February 2026: Culture
Benito Bowl 2026
La vida es una fiesta que un día termina.
The Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, aka the Benito Bowl, was the hot topic for a week earlier this month in American (U.S.) media. A lot of people made a big deal about the fact that Bad Bunny sings in Spanish because no one would understand him. First, that line of thinking is a slap in the face to musicians worldwide. Music is a universal language. To shake your ass, all you need is a good beat.
Bad Bunny’s performance was fantastic. I have limited exposure and connection to my Puerto Rican heritage, but it didn't matter because Bad Bunny highlighted many different cultural staples that resonated with me. The vibe was familiar. I got a taste of it when we stayed with my grandfather in Puerto Rico for two weeks many moons ago. We traveled all over the island, and I saw flashes of those places in Bad Bunny’s set. It was pure love, and it was entertaining, which is the only function of a halftime show. It is for entertainment. It’s not some grand unifying production that is supposed to bring the country together.
I heard some folks in the media rattle that saber. The nature of the game in which the halftime show exists is one team versus another; your team versus mine. The game itself is divisive. This isn’t the Olympics, which also went down this month (and started on the same weekend as the Super Bowl). You want a sporting event to bring the country together? How about USA hockey? How about USA curling? How about Alyssa Liu? It’s not the responsibility of the damn NFL to make US citizens feel safe, or calm the nerves of our society, or bring the country together in peace. I think that’s supposed to be President Trump’s job.
The Aged Rapper
I’m not talking about myself. The only thing I can wrap are gifts, and even that skill is questionable. No, I’m referring to DJ Quik, but really any performer, but maybe also only specific performers. If you are wondering who DJ Quik is, that’s part of my point. DJ Quik is a well-respected producer and rapper. He’s actually quite good at both, something unique to the game. A lot of producers rap, like Dr. Dre, Diddy (not so much anymore), Kanye West (tragic), and The Alchemist. Dre and Diddy don’t write their rhymes; they write checks. Yeezy and Al are two of the best music producers to ever do it, but their rhymes are mid at best. At worst, we’re talking “Dr. Seuss, Mother Goose” lyrical prowess, but DJ Quik can rap. He’s produced rap hits and R&B hits. He’s a legend in the game.
However, he’s not famous enough to keep an audience of his fans waiting for three hours at a small venue in Rancho Cucamonga. The city and size of the venue are irrelevant in this case because my point is about DJ Quik’s status as a star. Fans of Madonna or Lauryn Hill can relate to being stuck standing at their shows for hours while they wait for the headliners to show up. Those two ladies are more famous, and while that behavior is still bullshit, it is slightly more reasonable. Slightly. Adding further insult to his grand display of indifference to his fans’ suffering, DJ Quik’s FOUR opening acts were local rappers no one knew. I’ve been to a lot of concerts of all varieties–small club shows, arena shows, music festivals–and other than a music festival, I’ve never seen more than two openers for a headliner, and two can sometimes be pushing it. Four is absurd, and the good DJ from Compton lost his audience before he even took the stage. I had a good night out with my wife regardless; we will forever be able to laugh at the tragedy that was this DJ Quik show.
Winter Olympics
I try to catch at least a few events every time the Olympics come around. It doesn’t matter if it’s the summer or winter games. I love to see all of the athletes shine. The USA hockey teams captured the hearts of many American fans, and those gold medal games were incredible, so was the bobsledding I saw and the figure skating. It’s an inspiration to see those men and women get to that stage, even if they don’t win.
The next Olympics will be here in and around Los Angeles, and I hope people from around the world will feel welcomed enough to attend.
Lonesome Dove
Robert Duvall passed away this month. What a powerful actor! He lived about as long as humanly possible and shared his talent with the world to enjoy. He’s probably most famous for his line from Apocalypse Now, but I will always love him for his performance of Augustus McCrae, the retired Texas Ranger who drives cattle north with his road dog, Woodrow Call, from Lonesome Dove, Texas to the promised land of Montana.
Lonesome Dove is an Emmy award-winning TV miniseries from the late 1980s based on Larry McMurty’s western novel. My dad and I used to watch it every summer when I was with him for my annual visit, so the series holds a special emotional weight in my heart, and Gus McCrae was my favorite character in that show. He was a wildcard, but he was honorable. Somehow, I believed that I could relate to him.
Rest in peace, Mr. Duvall.
Pray
There’s a lot of negativity in our world, always has been. The Devil is everywhere, but more powerful than that evil energy is the energy of God’s love. Spread that love, folks. Lock it in with prayer.
Saturday Night Special
I dropped episodes 82 through 85 this month. Who cares, right?
I figured this SNS episode best represented the blog this month.
