Ricky Gervais: The Best Golden Globes Host of All Time

Honestly, the only reason I watched the Golden Globes in the past was because it was hosted by the one and only Ricky Gervais. Before that and after, I have not watched the award show again. Until 2020 when he has been chosen to host the award show one last time. It will be a night to remember, I assume. The last two times he hosted the "third-best award show," as he once mentioned, have placed Gervais' performance in my personal library of comedy gold. From a comedy standpoint, he is the best because he managed to make the show funny and enjoyable. His roasts on celebrities in attendance was the entire icing on the cake and the main reason we wanted a slice of it. Sure, the humiliation was perhaps not well-received by the actors and actresses, but I think they can take a few punches. Even though sometimes the roasts were extrapolated by controversy and personal issues. I don't feel too bad for them because they are in showbusiness, they are working to entertain us and  getting paid quite well. It is because of Ricky that the award has received some of the highest ratings ever. More than any other presenter. When people watch, money flows. A simple formula which keeps producers scratching their heads and use the same successful ingredients for another cake. I believe when it comes to Ricky in the upcoming 2020 Golden Globes, whoever wins an award will not be the highlight of the evening but what surprise he has in store for us. At least we can go back and do a simple Google search to see who won. I can't wait to see what happens.

Check out a YouTube video about the 2016 Golden Globes:  https://youtu.be/j71bDdVbjp4

Freedom of Meat

"It's not food, its violence!" was the chant used by a group of protesters inside a grocery store in the beautiful island of New Zealand to protest eating meat. Meat, a staple in the diet of millions of people world wide and the stuff of nightmares for some vegans. I eat meat. I was raised by a family who introduced me to a wide selection of animal products such as alligator, rabbit, deer, goat and sheep. While my diet consist of meat, it does not mean I'm going to protest against vegans in front of the produce section. I have a friend who chose a vegan lifestyle and does not judge me or others when I eat a hamburger or a steak. This is the respect she has because she chose such diet for her own well being. It works for her and it should work for the rest of vegans. People who choose a diet of meat do not want to be told not to eat animal products by a group of angry protesters because no one wants to be told what to do. We already have the government to do that for us and they are smart enough to allow their citizens the freedom to eat whatever we want. Vegans should understand not everyone wants to go full vegan. It is an unreasonable expectation like wishing for world peace. Yes, we know how meat in developed countries is processed and shipped to the meat counter. We don't need to be reminded. All we want is to eat whatever we want without any form of confrontation in the grocery store except by the butcher and the cashier. If a vegan tells you meat is murder, then remind them how their shoes, clothes, backpack and their precious smartphone were made. I almost guarantee if you tell a vegan to break their smartphone in protest of the cheap and cruel labor of human beings, they'll think twice about it. Now if there is a vegan out there wearing clothes from a thrift shop, no jewelry, rides a bike and the bus, grows their own food, no smartphone or any electronic devices, works for a non-profit organization, and cleans the environment telling me not to eat meat, maybe I would consider it. For now, we should not have to argue that meat is not food because it is. It has been for thousands of years and taking it away completely will definitely lead to chaos.

The Bad Tipper

I have been working in the restaurant industry for over ten years. I am currently a bartender and server at a restaurant in Anaheim, California. Throughout my years in the industry, I have had some really awesome tips and some crappy ones. I have been the best server in the world and received a tip barely worth the cost of two items at the 99 Cent store. I have been the worst server ever and received an awesome tip to make me feel like crap. People are different. They have their own expectations of restaurant service and tip accordingly. Nevertheless, there are trends we servers have picked up regarding the type of person or party and can foresee a good or bad tip (remember, this is my personal opinion and this is what I have seen in my years as a server and bartender):

-American Express Platinum card holders tend to tip like they can't afford the annual maintenance fee.

-People who ask for the price of every single item tend to tip about ten percent of less.

-Those who check every single item in their receipt and call you out for any irregularities usually will not leave a good tip.

-People who make you work like they are the only table in the restaurant and ask for things every two minutes tend to leave a low tip (sometimes but rarely they reward the effort generously).

-Young couples usually tip like they have a limited allowance.

-People from Australia and New Zealand are either really good tippers or don't tip at all. This is because the tip is included in their own restaurants. Many will ask if the tip is included and how much its customary.

-People from the UK tip five percent or less. Almost like they don't like Americans.

-Certain Christians (those who show their religion like wearing a multicolor coat) tend to tip the same percentage of their tithe. There was a server in Missouri who received a note from a pastor which said, "I give God ten percent why should you get 18?"

-Those who get mad for not having a particular item but stay anyway and order something else...well, you know what the outcome will be.

