Things that go bump in the night

Its those thoughts that which keeps you lingering in the shadows under the curtain of night. It is very hot in the summer and I have two fans going in the night to keep the room temperature as close to "room" temperature as can be. Every so often a poster will come loose or a push pin will fall and I am left with an acoustic orchestra of what could be nails dragging on wood or teeth chattering. I can also imagine that the mattress is giving under weight that is not my own and possibly some paranormal force is waiting to strangle me or pull me from the bed. I can even see the dark shadow wave over me in an attempt to cling to my very life.

I love Horror. I like it all and it's sub-genres. In particular the thrillers, psychological, atmospheric, post-apocalyptic, and especially found footage. People like to dive into their particular genre of choice in whichever media outlet serves them best (movie, tv, book) in order to indulge some escapism. It can be a way to learn and expand your mind on a subject, visit a world that allows you to break from your current life, or seek something new and exciting as an observer. I actually love the strange and unusual. Found footage movies for me are like finding some hidden secret or forgotten memos of something that might have been of great importance. It might be a witch, monster, ghost, or space aliens on that tape but it is captivating nevertheless, if it is done well. In addition to these I particularly like anything with haunted houses, possessions, or a situation in which a person or group of people are under siege. There is something about putting people at odds that can't be solved with a gun or a 911 call. My mother told me once that she is more afraid of a real person breaking into her home than a ghost that wanted to harm her. A friend of mine's mother told me that she is more afraid of the ghost than the real person.

I had watched three horror films in a single day. Apollo 18 features claustrophobic, parasitic, isolated terror in an alien environment. Another I caught later in the day was "Insidious" which is about a boy in a coma that has attracted the remnants of the dead and a particularly feisty hoofed demon. I capped the evening off with my favorite zombie movie "Day of the Dead", the original George A. Romero epic. The remake of "Day" will be shot down in a later post if I get around to it. Either way I was up for quite awhile thinking about the lack of sleep I get from watching particularly striking imagery.

I admit I am effected by shocking imagery and I love it. I love the feeling of seeing something completely different, odd, and stimulating to the point of it imprinting on my sub-conscious. The two films I remember fondly of doing such a thing was the original "Dawn of the Dead" and the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Dawn of the Dead, for obvious reasons, is pretty freaky to watch at a very young age for the first time. It wasn't so much the material, it was it's presentation. There is something to the film's commentary on humanity, how we view the deceased (which happen to be walking), and it's ever growing and gnawing feeling of hopelessness. It was watching four individuals change and, for the most part, fall to pieces as they try to cling to what they feel to be what the feel is civilization which also happens to be consumerism. Dawn of the Dead is just full of tone and atmosphere. It instills in every scene that the situation is bad and will continue to decline no matter how much fun you can keep yourself locked up with.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, on the other hand, was a completely different story. I recently purchased a copy I spent a lot of time searching for. It is a black dvd case with a silver chainsaw on the front. It is the only copy I've ever had and will own as the recent releases of the classic film have been "remastered" and air-brushed to the point of it looking like a BBC documentary. The scratches, film grain, and the colors uncorrected give the Texas Chainsaw Massacre a lot of character that adds to the mood of the film. It really bugs me when I see classics rebuffed to an akward shaky shine (see Caligula on blu-ray). Grindhouse on blu-ray has the unusual feature of turning off the digital film damage. Grindhouse, by definition, is not something that is to be seen at such high quality polished prints. The film prints used in the low-budget, dime a dozen, drive in fodder were passed around between venues so much that the film stock would literally begin to break down.

Nevertheless, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre I first saw on the Independent Film Channel (IFC). This was an era of my life I am very fond of as this was when IFC really showed independent films and classic, obscure, and underground features. The movies would be screened and later in the night it would be shown again with commentary. I happened to catch the airing with commentary. It almost made the on screen violence and insanity that much more striking as Tobe Hooper, the director, and actor Gunnar Hanson seemed to have a good time talking about their behind the scenes exploits. Again, the commentary over a film the first time around is not the best way to be exposed to a movie, but it definitely stuck with me.

