tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20321083557603668072024-03-13T00:12:20.127-07:00I don't read my blog eitherBegging To Differ Since 1970.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.comBlogger340125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-29568418879644887792010-03-20T20:27:00.000-07:002010-03-20T20:48:13.081-07:00Gone Geekin'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6UVkOtE7j9GTA-FJ_4XXB_A-Wob4iWxk88hR6OdUaTRZ4lS_2C06xu6y7dewSCy6sMAVeU0ztbCU9WlLUgDmeFLW2ZZwhoIYGzN-VaGZaOvExU3ZtCsSLmxladEii9JK125Bqg2xXMs/s1600-h/G3-Logo1-1.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6UVkOtE7j9GTA-FJ_4XXB_A-Wob4iWxk88hR6OdUaTRZ4lS_2C06xu6y7dewSCy6sMAVeU0ztbCU9WlLUgDmeFLW2ZZwhoIYGzN-VaGZaOvExU3ZtCsSLmxladEii9JK125Bqg2xXMs/s320/G3-Logo1-1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450928281199286594" /></a><br />Though I love to write, it took me a long time to warm to the idea of blogging. I'm no new media hater, but my training as a newspaper journalist made me hesitant to embrace a semi-anonymous, proudly self-focused medium. More than anything, I was terrified that I'd be bad at it or that I'd have nothing interesting/amusing to say. I'm glad I didn't let that stop me from starting this blog in 2008.<br /><br />I Don't Read My Blog Either has been creatively satisfying and, at times, incredibly therapeutic. It also led to some real-life socializing with very cool people. Best of all, I discovered that I really enjoy writing about comic books and my experiences as an atypical geek. So does my friend V., and our shared fangirl enthusiasm led us to create <a href=http://girls-gone-geek.com>Girls Gone Geek</a> a few months ago. We're enjoying the hell out of it, but since I also have a full-time job and a family, something had to give. Unfortunately, this blog began to suffer from infrequent posting, then outright neglect. I've been in denial, but now seemed as good a time as any to admit that, for now, IDRMBE is retiring. I wish I were one of those people who could maintain five blogs, a regular podcast and a healthy work-life balance on fewer than six hours of sleep a night — but I'm not. Besides, I figure it's only a matter of time before my children can barely stand to be in the same room with me and their dad, so I ought to milk that whole "being present" thing while they still think we're kinda cool.<br /><br />To everyone who stopped by and/or commented, I offer my sincere thanks. There's a whole lot of everything floating around, so I'm honored that you found my little corner of the Web worthy of your time. If you have even a passing interest in comic books, I hope you'll drop by <a href=http://girls-gone-geek.com>Girls Gone Geek</a> and say hi or visit our <a href=http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Girls-Gone-Geek/245906799859?ref=ts>Facebook page</a>. <br /><br />Gotta run, as it's already past my bedtime. I really wasn't kidding about that sleep thing!<br /><br />See you on the Interwebs,<br />EDPE. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-64476916771257162532009-11-19T17:27:00.000-08:002009-11-19T17:44:56.281-08:00Passing On 'Precious'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63mBirOtoHYTT5b733HWdeiCVBek4Eeomno3ZUdO3e4sQ242L6HKLAEeOyMy5B-TtbqKBMPpjFYZ4p6RGcQpQC-VMsOHZJB1IdHsW3E-3YLea39Gk2w6sxlbB0CPCbGIkwa8g6i_nBsM/s1600/precious.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63mBirOtoHYTT5b733HWdeiCVBek4Eeomno3ZUdO3e4sQ242L6HKLAEeOyMy5B-TtbqKBMPpjFYZ4p6RGcQpQC-VMsOHZJB1IdHsW3E-3YLea39Gk2w6sxlbB0CPCbGIkwa8g6i_nBsM/s400/precious.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405995832499254898" /></a><br />I'm not going to see "Precious."<br /><br />Back in the '90s, I knew several people who had read (or attempted to read) "Push," the novel "Precious" is based on. To be fair, I'm one of those people who can't stomach stories, real or imagined, about child abuse. Reviews and word of mouth convinced me that I was the wrong audience for a story about a morbidly obese girl who is repeatedly raped by her father, impregnated with his children, and subjected to depraved acts at her mother's hand. It's not that I didn't know those things happened (I was a newspaper reporter, after all), but I had zero desire to be immersed in that world in my down time.<br /><br /><i>The Washington Post's</i> <a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/17/AR2009111703465.html >Courtland Milloy</a> said it better than I can, but I just don't see the value in watching this hellish story play out on the big screen. I'm all for tackling hard truths through art, but I have a hard time believing that "Precious" will do anything to make a difference in the lives of real-life abuse victims. Plus, there's something deeply grating about the idea of a privileged film festival audience seeing this movie and gasping, "How powerful! I had no idea this world of ghetto tragedy existed!"<br /><br />There's a valid argument that "Precious" represents a thoughtful alternative to movies about African-American men dressed in drag and adaptations of ham-fisted stage plays. (Irony! Tyler Perry is one of the big names promoting "Precious.") But are those my only choices if I want to see a movie with more than two black people in it?<br /><br />Sorry, Oprah. I can't go down this road with you.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-50810139185064137772009-11-03T18:24:00.000-08:002009-11-03T19:19:18.158-08:00The Goat's Mustache is Cameron Diaz<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6_61L9HpeDE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6_61L9HpeDE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I really want to meet the person responsible for casting "Community," because he or she is a genius. It's no surprise that Joel McHale and Chevy Chase are funny, but Danny Pudi is a real find as the intense, unfiltered Abed, who appears to have Aspergers. As sketchy as that sounds, there's nothing pitiful or mean about the way Abed's quirks play out on "Community" — especially since most of the characters are odd ducks. I definitely see shades of my son J. in Abed, and it's great to see that represented in a genuinely funny way. <br /><br />For the record, J. gets a kick out of Abed's shenanigans, and the above clip is one of our favorites. Major props to my friend V. for turning me on to this show.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-84433666127676161272009-11-01T08:28:00.000-08:002009-11-01T09:23:03.166-08:00Michelle and Me!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQpbIyy98rSGZyMrdxJrhhjxQgaTdW2HjIpsHTxqKsXUowgjnKTi9NCCUcmv1T9Whrde_OZ-Yb_6Iqfdhoytrmi2YOwp1xRGxR6ac3hl9efw2T0HMY9zCiIrmB67SuJ3CkeAKjB1cFys/s1600-h/293.obama.michelle.lc.051109.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQpbIyy98rSGZyMrdxJrhhjxQgaTdW2HjIpsHTxqKsXUowgjnKTi9NCCUcmv1T9Whrde_OZ-Yb_6Iqfdhoytrmi2YOwp1xRGxR6ac3hl9efw2T0HMY9zCiIrmB67SuJ3CkeAKjB1cFys/s400/293.obama.michelle.lc.051109.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399186700624622066" /></a><br />Well, this is pretty doggone cool. The folks behind <a href=http://mrs-o.org/newdata/2009/10/29/a-big-thank-you.html>Mrs. O</a>, the lovely blog devoted to Michelle Obama's style, have written a book, "Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy" — and yours truly is quoted in it! I've written hundreds of articles, editorials and essays over the years, but this may excite my mom more than anything I've ever done.<br /><br />A while back, Mrs. O readers were invited to offer their thoughts on what makes the first lady a style icon. I wish I could remember exactly what I wrote, but it was something about how she helped make fashion seem more accessible. I understand the fantasy aspect of clothing design, but a lot of the stuff coming down the runway has nothing to do with the average American woman's needs. OK, Michelle Obama isn't exactly average, but her clothes are both stylish and grounded in reality. She has her pick of designers, but she also wears clothes from J. Crew, Target and White House/Black Market.<br /><br />This is probably as close as I'll ever get to Michelle Obama (or Michael Kors, included in a full Q&A), but I'm stoked. Thanks, authors!E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-88483689524552477562009-10-23T10:21:00.000-07:002009-10-23T17:50:59.051-07:00Stay Awesome, "Glee"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzAI83wHSk3lPUUbdWV0o3S4HBg9kDjftoiHjCFV2ht0kNsO4CftJu5M6NTDP2NMsRoXnC9cOr-YdpAZ45EGZSAUcJNsOSv9GSObA3XAKPkVHBg4qwN4drfi1j1RP-su6gbwF1Xiq3YM/s1600-h/Glee-too-real.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzAI83wHSk3lPUUbdWV0o3S4HBg9kDjftoiHjCFV2ht0kNsO4CftJu5M6NTDP2NMsRoXnC9cOr-YdpAZ45EGZSAUcJNsOSv9GSObA3XAKPkVHBg4qwN4drfi1j1RP-su6gbwF1Xiq3YM/s400/Glee-too-real.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395961304675415810" /></a><br />I love "Glee" so much that I'm already worried about the moment, perhaps inevitable, when it starts to make me crazy. I saw it happen to my friends who got sucked in to "Lost" and "Heroes," and the depth of their disappointment when those shows went off the rails ... well, it was troubling.<br /><br />So far, the musical bits have been fabulous and the casting is spot on. I don't know how much Fox is paying Jane Lynch to portray cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, but it's probably not enough. The woman is a master of the withering one-liner ("I’ve always thought the desire to procreate showed deep, personal weakness."), and her character is terrifying. Then there is Kurt, glorious Kurt, who cracks me up with the mere arch of an eyebrow. I thought the episode where he came out to his flannel-wearing dad was expertly handled. After Kurt stammered that he was gay, his dad shrugged and said, "I know." That he wasn't thrilled about it but still openly loved his kid seemed realistic — and it was touching. <br /><br />In fact, that particular episode illustrated what makes "Glee" work so well: its successful combination of absurdity (the football team dancing to "Single Ladies") and poignancy (quarterback Finn's terror of being stuck in his hometown forever because of his girlfriend's pregnancy). And don't even get me started on how effing fabulous Kristin Chenowith was a few weeks ago as a drunken, former glee club star. The show's high goofball factor helps it get away with stereotypes that would otherwise be annoying.<br /><br />But I'm not completely blinded by devotion. No show is perfect, but sometimes I worry that the things I <i>don't</i> like about "Glee" will start to overwhelm the rest. Like the constant focus on Rachel and Finn's mutual infatuation. I really like Rachel's character, particularly her awareness that her ruthless ambition alienates people. Finn's hunky/dim schtick is adorable. But what initially hooked me was the motley crew of glee club members, and the assumption that they'd all get a chance to shine. I want to know more about Tina, the Asian girl who auditioned with a ridiculously aggressive rendition of "I Kissed a Girl." But she's barely spoken since the pilot. Will Mercedes, the club's budding Aretha, be given more to do than make sassy remarks about her friends' shenanigans? I love the fact that Artie's wheelchair is regularly worked into song-and-dance routines. And the boy is funny. What's his story?<br /><br />I realize the show hasn't been on that long, and maybe the "Glee" writers are getting to all that. For all I know, Artie and Tina may become an item. But I've been watching television too long to expect the unexpected, even from a really good show. Now that the show has caught on and grabbed the attention of people like Madonna, I fear a parade of Rihanna-esque cameos and repetition of themes that are already starting to wear out their welcome.<br /><br />Here's hoping I'm wrong. For now, I'm unavailable Wednesday nights from 9 to 10.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-73069287420497618242009-10-02T18:33:00.001-07:002009-10-02T20:19:32.092-07:00A Familiar Story, Beautifully Told<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxuDjNXd6OD5aoBeN81caJhD35f2DBRF2-HKoOqpgmOtUJT9cmgMRk-2gHvAt-bwZLzrAH7s7o7Ev8zTJJ34rGdEDflfhCZhHPpFGFhoguwapn75FjcTscxtsE9OmTLI1QNHfQdKl2MI/s1600-h/cover-large.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxuDjNXd6OD5aoBeN81caJhD35f2DBRF2-HKoOqpgmOtUJT9cmgMRk-2gHvAt-bwZLzrAH7s7o7Ev8zTJJ34rGdEDflfhCZhHPpFGFhoguwapn75FjcTscxtsE9OmTLI1QNHfQdKl2MI/s400/cover-large.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388204953998334786" /></a><br />Does Geoff Johns sleep? From where I'm sitting, it looks like he's writing roughly 70 percent of the books DC is putting out right now, including event stories like "Blackest Night." He's like the Joyce Carol Oates of comic book writers.