So, I got a call from a restricted phone number today. I picked up (I know, bad move), and was greeted by a recording from an outfit called Family Radio.
They're a listener funded radio station, like NPR or WFMU, only CRAZY!
The voice on the other end informed me that the Rapture will happen in October of 2011 and all those left behind will face God's fiery wrath. The voice then encouraged me to listen so I can prepare to let my soul be saved.
OK, first off, the Rapture ISN'T IN THE BIBLE!
Secondly, according to the book they thump, Jesus himself says no one save God the Father knows the date of the end times.
So, what the hell are these whackos babbling about?!
Now, I want to know who signed me up for that shit, 'cause I'm on that nifty do not call list.
Anyone? Anyone?
Ugh!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Withdrawal
Well, Doctor Who Series 4 is over and I'm experiencing a bit of withdrawal. Thankfully, io9 just posted some great classic Doctor Who stories. So, I'll have to catch up on them.
Also, I picked up Paul Cornell's novelization of his Scream of the Shalka and I got my grubby little mitts on the Blood of the Daleks audio play. They're both pretty damn impressive and they're a fun substitute for the show.
'til Christmas,
Ian
Also, I picked up Paul Cornell's novelization of his Scream of the Shalka and I got my grubby little mitts on the Blood of the Daleks audio play. They're both pretty damn impressive and they're a fun substitute for the show.
'til Christmas,
Ian
Monday, August 4, 2008
A Storm Of Creativity
OK, so I haven't been blogging anywhere near as much as I should. So, to all 5 or 6 of you that read this thing, I apologize.
I've been focusing my writing chops on a comic book pitch. It's an idea that's been floating around in my head for the past year and half or so and I felt it's about damn time I actually start developing the damn thing on paper.
So, The Sinister Specter's suffered a bit. Instead of writing about comics, I've decided to write my own.
That said, I've made a lot of headway on the pitch. I should be done with the lion's share of the work by this weekend, so I'll probably post more frequently. Who knows, it may even coincide with when I see The Clone Wars. Like everyone else in the geek blogosphere, I'm sure to have an opinion on that!
Be seeing you,
Ian
I've been focusing my writing chops on a comic book pitch. It's an idea that's been floating around in my head for the past year and half or so and I felt it's about damn time I actually start developing the damn thing on paper.
So, The Sinister Specter's suffered a bit. Instead of writing about comics, I've decided to write my own.
That said, I've made a lot of headway on the pitch. I should be done with the lion's share of the work by this weekend, so I'll probably post more frequently. Who knows, it may even coincide with when I see The Clone Wars. Like everyone else in the geek blogosphere, I'm sure to have an opinion on that!
Be seeing you,
Ian
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Jerk of the Week: Andrew Klavan
I read a rather infuriating op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal that compared Batman, as portrayed in The Dark Knight, to President George W. Bush. Andrew Klavan is the grossly misguided author.
Mr. Klavan writes, "[t]here seems to me no question that the Batman film...is at some level a paean of praise to the fortitude and moral courage that has been shown by George W. Bush in this time of terror and war."
Did we watch the same movie?
Yes, Batman does display a lot of "conservative values," but if memory serves, he NEVER breaks his one rule. George W. Bush and his administration wiretapped American citizens without warrants. Not to mention Mr. Bush practically abandoned a war with a country that had a hand in attacking the United States so he could commit the US Armed Forces to what was basically a personal vendetta. That doesn't sound very much like the Batman movie I saw, Mr. Klavan.
Mr. Bush, like so many politicians, has taken a set of values along with some bumbling Orwellian rhetoric and used them to divide the country. If I was going to compare George W. Bush and his administration to any characters in a Summer Blockbuster, it would probably be Emperor Palpatine and the Empire. Now that's an article that needs some writing!
Mr. Klavan writes, "[t]here seems to me no question that the Batman film...is at some level a paean of praise to the fortitude and moral courage that has been shown by George W. Bush in this time of terror and war."
Did we watch the same movie?
Yes, Batman does display a lot of "conservative values," but if memory serves, he NEVER breaks his one rule. George W. Bush and his administration wiretapped American citizens without warrants. Not to mention Mr. Bush practically abandoned a war with a country that had a hand in attacking the United States so he could commit the US Armed Forces to what was basically a personal vendetta. That doesn't sound very much like the Batman movie I saw, Mr. Klavan.
