Wormhole
This is a wormhole to the various points of the content I've created all over the Molloy-verse. Links to everything, including blogs, twitter, Google Reader items, etc. are found below.
The Molloy-verse- Twitter
- Google Reader
- Flickr
- Fixed My Life
- Summers in the Backyard
- What Shannon's Cooking
- Delayed Again
- Moving Pictures
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Posts
- Dec 27, 11
It's hard to believe I haven't sent anything, not even a rant, to this blog in six weeks. I'll try to blog more. It also reminds me that maybe I should look at the myriad of blogs I have out there and try to hone them down into one or two, more liberal arts style blogs. Maybe one for the written word, one for photos, and one for something else. I don't know.
Until then, I hope everyone is enjoying a safe and happy holiday season. Here's a picture of Sean, pre-Christmas, looking exactly like his grandfather did in one from 40 years ago. - Nov 16, 11
We all have ridiculous superpowers that are worth nothing. No practical value at all. One of mine, I apparently inherited from my father. The power to spot minor celebrities every time I leave the house on a trip. I've seen Larry King, Lee Corso, Jon Gruden, etc. Today, I saw Newt Gingrich and his wife in Chicago's O'Hare airport.
I don't agree with him politically, but independent of that, I noticed a few things about the pair:1) They travel light. There wasn't an entourage, they didn't have much luggage (I bet they checked it).2) They're smaller than I thought. They're both about the same height and seemed much shorter than me (I'm six foot).3) They're made for television. His hair was big. She was very bright (hair color). They both look severe in a way. Like they've been specifically built for the camera, but lose something in real life.A number of years ago, while he was still my Senator, I met John Edwards in the airport. The person I was with knew him (they lived in the same neighborhood). The difference was a bit startling. Edwards was charismatic from across the room. It felt like you wanted to be around him. He felt like a leader. Newt, on the other hand, did not. He and his wife had an air around them that said something else. Not quite, "go the hell away," but something like that. - Oct 20, 11
We often hear that Made in the USA is a dying thing. Too often this is true, and we end up spending less but getting less. One place where that trend is being bucked is in small-scale manufacturing, especially for luggage and brief cases. In the search for an organizational tool, I found Rickshaw Bags. They have a video that shows what happens when you order a bag and how it gets made. It's worth a look:
They also have a fresh bag feed that lets you see photos of your new bag as it is made, by hand, for you.Maybe if we were all willing to spend a little more on good quality stuff, we could make things a little better around here.I also forgot to mention, that they use a reusable mailing pouch (that your mail back to them) instead of a lot of packaging. - Sep 26, 11
I've recently noticed a strong sense of selfishness in America. I understand that when the economy gets bad, people naturally turn to their own self-interests. It's shown up often in the political discourse and how individual citizens talk about the direction our economy and our country is headed. What have you done for me, what will you do for me, and why are you helping those people seem to be more and more common attitudes (though not necessarily in that order all the time). The one place it is popping up and I don't understand it it the case of the freed American hikers, Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer, and Sarah Shourd.
If you read comments on stories covering their long overdue release, people are actually saying they got what they deserved. I'm seeing comments like:another prime example of people demanding freedom without accountability and or suffering the consequences of their actions
orDear government of Iran, we would really appreciate it if you kept idiots like these. We don't want them back. We are more than happy to have you feed, clothe and house them for the rest of their lives.
While likely not the safest activity in the world, those who attempt to climb Everest or engage in other, similar activities, don't receive this type of scorn. Other comments are unhappy with their criticism of any US policies (which so far have been very soft) and strike a definite love it or leave it tone. These attitudes seem to be a reflection and extension of the economic, what have you done for me lately idea permeating policy discussions. The idea that young Americans might go to a strange part of the world to experience culture and nature is so foreign to some people, that it's wrong.As Americans we should be happy that US citizens are home. We should be happy that our government cared about them enough to work for over two years to bring them home. This is exactly what our government is for. To protect the rights of the individuals, to work on behalf of its citizens. These young people don't deserve our scorn because they now criticize a corrupt Iranian regime that holds political prisoners for speaking out and asking for the same rights protected by our Constitution.Too many Americans seem to have forgotten what Democracy means. It doesn't mean we live in a society where we say all the time, "there oughta be a law..." it means we should be looking for opportunities to say, "there shouldn't be a law." It also means that our government doesn't imprison people and strip them of their rights (like we do in Cuba to many young people who are not terrorists), it means that it should be protecting rights of citizens against larger interests be they corporations, those who would impose a theocracy, or countries like Iran.Regardless of how you feel about these young people and their comments since coming home, our protection of free speech means that we as a society need to tolerate these ideas. These young people went through a horrible ordeal that is not due to them being reckless or irresponsibility. They're out there experiencing the world before they have responsibilities or expectations on our society (mortgage, social security, Medicare, etc.) and really represent the best of our youth. Why? Because they want to understand how the world works and make it and the United States better despite living through a horrible experience.There is nothing wrong with seeing the world. There is nothing wrong with being young and having a sense of adventure. There is nothing wrong with speaking out against an injustice (be it in a foreign country or here at home). But there is a lot wrong with having a closed mind that only thinks of one's self and thinks that if others receive help it means that they're losing something. - Sep 21, 11
For years and years I have loved television. I mean adored it in a way that is probably not healthy. In 1995 and 1996 I can safely say that I watched at least one episode of each and every network show. When I started working I realized that instead of majoring in history and political science, I probably should have gone to school for communications and media studies. I should be the guy they ask about television shows in interviews on television.
I think my parents owned this exact 1974 Zenith Console TVThat being said, I recently said good bye to Directv. I did not add cable. I found that overall television has descended into a black hole absent of creativity. For every 30 Rock there are plenty of shows I will never, ever watch. Too much of cable has become a wasteland of reality shows: dangerous jobs, people hoarding piles and piles of junk, vapid idiots trying to be the dumbest person to every walk the face of the Earth. Outside of HBO and a handful of shows on other networks (30 Rock, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, How I Met Your Mother) there is absolutely nothing to watch on pay television. Nothing.So after some investigation, I discovered I could stream two of the three sports I love (NHL and MLB), use an over-the-air antenna to get HD network programming, and stream the rest via Netflix and Hulu (though the verdict is still out on Hulu as it doesn't seem to have much content). As a result, our cable bill that was once around $105 per month is now replaced by $24 in streaming and DVD services. That's about $1,000 a year in savings. The best part? I don't miss a thing (except Larry David which I'll get on DVD as soon as it comes out).Actually, I've been watching shows and movies I always meant to try or watch again like Sports Night or Starblazers or Louie (from FX). Instead of wading through crap, I'm doing the programming and finding good stuff. Plus, by going OTA I get three PBS stations. So I now get more nature and history shows than on satellite.You can do it too. There is absolutely no reason to keep paying for cable. They gave up trying to really entertain you. They don't produce anything worth watching. If you're happy to pay $100+ a month so you don't miss an episode of Alaskan State Troopers or Frightening Old Ladies who Hoard Piles of Shit and Cats then by all means feel free. But, if like me, you miss the glory days of television and would rather not participate in the corporate sham that exists today, then join me. You won't miss a thing. - Sep 20, 11A lot of people are getting mad at Netflix. First they raise their prices, then they go and announce plans to split into two companies. Oh the Humanity! How could they treat us so? The comments against Netflix are staggering. In my opinion, too many people are focused on the price aspect (they doubled the price and now I have to go to TWO websites?). The point is, they're not trying to be greedy, Netflix is looking too far into the future. Yes, I said that Netflix is looking too far into the future.Netflix is made up of tech geeks and early adopters who, I'm sure, are all streaming television. They may have even done what my household has recently done, cut all pay TV sources and go streaming only. When I tell most people that we have no cable and no satellite and we get all content via streaming or an OTA (over-the-air) antenna they don't get it. I'm asked questions like, "so can you get TBS with that antenna," or "how do you get ESPN?" I don't. I get network TV for free (yes they still broadcast it) and stream everything else. I can only assume that many of those making decisions at Netflix have done the same thing. They are likely streaming using Netflix to provide the majority of their entertainment content. If they're like my family, they're also relying less and less on the DVD service.So what does this have to do with the split and all the changes? I think Netflix is imagining a world in the near future where everyone gets more content like this and sees no reason to ever get another DVD in the mail again. Face it, eventually, all of the content on DVDs is going to be sold digitally like music. Netflix is anticipating that by splitting into two companies. With streaming enabled TVs and DVD players becoming the norm, streaming is set to take off. With postal rates about to increase and Saturday delivery about to go away, service via mail is going to get more complicated. Additionally, new competition from kiosks like Red Box may make take over what is left of an increasingly less lucrative physical DVD business.A lot of people are upset because they don't want to wait for content to get to streaming/streaming has a poor selection of movies/streaming quality stinks/etc. Again, Netflix is making a play based on the future. As more and more consumers stream, the companies that own the rights to this content are going to see the need to stream more content more quickly. Who cares about DVDs being the first thing out if nobody watches them anymore? All of these problems will eventually go away and fix themselves. Broadband will get better, the selection will get better, etc. The only danger here is if broadband companies start to throttle bandwidth or find a way around net neutrality.The thing most people don't realize is that Netflix is thinking like a successful technology company NOT a consumer services company. By looking to the future, they're anticipating how people will act tomorrow. Maybe their methods weren't the smoothest, but they're trying to distance themselves from DVDs in the mail and make a play for streaming entertainment directly to the consumer. By doing so, they're betting on the long-term viability of the company and trying to anticipate how the market will change instead of reacting too late (like Blockbuster).
- Sep 20, 11
We have had the privilege of watching one of the greatest careers in baseball history. Soak it all in now because we likely won't get another like Mo in our lifetimes.
- Sep 12, 11
Not much going on around here I guess. I've had some vacation time, been working too hard, and have generally had nothing to say. So what did I do on my summer vacations? Mostly went to western North Carolina (twice) to enjoy the splendor the mountains. While there, I saw:
The hippest, fanciest duck ever.
An Octopus wandering the streets of Asheville
The tallest point (in the United States) east of the Mississippi (Mt. Mitchell)
Grandfather Mountain
A crazy Llama
And a new Sheriff in Town
Overall, the summer of 2011 was a lot of fun. Now, if I can only find a way to make fall that much fun too.
- Aug 05, 11
Three short videos that highlight how different, yet how similar people all over the world really are. Take the time to watch them all, they're really beautiful.
- Jul 27, 11
There is something about this website of record labels that I find really beautiful. It's part nostalgia, but it's also part of the creativity that used to go into different elements of the music industry. They don't seem to exist anymore. First it was the album cover that vanished, then the liner notes. Now it's the physical artifact altogether.
I wonder if my son will ever actively listen to an album. Will he lay on his bed, reading the lyrics or liner notes and do nothing else. Listening to the music is the main activity, not just acting as a pre-selected soundtrack in the background on a set of white earbuds.
- Jun 16, 11
I read a great interview with the author Ann Beattie today from the Paris Review. One of the thoughts on writing that really stuck out for me was the following:
My students make fun of me for saying, I’ve read this carefully now, and you’ve written it carefully—too carefully. The phone never rings, people get to talk for four pages without interruption. We’re used to daily life being the fire truck coming by with its deafening siren. To put that siren in fiction—and not at the convenient moment, but maybe a minute before the convenient moment, or way after the convenient moment—is a kind of acknowledgment to the reader that you’re aware there’s another life out there that’s out of control. As a writer, it’s an advantage to work within open-ended, messy moments.
It's a very good piece of advice for storytelling. Too often things wrap up neatly at the end of the half hour. Roles are clearly defined. People give big speeches that are perfect. When was the last time any of those things happened in life? More often the resolution never happens, ethics and morals are blurred, and people talk a lot but nothing is ever really said. The mess is what makes good writing compelling. - May 04, 11
I've noticed that there is next to nothing worth buying anymore. Either the soul has been sucked out of stuff or the companies that make the things we love have lowered the quality of the goods so much that they're not worth the money. It's all glitter and shiny to get you to notice things, but nothing lives up to the promise.
Where does that leave us? Well, what about Kickstarter? With a little digging, you can find some interesting things to support, like:The OonaorMalls Across AmericaDoes this solve everything? No. But at least the people here have a little passion about what they're doing and making. Plus, the Malls Across America video is kind of awesome and reminds me of my youth.So instead of buying clothes that fall apart or stain when you spill water on them, instead of buying crap at Target, instead of throwing money away on a 3-D TV, buy something interesting instead. - Apr 07, 11
Monsters are born too tall, too strong, too heavy, that is their tragedy
-Ishirō Honda - Apr 04, 11
My wife shared an article recently in her Google Reader that highlighted great last lines of literature. In it was the last line from The Great Gatsby, and I forgot how wonderful it was until I reread it:
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. - Mar 25, 11
I bought another pack of baseball cards today and this Aaron Harang card was included in it. When did they start letting zombies pitch in the NL West?
- Mar 15, 11
- Mar 11, 11via youtube.com
Jack White once again shows that he's one of the few creative forces in Rock.
- Feb 22, 11
Wow, the Mets can't catch a break can they?
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Tweets
- @MarcCarig Yankees fans (and I'm guilty of this as well) will freak out about anything and everything
- What a bad call. Gaby was pushed into the goal. Torts should be pissed.
- bullshit that was a goal #nyr
- I really like how the Rangers are playing in the third period. #nyr
- @nealpollack you mean that wasn't an ad for Gran Torino 2: The Beginning??
- G-men need to wake upFeb 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @americopywriter I totally get why, it was incredibly well executed.
- @americopywriter it was a nicely produced spot, but as a consumer it put me to sleep and didn't tell me to do anything.
- Clint Eastwood should have ended that with, "and you kids, get the fuck off my lawn."Feb 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- what the hell is Clint Eastwood talking about?Feb 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @Chiccywood a high school marching band would have been better than Madonna. Oh the humanity...
- next year can they get a half time show that's actually good? you know, someone who can sing and play instruments?Feb 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- yeah, this is a better choice than the Foo FightersFeb 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- yes, this is exactly what NFL fans want to see at half time. Madonna sucksFeb 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- WORST. HALFTIME. SHOW. EVERFeb 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Madonna sucksFeb 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- if someone is going to play the Super Bowl they should be required to sing. Madonna lip syncing sucks worse than her singingFeb 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- we've gone from the 6 hour waste of time to the un-needed songs and crap that are part of the "game" coverageFeb 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @orangepolitics @terribuck actually I think Chilton just realized they were trying to goad the police into doing something stupid
- They CH police should pull out the swat team again to get those dirt bags out of the building
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Posts
- Nov 07, 11
Avengers #94 (Dec. 1971)
"More Than Inhuman!"
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Neal Adams -parts 1 and 3; John Buscema -part 2
Inker: Tom Palmer
Karen: This issue, we get Adams art at the beginning and end of our story, and a nice chunk of John Buscema in-between! It's a bit incongruous, but I'm just grateful it was Buscema stepping in and not Don Heck!
Doug: Talk about a Hall-of-Fame list of creators on this one! I didn't find it distracting at all, and in fact really enjoyed the look of the entire book. And I couldn't agree more that we were spared the Dashing One!
Karen: When last we left our heroes, they were at one of the lowest low points in their history. Two of their number had been kidnapped by the alien Skrulls, and they'd failed to stop the abduction of the Kree Captain Marvel as well. Now back at Avengers' Mansion, they sedate the three Skrulls who had imitated the FF, and then contact the real Reed Richards and Ben Grimm to see if they have any answers. Richards says he'll look into it, and our team is then left to wonder about where the Vision might be.
Doug: Roy's Skrull dialogue is just excellent throughout this book. What a hoot! Are you ever offended at the way heroes address each other? I just always think it's sort of rude, for example, to hear Iron Man address Mr. Fantastic as "Richards". I know as kids we called our friends by their last names, and coaches often address their players in the same manner... I go back to what I'd said earlier when discussing Ben Grimm and a "super-hero fraternity". And hey, is this the first time in the epic that the Avengers (or us) are reminded that there were actually four Skrulls back in FF #2, but the incident with the Vision the previous issue involved only three cows?
Karen: Our point of view switches to our Avenging Android, who has chased after the escaping Skrull ship. He slips inside intangibly just as the Super-Skrull flies over gleaming Attilan, city of the Inhumans. Hmm, that ship was going mighty fast! We also get a quick mention here by the Vision of Thor's recent encounter with the Inhumans; this refers to Amazing Adventures #8. As he is about to pull the switch that will release a devastating attack on the city, the Vision stops him. But the wily skrull uses one of his least-thought-of powers, that of invisibility -and sneaks over and throws the switch. Adams outdoes himself with a full page shot of what seems like a blast greater than a hundred nuclear bombs -it's just spectacular. However, the city is not destroyed -miraculously, a dome of dark energy has protected it. The Super-Skrull is furious, but decides that his three captives are prize enough and plans to return to the Skrull homeworld. The Vision realizes he cannot match the Super-Skrull in a fight; his only option is to return to the Avengers and share his information. But he pauses when he sees Wanda, apparently comatose, strapped to a table. Despite his reticence, he exits the ship and heads for help.
Doug: This story just has so many ins and outs. Recall that after we'd covered the first three issues that it felt like there had been a nice bow wrapped around that part. And then at the conclusion of last week's ish (#93), we got a sort-of Star Wars ending, with the team assembled yet very downcast. Again, another wrap up. But what I'm beginning to really sense here, as we're 2/3 of the way through this, is that this is like one giant onion -- layer inside layer, etc. The addition of the Super-Skrull, and soon the Mandroids, and even later the Inhumans, are turning this into a huge tour of the Marvel Universe. We've often discussed team-up stories on this blog, but this may be the best example of a single tale showing the breadth of the Marvel Universe and unifying it that we've yet reviewed. The "Kree/Skrull War" really is a graphic novel told in several distinct chapters.
Doug: The Vision's pause at Wanda's stasis tube was touching, as was his monologue as he flew away.
Karen: That brings in one of the other angles to this saga, the love story. Boy, did this have everything or what? Not only was Roy pulling together threads from the past, like the Skrulls from the FF, or the Inhumans' history with the Kree, he was setting up stories like the Vision-Scarlet Witch romance, which would dominate the Avengers title for years to come.
Karen: Part two of our story, entitled, "1971: A Space Odyssey," is drawn by Buscema. Immediately, beyond the stylistic differences, there are differences in the depictions of the Super-Skrull's ship's exterior and interior. Especially noticeable is the fact that a page before, Wanda and Pietro were shown strapped to tables; now they are imprisoned inside transparent, upright tubes straight out of "This Island Earth"! From this I would suppose that Buscema hadn't seen Adams' work and so was working from descriptions Roy gave him, hence the two different interpretations.
Doug: Adams to me equals long and lithe. John Buscema equals bulk and power. The posture of the Super-Skrull on Buscema's first page falls right in line with any depiction of a super-powered megalomaniac from the pencil of Big John -- wide stance, broad shoulders, hands clasped behind the back, menacing visage... Tom Palmer should get a huge round of applause for softening the differences between these two artistic giants. I remarked in an earlier review on his use of zipatone; he is masterful here in the scenes depicting our captive Avengers (and Mar-Vell) in their stasis tubes -- he really achieves the effect that their bodies are behind glass.
Karen: The Super-Skrull utilizes a space-time warp to enter the fifth quadrant (uh, wait a second -doesn't quadrant imply four?) of the Andromeda Galaxy, home to the Skrulls. He's hoping that bringing Marvel and the two mutants to his emperor will end his exile. However, as he approaches the capital city of his homeworld, he is fired upon. It seems that the Emperor does not trust the Super-Skrull. The battle rages until the Emperor imprisons the Super-Skrull in a force sphere, where the smoke from his own flames knock him out. Anelle, the Emperor's daughter, is a peaceful girl who is most un-skrull like. She pleads for mercy for the three captives, which just infuriates her father even more.
Doug: If you are in the fifth quadrant, then you really are big and bad... I loved the scene where the Super-Skrull takes it to the common Skrull soldiers. I just think the Super-Skrull provides some cool visuals. I, too, was a bit surprised when revisiting this story that Anelle was not drawn like Lyja the Skrull -- she was the one who was impersonating Alicia when Johnny Storm married her in Fantastic Four #300 (of course, we didn't know it at the time!). This was a typical father/daughter conflict, as we've seen in numerous films, etc.
Karen: Yes, Anelle is remarkably human-looking; no craggy chin or giant ears -maybe Big John just couldn't draw an unattractive woman?!
Karen: In order to get Marvel to build the omni-wave device, the Emperor subjects Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch to a very odd punishment: they are stuck inside another energy sphere alongside a big, nasty monster. Pietro pops around like a pinball, ineffective as usual. Wanda manages to bring down a rock formation on top of the beast and stop it. But it is then that the siblings notice some strange little humanoids that look like they are made out of cotton candy. They seems harmless enough. But when the monster regains consciousness, any contact it makes with the little people causes them to multiply. Soon, Wanda and Pietro are about to be smothered by cotton candy people! Honestly, this was pretty silly. It also reminded me of the classic Star Trek episode, "The Trouble with Tribbles," where Capt. Kirk is nearly buried in the soft, furry, and rapidly multiplying creatures.
Doug: Many have commented in the past that Quicksilver's marriage to Crystal allowed Roy to get rid of two characters that no one knew what to do with. I am really sensing in this arc how useless Pietro is, as compared even to the Flash or Kid Flash. His personality had made him intolerable, and his powers seem more often to delay rather than solve problems. I thought the little fuzzy guys reminded me of "Gremlins"!
Karen: Seeing his friends' peril, Mar-Vell reluctantly agrees to build the omni-wave, ensuring the Skrulls' victory over his people.
Karen: As we turn to part three, Neal Adams returns to the art chores. His first page is another full pager, this time with the distorted figure of H. Warren Craddock pointing an accusing finger at the reader. That one really got me as a kid! Turning the page we discover that Craddock is interrogating those three technicians that the Kree altered way back in issue #89, using his alien detecting device. The three men now realize that the Avengers were right to ask for their silence. Craddock scoffs when he hears the heroes mentioned. He seems confident he can handle them. Back at the mansion, the Vision has returned and tells his comrades about what happened on the Skrull ship. Suddenly,Craddock's amplified voice can be heard from outside, demanding the Avengers come out. When they do, they see not only tanks waiting for them, but three men in large, highly armored suits: the Mandroids. Okay, not Roy's best name there! These Mandroids were of course designed by Tony Stark, so they're nothing to sneeze at. The two sides begin to go at it, when who should we see emerge from a manhole but Triton, the amphibious Inhuman!
Doug: Adams' splash to this section is brilliantly rendered, showing as much ingenuity here as he did power in the explosion splash you'd mentioned earlier. Craddock is a grade-A kook, isn't he? And really -- do people just have instant access to Avengers Mansion? I know it sits in the middle of Manhattan, but this is the second time demonstrators have been virtually on its doorstep. And let's not forget Clint's big announcement that he's trashing the last of the growth serum; although we see him go after the Mandroids as a giant, I'm guessing change is afoot soon! And Triton... truly the "kitchen sink" in this storyline has arrived!
Karen: Another action-packed chapter in our story. Thomas does a great job of juggling the various components of his story. The pacing seems excellent, and credit both writer and artists for that. Although the change in artists mid-way and back again is a bit jarring, both men are so talented that it's not really a problem, just somewhat odd. Palmer once again adds real depth and weight to the art with use of effects like zipatone. All in all, a very engaging read. - Nov 04, 11
I have to admit that my consumption of RSS feeds has fallen off in recent months. I used to read a lot of blogs through RSS, using Google Reader, but that became unwieldy because I have this unhealthy completist compulsion. If there was a bold number next to “All Items,” I had to get it down to 0, even if I didn’t have time to read umpty-million blog posts all saying just about the same thing.
So I unsubscribed from a lot of blogs and moved most of my reading over to Twitter. Since Google+ debuted, I’ve been progressively abandoning Twitter for posts on Plus. But I still kept a few RSS feeds that were so valuable to me that I always wanted to read them. I usually had less than 100 new posts to read a day, so I was generally happy.
But now Google Reader has been redesigned, and I’m very unhappy indeed. When I first heard about this news, I thought it meant better integration with Google+, which could only be a good thing. But this doesn’t seem to be so. The sharing feature that sends Reader items to Google+ is unwieldy to use and the end result is none too elegant. But even worse, Google Reader is now impossible to read. There is so much white space and no clear delineation between posts, making it a chore to read anything. Considering that’s Reader’s main purpose, I’d say the redesign is a massive fail.
So does this mean the much-predicted death of RSS is finally here? Well, it may be here for me. However, RSS is still a fundamentally useful way of keeping up with new content on favorite websites. I just want a friendly way of accessing that content. How do the Kindle and iPad handle feeds?
Here’s an article that captures exactly my feelings on the changes to Google Reader: The Google Reader Redesign is an Ugly, Lonely User Experience – Forbes.
Filed under: Geeking Out Tagged: Google, Google Reader, RSS - Oct 21, 11
- Oct 24, 11
- Oct 18, 11
The gentle beauty of Ryan Adams’ new Ashes & Fire belies the personal struggles the singer-songwriter has endured in recent years. After announcing his split from long-time backing band The Cardinals and a prolonged hiatus from music in 2009, Adams spent several months seeking treatment for Ménière’s disease, an inner-ear condition that affected his hearing and overall health during his hard-touring days in the late ’00s. While Adams earned a reputation (and strangely, derision) for being one of the most prolific songwriters of his generation, he stopped making music at this time, focusing instead on getting healthy and ...
- Oct 13, 11
If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’re probably aware of the ongoing Occupy Wall Street protests being organized against the richest 1% of Americans and the fact that they control an extremely disproportionate amount of wealth. It’s been provoking a lot of reactions, and today, War Rocket Ajax’s own Matt Wilson and I have tried to be fair and balanced by reaching out to the richest 1% of comic book characters for their thoughts on the matter. They have opinions, y’all. Opinions.
- Oct 10, 11
Avengers #90 (July 1971)
"Judgment Day"
writer: Roy Thomas
artist: Sal Buscema
Karen: Welcome to part two of our over-view of the legendary Kree-Skrull War. Last time, the Avengers had barely managed to save the life of an irradiated Captain Marvel, when a towering robot, a Kree Sentry, came bursting in. And that's right where this issue picks up. The Sentry tells the Avengers to just walk away, but of course they don't. Both Wanda and Pietro are quickly put down, and once again it's the Vision that winds up taking on their enemy. As they grapple, the Sentry comments on how, as androids, they are both far above humankind. But a second later they go crashing through the floor, as the Vision increases his mass. Unfortunately, the Sentry recovers first and disappears with Mar-Vell, making a cryptic statement about something called Plan Atavus.
Doug: Even though the Sentry moves through the team relatively easily, I guess I didn't get any feeling that this was a hopeless situation. Now, mind you, I didn't really have any suggestions for our Avenging friends. This is a pretty de-powered version of the team. I enjoyed the scene with the Vision taking the Sentry one-on-one. As you stated last week, this seemed to be a period when the Vision was the superstar of the team, and often found himself in the spotlight.
Karen: The Avengers naturally want to pursue, but are stopped by Cape Security Chief Carol Danvers -that's right, Ms. Marvel, but way before her own super-hero career began. She debriefs them and lets them go. Not knowing where they might find the Sentry and Mar-Vell, they ask Rick Jones for any information he has on the Kree. There's a nice two page flashback sequence, which goes all the way back to the Inhumans back-up stories from Thor, showing how the Kree caused the Inhumans to advance as a race. Then we see the Sentry's first encounter with the FF, as well as Captain Marvel's early missions, and his progression from Kree warrior to rebel.
Doug: This was all well and good, and I mean that sincerely. What Roy gave us, and Steve Englehart later, was a slow, logical reveal of Marvel backstory. Think about it -- at this point the Marvel Universe was only a decade old, and by the time Englehart added a layer or two to the Kree history in his "Celestial Madonna" epic it wasn't much older. This was a great example of peeling that onion -- not retconning. There weren't any zany changes, but details that fleshed out the past of these imperialists. By the way, I'd forgotten the guest appearance from Carol Danvers -- that was a nice surprise!
Karen: The three Avengers and Rick return to the mansion, only to find a message from Goliath (Clint Barton, not Hank Pym) awaiting them.It seems that he got an SOS from Janet Pym, aka the Wasp, and is on his way to Alaska to help her. With that tiny tidbit of info, our heroes turn right back around -knocking down poor Jarvis! - and jump back on the quinjet.
Doug: Jarvis is like Alfred -- even just a little is always a treat! And hey -- there are two characters who are generally written spot-on. Most writers don't take any liberties with those two.
Karen: We move on to see Goliath landing next to an icebreaker in the frigid north. Jan is distraught. She tells Clint that Hank has disappeared. She and her hubby were investigating a government outpost that had suddenly gone into radio silence. They found a bizarre circle of jungle in the middle of the ice. In the center was a strange tower, with rays projecting out of it. A dragonfly appeared -a foot-long dragonfly! Using Hank's mastery over insects, they rode the critter towards the tower. Suddenly Hank had some sort of epiphany about what the tower was doing -and strapped Jan on the dragonfly and sent her back! After hearing this, Clint takes off, on his own, to find Hank. Our misogynistic Avenger says, "I can't work with women around -not since Natasha and me broke up." Oh brother! As he says this there's an image of Natasha floating above him. Next panel, she's replaced with Wanda- and Clint looks at the image and says, "Now the Widow's face has faded- and it's Wanda I'm seein'!" Now this just struck me as really odd! Typically these floating heads are recognized as representing thoughts, but here we have a character acting as if he can actually see them! Such an odd choice for Roy Thomas to make.
