Augie and pmpknface chat

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

This is the thread specifically for Augie and Jamie to continue all their wildly off-topic musings while they try desperately to do anything OTHER than work during normal business hours.

Everyone may feel free to jump in -- I suspect this might eventually become a wild free-for-all and a neverending thread. (We used to have one of THOSE, too.)

But FIRST -- I have work to do. I'll be back.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

And picking up where we left off..

COMMON GROUNDS had some good stuff in it. I'm somewhat interested in FRESHMEN just for the Leonard Kirk art. But after that -- there ain't much. I couldn't even take RISING STARS, and I'm a huge B5-jms fanboy.

I tried WITCHBLADE when Paul Jenkins started writing it, but that did nothing for me.

I still haven't read WANTED, though I will before the crossover with SAVAGE DRAGON.

In the meantime, the ability of Top Cow to produce issues of HUNTER/KILLER in a timely manner continues to befuddle me. I guess Silvestri might want to consider more apprentices to help him.

-Augie

Freshmen was fun. Pretty much what I expected, but it was still a lotta fun.

I gave Witchblade unitil Jenkins came on, in the 30's???, and just gave up. To me, there is nothing interesting about the detective side of Sara. For the love, just go nuts with that crazy weapon already!!!

I've pondered WANTED. I'll have to think of pickiing that up.

So... H/K has been coming out at a snails pace, and he's been doing work for Marvel? AWESOME!!! I'll have to check the dist. on that book. I wonder what it's order #'s are?

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

There's a WITCHBLADE Compendium style book coming out this summer -- the first 50 books for $50. That's got to be an uncomfortable read in the middle when all the art on the inside of the pages gets sucked into the binding. Ouch.

Otherwise, the book is wasted opportunity after wasted opportunity. It's tough to take it seriously when Detective Sara takes every chance to bend over to show us her thong. UGH

I got a few more giggles in at Top Cow's expense in the podcast tonight. Felt good.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Dude, if you're having this much fun with TC what about even smaller press co's? Avatar? Antartic Press?

I did see that Witchblade book. Let's get real tho - if you wanna see Sara then just get the pin-up book. I'm pretty sure just as much happens in that than in the 1st 50 issues... ZING! ;)

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Avatar gets a bunch of jokes for its variant covers.

And forget Antarctic -- let's go straight to Tarot and Jim Balent. I flipped through the latest issue of his comic last night. Wow, what IS that?!? Who'da thunk that full frontal nudity would be so much in fashion on the comics rack? heh

-Augie

[pmpknface]

The sheer ammount of variant covers Avatar prints is astounding. I gotta say tho, it does serve 1 purpose: if 1 version sells out you've got a back up ready and waiting! Some people looking for Warren Ellis' BLACKGAS have been able to get copies due to the extra covers. Of course then there's the leather ones, and the gold ones, and the ones that are still being printed months AFTER the 1st printing...

I just wish they put out trades more often/at all. You really can't count on their stories being collected. What is this? 1999? :p

I was wondering when you'd get to Broadsword! I'll totally admit it - I've got every issue of Tarot. I like Balent's work and the fact that there's actually a decent story with a basis on magic as people pratice it in our world with a bunch of fun stuff thrown in makes for entertainiing reading. And I'm a (**gulp**) "nearly" middle aged man who digs female nudity, so what the hell? I've even got the 2 halloween prints of Tarot and Boo Cat. :D

And as for the latest issue, what? ONLY frontal nudity? Jim must have been slacking. HA! I saw it in a taped-up bag at Comicopia yesterday, and I can't wait for my copy. Hope I get the Tarot cover. Did they mail you one or did you check it out at the shop?

[torippu]

I was wondering when you'd get to Broadsword! I'll totally admit it - I've got every issue of Tarot. I like Balent's work and the fact that there's actually a decent story with a basis on magic as people pratice it in our world with a bunch of fun stuff thrown in makes for entertainiing reading. And I'm a (**gulp**) "nearly" middle aged man who digs female nudity, so what the hell? I've even got the 2 halloween prints of Tarot and Boo Cat. :D

And as for the latest issue, what? ONLY frontal nudity? Jim must have been slacking. HA! I saw it in a taped-up bag at Comicopia yesterday, and I can't wait for my copy. Hope I get the Tarot cover. Did they mail you one or did you check it out at the shop?
It's not a busy day at work here, mind if I jump in?

I've never read an issue of Broadsword, but I do think that it is amazing that this series is still being published - to use a TV term, is this niche programming? Jim Balent does have his fans (I'm one of them from his days on From the Darkness & Catwoman). How many other artists who can say that they penciled 75+ issues of an ongoing mainstream series?

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I have to give Balent one thing -- he could be a talented cartoonist. The stuff I saw in the comic has its merits, but it's still all a T&A book, with progressively outrageous covers and desperate stabs for attention with off-color ads in PREVIEWS.

I'm always surprised when I see the lineup of female fans the man gets at conventions.

As for Avatar -- it also backfires on them. Nobody ever knows when a new issue comes out versus when a new cover on an old issue is released. That happened a couple of times with ROBOCOP in the past couple of years. Very annoying.

Trip - welcome to the circus.

-Augie

[BronteJD]

Otherwise, the book is wasted opportunity after wasted opportunity. It's tough to take it seriously when Detective Sara takes every chance to bend over to show us her thong. UGH

I got a few more giggles in at Top Cow's expense in the podcast tonight. Felt good.

-Augie

I did see that Witchblade book. Let's get real tho - if you wanna see Sara then just get the pin-up book. I'm pretty sure just as much happens in that than in the 1st 50 issues... ZING!

Hey, both of you!!! Stop that. ;)

WITCHBLADE actually has a good solid story, and the vast majority of these "eye candy" shots are from pinups and covers, not necessarily from inside the stories themselves.

I like the comic a great deal, and if it were half as much T&A as you two imply, I wouldn't be reading it. :) The story has had its ups and downs, but that seems to be par for the course with 99% of comics these days. Ron Marz is doing a great job with Sara.

I'm not saying there isn't *ever* a gratuitous shot that makes me roll my eyes, but hey, it's part of comics as a whole.

Now, I actually picked up a TAROT trade paperback in a store somewhere to flip through, wondering if it was a similar scenario, where the covers were there to catch the eye, and there was something altogether different in terms of story. Ummm.....well, yeah. LOTS of....poses....I never needed or wanted to see, thank you very much. ;)

Patricia

[roach04]

I sadly don't have much to contribute. I've never read an issue of Witchblade. I will admit to having flipped through Tarot though. There could have been a great story, with super layouts and Buscema-like storytelling, but all the nudity would have caused me to miss it!

On a slightly related vein - anybody read "Marlene" by Peter Snejbjerg? I pre-ordered that b/c he's a great artist and the story premise sounded really cool. I got to the page with the full-on oral sex scene just as my wife looked over my shoulder and said "What the heck are you reading?!?" Still - good artwork and the story was cool - I'm just used to the Vertigo meaning of "Suggested for Mature Readers" - some swearing, some nudity, some sex, but nothing overly graphic. Should've realized Slave Labor's "Suggested for Mature Readers" would've meant something different!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Patricia -- I think it may actually be worse that WITCHBLADE is trying to have it both ways. It tries to be a serious somewhat supernatural/fantasy cop drama AND a thong-and-booby book. At least TAROT makes no pretensions. It wears its heart (and its pubic bone) on its sleeve.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Patricia -- I think it may actually be worse that WITCHBLADE is trying to have it both ways. It tries to be a serious somewhat supernatural/fantasy cop drama AND a thong-and-booby book. At least TAROT makes no pretensions. It wears its heart (and its pubic bone) on its sleeve.

-Augie

That's the other 1/2 that I like about it - it's honest about what it is and takes it to the MAX. (FYI - the other 1/2 being the art & story & stuff) :)

Patricia - I'm not ranking on Witchblade because I think it's a T&A book, really. I bought almost 40 issues of it and the Darkness. I'm just giving it a hard time because with my experience with the book, and I'll admit that it's been a while, nothing ever happened. The character was in the exact same place as she was in the 1st issue.

I understand we've now discovered what the witchblade IS, which I guess is cool. But I still don't get the feeling that Sara is actually USING her power. Now PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong, but here is an example on what I didn't like about it:

- Take Spidey who has like 4 jobs. He works them, and then goes out in spandex (or armor, whatever) and kicks butt.
- Now take Sara, who is a cop and that's it. She never goes out and tries to help anyone or actuallY USE this total bad@$$ gift that she's been given. Instead she hides from it and is too scared to use it. And - she's supposed to be a strong female character.

roach04 - Yeah, there is a story in Tarot. Sometimes it takes a 2nd reading to get to it ;) but it's there. And no, I hadn't heard of that Marlene book, but if I ever pick it up I'll look over my shoulder first. I was doing the same thing reading Promethea at work (there's a bunch of non-kiddie stuff in there).

[pmpknface]

I'm always surprised when I see the lineup of female fans the man gets at conventions.

As for Avatar -- it also backfires on them. Nobody ever knows when a new issue comes out versus when a new cover on an old issue is released. That happened a couple of times with ROBOCOP in the past couple of years. Very annoying.

Trip - welcome to the circus.

-Augie

Yeah, the chicks dig Jim! His cult following is unreal. Did you see in the back of the mag? Each issue has a "Broadsword Girl" and chicks dress up as a character of a tarot card or something. Amazing...

You've got a point on that Robocop point. And this gets back to my tpb issuw with them: STILL NOT COLLECTED! What they have done in the past though, is after the series is over offer a (for example): "Robocop set inclulding issues 1-9" which is better than nothing, but doesn't look too good on the shelf.

