Buffy Anne Summers, aka

Everyone who reads this blog has seen the movie by now, right?

So what's your verdict? Did Joss pull it off?

(Oh wait — an apology, if needed, for my emotional outburst in the last post; all I can say in my defense: I know it's mostly out of style these days, but I get a little passionate sometimes … but in spite of the rumors, I really don't turn into a huge green guy. Honest!)

So back on topic, is The Avengers the movie that kicks off a whole new slew of comic hero movies, or the genre's last hurrah?

I'm no expert about that and don't pretend to be, nor do I have the time right now for a full review (sorry), but I know what I like. I say a big thumbs up!

What do you say?

So I went out looking for some wireless speakers yesterday. And what do I see. Everywhere I look, I'm being shown virus software products. Nothing wireless or speakers about that.

Uh huh. Right. Because I was searching for that earlier in the day.

I'm not liking this. This wasn't a coincidence. This was the individualized, push style of marketing that is taking over everything these days. I was through with my virus software buying decision, Google, et al. I did not need to be shown a bunch more related products that I had no interest in and was not searching for.

Meanwhile, there's CISPA - the Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Protection Act, H.R. 3523.

I don't think I like Google, Amazon, the Republicans, the government, or anybody else, keeping this close of tabs on everything we do. We have no privacy anymore. And less and less freedom. We are allowing business and government (practically the same thing these days) to take it all away. And for the most part, we are doing not a thing about it.

I keep thinking the American people are going to rise up and stand up and refuse to take it anymore. All the corruption, the profiteering, the greed, the lies, the invasion of privacy, and all the other unmentionable trends we are subjected to, but it never actually happens, does it?

Jesus is supposed to have said, the meek will inherit the Earth. I wonder whatever he meant by that?

And? The meek will inherit the Earth, and then?

The meek will inherit the Earth, and then give it all away to the very powers who would enslave us all.

We Americans are the good and the meek who do nothing while evil triumphs. Aren't we?

The meek will inherit the Earth? I say the meek are ruining the internet and destroying the world!!

What do you think?

“The Cabin in the Woods” doesn’t just keep us on our toes, it chops them off at the knee with a rusty scythe….

More at Review: ‘Cabin in the Woods’

What do you think? Worth seeing?

So am I going to see it? Hell, yeah, if I can find someone — in case I get scared — to comfort me in the dark! LOL.

More Reviews:

• Movie Review: ‘The Cabin in the Woods,’ by Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon
• DEADBYDAWN 2012: Review of CABIN IN THE WOODS

Okay, if you’re into internet marketing in any way, shape or form, go buy this:

http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-special-offers-forum/577166-charity-warrior-special-offer-help-6-yr-old-kick-cancers-ass.html

And if you’re not into internet marketing, go buy it anyway. It’ll make you feel better about yourself.

I was a little late finding out about this, I admit. But it’s never too late to get into the fight, is it?

Remember, to whatever extent some have found the character of Buffy inspiring, she is still just a character of fiction, and the battles she fights are only symbolic. They don’t mean a thing if folks like us aren’t willing to help fight the real battles, and Libby is fighting a battle as daunting as any Buffy ever has or ever will — and it is real. Let’s all help her out, okay?

So have I made myself clear yet? Go. Buy. Now.

http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-special-offers-forum/577166-charity-warrior-special-offer-help-6-yr-old-kick-cancers-ass.html

Thanks for your attention.

I finally sat down and forced myself to finish reading Season Eight.

Wow.

I mean this was terrible. Even after only reading the first few issues, I’d had a sense that this wasn’t the Buffy I’d grown to love over the years. I guess it was no wonder I had so much trouble getting myself through it.

Yes, there were moments, here and there, a little wit and little banter, but mostly terrible. The amazing thing to me is that there were some fans who liked it.

But I kid not when I say Joss Whedon must be the worst successful writer alive!!

He did admit though, in the end, that he got a bit carried away with the notion of having an unlimited budget in the comic, something he never even got close to in the TV series. I suppose it was like being let out of a box and having to run wild for a while. At least I hope so.

I don’t think that was the only problem, at least for me, but it was a major one.

Joss said he was going to get back to a more recognizable, and more lovable, more character-centered approach in Season Nine.

I can’t comment on that as I haven’t read any of Season Nine yet. But I guess I will. If for no other reason, to find out if Joss keeps his word.

Something else I couldn’t help but notice about the comic (’cause ’tis my nature) was the range of opinions in the letters section. Quite the gamut. An awful lot of people read things into Joss and company’s writing that simply isn’t there. That’s fine. I do it, too. Difference is I generally know when I’m doing it and judging by the letters I read, many don’t.

Communication is a two-way street, people. Half of what you think is being communicated is always in your own head, and heart, and based on your own personality, culture, experience in life, biases, etc. Joss and other writers are writing to an international audience these days, you know … so, ah, give Joss, et al, a break sometimes, okay?

You should do that for all writers, you know? Hint, hint. Well, actually, for all people. It doesn’t matter how hard anyone works as a communicator, it is always easy to read in meanings that were never intended — ask any judge, lawyer or post-modernist philosopher.

Language, like story itself, is symbols and metaphor, and is never precise enough to put all the blame, credit or responsibility for any meaning you may take away from it on its creator(s), because some of that meaning is always going to be personal — perception and interpretation — yours.

And remember no writer or storyteller is perfect, and those who come close get boring after a while.

Joss, who, aside from being the worst successful writer alive, may also be one of the best. What that really means is that he takes a lot of risks with his characters, with his plot lines — that’s part of why he is so able to surprise and entertain most of his fans on such a consistent basis; but it is also why, when he fails, he fails rather spectacularly. You simply can’t take all those risks without hitting an extremely wrong note from time to time.

So everyone who takes offense at this and that, so certain at any moment that Joss or any other favorite author has turned into a sexist, or racist, or whatever it is … try to keep reading for a while with a greater awareness of the part your own makeup plays in what kind of communication is going on, and be willing to forgive a little imperfection now and again.

In other words, give that author a chance to prove you wrong. Any author you have ever found enlightening, or simply entertaining, deserves that second chance I believe.

Okay, that’s about all I had to say, except that I am sorry I haven’t managed to pursue my plans for this blog as well as I’d intended — at least so far — this year. Things come up, work obligations, health problems, loss of focus, etc., all unplanned and unexpected. But maybe it will get better one of these days …

I will at least try to get around to reading Season Nine and commenting on that, and probably on other Whedon projects as they come along … I hope.

Oh yeah, one last thing: any readers of Season Eight disagree with me? Am I wrong? It was terrible, wasn’t it? Did I miss something?

If you have a sec now or again, let me know … as I’m always up for being turned on to another point of view …