Some Random Thoughts To Wrap Up 2024...

 Hello everyone, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and if you celebrate, are having a Happy Hannukah. With 2025 rapidly approaching, I thought I would wrap up the year with some random thoughts that are going through my mind this very late Sunday night.

Starting with my favorite football team, well thanks in part to a good luck duck, the Bucs slaughtered the kitty cats from Charlotte 48-14. That, combined with Washington's 30-24 overtime victory on Sunday night over Atlanta, gave Tampa Bay the lead in the NFC South. A win next week over the sorry freaking Aints at Ray Jay will give the Bucs an unprecedented (for them) fourth straight division title and fifth straight playoff appearance. Kinda fun to be a Bucs fan since COVID struck to be honest. As for the duck, it was rescued, but there was no word if it could be an honorary mascot (like DJ Kitty with the Rays) or if the team will be sponsored in part by Aflac insurance or Dawn dishwashing detergent.

What the hell has been going on with the world's airlines lately? In the past week, there have been for incidents; one was shot down by the Russians, and THREE instances of planes running off runways, one of which resulted in numerous fatalities. Once again confirming my fear of flying because if something goes wrong, chances are the only place to go is down, unless it can make an emergency landing somewhere, and as the case with the Jeju plane, even that isn't a guarantee that you'll survive. I haven't flown in 32 years, and as of right now, I have no plans of taking a flight. The last time I thought about flying somewhere, it was impractical for me to do so, and the time before that was just before 9/11. So, don't expect me to fly somewhere in the future, although things could change...

2024 for me was a roller coaster ride of sorts. Started out rather high, then fell off really steep around my birthday. Then had twists and turns and up and downs throughout the rest of the year. Really good in August and September, dropped really low in October and much of November, but had a pretty good December and am hoping to start 2025 off strong. Several factors played into that, I'm not going to say exactly what those are. However, I am looking forward to a massively great 2025. I didn't write on this blog as much as I had the last couple of years. That needs to change, regardless of how many people put eyes on this blog, which had truth be told gotten me a bit depressed because I want to be heard and not as much as a hermit that I may seem to be...

Speaking of which, it's already December 31, and I'm unsure what I'll be doing at this time tomorrow. More than likely I'll be watching the ball drop on TV and listening to the "Battle of Spring Hill"(fireworks going off throughout the neighborhood). I hope that this upcoming year won't be as full of obnoxiously bad commercials (but I doubt it) and perhaps a lot of optimism (did I just say that?), even if there are inmates (Squealon Muskrat) running the asylum in Washington, DC. Then again, what else is new? If this last month has told us anything, we should get our popcorn ready for post-January 20. 

Lastly, I have to pay my respects to the late Jimmy Carter. He lived to be 100, which is older than any former President in US history. He was the first president I remember hearing of, because I was too little to remember Nixon or Ford. My late mother would always complain about her soap operas being interrupted in around 1979 when he was drafting the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. Then he was defeated by Reagan in 1980, and he was mainly forgotten about. But he did more post-presidency than perhaps any other former president. He won a Nobel Peace Prize. He helped Habitat for Humanity in helping build a lot of homes. He monitored elections in fledgling democracies. He wasn't the best President over the past half-century, but he may have been the best human being to be in that role, perhaps ever. He will be sorely missed but his legacy will endure.

Well everyone, have a happy and safe New Year's Celebration and I'll see you on the flip side...

BonyScribe

Things Annoying Me This Festivus...

 Good evening, everyone. I'm up late at night as usual, which is quite normal for me to be honest. Anyway, with Festivus now upon us, I thought I would air my grievances of sort. I thought I would tell you certain things that are annoying me in the here and now.

My first grievance is those annoying Amazon ads that have been all over television lately. The ones that somehow pay homage to Ric Flair with their unnecessary but incessant "WOO!!" every so often throughout the ad. 

