(no subject)

No politics this time, I promise. It's alllll TV - but I can't vouch for the political content of the TV.


First up was a one-shot that showed on Cartoon Network this past Saturday. Justice League: The New Frontier takes the Justice League - and its origins - back to 1950s USA. The Justice Society of America has disbanded in the wake of McCarthy's lawless reign of rage and innuendos. The Batman is a fugitive. Wonder Woman wields a sword instead of a lasso. Barry Allen is The Flash. Superman's shield has the black background and the original stylized S. The art style, aside from the intro, hearkens back to the origins of the characters in the 30s-50s. So do the origins, for that matter, as well as the power levels. This is not stuff for small children - bones break in fights, blood spurts, and people die. Brave men and women, from regular soldiers to elite squads to superheroes, must come together to fight the menace of The Center. The voice cast looks more like a marquee at a theatre instead of, well, your standard voice cast. I know mabfan and other die-hard DC Comics geeks (khaosworks?) will see plenty more than I did, and I saw a couple of squadrons that haven't been seen since the 60s. If it shows again, which is a question, I highly recommend you watch. This goes back to the pulps and its not always pretty, but it is powerful. Plus, you get a bonus shot of Bugs Bunny (I am not making this up!).

Next up is slightly lighter fare. The Secret Saturdays is an action cartoon that also hearkens back to the pulps but with some modern sensibilities. Doc, Drew and Zak Saturday are a family that travels the world in a giant airship around the world, looking for cryptids - think strange and unusual beasts. Zak is the son, Doc and Drew are husband and wife, and they have a few cryptid friends of their own who travel with them. The updated sensibilities? Well, Drew can kick ass and take names just like her husband and son; Doc is black while Drew is white (a non-issue for me except to note and approve the more modern mores); and the language is contemporary. The show reminds me of early Johnny Quest shows so far, but better than those in terms of pacing and such. Check Cartoon Network on Friday nights or Saturday mornings.

New seasons of NUMB3RS (CBS), 60 Minutes (CBS), The Daily Show with John Stewart (Comedy Central) and The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) are all running strong.

Oh, if you like America's Test Kitchen on PBS you would probably like Cooks Country, also on PBS, by the same people. More recipes, more equipment testing, more food tasting, occasional shots of live audiences and more well-placed verbal shots at Christopher Kimball. The recipes focus more on US dishes, like Southern-style fried chicken and potato salad, and they keep the recipes on their website. They routinely impress me and that's all I have to say about that.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your TiVos! :P

A True Defense of Marriage Manifesto

Marriage is about mutual honor, support, respect and rights, bonds with fairness and balance and affection and hopefully love, and I defend that.

My parents married nearly 45 years ago. Their marriage is still going strong. I defend their marriage.

My wife and I have been married for four years. I defend our marriage.

I have friends and relatives who have yet to marry. I defend their right to marry who they will.

A cousin of mine got divorced some years back. The love and respect had gone. Divorce was what their marriage needed, and in so doing they defended the institution of marriage.

I have friends who have partners of the same sex. Some are married. Some are not. I defend their marriages and their right to marry.

Some fellow citizens in my country, in their religions, have the right to have more than one spouse at the same time. While it is still against the law of the land I defend their right to marry.

I know of abusive marriages, broken marriages, marriages of shame and unwanted marriages. I defend the right of anyone to leave what is called a marriage but is a mockery of the principles of marriage, and in so doing I defend marriage.

I am a defender of marriage in all its forms so long as it follows the principles of marriage. Jacob married Leah and Rachel in the desert and had two concubines to boot, and by accounts he did care about and for all of them. You better believe I defend that marriage!
Those who would keep marriages from happening that follow the principles of a secure, loving partnership are no defenders of marriage. I hereby call them out and cast out their hypocrisy.

I am a defender of marriage, and my claim to that title will not be denied!