Storm and Smoke Detectors

There is a very impressive lightning storm happening outside right now. It's 2:54 am. It has been going on for at least a half and hour. Unfortunately, the smoke alarm has decided go off as well, at very irregular intervals. I think I might have been able to almost sleep through the storm, but the piercing sound of the alarm has forced me into full consciousness. The rain has just begun as well. I don't think hubby-Eric and I are going to mow the triffid yard tomorrow, er, today.

Winkie Convention Report for Non-Oz Fans

If this works, anyone reading this on the blog itself should only see this paragraph. Folks reading the feed will get the whole post, sorry. If you want to read about my trip to the Winkie Convention, it's down below...

The Reason We Didn't Go Swimming in Willows CA

Ripples Through Time - 195

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #272 (May 1960) - The Human Flying Fish!

Recognizing that Aquaman is too powerful in the sea, a doctor proposes turning a man into a flying fish so he can rise above Aquaman's domain.

Regular Supporting Cast: Aqualad, Topo (not named)

Aqua-Exclamations: "Suffering Sharks!"

Quotefile: Dr Krill, "All we need is someone with powers greater than Aquaman's! See those Flying Fish, Bragg? How'd you like to be like them... able to escape any pursuer by flying into the air?"

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman summons whales to stop a group of smugglers. Aquaman's sea patrol attempts to stop the Human Flying Fish but fail. A group of whales help Aquaman to salvage an ancient idol from a sunken temple. A giant octopus throws Aquaman into the air after the Human Flying Fish. A grid of electric eels block the Human Flying Fish's escape route and shock him. Sailfish attack the helicopter and pierce the fuel tank.

The Human Flying Fish is not the first to be augmented to face off against Aquaman, but the design and effort is somewhat different from what has come before. Usually the augments attempt to recreate Aquaman's abilities exactly (and his look for some reason). This effort started out good but Aquaman quickly used his intelligence to stop the threat.

Have you read this story? What do you think?

My Car...

Is a trooper. It outperformed our calculated gas mileage, which left us with gas money credit for a rainy day.

Home...

...And I think I shall fall in bed and sleep as soon as we've eaten dinner. Eleven and a half hours of driving is about 8 hours too much for me to handle in a day.

We have connectivity

Hi all. I'm at Asilomar, enjoying the Oz convention with my hubby. To my vast surprise, I've been able to log into the internet through a borrowed (with permission) connection across the street. So I'm just updating you all with the news that: 11.5 hours is too long to drive in one day, stopping for a haircut was a wise choice, announcing to a crowd of Oz fans that Eric Shanower won an Eisner for an Oz book was a great deal of fun, and wearing my Aquaman hoodie around people who have no clue what it is can also be great fun!

More later, as things develop!

Stepford Plants Again

As you are reading this, I'm somewhere between home and the Winkie Convention, and my Mom is here house-sitting and taking care of my plants. But here's a pre-written update for you on their status, scheduled to post while I'm somewhere on the road.

The arbor vitae are just there. Not much to report on them.

The tomatoes are growing like gangbusters. Even the wimpy not-growing one has started to explode outward.

The one next to it, on the farthest side, is HUGE now and has at least six tomatoes forming on it. The rest of the plants together have another six that I was able to count. This picture shows four of the tomatoes on my biggest plant, with my hand as a way to see how big these suckers are getting.


The plum stick is responding well to watering, and is starting to grow more branches after a period of not being terribly well because I wasn't able to water consistently. I was afraid I'd lost the tree, but I guess it's a little hardier than I feared.


I'm definitely going to try planting stuff next year, maybe something more than tomatoes. I'm also thinking that with as much sunlight as we get I may try growing herbs on the Southern windowsill.

Ripples Through Time - 194

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #271 (Apr 1960) - The Second Deluge!

Captain Noah predicts a second great deluge and collects animals while violent storms happen in his vicinity.

Glove Color: Green from here on out.

Regular Supporting Cast: Aqualad, Topo (not named)

Quotefile: Aquaman, "He's a kindly old soul! But he's off his rocker! When he sees he's wrong, I'm sure he'll put his ark in dry dock!"

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman's sea patrol alerts the pair to a strange vessel. Aquaman has a school of whales form an airstrip for a plane having trouble in the storm. Octopi bail out a ship having trouble in a storm. Puffer ship hold up a ship that has a hole. Sawfish free another ship entangled in seaweed. Another ship is guided by pilot fish to the nearest port after fog closes in. Aquaman orders octopi onto Noah's ship. Drumfish alert Aquaman and Aqualad to looting in a storm hit resort town. Needlefish stitch the thieves' clothes together to immobilize them. Aquaman brings whales to push Captain Noah's ship into the three-mile limit so he can be arrested for causing the storms. The octopi were actually spies. Aquaman and Aqualad ride off on the octopi.

A nice little tale with Captain Noah collecting all kinds of animals. I don't care how much gold he's managing to extract from sea water, the care and upkeep of those animals has to be really expensive. They've got lions, monkeys, giraffes, and a whole bunch of sea life that they shouldn't really need. While Noah claims that all life not on his ship will be destroyed, it's a freaking flood. What does Aquaman or his finny friends have to worry about?

The last time we saw a full ark in Aquaman was in More Fun #87 (January 1943), when Aquaman himself gathered animals to show to the Atlanteans. Another similar theme was explored in Adventure #109 (October 1946), but that was sea life only.

Have you read this story? What do you think?

Pug for the In-Laws

And the original video:

For Anyone Going to San Diego Comic Con This Year

Again, if you see any free Aquaman, Wizard of Oz, or Doctor Who promo stuff that you can snag for myself and my husband, I will pay shipping to get it to me. I'm particularly interested in anything the DC Booth might have regarding the new Aqualad. And hubby-Eric will be happy with any promos for the Shanower/Young Oz, or any of the rumored Oz movies.

Information on any of those subjects is also appreciated if you hear anything while at the con. Hopefully I'll have web access while at WinkieCon and will be able to check for comments here or e-mail from anyone.

No Sunday Reviews

No reviews this week, and probably not next week, either.

CameraPhone Zen

Lotsa Links and an Angry Rant

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, ERIC! I LOVE YOU!

*ahem*

Doctor Who in Novels. Meanwhile, Phil worries about Americanized Doctor Who.

Speaking of, a Doctor Who fan takes on the unrealistic programming on the History Channel.

Here's an excellent review of Royal Historian of Oz #1. I'm still giggling about the description of the Official Oz Society.

Star Wars on the Subway. I like the Dummies book, and the fact that they link to a template to make your own.

No Name Change for Stanley Park.

Yet another hoard of Roman Coins found by a metal detector.

Flying 101. More from Snopes: Sun Tea.

Someone who loves LEGO way more than I do.

The deer in Cranbrook are escalating the attack. First that video that I embedded here, and now an attack on a delivery man.

Meanwhile, a raccoon reads in Brooklyn.

It's a miracle:

If you are wondering why the music industry isn't making any money.

Phil Plait manages to describe my political philosophy.

Racist scumbags in Utah try to start a witch hunt, and include legal citizens on their list. The list itself is a criminal act, as it includes private information, including social security numbers and health information protected under HIPAA. Interestingly, Obama's policy has been to target employers who hire illegal immigrants, and it's been disturbingly successful.

I need a unicorn chaser. Here's some LOLCat Theology, including Couch Cat, and a pug for the in-laws.

Where I'll Be During San Diego!

Hubby-Eric noticed all the people posting their booth numbers with a map of where they'll be during the San Diego Comic Con, so I decided to do the same. If you want to see me, you'll have to go here:

As you can see, I'm not anywhere near the main hall...

Actually, I'll be at the Winkie Convention in Asilomar. That's a conference center on the Monterey peninsula. My husband, who is a bit of an Oz fan, has been attending the Winkie Conventions for many years (since 1980) and even chaired the event one year. Since we've been married I've attended a number of them with him, although in tight years the priority has always been to make sure he makes it, as his streak has been going for so long. But I like going as well because I enjoy both the atmosphere at Asilomar and the wonderful group of Oz fans that attend. Each year is like a family reunion, except with new people also showing up that you've never met but are still friends.

So I'm happy for everyone that's going to the Comic Con. And if you happen to run across an extra Brightest Day tote bag with Aquaman front and center and want to make me very happy... well, I'll give you my address...


Seriously. If you run across any free Aquaman or Wizard of Oz promo materials and think of us, I'll pay shipping for 'em.

Ripples Through Time - 193

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #270 (Mar 1960) - The Menace of Aqualad!

After a fortune-teller predicts that Aquaman will be replaced, Aqualad is hit on the head and starts acting odd.

Glove Color: Yellow, last yellow gloves in Aquaman solo tales.

Regular Supporting Cast: Aqualad, Topo

Captured/Knocked Out report: Aqualad is hit on the head by a sinking schooner. Aquaman is entangled in Aqualad's net.