Mr. Bush, like so many politicians, has taken a set of values along with some bumbling Orwellian rhetoric and used them to divide the country. If I was going to compare George W. Bush and his administration to any characters in a Summer Blockbuster, it would probably be Emperor Palpatine and the Empire. Now that's an article that needs some writing!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Twilight of the Heroes
I heard a story about an aging movie star that’s outlived his body double by over 5 years and his co-star by over 24 years. He’s living a life most retirees dream of. He paints, plays the piano, takes the occasional run to the drive-thru for a hamburger and he watches movies on a nice, comfy sofa. He’s even writing a book! This Palm Springs resident certainly sounds like he’s living the life, doesn’t he?
Cheeta’s his name, and he’s a chimpanzee. Cheeta was the star of 12 classic Tarzan movie serials. He’s the oldest known living chimp, though his actual age is up for debate. Regardless of his age, he’s still living better than most human beings his age. He certainly has it better than my Grandfather did.
Angelo Mai was a first generation American. Named after a 19th Century ancestor (who also happened to be the chief keeper of the Vatican Library), he was the youngest of 11 children. He grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey where he eventually joined the city’s Fire Department. He married a nurse and they had 3 children. He was a stern man by all accounts. He strongly believed in God, country and family. The man was a grumpy force of nature.
“He was a strong man,” my mother said. “When he hugged me as a child, I was enveloped in these huge muscles. It felt so safe.” I suppose he had to be in great shape. After all, Hoboken was full of multi story apartment buildings and brownstones. It was like a gauntlet for firefighters.
When my mother was a child, Grandpa rose to the rank of Captain. He worked a city fireman's schedule and never took advantage of his rank. Once, when my mother and father were on a date at what's now known as the Malibu Diner. A building across the street was ablaze and who showed up and ran right in? That's right...Grandpa.
“I looked up, and somehow he got all the way to the roof fast,” she said. “Your father and I just sat in our booth and watched him. There he was, in full gear, on the roof of a burning building! He was smoking a cigarette, directing the firemen.”
After retirement, when he was in his mid 60s, Grandpa chopped his own firewood, mowed his lawn and tinkered all over the house. This was when I knew him.
When Grandpa found out I liked comics, he gave me a bunch of Evangelical Christian mini comics. The comics were black, white and light blue. The first one was innocuous enough, as it was about Jonah and the Whale. But the second one he gave me was the one that stuck out the most. It was about Armageddon. The thing that so vividly sticks out in my mind is a picture of a police motorcycle with a guillotine on the back. Apparently, the police would be the agents of the Antichrist and they’d use the bikes to behead the Faithful. He also gave me loose change in empty pill bottles.
He did all the work around the house until his early 70s. Then he was diagnosed with emphysema. He moved in with my Uncle for a while, but soon, the emphysema grew stronger than Grandpa and he had to move to a nursing home.
Grandpa spent his twilight years sharing a room with an invalid, and then with a man even more cantankerous than he ever was. The Nursing Home was clean and the staff was friendly. It was modest a modest place, but Grandpa would be happy with a crate to sit on, his Bible and a Mets game on the radio.
Grandpa was a stubborn man, which I suppose is why he was such a damn good fireman. At his wake, several of his fellow firefighters came up to my Mother, my Aunt and my Uncle and told them about how they would have followed Grandpa anywhere. They reminisced about the crazy things he'd do to make sure they got home to their families that night. I swear, it was like they were talking about a super hero. This man, who gave me pennies and dimes covered with who knows what kind of pharmaceutical residue inspired these men more than any British nobleman in a loincloth and a chimpanzee ever could.
Cheeta’s his name, and he’s a chimpanzee. Cheeta was the star of 12 classic Tarzan movie serials. He’s the oldest known living chimp, though his actual age is up for debate. Regardless of his age, he’s still living better than most human beings his age. He certainly has it better than my Grandfather did.
Angelo Mai was a first generation American. Named after a 19th Century ancestor (who also happened to be the chief keeper of the Vatican Library), he was the youngest of 11 children. He grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey where he eventually joined the city’s Fire Department. He married a nurse and they had 3 children. He was a stern man by all accounts. He strongly believed in God, country and family. The man was a grumpy force of nature.
