DC officials have posted these signs in an attempt to discourage pay for play during Obama's immaculate inauguration.
The wording however leaves something to be desired as I find it could easily be encouraging the very act it is aimed to deter. Kind of an inauguration rebate, a generous donation of inspired hookers who want to contribute to the new common good.
Not to mention the lobbyists who will misinterpret the signs and end up taking the long way around to the US Capitol.
I can only hope the next four years will go faster than high school.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
What Kind of Health Insurance Does Your Dog Have?
-Come here puppy! Come here!
-Objection, Leading!
President-select Barack Obama has picked Cass Sunstein of Harvard Law School to be in charge of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Critics of Sunstein claim he has a secret animal rights agenda.
Among his viewpoints, Sunstein has professed in past speeches and writings that hunting should be outlawed, as well as the consumption of meat.
His most pleasing goal is to give animals the right to file lawsuits: "...animals should be permitted to bring suit, with human beings as their representatives … Any animals that are entitled to bring suit would be represented by (human) counsel, who would owe guardian-like obligations and make decisions, subject to those obligations, on their clients’ behalf."
You can't make this stuff up. (I've tried.) Even when it gets reported it still doesn't stick. Obama's the new teflon, the political equivalent of Luke Cage (not racially, just in terms of powers, since Cage is 100% black) and it seems only a matter of time before some of this bizarreness gets truly noticed. Of course, I thought that about 2 years ago as well, so who knows.
---------Warning: Random segue into comic books----------
If Layla Miller were back from the future I might ask her, if only the "stuff" she knows didn't include quoting Dick Cheney while inciting rebellion against the fascistic US government that rules in 80 years. X-Factor had potential when it (re)began, mostly because of Layla, but now that she's gone it plods along and never gets anywhere, like so many other titles. I wonder if Obama's reign will alter the bleak outlook on the future that Peter David enjoys, and suddenly the mutant concentration camp in Brooklyn will fade into an alternate Bush/Cheney timeline.
Maybe raising Siryn and Jamie's illegitimate child in Detroit wasn't the best idea either. If only liberals were forced to relegate their meddling and 'humanitarian' god-work to the world of fiction, the real one would be a lot a more successful. As for the fiction, it would stay about the same.
-Objection, Leading!
President-select Barack Obama has picked Cass Sunstein of Harvard Law School to be in charge of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Critics of Sunstein claim he has a secret animal rights agenda.
Among his viewpoints, Sunstein has professed in past speeches and writings that hunting should be outlawed, as well as the consumption of meat.
His most pleasing goal is to give animals the right to file lawsuits: "...animals should be permitted to bring suit, with human beings as their representatives … Any animals that are entitled to bring suit would be represented by (human) counsel, who would owe guardian-like obligations and make decisions, subject to those obligations, on their clients’ behalf."
You can't make this stuff up. (I've tried.) Even when it gets reported it still doesn't stick. Obama's the new teflon, the political equivalent of Luke Cage (not racially, just in terms of powers, since Cage is 100% black) and it seems only a matter of time before some of this bizarreness gets truly noticed. Of course, I thought that about 2 years ago as well, so who knows.
---------Warning: Random segue into comic books----------
If Layla Miller were back from the future I might ask her, if only the "stuff" she knows didn't include quoting Dick Cheney while inciting rebellion against the fascistic US government that rules in 80 years. X-Factor had potential when it (re)began, mostly because of Layla, but now that she's gone it plods along and never gets anywhere, like so many other titles. I wonder if Obama's reign will alter the bleak outlook on the future that Peter David enjoys, and suddenly the mutant concentration camp in Brooklyn will fade into an alternate Bush/Cheney timeline.
Maybe raising Siryn and Jamie's illegitimate child in Detroit wasn't the best idea either. If only liberals were forced to relegate their meddling and 'humanitarian' god-work to the world of fiction, the real one would be a lot a more successful. As for the fiction, it would stay about the same.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
New Battle For The Cowl Cover!
IGN has posted a cover for Battle for the Cowl #2 by Tony Daniel (his website is linked on the right.)
By God do I love Robin! He's looking slim and tall and powerful, and much more composed (less pissed) than Nightwing in the cover of the first issue. I can't wait to see how Daniel writes Tim, not to mention what he plans for Spoiler and Cassandra (anyone remember Batgirl's numerous discussions with Tim about how he doesn't want to become Batman but that's her greatest goal?)
Also, here I was, whining to myself that we were only going to get a 3-part story, albeit with a few extra pages. But of course, they've included about 20 one-shots, or side series, to stretch the event out and make more money. I'll admit, I tend to be interested in Oracle, specifically when she actually fights crime and doesn't just hack stuff or whine, and what with Arkham Asylum being destroyed (little too Bane-y for me, but imagine what would have happened if Bruce wasn't around when Bane popped up. Sounds like a decent description of BFTC now) I could deal with some faces of evil/bad guy perspective issues. But a new Azrael? And Man-Bat? C'mon, seriously, why is Man-Bat still even mentioned?
Regardless of the shameless moneymaking extra issues, I am getting very exciting for the next Bat-event. Granted, Final Crisis isn't technically over, but I was done it with it around issue 1. It seems the responsibility of redeeming Batman after Grant Morrison freebased and got sick all over his character is falling squarely on Tony Daniel's shoulders, and so far, at least where art is concerned, he's rising to the challenge. It is Batman after all.
According to IGN "Grant Morrison will be returning to Batman at some point after Cowl wraps up, and we can only hope he makes his return sooner rather than later. " First of all, what? Second of all, why? Third of all, thanks for the editorial but clearly you have no taste or are a 13 year old boy who forgot to take his adderall. Fourth of all, why? Fifth of all, yeahbuwhah??
Sixth of all, and finally, Grant Morrison is much harder to kill than Batman, Superman, Jean Grey, Wasp, or any beloved character who has met an untimely demise, and it's just not fair. Not only do they keep giving him huge titles to write and heroes to destroy, but they fawn over everything he creates and review it like its Watchmen. Believe me, his shit definitely stinks.
Mark Your Time Hu-Mans!
A message from Waxulon-6 Lord High Admiral of the Kremulakian Earth Invaders.
Friday, January 16, 2009
New Best Advertising Award
What if your computer had been on that plane?
Back up your hard drive on carbonite.com.
-Rush
I'll allow it.
Back up your hard drive on carbonite.com.
-Rush
I'll allow it.
Best Advertising Award
I heard a commercial on the radio this morning for Smart Mouth mouthwash, advertising the 12-hour lasting effect of their product...as well as the benefits.
With Smart Mouth you can finally have the cursory morning sex you've always wanted, without the stale bad breath of your partner effecting your erection.
Really very brilliant marketing. Brian Kinney would be jealous.
With Smart Mouth you can finally have the cursory morning sex you've always wanted, without the stale bad breath of your partner effecting your erection.
Really very brilliant marketing. Brian Kinney would be jealous.
Global Warming Responsible for Plane Crash
Time Magazine reports that climate change has "disrupted migratory patterns" of Canadian geese.
Furthermore, "officials must be careful to identify which particular type of bird are struck in each incident to help biologists conduct 'wildlife management programs' without violating laws that protect endangered species."
My apologies to the passengers and crew of flight US Airways 1549, and most importantly the only casualties of the accident--the geese. I will endeavor to reduce my carbon footprint immediately. Those poor birds.
Furthermore, "officials must be careful to identify which particular type of bird are struck in each incident to help biologists conduct 'wildlife management programs' without violating laws that protect endangered species."
My apologies to the passengers and crew of flight US Airways 1549, and most importantly the only casualties of the accident--the geese. I will endeavor to reduce my carbon footprint immediately. Those poor birds.
Yes We Can...go to jail for 15 months
Boy George is going to jail for 15 months after handcuffing a male escort to the wall and beating him with a chain.
The fat disgusting insane ex-porn star, I mean ex-pop star, appeared on the Alan Titchmarsh (who?) show a little over a month ago performing his Obama inspired/tribute song "Yes We Can".
The song even features sound bites of Obama's speeches during the chorus.
Good luck getting through all 3 minutes.
The fat disgusting insane ex-porn star, I mean ex-pop star, appeared on the Alan Titchmarsh (who?) show a little over a month ago performing his Obama inspired/tribute song "Yes We Can".
The song even features sound bites of Obama's speeches during the chorus.
Good luck getting through all 3 minutes.
Friday's Rush
Tune into the Rush Limbaugh show today at noon, and hear Ann Coulter call in! It's the first time she's ever been on the show (since I became a listener.)
Should be better than therapy.
Should be better than therapy.
Why Have Batman and Billionaire Playboy Che Guevara Never Been Pictured Together?
Ask Benicio Del Toro, the latest actor to represent the noble warrior of Che Guevara in Steven Soderbergh's upcoming 4 hour epic, a running time that should be investigated by human rights groups.
According to Benicio, on the set of the film they "tell stories about Batman, and [Che] was a type of Batman. No one can deny that he was trying to stop man exploiting man." I would like to take this opportunity to deny everything Del Toro has ever said in his entire life.
He goes on to speak of good ol' Che as a saintly human at heart and a principled human being. "Two people who I met learned how to read and write because of him. It was really moving."
It's hard to keep reading the excerpts from his interview with Latina magazine (talk about niche) but he's a Hollywood actor despite his sensual accent, so what else should I expect?
How about t-shirts of Stalin being worn in middle school? Pol Pot lunch boxes? Adolf Hitler babies....oh wait.
The iconography of Che's face has long been a source of complete confusion for me. Blessed and cursed to be a part of this generation (I don't even know what we're called) I probably saw his beret-wearing image long before I read his history. But I did eventually read it, which seems to distinguish me from the rest of my age-group.
Associated with the general idea of 'counter-culturalism' and 'Damn the Man!' teen bonding cliches, this revolutionary hero whom Benicio worked so hard to understand as a human being was a serial killer, an executioner, an adept at torture, and god knows what else. He put together and sent out "suicide squads" with no hope of victory, killed and imprisoned suspected homosexuals (look for his t-shirt at the next gay Pride parade) and also championed the ideals of those who have nothing and have done nothing to deserve anything in favor of those who have anything and aren't 'us.'
