Saturday, March 31, 2007
Off to the Con Lunkdimp
I doubt I'll be posting much this weekend, so here's a few links to get you through the short dry spell.
Potter Puppet Pals in "The Mysterious Ticking Noise"
Congrats to Michael Sensei for one year of blogging.
How the RIAA Decides Who To Sue.
The difference between a normal person and a scientist.
Rebecca on Popularity.
Is this religious persecution?
Falling debris wasn't space junk.
Vegas in Legoland.
I'll be back soon with con reports and ripples and more lunkdimps!
Note: any comments you post while I'm off conning will have to wait until I'm back and approve them. I'm still fighting off comment spam.
Potter Puppet Pals in "The Mysterious Ticking Noise"
Congrats to Michael Sensei for one year of blogging.
How the RIAA Decides Who To Sue.
The difference between a normal person and a scientist.
Rebecca on Popularity.
Is this religious persecution?
Falling debris wasn't space junk.
Vegas in Legoland.
I'll be back soon with con reports and ripples and more lunkdimps!
Note: any comments you post while I'm off conning will have to wait until I'm back and approve them. I'm still fighting off comment spam.
Labels: Astronomy, Flying Spaghetti Monster, Harry Potter, LEGO, Science
Friday, March 30, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 111
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #187 (April 1953) - The Queen of the Sea
When Aquaman chooses another woman as winner of the Queen of the Sea contest, Ann Collins vows to make him regret it.
Lots of great lines in this one, enough to fill a quotefile... Ann first shows up Aquaman during a test of an "atom-powered torpedo" that veers off target. Ann catches the torpedo before Aquaman can, and aims it back at the target. She then challenges Aquaman to a test of who can stay under the water longer... The newspapers get the story of Ann's success and run with it: "Extra!" "Queen of Sea Beats King of Sea!" "Girl Dethrones Aquaman" "New Sea Monarch" "[Aquam]an Beaten By Girl".
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman notices that fish are avoiding a certain area and discovers a bell jar with an air compressor, which is how he figures out how Ann stayed under the water. When Ann races her mini-sub toward the surface, she slows down so she won't kill a school of fish, so Aquaman allows her to win the race.
Quotefile: Ann, "My heart's been set on winning that crown, Aquaman! Why didn't you select me?" Aquaman, "Since you ask, miss... I've seen snails that swam faster than you did!" PWNED!
Special Note: This story's script is later re-used in the Silver Age, one of two instances of re-used scripts I'm certain of in Aquaman's history. When I reach that story, I'll be sure to link back to this one.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
When Aquaman chooses another woman as winner of the Queen of the Sea contest, Ann Collins vows to make him regret it.
Lots of great lines in this one, enough to fill a quotefile... Ann first shows up Aquaman during a test of an "atom-powered torpedo" that veers off target. Ann catches the torpedo before Aquaman can, and aims it back at the target. She then challenges Aquaman to a test of who can stay under the water longer... The newspapers get the story of Ann's success and run with it: "Extra!" "Queen of Sea Beats King of Sea!" "Girl Dethrones Aquaman" "New Sea Monarch" "[Aquam]an Beaten By Girl".
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman notices that fish are avoiding a certain area and discovers a bell jar with an air compressor, which is how he figures out how Ann stayed under the water. When Ann races her mini-sub toward the surface, she slows down so she won't kill a school of fish, so Aquaman allows her to win the race.
Quotefile: Ann, "My heart's been set on winning that crown, Aquaman! Why didn't you select me?" Aquaman, "Since you ask, miss... I've seen snails that swam faster than you did!" PWNED!
Special Note: This story's script is later re-used in the Silver Age, one of two instances of re-used scripts I'm certain of in Aquaman's history. When I reach that story, I'll be sure to link back to this one.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Con Tomorrow!
I'm currently running around like a ... well, I'll think of a suitable metaphor once I have time to think... but I'm preparing for the Emerald City Comicon. In addition to gathering up my various bits and bobs (Torvald the troll, Aquaman sketchbook) I'm also trying to push myself into what I've called for many years "con mode". As I'm a severe introvert, and crowds drain me of energy, I have to move into a different attitude just to survive a convention.
The current plan is for myself and my (not-twin-but-you'd-be-fooled) sister to attend the con tomorrow together. I plan to stay the whole day, but we may end up leaving a little early since my poor sis has to go to work Saturday night. On Sunday I will be attending with hubby-Eric. At the moment I plan on wearing Aquaman t-shirts both days, no dress up (although I considered it in honor of Leah). I'll have my con bag, the troll, and my sketchbook. I also plan on wearing a lanyard with my "business cards" in it.
While I'm not certain where I'll be at any one time, your best bet to find me is probably to drop by the Illusive Arts booth (#505), buy Tony Loco and Dorothy, and ask if they've seen me. I'll probably spend at least a couple of hours during the con helping at the Illusive booth, and I might also be hanging out with Hungry Tiger Press (booth #711) at some point. But those folks won't always know where I am. I plan on being very mobile as long as my legs hold out.
The current plan is for myself and my (not-twin-but-you'd-be-fooled) sister to attend the con tomorrow together. I plan to stay the whole day, but we may end up leaving a little early since my poor sis has to go to work Saturday night. On Sunday I will be attending with hubby-Eric. At the moment I plan on wearing Aquaman t-shirts both days, no dress up (although I considered it in honor of Leah). I'll have my con bag, the troll, and my sketchbook. I also plan on wearing a lanyard with my "business cards" in it.
While I'm not certain where I'll be at any one time, your best bet to find me is probably to drop by the Illusive Arts booth (#505), buy Tony Loco and Dorothy, and ask if they've seen me. I'll probably spend at least a couple of hours during the con helping at the Illusive booth, and I might also be hanging out with Hungry Tiger Press (booth #711) at some point. But those folks won't always know where I am. I plan on being very mobile as long as my legs hold out.
Labels: Emerald City Comicon
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 110
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #186 (March 1953)
Ambrose Weems is determined to destroy Captain Hoyle's Dive-In Theater using only legal means.
Weems is worried that Hoyle's theater will take away business from his Seaside theater. So he decides to take out the competition.
Weems claims that everything he's doing is legal, but I think most of it would fall under malicious mischief. First he throws bait into the water to attract sharks which go into a feeding frenzy in Hoyle's theater. He glues "inflated rubber baby swordfish" to the boats watching movies so adult swordfish will sink the boats. That's gotta be illegal. He deliberately cuts Hoyle's power cable with a propeller made of steel blades. Again, that must be illegal. Then Weems sets up a wind machine aimed at Hoyle's movie screen to knock it over.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman orders the sharks away after Weems lures them. When the swordfish won't listen to him, Aquaman has an octopus ink up the water so they can't see the fake baby swordfish. Aquaman rides his sea cow again, and uses electric eels to reconnect the power once Weems cuts the line. A number of Aquaman's friends scare off Weems and his hired help.
Quotefile: Customer watching a western at the Dive-In Theater, "This is a terrific idea! Imagine, we can enjoy a good movie and some cooling ocean breezes at the same time!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Ambrose Weems is determined to destroy Captain Hoyle's Dive-In Theater using only legal means.
Weems is worried that Hoyle's theater will take away business from his Seaside theater. So he decides to take out the competition.
Weems claims that everything he's doing is legal, but I think most of it would fall under malicious mischief. First he throws bait into the water to attract sharks which go into a feeding frenzy in Hoyle's theater. He glues "inflated rubber baby swordfish" to the boats watching movies so adult swordfish will sink the boats. That's gotta be illegal. He deliberately cuts Hoyle's power cable with a propeller made of steel blades. Again, that must be illegal. Then Weems sets up a wind machine aimed at Hoyle's movie screen to knock it over.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman orders the sharks away after Weems lures them. When the swordfish won't listen to him, Aquaman has an octopus ink up the water so they can't see the fake baby swordfish. Aquaman rides his sea cow again, and uses electric eels to reconnect the power once Weems cuts the line. A number of Aquaman's friends scare off Weems and his hired help.
Quotefile: Customer watching a western at the Dive-In Theater, "This is a terrific idea! Imagine, we can enjoy a good movie and some cooling ocean breezes at the same time!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 109
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #185 (February 1953) - The Five Lives of the Sea King
Aquaman goes undercover to find a treasure dropped by crooks, but the crooks learn he's after them and make other plans.
Aquaman undercover again! This time he's wearing a nice blue business suit with a red power tie. As a contestant in the swim meet, he wears red swim trunks. Apparently, the bad guys don't know that Aquaman has blond hair, as the other contestants all have brown hair. They decide to figure out who Aquaman is by dropping an eel in the water and claiming that the man who captures it will get the job.
Finny Friends Report: After the other contestants have tried for 15 minutes, Aquaman tells the eel to stop and grabs it, only to reconsider. Unfortunately, the other contestant then grabs the eel. In order to save his life, Aquaman has a sea cow rise up under one of the other contestants and tells Lansing that everyone knows Aquaman rides a sea cow. Then he has seals start pushing another contestant up and down out of the water, making it look like he's doing stunts. Then an octopus makes first one, then two, then three of the contestants swim incredibly fast. Then Aquaman rides his sea cow after retrieving the chest of gems. A whale holds the bad guy's boat long enough for the Coast Guard to capture them.
Quotefile: Lansing, "Get that engine started! A sea full of Aquamen! It's like a nightmare! Let's get out of here!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Aquaman goes undercover to find a treasure dropped by crooks, but the crooks learn he's after them and make other plans.
Aquaman undercover again! This time he's wearing a nice blue business suit with a red power tie. As a contestant in the swim meet, he wears red swim trunks. Apparently, the bad guys don't know that Aquaman has blond hair, as the other contestants all have brown hair. They decide to figure out who Aquaman is by dropping an eel in the water and claiming that the man who captures it will get the job.
Finny Friends Report: After the other contestants have tried for 15 minutes, Aquaman tells the eel to stop and grabs it, only to reconsider. Unfortunately, the other contestant then grabs the eel. In order to save his life, Aquaman has a sea cow rise up under one of the other contestants and tells Lansing that everyone knows Aquaman rides a sea cow. Then he has seals start pushing another contestant up and down out of the water, making it look like he's doing stunts. Then an octopus makes first one, then two, then three of the contestants swim incredibly fast. Then Aquaman rides his sea cow after retrieving the chest of gems. A whale holds the bad guy's boat long enough for the Coast Guard to capture them.
Quotefile: Lansing, "Get that engine started! A sea full of Aquamen! It's like a nightmare! Let's get out of here!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Wednesday Lunkdimp-Thing
Bully visits Seattle and now has me craving Top Pot Doughnuts. Mmmmm Bavarian Cream...
Lots and lots of cool Owly sketches. I want an AquaOwly one of these days.
The Bad Astronomer links to a sky map. Cool.
Speaking of space, Airliner narrowly misses being hit by falling space junk. This is going to become more and more of a problem in the future. Should we start worrying now?
Colleen Doran on the search for Homer’s Ithaca.
Seattle Times on Song of the South.
I like tattoos, but I'm nart inclined to get one, 'cuz I'm a coward who changes her mind too much for a permanent change. But I'd be tempted by this tattoo.
How To Get Rid of Stuff.
Spinning shapes. Is it related to the hexagon on Saturn?
A call for Blogging Code of Conduct. Um, how about basic common courtesy and respect? And immediate criminal prosecution of people who make "anonymous" death threats?
Is the blog boom over? I'd say, just from the killing of dead blogs I've done on Blogshares over the last few months, that there was a boom in the summer of 2004 that resulted in a lot of dead blogs.
The face of the RIAA: Sony Music drops suit after sternly worded lawyer-letter. And Boing Boing wants you to remember that it's the LABELS that are suing their customers, and hiding behind the name of the RIAA to protect their reputations.
Hotlinking is BAD. It's theft. Nobody told John McCain apparently, as his campaign stole bandwidth from a webpage designer, who pranked McCain in response. In future, all politicians should hire an internet consultant who actually knows the internet.
I'd wondered why there wasn't a lawsuit... but I guess I didn't look far enough. Snohomish County and voting machine maker Sequoia are being sued for the inability to recount votes in a transparent way (as is required by state law), therefore effectively outsourcing elections to a private company. Among the data presented was the very close election between Rossi and Gregoire for Governor, which included a "statistical impossibility" that gave Rossi considerably more votes in Snohomish County.
You'd better hope you don't end up on the list.
Afraid of subpoenas, White House staff avoids using secure White House e-mail. Instead, they use non secured e-mail that puts sensitive data at risk. Yeah, really intelligent. They might as well just hand over all our state secrets to terrorists.
And to leave you with amusement... CLUNK!
Lots and lots of cool Owly sketches. I want an AquaOwly one of these days.
The Bad Astronomer links to a sky map. Cool.
Speaking of space, Airliner narrowly misses being hit by falling space junk. This is going to become more and more of a problem in the future. Should we start worrying now?
Colleen Doran on the search for Homer’s Ithaca.
Seattle Times on Song of the South.
I like tattoos, but I'm nart inclined to get one, 'cuz I'm a coward who changes her mind too much for a permanent change. But I'd be tempted by this tattoo.
How To Get Rid of Stuff.
Spinning shapes. Is it related to the hexagon on Saturn?
A call for Blogging Code of Conduct. Um, how about basic common courtesy and respect? And immediate criminal prosecution of people who make "anonymous" death threats?
Is the blog boom over? I'd say, just from the killing of dead blogs I've done on Blogshares over the last few months, that there was a boom in the summer of 2004 that resulted in a lot of dead blogs.
The face of the RIAA: Sony Music drops suit after sternly worded lawyer-letter. And Boing Boing wants you to remember that it's the LABELS that are suing their customers, and hiding behind the name of the RIAA to protect their reputations.
Hotlinking is BAD. It's theft. Nobody told John McCain apparently, as his campaign stole bandwidth from a webpage designer, who pranked McCain in response. In future, all politicians should hire an internet consultant who actually knows the internet.
I'd wondered why there wasn't a lawsuit... but I guess I didn't look far enough. Snohomish County and voting machine maker Sequoia are being sued for the inability to recount votes in a transparent way (as is required by state law), therefore effectively outsourcing elections to a private company. Among the data presented was the very close election between Rossi and Gregoire for Governor, which included a "statistical impossibility" that gave Rossi considerably more votes in Snohomish County.
You'd better hope you don't end up on the list.
Afraid of subpoenas, White House staff avoids using secure White House e-mail. Instead, they use non secured e-mail that puts sensitive data at risk. Yeah, really intelligent. They might as well just hand over all our state secrets to terrorists.
And to leave you with amusement... CLUNK!
Labels: Astronomy, Blogging, Blogshares, British Pantry, Bully, Cats, History, Owly, Piracy, Politics, Voting Machines
McDonald's of Oz, Part 4
I'm nothing if not persistent. I've been warned against being so persistent in the past, as it can be an incredibly annoying trait for people who have to deal with you. I really didn't know I'd be getting into a persistent mood today. But I get ahead of myself.
After a much-deserved break from the Oz doll hunting yesterday, I was determined to find another doll or two for Eric today. As it's also new comics day, I figured I would go visit the McD's near the comic shop after I got my comic books. Not a big deal. It involved some careful planning, as the traffic around there is irritating, but nothing too difficult.
And so I hit the comic shop at about 1 pm, chatted a bit with everyone about this weekend's convention (yay!) and then drove out to the McDonald's. There was no line, the place was in fact pretty dead. I explained that I was looking for the last four figures in the line, and the cashier went over to her manager, spoke a few rapid sentences in Spanish, then headed to the back. The manager, I later noticed, spoke perfect unaccented English as well as Spanish.
The cashier returned with a box. It had a bunch of the toys in it, but I suspected we weren't going to find anything I wanted, since all I could see on top were Glinda and Dorothy. Just as she set the box down, a woman came up with an unfinished salad in one hand and a couple of Oz toys in the other. She asked for a bag for the salad, then noticed the box. Suddenly I had competition!
I explained to my competition that I was trying to find two each of figures 5-8. She wasn't sure what she wanted, beyond getting a complete set. The cashier got a positively wonderful look of long-suffering on her face as we chatted, then she started going through the box.
The Scarecrow (#8) turned up first, then the Tin Man (#6). Lots of Dorothy and Glinda, and a few Wicked Witch of the West and Lions. Finally she pulled up a Wicked Witch of the East (#5) and that went into my pile. My competition was also getting one of each as they were pulled out. I got another Scarecrow, then a Daisy Munchkin (#7). I had a complete set! My competition completed her set moments later, then I finished my collecting with another Tin Man. That was it. We went through the box three more times. Nothing else.
I purchased the six dolls, thanked the cashier, and asked if they would be getting another box like that in. The manager, overhearing, said, "No, each store only gets one of those boxes." Hmmm. Food for thought. My receipt for the purchase reads 6 HAPPY TOY NO FOOD. Current tally: Two each of Dorothy, Glinda, Wicked Witch of the West, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man. One each of Wicked Witch of the East and Daisy Munchkin.
As I pulled out of the parking lot, I thought to myself that I'd done a great job. Heck, I had one complete set already!
But I am cursed with the inability to just leave well enough alone. As I drove down the street, I realized that the downtown McD's was right on the way home. I ought to just stop there and see if they had those final two figures that I want. Numbers 5 and 7.
And so into the downtown McD's I went, with a little trepidation. My luck here so far had been mostly bad. There was a line in this one. A very loud and upset young girl was trying to drive her mother batty at the front of the line, while a lady standing behind them tried her best not to cringe at the screaming. I got in line and waited. The screaming continued. The mother turned around and apologized to both of us. The staff seemed to be gathering her order in slow motion. Finally she got her order and moved the screaming child to another part of the store. My ears wept in relief.
The lady in front of me had a quick order, and there was no one behind me. I was able to make my request without feeling like a complete moron. But the girl behind the counter said that they hadn't got to those figures yet. I mentioned the box that the other store had, but she just shook her head no and offered me a free iced coffee. I thanked her and left. No, I didn't take the coffee. I don't drink coffee.
At this point my persistence kicked in. The competitive part of me whispered that the other McDonald's wasn't that far up the road, and maybe I should just head up there and make sure that they don't have it. I mean, heck, wouldn't it be great if I could complete both sets for hubby-Eric today? Then I wouldn't have to look for them any more, and any further toys we end up getting would be just fun. It wasn't hard to persuade myself, and up to Canyon Park I drove.
Again I was lucky, as there was no line. The cashier was a large white guy, the kind of guy I tend to hang out with at conventions a lot. I made my request, and he said he'd check the back. He came back a minute later and told me, "The Customer Satisfaction box is missing, so I don't have any of the figures from later in the promotion." A-HA! I have a name for that box I saw at the first store. I thanked him, and headed out to my car. Persistent me whispered, there's another McDonald's up in Mill Creek. I decided to try it. One more store.
The Mill Creek McD's is a rocking place, and I expected to feel like a jerk for getting in line and asking for toys, but the cashier, a gorgeous large black guy, made me feel comfortable by joking around as he looked. Checking to see which toys they had, he pulled out a Wicked Witch of the West figure and said, "Here we have Amy!" A fellow employee made an angry denial while other employees laughed, then the girl I presume was Amy joined in laughing. The guy was just too silly. He said he'd check in the back, but I urged him to deal with the other customers first.
There were two people in line. A guy who looked vaguely irritated by the goings-on, and a woman who looked extremely interested. She asked me, "Are you looking for Oz toys, too?" I said yes, that I was waiting for them to check the back. She told me she didn't realize you could get more than the current one. I explained about the Customer Satisfaction box. Her eyes lit up. She wanted a whole set!
Another employee came out with a Daisy Munchkin for me, then. No number 5, she said. The other woman immediately started in with asking which ones she could get. The employee, a girl with a scarf, put on the plastered smile and started to try to fill the order. While the girl looked, I chatted with the new competition. She explained that she was an Oz fan from Kansas. I explained that my husband was a big Oz fan. She said that she and her husband had just moved to the area. I asked if she had a pen and paper, then wrote down the addresses for the Wizard of Oz Page and the Oogaboo Page for her. I explained that the Oogaboos are the local Oz fan club, and that we were having a meeting in April.
I bought Daisy Munchkin after one last check for #5, then it was out to my car. I considered finding another McD's, but logic told me there is plenty of time. And now that I know the secret of the customer satisfaction box, I'm not going to worry that all the figures were being sold out.
My errands, complete with comic shop, had taken about an hour. I needed to get home and get some lunch in me. And so to home. Current tally: Two each of Dorothy, Glinda, Wicked Witch of the West, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Daisy Munchkin. One Wicked Witch of the East.
After a much-deserved break from the Oz doll hunting yesterday, I was determined to find another doll or two for Eric today. As it's also new comics day, I figured I would go visit the McD's near the comic shop after I got my comic books. Not a big deal. It involved some careful planning, as the traffic around there is irritating, but nothing too difficult.
And so I hit the comic shop at about 1 pm, chatted a bit with everyone about this weekend's convention (yay!) and then drove out to the McDonald's. There was no line, the place was in fact pretty dead. I explained that I was looking for the last four figures in the line, and the cashier went over to her manager, spoke a few rapid sentences in Spanish, then headed to the back. The manager, I later noticed, spoke perfect unaccented English as well as Spanish.
The cashier returned with a box. It had a bunch of the toys in it, but I suspected we weren't going to find anything I wanted, since all I could see on top were Glinda and Dorothy. Just as she set the box down, a woman came up with an unfinished salad in one hand and a couple of Oz toys in the other. She asked for a bag for the salad, then noticed the box. Suddenly I had competition!
I explained to my competition that I was trying to find two each of figures 5-8. She wasn't sure what she wanted, beyond getting a complete set. The cashier got a positively wonderful look of long-suffering on her face as we chatted, then she started going through the box.
