Reverend Null Speaks (first part)

01-04-14

I have been listening to comic book pod casts more then is probably healthy.  I like listening to people talk about things that bring them joy, and i like comics so its natural.  One of thees is called the Fire and Water pod cast. ( http://fireandwaterpodcast.blogspot.com/ )  Here Rob and Shagg discuss two of DC comics second tier heroes, The fabulous  fused Firestorm and the amazing Atlantan Aquaman.  They also do the "Who's Who" podcast biased on the old DC Who's Who.  This post is more then just a shout to the world about a great pod cast,that if you have ANY interest in comic books you should listen too.  (Although it is that as well)

This is me, Reverend Null, here to preach an idea that Shagg Matthews put in my head.  At the time that the New 52 Firestorm was canceled. Mr. Matthews put forth the idea of "Follow Your Comic Book Bliss" which means find the Comic books you like, a run from anywhere be it DC in the 40's, Image in the 90's or Marvel in the post "we make movies now" era, or what ever and "read the hell out of it".  in other words read the stuff you like DONT read the stuff you don't.  

Its that second bit that seems too tricky for me and A LOT of Superhero fans. (I say Superhero not Comic book here for a reason, my friends who like "independent books"  have ZERO problems with dropping a title they dislike, or makeing a snarky coment about why...but that is a blog for another day.) I was loyal to the X-men long past the point I was sick of the series.  if I had followed my comic bliss at the time I could have saved a lot of cash and storage space.  However even after both Kitty Pryde and Kurt Wagner were in Excalibur, I still bought the X-Men even though I complained about the direction the book was going.  Making a dark book even darker.  I hated that the whole X team was now as willing to kill as Wolverine, but I kept buying it any way.  i'm not saying it wasn't a good direction for the book  in general, sales were strong, we got movies out of it.  However I am a fan of the X-men from when Wolverine was the only lethal member, and the rest of the team were CONSTANTLY calling him on it.  His best pal, Nightcrawler flat out asks "But does that make it right?" at the end of the first ever comic I bought to start collecting (X-Men 140, with Windigo).  "My X-men" ended not long after the Brood Saga, but i stayed loyal and not happy it until The Age of Apocalypse. (thats also when I started reading Green Lantern which WAS my 'comic bliss' even if I didn't have that term yet)  I can sit here and tell you all the reasons why I hung on. I could whine some more about how the X-Men changed on me.  OR! I can ignore ANY X-men book that I don't like and read the ones i do until the cover falls off.  I can  follow my Comic bliss.  I loved Grant Morrison's run on the X-men, and have defended it as more like "the Real X-men", but the truth is I like weird cosmic, he brought it, and if you don't like weird cosmic you wont like what he brought.  Its my bliss I will read it.  its not yours? then dont.  we read this stuff for fun (most of  us) and if it doesn't bring you some kind of emotional fulfillment  you are just investing in colorful paper.   So read what you like, not what you don't"  Its simple its brilliant and it might actually lead you to a good time.   

 Rev. Bradleyman Null

(I have two "expansions" on Shagg's idea, but I am planing to blog more often and will save those for the future) 

State of Bradleyman's geek

I have been reading old comics and listening to a few comics pod casts.   I have been passive in my comic book reading mostly just enjoying my stuff and making the occasional FB comment. It's been nice.   I have also been catching up with my old friend the Doctor.  Playing some MtG, and noticing the story telling / world building is stronger then I ever thought a card game could have.  I have not gone to Ren. Faires as much.  I still read RPG world books, but I haven't actually role played in a few years.  Still love the Stars both Wars and Trek... Still like the old stuff better, but the new stuff more then most my age... Feel the reverse about Battlestar Glaictica.  And that's my Jan. 2014 state of geek.  

It's been just over a year

Well looks like I have put off blogging for just over a year.... Mayhap I should fix that....

A childhood well spent, or musings over a relaunch:

When DC Comics relaunched its universe a few months back, I realized I had read an entire universes’ worth of story, from 1986 to 2011. Then I noticed that that was 25 years worth of reading. I remembered that I had been reading comics for a few years before that. So I did some checking on dates. I declared myself a “comic collector” at 12 years of age. I am not sure how long I had been reading comics prior to that. I owned enough that the hobby seemed to have a head start. As I write this I am 42, so that is 30 years of collecting. I figure with all that time in the hobby I would give in to a bit of reminiscing about what I remember about comics, and the superheroes in them.
(As a quick note; I tried to write several notes about why “comics” and “superheroes” are NOT the same thing; however they all turned in to either a weak copy of a chapter in, or a plug for, Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. There are A LOT of reasons you should read said book. The difference between “comics” and “superheroes” is only a small part of why. If you have not read it I recommend that you do.)
It started for me at about 4 or 5. I had a love for “The Electric Company” on PBS. I don’t have a lot of strong memories of the show except for three things: First is the opening theme with “HEY YOU GUYS!!” shouted at the start. Second is the postcards they sent me after my mom sent them a letter I dictated. (I still have it, a cheap form letter response, but for little Brad, it was proof that they were “real”.) Third was the hero guy who didn’t talk, but communicated in written words: Spiderman. My desire to know what he was saying was a huge motivation in learning to read. Yes, a superhero led me to being an early reader. I am not 100% sure that my first comic was a “Spidey Super Stories” but it was the title that dominated my pre-collection collection. I LOVED me some Spiderman.

Once I could read, and realized that there were other comics on the rack, I started asking for more. I was given mostly Archie or Casper, and at first that was fine. In fact, I liked them better than any of the Superhero stuff. Because the Superhero stuff, even the other Spiderman stuff, didn’t always end, or it ended with the bad guy winning. I was in grade school before I understood that the story ended in the next issue. I disliked the idea of not getting the full story, but I LIKED the idea of the story being longer. The problem was I never saw two consecutive issues of a comic. I lived in a small desert town and had to rely on my parents to bring me whatever comic they happened to pick up, thus consecutive issues rarely happened. The first time it did I remember being VERY excited. It was a Spiderman story, where he and The White Tiger (El Tigre Blanco, which may have been the first Spanish other then counting to 10 that I learned) fought The Lightmaster. I only remember small bits of the story (The White Tiger being sick without his necklace is about it) BUT I remember being VERY excited to discover you actually could get two in a row.
My Grandpa Spridgeon and I had a tradition of getting Slurpies at 7-11 whenever I came to visit. (As 7-11 was still about 5 to 10 years from showing up in my neck of the woods, this was the BEST.) Once when we went there were “Superboy cups” (that is what I remember him calling them) BUT there was NO Spiderman (I didn’t know from DC and Marvel at the time) and there was NO Superboy although there had been but they were out. The guy behind the counter found the closest one he could. The character’s name was Mon-El, and his story was told briefly on the back of the cup. I know now that it MUST have been a Legion of Superheroes series of cups, but back then it was a brief introduction to the larger world around Superman.
Then I watched the Superfriends. I was 6 when it came on, so I hope you can forgive me for liking it. According to Wikipedia, what I first watched was a rebroadcast from 73-74, but for me it started during my first grade year as part of Saturday Morning Cartoons. It had the all the big-name heroes working together. I remember thinking that the “NEW Superfriends Hour” was cooler then the original show. I would also think a few years later that “The Challenge of The Superfreinds” was the best of the lot. I have since watched the various versions of the Superfriends. They are painfully bad. Those of you who grew up with the Bruce Timm and Paul Dini cartoons are SOOOOOOOOOO lucky to have childhood superheroes that will not embarrass you as an adult. I loved watching the Superfriends, and as an avid reader who started reading with comics, I WANTED to read the comic. So when I was eight and we went to Washington, D.C. to visit family friends it was the comic I HAD to read on the plane. Dad bought me several comics for the trip; we looked for The Superfriends comic, but could not find it. When he asked me if it might be under a different name I responded with “The Justice League”, which was the name the team went by in the cartoons. My dad found me two “in a row” issues, which was exciting, then put them with the several other comics he had purchased. As it turns out, the Superfriends DID have a comic at the time. If we had succeeded in finding one, my life might have been different.

The two “in a row” issues were “Justice League of America” number 147, “Crisis in the Thirtieth century”, and number 148, “Crisis in Triplicate”. Somewhere over the Midwest, my eight year-old-mind was blown. This was incredible! There were two different Earths, three super teams and a future where an evil wizard threatened spaceships. The second earth had a different Flash, a different Green Lantern AND their “Supergirl” went by the name “Power Girl”. The future they all went to had a team who seemed to know Superman from when he was Superboy. What made it exciting was that BOTH of the other teams appeared to have their own comic book (The Justice Society was in All-Star at the time, and Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes had their own book for years). I fell in love with the idea of both super teams and alternate Earths. Comic books had just become my favorite thing to read, and I was an avid reader so I read A LOT of comics. However, I was a reader of comics, not a collector.
I read LOTS of comics! The ones I liked best combined both Science Fiction and magic. This meant I LOVED superheroes which had both. I also was enamored of Micronauts and Star Wars (while I am talking about the comics here, yes, I also loved the Micronaut toys and ALL things Star Wars). I was devouring ANY reading that had to do with adventure, and comics doubly so. However I was still a reader and not a collector. Then I met Danny.
It was Mr. Garret’s 5th-6th grade combination class where we met. I was in 5th grade, Danny was in 6th. Danny had transferred in partway through the year, and to be fair, I met his Micronaut comics before I met him. Mr. Garret had taken them from him (most likely for reading them when Danny was meant to be doing math), and they were displayed along the black board. I thought / hoped they might be a prize for some sort of game and went to investigate. Danny became defensive of his goods. We had a brief moment of anger, and then became friends. Danny would go on to be one of my best friends. He would also introduce my brain to the idea of comic collecting. Not just reading, collecting. By now I had figured out that getting two or three issues in a row was possible, which was made even more possible by my having gained an allowance, giving me control of which comics I bought. Danny mentioned that he “collected” comics. So I asked my dad how I could become a comic collector. My father told me I should pick my favorite comic and focus on getting as many in a row as I could (which is not bad advice to give to a 12 year old). I knew right then I COULDN’T be a collector, because I could NEVER choose a favorite. Then Danny loaned me the comic that would make me a collector: X-Men # 138.
In that single issue, Cyclops tells the history of the X-men from the first issue through the tragic death of Jean Grey, The Phoenix, from the previous issue. (It was also the middle of a run of what are not only the best X-Men stories ever, but possibly the best superhero comics ever) I began collecting with issue 140. I fell completely in love with an “older woman”. I was 12 and she was “13½, cute, bright, spunky… and she walked through walls”. I was fascinated with “Days of Future Past”, and read the “Demon” X-mas issue so much, I had to buy a second one. I was now a collector. I still bought many comics for fun, BUT the X-Men, those I collected. Now I was a collector.
It took less than a year for me to start collecting other comic titles as well. In Jr. High, the X-Men and The Teen Titans helped me survive the bullies. My weekly trips to the local drug store ate my entire allowance each week. My love for Superheroes refused to die. Combined with my role-playing, comics had also doomed me to be a Champions-playing uber-geek. I read and collected and learned the back stories of 100’s of characters instead of doing homework. In high school, I still refused to put the comics down. In fact, now that my small town had grown our own 7-11, which was on my way home from high school, it now had a convenient place to pick up comics. There was also a comic bookstore in Victorville, Comics Castle, which was close enough to get to about once a month IF you could get a ride. This two-fisted punch of comic availability ATE my allowance like a lion eats a slow gazelle. Comics Castle opened just in time for me to keep buying Micronauts, which became “Direct Only” at about that time. The Teen Titans over shadowed the X-Men as my favorite comic due to consistently good art and writing. I figured out that was due to it having the same Writer / Artist team, Marv Wolfman and George Perez. Then, in early 1985, I saw a different book by the same team in the 7-11. It was called “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, and I knew it was going to change everything. I tried to explain to non-comics readers at the time how historical this new mini-series was going to be. Danny understood. The guys I played Champions with understood. Comics were about to enter a new age, and if you cared about such things, and we did, it was exciting.
When Crisis ended, so did the DC multiverse that had preceded it. The new DCU (now the old DCU or perhaps the “Tween-Crisis DCU”) restarted everything. It was a bold idea and it looked to me like comics were coming of age, right as I was. So my childhood and DC comics’ multiverse were over, and my slow slide from Marvel X-Guy, to DC JSA-guy had begun. At the time I thought that DC had thrown in the towel and admitted that Marvel was superior. Now a universe of stories later, I see that DC did the right thing. The ride has been great. I hope the next one is just as fun.
Bradleyman
(A quick note: I think BOTH DC and Marvel have put out TONS of great stuff over the years. I am a comic fan first. I like me a good comic story, no matter the world. My “slide” from Marvel to DC was spent liking both, or only caring enough to note which larger universe the book I reading was occurred in.)

A blog pretending to be a letter.

Dear everyone,
I hope you can forgive me for believing that helping people was actually helpful. It has been pointed out to me by people who tell me they are smarter, and have better morals, that my belief that helping people actually helped them is wrong. Apparently if you help someone you are actually hurting them. ANY assistance is crippling to a persons ability to do things later in life. I failed to understand this and apologize to all the people I have hurt.
I was brought up by my parents to believe that doing good things for people made their lives better and your life more fulfilled. However it appears that this is wrong. Apparently it robs me of my property and makes them lazy thieves. No, I don’t miss anything I have given, and the people I gave it to looked like good folk. However I have now been told that I only did it for the selfish satisfaction of being superior and they only let me because they are lazy. I would like to thank all the Smart, patriotic moral people who have pointed this out to me as I truly was living under the delusion that I did it out of kindness. In my insanity I forgot that I don’t know what I am actually feeling at a given time, and that I need to be told what I truly feel so I am less confused.
So thank you smarter more moral people, for letting me know that my feelings of kindness were actually selfish. I was under the delusion that the positive emotions were just as real as the negative ones. I owe you so much for making me see the world this way.
Please forgive my insane beliefs in charity and goodness,
Bradley Null.

18 things

Ok so other than a note a few weeks back it has been over a year since I blogged. I stopped for personal reasons some of which are public enough for me to mention and maybe blog about later assuming blogging again becomes a habit. I am planning on doing this once a week, but I have said that before so I am not sure I trust my reliability on that issue. Regardless however I stopped and some things have changed since last I blogged. So in order to catch everyone up I am going to do18 quick subjects. (this is somewhat based on the blog I posted on June 1 2009,” the pre 40-25, this could be called the post 41-18.
1) Have you noticed how hot Fandom has gotten?
In the last few years I have noticed that “geek” girls, especially fantasy/comic book/sci-fi geek girls are SMOKING HOT. Sure sports geeks have cheer leaders, who are also hot, but they want to have sex with the players not the watchers. ComicCon style girls apparently (I am in a relationship that isn’t “complicated” so I do not know this first hand) like to have sex with guys who like the same stuff they do, which is to say MY People. No real deep point here, in fact quite a shallow one. I just thought I would bring your attention to it.
2) Why is pot still Illegal?
A return to my previous number 2. Want to see my reasons go read that again. Nothing has changed. UNELSS you live in California. Then VOTE to make it legal. Please.
3) The USA was never meant to be a Christian nation.
We rebelled against a Christian nation. Part of what made the Christian nations of Europe so upset about the early US of A was the lack of God in our government. That is NOT to say we are not a nation of mostly Christians whose moral code is basically that of the Bible. That is what we are.
4) Comic books and superheroes ARE NOT the same thing.
Yes comic books and Superheroes go together often, but a “superhero” move is not necessarily a “comic book” movie, and there are A LOT of comic book based movies that have NO superheroes. I know it’s a nit, but it bothers me.
5) There is no number five.
6) The “Tea Party”…
I have no words. You can NOT speak that way about my parents and friends and expect to be treated as anything but the insulting pigs you are.
7) Green Lantern Movie in 2011!
Please dear Guardians of Oa, let it be good. I am so hyped up about this.
8) As I write this my religion is _______.
I have accepted the teachings of Christ on my own terms. I feel I could call myself Christian because of this, but as I believe the Bible to have been tampered with, and full faith in the Bible is part of being Christian to a large number of people. Also I am still Polytheistic and have many Wicca based beliefs as well. My reason for believing as I do is between me and the gods. They also told me you would think I was Crazy for talking to them.
9) The oil spill in the gulf was caused by criminal incompetence, and the people of the United States have the right to investigate it.
If you stand by the blocking of the investigation you stand with money and against the citizens who were hurt. You are as trustworthy and pro little guy as anyone who chooses to sell out his countrymen to protect English money. (If you didn’t get any of said cash then you sold out you countrymen for nothing)
10) I love my lady and she loves me.
Not a dream not an imaginary story.
11) If you think compassion is a weakness you do not understand true strength.
Nuff’ Said.
12) There is no hope of Love in the Marvel Universe.
Something my Lady said to me that I can’t argue with. Well there may be a little love left in Sue and Reed. (If you have no idea what this means you should read more comics)
13) Skipped for no good reason
14) I hope the rest of the shared continuity Marvel Movies are good.
If you know what I mean you probably agree if you don’t that’s OK.
15) Any Christian Church that stresses “obedience” instead of “forgiveness” is a failed church.
I may not be fully Christian, but I read the Bible enough to know the rules those who call themselves such must follow to get to Heaven. You can’t really support war at all, or oppose ANY form of charity.
16) Racism is on BOTH sides of the Immigration issue.
The whole Arizona thing, I see a lot of poor and middle class people drinking, carrying guns and waving flags while surrounded by mostly people of the same skin tone. Both sides shouting because some news orginzation, owned by rich guys who want them both distracted, told them to.
17) If you really want to stop illegal immigration, go after the bosses.
Anything else WILL NOT work. The people who come here illegally often do so at great risk to their lives. They are more determined than any border guard can be. As long as there are jobs for them to do they WILL keep coming. If you really want to stop them fine ANY employer of illegals out of existence. The democrats won’t do that because they support immigration. The republicans won’t do that because they support the bosses. But hey it’s a great distraction from the real problems.
18) I should lighten up on the politics and write more about Comic books and superheroes.
Yeah, if I turn this weekly I think I will try to keep the focus lighter than this one. Too much ranting is bad for the heart.

One year

Well not quite...It has been nearly a year since I wrote a blog...This IS bad. Will regroup and try again.

A Guild for the Advanced Soul

So I was thinking about some stuff that was upsetting me, political stuff mostly, when I decided to pull out A Guild for the Advanced Soul, a book with quotes from various people on various things. On the cover it says “Hold a problem in your mind. Open this book to any page and there will be your answer”. Well I have done this before and it works well. The secret of this book isn’t magic (it could be that too) but the fact that EVERY quote is a good one and even if it doesn’t apply to your thoughts, it’s still an up lifting quote that makes you feel better. Still about two out of three times it seems spot on. (for my more scientific friends I put in the word “seems” as I haven't actually done a test to check the numbers and YES I do know that my expectations can taint my perceptions) This time it hit me in the GUT, like it was a loan shark and I was a guy who had just lost a big bet. The quote it gave was this:
“Be aware of the reality of your feelings. As you become more aware of your beliefs over a period of them, you will see how they bring forth certain feelings automatically. A man who is sure of himself is NOT angry at every slight done to him, nor does he carry grudges. A man who fears for his own worth, however, IS furious under such conditions. The free flow of your emotions will always lead you back to your conscious beliefs if you do not impede them.”
Jane Roberts
“Ok, Bradleyman, what’s your point” I hear you ask “What has that quote to do with ANYTHING”
Glad you asked. I was becoming once again angry at both political parties (If you didn’t see that as part of the problem then this must be the first time you have read my blog, Welcome) and unreasonably so. The “I called you a traitor for not supporting the President during the Bush years, but say worse things about Obama and am too stupid to see it’s the same thing” branch of the Republicans and the “Look we are nicer then they are so please ignore the Two years we controlled the congress under Bush AND the fact that we can’t get ANYTHING done even with a president who matches us” Democrats, had combined in my head to make the “Two big groups who don’t have a single person capable of admitting that a mistake even could be made, much less need fixing” a monster that was causing me to RAGE. If we believe the above quote (and I do), that means I am unsure of my political position.
To quote the old Batman Show “,ZOT! POW BAM!!!!” WHAT!!! Ouch... It was true, I am uncertain. Despite planting my feet firmly on about three issues, and stubbornly refusing to be a party to either party, I am uncertain on A LOT of political stuff. I DO NOT have the answers for many issues, not do I know anyone who does. The one thing I am sure of, on a deeply personal level is that niter of the big two parties in this country have the answers either. However, that I know they are both wrong, doesn’t mean I have clue one what the right answers are, and not having those answers is indeed the source of my frustration which sadly keeps turning in to anger. Once it becomes anger I direct my energies at being mad rather than at a possible solution. Now I’m not saying I would have an idea or the energy to enact it, just because I had the idea, but I might, or some else might have the time and energy if I told them. However I CAN NOT have an idea while being pointlessly angry.
So what am I going to do? I am going to try to maintain my cool while becoming certain in my convictions. I am going to try to aloe the free flow of my emotions to lead me back to my conscious beliefs, and try not to impede them. This will be hard in the face or Republicans who think defending a traitorous war monger is in some way moral, or Democrats who think spending lots of the money while talking much and doing little is a good way to govern. It will be hard while I don’t have at least an idea of an answer to not attack the inaccurate ideas of both parties. It will be hard, and this paragraph shows me I have a long way to go. It will be hard, but it HAS to be better than being frustrated and disappointed. It will be hard BUT it will be worth it.
Now don’t fear reader this doesn’t mean I won’t be blogging or even that I won’t be ranting about these things in my blog. I have other things I can blog about and hopefully I can make my political rants amusing again. Also I have a LONG way to go and there is a still lot of time for both parties to annoy me.
However, my new goal is not to take quite so personally all of this political BS that is thrown at me by the big two. After all if they are angry enough to yell, or accuse the other side while ignoring their own problems, or post NOTHING but political comments, links, and blogs then they are according to the above NOT sure of themselves either, and knowing that about all of them (you?) I can relax a little.
So here’s to being calm and rational
Bradleyman

A and B

Hey out there in Blog land,
It’s me your friendly internet Bradleyman. I have developed a bit of a problem. I have a peeve, and indeed it is of the pet type. The worst part, I do it to, as a knee jerk reaction. Most of the time I try to edit myself before I say anything. I know I try to stop myself before I post or publish anything written, because I have had to stop myself so often.
“Ok Brad, stop the sphinx like riddling and get to the point!” I hear you say oh readers, and I respond with all of the speed and seriousness that this paragraph of two sentences one a quote and one an unending run on deserve.
The peeve is, using the actions of A to argue why B isn’t so bad. In this case A is either the Republicans or the Democrats and B is the other of the two.
I am an independent guy with a “devil’s advocate” type brain. So I often ask questions of people out in the world of the internet. During the election whenever I would ask a Republican about any of the issues I had with the party I would get a list of things that were wrong with the Democrats. I thought this was a Right Wing thing, until Obama got nominated. Once that happened any questions I asked of the Democrats became a list of things that were wrong with the Republicans. This second group I even backed at first. My politics are closer to “democrat” so I blinded myself, at first.
Thing is the Republicans doing this made me REALY nuts. So I started to say (well write) something and I relized I was about to respond by DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. This was January of this year, and I have spent the last few months sensitized to both sides doing this AND fighting my urge to use it. See thing is what the other party is doing has NO bearing on my problems with you and your party.
Let me explain, when two twelve year olds whom we will call AviDem and CarmenRep, get in to a fight and get caught. CarmenRep hit AviDem for taking her share of the lemonade stand. When confronted CarmenRep says “BUT she took my Money” and AviDem says “But she hit me first”. Now which or those two arguments keep a child out of time out? If you said neither well then you and I agree. The fact is both the theft and the fight were wrong and neither justifies the other.
Also most of the time this is a tactic used by the guilty, to use the 12 year olds as an example, AviDem almost currently DID take the money and there is about a 95% chance that CarmenRep threw the first punch. Just as in politics the Democrats are being “tax & Spend” and the Republicans are “business first, people second” in terms of thinking. So seeing as this is most often the tactic of the guilty I think from now I will treat it as such.
That’s right as of now if you used this tactic my new answer will be “So then since you changed the subject I must be right about your side.”
So Democrats spend too much on social stuff and Republicans like war.
Neither acts Christ like. Both have done things I think are wrong, and that I can argue hurt the country. Both have people who have called me Un-American, because I wouldn’t put their party before our country. Both have made hatful comments that they didn’t necessarily mean as hateful then told me to “get over it” when I complained, rather than apologizing as would be polite.
I am neither party. Both are wrong and damaging, and the fact that both sides can’t deny there crimes but instead list the crimes (and yes I am exaggerating when I use the word crimes) of the other side, is all the proof I require to not be a part of EITHER.
So any who I hope to be lighter hearted next time,
Bradleyman

PB

(Activate: Cheesy Announcer Voice, Eighty’s) It’s Monday Jul. 11th 2009 SOOOOOO Lets Play everybody’s favorite game show: (Add pre recorded “crowd” shouting with C.A.V.E) “BLOGING WITH BRADLEYMAN!!!!!!!” (Deactivate “crowd” voices cue canned applause) With your host….Faster than a speeding…oh hey you know he is……..BRADLEYMAN!!!!! (Up canned applause for .5 seconds then slow fade to sound “organic”)(Deactivate C.A.V.E)
Hi everyone and welcome to Blogging with Bradleyman, I’ll me your host, Brad “Bradleyman” Null.
So before we jump in to the “HAPPY” part of this blog (and my one goal with this particular blog is to try and spread HAPPY to all who want some) a quick note. In my last blog I posted a hate letter, I had received, and a lot of you out there (well a lot for my current audience as I understand it) were apologetic and or concerned. I reported it to Facebook they sent me an automatic e-mail and as long as I never hear from her again, I consider the mater closed. It’s not the worst I have ever got but it did surprise me. It’s not the reason most lunatics choose to hate me for. I do thank everyone for your support and kind thoughts, I really was more amused than upset BUT had I been truly up set it’s nice to know you all were there.
SO now on with the Blog:
I was watching The Princes Bride again few weeks back and I had a series of thoughts about what is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIES. Now before we go on yes I am possibly going to be critical of some of what happens in the movie, if you are a fan to the film and loyal to the point you could be mistaken for a “Twilight Girl” or “Marvel Dude”, then stop reading. No really stop right now! OK, but you were warned and if you respond in any way I may mock you.
My first thought; “This movie ACTULY rocks more in wide screen”. I missed the Film in theatres and I am pretty sure I never saw it in wide screen until this year. It was almost like watching a “NEW AND IMPROVED” version of the film. When you have seen a film as often as I have this one, And I once had a roommate* who watched it weekly and recited the lines from the Nintendo sound effect to grandpa’s “as you wish”, you start to kind of half watch it, the new format caused me to pay attention in a way I haven’t for years (well except for the parts with Fezzik and/ or Inigo) and that led to the rest of these thoughts.
Second thought; “for all her beauty, Buttercup is useless.” She starts out crewel, then becomes demanding, then gives up hope, then in the swamp she nearly gets Westly killed then pokes at R.O.U.S. with a stick while he fights. I have had this thought before and even blogged about so, we will move on.
Third thought; “this movie is SOOOOOOO COOL”. This is more of a constant under-thought to any thought I have while watching this film. I just thought you should be aware that my inner child goes nuts for this like it’s a mid 80’ X-men comic (you know the ones I think are BEST cause’ they came out when I was a kid).
Forth thought; Now I had this thought as Westly was knocked unconscious by the five fingered man. It so upset my being that I had to go back and re watch the timing. (thank you FiOS for letting me, as I no longer have a VHS on which to play my copy**) SO I went back and watched. The quote is “Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” It’s a quote used by MANY of my friends. They all seem to think it’s a great life philosophy. The quote is often used to justify actions that have caused pain. Now first off using ANY quote from ANY movie as if it is proof of something is questionable at best. Secondly, seconds later, Westly/The man in Black, no longer believes it. The MOMENT he tumbles down that hill saying “As you wish”, which means “I love you” as established earlier by grandpa, he no longer believes that “life is pain”. Furthermore, the point of the movie is that “love conquers all”. The “all” in question includes “pain”. No Italian I know quotes Vizzini’s line about Sicilians and Death, WHY because he dies seconds later, disproving his statement. Seconds later (as if to even suggest that it too might be a false but believed statement) we get the “life is pain” quote. Seconds after that “as you wish”/”I love you” showing he no longer believes.
So to everyone who has ever used the “life is pain” quote to punctuate an argument where I was naive for believing something different; “HEY the entire point of that quote in the movie was that it was WRONG, using it just proves that you are both wrong and ignorant of what you are quoting. If you are provably wrong and ignorant in the use of your “witty pop culture” quote, then why should I trust ANYTHING you say, especially about the nature of what life “IS”? I hope all the people who have done that read this blog that was way too much to rewrite and repeat too often.
Fifth thought; “as long as we have rewind let’s watch the full screen version of the sword fight on the cliffs. THAT’S so COOL.” (repeat 5 or 6 times until you start trying to argue with yourself as to which is better this sword fight or the one in the Blacksmiths shop in the first Pirates of the Caribbean, cliffs win this week but I am fickle)
Sixth thought; “Billy Crystal is the funniest part of this…..OH wait second Carol Cain as “HIS WIFE!!, but I don’t even want to be that any more” may beat him…EH the characters are married will call it a tie.” ‘Nuff said.
Seventh thought; “Yeah why didn’t you count the wheelbarrow as an asset” The cloak I understand, but a wheelbarrow is useful in the construction of a ramming device at the very least. You don’t have to be MR. “I am descended from Ulysses and my ancestors will be The Fox and The Bat” ***to know that.
Eighth thought; “hello, my name is….OH dear gods it’s stuck in my head again!!!!” I love the Inigo/ five finger man fight. Watching Inigo come back to life to finish the “son of a bitch” who took his father is one of the greatest moments in film. That said, once I watch the move, for weeks, sometimes mouths EVERY time someone says “hello” the quote (you know the one) finishes it’s self in my head. If anyone else has this problem let me know, if not I may need to seek therapy.
Ninth thought; (upon viewing the “to the pain” moment and in reference to my forth thought) “See the movie admits there is pain, the threat of it can even help love win”. This was me in my head still arguing with all of those who think my happy outlook is naive. (which by the by is counterproductive to the whole “happy” thing, and is totally my bad as it’s all in my head—sigh--) This thought is mostly redundant, and I wouldn’t even mention it, if it hadn’t of led to my next thought.
Tenth thought; (after having thought nine while watching Westly offer the “Dread Pirate Roberts” identity to Inigo) “Hey wait, this may be a ‘love conquers all’ movie but this is NOT a good defeats evil movie.” That’s right, there are no real “good guys” in this movie. Buttercup is pretty and loving, AFTER being love changed her from the crewel girl she was in the beginning and changed or not she is WORTHLES in the fire swamps and a whiner every second she is not in Westley’s presence. Westly, while the champion for love (once he pulls his head out of his…um mask), IS still the current Dread Pirate Roberts, who doesn’t leave prisoners and therefore is a killer. Fezzik, and Inigo start off as killer henchmen. Inigo’s entire life is about murderous revenge. In the end they all go on to better lives as they have been touched by love and friend ship. However were they a “force for good”? Yes they stopped the evil of the Prince, and stopping evil IS a good thing, but not one of them was motivated by “Good”. Inigo was there for revenge. Fezzik was motivated by friendship#. Westly was there strictly for Love#. NO ONE was there to stop the prince’s evil plan to create a war. LOVE beats evil. In the process it accidently does some greater good. However “good” does not win the day this time, “love” does.
Well there you have it, my ten thoughts upon (re-re-re-re-) viewing one of the world’s greatest movies. I have to say I think I like the “love conquers evil, so good won’t have too” message, even if it took me over 20 years of re watching (a minimum of twice a year) to put words to it.
“As you wish”
Bradleyman
*-Yes, you Mr. S living in the red woods now, I mean YOU. Any other roommate from the past nope not you.
**- yeah I still have the tape but no way to play it…I once mocked people who did this same thing with * track tapes…I apologize to all of you, caus’ rational or not I’m not letting go of my useless plastic and magnetic tape.
***- Zorro and Batman for the adventure impaired”
#- a type of good but not a “stop the evil monarch” sort of good.