Quotefile: Fortune-teller, "Alas! I see great danger for you, Aquaman! Someone new has come into your life who may imperil you... and replace you!"

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman and Aqualad are riding whales to the mainland. Aquaman dives into shallow water at an exhibit only to have the whales lift him with their water spouts. Topo alerts the pair to a sinking schooner. Aquaman has eels weave together to form life rafts. Aqualad has squids squirt ink to allow him to get away from Aquaman. Aqualad sends luminous fish to help Aquaman defeat thieves. Aqualad has luminous fish lighting up the new Aquacave. A parade of fish celebrates Aquaman's birthday.

A narwhal, incorrectly identified as a "narwhale", attacks Aquaman as soon as he wakes up and accidently entangles himself in Aqualad's net. It does not respond to his commands, so he thinks it is maddened, but we never learn why.

A navy ship intercepts Aquaman in order to present him with a birthday cake, so Aquaman's birthday is known among his surface friends. Aquaman and Aqualad eat the cake while riding on the backs of whales. I love the sneaky look that Fradon puts on Aqualad's face in this story. From the moment the schooner hits Aqualad's head, he changes completely in attitude.

Have you read this story? What do you think?

YouTube is for History

A Holocaust survivor takes his family to visit the various sites of the terror and dances with them to celebrate life. The second clip explains the choice to dance, while the third gives more history right from the survivor's heart.

Stepford Plants Update

No progress on the plum stick or the arbor vitae. Both are just... growing. Not fast enough for me to keep any track of, and not enough to take pictures of and be amazed. There's just not enough going on there. We got a sprinkler to water the plum stick with, and that's helped. I also just got a soaker hose for the tomatoes, because to me eternal surprise progress is being made there.

First off, four of the five plants are growing:

While I'm slightly sad that one of the tomatoes isn't improving, when I started this venture I expected nothing at all, so I can't bring myself to be disappointed. Moving on, I noted the other day that there were actual blossoms on the plants. Here's what the blossoms look like.


There are many of them now, on four of the five plants. The two plants on either end of the row are doing the best. And lastly, I noticed a tiny green tomato a couple of days ago. Yesterday I went out and got a picture, and then promptly found another one on the same plant, and yet another one on another plant.


I'm filled with wonder that anything I'm growing is actually blossoming, and may even bear fruit. The moment of truth will be when I can make myself a sandwich and put a slice of tomato that I've grown from seed on it. I'm actually beginning to think that's a possibility now. And all because of an impulse purchase at a Target while out shopping with my sister.

M&Ms!

While out running errands today, hubby-Eric and I ran across some new flavors of M&Ms that we hadn't spotted here before. So here's my thoughts on them...

The first we ran across was M&Ms Limited Edition Coconut Chocolate Candies. These are exactly what the package says. They are coconut M&Ms. And they are pretty darn good... if you like coconut. I can't really compare it to anything else... it's just a coconut M&M. Exactly what you'd expect. They are slightly larger than regular milk chocolate M&Ms, but the same regular shape. Some of the candies are stamped with an M holding an umbrella, others have an M in the center of a flower. The coconut candies are only in white, dark brown, and green.

Then we found some M&Ms Pretzel Chocolate Candies. Again, these are pretty much what you'd expect. They have a chunk of pretzel in them like the peanut M&Ms have a peanut in the middle. I didn't think I'd like them, but they are actually pretty good. I'm not much of a pretzel fan, but this isn't overwhelming and the chocolate makes the taste work. These are round and about the size of the peanut M&Ms.

I wouldn't go out of my way to pick these up, but seeing them while we were already out and about made them worth checking out.

And, just because I haven't posted it in a long time:

The Continuing M&Ms Challenge

I'm still collecting data for this, and will continue to collect for the foreseeable future, so if you feel like participating, please just:

1) Get yourself a bag of Milk Chocolate M&Ms.
2) Note the size of the bag (in oz or g or both)
3) Open bag. Do not eat any (yet).
4) Count the number of Green M&Ms. Do not eat any (yet).
5) Count the TOTAL number of M&Ms (including green). Ok, you can eat them now.
6) Post the size of the bag, the number of green M&Ms and the total number of M&Ms.
7) FUN!

Note: Counts for other types of M&Ms are welcome, but please indicate what the type is when you post the information. Silliness is fine, but please make sure the data is true. A good replacement for the end of step 5 is to have an M&M tournament to determine the best M&Ms for breeding future generations.

Put your counts in the comments.

A Sunday Review

TV this week:

• History Detectives: "Lauste Film Clip, Baker's Gold, Transatlantic Cable" - The early film clips they show are incredible, as are the machine shops she visits. Finding out that the collection that guy had was as significant as he thought was very neat. The Gold Rush story had a few good bits, and again an amazing outcome for the owner of the artifact. I found the transatlantic story fascinating. I don't think I ever realized just how much telegraph cable was laid in the Atlantic. I was surprised that they were able to figure out it was authentic, but even more surprised that they even figured out what line it belonged to!
• Dinner Impossible: "Spring Training Tangle" - This one is just cruel. Having good ingredients for the Major League, and crappy for the minor league is bad enough, but that twist with the equipment and the three strikes is just insane. Worse that George is the one who got both strikes.
• Battlestar Galactica: "Unfinished Business" - We watched the extended version on the DVD, and it was a LONG episode. Lots of flashbacks to New Caprica. Starbuck again becomes a more fascinating character. Her choices are strange but I sometimes think it all makes a sort of sense. She cannot settle, but if she is she's going to settle with someone who doesn't remind her of what she lost. I feel very sorry for Dee. She deserves so much better.
• Battlestar Galactica: "The Passage" - The fleet must go through a highly radioactive area to get food. In the meantime, a Cylon is having revelations. A low key episode in many ways, but it has a lot going on, much more than I would expect. And another character passes on, but in a wonderful evocative episode.

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Here are reviews of the DCBS comic book shipment that arrived this week, of books originally released June 23rd and 30th:

• Beasts of Burden Hardcover - There's a possibility you've already read these. You can read a handful online, and you might have gotten the series. One of the stories is a little more difficult to get your hands on, as it's only in a larger collection. But in any case, this is definitely worth the price of the book, even if you haven't read them before. The story is about a group of dogs (and one cat) that keep running into the supernatural in their homes on Burden Hill. Lovely artwork and thrilling stories make this a MUST-BUY for just about anyone. Seriously, if you have the chance, get this.
• Green Lantern Corps #49 - Do not like the alpha-lanterns. Don't much like the lanterns anyway, but really don't like the alpha-lanterns.
• Power Girl #13 - I was expecting to hate this book with the new creative team. After all, nothing is quite like Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti on a book. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed it. I don't love it like I loved the previous 12 issues, but I enjoyed it. The big problem is that if you didn't know what Max Lord was up to, you might not completely understand what happened in this issue. But then, Power Girl is closely wrapped in DCU continuity, so that's to be expected.
• Zatanna #2 - I like her style in this book, but it's the supporting cast that will make or break this book. So far, so good.
• Astro City #1 New Printing - Way back when, a clerk at a comic shop showed me "the best use of wind and movement marks to disguise nudity" that she'd ever seen. Had I known that book was going to become one of my favorites, I would have bought that first issue. But I passed, and over the years was able to collect every issue *except* the first one. Which I now have in reprint form.
• Tick New Series #4 - I'm really not a big Tick fan. I mean, I'll read it, and chuckle along with the jokes, but it's not a book I seek out. But then there are issues like this one, that poke fun at every water-based hero in every comic book universe. As an Aquaman fan, I can't resist and can't help but enjoy it.
• Powers #5 - Walker's depression is horrible to watch, but Heather has the right idea. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like she's going to get away, does it? Lots of stuff happened in this issue, but it's really difficult to write about any of it without spoilers. I like this book, but it's not something that lends itself to my kind of light reviewing.
• Incredibles #10 - So wait, is the entire family running around completely ignorant of each other's adventures?
• Doctor Who Ongoing #12 - So, Turlough's diary is fake? Interesting manipulation of Matthew.


