What is Apple really thinking? Do they really have any idea?

I read this and I was very much astounded at what was being said.
What is Apple really thinking? Are they really considering the ramifications on the market if they do this? Not to mention on the Economy of this country? If you think about how much money is spent each year on the mobile phone market, on tablets and smart-phones alike, would you really want to be limited to one type of phone with no technological differences between the two?
The needs of the public is what the companies are really focused on. They are paying attention to the reviews the owners give and the improvements that are being suggested. Since the iPhone came out the app development markets alone have been HUGE! Especially since some apps that aren't available on the iPhone, are available on almost all Android phones. Which allows for a very competitive market. This is where the great innovations come from and allow for growth in technology and pushes developers to be smarter and more creative.
I don't know what Apple plans to do for the future, but if they want to stay in the game, they should stop pushing in the courts and start really pushing in the innovations and development departments. Because it's not the iPhone's and the Android's that will be the future. It's what's coming after them. That's what they should be looking at.

If Apple Wins We All Lose:

'via Blog this'

Defenders of Wildlife Campaign to Save America's Wolves:

Wolves have been a important part of the wilderness in the United States since before explorers arrived here from Europe. Through the generations they have been hunted down for sport and leisure for men and it has decimated their population in this country.
Now they are being targeted because the hunters are looking for extra game, when the wolves are finally making a return. This Must Stop!

Defenders of Wildlife Campaign to Save America's Wolves::

'via Blog this'

The ride in today.

I noticed something strange as I rode in on the train this morning. There was almost no one on the train.  This was highly unusual for me because usually the train car is FULL.
  I ride the CTA Blue Line train, or "L" regularly during the work week. I've found that I save money by not driving down to work and simply taking the train, then walking 15 min. to work. I get exercise and I don't use up my gas or have to worry about traffic or parking.
  I'm not the only one though. On a Monday morning there are thousands who ride the rails to work, all around the city and the trains are usually pretty crowded. This is the first time I've been on the train on a Monday and there was only one person in the car I entered.
  The trains usually have about 5-6 cars in the morning and I like to go for the 3rd car because it usually isn't as crowded as the 1st and 2nd cars. I'm usually pretty lucky when I get a seat, but I don't hold it against anyone who takes over the seats to themselves. There's usually two seats, in rows, along either side of the train cars. If you get a seat it's usually courteous to take the seat against the window so you leave the isle seat open for someone else. Not everyone does it though. Having a little space in your seat is especially nice in the winter when everyone is wearing big heavy jackets and there's not much space to move. This is due to the temperature of Chicago in the winter and that most of the CTA "L" trains stations are really exposed to the elements. most are usually covered to keep the rain and most of the snow off, but there's not much protection from the winds that  come howling down on the platforms.  In January and February when its the coldest, I'm wearing my long wool jacket with 2 layers underneath, heavy boots, face mask, and 2 gloves on each hand. honestly the only thing that makes the day tolerable is that under all those layers, I have my mp3 player rockin' with some good tunes for the ride and the walk.
 Personally, I like having my own seat so I don't feel constricted. Not to mention that not everybody that rides the trains has the ability to go home and take a shower. There's lots of homeless people who ride the train because they have no place to go. I feel bad for them, but unfortunately there's not much I can do about it. The only thing that bothers me the most is the smell. There is nothing ranker then a man or a woman who has not washed and/or cleaned themselves in a month or two. My only real complaint is when people bother me for money. Now I'm no "Scrooge" and I give money to poor just like everyone else, but some of the people that ride the trains, you can tell that being homeless wasn't forced on them. Some aren't even homeless. I've had guys come up to me, while I'm either reading a book/Kindle(on my phone),ear-buds in listening to my music and they tap me to ask for money. Now I have no problem saying No when I don't think the person really needs it. And many of these guys are wearing clean shoes, jackets and don't smell at all. Who do they think they're fooling?
   
  I'm guessing that they just had additional trains running today so that the trains weren't as full as usual.

