Archive | PermalinkDeconstruction of Falling Stars

It was the year of fire,
The year of destruction,
The year we took back what was ours.
It was the year of rebirth,
The year of great sadness,
The year of pain,
And a year of joy.
It was a new age.
It was the end of history.
It was the year everything changed.
The year is 2261.
The place: Babylon 5.

Happy New Year! A hearty welcome applause to the year 2261... er, I mean the years 1430 and 2009.

Keywords: rants,tv

Archive | PermalinkThe 'Tronians Are Back With Friends And Then Some

Check it out:

Keywords: comics,movie,transformers

Archive | PermalinkYe Olde Good Widow Village

Breathing a little mountain air is said to do one good. So we decided to saddle up and head uphill... so we can inhale lots and lots of mountain air. 4,000 or 6,000 cm³ per inhalation, I should hope.

Soon after, we found ourselves at the little mountain village of Janda Baik because of a friend, who has a tract of land up here upon which he's made a campsite with lots of trees, split-level terrain, a simple gazebo, an artificial creek and waterfalls cutting across the site... and a natural stream across the path from his land.

It's still a work in progress, so there are still lots to build. But it's good enough for me. Irfan, of course, enjoyed himself and said he'd love to return. And when we return, we shall bring in tow: a tent, a couple of sleeping bags, a torchlight and some delicious consumables. (Maybe some books, paper, pencil and dice?) If it's not raining, I can even sleep under the gazebo while Ain and Irfan sleep indoors.

Below is an image of the site coming up the path. Mouseover the photos for descriptions.

Keywords: family_outings,irfan,vacation

Archive | PermalinkAllie's 5 Month Birthday

Yet another month has passed! On Monday, Allie was five months old. She is growing into her own little person, smiling and reaching out for a favorite toy, and able to spend more and more time amusing herself. She has a bedtime and a daily routine. She listens to short stories by Ambrose Bierce at nights and seems to enjoy watching football (American football) on TV (oh no!!!). She giggles and squeals and sings and is generally a good-humored baby. She is getting quite good at manipulating things with her hands, including picking up and sucking on the rubber ducky at bathtime. She finds it amusing to drop a succession of toys onto the floor when she sits in the stroller, and watch us pick them up and hand them back to her. In short, she is a total joy.

And of course, pictures!

* Mouse over the pictures for captions

Keywords: alya,birthday

Archive | PermalinkThey Come From The 31st Century

Every year since season 4 of Smallville, I used to check out the first few episodes to see if it grabbed me. But the novelty was gone, and even the inclusion of Kara Zor-El in season 7 wasn't enough to sustain my attention.

Season 8 however is a whole new ball game. I've not missed a single episode.

Inclusion of new character Davis Bloom that eventually turns out to be Doomsday - which reads terribly as a concept on paper, but is pulled off adequately. A new job at the Daily Planet and a burgeoning romance with Lois - including humorous lively banter instead of the unbearable melodrama with Lana. More DC Comics characters as guest stars like Plastique and Maxima.

And after the mid-season break, for the first time ever: the live action appearance of none other than the founding members of the Legion of Super-Heroes, flight rings and all:

... with apparently Persuader of the Fatal Five in tow, complete with his signature weapon the Atomic Axe.

Watch the promo here.

Keywords: comics,the_internets,tv

Archive | PermalinkAn Array of Questions Concerning Youth

Is this young Remy LeBeau, the Ragin' Cajun?

Keywords: comics,movie,the_internets

Archive | PermalinkDecember Musings

Here we are, December again. There was snow on the ground last week, and it has since melted. However, as I write this entry, it has begun to snow again. Winter has arrived, even though it is not yet December 21st. This bums me out majorly...

The difference this year is that our lives are filled with happiness as Allie grows and grows. Every day she learns new things. Every day she seems a little bigger, a little stronger, and a little cuter. And even the bleakest, snowiest days don't seem quite so bad.

Keywords: alya,around_the_house,lily

Archive | PermalinkDiedrich Bader Takes Over The Cowl

There is a new Batman animated series in town, and since I'm still not back from lunch and I agree with every word written by Shane about it, I'll just hand over the microphone to him:

Sherman, set the wayback machine to circa 1985, and a 4 year old Shane is taken to a local department store. Now, it's lost to the ages, but he must have been aware of Batman via The Superfriends, or the deal Shell had with giving away DC Superhero figures with a fill up (I think I had 2 of everyone). But this fateful day, Shane got his very first Batman comic. It was complimentary that day, and involved 2 stories I can barely remember. One had him facing a fake Wayne Manor, full of androids created by Hugo Strange. The other was the one that sticks more in my mind. Simple grunt work, crime solving. The panel I will never forget that is Batman chopping either side of some punk's neck and dropping him like a bad habit. And thus, an infatuation began.

We've gone through some rough times with Batman. Michael Keaton turned out to be very brooding. However, Val Kilmer and George Clooney's time at the helm kinda....screwed him, big screen wise.  Only recently have Batman Begins and Dark Knight pulled his bum from the fire.

Keywords: comics,friends,tv