Our Age

July 3, 2009
Well I was going to wait till the 12th of July to post anything. I figured it would be a full month from when I turned 40 and two days after my lady turned old enough to drink. Now for those who don’t know, this is not a case of me robbing the cradle this is a case of the cradle robbing me. I pushed her away for two years when she was too young, and then when she turned 18, I agreed to one date. My honest thought at the time was she would get board and I would have an interesting 6 to 8 months.
So, why the “early” blog with the sweet, beautiful, story of how me and my lady got together? Well, apparently large numbers of people have an issue with the age difference. Now I am not surprised by this, heck when we got together I had issues with the age difference. I am (do the math) old enough to be her dad and that is a bit odd. We did work through it and now it’s just one of the quirks of our relationship. I have never know a relationship to not have some weird quirk, ours is just more obvious. So no I am not surprised that people have issues with this, but sometimes the actual issues surprise me, when they are presented to me.
I say “presented” because I get reaction both in the real world and on the web, so it comes both verbally and written. I also say “presented” because the more intense ones work up what can only be called a “presentation”, it two of these reactions, both of which happened within the last two weeks, that inspired me to post this. A quick disclaimer, most people have a reaction of somewhere between “good for you” and “weird but not my relationship”, and most who have issues are polite IF they bring it up, and are often genuinely concerned for one of us over an “age myth” that they believe. The following two reactions are not of that polite level.
The first comes from Facebook. If you are reading this there is a better than average chance you are reading it ON Facebook or are at least familiar with the site. In case you are not, it’s a social networking site, and your relationship line links to your significant other. Our age must be available somehow (it doesn’t seem obvious to me as I quick glance at my profile BUT) as a user, who is not on my friends list, and who’s name I won’t use on the off chance they are sue happy or nuts, left me the following:
“Dear Pedophile for Satan,
How dare you corrupt a child like that? Your relationship is condemned by Christ. You will be suffer for all eternity for rapeing that child and ruining her for a good man. You probably support the gays. You are a vile piece of child molesting crap. I hope she wises up and leaves you before you kill her for Satan. I hate you as Christ orders us to hate all demon worshipers.
In loving Christ’s name,”
I was saving this for a “crazy hate mail” blog, but I don’t get enough hate mail to justify that. I have never seen this level of “false Christian” outside of a forum somehow about religion. So let’s take this a step at a time.
1) Pedophile for Satan: OK, first of all, pet peeve, just because I don’t worship in your fashion does NOT mean I am a Satanist or in any other way “for Satan”. Second, “Pedophile”, really? Even IF I had nasty 12 hour sex sessions with her when we first net it would be Ephebophilia at best. Second both me and my lady over 18, so by ANY definition not a Pedophile. Everything I say here applies to the “How dare you corrupt a child like that?” question as well.
2) Your relationship is condemned by Christ: Seriously, Christ?, WHERE? I mean in the Bible where does it say “Do not lie with those not in your age group”, or “let not those of two separate an age come together”. I am relatively sure there is nothing about age differences in the Bible. I know however from my own recent research, that Christ said almost nothing about marriage. So it might (but I doubt it) be in the Bible, but Christ didn’t say it. So it is not Christ doing the condemning.
3). you will be suffer for all eternity for rapeing that child and ruining her for a good man: Well the grammar is so bad here that even non-grammar Nazi, me has to point it out. The accusation of “rape” is the first thing that made me decide to report this person to the Facebook powers that be. It is not a word to be thrown around lightly in my opinion. To even suggest it IS HATEFUL. Then to suggest that victims of rape are “ruined” is offensive as well. I HATE the “you are a ruined slut cause you didn’t fight hard enough” mentality and that is what we have here. I may not be a “good man” but at least I don’t backhandedly blame the victims of the crimes I cheapen by falsely accusing people of them.
4) You probably support the gays: Yes I do, And…?
5) You are a vile piece of child molesting crap: see point one.
6) I hope she wises up and leaves you before you kill her for Satan: Ok first half I get, you don’t approve and want her to leave me. However “KILL HER FOR SATAN”??????? WTF, leaving aside my pet peeve from 1 above, how did I become a potential murderer?
7) I hate you as Christ orders us to hate all demon worshipers: Ok seeing as how this little e-mail didn’t mention Jesus but only Christ, is it possible our author means some Christ other then Jesus. I only ask because to my knowledge, Jesus was really big on NOT HATEING any one. The fact that I don’t worship any demons is secondary here, pet peeve or not. I have recently been reading the Bible, and Jesus Christ, (regardless of weather you view him as Savior of character in a bestselling novel) was opposed to hate. He never did ask for hate, and never would.
8) In loving Christ’s name: This was in NO ONE’S “loving name”
Now I want it to be clear here. I DO NOT consider this person a Christian. I think they are crazy person who believes the stuff they make up, in his case about what the Bible says. This person obviously doesn’t know what’s in the Bible, or is using some weird Bible in which a Christ (who may or may not be Jesus) thinks hating is cool.
So to move on to the second “presentation”, this one happened in real life, and there was beer involved, so we are relying on my memory of the event. Let me assure you before we start, this one is far more fun and amusing then the last.
The setting: The garage of the guy (friend of friend) who I am talking too, after one “chugged for speed” beer and for me an additional half a beer. I had got there late so I was WAY behind:
ME: < Rambling about Ren. Faire and good beer and being a smartass> Blah Blah…My lady can’t drink yet so she drives. It convenient like that
Him: Dude your chick is underage, isn’t that illegal?
Me: Ummmm no she’s over 18.
Him: Well the girls on the internet have to be 21 or the police will get you for child porn.
Me: The age of consent in Ca. is 18, it’s legal.
Him: you mean you can DO them before you can get them drunk? (As a joke) I can’t seem to get a woman without getting her drunk first, so how would that work for me?
Me: (laughing) Yeah I can see your problem.
Him: So are her friends hot too?
Me: ummmm well I suppose, we have a lot of mutual friends from Ren.Faire, so
Him: No I mean like hot friends, her age you could have threesomes with; Girls her age are ALL in to that.
Me: (trying not to make a comment about how he just said he thought was Illegal so how would he know) I don’t think she has any friends like that, She’s not in to that sort of thing.
Him: So you guy don’t…. (I forget the phrase he used, but it was too good to replace so put your favorite term for sex here)
Me: Uh yeah but…just us.
Him: really?? I thought girls that age who put out were ALL in to group stuff?
Me…
And then I changed the subject.
Now that’s not exact but it’s really close. The term “child porn” is a quote, as is the last statement by him. The rest is pulled from a buzzed memory so may be off, but not by much. Also to be fair, he was slurring his words in a fashion that suggested he had consumed far more beer then I had.
So yeah, that my pair of “age caused weirdness” stories. If they hadn’t of happened so close together I would have let it slide, but two like that in two weeks…MY readers must know. Just to be clear these are extreme reactions, not typical. Most people could care less about the age difference. I just thought I would share some themed madness while both stories were fresh.
Bradleyman

