On Drinking

For my last post of 2012, I want to write something a little silly.

It is traditional for people to get plastered on New Year’s Eve. And at sporting events. And at bars and clubs.

But not me.

I’m pretty much a teetotaler. Not by choice, mind you.

It’s just that every time I have an alcoholic beverage, be it beer or wine, I want to retch. Seriously.

I bought a bottle of wine for my twenty first birthday. Just gross.

And when I went to Portland for Sigma Tau Delta, I went to a bar with some friends.  Two sips and I wanted to vomit.

Makes me wonder why anyone else drinks. Unless my taste buds are very selective. Or naturally prohibitionist.

Until the new year (tomorrow).

A Top Ten List

I promised  a top ten list last night. And I don’t know what to top ten list. I haven’t really read enough novels published in 2012 to make a top ten. Same goes for movies. I guess I could do comics. Or maybe a general my top ten favorite things that happened in 2012. Yeah, let’s go with that.

10) Reading The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer. Definitely on my shopping list.

9) Discovering Morning Glories and Sweet Tooth.

8) Going to my local comic book shop after years of not going.

7) The fun I’ve had with this blog.

6) Earth 2

5) Going to see The Dark Knight Rises in the theaters.

4) Watching The Avengers from my local library.

3) The reelection of President Obama.

2) The various marriage equality victories at the polls.

1) The various artistic breakthroughs I’ve had this year.

 

Well, that’s that. I’ll have something else tonight. And then tomorrow, post 300.

Regrets

At year’s end, it is tradition to look back and reflect. And make top ten lists. I’ll do that tomorrow. But for today, it is a time for dealing with one’s regrets.

I’m not going to be too specific with these. I’m not that confessional. But I feel it is important to share these things. Therapy and all. Here we go.

My biggest regret is that I never took the chance in eighth grade. Could have ended horribly for me. Even with that thought, I deeply hate that I was too shy to talk to him.

At times I regret majoring in English Literature. I probably should have majored in History or International Relations.

Though I love St. Edward’s, I probably should have applied (and gone) to U.T.

And I really regret that I never bothered to keep with Spanish. And learn other languages.

I will never know what I was thinking wanting to be a professor. I’d honestly make a terrible teacher. And I don’t think I’m a very good scholar or critic.

I regret that I’m not more aggressive.

I regret that I didn’t appreciate or take care of my body. What could have been different?

I regret that I didn’t make more of high school than I did.

I regret that lacked the courage to shout “Fuck the World!” when I was ready.

Although I did have a pretty awesome coming out. Wish it was earlier.

I regret that I never ask for help. In math. In physical education. Maybe I would have enjoyed both more?

I really, really regret that I never really tried to get a job while I was in college. Yeah, I know working and education don’t really mix well. But it would have been nice.

And maybe I shouldn’t have left Austin.

And I hate that I had to leave San Francisco. I love those cities.

 

Regrets are part of being human. They form character. Whether we like them or not.  Tomorrow comes some top ten lists. Then on New Year’s, my resolutions.

Sayings

I’m going to try for two posts today. First up is a collection of random sayings I’ve come up with over the past few days. And later on tonight, I’ll list off my regrets.

Now, let’s get on with it!

By their profession, actors lie.

Writers alternatively create truth and lies, not even they know which.

Life is a performance.

I do not know if it is a theater of the absurd, though.

Everyone is their own protagonist. And someone else’s antagonist.

Things will get better, but you have to fight for it.

The decline of taste is called nostalgia.

There are many kinds of fanatics.

The world is textual. At least according to theoretical critics.

Cookbooks checked out of the library are useless.

Unless there is indefinite renewal.

Everything is political. See the same who say the world is text.

It is true. Never shop hungry. Even if it is not food.

Explode the comfort zone.

Difference is magical.

You never know who you meet will change your world. Or destroy it.

The world will end. But not because prophecy said so.

Prophecy is open to interpretation. And therefore true and false.

Want to look good? Exercise and eat right.

Be ambitious. Might be evil. But beats the alternative.

Never be ashamed of your tastes. Even if everyone else is.

