The Riddler - New Intel

Almost forgot; there's a very interesting document I've happened across...It details communication between somebody as of yet unknown and the Riddler...

'After the Arkham Asylum Incident in 2009, this was retrieved from the Ridder's computer system by the Gotham City Police Department. The transmission occured a few months before the incident itself.

In the following document, the Riddler is identified with the letter 'R'. The other person has so far only identified himself/herself with the letter 'B'.

15:03

March 03, 2009

B: Hello there.
R: Who the hell are you? How did you get into this network?!
B: The same way you did; don't worry, the line's clean. And I'm nobody in particular.
R: What do you want?

B: Actually this is about what you want...

R: What could you possibly have that I would want?

B: Information.
R: Unless it's the identity of the Batman, I'm not interested.

B: Oh Heavens no. Everybody knows who he is; Dr. Strange, Bane...Even yourself, if you take time to fit the pieces together. No, I have information that Batman himself would kill for and I can give it to you.
R: Alright, obvious question; why should I trust you?
B: No particular reason, but if you stop trying to trace this signal (it won't work), I can show you what you've been missing out on.

R: You can see me...!
B: Bravo. Unfortunately it won't be the other way around. Paranoia aside, I know how spine-chilling it is to know you're being watched. I know how the balance of power shifts if I were to say 'my cross-hairs are on your back'. But would I be bluffing? Am I bluffing now? Would you really want to take that gamble?

R: Somebody's having fun...!

B: Indeed, one can get carried away, but the information I have is as valuable to the criminal underworld as it is to the authorities. If you knew what it was, you could play them against each other.
R: If it's that valuable, why don't you?
B: I'm not that 'well established', so to speak, unlike yourself. I've admired you for some time now. Very few people recognise the value of intellect...Including the intellectuals themselves. If I may be bold enough to say so, people are starting to realise that you're all 'bark' and no 'bite'; they don't take you seriously enough. You focus all your efforts on trying to show how much of a genuis you are, when you could be proving it.

R: What do you have in mind?
B: How can I put it; I think you should prove that...You're not to be trifled with...I know it's bringing in brawn to support the brain, but actions definitely can shout louder than words will ever scream.

R: You mean deaths.

B: Bravo again. How you conduct them is up to you, but speaking as a fan I'm very eager to see what you can accomplish. If you are successful, I shall arrange a one-to-one meeting where you shall learn (verbally of course) the true identity and the real name of the Joker.

TRANSMISSION ENDS.

As you can imagine, GCPD are very keen to track down the Riddler's accomplice. This is the only contact we've had from him/her and we are certain that he/she will make contact again. But why? What is this contact's motive? Why should he/she make that much effort to contact the Riddler and why at that particular point in time? Is he/she hiding something? Does the letter 'B' mean anything to his/her indentity?

GCPD, along with the staff at Arkham Asylum, are appealing to anybody who may have any clue as to whom 'B' may be. If he/she is telling the truth, then interception will potentially save lives and uncover one of the greatest mysteries surrounding one of the most dangerous criminal masterminds.'


AM

Check Up

Hope you'll all been well! ^^

If you don't like soap-box rants, then I suggest you don't have a look at David Mitchell's YouTube channel, either...

Now then, I find certain things very annoying...And most of the annoyances are annoying because I can't express how they annoy me so! So bare with me...

You see, I'm certain you'll know how much I love my science-fiction...But did you also know that it doesn't necessarily make me a 'geek' or a 'nerd'?

Astonishing, isn't it...?

Simply, I cannot abide the terms 'geek' and 'nerd' and such, because they are extremely vague classifications of 'social groups' that are fuelled by popular media perceptions (also why I don't like 'emo', 'mosher', 'goth', etc or worst of all; 'Hipster').

Media perceptions force people who like particular things under a particular umbrella (he likes 'Star Trek', he's definitely a 'geek'! That girl has a Twitter account! She must be a 'computer-nerd'! And so on...) and as such, the people are not seem in any other way (aka STEREOTYPING).
   Take for example the dramas that the US comes up with...One of my favourites is 'NCIS', but even that is saturated with stereotypes; Abby, the forensic scientist who is 'classified' as a 'goth' and seems to like nothing else apart from black and death (but wait! She's cute and really clever with a 'surprisingly' lovely personality, which makes her 'kinda quirky' -_-). And then there's Dr. Mallard, the wonderful British (yep, the Americans can't distinguish between English and Scottish, so they just call him British) pathologist who always shares historical yarns and tales of his past exploits. Nothing stereotypical there, really...But once you know he's of a 'certain age' and tells his stories to the cadavers he operates on, it's the point where you think 'here we go...' Moving on, there is a former Isreali Mossad agent operating within the team who frequently gets US colloquialisms muddled (borderline racism there, I think). And not forgetting McGee, who is a whizz with computers and loves all things tech (have a wild guess what others call him) and lastly; DiNozzo, the egotistical womaniser who loves films. 'Hang on' I see you think in your face 'don't most people like films?' Oh yes, but this is American television and as such, DiNozzo is really the only person in the main cast who ever watches, quotes, enjoys and talks about films...Everytime a film or something related is mentioned to/between other characters, they round it off by stating that DiNozzo needs to know! (Newsflash, NCIS! More than one-out-of-eight people like films, y'know!)

The point is; media seems to think that once a character has a particular like/dislike, then the whole essence of that figure must be based around it and they must not be allowed to stray into other territories!

Only one quote from a Mel Brooks classic can help me here; "Bullshit!"

And it's seeping over here too; like all the fast food eateries, the language, the humour...American styles of media presentation are here, destroying all that isn't! (Okay, a bit dramatic, but the point still stands!) Take for example, 'The Fades' which started on BBC Three recently...It was a nice little dark-fantasy idea, kept you asking questions and displayed potential. However, one of the characters would not shut up comparing situations to films and quoting them (oh hello DiNozzo) so, naturally, he was the only person who ever talked films! Bravo BBC, you're not commercial, but you're getting there!

The worst affected are comedies; when things such as the aforementioned happen, programmes can flatline easily and they all too easily rely on cheap laughs and 'abnormalities' to display humour (the media seems to have a problem with anybody who they do not deem 'normal'...It's perception-based; NOBODY IS 'NORMAL'), which is why I'm not really all that keen to watch 'New Girl' (but I'll check it out), despite the fact that the incredible Zooey Deschanel is in the impersonal eponymous role. Zooey is a wonderful, free-spirited lady, which was perfectly shown in 'Yes Man' without being too patronising, so to me, Fox (evil anyway) casting her based on how they see her as 'different' and branding her as 'quirky' & 'adorkable' *VOMIT* is basically on par with humiliating the disabled or people of other ethnic origins, saying 'hey world! Look how 'abnormal' this person is! Let's laugh at her! It's funny because 'normal' people don't act like her, right?!'

*Pause*

And that is also why I do not find 'The Big Bang Theory' as funny as others do.

So there you have it; media is just a group of bullies, mocking and laughing at those who are 'different', forgetting one fundamental truth that makes us who we are...

We're all different...And it's absolutely marvellous.

AM

What Dreams May Come...

Inspiration; one word you can take from other people and give to so many more. It makes you think, makes you perform, makes you do what you wouldn't have dreamed of otherwise. It can lead to passion and determination; the very driving forces of our futures and what we so desire from them. We all have our paths and where we go is up to each and every individual person and as long as we have the focus and energy, we can go anywhere, be anywhere, do anything, BE anything and have the dedication to be unstoppable whilst we're at it...!

But it can all come crashing down, grinding to a halt...












By that loose lash that gets stuck to your eyeball.


I hope we've learnt something here.

Just a Quick Word...

Fellow fellows, fay and faun! Hope all is well!

Maybe I haven't been saying much, probably because when I do I want it to matter. So here's something that matters...

Recent activity informs me that the beloved Bradford Playhouse where I and half of you, my dear followers, frolick, will possibly be heading towards liquidation.

First thing that springs to mind; 'liquidation? But it's run by the community for the community and everyone who wishes to partake, isn't it...?' Well yes, of course, but there is the dreaded 'B' word. (And I mean Business, you naughty faun!) Basically if it wasn't for 'The Priestly Centre for the Arts' the Playhouse would not be...

I'm not one to divulge in this sort of thing, because it's big and complicated and nonsensical. However, I will be attending a meeting which will decide the future of the Playhouse very soon. Like anybody with an ounce of decency, I dearly hope the future will be everlasting.

Creativity is at the core of the Playhouse and that is something that cannot be destroyed by business suits looking to make profits for themselves, no matter how hard they try.

Like science, the arts matter.

UPDATE: Post-meeting; apparently the Playhouse *is* going into liquidation regardless. All we need is an already existing company that can keep the building running (whilst the Board is disbanded and the slate is wiped clean) until somebody can step in for the Playhouse and keep the doors open for the long-term...

