The New Musings of a Quiet Geek

As many of you know, for the past 5 or 6 years, I have been actively pursuing Social Security Disability.  It has not been an easy road. It was hard for even my lawyer to wrap his head around the fact I have a Masters degree in Library Science.  Never mind that there was little wrong with the left side of my brain. I, like many with disabilities, have been able to beat the odds and overcome adversity. My parents were told I was blind and would never walk. Sure, both are issues for me but I can still do them!  And then my dream job at the seminary happened. How can I prove I can't work when I in fact am and am now reasonably able to pay most of my expenses? Should I have turned down? Maybe. Have I ever pondered saying "No?" Hell, no. Two months later, the seizures happened and simultaneously, I experienced the darkness months of my life (Much of that time I don't actually have memory of...) but my case, morbidly gained new life. Recently, I've been mentally, ps...

Star Wars is pretty much in my blood. I went to the first one A New Hope while still in the womb. The third film, Return of The Jedi , happened to be one of the first movies I saw in the theater. If you do a search of this blog, you will find the phrase "Star Wars" mentioned in 19 previous posts. When it was announced that JJ Abrams was kicking the new trilogy off with The Force Awakens, I had no doubt he'd do a great job. Putting aside the references made on Alias and his other shows, when Abrams was tapped to reboot the other space series Star Trek for the big screen, he made no bones about how he was really more a fan of the George Lucas-created world. It showed with that film and it shows here. Regular readers of my blog know a few relevant facts that you might want to keep in mind reading this review/discussion: 1. Nostalgia and plot points that trigger creative thoughts or my vast storehouse of trivial knowledge will have me squee with delight. 2. I truly b...

I was on a blogging break when Netflix dropped the awesome Daredevil TV series but I will briefly say that was 1000 times better than the movie version of the character starring Ben Affleck and his future, and now past, wife, Jennifer Garner. Recently, Marvel Comics and Netflix released another series: Jessica Jones.  Unlike the former and upcoming series based on the characters of Luke Cage and Iron Fist, Jessica debuted in a comic, coincidentally called Alias which is the name of her detective agency, in my lifetime. Like Luke Cage, X-Men Jean Grey and Kitty Pryde and others, she has superpowers but doesn't have a super identity. In the comic, she has super strength and can fly. In the TV series, the second ability is greatly downplayed but could easily appear in future appearances. Krysten Ritter pulls off the darkly comic role spectacularly. (Watching her on The Talk this afternoon I also realize she's incredibly tall...) David Tennant is deliciously creepy as the vill...

Looking back at old review posts, I at one time apparently considered Casino Royale "the best Bond movie ever" because it didn't focus on gadgets. I even commented it wasn't slow moving.  Interestingly, all I really said about the next film, Quantum of Solace , was that I loved how they let M, played at the time by Judy Dench, actually do something. I didn't actually do an official review of Skyfall but that surpassed Casino Royale  as the best Bond film ever.  Casino was a needed reset after Die Another Day (Has any "final" Bond film ever been the actor's best? Diamonds Are Forever isn't my favorite Connery, View to a Kill isn't in my top 2 my favorite Moore, etc...) but Skyfall  made me realize "Lactose Intolerant Bond" just doesn't work long term.  You need a mix. The Serious And The Cheese. It also made me realize that letting M, Q and Moneypenny actually leave the damn office is awesome! In SPECTRE , M, and to a certain e...

After a decade of doing this blog, people have finally requested movie reviews so without further dithering here we go! Movies I've watched recently in approximate order: 1. Thanks For S haring- Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins and Josh Gadd play sex addicts on various stages of recovery.  After 5 years of recovery,  Robbins feels it's time for Rufffalo to start dating again. Enter Gweneth Paltrow.  The other two have their own issues. For me, the different storylines rotate around as far as my interest in them which definitely keeps my interest in the movie as a whole.  The only complaint really is that it wraps up a little too easily at the end but that's a problem with many movies,  isn't it? 2. Silver Lining Playbook- When I first heard about a movie  about two mentally ill people finding each other,  I feared it would be much too painful to watch but I was pleasantly surprised.  This was a fantastic film.  I'd be lying if  I said the na...