Hell, never be ashamed of yourself.

Screw the world. It sucks.

But you have to live in it.

 

Damn. Now I’ve got an urge to go read Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. I’ll be back later with my regrets.

 

The Horror, the Horror!

I just spent the last two hours watching the worst history program ever. I mean ever!

The series’s name is I Love the 1880s. Inspired by VH1’s I Love the 70s, 80s, and 90s (did they ever do the 00s?), the show is basically a hodgepodge of historical tidbits bonded by a common theme and commented on by a stable of comedians.

And yes, it is as stupid as it sounds. The humor isn’t that good. And the informative bits are dull.

Man, I am sorely disappoint. This is even worse than Clash of the Gods. Seriously, what has happened to the History Channel?

Transcribe to Digital?

I’m wondering if I should transcribe my writing journals to a digital format. I think it would be a good idea as some of the paper are fading and crumbling, the ink is a pain to read (and occasionally multicolor), and the notebooks are falling apart in some cases.  Plus, I can go back over what I’ve written before with a better eye to detail.

But I don’t want to abandon pen and notebook, either. Writing by hand is both natural and convenient whereas typing on a computer doesn’t really allow for ease of use. I mean, I can’t take my computer to the bed, can I?

Maybe I can do both? Write by the seat of the pants in the journal, then transcribe it when I’m finished. Sounds like a good compromise.

Now, let’s see if I can get six more posts by January 1, 2013!

Spider-Man: Amazing to Superior

Take warning now, this post will contain spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man 700. Mind you, if you want to be spoiled, every comics website should have them up, too.

 

So, for the moment, Dr. Octopus has finally beaten his nemesis, Spider-Man. Not only that, but Otto Octavius has assumed the life of his most hated enemy. And has decided to live his new life as his enemy did. As a hero, as Spider-Man.

Wow. From what I can tell by the internet’s reaction, Dan Slott should be in hiding right now. Which is unfortunate.

I understand why there is such a vitriolic reaction to this new direction. But, I like what Slott argues when he says:

“He had to be a hero in his own eyes, and on some level Otto Octavius is facing that struggle not with Spider-Man’s world but with the readership. . . How do you get more Peter Parker than that? Now the readers think he is a menace. That’s exciting. On a meta level, that is Spider-Man.” (Comic Book Resources)

I like this. To be honest, I think there isn’t enough change in comics. Especially in the shared universes that make up Marvel and DC.

To be honest, I didn’t want Bruce Wayne to come back as Batman. Let Dick Grayson permanently assume the role. The same applies to Jean Grey (though she is, technically, still dead) and several other iconic characters.

But I can also see why people have a problem with Doctor Octopus taking over as Spider-Man/ Peter Parker. Having the villain win just doesn’t fly. And depending on how long this status quo lasts, the real Peter Parker’s return is inevitable.  I mean, he has been replaced before by clones. And I don’t remember those changes sticking for long. Save for Miles Morales over in the Ultimate Universe. . .

I really don’t have much invested in this argument, though. I haven’t been particularly devout in reading Spider-Man’s comics over the past few years. But this change could get me to check things out. I mean, I’d like to give the redemption of Otto Octavius a shot.

Shouldn’t you?

So Much For the End of the World

Doomsday will just have to wait for another day.  December 21 has come and largely gone. And nothing. Just an average day.

Of course, to think that today would be anything else but an average day is, honestly, stupid.

The vast majority of people know next to nothing about the Mayans. And even less know them very well. So, the bullshit that has been spouted and foisted upon the viewing public by infotainment television is not surprising.

It stinks, but pseudoscience and pseudohistory brings in the money.

 

I’m going to cut this post short. But first, I have determined what Post 300 will be: 2013 Resolutions. And it will come on January 1. So between now and then, expect a flurry of posts.

I… I Just. . . I Can’t. . .

I know I’ve promised for like two weeks now a review of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade. Well, I can’t keep that promise. Why? Because I couldn’t even make it through the first damn issue. It was just so bad. Really bad.