-There are those who don't tip at all. Those people could be anybody and are difficult to predict. Every server has had the zero tipper before one time or another. You are not a server until you experience the zero tipper.
-Just for fun: https://onethirdchapter.blogspot.com/2019/04/room-for-7-of-tips-and-men.html

      This is just what my coworkers and myself have experienced in the past. We share every complement and complaint with one another. We see the frustration when another server or bartender has experienced a difficult customer or someone who has tipped enough to make us shed tears and curses in the walk-in refrigerator. Remember, we get taxed by the government. Our checks do not reflect our hours worked because of the additional taxes the federal and state governments take. We make up the rest in tips. If you don't believe in tipping, please don't put a note or an excuse to justify your action because quite frankly, we don't care. Also, please don't write a big-fat zero for the tip because it just gets us angrier like we just been punched in the face. Us servers and bartenders know when we provided poor service and a low tip is expected because we are people too. We don't get offended when this happens and know we deserve it. I remember the time I was so busy, I was not able to give good service to one of my tables and expected a low tip or no tip at all. Thankfully I was wrong and they made my day.

     

Forgotten Presidents

This is the time Donald Trump has shifted from a business man to the 45th President of the United States of America. His unorthodox views and uncensored opinion in his rallies and social media--primarily Twitter--have created an extremely loyal following. So loyal in fact, Mr. Trump can say virtually anything of insulting nature without changing the mind of the red-hat wearing "MAGA" crowds. His presidency has also inspired phrases like "fake news," "America first," "best president in modern history," "he says it like it is," "best president ever," and so on. These are the phrases which have divided the people of the United States. These are the phrases which discredit the history of the United States of America. We cannot say "best president in modern history" because there is no such thing as modern history. History is the study of the past. Its an oxymoron. When this phrase is said, the legacies of past presidents are meaningless. Legacies we still benefit from. How can the "best president ever" be above other presidents who have helped achieved far greater things such as: Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase; James Madison's conclusion of the War of 1812; James Monroe's Monroe's Doctrine and Liberia; James Polk's Smithsonian Institution and U.S. Naval Academy; Franklin Pierce and the Gadsden Purchase; Abraham Lincoln and the freedom of slaves; Benjamin Harrison's Sherman Anti-Trust Act, William McKinley's introduction of Guam and Puerto Rico into the U.S.; W.H.Taft being both President and Chief Justice; Woodrow Wilson's involvement in World War I; Calvin Coolidge and his implementation of Native Americans right to citizenship; FDR and his New Deal and his involvement in World War II; Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Interstate Highway system; JFK and the Civil Rights Movement; George H.W. Bush's Americans With Disabilities Act, and so on. There is absolutely nothing wrong with supporting your political party and president. Just as long as the support is not biased (though your opinion is protected by the Constitution) and the legacy of our executive predecessors forgotten. Donald Trump may not be able to purchase Greenland from Denmark. He may not understand how William H. Seward was essential in the purchase of Alaska. He may not understand the territorial purchases were facilitated by conflict. He can still give the American people a legacy worthy of remembrance other than being the most unorthodox president in "modern history." I think.

New York Post: "Sorry, Childless Milennials Going to Disney is Weird"

New York Post article: Link    

     One of the best things about Disney Parks is the amount of activities aimed at people of all ages. It is no surprise most toddlers can instantly recognize the famous mouse from far away. I am a millennial, born in 1986, and have a four-year-old son. I recently attended Disneyland and realized the low level of enjoyment I had ensuring my son fully enjoyed the park. That gave me the idea of waiting until my son is old enough to return. A time he will actually enjoy the park and remember the trip for the rest of his life. In the meantime, as long as he is little, if I am going back to the park it will be without him. Because I do like Disney. It is one brand I associate with my childhood.

     I don't have a problem with millennials going to Disney without any kids because the park was designed for everyone. This millennial age is the best time to visit the park because it's fun. It is even more fun without kids. I noticed some parents pushing strollers with babies still in the bottle. It did not look fun and rather weird. Their faces looked tired and their attitude did not justify the happiest place on earth. When parents take their babies to Disney they have to feed them, change them, tend to them when they cry and the countless things I do not miss when my son was a baby. I can't imagine myself with a baby at Disneyland. No way. Those millennial parents with babies are the weird ones. You have to be a hardcore Disney fan to go with a child old enough to say "dada." One thing I noticed about the park are the countless spaces taken by the plethora of strollers. Just imagine if the park could eliminate just the double-seat strollers (I saw a lot of those). The capacity of the park could potentially increase. If you're a millennial without kids, take the trip to Disney if you can. Especially if you plan to have kids one day.