Another thing that annoys me are those ridiculous ads I see on my phone when I'm playing a game. One in particular that's really bad are the ones for KashKick, an app where you can earn some chump change by playing games or watching videos. In those ads they have the same woman talking over a green screen incessantly rambling about for a minute or so, too long if you ask me. What's worse is that somehow, they've landed an account to advertise on Tampa Bay Lightning games on Fan Drool Sports Network. Can you imagine if you're watching a Lightning game, and Nikita Kucherov is about to make a centering pass to Brayden Point, but your view on TV is blocked by this woman pointing at the KashKick app over the ice (as if those digital ads along the boards aren't infuriating enough), and you miss a potential goal? Fortunately, it hasn't gotten to that point (the ads are only above the goalie along the glass) and probably won't. Although the woman cosplaying as Biden's Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is a little over the top.

The actual Press Secretary, not the woman in the KashKick ad

While I'm talking about stupid ads, could we throw two ads in particular from Spectrum cable along with it? One is where a young person is playing the opening riff from "Sweet Child Of Mine" ona constant loop which morphs into an entire orchestra playing said riff before going back to that young person. Another one is some teenage boy talking about, hell I don't know WHAT he's talking about! Something about you can do anything you want, as long as you're with Spectrum. If you have ANY internet service provider that's worth a flip, you should be able to do anything, as long as you're not breaking the law.

Those and almost any car insurance commercial. If I had to choose between Flo from Progressive and Elon Musk (eyeroll) to launch into the sun, I'd likely choose Elon, but Jamie from Progressive??? Squealon may actually get a reprieve. 

What really annoys me is that my favorite football team (Bucs) found a way to fumble a golden opportunity by losing to Americas Bandwagon. Now we have to root for Washington next Sunday night as well as take care of business on our end. Ugh.

Happy Festivus everyone!

BonyScribe

Flashback: 1983 Combined Chart

 Hello again. It's been a while since I last wrote on here. Let's just say that November was a difficult month for me personally. I really haven't felt like writing much as a result. But life goes on, and it comes at you fast, even in my sixth decade. I'm starting to come to grips about my own mortality, which is part of the reason I've been so down lately. That and a few other things I think you (if you pay attention to my posts on social media) might have a small idea about. Then again, maybe not.

Anyway, remember last December I made a few blog posts reviewing what I thought were the Top 100 songs of a particular year? Well, I thought I would do that again since it is December and we're approaching the dead of winter (seriously, it's 39 right now on Florida's west coast right now). Let's see, I believe I left off with 1983. I did my top 100 based off data from Billboard Magazine and Radio and Records Magazine and separate posts, but I didn't do the combined chart, So, this what I'm doing tonight. According to data from both charts, these were what I think the top 100 songs from 1983 were.

100. Owner Of A Lonely Heart by Yes--470 points (#102 BB, #93 R/R)
  99. Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant--471 points (#84 BB, #106 R/R)
  98. Breaking Us In Two by Joe Jackson--472 points (#117 BB, #77 R/R)
  97. I've Got A Rock & Roll Heart by Eric Clapton--473 points (#107 BB, 88 R/R)
  96. Burning Down The House by Talking Heads--479 points (#95 BB, #103 R/R)
  95. The Girl Is Mine by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson--487 points (#53 BB, #205 R/R)
  94. How Am I Supposed To Live Without You? by Laura Branigan--501 points (#98 BB, #94 R/R)
  93. Baby Jane by Rod Stewart--505 points (#110 BB, #74 R/R)
  92. Even Now by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band--510 points (#105 BB, #80 R/R)
  91. China Girl by David Bowie--515 points (#90 BB, #95 R/R)

  90. Hot Girls In Love by Loverboy--518 points (#94 BB, #90 R/R)
  89. You And I by Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle--540 points (#43 BB, did not chart on R/R)
  88. She's A Beauty by The Tubes--544 points (#86 BB, #87 R/R)
  87. I Know There's Something Going On by Frida--560 points (#85 BB, #83 R/R. Song both received 280 points from each chart)
  86. The Other Guy by Little River Band--580 points (#87 BB, #76 R/R)
  85. Dirty Laundry by Don Henley--594 points (#52 BB, #137 R/R)
  84. Always Something There To Remind Me by Naked Eyes--604 points (#70 BB, #85 R/R)
  83. Promises Promises by Naked Eyes--605 points (#82 BB, #75 R/R)
  82. Church Of The Poison Mind by Culture Club--610 points (#93 BB, #70 R/R)
  81. Far From Over by Frank Stallone--619 points (#88 BB, #69 R/R)

  80. Take Me To Heart by Quarterflash--625 points (#106 BB, #58 R/R)
  79. I'll Tumble 4 Ya by Culture Club--628 points (#71 BB, #79 R/R)
  78. Union Of The Snake by Duran Duran--640 points (#76 BB, #72 R/R)
  77. Crumblin' Down by John Mellencamp--642 points (#81 BB, #71 R/R)
  76. Lawyers In Love by Jackson Browne--654 points (#96 BB, #61 R/R)
  75. Straight From The Heart by Bryan Adams--664 points (#99 BB, #57 R/R)
  74. You Can't Hurry Love by Phil Collins--688 points (#75 BB, #67 R/R) 
  73. Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair) by Sheena Easton--689 points (#61 BB, #78 R/R)
  72. I'm Still Standing by Elton John--698 points (#89 BB, #54 R/R)
  71. (she's) Sexy + 17 by Stray Cats--701 points (#55 BB, #81 R/R)

  70. Heart To Heart by Kenny Loggins--711 points (#97 BB, #50 R/R)
  69. Puttin' On The Ritz by Taco--719 points (#35 BB, #128 R/R)
  68. Heart And Soul by Huey Lewis & The News--720 points (#73 BB, #60 R/R)
  67. My Love by Lionel Richie--731 points (#58 BB, #73 R/R)
  66. Maneater by Hall & Oates--747 points (#39 BB, #111 R/R)
  65. Family Man by Hall & Oates--751 points (#65 BB, #64 R/R)
  64. Solitaire by Laura Branigan--753 points (#59 BB, #68 R/R)
  63. Cum On Feel The Noize by Quiet Riot--753 points (#51 BB, #89 R/R)*
  62. Come Dancing by The Kinks--755 points (#62 BB, #66 R/R)
  61. Suddenly Last Summer by The Motels--764 points (#69 BB, #56 R/R)

  60. Delirious by Prince--765 points (#64 BB, #63 R/R)
  59. (Keep Feeling) Fascination by Human League--774 points (#60 BB, #65 R/R)
  58. Allentown by Billy Joel--780 points (#79 BB, #48 R/R)
  57. Don't Cry by Asia--792 points (#78 BB, #45 B/B)
  56. Faithfully by Journey--801 points (#83 BB, #43 R/R)
  55. Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye--837 points (#34 BB, #91 R/R)
  54. Our House by Madness--838 points (#66 BB, #49 R/R)
  53. I Won't Hold You Back by Toto--839 points (#77 BB, #40 R/R)
  52. We've Got Tonight by Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton--850 points (#36 BB, #86 R/R)
  51. Too Shy by Kajagoogoo--857 points (#56 BB, #52 R/R)

  50. Affair Of The Heart by Rick Springfield--880 points (#63 BB, #44 R/R)
  49. All Right by Christopher Cross--921 points (#72 BB, #34 R/R)
  48. Back On The Chain Gang by Pretenders--929 points (#42 BB, #62 R/R)
  47. Human Nature by Michael Jackson--939 points (#67 BB, #36 R/R)
  46. She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby--945 points (#29 BB, #84 R/R)
  45. Is There Something I Should Know by Duran Duran--977 points (#44 BB, #53 R/R)
  44. Little Red Corvette by Prince--985 points (#47 BB, #51 R/R)
  43. It's A Mistake by Men At Work--1,016 points (#57 BB, #32 R/R)
  42. Stray Cat Strut by Stray Cats--1,040 points (#30 BB, #55 R/R)
  41. Don't Let It End by Styx--1,046 points (#54 BB, #35 R/R)

  40. Say It Isn't So by Hall & Oates--1,089 points (#46 BB, #38 R/R)
  39. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' by Michael Jackson--1,097 points (#49 BB, #33 R/R)
  38. Der Komissar by After The Fire--1,104 points (#40 BB, #39 R/R)
  37. Africa by Toto--1,107 points (#31 BB, #47 R/R)
  36. Love Is A Battlefield by Pat Benatar--1,121 points (#50 BB, #30 R/R)
  35. Never Gonna Let You Go by Sergio Mendes--1,168 points (#24 BB, #59 R/R)
  34. Stand Back by Stevie Nicks--1,195 points (#45 BB, #26 R/R)
  33. One Thing Leads To Another by The Fixx--1,199 points (#37 BB, #31 R/R)
  32. One On One by Hall & Oates--1,204 points (#48 BB, #24 R/R)
  31. True by Spandau Ballet--1,288 points (#32 BB, #25 R/R)

  30. Baby, Come To Me by James Ingram w/Patti Austin--1,361 points (#18 BB, #46 R/R)
  29. Mr. Roboto by Styx--1,370 points (#28 BB, #29 R/R)
  28. King Of Pain by The Police--1,388 points (#41 BB, #13 R/R)
  27. She Works Hard For The Money by Donna Summer--1,391 points (#19 BB, #37 R/R)
  26. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey--1,396 points (#38 BB, #15 R/R)
  25. Making Love Out Of Nothing At All by Air Supply--1,401 points (#17 BB, #42 R/R)
  24. The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats--1,426 points (#22 BB, #28 R/R)
  23. You Are by Lionel Richie--1,481 points (#33 BB, #12 R/R)
  22. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners--1,497 points (#21 BB, #23 R/R)
  21. Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran--1,504 points (#13 BB, #41 R/R)

  20. Time (Clock Of The Heart) by Culture Club--1,521 points (#23 BB, #20 R/R)
  19. Tell Her About It by Billy Joel--1,578 points (#25 BB, #17 R/R)
  18. Uptown Girl by Billy Joel--1,595 points (#20 BB, #18 R/R)
  17. Jeopardy by Greg Kihn Band--1,650 points (#26 BB, #11 R/R)
  16. Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant--1,685 points (#14 BB, #22 R/R)
  15. Shame On The Moon by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band--1,763 points (#12 BB, #19 R/R)
  14. Overkill by Men At Work--1,763 points (#27 BB, #4 R/R)**
  13. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me by Culture Club--1,772 points (#15 BB, #16 R/R)
  12. Let's Dance by David Bowie--1,776 points (#10 BB, #21 R/R)
  11. Islands In The Stream by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton--1,817 points (#7 BB, #27 R/R)

  10. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Eurythmics--1,889 points (#8 BB, #14 R/R)

    9. Say, Say, Say by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson--1,894 points #16 BB, #8 R/R)

    8. Down Under by Men At Work--1,977 points (#9 BB, #9 R/R)

    7. Maniac by Michael Sembello--2,007 points (#11 BB, #6 R/R)

    6. Beat It by Michael Jackson--2,147 points (#5 BB, #10 R/R)
    
    5. All Night Long (All Night) by Lionel Richie--2,185 points (#6 BB, #5 R/R)

    4. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson--2,308 points (#3 BB, #7 R/R)

    3. Total Eclipse of The Heart by Bonnie Tyler--2,460 points (#4 BB, #3 R/R)

    2. Flashdance (What A Feeling) by Irene Cara--3,013 points (#1 BB, #2 R/R)

...and my number one song of 1983 was...

    1. Every Breath You Take by The Police--3,222 points (#2 BB, #1 R/R)

*Cum On Feel The Noize had more BB points than Solitaire (490-401)

**Overkill had more R/R points than Shame On The Moon had BB points (1015-985)

This was the third time in four years there wasn't a consensus number one. Only Kim Carnes with "Bette Davis Eyes" had accomplished that. "You and I" by Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle didn't reach the Radio & Records pop charts and was the only song among my top 100 to miss a chart. Not many songs on this list had a wide disparity between BB and R/R. Next in this series will be what I think was the best year in music history, 1984.

Until next time.

BonyScribe (yes, I'm on BlueSky, not what used to be Twitter. Suck it, Squealon!)