Category Archives: Immortality

The April 15 Overwatch patch brought in a slew of changes to multiple heroes, and the player base is not pleased with the direction the developers are taking the game.

Currently, Overwatch is in a rush-down meta, which consists of brawly heroes such as Reinhardt, Mei, and Reaper being speed boosted into the enemy team to assassinate targets.

One big problem with this meta stems from Baptistes Immortality Field being able to save teammates with ease something the developers tried to address by rebalancing the supports kit.

Sadly, the changes are leaving a lot to be desired, as Immortality Field will still be able to keep players alive just with a little less health than before. As streamer Warn pointed out, this doesnt really change things.

Im sorry, this doesnt change the fundamental value of an ability that keeps an entire team alive through every ultimate of every fight off cooldown! the Ashe main exclaimed. Please PlayOverwatch consider damage reduction over immortality.

Additionally, to compensate for the Immortality Field nerf, the devs increased Baptistes healing when landing direct shots. This, too, has players annoyed.

140 healing directs through Bap window Im sad, remarked OWL pro Charlie Nero Zwarg, referring to how much healing Baptiste can do now when firing through Amplification Matrix.

Why [do] they always give broken heroes redeeming buffs that end up being better than the nerf? asked Dante Danteh Cruz, who was a bit baffled by the changes made to the hero.

Elsewhere, Contenders Korea pro Sang-hoon Kaiser Ryu called the patch probably the worst hes seen.

Rein comps are rarely seen in KR competitive and monkey comps are used more, he said, remarking on how Reinhardt had his health nerfed a touch.

This was echoed by popular Twitch streamer Flats, who believes that the meta was changing from Reinhardt anyway and moving towards double bubble consisting of Winston and Zarya.

However, with the buffs to Orisa and Roadhog, it seems like Winston may not even have much time to shine.

Finally, players are already calling for Moiras huge Orb buff to be reverted. In a clip posted on Twitter, a player showed how they were able to constantly stay alive against a Winston and even a Brigitte by constantly spamming the Biotic Orb.

Nerf Moira, the player captioned the clip.

Of course, because these changes are still on the Experimental Card, theres a chance not all of them hit the live servers but very rarely does Blizzard ever hold back on changes once theyve been approved for testing.

In any case, well have to see if the Overwatch devs listen up or if were headed towards a bizarre and even more controversial meta.

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Overwatch players are furious at the worst Experimental patch yet - Dexerto

Its 10:15 PM on Saturday, March 27th. Ive just finished watchingTina, the HBO documentary about the incomparable Tina Turner. The two-hour doc was filled with stunning footage and stories from Turners remarkable career, but it was the films ending that is really staying with me.

Tinacomes to a close with Turner and her husband,Erwin Bach, traveling from their home in Switzerland to New York City in November 2019 for the Broadway opening ofTINA: The Tina Turner Musical. Over footage from the star-studded event, Bach says the following:

She said, Im going to America, and Im going to say goodbye to my American fans and wrap it up. And I think this documentary and the play, this is it. Its a closure. A closure.

Tina Turner doesnt have to perform a single note ever again. She doesnt owe any of us a thing more. But shes still owed one more thing in order for this closure to be complete with me and likely countless other fans the world over: She needs to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in the 2021 class.

While she was inducted into the Rock Hall in 1991 as part of Ike & Tina Turner, Tina the solo artist has been eligible for induction since 1999. It would have been a nice touch to see her inducted in her first year of eligibility: her final studio album, Twenty Four Seven, was released that year.(Although many regard 1984s Private Dancer as her debut solo album, she has been putting out solo albums since 1974s Tina Turns the Country On!) It also goes without saying that she was more successful and impactful as a solo artist than she was with Ike Turner.

Plenty has been written by myself and countless others about the Rock Halls lack of women inductees; women account for less thaneight percentof artist inductees. The fact that it took until 2019, when Stevie Nicks became the first double-inductee, is ridiculous. Over twenty men have been inducted twice; Eric Clapton has been inducted three times. While Nicks solo honor was more than deserved, she shouldnt have been the Rock Halls first woman double-inductee.