Del Toro goes on to compare Che to Jesus, though he academically points out the difference between the two, what with Jesus turning the other cheek and all. For some reason I'll allow that, but comparing him to Batman? That not only violates my personal spiritual beliefs but is one of the stupidest things any one has ever said.
If Batman is a metaphor for ANYthing, it is America. He is justice incarnate. He is fair, dedicated, obsessed even with the protection of the innocent and the preservation of all human life, even evil ones (and yes Benicio, even homosexuals.) Excluding this week's Darkseid incident, Batman would never kill anyone, and certainly not point blank between the eyes without a trial to teach the other guerrillas a lesson. Not to mention Bruce Wayne is absurdly disgustingly rich. Che extolled class warfare, redistribution, all the socialistic policies that have given Cuba the booming economy and personal freedom that it enjoys today. Wayne money goes to charities, law funds, and crime fighting equipment, not stolen and horded and used to keep the little people in line.
It's not just Benicio. For some reason, in this capitalistic society where its existence alone is a testament to our freedoms, his face has become some kind of indistinct symbol of rebellion. I strongly support and encourage the questioning of authority and sources of information, but why do we adopt such deplorable examples of humanity to display non-conformist conformity? Does original thought hold any interest for people anymore? Does human life have any sanctity in the face of a noble mission to disturb the status quo?
He closes out the interview with some more wisdom. "I think anyone who buys a T-shirt of Che has gotta be cool. If I see someone with a Che T-shirt, I think, he's got good taste." Conversely, when I see a good looking guy in a Batman shirt I think, "Wow I hope he's gay."
I wonder which one of us Guevara would brutally execute first; the conservative capitalistic fag or the sympathetic absurdly rich thespian.
TV News
An assortment of news not necessarily worth their own special posting.
-Lipstick Jungle is still, somehow, not canceled. I love Kim Raver but c'mon, that shits just weak.
-More details on Amy Poehler's NBC show were revealed. She works at Parks and Recreation dept. in Pawnee, Indiana as a female Michael Scott apparently. My suggestion: heavy make-up a la Amy Sedaris, because Poehler is about as overexposed as Tina Fey and Obama.
-The final season of ER gets three more episodes added on, and pushes back the premiere of its replacement Southland, a huge departure for NBC because it's a cop show by John Wells. (Who am I kidding, I still miss Third Watch. Bosco!!!)
-Final episodes of Dirty Sexy Money won't be aired till this summer. In the meantime, Peter Krause has signed on to 3 separate projects in which he plays an everyday man named Nick faced with everyday conflicts.
-Soap opera gay couple Luke and Noah of As the World Turns finally have sex, after two years of dating and pecking on the cheek (and killing evil step fathers and providing comfort to evil twins). If I'm bored by news about gay sex on tv....something is definitely wrong. Bring back Queer as Folk which was unabashedly liberal and often idiotic, but rarely gave a crap about political correctness.
And last but certainly not least, today is the day. The beginning of the end. Battlestar Galactica on scifi at 10pm. If you're getting antsy rewatch The Face of the Enemy webisodes on hulu. Then take that feeling of anticlimax and get used to it, cause we probably still have 9 weeks of cliffhangers ahead of us (which is better than nothing.)
-Lipstick Jungle is still, somehow, not canceled. I love Kim Raver but c'mon, that shits just weak.
-More details on Amy Poehler's NBC show were revealed. She works at Parks and Recreation dept. in Pawnee, Indiana as a female Michael Scott apparently. My suggestion: heavy make-up a la Amy Sedaris, because Poehler is about as overexposed as Tina Fey and Obama.
-The final season of ER gets three more episodes added on, and pushes back the premiere of its replacement Southland, a huge departure for NBC because it's a cop show by John Wells. (Who am I kidding, I still miss Third Watch. Bosco!!!)
-Final episodes of Dirty Sexy Money won't be aired till this summer. In the meantime, Peter Krause has signed on to 3 separate projects in which he plays an everyday man named Nick faced with everyday conflicts.
-Soap opera gay couple Luke and Noah of As the World Turns finally have sex, after two years of dating and pecking on the cheek (and killing evil step fathers and providing comfort to evil twins). If I'm bored by news about gay sex on tv....something is definitely wrong. Bring back Queer as Folk which was unabashedly liberal and often idiotic, but rarely gave a crap about political correctness.
And last but certainly not least, today is the day. The beginning of the end. Battlestar Galactica on scifi at 10pm. If you're getting antsy rewatch The Face of the Enemy webisodes on hulu. Then take that feeling of anticlimax and get used to it, cause we probably still have 9 weeks of cliffhangers ahead of us (which is better than nothing.)
"We're gonna get rid of all this Christian shit...right?"
Another great article on bighollywood (Has this site always existed?) by the graphic novelist Doug TenNapel. His website link is to the right...under 'links'.
Christian = "Intolerant"
Christian = "Intolerant"
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Life Imitates Buffy
In the third episode of the entire Buffy the Vampire Slayer series named "The Witch" the gang goes up against the magical cheerleader, Amy. In the end it is discovered that it is in fact Amy's mom they are dealing with, obsessed housewife and single mother (just one more statistic for Ann Coulter's latest arguments) who used her mystical powers to possess her daughter and relive her glory days as a high school cheerleader. Of course, her daughter's body is apparently clumsier than hers and she continues using witchcraft to disfigure senior cheerleaders and gain a spot on the team. This is one of the earliest episodes in which the long running metaphor of growing up as the end of the world is cleverly explored, and Joss himself has admitted that he first discovered what he could do with the show after making "The Witch."
In Wisconsin, near Green Bay, Wendy Brown stole her daughter's identity and returned to high school, attending a pool party, a class, and cheerleading tryouts. She was only caught when her absences from homeroom were tracked down and she was found in a jail cell, on unrelated (really?) charges of forgery. She is now in a psychiatric unit.
Which I think high-schoolers and alumni alike can all understand.
Buffy: I'm inscrutable.
Joyce: You're 16. I think there's a biological imperative whereby I can't understand you because I'm not 16.
Buffy: ...do you ever wish you could be 16 again?
Joyce: Oh, that's a frightful notion. Go through all that again? Not even if it helped me understand you.
Buffy: I love you Mom.
thank you to whedonesque.com for the link
and yes, I know the picture is from the movie, but couldn't find any good screenshots from the ep
In Wisconsin, near Green Bay, Wendy Brown stole her daughter's identity and returned to high school, attending a pool party, a class, and cheerleading tryouts. She was only caught when her absences from homeroom were tracked down and she was found in a jail cell, on unrelated (really?) charges of forgery. She is now in a psychiatric unit.
Which I think high-schoolers and alumni alike can all understand.
Buffy: I'm inscrutable.
Joyce: You're 16. I think there's a biological imperative whereby I can't understand you because I'm not 16.
Buffy: ...do you ever wish you could be 16 again?
Joyce: Oh, that's a frightful notion. Go through all that again? Not even if it helped me understand you.
Buffy: I love you Mom.
thank you to whedonesque.com for the link
and yes, I know the picture is from the movie, but couldn't find any good screenshots from the ep
Atheists/Agnostics Sue to Remove 'so help me God' from Inauguration
Barack Obama himself wants to end his inaugural oath with the words 'so help me God', though that is not technically how it appears in the Constitution, as many Presidents before him have done.
But Michael Newdow, a chief proponent in the battle to remove 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance, is the lead plaintiff in the suit before Chief Justice Roberts in the federal court. The suit also aims to expel Reverend Rick Warren from the ceremony.
With a bishop astonished by references to God, I suppose this was only the logical next step, and Newdow attempted the same feat with George W. Bush. Still, these people seem unable to see their own ridiculousness, even when Obama is on the other side of the issue.
Either they are righteous warriors who have pledged their services to the wrong leader, or the Messiah is infallible and they are crazy. With such hypocrisy, no wonder they live unexamined lives.
But Michael Newdow, a chief proponent in the battle to remove 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance, is the lead plaintiff in the suit before Chief Justice Roberts in the federal court. The suit also aims to expel Reverend Rick Warren from the ceremony.
With a bishop astonished by references to God, I suppose this was only the logical next step, and Newdow attempted the same feat with George W. Bush. Still, these people seem unable to see their own ridiculousness, even when Obama is on the other side of the issue.
Either they are righteous warriors who have pledged their services to the wrong leader, or the Messiah is infallible and they are crazy. With such hypocrisy, no wonder they live unexamined lives.
Best Gmail Sponsored Link Ever
Just what I've always wanted, ever since my sister and I played Batman and lifted up my parents' bust of Beethoven to gain entry into the Batcave (a red blanket hanging across two wicker chairs.)
Where were you 16 years ago, internet?
Where were you 16 years ago, internet?
"Viva Cuba. Viva Venezuela."
Sean Penn goes to Venezuela to speak (some more) with Hugo Chavez and Cuba for Raul Castro. He brings along Douglas Brinkley and Christopher Hitchens to "balance any perceived bias" in Penn's writing. Then he ditches them for the one-on-one money interview with Raul. Warning, it's very long (I freely admit to skimming and stopping before the end,) but good for a few laughs if you're in an untouchable mood, mostly when he extols the capable leaders.
Conversations with Chavez and Castro
Further links for the unflappable:
Protest Photos
Kudlow on Obama Dinner
State Senator of NY, Hiram Monserrate
Conversations with Chavez and Castro
Further links for the unflappable:
Protest Photos
Kudlow on Obama Dinner
State Senator of NY, Hiram Monserrate
Angel: After the Fall #16 Preview
Solicitations from IDW say that this is the penultimate issue of Angel Season 5 in comic book form. I kind of thought it would keep going the way Buffy has, but I suppose it makes sense since the entire series has felt like one long, often confusing, story arc. I enjoy the references to past Angel-lore, the characters are written fairly accurately (save maybe vamp-Gunn) but this series hasn't really done it for me. Perhaps if Whedon actually wrote it it would feel more like canon, but Brian Lynch still executes Joss' favorite plot-twist by killing main characters (Gwen, Wesley-kind of, Gunn-kind of, and now Connor who was finally not annoying.)
If you're interested, here are the previews:
Is Lynch doing some kind of timeline-jumping plot? Is Angel going to try and go back and save Gunn during "Not Fade Away"? If he has that power, why not go back and save Fred from the gorram Illyria sarcophagus? Perhaps he will do a retcon of this whole LA-as-Hell scenario (not unbelievable) which I would welcome, but would make every issue of this series fairly moot, and not worth what they charge for the glossy covers.
If you're interested, here are the previews:
Is Lynch doing some kind of timeline-jumping plot? Is Angel going to try and go back and save Gunn during "Not Fade Away"? If he has that power, why not go back and save Fred from the gorram Illyria sarcophagus? Perhaps he will do a retcon of this whole LA-as-Hell scenario (not unbelievable) which I would welcome, but would make every issue of this series fairly moot, and not worth what they charge for the glossy covers.
Mad Men's Fate Uncertain
AMC executives have repeatedly said the critically-acclaimed show is returning this summer with it's third season, but last week at the Golden Globes creator Matt Weiner painted a different picture. He said the future of Mad Men is "unknowable", that he has no idea what is happening. He has not yet signed on for the next season.
Here's hoping negotiations between Weiner and Lionsgate improve.
Because, as Christina Hendricks, of Whedonverse fame, said "There is no show without Matthew."
Mega-dittos, Joan.
But as long as it comes back, I'll be watching.
A hilarious skit that SNL (yes, really) made with Jon Hamm. Perfect:
Billie Piper Weighs In On New Doctor
Billie Piper has firmly endorsed the choice of Matt Smith as the Doctor. Not surprising as she has worked with him on multiple occasions, and has also been a focus of press for much of her adult (and young adult) life and therefore knows not to stick her foot in her mouth.
But her opinion is appreciated, even if it is slightly devalued from her disappointing return in the finale arc of last season. Rumors have existed for many months now stating that three of David Tennant's final tele-movie-episodes of Doctor Who center around Rose Tyler as Defender of her alternate Earth, the one where she lives with a human version of the Doctor (who has no problem snogging and declaring his love.)
There is no confirmation on her coming back in 2009, but she's certainly not filming now, as she gets into the swing of being a mum. Tennant meanwhile has recovered from his very painful back injury in time to not only return as Hamlet to the Royal Shakespeare Company's final week of performances (apparently he's up there with "Olivier and Branagh") but to attend the birthday party of previous Doctor Peter Davison's son. The only slightly weird part--he's dating Peter's daughter Georgia Moffet, who played Tennant's daughter on the show last season. A bit like Dexter and Deb getting married.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Dan Didio Didn't, Did He?
Team books and Batman rule this week in comics.
Final Crisis is finally over...oh, no, sorry, it isn't. But the murderer of Batman is finally revealed. And I'm not sure what to think.
Somehow, between fighting the Black Glove and disappearing, cowl-less, after an explosion, and the entire anti-life domination and dissolution of human civilization, Batman finds his way to Darkseid, the author of the madness (or at least the one taking credit...I get confused because I can't bare to reread the last ones.) With some natural but not remarkable dialogue Batman decides to abandon his lifelong principles and use a special Doctor Who type gun to shoot Darkseid in the heart, who simultaneously uses his zig-zaggy Omega beams to shoot Batman in the heart. Darkseid's wound looks like cosmic gore, but Batman's looks more like he just said Shazam! That is, until Superman shows up stony-faced, bearing the burnt crispy body of Bruce.
Dan Didio, revered throughout the internet for his wisdom, has said in interviews that Batman is alive but "he'll definitely be gone for awhile." If there is a plot gap they intend to capitalize on it would be the pages between Batman's Omega g.s.w and Superman showing up with a burnt body in a Batsuit, which he's not carrying before. In that case the rumor of Bruce taking a sabbatical on his own volition, with the cover-up help of Supes, would make sense.
The rest of the issue is slightly more eventful than the previous ones, with Black Canary being pretty cool, Supergirl being almost interesting, the anti-life equation suddenly being fairly easy to cancel out, Lex toasting Libra (whom I've already forgotten), and the Flashes running. But how could you top a(n attempted) Batman-murder? Or better yet, how could they have truly pulled it off?
Perhaps by neglecting a little marketing action in exchange for doing the story right. This two-page killshot, and its two lead-up pages, is the culmination of a storyline begun in May 2008, having been talked about well before. Batman R.I.P. stretched across 17 issues, with 12 more 'fallout' story lines tied on like very expensive bait for all us stupid fishes who love Batman too much to NOT buy a comic he has anything to do with. Had they kept it down to a 10 issue arc, maybe a balance of quantity and quality could have been achievable. As it is they inflicted much pain and frustration for an anticlimactic easy-way-out. Grant Morrison is a coward, and in killing Bruce has done the one thing to Batman that should never be done.
Huh, guess I do know what to think after all.
Since I'm feelin' no fear and takin' on the fat cats, apparently JG Jones exited as artist of Final Crisis, in part causing the massive delays, because Dan Didio has been sleeping with JG's wife. First, even as a comic lover, I would do the same thing as Jones, especially with such a weak spaceshipwreck of a script, and second, I'd like to thank Mrs. Jones for keeping Didio busy. I was spared this week the grating sound of his forced smile as I read DC Nation, and discovered that someone simply boring, as opposed to in denial, has taken over the duties of addressing us on their blog-like back page (which traditionally was for OUR letters, not theirs. Please restore tradition.)
Elsewhere in the Bat-world, Nightwing continues to struggle with the death (that's the word they're going with for now) of Batman, and continues to dislike being in Bruce's shadow, and continues to mope about, and continues to fight Batman's villains to a standstill, leaving them with some poignant truths. There were several opportunities for interesting insight in this story, for original reflection and emotion, but instead Tomasi gives us yet another Bat-Cave fight with a mob of ninjas, and a sword-fight and final page directly from Jeph Loeb's Hush. How about we end this title on a good note, say with a manned-up Dick Grayson, in cooperation with Tim, showing Gotham and Batman's rogues how things are going to be now, with him taking over.
Nightwing is also prominent in this week's Titans, a Faces of Evil (FOE) issue told through the perspective of Jericho...who is currently in possession of Nightwing's body and hav
ing a whole inner-psyche-one-on-one chat with Dick. I've been a Judd Winick fan for awhile now, particularly the underrated post-Hush Jason Todd storyline, and he continues to prove he has a good handle on these staple DC characters. This Titans issue is one of the best, starting with the stirring retelling of Jericho's fairly-messed-up-Marv-Wolfman history and capped off with one of those completely simple and totally brilliant textbook comic moments; the revelation that everyone Joey Wilson has ever possessed exists within his consciousness. With a two-page ensemble spread (God I love ensemble spreads,) a clear handle on both Dick and Joey's voices, and a cliffhanger face-off between the Titans and the newest JLA, this is solid Titans-fan sustenance.
Over in Marvel the only title of note was X-Infernus. Though a little short on action, this issue is better than the first. I was wary about another Illyana story line to begin with (I wasn't very crazy about the New X-Men Belasco arc; bad art and weak ending, though it led to Pixie becoming a promising character who has joined the ranks of Jubilee and Hisako as a Kitty Pryde replacement) but clearly a more experienced, emotionally invested X-team going to Limbo has major potential. That being said, what do Dani Moonstar and Roberto DaCosta over in Young X-Men have to say about being left behind? Or Sam and Rahne and Magma for that matter? I love the depth of the X-bench, but I hate when bonds fall through the cracks without even an acknowledgment from the characters.
To summarize, the team books are the ones worth reading, and Dan Didio needs to be replaced by a single man who would choose reading and creating comics over repeated illicit sex.
My e-mail link is just over there to the right. It's the Storm vs. Thor picture. I have a good resume. Well, it's definitely a resume. My answer is Yes, I'll take the job, if that makes it easier for you to ask.
Final Crisis is finally over...oh, no, sorry, it isn't. But the murderer of Batman is finally revealed. And I'm not sure what to think.
Somehow, between fighting the Black Glove and disappearing, cowl-less, after an explosion, and the entire anti-life domination and dissolution of human civilization, Batman finds his way to Darkseid, the author of the madness (or at least the one taking credit...I get confused because I can't bare to reread the last ones.) With some natural but not remarkable dialogue Batman decides to abandon his lifelong principles and use a special Doctor Who type gun to shoot Darkseid in the heart, who simultaneously uses his zig-zaggy Omega beams to shoot Batman in the heart. Darkseid's wound looks like cosmic gore, but Batman's looks more like he just said Shazam! That is, until Superman shows up stony-faced, bearing the burnt crispy body of Bruce.
Dan Didio, revered throughout the internet for his wisdom, has said in interviews that Batman is alive but "he'll definitely be gone for awhile." If there is a plot gap they intend to capitalize on it would be the pages between Batman's Omega g.s.w and Superman showing up with a burnt body in a Batsuit, which he's not carrying before. In that case the rumor of Bruce taking a sabbatical on his own volition, with the cover-up help of Supes, would make sense.The rest of the issue is slightly more eventful than the previous ones, with Black Canary being pretty cool, Supergirl being almost interesting, the anti-life equation suddenly being fairly easy to cancel out, Lex toasting Libra (whom I've already forgotten), and the Flashes running. But how could you top a(n attempted) Batman-murder? Or better yet, how could they have truly pulled it off?
Perhaps by neglecting a little marketing action in exchange for doing the story right. This two-page killshot, and its two lead-up pages, is the culmination of a storyline begun in May 2008, having been talked about well before. Batman R.I.P. stretched across 17 issues, with 12 more 'fallout' story lines tied on like very expensive bait for all us stupid fishes who love Batman too much to NOT buy a comic he has anything to do with. Had they kept it down to a 10 issue arc, maybe a balance of quantity and quality could have been achievable. As it is they inflicted much pain and frustration for an anticlimactic easy-way-out. Grant Morrison is a coward, and in killing Bruce has done the one thing to Batman that should never be done.
