So This Is How Liberty Dies...

The title for today's blog was taken from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. It's a line that Padme Amidala (played by Natalie Portman) uttered during the scene in the Coruscant government chamber where the audience cheered on the formation of a grand new Galactic Empire. I remembered that line and scene when I saw the U.S. election results a few weeks ago. I still can't believe that a person with 34 felony convictions is now our president-elect.

I'm not affiliated with any political party, and I'll never have a piece of political merchandise. I'd rather see the millions of dollars raised by political action committees go toward more worthwhile causes, like ending homelessness or funding schools, for example. I vote for candidates based on what they've done (or haven't done), and I research their records before making any decisions. 

I paid attention to what happened during Trump's last term. Aside from a few minor instances, he really didn't do anything that significantly improved the lives of anyone who wasn't a corporate executive or very wealthy. More than $7 trillion was added to the national debt during his first term. His initial bungling of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in more than half of a million American lives being unnecessarily lost. He also refused to step down peacefully after legitimately losing his re-election bid in 2020 and incited an insurrection on the Capitol grounds. None of that would ever make me want to support him. 

Unfortunately, the majority of people who voted in this year's election were okay with all of that. I'm also concerned about his Cabinet appointees. There is one glimmer of hope in the fact that Matt Gaetz, who had been accused of having sex with underage girls, stepped down from Congress and withdrew his name for consideration as Trump's Attorney General. However, his other nominees seem to have just as questionable character, including:

1. NY Congressional Representative Elise Stefanik as UN Ambassador. Stefanik has been a staunch Trump supporter since entering Congress. She also offered support for now disgraced former Congressman George Santos. Many people in her Congressional district have complained about her unwavering loyalty to Trump and her unwillingness to do much of anything to help the people that she represents. I have zero faith in her ability to do this job, which requires Senate confirmation. 

2. SD Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security. Noem's recent autobiography includes a story about her killing a family pet dog Cricket by shooting it in a gravel pit. Noem was apparently upset that the animal wasn't going to be a good hunting dog. This tale wasn't included in the first draft of her book, but the fact that she pushed to have it in the final version speaks volumes about her character. Noem is another Trump sycophant, who was noticeably absent while her state was enduring significant flooding earlier this year. Their governor skipped town and was out stumping for Trump, of course. She has also bragged about South Dakota being open during the worst of the pandemic. Not surprisingly, her state had the second-highest number of Covid cases. Noem speaks of the importance of family but was outed not long ago for having engaged in an affair with Corey Lewandowski. Both Noem and Lewandowski are still married to their spouses. Noem has also been a vocal proponent of building the wall, so I'm not surprised by this selection. Noem's role would also have to be approved by the US Senate. 

3. Lee Zeldin as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin is a former attorney and congressman who has spoke about his desires to roll back environmental protections. The fact that he's Trump's pick to lead the EPA tells me all that I need to know about him. 

4. Mike Huckabee as the US Ambassador to Israel. You may know Mike from his Relaxium commercials, or because his daughter was a former press secretary during Trump's first term. The former Arkansas governor and Fox News personality's personal religious biases may conflict with his duties in this role, which also has to be confirmed by the Senate. 

5. FL Congressional Representative Mike Waltz as National Security Adviser. Waltz was the first Green Beret to be elected to the US House of Representatives. He is currently on the House's Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence committees. He has a strong record of military and security work, but he also aligns very closely with Trump, so I'm obviously pessimistic about this appointment that does not require Senate confirmation. 

6. Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. After Gaetz, Gabbard was probably the most controversial of Trump's recent Cabinet selections. Gabbard was anti-Trump just a few years ago. She has been called a Russian asset, and her ties with that nation should definitely be examined before or during Senate confirmation proceedings. 

7. Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Staff. From what I know of Miller, he doesn't seem to be a very happy human being. Amost every video or social media post I've seen of him talking has shown him to be a very angry individual, for one reason or another. He is a staunch Trump supporter and is strongly behind the mass deportation movement, which would impact people that I work with and our economy in general. 

8. Former Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr quickly went from being a Trump opponent to a Trump proponent, much like several others who are now backing him. I've had reservations about RFK Jr. for quite some time. He has spoken out about vaccines and immunizations. His rhetoric in American Samoa indirectly contributed to a measles outbreak there in 2019. He's also said that "you can't trust medical advice from medical professionals." I found it rather hypocritical that he made a video about making America healthy again, and then was photographed having a Big Mac with Trump and a few of his other cronies aboard a private plane not long afterward. 

9. Linda McMahon as Education Secretary. Best known as WWE founder Vince McMahon's wife, Linda has drawn scrutiny lately for having falsely claimed to have an Education degree, and for being linked with a sexual abuse lawsuit that alleges that she did nothing to prevent a ringside announcer in the 1980s and 1990s from sexually abusing and grooming children. Betsy Devos was a horrible Education Secretary. I never thought that we'd ever have anyone worse than her in that position, but if the Senate approves her nomination, Linda could quickly claim that dubious distinction. 

10. Dr. Mehmet Oz as the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Most of us know this television doctor from his daytime series. Oz ran for Congress recently, losing to John Fetterman. His less than typical views on health and promotion of alternative treatments make me think that he's about as credible as Rand Paul (which is hardly at all). 

11. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as co-chairs of the Department of Government Efficiency. There are very few people who've used social media who don't know who Elon Musk is. He owns Tesla and purchased the social media site Twitter (now known as X). The site has lost more than 3/4 of its value since his purchase. Musk is an unabashed Trump supporter. Ramaswamy owns a pharmaceutical company and is another former Presidential candidate. He has recently called for the end of remote work for all federal employees. It's rather ironic that this new Department of Government Efficiency requires two people to lead it, and that known Republican crackpot Marjorie Taylor Greene was recently named to head one of its subcommittees. Hopefully, this newly created department will never see the light of day. 

12. FL Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. Rubio is not only from the state that houses Mar-A-Lago, but he's also another diehard Trump follower. This Latino's shocking anti-immigration views have turned some of his ardent followers away, and I don't think that he will think for himself, but then, most of Trump's most loyal devotees rarely deviate from whatever the orange man says or does. 

13. Tom Homan as Border Czar. Even though Republicans called Kamala Harris the "border czar," there has never been an official role called that until now. Homan oversaw ICE for less than 2 years during Trump's first term, and was indirectly responsible for families being separated at the border during his watch. I don't expect to him improve anytime soon in this role that doesn't require Senate approval. 

14. Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary. Regular weekend Fox News viewers probably know Hegseth well. He has drawn ire recently for sexual assault allegations and his tattoos that have Nazi symbolism. Hegseth is a National Guard veteran, but never advanced to the service level that many previous Defense Secretaries have. Hegseth is creepy to me, because he says that germs don't exist and that he hasn't washed his hands in 10 years. 

15. Susie Wiles as Chief of Staff. Wiles is the daughter of the late football broadcaster Pat Summerall. She is a former lobbyist and member of Trump's campaign staff. Unfortunately, the Senate doesn't have to confirm her in this role.

16. John Ratcliffe for director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Ratcliffe is a former Texas congressman. He was previously nominated for Director of National Intelligence in 2019 under Trump, where he served for less than a year. During his confirmation sessions, questions arose about his history as a federal prosecutor and his qualifications in general. I wouldn't be surprised if one of his first official duties in this role, if approved by the Senate, would be to go after Trump's "enemies."

17. Russell Vought as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Even though Trump's campaign has long sworn that they have no ties with the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, Vought wrote a chapter about the Executive Office of the President that's a part of Project 2025's Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise. He is also another former Trump staffer who has a history of cutting costs. It'll be interesting to see if a Republican actually does cut costs during this term.

18. Chris Wright as Energy Secretary. If there was ever a conflict of interest in Trump's appointments, this is one of the biggest. Wright is Liberty Energy's chief executive officer. His firm is one of the largest fracking service companies on the planet. Wright denies the existence of climate change and has called efforts to fight it unreliable and expensive. I would never appoint anyone with such a clear bias to this position, but that's just me. 

19. Pam Bondi as Attorney General. Gaetz's replacement is not surprisingly another former Trump opponent. She pushed the Big Lie that Trump's reelection bid in 2020 was stolen and her company filed lawsuits before the results in several key states before the results of this year's election were confirmed. I don't expect her to be much better than Gaetz.

There are other appointees, and Trump will likely make more before Inauguration Day, but these are the ones that I'm most concerned about for now. I may add others to this post or in separate posts if I feel like it. The fact that Trump and his team have yet to sign the traditional presidential transition ethics pledge or submit or agree to background checks for his nominees doesn't bode well. I hope I'm wrong of course, but given his previous track record, I don't see any signs of Trump or any of his Cabinet ever making America geat again for the vast majority of people in this country. 

