Random Bits of Nerdiness

This was a shorter weekend for me, plus I didn't really see many stories I felt like writing about, so lets do something a little different today and talk about a few bits and pieces of things from this weekend and recent weeks...

Sunday was the day that my wife and I went to see the movie we have been anticipating since the first Avengers movie. Thor: The Dark World and Guardians of the Galaxy were great, and filled the gap nicely until The Avengers: Age of Ultron. This movie had a lot to live up to after the first Avengers, so I went in hopeful that it was going to be good, but worried that it might not live up to the hype.

Let me just say that I had no reason to be worried at all. This movie was awesome! The action was great, the comedy was perfect, James Spader as Ultron was amazing, Paul Bettany as the Vision was so much more awesome than I ever could have imagined. While this movie delivered on the action and comedy, it also developed in ways I didn't expect. Hawkeye is much more pivotal this time around, we learn things about each of the characters, and there is even deeper meaning that is explored beneath all the fighting, explosions and jokes.

I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone, but there is one thing that I couldn't help but notice. If you haven't watched to movie yet and don't want to hear even the slightest spoiler, stop reading now and skip to the next paragraph. To me, there are clear comparisons between the god of the Bible and Ultron. Ultron is created for the purpose of rotecting humanity. But he views humanity as humanities greatest threat. So he wants the human race to fundamentally change of face annihilation. Something he plans to bring about by way of a global catastrophe. Of course he never really intends to give them any realistic chance to change. Noah is even referenced in case anyone missed the parallels. And just like the god of the Bible, Ultron sincerely believes that everything he is doing is just and good. But to any rational mind observing from the outside, it's obvious that he is simply mad and warped. Intentional or not, I felt like that was a great Easter egg.

Okay, with that out of the way, let's move on... Fueled by the awesomeness that was Age of Ultron, we decided to stay in nerd mode and stop at a local toy store to see if they had this collectable figure that i had been searching for. As luck would have it, they had it and I purchased it to add to my collection. The figure? The new Marvel Legends figure of Spider-Man 2099.

Who the hell is Miguel O'Shea?!

In an earlier blog, I talked about comics and how this future Spider-Man has become a favorite of mine. But when I was looking at the packaging when I got home, I noticed this description on the back... "With ninja-like stealth, Miguel O'Shea fights against a dark future in the year 2099!" Wait, wait wait... Miguel O'Shea? The character's name is Miguel O'Hara. O'Hara, not O'Shea! How did that error make it past quality control? Are they all printed like this? Has the packaging since been corrected? Whatever the case, Hasbro just plain goofed!

And while we're on the topic of Spider-Man 2099, the last issue (2015 #11) featured confirmation of something that I have suspected, and makes me relate with the character even more. Miguel O'Hara is an atheist! He is directly asked if he believes in God and says no. And in his internal speech he goes on to say again that he doesn't believe. This is important because likeable atheist characters are in short supply throughout the various entertainment mediums, especially heroes.

And finally, lets conclude this randomness with a return to nature... My four Ginkgo tree seedlings are still doing quite well. A re-potting this spring found that they had a very healthy root system.

Also, last Summer I built and installed a bee house in my garden to attract and help increase the numbers of  (indigenous to my area) Mason Bees. Far too late in the season to actually get anyone to move in, but it got me ready for this year. Well, watering the plants Saturday I saw my first Mason Bee enter the house! And Sunday I saw it leave and return again. Monday saw confirmation in the form of a mud plug on the hole. That means shes layed at least a few eggs chambers in that hole. So here's hoping that it'll stocking more holes with eggs that will translate into an increase in local pollinators.

Okay, I think that bit of random nerdiness may be it for me this week, so until next time, never stop thinking!

-Brain Hulk

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