Last Week's Ticket In This Week's Train Station

First, a gratuitous Graham Parker reference - let's see if our favorite Parker fans can identify the reference.

Anyway, the long and short of it - ankle's healing well, work's keeping me on my toes, and I'm recovering from a really cool Thanksgiving. (Having a cute-as-get-out godson helps). So, in order to celebrate, an update on the shows that I'm Netflixing, especially since it's cheaper than cable.

Deadwood - I owe Tom the Dog. Big time. This western is sheer genius, turning profanity into poetry, and giving us a small piece of "real" history. And that's just after the first four episodes.

House, Season 2 - I also owe Polite Scott; this is probably the closest we will ever come to a 21st century Sherlock Holmes. The medicine is non-guessable; the soapishness is just right. Makes me regret not going to medical school.

Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. - Mix a little Wild, Wild West with a slightly knowing sense of humor (think Army of Darkness), and you get this shoulda-been-a-hit. Bruce Campbell can do no wrong, and quite frankly, I've fallen in love with this actress all over again.

30 Days - After viewing the first disc, this is my second favorite "reality" show. (My first is Penn and Teller's Bull$h!+ on Showtime). Morgan Spurlock should receive a ton of free money for this show, examining the minimum wage, youth issues, and religious tolerance. Each episode touches on some other, deeper issues.

Justice League Unlimited - Why aren't the comics this good?

Coming Up on Blog THIS, Pal!: I answer Roger's questions; I discuss my top candidate for a comic book girlfriend; and of course, cool guy tips.

A Belated RIP

Rest in peace, Dave Cockrum - the guy who is responsible for reintroducing the X-Men, among other things.

Manly Movies for Manly Men

(Updated July 16, 2019)

I know what you hard-living, single, macho kinda guys like me are thinking, "Hey, Gordon, I want to impress some potential significant other with a movie, but don't want to rely on something that Oprah might like. Do you have any manly movies that the ladies/potential boyfriends/partner might enjoy?"

(NOTE - Yes, I know that there are those who read this blog who are not cisgender heterosexual male. But this post was originally written in 2006. Now, as I write this in 2019, I know better)

First, since the Thanksgiving weekend usually means football, our first manly movie is Brian's Song. (The 1971 version, not the crappy Disney remake). Originally a made-for-television movie (in the dark ages before cable), this is the true story of Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo, who played for the Chicago Bears. Of course, this was during a time when race relations were not at their greatest. In a little under an hour and a half, this movie contains more thoughtfulness, heart, and intellect than in your average Julia Roberts movie. Plus, it stars James Cann and Billy Dee Williams - I mean, come on, Sonny Corleone and Lando Calrissian in the same movie? What guy wouldn't see it! And yes, this is a tearjerker, but it's a tearjerker done with smarts, intelligence, humor, and football.

The other manly movie for manly men that I recommend is The Whole Wide World. If it were just the story of a schoolteacher's relationship with a pulp writer, it wouldn't be a manly movie. (Having Renee Zellwinger as the female lead does earn it some women-friendly points) It does earn manly points for having that pulp writer be Robert E Howard, who created Conan the Barbarian. However, there are two words that make this movie a real manly movie:

Vincent D'Onofrio.

His portray of Robert E Howard is nothing short of brilliant - a key scene in a cornfield, where Howard spins one of his "yarns" for Novalyne Price, shows off D'Onfrio's chops. Moving from sensitivity to madness, from intensity to full-out rage, D'Onofrio gives Howard a kind of weight that a lesser actor might not have. If this were his only other movie (than Full Metal Jacket), D'Onofrio would still be impressive. In my opinion, the man could act out the phone book and I'd pay money to see it.

Like Brian's Song, this is something of a tearjerker, but both movies work in a way opposite Hollywood's current efforts. Rather than manipulate your emotions, these films allow you to care for the characters, so that when tragedy strikes, the shock is legitimate, and there are no easy answers. These are both well-made, heartfelt films and deserve a place on your video shelf.

And if you're a man and don't cry during these movies, you're either dead or a cold-hearted misanthrope.

Happy Thanksgiving

Since I'm heading out to Chicago for the holiday, just wanted to briefly touch base and wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving, and hope you get stuffed.

(Bad joke, I know)

And the Post Best Worth Waiting For Goes To...

Redhead Fangirl, for her capturing my favorite actor in action.

(And if you're not convinced, rent this movie)

Original Content to Follow

Just got back from Seattle last night - will (hopefully) have a pretty good post tomorrow. Since my foot still hurts a little (will have to call my doctor to get it checked out), will take it easy the rest of today.

In that spirit, here's a little something ripped off, er, I mean, borrowed from Beaucoup Kevin. Actually, two things - see if you can spot the gratuitous pop culture reference!

Greetings from Seattle

First, it's cold, wet, and rainy here in Seattle. Able to find a way to post online.

Unfortunately, I slipped and ended up spraining my left ankle, so I'm hobbling around like...well, something that hobbles.

Ask me your questions. Tell me no lies.

Talk to everyone later.

5 Things To Do While I'm Gone

As many of you know, I'll be heading out of town to Seattle for a big work-related conference. (Plus, I'm hoping to check out where they filmed The Night Strangler when I have a little time off). Since I won't be around for the usual shenanigans (and don't know if I will be able to sneak away to a computer), here are five things you can do to keep yourself occupied:

1. Read more blogs! That's right - find out what Lefty's selling! Laugh at Andy Martello! Enjoy the hard hitting posts at The Comic Treadmill. There's plenty of fun reading material online, and all you gotta do is browse.
2. Please feel free to post your questions in the comments or e-mail them to me at blogthispal (at) gmail (dot) com (if Haloscan doesn't work for you). Yes, it's time once again for the meme that Roger likes to steal, er, I mean, "borrow" from occasionally.
   
3. Spend the next five days writing 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo.
4. Do some early Christmas shopping - there's an Amazon.com search button on this page somewhere.
5. Decide which is funnier: this obviously doctored photo of Mike Sterling (done with Microsoft Paint): or this real photo of me as Batman Beyond for Mardi Gras 2002

Have fun, stay out of trouble, and see you all later!

November's Record You Should Own

November's Record You Should Own is the answer to the following question:

Your name is Alex Chilton. You had a phenomenal amount of success as a teen with the Box Tops. As part of another group, Big Star, your first two records - transcendent pop in a post-acid rock world - fail miserably. You and your studio are running out of money, and you're not happy. What do you do?

Big Star's Third/Sister Lovers (recorded around 1973, released in bootleg and pirated editions around 1977, and finally formally released by Rykodisc in the early 90s) is a fragile, shattered masterpiece. If you are looking for polish, this album has little - false stops/starts, studio chatter, songs degenerating (one song ends with an improbably drum solo). But hidden in the cracks is an album that reflects the artist's state of mind, and for those who get a little moody this time of year, is the best soundtrack music.

Ryko's edition starts with "Thank You Friends", a slightly Broadway-esque number that turns sarcastic in the chorus ("All the ladies and gentlemen/that made this all so...probable.) and ends with Chilton asking, "Have I done something wrong?" [Just try playing it before Thanksgiving dinner, and watch the familial fireworks begin!]"Big Black Car" puts it all on the table with Chilton declaring "Nothing can hurt me....nothing can touch me." Even the joyful proclamation of "Jesus Christ" (a Christmas song like no other) turns sour, when before the end, Chilton declares, "We're gonna get born now." By the time Chilton sings the closing lines of "Holocaust", the listener is unsure whether Chilton is singing to someone in particular...or into a mirror.

Gradually, the titles bear our Chilton's mindset - "You Can't Have Me", "Night Time" (which ends "get me out of here/I hate it here/get me out of here", and with the "official" finish of "Take Care", the listener feels less sure, as if Chilton is suggesting moving on without him.

Ryko's disc is the one to get - yes, there are other CD versions, but Ryko smartly places the extra tracks towards the end. Starting with a mournful cover of "Til the End of the Day" by the Kinks, it moves into "Dream Lover" (a Chilton composition), a cover of Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy" (in which Chilton sings the final verse with a tone of near disbelief) and ends with "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". The closing song jars somewhat, but in the end, shows that music is about transcending mood, of the redemptive power that comes when one artist expresses his soul.