Well, that's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

2024 Minnesota Twins Season in Review

 On August 17, the Minnesota Twins had a record of 70 wins and 53 losses. At the time, it seemed like the team was a lock to play postseason baseball. However, the Twins went on a 12-27 slide to end the season, and the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers overtook them in the race to the playoffs. The Twins finished in 4th place in the A.L. Central, still far ahead of the Chicago White Sox, who lost a record 121 games this season.

To say that this year's Twins team underperformed is putting it mildly. Sure, there were plenty of injuries, but mental and physical errors combined with a lack of quality pitching and some questionable managerial moves contributed to the team's late-season slide.

With that in mind, here's a closer look at the team, starting with the position players:

Byron Buxton: .279, 18 HR and 56 RBI in 102 games. It was good to see Buxton patrolling center field once again, and he topped 100 games in a season for only the second time in his career. It would be nice to see Buxton play an entire year without having to go on the injured list.

Jair Camargo: 0 for 6 in 5 games. Camargo spent most of the 2024 season with the AAA St. Paul Saints. He was called up a few times to be a third catcher and is a veteran backup behind the plate.

Diego Castillo: 2 for 6 in 4 games. Castillo also spent most of the year with the Saints and was called up when injuries decimated the bench infielder roles. He might be worth another look if the injury bug strikes again in 2025. 

Willi Castro: .247, 12 HRs, 60 RBI, and 14 SB in 158 games. Castro was the team's All-Star. He played 25 games or more at 5 different positions (2B, SS, 3B, LF, and CF) and was the only player on the team to reach double digits in stolen bases. A true asset to this lineup because of his durability and flexibility. 

Carlos Correa: .310, 14 HR, 54 RBI in 86 games. Plantar fascitis shelved this Gold Glove shortstop a few times this season. He's a clubhouse leader who was understandably frustrated by the team's collapse in August and September. 

Kyle Farmer: .214, 5 HR, 25 RBI in 107 games. Kyle had a terrible first half, hitting under .200 with no home runs. He rebounded after the All-Star break and got more playing time, including a few pitching performances. 

Michael Helman: 3 for 10 in 9 games. Helman added some outfield depth late in the year after being recalled from St. Paul. He will probably start 2025 with the Saints. 

Ryan Jeffers: .226, 21 HR, 64 RBI in 122 games. Jeffers slumped badly during the second half of the season. If he regains his form, he could be counted on to be a powerful bat in the lineup again next year.

Edouard Julien: .199, 8 HR, 21 RBI in 94 games. Julien had a great April, a month in which he hit 7 long balls. He suffered a sophomore slump and really seemed to get too much inside his own head, necessitating a demotion to AAA. Hopefully, he figures things out in 2025. 

DaShawn Keirsey Jr: 2 for 13, including a homer, in 6 games. Keirsey Jr. also spent most of 2024 with the Saints. Another outfielder that could be called upon as needed if injuries attack the big league roster.

Max Kepler: .253, 8 HR, 42 RBI in 105 games. I always enjoy watching Kepler play and saw him slug a homer against the Red Sox in a game at Target Field in May. Injuries marred his season, and he's an impending free agent. With Larnach, Wallner, and other young outfielders in the minors, I don't believe the Twins will re-sign him at this point.

Alex Kiriloff: .201, 5 HR, 20 RBI in 57 games. Another Twins player with great potential but also a long history of injuries. I really hope that this corner outfielder/first baseman stays healthy in 2025.

Trevor Larnach: .259, 15 HR, 52 RBI in 112 games. Larnach has great power potential. If he could become an everyday corner outfielder, he'd easily to 20 HR and 70 RBI or more every season. 

Brooks Lee: .221, 3 HR, 27 RBI in 50 games. A rookie who made an immediate impact after his initial call-up. He doesn't have a ton of power but can play second, third, or short and keep the team in close games. 

Royce Lewis: .233, 16 HR, 47 RBI in 82 games. I would love to see Lewis play a full season because of his home run pop. Questions have been raised about his throwing ability, which led to him seeing some time at second base late in the year. 

Manuel Margot: .238, 4 HR, 31 RBI in 129 games. The Twins acquired Margot from the Los Angeles Dodgers not long after they made a trade with Tampa Bay for the veteran outfielder. Margot is a good defensive outfielder, but you're not going to get much offense from him. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with another team next year.

Austin Martin: .253, 1 HR, 16 RBI in 93 games. Martin proved to be a valuable utility man as injuries struck the roster. He rode the AAA/big league shuttle several times throughout the season, and proved to be someone that the team can depend on. Just wish manager Rocco Baldelli would have played him more. 

Jose Miranda: .284, 9 HR, 49 RBI in 121 games. Miranda wasn't on the Opening Day roster but proved his worth during a summer hot streak. Now the questions are if he can stay healthy and where he fits in the lineup (3B, 1B or DH). 

Carlos Santana: .238, 23 HR, 71 RBI in 150 games. The 15 year veteran could potentially win his first Gold Glove award after his stellar play at first base this year. He signed a 1-year deal with the Twins, and it's possible that he might be re-signed. 

Matt Wallner: .259, 13 HR, 37 RBI in 75 games. Wallner slumped badly early on, leading to a demotion to St. Paul. He found his swing with the Saints, and came back a reinvigorated player. Injuries kept him out toward the end of the year, but I could see him taking over Kepler's spot in right field. 

Christian Vazquez: .221, 7 HR, 27 RBI in 93 games. Vazquez hasn't been much of an offensive powerhouse during his time with the Twins, but proved his worth, even filling in at third base for a game in San Francisco. He still has one year left on his  deal, and should be the Twins' second catcher unless they sign or trade for someone else in the offseason.

Pitching:

Jorge Alcala: 4-3, 3.24 ERA, 16 holds. Alcala was up and down once again with the Twins. He still doesn't have an established role within Rocco Baldelli's bullpen. 

Scott Blewett: 1-1, 1.77 ERA in 20.1 IP. While he doesn't have the type of name that you'd expect a reliever, Blewett was one of the Twins' most consistent arms after his recall from AAA.

Caleb Boushley: 0-0, 4.50 ERA in 4 IP. Boushley spent most of the 2024 season with the St. Paul Saints, He could be a feasible bullpen option in 2025. 

Matt Bowman: 0-0, 2.35 ERA in 7.2 IP. Bowman started the year with the Twins, and also pitched for the Diamondbacks, Mariners and Orioles in 2024 along with several minor league affiliates of those organizations.

Diego Castillo: 0-0, 2.70 ERA in 10 IP. Not to be confused with infielder Diego Castillo, this veteran pitcher also split time between the majors and minors. I doubt that he'd be resigned to anything more than a minor league contract at the most next year. 

Randy Dobnak: 0-0, 5.59 ERA in 9.2 IP. Dobnak resurfaced in the major leagues for the first time in several years this season. He's been a real innings eater for St. Paul, and I sincerely doubt that he'll ever become a big league starter again. A nice bullpen option to have if he's pitching well. 

Daniel Duarte: 1-0, 2.25 ERA in 4 IP. The Twins picked Duarte up from the Reds, but he spent most of the season on the injured list. I don't see him as a long-term solution. 

Jhoan Duran: 6-9, 3.64 ERA and 23 saves in 54.1 IP. Duran can be lights out. He can also be a bit erratic, especially when his pitches are out of the strike zone. He can easily throw 100 MPH-plus. I'd like Baldelli to make him the closer on a permanent basis. 

David Festa: 2-6, 4.90 ERA in 14 games (13 starts). Festa was one of several rookies who made the Twins this year. His first couple of starts were nothing to write home about, but he improved as the season went on. 

Kody Funderburk: 1-0, 6.49 ERA in 34.2 IP. Injuries and ineffectiveness marred Funderburk's 2024 season. I don't expect him to make next year's Opening Day roster.

Brett Headrick: 3.00 ERA in 3 IP. Headrick spent most of the year on the injured list. Hopefully he can return to form and be a vital cog in the Twins' bullpen. 

Ronny Henriquez: 1-1, 3.26 ERA in 19.1 IP. Henriquez was mostly overlooked when he was in the majors. He even made a start. He could be a relief specialist or a back end of the rotation option. 

Cole Irvin: 0-1, 12.27 ERA in 4.1 IP. Irvin was a September pick-up from Baltimore. He was quickly given up on after his less than stellar outings. Expect to see him elsewhere in the league in 2025. 

Jay Jackson: 1-2, 7.52 ERA in 26.1 IP. This veteran made his first Opening Day roster, but pitched progressively worse the more that he was used. Another possible candidate for a minor league contract with another team, or he might pitch overseas.

