Let people have their soda and drink it too

In my current locale, there's a noticeable trend of people complaining about soda shops. They're on every corner, causing diabetes, stealing space that could've been used to bring in Trader Joe's, Hobby Lobby, and authentic Chinese restaurants.

Car washes also receive complaints for being on every corner stealing space, as do snack-oriented shops. I really don't think it's that serious though. The reason soda shops, car washes, and snack shops are everywhere is because they're in demand.

With all the outdoor activities and the dirt flying around in our southwestern desertscape, it's not exactly surprising that there's a demand for car washes. And even though there are a bunch of them around town, they're usually busy with long lines when I drive by during the day.

Likewise, with Utah being a such an alcoholically dry state that also discourages coffee, there's an increased demand for non-alcoholic beverages beyond water and coffee, and soda tends to be one of the primary things that fulfills that desire, as illustrated in the above video.

You might not be able to drink cocktails, but you can have a mocktail of various soda flavors.

The complaint about how unhealthy soda can be is warranted, as is the complaint that increasing the number of car washes contributes to our growing drought issues, but the solution to that is simple: Don't buy it and don't interact with posts about it on social media.

The more engagement a topic receives, whether positive or negative, the more companies view it as a trend to jump on. Every time you mention the word soda or specify a company name, it increases the likelihood of the topic showing up on your feed and the feeds of others like you.

And regardless, I think most people know their limits when it comes to soda drinking. Much like my gripe with the "Super Size Me" documentary, I feel the need to point out that most people probably don't go to these soda shops every day multiple times a day, and if they do, that's their business to deal with.

Car washes and soda shops aren't a malignant plague on our society, and even if they were, the best way to get rid of them is to stop buying their products and stop giving them free press with your complaints.

And if they continue to thrive after you've done that, then that means that there's a market for it and you just don't happen to be part of it. You can also address legitimate gripes, such as car washes using too much water, by getting involved in local advocacy efforts.

BTS' popularity knows no bounds

Admittedly, I don't know too much about BTS other than the fact that the group is riding the Korean Wave of popularity, the group's fandom is appropriately called ARMY, and the members are currently taking a break to complete their mandatory military service.

I do know this though: BTS is unbelievably popular even in the wake of its hiatus.

I've seen the ARMY fandom all over the internet hyping BTS up, I've continuously had friends and colleagues recommend both the group and its members' solo endeavors, and I've even heard my dad listening to "My Universe" during his late-night music binges.

Likewise, even after group members started their military service, BTS and its individual members have continued to be nominated for MAMA and Grammy awards, and they've released their concert movie, a soundtrack, and a 10th anniversary single.

Plus, like other international artists, BTS has managed to foster diplomacy through the positive messages they send on the international stage, which has earned them special recognition from both the South Korean government and other international diplomatic organizations.

BTS' ARMY continues to grow strong even in its absence, and I look forward to seeing how much more growth occurs when the group has made its intended return.

My favorite Roald Dahl stories

Roald Dahl wrote children's books that have continued to inspire new film and Broadway adaptations even decades after his passing.

Dahl wrote books such as "The Gremlins," "James and the Giant Peach," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "The BFG," "The Witches," and "Matilda," among others. Many of those have also been adapted into movies and Broadway productions.

No matter the medium, Dahl's stories are an integral part of many people's childhoods, for better or worse.

For example, I remember reading "The BFG" for elementary school, and not long afterward, people started referring to me as the BFG. Unfortunately, it was being used as an insult since I was the tallest child in school for a while there.

Regardless, the story is a good one, as are Dahl's other stories. I particularly love "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Matilda." While I didn't read the novels for either story, I've enjoyed them in every medium I've seen them in.

The "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" movie with Johnny Depp and the "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" movie with Gene Wilder are both great in different ways. The new "Wonka" film with Timothée Chalamet also looks interesting.

Likewise, I have a special place in my heart for the 1996 "Matilda" film and I also enjoyed the 2022 "Matilda the Musical" film. I relate to Matilda's love for reading and I think it would be cool to have telekinesis. Not to mention I'm a sucker for a well-done musical.

Dahl's influence is a lasting one and it will be interesting to see how that continues in the future.

Review: The final episode of 'M*A*S*H'

The final episode of "M*A*S*H," titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," is an emotional rollercoaster to watch even now, 40 years later.

While the episode is interspersed with the usual hilarious antics of the 4077th MASH unit, it's also interspersed with a dark undertone surrounding Hawkeye's (Alan Alda) stay in a psychiatric hospital in the wake of a mental breakdown caused by a traumatic event he experienced.

The reveal of the true nature of the traumatic event is a real sucker punch to the stomach that always leaves me in tears. I hate anything that involves hurting kids, pets, and other vulnerable populations. But damn if it isn't quality storytelling.

Fortunately, a lot of good things happen that lessen the impact of the traumatic event on the episode as a whole.

Characters such as Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) receive good news about their post-war job prospects, Klinger (Jamie Farr) marries Soon-Lee (Rosalind Chao), and the war ends, allowing everyone to go home.

The episode is a fitting end to a strong 11-season run, as evidenced by the fact that it was the most watched television broadcast in American history until the 2010 Super Bowl broke that record.

"Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" is a must-watch for anyone who loves "M*A*S*H."

'The Goonies' review: the movie that never says die

"The Goonies" is a much beloved adventure comedy from 1985 that features a group of kids and teens searching for legendary pirate One-Eyed Willy's treasure in the tunnels beneath their town after finding a treasure map, all while being pursued by criminals who want the treasure too.

My family loves this movie and we watched it all the time when I was younger. To this day, we'll sometimes randomly blurt out "hey you guys" the same way Sloth (John Matuszak) does in the movie, along with a variety of other one-liners.

The movie even features a star-studded cast including Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, and Ke Huy Quan, among others.

But what I really love about the movie is the genuine sense of adventure, the childish wonder as the characters explore the tunnels, and the mostly convincing practical effects. Even without nostalgic bias, I feel like "The Goonies" has a lot of things that are missing in current non-superhero movies.

The movie does of course have some stereotypical vestiges, like the way it pokes fun at Data's (Ke Huy Quan) accent and Chunk's (Jeff Cohen) weight, but it's still representative of how kids would interact at that age, especially at the time, so those vestiges are somewhat negligible.

The movie also features a solid soundtrack, including Cyndi Lauper's "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough."

"The Goonies" is a movie worth watching for anyone who loves a good adventure movie with a dose of nostalgia. If you like things like "National Treasure" and "Stranger Things," you'll like "The Goonies."

Much like the classic "Goonies never say die" line, the fun of this movie never dies.