Trip - Recently Jim gave a few interviews and each interviewer asked the same thing. Essentailly, "How are you able to keep this book up - which is a full 22 pages, full color, dupe covers w/ extra litho editions and on a schedule?" And the answer is pretty simple, he makes enough $ with it. The book, and company, are acutally quite sound.

Now, go support them and buy some Tarot panties (http://www.jimbalentstudios.com/studio.htm)(just kidding, but they do selll 'em!) :eek:

[De Carabas]

I dropped Witchblade in the middle of Jenkins's run (late 30s?) and only just started reading again with Marz coming on to the book (issue 90). It did annoy me in the Turner years that she was always half-naked on the covers and ridiculous Image crossovers (e.g. Mars Attacks), yet never appeared that way in the book. (1 point to Augie).

IMO, Marz & Choi have done alot to raise Witchblade up. Choi draws a beautiful, yet appropriately dressed woman. Marz has been focusing on the Witchblade's origin and Sara attempting to use it more. Today, I think it is a good book for anyone who has dropped it in the past. Unless the dropping was related to lack of full-frontal nudity. :p

On a slightly related vein - anybody read "Marlene" by Peter Snejbjerg? I pre-ordered that b/c he's a great artist and the story premise sounded really cool. I got to the page with the full-on oral sex scene just as my wife looked over my shoulder and said "What the heck are you reading?!?"
The exact, EXACT same thing happened to me! Our new books arrived, I flipped it open, and Patricia shot me a "What the :evilangry is that!!" look.

EM

[torippu]

Witchblade was one of those books that I initially missed out on when it started in the mid-90s as I was living in Japan at the time. I did pick up as many back issues as I could when I got back to the States to see what the fuss was all about, but eventually dropped the book once Michael Turner left.

These days those issues are in a happy home as a result of the great eBay sell of of 2003/2004!

If I had an unlimited budget, I'd be interested to see what Ron Marz is doing with the character - I enjoyed the Witchblade story in the Image FCBD book more than I thought I would.

[pmpknface]

Well, if I had an unlimited budget and all the time I needed I'd be getting everything too! Maybe I'll lurk around the Image boards and see what's up...

On another random front, and this is the random thread, I DID manage to make it to Ikea on Saturday morning! In and out in under an hour! :D And I picked up a new Detolf cabinet and lights for all 3 of 'em that I now own. They're up and I've got items on display.

I've still got a little rearranging to do, but I'll post pics soon.

Plus... I have another new purchase that's on display behind them. Just wait until you see THAT! ;)

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Ooh, nice cases for statues. And a quick Google search shows that it must be the preferred statue show-off case. Wow. =)

I read a whole lot this weekend, including the first two-thirds of Volume 3 of NEW X-MEN. That means I only have the Marc Silvestri issues to read now. Also read COMBAT ZONE, Marvel's OGN (was supposed to be a mini-series) written by an embedded reporter in the Iraq War. It's not a great comic and shows many weaknesses by a neophyte comic writer, but it's not the propoganda piece everyone wanted to make it out to be from the day it was announced. It's fairly interesting, actually, so long as you enjoy learning from expository dialogue. There are two real clunkers of scenes, though, that made no sense, and I'm not sure if it's the writer's fault or the artist's. (Dan Jurgens.)

I might have to do a full review of the "hot topic" book for a future Pipeline. I just can't imagine doing it without inciting all sorts of political furor. . . ::sigh:: That's OK -- if I can survive dozens of e-mails re: X-MEN 3, I can handle that torrent, too.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Well, those cabinets are also not very expensive. Like $60, and the light for the top is only $5. And the look great too!

Totally forgot about that Combat Zone book. Who wrote it? I remember thinking the idea was ok, but Dan Jurgens wasn't enough of a oull for me.

Enjoy the New X-Men story?

[pmpknface]

I'll give Top Cow credit where it's due, this is cool:

Hopefully starting in September, Top Cow will be offering digital downloads of its comics, starting from their earliest titles so they’re not competing as much with their print books. Watkins was realistic, slyly acknowledging that most of them were available in pirated form on the Internet so they might as well try to make some money with it. The downloads will follow an iTunes model, with downloads available for around a buck an issue.

Aspiring creators should especially take note. Some titles will have enhanced downloads, with the script, uninked pencils and uncolored images all available, effectively taking the buyer through all the steps that went into creating the book.

From the CBR article. Neato!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Yes, and Oni is experimenting with Bit Torrent with WASTELAND #1, which I happen to be reviewing in the column this week.

COMBAT ZONE was written by Karl Zinsmeister, who was so evil as to work for a think tank. The book ended up looking really nice. The coloring was perfect, and Jurgens obviously did a lot of research to get the technical details to look right.

I enjoyed NEW X-MEN, except that I screwed it up on myself. The storyline is the culmination of EVERYTHING that happened in the first two volumes, half of which I forgot or remembered only in the broadest of strokes. I should have read it right away back in the day. Ah, well.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

I'm just starting to fill out my June order - just sent in MAY! I'm a slacker....

I've gotta go thru the back 1/2 of the catalog again. So much to digest, so little time.....

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I used to love PREVIEWS. I've now turned it into a chore:

A. When solicitations are announced on-line, I skim through them, paying most particular attention to the trades and HCs from Marvel/DC.

B. When the book comes out, I race through it, looking for all the fun and surprises.

C. Then I run through it again to make a column.

D. Then I run through it again to do my pre-orders.

Yes, it would be smarter to combine two or three of those steps into one, but I'm a very orderly one-at-a-time kind of guy. It just gets tiring.

I finished my list of Things To Consider based on the latest catalog. Now, I'm just whittling it down to what to really order, what to flip through first, and what I can do without. That's the toughest part of it all.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

AND - then you write an article about it! Even MORE Previews fun!

Ugh... I know. I put it off for as long as possible - and I do it in Excel and email it in! How easy is that? I'm just afraid of forgetting something, or ordering too much, etc... Every month I say that I'll get it in sooner, and every month I wait until the last minute.

I've had my July form up all day and haven't done a think with it (except for price the "CREATION OF" books, he he...).

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

It's all so very self-referential and meta, isn't it?

Didja see this blog entry: http://henryvallely.blogspot.com/2006/05/gang-busters.html

Bob Kane was a notorious swipe artist. Turns out that one of his most famous panels was likely a swipe, too.

( Mark Evanier pointed to it from his blog at http://www.newsfromme.com )

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Yeah... I love it!

WoW! That's crazy. Bob deserves a slap of the wrist for that one!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

A quick and snarky random comment to start the day:

And, please understand, this isn't aimed at any of you. This is inspired by a different message board I just visited:

People who claim to read comics to the point of addiction are REALLY poor spellers. You'd think that doing THAT MUCH reading would help you see bad spelling, wouldn't you?

::sigh::

-Augie

[pmpknface]

[Baseball discussion moved from another thread into this chat thread. We join our conversation already in progress... -Augie]

Ok ok..... even I've gotta admit that game was a train wreck last night. If any of you have the chance to see highlights, the Sox did a great impersonation of a little league team in the 1st. Then they handed out hardhats to everyone in the Bronx just in case Giambi's HR landed on them. Ugh...

3 more games in the series though Augie...

[pmpknface]

HA! I know I have spelling issues. Sometime I check it, most times I don't care. I give fans that English is not their 1st language a pass, but I know what you're talking about.

Unrelated...

Did you see the Harvey noms? Combat Zone was in there!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Yeah, that's funny. Wasn't it also the Harveys that CrossGen once got fifty gajillion nominations for?

The nominations process for the Harveys is DEEPLY flawed. I don't think they're worth the paper they're printed on. Or the plastic the awards are made out of. . . Something like that.

-Augie

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I know. That's why I'm taking advantage of this brief opportunity while I can. The Red Sox will come back -- after all, the Yankees are so banged up that they're practically fielding their AAA team these days. . .

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Yeah, Rich Johnson talks about it in LitG this week. It's one of those processes where the publisher has to decide who can get nominated, or something.

I'm glad that Marvel decided to throw their hat in the ring, but the weird part is you don't know who didn't. Weird...

My guess is that it saves a LOT of time because the alternative is having a committe decide out of all of the thousands of books published in a year what's worthy - and isn't that what the Eisners are for?

Here's a question for you, are the Harveys the Golden Globes while the Eisners are the Oscars?

PS - I was horrible at anologies in high school. :(

[pmpknface]

Yeah, but they still keep putting wins togather. I know they got cleaned by Balt on Sunday (I knew some Yankee fans who were there too), but they are actually in 1st by 1/2 a game now.

I don't know if you watched any of it on ESPN (I bet in was on the YES Network in your area, as I watched it on NESN up here), but before the game Joe Morgan, who needs a slap anyhow, was saying how the Red Sox will be regreting not putting more distance between them an the Yanks while the Bombers have been hurt. Well Joe... the Sox DID play well, and the Yanks just kept winning too! And now Randy Johnson seems to have found his game. Thursday's game could be very good - he's going against Shilling! :)

And now... back to comics!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

ESPN gets blocked out, thank goodness. Joe Morgan is a famous Yankee hater, and listening to him broadcast a Yankee game is just about the most painful thing I could imagine.

It's all so early, though.

I think I'll move this discussion to our "Chat" thread now. =)

-Augie

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

And in other comics news:

ULTIMATES 2 #12 has been delayed by a full month to August 2nd now. BWAH HA HA

DAREDEVIL: FATHER #6 is delayed another three weeks to July 12. I'd laugh, but I'm too tired from the last half dozen blown ship dates.

