Surviving Snowmageddon: 5 Things I Like About LEVERAGE

Like many people with, well, flexible work schedules, I've become enamoured of networks like Ion Television. Like many local television networks, Ion takes many shows (of recent vintage) and has mini-marathons, providing television junkies with a great opportunity to binge-watch. Thanks to Sunday visits at Mom's, I have now become a great fan of the show Leverage. Why? Well, here are five reasons:

1. It's all about the con - much like the BBC's Hustle, Leverage plays up the fact that bad guys are taking down...well, badder guys. The writing is sharp, depends on hairpin turns, and is a little bit more tech-friendly than Hustle....but is still enjoyable to watch.
2. Greatest. In-Joke. Ever. Episode two of season four contains a great riff on this classic show. And yes, the other episodes carry some nice riffs a-plenty.
3. It follows the rules of the con: If you don't believe me, pick up David Maurer's The Big Con and read it. Each member plays a key role. And it's a fun ride.
4. Plenty of Eye Candy, Regardless of Gender - from great set designs to the acting, great to watch. Won't be complaining any time soon, and....
5. You Can Watch For Free- If you have Ion Television (part of most digital antenna packages), they run all-day marathons Fridays and Sundays.

My latest pop-culture thrill. Now, I'm inspired to work on that con-related pitch that's been in the back of my head....

5 Things I'm Planning To Do New Year's Day

Yes, tomorrow is the beginning of a whole new year, and I'm prepping for New Year's Eve festivities tonight after two years of inactivity. (To be honest - one year involved wading in self-pity, the other was due to falling asleep early). So in that spirit, to close out the blog for 2013, here are my plans to spend tomorrow (other than sleep and possibly shovel snow):

1. Marx Brothers Marathon - In my younger days, I would stay up to catch the odd showing of a Marx Brothers film on local television. Thanks to the miracle of modern technology - and ownership of all of the Marx's films - I'll be spending the day laughing and enjoying myself.
2. Writing and editing - I have one story that I am writing due in February, the other I will be copyediting for publication. In addition, I may also receive news of other stories that need to be taken care of. My writing career will be off to a pretty interesting start.
3. Job Seeking and Freelance Work - I am doing contract social media work for a site looking to match home builders and home buyers (Drop me a line privately if you want more information); since this is only part time, I'll also be spending some time looking for other work. (My Linked In profile isn't going to update itself, you know.
4. Catch Up on Reading - this will be how I spend my morning, since I have a nice pile of magazines, review copies, and assorted other material to catch up with, and finally....
5. Relax With a Full Pot of Coffee - this is how I usually begin each day; sitting quietly and meditating while sipping a nice, hot cup of java. Home brewed.

So in other words, much of my New Year's Day will be spent...like any other day. But the important part is that, well, the New Year is going to bring plenty of new, unique opportunities and experiences.

Have a post up for automatic posting tomorrow, and will definitely see you next year!

5 Things Learned Revisiting DAY OF THE DOCTOR With Mom (SPOILERS)

Thanks to BBC Home Entertainment, I was fortunate enough to receive a review copy of Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor on DVD and Blu-Ray. Fortunate because although I organized a live view, well....I don't know if I had really watched the episode. So I decided to share the viewing with Mom, who's celebrating one year in her new apartment. (Plus, she has a large TV, which helped matters).

So in that spirit - and yes, there are spoilers - some thoughts about watching Day of the Doctor a second time:

1. As I had mentioned in my initial review, fandom is a phenomenon which is best shared, and with an open heart. I am fortunate enough that I was able to enjoy the episode despite first seeing it in a specific context (with people making requests on time, complaining about parking on the north side of Chicago, etc). Enjoying it in much more sedate surroundings was a plus. On that note....
2. Yes, there is fan service, but what do you expect for a 50th anniversary? Moffatt managed to both provide the necessary fan service as well as reshift the narrative - yes, there are plot holes a-plenty, but at the very least, we now have a slightly different focus for the show.
3. Not since Jon Pertwee in Spearhead from Space has a Doctor's eyebrows
   
   played a significant role. Mark my words - Capaldi's eyebrows will be Series 8's "Bad Wolf"
4. If Tom Baker's cameo didn't choke you up (like it did pal JB and, on this second viewing me)....you are truly heartless and cynical. And probably need to start watching something a little more mechanical like CSI.
5. In retrospect, I think John Hurt as a "missing" Doctor works better than Christopher Eccleston would have - it works better thematically, provides a great context and, quite honestly, provides a more emotionally satisfying conclusion. Now, Eccleston's Doctor isn't just the lone survivor of the Time War; he was an unwilling victim who had to carry the guilt of his predecessor.

And yes, Mom enjoyed the episode...and before you dismiss that, consider this: Mom had a liver transplant several years ago. Not only did she have a major organ replaced, she managed to live longer with her new liver than Lou Reed did with his.

And that's the only cheap shot I'm going to take -Day of the Doctor was an absolute joy to watch, and a great start to Doctor Who's 51st year.

5 Things I've Accomplished in the Past 48 Hours

In the past 48 hours, I have managed to:

1. Finish post-auction work having raised over $2,900 in funds and food for the Northern Illinois Food Bank as Auction Coordinator for Chicago TARDIS;
2. Begin preparing for a job interview on Thursday after receiving news about another potential professional gig;
3. Take pride in the fact that I shared one of my favorite Doctor Who stories on DVD with a really cool pal;
4. Finish and present a marketing plan focusing on acquiring work as a consultant; and
5. Receiving this lovely certificate from six months' worth of classes (via grant) from DePaul Kellstadt:

And now, it's time for a nap. 

Five Non-Spoilery Thoughts on DAY OF THE DOCTOR

Yesterday, like many other people, I watched The Day of the Doctor, the 50th anniversary special for Doctor Who. Of course, it helped that I had planned a group view with Chicago Doctor Who Meetup and Chicago Nerd Social Club; despite the previous 36 hours being crazy (due to an online final exam, efforts to move people from waiting list to main list, and other activities), I managed to make it to the showing with relatively high energy.
And now, for your reading enjoyment, five thoughts on Day of the Doctor:

1. November 23rd, 2013 was a great date for one simple reason: it proved something that I have always believed: fandom is a phenomenon that is best enjoyed when it's shared. Despite having multiple complaints from multiple others in the past, those who attended, made comments, etc, made it all worthwhile. You don't know what the heck that means to me.
2. Personally, I think this would be a great pilot for a sitcom starring Matt Smith and David Tennant - rather than do Pertwee/Troughton-style bickering, the two Doctors perform a kind of Abbott and Costello double act, and I want to see more of it. Seriously.
3. Plotwise, much is resolved and handled in a very creative way, so much so that I wonder how much Steven Moffatt had this in his head, and how much was simply sitting at a keyboard and typing away.
4. Yes, there is fan service. And two moments had me actually squeeing....which, if you know me, is not a pleasant experience to be around. Enough where the uberfans who declare the current show runner to be the "worst show runner ever" were lifting their jaws off of the floor.
5. Quite simply, I felt the same way watching Day of the Doctor that I did when I watched The Five Doctors for the first time....on November 23rd.....on public television. Yes, I was that proud.

Yes, I'm hoping to get a review DVD to watch. Something tells me this is one story that I'm going to want to watch repeatedly....

5 Things I Learned From Writing WONDERMAN

As many of you are aware, I made my webcomic scripting debut with Wonderman for Excelsior Webcomics....and yes, it is obvious that it's a debut.

In a spirit of armchair quarterbacking (or "a perfect case of 20/20 hindsight), and in the manner of another, better blog - here are the top 5 things that I have learned from writing Wonderman (and other comics work):

1. Public Domain Characters, Creatively, Are the Best of Both Worlds - One of the nice things about writing a public domain character is that not only are the details already preordained, but there's a greater flexibility in being able to take the character in a unique direction without worrying about creating thoroughly unique characters and/or editorial mandates. Thankfully, since nobody "owns" Wonderman, I was able to mix pulp-era writing, some Eastern thought, a bit of 12 Step recovery philosophy, and political intrigue. 
2. Show, Don't Tell - One of the more embarrassing things I've learned is that my captions are way too wordy. In doing panel descriptions, I need to (and have started in other works) front-loading full blooded descriptions into the art and let that do the heavy lifting. And on that note:
3. When describing panels, use detail, but not as much as Alan Moore: In another script, what I realized after seeing the final art is that I omitted a critical detail....which the artist omitted as well, since I didn't say it. Thankfully, since this was a more comedic script, there was a great, final joke that having this omission made funnier. (And I won't spoil, since I'm still waiting on having it colored)
4. Notebooks Are Your Best Friend - Two months ago, I received an e-mail asking me if Wonderman # 2 was ready. Thankfully, I had stockpiled some ideas in a bound notebook (including a page-by-page plot), which turned an almost impossibly insurmountable task into a day and a half of frantic writing. 
5. Don't Be Afraid to Take Chances - So far, my comics work has been more about developing skills than, say, a paycheck. But I'm currently working on two prose projects (one personal, one commission), plotting another Wonderman, and wondering whether my Victorian detective project should be prose or a comic. These are second to my current job search, but at the very least, I have a pretty good creative outlet, and at least one thing that builds my confidence.

Gordon's Five Favorite Sarah Jane Smith Stories

Taken by Boyce Duprey via Flickr

Consider this a companion piece to my recent Comic Related article on Nicholas Courtney (if you can excuse the really bad pun, that is).

Wednesday night's screening was awesome, thanks to some new pals via Facebook, and I'll be liveblogging the Matt Smith era beginning tomorrow; for now, for those of you who are new series fans, and fans of "classic" Who, my top five favorites - like the ones in my Comic Related column, they may not be fan favorites, but they're my favorites with Sarah Jane Smith, as portrayed by the late Elisabeth Sladen.

(No, there's nothing from her time with Pertwee, and not much from Sarah Jane Adventures, admittedly - haven't seen too much of the latter, and I feel that her stories with Tom Baker were much stronger. I have tried to be as eclectic as possible in my selection - you're more than welcome to make suggestions and debate, because that's what Doctor Who fans do best.)

1. Genesis of the Daleks- A story steeped in issues around ethics and morality, I want to highlight the key scene in episode 5: you know, the one where Tom Baker's Doctor debates whether he touch two wires together and destroy the Daleks? Sarah Jane is the one who reminds him that the stakes are high, and that he has a duty to "protect" the future. It's one where the companion doesn't so much talk the Doctor into an action, but out of one. This story is a classic for a reason, and Sladen's performance throughout helps the story build to that single point. And, as a counterpart, consider her performance in....
2. School Reunion (David Tennant's first year as the Doctor in the second series) -Similar set-up: the Doctor is given the chance to rewrite history and write major wrongs. Although the story tends to focus more on Sarah Jane never "growing up", her willingness to talk the Doctor out of his choice - to choose human emotions and qualities - could have easily been made mawkish. Much has been said about how the script may have "forgotten" other times Sarah Jane encountered the Doctor; however, I think that misses the point - Sladen portrays Sarah Jane as a woman whose life is "frozen in time", and that speech is as much for her own benefit as it is the Doctor's. (Which is why I love that the "pain and loss" speech serves as a fitting epitaph...and that if anyone deserved her own spin off series, with was Sladen).
3. Pyramids of MarsPersonally, I've always had a soft spot for this story, particularly the exchange in episode one. (You know, the "I'm a Time Lord, I walk in eternity"). It's always struck me as a shorthand for the Fourth Doctor/Sarah relationship - she grounds him in human concerns, and he reminds her of the ever-shifting stakes. (See the  "Sometimes you don't seem...." "Human" later in the episode). Plus, with the sequence where the Doctor takes her into "alternative time" and shows her why they don't just leave and assume their future's safe...I just plain like this story.
4. Death of the Doctor (From series four of the Sarah Jane Adventures) - My previous blog comments notwithstanding, I do think this is one of Sladen's better episodes. You could easily dismiss this as School Reunion with Jo Grant, but I think it's much better than that - we now see a Sarah Jane who's gotten on with her life, and who - in many ways - has really become a full-blooded human being. (Like, could you see Mickey Smith and Captain Jack Harkness palling around? Turlough and Adric...wait a minute, forget I just typed that). I'll stand behind this decision.
5. The Hand of Fear - Sladen's swan song, and although the climax of the story is a little, well, wonky, the last fifteen minutes - with Sarah Jane expressing her frustration, and then moving towards heartache and bittersweet as she finally hasto leave as the Doctor is summoned back to Gallifrey...well, it's enough to break a Dalek's heart. One of the most emotionally engaging departures in Doctor Who history.

It is hard to believe that Sladen passed away so suddenly, and that her illness was kept within the family (remind me one of these days to podcast about the challenges of handling a family member's illness)...but thankfully, she's left behind some great stories, and work that has us not just missing her, but her character as well.

And the best way to honor that...is to enjoy her work.

5 Comics That Are Gordon's "Pull File Faves"

One of the things that I really missed when I first moved to Chicago - reading (and blogging about) comics. Yeah, I tried to do what I could, short of illegally downloading, but I missed my four color addiction.

Now that I have an actual "pull file" at my new local comic shop, I am really stoked about blogging about comics on a regular basis again. (In fact, I'll be writing some comic reviews that you'll see on the blog over the next few days).

So in that spirit, and blatantly plagiarizing another, better blog, here are my top five "pull file" picks - which, ironically, I had blogged about in the past (and have noted thusly).

1. Greatest Hits - The premise of Vertigo's latest superhero series (a superteam with Beatle-esque reknown) might seem almost like a parody than the real thing. However, just two issues in...the premise works because it's not straightforward. There's no "Ringo-as-Green-Lantern" analogue; it jumbles archetypes and has a slightly knowing sense about it. I'm enjoying the heck out of it, but don't just take my word for it - Bully the Little Stuffed Bull thinks this comic is fun!
   
   
2. Doctor Who: The Forgotten - Another comic that Bully and I enjoy - if you're looking to convert a comics fan into a Doctor Who fan, this is probably the comic to do it. (Personal highlight - the Doctor fighting humanoid greyhounds in spider walkers).
   
   
3. Captain America - I'm not going to declare Joe Quesada unquestionably right - I think many of his attitudes about the character are still misguided. But Ed Brubaker did what I thought wasn't possible - reenergize Captain America by showing off his supporting cast, but more importantly, suggest how tough it would be to actually replace him.
   
   
4. Guardians of the Galaxy - When I first read this, I thought it was Marvel's attempt to focus on and streamline its more cosmic side, and I make no apologies for liking this book. It's big, goofy space opera, but it's really entertaining big, goofy space opera - and besides, recent issues have done some smart things in terms of Marvel's Secret Invasion, which has still left me cold since the first issue. And speaking of futuristic franchises...
   
   
5. Legion of Three Worlds - Like I mentioned previously, I am really digging this series - granted, it's big and messy, but it's taking three different legions, mashing them up, and really living up to the Final Crisis title. (Personal favorite moment - three Brainiac Fives arguing at once). With this, and the cancellation of the current Legion title...well, if this means a Geoff Johns-written book (or at the very least, his revamped characters in a new title), I'm all for it.

Whew, all I have to say is...I'm looking forward to blogging more about comics. Because, gosh darn it, I feel I've been away forever. And I'm also looking forward to Windy City Comicon this Saturday.

10 Things I Have Learned About Blogging

(A hearty shout-out to my fellow bloggers at the Chicago Bloggers Meetup! And no, it's purely coincidental that this note came up as our fearless moderator clicked in my URL. Nothing to do with Blogger's advanced posting function.)

Last week, I celebrated my fourth anniversary blogging, and a wise commenter suggested a post on the 10 things I have learned about blogging. Normally, I might do five things (based on another blog I read on a consistent basis)...but consider this two days' worth of five things in the same note. Enjoy!

1. Write About Things That Will Keep You Writing Tomorrow - Granted, writing about pop culture, comics, television, and movies may not make much sense for a community, health policy, and social service oriented person like myself...but at the end of the day, I would rather leave that stuff at the office. Blogging about them would get old very quickly. I'm interested in them...but I tend to leave work at work. I blog about stuff that keeps me blogging on a regular basis, that makes me want to continue blogging.
2. Good blogs involve a lot of "sweat equity" - If you're looking to get rich quick, blogs...aren't the best way. It takes quite a bit of time - creating and posting content, networking with other bloggers, figuring out the best approach, promoting your blog, etc. It's worth it - just be prepared for a lot of effort.
   
3. It Takes Awhile To Find Your Blogging "Voice" - If you read the first month's worth of posts on this blog, you can hear the "seeds" of how I write...but it takes awhile to really get in the groove, to find one's own perspective. Just look at the abandoned blogs versus active blogs, and you'll have some idea.
4. Data Is A Blog's Best Friend - I'm starting to play with Google Analytics, and have used Extreme Tracking and Technorati to determine how people are getting to my blog. It allows me to not only read other blogs (who may or may not refer me), but also track trends, and help me determine how to improve/maintain the blog's quality.
5. Writing Well Means Reading. A Lot. - As I'm leaving comments on other blogs (to promote the blog), I also come across a lot of cool blogs that share my interests. This is where a really good feed reader comes in - I alternate between Google Reader (for a variety of blogs that can wait) and Netvibes (to track my social networking, e-mail, and local oriented blogs). But the best way to write is to read, to actively engage my linguistic skills. And if you want free e-books, as always, I propose Librivox, which has tons of good stuff available for your review.
6. The Best Cure For Writer's Block Is to Stockpile Ideas - I make it a habit to carry around a small, pocket sized notebook and pen. When an idea hits, and I'm away from the keyboard, I write it down. Scribble a tentative outline, maybe even a blogging "schedule". This allows me to avoid the trauma that every writer fears: the blank page.
7. Proofread, proofread, proofread - This is one of my major weak points - I'm in such a rush to blog that I rarely, if ever, check for such important things as grammar, punctuation, and spelling. I guess it's time that I finally break down and invest in a copy of The Elements of Style.
8. Bloggers "Borrow" From Other Bloggers - No, I'm not suggesting that you take content from blogs and promote it as your own; that is plagiarism, which as I learned in high school is an academic crime. However, I have found tricks, widgets, memes, and other key pieces of information by reading other blogs. In addition, when I was deciding what to write about, it was reading two blogs - Something Old, Nothing New and Pop Culture Gadabout - that led me to realize "Hey, these are intelligent written blogs about what interests me...maybe this is something I can do as well." Plus, whether you're social bookmarking, using Twitter, Facebook, or Linked In...or even groups like Meetups or Netsquared, always get yourself out in the open. At best, you get a few new readers and or techniques; at worst, you meet some people and get some fresh air.
   
9. Don't Worry About the Other Side of the Fence; Water Your Own Darn Lawn - Whether it's discussing blogging platforms like Wordpress, Blogger, Moveable Type or Typepad; useful widgets, other features (like podcasts or forums), or even just content - it's easy to get hung up on what the other guy's doing well. Ask him or her how he/she does it, and do it yourself. The tools that you are most comfortable with are the ones that are best for you.
10. Behind the Monitor Lies A Human Being - Much of the reason why flaming and trolling are prevalent is that we often forget that, on the other side of the keyboard, there is a human being who deserves the same amount of respect, consideration, and dignity that we would wish for ourselves. Although, yes, it is quite tempting to get the temporary relief by using colorful, elaborate metaphors to describe former and current employers, former and current significant others, and/or fellow Internet denizens...it's always a good idea to take the high road. Online misbehavior can often lead to further complications in life, so you might want to avail yourself of the "save to drafts" option when in doubt.

Well, there's my online lecture for the day. Hope you enjoyed reading, and please - feel free to comment.

5 Top Television Shows in the DC Universe

Like many bloggers, I have attempted to write some kind of prank post on April 1st. However, they've all sunk like a stone, so I thought I would do something different.

Taking my cue from another, better blog, I'm engaging in a little bit of tomfoolery, just like Bully, The Little Stuffed Bull. So, in some speculative, yet goofy, writing, here are my top 5 Television Shows in the DC Universe (or Earth-1, for those keeping score at home).

1. Sandman - this hit on the CW, now in its seventh year, proposes a "21st Century take on the legendary Golden Age mystery man". Tom Welling stars as Wesley Dodds, a literate loner orphaned by his parents, longing to reconnect with his brother (MIA from the Gulf War), and haunted by dreams that drive him to fight evil. Armed only with a gas mask, fedora, and special gas-emitting gun, Welling takes on evil in the guise of the Sandman, aided by his love Dian Belmont (Kristin Kreuk). His only opponent is his main rival, newspaper reporter Lee Travis (Michael Rosenbaum). Early on, the show was criticized for taking huge liberties with established lore (substituting "Exit Light, Enter Night" for Dodd's classic poem), but has gained prominence, and has begun updating other "classic heroes" such as Wildcat (who is now an ultimate fighter), Dr. Mid-Nite (a medical student with nocturnal vision, and the Flash (an athlete whose exposure to quantum particles enabled him with faster-than-light speed).
2. So You Wanna Join the Doom Patrol? - Created by Seth McFarlane, this animated comedy on Fox tells the tale of Peter Griffin, aka "Flatulence Boy", and his adventures with the slightly off-beat superhero team. Despite McFarlane claiming that "it's only humor", this show has come under attack for several tasteless concepts, including repeated jokes about the Chief looking up Elasti-Girl's skirt, a blackout involving Aquaman and Charlie the Tuna, repeated references to "Beast Boy's two backs", and in one notorious instance, Adam West's voice shouting "Duck, Dr. Wayne, duck!"* at a showing of The Mark of Zorro.
3. Shafted By Love - Former rock drummer/archery champ/addictions counselor Roy Harper doesn't want much - just a special person to share his life with, and to serve as parent for his young daughter. But dating's tough for him, so like many others in his situation, he stars in his own dating-related reality show. Every week, Roy dates a new woman, who competes with other women for his - and his daughter's - affections. His only goal - a woman who can "eat really spicy chili and survive the next morning."
4. Law & Order: Green Lantern Corps - "In the 3600 sectors of the universe, interstellar conflicts, crimes and offenses are handled by an elite group known as the Green Lantern Corps. These are their stories". This popular spin-off of the long-running franchise tells slightly fictionalized accounts of recently declassified Justice League files. With an ever evolving cast - and with its cutting edge use of CGI - this show attempts to bring a much more diverse style of storytelling to this popular show.
5. Jonah Hex - This gritty western on HBO tells the tale of Jonah Hex - was he a disgraced Civil War hero? Bounty Hunter? Last bastion of morality in the Old West? This series shows that, unlike Metropolis, sometimes heroism takes on a darker tone. You won't see any steampunk/science fiction-y elements....just a good, solid take on an American legend.

So please, feel free to share this amongst your fellows, and/or link to it. Just a non-pranky way to celebrate April Fool's Day.

---

*By the way, the phrase "Duck, Dr Wayne, Duck!" has been shared with the Zone 4 podcast crew for possible t-shirts. Watch for them!

5 Fake Doctor Who Spoilers

Recently, the BBC announced that they were planning on releasing the cinema-only trailer for Season 4 via the web and television. (For many of you, you caught your first glimpse here, via YouTube).

So, in that spirit (and because, well, I can't think of anything else to blog about right now), I'm providing my top five obviously fake spoilers.

(Warning - those who are without a sense of humor will be offended. And if I hear these on a Who podcast - and they're given as gospel truth - then it's a sad day indeed).

1. The Big Bad Returning Menace from the Past - Dark Adric, as written by Pip & Jane Baker
2. Stephen Moffatt's two parter consists mainly of the Doctor and Captain Jack Harkness debating the merits of two podcasts. Not surprisingly, this one wins.
3. The Doctor-less episode with Rose, Martha, and Donna? They defeat the enemy by singing this song.
4. The Internet will crack in half as the Doctor makes a casual aside about once being married to Zsa Zsa Gabor.
5. Finally - at least one fan will complain about how the new Who isn't like the classic series, about how Torchwood shouldn't be aligned with Who because it's too adult (meaning: it includes too much same-sex snogging), and cursing Michael Grade because, if he hadn't canceled/interrupted the show in 1985, it would still be on.

Thanks for reading!

Measuring My Life in Coffee Mugs

...with apologies to T.S. Eliot - a little photo essay I've been meaning to do for the blog.

(My personal favorite mug)

Has it really been almost one year since I moved from St. Louis?

The coffee mug version of this poster - and current second choice mug.

My dad's favorite mugs, proving that he was no child of the Cold War.

5 Easy Steps to Becoming a Better Comics Advocate

Recently, there's been a lot of brouhaha over...well, it seems like you can't surf the comics blogosphere more than five minutes without some controversy arising. In fact, it seems like any discussion degenerates into name calling, trolling and flame baiting, and just plain rude behavior.

Reminds me of some of my adventures in St. Louis....so much so that I am here to provide some insight. Normally, this kind of training would cost some money, but for you, the reader, I am providing these insights free of charge. (Besides which, what kind of blogger would I be if I did not provide actual content). So consider these my five rules for becoming a better advocate for comics.

Normally, I start my trainings with an interesting video, and here's a clip that, I think, will help teach you the difference between an argument and a rant:

Now that we've established what an argument is, we can move to the five basic rules:

1. Always argue facts, not feelings - If you are discussing hot button issues, it helps to have some idea of what you are talking about. When discussing an issue, it is always easier to come from a rational, more fact-based perspective, which is much harder to argue.
2. Never get personal - When it comes to opinions, it is easier to substitute a title or insult than go for a rationale. After all, on the Internet, we're not facing each other, but a blank screen. If someone got in your face and accused you of, say, owning Jim Nabors records, would you flame back....or slowly walk away? It should be about the argument, not your character.
3. Study your opposition - This is where it gets kind of cool, where you learn how to deflate any counterpoints by knowing what your opposition will say before they say it. But Gordon, you may ask, isn't that rather too much for discussion on the Internet? Not at all, especially since you can find most attack tactics right here.
4. Stay focused - after all, if you don't stay focused, Mike Sterling will be able to raise enough funds to allow Communists to smuggle puppies. This is where you would remind me that this is about comics, not about Mike Sterling. He's a big guy, and can defend himself. You can see this in blogs that, well, lump a certain category of comics fans in a specific category. You know where and who they are.
   
5. Finally, always act in a way that attracts allies - The main difference between two people in a knock-down, drag-out fight and one person ranting at another? When both people fight, nobody wins. When one person rants, the other naturally acquires allies...because they're taking the moral high ground.
   

Admittedly, I've adopted a semi-patronizing tone in the above note, but it's to make a point. The blogosphere is big enough to encompass every kind of belief, from the most insipid to the most inspired. Disagreements are bound to happen. But it doesn't mean that we, as bloggers, comics fans, and human beings, decide to let our worst impulses run rampant.

Thanks for allowing me to share, and I return you to your regular blog enjoyment.

5 Things That Keep Me From Blogging

I know that I've been away from the old blog awhile, and I have some good excuses. A temp assignment (in between consulting/grant writing gigs) has kept me busy.

However, I thought that, since several of you like it when I'm in crankypants mode, here are five things that you need to know about me, right now.

1. Feeling like I'm starring in a version of The Devil Wears Prada. Example: after running out to get paper due to a mistake by our normal supplier, I get called in and scolded for buying paper that was "too nice". Please excuse the sarcasm, but I apologize for making a temporary effort while continuing to create a long-term solution.
   
2. Richard Roeper - It's not enough that he makes himself out to be kind of a yuppie Mike Royko, or that he basically got his television job kissing up to Roger Ebert - he's rather obnoxious. Several of his recent columns in the Sun-Times - including one on teenage drinking - were full of I-know-better-than-you pronouncements. His interaction on At The Movies with various guest hosts has been short of annoying (but thankfully, one of my new role models can go toe-to-toe with him). So Mr. Roeper, here's a challenge - have me as a guest host. I won't tolerate that kind of behavior, no siree bob.
3. One thing I love about Chicago - Harold's Chicken Shack. It even has its own blog. And St. Louis needs a franchise as well.
4. Why do so many people hate on Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl - It's a well-crafted, heartwarming story about a young man adjusting to fatherhood. Besides, it's probably one of the few really solid performances from Ben Affleck. So why all the hate?
5. I'm planning on trying out for Wheel of Fortune - This weekend, tryouts are being held in the area. That way, once I get on and win....well, why should Roger have all the fun?

Yes, I'm working on the podcast - that should be recorded, edited, and up this weekend, along with the Sundays in the Village post. And November's Record You Should Own...may be a special report, with all the brouhaha in the music business.

Enjoy!

5 Random Cool Things on the Internet

Just to get your weekend off on the right foot - five completely random items from the Internet:

1. Homercat makes Mojo Nixon available for the masses (and kids, Mojo don't mind being distributed electronically)
2. Make your own cola!
3. Bedazzled presents David Letterman and Michael Jackson in a wacky skit!
4. Instant Garage Sale!
5. The greatest reason to see this movie this summer:

5 Better Alternatives to David Hasselhoff

Dear Blogosphere,

Recently, I have become increasingly distressed at the attempts to make David Hasselhoff a kind of hipster icon. No, not because of the infamous video, but because - at his cold, dark heart - Hasselhoff demonstrates nothing more than a relatively inflated ego, sharply defined lack of talent, and poor taste in plastic surgeons.

(However, the recent release of his autobiography does nothing to settle the dread which is creeping in my heart - if anything, I am increasingly unsettled).

However, as a public service to you, the reader, I would like to suggest five other men who are worthy of public, hipster recognition. (I can't think of five women, and encourage female bloggers to take this on as a challenge).

1. Tom Jones - Unlike many hipster icons, this is a man who truly deserves adoration. He has one hell of a voice (don't believe me? Listen to these tracks, and watch as he makes the crappily written theme to Thunderball sound sexy). By comparison, Hasselhoff's singing sounds like an asthmatic death rattle. This is the man who wrote the book on reinvention - he deserves more love.
   
2. Robert Conrad - Although 70s hipsters dug his Eveready commercial, there's one key scene that determines Mr. Conrad's coolness. On an episode in the The Wild Wild West - The Complete Second Season DVD set, Mr. Conrad takes out a bunch of bad guys...with a bowl of fruit. If they weren't focused on comics, you know these two would be all over this.
3. Avery Brooks - Ok, he was pretty intimidating on Spenser: For Hire; however, he played the greatest Star Trek captain - a man who combined Picard's tendency towards contemplation and diplomacy with Kirk's cowboy diplomacy, willing to make tough ethical choices. Plus, he was a tenured professor, has done Shakespeare...and doesn't toot his own horn. I mean, if that doesn't scream cool, I don't know what does.
4. Graham Parker - I've posted about him before. Do a search yourself. Better yet, buy his records, and thank me later.
5. Tom Baker - Finally, a man who in many ways is like a British William Shatner - well known actor from a pop culture phenomenon - only Mr. Baker is more eccentric, and doesn't quite take himself so seriously.

So, readers, just remember - just say, "Hell, no!" to the Hoff. Show your colleagues that we have taste and restraint.

5 Best Lines from Birds of Prey 106

bofp106
Originally uploaded by Gordon D

This has been one hell of a weekend - some unnecessary family drama (which is now ended), getting some rest (meaning I only sound minimally like Froggy from the Little Rascals), and a very promising job interview have me rather renewed.

So today's blog entry - keeping it simple: Birds of Prey 106 totally frickin' rocked. (Ms. Simone, thank you for helping bring a smile to my face, and for making a comic so freaking cool - you are totally Osama Bin Awesome) So much so, that I'm choosing my favorite five lines from the issue, in no particular order.

1. "Fight, what fight?...there are only six of them"
   
2. "I know, I know, smart guy...turn around anyway
3. "Chow's better freelance"
4. "Do you know what they call this on Apokolips, harridan? Foreplay"
5. "And I like nice boys. Sorry."
   

The only thing that kinda sorta didn't hang was the end-of-issue reference to this 80s mini-series.

P.S. Happy blogiversary to the Redhead Fangirl!

5 Writer/Character Matchups I'd Like to See

As we've seen, many non-comic writers (like Brad Meltzer, Allan Heinberg, and Jodi Picoult) have been matched to some comics projects with mixed results. However, in the spirit of "how cool would that be", I am suggesting some writers who could do some cool things with specific comic characters.

(To the companies involved - if you use one of my ideas, I deserve a finder's fee. A huge one)

1. Rob Thomas on Supergirl/Legion of Super Heroes: It seems like an almost cliche pairing (given Thomas' work on Veronica Mars), but I think it goes a little deeper. Both Veronica and Supergirl are teenage girls who are outsiders - one in high school, the other in the super-hero community. With his ability for sharp dialogue, great plotting, and an atypical father/daughter relationship (at least, atypical for television), it seems only natural that he take the reigns of a character and give her some further dimensions. (Plus, his slightly knowing take on high school dynamics might make a great addition to Legion of Super Heroes).
2. Sara Paretsky on Black Canary: Again, it might seem obvious (Paretsky's main character being a hard boiled female PI), but my selection goes deeper. Paretsky's writing seamlessly melds social consciousness with hard boiled atmospherics - with the Canary coming into her own as a character, this seems an almost natural match. Make Dinah Lance more of a crusader, and have some friction between her and Oliver Queen (mostly in terms of class and wealth), and you have the makings of a great series, and Paretsky would deliver an excellent comic series.
3. Robert B. Parker on Batman: Let's look at how Spenser's creator fits the character....knight errant fighting for justice in his own way - Check. Interesting supporting cast, mostly in terms of main character's "building" a family - Check. Skewed take on justice and fairness, with some moral ambiguities- Check. Enough face punching action to keep ISB and Long Box fans happy - Check. Novel that could serve as template for Batman/Robin relationship - Check.
4. Jonathan Kellerman on Doc Samson: Kellerman's work focuses mostly on Alex Delaware, a clinical psychiatrist who consults with the police on murders. (Kellerman's also written about an LA Detective, and even wrote a murder mystery set in Israel.) Match him up with Doc Samson, make Doc a consulting psychologist to, say, SHIELD in a post-Civil War Marvel Universe, and you'll get a cool-as-heck series.
5. TIE - Simply Because I Can't Decide Which is Cooler:

• Jasper Fforde on Exiles - His Thursday Next novels are metatextual takes combining Monty Python surrealism, Douglas Adams whimsy, and a love of English literature (as well as parallel universes). His latest novels are hard-boiled mysteries featuring nursery rhyme characters. Who else would be appropriate to invigorate Marvel's universe-hopping mutants, giving them a slightly loopier tone, but also increasing the danger?
• Robert R. McCammon on Swamp Thing - Much of McCammon's early novels combined horror contrasting with real world settings, including werewolves in World War II, vampires in Los Angeles, and alien bounty hunting bees. So, since DC seems churlish on bringing Swampy into the regular universe, why not have McCammon have a go? At the very least, Swamp Thing won't be as lame.

Now, realistically, these will never happen, but just remember - there are two lessons you can walk away with after reading this post.

One, there are some great authors to read and watch - here are six suggestions. When you don't want to read a comic, head for one of these fine people.

Secondly, I have way too much free time on my hands.

5 Things That Bring a Smile To My Face

Much like Eddie, I'm finding things online to help cheer me up...and I'd like to share them with you.

1. Sloths! (Thanks, Ian)
2. Discovering Sherlock - I participated last year, and it's like revisiting an old friend.
3. New editions of my favorite podcasts!
4. Code Monkey
5. New Doctor Who is coming to Chicago!
   

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some packing to do....

P.S. to Loren - yeah, the Internet was kinda cranky for awhile.....

5 Reasons I'm Glad I Bought Comics This Week

Since I'm straining to think of something substantial to write, here are five reasons why I'm glad I bought comics this week:

1. Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil - I was never really a big Captain Marvel fan; however, Jeff Smith has convinced me. It's nice, angst-free, and quite frankly...I think Jeff Smith should be doing a regular Shazam book. Some clever touches, and it's nice to know that the Big Red Cheese enjoys hot dogs. Plus, it has secret messages that you can decode here.
2. This Post By Mike Sterling - all I can say in response, using a secret code, is ZOO SZRO GSV XOLHVG KZHGIB
3. Justice Society: Volume 2 - Completing the 70's All-Star/Adventure run, I have to admit, this appeals to the Golden Age fanboy in me. However, the touches I really liked were not only a burgeoning Power Girl/Huntress friendship, but that unlike modern portrays, the Huntress doesn't seem to be as...er, "top heavy". (I'm trying to keep this PG), folks. Plus, the writing seems to be a mixture of old fashioned 30s melodrama (as pointed out by the I Read Comics podcast) and 70's burgeoning feminism. Both volumes are well worth your time.
   
4. All-New Atom # 8 - I have to admit, I had my doubts, but this is one of the few Brave New World reboots that actually exceeds the hype. Personally, I know Gail Simone intends to do a "hunt for Ray Palmer" around issue 12...but please, Ms. Simone, take your time. I like Ryan Choi- he has a great sense of humor, and is a relief from the usual angst-ridden heroes, and has done what very few characters have: make me want to learn more about him. In an age where some fans have temper tantrums over the return of old favorites (Hal Jordan, anyone?), I would like for Ryan to stay awhile. (Plus, this issue has Supermobiles versus Batplanes, with a Krypto-driven dogsled. How cool is that?)
5. Billy Hazelnuts - Mix a little Windsor McKay, Jules Verne, give the story a wonderful, almost dreamlike quality, and unconventional protagonists (a young girl who's a whiz at science; a young boy who wants to woo her, and an imp made from suet and waste with hazelnuts for eyes), and you have a very enjoyable read. If you're looking for a little something out-of-the-blue, why not pick this up and give it a try? You'll thank me for it later.
   

And as an added bonus, this belated Christmas video: