It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns Q&A 2017 {Part 2}

How's it going my gumdrops? Looks like more readers were interested in yesterday's Q&A blog. This is fantastic. I spent all last week working on these Q&A blogs mainly yesterday's. Hopefully, new readers learned something informative.

In case you missed yesterday's Q&A, you can read it HERE.

Song Saturday will resume on September 30th and Cartoon Sunday on October 1st. 

Speaking of cartoons, I think about how younger Millennials and Generation Z got shafted as children sometimes.

Younger Millennials and Generation Z don't necessarily know what it was like as children to watch all their favorite cartoons on local networks in a block before going to school in the morning, racing home to watch all their favorite cartoons after school, and watching more of them on Saturday and Sunday mornings. 

By the time I attended high school during the late '90s, most local channels removed cartoons and other programming for minors.

More families began paying for cable and local programming for children and teenagers was replaced with Court and Daytime Talk Shows.

In 1996, Cartoon Network became nationwide on cable, as opposed to remaining in only SELECT cities in certain states. Then, 1 year later, the network launched Toonami. 

Local networks stopped caring about their younger viewers because all their programming was sent to cable. Basically, children's local programming became obsolete.

Those same local networks assumed that everybody had cable 20 years ago, just like most people today assume that everyone has Internet access and want to watch online streams of shows rather than watching TV. 

It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns Q&A 2017 [Part 2]

Today is Part 2 of my Q&A blog. Because there was only 1 last person to ask me a question, today's Q&A is all about answering Victor's question. He asks:

I have found a recent rare interview with Stuart Snyder from 2017. I have been listening to the podcast and it's a very interesting insect on the man himself. 

What are your thoughts about this podcast? Here's a link to it:

WGN Radio: The Business Behind Cartoons

Victor, I listened to this podcast last Sunday night. From the sounds of the podcaster, she seemed to be gushing over her interview with Stuart Snyder. 

It is understandable why she would be because he is best known for running Cartoon Network. 

However, this is the SAME man, who is notorious for DESTROYING Cartoon Network by launching boy-centric Reality TV Shows and sexist programming in general as Toonami's replacement, 9 years ago.

For Snyder to say, that Toonami tanked in the ratings, it was mostly due to airing some of the WORST Action Anime, the network could find.

Last I remembered, Stuart Snyder was and still is the most hated president of Cartoon Network. 

Who in their right mind wanted to sit through watching something as low brow as Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo? 

I mean, really? C'mon! Even One Piece isn't that dumb.

Not that I was severely heartbroken over Toonami's cancellation like most fans were. I always cherry picked, which cartoons I watched from both Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.

The podcaster and Stuart Snyder did make some valid points about Cartoon Network needing to air more child friendly cartoons. 

At the same time, Snyder RUINED quality animation with his tendency to air the most dimwitted cartoons such as Chowder and The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack.

You may be rolling your eyes, scoffing, and thinking, "This is coming from the same lady, who still thinks Beavis and Butt-Head is hilarious." 

See, there's the whole "so stupid, that it is hilarious." Then, there is mind numbingly stupid, that you can feel your IQ dropping kind of stupid.

It also did not help that by 2005, Cartoon Network started airing more live action movies. It was named "Cartoon Network" for a reason. Cartoon Network and Adult Swim should return to airing animation ONLY.

Both networks are mostly garbage programming. Therefore, more people both young and old are forced to watch online streams of shows. If Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and all cable/satellite networks still had some level of integrity left, they would stop patronizing, insulting, dumbing down, politicizing, and dictating what viewers want to watch.

I believe more viewers would spend less time watching shows online and more time watching TV again, if creators tried being original. When I say original, I mean stop remaking/rebooting classic shows ad nauseam and come up with their own ideas.

How about TV networks and Hollywood entertainers make entertainment FUN, again?

Victor, I hope I answered your question. 

This concludes It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns' 2017 Q&A blog. Let me know what you think! 

It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns Q&A 2017 {Part 1}

 

How's it going my gumdrops? Today is the 4th anniversary of me building as well as launching It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. Throughout these last 4 years, It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns has been through numerous changes.

Last week, I had my friend, DJ Scott from Horror-Punks.net make some alterations to the home page design. There is now a bat laying dead next to the dead unicorn, while a crow is flying in the company of those hailing gumdrops.

Once again like last year, there have been lesser questions for me to answer. As I went through your questions, I noticed this year is also more like a so-called "Sausage Party." This really should not be a surprise to me.

Since the time of being a Radio DJ at WIPZ in 2002, my audience was ALWAYS male-dominated. 

It always felt as if my hobbies, interests, and views hardly ever resonated with most women. It has been this way for YEARS. 

Typically, I have more in common with men than with women. Most men were usually more loyal to me than women were, in the platonic sense. 

They still are today. If this does NOT say something, it really should.

Regarding the amount I questions I have answered from subscribers these last 2 years, just because I have less to answer now, doesn't necessarily mean other people don't have any questions. Quantity is not always quality.

Anyway, to celebrate the 4th anniversary of It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns, here are the questions I answered:

It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns 2017 Q&A [Part 1:]

Jesse: I have received new e-mail notifications about the new Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday blogs, but they're invisible on this website. I can't find them and don't know why. Am I the only one with this problem?

Answer: No, Jesse you were NOT  the only person having these problems. As of 2 days ago, you should be able to see the newest blogs on the main page.