Amongst others:

http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72846

And remember: Nobody remembers the delays with DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, CAMELOT 3000, or WATCHMEN anymore, do they?

BWAH HA HA

-Augie, giddy

[pmpknface]

And remember: Nobody remembers the delays with DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, CAMELOT 3000, or WATCHMEN anymore, do they?

BWAH HA HA

-Augie, giddy

How could they remember? Most of them were in diapers! ;)

The Ultimates is more annoying. I can't say I'm surprised, but I am a little disappointed.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Remember how they had fixed the problem this time around? Hitch had plenty of lead time. There'd be an off month after the first six issues. No problems this time.

RiiiiIiiiIIIiight.

Ya hear that sound? It's more people stampeding to the Wait For The Trade line!

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Yup!

I'm so torn about the Ultimate books now. I know they are putting a max on the # of Ult titles they crank out an any 1 given time, but it's seems to be getting to be a bit much. I'm torn because I own every Ultimate Univ. issue.

Every Single One.

Ultimates is so late it's almost not worth buying 1 at a time - and there is no way this is getting better when Mad becomes the artist. Part of me wanted to wait for the Ellis story in tpb, but I kinda wanted it in issue form so I bought 'em. Now, I'll never stop w/ Spidey or the FF (which has been really good lately) but it's the "other" stuff I may wait on. Ult X-Men I'd probablly keep too.

Ugh... I may end up moving a few of these to tpb.

Oh - and even more than the Ultimates, what's up with Ult Wolvie/Hulk? That's got DD: Dad late potential!

[pmpknface]

To go back a few topics about Avatar's variant covers, this is from Warren Ellis' Bad Signal:

"...and you can say what you like about variants, but I can guarantee that if people stopped buying them publishers would stop doing them, and they contribute significantly to Avatar's numbers."

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Sad, but true. Sometimes, you have to give them what they want. It's not necessarily true that if you didn't give them the LADY DEATH Leather cover, they'd spend that money on other comics.

::sigh::

ULT WOLVIE/HULK is on that late shipping list, too. I'm guessing LOST's insane schedule at the end there is to blame. They started writing the final two hour episode something like 4 weeks before it aired. They were editing the episode as footage came in, and then they filmed the final bit just a few days before airing it, to help keep it secret. Gotta love network TV!

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Ok... at least that's somewhat of a (possible) excuse for Ult Hulk/Wolvie. I'd like Joe Q to confirm that tho. Leinel Yu (sp?) has never been the slow/late type of guy, so this makes sense.

Damn tv gettin' in the way of my comics..... gggr........

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Read Chuck Austen's BOYS OF SUMMER Volume 1 last night. It was entertaining. It's your typical hormonal boy meets nice girl, they fight, they fall in love, circumstances and bone-headedness stupidity keep them apart, will they or won't they stuff. But with more nippleage. And a 100 MPH fast ball!

-Augie

[pmpknface]

I hadn't heard of this.... wait... I think I may remember hearing about it in an interview back when Check was just leaving X-Men. Good? Worth hunting down?

I read NIGHT TRIPPERS the other day. WoW. Very cool... Mark Ricketts' stuff is always good. And the production quality is amazing. The are here really makes this story.

Also read the new Y: THE LAST MAN vol. Loved it!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

BOYS OF SUMMER is the original English language manga from TokyoPop. Came out a month ago or so, I think now. It has its share of what I think they mean when they say, "fan service," but it's entertaining for the most part. Not the greatest thing ever or the kind of thing that will change the medium, but an entertaining read for a change of pace.

Haven't cracked open NIGHT TRIPPERS yet. Doesn't look like my kind of thing, in all honesty, but we'll see. I'm definitely going with FIVE FISTS OF SCIENCE next. Should be reading that tonight. . .

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Five Fists of Science looks kinda cool. I read the 20pg preview on line. I wasn't totally sold on it though. I think that was 1 trade that didn't make the cut.

I'm not sure what you'll think about Night Trippers, but I'd be interested to find out. If you get to this one, try to do it in 1 sitting. I think that helps. Have you ever read Nowheresville? Have we gone over this?

[pmpknface]

Augie - Did you get to 5 Fists of Science last night? I thought maybe you may have gotten to it seeing as how the Yanks got their butts handed to 'em! :D

Seriously, this is fun and all. Of course, I dont' know if you caught this stat, but the last 81 times they've played each other it's NY: 40 / Boston: 41.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I did, indeed, read FIVE FISTS last night. Fun book, with Mark Twain as a GREAT character. Reminded me, in parts, of a Looney Tunes cartoon. Some of Warren Ellis' influence on Fraction shows. The artist, like so many do today, colored the work way too darkly in spots and failed to separate foreground from midground and background. And the ending gets a little confusing in all the chaos. But it's a fun piece of work, overall.

Didn't watch the game last night. Was busy doing other things. Heard the Yanks lost. Ah, well. In the words of The Loaf: 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

I did, indeed, read FIVE FISTS last night. Fun book, with Mark Twain as a GREAT character. Reminded me, in parts, of a Looney Tunes cartoon. Some of Warren Ellis' influence on Fraction shows. The artist, like so many do today, colored the work way too darkly in spots and failed to separate foreground from midground and background. And the ending gets a little confusing in all the chaos. But it's a fun piece of work, overall.

Didn't watch the game last night. Was busy doing other things. Heard the Yanks lost. Ah, well. In the words of The Loaf: 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

-Augie

Cool. I got the sense of the same coloring issue on the preview pages. If you get to Night Trippers I don't think you'll have the same issue. The production quality on that book is fantastic. And the colors play an important part. It's kind of 30 Days of Night meets The Originals. Is that high concept enough? ;)

Now the 2 teams don't play each other until August! I hope we're both healthier that go-around!

[BronteJD]

I did, indeed, read FIVE FISTS last night. Fun book, with Mark Twain as a GREAT character. Reminded me, in parts, of a Looney Tunes cartoon. Some of Warren Ellis' influence on Fraction shows. The artist, like so many do today, colored the work way too darkly in spots and failed to separate foreground from midground and background. And the ending gets a little confusing in all the chaos. But it's a fun piece of work, overall.

Didn't watch the game last night. Was busy doing other things. Heard the Yanks lost. Ah, well. In the words of The Loaf: 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

-Augie

#1- listened to "2 out of 3 ain't bad" yesterday, for the first time in a while (came up on ipod). That is a truly obnoxious song.

#2 - please to describe the FIVE FISTS OF SCIENCE?? Anything with Mark Twain as a character is intriguing. :)

Patricia

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Patricia -- There's a great podcast interview with Matt Fraction that just came out in the last couple of weeks that explains it all. If my iPod weren't in the car right now, I'd tell you which one it was.

Long story short: Nicoli Tesla and Mark Twain were friends, in real life. Fraction extrapolates an alternate history wherein the two found a way to create world peace by selling a crazy contraption -- basically, a military robot automaton kind of thing -- to all nations. Tesla has the brains, Twain has the showmanship. But they have opposition, in the form of (as I recall) Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan, who have their own ideas on how to help the world.

Fights ensue.

I just picked up a book of Twain's short stories after reading the book. I plan on starting some of those tonight. Twain got all the good one-liners in Fraction's book.

Also, I read CASANOVA #1 last night. Beautiful book, and DENSELY packed. You'll want to read it a second time to make sure you caught everything afterwards.

-Augie

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I picked up a Nintendo DS Lite today.

Thank goodness I already wrote this week's column. =)

This Brain Age/Sudoku stuff is addicting. New Super Mario Bros. is next!

-Augie

[pmpknface]

CASANOVA looks very cool. If the good word on it keeps up that may be a tpb read for me.

I read the 1st LOVELESS trade recently. Good stuff, but it's hard to keep the characters straight in my head. I think I'm gonna read it over again. Overall, really good stuff. This has got the be the best western genre comic I've ever read. Can't wait to see where this goes.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Pick up the first issue of CASANOVA, anyway. It's only $2 for a full 28 page story. If you like it -- THEN wait for the trade.

I also read a few Mark Twain short stories this weekend. Damn you, Fraction and your Five Fists of Science!

I still have to go back to LOVELESS. I couldn't keep characters straight halfway through the second issue. That's when I stopped reading it. I need to concentrate on it more, I suppose.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Really? Ok. I'll be hitting the shop this week, so I'll look for it.

Were you reading the LOVELESS in issues or collected? I just plowed through it, and figured it out as I went. I kept it out so I can take it to the pool after work one day this week.

Side note: My white Moon Knight statue will hopefully arrive today! Can't wait!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I did have the trade. Read the first 30 pages or so in one sitting and was completely lost and befuddled, so I put it down. Someday. . .

Congrats on the new addition to the statue lineup!

-Augie

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Was told yesterday that my job isn't guaranteed after this summer. They're working hard at finding room in the budget to keep me around until September. This isn't a huge surprise, mind you. I've known it was coming for a while, but the dates keep getting pushed further and further back. It's the life of a consultant, I guess. And who knows? Lots could change over the summer and I could get re-upped for a year. You never know in corporate America.

But it does mean that I will likely need to find a new job and start over again -- that might cut into my time here in the months ahead. ACK! I NEED COMICS! FEED ME, SEYMOUR!

-Augie, unmarketable computer programmer type

[pmpknface]

Aw man... that bites. Sorry. if it makes you feel any better, how about this one:

Last Friday we were launching a version 1.1 of the Siebel app we just started using. We just needed to make a minor upgrade so a notes system could send info to the Siebel system and I, as the floor admin, was gonna be 1 of the testers to make sure it got put in ok. Testing was supposed to start between 8-9pm, but I was going to be at home anyhow. So after waiting around unitl 10:30 they called it off (tech issues) and even canned the whole thing on Saturday at dinnertime. Ruined a Friday for nothing!

Then, at 1pm yesterday they had figrued out what was wrong and were gonna relaunch it last night starting at 5pm, supposed to be done by 6:30, so I just stayed at work. My PM tries to give me greif for not wanting to be cooped up in a room as I stay in my cube and try to code a little. Ugh... Then after running through the test ok they still have to fix something, and it's 6:15 now. At 7:15 I leave.

Don't get to retest until 9:40. I'm almost done around 10:10 and my MP just says it's fine anyhow. So she just ok'd it WITHOUT me, so I pretty much wasted an entire Monday night for nothing.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Oh, delightful. Good to see solid project management practices being followed in all corners of the IT industry!

I have to do beeper duty every now and then, but just when the #1 in charge goes on vacation. It's not too bad, but it is annoying.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Yeah, tell me about it. Now I'm getting emails about follow up crap that has to be done TODAY, but people are off in meetings. It's ridiculous.

Q - but you get paid for the time you've got the beeper, right? I'm just salary, so I wasn't getting paid extra to waste my time.

Oh - and my work recently made me remove Firefox from my laptop. Not a happy camper right now...

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Removing Firefox from your browser is just a death sentence for your company's network. But, hey, so long as THEY'RE happy. ::sigh:: I'm running Firefox, too, at a company that only approves IE. I haven't been asked to remove it yet. I don't think they really notice.

I do get paid when I have beeper duty, but it's not that many hours, assuming nothing melts down. At this point, I'm also not allowed to bill more than 40 hours per week. So if I have beeper duty, I have to leave work early to balance it all out. Not a a bad deal, but I'd rather have the extra cash sometimes, you know?

I know a guy who was on a project that was going so badly, they decided they needed to do DAILY phone conferences with the whole team to make sure everything was on track. That's almost understandable, except they scheduled the phone call for noon daily. NOON. He had a lot of late lunches.

-Augie

[torippu]

I must be lucky (or just work for a small enough company that we don't even have an IT Department), but the only software that I am required to use is crappy Lotus Notes.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Wow. Lotus Notes. Just wow.

I only know of one company around here still using it, and that's only because it's prohibitively expensive for them to switch to any other system.

-Augie

[torippu]

Wow. Lotus Notes. Just wow.

I only know of one company around here still using it, and that's only because it's prohibitively expensive for them to switch to any other system.

-Augie
My company (the subsidiary) was forced to switch from Outlook to Lotus Notes by the home office (parent company is located in Japan) last year! It's taken a while to get used to it, but it still is a crappy email system.

Here's an interesting tidbit of information. This change was apparently a step up for the Japanese home office - I was told recently that until 1997, the company had no email (all correspondence was handled via Fax) and had been using Netscape Mail as their email program until 2005! :eek:

[pmpknface]

Damn... now THAT'S bad.

I've only ever used LNotes at the 2 post-college jobs I've had, so I don't know what I'm missing. The only pain about it is that they've used notes to house all of these company wide databases because then they are easily available to anyone, but they are impossible to report from. So now we have to move away from all of those notes DB's.

Siebel is replacing some of them.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

The company I started working at in 1998 was just switching from CC: Mail (I think it was DOS based, IIRC?) to Microsoft, like everyone I've ever seen since.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Well, off to get the car looked at.... Ugh.....

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I wish you only the greatest of luck with the car -- I'm sure you'll need it. =(

I have my 50,000 mile checkup coming soon. THAT'S going to be ugly.

-Augie

[roach04]

I have my 50,000 mile checkup coming soon. THAT'S going to be ugly.

You guys are still using Imperial measurement eh? Wow. That's worse than Lotus Notes! :p

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Call me when you win your precious Stanley Cup back.

-Augie

[roach04]

LOL - interesting piece of trivia - how many teams have ever won a Stanley Cup without a Canadian born captain?

As an aside, you watching the World Cup? One of the best parts of working in a hugely multicultural city (apparently the most multicultural city in the world!) is seeing what part of Toronto goes nuts after each game.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

LOL - interesting piece of trivia - how many teams have ever won a Stanley Cup without a Canadian born captain?

I'm guessing the number is very low.

As an aside, you watching the World Cup?

It happened to be on the TVs where I was eating lunch today. That's as close as I've come to it. I'm an American -- I have no interest in soccer. ;-)

-Augie

[roach04]

I'm guessing the number is very low.

Aye. One team. Dallas - Derian Hatcher (who is a Yank, so be proud!)

I'm an American -- I have no interest in soccer. ;-)

But it's your country's most played sport by now, is it not?

BTW - I'm figuring I'll run into you barricading the border when I head across in a couple of weeks to begin my American summer vacation; Republicans == good for many things, not so good for others. Finally getting to Vegas...if only Dean Martin was still alive, he was great American!

[BronteJD]

It happened to be on the TVs where I was eating lunch today. That's as close as I've come to it. I'm an American -- I have no interest in soccer. ;-)

-Augie

Spend some time at my job - full of very very diehard Americans...and all soccer watchers. :) At least ONE TV per area is tuned into the Cup games at all times.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Patricia -- You work in South Florida. That's more like El Caribbean Norte. THAT'S the soccer influence.

Murray -- Depends on which Republicans you speak of. Now, CONSERVATIVES are good for everything. We don't barricade the borders. We merely protect them. ;-)

I don't know if it soccer is the most played sport here or not. I do know, however, that the world's biggest participatory sport is actually bowling, though. Even if not played in organized leagues, most people have bowled.

As for Vegas - I haven't made it yet. It's in my Life Plan to get there SOMEDAY, though, so we'll see.

-Augie

[roach04]

Murray -- Depends on which Republicans you speak of. Now, CONSERVATIVES are good for everything. We don't barricade the borders. We merely protect them. ;-)

Fiscal conservatives - I concur. But then, I don't think the US has many of those in Federal politics, do they? Social conservatives...hit and miss. Economically I've long missed my window to move to the US, but I'm a big believer in democracy so I don't know that I'd fit in down there anymore. I still believe the American system is a great thing, still support troops in Iraq and Afghanistan because I've always bought into the slogan that freedom isn't free. I realize all great empires are littered with historical inaccuracies, but everytime I see things like the US policy on Cuba, I think of those Miami newspapers proclaiming Castro as Cuba's George Washington. I get this bad taste in my mouth knowing that if Washington were around today, the US government would have a ready-made label for him: terrorist.

All right, end political rant!


I don't know if it soccer is the most played sport here or not.

Almost 100% sure it is up here - passed hockey a few years back. Every kid in the country plays it I think.

Very pumped to see Vegas but I'm really struggling trying to figure out what "Vegas regular" I'm going to see. I really wanted to see Manilow, but at $225 a seat...I don't want to see him that much, ya know? I'd have paid that for Sinatra or Martin though - if only I was 20 years older!

[pmpknface]

I'm not a big fan of watching soccer, but I played it from the time I was 4 unitl I was 18, and then a little after that. The World Cup is cool, but I'd rather watch highlights and catch a baseball game instead (I went to Fenway on Sunday).

And the car issue is that the water pump is gone. I'll get it back today... $300 poorer. That's a month's worth of comics!

And the worst part about that, is that I haven't been able to get to a shop so I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN CIVIL WAR #2 YET (although I have an idea, as I read CW Frontline #1 last night - awesome BTW and the most recent ASM).

After work today I'm picking up my car and driving to the nearest shop and buying it (so I'll have an extra copy? Big whoop) because I can't stand it! I'm afraid to go to any of the news sites! It's torture!!!

[BronteJD]

Patricia -- You work in South Florida. That's more like El Caribbean Norte. THAT'S the soccer influence.

-Augie

Umm....I would buy that, except that 85% of the people I work with are military boys who have rotated in from other commands...i.e., the majority of them are not even remotely Hispanic/Caribbean. And they're only here for 2 to 3 year rotations, so it's not like Miami has worked it's Magic on them. :)

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Patricia -- In that case, boys will just be boys. They're sports-obsessed creatures with only one form of live sports on TV after ESPN Sportscenter, which is just repeated four times every morning, anyway. It's a Sports Event.

Yeah, that's the excuse I'm going with, then.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Hey Patricia - Where in Hurricane central do you guys live? I'll be here in July:

http://www.tropicalbreezeinn.com/

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Almost 100% sure it is up here - passed hockey a few years back. Every kid in the country plays it I think.

I played it for one year in first grade. I'd love to know how these stats are compiled. For some reason, every kid plays soccer for one year. It must be the first sport the towns offer for kids that young. But very few of them play for more than one year, or even two or three. By the time middle school comes around, the number has dwindled down to a team or so.

I really wanted to see Manilow, but at $225 a seat...I don't want to see him that much, ya know?

Ouch. I don't blame you for skipping out on that. Go see a Cirque du Soleil or something, instead. $225 for Manilow? No thanks.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Damn... seeing "the man who writes the songs" would be sweet, but he better make me dinner, wash my car, and clean my apt for $225!

[sschroeder]

Very pumped to see Vegas but I'm really struggling trying to figure out what "Vegas regular" I'm going to see. I really wanted to see Manilow, but at $225 a seat...I don't want to see him that much, ya know? I'd have paid that for Sinatra or Martin though - if only I was 20 years older!
Blue Man Group?

[roach04]

I played it for one year in first grade. I'd love to know how these stats are compiled. For some reason, every kid plays soccer for one year. It must be the first sport the towns offer for kids that young. But very few of them play for more than one year, or even two or three. By the time middle school comes around, the number has dwindled down to a team or so.

Probably. I can honestly say I never played organized soccer. Played in Phys. Ed. in high school, but that's it. You can start hockey at age 4 in most towns and my summer sport was softball and then baseball when I got a little older.

Ouch. I don't blame you for skipping out on that. Go see a Cirque du Soleil or something, instead. $225 for Manilow? No thanks.


Already signed up for Cirque! We're there for 3 or 4 nights so I'd like to get one more show. To be honest, I'm actually saddened that Sigfriend and Roy is no longer an option either b/c that show would've ruled.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Nobody's home today, eh?

::sigh::

Can I go to sleep now? I'm very tired.

-Augie

[torippu]

You know, there's nothing worse than typing out a new "What did you read?" thread, find out my wireless connection went out mid-type and then losing everything!

If I get the chance to re-post later today, I'll try. Really excited to be posting using my new computer! :D

[pmpknface]

Augie - You go right ahead and take a nap. You had a rough week...

Trip - Oh man... that bites. Been there many a time...

I think I'm gonna make it to the shop today! :D

[torippu]

Augie - You go right ahead and take a nap. You had a rough week...

Trip - Oh man... that bites. Been there many a time...

I think I'm gonna make it to the shop today! :D
You need to hurry up and read Civil War - it's a good one!

If it was a short post, I wouldn't have minded losing everything. However, I've read about 15 books recently and had written up my random reviews/likes/dislikes for each book. It'll take a little while to get everything back online.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Read the new INVINCIBLE last night. Pretty cool issue. Ties into that MARVEL TEAM-UP issue, too. The new trade also showed up in the box this week. That printed out beautifully. The FEAR AGENT trade, I'm happy to report, did not cheap out on paper stock for the sake of hitting the ten dollar price point. It's still nice stock glossy paper for the first four issues.

And I have some new leads to follow up on today in the on-going job search. Must go clean up my resume even more. Fun fun fun.

Then I can edit tomorrow's column.

Wheeee

-Augie

[pmpknface]

I heard that was gonna tie in soon. I think I'm about due for a new Invincible tpb.

I read Samurai Executioner Vol. 10, which is the end of that. Also read Lady Snowblood Vol. 3 and I've decided that I'm gonna hunt down Crying Freeman too.

I also decided that I'm finally gonna finish Battle Royale and I've got the last 2 vol's with me now. The wait for Vol. 15 really took the steam out of this series but in the time it took my computer to fire up this morn I got sucked right back in.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

You're a much better man at this than I am. I have all the SAMURAI EXECUTIONER, LADY SNOWBLOOD, and BATTLE ROYALE volumes perched on a bookshelf at home. The vast majority of them are unread. One should never take a "wait for the trade" type of mentality with short-run manga. It only serves to sink your feet into the quicksand of comics reading life.

::sigh::

-Augie

[pmpknface]

You're a much better man at this than I am. I have all the SAMURAI EXECUTIONER, LADY SNOWBLOOD, and BATTLE ROYALE volumes perched on a bookshelf at home. The vast majority of them are unread. One should never take a "wait for the trade" type of mentality with short-run manga. It only serves to sink your feet into the quicksand of comics reading life.

::sigh::

-Augie

Yeah, once you lose momentum on a series like any of these it's difficult to get back into it. When I got LW&C I got the 1st 12 or so off of ebay and plowed through them and finished the rest of the series in chunks like that. Dark Horse took their time with Samurai Executioner so I had to wait for 4-5 to stack up and read them. Battle Royale was on a good schedule, until the end.

I'm really cheezed off at the Stray Bullets tpb's. They were supposed to make 1 every other month, this was before SIN CITY hit theatres and STILL haven't printed vol 3.

This momentum thing is why in the realm of getting into old stuff that's already collected I only read 1 series at a time. For example, I read all of the Sandman books (1 a month).

Now that most of the current manga books I read are ending I'm thinking of starting something new. SWAMP THING maybe?

That was a random rant on stuff, huh? :p

[roach04]

SWAMP THING maybe?

The Alan Moore run? Wicked stuff.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Random is OK. And I'd definitely go with SWAMP THING, if I were you. I've read the first 18 or 20 issues of it, then picked up most of the trades. I think I'm missing one more from Moore's run until I have them all. Then I'll be in for a reading treat. (I think there are six trades in that series.)

-Augie

[pmpknface]

6 trades? That sounds do-able. And my collection needs more MOORE in it. ;) Plus, if I'm ordering them now they'll be around for Halloween!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Hmmmm, it's quiet in here. TOO quiet.

I'd like to chime in with what comic books I've read this weekend, but the sad fact of the matter is that I haven't touched one since Wednesday night. I'm giving myself a quick crash course with a computer programming book. Exciting, eh? Sometimes, that's what the job dictates. You just throw yourself into it all the way and hope to come out alive on the other side.

On the bright side, I just got through all the basic stuff and am now working on the interesting -- if not exciting -- stuff. Hope your Saturday nights are more exciting. =)

-Augie

[pmpknface]

What's the programming book on? Any good? I didn't end up reading anything this weekend except some of the Globe. But I did snake a drain, clean the turtle tank, and drink a butt load yesterday! :)

[pmpknface]

So yesterday I get to work, and my entire computer crashes. Lost everything on the hard drive. Worst part - ALL of my DCBS order forms. I was going to send in June's yesterday but nnnnooooooooo.........

So instead I took the afternoon off, went to the Sox game, and watched them win in 12. :D

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Putting that much work into a monthly comics order form and losing it all is a depressing thought.

But, hey, at least your team won. That's gotta count for something, right?

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Yeah, that certainly counts for something! It kinda felt good after getting hosed by your work computer to sit in the stands w/ 2 beers watching the Sox win knowing you are supposed to be at work. :D

Ah well.... off to DCBS.com.... ;)

[torippu]

I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Putting that much work into a monthly comics order form and losing it all is a depressing thought.

But, hey, at least your team won. That's gotta count for something, right?

-Augie
Damn Yankees! I think that your team beat my struggling Braves last night!

[pmpknface]

OHMYGODOHMYGODOYMYGOD!!!!

SPIDEY 3 TRAILER!!!

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/spiderman3/site/

[torippu]

OHMYGODOHMYGODOYMYGOD!!!!

SPIDEY 3 TRAILER!!!

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/spiderman3/site/
I was drooling over it at lunch. Looks good! I'd love to re-read those ASM issues where Venom was created.

[pmpknface]

I was drooling over it at lunch. Looks good! I'd love to re-read those ASM issues where Venom was created.
Ah........ the Alien Costume Saga (ASM 252-258) that leads into Web Of 18, and ASM 298-300! CLASSIC! :) I'm wondering what's up w/ the bomb going off in Harry's face in what looks to be a continuation of the last scene from #2.

And they said 4 villians, right? The Green Goblin, Sandman, Venom, and.... ? I swear on all that is holy if they throw the Hobgoblin in there I'll go see it every day for a WEEK! :D

Also... is everyone ready for Pedro to throw against the Sox tonight? :eek:

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I guess the Yankees are shooting for the Wild Card slot this year.

I'm still torn, though. It's always nice to see the Mets get beat up. But by the Red Sox?

So terribly confusing. What happens when the two greatest baseball-themed t-shirts known to man are in conflict:

* I root for two teams: The Yankees, and whoever's playing the Mets.
* I root for two teams: The Yankees, and whoever's playing the Red Sox.

It's very difficult.

-Augie

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Someone at work just pointed out that the Wild Card slot likely won't come from the AL East this year. CRAP.

I guess I just need to wait for Boston's annual stumble and fall. They're usually good for that. Sadly, the exceptions to that rule are legendary.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Did you get a change to watch ANY of last night's Sox/Mets game? It was one of the best games you'll see all year! And if you haven't seen Coco's catch in CF, go to ESPN.com as I'm sure you can find it. Amazing... simply amazing...

The Sox are just playing near perfect ball. 12 straight, 16 w/o errors (ties a ML record), but they're going up against the D-train (Dontrell Willis) with a rookie on the hill tonight. We'll see.

C'mon Augie! Always room for 1 more in Red Sox Nation! ;) It's a looong season. Still not 1/2 way there, so ya never know what'll happen.

Oh - and about the wild card, the AL Central is totally en fuego right now. Detroit has the best record in MLB, the White Sox are still only 1-2 games back, and Cleveland who has won like 12 out of 13/14 has only gained 1 game in that stretch. THAT'S where it's looking like your wild card is coming from.

I'm flying to Philly tomorrow for the annual 4th party at my Aunt's house in the boonies.

HAPPY 4TH EVERYONE!!! (which reminds me, the series REVOLUTION on the History channel kicks @$$!) :D

[torippu]

And if you haven't seen Coco's catch in CF, go to ESPN.com as I'm sure you can find it. Amazing... simply amazing...
Yes, that was an amazing catch. The best part about it was that it looks like he caught it after it passed him by!


Oh - and about the wild card, the AL Central is totally en fuego right now. Detroit has the best record in MLB, the White Sox are still only 1-2 games back, and Cleveland who has won like 12 out of 13/14 has only gained 1 game in that stretch. THAT'S where it's looking like your wild card is coming from.