This is not an easy listen - it's not the kind of disc you casually break out. However, as winter's chill moves over autumn, it's the kind of emotional starkness that is refreshing, especially in these more manufactured musical times. But believe me, you'll be all the better for it.

Comics I've Been Reading

In between working, getting ready to head to lovely, scenic Seattle for a conference next week, and other things, I've been reading comics. Here are some capsule comments for your reading pleasure.

Nextwave # 9: Ok, so let me get this straight - Civil War, with the cliche of "clone Thor", keeps getting published, but this book, with the brilliant concept of "homicide crabs" gets canceled? God hates our guts.

Seven Soldiers # 1: Hol. Lee. Gosh. This is much, much better. Worth the wait, especially the last page.

52 # 23 - 26: The creation of the least likely villain, and now - now - things seem to be coming together. I'll give it another month or two.

Agents of Atlas # 4: One of my current favorites, with its heady mix of flat-out action, post-modern glimpses at old characters, and some interesting developments. Plus, it has monkeys, robots, and punching - three things I insist be present in my comics.

Ex Machina # 24: I love Ex Machina's mix of urban politics and slightly fantastic elements (luckily, Mayor Hundred doesn't don his suit to save the day every time). I liked this arc, since it touched on some issues that I have an interest in...but doesn't do so in a preachy way.

Supergirl & the Legion of Super-Heroes # 23: Why am I not surprised by the ending?

Planetary # 26: After years of enjoying this book, the storyline (possibly) comes to a close. It was a wild wide. Can't wait for the trades.

And of course, continuing to dig Secret Six, All New Atom and Fables.

And now, a little something I borrowed from this blog:

Gordon's Fortune for November 10, 2006 Fortune by myYearbook.com the World's Biggest Yearbook! Find Out Your Fortune! Name: Age: Sex: MaleFemale Birthday: Month----------JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberDay---12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031,YYYY

Gee, God, Are You Trying to Tell Me Something?

Took this poll from Roger's site, and here's what I found. Maybe this is where I should focus my next job search.

American Cities That Best Fit You::

65% Chicago

60% Philadelphia

50% Atlanta

50% Miami

50% Washington, DC

Which American Cities Best Fit You?

(And yes, I can appreciate the irony given my previous posts)

A Brief Editorial About Voting

If you cruise the blogosphere, you will find that there is a meme popping up that tells you whether or not you should vote. When you click on it, you are shown a photo and asked who that person is, and what that person's role is. Then, you're graded and told whether or not you should vote, or whether you need to "research the issues."

Now, maybe it's because I got a C+ on their quiz, but quite frankly, who are they to determine who should vote and who should do research? (Several of the questions related to foreign leaders, and I missed those. Some I misidentified, calling them "Senate Minority Leader" rather than "Senator".)

Believe me, I understand the need for an educated voter pool - we don't want to stuff the ballot box in either direction. However, framing the debate in terms of whether or not to vote - rather than the need to learn more about international politics - does our country a great disservice. This organization's mission (as per their web site) is

to combat the "Get out the Vote" movement that is pushed by organizations that would like to increase the number of uneducated voters to help their cause. DontVote.org encourages people to Vote, but only AFTER they have educated themselves on the policies and individuals for which they are voting. Voting should be considered a privilege and exercised with responsibility and discretion. Just like a final exam, responsible voting requires self-education and thought. When the time comes to cast your ballot, if you don't know for what or whom you're voting, then DON'T VOTE.

I agree with the next-to-last statement - too often, both sides sponsor voter registration drives in order to build their numbers, resulting in bad elections. However, voting is not just a privilege - it is a right granted to citizens. To deny them that right moves us in a dangerous direction.

It's curious because the movement is sponsored by the AARP (believe it or not) - and let's make one thing straight: voters have the responsibility to know what they're voting on. But they are not being fair - it's not about personalities, but about issues. Anyone can fail a "who is this", test - but can anyone discuss issues around stem cell research? The war in Iraq? They are right in that voters need to be educated, but here's a suggestion - take the time to educate them, not belittle them because they can't tell Christina Aguillera from Condoleeza Rice.

(Which I can do, by the way).

So today, as you're surfing the net, take the time to learn about the issues on the table for tomorrow. Don't spread memes without knowing what they're about.

And more importantly, tomorrow, vote or die. It's that simple.

Random Abandoned Thoughts

Good morning, everyone,

Just a few random blogging points before I head out of town this weekend.

• If you haven't already (and you live in or near St. Louis), be sure to sign up for the upcoming Boys and Girls Town Battle of the Sexes Trivia Night on 11/11. It will be fun, we have about five tables left, and you can mock me publicly. How cool is that?
• As a private citizen, I encourage all of you Missouri residents to vote on Amendment 3, which would raise the tobacco tax to meet the national average. For those of you who think this is unreasonable, just a thought - in Chicago, where there's a city, state, and county tax, cigarettes are $11 a pack. Missouri's getting off lucky.
• Other than encouraging everyone who can to vote this Tuesday, the above point is the only major announcement. As Mark Kilmer and I used to say, "Vote or die. It's that simple."
• Wow, St. Louis won the World Series. Great - more people dressing in red clogging the MetroLink and keeping me from getting a seat. (Just kidding, St. Louis, honest).
• Funniest. Post. Ever.
• I think Lefty liked my Burn THIS, Pal! mix, don't you?
• Finally, I've been using this service as a way to organize my online life - think I should become an affiliate?

Thanks, and have a great weekend. And make sure Mike doesn't get any Oreos. 'Cause he has the biggest pair of cheater pants around.

JSA Classified # 18 - Thoughts (Spoilers)

I have to admit, expecting realism in comics may be a bit of a fools' errand - after all, most comics are not hard-hitting documentaries, but about guys in tights beating each other up. However, much like Polite Scott and medicine, I have some quibbles about JSA Classified # 18 - I've worked in the substance abuse field for quite a few years, and am familiar with the concepts of recovery. (Plus, I know people who actually are in 12-Step recovery - if any of you are in recovery and would like to comment, please feel free to sign "anonymous" or "Friend of Bill W." Please try to be respectful with this).

So, anyway, onto the book - the plot concerns Hourman II fighting Bane, who has kidnapped Hourman I, citing an unusual connection between Miraclo and Venom. In the midst of exposition, Bane informs Hourman I that

"(Your son) said that he beat his addiction to your Wonder Drug by 'accepting his own weakness'"

It's later repeated towards the end. First quibble - recovery is not about admitting weakness but powerlessness. If someone enters, say, Alcoholics Anonymous, they are admitting that they have a problem - that they cannot use alcohol. If they do, they go down a spiral, much like a Jellinek scale. So, they admit that they are powerless over alcohol - they can't have just one. As they progress, yes, they admit their faults and do what they can to make amends, but they don't admit weakness. A later quote from Hourman II that he "conquered...drug addiction" is a misnomer. Addicts and alcoholics don't say that they conquered, and if I remember my AA Big Book, alcoholism is a disease that is "arrested, but never cured."

It's another moment - one that parallels many criticisms of groups like Alcoholics Anonymous - that rings false. It's when Hourman II takes a "time out" to pray to his Higher Power to trigger his time vision. In recovery, a "Higher Power" isn't prayed to like Santa Claus - most addicts/alcoholics/co-dependents feel as if they are "in control". Relying on a "Higher Power" isn't asking for results, but allowing things to play out with a certain amount of faith. It's also a false recovery presented, as Hourman II

• not only relies on a "non-addictive" form of Miraclo, but
• gives his father - another addict - a Miraclo pill to end the story.

Now, despite these quibbles, there are two things I would like to say - first, I like the idea of the recovering super-hero, matching 12-Step concepts with the whole idea of being able to lift buildings. (DC, if you're interested, give me a call, and I'll put together a proposal by Christmas. I'll even write it. It will be like a super-hero version of Stuart Saves His Family, only with more punching).

In addition, if the rumors are true, Hourman II will be "married" to Jesse Quick/Liberty Belle, and I like the idea. Two second-generation legacy heroes, each who had their own period of exile from the super-hero community...it looks to be interesting.

Hopefully, Tony Bedard can do a little more research before writing it.