| Comics Confessional |
[Dec. 15th, 2008|09:21 am] |
So, I'm totally swiping this idea from the Newsarama blog, but it gives me something to write about (which I do so infrequently).
Confessions I Have About Comics:
- The first comic I owned was an Uncanny X-Men with Gambit and Wolverine fighting on the cover. I thought they both looked really cool and bought it for that reason.
- I still like Gambit because he's cool!
- I didn't care for Morrison's run on X-Men.
- Frank Quitely's art bothers me. Everyone's faces are all screwed up and usually look like they've just sucked on a lemon.
- I like Joe Madureira's art.
- I think Frank Miller is overrated.
- I liked the Daredevil movie.
- I have never read Maus.
- I haven't picked up a single issue of a comic in three years and when I want to read one I pirate it.
- I miss writing comics terribly, but I'm not sure if I'll ever do it again. I think I have permanent writer's block.
- I miss The Empire, but not as much as you'd think I would. I miss the community that surrounded the store more.
Anybody else willing to share? |
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| Hopeful |
[Nov. 5th, 2008|08:45 am] |
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For the first time in a long time, I woke up this morning with a smile on my face.
Not because of Obama's economic, healthcare, and military plans, though. I am a realist when it comes to that topic. What's promised on the campaign trail never makes it to paper. It shouldn't. That's why we have checks and balances. No one gets to make the decision on their own.
My smile is due to the fact that for the first time in my life I see hope in people's eyes and in their words. I see that hope and drive that makes this country great. I understand the belief that we truly can do anything that we put our minds to. The freedom to do that thing is something I was taught but found it hard to believe. I see why people of a certain age are so proud to be Americans. They have seen the best this country can be. I haven't seen that before... but I see it now.
My hopeful wish this day is that we all take advantage of our moment of change and do something good, something true, something right, and something just. It doesn't have to be big. But just do something that inspires someone to do the same. Let's spread that hope! |
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| 11110 |
[Aug. 7th, 2008|10:24 am] |
I turned 30 on Saturday and while I haven't had this hard shock of being 30, I do have to say that it has given me pause to think. Albert Camus wrote in 'The Myth of Sisyphus' that the age of thirty is a crucial period in the life of a man, for at that age he gains a new awareness of the meaning of time. I would have to agree with this, though I would have to note that being aware of time and its passing is not always a bad thing. If anything, it can make you take stock, reflect, and make adjustments.
Time does seem to have some relevance to me finally. Ask anyone I know if I have a Peter Pan complex and they'll probably say yes. It is, in fact, one of my favorite books and my wife gave me a very nice copy of it for my birthday. I have always felt like the boy who refuses to grow up, opening a comic book shop after graduating college, playing games and getting obsessed with sci-fi, even going back to school to learn about computers. It's been a blast and I intend to remain a kid at heart for as long as it shall beat! But, time has a funny way of trying to catch-up to you and make you feel old and if you're not careful you will wind up old!
Changes are time's secret weapon. The more radical the change the older you feel because you are aware of time's passing. For example, we're in the final stages of closing on a house! While very exciting there's this sense that time has moved forward and the days of apartment living and sleeping on friends' couches has passed. My good friend, Jackson, is moving off to continue his education. Since my freshman year in college he has been a Nashville constant in his own inconstant way. That era is passing and shall never be again, not in that way at least.
Yet, change is inevitable and it can be harnessed. Scholars tend to agree that Jesus began his ministry around 30 and whether or not you believe in his divinity you have to admit that he started a lasting movement that changed the world in the period of his life when change is the most apparent.
I'm determined to harness change instead of be it's victim. There's a lot of potential energy that can be focused. The hard part is actually doing that. Time breeds entropy and it's so easy to wear down and sit and think about the futility in attempting anything. Inspiration comes less often. Stagnation sets in. That is my biggest threat. I want to do something bold, something creative. I want to take one of these ideas floating in my head and actually put it on paper or canvas or out in the data cloud. I want to find new ideas and foster them. I just need that drive, that motivation, that discipline.
So, to borrow from Sir Barrie, thirty is going to be another adventure. It's going to be the year of change and hopefully for the good. |
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| Doctor Who Returns Part 5 |
[Apr. 4th, 2008|02:23 pm] |
Here it is my number one clip. This comes from a two-parter where The Doctor is forced to become human to hide from a family of hunters chasing him and Martha (his companion after Rose). You have to watch these two episodes, Human Nature and The Family of Blood. In these two episodes there is more fleshing out of his character than all of the other episodes of the new series combined. We see glimpses of his past and the one adventure he can never have and how that breaks his heart. We see his fury and his compassion, his duty and his honor.
Okay enough from me. New season starts on the BBC this weekend if you have the "torrent"ial means to get it. If not, Sci-Fi Channel kicks off the new season with this year's christmas special on April 18th at 7:30.
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| Doctor Who Returns Part 4 |
[Apr. 3rd, 2008|01:47 pm] |
Some people would argue that today's clip is probably the number one moment from the new series because it delves into The Doctor's relationship with Rose (the first of the new series companions. But those people are the serious Rose-Doctor shippers out there. The reason why I put this so high on my list is not really because of the realtionship stuff but the last five seconds or so. The Doctor has the chance to open up and he doesn't. He understands it's his lot in life to be the "lonely wanderer" and he accepts it. Oh and once again, Tennant plays this scene brilliantly!
