History SugarWiki / GushingAboutShowsYouLike

* OsamuTezuka. I mean, come on people, he's the freakin' God of Anime/Manga. Neither medium would be what it is today without him. Not to mention he could write anything, shonen, shojo, action, drama, comedy, scifi, horror, kid stuff, adult stuff. This man had no limit and he more than deserved his title. RIP.

* MerylStreep is made of enough win to explode the universe, if win can do such a thing. She's the best damned actress the world has ever seen, and yet her head is ''not'' up her ass. She gives the best awards speeches in the known universe, is always shocked when she wins despite having been nominated half a billion times, and is one of the funniest people ''ever'' in [[RealLife real life]]. And she can do anything... and I do mean '''anything'''. She can dance, she can sing, she can make me laugh, she can make me cry, she can do action, comedy, romance, and drama... I LOVE YOU MERYL!!!!!

* DouglasAdams. For his brilliant wit, and bringing not only one of the [[TheHitchHiker'sGuideToTheGalaxy greatest comedy series]] ever, but for his clever writing from Dirk Gently to 'Last Chance To See', and writing for one of the funniest [[DoctorWho Old School Who]] episodes. Rest in peace!

* MAN, this troper thought ALL fanfiction was bad when he saw [[BeserkButton yaoi]] fanfiction of {{Homestar Runner}} and Strong bad anywhere he looked. But then he read Pom Pom's Eleven...

* Gush/{{Comics}}

* [[{{Discworld}} Terry Pratchet]]. I'm amazed he wasn't mentioned yet. When he passes, hopefully many centuries from now, I have every confidence that he'll ascend to the heavens as the God of Modern Literature, and spend the rest of eternity surrounded by stuffier but similiarly British literary deities.

* There's a reason RogerEbert is one of the top critics. He's freaking hilarious. He was doing the CausticCritic thing way before TheNostalgiaCritic came along, and with his incredibly witty, perceptive, GenreSavvy, or even [[RuleOfFunny simple, but well-timed remark]] stabs at bad movies, it's no wonder he won the Pulitzer Prize. Even if YourMileageMayVary on his actual reviewing ability, he's certainly much smarter than a lot of the stuff he reviews.

