We stood in line for a Very Important Reason. The wind whipped at us, increasing the priority of the Reason we were in line. This I did not enjoy. The line was not impossibly long but it was longer than I cared to see at the moment.
Bob's friend Ed spoke, pulling me from my inner musings. "It's taken me five beers but I figured out who you remind me of." A moment later, he'd lost it again, his brain hiding the name he required, but it was a movie star, someone well known, on the tip of his brain. He began an impersonation of a character the gentleman played, hoping that would trigger someone's memory, if not his own.
"Mike Myers?" I guessed. I was correct.
"I don't see it," commented the young lady in line behind Bob. She was young but not that young. Maybe young in the way that I could be considered young. Pleasant looking either way. I busted out a brief and rusty Dr. Evil impression. Both she and her friend laughed. "That's it! It's him!" A calculated rummaging began. "Hang on," the young lady stated, "we're looking for a pen. I want your autograph."
I became confused. While I knew beer was involved, I was clearly not Mike Myers, in any way. That said, I've nothing against a bit of fun.
I pulled aside my jacket in order to access the pockets of the flannel shirt that lay beneath. From that pocket, I produced a pen. "Look, he's got an autograph pen all ready!" she laughed. She pulled up a shirt sleeve and offered me the underside of her arm to sign.
I hesitated. Bob laughed. "You gonna sign it Mike Myers or Steve?"
Eh, what the heck. I signed her arm 'Mike Myers', almost horribly misspelling 'Myers'. I blame the medium. I'm not used to writing on other people's arms. As that was being accomplished, their camera was located, and Bob was asked to take a picture of them with me. I was a little impressed with how casually I draped my arms around their shoulders. I'm normally a little less casual around total strangers but, again, beer was involved.
I was thanked and they resumed their place in line behind us. The line had not moved much. "Great, now I've used up my best material and we're only here." That got a chuckle as well. At least I hadn't thought about the Reason for being in line for a minute.
11 April 2009
10 April 2009
It's my first time, please be gentle
I'm going to Opening Day today. Well, technically it's just the Brewers home opener as Opening Day for the season was Tuesday, but everyone here will be calling it Opening Day. In Milwaukee, this is a holiday, like a sequel to St. Patrick's Day. The fact that this year it falls on Good Friday, an actual holiday to some, will likely be lost on the bulk of the crowd.
This will be my first such event. I'm excited. Mostly I'm excited because it's baseball, we get to grill, and I know it'll be fun, win or lose. Part of me is excited in a 'how will this be different?' sorts of ways, 'will I get a good story out of this?' ways.
I'm planning to bring a notebook, just in case sometime different does happen so I can help myself remember it amongst the everything else. I shall also be dressing warmly. It's April in Wisconsin. Yesterday was nice. Today the wind shifted and it's in the upper 40s. It should still be warmer than my last tailgating experience at the Packers game. Oddly enough we played a Chicago team then as well. Packers played the Bears then and today the Brewers are up against the Cubs. Hmm, odd that.
This will be fun!
This will be my first such event. I'm excited. Mostly I'm excited because it's baseball, we get to grill, and I know it'll be fun, win or lose. Part of me is excited in a 'how will this be different?' sorts of ways, 'will I get a good story out of this?' ways.
I'm planning to bring a notebook, just in case sometime different does happen so I can help myself remember it amongst the everything else. I shall also be dressing warmly. It's April in Wisconsin. Yesterday was nice. Today the wind shifted and it's in the upper 40s. It should still be warmer than my last tailgating experience at the Packers game. Oddly enough we played a Chicago team then as well. Packers played the Bears then and today the Brewers are up against the Cubs. Hmm, odd that.
This will be fun!
09 April 2009
A Few Thoughts on Comics from this (?) week
Having missed getting my books last week due to my illness and then not getting my entire two week stack, I've no clue what came out when and that's likely to continue for another week or so. We'll talk about what I read and worry about the details of release, well, never I guess.
Amazing Spider-Man #590 starts dealing with a question some fans asked after the 'event' that, amongst other things, returned Spider-Man's secret identity to being a secret: won't some of his old pals notice that they've forgotten something? Spidey and the Fantastic Four meet up to follow up on a previous adventure to another dimension. Once they meet, it's clear to the FF that they knew who Spidey was but can't remember. This bothers Johnny Storm more than the rest and he becomes obsessed with remembering. The story flashes back to the previous adventure, mostly because it was never told before this story, so we can reference the change between before and after the 'event'. One of the main variations is that Spidey spends most of the previous adventure walking around with his mask off.
Huh? Really? Even in another dimension? That doesn't sound like the uptight Parker I know.
It may be my memory failing me but I don't remember that the FF knew Spider-Man was Peter Parker. I seem to remember Reed going 'of course I knew, I am so s-m-r-t' at one point, but that feels like a reasonably recent occurrence. Even with Pete's trust of the FF, I remember him being masked when going to Reed for help with the alien suit that would become Venom. Maybe I'm misremembering.
For sake of argument, let's say I'm misremembering and the FF have known about this for ages. It still seems weird to see Pete walking around in his Spidey suit but with the mask off. That's different. One of the plot points upon their return to the other dimension is that the grateful people they helped made statues of their heroes and, oh look, the Spidey one is unmasked but eroded so you can't make out the features. It feels like they did this just to give Johnny Storm another reason to freak-out about being unable to remember the secret identity.
From a reader's perspective, Pete's reluctance to let the FF in on his secret is a bit odd as he unmasked for the Avengers two weeks ago. He trusts them but not the FF? Really?
Now, the story is to be continued so it may make sense in the end. Maybe he admits he's being silly to friends he trusts and all is well in the end. Perhaps this story takes place before the one in New Avengers #51 and is the motivation behind him deciding to trust the Avengers with his secret as well.
At this moment it just doesn't read very well.
I'll be willing to take that back if #591 explains all but right now it feels like an awkward, rare 'swing and a miss' from writer Dan Slott.
Amazing Spider-Man #590 starts dealing with a question some fans asked after the 'event' that, amongst other things, returned Spider-Man's secret identity to being a secret: won't some of his old pals notice that they've forgotten something? Spidey and the Fantastic Four meet up to follow up on a previous adventure to another dimension. Once they meet, it's clear to the FF that they knew who Spidey was but can't remember. This bothers Johnny Storm more than the rest and he becomes obsessed with remembering. The story flashes back to the previous adventure, mostly because it was never told before this story, so we can reference the change between before and after the 'event'. One of the main variations is that Spidey spends most of the previous adventure walking around with his mask off.
Huh? Really? Even in another dimension? That doesn't sound like the uptight Parker I know.
It may be my memory failing me but I don't remember that the FF knew Spider-Man was Peter Parker. I seem to remember Reed going 'of course I knew, I am so s-m-r-t' at one point, but that feels like a reasonably recent occurrence. Even with Pete's trust of the FF, I remember him being masked when going to Reed for help with the alien suit that would become Venom. Maybe I'm misremembering.
For sake of argument, let's say I'm misremembering and the FF have known about this for ages. It still seems weird to see Pete walking around in his Spidey suit but with the mask off. That's different. One of the plot points upon their return to the other dimension is that the grateful people they helped made statues of their heroes and, oh look, the Spidey one is unmasked but eroded so you can't make out the features. It feels like they did this just to give Johnny Storm another reason to freak-out about being unable to remember the secret identity.
From a reader's perspective, Pete's reluctance to let the FF in on his secret is a bit odd as he unmasked for the Avengers two weeks ago. He trusts them but not the FF? Really?
Now, the story is to be continued so it may make sense in the end. Maybe he admits he's being silly to friends he trusts and all is well in the end. Perhaps this story takes place before the one in New Avengers #51 and is the motivation behind him deciding to trust the Avengers with his secret as well.
At this moment it just doesn't read very well.
I'll be willing to take that back if #591 explains all but right now it feels like an awkward, rare 'swing and a miss' from writer Dan Slott.
08 April 2009
Temptation
It's part of human nature to want what we can't have. That which is forbidden, for any reason, holds more interest than what is available. It may not be that we have no interest in the available, the available may also draw us in, but that what we can't have is that much more interesting.
This makes a lot of sense, perhaps moreso depending on your beliefs regarding the origin of man. Most of the creation stories have a 'fall from grace' moment associated with them. Pandora's curiosity regarding the closed box (what couldn't she have that was inside?) caused her to open the box, loosing evils upon the world. Eve is tempted to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree, not just because it's forbidden, but because she's told something's being kept from her, something that she'll receive once she eats of the fruit.
Perhaps it's a secret. One of your co-workers has something hidden. It's probably nothing of import but does the knowledge that there's something being kept from you gnaw at you? Distract you? Cause you to snoop where you otherwise may not snoop? Do a little detective work until that part of your brain can be satisfied?
Perhaps it's media of some kind: a movie that remains unreleased, an album that is long out of print and unavailable, or something never made available commercially. Do you hunt the internet for a copy?
Perhaps it's a tidbit from a production yet to be released. You're a fan of a TV show and the new season is approaching. Can you prevent yourself from reading the spoilers that leak online? Do you want to know that detail that you know your friends won't so you can be that ahead of them? Worse yet, a workprint of the first episode escapes to the online community. Can you not watch it?
I've got no smooth answer to this point as I'm horrible at this sort of thing. In fact, I've done most of the above, and recently as well! I'm a bad man...
This makes a lot of sense, perhaps moreso depending on your beliefs regarding the origin of man. Most of the creation stories have a 'fall from grace' moment associated with them. Pandora's curiosity regarding the closed box (what couldn't she have that was inside?) caused her to open the box, loosing evils upon the world. Eve is tempted to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree, not just because it's forbidden, but because she's told something's being kept from her, something that she'll receive once she eats of the fruit.
Perhaps it's a secret. One of your co-workers has something hidden. It's probably nothing of import but does the knowledge that there's something being kept from you gnaw at you? Distract you? Cause you to snoop where you otherwise may not snoop? Do a little detective work until that part of your brain can be satisfied?
Perhaps it's media of some kind: a movie that remains unreleased, an album that is long out of print and unavailable, or something never made available commercially. Do you hunt the internet for a copy?
Perhaps it's a tidbit from a production yet to be released. You're a fan of a TV show and the new season is approaching. Can you prevent yourself from reading the spoilers that leak online? Do you want to know that detail that you know your friends won't so you can be that ahead of them? Worse yet, a workprint of the first episode escapes to the online community. Can you not watch it?
I've got no smooth answer to this point as I'm horrible at this sort of thing. In fact, I've done most of the above, and recently as well! I'm a bad man...
07 April 2009
This is driving me nuts now
I read today that the 'magnifier' prop from 'Adventures in Inner-Space' from Disneyland puts in an appearance in the 'Star Tours' ride. This was meant as a cute nod to the fact that 'Star Tours' would be taking over the building that housed 'Inner-Space'. The information regarding it's location in the ride movie appears to be a little incomplete. So, I ask, is the structure in the lower right corner meant to be the prop?
All rights to the picture above are no doubt owned by Disney and/or Lucasfilm and in no way am I trying to pretend otherwise. Just looking for some help with this 'math'.
'The Ten Doctors' webcomic
I don't normally point out links as I add them to the sidebar but felt a need to do so this time. No offense to everyone else I've added and NOT mentioned. It's not like that, really. Oh fine, come back when you're done pouting.
I added a link to 'The Ten Doctors' webcomic today. In theory the story is nearly done so, if you haven't read it yet, you should be able to get through the bulk of it and not have to wait around for the wrap-up too long. It is over 200 pages so it might take you a little reading.
Why have I added it and why talk about adding it?
It's a Doctor Who fan fiction. I'm familiar with those from all aspects. It's rare to have a story go on for this long, with this many characters, and yet remain so good. It's funny. It's scary. It has cliffhangers. It's just good reading.
It's not perfect. Some of the companions are a little hard to distinguish from one another, which I think is often due to the author's art style. Typos sneak in from time to time. Occasionally the action in a panel is difficult to decipher. On the whole, these are quibbles. They are occasional. They do not damage the overall enjoyment of the piece.
The overall enjoyment of the piece is the grand joining of old and new Who. Together again for the first time, everybody and then some join together to fight a ripple in Time that's monkeying with the events of the Time War. If you've been a long-time fan (such as myself), there's a lot of references to make you giggle. Today's strip had one such reference, with a piece of machinery not seen since 'The Chase'. For the newer Who fans, don't worry, all gets explained. References are noted in the text summary or the comments, so you'll be filled into what's going on if it isn't clear.
If I could draw, I wish this is a story I was doing. That's the main reason I'm linking to it. I've written and read a sizable amount of fan fiction and most of it belongs as fan fiction. Sometimes they have good ideas but poor execution of them. Sometimes it's a good story idea told well, but not developed as well as it could be. Sometimes they go in directions you don't enjoy. Sometimes they're just not very good, more enthusiasm than anything else. Occasionally you get a story that steps beyond it's boundaries a bit and is just good. This is one such story.
I added a link to 'The Ten Doctors' webcomic today. In theory the story is nearly done so, if you haven't read it yet, you should be able to get through the bulk of it and not have to wait around for the wrap-up too long. It is over 200 pages so it might take you a little reading.
Why have I added it and why talk about adding it?
It's a Doctor Who fan fiction. I'm familiar with those from all aspects. It's rare to have a story go on for this long, with this many characters, and yet remain so good. It's funny. It's scary. It has cliffhangers. It's just good reading.
It's not perfect. Some of the companions are a little hard to distinguish from one another, which I think is often due to the author's art style. Typos sneak in from time to time. Occasionally the action in a panel is difficult to decipher. On the whole, these are quibbles. They are occasional. They do not damage the overall enjoyment of the piece.
The overall enjoyment of the piece is the grand joining of old and new Who. Together again for the first time, everybody and then some join together to fight a ripple in Time that's monkeying with the events of the Time War. If you've been a long-time fan (such as myself), there's a lot of references to make you giggle. Today's strip had one such reference, with a piece of machinery not seen since 'The Chase'. For the newer Who fans, don't worry, all gets explained. References are noted in the text summary or the comments, so you'll be filled into what's going on if it isn't clear.
If I could draw, I wish this is a story I was doing. That's the main reason I'm linking to it. I've written and read a sizable amount of fan fiction and most of it belongs as fan fiction. Sometimes they have good ideas but poor execution of them. Sometimes it's a good story idea told well, but not developed as well as it could be. Sometimes they go in directions you don't enjoy. Sometimes they're just not very good, more enthusiasm than anything else. Occasionally you get a story that steps beyond it's boundaries a bit and is just good. This is one such story.
06 April 2009
Am Feeling Better
Got some typing done yesterday and a bit today. Starting getting ideas and had to scribble a storyline into my notebook. Things are getting back to normal.
Had an idea for something for here, something I've considered a good idea before and just hadn't figured out how to accomplish until nowish. It involves some research and is something I don't think has been done before. I may find out there's a good reason why it's not been done before.
We shall see.
All I'm saying is that I'm getting somewhere again. About time too.
Had an idea for something for here, something I've considered a good idea before and just hadn't figured out how to accomplish until nowish. It involves some research and is something I don't think has been done before. I may find out there's a good reason why it's not been done before.
We shall see.
All I'm saying is that I'm getting somewhere again. About time too.
05 April 2009
If I posted this already I apologize
Cantiflas was not pleased. “What is wrong with you?” Did it not occur to you what might happen?”
This delivery brought a hurried reaction from Doctor Davis, working to quiet the aggravated owner. “Hey, hey now. Can we have that a wee bit quieter now? This is a hospital you know.” As soon as I realized our Doctor was Scottish, I decided he was awesome. Luckily he’d done nothing since then to disrupt that declaration.
Cantiflas visibly attempts to calm himself. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry. My frustration got the better of me.”
“No problems there. Better out than in, right? Tell you what, I can discharge these two fellows and you can take them outside to yell at them all you want.” Doctor Davis paused after this statement, considering it as he looked upward. “Well obviously not right outside. You know, get a bit away from the hospital and then yell at them. Okay?”
Cantiflas nodded but encouraged him to stay a moment yet. “I know of the condition of my wrestlers bar Robbie V. Do you have any word on his status?”
Doctor Davis’ brow furrowed as he flipped through the papers on his clipboard. “Robbie V, Robbie V,” he muttered. “Ah, Robert Snakowski! I believe he’s in surgery at the moment; broke his leg you see. Not sure on the severity of the injury but if he’s in surgery it must be awkward.”
This information did not please Cantiflas. “Thank you Doctor. I’ll check in on him again later. I can verify the insurance information is accurate at that time as well.”
“Glad to be of help. Now remember, no yelling at those two until you’re well away. Have a good rest of the night.” His eye caught the clock, causing him to append his statement. “Well, good morning anyway.”
The sad ‘little kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar’ expression remained on the Smasher’s face until the door clicked closed behind the medical man. “Yeah, quit with the yelling Cantiflas,” he teased.
Cantiflas looked concerned. “Was it too much?” he questioned.
“I thought it was just right,” El Hombre noted from his prone position on the bed. “That said, the gentleman was probably correct in noting that you were a little loud.”
“Nevermind that now,” Cantiflas has his question answered and realigned his thoughts, “I heard you jumped from the balcony of the bar.”
I nod. “I saw him do it.”
“You’re the one I heard it from,” Cantiflas commented. “I was looking to hear this from the ‘horse’s mouth’ as it were.”
El Hombre sat up slowly, favoring the soreness of his lower personage. “I did indeed do a plancha from the balcony of ‘Breakers down to the battle on the floor.”
This excited Cantiflas. “Madness! I wonder if anyone recorded the action with their phone. I’ll have to get Young Miguel to make a search for the website. If footage exists, we must have a copy of it or, at the very least, a link to it.”
“I didn’t do it with an audience in mind,” El Hombre noted. “I did it because I felt it was the best way to end the battle.”
Smasher interjected. “I’m just glad you didn’t land on me; my neck is bad enough.”
Cantiflas politely ignored this comment to continue the conversation. “I know you didn’t do it with an audience in mind but we need the positive attention from our fanbase. We are under attack. We need them to see the lengths we will go to in order to protect our turf. We need them to see that we will do what it takes to fight back!”
“I hope you are not hoping they will think that they will see further daredevil jumps on my part.” Carefully El Hombre stood up. “I think I’m done with those for the time being.” Slowly, tenderly, he started walking. He grunted and fussed as he moved. “I need some whiskey.” I waved his prescription at him and reminded him of its existence. He waved back at it. “Pills make me nervous; the chance of getting addicted is so high.”
This drew a chuckle from Smasher. “And you’re not addicted to alcohol?”
As he neared the door, El Hombre’s gait continued to loosen up and relax. “I understand the side effects of alcohol upon me and its cheaper than pills. Now, let’s stop worrying about my medication habits and just get me to it.”
Smasher stood up to follow. “Seems ta me that’s what we were working on when this mess started.”
This delivery brought a hurried reaction from Doctor Davis, working to quiet the aggravated owner. “Hey, hey now. Can we have that a wee bit quieter now? This is a hospital you know.” As soon as I realized our Doctor was Scottish, I decided he was awesome. Luckily he’d done nothing since then to disrupt that declaration.
Cantiflas visibly attempts to calm himself. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry. My frustration got the better of me.”
“No problems there. Better out than in, right? Tell you what, I can discharge these two fellows and you can take them outside to yell at them all you want.” Doctor Davis paused after this statement, considering it as he looked upward. “Well obviously not right outside. You know, get a bit away from the hospital and then yell at them. Okay?”
Cantiflas nodded but encouraged him to stay a moment yet. “I know of the condition of my wrestlers bar Robbie V. Do you have any word on his status?”
Doctor Davis’ brow furrowed as he flipped through the papers on his clipboard. “Robbie V, Robbie V,” he muttered. “Ah, Robert Snakowski! I believe he’s in surgery at the moment; broke his leg you see. Not sure on the severity of the injury but if he’s in surgery it must be awkward.”
This information did not please Cantiflas. “Thank you Doctor. I’ll check in on him again later. I can verify the insurance information is accurate at that time as well.”
“Glad to be of help. Now remember, no yelling at those two until you’re well away. Have a good rest of the night.” His eye caught the clock, causing him to append his statement. “Well, good morning anyway.”
The sad ‘little kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar’ expression remained on the Smasher’s face until the door clicked closed behind the medical man. “Yeah, quit with the yelling Cantiflas,” he teased.
Cantiflas looked concerned. “Was it too much?” he questioned.
“I thought it was just right,” El Hombre noted from his prone position on the bed. “That said, the gentleman was probably correct in noting that you were a little loud.”
“Nevermind that now,” Cantiflas has his question answered and realigned his thoughts, “I heard you jumped from the balcony of the bar.”
I nod. “I saw him do it.”
“You’re the one I heard it from,” Cantiflas commented. “I was looking to hear this from the ‘horse’s mouth’ as it were.”
El Hombre sat up slowly, favoring the soreness of his lower personage. “I did indeed do a plancha from the balcony of ‘Breakers down to the battle on the floor.”
This excited Cantiflas. “Madness! I wonder if anyone recorded the action with their phone. I’ll have to get Young Miguel to make a search for the website. If footage exists, we must have a copy of it or, at the very least, a link to it.”
“I didn’t do it with an audience in mind,” El Hombre noted. “I did it because I felt it was the best way to end the battle.”
Smasher interjected. “I’m just glad you didn’t land on me; my neck is bad enough.”
Cantiflas politely ignored this comment to continue the conversation. “I know you didn’t do it with an audience in mind but we need the positive attention from our fanbase. We are under attack. We need them to see the lengths we will go to in order to protect our turf. We need them to see that we will do what it takes to fight back!”
“I hope you are not hoping they will think that they will see further daredevil jumps on my part.” Carefully El Hombre stood up. “I think I’m done with those for the time being.” Slowly, tenderly, he started walking. He grunted and fussed as he moved. “I need some whiskey.” I waved his prescription at him and reminded him of its existence. He waved back at it. “Pills make me nervous; the chance of getting addicted is so high.”
This drew a chuckle from Smasher. “And you’re not addicted to alcohol?”
As he neared the door, El Hombre’s gait continued to loosen up and relax. “I understand the side effects of alcohol upon me and its cheaper than pills. Now, let’s stop worrying about my medication habits and just get me to it.”
Smasher stood up to follow. “Seems ta me that’s what we were working on when this mess started.”
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