Societal Black Memory Loss

Hey what's up y'all?

Been kind of obscure for awhile I know, but I'm back here, where you like it or not, with a brand new post:

I set some time aside to talk about something that has been bothering me recently, and by recently I mean always. That something is how "Blackness" somehow instantly creates memory loss in our society. What do I mean? I mean that most things/events/etc. that garners sympathy, admiration, or recognition from Black people is instantly and conveniently "forgotten" by society as a whole. I'll give some examples:

The American economic crisis:
Who does everyone blame? Obama. But, conveniently everyone has completely forgotten that it was during the previous President's term that the stock market crashed (If you don't believe my half-black ass, look it up... or watch this speech Bush made addressing the crash during his term http://youtu.be/YsDmPEeurfA). And yet who gets all the "impeach" signs made up for him and pictures that compare him to Hitler (...really?), Obama. It's like blaming the janitor for a giant turd someone else left on the floor.

The reinvention of the Super Hero genre:
Talk to most comic fans, read most articles, etc.; What is the movie that everyone claims reinvented the Super Hero genre for the new generation? 2000's X-Men. X-Men is the film that everyone praises for creating the template for deep, dark, intelligent, and gritty Super Hero flicks. Seriously, ask anyone and that's the movie they'll say. Seriously go ask someone right now or do a Google search. I'll wait...
...
...
OK, so X-Men is undoubtedly the first of the new wave of Super Hero flicks, right? As a matter of fact, as Lex Luthor would say in my least favorite film of all time: WRONG! It was 1998's Blade (also a Marvel comic), an awesome film that is also arguably a better film than X-men (mostly because of this line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXhKzY0BKwY). The movie also didn't get any credit for utilizing bullet time a full year before it was made famous in The Matrix. Do you ever hear anyone EVER praise Blade for basically recreating the comic book/Super Hero genre? Nope.

Lando Calrissian
You ever hear anyone praising that dude for blowing up the 2nd Death Star? Nope. They only remember that he betrayed Han.

So that's my rant for today. Cheers!

PS: During the whole gay marriage thing (maybe you heard of it, not sure if it got enough news coverage... sarcasm), this MUCH BIGGER ISSUE was completely ignored by the media, the repeal of anti-discrimination laws against voting minorities in the South, or Jim Crow laws.: http://www.upworthy.com/civil-rights-defenders-won-this-fight-in-1965-this-justice-explains-how-its-been-undone-in-2013?c=ufb1

Happy 4th! And remember, buttholes and firecrackers don't mix.

Superbowl

Superbowl is today (GO NINERS!) and while I'm interested in the game, I'm also interested in some of the movie trailers we'll be seeing. I'll post some on here if I get a chance (and if I'm not too wasted). Cheers!

GIRL TRANSLATOR

I love women. Everything down from the way they talk to the way they walk fills me with a deep joy and some of that good 'ol fashion American horniness (restraining orders pending, I'm sure). Now girls, unfortunately, are a different story. And yes there is a huge difference between women and girls. HUGE, I say! Don't get me wrong, what I'm talking about has absolutely nothing to do with age (though I am strictly sticking to talking about the 18 and up crowd, cause you know... eww). The difference between women and girls is the sense of maturity and class that they present (or, in most "girls" cases, lack). Women tend to know what they want and how to get it. Girls have absolutely no idea what they want...ever, but expect everyone else to and give it to them whenever they want it...even though they don't know what "it" is. Make sense? No? Good, then we're both on the same page.

Women are hard enough to understand, but girls are damn near impossible. So since I have nothing better to do with my time right now (and, let's face it, if you're reading this, neither do you) I thought I'd compile a list of examples of key girl phrases and translate their real meaning for you that I have learned over many years through trial and error (mostly error) up to the infant stages of the year 2013:

Key Girl Phrases v. Actual Meaning:

• We should just be friends = I want to keep you around as a shoulder to cry on, someone to carry my stuff, and be an emergency penis in case I can't find a better one when I'm drunk and horny.

• I don't care about money=I care about money

• I'll think about it = No

• Sorry, but I'm not ready for a relationship = Sorry, but I'm not ready for a relationship with you.

• It's not you, it's me = It's you. It's so you. You really suck.

• Stop = More. Faster. Harder.

• That is so interesting = OK, that's enough out of you. Let me talk about me now.

• We totally should hang out sometime = Meh... Maybe I'll see you again... Or not. Don't really care.

• We shouldn't do this. = I want you to bend me over and forcibly **** my ****ing brains out. Don't you dare ask for permission. Come on, It's not rape until I scream "RAPE!".

Sigh...

What the HELL, New 52???

Hey readers (all 1 of you),

This will be my first post in ages as well as my first post of 2013. Hooray!! (Applaud)

This subject is a little dated, cause the issue came out months and months ago... last year... But I'm talking about it right now. So deal.

Anywho, this is in regards to DC comics' New 52 Batman Annual #1. It features a story with Mr. Freeze, reintroducing him and providing him with a "fresh" new origin story for the New 52.

(Excellent art. The story is another story...)

Long story short, it pissed me off. And me being a ridiculous Batman fanatic, I got to blog about it. I actually liked most of the New 52 Batman stories (Aside from what they did with Tim Drake and Harley Quinn), but this one made me want to drop-kick a toddler (if I was just slightly ticked off, it would only be kindergartner).

(Spoilers ahead.)

OK, first things first. Ever since Paul Dini reinvented Mr. Freeze in "Heart of Ice" of Batman: The Animated Series, the character has gone on to be, arguably, the most dynamic and sympathetic character in that Batman universe. Mr. Freeze represented the pure moral dilemma of Batman: Vengeance vs. Justice. All he wanted was to be reunited with his wife, which he sacrificed everything for, and that was what made his character stand apart from a Joker or a Two-Face. He was a pure grey area. A villain where the only thing that separated him from Batman, was the fact that he felt that the ends justified the means. Every crime, death, or mayhem that Mr. Freeze committed was in service to his beloved wife, which made him a deeper character and one that we, as an audience, could relate to. Unfortunately, this is one of the things that the "New 52" has completely done away with (or "shat on" if you will).

The story in Batman Annual #1 changes Mr. Freeze from a sympathetic madman to nothing more than just another psychopath. The issue begins with Freeze recalling time with his mother as a child, but quickly moves to an escape from Arkham Asylum. The story seems to be going great at first; Freeze does some cool (pun not intended) ice moves, kills a bunch of guards and goes on a crusade to kill Bruce Wayne (not Batman), now blaming him for separating him from his frozen wife Nora. Seems like the good 'ol Freeze, right? That's what it seems like until the issue jumps the shark. Like 3 sharks. Great whites on steroids.

As more flashbacks keep popping in-between Freeze rampaging his way to Bruce, getting weapons from The Penguin, beating the crap out of Robin and Nightwing, and basically dealing out a heaping dose of murder to everyone that isn't a reoccurring character, we eventually come to a twist ending. And what a twist in is.

The twist is: there is no Nora. Mr. Freeze was never married. It is all in his head. He is just a complete delusional wacko with mommy issues. He keeps thinking random cryo-frozen people are his imaginary wife and starts a scenario to keep coming back again and again, trying to "save" them and killing anyone in his way. He's not a sad frozen loving husband trying to save his beloved wife, he's just a frozen nut. So basically, Dini's complex version of the character got shatter on.

After Freeze is arrested by Batman, the issues ends showing Freeze as a child with his mother again, who is now crippled and stricken with Alzheimer's after falling into a frozen lake, and putting her out of her misery, but drowning her back at the said lake. Apparently explaining his homicidal maniac behavior in the story. Wow...

Thanks "New 52" DC... You just took a complex, excellent, tragic villain with an original and interesting back story and broke him down to just another cheap Norman Bates rip-off. Which is also an insult to Norman Bates. So you just shat on both Paul Dini, Batman, and Hitchcock with this issue. Thanks again.

 

More to come...

Hello my blog peeps (All 0 to 2 of you...) just letting ya'll know that I plan to have more updates here soon. My life has become very complicated lately as I just moved to San Francisco (but for some reason I'm still straight) and got a new job. Been real busy, but things are starting to smooth out, so I should have some new biracial, geeky, and/or angry truth to lay down for you people soon. Peace out. ;P

The new The Dark Knight Rises Trailer is here!

So stoked for this film. Nolan is my favorite director at the moment and The Dark Knight is my favorite film of all time. Can't get hyped enough for this. I really wanna check out The Avengers this Friday, too, but that feels like more of a fun action packed popcorn flick, compared to this deep engrossing swan song for an epic trilogy. Also, to my fellow Batman nerds out there, it looks like they're taking bits and pieces from both the Knightfall and No Man's Land story arcs, arguably two of the best Batman stories ever! And...


Possible Spoiler:



Is it just me, or at 00:30, does it appear that Bruce may be sitting in a wheelchair...

End Spolier.

Can't wait. I only wish that Nola would stick around to make just another film or two to fix Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Poison Ivy too after Schumacher butchered them (IMO Burton also butchered Penguin, but I'm not gonna start that flame war... whoops). Oh well, at least we got to see the proper versions of Two-Face and Bane finally. July can't come soon enough! 

You Know You're a Geek When...

Being a geek is way more socially accepted now that it used to be just a few years ago. Unfortunately, there are still some people out there that have yet to embrace their inner geekyness and, instead, are stuck in endless denial. Well, to help these poor bastards come clean and release themselves to the shiny sea that is Geekdom, I have created a list of things that make you, without a Storm Shadow of a doubt (see what it did there?), a genuine grade A Geek. So, if you have done any of the following, relax, let go, and go watch a Joss Whedon show or something. And yes, I myself have done everything on this list at least once and am damn proud of it. So...

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A GEEK WHEN...

...you're more interested in what's going on in the current comics than the current world events.


...you get pissed at "Hanging with Friends" for not recognizing "Jawas" as a noun.


...you answer "right after I get to a save point" whenever a friend calls you to hang out, but keep playing a little more anyway. 

...you walk for longer in Skyrim than you have ever walked in real life.

...anytime "The Final Countdown" plays, you instantly have to stop whatever you're doing and either intensely sing along or start quoting Arrested Development for the song's entire duration.

...you hesitate spending over $15 on food, but you instantly drop $20 on a t-shirt with a hybrid Wu-tang/Batman symbol you saw online. 

...you're mad about the ending to Mass Effect 3.

...you confide in other geeks about how much the ending to Mass Effect 3 sucked and bond over your mutual feelings. 

...you actually know who would win in a fight between Superman and Batman.

...you have an hour long PS3 v. X360 debate on Facebook and actually bust out documented facts and charts to back it up.

...when someone asks you what you're doing tonight, you reply "the same thing we do every night", thinking you're clever. 

...any girl that tells you she plays video games suddenly becomes 5x hotter. 10x if it's a shooter.

...you get ALL the jokes in Community.

...you go pay to see a movie you aren't too crazy about just to see the trailer for the movie you are excited for, even though it will be online eventually. 

...you consciously boycott anything made by Joel Schumacher.

...you compile a list of things that make you a geek.

"So... what are you exactly?" PART 2

So a friend of mine recently brought this video to my attention:

This sums up my last post pretty well. Ha Ha.  I've gotten every single one of these at least twice. Thanks to the people that made this! Keep fighting the good fight.

"So... What are you exactly?"

So one of the many awkward about being biracial is that it's kind of a pain in the ass to introduce yourself to someone new. This is mainly because the question that usually first comes up is: "So, what ethnicity are you, exactly?" (there are different, more common ways people ask that question, but this is the nicer, more socially conscious version). Now, if you're most half-black, half-white people (i.e. Halle Berry, Beyonce, President Obama), you can usually get away with just saying "I'm black", because most black and white people look mostly black. It's cool, because it's a quick, simple answer, and you can move forward and move on to a much more interesting subjects, because, quite frankly, speaking about topic of "race/ethnicity" almost always ends up becoming annoyingly awkward or argumentative, unless both people in said conversation are of the exact same race (from personal experience, at least). The same thing happens with topics of conflicting religions, sports teams, video game consoles, or James Bond actors. No good can come of talking about any of these things for extended periods of time..

So when you're a biracial dude, or half-black, half-white, and your appearance doesn't particularly lean towards either of the two ethnicities that you are (i.e. Vin Diesel, The Rock, or yours truly), things can get a little hairy when racially identifying yourself to other people. Especially when you're part white, because that adds yet another annoying part of the identifying process, like "are you Italian, German, Irish, etc"? It turns into you having to speak a very long and weird run-on sentence to someone you barely know. And it gets a little more irritating every time you have to do it.

Personally, I probably could try to get away with just saying "I'm black" and leave it as that, quickly changing the subject to something like how retarded the Twilight movies are (something neutral that we can all see eye-to-eye on), but then said person would most likely pause the riveting conversation about lame movies to ask "hey, if you're black then why do you have extremely light skin and green eyes?" (or they say, "you're so well spoken", but I usually just leave the room after that... unless I'm trying to get laid, but that's another topic) and then the conversation becomes awkward again. So then I have to explain how "I'm actually black and white, with a little german (still not 100% sure about that) and native american splashed in". After I say that, the other guy or gal usually stairs blankly at me for a few seconds processing the weird mixture I just said (not that I blame them) and says either "oh..." followed up with an either longer pause or says "wow, what's that like?".

So, basically, the response to my awkward explanation of why I look the way I do is just as awkward as the explanation yourself, especially when they say "what's that like", because, I mean, what do you say to that? I usually just say "Its cool", because I really want this conversation to move onto something more interesting than my complexion and so I can stop feeling like a piece of lame art at a museum. Though the actual honest answer to that question for me would be "It's cool, until someone like you asks me 'what's that like?', then it's annoying as F**K and makes me lose my train of thought. What ethnicity are you?" I'd probably have no friends and be a virgin if I went with the latter response though.