<br /><br />Johns' work rarely disappoints, but I approached his latest project, "Superman: Secret Origin," with trepidation. The Man of Steel's backstory has been told many times in almost every medium, and it was hard to believe that there was anything new to say. But while I'm not a rabid Superman fan, I am a sucker for how-it-all-began tales and Gary Frank's artwork. I'm glad I put my skepticism aside, because "Secret Origin" No. 1 is winning in its simplicity and obvious affection for all the origin tales that preceded it.<br /><br />In Johns' version, Clark Kent is a teenager who is freaked out by his burgeoning powers. Like all adolescents, he's stuck in a changing, unpredictable body. The difference is that when he kisses his childhood sweetheart, Lana, the embarrassing, involuntary reaction is scorching heat vision. Ma and Pa Kent realize they can't put off The Talk any longer, and as a parent, I found myself wondering how I'd break the news to my kid that he dropped out of the sky in a rocket ship. Their big reveal goes badly, especially after unexpected holographs of Clark's — uh, Kal-El's — Kryptonian birth parents appear near the rocket they've hidden in the barn. Clark goes nuts with anger and confusion, and Pa Kent's loving reassurance ("You <i>are</i> my son.") is so touching that it made me a little teary.<br /><br />The art in this book is gorgeous. Frank draws Clark exactly like a young Christopher Reeve, who is the gold standard for Superman. There's one panel where teen Lex Luthor's facial expression is so perfectly furious that I kept flipping back to study it. Even if you knew nothing about who Luthor eventually becomes, it would be chilling.<br /><br />Rarely has my 9-year-old son so entranced by a comic book. As I watched him read "Secret Origin" for the second time, I was struck by how few of my comics I've been able to share with him. Let's face it; once you leave the kids' section, a great many comic books are filled with imagery inappropriate for children under 13. "Secret Origin" isn't a "kids" comic book, but it is accessible in the best possible way. He's antsy for No. 2, and so am I.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-56305486023219209372009-09-29T06:13:00.001-07:002009-09-29T06:25:42.625-07:00Video Of The Week<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vc8tPTVBRSc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vc8tPTVBRSc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />For years, my friend C. and I have been mocking R&B love songs that offer literal, step-by-step previews of the night ahead. Besides being unintentionally hilarious, the songs are often bossy (Don't tell me what color dress to wear!) and ridiculous. All night long? No thanks. I've got an early conference call.<br /><br />I have C. to thank for unearthing the satirical gem "Ooh girl!," which is the perfect answer to years of goofy sexual braggadoccio in song: "I apologize in advance. I can probably give you seven minutes if you don't move around too much."E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-22868150788216807862009-09-22T12:37:00.001-07:002009-09-23T08:37:10.012-07:00R.I.P., Swagger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimowpDuQjog15yTgiR6AWPxUZLeW-f_0ydttyrH5ni4_umlcowSEU0vaITUyxlDz2DlsFa69uaPJpSrjj9DxZ85GqwtFudZ93ipmIdMGyNyz2mPlYp3dINxC4IfK4tKrNqUZJZ_vbhO5w/s1600-h/swagger.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimowpDuQjog15yTgiR6AWPxUZLeW-f_0ydttyrH5ni4_umlcowSEU0vaITUyxlDz2DlsFa69uaPJpSrjj9DxZ85GqwtFudZ93ipmIdMGyNyz2mPlYp3dINxC4IfK4tKrNqUZJZ_vbhO5w/s320/swagger.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384685186690009106" /></a><br />I remember the precise moment that the word "crunk" jumped the shark. I was still a newspaper journalist, and a colleague was writing a story about a popular college event in town. One of the quotes in the article contained the word "crunk," and the editors decided that the term needed elaboration. It was a perfectly reasonable decision, but when the article ran the next day, I knew the word's days were numbered.<br /><br />I think we can all agree that the death knell for "swagger" is its use as the name of an Old Spice product. Even LL Cool J as a pitchman can't make this work. Granted, swagger was a legitimate word long before it began peppering hip-hop songs and youth lingo. But in recent months, we've been treated to a Swaggapalooza courtesy of T.I. and Soulja Boy, who downsized it to "swag." (I love how putting words in quotation marks makes them extra unhip, like when the Curtis comic strip writer makes references to "rap" music.) It was great while it lasted, but once Madison Avenue gets its hands on something with a cool factor, the expiration date is just around the corner.<br /><br />If I were a single man, I wouldn't want to get caught with this in my medicine cabinet, no matter how good it smells.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-85953156692949395512009-09-20T14:54:00.000-07:002009-09-20T15:25:32.759-07:00Death BlowsMight as well put this out there: My dad died on Thursday. We were not close, and at this point, he'd been out of my life longer than he'd been in it. The last time I talked to him was about a year ago, and it didn't go well. Dad was as troubled as he was brilliant, which is to say very. He was good at talking; the listening, not so much.<br /><br />Like most people who lose an estranged parent, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel. There is sadness, of course, but also long stretches of utter blankness and confusion. In a way, I was long done mourning his absence from my life, and I am (mostly) finished being mad about the chaos he caused when he was present. Frankly, it's probably easier to forgive miserable parenting once you have children. I'm not making excuses for him, but there are days where I'm acutely aware of how hard it is to show up and be present for another human being, day in, day out. It's exhausting. Life couldn't have been easy for a black man with a master's degree in South Georgia almost 40 years ago, and without going into too much detail, my father had internal struggles that I understand all too well.<br /><br />But still. By the weekend, I was firing off bitter emails to by brother and sister about things I thought I was done with. My sister, in classic fashion, wrote back, "I see someone is rolling right through the stages of grief. You always were an overachiever." And just like that, I thought about the handful of good things that we <i>did</i> get from him, like a wicked sense of humor. His sarcasm used to get on my mother's nerves, and now she's stuck with three adult children who have raised it to an art form. Sorry, mom.