Cantina Road

According to JimSMASH, this was a limited edition t-shirt at TeeFury last week....

I kid because I love....

Ha ha, it’s a trick question! There’s no such thing as “valuable” Kansas City Royals memorabilia.

( from The Comics Curmudgeon by comics)

But...but I like comics?!?!?

This is a mailer from a woman named Nancy King who is a Democrat running for State Senator in Maryland. It has been popping up all over the place this week.

As a teacher who actually HAS comic books in my classroom (and thousands at home) this is kind of discouraging on so many levels.

An artist named Dean Trippe has written a response to Ms. King, but no one is holding their breath that it will help her change her (narrow) mind.

I wonder if the Canadian Council of Learning could help her. They recently said access to comic books in the classroom can help bridge the literacy gap that exists between boys and girls! Bleeding Cool writes "According to the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation comic books are the second most popular reading choice for boys (after newspapers and magazines). During the elementary school years the proportion of boys who report reading comics rises from 69% to 75%, while the proportion among girls falls from 60% to 50%."

**I'm not quite sure why that one girl is just reading "Previews"....perhaps she is looking to further her "bad habit"....

It's The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man....

Finally! Available at ThinkGeek for $20 a box....according to the ad:

• Licensed and delicious Ghostbusters collectible.
• Unique, rubbery box can be reused.
• Each mallow has over 100mg of caffeine.

This Day In History

(via Iconic Photos)

Rarely did such an emotional photo emerge from a war. It was taken in the Haktong-ni area of South Korea by career combat news photographer Al Chung on August 28th 1950; the photo showed a grief-stricken American infantryman being comforted by a comrade. The details about his grief were a matter of debate. Some said he just learnt his best friend had been killed, while some say it can be attributed to a more banal reason–he just learnt that his replacement as a radio operator had been killed.

The photo was also a study in contrasts: in the background, it also showed a corpsman sifting through casualty information and filling in the name of the newly fallen, ignoring the emotional outburst besides him as if he was giving his comrades a moment of privacy. The photo was featured in Edward Steichen’s celebrated “Family of Man” photography exhibit in 1955 at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and subsequently been reproduced in many newspapers, magazines, books and museums.

Hawaiian Albert Chang covered three wars; as a dockworker in Honolulu, he saw the attack on Pearl Harbor and afterwards served in the Pacific. He photographed the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri. His other famous images included a Vietnamese family driven by oxen cart on a road leaving Saigon that is filled with bustling US tanks and a group of Saigon residents detaining and beating a suspect in a parade bombing who was thought to have belonged to the Viet Cong.

If the AVENGERS came out in 1952

Apparently there are 18 "Marvel characters" in this trailer. You can find out who they are and where they came from HERE.

VIA SPAZOTRON: If the AVENGERS came out in 1952 and Topless Robot and Bronze Age Babies.

"Inception" meets "Dumb and Dumber"

I am NOT a fan of "Dumb and Dumber". I saw it when it first came out and was underwhelmed (as I was with all of Jim Carrey's early "work".) However, these "Inception" style trailers are awesome.

Read Comics in Public day!

Pai: Read Comics in Public day!

via Pai by Saranga:

Saturday is International “Read Comics in Public Day” a day designed to show off the number of comics readers ‘round the globe. Here’s the idea behind the day from organizer Brian Heater:

The concept is fairly simple: we’re asking that everyone take an hour or two out of their day on August 28th (also the birthday of Jack “King” Kirby, incidentally) to read a comic book in a public setting—a park bench, a beach, a bus, the front steps of your local library (we do ask, however, that you be mindful of local loitering laws). Let strangers see you reading a piece of sequential art.
Take to the streets. Be proud. If someone asks what you’re reading, say, “a comic book” (the phrase “graphic novel is also acceptable, but let’s face it, it sort of defeats the whole purpose). Heck, lend them a book, if you’ve got an extra—what better way to make a new friend and convert a new reader?

This year’s event seems to be getting some good visibility — NPR did a story about it this last night.

I’ve been writing a lot recently about ways to increase the ranks of female comic readers. Each post, I’ve given suggestions on what the average person can do. And here’s another opportunity. This Saturday, if you are a woman who reads comics take your love to the street and show it off by participating in this event. But I had a thought, what if we showed off lots of images of women reading comics in public? I have grown so tired of hearing “I don’t care if women read comics” over and over, most recently in response to an article that Kelly Thompson did about Ben Caldwell’s Wonder Woman. Here’s the opportunity to show why people, if not the size of the ranks, the passion. Let’s show them a reason they should care.

To facilitate this I have created a Tumblr “Women Read Comics in Public”. Help me fill it with images of women reading comics from this Saturday’s event. What do to do? Grab a comic, go somwhere public on Saturday, take a picture of you reading it and and send it to me. If you’re not a woman send me a picture of your girlfriend, sister, wife, mom, daughter, or co-worker reading. If you want privacy hold the comic in front of your face.

You can send me the pictures by using the submit button on the blog, over Twitter or email it to dcwomenkickingass [at] yahoo.com. If you think it’s a good idea, let others know! Twitter, blog, reblog and post in forums. And hope for good weather!

"Inception" meets "Toy Story 3"

This is the first "Inception" mash up I have seen that dubs actual "Inception" dialog over the "other" movie, though to be honest this is the first time it can be done "safely".

Big Papi: " I feel like I can lead off tomorrow."

From Joy Of Sox:

Yo (expletive), I feel like I can lead off tomorrow.

David Ortiz, shouting across the clubhouse at Terry Francona.

Mike Lowell: "He looked good running the bases. When he smells it he runs a lot harder. Maybe we should put some chicken nuggets out there."

Only three American League hitters have at least one triple in each of the last 11 seasons: Johnny Damon, Carlos Guillen, and David Ortiz!

"I'm an athlete, man."

Video HERE

"Is Fenway Park the one with the big green wall?"

I've been trying to figure out how to best blog about our trip. It was truly awesome, from beginning to end.

The ride down was great. I can't remember the last time a drive into Boston went as smoothly. And we made great time, too.

Our hotel room was...interesting. It was, without a doubt, the smallest hotel room I have ever stayed in. It was right above the air conditioning unit for the whole hotel and next to the helicopter pad for the hospital (though there was only one landing while we were there). It seemed like one of those rooms they give a character in a movie when there are no other rooms left.

(not our room....but close...)

We arrived with plenty of time to spare. We stretched and rested until about 4:45 or so and then started walking to Fenway. We met Marc halfway down Brookline. We had a GREAT dinner at a non-Taco Bell Mexican food chain called Chipotle Mexican Grill.

We got to Yawkey Way and Logan spent some time shopping for a souvenir. He got a stuffed Wally and garb bag of baseball cards. He also got Wally painted on his cheek!

I had some worries about the boy lasting long into the game if we wandered around for too long before the first pitch but he did great.

Our seats were high in right field, which gave us a nice view of EVERYTHING. Logan was particularly happy when they started the wave...

And it was a great game. I spent some of it commenting on how much taller or shorter some of the players were but that their weight was significantly different than mine (as I approach 40, I no longer have the ability to eat what I want and when I want, so to learn Adrian Beltre is 1 inch shorter and 10 pounds heavier made me happy....even if that 10 pounds is all muscle!)

As I said previously, I had never seen the Sox beat Toronto. At the end of the 5th, the Sox were up 4 to 1 and were looking REALLY good. However, a trip to the concession stand and the Jays score three. We're still tied in the 9th when Nan and I start to look at each other and figure out what we are going to do. Logan has been patient (reading, listening to his iPod, watching the game) but it has been a long day and who knows when this thing would end.

The number 2 through 4 batters are due up in the bottom of the 9th. Drew walks on full count to start things off. We're going nuts. However, Martinez pops out and Ortiz hits into the shift for an inning ending double play.

We talk it over and agree that we will do the 10th. It's a quick inning for both teams and we get ready to go as Papelbon's music starts. Logan starts grooving to it, but still wants to go.

I texted that night to some co-workers who were at the game, that I am a huge Sox fan, but try to be an even better dad....so we head out.

We get a text halfway to the hotel that Lowrie hit a walk off and the Sox won. A little disappointed to not see it, but we had such a relaxed walk to the hotel. Logan didn't complain at all and the streets weren't packed.

(not the true walk off pic)

The next day we took our time heading home. I got to do something else I hadn't done all summer, as we went to three comic book stores on the ride home (Comicopia in Boston, Double Midnight in Concord, and Funnybook Factory in Hanover). I picked up two comics in Hanover, and Logan got something at all three stops.

So it was the perfect ending, to the perfect weekend of a most perfect summer....

I've said it before and I will say it again...I am a VERY lucky man...

IBM Flying Cars Commercial

When Nan and I met, we discovered we both had an unrealized love for Mystery Science Theater 3000. Not having cable at the time, we didn't get to watch many episodes....until we discovered that my parents had cable and were willing to record each episode for us (on VHS!) and mailed them up to us.

We still watch them a lot upstairs where the VCR is and we love the old commercials that play with each episode. The above one with Commander Sisko (for some reason I stopped watching DS9 before his promotion so he will always be Commander to me...) bemoaning the fact we have no flying cars in the year 2000 is one of our favorites!

The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Bluette

Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Vader Re-edited (More intense duel)

Speeding up Obi Wan and Darth Vader's fight really makes it a more intense and interesting scene...

"Inception" meets "Star Trek"

I have yet to see "Inception" and have only seen bits of "Star Trek" (though I now own a copy so that will change soon) but this trailer looks cool.

Apparently re-making older movie trailers with an "Inception" theme is a big to do right now...

(via All Things Joe)

We're Going To Fenway!!!!

Earlier this week, for some reason, I popped "Field of Dreams" into the VCR while we were picking up after camping last weekend. I really enjoy the movie. I got kind of misty eyed as it started, suddenly remembering the ending and the missed opportunities of life, the whole father/son dynamic.

As it progressed, Nan, Logan and I all made our way to the various seats and ended up doing more watching than picking up. I shared with the two of them how I first saw the movie while I was living in Boston, how the crowd cheered when the characters went to Boston, how Costner's character drove right past the apartment I was living in.

I also shared how James Earl Jones' character was originally J.D. Salinger in the book and I had JUST read "Catcher in The Rye" for the first time.

The ending got all of us really choked up (despite Logan's unsolicited protestations of "I'm not crying!").

That night, I stayed up FOREVER (really like 3:00 AM....I am trying to squeeze as much out of the rest of this summer as possible) and woke up grumpy at 6:30 AM. I requested no television that morning for no real reason, other than I was cranky and it seemed like we were watching TOO much television lately. Nan encouraged me to lie down for a little while longer but held true to my no television edict.

I set my alarm for 9:00 AM so that I wouldn't sleep too long. The radio came on and I caught part of the local DJ asking a Red Sox trivia question. I hit snooze and Nan opened the bedroom door.

I was confused as to what was going on, but she was listening to the radio in the other room and asked me if I knew which Red Sox player was the only one in team history to score 150 runs in a season. I came up with three choices....David Ortiz, Wade Boggs or Ted Williams. All three seemed like valid guesses....Ortiz hit 54 home runs in 2006, Boggs batted well north of .300 from 1982 to 1991, and Williams, well, was Williams.

I said go with Ortiz. In my sleep deprived state it made sense. She got through....and was wrong. She asked me who she should try next. I went back in forth for a few seconds and suggested Williams.

Still not fully awake, I hear her talking and obviously getting the answer right. She comes running in and tells me she won two tickets to this Saturday's "Vermont Day" at Fenway, when the Blue Jays will be playing the Sox!

Well this wakes me up! We start trying to figure out who will watch Logan and when we would go down and so on. We decide we will run to the DMV first (to get our Enhanced Drivers' Licenses for a trip to Montreal this October) and then will hit the radio station before Haley comes home.

The DMV is a mini bust, as we do not have all the documents we need, but the lady is helpful and gives us all the right forms. We decide to try the DMV the next day and debate on whether to go get the tickets right then or wait.

(I'm babbling but it all has a point!)

We give ourselves a time limit....if we are not at the station by 11:30 AM, we will have to turn around and head home to meet Haley and will get the tickets later.

We make every light and hit the parking lot of WJOY at 11:28 AM. Nan, Logan and I go to get the tickets. The station manager is out front and is chatting, asking which of us will go to the game. We said just Nan and I, since there are two tickets....that Logan will go to his first game another time.

The manager goes out back, gets a group of four tickets and offers to trade them for Nan's two! He apologizes because they are one row back but we jump on them! Logan is giddy! Nan is giddy!

The only down side is that Haley is away this weekend. We took her to her first big league game when she was four. She lasted six innings at Olympic Stadium, mostly because it was so empty she was able to play and run around. If our extra ticket remains unused, Logan will have a little wiggle room, perhaps allowing him to last longer....(I was willing to leave an Expos game....I don't see myself willing to leave a Sox game.)

We struggled to find a decent hotel at this late a date, but a site I never heard of before (booking.com) found us a room in the same hotel Nan and I stayed at when we went to a game three years ago! It is less than 3/4 of a mile from the park AND the site found it cheaper than ANY comparable room!

So we are going to Boston on Saturday! We will hit some Paneras and Targets on the way down....maybe a comic book shop or two on the way home!

The ONLY minor negative is the fact that the Sox are playing the Jays. I have been to more than 20 games at Fenway and seen them play the Jays more than any other team....and they have lost EVERY TIME!!!

Fox Trot 08/15/2010

(click to embiggen)

For anyone confused, Jason is channeling this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI

08/15/2010

Deleted "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" scene

Apparently George Lucas was on "The Daily Show" and announced ANOTHER re-release of the original "Star Wars" movies. He showed this scene that was cut from "Return Of The Jedi" which shows Darth Vader attempting to tempt Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side as Luke is building his new lightsaber. Mark Hammil has said that he is not in the scene, that it is his stand-in or stunt double. Either way, it is kind of cool to see these sorts of things.

Other blog posts on this topic from other writers: Bleeding Cool, SPAZOTRON, Talk Star Wars To Me, and Toyriffic.

Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn

Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really like these books. I like the idea that there is someone who loves this country so much that he is willing to be the CIA's secret weapon against the rest of the world. I know things aren't black and white in the world, that so much is gray, but Mitch Rapp is a black and white bad-ass.

My only quibble is that some of the character names are too similar. I am not a very close reader and at times I had trouble keeping track of who was the terrorist's dyed in the wool leader and who was trying to be the voice of reason.

I can't wait for the next book....


View all my reviews >>

Tonight's Movie: Wanted

Tonight the girls are watching "About A Boy" upstairs while I sequester myself in my cave and watch "Wanted". It has been on my list forever. I liked the comic book (though a lot of Millar's work has lost its appeal to me) and neither "Kick-Ass" nor "The Losers" were in at the RedBox, so I wandered over to the video store (are they still called that?!?!) and grabbed this.

School starts for me in a little over a week and I have a lot of "me" movies to get through in that time. I've got a Red Bull/Grape Vodka concoction and some sourdough pretzles to help me stay awake tonight....

The Baroness Has Had Better Days....

I am not a huge Joe fan, but the model's expression really sells this one for me.

(Not sure where it comes from....)

Winston Logan Churchill

Found at JimSmash...for a few more blasphemous images, go HERE....

Birthday Blog

August 11, 2008!

Darth Schwarzenegger

SPAZOTRON: Darth Schwarzenegger

Columbine: Book Trailer

Dave Cullen: Conclusive Evidence of My Existence: Why the Columbine massacre? Book trailer outlines killers' motives

I have never seen a trailer for a book before. As Mr. Cullen writes on his own blog, this trailer gives you a "concise summary of the book and also of the killers."

I feel somewhat compelled to post this....as a teacher, as a parent, as a member of this human race.

This book was phenomenal. I know I have written about it before, but it is one of the greatest works of non-fiction I have ever read. It does a great job of dispelling so many myths and making the tragedy more real and, hopefully, somewhat unrepeatable.

Read the book. Follow Mr. Cullen's Blog and on Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook. He seems like a great guy. I eagerly await his next book.

Darrelle Revis: Some Questions On The Holdout

I will start this post by stating flat out that I am NOT a football fan. My mother and stepfather are HUGE Jets fans. My brother roots for the Patriots. A group of friends are die hard Giants fans. If a game is on, I will watch and enjoy it, but I do not seek out games to watch, I do not have a favorite team and I do not understand the nuances of the game.

I also don't understand the variety of positions or their roles. I know that there is a salary cap, like in basketball and hockey, but I do not really understand how any of them work.

All that being said, I am barely following the story of Jets corner back Darrelle Revis. I suppose I could pay closer attention to the story when it comes up on ESPN or read one of the articles that popped up when I searched for the picture that goes with this post.

What I THINK I know is that Mr. Revis is under contract (a contract he signed of his own free will) for this upcoming year and the next two years. He also believes he is underpaid and is refusing to honor his contract.

I also know that he is considered the best at his position and that not only does his contract get better over the next two years, the Jets have tried to renegotiate the current contract.

What I don't get is how he can NOT honor the contract, despite how unhappy he is. I know he is being fined but it seems that he might not play this season and most people are treating it as an "Oh, well" sort of situation.

What am I missing? Am I wrong in my thinking that Revis is somehow inherently wrong in his behavior? That you should honor the contract you sign?

I know we are an entertainment/sports obsessed society but something seems wrong here....

Happy Sequential Date Day

From JimSmash via This Isn't Happiness

The Avengers Teaser Trailer and I Hate IE

I had intended to post this trailer earlier, but here it is!

There isn't much too it beyond a relatively bland and uninspiring voice over from Nick Fu....er, Samuel L. Jackson.

I have seen this on Jeff Is A Geek, Topless Robot, Bleeding Cool, and a few other sites. However, I was using Internet Explorer this morning instead of Chrome and while prepping this post, the entire computer froze so I cna't credit everyone I would like.......

Buster Olney and The Lake Monsters

Cousin Lars and his son invited Logan and I out to see the Vermont Lake Monsters play on Friday. I hadn't been to a game yet this year and had just finished two weeks of a summer program with some "heavy hitters", so I thought it would be a good little reward.

We arrived and found out it was Buster Olney night! I enjoy watching the ESPN and Olney is rather insightful. Plus I am EASILY starstruck. We didn't arrive early enough to get an Olney Bobblehead, but I did muster up enough courage to wander over and ask for a picture (after a group of 10 year old boys, leading Lars to begin making fun of me.....)

It was announced that Olney grew up in a town here in Vermont that is home to several distant relatives of ours, so I dropped some names and had a good laugh with Buster.

Here is a video montage of the event from the Lake Monsters official YouTube account. I caught a little story at the end of Baseball Tonight Friday, but I can't find it on-line....

Spider-man, Spider-man, does whatever a spider can...

I think the best part is fielder Masato Akamatsu's little smile afterwards....

Today Is/Was/Will Be Lisa Simpson’s Wedding Day

This has NOT been photoshopped. This is NOT a repeat of that Back to the Future Day hullaballoo. Today is, was or will be the wedding day of Lisa Marie Simpson.

Even though she is, was and will be only eight years old. Creepy. All the same – congratulations to the old, new or eventual Mr and Mrs. Parkfield.

(via BLEEDING COOL)