It should have been Tina. AndTina, the documentary, makes the case that Turners solo career is more than worthy of induction. From the cotton fields of Tennessee to selling out the biggest stadiums in the world, shes done it all while simultaneously overcoming at times horrific odds. She paved the way forBeyonc, Taylor and any other musician recognized by just one name to become superstars. They all owe a debt to Tina, someone who achieved that worldwide stardom in her mid-40s, which is a staggering feat that also doesnt get enough attention. Becoming a headliner as an up-and-coming artist is one thing, but to do so while battling ageism AND crossing over multiple musical genres is another.

The figures and the powers-that-be at the Rock Hall both past and present cant go back in time and induct Tina as a solo artist two decades ago, but they can right one major wrong by inducting her this year, which is also somehow the first time she has been nominated as a solo artist.

Rock Hall voters have about a month left to submit their ballots for the 2021 class. Every single voter would have to be a fool not to mark Tina as one of their five selections.

And if they are somehowstillon the fence, just watchTina.

Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock news blogger who's well versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice.

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'Tina': The Ultimate Thesis of Why She Deserves Rock Hall Immortality - wmgk.com

The 2021 Indian Derby will be the 79th running of the prestigious event on the Indian racing calendar and the sixth consecutive year Kingfisher Ultra will be associated with the RWITC. However, this year it will be a closed-door affair, with only a limited number of people allowed at the Mahalaxmi racecourse.

Seventeen races have been framed for the Derby weekend (March 27 and 28) with the total prize money for Indian Derby being 1.52 crore and the winners purse worth 91.5 lakh.

According to the present form and record among the 13 contestants vying for premier honours, the three contenders to watch out are Lagarde, Immortality and Forest Flame.

Bengaluru-based trainer Suleiman Attaollahi, who has not yet tasted the success of winning this blue riband event, has two prime contenders in Lagarde and Forest Flame.

Top colt Lagarde stands tall with five wins out of six races in his career, including the Bangalore Derby & 2000 Guineas, Indian 2000 Guineas, and the Ruia Cup over 2000m here.

Attaollahis queen filly Forest Flame, who has won 5 out of her 7 starts, was beaten by stablemate Lagarde in the Bangalore Derby and was pipped at the post by Immortality in the Indian Oaks. She maintains her form, and having gone over the 2,400m trip twice, is capable of avenging the above defeats.

Trainer Pesi Shroffs champion filly Immortality, who ran last in her debut as a two-year-old, has shown a vast improvement this year by winning a Class 4 race over a mile, the Golconda Oaks, and the Indian Oaks over 2,400m. She is in great heart as evidenced by her track performances and may add another feather to her hat.

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Three top contenders in the fray for Indian Derby - The Hindu

Nature is full of crazy creatures that defy all logic, and nothing is more astonishing than animals that can live to be older than humans. Some of the oldest animals in the world have lived since the time of Charles Darwin, and some survivors that may have been around during the time of the last mammoths.

It's important to study these rare creatures as they (longest-lived animals) can teach us a lot about the aging process. Sometimes estimates are exaggerated, but age testing in these animals is very complex and relatively accurate.These ancient animals are believed to be some of the world's oldest things and, as technologies improve, we get a better understanding of them.

(Photo : Getty Images)

In 2007, researchers examining a dead clam discovered that they may have accidentally killed one of the oldest creatures in the world. The Ming clam, which was later named, is one of 200 clams collected from a glacial shelf in Iceland. It died after freezing and was taken to a research laboratory.

Age: 405 Years

This little jellyfish is no bigger than your pink claw, but hidden inside that little body is the key to immortality. When faced with a threat, a long-immortal jellyfish can return to its larval stage and start life again.

This process, called transdifferentiation, can be triggered by starvation, injury, and other pre-existing threats. This process could theoretically allow these jellies to live forever, although verifying the age of any individual would be difficult.

Age: Infinity Years

Estimates for the age of this animal are surprising but, if true, it is probably the oldest living organism on the planet. Some scientists believe that giant Arctic sponges could live for thousands of years.

These sponges, which belong to the Hexactinellida group, may owe their length to their slow growth rate and the frigid waters of the deep ocean. Some estimates place the age of individuals as high as 23,000 years old, but most agree that the number is probably inaccurate.

