Grant was kind enough to send me Berserker Prime for my birthday. Very cool dude, I owe you. Complete surprise.

Getting those kids to bed now so I can read.

Man, I love new books.

Getting through that TO-DO list quite nicely. One of my big goals from here on out is to self educate! To learn. There is no better time than now. I know it will lead to my destiny.

I've done this in the past but never without clear direction. Though I'm still vague on where I want to go, I know what skills I need to build both general and specific.

The time is now. So, what am I going to do tonight. The same thing I do every night...try to take over the world! :)

"If you take risks, you may still fail. But if you do not take risks, you will surely fail. The greatest risk of all is to do nothing." --Roberto C. Goizuet

Technical Writing - Become a Technical Writer - Technical Writing Jobs.

For future reference.

The Jay Abraham Blog Doing It Your Way.

My destiny is talking to me today. We all must find our own voice, have I finally found mine?

The Jay Abraham Blog Be Creativ With a Caveat.

From the article:The 21st century will award those who are creative, innovative, and communicative, rather than people who are right brained, technically oriented, or do monotonous tasks that will ultimately be automated.

Something to think about. I'm fourtante in this aspect because though I'm primarily left handed/right brained, I pitch a ball and bowl right handed. So, I have a lot of left brain in me too.

Now to captalize on it.

Three Tips To Raise Your Response.

With my sales back ground, copywriting is something I've been looking into lately. Here's another good piece I found in my trawling of the Internet.

No Such Thing As A Starving Copywriter.

Now this is a course I'd like to own.

The Michel Fortin Blog: How to Craft Cash-Creating Climactic Copy.

Writing copy is like writing fiction.

The Michel Fortin Blog: The Biggest Mistake Copywriters Make.

Like I said the pieces just keep coming to me. I'm on the verge of something here.

SOMETHING BIG.

Copywriting is the same as face to face selling.

Seth's Blog: Advice for authors.

Good article on writing nonfiction and on publishing it. It's more of an organized hobby than a money making venture.

It's funny I've run into so many things like this lately. The pieces are falling together.

My brain is on over drive yet again. Need a quicker way to capture the thoughts in my head. Was thinking about getting a small tape recorder I can carry places. Anyone ever tried that?

But then I had an even more curious idea. Is there an electronic version of a small tape recorder? (A flash drive would be nice.) It doesn't have to be compatible with my computer but that'd be even better. Does such a thing exist?

You see, I'm an idea man, and my thoughts need captured before they all go away!

Generalists Succeed as Entrepreneurs According to Stanford Business School Research.

Nice article. Expect to see more as I need to clear off my desk top again since I've just changed Internet providers again.

"And this bequest of wings was but a book." --Emily Dickinson

"For ye are living poems, and all the rest are dead." --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"They're going to send you back to mother in a cardboard box. You better run." --Pink Floyd

The title to this post is dedicated to Scott Marshall who made a phenomenal return to this month's APA Centauri. Scott included a DVD: Script Happens and I'm dyeing to know what's on it.

APA Centauri #151 is a nice solid issue with strong contributions from several members including my Blue Rabbit Chronicles #9 at a healthy eight pages.

Training for the new job continues. I have a lot to learn and a short amount to time to do it. But I'm still psyched at the opportunity I've been given. Now instead of merely selling the service our company offers, I will be responsible for it. Daunting task to say the least.

Everything from learning new skills to new lingo, it's making my head hurt. Management has made our direction clear: improve service and reduce line haul cost. Our new office will be walled in by glass, and be a model that customers will be taken to when they visit. Ties and dress shirts are a requirement come next week when regular rotation begins.

Our company is doing everything it can to drive down all costs and part of my mandatory training is to read these books:





I've heard that they're good, I'll let you know. The rumour is after your read the book you'll be trying to take "waste" out of everything. But for now, I'm reading nonwork related material since I have so much to remember as it is. Don't want to overdue it, I go back to working fifty hours a week next week.

My shift will be Tuesday through Saturday 1800-0400 hrs and we will eventually rotate every four weeks (bimonthly to begin). My other shift will be 0600-1600 hours. So I not only got the money and opportunity I wanted and needed, I get a livable shift. Can't beat that. Downside is I have to take all my remaining vacation and right now I'm at the bottom of the seniority rung. Next January, I will have to schedule all my vacation for the year. The department is open 24/7/365, but this is the price I pay to better myself and my family.

