Newsarama Threads We'd Like to See

(By the way, the following is satirical, and no way no how resembles the comic blogosphere. I swear. Double swear on my grandmother's grave. And apologies to Mike)

Who's the best comics blogger?

"Who, in your opinion, has the best content when it comes to comics and graphic literature. Who do you think is the best blogger on comics out there."

"I honestly feel that Beaucoup Kevin is the best comics blog - it's literate, has some great insights, and is just plain fun!"

"You're wrong - it's Dorian's site - it's funny, snarky, and just plain entertaining."

"Quit burning your lips on the crack pipe - there's a site where a guy talks about comics at times, but he also posts pictures. I think it's named after his girlfriend, Delenda. He could kick the other bloggers butts"

"Gotta go with Dave's Long Box - let's face it, he flosses punks like these other bloggers out of his teeth, and he can pimp slap Goku like the sissy boy he is"

"Two words: Polite Dissent. Anyone who disagrees with me gets a napalm enema."

"You know what would be cool? If these guys, like, formed a superhero team and called themselves, like, the Comics Blog Legion. They could fight, like, Thor and ninjas and stuff and take Wolverine's adamantium skeleton and use it to shave Superman's head and get some kryptonite lightsabers and go all snakes on a plane on Darth Vader and stuff."

"Actually, you know who should be taken off? Comics Should be Good and that Comic Spoilers sight. I mean, man, they're always busting on Bendis, man. Bendis is God! He rulz!"

"Hey, who wants to call that Brill guy and invite him to Fake ID night at the local bar? Who's with me?"

"You know, all of you - you're lame. You're lame because the post-Crisis Superman could take you all and trade you in for cigarettes in prison. And not real cigarettes, but the cheap generic ones. Yeah, so knock it off."

"Let me just remind all of you - the Absorbascon could kick all the bloggers fannies. Let's face it, it has haiku, panels, and DC goodness, whereas all that the bloggers have is just dumb opinions."

=================================================

Brief note - all of the above comments were meant in a satiric manner, and in no way reflects how I feel about the above blogs. Except the Bendis comment. The dude needs to lose the ego. Honestly.

(Besides, hard day at work. Needed to blow off some steam. All in fun).

Tales From The Pull File

Now that I have a regular income, that only means one thing - the kind of two-fisted critical analysis of current comic releases (and other stuff) that you've come to expect from this blog.

Ok, you're more about my obscure references, so without further adieu...

All-Star Superman # 3: Although I really like what Morrison's trying to do (integrate the sheer weirdness of Silver Age Superman with a 21st Century sensibility), what I find appealing about this comic is the sheer humanity and - dare I say it - realism in the writing. Best example: Lois asks Superman what he sees in her. His response is priceless, and Quitely's art reinforces that moment. Everything Miller and Lee can't (or won't) do on All-Star Batman.

Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes # 16: Granted, the last page came out of nowhere, but except for the first three pages (I mean, really - Klar? putting on glasses? Spitcurl), an enjoyable read. I'm glad I'm getting back into the Legion.

New Avengers: Illuminati # 1: Avengers continuity used horribly wrong. Basically, Tony Stark encourages his smart colleages to do stuff, and they tell him where to go. Somehow, I doubt I'll be following Civil War...

Young Avengers # 10: Avengers continuity used cleverly and enjoyably. Even though it's in the middle of the "Family Matters" arc, this is just a flat-out fun book, and is my personal favorite Marvel, along with...

Exiles # 78: I'm probably in the minority, but I really dig this book. It's good, turn-off-your-brain, doesn't-take-itself-too-seriously ("This league serves justice"? Please) entertainment, and a great use of the Squadron Supreme. In fact, speaking of which...

Squadron Supreme # 1: Here we go again. Someone please remind JMS that it is perfectly ok to tell a story, and not "write for the trade".

New Rules by Bill Maher: You know, this stuff was funny when George Carlin first said it. (Note to Greg - when you become dictator, can we exile Mr. Maher to Antarctica? Please?)

Invincible # 29 & 30: On the cover, it says "Probably the best super-hero comic book ever written." Remove the "probably" - this book has Silver Age-style writing with some nice, modern flourishes. If you're not reading this book, there is something horribly wrong with you.

Powers # 17: Probably gonna have this book removed from the pull file. Didn't get it, and showing that Bendis is slowly - but surely- losing it.

JSA Classified # 10: I like the set-up, but it was a little "too" structured for my taste - in fact, I half expected to hear a voice pronounce "JSA Classified - A Quinn Martin Production". However, I'm such a Golden Age fanboy, it was worth it.

Fables # 47: The other book that, if you're not reading it, there is something horribly wrong with you.

Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle - Finally, if you're expecting a dumb, typical stoner comedy - this isn't it. It's a funny (though not to everyone's taste), insightful, and at times touching gem of a movie, and I wanna see more John Cho and Kal Penn adventures. The only weak spot - Neil Patrick Harris, who is supposed to be "spoofing" himself, but in the film (and in the supplmentary materials) takes himself way too seriously. Plus, this film features the greatest food ever made. How can you go wrong with that?

Special Announcement

Everyone,

I don't know if you caught this, but the President just announced that he is cancelling Daylight Savings Time.

In his address to the nation, President Bush announced, "We have to defend freedom, and to bring a Higher Power to those who lack it. We, in our arrogance, dare to defy divine will by setting our clocks ahead and back, thinking that we are manipulating the space time continuum by doing so. However, taking the initiative, this great nation will begin to fight the tyranny of time manipulation by canceling Daylight Savings Time. We hope that our international brethren will join suit, and move us toward a common goal - building a better, stronger America. Anyone caught setting their clocks ahead one hour beginning April 1, 2006, will be shot on sight. Since 1991, we have placed a special chip in timekeeping devices, and we will be aware when you set your clocks ahead. Besides, the great strength of our nation is when common people join together and work towards conforming to our nation's standards. We encourage everyone to join with us in this great endeavor - to handle time ourselves, rather than conform to some outrageous deception due to moving clock hands."


Please feel free to discuss in the comments.

Probably Work Safe, but Shouldn't Be....

This site scares me. A lot.

Dan Curtis - An Appreciation

Continuing from yesterday's obituary...

If Dan Curtis' only major accomplishment was Dark Shadows, or his adaptations of horror classics in the early 70s, or even the Night Stalker/Night Strangler movies, or even Winds of War/War and Rememberance, he would be considered a great producer. The fact that all of these are on his resume - especially in a 20 year period - demonstrates his unique talent, and how his passing is a great loss for contemporary pop culture.

I've said it privately, and I'll say it publicly - Dark Shadows is the closest America will ever come to Doctor Who. Initially starting as a "Gothic soap opera", it moved into more supernatural (read: ghosts and spooky happenings) realms. On the verge of cancellation, Curtis executed a desperation move - introduce a vampire into the show. Of course, that vampire was Barnabas Collins, an acting tour-de-force for Shakespearean-trained Jonathan Frid. If you ever have the chance to watch the initial Barnabas arc in black-and-white, it contains obsession, scientific accuracy (although Polite Scott might quibble, since he has a little more experience with "blood diseases"), terror, and enough of a jolt to say, "This isn't another soap opera." Gradually, the show began integrating other horror classics into its storylines, and shifted between Collinwood's present-day inhabitants and past relatives, with actors often playing mulitple roles.. For five years, this was the must-watch show, and had a nice, frothy mix of soapiness, fantasy, and flat-out brilliance. (It even had two spin-off movies and a 1991 revival series - how cool is that?) Sure, the sets wobbled occasionally, and maybe there was a flubbed line or missed cue, but so what? That didn't hurt Doctor Who, and it sure doesn't hurt Dark Shadows (which, not coincidentally, is available on DVD - rent it on Netflix, though, because unless you are a hardcore DS fan, the sets are not cheap).

