[VIDEO] I've yet to see the film "The Iron Claw" but I do hope to do so in the near future. From the YouTube channel WrestleTalk they talk about the faith of the people portrayed in that film. And not featured in the movie such as brother Chris Von Erich.
I think it's interesting to look at the real life fates of those who were featured in this film.
Count me in as one of those people who just didn't think CM Punk would return to WWE. Earlier this year, Punk had left AEW due to some ongoing backstage conflict. Well actually Tony Khan who runs AEW released Punk from his contract.
Punk had developed a reputation for being a difficult person to work with and in fact this was not his first incident of backstage drama in AEW. He got into it with Kenny Omega and the Young Buck just as he had won the AEW world title - which as a result of a suspension he was forced to vacate.
He had bad blood in WWE as well with Vince McMahon and Triple H, however, since WWE has a new corporate owner perhaps things have changed. And not that long ago Vince probably would be the one who'd say OH HELL NO to Punk's WWE return.
As you might see in the below video from Wrestlelamia we see video of at least two superstars who reacted to Punk's surprise return at Survivor Series in his hometown AllState Arena. Oh and just thing when he first signed with AEW and appeared on the first edition of Rampage he was debuting at the United Center offering everyone in attendance a free ice cream bar! [VIDEO]
Other WWE reactions to his return might include a friendly wave from a returning Randy Orton who participated in the closing WarGames match. And Rhea Ripley who was out there to facilitate Damian Priest's attempted Money in the Bank cashin who greeted Punk with a middle finger and seemed very uninterested and dismissive.
The main reaction was Seth Rollins' meltdown where he was restrained by commentators Michael Cole and Corey Graves. And then another video emerged for Drew McIntyre hurriedly returning to the back and leaving the arena. The question to ask is whether or not both were works and part of an angle, or this was genuine reaction to Punk's WWE return?
In writing this review of sorts I won't even attempt to explain the financial terms that are used in this film.
This film was first released in Sept 2023 and finally had a chance to see it last weekend. It attempts to tell the story of Keith Gill who through his social media following was able to persuade them to buy stock in Game Stop because he liked the stock.
And then Keith Gill finds himself going up against Wall Street firms who had been "short-selling stock". I got a kick out of Nick Offerman playing Citadel CEO Ken Griffin as I had no idea he had been part of this story.
Ken Griffin you might know placed his own bet on an Illinois mayor to become the Republican nominee for Governor. That man floundered and Griffin before the 2022 GOP primary announced that he was moving Citadel out of Chicago and to Florida citing high crime.
Either way Gill's social media following aggressively starts buying the Game Stop stock and helps to drive up the price of those shares and causes these investment firms such as Gabe Plotkin's Melvin Capital to lose money. So the gambit of "short-selling" was not working as as we learn near the end of the film is that now investment firms have to pay attention to social media to see which stocks "dumb money" or consumer investors are buying.
Gill hasn't posted to his YouTube channel since 2021 and not too long after he had testified in front of a Congressional Committee. And I get that he lost his job as a result of the publicity surround this situation, I only wonder what he's up to these days and if he's still got his shares of Game Stop.
Also if you can't relate to Gabe Plotkin or Griffin you can relate to some of his Gill's followers. Two college students who are all in on Game Stop one of whom suffered some form of financial setbacks from her parents. Then an actual worker at Game Stop who is all in on shares and doesn't appear that happy with his job. And then a single mother who's a nurse at a hospital.
Another part of this is RobinHood which as a result of their own role in this scandal their IPO didn't start off as well as they had hope. The founders of RobinHood were no longer billionaires. One thing I do remember from back then - two years ago - is that they stopped purchase of Game Stop shares. What I didn't know is that Griffin was involved with this.
Back when this actually happened perhaps one a new administration took over in Washington I was a bit fascinated by this story and heard the news. At the same time I was too late once it became a story.
I also heard that there were dumb money buying shares of AMC Theatres in 2021 which would've been game for me because I'd like that stock.
This movie isn't quite up there with The Big Short, however, when it comes to movies explaining financial news stories this is a worthwhile watch if you go to the theater and certainly if you can find it on streaming in the near future.
Here's a trailer [VIDEO]
Are most of my blogs curated?
Just a collection of things that catch my eyes. News stories or just things that I like.
You see on this blog more creative-related content. One of the last posts was about a building that "changed filmmaking". I scroll down another post about Timberland.
Perhaps this blog is all about curation. Perhaps a lot of blogs that still exist out there are about curation.
In fact social media - Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. - are all about curation.
The question: is there anything that I curated that is of great interest to everyone?
[VIDEO] 368 Broadway in Manhattan is home to Casey Neistat. He is one of many creative people who's resided here in this building's history. It was home to fashion designers, filmmakers, printers, etc from the time it was built.
It's history is even interesting the architect wasn't even an Ivy League educated architect, he - John B. Snook - learned how to design buildings on his own. And when you think about it, if Snook essentially was DIY that marks the creative style of Casey Neistat.
I consider myself a Neistat fan - how many times have I stated this - and he didn't go to some fancy film school he was self taught. Even twenty years I ago I didn't appreciate that with computers digital filmmaking or digital videomaking was more accessible to every day folks.
Of course it's not just that it seems this so-called Diane Fink School of Filmmaking had it's own style and some of those pupils have been successful in Hollywood. While the creatives in Hollywood in my mind is limited, one easy name that comes to mind in recent memory is Greta Gerwig who comes from this school and has her blockbuster hit with Barbie.
Again DIY - do it yourself - if you're creative and want to share it with the world don't ask permission. Just do it and make your mark. I like this theme.
[VIDEO] I have some experience with riding in Amtrak First Class/Sleeper especially on a Superliner train. As this lovely couple stated sleeping in the upper bunk will be a bit tight and claustrophobic, I've done it and didn't enjoy it.
If you're out east then a Viewliner sleeper bunk would be best although I have no issue with a bedroom upper bunk on a Superliner, that worked out nice. It was a bit roomy as you're perpendicular to the window as opposed to over the window and parallel with it.
They also suggest what to do if you have a family, especially if you can't afford a family bedroom which is available on a Superliner train.
So you want to know about costs. Roomettes are the cheapest accommodation on a long distance train. Bedrooms have more amenities such as a hand washing sink and toilet/shower and of course more space and in some cases you have more people in your party you can make a suite with another bedroom. There's a door that will allow you access to the other bedroom. However, as Ground Life Travel reports roomettes are half the cost of a bedroom.
There are accommodations for both family and the disabled, I don't know what the cost might be for that. Family bedrooms might be expensive, I can't speak on disabled bedrooms though. And in sleeper class if you want to take a show and don't want to pay for a bedroom, showers are available on a sleeper car. So Bedrooms aren't the only option for that.
I considered myself a Pee Wee fan aka Paul Reubens. He played that role so good that I couldn't believe there was a man behind that "manchild". And sorry to point this out it was a sad day in my life when Paul Reubens grew his hair out and had facial hair and got caught publicly doing a very adult thing.
This sadly meant no more Pee Wee's Playhouse which I liked to watch on CBS Saturday mornings. Oh I really miss those children programming blocks on network TV Saturday mornings. Damn it progress.
I'm very sorry to know that he died of cancer a few days ago, however, he's made an impact on me as a child and of course as an entertainer he's impacted many. Perhaps it's time to find an episode of his Playhouse program and perhaps watch some of his movies especially Pee Wee's Big Adventure.
In 2020, CNBC wrote about how Timberland was elevated to a billion-dollar company thanks to the popularity of hip-hop culture. It's very interesting how that company now owned by VF Corporation found itself embracing Black consumers and in it's own way helped Black fashion designers get more notice. Also the company also attempted to be a force of good in Black communities.
For me, I don't think I'll be throwing any Timbs away anytime soon. Perhaps for those that haven't been in someway damaged from use, make sure that someone else will be blessed with them for as long as they can be worn.
[VIDEO] This is where entertainment and real life political discourse seems to converge. Longtime Trekkies seem to complain about "Woke Trek". Chato who is a former network TV producer talks about some of the woke themes in Trek.
