Whatever Happened To...#1: Closure

 This is the first of a series of blog articles that I'll be writing about rock bands that are gone but not forgotten. I was inspired to write about these bands after talking with a few friends on social media about certain groups that we had seen live in concert. We wondered what happened to some of them, so I decided to do a little digging. I'm going to stick with bands that I've seen at shows first, and then probably expand this series to other well-known bands that are no more. With that said, let's begin with the Canadian metal band Closure.

I saw Closure open for Sevendust at a small club not far from where I live now. I was just getting into the venue when I could hear their set begin. Closure originated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 2002. The group was signed to TVT records and released their only album, a self-titled eleven-track effort a year later. Their biggest hit was the song "Look Out Below," which was featured on the Darkness Falls movie soundtrack in 2003. A music video was released for the song, but it was the only video that the group would produce.

Closure called it quits in 2006. Frontman Brian Howes went on to become a producer. So far, he's helped develop hits songs and albums for Hinder, Puddle of Mud, Adelitas Way, Nickelback, Skillet, Rev Theory, Daughtry, Veer Union and other bands. Drummer Robin Diaz, bassist Brian Jennings and guitarist Axel Jimenez have remained mainly out of the public spotlight since the band's breakup. 

Well, that's all I've been able to find about Cinder so far. If you have additional details, feedback or bands that you'd like to see covered in this series, please let me know. Until next time, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

2022 Minnesota Twins Season Review

 Considering the fact that this year's Twins team only had 2 winning months (April and May), it's amazing that they led the division for most of the season. The team collapsed in September, allowing Cleveland to take the AL Central crown, and finished third. It was an improvement over last year's last-place finish, but the Twins still have plenty of room for improvement. Here's a breakdown of this year's team, player by player:

Twins batters:

Luis Arraez. Luis' first batting title was a highlight of an otherwise disappointing year. Arraez also learned a new position (first base) and performed well defensively and offensively. He can play all of the infield positions as well as some corner outfield and DH, so expect Luis and his positive attitude to be on the field during most Twins games in 2023. 

Tim Beckham. This major league veteran spent most of the year in AAA. He had 2 hits in 25 at-bats for the big league club over a dozen games. Even though this was his first call-up in a few years, he probably won't be seeing much of the big league life anytime soon at this rate. 

Byron Buxton. The team's brightest star was hampered by right knee tendinitis and hip issues. Byron played 92 games and hit a career-high 28 home runs. He made some outstanding catches in center field and hit the game-winning home run in this year's All-Star Game, but diehard Twins fans like myself would love to see him play an entire season injury-free. 

Jake Cave. This veteran outfielder was pressed into service for the big league club after injuries decimated the team's starting outfield. Cave was sufficient in the field and hit 5 homers in 54 games, but he shouldn't be expected to remain in the starting lineup if Larnach and Kiriloff are healthy. He may return to AAA to serve as a reliable backup. 

Gilberto Celestino. I was surprised to see this second-year player on the big league roster for the entire season. His average topped .300 at times before tailing off toward the end of the year to .238 with a pair of homers in 122 games. Depending on the Twins' outfield situation, he could be a valuable bench player or sent to AAA to improve his hitting. 

Mark Contreras. Contreras spent most of the year patrolling center field in St. Paul, and was called up a few times when the injury bug bit the Twins. He only hit .121 (7 hits in 58 major league at-bats), but did hit 3 homers and played well enough in the outfield to be considered in 2023 if necessary. 

Carlos Correa. Correa was the glue that kept the Twins' infield together. His sparkling play at shortstop and a .291 batting average with 22 home runs kept the team competitive throughout much of the season. His recent comments about staying with the team made it unlikely that he'll be in the Twins' dugout again in 2023.

Kyle Garlick. A corner outfielder/DH right-handed batter who hits for power against lefties. Garlick hit 9 home runs but was limited to 66 games and a .233 average. He started the season with the AAA St. Paul Saints, and might be worth another 1-year deal or a minor league contract. 

Jose Godoy. An off-season acquisition from the Seattle Mariners, Godoy went hitless in 3 at-bats for the Twins. He will probably see more time in the minors after being designated for assignment by Minnesota in August and claimed by the Pirates for their AAA club. 

Nick Gordon. This former Twins prospect also earned himself a spot on the roster with his solid play. Injuries to key starters in the infield and outfield kept his name in the lineup. Gordon played regularly at 2B, LF and CF and posted career highs in games played (138) and power (9 HRs and 50 RBI). His versatility will keep him on the roster for the foreseeable future. 

Billy Hamilton. This speedster who once stole 155 bags while in the Reds' farm system in 2012 is a shadow of his former self. Primarily used as a pinch runner and late-inning defensive replacement, Hamilton signed a minor league deal with the team at the end of August. He appeared in 17 games for the Twins, going 0 for 7 with three steals in four attempts. Look for him to sign with another team during the offseason. 

Caleb Hamilton. The team's third-string catcher for portions of the second half of the season. Hamilton played at catcher and first and homered for his only hit in 18 at-bats with the Twins. He might be Jeffers' back up next year. 

Ryan Jeffers. Jeffers was supposed to be the starting catcher after Mitch Garver was traded to the Texas Rangers, but injuries sidetracked his season. He appeared in 67 big league games and hit 7 homers, but could only manage a .208 batting average. If Jeffers is injury-free next season, he could excel behind the plate. 

Max Kepler. I thought that this German-born right fielder would have been traded before the season began. Kepler suffered through one of his worst campaigns in the big leagues, managing a .227 average with 9 homers and 43 runs driven in over 115 games. He may benefit from the end of the shift next year, but the emergence of rookie Matt Wallner may mean that Kepler's days as a Twin are numbered. 

Alex Kiriloff. Kiriloff figured to see more playing time at first place and as a corner outfield until his wrist started acting up again. His season ended with a .250 average with 3 homers and 21 RBI in 45 games. Expect to see more of Kiriloff once again if he's healthy. 

Trevor Larnach. A promising young player whose season was interrupted by another injury. Trevor hit .231 with 5 home runs in 51 games. He still figures to play prominently in the team's future. 

Sandy Leon. A veteran catcher who's not particularly well-known for his offense. Leon was Sanchez's backup for most of the second half of the year. He hit .179 (10 for 56 with a pair of suicide squeeze sacrifice bunts) in 25 games for the Twins. It's doubtful that he will be retained, unless he comes back on a minor-league deal. 

Royce Lewis. Royce got his first taste of the bigs before yet another injury put his acceleration on hold. He crashed into the center field wall at Target Field with a season-ending injury, but still hit .300 (12 for 40) with two homers (including a grand slam) in a dozen big league games. He may be the eventual answer at short if Correa doesn't return to the team. He could also serve a utility role, after learning how to play the outfield and third base in St. Paul. 

Jose Miranda. This rookie was one of the unexpected highlights of the 2022 season. Miranda can play third and first base, and he led the team with 66 runs batted in. He slugged 15 home runs and virtually guaranteed himself a spot on the big league squad with his consistent play. 

Jermaine Palacios. Another minor league veteran whose presence on the big league team was needed after Polanco suffered a knee injury. Palacios is still learning at the big league level, and hit .143 with two homers in the last series of the season. He may need more seasoning before he's ready to play in the bigs full-time. 

Jorge Polanco. The veteran second baseman had a few stints on the IL, and his production at the plate suffered. He got into 104 games, but only hit 16 home runs and managed a paltry .235 batting average. A healthy Polanco can help this team next year. 

Gary Sanchez. Obtained in a trade from the New York Yankees, Sanchez was supposed to be the backup to Ryan Jeffers. When Jeffers went down with a broken thumb, Gary was pressed into service as the primary catcher. He hit 16 homers but had an anemic average of .205 and lead the team with 136 strikeouts in 128 games played. He played well behind the plate and is a free agent in 2023.

Miguel Sano. This all-or-nothing hitter was benched with a knee injury for most of the year. He only got into 20 games, hitting .083 (5 for 60) with 1 homer in 20 games. With Miranda and Arraez as options at first base, Sano may be hitting the free-agent market sooner rather than later. 

Gio Urshela. Another component of the trade with the Yankees, Gio's sparking defense at third base and timely hitting kept the Twins in most of their games. He doesn't have quite the power that Josh Donaldson does, but still hit .285 with 13 homers in 144 games and had a career-high 143 hits this season. 

Matt Wallner. Wallner tore up AA and AAA pitching before being called up to the Twins in September. He played steadily in right field and hit .228 with 2 homers and 10 RBI in 18 games for Minnesota. He may spell Max Kepler next year or the year after that.

