Actually, no. But I have been working my ass off. A side effect of being in a countercyclical business. Sure, I picked this line of work knowing the tougher the economy gets, the more hours I'd have to put in. But I didn't know it would get quite this crazy. It doesn't help that the wedding planning is happening now too!
Before I head back to work, I must say: all that news you hear about bank "stress" tests, viability, and oversight? Well, that's me, working 90 hour weeks, to provide all the extra data, modeling, reporting, and paperwork for various doomsday and audit scenarios. So thanks, American taxpayers! You want to tax my bonus at 90% (which I don't think will become law, but you've made your feelings clear) while requiring me to comply with additional regulation (which, by the way, you will never see, because the problem with our regulatory system isn't that we don't have enough - it's that there's no central repository where the public can hold anyone accountable). I understand that you're pissed, but it sucks that your anger means I have to work weekends!
March 28, 2009
March 17, 2009
After Watchmen
As part of their "After Watchmen" promo, DC has compiled a list of 20 must-read titles (that they publish, of course) to draw in readers who enjoyed Watchmen either as a movie or graphic novel.
1) All-Star Superman Volume 1
2) Batman: Arkham Asylum
3) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
4) Batman: The Killing Joke
5) Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days
6) Fables Volume 1: Legends in Exile
7) Identity Crisis
8) Joker
9) Kingdom Come
10) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1
11) Planetary Book 1: All over the world and other stories
12) Preacher Volume 1: Gone to Texas
13) Ronin
14) Saga of the Swamp Thing Book 1
15) The Sandman Volume 1: Preludes & Nocturnes
16) Superman: Red Son
17) Transmetropolitan Volume 1: Back on the street
18) WE3
19) Y: The Last Man Book 1: Unmanned
20) V For Vendetta
This is a kick ass list. I was not expecting such fantastic selection from a mainstream publisher! Having read each of these, I attest to the high caliber of storytelling they contain. It also gives me hope that DC is willing to push creator based material, especially those from their Vertigo imprint, which focuses on original characters in self contained worlds that aren't necessarily tied to the DC universe.
The books they've chosen represent some of the best achievements in comics to date, showcasing that perfect blend of literature and visual art. Just a few edits are needed in my opinion:
* Replace Batman: Arkham Asylum with 100 Bullets
Arkham Asylum is dark, violent and gritty, but you already get that in other Batman titles. It's the weakest Batman story on the list. 100 Bullets is just as dark, much more violent, and infinitely more gritty.
* Replace Identity Crisis with Batman: The Long Halloween
Sure, Identity Crisis is superhero mystery done in a relevant fashion. So is The Long Halloween, with better writing and deeper insight into the mythos.
* Replace The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Astro City
While League is neat because of its high brow references and cheeky twist on the superhero team, Astro City is far superior in both story and world. It reinvents superheros in a startlingly humanistic way.
Three more Vertigo titles that deserve recognition:
* Hellblazer: I have a huge crush on John Constantine. Something about mages with a tortured past. And please don't think Keanu Reeves - that portrayal was nothing like the wise cracking, chain smoking blonde brit we all know and love.
* The Books of Magic: Boy wizard learns the ways of magic while growing up. Before Harry Potter and far more mature in both scope and writing.
* Northlanders: Because sometimes you want to see Vikings smash things in a well executed manner. Complete with vulgar language, badass characters, and obligatory rape and pillage.
1) All-Star Superman Volume 1
2) Batman: Arkham Asylum
3) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
4) Batman: The Killing Joke
5) Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days
6) Fables Volume 1: Legends in Exile
7) Identity Crisis
8) Joker
9) Kingdom Come
10) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1
11) Planetary Book 1: All over the world and other stories
12) Preacher Volume 1: Gone to Texas
13) Ronin
14) Saga of the Swamp Thing Book 1
15) The Sandman Volume 1: Preludes & Nocturnes
16) Superman: Red Son
17) Transmetropolitan Volume 1: Back on the street
18) WE3
19) Y: The Last Man Book 1: Unmanned
20) V For Vendetta
This is a kick ass list. I was not expecting such fantastic selection from a mainstream publisher! Having read each of these, I attest to the high caliber of storytelling they contain. It also gives me hope that DC is willing to push creator based material, especially those from their Vertigo imprint, which focuses on original characters in self contained worlds that aren't necessarily tied to the DC universe.
The books they've chosen represent some of the best achievements in comics to date, showcasing that perfect blend of literature and visual art. Just a few edits are needed in my opinion:
* Replace Batman: Arkham Asylum with 100 Bullets
Arkham Asylum is dark, violent and gritty, but you already get that in other Batman titles. It's the weakest Batman story on the list. 100 Bullets is just as dark, much more violent, and infinitely more gritty.
* Replace Identity Crisis with Batman: The Long Halloween
Sure, Identity Crisis is superhero mystery done in a relevant fashion. So is The Long Halloween, with better writing and deeper insight into the mythos.
* Replace The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Astro City
While League is neat because of its high brow references and cheeky twist on the superhero team, Astro City is far superior in both story and world. It reinvents superheros in a startlingly humanistic way.
Three more Vertigo titles that deserve recognition:
* Hellblazer: I have a huge crush on John Constantine. Something about mages with a tortured past. And please don't think Keanu Reeves - that portrayal was nothing like the wise cracking, chain smoking blonde brit we all know and love.
* The Books of Magic: Boy wizard learns the ways of magic while growing up. Before Harry Potter and far more mature in both scope and writing.
* Northlanders: Because sometimes you want to see Vikings smash things in a well executed manner. Complete with vulgar language, badass characters, and obligatory rape and pillage.
March 14, 2009
Signs of Spring!
Despite the SNOW last week, the crocuses are peeping out. In another few days, the deer and rabbits will have devoured them all. Circle of life, I suppose!
March 13, 2009
Another One Bites the Dust...
Earlier this year, a local alt-rock station turned into a top 40 channel.
Now 92.3 K-Rock joins the club. They just became yet another top 40 hits station.
At least K-Rock still has an online streaming presence playing their old repertoire. But that doesn't help those of us stuck in the car commuting each day. Honestly, how many stations playing the same songs do we need? This is a sad state of affairs :(
Now 92.3 K-Rock joins the club. They just became yet another top 40 hits station.
At least K-Rock still has an online streaming presence playing their old repertoire. But that doesn't help those of us stuck in the car commuting each day. Honestly, how many stations playing the same songs do we need? This is a sad state of affairs :(
March 6, 2009
Vindication!
At last, proof that doodling during meetings is actually productive!
I'm always drawing stuff during meetings. The more complex the sketch, the more bored I was -- but apparently I was also retaining information. Woohoo!
I'm always drawing stuff during meetings. The more complex the sketch, the more bored I was -- but apparently I was also retaining information. Woohoo!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)