Mod Post - Off-Topic Tuesday

[icon_uk]

In the comments to these weekly posts (and only these posts), it's your chance to go as off topic as you like. Talk about non-comics stuff, thread derail, and just generally chat among yourselves.

Looking through the political aspects of pretty much anywhere in the news channels this morning made me want to start howling into the void, so I think I'm going to skip it this week. If you want to address any issues, go for it, but I'm taking a time out.

The UK is looking at a worrying rise in Covid-19 amongst the young. Stay safe people!

I've been enjoying the good natured "spat" between John Oliver and the town of Danbury, especially by way of Danbury's local hockey vlog (You can spot the ones about the Oliver feud-ette, they're the ones with multiple hundred thousand views, as opposed to the usual three hundred or so.)

For some strange reason (probably involving watching a couple of youtube reviews by the The Disney Brain and remembering they're all on Netflix) I've been watching some old Power Ranger season episodes and gosh, they're a bit of a mixed bag aren't they! :)

This week I've been reading Gengoroh Tagame's "My Brother's Husband", a slice-of-life manga about Yaichi, an average guy who works from home whilst raising his daughter, Kana. His long estranged twin brother Ryoji has recently died, and Yaichi was not expecting Ryoji's widower Mike (a massive good natured Canadian bear of a man) to show up on his doorstep to find out more about Ryoji's past. The gentle challenges to his assumptions about what being gay means that Yaichi has to face are not exactly subtle for the most part (especially Kana being used as the voice of innocent reason) but very enjoyable.

Also got a song stuck in my head (Well, at any given moment I have up to fourteen songs stuck in my head) a new song from the "given" anime movie. "Hetakuso", is a song about the joys of finding someone as emotionally messed up as yourself to relate to, which whilst not necessarily a goal ideal, certainly seems like a good starting point.

This weeks random question - Favourite biscuit... (or "cookie" if you're American I guess)

Comments

[cricharddavies]

... so what've you got against howling into the void? Are you concerned that the void will howl back? Would that really worsen our circumstances measurably?

Anyway, chocolate chip.

[icon_uk]

Maybe I'm concerned the void WON'T howl back... the void has a surprisngly nice howl.

[tripodeca113]

Kurt Busiek implied that Astro City will be returning soon. Or at least he thinks he’ll announce the actual return date soon.
A Shenmue anime? Is it really popular enough for that?

The Venture Bros has been cancelled by Adult Swim. Drat. Still I think it might be picked up by another network.

Microsoft Explorer has annoyed me by getting updated (especially since it only managed to save one of my windows….). Naturally the new design is ugly, so I’m going to take this an opportunity to switch browsers.

The Game of Thrones showrunners have gotten work again. At least it’s not Confederate….

I rewatched Mad Max Fury Road. It’s nice seeing what real movies are like.

Nintendo’s rereleasing Super Mario Sunshine! As part of a compilation, which will only be available for six months. Huh, what possible reason do they have for that?

The Mandalorian season two has an air date. That is the good Star Wars news this week. The other is John Boyega’s justifiable complaint’s about his role in the Sequels. Can’t say I’m surprised.

[silverhammerman]

Disappointed to see Venture Brothers ending, while 7 seasons in 17 years might have been a... subpar... production schedule, it was a really great show and a more than decent run in an era where Netflix constantly cancels shows after two seasons. The best case scenario I'm hoping for is that they get a chance to do a wrap-up limited series or TV movie, whether through Adult Swim or Kickstarter or something else. I love the series, but it's gone on long enough that I can see it end without being too broken up, though I'd like a proper conclusion.

[thezmage]

I'm fine with the show ending, the long wait between seasons makes the show feel half cancelled at any point in time, I'd just like it if they had been allowed to end it themselves

[leahandillyana]

My friend was beaten up after a pride march in the capital of our province. There was little violence when the march was on, but afterwards violent men recruited among footbal fanatic subculture were hunting on easy targets returning home, mostly teenagers. I don't have much else to say.

[janegray]

I'm really sorry for your friend.

I've been meaning to ask this for a while, but held back because, well, it's the sort of question that would naturally get the reply "gee thanks for the input Captain Obvious, don't you think THEY have thought about it!?"