Age: 15,000 Years

Also Read:Ancient Foxes Relied On Human Leftover Foods for 42 Millennia

These amazing living sharks are native to the icy waters of the Arctic, and a female specimen is estimated at nearly 400. Biologists have used carbon dating in proteins found in the lenses of shark eyes when the animal is old. Their discovery completely changed the view of scientists on this animal.

Age: 392 Years

Reptiles can only be seen in New Zealand, where one member of the species has managed to breed 11 healthy babies at the impressive age of 111. Some estimates claim that the tuataras can live upto 250, an impressive number for a small animal.

Age: 250 Years

The oldest mammal in the world, bowhead whales, can live to be over 200 years old. Researchers came up with this after finding traditional stone harpists made by native Alaskans stuck to the skins of living whales. The researchers ran tests on tissue samples from multiple bowheads and found four individuals over 100 years old.

Age: 211 Years

A 2003 study on the lifespan of red sea urchins concluded that these amazing invertebrates can live more than 200 years without any significant signs of aging. Scientists believe that a 100-year-old female can reproduce as easily as an urchin 1/10 of that age. Two different dating methods work to determine their age, and both offer the same conclusion.

Age: Over 200 Years

(Photo : Getty Images)

Tu'i Malila lived to be one of the oldest recorded turtles of all time, having spent most of his life at the Royal Palace of Tonga. Although the turtle died in 1965 at the estimated age of 188, Tu'i Malila remains a legend to this day.

Age: 188 Years

Related Article:Ancient Dog Fact You Didn't Know That Scientists Found Out Today

For more news, updates about ancient animals and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!

2021 NatureWorldNews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

2021 NatureWorldNews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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Immortal Jellyfish, Radiated Tortoise, and More: 11 Ancient Animals Older Than Every Human on Earth - Nature World News

Keanu Reeves always wanted to play Wolverine on screen, and now with Netflix's BRZRKR film on the way, fans can see what he would have been like.

Keanu Reeves BRZRKR comic is being adapted as both a live-action film and anime series at Netflix, providing a fun look at what the John Wick star could look like as the MCUs Wolverine. In the wake of Hugh Jackmans retirement from the iconic role and Disneys acquisition of Fox, many theories have circulated as to how mutants will be introduced to the MCU, and who could play the new versions of the X-Men. Though Keanu Reeves is likely too old at this point to be in the running for the part of Wolverine, BRZRKR will show what his version of the character may have been like.

BRZRKR follows the story of B, an immortal warrior, half-god and half-man, cursed to wander the Earth for eternity in a chain of violent battles. The character lives for 80,000 years, eventually becoming a secret weapon of the U.S. government. Reeves created the character of B and the story of BRZRKR with writer Matt Kindt, both of which will be fleshed out in the upcoming adaptations from Netflix.

Related:Everything We Know About Keanu Reeves' Netflix Movie & Show BRZRKR

In past interviews, Reeves has said how badly he wanted to play Wolverine in the X-Menfilms.Though hes a longshot to play the character at this point in time, he can show how perfect he would have been in the role through his performance in BRZRKR. Hes starred in numerous action films since The Matrix and has experienced something of a renaissance in the genre in the wake of John Wick, but no character Keanu has played before comes as close to Wolverine as B. From his curse-like immortality to his penchant for violence and his use as a weapon by covert government programs, B is essentially an elseworlds version of X-Mens Logan.

Of course, there are plenty of reasons why Reeves is better suited to an independent property like BRZRKR than actually being part of the MCU. The hyperviolent style of BRZRKR similar to that which helped make Logan so distinct in the superhero genre wouldnt fly as part of Marvels family-friendly brand. Plus, Reeves particular style of action hero is a bit too grizzled for the tone of the MCU, even without the extra blood and gore.

Still, in another world, Reeves could be a perfect Wolverine. While fans will likely never see that hypothetical version of the character, they can get a glimpse at what it would be like when Netflixs BRZRKR film releases. Marvel still hasnt announced plans to bring the X-Men into the MCU, so BRZRKR may actually be the closest thing to a new Wolverine movie fans can expect for some time.