Last time I focused on the race for Governor here in Maine. Today, my thoughts on the Race for Senate. First up, an ad from incumbent Susan Collins' opponent, Shenna Bellows: She doesn't come right and say in this ad we need to raise the minimum wage but she does imply that, just as veterans and the elderly, and I would include all people below the poverty line, should not have to choose between eating and paying for their meds, people in the lower middle class bracket should not have to work 55+ hour weeks  just to provide for their family and in consequence never actually SEE their family... Let me tell you right out, I hate Out of State ads on both sides of the aisle so this one doesn't exactly excite me but I can't say everything said here is 100% wrong. Collins' people will tell you she is one of the most bi-partisan senators in Washington. At some point,I think even I have noted her votes are less than the 85% party line she used to vote during...

It's that time of year again where politics are making my head explode so let me unload here. Today, I want to give my opinion on a few ads. First Up: An ad by the Republican Governor's Association (headed up by Chris Christie who is just as crooked as Rick Perry and that dude from Virginia. Will Michaud (Notice how these morons mispronounce his name; which seriously hurts their defense against the Mainer's disdain of "People From Away;" if at least 50% of that group don't also vote GOP, I'd be rather shocked...)  The crux of the argument that Michaud gives a shit about immigrants is true. Also, I'm tired of the word "taxpayer." Before my seizure issue of last year and was working, I never exceeded the cap of people who have to file income taxes and those didn't. (Yes, I did have taxes taken from paychecks...) Are you implying I don't contribute to society? Also, this isn't the 18th Century and the poor are allowed to vo...

The controversy blowing up the internets right now is which is better: DC or Marvel comic movies.  This was exacerbated the other day when WB made the apparent announcement that the DC movies won't be action comedies (Like the more popular of the Marvel movies) but stay with a more dramatic tone.  (Case in point hardcore DC fans like the Green Lantern movie even less than the average movie goer...) Then there's a third group (Seemingly headed up by DC groupies) that wonder why we can't get along. I personally am a fan of both but let's face it, liking two sides of anything literally equally isn't likely or even likely possible.  To that end I've been pro-Marvel since I was like 6 years old. I watched both SuperFriends  and Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends but liked the latter more. Truthfully, with my admitted bias, it holds up just a bit better to this day. On the other hand, Marvel has not put out a cartoon of Justice League 's quality since. (Yeah...

Since I last posted, I've seen 2 movies (Well, in the theater anyway...) 1. Lucy with Scarlett Johansson was an interesting and entertaining movie. So what if people technically already use 100% of their brain and nothing interesting happens? In a recent post, I profesed my enjoyment of the new summer TV series  Taxi Brooklyn  which is based another Luc Besson film. I'd imagine that that movie is very similar to Lucy . This movie is an odd combo of serious and silly. While the aforementioned NBC series seems to balance this well enough, Lucy can't seem to. Oddly, my brain didn't feel like mush as it does after pretty much every Michael Bay movie.  (The Transformers series can't decide what maturity level to target. Does that mean maturity and tonality are different things? ::shrugs::) 2. The second film of the summer from Marvel Studios, Guardians of the Galaxy , had a tonal mix as well but did a spectacular job in the balance department...and soundtrack depart...

1. Spent the 4th at my parents' house. Their cat, who I guess is new though has lived in their yard for about three years, Black Beauty immediately became smitten with me. (Anyone who knows me or my mother's side of the family in particular should not be surprised.) I guess he looked around the house for me after I left.  While there I went to the wedding of a young woman from my father's church. Judging by who was in attendance, her mother, who has removed some of my stitches in the past, did the guest list... 2.  Finally saw X-Men: Days of Future Past . Though the last two X-Men movies ( First Class and The Wolverine) were my favorites of the series, I wasn't really looking forward to seeing the original cast and director Bryan Singer return. As director of the first 2, he's to blame for setting the franchise tone. (You would think it'd would be writers but no...)  The boring black costumes and the massive continuity errors still make me shutter. Anyway, I ...