Whenever I send new e-mail notifications, I send shortened weblinks for you to copy and paste. Those same links send you directly to those blogs. Here are the latest blogs:

Cartoon Sunday: Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado [OMG! HE TALKS!] (2015)

Song Saturday: Tristania's My Lost Lenore (2017)

Donald's Questions:

1) In what way do you think you have grown as a content creator?

2) What would you do differently, if you were given the chance to go back and alter your course?

3) With the knowledge you have accumulated over the years, what would be your words of advice for other aspiring content creators?

My Answers:

1) During the '90s, only the "computer geeks" had their own websites. Now, it is important for us entrepreneurs and entertainers to have our own sites for gaining exposure.

Technology has advanced immensely, over the last 3 decades. It continues to do so. Today anyone can build his/her own site whether having a degree in Graphic Design, Computers, or not.

Over these last 4 years, I've learned so much as a content creator. Before ever building a site, I was not the most tech savvy. Had someone told me 20 years ago, that I would build my own website to blog on it in the future, I would've scoffed, rolled my eyes, and dismissed it.

I learned how to build It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns by watching Webs.com's YouTube tutorials. I continue to learn something new everyday.

2) Since the time The Xanga Team dumped their own money problems on us and caused division within the community in 2013, I have REALLY struggled to generate national and international traffic to my blogs these last 4 years.

After learning what I know now, I should've joined Xanga 10 YEARS or so before the original website shut down and relaunched on WordPress, years ago. Like most Xangans, I miss Xanga 1.0 as well.

I really should've learned how to build my own website MUCH sooner in 2013, while gaining more subscribers for an e-mail list, after the original announcement about Xanga shutting down. It would've been so much better than joining a highly divisive, flaky, and temperamental blogging community like Blogster.

Song Saturday was the best quality about Blogster. Otherwise, that community is a standoffish, Baby Boomer dominated community with a high turnover of bloggers.

3) Like I have said countless times in the past, you have to really love what you do. This is similar to being that so-called "starving artist." If you are PASSIONATE about building your own website and publishing your content, it takes a LOT  of time, energy, patience, and usually money.

If you are only building your own website for the sake of status and vanity, DON'T waste yours and OTHER people's time social climbing, copycatting, and acting like a pretentious, attention whore because you saw someone like yours truly with a site.

Yes, somebody else can always build your website or whatever it is, that you want for you. 

However, once I learned how to build It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns by watching tutorials on YouTube, I have a much greater pride, appreciation, and respect for the professionals, that get paid to build websites. Also, I find it fun learning as I go with managing this website because I discover something new everyday.

DJ Scott's Questions:

1) What is your favorite Beavis and Butt-Head episode and why

2) What is your favorite new animation and why?

My Answers:

1) You asked 2 hard questions. Even as a woman in my mid-30's, I still laugh my ass off watching Beavis and Butt-Head.

There was 1 particular episode of Beavis and Butt-Head, which showed Butt-Head throwing the trash can at Beavis and knocking him unconscious. My other favorite episode is "Take A Number."

"Take A Number" featured Beavis and Butt-Head at a Rock concert. It had 2 female characters with the same traits as them. Although, this is my favorite scene:

{My Favorite Scene}: Beavis and Butt-Head "Take A Number" (1995)

That scene NEVER gets old!

2) Honestly, I don't have any right now, UNLESS American Dad counts on TBS. Most of my time is spent hunting for animation to share for Cartoon Sunday blogs, that I find on YouTube, if not something from Japan like an Anime. Adult Swim does not air too many cartoons I want to watch, unless they are cartoons on the weekends.

Marquis DeBlood: What started your obsession with Anime?

Answer: I am not nearly as obsessed with Japanese animation as I used to be. When I did marathon Anime years ago, I still watched a wide variety of animation and I love sharing some of that variety in Cartoon Sunday blogs.

During the mid-80's as a toddler, I was already exposed to Japanese animation. It started with the Mecha Anime, Robotech. This was YEARS before Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, the Toonami block, Chiller TV, Syfy, and other cable/satellite networks were launched.

It was not until the early 21st Century, that Anime (also known as "Japanimation" during the '90s), reached its pinnacle.

Originally, Anime was scarce on TV, at video stores, and the Internet. That was until more cable networks took an interest in them. It wasn't until 11-12 years ago, that I discovered other types of Anime genres and sub-genres existed for different sexual orientations, age, and gender demographics.

Shonen Jump Action Anime have been the most popular for the last 20-30 + years in The West. That's what is normally shown on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. They ignore other genres, sub-genres, female, and age demographics.

At Carthage College, I wrote my Junior Symposium on Shojo Anime and Manga. 

Creative Writing, Sociology, Japanese Culture, Language, History, and Religion were all covered in my symposium.

Most of my favorite primetime shows were canceled and had series finales, 10-11 years ago. This was especially when shows I really invested in were constantly being canceled. After graduating in 2006, I discovered there was a plethora of Anime online for fans to watch.

Between 2006 to 2010, I took a so-called "pause" from most primetime shows and marathoned online streams of Anime. In addition, I started watching more of it on Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Fuse TV, Colours TV, IFC, SciFi, Starz, and wait for it... Chiller TV. 

After those networks stopped airing Anime except for Adult Swim, I continued to stream it online. 

Over these last 5 years, I am far behind on the latest Anime titles which released in Japan. 

Because you are a Horror fan like yours truly, I believe you would really enjoy the Horror Anime genre.

This concludes Part 1 of this Q&A blog. I am really surprised to see there were no Horror or music questions asked. Tomorrow, I will continue with Victor's question.

What Are Anna H's Answers To Your Questions About Music, Anime, & Pets?

