Rumor

I just read that Heath Ledger has been cast as the Joker in the next Batman film.

Hmm.

I'm glad they didn't go with an actor known for comedy -- a Jim Carrey (who's too old by now) or David Cross or someone like that. Ledger, huh?


Yeah, I can see it.

Rob

Change

You know how after a good vacation, you really don't feel like going back to your job?

Well, that's how things are working out for me. I was just back to working at the magazine for two days when I was offered the managing editor position at one of our sister magazines.

I didn't do a lot of hemming and hawing. The new job gives me more responsibility and a title to match. It's a good opportunity.

And one more thing: For the first time in my life, I'm leaving one job for another in the same industry. Yes, I've been editing for a while, but a newspaper is not a magazine, which is most certainly not a children's story in an unconventional format. Could my career be getting some sort of continuity at last?

Wouldn't that be sumthin'?

Rob

Don't know why

...but I haven't been in a blogging mood lately. I'm sure I'll get back on the horse forthwith. Hopefully, this picture of Doc Venture will inspire me to spring into action.Rob

Another Secret Mission

Blogger's acting weird, so no Spy picture this time. Heck, I'm not even sure if this will get through. But either way, I'll be gone til next Thursday.

Rob

Sidetracked by Weasels

I meant to blog about my cover story—er, weekend at “the shore”—last night, but I got sidetracked by a sleepy ferret taking a nap on my chest.

Hopefully I’ll have photographic evidence tonight, but in the meantime, here’s a decidedly less placid photo of me and a ferret (Gus). Go back to this post on the weasel sandwich, and check out the link in the comments section to thw graphic Dave Decay adapted from a Frank Zappa album cover.

Thanks, Dave! You're a sick man.

Rob

Off on a Secret Mission

I'll give you my cover story Monday.

Rob

Rocketed From the Planet Krypton

Greg The Sporadic Blogger has returned from his home planet long enough to review Superman Returns. Since I never got around to it, lets all go over to his place to talk about the movie.

(I hear he's serving punch and pie.)

Rob

It's Gallileean for Beer, Mate.

Someone's hijacked a billboard in Texas. For when water into wine just doesn't quench your thirst.

Sploid has the details.

Rob

It's Really Annoying...

...to have a song in your head and not know the words to it. At all.

My head is buzzing with Gnarls Barkley's "Go-Go-Gadget Gospel," the opening tune on their CD with a lot of high-energy gospel shouting backed up by what sounds like manic, sped-up cartoon music. The only line I thought I could discern in my few listens was "Introduce some flavor to your savior," and, though I think it's a nice turn of phrase, the lyric sheet told me I was wrong. I just can't remember what's right.

Rob

We All Scream for Ice Cream

Johnny Bacardi has posted an old 12-page House of Mystery story by a master storyuteller who recently left us, the great Alex Toth. It's "A Connecticut Ice Cream Man in King Arthur's Court, and more than that, Johnny'll tell ya.

It's hot outside. Enjoy.

Rob

Real-Life Bumblebee!

Walking to work today, I saw a girl with the same hairstyle as Bumblebee in the Teen Titans cartoon.

It looked just as cute in real life.

UPDATE: I saw her again today, only she was wearing her pigtails low, behind her ears. Still cute, but not quite Bumblebee cute.

Rob

How does anyone but the Flash get around?

Over at the Absorbascon, Scipio's concocted a quiz dealing with the whacked-out Infantino perspectives of Central City. Go and see. And be sure to check out his earlier look at Central City for more fun.

Rob

World Cup!

Congratulations to Italy, 2006 World Cup winners! (And incidentally, the team Kathy was rooting for.)

I was rooting for France -- mostly on the strength of Zindine Zedane's play in earlier games. Not to discount the contributions of the other players (Henry and Ribery are amazing too), but some of Zedane's moves, along with the announcement of his retirement after the tournament, really grabbed me and made me a fan.

And then Zidane head-butted Marco Materazzi in a graphic display of poor sportsmanship. He was sent off with a red card, ending his career on a sour note.

I don't know at all what this guy is like. I didn't follow soccer before a couple of weeks ago. But out of everyone, he was the guy I was rooting for, and for him to pull a stunt like that? I was stunned. It was like he was possessed. I can't imagine what would make a guy jeopardize so much good will with ony 10 minutes to go in his career.

I continued to root for France after that -- after all, it's not like they flew off the handle as a team -- but I can't say I'm sorry that Italy won. Zedane let his team down with that head-butt, and I don't doubt that he'll regret it for a long time to come.

What a waste.

Rob

Truth, Justice and the American Way

Eureka! I've found a place where my politics and my comics converge!

There’s an interesting (and probably soon to be behind the subscription wall) article in the New York Times about the origins of Superman’s “truth, justice and the American way” slogan that a lot of conservative bloggers and bloviators are up in arms about. (Frank Langella’s Perry White asks “Does he still stand for Truth? Justice? All that stuff?” and O’Reilly and his goon squad have been taking it as a slight to the Republic.) The article acknowledges that as a serial character in several different media, Superman has always been a work in progress, and the slogan has always been changeable: From “a never-ending battle for truth and justice,” it morphed to “truth, tolerance and justice,” to the familiar TJAW in the 50s tv series, and even into “truth, justice and peace” on the old Superfriends show (although the NYT didn’t mention that).

So there’s really no reason to get upset at the loss of the phrase “the American way.” (Although I do have to wince a bit at one of the screenwriters saying that it was omitted so it would play better in foreign markets. Not so much at the admission, but at the acknowledgement that there are far fewer markets that consider the American way a good thing than there were a seven or eight years ago.)

But let’s look at the character for a moment, rather than the symbol. Superman is an immigrant. What’s more, he’s an illegal immigrant, with false papers the Kents somehow obtained for him when he was just an infant. Superman’s origins are well known to the world, and he’s been granted citizenship. Even if he hadn’t, he could certainly be considered a refugee, although since it took so long for Krypton’s status—and even its existence—to come to light, he’d probably be tied up in hellish paperwork. Still, it’s that Kent fellow who’s holding the job. I can’t imagine Bill O’Reilly would appreciate that if he gave it a minute’s thought.

Nonetheless, Superman is here, using his talents, powers and abilities to make his local community of Metropolis and the world as a whole a better place to be—all despite Clark Kent’s illegal status. He’s found a place where he can be everything he can be, and we all benefit from that.

On second thought maybe “the American way” should be in there after all.

Rob

Wut da Fug?

Every now and then, Sisyphus rolls that "simplified spelling" rock uphill. May I be in my grave a thousand years before this catches on.

Rob

Weasel Sandwich!

Just ain't no finer eatin', nowhere.

Rob

Ahhh.....

Refreshing as a cold beer on the Fourth of July.

And more!

Rob

My Worthless Umbrella

...managed to keep nearly one quarter of me dry on my walk to work this morning. It's just enough for me to truly appreciate how thoroughly saturated I am.

And how omnipresent the air conditioning in this building is.

Rob

In the Pennsylvania Town of Eldred...

...everyone hates Corey and Kristie Chase.

And, give the facts laid out in the Sploid article, well they should. I'm just doing my part to make it a global shunning.

Rob

Overheard at the World Cup

An announcer describing play during the Brazil/France match said:

"Ball circulation is fantastic on both sides."

Now cough.

Rob

Lyric Victory

I just picked up a Decemberists album, The Picaresque, and it's already won me over with track 2, "We Both Go Down Together." How can you not love this couplet?

Meet me on my vast veranda
My sweet untouched Miranda

Oh, I'm gonna dig this'n.

Rob

Uh-oh, It's Magic!

So we've got a couple of episodes of Criss Angel: Mindfreak on the ol' Tivo. The listings for this magic show are pretty simple descriptions. One of 'em, "In Two," says: "Criss saws someone in half." But the other description, for "Walk On Water," just cracks me up. It reads: "Criss tries to walk across a swimming pool."

Tries? What's this tries?

It really gives me the impression that he takes a few wet steps and then hits the drink.

I mean, I can try to walk across a swimming pool. I must be some kind of mindfreak.

Rob

For Your Edification

A picture of the noble Gin and Tonic, where it belongs:

On a pedestal.

Rob