Helluva Boss Takes on the Video Game High School

Helluva Boss is an adult animated series about a group of imps and a hellhound from Hell who work at a place called I.M.P. (Immediate Murder Professionals), where they get paid by clients to go up to earth and kill those who they blame the most for being the reason they died, or just simply want revenge on them.

Video Game High School (or VGHS for short and most commonly used term), is a live action series about an alternate reality where video games are considered to be the new sports, being even more important than news about the president, and how a young teen gets the golden ticket opportunity to go to VGHS, a school that transforms their students into the pros and go on to make millions.

So, what possibly could these two completely different sounding shows have in common despite having majorly different sounding story plots?

Not only are these comedies, not only are they tv shows (which was already implied, in case you weren’t viewing), but the crucial and most important connection that connects them in a very big way is that they’re both shows that were made exclusively for YouTube, and that ultimately led to their success.

Now, I’m not saying these two shows were like every other YouTube original show out there, because there’s a significant difference in that comparison. The majority of already produced high budget shows that were well funded without worries were made for YouTube as YouTube Red originals on a premium service.

Of course, this was back when streaming services weren’t everywhere just yet, but Helluva Boss and VGHS don’t play like that. They are shows you can watch on YouTube, for free. Video Game High School was created by Freddie Wong from RocketJump, and the first season was only doable because of how Kickstarter was able to fund the first season, even to the point they could hire Zachary Levi for a few episodes.

Vivienne Medrano is an independent animator who created Helluva Boss (a spinoff to another great animated pilot that’s becoming a full series by A24 in 2024 January, Hazbin Hotel), only worked on the pilot with a much smaller team of people, and it took around a few years for that 11 minute video to be produced. It’s only thanks to merchandise and viewership count that they gained enough finances to produce a short first season.

Then again, both VGHS and Helluva Boss initially started out as short seasons, either for runtime or for the quantity of episodes produced.

VGHS needed seventy-five thousand dollars to be produced, but actually over achieved that goal, reaching into the $800,000 mark even. Not only would this guarantee that a second season will and did get produce shortly after the first season, but would also promise that many people would be around to watch and generate views for the show.

And as for Helluva Boss, the viewership count into the first season was insanely high, counting that and sales recorded from the merchandise sold for the show (which is another important element to producing the show), it was revealed that a second season was in development by the time the second episode of the first season premiered.

Not only were people watching the shows, they were loving them too. VGHS was comedic focused prior in the beginning of the first season, and with every passing season, the story did tend to get a bit more story focused with some actual character development and longer episodes produced every season too, and was able to incorporate some good use of drama, because that’s what positive recognition and a dedicated fanbase can get you.

Helluva Boss was comedic focused prior in the beginning of the first season, and with every passing season, the story did tend to get a bit more story focused with some actual character development and longer episodes produced every season too, and was able to incorporate some good use of drama, because that’s what positive recognition and a dedicated fanbase can get you.

Again, their popularity and quality of episodes and story improves with every season, for good reason. Unlike paying for a service every month or year, you have unlimited access to these great shows for free at any time on YouTube. And there are some pretty unique things about the shows too.

The cool thing about VGHS is the realistic visuals. I mean sure, there’s, and I do mean this literally, a little bit of CGI, but everything else that needs an action scene or fast paced movement is all done with actual people filming the scenes.

It’s like the live action portrayal of Sword Art Online, as you’re seeing yourself playing in a video game with your real world graphics there with you as well. The fact that the first season is able to pull this off practically flawlessly with a smaller than usual budget for a show is beyond amazing.

As an adult animated series, Helluva Boss breaks more significant barriers than shows like Big Mouth or Velma or anything on Fox Animation Domination nowadays could ever accomplish. The animation looks ridiculously high quality, like somewhere between professional show quality and just almost reaching towards movie animated quality. The violence and slapstick certainly prove that’s the case.

Another noticeable and very popular element of the show is the LGBTQ representation. Burkely Herman says in an article that “part of the show’s appeal is its LGBTQ characters and interpersonal relationships. Helluva Boss promises to elevate queer narratives and stories”, and that’s certainly true from my perspective. The hype levels for whenever I see this done in the show are pushing past the limit for wholesome and well respected given how it’s portrayed as.