Twins pitchers:

Jorge Alcala. Alcala's season was cut short before it really got started. He only appeared in 2 games and provided scoreless relief before going on the injured list. If he recovers well, he could be another fixture in the Twins' bullpen. 

Chris Archer. Archer was coming off of an injury-shortened season in 2021 for Tampa Bay, and his innings were limited purposely. He only went 2-8 with a 4.56 ERA in 28 starts, so I can't see him returning, unless it's as a long-inning reliever or spot starter for the Twins in 2023. 

Dylan Bundy. Bundy rebounded from a 1-7 year with the Angels in 2021 to an 8-8 mark with a 4.89 ERA in 29 starts for the Twins in 2022. He gave up 24 homers in 140 innings pitched, so that should be something for this fly ball pitcher to work on in the off-season. 

Yennier Cano. Cano proved that he isn't ready for a full-time career in the big leagues just yet. In 10 relief appearances for the Twins, he posted a 9.22 ERA in 10 games, giving up 11 walks and striking out 14 in just 13 2/3 innings of work. 

Jharel Cotton. Cotton never seemed to get much of a chance to show the Twins what he could do. He started the year in AAA and appeared in 25 games with the Twins, going 2-2 with a 2.83 ERA. He was designated for assignment each time that the Twins let him go, until the San Francisco Giants finally picked him up before the season's end. 

Danny Coulombe. Coulombe is another prospect whose potential has been hindered by injuries. He was sparkling in his 10 games this year, posting a 1.46 ERA before being placed on the injured list. 

Austin Davis. The Twins picked up Davis following his release from the Boston Red Sox. Austin gave up 3 runs in only 1 2/3 innings before being allowed to leave as a free agent in September. 

Tyler Duffey. Duffey is one of those relievers who can be outstanding or downright awful. He had more bad games than good this year, going 2-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 40 games for the Twins before being released. He later signed minor league deals with the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees. 

Jhoan Duran. Opposing teams soon learned how hard this reliever could throw. He consistently threw pitches of 100 MPH or more throughout his rookie campaign and struck out 89 batters in only 67 2.3 innings of work. If Rocco would name a closer, Duran should be at the top of his list. 

Michael Fulmer. Longtime Twins fans got used to seeing Fulmer start and relieve in games for the division rival Detroit Tigers. A deadline deal brought him to the Twins. He went 2-2 with a 3.70 in 26 relief appearances and is now a free agent. 

Chi Chi Gonzalez. Gonzalez bounced around the league in 2022. He signed a minor league deal with the Twins and posted a 7.71 ERA in 2 starts with the big league team. He would later pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees organizations. 

Sonny Gray. The Twins acquired the veteran starter from the Reds during the off-season. Gray had a few stints on the injured list but still went 8-5 with a 3.08 ERA in 24 starts. If healthy, he could be a dominant starter for the team next year. 

Ian Hamilton. Hamilton surrendered 2 earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of work during his one appearance with the Twins in 2022. He was later traded to the Cleveland Guardians for catcher Sandy Leon. 

Ronny Henriquez. Henriquez made a few September appearances with the big league club. He went 0-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 3 relief outings and 11 2/3 innings of work. 

Griffin Jax. I didn't particularly like Jax as a starter, but he has fared considerably better as a reliever. Jax was on the major league team all season, going 7-4 with a 3.36 ERA in 67 innings. I'm sure he'll continue to be a 6th or 7th inning option for Rocco Baldelli in 2023. 

Jorge Lopez. This former Orioles starter and reliever was acquired in another deadline deal. He usually appeared in the 8th or 9th inning, and finished with a 4.37 ERA in 23 games and 4 saves in 6 chances. He could be a set-up man or closer for Rocco's staff next year. 

Tyler Mahle. Another Reds starter that the Twins acquired during the season. Mahle was limited to 4 starts before being placed on the IL again. He posted a 1-1 mark and 4.41 ERA in those starts. 

Trevor Megill. Megill became one of Baldelli's favorite choices from the Twins' bullpen. He appeared in 39 games, with a 4-3 mark and a 4.80 ERA. 

Juan Minaya. Minaya's last year with the Twins wasn't impressive. He had a 1-0 record with a 5.59 ERA in 6 relief outings before being released by the team in September. The Washington Nationals signed him to a minor league deal two days later. 

Jovani Moran. Moran has limited experience, with this being his 2nd year in the big leagues. He appeared in 31 games for the Twins and posted a 2.21 ERA. He may shuttle between AAA and the majors once again as the team deals with injuries. 

Bailey Ober. Ober's season was interrupted by injuries, but he remains a strong candidate for the Twins' rotation next year. Ober finished with a 2-3 record with a 3.21 ERA in 11 starts. 

Emilio Pagan. Pagan and Paddack were acquired from the Padres right before the season began for reliever Taylor Rogers and outfielder Brent Rooker. Pagan frustrated me to no end this year. He seemed to lose confidence himself early in the season, and was seen anywhere from the 4th to the 9th inning in games. He finished with a 4-6 record and a 4.43 ERA with 9 saves in 16 opportunities across 59 ballgames. I'm surprised he finished the season on the big league roster. 

Dereck Rodriguez. The son of Hall of Fame catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez spent most of the season in St. Paul. He appeared in 2 games with the Twins, going 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in 7 2/3 innings. 

Jhon Romero. Romero was claimed off of waivers from the Nationals in March and spent most of the year in the minors. He posted a 3.60 ERA in 4 relief appearances for the Twins in 2022. 

Chris Paddack. Paddack arrived from the Padres to provide some rotation depth. Unfortunately, his season ended early with an arm injury. He posted a 1-2 record with a 4.03 ERA in 5 starts before being shut down. 

Joe Ryan. Ryan established himself as the ace of the Twins' pitching staff, going 13-8 in 27 starts with a 3.55 ERA. He set the rookie record for strikeouts with 151 in 147 innings. Expect him to lead the rotation again in 2023.

Aaron Sanchez. The former can't-miss starter resurfaced in the bigs with the Twins for a few games this year. He alternated between the rotation and long relief, and went 0-1 with a 4.71 ERA in 8 games (3 starts) in a Minnesota Twins uniform. 

Cole Sands. Sands had a few rough outings at the major league level, but could be a future option as a long reliever or spot starter. He finished the big league campaign going 0-3 with a 5.87 ERA in 11 games (3 starts).

Devin Smeltzer. Another experienced arm who rode the shuttle between St. Paul and Minneapolis a few times this year. Smeltzer is a good left-handed arm who went 5-2 with a 3.71 ERA in 15 games (12 starts) for the big league club this year. 

Joe Smith. Smith has pitched for 8 different major league teams in his career. A free agent signing, he was supposed to bolster the bullpen. He started out well, but teams soon figured him out. He went 1-1 with a 4.61 ERA in 34 relief appearances before being designated for assignment and later released by the Twins in August. 

Cody Stashak. Stashak has had several up-and-down years with the Twins. Injuries limited him to 11 relief appearances in 2022. He finished the year with a 3-0 record and a 3.86 ERA in 11 outings. 

Caleb Thielbar. This Minnesota native established himself as a left-handed option in the Twins' bullpen. Caleb struck out 80 batters in 59 1/3 innings and was generally reliable as long as he was healthy. 

Tyler Thornburg. Thornburg has bounced around the majors and minors over the last several years. The Twins picked him up in June after the Atlanta Braves released him. Tyler appeared in 5 games with the Twins, going 0-1 with a 2.79 ERA before being demoted to St. Paul in July and released 2 months later. 

Louie Varland. This Twins prospect made his big league debut in Yankee Stadium and was a late-season rotation option for Rocco. He finished his big league season with a 1-2 mark with a 3.81 ERA in 5 starts. 

Josh Winder. Winder may be a good 6th man for the Twins next season. He appeared in 15 games (11 starts) in 2022 and went 4-6 with a 4.70 ERA. If he doesn't make the team out of spring training, he could get more seasoning with the Saints in AAA.

Simeon Woods Richardson. The prospect made one start at Comerica Park in Detroit before the season ended. He lost that start, allowing 2 earned runs in 5 innings, but could appear on the big league team again next year. 

The lockout and late spring training may have played a role in the number of injuries that the team faced, but it might not be a bad idea for strength and conditioning programs to start sooner rather than later. The Twins have a good core, but they go into next season with some questions at shortstop, catcher and pitching. 

