I didn't get my comics today as my LCS didn't get one of their boxes from Diamond, that UPS says wasn't in their system. Looks like Thursday or Friday at this point.
And for Halloween I have comics to give out (our motto: we rot your brain instead of your teeth) This year, I ordered some of the Halloween comics that Diamond offered. Last year I ordered a few extras of the cheap promotional comics different companies offered and ended up only getting 3 kids stopping by, with lots left over. So I scaled back some this year.

Many people are in the market for a watch to compliment their look. At Essential Watches they offer many quality timepieces at discount prices. Whether you're in the market for Patek Philippe watch or Rolex preowned or unowned, they have what you're looking for at a deal that makes you feel even better than the impression you make.

Many choose lighting for aesthetic and useful reasons. Progress Lighting has been the largest single source for residential lighting and commercial lighting, earning the reputation as a leader in the industry for over 90 years. Progress Lighting offers a wide selection of high quality lighting collections that deliver aesthetic appeal, stellar performance, easy installation, and good value.

Steven Grant writes about the changes in the music and TV industry. Namely, that we're no longer stuck having to take what they dish out and they're not too happy with that. And what possible applications could be used in comics. I've felt that the direct market is very ineffective on many levels and feel that sites like ComicMix are a good start in the right direction, in offering online content.

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I was just checking out Joann Fabrics web site and seeing what all they had there. They offer free shipping on orders over $35. Plus, they've got a sweepstakes going on where you can win a pile of presents. Also, right up top they have a list of what all they have on sale and links to those sales. And you can join their free shipping club where you can get free shipping and discounts until 2008. And they have the different categories you can peruse at your leisure, having to do with fabrics, crafts, party supplies and much more.
And if you're looking for Joann Fabrics coupons instead of trying to use a search engine and come up with codes that expire and or are no good, why not go to this link? They can keep you up to date with all the Joann Fabrics coupon codes that are out there and let you get the most for your shopping dollar. And what's good about this Joann Fabrics coupons page is that they give you instructions on how best to use it. You're not just clicking on something and wondering why you didn't get the discount promised. They help you get ready to go. And they have other merchants coupon codes, as well. Merchants such as PetSmart coupons, Sharper Image coupons, Target coupons, and more.

Marty McKee writes about the similarities between Lost and another on ABC 35 years ago called The New People. What I found interesting was the fact that it was one of two shows experimenting with a 45 minute time slot. It had an interesting premise about trying to start society anew but unfortunately, the characters weren't interesting enough for it to succeed. At least that's what McKee says. The unusual time length really prevented it from being shown too much in the future.

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There are a lot of people out there who want a nice, relaxing vacation. They're looking for something that isn't going to add to the stress and strain, and they realize that cramming everybody into their own hotel room isn't going to do it. That looking into rental properties is the way to go. If you're wanting to get away from it all with some beautiful scenery, why not try a Cape Cod vacation rental? Or if you want to see and be seen, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket would be the way to go. Or if you're pining for warmer weather, they have some properties in Florida you can look at. All roomier with more amenities than a hotel, and worth the price.

I hope this doesn't become a regular gig here, but after hearing he was waiting to hear for a lung transplant, Robert Goulet passed away. Mark Evanier has a good write up, with a promise of a joke when another entertainer passes that Goulet and the entertainer told about each other.
And it was in the local paper but I hadn't seen it online, but Porter Waggoner passed away. One thing mentioned (if not the thing mentioned) was that he gave Dolly Parton her first big exposure. At a dinner in 1980 she said that they parted in 1974 due to "creative differences. I was creative and he was different." she said jovially.
Sympathy to best wishes to their families and loved ones.

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There are some who like the aesthetic and design of guns, but don't care for the bullets part. Years ago, there were these electronic rayguns that would make all sorts of noise. Some were retro design, some were more modern. The drawback was that they didn't actually shoot anything. A lot of people don't want the bullets, but would actually like the guns to shoot something, whether it's the feel or to better use for target practice. One way to achieve this is with air guns. Whether it's with pellet guns, air rifles, air pistols, BB guns and accessories, airsoft guns, blank guns, or paintball, they've got what you need with a variety of designs.

I've been reading a lot about the upcoming strike in Hollywood, particularly on Mark Evanier's site. I don't really have any feelings one way or the other because 1) I have left the main demographic they're interested in a while back, and don't particularly follow the most popular shows, and 2) I have a ton of other entertainment options to keep me busy. Once again, in the category of "you should have such problems" my TiVo is in jeopardy of being full and kicking shows out.
One thing I learned from Ken Levine's blog today: that scripts written before a strike can't have anything changed once a strike occurs. Not one word. And Glenn Hauman has the top 7 reasons to root for a writers' strike, with a funny YouTube video at the end.

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Right now if I knew someone who was getting married what I would do is point out this website about wedding planning to them to help them out. And it wouldn't have been shameless hucksterism, either. Anyone who's gone through a wedding knows you need all the help you can get. This wedding planning site doesn't sell things themselves (although they accept advertising) but rather offer articles about the numerous aspects of a wedding, such as gifts, vows, honeymoon, planning and more. They even have a blog with articles of interest to people getting married everywhere. Recent articles include trends in name changes, new trends in bridal showers, ways to personalize your reception, the hottest trend in eloping, and more. Most everything that you had questions about weddings, showers and receptions are covered here. If you have a question on how to do something having to do with a wedding, this would be a good site to go to. They offer creative suggestions that will help you make an impact on the big day.
So if you're getting married, or know someone who will soon, go check out this website about wedding planning. Odds are there's something of interest for you there.

Mike Sterling writes about the return of Mystery Science Theatre 3000. Before you get all excited, I should tell you that it's actually animated shorts featuring the 'bots. If you're looking for people riffing cheesy movies there's Rifftrax and The Film Crew.

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There are many places online you can go to to check hotel prices online, and I've been to most of the ones you heard about. My experience is that they usually offer the same price, but once you book with them, you're committed. If you have to change it for any reason, you have to pay a penalty. That Canadian trip I told you about a few years ago, I got dinged by a competitor because the hotel offered an upgrade for a steal at check-in and I took it. I still came out ahead, but didn't like getting dinged. While I don't mind making reservations, I guess I take after my dad and don't like being locked in to something, or being told I have to do something. And there's one web site that won't tell you what hotel you book until after you book it, and you have to do a dance with them over the price (William Shatner, I'm looking at you). I like to know what hotel I'm getting before I get it.

The good thing about Hotel Reservations is that it's the place to look for Cheap Hotels, not to mention vacation rental, car, or airfare. I checked out their website to give them a spin, and the hotel I usally use to visit friends in Louisville has an additional 10% off their already low price, and that was just for one night! And their site is easy to navigate. For instance, when you put in the last day of the month for arrival, they automatically put in the next day for a departure. For those who only book one night, it's easy; and easier for those who book more than a night. Some sights you have to put everything in manually. With Cheap Hotels, they have a bit of a brain, but not enough to interfere with your navigation of their site. Another thing I liked that they have right on the home page is that they don't charge you if you cancel or change a reservation.
Another cool promotion they're offering right now is a $100 rebate if you book 12 nights with them? Too many nights? Not to worry, they offer a rebate starting at $20 for 3 nights.
So I know next time I have to book lodging, I'll go to Hotel Reservations.

I didn't know that there was a National Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), let alone that it's coming up. Thanks to Geoffrey D. Wessel and Kathleen David for bringing it to my attention. I went to their website to read more about it. I hadn't seen one in awhile, but their FAQ section had that annoying each question had a link to click to, and that link only had the answer to that particular question, not all of them (as some versions I don't mind do) Not only that, each section is separated as well.
As far as to whether I will be participating: likely not. I feel that like New Year's Resolutions, this is something that should be undertaken as the occasion arises, as opposed to the dictates of the populace. But the FAQ does address that point (presented here in the issue of fairness, and to save you time hunting it down) and that one shouldn't shoot too high in their writing goals, which is one reason why all of this is set up.

Black Friday. Or as Mad magazine would call it, Blecch Friday. Or as I call it, the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan without the laugh track. The day after Thanksgiving that is the supposed day that stores finally move into the profit area (red to black) and is supposedly the busiest shopping day of the year, except that during the Christmas shopping season there's an article that there's actually a couple of days in the week before Christmas that are busier than the day after Thanksgiving, we all read and say "we didn't know that", and keep making the references to Black Friday.
Also, there are still the mass of crowds lined up in front of the store, ready to take advantage of the deals they see in the sales papers the day before. But instead of waiting until the day before to find out what 2007 Thanksgiving specials there are and having to all the planning and disrupting Thanksgiving so that you get up way too early the next morning, wait in long lines, and end up missing out on most of those deals, why not try the online solution? There's one site you can go to beforehand to learn all the Black Friday deals and better yet, purchase them online so you don't have to go through all that. A lot of deals aren't up yet, but FYE's specials are up now. So keep checking the site for updates, or give them your e-mail address so they can let you know when they are.

The drawback of CDs becoming popular is that records' larger size allowed to enjoy the cover art more, among other things. And ironically, the lack of compression on the audio allows for the music heard on records to be more nuanced. and doesn't have all the sound on an analog groove. I know I sometimes see vinyl albums of new music of some bands, and Christina Aguilera's retro album came out on vinyl as what I thought was an appropriate tie-in. But now, ironically, vinyl is enjoying a comeback, competing against CDs. And some labels offer downloads of their music for those still needing a digital fix.

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As with a lot of things online, there are a lot of online casinos out there. People want to know about what's out there and what deals you can find such as bonuses if you use their casino, if you have to download something, payout percentage, etc. That's where top united states online casinos website comes in. They rank all the casinos by those criteria and more that accept US players. Plus, you can read reviews of each site where they go into more detail on each casino with such things as graphics and presentation, and things of concern in the online community, such as security and not only how fast the payouts come, but how good they are. Best of all, the site is free to use. Plus, they rank the online poker sites and sportsbook sites. So instead of going back and forth, compiling and comparing notes, why not go to one place that does all that for you?

First of an occasional series.
New rule: if you're going to criticise the Dark Peter Parker "Staying Alive" strut in Spider-man 3, you have to hate the "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" sequence in Spider-man 2. Sometimes with the internets, it's like sharks: they smell blood and want to jump in on the fun.
I thought of this today, with the release of Spider-man 3 on video tomorrow. I'm not in any hurry to get a copy, even though the hype machine is geared up to try to make me want it.

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There are many people that consider getting a Tummy Tuck when diet and exercise fail. But it's recommended that women who are planning to become pregnant should hold off on the procedure until afterwards. It's for reasons like this that a decision should be carefully considered. Equally important is the decision as to which plastic surgeon to use. This is your body, after all, and you should entrust it to someone competant and skilled. The idea behind plastic surgery is look and feel good, and you don't want to spend all the money and recuperation and end up feeling worse. You should check and verify the surgeon's credentials and ask around to learn more about his abilities and skills.

It's Monday, and with Heroes on tonight, there's all sorts of stuff online. There's Comic Book Resources' latest installment of "Behind the Eclipse". And if you don't want to wait a couple of hours for the episode itself, here's some video clips.
And this week's Heroes online novel: Molly's Dream.
And there's a new 10th Wonder podcast, but the 9th is delayed due to their editor dealing with the fires out West.

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Even though we're getting into the cold weather, there's still things to do outside before winter sets in. Different projects such as landscaping around your pool and getting your front lawn ready. You can either hire a landscaping company or check out the articles and tips on how to do it yourself.

Mike Sterling writes about the big difference between last month's video The Death Of Superman and the comics. Namely, it didn't have as much impact in the video because a lot less time was allocated to the titular death than in the comics. Mike also talks about the DVD extras and freeze frames a couple of white boards. The first one looks like the domestic-violence issue that had a different ending than the comic did. It was a lot closer to Supes' actions in Action Comics #1 when he comes in guns a'blazing (as he always did back then, when Jules Feiffer said Supes' biggest problem was deciding who to punch) that they did a homage to in the new issue, with an explanation of why that approach doesn't work.

