LBCC's New Philosophy Club, "i-THINK"

Some deep thought is stirring on campus as "i-THINK," LBCC's new Philosophy Club, is now official and off to a great start. Already boasting 15 members from the student body, “i-THINK” hopes to maintain this momentum and to continue gaining many more would-be philosophers who wish to view the world with logical thought and an eye to the critical, as their new clubs notoriety on campus grows.

   

As the Greek Philosopher Socrates is credited to having once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living,” and the members of “i-THINK’ wish to carry on that tradition today.

"i-THINK" club members with Marta Kunecka (center, extreme right)

Club member Isaiah Beye feels passionately about the subject saying, “The thing about Philosophy Club that I really fell in love with was that I found philosophy was so supremely relevant. Philosophy is something I use every day.”

        The Club was founded earlier this spring by interested members of Marta Kunecka’s Philosophy 215 class who had begun the project this past Winter semester.

Club founders Josh Stanley (President), Timothy White (Vice President), Chrizma Hostler (Secretary), and myself-Justin Shoemaker (Coordinator); found rapid support for the venture from fellow classmates. With advice from Student Union member and “i-THINK” club recruit Brandon Vance it took little time to establish the groundwork needed to begin the club.

        Ms. Kunecka was extremely encouraging of the idea and more than accommodating as she allowed for some class time to pursue the agenda and volunteered herself for the position of club co-advisor under direction of LBCC Social Science instructor Scott McAleer who has agreed to act as the clubs full time administration advisor. Kunecka said, “The club is a wonderful idea and I fully support it. If you (the students involved) want to pursue the teachings of philosophy outside of class then yes, do it!”

       

The clubs statement of purpose is as follows: the club is for students to further our understanding of philosophical ideas, to discuss and examine philosophical questions, to encourage us to think more critically about our lives as students and as members of our communities.

Club President Stanley said, “What I see as a main focus of this club is shedding light on the big relevant questions that still exist today. We want to give the club members and the campus community the chance to open a dialogue and really get a chance to put our own thoughts into some ageless debates.”

       

The clubs goals, as they are stated, stand to promote philosophical thought within the student body. To promote active participation in all aspects of life. To engage in meaningful conversation and exchange of ideas. To examine important and crucial questions and to find valid answers and grounding values.

       

When asked on his views of the study of philosophy and his regard for “i-THINK,” club member Hunter Hamilton said, “I never even realized there were so many different ways of thinking, of seeing the world. After taking Ms. Kunecka’s philosophy class I will never think the same way again. My mind has been opened to so much more. I was one of the first to sign up for the club and I totally support it. It’s going to be a blast!”

        The Philosophy Club currently meets in North Santiam Hall 216 or in the courtyard, bi-weekly, Fridays at 4:15 p.m. through 6 p.m. at LBCC. The club has plans to advance this to a weekly meeting starting with the new 2014-2015 term.

You can find them online at:

facebook.com/pages/Philosophy-Club-LBCC-i-THINK

linnbenton.edu/current-students/involvement/clubs

You may Reach Club President Stanley at: Joshua Stanley @ facebook

Last Living Signature Holder of ANCSA

    Cheryl Palmer, a small unassuming woman in her early 50's, has an unusual claim to fame. Yet she doesn't seem famous in the least bit. She is the only living person to be listed on an actual treaty between the U.S. Government and a Native tribe, the Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), when her name was signed on the treaty however she was 7 years old and had no idea she was even a Native American, her biological father had signed her name and her two older sisters names to the treaty to ensure their fair treatment in the future.

  Cheryl was adopted when she was around 6 months old. She grew up in Eltopia Washington with her adoptive parents the Palmer's until she moved away from home at 16. When asked about herself she said, "I am an only child with 5 sisters. I was raised by my widowed father in small town Eltopia with nothing to do but get into trouble" as she laughed.