pre 40 - 25

Ok,
I have been writing fiction not blogs recently. I really meant to Blog more but I also knew Ren. Faire would slow me down. I didn’t know writing fiction would stop me completely but I am not horribly upset. I originally started this blogging thing as a way to get ideas out there so they would stop stealing my focus while writing. However since then I told myself I would blog a minimum of once a week. So good news, I am writing what I want to be more, bad news I let it get in the way of the blog. So as I plan to work on fiction and continue doing Kronaburg Faire for the next two weeks I am not only making excuses for the past two months I am making excuse for the next two weeks as well. This means my next blog will be AFTER my 40th Birthday (June 12). I
Now before I turn that magical 4 decade age I have a few comments I would like to get out there and as I am running out of time I need to do so quickly. Doing so quickly means I a) I have not done all the research I would like to have done, in some cases, b) I won’t be taking the time to go in to great detail and c) I will be jumping all over the place. For ease of response I will number them. I will make a statement or ask a question, explain it with a few words then move on. If the first sentence is not something that interests you then move to the next number. If you agree with it say so and why, if you disagree say so and why. One last thing, some of what follows will be me voicing my personal frustrations this may offend you as I will be making blanket statements. If are a part of any group that I mention but are not a part of that group witch behaves as I mention then either agree it’s a problem with your group, or tell me why I am wrong. In cases like that I may be trying but failing to understand something so you may be able to help.
1) Why do sports fans think they are anything other than geeks?
I have had my manhood called in to question by sports geeks in my life. Why? Apparently because it is more “manly” to have your pointless hobbies be watching sports, then to read comic books. Look in the long run niter of our “heroes” are real heroes mine aren’t real, and yours are only out for fame and money making them not real heroes. If “manly” means supporting real heroes, we both fail. If “manly” means getting laid, comics fans with wives put down the books for sex, according to the wives I have talked to, sports widows complain about not getting any. (I use the married because the single guys of both groups have a tendency toward FAT). Now I am in no way saying comic fans are any better, I just don’t think we are any worse.
2) Why is pot still Illegal?
Prohibition has FAILED with weed like it did with booze. Here in Ca. we could put a HUGE dent in the budget if we were just allowed to tax our #1 cash crop. The stuff is far less dangerous then beer (just beer, without counting any other alcoholic drink). Over half the USA thinks it should be legal. Also we can make better quality paper and cloth for far less money and with less harmful chemicals if we use hemp.
3) Atheism is NOT supported by science.
I have had this debate with a lot of Atheists, who try to claim that reason backs their side of whatever argument we are having. It doesn’t. A proper scientist would be Agnostic. The existence of a creator or creative force cannot currently be proven or disproven by science. That is also the position of the Agnostic. The disbelief of the Atheist is no more (or less) provable then the beliefs of any other religion.
4) How did the make Star Trek true to the original yet still Better?
I loved the film. I would say more but the parts I loved are all tied in with stuff that would be conserved spoiler stuff. They follow ALL the rules of the series but make it both new and better. I want to know how so I can do it.
5) Christians in the USA need to start showing respect to people of other faiths.
In this country we have both freedom of speech and freedom of religion. With that combination things can and will get heated. I am not saying you have to agree with everyone’s faith. However Christians in this country have a tendency to talk to non Christians as if they are insane, or stupid. This is offensive. US Christians need to treat other people’s beliefs with more respect. It makes you a better US citizen because it brings us together as a nation. It makes you a better Christian because it promotes tolerance the way Christ asked his followers too and it allows you to “show by example” to people who like you rather then people that you have offended so they are ignoring you now.
6) That said non-Christians need to cut the Christians a break.
This is particularly aimed at the “pagan” community, but I have seen it elsewhere. I know that a lot of angry confused people who call themselves Christian have said mean stuff about you. I know it seems like ALL the Christians hate you when none of them condemn the BS that those confused few say. If you forget that the people in the “first church of getting Christ right” not only are not the same as the “first church of losers who use Christ’s name for votes and cash” but are as opposed to them as you are then you are losing a TON of support for your fight against said ignorance.
(There is a third issue that is where these last two collide. It however is far too large for this quickie session)
7) Geoff Johns is the greatest comic writer ever.
Ok, this is for quality and quantity both of which he seems too able to do wonderfully. I like others but he has yet to let me down, unless you count dropping to “just above average” a disappointment. He even makes plots that sound ridiculous to my head before I read them REALY REALY cool. He made me love the JSA which was easy. Then he made me love Hal, which I was predisposed NOT to do. Furthermore he made me love Hal in one of those “ridiculous” plots. This man can write comics like no man can.
8) As I write this my religion is _______
That’s right one of the things I am looking at is my choice of religion. In my 40 years I spent 10 as too young, 10 as a Christian, 10 as a Wiccan, and 10 as a pagan with huge amounts of influence from the last two. As I am looking about I am none of the above. The best label I have is Deist which is what my favorite founding father was.
9) I am a &*#$%ing independent.
Yes, my views on marriage are Liberal. Yes, my views on gun control are conservative. If I haven’t stated my stance on an issue do not assume you know where I stand. I have switched my support in the past based on who treated me better. Right now if you are part of either major party you are a supporting a broken system. The Republicans FAILED this country for the last 8 years beyond any good they did prior. The Democrats (under Clinton) opened the door for them to do it and then sat on their hands for 2 years while things got worse “waiting for the election”. I do not support the flailed or the failing and in this two party system those are the choices you have.
