Forever A Fangirl

Book: Show us a great comic book or two.

Destination Moon

Once, I found a bunch of Tin Tin comic books in a resale shop in surprisingly great shape and I could tell by the unique artwork that they'd be collectible so I sold them and made relatively speaking, a  bunch of money.

So I think fondly of Tin Tin by Herge.

Tin Tin

In the1930's there were great comic books in other places besides USA, like France and Belgium, but they were barely known out of their birth countries. Of particular interest is Belgic Hergé's Tintin, who practically created the clean line style, and had lots of followers (and imitators).

link

But in terms of my personal favourites and I read a lot of comics growing up...

These guys:

I was a Batman and Superman fan as well as Green Lantern and Wonder Woman so put them all together and add a bunch more... including heroines such as Black Canary (below) and you get my pick for best best comic ever: The Justice League of America or JLA or simply, Justice League.

Oooh! Batgirls's on the cover!

Black Canary~ 1964

            

Justice League of America

Black Canary 2.0

Cats: Not that funny

The Joy of Tech by Nitrozac & Snaggy

Spot. on.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Ready for sleepytime?

Our pool would've been open today 'cept it's cold and rainy. Ditto for tomorrow. Monday, maybe swimming. Barbecue. Rain's got to stop. Bought Pirates movie vouchers from Costco and figure by tomorrow we'll be sick enough of the rain that we'll go spend three hours with that. Mmm, three hours with Johnny Depp. Ahem.

Johnny Depp, Very Short Pirate, Keith Richards

Also, I tricked out our mini-deck. Bought a few new furniture pieces-- table & two chairs. I spray-painted the two chairs I had already with black Rustoleum to match the new ones. Put down indoor-outdoor carpet and put up a privacy screen on one side of the deck. Found some thrift shop throw pillows that are okay for staying out in the elements (I toss the pillows out at the end of each summer). Bestest part--the part I've been looking forward to and that the rain needs to stop for is my nifty new Firedancer "fireplace" with optional ceramic logs. One cannot have anything but a gas powered barbeque or outdoor fireplace here in the lovely confines of Hidden Pond Condos so I found a kick-ass thing called "Firedancer" to use. After attaching the 20-lb. gas tank we fired it up for the first time yersterday and it ...really put out some flames...and gas fumes.

Let's Dance

So rain, rain would you please go away? And don't come back 'til sometime after Monday?

What am I, chopped Spam?

By By John Tierney         

Every message incorporates another message in the way it is delivered, whether it’s an e-mail or a ransom note pinned to an ear... this is called metanotification, a term coined by sociologist Dan Ryan. The metamessage is usually less gruesome than a body part, although once a CC: list reaches critical mass it has a horror all its own. Dr. Ryan said that in barraging me with “friendly-fire spam,” my correspondents were also telling me:

• “I’m too busy to be bothered thinking much about whether and why you, recipient, might actually want to know this.”
• “At this moment I’m treating you just like everyone else in my address book.”
• I have this category for you — "*****" — and some really crude and naïve sense of what you must be interested in, and I think that I’m plugged into the stuff that’s going on in the world a lot better than you are, so you’re lucky that I’m your eyes and ears out here.”

“...But it’s still spam, and you don’t expect that from friends."

How does one politely decline getting spammed by friends? Filtering them seems kind of cheap but so does not telling them how irritating their unending "forwards" are. Anyone? --C.

Outside the back door...

Impatiens

Show us a picture of your keys.

My keys

My keys have no special attributes but the key "chain" that they are on is special.

It's my original, one and only keychain.

My Dad is a retired chemist. I learned to drive while he still had access to a laboratory and he whipped up this round, opaque, circular key chain out of solidified resin.

The idea was if I had a big enough keychain--I woudn't lose my keys--and it's been decades now and I've never lost my keys or the Dad-made keychain they are on.

Cyanide & Happiness

CLICK to ENLARGE
Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Bouquet M-Day, 2007

      

Macro Bouquet Bloom

Bouquet Blooms

 

ROSES (WHITE AND RED MIXED) -Meaning: Unity, Flower Emblem of England (whaaa?)

Bouquet

Pachelbel Rant

This is funny.

Cyanide & Happiness

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

How Our Garden Grows: First Blooms

Hosta

My spouse is a gardener. I like pretty plants & flowers (translation: I am not a gardener) so I'm going to document how "our" garden grows from now through the end of summer. On this first go-round I used my cellphone camera and got the expected results. Hosta plants tend to "pop" so true to form though this is a new bloom it managed to put it's best um, leaves forward.

Japanese Maple

We live in a two-storey condominium. It's not bad--our place goes the full width of the building--but just the inside walls on in is ours. It's tough on a gardener to not own your own land but my spouse has not been deterred (right down to building little garden walls and having the condo assoc. people have him rip them out. The neighbours were ticked. They love the flowers).

Plants & flowers in the back of the house~

New Guinea Impatiens

Begonias

Hosta~ 05.14.07

Fremd High School Fails To Enforce Bullying Policy

Please don't bother reading this if you've already decided that I'm an over-reactive mother.
I can get emotional when first alerted to a serious issue involving my kid but given a bit of time to let things settle, I'm able to take a step back (OK, maybe a half-step) and look at it in as impartial manner as possible.

My history with Fremd High School in Palatine is through my two sons and spans about a decade.

My first son is now age 24. He felt he did not fit in at Fremd and he often was absent from school (truant).
By the middle-end of 10th grade I was told told by Fremd's alternative school principal that my son would "better off" dropping out of Fremd High School.  So he did.

My second son is currently a Freshman at Fremd High School.

At the end of second grade his grammar school advised us that "C" should test for placement in the "Gifted" Program. No one I know likes the term "gifted" so I usually call it the smart kid's program.
From the age of eight my son, "C." worked diligently in the various incarnations of grammar school's gifted programs.
He's a good kid. A smart kid. A kid with a sense of fairness--of right and wrong.

Please read the emails that I have sent to his school in the past two days to know how Fremd High School is treating my son--the kid who was invited to enter (test in) the "top five percent" program in this, his Freshman year.

Dear Ms. "K" (assistant principal):

 

This email is in regard to the action or lack thereof pertaining to the most recent incident that occurred involving my son, "C." and a boy, "F." and several of  F's friends in the Fremd High School cafeteria.

 

It is my understanding that "F" and his friends have been teasing/ harassing/ bothering  "C" for months now. "C" rarely asks for help with anything and at this age it is understandable that he not bring up things like this until they "boil over."

 

"F" and one of his friends "tag-teamed" my son last Thursday, May 3, 2007, handled my son's lunch and threw part of it on the floor.

When "C" reported this to a nearby adult in the cafeteria (a supervisor?) the response was "What do you want me to do? I'm not your mother."

 

Please know that I feel strongly that it is your responsibility to determine the identity of said adult and give her corrective feedback in re: when a student asks for help/intervention. I'm quite disgusted by the attitude exhibited.

 

Immediately after "C" had part of his lunch destroyed by "F" and his gang, "F" went on to threaten my son, saying "(he) would get ("C") after school."

Just because "C" did not show fear does not diminish the action of threatening another student.

 

After "C" first reported this incident to you, by taking the proper steps and filling out a Incident Report you reportedly verbalized your concern and stated that "F" "may end up with in-school suspension." I would assume that an in-school suspension would have stemmed from "F" making a clear threat to do bodily harm to my son.

 

However, today my son came home from school and in the course of describing his school day, mentioned that he was called down to speak with you and you relayed that "F" was "told to stay away" from "C" and that playing the card game Uno is against school rules.
(edit)

(signed)

Email # 2

Dear Mrs. "K":

 

This email is a follow-up to my email of yesterday.

I have carefully consulted the William Fremd High School (Calendar) Handbook and determined the following:

 

On page 9, in regard to Fremd's written policies on "bullying":

Suspension/Expulsion (page 7)
 

 

Also, just for your information there is no rule in the handbook against card playing. I've heard of some silly rules but kids are encouraged (as per the Fremd principal, Freshman Orientation for parents) to bring telephones to school--which they can do any number of things on--but they can't play a simple face-to-face activity such as Uno? (And yes, stated policy is "phones off" but seriously, we know this is a frequently broken rule--and why encourage cellphone use just to...discourage cellphone use?  FYI, my son almost never brings a phone; he usually prefers to read during idle time.)
(edit)

My son  didn't deserve nor did he encourage the harassment and bullying that he's put up with. And the blatant disregard shown by a staff member/cafeteria supervisor at the time of the incident? Inexcusable.

You did not serve my child's best interests nor did you follow your own stated policies.

In this regard you have failed my child which is just not acceptable.

 

Cyn (full name edited for this post)

(mother)

"Canadian coin with a bright red flower was the culprit."

Via email  from "Her Brother"

Try to think about this story a few seconds and tell me it is not amusing.

Story

A display of Canadian Fluorescent Coins, illuminated by a black light, shown in Washington, Wednesday, May 2, 2007. An odd-looking Canadian coin with a bright red flower was the culprit behind the U.S. Defense Department's false espionage warning earlier this year, The Associated Press has learned. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Being a grown-up is everything they said it would be

I’m quite conflicted in thought about my high school freshman son’s choice to take a condensed version of a “required” class over the summer.

It’s actually two classes, "Health" and "Consumer Education.". Suggested by his adviser,  theoretically, taking classes over the summer would put a kid ahead but that’s not what’s really happening here. Chris now has “made room” for another, most likely, AP class for sophomore year

For fall he has scheduled a class during his normal lunch time though he’ll be allowed to grab a tray from the cafeteria and take it with him to his tailored-for-Gifted-Program-kids class, “Critical Thinking.” Lunch on the run/at your desk—isn’t that how much of the working world does it every day?

This just makes my head hurt and my heart force me to consider if this is how a teenager should live his life. Put in 6 weeks of summer school when you don’t have to?

Part of me—the part that wants him to aim really high and make it? I think its great do this stuff ‘cause doing so might help get a partial scholarship to college (I know, magical thinking).

The other part of my brain is twitching about, worrying that he’s already taking AP classes, shouldn’t he let his brain get the down time of a full summer break?

Plus this really fraks with our summer vacation plans (which come a distant last to his schooling).

Ack! I wanna be selfish!

 

 

 

 

 

Golden Compass Daemon Snow Leopard

/edit a movie still from "The Golden Compass" is below/

I'll probably see this movie as my younger son read the three-book series and liked it--plus they have a cool website and I like fantastical stuff. :)

It appears to be that it's release date is 'round the winter holidays so that increases the chance we'll go, too.

I hope it's a really good adaption as he's quite the critic of films culled from his more favoured books as I believe this and it's two companion books are.

Probably the only book adaption into film that he didn't quibble with much was the Lord of The Rings trilogy.

Lord Asriel's daemon, the snow leopard Stelamaria in New Line Cinema's The Golden Compass - 2007

Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge

"Nocturne"

Last week 140 banks of LED lights lit up the Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge. Over the next 15 years, the 1,181 foot project by artist Nayan Kulkarni will never repeat the same color combo twice as it ripples across the structure, rising and falling in brightness and intensity to match the ebb and flow of the tide below.

QE II Metro Bridge Website  (Project Gallery with Image Library)

Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge

Neat-o!

Google Me(me)

Electric Firefly inspired this bit of nonsense.

As you can see I don't need much encouragement to goof off. And it's fun. Try it.

*"Cindy" is the name that people who knew me as a child call me (parents, bro, etc.). My birth/professional name is Cynthia--but Cyn is who I am in the blogging world and to newer friends. As the saying goes, you can call me anything but late for dinner.

• 1. Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search:

Cindy needs some validation and she's gonna get it no matter what! Damn straight!

Cindy needs to improve her social skills. But I'm Canadian! I have impeccable social skills!

Cindy needs to be accessorized, please. Well, 'ya got me there. Beyond earrings, I'm pretty well stymied.

Cindy needs to remind all her February crushes that we cannot be bought and that milk chocolates and diamonds only go so far. Apparently this Cindy has multiple personalities to go with all her crushes. That, or she's the queen of somewhere.

Cindy needs to put the crack pipe away and wake up to reality. Jeebus, talk about tough love!

• 2. Type in "[your name] is" in the Google search:

Cindy is a widely known frolic tune. Frolic. Hee. That's a fun word.

Cindy is awesome. Why yes, I'm am. Thank you for saying so.

Cindy is excited. Actually, I'm too beat to be excited. Vinyasa yoga class kicked my butt tonight.

Cindy is a recurring fictional character on the ABC television series Lost. Yes, and eveyone hates her, er, me.

Cindy is one of Hawaii's finest slack key musicians. Between my gigs on LOST.

• 3. Type in "[your name] likes" in the Google search:

Cindy likes the rain. Yes, but only at night. Sunshine during the daytime, please.

Cindy likes her new food. She ate her breakfast straight away this morning. New food? Where? No one told me about this. And I never, ever eat breakfast first thing in the morning.

Cindy likes dogs, bookbinding, Frank Lloyd Wright buildings and general architectural geekery.This is all true including the fact that I like my books bound tightly.

Cindy likes to be brushed and petted. She doesn’t mind being held, but sometimes she can get a little nervous when being carried around. Put me down. Now!

Cindy likes things simple. As opposed to say, simple things?

• 4. Type in "[your name] wants" in the Google search:

Cindy wants to know: Whose space is it anyway? Well, that's pretty easy. It's Rupert Murdoch's Space.

Cindy wants to look sharp. (singing) "You gotta look sharp..."

Cindy wants to know when her next showtime is. I am ready for my close-up.

Cindy wants the truth. And nothing but, 'ya hear?

• 5. Type in "[your name] gets" in the Google search:

Cindy gets her first Olympic gold medal. Bet you didn't know that blogging is now an Olympic sport. 

Cindy gets apartments in New York City and Bel Air, California. Life after my gold medal is very good.

Cindy gets in a tangle. Oh-oh.

Cindy gets wackier. Not a good sign. People tend to back away slowly when I get any wackier than I am now.

Cindy gets a visit from the FBI. Being wacky is now a Federal crime?

• 6. Type in "[your name] says" in the Google search:

Cindy says "George, Stop Lying!" But he won't. Damn that George.

Cindy says “Bring Them Home Now”! All of 'em!

Cindy says bye, and heads for the elevator. Fine, you won't listen, I'm outta here.

• 7. Type in "[your name] does" in the Google search:

Cindy does Canada. (self-censored) eep.

Cindy does some advertising for me. Yes, I do. Your bill is in the mail.

I hope I look a fraction as good as Cindy does when I am at that age!! :blush: Flattery will get you everywhere.

Cindy does not guarantee the speed or accuracy of answers. 'Nuff said.

• 8. Type in "[your name] eats" in the Google search:

Cindy eats apples. Preferably pre-sliced.

Cindy eats turnip for fun. Turnips are the funniest tubers ever!

Cindy eats half of a turkey sandwich. Please sir, may I have the other half?

Cindy eats more slowly than anyone I've ever known. Yes. I chew before swallowing.