Keller relays this report about a news orgaization winning their appeal against reporters by asserting that "under the First Amendment, broadcasters have the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on public airwaves." Guess which news organization. And guess which state. Surprised?

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Since I wasn't at Comicon I didn't get a chance to get the Stan Lee action figure that was an exclusive there. I'm ashamed to say I went the eBay route trying to get one. Shortly after I put in a bid for one, I found his figure and the She Hulk exclusive at the Hasbro Toy Shop. But there wasn't any way to get out of my eBay bid. There was the consolation I'd get it sooner if I won the bid, but at what cost? I sweated bullets until I got outbid 15 minutes before the auction ended. Then I went to Hasbro's site and got both figures for about the same price! How cool is that?

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Remember last week when I was talking about going to Comicon and part of me was just wanting to stay at the hotel? I guess I'm at the age where staying at the hotel with all the amenites sounds nicer than going to the con, fighting the crowds, missing out on things, etc. Of course, the question then arises: why go to Comicon in the first place? Why not plan to go somewhere more relaxing to begin with?
Rocky Point condo rentals looks like just the thing. Located in Mexico, they offer vacation rental homes, luxury homes and condos with beach front views of the Sea of Cortez. Fully equipped kitchens and Satellite TV. Sounds like just the thing for me.

Decided to stop at my local BK tonight to see what I could score with Simspons toys. Got 4 more: Barney, Apu, Maggie, and another Golden Homer! The Maggie toy is supposed to be a sucking sound, but it sounds like she's got a seal buried in that sandbox. I noticed on the package on the way home that's it's labelled "not intended for resale"! Wonder how long before the BKs catch on?

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They just had the Eisner Awards at Comicon last weekend, and when you read about some of these awards shows you wonder how they get their awards made? If they just zip down to the trophy shop and get them made. Or where a trophy shop is anymore. If you're looking for a place to make your custom promotional products such as awards, deal toys, corporate gifts, and more. Dazzle your clients, associates and employees with impressive, one of a kind business and corporate awards from GDNNYC. Need a corporate or business award for an outstanding employee or vendor? Their talented and creative staff can assist in designing and implementing it. They also offer promotional items imprinted with your business name and logo, ranging from hats and mugs to flash drives and baseball bats.

Bully's quest to meet Jane Wiedlin has a happy ending. To answer the headline in the first link, Bully, you're so good with the stories that you make us wonder if they'll end up happy. Have fun with all your stuff and decompressing from the con.
And to find out what Ms. Wiedlin's been up to, check out this interview at Comic Book Resources.

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Mark Evanier reports that Tom Snyder passed away yesterday from complications from luekemia. I think back to my misspent adolescence watching the Tomorrow show on summer vacations. Also, a while back someone (I'm not sure who) posted a YouTube news update he did in the mid 70s, lamenting 1) that the networks don't do that sort of thing anymore, and 2) they also don't explain the news so you understand (with brevity, no less).

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And to top it all off, this is the second time I've had to type this!!
This weekend San Diego has Comicon...and we have NASCAR. Oh, joy.
And Geoffrey, it ain't just you. It seems news from Comicon is few and far between, and visiting the usual suspects doesn't help much, it's hard mining. And I hope Bully gets to meet Jane Wiedlin while he's down there. Even if she's Noah's wife.
Meanwhile, until the sheriffs take it down, here's some footage:
Update: The sheriffs took it down. Damn their oily hides!
I always say while it's going on I wish I was there, and I always say that whenever I get that feeling, I lay down until it goes away. But I do feel I should go at least once in my life. Even though I'm at the age where I'm too old to go to cons, and prefer the hotel.

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Here's some more information I found online about the trailer / preview before Transformers, currently referred to as "Cloverfield" or "1-18-08". Rumors fly about what the title is. Is it "Monstrous"? "Barbarous"?? "Ferocious"??? J.J. Abrams says it isn't the first one, and Harry says it's "Colossus".
Entertainment Weekly and Guardian Unlimited have jumped into the fray, with the latter pointing to this "Japanese" Drink website that might have clues.

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T. Jeffrey Safari Company, LLC offers big game hunting safari trips to Africa for top species including leopard, cape buffalo, lion, elephant and rhinoceros. Hunt for trophy game in South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Khomas and the Kalahari. And who hasn't dreamed of a Namibia hunting safari? There's something primal about returning to the motherland and hunting animals in their native habitat. They're willing to take care of all the paperwork and technicalities to allow you the maximum enjoyment of your trip, and have a FAQ section to address any questions you might have and to help prepare you for your trip.

Yahoo decides to tie in to Comicon by tackling the big question: why are people fooled by Clark Kent wearing glasses?
Couple of minutes from the new Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon, coming March 2008. Heavily influenced by the movies, looks good. Plan to add it to my TiVo Season Pass.
And details of the Heroes spin-off merchandise, also found here which has some things not on the first list, including something of interest to the Bunnyman. And the Heroes booth at San Diego.

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Ever since it came out, I've been listening and enjoying the Police CD. I really like the vintage poster reproduction that came with it, and have you seen all the songs on it?
1. Fallout
2. Can't Stand Losing You
3. Next To You
4. Roxanne
5. Truth Hits Everybody
6. Hole In My Life
7. So Lonely
8. Message In a Bottle
9. Reggatta De Blanc
10. Bring On the Night
11. Walking On the Moon
12. Don't Stand So Close To Me
13. Driven To Tears
14. Canary In a Coalmine
Disc: 2
1. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
2. Voices Inside My Head
3. Invisible Sun
4. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
5. Spirits In the Material World
6. Demolition Man Listen Listen
7. Every Breath You Take
8. Synchronicity I
9. Wrapped Around Your Finger
10. Walking In Your Footsteps
11. Synchronicity II
12. King Of Pain
13. Murder By Numbers
14. Tea In the Sahara
And check out this commercial showing in the UK about the CD:

Again, this isn't shown in the states, and I've always found overseas commercials to be interesting. I liked watching the japanese ones that were on my anime tapes, but this one is in english, which is a bonus.

One of the big questions was if there was going to be a comic book version of the TV show Heroes. Well, apparently DC will release a Hardcover collection (Newsarama story here). It looks like it's a collection of the online comic from NBC.com. Although both articles mention Tim Sale's contribution, no word if the convention giveaway comic from last year will be in the collection.

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Bills.com is a free online consumer portal where people can find help with money problems, resources to help manage their money, and articles to learn more about personal finance. You can learn about the different ways to bring down debt and stop the further sinking down and the helplessness and despair you feel. Their different sources of information are handy and helpful. Bring about peace of mind and do something about your financial situation, visit this site today.

End the Vicious Cycle of Debt: Bills.com Provides Steps to Achieve Financial Freedom

SAN MATEO, Calif., July 25, 2007 – American consumers who are bold enough to take a mid-summer pulse of their personal finances may find more debt than ever before. American families owed a total of $895 billion on credit cards at the end of May (Source: Federal Reserve) -- and Bills.com co-founder and co-CEO Brad Stroh reports that Americans must take steps now to end the vicious cycle of debt.
"Debt has become a growing problem, and many Americans need to find a solution. With uncertainty about the future of housing prices, the high cost of oil, and record hikes in health care and higher education costs, many people are on the precipice of financial disaster. Americans are playing with fire by maintaining an average credit card debt load of nearly $10,000 per household (Source: CardData.com)," Stroh said. "At the same time, the stock market is at record levels, but most Americans cannot benefit from this potential prosperity because they are crippled with debt. For those with debt, the time to tackle it is now."
Money Smarts Slump
With an estimated eight billion credit card offers going to mailboxes to lure Americans into debt last year ((Source: CardWeb.com), consumers are managing their money less responsibly than ever before:
• U.S. consumers racked up an estimated $51 billion worth of fast food on their personal credit and debit cards in 2006, compared to $33.2 billion in 2005. (Source: CardData.com)
• Just 18 percent of credit card debt is paid off each month. (Source: CardData.com)
• Since the early 1980s, personal saving as a share of disposable personal income has dropped from a range of 8 to 10 percent to a negative 1.3 percent over the past year. (Source: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research)
• The U.S. personal savings rate has been negative for eight consecutive quarters, reaching a 73-year low. This means Americans are dipping into their savings to make ends meet, rather than accumulating savings. (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
• At the same time, personal spending in the United States jumped in December 2006 by the highest amount in five months. (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
"The great news is that no matter how serious the situation – no matter how much an individual owes or why – it is possible to achieve freedom from debt," said Stroh. "Eliminating debt can be very challenging, but it changes people's lives forever. By ending the vicious cycle of debt, people truly become free and in control of their lives."
Managing the Big Four
For most consumers, ongoing debt falls into one or more of four categories: mortgage, credit card, tax, and student loan. While mortgage debt and student loan debt can be considered “healthy” debt -- securing an investment (home) or helping to build a better future (student loans) -- keeping the debts in control and paid in an on-time, systematic manner can make the difference between financial freedom and financial disaster. Stroh's company, Bills.com (http://www.bills.com), is a free online consumer portal that provides personal finance education and resources to help individuals manage their finances. To control debt, Stroh suggests individuals take these actions:
1. Manage the mortgage. Consumers are in the strongest financial position when they pay secured debt, such as the home mortgage, first. Secured debt is a loan for a tangible object such as a home or car. If individuals do not pay these bills, they risk losing the object through foreclosure or repossession, with a major impact on their finances and on their lives. Also, consumers with costly home loans might be paying far more than is necessary. With rates still low, refinancing an expensive -- or dangerously increasing -- mortgage can be a smart move. Visit https://www.bills.com/homeloan/mortgage_refinance/?rbc=2564 to learn about options.
2. Curb the credit cards. Half of credit card holders pay only their minimum monthly payments (Source: Experian-Gallup Personal Credit Index survey), which means that a purchase of a few hundred dollars can easily end up costing a few thousand dollars with interest. To slash repayment time – and total costs – make more than the minimum payment. Stroh advises making the highest payment on the credit card or loan with the highest interest rate. When that debt is repaid, add the higher payment to the next-highest-rate debt until that loan is paid off. "At first, the process can feel slow, but eventually you will see exciting progress," Stroh said. For more on cutting debts by 50 percent, and a debt savings quote, see https://www.bills.com/debthelp/debt/?rbc=2564.
3. Study up on student loans. Two-thirds of college graduates have student loan debts. They have an average $19,237 in loans (Source: FinAid). Defaulting on student loans can cripple a credit history for years to come. The right repayment plan -- including options such as consolidation -- can make loans manageable. Learn all about it at https://www.bills.com/studentloan/loan/?rbc=2564.
4. Tame the taxes. The IRS had almost 6.5 million delinquent accounts in 2006, and the number climbs every year. Worse, every late tax payment constantly accrues interest and penalties. For those with serious tax debt -- usually more than $10,000 -- experts can help work with the IRS to find a payable solution. See options at https://www.bills.com/debthelp/tax_debt/?rbc=2564.

No matter where a consumer is in the process of combating debt, three key steps will pave the way to a better financial future, stressed Stroh:
1. Learn the basics of personal finance. Everybody can find a style and a system of personal financial management that suits them. The Internet (at sites like www.bills.com) is loaded with free information.
2. Make a spending plan. Bills.com offers a free guide to personal finance that details how to create a spending plan. The guide is available for free at http://www.bills.com/guide. "Each month, plan how you will spend every dollar you earn," Stroh suggested. A budget is a great way to gain the freedom of knowing you are in control."
3. Seek help. For those with serious debt that they can't pay, help is available, especially if the situation was caused by a short-term problem such as a medical emergency. According to Demos, 29 percent of low and middle-income households with credit card debt reported that medical expenses contributed to their current balances. If support is needed, seek out a trustworthy debt resolution advisor about ethical, legitimate options. For more ideas about debt consultation, visit https://www.bills.com/debthelp/debt/?rbc=2564.
Based in San Mateo, Calif., Bills.com is a free one-stop online portal where consumers can educate themselves about complex personal finance issues and comparison shop for products and services including credit cards, debt relief assistance, insurance, mortgages and other loans. The company blogs about consumer finance issues at http://www.bills.com/blog. Since 2002, Bills.com and its partner company, Freedom Financial Network, have served more than 15,000 customers nationwide while managing more than $350 million in consumer debt. The company's co-founders and CEOs, Andrew Housser and Brad Stroh, were named Northern California finalists in Ernst & Young's 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

As planned I went to the midnight showing of The Simpsons Movie. It was a little more than I thought, but $7.50 is still cheaper than the other theatres in the area showing the film. I didn't get anything from the concession stand because I didn't feel like it. Also, I ended up not going to any Burger Kings because I didn't feel like it, also there's the risk of duplicate toys.
As far as the movie itself, it's a good solid picture, but a little slow in the middle, and the gags are more spaced out. Almost like they realized it wasn't a TV show, it was a movie. But it was more enjoyable than other films that do the same thing. I hope to see it again in the theatre at least once, and get the DVD when it comes out (not sure about FF: Rise of the Silver Surfer, probably will. And Spider-Man 3? Do I have to?)
The "hey it's a movie from a TV show, so let's do something we can't do on TV" moments go to Bart and Marge, and sit through the credits for extras you'd miss if you bolted the second it faded out. 3 out of 4.

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