Really, I just wish we, as a society would stop putting such a huge importance on race and, instead, would just focus on people as...just people. I'll admit, even I do the same thing every once in awhile (yes, I'm a giant hypocrite... Sorry) when I meet someone new, but it's just because the subject of "race/ethnicity" is engraved so far into my mind, in ALL our minds, that I/we can't help it. And I think that's a shame.

On the other hand, "Hey, guess what ethnicity I am!" could be an excellent ice breaker at parties.

Student Strikes

So recently, I temporarily moved back in with my father (NEVER do that), after 6 years of being on my own, in order to save some money while I look for a better job. My dad is a college professor and today we have our annual "student protest" on campus. This is where a bunch of students gather together and block off the entrance of campus (aka my way back home) in order to fight the high rise of tuition fees they are forced to pay. These protests usually last a full day or two.


Let me just be straight up with this. I think these "protests" are dumb. VERY dumb. One day of blocking the entrance to a college doesn't prove anything to anyone except that you are annoying and unemployed (which could also describe me, but at least I'm not messing with people's livelihoods). It's a waste of everyone's time and it just serves to make wannabe hippies and bored cops feel better about themselves without actually changing anything. 


Now before you all start hating on me let me say this: I'm a very liberal guy. I'm also a recent college graduate, myself. I paid my own way through school, so I understand how crappy these fees are. They're ridiculous and they keep getting worse. The only thing probably more outlandish as tuition costs is the price of gas these days (seriously, $4.50 per gallon? Come on, Obama. I thought we was homies).  


The problem is that these kids are not thinking the right way. The only way to hurt the fat-cats that are in charge of Universities is to hit them where it hurts: Their wallet. Here's a suggestion on what you crazy kids should do if you REALLY ACTUALLY want to make a difference with your protest (write this down): Drop out of school for a semester. Collectively. The school will then lose TONS of money from this and will be forced to accommodate to the students' demands. 


Sounds simple, right? Well... maybe you students should do it. And faculty, y'all should do the same thing. Stop teaching for a semester the same time the students drop out. One semester is enough to hurt school cash flow and cause change. Blocking the entrance to a school does not. Plus its dumb and makes you look like a douche.

Assasin's Creed 3 reveal

Glad to see a person of color staring in a video game, which almost never happens. Only two games I remember, in recent memory, where I've played as someone other than a white person or a talking animal are Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Prey. Kinda messed up when you think about it. Makes me feel a slight bit better about movies these days...

This link is via ign.com
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/121/1219789p1.html

Ethnically bilingual

This sketch from Key & Peele is hilarious and I love how these guys bring some awareness to their show on what it's like to be half-black and half-white in America. You got the hard street voice when you want to come off hard to your peers and you got the "mannered" (not my words) voice when you go to a job interview. Dave Chapelle said it best when he said that "every black guy is bilingual". That's even truer for mixed people of color in this still very ethnically divided society. I hope this show does well on Comedy Central and fills that sketch-based comedy void in my heart I've had since the great Chapelle went off the air. These two guys were pretty much the only funny parts of the later years of Mad TV, after all.

What Up

What's up, Blog World. Welcome to my blog. My name is ******* or you can just call me ABG, which is short for "Angry Biracial Geek", which also happens to be the name of my blog. Isn't that lovely?

Anyway, before I start venting, let me tell you all a little about myself. First of all, I am a "geek". Not to be confused with being a "nerd", who are extremely knowledgeable in stuff that is actually useful to society like math, science, and whatever keeps Madonna looking remotely attractive. No, being a "geek" means that I'm knowledgeable in useless crap that is usually only appealing to other geeks like video games, comic books, and Doctor Who. So, basically I am very well informed in stuff that only weird people, like me, care about and none of this knowledge, unless I'm very lucky (which I never am), will ever benefit me in any way. Kinda sad, I know, but hey, at least I can recite every line to Batman: Mask of the Phantasm by heart. Yay for that.

Second of all, I am what you would call "biracial". My mother was white and my father is black. What this means is that my peers like to tease me for not talking black enough, while the mall security follows me around for not looking white enough. That doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that people still haven't come up with a better name for us instead of "mulatto". Well, we do have the presidency (for now), so I really shouldn't complain about my ethnicity too much... but still, mulatto is the best you guys can do? Really? Even half n half sounds better, and I put that crud in my coffee. But I digress.

Thirdly, growing up as both biracial and a geek, I have seen a lot of dumb things in this world that has made me upset. "Angry", if you will (Examples of this would be: Skyrim's load times, the "Green Lantern" movie, and white people asking me why can't they use the N word). I felt like a blog would help me vent on some of those things that really upset me in life, but also allow me to share some things that are of interest to me too, so that I won't bum you guys out too much. Hence the name of this blog. So without further a do... here's my super geeky blog with mixed race undertones. Enjoy and thanks for listening to my rants. Peace.

-ABG