Pros and Cons

In this new series around things to watch at home, anything might be explored from shows to movies to YouTube to sports and anything else. In the first edition, Jack and Kev discuss some of the things they saw over the past year – and some that they're deciding whether or not to watch still. Including series like Euphoria, Atlanta, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Bear, Abbott Elementary, and more. Or movies like Top Gun, Avatar, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Menu, Bones & All, The Fabelmans, All Quiet on the Western Front, and more. Or sports events like the recent Super Bowl LVII and '23 Australian Open. 

While it can be glorified or dramatized excessively in movies, rain is usually more of an inconvenience than anything else. You have to be more careful about what clothes/shoes you wear, carry an umbrella around if you want to stay dry, and it can limit your choice of options for the day ahead. That all being said, rain can sometimes have its advantages as well. Kev and Jack talk about the different sides and the recent nonstop rain that just hit California for almost a month.

A decade ago, one of the best selling and most beloved video games – The Last of Us – was released to the world. Now, its new adaptation airing on HBO is following up on that success. Just like the game, it's breaking records like being HBO's second-most watched series premiere in more than a decade and the viewers are only continuing to grow each week. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic U.S. and has a mass infection, though it pre-dates our own pandemic. Jack and Kev talk about both the game itself and if the adaptation is successful so far.

Choosing a symbol, typeface, figure, or shape to represent what you or your company stands for is not an easy decision. Besides the name in itself, a logo can be a major part of how a brand/company or individual presents themselves to the world. Kev and Jack talk about what can make a logo successful or not before looking at examples in areas including sports, food, cars, video games, movies/TV, and clothes.

Now an annual tradition, it’s that time of the year to pick out the biggest highlight and disappointment albums of the year. Jack and Kev break down their personal Top 5 cons and Top 5 pros that came out in 2022. 

For personal Top Songs playlists, see below: 

As the biggest international sport, the World Cup is always a highly-watched event. Plus, since it only happens every four years, it makes the stakes even more intense and makes winning it that much more difficult and special. With legends like Messi and Ronaldo taking on their last ever tournament this year, but with newcomers trying to disrupt history, it's an even further elevated competition. Kev and Jack talk about the futbol/soccer debate, experience with the sport to play or watch, how the World Cup has evolved, and this year's 2022 tournament in Qatar.

With the takeover of digital and online culture, magazines have taken a bit of a back seat. But, they're not fully dead yet. From some of the bigger names still out there to small indie niche publications, there's issues being circulated. Some are just the low quality tabloid ones, but others hold it down with real art book level quality. Jack and Kev talk about their experience with magazines growing up, creating their own photo mag (Ludique), where they see the state of the industry now, and kick around some ideas.

After the first Pros and Cons edition of the Gift Guide last year, this time there are some new limitations: only items that are too expensive for what they should be worth. But even though that's an auto-con, Kev and Jack each pick out some clothes and accessories that fit the bill as pros – outside of the price – from kicks to sweaters to things for the home.

To view the images of what's mentioned: www.cesspoolnetwork.com/pros-and-cons-notes/overpriced-gift-guide-2022

Since the last episode at the end of August, there were two main things that happened. One was the homestretch of the home run chase of Aaron Judge, who eventually broke Roger Maris’ record of 61 for both the AL and franchise records. The other was the playoffs, which after an initial bye-round came a win in the division series and then a brutal loss (as a sweep) in the championship series. Jack and Kev talk about the highs and lows of it all, how the season was in general, and a glimpse into the offseason with Judge becoming a free agent.

Especially in big cities with millions of people, most rely completely on public transport to get around. From buses to trains, it’ll (sometimes) bring you where you need to go, and at what can be a more affordable price. But, at what cost to your time/journey? Kev and Jack talk about their experiences with it in places such as NYC, LA, DR, SF, and across the world.