• Green Lantern #55 - Lobo. Why'd it have to be Lobo? Eh, good enough story in the middle, but it's the little story at the end that tells why there's a Red Lantern cat that makes this issue worth checking out.
• Justice Society of America #40 - Is JSA really late, or is JLA way ahead of schedule? I ask this because the events in this issue apparently take place right before JLA #44, and the current issue of JLA is... #46. So, what the heck, DC? Fix your scheduling! Well, I wonder if all the events in JSA #41 will have already been discussed and fixed two issues ago in JLA. Ug.
• Justice League of America #46 - And, speaking of poorly timed books. I can't tell if I should wait for the JSA books to catch up if this is supposed to be a crossover. Although this issue says to check with the next issue of JSA, which is printed as #41, for the next part, so maybe it's going ok now. But if DC intended this odd schedule... well, I'm not impressed. Besides, this book needs more Aquaman.
• Action Comics #890 - Got this because of the writer. I may keep getting it just because it was surprisingly good. Lex is dealing with the aftermath of being an Orange Lantern, searching for meaning with his good friend Lois by his side. With the recent revelation of who else is going to appear in this book, I'm actually looking forward to it.
• Batman Beyond #1 - Enjoyed the TV series, and the comic based on that, so we had to get the start of the character in the DCU proper. Terry is definitely overworked in this, but I hope we can see more of the Justice League anyway. There's an Aqua-character in there.
• Batman: The Brave and the Bold #18 - Martian Manhunter and Doctor Fate. Good stuff in this one, but I wonder if it'll go above the heads of some younger readers? Still, love the letter column and the Aquaman picture someone drew.
• Northlanders #29 - I like when they hit Iceland. But the rest is pretty depressing. What a big world it is.
• Royal Historian of Oz #1 - The description of the Official Oz Society cracks me up to the point of evil giggles. I'm sure there are many Oz fans who might find that parts of this book hit a little too close to home. But it appears to be both all in good fun, and done with a care for the real Oz history that takes the sting off. I think I'm going to enjoy this one.
• Usagi Yojimbo #129 - I love Usagi's response to the challenge. I love the way he proved his point. Very good stuff here, as usual. I always save this book for last because I know that I will always enjoy it, and I want to end on a good note.

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This week's movie was October Sky. A group of four boys are inspired by Sputnik to learn how to launch rockets. It's a little unsettling to see the dangerous experiments the kids manage to do without any adult supervision, but then, those were more innocent times in a lot of ways. The story is powerful and compelling, and ought to be shown in schools more. The idea that a group of kids can learn how to launch rockets through experimentation and hands-on work is wonderful. I was far more interested in what happened to the people after the events of the movie, and some searches led me to gather that the information at the end of the movie wasn't exactly true, but wasn't too far off, either. I love the fact that the title is an anagram of the original title, "Rocket Boys". That just makes it even cooler.

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My library book this week was Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest by Ella E Clark, 50th Anniversary Edition. This book was originally printed in 1953, and is a collection of native tales gathered from multiple sources around the Northwest. The edition I checked out is a 2003 reissue. The tales are loosely organized into five sections, tales of the mountains, tales of the lakes, tales of rivers and waterways, myths of creation, and a final section for anything that didn't fit in the first four. The tales come from native nations who originally inhabited Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. There's an introduction to the book itself, then each section has an introduction. Most tales have a very short paragraph saying where the story was collected, by whom and from whom, and the dates it was told. There are a lot of people who were in their 70s and 80s in 1953 quoted. Some of the stories are very similar, but the editor seems to have made a number of choices to keep within her themes while still being true to her subject. The story intros will sometimes give alternate actions that happen in the tales. The book has an extensive bibliography, a glossary, and an index. And there is surprisingly little editorializing about the stories, although what there is grates. Definitely a good book to pick up for a general sense of native legends in this area. Fascinating reading.

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Agatha Christie this week was Ordeal By Innocence from 1958. A man's alibi arrives two years too late, but reopens the murder case to the distress of the family involved. I admit I couldn't figure out Dr Calgary at all in the beginning. How could he have not realized the significance of his act upon the family? But I suppose I'll buy his ignorance for the sake of the story. The atmosphere was nicely built up, and while I had a good sense of who really did it, I was completely shaken by a red herring and the reveal of another fact of the case, and in the end guessed completely wrong because I kept second-guessing myself. Which I always do with Christie's books, and I always love every minute of it, so I suppose I should stop complaining.

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

Saturday Linkages that Won't Melt Outside

Comic Book Legends Revealed #268: Seinfeld's Superman Fetish, Steve Skeates Aquaman, and John Ostrander. I'm amused that my blog is mentioned in the Aquaman item (as I had nothing to do with the question or answer) and even more amused that my husband's site is also mentioned. Someone must like our work.

Elayne sums up the battle over women on The Daily Show.

Dealing with bipolar depression.

Bacon Cinnamon Rolls. Oh. my.

Slate takes on Anime Eyes and the New York Times.

DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVE JUST EATEN, ARE ABOUT TO EAT, OR ARE ABOUT TO GET ON A PLANE: Airline Passengers Showered With In-Flight Maggots. TSA can find a nail clipper, but can't find maggots?!??

Wonderful headline: Mailbox, Mini Cooper, Fireworks a bad combo.

What drowning actually looks like.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost taken by ghosts.

