Just a little something to bump that improperly loaded picture from the front. As I'll reveal later this month, the empty space turned out to be an all-too-perfect metaphor.

I really don't remember Toronto being so hard to navigate.

Get back to where you once belonged.

I heard this morning that vaccines are going to be available for people in my age group starting tomorrow.

While idly checking the Regal website, I saw that theaters in my town are going to re-open May 7th.

Lord only knows if food festivals will open back up, but I'd assume not. Conventions may be even more of a pipe dream. (And really, San Diego Comic-Con? Thanksgiving?) Still, the experience of going to (and sitting down at) a restaurant is one I've missed.

I'm feeling good about this year.

Well, the Oscar shortlists are out. If you really want to see them, just look for them. I've seen them and, for a number of reasons, I'm not that impressed.

Here are what my ballots would look like for the various categories:

Best Original Score

Terence Blanchard, Da 5 Bloods

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Mank

Alexandre Desplat, The Midnight Sky

Daniel Pemberton, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Bruno Coulais, Wolfwalkers*

Best Visual Effects

Birds of Prey

The Invisible Man*

Mulan

Tenet

Wonder Woman 1984*

Best Make-Up and Hairstyling

Bill and Ted Face the Music*

Birds of Prey

Mank

The nominees with asterisks were, inexplicably, not shortlisted. Seriously, how the fuck do you not nominate The Invisible Man for Visual Effects? Or Bill and Ted Face the Music for Make-Up? I just don't get this.

Oh, the shortlist for Original Song was also released, but I could give less of a shit about that category. Nothing interests me at all.

The new year's less than an hour away. I really don't know what to say.

Oh, I asked my Magic 8-Ball if the new year would be more advantageous and fulfilling than this year. The response? 'It is certain'.

That I threatened to hurl it off a bridge if the year isn't what I hope it to be probably doesn't augur well, does it?

Went on a little scavenger hunt today. Within two rooms (my current bedroom and the den/office that used to be my room), I was trying to locate four items:

• my new health insurance card (for my impending doctor's appointment)
• a nail file that I use for a pencil sharpener
• two "Batman" comics that I misplaced during the move
• the track listings I'd made for the score to Outbreak

Making the task that much harder are a) I couldn't remember exactly where they were and b) we have a shitton of stuff in the house, the two rooms included. My folks don't seem to want to get rid of it and I have a fair amount of stuff accrued myself.

Apparently, I'd set aside the health insurance card some time ago, figuring that I'd need to go to the doctor, sooner or later. One item down.

I'd somewhat remembered that I put the nail file on my dresser, but there was a bunch of crap on top of it. I cleared it away and, lo and behold, there it was. (Before I figured this out, I pulled my dresser out. If I had a dollar for every time something fell behind that damn thing in my life...) Two items down.

I just about tore apart the old room searching for the track listings. Given that it's a slip of paper and I've accrued a bunch of them for track listings and potential ones, it was damn near impossible. The room was pretty cluttered, so I did a bit of tidying up. It's still cluttered, but more navigatible and less disgustingly hideous to look at than it was this morning and that's what matters, right? I found it not far from my desk. Three items down.

As for the comics...I imagine I could just rebuy them for super cheap at this point, but still, it's the principle. How I hate when you can never find something right when you need it.

Thanks to print-bingo.com, I've made up a bunch of cards for Svengoolie bingo. So far, none of the sound bites have yielded five-in-a-row. Maybe, next week.

As I sit at my computer contemplating one of the two scripts I'm working on to potentially sell, I think to myself 'Why have I not updated my blog?'. Of course, the answer is laziness. However, I have set in motion events that belie such laziness. I complain about my crappy job, but what if I were to tell you that, by the fall, I won't be working there anymore? Not sure what job I'll have, but I'm definitely getting a new job.

And all it took was a trip to Toronto.

It'll all make sense by Labor Day...I hope.

Oh, and Happy Easter.

What do you propose?

In the last couple days, I read about a pair of marriage proposals and how well they were (or weren't received).

One was apparently made on Reddit utilizing a bunch of memes. Even though the girl said yes (which must make her very forgiving or very easy; that does sound lazy), a number of commenters felt she should've turned him down.

The other was one of those big, splashy things that ought to be reserved for the realm of cheesy romantic comedies. The girl said no. While I'm unaware of the crowd's reaction to her decision, I support it. I mean, if you're going to the trouble of paying people off to make your dream happen and basically moving Heaven and Earth for a marriage proposal, before a huge crowd, you're pretty much guilting the girl into saying yes, and I get the feeling that she knew that.

