Answers, I Have the Answers

Without further adieu, here we go....

First, Roger hogs the meme by asking several questions, including

Heaven: Does it exist?
Resurrection. Will our lives in heaven being only as souls, or will it be in body as well? If it is bodily, which body type? Tattoos et al?

I believe in Heaven (being raised Catholic will do that to you), and that our souls will be resurrected. Besides, given my chunky build, I don't believe I need that much extra packaging in the afterlife.

Is violence ever justified? Do you believe a violent resistance when it comes to protect your loved ones?

I believe violence is justified in a life-or-death, self-defense situation, and it would depend n the loved ones I'm protecting, as well as the situation.

Is there a hell? Who goes there? Does suicide necessarily send you there?

I believe that there is a Hell for those who are extremely evil - Hitler, Manson, etc. I honestly believe that God (Higher Power, whatever your title) is a forgiving, loving god, and that I doubt that if someone took their own life out of extreme pain, that he would put that person in the same class as a mass murderer.

An arithmetic question: How many times does pi go into pie?
Depends on the circumference of the pie.

Now, the unflappable Lefty Brown asks:

Man asking questions on a blog, is it a virus, a meme, or a cry for help?

It's a meme, unless you're this guy. Next question....

If you could only take one single CD to listen to in a car ride across the country what would it be?

The obvious answer - Chuck Berry's The Great Twenty-Eight.

What's your favorite comic book cover ever?

This, with a shout-out to Fred Hembeck

Why does compels Mike Sterling to be such a cheater pants?

Why is Mike Sterling such a cheater pants? He admitted it publicly.

What compels him? Something dark which we should not ever investigate. Ever.

In a guitar axe duel who would win, B.B. King or Albert King?

True winner: the audience.

What's the last four CDs you bought?

Here you go, Lefty.

What comic book series do you have the most single issues of?

Before they were destroyed in a flood, I would have said Sandman Mystery Theater. Now, I would probably have to take an inventory and check.

Why aren't you reading Nextwave? And if you are, how can they make comic books that good? It seems near impossible.

Answer - I've been too busy reading Rocketo. However, how can they make comic books that good - talent, and a willingness to avoid cliches. (Reminder to myself - Nextwave on pull list)

Church of Klugman asks:

Name your top 10 favorite Klugman performances?

Juror # 5 in Twelve Angry Men (which I played in high school), his four Twilight Zone appearances, The Odd Couple, the punk rock episode of Quincy...and those Eagle snack commercials he did with Tony Randall some years back.

Also, would you date our sister?

Send a picture and ID - I have the feeling I'm being set up, and not in a good way.

Zombie Killer asks:

Top 7 places to hole up in case of a zombocalypse?

My special, secret anti-zombie bunker
Upstairs at the Tap Room
Anyplace with heavy weaponry
Keith Richards' place...

(Trust me, I'm not the zombie expert)

Does the following make you worry?

It makes my blood chill....I mean, Richard Chamberlain a villain?

5, 17, or 23?

Depends - what am I counting?

If it's dead zombies, the more the merrier...

Eddie asks:

What are you doing this weekend? I'm going tobe in St Louis from Sat-Tues. Got time for coffe? Email me.

E-mail sent - you'll be the second blogger that I've met since this little blog adventure of mine started.

Finally, Tom the Dog chimes in with

Thank you! And just because no one ever accused me of being a cheater pants doesn't mean I'm not

No problem - but at least you're no Mike Sterling.

Thanks for participating - actual content coming soon!

Celebrations and Ruminations

First, a hearty congratulations to Tom the Dog for two years on the blogosphere. He's a scholar, a gentleman, and has never been accused of being a "cheater pants."

Secondly, today is the 40th anniversary of the first broadcast of Dark Shadows...and it's being revived yet again.

Thirdly, it's that time again - time for you, the reader (both of you) to ask me your deepest, darkest questions - personal or professional, serious or silly, comic or other related - you can ask me questions like:

• What's five minus two? Three
• What do you think of Marvel's Civil War? Don't know - I'm swearing off massive crossovers, and if I want to peruse them, will read them at the comics shop.
• Why is Greg so frickin' cool? Because he calls it as he sees it, and his blog name's in Latin.
  

So, please feel free to leave your questions in the comments section - or, if Haloscan doesn't work for you, e-mail them to me directly. I'll post my answers this Thursday.