As far as we know, nobody is willing to step in; I've appealed to those who should know via Twitteroo, but no answer so far...

Will Mandrake's Magnificent Machine fire-up again? We'll see...Doug remains optimistic, but I can't tell if it's pure positivity or if he has something up his sleeve...

Hopefully it's the latter!

'NOTHER UPDATE: Last night was our weekly PAAAF get-together...Despite delivering the sad news to the others, we remained optimistic in the sense that even though the Playhouse may be shutting its doors, PAAAF will still live on. Mandrake's Magnificent Machine and Doctor Faustus *will* happen...Maybe just somewhere else!

'But where?', I hear you think; well, plenty of venues and spaces are available and I think it would be wise to start thinking about asking around. So will it be the Delius Arts Centre? The National Media Museum? The Alhambra Studio? Ooh the possibilities!

Personally I hope we get to invade *AHEM* borrow the Media Museum for our frolicks...Just like Paper Zoo's performance of 1984, it's entirely possible to use the Pictureville Cinema (and with the convenience of a projected screen, which would allow us to bring back the ideas we had for Mandrake the first time around).

Anyway, that's what's new. Plus, in spite of the gloomy outlook for the Playhouse, we came up with some wonderful material last night. And long may it continue!

YET 'NOTHER UPDATE
Quite simply; goodbye, dear Playhouse.

AM

Jurassic Park IV...?

People! Are you all well? Good! Because here's something that'll make you have a turn...

At the magic of the San Diego Comic-Con, they were bedazzled by the appearence of none other than Mr. Steven Spielberg! Almost as historic as Harrison Ford appearing last year to talk Star Wars for the first time!

However, a bombshell was dropped...And not necessarily a good one...He has announced that a fourth installment of the Jurassic Park films would be made within the next two or three years.

Don't get me wrong; the Jurassic Park trilogy is one of my favourite trilogies (along with Back to the Future & The Matrix) and aside from Star Wars, one of my first great celluloid loves...But that's what it has always been; a trilogy. The first was a cinematic piece of magic that only Spielberg could deliver and The Lost World: Jurassic Park followed with a completely different tone packed with more thrills than the first and Jurassic Park III was a fun ride with some awesome new dino-action and a great ending for the trilogy (and that's ONE reason #4 isn't a great idea).

The news is also worrying because of the last time Spielberg added a 'fourth to the trilogy'...And to be fair, he hasn't been on top form since the turn of the millennium (so far Catch Me if You Can and Munich have been the only decent pictures since) and seems to have had a recently-developed (but major) handicap with Third Acts and endings (A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Minority Report, War of the Worlds, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, etc).

Anyway, I remember soon after Jurassic Park III was released and heard reports that they were to introduce the aquatic prehistoric creatures for a fourth film...Then a few years later I remember some barmy ideas floating around (militarised/weaponised Raptors, for instance). After a period of silence, it was reported around 2006/2007 that Spielbarg had a story and Joe Johnston was on board to direct again with both Sam Neill AND Jeff Goldblum returning; very promising news!

Unfortunately tragedy struck in 2008 when Michael Crichton, author of the original Jurassic Park and The Lost World novels, passed away. By this time, the franchise was floating in limbo anyway and soon afterwards, they announced that they would lay it to rest in memory of Crichton; along with the passing of Bob Peck (Robert Muldoon, Jurassic Park) in 1999 and the great Pete Postlethwaite (Roland Tembo, The Lost World: Jurassic Park) earlier this year, I still maintain that the franchise remaining as a trilogy is the best choice.

Now for your benefit, I give you the report of the bombshell itself...

http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/steven-spielberg-jurassic-park-4-comic-con/

Not one mention of Crichton either from the reporter or Spielberg himself (and if the film was to be dedicated to MC, I'd be happier about the whole thing), however the reporter finishes with this self-satisfying flourish; "And that's about the best news we've heard since they invented the electric car."

I plead just one question; is it...?

AM


IN MEMORIAM:

Bob Peck
Michael Crichton
Pete Postlethwaite

You three brought so much to so many...

"Thanks for the advice...!"

Haven't posted in a while, so I thought start off by welcoming my brand spanking new follower Sarah (whom I've actually known for years, now) and to say to you other three; be kind! Otherwise, she'll use the word 'meanie' and disguise the evilness by being oh-so-innocent! (It works, actually!)

Now then! Where would we be without a few rules? Yes, Al Murray could very well tell you, but you need a bit of order, even if it's for the simple things...

