If you’re a history-buff, you’d know that the original Madame Butterfly, the opera… yes, it was originally an opera after all… The original opera wasn’t well received amongst critics and aficionados even with soprano Rosina Storchio, tenor Giovanni Zenatello and baritone Giuseppe De Luca in lead roles… Did I lose you? Giacomo Puccini (writer) was too busy trying to finish the last act, and he didn’t instruct or motivate his actors and vocalists… so, naturally, the first showing was a disaster. Stay with me people… Yet, when Puccini finished the opera, he devoted every ounce of his being to educating his talent, and showing them the real Madame Butterfly… so much so, that when it came time for the second showing of Madame Butterfly, well… Let’s just say, I probably wouldn’t be writing all of this, and we certainly wouldn’t have named an entire hat after a box office blooper if Madame Butterfly didn’t take the public by storm. Rave reviews accompanied the opera. Why do I bring all of this up, you ask? (a) Because you probably hadn’t heard that story before, (b) because I can, (c) because it goes to show you that when you pour your heart and soul into something, that something has your heart and soul, and every ounce of your magnificence radiates forth into the ether… and more often than not, you gotta nurture that thing until other people see your magnificence come through… The moral of this story? Work hard, play hard, and smile at people you don’t even know, just because you can… And, look good doing it if you’re wearing this badboy.