433 thoughts on “Thousandaire”

  8. My first post from the new house!

    Moving day was hot AF, but it went without any challenges.

    Now to figure out where everything goes.

  9. Yes Van, I’m not sure what we’ll do about the American southwest’s water issues.

    John Oliver mocked the idea of a pipeline from the Mississippi, but IDK. . . . If Keystone was going to pump oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, then I’d imagine a pipe of water from the east should be just as doable – – and much safer (?).

    I say this from my armchair of ignorance.

    • I said happy birthday on FB, but I might as well make it official and say happy birthday here. So… Happy Birthday Bunny!

  12. Crap Joke for the day:

    A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses.

    She started her class by saying, “Everyone who thinks they’re stupid, stand up!”

    After a few seconds, Little Johnny stood up.

    The teacher said, “Do you think you’re stupid, Little Johnny?”

    “No, ma’am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!”

  16. I just posted this to Facebook:

    Beta Reader Invitation!

    So, I have completed a solid draft of my new book: “Spherical Void.” (deep breath) It’s Science Fiction. I can dance around all of the genres and classifications that this draws from, but it’s really a Sci-Fi story at its core.
    *”Void” is an entirely new, standalone work that requires no knowledge of any other materials. Yes, it has loose ties to my 2006 novel/Podiobook, “Spherical Tomi,” but no knowledge of that old thing is necessary. “Spherical Void” is not a sequel, prequel, or companion; it’s its own piece.

    I’m looking for a few beta readers to check out the current draft and provide feedback. Any and all reactions are welcome, especially about:
    -Clarity
    -Flow/pacing
    -Setting
    -Accuracy in my usage of Japanese culture and language

    A few points:
    -Beta Readers will get special acknowledgments in the published book. This won’t be a paid gig.
    -“Spherical Void” clocks in at about 56,400 words, which is a short novel.
    -“Spherical Void” closes with “END OF BOOK I,” meaning there will be some unresolved story threads. (i.e., the central characters don’t sail off to the Grey Havens [SPOILER]). I am at work on BOOK II, which I expect to be about the same length. Completion date on that one is TBD.
    -There is zero pressure, zero obligation, zero expectation from me for you to ever read any iteration of this book. You’re busy. You have a lot going on right now. There’s a really good series on Netflix. Your reading list is already long, as it is. You’re really struggling to beat the end boss on Level 7. I get it. We cool. It’s just an invitation.
    -This invitation is limited to a select few. If you think of someone who might be interested, or who I may have forgotten to include, then please suggest them to me, and I’ll contact them.
    Feel free to DM, call, or email me if you have any questions. I’ll answer what I can.

  20. Crap joke for the day:

    A rookie police officer pulled a biker over for speeding and had the following exchange:

    • Officer: May I see your driver’s license?

    • Biker: I don’t have one. I had it suspended when I got my 5th DUI.

    • Officer: May I see the owner’s card for this vehicle?

    • Biker: It’s not my bike. I stole it.

    • Officer: The motorcycle is stolen?

    • Biker: That’s right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the owner’s card in the tool bag when I was putting my gun in there.

    Officer: There’s a gun in the tool bag?

    • Biker: Yes sir. That’s where I put it after I shot and killed the dude who owns this bike and stuffed his dope in the saddle bags.

    • Officer: There’s drugs in the saddle bags too?!?!?

    • Biker: Yes, sir. Hearing this, the rookie immediately called his captain. The biker was quickly surrounded by police, and the captain approached the biker to handle the tense situation:

    • Captain: Sir, can I see your license?

    • Biker: Sure. Here it is. It was valid.

    • Captain: Who’s motorcycle is this?

    • Biker: It’s mine, officer. Here’s the registration.

    • Captain: Could you slowly open your tool bag so I can see if there’s a gun in it?

    • Biker: Yes, sir, but there’s no gun in it. Sure enough, there was nothing in the tool bag.

    • Captain: Would you mind opening your saddle bags? I was told you said there’s drugs in them.

    • Biker: No problem. The saddle bags were opened; no drugs.

    • Captain: I don’t understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn’t have a license, stole this motorcycle, had a gun in the tool bag, and that there were drugs in the saddle bags.

    • Biker: Yeah, I’ll bet he told you I was speeding, too.

  22. Just finished Series 3 of Umbrella Academy. I really liked seasons 1 and 2. I hate to be the dissenting voice, but I just didn’t feel season 3. Starting from the first episode, there were big scenes that I just felt were a bit silly (which almost hurts to say from me who really likes silly and unexpected, it just didn’t seem to fit with the tone of what had been set up to that point). And the ending was just not what I wanted on any level. I know others really liked it and I wish I could be part of that crowd. Just didn’t work for me. I felt like there was a lot of potential that just didn’t come to be.

