CM Punk to WWE confirmed #SurvivorSeries

 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?

'Dumb Money'

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]

Curated blogs

 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?

How One Building Changed Filmmaking

 

[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.

September

 

[VIDEO] Happy Labor Day as I post this, and therefore this music video from Earth, Wind & Fire of the song September. Hopefully something for you to enjoy as we head in the last quarter of the year. It moved way too fast didn't it?

Grounded Life Travel - Amtrak sleeper rooms: which one should you book

 

[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.

Pee Wee Herman R.I.P.

 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.