Wil Wheaton passes along these words of wisdom from fellow blogger Pauly:

"If more Americans read books every night instead of watching TV, we'd live in a more productive society. If more Americans watched the news and read real newspapers and magazines, instead of crappy programs like American Idol, then I'm confident that George Bush would not be our president. But heck, that's what our leaders really want deep down... a mindless, uneducated populous that will work 40 hours a week so they can earn enough money to buy things to keep them distracted from the evil deeds that our leaders and suits in Fortune 500 companies are conducting everyday under your noses."

I would like to take this opportunity to note that having new comics day pushed back to Thursday because of a holiday sucks. But I have stacks of stuff to read, so if you'll excuse me...

Glenn Hauman corrects a misconception of Ben Stein's about why the oil companies shouldn't be taxed for their record profits. Basically, since we gave them tax breaks and financial incentives since before W's administration gave them God knows how much, we should share in the benefits, as well.
And on a similar note, here's a comic strip to read.

Logged on today to read the bad news, first on the PvP site, and here's the news item from comicon.com.
They said he died at his drawing table, and was touched by the sacks of cards and letters he received.

Technically this is part of the last post (or the next one, for those who came in late) but before and after going to the movies I was hit with depression. It was a number of things: the no job situation, the wife feeling sick yesterday and being worried about her, the car being in the shop getting a replacement radio (hey, insurance helps for a change). I know, you're saying "if your radio is getting replaced, why are you feeling depressed?" Well, I don't know if it's a sign of old age or what, but things have to be just so (or all right, if you prefer) for me to relax. I'm not liking any change to the routine. If we're out of something at home, or if the one cat we let out (the momma girl) hasn't come in yet, or if I have to drive a different vehicle, I'll be unsettled until the situation gets back to normal. Any day now I'll be yelling for my World's Fair Spoon.
So we got home, I was stuffed with popcorn and was in the mindset (quoting fellow Hoosier John Cougar Mellencamp) of "nothing matters and what if it did?" The wife suggested going out to Sonic Drive In to get something to eat (she was in a mood for chili cheese tater tots and didn't feel like cooking at home) We drove up listening to the oldies station, her cuddling up next to me while driving, and although I still wasn't hungry, there was just enough room for an extra large chili cheese dog. Drove home still listening to the oldies with her by my side cuddling up, and the blues eventually went away.
There are times when I said one can deal with anything if they have the love of a good woman, and I especially like times like these when I'm proven right about something I've said.

Went and Saw X3 today, and rather than review it, I'll direct you to Mark Gibson's review, basically take out the raves for Beast (I liked him in the movie, don't get me wrong, just not as much as Mark) and you have what I thought of it. And Harry, I would love more than anything to see a Dark Phoenix Saga movie in all it's glory, but like Mark says, film's a different animal and they've got a different dynamic and story line set up. I'm sorry, I'm not going to join your Brent Ratner mob with the torches and Frankenstein rakes.
Of course, the wife was glad that Kitty had a bigger role this time out, but she doesn't like bad language in her entertainment, so to soften the blow about something I read online a while back, I've been taken to say "I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!" a few times to prepare her. Sometimes I would add "Charlie Murphy!" and explain the whole Dave Chapelle/Rick James business (since Dave/Rick said a similar line to Juggy's) to her. She eventually said "He better not say that to Kitty!" And then a few days ago online, I read...
A bonus was that my 2 nephews who saw the first one with us (wife and I were in Toronto when the second one came out) came along. One of them was trying to win a stuffed turtle from Over The Hedge for the other who collects turtles. It was one of those instances when you snag it with the claw, but it slips out when the claw comes up. I tried four times, and on the fourth try got it.

Mark Gibson has recently brought it to our attention on his blog that his wife Lisa also writes a blog, mainly to start a dialogue about bipolar disorder or address what else is on her mind.