Everything You Know Is Wrong

 

Found a great new site called Disinfo.net.  I added a link to it on my sidebar, it's the devilgirl next to the tv without pity.  I'll let them explain the purpose behind this site:

Launched on September 13, 1996, Disinformation was designed to be the search service of choice for individuals looking for information on current affairs, politics, new science and the "hidden information" that seldom seems to slip through the cracks of the corporate-owned media conglomerates. Ironically, it was funded by one of the largest media companies in the world (TeleCommunications, Inc. (TCI), now part of Comcast), who paid for placement on Netscape's then ubiquitous search page. The site drew immediate attention and (usually) applause from the very same news media that it was criticizing as being under the influence of both government and big business, but the honeymoon was short. Some three weeks after launch the CEO of TCI learned of Disinformation and immediately ordered it closed down. Needless to say, site founder Richard Metzger and a few loyal members of his team managed to keep the site going and it has evolved into the largest and most popular alternative news and underground culture destination on the Web. At the height of the dotcom boom The Disinformation Company was acquired by one of the high fliers of the so-called "New Economy", Razorfish; when the bubble burst so did Razorfish and today The Disinformation Company is owned and operated by Metzger and business partner Gary Baddeley, with offices in New York and Los Angeles. In addition to this site, The Disinformation Company also has thriving publishing, television and home video divisions and is developing its first feature film. The political bias of our staff just happens to be 'liberal' or 'progressive' but that doesn't mean we close our minds to ideas that are deemed conservative; far from it. How can someone be truly well informed with only half the story? In the years since we launched the site in 1996 it has gone through several design and editorial changes, evolving from a specialized Web search directory to an original content (text and video) destination to the current format of the most important daily news and information links carefully selected from the "noise" that clutters up the web. The site also has a deep archive of opinion and editorial articles featuring original Disinformation interviews and reporting, plus community areas for users to find other users (a/k/a the personals), post comments and chat about the issues presented on the site and other topics of importance to our community. We also welcome your feedback and of course encourage you to load up on Disinformation goodies in our store. The above is copyright by The Disinformation Company, Ltd.

Star Wars

I saw the new Star Wars movie last night.  I was suprised how small the crowd was there.  I doubt there was three dozen people there.  I know the first couple days the movie broke all the box office records, but I think that was to be expected.  Everyone was waiting on this movie.  It was the birth of Darth Vader.

 

So how did I like it?   All I can say is that it was better than the first two, but not as good as the original three.  I think the basic problem with it was the character of Anikin Skywalker.  He was just an unlikable character.  The movie was supposed to show his change from the good to the dark side.  But he was always a jerk as far as I was concered.  He was always arrogant and selfish.  There was no real tragedy when he became Darth Vader.  The auidence should have felt the pain of his tranformation to the dark side.  But it felt like he was always had one foot in the dark, so when he became Darth Vader it didn't feel tragic. 

Fiction Post

Following this post will be a post of a work in progress.  It's something I wrote awhile back and have not finished.   If you feel like commenting on it, please do so, pro or con.  

My Dad

This is my Dad. 

Thanks

I forgot in my last post.  I want to thank everyone that has offered good wishes for my Dad the last week or two.  It's meant a lot.  I started this blog for fun, but it's become more than that.  I've "met" some really great people on here and like to think made some friendships.  Everyone's good thoughts for my Dad are appreciated more than I can say.  I just want to thank all of you.

GOOD NEWS!

Ok, I want to get it out first, so no one thinks I'm trying to leave the outcome to the end of the post.  The surgery was today and everything went great.  The doctor said it went as good as it could go.  The tumor was about the size of a quarter and they got it all out he said.  Everything went good...I know I've probably said that already, but it's a relief. 

 

It's been a long day.  Spent it just sittting around waiting on word.  We went in around eight and we got word around four.

 

As good as it went it still was unsettling to see him after the surgery.  He kept shaking, they said it was an aftereffect of the surgery.  He was thirsty, but couldn't have anything to drink.  The nurse would wet a sponge on the end of stick and mositen his lips with it, but that was as much as he could have they said.  His stomach was bloated from gas. 

 

But you know what, it doesn't matter.  Everything went good!

Thursday

Ok, tommorrow is the day my Dad goes in for surgery and we find out how bad it is.  Or hopefully how good it is.  Not much more to say than that.

Joan of Arcadia

I just read that CBS cancled Joan today.   I was somewhat surprised.  I knew that the ratings weren't there, but it had a fairly loyal fan base and it was the type of show that networks liked to point to and let people know they are making.   I was surprised that I liked the show.  I'm not a fan of shows like Touched by An Angel and Highway to Heaven.  But I thought Joan was very good.  It never got too preachy.  I'm sorry to see Joan go, I wish CBS had given it another chance.  The first year Joan was a surprise hit, the second year it dropped in the ratings.  You would have thought CBS might have tried it at least one more year, to see if it could recapture those first year numbers. 

Star Wars Is Coming

This week is the third installement (or the sixth in reality) of the Star Wars saga.  Now I am of the age that grew up with Star Wars.  I remember going to see the first Star Wars (sorry I can't call it A New Hope) at the movie house at Oakwood Mall.  The theatre no long exsists.  It wasn't the palace type, with the stadium seats and the state of the art sound and whatever other bells and whistles the theatres have now.  But there was magic there that day when I saw Star Wars.  Now I was a geek back than (ok, ok, I'm still a geek), I had already read a ton about Star Wars and if memory serves me right, the first issue or two (maybe more) of the comic book was already out and I had read them.  I now the later movies Lucas was super secretive about letting any comic or book out before the movie, but I think they were trying to get a push for the first movie, no one knew it would explode like it did, so I'm pretty sure the book and comic were out before the movie.  But I knew what Star Wars was and I was a science fiction fan, that was most of what I read at the time.  I remember sitting in that theatre, leaving back in the chair as the words scrolled across the screen, and than that monster of a space ship.   Wow!  That one word captures it all.

 

When the second one came out me, Mark and Sal were at the theatre hours (and I mean hours) before the movie opened.  We were the first in line.  By the time the movie opened the line wrapped around the building.  

 

Those first three movies were filled with magic and awe.  I'm not saying they are the best movies ever made, there are a lot of movies I can claim to think are better and even that I like more.  But there was, and is, something special about those movies.

 

I have never seen the new editions of the three movies.  I did break down and buy the three movies when they came out on DVD, but I haven't watched them yet.  I will, but I wish Lucas had put the old versions on the DVDs too.  I loved those movies, even if they aren't as special effected as the newer versions that he reedited them as. 

 

Now by the time the next two movies came out a lot had changed.  I was a lot older.  Dare I say a little more cynical?  I saw the first movie, but after it had been out for awhile.  I wasn't that impressed.   The second movie I saw but I don't even remember when I saw it.  I don't remember seeing it at the theatres, I think I saw it on TV, the DVD or on HBO or whatever channel showed it.   But I think telling you that I can't remember where I saw it tells you a lot of what I thought of it.    I can tell you where I saw all three of the first ones.  I remember when we left after seeing Empire Yvonne and her brother were in line to see the next showing. I only mention this cause I had such a crush on Yvonne at the time.

 

But all that is prelude.   The new one is coming.  From what I've read it will bring the magic back to the series.  This is the birth of Darth Vader.  This is where everything in all five movies come together.  (If that makes sense when the first three actually take place after this one, but it does make sense.)  All the reviews have been favorable so far.  From everything I've seen or read or heard....I'm hoping...I'll be there to see it as soon as I can.

24

Two more episodes to go and the season is over.   If there ever was a cliff hanger it was tonight.  The missle is launched, how do they stop it?  Where is it going?  Jack has his hands full.  Who's going to die?  I've read that two more characters on the show are supposed to die before the season is up.  One from what I've read is a pretty good bet to be Michelle.  Who is the other?  Could it actually be Jack?  Rumors float every year it seems that they are going to kill Jack and bring someone else in.  But I just don't think the show would be the same without Jack.  He brings a certain intensity to his role.   Well, we'll see in the next two weeks.

Television Without Pity

On the right side of here should be a new flashing icon for a site called Television Without Pity. Go to it, it's cool. It lists recaps of some of the neat shows on tv right now. It's a cool site, check it out.

My Dad

Just general thoughts on my Dad:

 

I remember when I was a kid, pretty young, and seeing my Dad without a shirt on.  He had chest hair.  And a lot of it.  I have always associated chest hair with being an adult (well, an adult man at least).  My chest stayed bald until I was probably sixteen or even older.  I got a few little hairs, in the center, but it just wasn't the same.  I always thought I should have more.  Now I do...and the hair just wants to take over my entire body, but that's a blog for a different type of entry.

 

Robert Heinlien writes science fiction.   He wrote a lot of classics in the field, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, well I could go on and on with the classics he wrote.  The point is that in most of his stories the main character was the Competent Man.  The Man that could do just about anything that was needed to be done.  In his stories the main character could take an engine apart, cook a meal, rescue the world, whatever needed to be done.   In my life that man was my Dad.  He seemed to be able to do anything.  He could work on a car, he could fix the plumping, he could cook,  he could build just about anything out of wood, it just seemed that if something needed doing he could do it.  

 

I know now that there was a lot of insecurity in my Dad.  He never finished high school and  I don't think he considered himself a success in many ways the world assigns success.  He never thought he was that intelligent.  When he retired from the Navy he wouldn't look for jobs I thought he should have, he thought they were beyond his grasp.  But he was the biggest success I know.  He created a family, he made a partnership with my Mom, he did so many things right.

 

I got my love of reading from my Dad.  He reads almost as much as I do.  (I say almost cause I think no one reads as much as me.) 

 

Before I had ever heard of feminism I had an example of it at home.  He and my Mom had a partnership.  They both worked long and hard hours.  Whichever one got home first made the meal.   He washed the dishes.  He helped clean the house.  (I'm not saying that they had a perfect partnership and didn't argue.  My parents could fight, oh boy, could they fight.  But that's not the point of this post.)

 

As kids my brother and I never wanted for anything.  Yeah, we may not have got the designer clothes, the hip sneakers (actually I think that was before sneakers were hip), the hottest toys every year, but we always were dressed good, we always had presents at Christmas, we always went on vacation every summer...to DisneyWorld, to Six Flags, to the beach, to somewhere.

 

One of the biggest achievments my Dad accomplished I never realized till I was grown and moved out.  My Dad came from an abusive family.  Not just a little abusive, his Dad would beat him.   The day my Dad joined the Navy his father had beat him and broken a rib.  That was what made my Dad finally leave and join the Navy at the age of 17.   And my Dad did not pass it on.   Sons of abusive parents are inclined to be abusive themselves.   My Dad never beat us.  Yes, we got whippings.  Yes, we got yelled at.  But we were never abused.  We were never given broken bones or bruised skin.   And growing up we never knew our Grand Dad was like that.  We would visit his parents in New Jersey now and than, but we didnt' see that side of our Grand Dad.  As we got older we could tell Dad didnt' always get along with his Father, but we never knew why. 

 

I've always thought of my Dad as a big man.  When I picture him in my mind he stands over me.  But he isn't.  He's short, something my brother and I like to kid him about.  But in my mind he is a giant.

 

The only time I see him as his normal size is when he is with his grand kids, my brother's kids.   They both love him and think he is the greatest thing in the world.  When I see him with them I picture him as a little old man walking along with them, happy and content in the world.

 

The last few years have been some of the best for my Mom and Dad.  They are both retired, living out in the country, doing whatever they want with their lives now.  It's something I'm glad has come about, it's something they both deserve.

Music on Here?

Just a question to anyone reading this, if you could please leave a response. Does anyone hear the music when they come on my site? It's supposed to be Bob Dylan's Visions of Johanna. My computer is screwed up, so sometimes I hear it and sometimes I don't. Right now it's playing. But Heather mentioned to me that she never hears anything when she comes on here, so I was wondering if it played at all.

Diebold #1 (second printing)

This is the cover to the second printing of Diebold #1. We sold out of our first printing and went back to a second printing Not big numbers, but for today they'd be even better. The first printing cover was by Sam Kieth (of The Maxx fame) and on the back cover we had this one by Mike Zeck (of Punisher fame). For the second printing we just flipped them.

Buffy Sleeping

This isn't a great picture, but I had to take it in the dark and with my camera phone. I just wanted to show how spoiled Buffy is, she has to have a blanket to sleep under. I didn't start this, my parents did when I would leave her over with them.

Gas Prices

Wow, I feel so lucky.  I got gas for under two dollars a gallon.  With my Sam's card discount it was $1.96 a gallon.  And you know the worst part?  I was happy about it!

Pimp Name

Just got this from Laure Lee, eh, I mean Devious Honey Lee Large's site.  My pimp name is Mastastic John Skillz.  Check out what your pimp name is at http://www.playerappreciate.com/pimphandle.asp

My Concerts

I've started saving the ticket stubs (on now the entire ticket since most places just scan the ticket and give it back to you) from concerts I've been to. Unfortuantely I only started this in the last year or so. I wish I had did this from the beginning. I would love to just look back at all the concerts I've been to. A friend suggested that I should make a list of all the concerts I've been to. Now I don't claim to have went to that many concerts. I go through phases. I won't see a concert in years and than within a year I'll go to a dozen or two. Right now I'm in the go to a dozen or two phase. But I would like to look at all the concerts I've been to. I think I'll start a list and whenever I can think of a batch I'll share them with everyone on here. So this could go on for awhile. I'm going to try and think of some of the early ones first and than probably I'll skip ahead to more recent ones.

• Foghat (the first concert I went to, in the old Warehouse in downtown NewOrleans.)
• Irma Thomas
• Van Halen
• Sammy Hagar
• Ted Nugent
• Blue Oyster Cult
• Heart
• Boston
• Cheap Trick (at least three times)
• Foreigner
• Styx
• Eagles
• Christopher Cross
• Charlie Daniels
• Pat Benatar
• Who
• Kansas
• Police

These were all the first concerts I went to. Van Halen and Sammy Hagar I saw at the first day of Rock and Roll in the Superdome. This was so long ago, both of these acts were at the bottom of the line up, the first acts up. Heart was the headliner for the show. It was one of those shows that started at noon and was supposed to be over by midnight, but I don't think Heart came out till after two in the morning. This is just the start of the list, I'll keep updating.

3 Doors Down

Last night I went to see 3 Doors Down with Heather. It was a good concert. They had three opening acts. The first two were pretty short, only about twenty minutes apiece...Sabatoge and Silvertone. They were ok, neither all that great I thought. One thing I did like was that lead singer of Silvertone went out in the auidence, walked all the way across the floor, climbed up in the seats and took a seat across from the stage and talked to the crowd. That was pretty cool. The final opening act was Breaking Benjimens. They were ok. 3 Doors Down had a huge stage, set with these huge gears that moved around. They had it set up where fire would errupt from the stage during certain songs. They were really good. I enjoyed them.

I hope Heather doesn't think I was upset or something during the concert. I wasn't. I was just occupied, Wednesday was the day my Dad was supposed to find more out and when he would have surgery. I kept trying to call, but for some reason I couldn't get any reception in the areana. The phone would just ring and ring. Once someone picked up and I could barely hear my Dad, I kept yelling "Hello!" but he couldnt' hear me. Today he said he could hear me but it sounded like I was whispering. So I was kind of low key during the concert, I enjoyed it, but at the same time my mind wasn't completely on it.

Next Thursday

My Dad's surgery is scheduled for next Thursday.  The doctors seem optmistic about what they're going to find, but you never know for sure until you go in and look.