Day of the Dead is by far my favorite zombie movie. It is as simply put as a movie about how a breakdown in communications, between people, can lead to disaster. Unfortunately it happens when there is only a dozen or so people left in the movie. There is a bit of social commentary as well as if the human race was ever brought back from the edge of extinction that any records of our previous endeavors must be destroyed to keep us from repeating history. It isn't a bad notion to think about and it is certainly entertaining. Not to mention Day of the Dead has some very gory and nasty parts in it that still makes me wanna look off screen when it happens.

While this has cost me some hours of rest, I definitely look forward to finding these moments again. I still have a copy of "Demons"I have yet to crack open.

There should be only one!

What is there not to like about a small sect of people known only as immortals that have lived among us since the dawn of time living only to hunt each other to decapitate their adversary and gain their power and abilities? It is a very great premise to a story about men and women who live by the sword through the ages of man and cannot die.

Well they did a decent job with it in one movie and screwed it up the rest of the attempts. There should have been only one.

One could argue that the problem with the modern story, across all mediums, is that the stories conclude with a satisfying tie up of the loose ends with a bit of mystery but leave the ending open to a sequel. The continuing story often does not live up to the original and we are left with the classic to hold dear to our hearts, but it is now bitter sweet. There are many perspectives to this and is always left up to interpretation. Sequels and series can be great while others can continue to flop and ruin whatever good name the title borrowed from.

Highlander (as a franchise) has a much bigger problem. The first movie is a modern classic which utilizes the pitch noted above to a near perfect tee. It is the story of an immortal Scotsman who is immortal and lives for five hundred years watching his loved ones die and battling other immortals for a chance to obtain the prize at the gathering, a final show down of the few immortals remaining. Have “Queen” do your entire soundtrack and you got a great movie. (Flash Gordon is still up for debate).

Now the original Highlander ended with all loose ends covered and the fate of the hero is grand as Conner MacLeod does come out as “The One” after the gathering and gives a brief explanation of the prize of having obtained the knowledge of the world, the abilities of those before him, and the gift of being able to grow old and die (he became mortal). It left a bit of mysteriousness to the story but ultimately the story has concluded.

There there came Highlander 2 which has had numerous cuts of the director’s, producer’s, fans, and too many to count. The fundamental plots that are consistent of all the Highlander 2’s is that the Immortals have come from a very distant past (with space ships) and/or alien planet and that being sent to our time as Immortals is more or less a capital punishment by that society. There is also a very large demeaning artificial shield that has taken place of the ozone layer and has brought mankind to a stand still. So, more immortals are pumped in to kill the old Conner MacLeod, he grows young again by a giant explosion of fossil fuel, and the film can’t decide if it’s weak plot point should be wrapped up at the end or should they destroy the ozone layer shield? So it does both and two separate fight scenes are mashed together for the ending.

There is also the third movie. This one, depending on your region, is called “Highlander 3: The Sorcerer” which makes some sense because the Japanese master of sword and martial arts also holds some power of illusion and is obtained by the main antagonist of the film. Then there is “Highlander: The Final Dimension” which makes absolutely no sense until I suspended by disbelief and thought that maybe the title is trying to instill in me that each Highlander film is in it’s own universe and this is a tale for this one. This would make everything fine and dandy. It worked for Final Fantasy. Why not this series?

The filmmakers of the franchise try WAY too hard to make all of the events in the films to some how fit in a deformed continuity. Even if they wanted to make each film separate in terms of story and time line, there is too much effort put in to tie one film to everything else. The explanation is quickly shot down. Also, the third Highlander movie also serves to occur at the same time as the Highlander television series.

Speaking of the television series, this iteration of the franchise is my favorite. If you put aside your brain and suspend all past logic of the franchise, it’s the most well rounded of the projects, aside from the first movie. It really gives some insight into the life of an Immortal and provides some great period pieces with some great choreographed sword fights. The series passes the torch from Conner MacLeod of the movies, to another MacLeod known as “Duncan.” It also introduces a secret society known as “The Watchers” who only observe to record, but not interfere and adds a new element to the saga. The show actually grabs my attention and I want to be immersed in this world that has been created and presented to it’s intended audience. It captures something that the film franchise could not have and that is to grow and build upon it’s basic principals without rewriting or breaking them. It sets itself apart from the movies and is itself, clearly, it’s own “dimension” of sorts.

