Michael's Musings

" I Try To Ascend"
Michael Shinafelt

"There's only one thing I like more than sharing what I know with other people

And that's learning
Please, someone, teach me something I don't already know" - School, Madonna 

I went to a Madonna popup in West Hollywood, CA on the 4th of July, it made me feel like I was 18 again when she first hit the scene. "Yes" I am that many years old.

Step away from where you're not valued  and step onto a dance floor, that's all

Madonna's latest, Confessions II is truly one of her best, I must "confess" I am low key obsessed with it!

BTW I don't hold grudges. I hold memories, screenshots, timestamps and supporting documents. The more you know...

I have my ticket for opening day of The Odyssey in IMAX at the Chinese theatre in Hollywood on Friday the 17h..."Yes" I am excited to see it, can't you tell???

The Devil sent me his worst demon, I sent that MF back crying, true story

Lindsay Lohan looks radiant, she just turned 40, let that sink in...

Dear problem, give me a discount, I am your regular customer, discuss 

Woman Crush of the Week - It has to be Queen Madonna. Thanks for giving us the best album and music of the summer your Madgesty!

If you think Liberals steal elections and control weather but also let Republicans control all three branches of government, you may be f#cking stupid beyond repair. 

Zohran Mamdani jumping into a pool without any algae in NYC, that's all you need to know

It's your eyes, they won't let me forget anything

Algorithms and AI are the opposite of taking risks, Think about it, but not too much.

It's going to be another hot & humid day in Los Angeles again. I say margaritas are in order!

Imbibe with me here -

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://bsky.app/profile/michaelshinafelt.bsky.social

https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelshinafelt  

Hump Day & Chill

The Women Of The Odyssey

“There is nothing more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.”

― Homer, The Odyssey

In case you haven't heard The Odyssey, the latest Christopher Nolan epic opens on July 17th.

But of course you most likely already know that. Thus we are going to Hump Day & Chill with this photo shot at the London premiere. The women of The Odyssey. 

While I am not going to give you who's playing which part (that's what the Internet is for) I will give you a list of names l -r, sound good? 

Here we go then l- r Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Samantha Morton & Mia Goth. Phew! 

I can't wait to see it and already have my ticket for opening day in IMAX at legendary Chinese Theatre in Hollywood!

Until then, Hump Day & Chill...

The Odyssey on the WWW -

https://www.odysseymovie.com/   

Don't Be A Gloop!

Augustus Gloop

Today is World Chocolate Day, and aren't you happy?! Well I suppose if you love chocolate you are!

It's time for your free pass to indulge in this delectable, yet weight producing treat without boundaries. Perhaps you should rethink this and go with some boundaries.

Remember what happened to greedy chocolate monger Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory???

"Yes" that is him above drowning in a river of his gluttony. 

Think about it, but not too much.... 

World Chocolate Day on the WWW -

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/world-chocolate-day

"Carolina Liar"

Carolina Liar is the project of Charleston, SC native and Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter

Chad Wolf. After working for legendary songwriter Diane Warren and recording in Stockholm

with Max Martin — one of the biggest pop producers of all time — Wolf broke through with the

2008 Atlantic Records debut Coming to Terms, which spawned the double platinum-certified

"Show Me What I'm Looking For" and gold-certified "I'm Not Over." The songs soundtracked

The Hills, 90210, Gossip Girl, and What Happens In Vegas, and launched tours with Rob

Thomas, OneRepublic, Kelly Clarkson, and Gavin DeGraw. Outside of Carolina Liar, Wolf also

formed the alternative rock duo The Federal Empire with Grammy-nominated songwriter McKay

Stevens, whose songs remain a regular part of Carolina Liar's live sets.

 

"Show Me What I'm Looking For" went viral on TikTok in 2021 — generating over 70,000

creates and driving millions of daily Spotify streams at its peak — and still pulls over 144,000

streams per week with zero promotion eighteen years after its release, surpassing 169 million

total streams across platforms. Wolf has collaborated twice with Martin Garrix — on 2016's

"Hold On & Believe" featuring The Federal Empire, and 2024's "Smile," performing live during

Garrix's sold-out run at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

 

Now operating as a stripped-down two-piece with drummer Brian Ulery under the banner of

"Garage Gospel" — a raw reinvention built on honest songwriting, delivered with the intensity of

a sermon and the intimacy of a living room — Wolf is entering a new chapter. New single "I Am

King," out June 26th, is the first true expression of that direction. Carolina Liar's music is also

heading to the big screen in the upcoming comedy Concert Heroes, starring Chris Kattan and

Horatio Sanz, where the songs serve as the soundtrack for the film's fictional band and Wolf

makes a cameo appearance. A limited-edition vinyl re-release of Coming to Terms with

exclusive tracks is expected later this year.

 

Watch the "I Am King" lyric video HERE

 

Listen to "I Am King" on Spotify  HERE

Carolina Liar is currently touring the Midwest and performing at Summerfest 2026 on July 4th.

More about Carolina Liar:

TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube | Official

 

I Have A Confession

"Everybody Get Up And Dance!"
Michael Shinafelt

There was a Madonna popup in West Hollywood, CA this weekend for Confessions II (in fact it's till happening today). I spontaneously decided to go yesterday. Guess what? I had a fun time!

Of course there was plenty of merch to purchase, I bought a t-shirt, and immersive photo-ops to create content with.

For some reason the above photo-op was the least popular. It made me wonder if people were afraid to look silly. I knew I would and that was the very reason to do it!!! 

I'm 100% sure it's the silliest thing I have done all of 2026, and I have no regrets putting it out there on Social Media, not one.

My arrival time to the to do was 10am when it opened. "Yes" of course there was a line, I only had to wait an hour before entering.

There happened to be a younger gay couple in front of me and we conversed while awaiting our time in Confessions II palace.

I tantalized them with my tale of attending the Virgin Tour in college...that's for another time and Place...

Madonna on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/madonna/ 

July 4th

Celebrate your independence..."No Kings" - Think about it, but not too much...

Be safe and enjoy!

Independence Day on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)   

Today's Secret Word Is...

Rosie O'Donnell
"Common Knowledge"

The secret word for today, Friday July 3rd 2026 is: "Sociopath" 

Sponsored by Rosie O'Donnell and her one woman show "Common Knowledge" which recently wrapped it's European tour and is headed to New York City for a limited run at the Daryl Roth Theatre July 22nd - August 8th 2026. 

One can clearly see who this word is dedicated to and about in her show. 

Perfection! 

Rosie on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/rosie/?hl=en