6.29.2007

Indiana Jones IV



A true hero is back in action! This generations most beloved actor takes to the big screen one last time to play my favorite celluloid creation. Indiana Jones will reached the screen in May 2008. Not soon enough for me...details are slim to none as far as what this one will be about. 10 years of script writing hell as finally produced what they are putting to film. Let's hope Spielberg wins out over Lucas in the storytelling arena! Just what I don't need is another phantom menace! Did gather it is being told in 1957...no nazis, but communist, being the bad guy of choice. Will Indy live past this one? My guess is there will be some cliff hanger to match all cliff hangers as far as the future of our gallant hero.

6.28.2007

This Week in Comics

One more chance I give the x-fanchise. One more go of it...you bring back the marauders, then you must be trying to get my attention. I mean I started with the mutant massacre, that is what I know, that is what brought me on board. I still remember Walt's two page spread in Xfactor 9? with harpoon throwing his spear into another mutant. In addition instead of some mega crossover (thank god!) they are adding a back story to x-men, uncanny, x-factor, and new x-men called endangered species. Hopefully this will answer the questions that were dropped way back during House of M and the end of our mutants. I can't believe they have 5 x-titles...yikes...wouldn't it be wise to trim the fat and get back to the basics. Make the x-men the leading marvel book again. Go head to head with Bendis for Marvel supremacy. Make ti exciting, relevant...anything to bring back the merry mutants and their ass kicking potential! Please?

6.27.2007

Haiku Wednesday

Haiku Entry - Road Trip

Car on cruise control
Interstate syrens beckon
Who packed sandwiches?

6.26.2007

Blade Runner - 25th Anniversary

From the opening sequence to the slow descent into what makes us "human" this is a true sci-fi masterpiece. Up there with 2001 and Close Encounters. I have to be honest, I wasn't old enough to see it in the theatres but the first time I saw it I was drawn into LA 2019! Although Harrison Ford hated this role and whines about it every time he gets the chance I think he did a fabulous job "replicating" what is to be human ;-). That is what makes the movie good and so true to P.K. Dick's vision (although trying to get through Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep was tough). Alot of his plots (Dick's) that get turned to movies forget about the underlying theme of alot of Dick's work and that is in the future how will you tell you're you?

Visually the movie is what I'm sure Gibson used as his mold for his cyberpunk novels. Rutger Hauer does a tremendous job and it is said that his soliloquy at the end was just made up during shooting..."Like tears in the rain..." Hard to believe this movie is 25 years old. Can't wait for the definitive DVD that is supposed to make its appearance. Can't wait to review this movie in 2019!

6.25.2007

Colorado Rockies - Week 12

A 3-3 week starting with a sweep of the Yankees (YEAH!!!) and then ending with a sweep by the Blue Jays (BOOH!!!). Denver needs a sports page like the NY Post. Just classic!
























The Roxs are comfortably in 4th place a mere 5.5 out with upcoming series against the Cubs and Houston. Must win series against the dreadful NL Central. The Roxs currently stand at 38 - 37. See the season trend below...the purple is home, the grey is away:



Currently 21-18 at home and 17-19 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored 341-356 (expected wins is 36 versus historical wins at 35). On pace for 82 wins (a winning season although not quite playoff ready). An emotional rollor coaster for the week with the Yankees in town. Unfortunately couldn't get it done against the Jays. The Roxs finished out interleague play with a 10 - 8 record. The most wins by a NL team.

This week's WPA leaders (obviously the big winners were during the Yankee wins and the big losers were for the Jay losses...Fuentes isn't getting it done!)
















Seasonal WPA leaders:


6.22.2007

WPA Update














Here is the WPA versus winning percentage after approximately 70 games. Wow the R squared is huge. I am still tracking down playoff splits to see if it matters.

6.21.2007

This Week in Comics

Another strong issue. I need to track down the previous issues before 25 to try and get a better feel for the characters. The Winter Soldier, Falcon, and the SHIELD Agent. I think each issue would fit stronger in a context. This one is basically about the Shield. Winter Soldier wants it, Tony Stark wants to keep it. Learn a bit more back story on alliances and who Winter Soldier knows...I like the future potential team-up Black Widow and Winter Soldier. Good ongoing series with good writing and good art.









Conclusion to this arc...whoopee...not all that strong of an arc. I think Bendis basically wanted to write all these characters (and why put Moon Knight into the Ninja outfit that is in his Avengers books?) I am sure Bendis thinks it is cute but I find it annoying. Let's be a bit more subtle with our little inside jokes. Anyway a nice little spidey high and mighty speech but basically nothing exciting. A boring arc...I much prefer Bendis stays with the spidey mythos...again I never thought King Pin was a spidey villian. Let's get back to Peter, MJ, and the coolest villians of any comic character.


6.20.2007

Star Wars - Robot Chicken

This is too funny...

Star Wars Robot Chicken

Haiku Wednesday

Haiku Entry - Fireworks

A crack of the bat
the Rockies victorious
Sky aglow goes boom

6.19.2007

Make Magazine Volume 9

The "Fringe" Issue...decent nothing spectacular.

Interesting contraption called a vortex tube...by putting compressed air in the middle you get hot air out one end and cold air out the other...click here

Interesting thought on patents...instead of worrying about patents and secrecy...become known or what you do. Do it well and tell people about it, even telling them how to do it. The reality is that the invention or the idea is a tiny fraction of the work to be done. The real tradeable value is your capacity to implement the ideal.

Can random numbers converge during world wide changing events? see here OK I admit kind of wacky but what the heck, stranger things are looked into!

Pinhold Camera - love this picture -

6.18.2007

Colorado Rockies - Week 11

A 4-2 (again!) week winning another two series, one in Boston and one at home against the D-Rays. This is the eight consecutive winning series (counting a 2-2 split at Cincinnati). The Roxs are comfortably in 4th place but the Dodgers, San Diego, and Arizona are still winning! The Roxs currently stand at 35 - 34 which is pretty good since they were 9 under .500 just a few weeks ago! Currently 18-18 at home and 17-16 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored 314-326 (expected wins is 33 versus historical wins at 32). On pace for 82 wins (a winning season although not quite playoff ready). The Roxs are starting to put it together. Confidence is definitely there, perhaps their slow start was due to playing a lot of tougher teams and now that we are playing the subpar teams we are moving forward. They have 3 extra wins at home even though they have been outscored at home by 39 runs! Currently the team leads majors with fewest errors. Only 25 so far this year! Aaron Cook needs to start putting it together at home (see graph from http://www.fangraphs.com/. Graph below shows runners stranded. For some reason, on the road he is getting the pitches he needs to get out of the inning but at home he is having trouble...














The season looks like this (with purple indicating home and grey on the road):




This week's WPA leaders:



















Season's WPA leaders:

6.15.2007

Greg Rucka - A Gentleman's Game

Tara Chase's original novel adventure. Have to admit it would have been better for me to read this one before Private Wars. Obviously Private Wars follows this one and the anguish Tara feels would be a whole lot more meaningful. Tara's tale is a good one. This is a balanced story. Not quite a twist on Ludlum's level but a good spy novel all around. She is a good spy with a twist. She is very raw in a Bond sort of way without the pretentiousness of Bond. Rucka is a good read and after reading this novel I felt a bit closer to who Tara is and not so much as in Private Wars...perhaps I should go back in time and reread Tara's second outing to see if the character is a bit more exciting. Anyway great read...appears I will have to wait sometime for a third novel although there is like 9 graphic novels!

6.14.2007

Amtrak ?

Why don't Americans like trains? Why is Europe a primarily train community and the US a airline and car economy. Is it distance, is Amtrak just not very well run? I've always found rail travel to be romantic and laid back. A type of travel that is a bit more sophisticated and relaxing. So during our vacation I decided it would be fun to travel by train. Reasons I decided this were traveling by car on the east coast is a nightmare and airplanes can be a nuisance. So I did a search on train travel from Baltimore to New Haven and discovered the Acela, US's only high speed train service.















Limited stops but only a 4 hour train ride from Baltimore to New Haven. On time, big seats, comfort, and an incredible bargain. Very friendly workers who actually acknowledged your existence and wished you well. Only about $400 for four people. Compared to airlines and all the hassles you have to go through to fly...I believe rail travel is the way to go! I was very impressed and would recommend it highly.



Brad Meltzer - The Book of Fate

I actually ran out of the books on my last trip so I needed something to read on the way home and ran across this book. I had seen some info on it especially since Meltzer was writing JLA. So I figured that another comic book writer turn novelist (or the other way in this case) might be a good shot as Rucka's books have been good. Anyway the summary blurb on the back also made this book seem kind of like an American DaVinci code or National Treasure. I figured a good no brainer type read. Well unfortunately it was none of that and basically a complete rip off...and a worthless read...not happy. I mean you read the blurb and it seemed that the Mason mystery was at the center of it all, what a total lie...it really had nothing to do with the story, was a complete add on just to make you think it was National Treasurist, and a basic worthless plot point (okay not worthless) but not totally necessary...it really could have been anything. The basic mystery wasn't all that exciting or ooh aahing and was not all that good. Oh well win some you lose some.

Haiku Wednesday

Haiku Entry - Summer in Colorado

Fourteeners beckon
Tempt nature's twisted humor
Snowfall in July

6.13.2007

Artist Feature - Edward Hopper

While in Boston we stopped at the Museum of Fine Arts and saw the Edward Hopper exhibit. Great exhibit and I finally got to see Nighthawks, having missed it at the Art Institute in Chicago. Good overview of his work. I especially liked his journals where he kept little sketches of his work...it was a lovely comparison (or companion) from the small sketches to the large pallet. His early work has an illustrator really comes through in these sketches. I think as an artist it is crucial to get this quick look-see.















Hopper's colors and geometric paintings is very appealing. Very clean, very stark. Perhaps this starkness is what draws Hopper to me. Whereas I enjoy Monet and Hassam because of the color and the imagination. Much like the impressionist Hopper uses colors to his advantages but he also has that structure to his paintings like Magritte.

The most appealing aspect of his work his is people. Who knows why they look so lonely, so detached. They are the still life of his structured painting. The stark, rigid people are very stoic in their poses and I can't help but think that Hopper was either a loner or an only child! Two of his more famous "people" works:































6.12.2007

Fenway Park

Day Five ouf our vacation landed us in Boston (and to think the Roxs were playing the Sox's!). Journeyed to the epicenter of baseball that is Fenway Park. What a beautiful day to watch a game. The sky was blue, the beer was cold, the food was yummy, and best of all the baseball was good.


















Overall impression of the game was I felt bad for the Roxs. Having to face Tim Wakefield was the epitome of cruelty for NL teams traveling to AL parks. My baseball history goes back to having to watch the Braves try to beat Wakefield during the Braves/Pittsburg playoff battles back in 92. His knuckler back then confounded the Braves forcing them to bring in old knucklers for batting practice. Wake's career (not to mention his 2004 Boston World series contributions):





Anyway he made alot of the young Roxs look silly while he was throwing is 60/70 miler pitches. He threw 8 innings of 4 hit (2 singles and 2 doubles) baseball. Facing the minimal through 4 innings (a DP in the 3rd). Faced 5 in the 8th inning. Meanwhile Cookie was just as impressive throwing 7 1/3 innings of 7 hit baseball with 4 K's. One note that was interesting while I was keeping score was the way the game lead off...all three outs in the first inning were all bounce backs to the pitcher for three 1-3 putouts.

So much for playing the averages...Hurdle went to Affeldt who had been 100% successful against Ortiz (0 -13) and then he promptly doubled to drive in the winning run. Then to make matters worse for the Roxs after having to face the fireballer in Wakefield (ha ha) the Soxs send in a real flamethrower in Papelbon (or Papelbot as the folks at surviving grady like to call him). Throwing at 97-98 mph, he struck out Matsui, Holliday flew out, and Helton struck out swinging unable to catch up to the heat. Overall a very enjoyable night at the ballpark. Fangraphs view of the game:

















6.11.2007

Colorado Rockies - Week 10

A 4-2 week (!) with a final homestand series win over Houston and a road series win at Baltimore. The Roxs are still battling the Giants for last place in the NL West. Hopefully some separation takes place as the Roxs continue to build to an above .500 record. They currently stand at 31 - 32! Currently 16-17 at home and 15-15 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored 268-307 (expected wins is 28 versus historical wins at 29). On pace for 80 wins. The Roxs are playing terrible at home. They have 3 extra wins at home even though they have been outscored at home by 39 runs! It seems O'Dowd has put together the Bizzaro Blake Street Bombers! The season looks like this (with purple indicating home and grey on the road):



The Roxs continue to grind towards .500 seemingly getting closer then falling back down. A decent push through to the all-star break will at least keep them in wild card contention. The Padres, Dodgers, and D-backs also need to come back to earth a bit. With the D-Rays in town the following week followed by the Yankees (Hot or Cold?) they need to get on track at home. Matsui has been the catalyst. The team has gone 13 - 6 with him back from the DL. He was the WPA man of the week!

This week's WPA leaders:




















Season WPA Leaders:

6.09.2007

Camden Yards

Day Two of the vacation and we took a trip to one of my three favorite ballparks...Camden Yards...oh by the way the Roks play the Orioles tonight as well!



















This is my third trip to the park. Architecturely I think Orioles should be thanked for making downtown old style parks the new vogue. Since its inception every new park built brings back the old days of stylist ball parks and away from the cookie cutter days. Have to admit when the game is slow just spending time looking at some new nook and cranny is well worth hanging out at the ballpark. The warehouse (1,016 feet long!) is just amazing and Eutaw street, a great way to spend time before the game started. Watched my kids try to get autographs while the Roxs were doing batting practice. Kids got Jamie Carroll and Brad Hawpe.

Now on to the game...got to see Lopez pitch against his old mates. They got to him early but he settled down and gave the Roks a chance to win. Strong 7 innings and a good bullpen led to an extra inning win by the Roxs. Overall decent day at the ballpark!























6.08.2007

Air and Space Museum


Day One of vacation and visited the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. I had been there back when I was a kid and loved the exhibits. Since my last visit (almost 20 years ago?) things haven't really changed all that much although things look more dated. I won't belabor my opinion on the space program...but it is even more apparent when visiting such a major exhibit like this. Where is the NACA when we need them, where is the exotic flying machines that were so present in the 50 and 60s? Now it appears that private funding is leading the way into the next aerospace wonder. This was somewhat present in that they have installed SpaceShipONE in the main gallery along with the Spirit of St Louis, Apollo 11, the X-15, and by the way where is the Wright Flyer?


6.07.2007

This Week in Comics



Such a promising start and such a miserable down fall. I really feel for Oeming...here he is given a promise for a full run...plots it has such...then finds out he has 5 issues. We are half way there and we still don't even have a team...just a bunch of mismatched heroes. Not up on my Beta Ray Bill but where the hell did he come from? Oh well maybe something will come of all this....







Not all that impressed with the continuing saga of the Dark Tower series...as mentioned before if I had more connection to the characters and the overall mythos of the Dark Tower world this all might seem interesting but with coming in like this I just don't get the inside stuff. Oh well only two issues to go....

Well according to the letter's page this is the end of the first arc, with one more Whedon issue, then followed by Vaughan. Still trying to get caught up with the characters and there whereabouts since Season 7 and the end of Sunnydale. Still not for sure who the guy with no skin is. Buffy goes on a daring (?) rescue for Willow. We get a peak at who the bad guy is and why they are after the slayers. Wonder if issue 5 is a classic filler issue?


6.06.2007

Haiku Wednesday

The Post's life style section is putting on a weekly summer haiku contest. This week's topic is "cats".

My entry:

The black cat crouches
Do I stop or turn around?
Oh, too late, bad luck

6.05.2007

Wicked

For a Mother's Day present I got tickets to Wicked for my wife. To be honest I knew nothing about the musical beforehand...all I knew was it was a pre-story to the Wizard of Oz dealing with the two witches. Haven't seen a musical in forever. Saw Cats, Les Mis, Miss Saigon, and Rent but nothing lately. Enjoy the live stage just not very versed in the nuisances of it all. So with not much expectations I thought the show was fantastic especially the tying together of the Wizard of Oz. A very thought provoking underlying plot especially with comparing and contrasting what evil is. The singing the dancing was very good and the two leads do a wonderful job especially the good witch. She had a great range. Overall a great evening at the theatre!

6.04.2007

Colorado Rockies - Week 9

A 4-3 week homestand with St Louis and Cincinnati. At least we got a winning record although it would have been better to go 5 - 2. The Roxs had like the third or fourth best month in May and two of the other teams were San Diego and LA. As amazing has it seems the Roxs aren't in last place! They are 0.001 percentage in 4th at 27 - 30 with SF in 5th at 26 - 29! Currently 14-16 at home and 13-14 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored 241-283 (expected wins is 24 versus historical wins at 26). On pace for 77 wins. The season looks like this: with purple indicating home and grey on the road.

The Roxs overall seam to be playing well. They really need to make a move here before the all star break with series against Houston, Baltimore, Boston, Tampa Bay, and the Yanks. Staying in stiking distance is key. Having Lopez back in the starting rotation is huged. We still need to find a 4th and 5th. I don't think Buckholz, Hirsh, or Fogg is really the answer.

This week's WPA leaders (basically a week of good and bad pitching deciding all 7 games!):















Season WPA leaders:

6.02.2007

Single Serving Life...

Happened to catch Fight Club this evening and have to admit that the one thing I think about all the time when I travel is the whole single serving thing, read below:

“This is your life, and it’s ending one minute at a time. If you wake up at a different time, at a different place, could you wake up as a different person? Everywhere I travel; tiny life. Single-serving sugar, single-serving cream, single pad of butter, the microwave cordon bleu hobby kit. Shampoo-conditioner combos, sample packets of mouthwash, tiny bars of soap. The people I meet on each flight; they are single-serving friends. Between take-off and landing we have our time together, that’s all we get.”

It is so true, its funny or sad or both.

6.01.2007

Sessions

Found this beer last summer while traveling in the Northwest. It is a quirky beer. Basic American Lager...no thrills...but love the packaging. Good summer beer travels well, small bottle fits nicely in the palm of your hand. Bottle caps have rock, paper, and scissors underneath the cap. A beer that doesn't take itself too seriously...good for quenching that summer thirst.