I never use bookmarks.
Well, in the sense of using the kind of bookmarks sold at bookstores. Instead I tend to use whatever is handy: A receipt, a piece of paper from earplug packaging.
I wonder how many seriously addicted book lovers/readers like myself actually use "real" (i.e. commercially produced) bookmarks. My guess is that "real" bookmarks are used by people who want to look good rather than those who actually devour books at rates of several a month.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006
An unusual read (for me).
Icebound by Dr. Jerri Nielsen
I'm not a big fan of partially ghostwritten "autobiographies" written about the newsmaker of the moment and released on the quick in order to capitalize on whatever meme the media is stuck on at the moment. But Dr. Jerri Nielsen's adventures in Antarctica seemed a bit more worthwhile and interesting than the types of stories this genre usually encapsulates. [For those who don't quite remember, Dr. Jerri Nielsen was the "winter over" doctor at the South Pole station in 1999, when she discovered she had breast cancer.]
I listened to the audio book, and I have to give two warnings:
1.) The unabridged version is read by Dr. Jerri Nielsen, who is clearly not trained. The reading is monotone nearly all the way through (except when she cusses), and this can be jarring. But by the end of the second tape I was used to it.
2). The book suffers from too clever by half attempts to be poetic. I assume these are the fault of the co-author Maryanne Vollers. Luckily they never become so ludicrous as to destroy interest in the narrative.
The narrative is great. The only rough spot is at the beginning, when Dr. Jerri Nielsen has to paint a sympathetic picture of herself as a woman who went through a nasty divorce and lost custody of her children. Since the current legal system almost universally favors mothers in custody battles, and since part of the impetus for the divorce was an affair she had, Dr. Jerri Nielsen treads this ground lightly and manages to come off fairly well despite all that. Her description of her ex-husband could come across as bitter, but instead it comes across as more or less accurate (especially given his later actions after the divorce while she was in Antarctica fighting for her life).
Once she gets to Antarctica, the narrative picks up. The descriptions of the culture, scenery and politics of the South Pole are enjoyable, picturesque and engrossing. Once she discovers she has breast cancer, the narrative takes on an air of danger that makes it as gripping as any action movie.
A Highly recommended book - especially since most of us will never visit Antarctica, this seems to me the next best thing.
[I understand there was a TV movie starring Susan Sarandon based on the book, but I haven't seen it and have heard it takes quite a few liberties with the tale].
I'm not a big fan of partially ghostwritten "autobiographies" written about the newsmaker of the moment and released on the quick in order to capitalize on whatever meme the media is stuck on at the moment. But Dr. Jerri Nielsen's adventures in Antarctica seemed a bit more worthwhile and interesting than the types of stories this genre usually encapsulates. [For those who don't quite remember, Dr. Jerri Nielsen was the "winter over" doctor at the South Pole station in 1999, when she discovered she had breast cancer.]
I listened to the audio book, and I have to give two warnings:
1.) The unabridged version is read by Dr. Jerri Nielsen, who is clearly not trained. The reading is monotone nearly all the way through (except when she cusses), and this can be jarring. But by the end of the second tape I was used to it.
2). The book suffers from too clever by half attempts to be poetic. I assume these are the fault of the co-author Maryanne Vollers. Luckily they never become so ludicrous as to destroy interest in the narrative.
The narrative is great. The only rough spot is at the beginning, when Dr. Jerri Nielsen has to paint a sympathetic picture of herself as a woman who went through a nasty divorce and lost custody of her children. Since the current legal system almost universally favors mothers in custody battles, and since part of the impetus for the divorce was an affair she had, Dr. Jerri Nielsen treads this ground lightly and manages to come off fairly well despite all that. Her description of her ex-husband could come across as bitter, but instead it comes across as more or less accurate (especially given his later actions after the divorce while she was in Antarctica fighting for her life).
Once she gets to Antarctica, the narrative picks up. The descriptions of the culture, scenery and politics of the South Pole are enjoyable, picturesque and engrossing. Once she discovers she has breast cancer, the narrative takes on an air of danger that makes it as gripping as any action movie.
A Highly recommended book - especially since most of us will never visit Antarctica, this seems to me the next best thing.
[I understand there was a TV movie starring Susan Sarandon based on the book, but I haven't seen it and have heard it takes quite a few liberties with the tale].
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Comics - 2/1/06
Fantastic Four #534 (Marvel): I thought this was a Fantastic Four comic. Instead, we have a Hulk comic with the FF guest starring. A decent tale - and since I like the Hulk more than I like the FF, I won't really complain. But it seems odd the first really well told story of JMS's run on the FF barely features them.
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos #4 (Marvel): Since a good chunk of the team is comprised of werewolves, they really are "howling" - although Nick Fury barely appears in this series. This series started off slow, with nearly unintelligible story and art. Issues 3 & 4 have gotten better, as they make more sense. But I still can't tell what's going on.
Beowulf #6 (Speakeasy): ?????? After a great initial start, the last two issues of this series devolved into subpar art and barely comprehensible storytelling. Beowulf originally dies while fighting the dragon. The same thing happened with this series - the last good issue was when he fought the dragon in the subway system. We find out who the Knights of the Blood really are, but it's an offhand revelation that means little - and the ending really wants to tie up most of the plotlines up to this point, but it just can't quite do it.
JSA Classified #8 (DC): Just the other day, I was thinking: "There aren't enough tales featuring the Golden Age Flash." Well, someone at DC must have been reading my mind. Though I am usually creeped out by tales where people loose their free will because of magical enchantments.
Angel: Old Friends #3 (IDW): A officially approved sequel to the TV series. Fred and Wesley return (but aren't they dead? And if Fred is alive, than who is Illyria?). Oh, yeah and then Spike finds himself fighting - Spike? My only complaint is that these issues always feel too short: The story is progressing nicely, but I hate having a commercial break that lasts a whole month.
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos #4 (Marvel): Since a good chunk of the team is comprised of werewolves, they really are "howling" - although Nick Fury barely appears in this series. This series started off slow, with nearly unintelligible story and art. Issues 3 & 4 have gotten better, as they make more sense. But I still can't tell what's going on.
Beowulf #6 (Speakeasy): ?????? After a great initial start, the last two issues of this series devolved into subpar art and barely comprehensible storytelling. Beowulf originally dies while fighting the dragon. The same thing happened with this series - the last good issue was when he fought the dragon in the subway system. We find out who the Knights of the Blood really are, but it's an offhand revelation that means little - and the ending really wants to tie up most of the plotlines up to this point, but it just can't quite do it.
JSA Classified #8 (DC): Just the other day, I was thinking: "There aren't enough tales featuring the Golden Age Flash." Well, someone at DC must have been reading my mind. Though I am usually creeped out by tales where people loose their free will because of magical enchantments.
Angel: Old Friends #3 (IDW): A officially approved sequel to the TV series. Fred and Wesley return (but aren't they dead? And if Fred is alive, than who is Illyria?). Oh, yeah and then Spike finds himself fighting - Spike? My only complaint is that these issues always feel too short: The story is progressing nicely, but I hate having a commercial break that lasts a whole month.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Comics 1/25/06 (also my birthday)
Another year older. *sigh*
Serenity: Those Left Behind (Dark Horse): A trade paperback collection of the comic book series that bridged part of the gap between the Firefly TV series and the Serenity movie. A must read for fans of either. Special Bonus: It's canon, as it was part written by Joss Whedon himself!
Exiles #76 (Marvel): More reality hopping fun. The team picks up a non-mutant super-hero (Spider-Man 2099). A lot happens, even though not much gets done. But hey - it has Longshot!
Daredevil #81/461 (Marvel): Outgoing creative teams don't usually go out on depressing notes like this. Yet every move feels right. Bendis got his start doing Noir-ish crime comics, and it shows. Bendis will be missed. Hopefully the next creative team can get Daredevil out of this mess (hopefully).
The Pulse #13 (Marvel): Jessica Jones finally has a baby. And Luke Cage does the right thing and proposes. The dialogue is witty and clever. And J. Jonah Jameson deserved everything Jessica Jones told him on the phone while she was giving birth.
Defenders #5 (Marvel): A mildly funny ending to a bizarre limited series. In the end, nothing that happens means much. And I'm not sure what to think of series where male rape is a source of laughter.
Fallen Angel #2 (IDW): Peter David's best work, ever. (I can't say that phrase enough). The theology is a bit shaky, but I can suspend my disbelief enough to make the series work. More about "Lee's" origins, and an old aging Hitler makes out with a young African-American lady: What more could you ask for?
Best bit of dialogue:
Black Mariah: You smell like a distillery. What happened?
Fallen Angel (Lee): Ran into an old . . . associate. He gave me some bad news.
Black Maria: Really. And what would that be?
Fallen Angel: God's forgiven me. How much does that suck?
Serenity: Those Left Behind (Dark Horse): A trade paperback collection of the comic book series that bridged part of the gap between the Firefly TV series and the Serenity movie. A must read for fans of either. Special Bonus: It's canon, as it was part written by Joss Whedon himself!
Exiles #76 (Marvel): More reality hopping fun. The team picks up a non-mutant super-hero (Spider-Man 2099). A lot happens, even though not much gets done. But hey - it has Longshot!
Daredevil #81/461 (Marvel): Outgoing creative teams don't usually go out on depressing notes like this. Yet every move feels right. Bendis got his start doing Noir-ish crime comics, and it shows. Bendis will be missed. Hopefully the next creative team can get Daredevil out of this mess (hopefully).
The Pulse #13 (Marvel): Jessica Jones finally has a baby. And Luke Cage does the right thing and proposes. The dialogue is witty and clever. And J. Jonah Jameson deserved everything Jessica Jones told him on the phone while she was giving birth.
Defenders #5 (Marvel): A mildly funny ending to a bizarre limited series. In the end, nothing that happens means much. And I'm not sure what to think of series where male rape is a source of laughter.
Fallen Angel #2 (IDW): Peter David's best work, ever. (I can't say that phrase enough). The theology is a bit shaky, but I can suspend my disbelief enough to make the series work. More about "Lee's" origins, and an old aging Hitler makes out with a young African-American lady: What more could you ask for?
Best bit of dialogue:
Black Mariah: You smell like a distillery. What happened?
Fallen Angel (Lee): Ran into an old . . . associate. He gave me some bad news.
Black Maria: Really. And what would that be?
Fallen Angel: God's forgiven me. How much does that suck?
Friday, January 20, 2006
Sci-Fi Fridays 1-20-06
Stargate SG-1: Okay, if a bit predictable. Haven't I already seen this episode? (Oh, wait that was on Star Trek - or maybe it was Red Dwarf....)
Stargate: Atlantis: What the hell---? Music by alien survivors from Atlantis (in another galaxy) sounds a lot like 21st century Celtic Fusion. Where did they get the synthesizers? Stargate: Atlantis has been getting better lately, but this episode was a huge stepback.
UPDATE:
Battlestar: Galactica: It's taken me a bit to absorb this one. BSG is the best show on TV right now, period. Lost is a close second, and 24 an even closer third, but BSG beats them all. This is a show that takes its stories seriously. There isn't an ounce of fat on the stories, and the dialogue is terse, with nary a wasted word in sight.
Politically, BSG is either all over the map, or not on it at all - in either case, it's a perfect example of what happens when the storytellers care more about telling great stories and producing art instead of pushing an agenda. More TV shows should follow this example.
Becaue of this, I doubt there will ever be "a very special episode" of BSG. And that's a good thing.
Stargate: Atlantis: What the hell---? Music by alien survivors from Atlantis (in another galaxy) sounds a lot like 21st century Celtic Fusion. Where did they get the synthesizers? Stargate: Atlantis has been getting better lately, but this episode was a huge stepback.
UPDATE:
Battlestar: Galactica: It's taken me a bit to absorb this one. BSG is the best show on TV right now, period. Lost is a close second, and 24 an even closer third, but BSG beats them all. This is a show that takes its stories seriously. There isn't an ounce of fat on the stories, and the dialogue is terse, with nary a wasted word in sight.
Politically, BSG is either all over the map, or not on it at all - in either case, it's a perfect example of what happens when the storytellers care more about telling great stories and producing art instead of pushing an agenda. More TV shows should follow this example.
Becaue of this, I doubt there will ever be "a very special episode" of BSG. And that's a good thing.
Monday, January 09, 2006
3 TV documentaries I found absolutely fascinating
I probably should be doing something productive, but since school doesn't start until next week, I've been watching a lot of TV. Here are three documentaries I saw, with brief reviews:
Absolute Evel: The Evel Knievel Story on the History Channel
I'm not a big fan of extreme sports, or motorcycle stunts, but this was on just after the Houdini documentary I'll review below, and since Johnny Blaze (the original Ghost Rider) was a stunt biker somewhat inspired by Evel Knievel, I figured I'd give it a try.
I was rather impressed. Not by Evel himself, but by the filmmakers. This documentary is told mostly from Evel's point of view, as he narrated 85% of it or so. The filmmakers let him speak for himself, augmenting his narration with archival footage, occasional comments from others and other standard things you'd expect to find in a documentary of this type. About the only time the documentary looses steam is when another narrator occasionally intrudes and it falls into "VH1 Behind the Music" clichés.
Evel comes across as a rather fascinating character. A sexist philanderer and apparently incapable of any self-reflection, he still comes across as rather charismatic and intelligent. He justifies or glosses over his faults (including the time he beat the author of an expose book up with a baseball bat), blames most of his accidents on someone else - yet you can't help but like the guy. In his heyday (before I was born and when I was very young) he was a huge phenomenon, and you can see why - despite his arrogance and harshness, he's quite likeable. He's quick with a witty remark, able to express his ideas clearly (even when he seems unsure of what he is trying to say, he sounds like he knows exactly what he means) and able to make good comparisons. He's plain spoken, but he also comes across as a man driven by impulse most of his life.
On camera, in his old age, he looks awful, almost like you would expect someone who has broken over 50 bones in motorcycle crashes to look. His son, who appears briefly at the end, comes across as more well-rounded and self-reflexive, but Evel was clearly the trend setter.
Madness of Henry VIII on the National Geographic Channel
Solid history, this helped me put figure out the continuity of Henry the VIII's bizarre reign (such as how each wife died and in what order he married them, as well as which wives had to deal with Woolsey and which ones had to deal with Cromwell).
The thesis is basically: Henry the VIIIth was one crazy king. Driven to insanity by lust and greed, he died an obese monster.
This documentary had some interesting tidbits and solid scholarship, but it also came across as a documentary for the MTV generation. It had the feel of a music video. Also, there were several recurring visual leitmotifs of flowers wilting, bread turning moldy and clouds passing over a castle. The music was quick, frantic and obviously influenced by rock - and if that wasn't enough, the music played underneath the comments by scholars, adding an odd dichotomy when their comments were more dry and academic (though some comments were more flavorful, and one of the historians shouted 80% of her comments, as though in a heated argument).
If you can get past the frantic music and MTV style editing, there's some good, solid history here.
Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery on the History Channel.
Apparently, Teller (of Penn & Teller) can talk, but only if his entire face is cast in a shadow (so you can't tell if it's really him, I guess) and he's talking about Houdini.
Anyway, this is structured around a private collector who auctions off "the largest collection of personally-owned Harry Houdini artifacts and memorabilia." There's not a whole lot new in here about Houdini, though I find it odd that after a long section on Houdini's war on mediums, psychics and spiritualists, it ends with a large group of magicians attempting a séance to contact Houdini. However, apparently Houdini left behind what he would say if he ever came back, and only one (or was it two?) people know what it is, so there's no chance anyone could fake a return of Houdini's spirit (it was also done it a fully lit room with none of the traditional trappings of spiritualists - it was just a large group of people chanting "come back Houdini!"). Of course, Houdini didn't come back.
A nice overview of his life, and a cool glimpse at some of the rarer items associated with his life.
Absolute Evel: The Evel Knievel Story on the History Channel
I'm not a big fan of extreme sports, or motorcycle stunts, but this was on just after the Houdini documentary I'll review below, and since Johnny Blaze (the original Ghost Rider) was a stunt biker somewhat inspired by Evel Knievel, I figured I'd give it a try.
I was rather impressed. Not by Evel himself, but by the filmmakers. This documentary is told mostly from Evel's point of view, as he narrated 85% of it or so. The filmmakers let him speak for himself, augmenting his narration with archival footage, occasional comments from others and other standard things you'd expect to find in a documentary of this type. About the only time the documentary looses steam is when another narrator occasionally intrudes and it falls into "VH1 Behind the Music" clichés.
Evel comes across as a rather fascinating character. A sexist philanderer and apparently incapable of any self-reflection, he still comes across as rather charismatic and intelligent. He justifies or glosses over his faults (including the time he beat the author of an expose book up with a baseball bat), blames most of his accidents on someone else - yet you can't help but like the guy. In his heyday (before I was born and when I was very young) he was a huge phenomenon, and you can see why - despite his arrogance and harshness, he's quite likeable. He's quick with a witty remark, able to express his ideas clearly (even when he seems unsure of what he is trying to say, he sounds like he knows exactly what he means) and able to make good comparisons. He's plain spoken, but he also comes across as a man driven by impulse most of his life.
On camera, in his old age, he looks awful, almost like you would expect someone who has broken over 50 bones in motorcycle crashes to look. His son, who appears briefly at the end, comes across as more well-rounded and self-reflexive, but Evel was clearly the trend setter.
Madness of Henry VIII on the National Geographic Channel
Solid history, this helped me put figure out the continuity of Henry the VIII's bizarre reign (such as how each wife died and in what order he married them, as well as which wives had to deal with Woolsey and which ones had to deal with Cromwell).
The thesis is basically: Henry the VIIIth was one crazy king. Driven to insanity by lust and greed, he died an obese monster.
This documentary had some interesting tidbits and solid scholarship, but it also came across as a documentary for the MTV generation. It had the feel of a music video. Also, there were several recurring visual leitmotifs of flowers wilting, bread turning moldy and clouds passing over a castle. The music was quick, frantic and obviously influenced by rock - and if that wasn't enough, the music played underneath the comments by scholars, adding an odd dichotomy when their comments were more dry and academic (though some comments were more flavorful, and one of the historians shouted 80% of her comments, as though in a heated argument).
If you can get past the frantic music and MTV style editing, there's some good, solid history here.
Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery on the History Channel.
Apparently, Teller (of Penn & Teller) can talk, but only if his entire face is cast in a shadow (so you can't tell if it's really him, I guess) and he's talking about Houdini.
Anyway, this is structured around a private collector who auctions off "the largest collection of personally-owned Harry Houdini artifacts and memorabilia." There's not a whole lot new in here about Houdini, though I find it odd that after a long section on Houdini's war on mediums, psychics and spiritualists, it ends with a large group of magicians attempting a séance to contact Houdini. However, apparently Houdini left behind what he would say if he ever came back, and only one (or was it two?) people know what it is, so there's no chance anyone could fake a return of Houdini's spirit (it was also done it a fully lit room with none of the traditional trappings of spiritualists - it was just a large group of people chanting "come back Houdini!"). Of course, Houdini didn't come back.
A nice overview of his life, and a cool glimpse at some of the rarer items associated with his life.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Board Games for Christmas!
Here are three board games we all got for Christmas, with my thoughts.
Duel Masters: The Board Game - Honestly, I do not like the Duel Masters CCG (Collectible Card Game) or any of its contemporaries: Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh, etc. However, this board game was on sale for 2 bucks at the local Kay-Bee toy store (which is closing for good). After playing it a few times, I found this to be a near perfect family board game: up to 5 people can play, the game has some room for strategy and (best of all) most games won't last more than 20 minutes. Perfect for a quick family game, or you can play several rounds if you have more time. This is a great game for those times your kids want to play a game, but you don't have the few hours needed to play Clue or Monopoly.
Stratego: Duel Masters - Again, I'm no fan of Duel Masters, but this was one-fourth the cost of the normal Stratego game, and it can be played with standard Stratego rules (or you can add special "elemental powers rules" that add a little spice to the game).
Risk: Lord of the Rings deluxe edition - Risk on Middle Earth map. I usually play this with standard Risk rules, but there are optional rules that allow you to add in more Tolkien-ish elements (including a quest to destroy the ring). Very fun - a great game for when you have several hours and a few friends over.
Duel Masters: The Board Game - Honestly, I do not like the Duel Masters CCG (Collectible Card Game) or any of its contemporaries: Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh, etc. However, this board game was on sale for 2 bucks at the local Kay-Bee toy store (which is closing for good). After playing it a few times, I found this to be a near perfect family board game: up to 5 people can play, the game has some room for strategy and (best of all) most games won't last more than 20 minutes. Perfect for a quick family game, or you can play several rounds if you have more time. This is a great game for those times your kids want to play a game, but you don't have the few hours needed to play Clue or Monopoly.
Stratego: Duel Masters - Again, I'm no fan of Duel Masters, but this was one-fourth the cost of the normal Stratego game, and it can be played with standard Stratego rules (or you can add special "elemental powers rules" that add a little spice to the game).
Risk: Lord of the Rings deluxe edition - Risk on Middle Earth map. I usually play this with standard Risk rules, but there are optional rules that allow you to add in more Tolkien-ish elements (including a quest to destroy the ring). Very fun - a great game for when you have several hours and a few friends over.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Okay - time for more updates! Comics for 12/29
Christmas is over. Grades are in. NOW I have some time to blog. I plan to review some of my gifts (board games and such), and get around to some more serious book reviews. But since today is new comic day, here's a round-up of comics purchased by me (with BLOOD MONEY* even):
Marvel Comics:
Daredevil #80(#460): Brian Michael Bendis' best work for Marvel outside of Alias (no connection to the TV show). Yes, New Avengers and House of M sell better, but those are "event" comics about heroes in tights. This is gripping crime drama that just happens to have a guy who wears red spandex and horns. Lots of good stuff dealing with Journalistic ethics as well.
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos #3: These commandos are literally howling, as some of them are werewolves. A supernatural based comic. It started off fairly oddly and the first two issues made little sense, but it seems to be finding it's place and pace with this issue.
Exiles #74: The "World Tour" continues as the Exiles wreak havoc in the "New Universe" Marvel created back in the 1980s. Fun stuff, and Longshot returns, though nobody from the New Universe joins the team.
IDW Comics:
Fallen Angel #1: DC comics acted a bit like the FOX network when it cancelled Peter David's Fallen Angel comic book. Luckily, IDW stepped up to the plate and bought the rights. This is easily PAD's best work. Set around 20 years after the end of the DC comics version, it treats the events of that series as backstory, making this a great place for new readers to jump in and see the series that has Harlan Ellison raving.
DC/Vertigo:
Fables vol. 6, Homelands: This series I buy in Trade Paperbacks rather than the monthly issues. It takes longer to get the next installment, but it also is a lot cheaper (and the TPB has only in-house ads). Find out who The Adversary is! What evil, dastardly figure caused our beloved fairy tale figures to flee into our mundane reality and set up a gated community? Find out. Hint: It's not the Blue Fairy, but you would be close if that was who you guessed.
*Blood money = My twice weekly compensation for donating blood plasma.
Marvel Comics:
Daredevil #80(#460): Brian Michael Bendis' best work for Marvel outside of Alias (no connection to the TV show). Yes, New Avengers and House of M sell better, but those are "event" comics about heroes in tights. This is gripping crime drama that just happens to have a guy who wears red spandex and horns. Lots of good stuff dealing with Journalistic ethics as well.
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos #3: These commandos are literally howling, as some of them are werewolves. A supernatural based comic. It started off fairly oddly and the first two issues made little sense, but it seems to be finding it's place and pace with this issue.
Exiles #74: The "World Tour" continues as the Exiles wreak havoc in the "New Universe" Marvel created back in the 1980s. Fun stuff, and Longshot returns, though nobody from the New Universe joins the team.
IDW Comics:
Fallen Angel #1: DC comics acted a bit like the FOX network when it cancelled Peter David's Fallen Angel comic book. Luckily, IDW stepped up to the plate and bought the rights. This is easily PAD's best work. Set around 20 years after the end of the DC comics version, it treats the events of that series as backstory, making this a great place for new readers to jump in and see the series that has Harlan Ellison raving.
DC/Vertigo:
Fables vol. 6, Homelands: This series I buy in Trade Paperbacks rather than the monthly issues. It takes longer to get the next installment, but it also is a lot cheaper (and the TPB has only in-house ads). Find out who The Adversary is! What evil, dastardly figure caused our beloved fairy tale figures to flee into our mundane reality and set up a gated community? Find out. Hint: It's not the Blue Fairy, but you would be close if that was who you guessed.
*Blood money = My twice weekly compensation for donating blood plasma.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Semester's Almost Over....
I will probably have a mega comic post on Wednesday, though I will still have freshman essays to grade then (still not as tough as writing my own for graduate seminars).
As for TV - Well, I'm mad as spit that FOX is canceling Arrested Development. I'm happy they kept it around as long as they have (despite the constant pre-emptings and reschedulings so typical of Fox), but -
well, I wonder why I even watch Fox. After Firefly, John Doe, Dark Angel, Futurama - etc. etc. I think that network exists to make sure quality shows get cancelled.
And because of the disappointment known as "the last season of Simpsons" I haven't even bothered to check that show out. And whatever happened to Malcolm in the Middle?
Except for the last few episodes of Arrested Development, and Teen Titans and Bobobo-Bo-Bo-Bobo on Cartoon network, there's not much on worth watching. Lost and Battlestar Galactica come back in January, and The 4400 and Dead Zone are "good enough for summer" type tv series, so we won't see them until at least April or May (although I hear there's going to be "A Very Dead Zone Christmas" TV special in a few weeks. That oughta be trippy). And I've given up on Monk, as it seems the series has lost all life with the new "nurse."
Of course, since I've had so little time this semester because I took on an extra job to help pay off some debt, I was looking for excuses to stop watching some TV shows.
As for TV - Well, I'm mad as spit that FOX is canceling Arrested Development. I'm happy they kept it around as long as they have (despite the constant pre-emptings and reschedulings so typical of Fox), but -
well, I wonder why I even watch Fox. After Firefly, John Doe, Dark Angel, Futurama - etc. etc. I think that network exists to make sure quality shows get cancelled.
And because of the disappointment known as "the last season of Simpsons" I haven't even bothered to check that show out. And whatever happened to Malcolm in the Middle?
Except for the last few episodes of Arrested Development, and Teen Titans and Bobobo-Bo-Bo-Bobo on Cartoon network, there's not much on worth watching. Lost and Battlestar Galactica come back in January, and The 4400 and Dead Zone are "good enough for summer" type tv series, so we won't see them until at least April or May (although I hear there's going to be "A Very Dead Zone Christmas" TV special in a few weeks. That oughta be trippy). And I've given up on Monk, as it seems the series has lost all life with the new "nurse."
Of course, since I've had so little time this semester because I took on an extra job to help pay off some debt, I was looking for excuses to stop watching some TV shows.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
I'm not even gonna try to catch up....
on comics, anyway. I still have a few serious book reviews to post, but they may have to wait until Christmas break. Terms papers are coming due very, very soon.
However, I have a few spare moments to do mini-reviews of comics I purchased this week:
DC Comics:
Supergirl #3: Why do I even bother? Supergirl used to be a very interesting character (back in the 80s and 90s). But this series stinks, and there's way too much T&A for a comic starring a 15 year old girl.
Wildstorm comics:
Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles #3: I still have no clue as to what is going on here, but the articles in the back are good and give a reasonably detailed history of why it took so long to get a sequel to the old Robotech series.
Marvel Comics:
Fantastic Four #532: JMS plagarizing himself. Many of the lines of dialogue come straight from JMS's Babylon 5 TV series. It seems he needs to start singing a new tune.
Hulk: Destruction #4: Peter David finally gives us a Hulk/Abomination fight, and manages to erase (retcon out of existence) Bruce Jones' entire Hulk run with three lines of dialogue. Amazing.
Marvel Monsters: From the files of Ulysses Bloodstone #1: Set up as a blog, this gives profiles on some of the more famous Monsters from Marvel comics of the 50s and early 60s - the era just before Fantastic Four and Spider-Man changed comics forever. Fun, but light on pictures and heavy on text.
However, I have a few spare moments to do mini-reviews of comics I purchased this week:
DC Comics:
Supergirl #3: Why do I even bother? Supergirl used to be a very interesting character (back in the 80s and 90s). But this series stinks, and there's way too much T&A for a comic starring a 15 year old girl.
Wildstorm comics:
Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles #3: I still have no clue as to what is going on here, but the articles in the back are good and give a reasonably detailed history of why it took so long to get a sequel to the old Robotech series.
Marvel Comics:
Fantastic Four #532: JMS plagarizing himself. Many of the lines of dialogue come straight from JMS's Babylon 5 TV series. It seems he needs to start singing a new tune.
Hulk: Destruction #4: Peter David finally gives us a Hulk/Abomination fight, and manages to erase (retcon out of existence) Bruce Jones' entire Hulk run with three lines of dialogue. Amazing.
Marvel Monsters: From the files of Ulysses Bloodstone #1: Set up as a blog, this gives profiles on some of the more famous Monsters from Marvel comics of the 50s and early 60s - the era just before Fantastic Four and Spider-Man changed comics forever. Fun, but light on pictures and heavy on text.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
What's up in TV land?
As the semester nears crunch time, blogging gets much lighter. I may post everyday over the christmas break, though.
I should be able to catch up on comic mini-reviews over the weekend, though. As for the serious book reviews? Who knows?
As for TV this season:
The best shows are Battlestar Galactica on Sci-Fi and Lost on ABC. That's all that needs to be said. Lost is a great character driven drama that just happens to be sci-fi, with mysteries that get revealed only in scattered bits and pieces - just enough to keep me hanging on. BSG on the other hand, is a great sci-fi show that happens to be a character driven drama as well. The cliffhanger with Admiral Cain (sorry for saying Commander Cain in an earlier post) in the last new show (no new shows until January!) was heart-pounding and intense. TV has never been this good.
Other shows?
Alias is still interesting, though it seems to be treading water. Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis have the same problem: There's just no that much more they can do in their respective universe. One full length TV movie could wrap it all up easily. Plus, the villains in SG-1 are too transparently allegorical.
Invasion and The Night Stalker had promise, but both fail to live upto that. Night Stalker is just too damn depressing (where's the humor that made the original Kolchak series work?) and Invasion seems like a mess (unlike Lost, I don't get the idea the creators actually know where they're going).
Over on the Cartoon Network, Teen Titans and Justice League Unlimited continue to provide excellently well-written fare both adults and kids can enjoy. But the best show on Cartoon Network is one of their many shows imported from Japan: Bobobo - bo - bo - bobo.
Twin Peaks? A wannabe! French Avant Garde films? Can't hold a candle! Experimental German expressionistic films? Boring! There is no trippier, more random, bizarre show anywhere in space or time. Great stuff - my highest recommendation. It's on late Saturday nights on Cartoon Network. Check it out.
I should be able to catch up on comic mini-reviews over the weekend, though. As for the serious book reviews? Who knows?
As for TV this season:
The best shows are Battlestar Galactica on Sci-Fi and Lost on ABC. That's all that needs to be said. Lost is a great character driven drama that just happens to be sci-fi, with mysteries that get revealed only in scattered bits and pieces - just enough to keep me hanging on. BSG on the other hand, is a great sci-fi show that happens to be a character driven drama as well. The cliffhanger with Admiral Cain (sorry for saying Commander Cain in an earlier post) in the last new show (no new shows until January!) was heart-pounding and intense. TV has never been this good.
Other shows?
Alias is still interesting, though it seems to be treading water. Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis have the same problem: There's just no that much more they can do in their respective universe. One full length TV movie could wrap it all up easily. Plus, the villains in SG-1 are too transparently allegorical.
Invasion and The Night Stalker had promise, but both fail to live upto that. Night Stalker is just too damn depressing (where's the humor that made the original Kolchak series work?) and Invasion seems like a mess (unlike Lost, I don't get the idea the creators actually know where they're going).
Over on the Cartoon Network, Teen Titans and Justice League Unlimited continue to provide excellently well-written fare both adults and kids can enjoy. But the best show on Cartoon Network is one of their many shows imported from Japan: Bobobo - bo - bo - bobo.
Twin Peaks? A wannabe! French Avant Garde films? Can't hold a candle! Experimental German expressionistic films? Boring! There is no trippier, more random, bizarre show anywhere in space or time. Great stuff - my highest recommendation. It's on late Saturday nights on Cartoon Network. Check it out.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Comics for the last couple weeks.....
I have other, more serious books I've finished, but I want to give them serious, lengthy reviews. Graduate school gets in the way, of course.
Oh, well.
Marvel comics:
Essential Ghost Rider vol. 1 & Essential Werewolf by Night vol. 1: Marvel loves me! (well, maybe not me specifically). The Essential volumes are great - low priced phonebook sized Black and White reprints of Bronze and Silver age comics. Since this is October, they're reprinting their more "horrific" super heroes. Ghost Rider is my favorite character, and Werewolf by Night I like because of the affinity with my last name (and the fact it's well written stuff).
Marvel Milestones: Blade, Man-Thing and Satana: In keeping with this month’s horror theme, this reprints classic tales of the titular characters. Fun stuff.
Marvel Monsters: Devil Dinosaur #1: Independent comics creators take on Marvel's Monsters from the brief period before the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man debuted. Here, the Hulk battles Devil Dinosaur, and much hilarity ensues. Plus it reprints the first appearance of the Hulk! (and it's not the green skinned dude! This Hulk was a space alien that tried to take over the world).
Marvel Monsters: Where Monsters Dwell #1: Tremble in fear at the Walla Walla Bing Bang! I haven't laughed this much in a long time. More silver age monstery goodness by more independent comics creators who normally wouldn’t go near a Marvel comic.
Marvel Knights 4 #23: The Impossible Man (a green guy who can shape shift at will, but makes a popping sound while doing it) shows up, and the writer toys with breaking the fourth wall. A light-hearted read that doesn't quite live up to its premise, though perhaps the second part of the story next month will be better.
Exiles #71: A good read that gives the Exiles another reason to go hopping around the multiverse. The ending seems a bit anti-climatic, but that's because it's dependent on the ending of another comic this month (House of M #7). My budget doesn't allow for mega-crossovers, so I felt a little lost when it all wrapped up.
Mega Morphs #4: Fun little comic based on a toy line. I bought it because Ghost Rider appears in it, even though there is no good reason for him to appear here (other than he has a toy in the toy line).
Ghost Rider #2: Garth Ennis on cruise control. It's basically a tale from his Hellblazer run, but with Ghost Rider as the protagonist. Ennis has also obviously not read any Ghost Rider comics since the early 70s, and is relying on his vague memories of 30 year old comics. The art shimmers and amazes, but the tale is only typical Ennis.
The Incredible Hulk #87: Peter David's second (or is it third?) swan song on this title. No one else writes the Hulk better - mainly because Peter David realizes the Hulk is NOT a super-hero, but rather an egotistical time bomb.
DC/Wildstorm:
JSA #78: A bit more comprehensible, but I'm getting annoyed at all the Infinite Crisis tie-ins. Not having enough money to buy the approximately 45 comics this month that are a part of that mega-event, I feel lost (though not as lost as I was last issue).
Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles #1: I am a bit of a Robotech geek, but this has me lost. I recognize some of the characters, but I have no idea what's going on. I guess this will appeal to only hard-core Robotechers.
Dark Horse:
The Curse of Dracula: A bit more "mature" in content than I would've liked, but a nice little take on the Dracula mythos that, while not totally original, at least has enough energy to carry it through this thin little trade paperback collection.
Oh, well.
Marvel comics:
Essential Ghost Rider vol. 1 & Essential Werewolf by Night vol. 1: Marvel loves me! (well, maybe not me specifically). The Essential volumes are great - low priced phonebook sized Black and White reprints of Bronze and Silver age comics. Since this is October, they're reprinting their more "horrific" super heroes. Ghost Rider is my favorite character, and Werewolf by Night I like because of the affinity with my last name (and the fact it's well written stuff).
Marvel Milestones: Blade, Man-Thing and Satana: In keeping with this month’s horror theme, this reprints classic tales of the titular characters. Fun stuff.
Marvel Monsters: Devil Dinosaur #1: Independent comics creators take on Marvel's Monsters from the brief period before the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man debuted. Here, the Hulk battles Devil Dinosaur, and much hilarity ensues. Plus it reprints the first appearance of the Hulk! (and it's not the green skinned dude! This Hulk was a space alien that tried to take over the world).
Marvel Monsters: Where Monsters Dwell #1: Tremble in fear at the Walla Walla Bing Bang! I haven't laughed this much in a long time. More silver age monstery goodness by more independent comics creators who normally wouldn’t go near a Marvel comic.
Marvel Knights 4 #23: The Impossible Man (a green guy who can shape shift at will, but makes a popping sound while doing it) shows up, and the writer toys with breaking the fourth wall. A light-hearted read that doesn't quite live up to its premise, though perhaps the second part of the story next month will be better.
Exiles #71: A good read that gives the Exiles another reason to go hopping around the multiverse. The ending seems a bit anti-climatic, but that's because it's dependent on the ending of another comic this month (House of M #7). My budget doesn't allow for mega-crossovers, so I felt a little lost when it all wrapped up.
Mega Morphs #4: Fun little comic based on a toy line. I bought it because Ghost Rider appears in it, even though there is no good reason for him to appear here (other than he has a toy in the toy line).
Ghost Rider #2: Garth Ennis on cruise control. It's basically a tale from his Hellblazer run, but with Ghost Rider as the protagonist. Ennis has also obviously not read any Ghost Rider comics since the early 70s, and is relying on his vague memories of 30 year old comics. The art shimmers and amazes, but the tale is only typical Ennis.
The Incredible Hulk #87: Peter David's second (or is it third?) swan song on this title. No one else writes the Hulk better - mainly because Peter David realizes the Hulk is NOT a super-hero, but rather an egotistical time bomb.
DC/Wildstorm:
JSA #78: A bit more comprehensible, but I'm getting annoyed at all the Infinite Crisis tie-ins. Not having enough money to buy the approximately 45 comics this month that are a part of that mega-event, I feel lost (though not as lost as I was last issue).
Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles #1: I am a bit of a Robotech geek, but this has me lost. I recognize some of the characters, but I have no idea what's going on. I guess this will appeal to only hard-core Robotechers.
Dark Horse:
The Curse of Dracula: A bit more "mature" in content than I would've liked, but a nice little take on the Dracula mythos that, while not totally original, at least has enough energy to carry it through this thin little trade paperback collection.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Catching up - last week's comics
Graduate school comes first!
Marvel Comics:
Ultimate Iron Man #4: Orson Scott Card writes a comic book! Despite some similarities to his other work (good child genius fights psychopathic child genius) this is a well told tale. This issue is the best one so far, with the stakes clearly amped up, and with the Iron Man armor finally taking shape.
Fantastic Four #531: Haven't I already seen this on Babylon 5? I mean, JMS is a great writer and all that, but haven't we already sang this song and done this dance a few too many times?
Hulk: Destruction #3: The Hulk (well, Bruce Banner) finally arrives, after 3 issues of backstory on the abomination. Methinks he artist needs to work on his interpretation of the script. In one scene, the art made me think Mercy (the lady) was trying to seduce her boss, yet the dialogue indicated she was upset because she found out she had a terminal illness and not long to live, so her boss was offering her the chance to undergo crazy, weirdo experiments to try and cure it. Bizarre dichotomy.
Defenders #3: Okay, DeMatteis and Giffen are funny guys, but male rape is hardly a joke. Yeah - it's the Hulk getting raped, but still - they'd never get away with this if was the Hulk raping Umar. But when Umar rapes the Hulk, it's a barrel of laughs, I guess.
[Of course, now that I think about it, male rape is a joke, apparently. In The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, Matt gets raped several times and the narrative (as well as many other characters in the tale) regards it as a joke. I get it - men getting raped is comic gold!]
Daredevil #77: Don't you just hate it when you're getting "alone time" with your wife, and then several of your half naked, drop dead gorgeous ex-girlfriends show up? Nope, neither do I. But I'm guessing Daredevil does. Oh, yeah - there's something about the Kingpin in here too.
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 #1: A quick tour of all the "alternative" universes in the Marvel Megaverse. Useful for the newbie who wants to understand what the heck is going on and for the old time fan who needs to refresh his/her memory.
IDW comics:
Angel #4: This series started out strong, but this was a weak, confusing issue. Here's hoping the conclusion will be better - Especially since it looks more and more likely comics will be the only place to get Whedon approved post-TV series Angel tales.
Marvel Comics:
Ultimate Iron Man #4: Orson Scott Card writes a comic book! Despite some similarities to his other work (good child genius fights psychopathic child genius) this is a well told tale. This issue is the best one so far, with the stakes clearly amped up, and with the Iron Man armor finally taking shape.
Fantastic Four #531: Haven't I already seen this on Babylon 5? I mean, JMS is a great writer and all that, but haven't we already sang this song and done this dance a few too many times?
Hulk: Destruction #3: The Hulk (well, Bruce Banner) finally arrives, after 3 issues of backstory on the abomination. Methinks he artist needs to work on his interpretation of the script. In one scene, the art made me think Mercy (the lady) was trying to seduce her boss, yet the dialogue indicated she was upset because she found out she had a terminal illness and not long to live, so her boss was offering her the chance to undergo crazy, weirdo experiments to try and cure it. Bizarre dichotomy.
Defenders #3: Okay, DeMatteis and Giffen are funny guys, but male rape is hardly a joke. Yeah - it's the Hulk getting raped, but still - they'd never get away with this if was the Hulk raping Umar. But when Umar rapes the Hulk, it's a barrel of laughs, I guess.
[Of course, now that I think about it, male rape is a joke, apparently. In The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, Matt gets raped several times and the narrative (as well as many other characters in the tale) regards it as a joke. I get it - men getting raped is comic gold!]
Daredevil #77: Don't you just hate it when you're getting "alone time" with your wife, and then several of your half naked, drop dead gorgeous ex-girlfriends show up? Nope, neither do I. But I'm guessing Daredevil does. Oh, yeah - there's something about the Kingpin in here too.
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 #1: A quick tour of all the "alternative" universes in the Marvel Megaverse. Useful for the newbie who wants to understand what the heck is going on and for the old time fan who needs to refresh his/her memory.
IDW comics:
Angel #4: This series started out strong, but this was a weak, confusing issue. Here's hoping the conclusion will be better - Especially since it looks more and more likely comics will be the only place to get Whedon approved post-TV series Angel tales.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Comics 8/21/05
Marvel Comics:
Exiles #70 - A fun little jaunt through alternate worlds - this is the only Mutant/X-men type comic I care to read. This issue has a lot of heartbreak, as one character has lost his wife and kids due the reality change, but the other Exiles aren't sure if they should change reality back to the way it was, especially since it seems the new reality is better than the old one. Then a serial killer shows up, so things get complicated.
1602: New World #3 - I wasn't sure how well Iron Man would work in this Jacobian setting, but the concept translates pretty well. My one complaint: Not enough Virginia Dare!
DC Comics:
JSA Classified #3 - Nearly incomprehensible to all but the hardcore fan immersed in DC comics lore, this is still a fun little read - especially the way the writer pokes fun at many fanboy's obsession with the main "attributes" of this character. It seems writer Geoff Johns cares a lot about Power Girl, and wants to make her something more than just a joke character (the jokes often being about how she is the most "well-endowed" character in all of comicdom).
I'm not sure if it will shut the adolescent fanboys up, but he's made me care about a character who, previous to Geoff John's run was a no-personality third tier character.
Supergirl #2 - I was upset when Peter David's brilliant Supergirl series was cancelled, but I decided to give this new treatment of Kara Zor-el a try, especially since having Supergirl be Superman's cousin (as she was in the Silver age) is less convoluted than the protoplasmic earth angel from an alternate pocket dimension that Peter David had to deal with in his series.
However, while Jeph Loeb is generally a brilliant writer, this series (which has had three issues so far (if you count #0), as well as an arc in the Superman/Batman series) uhm - where was I?
Oh, yeah - Loeb seems to not get this character at all, or any of the other characters. The Teen Titans show up and everyone starts fighting for no particular reason. Loeb tries to hint that there's something dark and hidden in this new version of Supergirl, but it all comes across as rather overblown and melodramatic.
Plus, what is up with this 14 year old superhero being drawn in an overtly sexual outfit? And why is her torso so dang long? The artist on this series has no idea how to draw women at all, it seems (actually, his men aren't much better). Bizarre art with only passable storytelling. It had better pick up or I may abandon this series soon.
Exiles #70 - A fun little jaunt through alternate worlds - this is the only Mutant/X-men type comic I care to read. This issue has a lot of heartbreak, as one character has lost his wife and kids due the reality change, but the other Exiles aren't sure if they should change reality back to the way it was, especially since it seems the new reality is better than the old one. Then a serial killer shows up, so things get complicated.
1602: New World #3 - I wasn't sure how well Iron Man would work in this Jacobian setting, but the concept translates pretty well. My one complaint: Not enough Virginia Dare!
DC Comics:
JSA Classified #3 - Nearly incomprehensible to all but the hardcore fan immersed in DC comics lore, this is still a fun little read - especially the way the writer pokes fun at many fanboy's obsession with the main "attributes" of this character. It seems writer Geoff Johns cares a lot about Power Girl, and wants to make her something more than just a joke character (the jokes often being about how she is the most "well-endowed" character in all of comicdom).
I'm not sure if it will shut the adolescent fanboys up, but he's made me care about a character who, previous to Geoff John's run was a no-personality third tier character.
Supergirl #2 - I was upset when Peter David's brilliant Supergirl series was cancelled, but I decided to give this new treatment of Kara Zor-el a try, especially since having Supergirl be Superman's cousin (as she was in the Silver age) is less convoluted than the protoplasmic earth angel from an alternate pocket dimension that Peter David had to deal with in his series.
However, while Jeph Loeb is generally a brilliant writer, this series (which has had three issues so far (if you count #0), as well as an arc in the Superman/Batman series) uhm - where was I?
Oh, yeah - Loeb seems to not get this character at all, or any of the other characters. The Teen Titans show up and everyone starts fighting for no particular reason. Loeb tries to hint that there's something dark and hidden in this new version of Supergirl, but it all comes across as rather overblown and melodramatic.
Plus, what is up with this 14 year old superhero being drawn in an overtly sexual outfit? And why is her torso so dang long? The artist on this series has no idea how to draw women at all, it seems (actually, his men aren't much better). Bizarre art with only passable storytelling. It had better pick up or I may abandon this series soon.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
LOST and INVASION (SPOILERS!!!)
Hmmm
LOST on ABC is back. Great show last night. I have seen what is in the hatch, and it's the apartment of someone stuck in the 1970s.
This show keeps getting better and better.
INVASION, on the other hand was dissapointing. Lame dialouge, one-dimensional characters and unsympathetic protagonists. A decent set-up, but as my time as a grad student is precious, I'm sitting this one out for now. If I hear good things in the future, I might tune back in.
LOST on ABC is back. Great show last night. I have seen what is in the hatch, and it's the apartment of someone stuck in the 1970s.
This show keeps getting better and better.
INVASION, on the other hand was dissapointing. Lame dialouge, one-dimensional characters and unsympathetic protagonists. A decent set-up, but as my time as a grad student is precious, I'm sitting this one out for now. If I hear good things in the future, I might tune back in.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Sci-Fi Fridays: 09-16-05
6:00 Firefly - A good episode, alternately gripping and humorous. The preview for the Serenity movie was nothing special as most of it was already featured in the trailers.
7:00 and 8:00 Stargate SG-1 - One of those episodes where everything that can go wrong goes wrong and at the last minute, leaving us with about 3 different cliffhangers. The religious themes being explored are still waaaaaaay too obvious and, at times, preachy as well. Subtlety has not been this season's strong point.
9:00 Battlestar Galactica - I ain't buying it. Either the producers and writers are geniuses or they're winging it. This episode had everything that makes this new BSG series great - lots of human moments, especially as war weariness begins to take a serious toll. However, this episode just confirms my suspicion that the cylons could wipe the fleet out at any moment. IF the producers of the show actually mean to insinuate humanity has really been surviving due to its own luck and/or skill, then they're failing badly, because the cylons look either incompetent or lazy.
I'm in for the long haul. Plus - next week we get Commander Cain!
7:00 and 8:00 Stargate SG-1 - One of those episodes where everything that can go wrong goes wrong and at the last minute, leaving us with about 3 different cliffhangers. The religious themes being explored are still waaaaaaay too obvious and, at times, preachy as well. Subtlety has not been this season's strong point.
9:00 Battlestar Galactica - I ain't buying it. Either the producers and writers are geniuses or they're winging it. This episode had everything that makes this new BSG series great - lots of human moments, especially as war weariness begins to take a serious toll. However, this episode just confirms my suspicion that the cylons could wipe the fleet out at any moment. IF the producers of the show actually mean to insinuate humanity has really been surviving due to its own luck and/or skill, then they're failing badly, because the cylons look either incompetent or lazy.
I'm in for the long haul. Plus - next week we get Commander Cain!
Friday, September 16, 2005
Comics 9/14/05
Marvel Comics:
Mega Morphs #3: Sean McKeever rocks! Super heroes in giant robots - plus Ghost Rider! Feeds my inner child.
Marvel Knights 4 #22: What with Ben Grimm (the Ever lovin' blue eyed Thing) being Jewish and all, I'm surprised no one ever pitted him against the Jewish myth of the Golem before. Very touching tale.
The Pulse #11: The first Super-hero giving birth in a long while. Bendis does well with dialogue and character driven bits, and so he shines here. No action to speak of, but lots of mothering advice given by the Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four.
Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius #1: Calvin and Hobbes (Franklin and H.E.R.B.I.E.) meets the Fantastic Four. A fun comic kids can enjoy (my six year old loved it). Since there are so few comics aimed at kids anymore, this is a welcome sign. Plus, adults will love this as well.
DC Comics:
JSA #77: An incomprehensible mess. I realize that since Warner Bros. owns DC and treats it as an R&D studio, they can afford to lose money, but this is ridiculous. This issue makes no sense. I suppose if I was following all the tie-ins to the "Infinite Crisis" mega-crossover I might understand this, but I have a limited budget.
Mega Morphs #3: Sean McKeever rocks! Super heroes in giant robots - plus Ghost Rider! Feeds my inner child.
Marvel Knights 4 #22: What with Ben Grimm (the Ever lovin' blue eyed Thing) being Jewish and all, I'm surprised no one ever pitted him against the Jewish myth of the Golem before. Very touching tale.
The Pulse #11: The first Super-hero giving birth in a long while. Bendis does well with dialogue and character driven bits, and so he shines here. No action to speak of, but lots of mothering advice given by the Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four.
Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius #1: Calvin and Hobbes (Franklin and H.E.R.B.I.E.) meets the Fantastic Four. A fun comic kids can enjoy (my six year old loved it). Since there are so few comics aimed at kids anymore, this is a welcome sign. Plus, adults will love this as well.
DC Comics:
JSA #77: An incomprehensible mess. I realize that since Warner Bros. owns DC and treats it as an R&D studio, they can afford to lose money, but this is ridiculous. This issue makes no sense. I suppose if I was following all the tie-ins to the "Infinite Crisis" mega-crossover I might understand this, but I have a limited budget.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Unacknowleged bias, but still fascinating to hear
Walter Cronkite Remembers (audio cassette)
(audio CD here).
Despite the ubiquitous clarinet motif that sounded oddly similar to the opening notes of the My Little Pony theme song, I enjoyed this brief trip down Walter Cronkite's memory lane. He's seen a lot in his life and been more places than I'll ever be - plus his voice could make the phone directory sound like poetry.
Filled with snippets of archival material and brief statements by friends and acquaintances, this audio book was a fun listen. It's light and brief, though. Anyone expecting in-depth analysis or startling revelations will wind up disappointed. This exists on the level of casual, dinner conversation - albeit highly entertaining and informative dinner conversation.
The one thing that did bother me was Cronkite's constant refusal to admit his clear liberal bias. Time after time, he trumpets his objectivity, but then mentions that he sorta liked Ronald Reagan "despite his politics" (said in a tone that indicates any reasonable person would find Reagan's politics despicable) and that when Barry Goldwater spoke at Knot's Berry Farm it was more akin to "Barry's Nut Farm." He even ends the tape with a list of too typical liberal complaints about how the poor get poorer, the rich get richer, race relations are getting worse, etc.
But that's a minor nit - This tape serves as a quick and enjoyable guide to most major events of the last 60+ years as seem through the eyes of a man who saw as much of it as possible.
This makes a nice companion to his more in-depth book A Reporter's Life - y'know - if you're into that kinda thing and want to see the way it (sorta) was.
(audio CD here
).Despite the ubiquitous clarinet motif that sounded oddly similar to the opening notes of the My Little Pony theme song, I enjoyed this brief trip down Walter Cronkite's memory lane. He's seen a lot in his life and been more places than I'll ever be - plus his voice could make the phone directory sound like poetry.
Filled with snippets of archival material and brief statements by friends and acquaintances, this audio book was a fun listen. It's light and brief, though. Anyone expecting in-depth analysis or startling revelations will wind up disappointed. This exists on the level of casual, dinner conversation - albeit highly entertaining and informative dinner conversation.
The one thing that did bother me was Cronkite's constant refusal to admit his clear liberal bias. Time after time, he trumpets his objectivity, but then mentions that he sorta liked Ronald Reagan "despite his politics" (said in a tone that indicates any reasonable person would find Reagan's politics despicable) and that when Barry Goldwater spoke at Knot's Berry Farm it was more akin to "Barry's Nut Farm." He even ends the tape with a list of too typical liberal complaints about how the poor get poorer, the rich get richer, race relations are getting worse, etc.
But that's a minor nit - This tape serves as a quick and enjoyable guide to most major events of the last 60+ years as seem through the eyes of a man who saw as much of it as possible.
This makes a nice companion to his more in-depth book A Reporter's Life
- y'know - if you're into that kinda thing and want to see the way it (sorta) was.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Sci-Fi Fridays 9-9-05
6:00 Firefly - A funny, moving episode (with bonus futuristic folk song!) - including a moral dilemma with no easy answers. The preview for the upcoming movie seems to indicate that Jayne's character arc in this episode (and over the whole series) has been abandoned for a more simplistic (more accessible?) portrayal.
7:00 Stargate SG-1 - Good character development for the new guy on the series, with some nods to the overall series arc. A bit predictable (especially if you've seen the classic Star Trek episode "Amok Time") but still fun to watch.
8:00 Stargate: Atlantis - Finally! A well written, taut episode with little fluff and excellent direction. I might like this series after all.
9:00 Battlestar Galactica - The "trick" ending was visible a mile off, but other than that, a near-perfect episode. After the hit and miss mini-series I was unsure about this series, but when the regular series started with "33" it hit the ground running and hasn't let up. This episode mainly dealt with media ethics and "the right for the public to know" but it still managed to be gripping and moving. I just want a little more info about what the Cylons are up to. It's fairly obvious that, if they really wanted to, they could jump in and destroy the entire fleet (and the last remnants of humanity) in a few minutes. Why are they holding back? I don't know and I really, really want to know.
7:00 Stargate SG-1 - Good character development for the new guy on the series, with some nods to the overall series arc. A bit predictable (especially if you've seen the classic Star Trek episode "Amok Time") but still fun to watch.
8:00 Stargate: Atlantis - Finally! A well written, taut episode with little fluff and excellent direction. I might like this series after all.
9:00 Battlestar Galactica - The "trick" ending was visible a mile off, but other than that, a near-perfect episode. After the hit and miss mini-series I was unsure about this series, but when the regular series started with "33" it hit the ground running and hasn't let up. This episode mainly dealt with media ethics and "the right for the public to know" but it still managed to be gripping and moving. I just want a little more info about what the Cylons are up to. It's fairly obvious that, if they really wanted to, they could jump in and destroy the entire fleet (and the last remnants of humanity) in a few minutes. Why are they holding back? I don't know and I really, really want to know.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Comics 9/8/05
Due to the Holiday, comics came out on Thursday this week.
Marvel Comics:
Ghost Rider #1: A return to my favorite comic character, this new series ignores the 90s series without discarding it. The story is typical Garth Ennis, though without the cussing (but with the usual level of vulgarity). I can see why the top brass thought Ennis would be a good fit for the Spirit of Vengeance, but it seems off somehow. On the plus side, the art is absolutely gorgeous.
Exiles #69: Part Quantum Leap, part What If? - Reality hopping fun with the only mutant group I care to read (I honestly can't stand the X-men comics).
The Incredible Hulk #86: A tie-in to the big reality spanning crossover "House of M" (don't ask). Peter David writes well, but I'm not following the main thread of the big crossover, so the story seems incidental and I have no idea how it all ties in.
Dark Horse:
Serenity #3: The final issue of the comic series that bridges the gap between the TV series Firefly and the movie Serenity. A good read, but this last issue seems rushed. A good read for a fan of the series, or for anyone curious about the upcoming movie.
Silent Devil:
Dracula vs. King Arthur #2: A guilty pleasure. Dracula travels back in time to do battle with King Arthur and turn his enemies and friends into vampires. 'Nuff said.
Marvel Comics:
Ghost Rider #1: A return to my favorite comic character, this new series ignores the 90s series without discarding it. The story is typical Garth Ennis, though without the cussing (but with the usual level of vulgarity). I can see why the top brass thought Ennis would be a good fit for the Spirit of Vengeance, but it seems off somehow. On the plus side, the art is absolutely gorgeous.
Exiles #69: Part Quantum Leap, part What If? - Reality hopping fun with the only mutant group I care to read (I honestly can't stand the X-men comics).
The Incredible Hulk #86: A tie-in to the big reality spanning crossover "House of M" (don't ask). Peter David writes well, but I'm not following the main thread of the big crossover, so the story seems incidental and I have no idea how it all ties in.
Dark Horse:
Serenity #3: The final issue of the comic series that bridges the gap between the TV series Firefly and the movie Serenity. A good read, but this last issue seems rushed. A good read for a fan of the series, or for anyone curious about the upcoming movie.
Silent Devil:
Dracula vs. King Arthur #2: A guilty pleasure. Dracula travels back in time to do battle with King Arthur and turn his enemies and friends into vampires. 'Nuff said.
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