As inspired by 'NCIS', 'Star Wars' & 'Sherlock' (and maybe a little from the great James Arnold Taylor), I have created a set of 'rules' that I believe can get one through the trials and tribulations of life as we know it! I'm not saying you have to follow them of course, but it's just another thing I could maybe inspire somebody with!
 

#01: Know your limits/’Know thyself’

#02: Be positive

#03: Exercise discipline

#04: Always listen

#05: Always observe

#06: Be Responsive

#07: Be upfront

#08: Never underestimate

#09: Happiness can be infectious; spread it!

#10: Unless there’s a damn good reason not to, always accept an offer

#11: Fair trade

#12: It’s illegal for a reason

#13: Your decision, your responsibility

#14: Your responsibility, your decision

#15: No-one is below you

#16: If someone looks like they need a hug, give ‘em one

#17: If you love someone, tell them

#18: Seek closure...If successful, walk away

#19: Life lessons aren’t taught, they are experienced

#20: Nature is precious; preserve it

#21: Appreciate and respect what you have

#22: A dream is only limited by your reality

#23: Never think you’ve done your best; otherwise, you’ll never do any better

#24: Mathematics and science; they work!

#25: You can’t argue with facts (opinions, however...)

#26: Accept others’ beliefs and views

#27: When making a point, offer something to think about

#28: The arrogance of some blinds the wisdom of many

#29: There are always alternatives...Find them

#30: When all else fails, think logically, literally and laterally

#31: People lie...

#32: If there’s no reason to lie, why would you?

#33: Trust is a powerful ally; make sure you know who to give it to

#34: Can you ever truly know how somebody feels?

#35: If something seems too good to be true, make sure it is or not

#36: When it counts, be sceptical

#37: It pays to be thorough

#38: Remember time moves forward; you can only move forward with it

#39: Hope is always present; grab as much of it as you can

#40: A creative mind is a wonderful thing to utilise

#41: Focus; the mind must be clear in order to see

#42: You are your own unique, individual person, so be an original, not a copy

#43: Different is good; don’t ever let anybody tell you otherwise

#44: Perseverance will get you somewhere

#45: Be prepared to face the unknown; the fear will turn into excitement

#46: It’s not the subject; it’s how you deal with it that matters

#47: Life is what you make it

If you think I've missed out any important topic or subject (I know I've forgotten at least one thing), please do let me know!

Until next time!

AM

P.S. The Western is coming along nicely! The horses have names now! (Thanks to Sarah! Hehe)

Writing, Writing...You Can Have that in Writing.

A-hello! Haven't spoken for a while...Okay; haven't written for a while...Fine! Haven't TYPED for a while! Happy?!

*AHEM* Anyway, hope all has been well!

Stuff's been slowly happening...Recently I received my first official Writers' Guild of America (West) certificate of registration. My first original screenplay has been accepted! Yay! Now all I can do is wait...

I know that it's a small chance somebody may happen upon it and think 'hmm...' in a very interested sort of way at the very least, but I like to imagine!

Consider; my script is set in the UK and it's not entirely clear because I purposefully left it ambiguous due to the secretive nature of the organisation within the script. However, somebody in the good ol' US of A may read it assume it's set in the US (actually, my good American friend Jimmy did just that...despite the English colloquialisms/dialects and equally English countryside...and a cup of tea), therefore, if they happen to like it and contact me about it, they're going to want it set in the USA as such...

Now then! I can imagine what sort of turn the conversation may take but I will defend the English setting to the last! If that fails, I will tell them something along the lines of; 'okay, let's say we do this in the US, I only want one thing in return...Milla Jovovich. You get Milla Jovovich for me as the main female lead and I will go over every page in the script and rewrite every English detail and change it to an American setting...instead of the countryside, I'll set in in Utah...I don't care, as long as you get in touch with Milla Jovovich...Or Kate Walsh...Or Olivia Wilde...Any of the three, actually...I can see either as a kick-ass mother!'

Basically, I know who I'd want if it was an American script! Still not sure who the English equivalent would be...Okay, challenge for you beautiful followers! The character is (Police) Sergeant Faye Templar; wife, mother-of-two, strong-willed, determined, fiercely loyal and loving (and, above all, English) and I would like you to come up with suggestions for which actress you think could fit the bill!

Suggestions on a postcard! (Or in the reply section...Whichever suits you) Pretty please?

Type you soon!

AM

By the way, did I tell you I'm following Neil Gaiman on Twitter?
By another way, did I also mention I'm writing a Western script AND an epically-scaled science-fiction script?