tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39378584970136372042024-03-05T05:16:43.057-08:00Cliffhangersjoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061597408745801477noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937858497013637204.post-12701757282387613782010-03-05T06:36:00.001-08:002010-03-05T07:11:07.133-08:00It isn't really ironic, don't you think?Travis Koval is many things. A good friend, an aspiring film-maker, 2007 May Employee of the Month at Office Max, and according to girlfriend Amanda Love, a ton of snugglebear fun (and that's not an insult to his weight. It's not a literal ton because snugglebear fun cannot be measured by a metric scale).<br /><br />Most of all though, as Celebrity Jeopardy Sean Connery would say, Travis is not a therapist of the English language. Don't try to misuse the word "ironic" around him when the word you really meant to use was "coincidence". Travis is a badge wearing member of the irony police.<br /><br />So as a gift to Travis, I present updated lyrics to Alanis Morissette's hit single, "Ironic" and a link to the video so we can all sing along without misusing the word ironic.<br /><br /><br /><br />An old man turned ninety-eight<br />He won the lottery and died the next day<br />fromaheartattackcausedbytheexcitementofthewinninglottoticketwhich-<br />heboughttobetterhislife<br />It's a black fly in your Chardonnay<br />whichisyourfavoritedrinkbecauseyouhatethetasteofinsects<br />It's a death row pardon two minutes too late<br />okaythat'sactuallyironicfromthegovernor'sviewpoint<br />Isn't it ironic ... don't you think<br />Chorus<br /><br />It's like rain on your wedding day<br />onlyifyouprayedforrainandbelieveinweddingdaysuperstitions<br />It's a free ride when you've already paid<br />ifyoupaidtowalk<br />It's the good advice that you just didn't take<br />notenoughinformation<br />Who would've thought ... it figures<br /><br />Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly<br />He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids good-bye<br />He waited his whole damn life to take that flight<br />And as the plane crashed down he thought<br />'Well isn't this nice...'<br />And isn't it ironic ... don't you think<br />notreallybecauseitwouldbeironicifhewasafraidtoflysothereforehedrove-everywherebutonedayaplanecrashedonhimandhedied<br />Repeat Chorus<br /><br /><br />Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you<br />When you think everything's okay and everything's going right<br />And life has a funny way of helping you out when<br />You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up<br />In your face<br /><br />It's a traffic jam when you're already late<br />that'sjustbadluck<br />It's a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break<br />irony!<br />It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife<br />intherightcircumstancesthismightbeironic<br />It's meeting the man of my dreams<br />And then meeting his beautiful wife<br />ifyouintroducedthemanofyourdreamstohisbeautifulwifebeforethey-weremarriedbecauseyouwantedtoimpresshim<br />And isn't it ironic... don't you think<br />A little too ironic... and yeah I really do think...<br />Repeat Chorus<br /><br /><br />Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you<br />Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out<br />Helping you out <br /><br /><br />Now sing along!<br /><object width="384" height="313"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jne9t8sHpUc&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jne9t8sHpUc&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="384" height="313"></embed></object>joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061597408745801477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937858497013637204.post-1552610819409470082010-02-11T06:35:00.000-08:002010-02-11T07:18:25.652-08:00Captain 'Merica<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.icv2.com/images/16848Cap602_Teaparty-lg.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 237px;" src="http://www.icv2.com/images/16848Cap602_Teaparty-lg.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Marvel's E-I-C Joe Quesada recently apologized for a panel of art in Captain America #602 which depicted an anti-tax protest with a sign reading "Teabag the libs before they teabag you!" The apology came on the heels of Fox News picking up the story with commentators describing it as "a chorus of critics who noticed the apparent jab at the Tea Party movement and who accused Marvel of making supervillains out of patriotic Americans.”<br /><br />I really wanted to take some time to state the obvious. The sign is inappropriate and should have never made final print. <span style="font-weight: bold;">This has nothing to do with politics but because the sign refers to a sexual act. </span>I think the mistake is more or less an innocent one and shouldn't cost anyone their job. Marvel did the right thing by issuing an apology and scrubbing the art for all future editions.<br /><br />Fox News has absolutely no grounds to object to the comic. Their stating that Tea Party Activists are being made into supervillians is laughable. The activists in the issue represented a political climate and were not the antagonist of the issue. The hypocricy here is that the sign in question was taken from an actual Tea Party protest! Fox News is actually chiding Marvel for <span style="font-style: italic;">accurately</span> portraying an anti-tax protest. <br /><br />Fox News also noted the Falcon's (an african-american character) dialogue where he told Captain America he would not be able to infiltrate a crowd of "angry white folks". Is this a disingenuous portrayal of an anti-tax party and, as Fox News describes them, the "patriotic Americans" that attend them?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pensitoreview.com/Wordpress/wp-content/themes/mimbo2.2/images/photo-tea-bagger-with-n-word-300.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 451px;" src="http://www.pensitoreview.com/Wordpress/wp-content/themes/mimbo2.2/images/photo-tea-bagger-with-n-word-300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What I suspect is the root of this problem is actually Fox News' view of who comic books are written for. I believe that the anger Fox News generated by this issue of Captain America is because they still believe comics are written for children and they fear kids will be indoctrinated by whatever liberal ideology they think is in them. Comics are not written <span style="font-style: italic;">just</span> for children anymore. Fox News is guilty of ignorance of the medium as a whole, an ignorance shared by unfortunately much of this country. Until comic books are viewed as a quality story telling medium and not just a genre for kids, the industry will be hamstrung by those that don't understand it.joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061597408745801477noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937858497013637204.post-29758344351505059322010-01-25T22:47:00.000-08:002010-01-25T23:48:26.694-08:00Because I have to stay awake during my midnight shift, I present to you... <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />5 Comics I'm Looking Forward To This Wee</span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">k, With Haikus!