Just a random jumble of thoughts and things.
1) Rocky Horror stuff – One last thought. It was really interesting to actually see Rocky Horror on TV again, like I used to see it, way back in the day.
I used to watch Rocky Horror on TV when I was a kid, back in those days when primetime TV on FOX amounted to nigh endless repeats of films in their back catalog. I swear I didn’t understand even a scene of it back then, let alone any of the subtext or commentary and whatnot, but I found it enthralling, or at least interesting, anyways. This was back when I was like 10.
Seeing the remake now, it’s clear that the original had some kinda-sorta-maybe-definitely-but-not-really all THAT much influence on me. As in, it might have influenced me, somehow, in some way. Somehow. Not sure, though. You know how it goes.
But, anyways, it WAS kinda cool seeing Victoria et al. in their remake. It brought back memories. Not many, mind you, but some.
And that’s all that counts.
2) Marvel stuff – I’m going through my old comics right now, to pitch some of the ones I, um, bought on my computer, so I don’t need the paper copies anymore.
As I do so, I’m noticing interesting things. In particular, I’m realizing how much of an influence American comics had over Japanese manga. I mean, I knew the influence was there, but I never noticed it until just now. Noticed it fully, I mean.
I know that there are a few people who made the obvious connection between Superman and Goku (shout out to Death Battle, here), but I just now realized the connection between Captain Mar-vell and Goku, and the Kree race and the Sayajins. Looking at it now, it’s just so obvious.
For those uninitiated into the cult of comic books, the Kree are a race of tyrannical intergalactic warriors with highly advanced technology and a human-like appearance. Sometime during the Silver Age of comics, one of their number travels to Earth with intent to subdue it, or at least scope it out, for a future possible conquest for his race. Eventually, though, he grows to like his new planet- and joins their society, rejecting his own and his own heritage in the process. This is Mar-vell’s story. And also Goku’s, basically.
In fact, I’m seeing that a lot of what I liked in DBZ probably came, in some form, from old Marvel comics. Look at the similarity between the end of Cell’s fight with Gohan and the fight between the Beyonder and Molecule Man at the end of Secret Wars II. The Marvel influence over DBZ is just so huge. So obvious.
I love following the clues and finding these patterns. There’s nothing more rewarding or enjoyable, in some ways.
3) Fashion stuff – I got a visit from Diana Vreeland the other day.
Yup. Believe it or not, that did happen. She was curious, and wanted to actually see me for herself.
It happened in the morning. I woke up and BOOM there she was. Unfortunately, I was tired and fell back to sleep after chatting with her for a few minutes. When I woke up again, she was gone.
But still…
Diana Vreeland.
Wow.
4) World Series stuff – Watching the Cubs in the WS is fun, but while watching them I’m starting to realize why I stopped watching TV.
Everything on TV is just too much, these days. The commercials are too irritating and too numerous, the TV screens are too big and annoyingly bright and the volume too loud across the board, and everything, especially that which concerns sports, is just so… repetitive. I wish I could say that I was looking forward to the next few nights of back-to-back-to-back 4 and a half hour baseball games, and I am, but… yeah.
You know, TV used to be something you would have on in the background, while you did something else, or talked to your family. Now, TV’s are so huge and loud and demanding that they always become the center of attention, regardless of everything else. Watching the WS, I feel like I’m under assault, somewhat. Perhaps this would be allieviated if I was to actually get used to watching TV again, but I still don’t think it would go away- at least not entirely.
I guess I’ll finish out the series, or at least most of it, since I kinda committed myself to doing so, but still… I think I’ll continue to stay away from TV for the time being after all of this is over.
5) Halloween stuff – Halloween around here is this Sunday. Yay.
I always use Halloween to gauge myself. Every year after Halloween, I make a promise to myself that I’ll improve myself in some way, so that I get to soak up more of the holiday the year following.
So, come the end of each October, I’ll re-access my previous 360-ish days and determine how I’ve done since the last Halloween.
How did I do this year?
I think I did OK.