Such concepts as emasculation, dismissing white males, no recognition of ethnicity, though recognizing putting forward people of different races, even throwing in the idea of sexual orientation. While in my mind Nurse Chapel didn't explicitly say it in season 1 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds she seemed to insinuate that she has bisexual tendencies even as it seems she's very interested in Spock.
And I can't believe Chato is stating that the writers are choosing to emasculate him as his character is very iconic. And I dare as iconic as Uhura as the season premiere plays tribute to the departed Nichelle Nichols.
Of course what is Chato actually making an issue of? The writing. Perhaps it just hasn't been that great. Perhaps the writers are using lazy writing to make something people want to watch on streaming. And perhaps the writers are paying attention to ESG scores. UGH, really I have to be subject to that in watching my favorite entertainment franchise because they get more points for environment, social or governance.
I could read that as adhere to this or life will be very difficult for you!
Anyway, I'm glad to see these characters back again. I think I could live without the most recent episode. Uhura I will admire her ability to take control of her station though the other man had a job to do. It wasn't necessary. I'm still trying to figure out what a Lanthanite is and as comical as Carol Kane's performance is it felt a bit out of place.
As I wrote my comments on Twitter on Thursday I got some jokey responses, though surely as season two commences we will find out exactly what a Lanthanite is.
And not to Saudi Arabia as was probably expected earlier this year when he returned to the company as WWE executive chairman. One primary reason he used to return to the company was he was the one able to actually sell the company and he held most of the controlling shares of WWE.
WWE will be under the same roof as the UFC:
WWE has officially been purchased by Endeavor in a blockbuster deal that will see WWE and UFC merge into a publicly traded company worth over $21 billion. Endeavor emerged as a favorite to purchase when the betting odds were released at the beginning of the year, with the Ari Emanuel led group listed at +900.
The possibility of WWE going private under Endeavor led many to believe it could be an attractive buyer for McMahon, who last year was ousted from WWE due to an investigation from its Board of Directors. Instead, WWE will remain a publicly traded company alongside UFC to form a sports entertainment powerhouse.
"Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity," McMahon said. "I, along with the current WWE management team, look forward to working closely with Ari and the Endeavor and UFC teams to take the businesses to the next level."
This comes on the heels of WrestleMania weekend. This morning as I got the news I finally finished watching this Premium Live Event. It was an exciting show although I see online fans were scratching their head at the finish for the Undisputed WWE Title match between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.
[VIDEO] If I ever go to San Francisco I want to ride the cable cars and the antique street cars. I just wish that place didn't have many of the issues they seem to currently. I see one SF politico is a bit frustrated at police responses due to the fact that they also voted for defunding police.
Still I want to check out the transit infrastructure.
Meanwhile, I can live vicariously through Downie Live.
I wasn't able to watch the PPV err Premium Live Event before the Women's Royal Rumble though I saw enough live on Peacock The mens Royal Rumble kicked off Saturday nite's festivities with Cody Rhodes punching his ticket to a WrestleMania main event.
Then I saw that interesting match between Bray Wyatt and LA Knight in a Mountain Dew Lights Out match. And then seeing Uncle Howdy take a dive over Bray Wyatt - wait isn't that his brother Bo Dallas?
Then Bianca Bel Air defended her RAW women's championship successfully against Alexis Bliss who witnessed a video that probably harkens back to the not so distance past when she herself was aligned with Bray Wyatt aka The Fiend. And then not long after that time for the Women's Royal Rumble.
Let's say in both Royal Rumbles there were no real surprise entrants. Brock Lesnar got knocked out early and then Bobby Lashley - they're in a current feud. It seemed that Edge and his wife Beth Phoenix got some measure of payback against Judgement Day. Logan Paul had some good spots in this. Walter err Gunther lasted most of this match until Cody Rhodes knocked him out of the ring.
