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E. Peterman is a contributing writer for Stimulatedboredom.com and co-creator of Girls-Gone-Geek.com.

It isn’t hyperbole to say that every comic book fan should see “Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines,” the excellent documentary that premeired last month at the South by Southwest Film Festival. But you needn’t own a single comic book to fully enjoy this film. Thought-provoking and frequently moving, “Wonder Women!” examines the history of fictional heroines in popular culture, and how their highs and lows have reflected the lives of real American women since the 1940s.

It’s full of insightful commentary from activists, artists and scholars like Gloria Steinem, Trina Robbins, Lynda Carter and Bikini Kill lead singer Kathleen Hanna, as well as the stories of everyday men, women and children who are inspired by the most iconic heroine of all — Wonder Woman. Director Kristy Guevara-Flanagan graciously provided Girls Gone Geek with a copy of “Wonder Women!,” which is not yet in wide release. It’s so good that V. and I are on a mission to spread awareness in the hopes that it eventually becomes available for all to see. In the meantime, you can view a clip on the movie’s website.

“Wonder Women!” delves into Wonder Woman’s backstory as well as that of her eccentric creator, William Moulton Marston. Imagine being a kid, especially a girl in 1941 and seeing this powerful superheroine flying an invisible jet and knocking bad guys around like bowling pins. “She was the only hero who made you feel good about yourself,” Steinem said, reflecting on her own girlhood discovery of the character.

On the homefront, American women discover their own power by making and even flying planes while the men fight World War II overseas. But after the war, as women are expected to put down their rivet drills and go back to the kitchen, Wonder Woman’s commanding image suffers.

It’s not just her. Lois Lane dreams of becoming Mrs. Superman. Batwoman, who fights crime with a special makeup compact, is portrayed as incompetent and is frequently lectured by Batman. Even Catwoman is tamed, temporarily renouncing her career as a jewel thief.

Steinem shares a great anecdote about Ms. magazine’s campaign to restore Wonder Woman to glory after the character was de-powered and turned into a clothing boutique owner/martial artist in the late 1960s. (Wonder Woman famously appeared on the first issue of Ms. magazine in 1970, striding across the landscape in her original costume.)

First Issue of Ms. Magazine, Featuring Wonder Woman

“I remember the person in charge of Wonder Woman calling me up from DC Comics, and he was so annoyed,” Steinem recalled. “He said, ‘OK, she has her magical powers back, her lasso and bracelets; she has her invisible plane back and she has a black, African sister named Nubia. Now will you leave me alone?’ ”

It’s fascinating to see the progression of the heroine in comics, television and film over time — characters like Buffy, Xena, Ellen Ripley and the Bionic Woman, all represented here. Lynda Carter, who is Wonder Woman for a generation of fans, tells some interesting stories about her time in that role. She was stunned by one person’s opinion that female viewers would end up hating her, a prediction that obviously turned out to be dead wrong.

“Wonder Women!” has a strong point of view, and it isn’t afraid to embrace feminism or to ask hard questions about the treatment of women in the fictional realm and the real world. Modern-day sexism in comics doesn’t get a pass, and I want to high-five author Jennifer K. Stuller for putting to rest, once and for all, the old chestnut that male and female characters are similarly portrayed.

“People who say that men are just as hypersexualized or hyperidealized in comic books, in movies and/or television – that’s just bullshit,” Stuller said. “I would say that men may be drawn as muscular and handsome, but they’re also shown being active. They’re shown saving the day. Women are shown in very little clothing and being tortured, raped and murdered, so (men) are not subjected to that same sort of treatment of their bodies.”

But what gives “Wonder Women!” emotional depth is the commentary of fans like Katie Pineda, a fourth-grader whose confidence shines above her speech impediment; Andy Mangels, founder of the annual Wonder Woman Day project, which has raised more than $89,000 for battered womens’ shelters; and Carmela Lane, an immigrant from Brazil who is trying to making a better life for her daughter in the U.S. — and possesses some epic Wonder Woman tattoos. When you look at the footage of women and girls of all races and body types in Wonder Woman cosplay, it’s clear that they feel empowered just by wearing the costume. The Amazon Princess is more than a character in book; she’s a real source of inspiration for people of all genders and ages.

The question remains: Where did Wonder Woman go? She still has an ongoing comic book, but she hasn’t occupied the general public consciousness in a major way since the 1970s. We’re inundated with stories about male superheroes. Wonder Woman remains a unique and important symbol of female strength, one that — to echo Steinem — can make girls feel good about themselves.

“It’s time for DC to come forward. We’d love to have a full feature, live-action Wonder Woman movie,” said one fan, proudly dressed in full Wonder Woman regalia at a convention. “It’s time.”

Geek Girl - E. Peterman

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J.D. Luedi is a listener from Canada and contributing writer for Stimulatedboredom.com.

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War saw the United States as the unchallenged hegemon. America in all its military superiority and glittering technological panoply now stood with no enemy in sight. During the 1990s and into the new millennium the political community witnessed the re-emergence of asymmetrical conflicts, with irregular forces now the commonplace enemy. Consequently international relations at the beginning of the 21st century is characterized by several new factors. Firstly there has been a marked decline in the level of inter-state warfare; specifically a virtual cessation of great power conflict has occurred following the Second World War. With the end of the Cold War, most developed states such as the United States, Western Europe and Japan, inhabit a “security community in which war is unthinkable.”

The collapse of the Soviet Union seemingly ushered in the end of the possibility of large scale conflict, leaving the United States as the lone Superpower in the world

Specifically changes in the national identities of many former colonial powers and traditional rivals, has resulted in the decline of territorial disputes and other historic causes for war. As such, the probability of states engaging in conflict is at its lowest since the early 1950s; however, most modern conflicts are not purely inter-state affairs. While the possibility still exists of conflict between the United States and major powers not party to the aforementioned security community (Russia, China), the potential ‘sparks of war’ have also changed. Whereas it is theoretically possible to conceive of conflicts between China and America over Taiwan, or with Russia over the Baltic states, these conflicts would result not from traditional great power interests, rather from “milieu goals” such as democracy and self-determination.

Ideals and ideologies are presently the most potent drivers of modern conflicts. These conflicts have been instigated by the re-emergence of national, racial, ethnic and religious forces. Moreover the vast majority of conflicts in the post-WWII era have been of an asymmetrical nature. Since the early 1990s asymmetrical threats and low intensity conflicts have become prominent topics in debates concerning (inter)national security. These so called “new wars” are viewed by many as a new paradigm in warfare for “given the scale and frequency of war amongst the great powers in the proceeding millenia, this is a change of spectacular proportions, perhaps the single most striking discontinuity that the history of international politics has anywhere provided.” Contrary to such hyperbolic claims, asymmetrical warfare is by no means a recent phenomenon, rather it has been an integral facet of warfare throughout human history. Examples of asymmetrical conflicts litter history, and that their legacy and lessons are of great importance, for the challenges faced and counter-measures undertaken by modern actors find many parallels in the historical record.

Asymmetrical conflicts manifest themselves as insurgencies and guerrilla wars. Such conflicts are characterized by a lack of large confrontations, with insurgents electing to attack the stronger force via hit-and-run tactics. Insurgents also utilize superior local knowledge and their environments to counter superior firepower and technology, while operating unseen amongst the general population. In such conflicts, no real battlefield exists, and conflicts are characterized by an oft maddening fluidity between combatants and civilians. Insurgencies and their corresponding counter-insurgencies see governments waging war against non-state actors, with significant portions of the populace potentially supporting either side. As a result the “shooting side of this business is only 25 per cent of the trouble and the other 75 per cent lies in getting the people behind us.” The key struggle in asymmetrical conflicts is over the ‘hearts and minds’ of the populace, for the goal is no longer that of military defeat per se, rather “the internal political collapse of the opponent’s willingness to continue.”

Small scale conflicts have become the norm. These asymmetrical conflicts manifest themselves as insurgencies and guerrilla wars.

Insurgents do not follow traditional organizational methods, rather they use a myriad of political, societal, economic and technological means in order to coordinate, operate and fight. The ‘traditional’ style of inter-state warfare which Western armies are organized to fight, is described as 4th generational warfare; which is founded upon structures, be they command, firepower, logistical etc. Militaries operate within a context of over lapping structures, which allows for effective broad based and large scale operations. Conversely this reliance on structures hampers efforts at small, delicate low-intensity operations, for military-complexes are too unwieldy to effectively counter insurgent activities. In asymmetrical conflicts neither side can predict what the other intends and as such flexibility and speed of adaptation are the key determinants in deciding a conflict’s outcome. Insurgents in turn adhere to what is described as 5th generational warfare, namely operating in autonomous networks – Western militaries routinely fail to defeat insurgents by ‘cutting off the snake’s head,’ for no head exists.

Following the events of September 11th 2001, and the resulting quagmires which now characterize operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaders and policymakers promptly declared the familiar forms of warfare as “no longer relevant to modern asymmetrical times.” Criticisms were also levelled against Western armed forces for being equipped and based on “the obsolete concept of large scale war in the post-1945 [and post 9/11] world.” Similarly aspects of the ‘traditional’ institutional and legal framework have been called into question. On January 11th 2002, US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld declared that insurgents would not be handled as POW (prisoners of war) rather as “unlawful combatants [for] technically unlawful combatants do not have any rights under the Geneva Convention.” Such claims sought to paint Geneva and its ilk as irrelevant, however these very conventions were created in response to asymmetric forces.

The 1863 Lieber Code which regulates American military forces, was created by Abraham Lincoln in response to the actions of irregular forces during the American Civil War. Similarly the 1874 Brussels Declaration, which sought to regulate wartime operations, and in turn influenced many later conventions, was born out of Prussian experiences during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871. Despite being seen as the archetype of traditional regular inter-state conflict, the war saw Prussian forces suffer most their causalities after the decisive victories at Gravelotte and Sedan in 1870. Following the capture of Napoleon III and the French army, the nascent civilian government adopted new tactics and dispersed into the countryside. The rear-guard attacks by French franc-tireurs (free-shooters), led in turn to the Brussels Declaration. German paranoia of franc-tireurs led to the later repression of the Belgium populace during WWI and slaughter of partisan fighters during WWII, acts which in turn sired further conventions in 1929 and 1949 respectively. It is true that those present at the Hague and Geneva “repeatedly choose to deal with the challenge of irregular fighters by placing them outside the remit of the law. But that does not mean that the law is not geared towards irregular ‘asymmetric’ conflict.”

Contemporary asymmetric conflict sees modern armies routinely frustrated in their counter-insurgent efforts, often by distinctly ‘unmodern’ opponents. Insurgents contradict core modern notions such as the state monopoly on violence, and religious guerrilla movements such as the Taliban, the Eritrea Islamic Jihad Movement and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan flaunt modernist secular conventions. Furthermore, the language of ‘insurgent’ delegitimizes asymmetrical struggles, for “irregular warfare implies a distinctness from ‘regular’ warfare…irregular implies infrequent, yet such events are common occurrences.” There exists a common tendency to view combatants who do not organize along ‘normal’ lines nor field ‘normal’ armies as backward and primitive. In truth these combatants operate within a post-modern rather than pre-modern context, a fact often mistaken, for former often resembles the latter. For instance consider the following description of an asymmetrical conflict in which “small groups of armed partisans attack civilians, special forces throw their enemies off balance with surprise attacks, insurgents murder diplomats and take hostages, and [warring parties] use infiltration and information gathering.” Such words conjure images of Kabul, Baghdad or Waziristan, yet in fact the above passage refers to the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta during the 5th century BC.

Asymmetrical warfare has been a persistent aspect of human conflict. Those who characterize asymmetry in war as a merely modern, nay 21st century phenomenon, fail to acknowledge the myriad of pertinent examples throughout history. Indeed most conflicts have been asymmetric. Following the conclusion of the First World War a British army officer stated; “good we can now get back to proper soldiering” – referring to small wars and counter-insurgencies. Moreover many of the tactics, happenings and frustrations experienced by modern policymakers, are present in historical conflicts. Consequently “lessons and insights from past low-intensity war deserve revisiting…they provide perspective as well as context for what may be a defining period for the American war on terrorism.” The notion that warfare has somehow drastically changed from the past is simply fallacious, for the issue of asymmetrical conflict has been an important topic of discussion in many eras. Whereas “counter-insurgency is a modern term…we can go back at least a couple of centuries to Ireland, to India [over] a century and a half ago, to Africa at about the same time, and indeed to Iraq almost a century ago.” This common misinterpretation of military history stems from misunderstandings of previous time periods due to incomplete or selective readings of history. Specifically “incidents of irregular warfare throughout history [have] become analytical orphans…unfairly excluded [from the] knowledge of strategic studies [thus] simultaneously weakening and limiting models of war.”

Carl von Clausewitz

There exists a popular view that prior to WWII nations fought large traditional wars, whereas after 1945 asymmetrical wars evolved. The traditional form of warfare is described as Clausewitzian and that the “pre-conditions of [such] Napoleonic warfare [are] absent” in modern conflicts. Such descriptions of historical and contemporary warfare, however rest upon misconceptions surrounding ‘normal’ warfare. Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) is known as the theorist of grand inter-state wars, and his oft quoted (and unfinished) opus “On War” is seen to be representative of traditional military thinking. Interestingly, Clausewitz also speaks at length concerning small wars, and was the first theorist concerned with wars of national liberation. Clausewitz states that weaker actors should adopt an active defence, thereby aiming not for the annihilation of one’s enemy, rather his destruction through attrition. Indeed it was Clausewitz who advocated for a popular uprising and guerrilla war against Napoleonic forces, by abolishing the regular Prussian army, and reorganizing troops into independent action groups to attack and ambush the French from behind. Such statements clearly demonstrate the existence and importance of asymmetrical warfare prior to the mid-twentieth century, and show that “military events that depart from standard set-piece battles are frequent throughout history and in the post-Napoleonic period.” The Napoleonic era is championed as the golden age of large inter-state war, yet by defining ‘regular’ warfare as Napoleonic, one commits a severe error. The Napoleonic wars coined the term ‘guerrilla’ during the Peninsular War of 1808-1814, in which Spanish irregulars fought the French by harassing spread out parties, cutting communication lines, ambushing patrols and intercepting supplies.

Such tactics sound familiar to the modern ear, for many common themes are present throughout asymmetrical conflicts, with history echoing the difficulties and experiences of 21st century combatants. The US military upon entering Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 enjoyed overwhelming firepower superiority, yet could never bring it to bear as insurgents never confronted the Americans in open combat. The American military was structured to fight a massive technological war against another superpower, yet found all that expertise and power was rendered impotent in asymmetrical conflict. Similar problems faced Napoleon’s forces two centuries prior. During the royalist Vendee counter-revolution against Revolutionary French control which began in 1793, there was “no specific fortress to storm, no real army to capture…in this theatre the sophisticated military education of the Revolution’s generals was found to be largely irrelevant.” The French in Spain fought under similar circumstances in which “if small columns were sent out to attack the insurgency, they were liable to be destroyed. Yet if larger columns were sent out they found no one to fight.”

Guerrillas attacking French forces from behind

Similarly British armies in India during the 1760s-1790s found that East India Company soldiers who adapted to Indian circumstances fared better than professional soldiers with European training and experience. This was due to the fact that “country (Indian) armies hardly seemed to constitute what would have been understood by European officers as ‘coherent’ standing establishments.” Furthermore large infantry and artillery based armies with their “superior firepower, might win battles, when they could be contrived, but could not win wars quickly or decisively.” More recently following WWII, the French in their efforts to subdue Indo-China tried and failed to force the Vietminh to fight in the only manner they knew – classic pitched battles. These exact problems resurfaced a decade later, as did the same type of mistakes with US military leaders lamenting that “if only the little bastards would come out of the jungle and fight like men, we’d cream them.”

This frustration has yet again emerged in American rhetoric concerning Afghanistan-Pakistan; one need simply replace the word jungle with mountain, and the above sentence loses none of its relevance. Such consternation is due to in part to the fact that following Vietnam, America made a conscious move away from counter-insurgency, and as such is in the process of relearning the same old lessons in Afghanistan. The main factor, however, is the faulty presumption that the “United States must end military conflicts quickly and at minimum cost [a notion which] has achieved almost the status of orthodox dogma.” Speed and economy, the defining features of much of our 21st century lives, are anathema to the successful completion of counter-insurgent activities. Counter-insurgencies are lengthy affairs, in which much time and effort must be put into the delicate non-military (hearts and minds) aspects; however, the US has as of yet been unable to create systems to “effectively execute non-lethal side efforts.”

1966: A napalm strike erupts in a fireball near U.S. troops on patrol in South Vietnam.

The successful British counter-insurgency in Malaysia (1948-1960), resulted from the realization that the country could not have been “subdued by a purely military solution, because insurgency is not primarily a military activity.” The term ‘hearts and minds’ is assumed to be a modern one, and is usually attributed to the Malayan conflict, however as with so much surrounding asymmetric warfare, the notion has more distantroots. John Adams described the American revolution / insurgency as being “effected before the war commenced…the revolution was in the hearts and minds of the people.” Similar notions were present in British actions in India during the 1770s. In their efforts to subdue the irregular forces of troublesome hill tribes, the British created special counter-insurgency units trained in jungle warfare, street fighting and night attacks. Such tactics “in conjunction with a ‘hearts and minds’ policy, followed over the next 20 years, secured a tolerable degree of order in the borderlands.”

The aforementioned example demonstrates a key characteristic of counter-insurgency operations: time. American forces are entering their twelfth year in Afghanistan, and this very issue of time commitment remains totally antithetical to American military policy, and public opinion expectations. Arbitrary time constraints and an aversion to long-term commitment in part doomed American efforts in Vietnam, and hastened their exit from Somalia. Counter-insurgency actions took twelve years in Malaya and El Salvador, fourteen in Oman, over twenty in Colombia and Vendee, the combined Franco-American fiasco in Vietnam lasted over three decades and insurgencies in Nepal, and until recently Sri Lanka and Burma lasting decades more.58

By examining past endeavours, modern tacticians and leaders can gain valuable insights, and dispel some of the ominous nebulosity surrounding asymmetric conflicts. It is important to remember that “today’s insurgencies differ significantly from those of the 1960s…classical theory is necessary but not sufficient for success against contemporary insurgents.” Indeed the views of Mao Zedong for instance concerning the role of insurgents as paving the way for regular armies, differs vastly from contemporary realities. Furthermore the recognition of asymmetric warfare as equally important and serious as its more ‘traditional’ counterpart, is an important step towards better dealings with insurgencies. The false assumption of asymmetric conflicts as deviations from the norm as well as the successive ‘forgettings’ of past lessons have had severe and deadly consequences on modern battlefields. The ascendency of asymmetric conflicts in recent decades is not, as dreaded by some, a fearsome apparition heralding the death knell of western military competency and power. Rather it is merely a longstanding facet of human conflict, and its past appearances can be studied and learned from. While the wholesale adoption of previously successful tactics is not ideal, by referencing historical examples, modern policymakers can distinguish successful trends. The variety of past operations demonstrates the need for making local circumstances and issues paramount in any counter-insurgence stratagem. The plethora of problems facing modern combatants, be they irregular tactics, local idiosyncrasies or the ensuing battle for hearts and minds, have all been encountered before and at times successfully surmounted by warriors past.

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To date, over 45 major advertisers and sponsors have pulled their ads from Limbaugh's show over his characterization of Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke as a "slut" and "prostitute" for her advocacy of women's access to contraception

Conservative shock joke…excuse me, jock, Rush Limbaugh, recently created a fervor over his attack of Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke for her position on insurance coverage for birth control.

Mr. OxyContin labeled Ms. Fluke a “slut” and a “prostitute,” then took it a step further the following day when he called on her and her friends to post videos of them having sex so that he could watch:

‎
• “So Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here’s the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex. We want something for it. We want you post the videos online so we can all watch.“

Despite the massive outcry from (especially) parents and women who denounced Limbaugh’s implication that women who use and/or want access to contraception are whores, the famously unremorseful Limbaugh did not issue an (insincere) apology until his advertisers began to pull their money from his program…and even then, he continues to take an indignant tone towards the companies who pulled their support, essentially bragging to his audience that they (advertisers) need him more than he needs them.

We’ll see how that theory plays out as his employer continues to hemorrhage millions in lost ad revenue a day…

To date – thanks in large part to the social media explosion and outcry over his comments – Limbaugh has lost over 45 major sponsors and advertisers, who issued statements that they do not wish for their brand to be associated with such misogynist rhetoric. Incidentally, one of these advertisers was the Girl Scouts of America, undoubtedly uncomfortable with Limbaugh’s grossly abhorrent characterization.

Update 3/10/12: Over 141 national advertisers have pulled or requested that their ads not be played during Limbaugh’s program.

Sandra Fluke, the target of Limbaugh's attacks, as she testifies on Capitol Hill advocating for access to birth control

The President even weighed in on the controversy during a recent press conference, in which he responded to a question, perhaps speaking on behalf of all parents of young daughters who could probably imagine their own response if their child had been the target of Rush’s attacks:

• “The reason I called Ms. Fluke is because I thought about Malia and Sasha, and one of the things I want them to do as they get older is to engage in issues they care about, even ones I may not agree with them on. I want them to be able to speak their mind in a civil and thoughtful way.”
• “And I don’t want them attacked or called horrible names because they’re being good citizens. And I wanted Sandra to know that I thought her parents should be proud of her, and that we want to send a message to all our young people that being part of a democracy involves argument and disagreements and debate, and we want you to be engaged, and there’s a way to do it that doesn’t involve you being demeaned and insulted, particularly when you’re a private citizen.”

Originally I had planned on doing a full write-up on the timeline and underlying story behind the controversy, including the fact that 99% of all women have used contraception – whether to prevent unwanted pregnancy (something Pro-Lifers should support, as the argument could be made that it would lead to less abortions) or for medical reasons and how Limbaugh’s comments have been hugely detrimental to the GOP’s stance with women heading into the election…especially since no one could argue that Limbaugh’s influence with the Republican party can be even closely matched by any commentator on the left side of the isle.

In this article, however, I primarily wanted to focus on another gross mischaracterization that always bothers me whenever there is a public uproar over distasteful comments…whether by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus, Bill Maher or Hank Williams Jr.

”It’s a Violation of His First Amendment Rights!!!”

No. It isn’t.

Inevitably, there is always someone who comes to the defense of the provocateur by claiming a violation of the Freedom of Speech clause of the First Amendment.

Therefore, allow me to clarify this argument for those people who like to espouse the virtues of the First Amendment within our Constitution, yet who have clearly never read nor bothered to understand it:

• Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In the case of Limbaugh’s comments, he certainly has the right to exercise his free speech (and did), however the reaction to it was not a violation of those rights.

A violation would be if he were placed into jail for the comments, having broken a law of which abridged those rights…a law that does not exist, thanks to the First Amendment. Even being fired would not be a violation of those rights, as he is not breaking any law that has been passed that infringes upon them.

Mr. Pain Pill Addiction and 4 Marriages has every right to say stupid and offensive shit…however his employer, advertisers and sponsors are not obligated to be associated with them…that is their right. Whether it violates the image / policies of his employer or tarnishes the brand of an advertiser who does not want to be associated with offensive material, Limbaugh is paying for the consequences of his own words…he is not, however, being carted off in handcuffs for saying them.

For further context: If Target advertised on a radio program that boasted 15-20 million listeners (as Limbaugh’s does) and the host joked about rape…it is entirely within Target’s rights to pull their advertising money from that program and not wanting to have their family-friendly image / brand associated with such content. That is simply an unintended consequence of exercising Free Speech, not a violation.

”It’s Censorship!!!”

No. It’s not.

The privilege of broadcasters to use a portion of the public and free radio frequency spectrum is regulated by the FCC. In fact, broadcasters must prove that they have served the public interest in order to get license renewal every 4 years. If they can’t, the license goes to someone else who will.

With that license comes certain agreed-upon regulations that govern the use of the public airwaves that can be heard by any man, woman or child with a radio. As such, broadcasters must adhere to those standards.

The FCC is not hindering or censoring Rush Limbaugh’s ability to voice his opinion, nor are the licenses being pulled from every affiliate that carries his program as a result of his remarks. Therefore, he is not being censored and I assure you that Mr. Zero Food & Drug Self Control will continue to make abhorrent comments, as is his right…and is also yours to simply to change the channel and not listen.

Whether his comments result in his employer firing him or the loss of advertising dollars gets him pulled from some of the stations that carry his program – that is fully within his control and what he chooses to say – but the FCC is not going to censor him unless he violates the Standards and Practices clause of his employer’s license, of which every other radio & TV station must adhere to. And before that would ever happen, he would be fined for violations, but not censored.

On Free Speech

As a content producer and podcast host, I am acutely aware of my First Amendment rights, as I am a staunch advocate for them. I may despise Rush Limbaugh and everything he stands for and says, but I support his right to say it…I just simply exercise my right to change the channel and not listen to it.

It’s that simple.

The current outcry over his comments are his – and his alone – to be held accountable for. He was not carted off to jail as a martyr of Free Speech and he is certainly not a victim…in fact, his entire existence is predicated on his special brand of vitriol and the attention that it gets. If his own words caused listeners to tune out and for his advertisers to pull out, that is their right and under no circumstances are poor Mr. Limbaugh’s being violated in any way.

Although I have been offered jobs in terrestrial (AM/FM) radio, I choose to produce a podcast that I can have complete control over it and its content. I have turned down advertisers who had wished to have influence over the content on my show to better suit their brand…and if I did accept an advertiser, I would certainly understand them severing the relationship if I said something on my program that did not coincide with the image that they wish to portray to the public.

The FCC does not regulate podcasts and therefore I am not constrained, nor is my freedom of expression stifled in any way. I do an uncensored program and can say anything I damn well please without any thought of FCC standards…this is my right. “Uncensored” does not necessarily translate to “profane”, but that opinions and comments (including language) are not influenced by FCC regulations or sponsors and therefore can be truthful, direct, honest, impassioned, conversational and thought provoking.

I say all of this to illustrate my passion for the First Amendment, and as such, my irritation when it is defined and characterized incorrectly.

PS – Although I could write an entire diatribe on the “merits” of Mr. I Smoke Huge Cigars Because They Remind Me Of A Male Phallus’ stance on contraception, and the fact that no Republican candidate for President has had the courage to denounce his comments; I’ll just share Jon Stewart’s brilliant take on it:

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• “Trying to make a movie in Hollywood is like trying to grill a steak by having a succession of people coming into the room and breathing on it.” – Douglas Adams

We’ve all heard the rumors before; whether it was the incredulous reaction many of us had to the notion of Nicolas Cage portraying, ‘The Man of Steel’ in Tim Burton’s (ill-fated) Superman Lives or the anticipation of finally seeing Neil Gaiman’s immensely popular comic book series, The Sandman adapted to the silver screen…only to have nothing materialize and simply disappear into the annals of Hollywood history.

In this newly expanded edition, author David Hughes just might agree with the assertion that perhaps Dante should have revised his Divine Comedy to include a 10th Level: Development Hell

“The Script Is Perfect. Who Can We Get to Rewrite It?”

In Tales From Development Hell: The Greatest Movies Never Made?, Hughes recounts the arduous and oft-frustrating movie development process, in which many promising-sounding projects and scripts either never see the light of day or endure years of endless rewrites and a revolving door of actors/actresses, producers, writers and directors – all of whom become continuously attached/detached from a project over time – but not before attempting to place their individual (and usually self-serving) stamp on the project…which, in turn, begins the rewrite process all over again…rinse & repeat.

Hughes did his research and the result is a concise, entertaining and interesting glimpse into how the sausages are made in Hollywood. Each “chapter” is a self-contained anecdote | case study relating to either a project that eventually got made – albeit sometimes over a decade after the original script was submitted – to projects that languished in Development Hell for years and were eventually scraped…but not before numerous rewrites and (in many cases) millions of dollars were invested, and subsequently lost.

As quoted in the book, Producer Jane Hamsher describes development as:

• “The writer turns in a script. The producers and studio executives read it, give the writer their ‘development’ notes, and he goes back and rewrites as best he can, trying to make everyone happy. If it comes back and it’s great, the studio and producers will try and attach a director and stars (if they haven’t already) and hopefully the picture will get made.”

However, as Hughes points out, this is rarely the case.

Instead, what occurs is a process in which – to justify their huge salaries and obtaining a credit on the film – everyone who touches the script wants to put their stamp on it, which usually entails additional rewrites…often times straying dramatically from the original source material. Let’s see if I can give a more truncated version:

Writer submits script –> Producers read & provide notes –> Script is rewritten, incorporating the changes –> Director is hired –> Director has own ideas –> Director brings on new writers –> Script is rewritten –> Producers or studio head adds notes –> Script is rewritten –> No one is happy –> Director quits –> New Director is hired –> New notes –> New writers –> New Script –> Actors are hired –> Actors want script changed to suit them or give them the best lines –> Script rewritten –> No one is happy –> New writers –> Actor quits –> New actor hired –> New notes –> New script –> Etc –> Etc –> Etc.

The Greatest Movies Never Made?

Despite tremendously popular source material, Lara Croft almost never made it to the big screen

Although the book details many well known films that were eventually produced, there are also just as many that went unproduced.

I think it was apropos for the author to use a ‘?‘ at the end of the book’s sub-title, as it illustrates that there is absolutely no way of knowing whether or not the best version of the script is what finally made it onto the screen and/or whether a better film could have been shot, had the project not toiled in Development Hell for so long and with so many changes.

Some examples of projects / films detailed in the book:

• How Smoke & Mirrors became the hottest script in town…only to magically disappear
• The long road to re-imagining The Planet of the Apes
• The development of the 4th and final Indiana Jones movie
• How Batman Begins almost never made it back to Gotham
• How making the leap from video games to the big screen was a challenge for Tomb Raider
• How Neil Gaiman’s wildly popular graphic novels turned to quicksand during development (see what I did there…sand…The Sandman? Hello? *cricket*)
• The not-so-”preeeeecious” development path to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings
  

I mention the “?” at the end of the subtitle, as I doubt that there are many people reading this that believe Tomb Raider ever had a chance of being considered one of the ‘greatest movies ever made’, regardless of how good the script was. However, I believe that what Hughes is saying is that we may never know how good it (and the other movies chronicled) could have been, had it not been locked in Development Hell and with so many changes to appease the arbitrary whims (or potential box office profit or budgetary concerns) of the studio, director(s), writer(s), actor(s) egos and producers.

Throughout the book, Hughes ultimately asks the reader to repeatedly pose the question, “what if?”…

Clooney feared he destroyed the Caped Crusader franchise with 1997's 'Batman & Robin.' The failure of which caused an entirely new re-imagining of Bruce Wayne and his caped alter ego leading up to 'Batman Begins'

To Hell And Back…

Tales From Development Hell: The Greatest Movies Never Made? is an often-times interesting and insightful read, although at times it does suffer from almost too much irrelevant / uninteresting detail (admittedly something I am also guilty of).

This is not necessarily a criticism to be levied at the author, per se, but rather at the reality of there simply being “too many cooks in the kitchen” as it pertains to the convoluted nature of Development Hell. For example, as I was reading about a film, so many names would be attributed to quotes (with only brief exposition), that I found myself – on more than one occasion – thinking, “Who the hell was that again? The 6th writer? The 3rd Director? The 2nd Producer to be associated with the project?”

Hughes did an otherwise outstanding job of conveying the frustrating and laborious nature of being trapped in Development Hell.

Additionally, I found the treasure trove of insider tidbits to be extremely interesting and entertaining…especially since I consider myself to be a huge film buff. For instance, reading about Batman (a personal fav) and how George Clooney feared that he might have killed the once-popular franchise with his campy portrayal of The Caped Crusader in 1997′s widely-panned Batman & Robin – truth be known, a road that the franchise had been going down before Clooney donned the cowl – and then reading about the effort to resurrect “The Dark Knight.”

This included a Darren Aronofsky script based upon Frank Miller’s popular graphic novel, Batman: Year One, and through to speculation that everyone from Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon, Keanu “I Am – Whoa! – Batman” Reeves, Ben Afflect, Bill Murray (?!), Colin Farrell and Christian Bale could possibly be the next Bruce Wayne (despite the fact that Clooney was contracted to play Batman in two movies). Hell, even Val Kilmer reportedly wanted another shot at it! Let’s all just take a moment to be grateful that didn’t happen…but I digress.

Indeed, other “fly on the wall” insights and speculation included:

• Actresses who could play Lara Croft: Elizabeth Hurley, Diane Lane, Sandra Bullock, Denise Richards, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Demi Moore, Jennifer Lopez, Famke Janssen and even Anna Nicole Smith (yikes!)
• The long and arduous road to making the 4th Indiana Jones film, which seemed less about “Development Hell” and more about scheduling hell = trying to coordinate the availability of Ford, Lucas and Spielberg, and getting them to occupy the same space at the same time…likely creating a Black Hole in the process
• The fact that Minority Report almost became a sequel to Total Recall
• And how a monkey banging away on a keyboard probably could have written better treatments than some of the early attempts to bring back, “The Planet of the Apes.”

All of this made for a very compelling read, especially for anyone interested in the process of movie-making and everything it entails…for better or for rewrite.

Dana

Tales From Development Hell was written by David Hughes (pictured) and published by Titan Books.

Check out past Book Reviews.

Note to Publishers & Authors: If you are interested in having a book reviewed, please contact me. I will only review books in which the subject matter personally interests me. I will also make all reasonable effort to post an honest review prior to the scheduled release date, therefore (when sending an advanced copy) please allot enough time for this prior to publication. Should I enjoy the book, I will also honor requests to interview the author on the podcast. Thank you!

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MegaCon 2012: Orlando, Florida | Feb 17 -19

I have attended many conventions in my life (albeit, work-related), but never a comic book convention. Prior to the popular guest spots of Vanessa G from Girls-Gone-Geek.com on the podcast, I always just assumed that comic book conventions were only for nerds, geeks and people obsessed with fictional characters.

After attending my first of one such convention – MegaCon – I have now learned that they are for, well…nerds, geeks and people obsessed with fictional characters…and that I am one of them!

The following is my account as a comic book convention virgin…so, please be gentle, it’s my first time.

“NEEEEEEEEEEEEEERDS!!

First off, I feel the need to dispel a few preconceived notions about comic book conventions and the types of people that attend them. Contrary to popular belief, they are not – well, not entirely – attended by:

• Men who live in their parent’s basement and have never seen a woman’s…um, “Batcave”
• Social outcasts who lack the ability to interact in the real world
• Pimply prepubescent teens with masking tape holding their glasses together, sporting a pocket-protector

Despite the caricature popularized by John Hughes’ films in the 80′s, today’s nerds and geeks are easily the most sought-after demographic across multiple industries. This is evidenced by the many other huge “Cons” – such as ComicCon, SxSW and CES – which directly appeal to geek culture and help to dictate the direction of everything from electronics, movies, television and the entertainment industry as a whole. You see, the thing about nerds and geeks (of which I consider myself to be the latter), is that we are a highly vocal, passionate, committed and creative bunch…with disposable income.

‘Gerds’ (or if you prefer, ‘Neeks’) are almost always the first adopters of new technology and media. We are the most vocal in our support or disdain for something through our blogs, podcasts and Twitter / social media feeds; thereby driving popular perception and opinion. Not to mention being the most likely to create the next ‘Big Thing’ that you – and/or society – cannot live without.

In Plainer Terms: We are likely going to be your future Overlords…so be nice. ;)

“Cosplay”

Batman, Robin & The Girl Wonder

Cosplay – or “costume play” – is something that is more specific to comic book conventions and one of the most entertaining, impressive and fun aspects to experience or participate in.

As Vanessa G often says: it is the place to, “proudly let your geek flag fly”, as fans dress up as their favorite characters…whether from comic books, video games, movies or television. Shannon (my girlfriend) and I, both continually remarked at how much we admired the dedication and creativity that went into many of the costumes that we saw this year at MegaCon, held in Orlando.

What was so much fun about the cosplay that we saw, was how committed each person was to their character! Most of those who dress up spend all year (and I would imagine, quite a bit of money) working on their costumes. Many also team up with friends and other fans…therefore, Batman (a personal fav) will also be flanked by The Joker, Harley Quinn, Bain, The Riddler, Robin, Nightwing and others associated with the Batman DC Comic universe…while always staying in character. :)

Cosplay is such a huge part of any comic book convention, that is is easily one of the most looked forward to aspects of the show. Those who dress up – happily and proudly – spend most of their time posing for photographs with fellow attendees.

I have included a full gallery of MegaCon photographs that I took at the bottom of this page.

No...*I* am Batman.

Panels, Panels & More Panels!

Another big draw for conventions are the panels. Usually – depending upon the kind of Con you are attending – the panels will be discussions with experts in the industry, actors | producers | directors on a popular television show or movie, artists, editors and others who may be associated with the field.

Since we were only going for a day, I chose a few panels (from over 80!) out of the MegaCon panel schedule that we were interested in attending:

DC Comics: The New 52

DC Comics panel

• Last year, DC Comics made a huge announcement (and game-changing decision) by essentially starting over at “Issue #1″ with its New 52.
• In an attempt to attract a new audience who may have felt intimidated (myself included) by jumping into a particular comic at (for instance) “Issue #457″ of a series…DC essentially hit the re-start button. The move was both hugely successful and controversial at the same time, as it did attract new fans (again, myself included)…but also angered many longtime fans.
• The panel included DC Co-Publisher Dan DiDio, Executive Editor Eddie Berganza, current Batman artist Greg Capullo and others. The discussion covered ‘The New 52′, along with a Q&A session in which the crowd could ask questions…including participation from yours truly.
• In one exchange – an older fan who had been reading DC Comics for nearly 50 years – expressed his utter disappointment with the New 52 move…to which DiDio and Berganza replied with the need for the industry to attract new readers in order to remain relevant and continue to thrive. It was at this moment that I was called upon by DiDio, wherein I said that I could attest to the success of the move, as it encouraged me to jump back into comics and that I have since picked up many of the New 52. My “testimony” elicited applause from the room and the panel, as I was a prime example of what the DC “re-do” was meant to achieve. Even Shannon was called upon and asked what she thought of my return to comics, to which she replied that she thought it was great and that it even got her interested…love that chick. :)
• I also had an opportunity to speak directly with both Dan DiDio and Greg Capullo after the panel, as we discussed some of the books that I am currently reading (including Capullo’s take on Batman) and the effect that the New 52 has had on the industry and whether they felt that Marvel would eventually follow suit.
• I’ll be discussing the panel, along with my MegaCon experience, on an upcoming episode of the podcast…so stay tuned!
• Update: This episode has been recorded and you can listen here:

Vampire Diaries

Shannon at the Vampire Diaries Panel

• As I mentioned previously, my girlfriend Shannon also attended the conference with me. Prior to the show, she jokingly made fun of me for wanting to go…until she (gleefully) learned that there was also a “Vampire Diaries” panel…which officially made her a geek alongside me.
• Revealing this to her (our shared geekitude), must have been what Darth Vader felt like when he told Luke that he was his father.
• In attendance were: Joseph Morgan, Lauren Cohan (currently on AMC’s The Walking Dead) and David Anders.
• Judging from the mostly all-girl audience and their reaction to the male actors…I can say with confidence that fangirls are far more rabid than fanboys!

Q&A with Stan Lee

Stan Lee Panel

• The creator and co-creator of some of comics’ greatest characters discussed his career and answered questions from the (packed) audience in attendance.
• It was an entertaining session and primarily paid homage to his legendary status within the comic book community. It was particularly fun seeing so many kids in the audience – fully dressed as their favorite Marvel character – running to the front of the room to ask Mr. Lee questions. :)
• Mr. Lee also hinted that the upcoming Avengers movie was his favorite Marvel-based movie adaptation to date (woot!).

Nerd Mecca (aka: The Convention Floor)

As is the case with any convention, the floor is heavily populated with vendors who are exhibiting and selling their wares. At MegaCon, you could find vendors for just about anything comic book related. The floor was HUGE and chock full of a wide assortment of geeky goodies.

Whether you’re looking for a rare issue of Action Comics, or perhaps a hard-to-find collectible action figure…chances are you were going to find it on the MegaCon floor, which spanned over the course of 3 convention halls.

T-shirts, custom made costumes (I especially liked the Steampunk booths), favorite trades, custom made role-playing weapons, rare & current issues, artist autographs or hell, you could even buy your very own remote controlled R2D2!

MegaCon 2012 Crowd

Although it was packed, Shannon and I navigated the floor as best we could, trying to take everything in.

Truth be known, I was actually on the hunt for a specific discontinued Batman action figure, that I finally found after about the 20th booth we stopped at. :)

Beyond that, I remember remarking at how I fortunate I felt that I wasn’t a collector of comic books (I read mine through the Comixology app on my iPad…I know, I know, comic blasphemy). Judging from the massive amount of bins available at most vendor tables – in which you could find almost any issue you were searching for – I could see how simply looking through the bins could take an entire day by itself.

Of course, the floor was made even more entertaining by the many attendee’s who were engaged in cosplay…displaying some truly impressive costumes.

Comic Con Cherry Popped

All in all, we had a great time. It was a nice way to spend the day and for fans of people-watching, you couldn’t have picked a better venue!

I really admire the time, dedication and effort that people put into their costumes and the commitment they exhibited while playing the role of their favorite characters…whether from the world of comics, video games, movies or television.

Although MegaCon is a 3 day event (Fri-Sun), we only attended Saturday. However, beyond the panels and convention floor, the festivities continued well into the evening thanks to costume parties, video game tournaments and even a speed dating event for attendees who were looking for love in…*ahem*…Alderaan places. ;)

Although I consider myself to be a huge geek…I am no where near approaching the level that was on display this weekend…and that should not be considered a dig by any stretch of the imagination!

I have always been more of a tech-geek who just recently was re-introduced to the world of comics again, thanks in large part to DC Comic’s New 52 and the enthusiasm of people like Vanessa G and Erika P at Girls-Gone-Geek.com.

I used to read comics a lot as a kid and eventually strayed away, but I have always been a big video game, technology and superhero nerd for a long time…so the trip back was quite painless. I would also be lying if I said that I didn’t feel a little giddy and childlike every time I saw some of my favorite Star Wars & Batman characters. :)

Now that my “cherry” has been popped…I will definitely be attending more Con’s as they make their way to Orlando. In fact, Shannon has already mentioned that we should start planning to attend next year’s (massive) ComicCon in California…looks like I’ve created a monster!

Dana

Selecting a photo will bring up the full gallery:

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As if the world needed yet another location and activity check-in app, Path swaggers into the room – with its sexy and attractive UI – and just might be worthy of your attention.

Similar to other popular GPS-enabled check-in services like FourSquare or Gowalla, that track where you are – and GetGlue that tracks what you are doing – Path is the bastardized offspring of the best that all three of these services have to offer.

Path allows users to easily share what they’re doing, who they are with and where they are with a select group of friends without broadcasting it to the world (however, should you prefer, you can opt to publicly share to social media sites).

Therefore, your check-in to Starbucks or the bookstore is not seen by every other person who also checks in to that same location (nor does it attract “randoms” to send you follow invites), but only by your friends that you have invited (and vise versa) to “follow your Path.”

What makes Path stand out is its attractive UI. After a recent update (the screenshots above are from the previous version), the user interface feels similar to Facebook’s timeline – including a personalized “cover” image – wherein you are able to easily see and interact with your friend’s most recent activity or “paths.” Therefore, whether you want to comment on a song that a friend is currently listening to, add an emoticon to their activity (i.e. “like”) to display your approval / disapproval or perhaps recommend your favorite dish at a restaurant or cafe that they just checked into – Path makes it easy and intuitive to do so in a very nice and clean fashion.

The (self-proclaimed) purpose of Path is as a “smart journal” to share your life with loved ones and close friends. Therefore there are no badges, points or stickers gained for your activity. It is basically its own self-contained social media app.

Within the app you are able to:

• Post a photo, including taking one and posting it directly from your phone’s camera or gallery
• Tag a friend that you are with and what you are doing
• Check-in to any location
• Share the awesome new song that you are listening to
• Post a comment (i.e. “status”), which friends can also respond to
• Indicate that you have gone to bed or have awoken for the day
• Invite friends (via Facebook or your address book) to “follow your Path”

Although this doesn’t sound very different from similar apps (and to be honest, it isn’t), what Path offers is a more private and personalized experience that is well executed. Your friends are able to easily view, comment or respond to any of your activities and the app combines it all into one seamless timeline that also include’s your friend’s activities.

Plus, it’s just really pretty to look at!

As I mentioned earlier, Path is a more personal combination of Facebook, Foursquare and GetGlue. It doesn’t necessarily “specialize” in anything in particular (i.e. just checking in or just posting a comment), but rather gives you the (truncated) “best of 3 worlds.”

In future updates, I would like to see them to add more options in terms of sharing what you are doing; for example – instead of just being able to share an individual song that you are listening to – I wouldn’t mind being able to share the entire album or what book I am reading, movie I am watching or game that I might be playing.

But as a (relatively) new addition to the location & activity based check-in apps, Path is one that I would recommend that you try out and see for yourself.

As someone who lives his life “out loud” due to the podcast and other social media channels that I manage, I like that Path allows me to have a much more “condensed” and personal way of sharing the activities that I may not always want to make public (don’t worry…(mostly) no freaky stuff!), by sharing them with those that I consider to be in my much smaller “inner circle.” <--- After typing that, it occurs to me that I might as well add Google+ to the mix of similar apps.

However, as I referenced previously, you can choose to share your activity to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and even Foursquare. Thanks to this – and with future updates and added features – I can see Path becoming my primary check-in app and doing away with Foursquare, Gowalla and GetGlue altogether.

Path is available for both Android and iOS devices.

App Score: B+

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Kate Beckinsale returns as “Selene” – the (wonderfully) skintight-latex clad vampire and resident bad-ass Death Dealer – in “Underworld: Awakening“, the fourth (and quite possibly the best) installment of the Underworld film franchise.

As Seth Rogen so eloquently put it at the Golden Globes, when taking his place on stage aside fellow presenter, Kate Beckinsale:

• “Hello, I’m Seth Rogen and I am currently trying to conceal a massive erection.”

Truer words have never been spoken, Mr. Rogen. However, our Beckinsale boner’s aside, on to the review…

Synopsis

The many-centuries-long war between the Vampires and the Lycans (werewolves) has finally spilled over and the humans have become aware of their existence.

What follows are the “Great Purges” – an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.

The movie opens with Selene and (a completely computer-generated) Micheal Corvin – the only hybrid of both Vampire and Lycan to ever exist – attempting to escape the Purge to safety.

It is in these early scenes that we are immediately treated to some kick-ass action (woot!)…in addition to proof that Selene has evolved into an extremely powerful Vampire – as prefaced at the end of Underworld: Evolution – due to her being given the blood of Alexander Corvinus (the origin of the immortal bloodline) by Alexander, himself.

It is this gift from Alexander that not only makes Selene stronger and more powerful, but also immune to the effects of sunlight.

I only mention a few of these things because:

• 1) It appears that actor, Scott Speedman (“Michael”), was not invited back for this go-round. In the few scenes that Micheal does make an appearance, it is at a distance and immediately obvious that he is entirely CG. I am fine with this since, although I liked the idea of a Michael’s hybrid character and his (integral) contribution to the series, I was never particularly fond of Speedman as Michael. Maybe I am just glad that his absence clears the way for someone better…*ahem*…Kate, call me.
• 2) Establishing that Selene is now very powerful was part of the fun for me; as it tells me that she is going to be a bad-ass throughout the entire movie. Not that she wasn’t previously…but tell the truth, didn’t you like Neo’s character in the 3rd Matrix more because he was finally at the height of his powers and not stumbling through it, like in the first two movies?
• 3) Also, setting up both Michael and Selene as being one-of-a-kind, paves the way for where Awakening is obviously going with the introduction of Eve (played by India Eisley)…which if you watched the love scene in Evolution frame-by-frame in slow motion (*ahem*…not saying that I did…*awkward silence*), it doesn’t take a genius to figure out who Eve actually is.

'Eve' played by actress India Eisley

Awakening

Selene is captured in the beginning of the film, only to be awakened 12 years later, to a world in which her kind has been forced underground and teetering on the edge of extinction. Selene is being held by biotech giant, Antigen…which, as the tried-and-true story goes, has a less than altruistic agenda. Selene escapes Antigen in search of answers…and Michael.

It is not long before the character of Eve is introduced, a young girl designated “Subject 2″ (to Selene’s “Subject 1″), who was also being held by Antigen.

I give the writers props here for not feigning suspense before they finally reveal who Eve is, as they make it clear that Selene and Eve share a connection in which they can see through each other’s eyes when they are near one another.

In case you are still clueless, Eve is obviously the daughter of Selene and Michael…a conclusion that many of us probably jumped to the moment it was revealed that a young girl would be in the film.

What the writers rightfully focused on was how powerful Eve is – or better, will eventually become – being the daughter of the only hybrid to exist and a mother who possesses the power (and immunities) of the original bloodline…it is with Eve that Antigen’s true intentions are also finally revealed.

Lastly, we are introduced to a few new characters, who will likely return for the (obviously eluded to) fifth installment. I liked the character of Thomas, as he fits the vibe of the series better than Speedman and I am curious if he will eventually become Selene’s future love interest…and as such, my sworn enemy.

'Thomas' played by actor Theo James

Verdict

I’ve always really enjoyed the Underworld movies and Awakening is no exception…in fact, it may be my favorite of the series. Of course, this can only be said by having watched the previous three installments, but Awakening was simply a much bigger budget film with a lot of non-stop action and killer fight scenes.

Those of us who have been fans of the films over the last decade, have probably also noticed that every new addition to the franchise has enjoyed an (obviously) increased budget (and gore) over the previous film. There is a reason for that: Underworld and Selene have garnered a huge fan following over the years and thankfully the studio has continually upped the budget to match.

We saw Awakening in IMAX 3D, and although the 3D transfer was decent, I don’t think I’ll be missing out when it comes to Blu-Ray and I watch it again on my non-3D widescreen.

The story is very straight-forward and a lot of attention was paid to giving audiences what they want…action. Selene is far more skilled in this movie and I thought that the fight choreography stood up and was drastically improved over previous films. In fact, there were a number of scenes in which I giggled gleefully and got a huge kick out of the action on screen.

Seeing how it wouldn’t likely go over well for Selene and Eve to have the human race as their enemies, that distinction was sufficiently filled by Antigen, the obligatory evil corporation.

As far as hunting Lycans are concerned, fear not, as there is plenty of ‘Vampire on Lycan’ action…not the least of which is a new Lycan – roughly 10x the size of an average Lycan – that Selene has to tangle with a couple of times in the film and which results in another giggle-inducing conclusion. :)

India Eisley plays Eve very well and I am curious about where her storyline will go next…an answer I should not have to wait too long for, as the fifth movie was strongly alluded to.

Easy now, good doggy...

Truth be told, I felt as though Awakening was over too soon (running time: 88 mins) and I’m not embarrassed to admit that I was disappointed when it did end…but only because I wanted more!

There is no deeper meaning to the Underworld series, they are just fun action films and I have always enjoyed the story of the Vampire & Lycan bloodlines, their centuries long war and watching as Selene continually grew in her power and abilities.

Even if you have never seen the previous films, Awakening provides just the right amount of exposition to catch you up…but I venture that if you are a first timer, you will likely rush out to watch them after seeing this film. :)

I definitely recommend it, especially if you are a fan…it’s just a really fun flick to watch and probably packs more action into it than the previous 3 films combined.

- Dana

Need To Get Caught Up?

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Amazon has begun pushing out firmware update 6.2.2 today. From the changes I have seen so far, it includes: a handful of small performance tweaks, bugs fixes and, most notably, adds a full-screen mode to the device’s Silk browser.

At the time of this writing, Amazon has not yet updated the Kindle Fire updates page with additional details and specifics, but I am sure more (official) information will become available soon.

Official Update from Amazon:
• We have a new, free over-the-air software update available for Kindle Fire. This update enhances fluidity and performance, improves support for manually set up e-mail providers in the Email app, and offers a new full screen mode for viewing web pages. The update will be automatically delivered to your Kindle Fire.

Amazon is reported to be pushing the update out as I type this – however for those of you who are as impatient as I am and not seeing the update yet, you can download and manually install the update if you do not want to wait for the OTA (Over The Air) update.

Simply download and copy (sideload) the file to the ‘kindleupdates’ folder on your Fire — you will need a micro-USB cord or file management app in order to do this.

After the file is added to the ‘kindleupdates’ folder: Quick Settings –> More (+) –> Device –> Update Your Kindle.

Download Kindle Fire Firmware Update 6.2.2 Here

Note: You can select the link and download it from within the Silk Browser on your Fire, but remember that it must be moved to the ‘kindleupdates’ folder on your device before you can install and update.

You can do this either by connecting to your computer via micro-USB (just drag & drop the file into the folder) or by using a file management app like ES File Explorer, that provides you access to your files & folders without having to connect to a computer.

The newest firmware version will read: 6.2.2_user_3205220

I created this video to help people with doing a manual update | install:

For my hacker friends, 6.2.2 does break root…sorry :(

I’m still searching through the device to see what other goodies I can discover, however so far it appears to be mostly a maintenance update with some back-end tweaks to improve the overall performance.

I will say that I do like the new full-screen mode that is now available for the Silk browser, adding a nice addition to the web browsing experience on the Fire.

Please feel free to add any additional improvements (or bugs) that you find, in the comment section.

For more information, you can also view my comprehensive 4-part video tutorial and review of the Kindle Fire.

- Dana

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As someone who produces his own podcast, it only stands to reason that I also listen to a lot of podcasts.

By far, the best podcast app that I have come across – and believe me, I have tried many – is Pocket Casts by ShiftyJelly.

Pocket Casts is a highly intuitive cross-platform (meaning it plays nice with both iOS and Android) podcast catcher that allows you to easily find, subscribe, organize and listen to your favorite podcast content providers…*ahem*…including, of course, Stimulated Boredom…even though I have my own app, just sayin’. ;)

There are many app options available to podcast fans. Whether it’s Stitcher, Google Listen, DoggCatcher, TuneIn etc…however Pocket Casts quickly became my favorite and is the primary app that I use to consume the long list of podcasts that I personally subscribe to and enjoy. By the way, Stimulated Boredom is available on all of these options…again, just sayin’.

Why Pocket Casts?

The best thing about Pocket Casts is how intuitive the UI is. It is very simple to search, add and start playing your favorite content.

For instance, say you want to find my show…and seriously, you really should if you haven’t already, what the hell are you waiting for?:

• Simply tap the ‘Search‘ icon –> type in ‘Stimulated Boredom‘ –> select ‘Add‘ when it my show comes up and VOILA!…you are subscribed.

From that point forward, any new content / shows will automatically update in the app, in addition to allowing you to easily listen to all past episodes, stream directly over WiFi or 3G, and/or download directly onto your phone’s memory – in the event you are going to be out of coverage or in airplane mode. In addition, all shows that you subscribe to are automatically organized on the home screen and the right-hand corner of each show conveniently displays how many new / old episodes are available that you have yet to listen to…making it easier to see at-a-glance which shows have added new content recently.

Also, unlike other podcast catcher apps that I have tried, Pocket Casts is stellar at remembering exactly where you left off if you have to stop playback or answer a call. This is great because I don’t always have a chance to listen to a full podcast in one sitting, so its ability to pick up right where I left off (regardless of OTA streaming or if you directly downloaded the episode) is outstanding and very handy. Additionally, you have the ability to easily rewind or fast-forward in 30-second increments (just a simple touch to the left or right of the screen), should you realize that you missed something or zoned out for a moment.

Lastly, if you are on Android, the app also comes with a handy widget that you can place on one of your home screens to make launching and playing|pausing from the application even easier.

So far, I have yet to have any trouble with finding the shows I like and the search function is quick and accurate every time. Everything from “This American Life” to “The Nerdist”, “Stimulated Boredom” to “Fresh Air” or “Bill Maher”…all of my favorite podcasts are available at my fingertips.

Considering all of these features, Pocket Casts is easily worth the $2.99 (on Android) and $1.99 (on iOS) price-tag. Truth be known, I’d be willing to pay more in order to support a developer who finally created a podcast catcher that just works every time…which is something I can’t say about some of the others that I have tried.

Click any thumbnail to view the screenshot gallery:

Why Podcasts?

This is more of a sidebar relating to the on-demand convenience and great content offered by subscribing to podcasts.

Back when I started Stimulated Boredom in February of 2005, it was a lot harder explaining to people exactly what a “podcast” was…”I don’t get it, is it a radio show? What channel can I hear it on?“…there also weren’t a lot of people podcasting, as it was a pretty new medium at the time.

But today – thanks to the meteoric rise in the popularity of apps – far more people are aware of what a podcast is. By the way, if you’re still downloading podcasts in iTunes and manually loading them onto an iPod…please say hello to my Grandma for me and ask her how she likes her new flip-phone.

There are so many podcasts out there that offer outstanding programming; whether from a favorite celebrity / personality or an independent content provider like me, you can find podcasts on (literally) any area of interest that you can think of. Not to mention that some of the most popular radio programs and TV shows offer a podcast version as well.

So, whether you are looking for politics, gaming, news, zombies, sports, humor, science, accounting, comics, knitting, entertainment, dog training, movies, underwater basket weaving or everything else in-between, you are sure to find a podcast that is produced by someone who is very passionate about the subject matter. Couple that with the on-demand convenience of listening to exactly the kind of content you are specifically interested in and the absolute lack of car commercials, lawyer ads and other interruptions, and I don’t understand why people still listen to terrestrial radio anymore.

Although you will find some podcasts that are low quality, I believe that the vast majority are produced by people who really care about their chosen subject matter and are extremely talented. Also, In the last few years I have also noticed a TON of celebrities and well-known personalities starting their own podcasts, getting sponsorships and parlaying their podcast’s success into other endeavors.

My point being, if you aren’t already supporting some of these great shows, I highly recommend that you jump into the world of podcasts. Pocket Casts is a good start, as the app makes it very easy for you to browse popular programs or search by genre | subject matter.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out Stimulated Boredom!

…just sayin’.

Follow @stimboredom

Check out past book reviews in the Buk Lernin section.

"Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline. Absolute Nerd-Porn.

• WARNING: This book contains high levels of nerd porn. If you are easily offended by awesome 80′s pop-references, video games, classic John Hughes films or are prone to getting nerd boners lasting longer than 6 hours, I highly recommend that you stop being such a Neo-Maxi-Zoom-Dweebie and suggest that you make like a tree and get out of here.

If you’ve read some of my most recent book reviews, you may have noticed that (lately) I’ve tended to stay within the non-fiction, historical & autobiographical genres. As such, I was dying for a great piece of fiction – a STORY – something I could get lost in. I happily found that escape in this wildly entertaining world created by Ernest Cline; so much so that I realized I was reading it too fast and purposely slowed down in a futile attempt to prolong its inevitable end.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed…nay, loved this book. If you have ever considered yourself to be a nerd, gamer, geek or lover of ’80′s pop references, films and music, I implore you to stop reading this review right now and to go pick up | download a copy of “Ready Player One”…you can thank me later for the resulting nerdgasm you’ll inevitably experience.

If you do not consider yourself to be any of these things – fear not – as the author made the narrative and references perfectly accessible and entertaining, with just the right amount of exposition.

The Matrix + Willy Wonka = Ready Player One

Author’s Synopsis:
• It’s the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.
  
  Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and work and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

  And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them.

  For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday’s riddles are based in the pop culture he loved—that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday’s icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.

  And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.

  Suddenly the whole world is watching and thousands of competitors join the hunt—among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life—and love—in the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

Wade Watts, aka: “Parzival”

Wade Watts, the protagonist, is a poor and overweight kid who lives with his uncaring Aunt in “the stacks“…the not-so-distant-future’s equivalent of a trailer park – wherein the trailers are literally…well, stacked – in an attempt to deal with overcrowding near the outskirts of cities, where the most reliable sources of electricity and Internet connections can be found.

The world is experiencing an energy crisis and record unemployment, crime is rampant and like most everyone else, Wade finds his escape in the OASIS…a vast online virtual reality, in which people control their own self-created avatars (W.o.W style, including the ability to level up your character) to engage in everything from attending school, working, taking a vacation, interacting with others, questing and playing games.

Due to the depressing nature of the real world, the OASIS becomes the place in which billions of people around the planet prefer to exist.

Wade escapes to an abandoned van – his hideout – to adopt his online persona (“Parzival”). He attends school in the OASIS because he has to; for his video console and virtual-reality visor will be taken away if he flunks out and he cannot afford one on his own.

Wade is a very bright kid, hindered only by his circumstances, and he quickly endears himself to the reader because he is witty, smart and easy to identify with. You root for him because the odds are stacked against him – he doesn’t have the money to buy top-of-the-line gear or purchase transport credits to travel extensively within the OASIS – and deep down you know he is smarter and more deserving than others.

Reader created fan art of Wade in his hideout, jacked into the OASIS

The OASIS

The OASIS was created by James Halliday, a brilliant and eccentric man who was obsessed with the 80′s, having grown up during that decade.

Originally intended as a massively multiplayer online game, the OASIS gradually evolves into the globally networked virtual reality that most of humanity now use on a daily basis. It grew into thousands of online “worlds” in which people could interact, travel to, work, play and indulge in virtually (pun intended) countless activities

Want to travel to the Mos Eisley Cantina on Tatooine from Star Wars? Perhaps you would rather hunt down replicants, like Harrison Ford’s character in “Blade Runner?” Maybe just a vacation to a tropical island OR attend public school OR work in a virtual call-center offering OASIS tech-support…you can travel to (or create) any world ever seen in movies, TV shows, literature, your imagination or real life, video games and even music. The OASIS is a staggeringly large universe.

Through the use of a console and various haptic rigs and gear, the user is completely immersed in the OASIS…essentially experiencing it as they would actual reality. The OASIS is free to log into, but costs money to travel or purchase upgrades for your avatar (should you not want to spend countless hours killing NPC’s for measly XP). In fact, OASIS credits carry more value than paper currency and the company that Halliday founded, GSS, is the most valuable company in the world and has made its creator a billionaire many times over.

“Shall We Play A Game?”

Upon his death, Halliday releases a video in which he informs the world that he has hidden an “easter egg” somewhere in the OASIS. In order to find the egg, you must first discover 3 hidden keys, each key containing a riddle to unlock 3 gates (challenges) and each completed gate revealing a clue as to the location of the next key. The person who eventually finds the easter egg will be awarded Halliday’s entire fortune…to the tune of $250 billion dollars.

This results in worldwide pandemonium, as millions of people flood the OASIS in an attempt to find the hidden keys…and eventually the easter egg. However, there is a quirky catch: Halliday was obsessed with the 80′s and therefore his riddles, clues and challenges are all embedded within (awesome) 80′s pop-culture references. As a result, egg hunters (or “gunters,” as they call themselves) begin to pour over every movie, TV show, video game and song from the 80′s, in an attempt to decipher the first clue.

Yet, as years pass without any avatar’s name making it onto the Scoreboard – a site that announces when someone has found one of the keys or cleared any of the gates on their way to finding the easter egg – many become discouraged over time and give up the hunt.

Until one day, when a single name suddenly appears at the top of the Scoreboard…”Parzival”…Wade’s OASIS avatar. And the race is on…

Game Over

As someone who grew up gaming and came of age in the 80′s, “Ready Player One” was an absolute blast to read. In fact, if either “WarGames”, “Weird Science”, “Better Off Dead” or “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is not on your all-time favorite movies list, I’m not sure we can be friends anymore.

This book is filled with so much nostalgic nerd-candy that I dare any self-professed geek to read this book and not giggle knowingly during certain passages. There are references to every gaming console, classic games, popular anime, comics, computer systems, iconic TV shows, John Hughes films and songs that are undoubtedly on everyone’s 80′s playlist – in fact, the author even created a Spotify playlist to act as a soundtrack to the book.

Along the way, you are introduced to other endearing “gunters” such as, Art3mis (Wade’s love interest), Aech, Daito and Shoto, who also find the first key and are closing in on Wade’s heels…not to mention the obligatory evil corporation IOI – and its online army of “sixers” – who will stop at nothing to find the easter egg first and take over the OASIS so that it can further monetize and charge users monthly access to it.

“Ready Player One” was just so much fun to read and was exactly the kind of story I wanted to get lost in. Many of my favorite parts of the story were while trying to decipher the clues for myself, drawing from my own knowledge of the decade. There are also some twists and turns that kept me flipping the pages, wondering what was going to happen next…therefore, kudos to the author for not making it predictable.

This was easily one of my favorite books of the past year. It completely appealed to the raging geek in me and will do the same for those of you who love fun 80’s pop-culture and who also fantasized about owning the hoverboard from, “Back to the Future” or wondered what it would be like to live in the Star Wars universe or who spent countless hours gaming and leveling up.

I give this book 4.5 (out of 5) nerd-boners.

- Dana

Note: “Ready Player One” is currently in movie development. Audio book version also available and narrated by Wil Wheaton

Check out past book reviews in the Buk Lernin section.

Note to Publishers & Authors: If you are interested in having a book reviewed, please contact me. I will only review books in which the subject matter personally interests me. I will also make all reasonable effort to post an honest review prior to the scheduled release date, therefore (when sending an advanced copy) please allot enough time for this prior to publication. Should I enjoy the book, I will also honor requests to interview the author on the podcast. Thank you!

The author, Ernest Cline, with his personal AMC Delorean. The vehicle is even customized with a Flux Capacitor (plutonium not included) and is a replica of the original from the film.