Using only the pieces already on the board, I don't think humanity can or should be saved.

[alexsarll]

Alleged rock'n'roll wild man Bobby Gillespie signs petition against late noise at this local. Awwww, does diddums need his nap? Hardly the first time he's been shown for the risible tosser he is, but still a story to cherish.

German leader demonstrates unwillingness to accept the will of other European peoples re: putting a brake on continental integration; some things never change. In other German muscle-flexing news, they want to use their EU presidency to ban swastikas throughout Europe, so we all have to suffer under the same ill-conceived rules which led to problems publishing Eisner's The Plot there; a Hindu group has sensibly complained that this would be "equivalent to banning the cross simply because the Ku Klux Klan had used burning crosses".

Two episodes in to new American TV hit Heroes, and I find myself liking it rather than loving it. The Shield, Galactica, The Sopranos, Firefly - they all had me absolutely hooked from the start, whereas here I'm intrigued but not addicted. And remembering what happened with Lost, that worries me a little. I'll not abandon it just on that suspicion - but if it does let me down, even once, I'm out. In some respects I'm an easy sell on the premise; a handful of people on an Earth apparently similar to our own spontaneously manifest superpowers*. But in others, I'm the worst audience, because I've already seen a dozen variants on this tale so you're not going to impress me with the high concept alone; even in terms of a new series right now, so far I'd say that in comics the first two issues of Warren Ellis' newuniversal have done this better.
Also, given Wendy & Lisa are doing the music I'd expect it to be a little more noticeable. "Wendy?" "Yes, Lisa" "Is the human genome warm enough?"

A former senior FBI agent specializing in tracking terrorists has condemned the latest plot twist in the Fox series 24, about low-grade nuclear explosions being detonated in the U.S. Jack Cloonan told ABC News that trainees in al-Qaeda camps had watched U.S. movies "to get ideas." The show, he remarked "ups the ante for everybody. ... We saw what Columbine did. Fox may think they are doing a public service, but I don't see any redeeming value at all." Sut Jhally, a professor of communications at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, maintained that the show was part of Fox's "propaganda system" to reinforce stereotypes about Arabs. "Iran is on the news about nuclear power, and now there is an American TV story on an Arab terrorist using nuclear power," he said. "It's dangerous because this present administration wants any excuse to attack an enemy."" Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Ex-FBI fool: there have already been enough potential terror plots in fiction that you'd need about 300 terrorist networks to get through them all in the next century, not to mention multiple USAs for them to obliterate. For us to only have fluffy TV now as some kind of safeguard would be shutting the stable door after the whole damn herd has bolted, not to mention censorship being just the sort of thing the Islamist dicks want. Arab-apologist fool: yes, well maybe Al Qaeda attacks and Iran's nuclear ambitions and culpably deranged pronouncements on Israel are a bigger incentive to US military action than a fictional TV show, have you thought of that? Aside from which, the first time 24 apparently used Arab terrorists, it turned out it was actually a plot by US oil interests to foment war. In other words, if you'd paid any damn attention you'd have seen a storyline which supported your cause.

*I have to like this story, given it's one of only two ways I can see our world being saved from the myriad dooms currently looming over it.

Comments

[tintintin.livejournal.com]

Give Heroes two more eps. I am confident that your interest will grow.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Well, I have another four waiting for me. And in any case, it's really only my current negative cast of mind which is making me think 'I don't love this' as opposed to 'I rather like this'.

[peacockpunk.livejournal.com]

What yer man Rintintin (top dog in Hollywood!) just said.

I've never read and Ellis, but I'm toying with getting The Planetary trades. What's this new thing?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Reboot of Marvel's flop New Universe. No, me either. Essentially: one day the sky goes white, and after that, a handful of people find themselves...gifted. We suspect they may have to steer their universe along the right path for some sort of evolutionary transition. See why I brought it up?

First two Planetary trades are ace, as in-jokes go; after that it goes downhill at a rate of knots.

[peacockpunk.livejournal.com]

Goes downhill? Sack that, then. There's tonnes of stuff I need more. In fact: any recommendations? Remembering that I only buy trades, not filthy advert strewn pamphlets.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Like I have any idea what's been collected for the late adopters!

You read Morrison's Animal Man, yes?

[peacockpunk.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't. It's on the list. I want info on non Morrison/Moore stuff! Is Sandman worth embarking on?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm. It's a great way of getting goths into comics, but it really gets some people's backs up. Also: the first book is probably the worst, which doesn't help. Oh! I think you might like Milligan's Enigma a great deal.

On the fourth ep of Heroes now and still ambivalent. How often can one cheerleader have fatal accidents in a given week?

[peacockpunk.livejournal.com]

On the fourth ep of Heroes now and still ambivalent.

But, but... HIRO!!!

I reckon you're determined not to like it, Grandad.

Enigma? Will investigate...

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Dude, I was so looking forward to this and was expecting to adore it straight off! Yeah, Super Hiro clearly rocks, and I now really want to shoot Tim Sale up with DRUKQS in order to predict the future. But "I've loved you from the moment I saw you?" The incredible obviousness of the whole Niki's husband plot? Clare and Petrelli both doing the same lame trying-to-be-normal bit?

For now, the cop, Hiro and the buff geneticist are keeping my attention. But it could yet waver.

[peacockpunk.livejournal.com]

Well, the Nikki/DL plot is pretty annoying, yeah. Stick around for more Sylar, though. I think you'll like him more than the others!

You look different without your scar

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Just after turning off the shiny, I met Dark Future Hiro and am now convinced. See the second season has now been confirmed? (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9382)

Re: You look different without your scar

[peacockpunk.livejournal.com]

Hoorah for that, and hoorah for more "My Name Is Earl"!

Re: You look different without your scar

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Nah, screw that - a potentially promising series if its structure weren't so inherently fvcking feelgood. Though it was amusing watching that doc about California music to note how much one of the Eagles looks like Earl.

Re: You look different without your scar

[peacockpunk.livejournal.com]

Your wallet is full of blood you big goth.

Re: You look different without your scar

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Yes, and?

Re: You look different without your scar

[peacockpunk.livejournal.com]

And bats and witch hair and cobwebs and strange.

[missfrost.livejournal.com]

Take it you saw Tony's suggestion that we all pile round to outside Bobby's and play loud Primal Scream after SB? I'm up for this more than I was for the Blaine stunt.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Yeah, posted this before checking SBB. While clearly I dislike Gillespie more than Blaine, this would clearly be a longer walk than that was.

[okborednow.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why the Gillespie thing has only just come out, given the letter is 18 months old. I think Heroes is excellent, but I was totally hooked from the start.
xx

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Hey, I nearly posted about the proposed union with France and that story was 50 years old! I link to 'em when I get 'em!