When I was a kid, the three most magical places in the world for me were all in this one little shopping center near where I grew up: A movie theater, a video game store, and a comic shop. Whenever I'd go out to catch a movie with my friends, we'd always arrive an hour or more early just to test-play some new games at the game store and/or check out some new comics, a habit of which I grew out of as I grew into adulthood. I can definitely that they were some of my fondest memories as a boy; catching friendly faces, exploring my favorite mediums...

All three of those places, however, have radically changed. Visiting a Gamestop is a practice in stamina: How long can I last before I want to turn right the fuck around and leave. It's not just the product pushing, either. It's the atmosphere. No on seems to ENJOY being in a game store anymore. There's no excitement, there's no sense of kinship. Only transaction. No one is happy to work there and about as many are happy to shop there.

Comic book shops, on the other hand, are mostly just... dying. People aren't buying as many comic-books any more and, if they are, they're finding alternative outlets to actual brick and mortar comic shops. Books-A-Million, Barnes and Nobles, plenty of online retailers and hobby stores now cater to the more frugal or less inclined. What were once havens for nerds and geeks and fans alike, they are slowly fading away into a world that no longer needs them.

Movie theaters, however, are fighting for their lives. Unfortunately, they continue to succeed in alienating and aggravating their clientele with each move they make. Ticket prices have hiked to ridiculous highs, popcorn and drinks are more expensive than most sit-down restaurant meals, and now most theaters prioritize 3D movies; traditional screenings are few and far between, sometimes forcing you to either choose a time slot you don't prefer or pay extra for a format you may not give half a squat about.

Personally? I'd like to see Gamestop and major theaters fail, because I am honest to God hoping that once the roof collapses on these terrible business models, they'll realize the key to successful business: Happy costumers. As for comic shops, I do hope their core clientele and the like will find other places to congregate. Most hobby shops are doing their best.

But honestly, if we lose all three, we'll still be able to purchase all of those mediums and enjoy them in kind. We have the internet! And hopefully, nothing will screw that up.

I'm bored at the Dallas Airport. So here's a little story from Australia!

I'm bored at the Dallas Airport. So here's a little story from Australia!

It had been a long flight. I mean, a LONG. LONG FLIGHT. And being in a middle seat, I refrained from... using the facilities as often as possible. Well, you can imagine the first place I went post-exiting the plane.

Now, this is something peculiar I noticed about Melbourne rather quickly, thanks in large to this first incident: The urinals very rarely have dividers. Not that I care, but this became instantly relevant when I walked up to the airport urinal. I started doing my thing, minding my own business, before another gentleman stepped up beside me, voiding his bladder in kind.

Not 10 seconds after parking himself next to me, he was staring at my junk. No, not peeking. Not casually catching a glance. He was looking. Right at. My toolkit.

Now, I don't even care, personally. I'm so unabashed when it comes to nudity; I think women should be allowed to go topless anywhere men are. I just couldn't help, though, but think that his behavior might just be, in a word... inappropriate. He seemed like a nice enough guy, a little pale, but not a creep by any means. Here he was, however, studying me like my package would be on the final exam.

I didn't fuss or say anything, as I had no intention of prolonging this magical moment. I zipped, washed, and went on my way. I can only wonder, though... did I leave an impact? I hope I did.

Ah, Australia, first impressions can be so quirky.