</span></span><br /><br />Titles in alphabetical order. And don't hate on me if I failed to make a proper haiku.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Batman and Robin #7</span><br />No more Philip Tan<br />How we miss Mr. Quitely<br />Stewart will suffice<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/dc_comics/iNOV090125/batman_and_robin/7/cover-medium.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 450px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/dc_comics/iNOV090125/batman_and_robin/7/cover-medium.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fantastic Four #575 </span><br />Mole Man returneth<br />Hickman makes FF good again<br />Great jumping on point<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/iNOV090467/fantastic_four/575/cover-medium.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 456px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/iNOV090467/fantastic_four/575/cover-medium.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GI Joe Cobra II #1</span><br />First series was great<br />for classic Joe fans or not<br />Everyone must read<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/comics/iNOV090809/gi_joe_cobra_ii/1/cover-medium.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 455px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/comics/iNOV090809/gi_joe_cobra_ii/1/cover-medium.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Punisher #13</span><br />Frank Castle is dead<br />Franken-Castle is brilliant<br />Yay for bold stories<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/iNOV090485/punisher/13/cover-medium.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 456px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/iNOV090485/punisher/13/cover-medium.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unknown Soldier #16</span><br />Real-world issues told<br />through classic DC title<br />Haunting war stories<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/dc_comics/iNOV090242/unknown_soldier/16/cover-medium.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 450px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/dc_comics/iNOV090242/unknown_soldier/16/cover-medium.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Also looking forward to:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amazing Spider-Man #619</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">-</span> Catching up with the whole Brand New Day stuff so I probably won't get to this for awhile.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Avengers Initiative #32 - </span>I Don't read this title but I'm on board for the whole Seige thing and as Dark Wolverine proved last week, big things can happen in the peripheral titles.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chew #8 </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daredevil #504 </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Detective Comics #861 - </span>I unfortunately missed out on the new direction but this looks like a good jumping on point.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New Avengers #61 - </span>I'm on Team Bucky.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Northlanders #24</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sword #21 </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Walking Dead #69 </span>joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061597408745801477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937858497013637204.post-77370282115321785562009-10-06T19:39:00.001-07:002009-10-06T19:39:42.192-07:00<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oIr8-f2OWhs&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oIr8-f2OWhs&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061597408745801477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937858497013637204.post-30819618825435869512009-10-05T15:59:00.000-07:002009-10-05T16:17:01.674-07:00Quick Hits On The Big Game1. For me and everyone else on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border, this is the biggest game of a generation. Both teams are good enough to be considered Super Bowl contenders so a divisional game is going to be big regardless. It's on Monday night so even more people will participate in the craziness. Oh, and the whole <span style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">FAVREAGEDDON</span> </span></span></span>thing adds just a little bit of spice too.<br /><br />2. Brett Favre is among the best players of all-time and is arguably the most enjoyable athlete to watch of <span style="font-style: italic;">any</span> sport. I'm a Packer fan first and will be rooting for my home state team, but that doesn't mean I'll be rooting against Favre. <br /><br />3. The funniest anti-Favre piece was the "We'll always remember you, Brent".<br /><br />4. What's lost in the whole Favre vs. Green Bay hysteria is that this game may be remembered as Aaron Rodgers' statement game even more so than Favre. Sure, Favre wants to stick it to TedThompson and the Pack. But Aaron Rodgers just might be one of the next great QBs of the post Favre generation. And if he is? Rogers <span style="font-style: italic;">needs </span>this game to prove that Green Bay was right to stand by him. Rodgers has a point to prove too with this game. <br /><br />5. Anything but a close game will be disappointing.joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061597408745801477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937858497013637204.post-68973963368613569582009-10-01T19:17:00.001-07:002009-10-02T08:16:48.360-07:00My Entertainment QueueReading:<br />Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze<br />It's actually a Diamond Anniversary Edition of Doc Savage so it also has Doc Savage: The Land of Terror, which has dinosaurs. My first foray into 30's era pulps.<br /><br />The List:<br />The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown<br />Sleeper Season 2 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips<br />Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by that really rich woman<br /><br />Watching:<br />The Wire season 5<br />I also got Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 1 from the library and was really disappointed in the first two episodes. Man alive is this stuff lame. Travis assured me that it does get much better, but it might take a couple of seasons, which is disheartening.<br /><br />The List:<br />State Of Play<br />The Office season 5<br />Arrested Development<br /><br />Listening:<br />the iFanboy.com boys started a sister site/podcast called murmur.com, which is a catch-all pop culture website. The latest podcast has a nice little conversation on reality TV.<br /><br />For the last few months or so my default for music has been either Liz Phair or Nick Cave based on my mood, which is like choosing between beef jerky or jelly beans every day for dinner.joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061597408745801477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937858497013637204.post-55035803055128000742009-09-29T17:30:00.000-07:002009-09-29T17:32:50.342-07:00Best Cover, 9/30/09 Unkown Soldier #12<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXCHlgQg-8-9hQC-hya21ivUuTimK5SNVEF5h8zbOX3dFZOYBiD-OxKDoKlnPu3giGFEJElOIayZw6wVH2IIdmdOt0RuA41kG6KYaXfyqIfH_jW6l0o4hfaS-TQn6-uBmehf2M67vqzA/s1600-h/unknownsoldier12.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXCHlgQg-8-9hQC-hya21ivUuTimK5SNVEF5h8zbOX3dFZOYBiD-OxKDoKlnPu3giGFEJElOIayZw6wVH2IIdmdOt0RuA41kG6KYaXfyqIfH_jW6l0o4hfaS-TQn6-uBmehf2M67vqzA/s400/unknownsoldier12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387051587340214194" border="0" /></a>joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061597408745801477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937858497013637204.post-19226064520417058702009-09-01T16:50:00.001-07:002009-09-01T17:57:14.238-07:00New Comic Day 9/2/2009It's looking to be a good day for comics tomorrow. Here are the one's I'm most looking forward to reading.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/image_comics/chew/4/cover-thumb.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 169px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/image_comics/chew/4/cover-thumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chew #4</span> - In this alternate world an allegedly severe strain of the avian flu causes the US Government to ban chicken. This title is quirky and fun with great social commentary on the food we eat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/deadpool/15/cover-thumb.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 167px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/deadpool/15/cover-thumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deadpool #15</span> - Coincidentally my first issue of Deadpool was issue #15 of the original run over ten years ago and I've been a huge fan of the character ever since. The last arc was more than terrible so here's hoping it was just a blemish on what has been a great run.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/immortal_weapons/2_%28of_5%29/cover-thumb.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 167px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/immortal_weapons/2_%28of_5%29/cover-thumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Immortal Weapons #2 (of5)</span> - The first issue caught me by surprise so hopefully the entire run will continue to deliver.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/incognito/6/cover-thumb.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 169px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/incognito/6/cover-thumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Incognito #6</span> - The story concludes here. I'm really reluctant to admit that Incognito was a mild disappointment but I still really enjoyed it. I've come to expect Brubaker to hit every story out of the park but it's perfectly fine that he gets a hard hit single now and then.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/invincible_iron_man/17/cover-thumb.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 167px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/invincible_iron_man/17/cover-thumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Invincible Iron Man #17</span> - This has consistently been one of the best super-hero titles on the shelves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/dc_comics/wednesday_comics/9_%28of_12%29/cover-thumb.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 165px;" src="http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/dc_comics/wednesday_comics/9_%28of_12%29/cover-thumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday Comics #9 (of12)</span> - So much fun.<br /><br />Other stuff - Batman #690, I Am Legion #5 (of6), Irredeemable #6, Northlanders #20joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061597408745801477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937858497013637204.post-54209973092565130772009-08-31T19:03:00.000-07:002009-08-31T20:15:36.119-07:00Marvel sells outDisney purchased Marvel Comics, adding them to it's stable of entertainment companies including ESPN and ABC. <br /><br />BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR THE DISNEY ACQUISITION OF MARVEL<br /><br />10. ABC's fall line-up of shows will feature Desperate X-Wives, Wipeout shot on location in the Savage Land, and Dancing With The Heralds of Galactus.<br /><br />9. The ESPN Sportscenter theme da da da...da da da will be a sound effect after each of Colossus and Wolverine's "fastball special". <br /><br />8. Norman Osborn steals Uncle Scrooges "Lucky Dime".<br /><br />7. Goofy is a mutant. <br /><br />6. Namor gets a loveable Jamaican singing crab for a sidekick. <br /><br />5. Mickey strikes a deal with Mephisto to cancel much of his past in order to save his elderly aunt from death. This results in Mickey no longer being married to Minnie Mouse, and he goes back to his carefree days on the river as Steamboat Willie.<br /><br />4. Disney borrows Marvels alternate imprint lines. "Ultimate Beauty and the Beast" in which Beauty is an earthy and very liberal college co-ed while Beast is a clean-cut and Christian staunch Republican, and "Max Snow White and the 7 Dwarves" which needs no explanation.<br /><br />3. Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Uncle Scrooge all will start to talk suspiciously like Brian Michael Bendis. <br /><br />2. Summer cross-over event in 2010: Peter Pan braces for World War Hook.<br /><br />1. Kraven the Hunter destroys the Disney Universe by Garth Ennis.joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061597408745801477noreply@blogger.com0