Friday, February 23, 2024

fall 2023 TV season show reviews/ Forest/Terrace Heights Community Hall Clothing Swap

I'm posting this in Feb. because it's Black History Month.  The TV shows Robyn Hood, The Irrational, and Found all have Black actors as the lead.


I'm writing about these shows now because there are only 3 new shows that came out in the fall due to the writer's and actors strike:


Nov. 28, 2023 Yellowstone: This show came out in 2018.  I never got to watch it until now on Global TV in Canada and CBS.  This is a review of the pilot:


"A ranching family in Montana faces off against others encroaching on their land."

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4236770/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_yellowst


Pros: 

1. There is a good opening.  There is a car accident and John is there.  He has to kill a dying horse. 

2. The cast:

Kevin Costner- as the dad John Dutton.  He's from The Bodyguard.

Luke Grimes- as Kayce Dutton.  He is a cowboy and married to Aboriginal woman Monica and has a 8 yr old son Tate.  They live on a reserve.  He has a strained relationship with John.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2093766/?ref_=tt_cl_t_2

He kind of looks like Luke Mitchell:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1446779/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_2_nm_6_q_luke%2520mithc

He kind of looks like Garrett Hedlund:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1330560/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_0_nm_8_q_Garr

Wes Bentley- as Jamie Dutton, a livestock commissioner.  He was from American Beauty.

Kelly Reilly- as Beth Dutton.  She works at this finance company.  I remember seeing her on the promos for the TV show Black Box.

I looked up what her job was, and there are these funny comments about her and her character.

Kelsey Asbille- as Monica Dutton, Kayce's wife.  She's a teacher on the reserve.

https://www.reddit.com/r/YellowstonePN/comments/yxi2zm/wtf_is_beths_finance_job/

3. The setting: This is in Montana.

4. There is ethnic diversity with Aboriginals on this show.

5. There is action at the end of the pilot.  There is shooting at a helicopter.


Spoiler alert: Kayce saves his cattle against his dad John.  Kayce tries to save his brother Lee (Dave Annable) who got shot.  Lee dies.  Kayce shoots and kills his brother-in-law.

It was crazy with the Tribal Police, Bureau of Land Management and Montana's Livestock Association.


Cons: None.

Comparisons: A family drama set in the prairies.

Heartland: I used to watch this Canadian show when it first came out.  I was in my early 20s and watched the first few seasons.  This is shot in Alberta.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1094229/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_heartland

Ride: I haven't seen this Canadian show.  This is shot in Alberta.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21043326/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_8_nm_0_q_ride


My opinion: The pilot was average.  I didn't really like the characters or the story.  I recorded the series and I'm probably not going to watch it.  I recorded this in case there aren't a lot of scripted dramas to watch during the summer.

I got these video clips showed up on my Facebook feed last year, so I watched these 2 clips.  I thought they were good, so that's why I decided to check out the pilot.

In the season 2 ep 2 "New Beginnings": 

Monica starts her job as a college professor and tells off a male student who makes a sexist joke.  She tells she has the power to kick him out of class and the school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YscqvroL7vg&t=1s


In the season 2 ep 9 "Enemies by Monday."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIPMfYN70Cw


Robyn Hood: This is a Canadian show on Global.  This is a review of the pilot:

"Follows Robyn Loxley and anti-authoritarian masked hip-hop band, The Hood, as they call out injustices and fight for freedom and equality in the city of New Nottingham."

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20918756/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_robyn%2520hood


Pros:

1. The opening was good with 3 young people rapping in an abandoned building.  2 cops come and chase them out.  They run to their apartment building.  The residents throw eggs at the cop car and shoot billiard balls onto the cop's drone.

2. The cast: 

Jessye Romeo- she is Robyn.  She's 24 yrs old and lives with her mom Tressie and little sister Jill.  Her parents are divorced.

3. The story has a conflict with John Prince who wants to buy Sherwood from Mayor.  His city is expanding.  Tressie, Jill and others are protesting to save Sherwood and their home from being bought out.

John gets Tressie arrested for inciting violence, but she ends up getting shot.  She will go to prison and be killed, unless she gets $30K to be bailed out.

4. There is action as Robyn and her friends were going to steal gold from Prince.  

Robyn steals key card from Prince's son Chet.

They get into a physical fight as they leave.

Robyn chokes Prince (Ian Matthews) with her legs.

Little John (Nykeem Provo) fights the Sheriff (Kira Guloien).

5. Ethnic diversity.


Cons: None.

Comparisons: This kind of seemed like those CW and superhero shows with the characters in their teens and early 20s fighting against injustice.

My opinion: The pilot was really mediocre.  I didn't really like this at all, and I don't know how to improve on it.