After that, taking on some of the horror "classics", Curtis did a series of knock-em-out-of-the-ballpark adaptations of horror classics. (Ironically, some of which I remember watching when I was small and wee). Watching them now, the only real awkwardness is that several are on videotape - other than that, these are some striking, accurate adaptations. Personal faves include Jack Palance in Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde (no, I'm not kidding, why do you ask?) and a chilling adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray. (Plus, who can forget the classic Trilogy of Terror, with Karen Black being terrorized by a doll no bigger than a roll of toilet paper?) Better than reading the originals, and quite frankly...I wouldn't be surprised if Mister Alan Moore watched these, mixed in a little bit of The Wild Wild West...and, you know....I'm just sayin', that's all. (Plus, you could easily draw a line from Curtis' audience-friendly takes on horror themes to Buffy, but that's just my opinion; your mileage may vary)

Even though he was not involved in the later Kolchak series, Curtis directed the two "debut" movies of everyone's favorite reporter, Carl Kolchak. The Night Stalker took on vampires in Las Vegas, but it's The Night Strangler which is my personal favorite. Utilizing Seattle, Kolchak discovers a man who has created an immortality serum...but it's well worth finding and watching for yourself. Don't worry about the non-Curtis Kolchak series, which relied on a "monster-of-the-week" premise: these are the films that influenced The X-Files, providing a rational explanation for seemingly otherworldly behavior. (Of course, usually the results were more "otherworldly", but that was Curtis' singular genius - making the extraordinary seem somehow, well, normal).

So, friends, when I say that pop culture has had a significant loss, I'm not exaggerating - we truly have lost one of the true pioneers of modern media.

And now, I'm off to "shake what my mother gave me", whatever that means.

Dan Curtis RIP

As I was blogreading this fine Monday evening, I came across this item in Mah Two Cents.

I think it's safe to say, without Mr. Curtis, pop culture - as we know it - would not exist.

The Burgas Exchange: Roger & Lefty

This has been one busy week - trying to get organized at work, pulling a hamstring before a big open house (tempting me to contact Polite Scott for some mega-painkillers), and watching the Fantastic Four on DVD. (Which was only made, I suspect, to reveal this lady in various stages of undress....but that isn't a bad thing, I suppose).

However, thank God for Greg's CD exchange, which has allowed me to sit back, relax (with ice on my leg), and enjoy some tunes whilst waiting for Lefty's CD exchange. (And if you haven't signed up yet, what's keeping you?)

First came Roger's disc, which contains songs about religious doubt. (Go back through his blog, and there's a share on some of his "spiritual" mixes). Of course, he starts his entry with "The Vatican Rag" by Tom Lehrer - anyone who likes Tom Lehrer has gotta be all right with me. Other highlights include a cover of XTC's "Dear God", "Christmas" by the Who (which really deserves a lot more classic radio play), and Johnny Cash's "Mercy Seat" (which has more plot twists and turns than, say, the Fantastic Four movie). A pretty decent mix.

File under "darn-I-wish-I'd-thought-of-that" - the mighty Lefty Brown has come up with the spatiotemporal mix - a song for each year he's been alive. Some cool stuff in the mix - highlights include the one-two-three punch of AC/DC, the Jam, and Bruce Springsteen on disc 1, and Beck leading into Cake Like (whose song sounds like a tequila-fueled jam session between the Breeders and B-52s).

This weekend - definitely some well-earned R & R. Plus, I'll have to come up with some cool posts for this week.

Thanks for reading!

I'm In Trouble

Just read this news on the the Matter-Eater Lad Blog.

I always knew redheads named Julie were trouble....

(And yes, there is a story behind that, but that's a post for another time. Plus, if you're reading - and you know who you are - drop me a line, will ya? I owe you lunch).

Monday Evening Blogaround

Quick question for you Haloscan experts - why do some people have problems with comments on my blog? And how do I fix it?

Ok, obligatory Infinite Crisis post (spoiler - you should see it by swiping):

so the multiverse is being fixed by Superboy's punching stuff? Gee, that makes a lot of sense. Sounds scientifically accurate.

Anyway, just an assortment of madness from around the blogosphere, but on a serious note - if you can, please hire Andy to entertain you. Having experienced the unemployment thing myself, I know how tough it is - he's a funny guy, and can juggle. Trust me, I've seen him in action.

Also, if you haven't already, sign up for Mixed Bag 4: The Voyage Home. You'll be glad you did.

Finally, for all of you Sherlock Holmes aficianados - your very own blog.

From Lifehacker - some public speaking tips, as well as a way to receive RSS feeds via e-mail.

Hey, look, it's an organizational superhero! (OK, DC and Marvel, go ahead and sue me - I'm not afraid).

Roger wants you to ask him things. I dare anyone to ask him where babies come from. I hear you can buy them at Trader Joe's.

Greg shares his opinion on the V for Vendetta movie, and gives us a blog that actually makes good use of Marmaduke.

Freeware! Freeware! Get yer hot, steamin' freeware!

The Accordian Guy goes educational on us.

Finally, a thank you to Scott of Polite Dissent, for introducing me to the genius that is House, MD. Favorite line - House tells a guy he takes vicodin because "they're yummy".

Thanks, Scott, for everything!

Ideas Are Bulletproof

It was the first time I had seen a movie well....since Batman Begins, before a lack of funds limited me to DVDs from the public library. However, now that I have a semi-regular income, I decided to go all out and see a brand new movie. After smuggling in some Switzer's red licorice (another reason I love St. Louis), I sat down, watched some boring pre-movie advertising, and after the trailers, caught my first post-hiring, post-2006 movie.

I'm talking, of course, about V For Vendetta.

Now, I know there's been a lot of talk about the movie - especially from Alan Moore - but there's a good news/bad news to this movie. Bad news - if you're expecting a shot-by-shot recreation of the graphic novel, you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you're expecting a faithful adaptation of the graphic novel - with some really cool, interesting bits thrown in - you won't be disappointed.

One of the key aspects of the film is that, even though it takes place in near-future England, it is as timely as if it were made about modern-day America. (Yes, some people might feel the filmmakers are copping out by not making it about modern America - however, England's had its share of dealing with similar issues). Plus, it allows the filmmakers to take some harder-hitting strides, giving the film a power in 2006 America as it did in 1980s England.

Now, some liberties are taken with the plot, mostly in creating a B-plot around a plague. Several characters are given motivations and backgrounds that serve to really further the overall theme. In addition, the third act - consisting of the infamous "dominos" scene to the end - creatively sums all of Moore's and Lloyd's themes in a way that is much more emotionally satisfying. (And somewhat more honest - would a better world need a V-like character?) Plus, the third act contacts enough F*&% Yeah! moments to keep Dave's Long Box busy for several weeks. The only real disappointments are an almost stock-in-trade warehouse showdown with oh-so-cool effects, as well as a slight attempt to create a "love story" that comes off as a slight case of Stockholm syndrome.

