I need to contextualize this post and say that I usually apply myself pretty hard to projects. I like to keep up a level of intensity and energy, and it doesn’t hurt that I like my job for the most part. But this week has been one of those weeks where I feel a little bit sick, but not quite sick enough to stay home--particularly with multiple deadlines looming over me. In addition, my right eye appears to be suffering a combination of spring allergies and itchy contact lenses. I look like the cover to a heavy metal album called “Eye of the Demon.”
For all these reasons, I had difficulty concentrating on work yesterday.
I wrote:
“Enterprise applications sit on top of a database where they extract bits of data and display them in a web-based interface.”
But I was thinking:
Many reasons exist to consider Batman to be the world’s premier superhero. He has adapted his image many times to fit the needs of particular eras in American culture, all the way from the 30s through the present day. Indeed, he enjoys a great deal of popularity 70 years after his first appearance.
I wrote:
“Integration is important because applications cannot live isolated from each other. They need to exchange information in order to ensure maximum efficiency for the end user.”
But I was thinking:
As a kid I related most to Spider-Man because of his accessibility and his everyday problems. But although Spider-Man has remained popular ever since his first appearance, he has only had to navigate 4 decades of American culture. Surely Batman remains the more significant achievement.
I wrote:
“Multiple technologies exist to solve the integration puzzle.”
But I was thinking:
Superman is certainly the most well-known superhero, but is he the greatest? Batman comics outsell Superman comics as a matter of course.
I wrote:
“Regardless of how you choose to integrate Batman, the end result needs to be a 100% Internet-driven architecture.”
But I was thinking:
Furthermore, you have to consider--heyyyy, wait a second.
Going from a strictly DC (vs Marvel) POV, Batman is more accessable than Superman, despite Batman’s wealth and Superman’s small town upbringing. This is because Batman is the one thinking “Hey, better synthesize some Kryptonite in case that bugger goes rogue!”, which shows a certain level of cynicism that I can appreciate and you know Superman was that guy who always reminded the teacher about homework.
batman comics also have the most devious and delicious villians in the superman vs. batman race--and really, a comic is only as good as the hive of scum and villainry it puts forward.
I hope that Josh Hartnet plays the next Batman.
Batman is impressive, if only due to his lack of any super powers.
All the other suerheroes have them. All he has is money, gadgets, Alfred, a firm resolve, and a kick-ass car with a jet engine, that still somehow squeels it’s tires, even on a gravel road.
But he gets the job done just as well or better than someone who relies on an other-wordly mutation.
Fortunately, Christian Bale is the next Batman.
I don’t know. I remember when Ross Perot ran for president, and he was paying for his campaign with his own money, and originally I thought that was kind of cool but then later I thought it was kind of like he skipped the part where people think you’re worth listening to and help you get noticed, and instead he bought his own way into an election. So even though sometimes he said stuff that wasn’t 100 per cent crazy, I couldn’t really take him seriously.
And that’s how I feel about Batman. He ain’t got super powers, he’s just super rich, with 24 hour access to his private gym, and money to keep him in gadgets, butlers, and boy toys in tights.
Well, that’s how I feel today. Tomorrow I’ll be all about how fascism and the SuperFriends. And by Saturday I’ll be complaining about how the Martian Manhunter should have been deported when his work visa expired.
On Sunday I’m checking into somewhere so I can get the help I need…
So, If Ross Perot could’ve actually turned himself into a bat, or use his super sonar ears to eavesdrop on the bad guys, then he would have been worth voting for.
I didn’t care much about batman till the Dark Knight series came out. Now he’s so much cooler than supie or spidie that it’s not worth talking about. And for the record, I was typing a review letter yesterday and thought “supervisory structure needs to incorporate input from service providers,” but what I actually typed was ‘meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow...” (repeat until quitting time)
when i get like that, instead of thinking who is better, i create a super hero that is better…
http://www.ugo.com/channels/freestyle/heroMachine/heromachine.asp
fun to do…
I’m having that week but I’m not thinking much about anything.
Batman=good. That’s about all I have in me.
But no one, I mean NO ONE can beat Wolverine for pure HOTTIENESS! I know, I know...off topic, sorry.
it’s precisely because batman only has money and no superpowers that he’s so accessible. anyone can acquire millions and build themselves a bat cave (you know full well that bill gates has a bat cave tucked away somewhere), but no matter how hard they try they’ll never be the son of Jor-El.
I like them both, but Batman is def my favorite.
I’d like to become a project.
That is all.
I think you and I are on the same wavelength today. I have Superheroes on the brain too.
It’s old news, but I too love superheroes:
http://www.barnard.columbia.edu/newnews/news102500a.html
i’m with dan. on the dark knight thing. not the meow meow thing.
Is it just me, or do you ever get the feeling that the geeky-human personas (say, Clark Kent) of some of these superheros would really be so much happier if they put their fighting-evil behind them and got in tough with their latent metrosexuality?
“Well, sure, I don’t have the power of flight anymore, and I can’t stop villains in their tracks, but I have some fabulous product for my hair, and I can whip up a mean risotto...”
wait, wait. you look like the cover of a heavy metal album, and we don’t get a photo?
isn’t “metrosexuality” one of those banned words for 2004?
Actually what Ross needs to win an election is X-Ray vision, although I bet still wouldn’t be able to find those pesky WMD. And “Dad,” I was skimming the article thinking “This has nothing to do with super heroes. Is this the wrong link, or has Greg’s dad finally lost it?” Then the light bulb clicked on, and I lost it. Good one. Sometimes I’m a little slow, but I get there.
superman was too powerful - nobody can relate to him.
personally, i’m an xman fan, but that’s just cause i think rogue is HOT.
Truly impressive post Mr. Plenty.
Greg, if I didn’t love you before-- I am now officially beyond all hope.