Republican Control of Senate May be Short-Lived

The GOP had a wonderful night last night largely because the Senate map this year was in their favor.

Of the seven seats the party picked up, five of them were in states won by Mitt Romney in the last Presidential Election. The fact that they also won Senate races in Colorado and Iowa, two states won by President Obama in 2012, also dealt a major blow to Democrats.

But the problem the Democrats had this year will be the same problem the GOP will have in 2016.

In that election, seven Republican Senators who were elected in 2010-Mark Kirk of Illinois, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Rob Portman of Ohio, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Marco Rubio of Florida, and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire-will be running for re-election in states that President Obama carried in the last presidential election, with an electorate that will be much less favorable to them than this year.

With Angus King’s announcement today that he is still going to caucus with the Democrats, the party of President Obama would have 46 seats if Begich concedes in Alaska and Mary Landrieu loses the December 6 runoff in Louisiana. That would mean Democrats would need to win five of those seven seats held by Republicans where Obama won. They could also potentially win a Senate race in North Carolina, especially with a larger youth and minority turnout in presidential years.

Even if Democrats don’t succeed in winning back the Senate in two years, the Senate landscape next time around may be good for the country, since those seven senators might be willing to compromise on certain issues such as immigration reform in order to have another six years on capitol hill.

"Simpsons" Premiere Death Extremely Dissapointing

To quote the person who died on the season premiere of The Simpsons Sunday night, the episode was very "eh"(if you haven't seen it yet, feel free to continue reading. You really didn't miss out on anything). 

The major character death turned out not to be Krusty the Clown as I had predicted but Krusty's dad, a character so miniscule in importance that I keep forgetting his name. Like many of those who went on Twitter immediately after the broadcast, I felt the episode was severely over-hyped. When the showrunners announced that there would be a "character death" I was expecting it to be someone like Krusty or Grandpa Simpson or even Mr. Burns-someone whose death would shake up the entire series. Watching the 26th season premiere of The Simpsons was sort of akin to seeing The Phantom Menace for the first time. You expect you're going to watch something truly life-changing and then once it's over you end up unsatisfied and asking yourself "is that it?"

That's not to say the entire episode was bad. My favorite part had to be the sleepover scene with Chief Wiggum, a cutaway gag that reminded me of Family Guy. And the B-plot involving Lisa trying to protect Homer from danger was incredibly touching. Still, Clown in the Dumps will most certainly go down as the most overhyped Simpsons episode of all time. 

What Robin Williams Meant to My Childhood

When I heard the news yesterday that Robin Williams died of an apparent suicide, I just couldn't believe it. It almost felt like a cruel hoax, some fake news announcement that would pop up on Twitter on April Fool's Day. While I am now old enough to recall the death of countless celebrities, none of them had the impact on my childhood the way Robin Williams did.

Williams actually appeared in the first movie I ever saw in theaters, Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest, which I saw when I was four. In it, Williams voiced Batty Koda, a bat that is not only experimented on, but raps about it. But it was his performance as the Genie in Disney's Aladdin that people of my generation will surely remember him most by. Aladdin is a great movie by itself, but it was the Genie that made it extraordinary, not just because of his comedic impersonations but because he gave the role a hundred percent even though nobody could see his face (although a dispute with Disney caused him to drop out of the role of the Genie in the video sequel Return of Jafar, he did return to voice the role in Aladdin and the King of Thieves). 

When I was seven, I went to see Jumanji with my mom, grandmother, and brother. The movie was way too scary for my brother, who was five at the time, so he and my mom left the theater to see Balto instead, while my grandmother and I continued to watch the fantasy-adventure film  based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg. My grandmother still watches it every time it comes on TV, and to this day I consider it one of the best plot-driven movies I have ever seen. And when I was nine my mom took my brother and I to see Flubber. I don't remember much about that movie, but I do remember Robin Williams being the motivating factor for us seeing it. 

Mrs. Doubtfire is by far one of his greatest performances, yet the movie is also a great way to help children of divorce cope. When Williams as Dobtfire looks into the camera and talks in a calming manner about the realities of divorce, about how some parents get back together while others don't, it's as if a real human being is speaking and not some guy dressed in drag. My own parents were getting divorced when I was re-watching the ending of Mrs. Doubtfire, and it helped me feel better about the whole situation. 

As I got older I saw Williams in his more dramatic films such as Dead Poets Society, Jack, Patch Adams, and Good Will Hunting, which earned him the Academy-Award for Best Supporting Actor. Of all his dramatic performances, Patch Adams will arguably be the most talked about in the days, weeks, months, and even years after his passing since it almost disturbingly parallels what happened in his own life. In the beginning of the movie, Williams character is sent to a psych ward for trying to kill himself, and in the middle of the film he contemplates jumping off a cliff after his girlfriend is killed in a murder-suicide 

In a statement, William's wife Susan Schneider said she hopes that "the focus will not be on (her husband's) death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions". To me, Robin Williams will always be the Genie that turned a street rat into a Prince, a divorced father who dressed up as a woman in order to spend more time with his kids, and a board-game player battling against lions and other wild animals. In other words, the guy who helped make a my childhood a very special one. 

"Batman Vs. Superman" Move to March 2016 Shows Diminished Importance of Summer Release Date

For the past several months, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice was scheduled to go head-to-head with Captain America 3 on May 6, 2016, creating an epic showdown between Disney-owned Marvel and Warner Bros.-owned DC Entertainment. 

But last week Warner Bros. announced that it will be moving Batman vs. Superman up several weeks to March 25, 2016. Although the film had been widely buzzed about since its announcement last year, DC has a lot more to lose than Marvel. Marvel, which has been on a winning streak as of late, can afford to take a hit, while DC is still trying to establish itself and needs Batman vs. Superman to be a colossal success. (The $94 million debut of Guardians of the Galaxy may have also convinced DC and Warner Bros. not to go head-to-head with Marvel). 

While the shift was indeed a smart move, it also underscored something even more significant going on in Hollywood: the diminished importance of the summer release date. 

It used to be that blockbuster movies came out during the summer months between May and August or during Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the rest of the year reserved for mid-budget movies like romantic comedies and teen fare. 

Although March is a time when kids are still in school, the month does have a history of movie debuts that became mega blockbusters such as 1999's The Matrix ($464 million worldwide) and 2010's Alice in Wonderland (over $1 billion worldwide). 

Hollywood may have learned its lesson from last summer, when a crowded marketplace produced mega bombs such as RIPD, The Lone Ranger, and White House Down. Meanwhile, the success of last October's Gravity ($716 million worldwide), last February's The Lego Movie ($468 million worldwide) and last April's Captain America: The Winter Solider ($712 million worldwide) showed studios that a movie could be a hit no matter when it is released. 

Batman vs. Superman isn't the only mega budget flick scheduled not to open during the summer months or holiday season. Disney's live action re-imagining of The Jungle Book is set to come out in October 2015, while Warner Bros. own Jungle Book movie is set to come out October 2016. 

Not only has Warner Bros. missed a gigantic train wreck by moving up Batman vs. Superman by several weeks, but the movie now has a better chance of being hugely successful since it will now have the entire month of April 2016 to itself. But if the movie does become a hit, not only would it be a victory for DC and Warner Bros., but it would also be a victory for theatre goers and theatre owners, since it would further convince studios to release blockbuster movies year round. 

Amazon Fire Phone Not Worth The Hype

If you have an iPhone and are thinking about getting the new Fire Phone from Amazon, my advice would be to stick to the iPhone. 

I got the chance to test out the Fire Phone at an AT&T store in Long Beach, not because I'm interested in getting one someday, but because I was curious as to what all the fuss is about. Is the Fire Phone the phone that will bring Apple to it's knees, or is it just another Apple wanna be? 

The best feature on the Fire Phone by far is Firefly, an innovative piece of technology that recognizes music, movies, TV shows, or any type of product. Whenever I hear a song I like in the car I always have to remember the lyrics so I can later google it so then I could buy the right song on iTunes. The Fire Phone instantly recognized Lenny Kravitz's Again playing in the background at the AT&T store and pulled up info about the song. 

Other than Firefly, however, the Fire Phone is not worth the $649, or even the $199 two-year contract with AT&T. 

While the FireFly makes it easier to buy music and Dynamic Perspective makes playing games a lot more fun, a smart phone is supposed to be a lot than fun and entertainment. It is also supposed to be a companion to make everyday life just a little bit easier, and unfortunately, the Fire Phone is unable to do that. 


There are some very annoying things about the Fire Phone that you can take for granted on an iPhone. For starters, when you go to the E-Mail app you can type up an E-Mail, yet there is no search bar to look up an E-Mail you sent days, maybe even months ago. There isn't even a "sent" part of the E-Mail app that lets you make sure that your E-Mail even went through. This is a problem if you rely on your smartphone to send E-Mails throughout the day. 

Another problem with this phone is the Weather App. Of course the app shows weather in your city, but what if you're planning on going to say, Hawaii, and you want to know what the weather will be like when you get there so you can pack accordingly? With the iPhone you can look up the weather in cities from all around the world, yet the FirePhone doesn't give you that option. 

And then there's the problem with the Notes App. On the Fire Phone you have to remember to press the check mark on the top right hand corner in order for the note to save, while the iPhone saves notes automatically. 

Buying music may be easier with the Fire Phone, but you can't set one of your songs to be your alarm sound like you can on the iPhone. This is a major bummer if you want to wake up and start your day listening to your favorite artist. 

Even the calculator app on this phone is disappointing. Whenever I leave someone a tip, all I have to do is take out my iPhone, type in the bill plus 15%, and then give the right amount. But with the Fire Phone there is no % button, so you have to do all the percentages manually. 

But by far the biggest problem with the Fire Phone is the internet. It is virtually impossible to open more than two screens at once, and while it has sites such as Amazon, FaceBook dedfaulted, it doesn't default any news sites, not to mention navigating the internet on the phone is extremely frustrating. 

The Fire Phone does have some potential, and maybe in a few years, if Jeff Bezos and the rest of the people of Amazon read this review and fix all the complaints I have listed, then maybe it might be worth taking a trip to your local AT&T store. Until then, stick with what you've got. 

Harry Potter Fans Should Give Cormoran Strike Series a Chance

Seven years ago this month saw the publication of the seventh and final Harry Potter book, culminating an almost decade-long journey fans experienced with the Boy Who Lived. 

But many fans are unaware that J.K. Rowling has recently begun a new chapter in her literary career as the author of a detective-mystery series. 

That is because when writing this series Rowling uses the pseudonym Robert Galbraith rather than her real name. The pseudonym is a combination of her political hero Robert F. Kennedy and her childhood fantasy name Ella Galbraith. Rowling says she began writing under this new name because she wanted to go back to the beginning of her writing career when she could write without "hype or expectation". 

The series features the detective duo of Cormoran Strike, a private investigator and war veteran who got his leg blown off in the War in Afghanistan, and his secretary and assistant Robin Ellacott. The first book in the series, "The Cuckoos Calling", involves the investigation in the apparent suicide of a world supermodel, while the latest book in the series "The Silkworm" (which came out last month) see Strike and Robin trying to find a missing author. Rowling says she is already halfway through writing the third book in the series, which will involve the return of soldiers, and has already figured out the plot for the fourth book. She also plans to write more than seven books in the series. 

Though not nearly as popular as the Potter series, the Cormoran Strike series have been fairly successful in their own right. "The Cuckoos Calling" has sold over 1.1 million copies in print, audiobook, and digital formats, and "The Silkworm" has already sold 87,000 copies in its first month. 

If you love mystery novels, I highly recommend reading "The Cuckoos Calling". Not only will it entertain you and keep your mind active, but the ending will totally blow you away. It is an ending that deserves comparisons to works done by Agatha Christie, another mystery author from Great Britain. Although "The Silkworm" did not have as shocking a conclusion as its predecessor, it is still an entertaining read, especially since Strike and Robin have become characters that are hard not to love. 

While Rowling may initially be seen as a newcomer to the mystery genre, if you look closely at the Potter series, you would find that each book involves some type of investigating. Even Rowling herself has said that they are "in many ways whodunits in disguise". 

Recently Rowling published a short story featuring a 30-something Harry and his friends on the Pottermore website. But rather than anticipate for another short story or book or movie featuring the Boy Who Lived, I think it would be an even better idea for Potter fans to give Rowling's new series a chance.  

The Campaign to End the Electoral College

Imagine a U.S. Presidential election without obsessions over Ohio, Florida, or other swing states. A presidential election in which there are no red states or blue states, an election in which the winner of the national popular vote wins, regardless on which states that candidate won. 

That reality may be sooner than you think.

Since 2007, 10 states and the District of Columbia representing 165 electoral votes have signed on to The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, in which the states agree to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote and not on the popular vote from that state. There are also currently active bills to join the compact in Michigan and Pennsylvania, which would bring the total to 201 electoral votes-74% of the 270 votes needed for the compact to go into effect. 

The Compact is based on the 1st Section of Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which allows states to decide on how to award their electoral college votes. Currently 48 of the 50 states award their electoral votes to the winner in their states, while Nebraska and Maine award their electoral votes by the winner of each district. 

Ending the electoral college system as we know it  would change our democracy for the better. Instead of spending most of their time in, say, Ohio, and focusing exclusively on the issues facing that state, presidential candidates would be free to campaign in other states regardless of whether or not that candidates party has won the state in the past. It would especially be beneficial to the state of California. Under the current system, the 2016 Democratic and Republican Nominees for President will not spend their time in the Golden State in the waning days of the campaign, with the possible exception of fundraising. But if the candidates no longer had to worry about the electoral college vote and instead have to worry about their popular vote totals, then you can bet they would spend a lot of their time in the most populous state in the country. Issues facing California such as the drought would force positions from each candidate and receive national attention. 

It's not just Democrats like myself who are rooting for this compact to go through before 2016. 73% of Independents and 60% of Republicans support a direct national popular vote for President. The GOP might even benefit more from this compact than Democrats. Under the current system, the GOP nominee for President in 2016 will have to run the tables in order to win the electoral votes necessary to win the election, with states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania no longer considered tossup states. And shifting demographics may turn states such as Georgia and Texas from solid red states to tossup states in the not-so-distant future. 

Since the founding of this country there have been four presidential elections in which the eventual winner lost the popular vote, the most recent being the infamous 2000 Florida debacle in which George W. Bush won the Sunshine State's 25 electoral votes by 528 votes despite winning over half a million fewer votes nationally than Al Gore. 

So far the states that have signed the compact have been blue states such as California and New York, so red states and tossup states will be critical in getting the compact to go into effect (although tossup states may be reluctant to sign the agreement since their states would no longer be critical in determining the next President). 

It has often been stated that turnout in U.S. Presidential Elections is lower than turnout in other developed democracies. There have been many efforts in order to mobilize voters to go to the polls, but I believe more voters won't be motivated to turnout until they know for sure that their vote would truly affect the outcome. 

Hillary's Wealth Is a Non-Issue

There has been way too much fuss this past month about Hillary Clinton's wealth as she decides whether to wage another run for the presidency. 

So what if she can charge $200,000 per speech, and so what if  she and her husband have a net worth in the tens of millions? People who criticize her fortune have forgotten that Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a man born into extreme wealth, created Social Security as well as jobs for millions of unemployed Americans during the Great Depression through the Works Progress Administration. They have forgotten that another President raised in riches, John F. Kennedy, proposed free medical care to the elderly, which later became Medicare. And they have forgotten that Kennedy's successor, Lyndon Johnson, who was a multimillionaire partly due to his ownership of a TV and radio station in Texas, launched a War on Poverty by singing into law Medicare, Medicaid, and Head Start. 

This of course doesn't mean that all Presidents who experienced affluence made the lives of the downtrodden better during their administrations. George H.W. Bush, who made his fortune in Texas oil drilling, vetoed an increase in the minimum wage, while his son refused to extend health insurance to six million children. 

No doubt the current debate about income inequality have put a harsher light on the Clinton's finances. The millions they have made since leaving the White House have been criticized and scrutinized as if by becoming rich they have suddenly become bad people. One columnist even went so far as to ask Mrs. Clinton to stop speaking for payment. 

What does her speaking fee have to do with her ability to lead the Free World? What does the net worth of her and her husband have to do with how she governs as President?

Instead of focusing on what Mrs. Clinton has, we should focus on what she can do and her plan for America. That's what really matters. 

Why LeBron's Return to Cavaliers may hurt GOP Convention Plans

Today's announcement that LeBron James is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers may hurt the Republican Party's plans on holding their 2016 convention in the early summer. 

One of the biggest reasons why the RNC chose Cleveland (other than it's in Ohio, which no Republican has ever won the White House without winning) is because the party wants to hold their convention in late June or early July in order to take advantage of tens of millions of dollars in federal election funs as early as they can in order to avoid a repeat of summer 2012, when presumptive nominee Mitt Romney was hammered over Bain Capitol and was unable to respond to the attacks since he wasn't able yet to tap into his general election campaign cash until the convention started. 

Until LeBron's surprise announcement today, it seemed as if the GOP would have no problem holding their convention at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena whenever they wanted to during the summer months. After LeBron left in 2010, the Cavaliers have been unable to win a championship or even a conference title, making a convention in June seem entirely within possibility. But LeBron's return may make is possible for the Cavaliers to win the Eastern Conference and play in the finals. Although the NBA finals can end as late as the third week of June, it takes six weeks for organizers to get the convention ready, meaning the Quicken Loans Arena may not be ready for them until late July or early August. 

Unfortunately for the GOP there is no other place in Cleveland for them to hold their convention. The Quicken Loans Arena has a capacity of over 20,000 and is just a short walk from several hotels. Most likely the 168-member Republican National Committee will still vote to have their convention in Cleveland, but they might end up holding it later than they wished. 

BMW i3: The Environmentalists Dream Car

If you're currently looking for a car that's sporty and fun but also want to help save the planet, the all-new BMW i3 may be right for you. The first car launched from BMW's all electric "i" division started deliveries in the U.S. back in May and has already sold 3,300 units globally through March.

I had the privilege of test-driving the i3 as part of an event at South Bay BMW in Torrance, CA. The car may look safe and friendly, like a new incarnation of the EVI, but under the hood, it's an absolute beast to drive. I have ridden shotgun in Bimmers and Mini Coopers before, but it was the first time I had myself been behind the wheel of an ultimate driving machine. With 170 horsepower and 184 pound feet of torque, it's a zippy little car that makes you feel like you're back at the Cars Ride at Disney Adventures. Another cool thing about the car is how high up the seats are, so you can feel like you're in an SUV without having to worry about fitting it into a parking space.And with even the cheapest gas now set above $4 a gallon, the i3 gets a jaw-dropping 124 combined mpg, saving you over $9,000 over five years compared to other vehicles.

However, despite its outstanding performance and environmental friendliness, the i3 does have a few drawbacks. Like any BMW, the i3 is not a very intuitive car. The controls take some time figuring out, especially the navigation system. And despite saving you money at the pump, that saving comes at a significant cost. As you would expect from any BMW, the i3 is not cheap, with a base price of over $42,000. Federal tax credits can bring the price down to just below $35,000, which is still pretty expensive. Leasing the car isn't cheap either, with a 36-month lease set at $648 a month with $5,000 down. With that amount you can get a much roomier and more powerful BMW 5 series. And although the three-hour charge can give the i3 a range of 70-110 miles, you'll need a garage that makes it possible to plug in your car, so unless electric charging stations start springing  up soon, you're out of luck.

But if you do have a garage that makes it possible for you to charge electric vehicles and have the means, I would highly recommend the i3. Not only is it fun to drive, but you'll also be helping to save the planet at the same time. 

Why I Miss Traditional Animated Movies

When I was seven I had the privilege of going to the premiere of Toy Story at the El Capitan with my mom and brother. It was a very exciting event for me, because it was the first time that I had ever seen an animated movie made entirely from computers. It wasn't just me that was experiencing computer animation for the very first time, but the entire world. The release of Toy Story in November 1995 was no doubt the biggest event in animation history since the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. Not only did Pixar's first feature film beat Batman Forever to become the highest grossing movie of 1995 in the U.S. and Canada, but it was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. 

But now, the fascination I had with computer animation when I was seven has long since gone, because nowadays every animated movie is made entirely from computers. 

This is because in the early 2000s, 2D animated flops such as Titan A.E., Treasure Planet, and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas convinced studios that traditional animation was a guarantee of financial ruin, while at the same time the success of Pixar and DreamWorks Animation's Shrek franchise convinced the studios that CGI was a guarantee of financial success. Animators with only 2D experience were laid off, while animators with CGI experience were in demand. 