The guy might be crushed now, but hopefully, he'll see it was for the best.

A marriage proposal ought to be a quiet, intimate affair. Save the splashiness for the wedding itself, I say.

Just something to liven things up...as much as something I do can liven things up. Here are my reviews of recent cartoons:

SheZow - As my work schedule was wonky, I missed roughly the first month of this show's existence, but then, I got a reprieve. I checked out a couple of episodes. Once you get past the overreliance on 'She' puns (not since Ron losing his pants on "Kim Possible" has a cartoon writing staff forced a gag so harshly), it's a neat little show. Amusing and surprisingly charming. I'm not crazy about Guy's dad, though. (Still, one has to consider the multiple heart attacks he's likely to have if he ever learns SheZow's true identity.)

Teen Titans Go! - By all the names of God, I wanted to like this show. Despite the negative buzz, I gave it a shot. After all, I enjoyed the DC Nation shorts that were this show's progenitors. (Also, I have a fondness for the classic show when it gets silly - "Mad Mod", "Don't Touch that Dial", "Fractured"). This show isn't so much an extension of the DC Nation shorts as it is a slipshod Brundlefly-ing of "Teen Titans" and "Johnny Test". The episode "Gorilla" was my breaking point.

Sanjay and Craig - I've only seen one episode of this show...and I really feel like that's all I need. The two of them snuck into a hospital and disguised themselves as "rad doctors" to witness a butt operation. That's comedy? While less excruciating than "Fanboy and Chum Chum" (the last cartoon I cut loose after one and only one viewing), it's still something I will go out of my way to avoid.

GrojBand - From two "Total Drama Island" directors, this show isn't nearly as good...nor is it terribly original. First, you have Phineas (of "...and Ferb" fame) leading a garage band that also includes some dude with glasses and dark-haired Owen. For some reason, Vicky ("The Fairly OddParents") is Phineas' psychotically bitchy sister and she's in love with generic handsome guy #224 who refers to himself in the third person. Oh, and Isabella's in the band, too. (She's in love with him, but he is completely oblivious.) If I was expecting anything from this show, I'd hate it. As I was expecting nothing, let me tell you, my expectations were met.

Monsters vs. Aliens - As far as McCorkle/Schooley adaptations of animated movies go, it's no "Penguins of Madagascar" or "Hercules", but it's pretty funny. (Though I don't remember the President being quite this stupid in the movie.) BTW, the episode "Educational Television" made me laugh like a loon.

Almost Naked Animals - Less new than the others on this list, I admit. No one talks about this show, and when they do, it's not complimentary. Okay, it's ridiculous, inconsequential and occasionally gross...and yet, it makes me laugh, perhaps because of those qualities (okay, maybe not the grossness). Duck, in particular, cracks me up.

No, I am not a tree.

Chronically weak and timid, but with a heart of solid gold, you tend to require and depend on the help of your friends in most situations. You enjoy their company, but also enjoy solitude and time away from your friends where you can enjoy the sounds of nature. Just because you know you're weak doesn't mean it holds you back, because you know you're strong where it counts, with your overabundance of kindness, caring, and compassion.

You're often worried about saying or doing the wrong things and also fear rejection. Speaking of fear, you've got a lot of it, often times letting your fear hold you back from doing even the most simple of things, such as jumping across a cliff. But in that fear, you can often find just enough bravery to stand up for doing the right thing if your friends need you.

You may be naive and innocent, and you're very shy and quiet, but you're also a very good listener and are likely the one your friends blab on about their problems to — and while you may feel powerless to help at times, just listening and cheering them on means the world to them. Yay!


Yep. That's me.

Thnaksgiving dinner was delicious. However, I feel pretty out of it. Maybe, the leak in my car's gas line is getting to me, but I'm so worn out mentally. I really should get that fixed.

Yes, I haven't been posting here in a while. Laziness is the strongest reason, followed closely by not having anything to post about. There was a 'Lost in the stacks' post I was planning, but it fell by the wayside when the latest issue of the comic I was to write about was pushed back to August (which is when I shall post the entry). I have been stumbling upon three short run comics that are strong contenders for future 'Lost in the stacks' columns.

I think I've sent more tweets than I've written blog posts all year (I don't feel like counting; it's probably neck and neck).

I've been planning a new feature here about soundtracks that I'm pretty sure no one else has. It's gonna be some time before that gets off the ground.