The AL Central is tough this year. Although I think that it's the Twins that are fire. So far, Cleveland has been a big disappointment this year, especially after they were one of the popular picks during Spring Training to make it to the World Series.

On a baseball related note, I finally finished watching Ken Burns' baseball documentary for the first time the other night. For a baseball junkie like me, it's strange to admit that I had never taken the time to watch this. One of the things that came out of the whole 20+ hours that I sat in front of boob tube is that I have new found respect for the Yankees. Don't get me wrong, I still hate the current version of the team with a passion (except of course when they are playing the Mets!), but finally realize why the club and players and Yankee stadium are so universally beloved. I've decided that if I ever had access to a waaaay back machine, my first two stops would be the summer of '41 and then anytime during the 50s. To me, the 40s & 50s seem to be the "golden age" for baseball fans.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Saw THE DEVIL WORE PRADA this evening.

Geek moment: There's a brief three second clip of someone being dropped off in the Fashion District, NYC -- I thought to myself, "Wow, Midtown Comics is right around the corner from there!"

I need help.

-Augie

[torippu]

Saw THE DEVIL WORE PRADA this evening.
-Augie
You saw that movie instead of SUPERMAN RETURNS? What type of comic geek are you?

It's probably going to be a couple of weeks before I see the big movie - I still want to see CARS first...

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I already have plans with other friends to see SUPERMAN on Thursday, so it was Chick Flic night last night.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

My girlfriend's roomate's brother wrote CARS, or at least a big part of it. If I was around this weekend I would have tried to see Supes. Maybe this week I'll try to hit a local IMAX. Augie, how was DEVIL?

Just got back from Philly and I didn't watch a lick of TV all weekend - not even sports. Instead I was out in the backyard playing everything from horseshoes to taking a ride on a slip 'n slide. :D

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Oooh, Slip N Slide! Fun! I always wanted one of those as a kid, but it never happened. I think Dad was always afraid of small rocks in the backyard or something.

PRADA was OK. It's fun until they realize that every movie must have a plot and a life-changing moment for the lead character. That's when the subtlety flew out the window and the sledgehammers came in to hammer together a plot in the last 30-45 minutes. Still, the characters are fun and the first hour is funny. It's definitely a good rental film, or the kind of film you go see to guilt your girlfriend into seeing SUPERMAN with you the next weekend.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Cool, thanks.

And the sliip 'n slide was cool, except for one little thing.... when we ran out of "slide" you flew right off into the grass, which wasn't too forgiving. I've got a bunch of scratches on my back, but and tummy but it was still worth it. There's film of that somewhere too.... ;)

[BronteJD]

Oooh, Slip N Slide! Fun! I always wanted one of those as a kid, but it never happened. I think Dad was always afraid of small rocks in the backyard or something.

PRADA was OK. It's fun until they realize that every movie must have a plot and a life-changing moment for the lead character. That's when the subtlety flew out the window and the sledgehammers came in to hammer together a plot in the last 30-45 minutes. Still, the characters are fun and the first hour is funny. It's definitely a good rental film, or the kind of film you go see to guilt your girlfriend into seeing SUPERMAN with you the next weekend.

-Augie

Huh. Eric's lucky, then.

SUPERMAN was definitely higher on the list than PRADA. I want to see PRADA, of course, but SUPERMAN took substantially higher priority.

I have a full spoiler-free review over on my LJ page, btw. ;)

It's the second entry on the page. :)

P

[torippu]

And the sliip 'n slide was cool, except for one little thing.... when we ran out of "slide" you flew right off into the grass, which wasn't too forgiving. I've got a bunch of scratches on my back, but and tummy but it was still worth it.
This is exactly what I remember about the ol' Slip-n-Slide. Especially if placed going down a hill, your toast when you hit the grass at the end of the plastic mat!

[pmpknface]

This is exactly what I remember about the ol' Slip-n-Slide. Especially if placed going down a hill, your toast when you hit the grass at the end of the plastic mat!
We should have hosed down a landing site, but there wasn't time for that. I just kept on drinkin' until I dulled the pain. :D

Off to see what Mrs. Eric thought of Superman!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Saw SUPERMAN RETURNS last night.

Meh.

Entertaining, but way too derivative of the original films. I was hoping for a more serious villainous menace, and not just the stereotypical over-the-top Evil Super Villain type. ::sigh::

I'll have a full review of it for Tuesday's column, I hope.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

The 'lil woman wanted to se Pirates tonight, but it's sold out already. Maybe I can con her into heading over to the IMAX....

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

PIRATES on opening night? She must be MAD!

I would like to see it, too, but I know enough to stay away from that on opening night. That's asking for trouble. But, then, my favorite time to see a movie is 11:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning. It's so quiet in those theaters...

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Oh yeah... she's nutty... and then she's SHOCKED that it's sold out. And she wonders why I don't like to go to the movies of Friday night. I told her I'd go, just to make her happy, but it looked like I dodged a bullet on that one.

So of ccourse she asks about Sat night. "....sigh..." But I may have a fight night w/ my friends going on. See, we're gonna be in FL for a week soon, so she wants to see it before we go away.

So much to do, so little time......

[pmpknface]

Ugh... don't feel like working yet.

How was everyone's weekend? ;)

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Weekend was fine. Today was -- hellish. And for some reasons I just can't get into yet.

Had two job interviews. Got offered my dream job, which doesn't pay well enough to accept, and had an interview for Soul Sucking Corporate Whore Job, which pays well but might be over my head. (But, what the hell!)

All the while, I had to fake like I was "working from home." And both interviews ran long.

And my iPod died.

Whatta day.

-Augie

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Back to comics -- you know what I'd like to see in comics? I'd like to see Marvel actually attempt to show the government side of the registration act and its consequences in a light that doesn't make it evil and completely one-sided. They can't help themselves -- they just want to draw parallels to Guantanemo Bay with Speedball. Sheesh

-Augie

[torippu]

they just want to draw parallels to Guantanemo Bay with Speedball. Sheesh
-Augie
Are you reading an advance copy of Civil War again? Last time I checked, I thought that Speedball was presumed dead. Granted, I'm not reading every tie-in (just CW & Amazing Spider-man) so it's possible that this was explained in another book.

[pmpknface]

Are you reading an advance copy of Civil War again? Last time I checked, I thought that Speedball was presumed dead. Granted, I'm not reading every tie-in (just CW & Amazing Spider-man) so it's possible that this was explained in another book.
It's in CW Frontline #2. You may want to hunt these down. Each one has 3 stories (and I think no ads). Paul Jenkins writes and the artists switch per story. This one has a few of those reactions you wanted to see out of the fallout of the end to CW #2.

Augie - I'm hoping we get a more well-rounded view of the government here too. I'm betting it will also happen in this book.

Sorry to hear about your iPod. That's like losing a pet or something, huh?

[pmpknface]

It's in CW Frontline #2. You may want to hunt these down. Each one has 3 stories (and I think no ads). Paul Jenkins writes and the artists switch per story. This one has a few of those reactions you wanted to see out of the fallout of the end to CW #2.

Augie - I'm hoping we get a more well-rounded view of the government here too. I'm betting it will also happen in this book.

Sorry to hear about your iPod. That's like losing a pet or something, huh?
As for comics.... I got in 2 DCBS boxes yesterday, which included a STACK of goodies! I already ready thorugh all the CW related stuff including X-Factor #8 which is just making me totally love Layla Miller.

Finally took a stroll through Previews, adn it only took me 4 hours. Of course I was watching the HR contest too, but still.

Got 4 trades: David Lapham's Batman run, City of Crime; Jack Kirby's Eternals HC; Fables vol 7; and the move to tpb's for Supreme Power begins with my Hyperion trade.

Also got in my Tigra mini bust from Bowen. LOVE IT! :D

[torippu]

It's in CW Frontline #2. You may want to hunt these down. Each one has 3 stories (and I think no ads). Paul Jenkins writes and the artists switch per story. This one has a few of those reactions you wanted to see out of the fallout of the end to CW #2.

Aha - well that explains it. So Speedball's alive?

I'm in Portland today with a meeting this morning and then nothing until tomorrow morning. Can I pull off seeing two movies in one day?

[pmpknface]

You can do it Trip! I believe in you!!!!! :p

[torippu]

You can do it Trip! I believe in you!!!!! :p
It all depends on how the work day goes. If all of my customers are happy (& quiet), then there is the possibility that I could pull this off.

I'm definitely seeing CARS. The other is a toss-up between SUPERMAN RETURNS & PIRATES.

[pmpknface]

Sounds like u can't lose.....

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

My apologies for any inadvertant spoilers there. . .

And, yes, losing the iPod was bad. We've been through so much together and then -- one little accident and the thing is done. Ah, well, the new iPod is spectacular. I'm not complaining. I just wish I didn't have to spend the money right now. Looks like there won't be any original comic art purchases for me in San Diego this year. =(

OK, there will be FEWER purchases. . .

Trip - Do it! See two! I think PIRATES is a shorter movie, though the reviews have been harsher. I think I'll be the last person alive to see CARS whenever I get around to it.

-Augie

[torippu]

Trip - Do it! See two! I think PIRATES is a shorter movie, though the reviews have been harsher. I think I'll be the last person alive to see CARS whenever I get around to it.

-Augie
CARS is starting at 12:45 so that won't be a problem to catch.

I didn't realize that SUPERMAN was so frickin' long - it's listed at 154 minutes on movies.com. Ugh. PIRATES isn't much better - 144 minutes or something like that, so I'm leaning towards that.

[pmpknface]

Either way, don't forget the 20+ minutes of commercials and previews. So don't forget to go potty before the movies! :p

[torippu]

You can do it Trip! I believe in you!!!!! :p

Trip - Do it! See two! I think PIRATES is a shorter movie, though the reviews have been harsher. I think I'll be the last person alive to see CARS whenever I get around to it.

Update: OK - I pulled it off. Saw CARS at lunchtime, went back to the hotel to take care of business and then saw the last PIRATES matinee at 4:00!

Cars was really good. John Lasseter's love letter to Route 66 and the time before interstate highways (how appropriate as the Interstate Highway system just turned 50 years old recently) is probably my favorite Pixar release since Toy Story 2. Pirates was also a fun, summer movie. I had the exact same reaction to this one as I did after seeing the first one - the movie was still about 20~30 minutes too long.

What's with the number of movies pushing the 2.5 hour running length these days?

[pmpknface]

Congrats!

And my opinion is that if I'm paying $10 I want to see as MUCH movie as possible! So bring on the 2.5 hr+ flicks! ;)

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

While I agree with getting 2.5 hours+ of entertainment for $10, there's a system of diminishing returns in place. When it starts to get uncomfortable to sit in that chair, I start enjoying the movie less. And I'm taller than the seats. . .

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Since we mentioned TiVo...

You have 2? Do you connect them? Are you in thru the internet? Do you use the media features?

I just scored a DT box with my rewards points, and after my TiVo broke they gave me a new 80hr box which I gave to my girlfriend. She has the media stuff working and it's BAD@$$!!! Check traffic, weather, buy movie tix, etc...

[torippu]

Since we mentioned TiVo...

You have 2? Do you connect them? Are you in thru the internet? Do you use the media features?

I just scored a DT box with my rewards points, and after my TiVo broke they gave me a new 80hr box which I gave to my girlfriend. She has the media stuff working and it's BAD@$$!!! Check traffic, weather, buy movie tix, etc...
Since you asked, I've got 2 TiVos as well. An 80Hr Series 2 bought 3~4 years ago and an 80Hr DVD Player bought 2 years ago. I've had them networked for a while now. Wireless B (that's the router that I already had installed in my home at the time) but I'm considering an upgrade to G here soon.

For the most part, I use the networked TiVos to transfer programs between the two boxes and for TiVo 2 Go. I've been meaning to check out a lot of the other media features but haven't found the time to fiddle around with them yet.

The Dual Tuner is nice, but I'm going to hold out for Series 3 or for one of my old TiVos to die...

[pmpknface]

I don't remember where we were talking about it, but the coloring in Civil War was maybe too dark. Steve talks about it in the new CBR article (http://comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=7809):

“I also work with my colorist Morry Hollowell to get the right mood to come across in a particular scene. For example, I think the coloring in the Cap hellicarrier scene goes a long way to establish the tension and conflict of the scene. I'm a big fan of the widescreen cinematic look that Hitch has originated and I am using that approach throughout the series. Morry will scour all kinds of movies to get a sense of the kinds of lighting used in similar type scenes and incorporate it in the coloring and he does a brilliant job of it.”

[pmpknface]

Very cool Trip. Although I think you'll get a HD box before a series 3 - unless that's what a 3 IS.

[torippu]

Very cool Trip. Although I think you'll get a HD box before a series 3 - unless that's what a 3 IS.
Yep - it's supposed to have multiple tuners and be HDTV capable with capacity in the 300hr range.

Here's an article from engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/05/tivo-announces-series-3-hd-tivo-due-this-year/)

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

The two TiVos are different generations. The first one I got as a Christmas present about five years ago now. There's no USB port in that bad boy. It's the phone line or nothing at all to update it.

The second one I picked up a couple of years ago -- that's the Humax with DVD burner in it. It does all the internet stuff, as well. I just don't use any of it because, well, I have a computer with an internet connection already. Don't need the rest. I've flipped through it a couple of times, but never could get into it. The remote is a pain to use to, essentially, surf the web on my TV.

I do, however, use the TiVo.com website to schedule recordings on my TiVo from work when something comes up. That's the ultimate in coolness! If only I could see what was on my TiVo currently through the website, I'd be satisfied. (I know there's a hack for it, but I'm lazy these days.)

-Augie

[torippu]

I do, however, use the TiVo.com website to schedule recordings on my TiVo from work when something comes up. That's the ultimate in coolness!
-Augie
Oh yeah - I take advantage of this feature all the time. It's cool and I like to thumb my nose at my friend who has a DirecTiVo because he's stuck in the ice ages of TiVo software - no online scheduling, TiVo 2 Go, etc.

[pmpknface]

Gotcha. That's damn cool.

You can do that w/o a computer hookup thru yahoo.com too, but you need more lead time. Tried it once just to test. That is coolness at it's peak! ;)

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Hmmm, Red Sox Nation has been awfully quiet this weekend. . .

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Yes, yes.. All of the nation has to say is 2 words. GO PATS! ;)

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

It's the typical late August Red Sox Nation chant, then. Excellent.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Pretty much. The display they put on this past weekend was just horrible. There's no accounting for it. I'd like to say it would have been MUCH different if the Sox had at least 1/2 of the people that are on the DL, but still... worst beat down I can remember.

Hey - they're already in the 5th inning and not losing yet! It's still 0-0. :D

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

And even that didn't end too well for the poor hapless men in red stockings...

-Augie

[torippu]

Yikes! Tough day for the Red Sox nation.

Of course, my Braves aren't doing too much better this year.

[pmpknface]

Nope. It's pretty sad. The worst part about yesterday in particular was that a bunch of the Yanks starters sat. So we lost to the B squad and wasted an excellent performance by Wells. Wonderful.

The only thing keeping them alive is the math. They'll have to go on a serious tear to even hope to pake the postseason now. Oh, and lighting some candles couldn't hurt either...

[De Carabas]

Yikes! Tough day for the Red Sox nation.

Of course, my Braves aren't doing too much better this year.
I had a chance to get tickets to last Sunday's Marlins/Braves game, but had to pass. This is of course why the Marlins won, what with me having seen them lose to Atlanta four times in four different years.

"If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base." --Dave Barry

EM

[pmpknface]

Here, this is to prove I'm a good sport about all of this.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=obit/060822&lpos=tv1&lid=tab1pos3

You have gotta see that. Too funny...

[torippu]

Yep - it's supposed to have multiple tuners and be HDTV capable with capacity in the 300hr range.

Here's an article from engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/05/tivo-announces-series-3-hd-tivo-due-this-year/)
I was looking through the TiVo website today and noticed this page:

TiVo Series 3 (http://www.tivo.com/series3hdDvr.asp)

It may not be a new page, but this is the first time that I have seen this officially acknowledged by TiVo.

[pmpknface]

Thanks Trip! Very cool...

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

In preparation for a podcast I'm scheduled to be a guest on tonight, I read all of this week's comics last night. It was exhausting. I've learned that I enjoy my comics best in small doses scattered through the week, or in trade paperback sized chunks.

And damn you, JLA and Ultimates Annual, and Uncle Scrooge for having more than 22 pages!

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Ok.. spill the beans... where u gonna be at?

Was JLA any good? Just curious...

[sschroeder]

I read all of this week's comics last night. It was exhausting.

How many did you end up reading? Of the comics I bought yesterday (4) I've only read one so far, and I still have two from last week I didn't read yet (of 6).

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Jamie -- I'll spill the beans AFTER it's been recorded and I know the recording took. I'm not jinxing anything.

Sschroeder -- I read seven last night. Would have been eight, but my comic shop sold out of HEROES FOR HIRE already. I did discover, though, that it's MUCH easier to read seven issues in a row of something than it is to read seven different books. Changing your mindset, pacing, etc. to each new book slows you down a bit.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Ok, sounds cool.

I can plow through a variety of books, but they need to have SOME relation. Like, a bunch of Ultimate books or Marvel U. books, etc... Otherwise I at LEAST need to take a break. :D

[torippu]

Ok, sounds cool.

I can plow through a variety of books, but they need to have SOME relation. Like, a bunch of Ultimate books or Marvel U. books, etc... Otherwise I at LEAST need to take a break. :D
I've been on a reading rampage since Wednesday and was thinking that it was time to start a new "What did you read?" thread later this afternoon.

[pmpknface]

I've been on a reading rampage since Wednesday and was thinking that it was time to start a new "What did you read?" thread later this afternoon.

Gotta find some way to slack off in the afternoon... ;) I read a ton earlier in the week. Took yesterday off tho. :p

[torippu]

Gotta find some way to slack off in the afternoon... ;) I read a ton earlier in the week. Took yesterday off tho. :p
Dude, you'll be happy to hear that I was completely wrong about The Sensational Spider-man. I picked up a couple of issues last week - the "My Science Teacher is Spider-man" issue and part 1 of the "Foes of Peter Parker" - and found myself really, really loving them. I enjoyed them so much that I went out and bought the issues of the "Feral" arc that I passed on. The Lizard! Vermin! Man-Wolf! Black Cat! Puma! Molten Man! Chameleon! Electro! So happy to see some of Spidey's classic adversaries & supporting cast back in action.

For some reason, I'm getting a Spectacular Spider-man vibe (during the J.M. DeMatteis/Luke Ross run) from this book.

[pmpknface]

Glad you are enjoying that title! I really like the "My Science Teacher is Spider-man" issue. That was a BLAST!

This title is becoming what I had hoped FNSM would be. I like Medina's art too. It's a little odd to look at every now and then, but then there are splashes that just make you stare forever at them. And ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA is an excellent writer. I was a huge fan of his MK 4. His stories are 1/2 personal and 1/2 old-school villians.