 (Cultural Awareness) final project. (courtesy of Palmer)

  She didn't know about her sisters and her heritage until she was introduced to them when she was 21 years of age. She has since learned who her parents were and what tribe she originates from. She still dreams of traveling to Alaska if not to live than just to visit. The Ninilchick Native Corporation keeps in contact and sends her updates on the council and what they are planning. She is also a member enrolled with the Cook Inlet regional Incorporation, which keeps her up to date on every major event.

            Cheryl is a very animated person. For example when she is passionate about something she taps her toe on the floor. She also dresses a little more colorfully than the average person. She laughs quickly and smiles often. Cheryl is an incredibly creative and passionate individual and holds a deep love for the great outdoors as well as active pursuit of photography and craft. She is an eccentric person who loves travel and cultures, especially Native American cultures.          

Common Talking Stick (Courtesy Palmer)

  Her hobbies and passions include the carving of walking sticks and native “talking sticks.” Cheryl also enjoys making native and local jewelry, sketching native design, and the study of her heritage and tribal history. She is also fond of fishing both for fun and food.

   Perhaps though Cheryl feels her greatest enjoyment comes from the simple act of hiking and walking trails and woodland areas where she furthers her crafts by collecting everything from sticks and stones to dead animals along the highway; which she uses for their bones, skins, furs, and feathers. She took the time to show me her huge collection of rocks from across the country. She not only collects incredibly beautiful and hard to find rocks and shells but also various woodland items of the unusual and odd.

  Cheryl has a tendency to decorate her house with native blankets for curtains, from various tribal nations. You can also find bundles of sage and juniper everywhere in her house. Artwork in various stages can be found all over the house, most seem to follow some connection to her emotions of the week. Some in the sketch stage, others in pre carving or soak phase, and some are in the final stages of either painting or

Finished Gourd bowl (courtesy Palmer)

varnishing. Some just looked out of place, like the toadstool book-ends.   

            When asked about where she has lived or been she laughed and said "it would be so much easier to tell you where I haven't been. I feel I am a gypsy by heart if not by birth." Cheryl later revealed that she had live in at least ten states if not more she claims to have lost count.

Cheryl is an advocate for mentally handicapped community as well generally helping others when able. She has worked with the developmentally disabled and also with the elderly. Cheryl enjoys the feeling of helping others she says and gave the impression of often having a warm inviting personality to match her friendly sun worn face.

  

Cheryl preferred to have no pictures taken of her personally.

At a glance

Born in Portland OR, Jan. 21^st 1964

Current residence: Albany OR

Education: Central Oregon Community College 1995 BA Computer Repair Technician

Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act 1971 member

CIRI (Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated) member

Email: eltopia39@gmail.com

Facebook at Cheryl  Palmer

"SALEM" On the WGN Will Cast A Spell On You.

                                                                   

Mary (Montgomery)- center, John (West)- left, Cotton (Gabel)- right / (Photo courtesy of WGN.)

  Imagine if you will that the entirety of the Salem witch trials happened due to a war which lasted too long and a young pregnant girl who’s fear of a lost love would lead her into a Faustian pact with the devil.

  “Salem” airs Sundays at 10 pm ET on WGN America. Created by Adam Simon and Brannan Braga (who has done various works on “Star Trek”) “Salem” marks WGN Americas first original series (which debuted last month to 1.5 million viewers) takes the Salem witch trials, (a tragic event in United States history full of religious and fear driven hysteria, paranoia, and sexism) and shapes and alternate history full of magic, deceit, love, and of course an abundance of witches.

  The result is a fictional historical dramas which, at its heart, is one of the sexiest and most horror filled shows of its kind to date. This is no sweet and pretty love story. It's a brimstone and black-magic filled headlong rush into the characters' personal struggles, rife with dark imagery and frightening moments in ways most other shows of its genre don’t even come close too.

-///- Warning! Spoilers ahead.

  

Mary (Montgomery) / (Photo courtesy of WGN.)