Broncos jettison Kyle Orton - AFC West Blog - ESPN

Broncos jettison Kyle Orton - AFC West Blog - ESPN:
'via Blog this'

This is something I have been hoping for since the trade happened for Jay Cutler. Honestly I have nor problem with Jay and I really hope he heals soon, but I would love more than ever, if Kyle Orton could come back to Chicago! I have been saying for years now that the trade was a bad move for the Chicago Bears.  Not that it didn't have it's good points but with all the effort and training that Orton had since Rex Grossman had left the Bears, Kyle really showed he had the ability and growth potential.

 I'm sure people would argue me that till "the cows come home", but the fact of the matter is if you look at the stats between Kyle Orton and Jay Cutler, there is very little difference.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/8520/kyle-orton
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/9597/jay-cutler

Yards, Complete Passes, TD's, Interceptions, they all come within close numbers.  I won't say that Kyle or Jay are better then the other, but they definitely are skilled at their job and any team that could have them on the roster would be wise.

  Honestly I would take the advantage of having them both on the Bears.  You could easily start with one and change at halftime and you would end up with a win no matter what.  Plus you give the option of rest between the two and have a chance to have a fresh QB ready to come in when a injury or special play occurs.
  Plus you have the advantage of keeping the opposing team uneasy and alert for what will happen. Because by switching QB's on a regular basis, especially with the skills of both Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton, you gain the advantage of skill and protection of both players and you increase their skills as they both have the chance to play and keep their abilities at full strength.

 In summation, I really think the Chicago Bears should bring Kyle Orton back to Chicago and use both he and Jay Cutler to get Chicago back into the running for the Playoffs.
 

CULTURE: Corporate America Says No Thanks, No Giving

This is something I can get behind!

CULTURE: Corporate America Says No Thanks, No Giving: [IMG|366x550]http://s95218.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Noemie04.jpg[/IMG]

by Hoodoo4102





[Above: Noemie in Kawaii Bunga]



Employees of Target and Best Buy are voicing their opinions, trying to get a message across to the CEOs of their companies before they’re robbed of their time with family. One in particular, Anthony Hardwick of Omaha, NE, has voiced his displeasure at his employer, Target, and has become the featured petition on Change.org. And while I'm writing this blurb, the petition has just jumped up from a staggering 170,000 to 180,000 signatures of its 200,000 goal. A similar petition inspired by Hardwick’s, posted by Rick Melaragni of Tampa, FL, concerning Best Buy’s opening hours is currently sitting at 14,550 of its 15,000 goal.



Anthony's message is quite clear, and well put:

"A midnight opening robs the hourly and in-store salary workers of time off with their families on Thanksgiving Day. By opening the doors at midnight, Target and Best Buy is requiring team members to be in the store by 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. A full holiday with family is not just for the elite of this nation -- all Americans should be able to break bread with loved ones and get a good night's rest on Thanksgiving! Any team member not present for their shift will receive a final warning, or termination of their employment."

While all's quiet on the Target front, Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn writes a heart warming message to Employees and Customers saying*:

"Our customers and employees are, first and foremost, people. We acknowledge that each one is an individual with hopes, dreams, passions, talents, experiences, cultures, faith and loved ones. People don’t celebrate a ‘Happy Holiday’ – they have their own cultural, religious and family traditions. So, why shouldn’t we value and embrace that same level of individuality during the Holidays?"

Thank YOU Brian! It's always so touching to see a CEO open his mouth wide enough just in case he may need to have a Thanksgiving foot for dinner with a side of trimmins'.



So what does this mean for those hard working hourly employees of corporate America? Thanksgiving breakfast, black out curtains, no booze (since getting a DUI on the way to work would make for a whole different kind of Black Friday!), and beddie bye at noon-o-clock so the board can eat meat, slog brew, and belch their American spirit to the tune of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and ESPN's Thursday Night Football -- all for one hour of over time.



If you would like to join Anthony's cause you can do so at www.change.org.



*Since time of writing, Brian Dunn has deleted his own post on his Corp Blog as quoted above and replaced it with another expressing his thanks to the company and his employees for sacrificing their holiday for the company.

(Written by: Hoodoo4102)

Dorkly Bits: Dorkly Video Favorites

 These are just a few of the many Original Videos that Dorkly.com has produced. I love these little videos and watch them whenever a new one comes out.
Check them out and maybe you'll see a old classic that you like. :)


Dorkly Bits: Yoshi Hates Mario - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: Mortal Kombat Friendship - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: Rampage Apology - Dorkly Video:

Mario Meets Portal 2 - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: Mario Goes Down The Wrong Pipe - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: Plants vs. Zombies Wall-nut Gets Bitten - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: Smash Bros. Fatalities - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: Mario is a Furry - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: Mario Responds to PETA - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: Boos Man Up - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: It's a Wonderful Extra Life.

Dorkly Bits: Link Finds Ganon's Weakness - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: Ski Free Yeti Gets Desperate - Dorkly Video:

Dorkly Bits: Bioshock Little Sister's Big Date - Dorkly Video: 


Dorkly Bits: Puzzle Quest Ogre is a Nerd - Dorkly Video:
'via Blog this'

Guys! Something has got to change.

Ok guys, we need to change now because it is really getting bad out there. I'm so tired of trying to explain to the girls why all men are A-hole Douche-bags. I mean I'm just sick and frikkin tired of telling the girls after I hear how the guy cheated or screwed up in some unforgivable way. Hell I even hear about guys that got married to the girl and really didn't love the girl at all!?

Seriously though guys we need to do something here. I think we need to just start walking around with signs on telling the girls exactly what’s going on because I’m getting sick of having to explain it.

And all you bad-boy, self-obsorbed,jock,douche-bags are really screwing the rest of us over. I know your self-centered and only thinking how many girls you can screw (real life Barney Stinsen’s) but something has got to change.

I have 4 girls that I consider seriously best friends and they are constantly meeting guys and have a great time with them, then the guys do shit that is absoulutly stupid! Cheating, bad mouthing, and especially when work is concerned. We have jobs and we screw it up and expect the women to be ok with just sitting around and not finding a new job. I know we suffer from a bad economy and less jobs, but find something. Even a non-paying job that shows your trying.

Blog Transfer from "Windows Live Spaces"

January 28 2008 9:41 PM

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!!!!

Why do human beings do such stupid things!

 I really don’t understand why this happens.  I don’t care where they grew up, what cultural background they have, how screwed up their moral compass is after the first mistake and the problems that followed, why do human beings do such stupid and ignorant things.  Not only that!  Why do they do what will ultimately drive them to massive sacrifice and heartache for what shouldn’t have been done in the first place.

  Human beings really are the most intelligent beings on this planet and have accomplished so much in the last 50,000 years of their existence. Yet after all this time they are still making the exact same mistakes over and over and over again, putting themselves thru constant upheaval, war, despair, depression, that usually comes after great discovery and achievement.

  It always seems to come down to wanting what you don’t have and feeling you can’t live without it and thus destroying your and everybody else’s lives just so you can have what you want and then realizing it wasn’t worth all you lost.

   Why can’t we just be satisfied with what we have and try to live our lives helping each other instead of causing so much pain and suffering to all those around us?  Why? Why can’t the human race wake up and fix the problem?  Why?  Why do we have to keep running in the never-ending circle of pain and suffering? Why? 

       Why are we so stubbornly stupid that no matter how much we already have, we always make it harder on ourselves because we think we deserve what we don’t have and instead of working to get our own we need to take it from someone else.

  I truly hate knowing what I know and no matter what I do I can’t stop it from happening. I hate being here.  I hate knowing what I know and wanting so much to change the way things are…………To make the world better……………I want to so much and yet no matter what I know that nothing will ever change and in the end we will end it ourselves and this world will be destroyed by our own hands and as much as I don’t want it to happen I know it will.

Google Music Store Chases Apple’s ITunes - Bloomberg

Google Music Store Chases Apple’s ITunes - Bloomberg:

'via Blog this'

Doesn't matter if Apple has a head start, look how long it took Google Android phone to catch the iPhone in sales. I think we will see a similar action against iTunes. :)

Seriously though, Apple is the top gun in this situation. Even with Amazon and Spotify as competitors, Google is the challenger to Apple. Google has shown that people who enjoy easy access to their apps and internet while on the go, can give what they want for a cheaper price and easier problem solving. In many ways we are looking at a new match that used to be Microsoft and Apple. Now it's Google and Apple.

The funny thing is that Google may be late getting the store up, but they were one of the first for creating a cloud service for music storage and access, besides Amazon. Granted Amazon got to the line first, but Google came right back and offered access for free, no fees. Also the storage on Google's Music is much larger then what Apple and Amazon offer and requires no purchases to have access.

   Apple iTunes has the massive library, also ease of purchasing both on your computer and through mobile devices as well as easy sync of music and apps, not to mention back-up. Google does have a big monster of a dragon to slay in matters of iTunes. But as the defeat of the Apple iPhone has shown, Google is up to the task.

This is a rant after my own heart! :)

RSS Rant

Funny Dog Lover Joke

Two women were out for a Saturday stroll. One had a Doberman and the other, a Chihuahua . As they walked

down the street, the one with the Doberman Said to her friend, "Let's go over to that bar for a drink."

The lady with the Chihuahua said, "We can't go in there. We've got dogs with us."

The one with the Doberman said, "Just watch, and do as I do."

They walked over to the bar and the one with the Doberman put on a pair of dark glasses and started to walk in.

The bouncer at the door said, "Sorry, lady, no pets allowed."

The woman with the Doberman said, "You don't understand. This is my seeing-eye dog."

The bouncer said, "A Doberman?"

The woman said, "Yes, they're using them now. They're very good."

The bouncer said, "OK, come on in."

The lady with the Chihuahua thought that convincing him that a Chihuahua was a seeing-eye dog may be a bit more difficult, butthought,"What the heck," so she put on her dark glasses and started to walk in.

Once again the bouncer said, "Sorry, lady, no pets allowed."

The woman said, "You don't understand. This is my seeing-eye dog"

The bouncer said, "A Chihuahua?"

The woman with the Chihuahua said,

"A Chihuahua? They gave me a f.....g Chihuahua ?!"

Coyote and RoadRunner - Zoom and Bored (14.09.1957)

I was just thinking about it as I was watching some the Road Runner/Coyote cartoons and couldn't help but notice the similarities to the dating world. The road runner seems to symbolize the woman (free and on the run) and the coyote (in constant pursuit), using anything in his arsenal to capture his prey. Very much a symbol of Human Courting Rituals. A.K.A. Dating. Men pursuing women endlessly and always, no matter what the man does, she always slips from his grasp.
  Now don't misunderstand what I mean. I'm not saying that men are just after women because they are succulent birds of prey that we wish to devour entirely leaving nothing but feathers and bones, NO, no, no, no, no, N. O. NO! What I mean is the pursuit of women is very, Very, VERY! similar.


  Seriously, if you really look at the emphasis there is on the coyote using so many contraptions and devices and unique things to try and capture, distract or entrap the road runner, it is very similar to the kinds of techniques men will employ in order to get a woman's attention and pursue.  And many times the woman simply flashers her tail and in her own way goes "MEEP MEEP" and vanishes in a dust-puff of makeup powder, perfume and lip gloss, which some I might add actually has names similar to food.


 In addition, there is great emphasis in the cartoon of the pain that Coyote goes through. Now don't get me wrong! I'm not saying that the woman puts the man through all the pain. I have three sisters and I know exactly how much pain and suffering goes into preparation before going out for the night and what it takes to maintain the looks.  What I'm saying is that women are always making statements about the hurt and pain that a woman goes through in a relationship. How often do you hear about the men's side of the equation??    Many times women, drama queens that they are.......And you know you are when it comes to your dating, gloss over the fact that men get hurt just as much as women do.  When a man is rejected by a woman, they don't really realize the kind of pain and hurt they just caused the man.  Which really some do not deserve. I know, I know there are plenty of Douche-bag men out there! BELIEVE ME I know! Most of which are in positions of power. But some men are really just looking to have a nice time with a woman. Hoping he presents himself enough that she will see he isn't the douche-y kind of guy many women think most men are.


  But hey, I'm not saying that all women are like that, because I know they aren't. Seriously, I know there are millions of loving, caring wonderful women out there that are just looking for a guy to love them. Unfortunately, guys see too many Road Runner women whose only interested is the game of pursuit and watching the guy slam on the pavement as he falls from a cliff. 
   Huh? Funny Women think men are Dogs....Coyote's.  So that makes women Road Runners. WOW! Michael Maltese and Chuck Jones really knew their stuff.

Since when did inline skates dictate your sexual preference?

I've been riding on inline skates since I was about 11 years old. I love it! It took me several years to get as good as I am on them and I absolutely love riding on them. And I can tell you I don't do it for exercise. If I had known about Aggressive Inline when I was in High School I would have been ALL over it. Next to driving with the windows down on the expressway going 65MPH, it is the best way I know to get a nice adrenaline rush. Especially at the speeds I'm capable of. Now when I say I can get high speeds I'm not just talking under my own power. I'm talking about finding a very VERY steep hill and just tucking my legs under me and flying. You think downhill skiing is a rush? You haven't tried inline skating on a steep hill traveling over 30 MPH and the only thing between you and a nasty fall on concrete is your legs and luck.

  Now that I have gone to great lengths to inform you on my love of inline skating...can someone tell me why that makes me a faggot?

Seriously, I don't understand where the hatred and disgust comes from when I roll down the street and I have grown men in SUV's (in upper class neighborhoods) stopping in front of a park full of kids and in his loudest voice calling out, "NICE SKATES FAGGOT!"

  Can someone please explain it to me? I don't see where it comes from. I'm not yelling at people or making rude comments at people or knocking people off the street or trying to force my views on others. I'm simply enjoying a ride and I even go out of my way to avoid people so they don't think I'm hogging the road/sidewalk. I'm not even dressed inappropriately. I'm wearing a plain t-shirt, cargo shorts and a helmet. How is that offensive??

I'm not asking for much am I? A simple explanation to why people hate inline skaters.

Ryan Dunn's death and Roger Ebert

Just heard about fight between Facebook and ROGER EBERT. Dude, seriously?! Are we back in High School now? Ever hear of the First Amendment? He can give his view, even if it's in bad taste and he shouldn't be treated like that. He's a Entertainment Columnists for crying-out-loud!

This has been a most interesting day.

I woke up this morning with a pretty fair idea of what I needed to do. I have a shift at work and then my afternoon was open. My girlfriend drove home after I left and arrived safely. So one good thing.  I went into work with a pretty good feeling.
  Now just for the record to clarify my good feeling, let me cover this past week. Last weekend (June 4-5) I had the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer. This is my fifth time walking in the event and the 3rd time I walked the entire distance of 39 miles (26 miles on Saturday, 15 miles on Sunday).  Now, in the past I have trained for this event over a 3 month period. Unfortunately I wasn't able to train as hard as usually do because of complications with work and free-time. So as a result my lack of training for the walk caused me to get a very painful case of Shin Splints. After the walk I had one day of rest (Monday) before I had to start back to work. Since my primary income came from my job at the Studios, I have had to find alternative income to fill the gap left by the lack of shifts because the Studio is no longer able to employ me. I currently am a seasonal Bartender at 2 locations both of which work me about 3-4 times a week, usually ranging in 5hrs to 8hrs each shift. Usually I get a day of rest between to two but unfortunately this wasn't the case. My calender had me working Tuesday thru Saturday going back and forth between the two places and to add to it my Shin Splints continued to affect my ability to work efficiently.
   Personally, I find the manager of one of my seasonal jobs to be inadequate for managing the events held there. This facility is a member based club and the manager makes a greater effort to please the members rather then his employees well-being. Just this past Friday we had a large event that I was asked to work. Originally I was just supposed to have a evening shift which I'm happy to do, but because the manger got a special request from the members and he's unwilling to hire enough people to work the events without double booking employees. I had to work a 12 hr shift.  Ordinarily I wouldn't have a problem working this because it's good money. But I was working injured and what made the situation worse is that I started at 11AM and didn't stop till 11PM and I only ate when I had breakfast at my house before I left.  I was given no break for a meal and rest during the day as well as two other employees. Several times during the last few hrs of the event I almost passed out. The only food I was able to have was some maraschino cherries from the bar.
  So based on this info, I'm walking into the club on Monday expecting the manager to be running whatever event is going on, which to say the least made me nervous.
   So I get inside and start setting up the bar for the event. The servers and other bartender arrive and we all set up the banquet room for the event. From what I got from the other servers and the chef was that it was a charity/scholarship event run by the local town, but what was problematic is that the manager was no where to be found. He was supposed to be running the party but rather then briefing us and instructing us on how to run the party as well as informing the servers what tables they would be responsible for, he never showed up until right before the event and then still gave us no instructions.  It fell to one of the bartenders to contact him BY CELL PHONE, which employees aren't supposed to use while on duty, in order to get the details.
  I was shocked and couldn't figure out how he was justifying having this event at the club and then not even taking the responsibility to be at the event making sure everything went the way it should.
   Thankfully we were able to have everything run smoothly but I just couldn't believe what he was doing.  IF something had gone wrong it could have been disastrous and worst of all we knew we would get the blame instead of him.
  So after I left, I headed home and decided to relax and rest my leg because it was twitching pain about an hour after I started working, meaning that it still wasn't healed. I changed out of my uniform, sat on the couch and turned on the TV. But the TV didn't turn on. It made the sound of turning on but then would turn off again. I tried again and again and it still wouldn't turn on. I checked the manual for this kind of problem in the troubleshooting and sure enough it means that the TV needs servicing.  Well I have had this TV for 5 years and no warranty is on it. What is ironic is that just yesterday my GF and I planned on getting me a new 37" LCD TV to replace this one but we put it off because of my leg. GOOD GRIEF! What a way to start the week.
 But when you think about it, this isn't really that bad. There are people around the world with really bigger problems then this.  So yes the world isn't perfect and everyone has bad days, but really if you look at how your day is going and you think it's bad.......stop and think about this;  IT COULD BE A WHOLE FUCKING LOT WORSE!

BREAKING NEWS: The Pity Train has just derailed at the intersection of "SUCK IT UP" and "MOVE ON" and crashed into "WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS" before coming to a complete stop at "GET THE HELL OVER IT!!!!

Observations today

You know what makes me smile and reminds me that I am smart. Seeing people walking around on a stormy rainy day wearing sandal's. If they only knew that it's not water squishing between their toes, its a ton of disgusting things. It's Dog poop, garbage, rotten food, oil, gas, vomit, human excrement and everything else that someone had dropped on the ground, someone else stepped on then it rolled around in the rest of the garbage, dried up and then was caught up in the rain and washed into your feet.  Enjoy that image. And what makes me feel even better is that most of these people will get home tonight and just get right into bed without washing their feet. YUCK! But I was smart and wore shoes. Because I like my feet. :)

Driving in to work today I realized something listening to the commercials, Chevy has been advertising for their Cruze car, Malibu, Equinox and Camero. Yet I haven't seen or heard a single commercial for the Chevrolet Volt.  In fact, when was the last time you saw any GM company advertise a Green or electric/hybrid car on TV or radio.  GM supports the green effort......Yeah right, like hell they are. :( And people wonder why "Who Killed the Electric Car" is a popular movie.

Why I read Marvel Digital Comics

Originally posted : By Tj Shields · Saturday, September 19, 2009
http://marvel.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=4022144&highlight#4022144 - no longer exists because removed by Marvel Comics

Why I read marvel digital comics…….

In August 2009 I went to the Wizard World Comic book Convention in Rosemont IL, just outside of Chicago.

   I go to this event every year. Usually to pick up the comics I have wanted to get and to see all the cool people, costumes, figures, movies, etc. that are always at this event.   This particular year I was looking forward to the Marvel panel that was being held and the subject is on the ULTIMATE Marvel universe. 

  Now I had not finished reading ULTIMATIUM at this time, but I still love the series.  Which comes to my main point, I have primarily read almost all of the Ultimate Marvel Comics series through Marvel Digital Comics or digital media of one type or the other.

   This started when the Ultimate X-men series had come out on CD-ROM in stores.  Now I had been introduced to Ultimate X-men by a friend through his collection of trade paperbacks, but now I had a way of reading the whole series up to a point, so I purchased it and started reading.  Because of my busy schedule, it took me 3 months to read the whole thing. That’s 70 comic issues and I LOVED IT!!  By then I had gone out and purchased the Ultimate War trade paperback so I could fill in the blanks and thought about collecting the comic from then on.

    A week later, before I had a chance to start buying comics I got a notice from my Marvel Comics newsletter in my email.  Marvel is starting a Digital Comics Library.  My jaw hit the floor. I instantly looked at the site and was struck with awe.  This was the answer I was looking for. I now had a way to look at my favorite comics without having to go down to my storage area and pull out the comics from their storage bags and read them, and in the process get my greasy hands all over them and demean their value. Not to mention the chance of getting them dirty or catching a page on the scotch tape on the bag, which isn’t a big deal for some but for me it is a huge deal. Insert your “Mallrats”/“Jason Lee” joke here….

    Now I didn’t care about the subscription fee because of the possibilities that this library offered, so I signed up and have been happily paying my fee ever since.  Now because of this subscription, I had free access to all of the comics on the site and all the comics that I; already owned, had always wanted to read or didn’t even know existed.  Such comics were the Ultimate series.  As I read I found that I loved every single one of them but the collections were incomplete and I had to wait for months before the next issues came out.  Being the patient man that I am, I was able to push it aside, create my “Must Reads” list and wait.

   Now back to the convention and the Panel:  I walked in excited to learn what was going to happen and what I would learn about all the characters that I loved and hoped to hear about.  The panel starts and I listened intently and enjoyed all the jokes and comments that came from Mark Paniccia, Mark Millar and a very young and attractive woman, whom I’m sad to say I forgot to write her name down (please post if you know) as well as the rest of the panel. Then came the moment I had been waiting for, the open forum. I waited for a few people to get their questions out of the way before I stood up, walked over the microphone and nervously started to ask my question. “Hello, um…First off I would like to say I love the Ultimate comics series and I have read almost all of them on the Marvel Digital Comics site.  And…” Before I could get out my next word a Scottish/British voice comes up and says…. “CHEAP!” 

   I actually froze.  I felt myself freeze and from around me there was a chorus of laughter. I thought I was either going to burst into tears or pass-out from embarrassment.  But I sucked it back and continued on with “…I’ll let that go for now. But I wanted to know if there would be any exclusive Ultimate Comics releases on the Digital Comics Website?”  The panel then went into an answer which I can’t recall word for word but the gist was of no plans at this time but please purchase the comics from the stores.

   The rest of the questions sort of slipped past my ears as I sat cold and hurt in the room. I left at the end of the panel with the rest of the room but in a state of shock.

   It’s only now that I can truly say what I wish I had said at that moment when I had been called “CHEAP.” Talk about waiting till after the fact that the comeback comes to mind eh?

   I have my reasons for reading the comics through the Digital Comics and they are good ones. They are truthful, real and honest reasons.  It honestly has nothing to do with the money.  I’m not strapped for cash to the point that I can’t pay for my comics. I have several hundred comics that I have collected since I was 11 years old (34 now). My collection ranges from Alpha Flight to Transformers and Amazing Spider-man to X-Men and not just Marvel Comics.  This collection has grown to considerable size and I have had to let go of many because I just don’t have the room to collect all that I want.  Many great stories I have had to purchase through trade paperbacks because I can’t find all the issues to the series.  My collecting now is down to the comics that stand out as truly unique and special. Which is very small compared to the size it was 10 years ago. 

   The digital comics gave me a way to purchase my comics and read them over and over and over again without fear of damaging them or losing them or missing out on issues I couldn’t find.  It’s a wonderful dream come true for a fan of comics like me.  To have a way to not only read all my comics whenever I want, but I can now access them from wherever I am!  All I need do is open my laptop, open a my Android or iPod-Touch app, and there they are!

    But I’m “CHEAP” because of it.  I go months without reading my comics because my schedule is so crazy I don't have time to pick them up from the store.   I not only pay for my Subscription to Digital Comics but all the series I collect from the same comic book store that I have been getting my comics since I was small. (Comic Collector - Harlem Ave. Riverside, IL. Deadpool and Ghost Rider to name a few.)

    I would pay the cover prices online if they would give me the comics.  I’ve emailed into Marvel asking to make individual subscription plans for people who want to get specific series. I’ve called in pleading for the comics to be made available for whatever price I need to pay to get them. Yet nothing has changed, and I’m called “CHEAP”.

    Because of this I have had to start purchasing the new Ultimate Comics series to keep up.  Unfortunately I can’t read them yet, because I haven’t finished reading the series behind them. I love my comics stories they fill me up with creativity and life that is beaten down so many times by the world.  The art work, the characters, the stories, so masterfully written and drawn and I love them all. I love reading them, collecting them and hopefully one day they will return the favor.

   I’m not writing this to start a fight or cause a ruckus. I just want to say what I have been thinking and plead for peace of mind.  Let me pay for my comics and read them digitally.  I’m still going to buy other comics because I just want to read them in hand, but let me get the others online so I can collect ones and enjoy the others.

   I know I’m not the only one who enjoys this convenient and fun way of reading comics. I’m not trying to steal money from the artists and writers, I just want an easier way to store and read my comics. 

   Oh and just for the record…..On average I pay between $40-$50 dollars a month on Comics add in my subscription to Digital comics and that goes up to around $60 a month and $720 a year. 

   And I’m “CHEAP”!?

  As my favorite Merc-with-a-Mouth would say:  “YEAH RIGHT! And Bea Arthur was just another Pretty Face you irishsprings'mellin, whiskey'swillin', leprechaunkissing, cornedbeefandhashmicrowaving', mutantscum --taunt me, will you?! I'll show you taunting! I'll taunt you till you bleed out of your ears and run home to mama!” - (Deadpool - Wade Wilson, The Crimson Comedian, The Regeneratin' Degenerate,The Merc With A Mouth. Marvel's Ultimate Slapstick Killing Machine and My Favorite Marvel Anti-Hero!) 

  

    

A DREAM

From Facebook Notes by Tj Shields on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 9:16pm

A DREAM

I dreamed a dream 
a beautiful may flower glowing in the dawn sunlight
dew glistened on its pedals
she sways in the gentle breeze
Surrounded by soft green grass, the ground swells just to be near.
The trees bow to her magnificence, allowing the sun to feed her.
I see her and long to be near.
Wanting to touch her softness.
Needing to smell her sweetness.
I dreamed a dream 
but now that dream is gone from my mind.
I search now for you and can't find you.
the trees have withered.
the grass is gone and the ground is spoiled.
The sun doesn't shine and all is darkness.
I dreamed of you my Beautiful May Flower of Love.
Why Can't I find you now?


I'm a hunter of peace and love. On a quest for the elusive mayfly known as Love. we are searching for a place where we can live our lives in peaceful days. With no wars, no killing and no stealing, a place  that isn't run by fear. A place where people can live and actually trust other human beings. - Vash the Stampede

The Funniest Chilli Contest Ever

From Facebook Notes by Tj Shields on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 5:35pm

The Funniest Chilli Contest Ever

I didn't write it but I was laughing at it :)


If you can read this whole story without laughing, then there's no hope for you. I was crying by the end. This is an actual account as relayed to paramedics at a chili cook-off in New Mexico.


Note: Take time to read this slowly. If you pay attention to the first two judges, the reaction of the third judge is even better.
For those of you who have lived in New Mexico, you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the Santa Fe Plaza.
Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chile taster named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield, IL. Frank: 'Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table, asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native New Mexicans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy; and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became Judge #3. 




Here are the scorecard notes from the event:

CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI
Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy crap, what the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These New Mexicans are crazy.




CHILI # 2 - EL RANCHO'S AFTERBURNER CHILI
Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw he look on my face.


CHILI # 3 - ALFREDO'S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI
Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick.
Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting sh*t-faced from all of the beer.


CHILI #4 BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC
Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.
Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb. woman is starting to look HOT ... just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?


CHILI # 5 - LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER
Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Jalapeno peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.
Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the jalapeno peppers make a strong statement.
Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw them.


CHILI # 6 - VARGA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY
Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.
Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, garlic. Superb.
Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I crapped on myself when I farted, and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.

CHILI # 7 - SUSAN'S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI
Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.
Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. I should take note that I am worried about Judge #3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.
Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing. It's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.

CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI
Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili?
Judge # 3 -- No report

Funny story a friend sent me

From Facebook Notes by Tj Shields on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 10:43am

Funny story a friend sent me

A stranger was seated next to a little girl on the airplane when the stranger turned to her and said, 'Let's talk.
I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger..' 

The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger, 'What would you like to talk about?' 

'Oh, I don't know,' said the stranger. 'How about nuclear power?' and he smiles..

OK, 'she said. 'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first.
A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass - .
Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass.
Why do you suppose that is?' 

The stranger, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says, 'Hmmm, I have no idea.' 

To which the little girl replies, 'Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don't know shit?