Grag Hatcher on an idea to revitalize comics: Reboot the whole line, period. With some good arguments that it should've been done after Crisis on Infinite Earths, and that chickening out only complicates things. I agree that that is what should be done after Final Crisis. That there shouldn't be a slave to continuity, that it is good like it was in the beginning, when it added extra flavoring to the story, and now it bogs things down a lot of times. At least stop new comics lines from trying to launch universes. They almost always fail. Start with telling a good story, and build from that.

Note: The following post is sponsored.
For many people, the most difficult thing about starting a business is raising the funds needed. A good rule of thumb is to have 6 months worth of money to run your business to start. For many people (including those in the hobby business) that is too daunting and might raise enough to open their doors. Or worse yet, obtain loans either through banks and financial institutions or worse, credit cards, friends and family members. This is a very quick way to ruin your business, not to mention your credit rating and personal relationships.
Surprisingly, a lot of people aren't aware of venture capital, entrepreneurs who are looking for start-ups to fund and nurture. But you must plan and prepare, you simply just can't show up with hand stretched out. One common sense tip given from the site is to make your business "fundable" or put yourself in the investor's mind, make your proposal attractive to them, put yourself in their shoes. But it's still a long journey that requires effort on your part. Prepare to answer some tough questions and hear the word "no" a lot. It may take months or even years. Thanks to SubmitBusinessPlan.com this process has become much more simpler and time saving.

Journalista just posted a link to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's page of artists-in-residence. Artist Ellen Forney is this month's artist, and there's videos on this page featuring her. I dunno if the link goes away tomorrow with the first of the month, Monday, or Tuesday (because Monday's Labor Day) but you might head over there ASAP and check it out. And if you're wondering why I say check it out, here's Ellen Forney's web site.
And I just read Beau Smith's column in Comics Buyer's Guide about discovery Lora Innes and her webcomic The Dreamer. Another comic worth checking out on this long holiday. And it's something she's interested in, not something that's chasing a trend, or what sells.

Note: The following post is sponsored.
With prices going up (I'm talking to you, energy) and wages not so much (if they increase at all) many people are looking into the idea of do-it-yourself home improvement. But a lot of times, they're scared off. The reason behind that may be the amount of work involved, and that's on top of all the work you do nowadays. And I'm not talking about the job you go to for the wages that don't go up as much as the gas to get there. I'm talking about taking care of the family, loved ones, helping out your fellow man, things like that. I have to admit that's one of my problems, getting started. But I can tell you, there's no better feeling than after you've worked toward fixing or improving something. You may not be done at the end of the day, but you have a good feeling that you've worked toward a goal.
But I suspect the biggest reason is the lack of knowledge in doing home improvements. I doubt there's any plumbers reading this, so who really knows how to remove and replace your toilet? And I'm going to go out on a limb here and say there's no electricians out there either. How in the world do you do any home wiring with destroying the house or yourself? Or any other home improvement chores? What if I told you you could even get DVDs on hot to remove and replace your toilet or home wiring? Visit DoItYourself.com for more and buy the DVD

Michael Davis on how opinions are not facts, and people should realize that. I think a lot of people have opinions that they're afraid to share partly because of this, and partly because they're not on the "approved list" of opinions. And I'm not talking politically incorrect thoughts, either. A while back, someone challenged my opinion wanting to know if it was something based on my experience, or was I parroting what other people said? (Okay, it was about anchovies, and it was Kelly who did it) I might not make the leap to trying it on my pizza, but that's more because I'm set in my ways than towing the party line.

Note: The following post is sponsored.
When people mention metal detectors I, like many people, think about airports. But there are other places where they are used, places where security is a concern Places such as government buildings, prisons, schools and nightclubs. Rapiscan Systems is a leading provider of security items such as the metal detector (both handheld and walk-through systems). And they aren't designed for people, they can be used for cargo and vehicle inspection, baggage and parcel inspection, and hold baggage screening using X-ray, Gamma-ray and Neutron based technology; all to ensure safety and security for you place of business or port of entry.

Too profane for Cracked Magazine's latest foray into newsstands: 100 Acre Deadwood. Going out to my friends in River City in the hopes we'll hear from them again soon.

Ain't It Cool News has a couple of rumors about J.J. Abrams' upcoming movie codenamed Cloverfield.