So, if you’re looking for a show that offers premium looking content and increased quality of storytelling given to people to free as if it was given by a generous Robin Hood, might I suggest not one, but two shows in mind?

Independent projects are usually expected to not draw as much of an audience as opposed to big budget mass produced content. However, these two shows not only show that’s not the case, but independent workers can make massive success in the media, whether for live action or animation.

To Read or Not to Read: Are E-Books Better Than Print Books?

Since I can remember, reading has always been a great outlet for me whenever I felt the need to escape the sometimes stifling, everyday occurrences in life to visit a far off fictional world of wonder and excitement described to me by whomever was my favorite author at the time.

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And though being able to lose myself in a well written work of fiction guided by the skilled hand of a talented writer was always a wonderful thing, non-fiction books were also an exceptional pathway to  learning about history, discovering the ins and outs of new and challenging ideas and obtaining educational information.

However, in recent years, the means of how I’ve gone about quenching my thirst for knowledge has steadily begun to evolve with my discovery of the e-book. Though the concept of the e-book has been around for quite a few decades already, the revolutionizing invention really didn’t become perfected or even enter the public consciousness until the first digital e-reader was invented and released in the late nineties.

Since that time, e-readers have become a new and innovative way for the public to consume literature of all genres and themes. But even with all that can be offered through the wonders of electronic publishing  is reading an e-book better than ruffling through the paper pages of a traditional print book?

Though reading an e-book can be a convenient way to enjoy a story or consume informational literature on the go, print books not only offer an avenue to absorb useful or entertaining information, they also provide a reader with a multi-sensory based experience through the smell and feel of the actual paper, ink and binding materials.  

And though there are many positive attributes that can be enjoyed while flipping through the pages of a physical book, with an e-book, one has the ability to be able to carry an entire library in their backpack or handbag, all within the convenient size of a little square device that weighs just over five ounces.

As is the case with many other material items we seek out on a daily basis, there’s also the factor of cost. Though on average, e-books cost less than publications found in print form, with a print book, one always has the option to resell or donate the book for further use and enjoyment.  

So, after weighing the pros and cons of e-books compared to print books, which one proves to be the victor? As with most products we as consumers seek out in our vast market of material goods, when it comes to finding just the right item to suit our individual needs, the beauty that can be found in both e and print form is definitely in the eye of the beholder.      

The Greatest Hero- General Vang Pao

General Vang Pao was a great leader of my Hmong community. He is well known as a General officer in the Royal Lao Army and was loyal to the King of Laos, while also being a hero to his Hmong people. He commanded the Hmong Army that fought against Pathet Lao and People’s Army of Vietnam. He was able to lead Hmong refugees that were running from the war to resettle all over the world. Hmong refugees settled in the United States, France, New Zealand, Australia, and many other countries.

Being able to emigrate to the United States, this offered his people a better place to start a new life. General Vang Pao was highly respected by his Hmong people and was an influential leader to the Hmong community. Thousands of former Hmong veterans and Hmong refugees families followed him to the United States.

After Hmong families were able to resettle and grown accustom to the American culture, more Hmong refugees followed. General Vang Pao will remain a hero in the community and always respected by his people. He left his legacy and died in March of 2011, leaving his Hmong people in shock and despair.

Health and Happiness. :)

Outdoor magazine recently published an article called, How Having Fun Makes You Healthier and Smarter. https://www.outsideonline.com/health/wellness/having-fun-health-benefits/

Let’s review the 5 techniques they call easy and tout as putting one on the path to being healthier and smarter!

1. Smile When You’re Learning Something New – They state that, “If you’ve ever tried unsuccessfully to acquire a skill or become proficient in a sport, odds are you weren’t having fun.” well that’s likely very true. But it might be that I am just bummed because I want the new skill not that the bummed out ness caused a lack of obtaining a new skill. And I get it… dopamine is released with joy. However, joy doesn’t always equate learning or being solution driven. I can think of some pretty transformative concepts and inventions that were born out of strife and grief. I do prefer happy – who doesn’t!

2. Make Playtime a Priority – They site a study published in the European Journal of Humor Research that ties playful adults to living longer lives. Wouldn’t that be so awesome! I’ll tell you what though, I know some really curmudgeonly elders that prove this theory wrong! I also know some young beautiful and playful soles that died way to early from heart complications or cancer. The playtime factor did not extend their lives. Boo – not cool. I do choose play though 100%!