The Scarecrow (#8) turned up first, then the Tin Man (#6). Lots of Dorothy and Glinda, and a few Wicked Witch of the West and Lions. Finally she pulled up a Wicked Witch of the East (#5) and that went into my pile. My competition was also getting one of each as they were pulled out. I got another Scarecrow, then a Daisy Munchkin (#7). I had a complete set! My competition completed her set moments later, then I finished my collecting with another Tin Man. That was it. We went through the box three more times. Nothing else.
I purchased the six dolls, thanked the cashier, and asked if they would be getting another box like that in. The manager, overhearing, said, "No, each store only gets one of those boxes." Hmmm. Food for thought. My receipt for the purchase reads 6 HAPPY TOY NO FOOD. Current tally: Two each of Dorothy, Glinda, Wicked Witch of the West, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man. One each of Wicked Witch of the East and Daisy Munchkin.
As I pulled out of the parking lot, I thought to myself that I'd done a great job. Heck, I had one complete set already!
But I am cursed with the inability to just leave well enough alone. As I drove down the street, I realized that the downtown McD's was right on the way home. I ought to just stop there and see if they had those final two figures that I want. Numbers 5 and 7.
And so into the downtown McD's I went, with a little trepidation. My luck here so far had been mostly bad. There was a line in this one. A very loud and upset young girl was trying to drive her mother batty at the front of the line, while a lady standing behind them tried her best not to cringe at the screaming. I got in line and waited. The screaming continued. The mother turned around and apologized to both of us. The staff seemed to be gathering her order in slow motion. Finally she got her order and moved the screaming child to another part of the store. My ears wept in relief.
The lady in front of me had a quick order, and there was no one behind me. I was able to make my request without feeling like a complete moron. But the girl behind the counter said that they hadn't got to those figures yet. I mentioned the box that the other store had, but she just shook her head no and offered me a free iced coffee. I thanked her and left. No, I didn't take the coffee. I don't drink coffee.
At this point my persistence kicked in. The competitive part of me whispered that the other McDonald's wasn't that far up the road, and maybe I should just head up there and make sure that they don't have it. I mean, heck, wouldn't it be great if I could complete both sets for hubby-Eric today? Then I wouldn't have to look for them any more, and any further toys we end up getting would be just fun. It wasn't hard to persuade myself, and up to Canyon Park I drove.
Again I was lucky, as there was no line. The cashier was a large white guy, the kind of guy I tend to hang out with at conventions a lot. I made my request, and he said he'd check the back. He came back a minute later and told me, "The Customer Satisfaction box is missing, so I don't have any of the figures from later in the promotion." A-HA! I have a name for that box I saw at the first store. I thanked him, and headed out to my car. Persistent me whispered, there's another McDonald's up in Mill Creek. I decided to try it. One more store.
The Mill Creek McD's is a rocking place, and I expected to feel like a jerk for getting in line and asking for toys, but the cashier, a gorgeous large black guy, made me feel comfortable by joking around as he looked. Checking to see which toys they had, he pulled out a Wicked Witch of the West figure and said, "Here we have Amy!" A fellow employee made an angry denial while other employees laughed, then the girl I presume was Amy joined in laughing. The guy was just too silly. He said he'd check in the back, but I urged him to deal with the other customers first.
There were two people in line. A guy who looked vaguely irritated by the goings-on, and a woman who looked extremely interested. She asked me, "Are you looking for Oz toys, too?" I said yes, that I was waiting for them to check the back. She told me she didn't realize you could get more than the current one. I explained about the Customer Satisfaction box. Her eyes lit up. She wanted a whole set!
Another employee came out with a Daisy Munchkin for me, then. No number 5, she said. The other woman immediately started in with asking which ones she could get. The employee, a girl with a scarf, put on the plastered smile and started to try to fill the order. While the girl looked, I chatted with the new competition. She explained that she was an Oz fan from Kansas. I explained that my husband was a big Oz fan. She said that she and her husband had just moved to the area. I asked if she had a pen and paper, then wrote down the addresses for the Wizard of Oz Page and the Oogaboo Page for her. I explained that the Oogaboos are the local Oz fan club, and that we were having a meeting in April.
I bought Daisy Munchkin after one last check for #5, then it was out to my car. I considered finding another McD's, but logic told me there is plenty of time. And now that I know the secret of the customer satisfaction box, I'm not going to worry that all the figures were being sold out.
My errands, complete with comic shop, had taken about an hour. I needed to get home and get some lunch in me. And so to home. Current tally: Two each of Dorothy, Glinda, Wicked Witch of the West, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Daisy Munchkin. One Wicked Witch of the East.
Labels: McDonalds, Wizard of Oz
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 108
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #184 (January 1953) - At Sea in the Stone Age
Investigating a mysterious island, Aquaman sees a drawing of himself on a cave wall, then falls into a whirlpool that takes him to the past.
Another Time Travel story! Like the last one, this story leaves doubt as to whether or not it actually happened. Also like the last one, Aquaman falls into a whirlpool, which transports him back in time.
This time Aquaman is sent back to an island inhabited by cavemen. Oddly enough, the cavemen know his name and are depending on him to save them. The way he found the whirlpool in the first place was bizarre, as he found a cave on an island that he'd never seen before... and in the cave was a drawing of himself! This one is a twisty time travel story, and at the end Aquaman doubts that he really traveled in time, just like the last time travel tale.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman starts the story with his loyal Sea Cow mount. Aquaman believes he can control the sea monsters, but fails. He lassos and rides the sea horse monster and aims it at the giant sea lizard to get them to fight. Then, with the help of the cavemen, he ties up the octopus.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman falls into the whirlpool, twice, but isn't knocked out.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "Mmm... I-- I thought I had explored every remote spot in the seven seas-- but this island is brand-new to me! I-- wonder if it's inhabited?"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Investigating a mysterious island, Aquaman sees a drawing of himself on a cave wall, then falls into a whirlpool that takes him to the past.
Another Time Travel story! Like the last one, this story leaves doubt as to whether or not it actually happened. Also like the last one, Aquaman falls into a whirlpool, which transports him back in time.
This time Aquaman is sent back to an island inhabited by cavemen. Oddly enough, the cavemen know his name and are depending on him to save them. The way he found the whirlpool in the first place was bizarre, as he found a cave on an island that he'd never seen before... and in the cave was a drawing of himself! This one is a twisty time travel story, and at the end Aquaman doubts that he really traveled in time, just like the last time travel tale.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman starts the story with his loyal Sea Cow mount. Aquaman believes he can control the sea monsters, but fails. He lassos and rides the sea horse monster and aims it at the giant sea lizard to get them to fight. Then, with the help of the cavemen, he ties up the octopus.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman falls into the whirlpool, twice, but isn't knocked out.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "Mmm... I-- I thought I had explored every remote spot in the seven seas-- but this island is brand-new to me! I-- wonder if it's inhabited?"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Lunk a Dimp, Lunk a Dimp
People are getting ready for this weekend: Illusive Arts and Jeff Parker just to name a couple.
Colleen Doran has more on 300. Have I mentioned lately that I really like Colleen Doran's blog?
Mike Gold is a Luddite. Or so he sort of says. But hey, I love my cell phone precisely because I can turn it off so easily if I want to.
Also from Mike: Is Song of the South going to finally be released? I would love to see a good treatment of the movie, with plenty of information along with it to put in it context.
Cool Barcode Doormat.
Saturn is strange. There's a hexagon at the North Pole and an eye at the South Pole.
Two 14-year-old schoolgirls test the vitamin C content of various juices, and find out one juice maker was lying about the amount of vitamin C in their product. GO GIRLS!
Why an eBook reader won't displace books. I would buy a $20-50 eBook reader, but not a $200-300 one.
The Farewell Dossier. What happens when you spy and are caught at it.
The Blog Death Threat made the BBC News.
Colleen Doran has more on 300. Have I mentioned lately that I really like Colleen Doran's blog?
Mike Gold is a Luddite. Or so he sort of says. But hey, I love my cell phone precisely because I can turn it off so easily if I want to.
Also from Mike: Is Song of the South going to finally be released? I would love to see a good treatment of the movie, with plenty of information along with it to put in it context.
Cool Barcode Doormat.
Saturn is strange. There's a hexagon at the North Pole and an eye at the South Pole.
Two 14-year-old schoolgirls test the vitamin C content of various juices, and find out one juice maker was lying about the amount of vitamin C in their product. GO GIRLS!
Why an eBook reader won't displace books. I would buy a $20-50 eBook reader, but not a $200-300 one.
The Farewell Dossier. What happens when you spy and are caught at it.
The Blog Death Threat made the BBC News.
Labels: Astronomy, ComicMix, Emerald City Comicon, Illusive Arts, Science
Monday, March 26, 2007
Lunks of Dimp
Bully's Ten of a Kind.
Home Ec 101. Useful tips for households.
MMMMmmmm Millennium Falcon Cookie.
The Create A Comic Project.
Ooops. PC World repairs a laptop with what they claim is a brand new harddrive... only it has graphic images already on it. And the user of the computer is an 11-year-old. Oooops!
Mt St Helens just keeps going and going and going.
Very cool... using mites to track the rise and fall of civilizations.
Washington State Quarters have been symbolically struck, and are due to enter circulation Monday.
Some love for Emerald City Comicon.
Oz and Ends weighs in on McDonald's Oz Toys.
Death Threats. A blogger is threatened by anonymous criminals. Scoble decides to take a week off in support of the blogger being threatened. MetaFilter weighs in.
Home Ec 101. Useful tips for households.
MMMMmmmm Millennium Falcon Cookie.
The Create A Comic Project.
Ooops. PC World repairs a laptop with what they claim is a brand new harddrive... only it has graphic images already on it. And the user of the computer is an 11-year-old. Oooops!
Mt St Helens just keeps going and going and going.
Very cool... using mites to track the rise and fall of civilizations.
Washington State Quarters have been symbolically struck, and are due to enter circulation Monday.
Some love for Emerald City Comicon.
Oz and Ends weighs in on McDonald's Oz Toys.
Death Threats. A blogger is threatened by anonymous criminals. Scoble decides to take a week off in support of the blogger being threatened. MetaFilter weighs in.
Labels: Bully, Emerald City Comicon, McDonalds, Science, Wizard of Oz
McDonald's of Oz, Part 3
With reports coming out on Eric's Oz Mailing List that people were already seeing The Cowardly Lion at McDonald's, we decided that I'd better see what the store had today instead of waiting until Friday. However, I really didn't want to eat another Happy Meal. Ok, I admit, some small part of me craves the stuff, but my stomach isn't small and wasn't doing the craving. After the potluck at our Torchwood party on Saturday, and two Happy Meals in the last week, I really wanted some real food for lunch. So I was hoping I could buy just the toys and escape with my health intact.
Just in case I did need to eat at McDonald's, I wanted to go on a walk today. We had a couple of letters to mail, so I used that as my excuse to walk to the post office. After I got to the post office, I decided to continue on to UW Bothell to see if the bookstore there had a sketchbook. While I don't suspect my current sketchbook will get filled at Emerald City Comicon, I don't like to take risks. So I walked down to UW Bothell, and checked out the bookstore, which was humming with business. No joy, the only sketchbooks they had were the larger size, and I prefer small ones.
Once I was home, a quick check on the pedometer gave me a total for my walk of about 2.25 miles. Not bad. That's enough to cancel the calories in a Happy Meal if I got one. And so I hopped in the car and drove up to the other McDonald's, since I'd already determined in my last two visits that the downtown location doesn't like me.
Despite it being lunchtime, there wasn't a huge rush, so I didn't feel bad about asking just for the toys. The gal at the counter was happy to sell them to me, after showing me the Cowardly Lion, which I wanted. I asked if they might have any leftover Dorothys, since hubby-Eric had only gotten one of those, and she said she'd check in a moment, so I stepped aside.
Her manager spotted me, and asked me (in a thick Spanish accent) what was up. I explained that I was trying to get the toys for a collector. Her eyes lit up and she told me to wait. She went into the depths of the store and came back momentarily with two Cowardly Lions and two Wicked Witches of the West. She apologized, said these were all they had at the moment, and sold them to me. No food required. Thank goodness.
Tally so far: 1 Dorothy, 2 Glinda, 2 Wicked Witch of the West, 2 Cowardly Lion, and one big bruise on my left leg.
UPDATE: After calling around town, I found a McDonald's with a Dorothy still in stock, and got my butt down there and bought it. So the new tally is 2 each of the first four figures in the set. Huzzah.
Just in case I did need to eat at McDonald's, I wanted to go on a walk today. We had a couple of letters to mail, so I used that as my excuse to walk to the post office. After I got to the post office, I decided to continue on to UW Bothell to see if the bookstore there had a sketchbook. While I don't suspect my current sketchbook will get filled at Emerald City Comicon, I don't like to take risks. So I walked down to UW Bothell, and checked out the bookstore, which was humming with business. No joy, the only sketchbooks they had were the larger size, and I prefer small ones.
Once I was home, a quick check on the pedometer gave me a total for my walk of about 2.25 miles. Not bad. That's enough to cancel the calories in a Happy Meal if I got one. And so I hopped in the car and drove up to the other McDonald's, since I'd already determined in my last two visits that the downtown location doesn't like me.
Despite it being lunchtime, there wasn't a huge rush, so I didn't feel bad about asking just for the toys. The gal at the counter was happy to sell them to me, after showing me the Cowardly Lion, which I wanted. I asked if they might have any leftover Dorothys, since hubby-Eric had only gotten one of those, and she said she'd check in a moment, so I stepped aside.
Her manager spotted me, and asked me (in a thick Spanish accent) what was up. I explained that I was trying to get the toys for a collector. Her eyes lit up and she told me to wait. She went into the depths of the store and came back momentarily with two Cowardly Lions and two Wicked Witches of the West. She apologized, said these were all they had at the moment, and sold them to me. No food required. Thank goodness.
Tally so far: 1 Dorothy, 2 Glinda, 2 Wicked Witch of the West, 2 Cowardly Lion, and one big bruise on my left leg.
UPDATE: After calling around town, I found a McDonald's with a Dorothy still in stock, and got my butt down there and bought it. So the new tally is 2 each of the first four figures in the set. Huzzah.
Labels: Food, McDonalds, Walking, Wizard of Oz
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 107
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #183 (December 1952) - The First Undersea Jail!
Aquaman puts a number of his fish friends in jail for various acts of mischief, but a pirate decides to engineer a prison-break.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman starts the story riding his usual sea cow. Jumbo the whale likes to tip boats over, but he'd been warned the first two times, so when he does it again Aquaman makes him right the boat then takes him along to go to jail. Spying a ship going in circles, Aquaman finds another culprit: an octopus who likes to remove one propeller from a ship. Aquaman makes him fix the ship then takes him to jail. A third ship is suffering from a power outage. Aquaman discovers a swordfish and electric eel team that like to short-circuit power systems on ships. They also end up in jail. Aquaman is stunned when he sees them free, but they get up to their usual antics on the pirate's ship, stopping him cold. A very smart sea eagle spots Aquaman and frees him.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is captured by the pirates and tied up so he cannot communicate with the fish.
Lots of fun in this one. First off, the fish are just wonderful. The whale looks genuinely contrite as he's going to jail. The eyes of all the sea creatures are expressive. But the whale is just the best.
Captain Fleet, the pirate, has Aquaman gagged so he can't communicate with sea life. And it apparently works. No telepathy here. Aquaman is lucky that a sea eagle spots him bound and gagged and frees him.
Quotefile: Captain Fleet, "When we sprung those ''convicts'' of yours, I figured you'd be too busy rounding them up to notice what went on here! But it's just as well! Tape up his mouth, so he can't communicate with his finny friends!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Aquaman puts a number of his fish friends in jail for various acts of mischief, but a pirate decides to engineer a prison-break.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman starts the story riding his usual sea cow. Jumbo the whale likes to tip boats over, but he'd been warned the first two times, so when he does it again Aquaman makes him right the boat then takes him along to go to jail. Spying a ship going in circles, Aquaman finds another culprit: an octopus who likes to remove one propeller from a ship. Aquaman makes him fix the ship then takes him to jail. A third ship is suffering from a power outage. Aquaman discovers a swordfish and electric eel team that like to short-circuit power systems on ships. They also end up in jail. Aquaman is stunned when he sees them free, but they get up to their usual antics on the pirate's ship, stopping him cold. A very smart sea eagle spots Aquaman and frees him.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is captured by the pirates and tied up so he cannot communicate with the fish.
Lots of fun in this one. First off, the fish are just wonderful. The whale looks genuinely contrite as he's going to jail. The eyes of all the sea creatures are expressive. But the whale is just the best.
Captain Fleet, the pirate, has Aquaman gagged so he can't communicate with sea life. And it apparently works. No telepathy here. Aquaman is lucky that a sea eagle spots him bound and gagged and frees him.
Quotefile: Captain Fleet, "When we sprung those ''convicts'' of yours, I figured you'd be too busy rounding them up to notice what went on here! But it's just as well! Tape up his mouth, so he can't communicate with his finny friends!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Sunday Lunkdimp
I'm doing a little guest-blogging at Elayne Riggs' Blog, while she's dealing with grief and being with friends. Do check out my pathetic efforts to live up to her Estrogen Month posts.
Comics Fairplay will be at Emerald City Comicon. So will I, but I won't have a booth. However, if you want to find me, you'll probably have the best luck by checking in with the great folks at Illusive Arts (BUY TONY LOCO!).
TangognaT has the Manga Giveaway Results.
Augie directs us to an article about a car powered by compressed air. I want.
DMCA is a failure! says the guy who created the thing. Along the same lines: "RIAA Updates Mission Statement".
Running out of combinations, Washington State license plates to get longer by a character.
Comics Fairplay will be at Emerald City Comicon. So will I, but I won't have a booth. However, if you want to find me, you'll probably have the best luck by checking in with the great folks at Illusive Arts (BUY TONY LOCO!).
TangognaT has the Manga Giveaway Results.
Augie directs us to an article about a car powered by compressed air. I want.
DMCA is a failure! says the guy who created the thing. Along the same lines: "RIAA Updates Mission Statement".
Running out of combinations, Washington State license plates to get longer by a character.
Labels: Elayne, Emerald City Comicon, Illusive Arts, Piracy, TangognaT
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Another Day, Another Doll
Walks go much faster with a friend, so this one sped by like the wind as we chatted about various Oz, comics, Dr Who, and weight loss things. We'd spent the morning cleaning up for the Torchwood party (which starts in less than an hour) so we were already both a bit tired. It was raining a bit harder then yesterday. A heavy drizzle.
When we got to the McDonald's, we ordered our Happy Meals with a cashier who had no problem understanding us. Eric watched to make sure they got the right figures, and I didn't end up with an unwanted Turtle again, while I went to sit down. No sign of ducks. Maybe they did end up on the menu.
When Eric brought our meals over, I reached in and... Glinda! It wasn't Dorothy. Had they run out of Dorothy already, or were they switching by day? I considered asking, but never bothered. I got my apples, thank goodness, and realized that the caramel dip alone is twice as much as the apples. Hmmm. Maybe I should just eat the apples next time, and save myself 70 calories.
As we left, I turned to hand Eric the bag of Happy Meal toys and swung my left leg solidly into a piece of metal that was jutting out into the sidewalk. OUCH. A bruise has not yet formed, but it still hurts. I commented to Eric that I think that McDonald's hates me. It's certainly out to get me. Despite the need to walk off the McD's calories, I think I might visit a different one in future.
Labels: Food, McDonalds, Walking, Wizard of Oz
Friday, March 23, 2007
Links
Yay! New Mad Bun Tale! Ok, well, it's technically a rerun, but most of you folks haven't read it.
Andy Runton cares for a hummingbird.
Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #95.
Peep Research aka Peeps Go To The Library.
Kaja Foglio has some cool links, including one to the alarm clock that runs away from you.
A duck, a shoplifter, and a Petco employee. Sounds like the set-up for a bad joke? No, it's real enough.
Steampunk Star Wars, now as desktops.
Augie usually has some good links, but this one just had me cringing and cringing some more.
Find your child with a USB drive. (via)
As a proud member of Lesser Seattle, I approve.
Jeff Parker posts a touching tribute.
My heart goes out to Elayne.
Andy Runton cares for a hummingbird.
Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #95.
Peep Research aka Peeps Go To The Library.
Kaja Foglio has some cool links, including one to the alarm clock that runs away from you.
A duck, a shoplifter, and a Petco employee. Sounds like the set-up for a bad joke? No, it's real enough.
Steampunk Star Wars, now as desktops.
Augie usually has some good links, but this one just had me cringing and cringing some more.
Find your child with a USB drive. (via)
As a proud member of Lesser Seattle, I approve.
Jeff Parker posts a touching tribute.
My heart goes out to Elayne.
Labels: Amy Unbounded, Cats, Comic Book Urban Legends, Elayne, Foglio, Library, Memorial, Owly, Seattle, Steampunk
We're Off to See the ... McDonald's?
I used to be a big McDonald's fan, back before I realized that they don't actually sell food, but "food product". Still, they have their uses. I liked getting the mini-Beanie Baby penguins, back during the craze (I collect penguins). I have nothing against most of the toys. And I've always liked the Monopoly game. I don't like eating there often, but every once in awhile I crave junk. Sadly, today wasn't really one of those days. But I wanted to get hubby-Eric a Madame Alexander Wizard of Oz doll, and I wanted to go on a long walk, so I decided that lunch today would be a Happy Meal from McDonald's!
I wasn't positive that today was the first day of the promotion, so to hedge my bets, I decided to take some books back to the library first. That way, if I got to McDonald's and there was no Oz, I could head home at least feeling like I'd accomplished something. The walk to the library was easy, as I've been doing it for the last few months no problem. Ok, I generally avoid walking in the rain if I can help it, but you can't always help it around here, and it was more a light drizzle than real rain.
From the library I headed to McDonald's, which isn't much further away. As I walked up to the place I saw a cute little girl in the window playing with a doll that had a checked blue dress and ruby red shoes. I grinned broadly, and the girl smiled back. Into the place I went... and there my problems started.
Only one poor cashier was taking orders, and she was out of her league. She spoke English with a thick Spanish accent, and although she was cheerful, she was a bit hard to understand and was having some trouble understanding the customers. I speak very little Spanish, otherwise it might have been a less stressful moment for me. I ordered a "Wizard of Oz Happy Meal with Apple Dippers and a Diet Coke". She didn't understand me. All she got out of it was "Happy Meal". Then she asked me which toy. I said, "Wizard of Oz". She looked confused then typed something into her register. "Wadriwayaike?" She said. "Huh?" I said. "Wadriwayaike?" She said. I thought maybe my ears were misadjusted, "HUH?" "Wa drink waya like?" She said, and this time I got it. "Diet Coke," I responded, then said aloud, mostly to myself, "didn't I already say that?" The guy behind me grunted, "yes."
I paid then stepped aside to await my "meal". As soon as I got the bag, I checked the toy. Yup, it was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, not a Wizard of Oz figure. I called the cashier over, pointed to the Wizard of Oz side of the bag and said, "I wanted a Wizard of Oz figure," and handed her the turtle. She nodded, smiled a forced smile, and got me my Dorothy figure. To her defense, she was young enough that she might not even know what Wizard of Oz is AND it's the first day of the promotion. I then retired to a seat in the place to eat my food product. As I walked to my seat, I saw a duck standing in the door, looking in. I paused for a moment, then continued to my seat.
I was maybe a quarter of the way into the fries when I thought to myself, MAN, these fries are really salty. And then I thought to myself, Hey, I ordered Apple Dippers! I sighed, looked down at my food product and weighed my choices. I could go back and complain. I'd probably get my apple dippers. I could eat the rest of the fries. I could dump the rest of the fries and just not worry about it. I had eaten enough of the fries that I didn't want to eat any dippers. And the fries were just too salty to finish. So I decided on number three: non-confrontationally dump the rest of the fries and be happy I got the Dorothy doll at least.
I looked up and saw a guy walking in the door looking curiously at the duck, which was still standing there. "He's not on the menu," I said to the guy. He smiled, looked back at the duck, and said, "Not yet, at least." I was going to say that McDonald's would never serve anything that fresh, but decided I'd had enough human interaction for the moment.
As I left McDonald's, I realized I was a little angry at them for messing up my order. I decided to use that anger to go on a longer walk. So what if it's raining? I walked to the local Safeway to check if they had any of Stephen Colbert's Ice Cream. No go. Then I walked about a quarter mile out of my way to the QFC to see if they had the Stephen Colbert ice cream. Nope, not yet. Then to home, where I entered my lunch and my walk into CalorieKing, and was pleased to see that they canceled each other out.
All's well that ends well? I suppose. Hubby-Eric was pleased when he got home and I gave him the Dorothy figure. That makes it all worth it.
I wasn't positive that today was the first day of the promotion, so to hedge my bets, I decided to take some books back to the library first. That way, if I got to McDonald's and there was no Oz, I could head home at least feeling like I'd accomplished something. The walk to the library was easy, as I've been doing it for the last few months no problem. Ok, I generally avoid walking in the rain if I can help it, but you can't always help it around here, and it was more a light drizzle than real rain.
From the library I headed to McDonald's, which isn't much further away. As I walked up to the place I saw a cute little girl in the window playing with a doll that had a checked blue dress and ruby red shoes. I grinned broadly, and the girl smiled back. Into the place I went... and there my problems started.
I paid then stepped aside to await my "meal". As soon as I got the bag, I checked the toy. Yup, it was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, not a Wizard of Oz figure. I called the cashier over, pointed to the Wizard of Oz side of the bag and said, "I wanted a Wizard of Oz figure," and handed her the turtle. She nodded, smiled a forced smile, and got me my Dorothy figure. To her defense, she was young enough that she might not even know what Wizard of Oz is AND it's the first day of the promotion. I then retired to a seat in the place to eat my food product. As I walked to my seat, I saw a duck standing in the door, looking in. I paused for a moment, then continued to my seat.
I was maybe a quarter of the way into the fries when I thought to myself, MAN, these fries are really salty. And then I thought to myself, Hey, I ordered Apple Dippers! I sighed, looked down at my food product and weighed my choices. I could go back and complain. I'd probably get my apple dippers. I could eat the rest of the fries. I could dump the rest of the fries and just not worry about it. I had eaten enough of the fries that I didn't want to eat any dippers. And the fries were just too salty to finish. So I decided on number three: non-confrontationally dump the rest of the fries and be happy I got the Dorothy doll at least.
I looked up and saw a guy walking in the door looking curiously at the duck, which was still standing there. "He's not on the menu," I said to the guy. He smiled, looked back at the duck, and said, "Not yet, at least." I was going to say that McDonald's would never serve anything that fresh, but decided I'd had enough human interaction for the moment.
As I left McDonald's, I realized I was a little angry at them for messing up my order. I decided to use that anger to go on a longer walk. So what if it's raining? I walked to the local Safeway to check if they had any of Stephen Colbert's Ice Cream. No go. Then I walked about a quarter mile out of my way to the QFC to see if they had the Stephen Colbert ice cream. Nope, not yet. Then to home, where I entered my lunch and my walk into CalorieKing, and was pleased to see that they canceled each other out.
All's well that ends well? I suppose. Hubby-Eric was pleased when he got home and I gave him the Dorothy figure. That makes it all worth it.
Labels: Food, McDonalds, Walking, Wizard of Oz
Unrelated to Anything Else
Today's morning weigh-in shows that I've lost 70 pounds since I started my efforts on June 10th 2006. That's the weight loss I'll be showing off at Emerald City Comicon. I wish I could say I'm a shadow of my former self, but there's a ways to go yet.
The most dramatic moment of my weight loss so far came when I had to pull out my driver's license to buy some Sudafed for hubby-Eric, who has had a nasty cold. The picture no longer looks much like me, although at least I'm sort of smiling in it.
The most dramatic moment of my weight loss so far came when I had to pull out my driver's license to buy some Sudafed for hubby-Eric, who has had a nasty cold. The picture no longer looks much like me, although at least I'm sort of smiling in it.
Labels: Emerald City Comicon, Health, Unrelated to Anything Else, Weight Loss
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 106
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #182 (November 1952) - The Ocean Restaurant!
Bill and Jane Wallace have a successful restaurant until their greedy landlord kicks them out of their lease, but Aquaman is willing to help the Wallaces out.
The landlord, Silas Flint, kicks the Wallaces out of their location because he plans to open his own restaurant there and capitalize on the business the Wallaces have built up. When Bill Wallace decides to try to buy another property nearby, Flint sells them a piece of land that's underwater. They don't discover it until after the purchase, when they go to inspect the property. That's when Aquaman arrives, and decides to help them out.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman arrives riding a sea cow. Whales, seals, and octopus gather the lumber for the new restaurant from wrecks on the ocean floor. Swordfish and sea cows join in for the building phase the effort, with seals hamming it up. Electric eels supply power for shore. A gull gives the inspiration for the name of the new restaurant, The Golden Gull. Whales ferry customers to the restaurant. When the typhoon approaches, sponges seal the windows and blubber fish seal the seams of the vessel, with the assistance of octopus. Whales pull the restaurant/ship under the waves where it's safe from the typhoon.
Cosmic justice strikes in the form of the typhoon, which spares the Golden Gull thanks to Aquaman's help, but doesn't spare their old property. Leaving Silas and his nephew out in the cold.
Quotefile: Bill, to Aquaman, "Aquaman, look! Coming right at our new restaurant... a typhoon! Do something, or I'll be ruined!" Aquaman, to himself, "I sure appreciate his confidence in me... but how am I supposed to stop a typhoon?"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Bill and Jane Wallace have a successful restaurant until their greedy landlord kicks them out of their lease, but Aquaman is willing to help the Wallaces out.
The landlord, Silas Flint, kicks the Wallaces out of their location because he plans to open his own restaurant there and capitalize on the business the Wallaces have built up. When Bill Wallace decides to try to buy another property nearby, Flint sells them a piece of land that's underwater. They don't discover it until after the purchase, when they go to inspect the property. That's when Aquaman arrives, and decides to help them out.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman arrives riding a sea cow. Whales, seals, and octopus gather the lumber for the new restaurant from wrecks on the ocean floor. Swordfish and sea cows join in for the building phase the effort, with seals hamming it up. Electric eels supply power for shore. A gull gives the inspiration for the name of the new restaurant, The Golden Gull. Whales ferry customers to the restaurant. When the typhoon approaches, sponges seal the windows and blubber fish seal the seams of the vessel, with the assistance of octopus. Whales pull the restaurant/ship under the waves where it's safe from the typhoon.
Cosmic justice strikes in the form of the typhoon, which spares the Golden Gull thanks to Aquaman's help, but doesn't spare their old property. Leaving Silas and his nephew out in the cold.
Quotefile: Bill, to Aquaman, "Aquaman, look! Coming right at our new restaurant... a typhoon! Do something, or I'll be ruined!" Aquaman, to himself, "I sure appreciate his confidence in me... but how am I supposed to stop a typhoon?"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Catching Up Lunkdimp
Scipio gives 50 Reasons to Buy Aquaman #50.
If you want to hear that song mentioned in Girl Genius yesterday, it's here.
More on the ridiculous JLA #10 cover.
Someone else has started a meme for drawing Power Girl, and all the ones I checked were better than the JLA cover.
Marital help ads in comics. Heh.
Life, it is a Travesty... has a couple of really good links for us, like A 10 day survival pack for your car and How I Became A Music Pirate, written by a music fan disgusted by DRM.
Speaking of pirates, Dan Slott wants comic pirates to stop downloading his comics. Tom Spurgeon makes a point I disagree with. He says that he'd rather get his comics downloaded free than have a paper copy. Sorry, I would hate to read my comics on-line entirely. One to five pages, no problem. Much more than that and you're talking about eyestrain. I'd much rather read a paper copy than an on-line copy, even if the on-line copy is free. That's why I recently previewed Colleen Doran's A Distant Soil on-line, then bought the book with what little was left of my Amazon credit. I couldn't read more than five pages in a row without my head hurting. Luckily for Colleen, that was all it took (combined with her smaller doses of Seasons of Spring) to get me hooked.
Wired reports on You Don't Know Jack! which is now available to play on-line.
Yay! Ghost Hunters is renewed! Yay!
The Librarians' Index to the Internet directs us to this summary of the Battle of Thermopylae that tells the real tale of 300 Spartans.
Scott Adams attempts to improve your sex life.
Ichiro has a TV show, and it's not about baseball.
Slashdot reports that the RIAA is caught up in a web of their own legal lies. Good.
The paradigm has shifted: bloggers go through thousands of pages of dumped documents within hours to find the nice juicy bits. You can't hide behind document dumps any more, not when people are willing to check everything you show them.
Million Dollar Homes being rented for $150 a month to low-income families.
I'm never donating to the Salvation Army again, after reading this tale.
Sad news: Seattle Hostel Closing Down. Well, it was in a prime location, with the ability to show off Seattle's best and worst within just a few blocks.
This story will make your blood boil. Sending a guy to jail because he's a victim of identity theft? ARGH! Our system is broken, and needs some fixing.
Just in case it wasn't already obvious: DON'T BUY PILLS FROM ON-LINE PHARMACIES.
And a bit of cute to end on: IKEA Cat.
If you want to hear that song mentioned in Girl Genius yesterday, it's here.
More on the ridiculous JLA #10 cover.
Someone else has started a meme for drawing Power Girl, and all the ones I checked were better than the JLA cover.
Marital help ads in comics. Heh.
Life, it is a Travesty... has a couple of really good links for us, like A 10 day survival pack for your car and How I Became A Music Pirate, written by a music fan disgusted by DRM.
Speaking of pirates, Dan Slott wants comic pirates to stop downloading his comics. Tom Spurgeon makes a point I disagree with. He says that he'd rather get his comics downloaded free than have a paper copy. Sorry, I would hate to read my comics on-line entirely. One to five pages, no problem. Much more than that and you're talking about eyestrain. I'd much rather read a paper copy than an on-line copy, even if the on-line copy is free. That's why I recently previewed Colleen Doran's A Distant Soil on-line, then bought the book with what little was left of my Amazon credit. I couldn't read more than five pages in a row without my head hurting. Luckily for Colleen, that was all it took (combined with her smaller doses of Seasons of Spring) to get me hooked.
Wired reports on You Don't Know Jack! which is now available to play on-line.
Yay! Ghost Hunters is renewed! Yay!
The Librarians' Index to the Internet directs us to this summary of the Battle of Thermopylae that tells the real tale of 300 Spartans.
Scott Adams attempts to improve your sex life.
Ichiro has a TV show, and it's not about baseball.
Slashdot reports that the RIAA is caught up in a web of their own legal lies. Good.
The paradigm has shifted: bloggers go through thousands of pages of dumped documents within hours to find the nice juicy bits. You can't hide behind document dumps any more, not when people are willing to check everything you show them.
Million Dollar Homes being rented for $150 a month to low-income families.
I'm never donating to the Salvation Army again, after reading this tale.
Sad news: Seattle Hostel Closing Down. Well, it was in a prime location, with the ability to show off Seattle's best and worst within just a few blocks.
This story will make your blood boil. Sending a guy to jail because he's a victim of identity theft? ARGH! Our system is broken, and needs some fixing.
Just in case it wasn't already obvious: DON'T BUY PILLS FROM ON-LINE PHARMACIES.
And a bit of cute to end on: IKEA Cat.
Labels: Aquaman, Cats, Downloading Comics, DRM, FilkerTom, Girl Genius, Women in Comics
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 105
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #181 (October 1952) - The Evil King of the Sea!
Jim Hall is a champion swimmer who isn't making much money winning meets, so he takes up a new profession.
This is a short, sweet story that is actually very slight in plot, but it's hardly noticeable. The artwork is fantastic, to the point where it's never difficult to tell Jim from Aquaman even though they are wearing the same uniform and have the same color hair.
The islanders of the South Pacific island are a bit stereotyped, but they are also smart. In the brief exposition we get about them, we learn they are being relocated to another island (willingly, apparently) by the Coast Guard and are awaiting Aquaman, whom they've never met, to assist them.
In a single very odd panel, all the islanders except one are dressed in loincloths or dresses, the one being an out-of-place man wearing a brown suit and green hat!
Finny Friends Report: In order to convince the islanders that he's the real Aquaman, Jim Hall has a shark do a somersault, and an octopus become a merry-go-round. Aquaman is unable to get his finny friends to help because of chemical pills that drive off fish. So Aquaman calls seagulls down to remove the pills, then challenges Jim again. Jim has a whale do a dance, but Aquaman's finny friends rip the fake whale to pieces to show the bad guys inside.
Quotefile: Islanders, to Jim, "Forgive us for doubting you, Aquaman! But we couldn't afford to take chances, for our collection of coral is the most valuable in the whole world!" Jim, to himself, "You're telling me!"
Aqua-Exclamations: "Well, I'll be a splintered whalebone!" (at seeing the shark do a somersault).
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Jim Hall is a champion swimmer who isn't making much money winning meets, so he takes up a new profession.
This is a short, sweet story that is actually very slight in plot, but it's hardly noticeable. The artwork is fantastic, to the point where it's never difficult to tell Jim from Aquaman even though they are wearing the same uniform and have the same color hair.
The islanders of the South Pacific island are a bit stereotyped, but they are also smart. In the brief exposition we get about them, we learn they are being relocated to another island (willingly, apparently) by the Coast Guard and are awaiting Aquaman, whom they've never met, to assist them.
In a single very odd panel, all the islanders except one are dressed in loincloths or dresses, the one being an out-of-place man wearing a brown suit and green hat!
Finny Friends Report: In order to convince the islanders that he's the real Aquaman, Jim Hall has a shark do a somersault, and an octopus become a merry-go-round. Aquaman is unable to get his finny friends to help because of chemical pills that drive off fish. So Aquaman calls seagulls down to remove the pills, then challenges Jim again. Jim has a whale do a dance, but Aquaman's finny friends rip the fake whale to pieces to show the bad guys inside.
Quotefile: Islanders, to Jim, "Forgive us for doubting you, Aquaman! But we couldn't afford to take chances, for our collection of coral is the most valuable in the whole world!" Jim, to himself, "You're telling me!"
Aqua-Exclamations: "Well, I'll be a splintered whalebone!" (at seeing the shark do a somersault).
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Dishwasher Blues
So we just got a letter in the mail which warned us to TURN OFF YOUR DISHWASHER FOR GOSH SAKES THERE'S A DANGER OF FIRE! FIRE! FIRE DANGER, TURN IT OFF!!! if it falls under a range of model numbers and serial numbers. After determining that our washer does, indeed, fall in the range I called the number provided and talked to an extremely annoying voice-activated robot that didn't like my voice much. After it misheard my model number, I was shunted over to a real live person in customer support who quickly and efficiently confirmed that my dishwasher is indeed one of the dangerous ones. Once she determined that we used the "rinse aid" feature, which is where the danger is, she told us we have two options: a free repair from Maytag, or a $75 voucher for a new dishwasher.
Now, I haven't priced dishwashers recently, but I don't think $75 will pay for a dishwasher door, much less the whole machine. I opted for the repair (hey, it's been a good dishwasher so far, why not?). I was then told that I would receive a repair packet in the mail, with information on how to schedule my repair. In the meantime, the power to the machine needs to be turned off, and I should absolutely not use it under any circumstances.
Ok. I got a couple of issues with it. First off, the date on the recall website is February 1st. That means I've been using the machine for nearly TWO MONTHS since the problem was diagnosed and reported. I didn't hear about it until today. Second off, instead of a prompt repair, I'm going to have to wait for a packet in the mail??? What's that in aid of? I mean, first they delay telling me about the problem for a month and a half (which admittedly may not be their fault, but still!) and now they expect me to wait for a package in the mail before I can have the privilege of scheduling an appointment with one of the lonely Maytag repairmen? This really is a pathetic and minor whine, but how long am I going to go without my dishwasher? I got a party this weekend at my house, this is NOT good!
I have half a mind to turn the power to the machine back on and use it until the repairman gets here. Of course, if I do and the extremely unlikely but possible fire happens, I'll be entirely at fault. Neither option is appealing.
Time for me to figure out how to make food without getting any dishes dirty for the next few days.
Now, I haven't priced dishwashers recently, but I don't think $75 will pay for a dishwasher door, much less the whole machine. I opted for the repair (hey, it's been a good dishwasher so far, why not?). I was then told that I would receive a repair packet in the mail, with information on how to schedule my repair. In the meantime, the power to the machine needs to be turned off, and I should absolutely not use it under any circumstances.
Ok. I got a couple of issues with it. First off, the date on the recall website is February 1st. That means I've been using the machine for nearly TWO MONTHS since the problem was diagnosed and reported. I didn't hear about it until today. Second off, instead of a prompt repair, I'm going to have to wait for a packet in the mail??? What's that in aid of? I mean, first they delay telling me about the problem for a month and a half (which admittedly may not be their fault, but still!) and now they expect me to wait for a package in the mail before I can have the privilege of scheduling an appointment with one of the lonely Maytag repairmen? This really is a pathetic and minor whine, but how long am I going to go without my dishwasher? I got a party this weekend at my house, this is NOT good!
I have half a mind to turn the power to the machine back on and use it until the repairman gets here. Of course, if I do and the extremely unlikely but possible fire happens, I'll be entirely at fault. Neither option is appealing.
Time for me to figure out how to make food without getting any dishes dirty for the next few days.
Labels: Frankenhaus
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 104
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #180 (September 1952) - The Bank Beneath The Sea!
After giving a tour of his underwater bank to a young fan, the boy accidently tells a member of a pirate crew about the tempting target, leading to an attempt to rob it.
Loose lips may not sink ships anymore, but they certainly give pirates ideas. Aquaman is confident that his bank is safe in part because only his friends know about it... until young Billy spills the beans. Still, all is well that ends well, and the bad guys would've learned about the bank eventually anyway. You'd think. Considering how they never seem to have any trouble finding out about Aquaman's health.
Finny Friends Report: A giant clam serves as Aquaman's main vault. An octopus helps stack new deposits. When Aquaman is away, a chain of electric eels acts as an early warning system, and rouse the octopus to throw up an ink screen. A school of phosphorescent fish alert a swordfish that attacks the pirates.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "I've installed a number of devices that would foil any burglary attempt! Besides, only my friends know of the existence of this undersea bank... so why worry?"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
After giving a tour of his underwater bank to a young fan, the boy accidently tells a member of a pirate crew about the tempting target, leading to an attempt to rob it.
Loose lips may not sink ships anymore, but they certainly give pirates ideas. Aquaman is confident that his bank is safe in part because only his friends know about it... until young Billy spills the beans. Still, all is well that ends well, and the bad guys would've learned about the bank eventually anyway. You'd think. Considering how they never seem to have any trouble finding out about Aquaman's health.
Finny Friends Report: A giant clam serves as Aquaman's main vault. An octopus helps stack new deposits. When Aquaman is away, a chain of electric eels acts as an early warning system, and rouse the octopus to throw up an ink screen. A school of phosphorescent fish alert a swordfish that attacks the pirates.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "I've installed a number of devices that would foil any burglary attempt! Besides, only my friends know of the existence of this undersea bank... so why worry?"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Yet Another Lunkdimp
New auctions for Unscrewed are up. I wouldn't object if someone bought me that James Owen original art item so I could request a most incredible Aquaman drawing.
How loud is the Canary's Scream? A little bit too loud.
Dave presents us with a bunch of Doctor Who related ads with WhoTube!
A good review of Age of Bronze.
Speaking of, Colleen Doran points out that you can read the first issue free. Oh, and something that she created, too.
Good wishes go out to Elayne.
More on cultural differences from the Sandbox. If you didn't read the first one, check it out.
How loud is the Canary's Scream? A little bit too loud.
Dave presents us with a bunch of Doctor Who related ads with WhoTube!
A good review of Age of Bronze.
Speaking of, Colleen Doran points out that you can read the first issue free. Oh, and something that she created, too.
Good wishes go out to Elayne.
More on cultural differences from the Sandbox. If you didn't read the first one, check it out.
Labels: Age of Bronze, Aquaman, Elayne, Polite Scott, Unscrewed, YouTube
Monday, March 19, 2007
Massive Lunkdimp
Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #94. I think they'll announce a book with #100, what you do think?
Occasional Superheroine gives Justice League #10's awful cover the respect it deserves.
Lost Bloom County Strips, quick, read 'em before the link gets popular and it's removed.
I need to put this on the "buy" list.
Another Bully's Ten of a Kind.
Mike Manley's Blog has art from Superman #660 for us to enjoy.
Disney's New Princess. She looks good!
The word "wiki" makes the OED.
Random Kitten Generator. Awww, cute! Via Elayne.
Pal Dorian has cool Doctor Who related video. Heh. Meanwhile, Dave points out a Doctor Who gaming fan who combined his passions. Eek.
Brian Wood Supports The Troops, and explains his position carefully.
How ironic: P2P is killing piracy.
If we want dollar coins to work, we need to get rid of dollar bills. I'm totally for it.
Snow Donuts. With pictures.
Pi Gang Symbol. Yo.
Customers hate DRM, and DRM problems cause 75 percent of support calls.
This article suddenly makes me nervous about riding the ferries this last weekend. Just for the record, we rode on the Tillikum and the Kitsap.
The Business Case for using Open Source Software. It's actually pretty convincing, to me.
Ooooh, I want. Seriously, if I were rich I would already be setting up a system like this.
Speaking of, fridge gadget could slash greenhouse emissions and save lots of money.
Diane Duane on St Patrick's Day. I had a teacher in elementary school who told us that St Patrick borrowed his dad's pick-up truck to drive the snakes out of Ireland.
Ack. Local sales tax going up, and postage rates going up, too.
Thank you to everyone who chimed in. Ripples Through Time will hopefully resume tomorrow, after I've had a good night's sleep. Hopefully.
Occasional Superheroine gives Justice League #10's awful cover the respect it deserves.
Lost Bloom County Strips, quick, read 'em before the link gets popular and it's removed.
I need to put this on the "buy" list.
Another Bully's Ten of a Kind.
Mike Manley's Blog has art from Superman #660 for us to enjoy.
Disney's New Princess. She looks good!
The word "wiki" makes the OED.
Random Kitten Generator. Awww, cute! Via Elayne.
Pal Dorian has cool Doctor Who related video. Heh. Meanwhile, Dave points out a Doctor Who gaming fan who combined his passions. Eek.
Brian Wood Supports The Troops, and explains his position carefully.
How ironic: P2P is killing piracy.
If we want dollar coins to work, we need to get rid of dollar bills. I'm totally for it.
Snow Donuts. With pictures.
Pi Gang Symbol. Yo.
Customers hate DRM, and DRM problems cause 75 percent of support calls.
This article suddenly makes me nervous about riding the ferries this last weekend. Just for the record, we rode on the Tillikum and the Kitsap.
The Business Case for using Open Source Software. It's actually pretty convincing, to me.
Ooooh, I want. Seriously, if I were rich I would already be setting up a system like this.
Speaking of, fridge gadget could slash greenhouse emissions and save lots of money.
Diane Duane on St Patrick's Day. I had a teacher in elementary school who told us that St Patrick borrowed his dad's pick-up truck to drive the snakes out of Ireland.
Ack. Local sales tax going up, and postage rates going up, too.
Thank you to everyone who chimed in. Ripples Through Time will hopefully resume tomorrow, after I've had a good night's sleep. Hopefully.
Labels: Brian Wood, Bully, Cats, Comic Book Urban Legends, Doctor Who, DRM, Links, Math, Women in Comics
Coming Soon (DC Solicits for June)
Solicits for DC Comics due to ship in June 2007 have been posted on various websites: Comic Book Resources, Newsarama, Comics Continuum, IGN, ComicList, and The Official DC Site. Here's the Aquaman stuff I spotted:
Adventures in San/Sub Diego continue... and look, a poster!
Anyone spot any other Aquaman-related books?
Adventures in San/Sub Diego continue... and look, a poster!
Anyone spot any other Aquaman-related books?
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Another No Blog Day
Sorry. I'm just too caught up in other things to get down to blogging today. I was going to write about my weekend, but it wasn't really all that exciting to someone not me. I considered telling you about my TiVo adventures, but I'm sure most folks aren't all that interested. I was going to whine about money, but who wants to hear me complain that we haven't got enough cash to go to the summer Oz convention? And I just haven't had the time nor desire to write a Ripples Through Time for the day. Yeah, even I sometimes lose the will to write about Aquaman. So, until tomorrow... I should have time tomorrow. I hope. Maybe.
Labels: No Blog Kinda Day
Saturday, March 17, 2007
No Blog Day
Sorry, it's been a very busy day in some respects, and I just don't have it in me to post anything interesting. I'll be back tomorrow.
Labels: No Blog Kinda Day
Friday, March 16, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 103
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #179 (August 1952) - The Raft of Doom!
Five men, sailing on a primitive raft to prove a migration theory, are attacked by criminals intent on stopping their voyage.
Can you say Kon-Tiki? Thor Heyerdahl's famous journey took place in 1947, the documentary of the voyage was awarded an Academy Award for 1951... in early 1952. This story came out in August of 1952. Hmmmm... wonder if there's any relation?
I was fascinated by Kon-Tiki as a child, so this story hit a special spot in my heart. Sadly, the plot isn't terribly good. It's almost as if someone said, "Hey, let's do a story about those guys in the primitive boat!" then figured that would be enough. The bad guys seem partly tacked-on and pretty lame, and Aquaman figures out their whole motive without any hints in the story itself. Nice artwork, yes, but not the best Aquaman tale.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman attaches the raft to some porpoises to pull it into a mist so that the criminals cannot find them. When Aquaman decides to help them over the reef, a group of whales gather and create a giant wave that carries them across. After Aquaman learns they lost their sails going over the reef, he has two manta rays hook up to the mast to become improvised sails. When the raft is attacked by a submarine, Aquaman has whales create a "smoke screen" of spouted vapor to block the view, then as he covers their periscope he orders octopus to surround the sub and "emit an inky black substance". Whales, turtles, and a sea cow tow the submarine to land.
Quotefile: Daily Herald reports on the voyage:
Five men, sailing on a primitive raft to prove a migration theory, are attacked by criminals intent on stopping their voyage.
Can you say Kon-Tiki? Thor Heyerdahl's famous journey took place in 1947, the documentary of the voyage was awarded an Academy Award for 1951... in early 1952. This story came out in August of 1952. Hmmmm... wonder if there's any relation?
I was fascinated by Kon-Tiki as a child, so this story hit a special spot in my heart. Sadly, the plot isn't terribly good. It's almost as if someone said, "Hey, let's do a story about those guys in the primitive boat!" then figured that would be enough. The bad guys seem partly tacked-on and pretty lame, and Aquaman figures out their whole motive without any hints in the story itself. Nice artwork, yes, but not the best Aquaman tale.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman attaches the raft to some porpoises to pull it into a mist so that the criminals cannot find them. When Aquaman decides to help them over the reef, a group of whales gather and create a giant wave that carries them across. After Aquaman learns they lost their sails going over the reef, he has two manta rays hook up to the mast to become improvised sails. When the raft is attacked by a submarine, Aquaman has whales create a "smoke screen" of spouted vapor to block the view, then as he covers their periscope he orders octopus to surround the sub and "emit an inky black substance". Whales, turtles, and a sea cow tow the submarine to land.
Quotefile: Daily Herald reports on the voyage:
Scientists plan 3,000 mile raft voyage! Hope to prove ancient migration theory!Have you read this story? What do you think?
Five plucky men will set out in a raft today and let the ocean currents carry them into the vast Pacific. Their object is to prove that certain natives from the mainland performed this same feat hundreds of years ago and thus settled on remote faraway islands...
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Review Copy Reviews
Once again, AiT/Planet Lar has come through for me, sending me a book to review just when life was getting me down. Between Larry and Illusive Arts I never seem to get too far down before someone sends me something. More on Illusive in a bit, for the moment I want to focus on:
Giant Robot Warriors by Stuart Moore and Ryan Kelly.
Before I really get into the meat of the book, let me just say that a comic book with a dust jacket is pretty cool, especially when the dust jacket has a different cover image. As with so many of AiT/Planet Lar's books, there's a short text piece at the end which explains when this book was written (in the year after 9/11) and how the feelings of the writer have changed since then. It's not strictly necessary for the enjoyment of the book, but it added one heckuva layer to my own reading of it, which I appreciated.
As for the meat of the story... well, there is a main storyline that works really well as a plain ol' over-the-top adventure with Giant Robot Warriors (and I feel like I should be putting an exclamation point after that). It really is hard to not chuckle at the concept of GRWs being a part of modern warfare. The set-up and execution of that side of the story is absolutely perfect, from the charmingly annoying main scientist to his grumpy boss and the wacky assistants. It's all familiar and yet new, and it all works. The subtext of that main plot is the political arena in which the GRWs operate, and that's where the tale starts to sink its mechanical digits into your brain. There's a lot going on there, some hinted at and some stated outright, and it's all powerful if you look beyond just the fun and games.
Part of that subtext is revealed in the wonderful mysterious sideplot, which comes to fruition at just the wrong moment for our hero. Indeed, it's hard to call it subtext once it hits the open near the end of the book. Still, there is a deep subtlety here you just don't expect from a book called Giant Robot Warriors. Ultimately, the book pulls through on the combined strength of the silliness of the main concept with some political subtext and a dash of believable characters mixed in.
This is a fun book, and definitely worth a look from anyone who wants to read something light, but really tasty.
Giant Robot Warriors by Stuart Moore and Ryan Kelly.
Before I really get into the meat of the book, let me just say that a comic book with a dust jacket is pretty cool, especially when the dust jacket has a different cover image. As with so many of AiT/Planet Lar's books, there's a short text piece at the end which explains when this book was written (in the year after 9/11) and how the feelings of the writer have changed since then. It's not strictly necessary for the enjoyment of the book, but it added one heckuva layer to my own reading of it, which I appreciated.
As for the meat of the story... well, there is a main storyline that works really well as a plain ol' over-the-top adventure with Giant Robot Warriors (and I feel like I should be putting an exclamation point after that). It really is hard to not chuckle at the concept of GRWs being a part of modern warfare. The set-up and execution of that side of the story is absolutely perfect, from the charmingly annoying main scientist to his grumpy boss and the wacky assistants. It's all familiar and yet new, and it all works. The subtext of that main plot is the political arena in which the GRWs operate, and that's where the tale starts to sink its mechanical digits into your brain. There's a lot going on there, some hinted at and some stated outright, and it's all powerful if you look beyond just the fun and games.
Part of that subtext is revealed in the wonderful mysterious sideplot, which comes to fruition at just the wrong moment for our hero. Indeed, it's hard to call it subtext once it hits the open near the end of the book. Still, there is a deep subtlety here you just don't expect from a book called Giant Robot Warriors. Ultimately, the book pulls through on the combined strength of the silliness of the main concept with some political subtext and a dash of believable characters mixed in.
This is a fun book, and definitely worth a look from anyone who wants to read something light, but really tasty.
Labels: AiT/Planet Lar, Reviews
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 102
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Want to read these stories yourself? Write to DC: Dan Didio, Executive Editor, DC Comics, 1700 Broadway, New York NY 10019 and ask for a reprint of Aquaman's Golden Age tales.
Adventure #178 (July 1952) - The Return of Captain Flint!
As Aquaman is assisting with a movie production, the main actor is hit on the head and starts to believe he really is a notorious pirate.
If you were a boy in 1952, reading this story, odds are good that you would be familiar with Treasure Island, thus you would recognize the names "Captain Flint" and "Admiral Benbow". Captain Flint is the name of the pirate who collected the treasure that was hidden on Skeleton Island. Admiral Benbow is the name of the inn that Jim Hawkins' family owns. Perhaps the movie was a prequel to Treasure Island?
This is a "detective" tale for Aquaman, in which he figures out that things aren't what they seem using the small clues. The unnamed doctor's diagnosis and recommendation seem really odd... play along with the delusion? But the final clue that Aquaman figures it out from isn't so clever, as ships have booms as well as camera rigs.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman directs whales to position a ship for a scene in the movie. At the end of the movie, the bad guys are rounded up by an octopus and sea cow.
Captured/Knocked Out report: As "Admiral Benbow", Aquaman is chained with heavy weights and forced to walk the plank.
Quotefile: Wally, as Captain Flint, spotting Aquaman, "Aha! So it's my arch enemy, Admiral Benbow, who has sworn to capture me! By the living thunder, this day shall be your last!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Want to read these stories yourself? Write to DC: Dan Didio, Executive Editor, DC Comics, 1700 Broadway, New York NY 10019 and ask for a reprint of Aquaman's Golden Age tales.
As Aquaman is assisting with a movie production, the main actor is hit on the head and starts to believe he really is a notorious pirate.
If you were a boy in 1952, reading this story, odds are good that you would be familiar with Treasure Island, thus you would recognize the names "Captain Flint" and "Admiral Benbow". Captain Flint is the name of the pirate who collected the treasure that was hidden on Skeleton Island. Admiral Benbow is the name of the inn that Jim Hawkins' family owns. Perhaps the movie was a prequel to Treasure Island?
This is a "detective" tale for Aquaman, in which he figures out that things aren't what they seem using the small clues. The unnamed doctor's diagnosis and recommendation seem really odd... play along with the delusion? But the final clue that Aquaman figures it out from isn't so clever, as ships have booms as well as camera rigs.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman directs whales to position a ship for a scene in the movie. At the end of the movie, the bad guys are rounded up by an octopus and sea cow.
Captured/Knocked Out report: As "Admiral Benbow", Aquaman is chained with heavy weights and forced to walk the plank.
Quotefile: Wally, as Captain Flint, spotting Aquaman, "Aha! So it's my arch enemy, Admiral Benbow, who has sworn to capture me! By the living thunder, this day shall be your last!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
I Get Letters
Wow. I just received a rather irate e-mail from someone who claims to be a "loyal reader" of my blog. With permission, as given in the note itself, I'm going to post some excerpts from it and answer them publicly. What I don't answer here I've answered privately.
First up:
One: I've never claimed this is a comics blog, at least not exclusively. I've accepted the title when it's been given to my blog. But I blog about a bunch of stuff, from Flying Spaghetti Monsters to Politics. It's just that my main interest in life is comic books, so that's where most of my writing attention is. And it's true, I've moved most of my political rants to another blog, where I could shout more freely, but I honestly don't feel compelled to hold back if I don't want to. This blog is about me, a truly egotistical creation, so it will reflect my interests.
Two: I admit to blogging about some stupid things. I like some really stupid things. Like certain comic books. But, again, that's all part of my interests.
Three: "Big comic book stories"? Like what? Again, I post about my own interests. If some story in the comic book world doesn't interest me, why should I force myself to post something about it, especially when dozens of other fans are already filling that need? I don't read every comic book (I probably would if someone sent them all to me, but they don't and therefore I don't). I didn't read Civil War, so I hardly feel right in commenting about it.
And if you are talking about stories about comic book professionals... again, I cover the ones that interest me. I've been interested in, say, the Unscrewed Saga, and reported on it. But just because I don't report on, say, the Friends of Lulu Empowerment Fund fiasco doesn't mean I'm not paying attention. It just means I felt I had nothing to add on the subject.
Moving on:
Look, this is a touchy subject with me. I care about the portrayal of women in comic books. I care deeply about the treatment of women in the comic book field. But I don't feel I need to spend all my time crusading about it. It often feels like I'm beating a dying horse when I join the chorus of cries about women in comics. It feels, to me, like the right path should be obvious. It pains me to point out the obvious. I know I shouldn't shirk the burden, but I can't help but feel it's sexist for people to expect me to fight that fight just because I'm a woman.
And, frankly, I don't feel like I'm a terribly eloquent person, so I'd rather link to those that are and give a little "me too" than put up inadequate words. I like to think that if there weren't already so many excellent female bloggers arguing those points that I would step into the void. I like to think that if there was no one else, I would take up the torch. I don't know if I would, but thank goodness there are a lot of great feminist bloggers out there in the comic book world already and the point is moot. So, just because I'm a "girl" doesn't mean I'm going to be girly. I'm going to be myself.
I'm going to skip a couple of other somewhat legit complaints to focus on one last part of the note:
Should I:
First up:
You claim to be a comics blog and you post about all kinds of other stupid stuff and you don't post about the big comic book stories.Whew. There's a powerful little rant. I'll try to answer all the bits there.
One: I've never claimed this is a comics blog, at least not exclusively. I've accepted the title when it's been given to my blog. But I blog about a bunch of stuff, from Flying Spaghetti Monsters to Politics. It's just that my main interest in life is comic books, so that's where most of my writing attention is. And it's true, I've moved most of my political rants to another blog, where I could shout more freely, but I honestly don't feel compelled to hold back if I don't want to. This blog is about me, a truly egotistical creation, so it will reflect my interests.
Two: I admit to blogging about some stupid things. I like some really stupid things. Like certain comic books. But, again, that's all part of my interests.
Three: "Big comic book stories"? Like what? Again, I post about my own interests. If some story in the comic book world doesn't interest me, why should I force myself to post something about it, especially when dozens of other fans are already filling that need? I don't read every comic book (I probably would if someone sent them all to me, but they don't and therefore I don't). I didn't read Civil War, so I hardly feel right in commenting about it.
And if you are talking about stories about comic book professionals... again, I cover the ones that interest me. I've been interested in, say, the Unscrewed Saga, and reported on it. But just because I don't report on, say, the Friends of Lulu Empowerment Fund fiasco doesn't mean I'm not paying attention. It just means I felt I had nothing to add on the subject.
Moving on:
You are a girl blogger why don't you report about girls in comics?Excuse me? Just what is that supposed to mean? Because of my gender, I'm supposed to focus on females? Or are you upset that I'm not a feminist blogger who complains constantly about the portrayal of women in comics? I really don't understand this complaint.
Look, this is a touchy subject with me. I care about the portrayal of women in comic books. I care deeply about the treatment of women in the comic book field. But I don't feel I need to spend all my time crusading about it. It often feels like I'm beating a dying horse when I join the chorus of cries about women in comics. It feels, to me, like the right path should be obvious. It pains me to point out the obvious. I know I shouldn't shirk the burden, but I can't help but feel it's sexist for people to expect me to fight that fight just because I'm a woman.
And, frankly, I don't feel like I'm a terribly eloquent person, so I'd rather link to those that are and give a little "me too" than put up inadequate words. I like to think that if there weren't already so many excellent female bloggers arguing those points that I would step into the void. I like to think that if there was no one else, I would take up the torch. I don't know if I would, but thank goodness there are a lot of great feminist bloggers out there in the comic book world already and the point is moot. So, just because I'm a "girl" doesn't mean I'm going to be girly. I'm going to be myself.
I'm going to skip a couple of other somewhat legit complaints to focus on one last part of the note:
Why are you posting Aquaman reviews on the Aquaman site and on your blog?I consider this a completely legitimate complaint for the handful of unfortunate people who check both this blog and my Aquaman site daily. There are a few solutions to this, and I'm going to ask anyone who has bothered to read this far for your opinions. I'll abide by the majority opinion as posted in comments to this blog entry (in other words, no e-mail on this one).
Should I:
- (Option 1) Continue to post my Ripples Through Time on both my Aquaman site and here, as I've been doing for the last few months.
- (Option 2) Post my Ripples Through Time posts ONLY on my Aquaman site, and post a daily link to that post here on this blog.
- (Option 3) Post my Ripples Through Time posts ONLY on my Aquaman site, and nothing about them here on this blog.
Labels: Aquaman, Blog Reading, Blogging, Comments, Women in Comics
A Fifth of Lunkdimp
Butt-Shots in Comics. I particularly like the Vixen/Amazo contrast, because I didn't notice it when I read the book, but it's totally obvious when taken in this context.
Boing Boing on tormenting squirrels. Spinning Bird Feeder. Squirrel Obstacles Courses.
It's the Dursley Syndrome! Parents don't recognize obesity in their kids.
More Wil Wheaton, who is vastly more interesting as a nerd than he ever was as Wesley: tapestry. Two stories of Wil dealing with fans.
TangognaT passes along some cool library links: What Is A Librarian? and The Joy of Interlibrary Loan are great reads.
And don't forget to enter TangognaT's Manga Giveaway!
A whine about e-mail sigs. Way back in the early days of the 'net, when we had to power our computers with hamsters, I was told that a sig should never exceed four lines of text, which I have stuck to all these years. Reports of PHOTOs in sigs admittedly bothers me, especially if you are sending mail to someone who has to pay for download time. I don't mind sigs, but be reasonable about them, folks!
Jeopardy is teasing about Friday March 16th's show: "for the first time in 23 years, 'Jeopardy!' history will be made." Well, hey, since we got the TiVo entirely to record Jeopardy so hubby-Eric never will have to miss it again, yeah, we'll watch it. Via Various and Sundry.
Which microlender is best? Surprise, it's Kiva, the one that I have a little bit of money in. I meant to put $50 a year into it, but haven't put any money in this year yet, due to our financial difficulties.
Boing Boing on tormenting squirrels. Spinning Bird Feeder. Squirrel Obstacles Courses.
It's the Dursley Syndrome! Parents don't recognize obesity in their kids.
More Wil Wheaton, who is vastly more interesting as a nerd than he ever was as Wesley: tapestry. Two stories of Wil dealing with fans.
TangognaT passes along some cool library links: What Is A Librarian? and The Joy of Interlibrary Loan are great reads.
And don't forget to enter TangognaT's Manga Giveaway!
A whine about e-mail sigs. Way back in the early days of the 'net, when we had to power our computers with hamsters, I was told that a sig should never exceed four lines of text, which I have stuck to all these years. Reports of PHOTOs in sigs admittedly bothers me, especially if you are sending mail to someone who has to pay for download time. I don't mind sigs, but be reasonable about them, folks!
Jeopardy is teasing about Friday March 16th's show: "for the first time in 23 years, 'Jeopardy!' history will be made." Well, hey, since we got the TiVo entirely to record Jeopardy so hubby-Eric never will have to miss it again, yeah, we'll watch it. Via Various and Sundry.
Which microlender is best? Surprise, it's Kiva, the one that I have a little bit of money in. I meant to put $50 a year into it, but haven't put any money in this year yet, due to our financial difficulties.
Labels: Boing Boing, Jeopardy, Kiva, Library, Manga, Squirrels, TangognaT, Weight Loss, Wil Wheaton, Women in Comics
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 101
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #177 (June 1952) - The Man Who Was Aquaman's Double!
Tommy Leeds looks and sounds like Aquaman, only he can't swim.
Aquaman discovers, entirely by accident, a man who looks exactly like him. But the man, Tommy Leeds, can't swim and is therefore in danger of losing his girl, Ginny, to a rival. Aquaman helps Leeds out, then gets Leeds help to capture Spanner and his gang of pearl thieves.
It's kind of funny to see Aquaman and Tommy Leeds switching outfits. Tommy is wearing a pair of blue swimming shorts and nothing else. And Aquaman has one of those all-time classic kinds of lines: "Leave that to me, Tommy! Just hurry and get that suit off, while I arrange with one of my finny friends to help us out!" Oh really, Aquaman?
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides a sea turtle again. A shark carries Leeds as he's impersonating Aquaman. Sea Eagles beat the air and drive away the smoke. Whales put out the fire around Leeds. At the end of the story, Aquaman leaves on the sea turtle.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is corralled by Ginny who covers him with kisses. I'd call that captured. Tommy Leeds, as Aquaman, is trapped by the "Sea-Carpet of Daggers".
Quotefile: Ginny, "Don't be ridiculous, Tommy! If Aquaman can't beat those crooks, what can you do?" Aquaman, pretending to be Tommy, "I'm sure glad I'm going to be too busy for awhile to answer that question, Ginny!"
Tally: 101 stories down, 405 (and counting) to go...
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Tommy Leeds looks and sounds like Aquaman, only he can't swim.
Aquaman discovers, entirely by accident, a man who looks exactly like him. But the man, Tommy Leeds, can't swim and is therefore in danger of losing his girl, Ginny, to a rival. Aquaman helps Leeds out, then gets Leeds help to capture Spanner and his gang of pearl thieves.
It's kind of funny to see Aquaman and Tommy Leeds switching outfits. Tommy is wearing a pair of blue swimming shorts and nothing else. And Aquaman has one of those all-time classic kinds of lines: "Leave that to me, Tommy! Just hurry and get that suit off, while I arrange with one of my finny friends to help us out!" Oh really, Aquaman?
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides a sea turtle again. A shark carries Leeds as he's impersonating Aquaman. Sea Eagles beat the air and drive away the smoke. Whales put out the fire around Leeds. At the end of the story, Aquaman leaves on the sea turtle.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is corralled by Ginny who covers him with kisses. I'd call that captured. Tommy Leeds, as Aquaman, is trapped by the "Sea-Carpet of Daggers".
Quotefile: Ginny, "Don't be ridiculous, Tommy! If Aquaman can't beat those crooks, what can you do?" Aquaman, pretending to be Tommy, "I'm sure glad I'm going to be too busy for awhile to answer that question, Ginny!"
Tally: 101 stories down, 405 (and counting) to go...
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
The Forth Lunkdimp
This year's Seattle Mariners Ads. None of them stand out as excellent, but "Serious Heat" and "Double Play Twins" are probably the best by a nose, in my opinion.
Men stare at crotches, women do not. Very odd study results.
My Two Yen Worth on Gachapin and the Killers.
No more blogs in ten years, says science fiction writer and professional pundit Bruce Sterling. True, I don't know if I'll keep this up, or if new bloggers will keep it up... but mostly extinct in ten years sounds overly pessimistic to me.
More copper thieves.
Slate asks about food coloring and why chefs are hesitant to use it.
Traffic Go-Rounds. Tape and plastic sculptures that adorn a traffic circle.
More on Shatner from Wil Wheaton.
I want.
Scott Adams wants to cause controversy again. His entry did remind me of my Geology Professor in college. He was a student of geology just before Plate Tectonics became accepted theory, and told his class how he and fellow students had collected data to support the old theory as part of their coursework... and basically made it all up because the data didn't support the theory and they were undergrads, so they couldn't argue the point. Then Plate Tectonics came along and changed everything, and suddenly the data did make sense. He pointed out that science is constantly evolving and changing, and "rewriting the science books" doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Makes me wonder how many facts I learned in school are now known to be not true?
Men stare at crotches, women do not. Very odd study results.
My Two Yen Worth on Gachapin and the Killers.
No more blogs in ten years, says science fiction writer and professional pundit Bruce Sterling. True, I don't know if I'll keep this up, or if new bloggers will keep it up... but mostly extinct in ten years sounds overly pessimistic to me.
More copper thieves.
Slate asks about food coloring and why chefs are hesitant to use it.
Traffic Go-Rounds. Tape and plastic sculptures that adorn a traffic circle.
More on Shatner from Wil Wheaton.
I want.
Scott Adams wants to cause controversy again. His entry did remind me of my Geology Professor in college. He was a student of geology just before Plate Tectonics became accepted theory, and told his class how he and fellow students had collected data to support the old theory as part of their coursework... and basically made it all up because the data didn't support the theory and they were undergrads, so they couldn't argue the point. Then Plate Tectonics came along and changed everything, and suddenly the data did make sense. He pointed out that science is constantly evolving and changing, and "rewriting the science books" doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Makes me wonder how many facts I learned in school are now known to be not true?
Labels: Boing Boing, Food, Mariners, Science
Happy Pi Day!
3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 6939937510 5820974944 5923078164 0628620899 8628034825 3421170679 8214808651 3282306647 0938446095 5058223172 5359408128 4811174502 8410270193 8521105559 6446229489 5493038196 4428810975 6659334461 2847564823 3786783165 2712019091 4564856692 3460348610 4543266482 1339360726 0249141273 7245870066 0631558817 4881520920 9628292540 9171536436 7892590360 0113305305 4882046652 1384146951 9415116094 3305727036 5759591953 0921861173 8193261179 3105118548 0744623799 6274956735 1885752724 8912279381 8301194912 9833673362 4406566430 8602139494 6395224737 1907021798 6094370277 0539217176 2931767523 8467481846 7669405132 0005681271 4526356082 7785771342 7577896091 7363717872 1468440901 2249534301 4654958537 1050792279 6892589235 4201995611 2129021960 8640344181 5981362977 4771309960 5187072113 4999999837 2978049951 0597317328 1609631859 5024459455 3469083026 4252230825 3344685035 2619311881 7101000313 7838752886 5875332083 8142061717 7669147303 5982534904 2875546873 1159562863 8823537875 9375195778 1857780532 1712268066 1300192787 6611195909 2164201989 and so on and so on and so on...
Today on my menu: Quiche Lorraine Pie for breakfast, Pizza Pie for lunch, and Pot Pie for dinner with Chocolate Cream Pie for dessert. I take my pseudo-holidays seriously, particularly where it comes to food.
Today on my menu: Quiche Lorraine Pie for breakfast, Pizza Pie for lunch, and Pot Pie for dinner with Chocolate Cream Pie for dessert. I take my pseudo-holidays seriously, particularly where it comes to food.
Labels: Pi Day
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 100
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #176 (May 1952) - The Ex-King of the Sea!
While stopping pirate Pete Desmond, Aquaman is walloped on the head and loses the ability to talk to fish.
We last saw a story along this theme in Adventure #134, but in that story the sea creatures attacked Aquaman. In this one he's simply forgotten how to talk to them. We've also seen the "amnesia caused by a bump on the head" before, in Adventure #127, but that was full-blown amnesia, and not simply forgetting how to talk to fish. However, the solution to both amnesia cases was the same: another bump on the head.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides up to the piracy on a sea cow. He attempts to order whales to capture Desmond after he's been hit, but cannot remember how to communicate with them. Aquaman uses food to get a whale to appear to heed his commands, but a wave washes the food away. Then he paints a baby cuttlefish on the propeller of Desmond's ship, causing a large octopus to think it's threatened and smash the propeller. After getting hit on the head again, Aquaman instinctively calls for help, and his finny friends rush to his assistance for the last two panels of the story.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is knocked out by Desmond to start the tale, then hit on the head again to end it.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "T-they heard me - and understood me! That blow on the head jogged my memory back -- and with it, the language of the deep! Now those crooks haven't a chance!"
HUZZAH! I've made it through the first 100 stories! While I'm still technically in the Golden Age tales, we're in that wavering period between the true Golden Age and the Silver Age. The stories are getting easier to find if you want to hunt them down to read along. And as I continue I will be skipping some tales that feature Aquaman... because I'm only reporting on Aquaman's solo stories, not other character's stories in which he appears. Before I reach story number 200, Aquaman will also join the brand new Justice League. I won't be covering those stories on this go 'round, but I hope to come back to them after I finish with the solo tales. That is, I hope to have finished collecting them by the time I finish my Ripples Through Time on Aquaman solo tales.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
While stopping pirate Pete Desmond, Aquaman is walloped on the head and loses the ability to talk to fish.
We last saw a story along this theme in Adventure #134, but in that story the sea creatures attacked Aquaman. In this one he's simply forgotten how to talk to them. We've also seen the "amnesia caused by a bump on the head" before, in Adventure #127, but that was full-blown amnesia, and not simply forgetting how to talk to fish. However, the solution to both amnesia cases was the same: another bump on the head.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides up to the piracy on a sea cow. He attempts to order whales to capture Desmond after he's been hit, but cannot remember how to communicate with them. Aquaman uses food to get a whale to appear to heed his commands, but a wave washes the food away. Then he paints a baby cuttlefish on the propeller of Desmond's ship, causing a large octopus to think it's threatened and smash the propeller. After getting hit on the head again, Aquaman instinctively calls for help, and his finny friends rush to his assistance for the last two panels of the story.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is knocked out by Desmond to start the tale, then hit on the head again to end it.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "T-they heard me - and understood me! That blow on the head jogged my memory back -- and with it, the language of the deep! Now those crooks haven't a chance!"
HUZZAH! I've made it through the first 100 stories! While I'm still technically in the Golden Age tales, we're in that wavering period between the true Golden Age and the Silver Age. The stories are getting easier to find if you want to hunt them down to read along. And as I continue I will be skipping some tales that feature Aquaman... because I'm only reporting on Aquaman's solo stories, not other character's stories in which he appears. Before I reach story number 200, Aquaman will also join the brand new Justice League. I won't be covering those stories on this go 'round, but I hope to come back to them after I finish with the solo tales. That is, I hope to have finished collecting them by the time I finish my Ripples Through Time on Aquaman solo tales.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Continuing to Get Unscrewed
I thought I'd just mention the auctions for Unscrewed Comics going on right now, since my current auctions are over for the moment (whew).
You can read about Unscrewed Comics here, and learn what caused a bunch of freelancers to come together.
The short story: Rick Olney cheated a whole bunch of people, promising them pay for various work, only he never paid most of them. Being something of a common occurrence in the comic book business (to be paid late), these people didn't realize until they started comparing notes that they'd all been cheated by the same guy. So they decided to prevent other people from being cheated by publicizing the guy's methods and dishonesty, and furthermore, they decided to turn the negative energy into something positive.
Thus the auctions, and soon there will be an anthology of works by various creators who support the cause. The cause being preventing "publishers" from getting away with not paying their workforce.
You can read about Unscrewed Comics here, and learn what caused a bunch of freelancers to come together.
The short story: Rick Olney cheated a whole bunch of people, promising them pay for various work, only he never paid most of them. Being something of a common occurrence in the comic book business (to be paid late), these people didn't realize until they started comparing notes that they'd all been cheated by the same guy. So they decided to prevent other people from being cheated by publicizing the guy's methods and dishonesty, and furthermore, they decided to turn the negative energy into something positive.
Thus the auctions, and soon there will be an anthology of works by various creators who support the cause. The cause being preventing "publishers" from getting away with not paying their workforce.
Labels: Anthology, eBay, Professionalism, Unscrewed
Lunkdimp the Third
Mark Evanier explains why the San Diego Comicon is unlikely to move to Vegas. And he's pretty convincing, too.
The courtesy tag "NSFW" means "Not Safe For Work", ie there is likely to be nudity or adult content at the link. But apparently some folks think it's censorship because software filtering companies filter out NSFW websites. *sigh*
Vampire for President? Um. Right. Not precisely the kind of guy I'd vote for, but the joke potential is endless.
Paintball Recruiting.
Man caught in the act of stealing copper wire says he's not a thief. He figured since the wires weren't active yet, they were scrap metal. This is becoming a BIG problem in this area, as items made of metal are stolen, including LIVE telephone wires, causing outages.
And lastly: don't eat me (yes, it's safe for work).
The courtesy tag "NSFW" means "Not Safe For Work", ie there is likely to be nudity or adult content at the link. But apparently some folks think it's censorship because software filtering companies filter out NSFW websites. *sigh*
Vampire for President? Um. Right. Not precisely the kind of guy I'd vote for, but the joke potential is endless.
Paintball Recruiting.
Man caught in the act of stealing copper wire says he's not a thief. He figured since the wires weren't active yet, they were scrap metal. This is becoming a BIG problem in this area, as items made of metal are stolen, including LIVE telephone wires, causing outages.
And lastly: don't eat me (yes, it's safe for work).
Monday, March 12, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 099
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #175 (April 1952) - Mystery of the Disappearing Island!
John Preston is desperate to find an island that the sole witness who can save his son was reportedly headed to, and Aquaman arrives to help.
Captain Tom Preston rescued the survivors of a pirate attack, but because the attacking ship and the island it was headed to have vanished, Tom was accused of the piracy and sentenced to death. The one witness who could clear Tom's name was kidnapped... and that's where we come into the story, with Tom's father, John Preston, an old friend of Aquaman, looking for the island that disappeared.
This story has a few odd twists. It's possible that Aquaman never would have noticed the suspended island if the pirate himself hadn't led John Preston and Aquaman right to it. True, he was trying to get Preston's reward money, but it was still a dumb move.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides a dolphin up to John Preston's ship. He calls his finny friends to help when Captain Dirk threatens Preston from his island, and uses the whales to lighten the island so it surfaces. Sawfish cut a hole in the bottom of Dirk's base, freeing Saunders. Sea eagles carry Aquaman and Saunders to the court to save Tom Preston, while whales resink the island to make sure Dirk can't shot the elder Preston.
Quotefile: Aquaman explains the suspended island, "So all Captain Dirk did was fit the island up with regular submarine ballast tanks! When these are flooded, the island sinks... and from his water-tight compartment inside, Dirk can fill or drain those tanks!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
John Preston is desperate to find an island that the sole witness who can save his son was reportedly headed to, and Aquaman arrives to help.
Captain Tom Preston rescued the survivors of a pirate attack, but because the attacking ship and the island it was headed to have vanished, Tom was accused of the piracy and sentenced to death. The one witness who could clear Tom's name was kidnapped... and that's where we come into the story, with Tom's father, John Preston, an old friend of Aquaman, looking for the island that disappeared.
This story has a few odd twists. It's possible that Aquaman never would have noticed the suspended island if the pirate himself hadn't led John Preston and Aquaman right to it. True, he was trying to get Preston's reward money, but it was still a dumb move.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides a dolphin up to John Preston's ship. He calls his finny friends to help when Captain Dirk threatens Preston from his island, and uses the whales to lighten the island so it surfaces. Sawfish cut a hole in the bottom of Dirk's base, freeing Saunders. Sea eagles carry Aquaman and Saunders to the court to save Tom Preston, while whales resink the island to make sure Dirk can't shot the elder Preston.
Quotefile: Aquaman explains the suspended island, "So all Captain Dirk did was fit the island up with regular submarine ballast tanks! When these are flooded, the island sinks... and from his water-tight compartment inside, Dirk can fill or drain those tanks!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Lunkdimping, Again
TASTE THE TRUTHINESS!
Bully's Tribute To The Death of Captain America. All of the deaths of Captain America, actually.
Download free, legal Comic Books in .cbz format. Free. And Legal. Including Galaxion, which I want a TPB of when the story gets that big.
I was amused to find a single reply to my post about Unscrewed. I replied to that comment, though my better instincts told me not to. Apparently Rick Olney enjoys seeing himself on Google or something, or there's no way he would've noticed my little blog.
Lea Hernandez is home again. Huzzah!
Rest In Peace, Arnold Drake.
MetaFilter connects Heroes and Watchmen, warning, spoilers for future Heroes episodes in the links.
Marv Wolfman scares me with Passover Plague Toys.
A Spell of Confusion aka "Does a balrog have wings?"
We are controlled by a cat virus!!!
Girls who were suspended for saying "vagina" get to meet the author of "The Vagina Monologues," Eve Ensler.
We're gearing up for Oz at McDonalds.
A story of kindness.
Pi Day is coming! Pi Day is coming!
Politics: Injured troops, unfit for duty, ordered back to Iraq.
Bully's Tribute To The Death of Captain America. All of the deaths of Captain America, actually.
Download free, legal Comic Books in .cbz format. Free. And Legal. Including Galaxion, which I want a TPB of when the story gets that big.
I was amused to find a single reply to my post about Unscrewed. I replied to that comment, though my better instincts told me not to. Apparently Rick Olney enjoys seeing himself on Google or something, or there's no way he would've noticed my little blog.
Lea Hernandez is home again. Huzzah!
Rest In Peace, Arnold Drake.
MetaFilter connects Heroes and Watchmen, warning, spoilers for future Heroes episodes in the links.
Marv Wolfman scares me with Passover Plague Toys.
A Spell of Confusion aka "Does a balrog have wings?"
We are controlled by a cat virus!!!
Girls who were suspended for saying "vagina" get to meet the author of "The Vagina Monologues," Eve Ensler.
We're gearing up for Oz at McDonalds.
A story of kindness.
Pi Day is coming! Pi Day is coming!
Politics: Injured troops, unfit for duty, ordered back to Iraq.
Labels: Captain America, Cats, Downloading Comics, Heroes, Lea Hernandez, Pi Day, Politics, Professionalism, Unscrewed
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Really Rapid Reviews
These are mini-capsules: about one sentence per book with whether or not I recommend the book.
52 Week Forty-Four: "Deaths in the Family": This book goes up, this book goes down. I liked the bits with Renee Montoya, but not the rest. Mildly recommended.
The Flash #9: "Full Throttle Prologue: Split Decision": Another good issue. I particularly like the name of the bad guy at the beginning. Recommended.
Justice League of America #6: "The Tornado's Path: Iron Man": Um. Ok. Is it over, then? Neutral.
Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil #2: "NZIB GZPVH GSV XZPV": I've never been a huge Captain Marvel fan, but this is a good book. Recommended.
Justice League Unlimited #31: "The One-Man Justice League": I admit that I never really thought of Rex as being that egotistical, but it worked for this tale. This is a great book. Highly recommended.
Age of Bronze #25: "Betrayal 6": I read through this intently, then read the text pages, then flipped back through the story and suddenly realized that the issue was entirely talking. I hadn't realized that while reading it. It was THAT good. Highly recommended.
The Phantom #15: "Walker's Line Part Two of Two": A flashback tale to the current Phantom's youth, this wasn't a bad tale, but doesn't stand out. Mildly recommended.
Castle Waiting #5: Ok, now in addition to wondering exactly what's up with Tylo (he's NOT the one she ran from, is he?) I'm also wondering what the heck is wrong with the doctor. Highly recommended.
My buddy David has me pick up a few books for him, and asked for some Marvels this week... including Captain America. Here's what I thought of the Marvels I grabbed for David, and thanks again David for letting me read them.
Daredevil #94: "Our Love Story": Wow. This is an interesting introduction to Daredevil. A very good jumping on point, as it turns out. I have no interest in the character, but this was an intriguing story. Recommended.
Captain America #25: "The Death of the Dream: Part One": Plenty of context is given throughout the issue, so the story wasn't hard to follow. It was ok. Mildly recommended.
Fantastic Four #543: A jumping on issue, with a 45th anniversary story. Fairly solid. The Stan Lee cameo story was nicely silly. Mildly recommended.
Civil War: The Initiative: Chaotic and messy, and not pleasant in what's happened in the Marvel Universe. I never thought I'd actively hate Iron Man. Very mildly recommended.
7 March 2007
52 Week Forty-Four: "Deaths in the Family": This book goes up, this book goes down. I liked the bits with Renee Montoya, but not the rest. Mildly recommended.
The Flash #9: "Full Throttle Prologue: Split Decision": Another good issue. I particularly like the name of the bad guy at the beginning. Recommended.
Justice League of America #6: "The Tornado's Path: Iron Man": Um. Ok. Is it over, then? Neutral.
Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil #2: "NZIB GZPVH GSV XZPV": I've never been a huge Captain Marvel fan, but this is a good book. Recommended.
Justice League Unlimited #31: "The One-Man Justice League": I admit that I never really thought of Rex as being that egotistical, but it worked for this tale. This is a great book. Highly recommended.
Age of Bronze #25: "Betrayal 6": I read through this intently, then read the text pages, then flipped back through the story and suddenly realized that the issue was entirely talking. I hadn't realized that while reading it. It was THAT good. Highly recommended.
The Phantom #15: "Walker's Line Part Two of Two": A flashback tale to the current Phantom's youth, this wasn't a bad tale, but doesn't stand out. Mildly recommended.
Castle Waiting #5: Ok, now in addition to wondering exactly what's up with Tylo (he's NOT the one she ran from, is he?) I'm also wondering what the heck is wrong with the doctor. Highly recommended.
My buddy David has me pick up a few books for him, and asked for some Marvels this week... including Captain America. Here's what I thought of the Marvels I grabbed for David, and thanks again David for letting me read them.
Daredevil #94: "Our Love Story": Wow. This is an interesting introduction to Daredevil. A very good jumping on point, as it turns out. I have no interest in the character, but this was an intriguing story. Recommended.
Captain America #25: "The Death of the Dream: Part One": Plenty of context is given throughout the issue, so the story wasn't hard to follow. It was ok. Mildly recommended.
Fantastic Four #543: A jumping on issue, with a 45th anniversary story. Fairly solid. The Stan Lee cameo story was nicely silly. Mildly recommended.
Civil War: The Initiative: Chaotic and messy, and not pleasant in what's happened in the Marvel Universe. I never thought I'd actively hate Iron Man. Very mildly recommended.
Labels: 52, Age of Bronze, Captain America, Castle Waiting, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Flash, JLA, JLU, Marvel Civil War, Phantom, Reviews, Shazam
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 098
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #174 (March 1952) - The Whale That Was Wanted For Murder!
Aquaman is rescued by Black Beauty, a giant whale, only to learn that a posse has been formed to hunt the whale for sinking ships.
Captured/Knocked Out report: At the beginning of the story, Aquaman somehow manages to get himself trapped between two icebergs that are moving together.
Finny Friends Report: Black Beauty helps push the icebergs away from each other, freeing Aquaman. Aquaman rides a shark to lead the hunt for Black Beauty. He finds the whale before the posse, and quickly figures out that he can't be guilty because his back is still sore from pushing the iceberg off Aquaman. So Aquaman's finny and feathered friends help protect Black Beauty from the posse. The shark pulls the depth charge away, and sawfish cut the whale free from a net. A sea eagle stops the first harpoon, and a group of hard-shelled turtles protect him from the rest. Meanwhile, Aquaman has fish hold up a shell that he rubs with silver nitrate, then 1000 glowing ray fish and a "battery of electric eels" help Aquaman create an x-ray machine, which he uses to discover the real reason Captain Verne is desperate to capture Black Beauty.
Quotefile: Aquaman's thoughts, "Verne, huh? I've always suspected he bought his fleet of merchant ships with profits he made from diamond smuggling! But so far, we've never been able to catch him with the goods!"
Another very straightforward little Aquaman tale, with Aquaman reluctantly participating in a hunt for one of his friends. Of interest is Aquaman's use of a shell tapping on the ice to attract help when he was trapped in the icebergs. Again, the whole idea of his telepathy hasn't yet been fully developed.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Aquaman is rescued by Black Beauty, a giant whale, only to learn that a posse has been formed to hunt the whale for sinking ships.
Captured/Knocked Out report: At the beginning of the story, Aquaman somehow manages to get himself trapped between two icebergs that are moving together.
Finny Friends Report: Black Beauty helps push the icebergs away from each other, freeing Aquaman. Aquaman rides a shark to lead the hunt for Black Beauty. He finds the whale before the posse, and quickly figures out that he can't be guilty because his back is still sore from pushing the iceberg off Aquaman. So Aquaman's finny and feathered friends help protect Black Beauty from the posse. The shark pulls the depth charge away, and sawfish cut the whale free from a net. A sea eagle stops the first harpoon, and a group of hard-shelled turtles protect him from the rest. Meanwhile, Aquaman has fish hold up a shell that he rubs with silver nitrate, then 1000 glowing ray fish and a "battery of electric eels" help Aquaman create an x-ray machine, which he uses to discover the real reason Captain Verne is desperate to capture Black Beauty.
Quotefile: Aquaman's thoughts, "Verne, huh? I've always suspected he bought his fleet of merchant ships with profits he made from diamond smuggling! But so far, we've never been able to catch him with the goods!"
Another very straightforward little Aquaman tale, with Aquaman reluctantly participating in a hunt for one of his friends. Of interest is Aquaman's use of a shell tapping on the ice to attract help when he was trapped in the icebergs. Again, the whole idea of his telepathy hasn't yet been fully developed.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Daylight is Daylight, We Can't Really Save It
Bully has DST advice. My advice is to get a second opinion.
Of course, I'm all for abolishing DST anyway, so don't listen to me.
Of course, I'm all for abolishing DST anyway, so don't listen to me.
Labels: Bully
Daily Lunkdimp
Childhood nightmares from movies.
Dewey tries Shojo Beat. Full disclosure: I currently subscribe to both Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat, and I like both of them. A lot. When I'm done with my copies, I donate them to the library, which apparently has a HUGE demand for them, judging by the profuse thanks I got from the young adult librarian.
SUPER CREEP, preview at Emerald City Comicon.
Computer modeling based on game theory supports Net Neutrality.
WorldCat isn't a bit website about cats around the world... it's a catalog of books around the world. And there's a cool new feature that allows you to figure out how to cite the book you are looking at with a click of the mouse. I really wish this had been around when I was in college.
And I thought the 3-Day was a long walk.
Cat flu?
Cosplay at 300 Opening. Mmmmm, buff young men wearing nothing but what the Spartans wear in the movie... "We've got hostiles with sticks."
Dewey tries Shojo Beat. Full disclosure: I currently subscribe to both Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat, and I like both of them. A lot. When I'm done with my copies, I donate them to the library, which apparently has a HUGE demand for them, judging by the profuse thanks I got from the young adult librarian.
SUPER CREEP, preview at Emerald City Comicon.
Computer modeling based on game theory supports Net Neutrality.
WorldCat isn't a bit website about cats around the world... it's a catalog of books around the world. And there's a cool new feature that allows you to figure out how to cite the book you are looking at with a click of the mouse. I really wish this had been around when I was in college.
And I thought the 3-Day was a long walk.
Cat flu?
Cosplay at 300 Opening. Mmmmm, buff young men wearing nothing but what the Spartans wear in the movie... "We've got hostiles with sticks."
Labels: Emerald City Comicon, Library, Manga, Movies, Net Neutrality
Friday, March 09, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 097
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #173 (February 1952) - The First Underwater Gold Mine!
Luke Brady is sold a gold mine, not realizing that it's underwater... but for some reason the thugs who sold it to him want it back.
Captain Daggart is known to Aquaman for looting salvage ships... I presume that means that Daggart waits until the salvage crews have brought up the goods, then steals them.
This is yet another story that mixes cowboys and the ocean. I think the last one was Adventure #148. Once again, the cowboys continue to wear their totally inappropriate cowboy gear while hanging out on the ocean.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman defends Luke and his partners with a whale by aiming the spray from the spout at the bad guys. A crew of whales and octopus help to drop the mining shaft to the ocean floor, while a baby whale pumps the water out. When attacked, a couple of seahorses carry one bad guy away, then a sawfish cuts the bad guy's air line. A flying fish helps Aquaman jump from the water to attack bad guys in a boat, then tarpons take out another boat with the old rope trick. A giant sea turtle and eels help Aquaman attach to the final boat, then a shark helps get the odd group over rocks. At the end, octopuses bring up the gold.
Quotefile: Opening text box, "Remember the yokel who bought the Brooklyn Bridge at a bargain? And the sap who snatched up the Empire State Building for a song? Well, this is the story of rancher Luke Brady and his pals who shelled out their life's savings for a gold mine -- five miles out at sea! But the excitement mounts when the swindlers suddenly start a fight to get it back -- and almost succeed until, to the rescue, comes Aquaman, monarch of the seas, who helps the hoodwinked Westerners solve the puzzle of ... The First Underwater Gold Mine!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Luke Brady is sold a gold mine, not realizing that it's underwater... but for some reason the thugs who sold it to him want it back.
Captain Daggart is known to Aquaman for looting salvage ships... I presume that means that Daggart waits until the salvage crews have brought up the goods, then steals them.
This is yet another story that mixes cowboys and the ocean. I think the last one was Adventure #148. Once again, the cowboys continue to wear their totally inappropriate cowboy gear while hanging out on the ocean.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman defends Luke and his partners with a whale by aiming the spray from the spout at the bad guys. A crew of whales and octopus help to drop the mining shaft to the ocean floor, while a baby whale pumps the water out. When attacked, a couple of seahorses carry one bad guy away, then a sawfish cuts the bad guy's air line. A flying fish helps Aquaman jump from the water to attack bad guys in a boat, then tarpons take out another boat with the old rope trick. A giant sea turtle and eels help Aquaman attach to the final boat, then a shark helps get the odd group over rocks. At the end, octopuses bring up the gold.
Quotefile: Opening text box, "Remember the yokel who bought the Brooklyn Bridge at a bargain? And the sap who snatched up the Empire State Building for a song? Well, this is the story of rancher Luke Brady and his pals who shelled out their life's savings for a gold mine -- five miles out at sea! But the excitement mounts when the swindlers suddenly start a fight to get it back -- and almost succeed until, to the rescue, comes Aquaman, monarch of the seas, who helps the hoodwinked Westerners solve the puzzle of ... The First Underwater Gold Mine!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Randoms for the Day
Linda Medley discusses WonderCon and Fantagraphics.
While I'm very happy with our current eBay auction results, I'm kind of surprised that no one is giving the Alan Scott Green Lantern soft toy any love. C'mon, eBayers, where's the Golden Age love?
Mike Sterling on Captain America and Marvel, and ordering comics.
Leonard Kirk amuses me yet again, this time with the instructions for Kraft Dinner.
Beware the Ides of March.
Mark Evanier asks an obvious question. Having something like that in cars would be really handy.
Roombonkers! via Garrett.
R2-D2 Mailboxes.
Ask An Applied Mathematician.
Stopping Stock Spammers by stopping transactions on spammed stocks. Could it work? I sure hope so.
Saying vagina will get you suspended?
I generally don't care at all about American Idol, but I've been checking in on this one because Blake Lewis is from Bothell, where I live. I still haven't bothered to actually WATCH the show, so I don't know if our local rep is any good. But I'm keeping an eye on the news to see how far he goes.
While I'm very happy with our current eBay auction results, I'm kind of surprised that no one is giving the Alan Scott Green Lantern soft toy any love. C'mon, eBayers, where's the Golden Age love?
Mike Sterling on Captain America and Marvel, and ordering comics.
Leonard Kirk amuses me yet again, this time with the instructions for Kraft Dinner.
Beware the Ides of March.
Mark Evanier asks an obvious question. Having something like that in cars would be really handy.
Roombonkers! via Garrett.
R2-D2 Mailboxes.
Ask An Applied Mathematician.
Stopping Stock Spammers by stopping transactions on spammed stocks. Could it work? I sure hope so.
Saying vagina will get you suspended?
I generally don't care at all about American Idol, but I've been checking in on this one because Blake Lewis is from Bothell, where I live. I still haven't bothered to actually WATCH the show, so I don't know if our local rep is any good. But I'm keeping an eye on the news to see how far he goes.
Labels: Castle Waiting, eBay, Marvel Comics, Math, Media
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 096
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #172 (January 1952) - Aquaman Leaves The Sea!
After a gang of crooks robs Captain Banks, Aquaman goes inland to capture them.
Now, you all know I've been looking for some time for the origin of the "one hour limit" in Aquaman's stories. So far I haven't found it. But this tale makes a LOT of the implication that Aquaman is weaker out of water, and the splash page actually has Aquaman getting groggy from being on land! The opening text box asks, "Does his strength ebb like the tide when he leaves his natural domain?" While the clear answer from the story is no, it's hard to not see this as the possible first cut into Aquaman's abilities.
Aquaman goes after the crooks on land because he made a promise to protect Captain Banks in some unrevealed story. Even after he's been shot, Aquaman continues to pursue the bad guys, and states that he owes Captain Banks a debt of honor. Like Captain Banks, the bad guys assume Aquaman is helpless on land, and are very disturbed when he shows up and easily takes them down. As in a previous tale, Aquaman rides in a train in a milk car.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman has a sea gull track the bad guys to their lair after he's been shot. He has a goldfish turn off the light in their hiding place to rattle them, then a sea eagle captures one of the thugs. At the end of the story, Aquaman rides off on his sea turtle.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is shot by the crooks as he follows them to shore, and his arm is injured for the remainder of the story.
Quotefile: Captain Banks, after Aquaman says he's going after the crooks on land, "But what good will that do? Your strength is in your sea power, where all your friends are! On land, you'll be all alone... and helpless!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
After a gang of crooks robs Captain Banks, Aquaman goes inland to capture them.
Now, you all know I've been looking for some time for the origin of the "one hour limit" in Aquaman's stories. So far I haven't found it. But this tale makes a LOT of the implication that Aquaman is weaker out of water, and the splash page actually has Aquaman getting groggy from being on land! The opening text box asks, "Does his strength ebb like the tide when he leaves his natural domain?" While the clear answer from the story is no, it's hard to not see this as the possible first cut into Aquaman's abilities.
Aquaman goes after the crooks on land because he made a promise to protect Captain Banks in some unrevealed story. Even after he's been shot, Aquaman continues to pursue the bad guys, and states that he owes Captain Banks a debt of honor. Like Captain Banks, the bad guys assume Aquaman is helpless on land, and are very disturbed when he shows up and easily takes them down. As in a previous tale, Aquaman rides in a train in a milk car.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman has a sea gull track the bad guys to their lair after he's been shot. He has a goldfish turn off the light in their hiding place to rattle them, then a sea eagle captures one of the thugs. At the end of the story, Aquaman rides off on his sea turtle.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is shot by the crooks as he follows them to shore, and his arm is injured for the remainder of the story.
Quotefile: Captain Banks, after Aquaman says he's going after the crooks on land, "But what good will that do? Your strength is in your sea power, where all your friends are! On land, you'll be all alone... and helpless!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Linkdump
Illusive Arts has updated their website. Oh, and BUY TONY LOCO.
Heidi is angry at the news organizations that spoiled a comic book before she could even get to the store. If I was a Marvel reader, I'd be upset too.
Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #93. What will they do when they hit the big 100, I wonder?
Grumpy Old Fan speculates on a Justice League movie.
Young Adults and Comic Books. Things are looking up?
Ooooh, I like this. I have lots of junk that could be displayed with them.
What has the most perks, Google or the local prison?
Pi Day Is Coming. I need to go get some ingredients, I think.
I think I would actively avoid any gas station that installed video ads in the pumps that turn on as soon as you start pumping your gas.
For hubby-Eric: You Don't Know Jack Online.
This is almost enough to make me remove my link to the Red Cross.
Pug for the in-laws. I have to wonder if the in-laws ever read or notice all the pug links I put up for them. It's just that, every single time I see a pug on-line I think of them. And this one is pretty cute, too. Un-pug that drain!
Heidi is angry at the news organizations that spoiled a comic book before she could even get to the store. If I was a Marvel reader, I'd be upset too.
Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #93. What will they do when they hit the big 100, I wonder?
Grumpy Old Fan speculates on a Justice League movie.
Young Adults and Comic Books. Things are looking up?
Ooooh, I like this. I have lots of junk that could be displayed with them.
What has the most perks, Google or the local prison?
Pi Day Is Coming. I need to go get some ingredients, I think.
I think I would actively avoid any gas station that installed video ads in the pumps that turn on as soon as you start pumping your gas.
For hubby-Eric: You Don't Know Jack Online.
This is almost enough to make me remove my link to the Red Cross.
Pug for the in-laws. I have to wonder if the in-laws ever read or notice all the pug links I put up for them. It's just that, every single time I see a pug on-line I think of them. And this one is pretty cute, too. Un-pug that drain!
Labels: Comic Book Urban Legends, Google, Illusive Arts, JLA, Media, Pug, Tony Loco
Tad Williams
Last night I attended a reading and signing by new Aquaman writer Tad Williams down at the University Bookstore in Seattle. It was a very nice, quiet event. Tad Williams has been to signings at that location many times previously, so there was a comfortable air in the room. I arrived a bit early and handed out my fliers to all Tad Williams fans as they wandered into the area. Most of them seemed thrilled to read the information, although I did note at least one paper crane made from a flier before the reading was over. There is a decent amount of crossover between fantasy fans and comic book fans, and most fans are open-minded and willing to try something new.
The reading was from Tad's new book Shadowplay. It was a scene of a talking raven telling a story to an exiled prince, and the tale the raven told felt like Norse mythology infused with a hefty helping of Greek mythology, a point which another listener brought up in the question and answer session of the reading. The Q&A session went briskly and cheerfully. Again, Tad Williams had done readings here a few times before, so the basic questions were mostly already asked. There was a good amount of time spent on Tad's comic book projects, including The Next, Aquaman, and Bad-Guy Factory. I got to pipe in on the shipping date for Aquaman, when someone who hadn't read my flier asked.
A fascinating part of the discussion was about Tolkien's influence on the Fantasy genre, and how further writers have been derivative of Tolkien in everything including his anti-modernist themes. While I couldn't quite wrap my head around how Tad was arguing against the wholesale appropriation of Tolkien in that manner, it was a fascinating discussion that made me want to read his books so I could understand the full reasoning. I think I was at a severe disadvantage in that particular discussion as I have only read a few of Tad's short stories. I intend to rectify that.
Tad also discussed the German radio adaptation of his Otherland series, which is about a virtual world, and how that has led to a MMO game in the works that will take place in Otherland. When he listed off his current projects at the end of the discussion, it's pretty clear he's keeping himself busy.
After the discussion was the standard signing line. The folks with the fewest books to sign went first. I waited for awhile, then got in line with my one Otherland novel (which hubby-Eric got because it has an Oz section... I wonder if the Oz section will show up in the German MMO?). The line went quick, yet everyone had plenty of time to chat with Tad. After he signed my book and introduced me to Duane, the U Bookstore's rep, I sat back down in the audience with some of the folks who had brought TONS of books along to be signed (or, in one case, two framed prints which had to be removed from the frames first), including a fellow named Art who I know from some local conventions.
During a break in the signings, I pulled out Torvald and my camera, and Trolled Tad Williams:
After all the fans' books had been signed, a cart was rolled up and the store's books were signed. A number of fans, including myself, pitched in to make sure that everything went smoothly from signing to stickering with the "autographed copy" sticker, to back on the cart for reshelving. Then Duane, Tad, Art, myself, and two other fans headed down to University Village for dinner and discussion.
As my regular readers know, I'm on a calorie count, so I'd prepared for this contingency by having a nice solid lunch. I was the one eating a small bowl of chowder while everyone around me had incredibly large burgers that stunned my senses, they were so big. Although I was VERY tempted by dessert, when Duane got a dessert I saw I'd made the right choice to not try it, as the dessert was as big as the burgers. And that's all that needs to be said about the food, except that it was very good.
The dinner discussion ranged from dogs to Captain America to basketball to comics to racoons to Aquaman to manga to slugs and back again and over. I don't know if I held my own in the conversation, as I tend to be pretty shy and wasn't completely into my "con mode" that allows me to function in crowds. At least it was only six people, which helps. And it was good that everyone at the table was a comic book fan to some extent. Gary, who sat next to me, discussed how he sold his collection of comic books to pay for expenses when his daughter was born. Tad had lots of great stories, including the current situation with a pack of racoons at his home and a wedding tale that involved evil twins. In short, it was a fun night.
Before we parted, I gave Tad the remaining fliers I'd had printed. He was off to Minneapolis on a red eye, with no hope of sleep for another 24 hours. This book tour is a short one, but he is going to lose some sleep on it.
The reading was from Tad's new book Shadowplay. It was a scene of a talking raven telling a story to an exiled prince, and the tale the raven told felt like Norse mythology infused with a hefty helping of Greek mythology, a point which another listener brought up in the question and answer session of the reading. The Q&A session went briskly and cheerfully. Again, Tad Williams had done readings here a few times before, so the basic questions were mostly already asked. There was a good amount of time spent on Tad's comic book projects, including The Next, Aquaman, and Bad-Guy Factory. I got to pipe in on the shipping date for Aquaman, when someone who hadn't read my flier asked.
A fascinating part of the discussion was about Tolkien's influence on the Fantasy genre, and how further writers have been derivative of Tolkien in everything including his anti-modernist themes. While I couldn't quite wrap my head around how Tad was arguing against the wholesale appropriation of Tolkien in that manner, it was a fascinating discussion that made me want to read his books so I could understand the full reasoning. I think I was at a severe disadvantage in that particular discussion as I have only read a few of Tad's short stories. I intend to rectify that.
Tad also discussed the German radio adaptation of his Otherland series, which is about a virtual world, and how that has led to a MMO game in the works that will take place in Otherland. When he listed off his current projects at the end of the discussion, it's pretty clear he's keeping himself busy.
After the discussion was the standard signing line. The folks with the fewest books to sign went first. I waited for awhile, then got in line with my one Otherland novel (which hubby-Eric got because it has an Oz section... I wonder if the Oz section will show up in the German MMO?). The line went quick, yet everyone had plenty of time to chat with Tad. After he signed my book and introduced me to Duane, the U Bookstore's rep, I sat back down in the audience with some of the folks who had brought TONS of books along to be signed (or, in one case, two framed prints which had to be removed from the frames first), including a fellow named Art who I know from some local conventions.
During a break in the signings, I pulled out Torvald and my camera, and Trolled Tad Williams:
After all the fans' books had been signed, a cart was rolled up and the store's books were signed. A number of fans, including myself, pitched in to make sure that everything went smoothly from signing to stickering with the "autographed copy" sticker, to back on the cart for reshelving. Then Duane, Tad, Art, myself, and two other fans headed down to University Village for dinner and discussion.
As my regular readers know, I'm on a calorie count, so I'd prepared for this contingency by having a nice solid lunch. I was the one eating a small bowl of chowder while everyone around me had incredibly large burgers that stunned my senses, they were so big. Although I was VERY tempted by dessert, when Duane got a dessert I saw I'd made the right choice to not try it, as the dessert was as big as the burgers. And that's all that needs to be said about the food, except that it was very good.
The dinner discussion ranged from dogs to Captain America to basketball to comics to racoons to Aquaman to manga to slugs and back again and over. I don't know if I held my own in the conversation, as I tend to be pretty shy and wasn't completely into my "con mode" that allows me to function in crowds. At least it was only six people, which helps. And it was good that everyone at the table was a comic book fan to some extent. Gary, who sat next to me, discussed how he sold his collection of comic books to pay for expenses when his daughter was born. Tad had lots of great stories, including the current situation with a pack of racoons at his home and a wedding tale that involved evil twins. In short, it was a fun night.
Before we parted, I gave Tad the remaining fliers I'd had printed. He was off to Minneapolis on a red eye, with no hope of sleep for another 24 hours. This book tour is a short one, but he is going to lose some sleep on it.
Labels: Aquaman
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Linkdump
Free Comic Book On-line. Have I mentioned that I love it when publishers do this?
Heidi wants you to come up with ideas on how to promote a blog at a comic book show.
Speaking of marketing blogs, I just updated my own "business card" with artwork by the wonderful Jeff Parker (Thanks again for permission, Jeff! Everybody go buy The Interman now). I'll be handing out my wonderful collectible cards tonight at the Tad Williams signing and at the end of this month at The Emerald City Comicon. Highly limited, special edition! Available only from me!
Mike Sterling has more on evil comic shops.
Bully points out that the media has no spoiler warnings.
More on Dan Vado and creator's rights and publishing comic books.
Another article on how modern comics are too dark and serious, which is why they have no audience. That's why I'm suggesting everyone pick up Aquaman #50, which has a lot of humor as well as a tapestry of a plot that uses neat threads from every era of Aquaman to create the start of what I hope will be a very popular time for the book. C'mon, it's got TOPO in it, how bad can it be?
Women like 300.
Wil Wheaton starts posting his William Shatner story.
Michael Jones slams Penguins. I have seriously considered starting a "penguin blog" in which I would show off my numerous stuffed penguins, link to penguin related sites, and enthuse in general about penguinicity. But I've already got too much on my plate as it is, so that idea hasn't gone beyond the "hey maybe" stage.
Yay! Another extinct species rediscovered. Huzzah!
Variety looks at box office numbers and Boing Boing points out the obvious.
I remember Sambo's Restaurant. I remember wondering why it suddenly disappeared.
Colleen Doran summarizes The Epic of Gilgamesh.
Hit and Run tackles The US Copyright Office destroying Internet Radio by imposing extra fees on them, fees that over-the-air radio doesn't have to deal with.
Canada and Japan have very positive images.
Maybe that's because In Canada, Cats Grow On Trees.
Heidi wants you to come up with ideas on how to promote a blog at a comic book show.
Speaking of marketing blogs, I just updated my own "business card" with artwork by the wonderful Jeff Parker (Thanks again for permission, Jeff! Everybody go buy The Interman now). I'll be handing out my wonderful collectible cards tonight at the Tad Williams signing and at the end of this month at The Emerald City Comicon. Highly limited, special edition! Available only from me!
Mike Sterling has more on evil comic shops.
Bully points out that the media has no spoiler warnings.
More on Dan Vado and creator's rights and publishing comic books.
Another article on how modern comics are too dark and serious, which is why they have no audience. That's why I'm suggesting everyone pick up Aquaman #50, which has a lot of humor as well as a tapestry of a plot that uses neat threads from every era of Aquaman to create the start of what I hope will be a very popular time for the book. C'mon, it's got TOPO in it, how bad can it be?
Women like 300.
Wil Wheaton starts posting his William Shatner story.
Michael Jones slams Penguins. I have seriously considered starting a "penguin blog" in which I would show off my numerous stuffed penguins, link to penguin related sites, and enthuse in general about penguinicity. But I've already got too much on my plate as it is, so that idea hasn't gone beyond the "hey maybe" stage.
Yay! Another extinct species rediscovered. Huzzah!
Variety looks at box office numbers and Boing Boing points out the obvious.
I remember Sambo's Restaurant. I remember wondering why it suddenly disappeared.
Colleen Doran summarizes The Epic of Gilgamesh.
Hit and Run tackles The US Copyright Office destroying Internet Radio by imposing extra fees on them, fees that over-the-air radio doesn't have to deal with.
Canada and Japan have very positive images.
Maybe that's because In Canada, Cats Grow On Trees.
Labels: Aquaman, Bully, Cats, Copyfight, Cryptozoology, Emerald City Comicon, Movies, Penguin, Webcomics
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 095
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #171 (December 1951) - Mystery of the Disappearing Mermaids!
John Jenks' Aquacade is missing its performers, but Aquaman is there to help the show go on and figure out what happened to the girls.
This is the shortest regular Aquaman story, coming in at only four pages, and the last page is only 2/3 of the page. Despite the limited space, a lot of story is packed into it, starting with a tale of greed and sabotage, and moving quickly to Aquaman's innovation and a quick resolution.
Of course, lots of the action is left out. We never see Gropper kidnap the regular swimmers, nor do we see their rescue. The jump from Tate's attempt to electrocute the girls to him shooting at Aquaman is pretty abrupt, and there's no real indication of how the baby whales actually captured the bad guys. It's not bad for a quick tale, but I'm glad stories this short were very rare.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman is again riding his giant sea turtle, which seems to be his main mode of transport, at the beginning of the story. He sends out a carrier fish to get help for Jenks. Dolphins support the replacement performers in their opening act, then the girls balance on seals. An Octopus whirls the girls around in another act. Aquaman uses electric eels to ground the shock from the dynamo, then baby whales capture the bad guys.
Quotefile: Chorus girl, "But we thought we were wanted for a stage job! We can't swim!" Aquaman, "Don't worry, girls! We'll take care of that!"
I had to resist the temptation to make this the longest ever Ripples Through Time...
Have you read this story? What do you think?
John Jenks' Aquacade is missing its performers, but Aquaman is there to help the show go on and figure out what happened to the girls.
This is the shortest regular Aquaman story, coming in at only four pages, and the last page is only 2/3 of the page. Despite the limited space, a lot of story is packed into it, starting with a tale of greed and sabotage, and moving quickly to Aquaman's innovation and a quick resolution.
Of course, lots of the action is left out. We never see Gropper kidnap the regular swimmers, nor do we see their rescue. The jump from Tate's attempt to electrocute the girls to him shooting at Aquaman is pretty abrupt, and there's no real indication of how the baby whales actually captured the bad guys. It's not bad for a quick tale, but I'm glad stories this short were very rare.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman is again riding his giant sea turtle, which seems to be his main mode of transport, at the beginning of the story. He sends out a carrier fish to get help for Jenks. Dolphins support the replacement performers in their opening act, then the girls balance on seals. An Octopus whirls the girls around in another act. Aquaman uses electric eels to ground the shock from the dynamo, then baby whales capture the bad guys.
Quotefile: Chorus girl, "But we thought we were wanted for a stage job! We can't swim!" Aquaman, "Don't worry, girls! We'll take care of that!"
I had to resist the temptation to make this the longest ever Ripples Through Time...
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Random Thoughts Continued
In memory of Leah Adezio, who baked a birthday cake for Aqualad every March 6th, I've continued the tradition. I think Leah would have enjoyed being remembered with a birthday cake devoted to Aqualad.
Galaxion updated, and there's a little extra something on the forum that Tara doesn't want you to go see.
New Supergirl Costume Design.
Mike Sterling has described the evil comic shop, which all comic book fans have been in at least once. And usually only once.
Unfortunate match up of Shazam! Monster Society of Evil and 52.
Artist Ryan Kelly is cleaning out his old artwork, and offering it to fans if they make a donation to his site.
Movies based on comic books are based on comic books, not graphic novels, and we should be proud to be fans of the form instead of embarrassed by it, so says Mike Gold.
A set-back for creator's rights?
Oh... Osvaldo Cavandoli, 1920-2007. I certainly recognize La Linea.
The strangest level of Counter-Strike ever made. I mean, really, Hotel Fawlty Towers?
We have started in on this year's set of Girl Scout Cookies. While my favorite type is the Tagalongs, hubby-Eric loves Thin Mints. We got a box of each type this year, most of which went into the freezer. I was asked to try the "Little Brownies" by some friends, as they are sugar-free. My initial reaction? Ok, but too dry.
On the topic of food, here's a way to communicate menus in condiments, used by the Waffle House.
Charles Bonnet Syndrome. It's D*mn Interesting.
Mel Gibson made a one-frame appearance in this Apocalypto trailer. I would make you watch it to find it, but instead, here's the screen grab:
I still don't have any need to see the movie, though I think I'd sit through it before I'd sit through some of his other movies.
Snow from Boiling Water.
A very strange comparison of private versus socialized health care. I've always been pro-universal health care, but right now, as I go day to day without any insurance, I'm even more for universal health care than I used to be.
Speaking of health, there's a way to find out if medicine will work for you, but most doctors don't use it, and insurance won't cover it. The technology has "the potential to significantly reduce the 2 million hospitalizations and 1 million deaths caused by adverse drug reactions every year". Isn't that a good enough reason to give it a shot?
Slate argues for the release of Holocaust Archives that have been closed since the War.
Boing Boing shows an anti-anti-piracy ad. As long as the companies that distribute movies and music treat their customers as de facto criminals, piracy will grow.
Oh No! There's a pug in Get Fuzzy!
Galaxion updated, and there's a little extra something on the forum that Tara doesn't want you to go see.
New Supergirl Costume Design.
Mike Sterling has described the evil comic shop, which all comic book fans have been in at least once. And usually only once.
Unfortunate match up of Shazam! Monster Society of Evil and 52.
Artist Ryan Kelly is cleaning out his old artwork, and offering it to fans if they make a donation to his site.
Movies based on comic books are based on comic books, not graphic novels, and we should be proud to be fans of the form instead of embarrassed by it, so says Mike Gold.
A set-back for creator's rights?
Oh... Osvaldo Cavandoli, 1920-2007. I certainly recognize La Linea.
The strangest level of Counter-Strike ever made. I mean, really, Hotel Fawlty Towers?
We have started in on this year's set of Girl Scout Cookies. While my favorite type is the Tagalongs, hubby-Eric loves Thin Mints. We got a box of each type this year, most of which went into the freezer. I was asked to try the "Little Brownies" by some friends, as they are sugar-free. My initial reaction? Ok, but too dry.
On the topic of food, here's a way to communicate menus in condiments, used by the Waffle House.
Charles Bonnet Syndrome. It's D*mn Interesting.
Mel Gibson made a one-frame appearance in this Apocalypto trailer. I would make you watch it to find it, but instead, here's the screen grab:
I still don't have any need to see the movie, though I think I'd sit through it before I'd sit through some of his other movies.
Snow from Boiling Water.
A very strange comparison of private versus socialized health care. I've always been pro-universal health care, but right now, as I go day to day without any insurance, I'm even more for universal health care than I used to be.
Speaking of health, there's a way to find out if medicine will work for you, but most doctors don't use it, and insurance won't cover it. The technology has "the potential to significantly reduce the 2 million hospitalizations and 1 million deaths caused by adverse drug reactions every year". Isn't that a good enough reason to give it a shot?
Slate argues for the release of Holocaust Archives that have been closed since the War.
Boing Boing shows an anti-anti-piracy ad. As long as the companies that distribute movies and music treat their customers as de facto criminals, piracy will grow.
Oh No! There's a pug in Get Fuzzy!
Monday, March 05, 2007
Random Thoughts
Couldn't get through all the links I wanted to post, so I'll finish tomorrow if I have the time...
Self-Link #1: Grassroots promotion of Aquaman.
Self-Link #2: It is time once again to remind you of our eBay auctions. If it has "KBTC" in the description, all proceeds are going to the local PBS station. If it doesn't, all proceeds are going to pay our bills.
Colleen Doran Sees Wicked then flaunts her stuff at the DC offices.
Heidi Meeley applies "The Customer Is Always Right" to the comic book industry.
Ten in Green. Remember the Alamo.
Pictures from Wondercon.
I got my monster, thanks to Adventures in Applied Math. Apparently, Tegan eats townsfolk and abducts geeks. Hrm.
Speaking of monsters... mmmmmmm Chocolate Dalek. It looks REALLY messy. Yum.
With March came a tiny bit of spare money, some of which went to Conlan Press to buy The Last Unicorn DVD.
FilkerTom on naked actors and stupid commentators.
If you haven't checked out Strange Maps yet, you really ought to. All kinds of neat stuff there, from Oz to the DCU and back again.
I don't really care much about this news item, except I do hope the press gets to ask the perp one single question: WHY?
After several days of not moving, the Leif Erikson statue finally was successfully removed to be renovated and moved to a slightly different location.
Hmmm, I think I'd actually watch this.
I Park Like An Idiot dot com, where you can get bumper stickers to put on the cars of people who can't park in between the lines. I don't think I'd have the nerve to actually apply one of these, but I am amused by the thought.
Reading Scriptures leads to Violence.
Don't use the words winter, games, or gold in Vancouver BC for the next few years. More from Boing Boing.
Oz and Ends tells us what a "baramin" is.
Junk science from the RIAA.
Duct Tape comes in handy.
We still don't understand ball lightning.
9-year-old Canadian Terrorist detained by the US.
Diebold may dump e-voting unit because it's tarnished their reputation. Well, duh. Creating easily hackable voting machines with no paper trail would tarnish any company's reputation.
Garrett wants us to remember what a jury REALLY is. As a juror, you have the right to judge both the criminal AND the law. It's called Jury Nullification, and judges don't want you to know about it.
Self-Link #1: Grassroots promotion of Aquaman.
Self-Link #2: It is time once again to remind you of our eBay auctions. If it has "KBTC" in the description, all proceeds are going to the local PBS station. If it doesn't, all proceeds are going to pay our bills.
Colleen Doran Sees Wicked then flaunts her stuff at the DC offices.
Heidi Meeley applies "The Customer Is Always Right" to the comic book industry.
Ten in Green. Remember the Alamo.
Pictures from Wondercon.
I got my monster, thanks to Adventures in Applied Math. Apparently, Tegan eats townsfolk and abducts geeks. Hrm.
Speaking of monsters... mmmmmmm Chocolate Dalek. It looks REALLY messy. Yum.
With March came a tiny bit of spare money, some of which went to Conlan Press to buy The Last Unicorn DVD.
FilkerTom on naked actors and stupid commentators.
If you haven't checked out Strange Maps yet, you really ought to. All kinds of neat stuff there, from Oz to the DCU and back again.
I don't really care much about this news item, except I do hope the press gets to ask the perp one single question: WHY?
After several days of not moving, the Leif Erikson statue finally was successfully removed to be renovated and moved to a slightly different location.
Hmmm, I think I'd actually watch this.
I Park Like An Idiot dot com, where you can get bumper stickers to put on the cars of people who can't park in between the lines. I don't think I'd have the nerve to actually apply one of these, but I am amused by the thought.
Reading Scriptures leads to Violence.
Don't use the words winter, games, or gold in Vancouver BC for the next few years. More from Boing Boing.
Oz and Ends tells us what a "baramin" is.
Junk science from the RIAA.
Duct Tape comes in handy.
We still don't understand ball lightning.
9-year-old Canadian Terrorist detained by the US.
Diebold may dump e-voting unit because it's tarnished their reputation. Well, duh. Creating easily hackable voting machines with no paper trail would tarnish any company's reputation.
Garrett wants us to remember what a jury REALLY is. As a juror, you have the right to judge both the criminal AND the law. It's called Jury Nullification, and judges don't want you to know about it.
You must know your rights! Because, once selected for jury duty, nobody will inform you of your power to judge both law and fact. In fact, the judge's instructions to the jury may be to the contrary. Another quote from US vs Dougherty (cited earlier): "The fact that there is widespread existence of the jury's prerogative, and approval of its existence as a necessary counter to case-hardened judges and arbitrary prosecutors, does not establish as an imperative that the jury must be informed by the judge of that power".For St Patrick's Day: Oh Danny Boy, as performed by three of the best evah Muppet singers. Don't get yer hopes up.
Labels: Androgums, Aquaman, Bully, DC Comics, Doctor Who, eBay, Harry Potter, KBTC, Muppets, Olympics, Voting Machines, Wizard of Oz
Mini-Linkdump
The Vondish Ambassador is complete. If you don't know what this means, go look already.
Ah, the perils of internet addiction in winter.
I've started a team for the Puget Sound Race for the Cure. Feel free to join if you're a local, or pledge some $$ if you aren't.
Tad Williams has posted tour dates. I know where I'll be Wednesday night.
I've got a very big linkdump I'm working on right now, but I want to go swimming, so I'm leaving the 'net behind, darnit. See ya all later!
Ah, the perils of internet addiction in winter.
I've started a team for the Puget Sound Race for the Cure. Feel free to join if you're a local, or pledge some $$ if you aren't.
Tad Williams has posted tour dates. I know where I'll be Wednesday night.
I've got a very big linkdump I'm working on right now, but I want to go swimming, so I'm leaving the 'net behind, darnit. See ya all later!
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 094
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #170 (November 1951) - Mutiny Under The Sea!
Aquaman is stunned when his fishy friends start stealing cargoes and refuse to obey his commands.
This is the 10th Anniversary Aquaman story, showing up in November 1951.
Aquaman doesn't lose his powers in this one, but we learn that they can be replicated with a machine. Tom Lariar's telepathic machine fits into a 1950's camera, and has vacuum tubes in it. Lariar speaks into it to give fish their orders. He has to be within sight, apparently, for his commands to work. The fact that Lariar shows up at all the crime scenes, gloating that he's taking pictures of Aquaman's failures, is the hint that breaks the case.
Finny Friends Report: Two whales attack a ship and steal oil drums. A group of swordfish cut holes in a ship to make it list so the pearl cargo drops off the deck. A shark bites through the line connecting a tug to a barge of cargo, then sea cows haul off the barge. Aquaman is attacked by an octopus, "once the best of friends... n-now... choking the l-life out of me!" Aquaman is attacked by whales, and uses the spout to knock the telepathic machine out of Lariar's hands. Aquaman's finny friends then return all the stolen cargo to make up for stealing it in the first place.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is held captive by an octopus until the telepathic machine is out of range.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "Is it possible that I have been deposed as King of the Seas... and that the fish have taken up a life of crime?"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Aquaman is stunned when his fishy friends start stealing cargoes and refuse to obey his commands.
This is the 10th Anniversary Aquaman story, showing up in November 1951.
Aquaman doesn't lose his powers in this one, but we learn that they can be replicated with a machine. Tom Lariar's telepathic machine fits into a 1950's camera, and has vacuum tubes in it. Lariar speaks into it to give fish their orders. He has to be within sight, apparently, for his commands to work. The fact that Lariar shows up at all the crime scenes, gloating that he's taking pictures of Aquaman's failures, is the hint that breaks the case.
Finny Friends Report: Two whales attack a ship and steal oil drums. A group of swordfish cut holes in a ship to make it list so the pearl cargo drops off the deck. A shark bites through the line connecting a tug to a barge of cargo, then sea cows haul off the barge. Aquaman is attacked by an octopus, "once the best of friends... n-now... choking the l-life out of me!" Aquaman is attacked by whales, and uses the spout to knock the telepathic machine out of Lariar's hands. Aquaman's finny friends then return all the stolen cargo to make up for stealing it in the first place.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is held captive by an octopus until the telepathic machine is out of range.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "Is it possible that I have been deposed as King of the Seas... and that the fish have taken up a life of crime?"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Behind the scenes at "White and Nerdy"
I just caught this on YouTube, posted by Weird Al himself. It's the first take of Al and Donny Osmond doing "White and Nerdy." Donny Osmond is terrific in it! Let's take a look:
Hey, at least its a change from Aquaman...
Hey, at least its a change from Aquaman...
Labels: Donny Osmond, Post By Eric, Weird Al Yankovic, YouTube
Ripples Through Time - 093
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #168 (September 1951) - Aquaman: One-Man Crew!
When Rogers bribes the crew of Captain Matt Cleary to abandon him right before a most important journey, Aquaman takes their place.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides a giant sea turtle at the beginning of the tale. Once he decides to be Cleary's crew, he calls in whales to haul to ship (thus saving fuel). Riding across the sky in a giant clam shell hauled by giant sea eagles, Aquaman goes to find an iceberg to keep the ship's cargo from spoiling. Dolphins bring him the giant clam shell, and sea elephants haul the iceberg back to the ship. Sawfish cut the ice into chunks to put on the ship. After Castaigne dynamites a hole in the ship, Aquaman has whales hold the ship steady, then "thousands of denizens of the depths" rise and lift the ship into a "fantastic floating drydock". Aquaman has dolphins help him pull the good plates off the wreck he finds, then sea elephants hold the plates steady over the hole until Aquaman can weld it on with power from electric eels. Two seals recognize Roger's torpedo as the threat and turn it around to sink Roger's ship.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "Folks, the crew has deserted -- but I'm going to help Captain Cleary get this ship safely to Singapore! Anyone who wants can go ashore now!" Passenger, "Not me! Let's go! I'd sooner trust Aquaman than any crew!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
When Rogers bribes the crew of Captain Matt Cleary to abandon him right before a most important journey, Aquaman takes their place.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides a giant sea turtle at the beginning of the tale. Once he decides to be Cleary's crew, he calls in whales to haul to ship (thus saving fuel). Riding across the sky in a giant clam shell hauled by giant sea eagles, Aquaman goes to find an iceberg to keep the ship's cargo from spoiling. Dolphins bring him the giant clam shell, and sea elephants haul the iceberg back to the ship. Sawfish cut the ice into chunks to put on the ship. After Castaigne dynamites a hole in the ship, Aquaman has whales hold the ship steady, then "thousands of denizens of the depths" rise and lift the ship into a "fantastic floating drydock". Aquaman has dolphins help him pull the good plates off the wreck he finds, then sea elephants hold the plates steady over the hole until Aquaman can weld it on with power from electric eels. Two seals recognize Roger's torpedo as the threat and turn it around to sink Roger's ship.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "Folks, the crew has deserted -- but I'm going to help Captain Cleary get this ship safely to Singapore! Anyone who wants can go ashore now!" Passenger, "Not me! Let's go! I'd sooner trust Aquaman than any crew!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Melon Pocky and the Infinite Sadness
Errand day today. We planned it out last night... post office, library, grocery shopping, drugstore, and speciality shops...
One big reason I wanted to go out today was to visit Uwajimaya and see if they had any more speciality pocky, particularly the flavor I got last time that I really enjoyed, melon.
We planned out three trips... grocery and drugstore first. We hit the grocery store and were surprised to find a ton of people in suits with QFC nametags on them hanging out all over the store. We were playing "dodge the VIPs" while we shopped. As it turned out, the store was having a "Grand Re-Opening" after several annoying weeks of remodeling (which we have endured grumpily). I asked one stocker if this meant no more construction, and she got a happy, dreamy look on her face as she said, "no more construction... yes..." We finished our shopping shortly before the ribbon-cutting ceremony was supposed to take place, and I snapped a picture of their cake on the way out the door.
The drugstore was much less interesting and very quick. We headed out to the car to go home and found a group of drummers, obviously there to perform for QFC's re-opening, blocking the parking lot. Hubby-Eric managed to get around them with a little difficulty, and we went home. One special thing we picked up at the grocery store I'll have a little more about on Tuesday, assuming all goes well.
With one trip down, the groceries put away, we decided to hit the specialty shops next. I had called The British Pantry earlier to try to have them hold some custard pies for me, but they don't do same day holds. I should have called yesterday (d'oh!). So we decided to go there first to see if we could get pies before they ran out.
Happily, they had the custard pie, and Nanaimo bars. We also picked up some more lemon curd for me, since my last jar is nearly gone, and something special for a friend.
Next up was Uwajimaya in Bellevue, to check out their Pocky selection. I was hoping to score some more melon pocky, but was afraid I probably wouldn't be able to, as I'd learned since my last visit that melon pocky is a seasonal flavor and considered pretty rare by pocky fans. I'd really enjoyed it and wanted to try some more, so I was hoping... but I was fated to disappointment.
They had a decent selection of Pocky, including the green tea and strawberry, and the other standard flavors. But I was looking for the unusual. I did buy another Dark Chocolate Mousse, though I would've tried a different flavor if I'd remembered that I got it last time. I also picked up the Thomas the Tank Engine pocky-clone and the Gothic Lolita Hello Kitty pocky-clone. I just couldn't resist. They were too strange.
The last trip was a walking trip, and went exactly as planned. We went to the post office to drop off 97 party invitations, then to the library to drop off a CD I borrowed and donate the latest Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat (the young adult librarian was delighted when I started donating my copies as soon as I finished reading them, as she apparently has lots of kids who want to read those Manga anthologies and only one subscription for the library, so I double her ability to keep library patrons happy. yay me.). We also picked up tonight's movie, "Chicken Little". We find that "renting" movies from the library is generally less stressful and much cheaper than any other movie service around. Although badly abused DVDs are a problem, as not all library patrons are as thoughtful and careful as we are.
The walk was a decent two miles, and took care of today's exercise. And when we got home after all those errands, after everything was said and done... it wasn't even lunchtime yet. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. I love it when I can actually accomplish something.
One big reason I wanted to go out today was to visit Uwajimaya and see if they had any more speciality pocky, particularly the flavor I got last time that I really enjoyed, melon.
We planned out three trips... grocery and drugstore first. We hit the grocery store and were surprised to find a ton of people in suits with QFC nametags on them hanging out all over the store. We were playing "dodge the VIPs" while we shopped. As it turned out, the store was having a "Grand Re-Opening" after several annoying weeks of remodeling (which we have endured grumpily). I asked one stocker if this meant no more construction, and she got a happy, dreamy look on her face as she said, "no more construction... yes..." We finished our shopping shortly before the ribbon-cutting ceremony was supposed to take place, and I snapped a picture of their cake on the way out the door.
The drugstore was much less interesting and very quick. We headed out to the car to go home and found a group of drummers, obviously there to perform for QFC's re-opening, blocking the parking lot. Hubby-Eric managed to get around them with a little difficulty, and we went home. One special thing we picked up at the grocery store I'll have a little more about on Tuesday, assuming all goes well.
With one trip down, the groceries put away, we decided to hit the specialty shops next. I had called The British Pantry earlier to try to have them hold some custard pies for me, but they don't do same day holds. I should have called yesterday (d'oh!). So we decided to go there first to see if we could get pies before they ran out.
Happily, they had the custard pie, and Nanaimo bars. We also picked up some more lemon curd for me, since my last jar is nearly gone, and something special for a friend.
Next up was Uwajimaya in Bellevue, to check out their Pocky selection. I was hoping to score some more melon pocky, but was afraid I probably wouldn't be able to, as I'd learned since my last visit that melon pocky is a seasonal flavor and considered pretty rare by pocky fans. I'd really enjoyed it and wanted to try some more, so I was hoping... but I was fated to disappointment.
They had a decent selection of Pocky, including the green tea and strawberry, and the other standard flavors. But I was looking for the unusual. I did buy another Dark Chocolate Mousse, though I would've tried a different flavor if I'd remembered that I got it last time. I also picked up the Thomas the Tank Engine pocky-clone and the Gothic Lolita Hello Kitty pocky-clone. I just couldn't resist. They were too strange.
The last trip was a walking trip, and went exactly as planned. We went to the post office to drop off 97 party invitations, then to the library to drop off a CD I borrowed and donate the latest Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat (the young adult librarian was delighted when I started donating my copies as soon as I finished reading them, as she apparently has lots of kids who want to read those Manga anthologies and only one subscription for the library, so I double her ability to keep library patrons happy. yay me.). We also picked up tonight's movie, "Chicken Little". We find that "renting" movies from the library is generally less stressful and much cheaper than any other movie service around. Although badly abused DVDs are a problem, as not all library patrons are as thoughtful and careful as we are.
The walk was a decent two miles, and took care of today's exercise. And when we got home after all those errands, after everything was said and done... it wasn't even lunchtime yet. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. I love it when I can actually accomplish something.
Labels: British Pantry, Pocky, Uwajimaya
Friday, March 02, 2007
Another Linkdump
Google Reader makes it easier to do linkdumps...
Emerald City Comicon has updated: "actress Margot Kidder (that's right, Lois Lane from the original four Christopher Reeve Superman movies) will be making an appearance SATURDAY ONLY." I just got my tickets for the con.
TangognaT is giving away Manga. Go enter!
Have you seen This Strip? Peanuts Sunday Strip needs to be found in better quality.
Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #92. Again, when's the book coming out?
More from NYCC, including this intriguing and distressingly familiar quote from another Laura:
FilkerTom wishes happy birthday to Dr. Suess.
The BBC has two YouTube channels, including stuff from Doctor Who: David Tennant's Video Diary and Freema Agyeman's Video Diary. Check out the BBC Channel and the BBC Worldwide Channel.
Cavemen Sitcom. Sounds like a really bad idea to me. The commercials are just barely tolerable as it is.
Blogging about blogging is a sin: 34 Reasons Why Readers Unsubscribe From Your Blog. Reason #1 is why I limit myself to 3 posts a day. Reason #2 is why I try to post at least once a day. And reason #3 annoys the heck out of me.
Headline of the Day: "Swiss Accidentally Invade Liechtenstein."
Here's a newspaper correction for you: Emus, not ostriches, victims of dogs in SeaTac. There's a reason I believe very firmly in leash laws for dogs.
Misbehaving Pituitaries on DI.
The Bad Astronomer is in love with Saturn. At least it isn't Uranus.
Star Wars Steampunk with pictures. Ooooooo.
Net Neutrality and DRM.
Lefty Brown links to an interesting article about Huey Lewis and the News.
Heh heh heh: Oh, Leif! Why do you taunt us so?
If you haven't read this letter on Neil Gaiman's website about what librarians have to go through, then go read it now.
And on that topic: Hot Library Smut. Via Garrett.
And, speaking of smut, Boing Boing continues to cover the horrible case of Julie and the pop-up porn.
War on drugs continues to be stupid.
The Sandbox: The Little Things.
Attention LINUX geeks: does anyone have any really good instructions on installing LINUX to dual-boot on a machine that already has Windows XP installed? I'd rather not mess up my existing XP too much, but I'd really like to give LINUX a real try instead of just running the live boot CD.
CUTE!
Emerald City Comicon has updated: "actress Margot Kidder (that's right, Lois Lane from the original four Christopher Reeve Superman movies) will be making an appearance SATURDAY ONLY." I just got my tickets for the con.
TangognaT is giving away Manga. Go enter!
Have you seen This Strip? Peanuts Sunday Strip needs to be found in better quality.
Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #92. Again, when's the book coming out?
More from NYCC, including this intriguing and distressingly familiar quote from another Laura:
We almost end up in the manga section, and that makes me sad, because I’m a female comics fan that isn’t really into manga, and I wish there were more of me. Unfortunately, people like me exist despite the entrenched comics industry as it exists, not because of it.I enjoy Manga, now, but it's true that I like superhero books as well. And I wish there were more of me, and more superhero books that I really enjoyed.
FilkerTom wishes happy birthday to Dr. Suess.
The BBC has two YouTube channels, including stuff from Doctor Who: David Tennant's Video Diary and Freema Agyeman's Video Diary. Check out the BBC Channel and the BBC Worldwide Channel.
Cavemen Sitcom. Sounds like a really bad idea to me. The commercials are just barely tolerable as it is.
Blogging about blogging is a sin: 34 Reasons Why Readers Unsubscribe From Your Blog. Reason #1 is why I limit myself to 3 posts a day. Reason #2 is why I try to post at least once a day. And reason #3 annoys the heck out of me.
Headline of the Day: "Swiss Accidentally Invade Liechtenstein."
Here's a newspaper correction for you: Emus, not ostriches, victims of dogs in SeaTac. There's a reason I believe very firmly in leash laws for dogs.
Misbehaving Pituitaries on DI.
The Bad Astronomer is in love with Saturn. At least it isn't Uranus.
Star Wars Steampunk with pictures. Ooooooo.
Net Neutrality and DRM.
Lefty Brown links to an interesting article about Huey Lewis and the News.
Heh heh heh: Oh, Leif! Why do you taunt us so?
If you haven't read this letter on Neil Gaiman's website about what librarians have to go through, then go read it now.
And on that topic: Hot Library Smut. Via Garrett.
And, speaking of smut, Boing Boing continues to cover the horrible case of Julie and the pop-up porn.
War on drugs continues to be stupid.
The Sandbox: The Little Things.
Attention LINUX geeks: does anyone have any really good instructions on installing LINUX to dual-boot on a machine that already has Windows XP installed? I'd rather not mess up my existing XP too much, but I'd really like to give LINUX a real try instead of just running the live boot CD.
CUTE!
Labels: Astronomy, blogger, Comic Book Urban Legends, Doctor Who, DRM, Emerald City Comicon, Google, Library, Links, Manga, Net Neutrality, YouTube
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Ripples Through Time - 092
I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.
Adventure #167 (August 1951) - Treasures of the Sea!
Captain Stillar blackmails Aquaman into helping search for treasures, but gets a lot more than he's bargained for.
New artist report! An artist by the name of Ramona Fradon took over the Aquaman feature with this issue.
Aquaman visits Captain Stillar to find out why Stillar harpooned a swordfish and brought it aboard his ship alive. Stillar explains that he has torpedoes aimed at Aquaman's friends, and will release them if Aquaman doesn't do exactly as Stillar asks. Aquaman agrees. Aquaman accomplishes all three tasks, with twists, but still ends up having to deal with the torpedo.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman visits the injured swordfish that Stillar captured, and is followed by an entourage of sea life that include whales, swordfish, dolphins, turtles, and an octopus. Aquaman fills the first treasure trunk with Jewel Fish to keep his word to Stillar but deny Stillar the reward. Aquaman gets oysters to give him tiny pearls to fill the bag Stillar gave him as the second task. For the third task, Aquaman has whales and the octopus pull apart the sunken treasure ships, then all his finny friends haul the gold up to Stillar's ship.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is trapped in the tank with the injured swordfish by Stillar who then reveals his threats to Aquaman's friends.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "Prisoner? Why, I'll rock this boat till it turns on its side... I'll signal my whale friends to ram and sink you if you don't release me, Stillar!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Captain Stillar blackmails Aquaman into helping search for treasures, but gets a lot more than he's bargained for.
New artist report! An artist by the name of Ramona Fradon took over the Aquaman feature with this issue.
Aquaman visits Captain Stillar to find out why Stillar harpooned a swordfish and brought it aboard his ship alive. Stillar explains that he has torpedoes aimed at Aquaman's friends, and will release them if Aquaman doesn't do exactly as Stillar asks. Aquaman agrees. Aquaman accomplishes all three tasks, with twists, but still ends up having to deal with the torpedo.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman visits the injured swordfish that Stillar captured, and is followed by an entourage of sea life that include whales, swordfish, dolphins, turtles, and an octopus. Aquaman fills the first treasure trunk with Jewel Fish to keep his word to Stillar but deny Stillar the reward. Aquaman gets oysters to give him tiny pearls to fill the bag Stillar gave him as the second task. For the third task, Aquaman has whales and the octopus pull apart the sunken treasure ships, then all his finny friends haul the gold up to Stillar's ship.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is trapped in the tank with the injured swordfish by Stillar who then reveals his threats to Aquaman's friends.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "Prisoner? Why, I'll rock this boat till it turns on its side... I'll signal my whale friends to ram and sink you if you don't release me, Stillar!"
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Aquaman, Ripples Through Time
Getting Unscrewed
This may not be the biggest news in comic books right now, but it's certainly the most entertaining. Particularly because the good guys appear to be winning. Background on the nasty situation is here, where you will learn the sordid history of Rick Olney and his many deceptions. If you want some serious reading material on the subject, check out this forum thread on Comic Book Resources, but set aside a few hours to read it!
Blog@Newsrama provides a jumping on point, if you haven't been following this from the beginning. And The Beat warns anyone who might be tempted by Olney's claims that he's going to do another convention. In short, don't believe the guy.
And don't start feeling sorry for him, either. By some estimations, this scumbag owes $100,000 to various freelancers and professionals. That's a lot of money, even divided among his many victims. That's why a group of people have decided to turn this negative into a positive, and put together the Unscrewed website, with auctions and an anthology to support the victims of Olney's lies.
What do I have to do with this? Nothing, really. I may have linked to the thread back when Gail first started it, but otherwise I've been following it idly. I've been very disappointed by some of the insult throwing in the thread, but at some point it became clear to me that this is the sort of dirty story that splashes mud on you just being a part of it.
So why am I wading into the muck now? Two reasons. First, this is an old story in comic books, and an utterly unacceptable one. Far too many people get away with scams because freelancers live paycheck to paycheck and cannot pursue legal action to get the justice they deserve. Because of Gail's original post, victims have worked together and now are getting legal judgements against this guy. The more fans who know about this story and understand what is happening, the better. The more professionals willing to talk about scammers like Olney, the better.
And second, the auctions have just started on the website. If you like comics and have money to spare (that last bit is the tricky one, I know), consider looking at the auctions and helping some comic book creators out (I wouldn't complain if someone bought me the True Story Swear to God piece, either). And yes, I want to give the Anthology a bit of press too. I'm looking forward to reading it, myself.
Blog@Newsrama provides a jumping on point, if you haven't been following this from the beginning. And The Beat warns anyone who might be tempted by Olney's claims that he's going to do another convention. In short, don't believe the guy.
And don't start feeling sorry for him, either. By some estimations, this scumbag owes $100,000 to various freelancers and professionals. That's a lot of money, even divided among his many victims. That's why a group of people have decided to turn this negative into a positive, and put together the Unscrewed website, with auctions and an anthology to support the victims of Olney's lies.
What do I have to do with this? Nothing, really. I may have linked to the thread back when Gail first started it, but otherwise I've been following it idly. I've been very disappointed by some of the insult throwing in the thread, but at some point it became clear to me that this is the sort of dirty story that splashes mud on you just being a part of it.
So why am I wading into the muck now? Two reasons. First, this is an old story in comic books, and an utterly unacceptable one. Far too many people get away with scams because freelancers live paycheck to paycheck and cannot pursue legal action to get the justice they deserve. Because of Gail's original post, victims have worked together and now are getting legal judgements against this guy. The more fans who know about this story and understand what is happening, the better. The more professionals willing to talk about scammers like Olney, the better.
And second, the auctions have just started on the website. If you like comics and have money to spare (that last bit is the tricky one, I know), consider looking at the auctions and helping some comic book creators out (I wouldn't complain if someone bought me the True Story Swear to God piece, either). And yes, I want to give the Anthology a bit of press too. I'm looking forward to reading it, myself.
Labels: Anthology, Links, Professionalism, Unscrewed
Really Rapid Reviews
Rather than risk the drive in the snow to my weekly swim, I stayed home last night and read comic books. For the first time in ages, I have the reviews written the same week the books came out.
These are mini-capsules: about one sentence per book with whether or not I recommend the book.
52 Week Forty-Three: "Family Matters": Figures. I actually like Osiris, and was getting used to Sobek. Very mildly recommended.
Action Comics #846: "Last Son Part Three": Um. Ok. Haven't I seen a plot like this already? Neutral.
Green Lantern #17: "Wanted: Hal Jordan" Chapter Four: Batman being chosen first was interesting. The rest was not much to me. Mildly recommended.
JLA Classified #35: "Torrential Reign": Another reality, another mistake. I want to like this story, but it just seems ok. Mildly recommended.
JSA Classified #23: "Nightfall" part 1 of 2: I'm not a big Doctor Mid-Nite fan, but this story was ok. Mildly recommended.
Justice #10: My head is spinning. WHAT IS BRAINIAC DOING TO POOR ARTIE JR?!?? Ahem. Recommended.
Noble Causes #27: I like how I can pick this book up and figure out what's been happening, thanks to both the summary in the front and just how well written it is. Recommended.
Wisdom #3: "Enter With Drag On": Ok, I didn't much like the first two issues of this book, mostly because I had a hard time following the action, I think. This issue was so much better for me it's not even funny. I actually enjoyed this issue. Not like I enjoy lots of books, but the whole Welsh Dragon thing hit some happy spot for me. Mildly recommended.
Fallen Angel #13: Just what are the players in this book? Archetypes, clearly, but of what? This book annoys me because I can't stop being interested in it. Recommended.
Dorothy #7: HA! The entire famous foursome are finally together, kicking butt and taking names! And we get to see more behind the scenes action from the other side of the story. Highly recommended.
True Story, Swear to God #4: This one hurts. No, I mean literally. A few years back I was similarly stupid and got a very bad sunburn. I know EXACTLY what it feels like. I could not have done what he did. Strongly recommended.
Action Philosophers #8: "Senseless Violence Spectacular": The earliest issues of this series were the most effective, but it's still a really good book. Recommended.
These are mini-capsules: about one sentence per book with whether or not I recommend the book.
28 February 2007
52 Week Forty-Three: "Family Matters": Figures. I actually like Osiris, and was getting used to Sobek. Very mildly recommended.
Action Comics #846: "Last Son Part Three": Um. Ok. Haven't I seen a plot like this already? Neutral.
Green Lantern #17: "Wanted: Hal Jordan" Chapter Four: Batman being chosen first was interesting. The rest was not much to me. Mildly recommended.
JLA Classified #35: "Torrential Reign": Another reality, another mistake. I want to like this story, but it just seems ok. Mildly recommended.
JSA Classified #23: "Nightfall" part 1 of 2: I'm not a big Doctor Mid-Nite fan, but this story was ok. Mildly recommended.
Justice #10: My head is spinning. WHAT IS BRAINIAC DOING TO POOR ARTIE JR?!?? Ahem. Recommended.
Noble Causes #27: I like how I can pick this book up and figure out what's been happening, thanks to both the summary in the front and just how well written it is. Recommended.
Wisdom #3: "Enter With Drag On": Ok, I didn't much like the first two issues of this book, mostly because I had a hard time following the action, I think. This issue was so much better for me it's not even funny. I actually enjoyed this issue. Not like I enjoy lots of books, but the whole Welsh Dragon thing hit some happy spot for me. Mildly recommended.
Fallen Angel #13: Just what are the players in this book? Archetypes, clearly, but of what? This book annoys me because I can't stop being interested in it. Recommended.
Dorothy #7: HA! The entire famous foursome are finally together, kicking butt and taking names! And we get to see more behind the scenes action from the other side of the story. Highly recommended.
True Story, Swear to God #4: This one hurts. No, I mean literally. A few years back I was similarly stupid and got a very bad sunburn. I know EXACTLY what it feels like. I could not have done what he did. Strongly recommended.
Action Philosophers #8: "Senseless Violence Spectacular": The earliest issues of this series were the most effective, but it's still a really good book. Recommended.
Labels: 52, Action Comics, Action Philosophers, Dorothy, Fallen Angel, Green Lantern, JLA Classified, JSA Classified, Justice, Noble Causes, Reviews, True Story STG, Weather, Wisdom
