Sunday Ritual

The missus and I started a Sunday ritual about six weeks ago (Note: there're hardly any human and/or animal sacrifices). This was Shannon's brainchild and has turned into a cool Sunday morning thing to do. There's this shopping area near us called Belmar and every Sunday during the summer they have a farmers' market. Here we see the farmers setting up with tents and prepping for the day.

So we started getting there early, when the coffee shop first opens.

We grab a table and order coffee or chai and I usually get a chocolate chip muffin (imagine that).

The coffee shop, called The Press Coffee Company, is Colorado-owned. And according to the wife, it's the only other coffee shop she's found with chai as good as Starbucks.

We spend roughly two hours here, writing or people watching or maybe just surfing the 'net with their free WiFi. Then we wander the market and usually pick up some fresh produce. Lovin' it, man.

Oh Please, Girlfriend

I know women like to lie about age and weight and all that, but this is ridiculous. Let’s say the average length of a car is 20 feet. That makes her at least 120 feet tall. Come on, that’s not even in the same zip code as 50 feet. I’m sure she’s self-conscious about her height, but at least be realistic with your lies. If she had said she was 100 feet tall, I could accept that and look the other way. But when you’re off by 70 feet I’m going to have to call you out on it.

And think about the poor military. They're thinking they’re only dealing with a 50-foot woman. They’re probably rounding up a couple of tanks and only a few pounds of chocolate. But when this gigantically tall and hot chick comes around the corner they’re going to be woefully unprepared.

Her lying only hurts herself. It's sad, really.

Here's Looking at You, Kid

Saw the last part of Casablanca last night. One of the perfect movies. The stories surrounding it are just as interesting as the movie itself. We think we know that Ronald Reagan was up for the role of Rick, but according to some sources, he was not and that was merely a publicity stunt at the time to keep Ronnie's name in the press. They (the movie-maker people) didn't know until very near the end of shooting whether Ilsa would stay with Rick or leave with Laszlo. The very last line was thought up by the producer after filming was complete and was dubbed by Bogart later on.

It's one of the most quoted films of all time, with such gems as:

Here's looking at you, kid.

Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship [this is the line dubbed by Bogart].

Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.

Well there are certain sections of New York, Major , that I wouldn't advise you to try to invade. [Rick is talking to the German Major after the Major talks about invading the U.S.]

Darwyn's Origin of the Shiznit

Darwyn Cooke is one of my favorite comic book artists (and authors) working in the industry today. His style is simplistically complex. It's like going back to the comics you loved as a kid and actually being able to recapture that magic and awe. He creates comics for grownups that a kid can read. Let me show you some of his art. Here, from his The New Frontier book (an alternate history take on the origin of the Justice League of America) is Superman:

Somewhat recently he restarted Will Eisner's The Spirit (which Frank Miller is turning into a movie). He did the first 12 issues, which are out now in a trade collection. He captures the whimsy of Eisner's Spirit while embuing the comics with a new and vigorous life.

Love it. And so I leave you with this Batman drawing and a video interview of the creator himself. Enjoy. And, no, I can't provide a link to Mr. Cooke's website because so far as I can tell, he ain't gots one.

Just in From the Batcave

After waiting months (since February, when I first ordered) my 1/18th scale Hot Wheels 1966 Batmobile showed up yesterday. The hood, trunk, and doors all open. The steering wheel turns the front wheels. It's heavier than I thought it would be. And just way cool. It's a limited-edition collector's item, so first thing I took it out of its box and got my fingerprints all over it. So much for collecting.

Spawk!

Here are the first official pics of the new Star Trek movie cast. Looking pretty good, I think. Quinto as Spock is, of course, spot on. I saw a different picture of Chris Pine that looked a lot like the younger Shat. That's Zoe Saldana as a hot Uhura (though Nichelle Nichols was certainly not homely). Of course, it ain't the looks we're lookin' for. Hope the story is fan-f'ing-tastic. Otherwise, who cares? Oh, and the fourth guy is Eric Bana as the bad guy. I think he's supposed to be the newer, badder Romulan.

To find out more, visit your library. The lady'll stare at you for a moment and then call security. Oh, they have security now, don't you worry. Where was I? Oh, yeah, click here for more Trek info. The link ain't to the official site, so it actually has information.

Two Turntables and a Bic

This, my dears, is pretty dang cool. I get close to understanding how it's done, but then my brain explodes.

Holy Batusi!

Here's a cooler than cool blog about comics: www.DialBForBlog.com. As of this second, it's going into zany details about cool facts about the Batman TV show (you know, from the 60s, with the one and only real Batman: Adam West).

Flaky Flix Finx

Um, yeah, the title makes perfect sense. I was going to say Flaky Flix Sucks (but with an F and, well, that just wouldn't be prudent). Anyway. Mother's cookies, which I think is owned by a Taiwan company (I kid you not), started making Flaky Flix again.

These USED to be one of my favorites (they have a vanilla center and a chocolate fudge center, I preferred the chocolate fudge). I bought a box and wow did they suck (with an S). They changed the recipe and now they're barely edible. The chocolate is waxy. There's no fudge flavor to the supposed fudge inside. It's quite pitiful. Luckily, there's a more than adequate surrogate, thanks to Nestle.

These things taste much like the Flaky Flix of yore. Sure, there's some difference, but they have the fairly intense chocolate fudge flavor with the crispy crunchies on the outside. Great stuff. This is my favorite way to eat chocolate, by which I mean the chocolate being part of a pastry or cookie (is a cookie a pastry?) or cake or a candy bar-cum-cookie.