Monday Morning Musings

Just a few things that don't really warrant full blog posts:

• For the first time in years, I went to a comics and toys show...and it made me feel grateful for female bloggers. Sixty-some attendees, and four were women. Four (in attendance with their husbands/boyfriends/etc). I never felt the term "sausage factory" was more appropriate.
• As a result, I ended up purchasing Essential Killraven at half-price, and it was worth it. A mixture of '70s cynicism, near-poetic attempts at social commentary, extremely off-kilter storytelling, it's not as "Essential" as Marvel would have you believe. However, as a sampling of '70s Marvel....it's worth checking out of the library.
• July 22. Live at the Levee. Cheap Trick. I am so there.
• I don't know what bothers me more about Superman/Batman # 27 - the fact that (like a recent issue of JSA) the Earth-2 Batman is grim and gritty....or that the Huntress has suddenly become, er, "top-heavy. "(Yes, I know Kevin Maguire draws well, but even still...)
  
• Mandatory listening. Trust me on this.
• I just realized, in the past 24 hours, that I am as obsessed with Starman as Mike is with Swamp Thing. I have just crossed over into the dark side, ladies and gentlemen.
• For those of you who feel powerless over blogging, there is help and hope.
• Before, I loved Ex Machina for the way it not only combined urban political intrigue with superheroics, but also how it made the political intrigue the major thrust of the book. Now, with the arc beginning with # 21 (dealing with New York's marijuana laws), the substance abuse policy wonk in me is really enjoying the book.
• Finally, let's end with a funny cartoon featuring Al Gore:

THE WILD, WILD WEST: Alan Moore's Favorite TV Show?

(Updated on 2/2/2020; contains affiliate links) 

Often, I lay awake in bed at night, wondering if Alan Moore watched television as a child.

Yes, it's one of those unusual thoughts that I have frequently. But in watching and viewing media, I often see connections that may or may not necessarily be there, whether through synchronicity or coincidence.

Because there's rather a lot of similarities between both volumes (soon to be three) of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and The Wild Wild West (available on DVD).

It may be a stretch, but WWW was steampunk before there was such a term. Like LOEG, it was a heady mixture of secret agents (it was produced in the late 60s, after all, and managed to make the Secret Service look cool), westerns, a liberal approach to technology (showing things like machine guns, torpedos, and computer dating ahead of their time) and a sly, slightly knowing 20th-century sense of humor. Like many shows at the time, it does have a slightly patronizing attitude towards women (after all, secret agents were always the most handsome men in the world). It is good, solid escapist entertainment, and was eventually canceled not because of ratings, but because it was perceived as being "too violent". (The first season, in black and white, has a slightly more serious tone, embracing its pulp roots). It was a heady brew of genre-mixing, just-this-close-to-anachronistic entertainment that was 30 years ahead of its time.

Much of the success of the show has to fall on its two leads - first, Robert Conrad. Grew up, like many cool people, on the south side of Chicago. Able to play the role of Jim West at just the right level - not too campy or not too serious. Challenged people in the 1970s to knock batteries off his shoulder. Has the sheer power of both the Silver Age and current Wildcat. The only other person on the planet who is cooler than Shatner.

I said it. Cooler. Than. Shatner. Deal.

(It's that knowing, sly sense of humor that helped make the show, and why Will Smith was such a bad choice for the movie version. Mario Van Peebles could have pulled it off. Trust me on this).

The other key was Ross Martin, who played Artemus Gordon, Man of 1,000 Faces (unlike Terry Sloane, Man of 1,000 Talents, or Lefty Brown, Man of 1,000 Mixes who, despite popular rumor, is not the same person as I am. My apologies, Lefty). As "Artie", Martin played a rather fussy, almost egotistical actor, and the comic interplay with Conrad contains genuine affection. (Hey, if you want to go for subtext, that's fine too - their chemistry avoids the overt affectations of, say, another dynamic duo). Plus, since his character was a "master of disguise", Martin handled each of his "disguises" as separate characters (even caricatures, if you want to be honest), doing makeup and avoiding the "latex-mask-and-jump-cut" cliches of most spy shows of the era.)

EDIT: Intrepid comics fans might want to hunt down the four-issue "Night of the Iron Tyrants" mini-series from Millennium comics. It's a great note-by-note recreation, and worth investigating.

Now, admittedly, Alan Moore's writing is not as basic as WWW's - simply put, it's a great, pulpy piece of entertainment. (It's one of the few shows that, when it comes on, I must sit and watch). It is slightly sexist and ethnocentric, but it was produced during a time when we were an extremely unenlightened culture. But who knows, maybe between viewings of each episode, and between trips to the library to check out Victorian literature, Alan Moore's creativity was sparked...