  Mary (British actress Janet Montgomery) is a young, unwed pregnant girl in Salem Massachusetts, a Puritanical town. She believes her love, John Alden (Shane West), has died in the war, since he has sent no letters since leaving. She must now either face the punishment of Puritans’ stocks and the painful torture of forehead branding or sell her soul to the devil via a sorceress (“Revenge's” Ashley Madekwe) just as Faust of old and Blues musician Robert Johnson of more contemporary tales had done.

  Having chosen to take the less than savory deal, she begins to bring her machinations to fruition when she marries George Sibley, an influential member of the town, who she then enslaves and quickly usurps his wealth and power. Mary’s plan begins to unravel however as Preacher Cotton Mather (Seth Gabel) soon believes witches have arrived in Salem seeking dominion of the “New World”, it seems though the good Preacher is only half right. The witches it seems have existed long before the Puritans learned of their presence as the shows character Tituba can attest. Interestingly, “Salem” makes use of witches both male and female making little distinction as to any difference between the two.

John and Mary- (Photo courtesy of WGN)

    As fate would have it John returns home to witness a witch hunt in which Mary is attempting to use the trials as a way to have the Puritans kill each other in hopes of allowing the witches freedom from their persecution as well as other reasons. Finding that Mary is now wed, John is at a loss and begins to become involved in town affairs as he keeps a watchful eye on his lost love. As events continue to escalate we learn that John, who at first held little belief of the witches, is a long time frenemy of Cotton and soon the two come to a kind of understanding concerning their mutual roles in the show.

  Using a variety of historical names and facts such as Cotton Mather and Tituba, the show reveals only enough for viewers to recognize their significance before addressing the characters in a fictitious manner. With bits of truth along the way, “Salem” creates its own revised history in such a manner as to leave the show feeling almost like a continuation of the historical events it takes place in.

"Salem" cast in costume in church. (Photo courtesy of WGN)

  Their approach is intriguing and captivating. The sets and costume designs match the late 17th century to an impressive degree and the setting is so well conceived that the viewer is almost immediately pulled into the town of Salem.

  The show has many of the same production and story elements of two other series with witches and the supernatural: “American Horror Story” and “Sleepy Hollow.” Often going over the top and making no apologies when it does, the show holds elements for not only younger viewers with its many fantastic moments but also adults with its development of romance and personal relationships.

  With the show often brazenly pushing the limits of cable television the writers have their job cut out for them as the story is cultivating a dynamic that promises much as the show continues to develop. The viewer can easily become immersed and lost within the darkened streets of Salem as you watch by the small guttering flames of candles as men are punished for looking upon the form of women and an unwed mother can face penalty of death for her bastard child.

  I give “Salems” dark and gritty historical makeover a GO and recommend fans of the genre or anyone looking for a good story to tune in Sundays and watch Mary and her magic on WGN America.

 

Photo courtesy of WGN.

Salem

TV listings:  wgnamerica.com/schedule

WGN America, Sunday nights at 10, Eastern and Pacific times; 9, Central time.

Produced by Fox 21. Created and written by Brannon Braga and Adam Simon; directed by Richard Shephard; Mr. Braga, Mr. Simon, Josh Barry and Jeff Kwatinetz, executive producers; Liz Sarnoff, Tricia Small, Jon Feldman and Vahan Moosekian, co-executve producers.

WITH Janet Montgomery (Mary Sibley), Shane West (John Alden), Seth Gabel (Cotton Mather). Ashley Madekwe (Tituba), Xander Berkeley (Magistrate Hale), Iddo Goldberg (Isaac Walton), Tamzin Merchant (Anne Hale) and Elise Eberle (Mercy Lewis).

A Voice of Equality in The World

The LBCC’s Gay-Straight Alliance, Diversity Achievement Center and Council of Clubs, with a grant from the campus’s English Endowment Fund, recently hosted Mr.Darrel Holnes (April 16, 2014) as he presented a collection of poetry to campus and community members alike. 

