text:
Harley Quinn's Greatest Moments from "Batman: The Animated Series"
TV, Comic Books
It's already Sunday, and I still haven't posted this. Man, I'm slow. I had a bunch of books to read, and I've had some other things to do, so I apologize for the lateness of the post. I'm not sure how many of you care that it's late, but that's no longer my concern, because it's time to check out the books I bought this week! Whoo-hoo!Â
76 #1. "Jackie Karma" by B.Clay Moore (writer) and Ed Tadem (artist); "Cool" by Seth Peck (writer) and Tigh Walker (artist). $2.99, 27 pgs, B&W, Image.
This is a strange comic. It's two, two, two stories in one comic, and they're both entertaining, but I'm not sure why it's set in 1976. I think it will come out more as the series progresses, because in the back of the book Moore explains that one of the characters was "finding [his] voice" "in the late sixties." He was an activist, and now, in 1976, he's researching law. The idea of a former Black Panther (Moore doesn't use the term, but the timeline fits) starring in the story, or even some other things that make the time essential, would be nice, because if it doesn't, this becomes two stories, one about a kung-fu fighter coming out of retirement and the other about two bounty hunters tracking down a girl who got away from a drug deal gone wrong, that could easily be told in any time period. Either of these stories could even be television shows from the 1970s, but at least those were made in the 1970s. If Moore and Peck (and the artists, of course) don't make it more relevant to the 1970s, then it's just some people indulging their love of the Me Decade with some nostalgic funk-wanking. So I hope it's not that.
Oh, there are stories? Yeah, I guess so. The first one stars Jackie Karma (which is a fun name, I admit), who is now a New York attorney but once was a street fighter of reknown. A dude comes back on the streets and finds his old buddy Bobby Howler and tells him that they better stay out of his way. Jackie would say, "Every time I think I'm out, they keep pulling me back in!" except he's not Michael Corleone, and puts on his magic Golden Lion leather jacket and Golden Lion belt buckle. They're the source of his powers! Oh, and there's some kind of ninja killing mobsters. The second story, set in Los Angeles, concerns Pete and Leon, two bounty hunters. They're called in to find Cherry Baum, a girl whose boyfriend is killed in drug deal gone bad. She escapes with the money (and somehow, the drugs, although how she got them into her car is unexplained) and now the bad guys are after her. Oh dear.
They're both entertaining enough, but that's about it.  It is, however, as if we're getting 21st-century versions of 1970s TV shows, as I wrote above. Remember the movie version of Starsky and Hutch? Yeah, I know it sucked. But it sucked partly because it was set in the Seventies, but a 1970s that had all the clichés of the 1970s in a kitschy manner.  Yes, the 1970s were like that to a degree, but not to the degree that they were played up. In this book, there are fewer annoying cultural touchstones, but it still feels like it's people thinking the 1970s were cool, so they set a book in the decade. Even the "credits" of the second story, "Cool," feel like a '70s show, with the names of the characters superimposed onto panels over the action: Pete, for instance, is named as he's thrown out of a window, and I can imagine a freeze frame as he's falling through the air and his name in cheesy yellow graphics on the screen. Anyway, it seems that if the creators don't do anything with the time period, this is just a mildly entertaining comic book. We'll see.
Man, I go on about stupid shit, don't I? Let's move on.
Atomic Robo #4 (of 6) by Brian Clevinger (writer), Scott Wegener (artist), Ronda Pattison (colorist), and Jeff Powell (letterer); back-up story by Clevinger (writer), Zack Finfrock (artist), and Powell (letterer). $2.95, 27 pgs, FC, Red 5 Comics.
This is another strange issue. When last we left Nikola Tesla's greatest creation, Robo was inside a pyramid that had decided to take off across the Egyptian desert. It exploded, and as we begin this issue, Robo's team of Action Scientists finds him lying "unconscious" on the sand, and they wonder how to "wake" him up. So while he's out of it, he reminisces about 1975, and the time Carl Sagan asked him to go to Mars. And he does. But here's what's weird: He doesn't do much on Mars. He reminisces for 14 pages, and basically, it's an opportunity for Clevinger to come up with a funny resolution to his year on the planet. It's a rather funny resolution, to be sure, but what's the point? Robo returns to consciousness, and the Egyptian president isn't happy that he blew up a pyramid. Before the president's tanks can do some damage to our hero, a big … something comes out of the sand. Robo must fight again!
It's a funny issue, but it just doesn't make much sense. Maybe it will in the final two issues, which might explain what connection this issue has with the overall plot and if Robo made an enemy for life on Mars who is currently controlling things behind the scenes (which would be awesome, given who that person is). But it's kind of a dull issue even though it has some funny lines, because it feels like it's all there for one message. That's a lot of padding for one small pay-off. I'll still get the fifth issue, because it's a mini-series, but this particular issue isn't that great.
Catwoman #75 by Will Pfeifer (writer) David López (penciller), Ãlvaro López (inker), Jeromy Cox (colorist), and Jared K. Fletcher (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, DC.
You know, I'm just not interested in "Selina-on-another-planet" Catwoman. Pfeifer makes the best of it, I guess, and at the end, it appears that she's back in Gotham, but I'm sure she's not. It's just kind of boring. This is pretty antithetical to what Pfeifer and his predecessors have done with the book, and if I wanted to read Salvation Run, I would. But I don't. Back in the day, when Marvel sent a bunch of superpeople off to fight each other and give Spider-Man a new costume, their regular books weren't impacted that much, were they? I wasn't buying comics back in the mid-1980s, but when I read back issues, they just skip over Secret Wars in the regular books and explain in a footnote that "it happened in Secret Wars – pick it up!" So if DC wanted to send Selina off to Weirdo Planet, couldn't they do it in the mini-series and then have Pfeifer just obliquely refer to it in her own title? It's not like anything serious is going to happen to her, because although her series doesn't sell terribly well, she's still a relatively major player in the DCU, and we all know this situation of sending super-villains to another planet isn't going to last. So why can't Pfeifer just ignore it? It's vexing.
Checkmate #22 by Greg Rucka (writer), Eric Trautman (writer), Chris Samnee (artist), Travis Lanham (letterer), and Santiago Arcas (colorist). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, DC.
The two-part story focusing on Josephine Tautin comes to a close with no surprises, just some good storytelling. The main story, about Josephine's efforts to rescue the kidnapped child of her former lover, is a decent way to show just how bad-ass she is, while the back story, which concerns her rejecting his offer of marriage, shows how devoted she is to her country. There's nothing flashy about the two issues, but they do a good job focusing on one of Checkmate's major players.
I do have a question about the page on which Josephine becomes Mademoiselle Marie by naming all her predecessors to show that she has a sense of history. Let's check them out, shall we? She mentions Sabine, who gets inside a Nazi stronghold as a servant and kills an evil colonel. Sabine is also the woman turning the title over to her. She mentions the woman who is executed even before that in the issue, an event that took place in February 1944 (and I guess is the Mademoiselle Marie that appeared in old comics and was in love with Sgt. Rock). She mentions a woman participating in Operation Biting at Bruneval in 1942. She mentions a woman marching "with General de Gaulle in Gabon." This took place in 1940. Going further back, she mentions a woman defending "the sacred road during the Battle of Verdun." Then she mentions the women we saw last issue, the woman who helped Louis-Philippe become king in 1830, and the woman who rescued the aristocrats during the Terror (actually, it doesn't take place exactly during the official "Terror," but she rescues people from the Committee for Public Safety, who weren't known for being nice). So what is Mademoiselle Marie's role, exactly? Whom does she serve? In issue #21, Sabine tells Josephine that "Mademoiselle Marie" "live[s] in service to France. Whenever she calls, you must answer. Wherever she sends you, you must go." This seems to indicate that Mademoiselle Marie is simply an agent of the French government. That obviously is not the case with regard to Elisabeth Saint-Marie, the Marie of the French Revolution. She is expressly defying the will of the government, as represented by the Committee for Public Safety. The nobleman she rescues is one whom, presumably, was oppressing peasants under the ancien régime of Louis XVI, yet she saves him from the "terror of the revolution," as Josephine recites when she is taking her oath. The case is similar in the July Revolution of 1830 – Margaux de Mortain fought against the Bourbon king Charles X to install a constitutional monarch, Louis-Philippe, who himself was overthrown 18 years later.  Charles X was the legitimate heir, and although Elisabeth Saint-Marie fought against the regime that replaced the Bourbons (implying that it was the legitimate government), her successor fights against the Bourbons themselves (although, it should be noted, Louis-Philippe was from a cadet branch of the family). And although the defense of France in 1914 and the 1940s is noble enough, the invasion of West Africa in 1940 was the case of two imperialistic powers fighting over land in which they ignored the will of the natives. Where was Mademoiselle Marie in between these events? France wasn't exactly a paragon of freedom and democracy, although it had its moments. Where was she during Napoleon's rule, during Napoleon III's ramshackle rule, during the Franco-Prussian War (during which the French could have used her), or during France's imperial adventures? Did Sabine go to Indochina after World War II and help oppress the Vietnamese? Or to Algeria to help deny their freedom? For that matter, why is Josephine working for Checkmate now? This mission to rescue the girl isn't a French mission, it's a favor to the U. N. Secretary-General, as he explicitly says. What's Mademoiselle Marie's role in the French government these days?
I probably think about this too much, and all of this is probably too complicated for a mainstream comic book, but Rucka has shown in the past, especially in Queen & Country, that he knows how to write politically complicated stuff. Just saying Mademoiselle Marie represents "the spirit of France" is too easy, and begs too many questions. The stories of Josephine's successors are supposed to inspire us with the sacrifice each namesake is willing to make for France, but they make me wonder what her role is, and why we should feel good about her. Because Mademoiselle Marie killed some Nazis? Well, yes, but that's an easy way to make someone a hero. Beyond the threat of Nazis, are there some morally questionable things the women bearing the name have done?
Fallen Angel #23 by Peter David (writer), J. K Woodward (artist/colorist), and Neil Uyetake (letterer). $3.99, 22 pgs, FC, IDW.
At the end of last issue, we kind of got the feeling that this series was about to get a tad intense, and David doesn't disappoint.  This promises to be the most emotionally searing story arc in the book since "Hurly-Burly" back in the old DC series, and I'm looking forward to it. This issue begins with a shock, as Black Mariah stumbles in Furor's with a knife in her back. Before Lee and Dolf can react, someone starts throwing grenades through the windows, and Lee goes out to fight him. Malachi, Mariah's lover, arrives and helps Dolf dress Mariah's wound. In a flashback, we learn that Mariah visited Jude and told him that something bad was going to happen to the city, and then she was stabbed by someone appearing as Malachi. We also learn that Gilles de Rais, the new villain, is indeed the 15th-century serial killer who hung out with Joan of Arc. He has become something much worse, though, as Lee discovers at the end of the book. Meanwhile, we learn something chilling about Dolf that seems to confirm everyone's suspicions about who he is.
It's a stunning issue, because David has set things up so well. David does this very well, taking his time with putting all his pieces in place, so that when everything falls down, they fall down with sudden and shocking violence. He pulls no punches, and it makes for a gripping read even as we're horrified by what's happening. This has been a very good comic for well over 40 issues, but with this one, David ratchets up the intensity, and it's a great read. Very often with Fallen Angel, I enjoy reading it, but I'm not on the edge of my seat desperate to read what happens next. This time I am. I don't have much doubt that David can come through with a great story.
Fell #9 by Warren Ellis (writer), Ben Templesmith (artist), and Chris Eliopoulos (letterer). $1.99, 20 pgs, FC, Image.
Yeah, that's me. I gave this my tardiness award for the second year in a row, and two days later, an issue ships! I rule!
Oh, and I guess I'm going to SPOIL this. Not too much, I hope.
I wanted to read the backmatter on this story, but Ellis doesn't give it to us. Maybe it's not from anything he read in the newspapers about the horrors of insurance problems, and just made up on his own. Taken on its own, it's a pretty good story. Richard Fell gets called to a hostage situation that turns out to be not a hostage situation, but a son who comes home from Afghanistan to find his parents dead because they couldn't get their meds thanks to an "insurance screw-up." The son is obviously a bit loopy himself, but Richard allows him some closure in a fun twisted way that allows us all to cheer because the "bad guy" gets his. As usual with this comic, Templesmith's art is fantastic, with the stick figure representing the son as Fell imagines him through the door (he's thinking about where the guy is based on the noises he's making) a nice touch. The fact that Fell's erratic behavior is starting to concern people is nice, too – Ellis promises in the back of the book that around issue #16 (coming in 2014!), Richard will reach a crossroads and we'll find out more about why he's in Snowtown to begin with. So that's nice.
However … like Checkmate, I start thinking too much about some things. I worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon for six years in the late Nineties. I didn't love the job, but it was easy, so I could do a lot of stuff on the clock, like wander around the city (Portland is very pedestrian-friendly), surf the web, chat with my co-workers, play bocce ball (the building ran an annual tournament), and get a graduate degree in History with a focus on seventh-century France (there's nothing more exciting than seventh-century France! and, to be honest, I got my degree off the clock). However, I did work occasionally, and I got some perspective on the health insurance industry. First of all, I became more of a convert to universal health coverage. There are certain things that should not be run like businesses, because in business, people often get screwed over first. Health insurance and education should not be run like businesses, because at the first sign of economic problems, the people they serve will get shafted, and that ain't right. However, I do recognize that health insurance is far more complex than politicians and writers of comic books make it out to be. BCBSO was a business, and businesses need to make money. Therefore, they needed to make hard choices about where they spent their money and what they spent it on. Whenever I read about someone not getting treatment for some health problem because they don't have insurance or their insurance didn't cover something, I ask myself: What is the company supposed to do? Give money away? They have a bottom line, as distasteful as it is. People claim they want universal health care, but nobody wants to pay for it. I think doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies charge waaaaaay too much for their services (a famous case here in Arizona a few years ago brought to light that a hospital charged a man something like $50 for a white T-shirt), but they're capitalists, and they're charging what the market will bear. If politicians really wanted to do something about it, they wouldn't be in the pocket of the pharmaceutical companies, and they are. Doctors are certainly complicit in this, but this issue implies that all doctors are turning people away because they're pure evil, sitting on their yachts twirling their mustaches and crossing names of poor people off a list. That's just a stupid way of looking at the problem. This is a serious problem, and although this issue highlights an extreme example, it's no different from a politician claiming there's a War on Christmas because someone said "Happy Holidays" at a Wal-Mart checkout line. We don't take those people seriously (well, we shouldn't). Yet we take this seriously (at least we're supposed to, because we're all good liberals). I would love to see someone do something about health insurance. Demonizing people won't get it done, though.
Man, I'm on a soap box today, aren't I? I LOVE IT!
Grendel: Behold the Devil #3 (of eight) by Matt Wagner (writer/artist) and Tom Orzechowski (letterer). $3.50, 20 pgs, b&w&r, Dark Horse.
There's a sad story in the latest issue of Wagner's latest mini-series. He wanted to release it as a honkin'-huge manga-style graphic novel, but the marketplace wasn't conducive to that, so we get the serialization of it. This is why it feels like we zip through the book – Wagner wanted it to be a big package that you zipped through, with lots of double-paged spreads. The inimitable Diana Schutz explains in the letter column that he's trying to balance the necessities of serial storytelling with the pacing he wanted for a bigger collection, and that's why the individual issues might not seem as meaty as we'd like. Of course, this drives people to wait for the trade, which drives down sales of the individual issues. Again, I'm puzzled by the economics of comics. Dark Horse isn't huge, but they've been around a while. Plus, they have to making some good chedda* from the licensing of Star Wars and Buffy, right? I have NO clue about the vagaries of comic book publishing, but Dark Horse pays a licensing fee to publish those comics, right? So I imagine the fee isn't that great, because they wouldn't pay it, and they feel that they can make truckloads of cash by publishing those comics. Also, there's the point that the Grendel trade paperbacks are going to be in print until the sun goes nova, so someone (I assume Wagner) will be making money off of them for some time. But doesn't Dark Horse make some money off of them, too? All I'm saying is that for some circumstances, why is the money not available? Some comics are meant to be serialized, but if Wagner wanted to do this a different way, couldn't it have been done? I guess not. This is why I don't think about the economics of comic books too much.
There's a story, of course, as Grendel realizes it's not Argent stalking him, but not after getting into a beautifully drawn fight with the wolf. Lucas Ottoman, meanwhile, makes a startling discovery. I wasn't sure if he or Detective Sparks, his lover, were going to survive this mini-series, but Ottoman won't, I fear. I could be wrong, but I'm sure the story of his demise will be interesting if inevitable. Let's hope I am fooled at the end of the book!
It's such a cool-looking book. I wish Wagner had been able to do it the way he wanted.
* I can use the street lingo, yo!
Hawaiian Dick: Screaming Black Thunder #2 by B. Clay Moore (writer), Scott Chantler (artist), and Steven Griffin (writer/artist of back-up story; colorist/letterer). $2.99, 24 pgs, FC, Image.
At the end of this comic, Steven Griffin explains that "wiki" in Hawaiian means "quickly," whence we get Wikipedia, which is someplace you find something quickly. Comics: educational, enlightening, and entertaining!
I'm not quite sure what to say about this. I like the issue, but it simply moves things along. The Zero that was about to attack the plane in which Dennis and Byrd were flying disappears, which is certainly odd, and then Dennis finds out that friends of Byrd are not exactly friends of everyone on the island. Two other members of the flying squad head to the library to map where the Zero may have gone, and Byrd gets jealous of Kahami's attraction to yet another flyer. In the back-up story, Kahami flees from her attackers, but something bad happens, and she gets pissed. Man, you don't want to piss her off!
I'm still not sold on Chantler's art, especially when contrasted with Griffin's in the back-up story. Chantler is more cartoony than Griffin, which doesn't work as well with the stories Moore tells. It's not bad art, but it feels a bit out of place. Griffin's colors help, though.
It's good to see this coming out, though, because of the book's notorious lateness. Of course, it's only two issues, so we'll see how the next three go!
The Incredible Hercules #113 by Greg Pak (writer), Fred van Lente (writer), Khoi Pham (penciler), Paul Neary (inker), Stephane Peru (colorist), and Joe Caramagna (letterer). $2.99, 23 pgs, FC, Marvel.
This book has actually changed its name, which is a bit weird. I mean, the adventures of Herc and Amadeus might last for a while, even a year or so, but it can't last, right? It's weird that Marvel changed the name.
I think I like Crazy Ares in this book more than Crazy Ares in New Avengers. Crazy Ares in New Avengers is kind of creepy, with his thoughts about making Spider-Woman his wench and all. I like this Crazy Ares more, because he's just batshit insane but has a twisted sense of humor. When he's blasting away at Hercules in kind of direct contravention of orders, he shouts to Simon Williams, who wants to talk to Herc, "I am sorry, teammate Wonder Man! I cannot hear you over returning fire!" Good stuff, Crazy Ares!
Amadeus, meanwhile, wants to attack S.H.I.E.L.D., but Herc thinks that's foolish. That is, until Crazy Ares shoots him full of Hydra blood, which poisons his brain and makes him blind with rage, and all Amadeus has to do is point him in the direction of S.H.I.E.L.D., which has a hidden base in the Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey. If Pak and van Lente don't bring in the Jersey Devil at some point next issue, I'll be sad. Don't make me sad, gentlemen!
Plus, the Charles Atlas Iron Man parody ad in the back of the comic is almost worth the price of the book alone. Chris Giarrusso is a frickin' funny dude.
This is a cool little comic. I have no clue where it's going, which is nice. That's always fun with a comic book!
The Hunter #1 by Adam Hamdy (writer) and David Golding (artist/colorist/letterer). $5.95, 64 pgs, FC, Dare Comics.
Remember when Bill Reed did that Reason to Love Comics about how comics smell? That was a pretty popular post, in case you missed it. Well, this comic smells good. I was trying to think of what it smelled like, and I came up with that Deathlok mini-series that Dwayne McDuffie wrote and Jackson Guice and Denys Cowan drew. Marvel put out those books for a while, with the heavier stock covers and better paper. Anyway, that's what this book smells like.
The writer, Adam Hamdy, who is also the founder of Dare Comics, was nice enough to send this to me, and in his letter he wrote that it "hits" stores in December. I assume he meant December 2007 and not the December coming up many months from now. So if you're interested, take a look for it.
It's a fairly typical comic, which doesn't mean it's bad, just typical. Four people arrive at four key spots throughout the United States and then disasters hit each target, from an nuclear blast at LAX to a biological attack in Boston (Houston and New York are also hit). The president declares martial law. Meanwhile, we meet our hero, Gavril, who looks normal but can turn into that blue fellow on the cover and wreak some havoc. He's in Afghanistan, fighting terrorists and arms dealers. He's recalled to Washington to find out who's behind the attacks and to do something about it. We learn a little about him – he's Russian, apparently, and was part of some kind of experiment when he was younger. Also, he's not the only one in the book with powers. There's also a C.I.A. agent who feeds Gavril information, which she gets from some grotesque dude who lives underneath a video game arcade. It's all very clandestine.
The story is entertaining, even if it's not terribly original. Hamdy isn't the greatest scripter, but he has a nice handle on the characters, and the early pages, where the various bad guys move into position in Los Angeles, Houston, New York, and Boston, build tension nicely, especially in LA, where a C.I.A. agent wonders why the man who triggers the explosion is out of place. Unfortunately, he figures things out a bit too late. Golding's art is fine, although it's far from perfect. He also does a good job creating tension early on, and his portrayal of Gavril when he goes all super-powered is nice. The art lacks a certain dynamism, which works against it in some of the action scenes. However, it's comfortable art – this kind of looks like a comic from the 1970s, with better production values. That's not really a knock on it – the art has a certain familiarity about it that might appeal to a nostalgic bone somewhere in your body.
I'm not entirely sure this is worth 6 dollars, which is a bit of a shame, because it has potential. I don't know how many issues it's slated for, but I wonder if the format will keep people from trying it. New comics from new companies are always a tough sell, and adding on the price makes this even tougher. But I wish them good luck with it!
The Immortal Iron Fist #12 by Matt Fraction (writer), Ed Brubaker (writer), David Aja (artist), Kano (artist), Javier Pulido (artist), Matt Hollingsworth (colorist), and Artmonkeys Studios (letterers). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, Marvel.
Come on, it's Iron Fist. Of course it's awesome. Danny discovers a plot in K'un-Lun, and other stuff also happens. The fight between the Prince of Orphans and Davos is incredibly drawn by Aja. The Prince of Orphans wants to teach Davos a lesson after his brutal treatment of Tiger's Beautiful Daughter, and Aja does an excellent job showing just how fast the Prince of Orphans is and what he's capable of. It's breath-taking.
I am a bit confused about Pulido's rendition of Misty. Last time I checked, she was black. In this book, she looks … well, not black. Her hair is short and straight, and her coloring is kind of very light brown. She looks nothing like Misty Knight, in other words.  Did anyone else notice this, or am I crazy?
Marvel Comics Presents #5: "Vanguard" by Marc Guggenheim (writer), Dave Wilkins (artist), A. Crossley (colorist), and Dave Sharpe (letterer); "Savage Land" by Christos N. Gage (writer), Joyce Chin (artist), June Chung (colorist), and Sharpe (letterer); "Breaking Away: A Wrecking Crew Story" by Merrill Hagan (writer), Staz Johnson (penciler), Tom Palmer (inker), Ian Hannin (colorist), and Sharpe (letterer); "Weapon Omega" by Rich Koslowski (writer), Andrea di Vito (artist), Laura Villari (colorist), and Sharpe (letterer). $3.99, 32 pgs, FC, Marvel.
You know, I'm supposed to toe the line when it comes to our Dread Lord and Master, because he can, at any time, make anyone impotent with his mind (and that's some kind of scary talent), but I'm going to have to disagree with him on Joyce Chin's art in this issue. It's got a real undergound comix feel to it, slightly bizarre and unreal, which is in contrast to the story, which is a simple adventure story in the Savage Land, starring Killer Shrike, of all people. It's an odd mix, but it works. Maybe Brian didn't like the fact that it doesn't seem to fit the story, but that's part of what makes it work. I just hope he's in a good mood when he reads this, because maybe he'll spare my family in his rage!
New X-Men #46 by Craig Kyle (writer), Chris Yost (writer), Humberto Ramos (penciler), Carlos Cuevas with Dave Meikis (inkers), Edgar Delgado (colorist), and Dave Sharpe (letterer). $2.99, 26 pgs, FC, Marvel.
This thing ends next week. Next week! Doesn't it feel rushed, even with so many issues already under our belts? It's weird.
I don't have much to say about this. I'm not quite sure how Rogue, who is unconscious, can control her power as Gambit implies she does. I'm also not quite sure why Gambit is back on the good guys' side for apparently no reason.  Oh well. And Cable is going to take the kid into the future? How does that make sense, if the idea is to figure out why, suddenly, there's a baby mutant? Sigh.
This has become more messy as we've gone along, as crossovers tend to do, but we'll see how it all wraps up. Save us, Mike Carey!  You're our only hope!Â
The Programme #7 (of 12) by Peter Milligan (writer), C. P. Smith (artist), and Pat Brosseau (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, DC/Wildstorm.
This is another comic that is really going off the rails a bit. The Russian superpeople in Las Vegas part of the book is fine, and Max and Senator Joe coming into the fight is okay, too. The apocalyptic elements are odd, though. There's some white supremacist group that attacks and burns a black church because … well, I'm not sure why, exactly. They leave a manifesto about social Darwinism, but do they believe that the advent of the Soviet bad guys signals the end of the world, so let's go burn some black people? Is that it? It seems like a strange excuse to burn a church down, unless it's a Russian Orthodox church. I guess Milligan is going for some kind of end-of-the-world vibe, but like a lot of this book, it's weirdly detached.
As usual with something like this, the central premise is good enough to keep me around, because I know it's going to end after the twelfth issue, but sometimes getting there is a bit of a strange journey. I always have hope, though. Maybe I'm naive.
Strange Embrace #1-8 by David Hine (writer/artist), Rob Steen (colorist), and Richard Starkings (letterer).  $2.99, FC, Image.
Richard Starkings sent the first six issues of this to me a few weeks back, and since the final issue came out this week, I figured I'd pick up issues #7 and 8 and read the whole damned thing. It's one of the first books Hine did, and it came out in the early 1990s from Tundra UK. It's also one of the more horrifying books you will read, as Hine tells a tale of old sins haunting the present and people who are caught up in a web of evil from which there is no escape.  Strange Embrace is one of the few books that is truly creepy and remains so throughout, not just in the set-up but in the execution. There are no monsters in Strange Embrace, just people (although one character is telepathic), and that makes it even more unsettling.
Hine tells the story in a very unusual way. Sukumar, a fifteen-year-old son of a shopkeeper, is tasked to take a delivery to Corbeau's Antiquities, a boarded-up store in the wrong part of town.  The store is filled with African art, which freaks Sukumar out. One day, he sees the proprietor, but runs away before the man can talk to him. As snow begins to fall, he meets Alex, an albino psychic, who takes him into a cellar and begins telling him his life story. Alex is a nasty man, and his life story is full of murder and horror. Eventually, he ends up as a tenant in Anthony Corbeau's mansion, and he finds himself fascinated by the old man, who's a recluse. He probes Corbeau's mind for his secrets, and begins to write a novel about his past. This story, which takes place at the turn of the twentieth century, forms the bulk of the series. Anthony is a young man, and his father lets him take over an antiques shop to teach him how to be a respectable businessman. Anthony eventually marries a woman named Sarah, but he's not interested in her all that much. As the book unfolds, we learn the family's secrets, like what happened to Anthony's mother, Anthony's father's health problem, and what Anthony does in his antiques shop late at night.  It doesn't end well, as you might expect. We learn this fairly early, and the story concerns Alex's attempts to find out how things go terribly wrong.
So this is a story in which a character (Alex) and his psychic projections (he creates them to narrate their parts of the stories) is telling another character his own life story, which then turns into Alex telling Sukumar about someone else's life. The strangest thing about the way the story is told is that we're not quite sure if Alex is telling the truth.  When he begins writing his book, he admits that he was just getting flashes of Anthony's life, and he filled in the gaps. Later on, he finds Sarah's diary, but we're still not sure if Alex is making some of it up. Plus, Hine tells the story from different points of view, which is very neat. By the end of issue #4, we've reached a point where things have pretty much gone to hell. Anthony's father has died, and Sarah learns Anthony's horrible secret. But Alex wanted to know what went on between Sarah and Anthony, and Sarah and Edward (Anthony's father), and what happened to Anthony's mother. So he finds Sarah's diary, and the awful truth is revealed.
The story is well structured and quite gripping, because Hine always teases us with more, and he's always in control of the pacing and the revelations in the series. His art works well, too, because it's somewhat surreal and twisted, fitting the idea of a veneer of respectibility hiding darkness in the soul. When the tone of the book becomes darker and more horrifying, so does the art. Sarah's trip to an insane asylum is a descent into hell, and Hine's art reflects that wonderfully. A trip to Venice starts out brightly, but as the characters become more twisted, the cityscape becomes a nightmare of grotesqueries. It's a chilling book to look at as well as read.
There are a couple of problems with the series. First, nothing that happens, as creepy as it seems, is all that original. It's a tale of sexual repression, and since most of it is set during Victorian times, we can guess a lot of what happens and what's going to happen. That's not to say it's not effectively told, but we're not as shocked as perhaps Hine wants us to be, because we've seen variations of this sort of thing before. Anthony's deep dark secret is upsetting, but not shocking. I understand that we don't need shocks for a story to be effective, and the way Hine tells the story goes a long way, but it also leads to the second problem I have with the book: the way it ends. Nothing goes well for anyone, and we don't really have a character we can relate to. Sarah is the most sympathetic character in the older story, but because of the way Hine tells the story, we're curiously detached from her, even as we recognize and pity the horrors she's going through. In the present, Sukumar is supposed to be our surrogate, but we don't really know much about him. The final resolution is unsatisfying because it's so very bleak, and we're not quite sure what to think of it. I was reminded of the movie Seven when I reached the end. I mentioned not too long ago how much I loved the movie, despite its utter bleakness. It's similar to Strange Embrace in that it reaches a logical end, and Fincher refuses to cop out, which I appreciated. Strange Embrace also reaches an ending that is perfectly logical within the framework of the story, but whereas we sympathize greatly with both Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in the movie, at the end of Strange Embrace, there's no one really we can sympathize with.  Sukumar's fate is interesting, but not really as upsetting as Hine wants it to be. And Alex is a loathsome character, so we're not quite sure what to think about the way the comic ends. I don't really want a happy ending, because that would also betray the tone of the book, but it's so bleak that it repulses us slightly. I just saw No Country for Old Men (which is freakin' brilliant, by the way), and even though that is terribly bleak as well, there is a sympathetic survivor to tell the tale. Who will tell Alex's tale?
Despite these reservations, Strange Embrace is a very good comic, in that it gets under our skin and makes us very uncomfortable. It forces us to confront things that we don't really want to, and Hine never lets us forget the horrors that lurk under the most placid surfaces. It's not a fun comic, but it is a gripping one, and although it's frustrating at the end, it's a frustration at the way things don't always go the way we want them to, not one at the poor conclusion of a story. It's frustrating because we know that evil often wins, and we don't like that. We shouldn't blame David Hine for that, however.
The Sword #4 by Jonathan Luna (story/illustrations) and Joshua Luna (story/script/layouts/letters). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, Image.
I read the last issue of The Sword and decided to check out the next one, because issue #3 was okay but I still have the bad taste Girls left in my mouth, so I wanted to get a better sense of the comic. So I picked this up.
Well, it doesn't anger me as much as Girls did, but it still isn't that interesting. The concept isn't bad. Dara, a parapalegic, is the heroine. In issue #1 her family is killed by mysterious people looking for a sword. She finds it, and it cures her. She can also fight really well, leap tall buildings in a single bound, and do other amazing things. In issue #3, she was chased by evil dudes who wanted the sword, and when she managed to get to it, she slaughtered them all rather easily. Of course, just as she finished, the detectives investigating her family's death showed up. Now that's an awkward moment. They, quite naturally, think she killed her family, and even after she shows them that the sword is magic, they still don't accept it. She escapes with her friend and a kid who was a student of her father's, but she eventually gives herself up while making sure the other two get to safety. We also learn a bit about the people who are after her, and it sounds typically unpleasant.
So the concept is sound: a fantasy world, supposedly created by her father, is actually his life, and it's intruding on the real world. The Luna Brothers obviously know what they're doing, and they make sure there is enough plot development balanced with action to make the book move along, even though they're building a bigger storyline. I'm not really sure why it's not something I want to continue reading. Maybe it's the art, which is fairly bland except for the action scenes, which the Lunas do very well. I have never been a huge fan of their work, especially the faces and heads of the characters, which are dull. Perhaps it's because it feels like the characters are saying exactly what we expect them to say – it's not a surprising book. There's something to be said for familiar storytelling, but this seems almost like storytelling-by-numbers, and I'm just not that impressed with the way the plot is going. I don't think it's a bad comic, like Girls was, but it's not a very good one either.
Or maybe it's just a case of me not connecting to a comic. It happens. Oh well.
Two Guns #5 (of 5) by Steven Grant (writer), Mat Santolouco (artist), Amanda Grazini (colorist), Marshall Dillon (letterer), and Terri Delgado (letterer). $3.99, 22 pgs, FC, Boom! Studios.
Steven Grant's latest opus comes to an unsatisfying end, mostly because, in the famous words printed on the back of Planet of the Capes, "Everybody dies. Nobody learns anything." Everybody doesn't die in this mini-series, but a lot of people do, and at the end, I wonder what the point was. I like twisty noir tales as much as anyone, and this comic has plenty of twists, but we're left with Bobby and Marcus in pretty much the same position they were at the beginning, and I keep asking myself what Grant is trying to say. Greed is bad, I guess. But didn't we already know that? Again, I turn to movies for an analogy. I think of The Usual Suspects, another story in which it doesn't really appear that anyone learns anything. However, that movie had a great – and I mean GREAT – twist at the end of it, and the acting was top-notch. The final twist in this comic is fairly easy to guess – Bobby, in fact, does guess it earlier in the book, then rejects it – and it doesn't reveal anything about any of the characters except that they're all greedy. This is a mildly entertaining comic, but I'm not sure it's worth 20 dollars just for a bunch of bad people to kill each other.
Santolouco, unfortunately, has some issues with storytelling, which makes the comic a bit more problematic. His individual drawings are fine, but his panel-to-panel progressions are often confusing. Maybe this comes from Grant's script, and I shouldn't blame the artist. Here's an example: in issue #4, Manny the Drug Lord has Bobby and Marcus locked in a chicken coop. He sends his men to get Bobby so he can kill him (Bobby, an undercover D.E.A. agent, helped in Manny's arrest, so Manny's pretty pissed off at him). The men specifically say to Marcus, "Not you," leaving him in the chicken coop. The panels show Bobby being taken into the house alone. Manny is sitting in the living room, and Marcus is standing next to him. Huh? What the heck? When did that happen? It's never explained. Characters kind of show up at random in the book, and it's a bit frustrating. Again, I'm not sure if it's Grant's script or Santolouco's poor storytelling, but the art knocks us out of the story too much.
So this is a bit of a disappointment. Too bad.
The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #5 (of 6) by Gerard Way (writer), Gabriel Bá (artist), Dave Stewart (colorist), and Nate Piekos (letterer). $2.99, 23 pgs, FC, Dark Horse.
There are a couple of amazing moments in this comic, on sort of icky and one extremely shocking. How is Way so good at this comic-book writing thing when people who have been doing it for years still aren't very good at it? He paces this comic very well, doling out shocks that fit into the story and keep the story zipping along toward a stunning conclusion (let's hope). There is one thing in the book that puzzles me: Number Five is talking to Pogo, and he begins to tell him about what happened to him, and he says he should start with the Kennedy assassination, then suddenly there's a bizarre scene in which it looks like Pogo is being tortured, and Number Five suddenly collapses. What exactly happened there? Do we know, or are we going to have to wait until next issue? When issue #6 comes out I'm going to re-read the whole thing, so am I just forgetting something that happened back in an earlier issue? I can't be bothered to look right now, because I'm lazy. Anyway, it's a minor point, because the attack of the White Violin is so astonishing, and the opening scene, in the aftermath of Number Five's encounter in the diner, is amazing. What a cool comic.
Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons #2 by Chris Ryall (writer) and Ashley Wood (artist). $3.99, 22 pgs, FC, IDW.
Here's a comic that ought to be better than it is. Wood's art looks great, of course, and his twisted sense of humor comes through very often, like when the Zombie Minotaur says "Moooeeeat!" It's a nice book to look at, but it's more uninteresting than it should be. I'll admit, I'm not as jazzed by zombies and robots as some people are, but Ryall doesn't do much with them. The back story was barely established before the zombies managed to get to the Amazons' island and start wreaking havoc. In this issue, the big battle is between the robot and the Zombie Minotaur, although the Amazon girls, who are forced to grow up quickly when their mothers are zombie-fied, get into the action as well. But basically, these two issues have led us to the final page, where Dhysa, the new queen, says, "Let's go kill them all." So it's three issues of absolute mayhem, basically. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but for 4 bucks a pop, it's kind of shallow. As junk food comics go, you could do a lot worse than three issues of Ashley Wood drawing Amazons and a robot killing zombies. But it's a lot of money for barely anything else. Be warned!
Phew! Are you still with me? I'm sure some of you wandered off to get a snack and never came back. Sorry for the many rants. I just love ranting sometimes, and the poor readers bear the brunt of it!
Number Five was wearing The Monocle's monocle when he had that weird hallucination. It seems to be more than a simple corrective lens.
Yeah, the Monocle appeared to give Number Five a glimpse into Pogo's past – that's probably why him wearing the monocle was given most of the cover.
You do go a tad bit on and on and on and on ….. and on!
I do agree with your assessment of Grendel: Behold the Devil # 3. Matt is never that obvious.
Any takers as to when the next Fell issue will be?
Oh, and I forgot. You ARE slow.
I agree with quelino and Brian – though I think the phenomenon is due to Five's power over time rather than some attribute of the monocle itself. In other words, he can see the past through the monocle that was present at the event.
Yeah, agreed, Ben.
I don't think Rogue was controlling her power, I think it was more that the baby was so powerful that Rogue's powers weren't able to harm it. I'm curious as to which line of Gambit's you think implies that Rogue was in control of her powers, because I've reread that issue several times and never detected that implication while reading the scene.