10) “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”
This is a lie. Good intentions MAY lead to hell, but it is NOT the only road. I have seen this phrase used to justify NOT doing things to help people. Is planning to steal large amount of money a road to hell? According to the Bible (the source of the word and definition of “hell”) yes it is. Is planning to steal a “good” intention? NO. So this statement is disproved because of it use of the word “the”. If you are not acting on your “good intentions” you are also according to the Bible (which this phrase DOES NOT come from) a failure as both A Christian and a Jew. I have been reading both testaments not acting on good intentions is NOT being a good member of either faith according to the very book you base your beliefs on.
11) Gay Marriage
I still say marriage is a matter of Church and Civil union a matter of state. You may limit ANYTHING including race, eye color and hair cut in terms of your limits within your church BUT you have NO RIGHT to force you religious objections on me, which is what you do when you say I as a Rev. am limited in who I can bring together. I also have YET to find or be shown where in the Bible Christ or any or the Apostles said ANYTHING about marriage being “one man one woman”. Until this changes all of you who say that “one man one woman” is a Christian point of view, are assumed to be ignorant of you bible or liars. I do not apologize if that offends as your putting false hatred in to the loving mouth of your savior is conserved to be blasphemous by true Christians, and I see no reason to respect the religion of a person who does not truly respect it themselves.
12) I need to lighten up.
Looking at what I have so far there is some heavy stuff for a “quickie” blog. I think I may be taking myself too seriously. I mean these are serious times. I am seriously looking at a lot of my life as I approach (to the point of nearly being) 40. However my smile, wit and ability to take it all with humor are my main survival tactics. The first and last, on that list, demand less seriousness.
13) –Skipped for superstitious reasons—
14) I love my Lady.
This is a simple fact. We are happy together. She is beautiful and strong, but not mean. Just figured while I was saying stuff that the most important things get heard too.
15) We should tell the people we love that “we love them”
This was completely inspired by my need to do so above. If you love someone tell them, if it seems mushy then apologize for mushy and tell them. If you “just can’t” then they will not know and that would be sad.
16) Both Christ and the Buddha agree with me on 15
17) Is interfering with love an act of hate?
I was recently told “interfering with love is an act of hate”. It was in reference to Gay marriage and how the gay side feels about the actions of the anti gay side. While I support gay marriage I think this statement may be off. So I just thought would put this question out there in more general term to see what people think.
18) Dick Chaney
As long as this man is associated with the Republican Party they will treated like the scum he is. I am disgusted that people show him ANY respect. He broke his oath of office and committed treason to get revenge on a CIA agent who told the truth about why we shouldn’t start a war in Iraq. Once we were in Iraq only HIS Company got contracts. He thinks water boarding is ok. Those are three facts that make him a traitor, a war profiteer, and pro-torture. As long as the Republicans count this man as a member they will be as American as he is. He is an enemy to this country and no matter how confused, big government, or tax happy the Democrats may be your defense of the Dick proves you care more about your party then you do about the country. Kick him out, condemn his actions or admit you don’t give a $#!& about the men and women who his lies sent to death. Hey if you defend him you are also defending a pro-war, pro-torture money changer and are every bit as Christian as that suggests. If your church claims to be Christian but supports this man (and maybe even his party) they are false Christians.
19) It should be remembered that they Republicans do have good ideas so that when they get rid of the above we can start paying attention again.
There are good points about the Republican Party, and not all that they stand for is icky. Having got the Chaney thing off my chest I think it only fair to point out that while they have problems accepting change, this is often good in opposition to “change for changes sake” that seems to happen over a the Democrats side of things. Also the Republicans are better at the whole budgeting thing. While I may not always agree on the priorities they do bring things in cheaper and with fewer taxes.
20) The Democrats dropped the ball for two years and should be called on it.
TWO YEARS, they controlled congress. During that quarter of Bush’s presidency they did NOTHING. If we want to blame the state out nation is in on the Bush years (an oversimplification for speeds sake) they as a congress are responsible for ¼ of it. A lack of action that causes damage is the same as an action that causes damage in this case. It is why the "two party" system is a failure; it forces us to chose between those who meant to hurt us and those who will any way.
21) Only Jack Kirby could think a purple magnet hat would make a devourer of worlds look scary.
Then again Galatus eats worlds so I suppose he could look like blue bunny and be a frightening.
22) Everyone should go to a Renaissance Faire at least once.
Well or some other attempt a historical recreation. It’s fun and educational. It also keeps a lot of my friends in business if you go.
23) How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
I know the answer. Do you?
24) What do you do with a Drunken Sailor?
What do you do with a drunken sailor? Early in the morning?
25) I have made a prediction about this blog.
If enough people respond to question 25 with “WHAT IS IT” (or an amusing variation thereof) I will blog it. I promise to not change it, and I will also admit to being wrong or gloat about being right. The first is what I expect the latter would be nice.
So there you have it my last pre 40 blog see you in two weeks. I am planning to go weekly but until I can for a solid month I am not going to claim it’s actually going to happen.
Peace and Goldfish Crackers
Bradleyman