The Slow Death of the Book Store; The Evolution of Buying Books

As well as know, book stores are dying a slow death. And one of the groups that bemoans this fact are the denizens of academia. College students, instructors and the like are the ones that are killing off the book store. I suppose the question is how, but it's rather simple.

College students read a lot and have to buy books for classes. But because they're students they do not have limitless resources to spend upon books. So options like Amazon and eBay and used book sources are better alternatives. With a reduced revenue stream, book stores are forced to look at other methods of bringing in business. So they cater to the more casual forms of literature. Cookbooks, self-help, pop culture biographies and then main stream garbage like Fifty Shades of Grey.

As students like to think that they want to support book stores, they head out to these stores every now and again and find the book stores loaded with cookbooks, self-help, pop culture biographies and Fifty fucking Shades of Shit. It then creates this circle that gets tighter and tighter and literature of merit are less in demand. For example, at a recent visit to the book store, the Shakespeare section was one case and then the Romance section had six cases. Granted, there are far more Romance novels than works by Shakespeare (even counting Cliff Notes about his plays, sonnets and things and stuff). But still.

I mean, what's the appeal of Romance novels? Why can't people just watch porno? And why do people look down their nose at porno, but people don't look down at Romance novels. I mean, hypocrisy of the highest order here. We're all sexual beings, I don't judge how people like to get their rocks off, yet, c'mon. Porno is more believable than Romance novels too. Porn really dropped all the pretenses now and Romance novels have continued to be filled with crappy nonsense. These mystical meetings of people and all that yakkity yak.

In any event, this cycle has created the death of book stores and the evolution of buying books. Things are cheaper, more accessible and we have a better selection. Moreover, we have electronic texts and dodads to read them on. So in short, we miss what book stores were and not what they are and when they finally die we'll all be better off.

Lies. Dirty Rotten Flighty Lies.

So the Boston Red Sox are playing the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays in the playoffs. Brief aside, Devil Rays is a terrible team name that was only made worse by calling them the Rays. Though in all fairness the Tampa Bay area is terrible. But there have been a rash of social media outbursts about thing perpetrated by Red Sox fans against the various contingents of Rays' players, fans and what not.

Firstly, David Price's girlfriend, known colloquially in Massachusetts as "A Fucking Liar" made various claims about fans throwing trash and generally being assholes. Well being an asshole is every baseball fans' god given right. But what defines an asshole baseball fan? Swearing, drinking, all that fun stuff? Maybe. I think the term asshole can only be applied to fans who go out of their way to bother people. But even still. It's playoff baseball. She called Sox fans "pieces of shit". Right, because it was Sox fans who killed that guy in California. Oh wait, no.

Another salacious story was that a Sox fan stole a sting ray out of the horribly misguided aquarium thing they have there. Who the fuck steals a sting ray? Who saw him stealing a fucking sting ray and didn't stop him? These items inspire such skepticism.

Now, the point of this post is, who the fuck believes these lies? These two stories are ridiculous. But why do they get so much traction?

Social media?

It's a way to lie.

Attention seeking dopes?

They do lie. But it is a way for them to seek attention.

So what then?

People. People lie because other people believe their lies and that makes people lie more and more.

So what's the solution?

Well, there really isn't one obvious solution. If you're stupid that is. But for the people who have a quarter of a brain cell left in their heads the solution is obvious, though somewhat painful. We need to start calling people out on their bullshit. Or even better, ignore them. Don't acknowledge that they even exist.

We all have bullshit meters in our heads. Some better calibrated than others. But when we hear these things that set off those little imaginary meters in our heads, we need to call people out. Sitting idly by and letting people lie is how they lie more.

Let's take a hypothetical situation. The girlfriend of an athlete is probably going to be an attractive woman in most cases. So she's pretty and what not. Who tells pretty people to shut up? Who tells them they're liars? No one. Attractive people sometimes get a carte blanche to say whatever rattles into their dumb heads. Not all attractive people of course. But a vapid dunce who dates an athlete, who I'm sure built their relationship on a deep personal connection, probably hasn't heard or acknowledged any negativity in her life.