Pitching coach Wes Johnson's departure from the Twins at midseason to take another similar position at LSU left many fans in doubt. Nothing against interim pitching coach Pete Maki, but it looks like the bullpen may have been rather overworked at times. Manager Rocco Baldelli tends to rely on analytics. which isn't always a good thing. 

If the team can stay healthy, find a good rotation and shore up their bullpen, they may challenge the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians for the American League Central title once again.

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

Confessions of a Job Seeker

 Late last year while I was visiting friends in a sunny locale, I decided that I wasn't going to be an office drone for much longer. I was getting tired of doing highly repetitive work and dealing with corporate culture in general. I cut ties with my former employer at the end of the following month. I realized that I liked working from home and decided to pursue that avenue. 

It hasn't been easy, but I've found a few good opportunities that keep me busy. I'm spending less on work clothes and the daily commute and I can actually get out and enjoy nature when I want. Doing the same thing for 4+ years made me realize what I was missing out on. 

Looking for work is a full-time job. It's something that I've had to focus on. I've always been good at setting goals and sticking to my calendar. However, the things I can't control in life are usually what frustrate me the most. With that in mind, here are a few things that I've learned during my pursuit of a meaningful career:

1. Communication is a two-way street. One of the biggest challenges I've faced is being ghosted by potential employers. Not hearing back after an application isn't a big deal for me. I'm more concerned about the lack of communication by companies after I've interviewed with them. After all, it takes a few seconds to send a brief message. Ghosting candidates who can do the work and are genuinely interested in the job that you're offering isn't cool. 

A few months ago, I had what I thought was a good interview with a local firm. I was informed that I'd hear from them by the end of the week. When Friday came and went without a response, I reached out. I got a message a few days later saying that their search process was over. I knew that I didn't make the cut, but they didn't follow through on their promise to let me know about their decision. That's what irked me. 

2. Applicants don't like jumping through hoops. Some employers ask a lot of external candidates. They have to apply online, submit their information, take a personality test and maybe go through a series of interviews. I don't like duplicating work, which unfortunately is something that several organizations do. They want you to fill out their application, including questions that can already be answered by the information that's already on your profile and/or resume. If something's optional, I'm going to skip it. I don't have time to enter the same data multiple times in multiple places. Keep things simple. People's attention spans are short, and if they don't have to fill in optional items, they probably won't.

3. Never work for free. There have been a few instances when I've been asked to complete writing or editing assignments for prospective employers. I don't mind doing that, as long as I'm fairly compensated for my efforts. If a task requires more than an hour to complete, candidates should be paid for their work. There's nothing worse than taking time out of your everyday tasks to complete an assignment only to be rejected, unpaid for your work or worse yet, learning that your creations were later implemented by the company that rejected you!

4. Take the process seriously. I've had a few interviews with people representing organizations who really seemed like they could care less about the particular interview. I remember one interview that I had with a HR rep, who seemed to be much more interested in playing with her hair than actually conducting the interview. When I asked her a few job-specific questions, she told me that she couldn't answer them. She didn't refer them to anyone in the company who could answer those inquiries either. I wasn't surprised to not hear from the company again for several weeks, but after reading employee reviews, I feel like I dodged a bullet. It wasn't a company I would have been happy working at anyway.

5. Recruiters need to pay attention. I get messages from recruiters several times a week. Most of them don't really seem to listen to what candidates are looking for, and many of them are terrible at following up. I get that they have certain spots to fill, but trying to get me to take a job that's hundreds of miles away from where I live simply isn't realistic. If you are a recruiter, please take the time to listen to and actively communicate with the candidates that you're contacting. 

Well, that's all I have for now. I could go on for days, but I don't want to get carried away. Until next time, take care and have a great week!

Birthday Blahs

 Well, another birthday has come and gone. Celebrated a milestone birthday the other day. Had as much fun as I could, even though I didn't particularly start the week feeling like celebrating.

The week began like normal. Early on, I had a family issue that left me in a negative frame of mind. It was something that was out of my control, but of course it had to happen during my birthday week. I tried not to let it affect me too much, but it wasn't something that I could easily ignore, either.

I tried to keep the person in question out of mind as much as possible. When the birthday rolled around, I went out to lunch with Mom at one of our favorite restaurants. I was pleased to see some wonderful birthday greetings from friends and relatives on my social media pages. I went to a big league ball game that evening, and even though my team lost and didn't play well, I still enjoyed going to a game on a nice night. I also bought myself a few souvenirs while I was there.