How's it going my gumdrops? Today I am answering more questions. Like I have said in the past, I normally reserve Q&A blogs for September 23rd. Next month, on the 23rd will be the 4th anniversary of It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns.

Since a number of my subscribers typically have a lot of questions to ask, I have been trying to decide if I should do Q&A blogs more routinely.

Here are 3 questions from Victor. Victor asks the following:

1) Have you ever listened to a song, that you liked but you can't remember the artist or name of said song and would get it stuck in your head for hours hoping to remember the artist's name?

2) What brand of anime do you like that are of your taste buds? (Dark Comedy, Horror, Gritty Grindhouse, mature shows, etc.)

3) Did you ever have pets when you were younger and wish you had seen them one last time?

These are excellent and fun questions to answer, Victor! I am actually glad that you asked them. To answer the following questions you asked:

1) Yes! This has happened, since childhood. You would be amazed at the many times throughout my life, that I have heard songs but didn't know, who sang them. This is something most of us listeners face at least once in our lifetime, I'm sure.

After watching commercials that advertise music compilations, if not watching a classic music video on MTV Classic (nowadays), I'll usually say either, "Oh! So that's who sang this song! I always thought it was ___," or something similar.

In fact, I was in the middle of watching MTV Classic the other night and saw the music video for the song "Broken Wings." I always thought it was Don Henley's growing up. It turns out it was Mr. Mister, who sang "Broken Wings."

Interesting enough, Mr. Mister DID actually go on tour with Don Henley, The Bangles, The Eurythmics, etc. during the 1980's.

Also, the Indie Grebo Industrial Rock band, Pop Will Eat Itself. For the last 2 decades, I never knew who sang the song, "Ich Bin Ein Ausländer," meaning "I am a foreigner"  in German. 

When 102.1's Radio DJ, Raven hosted her radio show, Industrial Nation on late Saturday nights, she played Industrial Metal and Electronica remixes of Rock songs. 

It wasn't until a year or 2 ago, that I learned the name of this band. To be more specific, Raven used to host her Saturday night show, Industrial Nation, in my hometown at New Rock 102.1, during the mid to late 1990's.

2) When it comes to Anime, I try not to limit genres and sub-genres. I watch a wide variety of Japanese animation meant for both genders, different age groups, sexual orientations, etc. both English subtitled and dubbed.

Lately, I haven't had as much time to watch as many as I used to because I'm busy both on and offline. I still have yet to stream xxxHolic in its entirety. However, I am currently watching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, Tokyo Ghoul, and re-watching Naruto Shippuden dubbed in English on Adult Swim's Toonami block.

If I had more time, I would stream Anime again. My biggest complaint about both Cartoon Network and Adult Swim these last 5-9 years has been, that both only care about Shonen Jump Action Anime.

Because of these restrictions, both networks have bred a lot of ignorant, entitled, and highly misinformed sycophants and zealots for fans in America.

Toonami only represents Action Animation specifically meant for teenage boys. It does not represent the female demographics. 

Those currently running Cartoon Network AND Adult Swim intentionally alienate most of their viewers regardless of their age and gender.

Colours TV was the only network that represented a wide variety of Anime genres for both genders. 

Even though Colours TV was a highly syndicated multi-cultural network, it STILL aired Shonen, Shojo, Comedy, Romance, Action, Mystery, etc.

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim could afford to tear a page out of Colours TV's book. Colours was EXTREMELY  lowly-funded. Although, those running it were still able and willing to air something for most types of Anime fans.

3) Yes, I've had 3 dogs and 4 guinea pigs, during my youth. I haven't owned any pets for the last 13 years. 

Pets require a lot of time, money, energy, and care. I always took care of my guinea pigs and they normally lived for at least 5 years.

After my last dog, Alexis had to be euthanized in 2004, I stopped wanting pets. I hate the fact, that my pets normally died around Christmas.

Who wants to wake up to dead pets on Christmas Day?

I sure as hell don't. I don't want to be in tears on Christmas Day because my pet died naturally or was euthanized without being told about it, until the very last minute.

I REALLY  wish I could've seen my dog, Mendy 1 last time before doing my high school final exams before Christmas Break, almost 2 decades ago. After coming home from school and learning, that he was euthanized, I cried my eyes out.

Hopefully, all 3 questions have been answered Victor. Since I mentioned Pop Will Eat Itself, here is their music video for "Ich Bin Ein Ausländer."

Pop Will Eat Itself "Ich Bin Ein Ausländer" Dos Dedos Mis Amigos (1994)

What Are My Thoughts About Chester Bennington And Linkin Park?

How's it going my gumdrops? Above is a gif of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell with Linkin Park/Stone Temple Pilots' Chester Bennington.

Before dying, both had performed Temple Of The Dog's "Hunger Strike." "Hunger Strike" was originally sung by Chris Cornell and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. 

After publishing last Thursday's blog, Jesse asked in the comments section:

"The lead singer of Linkin Park has been found dead. What are your thoughts of him and his band?"

I was going to publish my answer in the latest Song Saturday blog, but changed my mind. 

Even though Jesse's question is music related, I will answer it in today's Q&A blog. 

Personally speaking, I did enjoy listening to some of Linkin Park's songs, when the band debuted with their album Hybrid Theory. 

At the time, Linkin Park debuted, when I was on my way out of high school; I became of age in 2000.

If you were someone, who grew up and enjoyed listening to both Rock and Rap Music, you had a chance to enjoy "the best of both worlds" so to speak. Because I listen to more than 1 music genre and sub-genre, I was open-minded to Rap-Rock.