If you like this stuff, look for his MK 4 trades. Had you been reading that?

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

OK, time to spill the beans: I was a guest on the iFanboy Pick of the Week Podcast, hosted at iFanboy.com

The recording went on for more than an hour, and we talked about a lot of comics, most notably JLA #1, UNCLE SCROOGE, and DAREDEVIL. I cracked a couple of jokes that will send me straight to hell. It was a fun fun time.

When it goes up and live, I'll be sure to start a new thread about it with a link and everything.

And, most scary: I now know the glory of Skype.

-Augie

[torippu]

OK, time to spill the beans: I was a guest on the iFanboy Pick of the Week Podcast, hosted at iFanboy.com

The recording went on for more than an hour, and we talked about a lot of comics, most notably JLA #1, UNCLE SCROOGE, and DAREDEVIL. I cracked a couple of jokes that will send me straight to hell. It was a fun fun time.

When it goes up and live, I'll be sure to start a new thread about it with a link and everything.

And, most scary: I now know the glory of Skype.

-Augie
Sounds like fun. I don't usually listen to iFanboy, but I'll give it a try this week.

I'm suddenly feeling really old because I don't even know what Skype is. Heard the name before, but have no clue what it is used for.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Skype is, basically, the biggest web-based voice over internet protocol provider out there. It's one part IM client, one part phone client. Hook up a microphone and head set, and you can use it to call anywhere. In fact, you can use it to call any land line for free through the end of the year right now. And all calls to fellow Skype people are free, as well.

-Augie

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I was a guest on the iFanboy Pick of the Week podcast this weekend. You can now listen to the entire one hour (plus) podcast from that appearance right over here:

http://www.ifanboy.com/archives/001017.html

My apologies for my Voice Of God impersonation. That was a technical difficulty with the sound level.

I had a lot of fun with it, and I'm honored that the iFanboys would have me on.

-Augie

P.S. And I only cracked two jokes that could get me outraged e-mails. I'm slowing down. . .

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

That last message was supposed to be the start of a new thread. But now that Conor has started that thread, feel free to ignore these last two messages.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

This is good...

Roxbury, MA (AP) - A seven-year-old boy was at the center of a Boston
courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who
should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his
Parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping
with child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be
maintained to the degree possible.

The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him
more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with h er. When
the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy
cried out that they also beat him.

After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning
that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the
judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who
should have custody of him. After two recesses to check legal references
and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary
custody to the Boston Red Sox, whom the boy firmly believes is not
capable of beating anyone.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

BWAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

::gasps for air::

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Thanks, I needed that. =)

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Anytime man. That's too good not to share....

[torippu]

I was looking through the TiVo website today and noticed this page:

TiVo Series 3 (http://www.tivo.com/series3hdDvr.asp)

It may not be a new page, but this is the first time that I have seen this officially acknowledged by TiVo.
And here's the official page from the TiVo site:
http://www.tivo.com/2.0.boxdetails.asp?box=series3HDDVR

Pricing = $799.99 + TiVo service fee

Watched the little preview on my TiVo last night. Really, really, really want to get one, but not at that price point.

OK, now back to our regularly scheduled posting...

[pmpknface]

Did you see the details? 34 hours of HD tivoing, or 300 normal hours!!! WoW! :eek:

I don't have HD, or a flatscreen, so I'm a few YEARS off on this one. It does have the dual tuner and a nifty remote tho...

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

And I've been looking at this little box to attach to my computer that will allow me to drag in HD over-the-air from the local stations. It's only a half dozen stations I'd be able to pick up, but it might be cool.

Of course, "cool" is a good code word for "gadget that won't get used enough to justify spending $200 on it."

I'll just save up for the HDTV for next year.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Sounds like a neat gizmo. Got a link to one?

Warren Ellis has some gadget that does everything but fold your laundry. Me jealous...

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

But of course I do:

http://www.miglia.com/products/video/tvminihd/index.html

They also make a thumb drive fit for regular cable TV, too.

-Augie

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

And then Nintendo went and announced more details on the Wii. It's due out in mid-November, but the price tag is a little steeper than I was hoping for. ::gulp::

Too many gadgets; not enough time!

-Augie

[pmpknface]

That's a cool little gizmo! I'm sure it's quite expensive, but neat.

Oh - I watched the TiVo info movies yesterday. That's some dress Rachel (the TiVo girl) had on, huh? :P Looks great, but not for me... yet...

[torippu]

And then Nintendo went and announced more details on the Wii. It's due out in mid-November, but the price tag is a little steeper than I was hoping for. ::gulp::

Too many gadgets; not enough time!

-Augie
$250, right? Isn't that half the price of the PS3? I haven't been much of a gamer since the original Nintendo, but I'd love for someone that I know to buy one so I can try it out someday.

[torippu]

That's some dress Rachel (the TiVo girl) had on, huh? :P
It's funny that you should mention that. I forced my wife to sit through the TiVo infomercial and the only thing that she made comments about was the dress, why was she wearing it and how much she disliked it. I didn't see anything wrong with it if you ask me. :D

And that remote - I want a new peanut that is backlit!

[pmpknface]

You call it a peanut? NICE! I refer to mine as a magic wand. :D

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I hate the peanut design. I know everyone else loves it, but it's too awkward. Even with my admittedly large hands, it takes two hands. My Series 1 TiVo has a different remote shape that I can navigate fully with just one hand. Much easier and more comfortable.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Augie - feel like getting rid of some more back issues?

I was doing rangom searches on ebay, and THE WALKING DEAD early issues are getting sick $! At least $75 for a 1st printing of #1! One guy got buy-it-now $285 for 1-30! :eek:

If you've got those collections, flipping the floppies may be helpful.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Wow, I didn't realize that. I figured the back issue market would sink with all the trades easily available now. Guess not. Problem is, I don't want to sell the issue or two that has my letters in it. But that gives me plenty of others to deal with. heh heh

I'm a little ticked off at eBay right now -- I got a program for my Mac that helps automate the process of starting auctions. Problem is, it only supports FTP to upload images, and my server only supports SFTP. So I can't upload anything. I'm kinda stuck at the moment. I may have to do this the old fashioned way. UGH

-Augie

[torippu]

I'm a little ticked off at eBay right now -- I got a program for my Mac that helps automate the process of starting auctions. Problem is, it only supports FTP to upload images, and my server only supports SFTP. So I can't upload anything. I'm kinda stuck at the moment. I may have to do this the old fashioned way. UGH

-Augie
Please tell me more about this software program! I've been doing it the old fashioned way for as long as I've been eBaying, but have been putting off a new round of auctions as I don't want to have to spend 2~3 hours setting up each auction manually.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Trip - The program is called GarageSale. You can download a demo to do up to three auctions with, I think. You can register it for $15, I think. I picked it up on sale for $8 on MacZot.com a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.iwascoding.com/GarageSale/

-Augie

[pmpknface]

As soon as I get a chance to breathe today, I'm gonna take a look at that.

Oh - I'm hitting a framers today and I've got that Invincible/Walking Dead pg with me! :evilsmile I may get another poster or something framed too. I've got an official "Nancy" SIN CITY poster that may have to get framed. :D

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I heartily recommend Breathe Right nasal strips to help you breathe. They feel funny, but it clears the nasal passage right up.

GarageSale is really cool and really easy. That's why I'm so ticked that I can't use it to upload images. Maybe a future update to the software will support it, but there's nothing announced yet. I don't want to spend $100 on a .Mac account to sell $5 DVDs and comics, though. Seems counter-productive.

Oooh, framing. Me so jealous.

I've actually gotten a lot of good comic reading done this week, but I don't know how much of it will ever show up in the column, which is a shame. But that's probably best left for a different thread.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

We're thinking of starting up the book club again... who's in?

Whadda think? 11/2 or 11/9 for Promethea Vol. 1?

[torippu]

We're thinking of starting up the book club again... who's in?

Whadda think? 11/2 or 11/9 for Promethea Vol. 1?
Carpet bombing the boards to garner interest in the book club, eh? :p
It's all good. I'll have to ye ol' local library to see if they carry Promethea. If not, then I'm out.

[torippu]

Saw SUPERMAN RETURNS last night.

Meh.

Entertaining, but way too derivative of the original films. I was hoping for a more serious villainous menace, and not just the stereotypical over-the-top Evil Super Villain type. ::sigh::

I'll have a full review of it for Tuesday's column, I hope.

-Augie
From the way back machine, let's restart this thread...

So I have spent waaaaay too much time in hotel rooms over the course of the past week and finally got around to watching SUPERMAN RETURNS (a DVD that I had received from Netflix back at the end of November). Who's ready to discuss? :D

[torippu]

From the way back machine, let's restart this thread...

So I have spent waaaaay too much time in hotel rooms over the course of the past week and finally got around to watching SUPERMAN RETURNS (a DVD that I had received from Netflix back at the end of November). Who's ready to discuss? :D
And here are my thoughts:

1. I like it more than I thought, but Superman's defeat of Lex Luthor was lame. Is that all? Do we have to sit through another movie with Lex as the ultimate baddie?

2. If Brian Singer decides to only make comic book related movies for the rest of his life, then I will not complain.

3. Using John Williams score was an excellent choice.

4. So was Brandon Routh as Clark Kent/Superman.

5. Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane...and the mother of a 5 year old? Not buying it at all! Her casting was almost as distracting to me as Kirsten Dunst is as Mary Jane in the Spider-Man movies.

Trip