Dopamine Hits from Netflix, Podcasts & Twitter

I love killing time on the Internet.  Here's a few things that have stood me these past days from the world of Netflix, podcasts and Twitter.  
If you're experiencing some mid-week ennui, and aren't watching Avengers: Endgame or the final episode of Game of Thrones for the 4th time, these may be just what you need! 

Adam Sandler's SNL Tribute to Chris Farley

Adam Sandler sang a poignant tribute to Chris Farley on SNL last Saturday.  He hosted for the first time since he was fired from the show in the late 90s.   
It's wonderful that Sandler keeps the memory of Farley so alive in his heart.  It's been over twenty years since he passed away.

Ending the night with @AdamSandler's tribute to Chris Farley. 💌 #SNL pic.twitter.com/FW1KkIETFu

— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) May 5, 2019

Others felt the same as me:  

We miss him too. Had to get the tissues for this song. Sandler made you feel the love and missed friendship of his passing. Chris is singing along to his song in heaven. This is a great song to keep his memory alive and spotlight on Chris Farley's amazing gift of Comedy to us

— JeanVincent (@Jean__Vincent) May 5, 2019

Knock Down The House

A picture of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as she realizes she's beaten incumbent candidate Joe Crowley

Do you know the story of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign for NY's 14th Congressional District?  I only knew it superficially, and found the Netflix documentary Knock Down the House fascinating.  It also followed the campaigns of three other women running for office with long odds in the last mid-terms.  
I appreciated just how "crazy" AOC was to take on the Goliath incumbent Joe Crowley--an established politician who'd even been slated to be Speaker of the House.  And how her fighting spirit brought about the win.  
The movie also fleshed out the brains behind the AOC machine: the grassroots organization who supported and funded her, as well as her dedicated & astute boyfriend.  
And although it's warmed me to AOC, I can't say that I'm entirely converted...which bring me to the next dopamine hit!  

Coffee with Scott Adams

Right on the heels of Netflix dropping Knock Down the House, podcaster Scott Adams released this episode, "The World's Dumbest Tweet AOC, it's a Doozy", reflecting on the tweet below:

One of the things that genuinely surprised me in Congress is the sheer mediocrity of witnesses called forth by the GOP in hearings.

Yesterday they brought in a guy w/ a polka dot bowtie backed by oil lobbyists arguing that fossil fuels are “healthy.” HEALTHY.

It’s embarrassing. https://t.co/B17AsEZuCP

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 2, 2019

I probably don't need to explain that Adams tore AOC to shreds in his episode. And I think that he has a point. 
The "bow tie guy" said fossil fuels have brought about the huge advancements in transportation and health care this past century; advancements that have decreased world hunger and improved health care around the world.   
It's disconcerting that AOC has such a black-and-white view on fossil fuels, as though she's in favor of a return to the 1850s or something.    

John Singleton Interview on Fresh Air

Singleton back in 1991, after the release of Boyz in the Hood.
He's the youngest person to receive an Academy Award Nomination for Best Director

Finally, and maybe it's really old news by now, John Singleton died on April 29th, at the super-young age of 51! 
I just got around to listening to him in this re-play of his interview with Terri Gross from '91, just after the release of Boyz in the Hood.  Singleton wrote and directed this movie at the age of 24.  In the interview, Singleton came across as a sharp and honest young man.  A central theme from Boyz is fathers mentoring sons, and here's a great quote: 

There's a whole population of young people....that don't have a strong father figure or strong family background for that matter.  Most people don't even talk to their kids.  It's my belief that a young boy needs a man to teach him how to be a man....since we have a whole population of young men who don't have father figures, that don't have that direction, they're always in pursuit of their manhood.  They're always going to be not really in tune with themselves as young men, and throughout their lives searching, searching, searching for a sense of what being a man is.  

Much of Boyz was autobiographical; Singleton was raised by his mother until he was 11 and then went to live with his father.   

What About You?

And there you have it!  A few of my takeaways.
What from the world wide intraweb has has stood out to you this week?