  24. So first season of Ms Marvel watched.

    Although the overall story arc was simple, I really enjoyed this show, liked the characters and the music was great.

    Oh and hang around watching the credits on the final episode, there is a scene you want to watch.

    • Overall I liked it and I like the characters. It does seem to be a mix of Bollywood and a Disney show aimed at young teens.

  25. So there is a game on iOS called Warbits, basically an Advanced Wars clone.

    It hasn’t been updated in years, the aspect ratio is still 4:3, but it’s one of those games you started playing and the hours just fly by.

  27. Jack’s brain sez:

    Between the move, the broken work/life balance, and the fatigue, I have not made any forward progress on the rest of Spherical _____ (working title: Spherical Void).

    I need to remedy all of the above.
    Well.
    Except the move – – that’s still a work in progress.

  28. Well, in the psychological thriller “City Slickers” there was this exchange:

    Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is?

    [holds up one finger]

    Curly: This.
    Mitch: Your finger?
    Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don’t mean shit.
    Mitch: But, what is the “one thing?”
    Curly: [smiles] That’s what *you* have to find out.

    Tackle one thing until completion, that’s what Jack Palance would do.

  30. I went for my 4th dose this morning and was denied because I’m not over 50, not in healthcare, and not immuno-compromised. A near-miss on all 3 counts.

    My last one was in Oct 2021, but I still don’t qualify. They did say that the 4th doses should be authorized for the general public in about a month.

  33. Last night I joined TEB in having watched,
    “Watched Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
    That is my kind of movie. That is not to say I exactly know what was going on. But it was wonderfully made, kept your brain engaged as you tried to follow it and it had some wonderful performances.
    Michelle Yeoh May be one of the most under rated actresses out there. I dont think I have ever seen her in a movie where she wasn’t simply brilliant.
    I also love that someone was able to actually get the money to make a film that is this messed up and absolutely NOT mainstream.

    • That one’s definitely on my list. My daughter saw it and Dr. Strange with a friend of hers and they agreed that the non-Marvel movie was the better multiverse story.

      • It’s also a film you can watch without needing to have watched a shit load of films and tv series to understand the plot (looking at you Doctor Strange).

        • I’ll disagree with you on the plot for Dr. Strange. What you said is true for knowing more about the characters, but the plot was awfully light, imo. It felt more like contrasting two character studies, tbh. I liked it, but not one of my favorites.
          I’m very much looking forward to seeing Everything.

          • I loved Dr. Strange for its inventiveness and Raiminess. Absolutely one of my favorites from the Marvel catalogue.

          • Which I respect. I’m miffed on Wanda’s behalf. The heroes failed her multiple times since End Game. It’s no wonder she went off the rails, ala “Falling Down”. That does not excuse her in anyway.

  35. Crap joke of the day:

    A mathematician, engineer, and statistician go in for a job interview, the only question is “What is 3+3?”
    Mathematician: “6.”
    Engineer: “About 6? Plus or minus a bit?”
    Statistician: “What do you want it to be?”

  37. We’ve decided to rearrange the (home) office. That means I’ll be stuck without a computer for a couple of days. That is going to seriously interfere with a lot of things

  39. Finished watching “Midnight Sky” tonight, even knowing it wasn’t getting renewed.

    Damn shame, too. A pretty original story and strong performances from Simmons and Spacek.

  40. It looks like I’ll be on The Metal Voice tomorrow morning to discuss some current events:
    Nita Strauss
    John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy
    The Pantera reunion tour

  41. My husband is emptying bookcases while I’m sitting on my butt playing games on the iPad. This rearranging the office stuff is really easy

    • I’m experiencing that in Florida as well. Also hearing it from just about everyone else everywhere. But somehow, now message from all the people that like to joke about “doesn’t look like global warming to me” when we have a cold winter day.

      Note: I am well aware that the current hot streak is also a small blip in the overall pattern that is just as unrelated as when we have colder winters than expected. Just saying that the same people that take cold as fodder for their climate change denial don’t seem to change their minds when they experience warmer than usual temperatures.

  45. Morning Pan
    Taking hubby shopping today. He’s leaving town for a week on Wednesday and he wants some new shorts

  46. We did see the newest Thor over the weekend. No, it’s not Ragnarok, but it’s not a real drop-off. Lots of laughs, lots of pathos. Greatly enjoyed it.

  49. I bought a desk this morning. Now I need to wait three to five business days for it to arrive. Hubby’s going to be upset that I’ll be putting it together without him

  51. This is the difference between when hubby and I go on a trip. He leaves first thing tomorrow morning. I would have been pretty much fully packed yesterday. He hasn’t even started

  60. Under “of course”
    John got a gift card to a Calgary gaming store as a gift when he left his school. He ordered a game and was told it wouldn’t be in until closer to the end of the month. Now that he left town, He got a message today saying the game was in.
    Luckily, he hadn’t put the gift card in his wallet so I can sneak out tomorrow and get Ark Nova

    • Yesterday I bought the panoramic editions of Monument Valley 1 and 2.

      Basically PC conversions of the mobile games. Some of the rooms look rather splendid in wide screen.

  62. Well, I am pretty sick.
    Started yesterday as sinus drainage then became kind of a thick throat.
    That led to a raw throat which has led to a burning in my chest and finally a little while ago, a very slight fever.
    The easy money says it’s Covid but the home test last night was negative. Also little or no coughing.
    On the other hand, I am a 6 hour car ride from home and my Doctor.
    Meh

  64. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was…a thing we watched today.

    Don’t see this one cracking anyone’s top 10 list of MCU films.

  65. Stupid cat
    Yesterday we got up earlier than normal to get John to the airport.
    This morning the cat decided this getting fed early thing should be done again today. I didn’t get up when she wanted me to but that doesn’t me she let me sleep either,
    I’m tired

  70. As I’ve been thinking about and assessing my half-completed “Spherical Void” book, I’ve been reading “All the Birds in the Sky” by Charlie Jane Anders, which is fantastic – – and perfectly demonstrates all the things I feel like I’m missing from my Spherical book.

  86. It has been a horrible month and this week has been even worse. So, for a little retail therapy, I got the box set of Akira. This thing is a beast. It probably weight 35lb (16kg). I’m amazed it wasn’t damaged during shipping.

    I’m looking forward to reading the whole thing.

  89. Today I met with my boss in person to discuss the transition of my leaving. It’s only been two months since I gave notice

  91. Well, the newsletter is ready to go out tomorrow and the website has been updated. I’m ready to go back to bed.

  92. Day 6
    I’ve been 24hrs with no fever now. Not really had a cough for 2 days. Still really light headed though. 🙁
    SO has bad cough but no fever.
    Fun fact- She repeatedly tested negative til I suggested something I had read on-line… swab the back of her throat INSTEAD of the nasal passages. The test showed positive emediatly.

    Fun fact 2 – two other couples we know tested positive at about the same time. We were in 3 different states. I suspect the current wave is MUCH worse than is being reported based on the fact that we all home tested and would have to go searching for someone to report these results to. None of us has.

    Oh last note – thank God for modern science/medicine. I was double vaxed and boosted and had a rough time. Would not have wanted to face that virus with unboosted immunity.

    • I do wonder how the unreported home tests are being underreported.

      I’m glad you’re on the mend, even if you and yours are still dealing with the blecch. Speedy recovery wishes.

  93. Reactions?
    https://twitter.com/JoyceCarolOates/status/1551210510389022723
    tweeting about
    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/24/opinion/book-banning-censorship.html?smid=tw-share

    The article’s points are actually hard to dismiss. I don’t doubt that there are places where being an older, straight white male can be a barrier to entry – – and I’d agree that it isn’t fair, even if history has been unfair in their (our) favor.

    But I’m sure there’s also plenty of bellyaching from chronic whiners.

    Is it as bad as JCO – – a publishing legend, sure, but also born in 1938 – – is saying?

  95. And it’s Monday. Must be time for a new set of artificial emergencies. Please don’t remain calm. Here are some hollow words of encouragement. Enjoy it, that’s all you get.

  98. I’m catching Anthrax tomorrow!

    Meaning I’ll be photographing the first show on their 40th anniversary tour.

    And they require masks of the photographers, so I should (should) get no static from any morons.

    • Wasn’t able to read yesterday’s due to paywall but without the clickbait here of “werewolf” and “erotica“ this seems to be just a rehash of “Creatives who pander to the masses are able to make rent.”

      Or “The (insert specific media) industry looks at what they sell as product and only pushes the product that made them money the last time.”

      • It seems like an interesting thing to outsource. This isn’t making iPhones or Nikes, it’s trashy romance. I wonder if we’ll see sweatshops next.

        • So that brings up an interesting perspective.
          If what you create can be created on a computer and delivered over the internet … is it actually outsourcing or has corporate realized their “workforce” is global.

          Weird development for the workforce. If you live in the first world you may now be offered 3rd world wages. If you live in the 3rd world, you may now be able to actually support yourself.

          That certainly happened to a portion of the animation industry in the 2000’s

  100. Crap joke for the day:

    A lady goes to her parish priest one day and tells him, “Father, I have a problem. I have two female parrots but they only know how to say one thing.”

    “What do they say?” the priest inquired.

    “They say, ‘Hi, we’re prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun?'” the woman said embarrassingly.

    “That’s obscene!” the priest exclaimed, “I can see why you are embarrassed.”

    He thought a minute and then said, “You know, I may have a solution to this problem. I have two male parrots whom I have taught to pray and read the Bible. Bring your two parrots over to my house and we will put them in the cage with Francis and Job. My parrots can teach your parrots to praise and worship. I’m sure your parrots will stop saying that…that phrase in no time.”

    “Thank you,” the lady responded, “this may very well be the solution.”

    The next day, she brought her female parrots to the priest’s house.

    As he ushered her in, she saw his two male parrots were inside their cage, holding their rosary beads and praying.

    Impressed, she walked over and placed her parrots in with them.

    After just a couple of seconds, the female parrots exclaimed out in unison, “Hi, we’re prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun?”

    There was a stunned silence.

    Finally, one male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and said, “Put the beads away, Francis, our prayers have been answered!”

  103. Is it wrong that I’m now to the point where I consider the fact I have never played Wordle a kind of badge of honour?

  106. I got a “Johnny Cash” moment from Joey Belladonna, the lead singer of Anthrax, but I fear I didn’t get it with either camera.
    I didn’t actually do anything to piss him off, I think he was just clowning around.

    Phenomenal show.

  107. How naive am I? You may ask.

    Well today was listening to a podcast about ‘The Incredible Shrinking Man’ and it was mentioned that one reading of the film is that the spider is a Vagina that the nail is a penis that kills the vagina.

    So that reading has never occurred to me till today.

    • Counterpoint – if we as a viewing society hadn’t become such a bunch of pixel-peeping fuckwits, this change wouldn’t have to ever have been considered, much less carried out.

      We can’t just enjoy the story, we have to deconstruct the meaning of the color choices for every character’s backpack and point out that such and such model of car didn’t go on sale until the year after the story took place.

      We deserve this.

  114. Turns out I didn’t lose a crown, I pulled out part of the tooth next to the one with the crown. Next week I go in and get the rest of the tooth pulled, then I get a bridge put in. It was strange as I felt nothing when the tooth came out. I assumed it was a crown because of that but couldn’t see as it fell down the sink when it happened
    For now, I have a hole in my head
    Of course it couldn’t be easy

  131. So I’m going to be low-key about it, but it turns out I’m back on the job hunt.

    This time, it was the toxic tyrant manager. I shouldn’t be surprised when the person who’d spent most of the time during my one-on-one meetings shit-talking and gossiping turns on me. . . and I wasn’t. But the timing is still a drag.

    I’ll take any leads and any LinkedIn recommendations, if you got ’em.

  145. August already, this year has flown past.

    Started the process of making a will today, mortality knocking on the door..hard!, icky conversation with the solicitor had me feeling my expiration date had already been decided.

    Fate been tempted is how I feel today, silly I know but I’m still feeling it.

    • I have been putting this off for two years.
      Just before Covid hit we went and started the process. Saw a solicitor and got the lowdown on what we need to do … but sitting down and doing it is the hard part.

      We did get right to making a “living will”. So there is that.

      … but the other. Still telling ourselves “We need to get on that”.

  146. It is not looking good for the Joe Bonamassa concert tomorrow night.
    It’s been 5 days since I have had any symptoms and 12 days since I first felt symptoms but unfortunately I still tested positive last night.

    The science is unsure enough about whether I am still contagious, that I would feel responsible going to the concert in a mask … but it is a two hour drive and a late night show so we were going to stay with friends in town and I don’t want to do that unless I am negative.

  155. A spider has decided to guard the back door so I refuse to use it. Hubby likes spiders so now I can only use the front door.
    Note: if one does get in the house, the husband subscribes to a catch and release program. This has come up in discussions more than once

  159. If anyone here is a mobile developer or knows a mobile developer that is looking for a new job, the company that I work for is looking for someone. We used to be Orlando only, but (like everyone else since COVID) we now hire fully remote for some positions, like this one. I have been with the same company (https://designinteractive.net/) for 10 years now because it is a great company and I really like the people I work with and the projects I get to work on. Please spread the word as we’re having trouble finding someone with the skillset we need. Also, please use my name (Jesse Flint) on any applications. If I help to get someone hired, it gets me a bonus.

    https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/1199411

    • That is fun.
      We have a “mountain” in our town (only a few hundred feet high) and in my youth I found some fossils in a rock at the top. Spiral shells and stuff that were ocean floor type creatures.
      Based on this web site, they would have had to have been 300 million years old. The last time that spot would have been under water.

