Pete's World

John Sayles' A Moment in the Sun - Book Review

2011-07-22T11:26:00.002-04:00

A Moment in the Sun by John Sayles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an unforgettable book about America at the turn of the last century. Skillfully told and breathtaking in its scope.

I must say that the first half was totally engrossing, but it got a little tougher in the second half. I think whole chapters could have been left out. And yet the breadth of it is amazing, it's like you are soaking in the era. Gold rush, Spanish American War, yellow journalism, Cuba, the philippines, African American culture post Reconstruction, the white overthrow of the elected government of Wilmington, NC, the early days of movie making, Mark Twain, the assassination of McKinley, on and on, yet woven into a compelling narrative. I learned some history for sure.

This book is getting rave reviews (the one in the NYTimes caused me to buy it) but I don't hear much about it otherwise. It is a rough read, and you have to wrestle with it in more ways than one, but well worth the effort. Like reading a cinder block, it's so fat.

It takes dedication to read this, and it's not for everyone, but I admire it greatly.

View all my reviews

Two Men in a Bar: A True-Life Poem

2011-05-22T11:35:00.000-04:00

I'm in a Minneapolis hotel bar

Slick, dark and red lit

Sipping a husky tempranillo

Mindlessly checking email on my phone

Reading the latest headlines.

I'm aware of three men at the other end of the bar

Engrossed in an NBA playoff game

Because they are making noise.

It's Chicago and some other team.

The man at the end of the bar, young,

With dark frame glasses and short slick black hair,

Is especially loud.

He is a Chicago Bulls fanatic.

He offers a running commentary

In a clear voice that sounds as though

He's a color commentator on a sports station.

Two other men watch with him

And comment in softer tones

But the young man with glasses

Repeatedly proclaims his allegiance to the Bulls

Exulting with each goal,

And one especially dramatic dunk elicits a whoop

For which he apologizes

To the rest of us at the bar.

Murmured conversation among the three men

Continues during commercials.

And then the other two men settle up their tab

And leave.

The young man at the end of the bar

Must now watch the game in silence.

But only for a few minutes.

There is another young man at the bar

Seated midway between me

And that Bulls fan.

This young man has been chatting with the bartender

And they must be old friends

Perhaps in high school years before.

Just enough of a conversation to make it sound so.

The game continues.

The man at the end of the bar

says something about Chicago

To the man in at the middle.

They realize they are both from Chicago.

The man at the end of the bar says something

About Rahm Emmanuel.

The man in the middle disapproves.

Sporadic friendly conversation continues.

The big Bulls fan at the end of the bar asks the man in the middle

What do you do in Chicago?

I don't catch his answer,

But he says that his husband teaches at the university.

His husband.

The Bulls fan doesn't blink.

He asks the middle man more

About his husband.

And they keep talking.

It is as natural a conversation

Between two strangers

As you could ever overhear

In a bar in Minnesota

With a basketball game on the big flat screen.

Harper Lee -- who turns 85 today -- denies cooperating with upcoming book | Jacket Copy | Los Angeles Times

2011-04-28T16:38:00.000-04:00

Harper Lee -- who turns 85 today -- denies cooperating with upcoming book | Jacket Copy | Los Angeles Times: "On Tuesday, Penguin announced that it would publish a memoir of lives intertwined with the reclusive writer, 'The Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee,' by Marja Mills, a former Chicago Tribune reporter, written 'with direct access to Harper and Alice Lee [her sister] and their friends and family.'

On Wednesday, the N.Y. Times reports, Harper Lee issued a statement saying that she had not cooperated with the book."

Al Gore's 'Our Choice' App Reinvents Books, Reading

2011-04-28T16:37:00.000-04:00

Al Gore's 'Our Choice' App Reinvents Books, Reading: "For Al Gore's book Our Choice, the startup has created an ebook that talks, spins, moves, and folds, featuring video, interactive infographics, maps, and more, all seamlessly interwoven with the text in a way that helps bring the concepts to life."

Real Business - How I got a blank book to the top of the Amazon charts

2011-04-11T13:48:00.000-04:00

Real Business - How I got a blank book to the top of the Amazon charts: "Here's how I published a bestseller in just nine days (and made a million authors instantly hate me)."

Grrrrr!

2011 Science Fiction Hall of Fame Inductees - Genreville

2011-04-07T13:20:00.000-04:00

2011 Science Fiction Hall of Fame Inductees - Genreville: "The 2011 inductees to the Science Fiction Hall of Fame are Harlan Ellison, Vincent Di Fate, Moebius, and Gardner Dozois."

Google to Revamp YouTube With 'Channels' - WSJ.com

2011-04-07T10:46:00.000-04:00

Google to Revamp YouTube With 'Channels' - WSJ.com: "Google Inc. is working on a major overhaul of YouTubeas it tries to position itself for the rise of televisions that let people watch online video in their living rooms, according to people familiar with the matter.

YouTube is looking to compete with broadcast and cable television, some of these people said, a goal that requires it to entice users to stay on the website longer, and to convince advertisers that it will reach desirable consumers."

'The King's Speech' gets 12 Oscar nominations - Yahoo! News

2011-01-25T09:30:00.000-05:00

'The King's Speech' gets 12 Oscar nominations - Yahoo! News: "The British monarchy saga 'The King's Speech' leads the Academy Awards with 12 nominations, including best picture and acting honors for Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush.
Also nominated for best picture Tuesday were the psychosexual thriller 'Black Swan'; the boxing drama 'The Fighter'; the sci-fi blockbuster 'Inception'; the lesbian-family tale 'The Kids Are All Right'; the survival story '127 Hours'; the Facebook chronicle 'The Social Network'; the animated smash 'Toy Story 3'; the Western 'True Grit'; and the Ozarks crime thriller 'Winter's Bone.'"

The Same River Twice by Ted Mooney - Review

2011-01-25T08:44:00.002-05:00

The Same River Twice by Ted Mooney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Having read a glowing review in the NYT Book Review, and having just been to Paris for the first time last fall, I was excited about getting Ted Mooney's new novel "The Same River Twice" from the library. It is extolled as a "literary thriller," and Mooney is a master wordsmith. Some of his descriptions are breathtaking.

I jumped into this book and found myself thoroughly immersed in the multifaceted plot and characters. A French woman, a dress designer, is paid as a courier to bring some historic and artistic banners out of Russia to a Paris art dealer, and ends up in a sticky situation in more ways than one. Her American filmmaker husband, meanwhile, while trying to work on his latest art film, discovers that some DVDs of one of his earlier now classic films include an ending very different from his own--yet nicely produced. Why?

There are other layers going on and you find yourself struggling to keep all the loose ends together. But about halfway through the book, the characters start doing surprising and unsympathetic things, and it only gets worse. Ultimately I found it disturbing, or at least unsatisfying. I wondered if I was the only one who felt this way, given the rather positive review I'd read, and checking a bunch of Amazon reviews confirmed my own disappointment in the book. It's not bad as thrillers go, but ultimately it's difficult to believe the characters or what happens with them. And the motif set up by the title (and several deja vu experiences throughout the book) never quite hits home. But it was nice to experience Paris again.

View all my reviews

Real world to collide with heroes & villains | accessAtlanta

2010-12-22T10:54:00.000-05:00

Real world to collide with heroes & villains | accessAtlanta: "Marvel — whose characters range from the wall-crawler Spider-Man to mutant outcasts X-Men — said Tuesday that the fear, uncertainty and overarching anxiety that has gripped today's world will play havoc with its fictional heroes next spring as it embarks on 'Fear Itself,' a seven-issue limited series that will reach across numerous titles and leave its characters scarred but smarter."

MLK: A Christmas Sermon On Peace

2010-12-18T10:51:00.000-05:00

portland imc - 2003.12.12 - MLK: A Christmas Sermon On Peace: "Peace on Earth...

This Christmas season finds us a rather bewildered human race. We have neither peace within nor peace without. Everywhere paralyzing fears harrow people by day and haunt them by night. Our world is sick with war; everywhere we turn we see its ominous possibilities. And yet, my friends, the Christmas hope for peace and good will toward all men can no longer be dismissed as a kind of pious dream of some utopian. If we don't have good will toward men in this world, we will destroy ourselves by the misuse of our own instruments and our own power."

Meet John R. Gunn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2010-12-13T09:24:00.000-05:00

John R. Gunn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The Reverend John R. Gunn (August 17, 1877 - November 15, 1956) was first a minister, and then at about age 43 became a columnist whose daily messages inspired readers for over 36 years. After his death, letters to the editor requested that the columns continue, and so they were reprinted daily for 15 more years. A short time later his messages became radio scripts for the Presbyterian Church in the United States. This award-winning program was produced by the Protestant Radio and Television Center of Atlanta for 10 years. And now Rev. Gunn’s work, written and audio, is available at Day1 [1], a ministry of The Alliance for Christian Media transitioning from Facing Life [2]"

Google Launches Google eBooks, Formerly Google Editions

2010-12-06T10:51:00.000-05:00

Google Launches Google eBooks, Formerly Google Editions: "After months of anticipation, Google today launched its long-awaited cloud-based e-book program, Google eBooks. Rebranded from its original moniker, Google Editions, Google eBooks overnight becomes the largest e-book provider in the world, at least in terms of its offerings, launching with nearly three million books available for purchase or download, including “hundreds of thousands of e-books” available for purchase and over two million public domain titles available for free."

God, best-selling author and creator of the Universe, to tell all in new memoir | Shelf Life | EW.com

2010-12-02T13:19:00.000-05:00

God, best-selling author and creator of the Universe, to tell all in new memoir | Shelf Life | EW.com: "Prepare ye for the words of God. Simon & Schuster announced today that they have secured the rights to a new tell-all memoir by the Almighty Creator, who has also previously written under the noms de plume “Allah,” “Yahweh,” and, until a recent legal tangle with fellow author Stephen King, “King of Kings.” According to a surprisingly funny press release, “God is represented by a burning bush, the Greek letters a and ‡, and, in this case, the Levine Greenberg Literary Agency, the same agency that represents David Javerbaum.” Presumably this Javerbaum fellow, who is the head writer and executive producer of The Daily Show, will be serving in some function as the prime mover’s amanuensis."

BBC goes global with iPlayer subs, launching on iPad first

2010-12-02T13:11:00.000-05:00

BBC goes global with iPlayer subs, launching on iPad first: "The BBC's online, on-demand video streaming service iPlayer will launch worldwide sometime early next year. Much to the dismay of expats around the world, iPlayer has been limited to UK residents, who pay a yearly license to watch BBC content. Now, the Beeb plans to launch a subscription-based service available to anyone, anywhere—with an Apple iPad."

Results of '30 Media Heroes' Voting Announced: Maddow Takes Top Spot! | The Nation

2010-11-30T14:11:00.000-05:00

Results of '30 Media Heroes' Voting Announced: Maddow Takes Top Spot! | The Nation: "I've been having fun since Wednesday with a response to Salon's popular '30 Biggest Media Hacks' list, sponsoring a readers' ballot to pick '30 Media Heroes.' The response was overwhelming, with over 1,200 votes pouring in via Comments at the end of the original story, via e-mail to me directly and at Twitter (via @GregMitch). Votes obviously came from regular Nation readers, but also from many others, and in any case this is not an official Nation survey.�"

Fox News Joke on ‘The Simpsons’ Pulled from Web Replays On Hulu, Fox.com - WebNewser

2010-11-30T08:59:00.000-05:00

Fox News Joke on ‘The Simpsons’ Pulled from Web Replays On Hulu, Fox.com - WebNewser: "For the second week in a row, “The Simpsons” mocked its corporate cousins at Fox News Channel. This time there is an added wrinkle, however, as the joke in question was apparently cut from the online version of the show on Hulu and Fox.com."

Richard Branson unveils Jeff Bridges, cars, and fiddly things for Ipad | Capital New York

2010-11-30T08:57:00.000-05:00

Richard Branson unveils Jeff Bridges, cars, and fiddly things for Ipad | Capital New York: "Virgin Group emperor Sir Richard Branson debuts his Ipad-exclusive magazine tomorrow. What will it look like?

Well for starters, the 'cover' (or is this called a homepage? or homescreen?) is about Jeff Bridges' coming Tron. ('BACK IN THE GAME: JEFF BRIDGES REBOOTS TRON' is the main coverline; Bridges faces forward in black tie on a black background.) It's … a video!"

George Clooney Eyeing Lead In Steven Soderbergh’s ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ > The Playlist

2010-11-19T08:59:00.000-05:00

Exclusive: George Clooney Eyeing Lead In Steven Soderbergh’s ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ > The Playlist: "Sources very close to the director tell us an A-lister is already in talks with Soderbergh to star in the picture and that star would be none other than “Ocean’s 11-13” actor, George Clooney."

That was one of my favorite programs as a kid. Would love to see this happen!

McSweeney's Issue 36 Coming--With Lost Chabon!

2010-11-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

The McSweeney's Store: "THE AMAZING ISSUE 36 (coming very, very soon!):

Inside this 275-cubic-inch full-color head-crate, there are all the things you'd hope for: a 100-page annotated fragment of Michael Chabon's lost novel, incredible new stories from John Brandon and Colm Toibin, Jack Pendarvis's 'Jungle Geronimo in Gay Paree,' a play by Wajahat Ali—eight astounding booklets in all, along with some other things on top, enough for hundreds and hundreds of pages of perusal, every bit of it, like we said, contained in a more-or-less-life-size friendly-looking head. It will fit on your shelf, it is compatible with most hats, and the stuff inside is wonderful—order yours today!"

Can't wait to get this one!

LOA Publishes Lynd Ward's Wordless Graphic Novels

2010-11-16T15:29:00.000-05:00

LOA Publishes Lynd Ward's Wordless Graphic Novels: "The term 'graphic novel' didn't exist when Lynd Ward started telling stories in pictures, back in the late 1920s, but to modern eyes, that's exactly what Ward's novels are. Now the Library of America has collected all six of Ward's wordless graphic novels in a two-volume boxed set, Lynd Ward: Six Novels in Woodcuts, with an introduction by Art Spiegelman.

Ward, who was born in 1905, was the first American creator of wordless graphic novels. He worked in that medium for about ten years, producing six full-length works, before changing his focus to children's books and illustrations of other works; he was a prolific illustrator with over 300 works to his credit by the time he died in 1985."

Paul Levitz Puts 75 Years of DC Comics In One Huge Book

2010-11-16T15:28:00.000-05:00

Paul Levitz Puts 75 Years of DC Comics In One Huge Book: "Former President and Publisher of DC Comics, Paul Levitz has lived and breathed comics his entire adult life. A comics fan magazine that he co-wrote and published in high school, The Comic Reader, led to his first job with the mega-publisher that is DC. With DC celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Levitz took on the incredible task of writing about its numerous characters, authors and artists and their impact on the world. From Taschen Books, 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking is a mammoth tome you won’t be able to miss on the shelves of your local store. In fact, it will probably need it’s own table."

Rev. Peter M. Wallace: The Christian Call to Civility - Huffington Post

2010-11-03T10:29:00.000-04:00

Rev. Peter M. Wallace: The Christian Call to Civility: "It almost seems as though all pretense of civility in our nation is evaporating in the heat and light of an increasingly divisive atmosphere fueled by a rabid 24/7 media.

So does all this mark the start of a malicious new world order, or is it the last barking snarl of a dying corpse?

As our society under God continues to progress in its acceptance, and even celebration, of one another -- despite our race, our gender, our orientation, our religion or even our politics -- those who hope to maintain their 'superiority' feel threatened and fearful. They are losing in the grand scheme of things, and with their backs against the wall they are fighting for their way no matter what.

As a person of faith, I join in the chorus of those who call us all to a higher ideal. I believe we can be better than this."

Read on at HuffPost...

The Case for Obama | Rolling Stone Politics

2010-10-20T16:25:00.000-04:00

The Case for Obama | Rolling Stone Politics: "The charges are familiar: He's a compromiser who hasn't stood up to the GOP or Wall Street. But a look at his record reveals something even more startling — a truly historic presidency"

Many Religions, One God? A Review of Stephen Prothero’s “God Is Not One” - The Rev. Peter Wallace

2010-10-11T08:49:00.000-04:00

Many Religions, One God? A Review of Stephen Prothero’s “God Is Not One” - The Rev. Peter Wallace: "God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter, By Stephen Prothero

Join the Patheos.com Book Club discussion on this book.

A recent Gallup poll indicates that about 95% of Americans believe in God, but that our definitions of who or what God is differ markedly. This may be a good indication that Stephen Prothero is on to something.

Prothero is the author of Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know--And Doesn't, which aroused a good bit of healthy guilt when it was published in 2007. Now the professor of religion at Boston University offers a new book, which is at once vitally helpful and controversial: God Is Not One."

L.A. cartoonist was obscure and misunderstood — the epitome of avant-garde - Los Angeles Times

2010-08-30T14:13:00.000-04:00

L.A. cartoonist was obscure and misunderstood — the epitome of avant-garde - Los Angeles Times: "George Herriman and his bizarre 'Krazy Kat' comic strip had some elite supporters — Woodrow Wilson, William Randolph Hearst and Vanity Fair among them — but much of the rest of the country just didn't get it."

Rev. James Martin, S.J.: Glenn Beck vs. Christ the Liberator

2010-08-30T14:08:00.000-04:00

Rev. James Martin, S.J.: Glenn Beck vs. Christ the Liberator: "I have no idea if President Obama espouses liberation theology. But I do. And for me it's personal. Between 1992 and 1994, I worked with East African refugees in Nairobi, Kenya, and participated in Catholic parishes who tried to help poor parishioners (i.e., all of them) reflect on their daily struggles through lens of the Gospel. And the Gospel passages that spoke of liberation for the poor were a lifeline to me and to those with whom I worked. Oh, and it's not only Jesus. His mother had something to say about all that, too. 'He has filled the hungry with good things,' says Mary in the Gospel of Luke, 'and sent the rich away empty.'"

Rev. Peter M. Wallace: A Basket of Summer Fruit (And the Potential for Spoiling): What God Thinks of Societies That Fail the Poor

2010-08-25T10:59:00.000-04:00

Rev. Peter M. Wallace: A Basket of Summer Fruit (And the Potential for Spoiling): What God Thinks of Societies That Fail the Poor: "When I go grocery shopping, I tend to over-buy fruit because it all looks so good. For instance, Georgia peaches are in season right now. Sink your teeth into that sweet, luscious fruit and it's instant bliss.

Nearly 3,000 years ago, God gave the Hebrew prophet Amos a vision that must have looked a lot like the fruit bowl on my kitchen table. 'Amos, what do you see?' God asked. And Amos answered, 'A basket of summer fruit.' Sounds nice.

But God went on to declare that God's people Israel -- who were actually doing pretty well at the time in terms of power and wealth in the region -- were about to come to ruin (Amos 8:1-3)."

Read on...

Opening Date Set for ‘Spider-Man’ Musical - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com

2010-08-11T09:16:00.000-04:00

Opening Date Set for ‘Spider-Man’ Musical - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com: "After decades of web-slinging over the streets of New York, Spider-Man looks ready to fly, finally, inside a Broadway theater.

The much-anticipated, much-delayed musical spectacular “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” with music and lyrics by U2’s Bono and the Edge, has been given a date for the start of preview performances – Sunday, Nov. 14 – at Broadway’s newly renamed Foxwoods Theater (formerly the Hilton Theater). The show’s producers announced on Tuesday that they had also set an opening night, Tuesday, Dec. 21. The musical is estimated to have a budget of $50 million – the largest in Broadway history."

Digital Explosion! New Stats on the Information Revolution - Flunking Sainthood

2010-08-11T08:49:00.000-04:00

Digital Explosion! New Stats on the Information Revolution - Flunking Sainthood by Jana Riess: "The back page of Newsweek often has some interesting factoids about cultural change. In the July 26 issue, the focus was on exactly how much the digital revolution has changed our lives in just the last ten years. I was shocked. Here are some tidbits:"

Who Are These Lapsed Comics iPad Readers Anyway?

2010-08-10T14:56:00.000-04:00

Who Are These Lapsed Comics iPad Readers Anyway?: "Digital comics have been big news for a while, but the iPad is be the current big dog getting the attention, with even DC Comics—traditionally the least tech-friendly major publisher—jumping into the fray with their app. Retailers fret about losing customers. Publishers dream of getting new readers, or at least getting some lapsed ones back."

Latest HuffPost Blog: Unlikely Saints: Stan Lee, Soupy Sales and the Golden Rule

2010-08-10T10:58:00.000-04:00

Rev. Peter M. Wallace: Unlikely Saints: Stan Lee, Soupy Sales and the Golden Rule: "Decades after my first encounters with them, a couple of my childhood heroes have continued to lift my spirit and entertain my soul. These two people contributed, at least in some small way, to forming my belief system and maybe even my personality. Who are they?

Stan Lee and Soupy Sales.

Surprised? I'm serious."

New HuffPost Blog: Gay Clergy: God's Spirit at Work?

2010-07-29T11:54:00.000-04:00

Rev. Peter M. Wallace: Gay Clergy: God's Spirit at Work?: "My friend Susan, whose religious views encompass Buddhism and good old-fashioned Southern progressivism, shot me an email late last week asking if I had a few minutes to talk with her about a theological issue.

She wrote that she'd been having a discussion with her cousin about the recent vote by delegates to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to allow non-celibate gays and lesbians in committed relationships to serve as clergy. And she wanted some advice before she responded."

New HuffPost blog: Faith, Poverty and the MDGs: Now Is the Time

2010-07-08T14:32:00.000-04:00

Rev. Peter M. Wallace: Faith, Poverty and the MDGs: Now Is the Time: "As host of the weekly, nationally syndicated radio program 'Day 1,' I work with a diverse array of church leaders from the mainline denominations. Most are pastors or seminary professors, but occasionally we have a layperson as our featured speaker. Recently I was privileged to record one rather well known layperson: former President Jimmy Carter."

Read on...

Harper Lee's Novel Achievement | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian Magazine

2010-07-06T09:30:00.000-04:00

Harper Lee's Novel Achievement | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian Magazine: "With To Kill a Mockingbird, published 50 years ago, Lee gave America a story for the ages. Just don't ask her about it"

Garrison Keillor - The End of an Era in Publishing - NYTimes.com

2010-06-06T09:13:00.000-04:00

I.H.T. Op-Ed Contributor - The End of an Era in Publishing - NYTimes.com: "Call me a pessimist, call me Ishmael, but I think that book publishing is about to slide into the sea. We live in a literate time, and our children are writing up a storm, often combining letters and numerals (U R 2 1derful), blogging like crazy, reading for hours off their little screens, surfing around from Henry James to Jesse James to the epistle of James to pajamas to Obama to Alabama to Alanon to non-sequiturs, sequins, penguins, penal institutions, and it’s all free, and you read freely, you’re not committed to anything the way you are when you shell out $30 for a book, you’re like a hummingbird in an endless meadow of flowers.

And if you want to write, you just write and publish yourself. No need to ask permission, just open a Web site. And if you want to write a book, you just write it, send it to Lulu.com or BookSurge at Amazon or PubIt or ExLibris and you’ve got yourself an e-book. No problem. And that is the future of publishing: 18 million authors in America, each with an average of 14 readers, eight of whom are blood relatives. Average annual earnings: $1.75."

Rowan Williams and Katharine Jefferts Schori: Anglican Smack-Down - Christianity for the Rest of Us

2010-06-03T16:47:00.000-04:00

Rowan Williams and Katharine Jefferts Schori: Anglican Smack-Down - Christianity for the Rest of Us: "Like most Christians, I don't pay attention to missives from church leaders. This week, however, dueling pastoral letters issued for Pentecost from Rowan Williams, the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, and Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, caught my attention--because one so rarely witnesses a first-class theological smack down between tea-drinking Anglican primates."

Apple ends the 'Get A Mac' campaign | 9 to 5 Mac

2010-05-24T14:54:00.000-04:00

Apple ends the 'Get A Mac' campaign | 9 to 5 Mac: "Dear readers, it is time to say goodbye to the ‘Get A Mac’ campaign featuring actors Justin Long and John Hodgman (PC).

The last of the series of commercials hit screens and teh internets in October 2009. Now Apple has finally pulled the campaign pages down from its website, that section now links to the ‘Why You’ll Love A Mac’ page."

The iPad Revolution | The New York Review of Books

2010-05-24T14:37:00.000-04:00

The iPad Revolution | The New York Review of Books: By Sue Halpern: "You don’t have to be a technophobe or a Luddite to dismiss out of hand the idea of reading on a machine. Maybe it is muscle memory, but there is something deeply satisfying about a “real” book, a book made of pages bound between hard or soft covers, into which you can slip a bookmark, whose pages you can fan, whose binding you can crack and fold as you move from beginning to end. E-books, by contrast, whatever platform delivers them, are ephemeral. Yes, you can carry thousands of them in your pocket, but what will you have to show for it? What will fill your bookshelves? Then, one day, you find yourself housebound, and Wolf Hall has just won the Booker Prize, and you download a sample onto your iPhone, and just like with a book printed on paper you are pulled into the story and are grateful to be able to keep reading, and your resistance disappears, and you press the “buy” button—it’s so easy!—and that is how it starts."

Bradley B. Onishi: I Once Was Found and Now I Am Lost: Reflections on the Religious and Spiritual Dimensions of Lost

2010-05-24T13:29:00.000-04:00

Bradley B. Onishi: I Once Was Found and Now I Am Lost: Reflections on the Religious and Spiritual Dimensions of Lost: "It is not a matter of gods or of God. Lost's narrative was never about deities. Yet, the manifestations of the metaphysical and paranormal were obvious from the pilot to the finale. From start to finish, Lost gave us demons, spirits, voices, hauntings, and mystical experiences related to destiny. Over the course of its six seasons, Lost constructed its own version of the sacred through various forms of rituals, resurrections, consecrated sites, and elaborate temples. If there are idols and representations of the divine, there is no worship. If there is an origin story, there is no creation story. And if the themes of faith, redemption, penance, and forgiveness were clear throughout the show's duration, the finale certainly did not provide a definitive form of salvation (just ask Ben or Mr. Eko or Ana Lucia or...)."

After keeping us waiting for a century, Mark Twain will finally reveal all - News, Books - The Independent

2010-05-24T13:05:00.000-04:00

After keeping us waiting for a century, Mark Twain will finally reveal all - News, Books - The Independent: "The great American writer left instructions not to publish his autobiography until 100 years after his death, which is now."

The Afterlife of Stieg Larsson - NYTimes.com

2010-05-23T09:56:00.000-04:00

The Afterlife of Stieg Larsson - NYTimes.com: "THE THIRD VOLUME in Stieg Larsson’s immensely successful Millennium trilogy, “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,” finally goes on sale here this month. Except for “Harry Potter,” Americans haven’t been so eager for a book since the early 1840s, when they thronged the docks in New York, hailing incoming ships for news of Little Nell in Charles Dickens’s “Old Curiosity Shop.” That was before Amazon. This time, particularly impatient readers simply paid a premium and ordered the new book from England, where it came out months ago (though with the apostrophe in a different place, making the “Hornet” plural)."

CNN.com Gets Spiritual with Belief Blog - mediabistro.com: WebNewser

2010-05-21T10:57:00.000-04:00

CNN.com Gets Spiritual with Belief Blog - mediabistro.com: WebNewser: "CNN.com wants you to believe. Hence, the launch of CNN's Belief Blog, which will examine the most important stories of the day from a religion and faith standpoint.

Religion blogger and author Dan Gilgoff and CNN producer Eric Marrapodi, who is pursuing a master's degree in religious studies from Georgetown University, will co-edit CNN's Belief Blog, aiming to 'foster a global conversation about the role of religion and faith in the news and in users' lives.'"

Television - As ‘Lost’ Ends on ABC, Mythology Trumps Mystery - NYTimes.com

2010-05-21T06:56:00.000-04:00

Television - As ‘Lost’ Ends on ABC, Mythology Trumps Mystery - NYTimes.com: "As the end of “Lost” approaches — an extravaganza that will stretch from Sunday night into Monday morning on ABC — the natural urge is to join in the final frenzy of speculation. Who will live, who will die, and what did it all mean?"

Technology - Will the Internet Kill Traditional Car Radio? - NYTimes.com

2010-05-10T15:09:00.000-04:00

Technology - Will the Internet Kill Traditional Car Radio? - NYTimes.com: "Many people are already accustomed to plugging an iPod into the car to listen to their library of Chet Baker or Arcade Fire tracks rather than CDs. But now there is a new movement that could really threaten traditional broadcast radio: Internet music services like Pandora, Slacker and Last.fm, already popular with computer and smartphone owners, are being tailored by software developers, consumer electronics companies and even automakers to work more seamlessly with car stereo systems. So, while video didn’t end up killing the radio star, this time the Internet might just succeed."

OSU's Cartoon Library and Museum respects the funnies | cleveland.com

2010-05-09T14:11:00.000-04:00

OSU's Cartoon Library and Museum respects the funnies | cleveland.com: "Ohio State's hidden treasure is well-known to cartoonists, collectors and researchers, who often can be found in the facility's reading room -- which also doubles as its gallery -- wearing white gloves and poring over some of its more than 450,000 original works of art and staggering collection of 2.5 million comic-strip clippings and newspaper pages.
Their secret soon will be shared with the rest of the world. If all goes as planned, the freshman class in 2013 will arrive on campus to find the library and museum in a new $20.6 million home in a renovated Sullivant Hall. That building sits on prime real estate at OSU, with High Street to the east and the campus's heart, the Oval, to the west."

The Full ‘Metropolis’ - NYTimes.com

2010-05-05T07:11:00.000-04:00

The Full ‘Metropolis’ - NYTimes.com: "For fans and scholars of the silent-film era, the search for a copy of the original version of Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” has become a sort of holy grail. One of the most celebrated movies in cinema history, “Metropolis” had not been viewed at its full length — roughly two and a half hours — since shortly after its premiere in Berlin in 1927, when it was withdrawn from circulation and about an hour of its footage was amputated and presumed destroyed.

But on Friday Film Forum in Manhattan will begin showing what is being billed as “The Complete Metropolis,” with a DVD scheduled to follow later this year, after screenings in theaters around the country. So an 80-year quest that ranged over three continents seems finally to be over, thanks in large part to the curiosity and perseverance of one man, an Argentine film archivist named Fernando Peña."

Spider-Man Creator Stan Lee Gets Green Light for History Channel Show

2010-05-04T11:33:00.000-04:00

Spider-Man Creator Stan Lee Gets Green Light for History Channel Show : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos: "History has given the greenlight to a series hosted by comic book icon Stan Lee, the Hollywood Reporter reports.

Called 'Stan Lee's Superhumans,' the series will debut in the third quarter. The show will track down people with unusual abilities explained by genetic differences, such as Lee's co-host, Daniel Browning Smith, who is called the world's most flexible man.

Other new History Channel shows, to be previewed this week during History's Upfront presentation to advertisers, include 'Swamp People,' a docudrama about Cajuns in Louisiana, and 'Vigilante Inspector,' which follows a pair inspecting old infrastructure such as highways and bridges."

Spielberg to Direct WWI Epic 'The War Horse' - TheWrap.com

2010-05-03T20:31:00.000-04:00

Spielberg to Direct WWI Epic 'The War Horse' - TheWrap.com: "Steven Spielberg's next film will be the World War I epic 'The War Horse,' DreamWorks spokesman Marvin Levy confirmed to TheWrap.

Based on the celebrated 1982 novel by Michael Morpurgo, the story follows the extraordinary bond between a boy and his horse, who are separated but whose fates continue to intertwine over the course of the Great War."

9 to 5 Mac | Apple Intelligence

2010-05-03T12:18:00.000-04:00

9 to 5 Mac | Apple Intelligence: "Here’s three statistics for your amusement and delight.

* It took Apple over a year and a half to sell its first million iPods.
* It took Apple 74 days to sell its first million units of the iPhone. (It took three days each to sell the first million units of the iPhone 3G and 3GS).
* It took Apple 28 days to sell its first million iPads."

Legendary TV Journalist Signs Off From His Signature PBS Show : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos

2010-05-03T11:02:00.000-04:00

Legendary TV Journalist Signs Off From His Signature PBS Show : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos: "Bill Moyers signed off from his PBS program 'Bill Moyers Journal' with a warning to viewers, the New York Times reports. 'Plutocracy and democracy don't mix,' he said. 'Once again the fate and character of our country are up for grabs.'

But with Moyers leaving PBS, his time period is also up for grabs, and the show being readied to replace it is already generating concern among viewers, reports Elizabeth Jensen in a separate New York Times article."

Loch Ness Monster Files Show Scottish Cops Were Worried

2010-04-28T06:44:00.000-04:00

Loch Ness Monster Files Show Scottish Cops Were Worried: "What lurks beneath the dark waters of Scotland's Loch Ness? Newly released documents on display Tuesday in Scotland show that during the 1930s, police in Scotland were convinced some sort of creature inhabited the Highlands lake – so sure, in fact, that they worried about how to protect it from big-game hunters.

The files from the National Archive of Scotland show that local officials asked Britain's Parliament to investigate the issue and confirm the monster's existence – in the interests of science."

'Peanuts' Brand Sold by Scripps to Iconix : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos

2010-04-27T16:27:00.000-04:00

'Peanuts' Brand Sold by Scripps to Iconix : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos: "Two months after launching a review of their character licensing business, media giant E.W. Scripps has sold United Media Licensing -- which includes the Charles Schulz 'Peanuts' line -- to Iconix Brand Group -- formerly known as Candie's -- for $175 million, according to Mediaweek.

Iconix includes the brands Candie's, Bongo, Badgley Mischka, Joe Boxer, London Fog, Danskin, Fieldcrest and Charisma among others.

Scripps will hold onto the syndicated editorial features of United Media."

Frazetta siblings resolve dispute over fantasy art

2010-04-23T11:54:00.000-04:00

Frazetta siblings resolve dispute over fantasy art: "The adult children of pioneering fantasy artist Frank Frazetta have resolved an ugly dispute over control of their elderly father's body of work.

The family feud boiled over in December when Frazetta's son, Frank Frazetta Jr., was caught using a backhoe to break into the artist's museum in the Poconos. Police say he tried to remove 90 paintings insured for $20 million. Frazetta Jr. insisted he was attempting to safeguard the art from his scheming siblings.

Frazetta, 82, is renowned for his sci-fi and fantasy art, creating covers and illustrations for more than 150 books and comic books as well as album covers, movie posters and original paintings. His work on iconic characters including Conan the Barbarian and Tarzan influenced generations of artists."

Pianist Lang Lang Plays iPad For Concert Encore (VIDEO)

2010-04-23T06:54:00.000-04:00

Pianist Lang Lang Plays iPad For Concert Encore (VIDEO): "Piano master Lang Lang performed a surprising, offbeat encore at a concert in San Francisco: the pianist played Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Flight of the Bumblebee' on the iPad.

Lang Lang used the iPad app Magic Piano, from Smule, to 'play' his tablet."

Whedon To Direct Marvel’s ‘The Avengers’ – Deadline.com

2010-04-14T15:39:00.000-04:00

Whedon To Direct Marvel’s ‘The Avengers’ – Deadline.com: "I'm told Marvel Studios is in final negotiations for Buffy the Vampire Slayer series architect Joss Whedon to direct Marvel Studios' The Avengers. That's the fast-tracked film that would amount to an all-star team of Marvel superheros, including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), as well as SHIELD leader Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)."

iPad Observations: Week One

2010-04-14T07:04:00.001-04:00

Well, I got my iPad a week ago yesterday and already it has wended its way into my heart. I have a MacBook and an iMac and an iPhone (yeah, I'm a Mac zombie I guess), and this doesn't replace anything. It really does fit a unique niche. Here are some observations so far.

- Watching TV or movies is amazing. I worried about missing Flash, as in Hulu, but I'm good so far. You can watch anything Netflix has as instant viewing on the iPad. I have the cheapest Netflix account they have, and have watched a lot of good stuff already. Pretty much all the stuff I watched on Hulu (a lot of classic TV) is available, like Alfred Hitchcock, Twilight Zone, Peter Gunn, etc. So I'm happy about that. Also, most of the current stuff I watch is on ABC, like Lost, Flash Forward, Modern Family, and their app is very nice, though still a bit buggy. Then there's Joost, YouTube, etc. etc.

- I just downloaded GoodReader, a PDF and other document reader, for 99 cents and through iTunes added a bunch of PDFs I had of old comics, TwoMorrows digital mags, and books onto my iPad--they look great. I have had them on my computer forever, but hated sitting at the desk and reading them. Now it's like reading a comic in my hands.

- I also figured out how to sync CBR files to ComicZeal, and now have a bunch of comics and stuff to read with that. Their iTunes store description indicated that Apple had made them remove syncing by US and you had to transfer by wifi, which I was having trouble doing last night, but in iTunes tonight I easily just added the files I wanted to transfer to the file download area and synced it up over USB. I guess Apple changed their mind again on that?

- I also have a nice Vook on Sherlock Holmes (I had been reading some Vooks on my iPhone, but the larger format is wonderful, with the text and the videos). Plus a lot of other reading apps--including Kindle.

- Google just updated their mobile app for the iPad, so all those functions are now available in big screen--including Google Books, which has zillions of books (including a few of mine!), magazines, and other fun stuff you can read and browse through. Nice!

- I had a Zinio digital magazine account already, and all my previously downloaded mags came over on their iPad app. They have a few free samples. Great fun to read mags on the iPad, which often offer additional features like videos and links.

- The iPad apps of USA Today, BBC News, NPR, Bloomberg, AP, Reuters, and NYT Editor's Choice are all well thought out and very different. But going to regular websites through the Safari browser works well too (unless you run into Flash); you don't have the screen size restriction of the iPhone, and it's almost got a screen as large as a laptop. Using iPhone apps on the iPad doesn't bug me, but they are small (or a bit blurry at 2X).

The biggest disappointment I have so far is that I assumed typing on the much larger keyboard in landscape would be a cinch, but I have found it even more difficult to use than the iPhone keyboard. On the iPhone, I only used one or two fingers. On the iPad I try to type QWERTY style, which I'm very good at, and I am really bad at hitting the keys. I don't expect I'll be doing a lot of writing with the iPad, but if I do I may invest in the keyboard they offer for it.

This really is a great entertainment device. I have to say it's at least met my high expectations if not exceeded them.

Jack Kirby of Marvel Comics Left Some Ideas Behind - NYTimes.com

2010-04-13T07:13:00.000-04:00

Jack Kirby of Marvel Comics Left Some Ideas Behind - NYTimes.com: "The characteristics of a Jack Kirby illustration are easily distinguished: extravagantly costumed heroes and nefarious villains locked in titanic struggles; foreshortened fists, feet and muscles that seem to pop off the page; intricately detailed settings meant to conjure the ancient past or suggest the distant future."

Google Tablet PC Details: 'iPad Killer' In The Works (PHOTOS)

2010-04-12T15:04:00.000-04:00

Google Tablet PC Details: 'iPad Killer' In The Works (PHOTOS): "The rivalry between Apple and Google has intensified as the two companies increasingly tread on each other's turf. Steve Jobs, who accused Google of wanting to 'kill us,' recently unveiled an Apple ad platform called iAd that's set to challenge Google's mobile advertising strategy.

Meanwhile, it seems a Google tablet PC, Google's answer to the iPad, is in the works."

Shocker: Conan Headed Back to TV-- On TBS, Not Fox - TheWrap.com

2010-04-12T14:46:00.000-04:00

Shocker: Conan Headed Back to TV-- On TBS, Not Fox - TheWrap.com: "You snooze, you lose: Conan O'Brien is bringing his late-night act to Time Warner-owned cable network TBS, breaking off talks with Fox and making plans to move to cable in November.

O'Brien and Fox had been engaged in serious discussions about launching a late-night show for months, with most indications pointing to a deal eventually getting done. But Fox had always indicated that an agreement came with serious limitations: Less money, no guarantee of wide affiliate clearances and little chance for O'Brien to own his own show.

And while Fox Entertainment executives made no secret of their desire to get O'Brien, other parts of News Corp. seemed agnostic at best -- consistently stressing that an agreement would have to make sense financially.

The comedy-focused TBS, by contrast, made it clear that it really, really wanted O'Brien -- and was willing to step up with a monster deal to land him. His new pact with the network will allow O'Brien to own his own show, a la David Letterman, while also giving him an eight-figure compensation package described as 'bigger than any other deal he's ever had,' one person familiar with the agreement said."

Study: Online Radio Listening Flattens Out

2010-04-12T10:14:00.000-04:00

Study: Online Radio Listening Flattens Out
The number of people listening weekly to online radio, 43 million, hasn't grown so far this year, according to Arbitron and Edison Research's annual Infinity Dial Study. That could all change when Apple upgrades iPhone operations system to allow third-party radio apps to play in the background when users do other tasks.

Steven Spielberg Meets 'The Jetsons' : TVBizwire

2010-04-10T07:53:00.000-04:00

Steven Spielberg Meets 'The Jetsons' : TVBizwire : TVWeek - Television Industry news, TV ratings, analysis, celebrity event photos: "Steven Spielberg will team with a major cable network on an animated mini-series about the world of the future, reports The Wrap.

The TV project is going to speculate on the world 25 to 100 years down the road.

In a statement about the tentatively titled 'Future Earth,' Discovery said, 'The mini-series will draw from a vast number of sources, including the leading futurists, scholars and great minds of today, to dramatize and explore how various facets of our daily lives -- health and medicine, technology, the environment, the military, the economy and media -- will evolve over the next century.'"

Geek Out!: In search of a better comic book app – SciTechBlog - CNN.com Blogs

2010-04-09T11:18:00.000-04:00

Geek Out!: In search of a better comic book app – SciTechBlog - CNN.com Blogs

ACORN Sting Tape EDITED: Rachel Maddow Dissects Edit-Bay Trickery (VIDEO)

2010-04-07T13:51:00.000-04:00

ACORN Sting Tape EDITED: Rachel Maddow Dissects Edit-Bay Trickery (VIDEO): "The hidden-camera tapes of ACORN employees supposedly advising conservative activists disguised as a pimp and prostitute on the best ways to launder their money were, it turns out, heavily edited, as Rachel Maddow documented Tuesday night.

As Maddow notes, conservatives James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles were not, in fact, in costume during their interviews with ACORN employees. They did, however, openly discuss crimes they claimed they were planning to commit, and ACORN employees promptly reported them to the police."