Next:How Nobody's Action Scenes Compare To John Wick

Mark Hamill & Logan Director Boycott Georgia Filming Over Voter Laws

Rick Stevenson is a writer, editor and performer based in Brooklyn, NY. He's written on TV, film and games for over six years, in addition to assorted stints in bookselling, carpentry, and TV production. Rick studied writing at the College of William & Mary and Oxford University, and can report with some authority that they are both old. A comedian and improviser when not writing, he currently performs with Socially Distant Improv on Instagram, and is a founding member of the Oxford University House of Improv. He lives and dies for Avatar: The Last Airbender.

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Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR Can Show Why He'd Be The Perfect MCU Wolverine - Screen Rant

Would you want to be immortal? Would you still want to be immortal if the quest for it led down a path you thought was immoral? Would you consider an act immoral if another culture respects it as their tradition? Further, would immortality be acceptable if it merely preserves the body and not the mind or the thoughts?

These are some of the conflicting questions that rise up your gut as you read the unputdownable novel The People in the Trees. In her impressive debut published in 2013, American novelist and travel writer Hanya Yanagihara bases the lead character on the life, research, and child molestation conviction of the disgraced Nobel laureate Daniel Gajdusek.

*Trigger Warning: Paedophilia and child sexual abuse*

The story opens in the 1990s, where Nobel Laureate Abraham Norton Perina is in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting his own children. He starts writing his memoirs in a bid to put out his side of the story, urged by his colleague andacolyte who subsequently annotates and editsthe memoirs.

This takes us back by about half a century to the story of Nortons life, when he was a medical student. Norton joins an anthropological expedition to a (fictional) Micronesian island. The tribe that lives on the island, who Norton and his crew call the Dreamers, live long lives that last well over a century. They achieve this by consuming the meat of a local and endemic turtle which gives them long lives but takes away their mental stability.

The expedition also discovers that the Dreamers have a ritual in which a 10-year-old boy is raped. This sets off a deep dive into questions of morality. While some members of the expedition find the ritual disturbing, Norton is clinical about it and terms it merely a cultural difference. He too ends up having a sexual encounter with the boy.

As with many experiences of a colonial nature, Norton smuggles the flesh of the turtle and some Dreamers to America to conduct experiments. He gains recognition for the research he conducts on them. However, pharmaceutical companies from the civilised world quickly colonise and decimate the island, its inhabitants, and the turtles.

Norton adopts some of the abandoned children from the island. One of these children later exposes that Norton raped him when he was a child, which is what lands Norton in jail.

The novel is unnerving as it makes you question the nature of morality, which many of us are used to painting in simplistic tones of black and white. It is for this reason that The People in the Trees will keep you thinking even when you putthe book down.

Whatever conclusions you may reach about morality or whatever trains of thought the book may set off, it would probably be safe to say this is a book that runs deeper than its pages. Is the morality/immorality of the lead character a metaphor for colonialism? How far can some cultural practices go before they can be deemed an affront to morality? Are morals and traditions bound to inevitably clash at some point? The People in the Trees is a captivating read that will leave you unsettled with each page you turn.

Also Read: The real Beasts of No Nation

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Daily Recco, March 17: The People in the Trees, battling immortality and immorality - DailyO

Though a frequent member, Hulk is famous for battling the Avengers, and in a new Alex Ross Cover, he is absolutely crushing Earth's Mightiest Heroes

Warning: contains spoilers forImmortal Hulk

Some of theHulk'smost famous fights are with theAvengers, and in a newly revealed cover, he absolutely destroys them. The cover from award-winning comic creator Alex Ross offers both insights into the Hulk's past history with Earth's Mightiest Heroes and a tease at what's to comeinImmortal Hulk'sfuture.

