See the elusive girl geek as she acts in local theater! Watch as she writes manuscripts, fanfiction, and anything else that come out of her deranged mind! Gawp as she reviews movies that normal women would run from in terror! GIRL GEEK!
On July 12, 2017, websites, Internet users, and online communities will come together to sound the alarm about the FCC’s attack on net neutrality. Learn how you can join the protest and spread the word at https://www.battleforthenet.com/july12/.
Right now, new FCC Chairman and former Verizon lawyer Ajit Pai has a plan to destroy net neutrality and give big cable companies immense control over what we see and do online. If they get their way, the FCC will give companies like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T control over what we can see and do on the Internet, with the power to slow down or block websites and charge apps and sites extra fees to reach an audience.
If we lose net neutrality, we could soon face an Internet where some of your favorite websites are forced into a slow lane online, while deep-pocketed companies who can afford expensive new “prioritization” fees have special fast lane access to Internet users – tilting the playing field in their favor.
But on July 12th, the Internet will come together to stop them. Websites, Internet users, and online communities will stand tall, and sound the alarm about the FCC’s attack on net neutrality.
The Battle for the Net campaign will provide tools for everyone to make it super easy for your friends, family, followers to take action. From the SOPA blackout to the Internet Slowdown, we've shown time and time again that when the Internet comes together, we can stop censorship and corruption. Now, we have to do it again!
They have intensely devoted fandoms. Like, you know the stereotype of the Star Trek nerd who learns Klingon, carries a bat'leth, and spends days debating Kirk vs Picard? All of these fandoms have their own versions.
I too have been a obsessive fan of many things. The Simpsons, Ghostbusters/The Real Ghostbusters, Futurama, and A Nightmare on Elm Street come to mind. But I've never obsessed to the point of detriment. No spending money I can't afford on paraphernalia, no buying items I don't need to 'complete' the collection, no harassing other fans for their lack of knowledge on the subject, or claiming they're not 'real' fans (a practice known as gatekeeping). So being obsessed in and of itself doesn't turn me off. If something's good, of course people are going to obsess, and go a little overboard.
This wasn't even an opening event. I was just with friends (trimmed to protect the innocent).
There are 2 reasons I refuse to begin watching Supernatural: the proclaimed drop in quality after some specific, early season (I think 6), and the fans on Tumblr constantly screaming about the amazing show that I MUST love, since I also like Sherlock.
The connection there is baffling to me: fans of Dr. Who and Sherlock I get, Steven Moffat is involved with both. But how does the distinctly American Supernatural fit into the SuperWhoLock triad?
The Dr. Who fandom is actually not so bad in comparison; understanding the connection between it and Sherlock is helpful. Plus, many of my friends are fans, unlike Supernatural. I may eventually get to Dr. Who, but I'm not jumping at it.
Steven Universe is the one I face with the most trepidation.
Pure terror.
To be brief, a kid with magic powers hangs out with women with magic powers and saves the world. He's a good kid, and it's a light, fun show.
Until the episode Cat Fingers. Watch at your own risk.
My brother in law got me into the show recently. I've been curious for a long time, hearing about how the show addresses dark, deep issues, while keeping a fun tone (mostly). I've really liked the episodes I've seen, and I'll be watching more.
The problem, again, is the fandom. The most striking example of that problem is the story of Zamii.
A Co-Producer of the show had this to say: "Fanartists can create whatever art they want & everyone has the
freedom to criticize it for any reason. However, bullying is not
criticism."
This resulted in the 'fans' turning on THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THE SHOW.
I'm not afraid of internet bullies. But the toxicity of this subset of fans is off-putting. I'm not the only one who's noticed, or stayed away from a show, book, or movie due to toxic, gatekeeping, dangerous fans.
I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed with funny things, scary things, weird things. I'll buy toys and books and shirts and DVDs. I'll talk your ear off. I'll write blogs about the things I love. I'll do everything I can to entice you, excite you, include you in this thing I love.
The moment I start telling you that you're garbage for not being as obsessed as I am? Or because you're doing something different than the cannon? Or telling you that you're not a "real fan" because of ANYTHING?
Take me out, because I've been replaced by a pod person.
Never say I don't love my country. But never think I've ignored where we came from, what it cost us to get here, and how far we still have to go. Out nation is far from perfect.
I have no idea if the founding fathers would be proud or angry or rolling in their graves over things like abortion rights, or gerrymandering, or taxation laws. I'm no historian, or medium. All I am is someone who is proud to be an American. And I'll do everything, say everything, write everything I can, to remain proud of of this nation, its ideals, and its future.
The founding fathers fought for our rights to do just that. And I'm damn well not going to let that go to waste.
So, some people (like me) are really excited about this film.
There are also a lot of whiners and complainers stating that this movie didn't need to be a Jumanji sequel, how dare they, etc.
1. Be glad it's a sequel, not a remake. They straight up refrence Alan Parrish (Williams) in it, we've been assured.
2. It looks like a fun way to revitalize a 20 year old property with some amazing actors.
3. If it wasn't a sequel, you;d be whining that it was a Jumanji ripoff.
Frankly, I'm not bothered. First, because of these reasons:
Second, the headcannon my friends and I came up with is that the original game was made by an African Trickster god as revenge for colonialism. Makes send that that god would see nobody plays board games anymore and make a video game version.
Also, Australia may be the result of a game that was never finished, which is why it's still a huge death trap.
I really like Chucky. I won tickets to the premier of Seed in Detroit. I own all the films, aside from 3 (which we don't talk about). I couldn't be more excited for this. Chucky in an insane asylum? It practically writes itself!
So, a few months ago I watched the Death Note series on Netflix. I haven't seen any of the other film adaptations (and there are a lot), and I have mixed feelings about this one. Willam Dafoe's Ryuk is perfect casting. But why is it in Seattle? Why is Light not Asian? Why is L doing a press conference? Why is Light saying "We're not the good guys anymore." when his whole deal is that he IS the good guy, the ultimate good guy who will wash all evil from the earth, along with anyone who gets in his way?
So, after spending time with the adult losers for so long, and enduring their horrors, how can King shock us anew?
SPOILERS
By going to visit Henry Bowers in the asylum, of course!
This scene plays a bit like the mini-series. It follows the (now diagnosed) crazy adult Bowers through a typical day at the Juniper Hill asylum for the criminally insane. The guards beat the inmates with rolls of quarters regularly, and Henry is mostly just a has-been.
He was locked up after being convicted of murdering Victor Criss and 'Belch' Huggins, along with some of the other missing Derry kids. There's planted evidence from IT, and Henry confesses, unable to resist after seeing IT kill his friends. IT apparently ripped the head off of Belch in the guise of Frankenstein.
Henry is still dwelling on how the losers bested him as well, 20+ years after the fact. IT uses this, beguiling Henry onto his side to kill them. IT even tells him "I can get them if they half-believe, but you can get them if they believe, half-believe, or don't believe at all."
It's interesting to see IT admit even a sliver of weakness, even to one of ITs henchmen. I can only assume that with Bowers being crazy, IT wasn't exactly worried about him remembering, caring, or using the info in any way.
The night ends with IT killing a guard, dressed as a clown with a doberman pincher head. I can't find the video clip, but that didn't translate well to film.
The main takeaway from this is that Henry is only crazier as an adult, and IT is not above calling in old favors. IT has always been happy to use the townsfolk to do ITs dirty work, and nothing has changed, or will change for the remainder of the book.
SAFE
Next up, Tom Rogan comes back and is an utter shit-head abusive bastard. Yaaaay.
If you're like me, you've seen the War for the Planet of the Apes and Transformers 5 trailer at least 12 times.
This isn't by choice, mind. I just see a lot of movies with those trailers in front. And one thing struck me each time:
Since when did movies starring giant robots and monkeys with guns get so serious?!
Now, the first in the current line of Apes movies was really good, and also serious, so I kinda get it. I think that treating it like a serious drama is a bit much, but I get it.
I mean...why? These are supposed to be fun movies! Summer Blockbusters! Even Independence Day 2 looked like more fun than this!
Keyword: looked like.
Other film companies, don't be like DC. Dark and gritty doesn't automatically mean good. Sucking the joy from fun franchises doesn't equal awards or money.
So, this segment purports to focus on Mike Hanlon, but it's about Bill again. It's very short, focusing on Bill going to Mike's, fixing up silver, and asking about the posts. Mike replies that it's a speech exercise that Bill tried in vain to master, to win his mother's love back. Bill protests that he did manage once, but neither of them can recall it.
This segment is actually in the mini-series, with 'It's all right' playing in the background, as Bill rides Silver gleefully. They did a 180 on the tone and impact of the scene; Bill has no intention to ride Silver, he protests (too quickly.)
The only thing that's odd is that when playing cards are brought out (for the spokes, of course) there's an extra ace of spades with a red back in the deck. It and the blue back ace (the deck's color) are the only cards that land face-up when Bill spills them. Bill is scared, but says something to the effect of 'Of course this is happening, it's literal magic, why am I surprised?'
Really, all this segment is is a chance to have a bit of normalcy before we visit Henry Bowers in the asylum, raving mad, and ready to kill.