However, kudos have to be spread to where they belong - the actors, especially Hugo Weaving. Let's face it, acting behind a mask is tough, and much like Stephen Thorne in Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars, is able to connote much through voice tone and body movement. Stephen Fry also deserves kudos, and Natalie Portman shows that with a good director who allows her to act, she can come through in spades.

Unlike other comic-related movies, the technical achievements don't overshadow the strength of its script. It will also get a lot of the religious right upset, because it is an allegorical picture of our modern times. It's the movie that Michael Moore wishes he had made - passionate, intelligent, creative, and with enough to make you want to see it a second time. It's an almost perfect adaptation of a masterpiece of graphic literature.

See this movie. Now. Even if it means selling plasma.

Short Takes

First, thanks to the St. Louis Public Library, I was able to enjoy all three acts of the Batman: War Games arc from several years ago. Of course, I use "enjoy" loosely - it is an interesting premise (one of the g*****n Batman's plans to control Gotham gang activity goes awry); however, in execution, it's mostly "oh, ****, how do we deal?" It becomes painfully evident that this was to drive sales, and hopefully, the post-Infinite Crisis DC Universe will stay away from event-driven comics for awhile.

Well, one can only hope.

Speaking of event comics, much like Mike and Dorian, I was able to catch the Ultimate Avengers animated "movie", complete with pop-up commentary which - for some reason - suggests that the over-21 drinking age is a good thing. It's a pretty good animated movie, almost a shot-for-shot retelling of the original comics. The style is a few notches above Saturday morning animated fare, and I wish Cap had said, "What do you think the A stands for - France?" It's not a DVD I would own, but it's well worth renting.

Finally, all I can say about Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars is....thanks, Brian. Both my good pal Brian, the poker playing tough guy who's huggable and lovable, and Brian Henson. Three hours of non-stop Farscape action that brings the series to a satisfying conclusion. An explanation of how the Peacekeepers got their name. People live. People die. And except for one slightly painful piece of irony, well-written. Watch the first four seasons before catching this, however. You'll thank me later.

(Be sure to sign up for Lefty Brown's Mixed Bag Exchange - only a few spaces left!)

Getting Alphabetical

Borrowed From Other Blogs:

A - Age: 38, but looks 37.
B - Band listening to right now: Buzzcocks
C - Career future: Eventually, executive director of a non-profit, followed by freelance consulting for non-profits, allowing me to "retire" in my early 40s
D - Dad's name: Richard
E - Easiest person to talk to: A few select friends
F - Favorite song: "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King
G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Bears
H - Hometown: Chicago
I - Instruments: some piano notes, some guitar chords, a little harmonica
J - Job: Program Director, Clean Air Project
K - Kids: none that I know of
L - Longest car ride ever: Chicago to Eugene, Oregon; then Eugene to St. Louis.
M - Mom's name: Linda
N - Number of jobs you've had: eight
P - Phobia[s]: Heights, snakes
Q - Quote: "Whatever it is, I'm against it"
R - Reason to smile: Fresh brewed coffee in the morning.
S - Song you sang last: "I Walk the Line" Johnny Cash
T - Time you wake up: 5:30 am - 6:00 am (On Sundays, it's 7:00 am)
U - Unknown fact about me: I once served as an extra in a Robert DeNiro movie
V - Vegetable you hate: raw celery
W - Worst habit: not shaving for two to three days
X - X-rays you've had: teeth, left foot, head
Y - Yummy food: ice cream, kugelis, cheeseburgers
Z - Zodiac sign: Pisces

Respect His Authoritah!

First, a happy birthday shout-out to Mike ******* Sterling, who runs the greatest comics blog in the multiverse, bar none, which I'm sure impresses his significant other to no end.

In kinda sorta not really related news, Isaac Hayes has left South Park. Now, does anyone else see the irony of a guy from a relatively intolerant belief system berating the show's creators for mocking, well, a belief system with some relatively intolerant individuals within it?

(Oh, and in case you're wondering, here's what Mr. Hayes believes in).

Coming soon to Blog THIS, Pal: Alan Moore's Favorite TV Show. Hopefully, a review of V for Vendetta early next week. The first reviews in the Greg Burgas CD Exchange. And, if you behave yourselves, photos of the new office.

Man in Black

Johnny Cash has always loomed large in my life.

When I was a child, a friend of my mother's had a life-sized cutout of Mr. Cash in her house. She also played Cash's music non-stop (along with other country music). Although my childhood tastes were more pop, there was something about Cash's voice that spoke to me - a straightforward, no-nonsense baritone that hit the right emotional centers. It was a voice that sounded lived in, and that could tell much with very little. It suggested that the man's life would make an excellent movie.

It's just too bad that Walk the Line isn't that movie.

It tries, though, to encapsulate the early rise, fall, and restart of Cash's career, from his Sun Records days to the infamous concert at Folsom Prison. It also tells the story of his relationship with his second wife, June Carter (their son executive produced the film). You'd think it would make for great viewing...unfortunately, it seems more like a bad dramatization of VH1: Behind the Music. All the "high points" are there: the early successes and bad behavior on the road; the unsupportive spouse, the wild affairs, the hot-and-cold running romance, the inevitable addiction - the script seems to settle into familiar patterns, so much so that this could have been run as a movie-of-the-week.

Another weak link is the acting, which tries way too hard but comes up short. Joaquin Phoenix may have Cash's mannerisms down, but vocally, he sounds more like Sinatra with a bad cold. And Reese Witherspoon does give an Oscar-winning performance....it's just too bad she seems to have plagiarized it from Sissy Spacek in Coal Miner's Daughter. (I've heard the real June Carter, and sadly, Witherspoon acts as if she's channelling Mr. Haney from Green Acres. It's close to stereotyping, folks).

Finally, the worst crime this movie commits is that it shows a total lack of understanding of Cash's music. A key scene in Ray shows us how Ray Charles mixed gospel and blues and gave us the cornerstone of his music. De-lovely shows how much of Cole Porter's life ended up reflected in his music. Although we see the early loss that drove Cash, we also have no idea why his music endures. (Listen to it yourself, and you get a good sense of why - the music here is lifeless, bloodless, and dull, everything Cash's music was not). You know when the guy they hire to play Elvis Presley sounds nothing like the real Presley, you're in trouble.

My advice - read Cash's autobiography, if you want some particulars. Otherwise, stick with the music - you'll learn a lot more, and it's money well spent. Otherwise, you can pass on this film.

Referral Log Fun

First, everyone, if you haven't checked it out already, be sure to sign up for Lefty Brown's Mixed Bag CD Exchange and Fish Fry. (Hey, it's Lent, I needed to make that joke). Reviews of Greg's CD exchange participants are forthcoming (especially since I received Roger's disc in the mail yesterday).

