Statements of Opinion

#142 It seems that the great debate on tipping culture here in the U.S. is still going strong. A recent trip to a restaurant had me scratching my head over what was expected. This topic makes a lot of people mad, but no one can really make a definitive answer. Should we tip or not? Listen to what I have to say in this episode and let me know what side you fall on!

#141  From time to time I come across articles that originate from reddit's "Am I the Asshole" thread, or AITA for short. I gotta say, sometimes I am left scratching my head at the behavior people display in these stories! And sometimes I can't stop laughing either! I thought it would be interesting to check out a few posts from AITA and see what I think. Let me know if you agree with me when I pass judgement on who is the person at fault. You might be surprised on what side you come out on! 

#140 I recently came across a trivia quiz to see how much I remember about the 80's. Now, we are talking 4 decades ago really, so that was a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...wait Star Wars came out in the 70's, wrong decade! Anyway, let's see how well you remember the 80's, because I'm a bit shaky myself!

#139 Here we are in a brand new year-2024! I know it's taken me a minute to welcome the new year, but hey we still have 11 more months right? In this episode I do get caught up on a very important topic, the U.S. elections. So tune in and let me know if you agree with the observation I make about it. Whether you do or not, we are gonna have a very interesting year ahead of us!

#138 As winter has arrived in full force across most of the United States, I have experienced yet another pet peeve-parking lots that are not properly cleared of snow and ice! Forgive me if I rant a bit on this one, but as I get older, I'm more aware of these types of hazards. In this episode I do identify some of the worst offenders of this. So if you own a parking lot, then listen closely!

#137 These days we are trying to be more mindful of the environment. One way many states have done this is to get rid of plastic straws. While on the surface it may seem like a good idea, I'm not so sure. In this episode I tell you why I think maybe we are being too hasty with abandoning plastic straws, and I come up with an alternative item we should throw out that I know you'll agree with!!

#136 Just that fast, we are at the end of another year! I'm keeping this short and sweet, with a message of self care! I'll be back in a week or two, so until then Happy Holidays!!

#135 It recently came out in the news that a planned 3 year cruise that was supposed to start in early November got unexpectedly cancelled! What a nightmare! In this episode I talk about this a bit and I let you know how I feel about taking a cruise like this. Would you?

#134 Well, the holiday season is here! And to get everyone in the mood, I thought it would be fun to do another BuzzFeed quiz. This one is about holiday movies, and we will find out together just how well I know them. Let's be honest, I've got a 50/50 chance here! Let me know how you do, too!

#133 Here in the United States we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving. I hope those who celebrate enjoy the time with their families and loved ones. It's also the start of the holiday shopping season, something I am much less enthusiastic about, as you'll hear!

#132 Sometimes you find yourself rewatching a movie you have seen before. You may have seen it several times before, but this time it's different. That's because you notice a fun fact or a little hidden item you never did before! It's like seeing the movie for the first time! I recently watched Independence Day, and something jumped right out at me, and I can't believe I never noticed it before! Listen on and see if you noticed it yourself, or if something similar has happened to you with other movies!

#131 I recently had the opportunity to see John Wick 4, the latest installment of a series of very popular movies starring Keanu Reeves. Now, the acting is great, but the plot leaves a lot to be desired. I can't say that I enjoyed it, and I was left with more questions than answers. Let me know if you agree, or if you think the more John Wick, the merrier!

#130 After a recent terrorist attack by Hamas on civilians in Israel, the Middle East is on the brink of war again. In fact, Israel has declared war, has been bombing Gaza, and the whole thing is about to get a lot worse. In this episode I'm looking at how it doesn't seem like the rest of the world is allowed to stay neutral. And really, why are we stuck in this cycle of violence. It's a bit of a ramble, but I can't wrap my head around it. All I can do is brace for more suffering ahead.

#129 In a world that is heavily focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), I can't help but wonder if we are making a mistake leaving the creative arts behind. Some schools don't even offer music and art, while others only offer one type. Now I know STEM is important, but so are the creative arts. Listen to this episode to find out why!

# 128 There are a lot of different subscription boxes available these days. You can have toys, games, clothes and food delivered to your home on a regular basis. One type of subscription that I got into over the pandemic was murder mysteries. It is a unique sort of who dunnit in a box, and if you like solving puzzles and/or crimes, this will be just the box for you!Listen in while I explain my experience with it!

#127 A recent Buzzfeed article listed great movies that had bad endings. I decided to take a look and see if I felt any of the movies I had seen had bad endings. There is nothing worse than getting into a great movie, following along all the twists and turns, only to be let down when it's all over! There were definitely a few on the list that had me scratching my head! See if you agree with me not!

#126 I recently visited Alaska and it was amazing! I really like scenic vacations, and this one checked all the boxes. If you enjoy nature, you can't go wrong. In this episode I share a bit about my trip and some activities I participated in. If you are thinking about visiting Alaska, then listen on!

#125 I recently had the opportunity to watch Avatar 2: Way of the Water. I can only say that I was not impressed. Well actually, I can say a whole lot more about that, lol! This is my spoiler filled review of Avatar 2. If you haven't seen it yet, go watch it, then come back. If you have seen it, listen in and see if you agree with my very opinionated review!

#124 Because of the great student loan debt crisis, many people are asking if college is even necessary in the world we live in today. That's a good question. We often see people like Bill Gates become richer than Midas and never stepped foot on a college campus. But I think it depends. We really need to get away from the college for all mentality and consider college for some. Listen in and let me know if you think college is a necessity or a waste of time.

#123 Cruises can be really cool ways to see a lot of different places all at once. So, I decided to take a cruise to Alaska! I may very well be back by the time you hear this episode, but I know there won't be time for me to write all about it. Once I get back, I'm sure I'll have plenty to share, but for now I'm taking in the sites and I'll catch up when it's all said and done!