However, DreamWorks Animations recent Box-Office misfires Rise of the Guardians, Turbo, and Mr. Peabody and Sherman as well as the Disney flop Mars Needs Moms shows that CGI is no longer a guarantee of an animated film being financially successful. 

I hope that Disney and DreamWorks will someday realize this and release a 2D animated movie every once in a while, because I'm sick and tired of seeing commercials for computer animated movies all the time. I miss living in the era of the Disney Renaissance, when the Mouse House released 2D animated fare such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. Not only do I consider these movies entertaining masterpieces, but also beautiful works of art. There is just something about 2D animation that makes it so beautiful to look at, while CGI animation to me seems too dull and too real. 

After being hired as Walt Disney Animations Chief Creative Officer in 2006, Pixar Guru John Lasseter convinced the Mouse House to produce The Princess and the Frog in 2D rather than 3D animation. Despite being a critical success and grossing $267 million worldwide, Disney has refused to release another 2D animated movie since. But I'm hoping that someday Disney, DreamWorks, or any other animation studio will take a chance on 2D animation once again. 

Why Cleveland will host the next GOP Convention

Cleveland and Dallas were announced Wednesday as the two finalists to host the 2016 GOP Convention, and I have no doubt which one of them will come out on top.

It has been said many times but it is worth repeating again: no Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio. The Buckeye State may be even more important than ever to the GOP since it was the state that gave America a second term of President Obama. With it's 18 electoral votes, it is the second largest battleground state prize after Florida, and you can bet that winning it will be a top priority for whoever wins the GOP Presidential nomination.

The last time Cleveland hosted a GOP convention was in 1936 when it nominated Alf Landon to run against FDR, and the last time Dallas was the host city was in 1984, when it nominated President Reagan for re-election. Although Texas is much larger than Ohio with 38 electoral votes, it is a reliably Republican state. Having a Republican Convention in Dallas would be like having a Democratic Convention in San Francisco-holding a convention in a state the party can take for granted and would in no way help in winning the White House.

But I believe there are other reasons why the GOP will avoid having their next national gathering in Dallas. Part of it is due to the last Republican President, who by sheer coincidence lives in and has his presidential library in Dallas. Despite former President George W. Bush's approval numbers having increased significantly since he left office, having the convention in his home city might end up reminding voters about his policies and why they disliked his administration in the first place. If the convention was in Dallas, it is a pretty sure thing that Dubya would have to have a speaking slot, since it would be awkward to hold the gathering in his own backyard and not invite him. But if it was in Cleveland, then it would be a lot easier for the party to disinvite him.

But the more significant danger to the GOP in holding their convention in Dallas is that it would run the risk of giving Texas Senator and Tea Party champion Ted Cruz a starring role at the convention. At a time when mainstream Republicans are fighting off against the Tea Party, having the convention in the home state of one of the Tea Party's most recognizable faces is not on their wish list. Giving Cruz a starring role could also run the risk of reminding voters about the government shutdown, something the party would like everyone to forget.

The only way I can see Dallas beating Cleveland in hosting their convention would be if Cleveland was unable to raise the necessary funds in hosting the event. Dallas has a variety of high-net worth GOP donors that would make raising money for the gathering a piece of cake, which has even more significance after Congress passed legislation stripping away public financing of political conventions. But even if that were the case, I think it would be more likely that the party would be willing to go into debt in order to win Ohio-and the White House-once again. 

Voice of Shaggy in "Scooby Doo" Dead at 82

Radio legend and former American Top 40 host Casey Casem died this morning in Washington State at the age of 82. Casem died as the result of complications from Lewy body dementia, a type of dementia that is often associated with Parkinson's disease. His daughter Kerri broke the news this morning on FaceBook.

If you are 30 or younger you probably never heard of Kasey Casem, but chances are you would recognize his voice. From 1969 to 2009 Casem voiced the role of cowardly teenage slacker Norville  "Shaggy" Rogers, the best friend and owner of the beloved canine Scooby-Doo. Together with Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, and Velma Dinkley, Scooby and his gang of five have solved various mysteries as part of the crime solving group Mystery, Inc.

Casem first voiced the role of Shaggy in the popular Hanna Barbara Saturday Morning Cartoon Scooby-Doo: Where Are You (1969-1971) and played the role in subsequent series such as Scooby-Doo and Scrappy Doo (1979-1980), The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (1983-1984) and A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988-1991). Casem's last performance as Shaggy was in the direct-to-video movie Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword. 

Just a few weeks ago, Casem was involved in a mystery case himself when he went missing. He was later found at a hospital in Washington State. For a long time now, there has been a huge family fued between Kasem's second wife Jean Casem and his children. Back in October, His oldest children with his first wife Linda Myers claimed that Jean had blocked contact with them for three months. Just a month ago Kerri Casem was granted conservatorship of her father despite Jean's objections.

The voice actor who entertained millions on radio and TV lost his ability to speak when he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. In a statement, Kerri said that even though her father "is in a better place and is no longer suffering, we are heartbroken". If you ever watched Scooby-Doo on Saturday mornings, you probably share that same sentiment.

Schweirtzer comments point to potential run against Hillary

With countless prominent Democrats announcing their endorsement of Hillary Clinton this early in the game, it was a surprise to hear one of them say something negative about the former First Lady.

In an interview with Time Magazine, former Montana Governor and potential 2016 Presidential contender Brian Schwetizer said he would make a better President than Hillary, pointing to her ties to Wall Street and her vote for the Iraq War Resolution as liabilities.

While his candidacy currently has no chance of beating the Clinton machine, his candidacy might cause Hillary some major headaches in the Iowa, a state whose economy relies a lot on agriculture. Not only does Montana also rely heavily on agriculture, but Schweitzer also served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the Clinton Administration. So having the chance to pick a candidate who knows a thing or two about agricultural issues might give some Iowans something to think about.

In 2008 Clinton placed third in the Iowa Caucuses against eventual nominee and President Barack Obama and John Edwards. Although Schwetizer doesn't have the starpower that Obama did, beating Hillary in Iowa or coming very close to her in the nation's first presidential contest  would have the potential to destroy the "inevitability" factor for the Democratic nomination that she currently has. So if Schweitzer gets in the game, it's a possibility that the Clintons will have to worry about Iowa all over again. 

What the media isn't telling you about the Botched Execution in Oklahoma

You've probably heard by now about the botched execution in Oklahoma, the one in which a man died of a heart attack 43 minutes after the execution took place.

But did you know that the man that died of a heart attack-Clayton Lockett-shot and buried alive a 19-year old who just graduated high school and that the man who was scheduled to be executed after him-Charles Warner-raped and murdered an 11-month old baby girl? Probably not, because for some strange reason there hasn't been any TV coverage of why these two men are on death row in the first place.

In 1999, Lockett forced 19-year old Stephanie Neiman to witness one of her friends being gang raped and then ordered his accomplices to bury her alive after shooting her. Two year later, Warner raped and murdered Adriana Waller, the baby daughter of his girlfriend.

Now, I'm not saying that you are wrong if you don't believe in the death penalty. If you believe nobody should be executed no matter how heinous a crime that person commited, that's a valid opinion to have.

But I do not believe anyone should immediately start being against the death penalty because of what happened in Oklahoma without knowing all the facts.

For me, after discovering the circumstances that led these two men to be on death row, I feel that they got/are getting exactly what they deserve.

The debate about the death penalty has been going on for quite a few years now. But I believe a bigger debate needs to take place on how to prevent horrible acts like the ones Lockett and Warner committed from happening in the first place. 

Why "How I Met Your Mother" Finale should have included funeral scene

According to Alyson Hannigan, the series finale of How I Met Your Mother could have been a lot more gut-wrenching.

A scene showing Tracy's funeral that was included in the script was cut because the creators thought it would hit the viewers, and us fans, way too hard.

But even if this scene had been gut-wrenching, I believe Carter Bays and Craig Thomas made a terrible mistake by not including it in the finale.

For starters, I believe it would have helped many fans be ok with Ted ending up with Robin. While I was satisfied with how the series turned out, I feel that the last five minutes were too rushed from Ted meeting Tracy to Ted wanting to date Robin again. It isn't until Penny says "Come on Dad, Mom's been gone for six years now, it's time" that the viewer knows for certain that the mother is dead and that she has been dead for six years. Before she says this, it's easy to assume that Tracy could be dying in a hospital or that she just recently passed away. Showing Tracy's funeral and her tombstone would have shown viewers that Ted had been a widowed father for six years before it cut back to him finishing telling the story to his kids.

Unfortunately, this scene wasn't shot, so we won't get a chance to view it on the season nine DVD. Which is a shame, because it's a scene that might have given fans a lot more closure. 

Which cities are likely to host next Democratic Convention?

Last week, the Democratic National Committee invited 15 cities to bid for 2016 Democratic National Convention. Here are the list of the cities that received invitations, as well as my opinions on each city's likelihood of being chosen. Each of them have until June 6 decide whether or not to submit a bid.

1.Atlanta-Yes

The Peach State might be more purple than you think. Georgia's changing demographics could make it's 16 electoral votes up for grabs in 2016. This fall Jason Carter, grandson of the 39th President, has a real shot at following his grandfather's footsteps towards the governor's mansion, while Michelle Nunn is leading all her Republican opponents in her bid to win her father's former Senate seat. A win by either Democrat will definitely help the city's chances.

2. Chicago-No 

While the Windy City has held several democratic conventions in the past (the last one bering in 1996), having the convention in the home city of the incumbent President doesn't really scream "moving forward". Mayor Rahm Emmanuel's poor relationship with labor unions also makes a Chicago selection seem unlikely.

3. Cleveland-Yes

It's in Ohio, the state that put Obama over the top in 2012. Nuff said.

4. Columbus-Yes

Like Cleveland, it's in Ohio. Yet Columbus is much larger and has already created a YouTube video and a website for it's bid, while Cleveland hasn't. Columbus has also been described as one of the best cities in the country in terms of LGBTequality.

5. Detroit-No 

If the Motor City can't afford to pay its bills, how could it afford to put up $50 to $60 million to host the political equivalent of the Super Bowl? Plus Michigan will remain blue in 2016, no matter who the Democratic nominee is.

6. Indanapolis-No 

Obama won the Hoosier State by the slimmest of margins in 2008, yet four years later it went sharply back to the right. Mayor Greg Ballard has also said the city is unlikely to submit a bid.

7. Las Vegas-Yes

Nevada is trending blue, if not already a sold blue state thanks to it's growing Latino population. Vegas unfortunately doesn't have any sports arenas, so it's luck might depend on if the expansion of the Mandalay Bay Convention center will be done before the summer of 2016.

8. Miami-Yes

No Democrat has won Florida since the 1960s without winning Miami-Dade County by at least 90,000 votes. With it's 29 electoral votes, the Sunshine State is the biggest electoral prize in the next election.

9. Nashville-No

Not even Al Gore could win his home state of Tennessee.

10. New York-Yes 

The most convenient choice for Hillary should she decide to run, the Big Apple would have no problem providing wealthy donors to help fund the convention and hotel space for convention goers and party leaders. Mayor Bill DeBlasio's "tale of two cities" campaign theme on income inequality might give a New York convention an economic populist message that could help fire up the base.

11. Orlando-Yes 

Like Miami it's in Florida, the biggest electoral prize in the country. Being the location of DisneyWorld shouldn't hurt.

12. Philadelphia-Yes 

Once a hard-fought battleground state, Pennsylvania is starting to become solidly Democratic. The city of Brotherly Love is also the fifth largest city in the nation. Popular former Mayor and former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is already trying to raise $60 million from Philadelphia's business leaders for a bid, along with U.S. Representative Bob Brady.

13. Phoenix-Yes 

Though it has only gone blue one since 1948, Arizona's 11 electoral votes might be up for grabs in 2016 due to its rising hispanic population.

14. Pittsburg-Yes 

Though not as big as Philadelphia, this other Pennsylvania city might be chosen due to its leadership on developing environmentally friendly buildings. The city is also home to nine Fortune 500 companies, which may help it to raise money for a convention bid.

15. Salt Lake City-No 

The only reason SLC is being considered is because it's one of the top 51 gay-friendly cities in America. Other than that there's no reason for the Democrats to hold their next convention here. The eventual nominee will certainly lose Utah, as has been the case in the past 50 years.