Same for the women, there weren't many surprise entrants. Rhea Ripley who got speared early on by Beth Phoenix lasted the whole match coming in at No. 1 and survived. It was a surprise that Becky Lynch got knocked out early and Auska who made her return was among the last three in the ring, all the competitors had fear in the faces when she arrived. Oh yeah the most surprise entrant is Nia Jax who had been released from WWE last year - at least not that long before Vince McMahon had to briefly retire.
Now the WWE Title match. I'm a fan of Roman Reigns as a heel, leader of a faction known as the Bloodline. Hell, he is the Tribal Chief or The Head of the Table. I really do admire the character he's developed over the last couple of years. He defeated Kevin Owens remain champion for roughly the last three years.
And the Bloodline has quite a lineup with Reigns, his wiseman Paul E Danger....Heyman, his cousins The Usos, Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn..... Really Sami Zayn? I haven't really been watching wrestling for a while but I did think it was a strange addition to the group. With the exception of Heyman, every one in the Bloodline is family. It was an interesting dynamic that I found very entertaining and it seems Jey Uso really considers Zayn as part of the family.
However, the ending after Kevin Owens took the pin has me wondering if Reigns had finally gone too far. Up until this evening even Zayn was selling that the beatdown of KO had gone too far to the point where Reigns took a chairshot. Jey Uso walked out of the ring as Zayn got a beatdown for his chairshot. I'd be very curious where the story of these events means for the future of the Bloodline.
It would be unfair for me to rate this PLE. I don't much have anything bad to say about them since I've started watching them. This one was pretty decent, as far as I know from the dirt sheets Vince McMahon hasn't returned to controlling WWE creative which is currently in Triple H's hands who has done a decent job in his role. We know who gets a title shot at WrestleMania, what will Triple H come up with by April?
[VIDEO] I wrote this before googling for any new news stories on this. TMZ says WWE has not been sold. Perhaps Oli from WrestleTalk might be finding news stories about this himself. However, the rest of this post assumed that the Saudi deal for WWE is done.
Vince returns to the company he takes on the role of Executive Chairman and restructures the board of directions. His daughter and big time heel Stephanie McMahaon steps away from the company again as Chairwoman and Co-CEO. Then Mr. McMahon seemingly very promptly sells the company to the Saudi Arabia Investment Fund.
As Oli from WrestleTalk discusses this deal had to have been in the works for months long before this month. Perhaps it was ongoing long before McMahon has initially retired from WWE in the summer of 2022.
IMHO, I can't believe Vince McMahon is taking the company away from his family's hands. The Saudis will infuse their funds - likely oil money - into WWE allowing it to once again go private. Before 1999, WWE was known as Titan Sports. Currently WWE is a publicly traded company and whenever this sale closes - I'm using what happened with Twitter as a guide - it won't be long before there will be no more shares of WWE stock to be traded in the stock market.
Anyway I can't believe that McMahon would give his company away without having his own hands on it. And of course what's noted was the moral ambiguity of Saudi Arabia. This deal is bound to be controversial. And another story of McMahon's return is the effect of morale on WWE superstars under the creative direction of Triple H.
[VIDEO] Late late year Vince McMahon was talking about a comeback. In the summer of 2022 Vince McMahon the longtime Chairman and CEO and longtime creative head of WWE was forced to retire. There was a scandal that involved hush money to women whom he was carrying on affairs. So Vince's last tweet for 2022 was him saying it was time for him to retire.
Then again most of us who have figured McMahon out as a personality is, he's not gone. He'll be back in some capacity and besides it's his baby. He's not going to let it go that easy and earlier this month he made his move. He still owns voting shares of WWE, a controlling interest. He used that leverage to make his comeback.
That means three directors have taken the place of three directors who lost their seats on WWE board. It means current Chair and Co-CEO Stephanie McMahon has not only relinquished her role she's also left the company. And remember before Vince McMahon stepped away she was on leave anyway. And Vince as head of creative well that was taken over by Triple H and we're not sure what that looks like for now.
So the Chairman, Mr. McMahon has his baby back! WWE is a different company with him away, the question here is whether or not he might undo some of Triple H's creative decisions if McMahon decides he wants control of creative once again.