<br /><br />I'm not sure where I'm going with this except to say it's been a deep-thoughts kind of weekend — but I will not, under any circumstances, write a poem. Gotta draw the line somewhere.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-19563843566287873032009-09-16T16:37:00.000-07:002009-09-16T18:33:20.392-07:00Oh, Coldplay, You Hurt Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnZs7fW2vz-RB5zZGUE97NAI5-bqg1ncz6mSqhGsZiFLEyZXVF5xy_VOat_OuIEa-MuzmMkgmZmfxprKBKkrnKVRQbJwiSV7lrTuqdzVuYHnlg43QFBcK8WIi048bhk9unmba4MHGtFY/s1600-h/coldplay_image_2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnZs7fW2vz-RB5zZGUE97NAI5-bqg1ncz6mSqhGsZiFLEyZXVF5xy_VOat_OuIEa-MuzmMkgmZmfxprKBKkrnKVRQbJwiSV7lrTuqdzVuYHnlg43QFBcK8WIi048bhk9unmba4MHGtFY/s400/coldplay_image_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382243241410375730" /></a><br />It's not always easy being a Coldplay fan. Sure, they've sold a gazillion records and have made some of the most gorgeous rock tunes of the last decade, but they're an easy target for hipsters who think they haven't been any good since "Yellow." One of my favorite music critics mocks them mercilessly. Plus, I have a lot of friends who love themselves some Radiohead, and you really don't want to get them started. (Example: My dear friend B. refers to Coldplay as "a photocopy of a photocopy of Radiohead.") And like a chump, I always take the bait and waste my breath defending Chris Martin & Co. as makers of artful yet accessible music, then launch into a diatribe about how there are far, far worse bands, and why don't people pick on <i>them</i>, goddammit.<br /><br />Anyway, I was oh-so stoked when I got tickets for Coldplay's Viva La Vida tour stop in Tampa. Then somebody in the band got sick and the show was postponed. When friends started saying, "Dude, sorry your show got canceled," I got all shrill: "Not canceled! Postponed! It's not the same thing!" Well, it's officially canceled. After weeks of speculation, Live Nation began sending out the sad, sad emails about refunds.<br /><br />Guys, how could you do this me? All summer long, I listened to friends' ecstatic reports about seeing U2 and Incubus and Bruce Springsteen, patiently waiting for my moment — mine! — to hear "Cemeteries of London" and "The Scientist" live. This is the thanks I get for (pointlessly) rebuking the naysayers? You don't call yourselves COLDplay for nothing. <br /><br />Of course, you'll release another CD of soaring anthems, I'll eventually get to see you play live, and all will be forgiven. In the meantime, those tweets about your awesome gigs in (insert European city here) aren't helping me heal.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-53598009347555577192009-09-14T18:16:00.000-07:002009-09-14T19:07:36.500-07:00Noise pollutionWhile we were in Atlanta last weekend, we met a friend of our in-laws who is from Ghana. She met President Obama when he was in Ghana over the summer, and she's a fan. The conversation eventually turned to American politics and the hoopla over health care reform, and she asked me a question I couldn't really answer: "Why are people so angry? I don't understand." <br /><br />I muttered something about a segment of people being wary of anything that smacks of "socialism," even if they couldn't define it at gunpoint. I also explained that the complexity of our current health care delivery system makes it difficult to have an informed, coherent conversation about reform, and that people are frightened in hard economic times. But the more I talked, the more I realized that none of those arguments explained the vitriol or the naked rage we'd been seeing on the news.<br /><br />I feel compelled to say that it is absolutely OK to disagree with Obama's health care proposal or <i>any</i> of his proposals. Rock on. Dissent plays a huge role in our nation's history, and it's nice to live in a country where it won't get you thrown in jail, or worse. But the town hall meeting shenanigans and the congressional heckling and the protect-our-kids-from-Obama sentiment and the commentator fear-mongering have nothing to do with policy or ideas.<br /><br />Back in my hometown, the city school system decided not to let students watch the president's speech because doing so would take 18 minutes out of the school day. Really? When I was in high school, it was routine for pep rallies to last two class periods during football season. But a speech about staying in school and taking responsibility for your education is too distracting. Right.<br /><br />If my reaction to all this appears delayed, it's because I'm genuinely troubled by what the "health care" debate has revealed. Or maybe it hasn't revealed anything so much as reminded us of that thing's presence, however diminished it might be.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-54836436889300245012009-09-06T13:19:00.000-07:002009-09-06T13:21:32.000-07:00Dispatch from Dragon*ConI'm in Atlanta attending Dragon*Con, my first-ever comic/sci-fi convention! It's all sort of overwhelming, even with the husband as my (his words) "assistant." Everywhere you look, there are people in incredibly detailed getups, and they're all more than happy to pose for photos. I'll definitely post the best when I return to the ranch. The coolest thing is seeing whole families in costume and getting into the spirit of things. As for me, I'm perfectly fine in my Star Wars T-shirt. The Stormtroopers I posed with certainly appreciated it.<br /><br />Highlights? Definitely meeting the wonderful George Perez and Darwyn Cooke. In addition to being wildly talented and influential, they're both kind to their fans. Oh, and I got to pose with a blinking, chirping, mobile R2-D2 unit. Not a bad way to spend Labor Day weekend.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-25850137374212607012009-08-30T11:56:00.000-07:002009-08-30T12:33:42.282-07:00Thoughts On Random Comics<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D_rW3Vp-yZZKgDnqdi52UDzwjFH-DfdOw7E1YdVomsRUCLYx-ilZHFsSeMD9qfDliBdySYPYaW0gJBSbrP4Ic64HE2Cu_DUZoXEUqmzADM-XW9WnfsI0etzFhxsPlfSiyxeU6Qg9L6M/s1600-h/archie-proposes-to-veronica-500x772.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D_rW3Vp-yZZKgDnqdi52UDzwjFH-DfdOw7E1YdVomsRUCLYx-ilZHFsSeMD9qfDliBdySYPYaW0gJBSbrP4Ic64HE2Cu_DUZoXEUqmzADM-XW9WnfsI0etzFhxsPlfSiyxeU6Qg9L6M/s400/archie-proposes-to-veronica-500x772.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375841901821767522" /></a><br />A few thoughts about comics purchased over the last two weeks:<br /><br />1. Did Tom Tresser/Nemesis seriously turn down Wonder Woman's offer to mend fences during "a long hot shower?(Issue No. 35)" I've been reading "Wonder Woman" off and on since 1977, and I have never seen her make a proposal quite like that. Not that I'm hating, because I've written before about how previous writers tiptoed around the sexuality of arguably the sexiest character in the D.C. universe. Some readers howled when Diana began her relationship with Metahuman Affairs Agent Tresser, but I thought Gail Simone developed their Amazonian courtship nicely. And when he found out that her original motive was just to keep her bloodline going ... ouch. Diana's attempt to make up Teddy Pendergrass-style was totally unexpected, as was Tresser's "We're through" response. Yeah, like that would really happen.<br /><br />2. I can't believe I fell for the "Archie proposes to Veronica" gimmick, but like a chump, I bought Archie No. 600, the first of SIX issues devoted to this storyline. There is so much wrong with this comic, including the idea that all the major players would stick around after graduation to attend "State University" in Riverdale. Wouldn't Dilton at least have gotten a full ride at an Ivy League school? <b>Spoilers ahead!</b> So upon college graduation, Archie — despite having no job — blows a check from his parents on a ring for Veronica. Betty (now a New York City career woman) and Jughead just happen to be walking past the jewelry store when Archie pops the question. She's devastated, but can someone explain to me why she wants him to begin with? Again, Archie is unemployed, so Mr. Lodge swoops in to give him a bullshit position at Lodge Enterprises. Meanwhile, Veronica begins planning what is sure to be a tacky production devoted to her ego, complete with 22 bridesmaids. The issue ends with her asking (No, she didn't!) Betty to be her maid of honor, and Betty simultaneously declaring, "You won." There is a genuinely funny panel where Veronica tells her wedding planner that the event can't be "a low-key" affair like the Obama inauguration ball.<br /><br />3. "Red Robin" started out with promise, but a few things are starting to bug me. It's really not like Tim Drake, even in grief, to run off to Europe on a wild goose chase. I can understand him being pissed off about Dick Grayson's insistence on bringing Damian Wayne into the Bat-fold, but I can't see him cutting ties completely. He and Dick (and Alfred) are awfully close, and why would he give Damian the satisfaction of leaving? Plus, the art in this issue was particularly awful. In some panels, Tim looks like a wiry teenager, which makes sense. In others, he looks like a 30-year-old, which is nuts. I'm giving this title one more chance, and only because I am so fond of the character.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-84404377669028262382009-08-29T19:56:00.000-07:002009-08-29T20:04:54.407-07:00Geeking Out On "Batman and Robin"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkKMKMcwwPz3lnSU185weNvRfV8lY5CYqqVuhbUgRMpUFfGG8B-UrLTlVYaH-x8FNKPzvBhifYs_dRxGJdIe9ZxBwa0Bd2Db-l_MGek6uEczSPRgjukVWRfqkEwJwaQCSbVDl2nk3ofc/s1600-h/BR-Awesome-Sequence-2-500x389.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkKMKMcwwPz3lnSU185weNvRfV8lY5CYqqVuhbUgRMpUFfGG8B-UrLTlVYaH-x8FNKPzvBhifYs_dRxGJdIe9ZxBwa0Bd2Db-l_MGek6uEczSPRgjukVWRfqkEwJwaQCSbVDl2nk3ofc/s400/BR-Awesome-Sequence-2-500x389.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375586614481218514" /></a><br />My friend S., a fellow comic book geek, refuses to buy Grant Morrison's sublime "Batman and Robin" because, well, he's still smarting from "Final Crisis." I think S. has reached the end of his tolerance for the author's ambitious brand of storytelling, which sometimes comes across as the result of marathon Sharpie-huffing. I admit that there are entire issues of "Final Crisis" that made no sense to me, even after repeat readings.<br /><br />But "Batman and Robin" is a completely different animal, and it's great stuff. It's only three issues old, but next to "Secret Six," it's become the book I look forward to most each month — even ahead of (gasp) "Wonder Woman." The combination of Morrison's writing and Frank Quitely's art has been just about perfect, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about what happens when Philip Tan steps into the artist's role in issue No. 4. But so far, this book has hit its marks every time. S., are you listening? We'll talk.<br /><br />This should be obvious to anyone with a passing knowledge of Morrison's work, but "Batman & Robin" is not for the children. My 9-year-old son desperately wants to read it, but the just-concluded Professor Pyg storyline — in which a pig-masked nutcase tries to unleash disease-carrying "Dollotrons" throughout Gotham City — is the stuff of effed-up nightmares. Pyg isn't just villanous; he's <i>sick</i>. <b>(Spoiler alert!)</b> There's a series of panels involving an briefly abducted Damian Wayne (Robin), who becomes an audience of one for the professor's creepy cabaret dance. Seriously, at one point, old boy is dropping it like it's hot and ripping off his shirt ("I want to be sick in public!"), which is one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen in a mainstream comic book. But Damian — having been raised by assassins and all — is pretty unflappable, and once he gets free and starts kicking everyone's ass, it's clear that the boy can handle himself in extreme situations. <br /><br />I'm very curious to see how Damian's relationship with Batman/Dick Grayson (swoon!) gels over the months, because their dynamic is different from any previous Batman-and-Robin pairing. There are moments of playfulness (Damian suggests they go by "Robin and Batman"), but there is nothing happy-go-lucky about Bruce Wayne's son. Remember; this is the kid who <i>beheaded</i> a criminal in "Batman and Son" and tried to kill Robin III, Tim Drake. He's a handful for Dick and Alfred, and I suspect Morrison has some big plans for this character's development.<br /><br />Mr. Tan, good luck to you.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-34408742935260556312009-08-26T18:56:00.000-07:002009-08-26T19:02:11.346-07:00Bumper Sticker Of The Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoH6Y390gevKYkdKJvkzjUCk03UykzIKZr1va9jZUri6TpRDQX8biJHqzPOtk-ImMNPRrLF71XXU6G7i6PZBwW1lHKGTO68a8fTzopLEEVFBfNdroFutYygFtn_UnQS2M4tD1rDGFRyiw/s1600-h/Bumper+Sticker.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoH6Y390gevKYkdKJvkzjUCk03UykzIKZr1va9jZUri6TpRDQX8biJHqzPOtk-ImMNPRrLF71XXU6G7i6PZBwW1lHKGTO68a8fTzopLEEVFBfNdroFutYygFtn_UnQS2M4tD1rDGFRyiw/s400/Bumper+Sticker.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374457216161751794" /></a><br />I just happened to have my good camera in the car when I spotted this in front of me on Park Avenue last week. It's sort of clever, but I'm not a fan of advertising your relationship status and mate requirements via bumper sticker. I do wonder what the liberal version of this would be, though.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-21532254712350296032009-08-22T12:04:00.000-07:002009-08-22T15:10:36.693-07:00Giving Away The Skim Milk For Free<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGlm2bwTfF8Nn0kWVMCyuFxjSUTmRo1RzsO5q0xovFi8udZTlhQJ8YFxPBYdBEuAkq5RG17x-MciqQuKz2yFxobwdFllH9NC6CVLk8tzAfBL6hctHzwgJU9q1g0ykh1g2UllhxxthYg4/s1600-h/95849_first-look-love-happens.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGlm2bwTfF8Nn0kWVMCyuFxjSUTmRo1RzsO5q0xovFi8udZTlhQJ8YFxPBYdBEuAkq5RG17x-MciqQuKz2yFxobwdFllH9NC6CVLk8tzAfBL6hctHzwgJU9q1g0ykh1g2UllhxxthYg4/s400/95849_first-look-love-happens.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372878857633751954" /></a><br />Done well, a film trailer can be almost as satisfying as full-length film. Ideally, it captures your attention while giving away just enough information to leave you wanting more. In the case of a flick like "Watchmen," the trailer was apparently far better than the movie it was attached to.<br /><br />My issues with the average romantic comedy have been well documented here, but I'm always surprised by how bad the trailers are. You'd think the studios would be at least savvy enough to not give the entire plot away. The first time I noticed this was when the trailer for "No Reservations" — the Catherine Zeta-Jones/Aaron Eckhart chefs-in-love movie — aired in 2007. <i>She's a hard-charging chef caring for her dead sister's adorable daughter! He's the fun-loving, hot new guy in the kitchen! Their styles clash, but will he be the one who shows her how to embrace life — and love?</i> Gee, do you think? Unless you're a big fan of either actor, why would you pay 8 bucks or more to see it when the trailer tells you exactly what's going to happen? <br /><br />Not to harp on Eckhart, who really is an appealing actor, but he's starring in another movie ("Love Happens") that's guilty of giving away most of its milk for free via trailer. <i>He's a successful self-help expert in pain. Enter the beautiful florist who has sworn off men. Can these two wounded souls find love again ... together?</i> For real?<br /><br />In the same week, I saw the trailer for "All About Steve," in which Sandra Bullock's wacky, unlucky-in-love character stalks a TV cameraman played by Bradley Cooper. OK. I can see stalking Bradley Cooper, and Thomas Haden Church automatically elevates any movie. But I hate it when a trailer indicates that a morally ambiguous character is going to redeem him/herself, and is inspired to do so because of some potential love interest who "isn't like anyone I've ever met." No. Also, major points off for the use of Sara Bareilles "Love Song," which is just insulting.<br /><br />Maybe the real problem is my suspicion that neither of these movies are going to be very good. Sure, there were some expected moments in the "Sex and the City" movie (Did anyone doubt that Carrie and Big would get back together?), but the journey was satisfying and too complex to be reduced to a two-minute trailer. Give me something to look forward to.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-83827448969030544142009-08-19T16:34:00.000-07:002009-08-19T17:51:41.946-07:00Why Can't We Be Friends?When my husband J. and I were dating, he had a great friendship with a single, female co-worker, a woman I liked very much and never thought of as threatening. I also had several good male friends at the time, and one of them routinely hung out with me to watch "Party of Five" or just gab over dinner. If J. thought that was a problem, he never said anything — and he isn't really the type to brood quietly. Come to think of it, we both still have pals of the opposite sex, and our basic attitude remains, "Whatever."<br /><br />According to comedian <a href=http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2009/08/19/no_dude_friends/> Steve Harvey</a>, now a relationship expert/correspondent for "Good Morning America," we are idiots. He is of the opinion that these "outside relationships" are nothing but trouble, and that men and women can't be friends. Period. Occasionally, I've worked with guys who've said that their wives/significant others would not be happy to see them having lunch or coffee (in broad daylight) with a female colleague, and that baffles me. I mean, I think my husband is sexy and fun to be with, but I don't assume that the other women in his life are all trying to get in his boxer briefs. Plus, I'd like to give him a little credit for having these things called boundaries and self-control (Unless the friend in question is <a href=http://blog.proof7.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/mila_kunis_l152.jpg>Mila Kunis</a>, in which case I've been warned that things could get murky.)<br /><br />I've always thought that friendship is a form of attraction, and obviously, there are relationships between married people and their "friends" of the opposite sex that end up on a mattress (Hello, Gov. Sanford!). But that doesn't just happen out of the blue, either. Assuming that a) the spouse isn't a lying asshole; b) the marriage isn't already in trouble; c) s/he is conducting the friendship in a respectful, open way; and d) the parties involved aren't fooling themselves about their feelings, I can't buy Harvey's theory. I've known too many great guys to believe that they see women only as potential conquests. When I went through a crummy breakup in college, one of the first people I called was my childhood friend, B., who gave me the kind of no-bullshit analysis men are so good at ("Move on; he has.") We've been friends for more than 30 years and we adore each other's spouses — and we are <i>so</i> not interested in each other that way. <br /><br />However, if you spot J. having a drink with Mila Kunis, a heads-up would be nice.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-67758602344612903702009-08-17T17:57:00.000-07:002009-08-17T18:56:30.402-07:00Seriously. Enough.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkpdVAH-EcYNaHcdWf4jv1CoJ2Yz_D0GiXHQBr_sR18BXJQgSgqPdfwHUVqCldYJlGr0_SG2U6bRVkra1YlJAwD4Yi2xMn3AQOo4eg0qdyYOrdcIEKahcGpCXEWkNF9viiCunAxT5ahc/s1600-h/vampire_diaries_16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkpdVAH-EcYNaHcdWf4jv1CoJ2Yz_D0GiXHQBr_sR18BXJQgSgqPdfwHUVqCldYJlGr0_SG2U6bRVkra1YlJAwD4Yi2xMn3AQOo4eg0qdyYOrdcIEKahcGpCXEWkNF9viiCunAxT5ahc/s400/vampire_diaries_16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371114650755863730" /></a><br />I realize that vampires had their fans long before "Twilight," and if I owned a store with any vampire-themed wares, I'd be promoting the heck out of them right now. I totally get it. OK?<br /><br />But when I walked into Borders this weekend and saw a huge display dedicated to the Gen Y vampires of "Twilight," "Blue Bloods," etc., I was overcome with exhaustion. Maybe it's because, for the umpteenth time this year, the cover of my beloved <i>Entertainment Weekly</i> is devoted to some permutation of the "Twilight" saga — this time, the "New Moon" sequel. Or maybe it's because I can't walk through a checkout aisle without a publication telling me that Robert Pattinson (Edward) and Kristen Stewart (Bella) are in love/breaking up/just pals/totally doing it. And didn't I just see a commercial for the CW's new teen drama "The Vampire Diaries?"<br /><br />Again, I understand that Stephanie Meyer is but one of several writers who happened to write a series of books about vampires. Hers is the biggest, and she's certainly doing her part to help keep food on booksellers' tables. (And to be fair, when the "Harry Potter" books were at their peak, bookstores were pimping every children's series that looked like JK Rowling might have had something to do with it). "New Moon" will probably be a huge hit this fall, and as I've admitted, I haven't exactly been immune to Pattinson's charms as Edward Cullen. HBO's "True Blood" seems like the kind of show I would love, and I'm looking forward to renting the DVDs and getting acclimated. But for the love of God. I feel we're at the beginning some cosmic shark-jumping moment that will end in a Disney vampire musical featuring songs by Demi Lovato.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-1107396686153816252009-08-07T12:45:00.000-07:002009-08-07T13:32:51.915-07:00Thanks For The Memories, John<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjEHQSsmJDoxs-uYnXch32sF-inbhNuC3XvMJix8KdkGiWeTGgT7s9penOwvv9CIONhMr6rSKA-79tQ3LAYXPO63jfStgN4JI0U_omToHpwykPZidPqZ45uFZhFAWgxusvHLAA8lU3kw/s1600-h/ferris1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjEHQSsmJDoxs-uYnXch32sF-inbhNuC3XvMJix8KdkGiWeTGgT7s9penOwvv9CIONhMr6rSKA-79tQ3LAYXPO63jfStgN4JI0U_omToHpwykPZidPqZ45uFZhFAWgxusvHLAA8lU3kw/s400/ferris1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367319695287609410" /></a><br /><br />For all the memorable quotes and scenes in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," one of my favorite parts of the movie is the wordless montage at the Art Institute of Chicago. The main trio takes in the paintings, holds hands with a group of kids on a field trip, and sweethearts Ferris and Sloane share a tender kiss. It's just a sweet and magical moment, the kind that director John Hughes executed so well in the 1980s. I remember seeing that movie and thinking it must have been made by someone who knew that, underneath the snark and assholery, teenagers were human beings. (OK, I was 16, so I was mostly thinking, "Matthew Broderick is so cute!" But you know what I mean.)<br /><br />Hughes' teen-themed movies could be uneven, and not all of them aged as well as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." But he almost always gave you The Moment, the one that made up for Judd Nelson's scenery chewing or the wrongness of Long Duk Dong. I am also grateful for his hand in making a star out of Molly Ringwald, who helped broaden the teen cinema standard of pretty. She was not a typical Breck girl, and some of us really appreciated that. <br /><br />One of these days when my kids are older, we'll "Pretty in Pink" together, and they'll laugh at the clothes, roll their eyes at some of the plot points and wonder why Andie is so hung up on Blane (Because he's played by Andrew McCarthy! Hello?). But I also bet that, deep down, they'll kind of dig it.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-38812228498513920202009-08-06T14:40:00.001-07:002009-08-06T14:41:32.704-07:00R.I.P., John Hughes<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hvy2LSPf1_o&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hvy2LSPf1_o&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I can't even form a coherent blog post right now. The Summer of Gen X-Related Death continues.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-13190132966456133832009-08-04T14:47:00.000-07:002009-08-04T18:59:24.335-07:00Book Of The Month: "Whatever Happened To the Man Of Tomorrow?"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhAadDsojW6CZgBpQOAyGHfINWIBwdANP2vGlY29fY4d-SaGu6z4HlMNKMYVRQEFTyeK73Fbc2LxewiFqL62d285IVJE-HEA6En4paX1r8MoMHwI8a2FQDQTvLRVA6vaA4o_9OhE-vgU/s1600-h/51V9r1g4sJL._SS500_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhAadDsojW6CZgBpQOAyGHfINWIBwdANP2vGlY29fY4d-SaGu6z4HlMNKMYVRQEFTyeK73Fbc2LxewiFqL62d285IVJE-HEA6En4paX1r8MoMHwI8a2FQDQTvLRVA6vaA4o_9OhE-vgU/s400/51V9r1g4sJL._SS500_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366229299245779154" /></a><br /><br />Though I accept that Alan Moore is an exceptional and groundbreaking writer, I’ve often found his work difficult to love. However, when Moore’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” stories were reissued in trade form, I went directly to the comics shop and bought the book. This volume is delightful, and it’s a great read whether you’re a hardcore comics lover or a casual reader with only basic knowledge of Superman.<br /><br />Written in the 1980s as the final chapter for the Silver Age Superman, “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” is touching, haunting and playful in all the right places — and in a way, it highlights the problem with the lack of an expiration date on iconic comic book characters. No one stays dead (or missing) in comic books anymore, and it is harder to care when you know that a the story of a character’s life has no real end. As wonderful as Neil Gaiman’s “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” story was — and it was plenty wonderful — it was undermined a little by the knowledge that Bruce Wayne isn’t really gone for good.<br /><br />Of course, this makes perfect sense from a business standpoint, and new readers keep discovering (and rediscovering) these titles. My point is that the level of poignancy that Moore achieved here is rare because the medium doesn’t often allow for it. A character like Superman is so much more compelling when he is ultimately defeated by something, whether it’s mortality or a changing world. Superman was rebooted in 1986 with “The Man of Steel” arc, but Moore’s story represents the end of a long and storied era. You should read it.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-71130726578682691382009-07-28T18:18:00.000-07:002009-07-28T19:00:39.606-07:00"One Time:" Just Give In Already<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SWTdh8eM_aY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SWTdh8eM_aY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I've been accused of music snobbery before, but my friends know I have a weakness for the sweet, straightforward pop song. A while back, it was David Archuletta's "Crush," the aural equivalent of a cupcake with confetti sprinkles.<br /><br />Now, the culprit is 15-year-old Usher protege Justin Bieber. With his Zack and Cody aura and fondness for hip-hop hand gestures, Bieber could easily be mistaken for the devil's work. (Remember Aaron Carter? I do.) When his "One Time" video first flashed across our TV screen last weekend, I had my phaser set on "Hate." But as my kids' heads bobbed to this infectious little gem, well, I had to admit that it was good stuff. I felt a little better when my brother told me that "One Time" has been his jam for a while now.<br /><br />You win, kid.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-61520461377819040772009-07-27T11:02:00.000-07:002009-07-27T11:14:11.700-07:00You Know You Want To<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4-vgYs17oJB3Lci9iPs3L1XwV4YISU-rYw8T_ald0paZ0fvUSbJ2Mt9q3Snz9t6IBsVkk1kqZS4eF4eUyI5Z29mhJaDMQaicUKTpahGKjyqVQQvMRYRm6Yz1ipFWRTDWYrBMIQjH588/s1600-h/madmen_standard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4-vgYs17oJB3Lci9iPs3L1XwV4YISU-rYw8T_ald0paZ0fvUSbJ2Mt9q3Snz9t6IBsVkk1kqZS4eF4eUyI5Z29mhJaDMQaicUKTpahGKjyqVQQvMRYRm6Yz1ipFWRTDWYrBMIQjH588/s400/madmen_standard.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363201994016617010" /></a><br />AMC's "Mad Men" is such a great show, so I couldn't resist the opportunity to turn myself into the newest dish (and trailblazing African American) at the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. <a href=http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/madmenyourself/>"Mad Men Yourself"</a> — which allows you to create a vintage illustration inspired by the show — is loads of fun, but also an addictive time suck. Don't say I didn't warn you.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-39670720068133817962009-07-24T08:33:00.000-07:002009-07-27T06:03:06.875-07:00Why Didn't I Think Of This?Anyone who has planned a wedding knows that there's a point at which any sense of fun feels far, far away. The details, the managing of expectations and the family wrangling are enough to make a sane person run to the nearest courthouse. And considering the cost, more of us probably should have.<br /><br />That's why I am so taken with the <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0&feature=fvw>now-famous video</a> of Jill Peterson and Kevin Heinz's wedding entrance. In case you're one of the 12 people who haven't seen it, the Minnesota couple and bridal party danced their way down the aisle to Chris Brown's "Forever," and the result was pure joy. I've been to a lot of weddings, and a few of them incorporated choreography in a way that was ... unfortunate. However, this couple and their friends were true to the idea that a wedding is (or should be) a celebration.<br /><br />While most of the feedback has been positive, a few people have griped that the routine was inappropriate for a church. I say poppycock. It's not like they were grinding to Li'l Wayne's "Lollipop." I grew up going to church, so I understand that it is The House of the Lord. But I also think human beings get huffy about things that God couldn't care less about. If that routine is at all indicative of the life these two will have together, I can't imagine the maker being anything but tickled.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2032108355760366807.post-28489803650736099732009-07-23T12:37:00.001-07:002009-07-23T14:26:59.171-07:00In Praise Of Love Stories That Don't Insult The Audience<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wnoNQa_qUm4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wnoNQa_qUm4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I hope that new movie starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler fails spectacularly. I want it to land in theaters with a thud, and for that thud to echo in the silence. I want the echo to reverberate all the way to the Hollywood offices of the people who green-lit another generic, candy-coated romantic comedy starring two gorgeous actors masquerading as regular people.<br /><br />I don't have anything against Heigl and Butler, but for God's sake. The trailer for "The Ugly Truth" all but says, "Hey, women! You'll go see this because it's about romance and Gerard Butler may be shirtless at some point."<br /><br />A romantic movie I'm much (much) more hopeful about is "Adam," the story of a woman (Rose Byrne) who falls for a man (Hugh Dancy) with Aspbergers Syndrome. Maybe "Adam" will turn out to be one of those too-quirky-for-its-own-good flicks, but the trailer is completely charming. Dancy doesn't appear to be playing his character as over-the-top odd, and at one point he says, "I'm not Forrest Gump, you know."<br /><br />My interest in this movie is somewhat personal: My 9-year-old son is somewhere at the so-called mild end of the autism spectrum, and I've often wondered how he will navigate romantic relationships once he grows up. Like Dancy's Adam, he is personable and handsome, but he doesn't always grasp the subtleties of social communication. I hate the idea of that making life harder for him, but he's come a long way — and he's hardly alone. I'm sure there are plenty of adults on the spectrum who found love (all relationships are imperfect), and it's cool that a filmmaker is offering up that perspective.<br /><br />"Adam" will probably make less in six months than "The Ugly Truth" will rake in opening weekend, but just knowing that it exists makes me feel better.E. Petermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798210191476643057noreply@blogger.com4