Doug: Do you know what leapt out at me in this series of panels? When you say that Hank strapped Jan to the dragonfly and sent her away, did you notice that he popped her one right before tying her down?!? I couldn't believe it! It's been several years since I've read this story, but I would have thought that given my recent series of posts on my Hank Pym essay that I would have recalled this scene. Nope -- didn't. But there it is, right on the bottom of page 13. To the best of my knowledge, that panel has never been referenced in relation to its much-better known counterpart from over a decade later. And I'd agree with you about Clint's "seeing" the objects of his consternation -- yeah, it's a literary device I suppose, but you'd think that Roy as a former English teacher would have amended the page when it first came back to him.
Karen: Wow, I didn't catch that! You're right, Hank gives Jan a mean back-hand! Different times, I guess. Clint lands and enters the jungle, where he's immediately attacked by some vicious creature. As he punches it out, a ray of light strikes him from behind and he falls. We see that the Sentry and Ronan, the Kree Accuser, are responsible. The Sentry detects the approach of the other Avengers and the two take off to prepare for the coming confrontation.
Karen: When the Avengers, plus Rick and Jan, arrive, they are met by the Sentry -and Goliath! who has been mentally controlled. A fight ensues, while in the tower beyond, Ronan holds Mar-Vell prisoner. Ronan states that his goal is the destruction of mankind; he is going to devolve all life on the planet (that's Plan Atavus). His reason for this is that mankind is too dangerous; humans have a tremendous potential, which could threaten the Kree Empire.
Doug: Wonder when we'll get around to seeing that potential that the human race has? We've sure done a great job of messing things around here by 2011!
Karen: As the heroes battle, the Wasp is knocked out. We see a bestial figure looming in the shadows nearby. Suddenly he is revealed as an ogrish Henry Pym!
Doug: "Ogre" is a great way to put it. Hank's one ugly brute, he is...
Karen: This issue was solid, but still felt very much like what it was: a set-up for what's to come. Still, an entertaining read.
Doug: That we are two issues into something that just feels bigger has built up a ton of suspense. As I said above, this certainly isn't the most powerful Avengers team, and to be honest it lacks for leadership with no Cap, Iron Man, or even T'Challa. While the Vision somewhat fills that role, the dynamic of having Pietro also on the team leaves a bit of tension always bubbling beneath the surface. Here's to looking forward to the next issue! - Oct 10, 11
- Oct 07, 11
Long-time friend of Flickr and founder of Photojojo, Amit Gupta has recently been diagnosed with acute leukemia and needs our help.
I have a couple more months of chemo to go, then the next step is a bone marrow transplant. As Jay and Tony describe below, minorities are severely underrepresented in the bone marrow pool, and I need help. – Amit Gupta
There are details on how you can help on Amit’s site – please pass it on.
Photo from swissmiss studio.
- Oct 05, 11
- Oct 06, 11
- Sep 27, 11
An 1870s photo depicting a Tennessee man with a strong resemblance to the Oscar-winning actor is on sale. The seller claims Cage is a vampire.
- Sep 27, 11
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Do you follow this blog in hopes that I might actually post to it again? If so, follow it at delayedagain.wordpress.com instead of the website. Thanks to Network Solutions attempts at bait and switch, I’ve told them to give me all my money back. If I were you, I would avoid doing business with them too…
Filed under: Uncategorized - Dec 14, 10
I’ve noticed that when I don’t fly for a little while, the next trip is a jolt. The experience seems to regress a little every single day. So if you don’t fly for a month, it’s like coming home and seeing your child grow several inches in a short time period.
Today I was sent through the porno-scanner yet again. As I’m taking my shoes off, the TSA agent starts barking, “remove everything from your pockets, take off your belts…” I commented to one of the agents that the security experience gets worse every time I fly (there was a pilot behind me who agreed). As the supervisor came over and barked I should take it up with the TSA Chief, I finished getting ready for my scan.
The problem isn’t that I’m anti-security, it’s that I get to the line, I’m yelled at, I am now separated from my wallet as well as my shoes. I am essentially cast into the world without anything. It’s also a major break from my routine. Despite what the TSA says, this chaos is bad. It creates confused customers, slows lines down, and result in people like me complaining. A terrorist would LOVE the chaos present at the checkpoint.
So as I take the ten minutes to put myself back together and doublecheck that I had my wallet (which is by far my biggest fear at security now), I realized that I didn’t take my little bag of liquids out of my suitcase and nobody noticed. The agents missed it and could have cared less.
Now tell me the experience is anything more than reactionary security theater.
Filed under: airport, travel Tagged: airport, airport security, flying, porno-scan, security, TSA - Aug 03, 10
So I did make it to the Waffle truck as I mentioned yesterday and it was glorious. After a night of Korean BBQ it was the perfect breakfast. Light and airy and tasty.
My friend is going to take me tomorrow for what he claims is the best pizza ever.
Filed under: food, review, travel, travel guide Tagged: food, food truck, new york, NYC, travel, waffles - Aug 02, 10
I’m in NYC for a few days and at the top of my list to try is the waffle truck: Wafels & Dinges.My plan is to get up early and head uptown to their Tuesday morning location for breakfast with a NY Post sports page. Any other food suggestions while I’m here?
Filed under: business travel, eating, food, travel Tagged: breakfast, food, food truck, new york, NYC, travel, waffles - Jul 14, 10
One of the downsides of having a kid is the amount of stuff you have t take when you travel. The worst part about it is the bed. We purchased a Baby Bjorn travel crib and it was the best money we have spent. But what do you do if you fly somewhere? Or when the toddler outgrows it? Well, Marriott may now have you covered!
The new program called Tots Travel Too takes some of the misery out of travelling with young kids by providing an appropriate crib (with laundered cover), a bath toy, baby proofing tools, etc. While it won’t solve all of your travel needs, it sure does mean one less big thing to pack. What a great idea from Marriott!
Filed under: gear, hotel, marriott, new, travel Tagged: baby bjorn, hotel, kids, leisure travel, marriott, travel - Jun 22, 10
I spent two nights at the Ace Hotel in Portland, Oregon recently and I’m not sure the best way to review it. The hotel is trying for a younger, cooler vibe. It’s in a great neighborhood of Portland. It’s clean and comfortable and the front desk staff is more than willing to chat it up and tell you how to enjoy the town. The restaurant is very good and the deli next door is to die for. So why can’t I give this hotel a great review? It’s me.
The hotel is too young, too cool, too ultra hip for me. The room was comfortable but the layout was weird. The toilet was on one side and the tub on another. It feels slapped together. The other clients are so hip they’re douchey. This is the original so it’s the concentrated essence of the brand. I think the New York property feels more like what I think a proper hotel should feel like. I want a little predictability in my hotel. I want a quieter lobby. I want a bigger television.
So I can’t say anything bad about the hotel except it might not be right for me. That being said, it’s worth checking out if you’re going to Portland. Just make sure you’re getting what you expect.
Filed under: business travel, commentary, hotel, review Tagged: ace hotel, business travel, hotel, oregon, portland, review, travel - Jun 18, 10
First it was bags, then came the best seats, now comes charging a fee for getting on the plane first. American Airline announced this week that they would offer passengers the option to pay a little extra to board first and snatch the overhead space. On the surface this sounds harmless, right? In reality it seems like airlines are gradually raising prices without doing it honestly.
It seems that the airlines need to figure out a new business model. While I don’t enjoy the experience of Southwest, they do have a solid business model and management that allows them to [gasp] make money. Maybe the so-called legacy carriers should look for ways to sharpen their pencils and adapt instead of eroding the quality of service offered to their customers.
Filed under: airport, american airlines, business travel Tagged: airlines, american airlines, boarding, fees, news, travel - Jun 07, 10
It’s been too long since I’ve posted here, but I have a couple of quick thoughts as the summer travel season begins:
First, the TSA has released their summer travel tips. Overall, the tips aren’t very helpful, but they do clarify that the archaic 3-1-1 liquid rules are still being enforced. Recent reports from bloggers led many of us to believe that the TSA had gotten even more lax and inconsistent about the rule. My biggest piece of advice to those of you who don’t travel a lot? Empty your pockets at home. Don’t bring change, extra keys, etc. to the airport. Pack your keys in your carry on bag along with your phone. It will make life easier.
Second, the Travel Gear Blog posted its top ten graduation gifts for the travelling grad. A few of the items, including the bottle kit and shower kit are pretty good, check them out here.
I’ve got some trips coming up. I’ll capture the experiences and pass them along.
Filed under: gear, travel Tagged: 2010, summer, summer travel, tips, travel, TSA - May 04, 10
First it was the airlines. They charged for snacks. They charged for checking bags. They charged for blankets, pillows, headphones, and carry-ons. It’s frustrating but once you figure out to carry on your luggage and get elite status it all works out okay. Now the hotels are gearing up to charge more fees.
An article in the New York Times highlights how hotel chains are considering adding fees to all kinds of things, including the service of checking your bag for a few hours. They’re also starting to raise internet fees upwards of $20 a day.
While I have little issue with hotels adding fees to items such as room service or minibars, I do have an issue with all of the fees being added for parking, internet, checked luggage, etc. What next, will they charge me if I use two towels instead of one?
It’s time for travelers (especially business travelers) to complain at the front desk every single time they are confronted with additional or new fees for elements that used to be included in the price of the room. Additionally, it’s important to demand that older full-service properties be updated with amenities such as free WiFi in rooms and all public areas. If a discount chain can do it, why can’t Marriott?
Filed under: article, business travel, commentary, marriott, technology, travel, Uncategorized Tagged: airlines, article, business travel, fees, hotel, New York Times, travel - Apr 22, 10
I chose this Marriott based on price and my desire for a full service hotel (rather than a Courtyard). It feels like an older property but it’s obvious that it’s well cared for, been renovated recently, and is a good value.
The check in experience was great. I got in late and the staff was helpful, professional, and made me feel very welcome. My room felt like it was a mile away, but once I got there I could tell it had been recently redone. It was clean, had a great bed, plenty of electrical outlets, and a new HDTV. The bathroom while small had a shower with plenty of water pressure (one of my biggest complaints is no water pressure or wimpy rain showers in hotels).
Overall, it’s worth checking out for a night or two. If you want something a little fancier, try the sister property Renaissance just up the street. Check out the Marriott Providence Downtown’s website here.
Filed under: business travel, hotel, marriott, travel Tagged: hotel, hotel review, marriott, providence, review, rhode island, travel
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