* Gush/Comics

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* Comicbook/{{Superman}} is one of the greatest characters of all time. Okay, he may look really quaint and twee, considering all the DarkerAndEdgier that comic books have gone through, but there's a reason why we're still reading and watching Superman stories seventy-odd years after he first appeared whilst most of the original characters created during the DarkAge are forgotten and obscure. It's because, for all the godlike powers and invulnerability, he might just be the most human superhero of them all.
** Except the fact that he's not human. I kid, Superman is so unfairly maligned among the uninitiated. True, he has the most generic powers ever, and he's a walking DeusExMachina, but he's arguably the most important character in 20th century fiction.
** The apparent generic-ness of his powers is testament to how important he is to comics. Who else would have heat vision if Superman hadn't done it first?
** And you know what? Anyone who says it doesn't have a good RoguesGallery just doesn't know what they're talking about, especially the DCAU incarnations.
* I don't care if you think it's stupid, ''Blackgas'' is made of win. And gore.
* The recent ''Batgirl'' series, '''especially''' the first thirty-odd issues by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott, was pure win. [[Main/BetterThanItSounds It should not have worked]]. A Main/DarkerAndEdgier tale centered on putting a mute teenage martial arts goddess with a [[Main/DeusAngstMachina nightmarish backstory]] in a bondagesque version of a Main/DistaffCounterpart's outfit is the sort of thing that would fall flat. Instead we get a unique reversal of the usual ordinary-kid-with-moral-center-gaining-the-skills-to-become-a-hero by way of taking one with a moral center strong enough to reject her upbringing as a [[Main/TykeBomb killing machine]]... and her growing grasp of humanity.
* SquirrelGirl! The greatest modern Marvel character! Who doesn't like a perky teenage girl who has single handedly defeated both Thanos and Dr Doom with nothing but squirrels?
* {{Runaways}}, back when Brian K. Vaughn was doing it, was made of Epic Win.
** The reason ''Runaways'' exists is because the universe was conspiring to give this troper ''exactly'' what I like in a comic book. It's that great.
* ChrisClaremont's first run on {{X-Men}}, especially when paired with Alan Davis, John Byrne, or Dave Cockrum. The imagination and resonance in those stories still persists to this day.
* ''{{Watchmen}}''. Just.... Wow. One of the deepest, cleverest and most brilliant comics ever written. Between the amazing characters and their stories, the breaking of clichés or the amazing integration of politics into the storyline and solid backstory it has deserved its legendary status. Can't wait for the movie!
** One of the deepest, cleverest and most brilliant ''comics'' ever written? You insult it! It is one of the deepest, cleverest and most brilliant ''things'' ever, period!.
** The best thing about the movie adaptation was that seeing the trailer a year ago got this troper to read the original work.
** Truly A LOT of Alan Moore's work is just so wonderfully done that it's deserving of infinite praise. ThisTroper would like to make note of Moore's lesser known work ''Skizz'', which is essentially his take on ''[=~E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial~=]'' that can undoubtedly rival its source material in terms of overall enjoyment and [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]] as well as lead to one hell of a serious case of AwesomenessWithdrawal.
* Some people think that Disney comics are silly, childish and generally not very good. Some people have never read ''TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck''.
** "A Letter From Home", the DonRosa story where the ducks search for the treasures of the Temple of Salomon from under Castle McDuck, has the most touching ending ever in fiction.
** They both have. Due to [[StatusQuoIsGod Status Quo being God]], Disney Comics aren't usually allowed to have much development. ''Life and Times'' and ''A Letter From Home'' are exceptions, making them much more satisfying. Also, ''Life and Times'' is one of the perhaps two comics ever to make ThisTroper [[TearJerker cry]] every single time.
** ''Life and Times...'' is honestly one of the greatest heroic epics I have ever read, maybe even '''the''' greatest modern heroic epic.
** Scrooge's and Goldie's romance (particularly in ''The Prisoner of White Agony Creek'') is the greatest, saddest, best written, most disturbing romance in all literature.
*** Scrooge stars in some of the best Disney comics ever, yet I always thought of his nephew, DonaldDuck, as leading some of the best Disney stories in all of its history. CarlBarks' works with the character are a must, sure, but what about the thousands of stories starring Donny all over the world, since the 30's? Don't get me started.
* {{Deadpool}} is an awesome character. And ''Cable and Deadpool'' is awesome, light-hearted fun. And contains some of the most hilarious HoYay ever.
* {{Exiles}} - [[XMeetsY X-Men meets Sliders]] for all kinds of awesome. The fact that most of the action takes place in alternate universes without heavy continuity means that the writers could have some CrazyAwesome ideas for stories. Like what if [[IronMan Tony Stark]], [[XMen Bolivar Trask]], [[TheAvengers Hank Pym]] and [[SpiderMan Curt Conners]] decided to fight {{Kaiju}} with TransformingMecha? Or if a bunch of C-list alternate universe heroes decided to fight an evil Superman expy for the fate of the universe? That and it didn't cheapen the deaths of well-developed characters by bringing them back. And Blink is just awesome.
* I started reading ''{{Empowered}}'' for the {{stripperiffic}} [[{{Woobie}} adorably insecure]] heroine, but I stayed for one of the most true-to-life romances in comics; Emp and Thugboy feel like a real couple. Add in unique art (don't like it myself, but the [[{{Animesque}} manga-influenced]] pencils are distinctive), the downsides of being a C-list hero, lots of not-so-clean sexy fun (best sex scenes since {{XXXenophile}}), an examination of just how fucked up you need to be to wear a cape, Ninjette, the Goddamn Maidman... and you have one of '''the''' best comics.
* ''JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac''. Where to even begin? I was expecting a DeadBabyComedy but instead got an inner look at society and people in general. The satire is wonderfully biting. YourHeadAsplode in Heaven was great too.
** Seconded. This troper loves JtHM for the wonderfully personal look into Nny's mind, and for the surprising poignance of the whole thing. It really is one of the greatest things she's ever read.
* I love the MarvelUniverse in general. Warts and all. The [[DCUniverse Distinguished Competition]] has never managed to grab me the way the MU does, even though it probably has, objectively speaking, just as good stuff. The MU feels like home.
* ''TheSandman'' has a wonderfully rich plot with cleverly-placed {{foreshadowing}} and philosophical ideas that feel natural to the story instead of intrusive. The only complaint I have is that the art is inconsistent, but story >>> art, always.
* ''KingdomCome'' is simply beautiful. Outstandingly well written and very deep in places. I've not read a better comic, and I'd put it high up on my list of best literature full stop. But I've not read ''{{Watchmen}}'' yet...
* AstroCity is awesome and, though I hate to be indirectly negative, I have to say I think it's especially reflective of the talent and consistency that Kurt and Alex were able to do the SuperRegistrationAct concept better in the six-issue Confessor Arc than Marvel did with a good thousand more pages in ''MarvelCivilWar''.
* Marvel Zombies 3 (#1) has ''Merc With Half a Mouth'' Zombie!{{Deadpool}} and [[strike:Machine Man]] [[NextWave Aaron Stack]] being their comical selves in an otherwise serious series. You can't top the awesomness radiating from the issue.
--> Aaron Stack: What's a Deadpool?
* ElfQuest is a masterpiece. The art is incredible, the story arcs are riviting, and EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER, even the ones that don't appear more than once or twice, has a unique and believable personality. Character death is treated as just another part of living. Sad, but not good or bad. There is wonderful character development for nearly all characters. The whole series lives and breathes awesome.
** Seconded so hard. ''Elfquest'' is love to the nth power.
** Thirded. Cutter and Skywise have one of my favourite relationships in fiction.
* Even with the kinda-anticlimax, I love Marvel 1602. It's the only comic I've read so far, but it's awesome. From the epic one-page spreads to the writing, I enjoyed myself 100%. Hell it introduced me to both Western comics and Neil Gaiman. Two for the price of one.
* Everything GailSimone has written.
* {{Asterix}}. It's the way that the lead characters are such incredible ''jerks'' but you somehow can't help but sympathize/feel for/''like'' them. It's the way that the underdog has the power and makes sure to bite back. But most of all, it's the way that you can witness the English translation, realize it was French originally, realizing all those great puns were {{Woolseyism}}, and then realize ''this had to work in a hundred more languages''. So many people, so many versions, but the heart of the joke in all those translators, doing their best to carry over a proper meaning.
* {{Blue Beetle}}. While all three incarnations are great in their own way, the recent series featuring Jaime Reyes has to be one of the ''greatest superhero comics ever written''. With a great supporting casts plus [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Crowning Moments of Funny]] and [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Crowning Moments of Awesome]] a plenty, this was truly a series that was TooGoodToLast.
* [[Tropers/BishopRodan This Troper]] loves ''{{Tintin}}''. It's probably my second favourite comic series after {{Asterix}}, and Captain Haddock is a prime contender for my favourite comic book character.
** This Troper has found describing ''{{Tintin}}'' (her ''first'' favourite comic series) to be a challenge, because ''there's no trick to it''. The comics don't need sex, brutality, superpowers, antiheroes, or any other gimmick to sell them, because the writing is like the art: clear, well-constructed, and thoroughly engaging!
* {{Fables}} for combining so many childhood memories. And making them awesome all over again. With swords. And Monsters. And Sex and Violence. I love you Bill Willingham.
* {{Wonder Woman}}, Thank you for paving the way.
* {{Young Justice}} I LOVE this comic and the fact that it is not collected leaves me mystified. It was funny, smart and made real character developments. Young Justice for me is one of the best comics I have ever read and It will always hold a special place in my heart.
* The only graphic novel I have ever read was ''{{Bone}}''. I'm thrilled about the upcoming movie adaptation, but for now I can gush about the main comic. However, speaking of movie adaptations, I really wish Nickelodeon hadn't screwed up the one they were going to make. I would've been introduced to the characters way earlier, and it would've found a place in my childhood. Instead, it continues to be obscure and escape my awareness throughout the 90's and 2000's and I don't know about it until just about four years ago when Scholastic published it and (ironically) ''Nickelodeon'' magazine of all places is ultimately what introduces me to it first. The very thing that prevented me from learning about it earlier. Anyway, when I first saw the covers, the Bones reminded me of the ''{{Animaniacs}}''. I'll always remember that as my first impression, but really they are nothing alike. Anyway, I was immediately interested for some reason and bought the first book, "Out from Boneville." I read it all cover to cover almost without stopping. I proceeded to buy books 2-5 in the Scholastic colored book series, the only ones yet available at the time. I then found out that all the comics had already ''existed'' for a long time, just not been colored yet. Eager to read the whole series, I checked out earlier publications of the remaining books from the library. Even having read them, I collected the color books as the rest were released. I also ended up getting the one-volume black and white edition for my birthday, the prequel ''Rose'', and will soon be getting Scholastic's new book that includes the other prequel, ''Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails'', in color. Anyway, enough about my personal history with the series... ''Bone'' is pure, distilled awesome. The storytelling is done masterfully, even in ways that can go unnoticed but that nonetheless benefit the reader. The artwork is notable for having characters that, in a way that is impossible to demonstrate through words, have many different styles that, while noticeably different from each other, all fit perfectly together and even look like the same style. [[ItMakesSenseInContext As I said, I can't describe it, but you will see it for yourself if you check it out.]] But moving on, it is also very lengthy, and I usually hate things that are lengthy... but ''Bone'' actually reserves the right to fill over a thousand pages because of its sheer amount of {{foreshadowing}} and numerous [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's guns]], and having interesting characters that you care about and scenes that are just plain [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome entertaining]], [[CrowningMomentOfFunny hilarious]], [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]], and [[TearJerker heartrending]]. READ IT. NOW. Although I insist, if you don't wanna read it (Don't worry, I understand), WATCH THE MOVIE WHEN IT COMES OUT.
* The RenAndStimpy Comics by Marvel. Whenever DanSlott did the writing, these easily beat the tar out of the show in terms of humor. If you want to ever check these vintage babies out, I recommend the third special (a ChooseYourOwnAdventure comic with one path that is 20 pages longer than the comic itself) or Issue 19 (the Minimalist issue).
* Thank you [[{{Main/ptitlebhb3kvzw}} Boom Studios]] for bringing back one of the best animated shows ever to grace the DisneyAfternoon, DarkwingDuck. Despite having spent ten years collecting dust in the Disney vault, Darkwing and all his friends (and enemies) are just as vibrant on the page as they were on screen, in no small part thanks to comic's writing staff, who have taken special care to stay true to the source.

[[AC:Real Life]]
* I know it's a cliche, but monkeys do, in fact, make everything better!!
* SEX! You know the expression, "it's better than sex"? NOTHING is better than sex! NOTHING!
** For that matter, porn. Thank you porn, for reliving stress and boredom for billions everywhere.
** And masturbation, too.
* Women. My GOD, where do I begin??? How about... how they can make a lame joke hilarious, just because they laugh at it. Or how about how you can entertain yourself for hours watching them shop for that one pair of pumps that they must have to go with their purse. Or maybe I can talk about how they listen to you tell a story about your day at the factory as if it's the most riveting and suspenseful tale ever told. Or is it how they make a simple thing like eating French fries seem so damn sexy. Or should I talk about how they make your life better by being your sisters, daughters, classmates, best friends... Mothers. Wives. And I haven't even started on their looks.... No, not that bullshit they peddle in magazines. I'm talking about how the freckles on her nose match her hair. Or how her dark skin looks like gold in sunlight. Or how about the ones that put on a few extra pounds ''in all the right places???''. Or how about the woman who forgets her lipstick, doesn't have time to do her hair, and has to settle for a simple shirt and jeans... and looks more beautiful than any model in the universe. (pause) Hey, I respect a guy's right to like other guys if he so chooses. But for me... I'll take a woman any day and three times on Sunday!
** You think YOU have a lot to say about them when you're given the chance, imagine being a just-outed lesbian who's been holding it in for years and years. The day I came out to my best friend we had a nearly 5-hour-long conversation of GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS
*** Thirded!!! <3 Man, I wish I could have a 5-hour conversation about how awesome girls are...
** Whilst we're at that, men! All of the fathers who haul us to sports practice or book club meetings or for ice cream when we feel sad, all of the boyfriends/fiances/husbands who insist "You look beautiful" no matter how much we do not feel like it and open the car door for us, all the protective brothers... You guys are pretty awesome, you know that?
* The United States of America. This troper is fully (painfully) aware of all that is wrong with this nation. But, GOD knows, it has many good and decent people, willing to work together across race, religion, and ethnicity; full of opportunities to rise from even homelessness to limitless riches (even today in 2009); and defended by brave soldiers who lay down their lives for nothing more than the knowledge that democracy and freedom are safe. May GOD bless America, now and forever.
** This troper would like to thank you for the above statement. You took the words out of her mouth.
*** To quote 30Rock, "I love America. Just because I think everyone should drive hybrid cars and that gay guys should be able to adopt kids doesn't mean I don't love America."
* Dogs. From pouncing excitedly when you come home to when they just look at you with those loyal, trusting faces, dogs make life just that much better.
** PUPPIEEEEEES!
* Cats, They're cute, furry and lovable.
** And crazy, and spazzy, and soft, and just wonderful.
** And oh so fluffy.
*** And they ''purr''. If there's anything any animal does that's more wonderful and soothing than a cat's purr, I've never seen it.
*** Molotov supports this.
*** Kittens. Everything really is better with them.
*** One time I was at a pet store observing the kittens. I got up close to one of them and it started playing with my hair through the cage. I couldn't find the right sounds to describe it.
**** I volunteer as a pet socializer at a shelter. One time I was putting a kitten back in her cage, and she jumped out and landed on my shoulder. I can't really describe that either.
** Hell, domesticated animals in general. Carnivorous, vegetarian, reptillian, furry, big, small... give me the means to take care of them, and by God, I will....
*** And on that note, anybody who hasn't gotten to know a rat needs to go find one to hold. Unless you're hopelessly terrified of rats, see what they're like, because they're some of the most personable, easygoing, snuggly creatures around. We have some that will rub up against you and sit for an hour in your lap while you stroke their backs. Most of them will rarely bite, too.
** Chickens. And [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybVb3t560oY here's why.]]
** Horses and, to a certain degree, dolphins. Oh, and big cats like tigers and cheetahs.
** Snakes. I've known many a snake nay-sayer in my life. Those people will never experience the fascination and satisfaction that I get from touching their smooth, slightly bumpy skin. Just watching them sitting there, doing nothing but sitting in the shade is just wonderful. And when they start to slither, watching them put their forked tongue out and start moving upwards on the glass, or the tree, or whatever they can slither up, just puts a big, fat, goofy grin on my face. And watching them feed... whether they lethally inject the poor vermin, or they squeeze the living hell out of it, they glare at its lifeless corpse, and shove that whole thing into themselves... but that's just the tip of the iceberg. I've had a few tiny, worm-like snakes crawl into his house. Even those, which I feel are most inferior to any bigger snake, are amazing. I don't care if it's a big snake, a small snake, thin snake, fat snake, colorful snake, grey, gloomy snake, or even a pissed as hell snake, it's just so grand.
* DisneyThemeParks. Hell, they don't call Disneyland the Happiest Place on Earth for ''nothing'' right?
* Showers. Espeially in the middle of the windertime. Especially if you live where it's very cold during the winter. There is NOTHING better than steppign into a nice hot shower after a long, cold day of winter . . .
* Even though I don't enjoy toast, other people do, that's why Toasters are awesome. You know what they say, "[[YouTubePoop All toasters toast toast]]."
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoFhNepDTuE All around the country, coast to coast...]]
* I gotta say-- for the person in the page graphic, you just made my day. You look a lot like one of my dear friends who's away at college who totally would do that with their DVD collection (the whole thing, even) and plus, you're kinda cute, and I like your shirt.
* Everyone who spends their valuable short life to improve this site, so others can enjoy it more. You are the real heroes of internet!
* Libraries. Without them (and the internet, of course), I'd have no way of experiencing as much literature and media as I have.
** This will sound really stupid, but after not going to any libraries for a really long time, I went to a gigantic one and realised after a few hours that ''libraries are the internet in physical form''. And that's awesome.
*** Libraries are wonderful, wonderful things. May they never become obsolete.
* Guns! Big guns, small guns, modern guns, old guns! This troper has a deep love of dakka and makes a note of always having some on him or within arm's reach when possible.
* The Amish. No, seriously. A group of deeply religious people dedicated to ecologically friendly living? Who don't proselytize to outsiders at all? Who gives their kids a period of time to encourage them to figure out if they want to go along with them? Who makes awesome chicken, quilts and apple butter? I mean, yes they have their problems as all religions do, but if reactionary living makes you happy, this is the way to do it.
** Don't forget that, when some nut job shot up an Amish school and then killed himself, they took up a collection for ''his'' family, too. Amish people, this atheist salutes you.
* The Latin Language. Est tam bonum volo ut vobem complexem. (It is so good that I want to embrace you.)
* Unitarian Universalism. This troper is an agnostic in a deeply religious family who wants to have the spirituality of religion, without the rules on how to live her life and Unitarian Universalism is EXACTLY what she was looking for. It welcomes people of all gender identities, sexuality, races and creeds and says that we all, regardless of who we are, are ''humans'' and should not be using differences between us as reasons to separate ourselves - but to ''unify.''
** Despite me being a great big flaming Atheist who wouldn't be amember of organised spirituality by any means I think these guys are great. Been to one of their services with a friend who is a LGBT member and it's the only time I've been to such a thing and not felt too out of place. Nice accepting bunch. Speaking of...
* This troper is one of those. That is one religion where your beliefs are accepted, no matter how crazy and conflicting they are. Lovin' it and double that at the whole free sexuality, no anti-gay homephobia in that religion. Thumps UP!
* Quakers! I LOVE them! Don't believe in their religion but they're a great bunch of people and you have to admire their stance on life. That and they came out with an article accepting gay people before almost any other religion. And yes, I thought of this before EinsteinAndEddington came out.
* Plus they were involved in the underground railroad, early prison reforms, and founded both Cadbury chocolate and Quaker Oats!
* Snow! It's the singular thing that makes winter better than summer!
* Internet Porn! Now get out- I'm not finished yet!
** Ice skating! You can do it in summer too at indoor rinks! It's very wobbly and it hurts when you fall, but if gliding over ice isn't fun, nothing is.
** Rain! It makes everything smell fresh and makes colours more vibrant... and that sound~! Simply a great way to unwind after a tough day, listening to the raindrops.
*** Especially with a purring cat, a gun, and a rusty nail.
* Swimming pools! Let's give summer its just due!
** Don't forget summer itself! Beautiful weather (if not stifling at times) ''and'' gives you time off from school!
* The Internet. Do I need to say anything?
** Yes, you do. I know that the internet has helped me to see other points of view on things, and has helped me to become a better person. Can't ask for anything better than that.
** Without the internet to keep me in touch with people without the limitations of phone, post, etc., I'd probably never have even considered moving more than 100 or so miles away from home.
** The Internet scares me and makes me blind but is epic nonetheless.
* NewYorkCity, [[TheWindyCity Chicago]], WashingtonDC, {{Boston}}, and SanFrancisco are probably the best cities in the United States.
** NewYorkCity makes me want to sing. And what do I want to sing? "[[TheyMightBeGiants Statue of Liberty, Staten Island Ferry, Co-op City, Katzs and Tiffany's, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State where Dylan lived, Coney Island and Times Square, Rockefeller Center... wish I was there.]]"
** Las Vegas. It's GuiltyPleasures in city form... and I wouldn't have it any other way.
** DC doesn't get nearly enough love for a place as important as it is, not to mention the poor suburbs (stop CaliforniaDoubling us, dammit!). Thanks for the ShoutOut!
** SanFrancisco. [[{{Ingonyama}} This Troper]] has bounced all around the country and he has never found a place he feels so at home as right here. Someone he knows said that from cultural standpoint, San Francisco was like the whole rest of the United States compressed into one city, and she was right. And I love it here, warts and all. ^_^
** {{Atlanta}}, Georgia, to this troper. Out of all the places I've traveled, from New York City, to Rio de Janeiro, to Tokyo, nowhere feels more like home! I also have an extreem fondness for St. Augustine, Florida, the Ancient City itself!
*** Not to mention Savannah, a neighbouring Georgia city! Great history, plus prailines and divinity! Yummy!
** The Mile High City, Denver, Colorado. Partially for the city itself, and partially for the fact it's only an hour or two's drive away from some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. I love having the Rockies in my own backyard.
** Seattle. Nintendo and Microsoft just up the way, a Starbucks on every corner, and there's a reason they call it the Emerald City, in the Evergreen State. Not to mention watching fog over the Puget Sound in the morning, or the sun coming up over Mount Rainier...beautiful.
** You will never have better pizza in your life than you'll have in Chicago. That is a fact.
** Yeah, it may be the nation's current ButtMonkey, but without Detroit, you wouldn't have MoTown, Rap, or some pretty kickass cars. Besides, who's going to protect your dumbasses when the Canadians invade?
** Toronto is kick-ass. I think this craigslist post says it better than I could: http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/tor/200891122.html
* [[ClevelandRocks Cleveland]] I mean sure we may only have sixty days of sunshine but that just makes sun even better. We helped give Rock N Roll a name. And when the lake is not on fire you should see the way the moon reflects upon it.
** And, don't forget that South-East Cuyahoga county inspired pretty much every single forest scene in CalvinAndHobbes, and the town that Calvin lived in is Chagrin Falls.
* The aforementioned cities do, in fact, rock, and this troper has no wish to take anything away from them. That said, Philadelphia as a city is woefully underrated, even by people who live there. More history than you can shake your souvenir miniature Liberty Bell at, great food (yes, cheesesteaks. Also, Steven Starr and the Reading Terminal), a vibrant theatre scene, and some of the awesomest quirky local businesses you'll ever see. Cheaper than New York and more walkable than L.A., I give you the City of Brotherly Love.
* Tea. That is all.
* Okay, tropers. A one, a two, a one two three! "Ohhhh, Caaaaanadaaaaa..." All together now!
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGf914YlCIk Bubble wrap.]]
* [[ProfessionalWrestling Pro Wrestling]]. Seriously, nothing comes close in my eyes. And nothing, not even [[TengenToppaGurrenLagann Gurren Lagann]] has as many [[CrowningMomentofAwesome crowning moments of awesome]]. It's just that great sometimes.
* Regexes are the awesomest thing ever invented by information science. No, seriously. Once you get to know them, you'll want them in your every damn piece of code.
* Bread machines. You dump in the ingredients, push a few buttons and walk away. Three hours later you have a loaf of fresh bread better than you'd get in some bakeries.
* [[CrowsAndRavens Crows]]. Beautiful, black-feathered birds you are. Your call, while a bit annoying, is incredibly unique. And new evidence states that you may be one of the more smarter beings of all the Animal Kingdom, without the...unpleasant qualities of chimps and dolphins (thought this troper may just be uninformed). You emit a presence of wisdom and other worldly-ness, and make one believe that you are God's birds.
** Here are but a few examples of why crows are so friggin' cool: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbwRHIuXqMU 1]], [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8L4KNrPEs0&NR=1&feature=fvwp 2]], [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAQjgC9Nl84&feature=related 3]], [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JiJzqXxgxo 4]], [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig63XvdqiD4 5]], and [[http://www.orenhasson.com/EN/bait-fishing.htm 6]].
* Antihistamines. Sure, you don't always work, but you have enabled this troper, and many others, to go outside and enjoy the sunshine when they would otherwise have been stuck inside sneezing from hayfever.
* Britain. This troper is aware of the nation's many flaws, not to mention the terrible weather, but the whole idea of living in the United Kingdom, with all its quirks, fills this troper's heart with joy.
** Gotta second that. This troper wouldn't live anywhere else.
** 'Terrible weather'?? The weather is one of the things I love about this place!
** [[NethDugan This Trooper]], though a dual national with the US, is a proud Brit who loves her country a hell of a lot. We have the NHS godamnit which even if not perfect is a darn sight better than the supposed healthcare system in America. Oh, and we have DoctorWho. And DouglasAdams.
** And the way we as a nation reacted to the July 7th bombings a few years back makes me proud to be a Brit. Get out the tea and promptly insult them for being crappy terrorists who need lessons at how to be mildly affective from the IRA. The comments by several on how we withstood Hitler and his bombings so we damn well wouldn't be intimidated by these loosers were particularly brilliant.
*** This troper is Jamaican and American, and fully acknowledges that both those countries got lessons in being awesome from Britain, however, he did mock them because of slavery. Until he learned that Parliament and the British Navy were highly instrumental in stomping out the slave trade of the 1800's. And yes, the Brits gave us JamesBond, DoctorWho, and TEA. Must go someday.
* Even though it's cool to mock people who like it and deride it as perverted, there are goddamn reasons Japan got so popular as to cause HypeBacklash. Its traditional culture is one of them.
* Christmas. Say what you like about commercialism and the true meaning of Christmas being lost etc., the whole concept of the festive season, in which a great tide of happiness that spreads over the world on that day is mind-bogglingly lovely.
* Hugs.
* Sweden. Now that's how you run a frigging country! And this troper isn't even Swedish.
** Seconded, I love Sweden. Not quite as much as I love my native Norway, but still, it's pretty awesome.
* Texas. Was it's own country for 9 years and joined the US of it's own free will. (What do you mean that's not awesome?) It's got the most kick-ass food this side of the Rio Grande. We've also got, among other things, stereotypical AND non-stereotypical Texans, rodeos, The Alamo, Houston, several big anime conventions, a crazy-ass climate system, chili, the King Ranch, and the biggest state in the continental US. A lot of the time it's 95+ degrees outside, but come October, you will see ''some of the best goddamn scenery ever.'' Sometimes the sky is so blue it ''hurts.'' God bless Texas and the people that made it what it is today.
** Seconded. This troper feels blessed everytime she can look up in to that deep blue endless sky, feel the gentle breeze and listen to the trees rustle. It's...serene.
* My friends and family. Because without them, this troper would have killed herself a long time ago. I love each and every one of you every day of my life and without you, God knows where I would be. So hears to you, my family and friends all over the world, from the bottom my heart in the purest of ways, I love you!
* Quebec City is an Awesome town. Not really big, sure, and quite overwhelmed by it's sister Montreal, but it is beautiful in all seasons, has great restaurants, an active night-life, awesome festivals and shows and, most importantly, ''great'' peoples.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment The Enlightenment]], the post-Renaissance philosophical movement peaking in the eighteenth century which ushered in the modern age. The changes which the Enlightenment brought about are so basic to the way we see the world that it's hard to imagine what life would be like without them. The idea that the universe can and ''should'' be understood, that "because I say so" isn't an inherently good model for governance, that authority should draw its power from reason, that things can and ''should'' be better in the future... thank the Enlightenment for those memes.
** Every time I watch a Chaser episode or hear someone complain about how some politician or other needs to 'pull their finger out' - I pause and think, how wonderful to live in a country where you can say things like that without being arrested and brutally murdered.
* Social Democracy. It combines the best features of Socialism with some free market. For reference, look up the point about Sweden made above.
* My country, Mexico. I don't care how many people make fun of you I still like you. This dark years will eventually end, for sure.
** Speaking of Mexico, no matter how much people from the province bash Mexico City and chilangos, I just love this city. It's chaotic of course, but it's chaotically perfect. I can walk along Reforma for hours every Sunday and never get tired.
* Gothenburg, Sweden. You are the only country in the world where I can work up the nerve to ask someone completely random on the street how they whistle -- and, better yet, get a sincere and serious answer. Those little moments bring me so much closer to people out there -- it feels like breaking down social barriers. One day, I hope to be able to get out there and ask someone in the street if they want to go kite-flying.
* ThisTroper is not a Muslim but loves the idea of hijabs and burqas (when a woman chooses to wear one). To me when I see a women wearing one I see someone that is proud if who she is and what her religion stands for. someone that invites you to be attracted to he personality and not her appearance. someone that is confident and commands respect.
* The world. Thanks for always being there for me.
* I live in Massachusetts, and goddamn I love my state.
* jerboas are the best (and funniest) animals EVER! just look at them, jumping like a miniature kangaroo, have comicly-small front legs-they are just great
* Friends. Especially best friends. There are people who are not related to you by blood who would, without a thought, give their lives to save yours. And you would do the same for them. Even the friends you are no longer friends with, the ones you've lost contact with, at some point in time your life was enriched by a bond with this person, and it made you who you are today.
* Music. Oh my god, music. I can't go a day without listening to an album or singing at least one song. I hate my species sometimes, but knowing that we are capable of creating this beautiful, massive medium that can inspire emotions, convey ideas, and demonstrate incredible technical skill gives me a little hope that we can perhaps keep limping along on this big blue ball.
** This troper agrees. I love how humans can communicate similar feelings to each other and intepretation and how people can make different songs mean different things is just incredible!
** This troper doesn't even care if a genre of music is considered good or bad. She listens to them all anyway, because... just listen to the PATTERNS! Can any other creature on earth do this? Nope.
* Creativity, I love creating things and finding something which previously didn't exist, and altering things which are already made. It would be very sad if I didn't contribute to the world creatively...Creativity FOR THE WIN! (I sing, songwrite, dance, choreograph, create books..creativity is just good * Insert laugh here* )
* Writing. It lets me get all the shit out I don't want in me. Plus, since I'm good at it, I might turn a profit.
* Winter. I appreciate Summer for the reasons above, but Winter is the time of stark beauty, astounding symbolism, and I just prefer cold weather to hot weather. Then again, Christmas and my birthday are major influences...
* Religion. Say what you will about lunatics ramming airplanes into buildings and shooting doctors for performing abortions, say what you want about fundamentalists claiming that anyone whose beliefs differ even slightly from their own is on a one-way trip to Hell, say what you want about any of the flaws in any major religion, but it may be the one thing that makes life worth living: that somewhere out there, there's a Being or a group of beings who designed us in Its/their image, who care about us, and whom we will join once we pass from this world. Because let's face it, this world is [[AWorldHalfFull barely half full]] for most of us in first-world countries, and [[CrapsackWorld even worse]] in other places. We'd all be better off dead, if there's nothing beyond this world that at its best is full of constant, incessant boredom. My belief in God is one of the two reasons I get up every day rather than just forcing the game over screen (the other is the adventure provided by video games), and it's the only thing standing between me and [[TheJoker a bleached-white face, a bottle of green hair dye, and giving myself those scars]] in an attempt to liven things up.
* I can go on and on about how good an actress AngelinaJolie is, how beautiful Angelina Jolie is, how much of a humanitarian Angelina Jolie is and what a {{woobie}} Angelina Jolie is, much to the chagrin of some of my friends who just find her weird. I'm also known to do this for the Batman comics and media that I like, action figures and toys, and bitter lemon soda. Yum, bitter lemon soda.
* Life is rather awesome.
* LinkinPark. They have an album and a song for ever imperfect mood from screaming rage to despondent misery. They are like therapy through a CD player.
* My country South Africa! Not because of the world cup, but because we're the rainbow nation! Everybodys welcome!
* Soap Operas! Who cares if they're cliche? They're [[RuleOfFun fun to watch!]]
** CoronationStreet, even though this troper wouldn't be caught DEAD by any of her friends watching it. I've grown up with it my whole entire life, and it always handles it's storylines with such sensitivity and compassion and intelligence. The writing is beautiful, the actors are almost entirely perfect, and the characters are characters you really ''feel'' for. Yet it's still dramatic to the point where it's occasionally hard to watch because you're so worried what will happen to a character.
* {{Anime}} Just about every anime I've ever seen has been significantly better than most of the TV shows and movies I have seen.
** And there's an explanation for that. Anime is usually based off of well-liked, high quality manga and they are made at relatively high costs, so they're engineered for quality not quantity.
* Here's to my current friends, because since entering high school, I've felt the most like I fit in than I ever have before in my life. I can actually talk about anime, video games and art for hours on end with these guys! Individually, my best friend is so sure of herself. Even if that does go to annoying lengths sometimes, it's still freakin' awesome. She's also really sensetive, and she always trys to cheer me up when I'm down, [[TheEeyore which I know must be a pain sometimes.]] She even accepted me when I came out of the closet to her, which kind of suprised me, since she's a very religous person. (Kind of makes since, though, since she, like me, believes that God loves everybody on Earth...) She just all around makes me feel like I'm not worthless. Did I mention that she's [[{{Moe}} freaking adorable?]] Then there's another friend of mine, a BoisterousBruiser GenkiGirl. It is impossible to be sad when you're talking to her. She's also a talented artist and actress, and I look up to her quite a bit. Another one of friends is a total genius, but that doesn't mean you can't have a good conversation with her, if you know what to talk about. Seriously, she's going to be a rocket scientist when she grows up, [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer and I mean that literally.]] Needless to say, her ambition is inspiring. [/gushing]
* Alton-motherfreaking-Towers. Whether It's the Secret Weapons 3,4,5 and 6 (Nemesis, Oblivion, Air and Th13teen respectively), The fact that the themeing and Landscaping (Both modern AND 19th Century) Go hand to hand, or The fact it's willing to preserve and show it's rich history (Hex Dammit!), So many other reasons that make this the best theme park ever.
* Food. Come on, people! This troper LOVES food of all types. He can probably count on one hand the foods he won't even touch. Food is just one of life's greatest necessities. It does so many good things for your body, it allows you to experience varieties, it gives us stuff to do when we're out and about, and it's fun to prepare! I can go on for the rest of my life gushing and gushing about food, but for now, let's just be glad that most of us here have it.
* Kissing and love. Yes, I'm the guy with the AK, but warm skin against your own is more addictive than TV Tropes.
* EurekaSeven, It is the standard on which I base all anime, literature and shows.

For gushing about things in RealLife, go [[TroperTales/GushingAboutShowsYouLike here]].

-- [[ThatGuyWithTheGlasses Chester A. Bum]]

* StephenMoffat, the Scottish god of NightmareFuel. He now scares millions of people, not a few of them jaded grown-ups, twelve weeks a year (not counting [=DVDs=]) through what is usually described as a [[DoctorWho children's show]], and that, ladies and gentlemen, is awesome.

* Thank you [[Main/ptitlebhb3kvzw Boom Studios]] for bringing back one of the best animated shows ever to grace the DisneyAfternoon, DarkwingDuck. Despite having spent ten years collecting dust in the Disney vault, Darkwing and all his friends (and enemies) are just as vibrant on the page as they were on screen, in no small part thanks to comic's writing staff, who have taken special care to stay true to the source.

* Thank you BoomStudios for bringing back one of the best animated shows ever to grace the DisneyAfternoon, DarkwingDuck. Despite having spent ten years collecting dust in the Disney vault, Darkwing and all his friends (and enemies) are just as vibrant on the page as they were on screen, in no small part thanks to comic's writing staff, who have taken special care to stay true to the source.