Then the fourth Highlander movie was released. It attempts to bring the film and television franchised together for a smash hit of swords and intense action. The movie focuses on a being known as Jacob Kell, an immortal that has far surpassed all others in terms of power and focus. He is able to use magic, stop sword attacks with his mind, create disturbing illusions and imagery out of thin air, levitate, and anything else that can come to mind. He does not follow the sacred rules of Holy ground and fighting one on one as he commands a gang of powerful immortals to do his bidding. When one MacLeod isn’t enough, Conner and Duncan team up to take on this massive foe of immense power.

Sounds exciting doesn’t it? That was just the trailer. The studio actually wrote and filmed separate scenes of action and story just for the trailer that was never meant to be used in the actual film product. We don’t even get to see why the MacLeods are jumping out of a portal. What we get instead, is weak motivation for an anti-social immortal who is only marginally powerful in skill because Christopher Lambert (Conner MacLeod) is practically blind in real life and because power levels of the immortals can be measured by how many heads have been taken. So Duncan MacLeod taking the head of Conner (262 + 174) is great against Kell’s 661 right? If the Watchers counted by heads, then that would mean Duncan would have 175 after Conner. This one of many problems that plague the film, including the theatrical release differing from the DVD edition which includes cut scenes that attempt to make sense of the mess, only adds more confusion as they are put in out of order or repeats previous scenes for missing action between.

I have yet to see the recent movie “The Source” which I have not heard any good news on and I have not see “The Raven” which is a spin off of the original TV series. The franchise is definitely plagued with nearly every problem that could occur in a film/television series. However, I can’t help but feel excited about another movie/show that is being in production. With the newest movie “Highlander:The Reckoning” being a remake, I think it would be great to see a re imagining from a fresh set of hands and minds. This could possibly be something that the franchise really needed and could be redesigned with “series” in mind. Until then, I will stick with the television show and get my fixes from there.

There should have been only one!

Indifference towards Intelligence

Sherman Alexie wrote a semi-autobiographical essay over the experiences in his upbringing entitled “Superman and Me.” In this essay, he writes of his home life on an Indian reservation and his strive to learn through reading. It began with a Superman comic where in he combined familiar actions and nouns with the events taking place in a panel. His father’s love for reading lead to a home environment that was always filled with books covering a broad range of topics. The father, who has had a good education through a Catholic School, projected a positive image of furthering one self through academics.

While the story itself may be an interesting tale of self perseverance, the essay takes a turn when the author describes his activities on an Indian Reservation labeling him as an “oddity” instead of “prodigy.” Learning to read and being eager to learn led the author to being an outcast as he desired to better himself in life. The author’s classmates did not share in his ideals. Instead, it is described as a learning environment where the young Indian children held a misconception that they are destined to fail in a non-Indian world. According to the author, an intelligent Indian was feared and ridiculed which led to himself being at odds with his classmates. Submitting to a lack of intelligence but holding onto their values of their culture led to acceptance from other Indians and pity from those who are not.

This is to me an example of indifference to intelligence, or the change in rationality. What is defined as rational is not of thought, but what is felt. Today what is being seen every where is a decline in intelligence and a push towards emotional irrationality. Society in the United States has degenerated into a society that does not value intelligence. While someone with an education can become a haughty elite, this is not a product of the subjects learned; it is a product of the mind.

I, as a Native American, have felt a shame towards my own culture. Growing up in the predominate Native American environment, I have been around many children my own age and have see the same children at different intervals in my life. While I sped ahead in my studies of the core curriculum, I noticed that the sentence structures and speech variations amongst some acquaintances became severely lacking. However, being involved in their ethnic backgrounds or culture clusters was very high on their list. Unfortunately, a pattern I have seen with these individuals came with poverty or what I would consider sub-standard living.

Sherman Alexie writes several of his classmates were struggling to read, but were able to memorize several pow wow songs. The classmates would duck their heads at a non-Indian teacher but would rise to the challenge of a much older bully. I compare the few examples provided by the author to experiences in my own life to see that environments play a large role in what we individuals value. It is distressing to see generations of minorities in their own right do not value the importance of bettering one self for the sake of their families and personal benefits. Intelligence, in some circles, is frowned upon and those who struggle in those families are chastised at every step in the journey to obtain higher education.