Rumor has it Season Four may have more to say about this scene...
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| Doctor Who Returns Part 3 |
[Apr. 2nd, 2008|09:25 pm] |
A little late in the day, but worth the wait! In this clip The Doctor talks about the origin of his greatest rival, The Master. We also get the first look of the new series at their home planet, Galifrey. Something happened between the old series and the new that resulted in the destruction of Galifrey and all the other Time Lords save these two. Tennant's pretty good at playing up the nostalgia for a planet that the audience has never seen before. Also pay attention to what the Doctor's response to his upbringing was. That ties in with the old series as the Time Lords had little regard for The Doctor.
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| Doctor Who Returns Part 2 |
[Apr. 1st, 2008|02:41 pm] |
Today's clip is really about a whole episode rather than just one part. I tried to find single clips from it but I think that the general consensus is that you have to see this episode as a whole. In my opinion, this was the first episode of the new series that really delved into the character of The Doctor and gave him some meat, largely in part due to Tennant's outstanding performance. I present The Girl in The Fireplace:
(Yeah, I know it's a music video, but it's the piece that was officially written for this episode.)
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| Doctor Who Returns Part 1 |
[Mar. 31st, 2008|11:58 am] |
Season 4 of the new Doctor Who series starts this week. If you haven't been watching it, I would highly recommend that you start. The Sci-Fi Channel broadcasts it here and will do marathons from the first three seasons from time to time. So, to celebrate I feel like posting a Top 5 Moments series. I narrowed it down to five from the latest incarnation of The Doctor (the 10th), David Tennant.
So here's Number 5. Two of the Doctor's greatest enemies, The Daleks and The Cybermen trash-talking each other. The clip runs a little long for my liking. It should stop after Rose's conversation with the Daleks, but beggars can't be choosers on youtube. At least, it's not set to music...
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| Alive?! |
[Mar. 28th, 2008|12:57 pm] |
Yep, that's right I'm still here. The past year's been crazy and sadly blogging took the hit. So, a brief recap:
- Rachel and I just passed 16 months and everything is fantastic. We've got a nice big apartment with enough room for us and the fat cat, Constantine!
- I've changed jobs twice since my last post. I worked for nine or ten months for one of the many healthcare companies based out of Nashville doing Service Desk and Network Administration work. Now I work for the Tennessee State Post-Conviction Defender's Office as their IT Director. Much better than the last two jobs and a long way from scraping together cash to pay the Blimpie's guy rent! I'm in charge of all technology used in the office and make sure that it is secure and well-ran. I have a quarter left on my second Bachelor's degree in Information Systems Security and am SO ready to be done.
- Rachel is now the Lead Interpreter for the Belle Meade Plantation here in Nashville. It's a historic house museum that played an important role in thoroughbred horse racing when it was a working farm. Surprisingly, it really doesn't have a whole lot of Civil War history as is often thought. She's in charge of the tours and tour guides (called interpreters). She's finishing up work on her Master's in Museum Studies. I couldn't imagine trying to write the thesis she has in front of her but she's awesome that way.
- Comics and any related work have fallen to the wayside for the most part. I still draw and write down ideas and have several milling around but not enough to bother with. I have taken painting back up and didn't realize how much I missed it. It's so cathartic and self-reflective for me.
There's plenty more to cover I'm sure, but I'll try to hold off so my posts aren't massive, random bursts. I also have a Facebook page now which gets checked a bit more regularly, so pop over and say hi or add me if you're on there. |
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| Tomorrow... |
[Jul. 7th, 2006|09:21 pm] |
Tomorrow will be the fourth July 8th since the Fall of The Empire. It's hard to believe it's been that long. I'm happy to say that I'm in a pretty good place since that fateful day. But, the question that I hear so often is still in the back of my mind. "Do you miss it?"
Do I miss the market crash after 9/11, the debt, the crazy landlords, Diamond's screwing over of the little shops, or the inability of UPS to get my Wednesday stock to me in a timely fashion? Actually...yeah, a little. Because I look at all those bad points and I can easily find a shining spot in every one of them. The effect of 9/11 personally on my career path has become fuel for the direction I'm in. I can remember a lot of good times hanging out at Keller's with Jerry trying to make extra cash from the booth. The crazy landlords had some good smelling bread when I would open up the shop in the mornings and the view they provided me from the top floor was one of the best in Savannah. Oh, and what Empire regular can forget the fervor and sense of community of Wednesday afternoons?
Would I do it all again? Absolutely. Tomorrow, I'm not gonna sulk. Why should I? Life's been really good to me since then. But I am going to remember the good times and the great people who made my year in Savannah, one of the best of my life.
Next year will be the fifth anniversary. If fate allows it then I plan to be standing on the corner of Bull and State at noon with my new wife and any friends who happen to still be in town at that time. Why? Mainly, so I can say to myself that I wasn't defeated that day, just finished in that spot.
The Empire is dead. Long live The Empire! |
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