Yesterday, I was looking forward to going to lunch with a few friends. I think that I invited about 40 friends via social media to a low-key lunch. I had never created a social media invite for anything before. A few people let me know that they weren't going to be able to attend, and I was fine with that. I didn't invite a lot of people, and I didn't invite anyone from out of state. I also knew that a few people already had plans that weekend, which I understood as well and I didn't invite them for that reason.  If I didn't have the family thing going on at the time, I probably would have followed up with people who said that they were interested or didn't reply to the invite. I'm sure that there were people that I forgot to invite, but I did share the event a few times, so that anyone who wanted to go would be welcome to do so. 

When it was time for lunch, only one friend showed up. I was disappointed, but tried not to let that show. I had a great conversation with my friend, and I feel like our friendship got stronger. I'm glad that we've gotten to know each other much better than we did when we went to school together. I'm very happy that we make an effort to be in each other's lives.

Afterwards, I ran an errand and treated myself to a movie. I turned down an invite by a friend who couldn't make lunch to listen to live music last night because I just wasn't feeling up to it. I was kind of worn down from the week, and I was tired too. I started feeling tired during the movie, but I apologized to my friend and offered to go out to lunch with them at another time.

I know now that it's fairly common nowadays for people to bail on birthdays and other special events. I've read several articles and blog posts where this has happened. This surprised me at first, because it's contrary to how I was raised. When I was little, being invited to and attending someone's birthday party was a big deal. You were expected to attend and bring a gift. It seems like birthdays kind of get progressively worse when you get older.

I still had a good birthday in spite of all that happened. I took the weekend off from work and I'm going to reevaluate my associations with the friends who didn't respond to the birthday invite. I'm also learning to show more appreciation for the people who did reach out to wish me well and put a smile on my face. Maybe I need to concentrate on the quality, not quantity, of the friends that I have. I don't think that I'm going to plan any more get-togethers, unless it's a meal with family which is something that I do for all of my birthdays. I'll also probably be less likely to attend or respond to events from people who ignored my invite. Some of them may need to be downgraded from friends to acquaintances. 

I'll still concentrate on following my dreams and doing more of what I want to do. I have a few concerts on tap, and I'm looking forward to seeing a few friends from other states there and some of my favorite bands. It'll take a few days to forget about the negative and focus on the positive. The family stuff will sort itself out over time. 

Well, that's all for now. Time to do more reading, writing and enjoying my favorite entertainment programs. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Bucky's Rant - Summer 2022

 Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I've had time to write in my personal blog. Been busy with freelance articles and trying to find a good full-time job. A lot has happened since my last post. Thought I'd take a few minutes to rant about what's been going on lately. Here we go!

1. We have a gun problem in America. The tragic mass shooting on July 4th in Highland Park, IL was the 309th mass shooting in the U.S. and the 95th mass shooting since the incident in Uvalde, TX back in May. We've already had more than 1,500 mass shootings in this country since 2020 began. 

Other countries have gun ownership, violent video games, people with drug and alcohol issues, mental health concerns and other issues. Yet we consistently have to deal with mass shootings every week. People are scared to go out in public for this very reason.

We also have more guns than people in America. We have politicians who refuse to do anything to introduce or support gun reform laws because they've received significant campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun groups. It's interesting reading posts made by politicians who blame everything BUT guns for mass shootings. They really let you know where their own personal interests lie.

It's beyond time to take gun violence seriously in the United States. No civilian should own a weapon that is capable of carrying bullets that can rip through bone, tissue and internal organs. These weapons are not intended for anything but seriously wounding or killing intended targets. Many avid hunters that I know are wondering why anyone would need this kind of gun anyway. It's time to ban assault weapons and require that gun owners pass a safety course and background check and take out liability insurance. If a gun that they own is used to wound or kill someone, they should be held responsible, whether they pulled the trigger or not. 

2. Donald Trump is not a nice guy. As the January 6th committee hearings have continued, it's become increasingly obvious that the self-proclaimed stable genius is nothing more than a sore loser. He tried to have the election results overturned and attempted to incite an insurrection, which resulted in injuries to 140 U.S. Capitol police officers. He also established a phony election defense fund that earned him about $250 million from his gullible followers. I'm still amazed that anyone still supports this awful excuse for a human being. 

