Michael's Musings

Basic Beotch
Michael Shinafelt

 Since I have not been watching the RNC (like, duh, did you think I would?!) and we need some levity, let's discuss The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, shall we? "Yes" we shall! My takeaway from last night's season finale? Not sure what really went down (entendre intended) between Denise Richards and Brandi Glanville, but the one thing I do know is they were closer friends than Denise let on. OK we've got this!

Wake up and eat a cold biscuit, just do it!

If you are having a baby is it still alright to talk to Serial Killers? Asking for a friend...

For all you RHONY fans: What are WE doing here without Dorinda?!

Let's hit the Methdone Clinic.All in favor raise your hands

Thinking about the good times

Is it a coincidence that a hurricane is slamming the country at the same time as the RNC???

This week I discovered I'd rather have a needle in my arm than a swab up my nose

Remember it's not Adam and Steve, It's Adam and Eve...and a pool boy named Giancarlo

Woman Crush of the Week - Ellie Goulding. Why? Do you really have to ask after seeing her in this outfit?!?!

Saw Tori Spelling guest star on a rerun of Saved By The Bell this past weekend. What does this mean? Nothing it just is.

I am the great Cornholio! 

Why are we discussing Kamala's dating history? No one seems to care what guys Pence dated before he married his Mother

If you want to meditate, download an app for meditation. You'll never have to use it after that.

Speaking of which ________ fill in the blank and give it a name

Give it up do as I say here:

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

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Hump Day & Chill

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Current Mood

This photo of Cher protesting the hijacking of the USPS by the evil bitch baby known as Donald Trump (I will never refer to him as President) sums up my Current Mood: "Snap Out Of It!"

For those that may not understand the reference the phrase "Snap Out Of It" was uttered by Cher in the movie she won the Oscar for Moonstruck.

Now that we have that point made, if you don't care about what is happening to our government at present "Snap Out Of It!"

If you do not care about what is happening to the environment "Snap Out Of It!"

If you don't care about racism "Snap Out Of It!"

This list could go on at great length, but I believe my Current Mood has been explained with clarity. 

I will leave this here have a great day and if you haven't already "Snap Out Of It!" and buy some stamps, I have.

The USPS Online -

https://www.usps.com/  

Monday Motivation

Hello, it's that time again to kick off the week with some good ole Monday Motivation. I'm not going to expand too much today on the subject, I am simply going to be, and leave you with this quote by James Baldwin.

This quote is speaking to me at present and is all the MM I need, I hope gets your party started too!

Have a groovy day Minions!

James Baldwin on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Baldwin  

Just Because...Cheetah

It's Cheetah Time!
Kristen Wiig

Just Because it's Sunday, Just Because there is a whole lot of buzz on the Internet about it & Just Because it's a whole lot of fun, here is Kristen Wiig as Cheetah from the upcoming Wonder Woman movie! Yay!

That's correct Minions, Wiig's Cheetah ensemble was revealed recently at the DC FanDome event to enthusiastic fans.

While I enjoyed the first Wonder Woman, word on the street is this one tops the first. Rarely do I get excited about seeing a movie, but for some reason this one has managed to make me shiver with anticipation.

Here's hoping the release date does not get pushed again due to the pandemic!!!

Have a "Wonder"ful day 😎

Wonder Woman 1984 on IMDb -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7126948/  

Tom Sless "Astronaut"

Tom Sless

 

RISING AMERICANA ARTIST TOM SLESS RELEASES

MUSIC VIDEO ‘ASTRONAUT’ AMID HIGH PRAISE

FOR ‘ASSURANCE, CRAFT AND CONVICTION’ ON ‘UPLIFTING’

DEBUT ALBUM, ‘CALIFORNIA DREAM’

The music video for the shimmering pop-inflected track, “Astronaut,” the first video from LA based Americana singer-songwriter-guitar slinger TOM SLESS’s critically acclaimed debut album, California Dream, premieres  at American Songwriter, noting how the song “bops along with a cheery, musically positive outlook as Sless sings confessional lyrics of the struggles and nagging insecurities we all confront.” 

The exclusive music video premiere follows an early summer review in the magazine which marveled how the album’s “assurance, craft and conviction belie the fact that [Tom]’s a novice or a newcomer of any kind. … Great stuff indeed.” The review also responded to the question “Astronaut” poses in its lyrics: Will anyone remember me? “Based on the evidence offered here,” said the reviewer, “the answer is an emphatic yes indeed.” Disciples of Sound cited “Astronaut” for recalling “Long Player Late Bloomer-era Ron Sexsmith [matching] quirky songwriting with full bodied arrangements that moved between pop and rock. There’s so much of that same kind of quality to be found here and that’s where the sizzle sits and stays.” 

With its rowdy country-folk chorus, and propelled by searing guitars on the bridge, “Astronaut” urges us never to regret the past, but to let go of it and reach out and embrace what you’re supposed to do. 

Read and watch the video HERE.

 

“‘Astronaut’ illustrates the main insecurity I faced after deciding to redirect my life's focus toward my music,” says Sless. “Pursuing music full-time was following the only dream I had since I was a kid, and I felt uncertainty as to whether I would be able to realize that dream. However, processing those emotions through writing this song helped me understand more about what ‘making it’ and ‘worth it’ really meant. In my case, my pursuit will be ‘worth it’ so long as I fully embrace my passion for music as the foundation of who I am, take things slowly, practice letting go, and live in the moment.” 

To illusminate the lyrical juxtaposition in the chorus hook "I'm an astronaut, but I'm lost at sea," Sless appears as an astronaut lost in the middle of a never-ending sea, with nothing to look at but the outstretching abyss and the sorely missed stars above. Filming was done at Seal Beach, CA and the waterway entrance to Marina del Rey, on the rocky south jetty.  

The music video debuts as acclaim continues to mount for the transplanted Jersey Shore native (by way of Baltimore) as the media discovers and embraces California Dream. NPR’s Lakeshore Public Radio show, Midwest Beat with Tom Lounges, during a featured interview session, called California Dream “one of the best debut albums I’ve heard in a long time, and certainly one of the best I’ve gotten to hear this year.” United Stations Radio Network is currently hosting a pair of Sless quarantine video performances on its YouTube channel that have combined for over 8,000 views in their first week, with an exclusive interview with Sless for The Record podcast coming soon. 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube  

Black Hole Sun

Cherie Currie & Brie Darling keep the promise with new single, "Black Hole Sun", benefiting the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation

Cherie Currie & Brie Darling have released a stirring new cover of Chris Cornell's "Black Hole Sun" to benefit the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation. Click here to Listen.

Cherie Currie explains why she and musical partner, Brie Darling, wanted to be involved in the project, “His artistry shown in everything he touched. He loved people more than he loved himself. There will never be another Chris Cornell.”

 

Brie Darling, echoes the sentiment when asked about the song selection, “Immediately, I knew the song I would like us to do, my favorite...Black Hole Sun! I felt Cherie's and my voices would work well on his beautiful and haunting melody. I love her and my different sounds and styles that work so well together. What a gift and inspiration, Chris' talent was truly special.”

This single marks the third entry of Blue Élan's We Are The Highway project, an upcoming charitable collection of Chris Cornell cover singles. We Are The Highway proceeds will benefit the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation - helping children who are facing homelessness, poverty, abuse, and neglect worldwide. The collection will feature five cover versions of songs written and performed by Chris Cornell, in an effort to uphold Cornell’s legacy and keep the promise as a way to make positive change through music, made to him by Blue Élan co-Founder, and personal friend, Kirk Pasich.

Beyond forwarding proceeds, Blue Élan hopes that it will also bring awareness to this charitable foundation that now, more than ever, is necessary to help children in need. As Kirk states, “We cannot think of a better musical way to do that than sharing the music of Chris Cornell, in his memory, and to help children.”

Darling agrees, “With the staggering number of people struggling with so many issues that this world faces now, what better way to contribute to something good, than being a part of Kirk Pasich's project, recording a collection of Chris Cornell songs to contribute to Chris and Vicky's organization that benefits children in need.”

 

Chris Cornell was a client of prominent insurance coverage attorney and our co-founder, Kirk Pasich. What started as a business relationship quickly turned to a friendship over their shared love of music. Kirk has made it his mission to uphold Cornell’s legacy and keep the promise as a way of making positive change through music. With that in mind, several Blue Élan artists and friends have chosen songs from Cornell’s catalog. These songs have inspired each artist’s own journey to survive, to persevere, and to thrive in hopes of maintaining the promise of the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation.