New TV

The decision has been made, it is time for a new tv. I have been deliberately holding off, thinking I can make do with the existing set up. I was wrong. I need a fuckoff flatscreen. And so the search shall begin.

Before MP3, I was really into my Hi-fi equipment. It was all about separates and although I now have a set up I am very happy with, I don't spend the same time devoted to getting the perfect sound. Instead an iPod is plugged into the hi-fi and Robert is your fathers brother. Anyway I digress. The point I am trying to get to (this blog is being written in the pub on my phone - go me!) is that a lot of research would have been employed back in the day re hi-fi separates. I would start with the magazines and then spend a few days in the specialist stores listening to the various combinations of separates. Usually I would completely disregard all the research and buy something entirely different (I did this twice).

So. What research is required for the tv and can I be arsed doing it?

I spent 30 mins trying to work out which magazine to get. Vision this, LCD that, What blah blah. Eventually I found the 'dedicated' tv magazine and turned straight to the buyer guide. Look for 5 stars and a good price. It was 60 bloody pages long. This was going to take some time. I ditched the magazines and headed back to the office. Google would provide all th answers and soothe my aching head. Well this wasn't any better. Too many things going on. Too many questions. Returning home I re-measured the space to see if I could fit a larger screen. Ok it was getting a little silly. So where have I got too? I need to make a trip to a store and actually play with the tv's. I will report back once I have done that.

Year 2 - part 2

Finsihed it and to my surprise was not as impressed as first time round. In fact, really disappointed. I completely forgot about the whole Joe Chill episode. Bruce Wayne was really wet and the only good thing was the fight scenes between him and the Reaper. Not how I remembered it at all. Year 1 stands the test of time. Unfortunately this doesn't.

Web 2

I am still looking for the perfect browser that will allow me the opportunity to do all of the following: post up my own thoughts, link to ALL external sites I want to, access my personal email account, keep in touch with friends and allow others to comment on my thoughts or posts. It would also allow me secure areas and public areas and provide the benefits of social networking sites but allow me to customise as I see fit Does this already exist? Is it free? Well it would combine facebook with igoogle, with some Twitter and blogger thrown in for good measure.

I think the problem we now have is the fact that content is so easily found and so easily created. I can blog on the phone or Twitter on my laptop. As long as I have Internet I am good to go. But, right now I have to go to various sites to update everything I want to. I have to go to Twitter, facebook, blogger, igogle, comicvine, cbr, gmail and hotmail to make sure they are all up to date (and I don't use myspace or bebo). So you get my point!

So I'd like one site that would do all this for me. I'd like it to be one URL and all content is managed by me. I want a mobile version so I can do it on my phone. Am I asking to much?

Igoogle is probably the closest thing in so far as you can link things so it is all displayed in one page. But you can't update everything in one go. I'm sure google is already there. They just haven't made it avaiable yet. In the meantime I will keep hunting.

Lists

Great things lists. I write them, but I never score sh*t off them. Kinda makes them redundant!

Batman: Year 2

Was thinking about how Year 2 doesn't really get the credit that maybe it deserves? I was on CBR the other day reading in their forums a list of the best Batman trades and there was some debate on Year 2. As I understand it, it was written in line with Year 1 and at one point DC were going to release them simultaneously, with one in Detective and the other in Batman. It was deemed that actually this wasn't the best idea and that it made sense for them to be released apart.

The team for Year 2 was pretty sweet with Muke Barr and Alan Davies. I originally read this about 15 years ago and I remember really liking it. I think I found it gritty and fast moving. Well I pulled it free of it's restraints yesterday and am intending on re-reading it. Will I find it as enjoyable as I did the first time? Does it live upto Year 1? I'll let you know.

A new Logo for DCU

In my quest to catch up on stories that I have missed over the last decade or so, I got hold of the four parter 'The Return of Donna Troy' and started reading it the other week. Now due to various things I have only got to part 2 of the story, but what I found really quite interesting wasn't the story (although I am enjoying it), it was the 'Note from the Publisher' on the back page of the first issue. I have been guilty of passing over these in the past but find myself now reading them without a second thought. This particular one was written by Paul Levitz (President and Publisher)- this was published 2005. The opening line was 'Welcome to one of the most exciting times in DC's History.' The ensuing words ultimately listed all things great about DC and actually the list was impressive - Countdown to Infinite Crisis, all-star projects (All Star Batman and Robin, All Star Superman), Justice by Alex Ross and then they got to the movies. Batman Begins was due out out that summer and clearly DC were wetting their pants with excitement (so was I). There was also Constantine and V for Vendetta (both Vertigo) due out too. The former was poor in my opinion, the latter I really enjoyed. But Mr Levitz went on to say '...- and we're staying on the silver screen with a steady stream of surprising and great DC-based films.' For me, I have to think hard about the 'great DC-based films' that have been released. The second Batman was awesome - granted. The Superman film was good, but not great. The spirit? Does that count? It was released by Lions Gate and sucked. Watchmen - I can't comment on this because for all my ramblings that I am a massive comic fan, I haven't seen it. Events conspired against me - but I will be viewing very soon. But my point is that since 2005, other than the two Batman movies, there hasn't been anything exceptional or to use the words of Mr Levitz 'Great'. Going forward, we have another Batman movie, another superman reboot and Green Lantern. Oh and Jonah Hex. Both the Batman and Superman movies have a lot to live upto (for very different reasons). Green Lantern could be very cool if they get it right. Jonah Hex - not really fussed at this stage. Have DC done all that they can to turn such great source material into movie magic? Personally I think they need to take a leaf out of Marvel's book.

I was also interested to read that DC were announcing that there Logo was to change after 25 years of the old one. They really were excited about the future. I have to say, the comics are good, the animated stuff is pretty good, but they are missing a trick on the big screen. Do you think I am being unfair? Are they in fact doing a sterling job?

Wetting my pants with excitement. Part 1

Tron Legacy

Iron Man 2

Is there going to be another Batman film?

The green lantern movie

Going to SDCC 2010...maybe

Finally getting to watch Supernatural Season 2 (I know)

Finally getting to watch Battlestar Gallactica Season 3 (I know)

Reading Blackest Night: Batman

Getting to wear my 'martial arts' retro yellow karate kid tshirt to repeated BBQ's

Watching Aberdeen FC spank Rangers & Celtic (I know)

Discovering Old Milwaukee in the light of it being Steve Mcqueen's favoured beer.

DeadPool

I have just canceled Deadpool from my standing order. Not that it was a series that I was massively into, but I wanted to try it out as many comic based forums had dudes raving about how cool the character was and that the Wolverine movie was going to have a Deadpool spin off etc etc. Well I bought three issues (the Hawkeye/Bullseye) run in and I must say I found the issues good fun. To be fair, Deadpool is quite cool and he does have some pretty awesome lines. BUT, I found that three issues was enough. The story wasn't exactly stuff legends are made of. It had it's moments and the banter between the two main characters is pretty sweet. But I have had my fill for now. Maybe the odd mini or one shot going forward.

Inspector Morse

Just watching re-runs of Inspector Morse. They don't make tv like that anymore. I could watch them over and over. The scripts were top notch, Morse and Lewis interaction genius and the plots keep you guessing. It was a sad day when John Thaw died and the recent Lewis series requires a viewing, as I expect and hope there were be some similar themes running through it.

Heart of Hush

Heart of Hush has been sitting in my 'must read' list for a while now. It is one of those stories where I essentially knew what happened, and had read subsequent stories following on from it and referencing it - but I still wanted to read it. The hardback collects Detective Comics #846-850 and is of course a pre-cursor to Batman RIP, although there is only the odd Black Glove reference. It reads quickly and you do find yourself wanting to plough on. I enjoy Paul Dini's work and I like how in Heart of Hush, it is generally kept to the main characters, with the odd supporting character popping in for a few pages. However, I felt that Catwoman got a slightly raw deal in this story. I felt that she was made out to be quite weak and when the 'incident' happens to her, it passes with little or no comment. For the purposes of that particular issue, a retrospective narrative from Catwoman would have been cool.

I enjoyed the tussles between Batman and Hush, especially the flashbacks, Dustin Nguyen's art is spot on and the scene in the Batcave is great. Overall an excellent read and definitely one for any Bat-geek.

Cry for Justice

Just finished part 2 and I am loving it. I actually re-read part 1 before 2, just because it was an excuse. Both the script and the art are prefect (Robinson and Cascioli) and I love the dynamic between Hal and Ollie - sweet. Those two make me laugh and you just know that the relationship is going to become fraught with tension as the story unveils. The extra's at the end are cool too and the 'origins' stories by Len Wein are sweet. As a 7 part series this could be awesome.

Fresh start

I have decided to start again on the whole blogging front. I have had this open for a while and have intermittently uploaded a comment or two, but never got properly into the habit. From today I am going to try to be a regular blogger. And It is mainly going to be about comics and related geekiness. Who knows, maybe I will become addicted.