Huh, guess I do know what to think after all.
Since I'm feelin' no fear and takin' on the fat cats, apparently JG Jones exited as artist of Final Crisis, in part causing the massive delays, because Dan Didio has been sleeping with JG's wife. First, even as a comic lover, I would do the same thing as Jones, especially with such a weak spaceshipwreck of a script, and second, I'd like to thank Mrs. Jones for keeping Didio busy. I was spared this week the grating sound of his forced smile as I read DC Nation, and discovered that someone simply boring, as opposed to in denial, has taken over the duties of addressing us on their blog-like back page (which traditionally was for OUR letters, not theirs. Please restore tradition.)
Elsewhere in the Bat-world, Nightwing continues to struggle with the death (that's the word they're going with for now) of Batman, and continues to dislike being in Bruce's shadow, and continues to mope about, and continues to fight Batman's villains to a standstill, leaving them with some poignant truths. There were several opportunities for interesting insight in this story, for original reflection and emotion, but instead Tomasi gives us yet another Bat-Cave fight with a mob of ninjas, and a sword-fight and final page directly from Jeph Loeb's Hush. How about we end this title on a good note, say with a manned-up Dick Grayson, in cooperation with Tim, showing Gotham and Batman's rogues how things are going to be now, with him taking over.
Nightwing is also prominent in this week's Titans, a Faces of Evil (FOE) issue told through the perspective of Jericho...who is currently in possession of Nightwing's body and hav
ing a whole inner-psyche-one-on-one chat with Dick. I've been a Judd Winick fan for awhile now, particularly the underrated post-Hush Jason Todd storyline, and he continues to prove he has a good handle on these staple DC characters. This Titans issue is one of the best, starting with the stirring retelling of Jericho's fairly-messed-up-Marv-Wolfman history and capped off with one of those completely simple and totally brilliant textbook comic moments; the revelation that everyone Joey Wilson has ever possessed exists within his consciousness. With a two-page ensemble spread (God I love ensemble spreads,) a clear handle on both Dick and Joey's voices, and a cliffhanger face-off between the Titans and the newest JLA, this is solid Titans-fan sustenance.Over in Marvel the only title of note was X-Infernus. Though a little short on action, this issue is better than the first. I was wary about another Illyana story line to begin with (I wasn't very crazy about the New X-Men Belasco arc; bad art and weak ending, though it led to Pixie becoming a promising character who has joined the ranks of Jubilee and Hisako as a Kitty Pryde replacement) but clearly a more experienced, emotionally invested X-team going to Limbo has major potential. That being said, what do Dani Moonstar and Roberto DaCosta over in Young X-Men have to say about being left behind? Or Sam and Rahne and Magma for that matter? I love the depth of the X-bench, but I hate when bonds fall through the cracks without even an acknowledgment from the characters.
To summarize, the team books are the ones worth reading, and Dan Didio needs to be replaced by a single man who would choose reading and creating comics over repeated illicit sex.
My e-mail link is just over there to the right. It's the Storm vs. Thor picture. I have a good resume. Well, it's definitely a resume. My answer is Yes, I'll take the job, if that makes it easier for you to ask.
"We wish him the best"
Larry Kudlow gushes about Obama, and clearly reveals last night's secret-widely-known meeting's entire premise. Not to mention why Rush wasn't invited.
Turns out it was the obvious; a shameless PR stunt. Obama has now endorsed officially who he wants to be the leaders of the Republican party, and they are the ones who flatter him, who agree with him, who believe the party needs to become even more centrist in order to flourish again.
Had he invited Rush, he would have legitimized true conservatism and helped reform what the party should be.
Kudlow can't remember what he ate, he was "so focused on him." I assume his legs were also tingling under the table.
The one internal monologue from last night I'd most like to hear: Krauthammer's.
Turns out it was the obvious; a shameless PR stunt. Obama has now endorsed officially who he wants to be the leaders of the Republican party, and they are the ones who flatter him, who agree with him, who believe the party needs to become even more centrist in order to flourish again.
Had he invited Rush, he would have legitimized true conservatism and helped reform what the party should be.
Kudlow can't remember what he ate, he was "so focused on him." I assume his legs were also tingling under the table.
The one internal monologue from last night I'd most like to hear: Krauthammer's.
Final Update: Rush In Washington
Maharushi has spoken.
He did not dine with Krauthammer, Will, and Obama last night.
Having forgotten on Monday to warn us of his absence on Tuesday, Rush used Jason Lewis to play the prank of mentioning a 'secret meeting in Washington' on the air.
The secret meeting was in fact a farewell lunch to which he was invited by Bush, and in which he dipped his napkin into the ranch dressing ("This is the White House Limbaugh! Get your act together man!") and then received a birthday cake and song, with a chocolate microphone and a touched, beet-face red Rush Limbaugh wishing his parents were alive to see this.
After lunch he attended the medal of freedom award ceremony, in a large room where Colin Powell noticed him the moment he walked in. "I just looked at him, and he looked at me..and I just looked at him..." and then proceeded to laugh and get along with everyone Powell had advised to stop listening to his show.
Repeatedly prophetic and deeply wise, I do not resent Rush's spin at all, despite my first instincts. The questions remain; what was the Obama/Punditry soiree about? What was the conversation? And why not invite Rush, considering the other guests?
I'd come up with some more questions, but he's back from commercial.
He did not dine with Krauthammer, Will, and Obama last night.
Having forgotten on Monday to warn us of his absence on Tuesday, Rush used Jason Lewis to play the prank of mentioning a 'secret meeting in Washington' on the air.
The secret meeting was in fact a farewell lunch to which he was invited by Bush, and in which he dipped his napkin into the ranch dressing ("This is the White House Limbaugh! Get your act together man!") and then received a birthday cake and song, with a chocolate microphone and a touched, beet-face red Rush Limbaugh wishing his parents were alive to see this.
After lunch he attended the medal of freedom award ceremony, in a large room where Colin Powell noticed him the moment he walked in. "I just looked at him, and he looked at me..and I just looked at him..." and then proceeded to laugh and get along with everyone Powell had advised to stop listening to his show.
Repeatedly prophetic and deeply wise, I do not resent Rush's spin at all, despite my first instincts. The questions remain; what was the Obama/Punditry soiree about? What was the conversation? And why not invite Rush, considering the other guests?
I'd come up with some more questions, but he's back from commercial.
Senile Stan Lee Won't Stop Trying
According to The Sun Stan Lee, legen-dary creator of Spider-Man, X-Men, etc. etc. has created a new gay superhero, or according to the reporter, the "world's first gay superhero." At the fresh, spritely age of 86 Mr. Lee doesn't seem to realize that not only do several gay superheroes exist, some of his own dear creations have welcomed homo-heroes into their ranks, or else been re-written in alternate yet valid universes as very very, completely, gay.
Adding injury to insult, Lee has admittedly stolen the character from the "book" Hero, by Perry Moore (the anti-homophobia crusader discussed in a previous gay-themed post.)
Not only is it unoriginal, twice over, but he is shooting an hour-long television appearance to unveil the character. I'm not completely sure how that will work, but I do know that if Lee insists on 'multimedia' he should stick to cameos in Marvel produced films.
Or else go make partners with some more coke-head frauds, and give the Clintons some more money.
In short, it sounds like a bore and a disgrace, and I am left with only one conclusion: as you age, you lose the ability to edit your own ideas, or those that are pitched to you. (Suddenly explains why McCain was our nominee.)
Adding injury to insult, Lee has admittedly stolen the character from the "book" Hero, by Perry Moore (the anti-homophobia crusader discussed in a previous gay-themed post.)
Not only is it unoriginal, twice over, but he is shooting an hour-long television appearance to unveil the character. I'm not completely sure how that will work, but I do know that if Lee insists on 'multimedia' he should stick to cameos in Marvel produced films.
Or else go make partners with some more coke-head frauds, and give the Clintons some more money.
In short, it sounds like a bore and a disgrace, and I am left with only one conclusion: as you age, you lose the ability to edit your own ideas, or those that are pitched to you. (Suddenly explains why McCain was our nominee.)
Unite America? Mission Accomplished.
"Obama's dinner with conservatives indicates that he is completing the job of detaching the conservative intellectual elite from the GOP itself."
HuffPo continues its dazzling record of saying something stupid in every article/blog. Not only did conservatism and the GOP part ways long ago, but the 'intellectual elite' pray to Obama, not Reagan. Get it straight.
They're practically hoisting a Mission Accomplished banner behind Obama....oh wait, where have I heard that before? It was something recent, dredged up and repeated about 100 times....oh well.
HuffPo continues its dazzling record of saying something stupid in every article/blog. Not only did conservatism and the GOP part ways long ago, but the 'intellectual elite' pray to Obama, not Reagan. Get it straight.
They're practically hoisting a Mission Accomplished banner behind Obama....oh wait, where have I heard that before? It was something recent, dredged up and repeated about 100 times....oh well.
"Dinner with Dubya"
Ok article, despite the ending where he 'sees the light.'
Thanks to Robert Stacy McCain for posting it.
Thanks to Robert Stacy McCain for posting it.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Update: Rush In Washington
Unfortunately, he was just in town for the Presidential Medal of Freedom award ceremony. Recipients were Tony Blair, John Howard and Alvaro Uribe.
Bummer.
Link.
Update 2: Obama Dines with Conservatives. Was Rush invited? Yahoonews goes on to repeat what Jason Lewis already posited, and what I already posted. Get with it yahoo. Or hire me.
Update 3: Rush not involved. But Krauthammer was there! Noo! Here's hoping they skipped the Flavor-Aid.
Bummer.
Link.
Update 2: Obama Dines with Conservatives. Was Rush invited? Yahoonews goes on to repeat what Jason Lewis already posited, and what I already posted. Get with it yahoo. Or hire me.