Right now the rating is 1/ 10 from 5.8K votes.  All 8 episodes are rated 1/ 10.


Dec. 12, 2023 The Irrational: I saw the first 7 eps, and most of them in a week.  There are to be 11 eps for the 1st season.  I'm writing about this now because new episodes aren't going to be airing for awhile:


"Alec Mercer is a world-renowned behavioral scientist who lends his expertise to an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement and corporations with his unique and unexpected approach to understanding human behavior."

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16288838/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_the%2520irr

Pros: 

1. Good opening: A man is holding a baby and a gun in an apartment.  A woman/ mother of the baby is there.  The FBI is outside.

Alec talks to the man on the phone:

Alec: You want a helicopter?  Ok, but you'll have to kill the pilot.  What about the baby?  Are you going to bring formula?  

The Man throws the gun out the window.

Alec explains this is paradoxical persuasion: I overly embraced his idea to force him to think it through enough to realize it was a terrible idea.   

2. Good cast:

Jesse L. Martin- he was on The Flash.  I only saw the pilot of that show.  He is a college professor teaching psychology.  

He tells the class he has 60% of his body burned.  He was standing outside of a church and it blew up.  The bomber is in jail, but there's still more to this case.  They will be solving this.

This event adds more drama, conflict, and tension to the show and his character.

The rest of the cast, I have never seen before which is fine.

Maahra Hill- is Marisa, an FBI agent and Alec's ex- wife.  She is investigating the bombing case.  She and Alec call each other for help in cases.

Travina Springer- she is Kylie, Alec's little sister.  She works in tech.

Molly Kunz- she plays Phoebe, one of Alec's research assistants.

Arash Demaxi- he plays Rizwan, one of Alec's research assistants.


3. The show is smart and I learn about psychology which I'm interested in.  

In the pilot, there was a mention of a 1990s experiment where they convince scores of adults the were lost in the mall as kids to prove how easy it is to trick our minds into remembering things.

Anyone can confess to anything given the right circumstances.

Marisa (to Alec): You are never going to closure on the past unless you deal with it in the present.

Alec (to Dylan): You can't just try not to drink, you have to replace with with something else that helps you move forward.  For me, it's my work.

My opinion: I agree with Alec.  When I had to quit watching bad talk shows and reality shows, I had to only watch scripted shows that I like.

4. There is good writing with solving mysteries and drama, conflict, and tension.

In the pilot, there was a woman Jasmine who was murdered, and her boyfriend Dylan is the suspect. Dylan went to AA.

There was a 5 yr chip for AA in Jasmine's apartment, but Dylan hasn't been sober that long.

Alec and Rizwan go to AA to find the killer.

Spoiler alert: Alec finds the one who has been sober that long, and it's Dylan's sponsor Ray.  Ray wanted to date Jasmine, but she turned him down.  She was going to go online and tell everybody that Ray was harassing her.

Ray: She was going to ruin my life.

Alec: So you took hers and ruined Dylan's.

5. There is a little action.

6. Ethnic diversity and LGBTQ.

7. This show is filmed in British Columbia.  I can see all the Canadian actors get all the small roles.

Cons: None.

Comparisons:  A psychologist who solves cases.

Lie to Me: 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1235099/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_lie%2520to%2520me


This reminds me of my Oct. 2023 blog post.  These are news articles and my TV and movie comparisons where people try to make sense and logic out of something stupid:


"How TikTok's 'girl math' trend is changing the online money conversation"/ "'Boy math' explained: People are mocking embarrassing and shameful things men do and they're using the backwards logic of men to do it"

https://badcb.blogspot.com/2023/10/how-tiktoks-girl-math-trend-is-changing.html


My opinion: This show is average.  I will probably watch this show when my other shows that I like more are on break.

This show is based on the book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely.


Found: I saw the first 10 episodes of this show.   I'm writing about this now because new episodes aren't going to be airing for awhile:


"Each year, over 600,000 people are reported missing in the U.S., but not all cases receive the proper attention. Gabi Mosely and her crisis management team make sure there is always someone looking out for the forgotten missing people."

Pros:

1. There is a good opening of teen Gabi locked inside a cabin.  A 7 yr old girl Bella is put in there and she's crying.  This is in 2003.

Cut to the present and Gabi is an adult and dressed like a prostitute.  She knocks on a door and asked to use the Man's phone.  She punches him in the nose and threatens him.

Gabi: You tell me where he is and I get him.  When the cops get here, you will give a full confession.

Dhan comes in and beats up the bad guy.  Zeke has a drone and is looking for the boy.  Gabi finds the 7 yr old Black boy.

Gabi: Your parents sent me to find you.