“Ask everyone to do their part for the cause and help to broaden and widen the conversation (of equality) so we can really open everyone to the importance of understanding.” This is one of many beliefs held by renowned Afro-Latino writer Darrel Alejandro Holnes, an individual who has pursued equal treatment of minorities to an international level.

       

Photo courtesy of Darrel Holnes.

Holnes, whose poetry, art, and events have been both locally and internationally viewed over the past decade, has had works published in TIME Magazine, the Best American Poetry Blog, Callaloo, The Caribbean Writer, and the Kennedy Center for the Arts College Theater Festival as well as many others. In 2013 Holnes received the G.O.D.s Broadway Icon of The Year Award making his presence felt in the world. Holnes is also a member of an elite poetry troupe by the name of “The Phantastique Five” who are well known for their use of poetry to propagate a more enlightened society.

Darrel and fellow equality proponent George Takei. Photo courtesy of Darrel Holnes.

       With all these accomplishments one could easily be caught up in their own life but not so with Holnes who has never forgotten his early teachings or that his voice is one of the people, “Nothing is ever a one man mission. I thank all my workshop teachers for teaching me to seek out sources of those who don’t have a voice. To help others be on stage to voice their cause.”

Currently residing in New York, NY, Holnes is a native of Panama City, Panama and currently teaches creative writing at Rutgers University. Holnes holds his position as a teacher dear to him and can still find time to mentor his students both past and present even as he continues to rally the voice of equality both near and far.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Holnes.

“I see myself as a student always. The world is the ultimate teacher.”

Obviously no stranger to the rigors of academic life himself, Holnes holds degrees in Creative Writing from the University of Houston and the University of Michigan. He received scholarships to Cave Canem, Canto Mundo, Bread Loaf, and various other residencies, contributed work to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, was a guest speaker at the United Nations, and supported programming at the White House as a Presidential Inaugural Scholar.

        Along with his skills as a writer, producer, educator, and activist Holmes also founded EMERGING in New York City which is a movement celebrating innovative, modern and edgy musical theater. Holnes has also established two other groups in New York City; one, a Broadway Understudies & Swing(er)s cabaret currently at Toshi’s Living Room in the Flatiron Hotel, and the other, a Broadway Composers Cabaret at The Lambs Club. Holnes will additionally be debuting projects which will move him beyond the worlds of fine arts and high theater and into TV and Film, a project which he has set for some time now in 2014.

At a glance:   

Born: Panama City, Panama

Current Residence: New York, NY

Education:  University of Houston,  University of Michigan,  Cave Canem, Canto Mundo,  Bread Loaf, and various other residencies.

Currently Teaching at  Rutgers University

Contact Info:

facebook.com/darrelholnes,

twitter.com/daholnes,

writersontheriver.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/darrel-alejandro-holnes

blog.bestamericanpoetry.com/the_best_american_poetry/2011/12/jericho-brown-farewell-featuring-the-phantastique-5.html

Trust Your Talent

Paul (Photo courtesy same)

“Trust your talent. Develop your craft. Develop writing instincts.” This is one of many useful tried and true lessons the 2011 Oregon Book Award winner and Corvallis resident Paul VanDevelder passed on to students at LBCC earlier this month. Indeed, Paul has much which he can impart to a new generation of writers and photographers. 

Paul is a well-respected journalist and an accomplished novelist with over thirty years in the field both home and abroad and was a welcomed voice at campus. Speaking largely on what it takes to “deliver the goods” as Paul puts it, the focus of his time with students was in explaining how it was he found his niche in the writing game and the amount of work it has taken him to stay there. During his talk, no matter what the course of his musings, Paul spoke of his time as a journalist fondly and warmly with a devil may care sincerity that kept his listeners rapt with attention.

“It’s surprising sometimes what choices are made” remarked Paul “Never take yourself too seriously. You never know where life’s going to go.” Imparting many such bits of his own gathered wisdom on listeners along the way, we heard of his adventurous investigative journalism days.  Paul spoke to the students of the worst of days and of the best. He told humorous antidotes of inner office antics and touching stories of friends made along the way. There were captivating tales of sailing clippers into foreign waters under duress of war. More of traveling for days overland by pack and fording treacherous rivers while furtively sorting through the debris of scattered stories which were lost to whispers and rumor and always one more lead out of reach. Paul, and many like him, often endured these trials and tribulations in their pursuit of their next story; all the while still snapping photos and scrawling away in notebooks delivering the “Goods” back home to meet press deadlines and deliver that next big story.

Born fortunate in the field of writing to a father who was a hermeneutical scholar and a mother who was a well-loved literature teacher; Paul’s early life was one filled with books and knowledge in his village home in Bolivia. Paul began as a young man writing daily to near prodigious levels till at the age of twenty five he made his first real success in writing in the form of an award from the National Endowment of the Arts for a piece known as “Crysallis.” After this first accomplishment it would be ten years before Paul would once again be able to establish his name in the world of writing as a journalist. In Paul’s own words “The celebratory hangover lasted 10 years. I wanted so badly to write, but just as strong was the silent conviction in me that I didn't have anything momentous to report to the world. Either I had nothing to say, or I didn't know how to say it. I wasn't ready.”

A decade after his award for Crysallis an uncertain Paul received a visit from Nathaniel Blumberg, the Dean of the School of Journalism at the University of Montana. After this fateful meeting Paul would set out upon his new goal of becoming a journalist and there at college would develop a new passion for cameras that has stayed with him for life.

Over the next twelve years Paul worked as a journalist and burned through over half a million rolls of film covering every conflict, campaign, disaster, or holocaust possible until what he did became second nature in many ways. During his talk at LBCC Paul put some of his experience into words for the students saying “Black and white is a tactile medium, much like sculpting. It takes passion and emotion. You have to get inside and underneath the story to write it. You watch and you listen and you find your points of entry.” When questioned on the new digital media of today Paul boldly answered; “New or old, symbiotic tech or no. It all comes back to people and trust.”  Truly wonderful words of advice for any aspiring writer of any field.

(Courtesy of VanDevelder)

Fans of Mr. VanDevelder will be happy to know that years after his humble beginnings Paul is still gaining forward momentum in the world of writing.
His first two triumphant novelizations Savages and Scoundrels and Coyote Warrior may soon make way for the possibility of a third book with an as of yet unknown title. 

(Courtesy of Paul VanDevelder)

To learn more about Paul VanDevelder you can find him at elbowoodscafe.com or purchase his books online at Amazon.
Alternatively you may search Mr. VanDevelder online to view a host of his journalistic works.

Marvels Agents of SHIELD: Level 7 clearance

 "We can't explain everything, but our eyes are open!"

All right MARVEL fans! Hello, and welcome to your level 7 clearance of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Files, my column that will be covering all that is going down inside of Marvel's new premier, super secret agency, prime-time heroic show. Marvels’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

which debuted on 09-24 and airs on the ABC network on Tuesdays at 8:00PM and revolves around a group of non-conventional new agents selected by senior agent Phil Coulson to investigate Amazing and Spectacular happenings around the globe in a post Avengers world.

Thanks to one of my personal favorite producers Joss Whedon. Agent Coulson (whom Whedon had previously killed off in Avengers after a fierce battle with the god of evil Loki and a little trick warmly named "Culsons Revenge") is now alive(?)

For months after The Avengers broke box office records around the world, Marvel's "True Believers" started a “Coulson lives” campaign – convincing Marvel and Joss Whedon to not only bring actor Clark Gregg back to continue playing the role, but to lead his own show titled Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. kicking off a new series of adventures with a team newly sanctioned by Nick Fury  himself. (Fury is head of  S.H.I.E.L.D.)  Right from the start with the pilot episode Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a runaway high thrills adventure set in the current American/World military and economic atmosphere with the classic twist of Top Secret organizations and billionaire philanthropist who turn out to be villainous despots bent on world conquest or at the least world destruction.  Although the story of the pilot was quick and energetic with allot of head turns as the "common man" became first the unsung hero then into the drug raged minor villain we certainly could not say the opening story was too original; not to anyone that has ever read a comic book at least. None the less the show delivered a refreshing "good guy" spin on the classic government spook and even had big brother looking like a pretty viable option by the end of episode 2. Loaded with pop media phrases and fandamonia references the show has no problem poking fun at itself a little while delivering some no nonsense world saving at the same time. With cast members who's characters are supposed to act intuitive towards each other as we work out the kinks in what will be their "well oiled machine" we catch glimpses of actors who seem to be enjoying their roles. 

  The show also took on its own energy helping to separate it from other shows that could be found similar (Such as Heroes, CSI or Bones) and with his usual Joss Whedon brand enertainment, this "cult phenomenon" producer has brought together yet another cast who already show great chemistry together! With a long history of stellar cast work (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly as examples) I have no doubt that the mind of Whedon, the wonder of Marvel and the marketing monstrosity that is Disney have a sure fired hit on their hands! (and for those of you that did not know Disney recently purchased Marvel and Lucas Arts....Say it with me folks...WOW!!!)

The Story So Far;

Episode 1 “Pilot” /air date September 24, 2013

Set after the events of The Avengers, Agent Phil Coulson (who survived his apparent death) assembles a small team of agents to investigate a superhuman, Mike Peterson (J. August Richards), who is able to survive an exploding building and a hacktivist group called the Rising Tide that seems to have information. Skye, a member of the Rising Tide, meets with Peterson to warn him about S.H.I.E.L.D., saying that they cover up superhero based events and that she can help him, which he declines. Later, Skye is abducted by Coulson and Ward and questioned on their plane. She does not cooperate initially, but eventually reveals what she knows. It is later revealed that Peterson had been supplied with the Centipede serum (which is made up of alien metal, gamma radiation, the Extremis Virus, and the Super-Soldier Serum) giving him his powers, by an unknown organization that is behind Project Centipede. After visiting the explosion scene, Coulson's team is able to recreate it and learn that it was caused by another subject exploding due to Extremis. While attempting to get info to the team, Skye is kidnapped by Peterson (who is now on the run) and makes her give him a clean slate. Coulson's team is able to track them down and subdue Peterson without him causing mass damage while stopping an assassin that was sent by Dr. Debbie (Shannon Lucio). With Peterson in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, Coulson offers Skye a place on the team.

Episode 2 “0-8-4” /air date October 1, 2013

Skye is now integrated into Coulson's team as a consultant. Their next assignment is in Peru, tracking a "0-8-4." S.H.I.E.L.D. prefix for "an object of unknown origin." Once there, the team quickly realizes that the object is actually a piece of forgotten HYDRA technology powered by Tesseract energy. Coulson meets with a former ally, Camilla Reyes (Leonor Varela), and brings her team aboard the plane. Later, Reyes betrays Coulson and plans to take the HYDRA weapon for herself so she can destroy the Peruvian rebels. The squabbling team members band together, utilizing each of their talents, and take out Reyes' men. Reyes is taken into custody and Skye receives a text message from another member of the Rising Tide, confirming her allegiance to them. In the final scene, Director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) scolds Coulson for the damage to the plane and reminds him about the risk Skye poses.

• 
  

• And as for that cast; Lets take a look at our team!!!
  
  Phil Coulson
  Played by Clark Gregg
  
  
  A Team With Great Potential: 
  
  

Clark Gregg is powerful as ever in his reprisal of the agent fanboy who walked tall with the  Avengers and fans of all ages have loved him since the first moment he left Stark irritated. From his humorous "shadowy" entrance to his moving speech with the shows first antagonist and his hard knocks leadership style Agent Coulson is already proving to be the heart and shaping focus for the show. (And he still complains over those destroyed Captain America Cards!)