Also, in going through my old posts, I've found that my 'why I love movies' post is three years old. I should really update it and get it posted.

As soon as I find the list and finish drafting it, I'd also like to post '10 warning signs that the writers didn't care'. Yes, it's a post about animation.

I guess that's it.

Going to the movies today. Wanderlust is playing at the second-run theater.

One thing I hate about free time off of work is not having any movies to see. The only movie I've seen in the last three weeks (not counting today) is Mirror Mirror. While it was decent, it alone can't sate my movie-going lust...and call me a snob if you like, but just blindly spending disposable income on the likes of Wrath of the Titans, American Reunion and The Hunger Games (It doesn't look that interesting to me. Sorry.) doesn't strike me as appealing.

Thankfully, starting this Friday, there will be an insane surplus of movies that I'll be seeing this month: The Three Stooges (don't judge me), Lockout, The Raid: Redemption, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Safe and The Raven. And with The Avengers on the 4th, this bodes to be a fun (and eventful) summer at the movies.

Just here on the family computer for no real reason than to spend time on a computer bigger than my hand. Can't wait until that new monitor gets here.

So much for my happy ending.

I seriously can't imagine why people prefer depressing endings. It breaks my heart scanning the 'Downer Ending' page at TV Tropes that there can be so many examples. My thinking is this: isn't real life full of these kinds of endings? What's more, why would people want them in their movies, where people go to escape reality?

Interestingly, I stumbled upon an article that makes another argument for why purveyors of these conclusions should soak their heads:

Why all stories should end happily

To all you last-minute wrappers...

...myself included...don't give up. Flippy decrees it:



If this video doesn't melt your heart, then here's hoping that the three ghosts that visit you tonight set you back on the path of right.

From TBS' "...and the City" to film's "Sex and the..."

I don't really give a feather or a fig about Sex and the City 2, but this review (tipped off to me in a Den of Geek talkback, of all places) is too good not to share.

Lindy West may well be one of my new favorite reviewers: "Burkas and Birkins.

"Change the channel!"

I've done my share of bitching about cable channels in the past (nowadays, TV is pretty much what's on in the background). Still, a thread at Toonzone got me to thinking: what channels would I change and how? Sadly, I've become one of those fuddy-duddys reminiscing (spelled it right, that time) about how things used to be. Here's a post because a) there's no way I could name one and b) I don't want to go a whole week without posting anything:

USA: This choice is fairly easy: bring back the sitcom reruns and game shows (GSN has clearly lost interest in many of the game show reruns I grew up with). Resurrecting 'Up All Night' isn't such a bad idea, either. Really, is Rhonda Shear doing anything these days?

SyFy: Time-warp it to the late 90s/early aughts: classic genre shows, MST3K reruns, anime on Saturday mornings, funny bumpers and do I even need to say 'change the effing title?!'

AMC: With the editing for television and commercial breaks, it's just like every other channel. Fix that crap...and bring back "Backstory".

DisneyXD: Change it back to Toon Disney. That's all I ask. Oh, and dipping into the Fox Kids library every now and then won't kill them.

Cartoon Network: The last few years of the channel have seen an unfortunate, ill-advised shift. This one is super-obvious: diversify the schedule. Who really needs four showings of "Chowder" and "Johnny Test" a day?

It's not too late to save cable television.

Back again.

I don't know what's going on. This is the second time this year that I've gone ten days without posting here.

I'm not ready to throw in the towel, but...I really got to start posting more.

Random thoughts.

- This has to be the longest I've gone between posts in some time (ten days!).

- Last Saturday, I tried one of those Smokehouse Bacon Burgers at Chili's (simply incredible) and went to see Jumper. Flawed, to be sure, but quite entertaining (Jamie Bell stole the film, in my opinion). However, the film is getting nasty reviews. Not bad, but nasty. I mean, it's not like this film is a slapped-together collection of film, TV and internet references, or even an empty hollow of a film with giant robots mired in one misfired joke after another.

- Speaking of one misfired joke after another...I watched the new "Fairly Oddparents" special "Fairly OddBaby" the other night. Jesus H. Christ! The word that can accurately describe how badly the writers (Butch Hartman and Scott Fellows - whom I used to trust - and Kevin Sullivan - whom I pretty much expected this from) screwed up this second chance has yet to be discovered and added to the English language. In fact, in this spirit, here's a math problem: take your age. Cut it in half. Now, cut it in half again. Cut it in half one more time. That is now the age of this show's target audience.