I've been looking for an investment but also waiting for the collapse of civilization in north America so I couldn't use the government, or banks and I'm too poor for the stock market. Plus I kinda hate it because it is part of the mechanisms that are bleeding hard working people while dumb lazy rich people get richer. So there's that.  

And then came along the chance to invest in #freelancers and it felt like a perfect fit. Wholesome content that isn't a kiddie show. That's my jam. An investment that is tied to actual people and not souless, soul sucking darkness. But then right as I'm about to make it official I hear myself say "I trust them" and I am instantly body slammed  by all of my elephant suckered by pyramid scheme ancestors slammed into my body and mocked me for my proud declarations that *I* would never fall for an "investment" opportunity just because I share an alma mater with someone. What was I doing? What had I become? Was I just another sucker?

Then I reminded myself that I wasn't trusting them because I assume their good people because we have a few things in common; I trust their talent and know-how, and most of all I trust the hoards of fans they've charmed over the years to stay on board. I want to dip my toes in investing and a group dedicated to wholesome and interesting content with no risk to myself seems like a good start. 

It occurs to me that I should at least get an idea of what I'm investing in so I settled in to see just what I got myself into. Here we go...

This is funny but I'm not sure where they're going with this promo thing... What exactly am I watching?

Confident woman hand on hip pose ftw

the future... is the 80s? I bet they'd really be into back to the future.

"when you get to know her really well" Cracked me up. Good self awareness points for the Mallory character. 

Who is this lady? Fresh meatttt for the show? Color me interested. I like her "that tracks"  Same girl, same.

I like the theme song music. It fuels a high school part of my soul.

I love mallory. Sweat pants that clean and match....Wait I take it all back what the nastyyyy?! In no world is that tasty! Remember on Psych when they made the mashup food truck? At least that food was intriguing, this might kill me but I gotta find out what it tastes like. That soggy bread nonsense might kill me through the tv.

What do you want Joan? PTA Joan is going to cut you. Her eyes are fierce. Watch out girl!

Why is Krispy Kreme making house calls for a sign flipper? Why do you know her name? And where she lives???

Low budget indeed I think my sis in law lived in that apartment complex.

Did they make him look like a missionary on purpose? To appeal to their base or poke fun?familiar face count (outside of  main group): 2.

I want that cute shirt Steven is wearing. I hate when guys on tv have cuter clothes than me. And when they have more expensive clothes. GIVE ME YOUR CLOTHES.

Matt....matured. I'd trust him with my taxes.

Do the silly gags work in the real world outside of youtube? Like tissue paper and maraca blanket is funny but is it tv show funny? (Just got alternate universe Chandler Bing vibes when he got rejected for not being "Archie comics funny".)

I haven't been to a doctor in yearsss #same Insurance in this economy?! In this $#%#%#^% county? Aw the American nightmare

PEDDLE OUR WARES

what's up with the camera?

WHO ARE YOU RANDOM MAN AND WHY ARE YOU FAMILIAR?

"Math is not my strong suit." Shouldn't be so funny this late in the game but I relate. My liiiifeeee is saying "math is not my strong suit" over and over till it gets awkward. Real awkward.

You trash girl. You hear me?

MAKE THAT MONEY GIRL but again why is the professional lady there, for real? 

Did I live by that building?

How did they find so much money??

finger print not funny

"plasma more important to brain function" actual laugh out louad

heehee I like Steven's confidence, you make that money boi! Himbo or nah?Take the money honeyyyy

Matt's voice is so high is that why he can get away with child-like one liners? Did Matt just come out? Did that just happen?

Ouch all companies have no soul

What will the next episode hold? What have I done??? Where can this go? 

I am not sure this translates to people that don't already love the cast. There is still some real talent but I'm not sure the plot is engaging enough. It doesn't play by sitcom rules. I don't know if they will break out of sketch comedy and youtube funny. 

They're running into some of the issues the had as a ensemble on Bring the Funny. Too many characters and not enough plot. They rely on induvial charm and one-liners/short funny moments instead of plot. The getting money together was a good direction but they didn't really hit it till the end. The frantic antics is where the money is (pun intended?) and the cut it off too short.

Matt felt like he was just playing the generic Matt as an extra character in all of their Studio C skits...and in spite of myself I found it hilarious. Like this man child looks like he could be my accountant and a little league coach for his daughter's soccer team then he grins with half his face like a literal child and you buy into all the childish humor.

Mallory is also channeling all of her best (crazy) characters and I am here for it. All day. Makes me chuckle and super grateful I don't have roommates any more.

Hoping for more from/of Stacey and Steven. I think with a big cast and no B plot their characters got a little lost. 

Serious Whitney... is not my fave? Like idk about her energy. The serious leader character is probably needed but I'm not feeling it yet. 

Ultimately,  I just don't know if the characters and individual talent is enough to keep it afloat. If that was a pilot on a normal network I'm not sure it would be enough to get it off the ground. Quirky shows that highlight quirky characters should focus on endearing the audience to each one and I just don't think we got enough time with each of them. If they didn't already have a cult following I would be worried I put money into them sight unseen, but since I put my money into their cult following... I mean niche crowd and talent I'm not feeling too bad. 

There are not just a talented group of people, these are people who have been taking bold risks that have pair off time and time again as they've cultivated a following and achieved far more than what a college comedy group could be expected. They know their audience so if I can hesitantly give the second episode shot based on the many times they've made me laugh over the years, then I bet I can count on enough people taking that same energy to the next season of Freelancers.

Plights of Poor Not Poverty Part 2/ Everyone Isn't lying about Their Lives

   In my previous post explained the inexplicable people have for both people in poverty and for poor people for not fully being in poverty nor able to coupon clip their way to a comfortable living situation. Asking people (entire groups of people) to live paycheck to paycheck and never have a sense of financial comfort is not an acceptable solution. One because it shows that you lack basic empathy or compassion for your fellow human. That should always be at the top of the list because it is the most disturbing. That is not a standard of living, it is especially not one you can demand of other people. Other people who had different circumstances than you which worked out in your favor.. Secondly, it is an invalid argument so retire it. Lastly, not only is it an invalid argument and an inconsiderate thought process it is physically damaging. It is damaging to a person or family to live in perpetual state of fear of becoming destitute. Not only are people in poverty, and poor people more likely to get sick as a result of their lack of nutrition, their inability to stop working long enough to relax and allow their body the time necessary time to build its immune system instead of constantly depleting it the constant worry adversely affects your body. This is not hyperbole. This is proven fact. This is not even taking into account that they can not afford to receive medical attention. I know someone who ended up in the hospital because they were unable to see a doctor and attempted to power through until they couldn't. The inability to afford a doctor extends past having insurance, or the ability to pay the doctor but also the ability to miss work to get better. You can not ask that of someone to subject themselves to that because the reality that the system needs to be fixed is uncomfortable for you.

Plights of Poor Not Poverty

 
   In high school I had a conversation with a friend who was the child of a single mother where we came to the conclusion that we were both "lower middle class". We were poor, but not so poor to call ourselves poor. We always had food (even if occasionally the government or church helped provide it) and a good place to live. We could do a few fun things with friends but not everything they could do.
   The internet is littered with tips on how to stretch and save your money. Along with contemptuous comments about if an entire generation of people simply "worked harder" and utilized basic money saving techniques we would  magically be lifted out of poverty. The suggestion that an entire generation, or any of many job fields are simply "not working hard enough" to earn basic necessities, or comforts is ridiculous. First of all, if they have a job they are working hard enough to afford necessities. There is this weird lack of empathy that people have for any group they can label as other. People literally don't feel like refugees, immigrants or people in poverty are people, and therefore intrinsically deserving of basic dignity, compassion or necessities. I will never understand this attitude. Ever.

Another Jumanji Post/ Basically Bethany Appreciation Post

    I love the Bethany character sooo much! I love the new trend where just because a girl is popular doesn't mean she's awful (also see Spiderman). She is so self-aware and genuinely there for her friends, including Martha who she doesn't know/doesn't know well before detention and treats her rudely.

Quick Junmanji Post

Jumanji is actually a really fun movie. The actors are all super talented and hilarious.

Quick necessary background: that was a private school.
Evidence:
-Bethany didn't get sent to detention for major dress code issue. Idk why directors/wardrobe artists think girls can show their stomachs at school but that's not a thing. Even the cheerleaders don't,

Poppy is a Poppin' Rolemodel

Dear Makers of decent children's movies from a parent who watches the same movie over and over again: thank you!!
    Trolls is a lot of fun. It has catchy songs that aren't overly repetitive and don't make you want to scream into a pillow for an hour. There's a sarcastic character who speaks to my soul on many levels and lives out my dream of stopping an unasked spontaneous singer from singing. (Branch has his obvious flaw that should be mentioned, he treats Poppy badly. He's condescending and mean so as my daughter gets older we'll have a talk about how if a boy likes you he doesn't treat you like that.)The best part about Trolls is Poppy.

Life Lessons from Moana

     As a mother one thing I do is watch movies (and the music videos from said movies) over and over again. And then a few more times. I could throw down in a lyric contest for both Trolls and Moana in my sleep. I am Moana now. My husband could also throw down in a "You're Welcome" song off, for some reason he really relates to being a demigod who feels he should be adored by all (thank you the Rock). One thing I have done to cope is come up with life lessons to be gleaned from the movies that make up my every waking hour. Moana is a cornucopia of life lessons, many of which are not that hard to glean from this stellar movie but here are a few that particularly resonate with me.

Slytherins are always cast as villians...because they are

    I see a lot of "all slytherins are not all evil people! Stop vilifying the villains!". Maybe the reason people tend to cast them as villains is because they are the villains?
    One of the defining traits of a slytherin is cunning and ambition to the point of exploiting people. That is not a positive defining characteristic. Just saying. More than that aligning yourself with slytherin is saying you want to be aligning yourself with prejudice, violence and evil. It isn't that everyone in that house is pure evil (Slughorn and Regulus are literally the only arguments and let's face Regulus wasn't really a good person, he became a good person) but their desire to be grouped with people who are is at the very least a red flag and at most they're Voldemort.
      Even if someone valued slytherin qualities to an extent that doesn't require harming others (Slughorn) they would have to at the very least tolerate (but commonly desire) to be associated with mass murders and prejudice. The example of a real slytherin that wasn't placed in slytherin solely because of their adamant refusal to be aligned with hatred is Percy Weasley. He is a slytherin through and through, to the point of stepping on his family in his assent to success but ultimately he was unwilling to come anywhere near the dark arts and the evil people who studied them. It's really too bad more people in our country had the integrity and honesty to remember that support for specific people can not be divided from the racism, sexism and general evilness of certain people.