The dad hugs Gabi and thanks her.

Gabi goes to the press and media:

Gabi: I work in crisis management firm.  I was kidnapped 20 yrs ago and rescued myself from my kidnapper.

She shows the white senator's 5 yr old girl who's missing and this teen Black girl who went missing, and not as much coverage on her.

Then shows credit.

2. The cast:

Shanola Hampton- she plays Gabi Mosley.  I looked at her credits, and I do remember the episode of Criminal Minds she was on.

Kelli Williams- she's Margaret and is very perceptive.  Her son went missing when he was 5 yrs old at the bus station.  He would be 18 yrs old now.  She goes there every night looking for him.  She was on Lie to Me.

Brett Dalton- he plays the cop Mark Trent.  He and Gabi like each other.  They help each other on cases.  He was on Agents of Shield.

Gabrielle Walsh- she plays Lacey and was kidnapped with Gabi.  She's in law school.

Arlen Escarpeta- he is Zeke.  He is the tech expert and has the money to fund the company.  He was also kidnapped and has agoraphobia.

Karan Oberoi- he is Dhan, the muscle.  He is gay and has a husband.  He was also kidnapped.

Azari Carter- she plays teen Gabi.

Mark- Paul Gosselaar- as Sir who kidnaps Gabi and Bella/ Lacey.

3. Good writing.  There's a mystery with finding missing people.  There is drama, conflict, and tension with each case.

There are plot twists to these cases.

All the characters have either been kidnapped or someone they love has been kidnapped, so all the characters have experienced trauma.


The pilot is where a 10 yr old Black boy asks Gabi for help.  His Black foster sister Kamiah is missing and she wouldn't leave him without taking him with her.  The white foster parents said Kamiah runs away for a day and comes back.

She could have run off with her boyfriend or went to her mom.  Her mom went to rehab and is upset that Kamiah is missing.  She was so upset that she was going to commit suicide, but Dhan talks her down from building ledge.

Then later the 5 yr old white girl and senator's daughter is found, and wearing the same hoodie that Kamiah was wearing.  

It turns out the girl IDs Kamiah who helped her, and the man who took her is the senator's son's drug dealer.  The drug dealer wanted his money so he took the little sister.


There is the case of where is Sir?  

Spoiler alert at the end of the pilot: Gabi is holding Sir in her basement.  She is asking him for his help in solving these cases.


4. There is a little action.

5. Ethnic diversity and LGBTQ.

Cons: None.


Comparisons: A good guy has to work with the bad guy as the main point of the show:


The Blacklist: I saw the pilot.  It was average and then I never watched it again.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2741602/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520bl


The Endgame: I saw the first season (only had 1 season).  I thought this was average.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14507354/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520endg


Aug. 25, 2023 A law enforcement agency that finds missing people:


Without a Trace: I saw 2 episodes of this show.  This was average.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0321021/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_7_nm_0_q_without


1- 800- Missing: I saw a few episodes of this show.  I did read the books 1-800-WHERE- R- U by Megan Cabot.  This was average.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373474/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_1%2520800%2520M


Alert: Missing Persons Unit: I saw the first season of this show.  This show is average at best, and mediocre at worst.  If I have to choose, I would say mediocre.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18699118/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_alert


My opinion: This show is average.  I will probably watch this show when my other shows that I like more are on break.

I mainly watched The Irrational and Found, because my favorite scripted dramas aren't on because of the TV writers and actors strike.


Nov, 29, 2023 "‘Found’ and ‘The Irrational’ Both Renewed for Season 2 at NBC":

Today I found this article by Selome Hailu on Deadline: 

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/found-the-irrational-renewed-season-2-nbc-1235814015/


This week's other 2 blog posts are: 


Bredin College




Bredin Centre- Connecting Albertans to Education and Employment





My week: 


Sat. Feb. 17, 2024 "Thieves stole $1,000 in Optimum points from this woman. Here's how to safeguard your points": Today I found this article by Brandie Weikle and Jason Vermes on CBC:



When April Canavan's inbox was suddenly flooded with emails in December, she knew something had gone wrong.

The Vancouver woman found herself subscribed to mailing lists she'd never signed up for, along with emails saying she'd just redeemed PC Optimum points at a grocery store halfway across the country.

Within about 25 minutes, Canavan says fraudsters drained around $1,000 worth of points from her account, and the mailing-list tactic aimed to distract her from the theft.

How it happens

There are two main ways bad actors can get their hands on your points.

The first is to take advantage of the fact that many people reuse the same dead-easy password across multiple sites, said Lee. If you use a password like "Password1234," for example, a thief only has to figure that out in one place to access your profiles across multiple businesses, he said. 

"The fraudster essentially does a form of credential stuffing. They just brute force try a ton of different password permutations to eventually crack the code."

Fraud prevention tips

The statement went on to offer fraud-prevention tips, like enabling two-step verification on email accounts, never clicking on links in emails claiming that your account has been compromised, and using a password manager such as LastPass or 1Password.

Two-step verification requires users to sign into accounts with more than just a password — usually a security code sent via text or push notification. The extra layer of security makes it that much more difficult for hackers to gain access.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/costofliving/loyalty-point-theft-1.7115362


Fri. Feb. 16, 2024 Personality Meetup: I made myself go to this.  I tried to get a ride with a couple of people, but they weren't going.  I took 2 buses and went there.  It took 35 min. to get there.

I was there from 6:40- 8pm.

Elena
Henry
Irini

I met 2 new people:

Eve
Max

I told Elena and Eve about my job search to see if they know of any restaurants and stores that are hiring.

Henry walked 35 min. to there because he likes to walk and exercise.  I don't like waiting and taking the bus to get there, but I'm not walking in the cold.

Rhubarb: This is a good cafe/ bar.  The decor is really good.  They ordered mocha and tea.

There was the cocktail called the Rhubarb for $16.  It was small drink and can drink it with 5 sips.



I then took the bus home.  A man in his seniors was waiting for the bus and asked for change.

Tracy: What's this for?
Man: The bus.
Tracy: I can give you a senior bus ticket.

My grandma gave me some extra youth/ senior bus tickets.  When winter comes, she doesn't take the bus.

I borrow my brother's bus pass when he works from home. 



Mon. Feb. 19, 2024 Tyler's birthday party: Henry held it at his place.  

Tyler
Henry
Fereshta
Anne
Shiya
Amir
Anwar
Roya
Lindsay- he is the only new person I met.

Some of them met through other Meetups like hiking.

Shiya and Amir picked me up and drove me home.  Shiya brought the Oreo cake from Loblaws.  It was delicious.

Roya made veggie and potato samosas.  I brought Ritz crackers.  Henry had nachos and salsa.    

I was there from 7-9:15pm.


The Game of Things: We played this game.  I played this back in 2019- 2020 when the Centre of Spiritual Living had this potluck once a month:

Things... is a party game where everyone writes a response to a particular prompt, such as "Things... you shouldn't put in your mouth," and the players then try to guess which player wrote which response.

A reader is chosen. This reader reads aloud a Topic Card. 

The players all write a response, fold up the slip of paper and turn it in to the reader, who reads them aloud once and then a second time. 

The player to the left of the reader has to guess who wrote which response. This is all done from memory, without benefit of taking notes or having the responses read again. 

If the guesser is correct, he or she continues guessing until incorrect, at which time the player to his/her left tries guessing. 

Players whose responses were correctly identified are eliminated and cannot make guesses.

 The round ends when one player has not been matched to a response.

1 point is awarded for each correct guess. 

6 points are awarded to the person who successfully avoided detection. 

The job of reader passes to the left. 

When everyone has been reader once, the game ends. 

High score wins.





Forest/Terrace Heights Community Hall:


10150 80 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6A 3H8

Clothing Swap

Come swap, donate, or take gently used clothes to update your wardrobe.


About the Event

Clothing Drop-Off: February 22 and 23, 6pm-8pm


Swap time: February 24 and 25, 10am-3pm

Who can attend? Please invite any friends or family you think would want to participate. Everyone is welcome! A community league membership is not required, but is encouraged as it helps support events like this. You can purchase a membership here.

What is it? A clothing swap is a type of swap meet where participants exchange their valued but no longer used clothing for clothing they will use. Clothing swaps are a good way to refill one's wardrobe, and also great for the environment. You don't need to bring clothes to take clothes and you don't need to take clothes to bring clothes. Come over and swap some clothes you no longer want from your closet!

Please stop by to drop off your donations on the 22 or 23 as it gives us time to sort clothing ahead of time. Donations will be accepted Saturday but in order to limit leftover items, no donations will be accepted Sunday.

Once the swap is over, remaining items will be donated to a local organization.

Things to remember:

1) There is no limit on the number of articles brought to the swap.

2) Items must be clean (no stains), gently worn (no rips or broken zippers), or new.

3) Open to womens', mens' and childrens' clothing and accessories such as purses, scarves, and belts.

4) No footwear and no underwear.

5) If you are experiencing any sort of flu or cold symptoms, please stay home.

6) Tickets/registration is not required.

Please go to our communal site if you can help and volunteer.

https://www.forestterrace.org/event-info/clothing-swap-3

Friday, January 26, 2024

TV and movie comparisons- Justin Berry/ strippers/ sugar babies

This is from my May 2023 blog post:

TV and movie comparisons/ Angel season 3 ep 1 "Heartthrob" question


 This is my Jul. 2022 blog post:


Should I continue into TV production? (Part 4)/ Why do you want to be a TV writer?


I want to ENTERTAIN people as a TV writer.

Now I want to EDUCATE and INFORM people as a blogger.


Sept. 4, 2022 My life purpose: It seems like I'm not going to be able to become a TV writer and producer. 

My life purpose is to entertain and make people happy, educate, and inform people as a writer/ blogger.

When you read these "TV and movie comparisons" about creative writing and screenwriting, I hope you are entertained by this and learn about writing.


Nov. 21, 2022 There is a video tape of a character doing something bad and illegal.  Another character has the videotape and blackmails the other character:


My script idea: I had thought of something like this before in 2011-2012.  A character is forced to work as a stripper for the bad guy at his strip club.  If she doesn't, he will go to the police with something on her.


I'm sure some of you guys are reading this and like: "What kind of story is that?"


When a bad guy blackmails someone, you're supposed to get money and/ or to get them to do something hard or difficult that the bad guy can't do themselves.


In TV and movies, and real life, there is a bad guy who threatens to hurt the good guy's friend, family member, or loved one to get the good guy to do something for them.


The Cleaning Lady: If you don't want to spoiled, skip this part.


In season 2, there is a video of Fiona's son Chris getting into a fight with his uncle Marco, and he pushes him, and Marco falls down the stairs.  He dies.


The Motel Owner has a videotape of this and blackmails Fiona to give him $10K because of the lost business with the police spooking all the guests.

https://badcb.blogspot.com/2023/05/tv-and-movie-comparisons-angel-season-3.html


I remember way back in 2011- 2012, I was telling Angela about the story idea.

Angela: If you're being forced to do something, you go to the police.

Yeah, but not for The Cleaning Lady storyline.


A Bad Guy points a gun at the Good Guy to rob them.  This happens in TV, movies, and real life to:

-open the cash register

-open the safe

-open the vault


A character is forced to take off his or her clothes: 


Real life examples:

Justin Berry: I'm going to bring up Justin Berry on the Oprah show and he was talking about taking off his clothes and doing sexual things on webcam for money.  A lot of people on the Television Without Pity forums said he wasn't a 100% victim.

There was a video clip of Justin sitting in front of the computer with his shirt off.

Justin: Hi, I'm Justin.  Welcome to my website.  You can take a look around....

There wasn't a gun pointed at him.  He wasn't crying or looked upset.

He didn't look like he was high or drunk, and he was conscious of his actions.


My friend Angela: By the time you get to this age (13) don't you kind of know what's right and wrong by then?  I think he knew what he was doing was kind of wrong, so I don't see him as 100% victim.

My friend Sonia: No one was standing in the room pointing a gun at him and forcing him to take off his clothes and do those things.  I don't see him as a victim.

Seventeen magazine: I read this in 2007.  A teen girl was chatting with someone online, and he said he was going to hurt or kill her and her family if she didn't take off her clothes on webcam.

She did and as she was doing it, she was crying.

Now she's 100% victim because someone threatened to hurt and kill her and her family.


This is from my May 2017 blog post:

Creep Catchers/ Justin Berry

https://badcb.blogspot.com/2017/05/creep-catchers-justin-berry.html


This is from the Apr. 2018 blog post:

Justin Berry (Part 2)/ Tyra Banks modeling scam episode/ Vern Troyer

https://badcb.blogspot.com/2018/04/justin-berry-vern-troyer.html


Selling Innocence: This is a TV movie I saw in 2005.

"Mia Sampson's dreams to be a model come true when she's asked to pose for photographs to be displayed on an Internet website for "members only." However, when the owner of the website uses her pictures for exploitation purposes, Mia's mother must fight to remove the photos off the web and restore her daughter's privacy."


https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462522/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_6_nm_2_q_selling%2520inn


Spoiler alert: Mia wants all the photos removed from the website and asks her boss Malcolm to remove them.  Malcolm tells her he will do that if she takes off all her clothes on a webcam show on the website.

As Mia is taking off her clothes, she's crying.  She is down to her underwear and Malcolm says stop and kicks her out.  Mia tells her mom about this and they go to the police.

My opinion: In the Seventeen magazine and Selling Innocence, the people are coerced to take off their clothes.

Justin Berry wasn't being coerced to take off his clothes.  This was still an interesting story on Oprah.

There was drama, conflict, and tension for Berry's story.


A character has to take off his or her clothes at gunpoint:


Inside Man: In this movie, the bank robbers force all the hostages to take off their clothes to their underwear.  They all put on coveralls and masks.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454848/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_8_nm_0_q_inside%2520man


Between: In the pilot Ronnie and his brother Pat steal a car from Mr. Lott's car dealership.

Mr. Lott and his son Chuck see this.  They put these flares on the road.  

Ronnie and Pat stop the car.  

Mr. Lott points a gun at them and gets them to take off their clothes.

He shoots a warning shot at them.

Gord overhears the gun shot and comes over.  He points a gun at Mr. Lott and then Mr. Lott puts his gun down.

Ronnie and Pat get dressed.


Dec. 27, 2023 Deception used to take off your clothes:

Tyra Banks modeling scam episode: If you read the above blog post, Tyra put this modeling ad out.  This is to forewarn models from falling into this scam where they take off their clothes and take pictures of them.

Justin Berry: That's another reason why I don't see Justin as a victim, because there was no deception to take off his clothes. 


Deception used to get your money: I wrote about this before, and I will post this about how I almost got scammed when I thought I got hired:


Scream 4/ Southgate Construction scam

https://badcb.blogspot.com/2017/07/scream-4-southgate-construction-scam.html


Writing tip: A character is forced to take off his or her clothes in a scene.  However, there isn't really a whole story you can write about that.


A young woman is struggling to pay for her college tuition and living costs, so she works as a stripper: It's not a very creative and original story because a lot of women do that.

This is also not a creative or original way for young women to make money.


This is from my Feb. 2010 blog post.  I have written about this Tyra Banks episode about Kenya working as a stripper to pay for her college tuition and living costs a few times on this blog:


Allan Hawco/ Regent Research/ date

Tyra: I was watching this because African- American girl Kenya wants to admit that she's been stripping to her mom and her grandma. She was stripping to pay for school, apartment, and a car. She didn't want to ask for help because she feels like they would be controlling her. She doesn't live with her mom because there are too many kids there, and she doesn't want to live with her grandma.

It's during the recession, and her boyfriend at the time suggested about stripping at a club, and didn't tell her to do it.

Tyra: What did you tell your mom and grandma that you were doing?
Kenya: That I work at a library.
Some of the audience laughs because it is unintentionally funny. A library is so different from a strip club.

When K is about to tell the truth.
Mom: Are you married?
K: No.
Mom: Are you pregnant?
K: No. I've been dancing at a strip club.

They were upset about it and they said they will totally support her with money that she needs. They discussed to Tyra that they didn't always get along and there are problems in the relationship. Kenya is basically telling them that she wants to stop and that she wants financial help.

I saw another similar ep a week or so ago. This guy admits to his mom that he's a male prostitute and that he doesn't want to do it anymore. Tyra talks about the recession and how it's okay to move back home with your parents. There are people 35 and over with kids and they move back with their parents.

Last month I did see an ep where this 21 yr old woman is a prostitute and she wants to quit. The woman then meets with two other guests who were on the show before, who also did the same thing. The two guests are now doing fine with online classes, working as receptionists, and happy. Tyra is going to help the 21 yr old woman.


https://badcb.blogspot.com/2010/02/allan-hawco-regent-research-date.html


W- Five: This was in 2003.  They interview this young blonde woman who is in university.

Woman: It was getting closer to paying my rent, so I went and worked as a stripper.  There was a contest and I got 2nd place.

She continued to working as one and her friends and family support her.

There are men who offer to pay her for sex, but she declines.


Confessions of a Go-Go Girl: I saw this TV movie and I liked it.

"Jane McCoy, a recent college graduate, much to her parent's dismay, decides to scrap her plans for law school to pursue an acting career full-time. Struggling to make ends meat, she meets a confident and persuasive friend who shows her the way to make extra money go-go dancing. What starts as just an "easy money" job, however, rapidly becomes an all-consuming activity that slowly pulls Jane from her acting classes, her relationships with her boyfriend and family, and, most importantly, from her true self."

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1239228/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_confessions%2520of%2520a%2520go


This is from my Dec. 2008 blog post.  This is a synopsis and a spoiler alert.

writing/ movie/ health

Dec. 5 Movie: The other night I saw the movie called Dark Water starring Jennifer Connelly. She is a single mom with her 6- year- old daughter. They move into a rundown apartment building. They are being haunted by a ghost of a young girl. It was kind of scary. I think I watch too much of A Haunting and found this kind of boring.

A couple of weeks ago I saw a TV movie on the Women's network called Confessions of a Go-Go Girl. A young woman got accepted into law school, but she really wants to try out that acting school. Her parents don't support her, and she will have to make her own money to support herself. At the school she meets a girl passing out fliers for her boyfriend's photography. Actors need headshots.