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As the years go on and age and weight take their toll, a lot of people are looking into Plastic Surgery as an option to resolve their problems. The dilemna is that if someone doesn't have good self-esteem or a distorted image of themselves it could cause them problems. After all, there's no law that says a plastic surgeon has to say no to a patient. Putting the surgeon's self-interests aside, they know that if they say no, the patient can very well go to someone else until someone says yes to them. So if it's decided that surgery is the way to go, it's ultimately up to the patient to determine who they will go with for their surgery. They should look for someone who is certified (and verify their credentials), see if they've done further studies in the the field (in the UK, you would look for “FRCS Plast” after their name), check with other patients of theirs, and visit at least two surgeons before you commit.

Earlier I had mentioned something to the effect that worrying about taxes if you won the lottery, as in that would be in the category of "problems I wished I had". But there are other problems with winning as this article points out. Specifically, that you could be broke or bankrupt within 5 years. It also mentions the problems stem from people opening up their own business or having a company buy their lottery ticket to get a lump sum payment instead of an annuity. Fortunately, here in Indiana you have the option of getting a smaller lump sum payment direct from them. There's been a buzz growing because no one's won the jackpot in about a year and it's up to $53.5 million (for the annuity) I have been playing the past few drawings, never winning more than $3 (matching 3 of 6 picks) that I put back into the game. I have such dreams as getting family set up, helping out some friends, and investing a lot of it to guarantee an annual income to me for life. I usually try to factor in inflation (usually by putting some of the interest back into the investment). And I know Kathy would love to design and build her own house. All of this dreaming usually is worth $5 by itself.

I can remember years ago when our family went to Kokomo for out shopping trips. They usually involved stopping at K-Mart and one time my dad introduced me to something from the snack bar called the submarine sandwich. It was like a sandwich, but it had all kinds of meats in it. We couldn't get them every time, but they were a special treat when we did. And years later when I started going out with Kathy, I shared all sorts of things with her, such as going out and looking around and topping it off with subs from K-Mart to eat if we had enough money left over.
And then one day in the early 80s we were at the mall across the street from K-Mart when we saw a new business in there called Subway, and they offered subs in both 6 inch and 12 inch. We got a couple of 6 inch subs and never went back. You had all sorts of subs to choose from but given what we had before I had a BMT with the different types of meat on it. Usually I had enough money to get a 12 inch that I would eat the other half right away, for save for later. I wanted to save it for later, but I usually ate it right away.
But with Subway, you always want more. I saw that they offered a 6 foot sub for parties and special occasions. I don't know if you still have to do it, but back then you had to put down a deposit on the board it was on that'd be returned when you brought back the board. And you had to give them 24 hours notice on a sandwich that size. I dreamed about having one, maybe someday. Then my 21st birthday was coming up. Forget about going out and getting drunk, I wanted a 6 foot sub. I think my parents thought that way as well, since they so readily agreed to it. I had some friends and of course Kathy over for the party. Another thing about the 6 foot sub is that it's more than six 12 inch subs. They're thicker as well. Even with everybody partaking, there was some left over. That's when I learned something else: that leftover 6 foot party subs don't freeze and thaw that well. But 6 inch subs keep well in the fridge for your next meal or that yummy snack.
Now that we're married, when Kathy and I go to Subway (we were just there yesterday) I get a footlong BMT on Italian Herbs and cheese bread. I usually have with american cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, double pickles, vinegar, oil, btown mustard and salt. Kathy gets the same kind, only on wheat bread and with black olives. We usually have half for lunch and save the other half for dinner.
And the fact that Subway is a fresh fit alternative for fast food? That's a bonus. This is one food that you wouldn't mind eating the healthy/good for you option. A 6 inch Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki, apple slices and water has only 405 calories, 5 grams total fat, and 1.5 grams saturated fat. Compare it with other fast food options. I know which one I'd go with any time, I'm staying far away from Burger Town:

It turns out Boomerang is running that version of Alice in Wonderland we were all hoping for. Guess I'll have to see about getting a new DVD recorder, as I'm not going back to VCRs to record. There's more reasons to get one than just getting this one special. And I just checked and once again the time slot people conspired against us. You know how a show will start a little early or run a little late to screw up your life? TiVo had the Alice special cut off a few minutes early, but since it'll save live shows for up to half an hour I got it to record a few minutes of the next program, so other than a few seconds, I've got the show. I did have it start recording 5 minutes early because I knew Boomerang was notorious for not sticking to time slots, but I didn't consider the end part. On the brighter side, here's a story about the special and Howard Morris by Mark.

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One time the comic "Knights of the Dinner Table" ran a fake ad for Russian women looking for gamers to marry. To this day, they still get people asking them about the ad, wondering how to meet these wonderful women who would understand them. No, I don't have information about that site being real, but I know of a site that offers you the chance to find russian women for marriage that would be devoted and understand you. Also, they offer advice and tips on dating Russian women and more importantly how to avoid online scams offering the same. They also have Russian news and other items of interest.

I just realized my DVD recorder is on the fritz. I don't know what I'm going to do if Boomerang does show that version of Alice in Wonderland that a friend of mine wants. Knowing my luck, given that I'm in these straits, it will be that version. Oh well, it's like worrying about your tax situation after you win the lottery.

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Cartridge Finder is the place to go to find print cartridges for your printer, fax machine, and copier. They offer competitive prices by having you select the brand, then the type of product, then the specific type of product, then your zip code (some places charge sales tax), and they present you with a list of options to shop from ranked by total price.

Mark Evanier says that Boomerang is showing the animated "Alice In Wonderland" special later today. But they don't tell you which version is being shown. Both him and another Mark I know are looking for the late 60s Hanna-Barbera version that has rarely been seen. Sometimes Boomerang shows that, sometimes they show the Goodtimes Video version that comes out on home video about the same time Disney releases their version (and since Boomerang is owned by Time Warner and not Disney, don't even think about this version being the one broadcast) The weird thing is I'm not coming back from Louisville as I was the last two times they pulled this. I got it set up to record. Here's hoping.

If you're looking for a place to go to on holiday, or if you want to see the Scottish Highland scenery, then check out Fort William holiday cottage. The scenery is breathtaking, and you can soak up the atmosphere while staying there. The Dalaraban holiday cottages look like just the place to get away from it all.

Shaenon K. Garrity wrestles through the same things I did with Apocalypse Nerd. Also, how All Star Batman should be appreciated for the fanboy wet dream as it is, as it gives them exactly what they wanted. And gives the naysayers something to appreciate (or at least laugh at) as well. Which, if you think about it, is like the Batman TV show of the 60s.

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Lidget Concrete Garages have over 30 years of experience in providing Sectional Garages and other concrete garages in the UK. They offer quality concrete garages to suit your needs, created in their factory, delivered to your home, and set up by quality fitters (not like some companies). And their customer service is top notch, with staff available to answer any queries you might have and a price guarantee that assures they won't be beaten on price. You can request a brochure or download one direct from their website. Or you can explore their website and check out what's out there, and call or e-mail if you have any questions.

Here's a quiz: Fox News anchor or porn star? I only got 2 out of 10. But I don't think I'll take the quiz' advice and stop watching CNBC. I don't even watch CNBC. As Homer Simpson says "yeah, what are you gonna do?"

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There are a lot of times in business where a cookie cutter approach isn't going to work, that you need something more customizable to do the job. That's where Configure One's product configuration software comes in. It allows for the change and customization that some clients demand from their manufacturers. Utilization of the software and the program allow for quick cost-justifications. Implementations normally result in 100% return on investment within eighteen months. The software can also be utilized in other departments, allowing you to translate customers’ unique product requests into quotations, sales drawings, bills of material, routings, and more.

Kathleen David writes about taking step daughter Ariel to meet Rosie O'Donnell. I was surprised to read that Rosie seemed as personable to the people in line as she was on her old talk show, which I had heard the opposite. Now if she'd go back to her stand up, or at the very least that personna, as it would defray the public personna that has grown around her, a lot of it undeserved. I just think that a lot of times celebrities have this perception that has grown or mutated to the point that it isn't them at all, but it has grown to the point that they don't seem to do anything about it.

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For over 3 years now, Avand has been offering plumbing courses to allow plumbers to become certified in their field. As they've started out in the business they've asked about Sales Training so that they can increase their business and improve their skills in dealing with the public. After some checking, they've found that sales training is a field that was very popular and not just for plumbers. So now they're expanding into the sales training field to not only help their plumber clients, but anyone else needing to learn something that is pertaining to the field of sales.