It's no understatement to say that Hulk's never had a tougher time than he's having in the latestImmortal Hulkissues from writer Al Ewing and artist Joe Bennet. Due to the machinations of Hulk's archnemesis, the Leader, Bruce Banner has been imprisoned, the Green Skar has been taken over, and the Devil Hulk has been killed. All of this adds up to only two personas left, Joe Fixit and the child-like Hulk. Unfortunately for both of them, even the child-like Hulk had been reduced to just skin and bones after being drained of Gamma Radiation. Things only grew worse from there as the weakened Hulk was assaulted by the evil Fantastic Four, the U-Foes, resulting in Hulk's annihilation. The last readers saw of the great green brute was inImmortal Hulk #44 wherehe and Joe woke up in the Below Place with a massive mutated Leader looming over them.

Related:Hulk's Immortality Led to His Grossest and Most Heartbreaking Defeat

Now, in the newly unveiled cover forImmortal Hulk #47, it appears as though Hulk isn't only alive again, he's strong enough to defeat the Avengers. Obviously, thiswon't be the first time Hulk has squared off with Marvel's premiere superhero team, as he infamously defeated every single Marvel hero in the World War Hulk storyline. It's not even the first time he's faced them inImmortal Hulk.Immortal Hulk #7saw the Avengers take on the dangerous Devil Hulk. Though heeffortlessly smashed the team, theAvengers defeated Hulk by firing an orbital laser and then dismembering him so he couldn't regenerate. Fortunately for the Hulk though, the new cover shows that Avengers won't have these options for their next fight.

With their latest brawltaking place in New York City, a rampaging Hulk will have a clear advantage over the Avengers. They wouldn't dare use anything like an orbital laser in the middle of a bustling cityand they also have to worry about collateral damage, something Hulk has no concern for. It's unknown which Hulk is depicted in this cover though, so that could undoubtedly make a difference. Though the powerful Devil Hulk is dead, that doesn't mean the Avengers should rest easy, as every Hulk isa major threat in their own right. Based strictly on the cover forImmortal Hulk #47, whichever Hulk is facing the Avengers ismore than holding his own.

Regardless of how the fight goes though, the artwork speaks for itself. Alex Ross has done the cover art for every single issue ofImmortal Hulkand the results have ranged from triumphant, to horrific, tomind-bending like his cover depicting Hulk in Hell. Even without the series' context, this cover showingHulksmashing theAvengersis a powerful image.

Next:Hulks Version of Kryptonite Has Just Been Revealed

Deadpool's Creator Mocks a Costume Detail Fans Missed

Evan D. Mullicane is an editor, critic, and author based out of California's Bay Area. He received his bachelor's degree in creative writing from San Francisco State University in 2016. In his free time, he enjoys reading graphic novels and writing fantasy.

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Hulk Crushes the Avengers in Jaw-Dropping New Alex Ross Cover Art - Screen Rant

Unheard-of//Ensemble performed a streaming concert for Kaleidoscope MusArt Saturday night.

The composers life was upended by a world crisis. Forced into isolation, facing a deeply uncertain future, he cast about for a way to keep his art alive. Using the scant materials at hand, he composed a piece that became an immortal document of his time.

It may sound like a scene from 2020, but the year was 1941, and Olivier Messiaen, a devout Roman Catholic, was experiencing the catastrophe of World War II as a window into eternity. Sitting in a German prisoner-of-war camp, he composed Quartet for the End of Time for the only musical instruments available: clarinet, violin, cello and piano.

That influential piece has inspired a mini-repertoire of works for its unconventional forces, as well as chamber groups formed expressly to perform it. Among the latter is Unheard-of//Ensemble, which was presented Saturday afternoon by Miami-based Kaleidoscope MusArt. The richly expressive online performance of the quartet was flanked by two of its newest offspring, Morgan Reed Greenwoods Six Bagatelles for clarinet, violin, cello and piano and Liliya Ugays After the End of Time.

In the recorded concert, viewers saw the musiciansFord Fourqueran, clarinet; Matheus Souza, violin; Issei Herr, cello; and Daniel Anastasio, pianomaskless and slightly distanced from each other, performing in a small space bristling with microphones (and presumably cameras). Unobtrusive post-performance audio and video editing by Fourqueran gave the stream lively, transparent sound and a variety of well-chosen camera angles.

That set the stage to appreciate both the wealth of the composers imaginations and the fine details the players brought out in the scores.

The events overall title, Dialogue Juxtaposition, would of course do for any well-planned concert program, but here it suggested a conversation among historical eras, including the new pieces. The Messiaens fellow travelers on this program were as different as the years in which they were composed: 2019 and 2020.

Greenwoods epigrammatic Bagatelles, each a tiny valentine to a close friend named in its title, evoked images of a convivial time that, one year plus into the Covid age, is beginning to feel like ancient history.

Ugays music, on the other hand, embraced Messiaens vision of a time out of joint, but in present-day terms, and without the French composers theology.

Greenwoods piece, a winner of Kaleidoscope MusArts Beethoven-year competition for bagatelles, led off the concert with a bouquet of musical in-jokes, following a tradition as old as Rameau and as recent as Bernstein. The movements included Salutation (for you), perky and staccato; Audiobook of the Dead (Burt), wrapped in Mussorgskian gloom; Procedural Details for Gainful Employment (Josh & Hop), for soulful clarinet and nervous violin; Falling Up the Down Staircase (Kalo), one quick run up the piano keyboard; A Small Collection of Birds (Matt), a meditative cello solo; and Warmest Regards (for everyone, briefly), a full-ensemble sendoff with more bird calls. The players deftly characterized each bagatelle and, at barely a minute each, the microworks certainly didnt overstay their welcome.

Call it the end of days, or slouching toward Bethlehem, or whatever, something new seems about to be born amid the social disorientation of 2020-21. Ugay, a composer and pianist with a longstanding interest in what she calls socially-inspired music, has caught a whiff of it in After the End of Time, which brought Saturdays concert to a vivid yet ultimately enigmatic close.

The sympathy for the underdog that inspired Ugays recent concert series titled Silenced Voices (featuring rarely-heard Soviet composers) here inspired her to take Messiaens apocalyptic vision down into the turbulent streets and lonely front rooms of 2020.

On Saturday, the pieces five movementsreally four, plus a ghostly epilogueopened with Chaos, with the piano dashing this way and that amid dissonant interjections, then fell back into Isolation, a soft, dejected dialogue mostly for piano and clarinet. Protest hit the streets again, with furious, Messiaenic syncopations driving the shouts and cries, only to be resolved in Unification, which opened hymn-like in euphonious thirds and sixths before rising to more impassioned dissonance.

And what comes after after the end? A final movement, Aftersounds, stole by in near-silence, broken only by the occasional, dimly-overheard phrase, ending the piece (and the concert) with a single, smothered note on cello and piano.

Saturdays performance left nothing to be desired for bold, engaged execution and first-rate ensemble playing.

The same could be said for the programs centerpiece, the great Messiaen work that is the raison dtre for ensembles like this one. The cramped performing area, viewed on a small screen, created the feeling of an exploration of inner space rather than the cosmic vistas the work evokes in a church or a large hall, but there was ample satisfaction to be had in ensemble movements such as the slyly syncopated Liturgy of Crystal, the quiet but intense Vocalise, for the Angel who announces the end of Time, and the Interlude that provided merry relief from all the questing and questioning.

Individual players showed marvelous control of breath or bow arm as Messiaen glimpsed eternity in the works vastly sustained movements: Abyss of the birds for clarinet, Praise to the Immortality of Jesus for violin, and above all Herrs cello in Praise to the Eternity of Jesus.

In sum, this was one of those chamber music concerts whose juxtapositions sparked a dialogue in the mind that continued long after the last note.

Kaleidoscope MusArt (kaleidoscopemusart.com) will post this program on its YouTube channel.

Posted in Performances

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Unheard-of//Ensemble probes inner space in Messiaen's Quartet and new works - South Florida Classical Review

Mark Katrick, Guest Columnist Published 4:27 a.m. ET March 20, 2021

Rev. Mark Katrick(Photo: Submitted)

NEWARK -I am a proud graduate of Elyria Catholic High School, the class of 1971. Our boys and girls sports teams were named the Panthers.

My green and white school jacket is still hanging in the closet. Mom and dad worked hard to provide the kind of education that helped to build the foundation of my Christian faith. They later offered support and encouragement for me to attend Ashland Theological Seminary that led to my call as a pastor and teacher in the United Church of Christ.

