A comic book by any other name would smell so sweet.

I just finished a graphic novel, Pride of Baghdad, by Brian K Vaughan and Niko Henrichon. It is a story about a group of lions that escape from the Baghdad Zoo during the American bombing in 2003. It is a quick read, only some 130 pages, with very few words. I was absorbed in the beauty of the Iraqi backgrounds, the intrigue between the two lionesses, and the anticipation of the anti-war cry veiled in the turban of art. I was enjoying it so much, the ending I never thought about sprung up and surprised me, like a hunting lioness. I’ll not spoil it here, but it ends the only way it could end.
This book reminds me, once again, of the guiltless power of graphic novels. In the same way that the best music combines the primitive appeal of rhythm and the modern allure of poetry into something more than these parts, the best graphic novels combine the Word and the Image, presenting to the reader a whole which is far more significant than the parts.
This is one of those cases. Check it out at your local public library. Sometimes they are shelved in the Young adult or Teen sections.

Not-Baseball

Let's just call it that.
In order to make any point about hockey, you have to put it in terms that relate to other sports, so that most people can understand it.

Take this article, for example;
Uni Watch.
A few entertaining bits about NHL uniforms, but he can't finish the article without mentioning BASEBALL. Part and parcel of ESPN's continued shunning of the greatest game endorsed by VP candidates that's not baseball. I hear they plan to change their name to ESBN - something-something BASEBALL NETWORK!

The USA Today did not even have an NHL preview this year.

Toronto looked impressive against Detroit last night - fast and young. They split 2 competitive preseason games as well. Eric T. picked the Leafs to win their division. An admittedly unscientific prediction, but with the new coaching staff and the weak competition, not out of the question.

It looks like there will not be an inline hockey league at the rink I have reffed for the last 2 years. Kids (young adults) don't know what they have till it's gone. In the spring I plan to get involved with the Toledo Street Hockey League. After I'm done with school in a year or so, I hope to get more involved with ice hockey, as a referee. It pays twice as much as inline, but it's more intensive.

My son plays floor hockey at the YMCA. Unfortunately, the ADHD keeps him from focusing for any extended time, and thus he's just not very good. But he loves doing it, and I enjoy spending that time with him and the other kids. I think as he matures, he'll enjoy it more and want to get better.

The Bad Fish Paradigm

On a recent episode of the Big Bang Theory, Sheldon wore a neon green shirt with a robot that struck me as familiar.
This show is hilarious, and nicely balanced for the advanced ego. It rewards those who can comprehend the vocabulary of advanced physics, yet mocks their intrinsic, if not exaggerated, nerdiness with star trek and comic books references.
Fortunately, it was a Sheldon-centric episode, so I had time to recall the memory. I realized the image was from a video game from the 1980s, but I couldn't quite remember the name.
Of course, I googled it, and came up with this:
BERSERK
The image on his shirt, though, was nothing at all like the video game graphics. The image in my mind came from the box, or the advertising. I distinctly remember drawing that robot, and my Aunt drawing it so much neater. Actually, I think it was supposed to be a space marine, rather than a robot.
I googled the packaging, too, but found only this:


Take a few minutes to browse through the rest of this entertaining list. Go on...let Nostalgia sit on your lap and talk about the first thing that comes up.

I'm not really sure what that means. Just go with it...

Nope.

The Writing Writer

On Monday this week, I went the entire day without thinking or doing anything creative, anything towards my stated goals. I believe that was the first time since I started this endeavor that I was completely devoid for an entire day. Not counting weekends, of course. Well, on weekends I am at least thinking about it.
Here it is Wednesday. Guess what?
I am determined to keep this thing going, and I realize the only way to do that is to DO that. So, I will make myself get back on schedule. Each morning will again start with 1 hour of writing, regardless. But I think it's more important than ever to get on to the actual writing. I will leave the D&D stuff for 'free time', leisure activity.
It's imperative to separate the writing time from the leisure time, to think of it as a real and essential part of my life that deserves it's own slot.