“He was a strong man,” my mother said. “When he hugged me as a child, I was enveloped in these huge muscles. It felt so safe.” I suppose he had to be in great shape. After all, Hoboken was full of multi story apartment buildings and brownstones. It was like a gauntlet for firefighters.
When my mother was a child, Grandpa rose to the rank of Captain. He worked a city fireman's schedule and never took advantage of his rank. Once, when my mother and father were on a date at what's now known as the Malibu Diner. A building across the street was ablaze and who showed up and ran right in? That's right...Grandpa.
“I looked up, and somehow he got all the way to the roof fast,” she said. “Your father and I just sat in our booth and watched him. There he was, in full gear, on the roof of a burning building! He was smoking a cigarette, directing the firemen.”
After retirement, when he was in his mid 60s, Grandpa chopped his own firewood, mowed his lawn and tinkered all over the house. This was when I knew him.
When Grandpa found out I liked comics, he gave me a bunch of Evangelical Christian mini comics. The comics were black, white and light blue. The first one was innocuous enough, as it was about Jonah and the Whale. But the second one he gave me was the one that stuck out the most. It was about Armageddon. The thing that so vividly sticks out in my mind is a picture of a police motorcycle with a guillotine on the back. Apparently, the police would be the agents of the Antichrist and they’d use the bikes to behead the Faithful. He also gave me loose change in empty pill bottles.
He did all the work around the house until his early 70s. Then he was diagnosed with emphysema. He moved in with my Uncle for a while, but soon, the emphysema grew stronger than Grandpa and he had to move to a nursing home.
Grandpa spent his twilight years sharing a room with an invalid, and then with a man even more cantankerous than he ever was. The Nursing Home was clean and the staff was friendly. It was modest a modest place, but Grandpa would be happy with a crate to sit on, his Bible and a Mets game on the radio.
Grandpa was a stubborn man, which I suppose is why he was such a damn good fireman. At his wake, several of his fellow firefighters came up to my Mother, my Aunt and my Uncle and told them about how they would have followed Grandpa anywhere. They reminisced about the crazy things he'd do to make sure they got home to their families that night. I swear, it was like they were talking about a super hero. This man, who gave me pennies and dimes covered with who knows what kind of pharmaceutical residue inspired these men more than any British nobleman in a loincloth and a chimpanzee ever could.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Biff! Boff! POW!
So, the blogosphere is filled with folks commenting on Christian Bale’s alleged assault on his mother and sister. It’s on Celebrity Gossip, The Huffington Post, Perez Hilton…all the usual suspects.
Like all developing celeb scandals, these jerks have very little to report. Mr. Bale’s family accused him of assault and the police arrested him…end of story. Yet they all feel the need to sink their venomous teeth into this developing story.
The ONLY thing this story will do now is breed speculation. And you don’t need to be Bear Stearns to know how unhealthy idle speculation can be.
Like all developing celeb scandals, these jerks have very little to report. Mr. Bale’s family accused him of assault and the police arrested him…end of story. Yet they all feel the need to sink their venomous teeth into this developing story.
The ONLY thing this story will do now is breed speculation. And you don’t need to be Bear Stearns to know how unhealthy idle speculation can be.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Escape From Little Sea World
John Carpenter and Kurt Russel really need to get back together and make a movie again. Those guys have a 3 out of 4 record, so I trust them enough with a fifth movie.
In fact, I'll even throw them a bone for a plot...
It's the far flung future of 1998. Snake Plisken and his deadbeat Uncle Jack Burton get together for a tailgate party at the burnt-out Newark Bears stadium. Somewhere along the way, they find out Lo Pan and Brain are looking for the "Fripper with green eyes" and all hell breaks loose.
We'll call it Escape From Little Sea World.
Sounds awesome, right?
In fact, I'll even throw them a bone for a plot...
It's the far flung future of 1998. Snake Plisken and his deadbeat Uncle Jack Burton get together for a tailgate party at the burnt-out Newark Bears stadium. Somewhere along the way, they find out Lo Pan and Brain are looking for the "Fripper with green eyes" and all hell breaks loose.
We'll call it Escape From Little Sea World.
Sounds awesome, right?
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