Okay, I know it isn’t Friday. So a Friday Night Video post may be unexpected. If it helps, you can think of this as a Fourth (of July) Night Video post! Or, if you prefer, you can think of this as a makeup for the one I wasn’t able to write last Friday since I was at that conference all week. However you slice it, as people all over the country celebrate America’s birthday in their own way, I wanted to offer some music that explores all America does, can, and should represent. Continue reading
In the wake of Secret Empire’s conclusion, Nick Spencer stepped away from Captain America, the title he shepherded for Marvel from October 2015 through September 2017. During this time he handled the majority of Sam Wilson’s iconic turn as Cap as well as the (infamously controversial) Hydra corruption of Steve Rogers, resulting in Steve becoming a fanatical white supremacist. Amidst the most soul-crushing, hopeless storyline I’ve ever read in a comic, Spencer orchestrated the resurrection of hope in a way so authentically powerful, I felt as though I’d been reborn along with Steve Rogers. Now, in the Marvel Legacy era, Rodney Barnes has taken over writing the brand-new Falcon series while Mark Waid has taken over Captain America. For me, the results have been mixed. Continue reading
Alright, so Congress is on recess all week. The Senate doesn’t resume until the 10th and the House is out until the 11th. However, the egregious assault on our health care continues so I figured we’d do the post anyway. Also, even if they are out of their D.C. offices, you can (and should!) feel free to call all their offices and leave messages about how important health care is. As usual, this series aims to a) help us stay informed on the events unfolding in America and b) urge readers to add their voice to the chorus calling out for justice. We must be aware. We must be vocal. We must be active. We must be loving. This is how we will triumph and how we will transform our lives, our nation, and our world. Continue reading
This post won’t be like the others in the series. Rather, this is a short celebration/reflection on our win last week. The GOP tried to push forward their bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. It was a hasty move, driven by their desire to spite Obama, anchored in a dangerous plan that would rob millions of their health care. But something happened. First the vote was delayed from Thursday to Friday and then the bill was pulled because they knew they didn’t have the votes to get it passed. This is proof that all of our voices calling out (both liberal and conservative alike on this issue) and saying it wasn’t the right move were heard. When we struggle with our ability to bring about change, we need to remember this moment. We spoke out. We were heard. And it affected what happened. This is an important victory!!! This is why we need to stay informed and vocal. Power to the people! Continue reading
I am ANGRY this week. My righteous fire has cooled a bit since Friday but I’m still angry. This last week has seen an egregious attack on our health care system which could leave many without life saving coverage AND the most direct and reprehensible attack against the environment I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. But I’m channeling my righteous anger into something productive. I ask you to do the same. All of this has yet to be voted on. All of this can be stopped if we raise our voices, united. Without further ado, this weekly series aims to a) help us stay informed on the events unfolding in America and b) urge readers to add their voice to the chorus calling out for justice. Continue reading
This weekly series aims to a) help us stay informed on the events unfolding in America and b) urge readers to add their voice to the chorus calling out for justice. This past week has seen extremes, from important victories in the fight for justice in our country to the first American lives lost to a rash, uninformed decision Trump made. We must let the country and the world know what we value and what we will fight for. We must let those in power know who we are and who we want to be. We must be aware. We must be vocal. We must be active. We must be loving. This is how we triumph and how we transform our lives, our nation, and our world. Continue reading
Last week I started a new series called “The New American Resistance.” Taking its name from a comment Bruce Springsteen made last weekend, these weekly posts aim to a) help us stay informed on the events unfolding in America and b) urge readers to add their voice to the chorus calling out for justice. I don’t know where we’re heading as a country but I know I have to do everything I can to aid the growing struggle for justice. Continue reading
So…it’s been a week huh? I was planning on writing a fun post about how much I’m loving The Totally Awesome Hulk today but I can’t get my head around it. Reading the news for the last five days has taken me on an emotional journey. I’ve been spending much time in thought and conversation with loved ones about where our country is heading. I’ve been struggling to understand, let alone find my place in the events that are unfolding. As I do this, I keep thinking of something Bruce Springsteen said during a concert in Western Australia last Sunday. Continue reading
What do we make of today? With the inauguration of our 45th president we, the American people, are facing an unprecedented age. It was a difficult, divisive election to be sure. We looked deeply into our own darkness, leaving many wounds in need of healing. Hostile foreign powers played with our politics and we, by and large, let them. Republicans didn’t care because it helped them claim the power they so desperately coveted. Democrats didn’t say much either, afraid that they’d appear to be using foreign affairs to play dirty partisan politics like their rivals. Now we have a carnival huckster, a reality TV showman ascending to the highest elected office in our land – a man who seems to know little of, and care even less for, our Constitution. It all feels unreal, like a dystopian novel. What will the presidency of Donald Trump herald? I have no idea. What do we do? For that, I have a clearer picture. For that, we have Captain America to guide us. Continue reading
Do you know what super villains Ms. Marvel fought in her latest issue? She fought Gerrymandering and apathy. FOR REAL. I put the comic down as convinced as ever that G. Willow Wilson is one of the most important comic book writers of our modern age. I promise I’m not being hyperbolic. Rather, this issue is a perfect example of why we need her writing. I wanted to spotlight the four comics I could never cut from my pull list as I count down to my 100th post. I literally just finished Ms. Marvel #13 a moment ago (I know, I’m behind) and knew I had to start here. How could I ever stop reading a comic that leaves me so inspired?? Continue reading
My Comic Relief 