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Jul. 5th, 2019 08:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. We're (me and a bunch of X-men comics fans) having fun trying to figure which X-men Marvel hasn't killed off at some point. So far, all we've come up with is Gambit. And there's a lot of X-men.
Basically what happens is that various Marvel writers get tired of one or several of the characters in the cast, and kill them off. Irritating fans. Then, those writers leave, a new one comes on board, and resurrects them, but kills off different characters, who are then resurrected by new writers...and so on. Basically kill, resurrect in new and bizarre ways, kill, and do it again.
This in a nutshell is why it is very hard for a long-term X-men fan to care that much when a character gets killed off. You just basically decide to stop reading until they bring said character back. Or take a break. Which is what I did.
This is also what happens when you keep changing the creative staff and refuse to impose any firm rules on the continuity of the time line. And alas, it's why mainstream readers don't take superhero comic books seriously. The keep rebooting the storyline.
Right now we're all taking bets on whether the readership and fans will accept the new reboot or call it quits.
2. Watching Stranger Things -- and it's really hard to watch during the day, the show is so darkly lit. Similar to Game of Thrones and Sabrina. I really wish they'd stop doing this -- although on the plus side, it's sort of hard to be scared of something you can't see.
It is funny in places. The horror doesn't bother me that much. It did in the first season, but the latter two, not so much. Very nostalgic. They play a lot of old 1980s songs.
3. Also watching David Tennant and Catherine Tate presentation of Much Ado About Nothing on Youtube -- it's hilarious. Tennant and Tate are truly good physical comedians, and they both seem to know how to act Shakespeare and make it seem like they are talking normally. If you aren't a fan of Shakespeare, you should check it out. And if you are a fan of Tate and Tennant, most definitely check it out.
4. Got bloodwork done this morning, then swung by various food stores, picking up rainbow trout for dinner, gluten free world's best mac and cheese with Beecher's Cheese (exported from Seattle), Morracan Crab Soup, Gazapacho soup, among other things.
Took a long walk to do it. Walked 2.7 miles yesterday and about 2 miles today.
Which is about average for me. I need to start doing 3-5 mile walks. But feet and back aren't quite there yet.
Doc wants to see me again in September. So, going back then. Probably want more blood work. Oh well, at least the blood work doesn't cost me anything but time.
5. Been trying to watch The Good Fight S1 on CBS. They are airing the first season this summer in the hopes viewers will get hooked and watch on CBS All-Access. Eh. Not happening for me. If I try CBS All-Access -- it will be for Star Trek Discovery. They'd have been better off doing the first season of that show.
The Good Fight is biting political/legal satire. My problem with it -- is right now, that sort of thing just reminds me of how much I hate our current government and political situation. During the show, I start to want to throw things at the television screen. It's making me furious.
I found The Good Wife hilarious, but it was also airing prior to 2016. And political satire was funny back then, because it was ludicrous and not real. Now it has become reality and I find myself sickened by it and wanting to dismantle the people responsible. Which of course I can't. Can't do a damn thing.
6. I'm reminded of why the 4th of July irritates me in NYC at times. The idiots who set off fireworks all weekend long and don't care about anyone but themselves. They do it at New Year's as well. The cops really need to crack down on it. A few hefty fines and some jail time, should do the trick.
The nurse I saw at 9 this morning, was kept up all night by fireworks. She was furious. And no, they weren't the sanctioned ones over the Brooklyn Bridge.
This is a city. It's not the middle of the country.
I really wish one of these people setting them off -- would win a few Darwin awards.
Or a hefty five thousand dollar fine or two weeks in jail.
Sorry. I get so frustrated. The fireworks shook my apartment last night and tonight.
So I posted in the neighborhood Facebook page about them -- asking if anyone knew what was going on and how to stop it. They laughed at me. Sneered. And I thought, these are my neighbors? These obnoxious people?
Then I made the mistake of phoning my mother...which did not go well.
So I meditated. And felt better.
Basically what happens is that various Marvel writers get tired of one or several of the characters in the cast, and kill them off. Irritating fans. Then, those writers leave, a new one comes on board, and resurrects them, but kills off different characters, who are then resurrected by new writers...and so on. Basically kill, resurrect in new and bizarre ways, kill, and do it again.
This in a nutshell is why it is very hard for a long-term X-men fan to care that much when a character gets killed off. You just basically decide to stop reading until they bring said character back. Or take a break. Which is what I did.
This is also what happens when you keep changing the creative staff and refuse to impose any firm rules on the continuity of the time line. And alas, it's why mainstream readers don't take superhero comic books seriously. The keep rebooting the storyline.
Right now we're all taking bets on whether the readership and fans will accept the new reboot or call it quits.
2. Watching Stranger Things -- and it's really hard to watch during the day, the show is so darkly lit. Similar to Game of Thrones and Sabrina. I really wish they'd stop doing this -- although on the plus side, it's sort of hard to be scared of something you can't see.
It is funny in places. The horror doesn't bother me that much. It did in the first season, but the latter two, not so much. Very nostalgic. They play a lot of old 1980s songs.
3. Also watching David Tennant and Catherine Tate presentation of Much Ado About Nothing on Youtube -- it's hilarious. Tennant and Tate are truly good physical comedians, and they both seem to know how to act Shakespeare and make it seem like they are talking normally. If you aren't a fan of Shakespeare, you should check it out. And if you are a fan of Tate and Tennant, most definitely check it out.
4. Got bloodwork done this morning, then swung by various food stores, picking up rainbow trout for dinner, gluten free world's best mac and cheese with Beecher's Cheese (exported from Seattle), Morracan Crab Soup, Gazapacho soup, among other things.
Took a long walk to do it. Walked 2.7 miles yesterday and about 2 miles today.
Which is about average for me. I need to start doing 3-5 mile walks. But feet and back aren't quite there yet.
Doc wants to see me again in September. So, going back then. Probably want more blood work. Oh well, at least the blood work doesn't cost me anything but time.
5. Been trying to watch The Good Fight S1 on CBS. They are airing the first season this summer in the hopes viewers will get hooked and watch on CBS All-Access. Eh. Not happening for me. If I try CBS All-Access -- it will be for Star Trek Discovery. They'd have been better off doing the first season of that show.
The Good Fight is biting political/legal satire. My problem with it -- is right now, that sort of thing just reminds me of how much I hate our current government and political situation. During the show, I start to want to throw things at the television screen. It's making me furious.
I found The Good Wife hilarious, but it was also airing prior to 2016. And political satire was funny back then, because it was ludicrous and not real. Now it has become reality and I find myself sickened by it and wanting to dismantle the people responsible. Which of course I can't. Can't do a damn thing.
6. I'm reminded of why the 4th of July irritates me in NYC at times. The idiots who set off fireworks all weekend long and don't care about anyone but themselves. They do it at New Year's as well. The cops really need to crack down on it. A few hefty fines and some jail time, should do the trick.
The nurse I saw at 9 this morning, was kept up all night by fireworks. She was furious. And no, they weren't the sanctioned ones over the Brooklyn Bridge.
This is a city. It's not the middle of the country.
I really wish one of these people setting them off -- would win a few Darwin awards.
Or a hefty five thousand dollar fine or two weeks in jail.
Sorry. I get so frustrated. The fireworks shook my apartment last night and tonight.
So I posted in the neighborhood Facebook page about them -- asking if anyone knew what was going on and how to stop it. They laughed at me. Sneered. And I thought, these are my neighbors? These obnoxious people?
Then I made the mistake of phoning my mother...which did not go well.
So I meditated. And felt better.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 04:27 pm (UTC)Haven't seen Stranger Things S3 yet but I agree with you about shooting in darkness. What's the point? Just save some money, and use a black screen with voiceovers.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 08:39 pm (UTC)I fiddled with the settings so that I finally got it light enough so that I could see it. Took a while. Apparently it needed to be shifted from Normal to Movie Setting.
But honestly, why are these shows so dark? Riverdale was too -- I finally got tired of it and gave up. So too is Sabrina, and I'm about to give up.Unlike those two series, at least 75% of Stranger Things is in daylight, while 85% of Riverdale and 90% of Sabrina is at night, making it really hard to watch either.
(since it seems like it's not only here that it starts before and ends after the 4th). I agree that we could use fewer of them though the continuing admissions to emergency rooms seems to prove that nothing's going to stop idiots from using them.
No, the only way to stop the idiots is to hit them where it counts -- in the pocketbook. Repeatedly. If they get fined, to the point in which they have to take out a second mortgage or lose their house -- it may not seem worth the bother.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-07 06:18 am (UTC)The result has been what you just described-- idiots playing with dangerous and annoying products even at 3 o'clock in the morning in many of the blocks surrounding where I live. and of course elsewhere.
To its credit, our city government was very displeased with the state's decision, and passed an ordinance that effectively prevent discharging fireworks within 150 ft of any house or other structure-- effectively meaning nowhere in my densely packed, old small city.
Did that help? Nope, the morons ignore it-- (if they're even aware of it) and it's been worse every year now. The problem with enforcement is just before the cops arrive, the idiots scatter, wait until the cops leave, then just start up again.
~sigh~
Re: dark TV shows-- You're watching on your new TV, right? You are on the right track to tweak the picture settings. One classic issue with many TVs. particularly the older LCD types, is that they cannot produce a true black, but cut out above that point. So, everything in the source video that is below that point just appears black.
I recall you mentioned a co-worker who has skills in the AV trade? He may be able to perform a professional picture calibration for you. Sadly, the majority of TVs sold in the last few decades are deliberately mis-adjusted so they "look good" on a sales floor. When I was still in the trade, this was something I had to correct on almost every home-theater I installed.
It's a shame, since the newest TVs are technically superb (when properly set up) compared to just a single decade ago.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-07 12:40 pm (UTC)He said the ultra mode they have it in -- there's three, will give you headaches. Normal isn't much better and is for general viewing apparently. Movie mode dims it slightly and adjusts so there are variations.
After I adjusted it, I could watch the show. That said, at least Stranger Things is only 60-70% night or dark shadows, Sabrina was 90% dark shadows and Riverdale 80-90%. Ugh.
The fireworks calmed down a bit in my area -- they apparently didn't buy enough, also we've had unsettled weather. None went off last night. And Friday just until 10 pm, thankfully.
Everyone always gets worse whenever greedy assholes are in power. I keep hoping for Darwin Awards. ;-)