bitolithic | Spilling the beans on Comic Zeal V4

bitolithic | Spilling the beans on Comic Zeal V4: "The iPad is just perfect for Comic Zeal, there was never a question that I’d be creating a version of Comic Zeal for it."

Looking good.

Analysts Ask if the iPad Can Live Up to Its Hype - NYTimes.com

Analysts Ask if the iPad Can Live Up to Its Hype - NYTimes.com: "When the Apple iPad goes on sale on Saturday, most of the major questions surrounding the device will have been answered, save for one: can it live up to the hype?"

Why the iPad Will Change Everything - Newsweek.com

Why the iPad Will Change Everything - Newsweek.com: "The iPad will change the way you use computers, read books, and watch TV—as long as you're willing to do it the Steve Jobs way."

Feasting on the Word wins Theologus Award

"The Association of Theological Booksellers has named Westminster John Knox Press’s Feasting on the Word, Year B, their 2009 Book of the Year. The Theologus Awards are given based on the unique, professional evaluations of sellers of academic religious books. Edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, Feasting on the Word has been heralded as the most ecumenical and comprehensive of the lectionary commentaries."

Hey, my three contributions were in Year B!

Chris Evans to play 'Captain America' - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

Chris Evans to play 'Captain America' - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety: "Chris Evans will don the star-spangled superhero suit to play Captain America for Marvel Entertainment.

Evans accepted an offer made by the comicbook publisher late last week, beating out a number of thesps who test-screened for the high-profile role.

Deal, which Evans' reps are finalizing, calls for the actor to star in at least three 'Captain America' movies, starting with 'The First Avenger: Captain America,' which Marvel is set to invade theaters with on July 22, 2011. Paramount will distribute."

Ten immediate benefits of HCR | Crooks and Liars

Ten immediate benefits of HCR | Crooks and Liars: "Here are ten benefits which come online within six months of the President's signature on the health care bill..."

The iPad App Derby Gets Under Way - NYTimes.com

The iPad App Derby Gets Under Way - NYTimes.com: "It can be difficult to write software for a gadget without being able to touch it. But that has not stopped developers from rushing to create applications for the Apple iPad."

Jack Kirby: A Custody Battle, Supersized, Over Marvel Superheroes - NYTimes.com

A Custody Battle, Supersized, Over Marvel Superheroes - NYTimes.com: "WHEN the Walt Disney Company agreed in August to pay $4 billion to acquire Marvel Entertainment, the comic book publisher and movie studio, it snared a company with a library that includes some of the world’s best-known superheroes, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Incredible Hulk and the Fantastic Four.

The heirs of Jack Kirby, the legendary artist who co-created numerous Marvel mainstays, were also intrigued by the deal. Mr. Kirby’s children had long harbored resentments about Marvel, believing they had been denied a share of the lush profits rolling out of the company’s superheroes franchises."

The Hippest, Coolest TV Show of the Late 1950s—Early 1960s is Coming to the Big Screen : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos

The Hippest, Coolest TV Show of the Late 1950s—Early 1960s is Coming to the Big Screen : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos: "OK baby-boomers and TV historians, what was the hippest, coolest TV show between 1958 and 1964?

Hint: ABC, Stu Bailey and Kookie.

It was Warner Bros.' '77 Sunset Strip,' and its now being developed into a period feature film, according to Deadline.com.

The article says the movie will be directed by Greg Berlanti. Berlanti is best known for his TV work as executive producer and writer of 'Everwood,' 'Eli Stone,' and 'Brothers & Sisters.'"

Marvel's 'Captain America' Casting Identity Crisis | The Wrap

Marvel's 'Captain America' Casting Identity Crisis | The Wrap: "While everyone seems to be chasing down flimsy leads about who's playing Captain America, I'm left wondering: What the heck is Marvel thinking here?

It's been a month since 'Captain America' director Joe Johnston promised casting news within 'a couple of weeks,' and besides a disappointing (and ever-growing) list of actors I'd never dream of installing as the title character, we're no closer to anything firm.

What's more, the choices thus far send all kinds of mixed signals as to where they're going with the character -- except for the fact that they're definitely keeping Steve Rogers white."

Michael Lindsay: The mainline is not on the sidelines | Faith & Leadership

Michael Lindsay: The mainline is not on the sidelines | Faith & Leadership: "The church in the future will blend both modality and sodality, says a sociologist specializing in leadership, religion and culture."

Texas Messes with History: Scientific American Podcast

Texas Messes with History: Scientific American Podcast: "Long a proponent of including nonscientific creationism in the biology curriculum, the Texas State Board of Education last week further illustrated its willingness to sacrifice accuracy for ideology by excluding Thomas Jefferson from a list of influential historical figures."

Hot in Cleveland (and Everywhere Else): Betty White Lands Starring Role in Sitcom

Hot in Cleveland (and Everywhere Else): Betty White Lands Starring Role in Sitcom : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos: "Looks like 88 is the new 38. Now peaking in her career (who would've thought...), Betty White has been signed as one of the stars in the ensemble cast TVLand has put together for its upcoming original sitcom, 'Hot in Cleveland.'

White will join�Valerie Bertinelli ('One Day At A Time'), Jane Leeves ('Frasier') and Wendie Malick ('Just Shoot Me') in the new show, TVLand says."

Don't Feed the Trolls | RD Blog: The Devil's Advocate | ReligionDispatches

Don't Feed the Trolls | RD Blog: Daniel Schultz | ReligionDispatches: "The more I think about all the pixels that have been spilt over Glenn Beck's comments on churches that preach 'social justice,' the more I think we've been had. (And yes, I bit, too, so that makes me equally guilty.)

For one thing, Beck's hardly the first right-winger to attack the tradition of social justice. Personally, I think charging the mainline churches with being in bed with the Sandinistas is much more creative than anything Beck has come up with."

Hey, Mr. Falwell, Read Your Bible - Jesus Creed

Hey, Mr. Falwell, Read Your Bible
- Jesus Creed: Scot McKnight: "I'm amazed at the comments being made by some evangelicals, in this case the son of Jerry Falwell, that 'charity' is purely voluntary and individual, and that charity is not designed by God or by Jesus to be something done by the government. What is happening is that some conservatives are now equating libertarian principles with the Bible and with the biblical world. Libertarian care for the poor is utopian. I quote from Falwell, not because he's alone, but because he represents a growing trend."

Outraged by Glenn Beck’s Salvo, Christians Fire Back - NYTimes.com

Outraged by Glenn Beck’s Salvo, Christians Fire Back - NYTimes.com: "Last week, the conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck called on Christians to leave their churches if they hear preaching about social or economic justice, saying they were code words for Communism and Nazism.

This week the remarks prompted outrage from several Christian bloggers. The Rev. Jim Wallis, who leads the liberal Christian antipoverty group Sojourners, in Washington, called on Christians to leave Glenn Beck.

“What he has said attacks the very heart of our Christian faith, and Christians should no longer watch his show,” Mr. Wallis wrote on his blog, God’s Politics. “His show should now be in the same category as Howard Stern.”"

The New York Times Magazine Names Ben Zimmer as 'On Language' Columnist - MarketWatch

The New York Times Magazine Names Ben Zimmer as 'On Language' Columnist - MarketWatch: "The New York Times Magazine announced today the appointment of linguist and lexicographer Ben Zimmer as the new 'On Language' columnist. Mr. Zimmer succeeds William Safire who was the founding and regular columnist until his death last fall. The column is a fixture in The Times Magazine and features commentary on the many facets -- from grammar to usage -- of our language. 'On Language' will appear bi-weekly beginning March 21."

It's going biweekly???

Paul Krugman - Health Reform Myths - NYTimes.com

Op-Ed Columnist - Health Reform Myths - NYTimes.com: "Health reform is back from the dead. Many Democrats have realized that their electoral prospects will be better if they can point to a real accomplishment. Polling on reform — which was never as negative as portrayed — shows signs of improving. And I’ve been really impressed by the passion and energy of this guy Barack Obama. Where was he last year?

But reform still has to run a gantlet of misinformation and outright lies. So let me address three big myths about the proposed reform, myths that are believed by many people who consider themselves well-informed, but who have actually fallen for deceptive spin."

Mainliners, Be a Little Brutal and Divisive | RD Blog: The Devil's Advocate | ReligionDispatches

Mainliners, Be a Little Brutal and Divisive | RD Blog: Daniel Schultz| ReligionDispatches: "What does all the quiet good work of Mainline Liberals really come to in a public square dominated by the right?"

Mars In 40 Days: New Rocket Engine Could Make Quick Space Travel Possible

Mars In 40 Days: New Rocket Engine Could Make Quick Space Travel Possible: "Last week, Space.com reported an exciting piece of news for space exploration enthusiasts: technology that could someday make human travel to Mars possible in as little as 40 days may already exist."

Pellegrino Book Is Pulled and Publishers Ponder Procedures - NYTimes.com

Pellegrino Book Is Pulled and Publishers Ponder Procedures - NYTimes.com: "With the rise of electronic books, makers of reading devices and online retailers are putting pressure on prices and the traditional book publishing business model. And, as with record labels and newspapers, digital media raises the question of what part the traditional book publisher will play in the future.

“If book publishers are supposed to be the gatekeepers,” said Kurt Andersen, the novelist and host of “Studio 360,” a public radio program, “tell me exactly what they’re closing the gate to.”"

Gas pipeline probe uncovers shipwrecks in Baltic Sea - Yahoo! News

Gas pipeline probe uncovers shipwrecks in Baltic Sea - Yahoo! News: "A dozen previously unknown shipwrecks, some of them believed to be up to 1,000 years old, were discovered in the Baltic Sea during a probe of the sea bed to prepare for the installation of a large gas pipeline, the Swedish National Heritage Board said Monday.
'We have manage to identify 12 shipwrecks, and nine of them are considered to be fairly old,' Peter Norman, a senior advisor with the heritage board, told AFP."

The Early David Letterman 1967-1980 - WFMU's Beware of the Blog

The Early David Letterman 1967-1980 - WFMU's Beware of the Blog: "David Letterman was an entrenched figure of nineteen seventies variety television, appearing in awful sketches and playing the part of 'celebrity' on countless game shows. He trudged through various smelters of TV that could very well be classified as crimes against humanity. A small sample of his resum�contains The Gong Show, The Starland Vocal Band's variety show, Battle of the Network Stars and a cornball NBC movie-of-the-week. Without this steady onslaught of garbage his story would be a lot less interesting. A famous comedian's novice career is often the most fascinating part of their biography.1 Letterman's early showbiz struggles included encounters with a non-believing Tom Snyder, an extremely intoxicated Ringo Starr and even one of those 'very special' sitcom episodes... one that dealt with venereal disease.

This is the early David Letterman."

Fascinating history!

Exclusive! Oscar Brings Back 'And the Winner Is...' | The Wrap

Exclusive! Oscar Brings Back 'And the Winner Is...' | The Wrap: "For the first time in 22 years, presenters at the Oscars won’t be using the traditional, non-competitive phrase “and the Oscar goes to … ”

Instead -- to go by how they've been rehearsing for the past couple of days -- they’ll be trotting out a phrase that was once an Oscar trademark, before the Academy opted for a kindler, gentler approach.

“And the winner is … ”"

Milky Way Time-Lapse Video Is Gorgeous (VIDEO)

Milky Way Time-Lapse Video Is Gorgeous (VIDEO)

The White Mountain from charles on Vimeo.

EXCLUSIVE: 1940s Captain America Strip Coming Daily at Marvel Digital - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

EXCLUSIVE: 1940s Captain America Strip Coming Daily at Marvel Digital - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews: "The long-lost 'Captain America' newspaper comic strips from the 1940s have recently been rediscovered, and they're making their digital debut this Sunday as a new daily strip on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited. Written and illustrated by Karl Kesel with colors by Ben Dimagmaliw, the strip harkens back to the era of classic newspaper adventure strips like 'The Phantom' and 'Terry and the Pirates,' offering readers a daily dose of the patriotic hero's earliest adventures."

'The Shadow' disappears into the night - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

'The Shadow' disappears into the night - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety: "Not even 'The Shadow' knows his next home.
Sony has let the film rights to the seminal crime-fighting vigilante lapse, so the Sam Raimi-produced project has gone into turnaround. CAA, which reps Raimi, is preparing to shop the rights, with Raimi attached to produce. One possible suitor is 20th Century Fox."

A Raimi Shadow would be cool!

Did Monet Invent Abstract Art? - The Daily Beast

Did Monet Invent Abstract Art? - The Daily Beast: "An enlightening new exhibition in Madrid traces Claude Monet’s influence on Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Gerhard Richter and other abstract masters. VIEW OUR GALLERY."

Former Book Designer Says Good Riddance to Print - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com

Former Book Designer Says Good Riddance to Print - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com: "A recent blog post by Craig Mod, a self-titled computer programmer, book designer and book publisher, offers a thoughtful and distinctive perspective on the move of books from paper to interactive devices like Apple’s iPad.

Mr. Mod summarizes his argument in the subtitle of his post: “Print is dying. Digital is surging. Everyone is confused. Good riddance.”"

Stan Lee's Oscar Campaign - ComicMix news

Stan Lee's Oscar Campaign - ComicMix news: "First, we saw all the ads that said Stan was back. (We all knew that he'd never gone away.)

Then Stan Lee stopped by ComicMix and gave us little hints as to his new projects.

He even showed up on The Big Bang Theory this week.

But now we know the real reason for his increased visibility-- Stan's gunning for an Oscar."

'Anatomy of Apple Design' Animation Celebrates Apple's Aesthetics (VIDEO)

'Anatomy of Apple Design' Animation Celebrates Apple's Aesthetics (VIDEO): "Inspired by the Apple iPad's forthcoming release, San Francisco-based 3D design studio Transparent House has created an animated, 3D history of Apple, Inc's innovations.

The two-minute video, titled 'Anatomy of Apple Design' begins with the Apple I personal computer kit from 1976 and highlights breakthrough technology up to and including the 2010 iPad."

Robert T. McCall, Illustrator of Space Travel, Dies at 90 - Obituary (Obit) - NYTimes.com

Robert T. McCall, Illustrator of Space Travel, Dies at 90 - Obituary (Obit) - NYTimes.com: "Robert T. McCall, an artist whose fervor for space exploration found expression in his six-story-tall mural at the National Air and Space Museum and two postage stamps canceled on the Moon, died on Feb. 26 in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 90."

AppleInsider | Penguin betting big on interactive eBook content for Apple's iPad

AppleInsider | Penguin betting big on interactive eBook content for Apple's iPad: "Penguin Books demonstrated of a series of interactive ebook titles the company is preparing for Apple's iBook Store for iPad, in a presentation looking at how the company plans to accommodate a transition to digital ebooks."

Jewish Narnia Is Called Marvel Comics | ATTACKERMAN

Jewish Narnia Is Called Marvel Comics | ATTACKERMAN: "I will never ever read a publication called the Jewish Review of Books on the general principal that there are too many subsidies for circumsized middlebrow conservative philistines, and this Michael Weingrad essay is a perfect example of why I’m not updating my RSS reader:

[W]hy don’t Jews write more fantasy literature? And a different, deeper but related question: why are there no works of modern fantasy that are profoundly Jewish in the way that, say, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is Christian? Why no Jewish Lewises, and why no Jewish Narnias?

His name is Michael Chabon, you fool. Or Jonathan Lethem. Or, as my friend Sam Goldman insightfully observes, perhaps you ought to pick up a superhero comic. Practically every iconic superhero was created by Jews. Wrap your mind around two Jews, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, creating an invincible hero called Superman in 1932."

'Stan's Back!' mystery solved: Stan Lee and Boom Studios will launch three comics [UPDATED] | Hero Complex | Los Angeles Times

'Stan's Back!' mystery solved: Stan Lee and Boom Studios will launch three comics [UPDATED] | Hero Complex | Los Angeles Times: "The mystery of the 'Stan's Back!' ads is officially solved -- yes, the indestructible Stan Lee has yet another business venture underway, this one with Boom! Studios.

On Tuesday, Boom! will officially announce that Lee will 'present' three new superhero series featuring costumed characters of his creation. One of the series will be written by the studio's biggest name, editor in chief Mark Waid. For the other two writers, announcements are pending. The series will not launch until later this year."

Man, Not Even Spidey Can Keep His Job in Journalism - mediabistro.com: MediaJobsDaily

Man, Not Even Spidey Can Keep His Job in Journalism - mediabistro.com: MediaJobsDaily: "Sign of the times: Photojournalist (and secret crimefighter!) Peter Parker is getting canned in tomorrow's issue of Amazing Spider-Man.

According to Marvel's release, which we read about from Washington Post comics blogger Michael Cavna's Comic Riffs, Spidey's actually getting fired for pissing off J. Jonah Jameson, not laid off. Apparently the Daily Bugle is in better financial shape than most real-world papers.

Still, according to the release, Spidey is 'going to struggle with unemployment and trying to save the city while he can barely afford to keep a roof over his head.'"

Water Found On Moon Could Sustain Human Life, Scientists Say (PICTURE)

Water Found On Moon Could Sustain Human Life, Scientists Say (PICTURE): "Hundreds of millions of tons of water have been found on the Moon, and scientists believe that this considerable quantity would be sufficient to support life on the planet."

China eyeing perks of ice-free Arctic: study - Yahoo! News

China eyeing perks of ice-free Arctic: study - Yahoo! News: "'The prospect of the Arctic being navigable during summer months, leading to both shorter shipping routes and access to untapped energy resources, has impelled the Chinese government to allocate more resources to Arctic research,' SIPRI researcher Linda Jakobson said.
Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States are already at odds over how to divvy up the Arctic riches, claiming overlapping parts of the region -- estimated to hold 90 billion untapped barrels of oil -- and wrangling over who should control the still frozen shipping routes."

Mark Evanier exposes unexpected Hollywood SFX

news from me - ARCHIVES - March 01, 2010: "What's amazing is that a lot of stuff that doesn't scream 'Special Effects!' isn't real, either. Green (sometimes, Blue) Screen is used in an awful lot of movies and TV shows for street scenes, panoramas...sometimes so seamlessly that it never dawns on you that those buildings in the background weren't really in the background. Here's the demo reel for a studio that does a lot of this kind of thing..."

AppleInsider | Publishers justify $13-$15 e-book prices for Apple iPad

AppleInsider | Publishers justify $13-$15 e-book prices for Apple iPad: "After the introduction of the iPad gave publishers leverage to raise e-book prices on the Amazon Kindle, a new report states that consumers have 'unrealistic expectations' about how low e-book prices should be.

This week, The New York Times provided a breakdown on the economics of producing a book from the publisher's perspective. It noted that while printing costs go away when a book is reproduced in an electronic format, a number of expenses remain, including royalties and marketing."

Paul Raushenbush: Dear Religious (And Sane) America

Paul Raushenbush: Dear Religious (And Sane) America: "Dear Religious (and sane) America,

Come out, come out where ever you are and welcome to HuffPost Religion -- your new home for opinions, news and wisdom from across the religious spectrum. HuffPost Religion is dedicated to providing a provocative, respectful, and hopefully productive forum for addressing the ways in which religion intersects our personal, communal, national and international life. HuffPost Religion will demonstrate the vibrant diversity of religious traditions, perspectives and experiences that exist alongside and inform one another in America and throughout the world."

NASA 'Blue Marble' Series: The Best Images Of The Earth To Date (PHOTOS)

NASA 'Blue Marble' Series: The Best Images Of The Earth To Date (PHOTOS): "NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has recently uploaded a stunning series of high-resolution photos to its Flickr account. The series, called 'Blue Marble,' features satellite-based composite photographs taken from June to September 2001. According to NASA, the 'Blue Marble' images are the 'most detailed true-color images of the entire Earth to date.'

Unlike single-frame images taken of Earth from above, the 'Blue Marble' series is a 'mosaic' of photographs. Land surface, deep oceans and seas, shallow coastlines, ice, and clouds were compiled and 'stitched together' by scientists and visualizers to create a 'seamless' portrait of our planet."

3D Sidewalk Art That Will Blow Your Mind (PHOTOS)

3D Sidewalk Art That Will Blow Your Mind (PHOTOS): "Move over, hopscotch boards. U.K. artist Julian Beever and German artist Edgar Mueller are two dudes who independently make some pretty amazing 3D chalk sidewalk murals. It's almost as if the guy from Mary Poppins and Wile E. Coyote started giving art lessons. These optical illusions use perspective so that when seen from the right angle, the drawings seem as real as a photograph. Curious? See how it's done."

Oliver Thomas: Where have all the Protestants gone? - Opinion - USATODAY.com

Column: Where have all the Protestants gone? - Opinion - USATODAY.com: "So-called mainliners led the fight for social causes such as civil rights, equality for women and other key issues of the day. Now that American society has embraced such norms, liberal Protestant groups have become marginalized. Or have they?"

The New Jim Rockford is Found : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos

The New Jim Rockford is Found : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos: "NBC has found its new Jim Rockford for its remake of “The Rockford Files,” reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The private eye role made famous by James Garner will be played by Dermot Mulroney, whose past work has been mostly in features, including “My Best Friend's Wedding.'"

That'll work!