1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,480 Hello, they banned the app that changed my life, 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,040 but stuff still happened. 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:08,080 So what's up? 4 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,360 I don't actually have like a fully structured thing today. 5 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:12,960 I'm just gonna yap. 6 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,680 I started on TikTok several years ago, 7 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:18,600 posting random crap, for no reason. 8 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:20,840 It was the pandemic, we were all going crazy. 9 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,080 Eventually I posted a friggin' cum joke 10 00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:25,400 and that's who it went viral for me first 11 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:27,560 and got me any sort of audience. 12 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,760 That sounds, that tracks, it tracks, it really does. 13 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,480 From there I was just posting random stuff, 14 00:00:32,480 --> 00:00:35,480 I was just memeing and doing random series. 15 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:37,640 I originally was doing a couple of series, 16 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,440 one was I'm the new God and here's all the decrees 17 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,600 I'm making and the other was my guide for men 18 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:46,000 on how to interact with women. 19 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,760 Way back when I had a fake conversation 20 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,360 where I literally used an object as a stand-in 21 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,080 for a woman, that's the joke, 22 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,400 because I was also saying don't objectify women. 23 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:57,480 Anyway, moving on. 24 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:01,080 I eventually started a blog called What's Going On 25 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:05,000 with a period, more of a statement of like what's going on. 26 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,000 This blog was just a place for me to vent a little bit. 27 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,280 Here's some stuff I'm reading 28 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:11,800 and here's what I have to say about it 29 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,960 and eventually I started just also posting videos 30 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:17,360 of the same format and now we're here. 31 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,320 In that span of time, I left my career 32 00:01:21,320 --> 00:01:23,760 and did this full time, which was huge for me 33 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:25,920 because I've spent pretty much my entire life 34 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,080 being as safe as possible 35 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,440 and finally took a chance on myself to do this 36 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,600 and was it a financially sound decision? 37 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,240 No, but I'm much happier now. 38 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,520 And so eventually I settled on Stuff Keeps Happening 39 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:41,160 as the name of my show and I've been doing a lot of that 40 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,240 and all the while building a whole bunch of other stuff 41 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,000 like my community on Discord and my stream 42 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:48,920 and everything else that I've been working on. 43 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:50,880 I'm literally building games right now. 44 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,160 I have no shortage of things that I am more than excited 45 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:57,200 to be able to do, I of course have limited time and energy 46 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,560 but that's not gonna stop me from trying to do everything 47 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,920 I possibly can to bring a smile to your face. 48 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,520 I know a lot of people know me as like a news boy, right? 49 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,560 But that's not really my passion. 50 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,680 I just have a lot of things to say about stuff. 51 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:12,240 It's why I don't say that I'm a journalist 52 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,160 and it's why I don't say that I'm an activist 53 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,800 because I highly respect people who are really, 54 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,640 really talented journalists and activists 55 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:23,120 and I just don't count myself among them. 56 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:24,560 I just appreciate them deeply 57 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,240 because I far more see myself as just an entertainer 58 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:31,680 and maybe an educator and I just want to make people 59 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:33,520 have an easier time. 60 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,880 That's all I think I wanna do with my life, you know? 61 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,160 I've always been at my happiest 62 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,920 when I can make other people feel better. 63 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:43,240 Although he kind of super sucks now, 64 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,720 a quote from someone who I used to really look up to, 65 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,320 John Cleese, is something that sits in my head 66 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,280 which is paraphrasing, 67 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,360 there's never not a good time for comedy. 68 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,040 He went on to say that like even in the darkest of times 69 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:57,800 you could be at a funeral, 70 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:58,760 but if you crack a joke, 71 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:00,600 that means that there's still some humanity there. 72 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,400 And while, yes, there's some situations 73 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,880 where maybe don't crack a joke, 74 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,120 I do think it's important to remember 75 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,840 that we can always connect on comedy. 76 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:14,000 We can always find some way to laugh about something 77 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,000 and that's deeply necessary in a world 78 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,400 where there's not a lot to be happy about. 79 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,200 Things aren't going particularly well 80 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,080 for the people of the United States 81 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,200 and a lot of the world, honestly, 82 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,360 but we know it and at least we're talking 83 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:29,600 and at least we have each other. 84 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,160 Does that make everything better? 85 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,880 No, but it does give us something. 86 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,160 It does give us something to hold onto 87 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:40,360 besides just spiraling and feeling completely hopeless, 88 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,480 which we do still do, but if that's all we have, 89 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,240 if we didn't have the occasional laugh, 90 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,320 if we didn't have the occasional smile, 91 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,080 if we didn't embrace the absurdity 92 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,720 and accept that things are whack, 93 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,360 but at least we can laugh a bit, I wouldn't be here. 94 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:56,440 Let's just leave it at that. 95 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:01,440 And I don't mean here as in an app or video, I mean here. 96 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,520 As of right now, here is what we know 97 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,840 about the state of play for TikTok 98 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,440 and a few other upcoming events. 99 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:10,240 The TikTok ban has been upheld 100 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,280 by the Supreme Court unanimously. 101 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:13,920 Joe Biden said he's not going to enforce it, 102 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:15,400 he's gonna let Trump deal with it. 103 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,160 And Trump likes TikTok now 104 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,000 because he got kind of popular on it 105 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:20,960 and so that makes him happy about it. 106 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,480 Nevermind his entire ethos, he likes it now. 107 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:25,320 But what does that mean? 108 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,080 Like when has, depending on Trump to pull through 109 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:31,400 to do something hopeful ever worked? 110 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:32,680 But based on things right now, 111 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,240 we are expecting TikTok to go dark on Sunday 112 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,000 for all users in the US, period. 113 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:39,880 That may not happen, there may be some change, 114 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,400 but that's all we have to go off of right now. 115 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,240 And so as far as I'm concerned, that's how I'm operating. 116 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,040 I also think, and this is just purely my opinion, 117 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,440 I think that regardless of if TikTok is saved right now, 118 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:56,800 this is the functional end of TikTok culturally in America. 119 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,360 Best case scenario, it gets saved in air quotes 120 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:04,160 and is radically different, is moderated differently, 121 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,080 it has a different owner, the vibes aren't the same. 122 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,520 I don't see any other way 123 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,800 but being on life support in the future. 124 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,640 But I hope I'm wrong, I would very much like to be wrong. 125 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,360 What's very unfortunate is that there are swaths of Americans 126 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:22,320 who have never even taken a second to look at TikTok, 127 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:24,760 who think that they know everything there is to know about it 128 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,280 and truly believe that the app is a meaningless void 129 00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:29,640 that has no value. 130 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,960 Instead of being used by 170 million Americans 131 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,360 and producing income for like seven million 132 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:37,840 small businesses and creators 133 00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:40,560 to the tune of like over $10 billion a year. 134 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,760 Now also TikTok sucks, like it's a bad app 135 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,920 and algorithmic social media is bad in general 136 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,320 for people's brains and whatnot. 137 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,840 And also it is helping a lot of people 138 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:55,080 and connecting a lot of people for the good that it does do. 139 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,400 And banning it is bad policy and we know that 140 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,440 but it doesn't matter, it's not about privacy, 141 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,960 it's about business and global posturing. 142 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,360 Trump steps into the Oval Office on Monday 143 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,520 which is also MLK day, wow. 144 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,480 And also they've moved his inauguration 145 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,240 into the Capitol rotunda, 146 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,400 so all the people who have traveled to DC 147 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,080 to watch the inauguration live 148 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,080 are going to have to watch from the Capital One Arena 149 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:19,640 on a TV screen. 150 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:21,000 They're not particularly thrilled. 