Wednesday, 18 May 2011

SHIRT

I recently got a great deal on this limited edition Voltron-Tron (VolTron) crossover tee from the site Nowherebad.

I like it that sites such as this and teefury.com are cropping up and giving artists some recognition without pushing the copyright boundaries too far.

I’ve been watching these artist t-shirt sites for a while and although I can’t buy everything I like before it goes away forever (these shirts are very ltd edition after all) I can have the odd one or two that wow me, not simply for consumption – but to also support the artist. Given the sales last for 24-48 hours these could be consider rare-collector clothes. I like the exclusivity of it, not to mention how creative some of these shirt designs are, not just to avoid a lawsuit, but to also impress.

You can check out the artist’s site for VolTron at http://www.jo3bot.com/. He’s got some other great work that may or may not end up on fabric. Great imagery all the same!

Sunday, 15 May 2011

SUPERMAN


The 10 year journey of Smallville has been done and dusted…

I felt the finale went rather well. Characters were tied up (although I would have liked to have seen a bit more closure on them), settings were made and it was all epic throughout. I have always admired how this show attempts at pushing the boundaries of budget and tech limitations to bring forth what I think are some great stories. Having watched a lot of the DVD extras and ‘behind the scenes’, as well as reading blogs and interviews from the team of this show - I got a really good impression of the hard work, dedication and ambition that went into this production. I sure hope the Smallville team have no trouble finding work after the wrap up.

I have read mixed reactions online in regards to Tom Welling finally suiting up or vaguely suiting up as the Man of Steel.

Sure, we got to see Superman and at only a fair distance… But I think of it from an “Is it a Bird, Is it a plane” onlooker perspective (as most would see Superman). That in my opinion is how Superman would be and should seen. Superman isn’t a poser like Booster Gold (who was previously portrayed a couple of episodes prior to the finale) and isn’t going to stick around for photographs or be studied. It is just as well, considering Superman has the most unflattering hero costume around next to He-Man.

Fans already know what the Superman costume looks like, so there would have been no surprise factor, and the many fan-made photoshops of Tom Welling in the red and blue which have cropped up over the years already gave an insight to what he would have looked like.

I clued in that the producers of Smallville were going to hold back on how much of Superman they were going to expose. After all the unveiled costume at the start of season 10 only showed the shield and cape half covered in a crystal closet inside the Fortress of Solitude. I say that was a good move.

I think what mattered most was that the finale setup who Clark Kent now is, who Lex Luthor is and the busy crime-filled Metropolis setting most of the action takes place in.

I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a TV as much as Smallville. I’d say, The A Team comes in at a close second which ran of half as long.

Smallville is a show I grew up with and will happily reflect on. It is rare to have a TV series last for a decade and boast a consistency of the same actor and support cast. I hope that something just as good can crop up again. There is so much potential for a spin-off with either Conner Kent or the Green Arrow that could fill the void left behind.

Now that the journey has ended, the wife and I will still look back on this show (since we already own the first 9 DVD boxsets) and look back on favourite episodes. It’s been a fun TV show experience to say the least.

Goodbye Smallville, but not Goodbye forever.

Thursday, 12 May 2011

STATUS


After some self assessing today, I’ve wondered whether how far on the status ladder I’ve slid down or rung climbed,

Very recently I finished University which in turn I have found myself in a new role as a stay at home dad. I get to look after my daughter almost every day whilst mommy goes out and makes the big bucks. I change nappies, make milk (the SMA variety), and entertain all day.

It seems like People all around me are getting jobs – (good paid jobs at that), learning to drive (which I should have done half my life ago) and serving the community. Fair play! I just want a slice of that action.

I guess I am kind of reeling in that someone recently had the gull to call me a ‘Stay at Home Loser’ and for what its worth that label hit where it hurts. I KNOW that I am NOT a Loser, but there have been times where I have felt a bit like that.

My lot right now is simple and I am happy with it. I have a beautiful baby girl to work and play with all day. I am in a position some fathers probably aren’t. I get to bond with my daughter and that’s a great thing! Some might assume that I scoff cakes and watch kids TV all day, but it is very far from the truth.

I think what hurts is that I egotistically know how much gold I can pave through my cultural capital and it has not fully happened yet.

I have played my life out in a unique order. The car, the cash, the status should all come in good time. And to be honest, I happily count the blessings I have. Sometimes when I see what others have I take those blessings for granted. I should not! What I have is great!

Stay at Home Loser? Hardy!

White-Hot free agent as far as employment or community work goes - That's more accurate!

I am Ken Flatt: Stay at home Dad, Defender of the Universe, one of Keynsham’s most unique characters and someday a big-time career man.