This week saw the loss of Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, and most recently Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson’s passing marked the first time I’ve come across truly breaking news thanks to Twitter. The speed that news travels today is baffling, but goes to show that there really isn’t anything more horrible in the world these days, we just hear about all of it, and hear it faster.
On the passing of Michael Jackson I wish his family well, and stand firmly in my belief that all of the allegations against him in recent years were false. Regardless, nobody can argue that while at the height of his career he was, and will always remain the true King of Pop.
I encourage you to go out and do and remember him however you like, whether thats doing the Moonwalk in your room, or Thriller dancing with a group of friends.
We’ll miss you Michael. Love and best wishes to your family, and may you rest in peace.

If someone walked up to you on the street and asked you what the secret identities of Superman and Batman were you’d likely be pretty quick to answer, and almost guaranteed to be right. If you were asked that same question today, you’d probably be surprised to hear you got one of your answers wrong.
For 60 years Batman has been in constant publication and has been seen in many movies and TV shows. The one thing in common with all of them was the fact that Batman’s secret identity was always Bruce Wayne. Yesterday that changed with the release of the first issue of “Batman and Robin” written by Grant Morrison with art by Frank Quitely.*
This issue marks the end (finally) of the Batman RIP story-line that left Bruce Wayne apparently dead or missing, and the beginning of a new era for the franchise. Dick Grayson, the first Robin is now Batman, and Bruce’s illegitimate son Damian has taken over as the fourth Robin.
The issue was an awesome change of pace from the RIP story, and fits the dark and campy tone Morrison said he was going for. I was thoroughly impressed, and I really hope they can keep Quitely on as artist as often as possible.
Now I just have to wait for the first issue of Detective Comics to arrive without Bruce Wayne in the lead. Though on this title the lead is instead going to be Batwoman, Kathy Kane. Sadly we’ve seen very little of her since her headline grabbing introduction as a lesbian comic book character. I can only hope that her run on Detective Comics will help her be known for something other than her sexual orientation.

* I am well aware that Azreal and Dick Grayson were both briefly Batman in the 90s, but Bruce was only injured, not dead at that point.

I was pleasantly surprised in the last few weeks when opening several newly purchased Blu-ray movies. Upon opening these cases I found that I had in my hands a new type of eco-friendly packaging design I had never seen before in my life.
After some research online, it appears this case is called the Viva Eco-Box, and is also available for DVDs and Video Games. I for one am glad to see this kind of thought being taken in the production of a product that uses wasteful products like plastic. According to the Viva Eco-Box webpage these cases are also 100% recyclable, but there is no exact figure as to the total plastic saved in each case. I would be very interested to find out such a figure if anybody knows.
From the limited use I’ve had so far the case seems to work extremely well. The weight is reduced, but the strength is still present as well as the protective ability of the case. I’ve seen many complaints floating around online about these cases, and I’ve yet to really understand what there is not to like about these cases.
I can only hope that this type of packaging becomes the norm. I also highly encourage you to support the companies that have been willing to embrace this design.