YouTube Videos Worth Watching

This is an unlisted playlist of videos from around YouTube that I think are thought-provoking and worth taking the time to watch. Topics range from politics to music to personal wellness and more. I add to this list periodically…

Videos Worth Watching on YouTube

I also have an unlisted playlist of videos from around YouTube about professional wrestling that I think are thought-provoking and worth watching. One of my favorite sayings is, “Everything is pro wrestling.” The more you understand how professional wrestling works, the better you’ll understand how things like politics, social media, marketing, etc. work…

Pro Wrestling Videos on YouTube

I Bought My Guitar By Gambling

It all started with the death of Dick Butkus.

(That is quite a name, now that I think about it.)

Dick Butkus was an American football player for the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1973. He’s considered one of the toughest and most intimidating linebackers in NFL history.

(If you have a name that sounds like “dick butt-kiss” you have to be tough.)

Butkus had a successful career as a player, a commentator, and he even did some acting. He became a sports celebrity, especially to those of us in Chicago.

This story isn’t about Dick Butkus.

I’m not a gambler. I don’t know anything about parlays or over/under or whatever. I created an account on a gambling app a while back because a coworker was doing it and he kept talking about it and all the talk made me want to try it to see what it was all about.

I placed a $20 bet on the Chicago Bears to win the game they played right after Butkus died, joking that the spirit of Dick Butkus would guide them to victory.

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Thoughts on No Kings Day

I was part of the crowd at my local No Kings Day protest on October 18. And I was happy to be involved in it. It was inspiring and motivating for me. And I have a few thoughts about the event.

Seeing so many people speak out against the corruption of the Trump regime was a good reminder that we’re not alone in this fight for freedom and justice. A message was sent, which prompted the president to post an A.I. video of himself wearing a crown and flying a jet while dumping excrement on American citizens.

I can’t believe I just wrote that sentence. Such is the state of the United States right now.

Clearly, our united voices got to him. That’s no surprise. But annoying our would-be dictator isn’t enough. No Kings Day was a success. We sent a message, but if all we do is have a giant block party every once in a while, it’s a message the government can and will easily ignore.

The real work still needs to be done.

We must push back against the false claims of the administration. Contact our elected officials with our concerns. Volunteer to help those in need. Use social media efficiently to convey the message. Support activist organizations and independent media. And, especially for white people like me, listen to the thoughts and concerns of people who are different than us, who have experiences we cannot understand fully, and who have perspectives gained through a struggle we’ve never had to endure.

Listen actively. Learn eagerly and humbly. Then get to work.

I’m not the guy to give advice about this. I’m here to learn and grow and stand for what’s true and right. What I really want to convey in this entry can be summed up in a single sentence…

If participating in No Kings Day is all you’ve done, you haven’t really done anything yet.

I Wasn’t Going to Write About…

I wasn’t going to write anything about Charlie Kirk, partly because this kinda thing isn’t new in the United States. Violence is the norm here, especially gun violence. And as you might know, Charlie’s murder wasn’t even the only school shooting that occurred that day. 

Continue reading “I Wasn’t Going to Write About…”