Also, in comic-related news, I've been digging two self-purchased birthday presents - Sandman Mystery Theater: The Vamp and Showcase Featuring the Justice League. I've discussed my love of the former series, and in the soon-to-be-post-Infinite-Crisis universe, I hope that it does not become a casualty. Having never read the initial JLA stories of the 1960s, all I have to say is - it's the equivalent of LSD for superhero fans. Yes, the writing can be a bit stiff at time, and I'm not a big fan of Mike Sekowsky's art, but you know what? These stories still work as history in the making.

And now, for a semi-regular feature (read: when I can't think of anything else to write) of this blog - I make snarky comments about my referral logs. Enjoy!

my old man's a refrigerator repairman: This is the number one reference from the past few months, and relates to this post. Someone please e-mail either Rhino and/or Shout Factory to release a Volume Two of Sibling Revelry

quentin waffles detergent: when I want to get my clothes as clean as they can be, I use Quentin Waffles Detergent, now with lemon-fresh borax!

"free planner pages": head here.

big tempin blog: good thing about being employed: don't have to worry about temp work. Bad thing about being employed - they actually expect you to, like, show up and be productive and stuff.

boston legal blog: basically consists of two words: Denny Crain

Coloring pages of Sleepovers/jacqueline Wilson: This is wrong on so many levels.

will pfeiffer: - when will people learn that he has his own blog?

why does jay mohr hate rob schneider - your point being?

tammy faye baker-nude: Again, this is wrong on so many levels.

ease my confusion: Attend the Zombie Killer's March 18th event and all will be explained.

lyrics to the suicide song doctor demento: In all seriousness, if you're feeling suicidal, there are plenty of resources, like the Samaritans. Even if I wanted to, I don't kid about that.

normal working week at JLA laundry: I see London, I see France, I see Booster Gold's underpants

random facts about Bruce Lee: Dorian has converted me - Bruce Lee no, Wildcat yes.

dr. who/lost in space crossover fanfiction: Here is a shameful secret - I once participated in this. No, I will not post it. It's not my proudest hour.

plagiarism is fun - not if you're the guy being plagiarized. Besides, it would look funny if I went from being the clean air dude to a professional entertainer, just as an example.

And a hearty thanks to Dorian, who because of this meme, has tripled the number of visitors to my blog....and here are the runners-up.

Actual content to follow.

Clueless

(My entry for Blog Against Sexism Day, first discovered through this blog).

First, in the interests of full disclose, I am a white, heterosexual male, henceforth known as "the enemy." (I also possess a sense of humor more commonly known as "sarcasm", and possess a substance that helps remove facial hair more commonly known as "shaving cream.") These points are made to only preface my further comments, and to admit that the fact of my blogging about sexism may seem ironic.

Sure, I have to admit, I try to not be sexist, and to keep an open mind -I'll read the occassional book on feminist thought, I rarely (if ever) refer to female friends as "sweetcheeks", and generally try to treat women with respect. But all in all, when it comes to dealing with sexism in an appropriate way, I am entirely clueless.

For example: talking with a male coworker several years ago about the atmosphere of disrespect in our office. He chalked it up to the staff being predominantly female (of course, in my experience, social services are predominantly female), and therefore gossip and cattiness reigned. I, however, took what I thought was the high road - that the tone of disrespect was a top-down issue, and that even if it were male, the behavior was still wrong.

Which one of us - if either - was being sexist?

John Gray - a man I have absolute and utter contempt for - managed to parlay legitimate gender differences into a cheap soundbite. "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus". In other words, men are jerks and women are love objects. (That's why I have contempt for the man - men and women are different, but basically sticking to stereotypes?). Yet many people swear by this guy. Is he sexist, or just telling the truth?

At another job, a female supervisor prevailed upon me to perform tons of manual labor - carrying things, lifting and toting, and often to the detriment of my job duties. The male heads of the agency basically said, "Shut up and deal with it," even to the point where I ended up hobbling on a sprained ankle. So, was she being sexist, or was I?

I have to admit, when it comes to gender relations, it is very frustrating, especially growing up in the post-sexual revolution 70s, transitioning between the free love of the 1960s and the hyperabstinence of the 1980s. I'm sure many young men of my generation were (and are) confused - realizing that the "real man" didn't exist, but also dealing with the implications that "real men" don't eat quiche. With making jokes about "beer and chicks" and dealing with those who believe you misogynistic for saying it.

Yes, I have issues, why do you ask?

But I'm learning - learning that sexism is, at its core, about power. It's not about trying to create a level playing field, but being able to see behind the biases and looking at my behavior. It's about trying to understand the ever-shifting roles and rules, and moving forward from there.

I realize that this may not be the most coherent, and that much of what I have said is chock full of bias. If you need to call me out, please feel free to do so in the comments. In short, I'm just a guy trying to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

Thanks for reading.

Happy Birthday, Roger!

First, a birthday shout-out to my almost twin Roger, who turns a Jack Benny-ish 39 for another year in a row.

(And yes, I'm pushing 39 myself - however, in the spirit of my own birthday post, here's an offering:)

Finally, to Andy and my pals in Illinois, a happy belated Pulaski Day.

It's Mah Birthday!

Yes, that's right, today is my "special day" (and tomorrow is Roger's, so be sure to share the warmth). For all of you , please feel free to leave well-wishes/good vibes/etc in the comments. (For the ladies out there, please feel free to e-mail me...and this Wednesday, I'll be blogging against sexism).

And in that spirit, here's a little something-something to express how I feel about getting older:

Obligatory Pre-Birthday INFINITE CRISIS # 5 Post

OK, I've just finished reading Infinite Crisis # 5, and I'm wondering....I get that it's trying to bring back some good old fashioned optimism. Even liked some of the nods to the past (including the "classic cover" homage), but at the end of the day, why am I thinking that this just a ploy to keep the over-30ish-fanboys (much like myself) happy? And that, much like the Oscars (which I am also avoiding) is more an exercise in ego self-stroking than anything else?

Ah, but onto more positive things....I "borrowed" this from Roger, and you can head here to check it out for yourself, but here's what it says:

You said your birthday is 3 / 6 / 1968
which means you are 37 years old and about:

41 years 9 months younger than Andy Griffith, age 79
38 years 3 months younger than Dick Clark, age 76
36 years 11 months younger than Leonard Nimoy, age 74
34 years 10 months younger than Carol Burnett, age 72
32 years 1 month younger than Alan Alda, age 70
30 years 8 months younger than Bill Cosby, age 68
25 years 4 months younger than Linda Evans, age 63
23 years 1 month younger than Tom Selleck, age 61
20 years 2 months younger than Ted Danson, age 58
17 years 10 months younger than Jay Leno, age 55
14 years 1 month younger than Oprah Winfrey, age 52
13 years 1 month younger than Kelsey Grammer, age 51
9 years 9 months younger than Drew Carey, age 47
6 years 9 months younger than Michael J. Fox, age 44
3 years 4 months younger than Calista Flockhart, age 41
0 years 11 months older than Jennifer Aniston, age 37
4 years 9 months older than Alyssa Milano, age 33
9 years 9 months older than Colin Hanks, age 28
15 years 5 months older than Mila Kunis, age 22
23 years 4 months older than Madylin Sweeten, age 14

and that you were

2 years old when All in the Family was first shown
4 years old at the time the TV series M*A*S*H began
7 years old when Saturday Night Live first aired
10 years old when CBS introduced Dallas
12 years old during the first airing of Hill Street Blues
14 years old at the time the first Cheers episode was televised
18 years old when L.A. Law was first aired on TV
19 years old at the time the series Married with Children began
22 years old when Seinfeld was first televised
23 years old in the month Home Improvement began
26 years old at the time the TV series Friends began
28 years old when Everybody Loves Raymond first aired
31 years old when Who Wants To Be A Millionaire began in the US

Covers CD Of Evil! - Director's Commentary

Thanks to a person who can't use the White Pages, I am now unable to get to sleep - hence the unspeakable hour of this blog. However, since I'll be sending out my discs for Greg's CD exchange, I thought it best to give a "director's commentary" the disc. It's a collection of covers (avoiding selections from Lefty Brown's Mixed Bag 2 dual disc set) with a slightly Kids In the Hall-ish theme. As a note, the original artist/songwriter is in red print because I'm anal, er, I mean, "detail-oriented".

Introduction

Bad Boy – Beatles (Larry Williams) - John Lennon was a big proponent of this artist's work, covering "Dizzy Miss Lizzie", "Slow Down", and this hidden gem. Just close your eyes and picture yourself in Hamburg. Classic moment - Lennon's falsetto on the word "hula hoop".

My Little Red Book – Love (Bacharach/David) - From February's Record You Should Own. Burt Bacharach reputedly hated this rocking version of his tune. Of course, Burt also wrote "Close to You", so there.

Louie Louie – Sonics (Richard Berry): Because no covers CD is complete without at least one version of Louie Louie.

Strange – REM (Wire): Originally a piece of punky moodiness, REM covers it and turns it into flat-out rawk for their first major commercial success.

Viva Las Vegas – Dead Kennedys (Elvis Presley): Get past the slapped-on intro from the movie it was featured in, you gotta love Jello Biafra, who is as close to Joe Strummer as Americans are gonna get.

Disguises– The Jam (The Who): A British band pays homage to one of its roots by covering a lesser-known tune. Great use of feedback, great drumming, and typical early 80's production.

My Sharona – Veruca Salt (The Knack): For some reason, I always have to take a shower after hearing this tune. A long, cold shower.

If I Can't Have You – Eve's Plum (Yvonne Elliman): You know, I hated the original, but love this rockin' cover. Maybe it's Colleen Fitzgerald's down-to-earth vocals that give it a little bite, or the monster guitar riff.

Temptation Eyes – Replacements (Grass Roots): Yes, I could have used the Blake Babies version; however, I like this take for Bob Stinson's guitar, which mixes country, metal, and blues into a potent cocktail.

Pipeline – Dick Dale & Stevie Ray Vaughn (Challengers) - Three minutes of two guitarists kicking ass on a killer song. And also check out the underappreciated movie that used it in its soundtrack.

Pretty in Pink – Social Distortion (Psychedelic Furs): You know, this may be a little too politically correct, so let's end the first "side" of this record with...

Eight Miles High – Husker Du (Byrds): Friends, you must crank your stereo's volume up as far as it will go for this one. This is an eardrum-bleeder you don't wanna miss.

Sir Simon, Master of Funk, testifies (or, if this were a vinyl album, you'd flip it over now)

I Want You Back – Graham Parker & the Rumor (Jackson 5): From January's Record You Should Own, Parker gives this song a little more of an edge, turning it from pre-adolescent longing to adult despair. Just buy the CD, will ya?

Girls Talk – Dave Edmunds (Elvis Costello): Costello's always been a little hit-or-miss, but I honestly believe that Edmunds is the second best person to take on Costello; this is a rockin' little number that takes a less-than-two-minute B-Side and pumps it up. Only Paul McCartney has done better by Declan.

Stairway to Gilligan's Island – Little Roger & the Goosebumps (Led Zeppelin): Adapts the lyrics to Gilligan's Island with the music of "Stairway to Heaven." And I only include this because I can't find the track that mixes "Purple Haze" with the "Green Acres" theme.

Can't Get Used to Losing You – English Beat (Andy Williams): Because I'm like that.

Absolutely Sweet Marie – Flamin Groovies (Bob Dylan): Wanted to stick in a Dylan cover that nobody thought of, so I stuck in the Groovies.

Walk Away Renee – Four Tops (Left Banke): The original is a baroque masterpiece; this track not only adds the soul, but only reinforces what I've been sayin' - Levi Stubbs is in the same league as Otis Redding and the late Wilson Pickett as a great soul singer.

King of the Road – Dean Martin (Roger Miller): Gotta love Dean, whose laid-back, relaxed version makes Roger Miller look like he was taking Ritalin when he recorded the original.

Begin the Begine – Sheryl Crow (Cole Porter): My personal favorite track from De-Lovely. Enjoy.

Our Lips are Sealed – Fun Boy Three (Go-Gos): Maybe technically this isn't a cover, since the lead singer co-wrote the song, but cha, ya know what...my mix CD. My rules. So there.

Cuban Pete – Jim Carrey (Desi Arnaz): Originally featured in The Mask, I just wanted to have a little piece of silliness. The disc was moving towards bummer city, and I wanted to break the mood a bit.

The Wind Cries Mary – Robyn Hitchcock (Jimi Hendrix): While you're buying Squeezing Out Sparks, please throw this DVD in - it's a great concert movie. Of course, this song isn't in the movie (but is present on the soundtrack CD), but don't let that stop you.

Out of Time – Ramones (Rolling Stones): Latter-day Ramones cover a relatively obscure Stones track; however, it's 99% stronger and harder than anything Mick & Keith have released in the past 10 years. Hard to believe three Ramones are gone.

In My Life – Johnny Cash (Beatles):We started the disc with the Beatles cover; we end with a legend covering the Beatles. If this song doesn't bring a lump to your throat, you are one cold cookie indeed.

If you're not part of the exchange, and would like a copy, please e-mail me at blogthispal (at) gmail dot com, and I'll send you a copy gratis. Music's meant to be shared.

If I Had A Sidebar

Ripping off, er, I mean, borrowing an idea from Tom the Dog, I'm going to discuss several of the nice little pieces of pop culture I've been enjoying - luckily, tomorrow, paycheck + tax refund = purchasing obscene amounts of comics and pork rinds. So, since I don't have a real life yet (although ladies, trust me, I'm available, and I can give up the pork rinds), here are my substitutes:

Reading: Just finished Bob Spitz's biography of the Beatles, and let me tell you - this is probably one of the best biographies I have read. If you think you know the Beatles (and there are two guys who do), this book does a really thorough job in presenting the dynamics of the Fab Four, and it reads like really good fiction. Yes, you may think you know what's coming, but quite frankly - it is a good, thorough read. Definitely recommended.

I'm also enjoying weekly installments of Hound of the Baskervilles through Stanford's Discovering Sherlock Holmes series. Trust me, folks - Holmes rocks.

Netflixing: First, saw Serenity last weekend on DVD, while visiting Mom in Chicago. Now, let me get this straight - Firefly, a quality show, gets canceled, but American Idol stays on the air. What brand of crack are Fox network executives smoking?

My personal wish - Serenity spawns a series of made-for-DVD movies, which means - never gonna happen. Nope. Nada.