I don't know if the latest issue of Fell was Ellis vociferating about the medical situation as much as he was showcasing Fell's willingness to do things that are really not quite on the right side of sane. I mean, at one point he has Fell realize that shooting the guy down (something he likely would have done a couple of issues ago) isn't the right answer, but instead he does something almost as extreme (and less justified, from a legal standpoint), and lets the young guy get his "revenge" on the person who he feels is responsible for his parents' death.
At the end of the issue, I didn't feel like cheering "yay Fell!", but instead questioned exactly where he's going to go over the next few issues, especially if he continues to do things in his own slanted manner.
I know that you didn't like the issue in the interrogation room where he basically blew the legal case, but it seems to be an important one in showing that as smart, capable, and begrudgingly-likeable that Fell is as a character, he's still a deeply flawed personality. I'm fascinated by this book so far, and I don't mind waiting for it-just like All-Star Superman-because I'm never going to be disappointed in what it gives me, regardless of whether or not I agree/sympathize with the main character and his actions.
I know that you didn't like the issue in the interrogation room where he basically blew the legal case, but it seems to be an important one in showing that as smart, capable, and begrudgingly-likeable that Fell is as a character, he's still a deeply flawed personality.
I know I really didn't like that issue, because the whole story hinged upon a smart and capable guy like Fell making a painfully obvious error.
It's got a real undergound comix feel to it, slightly bizarre and unreal, which is in contrast to the story, which is a simple adventure story in the Savage Land, starring Killer Shrike, of all people.
Well, I'll agree that it did look amateurish…;)
Gambit says "Rogue'd rather die than harm a child. She'd die to stop you." Now, this could mean that in the general sense, Rogue, if she were conscious, would never allow Mystique to harm a child, but the way Gambit says it, it seems to apply directly to the situation, implying that Rogue had some control over what she was doing.
That monocle explanation makes sense. I guess we'll have to wait for the next issue (or subsequent series) to find out more!
That's a good point, stealthwise. I hope that's what Ellis was going for, and I hope that (as he explains), we'll see more repercussions for Fell in later issues, because then it would make more sense in context. I definitely didn't want to cheer for Fell at the end, but I wondered if Ellis wanted us to. I don't have any problem waiting for these issues, either. It will be nice to sit down with a big chunk of them and read them all at once, though.
Sorry, Tom. That's just how I roll.
But Brian, I think that that error showcases Fell's impulsive and self-destructive nature. I'm really interested in seeing how similar his fall from grace in his former precinct went about, as he mentions that he made two decisions, one that everyone liked, and another that basically got him turfed to Snowtown. He seems to feel completely justified in his actions at that time, but moments of doubt creep in here and there, so I'm wondering if his main character flaw is a classic hubris kind of deal, and if it's going to result in his eventual downfall.
I mean, looking back at the issue in question, of COURSE he should have kept his mouth shut, but I think his enthusiasm to "own" the opposition is what lost him the case, and when you look back at each issue, it's really hard to justify what he did, but it's somewhat easier to understand it.
How is Way so good at this comic-book writing thing when people who have been doing it for years still aren't very good at it?
I'll take "low audience standards" for $500, Alex.
But Brian, I think that that error showcases Fell's impulsive and self-destructive nature. I'm really interested in seeing how similar his fall from grace in his former precinct went about, as he mentions that he made two decisions, one that everyone liked, and another that basically got him turfed to Snowtown. He seems to feel completely justified in his actions at that time, but moments of doubt creep in here and there, so I'm wondering if his main character flaw is a classic hubris kind of deal, and if it's going to result in his eventual downfall.
I mean, looking back at the issue in question, of COURSE he should have kept his mouth shut, but I think his enthusiasm to "own†the opposition is what lost him the case, and when you look back at each issue, it's really hard to justify what he did, but it's somewhat easier to understand it.
I get Ellis' INTENT for the issue, which was to show just what you mentioned – that Fell is just so reckless that he couldn't help but stick it to the guy, thereby ending up giving the guy the very information he needed to ruin the case against him.
My point is that no halfway intelligent cop would ever think the information that Fell had was something he could use TO "stick it" to the guy.
It was tantamount to "Listen up, punk! I know you killed your girlfriend! We found a bloody knife with the fingerprints of the victim's ex-boyfriend on it! You're going DOWN for this! What? That's BAD for the case against you? DAMMIT! My recklessness is my undoing!!"
Rucka hasn't stated that there has always been an active Mademoiselle Marie, so its possible that during those "empty" periods there just wasn't an agent with that codename
And she is working in Checkmate now because her government sent her, so now we can assume she is an agent of the French government and she is following the "will of France" by working for the people her government told her to work for
I just wanted to say that I am impressed by your knowledge of french history. It is given without the faintest tad of indulgence but is surprisingly accurate. I deeply apologize if I'm generalising, but my country is not used of being treated fairly on american websites.
I guess I'm kind of thanking you.
How is Way so good at this comic-book writing thing when people who have been doing it for years still aren't very good at it?
Maybe you just answered your own question? I mean, don't get me wrong, there's a certain amount of understanding of the comic form that usually comes from reading lots of comics, but I think the medium has developed enough culturally to have it's own tropes and cliches that end up making lazy writers.
They're so used to seeing certain story elements, or certain ideas being inherent to various situations that they expect parts of the story to develop of their own accord.
Or it could just be that it's an industry where the nerds who grew up to work in it were raised on poorly-written books. I mean, if anybody learned how to write stories from Stan Lee, they're only gonna get to a certain point.
I'll take "low audience standards†for $500, Alex.
I don't think putting down a huge percentage of the writers counts as having 'low standards.'
He's right, too, btw. Way was certainly aided by having such an all-star art and design lineup, but there's no denying the writing chops he's shown in only five issues.
I could name two dozen other writers working consistently right now who's work I cannot stand in the least. Yet here comes Way and in five issues he lays some great stand-out shit on the line that most everyone seems to be hyped on. There's no low standard happening, he's just legitimately good at this racket.
People claim they want universal health care, but nobody wants to pay for it.
And I think this is an oversimplification that misconstrues the issue. The way you phrase it, you make it sound like the same people who advocate unversal health care are the ones who refuse to pay for it. In my experience, the people who want universal health care are the ones who would be willing to pay, since it would be less than they're paying now. The ones who don't want to pay the taxes for it are not in favor of the idea in the first place.
I think it would be more accurate to say that "Some people want universal health care, but other people don't want to pay the taxes for it, and they can't be ignored."
"Some people want universal health care, but other people don't want to pay the taxes for it, and they can't be ignored.â€
But when they call the police or the fire house or anything else that gets paid through their taxes, they should be ignored.
So Burgas, I just finished Girls and found it to be a very clever monster/zombie genre story with a lightning pace and great suspense that is maintained through 24 issues.
I'm sure you've already gone over it before, but do you have a link to a post where you've criticized it in detail in the past? I'm just curious.
Filrouge – Hey, no problem. I'm almost as interested in French history as I am in British history, so I tend to not get caught up in the French-bashing that is popular these days. It's just stupid.
Dan – Yeah, I was being a bit simplistic, but it's not just the people who don't want it who don't want to pay for it. Going to education (my other bugbear), people in the newspapers are always whining about overcrowded classrooms and poor teacher salaries, but if you tell them the only way to improve those things is to raise taxes, they decide they'd rather keep their money. It's annoying.
sgt pepper – Man, the issues of Girls I read came out so long ago that I'm not sure where the reviews are. I read the first 8 or 9 issues and just kept waiting for the characters to become likeable, and they never did. I wasn't too impressed with the story, although it was intriguing, but I hated everyone in the book so much that, while I enjoyed the fact that they were all getting killed, it just wasn't enough. Brian probably read every issue, so he might be a better person to break down why it didn't work for him.
"But when they call the police or the fire house or anything else that gets paid through their taxes, they should be ignored."
Ha! Completely asinine and uninformative, but funny nonetheless. I have would have no problem not calling the cops or the fireman, since I don't want to pay for them, just like I don't want to pay for you people to freeload on my dime at the doctor's office. See, I actually allocate my own money to pay for my own expenses, and I would pay for insurance to cover a private fire department and security service that could do everything those guys, do, too. I also don't want "universal health coverage" since we already have "Universal Health Care" – go to any emergency room and you get it. Hey, live and let live, I say – if you people want to give more of your money to the government to make yourselves feel better, you should have every right to do so. However, I don't. Ask yourself this – if taxes and government are so damn great, why do they have to threaten us with jail time to get us to pay them? Are you gonna want us thrown in jail if we refuse to pay for your no doubt terrible government "Universal Health Coverage" – just like they'll throw us in jail if we refuse to pay into their already terrible retirement plan (aka "Social Security")? Be careful what you wish for…
Don, the US health care system sucks, but this is not really the place to discuss it.
Greg, I think Gambit did mean it in the general sense. He was just replying to Mystique.
I'm also enjoying Incredible Herc. I'll definitely be sticking around.
I love Iron Fist, but this issue felt like treading water, a first for the series. (Davos fight notwithstanding)
"Beyond the threat of Nazis, are there some morally questionable things the women bearing the name have done?"
…like, say, beating an unarmed opponent to death with a claw hammer?
Yes, there's a certain moral murkiness to the Marie mantle, absolutely.
-Eric T.
That's true, Eric, but I think every comic should feature someone getting beaten to death with a claw hammer. Even the Marvel Adventures books!
"Ha! Completely asinine and uninformative, but funny nonetheless. I have would have no problem not calling the cops or the fireman, since I don't want to pay for them, just like I don't want to pay for you people to freeload on my dime at the doctor's office. See, I actually allocate my own money to pay for my own expenses, and I would pay for insurance to cover a private fire department and security service that could do everything those guys, do, too. I also don't want "universal health coverage†since we already have "Universal Health Care†– go to any emergency room and you get it. Hey, live and let live, I say – if you people want to give more of your money to the government to make yourselves feel better, you should have every right to do so. However, I don't. Ask yourself this – if taxes and government are so damn great, why do they have to threaten us with jail time to get us to pay them? Are you gonna want us thrown in jail if we refuse to pay for your no doubt terrible government "Universal Health Coverage†– just like they'll throw us in jail if we refuse to pay into their already terrible retirement plan (aka "Social Securityâ€)? Be careful what you wish for…"
Well, your arguments here range from strange to incomprehensible. The only good point you've made is that if you're a product of the public education system, then that was clearly a waste of tax dollars. I think you should ask for a refund.
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text:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Stay Connected Anywhere
Kansas City, Kan. (WIBW) -- Hayden High School girls' soccer team went for it's third straight state championship Saturday. For Hayden to win though they would have to beat number one seed Wichita-Trinity Academy.
Hayden's Emily Gartner scored the first goal of the game. But that was not enough for the Lady Wildcats, Wichita-Trinity won 2-1.


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Don't worry, Josh. The Dems in control in Olympia are going to make sure 2007 is a banner year for their base. They'll do their darndest to make sure there'll be PLENTY of new tax money for them to use as patronage. The legislature is going to tweak the RTID and ST statutes (and a few others) to try and ensure those measures pass next November. That'd mean gargantuan new revenue for the local- and state-level D's to spread around to their base. That's the kind of action you want, right? Big new revenue sources for unions, huge transportation infrastructure spending, etc. - you'll have that to look forward to. What, you want more? Sheesh . . .
What the frak?
If the Republicans had these majorities in the legislature and a Republican Governor, they'd be busy reinstating slavery, banning birth control, dumping dry cleaning fluid in Puget Sound and setting up concentration camps for gay men and lesbians.
Haven't we all had enough?
It's so frustrating living right next to Canada and seeing the successes that they've had with equal rights, child care, education and health care, while we're just struggling to get by. We can also implement some serious environmental laws and help make Washington a cleaner and safer place for all of us and our children.
Not taking action only reinforces the right wing lie that Dems don't stand for anything and lack courage.
If not now, when?
Andrew @ 2:
Suppose you let the Legislature actually, uh, convene before you go crying gloom and doom based on Josh's opinion, which is based in this particular post on an unnamed source and self-reference to his earlier post, which was based on . . . uh . . . Josh's opinion.
Personally, my gut tells me that the gun show loophole will probably be dealt with in an urban/rural compromise, but the other gun control issue is most likely dead.
I'm pretty much as paro gun control as you can get. Still, I'm not sure the legislature can do much unless they amend the state constitution (not that I'd be opposed to that!).
Yes, but that doesn't apply to gun shows - nothing in the constitution requires them to exist or to have separate rules.
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Le Mas Candille
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- Suites
- Minbar in room
- Airport Transportation
- Breakfast Available
- Free High-Speed Internet
- Conference facilities
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Historical Traveler Reviews Le Mas Candille Mougins
Cash Rich and Time Poor?
If you have spare cash, are stressed out and want to get away from it all for a few days this is absolutely the place to go. Fly into Nice, get the hotel to arrange the taxi and wander no further than the delightful village of Mougins and its galleries and restaurants which are 5 minutes walk away.
Make no mistake, this is not for travellers on a budget. But if peace, quiet, warm sun and luxury are what you are looking for this is definitely the answer.
The hotel itself is across two buildings. The reception, restaurant and some of the rooms are in the older Mas. The more recently renovated Bastide is where the premium rooms are especially those with the mountain view (the other rooms in the Bastide look out over a car park). Most of the Bastide rooms have a good sized balcony too. There are 2 pools although the larger one doesn't open until May; the smaller one is heated though.
The restaurant is a very serious French affair so instead we went for the restaurants at Mougins which were great. A la table d'Edouard was full of locals, had great food and at about 200 euros for three people (including a bottle of wine) probably represents good value for this pat of France.
The staff were hugely professional. Everyone had a smile and a friendly "bonjour". And there's a lot of them too for a hotel with only 40 rooms (and enormous grounds to maintain).
We didn't try the spa but that looked just like the rest of the place - absolutely top drawer.
Over 3 nights it was the perfect stress reliever.
Nice, but overpriced
They really get you with the extras at this mountainside spa retreat. Internet access was 30 euros for 24 hours!! Room service is exorbitant. There are two options under 20 euros and every other dish is 30-40+ euros. The food was mostly delicious, although my husband did get quite ill from a lunch there. Decor was fine but somewhat institutional. The fitness area and outdoor jacuzzis are very nice. I didn't try the spa, because of all the extra expenses. Staff was not very helpful about helping us organize a local excursion.
I would also mention for those who may not have visited the Riviera recently that there has been an enormous amount of development over the last 10-20 years, and the resulting truck and other traffic on the major highways (lined with strip malls), which intersect in Mougins,` created a big bowl of view-obscuring smog in the valley while we were there. A local bookseller nodded grudgingly when we mentioned this, and murmured something about temperature inversion effects.
we stayed there 5 days from the 2 till the 6th of Jan. it has charming effect as it's +10-12 during day and 0-3 during night and everything is much slower than in any other season. rooms are very spacious for france. at the same time the chef was absent in the restaurant so it was run by sub-chef....and the quality of service during the first dinner was so that we decided to dine outside. i did ike the bar that you have to go though to get to the restaurant - the fireplace there and the rest creates a very relaxing and peaceful atmosphere. have to also admit the view from the room was incredible. the hotel is a walking distance to Mougins so there is plenty of places there to have food. the nearest golf club is 10 minutes drive and not easy to find while the quality is good enough. can recommend royal mougins especially hole number 2.
my wife went to the spa there - i can not recall the name but it seemed to be very good while quite small.
One of the best
We stayed for a week and loved it. Room and bed especially good, pools superb and breakfast out of this world. The orange drink-making machine gets you off to a good start and then there's a fine selection of fresh fruit, rolls and scrambled egg/bacon if you wish.
Staff very friendly with the odd exception though did find you had to ask the right question of reception - not a lot of help volunteered.
Nothing's perfect and here it's the keys to building and room. They frequently failed. Surely an expensive hotel like this should allow you to get in and out without fuss. Reception did admit they were having big problems with the keys so presumably they'll sort that out before long. meanwhile you need to ask for a few keys to each of the building and the room. That way you'll find one that works each time - but it will not necessarily be the same one!
We dined in the wonderful restaurant once (on grounds of cost - nothing is cheap at the Mas Candille) and loved the food and service. The hotel has only 40 rooms and probably the same number of staff to care for your every need so you never feel swamped/disturbed by other guests. Overall a great place for a relaxing holiday
It was a wonderful retreat to recharge batteries
we stayed here at the beginning of september and having spent the summer entertaining four children it was absolute bliss. the room we stayed in was in the bastide and our balcony looked out to grasse in the distance. each morning it was awonderful sight and with absolute clear blue skies. the spa was idyllic for an afternoons pampering and when i came out after having the exfoliating body scrub i felt as if i had been reborn. the walk into thevillage was just a nice distance and the restaurants there were all wonderful. the receptionist booked us into a different one each night and they were all wonderful. this is my favourite part of the world and perhaps i am biased but we stayed in the chevere d'or in eze last year and i loved it as well. only disadvantage is that you need a car and we prefer not to hire but to use the train to get round when we dont have the children with us. although the bus stop is only a short walk down to the village and it goes to cannes every 30 minutes.
but i have to say we thoroughly enjoyed our break here. definitely recommend it.
Best room ever, but we couldn't wait to leave
We selected the Mas Candille from a list of Relais & Chateaux properties, and TripAdvisor reports and had planned to use it as a base to explore the Cote D'Azur by car before departing from Nice. Once you approach Mougins, the route is well marked with the hotel signs. It was about 38C (98F) when we arrived. The lobby was blissfully cold. After several trips back and forth to the desk, while we waited in the non-cooled hallway, our bellman finally secured a working set of keys - two are needed, one for the hall, and another for your room door. Our room (405) had a limited view of the parking lot, but was huge, and beautifully appointed, but with a bit of pool noise. The bed was the best of our trip, a real king-no split in the middle. The tub/shower/sinks in the bath were unbelievably luxurious. The airconditioner was great, despite the heat outside, and the controls were easy to comprehend. Internet through the room TV was 12€ a day. Room service breakfast was wonderful. Here are the downsides: It is a spa destination- one checks in and stays for meals, swimming and treatments. There is nothing near the hotel, and no matter what the desk says about a short walk to town, if it's hot, it is horrible, and uphill. It is hard to retrieve your car from the valet - the driveway is busy, and has only one lane in - no turnaround. The road to and from the hotel is a narrow, one lane bidirectional maze and close encounters and back ups happened each drive, producing much stress. The desk person is way too busy to provide any detailed help - we never did find a concierge. The room keys were repeatedly troublesome. We left after breakfast and relocated. 487€, but a great nights sleep and a terrific shower/bath!
Great location and Beautiful grounds!
We stayed at the Bastide so had a large room with a large terrace (w/table & chairs) for 395 Euros. Next time, I would try to get the rooms facing the gorgeous scenery rather than the parking lot, but the room was very nice. The bathroom was one of the best I'd seen, with side jets in the shower, bath salts, a fresh rose, TV and towel warmers. They had Madelaine cookies w/jam waiting upon arrival and the check-in person was waiting at the front of the building with our keys in hand upon arrival (I didn't even see the front desk until the next day). The 1/2 bottles of Evian and sparking water were free, which was a nice treat. The DVD player w/free rentals was really nice to have and was close to Mougins city center (a short walk to the top of the hill where all the great restaurants are). The restaurant at the hotel was superb with gorgeous views! The bar is also on this terrace where they have someone playing the harp and piano for the ultimate in relaxing atmosphere. The pool is lovely with views of Grasse. One can easily get around the Riviera from here (to Cannes or Nice). I liked being away from the crowds in the beach cities and having gorgeous grounds surrounding us. It was not as casual as I had hoped (considering you are in the Riviera) but it was a very nice resort!
Great hotel!
This hotel is really relaxing and luxurious!
We had our honeymoon there and we had only a very short stay (4 nights), so we did not have enough time to really enjoy all the facilities of the hotel.The driveway down to the hotel is very impressing and the rooms are very charming. We had a room in the bastide which was quite big with a lot of complimentary services, flowers, chocolate, diverse cookies and so on. I have heard that the rooms in the mas were smaller, but they looked even more romantic as the mas is a very old original building. The gardens are very well maintained and it is a nice little discovery tour through the hotel. The staff is very friendly. However, I think that the hotel is still a little bit overpriced but also a very unique opportunity to stay close to Mougins, whereas the other hotels like Manoir l'Etang or the Hotel de Mougins, which are very cosy resorts, too, but you have to take the car to get to Mougins.
Next time I go there I will make a reservation at the Shiseido Spa which was already fullly booked for the time of our stay the day we arrived.
We had breakfast at the pool with a view to Grasse, which was really beautiful, and after breakfast, we had a very short walk to the "city center" of Mougins which is very well known for the delicious (and expensive) gourmet food.
Thus, the hotel is a fantastic resort with the opportunity to reach some nice shops and restaurants nearby. You can also reach the medieval villages of Grasse, Saint Paul de Vence and Vence easily within a few minutes.
In summary, this hotel is one of the best choices we ever had for our vacations!
Ready to return
A recent visit to the South of France and a stay at Le Mas Candille was one of the most pleasant travel experiences I've had in years. From the moment of arrival through the gates, everything about Le Mas Candille was first rate. From the cheerful gate attendant, to the very efficient reception staff who made "check in" a breeze. The grounds of the hotel are immaculately maintained, just the sort of surroundings one would hope for in the South of France. The cuisine was sublime, the rooms well equipped with a pleasingly subtle decor. This is one place that I look forward to returning to soon.
Charming flair with a touch of snobism
Nestled in a quaint artists' & gastronomic village and within a large park, 10 minutes away from Cannes, the hotel building and grounds were beautiful. The room in the renovated Mas building was a little on the small side but charming, individually decorated with antiques, and clean. The service, however, was inconsistent with certain staff being disdainfully responsive, while others were suffocating in their attentions (i.e. waitresses & housekeeping). Valet parking was interesting - our car (a BMW) changed locations several times a day, depending on where it stood in the car pecking order either cordoned off and parked in front of reception, to then be relegated to the masses, when the Porsche arrived. In terms of other perks, however, I would definitely recommend the Shiseido Spa for R&R and ambiance, but suggest you book your appointments in advance as it is also open to non-hotel guests.
TripAdvisor Reviews Le Mas Candille Mougins
Travel Blogs from Mougins
Nice to Mougins
Very nice breakfast at hotel, then morning walk to the antique market. Back to the hotel to check-out & retrieve our car, then we drove to the Musee Matisse in the suburb of Cimiez. Lovely setting, interesting museum.
As we left the museum the rain started, & stayed all afternoon. Fearlessly we headed to Cagnes sur Mer then inland …
French Riviera
... and you can see that everything is geared towards tourists. Nice's coastline was populated by the royal British families who bought their vacation houses there. Must be 'nice' to be rich. We climbed to the Chateau De Nice and from there you get some panoramic views of the city. It was evening and we both felt a bit tired and decided to just go back to Mougins after a while.
Since we had been in Mougins ...
Nice sure is pretty nice
... them appreciate and love things in France, and seeing them in awe of it all, makes me want to keep teaching for many years. It is sometimes a difficult road in education, but these moments, with students like these ... They are what matter. Bed time was after that, as our bus leaves at 5:15 for the airport tomorrow ... We will be flying from Nice to Geneva, Switzerland, and from three back to DC. À demain! - Madame ...
It's nice to be in Nice. Our first day was spent in Nice soaking up all the sun and sites. We started mid morning and went to the fruit and flower market with a name like that we were expecting to see fruit and flowers but no we did not see a single one. It was more of people selling new or second hand stuff, which was still good for a look but a bit of a disappointment. We then walked up Le Chateau hill, at the top was a park with lots of trees and walkways. This also had some of ...
Monte Carlo and Nice
Tuesday 11 June
Stopped in at Monte Carlo for a look on the way to Nice. Seems natural to choose this place for rally driving, as it is a fun drive descending quickly and steeply via many bends from high up on a hillside to reach the port as the lowest of the many terrace levels of densely crammed buildings.
The Grand Prix was about two weeks prior to our visit but workmen were still cleaning up, removing crash barriers and piling up truckloads of tyres, ...


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East Lyme - Dozens greeted Easter in the minutes before dawn on Sunday, clustered together in worship high on the upper level of McCook Point Park Beach.
An annual tradition, the ecumenical service - hosted by Niantic Community Church and attended by ministers and members of several other area churches - was followed by a new tradition this year of a seaside labyrinth walk, set up in stones along the water.
Worshippers began to make their way down to the labyrinth just as the sun's rays slowly began to peek over the horizon. Liz Buhler of Niantic paused to stand with her uncle, Bob Blodgett, and admire the sky.
Blodgett said he's been coming to the beach for 77 years - since he was a boy growing up in Niantic.
"I always think it's fabulous. I come every year," Buhler said. "It's a great way to start Easter morning."
Brian and Cynthia Tucker of Waterford sat with their two daughters - Ava, 5, and Aubrey, 2 - tucked between them on a bench overlooking the water.
"I thought it was beautiful," Brian Tucker said of the service. "A little challenging, with two kids, two young ones. They were wondering why we were getting up in the middle of the night. But it was worth it."
Cynthia Tucker said she used to attend Easter sunrise services when she was growing up, but this was the first occasion that they all went together.
"We don't see sunrises very often in our family," she said. "We're not early risers."
Down on the beach, the labyrinth - designed by Niantic Community Church labyrinth ministry members Joanne Moore and Susan Laurencot - was set up by a handful of volunteers in a couple of hours on Saturday.
Moore said Niantic Community Church's own labyrinth tradition originated 10 years ago at a women's retreat - an indoor version with canvas laid on the floor.
As a broader religious and spiritual tradition, Moore said, labyrinths exist all over the world as a tool for prayer and meditation. In the versions built into the floors of European cathedrals, she said, they could have been symbolic of an ancient pilgrimage to the Holy Land for those physically unable to make the actual journey.
"It was a way to have a path to a holy place," she said. "Or some people think that's it's just a way to kind of start your life over again."
The beach labyrinth idea has been in the works for some time now, she said. Last year, poor weather got in the way. But this year, it all came together.
"It's a dream come true for me," Moore said.
Shaped in the sand like a giant mushroom cap, the labyrinth's seven narrow circuits were laid out in stones and some wispy bits of driftwood along the short stretch of beach, just a few yards from where the cold water lapped at the shore.
Around the labyrinth stood three small signs stapled to stakes parked in the sand: "Meditation labyrinth. Welcome. Enjoy. Please don't disturb the stones."
People wended their way delicately through the circuits, footsteps muffled in the sand. When they reached the middle, many paused in silent prayer or reflection, closing their eyes or tilting their heads downward or gazing pensively out over the pale horizon.
"You wait until you feel enlightenment or peace, forgiveness," Moore said. "And then you come back out, following the same path, to the same world, but as a new person.
Though the morning was frigid enough to see your breath - most people were tightly bundled, some with their hands wrapped around warm thermoses - the complaints were scarce. Around the labyrinth, those looking on - those who had already completed their journey - spoke in reverent whispers, careful not to disturb.
"On your way in, you're seeking or you're shedding," Moore said - seeking forgiveness, perhaps, or shedding guilt. "And there's only one path. You can't get lost. You will come to the center."
Lyme man killed in East Haddam crash was to begin serving 10-year prison sentence
Norwich man charged with fraudulently collecting unemployment compensation
Appellate Court rules against Waterford commission in Kobyluck Bros. rock-crushing case
UPDATED: Foxwoods names architect for Biloxi, Miss., casino project
Bill O'Reilly: Slaves that built White House were 'well-fed'
Waterford fabricator, national barbecue champion team up to design and manufacture pits


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1. Re: Different Day/Night Thresholds in EM12c?AMcCollu-Oracle Apr 9, 2014 10:26 PM (in response to Don Seiler)
Hi Don,
We're discussing this offline with you but I thought I'd also respond here for other interested parties. In the next Enterprise Manager release, we will support this. You will be able to specify one set of thresholds for daytime (7 am - 7 pm target timezone) and another set of thresholds for nighttime (7 pm - 7 am target timezone). In the future, we are also considering allowing you to define what daytime and night time periods are for the target.
2. Re: Different Day/Night Thresholds in EM12c?Daryl E. Apr 14, 2014 3:44 PM (in response to AMcCollu-Oracle)
What if you created 2 OEM users .. one called DAYTIME, other NIGHTTIME. Each can have their own metric settings. Then using the scheduler and notifications scheduler you can have one active during the day and the other at night?
Might this work? Just thinking off the top of my head here....
3. Re: Different Day/Night Thresholds in EM12c?Courtney Llamas-Oracle Apr 14, 2014 4:12 PM (in response to Daryl E.)
Thresholds are assigned to targets not users. Notifications could be adjusted by user/schedules.


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25 years of experience
1 Pearl St
Brockton, MA 02301 Phone number & directions
Patient Reviews
Patient Reviews ? Write a Review
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I am continually impressed by the fact that Dr. M. M. Williams takes the time she needs to discuss any issues/problems that I may have and in spite of the pressure that she and other MDs receive to "get rid of the patient" as quickly as possible, Dr. Williams focuses on me. Invaluable and rare!
She has sent me to her nurses yes and they pretend they are doctors and I almost died!!! She is terrible and after 19 years burnt out she doesn't care about her patients just look at her nurses. They are all about the money and a quick fix. Inappropriate behaviour from that old fat nurse that hopefully will be retiring soon.Yet the doctor just puts people off to this one and that one when they are not doctors and have misdiagnosed numerous illnesses.....Dr. Williams should at the least oversee what her employees are doing! Drugs? Questionable? Taking serious responsibility for the care of the patients....NO
I can inno way say that Dr.Williams is anything but a very caring and extremely capable physician. I have been seeing her for at least 15 years and wouldn't even consider another doctor. I have come to trust and depend upon her for my every medical need. Very comprehensive in her treatments. Outstanding physician.
Dr. Williams has been my primary care doctor for many years. She is very comprehensive and spends the time to answer all my questions. I rely on her because she has never missed reminding me (and arranging) the tests I need to stay healthy. For example, she sets up my mammo exam every year. Five years ago the mammo found DCIS (cancer). My treatment did not involve chemo because it had been found so early. I credit Dr. Williams for that! I would recommend her to every woman who wants a great doctor.


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1451 Camino Trillado | Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-5840 | email@example.com
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing long-term, 24-hour residential care for developmentally disabled adults in Carpinteria, California.
Need a Referral?
Social services in Santa Barbara County are described in a searchable online directory. For assistance for persons with developmental disabilities, contact the Tri-Counties Regional Center.
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Cornerstone House and the Happy Adventure Summer Camp depend on your support. Please make a donation.
We appreciate the generosity of individuals, foundations, and companies that support Cornerstone House and our Happy Adventure Summer Camp.


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That will depend both on the shape of your table and how many people you plan to have seated at it. Keep in mind how much room you'd like at the table, but here is a quick guide:
Arrange a phone call with one of our experts who specializes in your exact question. Contact a support professional by E-mail, Online, or Phone


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TVTag, the TV check-in app formerly called GetGlue, is set to shut down soon
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The White iPhone, iCloud Rumors, And A 1994 Tablet Prediction Made News In Week That Was
The white iPhone debuted and quickly began selling out, while investors became concerned about future iPad 2 sales. But, don't tell that to those in Japan, who loved the second-generation iDevice. Meanwhile, Apple provided its mea culpa on the "locationgate" issue, but will that be enough for the whole affair to die? Not if Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn) has anything to say about it. These stories and more made news during the last week.
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A long time in the making, i.TV 3.0 is finally here, and it's a whole new experience. This major update brings native iPad support, plenty of new features, a whole new look, and puts the focus directly on your TV watching-related goodness.
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| April 30


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I looked through fifteen pages of banner/ad plugins. My mom is starting her own blog and the plugin needs to be simple to use - no coding. Something where she can create a 125 x 125 image for sponsor logos and upload the image from her computer. Ideally these images will fit on a sidebar using the Widgets page. This will not be fee-based advertising just ads for her local knitting clubs.
Almost all plugins I saw involved some coding which is not ideal for her. Any suggestions?


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If you already have a Gamer Launch account connect your Facebook account on your user profile first before using Facebook connect to login. Otherwise you may end up with a new account.
Please note, if we are not currently recruiting your class, feel free to post an application - we are always looking for exceptional applicants! About us
The core founders raided in "hardcore" raid guilds, and decided the atmosphere and play style was not what we envisioned our gameplay to be, so we created this guild. We like to maintain a friendly and fun atmosphere in our raids. No point in playing a game if you're not having fun, right? But we still uphold many of the beliefs of a hardcore progression guild including raid effectiveness, geming/enchanting, consumables, and players being able to maximize themselves for each boss attempt.
With that said, we are not a "hardcore, progression guild" nor will we ever claim to be. We don't expect to fight and bleed for server firsts and world ranks, but we do expect progression and glory to come with our raid style. Which is short, but effectively spent raid time in a fun and friendly atmosphere.
What we expect
We are some of Aerie Peak's Finest, so we expect gear to be gemmed, and enchanted with the best option that works for your class and the position you will be playing.
Flasks, pots, and food are all required. You WILL have and use these for every attempt. With dailies gold is now extremely easy to obtain, if you have a problem with this, try selling naked gnomes dances in Stormwind. That being said we will try our best to provide flask, enchants and pots as well as repairs up to a reasonable amount
We also expect you to read and research about the encounters on your own and be ready for raids with us from day one. The Officers are not here to hold your hand as you raid with us.
Raid Times OK, to put it simply, we are keeping it flexible. Burnout is not a valid option for us. We foremost play to have fun, so we want to make raiding as much fun as possible. Raid times are as follows: - 7 to 10:30 PM EST Friday & Saturday - raid invites start 15 minutes prior, we want to be able to start pulling at 7PM sharp. Guild Policies A detailed summary of everything and anything guild related can be found here! But... We won't just look at how "good" your gear is or how "good" your app says you are (this applies to people with amazing gear, not terrible gear...). We want to know that you can perform your role in a party situation. So every applicant we are interested in will be tested and "Tried Out" in a party/raid/whatever the officers deem best. Then, will we discuss your possible joining of our guild.
Any questions feel free to talk to one of our officers through IN-GAME MAIL ONLY:Kaylie, Pryze, and Cloveresque


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Call Us! 1.888.862.8818 | Mon - Fri 5AM - 5PM PST
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made without: triclosan, benzalkonium chloride, quats, parabens, synthetic fragrances, glycols, chlorine, formaldehyde carriers, petrochemicals, or most common allergens
Available in 3 scents: Lavender, Lemongrass, and Orange
2-pack, 2.0 fl. oz. (60 mL) each
Ethyl Alcohol 62%
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Spray directly on hands and gently rub thoroughly over hands. Fresh and clean!
For external use only. Keep out of eyes — in case of contact with eyes, flush thoroughly with water — avoid contact with broken skin. Stop use and ask a doctor if irritation and redness develop and persist for more than 72 hours. Keep out of reach of children — if swallowed get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.
Flammable. Keep away from fire, sparks and sources of ignition. Do not store above 104°F/40°C.
Made in the USA with US and imported materials.
Not tested on animals. No animal by-products.


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There is a template from Microsoft about Employee Scheduling. This however is an STP solution which doesn't work anymore starting Sharepoint 2010. Can someone please share if you have any templates for showing the employee schedules.
In Free Microsoft SharePoint 2010 and SharePoint Online templates try "Employee Training Scheduling and Materials" template!


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District 11 Votes To Close Charter School
Posted: 01/29/2015 - Calling it a tough decision, the District 11 Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to shut the doors on one of the district's charter schools.
Posted: 01/29/2015 - Calling it a tough decision, the District 11 Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to shut the doors on one of the district's charter schools.
Updated: 01/22/2015 - Parents, schools and public health officials have been struggling for years to get kids to eat more fruits and vegetables at lunch. Now a new study may have found a simple way to make a big difference.
Updated: 01/20/2015 - An Air Force Academy cadet was arrested in Boulder, accused of sexual assault and kidnapping in November, according to The Colorado Springs Gazette.
Updated: 01/17/2015 - A drunk man wanted on a warrant was able to walk inside a school, slip past security guards and sit in on a couple minutes of class before students spotted him and alerted authorities.
Updated: 01/16/2015 - It could have easily become a fatal situation: hundreds of students and faculty sitting inside as an odorless and highly deadly gas seeped through the building.
Updated: 01/15/2015 - The largest school district in Colorado Springs, District 11, has decided to do away with their zero-tolerance weapons policy.
Posted: 01/07/2015 - A small fire on a high school athletic field remains under investigation.
Posted: 01/06/2015 - Sand Creek High School and Remington Elementary School are on lockout status because of police activity in the area.
Updated: 01/07/2015 - A school bus driver goes above and beyond the typical bus driver duties.
Posted: 01/05/2015 - Beulah Heights Elementary School in Pueblo is closed Monday due to flooding in the school caused by broken pipes.
Posted: 12/27/2014 - Just about every kid looks forward to a break from school over the holidays, but during that two weeks away from school, teachers say kids' focus tends to shift from papers to presents, and it's not always easy getting them focused again.
Posted: 12/27/2014 - A young boy is hoping to make this Christmas a little brighter with handmade cards for a group of people in our community.
Updated: 12/17/2014 - A Southern Colorado school district is considering updating a policy about "students with weapons."
Updated: 12/17/2014 - Five of the top 10 schools in Colorado are in southern Colorado, according to the website coloradoschoolgrades.com.
Updated: 12/17/2014 - Two schools in Colorado Springs were presented with the "Spirit of the Springs" award by Mayor Steve Bach Tuesday.
Updated: 12/16/2014 - Firefighters responded to a small fire on the roof of Mann Middle School Monday morning.
Updated: 12/12/2014 - Flu season is here, and it's hitting one Colorado school district especially hard.
Updated: 12/10/2014 - 11 News is getting answers about how a local school district allowed a registered sex offender to be a volunteer coach.
Updated: 12/10/2014 - A former band coach was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation for sexual exploitation of a child, according to our partners at the Gazette.
Updated: 12/10/2014 - A man offered a little girl a ride as she walked to school Tuesday morning, but the motives behind the invitation are not clear.
Updated: 12/09/2014 - More students upset about the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner are demonstrating in Denver.
Updated: 12/08/2014 - Some very special kids from Falcon School District 49 got a real Christmas treat.
Posted: 12/02/2014 - Schools across Colorado Springs were called to help in the fight against hunger. The schools answered the call--resoundingly.
Updated: 11/22/2014 - A high school girl was caught on camera punching a police officer as he tried to break up a fight. The officer then punched the girl.
Updated: 11/21/2014 - A local school district is trying to get answers after 11 News alerted them of a convicted sex offender helping out with one of their sports teams.