3. The U.S. Supreme Court is anything but impartial nowadays. The recent Roe v. Wade reversal showed us that the current Supreme Court doesn't really care about what the majority of Americans want. I'm against the decision, because I've always felt that a woman's reproductive rights were her own business. It reverted abortion to individual state laws. A ten year old girl in Ohio was raped recently, and denied an abortion in her state. Her parents took her to Indiana to have an abortion, but that state is also making reforms which may make abortion illegal there before long.

For ectopic pregnancies and certain types of miscarriages, abortion is the only way to save the mother. Allowing abortion in cases of rape or incest is also being disallowed in certain states, which makes it easier for men to take advantage of women who are under age or not able to fend off their abusers. I'm also concerned that the Roe v. Wade reversal also sets a bad precedent for other cases. Justice Clarence Thomas has also suggested that rulings regarding contraception, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriages be reevaluated as well. This could lead to those decisions being reversed, which would set our country back even further than ever.

4. Inflation is a global problem. I have to laugh whenever I see someone blaming President Biden for inflation, when prices and inflation are up all over the world. There are many reasons for this, some of which solely fall in corporations' laps. Many companies are raising prices and making record profits while individuals and families struggle to make ends meet. 

Presidents have very little influence on prices or inflation, yet they always seem to be blamed for inflation anyway. This is nothing new. It's very frustrating to see one party propose legislation to combat inflation, only to have the other party criticize those measures and vote against them. I'm very tired of the us versus them ideology in American politics. I'm not Democrat or Republican. I vote for candidates based on their record. I want to see results instead of just opponent bashing. It's time to put aside petty political differences and work together to solve problems constructively. 

5. Separation of church and state matter. Contrary to what Lauren Boebert and certain others may believe, the United States was founded on secular values. Our founding fathers realized the importance of separating church and state. They didn't want one particular religion to have an unfair influence on government.

Unfortunately, it seems like there are too many people that feel like we need God in our schools and our government. I grew up Catholic, but I'm not devout or anything like that. I feel that it's important to believe in something, and that something will probably be different for everyone. You can't impose a certain religion or belief on someone else. Churches and religions should not be allowed to influence Supreme Court decisions or any other laws or rules. 

6. The world is still full of hate. I'm thankful every day that I grew up in a family of people from different races, religions and sexual orientations. It taught me to appreciate others for who they are as human beings. I always felt bad when I saw someone being picked on or made fun of just because they were different. We're all different. If we were all the same, life would be rather boring.

Sadly, racism, sexism and homophobia are still running rampant. I've read threads where people denigrate trans people who want to compete in sports. When I was a kid, we let anyone play who wanted to. We didn't care about race, sex or anything else like that. That's how things should be. Break the barriers and remove the categories and classifications. In my opinion, there should be leagues that let men, women and trans people all compete at the same level if they have the interest and ability to do so. May the best athletes prevail. 

Two years ago, my state endured one of the worst tragedies in our nation's history. George Floyd was no hero, but no one deserved to die like he did. I still find it hard to believe that there are people who think that Floyd died solely from fentanyl poisoning or that the cops did nothing wrong. I'm also struggling with the fact that a black man in Ohio resisted arrest and was shot more than 60 times by police officers. That same week, Highland Park shooting suspect, Robert E. Crimo III, a white man, also resisted arrest and was captured peacefully. There are too many incidents where white suspects are treated better than people of color by law enforcement, which leads me to believe that racism is still alive and well. It seems like we've forgotten or ignored many of the lessons of the past. 

Well, it's time for me to hop off of my soapbox. Some people will agree with what I've had to say, and others will dispute or refute it. They may be angry. That's fine. I'm all for civil debate. I draw the line at insults or degradation. You can make your point without trying to bring someone else down. Until next time, have a good week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

 

Enough!

 Over the weekend, there were two shooting incidents in the United States which resulted in 11 deaths and multiple injuries. Gun violence happens so often in our country that we've become desensitized to it. It's a problem that can't be ignored any longer.

As of May 15th, 2022, there have been 198 mass shootings (where four or more people were injured and/or killed, except for the shooter) in the U.S. That's more than 10 shootings per week and more than one per day. There were 693 mass shootings in the United States in 2021 and 611 mass shootings in our nation in 2020.