John Ostrander on this news report from MS-NBC that the whistle blowers in Iraq are the ones being punished, while the wrongdoers keep doing what they're doing. And the only US Officer to face court-martial over the Abu Gharib prison scandal will receive a reprimand for not keeping his mouth shut as ordered. Apparently, the "don't snitch" campaign has gone from the streets to the highest echelons. But remember: that's only if the parties being snitched on have any clout. If not, knock yourself out. After all, the police are too busy writing speeding tickets and making money to take care of crimes that don't make any money. Plus, their "bosses" can have them stick it to you if you decide to open your big mouth.

Note: The following post is sponsored.
Unfortunately, I don't have a garage. As a result, I have to park my vehicle outside and try to keep it away from the tree in the yard to keep it from being messed up. Sometimes it doesn't work. What I really need is some custom car covers to keep the elements (and the birds) at bay. Not only that, but they offer other accessories such as front end masks (bras), truck tonneau covers, sun shields, interior covers, seat covers, and a full line of covers for motorcycles and ATV's. Covercraft Industries has been in the business the longest and have all sorts of covers for all sorts of vehicles.

Awhile back I wrote about a possible wrinkle to the sequel to Bubba Ho Tep. Now the reports are coming out. Bruce Campbell isn't doing the sequel Bubba Nosferatu. And it don't look good for Freddy Vs. Jason Vs. Ash (although that's coming out in comics, it's in the new Previews, even), Evil Dead 4, or the Evil Dead remake.

Note: The following post is sponsored.
1 800 We Answer Answering Service offers a full spectrum of telecommunications services to meet your business needs, such as telephone answering service, medical telephone answering service, emergency recovery and contingency, call center, virtual office, resellers / CLEC's, voicemail, cell phone, pager and repair service; fax, and mail receiving service for individuals and businesses, located in the heart of Manhattan. Don't miss out on sales or business opportunities because your phone system caused you to miss out on the call. And if the web site doesn't answer you questions, just input your phone number and a representative will be conferenced to you immediately.

Richard Jewell, the security guard that was falsely accused of the Atlanta Olympics bombing, passed away at 44. The cause is unknown, but he was diagnosed with diabetes. He received confidential settlements from some news agencies, but not from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution whose suit was scheduled for trial in January. Hopefully, his story will serve as an object lesson to news organizations in zealous pursuit of being the first with the story.

Summer's winding down and the kids are back at school. You know what that means. The holidays are coming. First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and the next thing you know you're making a list and going out in the cold fighting the crowds to shop for them. Why go to all that trouble when you can use online shopping coupons and get it all done from your home? And there's all sorts of online stores you can shop at, such as Best Buy, and if you're a Reward Zone member like me, you can get the points the same as the actual store and get the certificates just the same. Or if you have an urge to go to a store, why fight the crowds? You can go to Target anytime you like, and get all sorts of deals online you don't get at the actual stores.

DC issued the following:
DC is rush-soliciting the following titles.

=========================================
* Showcase Presents: World's Finest Comics Vol. 1 TP collects stories
from Superman #76 and World's Finest Comics #71-111, written by Edmond
Hamilton, Alvin Schwartz, Bill Finger, Jerry Coleman and others with
art by Curt Swan, Dick Sprang, John Fischetti, Stan Kay, Charles
Paris, Ray Burnley, Sheldon Moldoff and others.

Showcase Presents: World's Finest Comics Vol.1 is a 552-page black and
white trade paperback with a cover price of $16.99, and is scheduled
to arrive in stores on October 17.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Showcase Presents: Sgt. Rock Vol. 1 TP collects stories from G.I.
Combat #68 and Our Army at War #81-117, written by Robert Kanigher and
Bob Haney with art by Joe Kubert, Jerry Grandenetti, Irv Novick, Russ
Heath, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

Showcase Presents: Sgt. Rock Vol. 1 is a 544-page black and white
trade paperback with a cover price of $16.99, and is scheduled to
arrive in stores on Nov. 14.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
* Showcase Presents: Supergirl Vol. 1 TP collects stories from Action
Comics #252-281, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #40, 44, 46, 51 And 52,
Adventure Comics #278, Superboy #80, Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane
#314, and Superman #123, 139, 140 and 144, written by Otto Binder,
Jerry Siegel, Robert Bernstein and others with art by Al Plastino, Jim
Mooney, Curt Swan, Dick Sprang, Kurt Schaffenberger, Wayne Boring and
others.