Most older Gen Xers (currently in their late 40's to mid 50's), Baby Boomers, and some Millennials despised "Nu Metal" because they were not fans of Rap, Hip-Hop, Alternative Rock, or Grunge Music.

Rock Music containing elements of Rap, Hip-Hop, Funk, Alternative Rock, and Grunge was like the late 1990's equivalent of Glam Rock. Glam Rock became labeled '80s Hair Metal.

The "Hair Metal" branding was a label used to mock Glam Rock much like "Nu Metal" is a label used to mock Alternative Metal bands such as KoRn, Limp Bizkit, Staind, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, etc. 

Both Glam Rock and Alternative Metal attracted fans from more than 1 music genre, sub-genre, and sub-culture.

They also attracted more female listeners, which led to some of us soon becoming their fans. In addition, Alternative Metal attracted some from the Goth Rock genre and sub-culture.

Alternative Metal is more aggressive and angsty much like Grunge Music. Alternative Metal is also considered to be "Aggro Metal." Most "Nu Metal" bands were condemned, demonized, and ostracized by narrow-minded critics, who really cannot accept change.

Looking back, KoRn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park received the most vilification. Those that were Rap-Rock bands, during the late 1990's and early 21st Century began changing their music to sound more like Rock, later in the early 2000's and 2010's, including Linkin Park.

The "Nu Metal" sub-genre reached its pinnacle, when The Deftones, Coal Chamber, Slipknot, KoRn, Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, and many others became more popular among younger Gen Xers, Millennials, and Xennials (those born on the cusp of Gen X and Y) in 1998.

Meanwhile, over the last 3 years or so, I have noticed the amount of hatred directed at Chester Bennington after The DeLeo Brothers from Stone Temple Pilots chose him as Scott Weiland's replacement. 

Nearly 3 years ago, I published a Song Saturday blog about Chester replacing Scott.

Song Saturday: Scott Weiland VS. Chester Bennington? You Decide! (2014)

Allow me to reiterate, I NEVER hated Linkin Park's Chester Bennington. As much as I liked listening to Linkin Park as a young adult in my late teens and early 20's nearly 2 decades ago, I was and still am a much bigger fan of the original Stone Temple Pilots. Chester had some HUGE shoes to fill, when it came to replacing Scott Weiland. The late Scott Weiland is irreplaceable as STP's former lead singer. 

Now, the same can be said about the late Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. It is so tragic that BOTH frontmen became friends with each other before dying.

After it was announced that Scott Weiland died from a drug overdose in December 2015, I remember reading how upset Chester was as a friend and fan of his.

Because Scott was an idol of Chester Bennington's and was even Scott's replacement for Stone Temple Pilots, Chester took his death really hard; Chester was really grief stricken over Scott Weiland's death. His grief echoed over social media.

Then, Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog, and Audioslave's Chris Cornell died from a supposed suicide, 2 months ago. In case you missed last Song Saturday, I encourage you to read it.

Everything about Chris Cornell's "suicide" feels odd. The same can also be said about Chester Bennington's suicide. After reading Neon Nettle's article about Chris Cornell learning about an "elite" pedophile ring, that he was about to expose, it adds to my suspicions. I believe he and Chester Bennington were murdered.

Neon Nettle: Chester Bennington Was About To Expose The Truth Behind Chris Cornell's Death

The fact that both Chris and Chester were in the middle of trying to save abused children and had evidence, that reveals the truth about an "elite" pedophile ring, makes me believe that they were both murdered.

I believe someone was sent to permanently shut them up by killing them and setting their deaths up to look like suicides. 

A few skeptics are laughing, while rolling their eyes at yours truly about such claims, but anything is possible.

Why is everyone so quick to believe, that Chris and Chester's deaths were suicide? Ever have that needling feeling, that something doesn't feel right?

This is how I feel about Chris Cornell's death. His "suicide" has been needling me, since May.

What lead singer happens to be in the middle of working on and releasing a new album, going on tours, and SUDDENLY chooses to commit suicide?

These are questions more people should be asking themselves. 

Like I said last Song Saturday, this exact same incident happened with Michael Hutchence from INXS 20 years ago.

It has been claimed, that Chester's depression echoed through his songwriting, along with being grief stricken by Chris Cornell's death, since May. However, people cannot be "happy" and book tours, then suddenly hang themselves the next second.

Call me Nancy Drew, a crazy "conspiracy theorist," or delusional, but my intuition tells me that foul play is being hushed.

Whether or not you were a fan of Linkin Park or Chester Bennington, more people should show not only sympathy, but also empathy.

Family, friends, fans, and band members now must cope with a huge loss of someone very close to them. 

1 Godson, 6 children, and 2 widows are also in mourning over the loss of their father, Godfather, husband, and ex-husband.

Hopefully, this answers your question Jesse!

Cartoon Sunday: John R. Dilworth's The Dirdy Birdy

How's it going my gumdrops? Did you enjoy yesterday's Song Saturday Tribute to the late Chester Bennington of Linkin Park and Stone Temple Pilots? If so, let me know.

Meanwhile, I am sharing something a little different from the usual for this Cartoon Sunday. How many of you are familiar with John R. Dilworth? 

The actor, writer, director, animator, and producer is also known as "Dilly." "Dilly" is best known for the Animated Horror Comedy, Courage The Cowardly Dog. 

I find it is strange that no one credits the cable network, Nickelodeon. Several years before Courage The Cowardly Dog aired on Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon aired it.