Let’s be clear. I still love the Young Avengers (or maybe just Wiccan and Hulkling). But Alan Heinberg is a bad comic book writer. He freaking telegraphs what he’s doing in the first issue. Like a damn neon sign saying – “Doom did it! He did it all! Blame him!”.

And please, don’t get me started on the dialogue. Or the plot for that matter. Ugh.

The more I think about it, I really haven’t liked any Young Avengers related material that I’ve read. Young Avengers volume one was okay, but not spectacular. Dark Young Avengers was, well, idiotic in the extreme. And now this.

Do I really not like the Young Avengers? Or is it I like them as characters, as a team, but I just don’t like the stories that they have been featured in? I’m hoping, really hoping, that it is the later. But to answer that question, I’ll have to trust in Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie (and the rest of the new Young Avengers team). Hopefully, this will be a new starting out point. And the start of something even better than what came before.

I do have issues with some aspects of the team, though.

I really hate the fact that they are presented as a bunch of Avengers fans who take up the mantle to fight crime. Really, there are a million other ways of getting a team of super hero teenagers together. Especially given that a good number of classic super heroes and teams started out as teenagers (Spider-man; the X-Men).

And why, oh why, did Wiccan (and Speed) have to be the reincarnated sons of the Scarlet Witch? That doesn’t even make sense with reality warping thrown in! The two (Wiccan and Speed) have to be at least ten years older than the children they used to be. Couldn’t he have been some kind of Asgardian? Or why did he have to even have a legacy?

To be honest, I think I would have preferred something more original rather than a group of teenage cosplayers with super powers. Why couldn’t they have been original?

Now that I’ve calmed down some, this does bring into consideration a past post on buying and collecting comics as well as a recent IGN post on habit buying comics.

I agree that one should not buy comics out of habit. If you, the reader, don’t like the writing or the art, then please, don’t keep purchasing the title. If you buy out of habit, the publisher won’t take the initiative to try and fix the problem. The problem will only fester.

The question I have for myself right now is, is the first on panel kiss between Wiccan and Hulkling worth the price of The Children’s Crusade? 

No.

Here’s hoping the new Young Avengers will be far better than what has come before.

Comics: Buying and Collecting, with a Dose of Fickleness

Right now, I’m listening to the Comic Vine Podcast. So far, I’m enjoying it greatly. Especially since it marks the return of James Robinson. Hell, even if the podcast is nearly three hours long!

Anyway, I’ve been thinking a lot about comics lately. For this post, I want to forgo writing about writing comics. Rather, I want to focus on buying and collecting comics.

I’m fickle. It is a flaw I’m deeply familiar with.

A few months ago, I pointedly “dropped” Stormwatch and Teen Titans. And now, I’m kicking myself in the butt for it. Mind you, I haven’t read either of them in months. And I want to hop back on them. Of course I’ll have to scramble at some point to pick them back up. Especially Teen Titans (of which I only have two issues)!

This got me to thinking about what I like and don’t like in superhero comics.

I have a strong fondness for teen/ youth heroes. Even if I’ve dropped off of the Teen Titans bandwagon recently, I haven’t stopped being interested in what goes on in the series. And everyone knows I’m salivating about the relaunch of Young Avengers. Though I’m not so sure if I want to check out Avengers Arena. I’m not really feeling that one.

I’m also kicking myself for not focusing on Wonder Woman. Like Teen Titans, I have only two issues of Wonder Woman (11 and 12). Damn it! I need more!

I’ve also dropped off of Captain Marvel. Although I don’t know if I really want to keep following that series. I loved the first two issues, so . . .

But, I really can’t afford to follow every comic I would love to. Especially when they cost $3.99 and come out biweekly. That explains why I’m not really following X-Men Legacy. The idea sounds interesting, but I don’t know. There are other books I want to pick up.

Let’s move away from superheroes and play a little with creator owned comics. I’m upset with myself that I still haven’t started picking up creator owned series (baring volume one of Morning Glories). I really need to make myself pick some up. But superhero comics are so damned addictive!

 

That’s it for today. I may have a post on writing up tomorrow. Until then. . .