Showcase Presents: Supergirl Vol. 1 is a 528-page black and white
trade paperback with a cover price of $16.99, and is scheduled to
arrive in stores on Nov. 28.
------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, the Showcase Presents: Teen Titans Vol. 2 TP which will
now has a new in-store date of Oct. 31. Showcase Presents: Teen Titans
Vol. 2 is an 512-page black and white trade paperback with a cover
price of $16.99. This title collects Teen Titans #19-36, Brave and the
Bold #83 and 94 and World's Finest Comics #205, written by Bob Haney,
Mike Friedrich, Neal Adams, Robert Kanigher, Steve Skeates and Marv
Wolfman with art by Gil Kane, Neal Adams, Nick Cardy, George Tuska,
Carmine Infantino, Sal Amendola, Dick Dillin, Jim Aparo, Wallace Wood
and Joe Giella.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Showcase Presents: Metal Men Vol. 1 TP has a revised in-store date of
Sept. 26.
==========================================
Current orders for the following Showcase Presents titles are
cancelled. These titles will be resolicited at a later date.

* Showcase Presents: Captain Carrot Vol. 1.

* Showcase Presents: The Great Disaster Featuring The Atomic Knights
And Hercules VOL. 1.

*Showcase Presents: The Suicide Squad Vol. 1.

* Showcase Presents: Secret Society Of Super Villains Vol. 1.

* Showcase Presents: Jonah Hex Vol. 2.
==========================================

Crap. I was looking forward to Suicide Squad and Jonah Hex volume 2. And none of the other substitute titles sound interesting.

Note: The following post is sponsored.
Although this post is more aimed at businesses, people can certainly identify with it. People that owe you money, but that doesn't equal money. Especially the way the folks at Visa, the grocery, Wal-Mart, etc. see it. Having someone owe you doesn't impress them a bit. That can be more of a problem for businesses. They need to keep an eye on their cash flow to ensure that the day-to-day operations of their business continues as planned. Accounts receivable aren't necessarily seen as a liquid asset.
That's why a lot of businesses are looking at account receivable factoring. Basically, you can trade your account receivables for the cash you need to continue your business, and let them worry about the collecting.

There's a strike a-brewing in Hollywood. Mark Evanier says this one's for real, doesn't look like one of the unions will blink first and accept a deal. Everybody's rushing to get things a'going before it hits. As a result a lot of people are saying the movies that'll come out in 2009 will stink on ice. Fark had a link to an LA Times article, but you have to be registered to read it.

Note: Brought to you by your friends at www.farreys.com.
Before we moved into our house, we were doing some work on it to get it into shape. Kathy suggested getting a ceiling fan for the living room with reversable blades so that it'd be cool in the summer, and as heat tends to rise push it back down to us in the winter. Year in and year out, it performs as expected and helps us out. I have a second ceiling fan in our computer room that does the job as well.
Whether you are looking at addressing your energy bills or want something that looks good Farrey's has the ceiling fans you want. You can choose by brand or style, so if you want Casablanca Fans or Monte Carlo Fans, Farrey's has you covered. Just pick what you want and go.
Their ceiling fans search tools can help you find the fan to fit your needs and ship it out to you. You'll be up and running in no time with a wonderful decor addition and help save on your energy bills, especially with them going up. They have a toll free number and if you happen to be in North Miami or Cocoanut Grove Florida you can visit their showroom. Farrey's: superior service since 1924.

On August 24th Diamond Comics cancelled orders for "Harbinger: The Beginning" hardcover that was scheduled for shipping August 29th. The distributor claimed it was for "legal reasons", which could be the confusion that has stemmed from the Valiant/Acclaim bankruptcy and who owns what. As a result, Valiant is offering to ship directly to retailers at a discount. This was one of my favorite comics from the original Valiant run, and was looking forward to the hardcover. I've asked my local comics shop to order it, stay tuned.

Note: The following post is sponsored.
Teen Rehab ECHO MALIBU provides a state of the art treatment for adolescents struggling with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, mental health issues, and behavioral difficulties. Echo Malibu has a thorough screening process to ensure the people admitted to the program are a good fit. They want to ensure that your adolescent isn't exposed to more dangerous addictions and/or behaviors. They also tailor the treatment to the person, realizing there isn't a one size fits all approach to the problem.

