Friday, July 30, 2004
DC Character Profile: Mr. Terrific
Secret Identity: Michael Holt
Rating: Awesome
Official Website: DC profile
What makes him a superhero: Mr. Terrific is not infused with super powers, per se. Instead, Mr. Terrific is, as many DC characters, born with superior intelligence, intellect and athletic ability. Terrific holds multiple PhD's, speaks dozens of languages and is trained in some form of martial arts. He's also quite the inventor, utlizing his gravity defying T-spheres for everything from video conferencing to tracking enemies to shooting lasers.
What he's about: Mr. Terrific is all about "Fair Play" (it's written on his jacket if you don't believe me). He's there to even the odds for the underdog and to make sure justice is served.
Why The League digs him: Mr. Terrific came on the scene with a minimum of fanfare in the mid-90's when DC was resurrecting the names and ideas behind several of their World War II era characters. The original Mr. Terrific was Terry Sloane, a sort of Bruce Wayne type. In 1997, Terry Sloane was fairly outdated, and so DC decided to revitalize the property by updating Terrific's origin and giving him Terry's story as inspiration.
Since then, Mr. Terrific has served as a mainstay of the JSA comics. He's quickly risen in fan popularity, and even serves as Chairman of the JSA (Justice Society of America), playing the role of cool, confident leader.
You don't see Mr. Terrific actually having to get into fights too often. Usually he's too busy outsmarting the competition.
Secret Identity: Michael Holt
Rating: Awesome
Official Website: DC profile
What makes him a superhero: Mr. Terrific is not infused with super powers, per se. Instead, Mr. Terrific is, as many DC characters, born with superior intelligence, intellect and athletic ability. Terrific holds multiple PhD's, speaks dozens of languages and is trained in some form of martial arts. He's also quite the inventor, utlizing his gravity defying T-spheres for everything from video conferencing to tracking enemies to shooting lasers.
What he's about: Mr. Terrific is all about "Fair Play" (it's written on his jacket if you don't believe me). He's there to even the odds for the underdog and to make sure justice is served.
Why The League digs him: Mr. Terrific came on the scene with a minimum of fanfare in the mid-90's when DC was resurrecting the names and ideas behind several of their World War II era characters. The original Mr. Terrific was Terry Sloane, a sort of Bruce Wayne type. In 1997, Terry Sloane was fairly outdated, and so DC decided to revitalize the property by updating Terrific's origin and giving him Terry's story as inspiration.
Since then, Mr. Terrific has served as a mainstay of the JSA comics. He's quickly risen in fan popularity, and even serves as Chairman of the JSA (Justice Society of America), playing the role of cool, confident leader.
You don't see Mr. Terrific actually having to get into fights too often. Usually he's too busy outsmarting the competition.
Thursday, July 29, 2004
By the way. Set your TiVO/ DVR/ whatever.
Justice League Unlimited premieres this Saturday night.
Should be cool. Mr. Terrific, Atom Smasher, The Creeper, Green Arrow, The Question and a host of others will be making small appearances. You can also see Captain Atom, Supergirl, Dr. Fate, etc... etc...
I hope this show does well enough to continue to extend for several more seasons. DC comics, like Marvel, have a massive number of characters and stories to share. And seeing them brough to the television medium is a huge amount of fun.
Look, I know many or most of you aren't going to read a comic, but if you want to see some crazy super hero action without the shame of actually buying a comic, Justice League is the place to do it. And this episode is perfect for the uninitiated as they kick off a new series. Give it a try!
Justice League Unlimited premieres this Saturday night.
Should be cool. Mr. Terrific, Atom Smasher, The Creeper, Green Arrow, The Question and a host of others will be making small appearances. You can also see Captain Atom, Supergirl, Dr. Fate, etc... etc...
I hope this show does well enough to continue to extend for several more seasons. DC comics, like Marvel, have a massive number of characters and stories to share. And seeing them brough to the television medium is a huge amount of fun.
Look, I know many or most of you aren't going to read a comic, but if you want to see some crazy super hero action without the shame of actually buying a comic, Justice League is the place to do it. And this episode is perfect for the uninitiated as they kick off a new series. Give it a try!
Jim may have found his entire rise to fame completely exploitive, but we can now safely quell the rumor that William Hung has not ended his meteoric rise (and life) with an intentional heroine overdose.
see article here
You know, I can definitely see how see how folks might see William Hung's fame as a bad thing. But I don't. And here's why:
Jessica Simpson's sister.
I missed the whole part where Jessica Simpson became famous, but we all know that it's not exactly like Jessica Simpson worked her way up and out of the club scene, paying her dues and performing at humiliating shows at Astroworld for years before she got her lucky break. She was a pre-packaged deal, a face for magazine covers and album jackets. Don't mind if she can't dance at all, and she has voice as bland as Kroger brand Vanilla ice-cream.
According to certain factions, we live in a meritocracy. But it ain't a perfect world, and that's not really how it works in certain realms. At least in the entertainment business, it's who you know and how you know them. Hundreds and thousands of bands can tell you: even if you do get a record deal, the chances of you getting the kind of promotion that Jessica Simpson, et al, have enjoyed is nil. That kind of marketing is based solely on marketing research and not on years of a steady build-up of fans. But, hey... it's America. If that's what the record companies want to do... whatever.
So now, riding on Jessica's coat-tails comes Ashlee Simpson. Who, you know, is some sort of rocker. Like Johnny Lydon and shit. But she is still managed by mom and dad, and she has a TV show. Never mind she's like 12, doesn't write her own music, and let's face it... she's maybe a good enough singer for a high school production of Annie, Get Your Gun.
Does this mean we should automatically dislike Ashlee? Nah. Again, this is America. If Ashlee Simpson turns your crank, best of luck to you. But at least recognize her as being as pre-packaged as a Happy Meal.
Then I think: When Avril Lavigne was announcing Grammy nominations and misprounced David Bowie, shouldn't she have been euthanized just then? I'm no music snob, but, I mean... holy moley. This girl is making MILLIONS of dollars, and she's a cardboard prop. And she can't identify one of the most important pop stars of the past forty years.
So maybe William Hung doesn't know who David Bowie is either, but he knows what he likes. And, darn it, he at least TRIES to know something about the tunes he likes. And he was willing to go all out at the AI auditions. And he took his rejection with grace, which is more than you can say for most of the bozos who pass before the AI tribunal.
So William Hung sucks. So what? So does 90% of what comes out in any given year.
My point is, if Ashlee Simpson is given carte blanche to make millions of dollars with her talentless self, then why can't William Hung? Because he doesn't have a pretty, talentless sister?
I'd like to see William Hung rewarded for daring to dream in a cynical world. He doesn't have parents working around the clock to get him face time with record producers and record execs. Nope. Instead he stood in line and patiently waited his turn and gave it his all when the opportunity arose. How many of us can say we did the same?
So he's a little goofy and sweetly-naive? And unsure of what to think, folks want to write their own readings onto the William Hung phenomenon. You cannot honestly say that you think William is doing this with anything but the best of intentions. So as long as he gets a big fat check at the end, I'm happy for the man. I hope he makes a billion dollars.
see article here
You know, I can definitely see how see how folks might see William Hung's fame as a bad thing. But I don't. And here's why:
Jessica Simpson's sister.
I missed the whole part where Jessica Simpson became famous, but we all know that it's not exactly like Jessica Simpson worked her way up and out of the club scene, paying her dues and performing at humiliating shows at Astroworld for years before she got her lucky break. She was a pre-packaged deal, a face for magazine covers and album jackets. Don't mind if she can't dance at all, and she has voice as bland as Kroger brand Vanilla ice-cream.
According to certain factions, we live in a meritocracy. But it ain't a perfect world, and that's not really how it works in certain realms. At least in the entertainment business, it's who you know and how you know them. Hundreds and thousands of bands can tell you: even if you do get a record deal, the chances of you getting the kind of promotion that Jessica Simpson, et al, have enjoyed is nil. That kind of marketing is based solely on marketing research and not on years of a steady build-up of fans. But, hey... it's America. If that's what the record companies want to do... whatever.
So now, riding on Jessica's coat-tails comes Ashlee Simpson. Who, you know, is some sort of rocker. Like Johnny Lydon and shit. But she is still managed by mom and dad, and she has a TV show. Never mind she's like 12, doesn't write her own music, and let's face it... she's maybe a good enough singer for a high school production of Annie, Get Your Gun.
Does this mean we should automatically dislike Ashlee? Nah. Again, this is America. If Ashlee Simpson turns your crank, best of luck to you. But at least recognize her as being as pre-packaged as a Happy Meal.
Then I think: When Avril Lavigne was announcing Grammy nominations and misprounced David Bowie, shouldn't she have been euthanized just then? I'm no music snob, but, I mean... holy moley. This girl is making MILLIONS of dollars, and she's a cardboard prop. And she can't identify one of the most important pop stars of the past forty years.
So maybe William Hung doesn't know who David Bowie is either, but he knows what he likes. And, darn it, he at least TRIES to know something about the tunes he likes. And he was willing to go all out at the AI auditions. And he took his rejection with grace, which is more than you can say for most of the bozos who pass before the AI tribunal.
So William Hung sucks. So what? So does 90% of what comes out in any given year.
My point is, if Ashlee Simpson is given carte blanche to make millions of dollars with her talentless self, then why can't William Hung? Because he doesn't have a pretty, talentless sister?
I'd like to see William Hung rewarded for daring to dream in a cynical world. He doesn't have parents working around the clock to get him face time with record producers and record execs. Nope. Instead he stood in line and patiently waited his turn and gave it his all when the opportunity arose. How many of us can say we did the same?
So he's a little goofy and sweetly-naive? And unsure of what to think, folks want to write their own readings onto the William Hung phenomenon. You cannot honestly say that you think William is doing this with anything but the best of intentions. So as long as he gets a big fat check at the end, I'm happy for the man. I hope he makes a billion dollars.
New teaser trailer for the upcoming Batman film, Batman Begins.
Go to the site here and click on "trailer".
Hmmm... this tells me absolutely nothing. After Warner Bros.' last foray into superherodom with Catwoman, I am a bit overly skeptical. However, it all looks fairly accurate to the comics.
I'll be curious to see if the studio sees fit to foist an unnecessary love interest upon Batman once again.
Go to the site here and click on "trailer".
Hmmm... this tells me absolutely nothing. After Warner Bros.' last foray into superherodom with Catwoman, I am a bit overly skeptical. However, it all looks fairly accurate to the comics.
I'll be curious to see if the studio sees fit to foist an unnecessary love interest upon Batman once again.
Just watched a chunk of a PBS documentary called "People Like Us".
There was a section in which they attempted to use high school as a microcosm to demonstrate the formation of class consciousness at a young age. As you can imagine, the producers let the rich kids talk long enough to sound like real boneheads and like a bunch of ignorant and bigoted maroons.
Funny thing.
The high schools they interviewed were some Austin, TX high schools. The rich kid school being Anderson high school. You know, I went to high school briefly in Austin and I don't remember it having a reputation for being full of rich a-holes. Upper middle class a-holes, yeah. But rich a-holes? That was reserved for the Westlake kids when I was in Austin. (ex: they had astroturf on their high school football field).
Nonetheless, it's a good doc. Worth watching, even if it makes you uncomfortable from time to time.
Oh, and the guy who runs UT's film department was somehow attached in the credits. I should have scrolled back on my DVR to see if I knew anybody, but I went and changed the channel. If anyone from Austin knows anything more about this doc, let me know.
There was a section in which they attempted to use high school as a microcosm to demonstrate the formation of class consciousness at a young age. As you can imagine, the producers let the rich kids talk long enough to sound like real boneheads and like a bunch of ignorant and bigoted maroons.
Funny thing.
The high schools they interviewed were some Austin, TX high schools. The rich kid school being Anderson high school. You know, I went to high school briefly in Austin and I don't remember it having a reputation for being full of rich a-holes. Upper middle class a-holes, yeah. But rich a-holes? That was reserved for the Westlake kids when I was in Austin. (ex: they had astroturf on their high school football field).
Nonetheless, it's a good doc. Worth watching, even if it makes you uncomfortable from time to time.
Oh, and the guy who runs UT's film department was somehow attached in the credits. I should have scrolled back on my DVR to see if I knew anybody, but I went and changed the channel. If anyone from Austin knows anything more about this doc, let me know.
2004 Mellies, Day 69,890
The end. Seriously.
Most loathsome Democratic presidential nominee
Jim D.
Al Sharpton
Jamie
Gephardt
Jilly
are there any democrats running?
Randy
No answer
Maxwell
Not so much loathsome as amusing, Mr. Warren Roderick Ashe is a real card. In his Votesmart Bio he tells us "I have poetry, music, television publications that have remained a publication secret in Radio and television broadcasting." Huh? He is also has special talents in "Astronautical and Astrophysics computer math involving saucer technology and time travel."
Scaljon
Kucinich. What could be appealing about the Bela Lugosi look? And what did you do to Willie Nelson, you freaky SOB?!
Harms
The Republican president has already lowered the bar so low that this question doesn't make much sense anymore.
Valdez
No Answer
Nord
a. Wesley Clark - paper general, paper candidate b. Albert "Al" Hamburg - Crazy MF from Wyoming
The League posts a vote
This all seems so moot this week. Didn't see a plurality here. So, uh... I gotta go with Maxwell on this one.
Best book you read
Jim D.
The Time Traveler's Wife
Jamie
Identity Crisis. Because it's the only one anyone here might also have read and it made me want to cry
Jilly
all of them are boring but dissertation necessary
Randy
No answer
Maxwell
Just finished Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera, a sprawling classic story of unrequited love that is "unfaithful, but not disloyal". Also enjoyed Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees even if it is everyone's favorite book of the month to trash.
Scaljon
The Templars, by Piers Paul Ried
Harms
What Should I do with my life - Po Bronson A Scanner Darkly - PK Dick
Valdez
"Reefer Madness" by Eric Schlosser. Three essays on illegal "underground" enterprises. Engrossing.
Nord
a. Inside Al Qaeda by Rohan Gunaratna b. Memoirs of U.S. Grant (in progress)
The League doesn't read books without pictures
And the stuff we read this spring for school was boring. Looks like a nifty book list for people looking for a good read. I can safely recommend "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" as not just a biography, but an excellent peak into a part of American history and culture which was not so long ago, but might as well have been a million years ago.
Other blogs of wonder
Jim D.
Rationator Mirus (Nord)
Jamie
Musings of the Queen Mum. I wonder if this *is* a blog....
Jilly
don't read any others (aren't you flattered?)
Randy
No answer
Maxwell
In addition to the blog that got me started, Pamie.com, and my entire blogroll, new blogs Verbose Coma and The 'soon to be added to blogroll' Rage Diaries rock my socks.
Scaljon
hmmm... so many to read. I like baseball musings
Harms
boingboing.net
Valdez
No Answer
Nord
a. Electronic discovery blogs b. The chinese sex-blog that caused a ruckus in the republic.
The League
See the blogroll
Which former POTUS (President of the United States) do you know least about, but want to know more?
Jim D.
Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce
Jamie - it appears that Jamie believed I was referring to which member of the band "Presidents of the United States" did she wish to know more about...
Chris Ballew. Because 'Kitty' is an *awesome* song. (btw I just found out they are releasing a new album soon!)
Jilly
Jimmy Carter
Randy
No answer
Maxwell
MARTIN "The Little Magician" VAN BUREN
(editor's note: it appears Maxwell has joined The Van Buren Boys)
Scaljon
Franklin Pierce
Harms
Polk - I just picked a random one out of the bevy of presidential streets in the Fillmore / Marina districts of San Francisco
(editor's note: please refer to They Might Be Giant's Album "Factory Showroom" for more info on Polk)
Valdez
No Answer
Nord
a. Zachary Taylor b. Chester A. Arthur
The League takes to the Bully Pulpit
Looks like Franklin Pierce is our winner. I'll see what I can do to learn more about the man myself. Unfortunately, I have 100 pages left to go in the Roosevelt biography, and then I have to read the next 800 page volume of "Theodore Rex". Maybe I'll take a little break in between and read up on Pierce. I do recall some info on Pierce from my days as a history major, but jeez... not much.
maybe I'll do a little report. Right now, The League promises nothing.
And that's it
Stick a fork in me. I'm done. Next time I'm making this easier for all of us.
The end. Seriously.
Most loathsome Democratic presidential nominee
Jim D.
Al Sharpton
Jamie
Gephardt
Jilly
are there any democrats running?
Randy
No answer
Maxwell
Not so much loathsome as amusing, Mr. Warren Roderick Ashe is a real card. In his Votesmart Bio he tells us "I have poetry, music, television publications that have remained a publication secret in Radio and television broadcasting." Huh? He is also has special talents in "Astronautical and Astrophysics computer math involving saucer technology and time travel."
Scaljon
Kucinich. What could be appealing about the Bela Lugosi look? And what did you do to Willie Nelson, you freaky SOB?!
Harms
The Republican president has already lowered the bar so low that this question doesn't make much sense anymore.
Valdez
No Answer
Nord
a. Wesley Clark - paper general, paper candidate b. Albert "Al" Hamburg - Crazy MF from Wyoming
The League posts a vote
This all seems so moot this week. Didn't see a plurality here. So, uh... I gotta go with Maxwell on this one.
Best book you read
Jim D.
The Time Traveler's Wife
Jamie
Identity Crisis. Because it's the only one anyone here might also have read and it made me want to cry
Jilly
all of them are boring but dissertation necessary
Randy
No answer
Maxwell
Just finished Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera, a sprawling classic story of unrequited love that is "unfaithful, but not disloyal". Also enjoyed Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees even if it is everyone's favorite book of the month to trash.
Scaljon
The Templars, by Piers Paul Ried
Harms
What Should I do with my life - Po Bronson A Scanner Darkly - PK Dick
Valdez
"Reefer Madness" by Eric Schlosser. Three essays on illegal "underground" enterprises. Engrossing.
Nord
a. Inside Al Qaeda by Rohan Gunaratna b. Memoirs of U.S. Grant (in progress)
The League doesn't read books without pictures
And the stuff we read this spring for school was boring. Looks like a nifty book list for people looking for a good read. I can safely recommend "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" as not just a biography, but an excellent peak into a part of American history and culture which was not so long ago, but might as well have been a million years ago.
Other blogs of wonder
Jim D.
Rationator Mirus (Nord)
Jamie
Musings of the Queen Mum. I wonder if this *is* a blog....
Jilly
don't read any others (aren't you flattered?)
Randy
No answer
Maxwell
In addition to the blog that got me started, Pamie.com, and my entire blogroll, new blogs Verbose Coma and The 'soon to be added to blogroll' Rage Diaries rock my socks.
Scaljon
hmmm... so many to read. I like baseball musings
Harms
boingboing.net
Valdez
No Answer
Nord
a. Electronic discovery blogs b. The chinese sex-blog that caused a ruckus in the republic.
The League
See the blogroll
Which former POTUS (President of the United States) do you know least about, but want to know more?
Jim D.
Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce
Jamie - it appears that Jamie believed I was referring to which member of the band "Presidents of the United States" did she wish to know more about...
Chris Ballew. Because 'Kitty' is an *awesome* song. (btw I just found out they are releasing a new album soon!)
Jilly
Jimmy Carter
Randy
No answer
Maxwell
MARTIN "The Little Magician" VAN BUREN
(editor's note: it appears Maxwell has joined The Van Buren Boys)
Scaljon
Franklin Pierce
Harms
Polk - I just picked a random one out of the bevy of presidential streets in the Fillmore / Marina districts of San Francisco
(editor's note: please refer to They Might Be Giant's Album "Factory Showroom" for more info on Polk)
Valdez
No Answer
Nord
a. Zachary Taylor b. Chester A. Arthur
The League takes to the Bully Pulpit
Looks like Franklin Pierce is our winner. I'll see what I can do to learn more about the man myself. Unfortunately, I have 100 pages left to go in the Roosevelt biography, and then I have to read the next 800 page volume of "Theodore Rex". Maybe I'll take a little break in between and read up on Pierce. I do recall some info on Pierce from my days as a history major, but jeez... not much.
maybe I'll do a little report. Right now, The League promises nothing.
And that's it
Stick a fork in me. I'm done. Next time I'm making this easier for all of us.
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