Not Funny

A joke forwarded to me by my cousin Joe Lo Pue (subject line, "Sad, But True"):

When I got home from work last night, my wife insisted that I take her out to some place expensive...

So I took her to a gas station!

It arrived the day I first bought $4 gas -- for our 1987 Nissan, which we bought when we could still pay less than 80 cents a gallon.

Picture Without A Caption

The End of the World Is On Trial in Hawaii

Asking a Judge to Save the World, and Maybe a Whole Lot More
Source: The New York Times

Two men think a giant particle accelerator that will begin smashing protons together outside Geneva this summer might produce a black hole or something else that will spell the end of the Earth — and maybe the universe.

Apparently, it's slightly possible that the particle accelerator built in Geneva, Switzerland, could create a small black hole, or a strangelet. Small doesn't sound so bad, except a small black hole is enough to swallow the Earth. And a strangelet would reduce the Earth to a lump of matter the size of your fist.

Despite decades of science fiction movies warning us what might happen if we mess with the laws of nature, scientists are apparently determined to ignore all possibilities as they proceed to investigate the next step.

This isn't the first time scientists have crossed their fingers when playing with primordial forces. The scientists of the Manhattan Project weren't 100% certain that their first nuclear weapon wouldn't create an unstoppable chain reaction that would incinerate the planet. Apparently, they were emboldened by their success, and with each decade more and more crazy things are attempted. Ears grown on mice. Glow-in-the-dark pigs. Square watermelons. Plastic from plants.

I really don't want to stop scientific inquiry. Often, it's good. I like TiVo, I remember television in black and white before you could see the Olympics live from half the globe away.

But still. Sheesh. This isn't like shipping an order to the wrong address. If physicists are wrong -- whammo!

Maybe we all know it's coming, and that's why we're running up the credit cards.

Another Amazing Use of Technology

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HOW TO WIN AN EBOOK READER

Okay, so you aren't buying the wonderful books written by Eilis Flynn because you don't have a book reader.

Here's your chance to win one from one of Cerridwen's authors:

Sunday, February 24, 2008
FIRST ANNUAL CERRIDWEN SPRING GIVEAWAY
The Cerridwen Press Spring Contest
READERS!!! BE SURE AND CHECK OUT THIS VERSION OF THE RULES FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL CERRIDWEN SPRING GIVEAWAY. IT CONTAINS THE UPDATED LIST OF THE WEBSITES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT.
Here are the rules for the First Annual Cerridwen Spring Giveaway:
· The Grand Prize winner must be a United States resident (due to mailing and custom costs, we cannot ship the grand prize out of the country).
· You must be a member of the Cerridwen Chat Yahoo group to participate in this contest. All clues and contest information will be posted on that loop. To subscribe, send a blank email to: cerridwenchat-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
· You cannot share information about the contest with other readers. All participants should act independently.
· Every day, starting on March 1 and ending on March 15, a clue will be posted on the Cerridwen Chat loop. This clue will lead you to a specific web site or blog location. You must find the hidden/special word on that web site or blog. There will be fifteen words to find, one for each day of the contest. The word will be in a special font, something like this so it will stand out and you should be able to see it easily. If you want to be eligible for the grand prize, you have to find these words. Note the word and the location where you found it.
· You also need to find a tree icon and note that location. Beginning on March 1, look for the tree icon on the web site or blog of the participating authors (see the author list at the end of this page). Make a note of the location of the tree icon or blog.
· The contest ends on March 15 at 5 PM. The tree icons and the 'secret words' will be removed from the author locations at that time.
· Assemble the words you've found into a sentence. Send the sentence and the location of the tree icons you found in the following format in the body of an email to GreenBookFriend@yahoo.com.
Sentence: write your sentence here
Location of Secret words:
1st word: http://www.websitename.com/website page.htm
2nd word: http://www.blogorwebname.com/date (if blog)
3rd word:
4th word: and so on ....
Tree Location 1: http://www.websitename.com/websitepage.htm
Tree Location 2: http://www.blogspotname.com
Tree Location 3:
and so on .....
· You will need to find 15 words and 13 trees for a total of 28 entries. Sound like a lot? It is, but the prize is pretty big, too!
· E-mail your response by 5 PM (central standard time) on March 16. No entries will be accepted after that time.
· The grand prize winner will be chosen from those who submit correct responses.
· Winners will be announced on the Cerridwen Chat loop on March 20, the first day of spring, at 5 PM (central time). Winners will also be notified by email.
Prizes
· Grand Prize: A Rocket 1200 Ebook reader with 7 downloads already loaded. A picture of this model is at the end of these rules. Complete instructions will be provided for using the reader and for transferring books to the reader.
THIS IS NOT AN EBOOKWISE ebook reader. You cannot directly download books to the Rocket Ebook reader. In order to use the Rocket Ebook reader, you will need to use GEB Librarian software or the REBlibrarian PC software. Both are available for purchase for a minimal cost ($20-$30).
You will also need a Compact Flash reader/writer device for your PC. These are available at any computer store for approximately $15-$30.
See http://www.chromakinetics.com/REB1200/move.htm for an overview of the process used to transfer content to this reader. We will also provide instructions for device use.
This is a used device. The cover is slightly scratched but the reading screen is clear and unmarred. The device is in good working order. It will be shipped to you with the winning books already loaded and will include instructions for adding new content, a spare rechargeable battery, and a power adapter (to recharge the unit). This device operates for 5-6 hours on a fully charged battery.
· Runner-up: 6 downloaded books, emailed to you
· ..:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" />1st place: 5 downloaded ebooks, emailed to you
· 2nd place: 4 downloaded ebooks, emailed to you
· 3rd place: 3 downloaded ebooks, emailed to you
This contest is sponsored by the authors listed here.
It is not sponsored by Ellora's Cave, Cerridwen Press nor affiliated with that company.
These authors will have a tree icon on their web site or blog for you to find starting on March 1:
Amy Corwin: http://www.amycorwin.com
Charlene Leatherman http://www.charleneleatherman.com
Catherine Berlin http://www.CatherineBerlin.com
Dorothy McFalls http://www.dorothymcfalls.com
J L Wilson http://www.jayellwilson.com
Janet Miller http://www.janetmillerromance.com
Lise Fuller http://lisefuller.com
Liz Jasper http://lizjasper.com
Marianne Stephens http://mariannestephens.net
Ariana Dupre http://melissaa.com
Micqui Miller http://www.micquimiller.com
Vicky Burkholder http://www.vickyburkholder.com
Jude Atkins http://www.judeatkins.com
Jean C. Gordon http://www.JeanCGordon.com
These authors are participating in the Secret Word part of the contest (some authors may be participating in both: tree and word). You will receive a clue by noon on each day to find out where to find the secret word.
Amy Corwin Jenyfer Matthews Liz Jasper
Frances Stockton Mary Ann Chulik Vicky Burkholder
Sam Cheever N.D. Hansen-Hill Eilis Flynn
Terri Thackston Terry Odell Micqui Miller
Karen McCullough Jude Atkins Sharon Horton

Enjoy the hunt!
And let's all look forward to spring!!!

Posted by Charlene Leatherman at 4:40 PM

Super-Hero Babe!

Super-heroines need a little romance, too!

The newest from Eilis Flynn!

INTRODUCING SONIKA, now out and ready to buy! Women want to be her, men want to be with her!

Also available:

THE SLEEPER AWAKES
Seattle librarian Cat Deveney falls into a coma and awakes in a land where she may be the answer to a prophecy... but is it -- and the warrior with whom she falls in love -- real?


FESTIVAL OF STARS
She embraces her heritage, he denies it... how can they be together? A Japanese fairy tale provides the backdrop for this modern story of love and loss.

HALF A MILLION? NAH...

HALF A MILLION? NAH...

So I recommend Google Alerts. You don't have to be online to search for stuff that interests you; set it up correctly and Google will email you any time your term pops up on the web.

Naturally, I have it set for my childhood address, especially as it has some small importance for Legion fandom.

Today, in my in box:

Google Web Alert for: "1354 Herschell St"

Bronx home values - compare homes for sale and recently sold homes ...
18, 1354 Herschell St, Bronx, NY 10461, 0.34mi, $540000, Jun 13, 2006, -, -, 1783 sqft, 3558 sqft, 1935, $303. 19, 1541 Overing St, Bronx, NY 10461, 0.23mi ...

Had I known I was growing up in a house that would be worth half a million dollars one day...

... of course, let's not discuss what King County thinks my current home is worth.

YOU CAN TAKE THE BOY OUT OF NEW YORK...

YOU CAN TAKE THE BOY OUT OF NEW YORK...

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Northeast Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The Midland
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

Amazingly, I'd thought I'd lost most of my New York accent. A tip of the cap to Harry Broertjes, who forwarded this my way.

SHANGHALLA AWAITS: DAVE COCKRUM DEAD AT 63

SHANGHALLA AWAITS: DAVE COCKRUM DEAD AT 63

Just got an email from Paul Kupperberg forwarded to me and Harry by Bob Greenberger to let us know that Dave Cockrum died today.

In my years away from comics fandom, I was not up on the minute-to-minute happenings as I had been in college. Ken Gale had been my chief contact about Dave's health, and I had never quite gotten all the details until I did some e-sleuthing just now, but apparently complications from diabetes had been what had put him in the hospital some time back, and what can be assigned as the cause of his death.

Of course, this is a sad and tragic loss for all of us as Legion fans, as comic fans, and, of course, as human beings. Dave was a fan just like the rest of us... he drew for FANTASTIC FANZINE, for Warren, worked as Murphy Anderson's assistant, all before telling Murray Boltinoff that "goddamn bet your ass" he was ready to be the regular artist for the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES strip in the back of SUPERBOY. Some of us might like to think that we had something to do with the strip's eventual rebirth, but it took an energy and a talent like Dave's to help others see what we saw. And it can't have just been the LEGION, either... very few people who plunked down ten dollars a pop to see the X-MEN movies knew it, but he'd given vision to the new X-MEN (along with the Legionnaire who never was, NIGHTCRAWLER). At least an agreement had been reached between Dave and Marvel about that, and I hope that it will have come in time to help Dave's widow, Paty.

More to the point, Dave was just a friendly and likeable guy. He shared himself and his thoughts and feelings without the self-importance and self-editing that so many others have. We are all fortunate to have had Dave Cockrum for the time we had him.

Dave Cockrum's autobiography.

Obituaries:

New York Times.

SHOULD THE YANKEES STAY THE COURSE?

SHOULD THE YANKEES STAY THE COURSE?

You see, I personally wish that Alex Rodriguez never plays in the World Series, but for the real debate on whether A-Rod should be traded by the Yankees, check out what Tom Peyer and Hart Seely said recently in the New York Times.

OVERSEEN IN NEW YORK...

Was that George Steinbrenner paying for pilot school for Alex Rodriguez?

WONDER IF IT'LL BE KRYPTONITE...?

WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS: is launching a new fashion jewelry collection inspired by the summer hit Superman Returns. The collections will include necklaces, pendants, bracelets, rings, belts, and key chains for men and women featuring the iconic S-Shield in silver and 18K gold. Warner Bros. Consumer Products is partnering with jewelry-maker Robert Lee Morris. The collection will sell for $55 to $350.

Source: PROMO Xtra: News of the Marketing Industry

August 14, 2006

A Prism Business Media Publication