This entire post is commentary on the following article: "10 DC Superhero Team-Ups We’d Like to See After Batman V Superman & Green Lantern/The Flash" You've been warned. 10. "Fish Out of Water" jokes aside, awesome idea. In fact, the similarity of Ben Affleck to Jason Mamoa's Stargate: Atlantis co-star Joe Flanigan (Or vice versa? Whatever...) makes this an even more interesting proposition.  Hell, they could make a live action movie of the Batman: Brave and the Bold with Black Manta using Aquaman's jealous brother to destroy Atlantis. I'd watch... 9.  I'm not feeling this one. If there are more variations on any characters in the DC Universe than these two, I'm unaware of them.  The most well-known versions, are mob daughter Helena Bertinelli and Power Girl isn't an alternate universe Supergirl but her clone. "Batman and Catwoman had a daughter?" Well, yes, and no... A live action version of this would make as much s...

1. Took the cat to the vets for nail trim. Paid $20! For 5 minutes of work! (Those against raising the minimum wage, don't comment. The tech won't see much if any of that money so the argument is beyond moronic.) Officially, I have a roommate who's never here and has a severe cat allergy anyway. Also, it takes my aunt coming over just to get him the carrier so doing it at home isn't an option. Plus, he's at least 11 years old and isn't as cooperative as he was when he arrived at age 8; which was hardly at all anyway. The point is, if I ever could do it at home I certainly can't now.  This is the second issue I've had with this local clinic. A few years ago, they stopped stocking the cat's medicine in a form he'd actually take due to lack of popularity. (Those who know me know how I hate this explanation...) To their credit, the first time (first 2 times actually) I brought Amos in after my medical issues of last year, they actually asked how I wa...

I have been eligible to vote for about 17 and half years. This is the first year I can remember, living and in two states where a lot of stuff actually happened during the primary elections.  This is the current state of affairs in this country of ours.  Sure, incumbents moving on to other things or retiring leaving seats open has always happened and are one thing but this year, people are turning on the incumbents. Oddly, in offices as in innocuous as county sheriff. Here in Cumberland County, Maine, the democrat Kevin Joyce had two incidents at the jail where where prisoners sneaked into the other part to "get to know" another prisoner better. This seemed to be challenger Mark Edes entire reason for running. (The fact, to me, that security is a Republican issue yet there isn't one running speaks a volume or two about my county.) I admit I voted for Edes since if he felt he could do a better job might as well give him a shot. To be clear, I have no problem with Joyce a...

As you've probably heard if you follow such things, British director Edgar Wright is out as helmer of next year's Marvel movie Antman. If rumors are to be believed, Marvel had a problem with some aspect of the script and Wright wouldn't change it. Supposedly the production is still on schedule. We'll see.  This production was doomed from the start but not for reasons you'll probably catch around the 'net. First Wright wanted to go with Antman #2 Scott Lang instead of Hank Pym. Say what? To me, and I know I'm probably in the minority, he's way more interesting than Lang. (At least for the first movie...) Lang stole Pym's suit to save his daughter from criminals. (Did I mention she's also dying?) To me, it's like going with Guy Gardiner instead of Hal Jordan for Green Lantern... Anyway, Pym is an arrogant scientist (basically an alcoholic version of Big Bang Theory' s Sheldon)  who figured out how to make things shrink and grow.  His lov...

Welcome to the 750th edition of my musings! To celebrate the occasion, I'm giving you a two topic post AND the return of the exceedingly rare, if not now nonexistent, book review! The most recent trip to the Four Lands was the spectacular Dark Legacy of Shannara trilogy. Author Terry Brooks has said that after he finishes the next three stand-alone novels, he wants to write something else for awhile.  And who can blame him? I was reading the previous two-booker in the hospital and my neurosurgeon, after seeing the book on the table, commented, "He's still writing those? I read those as a kid!" I myself started reading his books the summer between junior high and high school when I was recovering from back surgery.  (Actually it was his less financially, and maybe creatively, successful Magic Kingdom of Landover that I started with first thanks to my aunt working at a book distribution warehouse/center...) I should note that the last time he wrote something differen...

The whole Donald Sterling controversy is surely blazing inferno in our society and I must put my thoughts down for posterity. Conservatives pounced when the NBA cracked down on it.  "We're allowed to be assholes!" a friend commented on Facebook. Like fuck you are! In this particular case, as owner, Sterling was the face of a NBA franchise which, theoretically, should be a family friendly thing.    "If you don't agree with his policies, just boycott." Yes, you could, still, for that matter, but the NBA still did the right thing for removing the reason for doing so. I have never been to LA so I couldn't tell you how far apart where the Clippers play from where the Lakers play but let's assume the NBA aren't just money grubbing whores and LA needs both teams for the greater good. "But he's been a racist since he bought the team back in the '80's." We didn't have the internet so info didn't travel as quickly.  The Cl...

I recently finished binge-watching the first season of Young Justice on Netflix. What an awesome show! Fans of Greg Weisman's other stuff ( Gargoyles, Spectacular Spider-man) know that he perhaps overcompensates for the lack of continuity found in many cartoons of my '80's childhood by have continuous threads throughout the show that you'd find in dramas like LOST or Once Upon a Time which is kinda awesome but I can see how that choice could play into why the shows don't last beyond 2 seasons. I'd love to know what age group he was targeting.  The plots were very complex for a show where the main cast was teenagers. What was also fascinating about the season was it guest-starred heroes that figured prominently in Batman: The Brave and The Bold (which was the previous DC cartoon on the air) such as Green Arrow, Black Canary, Captain Marvel, Red Tornado, Aquaman and of course Batman; not to mention villains such as The Brain and Monsieur Mallah. (Actually, th...

I was looking forward to the new Captain America  sequel coming out this weekend.  I discover it wasn't listed on the website  of my local theater or their phone listing.  This has been happening more and more lately.  Neither Green Lantern nor The Wolverine were shown.  ( Man of Steel  must have been and I wasn't in town for  Ironman 3 or Thor: The Dark World .) For years now, they've been the "art house" theater of the Portland area. (Which I think is stupid but whatever...)  Currently, they're showing the Grand Budapest Hotel on 2 screens (TWO screens!) and will be showing 2 parts of  Nymphomaniac.  Who the hell wants to watch a sex movie with Shia Lebouf?  What kills me is this theater is situated between 2 comicbook shops! (TWO!) Because I don't drive, and because the theater in Falmouth which was directly on the busline is no more, the best option is to take the bus to So. Portland, get off at the grocery store and then ...

I actually wrote this blog post in my head months, or maybe years ago, but decided not to share the thoughts with you all.  But, now with the seizure meds or whatever, the filters for what I think you want to read and what I want to talk about are gone so... A review I read of the How I Met Your Mother finale mentioned in passing that his friends hung out in a bar like on this show and not in a coffee house like on Friends . I would say, given the choice, my friends are more likely to go to a coffeehouse. (Strictly speaking, it might be accurate to say a 70/30 split...) This comment mad me think of other TV shows and why or why not I liked them. Judging by what's popular in specifically the sitcom genre these days, my family life was/is completely different than everyone else's.  My family is more like the Huxtables or the Keatons than the family on Raising Hope for instance.  (Yes, we all have at least one advanced degree and watch PBS...).  As I know I've men...

Television shows, movies and comic books often use fictional countries to set their stories in. DC Comics even goes a step further and creates fictional cities. (Question: Why did Arrow writers change Star City to Starling City? They kept Central City, which is a lamer name if you ask me, as is...) I presume they do this because they don't want to cause an international incident. It would drive me insane while watching the '60's  Mission: Impossible series and they'd be in Kuala Rokat or somewhere and I'd be like, "Where the fudge is that?" The '80's series and the movies came up with a better solution: go to a real country and take down an arms dealer or something just hiding out there, which if you watch the news, really happens. Novels in the political thriller genre, such as my own, at least try to go this root.  (At least ones I've read in the last 30 or so years.  But what if you don't have the rights to use the fictional country? I...