Thor and Captain America Announcements

So, I've been thinking because a number of people online have made it seem like if you aren't cool with the new Thor, you're secretly misogynistic or something.

So, I was thinking, of all the complaints, what bothers me the most? Am I secretly that conservative and opposed to change?

But today, the thing that I was most mad at was the lack of acknowledgement. First, Whoopi makes is seem like no woman has ever wielded Mjolnir before.

Then, you have the Marvel press announcement about how this is historic and continues a proud tradition of strong females, but they leave one very important piece of information.

This isn't the first time that an Avenger was away/deposed/presumed dead and his position was taken by a woman.

In July 2005, a female teenager was given Hawkeye's bow and the permission to use his name from Steve Rogers. Ever since Kate Bishop has been Hawkeye, putting her own spin on the hero while staying true to the key elements needed: bow, arrow, sarcasm and the ability to stand up to even Steve Rogers. Not only that but she won over Clint Barton so both Hawkeyes fight alongside each other as EQUALS. He even admits to her being "perfect" in a platonic, non-romantic way.

So, I realize now that I was quite pissed at the lack of Hawkeye. I also realize that there are two major reasons why.

1. Hawkeye continues to be the Avengers that garners the least respect and I've heard people claim time and again that Hawkeye is the least popular Avenger, but really...come on, less popular than Ant-Man? I find that hard to believe. Let's not forget which trade paperback was Marvel's best seller last year.

2. What if Marvel deliberately ignored Hawkeye because they have no future plans for Hawkeye? What if the end of Matt Fraction's Hawkeye run is basically the end of Young Avengers?
Sure, they were in the Original Sin miniseries but NOT ALL OF THEM!
When's the last time that we saw one of the Runaways?

The Captain America announcement went much better. First of all, they sent Joe Quesada himself in his usual clothing that looks like he's going to spend a hard afternoon of playing X-Box.

My Mom: So, is that his usual executive attire?
Me: Yep.

Still, you have an expert in the announcement (Quesada) paired with a knowledgeable comics fan (Stephen Colbert). That's how you should do it. Instead of Whoopi revealing it on The View, they should have had Chloe Bennett, Lorraine Cink, Kelly Sue DeConnick, or someone similar do it.

I think it's great about Sam Wilson being Captain America. It capitalizes on the films while adding some new twists for the comic. Maybe the new Falcon could even be a woman? Assuming that Stephen Colbert doesn't get his way, lol.

Okay, one more complaint about Thor. I'm now hearing that she's a fan girl who took his name after getting Mjolnir because...she's that much of a fangirl?
Damn, I hope that's wrong, too. I guess it could be like Legally Blonde. The first part of that film always makes me cringe because she's allowing a man to control her major life decisions but then, she's able to overcome that and blossom into the woman she was always meant to be while he becomes a loser.
If done right, it has potential as long as they don't make Thor into a villain...we still don't know what made him "unworthy" in the first place.

Marvel Mickey Ears

They had these last time we went to Downtown Disney.

I was excited by the prospect of Marvel extending into all aspects. My mom was annoyed that "everything is always Iron Man or Spider-Man".

I have optimism for the future though, like maybe Black Widow or Loki. Tumblr needs to make some custom Hawkeye ones...purple with arrows and the Converse logo.

Dade City and local stuff

I know I don't live in the best progressive area. However, I can usually ignore this except when we decide to hit up the local businesses, or in this case...Dade City.
If you don't know Dade City, it is the county seat of my county. It's quite old and has a pretty successful antiquing district aka most of its downtown because we're a small county and pretty poor. This is made worse by giveaways to developers and "potential" new employers.

Along the road to Dade City has a house that proudly proclaims that it's Tea Party Headquarters, but this time I spotted a local business that put on its outside sign, "Best prices in town, Honest Injun".

*facepalm*

I also found out about a town I never knew about that existed between my town and Dade City, Freedtown. It was abandoned because of a hard freeze destroying all the crops in the 1890s...luckily, not a violent end like Rosewood. However, no one kept up the church and cemetery. The graves were marked with wood and colored glass so when the church gave way and rotted, no one knew what it was. Eventually, that whole area was bulldozed and now no one knows where the cemetery is.

I find it sad because someone took the time to bury them and now they're just forgotten.

http://www.fivay.org/markers/freedtown.html
http://pascocemeteries.org/freedtown_cemetery.html

I found it because I was trying to find out an author who owns one of the antique stores in Dade City. The cashier was telling me how he actually followed Hernando de Soto's route for his book on the subject. Then, another book he wrote was about one of the only survivors of the Fort Dade massacre. I thought it sounded interesting but I forget his name and I couldn't find it on Amazon.

However, I did re-discover Cracker Westerns! They were westerns set entirely in Florida. I loved them in middle school.

http://floridahomelibrary.jimdo.com/fiction/cracker-westerns/

The Jungle and AgGag Bills

Did you know that the only reason that the Food and Drug Administration exists and we have food standards of safety is because of a book?

Today, Upton Sinclair would be known as a whistle-blower instead of a muckraker, but more importantly, if he were alive today...

Upton Sinclair would probably be in jail and his book declared illegal.

Agriculture corporations are buying legislation and legislators, making them pass bills to make it illegal to spy, record or even work for them under false pretenses.

They claim that there are trade secrets involved, but the truth is...they don't want consumers knowing where their food comes from and the true costs involved.

This is an excellent program that explains more about it:
http://billmoyers.com/2013/07/10/alec-activists-and-ag-gag/

Find out where your state currently stands here:
http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/advocacy-center/ag-gag-whistleblower-suppression-legislation/ag-gag-bills-state-level

Buffer Zones

As everyone freaked out about the Hobby Lobby decision, another decision about women's reproductive health was also handed down the week before. Women's clinics can no longer have barriers or buffers from the sidewalks outside and anyone who wants to protest there.

These two articles show all sides of the story. Obviously, if someone wants a shoulder to lean on or religious counseling afterwards. Then, they should be able to have that, but they should also be allowed to not have that if they choose. They should be allowed to do their cancer screenings or have their prenatal checkups without being accused of being a baby killer.

http://lubbockonline.com/editorial-columnists/2014-07-16/lopez-humanity-heart-buffer-zone-debate

http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/archive/2014/07/supreme-court-decision-clinic-buffer-zone-hurts-aapi-women

This one has strong language against Pro-Lifers and limiting access, but she explains why she feels so vehemently on the subject:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/06/29/1310323/-Life-Does-Not-Begin-at-Conception-and-I-Can-Prove-It

Let's also not forget that while they said sidewalks and public property can't be restricted from free speech for women's clinics, they continue to restrict free speech when it involves any of the three legislative branches, including SCOTUS:

"Supreme Court officials announced a revised set of rules barring demonstrations — including picketing, speeches, and other kinds of organized gatherings — from taking place on the 252-foot wide marble plaza that separates the Court Building from First Street NE, a north-south road in Washington, D.C."

http://thedailybanter.com/2014/06/ruling-abortion-clinic-buffer-zones-supreme-court-quietly-expanding-buffer-zones/

Paper Towns

Paper Towns was removed from a local summer reading list. I've never read John Green before but I was a little curious especially since it takes place in Florida. Then, my mom and I were reading the backs of his other books and she pointed out how they all seem to be about a young man who meets a woman, possibly mysterious, who he shouldn't fall for but totally does fall for and then, she teaches him how to really live.

http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/education/2014/07/01/banned-book-paper-towns/11890529/