So that's why lies multiply and exist as they do.

The Full Circle of Ben Affleck as Batman

I'm rooting for Ben Affleck as Batman. I wasn't before he got cast. I wasn't when I heard. But now, now I want him to excel and shine as Batman. I want people (who probably were a lot like me) to eat crow about this. Not because he's the best choice. Not because I have a vested interest in him as the character. But because the backlash on social media and among the groups with which I speak of such matters has been so ridiculous that I've turned sides. Which is actually quite logical for several reasons.

The fact that Ben Affleck is now Batman doesn't discourage me from seeing the new film. It didn't before. My initial anger about his casting was because of the missed opportunity I perceived. The films that had been floated out were so tempting and so exciting to me that it was like getting a bicycle instead of new ice skates for Christmas. In all honesty there's nothing wrong with a  bike, but ice skates would've been better. Jon Hamm and Josh Brolin had so much potential to be the Robert Downey Jr. that DC and Warner Brothers were looking for. Even though logistically it may have not been possible for either actor. Affleck fit the suit and that's why he's the Caped Crusader.

Thinking about his prowess as an actor is unnecessary. Because quite simply he is playing Batman. No one is ever picked to play Bruce Wayne. And that's the problem with Batman actors. Nearly every actor has a detractor who has played Batman. The ongoing debate about Christian Bale's acting abilities is, plainly put, fucking stupid. The guy can act and act well. The thing is, every time an actor puts on the cape and cowl, they become Batman. Their abilities as an actor are almost dwarfed by how iconic the suit is, how iconic the emblem is. They become Batman. The real challenge for an actor is to play Bruce Wayne well. And too many people forget how important Bruce Wayne is to the dynamic of any Batman film. And make no mistake, this is not Man of Steel 2: Kryptonian Bugaloo this is Batman. Batman as a character is more popular and any of the actors whose names were bandied about for Batman were bigger than Henry Cavill. No disrespect to him. In short, we don't have to worry about Affleck as Batman. His suit won't have nipples, his chin is fine for the movie, he'll look cool, he'll look buff and the action sequences will be fun. And if he brings his A game to be Bruce Wayne, not Batman, then he will and we will be just fine.

The final part of my turn around is how awful the backlash was. I mean people are just fucking morons. If your issue is he doesn't have the look or he isn't a good actor, those are predicated upon opinion and don't have to change. If your problem is based on non-factors or ill researched ideas, well then you suck. I've heard that Affleck won't be big enough for the role. He is six foot four. Henry Cavill is six foot one. In case you didn't know, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is six foot four. Hugh Jackman is six foot two. Size isn't a problem. There's also the deluge of shittastic jokes that aren't funny and were hacky about ninety seconds after he was cast.

"Does this mean Matt Damon/Casey Affleck/Jennifer Gardner is going to be Robin/The Joker/Catwoman?"

No. Your joke is stupid and the mouth that made those sounds to form the joke is a waste of flesh.

"Ben Affleck is going to be the DAHK KNAGHT"

First off, Ben Affleck doesn't have an accent. He can do one. I'm not sure he even actually ever had one. The stigma of Hollywood where the Boston accent is poisonous, but cud-chewing Southerners and New Yorkers and random people of British descent are keen as kale might contribute to that. Secondly no one on the planet earth has an accent like that.

In short, the jokes have sucked, the arguments against him that aren't predicated on ability or look suck and I am fully behind my new bicycle while I hold out hope for ice skates next time. Affleck is Batman. Make the shirts, I'm wearing one.

The Dark Knight Returns And Strikes Back and Returns Again

Superman is trying to enjoy his box office success. However, the pointy-eared cowl of the Batman has speared away any individual triumph the Man of Steel wants to attain.  Simply put, a combination of Marvel's success with The Avengers and their characters' films coupled with the overwhelming popularity of the Caped Crusader, has castrated Kal-El. And I'm pleased as punch. But I have an undying love of Batman going back to The Animated Series and the one true Batman Kevin Conroy. But he is the new reality of DC. He is the atom bomb, the first strike and the last resort. Batman Begins brought back big budget box office (ALLITERATION! TOASTY!) superhero success (AGAIN ALLITERATION!). And now he's the go to weapon. The phaser, the lightsaber, the Jonny Hendricks' God Hand. He is the character Warner Brothers wants and needs. 

It's no wonder Batman is going to show up in Supes' movie (and steal the goddamn thunder if the casting rumors are true). And it's also no wonder they're using a Batman centric arc to model the film. The Dark Knight Rises and the animated adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns have been big pieces of DC's film output the past two years. The story, by Frank Miller, is balls to the wall. Show the world without Batman. Show the world what happens when he comes back. Show the world how Bruce Wayne can die and the Batman can still live. It's one of the greatest arcs of all time. And DC knows this. 

Because it's such a gem, the names being throw out are big time. The top two being Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling. I know I'm late to the party on this. But these are two "fuck yeah!" choices for Batman. Brolin more so than Gosling in my opinion. He's got the age, the voice, the chin and the size. Not to mention the acting chops. In any event, these aren't small potatoes or lunkheads. These are two experienced thespians who can take this film by the balls. And all due respect to Henry Cavill, I rather enjoy him as Superman, but either of these two (or Jon Hamm, FINGERS CROSSED!) plus the mystique the cape and cowl bring will overshadow him. And DC knows in this. And Warner Brothers knows this. And Zach Snyder knows this. And Christopher (No wonder the first six letters of his first name spell Christ) Nolan knows this. 

So? So what? Well, this just shows that all those rumors after TDKR came out about what's next had some ground to stand on. They were just looking for the right way to bring him back. Batman is the doorway superhero. He's a man. Not a mutant, alien, magical being. But his stories have featured mutants, aliens and magical beings. He is a gateway drug so to speak. Get the public on Bats, get them to buy he and Superman together, get them to believe in the Speed Force, the Green Lantern Corps and Atlantis. Then from there Martian Manhunter and Power Girl (can't tell which one is more unrealistic, shape shifting Martian or a ginormous bust) are just a film away. Could Thor have stood alone without Iron Man before it and the knowledge of the Avengers coming? Probably not. This is the same strategy. Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man or Zatanna (oh I hope) and Animal Man. Not that far of a stretch. 

Comic Con Checks and Balances

I went to Boston Comic Con. A girl dressed like Jessica Rabbit wrapped her leg around me for a photo. This was awesome. Who was she? Who knows? Why was she there? Who cares? All I know is that Comic Con represents the best in people. You've got an amply developed woman dressing like a cartoon character. For my amusement? For hers? Maybe she gets off on it. Maybe I do (did). Either way, interests collided into a form fitting red sequined dress. But that same type of collision also causes friction in people. 

My friends at Omega-Level.net had a booth at Comic Con and were selling some fantastic t-shirts. Namely the "Fuck Lucas" shirts done in the Star Wars font. Tasteful, elegant active wear to say the least. And a young man, presumably a Star Wars fan, definitely a fan of George Lucas, asked "what's the meaning of this?" in reference to the shirt. When it was explained to him it was due to how awful the prequels were, he stormed off in a huff. And that is no different than Jessica Rabbit and I. 

Interests bring us together. Sometimes they fall under a wide umbrella that brings more people together. However, ideas conflict with each other. Is it that they hate what George Lucas has done? Not all of it. Is it that the guy loved everything Lucas has ever done? Maybe. But they both love Star Wars Episodes 4-6. And yet they ended their conversation on a less than favorable note. Well the guy did. He looked angry and depressed. Ang-pressed. Which is what I was after seeing Ang Lee's Hulk. Hi-Yoooooo! In any event, Jessica was there to be her character, I was there to spy on Billy West. Yet, we both love tight form fitting dresses. Her wearing, me looking/ogling/touching/removing. And that brought us together. This lends itself to a greater idea. 

Comic Con, as well as other cons (not Con Air, whoa! 2 for 2) are about similar interests and the cohesion and conflicts they cause. I'm sure tattoo, car, gun, porn (the rest of the Big Five) conventions have the same interactions. 

Man: (Sees "Fuck Tribal/Chevy/Glock/Sunny Leone" shirt) "what's the meaning of this?"

Guy at Table: "I love old Tribal/Chevys/Glocks/Sunny Leone. But their/her new shit is awful"

Man: (storms off)

Now aside from the Sunny Leone shirt doubling as a positive message, those conversations can and probably have happened. But also, across the convention floor, someone met someone cool and took a picture. Checks and balances.

Job, Career, Profession

I read an article today on jobs that require schooling that doesn't pay off. Dozens of these articles are written every week. And much like articles of that ilk, each "bad" job comes with a "better" counterpart. Which is kind of moronic, the job market shifts and changes over time, with some constants. People go away from a job and that job comes back because there is diminished interest. The article does this for several fields. So when they got to reporter being a job not worth the schooling, they recommended police officer as an alternative. This is really fucking stupid. 

First off, if you want to be a reporter, police officer isn't equivalent. They're not even the same field. It's ridiculous to think of them being in the same realm. Reporter- Bring people news. Police Officer- Stop crime and criminals. Now those are simplistic job parameters but not inaccurate in any way. 

Secondly, my biggest problem with this. Being a cop shouldn't be a career decision. It should be whether or not an individual is willing, able and capable of protecting and serving the citizens of their respective jurisdictions. People are becoming cops for the benefits and not for the desire to be a cop. This is horrible thinking. Would you want a guy who just wants to do his shift and go home? No. We want John McClane and Harry Callahan. We want Tango & Cash and Riggs & Murtaugh. I don't want the cops in my city, state or county having the same mentality as Fred Flintsone. Hear the whistle, slide down a brontosaurus tail and go home. That's dangerous. 

Would you want a doctor who got into his field solely for the money? Police officer is turning into the new lawyer. People want a good career, they flood the market, water it down and good candidates for the jobs get lost in the shuffle. 

Granted, this article was a silly time waster. But some people believe Matt Damon is gay because he was in the Liberace movie. So it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that some might take it to heart, become cops and when your house is being invaded they're on break reading an article about how reporters are in demand. 

The Great Moments

In thinking about relationships I have one view, they're all about great moments. People talk about compatibility and things like that, but in reality relationships are either of convenience or, as the best ones are, about making great moments. The end of solid relationships comes from the perceived notion that no more great moments can be made. This can be due to changes in either person or their situation. Some might argue against this, but think about this, breakup sex.

Why would you have sex with someone you were leaving or had already left or vice versa? Because it's a great moment. Because it's what you want out of a relationship. And sex is by far the greatest of great moments. It's close and intimate contact, it's the deepest (PUN CITY USA!) level of human desire that is societal, biological and evolutionary. And relationships are about having these great moments. 

You meet your partner (girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, side piece) and you go do something nice. Dinner, walk on the beach, drinks. Maybe not the side piece. She might get a can of Schlitz and cold pizza. In any event, you try to make a great moment out of it, you try something new at the restaurant, you kiss in the moonlight of the beach, you both get plastered and fondle each other in the cab home. Then sex. Great moment to great moment. That's what relationships are founded on. So often you sit in your underwear waiting for that next moment to happen. 

Vacations, concerts, all sorts of activities are all predicated on great moments for relationships. Because you can do so many things alone. But you do them with a partner to create more great moments.

It's silly to think of relationships as a series of bridges between events, but it makes sense. People do things they hate for people that they care for to get to more great moments. Or they do it to give their other half a great moment. Archery class, country music, parent's house for dinner, all things people suffer through for their partner in the hopes of a reciprocated great moment. Which almost invariably should be sex. And lots of it. Because it's sex. Which we all should love and enjoy. 

Personally, as much as I hate relationships to end, I always have those great moments that I can go back to. And that's how we should view it. Especially the sex.