Online Work

I wrote some stuff for a real website! I interned there and everything.

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Dual Core Processors

Ain't Nothing but a G Thang

Should You Upgrade to the New 2011 iMacs?

The Ballad of the PlayStation Network Breach

In Defense of Stephanie Brown

In 2009, when the first issue of Batgirl was announced, I was super excited. Batgirl hadn't had her own series for a few years and the Batgirl mantle had always been a favorite of mine, so you could see how this would be exciting news. Would Cass finally be back in the DCU? Could Babs be possibly getting out of that chair? What about Charlie from Birds of Prey, could she be filling that iconic role? It couldn't possibly be Stephanie Brown, the only person who was a worse Robin than Jason, and solely responsible for starting a gang war. 

FAIL

And yet it was her. A character I absolutely hated, getting to be an integral part of the Bat family. I was devastated, as were many. The fan outcry was loud. Not many were pleased with DC's choice of Batgirl.

But I still picked up the first issue. Even with such a loathsome character. I read it and wondered how quickly it would take Steph to screw it up.

And then I picked up the next issue.

And the next.

And quickly, I was hooked.

When Stephanie wasn't causing gang wars she was pretty, dare I say, cool. Her sole purpose in life wasn't to be Tim Drake's girlfriend, and I was loving it. It seems like Steph spent her entire comic existence trying to prove herself, but once she did, she was on fire. She is witty, smart, and brave. She is fantastic. The storyline's are great, the dialogue is whip smart, and Stephanie Brown is currently one of my favorite characters. This is all due to the fantastic writer Brian Q Miller.

But now, after 3 more issues Bryan Miller will be off the book. It's being relaunched and Barbara Gordon will be returning to the mantle, and to top if off it's being written by Gail Simone.  If you told me this two years ago I would be ecstatic. Nothing would have made me happier. Believe me I am super excited. It's my favorite character being able to walk and kick ass using her legs again. But this victory is bitter sweet. I will miss Steph. I think she's shown so much growth as a character, and I was looking forward to seeing her find her place in the DCU. With the reboot she will probably live in the background again.

Plus,  I'll miss Brian Miller, who right now doesn't have any immediate plans with DC, but anyone who can get such turnaround on a character is worth their computer in gold. DC would be fools not to give him another book.

But man, even with this book ending it's been an awesome run. Stephanie proving herself worthy, lipping off Damian, partnering with Supergirl, and working alongside my favorite witch boy.

I refuse to say goodbye to Stephanie Brown and Brian Miller

Only farewell, for now.

The only person who wears purple better is
Galactus

A Quick Note on South Park

About twenty minutes ago I finished watching the latest episode of South Park. You're Getting Old was a pretty big statement. Of what specifically, is being be debated, but I saw it as a comment that it may be time to pull the plug on South Park.

Let me make things clear, not only do I love South Park. It is my favorite show of all time. I can name most of the episode titles by heart, I went as General Disarray for Halloween, I can spell Willzyx without looking, and I think I lost some friends due to my obscure South Park quoting.

So much duct-tape

I'm not saying this to brag about my lame love, I'm just stating that South Park fills a small void in my heart, and even so I would be okay if it ended. I love Matt and Trey and they have given me some great quality stuff, but if they aren't feeling it, maybe its time to gracefully bow out. But don't end with You're Getting Old. It was great, but man what a bummer.

Just give us seven more classic episodes of South Park, ones about the boys and the town, not about celebrities or trends, give us seven episodes that stand along side the entire 6th-8th season run. I know it's hard to do but lets end on a high note. It's okay. We fans understand. If you want out, we want out. I'd rather see the series end like this then it continue with creators who don't want to be there, contract re-newels be damned!

Lets end this show about an amazing quiet, little, pissant, podunk, jerkwater, greenhorn, one horse, mud hole, peckerwood, right-wing, whistle stop, hobmail, truck driving, old fashion, hayseed, inbred, unkempt, out-of-date, out-of-touch, white trash, kick ass, mountain town.

This gets me every time

Thoughts at One AM

I spent last night watching Stand by Me. The movie is a classic by any standards, that’s why it’s repeated on television as much as Forrest Gump (this may be an overstatement, nothing gets played even half as much as Forrest Gump).


TBS Superstation. All Gump, all the time

 Never the less, Stand by Me is a movie icon, with great acting by the main cast, which brings me to my point. Where are all the movies starring kids? Specifically groups of kids. Sure there are movies that star the little rap scallions, but in recent times it seems that any movies starring kids is likely aimed towards kids. Movies like Stand by Me and E.T are ones that can be appreciated by kids older than twelve. The Spy Next Door is not.
Hollywood spouts out movies on anything. Board games, talking animals, childhood memories that should not be touched, the list goes on and on, and yet they seem hesitant on the PG-13 rated, kid heavy front. I know there has to be movies that feature children, I’m sure I’m missing out on some indie and foreign films, but even if you calculate my obvious oversights, the kid industry is not as ripe as it once was.

Kids have been able to handle themselves in movies for decades. Watching Stand by Me tonight for the first time since I was the protagonist’s age reminded me that their acting can be more powerful and raw then their adult equivalent. Kids are innocent and blunt, and as annoying as that may be in real life, in movies it can make some of the best experiences. I remember back in the early 90’s almost every movie starred a kid. These kids were misfit or orphan, or both, and they were always smarter than the adults that surrounded them. If you switched the main characters in two classic Christmas movies Kevin McCallister still probably could have taken down Hans Gruber. He was that smart and resourceful. Not to mention the lessons sports coaches like Danny Glover and Emilio Estevez learned from young Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s and certain Mighty Ducks. These kids were the best. Sometimes they said taboo words, sometimes they lead a team of downtrodden losers to win the championship, but there was always a quality in these kids that made them something to look up to. I can’t really think of a modern equivalent for my ten year old brother to idolize.

But what would a group of intelligent, capable, misfit kids look like in the ‘10’s? (Side note: seriously what are we calling this decade?) We will finally get to see a candidate with Super 8. The catch is Super 8 is an homage to the Steven Spielberg sci-fi movies of the late 70’s and early 80’s. So the Elliot from E.T vibe is totally intentional, and even with the groups of kids starring there still seems to be an adult cop that will steal a good amount of screen time. So is the general consensus that kids can’t hold their own movie? It’s not that there’s a lack of fantastic child actors. Hailee Steinfield proved that kids can be pretty fricken amazing when she starred in True Grit (sorry Melissa Leo, but your Oscar belongs in smaller hands). What is it? Hell if I know. I’m only a 20 year old girl making an observation at 1:30 on a Monday morning. 


Aside from Super 8, we probably won't see a resurfacing of groups of kids running the show. These types of movies are classics, and maybe they belong in the 80's and early 90's with mesh crop tops and tie-dye. That is unless Super 8 makes a billion dollars, then every 2nd movie will be a poor mans Goonies. 

Truffle Shuffle!