Update 3: Rush not involved. But Krauthammer was there! Noo! Here's hoping they skipped the Flavor-Aid.
News: Gossip Girl Writers Write A Funny Line
Uncle: "Last time I had a friend like that, I wound up with gonorrhea."
Nephew: "Suprax?"
Uncle: "Rocephin."
Also, first-hand evidence suggests that Sarkozy is a bad kisser, "which is disappointing." Now I can kind of see it though. That, plus having to google those medications, proves that GG is broadening my horizons.
Nephew: "Suprax?"
Uncle: "Rocephin."
Also, first-hand evidence suggests that Sarkozy is a bad kisser, "which is disappointing." Now I can kind of see it though. That, plus having to google those medications, proves that GG is broadening my horizons.
"The Jew" Eats Dead Babies
from JihadWatch
Life imitates art as pro-Palestinian protesters in London take a page out of Borat's book. Kazakhstan, Londonistan, what's the difference.
Life imitates art as pro-Palestinian protesters in London take a page out of Borat's book. Kazakhstan, Londonistan, what's the difference.
Rush In Washington?
Turning on the EIB network at noon, imagine my surprise when Jason Lewis starts talking ten minutes later. "Oh great, another fill-in day. How many is that since December?" I whine silently to myself. But his first talking point is the last-minute scheduling change.
Yesterday Rush Limbaugh proposed a bail-out of the rich to revive the economy, based on his own views and the reporting of the APObama. He boldly stated he would be happy to present the plan to Obama himself.
And he just flew off to Washington, according to Jason Lewis.
Is he really having a sit-down with Barry? Is it a PR stunt to promote Obama's 'alternate viewpoints' bull? Or is Bush doing some last-week-farewell-parade honoring of El Rushbo?
Speculation abounds. I say he's taking over. (VP suggestion below.)
But at least DC is a little bit saner for a few hours.
Agoraphobia vs. New York Comic Con
Who should prevail?
Guests include: Amber Benson, and other people I can't remember. Mostly it's like buying back issues wholesale.
Please weigh in.
Guests include: Amber Benson, and other people I can't remember. Mostly it's like buying back issues wholesale.
Please weigh in.
Should I Sell the Sizzle or the Steak?
In Brothers and Sisters Calista Flockhart's quasi-conservative character, whom they have served up as an alter-Ann Coulter by mimicking her interviews (such as first season's practically verbatim Canadian Vietnam Vets controversy) happens to be heavily promoting a book this week, and when choosing an outfit ponders whether she should sell the "sizzle or the steak."The noble, liberal lioness Sally Field responds:
"Honey, it's demeaning to refer to yourself as beef.
But if you want to sell books sizzle. I mean look at Ann Coulter, she sells millions of books and believe me there ain't no protein in that package."
Is it just me, or is that fairly gross? The episode continues to use Kitty as a political symbol, casting her in turns as tactless, arrogant, misunderstood, and finally, kind of right about everything. I've long suspected there is a lone republican voice in that writing room, and though either his views are McCain-like conservatism, or the other writers water it down, it's nice to hope one exists in Hollywood who doesn't work for 24.
Still, it seems there's a way to blindside the FCC; use Ann Coulter's name and you can be as vulgar as you want.In other fictional political news, Calista's Republican Senator husband is following up a failed Presidential bid with machinations to be Governor of the great state of California. I imagine Rob Lowe's Republicanism would still beat out Arnold's, even with Kevin Walker as the token gay democrat pawn of the campaign.
Keep Watching? Pshh. (That means "Yes, but don't admit it.")
Monday, January 12, 2009
Captain Jack and his Sister Make a Comic
Talk about twin connection. John Barrowman, the handsome charming slightly cheesy handsome (call me if a British Prop 8 passes) actor who plays Captain Jack on Torchwood and Doctor Who, is collaborating with his sister once again to write a comic book tale of the Captain and his Torchwood team. Here's a guy who not only knows where his fame comes from, but he genuinely seems to love the fictional universe we all follow so closely. And he shares the opportunities with his sister. Cheers, mate.
Allahu Akbar
Londonistan.
To be clear, they're escorting the 'crowd' to the Israeli embassy for a democratic (feel free to laugh) protest.
From Trafalgar Square, no less. (As opposed to Gaza, Somalia...Tripoli.) Poor Nelson, we need to show him a new "most bold and daring act of the age."
Even back then they saw the truth:
"there is but one language which can be held to these people, and this is terror." -William Eaton
To be clear, they're escorting the 'crowd' to the Israeli embassy for a democratic (feel free to laugh) protest.
From Trafalgar Square, no less. (As opposed to Gaza, Somalia...Tripoli.) Poor Nelson, we need to show him a new "most bold and daring act of the age."
Even back then they saw the truth:
"there is but one language which can be held to these people, and this is terror." -William Eaton
David Lehman: Poem for Obama
The AP is doing a series of famous poets writing poems for Obama. I expect all the "pieces of art" to be as impartial as the premise.
David Lehman is the first:
Thanks so much for considering my soul David, but I assure you, despite who I voted for, God already shines on my countenance. Perhaps faith would not be so "obsolete" if you put yours in the right people.
David Lehman is the first:
Thanks so much for considering my soul David, but I assure you, despite who I voted for, God already shines on my countenance. Perhaps faith would not be so "obsolete" if you put yours in the right people.
Golden Globules
I used to be able to watch this awards show with the adrenalin rush of a celebrity-obsessed 'tweener. The beautiful people, the rich clothes, the who-knows-what-will-happen element (I had no idea who Christine Lahti was but I laughed with her after her bathroom mishap...then I got to know her and wondered how she ever won an award.) This year, however, the Pittsburgh Steelers were more bearable to me, and even the faintest whiff of the red carpet sent me to bed faster than calculus homework.
Now I can wake up in the morning, drink piping hot coffee with my comatose dogs, and read the news wire online to find out what happened, without the 4 hours of brain-cell destruction, not to mention commercials. (Downloading shows means you get used to no commercials, and when you next see them you feel homicidal.) Imagine my surprise when all the headlines shout about the unexpected sweep of Slumdog Millionaire.
Now this movie, it just so happens, I have seen. Danny Boyle is an interesting director, and technically quite capable. But one thing that I've found true about all his films (that I've seen) is that they can be very difficult to watch. Slumdog is no exception. The brutality, and misery, and helplessness and betrayal that Dev Patel (a charming British actor who I am very glad to see has moved on from the cultural embarrassment known as Skins) as Jamal has to endure, throughout his entire life is gut-wrenching and at times unbearable. Fortunately I was able to pause, and take a break sporadically; I can't imagine seeing it in the theaters.
Still, it was beautifully made. And most importantly the hero endures, love and life find a way to win. It is so common to see films, shows, comics these days that exclusively revel in destruction and tragedy, without a single redeeming plot line or character trait. Jamal however is a deeply good person, and remains so no matter what horrors the world heaps upon him. Still, it is not nearly as light as all the descriptions and marketing led me to believe. But it deserved to beat out the other must-be-joking nominations, such as Frost/Nixon or Revolutionary Road.
Then I read that Anna Paquin won the Globe for Best Actress for her "work" on True Blood, which really calls into question the entire integrity of this awards show. Especially since she was up against the stellar January Jones of Mad Men and Kyra Sedgwick of The Closer. True Blood is a show I have avoided discussing, in an attempt to curb my negativity, but it seems I have no choice. What an unbelievable flaming pile of horse shit. No one is better suited to be a fan for this premise as I am, a lifelong Buffy-obsessed fan and vampire lover, but I wasn't sure if it was a joke or not. The pornography and gore that Alan Ball suffuses every episode with, the slaughtered grandmother and ah-maaazing drug trips that come from drinking vampire blood, are laughingly set around the waifish putrid acting of Anna Paquin as "Sookie Stackhouse" and her completely unconvincing chemistry-less love with vampire Bill. I thought Alan Ball had hit bottom with Towelhead (having a white ex-army man rape his 13 year old Muslim girl neighbor as political statement) but he continues to impress me with his supreme lack of taste. Seeing Paquin clutching an award makes you wonder if the "Hollywood Foreign Press" (three liberal bastions rolled into one entity) suffer from the same ailment.
P.C. Token Award of the Evening: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight. Wow I really didn't expect that. (<---sarcasm)
Retarded Category/Award of the Evening: Lifetime Achievement for Steven Spielberg. Maybe we should wait till he stops making movies to give him this one, since he's achieved some spectacular failures in his career, and has plenty more on the horizon.
Even More Obvious than Heath Winners: Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock. Has anyone actually watched this show since the first 5 episodes aired? Or do they just all assume its maintained the same slightly-above-mediocre quality? Cause it hasn't. They've slacked off bigtime, and tried to hide it with a constant tsunami of celebrity guests. It's kind of like they jumped the shark, and nobody has noticed yet since Tina is just so easy for them to love.
Most Deserved Awards: Everything that anyone from John Adams won.
Congrats to Mr. Boyle and his cast and crew, and might I suggest an attempt at some lighter fare? Comedy can be just as poignant, and it doesn't linger and make me depressed for 3 days after seeing it (usually).
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Novak for President
Not really sure what to say. If you go to the original youtube page, you'll find more just like it, with Rafa and Federer.
Look For Novak Djokovic to defend his Australian Open title starting next week on the 19th.
Look For Novak Djokovic to defend his Australian Open title starting next week on the 19th.
Sharp Elbows
The media after Obama chooses Rahm Emmanuel as his chief of staff:
CHETRY: Rahm Emanuel, a Washington veteran known for sharp elbows.
REID: A masterful politician with very sharp elbows.
SCARBOROUGH: Sharp political elbows.
CARD: I hope he takes his partisan elbows and keeps them close by to his body.
BROWNSTEIN: He has sharp political instincts and sharp elbows.
BROWN: You mentioned sharp elbows.
YELLIN: A reputation for sharp elbows.
Google "sharp elbow rahm" and you'll find even more.