I've been reading the Luann strip the past couple of days, and I have some questions:
Why did the teacher write the assignment as "Read chapter 5, 6-9" instead of "Read chapter 5-9"?
Is there a better answer than "Because Luann couldn't write it down as 'Read chapters 6-9' and 'hilarity' would ensue for the test"? Or any other answers?
Why isn't the Comics Curmudgeon involved? I'm looking like an obsessed loon out here.
Where's my World's Fair spoon?

Note: The following post is sponsored.
There's a lot of video games out there that you play, get all the way through, and that's it. What are you going to do then? Sure, there are some stores that trade in used games. But with their overhead to deal with, not to mention trying to make a buck or two on their own, you end up with a lot less than what you paid, especially when you see what they sell your used copy for. And there's some trading sites where it's a game for a game and again, you're at a lot less than what you paid. PlayerChain.com knows what that's like, and that's why they developed a patent-pending game trading system. You can get full market value for your game, and not just get a game for a game even. Signing up is free. If you have a bunch of games you want to get rid of, and some games you want, why not give them a try?

Per Harlan Ellison:
"HARLAN ELLISON
- Monday, August 27 2007 9:18:47
MY DEAR FRIEND IS GONE
At 9 AM exactly, this morning, the 26th of August, my phone rang; and it was Tom, the younger brother of my friend of more than 50 years, the most excellent sf and mystery writer, JOE L. HENSLEY a staunch, talented friend I could not have loved more were he my brother. Joe died in the night. Last night.
Please spread the word. I am in fear that such mass amnesia as exists in the country, in the genre, in the massmind, that few will know his name. He needs to be remembered. Yet when I called LOCUS to report his passing, the (very polite) young woman who answered, who took the news, may not have recognized it, nor be aware of Joe's significant credits. I'm not sure; but I cannot leave this to chance. So, please, if you can: let everyone know that big, charming, wonderful Joe Hensley is no longer coming out to play with us.
Very sad, Harlan"
Mr. Hensley's bibliography can be found here. I'm sorry I'm not familiar with his work, but I found my copy of Partners in Wonder and plan to read the story "Rodney Parish For Hire", and in turn found a story he did in Dangerous Visions that he also did called "Lord Randy, My Son". Then I will think of absent friends, and absent friends of friends (Jeff Webb) and be sad.

Note: The following post is sponsored.
You see the headlines everywhere: "Geeks Are Hot!" "Nerd Is Where It's At!" But the throngs of opposite sex that they say are there aren't, and you learn the hype is, well, hype. And the dating services online don't really address your needs, or even acknowledge them. That's where Geek 2 Geek - Geek dating comes in.

They can let you be you and find someone who understands you. Why create an online persona? What's wrong with who you are?

Mark Evanier on the Death Tax Inheritance Tax, by explaining why it's more proper to refer to it as inheritance tax, and why calling it a "death tax" turns the tide of debate more in favor of those against it. I don't know if I buy into it. The only thing is it taxes on a perceived value, and as a lot of people in Indiana will tell you, that's causing a lot of problems with property taxes. Also, the guy that caught Barry Bond's record breaking ball is selling it because he can't afford the taxes on the value assigned to that ball. What would be wrong with taxing it only when any monetary enumeration takes place? I've also heard that prizes are taxed and it's caused me to think twice about entering any contests where no money is involved. If it's a higher valued prize, then you're taxed on the full retail value of the item in question. But, say you win a car. Even someone like me who's never bought a new car knows you have to be incredibly stupid or naive to pay the full sticker price on a car if you went into the lot and tried to buy that car. And the bargain hunter in me bristles at the notion of having to pay tax on the "suggested retail price" of an item knowing I wouldn't pay that. Does anybody think that the prices on common items on The Price Is Right is the same price you pay if you went shopping at Wal-Mart, Meijer, SuperTarget, etc.
Maybe these people inheriting things are getting money or liquid assets that can cover the inheritance tax, I don't know. Maybe the people having to liquidate family homes are in a shrinking minority, I don't know.
I'm all for everybody paying their fair share of taxes, and the rich not using tricks to weasel out of it, but I don't know...