But I really don't understand, and at this point I hope it's acceptable for me to ask.

Poland is part of the European Union. As far as I know, its citizens can move freely within the EU. And Poland is right next to Germany. Depending on the location, it should take between 1 and 8 hours by car to pass the border.

Why don't you leave?

[leahandillyana]

That's my freaking country, I don’t *want* to leave it. The chant of the neonazi is "fuck off out of Poland". I have no intention of leaving the country to neonazis.

[icon_uk]

Your resolve does you immense credit, as does your bloody-mindedness, a vastly under-rated mindset IMHO.

[cygnia]

The theatre troupe I've been a part of for 3.5 years switched producers last year when our previous boss was driven away by Corporate for calling out harassing/toxic behavior.

These new producers have decided to "go in a different direction", demoting me and my husband from our roles (and "coincidentally" following lockstep in Corporate's wishes that only conventionally handsome, young, straight white men play that role).

Even after we practically built this franchise on our backs since the beginning.

So yeah, this will be our last month. And my depression is back with a vengeance.

[icon_uk]

Sorry to hear that

[janegray]

A guy killed himself live on TikTok, and assholes have been hiding the video inside fun videos to traumatise unsuspecting viewers. Like, you are watching a cute video of puppies, and suddenly this guy blows his brains out. Apparently, it's graphic.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-suicide-video-taken-down-community-warning-users-2020-9%3famp

Stay away from TT for a while.

[bradygirl_12]

The examples of human cruelty and assholery are abundant, I see.

[scorntx]

"Mixed bag" could describe pretty much ANY Power Rangers series on a good day.
Even the better ones.
... actually, make that especially the better ones, because in their case the better overall quality can make the worse parts stand out more.
(Though, uh, what that means for ones which are just in the middle... erm...)
Like the modern series and their insistence (or is it obligation) of having a Comedic Duo in there, eating up screen-time with pratfallery.

[icon_uk]

Yeah, the difference being that Paul Schrier and Jason Narvy as Bulk and Skull were genuinely funny in their incompetence. (Well, the was the time they were chimps, but maybe let's not go there)

Gem and Gemma in RPM weren't as bad as they should have been once you appreicated that they had been just as by Alphabet Soup in their upbringing as Dr K had been, and for the same reason.

And at the other end of the scale we have Ninja Steel's Victor and Monty about whom the less said, the better (I could see they were trying for a Gaston and LeFou type relationship, but oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...)

[scorntx]

-Bulk and Skull were genuinely funny in their incompetence-

Maybe, past Zeo when they start being a little more relevant and less generally obnoxious, but in Morphin'?
Not so much.


Didn't mind Gem and Gemma.
It probably helps that they were Rangers, and therefore not wasting time that couldn't been spent on things like plot or character development.

[icon_uk]

I'll be guided by your judgement, as I haven't watched the VERY early episodes again. The original five line up was terribly pretty , but the episodes are... kind of a chore for the most part.

[scorntx]

They kind of are...
Especially since it is all just strictly formula - Rita makes a monster, sends monster out, the pesky kids defeat it, lather rinse and repeat.
None of that pesky "plot" nonsense!
Never mind MM's multi-part episodes, which almost always seem to be stretched out too long.
... except Tommy's first outing as the White Ranger. (Maybe because it's just a two part episode? Dunno.)

[icon_uk]

They seem to be at their best when focussing on Billy (The one where he goes "bad" is a hoot) or Billy and Kim (the bodyswap episode), but I DO tend to have a soft spot for the floppy haired, socially awkward, nerd type, so might be a little biased there.

(And I confess I have never understood the aesthetic appeal of Tommy, so once he shows up my interest tends to take a nosedive)

[scorntx]

Socially awkward nerd type who, despite some almost valiant efforts of the wardrobe department to hide it, is clearly built like a tank from day one.


I think Tommy's appeal is he's... cool? Maybe? I dunno. He is the first sixth Ranger.
While most of the MM team are pretty generic anyhow, Tommy's still quite generic even then.

(Though the later over-exposure of Tommy - *glowers at Ninja Steel again* - doesn't help much.
I know, I know, his actor's one of the few from MM usually willing to fly to New Zealand, still.)

[icon_uk]

Socially awkward nerd type who, despite some almost valiant efforts of the wardrobe department to hide it, is clearly built like a tank from day one.

Yeah.... happy sigh..



(I mean, he's built like a gymnast, which is why I think he and Kim work well as a double act since the actors were both trained gymnasts rather than martial artists)

[mister_terrific]

I'm still recovering from three days of "get stuff done" around the house--power-washing the back porch and driveway, mowing the front lawn, grilling, etc. I did, however, race to my computer and hit Comixology over the Black Panther deal, and I've been poking here and there through Priest's massive storyline. Damn but I love his Killmonger.

My wife and I have been watching "Ultraman Z", which is a bit quirky but still fun. The best part of it is the team captain, who is secretly an alien who's caused Ultraman Orb no end of trouble in the past--and who apparently is having the time of his life in his new role. He really plays it perfectly.

Meant to get some writing done, but felt like we spent the entire time coming and going from places. Ah well, I now have a clean shiny back patio and driveway--and man, I had no idea just how much dirt and grime can accumulate over 30 years...

Oh, cookies! I prefer baking my own (though I am partial to Oreos and Chips Ahoy), and I have to give a thumbs-up to the old recipe my wife found on Reddit last year. They're a delicious molasses-based cookie that are called...believe it or not..."Murder Cookies". The only problem with them is that they seem to vanish very quickly!

[skjam]

Brother came by and walked a nearby nature trail with me (properly precautious natch). I am in worse shape than I thought.

Over at my blog, I start Falloween off with Lucio Fulci's "Conquest": http://www.skjam.com/2020/09/07/movie-review-conquest-1983/

[icon_uk]

Yeah, I've been making sure to take daily long walks since lockdown started because I need the exercise and we had the warmest spring in decades.. I am NOT looking forward to doing so in rain and very low temperatures as Autumn rolls in.

[lissa_quon]

Been actually getting art done. Only took months and lots of meds to get mental shit sorted enough to create. Proud of the work I'm doing even if it's probably not going to make me much money.

Got three writing projects also going - of course my brain wants ot deal with the one thats like the least helpful right now. But at least its better than being numb.

Also been playing Dishonored lately - a friend gave it to me for a late birthday and I've been enjoying the fantasy of ousting politicians, knocking cops unconscious and maybe solving a plague.

[leahandillyana]

Even more reason to boycott Mulan: https://feanoriel.tumblr.com/post/628712416367247360/afloweroutofstone-shout-out-to-disney-f

[steverodgers5]

Favourite Biscuit?...

McVities Jaffa Cakes!! ;)

(Suppresses an evil laugh!...)

I'm a bit depressed by the news cycle too, but on the plus side Kim Kardashian West announced to her 188 million(!) followers that “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” will be coming to an end with it's final season in early 2021.

So there's that at least to look foward to.

And conversely watching Bill and Ted's Face The Music had me looking back to simpler times, before the world went to hell in a handbasket. It was a nice little bit of nostalgia for taking your mind off of these horrible current times.

Plus I finally saw the long Delayed New Mutants. So it felt like a bit of a time warp too, watching a movie that was shot so long ago. And I have to say, It wasn't bad. Seeing Illyana and a certain dragon kicking ass was fun. But it's probably not worth seeing in a cinema if you're in a dangerous area just now. I mean a little longer to watch it at home probably won't hurt. It's not like the box office on this one was ever going to encourage a sequel, given its origins from a now defunct studio branch.

[donnblake]

If I'm buying a cookie, probably the Oreo (America's Favorite Vegan Cookie*, although I don't know that they've ever leaned into that fact in their marketing. They'd have to drop the ubiquitous glasses of milk from the commercials, I guess).

*I'm not actually a Vegan, but occasionally bring snacks to group gatherings including those who are, and was pleasantly surprised to find that Oreos were a valid option.

If I'm baking a cookie or asked for requests by a baker, Peanut Butter Oatmeal, fresher from the oven than is probably advisable.

[werehawk]

Interestingly, Oreos were not always vegan. Whey used to be the last ingredient in the list (20 years ago). When I went to Thailand in 2001, there they had no whey or animal fats so I bought a bunch. After not reading the labels for many years in about 2014 in the states they finally dropped the whey and became vegan and have been ever since.