 Melinda May:

Played by Ming-Na Wen

• Jemma Simmons: Played by Elizabeth Henstridge
• Skye:
  Played by Chloe Bennet



• 
  






Leo Fitz:

Played by Iain De Caestecker

• Grant Ward:
  
  Played by Brett Dalton

  
• 
  
• 
  
• .....Not 
• 
  

mere background characters: each team member has a specialist trait they bring to the team (as with any good Sci-Fi/action team) 

• Grant Ward is your top notch one man military unit and has the skill to back it up as it was remarked he had the highest passing scores for entry to S.H.I.E.L.D. since Romanov. (aka The Black Widow)
• Melinda May is a legend in her own time much like Agent Coulson and has the notoriety of having been part of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Calvary, that being the special division which travels aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
• Skye is the teams wild card, bringing street savvy and outside the box thinking to assist her other strengths of being a world class hacker and activist!
• And we cannot forget about the "Fitz'Simmons" or Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons although to see the two in action in their many varied respected fields you begin to understand rather quickly why there names become synonymous when they are at work. 

The stereo types here may be obvious. Grant is the James Bond archetype with May as the deadly assasin. Skye is the classic big hearted rebel and the "Fitz'Simmons" are the loveable geek squad head cases. This is well and fine, because director Joss Whedon utilizes each of these sterotypes to explore the further reaches of the characters as they show how they are so much more than first glance. I believe this is a very strong move for the show as it will initially cath the attention of viewers accustomed to such styles of television. This will allow the viewer to internalize the personalities of the show and become caught up as the characters reach for their ultimate selves.

The show itself may at first glance be simply another government drama but its anything but. Cleverly disguised as any other aforementioned drama the show then reveals to the viewers that the Agents of SHIELD are not immoral black ops soldiers, they are not prosecutors, or some kind of big brother shadow cabal, they are good people in a position to help those affected by this new world of super powers. Whedon manages to fit in story elements from nearly every Marvel film in Peterson’s backstory giving the whole show a feel like it is a sequel to the beloved Marvel films (notably Extremis from Iron Man 3, coincidentally released on Blu-ray today) while maintaining its own identity.

Maybe its just  me but I feel a definite tie in coming in future episode looking back on the S.H.I.E.L.D. teams of yesteryear and our current rosters predecessors. Perhaps even a look back at Nick Fury  and his early war comics with the "Howling Commandoes" (not to be confused with Marvels current team filling out that roster who are all currently actual "Howling Monsters")

Mobile Tactical Headquarters: The team keeps the stakes high in their plush, ultra-tech personnel plane! The CXD-23; (Coulsons plane actually) while having its own fully stocked lounge area and what appears to be a library and kitchen, a lab, holding cells and several team member bunks it also sports a powerful control console and communications array.

NUFF SAID:

And don't worry all you true believers out there; not only does the show make constant remarks to other points in Marvel, it seems the show intends to stay mostly in-cannon with what marvel's mainstream movies are doing. Already talking much about the  Avengers, Thor and of course Tony Stark "The Invincible Iron Man" we have also heard mention of Captain America, Dr. Erskine (creator of the Super Soldier Formula) and the release of Extremis on an unsuspecting world. (Extremis is the partial brainchild of Tony Stark and a new concept on the Super Soldier Program) Also the show has given account of the involvement of HYDRA and the possibility of (spoiler alert!) Graviton! They even mentioned "Tales of Suspense!"

This show has it all if what you want is a fast paced, action packed, Ultra-Science, Good guys gotta win romp! And I do mean Ultra-Science these guys are using stuff that would put shows like Eureka and Fringe to shame; just take a look at this link to see some of "FITZSIMMONS ARMORY" for some of the more common toys. We should also mention the new sci-tech every episode and of course there's always whatever the bad guys bring to play! Plus the show is highly informative on what makes up delicate operations in clandestine situations.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is putting an adventurous and positive spin on Americas current interest in foreign fields and world peace organizations. Along with easing our curiosity of vast new technologies and fields of science, Agents of SHIELD is prepped to give us one "Made in the Marvelous Style" look behind the scenes at one of many possible "what If" scenarios inside the world of espionage and global security. Granted, this version of reality comes equipped with caped and cowed heroes and mysterious hidden villainy, but hey, that makes for a great show! 

Foreign viewers will get a chance to see American secret forces under a positive light that uses compassion and world scope as mediators to the shows heroic actions. The show promotes an image of American government that still cares and is still fighting the good fight both at home and abroad, even when we don't know it! This show could be a tremendous force for re-instilling Americas and the worlds belief in its protectors if it catches well. I for one know I will be tuning in every Tuesday night in belief that we can always find a better way! MAKE MINE MARVEL! EXCELSIOR!!!

On the other hand, there is always a critic or two. Here is what some of those critics had to say about ABC's new prime time show. 

Scott Meslow of Vulture.com came to the table criticizing our good friend Phil saying;

 "And while we're on the subject, Coulson is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s strongest link to the film series that spawned it, and there's a reason he's become such a fan-favorite character: His capable, ironic, slightly detached professionalism offered a nice human break from all the superheroics. But those cinematic appearances served as little more than cameos, and it's clear from the first two episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. that the show's grasp on the character is flimsy at best. Coulson worked perfectly as a small side dish in the films, but if he's going to be the main course in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., he'll need a little more flavor and a lot more consistency as a character. Vague references to a past love affair and a collection of spy gadgets aren't going to cut it."

Input from a group calling itself the A.V. Club from Heavy.com only chided the show for being better that the competition; 

"For better or worse, Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. is the best network drama pilot of the fall, but that’s mainly because so many of the other network drama pilots don’t even seem to be trying. There’s good stuff in S.H.I.E.L.D.; there are also things that feel curiously muted and cautious."

Reflecting on S.H.I.E.L.D. in the Media:

The story so far has went to great lengths to show the positive aspects of a benevolent and trustworthy "Big Brother" form of government as I mentioned before although there is little of "Orwellian" notions here beyond the constant surveillance of the "Watchmen." Instead both the show and its media add base seem to be trying to cast the best light possible on American engineering and technologies as nearly the entire consistency of the adds placed throughout the show are base around American Ideology of "tried tough and true" with there repetition of Ford Truck adds and there "Built ford Tough" motto  along with specifying new fuel economy standards. (a definite use of "plain-folk mentality with a little Bandwagon tossed in to stay buying American) And a distinct add set for cutting edge tech mainly focused on various cell phones like "Droid Max" by Motorola and the "Droid Ultra" (worked in so well to the media/show blending that one begins to believe that having the tech could make you an Agent, classy and tech savvy like good old Tony Stark himself. This form of add appeal has a definite "snob-appeal" but also lends a little to "hidden fear" tactics as one might think they are being left behind by the newest wave of technological wonder) but this is hardly all of the angles attempted by add companies during this show to integrate their message into their target interest groups; which it seems for this show are teen to 30 something tech savvy "Suburbia Hipsters" with a smaller target group being the "Common Man Family" and concepts of strong national and personal morals. The adds groups have also streamlined Frigidaire and Electrolux refrigerators into the adds banking on the teams headquarters decor to to catch on with its viewers. (while this form of add persuasion could be viewed as bandwagon I think more to the point this is a form of association principle in trying to link your refrigerator to a prosperous and happy family) Sounds to me like the people behind Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D know how to find their Niche! I know to my shame that after having watched the show I began to want a Droid! Lol!

Want some more great facts on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D check out these links;

DECLASSIFIED

LATEST CLIPS

COMINGSOON.NET

END TAGS?

MTV SPLASH PAGE

HUFFINGTON POST

BUZZ FEED

THE MOTLEY FOOL

And as always, The Detractors;

A Step In The Wrong Direction

HEAVY.COM

IGN