Thanks to the persistent efforts of community activists, a tragic accident has been the catalyst for some good. Residents of Central New Jersey will no doubt recall the senseless loss of self-described "local celebrity" Edgar Miloshi (pictured) in the Fall of 2022. Mr. Miloshi was truly in the wrong place at the wrong time during Clifford the Big Red Dog's neutering procedure, which was taking place close to the Target store he intended to visit. Much too close, as it turned out. Authorities pronounced Mr. Miloshi dead on the scene from "multiple blunt force trauma injuries". Although he did not appear to have any living relatives, he left behind a Schwinn bicycle, his goldfish Helen, and dozens of self-portraits. And that would have been the end of this tragic story if not for the actions of community activists Bennett and Lucinda Martin, residents of Milltown, New Jersey (also the location of Mr. Miloshi's untimely passing). Thanks to their persistent lobbying of local government officials, they were able to assist in the enactment of the "Edgar Miloshi Minimum Neutering Radius" legislation, effective immediately. The legislation specifies that qualified veterinarians intending to neuter animals standing over 25 feet tall and/or weighing over 500 pounds must establish a "safe radius" of no less than 100 yards. Further, this radius must be maintained for the duration of the procedure. "This legislation will go a long way in ensuring that poor Mr. Miloshi will be the one and only victim of an event like this", whispered Mrs. Martin. "We only wish we thought of this sooner."

(Reposted Here, Original Creation Date 12/16/2020) In an age of media streaming and short attention spans, few 21st century television series have withstood the revolving door of public opinion; sitcom “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is one. The show premiered in 2005, and having been a devout fan for several years, I had high expectations for season fourteen, released late 2019.  I was not disappointed. The latest installment from the Paddy’s Pub gang features the usual scheming, bickering, sexual exploits, profanity, and lots of alcohol, earning the show its long-held TV-MA rating. The fourteenth season, like all preceding ones, is a thoroughly enjoyable experience attributable to shock-value hilarity and many layers of thoughtful social satire (McAuliffe, 2017).   Riding The Elephant in the Room Among the entertaining yet trivial antics this season has to offer are group texting mishaps, cases of mistaken identity, and seemingly immortal pets… however, the genius of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” lies within its ability to address very real, current issues with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it subtlety of wit. Creator Rob McElhenney writes alongside friends and costars Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day, masterfully crafting the immorality of the characters to deliver the opposite message to their audience.  In this season alone, the show tackles global warming, racial insensitivity, suicide jumpers, and life in the digital era through the misfortunes and transgressions of its five lovable antiheroes. What I find almost more gratifying than the humor is the writers’ skill for employing irony, karma, sarcasm, and verbal “winks” to convey that the misbehavior of the characters does not align with their real-life values. DENNIS HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT The Gang makes a poignant (albeit heavy-handed) metaphor for global warming (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia S14 E07 Clip | 'Dennis Has An Announcement' | Rotten Tomatoes TV 2019) Anti-Heroes of the Anti-Sitcom  Another trademark of this show’s greatness (and, in my opinion, the foremost key to its longevity) is the likability of its characters. Charlie’s vulgarity pales in comparison to his hopeless romanticism, and his dimness of wit becomes a sympathetic trait when we see how easily taken advantage of it makes him. Mac’s desperation and bullheadedness are better understood when we see his internal struggles with closeted homosexuality, absentee parents, and toxic religious zealotry. Despite Frank’s selfishness and disloyalty, he is the most reliable source of the show’s characteristic absurdist humor, frequently getting at least semi-nude and known for line deliveries so hilarious that his costars erupt into blooper-worthy hysterics. In addition to these leading ne’er-do-wells, there is a robust cast of fan-favorite secondary characters (Bojalad et al., 2019) who make recurring appearances throughout the series, such as beloved priest-turned-derelict Rickety Cricket. Each character has funny idiosyncrasies that have been fleshed out throughout the series, inspiring viewers to root for them even when they may not deserve it.       Frank's (Danny DeVito) signature bizarre humor (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia S14E04 JPG | ‘Danny Devito Cooking JPG’ | FX Networks 2019) “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is the blueprint for modern satire, effortlessly keeping up with the times and masterfully tapping into what its audience cares about while maintaining the same chaotic humor that earned it such a fanbase in the first place. Its five principal roles evolve naturally while remaining recognizable, and the demand for the returns of its supporting characters speaks to their popularity. The sitcom hasn’t lost steam in the fifteen years it’s been airing, and the most recent season is the ultimate testament to this evergreen charm and cleverness. Works Cited Bojalad, A., Longo, C., Sokol, T., Kurland, D., Bondar, D., Yancy, L., & Fletcher, R. (2019, October 01). It's Always Sunny: The Best Recurring Characters. Retrieved 2020, from https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/its-always-sunny-best-recurring-characters/ “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, FX Networks (2019). “Danny Devito Cooking GIF” [Digital image]. Retrieved 2020, from https://media.giphy.com/media/h79eM0B07VP8f2jm7P/giphy.gif “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, Rotten Tomatoes TV (2019, November 14). “Dennis Has an Announcement” [Digital Clip]. Retrieved 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghsp_X7Ao2E McAuliffe, A. (2017, October 01). It's (Not) Just A Joke! It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Absurdist Political Satire. Retrieved 2020, from https://librarypartnerspress.pressbooks.pub/studentessaysculturesitcomv1/chapter/its-not-just-a-joke-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-and-absurdist-political-satire/

Band(s)/Performer(s): Paul Stanley Solo Tour with Warrant Date (May Be Best Guess): February 18, 1989 Location (May Be Best Guess): L'Amour, Brooklyn Memories: The first memory is that we got to the club so early (I'm sure it had to do with being unfamiliar with the drive to Brooklyn and not wanting to be late) that we were literally in the front row, and I was able to read Paul's set list (which was taped to the stage floor) upside down. While this took away the element of surprise, it was also pretty damn cool. The second memory isn't a great one, but it does serve as a cautionary tale. Being in the front row was great, but also being that close to the amplifiers without earplugs took a significant toll. My ears were ringing for days afterward, and my right ear was permanently affected. Having foam earplugs is a necessity for me now, and it is easy enough to keep some in my car. The third memory will be entitled "The Pick Stick". The club got pretty warm with all of us packed closely together, and I had at least a thin layer of sweat covering me. This came in handy when a guitar pick thrown out to the audience by Bob Kulick (former KISS guitarist Bruce's brother) actually stuck to my arm. Easiest pick procurement of my career. The fourth and final memory is more a confession of a move I wish I could take back (and believe me, that move isn't lonely on my lifetime list). Warrant opened up and put on a solid, high-energy show, which included lead singer Jani Lane walking among the crowd with a wireless microphone. He was giving "high fives" to the fans, and when he approached me I gave him a big smile and then pulled my hand away at the last moment (we used to do that super cool move at school, usually accompanied by "Ha! Thought you had a friend!"). It's tough enough to be an opening band (just ask any of Metallica's openers), so I'm sure Jani could have done without a certain big goon's obnoxiousness. The final irony (dontcha think?) is that I later became a big fan of Warrant, and thought "Cherry Pie" (née "Uncle Tom's Cabin") was an excellent album.