person I forgot about. The person figuring out how to prepare myself for adulthood and carrying all of the baggage along the way.  My f...

Quick Ponder: 2025

2025.  Discipline.  Consistency. Concerned about  foundation,  not about destination. 

Dome Pondering Movie Review: The Way Back (2020)

What is it about?  Jack Cunningham, a high school phenomenon, reluctantly accepts a high school coaching job providing a redemption for the school, the students, and most importantly, himself.  Who is in it?  Ben Affleck - Jack Cunningham Al Madrigal - Dan  Janina Gavankar - Angela  Michaela Watkins - Beth Favorite Scene:  [spoiler alert] After getting thrown out of a game, Jack explains to Brandon why didn't pursue his full ride to Kansas after being a high school star.  Favorite Quote:   "You're nervous. I get it. The truth is, they're more talented than you. Probably got a better coach. But I promise you, they are not a better team. Because they haven't been through what we've been through. They don't know adversity. They don't know what it's like to get knocked down and have to get back up again. They don't know what it is to fight."A lot of times hurting myself trying to hurt my father." Review:  The Way Back can feel cliche. We...