Also caught Doctor Who: The Claws of Axos - when I first saw it in high school, I thought it was pretty darn lame - rubbery monsters, bad sets, but now, I can recognize it for a pretty strong edition in the Pertwee era. Nothing horrible (although I really wish Terror of the Autons would come out on DVD - much better Delgado story), but this story only proves that DW did for British science fiction what Dark Shadows did for American soap operas.

(In addition, one of the bonus features talks about why American videos don't play on British VCRS, and vice versa. Pretty interesting stuff.)

Decision To Be Made: Whether to encourage the organizers of the SLACO Conference to take a field trip to learn more about the zombie menace.

Crushing on: Cynthia Watros, but of course, I have to admit, I like bad girls.

Records You Should Own

Gotta admit - with a birthday coming up this Sunday, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic, thinking about the first single I ever purchased. I admit, I was about 11, and I bought it for the poppy a-side...however, it was the B-Side that blew my mind. Immediately, a marital 4/4 drum beat pounded its way into my brain, accompanied by powerful chords....soon, an ominous bassline emerged, and finally, a man announced, his life - and ours - in the balance:

"London Calling, to the faraway towns
Now war is declared, and battle come down"

This month's Record You Should Own is the Clash's masterpiece, London Calling. Coming, as it did, after the Clash's debut and the underappreciated Give 'Em Enough Rope, this album is just one wall-to-wall musical F#@% Yeah! moment, a stylistic smorgasboard that starts strong and only peters out with the final track.

Stylistically, this showed that the Clash was no mere punk band, but a musical force (the U2 of its generation, so to speak). Taking on rockabilly, ska, reggae, surf, pop, Spectorian-balladry, even flat-out rock - this had to blow the minds of those who thought punk a passing fad, or even decried that certain bands couldn't play. Only three other albums disprove that punk was all about amateurism, and shows bands breaking preconceptions - the Clash proved with this album that they not only could play, but showed that there was almost nothing they couldn't do.
In addition, let's point out Joe Strummer's lyrics - if you wanted to make a case for him as a punk Dylan, I wouldn't argue. I'm taking a lot of these lyrics out of context, but Strummer's ability to make the global personal - and to go straight to the heart of things - really shines here. Even Paul Simonon's "The Guns of Brixton" contains razor sharp lyrics, proving Paul was no frickin' Ringo.

Case in point - my personal favorite song, "Death or Glory". Starting with a very simple premise:

"Now every cheap hood makes a bargain with the world
Ends up making payments on a sofa or a girl"

Soon moves into a lyric that puts any and every band in its place, and seems fresh even in our more jaded times:

"'N' every gimmick hungry yob digging gold from rock 'n' roll
Grabs the mike to tell us he'll die before he's sold
But I believe in this-and it's been tested by research
he who ***** nuns will later join the church"

Yes, I sanitized it, but you know what? Buy the record and hear it for yourself. They dis Green Day before those dudes even ripped off their first riff - how cool is that?

Tight playing. Strong songwriting. Passion. Fire. Energy. You have to own this album.

Now, you have no excuse.

Answers! I Got Answers! Part Two

First, in the "Sad News Comes in Threes" Department - Dennis Weaver has passed away. Our heart goes out to his family in this sad time, and this seems a sad time for beloved character actors.

But since only two people (!) asked me questions this last go-round, this meme is...well, I think it's run its course. I'll have to write actual content next time round.

Roger asks a three-fold question:

What do you want for your birthday? What are you likely to get?

Here's what I want; however, this is a birthday I'm not so enthusiastic about. (Not in a bad way - I've just got so much on my plate that if all I get is a trivia team for an event on the 11th, I'll be happy)

Has anyone ever broken up with you by e-mail, phone or snail mail? Have you ever broken up with someone in any of those manners?

Actually, yes, and she did it over the phone on Valentine's Day.
Darn, you, Roger - darn you to heck for bringing up that memory! You're the devil for doing so!

(And no, I've never broken up with anyone by e-mail, phone, or snail mail.)

There's a school of thought that believes that an alcoholic can just drink less, rather than the AA abstinence position. What do you think?

Wow, and here I thought I had escaped the chemical dependency field...

I do believe in the disease model of alcoholism (and am a strict DSM-4 diagnostician in terms of abuse and dependence) - however, I think alcoholism is in the same class of disease as cancer and diabetes. You try your best to prevent it - if you can't prevent it, you don't engage in behaviors that worsen the disease (for example, you don't wolf down Twix bars if you have high blood sugar). My belief - if you think you are an alcoholic, it's probably not a good idea to even drink moderately.

(And just to clarify - I'm not trying to discourage legal drinking, far from it - even Alcoholics Anonymous doesn't get finger wagging. In their view, if you think you're an alcoholic, and want to stop drinking, that's your business. They don't preach against the evils of alcoholism, they talk about how they can't drink - at least, that's how my AA friends describe it)

Answers! I Got Answers Part One

When I had last blogged, I requested your questions - and Greg asked:

Okay, here's my question. Go down to 410 North Newstead 8 East. There should be some sort of high-rise apartment building there. Can you describe it for me? Or better yet, take a picture and post it on your blog? My best friend lives there and he was really bad at describing it when I asked. I'm just curious.

Well, it turns out the building in question is called the Greystone, and here's a picture. Enjoy!

More to come, and if someone can e-mail me with way to use Picasa to post more than one picture, please share.

Sad Passings...and a Reminder

First, RIP Don Knotts and Darren McGavin, both great actors and who actually did appear in a movie together.

Also, if you have question, be sure to post them in the comments section for "Riddle Me This!" (For some reason, comments don't come up if you go straight to the post - why, I have no idea) . I'll answer them tonight.

Public Apology

Hi, everyone,

I'm sitting in my new-ish office (which is a rehabbed Victorian-style home in north St. Louis), abusing the internet, and came across yesterday's post.

When I had typed that post, I was in the midst of the aftermath of a sticky situation, and quite frankly, Greg doesn't deserve to be slammed like that. I would like to publicly apologize for that comment, and humbly ask that you please visit his blog, and from there, check out pictures of his children. They're really cute.

And, please feel free to ask questions in the comments - that way, Sunday night's answers will be interesting.

Riddle Me This!

In another blatant, self-promotional effort (and since I can't think of anything else to write about until I catch up on my comics reading), it's another edition of "Ask Gordon".

Think of it as like The Straight Dope, only more personal with gratuitous pop culture references. Just feel free to post your questions in my comments section before this Sunday (February 26th) at 3:00 pm, and that evening, I will answer them!

Just think - you can ask me questions like "What's your shoe size?"(13), "Why didn't you name yourself Matter Eater Blog?" (It was already taken), "What's Andy Martello like in real life?" (Just like his blog, only funnier) and "What's Greg's deal?" (Some questions are best left unanswered.)

Also, if you're in the St. Louis area this Tuesday, I'll be part of a panel on environmentalism & racism for Greendrinks. No, this isn't a way for me to scam free beer, I'm working - why do you ask?

And why are you snickering?

Homeward Bound

Well, everyone, right now I'm in Chicago on the last day of my visit to my Mom and my godson - unfortunately, the latter's a wee bit sick, so no pictures to be posted. Of course, I had tried blogging two memes/quizzes earlier - however, they messed up the format, so they are deleted. (Meaning - if you use an RSS aggregator like Bloglines for this blog and can't find two entries, my bad).

