News for the Week of June 25, 2008
Rick’s Writin’s
A disclaimer to start: All opinions written under each person's column
are that writer's opinion only and management is not responsible for outrageous
statements such as hating puppies that one writer who shall remain nameless
spouted last week. The fact that she makes our eyes water reading about
her husband and her stinking hippy, mosh pitting lifestyle is one thing.
But to so viciously attack poor defenseless cute puppies is an outrage,
and management WILL NOT stand for it. To be clear in fact, I LOVES my
puppy.
There's much to talk about with all the M's doings, my driving peeve of
the week, and a full plate on the comic side as well. To prevent too many
eyes from rolling up, I'll start with the comic news and then go into
my thoughts on the M's. But first, the driving peeve: Why the hell do
so many drivers act like they're on the freeway as they travel through
parking lots and then slam on their brakes just before they enter the
roadway, leaving their car nose out into traffic, scaring the Beejesus
out of passing drivers thinking they're about to pull out in front of
them. With all the knucklehead drivers not paying attention due to cell
phone use and other distractions, this is just one more worry, compounded
by the fact that we know so many are not paying attention. To me it seems
this infraction is happening more and more. You can't trust them NOT to
pull out in front of you, feel lucky when they don't, and then get mad
because they scared you with their boneheaded driving. As I've said before,
though everyone should drive defensively, we need to trust the other drivers
on the road to be doing the same. Unfortunately, as a whole, they just
aren't trustworthy. How do we fix that? I don't know about accident fatality
numbers, but I've got to believe the overall accident numbers are way
up compared to say, ten years ago. WE need drivers to be more reliable,
to take their driving seriously, and to stop using their cars as phone
booths and lounges while they're on the road. I'll check into the accident
numbers to see if I'm right and report next week (or if you'd like, you
guys that may already know can report in and we'll post it).
Big week for comics, with lots of stuff, both big and small. Previews
and Wizard magazines arrive along with many notable titles. Starting with
DC this time, The second Final Crisis (#2 means second) is the biggest,
along with the weekly Trinity (#4). I've heard favorable reports on Trinity,
and hopefully by next week I'll be caught up on that one. The Superman
titles are getting a push lately, with new creative teams on both main
titles, Action and Superman. This week's Superman (#677) features the
debut of new writer James Robinson, acclaimed for his Starman run a few
years back. DC promises they are going to make the Superman books "must
read", and this is just the start. They've got my interest. I'd sure
like to see Superman picking up new readers. I'm sure it's hard keeping
him interesting after sixty some years, but they do it regularly with
Batman, so I'd like to believe it can work for Supes too. Green Lantern
guest stars, as well as having his own book this week (#32) part four
of Hal Jordan's "Secret Origin" story, featuring Sinestro. There's
a new Vertigo title this week, Madame Xanadu (#1), that perhaps Paula
will mention if she's not talking about puppies (oops! sorry.)
On the Marvel side, we've got the Hulkster, er... I mean Hulk (#4) who's
red and NOT Bruce Banner and Captain America (#39) which has TWO guys
wearing the Cap suit. So, what's going on here??? The start of the Captain
America Clone Saga?? I hope not, and honestly I doubt it. Ed Brubaker
is too good a writer to pull that. All three Avengers books arrive this
week. Unless it's necessary to the story I just can't figure why these
books aren't spread out over a couple three weeks. It could be though
as this week's New Avengers (#42) Mighty Avengers (#15) and Avengers Initiative
(#14) all are Secret Invasion story tie-ins. Both main X titles arrive
too and they're both Divided We Stand story issues, with X-Men Legacy
(#213) and Uncanny X-Men (#499). Marvel has big doings planned for Uncanny
X-Men #500 next month. Finally, the January solicited Ultimates 3 (#4)
arrives. I don't think Marvel has been able to put out any of the Ultimates
series without having at least one if not multiple delays. I wonder why
that is? I also want to mention that for you Goon fans that may have missed
the Chinatown hard cover, we'll be getting more in this week. Dark Horse
has gone back to press on this one. Since it's an original graphic novel,
meaning no comic issues to hunt, I'm glad they've decided to put it back
in print. We've been out for months, so if you missed it the first time,
now's your chance to pick it up.
As for the M's, what can I say other than good riddance to Bavasi, FINALLY,
sorry to Mac, but he needed to go too, and now, let's start on the players.
