That is the base salary of the 2016 Cleveland Browns.

That is the salary that to this point, has yet to produce a single victory.

That is enough money to produce 18,032,058 individual humanitarian meals. Certainly these could go to better use than a team that has yet to prove anything on the field, and has given away several late-game leads. How is it possible that a league built on parity could produce a product so vile as the 2016 Cleveland Browns?

Possibly the only thing worse than Donald Trump’s future White House stint is the state of this sack of burning feces that is the Browns. I want to just stomp it out, but I feel like it might be better to let it just burn itself out. So far, we have rotated quarterbacks like a blind man with a rubix cube, and wasted the career of arguably the greatest left tackle of all time, Joe Thomas.

I am not of the opinion that athletes make too much money, not at all, especially in the NFL. They deserve every cent, and they earn it with pain and work. That said, I don’t understand how you can spend nearly ninety million dollars and have such a sad result. Who is fucking this up so badly?!

This may be the time to just take up soccer Cleveland fans. The European leagues are just hitting their stride, and The Champions League will keep you entertained until the Cavs are in the playoffs next Summer. I have been a diehard fan since the reinstatement in 1999, and I’m reconsidering whether I will watch at all next year.

I have memories of elation from the night that Barack Obama destroyed the opposition in 2008. The beer was flowing and the excitement was palpable. I also remember exactly where I was when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, catching cable news on my way upstairs for a shower.

The benefits that have been enjoyed by people my age are almost immeasurable in the wake of that historic legislation. Not to mention that of those who had previously been denied treatment due to a pre-existing condition. We are now at a crossroads, and believe me, we cannot afford to opt out after an unexpected, but predictable loss in 2016.

The next two years will be marked with what I can only imagine is an unprecidented level of pullback from the policies of the Obama administration. The Affordable Care Act is on the cutting board, the environmental policies are going to take a 180 degree turn, and the rights extended to the LGBT community are in question.

Don’t lose hope. Don’t give up on voting.

Get ready to fight. Look into your local elections. Remind yourself that we are still a democracy, despite how angry you are about the Electoral College. Donald Trump doesn’t have to be here as our executive leader for 8 years, so educate yourself on how you can make this a one term presidency.

-JC

I was driving down the road the other day, listening to my Oasis discography and I caught a B-side that really struck me. “Carry Us All,” the flip side of, the British number one single, “Sunday Morning Call” was enough to flip my brain on and not just listen to pass the time.

I am a Secular Humanist, and this song falls perfectly in line with my belief structure, as well as being a good tune to listen to. Noel Gallagher is by far my favorite songwriter, and this isn’t the crowd-friendly sing-along that he is known for, but for those who have studied him, it makes perfect sense.

There is the reference by the religious-lyrical lexicon such as, ‘Prophet,’ ‘Sin,’ and ‘Keeper of right and wrong.’ The song provides an optimistic theme of hope, “Have faith in what you’ve got, and it will carry us all.”

For me, it’s much more satisfying to hear an optimism of hope, than a blind belief in a power that will never be. Make the best of your days, only you are able to live them.

From Donald Trump’s RNC Acceptance Speech:

“They..(‘Evangelicals and Religious community’) have so much to contribute to our politics, yet our laws prevent you from speaking your minds from your own pulpits. An amendment, pushed by Lyndon Johnson, many years ago, threatens religious institutions with a loss of their tax-exempt status if they openly advocate their political views. Their voice has been taken away.”

Disguised in Disgust

Somehow,  this rhetoric was cheered for in a room following a man who wears contradictions like the unvaccinated toddler of a Christian-Scientist wears chronic diseases. While Trump spends so much of his time speaking out against immigrants from nations that endorse religious tyranny, it seems he may want to welcome our brand of it here.

When I heard this segment of his fear-riddled acceptance speech, I was blown away by both the pandering to middle America and the hypocritical nature of what he was proposing. The more this language swirled around my head, the more I could imagine a Trump Theocracy, a nightmare with no end.

XXXit

With all the social progress we have made since 2008, I would hate to see us once again turn over the keys of the most powerful government in the world to people who would see the evangelical pit that is middle America assert it’s absurd biblical agenda upon people who are supposedly in a free nation of choice.

Try getting an abortion in North Dakota or a porno mag in Alabama. If Trump continues on this road courting the Religious right, I hope, and I feel that it will crash and burn. One cannot rise to the level of presidential candidate without a bit of contradiction, but for a New York real estate elitist to fool the flyover states into thinking he is one of them is a grand fabrication, closely held together by non-disclosure agreements.

Over The Hill-Are-We

While it remains to be seen what will happen at next week’s Democratic National Convention, one can expect a tight and precise performance by the candidate and supporters. I hope to see something that will raise a motivation to vote for Hillary, but I have reservations.

That being said, I have never seen an issue dragged around like a dead horse in the town square so long that it made glue like the Hillary e-mail scandal. She may not be the best candidate the Democratic party has ever produced, but for Christ’s sake evangelicals, you know Trump was pro-choice once right?

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – ‘Soldier Boys and Jesus Freaks’

Brilliant start to the playlist, my favorite songwriter and lifetime hero. I’ve now seen him live three times, first with Oasis, the other two with the birds and I can say that he does not disappoint. I will never regret a dollar spent on a Noel Gallagher show.

Oasis – ‘Lyla’

Unreal. From the opening guitar chords I question the taste of anyone who doesn’t say, ‘fuck yeah’ upon hearing the emphatic start to a song that rings like the choirs of angels. ‘Heaven help you catch me if I fall.’

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – ‘If I Had a Gun’

‘I’d stop the world and make you mine.’ Even without the music, this is one of my favorite love songs. Considering it is very similar to, ‘Wonderwall’ guitar wise, it makes a lot of sense; if it’s not broke don’t fix it. By far the best song on his first solo album for me, something that your grandchildren will have to explain…what was an album?

Johnny Marr – ‘New Town Velocity’

Lead guitarist from The Smiths takes a journey away from Manchester, in search of anything else. Melodic, honest, and to the point…Get me the fuck out of here.

The Black Keys – ‘Tighten Up’

‘Someone said true love was dead.’ I guess that’s a, ‘take or leave it’ lyric for some people, but for me it’s brilliant. You get three minutes of two amazing musicians playing off of each other, I’d pay $0.99 on iTunes for that.

I have completely lost sympathy for those who don’t enjoy sports.

Everyone loses their feeling of youth at a different time, but there is no excuse for losing your youthful willingness to explore new things.

If you can’t take up a passing interest in your local franchise, I have to question your humanity. You may or may not complain about your local taxes, but inevitably, part of it goes to support the teams that play in your city.

In a city like Columbus, with countless venues for amazing entertainment on a weekly basis, it may be hard for outsiders to think about a boring Saturday night. Let me tell you first hand, count your blessings!

I would be remiss to gush on about wasted youth, but in my fifth year as a Columbus citizen, I have to say that I wouldn’t consider another city in the midwest. Glory to Columbus, and peace on earth!

I never like to get too serious, but my best friend is having a child, so it causes me to ponder my mortality.

Growing up in a Catholic environment had pros and cons, but in the end I tend to side with the cons, and here is why:

1. I agree with famed comedian George Carlin that rituals are important, one should have many of them to stay healthy and well, but church should not be one of them. Catholic mass took up about an hour of my Sundays growing up, that is an hour that could have been spent doing much more interesting and enlightening things.

2. One should never force their values or beliefs on another. I feel like this goes without saying, but if one does not want religion in their life, take a fucking hint and don’t try to evangelize them. I would even go as far as to say that it is unethical to force your religion on your kids, you have to feed them, but you don’t have to screw them up for life by imposing your religion on them.

3. Religion causes serious problems in the world, and the United States are acutely responsible for these problems. Christianity in the United States is responsible for so much ignorance that I don’t know where to begin, but denying climate change is a good place to start.

4. It’s 2016, we don’t need religious crusades, which is precisely what is happening right now. We don’t call it that, mainly because Christians would lose their minds thinking that a drone strike on a Muslim isn’t justified. It pains me to even write that, but any student of history could tell you that this election cycle is polarizing on an astounding level.

5. Why? Why create unnecessary conflict, why make it awkward for co-workers of another faith at the water cooler, why believe in some deity that forces you to slave away at a job you hate?

I’m not asking for an end to religion, that would be almost impossible, but I am asking for people to ignore it more often. Human lives end 100% of the time, let’s not allow the afterlife to prevent us from living a real life…

People in the United States need to stop acting like porn isn’t a thing…

…it is a thing, and here are the benefits, not that you asked for them.

It prevents sexual assault.
It prevents suicide.

If the above reasons weren’t enough for you, then I challenge you to look in the mirror and tell yourself that voting for Donald Trump is a realistic decision that you might hope to make.

I am so tired of having conversations with people about technology, and when the topic of porn comes up, people act like it isn’t available everywhere.

You cannot walk through a mall in America, without being subjected, or bombarded, with at least twenty images of women that are both tasteful and empowering.

I’m tired of pandering to the people who don’t send their kids to college, and as an American, that should be your goal, regardless of the next president.

I would say, ‘give me Bernie or give me death’, but I know we live in a place with higher standards than Florida, where the waiting room is the waiting room.

Give me liberty or give me death sounds like an empty phrase in a swamp…

I have no sympathy for people who don’t vote. If jury duty is your excuse, you deserve everything that you get. There is no excuse, especially when you consider the fact that you possess the most powerful vote in the universe. Keep in mind, when I say universe, I mean the United States of America.

This election cycle has produced a very polarizing set of candidates, and some would say that is a bad thing, but I disagree.

Before I elaborate, I am right there with you, I’m already exhausted with the 2016 process. Keep in mind, however, this is an important election.

Here is the good:

Jeb Bush is already out, and every liberal in the country should celebrate this. Now his greatest moment in politics will be stealing the 2000 election for his brother.

Here is the bad:

Donald Trump is still the front runner in a party that is so confused, it might as well be playing Russian roulette to pick its’ candidate.

I never thought I would say this, but this lot of Republican candidates makes Sarah Palin seem logical…

In no order, HBO is the best programming network, and the original premium channel. Now you can get it without a cable subscription in the same way that Netflix is available. HBO is a pioneer in bringing the best of the best to your living room, it’s worth a look, and here are the best 5 ways to start.

Entourage – Season 5 Episode 12

This series is the male version of ‘Sex and the City’, it’s a lot of guy comedy mixed with the actual plot and story arc. This is the best episode of the series, and also where it jumped the shark. It exemplifies the best things that the series has always relied on, friendship, loyalty, and ultimately making the best artistic decision possible, regardless of the logic.

Foo Fighters – Sonic Highways Episode 7 – Seattle

Dave Grohl’s series, ‘Sonic Highways’ is amazing for any music fan. This episode in particular pulls all of the emotion and history out of the origin of Dave’s music. He get’s into his earliest days in music, talks about his time with Nirvana, and as always, is the most genuine and honest man in modern rock’n’roll. Even if you don’t like the early grunge-era music, there are so many other musicians in the episode that make it worth watching.

The Wire – Season 2 Episode 6 – ‘All Prologue’

The best show in the history of television. You can line a group of critics around the block to say the same thing. If you like crime dramas, this is your show, and this is arguably the most accessible episode. Omar Little, one of the main characters throughout the series, and also President Obama’s favorite character, steals the show when he takes the stand against another rival drug dealer. His testimony alone is worth the watch.

The Newsroom – Season 1 Episode 1

Quite possibly the best introductory 10 minutes in a series ever. I’m sure it’s more difficult to enjoy if you don’t lean left politically, but this series deserves at least an episodes’ glance. It presents an excellent, and critical perspective on modern American news. If you watch nothing else, watch the first 10 minutes of the pilot, it may even give you that bump to register to vote.

The Sopranos – Season 1 Episode 1 

The legendary series that you’ve always heard about. Often compared to ‘The Wire’, and for good reason. They are both excellent, but require more effort than the average network, wrap it up in an hour drama. This is just the beginning for Tony Soprano, but this episode sets up the series perfectly. Never has a character been emotionalized by ducks in his swimming pool, especially considering he is a mob boss.

So in short, get HBO as soon as you can, and check out the many amazing shows they have to offer. Many are also available on Amazon Prime, let good taste prevail!