Day: July 24, 2004

Grayson: Another Awesome Fan Trailer

After posting the link to the World’s Finest fan film trailer, I ran across another excellent fan trailer, Grayson. This one’s almost 5 and half-minutes long and blew me away. Basic premise is that Batman is dead and the former Boy Wonder is out to catch the killers and avenge Batman’s death. Some excellent effects including brief appearances by a number of JLA members.

As technology costs continue to fall and companies like Warner continue to come out with crap like “Catwoman” or the rumored bastardization of Green Lantern, fan films like this could fill a needed void and even pose a threat.

The other day I finished reading the trade paperback version of “Squadron Supreme” — an early 1980s Marvel series which was the forerunner of later series like “Kingdom Come.” The thing about “Squadron Supreme”, though, is that its basically the Justice League of American in different costumes with different names. So Batman becomes “Night Hawk,” Superman becomes “Hyperion” with a red costume but similar origins and powers, etc.

Whose to stop someone form taking a cue from “Squadron Supreme” and making their own JLA-ripoff film (especially since it’s unlikely we’ll ever see a genuine JLA film)?

Monster Waves Turn Out to Be Relatively Common

The existence of large ocean waves in excess of 80 feet tall that form and disperse quickly used to be thought impossible. Then the conventional wisdom is that such waves were possible, but extremely rare. Now Reuters notes that a satellite survey of the ocean during three weeks in 2001 finds that such waves are, in fact, relatively common occurrences.

In just those three weeks, researchers spotted ten waves in excess of 80 feet tall. As Reuters notes, that poses a problem since ships and off-short platforms are generally built to survive maximum 50 foot waves

Sandy Corolla Is Back With World’s Finest Trailer

Last year I mentioned how impressed I was with Sandy Corolla’s Batman: Dead End trailer that to the San Diego Comic Con by storm. Now Corolla’s go a follow-up — a World’s Finest trailer (that’s a Superman/Batman team-up for you non-fanboys).

It’s not as impressive as Batman: Dead End, but it runs circles around Catwoman.

Nursing Moms Must Leave, but Wet T-Shirt Contest Goes On at Restaurant

In the race to the bottom on barring women from breast feeding in public places, a reader pointed out the a recent such dustup at The Hoover House Restaurant in West Branch, Iowa.

A mother tried to nurse her 8-month-old at the restaurant and was asked to either move to the restroom, cover herself more or leave.

This particular incident is notable for two reasons. First, the restaurant’s actions were possibly illegal. In 2000, Iowa passed a law stating that, “A woman may breast-feed the woman’s own child in any public place where the woman’s presence is otherwise authorized.” According to the Des Moines Register, 25 states have such laws protecting breast feeding women.

Second, this particular restaurant apparently has a history of holding wet t-shirt contests, so why they are suddenly offended by semi-exposed breasts is something of a mystery.

As in the Houston mall case earlier this year, about 13 women decided to hold a “nurse-in” at the restaurant in response to the incident.

Sources:

Nursing mom asked to leave. Mark Quiner, DesMoines Register, July 13, 2004.

No charge being pursued in breast-feeding dispute. Erin Jordan, DesMoines Register, July 20, 2004.

Leaders recall law’s intent. Deidre Bello, Iowa Press-Citizen, July 17, 2004.

Breast-feeding law needs to be followed. Editorial, Iowa Press-Citizen, July 17, 2004.

Mayor of London Praises Muslim Cleric Who Defends Domestic Violence

The Scotsman reports that feminist and gay activists in Great Britain protested the arrival of Muslim cleric Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is an extremist who has praised suicide bombers, defended domestic violence, and views homosexuality as something that needs to be punished by law. Of course, this being Europe, he was welcomed with open arms by London Mayor Ken Livingstone who describe criticism of Al-Qaradawi as anti-Muslim “hysteria.”

For example, here’s al-Qaradawi on how far a husband may go in punishing his wife,

It is permissible for him to beat her lightly with his hands, avoiding her face and other sensitive parts. In no case should he resort to using a stick or any other instrument that might cause pain and injury.

Peter Tatchell, leader of UK gay rights group Outrage!,

Ken Livingstone would not give a platform to the BNP. Dr. al-Qaradawi is even more extreme. He is an apologist for violence against women, Jews and gay people. We urge the Mayor of London not to host this misogynist, anti-Semitic homophobe.

Instead, Livingstone apologized to al-Qaradawi for the criticism he had to endure and invited him to return to London later this year.

Source:

Now cleric faces protests from gay group and feminists. John-Paul Ford Rojas and Neville Dean, Press Association, July 12, 2004.

Controversial preacher with ‘star status’. Magdi Abdelhadi, The BBC, July 7, 2004.

Livingstone invites cleric back. The BBC, July 12, 2004.

That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore

An amusing tale of two wanna-be comedians unfolded in the Feminist Majority Foundation’s daily news wire the past couple weeks.

When Slim-Fast dropped Whoopi Goldberg after her round of Bush and Dick jokes at a fundraiser for John Kerry, the Feminist Majority Foundation defended her, noting that “a company spokesperson refused to say whether there was a decrease in sales because of the remarks” and added,

Goldberg was a featured speaker at the massively successful March for Women’s Lives on April 25, which brought more than one million women and men to Washington, DC in support of reproductive rights.

Less than a week later, however, when California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger alluded to the Saturday Night Live skit that used to parody him and referred to California legislators as “girlie men” the Feminist Majority Foundation was suddenly offended at such humor, headlining its coverage of Schwarzenegger’s remarks with “Governor Schwarzenegger Unapologetic for Sexist, Homophobic Remark.” According to the report,

Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation, commented on the misogyny that underlies the governor’s comment: “Women are strong. And to denigrate half the human race is pretty sick. But that’s what he’s doing. He’s trying to denigrate the males by denigrating females.”

Ah, the fresh smell of hypocrisy in the morning.

Source:

Slim-Fast drops Whoopi Goldberg after anti-Bush jokes. Feminist Daily News Wire, July 15, 2004.

Governor Schwarzenegger Unapologetic for Sexist, Homophobic Remark. Feminist Daily News Wire, July 19, 2004.