There's no big hurry, as it's not like we're going to be able to climb
back into any race, but there's no need to dawdle either. We know a few
guys that definitely won't be here next year. If they're not trade worthy,
release them and don't waste line up spots on them. We have three guys
getting time at first that won't be here next year (Sexson, Vidro, Cairo)
and perhaps nobody in Triple A (Lahair?) ready. Time to get Jojimha and
or Clement ready there (Where's Greg Norton when you need him? OH Yeah,
Designated for assignment and then beating us with Atlanta). Trade Bedard
as soon as you can get some decent return for him, but he'd best not be
here after July 31st. He's Clubhouse Cancer that guy is, and we gave up
FIVE decent guys for him. Bavasi could've been fired for that move alone,
not counting all the other crappy maneuvers. I KNEW that was a bad move
(George Sherrill, 25 saves for Baltimore, though we might not have been
smart enough to use Sherrill to close). Maybe trade him for a closer type
to back up J.J. in case he's hurt again or longer, or has lost it (He
hasn't looked great most of the year). Does anybody out there really think
Morrow, as good as he seems to be, will be able to hold up as EITHER a
closer or starter, given his history of arm troubles?? My gut feeling
is, no. Perhaps trade Raul, as we might get something for him and he's
a free agent after this year, though the grannies will get their panties
in a bunch if we do. Some say trade Ichiro, but I'm not one of them. Keep
Yuni, obviously Felix, Jose Lopez, Sean Green, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Clement
and then pretty much anybody else should be available. All in all, though
there will still be plenty of losing, I think it will be interesting and
fun to see what transpires over the next few weeks leading up to the trade
deadline on July 31st. The really big stuff won't happen until the fall
and winter. Perhaps if they aren't fired too, M's executives Howard Lincoln
and Chuck Armstrong will retire. A total house cleaning!! We shall see.
Paula’s Picks
I wanted to give everyone a heads up that I might be a little weird this
week. Wait a minute, I’m weird every week. Hmmm… anyway, I’ve
been having some problems with my tooth. I went to the dentist on Friday
and they’re not exactly sure why it hurts, but I’m trying
a fluoride treatment for a couple of weeks that may fix it. If not, there
could be a root canal in my future. So, if I don’t talk very much,
say “ow” when I do talk or make weird faces, it’s not
you, it’s me.
We’re getting in some good books this week. BPRD Ectoplasmic Man
One-Shot tells the origin on Johann Kraus. He’ll be appearing in
the new Hellboy movie coming out in July. Madam Xanadu #1 from Vertigo
looks pretty interesting. I’m definitely reading that one.
There’s also some new trade paperbacks coming out this week: Walking
Dead volume 8, Jack of Fables volume 3 (along with Jack of Fables #23)
and Indiana Jones Adventures volume 1. Indiana Jones Adventures is all
new material and is in the same format as Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures.
There was a test in my writings last week. I put a little sentence at
the end stating “I hate puppies.” I got one reply about that
sentence and it was a good one, but I’ll share it with you in a
bit. First, I should explain. It came up in conversation that Rick wrote
about a controversial topic in his writings a couple of week ago: politics.
It then came up that I need to write something controversial to keep people
interested and on their toes. That controversy was puppies. As you may
know, I clearly don’t hate puppies and perhaps that’s why
I only got the one response. You all knew I was joking. Now, here’s
that response that I got about that one sentence. It had me laughing until
I cried! You da man, Sam!
“Mrs. Paula Spychalski
It has recently come to our attention that – as you put it in an email “I hate puppies”. We here at PETA would like to educate you in the proper lingo that you should be using when you are talking to customers about dogs. You should never say that you hate puppies – this is a personal comment and should not be included in on any communications that goes out to customer. As a result of your comment we at PETA will be watching your emails going forward to ensure that you are utilizing the proper and utmost reverent language when you are referring back to the animal kingdom. Please think before you write going forward. We would really hate to have to follow you around – yes we have the address on the email below so we know where to find you – and the pickup truck that you drive – to ensure that you are following our guidelines in being PC. Failure to comply with this email will result in an email campaign, mail campaign and if needed a boycott staged in the front of you and your husband’s store. Please do not test us – you need to be aware of how you treat animals going forward (and no more kicking the black lab or we will take you to our retraining institute in the hills of Idaho). Thanks for your attention to this matter and I trust we will not need to follow up with you again.
PETA
People on Equal Terms with Animal”