When being autistic is a crime.

LOLCat Theology.

And lastly, Pug Puppy for the in-laws.

What Do You Know About Computers?

Seven Things Every Computer User Should Know. Let's see how I do...

1) Keep all your data backed up.
I'm good at this. I have an online backup of my most important files, a back-up drive, and I regularly use a third online backup for vital stuff. Anything I can easily download again isn't backed up, and that means I don't actually need much room on my backup drive and online backup. All very good.

2) Have recovery discs for each computer you have.
Um. Well. I used to have recovery discs. I don't think I have one for my current computer. Hrm. Maybe I need to make one.

3) One antivirus at a time, please.
Yup. Only one installed on my machine. And when I decide to try a different one, I always completely remove the previous one. Having two anti-virus programs on your computer is worse than having none.

4) Don't install tool bars, they're bloatware that will slow down your internet speeds.
Not just bloatware. A lot of spyware hides in toolbars, and some innocent sounding toolbars are just ways to infect your system. Never install a toolbar unless you are required to do so for your job, and even then ask about it first. I did a lot of research into toolbars for a writing job once, and the long and short is that toolbars are useless. They eat up your memory and computer speed at best, and damage your system at worst. I never put any toolbars in my browsers. They aren't worth the risk.

5) "Free" stuff can be expensive.
Always read the label folks. Make sure that free music you are downloading isn't actually a virus delivery package. A lot of pirated material includes viruses or spyware. Run a check on anything you download that should have cost you money. This doesn't apply to open source software *IF* you get that open source software from the source and the source is trustworthy... so, yeah, it applies to open source, too. I'm careful with my downloading, but even a careful person can get hit with a virus. Don't download pirated stuff unless you are willing to risk your computer (and a visit from law enforcement). I do a lot with Open Source software, but I always check all my downloads. It's the one you don't check that gets you.

6) Computers don't like liquids.
This is pretty much a no brainer. Don't physically damage your system. I'm careful with my computer whenever I can be, but it still takes some abuse.

7) No computer is immortal.
Ah, don't we wish! I need a new computer, as does hubby-Eric. But the money situation doesn't allow for it, so we wait and hope that our old machines will last another year.

Overall I think I get a B or B+. I'm not a moronic computer user, but I'm definitely not a power user. I can fix most minor problems, but major stuff frustrates me immensely. It has to be pretty bad before I'll take my machine to a shop or call in the Geek Squad.

You've Just Scored the Winning Goal in the World Cup...

...sending your team to the finals for the first time. And you are taking a well deserved shower when you hear a commotion in the locker room and someone tells you to get out here, quick...

Scoring the winner goal? Priceless. Meeting the Queen in a towel? Even better!

Get to Work, BP!

Ripples Through Time - 192

Ok, I took a hiatus. My fandoms tend to ebb and flow, and it's just natural that sometimes I'll find doing things like reviews a little more difficult at times. But I'm coming back to this, and I hope you'll enjoy the continuing Ripples Through Time, starting where I left off...

I'm (still) reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #269 (Feb 1960) - The Kid From Atlantis!

Aquaman helps an exile from Atlantis overcome his fear of fish.

Glove Color: Yellow.

Regular Supporting Cast: Topo, the introduction of Aqualad!

Quotefile: Aquaman, "Purple eyes! *gasp!* Now I know where you come from! Atlantis! That's why you can converse with me! You have the telepathic power possessed by all of Atlantis' inhabitants... to understand and speak any language!"

Finny Friends Report: Topo and a swordfish find the capsule with Aqualad and summon Aquaman. He has eels become a rolling hoop and stick for Aqualad to play with. A whale's spout becomes a water slide for Aqualad. Topo treats Aqualad to a merry-go-round. A manta ray is used as a makeshift sail for stranded sailors. Pilot fish guide a freighter around reefs. Aqualad orders luminous fish to create a landing strip for a plane in distress. Swordfish take Aqualad's place entering Atlantis. Aquaman idly orders eels to make hoops and sticks when he misses Aqualad. The two ride off on Topo.

This is the famous introduction of Aqualad, who is only referred to as "Aqualad" in the next issue box at the end of the story. This story confirms that every Silver Age Atlantean had all of Aquaman's powers. And this story has a LOT of use of Atlantean powers. This story also continues the theme of Atlantis as a sealed community. While they live with fish, they don't generally leave the city. Aquaman assumes that once Aqualad re-enters the city, he's not going to be able to come back out and visit. Fradon draws Aqualad as a young boy, which isn't how we're generally used to seeing him, but he looks very much like a child and not just a small adult.

Have you read this story? What do you think?

Listen To Your Car

There's something overwhelmingly pleasant about someone actually listening to you. I mean, really listening, and taking your comments about a subject seriously. And that happened to me today.

I have an interesting track record with cars. I'm sure some of you remember the saga of my van, aka Vincent, which went through a variety of problems before stranding me in the middle of a busy road. There were a few times with Vincent that I felt like something was wrong, so I took it into the shop. One of the shops I used to take it into always ignored my comments, did a full diagnostic, and sometimes didn't come near to fixing the problem. On the other hand, whenever I went to Les Schwab they would listen to me, and usually fix the problem right away based on my description. But pretty much every time I ever felt like my car had a problem, I was right. Even if no one else could find it or notice it, further investigation would always reveal a problem.

So I pay attention when I feel like there's a problem with my car. And just recently we discovered that the Air Conditioning on Cody the Cavalier was broken, so we took it into the shop. After the repair, driving home, I had a feeling that something was wrong with the car. It wasn't accelerating properly. So the instant I got back from the shop I called them up to report it. And we scheduled a return after the 4th holiday.

Today I went down to get my car looked at and find out if the problem was all in my imagination, or was for real. To my delight, the owner of the shop came out and we went for a test drive. He immediately figured out the acceleration problem, and pulled the car into a shady area of the garage and popped the hood. And both of us immediately could see what was wrong. The accelerator cable was flopping around loose.

So, I was right. I might have even been able to diagnose the problem myself if I'd been brave enough to pop the hood. But at least my record for listening to my car and detecting some slight deviance from the norm is still very good.

To get me through the rest of the day, the owner of the shop MacGyver'ed up a jury-rigged fix that will keep the car from having the problem for maybe up to a week or two. Heck, it might even hold longer, but we're not going to risk it since we have a drive to California coming up. They are ordering a new part for the broken bit.

Why I Don't Watch Fireworks Anymore

Ok, so I wasn't at this show (11 injured), but I have been in the path of a firework that misfired. So I don't go unless I'm dragged along, in general. From the video-taker of this video:

If anyone is wondering why the camera goes down, one flew by and literally ricocheted off the bleachers three rows behind us, I wanted to get some of it but I knew when to be smart and get down.

A Sunday Review

TV this week:

• Doctor Who: "The Big Bang" - Um... ok. I'm not sure what to write that wouldn't be a spoiler. Even writing that feels like a spoiler. I just want to know one thing...(SPOILER ALERT!)Does Rory remember all of it?(END SPOILER) I'm not totally disappointed by the (SPOILER ALERT!)Cosmic Reset Button(END SPOILER) in this one, as I think it was more cleverly set up than the previous times it has been used. But still. I liked the episode, but I'm very interested in the questions it left unanswered. So I enjoyed it, but I'm not satisfied. And bow ties still suck. I don't care how much the Doctor likes his, or what role it played in the story. The sooner ties are banned, particularly bow ties, the better.
• History Detectives: "Iwo Jima Map, Copperhead Cane, Theremin" - The Iwo Jima story made me remarkably sad, thinking of the guy who had the map running around trying to fix the electrical system, and killed in action because there was no retreat, no backup, nothing. The cane was a good way to tell us about the Civil War Copperheads. Not the most appealing people. And lastly, the Theremin. Fascinating stuff, and the whole search to figure out why that particular model had that label was very neat. I liked the end bit about Theremin's bugging device.
• Dinner Impossible: "Mission in the Mud" - At the Blackberry Farm, Robert has to use camping equipment to make a gourmet meal. Having cooked that way myself, I understand his difficulties. That said, he's doing WAY more than I ever did with fires, and in worse conditions than I ever had to deal with (though I can recall one or two very wet days at camp). And, although he technically "failed" the mission, I think he did extremely well with what he had.
• Battlestar Galactica: "Hero" - A human lost before the Cylon attack reappears in a Cylon raider, and we learn about Adama's dark past. In the meantime, a Cylon is having nightmares. I like the use of the whole cast in this one. Everyone in the episode seems to get a good part that plays to their strengths. And the plot manages to move forward as well.

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This week's movie was Monty Python's Life of Brian. Brian is born next door to another historical figure and ends up in the Jewish rebellion having his Latin grammar corrected by Roman soldiers, thrown in prison, and picked up by aliens. Poor Brian seems to stumble into each problem anew, while trying to find love and just be a normal guy. With the nudity and fake violence, I know why I haven't seen it before (I was very innocent for a long time). I particularly liked the "what have the Romans ever done for us" sketch. Reminds me of certain people today that hold "tea parties" and seem to want to overthrow the government. Overall, a nice little movie.

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This week's comic book related review is Prince Valiant, Vol. 1: 1937-1938 from Fantagraphics Books. I have always wanted to read Prince Valiant from the beginning. It's not really a comic strip in the way that we think of strips, it's a wonderfully illustrated story that goes on for years and years. And I grew up reading the strip in the newspaper and wondering how we got to this point in the story. With the Fantagraphics reprints I have the possibility of finding out. I don't know if I'll be able to get more than this first one (the second one should be hitting shelves very soon now, if not already), but I do know that I at least have read the very beginning, and that is just cool.

Fantagraphics' first Prince Valiant volume starts off with both an article about Hal Foster and an interview with the man, then jumps into the action with the tale of an exiled king and his small band of followers coming ashore in Britain, and finding a little peace thanks to their fighting prowess. From there... well, there is nothing quite like reading the book. I can't even begin to describe in words the magnificent Hal Foster artwork, nor the nifty storytelling (without a hint of the awful decompression that so many modern comics suffer from!), so I leave it to you to find youself a copy and read it.

The production quality is great. I have no complaints at all about the quality of the book, and there's a short article at the very end that describes some of the difficulties in getting such a good quality version of the strips. All told, it's an excellent book and a steal at the price. If you have any interest in these at all, get in on the ground floor and snag these quickly.

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My library book this week was The Passage by Justin Cronin. Oh, this is bleak. So very bleak. In an attempt to bring immortality to humans a terrifying virus is unleashed that devastates the world. The book, first in a proposed trilogy, takes you from the start of the discovery to the first real defeat of the virus-infected. But it ends on such a bleak note I really wanted to throw the book across the room. It's good, no doubt about that, but very very depressing. I'm sure it'll make a great movie. Again, I think I first read about this on Unshelved, though I could be wrong. This book has gotten a LOT of buzz online.

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Agatha Christie this week was Verdict from 1958, a play that hasn't yet been adapted to novel form. When a crime is committed, the kindly professor refuses to turn in the guilty party. I ended up getting this through interlibrary loan in a collection. It's not a particularly good bit of Christie. The murder is actually committed on stage in front of the audience, so there isn't any mystery. It's more of a character study, and doesn't really tell anything new about humanity. Overall a disappointment, and not a wonder that it's been overlooked.

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

Independence!

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.

Cool Cool Conservative Men

"Don't forget that most men with nothing would rather protect the possibility of becoming rich than face the reality of being poor..."

Links

Hey, one of my tomato plants has an actual *blossom*!! I'm impressed.

Comic Book Legends Revealed #267: Wonder Woman's Logo, Wonder Girl's Typo, and Wonder Woman's Daughter.

Congrats to Todd Klein on three years of blogging and 1000 posts.

Now THAT'S a Hallowe'en costume.

Will Eisner was only a man after all.

How to Use a Semicolon.

Fibonacci frogs!

Anime Eyes?

Should Parents Be Fined For Smoking With A Child In Their Car? I'm a little surprised at the comments, but this one is probably the most powerful: "Yes, thanks to my parents smoking I had the pleasure of two throat biopsies to remove malignant masses at the ripe old age of 25. Having never smoked a cigarette in my life. I now get bi-monthly cameras stuffed down my nose to make sure it doesn't come back."

LOLCat Theology. So that's why cats sit on printers...

Sleepover Pug for the in-laws.

Making popcorn

Der Svëdish Chefen shows us how to mæke dïe pöpcørn.

What, Another Linkdump?

How Confirmation Bias Colors Your Decisions.

Want.

Polite Scott gives an example of why I love Golden Age Comics.

Um, Yikes. *eyes shower doors nervously*

Fourth of July Quotations in binary.

Panera's Pay-What-You-Can eatery successful.

The brain of a pyschopath doesn't make you a pyschopath.

More attempts to restore original names of places in North America.

...And, before you say the woman should have gone to help the dog, read this.

Even Basement Cat Thinks This is a Bad Idea.

Twenty Lobster Dogs (and a bonus).

Happy Birthday Again, Bully!

We had cake...

Happy Birthday, Bully!

I wish a very happy birthday to the Bully-est of little stuffed bulls, Bully!

And thanks again, Bully, for visiting us and the great time we had with you and that John guy.