This Week in Comics

Light week for comics...just this one to carry me through. This was the concluding issue in a 6 part mini-series. A pretty well plotted mini-series giving a pretty good overview of a relatively new character in the Marvel world. I've said before I thought this character was a blatant rip off of Wolverine and I still do but the character does have her own mythos. A good concluding issue (although isn't Captain A dead?). Hopefully the character can grow without the Wolverine comparisons.

DVD Rentals - The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine

Netflix movie rentals. The Departed was better than I thought. I had heard it was full of gore but it really wasn't all that bad. Acting was good, a bit too many heavyweights. I didn't like Matt Damon in the character he played, he doesn't come across well as a bad guy or a slime ball. Nicholson was good but it is tiring seeing him in the same roles. Wahlberg really did do the best acting amoung the group.

Little Miss Sunshine was the little movie that could. Turned out to be pretty good. Good characters, great script and well one famous quote:

Dwayne: You know what? Fuck beauty contests. Life is one fucking beauty contest after another. School, then college, then work... Fuck that. And fuck the Air Force Academy. If I want to fly, I'll find a way to fly. You do what you love, and fuck the rest

Paris - Je T'aime

Alright I was feeling sappy...we were supposed to go see Pirates of the Caribbean but I wasn't in the mood for action adventure. I'm a big fan of the low budget art film...especially seeing it in an old theater. It takes me back to that feeling of seeing a real movie rather than the razzle dazzle of today's films. Anyway knew nothing about this flick...looked interesting...18 shorts by renowned directors all telling stories about love in Paris. Wes Craven's Oscar Wilde pic was classic, Gus Van Zant's short about love and different languages was the best, and the vampire one was just plain freaky. The old man selling hair products was weird, the lady speaking french by numbers was hilarious. Their were a couple of sad ones and one about immigrants which I think is very much like Paris today. Overall a good movie worth the time and admission...so Pirates can wait!

Colorado Rockies - Week 8

A 5-1 (!) week roadtrip with Arizona and San Francisco including the first 3-game sweep in SF. The Roxs are still 5th in the division with a 23-27 record. Currently 10-13 at home and 13-14 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored 204-249 (expected wins is 20 versus historical wins at 23). Some decent play with the Roxs outscoring opponents on the road 27 - 15 with a shutout in Arizona.

Good to have Kaz back in the line up. Amazing how different the WPA weekly graph looks when you win! Starting pitching was key. Atkins is in a major slump...could we see Ian Stewart sometime soon? The SS seems to be making a statement having moved ahead of Helton for the season WPA lead.

This week's WPA leaders:














WPA Season leaders:

Buzz Bissinger - 3 Nights in August

Statistical Geeks vs. Old School, Moneyball vs Tradition, Scouts vs Stats,

Have to admit that I've been a numbers guy when it comes to baseball. The magic of numbers makes the game seem touchable as if you can lift up the sheet and pretend you have some magical source to what makes the game tick. Somehow it gives you control over a game that ultimately is just a random sequence of events. For some reason by looking at the numbers I believe I have some insight over the average fan as if I can predict what the Rockies might do. So I run the numbers looking for that tidbit that will make me feel better and prove that the Rockies might actually be successful. So far I think it just depresses me but then I read Buzz Bissinger's book and realize that baseball is more than just numbers. I've been a fan of Tony LaRussa since he went to three straight world series in the late 80s. Living on the East Coast the A's were that fantasy West Coast AL team that seemed exciting. Anyway his micro-management seems to show that a little stats and alot of experience sprinkled with some hunches leads one manager down a pretty successful career. Anyway this book confirmed that stats isn't all that baseball is. A beautifully written book see some quotes below:

"Morris retires the side in order in the sixth, the final pitch a sweet 12-to-6 curve that Sosa misses by so much, even the Arch smiles."

"And it isn't simply that Lofton is a pain in the ass, at his age still able to get on base and advance chaos in his shuffling glide. He is Kline's eternal nemesis, the psychotic ex-girlfriend who sends you creepy notes through the mail to remind you she's still around."

Anyway players like Howard Johnson and Mike Kingery and Walt Weiss weren't statistical players. They don't stack up as memorable players but they had heart...they did the little things...they make the game more than just numbrers. The 2004 Red Sox World Champs (bunch of idiots...) is a perfect example. Sure they had good pitching and hitting but the intangibles the things stats don't show made them win. It is what makes the game interesting and the reason I will still go to watch the Rockies.

30th Anniversary - Star Wars

What can one say that hasn't already been said? The movie that changed movies forever. I was 6 when my dad took me to see the movie. It was my first big screen adventure. It was my first taste of what movies mean. In later years I watched it run perpetually on HBO and then Empire came out. I was a bit older, I had friends, and we talked Star Wars, we played Star Wars on the playground. I collected all things Star Wars and then stood in line with my friends for the release of Empire. What a movie, a coup d'etat...if Star Wars was the cross beams this was the building. The ending was the talk among my friends. Aghast we were that Vader had a son! Finally the trilogy was completed with Jedi and Lucas descent into the dark side of film making began. I think the Ewoks was the straw that broke the camel's back. The movie had it all but the action the effects began to take center stage. Fortunately the story was pretty much written and Lucas ended the trilogy with a bang. Movies have come and gone but Star Wars is as much a part of the tapestry of America has apple pie. A movie that has spanned generations and continues to export itself. The second trilogy was bad especially when compared to the original. The story had been taken over by Jar Jar and special effects...no longer did the plot appear to mean anything. Darth Vader's descent into darkness is Lucas's decent into mediocrity. But I digress...Star Wars is a great movie. The characters have a relationship that makes the movies a true success. Happy B-day Star Wars

This Week In Comics

I had given up on Morrison's batman but with the last issue I decided it was still worth my while. This was kind of a filler issue leading up to "666". Is it any wonder that Batman's son is named Damien? Any Kubert's art continues to rock...great batman artist.








To be honest I have no clue what is going on with the X-men., I bought this issue with the big event 200 coming next month. No clue who is on the team other than Rogue, Cable, Cannonball (and his sister?) and some other girl. Hopefully they can pull these teams together and make it coharent for the rest of us....







Part 4 of the Ultimate Knights storyline and ho hum...nothing terribly exciting. I'll mention it again...the kingpin is not a spidey villian. Let's move on...and let Bagley move on as well. This book needs some new blood...and some new stories.








Is Bendis writing too many books? This book is going nowhere...who cares about a new Ultron...let's make it happen. We are already in Book 3 and nothing exciting has happen except for a naked ultron. Whoopee...I'm done with this one.








Well after the death of the Captain, I had to discover the scoop...the dream of every writer...kill of a character to get new readership! Well I fell for the trap...always liked the Captain but never seemed to get into it. The gritty style is a good start. It will be interesting to see where it goes.








This story comes and goes. This issue is not too exciting.

Clive Cussler - Valhalla Rising

Okay everyone has to have that one author, that one pulp read that is just plain fun. Cussler fits that bill and Dirk Pitt is that pulp hero. I have read pretty much every book of his. The writing is pretty much the same for the last 10 books. He starts with some historical bit of mystery and somehow writes in a story. This one has to do with Vikings and Jules Verne. Overall nothing earth-shattering but for airplane traveling it fits the bill. You can't go wrong with Pitt. Funny how I missed some reads and read them out of order. This one tells me how Dirk meets his kids and whose kids they were!

Colorado Rockies - Week 7

A 2-4 week homestand with Arizona and the dreadful Royals (of course who is more dreadful, since KC beat the Roxs 2 out of 3!). The Roxs are still 5th in the division with a 18-26 record. Currently 10-13 at home and 8-13 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored 180-24 (expected wins is 16 versus historical wins at 21). Whatever home field advantage we used to have doesn't seem to be there anymore.

This week's WPA leaders:

WPA Leaders:

Interleague Play Begins...

Another exciting weekend of interleague...Not really for Roxs fans...who really cares about the Royals coming into town. Two basement dwellers...I don't think MLB really wants to promote this one!

Roxs interleague over the years


Over the years

Michael Chabon in Person

Went to the Michael Chabon book signing at the Tattered Cover this evening. Good signing although not quite as good as his interview on XM with Bob Edwards. Obviously the book he was talking about was The Yiddish Policeman's Union. The story got its start when 13 years ago he ran across a Yiddish Phrase book in the language section. For obvious (well not like you can go to a country to speak it...) it stuck him as funny. Well he wrote an essay about it and then felt bad because he hadn't meant to offend anyone but he did find it funny all the same. The funniest phrase was "Is food served on the Plane". Again quite funny as the 1958 book assumed there would be a Yid Air!

Chabon is quite the comedian when talking. Very intimate with the audience...very well spoken...young. He read from the first Chapter...it was interesting that he didn't read it verbatim and in fact he sometimes skipped around. One lady thought that the first line of the 3rd chapter was the most brilliant metaphor she had ever read. Q&A wasn't too exciting...few questions on Kavalier and Clay but nothing great. Another funny question was why Sitka and not Juneau ("Jew, No?").

His tip to all writers was to write, everyday, for a certain amount, day in and day out. Few other interesting tidbits was that all the characters were actually speaking Yiddish and that when they spoke English (which the author notes) the cadences change...that was interesting. Final question was about where he was when he first saw his book in print and it was in a bookstore in Westwood (no longer there), with his brother. Chabon doesn't like to go to stores and spy on people because either his books aren't there or someone might pick it up then put it back!

Overall a good signing...I asked him his favorite baseball team? Giants and Pirates. That since he covers all the American contributions that he should do a book on Jazz next and I also thanked him for the Escapist cross over into the comic book world.

Magazine Wrap Up

WIZARD

- X-men 200 (Great Cover by Finch)

- Batman Ego and other Tales Darwyn Cooke

WIRED

- Why does a magazine get it and not NASA. Priorities should be 1) environmental research on the nearest earth planets, 2) Locate asteroids and comets that could hit the earth and devise a plan to deflect it, 3) study the universe, 4) develop a cheap way to orbit.

What NASA does, 1) Maintain a pointless space station, 2) go the moon for no good reason, 3) study the unverse, 4) keep money flowing to favored aerospace contractors and congressional districts

- Famous Thought Experiments

Schrodinger's Cat - Two probable states of cat (dead or alive)
Borel's Monkeys - Infinite number of monkeys will produce the complete works of Shakespeare
Searle's Room - A man sits alone in a room, someone slips him a letter in Chinese and instuctions on how to read. To an observer the man knows Chinese.

NEW YORKER

- Interesting article on Banksy, at an antiwar demonstration he distributed signs that read, "I Don't Believe in Anything, I'm just here for the Violence."

- Antikythera Mechanism

- Amyris Biotechnologies

- The Higgs Particle first postulated almost 40 years ago has been sought at every collider built since then. If found it would mean the void of space is not really void but permeated by an invisible field that acts like cosmic molasses. The Higgs Field if it exists exerts a drag on matter passing though it, lending mass to particles that otherwise wouldn't have any (the God Particle)

OUTSIDE

It's really about keeping in shape for life...

If it's potato chips in, its potato chips out. You eat garbage, you're probably goint to perform like garbage.

Vacation is an opportunity to get in a good routine.

Learn to rest...

You have to go and try different stuff

Chew more...

We are each out own greatest inhibitor...

Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight

Okay I have to admit my music taste are all over the map. To be honest I don't really care for the words...I'm just looking for that sound, that beat, that feeling you get when a song changes your emotions. Linkin Park's metal and rap is somewhat fringe for me but overall meteora was a great CD especially if the mood you need is needing some serious octane. So when I was in LA way back when I drove by the band's label and saw that a new album was coming out. Well I don't get excited by too many bands, basically U2 or Garbage is the only bands I wll run out an buy that day. Anyway got the new CD off iTunes. By the way electronic purchases is the way to go. I had an early flight on Tuesday morning and since I was traveling I had no way of getting the CD so I preordered it on iTunes and while I was taking a shower at 4 AM I downloaded the CD to my iPod and away I went. Overall a decent CD with some good overall music...nothing spectacular...their first single is most like their previous CDs. The rap metal songs are good...but the slow songs don't do too much for me. Anyway decent music nothing great.

Colorado Rockies - Week 6

A 3-4 week in St Louis and at home against SF. What is there to say? A 1-2 record against the awful Cardinals and a split against the division rivals. When will management have enough, when will they get a clue that the fans have had enough? When is it time to move Hurdle? Who cares about sending Kim to Florida, how about we send Hurdle off to the farm...this is supposed to be the season to make strides. At the current winning % the Roxs are striving for a 68 - 94 record. Not exactly moving forward after last years 76 wins. How long will we kept hostage? A comment I read from another blog indicated that the next 2-3 weeks is key because of the amount of times we play Arizona and SF while SD and LA is off playing the weak Central. If the Roxs can't put togther some win streaks then the front leaders will make too much of gain.

The Roxs are still 5th in the division with a 16-22 record. Currently 8-9 at home and 8-13 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored 158-206 (expected wins is 14 versus historical wins at 18). Interesting that we have two more wins than expected. This week's WPA leaders:
















Note I removed the players that has zero WPA change for the week as they either didn't see any playing time, were sent down to AAA, or traded!

WPA Season Leaders:

Friday?

The Facts:
The name Friday comes from the Old English frigedæg, meaning the day of Frige the Anglo-Saxon form of Frigg, the Germanic goddess of beauty.

Funky History:
After the United States acquired Alaska from Russia in 1867, Friday October 6 was immediately followed by Friday October 18, adjusting to the adoption of the 1582 Gregorian calendar changes by the British colonies in 1752, and the shifting of the International Date Line.

SciFi Plug:
Friday is a novel by science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein.

A Tale of Two Baseball (Towns)

Vs.





OK call me a cheat but I actually have two teams...the Roxs and the Red Sox (my rationale is you have to have a NL and AL team to root for). Having read Rob Neyer's green monster book and surviving grady I guess I got caught up in it all. Really in baseball regardless of who you really root for you either fall into the Yankees or Red Sox camp. Evil empire or the hard luck sox's. Needless to say when the Red Sox won the series in 2004 it cemented a connection to them. I know that I have never lived in New England, never really went through the pain (OK I did have to live through Aaron F#$@ing Boone, and do not obsess over the team. But I have been to Fenway and I am planning to go again so I must fit somewhere? I do have a Mighty Ortiz shirt and got my wife a Sox Addict shirt. My kids have Red Soxs gear so it must mean something? Anyway this whole post is why the Roxs are the roxs and soxs are the soxs.

Established: Boston 1901 vs Colorado 1993
W-L: Boston 8,472 and 7,972 vs 1.042 - 1,204
Pennants: Boston 11 vs Colorado 0 (Wild Card!)]
WS Champs: Boston 6 vs Colorado 0
HOFs: Boston 15 vs Colorado 0
Ballparks: Boston Fenway vs Colorado Coors
The Man: Boston, Ted Williams vs Colorado, Andres Galaraga




















That pretty much sums it up!

This Week in Comics

Being a slow week I didn't have a lot expectations. New X-men 38 was a pleasant surprise. The team up writing approach seems to work well. Although they kind of overdid the amount of "new" x-men involved it does show a surprising array of new talent in the x-men ranks. Since I started this book on the last issue I am still getting the feel for who is the "new" x-men. It appears to have a core group. I wonder if this "search for Magik" will add to their ranks or just serve as a intro for readers like me longing for the past! Anyway promising story arc...stay tuned.

What can you say...Bendis sucks...as in he sucks you back in just when you think you out! Again all these mega crossovers have really messed with any sort of continuity he was trying to get across but surprisingly he is able to keep it together. Looks like Hawkeye might be returning. Hawkeye to me as always seem to be a cheap rip off of the Green Arrow but ma ybe with his death he will return to be more grittier? Any good issue...some great spidey lines as usual especially the Ninjas, "Well!, I'm fighting ninjas again, even though I specifically said I'm done fighting ninjas."

SABR Baseball Research Journal #35

SABR publications seem to come in spurts. Nothing for a few months and them bam...a bunch in the mailbox. Last week I received the Baseball Research Journal. A decent publication, nothing too spectacular but some interesting things occasionally. This issue was lead of by an article about the Monroe Monarchs (who is that?), well I wouldn't have paid attention but it was about a negro team in Monroe, LA (where I spent the better half of a month working). Small world...

Other articles of interest was the spin of a baseball released by a pitcher (two halves of the baseball leather is called the ovals of cassini), George Michael's continuing saga of mystery photos, David Smith's article on Batting Order which he presented at the 2006 SABR convention, an article about the manual scoring board at Fenway, and finally another good article from David Smith on how often a team scores if the pitcher allows the first batter on base (this was based on a Tim McCarver comment about allowing the first batter to reach base, by a walk). David's look over a 29 year period and found:

Events Runs Scored
Single 183,468 72,841 .397
Double 48,364 30,961 .640
Triple 6,573 5,793 .875
HR 27,205 27,205 1.000
Walk 82,637 33,002 .399
HP 6,217 2,543 .409
INT 81 22 .272
E 12,105 5,298 .438

So giving up a single or issuing a walk or basically allowing the runner to reach first gives that runner about a 4 in 10 shot of scoring.

Colorado Rockies - Week 5

A 3-3 road trip that began in SF and ended with the first road series win against Cincy. So some bright spots as the offensive appears to be getting on track especially with Troy and Taveras a bit (although a strained groin occurred in Cincy). Starting pitching hasn't done much this year. Bullpen hasn't really stablized and the Roxs really miss Kaz at 2B. Carroll hasn't done anything offensively. Helton has been Mr. Clutch and although Holliday's numbers are impressive they haven't done much to help the Roxs win.

The Roxs are still 5th in the division with a 13-18 record. Currently 6-7 at home and 7-11 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored 136-163 (expected wins is 13 versus historical wins at 15). Road hasn't been the traditional minefield for the Roxs in the early going. It will be nice for the Roxs to be home and hopefully they can start taking advantage of Coors Field again, 6-7 is unacceptable. This week's WPA leaders:















Overall season leaders:

Ian Flemming - Octopussy and Living Daylights

Okay there was no real reason to read this...I was just curious after reading Casino Royale. This "book" is basically just 4 short stories. Octopussy is just about a simple story about a retired military soldier who had a sordid pass, Portrait of a Lady about a double agent being paid by a Faberge egg (hmm wasn't this the actual plot to the movie, Octopussy?), then Living Daylights which is basically Bond being a sharpshooter, and finally Bond in New York which was just a weird short story...but a neat recipe for Bond eggs...anyway I wouldn't bother wasting time to read it...it is interesting how they can make a movie based on a single thread from some obscure plot in some 20 page short story!

Spiderman 3

The first blockbuster of 2007! Decent flick, great to see spidey back in action. One and Two were better tighter plotted movies and three seems a bit bloated. Had Sam gotten his way and left out Venom, I think the movie would have been better. The plot really rambles between Harry, Sandman, and Venom. First we deal with Harry, then Sandman comes around, but it turns out that Marko was the one who killed Ben, and then Spidey gets beat on, and then MJ and him have a falling out, and then the new suit comes into play, and blah blah blah. We have an action scent then we talk for about 20 minutes and then another action scene, then some humor...the plot just rambled and this goes on for about 2 hours and 20 minutes! Action scenes were spectacular but the Venom portion just seemed weak. You can definitely tell it was a last minute addition and it kind of shows. I think the one movie, one villain concept is the way to go. Didn't like the whole Gwen Stacey bit...it cheapen her character...and Topher was just a bad villain. Other all a good summer movie, plotting was shabby, but Spidey as the all American hero pulls through. Kirsten Dunst did a good job, Tobey's acting wore thin especially with the John Travolta dancing in the streets bit!

I'm going out on a limb but Pirates of the Caribbean will blow spidey out of the water later this summer...the preview looked way cool!

Kentucky Derby

Horse Racing and Boxing...two once great American institutions breathing on life support. I have to admit that horse racing fascinates me. The utter speed of a horse through 1.25 - 2 miles is phenomenal especially for an old track runner. Just to think of a track that is more than a mile in circumference...wow. Second part is the raising and training of a horse. Horse lineages supposedly can be traced to a couple of dozen horses back through the ages. So the 133rd running of the derby is tomorrow. The entrants and odds are:

Got to love horse names! Circular Quay is who I'm rooting for. For you history buffs Secretariat holds the track record for a 1.25 mile run at 1 minute 59 2/5 seconds! Also here is a graph of all the derby winning times through the years. Guess the speed has bottomed out. Can genetics and breeding only go so far

UPDATE: Street Sense won the derby in at time of 2:20.17 (see red dot above).

This Week in Comics

Another fabulous new take on an old Marvel book by Simonson, Simonson's feel for Marvel's First Family hits the mark. Throw in Thor and Iron Man for good measure and you have a wild ride. As mentioned previously my first Marvel book was X-Factor 9. Simonson was just starting his run on that book so I don't know if I just have a special place in my heart for anything Simonson. His work on Thor, X-factor, and the Fantastic Four was great defining moments for all of these books. Who can not think of Thor and Walt in the same neural firing? He defined the character. With X-factor he brought it out of the shadow of the X-men and made the original 5 worth reading. His take on the "four" is just as good but especially with his art. When I think of the Fantastic, I think of big cosmic adventures. Out of this world, zany aliens, silver surfer, galactus...you know big stuff. Simonson nails this perfectly especially with his big single page spreads and such. Anyway a great collection.

Okay I enjoyed the first issue immensely. The second was okay but the last two have gotten bogged down. Very King like...great grab you get you reading start, long boring middle, and probably a grand finale. I don't know if I can make it to the end, especially with the price tag.









Strange issue...if I read the rumors and bulletin boards it seems like this was supposed to be an ongoing series and while Oeming was writing it, it got slashed to 5 issues. Well this issue seems to be the slash! The art was very strange almost half way done. The plotting was staggered and not as well planned out as issue 1. Characters were introduced rather randomly. I am not too happy about this turn...



Another great issue although Scott seems dead again! I am missing the optic blasts...I'm still a bit out of it in what Scott sees in Emma. I had thought it was a Morrison gimmick but it seems to have stuck. Anyway not too much time left on Whedon's epic run...what sort of end game will he have?








Don't ask me why I think this book has great potential. It really shouldn't but for some reason (James Jean cover art?) I have found myself drawn to this quirky little book. I'm a sucker for team books (heck I gave Psi-Force a good read way back when). This one seems to have some strange characters and great possibility. This was a free comic book (there are two other stories). This short little tale was a good introduction...I believe the first issue is due in stores in August 2007?





Buffy is still back and with Willow this time...the whole Scooby gang is almost intact. Another good issue (episode?). Although I don't know who the no skin guy is? I guess I'm not a real buffologist!

Author Feature - Michael Chabon

Michael Chabon is my featured author, as if I have had lots of featured artist! Ha! Chabon pronounced like Shea Stadium and Bon Jovi is a Pulitzer Prize winning author. I was first interested in the author when the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay was published since it does have a comic book slant to it. The reason I bring him up now is that he has a new novel out, The Yiddish Policemen's Union and I recently heard an interview with him on XM. A very outspoken writer, not one who hides behind his work, and who in his own words wants to entertain us. His writing seems to mesh with my interests. He loves baseball, sherlock holmes, and comic books (gee throw in Jazz) and he has it all covered!


Unfortunately his choice of topics don't always seem to mesh with what "critics" think is real literature. As if anyone really cares about real literature. People read what people find entertaining. Can the two meet? In 50 - 100 years what authors will be remembered? Think Stephen King will be considered a "classic"? Chabon will always have is prize so for that he will be remembered. I enjoy his work although I think sometimes his stories wander. The whole bit of being stuck in Antartica in Amazing Adventures was a bit odd and strained. Summerland, although fun, was just all of over the place. Decent story but not a great story to begin Chabon on. His other books I have not read.



What I enjoy most about Chabon was how is moved the Escapist into the real comic book world. He got some great writers and artist to move this historical character and bring him back. Great stuff. Anyway for those of you inthe Denver area he will be speaking at the Tattered Cover downtown on May 17th. I hope to see him and be finished with his new book!

Guitar Heroes II

My son received the game and the guitar for Christmas. I didn't think to much about it. I thought it looked interesting but a bit complicated...kind of like those dance games where you hit the different colors and get points. Well tired of the Lego Star Wars games I decided to give it a try. Lots of fun! Gotten the easy songs pretty much done. Three buttons is pretty easy. Add the blue and orange and I'm thinking there is no way I'm going to conquor any of these songs on hard or hardest! THere are definately some good songs but wish there were some more relevant songs...I wonder if they have to pay huge license deals for these? Anyway a definate thumbs up and I could imagine throwing hero parties! YOU ROCK!