4. Fuel Your Feel-Good Hormones – This one… I do not have an argument either way. What do you think??? “It’s well-known that high stress levels negatively influence biology, causing the release of the fight-or-flight hormone cortisol. With an imbalance of hormones, the body has trouble regulating mood, metabolism, and immune response. But when we have fun, according to a 2016 study done by scientists at Sahmyook University in Seoul, South Korea, the body releases the feel-good neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which leads to elevated mood and a healthier cell-proliferation process. Hormonal balance is crucial for our immune system’s strength and our ability to recover after strenuous athletic activity, as is cell growth, which helps the kidneys, lungs, and other organs regulate body functions. Meanwhile, some studies suggest that serotonin released by enjoyable activities could help promote neurogenesis, or cell growth in the brain.” Hmmm, well yes, I understand the theory. I’m just not sure. I’d need to see more research. I do live in a space were I try to connect to my cells and thank them for their generous functioning, supportive splendor. I lean towards a yes for this point. Yes!

5. Join the Crowd – They state, that a University of Rochester and the University of Arizona produced a study showed that people had more fun when doing activities with other people rather than alone. I really like people – interactions with people are a part of my wellness, joy and happiness but I also need my alone time. The article go on to state that the “more you connect with friends or make new ones the more fun you have”. I say that’s a bit broad – too much is too much. When I overload with people and activities I do not have enough downtime and I cannot replenish. Replenishing, stillness, quiet, alone time brings me just as much joy as together time. I’d argue that a healthy balance of the two brings me the best health and happiness. 🙂

Check it out for yourself. What do you think?

Tackle no tackle?

If you follow NFL and NFL news, you might have heard about the incredibly hard hit that Tua Tagovailoa took this past season, as well as the surrounding conversations of overall safety, concussion protocol changes, and possibly various other changes to the NFL. I was having this conversation a couple weeks ago with a friend over whether the NFL should continue with full tackle football or if they should eliminate or minimize tackling and make it more like flag football. This past Pro Bowl, the NFL made the choice to make it flag football rather than tackle football which they have never done for any past Pro Bowls. The Pro Bowl is AFC vs. NFC, players are voted based on popularity by fans, coaches, and other players, sending them to the Pro Bowl, which is usually held during the week of the Super Bowl. The Pro Bowl games have always struggled with ratings and viewership, fan interest, as well as complaints of it being considered not real football, where the hits were very soft. These criticisms and concerns are what led to changes to the Pro Bowl in 2022. This is just one part of it, but after the various issues this past year, and players, like Tua continually being on concussion protocol, there have been cries for changes to league rules, the way players are allowed to tackle, as well as some even questioning whether or not NFL should continue with full tackle football or move to flag football. In my personal opinion, I do not think the NFL should move to flag football, and I also do not think the NFL should make changes to tackle rules. Many people have argued that changing the NFL to flag football versus full tackle would actually increase viewership, which has been found to be false with the low ratings, and the lack of fan and viewer excitement that the 2023 Pro Bowl received due to it being flag football. No contact or no tackle football would also change the game completely. There would be no more line-of-scrimmage collisions when getting the receiver to the ball, as well as when the receiver crosses and runs up the middle of the field. Any contact would result in a penalty flag. Many watch football for the collisions and hits, taking that element away would change the whole game. I’ve often compared this argument point to viewers who watch NASCAR, there are people who watch NASCAR for the restarts and the changes in the lineup and field, but it can be argued that far more people watch for the restarts and crashes in general. I understand that there were a lot of players that ended up on injury reserve, as well as concussion protocol, players like Tua Tagovailoa and Matthew Stafford to name a few. But players can still get concussions while playing flag football especially if they fall down. A lot of the comments and concerns over NFL safety came after the Damar Hamlin incident during the Bills-Bengals game. Damar went to tackle Bengals player Tee Higgins and collapsed to the ground and had a heart attack. Many speculated on the tackle that Damar delivered, which if you watched him throughout the season, shows that it was a tackle he had done countless other times, but was found out to be a run-of-the-mill tackle. The NFL and the game of football is a lot faster and the hits are a lot harder. A lot of changes and improvements have been made for player safety: making the pads safer to absorb the energy of the hits, making helmets more protective with foam to prevent head injuries, as well as changes to the turf to make the turf absorb the energy versus the player. Back in the early days of the NFL, players used to wear thin leather helmets, which didn’t do much protection at all. Changes to safety have come a long way.  

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/tua-tagovailoa-concussion-week-3-dolphins-bills/in0yyd86o2oymmv01mdxqhwm

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/288587-fundamentals-would-make-football-better-and-lessen-injuries

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Todoist

I’m a college student. I’m a full time employee. I’m a spouse. I’m a step parent. I have ADHD.

For all these reasons and more, I need a little help with tasks and organization. I turned to Todoist. This is not an advertisement, this is a person who is all of these different overlapping identities saying: it’s okay to need a little help so here, this helped me. Maybe it’ll help you too.

It is freemium – meaning it is free to use, but there are some abilities locked behind a paywall. I use the free version and it has met all of my needs. It is cross-compatible. That means I use it on my phone, my tablet, my MacBook, and my PC (don’t ask why I have it on different incompatible brands, just keep the ADHD thing in mind and you’ll have your answer), and that when I update a task on one it updates it on all. Chef’s Kiss.

You don’t have to just take my word for it either, as PCMag has a great review covering the pros and cons here.

Let me lay it out how I use it, and you can decide for yourself if you want to give it a try.

During the school semesters I create a category of tasks for each class I am in. When class syllabus and schedule release, I go through and add a task for each assignment with due date and time on it. I ad any notes necessary to each task, and can go back and change dates and details as needed through the semester. I do this for each class, and then every week I start by checking my Todoist app and it shows me what’s due this week and when. As I complete each task I check it off and it’s gone! Like magic! The dopamine hit is mint.

For any cleaning I need to get done, I can just make an unassigned task (as in it won’t be part of a category) and then put in a due date for that too. The one I have recurring every week is to clean the bathroom, because I hate doing it but it is necessary. Do the thing. Get the app. Clean your bathroom.

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Cancel culture is ruining people’s lives

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc6uH37uy95/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Before going into all the things that are wrong with cancel culture it’s important that we recognize just how much influence our peers have over us. Despite our better judgment it’s easy to fall into the trappings of hysteria. When we find ourselves beholden to a fabrication it quickly becomes indiscernible from the truth in our hearts and minds. Feelings can make an otherwise rational person do something irrational because it appeals to a higher calling within ourselves. As humans we have a primal need to belong, to be part of something bigger than ourselves and we reach a point where justification is just another speed bump on our way to conformity. 

To get to the crux of the matter cancel culture is a bullying movement and an assuming one at that. They prey on the alleged abuser as if they’ve already been condemned vilifying them with a type of contemptuous self-righteous fury that would make the Spanish inquisition blush. Simultaneously, the accuser is esteemed and praised for their boldness in defiance of the acrimony brought down on them by their irredeemable perpetrator. The problem I have with this factitious behavior is that the aforementioned persecution can and has happened before there is even a shred of evidence.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc6vZEjODE8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

It is both true and deeply unfortunate that those with status and power have taken it upon themselves to abuse their position in order to do some sincerely horrific things. However, on our journey to right the wrongs, it’s essential that we don’t overreact to the issue to the point that we lose ourselves in indignation and retribution. As difficult as it may be we need to have enough empathy for the alleged assailant to withhold our proclivities until there’s proof. That being said, it’s also entirely reasonable to support the victim without elevating them until the outcome is contextualized.  

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-mental-health-effects-of-cancel-culture-5119201

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/19/americans-and-cancel-culture-where-some-see-calls-for-accountability-others-see-censorship-punishment/

Learning new skills

Soft.Insta 

As of late I have been interested in learning about 3D and 4D digital artwork. Looking through youtube for the fight tutotal to spark my interest, I came across this metallic and pastel art work that falls right into my interest. On my screen was a very kind and amusin woman giving instructions on how to create this digital artwork. They were friendly, relatable, and gave great and easy to follow directions. These two women Nicole Jonasson and Ida Lissner are designers and artists and now the creators and owners of SOFTER. Softer is a work-in-progress platform ready to change the narrative that tech is hard, a network for shaping Softer digital futures. 

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Through their studio and digital platform they provide tutorials, live streams, residencies and more. What I really like about them is that they found a way to make the tech and digital art world softer for those that need it, especially newcomers. Within their program they have worked with a diverse group of people; tech-activist, artistic directors, dancers, writers, organizers, researchers, the list goes on. I see art as a multifaceted medium and I can appreciate people that understand what artists look like and can do many things – that art is actually in the middle of all of our interests and talents. 

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I really want to learn digital using tools like blender which is a 3d/4d motion graphic software. I’m not a gifted painter or illustrator so this would allow me to do that in a way I’m used to. I see myself using it in my photography, videos, flyers and other graphics. In the future I could sell them as NFTs, potentially.

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Can You Retire With $1 Million?

In many cities in America, it has become extremely difficult for one to retire with no plan. Some people have run so far behind that they give up on the prospect of retirement and they work until their body gives out or cannot fulfill job duties. In this blog post, I will consider the many facets of retiring in America, using the amount of $1 million as a point of reference.

Living Costs

If you were to start saving $400 every month from age 25 till age 67, you would have $1,000,000 but it’s important to remember what city you are in. In Northern California you would be lucky to make it over 15 years with a million dollars but if you were to live in Tennessee that expectancy doubles.

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You must also consider how much money you would be getting from social security. The average amount is around $1,661 a month which is about $20k a year. So the majority of the money you will need will have to be found on your own. The unfortunate reality is that my generation has been made well aware of the fact that this extra source of income might not be around by the time I retire, but not all hope is lost.

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Taxes

The money that you end up investing will be taxed unless you choose two popular routes: Roth IRA or Roth 401k. The good thing about these investment funds made in “after-tax” dollars which essentially means that this money or the majority of it will not be taxed once you turn 59.5 years old.

The mistake some make is having to pull out some of the automatic contributions made by their employer in their Roth 401k to pay for bills or other emergency costs. When this happens the money they take out is taxed and this can have a bad effect on your savings plan if it is not monitored.

Medical

At this point, I think we are all well aware of the stresses our healthcare system has on societies elderly. These are unfortunately things that can only be planned for as no one can be prepared for how many medical fees can cost. Maryalene LaPonsie from US News states that the average elderly couple in America could spend around $300,000 in medical costs in retirement. It is advised that you consult your doctor about your families health history and what to expect to best prepare.

It’s Time to Stop Plastic Waste.

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The pollution of plastics is a growing concern.

Laura Parker states the following facts in this article “The world’s plastic pollution crisis explained” published in National Geographic:

The manufacturing of half of all the world’s plastics has occurred within the last 15 years. From the years 1950 to 2015, the production of plastics has increased by 445 million tons. This production is expected to DOUBLE in amount by 2050. Parker claims, “That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.” Additives added to make the plastics product more flexible and durable also extend the life of the products, taking at least 400 years to break down.

Parker states that 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the ocean each year.

Plastic pollution is harmful and deadly to marine life.

Due to plastic pollution, millions of animals are killed every year. The animals effected are: seabirds, fish, marine turtles, large cetaceans, seals, whales, and even zooplankton.

Ingestion of plastics, entanglement, and strangulation by plastics are common ways marine animals suffer and/or die from the pollution.

“Marine Debris on Kure Atoll” by USFWS Pacific is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The Solution

Scientists and conservationists state the solution of plastic pollution is to PREVENT plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first place. Laura Parker continues in the National Geographic article that prevention “could be accomplished with improved waste management systems and recycling, better product design that takes into account the short life of disposable packaging, and reduction in the manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics”. In Britannica, Charles Moore offers another preventative solution in the article “Plastic Pollution” which involves prohibitive measures such as fines for littering and bans on single-use plastics. Moore advocates for the increase of biodegradable plastics and the embracing of a “zero waste” philosophy.

It’s Time to Demand the End of Plastic Pollution

The environmental organization of Green Peace is declaring that major corporations must take responsibility for the solution. Major corporations must not exceed its current plastic waste production, set reduction target dates, and invest in reusable systems.

Green Peace is a leader in the Reuse Revolution, and it is time for us to join them.

Image from breakfreefromplastic.org

Add your name to the “Break Free From Plastic” campaign to help stop plastic pollution.

Sign the petition now.

https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic-pollution

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution