No Blog

I slipped into a fibro fog sometime this morning, got nothing at all done today, and don't feel like writing tonight, either. Sorry.

WHA-?

Seattle Breaks Hot-Weather Record.

So, I move out to the desert, and the summer after Seattle decides it has to be hotter than where I'm living? Makes no sense to me.

I'll note that July 20, 1994, the date that Seattle last hit 100, was only a few days after my wedding... hubby-Eric and I had moved into a tiny apartment in West Seattle with no ventilation and no AC, and we went to his folks' place for relief.

CameraPhone Zen - This One is for Bully

CameraPhone Zen

A Sunday Review

TV, catching up on a couple of weeks worth:

• Ghost Hunters International: "Wicklow's Gaol" - New investigator on the team, who claims that physics can explain most of what people think of as paranormal. She claims that she doesn't rely on her feelings, but she mentioned them an awful lot during the investigation. I still wish that they would do more science... with controls and baselines. At least go over the building with your equipment before the lights go out to establish norms! The evidence they produced was not at all convincing, but it sure seemed to please the client. I still think a proper investigation would take at least a week uninterrupted, not a single night. But, yeah, this is a TV show and not a true scientific study. It still grates on me that they skim the surface of science without ever really getting scientific.
• Time Team America: "Fort Raleigh, North Carolina" - Hubby-Eric decided to DVR this for me because it sounded like something I would love. He was right. The concept seems to be that a group of regular scientists with some guest specialists go to an archaeological site for three days with expensive equipment and all their expertise, and try to advance the discoveries at the chosen site. This episode focused on the Roanoke colony. I was amazed at how much they were able to accomplish in just three days, and kind of wish they could've done a follow-up to show how the site gets on without them. This show was better than I was expecting.
• The Next Food Network Star: "Miami Up All Night" - Horrid start to the episode with a challenge in the airport terminal that hit lots of wrong notes to me. The late night party was... depressing. Debbie shows an utter lack of teamwork, again. I knew who I expected to get booted. At the beginning of the show I told hubby-Eric that I liked all five finalists. Once the show was over, I realized I only liked three of the four left.
• History Detectives: "Sideshow Babies; Lubin Photos; Navajo Rug" - The babies in the World's Fair were disturbing, but the result seemed to be good. The babies were saved from probable death, without any cost to the parents. Full-time incubator care for premature babies for free? Yeah, I understand why parents approved. The second story, about a movie studio in Philadelphia that focused on western films with lots of action and not much story, was mostly interesting for the artifacts that started the investigation. Those photo albums were a great example of stuff that could have been lost but for a wonderful person who just held onto them. The Navajo Rug was stunning in looks and symbolism, and I enjoyed learning more about the history of the Navajo symbols involved. What was discovered about that rug was impressive and possibly historically important.
• Ghost Hunters International: "Skeleton in the Closet" - The team literally goes to Bohemia! Sometimes this works really well as a travelogue. The castle is just plain cool. I like the thermal image of the lights. Thermal cameras are neat. And the birthday party was fun, as well. Pity they came up with nothing even slightly convincing. The Manor House in Ireland was lovely. It was also pretty quiet that night. Still, lovely. A decent episode for seeing new places, not much in the way of entertainment on the ghostie level, though.
• Time Team America: "Topper, South Carolina" - I like the multiple angles the team hits in three days. They do a standard dig, take part in an established dig, use the high technology to do 3D studies, and find a guy who can re-create the stone tools and show how they were used. I'm not sure about the two theories they proposed during the dig, either the pre-clovis peoples or the comet that affected the climate, but I'm willing to be convinced. I hope the regular teams find more evidence.
• The Next Food Network Star: "Wood Fire Grill Challenge" - Of the four, I have a strong dislike for one of them based on her actions in previous episodes. So when she won the mini-challenge I was a little disturbed because it meant that the person who left would be one of the folks I liked. And I was right. One of my initial favorites got booted. Not without good reason, but it still stings a little.
• History Detectives: "Tokyo Rose; Crazy Horse; World War II Diary" - I didn't know much about the Tokyo Rose story, so I found it fascinating to learn about the treason trial, but more importantly what the woman who was accused of treason actually said on the air. Amazing that the POWs and broadcasters got away with that, but then you cannot expect Japanese officials to understand American humor. The Crazy Horse photograph story was a good look into that era. I liked the research into how the photograph was made at the time, but wish there'd been a little more detail on the process and how long it took. It was very cool that they were able to identify the man in the image. The WWII Diary piece was an encore that we'd seen before. The fate of the man who wrote the diary wasn't unexpected, but still felt a little sad when it was confirmed. The return of the diary was one of those TV moments that brings moisture to the eyes.
• Ghost Hunters International: "Gates to Hell" - The Gate to Hell is in the Czech Republic? At a place called Houska Castle? The tales of the place are simply wonderful. Nazi experiments, pit to Hell, flying demons. All that it requires is Buffy and her gang. What kind of castle has no external defenses? The director dude is VERY enthusiastic, almost too much so. I think they should take dogs along on investigations more often, even though this one was a bust. Also, I swear, every camera ought to have another camera aimed at it. It always seems that things happen behind the camera that's set up. Well, this was a fascinating location. Can't say much more than that about it, unfortunately.
• Time Team America: "New Philadelphia, Illinois" - This is just an incredible story. A freed slave founds and plans a town in Illinois, creating a multicultural society in the 1830s. The town lasted until the 1880s, when the railroad bypassed it (which often killed towns in that era). In 2002 archaeology teams started to work on the town site, which is now fields with only a few houses remaining. The task of the Time Team is to find the schoolhouse, based on old records and using their fancy equipment. We get to find out what happens if it rains on a time-limited dig. I like the two-man powered parachute with thermal imaging. The weather problems sank this one, but the story of the town was so compelling I don't really mind.

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This week's movie was The Philadelphia Story. Hubby-Eric has been DVRing movies off TCM, so we got to see this one as we tried to catch up on the DVR. I had a little trouble keeping all the characters straight, but it was a remarkably funny movie involving a bunch of great actors and some really goofy family relations. And Jimmy Stewart singing "Over the Rainbow".

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Here are reviews of the DCBS comic book shipment that arrived this week, of books originally released July 1st, 8th, and 15th:

• Doctor Who Classics: Series 2 #8 - It's been an awful long time since I've read the Stockbridge Horror, so I found myself enjoying this more than I expected. Good stuff.
• Muppet Show #4 - Well, it had a plot at least. Fairly good, but not great. There is a feel of the show, but it only makes me wish for the original show to come back even more. *sigh*
• Green Lantern Corps #38 - Eh. Mostly clean-up and GL politics. Not of much interest to me. Natu... she's still interesting despite the reveal. I dislike the reveal immensely, but she's still a cool character.
• Justice League: Cry For Justice #1 - Too much for me to hope for some Aquaman action, I guess. The blend of characters looks promising. I don't know anything about the Starman character, so I would've hoped for something more on him in the text pages. Maybe next issue.
• Astro City: The Dark Age Book Three #3 - The Apollo Eleven are even more freaky than I realized. It was interesting to get a closer look at them. I can hardly wait for the finale of this arc.


• Mangalicious Tick #1 - Mediocre quality, writing and art seem a little rote. I felt like I was reading a try-out book for new talent, and not a finished story.
• Green Lantern #43 - And so DC Zombies Blackest Night kicks off for the umpteenth time with a prelude tale about some dude who calls himself the Black Hand. At least Aquaman got a mention and Tula even got a panel in this issue.
• Wednesday Comics #1 - Wow. If this were slightly cheaper, I'd want to get more to hand out to people. This would be the perfect waiting room magazine. A little something for everyone (except for the Aquaman fans, who are left disappointed again).


• Blackest Night #1 - Hey, I know this story! It was first told in the Tempest mini-series. What do you wanna bet that Tula comes back to torment Garth yet again? I'll find that out when I read Titans #15.
• Blackest Nights: Tales of the Corps #1 - Huh. If that's the Indigo idea of compassion, I think I'd rather hang out with the Blues myself.
• Titans #15 - Apparently I was supposed to read this before I read Blackest Night #1, so it doesn't answer my question about Tula, but it does bring back the baddie from the Tempest mini-series, so there's at least a nod to the fact that, in Atlantis at least, the dead have already risen once (or twice) before.
• JSA vs Kobra: Engines of Faith #2 - I don't like Kobra, but then, I'm not supposed to like them. I like Mr Terrific, and I like the role he's in here: torn between two loyalties. Despite the narration by the Kobra dude, this feels very much like a chess game, with Mr Terrific leading the side of the angels.
• DMZ #43 - I could almost feel sympathy for him when the story started in the last issue. I've lost that now. Just want to know what he decides.
• Doctor Who Ongoing #1 - Nice cliffhanger! This was a fun start to the new ongoing, let's hope the quality stays up.
• Super Friends #17 - I have never liked stories where people go into the past to help out our ancestors, because to some degree it diminishes our ancestors' accomplishments. This story skirts the edge of that problem, but Aquaman's role comes awfully close to being annoying to me. I liked the Aquaman fans represented in the letters page!
• Wednesday Comics #2 - Not enough Aquaman, but most of the stories are good. I don't much like the Metamorpho or Strange Adventures strips. The Teen Titans is promising but needs a lot more before I'll like it. Supergirl is just funny. It's still too early to judge, but overall I'm enjoying it.

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My library book this week was Always by Nicola Griffith. I checked out this book based on the Unshelved Book Club review. It made me homesick.

The book alternates chapters between events in Seattle and the self-defense course taught by the main character, Aud Torvingen, in flashbacks. The self-defense class is an interesting read and almost makes a person want to go take a class. The descriptions of the women are vivid enough that I can slot each of them into my perceptions of the world. One particular member of the class is marked out from the very beginning, and sure enough the climax of the events in that plotline focus on her.

The Seattle side of the story is both a love story and a mystery. Aud owns a warehouse and wants to know why it's losing money, only she gets deeply involved as soon as she arrives. The love story part made me a little uncomfortable, but it never got so explicit that I was genuinely disturbed. I'm not one who enjoys reading love scenes. Romance novels tend to bore me.

Overall, it's a pretty good book with a strong main character and enough of a mystery to keep the pages turning. A little research tells me that this is actually Aud's third appearance as a main character. The first two books were The Blue Place and Stay. I haven't read either, and I'm not entirely sure I will.

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Another book I read this week was Fat Kid Rules The World by K L Going. This one was recommended by Rachel Hartman, who is best known in my circles for Amy Unbounded but also is a young adult writer and a mommy-blogger of some reknown. I'll admit that I wasn't expecting a book quite as adult as this one is, in language and situations... but for the setting it was pretty much necessary. I identify with Troy, the main character of this one, almost too much. He's 17 and weighs 296 pounds and has some serious self-esteem issues. He's about to commit suicide when he's stopped by a terribly thin homeless guy who eventually teaches him... well, that would be telling. Let's just say I found this one to be a really good read. Not recommended for everyone, due to language and such, but definitely a strong story.

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Agatha Christie this week was The Moving Finger from 1943. The cover claimed this was a Miss Marple mystery, but as I read each Marple-less chapter I decided the cover was wrong. Heh. The story concerns an airman who is recovering from a plane crash in a sleepy little town when a poison pen starts to stir up the worst in people. Marple doesn't make her appearance until late in the book when the reader already has all the facts. I want to say I figured this one out. In fact, as I read it I mentally prepared a review saying that Agatha had gracefully danced around the elephant in the room, but in the end it was an elephant that could not be ignored. However, I was wrong. Christie didn't let me down. Annoyingly, I had put it together and could have solved it correctly, but I was so busy concentrating on the elephant I dismissed the presence of the mouse. *sigh*

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Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews -- My Wishlist

Linkdump

Eisner Award Winners. Hubby-Eric and I read the list together and cheered for our favorites who won, including Tiny Titans (yay!) and Sunday Press Books' Little Nemo in Slumberland reprint (we just got the Oz reprint and hung out with the publisher at the Oz convention).

Ichiro and Obama.

Classic Doctor Who Review: The Mind Robber.

I think my big brother should build one of these for the goats his family is raising.

Not the best retirement cake ever, but there's no accounting for tastes.

One fifth of the world's population cannot see the Milky Way at night due to light pollution. I wish we, as a society, could reduce the amount of light we allow to spill out all over at night. I have a particular hatred for a business about three blocks over from my house whose security lights shine in our windows at night, instead of at the lot they ought to be protecting.

Debunking Canadian Health Care Myths. I'm 100% for a single-payer system like Canada. Insurance companies that profit from killing people by denying them needed care should by abolished and all their CEOs thrown in prison. But I'll settle for just getting a decent health care system.

A disturbingly wonderful headline.

I'm going with MIB myself.

It's juvenile, but I laughed anyway.

CameraPhone Zen

Happy San Diego Comic Con

...hope nothing sinks your day.

Special Extra Review

Doctor Who: Room With A Deja View written by Rich Johnston with art by Eric J and colors by Kris Carter.

I got a lovely PDF preview of this book from Rich, but I've already ordered it from my comic service so I'll have a paper copy for the Doctor Who collection in about two weeks when my next shipment arrives. In the meantime, I've had a chance to read and enjoy this ahead of time.

And time is what this book is all about, even moreso than most Doctor Who stories. As Rich warned me in the e-mail: One little heads up. It's a story that uses time travel in the actual structure of the comic itself, which can make it intentionally hard to read as a comic (I'm trying to get the reader to work a little), but even harder as a digital file, and that's all I've got at the moment. Ok, I'm up for a challenge. But he was right, it was difficult to read as a digital file! One section needs to be read backwards (Manga reading skills come in handy there) and finding the end of that section in the digital version was slightly difficult. But only slightly, thankfully.

The story basically involves a lonely Doctor finding a distress signal from a space station that doesn't want to be found. Pretty standard Doctor Who, until the Doctor is introduced to the being that sent the signal. And that's all the spoilers you're gonna get.

This was a fun read, but there was something BIG missing. There's a great set-up of a huge backstory, but the payoff is personal. I wanted to learn more about the space station and its inhabitants. I wanted to learn how the being that sent that signal dies. I wanted more of the backstory, and we only got a taste of it in this book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. I just wanted MORE.

The artwork was ok. I question the choice of using multiple Doctor images to show progress of time/the Doctor's habit of moving around a lot in a story where the Doctor meets himself at least twice. The aliens were nicely alien, although the coloring of the guard's face in the beginning of the book made it seem like he was the same race as his attacker, which was confusing as well.

Overall I'd give it a B+, four out of five starfish, a recommended rating. Doctor Who fans will enjoy it, and fans of unusual methods of exploiting the comic book form will find it interesting as well.

Rich is apparently at San Diego signing copies of this book, so if you are out there and can read this blog, go seek him out and get yourself a signed copy or two.

Comic-Con!

Since just about everyone else's blog we read right now is talking about their plans for the San Diego Comic Con this weekend (starting tomorrow night!), I thought I'd tell everyone what Laura and I will be up to there.

Nothing. We can't afford to go.

We won't see you there!

New Doctor Who in Costume

A Sunday Review

TV this week:

• Torchwood: "Children of Earth: Day One" - There is some sort of almost subtle difference between this Torchwood and the previous ones. Like the pace is slower, but it's not. Like there is more realism, perhaps. Whatever it is, this doesn't feel like the episodes that came before. The events aren't so surprising... it is Torchwood after all, but the feel is slightly different. And the details! I loved seeing more background into some of the characters. Then there were the twists. At least one major twist I wasn't expecting in the slightest, and a couple more that were nicely hidden until they sprung. Waiting for the next episode as I write this!
• Torchwood: "Children of Earth: Day Two" - This one starts with a bang, and doesn't stop. Starting with the running and ending with a jailbreak unlike any other. I like the civil servants' kids, with their mocking the voice.
• Torchwood: "Children of Earth: Day Three" - Whew. This one was MUCH slower than the previous episode, but had some good suspense moments. The cliffhanger was almost expected. Not as much a twist as it could've been, I suppose. The groundwork was laid for it quite nicely. Ah, Jack... not always on the side of the angels.
• Torchwood: "Children of Earth: Day Four" - Ianto is one of my favorite characters. He's a sweet man with an innocence that is protected by knowledge and skills. And he clearly loves his family, in all aspects. As for the aliens... oooh, what they're asking for! And I was not expecting the end of this episode. I think the finale of this is going to be painful.
• Torchwood: "Children of Earth: Day Five" - Oh whoa. No. No no no. Jack, you... you... ug. Totally in character, and yet. Whoa. Manohmanohman. I can't see this ending any other way, but... wow. Just, wow. All-in-all, a pretty incredible story. Not what I was expecting, but then I'm never sure what to expect from this show. I just wonder where it will go from here. I just can't imagine how it will/can go on.

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This week's comic book related review is Owly Volume Five: Tiny Tales by Andy Runton. This is a collection of Owly short stories, some that I'd read before in Free Comic Book Day books, and many that I'd never seen before. I love Owly in part because it makes me slow down. I read very fast, but Owly forces me to think a bit harder and reread for full understanding. This is another great volume of this character, and definitely worth getting for any kid of any age in your life.

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On our trip to Asilomar, we listened to an audio book. It was Timeline by Michael Crichton. Eric checked it out because it's a book on time travel, only not really (ha), and it turned out to be a fun listen while going through endless deserts and mountain plains. The plot involves a group of students who travel back in time to rescue their professor while one of their number in the present desperately tries to help fix the machine that sent them there. It was a good listen, but the long scientific explanations might have bored me if I was trying to read them, no matter how plausible Crichton makes them seem. The motive of the villain of the piece was remarkably stupid, and I kept waiting for an exciting reason for all of the events to have happened only to be let down at the end. Otherwise, it was a ripping yarn, with lots of good history lessons. I probably wouldn't seek it out, but for a long drive it was worth listening to.

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My library book this week was Ranger's Apprentice Book Two: The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan. After reading the first book in this series, I had to check out the second, and it was also good. A nice snack-like read, with enough depth to keep an adult reader interested. The first book in the series was a standalone, this tale has a cliff-hanger ending. It is a complete story in itself, but yeah, I definitely want to know what happens next.

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Another book I read this week was Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane by Suzanne Collins, Book Two in the Underland Chronicles. After reading the first book, I put this one on hold immediately. After finishing this one, I put the rest of the series on hold, and will no doubt read them fairly soon. The story takes place a few months after the first book, when the main character and his family believe they've gotten away from the Underland, only to be pulled back into it by a second prophecy. My same complaint remains from the first book: the writing is a little simple for my tastes. It's aimed at young readers, namely 11-year-olds, and it's a quick read for an adult. Oddly enough, like the second book in the Ranger's Apprentice series, this book also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. A good little read, I enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

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Agatha Christie this week was The Body in the Library from 1942. A stuffy old rich couple are surprised to find the body of a dead girl in their library, and they call in Miss Marple to help sleuth out what really happened. Nice twists in this one. No, I didn't solve it. But the levels upon levels made it pretty unlikely for me to sort out. Very much a fun story. Marple stories seem to lean toward the absurd.

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Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews -- My Wishlist

CameraPhone Zen

Cleaning for Androgums

We spent the day cleaning the house for the Androgums (the Doctor Who club hubby-Eric founded) to visit us here in Churchville. Waiting for the first victim guest to arrive soon.

Happy Anniversary Hubby-Eric!

As of today, we've been married (to each other!) for a whole fifteen years. Wow.

Links

Jack mourns the end of tidbits. Personally? I hate those ads. The argument they put forward is that humans are not capable of distinguishing useful information from trivia. I won't use a search engine that assumes I'm an idiot.

RUN RUN FROM THE VAMPIRE AUTOS!!! Boing Boing finds a fun blog of badly written news stories.

I'm still amazed at this story about a town that asked applicants for their social network passwords.

Wow, our health care system really sucks. Good for smart kids who can self-diagnose!

Roald Dahl on Vaccinating Your Kids. I was not aware that Dahl lost a child to measles. Along the same lines, a Welsh health minister suggests that non-vaccinated children not be allowed in school. I'm for that. Especially in the UK, where a quarter of children have not been vaccinated, and measles outbreaks are becoming common. The Guardian suggests alternate schools for unvaccinated children. I'm for that, if the first option doesn't fly.

10 Big Differences Between Men's and Women's Brains.

Pug for the in-laws.

CameraPhone Zen

Heading Home

By now, I'm halfway home. So, if I get home early enough, perhaps I'll post something exciting about the convention. In the meantime... um... Boing Boing is always a good bet for something fun to read.

A Sunday Review

Had to get these reviews written before we left on our trip, but I think I managed this week. Hope this posts Sunday morning...

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Torchwood on the Radio: I listened to all three radio plays in anticipation of seeing the new episodes (Children of Earth) coming up soon. Torchwood: Asylum first aired on BBC Radio 4 on July 1st, and concerns a mysterious girl who appears through the Rift. PC Andy (yay!) calls in Gwen because of the girl's odd gear. This was a strong story, with great performances by the leads of the series, and a nice little moral to it. Torchwood: Golden Age was first aired on the 2nd, and concerns people disappearing in Delhi. The team travels to India to find out why. This was a good example of a story that may have been far too expensive to perform on screen, but worked great on radio. I didn't like it as much as the first tale, but it had its moments. Torchwood: The Dead Line aired on the 3rd. We start with a frantic call from Ianto (well, as frantic as he gets) and includes Rhys (yay!) when Gwen is forced to go solo for a bit. I've always liked the "mysterious phone call from non-existent number" storyline, so this was nicely chilling. All said, I enjoyed the stories and find that I'm really looking forward to seeing Children of Earth.

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TV this week:

• The Next Food Network Star: "Rachael Ray" - It's always good when they get children in as judges. No one was terribly impressive in this one. I really like Michael, but how can a guy who is that terrified of the camera become a star? Debbie looked like an old pro on Rachel Ray, but Jamika and Jeffrey... nothing there. All told, I think the judges picked the right one to go, but it's going to get tougher from here out, because everyone left is cool.
• History Detectives: "St Valentine's Day Massacre; Booth Letter; Cemetary Alarm" - Pity that the research into that gun was not definitive. Makes you hope that someone finds the original shells found at the site so the gun could be authenticated. The Booth letter... wow, the anger directed at Andrew Jackson was extreme. But the investigation itself... double-wow. That was some serious research. The Cemetary Torpedo was an interesting device. The reason it was created makes me squicky.

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This week's comic book related review is Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Strum and Rich Tommaso. I fully expected this to be a graphic story of Satchel Paige's life, a biography. It was not. It was much more interesting. Instead of focusing on Paige, the story is about Emmet Wilson, who faces Paige's pitching in his youth but is forced out of baseball because of injury. The book follows Wilson's life as a sharecropper in the South, watching his son suffer. While Paige looms large in the story, this is definitely the story of racism and facing it. Paige was able to face it on his own terms, which is why he was a hero to men like Wilson, who just needed that reminder sometimes. A solid book, and a good read. The introduction and notes just add to the package. Check it out.

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My library book this week was This Child Will Be Great by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. I checked out this book after seeing the author on the Daily Show and being impressed with both her presence and her sense of humor. The bits of the story that Jon discussed with her also compelled me to put the book on hold at the library. It is an autobiography of Africa's first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, and was just published this year.

From a purely literary point of view, this book is a bit disjointed. The recollections jump around a bit, and at times it's difficult to figure out when you are in her history. The author also assumes you know a little about the recent history of Liberia, and although she eventually fills in the blanks, having a rough background is useful to reading the book. She also tends to write like an advocate, trying to convince the reader with details that may not be strictly needed for the tale she is telling, but are certainly useful if you would question her sincerity or understanding of the situations she faced. And, as Jon Stewart put it, she's faced a LOT. In her 70 years she has faced enough adversary for a dozen women, and taken on responsibilities and burdens most of us could hardly imagine. She has spoken her mind even when it could've cost her life, and nearly did end up dead more than once. She was jailed, exiled, saw good friends murdered, and still managed to carry on and fight for what she sees as the future of Liberia. After reading the book, the reader can only hope that she's right and that she can pass on power successfully to a strong leader once her term is up in three years. I think I'll be watching. I'm only ashamed that I never really noted the events in Liberia that happened in my lifetime until now. As an American, I am truly very ignorant of world events.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

And hey, how can you not want to read a book by a person willing to make a white Jewish comedian an African Chief? And one last note on the book: It has a bibliography AND an index, which is all too often forgotten in a book like this. I am gratified to see those included.

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Agatha Christie this week was Evil Under the Sun from 1941. Poirot goes on another ill-fated vacations, to an island hotel where a hot female guest is driving the men to distraction. Well, I got one insignificant fact about this mystery correct, and everything else utterly wrong. Blah. I came up with what I thought was the solution early on, which should have told me I was wrong, but I stuck with my first impression anyway. I don't think I will ever solve a Poirot mystery on my own. I'll note that there is more in this story about intent and desire versus action, and it works very well for the character involved. That was one bit I had figured out early.

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Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews -- My Wishlist

CameraPhone Zen

Pre-Prepared Linkdump

Once again, Joe puts my thoughts into words.

Well, here's another reason to get a Kindle.

I don't know, it seems like a good plan to me.

Your Social Security Number can be figured out if people know your birthdate and hometown. Oops. The researchers who discovered this think that perhaps we should stop using SSN as a "password" so it can't be used against us.

Ah, finally.

Do Not Meddle In The Affairs of Bards, for your Name Is Silly and Scans To 'Greensleeves'.

Mythbusters Science Kits? Tell us, Dave.

LOLcat Theology.

Pug for the In-laws. Bonus Pug: on this page, check out the link of the pug.

For the Record

I'm never, ever staying at Motel 6 again. I'd rather sleep in my car than give business to them.

CameraPhone Zen

Have A Happy 7/8/9

Seven Eight Nine?

Can't Write, Packing

Going out of town and off the grid in a couple of days, so blog content will be even lighter than usual.

HELP!

Hello all! A writer is looking for a high quality scan (at least 300 dpi) of the splash page of the Aquaman story from More Fun #85. If you happen to have that issue sitting around and access to a scanner, please let me know. Thanks!

CameraPhone Zen

A Sunday Review

We enjoyed 1776 on TCM on the 4th. I absolutely adore William Daniels and Howard Da Silva in this. It's amazing how this movie manages to make the vote for the Declaration actually full of suspense and doubt. It didn't happen precisely like the movie, but this dramatization certainly makes the whole event entertaining. We try to always watch this movie on the 4th, as well as "Fireworks" from Schoolhouse Rock! I think watching these on the 4th is a good tradition for us.

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TV this week:

• The Next Food Network Star: "The Ultimate American Meal" - I would have liked to try some of those burgers, and I definitely want to try the winning one. That tiny kitchen with the ancient stove was the biggest challenge. And what happened to Debbie was terrible, but it was definitely her own fault (you ALWAYS say "behind" when you walk behind somebody in a kitchen). Michael's horror at what he'd done was clearly genuine. In the end, I would not have wanted to make that decision.
• History Detectives: "Manhattan Project Patent; Galleon Shipwreck; Creole Poems" - The information about the Manhattan Project was all stuff I hadn't heard before, so I was fascinated. The shipwreck discovery was in my neck of the woods, so I was very interested in that as well. And the mysterious book reflected some information I'd just been listening to in a history podcast! So this episode was three for three for me.
• Primeval: "Episode 23" - Final episode. Well, probably. I hope the producers get to do a final something to wrap up the series, as they left the cast in... well, a couple of cliffhangers. Still, even if we don't get a wrap-up, I'm very very pleased with how this series turned out. I loved it with very few nitpicks. I would love to see the series continue, but it still managed to feel surprisingly complete.

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Here are reviews of the DCBS comic book shipment that arrived this week, of books originally released June 17th and 24th:

• Tiny Titans #17 - No Aqualad, but otherwise it's ok.
• Wonderful Wizard of Oz #7 - This is how you stick close to the book. This is a fantastic adaptation. I particularly like the balloon.
• Captain Britain and MI13 #14 - Ah, well, that's all better then! Still not a big vampire fan, but this seems to be working for me. Pity the series is ending.
• DC Superhero Figurine Collection Magazine #31: Aquaman - The figurine itself is very cool, and the magazine that comes with is surprisingly good as well, although I'm not enthused about the choice of Aquaman origins and key stories.
• Green Lantern #42 - What, is Hal going to get every color ring by the end of this arc?
• Justice League of America #34 - So bored with this.
• Justice Society of America #28 - Ma Hunkel appears, so this is a good issue.
• Batman: The Brave and the Bold #6 - I don't like the design on Kid Eternity. He looks like a brat with a smirk. Otherwise, nice little story.
• Incredibles: Family Matters #3 - A really good continuation of the characters from the movie, so much so that I think I'd like to read an ongoing. No surprise that they jump to comic book format so well, is it?
• Northlanders #18 - I'm a little disappointed in the fight action at the end, as I couldn't tell one character from another. But the story... whew. Difficult stuff in there.
• Usagi Yojimbo #121 - A pretty standard Usagi tale (which means it's about 20 times better than most comic books out there) with a strangely lame ending.

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This week's movie was Ninotchka from 1939, starring Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas. Greta Garbo is a serious Soviet agent sent to deal with three agents who bumble the sale of imperial jewels in Paris. The former owner of the jewels wants them back, and the agents are quickly seduced by capitalism and its pleasures. Ninotchka is not so easily seduced. Garbo delivers hilarious deadpan lines, and as she cracks she becomes a much more interesting character. The movie is about 40 minutes too long, but is very funny. It was banned in the USSR because of the unflattering portrayal of Soviets, and it kept hubby-Eric saying "In Soviet Russia...!" constantly.

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My library book this week was Ranger's Apprentice Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan. I picked this one up based on the Unshelved Book Club review. I knew it was part of a series, but apparently the series is already eight books and counting with a movie on the way! Furthermore, like a lot of great young adult fiction in the past decade or so, it hails from Australia. It's a solid little book, not super-fantastic but not disappointing. There were lots of points in the story where it could have gone into a much darker or depressing tale, but it stayed upbeat. And, yeah, I think I'm going to go read the rest of the series. It's a nice "snack" kind of book.

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Another book I read this week was Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. I picked this one up based on the Unshelved Book Club review. As you may have noticed, I like getting reading recommendations from Unshelved. Tamara's suggestions tend to be for younger readers (she is the children's librarian) and this book is no exception. The main character is an 11-year-old boy, and the writing is a little simple for my tastes. Still, it made for a quick read, and that's good because this is the first book of a series. And I will be checking out more of these. It's a nice read, with plenty of action. Events have consequences, and our hero has to make hard choices. The villains are suitably horrid, and the allies are both nasty and not. And, despite there being a prophecy involved, the result isn't a given for the characters. Not bad for a kid's book.

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Agatha Christie this week was N or M? from 1941. Tommy and Tuppence return! And they're not only all grown up, they've got grown children involved in the War. In fact, the adventure starts out with them moaning that their services aren't needed, and gets complicated when they are called in to do some sleuthing against the fifth column in the UK. They accomplish their task in the usual fashion, with plenty of mystery and uncertainty. This was a romp, and while the mystery was difficult to figure out, I'm proud to say I got it before the reveal. Just barely, but I got it. Read this one if you want a fun wartime adventure with good ol' characters.

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Fortean Times #250, Special 2009. First item of note: my Fortean Times usually arrives in a nice white envelope which protects it from damage and prying eyes. This issue arrived in a flimsy plastic sleeve, and appeared to have been sent from Belgium (!) instead of the usual New York postmark. The plastic was ripped badly, and the magazine itself was severely bent, but luckily not otherwise damaged. I really hope the distributor can go back to envelopes.

Moving on to the book itself, the cover story is about "Invizikids" aka Imaginary Friends. I never had an imaginary friend, although I certainly felt left out and wished I had. I think at a few points I even pretended I had one, but it never worked... those who had them seemed to have something I didn't understand. And the author of the article seems to see more in them as well. I don't particularly agree with his hypothesis, but it's a fun read. I'd want to see a lot more research before I'd accept that there is more there than simple human nature.

The Editorial page makes it clear that John Michell had not died when the tribute in the last issue was put together. His death was not unexpected, but the timing was impressive. Strangedays goes into Singer sewing machines and red mercury, which is fascinating but stupid. The article on witch-hunting made me ill. Cases of hysteria that cause genuine harm because people can't be bothered to think things through.

The ghost photos article was ok, but I tend to credit double exposure for many of those. I liked the UFO files article on Men in Black, and look forward to reading the rest of the series. Of course, the mere fact that the article is being written is fun proof against the existence of MIB. The Hoaxers article was also very good. It does seem to be human nature to try to pull a fast one on our fellow humans. I liked the Loch Ness Cryptokid story. There were two pieces on the Antikeythera mechanism, with slightly different angles but both informative.

Two more articles, on Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and Uri Geller respectively, were ok. I tend to be overwhelmingly skeptical of Geller, but I admit if the facts of that article are true, I'd love to see a logical explanation since I'd be hard-pressed to come up with one myself. The reviews and letters were normal for Fortean Times, which is to say they were entertaining and somewhat informative. Another good issue.

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Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews -- My Wishlist

Happy Independence Day, part 2!

Watch. Enjoy. Revel in the true meaning of the holiday.

And while we're at it:

Happy Independence Day!

Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Linkdump

Comic Book Legends Revealed #213: DC Survey, Adult Marvel, and Gender-Bending. Comic Book Legends Revealed #214: John Severin, EC Comics (if you read none of the rest, read this one), and Dr. Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum.

Do you want to put your own picture on a shower curtain? I think I great image of Mt Rainier would be nice. But not at that price.

10 Best Uses of Classical Music in Classic Cartoons.

This is a new definition of Cyber-punk.

Freshly tarred street + Crosswalk = People getting stuck on road.

Wait, two unpublished Poirot stories? I'll have to read those... once I've finished all the other Christie books.

I don't really understand why Spain would have a claim to this recovered gold. And speaking of underwater treasure, look at this rock heist that stole $1 million from an underwater farm.

In another story right out of an Aquaman tale, Mexico is looking for a missing island. The reason is logical, they want the territory the island would give them. But you have to wonder where the island went, if it ever existed in the first place.

Laser Kitty!

Triple Pug for the in-laws.

Joy!

Things that make me happy: The commentary track on Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity, in which the actors totally rip on the story in sheer joy while Colin Baker quietly clucks (yes, clucks) every time his character Maxil comes on screen carrying that ridiculous helmet.

It almost makes the story watchable!

Lazy Linkdump

According to TPS: 8 Awesome Things Canada Gave the World.

Kurt Busiek has a website.

Exdrawminate! All daleks, all the time!

Library Courier Trucks.

Ok, so let's regenerate.

Want.

It was actually a comet?

There, I Fixed It.