The young woman and girl becomes friends. It turns out the girl is a go- go dancer. It's kind of like stripping, but you don't take everything off. Then later the young woman does the same thing to make money to support herself and help with her acting/ performing.

I'll say the movie was kind of creative. The girl does cocaine. She doesn't die due to an overdose, but when she gets breast implants, the anesthesia conflict with the controlled substance of cocaine that was in her body.


https://badcb.blogspot.com/2008/12/writing-movie-health.html


Dec. 25, 2023 Real life examples: I know this young woman in late teens Br and she worked at my Hotel Restaurant job.  This was like in 2013.

Br: If I didn't get this job, I was going to work at Diamonds (the strip club.)

Br was still struggling financially.


This was probably in 2015.  I met this 20 yr old woman Bo at the Hotel Restaurant job.  She was eating 1 meal a day at the restaurant she worked at before getting this job.

Tracy: Have you thought of working as a stripper?

Bo: Shh... my mom was a stripper and I don't want to be anything like her.


Sugar babies: This is also not a creative or original way for a young woman to make money


Sugar Babies: The Canadian actor Giles Panton is in this.  I didn't watch it.  If you type this into imdb.com, there are a lot of TV and movies about this.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4289566/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_sugar%2520babies


All the Sugar babies articles on my blog:


Mar. 2012:


productive/ fertility/ sugar babies



Apr. 2013: 

bad parenting/ charity/ Rehtaeh Parsons

Tracy's blog: bad parenting/ charity/ Rehtaeh Parsons (badcb.blogspot.com)


Sept. 2017:


"What turns women on: less kitsch, more context"/ Sugar Sisters

Tracy's blog: "What turns women on: less kitsch, more context"/ Sugar Sisters (badcb.blogspot.com)


Dec. 26, 2023 Financial pressure: These women are working as strippers and sugar babies to make money to pay bills.

This reminds me of this book I read back in 2006 by Robert T. Kiyosaki:


Poor dad: Money is the root of all evil.

Rich dad: The lack of money is the root of all evil.

College tuition and living costs should be more affordable.


Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! Mass Market Paperback – April 11 2017

https://www.amazon.ca/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680194


Jul. 18, 2023 TV shows about guests arriving at a hotel:


Good Witch: There are guests that stay at this small bed and breakfast.  The guests do learn something when they stay there.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3906732/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_good%2520withc

Fantasy Island: There are guests that stay in this magical island.  The guests do learn something when they stay there.

They experience these magical things and places.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13784584/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5_tt_8_nm_0_q_fantasy%2520i


Grand Hotel: This is about the people who work in the hotel. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7671068/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_4_tt_8_nm_0_q_grand%2520hotel


Aug. 24, 2023: The lead character meets a 2nd character in the pilot.  He or she helps the 2nd character.

The 2nd character then joins the lead character on the show.


God Friended Me: Miles meets Cara because this God account told him he has to help her.  They become friends.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7948998/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_god%2520frien


Daredevil: Matt meets this woman Karen who's accused of murder.  He's a lawyer so he defends her.  He then hires her as a receptionist.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3322312/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_darede


Fantasy Island: Elena meets the guests Mel and Ruby.  Later Ruby ends up staying and working on the island.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13784584/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5_tt_8_nm_0_q_fantasy%2520i



Aug. 29, 2023 FBI: 


This is from my Jul. 2021 blog post:

Fall 2018 TV season (Part 3)/ "Man in China reunited with son snatched 24 years ago"

-solve a bombing

-stop a bombing

-solve a murder

-stop a murder

-figure out the motive: A lot of times it seems like it's a terrorist attack, and then it's something else.

Who is the next target?

Where is the next target?

How to stop it?

https://badcb.blogspot.com/2021/07/fall-2018-tv-season-part-3-man-in-china.html


They look for:

Who would kill this person?  And why?

Who set this bomb off?

Who kidnapped this person?

This thing mainly chemicals to make a bomb were stolen.


Sept. 24, 2023 A curse to prevent 2 people from being in a relationship: 


Midnight, Texas: Fiji is a witch.  She's in love with Bo Bo and there is a curse that will kill Bo Bo if they're together.  This is in season 2.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5464086/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_midnight%2520tex


Good Witch: The show is about Cassie who is the good witch.  She is more intuitive and uses herbs to heal people.  

Abigail is like a witch, and is the cousin of Cassie.  Abigail is in love with Donovan, and there is a curse upon both of them if they're together.  This is in season 6.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3906732/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_good%2520witch


Nancy Drew: Nancy and Ace are in love.  There is a curse on Nancy and Ace, and Ace will die if they're together.  This is in season 4.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10313176/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_q_nancy


Mid- season 2024:


Wild Cards: I saw the pilot and thought this was average.  I recorded the series.  I may or may not watch this.

I can always go on CBC Gem to watch all their shows. 


Sight Unseen: This is a CTV original.   I recorded the series.  I will probably watch all this in a couple of weeks.

"Former homicide detective Tess Avery, diagnosed as blind, teams up with Sunny Patel, a remote seeing-eye guide and agoraphobe, to bring down killers who elude the police in this high-stakes detective thriller."



Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent: This show is coming on Thurs. Feb. 22.  I will probably watch the pilot and never watch it again.

"Follows a squad of elite investigators who investigate corruption and high-level criminality in the Greater Toronto Area."



Tracker: This show is coming out on Sun. Feb. 11.  Now this is the show that I'm actually interested in.  I will probably record the series and watch this in a couple of weeks.

"Colter Shaw travels the country in his old-school RV to help police and private citizens solve crimes and locate missing persons until his latest case changes everything."



Law and Order: Organized Crime: I watched the season 4 premiere.  It was good.


This week's theme is about TV:

"‘Nancy Drew’ EP Slams CW Execs For Abrupt Cancellation: “They Suck”"/ "Nancy Drew EP Slams New CW Execs for Disrespectful Cancellation: ‘They Suck’



"‘Rachael Ray’ Daytime Show To End After 17 Seasons"/ "'ET Canada' cancelled by Corus Entertainment, blames 'challenging' advertising market"






My week: 


Jan. 19, 2024 "Loblaw 50% off stickers to return after public anger over discount reduction": Today I found this article by Rosa Saba on BNN Bloomberg:

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is reversing course on a decision to reduce its discounts on grocery items nearing their best-before date. 

Spokeswoman Catherine Thomas confirmed Friday afternoon that after listening to feedback from customers and colleagues, Loblaw is reverting back to its previous discounting practice of marking down last-day sale items by between 30 and 50 per cent. 

"Customers can expect to see (50 per cent) stickers returning in the next few weeks," she said in an email. 

Canada's largest grocer drew public ire this week after it decided that all last-day sale items would be marked down by 30 per cent across the board to provide more predictability and consistency. 




Jan. 24, 2024 "At this open-pit gold mine in northeastern Ontario, the trucks drive themselves": Today I found this article by Jonathan Migneault on CBC:

A new open-pit gold mine in northeastern Ontario has turned to automation — including nearly 300-tonne hauling trucks that drive themselves — in a bid to increase productivity and worker safety.

The CĂ´tĂ© Gold project near Gogama, halfway between Sudbury and Timmins, is expected to produce around 440,000 ounces of gold a year over the next 18 years.

To extract the precious metal, massive Caterpillar mining trucks will haul more than 30,000 tonnes of ore every day so they can be processed.



Song "Strange Times": I like this song "Strange Times" by the Canadian band Blonde Diamond. I heard them on CBC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArL4tLS93fw



Jan. 20, 2024 Cosmic Pizza: My mom and I ordered a large All Meat Pizza from there.  It's 14- inch for $17.99.  It has pepperoni, ham, bacon, Italian sausages & mozzarella cheese.  I ordered it on the phone and they said it will be ready in 15 min. for pickup. 

It was good.  We usually order from Domino's.  There isn't much of a difference in flavor.

Free veggies: My little brother P has a friend M and he gave us a lot of artichokes, green onions, and green peppers.

Tracy: Does M have a garden?
P: No, M's friend gave this to him.  He ate a lot of it, but there was so much and it was going to spoil.  So they gave some to M's mom and his girlfriend's dad and also to us.


Jan. 22, 2024 Leo opinion:

Linda J. from Scarborough, ON, would like to know:

How do you save on groceries?

Cheaper/off-brands    28.75% (1304)

Price match in-store    25.40% (1152)



























Reward points    23.99% (1088)


Other    7.67% (348)

Coupons    6.81% (309)

Not applicable    5.01% (227)

Shop online    2.36% (107)



My opinion: Cheaper/off-brands.


Jan. 25, 2024:


LEO would like to know:

Which non-profit organization would you be most inclined to donate your points to?

Canadian Cancer Society    25.11% (1111)

Other    19.69% (871)

Food Banks Canada    16.77% (742)

Make-A-Wish Canada    13.25% (586)

Canadian Mental Health Association    8.21% (363)

World Wildlife Fund Canada    5.88% (260)

Red Cross Canada    5.61% (248)

Heart and Stroke Foundation    3.01% (133)

Habitat for Humanity Canada    1.27% (56)

World Vision Canada    1.22% (54)

My opinion: The Food Bank.