My favorite color is green. My first car, a Buick Skylark, was yellow-green. The Evergreen Trees that nestled our home were dark green. The Willow Trees that guarded us like sentries and swept up intruders in their tentacles, were the first to have green buds in the Spring.

The best-ever Life Savers flavor was green until they changed it from lime to sour apple. I love putting on my green stole for church because it represents immortality (Psalm 1:3)and is symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It just so happens that one of my favorite days of the year is on March 17. On that particular day, if you forgot or decided not to wear green, someone Irish, or who claims to be, probably let you know about it. We wont discuss why I, as someone who is 25% Irish, always seems to forget.

This leads to the most important reason I celebrate St. Patricks Day with all its parades and revelry. Its because its only three days from the first day of spring, when blades of bright green grass and a few brave dandelions, begin to pop up from the snow.

So why do we feel its so very important to wear green in honor of St. Patrick? Is it because of Leprechauns and Shamrocks?

According to readersdigest.com, early depictions of St. Patrick show him wearing blue. The official color of the Order of St. Patrick, part of Irelands chivalry, was a sky blue known as St. Patricks Blue. One of the reasons green replaced blue was because of Irelands nickname, The Emerald Isle. The green stripe in the Irish flag also played a role. Traditionally, the green represents the Catholics of Ireland, the orange represents the Protestant population, and the white in the middle symbolizes the peace between the two religions.

To me, the most meaningful reason for the change is that St. Patrick is thought to have used green shamrocks to teach people about the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit).

During one of my many moves as a pastor, I somehow lost my class ring with its dark green accent stone. If that were not so, Id still be wearing it, reminding me of the new life Christ gives and that Jesus loves me, just as I am.

Whatever your favorite color and holiday are, there is meaning and significance to all of these. They represent, each in their own way, the love of One who created, enables, empowers and celebrates with us.

It is God who has given us the gift of life in all its richness and fullness. And with all due respect to Kermit the Frog, it is God who makes it easy to be green!

Rev. Mark Katrick, St. Johns UCC

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Katrick: The color green and its many meanings - The Newark Advocate

Everyone has dreamt of having superpowers at some point, specifically comic book fans who grew up dazzled and awestruck by the heroes on the page.

Everyone has dreamt of having superpowers at some point, specifically comic book fans who grew up dazzled and awestruck by the heroes on the page. Indeed, having superhuman abilities would be quite the cool thing, but humans tend to look at them through the lens of the comic book, as opposed to everyday reality.

RELATED:10 Comic Books That Would Make Great Anime Adaptions

The question is whether those amazing superpowers would really be so great in one's day-to-day routine. Some might wear out their welcome pretty fast, while others could be the living embodiment of a horrible curse. There are many superpowers that many people think are cool, but would quickly lose their luster.

There comes a time when heroes and villains become so powerful that it borders on the boring, and many are guilty of it. Sure, it's fascinating to watch an invincible bad guy shrugging off nuclear explosions and using cosmic-powered blades as toothpicks, but without proper balance, it quickly grows clichd.

Superman is perhaps the most guilty offender when it comes to invincibility. Since the best humans can do is hurl insults, there's no real threat posed by anyone on the planet. A few like Lex Luthor have managed to elevate themselves to extreme-threat status, but not without the aid of otherworldly gadgets, technologies, or kryptonite.

Storm is one of the coolest X-Men in the Marvel Universe, but not because of her powers. Sure, the ability to control the weather is an interesting ability, Storm shines as a character because of who she is, and her own background and personality. That's precisely the issue at hand.

Controlling the weather seems cool, but it's a weak power nonetheless. The ability is nullified while indoors and underground unless there's some way to access the outside environment. Worse, such an ability could put innocent bystanders in danger, depending on how the weather was being manipulated. All in all, not the best ability to have.

At some point, everyone wanted to be Professor X for a day. In reality, that's about as long as anyone could handle his powers of telepathy. The ability to read minds and know what everyone is thinking would be overwhelmingly traumatic. It would mean accessing the inner thoughts of everyone around you, including their dark parts.

All of us harbor negative thoughts and emotions, but imagine receiving an unfiltered glimpse into everyone's mind, simultaneously. Even if one were able to control and weed out these thoughts by choice, the temptation to tap into the minds of colleagues, family and friends would be too great. This power would quickly lose its allure.

While the ability to see through objects seems like a nifty superpower, it does have its drawbacks. First, it's doubtful anyone would want to glance at the innards of a passerby.

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In reality, X-Ray vision simply wouldn't get used all that often. Think about how many times during the day such a power would be useful. While many could come up with a few answers, the basic truth is that it would get boring after a while, and the user probably wouldn't bother.

Everyone would love to lift a car up over their head with one hand, and pose with their chest out for the cameras. Similarly, it might be fun to get into a fight with someone much larger, knowing that you're going to emerge the victor each time. Super strength is the ultimate appeal to our own personal vanity, but it's kind of vapid.

Just like X-ray vision, super strength requires a daily application. How many times a day would the average person need to exercise this ability? There's an argument to be made for construction workers and other blue-collar jobs, but the average Joe or Jane isn't going to perform feats of superhuman strength all that much. Worse, being able to do things effortlessly will inevitably lead to dissatisfaction. Humans are meant to be challenged.

This superpower can seem alluring at first glance but, upon closer inspection, the ability to fly is littered with a series of real-world drawbacks that simply can't be ignored. First off, the power of flight would require the user to also have a form of invulnerability. Basic physics dictates that one would need it to resist extreme cold and friction at high speeds, which could be fatal.

Then there are other, less obvious drawbacks that people never think about until they're pointed out. Imagine soaring through the skies, free as a bird, only to look into a mirror and see your face plastered with the dead bugs you accumulated along the way.

Unless you're with the Fantastic Four, or you're part of a covert ops strike team, invisibility really holds no allure. First, it's kind of pointless. One would want to be seen by others, and remain active and social. In the comfort of one's own home, this power wouldn't be necessary, so its only application would be the outside world.

The amount of plausible applications for invisibility would be extremely limited. Only the nefarious would probably see it as a major benefit. It would allow people to rob others blindly (or worse), and it could prove to be a major security risk for the world at large. For the average good-natured person, it seems pointless.

This particular power is overrated due to how it's used in comic book stories. There's always a level of imbalance related to this power that just doesn't add up. It tends to see use as a convenient plot device, instead of a primary superpower. The reason is obvious - it solves too many problems, too easily.

A being gifted with telekinesis can effectively end fights before they start, depending on their level of power. Omega-level mutants, Metas, and cosmic beings always seem to hold back this power for the sake of making it appear as if lesser beings have a chance. In reality, telekinetic powers could rip them limb from limb without batting a lash. Telekinesis is either too convenient or too inconvenient. There's no middle ground.

Being immortal would only be a benefit if one had the opportunity to abandon it upon choice. If it was a product of their biology that could not be reversed, it would quickly escalate into a nightmare of horrific proportions. It's important to distinguish between the types of immortality out there, for comparison.

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The first kind of immortality involves a person living essentially forever, unless killed. Many immortal characters are vulnerable to damage, and can actually die if the wounds are too great. Another form of immortality is more cosmic in nature. The person in question simply cannot die, for any reason. It may seem fine, until a few billion years in the future when the sun expands, burns the Earth to a cinder, and leaves desolation in its wake. The fun doesn't stop there, however. Trillions upon trillions of years will pass before the universe finally ends. The question is, would you?

Imagine being able to snap one's fingers and emerge on a white sand beach in Jamaica. That's the premise of teleportation, and it takes on many different forms in the comic book realm. The question is whether its novelty would go for the long haul, or die off quickly.

In reality, teleportation would rob a person of the journey, which is more important than the destination. By instantly appearing between two points, one would miss everything in between, from social interactions, to sight-seeing. It might be handy in an emergency, but it's a hindrance in everyday life.

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Derek started writing about video games at age 14 and went on to write for GamePro Magazine and several other prominent outlets. He now brings his veteran pop culture XP to CBR, TheGamer and ScreenRant.

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10 Comic Book Superpowers That Are Highly Overrated | CBR - CBR