Well, I held off as long as I could

2010-04-07T09:07:00.000-04:00

Well, I am a sucker, I admit. I already own an iMac, MacBook, and iPhone, and I'm been anxiously awaiting the debut of the iPad--but figured I'd wait a while. So I went to the Apple store yesterday just to check it out, play with it... and of course ended up buying one. Thankfully I had a freelance copywriting payment that covered the cheapest model and I didn't get any accessories. Yet.

The Apple store (Lenox Mall) was buzzing, but they had several iPads in stock and there wasn't any line, though the guy said Saturday, Sunday, and Monday were crazy, as was Tuesday morning. He helped me set it up right in the store and I was good to go.

I played with it all evening, synced it up, and downloaded a bunch of free iPad apps, which are very cool, including the Marvel, Comixology, iVerse, and Comic Zeal comics reading apps (the only app I actually paid for is the new version of Comic Zeal for iPad). I got several eBook apps, newspaper apps (some of the news apps are really nice), Zinio magazines (I already had an account--they are spectacular on the iPad).

The only problem I had was watching the ABC video app, which froze up and I had to reset the iPad--freaked me out at first, but I understand some of these new apps are buggy. I'm sure they'll sort it out. Also, it does seem that the WiFi signal is a bit weaker on the iPad than any other computer when you get to the furthest reaches of the house, but it wasn't a problem.

So far I haven't regretted it in the least!

The iPad in the Eyes of the Digerati - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com

2010-04-07T08:53:00.000-04:00

The iPad in the Eyes of the Digerati - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com: "Does the iPad offer designers and users a new medium, or is it merely an iPod Touch on steroids? How much does the form factor of a device drive the creation of new kinds of content and how that content is read, heard and watched?

* Tim O’Reilly, O’Reilly Media
* David Gelernter, computer scientist
* Liza Daly, software engineer
* Craig Mod, programmer and designer
* Sam Kaplan, iPad app creator
* Emily Chang and Max Kiesler, designers and Web consultants"

Can the iPad spur a comic book revival? / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com

2010-04-05T15:27:00.000-04:00

Can the iPad spur a comic book revival? / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com: "Comic book publishers hope the iPad will promote a return to the golden era of comic book reading."

Columns: Don't say 'social justice' - Opinion - USATODAY.com

2010-04-05T12:07:00.000-04:00

Columns: Don't say 'social justice' - Opinion - USATODAY.com: "Call it what you will, but people of all religious traditions can agree that God smiles on those who help people in need. Even better: Interfaith cooperation is budding in America today."

Garfield Says Adieu, AdReview - Advertising Age - Garfield's Ad Review

2010-04-05T11:42:00.000-04:00

Garfield Says Adieu, AdReview - Advertising Age - Garfield's Ad Review: "After 25 Years, Ad Age's Iconic Critic Is Hanging up His Stars, but Not Before Recalling His Hits and Misses -- and Yes, Having the Last Word"

An icon in the ad business.

5 Ways The Google Book Settlement Will Change The Future of Reading - Futurism - io9

2010-04-03T15:25:00.000-04:00

5 Ways The Google Book Settlement Will Change The Future of Reading - Futurism - io9: "If you care about the future of books, you need to understand the Google Book Settlement. It's a complicated legal document, but we've talked to some of its architects, detractors, and defenders - and break it all down for you.

The Google Book Settlement could easily be the twenty-first century's most important shift in how we deal with copyright in the world of publishing. To understand it, you need a little back story on the previous giant shift in copyright law, which happened about twelve years ago."

Bob Herbert - We Still Don’t Hear Dr. King - NYTimes.com

2010-04-03T08:57:00.000-04:00

Op-Ed Columnist - We Still Don’t Hear Dr. King - NYTimes.com: "“I come to this magnificent house of worship tonight,” said the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “because my conscience leaves me no other choice.”

This was on the evening of April 4, 1967, almost exactly 43 years ago. Dr. King told the more than 3,000 people who had crowded into Riverside Church that silence in the face of the horror that was taking place in Vietnam amounted to a “betrayal.”"

Marvel Comics for iPad: Hands-on Review - Boing Boing

2010-04-02T08:56:00.000-04:00

Marvel Comics for iPad: Hands-on Review - Boing Boing: "Video and screengrabs in this post: a first hands-on experience of the free Marvel Comics app for iPad, produced with Comixology (who produced a popular iPhone app). Word is that more than 500 titles will be available through the application at time of launch on Saturday. The pre-launch copy of the application I'm testing shows many titles offered at $1.99, and a number of selections also available for free."

Successes (and Some Growing Pains) at Hulu - NYTimes.com

2010-04-01T11:28:00.000-04:00

Successes (and Some Growing Pains) at Hulu - NYTimes.com: "People briefed on Hulu’s plan believe it may test the subscription approach with its iPad app. They could not say when such an application might be available.

Mr. Kilar declined to talk about any future Hulu products, but he waxed enthusiastic about the coming wave of ultra-portable tablet computers like the iPad."

iPad Reviews: Raves For Apple's Latest Product

2010-04-01T06:59:00.000-04:00

iPad Reviews: Raves For Apple's Latest Product: "iPad reviews from technology writers began surfacing Wednesday evening, with most offering glowing appraisals of Apple's latest product. However, one caveat was consistent: iPad's inability to play flash video.

Walt Mossberg, the personal technology reporter for The Wall Street Journal, suggested that the iPad could help touchscreen computers overtake the mouse"

bitolithic | Spilling the beans on Comic Zeal V4

2010-03-29T17:54:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-29T07:26:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-28T15:29:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-25T11:18:00.000-04:00

"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

2010-03-23T16:11:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-22T10:39:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-22T07:32:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-21T12:02:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-19T12:54:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-17T13:27:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-17T09:05:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-16T18:13:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-16T17:24:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-15T15:35:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-15T07:02:00.000-04:00

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

2010-03-12T10:25:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-12T10:24:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-12T06:45:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-10T08:47:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-09T18:52:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-09T07:25:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-09T06:58:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-07T08:01:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-07T07:54:00.000-05:00

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)

2010-03-07T07:41:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-06T19:40:00.000-05:00

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."