Why would anyone bother with such practices? Sherman Alexie expresses that his love of reading had only one purpose, he was “trying to save his life.” Reading opens a whole new world to an individual whether it be a fictional world where anything can happen or an ocean of knowledge ready to be absorbed and applied in the real world. Intelligent people learn and take pride in learning. The idea of being intelligent in today’s world comes with the stigma that one is sacrificing their background, ethnicity, or culture. Intelligence, in a lot of ways, makes an individual seem intimidating and less able to relate to.

Saving one’s life through education and intelligence is sometimes viewed as a way of putting others down. The other Native American children in Sherman Alexie’s essay looked down upon him and out-casted him as someone who would dare defy the status quo of the reservation that had been taught to the children their whole lives. The idea that someone would want to better themselves and live in a world where they work hard and achieve things in life that the majority does not have would seem to be an act of abandoning the heritage. By wanting a better life, not spending life in poverty, wanting a good home for himself and a family, a secure life where jobs and luxuries are within grasp would be forsaking the values of the group of people they belong to.

Intelligent people are capable of many things. While education does help to enhance our natural abilities, it is how we use them that begins to define what it means to be intelligent. It is important to retain the values and ethics that make each of us a unique individual while still retaining a sense of heritage. As Sherman Alexie wrote in his essay, we must return to places we began and make sure to pass on what makes us successful and inspire those who want to experience a world beyond what they are born. Also we must insure that those who are resistant and chained to misguided beliefs of a better life are given every opportunity to succeed in life.

The Successful Failure

Apollo 13, the feature film adapted from the book “Lost Moon” by real life astronaut Jim Lovell and Kluger, is based upon real life events surrounding the dubbed “successful failure” Apollo 13 mission in 1970. The film is directed by Ron Howard and stars and all star cast which includes Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, and Ed Harris in major roles. It is a dramatic telling of the story of a near fatal space mission that is well told without skipping out on the real technical achievements that saved the lives of the three astronauts.

I was lucky enough as a adolescent to see this movie in the theaters upon it's initial release. I had always been fascinated by space and traveling in it since I was very young. This movie is an excellent portrayal of the space program and where it has grown. Watching again this time I have the opportunity to appreciate how much work was put into this movie as it is not just a rough or loose adaptation of the events. The movie itself is an adaptation of the book written by the commander of the mission itself. This along with transcripts and radio recordings lead to a very faithful portrayal of the event itself, aside with some creative tension for the audience. Upon further research of how faithful the story is to the real life events, I have that little details that may have been added for drama, did actually happen. According to Jim Lovell, his wife losing her wedding ring down the shower faucet did in fact happen. It is nice to see even a small detail, Gene Kranz's white vest, is also included.

What amazed me about the time surrounding the event was at the time the American people were no longer interested in the space program and only payed attention when things went wrong. With the excitement of the Mercury missions, beating the Soviets, and achieving space travel to almost a routine exercise, it seems as though it would be difficult to lose interest in such a fascinating time. Though we can see this today with the Olympics and their declining ratings and the horrible Columbia disaster that drew the most attention to Nasa in years (except for the unintentionally hilarious tale of Lisa Nuwak) which often begs the question of why the human species would much rather see something spectacular fail than succeeding.

Overall, Apollo 13 is one of my all time favorite space age films, sharing that honor with Star Trek: First Contact and Armageddon, and it helps that despite being tech heavy it does a brilliant job of giving the viewer a window into the very tense time in history where a challenge brought out the best in mankind against all odds inside a vacuum sealed can catapulted into the great beyond. Gene Kranz said it best as “Failure is not an option.”

Unintentional praise of Adolf Hitler

Today’s early morning class interaction was obviously an interesting one as the events that transpired vindicated the phrase “brain over brawn.”

A class activity was presented in a way to let us see if we can choose a proper political candidate based on trivial facts of the person(s) personal life. My personal way of reading a person is often seeing the mirror image of a person’s identity that they keep in an environment. It is seen in fictional characters and real life people, past and present, that if their personal lives are mismanaged, miserable, messy, and seem to really live their lives opposed to being neatly clean cut often have a professional life that is devoted to a large responsibility spanned over an even greater amount of areas that need attention. The activity I will write below with my own comments on each individual as well as peer’s thoughts. In particular I will focus on an ex-marine who already has a distaste for his fellow man. (Not a people person as he stated in front of the class).

As mentioned above the class was presented some trivia on three individual political candidates. The class will vote which political candidate would be best for a position in politics basing their decision of the individual(s) personal life. The examples given was the life of former President Bill Clinton and the late President John F. Kennedy. Both lived larger than lifestyles, drank, had relations outside of marriage. However their contributions and career in the White House far exceeded those negatives as the people were taken care of and bills were passed to pave the way for better lives for the majority, if not all.

Right away the military grunt, as he shall remain named in this posting, made it clear that he despised former President Bill Clinton for he is a “bad president.” Let it be known that former President Bill Clinton destroyed the nation debt, put money in everyone’s pockets, and made the computer technology everyone now enjoys more available to everyone. Despite this, he holds firmly on his opinion as anyone should.

The first political candidate’s trivia was filled with tales of ties to criminal organizations, drank several martinis a day, had relations outside of marriage, and what sounded like to be a rough personal life. This is the candidate I voted for. Anyone’s reasoning for being involved with a criminal organization is always for the fact that they need something done which the regular and lawful way cannot do or will take too long to act upon. Whatever it is that drives these individuals to relieve their stress through such extreme means often reflects their jobs are high in responsibility and that they do care as in it effects them so much.

Upon my vote to this candidate, the grunt issued a statement of “This is why you people voted for Obama.” in such a tone that obviously vocalized his disapproval and an attempt to front his alpha male image.

The second candidate, no exciting comments on this one, was a political candidate who smoked and polished off his evening with half a bottle of whiskey every night.

It is notable that this individual received the most votes.

The final candidate is an individual who has a military record, served in a war, a vegetarian, does not consume alcohol but rarely has a beer, and was faithful to his girlfriend.

Here is where it got interesting. The grunt finally spoke up and for nearly five minutes praised this individual for his military service record, faithfulness to his love interest, the conviction it takes to be a vegetarian, and his near abstinence to alcohol which certainly makes this person the cream of the crop in this young man’s eyes. He believed that a person with these personal qualities would make a great candidate for politics, not the other two that other people voted for. (probably Obama supporters).

The reveals were

1. Franklin D. Roosevelt (which I said out loud before the reveal)

2. Winston Churchill

3. Adolf Hitler

Vindication is the word I would describe the big reveal as the most outspoken of the group praised the arguably most inhuman monster who ever lived and chastised the individuals who had accomplished so much that mankind has leaped forward ever since. It was certainly a surprising turn of events that lead to an uproar of laughter and stares to the grunt.

To his credit, the characteristics that he hold valuable are great things that someone should have and most would want to see in our leaders today. It just so happens that the person who held these values also tried to destroy an entire group of people and dictate the world much to our displeasure. Not all vegetarians are evil and some politicians with war records achieved great and legendary political careers, such as George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt.

The "Death of Superman" made me a fan for life

Linkara recommended the All Star Superman stories as a great way to introduce the character to those new to Superman and for those who don’t understand why we like him so much. I did get to owning and reading both novels eventually, what instead got me to jump on the boyscout bandwagon was the story of his death.

I had heard of it early in the nineties when it first happened because it was such a big story it literally leaked into real life as real newspapers and television news stations covered the event. It would take me ten years later to read up on the tale as my interest grew on the advent of the animated movie: “Superman: Doomsday.”

While at a comics shop I asked the current clerk and a store groupie why everyone had such a beef with the last son of Krypton. It came down to his messiah complex and clean record. Coincidentally this why some of his greatest villains dislike him so much. After the conversation I picked up the soft cover collection of “The Death of Superman.”

Sharing the first part of this article relates to the story itself. During the first quarter of the story Superman is doing his thing, saving lives and rescuing reporters out of dangerous mine shafts filled with citizens of the underground. Superman is also attending a television interview in Ohio to let the people get to know the superhero the world adores. Meanwhile, buried beneath miles of soil and rock is a rubber and tube clad beast that punches his way to the surface and begins rampaging across the country.

