Odds and Ends (Pandemic Edition) Volume 2

​ 
News Flash: Who’s Who in New Pulp by Ron Fortier has been released and you can now read all about me, Son of Ravage and hundreds of other authors, publishers and new pulp artists inside. A copy is less than 10 bucks with all proceeds going to charity. There is a hell of a lot of talented people out there, creating great adventure and new pulp stories. Why not find out who and where they are.
 
Welcome back. Things were a bit heavy for a while, so I thought it was high time to renew and refresh with a blog favorite (to this writer anyway): Odds and Ends. First things first. How are you all doing? In the words of Marc Maron, “Are you holding up okay?” Good!
 
Not sure what day of captivity this is. Travel has been restricted to only a few places and I only have my television, Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and two MacBook Pros to stay up to date. So, I will just have to guess that it is Saturday and get down to business.
 
Thanks for all the kind words and notes concerning my friend and colleague, Tom McComb. They are all truly appreciated. He was truly one of a kind and I wish you all could’ve met him.
 

​No spoilers: 
 
Speaking of great stories, took a sneak-peek at Star Trek: Picard. The rather surprise ending more than made up for a slow start and the addition of new characters and old colleague cameos is well worth the price of a CBS All Access subscription.  Patrick Stewart is great and the addition of Michael Chabon, writer of Kavalier and Clay, as showrunner is a masterful choice. Word of warning, this is not your mother or father’s ST: TNG. These characters are modern and smoke, vape and say the word “fucker” at least once every few episodes. I am so old. Why I remember the day when the TNG cast spoke in only Gene Roddenberry euphemisms and wore a colorful unitard. Is unitard even a word we can still say?

​One of the favorite comedies streaming on Netflix happens to be a sitcom that never really got the respect it deserved. Community, created by Dan Harmon, is worth a second look. Based on Harmon’s years at a community college (and hey, haven’t we all been there), Community manages to preset rich, nuanced characters with stories that often times are too good for mere television. The Russo Brothers (Marvel Universe super directors) produced episodes are among the best and the ensemble cast of McHale, Pudi, Bree, Jacobs. Brown and even Chase are all top-notch. However, it is the work of Donald Glover that is the standout for me. The versatile actor seems to bring his all to every single scene and episode. The pairing of Glover and Pudi is masterful and worth sticking with four of the six seasons. And staying for all six will only succeed in reminding you of how really great the first four were. There’s even a rumor of a movie on the horizon. Hmmm. Not so sure.
 
As we near word 500, it is time for a final thought. Hang in there! Be kind to one another, wear a mask, social distance, and try not be an asshole. Hey, the pressure is getting to everyone but that’ no excuse for having a meltdown. Which bring us to our new feature, Karen’s of the week. I think we can all agree on a couple of things. The upcoming election will never, ever take place (the Chinese will interfere and close the Post Office), and this, this is just classic Karen.