“Violent, isn’t it?”

The first words Trump said to Video-Game critics and Video-Game execs after having a meeting with them in regards to the violence shown in Video-Games. He goes on to explain that these games are “murder simulators” and is encouraging these developers, as well as the entertainment industry as a whole to be aware of this, and to regulate the production of such violent content. Trump continues to say the following.

“Can anyone deny that we’ve raised the most vicious generation of killers the world has ever seen?”

I wonder… instead of wasting the time of these game executives and game critics who have far much better things to do (like making even bloodier video-games), why didn’t he hold the same meeting with the entire nation via a live-stream? Because the reality is that these 6 games (two of the scenes are from the same game) along with several others are rated properly by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), and are not intended to be played by children.

The reality is that most American parents have done very little “raising” when it comes to the content their children are exposed to. They treat todays electronics as if they were today’s babysitters, leaving their kids in their rooms for hours, unsupervised, not even aware of what their kids are playing or watching.

I myself (Gen X / Millennial)  was raised playing video-games, and over the years those beloved characters have grown up along with me. I was fortunate enough to go through the 8bit and 16bit era during my single-digit youth, so the violence and gore could not possibly be as explicit as it is today. My three nieces (Gen Z) were scarcely exposed to video-games growing up, because my brother understood the impression modern game content could leave on his highly influential kids. I personally do plan on exposing my son Jack (currently 3) to video-games, but of course it will be highly regulated (as in… I’m most-likely going to be playing with him).

Video-Games, just as other forms of entertainment media, is where the modern artist thrives! They collaborate with other artist, and get to express an idea through visual and audial stimuli. The range of an artist has no limits or boundaries, and should not be regulated… it’s really not President Trump’s place to step-in and request such a thing from a thriving company. He of all people should know better. But he should, by all means, encourage American families to pay more attention to what their kids are doing, and to… I don’t know… be fucking parents. Regulate your children’s time with electronics. Make sure they are interacting with things appropriate to their age or maturity.

Shit man, even Steve Jobs limited his own apple products in his home, I can only imagine how strict he was in regards to video-games. In an interview, when asked if his kids loved the iPad, Jobs replied with the following.

“They haven’t used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home.”

I love violent video-games, and ask anyone who knows me well, I am the least violent person they know. Then again, I also love Disney movies so I suppose I’m well balanced in that sense. The again, what do I know, right? I’ve only been a comical entertainer and clown since the age of 6, I have worked with kids for a very long time. When I was 14, my first niece was born, and we pretty much helped raise her. I was also a High-School Theatre teacher for a while, and have participated in many after-school programs in multiple institutes. Not to mention, I currently have a 3-year-old son.

If you haven’t heard by now – McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce popularity made a HUGE comeback after Rick & Morty’s Season 3 premiere episode on April Fools day. In it, Rick brags about how amazing this fucking sauce is – and how he can only have it in his dreams since it was discontinued. The sauce was a promotional gimmick used when Disney’s Mulan came out.

Anyway. Mickey D’s brought the sauce back in a VERY limited supply after MILLIONS of fans of Rick & Morty demanded it. Needless to say… it was fucking chaos. Check this shit out.

and of course – those who managed to get their hands one some of that glorious sauce took fully advantage of the situation.

SO… They did a public apology, and yesterday they released a GREAT AMOUNT of The Sauce to all of their stores so that everyone can have a chance to try it. I went last night after work, and got to try it… and also got to do a fun little photo-shoot with my babe.

The Sauce… was okay. Nothing special. But the hype… well, it was enough to get me to put my pants back on, put on my high-top converse and tie them up, and drive to McDonald’s (which I never go to) and buy a 10 piece nugget order to get 3 packets of the sauce.

Good job Rick & Morty. You’ve exposed many truths in us Americans with this bit of entertainment which inevitably became a social experiment. Thank you.

when I started streaming last year… I was completely new to the entire experience. I was not an avid watcher of other streamers… I didn’t REALLY see the potential in playing video-games professionally, or being that kind of personality. I did it because… I needed a creative outlet, I love video-games, and I started out during an emotionally distressful month of that year, and streaming helped me get through that; you know, the pre-production, the excitement of being “LIVE” – hanging out with friends who cared to watch and be there for me (shout out to Neil Shuford – love you bud).