Instead of Superman, the Justice League of America heed’s the call of distress that the creature, dubbed “Doomsday” based on his unstoppable and insatiable rampage, wrecks across several states. The combined forces of the Justice League of America is no match for the relatively unknown assailant and are all swiftly defeated with serious and near fatal injuries within a few pages.

It is important to note how the public feels about Superman. Much like the opinions of the clerks and the majority of people today that know of comics, Superman isn’t cool and he’s not that great at what he does. This is summed up through a young high school student, Mitchell, who does nothing but chastise the blue and red blur throughout the first act of the story. The student relates more to Guy Gardner, a former Green Lantern, because Guy Gardner is much more a product of 90’s attitude and rebelliousness. However when the battle of Doomsday reaches his home and not only himself but his mother and baby sister are threatened to be killed by the rampaging beast.

The only members of the Justice League of America that are able to fight after the first encounter are Booster Gold, Fire, Ice, Bloodwynd, and Guy Gardner (whose face is so swollen from the first attack he is blind.” It is also notable to know that Doomsday is still wrapped up in his rubber and tube like binding and has done massive damage and beaten superheros to a pulp with one hand binded to his back the entire time.

Mitchell’s house is totally destroyed and his mother and baby sister’s life is put at high risk as the Justice League of America are barely able to slow down and distract the beast. Another defeat and Booster Gold is sent flying through the air and is stopped by none other than Superman himself who immediately took flight to battlefield to put an end to the fight once and for all.

To everyone’s amazement, everyone who is still conscious, Superman takes the first punch to the chest like a wad of paper to a brick wall. The second hit, a swift kick to the midsection, puts Superman through the remains of the family’s home and a very thick tree. The Justice League of America all concentrate their efforts with energy beam attacks at the highest level in attempt to reduce the monster to smoldering heap. This attack does not work, but does remove the rest of Doomsday’s restraints to reveal that he is a grey and muscular heap of power and instinct complete with sharp bony jagged edges across his body and eyes.

The attack leaves the Justice League of America exhausted of it’s powers and everyone buy Superman is defeated in the incurring battle. The family is left in the remains of their broken property which is now a large blaze of broken timber and rubble. The bodies of the unconscious and seriously injured superheroes and lain astray and Superman is in hot pursuit of Doomsday, not letting the monster get any further in his wave of destruction.

The rest of the story journey’s through most of the United States that eventually to the front doors on the streets of the Daily Planet in Metropolis. The fights are brutal and every punch looks to hurt every bit. The final brawl at the Daily Planet cracks the streets and shatters every window for miles. Superman does technically win as Doomsday falls first, but at the cost of his own life as the 30 years of solar energy he has stored in his body is exhausted and he dies from battle fatigue and injuries.

If you have not read this I highly recommend it. It may read like I have cut the summary short, but the battle does rage on for the rest of the book that is definitely a sight to be seen. The battles were spectacular and sometimes the classic Toonami Dragonball Z background score would play in my head. It wasn’t just the massive fight alone that made me a fan, it was the reaction of everyone around him that made me place Superman as my superhero.

When Mitchell’s life and family is completely turned upside down by the Doomsday rampage. Every super hero, including his idol Guy Gardner, are laid to waste and risk burning to death along with himself, mother, and baby sister. When all is lost he cries out to Superman to help him. The young man who several times throughout the comic who has bad mouthed the boy scout for almost half an issue asks that man for help. Superman, who has been ridiculed and pushed aside by people and his peers alike for just being himself, turns back to help Mitchell, family, and what remains of the Justice League of America.

Starting from this point, Superman is the only one who can stop Doomsday from destroying the very world that openly criticizes, chastises, and is against him. To me this resembles a lot of the fans and my peers of today when I tell them that I read and watch Superman. They say that he is too good and that he’s invincible. In this story, he made lots of sacrifices to do the right thing and even died achieving it. The internal dialogue alone bundled with the imminent danger of Doomsday reaching a major city knowing full well that every other superhero is injured, in a coma, are too far away to lend assistance when Metropolis is minutes away. The tension and story structure is so well done that no matter who reads it, they would want Superman to hurry and bury the beast before it can do more harm. It is a great tale of someone so great and powerful, the ultimate force of good, meets the unstoppable force of mindless destruction that puts both sides to the test and reveals a lot of the title character.

After the dust settles, the story continues in “A world with a Superman” where minutes after his death we see the wide spread effects of what his death means to the world. In a way, it’s like an important politician, artist, a martyr that dies and the legend of that person has suddenly reached this point of symbolism that the individual could not achieve in it’s lifetime. The rest of the world’s heroes figure out how to pick up the enormous slack that is left over and there is even a heart touching story where in the most popular DC heroes pick through Superman’s fan mail and answer the call to many of the letter’s writers for aide. The majority of Metropolis is in a depression and a cult even springs up that preaches sermons at the foot of Superman’s massive grave statue. Of course, after the reign of Supermen that attempt to fill the void, and in some cases, violently attempt to replace the original Man of Steel, Kal-El makes his return and makes things right.

It is also unsettling to know that Doomsday also awakened from his slumber and drifts through space awaiting to be set free.

I, until that point of reading the story, had been like many others who placed Batman as the end all hero of the DC comics. Batman himself is even parodied of this on youtube mock mac vs. pc commercials where he says “I’m Batman” instead of “I’m a DC.” Superman had been somewhat of a hit and miss with me as like most people in life and in the story, never really bothered with a goody two shoes in a red cape who has no fear of being defeated.

Ironically it took his death to make me really understand the character and become a loyal fan. It is a theme that is certainly echoed through the large arc of death, world without, and the return of Superman.

Primetime on the PC

My television while growing up, like everyone, was the old CRT box that was black and came with the pair of rabbit ears that linked you to the rest of the outside world, so help it if you decided to stay inside during the 90’s. Those of you who are as old as I am or older will understand this. My television was a whopping 13”s and I grew up on the the classics of Roseanne, All in the family, Martin, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Hercules, Xena, Star Trek (Voyager, The Next Generation, The Original Series), and I Love Lucy. PBS and it’s awesome British Programming goes without saying.

After several moves I had stopped watching television all together. Six years I am able to say that during the time I had gotten by without the programming of the media world. When returning to the big city I began to hear by word of mouth some great shows that really seemed to be unbelievable. Spending your high school years out in the middle of no where and you desired any kind of entertainment DVD’s became the greatest filler of the deafening nights of a ranch. I considered myself to be a movie buff. Now I like to pick the quality programming of choice that I can keep up with on a weekly or seasonal basis.

I own two LCD High Def TV’s that can punch out a fair amount of quality in those 1080p resolution. Old habits die hard as I can not even receive the local stations. Which is a very calming feeling mentally when you think about it. If you are reading this, please do think about it because I have no idea what that really means. Either way I have stuck with the traditional DVD, now Blu Ray, and the occasional TV on home video niche.

I remember over fifteen years ago when VHS was king. Owning a television series on home video was something of a novelty. It was really expensive to own just one season and really hard to even find the “box set” unless you went to specialty stores. This is when box set actually meant a box set as the ten to fifteen VHS tapes are bundled together in a slightly thicker than cardboard box that held the tapes together in order to spell out something clever like the logo with the show’s stars or banners on the side. Owning TV and Movies on the home video medium today is so easy and affordable that it is mind blowing to be able to think back to an age when owning your favorite season of a hospital or science fiction show would really make your home video collection go BOOM from setting it down next to the Entertainment center.

Watching television for me is all done on the PC. If the codec is compatible and able to be shared, I am able to place it on the Playstation 3 for my viewing pleasure. Because of the internet and the television station’s websites that allow broadcasting of their material, programs are easy to come by and I couldn’t be happier. I live a busy lifestyle and it is wonderful to carry around a preferred entertainment on a variety of platforms that most middle class citizens have, arguably, too much of.

With the further advancement of technology and give it’s rate of speed I have become an advocate of the digital age. I still purchase a few special DVDs of shows that I like. The large wall of DVDs I have collected over the years have all been sold and have been backed up to hard disk for a more future proof solution. Granted that Blu Ray is the accepted medium of high definition for the time being, I do purchase the occasional Blu Ray if the film/show is of good enough quality to warrant a purchase. Anyone who sees the lack of creativity and the cash ins of today’s Hollywood knows that this trail and error of what is worthy of a purchase isn’t too hard to do these days.