Beer makes the world go round

When the Rox went to the World Series last year, I was a website crash away from getting tickets to game three. I didn't even consider going to a third-party site to get it because I knew it'd be outrageous.

Fast forward a year and tickets to the Great American Beer Fest are going for upwards of $170/apiece for Friday night.

Thank goodness I picked up my Thursday tix for face value weeks ago.

More inertia

After gorging for the better part of the summer, I've returned to a heavy five- to six-day-a-week workout regiment, alternating between upper and lower body exercises.

These first two weeks have been rough -- as it usually is when getting back into a routine -- but I think I'm getting used to it. My body isn't as sore as it was in weeks past, but I am sleeping more. A lot more.

I've been going to bed after I get back from the gym, but my slumber has ballooned to nine to 10 hours a night. Hopefully my body will adjust and I'll get back down to normal sleep hours soon.

Palin's crappy answer

This is a softball question from Katie Couric about why the gov't should bail out big companies and not give the money to the people, and Palin gives an answer that has nothing to do with question. Trade? What the hell does that have to do with this?


It kind of reminds me of Caitlin Upton's answer at the Miss Teen USA pageant.



But to be fair, here's Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden sticking his foot into his mouth.

America's biggest big sty

I've been lazy and let my room, desk, car become quite messy. But I've never hit these people's level.

If these people didn't smoke, I'm sure it wouldn't look as bad.

Free speech shouldn't trump good taste

When 11-year-old Daxx Dalton came to school wearing a shirt with "Obama a terrorist's best friend" handwritten on it, he was given the option of either changing shirts or get suspended.

He chose the latter.

I don't blame him — If I were in his shoes, I probably would have, too. Not because I'd be making a bold statement about freedom of speech, but because I would get several days off of school with my dad's full permission.

How awesome would that be?

I probably could have done this when I was still in school. I remember Overland having a strict policy against letting wear clothes with alcoholic logos on them. If I wanted a few days off, I would've worn Corona paraphernalia.

I never did and resorted to ditching if I wanted to get out of a class. Sure, I spent time in detention, but it was a good place to catch up on homework or sleep.

But back on the matter at hand — or as I like to call it, the case of the shirt with the poorly written text — I don't think the playground hubbub is more about grammatical inaccuracies rather than political implications. I can see it now:

Daxx: Hey guys, check out my shirt.
Other kid: I think you're missing a verb.
Daxx: It doesn't need a verb. "Obama a terrorist's best friend" is what it's supposed to say.
Other kid: No, you need a verb as in, "Obama is a terrorist's best friend."
Daxx: No! It's supposed to be "Obama a terrorist's best friend."
Other kid: Then you need a comma or a colon after Obama. It doesn't look right! C'mere, I'll fix it for you. (pulls out sharpie)
Daxx: No! Don't ruin my shirt!

Look, a kid getting reprimanded for wearing an inappropriate t-shirt is hardly newsworthy. Whether it's a shirt that has blatant profanities or one that's simply "disrupting the learning environment," it's the school's call on what should happen. While a suspension seems a bit harsh, it's the school's choice.

Whtie privilege

Tim Wise wrote an interesting piece about white privilege and the 2008 presidential election. There are also some shots at Dubya: http://www.redroom.com/blog/tim-wise/this-your-nation-white-privilege-updated

Otaku invasion

Colorful costumes and vast amounts of candy.

Sounds like Halloween, but it’s actually Nan Desu Kan.

For the past three years, I’ve covered the local, annual Japanese animation convention that takes place down south at the DTC Marriott Hotel.

It’s best described as an absolute overload for the senses. Even though I consider myself a casual anime fan, I’m still weirded out by the vast number of anime otaku — someone with an obsessive interest — who make the yearly pilgrimmage down south.

The overwhelming majority of attendees are dressed up as their favorite anime character — though, there is a smattering of pirates, zombies and Ghostbusters.

Scattered are vendors who sell a variety of art, Japanese paraphernalia and candy.

(I do have to note that $3 for a box of Pocky is outrageously expensive. I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than 75 cents unless it was the giant-sized ones.)

Something new at the convention this year was the addition of The Slants to the lineup. The Portland-based synthpop band was the first-ever non-anime musical act to perform at NDK. They last came out to Colorado in July to perform at the Lions Lair.

Having observed the convention for some time now, I believe that there are a number of rules every patron should follow:

• Be aware of your body type
It’s much more effective if you dress like someone you match physically. Not everyone should be dressed like the slender, and quite short-skirted, Sailor Moon.
Or if you want to dress up like someone buff, such as “Bleach” character Tessai Tsukabishi, I have three words for you: hit the gym.

• Be original
It’s dull when you look like everyone else. I know L from “Death Note” is cool, but not when there’s a dozen of you wandering around. Want to stand out? Pick an obscure character, such as Tessai, and wander around with a group of folks from the same anime.

• Don’t pester people
This specifically goes out to the zombies. I don’t mind the full-out acting and zombie walk. It’s somewhat amusing seeing them attack those who want to be attacked. But the key word is “want.” Don’t grab me when I’m trying to get somewhere.

But like all conventions, it's tiring staying in the hotel all day. I like wandering across the street to the local restaurants and doing some people watching.

It's fun sitting at Garcia’s and watching the usual patrons gawk at these colorful kids eat.

This ain't your daddy's Superfriends

Remember "Superfriends"? Well, more importantly, remember Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog?

Well, apparently DC brought them back in the "Teen Titans" series as caretakers of the Titan Towers.

Though, it was only momentarily. Take a look at what happened in "Teen Titans" #62.

Maybe they need those pit-bull laws over there.

To kill or not to kill?

This isn't a new topic by any means, but it's one that's often overlooked.

Abortion is an issue that is wholeheartedly condemned by the Catholic Church and the Republican Party. Being raised a Catholic, I grew up being told that Democrats were immoral because they supported abortion and if I were to vote for one, I would be condemned to hell.

Alright, I never heard that last comment — even when I went to school at St. Therese — but I was told it was frowned upon for me to support a group who supported abortion, despite what else they have to say. This meant I was supposed to vote Republican when I turned of age.

(I've since declared myself an independent and taken into account how candidates and issues best help me rather than siding with a political party and pigeonholing my options)

But I've always wondered why there wasn't a similar outrage with the death penalty. I mean, if the church believes that babies are alive at conception and having an abortion meant killing a person, then why the double standard on killing a convicted criminal?

Who are we to decide if someone lives or dies? The bible does say, "Judge not lest ye be judged."

I know the church's official stance is killing only those who pose a threat to the greater populace if they are alive. And if they don't, lesser means should be applied.

The Republican Party takes the same stance on these two issues. The Dems used to be pro-death penalty back in the day, but they seem to have backed off that stance over the past decade.

So explain to me, why this hypocrisy? Why is it justifiable to take the life of a grown person and not of a fetus?

My reading list for Sept. 3

I've seen many a' comic book blogger do this with their weekly pick-ups. So here's what I picked up off the racks this week (and you'll quickly notice that I'm a big Marvel fan):

My pick-ups

Marvel Apes #1
Review: 3 out of four stars
When Marvel announced they were going to release a four-issue mini-series called "Marvel Apes," humor was the only route they could take was with humor. And this issue certainly has plenty of hilarity, taking C-list superhero The Gibbon and transporting him into a parallel universe where the world is inhabited by apes. While there are plenty of cheesy monkey jokes — such as Dr. Octopus being called Dr. Ook and Giant Man as Gro-rilla — it's a fun, quick read.

Savage Dragon #137, 1:5 Obama Variant
Review: 2-1/2 out of four stars
Let me get two things straight — it's been 10 years since I've read an issue of "Savage Dragon" and I only bought this issue because the cover shows the Savage Dragon endorsing Barack Obama. That said, I was a little lost by everything that was happening in the issue. Even though I didn't know any of the characters or their back stories, it was fairly easy to pick up. The Savage Dragon seems more like a buddy to his daughter than a father when she gets expelled from school, so they go to an alley and beat the tar out of a bunch of mutants. I was disappointed by the art. Erik Larsen's style is gritty, but it seems lazy an underdetailed in some pages. Like I said last week, I want to see another character endorse McCain. I'll pick that issue up, too.

My impulse buy

None
I wanted to pick up a copy of "Amazing Spider-Man" #570 Monkey variant because it's a cool cover — I've been doing this a lot lately — but getting new glasses and a heavy pick-up list next week, I figure I could live without it.

What I'm planning on picking up next week

Deadpool #1
The wise-cracking, fourth-wall breaking mercenary returns in his all-new book! Any character that talks to the yellow narration box is awesome.
NYX: No Way Home #2
This is a gritty tale about homeless mutants trying to get by on the streets of New York.
Secret Invasion #6
Brian Michael Bendis keeps drawing my interest as to what happens next.
Ultimate Origins #4
How are Hulk, Wolverine, Nick Fury and Captain America connected? I want to knwo.
I Kill Giants #2
Barbara Thorson's a socially awkward fifth grader who retreats to her fantasy world. It's like a slightly more serious toned "Calvin and Hobbes."

What I may pick up, but can't decide

Secret Invasion: X-Men #2
The first issue was pretty good, but I can't decide if it warrants me getting this one or not. X-Men versus Skrulls, I can't decide.

Farewell, Bill Melendez

Bill Melendez, the animator who brought the "Peanuts" characters to the small screen, died Sept. 1. He was 91.

Growing up, few things mattered more to me than "Peanuts." Look inside my closet and the top shelf's adorned with stuffed Snoopies and Woodstocks from my childhood. I remember watching the cartoons and movies countless times in my basement.

I tried to think of a fitting tribute and the only thing I could think of is a scene from "Snoopy Come Home." It's when Snoopy is set to leave Charlie Brown to return to his old owner and the gang throws him a going-away party. It's a sad scene, but hilarious at the same time. But the song Charlie Brown sings at the end hits it right on.

Thank you, Bill.

Mother ****** and Grimm

Just saw this on angryasianman's blog. Apparently in the Aug. 17 strip of "Mother Goose and Grimm," cartoonist Mike Peters makes a lame joke about Koreans eating dogs.

Yeah, the Ill-matic Kim Jong's a scourge of the earth, but there are better jokes that can be made than ones that target his ethnicity.

Phun with Photoshop: Obama in Pajamas

I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. I kept singing "Obama in pajamas" throughout the DNC, so I had to throw this together.

And for those of you who don't get the "Bananas in Pajamas" reference, this is the 90s TV show where I got it from:

My readlng list for the week of Aug. 27

I've seen many a' comic book blogger do this with their weekly pick-ups. So here's what I picked up off the racks this week (and you'll quickly notice that I'm a big Marvel fan):

My usual

Kick-Ass #4
Review: 3-1/2 out of four stars
Writer Mark Millar continues to do stellar work with his story about Dave Lizewski, a kid who decides to become a superhero one day. In this issue, he discovers that he's no the only masked vigilante out there as he meets the ultra-violent 10-year-old Hit-Girl and her father, Big Daddy. It's gritty, violent, but oh so fun to read.

New Avengers #44
Review: 2-1/2 out of four stars
This issue of the New Avengers features none of the New Avengers. Instead, it follows the story of how the Skrulls overcame Mr. Fantastic's uber intelligence in order to infiltrate Earth and begin their invasion plans. It was an OK read, nothing special. To be honest, I'm waiting for the end of the "Secret Invasion" story arc. It started off strong, but it's been running slow over the past few months. Heroes are going to die and rumor has it that the two Avengers teams will change. I want to see that, not this "how did it happen" style of storytelling.

Ultimate Spider-Man #125
Review: 2-1/2 out of four
"USM" is one of the best reads out there. The current storyline brings back Ultimate Venom, but carries an interesting twist at the end that's hinted on the cover. Bendis gives us a fun revelation, but it doesn't come until the end. That said, this book will be a must-have for the next few months.

Wolverine #68
Review: 3 out of four
Old Man Logan and a blind Hawkeye are now in the remnants of Las Vegas where Hawkeye's and Spider-Man's daughter's love-child is imprisoned by the new Kingpin. Just like in "Kick-Ass," Mark Millar makes sure there's plenty of violence in this book.

My impulse buy

I Kill Giants #1
Yeah, I know it came out a few months ago, but I didn't hear about it until now. Writer Joe Kelly leads the reader on a story about a fifth grader named Barbara Thorson. She's a bit of an outcast who lives in her own fantasy world, proclaiming to others that she kills giants for a living. It reminds me a lot of "Calvin and Hobbes" with Thorson's over-active imagination. Although she could be see another world that no one else can. Kelly hasn't explored this yet, but it's only issue one. We'll find out more soon.

What I'm planning on picking up next week

Marvel Apes #1
Monkeys in superhero outfits. 'Nuff said.
Savage Dragon #137
The Savage Dragon endorses Barack Obama for president on the cover. That's freakin' awesome! Now if Daredevil endorses John McCain, I'll be set.

What I may pick up, but can't decide

Amazing Spider-Man #170
It's Spider-Man — as a monkey — fighting a Venom as a gorilla! I didn't pick up Daredevil last week, I have to pick this one up this week. Plus, our friendly neighborhood web slinger is rumbling with the Anti-Venom inside. And artist John Romita Jr. is back on the book.

Dynasty-flavored ice cream

When I think of sports dynasties, I think of the Celtics of 50s and 60s, the Edmonton Oilers of the 80s, the Bulls of the 90s, and more recently, the Patriots of the 2000s.

And in the world of competitive eating, no name is more recognized than Takeru Kobayashi and his six-year reign as Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating champion from 2001-06.

But he can move aside because Colorado is home to its own eating dynasty.

Over the past four years, the Taste of Colorado ice-cream-eating title has resided in my family. My nephew Dom was part of the 2005 winning team, my nephew John and me took the crown in 2006 with some random guy and his 7-year-old son who both suffered brain freezes 20 seconds in. In 2007, the three of us with my nephew Nick took the crown.

We came back this year ready to defend the crown as a family this year, but the competition changed to an individual format after an unfortunate incident last year — someone on another team suffered a bloody nose slamming into their frozen treat.

Our dream team was broken up and the competition was now for personal bragging rights. We knew that one of us was going to win — It wasn’t a question of if, it was a question of who.

One of the organizers said that someone finished a pint in the prelims with a time of 56 seconds. We figured that we’d go sub-50.

When the judge said go, Dom attacked the pint, taking half down with his first four bites. I used my consistant method, working on getting faster, smaller bites than bigger ones.

Dom broke off to a big lead like a front-running thoroughbred. But I made a strong push in the latter half like Michael Phelps on Michael Cavic in the 100 m butterfly.

Alas, my push was too little, too late. Dom finished his pint of cookie dough in 45 seconds, while I took down my mint brownie in 48.

No one else came close.

While I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t win, I’m happy that my family has established itself as Colorado’s kings of ice-cream eating.

C’mon Kobayashi, you’re next.