151 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,560 He's been telling big stories about all the things 152 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:25,160 he's gonna do on his first day in office 153 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:26,280 and that our heads are gonna spin 154 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:28,840 and he's gonna do all these executive orders and whatnot. 155 00:06:28,840 --> 00:06:29,920 But of course it's Trump, 156 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,520 so every single thing he's ever said has been hedged. 157 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,680 So it's always we'll see what I do 158 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:37,920 or you're gonna be shocked by what I do 159 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:39,800 or I'll have to take a look at it 160 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,320 or I'll think about that and we'll see what happens. 161 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,040 Like that's not a statement of what's gonna happen. 162 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,400 That's not telling anybody what your policies are. 163 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,200 That's just waiting until the last second 164 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,120 to make a snap decision that serves you best. 165 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,560 So while there is absolutely reason to be concerned, 166 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,200 deeply about the incoming administration, 167 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:58,400 keep your wits about you. 168 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,160 Remember that they're going to do everything they can 169 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,800 to inundate you with so much chaos 170 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,280 that you cannot separate signal from noise. 171 00:07:05,280 --> 00:07:06,400 And so let me say this, 172 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,520 and this goes out mostly to the folks on TikTok who watch me, 173 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:11,640 but this goes to everyone. 174 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:13,480 If you've never taken anything else away from me, 175 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:14,320 let it be this. 176 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,320 I frequently get comments from people saying 177 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,800 that they would never have known about something going on 178 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:20,680 unless they got it through TikTok 179 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,440 or wherever they were seeing it. 180 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,280 It's always whatever app they were on, 181 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,120 I would never have known this without this app. 182 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:27,640 I am not magic. 183 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,280 I do not reach into the ether to pull out the headlines. 184 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:32,440 I just read the news. 185 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:36,240 If nothing else, I recommend once a day, once a week, 186 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:40,440 something like that, just go to apnews.com 187 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,160 and check out what's on their front page. 188 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,160 AP News, the Associated Press, they are not perfect, 189 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,360 but they are generally fact-based reporting 190 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,320 and usually have whatever's the most important thing 191 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:52,160 right up top. 192 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:56,000 Many, many news organizations just take what the AP posts 193 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,360 and either directly reposts it or just rewrites it. 194 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,400 So if I am ever wondering like, 195 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,280 what is the latest on a given important situation 196 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:05,440 nationally and globally? 197 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,240 I will literally just go to apnews.com 198 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,920 as my first source to then figure out, 199 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:11,560 do I need to be concerned about this 200 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,000 and where can I get more information? 201 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,600 It is not my only source, it is just one, 202 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,200 but it's the one that I tend to go to 203 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,840 for casually being like, is anything going on? 204 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,440 They will usually have quick and easy to digest information 205 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:25,440 about current events quickly. 206 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,560 From there, if you are inclined, dig deeper, 207 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,240 Google things, it's not hard, 208 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,720 but please don't believe that you have no other way 209 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:36,800 to get information. 210 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:38,200 That is learned helplessness 211 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,000 and it only benefits the people who are at the top 212 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,520 who are wanting you to never learn more. 213 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:46,680 Unfortunately, it does take effort, but that's life, baby. 214 00:08:46,680 --> 00:08:48,960 My plans moving forward are to lean further 215 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,480 into longer form content, both on YouTube 216 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:53,680 and Twitch and podcast and whatnot. 217 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:55,680 I also have my newsletter, which is completely free. 218 00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:56,520 You can sign up for that. 219 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:57,960 There is a paid tier if you wanna support me, 220 00:08:57,960 --> 00:08:58,800 but it's free. 221 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,000 And I'll just keep posting to every platform 222 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,640 that I'm on as long as I can, because that's what I do. 223 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,560 And I need to have some sort of income. 224 00:09:07,560 --> 00:09:12,480 So yay, but for real, thank you all so very, very much. 225 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,040 I still think this is just the beginning for me. 226 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,680 So I got a lot, a lot I wanna do. 227 00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:38,560 So take care, be well, and I'll see you soon.