In fact, I remember channel surfing and stumbling upon Courage The Cowardly Dog on Nickelodeon, when I was in 6th grade. That was more than 20 years ago. 

Quite a few shows meant for children, which started airing on Cartoon Network WERE originally from Nickelodeon.

The TV series based on R.L. Stine's anthologies for Goosebumps aired on Nickelodeon, before Cartoon Network acquired it, is another example.

I remember Courage The Cowardly Dog airing on Nickelodeon years before Cartoon Network acquired it. 

Even though I was never a fan of the cartoon during my adolescence, there will be some man-child 1 generation younger than yours truly, discrediting me about something they were not old enough to comprehend, much less watch.

Unlike younger Gen Y and Zers, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney, etc. were NOT  a part of my childhood or adolescence.

Watching Saturday Morning Cartoons and cartoons that aired on local channels everyday was how I grew up.

During the 1980's to mid-90's, cartoons used to air on local channels at least 5 days a week. 

On weekdays, cartoons aired on local channels in the mornings and afternoons. By 1992, I had already reached puberty and most cartoons meant for kids did not resonate with me as a pre-teen.

By 1994, I started watching the Liquid Television Animation block on MTV and Anime on The Sci Fi Channel. In '94, I stopped watching local channels for animation.

MTV and Sci Fi had more mature content in their animation that I wanted to watch. 

Cartoon Network and other networks aired more immature cartoons for pre-schoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary school children. 

Much like PBS's programming meant for kids, I found their content to be highly patronizing, especially as an adolescent. 

Some of you already know about me watching the Liquid Television Animation block. 

Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria, The Maxx, The Head, Celebrity Deathmatch, Aeon Flux, etc. were popular, during my adolescence.

The Cartoon Sushi block succeeded Liquid Television by 1997 on MTV. During the mid to late 1990's and early 21st Century, I was an adolescent, when MTV aired these cartoons. This was years before Adult Swim was ever launched.

By 1997, the local networks had replaced cartoons with Court TV and Daytime Talk Shows. These local networks assumed every household by that time had basic cable channels like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney, etc.

Truth be told, every household did NOT  have a basic cable package.

Because today's blog mostly focuses on MTV, the network's cartoon blocks, its cartoons from the 1990's, and briefly mentions John R. Dilworth's Courage The Cowardly Dog, it's only fair to share a cartoon, which briefly aired on MTV.

Have you ever watched John R. Dilworth's "The Dirdy Birdy"?

"The Dirdy Birdy" was a 7-minute animated short, which aired on MTV during the early 1990's. 

The short features a hostile cat (Fergurina) and the obnoxious bird (Purdy) sitting in a tree.

If you did NOT  know any better, you would swear that Purdy was the equivalent of an online troll sexually harassing Fergurina. 

Purdy is in love with Fergurina and expresses his affection for her. The bird's affections consists of MOONING her. The Grim Reaper also makes his cameo appearance.

Talk about an obnoxious creep! No wonder why the cat turns into a monster. 

Never in all my years have I ever seen a bird moon a cat in a tree or a cat transform into such a ferocious monster. This is surely a sight to behold!

Rather than explaining every detail of this abstract short, which used to air on MTV, it is much better for you to independently watch it, right now.

John R. Dilworth "The Dirdy Birdy" (1993)

Song Saturday: Chester Bennington Tribute Block

How's it going my gumdrops? On Thursday afternoon, I published a blog asking if you would like for me to publish more Q&A blogs.

While working on Thursday's blog, I clenched my chest in shock after reading the headline about Chester Bennington of both Linkin Park and Stone Temple Pilots.

TMZ: Linkin Park Singer Commits Suicide By Hanging

Supposedly, Chester hung himself on what would have been Chris Cornell's (Chester's close friend) 53rd birthday had he also NOT supposedly hung himself, 2 months ago.

Song Saturday: Chris Cornell Tribute Block (2017)

You may be wondering why I keep saying the word, "supposedly." Call me a crazy "conspiracy theorist," but both of their deaths were extremely sudden.

Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell's so-called suicides remind me of Michael Hutchence's death from 20 years ago. 

In case you are unfamiliar with Michael Hutchence, he was the lead singer of the Australian Rock band, INXS.

In April 1997, the band released their final 10th album with Hutchence, Elegantly Wasted. It was named after their song of the same name, "Elegantly Wasted." 

INXS had plenty of tours scheduled to celebrate their 20th anniversary that year. 

By November 22, 1997 INXS's homecoming tour was canceled after Michael Hutchence was found dead hanging outside his hotel window in Sydney, Australia. 

Reports claim that Michael hung himself.

On January 19, 2016, Soundgarden announced that they were working on their next studio album. 

Apparently, they had been working on their music for the last several years and were touring.

After Soundgarden performed on May 17, 2017 at The Fox Theatre, located in Downtown Detroit, MI, Chris Cornell was found dead by his bodyguard on May 18th around 12:15 am. 

According to the reports, Cornell's body was lying on the bathroom floor of his hotel room at the MGM Grand Hotel.

***An exercise band was wrapped around Chris Cornell's neck and blood was in his mouth.

By the Detroit Police reviewing a hotel surveillance video, they ruled out a homicide. 

Supposedly, there was no evidence showing anyone entering or exiting Cornell's hotel suite, after the frontman's bodyguard left around 11:35 pm.

By June 2, 2017 the coroner confirmed that Chris Cornell committed suicide.

Chester Bennington was not only a close friend of Chris Cornell's, but also the Godfather of Cornell's son, Christopher.

In an interview with Radio.com, Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda claimed that Chester was really aggrieved, as they performed "One More Light."

Radio.com: Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda Claims Chester Bennington Was Hit Hard By Chris Cornell’s Suicide (2017)

This interview with Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda was taped on May 19, 2017. This was the day after Soundgarden's Chris Cornell died of suicide. I'm still not believing this story. 

Chris' death sounds very suspicious; It sounds more like he was murdered.

Considering that Soundgarden was last seen in Detroit, MI, it would NOT surprise me if Cornell was murdered. 

Detroit is notorious for having a criminal element. I know this because I have relatives, who unfortunately live there.

As for Chester Bennington, he grew up troubled. At 7 years old, he was sexually abused by an older male friend and was scared to ask for help. He did not want everyone thinking he was gay or a liar. The abuse did not stop, until he was 13 years old. 

Here's the real kicker, Chester Bennington's father was a police detective, who worked with sexual abuse cases. 

Meanwhile, Chester's mother was a nurse. By the time he was 11, his parents got divorced and Chester's father gained custody of him. 

During the time of their divorce, Chester Bennington began using marijuana, alcohol, opium, cocaine, methamphetamine, and LSD. 

After turning 17, he moved in with his mother. When she discovered that he was using drugs, she banned him from leaving the house. By 2011, Chester Bennington supposedly quit using drugs.

In addition to Chester Bennington's dilemmas, he and his wife were harassed by the cyberstalker, Devon Townsend. The cyberstalking went on for almost a year.

Luckily, Townsend was found guilty of tampering with the couple's e-mails, sending threatening messages, and was later sentenced to 2 years in prison. 

Learning about Bennington's cyberstalker makes me even more suspicious than before.

What if Chester's cyberstalker, Devon Townsend murdered him on Thursday and made his death appear as a "suicide"?

You may assume that I am some crazy fan with conspiracy theories. Given the fact, that people were always attacking Chester, anything is possible. 

Regardless if Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington's deaths were murders or suicide, the news about both frontmen dying was and still is tragic.

Excluding the critics, trolls, AND haters, both frontmen are worldwide losses. 

Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell greatly touched the lives of many families, friends, fans, and celebrities. If you don't believe me, here are 2 videos from these people.

1) Death Of Chester Bennington: Celebrities Reaction [Dwayne Johnson, Mike Shinoda, and Others] (2017)

2) Loudwire: Rock World Reacts To Chester Bennington's Death (2017)

After publishing Thursday's blog about my Q&A, Jesse posted in the comments section:

"The lead singer of Linkin Park has been found dead. What are your thoughts of him and his band?"

Depending on my chaotic schedule, I plan on answering Jesse's question. Anyway, here are my favorite Linkin Park music videos for today's Song Saturday.

1) Linkin Park "One Step Closer" Hybrid Theory (2000)

2) Linkin Park "Papercut" Hybrid Theory (2000)

3) Linkin Park "Points Of Authority" Hybrid Theory (2000)

4) Linkin Park "In The End" Hybrid Theory (2000)

5) Linkin Park "Bleed It Out" Minutes To Midnight (2007) 

[BONUS]

1) Linkin Park [Chris Cornell Tribute] "One More Light" One More Light (2017)

2) Jonathan Davis [Featuring Chester Bennington] "System" Queen Of The Damned Soundtrack (2002)

RANT: Why Are People So DERANGED Today? The Ridiculousness Of Publicly Shaming Others Online

How's it going my gumdrops? Similar to an old Xanga 1.0 blog that was published 4 years ago, this is a rant blog about the ridiculousness of publicly shaming others online. Publicly shaming people online has become ridiculously rampant, lately.

Years ago, I LOVED being on the Internet. Now, I find myself hating it more than anything these days. The Internet has turned into an online playground for cruel, inhumane, sadistic, vindictive, and malicious men, women, and children.

People like them have ALWAYS existed, but now there are more platforms for these narcissistic sociopaths and low-lives to spread their misanthropy like a fatal disease. 

Age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, non-religion, social class, political affiliation, sexuality, etc. all factor into this hatred.

Originally, I was going to say that all of the above do NOT  factor into this hatred. However, they really DO. People want to hate someone for the sake of hating.

Before anybody wants to use Donald Trump as a scapegoat, this hatred existed LONG before he became our president. 

This level of HATRED worsened since the year of 2000, which was before President Bill Clinton left the White House for George W. Bush and before the terrorist attacks had occurred on September 11, 2001.

By the 21st Century, more people with zero involvement in the entertainment industry became obsessed with filming and taking pictures of themselves ad nauseam. 

In addition, more of those from of that same ilk started filming and taking pictures of other people for exploitation and public humiliation purposes, as well as praise.

This may seem like slapstick humor for those depraved low-lives, but it's not for those who must endure it. 

Some, who have suffered from public shaming online lost their businesses, jobs, families, as well as their own lives, if they haven't already committed suicide over their reputations being ruined.

Within the last 1-3 years of so-called "political activist" groups provoking the genocide of law enforcement and white people, the hatred keeps getting worse.

This is also when they are NOT  exploiting women, children, murder, rape, suicide, natural disasters, charities, tragedies, violating our privacy, bullying, stalking, cyber stalking, and slandering others for the sake of being mean-spirited and malicious.

These are the same types of self-righteous low-lives and narcissistic sociopaths, who fail to understand WHY they have no real friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, spouses, etc.

Over the last week to 2 years, I have endured smear campaigns, cyber stalking, and public shaming NOT  by catty women, but by men suffering from overblown egos and Little Dick Syndrome. 

If you didn't already know, Little Dick Syndrome is basically when men in high positions abuse their power.

Some may be scoffing and rolling their eyes at me for publishing this blog, especially since I am not flaunting statistical data. 

Today's blog does NOT  require an infographic to demonstrate how incredibly abominable public shaming over the Internet has become.

Whether you're watching, reading, or listening to the news or not, publicly shaming other people online continues to increase. It is the female gender, that endures the most public shaming.

Belonging to a toxic forum such as Adult Swim and social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc, etc. are enough to make ANYONE with some human decency want to delete his/her own account(s), if not abandon those sites.

Those toxic websites enable, pander to, and condone misogynists and misanthropes. 

I believe the administrators shut down Adult Swim's forum without giving the community any notice, last winter because they saw how atrocious the community became.

Over these last 3 years, some of my subscribers already knew just how horrible it was for some of us to belong to a male-dominated forum for a divisive and male-centric Cable TV network.

I never expected for everybody to personally like me on Adult Swim's forum. Although, I NEVER expected for so many posters to personally discriminate against me for being a newer poster, while personally harboring an irrational hatred for no reason.

I belong to MANY websites ranging from blogging communities, social media sites, to Anime forums. 

NONE of those communities have ever assumed the worst about me, as a human being or my good intentions. 

They especially do NOT  feel threatened or resent me for being a woman of color, who built her own website for free.

Over 2 years ago, I noticed that those posting on Adult Swim's forum are CLASSIST and generally begrudge successful people, especially successful women. 

The posters waste MOST  their time criticizing someone's diction, font size, font color, show ratings, politics, religion, favorite shows, etc, etc.

Shortly after joining Adult Swim's community, my feelings about the network became worse than they were before joining. 

I already knew the assholes in charge of the network loved mocking their own viewers, disguising their insults as jokes, were patronizing, and were EXTREMELY sexist towards women. Belonging to Adult Swim's forum was a lot worse than imagined and expected.

Even though there were other women posting on Adult Swim's forum, the men over there barely have respect for women in general. 

The man-children have this great sense of entitlement. Not to generalize every Adult Swim poster, but certain posters within Adult Swim's community REALLY  believe that everyone owes them something.

The man-children from Adult Swim's forum compare themselves to Reddit and 4Chan trolls. 

Nearly 2 weeks ago, an Adult Swim friend said that she was trying to learn Japanese. In her thread, I let her know that I sent her links to Japanese books I used, throughout my years of studying.

Then, I listed 5 different styles of writing Japanese, which included Furigana. There was already an overbearing know-it-all in her thread. He claimed he was the "Go-To Guy" for studying the language because he automatically assumed that nobody knew Japanese except him. This was where it became ridiculous.

Because I said that Furigana was another way of writing Japanese, he derailed my friend's thread by discrediting me the ENTIRE time. Furigana is mostly used as a Japanese reading aid for those learning to write the language much like Romaji.

When I was learning Japanese as a teenager, that poster was ONLY  a toddler. There are actual Japanese books and worksheets with Furigana and I also had teachers that taught me how to write Furigana. Here's the kicker, that poster claims to be the "Go-To Guy" YET  he's not fluent in his own native language!

That poster made such a HUGE stink about what I said. Eventually, I told he and everyone else that I studied Japanese for YEARS and have a BA in Asian Studies.

This was along with letting him know that I was not some pretentious Weeaboo, who studied Japanese only for the purpose of wanting to understand what characters were saying in Japanese animation.

Mr. Know-It-All became SO offended by my statement that he implied that I was lying, then THREATENED to make "a laughingstock out of me on Reddit" simply because I said, that Furigana is a part of the Japanese writing system.

Were his antics even necessary?

Finally, I told the "Go-To Guy" that he was acting like a juvenile, pompous, self-righteous, know-it-all and I let him know, that most people will NOT  tolerate his antics.

Since he refused to stop derailing my friend's thread, I told him to go get bent and left. Certain Adult Swim posters have extremely overblown egos.

Typically, Adult Swim posters must turn EVERYTHING into a serious competition over who is right and who is wrong, must turn fun and innocent discussions into flame wars, if not intentionally take something that was said out of context to cause division, must have the last word, psychoanalyze, nitpick, minimize, and discredit everything and everyone.

In addition, some of the male posters seriously expect women to be submissive and weak to them and owe them an explanation for any and every little thing somebody says, does, likes, etc. This includes male Adult Swim posters being predators like the lowlife, who has been slandering AND purposely MISGENDERING me for the last 2 years.

That narcissistic sociopath expects for women to give him nude selfies, posts revenge porn, premeditates fights among minority female posters, loves violating our privacy by publicly posting copies of our e-mail messages, anonymous reports, posting death threats, sending threatening messages to women, hacking other posters' accounts and servers, and gossips about us like some high school gossip queen!

Our crooked, former head moderator from Adult Swim is mostly to blame for the never ending smear-campaign, which was launched against me 2 years ago. 

That lowlife, piece of shit sadistically violated my privacy by doxing my anonymous reports about someone, who only PRETENDED to be my friend to cause social division.

That "friend" was a manipulative, backstabbing liar, and a slanderer, who set me up to fight with 1 of his flunkies and got me banned on Memorial Day 2015. That was why I removed him from my website TWICE.

Seems spiteful to some, BUT would you want to be "friends" with someone who sets you up to fight a flunky of theirs on a holiday? 

Would you want to be friends with someone, who guilt trips you? 

Would you want to be friends with someone, who lets their other "friends" attack you, then be blamed for being attacked and insulted for it?

Every time I reported the attacks on Adult Swim, our former crooked head moderator would purposely ignore my reports with malicious intent. 

OTHERWISE, he singled me out by making indirect call out threads, publicly threatening to ban me THRICE for anonymously reporting assholes, who attacked me and OTHER posters, as well as doxing my anonymous reports while COLLUDING with them!

I could list a number of atrocities our former head moderator committed on Adult Swim within these last 2 years. He panders, enables, condones, and sometimes PARTICIPATES in these atrocities.

For example, a few divisive Adult Swim posters wanted our sub-forum to play a game called Turkey Shoot for Thanksgiving 2015. 

Turkey Shoot was a divisive game our sub-forum wanted to play, which consisted of PUBLIC SHAMING.

The objective was to find the WORST  threads they could by other posters. 

After finding those threads, posters necrobumped them to the front page saying that they "bagged a turkey."

***Whoever bagged the worst threads for PUBLICLY SHAMING POSTERS, won prizes!

Some of us did NOT  participate in Turkey Shoot because it was a divisive and mean-spirited game in disguise to play for Thanksgiving. 

All the while, our former crooked head moderator always loves patronizing us with his self-righteous hypocrisy about not flame baiting, necrobumping threads with malicious intent, and some other self-righteous lectures.

Originally, he was hesitant to play this game. Then, my former "friend," who has been cyber stalking, misgendering, and smearing my reputation for the last 2 years, guilt tripped our moderator into playing that public shaming game.

Honestly, it would not surprise me, if he blackmailed our head moderator because he is just that deplorable of a human being. 

I still have his harassing messages that he sent to me on my website. They are still in the Contact form submissions, that I receive from people who want to send a message to me.

Since that narcissistic sociopath wants to keep cyber stalking, misgendering, slandering doxing, and publicly shaming me online, I have contemplated reporting to somebody in a much higher power, who CAN make him disappear from the web. 

The man's a narcissistic sociopath with mental, behavioral, and substance abuse problems excluding the fact, he's an unfit father and had a hand in his friend being murdered, when he was a teenager. 

I only know about this BECAUSE he posted about it on our former crooked head moderator's PUBLIC forum, earlier this year.

Some of you may be reading my blogs and assuming, that I am some militant feminazi who hates men. 

For the record, I do NOT  hate men. My audience has ALWAYS been male-dominated because of the music I played on my radio show, years ago and my interests. 

Egomaniacs have been taking me to task these last 3 years. Obviously, they see me as a threat to their manhood, when I'm NOT.

Today's blog is longer than my usual blogs because publicly shaming people online is much worse than a terminal disease and is barely discussed. 

In the meantime, here is a video explaining more in detail about social media shaming.

The National: "Social Media Shaming" (2015)

Cartoon Sunday: Christopher Christensen's The Stone Wall

How's it going my gumdrops? Since so many of you enjoyed those Animated Horror Shorts that I shared 2 weeks ago from Axeman Cartoons, I have another creepy short to share with you all. 

In case you missed 10 Two Sentence Horror Stories for Cartoon Sunday, you can check it out right HERE.

Today we have Christopher Christensen's poem, "The Stone Wall." "The Stone Wall" was illustrated by YeahManTV, while Let's Read narrated this creepy piece.

If you have an appreciation for Textured Art with abstract spirals, Dr. Seuss, and Edgar Allan Poe, "The Stone Wall" may be right up your alley. I'll admit to being automatically biased, when it comes to abstract spirals in the animation.

The spirals remind me of some of the work I did in high school for Art Class. Also, I did something similar to this type of Textured Art, when the band, KoRn held their album cover contest before releasing their 4th album, Issues in 1999. 

It sucks that I didn't win the the album cover contest. Then again, Issues wasn't that great of a KoRn album. The first 3 will always be their best albums as well as their 5th album, Untouchables. Well, I digress.

As I watched "The Stone Wall," it reminded me of Dr. Seuss meets Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask Of Amontillado" and "The Tell-Tale Heart." This is along with a SMIDGE of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown."

If you never had the opportunities to read any of these short stories in high school or in college, you should read them now.

Listening to Christensen's "The Stone Wall" made me notice, that the protagonist in this creepy poem has a serious drinking problem. 

He drank an entire bottle of wine and is probably using some kind of a hallucinogenic drug.

If mixing hallucinogenic drugs with wine is NOT  the problem, the protagonist must be drunk from trying to drink away his guilty conscience about something. 

The Goat Man must represent his guilty conscience, possibly about his alcoholism, which he chooses to deny.

As far as the stone wall goes, it could POSSIBLY represent the protagonist's alcoholism which is acting as a barrier between issues he has and the fact that he chooses not to acknowledge them. Anything is possible at this rate with this poem.

"The Stone Wall" is the type of creepy poem, that really makes you think hard. The animation, illustration, and narraton for this poem, helped to add character to the protagonist, The Goat Man, and the overall story being told in the poem.

Some of you might be irritated by my psychoanalysis of Christopher Christensen's "The Stone Wall." I can't help paying attention to both the narration and illustrations for this poem. Both have this ability to make us really think.

Rather than explaining my perception of this creepy poem, I highly recommend watching "The Stone Wall" for yourself and judging with your own conclusions. 

Anyway, here is Christopher Christensen's "The Stone Wall" for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Christopher Christensen's "The Stone Wall" (2016)