They sure love that term now:
"Compared to the sharp-elbowed style common among New York politicians, [Caroline] Kennedy's personality in a series of recent media interviews has seemed quiet, soft-spoken."
-from the AP
Do they actually have any writers on staff? Or does one team do the bullet points for all the networks? It's like sophomore chemistry class; Mr. Kochanev received multiple copies of the same exact lab, printed in different fonts. Only he saw through it pretty quickly (senility and all), so why can't America?
Dirty Harry
Another example of the insane, rabid political correctness of the United Arab Emirates, er...I mean the United Kingdom
Prince Harry, the gun-totin' sex symbol of the all but extinct British male, gets tarred and feathered once again. I think the fact that he's been shot at by Muslims gives him the right to crack a joke or two.
If only our royalty had so much personality. I would take 'paki' and 'raghead' any day over Caroline's 'you know's and Obama's 'uh's. At least we know Harry can form a sentence without a script.
Long live the Prince.
Prince Harry, the gun-totin' sex symbol of the all but extinct British male, gets tarred and feathered once again. I think the fact that he's been shot at by Muslims gives him the right to crack a joke or two.
If only our royalty had so much personality. I would take 'paki' and 'raghead' any day over Caroline's 'you know's and Obama's 'uh's. At least we know Harry can form a sentence without a script.
Long live the Prince.
Pegg and Frost Cast as Thompson/Thomson Twins in Tintin Movie
The most recent casting news concerning Spielberg's upcoming attempt at creating a Tintin film franchise (the over-worshiped director is planning a trilogy, of course) concerns the roles of Thompson and Thomson, the buffoonish comic relief detectives. My own concern with a film version would certainly include the presence of these characters, who in cinema-form would most likely slow down the story with their constant antics, especially if left unchecked by the illustration of their good hearts and intentions. However, the casting of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, the notorious comic duo responsible for such gems as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz (well-made, irreverent, character-conscious movies) has boosted my confidence in this production of a classic.
The new Doctor Who head writer Stephen Moffat is the screenwriter, basing the plot apparently on Tintin books Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure (why, out of all the Tintin installments, did they pick those? No moon? No tibet? No Blue Lotus? No Black Island? No Syldavia?). This inspires a bit more trepidation within me, however, since I am not entirely convinced of Moffat's impending success with the new (2010) Doctor Who series. The writer of such award winning earlier episodes as Blink and The Girl in the Fireplace, served up a real clunker last series in the two-part Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead, guest-starring Dr. Corday--er, Alex Kingston--as the Doctor's future-love whom he hasn't met yet but who's met him and naturally sacrifices herself to save him, as really all the guest stars seem to do. If Moffat thinks that all you need for a great episode or screenplay is a plot so elaborate you can't explain it in a blogpost, I fear he will continue to get worse instead of better, heaping action and intrigue upon lifeless, soulless characters, and then throwing in some tragedy so that the actors can have something to emote. Though I'm excited for new blood and less Russel T. Davies, if all Moffat has to offer is to make the Doctor "darker", I say bugger off.
And bashi bazouks, try not to destroy Tintin while you're at it. (Bowler) Hats off to the casting of Pegg and Frost, though. Now to see who gets the title role since the little juvenile (i.e. male ingenue) Thomas Sangster has pulled out.
Europe or Eurabia: The Integration of Islam into European Society
The future of multi-ethnic Europe is not so much dominated by the issue of race, but instead by religion. It is not uncommon these days in Europe to often see women wearing niqabs, burkas and headscarves, or to see men with long beards and turbans. Nor is it out of the ordinary to witness store windows with signs and writing in Arabic, selling exotic products from the Middle East. In just a matter of decades the ethnic landscape of nearly all European countries has shifted dramatically with the rise of the Muslim population. What was once a very homogeneous and traditional set of societies is now slowly being overwhelmed by the ubiquity of a decidedly non-Western culture. While Muslims still make up a definite minority in European countries, such as France, Germany and Spain, demographic trends show a shift towards a dramatic growth in their numbers.
After World War II and the following "baby boom" rise in population, the birthrate among native Europeans has dropped significantly. Birthrates have dropped to an average of 1.45 children per family, significantly shy of the 2.1 needed for maintaining population growth at replacement levels. Perhaps the historically richest continent in the world, the source of millions of immigrants and various civilizations, is facing not only a change in culture, but also a drastically reducing populace.
The new Europe, where Muslims are still only making up about 5 percent of the European Union's population, is giving way to the future Europe, in which the Muslim population will increase by leaps and bounds. In the past 30 years the number of European Muslims has tripled, and demographers predict a similar, if not more extreme, rate of growth among Muslims in the coming years. If current trends continue, by 2040 both France and Netherlands might have a Muslim majority. Correspondingly, Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe, driven by massive amounts of immigration from the Middle East that began in the second half of the twentieth century, as well as the very high birthrates typical of an average Muslim family. These recognizable changes in the human landscape of Europe are not merely cosmetic, nor do they evenly fill in the gaps left by a decreasing native population. Instead the social changes, the cultural discrepancies and ramifications are causing a conflict that will fundamentally alter Europe as well as the world.
The introduction of a completely new ethnic group into European countries, nations who historically have been based upon a common ethnicity and history, is not an easy and immediate fit. While many Muslims adjust successfully, finding gainful employment and stable households, many do not transition so painlessly, hitting language barriers that keep them from jobs and money. In these countries that have such deep traditions, where their history and religion is ever present in the form of antiquities and great buildings still in place from hundreds of years ago, not to mention literary or spoken traditions, the injection of mass amounts of people who speak, and act, and look, and worship differently inevitably creates many tensions. Thus, many Muslims, whether by choice or necessity, experience segregation in Europe, living in ghettos or secluded areas that are rife with poverty and crime.
Religion is perhaps the most important factor in this change in Europe. While new businesses and consumers are welcome, economically, the issues of Islam pose a threat to secular Europeans who worry that the core values of their civilizations will be overlooked. Values such as women's rights, tolerance of other ethnic groups and sexualities, and in a greater sense democracy, that are held as sacred by the liberal and free thinking population of Europe are in contrast to the nations and societies of the Middle East, the source of Islam and Muslim immigration. Furthermore these issues are compounded by the unavoidable presence of radical Islam in global events.
The horror of September 11th, the subsequent War on Terror, the increasing attacks made by Islamic Fundamentalists, have changed the entire world and created an enemy of democracy that is without a singular home or face. The terrorist attacks in Europe, specifically the train bombings in Madrid on March 11th, 2004 and the train and bus bombings (both attempted and successful) in London in July of 2005, proved to Europeans even more clearly the role of radical Islam and its personal war against Western culture and its ideals. The unavoidable connection between terrorism and Islam has created even more tension between Europeans and the Muslims who live in European countries. The fact that the attackers in London were born and bred in the United Kingdom was a haunting truth for UK citizens, shattering any remaining illusion that islamofascism was a distant threat from another part of the world. Yet Britain has had more success than most European countries in integrating Muslims into society, favoring multiculturalism, an idea that accepts all cultures as having equal value and effects the governments handling of minorities. France too favors integration, and yet problems continue to arise as the result of the ever-growing Muslim population.
The French Muslim population is the largest in Western Europe, approaching 10% of the country's population and numbered at 5 to 6 million. These numbers result from the former North African colonies of France, such as Morocco and Algeria, and the immigration of those Muslims into France where many are given citizenship. Yet the massive growth of this community challenges the strict French ideal of separation of public life and religion. A ban on religious symbols in public schools was perceived as a ban on the Islamic headscarf for women, and created major national disputes. Furthermore it is hard to forget the prolonged and extensive rioting in 2005 that centered mainly around Muslim immigrant communities, a wave of violence that is incredibly likely to reoccur in France's near future with no long-lasting resolution in sight.
German Muslims make up about three and a half percent of Germany's population, with the majority being from Turkey and retaining strong links to their home country. In Berlin kabob vendors and stores now outnumber traditional German sausage eateries. Initially, Muslims were considered 'guest workers' that were allowed to contribute to the economy but were expected to eventually return to their home countries, but as the Muslim population continues to rise attempts are being made to more successfully integrate them. Angela Merkel, the chancellor who openly opposes the inclusion of Turkey into the EU, remarked on immigration that “we don’t say they should not be Muslims. But we do say that we are a country with a Christian background, and Turks must understand this…Try opening a Christian church in Istanbul.” The potential admission of Turkey into the European Union is a major topic of European debate, with many people hesitant to include an overwhelmingly Muslim state into Europe's large experiment.
Europe's strained relations with Islam go back over a thousand years, including countless wars and bloodshed. In recent decades relations have taken on a more economic tone with the steady immigration of Muslims to Europe in search of work, spawning new issues of how to integrate large numbers of such a different population into broader society. The increasing numbers, the addition to the workforce, and the rising vocalism of these communities is forcing Europe's governments to focus on bringing them into the mainstream, which may in fact be a great mistake since it is not always integration that Muslim groups desire. Few European Muslims are advocating widespread integration into Western culture, instead placing emphasis on multiculturalism within historically homogeneous nation-states. Dyab Abu Jahjah, a prominent Belgian Muslim, has actively campaigned in Antwerp to add Arabic as an official language of his country, referring to the notion of assimilation as “cultural rape.” This staunch resolve in the maintenance of Muslim culture despite a massive shift in geography and in the societies it inhabits is indicative of a fundamentalism that is hard to distinguish from the religion and ethnicity of the Muslim people. The United States, by far the ultimate example of a society built with immigration, progressed and expanded throughout history due to the successful integration of many different peoples and religions. The 'melting pot' of America is not a result of making allowances for every new ethnicity to cross its border, nor forcing current citizens to accept fully and without questions new cultures. Instead the ideal of America stood above all other cultures. Personal identities are valued, respected and remembered, but to a large extent much is left behind in order to fully enjoy and participate in the equality of democracy.
Europe too has a great history of progression. Having endured two world wars, the occupation of several countries by fascist enemies, the ups and downs of the economy, it constantly struggles to find its way, to create the best possible world it can and the most advanced. Always looking to the future, it integrates technology, new economic principles, and new peoples every day in order to create a society that allows for the best quality of life for all its inhabitants.
In deep contrast the societies of Islam are rigid and militantly resistant to change. The high illiteracy rates of Middle Eastern nations support the indoctrination of the youth and all citizens into anti-Western fervor, into a sexist and racist disregard of human life, one that has not changed for centuries. The steady stream of Muslims immigrating into Europe can be seen as a Trojan horse, a way of infiltrating enemy societies and disrupting or destroying them from the inside, since the direct violence and wars of centuries past failed. Though a grim thought, it is hard to deny considering the repeated declarations of this intent seen on the news, the unabated bombings and anti-democratic savage persistence. While it is hoped that these constant occurrences, these rallies and celebrations in the Middle East after 9/11, this spewing of anti-Western bile is only indicative of a smaller percentage of the worlds Muslim population, it is not possible to know for certain how widespread these ideologies are. Thus, the future of Europe yet again faces a tyrannical and unpersuasive enemy, as it did in the first half of the last century.
Clearly, the future of Europe is dependent on how the Muslim populations are dealt with. The successful integration of European Muslims is crucial, as they are already a significant minority on the continent and will play a definite role. The intentions of these groups, and the social impact they will have, is another matter that must be weighed heavily and realistically. The difference between a basic integration, and a complete and flourishing assimilation, is a great one, and is problematic especially if the latter is not their intention at all. It is imperative for the continent's governments to create and adopt effective assimilation policies, for if they do not, and if the birthrates of native Europeans do not increase, this steady and unhalted immigration may accomplish what the Muslim army on the field of Tours was not able to. That is, the Islamic conquest of Europe.
Other, better reading:
-Mark Steyn; The 'Oldest Hatred', from Gaza to Florida
After World War II and the following "baby boom" rise in population, the birthrate among native Europeans has dropped significantly. Birthrates have dropped to an average of 1.45 children per family, significantly shy of the 2.1 needed for maintaining population growth at replacement levels. Perhaps the historically richest continent in the world, the source of millions of immigrants and various civilizations, is facing not only a change in culture, but also a drastically reducing populace.
The new Europe, where Muslims are still only making up about 5 percent of the European Union's population, is giving way to the future Europe, in which the Muslim population will increase by leaps and bounds. In the past 30 years the number of European Muslims has tripled, and demographers predict a similar, if not more extreme, rate of growth among Muslims in the coming years. If current trends continue, by 2040 both France and Netherlands might have a Muslim majority. Correspondingly, Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe, driven by massive amounts of immigration from the Middle East that began in the second half of the twentieth century, as well as the very high birthrates typical of an average Muslim family. These recognizable changes in the human landscape of Europe are not merely cosmetic, nor do they evenly fill in the gaps left by a decreasing native population. Instead the social changes, the cultural discrepancies and ramifications are causing a conflict that will fundamentally alter Europe as well as the world.
The introduction of a completely new ethnic group into European countries, nations who historically have been based upon a common ethnicity and history, is not an easy and immediate fit. While many Muslims adjust successfully, finding gainful employment and stable households, many do not transition so painlessly, hitting language barriers that keep them from jobs and money. In these countries that have such deep traditions, where their history and religion is ever present in the form of antiquities and great buildings still in place from hundreds of years ago, not to mention literary or spoken traditions, the injection of mass amounts of people who speak, and act, and look, and worship differently inevitably creates many tensions. Thus, many Muslims, whether by choice or necessity, experience segregation in Europe, living in ghettos or secluded areas that are rife with poverty and crime.
Religion is perhaps the most important factor in this change in Europe. While new businesses and consumers are welcome, economically, the issues of Islam pose a threat to secular Europeans who worry that the core values of their civilizations will be overlooked. Values such as women's rights, tolerance of other ethnic groups and sexualities, and in a greater sense democracy, that are held as sacred by the liberal and free thinking population of Europe are in contrast to the nations and societies of the Middle East, the source of Islam and Muslim immigration. Furthermore these issues are compounded by the unavoidable presence of radical Islam in global events.
The horror of September 11th, the subsequent War on Terror, the increasing attacks made by Islamic Fundamentalists, have changed the entire world and created an enemy of democracy that is without a singular home or face. The terrorist attacks in Europe, specifically the train bombings in Madrid on March 11th, 2004 and the train and bus bombings (both attempted and successful) in London in July of 2005, proved to Europeans even more clearly the role of radical Islam and its personal war against Western culture and its ideals. The unavoidable connection between terrorism and Islam has created even more tension between Europeans and the Muslims who live in European countries. The fact that the attackers in London were born and bred in the United Kingdom was a haunting truth for UK citizens, shattering any remaining illusion that islamofascism was a distant threat from another part of the world. Yet Britain has had more success than most European countries in integrating Muslims into society, favoring multiculturalism, an idea that accepts all cultures as having equal value and effects the governments handling of minorities. France too favors integration, and yet problems continue to arise as the result of the ever-growing Muslim population.
The French Muslim population is the largest in Western Europe, approaching 10% of the country's population and numbered at 5 to 6 million. These numbers result from the former North African colonies of France, such as Morocco and Algeria, and the immigration of those Muslims into France where many are given citizenship. Yet the massive growth of this community challenges the strict French ideal of separation of public life and religion. A ban on religious symbols in public schools was perceived as a ban on the Islamic headscarf for women, and created major national disputes. Furthermore it is hard to forget the prolonged and extensive rioting in 2005 that centered mainly around Muslim immigrant communities, a wave of violence that is incredibly likely to reoccur in France's near future with no long-lasting resolution in sight.
German Muslims make up about three and a half percent of Germany's population, with the majority being from Turkey and retaining strong links to their home country. In Berlin kabob vendors and stores now outnumber traditional German sausage eateries. Initially, Muslims were considered 'guest workers' that were allowed to contribute to the economy but were expected to eventually return to their home countries, but as the Muslim population continues to rise attempts are being made to more successfully integrate them. Angela Merkel, the chancellor who openly opposes the inclusion of Turkey into the EU, remarked on immigration that “we don’t say they should not be Muslims. But we do say that we are a country with a Christian background, and Turks must understand this…Try opening a Christian church in Istanbul.” The potential admission of Turkey into the European Union is a major topic of European debate, with many people hesitant to include an overwhelmingly Muslim state into Europe's large experiment.
Europe's strained relations with Islam go back over a thousand years, including countless wars and bloodshed. In recent decades relations have taken on a more economic tone with the steady immigration of Muslims to Europe in search of work, spawning new issues of how to integrate large numbers of such a different population into broader society. The increasing numbers, the addition to the workforce, and the rising vocalism of these communities is forcing Europe's governments to focus on bringing them into the mainstream, which may in fact be a great mistake since it is not always integration that Muslim groups desire. Few European Muslims are advocating widespread integration into Western culture, instead placing emphasis on multiculturalism within historically homogeneous nation-states. Dyab Abu Jahjah, a prominent Belgian Muslim, has actively campaigned in Antwerp to add Arabic as an official language of his country, referring to the notion of assimilation as “cultural rape.” This staunch resolve in the maintenance of Muslim culture despite a massive shift in geography and in the societies it inhabits is indicative of a fundamentalism that is hard to distinguish from the religion and ethnicity of the Muslim people. The United States, by far the ultimate example of a society built with immigration, progressed and expanded throughout history due to the successful integration of many different peoples and religions. The 'melting pot' of America is not a result of making allowances for every new ethnicity to cross its border, nor forcing current citizens to accept fully and without questions new cultures. Instead the ideal of America stood above all other cultures. Personal identities are valued, respected and remembered, but to a large extent much is left behind in order to fully enjoy and participate in the equality of democracy.
Europe too has a great history of progression. Having endured two world wars, the occupation of several countries by fascist enemies, the ups and downs of the economy, it constantly struggles to find its way, to create the best possible world it can and the most advanced. Always looking to the future, it integrates technology, new economic principles, and new peoples every day in order to create a society that allows for the best quality of life for all its inhabitants.
In deep contrast the societies of Islam are rigid and militantly resistant to change. The high illiteracy rates of Middle Eastern nations support the indoctrination of the youth and all citizens into anti-Western fervor, into a sexist and racist disregard of human life, one that has not changed for centuries. The steady stream of Muslims immigrating into Europe can be seen as a Trojan horse, a way of infiltrating enemy societies and disrupting or destroying them from the inside, since the direct violence and wars of centuries past failed. Though a grim thought, it is hard to deny considering the repeated declarations of this intent seen on the news, the unabated bombings and anti-democratic savage persistence. While it is hoped that these constant occurrences, these rallies and celebrations in the Middle East after 9/11, this spewing of anti-Western bile is only indicative of a smaller percentage of the worlds Muslim population, it is not possible to know for certain how widespread these ideologies are. Thus, the future of Europe yet again faces a tyrannical and unpersuasive enemy, as it did in the first half of the last century.
Clearly, the future of Europe is dependent on how the Muslim populations are dealt with. The successful integration of European Muslims is crucial, as they are already a significant minority on the continent and will play a definite role. The intentions of these groups, and the social impact they will have, is another matter that must be weighed heavily and realistically. The difference between a basic integration, and a complete and flourishing assimilation, is a great one, and is problematic especially if the latter is not their intention at all. It is imperative for the continent's governments to create and adopt effective assimilation policies, for if they do not, and if the birthrates of native Europeans do not increase, this steady and unhalted immigration may accomplish what the Muslim army on the field of Tours was not able to. That is, the Islamic conquest of Europe.
Other, better reading:
-Mark Steyn; The 'Oldest Hatred', from Gaza to Florida
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Damages: Worth the Wait?
endure throughout every episode, and that it was all resolved by the end, but in terms of hard facts I only clearly recall who died, who survived, and who told the FBI she would help bring Patty down.
I was secretly hoping that the device of showing scenes from the future, and then switching back to the present would be retired after the first year, as they on occasion make my head hurt (its dry enough trying to follow the legal machinations) and drive me crazy by teasing the meat of the plot and ending the episode before I get to taste it. However, instead of seeing a scrappy screaming Ellen (Byrne) getting attacked and surviving in the classic man-tries-to-murder-woman, man-falls-on-womans-kitchen-knife, we get a glimpse of a dark-eyed, whiskey drinking Ellen, civilly menacing an unidentified hostage.
I have to say, I've never fully made up my mind about Rose Byrne. Perhaps I haven't seen her in the right role, since the Brits speak very highly of her. Certainly Troy was an unfortunate showcase for the American audience, and I didn't find Sunshine particularly remarkable, if rather disturbing. (I've not had the courage to brave her performances in movies like Wicker Park, 28 Weeks Later or Marie Antoinette, nor the resources to find her and David Tennant and Peter O'Toole's Casanova.) She has neither won me over, nor incurred my dissatisfaction. But after this week's premiere, and what looks like an escalating arc of iniquity and conviction, this season of Damages may be the turning point in our relationship.
While last year we dealt with the slow, methodical crumbling of her impending marriage, old friendships, and to some degree her moral center, this year finds Ellen filled with a burning righteous desire for vengeance. And with her unflinching brilliance, expect a creative destruction of Patty--nothing so simple as two bullets point blank (yes thats right, I don't think it's Patty in the chair.) The grief and rage that Byrne channels gives her a kind of glow, a steady gait of purpose in a life where all her previous goals have either lost their appeal, or been bashed in the head by a bookend. Also her hair looks great.
Glenn Close's Patty, another hair style improvement, also feels richer. Watching her forced smile as she deals with opportunistic businessman and Regis and Kelly makes you think she might flip out at any moment and murder someone (my vote's for Regis) with her bare hands instead of simply ordering a henchman to do it. But then she has some powerful Lady Macbeth moments, and we realize her impending psychotic break is fueled by guilt, not rage. Suddenly we are almost sympathetic with her once-purely-villainous character, highlighting the reversal of roles between Patty and Ellen, the obfuscation of justice vs. vengeance that leads them both down darker paths.
The tone of the show remains grave and unchanged, but the two main characters are increasingly dynamic. The inevitable showdown between Patty and Ellen is reason enough to keep watching, and the rising level of acting chops as Close and Byrne feed off each other's considerable skill will keep you enjoying it.
As for the legal material, look for Patty to take on the HMOs who have destroyed the noble practice of obstetrics with her usual fervor. Talk about inspiring sympathy; I'm starting to love counselor Hewes.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Pound snow, ya mook
Obama to appear in Amazing Spider-Man #583
The celebrated Chicago thug will join beloved wife Michelle in gracing our favorite medium. I suggest, but hardly expect, a new Kingpin of Crime story line. And I loudly applaud Spider-Man's confusion upon seeing Biden and mistaking him for the Vulture. One thing's for certain: J. Jonah will have to rethink his stance on Spidey once he sees his newest ally.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Gay, dear? Who, dear? Me, dear? NO, dear!
Chuck Dixon: More brilliant than I thought. Who says conservative and comic books don't go together?
Assumptions get you every time. About a year ago, during Chuck Dixon's short-lived run on Batman and the Outsiders, he released the above preview page onto the internet before the issue's debut. Immediately many blogs began wailing about the offensive nature of it, about Dixon's (a known conservative) belittling of the lesbian relationship of Thunder and Grace by team leader Batman. In the preview it seems as if Batman's objection to Thunder being on the team has to do with her special relationship with Grace, and Thunder (the black lesbian superhero daughter of the black superhero Black Lightning...yes, that's really his name) takes offense as quickly as the internet fans.
Shortly after the posting, however, and the irate and affronted comments and discussions that it led to, Dixon posted this. Apparently, what with the predictable behavior of liberal victims everywhere, Dixon deliberately posted the misleading preview in order to benefit from the buzz and inherent promotion of their expected reaction.
"I knew so many of you would go for the homophobe bait and try to anticipate where I was going, so I plan the switched up and reversal just for you. Batman was ONLY referring to their friendship and did not know there was more to it until Thunder let him know." [sic]
The point Dixon makes is that to Batman the sexuality of his operatives, friends, enemies, etc. is irrelevant. So long as it doesn't effect his mission, like if Thunder was dating Poison Ivy and handing over team secrets, it doesn't matter in the slightest.
"If anything it was the ultimate exploration of Batman's attitude toward same-sex relationships: the man doesn't care. If you want to think that I slipped my own opinion in here, maybe I did. But only because I think Batman shares my personal views here."
Hear, hear. While being gay is a completely valid characteristic, for both superheroe
s and real people, it should neither define in totality a person or a hero. The seemingly pride-inducing depiction of a gay superhero, avenging hate crimes and AIDS ignorance, is a template that is itself offensive and restrictive. (What kind of character could Northstar have become if he wasn't ham-fistedly inserted into 'tolerance' issues or given a lame unrequited crush on Iceman? His intellect, arrogance, and experience are passed over in favor of using him as the token gay mutant, a species already allegorically tied to homosexuality with its inherent prejudice, not to mention the 'Legacy' Virus.)
Since the word 'gay' acquired its present meaning, it has become a sweeping description that implicitly describes a person's politics, lifestyle, and priorities. Apollo and Midnighter fight to overthrow right-wing government regimes, Rage (Gay Crusader) uses mind control to turn gay bashers against each other, and when Northstar is killed and resurrected in a quintessential Wolverine story line, gay author Perry Moore was driven to wage his "own little jihad." God forbid the invulnerable Olympic-skier French-Canadian super-speedster is used in an arc that doesn't revolve around his sexuality. (You're saving the world Mr. Moore.)
The term 'gay superhero' is like 'gay rights'. When did I, by coming out, lose my inalienable rights as an American citizen? At what moment did I suddenly start deserving different treatment, and requiring special consideration? Likewise, does Northstar fly by ordinary crime in order to get to the West Coast and beat some sense into the black Californians who passed Prop 8?
No. Superheroes don't pick their battles. They just fight them. We, however, pick our heroes. Give me the impartial Batman whose only intolerance is for evil and sloth any day, the equal opportunity lifesaver vs. the politically-correct reformer with an obvious agenda.
As for Dixon, well, that's just smart marketing.
Chuck Dixon is the renowned writer responsible for such critical Batman arcs as KnightsEnd, KnightFall, Contagion, and No Man's Land, as well as the long-running Robin, Nightwing and Birds of Prey. In June '08, a few months after the Outsiders' incident, he was let go from DC for reasons still unknown.
Assumptions get you every time. About a year ago, during Chuck Dixon's short-lived run on Batman and the Outsiders, he released the above preview page onto the internet before the issue's debut. Immediately many blogs began wailing about the offensive nature of it, about Dixon's (a known conservative) belittling of the lesbian relationship of Thunder and Grace by team leader Batman. In the preview it seems as if Batman's objection to Thunder being on the team has to do with her special relationship with Grace, and Thunder (the black lesbian superhero daughter of the black superhero Black Lightning...yes, that's really his name) takes offense as quickly as the internet fans.
Shortly after the posting, however, and the irate and affronted comments and discussions that it led to, Dixon posted this. Apparently, what with the predictable behavior of liberal victims everywhere, Dixon deliberately posted the misleading preview in order to benefit from the buzz and inherent promotion of their expected reaction.
"I knew so many of you would go for the homophobe bait and try to anticipate where I was going, so I plan the switched up and reversal just for you. Batman was ONLY referring to their friendship and did not know there was more to it until Thunder let him know." [sic]
The point Dixon makes is that to Batman the sexuality of his operatives, friends, enemies, etc. is irrelevant. So long as it doesn't effect his mission, like if Thunder was dating Poison Ivy and handing over team secrets, it doesn't matter in the slightest.
"If anything it was the ultimate exploration of Batman's attitude toward same-sex relationships: the man doesn't care. If you want to think that I slipped my own opinion in here, maybe I did. But only because I think Batman shares my personal views here."
Hear, hear. While being gay is a completely valid characteristic, for both superheroe
s and real people, it should neither define in totality a person or a hero. The seemingly pride-inducing depiction of a gay superhero, avenging hate crimes and AIDS ignorance, is a template that is itself offensive and restrictive. (What kind of character could Northstar have become if he wasn't ham-fistedly inserted into 'tolerance' issues or given a lame unrequited crush on Iceman? His intellect, arrogance, and experience are passed over in favor of using him as the token gay mutant, a species already allegorically tied to homosexuality with its inherent prejudice, not to mention the 'Legacy' Virus.)
Since the word 'gay' acquired its present meaning, it has become a sweeping description that implicitly describes a person's politics, lifestyle, and priorities. Apollo and Midnighter fight to overthrow right-wing government regimes, Rage (Gay Crusader) uses mind control to turn gay bashers against each other, and when Northstar is killed and resurrected in a quintessential Wolverine story line, gay author Perry Moore was driven to wage his "own little jihad." God forbid the invulnerable Olympic-skier French-Canadian super-speedster is used in an arc that doesn't revolve around his sexuality. (You're saving the world Mr. Moore.)
The term 'gay superhero' is like 'gay rights'. When did I, by coming out, lose my inalienable rights as an American citizen? At what moment did I suddenly start deserving different treatment, and requiring special consideration? Likewise, does Northstar fly by ordinary crime in order to get to the West Coast and beat some sense into the black Californians who passed Prop 8?
No. Superheroes don't pick their battles. They just fight them. We, however, pick our heroes. Give me the impartial Batman whose only intolerance is for evil and sloth any day, the equal opportunity lifesaver vs. the politically-correct reformer with an obvious agenda.
As for Dixon, well, that's just smart marketing.
Chuck Dixon is the renowned writer responsible for such critical Batman arcs as KnightsEnd, KnightFall, Contagion, and No Man's Land, as well as the long-running Robin, Nightwing and Birds of Prey. In June '08, a few months after the Outsiders' incident, he was let go from DC for reasons still unknown.
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