Griffin Jax: 5-5, 2.03 ERA and 10 saves in 71 IP. Jax was the most consistent reliever on the Twins staff this season. He's said that he wants to start again, but I think he's a great set-up man. 

Pablo Lopez: 15-10, 4.08 ERA and 198 K's in 32 starts. Lopez anchored the starting staff that was decimated by injuries. He can be a bit erratic, but most of the time he can be counted on to keep his team in ballgames. 

Zebby Matthews: 1-4, 6.69 ERA in 9 starts. Considering that Matthews began the year in Single A ball, I'm impressed with his progress. He's not quite ready to be in a major league rotation for an entire season yet, but some more time in AAA might help him make some adjustments. 

Bailey Ober: 12-9, 3.98 ERA in 31 starts. Ober emerged as the Twins #2 starter this year. i'm glad that he can be counted on every fifth day. 

Steven Okert: 3-2, 5.09 ERA in 35.1 IP. Another reliever who started off okay, but faded down the stretch. The Twins picked him up from the Marlins, but I don't think he'll be on the roster next year. 

Chris Paddack: 5-3, 4.99 ERA in 17 starts. Paddack is still on the mend after 2 Tommy John surgeries. He was placed on the IL a couple of times in 2024, and was planning to return in time for the playoffs. Now he has more time to rest and fine-tune things. 

Trevor Richards: 0-1, 4.15 ERA in 13 IP. Richards was the one player the Twins traded for before the July trade deadline, but didn't play that much for his new team. We should have pursued starting pitchers instead. 

Simeon Wood Richardson: 5-5, 4.17 ERA in 28 starts. Woods Richardson proved that he can be a major league starter this year. I just wish Baldelli wouldn't limit his innings. 

Joe Ryan: 7-7, 3.60 ERA in 23 starts. Ryan was very reliable before going on the IL. Ryan reminds me of Bert Blyleven. They're both dependable starters who strike out a lot of batters and also give up a fair amount of home runs. 

Cole Sands: 9-1, 3.28 ERA in 71.1 IP. Sands was the Twins' second most reliable reliever, behind Griffin Jax. Once a rotation option, I think he's a better middle inning or 7th inning specialist. 

Josh Staumont: 1-0, 3.70 ERA in 24.1 IP. Staumont was a Twins killer until the team signed him. He was outstanding early on, but showed a few cracks in his armor before being let go. 

Brock Stewart: 0-0, 5.17 ERA in 15.2 IP. Like Headrick, Stewart also spent most of the season on the injured list. If healthy, he could be a dependable bullpen arm in 2025. 

Caleb Thielbar: 2-4, 5.32 ERA. I root for Thielbar because he's a fellow Minnesota native, but he has reminded me of Ron Davis this year. I wish he could be more consistent. 

Michael Tonkin: 0-0, 3.86 ERA in 16.1 IP. Tonkin also spent time with the Yankees and Mets in 2024. He's one of those guys who's a good AAAA player: he dominates the minors but is never quite good enough to stay on a major league roster. 

Justin Topa: 0-0, 0.00 ERA in 3 IP. Topa was acquired from Seattle in the Jorge Polanco trade, but wasn't activated from the IL until late September. Another reliever that might be beneficial in 2025 if he's healthy. 

Louie Varland: 0-6, 7.61 ERA in 16 games (7 starts). An 0-4 record with an ERA over 9 led to a demotion early in the season. I don't think he's a quality starter. He's better as a long man/spot starter. 

Josh Winder: 0-0, 3.00 ERA in 9 IP. Winder was also hurt most of the year. He is another of those bullpen/rotation options that shuttle between St. Paul and Minneapolis. 

Castro, Wallner and Farmer also pitched for the Twins, but I'm not including those stats in this section, for obvious reasons. 

I often struggle with Baldelli's managerial decisions, like his lineups and his unwillingness to define specific bullpen roles. The fact that all of his hitting coaches were dismissed after the season signifies the need for offensive upgrades next year.

Twins' general manager Thad Levine recently stepped down. Last year, after breaking long playoff game and playoff series losing streaks, fans were understandably upset with the team's decision to cut payroll. The reason given for that was the need to secure a television deal. Now they need to do it all over again, as Diamond Sports Group (Bally Sports' parent company) announced that they are dropping 11 teams, including the Twins, in 2025.

Besides a new television deal, the team will need to invest in starting pitcher. This has been a weakness of the Twins for many years. I know that many veteran starters don't want to pitch in Minnesota, but there have been some exceptions, of course. A trade may be necessary to obtain the arms that can pitch deep into games as #3 or #4 starters. 

The team also needs to stay healthy. Too many injuries disrupted the lineup throughout the course of the season. It would be nice if Buxton, Correa, Lewis and other key pieces of the lineup could stay on the field for most of 2025. Unless the team addresses those issues, they might be closer to the White Sox than the Guardians in the standings next season.

Well, that's all I have for now. Time to catch the end of the Vikings/Jets game from London. Until my next post, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

The Search is Over

 I decided months ago that the title for this blog post would be the name of a popular hit from the 80's pop/rock band Survivor that I listened to in junior high (and also saw perform live once in concert a few years ago) once I finally found a new full-time job. I start that job tomorrow, so today's as good a time as any to write this.

This job market is definitely the worst that I've ever seen. It's taking people much longer to find employment than ever before. There seem to be more hurdles and frustrations for job seekers, much of which is none of their fault. With all that I've experienced over the last 8+ months, here are a few words of wisdom for both candidates and employers:

Employers:

1. Don't ghost people that you interviewed. I've interviewed people for different roles in the past, so I understand how difficult it can be at times to find quality candidates. When I posted openings, I made sure to personally reply to each applicant, whether I interviewed or hired them or not, with a phone call or email. To me, that just seems like the right thing to do. I can't tell you how many times over the last several years that I had good in-person, phone, or virtual interviews only to never hear from that particular company again. 

Ghosting people is just bad behavior, period. It reflects poorly both on you and the organization that you represent. If an applicant is ghosted by someone from a certain company, it can foster negative sentiment toward that business and make them less likely to apply again for other jobs there or refer friends or relatives to that company. Keep that in mind.

2. Simplify the application process. In our modern information age, attention spans are shorter than ever. Applicants don't want to submit a resume, only to be asked to fill out most (if not all) of those details on a company's application on their website. Also, there's really no need for details that don't pertain to the job duties itself. No more silly questions about what kind of vegetable would you be, asking candidates to "sell this pen" or figuring out how many tennis balls would fit inside a limousine.

Also, reduce the amount of time it takes for a hiring decision to be made. For most positions (especially entry-level jobs), there shouldn't be more than an initial phone screen and one or two in-person or virtual interviews. Decisions should be made promptly because if an offer is made, that person will need to plan accordingly. There's really no need for more than 4 interviews for the vast majority of job openings, and it really shouldn't take months for a candidate to be selected for a role. Many interviewers usually know after a first or second interview who their top pick is.

One more thing: if you ask candidates to complete a project or task, and that task takes more than a half hour to complete, they should be paid adequately for their time and effort. Seasoned professionals NEVER work for free. Asking applicants to work for you before being hired (or even interviewed, in some cases) takes time away from other applications and responsibilities. 

A final point regarding interviews: one-way interviews are unacceptable. Many companies treat them with the same regard as cover letters (meaning they're ignored). They also allow companies to potentially discriminate against applicants based solely on physical characteristics, which is often illegal and just plain wrong. 

3. Don't make optional information mandatory. It's rather common for many job applications to include EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) questions. However, the law states that this information is strictly voluntary, and companies often include a disclaimer stating such data will not be used as part of the reasoning as to why a person is or is not selected for the role.

I lost count of the number of online applications just in the last couple of years that made these EEOC questions mandatory. I couldn't complete the application unless I filled out this information. It's usually quite easy to make those sections optional, so the businesses I've seen that have made them mandatory either don't know how to make that adjustment or simply don't care. 

Candidates:

1. Apply wisely. I know most of us tend to use the shotgun approach and apply to as many jobs as possible, thinking that this will yield more results. That's not necessarily the case. Instead, I'd suggest applying for the jobs that you're most interested in. Focus your efforts on quality, rather than quantity.

2. Be realistic. At first, I was applying for only remote jobs. After a few months, I realized that remote openings have a lot of competition. I was not only going against other applicants in my region but also in other states and countries. I eventually shifted my focus to local companies and jobs that I knew that I could do well and excel in those roles.

