text:
Mortgage settlement is a godsend
It's a breakthrough that will speed up short sales of housing, reduce inventory and lift home prices.
Most efforts to solve the housing glut have led to naught, largely because the banks and state and federal governments have been have so antagonistic to each other.
That's why this $25 billion settlement between the federal and state governments and five big banks and mortgage services, over the outrageous foreclosure procedures these institutions used during this period, is so important to the progress that's so needed for this incredibly important issue, the one that precipitated the U.S. downturn and remains at the epicenter of the tepid pace of the recovery.
What exactly will it do?
On the surface, it will provide aid from Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), JPMorgan (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC) and Ally Financial to states and to beleaguered homeowners for principal forgiveness and forbearance and refinancing.
What it will actually do is put cold, hard settlement money into millions of homeowners' pockets and reduce payments in many cases.
It will accelerate foreclosures to clean out inventory and speed up short sales to get past the big logjam for underwater home sales.
Related Articles:
- Big mortgage settlement is thin on details
- Cramer: Sell side still out of sync
- Buffet, like BlackRock's Fink, touts virtues of stocks
And it will give the banks, like it or not, a real break in what had become a gigantic expense: legal fees. These have actually hurt the bottom line for years now.
I don't know if you have tried to buy property during this period, as I have. Here's what you have faced. Banks have demanded a huge down payment, even as you might obviously be able to afford the property. Banks have been unwilling to give you a refinance at these low rates that Fed Chief Ben Bernanke has made possible, unless you put down colossal amounts of money that most people don't have. And banks have been the big obstacle to buying short-sale property.
I know this. I have tried and given up buying short-sale property because of the banks' intransigence. I had to pay down a gigantic amount of money to refinance after going through dozens of banks to let me do so. I am in the process of buying property, and I know that I might as well buy it with cash.
I don't like to play the 1% card, but if I am having a problem with these issues, then everyone is having problems, and I can tell you that this settlement is a godsend.
Is it a reason to buy the bank stocks? You know, I have been a huge fan of Wells Fargo, and I have to tell you the answer is yes, absolutely, even as the bank stocks failed to react to the deal. I think banks will be able to free up a lot of a capital to do more to help homeowners, and I think you are going to begin to see a real dent in the inventory overhang and, yes, the beginning of a sustained rise in home prices.
We have all become too jaded about any government initiative to solve this brutal problem. This one is big. Recognize it. Take it as a sign that we are now over the hump of the housing issue, and be prepared to hear about much better numbers going forward.
Me? After giving up in 2011, I am going to search for short-sale opportunities to buy. I bet there some real bargains. With these low interest rates, I want them.
Jim Cramer is a co-founder of TheStreet and contributes daily market commentary to the financial news network's sites.
Action Alerts PLUS, which Cramer co-manages as a charitable trust, has no positions in the stocks mentioned.
|Jim CramerTheStreetcom
Copyright © 2014 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Morningstar Inc. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Morningstar Inc. Quotes delayed by up to 15 minutes, except where indicated otherwise. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by Morningstar Inc.
Stocks drift lower and bonds are hit as investors await the Fed. Prepare for higher volatility this week.
Top Stocks provides analysis about the most noteworthy stocks in the market each day, combining some of the best content from around the MSN Money site and the rest of the Web.
Contributors include professional investors and journalists affiliated with MSN Money.
Follow us on Twitter @topstocksmsn.


text:
Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance > The Savior of the Damned
The Ruins are Coming!7 Reviews
Prepare for war!
Today we have to save ourselves.
We have to save ourselves from losing on what we pride ourselves on choosing.
It's all that's left that we can depend on,
But it gets too hard to have an opinion
on the loyalties unspoken and the thoughts that can't be broken.
Maniac (R.O.D) - Four Year Strong
Alyssa immediately plastered an expression of terror on her face as she pointed at me with one shaky finger and cried out, "Hurry Gerard! He's trying to steal the Stone!"
I shook my head, amazed at how far she was willing to go to get the Stone.
"Alyssa, cut the crap. I heard you. I don't know what's happened to you... what the Ruins have done to you. We're going to take you up to see the others, so we can discuss what we'll do about this," he said, a bit sadly.
Alyssa groaned loudly at the ceiling. "Here we go again, good old Gerard always doing the right thing."
Gerard grabbed her arm, and started pulling her towards the entrance. "Lets go, Frank."
I followed them both without saying a word. Alyssa spit angry words at Gerard the whole way, but he, too, remained in silence, still holding her arm. Gerard told me to go first, since I was the only one that knew the way out.
At one point, Gerard asked, "How did you find it, Frank?"
His question caught me off guard. "Find what?"
"The Stone. How did you find it without running into any dead ends or anything?"
"I... I'd been there before."
He stopped in his tracks, and I imitated him. "When?"
Alyssa was laughing madly. Trying to concentrate on Gerard I said, "I think it was two or three days after you brought me down here for the first time. Alyssa showed me this place in a dream. But even so, I don't know how I managed to find it after having only been there once before..." I felt like I had done something wrong and Gerard was my father, about to punish me.
He frowned."Why would she do that?" he said, more to himself than to anyone else.
"You... you didn't know where it was?"
He shook his head. "I followed you. Just like Alyssa." Said person was smiling wickedly. "I can turn invisible, remember?" he continued.
I felt like an idiot. I had led Alyssa to the Stone by accident, and almost ended up in a huge mess. If it weren't for Gerard, I don't know what I would've done. Alyssa would've tried to blackmail me if he hadn't shown up and seen the truth for himself.
The both of us continued forward in silence, while Alyssa jerked around, trying to escape Gerard's firm grasp. We made it outside where we found Ray and Kat chatting about something at the table. There faces adopted an expression of total confusion seeing how crazy Alyssa had really gone.
Kat got up from her chair and walked over to us cautiously. "What the hell is wrong with her?"she asked Gerard, as Alyssa went from laughing crazily to yelling and bitching about.
"Little pretty kitty cat," Alyssa sing-songed at her. Suddenly, turning angry, she yelled,"Fucking whore! Thinks she's hot stuff when she's really just a slut!"
Kat's mouth dropped open. "Excuse me? What the fuck do you-"
"Don't, Kat. She's gone insane. She's not who she used to be. She's been hiding it since she's been back," Gerard explained, while Alyssa made faces at him.
Kat's expression softened. "What can we do to make her better?"
Ray got up and stood next to Gerard and Kat, as they all began discussing what they would do. I saw Gerard let go of Alyssa, and how she looked at Kat insanely.
Just as Istarted to say "Gerard, you should hold on to Alyssa...", Alyssa poked Kat in the side, making her scream out; she was extremely ticklish. As a result of her scream, more than 20 Kats shot out of her. Madness began once again. The copy Kats began running around, yelling, fighting with each other, while the real Kat fell to the floor from the overuse of her power.
"Where's Alyssa?" Gerard asked me desperately.
I looked around, alarmed. She was gone. I shook my head and hunched up my shoulders, looking around for her, just as I saw a tiny fly zoom away from us. "She's turned into a fly!"
Gerard and Ray could barely hear me over the shouts and cries of the Kats. Ray began shouting at Kat to control her clones, to which she cried out, "You think I'm not fucking trying?" She covered her ears and closed her eyes, still on the floor, as she tried to concentrate on making the other Kats go back in her. Gerard asked, "Where the fuck are Bob and Alyssa?" to which nobody answered. I looked back around the ceiling and found no trace of the fly; she was long gone. I ran down the lane, avoiding the Kats while trying to search for Alyssa. Still, no sign of her. Frustrated, I ran back to the others.
Out of breath, I said, "I don't see her, but she can't escape. She can't go out the tunnel being a fly, and she can't open the door, right? Well, she could, if she turned human again, she knows how to open it..."
"If she's really gone evil, even if it is through madness, she won't be able to open the tunnel door; it automatically blocks all access to people with evil souls or none at all," Ray explained right before running into the building to find the others.
"There are other ways for her to escape though..."
Gerard stood up from where he was crouched next to Kat. He sighed. "There are other tunnels that lead to the battlefields, and at the other end of those battlefields is the Ruin world."
"Battlefields... underground?"
"Of course, you don't expect us to have wars in the middle of the street where anyone could see us or get hurt, do you? Besides, they're not really battlefields; more like gigantic caves. It's just what we use them for."
"Then... you know where the Ruin world is."
"Not exactly. We've really never been over there, just as they haven't been over here. No one ever wins any battles. We just try to hold the others off, and they do the same. But this time... it's different. We'll have to end it for once and for all."
I stared at him intensely. "Kill them all?"
Gerard nodded.
"But it's not really they're fault, is it? I mean, they were turned into Ruins. The real bad guy here is that Mauritius, right?"
Gerard said sadly, "They're evil now. It's impossible to convert them back to humans unless you know which Ruin stole their soul; even then its really difficult... after all the things they've done..."
I remembered the time he had told me about his terrible burden; how he had to walk the streets at night searching for people he thought had strong souls, and bring them to the Underworld. I remembered the look on his face; his eyes were shiny, his lip hung slightly. It was obvious he hated it, but more importantly, it saddened him greatly. Lives depended upon his decision to take them to the Underground or not, and then hope they developed powers as they all hoped. The look on his face now was similar; he looked miserable with what he knew he had to do, for the good of the rest of the world.
I took his hand in mine, while brushing the hair from his face with the other. I wanted to say something to make it better, but was at a loss for words. I whispered the only thing I could think of, "I'm sorry, baby." I was sorry for leading Alyssa to the Stone, for letting her escape, for telling him our relationship had to end, but also for the weight he had to carry on his shoulders every day, for the role of leader he was forcefully given, for the way he had to live. He shook his head and forced a small smile for me.
A scream from one of the Kats reminded us we weren't alone. Giving my hand a quick squeeze, Gerard let go and went over to the real Kat. "Try and concentrate Kat; make them go inside you."
"I can't Gerard, I just can't..." She looked terribly upset.
In that moment, Ray appeared in the doorway followed by Aileen and Bob.
"Kat, will you please make your fucking clones go back inside you already!" Ray yelled, exasperated.
Putting a hand on her shoulder while looking at Ray, I said, "Don't be so hard on her, man, she's doing the best she can."
"It's not good enough, Frank! Alyssa ran away because of her poor control over her power!"
"Don't fucking yell at her," Bob growled.
"I'll yell at whoever the fuck I want!" Ray stormed, glaring at Bob, who took a few menacing steps towards him.
"Knock it off!"Gerard yelled, making them stop in their tracks, although they continued to glare at each other.
Suddenly, Mikey ran out the door towards us. He had a desperate expression on his face. "Guys!The Ruins are going to attack! I just had a vision!"
"When?" Ray asked quickly.
"I don't know. I just saw them attacking and you guys standing around..." He was really nervous.
With a loud /whoooosh/, the clones flew back into Kat, forming a single person again. The force of impact made her fall backwards; it's a good think she was already on the floor. Bob and Ray picked up arguing again, while Aileen knelt to see how Kat was.
Gerard demanded, "What were we doing in the vision?
Mikey looked lost. "I don't know... they're going to attack..."
"Mike! Tell me what we were doing!" he said, grabbing Mikey by the shoulders.
He hesitated, and then closed his eyes, trying to picture the vision in his mind. "You and Frank..."
I looked at him alarmed at what he might have seen.
"Frank takes your hand and says, 'I'm sorry, baby'... the attack happens right after that." He looked at me with a disapproving expression. I felt guilty and looked at the floor.
Gerard's eyes were wide open. "That just happened. They're coming now."
Aileen heard him and asked, "But why would they attack us now? What were they waiting for?"
Without hesitating, Gerard stated bluntly, "They were waiting for the moment when we were most vulnerable; when we weren't united."
As my scanned around at everyone present, I knew he was right. Bob and Ray shot angry glances at each other, Kats expression was hurt and fragile, Aileen looked alone in the middle of us all, Mikey continued to look at me disapprovingly, while Gerard inched away from him, and me and Gerard had a sort of tension between us. We weren't united at all. We were all outside together yet really alone. We were an easy target, and we had made ourselves this way. Each one with their own thoughts and worries, while we missed the big picture; the Ruins were coming.
The Ruins are coming! Reminds me of Mulan, where someone yells "The Huns are coming!!"
This chapter is short, compared to the others, but I had to cut it off here. Next chapter will be Hell on Earth... literally. Oh and just so you all know, if someone dies in this story it will NOT be Gerard or Frank, okay? So no more panic attacks about that, please ;) It'll be a secondary character...
Everyone that rated or reviewed the last chapter was sent an electronic cookie... if you didn't receive it, it's probably due to the fact that I ate them all before actually shipping them. Muahaha ;)
You know what to do now... and so do I. I'll get the next chapter up ASAP.
Love you all< 33333

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Faculty of Information Technology
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.
|Faculty of Information Technology
|Caulfield First semester 2014 (Day)
This unit exposes students to a variety of industry standard games engine environments and development techniques. Students will develop an appreciation and basic working knowledge of a number of different platforms used in contemporary games development. The unit aims to provide students with a practical insight into contemporary, industry standard, games development process and games engines.
At the completion of this unit students will be able to:
In-semester assessment: 100%
Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:
(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:
(b.) Additional requirements (all students):


text:
Enamored with 1920s typography. Pictured: One of the 5,000 maps we have in our Archives, covering the years 1639 to the present.
18 January 2013
Reblogged from
14 January 2013
Reblogged from
The public library was a vital part of my childhood. Each weekend, it was the temple I attended.
— Author Diana M. Raab shares her memories of libraries, including those of Queens Library at Fresh Meadows (via queenslibrary)
9 January 2013
Reblogged from
…in the new realities of today's knowledge economy…it is difficult to achieve economic success or enjoy a decent quality of life without a range of basic literacy, language and technological skills. A distressingly large segment of the city's population lacks these basic building blocks, but the public library has stepped in, becoming the second chance human capital institution. No other institution, public or private, does a better job of reaching people who have been left behind in today's economy, have failed to reach their potential in the city's public school system or who simply need help navigating an increasingly complex world.
— Center for an Urban Future, "Branches of Opportunity" (via queenslibrary)
8 January 2013
Reblogged from
The contemporary library is about more than just digitizing documents and lending e-books to patrons on their Kindles and iPads.
WNYC (via queenslibrary)
Well yes.
26 November 2012
Reblogged from
After Storm Destruction, Rockaway Libraries Help Keep Community Afloat
It was the little things, the sudden absence of everyday fixtures, that disoriented residents in the Rockaways in the days after the storm, as much as the loss of house and home. The traffic lights had gone dark. Where was one to get a prescription filled? And oh, what about books due at the library?
The Rockaways still look like ghost towns. But the community libraries are there — if only in the form of a bus, parked in front of the gutted, muddy Peninsula branch. Days after the storm laid waste to four Queens Borough Public Library branches in the Rockaways, a colorful mobile library bus has hummed just outside its former location on Rockaway Beach Boulevard, offering warmth, power outlets, emergency information and books.
» via The New York Times (Subscription may be required for some content)
6 November 2012
Reblogged from
Happy Election Day!
(Photo from the Archives at Queens Library)
Remember to vote today!
Don't know where your polling place is? Find out.
Feel like your vote is being suppressed? Report it to Mother Jones or call the FBI's hotline at 1-800-253-3931.
Just a reminder to New Yorkers: because of the hurricane, you can vote at any polling place in New York state. If you are a resident of New York City or Westchester, Long Island or Rockland County, you can vote anywhere in the state of New York.
15 March 2012
Reblogged from
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg presented a $68.7 billion preliminary FY12-13 budget on February 2 that, as usual, proposes Draconian cuts for the city's three library systems.
Bloomberg's budget has almost no chance of passing through the City Council without significant adjustments, but it proposes a total cut of $96.4 million:
• Queens Borough Public Library, cut $26.7 million;
• Brooklyn Public Library, cut $26.9 million;
• New York Public Library, cut $36.0 million;
• NYPL's four research libraries, cut $6.8 million.
— From LJ, "Bloomberg Proposes Cutting NYC Library Funding by Nearly $100 Million."
The surge in immigrants patronizing the Queens system has spurred its branches to offer books, DVDs and CDs in 59 languages, more than double the total a decade ago. So important has acquiring foreign-language books become to the Queens Library's mission that Radames Suarez, who supervises the Spanish collection, travels every year to the largest Spanish book fair in the world, in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Queens Library even has a staff demographer.
30 November 2011
Reblogged from
Sister Souljah fans will not want to miss this free opportunity to meet the famous author at Queens Library this Saturday!
You in Queens this weekend? Get yourself to the library.


text:
Head coach Larry Drew kept saying that the Hawks would have to win by playing defense, rather than endeavoring to simply outscore opponents. The man couldn't be more correct, and it looks like the Hawks listened to him when it counted, pulling another victory from the jaws of a potential defeat for their fifth straight victory. A win is a win, but there is always more to take from it than that. How a team wins is important, too. Being tired in a back-to-back game when you've just come off the road, your leading scorer struggling from the field, not having the services of two of your main rotation guys – all of these things are obstacles. Figuring ways to get over those obstacles and winning the game serves as a confidence builder, but this is also one of those moments when a team truly gains some positive chemistry.
The Hawks experienced both against Detroit.
The First Signs
No doubt many of us raised our eyebrows at the idea of Josh Smith being a team captain. Why not? His has been a legacy of brilliant plays one second, bone-headed the next. Whining to the refs after nearly every call that didn't go the way he thought it should. Going for the big play on either end of the floor. Not playing within the flow of the game. Then last season, Josh began to show some real maturity. Still, many thought this was an unprecedented move by Larry Drew.
Tonight was the first true signs of Josh becoming the leader Drew thought he might be. On a night when his team looked sluggish on defense and on the glass, Smith never gave up. He never got overly frustrated, and he never got out of the flow of the game. Yeah, we all clown him about those jumpers. Some of us have always thought he needed to develop a perimeter game of some credibility, but we didn't want him to try and make a living off of it. I don't know about you, but those darn jumpers looked awful good last night. If he can hit a couple of those every game, what's to complain about? The best part was the fact that he mixed it up really well, taking advantage of a Pistons front line that had no real chance at stopping him, and then bravely stepping up to that daunting free throw line. Could it have possibly gone better?
Even though Josh ended up being the go to man on offense, his impact was felt moreso on the defensive end. It wasn't just the blocked shots. It wasn't just the challenge to nearly every shot in the paint. It was the man defense. It was picking up the ball handler at the half court line and never giving an uncontested inch of hardwood. It was the relentless effort, the fight for the rebound, and the exhortation of his teammates that got Atlanta back on track. He blocked, they contested shots. He challenged passing lanes, they got their hands on the ball. He led. They followed. The Hawks ended up making the extra effort and doing the things that they didn't do in the first half, or early in the third quarter. It wasn't Josh trying to take over on his own. It was Josh trying to rally the troops, and succeeding.
One game does not make a guy a team leader. But this one game showed the first real signs of leadership in Josh Smith. He's on the path. If he can stay on it, great things are coming. How about that appeal to us fans during the post game interview?
Youngsters and Wing Mates
Marvin Williams' stats for the game may not be very impressive, but the box score won't tell you the story if you didn't see the game. Marvin's rebounding is key for the success of this Hawks front line, which is maligned for its lack of size, but lauded for its athleticism. It wasn't just Marvin's 8 rebounds that made a difference. It was his willingness to use his leaping ability and impressive wingspan to go after rebounds that helped the Hawks even up the fight on the glass. Marvin's game looks the smoothest it has since he's been in the league, and if he can remain aggressive, it will bode well for the Hawks in every game. Meanwhile, Marvin's defense has been a good bit more consistent than it was last season. Again, in a frontcourt like this, Marvin's contribution is vital.
Al Horford shouldn't be sneaking up on anybody after making the all-star team last season. How did he get 18 points? I swear he didn't hit that many shots, but a quick rewind shows it all, including a crucial 6 points scored in the final 6 minutes or so. After contributing to a lopsided and losing rebounding battle with the Pistons, Al made some key grabs as the game got tight, and helped the Hawks to a win with his solid post defense, despite some impending foul trouble. 18 and 8 isn't 20 and 10, but it's darn close.
With Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson struggling to get much done, and Jamal Crawford out, it was time to see what Jeff Teague and Jordan Crawford could do. Both guys deserve some serious credit for manning up to the challenge. Despite facing the taller McGrady and the always deadly Gordon, Teague kept at it and showed some very active hands on defense. Better yet, he showed some of his "hidden" aggression on offense, pressing the attack on most opportunities. Jordan Crawford got beat on a couple screens, but he clearly wasn't afraid to defend anyone, and both guys made some pretty good passes. Not bad at all, if you ask me.
Going Unnoticed
It's hard to watch Joe Johnson struggle the way he has in the last two games, but it happens to the best players in the world. To Joe's credit, he never let it get him down, and never really pressed his game too much. Best of all, Joe kept making plays for his teammates, racking up 8 assists with some very timely passes. It was nice to watch him get that "And 1″ towards the end, and I'm sure even he had to laugh when he threw up that none-too-serious three pointer to beat the shot clock in a game that had already been decided. Swish…
Zaza Pachulia's offensive efficiency continues to fly under the radar. The Hawks' backup center piled in 12 points, only missing one of seven shots, and that proved to be a major boost off the bench. What's not to like about a guy who gets the job done with opportunistic scoring?
So….Can the Hawks make it six in a row in Minnesota?
November 4th, 2010
3:52 am
first? GO HAWKS!
November 4th, 2010
3:54 am
FIRST! Just like the Hawks in the East!
November 4th, 2010
3:56 am
Just win baby. I hope the Hawks continue to play hard & Josh continues to lead. If they take every game seriously I can still, somehow & some way, see them in the top 4 teams in the East.
November 4th, 2010
3:57 am
and i feel a 6-0 start
November 4th, 2010
4:14 am
They better win all they can now because They will be back to Square 1 after Monday when Dwightmare get a hold of them
November 4th, 2010
7:03 am
We go 6-0 in MIN, despite all the early-season injuries. If MIN has M. Beasley @ SF, this thing might be a tough out.
November 4th, 2010
7:42 am
Big Ray, Excellent commentary on Josh…and really great stuff!!
Yeah, I think we go 6 AND 0.
November 4th, 2010
7:49 am
I think Joe is tired. With Mo Evans out, Joe has played minutes at SG and SF. And with Jamal out last night, he was forced to play even more minutes.
Hawks were virtually injury free last year, but so far the injury bug is starting to appear. I hope they can weather the storm.
Ray, .
LD never told Josh not to shoot jump shots. He wants him to establish himself inside first, and then go from there. I've been crtitical of Josh and his jumpers, but I must say, he looked better last night.
Great game overall for Josh, and everybody contributed.
I'm happy the Hawks won, but I'm still keeping it in context until they play some good teams.
The Hawks are 5-0 this season, which is great, but except for Memphis, we havent been dominating, and the teams they have beat (Memphis, Philly, Washington, Cleveland and Detroit) are a combined 5-17 .
These are games we might have lost last year, so it was nice to see us pull it out. I hope we get all our guys back before Sunday's Phoenix game, and definitely before Orlando's game.
November 4th, 2010
7:51 am
Really noticed Josh and Al taking over the game. Josh rebounds, outlets to Al past mid court, dunk. Next pleay, Josh draws help defense, Al is by himself, Josh gets him the ball, six foot off the backboard. Josh had four assists and Al eight points in a very short stretch to start the closing run. Well done. Yes, I am the one who yells "move!" when the team falls to last years offense, and screams "no!" when Josh lines up at the three. I would like to see this team play some better teams to measure how they really are.
November 4th, 2010
8:01 am
Not to worry, Ga Blue, better teams are on the horizon.
Sorry Marvin hurt his knee, but injuries happen. Hope they don't rush him back and use the bench to weather this road game. JS, Horf, and Zaza playing together more minutes with Collins picking up minutes from the bench. Time to go deeper on the bench and let Marvin heal while not overworking JJ at the 3. If they have to eat a loss, better that than overworking JJ at the 3. We can spare 4's to fill in Josh's minutes; we can't spare JJ if he gets hurt overplaying 3 minutes…..
November 4th, 2010
8:17 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tar Heel Monthly, Michael Cunningham. Michael Cunningham said: AJC's fan blog: Josh Smith steps up…and leads http://bit.ly/96qlpz [...]
November 4th, 2010
8:36 am
The difference between Josh's jumpers this year vs. prior years is that now they are coming in the flow of the offense. If the ball rotates to him and he is unguarded at 18 ft, he needs to shoot it, in order to keep the defense honest. No problem with that, it's part of the the new offense. Much different than when he would get the ball behind the arc, wait 2 seconds and then launch a no-rhythm trey.
November 4th, 2010
8:55 am
This was a nice article by Big Ray.
My only problem I have with some people is they make it seem like these 5 teams we've played are just push overs. Their not the Bulls, Celtics, Lakers, Magic, Heat, or Portland, but their not Indiana or Minnesota. These 5 teams we've played some could sneak into the playoffs this year just maybe.
So all in all I give the hawks credit where credit is due cause I could easily have been one of the people that said "This team sucks…..they can't beat Boston if they can't beat Cleveland".
Something I didn't know we have like 5 rookies on the team go figure I knew of JC2 and Pape Sy, but there are 3 others.
November 4th, 2010
8:59 am
dude hit solid jumpers last night, I was so shocked to see him play that way, the one play that stood out was when he recieved the ball on the wing fake the shot to draw the defender and then went to the hole strong, he showed me some great b-ball IQ on that play, if he can hit enough jumpers to make defenders have to put a hand in his face it will open his game up as it did last night.
November 4th, 2010
9:09 am
Josh did a great job last night. 2 blocks, but he probably changed 10+ shots at the rim. LAY-UP + FEAR = MISS.. Other than Gordon and Charlie V, no one was confident about their trips to the rim.
But he has to take baby steps with the jump shooting. Once last night, and once in the game against Cleveland, I saw Smoove attempt a fadeaway jumper.
Babysteps Josh. Nuff said.
I see Joe growing as well. Recognizing that you're off and getting everyone else involved is an excellent leadership attribute. His low-scoring, high assists games won't bother me if he's making everyone else more effective.
This 3 guard line-up that we may have to use against Minnesota would've sucked if Beasley was still healthy.
November 4th, 2010
9:49 am
Good stuff Big Ray. Very classy move to write this blog…
November 4th, 2010
9:52 am
What is the extent of Marvin's injury?
November 4th, 2010
10:20 am
This is either bizarre or just plain sad. I tend to think these people were con artists rather than actual ticket reps, but either way…just read it:
November 4th, 2010
10:32 am
I truly don't understand why Josh seemingly can't be criticized. He is obviously capable of having a bad game (or two), just like every other NBA player. Given that he has never achieved elite status (All-NBA, All-Star, etc) there clearly are times when his performance doesn't meet his potential. Yet, when he is criticized, it is almost considered criminal. Josh plays VERY well at home.. you could win a lot of money by betting that a poor road game will be followed by a GREAT home game. It's his pattern. The Hawks have played a lot of road games so far and Josh has mostly gotten off to a disapppointing start to the season. he entered last night's game averaging as many points as Marvin with a lesser shooting percentage. As we play more home games, he will likely have more of these stat-filling games. It's the pattern.
Yes, he is a terrific shot-blocker. And that is consistent. But since when does one great skill make up for the mistakes elsewhere? It doesn't work that way for any other Hawk… Bibby's ability to run the offense doesn't compensate for his physicaly inability to defend. It's like demanding more of someone is a bad thing. That makes no sense to me… accepting less shows more apathy than love.
November 4th, 2010
10:43 am
don't worry Astro Joe…Josh Smith will be on the All Star team this year
November 4th, 2010
11:12 am
@ Astro Joe
I don't know what you've seen these past five games, but I see promise in Josh Smith and Marvin Williams. Just because a player doesn't go off and shoot 22-30 pts per game, grab up 12 boards, and block 7 shots per night. That just doesn't equate to him having a disappointing start to the season.
Example the Cleveland game he had only 6 points on 3-11 shooting, but yet grabbed 11 boards that game with 5 blocked shots, and with 2 steals. That's not disappointing to me.
Actually looking at his stats it seems he played better on the road this year then at home. Even though they've been on the road 1 game more I'll give you that.
November 4th, 2010
11:19 am
Ray, when I compare historical performances to the start of the season… and several categories are down, that translates into a "dsiappointing start". It doesn;t mean that dude suddenly sucks and will play the next 75 games that way, but if any other Hawk can be called out for a bad game or three, I don't get why any one guy would be the exception. Current results don't guarantee future performance… but if Joe is shooting <40% over 4-5 games… and someone calls him a bum for those 4-5 games, then so be it. And if Josh averaged 10 points on <40% shooting for 4 games, well…
YoDaddy, I hope so. He needs to have more performances like last night and less like some of the earlier games… and it would help if he impressed fans in other arenas as well. You know, play well on the road.
November 4th, 2010
11:19 am
Did you watch the Cleveland game or just look at the box score? Your whole post was about stats. Josh was shown up something fierce by JJ Hickson during that game. It was one of the worst on-ball defensive performances I've seen out of a Hawk other than Crawford in a long time.
I agree that Josh and Marvin have promise. I don't Astro would disagree with that, either. But his inconsistency and frequent lapses where he becomes a jump shooter and shows little interest in defense unless he has a chance at a block are more than just frustrating. They are downright maddening after 6 years in the NBA (same as Marvin's continued lack of aggressiveness on offense).
November 4th, 2010
11:21 am
"These 5 teams we've played some could sneak into the playoffs this year just maybe. "
Yeah, maybe……. if ALL of the playoff teams from last year suddenly keel over and die, then yeah, maybe………
November 4th, 2010
11:33 am
cool, j smash at his best. can i hope for the marvin the mauler model to return?
i was about to say something negative after the me stuff that MC reported the night before. oh well just josh talking and i am glad i kept my mouth shut. i have long felt he needed to keep working on his outside shot as very few bigs come into the NBA with one and the guys that have them have the capacity to stay longer. i just dont want him to become enamored by it. i like the fact he is fearless to do things and not one to back off from challenges. if he and his coach are on the same page and communicating then i am happy with it. personally i have liked his stroke, just needed touch and confidence. what is he 60% from the three stripe? i know not enough attempts to make it statistically valid.
ugly win is a win.
unfortunately, it does remind me of how this team looked early in the season last year. i hope their is growth instead of stagnation. i like the fact LD lets guys stay in games and learn rather than be made to stew over their mistakes on the bench as they are pulled at the first one. everyone makes them, you got to learn to forget them and play on and not repeat them. cant do that if you are on the bench.
November 4th, 2010
11:43 am
[...] what that landmark really means … The Hawks improved to 5-0 with a win over the Pistons and one fan blogger at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says Josh Smith was a big reason why … Eagles linebacker [...]
November 4th, 2010
11:44 am
nire, sounds like scammers to me.
November 4th, 2010
11:49 am
Ray, the last two seasons, Josh shot around 50% from the field. In his first 4 games of this season, he shot 40%. I don't care if he scores 15 or 25 points, but a team's starting PF needs to be more efficient than 40%, right? So if player A has a 150 game average of 50% shooting and suddenly goes down to 40%, I think the word "disappointing" is fair.
If it is unreasonable to expect more than 10 points/game on 40% shooting from Josh Smith over any 4 game period, then let me know. Heaven knows, those numbers from Marvin (at 40% less salary) wouldn't be tolerated.
November 4th, 2010
12:02 pm
Astro Joe
Josh posted a double double last night. 22 Pts and 11 rebounds….leads the league in blocks
I don't see how it's disappointing….points are down individually across the board and the team hasn't mastered the brand new offense just yet. Plus a 5 game sample is not really much to go off of…if it wasn't Mike Conley would be an all star.
November 4th, 2010
12:16 pm
Excellent Post Big Ray, now what's Marvin's status? Dude was finally finding his niche and #%@#$.
November 4th, 2010
1:24 pm
An interesting stat. Josh is 3-5 (60%) on 3 pointers for the season. Marvin Williams is 1-9 (11%).
So far, Josh is averaging 12.6 points, 9.4 rebs, 4 blocks, and 3.6 assists per game.
Get the scoring up to 15+, keep the other numbers close to where they are, and he becomes an all-star.
November 4th, 2010
1:31 pm
yodaddy, I thought that I clearly stated the first 4 games… which excludes last night. Dude is GREAT at home, no doubt about it. Leading the league is blocks is offset by allowing career highs to Arthur and Hickson (IMO). His coach said "guard your own man"… remember?
November 4th, 2010
1:59 pm
The Hawks could go 98 and 0, and it still wouldn't be enough for the hyper-critical people on the Hawks blog. What are they expected to do? Win every game by 20 points, and look good doing it. Are they never allowed to have a bad game, even if they win it? What can Josh do; 20/20/10//10 every game, without ever taking an outside shot, or showing any emotion? How about Joe, Bibby, Crawford, or Al; are they supposed to be perfect every game, never miss a shot and gather every rebound, convert every assist? Who do you guys think they're playing against, the WNBA players. Those other teams are professionals also, and take pride in their games. It's not going to be easy against any NBA team, and it's not supposed to be. A win is a win is a win any way you get it. Personally I don't care if the hawks shoot 10% fgp if they win the game. It's one thing to harp on peformances in a loss, but to be negative about every aspect of their game, even when they're winning is beyond absurd. Check out the Heat, Majic, Lakers, Boston, or any other team, are any of these teams ever perfect? NO, NOT EVEN FOR ONE GAME, much less 82 games!!!!
November 4th, 2010
2:41 pm
@Astro Joe
How can you conveniently omit a game just to make a point??
Bottom line is that Josh is doing his job and doing it well. Points are down but the wins are up so it's all good. And no matter what happens to his scoring he will always play defense, block shots, grab boards and get steals because that's primarily what he does. He was never a type of player that might light you up for 30 any given night. But allow him to get steals and offensive rebounds and get to dunking the ball he becomes the player that affects the outcome of the game in a hurry.
Don't act like Darrell Arthur and Hickson were only guarded by Smith the entire game. And don't let two games let you think that his man is always out there dominating him. It's not like it was a bunch of layups and dunks…contested fadeaway jumpers that were going in. I'll take it. That happened 1 time and won't consistently happen. NBA players are going to have good nights. JJ Hickson is a good player, Arthur not so much but when you getting blown out somebody has to score.
November 4th, 2010
2:52 pm
o'b look at my post, we are often parallel or at least on the same page.
November 4th, 2010
4:17 pm
@ niremetal Josh may have been shown up by J.J Hickson, but someone had to score during that game.
So what if it was Mo Williams that had 31 or Anderson Varejao had 31. Instead of Hickson what would you say about Josh then because he didn't guard Williams that's Bibby's/Teague's Job.
@ Astro Joe the reason Josh and others have less FG% then last year is because of the new offense it's creating for everyone so Joe doesn't always have to hit 30 pts per game for us to win now.
He can actually chill out and help more on defense just saying.
November 4th, 2010
4:18 pm
Hey Big Ray, we should handle T-Wolves with no problem tonight, But let's see how we play against the next 4 teams. All playoff level, Suns, Magic, Bucks & Jazz. This will give us a better reading on what this current Hawks team is about. Contenders or Pretenders???????
November 4th, 2010
4:21 pm
OK, you all are right. Josh has been fantastic in each and every one of these 5 games. Every bit as good as he was last year. He is clearly building off his success from last season. And the new offense will naturally make field gola percentages lower… since guys are in constant motion, it's harder to make shots.
I have just earned myself a massive lump of coal for the holidays.
November 4th, 2010
4:24 pm
J.J. Hickson is the reason why the Cavs lost last year!!!!! They didn't play him, They went with THE Big Disel. And it cost everybody their Jobs!!!!!!! Bottom line the kid can play, he will score 30 pts on a few NBA players this year. One player can't beat FIVE.
November 4th, 2010
4:48 pm
So what if it was Mo Williams that had 31 or Anderson Varejao had 31. Instead of Hickson what would you say about Josh then because he didn't guard Williams that's Bibby's/Teague's Job.
November 4th, 2010
5:02 pm
nire, you and I need to start battling again. I may disagree, but at least… oh, never mind. Civility to all who cheer for the Hawks… that's my motto.
November 4th, 2010
5:06 pm
"It was one of the worst on-ball defensive performances I've seen out of a Hawk other than Crawford in a long time."
Yeah, since last May vs. the Cavs. A very long time ago. Of course in real terms that was just 12 games ago (7 preseason, 5 this year).
November 4th, 2010
6:05 pm
My apologies to everyone! It just seems that the Hawks players(esp. Josh) are being held up to performance standards that they can't even begin to meet. Kobe doesn't get a triple double every night, neither does Lebron, not even close, although we know they're capable of doing it! So does that mean they're suppose to average that tripIe because they're capable of doing it in a particular game? I know of only one player in NBA history that averaged a triple(2 if you count "The Big Dipper"). I don't recall ever seeing any NBA team, or player for that matter, have a perfect quater either offensively, defensively, or on the boards, much less a half or entire game. If the greats of the game couldn't do it, why would you expect that out of Josh or any other player? The only things we should ask of these players are that they play hard, play smart, and play to win!!
November 4th, 2010
6:12 pm
Hey Dept. of Unintended Irony: We didn't play the Cavs last May.
November 4th, 2010
6:14 pm
Btw, is it just me or is "Dept. of Unintended Irony" making a lot of posts about things that are not, in fact, ironic? How's that for irony
November 4th, 2010
6:53 pm
@ Astro Joe
Hey I'll give you this much you can criticize Josh Smith he's not without his faults, but my only thing is I'd rather ya'll wait for about say 10 more games.
Cause 5 is such a small number. Stat wise last season yes Smith was better then right now, but again only 5 games it doesn't give us much to sample with.
No hard feelings man didn't mean to turn this into a heated debate.
November 4th, 2010
8:37 pm
Ray, no hard feelings taken. It's a blog… if we wait until the proper sample size, we'd have nothing to talk about for a few weeks.
November 4th, 2010
9:00 pm
"Btw, is it just me or is "Dept. of Unintended Irony" making a lot of posts about things that are not, in fact, ironic? How's that for irony "
Glad that SOMEBODY got it.
November 4th, 2010
9:51 pm
Thibodeau's vaunted defense allowed NY to score 70 points on the first half…


text:
San Diego – Three companies have filed a patent lawsuit against 20th Century Fox claiming that a hologram of Homer Simpson from The Simpsons used during the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con infringed its patented system that projects 3D images. The plaintiffs in the case are Alki David's Hologram USA, Musion Das Hologram and Uwe Maass. This is not the first time Hologram USA has sued. Previously, Hologram USA targeted a Michael Jackson hologram that was projected at the Billboard Music Awards. Read the rest »
Patent Infringement
Recent Patent Ruling Likely Won't Phase Apple or Samsung
San Diego – The latest round in what has amounted to a legal boxing match between two of the world's leaders in smartphone technology has concluded, though many are speculating that the result will do little to cool the dispute. The ruling by a federal jury in California turned up no clear winner, as it found that Samsung copied two of Apples patents and that Apple, in turn, had infringed one of Samsung's. To further even the score, the jury of four women and four men found that Samsung did not violate two other patents held by Apple. Read the rest »
Ford Infringed Automatic Turn Signal Technology, According to New Lawsuit
Orange County – Execs at Ford Motor Co. are busy fending off the second patent infringement lawsuit they have been faced with this month. This one was filed in the District Court of the United States for the District of Delaware by an American inventor named Richard Ponziani, who claims that Ford willfully infringed on his patent for turn signal technology.
Apple and Samsung are Back at it in Patent Battle
San Diego – The nation's two top mobile device makers will head back to court next month to duke it out yet again. This trial, the third between the big name rivals, will start March 31st and will cover five patents and a total of twenty devices that the companies respectively claim are infringing. The setting is familiar for both companies, as it will take place in the same courthouse and will be heard by the same judge as the last two trials.
Cell Phone Controlled Drone Maker Sues Rival for Patent Infringement
Los Angeles – Drone Technologies, Inc., a Taiwanese company that specializes in the manufacture of remote controlled drone devices is taking Parrot Inc. to court for allegedly infringing on some of its patents. After squabbling back and forth about the alleged infringement since 2012, Drone Technologies has decided to file a formal complaint in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh.
Blackberry Goes After Ryan Seacrest's iPhone Keyboard for Patent Infringement
San Diego – Blackberry Ltd. has filed a federal lawsuit in San Francisco against Typo Products LLC, alleging patent infringement of its smartphone designs. Blackberry's lead counsel announced the filing and said that Typo's product "is a blatant infringement against BlackBerry's iconic keyboard, and we will vigorously protect our intellectual property against any company that attempts to copy our unique design." He did not expand on whether or not his company had attempted to come to an agreement with the Los Angeles-based startup before filing its complaint.
New Patent Battle Marks A New Chapter in Apple vs. Google Lawsuit Saga
Los Angeles – Apple and Google are back in court, this time to argue over whether a judge should reopen a case over patented technology featured in their smartphones. The latest in the blow by blow between the two companies happened last week when Motorola Mobility, Inc., a subsidiary of Google, Inc. filed an appeal that an older case be reopened. The original lawsuit, filed in 2010, quickly snowballed into a tangle with each company claiming that the other had infringed the other's patents by including certain technology in their respective smartphones. Notably, Motorola charged that Apple had infringed one of its most basic essential patents that functions to make the phone power on.
Judge Dismisses Patent Infringement Claims between Rival Diaper Companies Based on Laches
Orange County – The case between two rival diaper companies over patent infringement claims was dismissed by a Kentucky judge on Monday, who ruled that Swedish-based SCA Hygiene Products AB took too long to file claims against First Quality Baby Products LLC. Read the rest »
Major Victory for Tech Firms Against "Plug-In" Patent Infringement Claims
Los Angeles – An appeals court on Monday affirmed a lower court ruling for Google, Inc., Yahoo, Inc., and Amazon.com, Inc. against patent infringement claims brought by Eolas Technologies, Inc.
Activision Takes on Mazda over Patent Infringement
Los Angeles – Car manufacturer Mazda Motor of America, Inc. was hit with a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Delaware on July 9, when Activision TV, Inc. filed a complaint alleging patent infringement.


text:
We really enjoyed the popovers. No changes to the recipe. The recipe only made 6 popovers, but that worked for me since my popover pan only has 6 tins. I did follow the advice given with the CL 2004 popover recipe which was "Using Room Temp Eggs & Milk Will Ensure Popovers will Puff" and "DO NOT OPEN OVEN DOOR DURING BAKING". The popovers were tall and light and delicious. Definitely will make again. Served the popovers with CL Sweet Potatoe & White Bean Soup w/Sage-Walnut Pesto.
Fresh Thyme Popovers
dory92064 Posted: 12/18/08
carolfitz Posted: 12/26/08
1st time making popovers and they were great-tasting and gorgeous. Forgot to pre-heat the cups. Though the recipe makes 8 the pan we bought has only 6 cups, so we had more cheese and batter per cup than called for. Still came out great. Boxing Day supper, served with CL's Herb & Mustard-Crusted Fillet, Brussels Sprouts w/ Pecans, and Asiago & Potato-Bacon Gratin. (edited in Jan '12 to add -- we've since made these several times and they're always perfect, strong recommendation)
judithrus Posted: 12/24/08
I followed the directions for coating the pans with cheese and heating them in the oven. The cheese burned so not sure what I did wrong. I switched to other small muffin tins and preheated the pans without the cheese. I made mini popovers in mini muffin tins and baked them about 30 minutes. Turned out great and everyone loved them with the Beef Tenderloin recipe also from the December 2008 Cooking Light magazine. I will make them again.
almondyankee Posted: 11/27/08
Delicious! My family enjoyed them with our Thanksgiving dinner. They were easy to make...we will definetly be enjoying them again soon!
AustinMam Posted: 12/14/08
Very disappointing. I followed the recipe and even bought a popover pan, but they didn't work out. They were like 'dense' muffins. I'm not sure what happened, but I would try again. Seems like the flavor would have been great!
CathyWahlstrom Posted: 12/26/08
Light and delicious. You do not need to adjust the recipe for high altitude. This will now be a staple recipe in our kitchen.
RenoTX Posted: 03/09/10
Have made these twice now, and they came out very nicely both times. I used muffin tins, and they definitely need less cook time. Like another reviewer, my cheese nearly burned the first time I made these. I think it might be because I was using a dark non-stick pan. The next time, I preheated the tins for 3 mins, and only added the cheese for the last two. Will definitely make these again, they are good enough to serve to guests.
athsrecipes Posted: 03/14/10
The kids loved these. They were light and tasty and great for dunking in gravy. I used non fat milk and a regular muffin pan which I did not preheat. They were done in about 30 minutes.
CookinProgress Posted: 09/28/10
I tried this recipe because I had some extra fresh thyme. I don't have a popover pan, so I used a muffin pan. I also used asiago cheese. While they did "pop," they were bland. I cooked them longer than 40 minutes, because they didn't pop until the very end. I think I'll try a different recipe next time.
cdarlington Posted: 04/24/11
These were awesome. I used fresh oregano and rosemary since that is what I had on hand. I found that I didn't really need the cheese, but the hardest part was getting them out of the pan. After that, they were so tasty.
goodtaste Posted: 01/01/12
These "popped" very nicely, even though I used a muffin tin. The recipe makes 10 if using a muffin pan, bake for 28-30 minutes and they are perfect. My roast had a crust of rosemary and thyme so I put 1 tsp of each in the popovers and added a few grinds of fresh black pepper. This is a good, reliable recipe.


text:
Matt Toka: Hardships, Illustrations and Juggalos
Thanksgiving came and went and the only highlight was oogling one hot guy at the dinner table (no worries, we're not related and I don't have the balls to even approach). Once the turkey was done I headed to five straight days of New Found Glory from San Francisco to LA to Vegas, and everything in between (last time I'll mention it, I swear). My mind had yet to adjust back into my blogging mode and traffic was iffy so I didn't expect to make it back to my hermit reality this week. I was also unsure if I'd make it back in time to talk with Matt Toka, so we settled on an email interview…Well at least half of us did. I ended up getting a call and was not prepared, but thankfully he was cool and we chatted a bit about meth and Insane Clown Posse, which are one in the same though, right?


text:
Student Life >> Browse Articles
Browse Off-Campus Housing Articles
3 Ways to Resolve Your Roommate CrisisRoommate relationships can go a multitude of ways. People end up being the best of friends, they can't stand each other or they just tolerate the other person with no real relationship. Of course everyone wants the first scenario to happen, especially since most people don't know anyone their first week. But, if your roommate situation has been moving the opposite ...Published 23 days ago |
Coping with a Bad RoommateYou've got the roommate everyone dreads – they're dirty, they use your stuff and they're up all hours of the night doing who-knows-what with so-and-so. If they won't leave your stuff alone, eat your food and borrow things without permission you've got different options (some of which are not recommended) of how to deal with the situation. You can deal with ...Published 28 days ago |
Fastweb Roommate Horror StoriesWith the start of the school year approaching, some of you may be meeting your new roommates for the first time in just a few weeks. And while most colleges go through an extensive matching game to find the perfect roommate for you, sometimes they miss the mark. While bad roommates seem torturous at the time, they make for a great ...Published 28 days ago |
Roommate RehabSure, the first couple of days - or even weeks - seemed fine. But, when roommates are involved things can go awry in an instant. Don't get too discouraged, it's difficult to live with anyone and a stranger can be even more of a challenge. There are ways to work out your issues easily and effectively. Use the following tips as ...Published 28 days ago |
Are You the Bad Roommate?A very wise man once said, "If you don't have a weird roommate, you are the weird roommate." Okay, it was Conan O'Brien, not Confucius, but it still might hold truth. After all, nobody's perfect so your normal may be someone else's weird. There are ways to cope with bad roommates – but that's almost easier than realizing that you are ...Published 29 days ago |
College Apartment Packing ChecklistFunny photos? Check. Tailgate sweatshirt? Check. Plunger? Ugh... Yep, it's easy to forget the essentials when there's way more fun stuff to focus on. Here's an apartment packing checklist to help you ensure you've packed all the essentials so that you don't find out you've forgotten them right when you need them most. Bathroom Shower caddy Towels (Bath, face, washcloths) Bathroom ...Published about 1 month ago |
Budget Savvy Back-to-School ShoppingHeading to college is exciting…and expensive! Whether you're going for the first time or returning for a new semester, there are likely items you'll have on your shopping list that quickly add up to one hefty sum. Wise shoppers stretch dollars, so don't overspend on things you don't have to (which is pretty much everything, by the way). How? It's easy ...Published about 1 month ago |
The Pros and Cons of Going GreekYou've heard the good, the bad and the ugly. It's time to explore the idea and form your own opinion. Whether you're in high school thinking contemplating the idea for the future or are entering college this year, it's helpful to hear the positive and negative aspects so that you're able to make an educated decision on whether or not going ...Published 2 months ago |
21 Cool Items All College Students Can UseWe've found all of the stuff a college student could want – at the best prices around! This list includes everything that can be used in both dorm rooms and apartments to keep the roommates at bay and to let you play. After all, what's college if you can't have a little fun in between classes? (Don't worry – there are ...Published 3 months ago |
15 College Dorms with Crazy-Awesome AmenitiesWhy live in a cell-like dorm when you can have the comforts of home? Or, perhaps even, an upgrade from home. Many of these dorms are more luxury resort hotels than typical college residence halls. Some schools have one ultra-fancy dorm (specified), while others have dorms that are so luxurious, we couldn't pick just one. Chances are that students living on ...Published 3 months ago |
A College Student's Complete Guide to Finding & Leasing Off-Campus HousingWhen looking for off-campus housing, there are questions you need to be sure to ask, some things you're going to need to look out for during tours and it's always smart to learn how to become a savvy renter. If you're not sure where to begin - don't worry! Fastweb has you covered with this all-inclusive college housing and apartment guide ...Published 6 months ago |
What to Ask Your Future RoommateThere's so much to cover yet it can be so overwhelming that you have no idea where to begin! May we suggest starting with the essentials and building a roommate relationship from there? Here are ten questions to ask your future roommate to help prepare for the year ahead: 1. What time are you planning on moving in? Is anyone helping ...Published 6 months ago |
The Forgotten College StudentThis year, when you're nestled all snug in your bed, with visions of sugar-plums dance in your head, take a moment to think about the forgotten college student. Not sure who we're talking about? Then keep reading. We've all encountered the homeless, whether it's through volunteering, in passing on the street or in the news. To many, it seems like a ...Published 10 months ago |
Top 10 Colleges with the Most Expensive Room & BoardAt Fastweb, college rankings are a guilty pleasure. Whether it's for fun or for research, it can be interesting to predict which schools made each list and find out which actually made it. Here comes another such list: colleges that charge the most for students' room and board. It likely won't come as a surprise that the majority of the colleges ...Published 11 months ago |
Move Over, Traditional Dorms. Luxury Housing Has Arrived!The days of stark, boring dorm rooms are gone, at least, at some colleges. Who would choose to live in a room resembling a jail cell when there's an option for a room with a view – city style? Enter, Campus Crest Communities, Inc., a company devoted to the creation of fully furnished, luxurious dorm accommodations. The publicly traded company, based ...Published about 1 year ago |
Whose Your Landlord?It's time to take back power from the landlords, once and for all! A rental or lease agreement should be just that – an agreement between two parties, each being held accountable for their actions. Students are often taken advantage of, especially near campuses. There's a new site, Whose Your Landlord, looking to change that dynamic. Similar to "Rate My Professors," ...Published over 1 year ago |
School SupportBeing on your own and away from your family can be nerve-wrecking, especially if you're not feeling well or you've got an issue that needs resolving. Luckily, colleges have you covered with various school services so that, no matter what the situation, you are not alone! Whether your issue is personal, health-related, a financial struggle or social, there's likely somewhere on ...Published over 1 year ago |
The Grass is Greener on the Other Side of the Quad: Living Off-CampusMy friends and I all lived on campus during my first year of college. It was great! I loved having what felt like my own little village of my favorite people. Dinner? Let's meet at the clock tower at 7 p.m.! Who wants pizza at 2 a.m.? Make the call to Papa John's! During my sophomore year, a few people moved ...Published over 5 years ago |
Live With Your Parents After Graduation?If you're thinking about moving back home with your parents after graduation or have already done so, ask yourself this: Do the pros not only outweigh the cons, but substantially so? Nearly half of this year's college grads say yes. In MonsterTRAK's 2007 survey of college students and recent grads, 48 percent of the Class of 2007 said they planned to ...Published over 5 years ago |
The Reality of Renter's InsuranceYour landlord has got you covered if your apartment burns down, right? Wrong. You may not think your stuff is worth a lot, but you may change your mind if you are forced to replace everything. Renter's insurance is an important and inexpensive safeguard against damage to your belongings. Anyone who rents can purchase renter's insurance. Even students who live in ...Published over 6 years ago |


text:
Categories > Celebrities > Fall Out Boy > Welcome to my Life
Chapter 331 Reviews
Sorry for taking my time with this. It's been really hard to deal with, and I'm opening doors I've kept shut for so long, just thinking about opening them makes me break down.
OH! And please check out my new story. It's a new idea I'm playing with, and I'd like your feedback on it. It's called "Like Only FOB Can".
xox Emmi
I looked down at my feet, seeing where I was heading so I wouldn't be a complete klutz and trip over anything, when I noticed that I didn't have feet. No, instead I had paws, was a foot and a half tall; covered in black and white fur, and sitting in a basket while Ryan Ross was dressed in a flowing silver ball gown, wearing two inch stilletto's and his hair curled and placed on the top of his head along with a tiara. And if that wasn't all, he had enough pink make-up on his face to make a gay man scream bloody murder, and when he hitched his dress up to take a couple of steps, I noticed that his legs were waxed. I giggled upon noticing this, when of course, my owner scolds me.
"Toto, be nice to the woman. All she did was ask if you were a witch or not," my owner spoke in a gruff voice. I looked up to them, expecting to see a young man, maybe in his early twenties, in a pair of daggy sweats and an overused hoodie. Instead I was met with a 28 year old man with Spanish heritage, in a white frilly shirt covered by a blue and white pinafore, with little blue bows pinned into his short locks. Gabe Saporta was Dorothy, my owner.
"So is he a good witch, or a bad witch?" The... Ryan was asking.
"Toto is no witch. I mean, witches are supposed to be old and ugly," Gabe replied in an overly high-pitched voice. Ryan giggled at this statement.
"Only bad witches are ugly. The good ones are quite beautiful actually. In fact, I am a witch. My name in Glinda, and I am the good witch of the north." Okay, so the cross-dressing Ryan had a name.
"Well, Miss Good Witch of the North, where are we?" Gabe... sorry, Dorothy asked.
"We are in Munchkin land, home of the Munchkin people."
"But what are muchkins?" I was as confused as Dorothy... not hard, considering I am a dog.
"They are small and friendly, and blue is their favourite color." Okay, what is the point in telling us that little... people I guess, liked the color blue? "Come out little ones."
And then of course, true to the movie/stage play, Ryan Ross as Glinda burst out into a chorus of "Come Out", and dozens upon dozens of little Brendon's came out of various hiding spots around me. If a dog could faint, I would have a thousand times over by now.
The tiny Brendon's started singing, and I couldn't help but bop my doggy head to the beat..........


text:
Archery Basics
Handling the Bow
Draw Stance -
Shooting - Sighting-in
- Keep wrist straight but not
rigid. Hold the bow loosely -
don't clench the bow
- Nock the arrow with the cock feather up-out, away from the bow.
Release the arrow with a steady motion. Finger gloves, tabs, releases or trigger devices may be used. Check regulations to see what is legal in your hunt area
Always use
arm & finger
- Get accustomed to your bow
- Learn to shoot consistently well under different conditions
- Get to know your effective range (20-30 yards max for most skilled archers)


text:
MMRF Endurance Events
Fundraising Center
Fundraising Center
We want to make the fundraising part of your MMRF PowerTeam experience successful and easy. Follow these tips, and you will have lots of donations coming in while you train and get on with the rest of your life! We have a great track record of helping, so be sure to use these tips!
|Fundraising Tips – 16 Weeks to Success
|Maximizing Your Online Donation Page
|Follow these week-by-week steps to reach your fundraising goal.
Learn More
|Learn how to best set up your donation page, plus get sample pages and emails to prospective donors.
Learn More
|Managing Your Finances
|Downloadable Fundraising Materials
|All the important things like what to do with checks and how Matching Gifts work.
Learn More
|Get access to materials that will help you fundraise to the fullest.
Learn More
|Donation Campaigns
|Help and Inspiration for Fundraising
|Donate to a Team Member
Coming Soon
|Looking for ideas?
Coming Soon
National Sponsors:


text:
Queen palms
The Queen palm is a nice tropical plant which can be used in basic groupings as well as to be able to frame landscapes. That is actually a good palm for the purpose of lining roads as well as boulevards. Queen palms may be successful inside downtown environments when taken care of with ample water. Queen palm will be fantastic and also easy to grow plant in containers outside the house.


text:
T's Dual Purpose Decor
House Call
Name: T
Location: Seattle, Washington
With only 600 square feet of space, I have become an expert at dual purpose decor and furniture. My living room is also a workout space, my dining table is also a computer desk, my landing strip is also a central storage hub for shoes, and everything in my place has been designed to serve as a playground to my two energetic cats.
Choosing colors was a huge ordeal for me and after trying out many different combinations, I decided to incorporate all the colors that I like. My style can generally be catagorized as bohemian, eclectic and feminie.
Thanks, T !
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
14 Comments
Your place looks like it might be cute, but I can't really tell. Too many vignettes, and not enough shots of the rooms. :(
Yes, we want a house tour!
Cute entryway with its stylish coat-hangers!
House tour
House Tour, please.
Yes, frustrating-est House Call ever... more photos!!!!
like others, I want to see a full HT on this place!
I do the desk/dining thing as well. In the right space w/ a minimum of clutter, it's a great option for those of us in small spaces who only use a dining table when friends visit.
house tour please
What is with the vignette obsession? They make nice photos, true, but we don't SEE the world in vignettes, really. We see the whole space and then choose what to focus on. Let us see the whole space! Especially with a space so small, we'd love to see how it all works.
That said, I have to ask: THREE computer monitors in a dining room table office space?
What is in between the couch cushion and the arm? Haha.
suzee - I'm not getting the three computer monitors either. Shouldn't one be sufficient?
This is my place :) I'd definitely be willing to do a house tour if they ask! To answer some of the questions:
1) Yes I need three monitors, I have 3 computers that I use for different tasks, I will usually have one personal laptop running its own OS, then have a remote desktop session to my desktop displaying on the monitor. The second laptop is my work laptop. What can I say, I'm an engineer. :)
2) On the couch is a monopod for my DSLR camera.
3) Sorry for all the close ups, I only had an 85mm lens at the time, if they want to do a hour tour then I could borrow a wide angle :)
I have some additional photos here:


text:
I am very excited about this weekend at Alamo City Comic Con 2014! If you are going to the convention, stop on by!
(Source: thanosrules.com)
Terrible Sketch Tuesday #89 - Aug.12.2014!
Welcome back to the continuation of Terrible Sketch Tuesdays - YEAR TWO!
So, last year, TST #037 (which can be seen here), was a quick colored pencil sketch of my favorite Marvel Super-villain, evaluating how best to conquer Earth…in fact, last year on this day, was the eve of Marvel's Infinity Event - Wow, it has been a year!
Anyway, I knew I was going to stick to the Thanos theme for this week's sketch, but I wanted to up my game a bit, and sketch him like my favorite Thanos artist…
So here he is, sketched after Ron Lim, just several ticks towards terrible: THE MAD TITAN, THANOS!
Follow @SketchTerribly, Like Terrible Sketch Tuesdays on Facebook, and/or See all the terrible sketches
Mind MGMT Thanos Cross-Over - Lyme vs. Thanos!
How else could I possibly complete one of the most epic Thanos original art collections of all time?
Well, given my latest obsession (Mind MGMT), a Henry Lyme vs. Thanos by the amazing @MattKindt was definitely the way to go.
(Source: thanosrules.com)
AMAZING THANOS COMMISSION by Kelly Williams (@TreeBeerd)
And yes, I already found a place for it on my wall! :)
For more information about Kelly's amazing art, check out his website: http://treebeerdstuff.com
(Source: thanosrules.com)
Happy Guardians of the Galaxy Day!
I couldn't resist. I had to put a picture together with some of the stuff that surrounds me in my office, with Rocket at the helm.
Original Art by @rob_guillory
BTW - In case you missed it (not sure how), here is the 15-second Teaser for the Trailer that will be available later tonight (on Jimmy Kimmel Live!):
Teaser for Tonight's Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer (source: ComicVine)
Full World Premiere of First Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer:
(Source: thanosrules.com)
The Making of…Mind MGMT #24 (Cover)
OR, What you missed, if you weren't on twitter, don't already follow @mattkindt, or were preoccupied with other life things…
Happily, I wasn't distracted enough to miss a tweet, as the creation process of the image you see above was nothing short of AMAZING.
Note All times are in Central US, links go to the specified tweets (most to all, are images).
THE START - 2:45 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Going to start live tweeting the creation of the next MIND MGMT cover… issue 24 … starting now!
REVIEWING OPTIONS - 2:46 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Started this morning early with thumbnails. Then ran them by my wife for her opinion. Was leaning towards bottom 2.
SELECTING THE LAYOUT - 2:48 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Picked this one after some discussion over the idea of putting the logos on the back cover.
PENCIL TO "PAPER" - 2:51 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Started ruling the logo placement in and penciling the cover…
AND THEN THIS HAPPENED - 2:52 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , 2:54 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , and 2:55 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Then this happened. Phone rang as I was opening the door. In my rush to see who was calling I spilled a large mocha.
And this. I was carrying the cover to @brihurtt place… ruined, front and back.
Can't redraw it on this side either. Who was calling?!?! @JeffLemire. Not that I'm laying blame.
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD - 2:56 PM - 13 Feb 2014
A walk to the art store later… back to where I started and all caught up! Time to pencil. No more phone calls!
PENCIL TO "PAPER" (take two) - 3:12 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Penciling the cover on heavy 140 lb. Water color paper.
LOGO PLACEMENT - 3:30 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Trying to figure out if the logo interacts with the art or sits on top.
DETAILS - 3:36 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Filling in detail…
MAKING GOOD OUT OF THE BAD - 3:43 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Free association to fill the space. Adding the coffee I spilled earlier along with an item from each character.
GOING ALL "GEOF DARROW" - 4:02 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Trying to channel my inner Geof Darrow…
PENCILS COMPLETE - 4:07 PM - 13 Feb 2014
This is about as detailed as my pencils ever get. Any more and I get bored inking.
CAUGHT "MOCHA" HANDED - 4:11 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Just now realizing that the spilled coffee means I have no coffee. Debating a coffee run vs. Finishing cover on time
BRUSH CHOICES - 4:13 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Been using this brush own for a week or so. Water proof and quick. But not sure I love the brush tip.
FRONT COVER INKED - 4:20 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Front of the cover is Inked…
MORE (AND MORE) INKING - 4:42 PM - 13 Feb 2014
One of many unglamorous parts of comics. Inking. Foreground to background since so much overlaps.
TOOLS (AND STRUGGLES) OF THE TRADE - 4:57 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , 5:00 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , and 5:01 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Hard to see but the brush tip starts to split after a while which is why I'm not in love with this brush.
I use a make up travel bag for art supplies. It usually hangs by my table. Ready for conventions at a moments notice!
I'll use microns to add detail while waiting for the brush to fix itself.
INKING… - 5:27 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Getting there…
INKING…COMPLETE! - 5:53 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Pen details finished…
THE ERASER! - 5:56 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Erasing pencils with a kneeded eraser.
INK SPOTTING - 6:05 PM - 13 Feb 2014
spotted the blacks… time to paint!
LET THE WATERCOLOR BEGIN - 6:10 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Water color. Working light to dark.
MORE TOOLS OF THE TRADE - 6:11 PM - 13 Feb 2014 and 6:13 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Here's the water colors I use.
I've used these 3 brushes for years. Working big brushes and gradually smaller ones to fill in detail.
MORE COLOR - 6:41 PM - 13 Feb 2014
More color…
BASIC COLORS - COMPLETE! - 7:04 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Basic colors are done. Next is adding value and shading with blues and blacks. Nearly there…
7:05 PM - 13 Feb 2014 - The empty spots are for the title logo, Dark Horse logo, issue #, and UPC code.
DINNER AND INTERVIEW BREAK - 7:10 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Dinner break and online interview tonight until 9 pm. I'll finish later tonight and tweet the photoshop process as I go along.
STAINED - 7:17 PM - 13 Feb 2014
coffee stained boots from the spill this morning.
PROTECTION - 7:19 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Now that's it's nearly done I'll be keeping it in plastic until I get it safely scanned in. And no more coffee!
BACK TO WORK - 9:54 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Back to work. Adding blue on top to add shading and depth.
SHADING - 9:58 PM - 13 Feb 2014
More shading…
MORE [DIGITAL] TOOLS - 10:01 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , 10:04 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , and 10:23 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Scanning. It will take 4 scans since the original is oversized…I'll tile them together in photoshop.
The 11x17 Mustek scanner I use is $200 on Amazon and scans water color better than the high end $1000 ones…
Start with the cover template and old paper texture in background.
RAW SCAN + TEMPLATE - 10:40 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Here's the raw scan dropped in to the template.
PHOTOSHOP TRICKS - 10:42 PM - 13 Feb 2014 and 10:51 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Unsharp mask sharpens up the black ink lines and brightens the color slightly.
I use multiply under Blending options to make the art look like it's on the old paper…
LOGO EXPERIMENTATION - 10:53 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , 10:56 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , and 11:03 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Trying different logo colors to find out which one looks best.
I'm thinking bright orange logo… maybe.
Taking some pieces out of the logo to make it look broken up.
BUMP UP THE CONTRAST - 11:08 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Bumping up contrast and brightening some sections of the fire/flames.
Final cover. Added some type in Illustrator to the front. Not sure if it needs it…
11:17 PM - 13 Feb 2014 - When I'm not live-tweeting the process I usually sit on a design over night and then look at it w/ fresh eyes before sending it to my editor
11:18 PM - 13 Feb 2014 - And show it to my wife first to get her reaction…so that's what I'll do tomorrow. Goodnight! Thanks for paying attention!
DURATION: ~ 9 HOURS (including MOCHApocalypse)
If this doesn't give you all the reasons you would need to follow (and love) @mattkindt, I am not sure what would.
Thanks Matt, for yet another FANtastic way to involve your audience, into the phenomenon that is MIND MGMT!
Support the future of Comics. Support Creator Owned Work.
Follow @thanosrules on Twitter!
So, during Episode 3 of the Dark Horse Addiction Podcast (@DarkHorseAddict) I was able to read my GLOWING review (@LFLJ refers to it as a "love letter") of Mind MGMT by @mattkindt.
It is pretty obvious that I love Mind MGMT, but how much?
Let's count the ways, in this sound-byte (2 minutes and 29 seconds) from that episode…
Transcript of my review:
More than a comic, Mind MGMT is movement. Reading it changes you. It changes the way you think comics should be created, how creators should interact with the community, and what is truly possible within and around this entertainment medium. Never before have I eagerly awaited a month's passing to read the next issue of a comic. Not like this. The story is captivating, intelligent and created with the utmost care for the final product. Matt Kindt is a wonderful genius. Every month he manages to produce some of the highest quality work in the industry today - not just for Dark Horse, but for three other publishers as well (Marvel, DC, Valiant). All this, and he is one of the nicest people I have ever met. So, keep an eye out for Matt in the years to come, though based on his track record, he will be hard to miss!
Why did I write this?
It was my contribution to the Unleash The Fanboy's "BEST COMICS from 2013" Article.
ANyway, I thought I would share my love of Mind MGMT with the world (again).
Terrible Sketch Tuesdays (@SketchTerribly) is headed to Wizard World New Orleans 2014!
Once again, I am headed to Wizard World New Orleans! I cannot believe it has been an entire convention year since Leo (@LFLJ) and I graced NOLA with our podcasting presence. Check out our joint podcast effort here: Stacks of Comics - Episode 017 - Live from NOLA Comic Con - Podcast Crossover!
Needless to say, there have been a few changes in the past year…and while Leo and I are both Podcasting, it is for an entirely different cause. Now, we are the co-hosts of Dark Horse Addiction (@DarkHorseAddict) over on comicaddiction.net!
What will we be doing at Wizard World NOLA 2014? Well, lots of things:
Speaking of that, here is a copy my Bio for this WW Convention:
The artist behind Terrible Sketch Tuesdays (@SketchTerribly), Charles Joy (@thanosrules), has been a comic book fan for as long as he can remember. And while the Infinity Gauntlet will always hold a significant place in his heart, in recent years his eyes and mind have been opened to the wonders of the creator-owned comic world. Also within the past few years, he has really stepped up his comics game - reviewing, sketching, podcasting and even working on his first Children's Book: "POOR little Stink Bug"!
So, if you are in the New Orleans area, or planning on heading to WW NOLA 2014, be sure to stop by and say high. Who knows, if you are a Dark Horse Addict like us, you may just land yourself an interview on the podcast!
Support the future of Comics. Support Creator Owned Work.
Follow @thanosrules on Twitter, listen to the Stacks of Comics Podcast (@stacksofcomics) and be amused by Terrible Sketch Tuesdays (@SketchTerribly)! Oh, and follow @LFLJ too! ;)
(Source: thanosrules.com)
Stacks of Comics - Episode 032 - Nopesgiving & Gone Dark Horse!
Episode THIRTY-TWO of Stacks of Comics is FINALLY FINALLY here! Recorded at different times over November and December 2013, it is here! I (@thanosrules) am joined once again by Leo Johnson (@LFLJ) to discuss all things Comics and many, many things not Comics… hell, the first part is basically a haul video from WW Austin 2013, without the video.
Anyway, if you listen to nothing else in the podcast, check it out around the 1 hour mark, for a special announcement (this is where the "Gone Dark Horse" stuff comes in).
So, please enJOY this 01:10:47 (1 hours, 10 minutes, 47 seconds) installment of the Stack of Comics podcast as we basically talk about nothing for a while, then something very cool at the end.
Episode 33 is dedicated to … the Dark Horse Addiction Podcast!
Other Highlights / Links from Episode 032:
- Wizard World Austin
- Nicholas Pitarra
- Leo loves Nick
- Rob Guillory
- http://comicaddiction.net
- Terrible Sketch Tuesday
- TST 052 - Nopetopus!
Leo's Stuff:
- Leo's Nerdspan Reviews
- Nerdpsan - http://www.nerdspan.com
- Stash My Comics - http://www.stashmycomics.com
- Geek Syndicate - http://geeksyndicate.co.uk
Andrew's Stuff:
Contact Info:
- Follow us on the Twitters:
- Go look at our Websites: http://thanosrules.com
and http://stacksofcomics.com
and http://terriblesketchtuesdays.tumblr.com
and http://lightscameraactionfigures.tumblr.com
and http://comicaddiction.net
- Like us on Facebook!: Stacks of Comics and Terrible Sketch Tuesdays
- Subscribe and Listen on iTunes!
Johnson and enJOY!
Infinity Chapter Six + Tie-Ins | thanosrules quick reviews
Here we go again…this time 10 reviews. These are extremely late, but hey, better late than never? Either way, I wanted to finish things off…
Overall Note - The end has come. For the event anyway… I have to say, this was a pretty great event. There were several 5/5 issues, main event books and tie-ins. It also felt pretty cohesive, which is a nice change of pace from some events. Lastly, it fits well with the rest of what is going on with the other Marvel titles, giving way for the next wave of books, all related to the Inhumans. That said, the first thing I thought (and I am sure I am not alone here) when I saw the cover to New Avengers #12, was the end of Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2. Check out the following image:
Look familiar? Either way, this is a great segue to my first review, for New Avengers and the issue that shows us, sometimes there are fates greater than death (especially for a nihilist like Thanos).
New Avengers #12 ( 5 / 5 ) - This should not be read before Infinity 6. You likely know this because of the timeline in the back of each of the Infinity books, but still. Not that what happens at the end of Infinity 6 is a secret, especially from this cover. Heck, enough time has passed, you know what happened. Triple-Dog-Heck, likely no one is reading this. ;) Anyway. Again, this issue was great. In fact, the series was my favorite Marvel title from Marvel NOW! This issue is filled with kings and leaders learning their place. Their very small place in the universe. One take-away from this issue (and event really), is that we all have to deal with the fact that no matter how much power, control, money, luck any of us has, "Everything dies."
Infinity: Heist #3 ( 3.5 / 5 ) - Cross, Double-Cross, Triple-Cross. Is that even a thing? It may be. So many lies, so much deceit - all to be expected from a "villain-centric" book. As I have been saying all along, I am not real big on this type of story. This issue has an interesting (and cosmic) twist to it, but still no real specific tie (that I see as of now) with the event (outside of the fact that they were taking advantage of the event events to cover the "heist". This mini-series are not really necessary and add very little to the overall story, of course, unless you are in to this kind of book. That said, I was impressed with the reveal at the end, not sure what it will mean, but there is one more issue to go (release date January 8th, 2014, well after the event), so we will see.
Infinity: Heist #4 ( 3 / 5 ) - Well, it finally came out, as expected on January 8th, 2014, and I had a chance to read it (January 16th). Meh. I am sorry, it just wasn't for me. I do have to say, the very last panel, did redeem the entire story, if not just a little. Is it worth it? Likely not. But, as I have been saying, if you dig this kind of villain focused story, you might just dig this mini-series.
Infinity: The Hunt #4 ( 5 / 5 ) - Loved it! No surprise really, given the writer, but still. This was a wonderfully dramatic end to the mini-series. So many feels. It was wonderful to see that it tied in to event events and illustrated what we have come to expect from the "child super-heroes" books. So, though this mini-series got off to a slow start, it ended up being a great story with many interesting characters and situations for those characters. Teamwork, FTW!
Secret Avengers #11 ( 4 / 5 ) - Another decent tie-in. Just like last issue, we see the aftermath of the terrigenesis - previously "normal" people powering up. Some good, some bad. This issue follows our new "superhero", previous S.H.I.E.L.D. computer tech, in the field with Nick Fury and Agent Coulson. Trial by fire (pun intended) for her, as she goes up against another one of her kind, someone not in the "good" category". But evil? Who knows. Likely scared and just too over-powered. In the end, Sarah learns a hard lesson: Be with S.H.I.E.L.D. or against S.H.I.E.L.D. Where will all this go? What decision will Sarah make? I am not sure, and likely will not find out. I am leaving the Inhumanity stuff alone for a while…
Wolverine and the X-Men Annual #1 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - This issue was "cute". Much like "Infinity: The Hunt", this issue is all about the children. Specifically highlighted in this issue, Kubark (Kid Gladiator). He is just an overpowered kid learning his place in the universe. Constantly in his father's shadow (expectation wise), he only wants to, well, punch things. In this issue, he gets to do just that. The story is set during the events of Infinity, so there are plenty of opportunities to punch, both in space and here on earth. In the end, he learns a great lesson: With great punching, comes great…err. Never look a gift-horse…hmm. Beggars can't be choosers? Either way, this is another "feel-good" issue with lots of action (and punching). Oh, and you do not need to read all 40 some issues of Wolverine and the X-Men to read this tie-in, it is a great Infinity adjacent One-Shot.
Avengers #23 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - Not much to say about this one. It was on par with the other Avengers tie-in issues for this event. Much of what you read in this issue is covered (highlighted) in the main event book, so it is not altogether necessary, but there are a few things of note…Specifically, the save by the significantly powered [event specific] Earth Allies on the PEAK station. Seeing Ronan smash skulls never gets old. So this issue wraps up the Avengers space battle and homecoming. At this point we have almost forgotten why they went into deep space in the first place. Nonetheless, they are home and ready to save Earth (again).
Guardians of the Galaxy #9 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - What I love most about this issue is the art. Francesco Francavilla does an amazing job here. It isn't your mainstream comic book art, but the style fits perfectly with cosmic tales. As a tie-in, this is relatively non-essential, though it does provide some filler for what happened at the PEAK Station before the events of Infinity #6. There is quite a bit of action, and a good bit of GotG snark. What I am curious about is Angela. I am not sure why she appears so powerless. Sure, she is durable, but in this issue sure doesn't destroy many enemy combatants. Overall, it is a fun read and fits nicely in with the rest of the story.
Thunderbolts #18 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - Nice. This series really turned itself around within the Infinity event. The first tie-in issue was the last straw for some, maybe most, but that second tie-in issue really was great. From there, the issues stayed consistently entertaining. The art is still odd, but something about it is fun and fascinating. The story - well done. it wasn't your average Punisher-centric story. It was imaginative, intelligent and had a couple nice twists. So many people got their way, and that is saying a lot, given the complexity of the latest Thunderbolts team. This is not to say there aren't some ongoing points of conflict, but those will be ironed out, well beaten out more likely, on this upcoming "Road Trip". Oh Boy. And Mercy? How is that "little issue" going to be dealt with? Only time will tell (I have not read anything past this issue, in case these items have been addressed since).
Mighty Avengers #3 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - Blue Marvel arrives. Why? To save the Mighty Avengers and NYC from Shuma-Gorath. Okay, maybe the world. Still, it was bad, then "Adam" flies in and saves the day. He also seems to know the identity of our mystery "Spider Hero". I should also be clear, Adam doesn't do it on his own. He gives the team extra motivation - this combined with Power Man and Ava Ayala, save the day. Now, obviously I have "spoiled" the fact that things work out in the end, but I didn't say how, and that is the really interesting part, which I will not spoil. It is worth reading, especially if you have been digging the series so far. Oh, and since I am so late in reviewing this issue, the 4th has been released, which reveals Spider Hero's identity: Blade. Why not? They are really pushing the "non-white" (save Doc Ock) team thing now. Really. It is kind of awkward, no? Either way, pretty intelligent way to end a battle, and decent enough way to tie things into the Infinity events.
Infinity #6 ( 5 / 5 ) - Much like the stories of prophecy, where the son is destined to rid the world of his father, this event unfolds in a way Thanos would not have expected, nor enjoyed. As the reader, of both this event and Thanos Rising, we know that the universe is to be rid of all offspring sired by Thanos. This is the only way Death would accept our favorite villain into her loving arms - or so he hopes. In fact, Death is either his unrequited love, or he is crazy and she is simply a manifestation to quell any remorse his lifelong nihilism has produced. Unfortunately for Thanos, none of his plans come to fruition. This is the worst possible outcome for him. No rest, No Death, No fulfillment of his latest universal quest.
This event ends less about The Builders and more about what the Builders and Thanos brought about. Nearly all the event specific allies not only go their separate ways, but grow in power and potential for future threat. The world has been seeded with Inhumanity. The Builders? What builders? Apparently they were a weaker threat than Thanos. Thane - now there is a threat. One hand brings death, the other a living death with no end, with his new mentor (Ebony Maw) there is no telling what horrors he will bring to the universe.
What this event did do, is tee up a new age for the Inhumans. A plan that Black Bolt would have unleashed either way. So, in the dawn of Inhumanity, Marvel takes us once again into a mess of issues, related, semi-related, and all very similar to the "mutant problem" the X-Men have been facing for years and years. Will this similarity be addressed? Who knows. I will likely not find out for some time, as I am taking a much needed break from the Marvel insanity.
What I am looking forward to, and what I will be reading spoilers about is the impending threats mentioned by Black Swan in New Avengers #12. Those are some story-lines that I could follow. Again, only time (and money) will tell.
What's Next? Infinity is over. Everything has been wrapped up with a nice bow, in a sense. So, what are Thanos fans to do? Thankfully, just wait just a few more months! A new Thanos Original Graphic Novel from Jim Starlin is due out later this year (April 2014):
There is an imbalance in the universe. Since his latest return from oblivion, Thanos himself feels… incomplete. Now the so-called Mad Titan plans to put both wrongs right. The revelatory waters of the Infinity Well lead Thanos on a new quest, with a once sworn enemy, Adam Warlock, at his side. A crusade that will bring confrontation with the Silver Surfer and the galaxy's mightiest heroes – the Annihilators. This April, Thanos will embark on an odyssey that will change everything in THANOS: THE INFINITY REVELATION.
More about the upcoming release, plus an interview with Jim Starlin here on Marvel.com: Unlock Thanos: The Infinity Revelation with Jim Starlin
Okay - that wraps up the final set of reviews. Again, I was impressed with this event. And though it ended like other Thanos events before it, we are left with a hint of future cosmic battles, drama and likely an eventual family reunion.
For reference, here are the links to all my Infinity Event Reviews:
(Source: thanosrules.com)
Design by Simon Fletcher. Powered by Tumblr.
© Copyright 2010


text:
EAU CLAIRE - Three people have applied to be Eau Claire County's next judge. Thursday night was the deadline to apply to the Governor to be appointed to the bench.
The applicants are Chad Verbeten, who is an Eau Claire County Assistant District Attorney, Tim Sullivan, who is the Assistant Corporation Counsel for Eau Claire County, and Kristina Bourget, an Eau Claire lawyer who specializes in corporate law.
They are seeking to replace Judge Lisa Stark, who is moving up to the State Court of Appeals. A committee will now interview the candidates and make recommendations to the governor, who has final say.