Some people have been blaming television, movies and video games for the rise in violence. I had Star Wars and G.I. Joe action figures and vehicles when I was a kid. I also had toy guns and played video games such as Doom, Duke Nukem and the Grand Theft Auto titles. None of that ever made me want to shoot another person or even own a gun, for that matter. Of course, back then, I could go to the video arcade, attend school, roller skate and hang out with my friends without worrying about mass shootings, either, 

Mental health has also been brought up. Mental health is obviously important. People who shouldn't have guns or other weapons shouldn't have access to them. It's also time to consider background checks, safety training and ensuring that all firearms are unloaded and stored safely when not in use. 

Several Second Amendment and National Rifle Association (NRA) proponents have suggested that people who are opposed to gun violence want to take their guns away. No one wants your weapons. People want responsible gun ownership so that mass shootings will become a thing of the past. 

Every time a tragedy like this occurs, we see people extend thoughts and prayers to the victims. That's fine, but thoughts and prayers won't bring back people who were killed by a gun. They also won't prevent such acts from happening again. No one wants mass shootings. No more innocent lives need to be lost. It's beyond time to start taking gun violence seriously. If you're as concerned about this subject as I am, feel free to contact your state senator or representative. Start a conversation. It can't hurt to try.

Well, that's all that I have to say for now. Thanks for reading. Until next time, have a great day, everyone!

Bucky's Favorite Super Hero

My favorite cartoon hero has always been Popeye the Sailor. I grew up watching his cartoons religiously. I liked that he was the underdog and stood up against bullies. I started drawing him and his cast of characters, which I can still draw to this day.

The first comic book hero that I grew to admire was the Incredible Hulk. I loved the live-action show that starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. The Hulk also stood up for underdogs, and made sure that the villains in each episode got what they deserved. I always felt bad for Dr. Banner, because he never knew where he would wake up next or what the Hulk had done. The sad outro piano theme by Joseph Harnell symbolized the kind nature and misfortunes of this misunderstood gentle giant.

I had a few Hulk toys, coloring books and games. My mom even made me a homemade Hulk costume for Halloween one year. All she had to buy was a plastic Hulk mask. The rest she created with items that were already at home. 

I didn't start reading super hero comics until I was about nine years old. My first non-kiddie or science fiction comic book was Marvel Two-In-One #76. That issue featured the Thing with guests Giant Man and Iceman who went up against the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime. From there, I started reading more of Marvel's popular titles, including the Incredible Hulk. As I started reading more issues and growing my collection, I got to understand Bruce Banner and his emerald alter ego.

My favorite story line was written by Bill Mantlo and illustrated by the amazing Sal Buscema in the early 1980's. Banner finally gained mental control over the Hulk and was able to control the change. It was a good premise, one which led to an eventual pardon by the U.S. government. Unfortunately, the good days didn't last long. Banner was soon tormented in his dreams by the Dr. Strange villain Nightmare, and he eventually gave up the fight, allowing the Hulk to become a brainless, savage behemoth. 

The Hulk became such a danger to the world around him that his former Defender teammate Strange had no choice but to exile him to another dimension. The rise and fall of such a powerful character came out about the same time as Mantlo and Buscema's Skrull/Dire Wraith war in another Marvel mag, ROM: Spaceknight. 

As much as I like Spider-Man's origin, I've grown to appreciate the Hulk's beginning more. To me, the Hulk has been the physical manifestation of a person's anger and rage. I know all too well what it's like to have those types of feelings and emotions bottled up until they can't be contained any longer. 

Any good super hero story also has a key family component. In the Incredible Hulk #312, readers were able to get a glimpse into Banner's family life. Mantlo and artist Mike Mignola introduced us to Banner's parents, and we got to see where his softer and darker sides originated. 

There have been several incarnations of the Hulk since his debut in 1962. There have also been several other gamma-powered heroes and villains, such as the She-Hulk, Skaar (Hulk's son from another planet that we first saw during the Planet Hulk storyline), the Leader, the Abomination and others. The Hulk and Bruce Banner have been through just about everything a fan could imagine, but we keep coming back for more.

Heroes like the Hulk, Spidey, the Avengers, the X-Men and others give us hope. They're fantasies but they usually deal with problems and moral dilemmas that many of us can relate to. Diving into a good comic book series or graphic novel can keep us entertained and take our minds off of the outside for a little while too. Sometimes that break is very necessary.

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