Ahem

Let's try this one more time. This time I am going to try and just do some different stuff.
Videos, pictures, whatever.

Let's see how long I can keep this up this time.

Enjoy the future updates.

Comic Book That You Should Be Reading Pt 3

I am back with another comic book that you should be reading. That is assuming of course that you are allowed to read mature content. And by mature I mean language and violence. If you can then be prepared to have your socks knocked off.
I am talking about the new comic called "DMZ".
It is written by Brian Wood and illustrated by Riccardo Burchielli and published by Vertigo Comics, which is an imprint of DC Comics. It is non super-hero related.
Imagine this scenario.
There has been a second American Civil War. The Free States vs the United States of America.
Let me read for you the opening paragraph of the book.
"...Today marks the fifth anniversary of the initial outbreak of hostilities between the United States of America and the so-called "Free States." It is also the third day of a tentative ceasefire, and despite all predictions, it appears to be holding"
So, as you might notice one side ahs access to the media here. What with the press calling them the "so-called" Free States.
Oh by the way, the DMZ in this book? Manhattan Island. Population 400,000.
This book is only 3 issues old so far, and already I keep jonesing for the next issue. No book has had me this excited since Ex Machina. And long time readers will remember that Ex Machina is a comic book that I highly recommend.
So, stop by your local comic book shop and check out DMZ.
You will like it.

D'oh

Well, the Pittsburgh Steelers kept up their part of the bargain in these NFL playoffs.
I had been hoping that the Steelers would beat the Colts and the Patriots would beat the Broncos. That way, the AFC championship game would have been in New England.
Damn Broncos and those stupid 5 turnovers.
Grrr.
Oh well, there is always next year.
Hey, I am a Cubs fan after all. We invented the 'next year' line.
Double grrrr.

AFC Divisional Playoff Game

I just want to urge everyone who actually reads this blog to support the Patriots in their game tonight against the Denver Broncos.
The Pats are on a quest to win their third consecutive Super Bowl.
Go Patriots!!!!!!!!!!!

Is anyone surprised anymore?

I have been loosely listening to the news updates regarding the Alito hearings for his position on the Supreme Court.
I have absolutely not been surprised to listen to the reactions of everyone concerned.
The Democrats are feeling suspicious about him.
The Republicans are feeling good about him.
I can guarantee you one thing. If this were a Democratic president and Alito, or whoever, was his guy, then you can bet your ass that the roles would be reversed with these two parties.
Everytyhing always plays out the same. Republicans support everything that Bush does, while the Democrats chastise everything that Bush does.
At this point I do not care about either party.
There is too much senseless bickering going on in DC. Ooh, the White House was quick to try and say that the Democrats were going to far in their questioning of Alito when his wife walked out of the hearings crying.
Blah blah blah.
Just shut up and do your damn job. Don't worry about stupid crap.
Man, I hate politicians.

Comic Book That You Should Be Reading Pt 2

In my previous post on comic books that you should be reading I described a book called Ex Machina. Brilliant book.
This time I would like to talk to you about the book Y: The Last Man
Interestingly enough this one is written by the same person who writes Ex Machina. Brian K Vaughan. Excellent writer.
The premise behind "Y" is that at one point something happens to every male on the planet. They all die. Humans, animals, etc. They all die at the same moment in practically the same way. The only males left are the main character Yorick Brown and his pet male monkey named Ampersand. You do not know what happened to the males or why Yorick was saved.
the book follows his exploits when he is on the run and the race to find out why he was spared and how to repopulate the planet.
And despite what you may be thinking, no he does not get to sleep with every female in sight. It's not the ultimate male fantasy here.
Some females even want to kill him because he represents what they hated most about the planet before the plague hit. Mainly patriarchal dominance.
If you are interested in this book, and take it from me you should be, then you can buy it in trade paperback format. This format is basically when you take about 5-6 issues worth of material and put it into a single book. No ads and usually a complete arc. Great way to read this title.
It's how I even read this title. There are currently 6 trades out there of Y. Get the first one today.
I am out.

Politics As Usual?

Let me begin by stating that I have never liked the current administration. They are too divisive. Too quick to pul out the big guns. Too "cronyistic". Too partisan. Too "right wing".

Now I can continue on to the intent of this post.
Aren't people catching on yet?

2000 + dead in Iraq. Even though the mission was accomplished.
Tom DeLay being investigated.
Bill Frist being investigated.
Scooter Libby indicted on charges of lying and obstruction of justice.
Harriet Miers being forced to withdraw because she wasn't "conservative" enough.
Another white male being nominated to fill the spot of Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court.
Oil companies making billions of dollars of profit in a quarter.
The lack of a response to the victims of Katrina in New Orleans and other areas.
The spiraling deficit.
Continuing to divide the country.
Bringing religion into politics.
Banning stem cell research.
Lying to the American public.
Spiraling costs of wars in foreign countries.

I could continue to go on.
But why should I?
Draw your own conclusions America. Let me know what they are.

Tell Me Again Why I Should Care

I heard the grim news in passing today. From many sources. It's everywhere. You cannot avoid it. Even if you wanted to.
The death toll has surpassed 2,000 for Americans in Iraq.
I say this. Why have they died?
Do not patronize me and tell me it is so that Iraq can have a constitution.
Because, frankly, I don't care. I could care less if they ruled themselves by constitution, Torah, or "paper rock scissors". I just don't care.
And also do not presume to tell me this is so we can win the war on terror. There is no "war on terror". If there was really a war of that kind, they would be outlawing religion right now. But they are not, and the war on terror is their excuse to make their pockets deep with money.
For one thing, calling something a war means that there is a way to achieve victory. There is no way to "win" the so called war on terror. To win you have to "beat" the other side and have them see that your way is the right way.
The other side in this war on terror will never concede. They will never see any other way than their way.
The only way to win this "war" is to commit genocide. Leave absolutely no remnant alive.
And with genocide, there is no winner. There are only losers.
So, to continue to call this a war is wrong. Let's call it what it is.
It is a conflict of differing opinions.
The other side believes that their "god" gives them absolute authority to kill others who do not believe their ways.
"Our" side believes that their "god" gives them absolute authority to kill others who do not believe their ways.
Well, when I say it like that it makes them sound similar. The difference comes when I mention who the "god" is of each side.
Allah vs Money (God for the sake of the Christians)
Allah vs infidels.
Money vs terrorists.
Call it what you will. I will simply call it a waste of 2,000 soldiers lives.
As I said earlier, I do not care about Iraq. I care about America.
If we really cared about America we would be spending the 80 billion dollars every so often on security measures over here. Not over there.
Local money for local folks.
That is all for now.
Let me know what you think Earth.

Comic Book That You Should Be Reading

So, I was sitting here thinking about what I should write about. Then it occured to me. I should try and push the comic book to more of an audience.
I thought of a brilliant one. It is not even really a super hero book. Although the main character at one time was a super hero. But now, he's the mayor of New York. You know, you grow.
The title is Ex Machina. It is written by Brian K Vaughn. It is drawn by Tony Harris. It is published by Wildstorm Signature, which is an imprint of DC Comics.
Anyway.
This is a must read for anyone who likes smart dialogue and witty conversations.
I believe that there are two trades out now for this series. Trades are what are referred to as a collection of individual issues. Such as, the first trade collects the first like 5 issues of the series.
This series is flaming hot. It has people talking. It is getting noticed by major news publications.

In the first issue we are introduced to Mitchell Hundred. We see some flashbacks to his childhood, the accident that gave him some extra normal powers, his deciding to run for mayor and a final page of issue 1 that had many people crying and speechless. Trust me, if you cannot read the first issue of Ex Machina and not be moved, then you are a different breed of person.

The series is on issue 15 now, so it is not that far along. It is easy to catch back up with. Or if you find yourself interested and you do not want to visit your local comic book shop then you can just order the trades form Amazon or wherever when they become available.

Check it out. I would not lie to you.

Series Of Things That Are Pissing Me Off Pt 2

Here is another in a long list of things that I do not like.
This time I am going to talk about the political process. Specifically, campaign finance.
I agree with the intent of the McCain-Feingold Finance Law. I do not think that it goes far enough.
I think that you ought to eliminate all money from the process. People should receive free air time to air why they should be elected. No negative ads.
I just get sick and tired of hearing these people bitch and moan about their theory that "money = free speech". How much bulls**t do they think we can take? Do they honestly think that we are that stupid?
In essence, what they are trying to tell us is that your opinion only matters if you have money. So, my opinion matters more than some homeless person, but WAY less than an affluent person.
Mind you, at this point, my opinion is only very slightly higher than a homeless person.
I guarantee you anything, that if money were taken out of the equation, 95% of senators and congresspersons would quit their jobs. They are hypocrites.
Need I point out anything more than the problems that Bill Frist and Tom DeLay are in right now? Whether or not you like them, you have to agree that if money were not part of the picture, then there would be no problem. But instead, these people come to your house, poop on your floor, and tell you that the other side is out to get them.
Well, you know what? I do not give much of a damn about the other side either. Fix your own problems. Do not ever come to me and try to tell me that everything you are involved in is the product of some "activist judge" or "activist lawyer". Shut the hell up.
But getting back to the money issue. I know there are people who are pessimistic and say that money will never be taken out. I try to look at the possibility of money not being an issue.
Again, I want to vote FOR someone.
Maybe one of these days I might get around to actually running for a position. Who knows? At least then I could vote FOR someone. And I could do it without taking money or bribes from anyone. What a noble concept.