...at the very least, it is one of the coolest (and underappreciated) television shows of the 1960s. Worth a look.

Interesting Comic News

According to Sci Fi Wire, everyone's favorite Marvel editor has a blog.

If that doesn't crack the Internet in half....I don't know what else will.

Records You Should Own

He's been called The Originator. His is the sound that launched a thousand guitarists. And he's the center of June's "Record You Should Own."

I was tempted to promote the two-CD boxed set, but I'm going to settle for the one-disc 50th anniversary collection, Bo Diddley: His Best

Maybe "settle" isn't the best choice of words - after all, Bo Diddley is one of the (in my opinion) relatively unsung pioneers of rock'n'roll. If Chuck Berry was the Beatles, Diddley was the Rolling Stones. Bo's more rhythm-heavy, driving tunes were not exactly radio-friendly (even back then) - however, they are an important backbone to most contemporary music.

Just listen to the grooves - minimalist rock ("Who Do You Love"), rap and the dozens ("Say Man"), blues-based bragging ("I'm A Man"), killer ballads ("Mona") - it's all here, wrapped up in three-minute-or-less bursts because it would blow your mind if they were longer. This collection also contains a good mix of "the hits" and relatively obscure tracks, many of which were covered from bands ranging from the Yardbirds to the New York Dolls. To put it bluntly, this is the history of rock and roll, and demands multiple plays on your stereo.

Just to put it in perspective - Bo Diddley was paired with another Bo for a series of commercials. Nobody ever asks, "Whatever happened to Bo Diddley?"

Listen. You'll thank me later.

Free Comics and Videos!

Hey, all - don't let my hectic schedule affect your enjoyment of this blog!

First, you can always check out Comic Book Commentary's free comic giveaway - it's a great way to check out some free books, and catch up on some excellent reading. (Plus, it's free! It's easy! And more fun than you can imagine!

Plus, here's a little challenge (which you can easily participate through the comments) - I have attached three videos from You Tube, two of which pertain to things I will write about in the next few days. Guess which videos, and I will make public mention of you, maybe even send you a pencil.

Enjoy!

Reboots Were Made For Walking

WARNING: Here there be spoilers

Dear Marvel and DC,

In my youth, you both were the companies "to read" - granted, I was (and am) more of a DC fanboy, but hey, you guys were the Beatles and Rolling Stones of comics...and I'll leave it to you to decide which one of you is which.

However, you're both breaking my heart. So much so that we need to have a chat. A friend-to-friend chat.

You're both doing the inevitable constant reboots - Marvel with Civil War, and DC with Infinite Crisis/52. Of course, as companies, you have the right to make changes, to do with your characters creatively as you wish...but that's the key word, creatively.

Marvel - do you really think that having Spider-Man reveal his public identity, making public statements about his marriage to Mary Jane, and (if Heidi's speculation is correct) threatening another marriage is creative? And DC - after reading the latest issue of 52 (with China's new metahumans), I'm seriously wondering if soon, we'll see Captain Kugelis and the Pierogi Kid.

(Hey, it's my ethnicity, I can make fun of it if I want).

But the problem right now - you're substituting poor writing for character development. You're fixing things that may not have necessarily been broken - in short, you're revealing that the only reason why you're changing it is because you can.

Good example - recently, J. Michael Straczynski's reboot of Star Trek was posted online. And, of course, it reads like a retread of his past work - five year mission, Babylon 5. (I'm watching season five...and am deeply glad that I missed it first time round, the cliches are stacked so high). Quest for unusual knowledge? Crusade. There isn't even the illusion of originality - just a basic sense of "Wow, here are the changes...but don't ask us for details." Or to use Harlan Ellison's favorite turn of phrase, the okeydoke.

(A little mini-rant - mostly about Squadron Supreme # 4: is it just me, or does every gay comic book character have an element of trauma and tragedy about them? Not in a realistic sense, but in a "I-was-abused-so-therefore-I'm-gay" sense. Granted, as a white heterosexual male, my ability to claim outrage may be unrealistic, but the background/origin of one of the characters - written, not so coincidentally, by JMS - seems needlessly exploitive. End of mini-rant).

In addition, both Mr. Quesada and Mr. Didio have publicly stated this is for the fans, to which I respond that I believe that as much as I believe that Mike Sterling is the tooth fairy. This isn't about the fans - it's about the illusion of change. Or, to use a phrase I learned in high school, blinding us with BS rather than dazzling us with brilliance. You seem to have little regard for the intelligence of the average comics reader - but given some of the activity on message boards, that's understandable. However, you're risking losing the smart readers by pandering to the dumb ones. Just wanted to be sure we were clear.

Ok, that's enough of my ranting and raving - I'm off to check out this interview with Andy Martello, as well as Bish the Magish. I could use some fun reading!

And for you, the reader, I hope I wasn't too strident. If I was, just say something in the comments. I can handle it. Honest.

A Father's Day Gift For Everyone

For those of you who have kids of your own, who are adoptive fathers, who own pets, or who just miss their dads - have a happy Father's Day.

And on that note, here's a little gift - one of my favorite comedians discussing his father:

Welcome to Hell

Just caught the two-episode Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit arc from the new Doctor Who...and it rocked my socks off. This is the Series Two highlight, much as The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances was Series One's. This has to be the coolest episode of DW to date.

We're talking mad crazy cool. Wildcat-level cool. Good enough to be Doctor Who: The Motion Picture kinda cool. My mind has officially been blown, ladies and gentlemen.

If anything reflects DW for the 21st century, this is it - a little old school DW (a Troughton-esque "base under siege" plot, as well as liberal amounts of The Daemons and Pyramids of Mars, right down to the voices) with equal parts 2001, Alien, H.P. Lovecraft, Indiana Jones,...and you have the next best thing to illicit drugs.

Plot in a nutshell - the TARDIS finds itself materializing on a planet orbiting a black hole. On this planet are the remains of a valiant starship crew, digging its way into the core, with a "slave race" that seems a little too willing to serve its human masters. Gradually, the nature of what's in "The Impossible Planet" is spoiled by the title of part two...or is it? Ultimately, the question is never really answered...but that's not the point, is it? The point is entertainment (and, of course, to get David Tennant in a space suit), and this accomplished both goals big time.

What's so great about this adventure? It combines slam-bang action, some excellent performances, and some close-to-breaking-your-heart meditations on fear, faith, and belief. It also continues the trend that Series One began - making smart nods to past continuity without unnecessarily retconning itself. It's the episode that The Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel should have been. It also shows Rose in a slightly more Doctor-ish light, working with the crew of the station and demonstrating a level of character growth in a companion since...er....you name it. I can't think of anyone right now.

Speaking of which, there's news that Billie Piper is leaving at the end of this season. There were also some hints that her end might be a little...terminal. Now, I don't think Russell T Davies would be so cliche as to kill off a companion who demonstrates character growth. Nah, I would like to think that she'll tire of travelling and realize that her place is home, and that she, in her own way, can be the Doctor. I doubt RTD would stoop as to suggest that, if a woman becomes independent and competent, she'll die young.

But enough of my ranting - here's a cartoon about intellectual property rights!

Happy Blogiversary, Redhead Fangirl!

Yes, her blog's one year old, and in tribute, we offer this Kids in the Hall sketch borrowed from YouTube:

Sayonara, St. Louist

WARNING: The following is an extremely St. Louis-centric post. For those of you expecting more of my usual shtick, I'm taking a one-day sabbatical. Thank you for your patience.

When I first moved to St. Louis, it was incredibly difficult for me to connect to anyone - part of it was living in a friend's basement for six months while I regained financial footing. (I still owe you, pal, and I know you're reading). However, once I got into my own place, got settled in, began making friends at work...I needed more.

Thanks to a co-worker, I was eventually linked to Metropolis (where I served on their board for a year and a half...but more on that later), but at first, I came across the Metropolist, the Craigslist of its time, run by a gentleman named Jeff - funny, sardonic, and not willing to take any guff. Eventually, however, the list needed to be split off into several others - including the St. Louist (which served as a clearinghouse for discussion, issues, and grassroots linking), the Metropolist (which was Metropolis-related) and several others too numerous to mention. In his own way, Jeff was an unsung hero, and his tireless work in maintaining several lists helped people connect in a city where, if you didn't share a high school, you were screwed.

The St. Louist had a character all its own - sure, there were the usual beating-a-dead-horse arguments, but it was a great way to learn about what was happening in the city. It was the ultimate democracy - all you needed was an e-mail, and you were connected. It was a way for anyone to be "in the loop" as it were - I had e-mailed yesterday morning seeking the name of a new salsa club. It also introduced me (via text, at least) to several key people, including two St. Louis bloggers. If it weren't for the St. Louist, my life might have been radically different, and I probably might "stayed" rather than "lived" in St. Louis (to use local slang).

So, I was sad to read on the list (and also at the Arch City Chronicle) that the St. Louist was folding. It's like your favorite bar, or hot dog stand, or hangout closing - you know time has to move on, but part of you questions it. Like the fact that my old record store in Chicago is now a Walgreens. Or the old smoke shop where I first purchased comics is now....a Walgreens. (Both are within a mile of each other). It's understandable, but at the same time, a reminder that everything has its time, even internet e-mail lists.

Thanks, Jeff, from one dedicated reader. There's a lot I owe you.

I'll start with a beer.

Reasons to Be Cheerful

This has been a rough week - finishing up with having one tire blow out while driving down Highway 40, and needing to get the spare placed on it. (And to the gentleman who gave me the finger - most drivers recognize that, when emergency flashers are on and a car pulls off the road, that's the universal signal to back yo'self up and not tailgate. Get a life and a clue, pal). Of course, I needed to replace two more tires with similar damage...but you ain't here for the emo, you're here for pop culture goodness.

Two new blogs on the blogroll: I Love Comics (a cool podcast) and Moreskune (a web comic/blog out of Japan) - if you're not checking out either one, it's your loss.

Sweet Smell of Success - although this movie was made in the '50s, much of it reflects contemporary culture. Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster rock in this film. It may be a "cookie full of arsenic", but is definitely a classic.

Item that Made Me Laugh # 1 - This post on Andy Martello's blog (both NSFW or PC)

Wonder Woman # 1 - Of all the DC reboots, I rather enjoyed this book. (And I was never a major Wonder Woman fan). Terry and Rachel Dobson's art is splendid, and Allan Heinberg gives us enough teases to keep (at least) me hooked for a few issues.

Doctor Who: Genesis of the Daleks - the story that got me hooked back in high school. Remastered to a glorious degree, still moody and atmospheric...and disc 2's bonus features will have you smiling. (Only quibble - Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks spend way too much time either taking credit for the story, or complaining that they "wouldn't have done it that way.") Buy this now.

Item that Made Me Laugh # 2 - Warren DeMontague plays blackjack. (NSFW)

Bend It Like Beckham - It took me a little bit to get into this movie, and it's not half bad. Worth a rental - it's a British movie with a slightly American sensibility about an Indian girl who's a good soccer player. Yes, it hits all the right sports movie cliches...but it also has a ton of characterization, some strong acting, great turns of script, and some real insight into cultural differences. Plus, it answers a question that's on our minds in 2006: Who wants to cook Aloo Gobi when you can bend a ball like Beckham?

The 40 Year Old Virgin - OK, so you'd think this would be a very male-centric look at sex...and you'd be correct. However, this is a laugh-out-loud film that has a really sweet core to it. Not to be missed.

Finally, since you've all behaved, here's a very special treat: an episode of the late, lamented Greg the Bunny:

Mixed Bag 4: The Voyage Home

Slowly, but surely, I'm making my way through the many discs I received as part of Lefty Brown's fourth Mixed Bag Exchange. In keeping with our previous trends, here are some more ponderings on various' bloggers' musical tastes.

First, Beaucoup Kevin's disc is perfect. I'm not a jazz/techno kind of person, but I really enjoyed his disc. It's a smooth, Sunday afternoon-ish mix with plenty of solid tracks. (One even sounded like it was taken from an LP - ah, the pops and clicks of vinyl. I miss them). Definitely been repeatedly played - so much so that my cat is annoyed, but she has no taste.

Of course, another consistently played disc is Eddie's from Renaissance Geek - like Mixed Bag 2, it's another instantly listenable set. It also has a nice theme to it, revolving around the Go-Gos. (Love the cover of "Vacation" - easily my favorite track). That, plus the kinda sorta cover of "I Will Survive" in Spanish (as Eddie explained, it's more a different lyrical track). Another must-listen.

And last - but certainly not least - is Thom from In One Ear. I like the fact that he included not one, but two tracks from Head. (OK, it's a mix CD no-no, but it actually works in this context). Some other cool tunes - although it doesn't have the sheer cleverness of Mixed Bag 2's "all 80s covers"...it's still pretty darn impressive. Another consistenly played disc in the household.

And mandatory 52 reviews - up to issue 4, and it's going pretty well. The pace is somewhat slow - however, what do you expect from a weekly comic. Expecting to head into the comic shop and be gently blown away by # 5.

Post-Apocalyptic Referral Log Fun

Given a lack of real inspiration, I thought that I would, like several other bloggers before me, talk about the Google searches that get people here. (Since we avoided the coming of the Antichrist, I thought we shoudl celebrate). The number one search term for the past few months has been "Super Karate Monkey Death Car" - now watch where I got the inspiration.

"Ben Stiller" shoe size - who cares? I don't.

comic making babies - I think it involves Superboy Prime punching the wall.

clueless sexist - Hey, at least some of us are trying not to be...

"library card fraud" - Before I forget, a happy belated blogiversary to Roger, and a premature happy blogiversary to the Redhead Fangirl.

why would Jack the Ripper be considered an anti-hero? - back away slowly from this one...

blogspot referral logs - yay! I'm becoming a pop culture icon!

"what if the germans won world war one" - then we would have no Nick Fury

www the guitar solo matlock theme song com - Coming soon from Beaten Dead Horse Productions: www.mikesterlingisabigcheaterpants.com

Luckily for Harper Lee she won enough people over with the only interesting section of the book - what is this, a Google search or a review?

make your own reading pal - I often do so...in my mind

Sprained ankle in justice league fanfic - Because we all know Hawkman's such a wussy

self-sabotage questionnaire - question one would begin, "You went back to your old employer for a meeting - you didn't feel any resentment or fear. Did you do the right thing?"

"this has been a hell of a week" Shakespeare - my favorite of all the Bard's plays; rumor has it that it will be the next production of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival

u.s. presidents "rated by i.q." - my personal nomination for president with the lowest I.Q.? This gentleman

success of jla laundry - someone out there...needs to get some direct sunlight. Honestly.

Thanks for reading!

Ways to Kill Office Boredom

Since my staff is out of the office, it's left me with a significant amount of free time. (I always plan to do 3 - 4 hours of work, knowing full well that there are often times when I'll need to be away, or have to put out fires, etc). However, for many of you out there who may be bored at work, here are some tips. Enjoy!

• If you have one of those office chairs with wheels (and a smooth floor), nothing says "time waster" quite like pushing off with your feet and bumping into your office furniture.
• Offer free body piercings to your coworkers using your stapler.
• Create the perfect fantasy person with this and these. (Gender is up to you)
• Dial random extensions and, when they pick up, pretend they are calling you.
• When your phone rings, hit the speaker phone button and announce in a stern voice, "Batman speaking"
• Read and leave comments on blogs. If pressed, claim that you're doing "community outreach"
• Watch YouTube - if you have no sound card on your computer (like on mine), dub in your own dialogue a la MST3K
• Leave comments such as "Mike Sterling is a big cheaterpants", and then check Google to see how the blog ranks in the search
• Write Wikipedia entries...and make up stuff
  

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's back to time wasting, er, I mean work. I have important forms to fill out. Yeah, that sounds right.

Sunday Dibbling With the Dibbleys

Spent part of yesterday morning on a planting/volunteer project, and so I got to use a dibble. The picture to the left refers to a family of characters from Red Dwarf. Please learn to note the difference.

And now, without further adieu, some comics (and other) related thoughts this Sunday morning.

• Just caught Idiot's Lantern, the latest new Doctor Who episode (at least, the one I can get my hands on) is one that should have been a two-parter. Witty, inventive, a little rushed...just proves that, like last year's subtle The Unquiet Dead, Mark Gatiss knows how to write good scripts. More, please.
  
• Mike - if I would have known you would have snapped, I would have never made this suggestion.
• With the news that Batwoman will be a lipstick lesbian, I have no idea what disgusts me more: the casual homophobia at least one of DC's staff; the fact that some fanboys are screaming "politically correct" without knowing what the phrase means or not getting up from behind the computer and taking a look outside; the fact that other fanboys are making sniggering, stupid comments like, "Gee, I wonder what's in her utility belt" and seeing how blatantly stupid those comments are; or that DC should maybe consider focusing on diversity within its writing/art staff before making the DC universe diverse.
  
• Sorry about that - had to get on my soapbox. Please feel free to e-mail me with any criticisms or comments.
• Since only two bloggers entered the blogiversary contest, they both win. I'll have both of their entries up within the next week, and I'll also send them their prizes next weekend.
  
• To be a little politically incorrect, it's sad when you have to explain to someone the concept of Crisco Twister.
• Courtesy of Lifehacker, here are strategies to win something from those "claw machines"
• Finally, tomorrow is my dad's birthday. In that spirit, here's a clip that demonstrates how well Dad and I got (and get) along: