Friday, February 20, 2015

Five dumb examples of Anti-Feminism/Meninism

Meninism, for the uninitiated, is a movement that demands men be given the same rights as women. Just like feminism does. But without the respect for women. Sometimes it a joke, but often the men behind it take it very seriously. And it's spawned some dumb, dumb stuff. 

For when you don't want dumb gay pink frosting! AMIRITE BRAH?!

I am so angry I can't even make a joke. You would NEVER see a 'Girls are better than books (or video games, as they'd be pandering to idiocy on the male side too)'shirt.


Someone already posted a fitting response to this:




These are real people, condoning and applauding the Isla Vista killings. There are many, many more.

And finally, some idiot changing this picture:

into this:

Yeah.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Five Snowy gifs

I'm freezing, and so are these gifs.











Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The Walking Dead: a matter of character

I've read the first 96 issues of The Walking Dead, and I'm currently watching season 3 of the show. The plot varies, but basically follows the same structure. With one noticeable difference:

The characters.

People die in the show and live in the comic, or vice-versa. Assholes become better, the best characters become preachy. Some exist in one medium only. Some characters from the comics are grouped into new individuals. It's confusing.


Most of the changes are for the better and make a lot of sense; both mediums are visual and episodic, but there's still a lot of difference.

The only thing that bothers me about these changes are certain characters who are great in the comics and assholes in the show. Andrea is one of my favorites in the comics: I can barely stand to watch her in the show. And...um...

Okay, it's pretty much just Andrea.


Reeeeeeeeeeayl looking forward to her death. And NO that's not a spoiler, THEY ALL GON' DIE!

Comic's Andrea is so awesome. She was still alive in issue 96, and was kicking ass. I really hope Michonee picks up all the slack. Not that she needs any extra awesome.

SO AWESOME

So, I'll just keep marathoning until she's dead. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Getting weirder

As I've discussed previously, I'm having weird dreams, nightmares, and stress dreams. While the nightmares and stress dreams seem to have stopped, my normal dreams are getting weirder.

I can have a pipe that brings cats right to my bed?

Dreams are often weird, and none of mine are memorable enough to recount here. There's only one shared detail: many of my dreams go out of their way to convince me they're real.

My dream about my father being alive dispelled any possible logical fallacies. My monster nightmare had me focus on the aftereffects such an encounter would have on my long-term psyche. My dream from two nights ago had a dream-within-a-dream where my husband told me the events of the 1st dream were (and then weren't) real.

What the hell?

Why is my brain giving me logic puzzles?


I really don't know what to make of this.

Thoughts? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Monday, February 16, 2015

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!!?!! (I am!)

I sit on a glorious mountain of technological wealth (actually a saggy green armchair near the tech, but work with me people!). I gaze upon hundreds of movies and tv shows, internet reviews and skits, books procured over 28 years on this earth (or at least 18 years worth, my grade-schoold Calvin and Hobbes's have held up pretty well). I watch to find out who killed Laura Palmer (NO SPOILERS!) Read to see what horrifies Peter Straub, listen to the hilarious POV of Eugene Miriam, and even crush a few candies while doing it.

You may know him better as Gene.

I am entertained.

So what?

Am I sitting here, drugged by the various opiates of the masses, too caught up in fiction to care about fact? Am I a jaded Millineal who'd rather nod sagely at Jon Stewart than read the paper and find out things for myself? Is being entertained making me dumber, or a worse person?

No. Because all these wonderful (and sometimes mediocre) delights make me think.

Who killed Laura Palmer indeed? What is going on in Twin Peaks? Is it an X-Files like supernatural plot, or something psychological,  hankering back to the days of film noir and Hitchcock?

What scares Peter Straub? What scares the other writers in the collection? Why do their ears scare me? Or not? How can I learn from their mastery?

How can I relate to the experiences of Eugene Miram? Why does his absurdest humor make me laugh? What is absurdity in humor? Is it Bugs Bunny getting Daffy Duck shot in the face? Is it better as a visual medium? Does absurdity in literature work outside The Hitchhiker's guide?

 I don't know the answers to these questions. I don't think about them consciously as I watch, read, or listen (at least, not all the time. Sometimes, I am Abed).

Ultimately, it doesn't matter. What matters is knowing it's okay to just sit back and be entertained. Having something to talk about with friends, or strangers on the internet, or just yourself when nobody else cares. Being entertained is not the be-all end-all, but it isn't a crime either.

I will not feel guilty about sitting back and watching an episode of Law and Order in between editing chapters of my manuscript. I will not look at my DVD collection and sigh at my materialism. Many of the videos are presents from friends and family: a joyus reminder each time I see Bugs get one over on Elmer Fudd, or Michael Myers stab a teenager.
My friends get me.

It's okay to revel in escapism. It's okay to think critically about the things you view. It's okay to sit with friends and laugh and not think beyond 'Boy, this is fun!'

So if you'll excuse me, I have writing to do, and inspiration to view. Maybe not in that order.