Bought my wife a nice card and gave her a Border's gift card when I got home. She's always believed in me and my dreams. It's one of the reasons I love her. Of course, the fact that she's incredibly hot doesn't hurt. :) She's always encouraged me to try new things, and in the case of this last job was willing to return to work full time if it meant me getting out of my old toxic situation.

Now that I've read the current APA, can write my next zine. Would like to knock it out since I'll have a three day weekend. Other things on my to do list include setting up my bank account for electronic bill pay, update my electronic contact list (I'm learning to nework man!), finish trimming the hedges, martial arts practice, watching Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me that I recorded with TIVO, working on an outline for my Where the Droids Die storyline, and reading. Not to mention, I'd like to spend a lot of quality time with the kids, LEGOS, hiking, and swimming all come to mind.

Mom is bringing over my favorite cake tomorrow (Chocolate w/Peanut Butter Icing)because Friday is my 33rd birthday.

Also need to run to the bookstore myself, I need a good Microsoft Office book. One that includes a lot of info on Publisher because I'd like to improve how my zines look. Also, since I want to publish my poetry collection One Night Pig, I have to make it look like something a little nicer than photocopied zine.

Will anyone suggest any of my poems they'd like to see in the collection? I will be giving away free copies of it to members of the APA and regular readers of my BLOG.

I'd love to have an artist illustrate part or all of the collection, if you or someone you know is interested shoot me an email.

When you make an HTML error why doesn't BLOGGER highlight what that error is? Just spent five minutes trying to find a small typo. I missed a slash on an intallics tag.

Speaking of my APA friends, Don has published some of his drawing online: Coffee Shop and my personal favorite The Big T. Encourage Don to keep it up. Astor may publish a book of this stuff!

Time for me to go, I've got journeys, and books, and dreams to attend to. Miles to keep. It's as plain as black and white.

How You Live Your Life

You are honest and direct. You tell it like it is. You're laid back and chill, but sometimes you care too much about what others think. Your friends tend to be a as quirky as you are - which is saying a lot! You have one big dream in your life, and you never lose sight of it.

How do these things get so accurate sometimes?

Michael loaned me the first three volumes of this series. Read quite a bit of book one last night. It's a painstakingly researched portrayal of life in edo Japan from the creators of Lone Wolf and Cub.

The story revolves around Yoshitsugu, bearer of the sword "Onibocho" and the man who was charged with the duty of testing the shogun's swords. The stories are less about the Decpatator and more about the people he kills. Strong, brutal, violent, honest stories. Not for those with a weak stomach.

Punished is not the man but the evil that resides in him.

Our cable company has been giving away free DVR (TIVO). We signed up for it and I love it. Was able to see, for the first time, Josh Whedon's Fire Fly. DVR makes it simple to record and watch your favorite programs.



Excellent, excellent show. This is what episodic science fiction should be. Star Trek eat your heart out. Strong characters, great dialogue, believable situations, good looking environments, sweet plot and sub-plot threads. Looks like Josh has done everything right.

Though the show was cancelled, we'll soon be seeing the big screen version: Serenity. Watch the trailer, if you're like me, your mouth will salivate!

"I never met a comic book I didn't like." -- Nobius Black

"If we wait until we've satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late." --Lee Iacocca

Will this weather ever end? Let me give you an idea of how much I sweated today. Stepped on the scale this morning and I had gained 8 pounds!! (Of course five pieces of chocolate cake with peanut butter icing at my going away party yesterday didn't have anything to do with that. It's like...uh...fat free. LOL.)

Aikido was about an hour and a half today. Came home mowed the lawn and worked off an on all day trimming our jungle-like hedges. Also hauled out garbage and took old baby things over to a friend's house. In my copious free time, ran laundry and took care of my kids. Stepped on the scale a few minutes ago and six of the pounds are gone.

Looks like tomorrow will be another scorcher with a huge chance of severe weather also. I'm told in the old days we used to have just "rain" showers.

Have you seen the trailer for V for Vendetta? Looks like the Wachowski's are making a faithful adaptation. If the movie looks as good as the trailer, it'll be a graphic novel on screen. I've read the book at least three times but need a new copy. Kalisa lost my original. I can't think of a more timely story to come to life in light of the current political situation. People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people. Remember, remember, the fifth of November.



I had never read a book as powerful before I read V. I don't know if I ever will again. Alan Moore created an epic so strong it should stand with the works of people like Dickens and Shakespeare. I wonder how long it will take for graphic novels to become a normal part of our literary heritage? Or perhaps they already have and I don't know it yet.

Next week is a training week in my new position. We only work about 35 hours. It'll be nice, and probably my last short week as long as I'm working in operations. I want to use the extra time to take my kids on a nice hike and write my next Blue Rabbit Chronicles amongst other things.

NAME DELETED DUE TO NOSY NO GOODS and I had a nice long talk before I left. He's going to really miss me and thinks my work for him was phenomenal. Too bad the company didn't compensate me that way.

For example, three weeks ago I helped coordinate over half a million worth of trucks with no help. My reward was a write-up from my manger because when I left one night (after working 11 hours straight w/no break) my car was dead. I evidently dropped an f-bomb that someone heard when I called my wife to see if she could come get me. I realize that I shouldn't of done that. However my write-up stated that any more mistakes and I would be immediately terminated. Talk about an over reaction. Many, many things, happened like that in my old department. I guess what really galls me about the write-up is that if I offended someone why wouldn't they just tell me? I would of apologized. And meant it.

NAME DELETED DUE TO NOSY NO GOODS knows eventually I'd like to be self employed (or similar) and broker freight and trucks full time. If I go this route, he'll sign me up as a vendor. Talk about a complement! But again, no fault of his, the department didn't pay me nearly what I am worth plus treated me poorly. My interview for the new job lasted 25 minutes (it was supposed to run an hour) and an offer was made. I am now making more money than I have ever made in my life.

Walking out of the old job has made me feel empowered. I didn't like how I was being treated and I've done better for myself. It's nice to be proud of myself for a change.

If it doesn't work out, I'm committed for one year and then I can attempt to post out. However if I like the job, it's a fast track position to the next level which pays nearly fifty thousand a year!

So, I plan to take things slow, but if this is what I want, we will finally be able to purchase a home with the extra money. Kalisa's step dad Bruce just built a huge work shed with electric at his house. If we get a home, our new place will have to have enough room to put one in like that. Except I plan to use mine as an Aikido dojo.

One of my final accomplishments in the previous job was a Power Point presentation on selling truckload freight that doesn't move on our own equipment due to cost concerns. My content was top notch and it looked spectacular. I had it printed as spiral bound books that everyone could keep. My new boss was very impressed with it. Makes me wonder where I could go with that skill.

Makes me wonder about a lot of things.

Tonight, I'm going to go to sleep with a head full of possibilities.

With a head full of magic.

I can't get over how good Channel Zero #5 is. Read it again. Published in 1998, it's terrifying how much of the comic resonates in today's post 9-11 society. The state controlled media is upon us. Fair and balanced...my ass.



Channel Zero: The Collection
Fear: America
Control: Media
Paranoia: Broadcast
Manipulation: Religion
Hate: Infomercial
Mistrust: Terrorism
Pain: Revolution

I have an idea for a comic brewing in which thousands of Angels descend from the heavens like rain. They are the harbingers of a five year world peace. Each one a beautiful woman yet they have no mouths. Speak no words. Made of solid gleaming metal. Where did they come from? Why are they here? What will we do? And what happens when the peace is shattered? It's a different kind of morality play on what people will do to be safe.

One of my favorite villians of all time (or group of)--are the Sentinels from X-Men. More on that soon.

Tomorrow is my last day in my current position. Literally, the end of an era for me. Anticipation gives me goose bumps when I think about my new job. Here's crossing my fingers I still feel the same way about it six months from now.

In the meanwhile, will begin working on honing my skills to get some gigs going on the side. It's time to move to the next level of my life.

Flytrap: A small press comic/chapbook. Looks good. I'll let you know.

If I can ever find an artist to collaborate I want to do something like this.

The author also reviews Desolation Jones #2 so well, I don't need to.

Stolen from Astor:

You scored as Loner. Loner 81% Goth 44% Punk/Rebel 31% Stoner 25% Geek 25% Drama nerd 19% Prep/Jock/Cheerleader 13% Ghetto gangsta 0% What's Your High School Stereotype? created with QuizFarm.com

Of all the technologies the Internet brings, I think the Search Engine amazes me the most. An imperfect if not down right dubvious creation (is that a paid listing). Check out this week's secret Yahoo searches.

Yesterday the job search ended as I received an unexpected promotion at Big Corporate Giant to a new department and position. I had my offer by the end of the interview. I'll be part of a team revamping how we move freight through our network. It'll be hard work but fun. And the raise will be quite nice.

Working fifty hours again with odd hours I'm not looking forward to, but my new Regional Service Analyst post is a fast track position to the level above it which would be phenomenal money.

And in Karmanic news, my old department will be left extremely short handed as I and another person leave to our new jobs. I start this Monday. I don't have to work out a two weeks notice. On Monday, one of the other people who does my current job is on vacation. And so on. I shouldn't gloat but I have to admit that I am deriving satisfaction on how this is all coming together. It's a fist full of Karma.

God did open that door I've been asking for.

He always does.

Currently reading Best Resumes for People Without a Four-Year Degree. Gotten some good advice so far. The best piece being to stop feeling guilty that you don't have a degree. A resume for someone like me should focus on skills and accomplishment. And that's exactly what it will do, when I rewrite it.

I'm thinking about putting up an online version of my resume as well as possibly becoming a professional resume writer.

One of the big things brewing in my mind is that I could have more than one part time job and ditch the full time gig. It's amazing how many people I've met who have done this and most of them are very entrepreneurial. I know one lady who has been a singer, writer, publisher, web master, administrative assistant, e-bay professional, teacher, sales person, missionary, and real estate agent. She's done several of these at once and still is. Her husband has done similar and is currently a martial arts teacher and self employed computer repairman/guru.

Later, I'll post about an accelerated copywriting program that I may sign up for. It even includes a job placement program that claims to have placed over 90% of graduates from the program.

My mind is on over drive, time to make good use of it:



I just finished reading Decision In Philadelphia: The Constitutional Convention of 1787. I've been reading this book a few pages at a time over the past several months. It's an authoritative yet readable work on how and why our Constitution came to be. The soap opera behind it all, the battle between slave and free states, big and small states, are all presented here. Even the mistakes of the document are noted including a lack of an initial bill of rights, the question of judicial review, and the 3/5 of a man problem.

I also finished the World's Best-Loved Poetry book. It was a good and simple balance of fine poetry. You don't need to be a literature student to enjoy good poets.

What if Warren Ellis had his own book club like Oprah? I wonder what he'd recommend? And I'm not talking the obvious ones, I mean the rare ones. The stuff you've never heard of.

I remember Neil Gaiman, years ago in a Sandman letter column, mentioned that he loved to read obscure reference books. Yet he never mentioned any of the titles there, or anywhere else that I've found.

The new All-Star Batman and Robin looks promising. Of course with Frank Miller on writing, and Jim Lee on art how can you go wrong? Rumor has it the book will have Miller's edgy writing style. Waiting to see the panel in which Batman hoists Robin by the collar and tells him, "You've just been drafted. Into a War."

"Where do we go from here? You know I'm not your only son...just give some peace to me." --Filter

"Everyone has at least one novel in them." --Astor Gravelle

Though I blog a lot, it's been a long time since I really talked to you. There's been a lot going on in my life and I need to get it off my chest. Ideas brewing too as I tilt between manic and depressive. I've saved most of this type of chat for my Blue Rabbit Chronicles zine, not that there's anything wrong with that but this BLOG was always to be more than just a link catcher. Expect more diary type posts and the like over the next few weeks. Even if it's only my thoughts I need to voice them. Give them breath.



Hovy was nice enough to send me more comics. One of which was Channel Zero #5 (the collection is pictured above). There are few words to describe how truly good this book is. The phrase "life changing" would be most apt. This is the kind of book I want to write. And after you read it, you'll be uttering phrases like paranoia broadcast, info-fetishist, American Propaganda Works, and free will. In light of today's current political situation, the book may mean more now than ever before. The artwork is cutting edge and in-your-face as well.

Here's the blurb about C.Z. from Brian Wood's website: "Special interest groups have bullied the government into passing the Clean Act, effectively killing freedom of expression and smothering the country into submission. Television and God become one and the same as America wages a holy war against itself. Meet Jennie 2.5, self-styled media activist and symbol of resistance and change in an imprisoned society. Armed with only a camera and a determination to secure a place for herself in the history books, she takes the battle to the streets, using the tools of the enemy in an all-out effort to snap the population out of its apathy and restore free will and self-expression."

Yesterday, I read for the first time Ultimate Spiderman. Good looking book and though the story was standard fare I was psyched to hear that the Hobgoblin had appeared recently. Long time readers know he's one of my favorite villains. (Future post: Good To Be Bad/My Favorite Villains.)

I'm almost finished with a small collection of poetry called World's Most Loved Poetry. Not sure where my wife got it but it looks like something from the check out line of Piggly Wiggly's that would be on the rack next to Weekly World News and the Eat What You Want! Lose Weight! pamphlet. It's quite good. Filled with master poets like Shakespeare, Frost, and Dickinson. I know I have written pieces that are as good as any in the book. Now what am I going to do about it?

Have you ever heard the Melvin's cover of Kiss's Going Blind? If not, get it. It's on 1993's Houdini album and it's phenomenal. A slow grinding tribute to the glam ones.

My future at Big Corporate Giant is in jeopardy. Or at least my job in the in the department I'm in is. Just applied and am getting an interview in operations. More pay but more hours and a crappy schedule. But gotta give it a shot. Otherwise, I'll never know. All the recent crap at work is stimulating my development of myself, God if you hear me, open a door. It's time to move on.

I've had ideas lately of everything from opening a comic shop/bookstore/zine distro to becoming an expert at computer virus removal. Even thinking about starting a magazine. And why can't I do them all? And more. The only thing holding me back, quite frankly is me.

More to say later, I've been on vacation so I want to talk about what I've done (I love being off work), my Aikido plans, I have another post planned: Books I Want To Write and I'm outlining an idea for a story called, "Where the Droids Die". Also got a piece in my head for my next BRC defending cheap romance novels and franchise based sci-fi novels (like Star Trek).

Hope you're all well. If you need anything, you know where I am.

No metal bands to choose from but this still came out all right.

You Are an Emo Rocker!

Expressive and deep, lyrics are really your thing. That doesn't mean you don't rock out... You just rock out with meaning. For you, rock is more about connecting than grandstanding.

DESOLATION JONES #1: Author's Commentary.

Warren plans things like this to be included in every issue of his new series Fell. Just like a DVD extra, only cool.

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent. Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer Dancer - DJ - Graphic Designer Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

The 5 Right Now Meme.

5 things you feel right now:
Relief.
The air conditioner fan in the window.
Like I should be doing something else.
Anxiety.
Like I'm someone else.

Last 5 things you bought:
Comics.
Books.
Diet Coke.
A Philidelphia Burger at Steak N Shake. (It was good.)
Expensive Gas. ($2.25 a gallon.)

5 objects of lust:
My wife Kalisa.
My journal.
Natalie Portman.
Money.
Getting my black belt.

5 things in your pockets or purse:
In my man bag actually:
Shades.
Star Wars "The Courtship of Princess Leia" book.
Pens.
Planner.
Dead Bodies.

5 things you collect:
Comics are the only true "collection" I have.

5 true statements you can make that most people can't:
Don't hate me because I'm beautiful, in the morning I look like this.
I hate smoking pot.
I have seen a UFO, and I believe.
I am quite possibly the most anal person ever to have lived, I always have to know where I'm going.
When I was a kid working Drive Thru at Burger King, a bomb shell blond in a Ferrari once winked at me and said if every BK drive thru had a man as good looking and as kind as I was the line would never end. :)

Meme: Fifteen Minutes of Fame.

1. If you could be famous for 15 minutes, what would the headline read?

You want to be Nobius, but you can't! :)

2. Do you think fame would change you?

I hope not, but probably. I think it'd make me a little more crazy. (If that's possible...lol.) I like my privacy.

3. Has your name ever appeared in the newspaper? ..what for?

Only once when I was in trouble. Damn Police blotter.

4. Would you like to be famous for *more* than 15 minutes?

Yes. Especially if it involves half naked co-eds throwing their bras at me. :)

5. If you could perform one act of Good while you were famous, what would it be?

I would start a charity to help average Americans go to college (like myself). My charity would pay all of their school related costs plus give them a salary to live on so they could still support their family. This way they could finish their degree and get a better life. The idea being that as they make more money, they'd help those less fortunate in some way. That's what it's really all about.

I also would like to start a grant to help people become writers, musicians, comic creators, or something of the like. America doesn't support it's artisans.

Why London, Why Now?

I don't agree with everything in this article, but the author makes good points.

Saudi's warn of future oil shortfalls. You think $61.00 a barrel is high, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

CNN.com - Eco-car more efficient than light bulb. Nuff said?

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping Your caffeine addiction level: high

"These stand for me. Name your God and bleed the freak. I'd like to say how you always bleed for me." -- Alice in Chains

The new religion spread like a wild fire over dry timber. Dark was the new way. Evil was the night sky.

"Come to me. Come to me." --the simple hymn of entire throngs singing the chorus of Night Baptism. Keeping necks exposed, waiting for the bite.

His every speech nearly the same, every word almost identical. Janthos (the Wise) was becoming the new Jesus, only with more sinister intent. "My lovely Bloody Ones, my unsatisfied children. Taste the breeze that nullifies. Lose the man! Lose the man! Let us drink! Come to me. Come to me and live!!"

It's the same refrain used by priests and Pharisees for eons. Every man wants to live forever, fearing the death that is so much a part of what it means to be alive. We fear our own mortality! Sheep will do anything for a promise, even run to slaughter.

When the crowd thrashes with exuberance, lying of hands, speaking in tongues, the Acolytes make their move. Fervent dog and pony shows distract. Swooping down to feed on the ever willing. It’s an undead kiss.

I've always wondered what it feels like to be liberated but some things are not worth any price. Being undead isn't living forever, it's losing your soul. I may not be much but at least I'm a man. It's all I've got.

Strange Horizons Fiction: The Historian, by Joey Comeau, illustration by Becky Cloonan.

More short stories, more Commeau.

The Internet is a wonderful place.

Neil Gaiman's We Can Get Them For You Wholesale.

Reading in Halifax.

Commeau asks what if no one thinks math porn is appropriate?

Creating Comics Step By Step #9.


Art does not illustrate a comic. Art is the story, just as writing is the story. Steven Grant continues his well-done series on making comic books.

Locus Award Winners Named.

Ahh more stuff to read. Man, I love books.

This is where I am now. From Kick Start Daily.

You want a better position that you now have in
business, a better and fuller place in life. All right;
think of that better place and you in it as already
existing.

Form the mental image.

Keep on thinking of that higher position, keep the
image constantly before you, and - no, you will not be
suddenly transported into a higher job, but you will
find that you are preparing yourself to occupy the
better position in life - your body, your energy, your
understanding, your heart will all grow up to the job -
and when you are ready, after hard work, after perhaps
years of preparation, you will get the job and the
higher place in life.

- Joseph H. Appel

This movie would be worth watching even if didn't have a generous portion of Selma Hayek running around scantily clad. It's even wrapped up with a happy ending, as Pierce Bronson's jewel thief character has to make the ultimate decision: what does he really love?

It's a question we're all faced with though I was blessed with the fact that I knew the answer to mine the first time I laid eyes on her.

We watched THe Phantom of the Opera tonight. I was pleasantly surpised though it was a little long for my taste. The music was stunning, and I've even added a few tracks to my internet radio station The Misery Signal.

I can't quite shake the sound of Angel of Music nor the face of the gorgeous Emmy Rossum. You won't either. I'm going to close my eyes soon and hope they both come to me in my dreams.

Friday Five: Debt.

Let's talk about debt baby:

1. Who do you owe?
Borrowed a small amount from my Mom to get my wife's new car, however I'll be able to give it back to her later this year when I can loan from my 401K plan again.

2. Does anyone owe you?
No.

3. How many credit cards to you have?
None. I don't believe in credit cards. Modern credit is indentured servitude for the finacially weak willed.

4. Do you care about national debt?
Of course I do, too bad Washington doesn't. If I ran America, we'd actually only spend what we recieved in tax revenue. Novel concept.

5. Would your friends be surprised if they accidently saw the balance in your checkbook?
Yea, they'd say how the f*ck does this guy support four kids on that salary?

Recently, as you know, I've been finding some real bargains in the back issue bin at my local comic shop.



Doom Patrol #64 was a fun if not chaotic read. Very "trippy" to say the least. This issue marked the transition of Doom Patrol from DC to Vertigo and the premier of Rachel Pollack as scribe.

Now maybe I'll get real lucky and find Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol epic
The House that Jack Built.

This is the sh*t I'm going to write.

DC SURVEY.

Tell DC Comics about yourself and get a chance to win an exclusive Batman: Hush figure!

Stolen from Cartoon Mayhem.

I am The Wheel of Fortune The Wheel of Fortune represents unexpected encounters and twists of fate. You can't predict surprises; you can only be aware when one is circling around. Indeed, Card 10 often suggests wheel-like actions - changes in direction, repeating cycles and rapid movement. When the energy of the Wheel arrives, you will feel life speed up. You are caught in a cyclone that may deposit you anywhere. "Round and round and round she goes, and where she stops, nobody knows." For a full description of your card and other goodies, please visit LearnTarot.com

What tarot card are you? Enter your birthdate. Month: Day: Year:

The Internet transforms modern life. To say the least.

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." --Abraham Lincoln

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." --Bill Cosby

A long over due meme from Grant.

You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be?

If you're a book Fahrenheit is an excellent one to be. It's a phenomenal story that still holds up fifty years later. But if I could be any book, it'd be one of the Legion of The Damned books by William C. Dietz. If you could put Star Wars and Tom Clancy in a blender, mixed on high, and then threw in a bomb, you might have half the excitement of one of those books!

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?

Sure many of them. (I guess I'm not the only one.) Neil Gaiman's sexy punk version of Death would have to be my favorite. Long dark hair, spunky, able to kill with a touch...doesn't get much better than that. Pam Anderson would be a close second. :)

The last book you bought is:

The Courtship of Princess Leia.

The last book you read:

What Color is Your Parachute?

Five books you would take to a deserted island.

Orson Scott Card: Maps In A Mirror --The ultimate short story collection.

William C. Dietz: The Final Battle --By far the best of Dietz's Legion of the Damn books. War based science fiction so real you're be scraping the blood off your helmet.

Stan Rice: False Prophet --Poetry to haunt your soul, so stark and biting you'll wish you'd written it.

Neil Gaiman: Seasons of the Mist --Graphic novels are novels and this one proves it better than any. Join the Sandman (who is on my shirt now) in his unwanted quest to find a new land lord for Hell itself.

Warren Ellis: Transmetropolitan. Not sure I can pick a single favorite issue or collection of this series. But I have yet to read them all. Journalist Spider Jerusalem and his Filthy Assistants uncover the dirty truth in a sprawling ugly future so distopian it'll break your heart yet still Ellis manages to find shreds of hope. Spider will find the conspiracy. Even if it kills him.

Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?
No one, but I'd love to see someone else use it because let's be honest, books are our friends. And you can never have enough friends.

Taken from Grant.

1) If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why? (Assume you also get baseline superhero enhancements like moderately increased strength, endurance and agility.)

X-ray vision man. Cus I definitely want to see more breasts!

2) Which, if any, 'existing' superhero(es) do you fancy, and why?

Without a doubt, besides having the hots for Wonderwoman. I love that Batman. I want to dress up in spandex and scare the crap out of criminals.

3) Which, if any, 'existing' superhero(es) do you hate?

Fartman. What kind of a fricking power is that? Luke Cage isn't far behind, what good is a superhero without a super name!

4) Is there an 'existing' superhero with whom you identify/whom you would like to be?

Definitely Braniac. I mean I love to tell everyone how smart I am. Ron Jermey isn't far behind.

5) What would your superhero name be?

Nobius Black, of course.

High School Start Ups. Where are my kids anyway? :)

Help keep the electric on. Almost like a virtual street performance.

The Essential Ellison. Add this to the wish list.

Excellent interview with one of metal's stalwarts John Schaeffer of Iced Earth.

Cultural Creative 88% Postmodernist 38% Fundamentalist 38% Existentialist 31% Idealist 25% Modernist 6% Materialist 0% Romanticist 0% You scored as Cultural Creative. Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational. What is Your World View? (updated) created with QuizFarm.com