Project Updates (& Patrick Hates Clay Dust)

Hello Star Tugs,

Happy Friday!! And happy Midsummer day...I think. I hope you're all doing well. I'm pretty tired, the last few weeks have been pretty hectic for me, this one in particular with work. As I have said before, working Custodial has been given me a new appreciation for the work our janitors do to keep the buildings we work in clean. 

Patrick Hates Clay Dust

For example, I was cleaning the Art building on campus today with 2 full staff members, and I had to clean the pottery room. The clay dust was forming a mini smog/fog in the air because of the movements of the broom! We couldn't use a vacuum in there, because it would destroy the sweepers we have (I think, all I know is the Boss said not to use it, and I did as she said. After accidentally using it for a hot minute. Woops 😋). 

So back to the clay smog, me and the other custodial staff had to wear masks to clean in the room, and this was AFTER I'd already swept yesterday. We tried a shopvac today, which our boss kindly brought over. Unfortunately, the shop vac wasn't working and it started shooting clay dust back out through vents!! As my boss and supervisor were trying to figure out how to get a second shopvac to work, I jokingly sang "Hello darkness my old friend." I had the Pentatonix and Simon and Garfunkel version of that song stuck in my head most of today, and I'm listening to the Pentatonix version as I write. 

(Unrelated Edition: I shared an article with CC the Martian, shout out to them on Twitter, about Vertigo comics being shut down by DC, article for reference: www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-hc-dc-comics-vertigo-20190621-story.html?fbclid=IwAR3IiqFIlC6VvTm4poungZBYhYiqYdW3TvoFF_hP6-fV4rneTiahtTInBbQ

They responded with "Hello Darkness my old friend" while the Pentatonix cover was still playing. That honestly scared the shit out of me. We both freaked out when I told them) 

The smog began to resemble a brown cloud, and we had to leave the room and let it settle. I see why the Arts Building is the most hated building on campus to clean. And I'm pretty sure my group is going back on Monday. Yay.... *screams internally.* 😅 

Custodial workers have a lot of ridiculous stuff they have to deal with. Washing windows and sweeping might not seem like hard work, but its as tiring as any other job, I'd argue possibly even more than. Thanks Janitors around the world for keeping our lives a little cleaner. Especially if you have to clean a pottery room, that is a level of Dante's Inferno for Custodians. 

Submission

All right, I should probably discuss a project or else I will be having false advertising. I submitted a short today, "Ticket to a Wrong Time." I don't think I'm allowed to say who I'm submitting it to, so I'm not going to risk it. In any case, I feel good about the story. I wrote "Ticket to a Wrong Time" in my Writing Fiction class, based on the assignment of making a story based off of a headline. 

I chose one related to trains (because I'm me, have you seen my twitter handle? 😛) of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in the UK doing a special test run with their steam locomotive Tornado, built in 2008, as they brought her up to 100 mph. Though in mine things don't go to plan..., but I'll leave it at that, so I don't spoil it. Fingers crossed it does well. This' actually the first time I've submitted a story professionally to a non-college based group. 

Blog Work? 

So one last thing before I wrap this up. I'm sorry that I haven't been consistent with my blog posts. Work/Real Life has been getting in the way recently. I'm sure that you all understand. 

I am hoping to personalize the blog a bit more, so it's not just the standard Blogger form. I'm not sure how well this will go, since I'm still relatively new to Blogger, so please bare with me, any advice would be appreciated. 

Well, that's about it from me for now. Please feel free to subscribe here for updates, or follow me on Twitter, @ConductorPat. I sometimes run polls, and would love to interact with my readers more. Thanks for reading. Keep Writing (&/or reading) and I'll see you on the Tramway!

Pat Pitches: Scott Snyder's Batman Run

What up, Star Tugs!

Happy Tuesday, I hope you're all doing well. Sorry that I haven't posted in a while, I had some stuff in real life I needed to deal with, and that obviously takes priority. 

So, I got off of work about an hour ago, then proceeded to shave my beard off for 40 minutes (this' the reason why I kind of hate growing a beard, but I'm often too lazy to shave regularly. That's what you get I suppose. 😋) Oh yeah, and watching Angry Welshman Productions do a stream, that's totally helpful/productive.

All right, onto the topic you've all been waiting for. So today's post will be a pilot of sorts for a new set of blogs, Pat Pitches, everyone's new favorite recurring blog where I pitch a piece of media that I think you would enjoy, and that I enjoy.

So today's Pat Pitches is for Scott Snyder's run on Batman. Now, before you panic, he's NOT related to the Edge lord Zack Snyder, Scott Snyder is about the opposite of him. 

Now part of the reason I'm doing this is also to convince a certain writer friend of mind to give Scott Snyder's Batman run a chance. I keep telling my writer friend CC (who doesn't like Batman and thinks he's overrated) to give Scott Snyder's run a chance. To be fair, their logic is that Batman has had 17, count that, SEVENTEEN cinematic film appearances, and DC does rely on Batman a bit too much for films. Since I don't have a lot of time to talk to them because we're both working, I'm writing this. Shout out to CC btw, read their series Temple to Alien Gods, it's really good and is on Blogger.

For clarity, the Scott Snyder run on Batman I am referring to starts with The Court of Owls, if you are interested in the story. Please note their will be minor spoilers. 

Scott Snyder does what few writers in recent years have accomplished: add to the lore of Batman in a way that sticks. The Court of Owls feel like they have been apart of the Batman lore since Day One. The Court of Owls are Gotham's secret society, who even Batman doesn't know exist!! They're believed to be a myth, an urban legend, but do exist, and almost bring Batman to his breaking point, and prove themselves to be a formidable physical opponent. 

Throughout the stories, Scott Snyder develops the world of Gotham, and makes the city a character to itself. Scott Snyder describes the history of specific buildings, such as Gotham tower, the reasoning behind the Gargoyles' placing, and even the districts of the city. Scott Snyder makes Gotham feel like a place you could actually visit, that is if you want to die because of how many super villains reside there. 

Scott Snyder also handles Batman's Rogues and Supporting characters spectacularly. Scott Snyder develops on old characters, such as Dick Grayson, and even adds a few new characters, who feel like they belong in Gotham. My favorite character that Scott Snyder adds is Bluebird, who is developed slowly over the issues.

Let's focus on Batman a bit. Scott Snyder humanizes Batman in a way that few writers in recent years have done. In Nightshift (or is it the long night?) Batman, after losing a member of the Bat Family, goes on a rampage across the city, and nearly gets himself killed. He's called out for this, and in result hits the person trying to help him. Later, and here's the kicker, he realizes they're right, listens, and apologizes for his actions. In another story we see Superman and Batman team up to take on a supernatural threat, and Batman shows deep concern for his friend, and refers to Superman as such.

I think my favorite issues of Scott Snyder's Batman run are The Court of Owls, and Batman: Endgame (not to be confused with Avengers: Endgame). Batman: Endgame deals with the Joker, and it's truly terrifying seeing how close to totally destroying Gotham the Joker gets, as he releases his joker gas throughout the entire city, and for some reason does not appear able to die. Batman once again comes to the breaking point, and has to rely on the Bat Family and some rogues to save Gotham.

After Endgame, we see someone new take on the mantle. I won't say who, to not spoil it, but I will provide the premise, again, minor spoilers.

With Bruce Wayne no longer Batman, the city loses a source of hope. So to continue this, the police begin training police officers to become a new Batman, who works for the police, to continue Batman's legacy. I've read only the first volume that covers this arc (Volume 8 if memory serves me right), and I really enjoyed it. This volume also really humanizes Bruce, and is a very unique story in my opinion as Batman stories go.

So there you have it. If you're interested, give Scott Snyder's Batman run a try, you might find it refreshing from other Batman stories. Thank you all for reading this blog post. If you're interested, follow the blog to get email notifications, or follow me on Twitter @ConductorPat. I'll be running a poll soon after this goes live to see if people want more Pat Pitches blog posts. If you do, or don't (which is totally fair), then go give your answer on Twitter.

Thanks again. This' been a fun warm up, so once this' done I'm going to try and get some Lady Luck Vol. 1 writing done. Keep writing, and I'll see you on the Tramway!