Anyway, just a quick little check-in: was able to take care of some small bills, and do some financial planning. Fly back to STL around 6-ish, and so I'll be home and preparing for tomorrow.

Plus, I'm making my way slowly but surely through this new Beatles biography - even though the story's familiar, the way it's written makes it seem like fiction, even though it's true.

ZERO EFFECT: The Franchise That Shoulda Been

(Yes, this is a new edit of a post that I promised way back in June 2006 - however, please consider that "procrastinators anonymous" is one of the top search terms for this blog. In addition, since I now write for I Hear of Sherlock, it seemed only proper to revisit this post. Enjoy!)

I'm sitting at Lambert Airport, reading my recently downloaded copy of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" as part of the Discovering Sherlock Holmes series at Stanford, and as I read it - the beginnings of serialized fiction - and felt a familiar tingle, I asked myself one key question.

"Why the hell wasn't Zero Effect a bigger hit?"

Let's face it, Zero Effect took Arthur Conan Doyle's best-known character and transplanted him into late 20th century terms. A loose adaptation of "A Scandal in Bohemia", Jake Kasdan boiled the very essence of the Sherlock Holmes canon and made it seem like a Hollywood pitchman's wet dream. An eccentric detective (and Bill Pullman was robbed of the Oscar for this performance) and his beleaguered assistant (Ben Stiller) take on the case of a rich man (Ryan O'Neal, whose woodenness is a strategic advantage in this movie) being blackmailed. However, complications ensue as the detective begins falling for a young woman (Kim Dickens, later featured in other movies and series like HBO's Treme).

Let's face it, this is a movie that is sharp, well-written, well-acted, well-directed...but why did it not create a franchise? I mean, surely in this CGI-driven world there's room for a great, quirky mystery series that's created by a guy who isn't Joss Whedon. Not that this blog has anything against Mr. Whedon - just thought it might be cool to give him a breather.

(And by the way, Mom and I watched Serenity - even if you didn't like Firefly: The Complete Series, see this movie. I think that if everyone went and saw Serenity, the world would be a better place. It's a movie they should be making more of, but aren't, and so we're stuck with Basic Instinct 2. Oh, joy.)

Personally, I think it was too far ahead of its time - let's see, we have at least three television shows which feature a sharp, cerebral, socially inept detective/investigator, his assistant (or assistants), almost unsolvable crimes....maybe it's time Mr. Kasdan reconsidered his option.

Zero Effect: The Series...Hell, I'd watch. I'm even willing to chip in a few bucks towards production costs. Who's with me?

(Interesting postscript - there was a Zero Effect pilot that was never picked up. Go figure).

Whadda Week!

Right now, gang, been a little stressful - adjusting to work, trying to move offices, and other stuff.

However, tonight I'm flying to Chicago to see the godson and visit Mom. All of you behave, and no Internet flame wars. And Sterling - if I see you use "Swamp Thing" and "thong" in the same sentence, it will get ugly.

But other than that, this whole Dick Cheney thing - would never have happened if these guys were in power.

Monday Evening Blogaround

Yes, friends, it's that time once again - time where I capitalize on others' hard work and post the highlights of the web for your entertainment.

(Hey, I had a meeting tonight - my first work related meeting. It was official, too, because they had Doritos. It's not a meeting without Doritos, but I digress).

First, like Andy, I hate Valentine's Day...and will do everything in my power to make Steak & BJ Day a National holiday.

Also, Greg's starting a CD exchange - so sign up now! (Especially with Chris "Lefty" Brown switching domains)

You know, nothing says "I can outperform you no matter what" like the Pocket CEO.

Personal guilty pleasure - weekly installments from Discovering Sherlock Holmes. Reproductions of initial Holmes short stories as they appeared over 100 years ago...and which remind me not only of how cool Holmes is, but that I owe you guys a blog on Zero Effect, don't I?

We've added Written Word to the blogroll because - well, we dig it.

From Laura's blog, you can make your own motivational posters (like the one posted above - and no, this is not another entry in Dorian's meme)

(By the way, Dorian, thanks for posting Kid Chris' topless picture. Thanks to that picture, I have now lost my appetite for the next twenty years. Thanks a smegging bunch. I suppose your next entry will be Mike in his lucky Swamp Thing pajamas - the ones with the feet on them).

(NOTE: First, Kid Chris' blog seems to have disappeared, even though there's a link on Dorian's site. In addition, Dorian has kindly replaced Kid Chris with Patrick Warburton. However, my therapist advised me that it would be therapeutic to experience Guy Gardner Week at The Comics Asylum. I'm still afraid of Mike and his Swamp Thing pajamas.).

Forget to buy inserts for your planner? Free ones are here! That's right - free!

On a related note, I've been playing with Picasa, and if you haven't used it to organize your photos....you're missing out, my friends.

So So Silver Age reminds you, in this excellent essay, that indie does not always equal good.

Here's a little something about how writing shouldn't be seen as a punishment...unless your name is John Grisham.

Want to create a bunch of RSS buttons for your blog? Well, if you're a glutton for attention (like me), you'll want to head here to get the skinny.

Sun Ra + Blues Project + Batman = greatness

Have problems setting goals? Are you a knucklehead? Will you send me obscene amounts of cash if I ask you to? If you answered yes to any of the three questions, click here.

Finally, ever wondered where you could find a font that seemed, well, familar? Or look at some movie and say, "Hey, my work reports should be in all of that particular font"? Well, worry no more - you can find them here.

Cinnamon Frosted Death

First, my computer seems to be recovering well - had to unhook everything, let it cool down, and repowered it back up. It's working normally, although don't expect me to be hacking into the IRS any time soon.

Anyway, I'm coming down from a successful second place trivia night win, where our team took on the above moniker. For those who are in the STL area, I'm working on putting together a trivia team for March 11th; please e-mail me at blogthispal (at) gmail dot com if you're interested.

By the way, a big shout-out to Greg and (especially) Dorian for helping bring traffic. Thanks to Dorian especially - even though the meme is probably still going strong, I am so tired of manipulated images. (Which means - no Valentines from me, like Scott did on his site. Plus, I'm bitter and cynical about Valentine's Day, since one old flame has her birthday on this day, and another broke up with me on Valentine's Day. However, if any of you single ladies would like to send me photos and resumes, I won't argue).

But if you're single, lonely, and desperate (for me, two out of three ain't bad), why not watch Bottom on DVD. It's the Young Ones (or, more especially, Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson) channelling Beavis & Butthead as two single losers. You'll laugh your tuckus off.

Back on the Horse

....and I don't mean heroin, either.

It had been a rough week - adjusting to a new job, dealing with a rather dysfunctional board, my home computer going Orac on me...and I still wanted to keep the promise to myself. Oh, sure, I had been burned before, but was willing to get back into the emotional Jellinek chart, to risk everything, life and limb, and see if my heart was ready.

This past week, I walked back into a comic store.

I didn't go back to my old store - it was a distance away, I hadn't been there in months, and was probably no longer in their system, so I chose a store much closer to home....just down the street, in fact. I had left work a little early, and wanted to make sure that I got there in time.

Once I stepped in, I realized....I had never fallen out of love with comics. In fact, once I entered, it reminded me of a lyric from a Difford/Tilbrook song, but adapted somewhat- floppies remind me of kisses, graphic novels remind me of plans...nothing else in the world, not even the rantings and ravings in the blogosphere, could prevent me from smiling inside like a child. For so long, I had stuck to checking books out of the library, but now...an entire mulitverse was available before me.

Oh, sure, there is room for disappointment (what little I've seen of the Big Two, it's nothing more than corporate-driven profit-building mini-series), but looking at the sheer variety that was available, I became strongly heartened. Indie comics, hero books, everything else....in a layout that was more Borders than corner geek shop. I fell back in love with a medium that I grew up with, that nurtured me, and that held - and continues to hold - promise. Not because it gives me a familiar nostalgic glow, but because it is a tangible reminder of hope in an ever-increasingly-cynical world.

In fact, as I left with my purchase, two little words popped in my head. Two words that I am going to have to mention next time I come. It's the kind of words that assume a stronger, longer lasting committment...and which I am ready to say.

Those two little words?

Pull file.

(NOTE: Fixed the link Roger pointed out - enjoy!)

Technical Difficulties - Please Stand By

Normally, I don't like blogging at work, but my computer this morning wouldn't turn on.

Don't know if the off/on switch is faulty, or it's a bad processor. Luckily, I printed out some information and will try some home repair.

If you don't see me for awhile, please understand - however, will try to make it to the library.

Thanks for your patience.

Black & White World

I hereby nominate Dave's Long Box for the Nobel Prize.

Let's face it, any blog that creates a concept as cool as the F@#! Yeah files deserves such a prize...and if there's ever an ultimate "F@#! Yeah" movie, it would definitely have to be Night of the Hunter, with the man for whom every moment was a F@#! Yeah moment...Mr. Robert Mitchum. A man whose life and work was varied, uncompromising, and challenging, and whose presence hit like a Wildcat punch. Mitchum was the kind of guy who ate punks like Chuck Norris for breakfast, and washed it down with a nice cold glass of orange juice.

Yes, friends, he was that frickin' cool.

Night was Mitchum's last noir film, and the only film directed by Charles Laughton. It tells the story of a corrupt preacher named Harry Powell who, after getting caught driving in a stolen car, learns from a dying bunkmate (Peter Graves) about a stash of stolen money...but not the location. From there, Mitchum's character soon ingratiates himself into the man's family, wooing the man's widow (Shelley Winters), making himself a presence in the town, and playing a dangerous cat-and-mouse game with the man's son and daughter.

The first hour of the film is extremely intense, as Powell cruelly attempts to manipulate the two children into revealing the whereabouts of the cash. An equal mix of cruelty, torture, and nightmare, this gets extremely intense, almost too intense for kids...and this was right in the middle of the boring 1950's. However, the kids manage to escape via boat, and the tone shifts...but not before an elderly woman (Lillian Gish) offers a righteous smackdown on Powell.

That's right, Lillian Gish. If that isn't a F#@! yeah moment, I don't know what is...and the movie deftly reassures us, coming to a very satisfying - and plausible - conclusion.

What's amazing about this film is that it is so flexible, and integrates a ton of disparate approaches (even, sadly, serving as a prescient commentary/parable about religion...but that may be reading more into the film than is there). It's the kind of film that, once you watch, you can't get out of your head. Every moment burns itself into your brain, and it's hard to describe without spoiling. It's easily one of the greatest films ever made. If Mitchum had quit after his picture, he would be in the same league as James Dean.

Fortunately for us, he kept moving forward, and gave us the ultimate Phillip Marlowe...but that's a blog for another time.

See this movie. Now. And you too will be saying, "F#$@! yeah!"

Records You Should Own

First, a belated RIP to "Grandpa" Al Lewis, although - in all fairness - I was always more of an Addams Family man, myself.

Anyway, for this month's Record You Should Own, I was trying to figure out what album not only reflects Valentine's Day, but also African-American History Month?

(And quite frankly, shouldn't every month be African-American History Month?)

So I realized that there was such an album...and I had blogged about it before.

However, this month I'm pulling back and talking about Love Story, a two-CD box that provides great overview for an extremely underappreciated band. I wore out my dub from a set I checked out of the Chicago Public Library, and later got my own copy for Christmas. Trust me, folks, it's that good.

Imagine yourself going into some Hollywood producer's office - let's say, Jerry Bruckheimer - and pitching a biopic about an African-American leading a psychedelic rock band in LA in the late 60's. In addition, the band leader integrates a number of styles that would make Prince blush, and comes out with a flat-out masterpiece. Chances are Mr. Bruckheimer (or whatever producer) would either claim it was unbelievable, and throw you out of his office...or claim that Eddie and the Cruisers didn't need a remake.

However, Arthur Lee managed to pull it off - Love was Elektra Records' first rock signing, and Love Story begins with their first single, "My Little Red Book". A jaunty, bass-driven number, the song made this Bacharach/David tune cooler than it should have been. Love's first two albums contained some flat-out gems: "A Message to Pretty", the harrowing "Signed D.C.", the powerful "7 And 7 Is" (the closest thing Love had to a hit), and songs which combined musical styles with a powerful presentation: "She Comes in Colors", "Que Vida!", "The Castle"....again, this is in Love's first two albums, at a time when most bands were more concerned with singles.

Luckily, Love Story also contains Forever Changes in its entirety, meaning that you don't have to make an extra purchase. And again, I've made my feelings on Love's Third Album known - musically, lyrically, this is a flat-out masterpiece. (There's even an entry in the Thirty-Three and a Third series on classic albums that's worth your time). Even as disc two approaches the end, and there is some "weaker" material, it's all a matter of perspective. Most bands would sell their grandmothers for tunes like "Robert Montgomery", "Always See Your Face", and "Everybody's Gotta Live".

All in all, this is one of the few best-of compiliations that does the band justice. (Yes, there is a single-disc "greatest hits", but this is well worth the extra money). Whether you buy it for yourself, or someone else, this band's mixture of folk, rock, and other disparate styles is well worth investigating. It's a great purchase for yourself, or for giving that special someone.

After all, everyone needs a little Love in their life.

Various and Sundry

The past 48 hours have been a relative blur - the new job is definitely keeping me busy. I've had several meetings, spent all day yesterday reviewing long documents as background material...and although I haven't been in my new office yet, I saw the outside...and it rocks.

I'm talking front porch, Victorian architecture...I swear, it looks like it comes out of a Mark Twain novel. They're still laying lines (computer, phone, etc) into what would be "my" office, so I can't wait.

There's a lot I can't wait for - a steady paycheck, the ability to buy comics, although these past six months have shown that now, I can cut down on my spending even further. I wasn't the "gotta-buy-a-title-no-matter-how-stinky-it-is" type, but I can spread my tastes further, and I'll (more than likely) switch to a store that's closer to me.

Anyway, enough of my yakkin' - if you're bored, please feel free to go map yourself, or fill out the sidebar poll, or even join the Comics Blog Legion. (Hey, if I can't do some promotion in absentia, what good is it).

Until then, and this is my last entry ever....always remember:



And with that, the meme is officially dead.