3. Don't give up. There will be days or weeks when you'll feel like giving up. I've felt like that more than I've wanted to lately. I had times when I wondered if I'd ever work again, or how I'd be able to continue to support myself. Thankfully, I don't spend much and I have sufficient reserves, but I know that isn't the case for everyone.

It's okay to take breaks too. I had a few instances where I was feeling burned out from the job search, so I forced myself to spend a few hours or even an entire weekend away from the computer. For my birthday a few weeks ago, I turned off emails and just celebrated myself. It was one of the best birthdays that I've had in a few years.

Oddly enough, the job that I'm starting tomorrow wasn't even something that I initially applied to. I went to an interview for another position at a company in the same building. The person who interviewed me for that role was impressed with me and insisted that I meet with other people in the facility at another organization for the role that I accepted. I'm eager to get started and do something different. If you've been job hunting, I wish you all the luck in the world. I hope you find a role that you enjoy and makes you happy.

Well, that's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Show Up For Those Who Show Up For You

 Good personal relationships are never easy. They often require regular communication, something that I've learned in recent years that many people are bad at. When I was younger, I was raised to respect my relatives. I still do, but I got tired of making an effort for those who don't.

There are many great people who make regular efforts to be in my life. They check in with me regularly, make an effort to spend time with me whenever possible and share in my good and bad moments. However, there are a large number of people that I've known over the years that make absolutely no effort to stay in touch. Some of them I haven't heard from in years. I wish them well, but I honestly don't know where they are or what or how they are doing.

I know that life can be very busy. However, if someone's important to you, you make time for them because they matter to you. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes, just a short text, email, phone call or voicemail message can be the one bright spark in someone's day. 

At times, I've had so many things on my plate that I've had to schedule interactions with people in my circle. That's perfectly okay. It forces me to drop the plates that I'm spinning (at least for a little while, anyway) and communicate with someone who has made a genuine impact on my life. It's well worth the effort in my book. I just wish that certain others felt the same way sometimes. What you get out of anything in life depends on the time and effort that you put in to the task at hand, including personal relationships.

Well, that's all I have to say for now. I've been busy with the job search and other responsibilities. I did get an offer for one position and am waiting to hear back on a few more. I'll write more about the process in my next blog post. Until then, take care and have a great week, everyone!

Communication Matters.

 While I've been looking for a new full-time job recently, I've begun to realize how important quality, timely communication really is. As I've learned, some organizations are okay at it, and far more businesses are really lousy at two-way communication.

Several weeks ago, I had a pretty good Teams interview with a particular company for a job that I'd applied for. I hadn't heard back from them after about three weeks, so I followed up. I soon learned that the person I'd interviewed with is now on maternity leave until September. I decided to let the person who was handling correspondence in her absence know what happened. I stressed to them how bad communication not only soured the experience for me, but it also made the company look bad, even though I know that probably wasn't their intention.

A nonprofit that I'd also interviewed at recently admitted that they dropped the ball in not getting back to me about the job that I'd applied for. I understood that they were busy (and probably short-staffed), but I also made sure to point out the importance of good communication, because it sets a proper tone for employees and applicants.

I started today disappointed yet again. I'd had a phone interview and two very good in-person interviews with a local firm over the last month. The HR person told me initially that I'd hear their decision by Friday. They later followed up to let me know that I'd hear something by this Tuesday at the latest. Sure enough, Tuesday came and went without a word from them.

On that Tuesday, I noticed that the job I'd applied for and interviewed was reposted on the same job board that I first found it on. However, when I looked yesterday, all of that company's job postings were gone. This morning, I received a form rejection email from the HR person that I'd been in contact with. I was disappointed because this was one of the few businesses that I've interacted with recently that up until then was very good at providing transparent communication. The delay and impersonal rejection really made me feel like they dropped the ball, and I informed them as such. I did it in a tasteful, respectful manner, but it still left me with a bad impression. If I did something wrong or was missing certain skills, experience, or qualifications, it would have been nice to have known.

I think the lack of proper communication bothers me primarily because that's not how I've interacted with candidates whenever I've interviewed and/or hired people in the past. I made sure to personally call or email applicants to let them know either way and suggested ways to improve if the particular person wasn't selected. To me, that's just the ethical thing to do. I was talking with my mom about this the other day, and she gently reminded me that most of today's society doesn't follow the golden rule. We rarely hear about when someone does something nice for someone else or treats them kindly. It's become an exception rather than an expectation. Hearing that put things in perspective for me.

I don't take these rejections personally, because deep down I know that I did everything the best that I could. The shortcomings in communication weren't mine. I just have to move on to other opportunities, although it does make me less likely to want to apply or work for the companies that I just talked about in this blog post.

Well, that's all I have to say for now. Until next time, have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to one another.

May Music

 Hi everyone,

Sorry for not blogging more often lately, but I've been focused on my primary goal of finding a full-time job. Had some great interviews lately, and I feel like the right opportunity isn't too far away. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

I spent the last 2 Saturdays going to my first rock concerts of 2024. Incidentally, both of them were end of tour shows and both of them were sold out. On May 18th, I made the familiar drive to Maplewood for Sevendust's final stop on the Machine Killer tour. I got to the city a bit early for lunch and to see my uncle, who lives a couple of miles from the venue. We spent a couple of hours out on his patio catching up and watching the local wildlife before I had to leave for the meet and greet.

I noticed Lajon Witherspoon as soon as I parked near the Myth. Of course, I had to stop and chat with him for a bit. I also talked with other members of the Sevendust family while I was there. 

A few minutes later, drummer Morgan Rose stopped to say hello to everyone who had gathered. I got to talk sports with him for a while, and mentioned that I'd just seen his Yankees defeat my Twins at Target Field the Thursday before. 

I've never been to a rock and roll meet and greet that's ever been on time, but I didn't mind the delay. I'm quite used to it by now. Before too long, we were ushered into the Myth in time to see Sevendust play "Disgrace" and "Disease from the Seasons album. Neither of those tunes were in their set for the evening, so it was a nice treat to see them played live before the photo op.

After the VIP session, we were ushered back outside the front door. I don't know why we had to go through the metal detector once again, but it didn't take as long as expected. I found a good spot to stand front and center for Lines of Loyalty's sound check. I'd seen them before during a tour stop in Iowa last fall, and they didn't disappoint.

Dope's set was also good, but I was eagerly anticipating Sevendust's set. They performed a nice mix of hits from the past, as well as three songs from their latest release, Truth Killer. I didn't anticipate so many crowd surfers during their set. That was the only downside, but I was still happy to see my favorite band once again.

I retreated from my front row perch after Sevendust's performance, and found a good place to sit along the left side of the building with some friends for Static-X's set. This was the first time I can remember that I've seen their entire set, and it was just as good as advertised. I also bought a pair of Sevendust pick tins from my buddy at the merch table and left the show with a smile on my face (as usual).

Last Saturday, I made my way mid-afternoon to the Turf Club in St. Paul. I was looking forward to seeing my friends in Cold once again. I stood outside the venue for a few minutes when I heard someone come up behind me. It was Cold bassist Lyndsay Manfredi, who made a point to tuck in the tag of my T-shirt that had gotten loose in the day's wind. It was nice to see her again, as well as other fellow Cold fans that I'd seen at previous shows.

Before the evening began, us VIP attendees were rounded up and led to the Clown Lounge downstairs. I had the band sign a poster and my copy of their latest release, The Things We Can't Stop, before getting another picture with them. I was also given a Cold drawstring bag that had a guitar pick, laminate and sticker inside. 

I stayed in the lounge afterward and ordered dinner. While I was waiting for my food to arrive, I struck up a good conversation with singer Sierra Swan, who sang on a few of Cold's classic songs. She usually shows up at Cold shows in Minnesota. It was nice catching up with her, and by the time I'd finished with my cheeseburger and onion rings, the first act, I Ya Toyah, was about to begin.

I didn't know anything about this solo performer, but she definitely gave off some major Eighties vibes during her set. The next act, Horizon Theory, was pretty good. They'll be touring with Sevendust for their Seasons shows this fall.

Finally, it was time for Cold! The group played 14 songs across their entire career. Swan got onstage with the band to sing "Suffocate" and "No One" with them. The final song was the Year of the Spider tune "Wasted Years," a song that has a lot of personal meaning to me. Frontman Scooter Ward went into the front of the crowd to sing that song surrounded by others who had also been personally affected by it.

I didn't stay for too much of Orgy's set, because I'd already heard most of it during their sound check that occurred at the same time as the Cold meet and greet. I ran into Ward outside the Turf Club before I left and I got to thank him for a great show. He insisted on a friendly hug before I made my trek back home. 

I don't know as of yet what my next concert will be. I'm just glad that I'm able to attend the shows that I can. I always have a good time, and live music itself is very therapeutic. I strongly recommend that you make an effort to attend a show or more of your choosing when you can. You'll definitely be glad you did!

Well, that's all for now. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.

Animals Matter.

 I was thoroughly disgusted this weekend when I read an excerpt from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's upcoming book where she talked about putting down a 14-month-old puppy. Noem was apparently upset at it because it wouldn't be a good hunting dog, so she put it down. The dog could have been surrendered to a shelter or given to another family as a pet, but instead, she chose cruelty.

This is a sore subject for me because I've always believed in being kind to animals (and to all living beings, for that matter). I grew up with a black lab, a goldfish, a pair of rabbits, and dozens of cats living in the country in Central Minnesota. Having animals around regularly taught me a lot about caring and compassion for others. 

It made me think back to when we rescued a cat that had wandered into our garage. The poor thing had its legs and tail duct taped to its torso by a cruel farm kid. We coaxed the scared feline cat out from under one of the cars and my dad carefully cut the tape from its body. The black cat (which we later named Schwarz, which means "black" in German) ran away for a bit but soon came back and was a faithful family pet for many years.

I've always been more of a cat person than a dog person (mainly because of the sheer number of cats that we had in my youth and because cats are typically more self-reliant), but I usually make time for other people's pets whenever I visit them. Most animals are pretty tame. I remember a few times when stray cats and cats that belonged to other neighbors would come to visit out of the blue and find their way to me asking for attention. I didn't mind that at all.

I understand having to put an animal down if it's sick or injured. We had to put one of our cats down after it had been hit by a car. One of its ribs had punctured its skin and we knew that it didn't have long to live. The feline was breathing poorly and could barely move on its own. It wasn't an easy decision, but a necessary one to put it out of its misery, unfortunately. She left behind a new litter of kittens, which with the local veterinarian's advice we learned how to take care of. They grew up to be very happy, healthy cats. However, this situation is quite different than that.

I just can't see cruelty as something that would make me like the particular person who was cruel. I know that Noem's trying to appeal to the MAGA base, but it's not surprisingly turned a lot of conservatives against her. She tried to justify the horrific act by explaining that she also put down a goat that same day and that she's also had to put horses down from time to time, but it seems like she just keeps making things worse for herself with every explanation that she tries to make. 

It's very interesting that both Republicans and Democrats are actually agreeing on this issue. Animal cruelty never has been and never will be acceptable. Now if we could just get them to agree on other important aspects...

Well, that's all for now. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.

Job Hunting Blues

 Hi everyone,

it's been a while since I've made a blog post. Been busy trying to find a good, stable full-time job with decent compensation. I have a few freelance gigs lined up, but job-seeking is different from what it used to be. In fact, it's gotten considerably harder for most of us. I'm fortunate to have only gone about 5 months since my last full-time job, but I know others who've been without a full-time job for twice that long, if not longer.

The process itself is much more complicated than it used to be. Long gone are the days when you could simply stop in a business with your resume. Almost everything is now online. You have to fill out an online application, and often take an assessment or other additional steps as well. Also, you now have to compete with other applicants worldwide in many instances.

It's pretty common nowadays for companies to require applicants to create new accounts just to apply for jobs on their website. The problem is that after enough time, you have too many user names and passwords for those sites to keep up with. That's why I try to keep such experiences like that to a minimum.

There are also a lot of scams out there. I've seen more than my fair share of them. If I receive a message saying that I'm automatically approved, am asked to download an app to communicate with the company or if I can't find the actual company website, it's usually a scam. 

Some employers ask candidates to complete a task. Common examples that I've seen are writing samples, case studies, and so forth. My general rule of thumb is that if a task takes more than a half hour to complete, the applicant should be fairly compensated for their time and effort. If a company isn't willing to accept that or other previous samples in the candidate's portfolio, then they're an organization that you're probably better off not working for. NEVER, ever work for free. 

The puzzling thing to me is the amount of ghosting. It seems to have accelerated after COVID-19 began. I've had some very good interviews recently and made attempts to follow up with the employers, only to never hear from them again. I was stunned a few weeks ago when I stumbled across one such interviewer's social media page and discovered that they filled the job that I'd applied for a week after my interview. They went radio silent after what I knew was a very positive job interview for both me and them. I know it isn't anything personal, but that doesn't always make the rejection any less difficult to swallow.

I'm still doing well enough to keep myself afloat, and I'm confident that I'll find something good before too long. I just wish that the process was easier. If it were up to me, I'd ensure that things were transparent and simple. There's no reason to keep people in limbo. After all, people's livelihoods often hang in the balance. Do the right thing, companies. 

Well, that's all I have for now. This is the last quiet weekend I have until June. Got lots more writing, job hunting, and a few fun things planned for May. Until next time, have a great weekend, and don't forget to be kind to one another.

I've Never...

 I've Never...

An impromptu essay by Aaron D. Backes

I've never been on a cruise, but I've never really had any interest in going on one. If I'm going to be on a boat, I'd rather take a ride on a lake to relax or go fishing.

I've never been to Disneyland or Disneyworld, but one day I'd like to.

I've never been to an NFL game. Maybe someday I will.

I've never been to an MLB game outside of Minnesota. Maybe that will change, maybe it won't.

I've never had lobster. Don't know if I'd enjoy it or not.

I've never received a birthday gift from a friend. I've given plenty, but to the best of my recollection, I've never received a real, thoughtful or meaningful birthday present from a friend, at least not as an adult, anyway. I've received gifts from friends before, just not on or for my birthday.

I've never had a birthday party as an adult. I think the last party thrown for me was for my high school graduation, which was just family. Hell, nowadays, I have a hard enough time just getting a few local friends to join me for a meal on my birthday, but I realize that's something that for some strange reason is fairly common. Many people don't really honor commitments or friendships like they used to, I guess.

I've never truly been in love. I've dated a few women at different times, but there's never really been someone special that I've wanted to spend the rest of my life with yet. I'm not looking now. If it happens, fine. If it doesn't, I won't lose any sleep over it.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. It's early in the morning and I'm still not quite fully awake just yet. If I think of more to add to this, I will. If I can't, well then, until the next article I write, have a great weekend, everyone!

Rock & Metal 2 Hit Wonders

 Hi everyone,

I've been thinking about the topic of this post for a few weeks now. We all know many great 1-hit wonders, but how many 2-hit wonders do we know in the rock and metal worlds? I came up with a short list that I'll expand upon below. I deliberately excluded pop/rock acts like Tears for Fears and Mr. Mister from my list.

1. White Lion: "Wait," "When the Children Cry"

White Lion was the first hair metal band that came to mind when I was compiling this list. I remember hearing their two radio hits regularly back in high school. Some of my classmates did an analysis of "Wait" as part of an English class assignment in my junior year. Aside from their cover of Golden Earring's single "Radar Love," I can't really think of any other outstanding tunes by White Lion. Sadly, the group is no longer in existence, but lead singer Mike Tramp still performs their hits on tour.

2. Tesla: "Love Song," "Signs"

Most people who don't listen to rock regularly only know the California-based band Tesla for these two songs, the latter of which is an acoustic cover. I know them for these tunes and other singles including "What You Give" and "No Way Out (Heaven's Trail)," to name just a few. Personally, I think they deserve more credit for having a career that's lasted much longer than many other bands of their era.

3. Ugly Kid Joe: "Everything About You," "Cats in the Cradle"

When I searched for 2 hit wonders online, Ugly Kid Joe was a band that consistently came up on different pages. It's an odd coincidence that both of these tunes appear on the same album (America's Least Wanted). I would argue that the single "Neighbor" is a 3rd hit, although it's not nearly as popular as the other two, the latter of which was lauded as a modern take on the Cat Stevens classic. 

4. Steelheart: "I'll Never Let You Go," "Everybody Loves Eileen"

Some say that Steelheart is a one-hit wonder, while others say that they had 2 hit singles. I'm in the 2-hit wonder camp, although I also like their single "She's Gone." Steelheart is still around, and they're a band that I'll have to see live in concert someday. Frontman Miljenko Matijevic has a phenomenal voice that's truly one of a kind. 

5. Quiet Riot: "Metal Health (Bang Your Head), "Cum On Feel The Noize"

I don't know many more Quiet Riot songs than this pair, although I did hear several more in concert at Halfway Jam several years ago. I was lucky enough to see the band perform with Kevin Dubrow before his passing. 

6. Extreme: "More than Words," "Hole Hearted"

I've heard a few more Extreme songs than this over the years, but there really aren't any other singles that have resonated with rock fans than these two. They're another great live band that I'll have to see in concert some time. Their continued existence makes me kinda glad that singer Gary Cherrone's time with Van Halen didn't last very long. 

These are the first bands that immediately came to mind. If you have others that you think of worthy of consideration, please let me know. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.

The World Is Still Tired of Hate

The only thing in this world that I hate is hate itself.

I've witnessed people exhibit hate against others simply because they're different from them. I will never condone those kinds of actions. Unfortunately, in the age of the Internet and social media, such incidents are becoming more widespread. Maybe they're just more publicized. 

Last week, I read about Nex Benedict's death. They were a student at a school in Oklahoma who was beaten unconscious in a bathroom by three bullies. They died in a local hospital the next day. Official reports have not confirmed that their death was caused by her injuries, but logic would presume that they had a significant impact on their demise. 

What really infuriated me was the comments made on Libs of TikTok's social media pages. They are run by Chaya Raichik, who seems to be a very vile human being. She posts doctored videos that conform to her narrative that condemns trans people. The sad thing is that there are people who view her inflammatory messages and use them as justification to conduct violent acts against members of the trans community.

Raichik's supporters say that she wasn't directly responsible for Nex's death. That may be true, but she targeted her school district in one of her posts and another post condemned one of Nex's favorite teachers, who later resigned. The issue I see in this is that Chaya is an influencer. Like it or not, some people take everything she posts as the truth, even though those of us who aren't that gullible see right through her toxic bullshit.

I know a few trans people, and they are some of the nicest individuals that I've ever known. They simply want to live in peace, just like anyone else. I don't like the fact that many states, including Oklahoma, have introduced and/or enacted laws that punish trans people and other members of the LGBTQ+ community.

I'm straight, and I will always stand up for people in the LGBTQ+ community, whether I know them personally or not. I learned at an early age that people should be viewed for who they are as individuals and not favored or shunned because they fit in a specific demographic category. If I like or dislike someone, it's based on who they are as a whole. I've known some people who are very attractive on the outside but quite ugly on the inside. I also know some people who won't win any beauty contests but are truly wonderful individuals who are a blessing to everyone in their circles.

I am beyond tired of hate in this world. It's such wasted energy. Imagine what a wonderful world we could have if just a fraction of the time and effort people spent hating others could be used for constructive purposes. That's my hope, anyway.

Well, that's all for now. I've got a lot to do this week, including volunteer commitments. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.

Bucky's Favorite Foo Fighter Songs

 Hi everyone,

It's been quite a week for me. Very busy but frustrating. Listening to music helps me deal with the ups and downs of life. This week, I've been listening to the Foo Fighters' complete discography (so far). I have all of their studio albums along with some live recordings and a few B-sides. Knowing that I haven't written a music blog in a while, I thought I'd catalog my favorite Foo tracks, along with a few that others like but I just can't get into. Here we go!

The hits...

1. Everlong. This is the song that most Foo Fighters (and rock fans in general) know. It was the first song of their set when I saw the band play at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN a few years ago. The music video's pretty cool, too. Both the electric and acoustic versions of this song are great. It's a tune that really identifies the Foo Fighters as a band.

2. Walk. The last song from the Wasting Light album is one that I put on when I need a little extra motivation. I love the positive message (and the humorous music video, that parodies the Michael Douglas film Falling Down). Definitely listened to it a few times already this week while I worked through a few frustrations.

3. This Is A Call. This is the first-ever Foo Fighters single, the one that introduced the world to Dave Grohl's music post-Nirvana. It's been one of my favorites ever since. Such a simple but effective song.

4. Monkey Wrench. I like this track because of its gradual buildup to an emotional bridge. Grohl wrote it about his breakup with his ex-wife and I can understand the emotions behind it. It's another solid single with a great music video too!

5. Learn to Fly. This is another song that gets me going when I'm down in the dumps. I can understand why it's popular because of its catchiness and yet another awesome music video (starring Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D).

6. Something From Nothing. This is the strongest song from the Sonic Highways album. Another song that builds momentum as it goes on. I love the energy and layered guitars in this tune.

7. My Hero. Every Foos fan knows this tune, and can probably sing every word of the lyrics from memory. The Colour and the Shape album was filled with classic tracks, and this one is no exception. A true anthem for the fans. 

8. I'll Stick Around. The second single from the band's debut album is the one that got me hooked on them. I loved the guitar sounds and the defiant lyrics. I can relate to them as I've endured a lot of things that others would have simply given up on life. 

9. February Stars. This song is a great lead-in to Everlong. It's another tune that starts out soft and slow and builds energy and volume until reaching its apex. I wish the group would play this song more often in concert, as I think it's very underrated. 

10. Big Me. Another single from the debut disc that almost everyone knows. It's very basic, but so catchy. The video parodies the infamous Mentos commercials so that alone makes it worth a listen. 

11. Next Year. I remember hearing the opening of this There Is Nothing Left to Lose track at the beginning of an old NBC show, but it's one that's been stuck in my memory for years. It doesn't have a ton of substance but is one that caught my attention at the very first listen. The video is cool, too.

12. Walking After You. Everlong is bookended on The Colour and the Shape album by February Stars and this song. It's another softer track, but no less important. I've heard a couple of different versions of this tune, but I think that the original album version is the best. A subtle track for those inclined to hear its message.

13. Times Like These (acoustic). The electric version of this song is great, but I prefer the acoustic rendition. It's stripped down to the core and listeners can really understand the meaning behind it. It's been a great rallying cry for people when we've had to deal with depression, disappointment, and disaster. 

14. Cold Day In The Sun. Taylor Hawkins didn't sing lead vocals on very many Foo Fighters songs, but this is the one he's best known for. Another easy song that's often a welcome earworm. I'm glad I got to hear him sing it live in person before he passed away. We still miss you, Hawk.

15. The Pretender. This song starts the Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace album off right. I can relate to the message in the lyrics, as I've dealt with my fair share of pretenders in my life. 

16. Resolve. This song from the electric disc of In Your Honor doesn't get a lot of attention, but it's one I zeroed in on after a few listens. I'm surprised they made a music video for it. Grohl pokes fun at some of the silliness of the lyrics, but it's still a tune that resonates with me from time to time. 

17. Breakout. Some people like this song because it was also on a movie soundtrack. I like it because it's a solid tune. It may be a bit formulaic, but I don't mind. It has the impact that I've come to expect from Foo Fighters tunes.

18. The Glass. A few months ago, I watched a Foo Fighters performance on Austin City Limits. This was one of the songs that they played. Grohl talked about how he was inspired to write it after watching his mother behind hospital glass during her final days. Even though But Here We Are is by no means my favorite Foo Fighters album, I understand that several songs on it were written while band members were dealing with difficult personal losses, so I can respect the message behind this timely track. 

Honorable mention:

1. Baker Street. Several years ago, I bought an import CD single version of My Hero that had this cover tune and a few other extras included on it. My local radio station also started playing it regularly around the time that Everlong was popular. It's an interesting take on the Gerry Rafferty classic, substituting loud guitars for the signature horns. My only complaint is that Dave's vocals seem a bit too quiet during the two rounds of verses. Otherwise, it's a solid song. 

...and the misses.

1. Best of You. The chorus of this track is reminiscent of the jingle from a KFC commercial that aired regularly on TV at the time this single was released. Even though the Foos play this song at almost every show, it's just not one that I really dig, but that's okay. It's one of the few Foo tracks that I feel that way about.

2. Shame Shame. When I first heard this song, I was surprised to hear that it was from the Foo Fighters. It's unlike most of their other singles. There's just too much of a pop vibe in it for me to enjoy. 

Well, there you have it: my favorite (and least favorite) Foo Fighters songs. Until next time, have a great weekend, and don't forget to be kind to one another.

It Would Be Nice If...

 Hi everyone,

I originally intended for my next blog article to be about music. However, I've put that on the back burner until my ideas are fully fleshed out. In the meantime, here's another impromptu creation. Enjoy!

It Would Be Nice If...

- the world didn't revolve around money.

- no one went to bed hungry.

- we eliminated homelessness.

- people didn't have to choose between paying bills, putting a roof over their heads, or getting recommended medical care.

- health care was not for profit.

- universal basic income was implemented.

- millionaires, billionaires, trillionaires, and corporations paid their fair shares of taxes.

- politicians worked with people in their opposite parties to solve problems.

- all people treated others with courtesy, dignity, kindness, and respect.

- people could travel outside their state or country at least once a year.

- applying for and interviewing for jobs was as simple as possible. 

- people accepted the differences in others. 

- more emphasis was put on the importance of education.

- we spent more time encouraging, instead of discouraging, others.

- life was less about consuming resources and appreciating who and what we already have.

- people were encouraged to follow their dreams and creative aspirations.

- healthcare wasn't tied to peoples' employment.

- everyone took gun violence seriously.

- we accept others for who they are as individuals.

- record-breaking profits were shared fairly with the employees who helped drive those successes.

- if people were allowed to do what they love.

- we cared about the environment.

- there was no such thing as greed (or any of the 7 deadly sins, for that matter).

- we made more of an effort to be a part of our friends' and family members' lives.

- we all followed the golden rule.

Well, that's all for now. Until next time, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another.

Bucky's Favorite Marvel Super Villains

Yesterday I wrote about my favorite Marvel Super Heroes. Now it's time to write about my favorite Marvel Super Villains. Let's get started!

1. Doctor Doom (Victor Von Doom). Doc Doom has been my favorite Marvel villain for a long time. I love the fact that he never does the same thing twice. I've read about plenty of his exploits in titles like the Fantastic Four, Doom 2099, and the short-lived Super-Villain Team-Up, to name just a few. Writer/artist John Byrne's Fantastic Four #258 gave readers a bird's eye view of a day in the life of the Latverian monarch. He's impacted almost every character in the Marvel universe at some point, and I'm sure he'll continue to do so for many more decades.

2. Doctor Octopus. Otto Octavius is one of Spider-Man's most well-known adversaries, but he has tangled with other heroes from time to time as well. Sometimes he's been poised and confident, while in other escapades he's seemed self-conscious and full of doubt. He's a character who's definitely evolved (and even taken on the role of hero, when he took over Peter Parker's costumed identity in the Superior Spider-Man series).

3. Magneto (Erik Lensherr). Magneto started out as the primary foe for Charles Xavier's X-Men, but he's also played the hero role at different points. Reading his origin story gave me an understanding of his contempt for people who were not gifted with mutant abilities, but his reasoning didn't always seem sound to me. He's an interesting character that could easily straddle the line between hero and villain at any time.

4. Venom (Eddie Brock). When I first read the Marvel Secret Wars mini-series and the issues of Amazing Spider-Man that followed, I never would have imagined that Parker's symbiote super-suit would find its way to another host. Todd McFarlane did a great job of bringing Venom to life. He and Mark Bagley are the consummate Venom artists, in my opinion. Venom and Eddie have been through a lot ever since, and multiple other symbiotes have tagged along in the process. It's definitely been an interesting ride!

5. Sub-Mariner (Prince Namor). Namor is another of Marvel's oldest characters and is also someone who has been both hero and villain. Namor has been part of the Defenders, and Avengers and sided with the X-Men on occasion. He's also gone to war with T'Challa (the Black Panther) and his Wakandan natives and sided with Dr. Doom (in the aforementioned Super Villain Team-Up series) and others. I first started reading about his exploits as a villain, so that's why he's on this list. However, he can easily change sides on a whim. 

6. The Leader (Samuel Sterns). Sterns was an ordinary factory worker before his exposure to gamma radiation changed his intellect and his body. He's always been my favorite Hulk villain. He has gone through changes in the years since his debut in the Tales to Astonish split book, but he's never too far away from his gamma-spawned adversary. 

7. The Green Goblin (Norman Osborn). I remember picking up an issue of Amazing Spider-Man #121 years after seeing a Spidey cartoon about the villain's backstory. I prefer the Osborn that was best portrayed by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr. and I was surprised when he returned from the dead in the 90's. He doesn't put on the goblin costume very much anymore (and there's been a bunch of goblins and hobgoblins ever since), but that doesn't make him any less of a cunning villain. 

8. Kraven the Hunter. I've just started reading the death of Kraven series, and it's interesting how human this character I once saw as a minor Spider-Man villain is. He's tussled with Spidey alone and as part of the Sinister Six and battled with Kraven, Tigra and other heroes in different books. I'm glad that he's back and part of the Marvel comic world once more, because I can't imagine what Parker's world would be like without him. 

9. Galactus. When I first started reading Marvel comics that weren't Star Wars, it seemed like Galactus was routinely trying to devour places like Earth, Battleworld, Galador and the Skrull homeworld in almost every issue. He also had a bevy of heralds (like the Silver Surfer, Air-Walker, Firelord, Nova and Terrax, to name just a few) who would inevitably leave his service after realizing his true intentions. He's not nearly the galactic threat that he once was, but it would be nice to see a return to form of this once-mighty threat. 

10. The Super Skrull. This skrull had the combined powers of all of the original Fantastic Four members. He would tangle with them and other heroes such as Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers), Alpha Flight and others from time to time. He's not really considered to be much of a villain now, but back in the day he could be a considerable force to be reckoned with. 

Well, there you have it! Next time, I'll write about music. Got a few ideas in my head, but nothing concrete just yet. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Bucky's Favorite Marvel Super Heroes

 Hi everyone,

Had the inspiration the other day to come up with a list of my favorite Marvel Super Heroes, so here we go!

1. The Incredible Hulk (Bruce Banner). I grew up watching the live action Hulk TV series that starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. Several years after the show debuted, I got into reading the Hulk comic book series. I still have a long run of that title today. The Jekyll and Hyde struggle between Banner and the physical manifestation of his rage and anger is what initially attracted me to the character. Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema's magnificent storytelling and art during the Hulk's gain and loss of Banner's intellect is one of the greatest comic book storylines that I've ever read. Both Banner and his gamma-spawned alter ego have continued to change and remain important parts of the Marvel Universe through the years.

2. Spider-Man (Peter Parker). Spidey has been my #2 favorite super hero for quite some time. I vividly remember seeing a cartoon that retold his classic origin story. Parker's humanity is probably what attracted me to the character. Sure, he has amazing powers and abilities, but he's also a normal human being. Pete has the same worries and fears as anyone else. He's a unique character, one that's I've watched on TV, at the movies and in his different comic book titles.

3. Captain America (Steve Rogers). Cap is one of Marvel's oldest characters, and I'm glad thatt he was revived in the 1960's. He just seemed like the epitome of what a Marvel hero should be like. I'm glad that his character has been inspiring other people and residents of the Marvelsphere for decades. 

4. Wolverine (James Howlett/Logan). I first learned about this character by seeing him in an old episode of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends in the 80's. His character was much more fleshed out in the 90's X-Men cartoon and the comic titles during that time. I went back and read his first appearances in the Incredible Hulk and then went on to read several of his solo stories and exploits with the X-Men and Alpha Flight. It's interesting that when Magneto ripped the adamantium from his bones that Logan, in a very feral state, was the most human he'd ever been to me. 

5. ROM, Spaceknight. Even though ROM technically wasn't a super hero, I loved his comic book title. The first 30 issues by Mantlo and Buscema are some of the best comics I've ever read. Marvel is now reprinting those works in omnibus collections, so it's possible that this beloved character that was initially a gimmicky robot toy may return to interacting with Marvel characters once more. 

6. Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. I started reading this comic years ago after picking up a few issues from a comic book store's bargain bin. I was captured by the storylines and artwork. Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy, Mike Zeck, Gene Day and others brought many of Sax Rohmer's characters to live in ways that were very entertaining. I'm glad that the character, who was largely forgotten after that title was cancelled, is enjoying a resurgence.

7. Luke Cage. I first started reading about this character in his own magazine, which was later expanded to add Iron Fist, after Danny Rand's own title was cancelled after 15 issues. Luke's a no-nonsense dude that's sometimes overlooked and underappreciated. 

8. The Thing. I read a lot of issue of Marvel Two-In-One growing up, and still have most issues of that title's run. Ben is tough on the outside but gentle on the inside. I kinda feel bad that he's never been able to remain human for long stretches of time, but maybe that's something that's just not meant to be. He's been an important member of the Fantastic Four and the Marvel world for a very long time, and I don't see that ever changing.

9. Daredevil. I didn't know much about this blind superhero at first, but he's someone who often flies under the radar. It wasn't until renowned creators like Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. put their own unique spins on the character that I started paying attention. The first Typhoid Mary storyline is well worth reading. 

10. She-Hulk. Rumor has it that Stan Lee developed this character to prevent a television studio from creating someone similar to it. At first, I didn't know what to think about Bruce Banner's cousin, who was so unlike him in many ways. I like that her comics have always had a sense of humor and that Jennifer Walters has mostly been able to transform back and forth at will. 

Well, there you have it: my 10 favorite Marvel super heroes! Next time, I'll write about my favorite Marvel Super Villains. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Life Matters

 I was thinking last weekend about how short life really is. In the last month, I've lost two aunts and a former high school and college classmate who lost a long battle with cancer. I only have 1 aunt and 1 uncle left, both on my mom's side of the family. It made me realize how our time above ground is limited.

My aunt Nettie passed away on New Year's Eve Day unexpectedly. I was out of town at a Sevendust concert in Green Bay, WI, and didn't hear the news until I returned home the next day. Nettie was the 2nd oldest of 10 kids in Mom's family (7 boys and 3 girls) and was still quite mentally sharp. I'm glad that I got to catch up with her last summer at a family get-together.

My aunt Connie passed away on January 8th after dealing with some health issues for a while. She wasn't my favorite relative, because there were some lingering family issues, but she was family nonetheless. Unfortunately, I missed both of the services because I was self-quarantining after testing positive for Covid (I had nothing more than cold symptoms and have been feeling much better), but I heard from my parents that they were well-attended and there were plenty of people who had good things to say about them both.

I was surprised to hear last weekend that my old classmate (and star of the ROCORI 1988 boys' basketball state champion team) passed away. I didn't know that he'd been battling cancer. I had a few classes with him in high school and college, and he seemed like an intelligent and kind person. I'm sure those closest to him know how much he mattered to them.

Three deaths in less than a month made me ponder about the fragility of human existence. We never know when it could be taken away from us, so why not try to live each moment to the fullest and value those who are close to us? It seems like we get so caught up in the daily activities and all the negativity going on in the world that we sometimes lose focus. I'm making more of a conscious effort to not dwell on the bad and instead appreciate the good. I've been job-hunting since November and the rejections and ghosting can be discouraging, but I've also had some good interviews and feedback and I have at least one freelance gig lined up so far. I just have to keep pushing forward and believing in myself. The ideal career will be found, probably sooner than later (I hope). 

Well, that's all for now. I'd like to resume my music series sometime soon. It all depends on ideas and my free time. Until my next post, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.

I'm Not Interested

 I'm Not Interested

An impromptu poem

by Aaron D. Backes

I'm not interested in unsolicited ads. 

I have enough unnecessary life interruptions as it is.

I'm not interested in "liking" social media pages,

especially if the request is from someone I don't interact with.

I'm not interested in duplicating work.

If I fill out a form or submit a form, I'm not re-entering that information again.

I'm not interested in optional surveys.

If something's optional, I usually opt the fuck out of it.

I'm not interested in things that I've never expressed interest in, to begin with.

The more I hear about them, the less likely I will change my mind.

I'm not interested in being expected to settle with being unhappy.

I'd rather pursue things that interest me and give me a reason to smile.

I'm not interested in mindlessly following the crowd.

If I like certain things, I like them. If I don't like them, then I don't. 

I'm not interested in conspiracy theories.

The fact that they're theories tells me everything I need to know about them.

I'm not interested in being rich and famous.

I just want to do what I love, make enough money to live comfortably, and have good people in my life. That's all that really matters, anyway.

I've had ideas for this piece in my head for a few weeks before I finally decided to post them in my blog. Hope you enjoyed it.

Until next time, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another.

Bucky's 2024 Year in Review

 Hi everyone,

Last year I didn't do a year in review column because I'd just had ankle surgery a couple of days before 2023 began. This year, I thought I'd write about how last year went for me. It was full of ups and downs like most years, but it ended on a positive note (for the most part) and enough good momentum heading into 2024.

My surgery was on December 29th, 2022. I was pretty bummed that I had to miss the Sevendust New Year's Eve show in Green Bay. I cancelled my hotel reservation and gave my concert ticket to a member of the Sevendust Facebook family so that they could take their son to the show. I wore a cast, splint or brace on my right ankle until late March 2023. I wasn't medically cleared to drive until then, so it put a damper on any plans until spring.

I attended my first rock show of 2023 in late May at the 7th Street Entry of the legendary First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. It was great to see my friends in Cold on their 20th anniversary tour for their classic Year of the Spider album. Oddly enough, it wouldn't be the only 20th anniversary album show I'd see that year. 

In June, some of my relatives from the West Coast came to MN to visit. We had a nice gathering on a very warm day at one of their favorite metro restaurants. It was good to see everyone, especially since it was the last time I got to see my Aunt Nettie in person. 

The Minnesota Twins had a surprisingly good season in 2023. They clinched the American League Central and broke a couple of long playoff losing streaks in the postseason. I attended a couple of games in July, sandwiched around my birthday (the first was a 6-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, and the next was a 3-2 win over the division rival Chicago White Sox, with a buddy of mine from IL in attendance). In 2002, I invited friends for an impromptu lunch, which 1 person showed up for. In 2023, I announced my birthday dinner plans 3 months in advance, and no one showed up. I don't blame people who live out of the area or who already had prior plans, but those events definitely made me rethink certain friendships.

I also went to my first comedy show in years, at the Red Carpet Nightclub in downtown St. Cloud in July. Headliner Steve Hofstetter and his 4 openers did a great job of keeping the crowd thoroughly entertained during their sets. I also caught sets by Collective Unconscious, Slip Twister and others during an Alzheimer's benefit just a few blocks from my home on a nice fall day. Slip Twister were the regular house band at the Carpet for years, and although they don't play nearly as often anymore (the group members are also in the Fabulous Armadillos), hearing their original songs was a real trip down memory lane (I still want one of those cassettes, by the way). 

I attended my first Sevendust family reunion of 2023 (and 41st Sevendust show overall) at the new Fillmore theater in Minneapolis, just a few short steps from Target Field. During the pre-show meet and greet, I presented drummer Morgan Rose with a onesie for his new grandson. Sevendust and MJT were on the bill supporting Alter Bridge as part of their Pawns and Kings tour that summer. All 3 bands were great, and I enjoyed catching up with different members of the Sevendust family. Sadly, it was also the last time that I got to talk with a member of the Sevendust family who lost a tough battle with cancer last month. 

My next Sevendust show was in Clive IA, as part of the Machine Killer. Sevendust was the co-headliner with Static-X. It was my first time seeing Static-X, Dope and Lines of Loyalty live in concert. I had a great time hanging with members of the Sevendust family on an unseasonably warm fall day. 

My next show was Alice Cooper guitarist and Mammoth WVH in First Avenue's main room. I bought a ticket and found my way to the front rail. I didn't buy any merch and didn't have any of the groups' music, but still had fun enjoying their stage presence and hearing songs that the crowd really got into. The last time I saw Wolfgang Van Halen was when he played bass in his father's band at Target Center more than a decade ago. He writes, records, sings and performs all of the songs on his solo albums, so I have to give him a lot of credit for his talent and hard work.

In November, I made the trek to the Quad Cities area of IA/IL for my first Instamix session in years. I got the bad news that I lost my job about an hour after checking into my hotel. I was understandably bummed, but my friends tried to cheer me up when we caught up at the casino the night before the event, and I'm very thankful for that. 

The next day, I was at the Attic in Geneseo, IL as Jose Urquiza (3 Years Hollow), Morgan Rose (Sevendust), Barry Stock (Three Days Grace) and Shaun Foist (Breaking Benjamin) created a new song from scratch before our eyes. A few hours later, most of us stayed for the listening party for the quartet's new album as Table 9. All eleven songs (and a bonus cover track) were excellent! I was proud of what they'd produced, and it was interesting hearing how each song evolved and the project itself surfaced from an earlier Instamix session. All 4 guys stayed to answer questions and pose for photos before we retreated to the casino for games, refreshments and good conversation. 

Last year, I missed the Sevendust New Year's week tour because of my ankle injury. This year, I was determined to catch at least one show. I made it to Green Bay on December 30th the night before the New Year's Eve show at the Epic Event Center. It was cold but warmer than the same day in 2023. The guys did a brief mini-tour in IL and WI for the 20th anniversary of their album Seasons. I got to catch up with Morgan and lead guitarist Clint Lowery for a few minutes after the meet and greet soundcheck and photos, and went to a local bar & grill to catch up with other members of the Sevendust family before the show. It was my first time hearing South Dakota natives Core, but I was familiar with the other openers, Bloomington, IL residents Burden of the Sky and 10 Years, another favorite band of mine. Sevendust played through the entire Seasons album along with a trio of songs in the encore after the New Year's Eve countdown was over. 

I got home yesterday in the late afternoon hours. I also received the unfortunate news that my aunt Nettie had unexpectedly passed away while I was in Green Bay the day before. I was sad to hear this, but I know that my aunt lived a very long full life, and made the most of her 92 years. I'll deal with the service when it's held along with a few upcoming job interviews with the same positivity and focus that I had at the end of 2023. I know that better days are ahead for all of us in the coming months. I hope that each and every one of you had a happy holiday season and have a prosperous 2024.

Well,  that's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great week, everyone!