      I surprised that no one offers “fossilize” as a burial option.

  169. Crap joke for the evening:

    A woman decided to give herself a big treat for her 70th birthday by staying overnight in a really nice hotel.. When she checked out the next morning, the desk clerk handed her a bill for $250.00.
    
    She demanded to know why the charge was so high “I agree it’s a nice hotel, but the rooms aren’t worth $250..00 for just an overnight stay – I didn’t even have breakfast!”
    
    The clerk told her that $250.00 is the ‘standard rate,’ and breakfast had been included had she wanted it.
    
    She insisted on speaking to the Manager. The Manager appeared and, forewarned by the desk clerk, announced: “This hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference center which are available for use.”
    
    “But I didn’t use them.”
    
    ‘Well, they are here, and you could have.” He went on to explain that she could also have seen one of the in-hotel shows for which they were so famous.”We have the best entertainers from the world over performing here.”
    
    “But I didn’t go to any of those shows..”
    
    “Well, we have them, and you could have.”
    
    No matter what amenity the Manager mentioned, she replied, “But I didn’t use it!” and the Manager countered with his standard response.
    
    After several minutes discussion, and with the Manager still unmoved, she decided to pay, wrote a check and gave it to him. The Manager was surprised when he looked at the check.
    
    “But Madam, this check is for only $50.00”
    
    “That’s correct I charged you $200.00 for sleeping with me.”
    
    “But I didn’t!”
    
    “Well, too bad, I was here, and you could have.”

  171. I’m not sure what I’ve become. I met up with old colleagues for some drinks, and I really just wanted to get home to watch Sandman.

  176. Ok, still no idea whether it’s artistic choice or someone fucked up but the Aspect ration of The Sandman is definitely wonky, not the only one to notice either.

    • Just a heads up if you want to watch the Comanche Dub, on Hulu it’s an option at the bottom of the screen when you select the film. On Disney+ It’s under EXTRAS when you select the film to watch before hitting play.

      It’s a dub so there are lip syncing issues.

    • I actually worked on a film with him right after he had done The Return of the Living Dead. He was a funny guy with a dry wit.

      Some one who was unaware he had just done Living dead ask him one day what he had just finished shooting and he went into this monologue about the tender, heart touching film he had just done. A gentle love story with deep introspective charactures. Had everyone cracking up.

      Definately a staple of B horror films.

        • As I recall (and it has been quite a while) the film “From a whisper to a scream” featured a series of short stories involving horrific things that had happened in this single town over the course of it’s existance.
          The film had an intro and VO from Vincent price but didn’t get to meet him. All his stuff was done in LA.

          So Clu played the “momma’s boy “
          To an over controlling invalid mother who made him give her creepy baths and never let him have a social life. Till he kills her so he can go on a date. But he keeps having fantasies of the date being dead (bloody girl hanging on a meat hook in a sexy dress asking him to come dance with her. That sort of thing.)
          So of course he kills her.
          THEN has sex with her.
          Of course some time later, she gives birth in the grave to a demon baby that claws its way out and comes looking for daddy. Hilarity does NOT ensue.

          You know… THAT kind of a B movie.
          I do have to say that the special effects guys were really, disgustingly good.

  185. I frightened hubby. He was downstairs and came running up when he heard me squeal. I had looked out the window and saw a big ass spider fighting with a dragon fly. It freaked me out.

  188. Crap joke for the evening:

    The crusty Navy Master Chief noticed a new face and barked at him, “Get over here! What’s your name, sailor?”

    “John,” the new seaman replied.

    “Look, I don’t know what kind of bleeding-heart pansy crap they’re teaching sailors in boot camp these days, but I don’t call anyone by his first name,” the chief scowled. “It breeds familiarity, and that leads to a breakdown in authority. I refer to my sailors by their last names only; Smith, Jones, Baker, Jackson, whatever. And you are to refer to me as ‘Master Chief.’ Do I make myself clear?”

    “Aye, Aye, Master Chief!”

    “Now that we’ve got that straight, what’s your last name?”

    The seaman sighed. “Darling, My name is John Darling, Master Chief.”

    “Okay, John, here’s what I want you to do ….”

  192. Why can’t people read what’s given to them?
    I was put in charge of the Tyche programming stream for When Words Collide. Now that we are only a few days out, I have all my program participants constantly emailing me with questions. I sent out an email to all of them last week that basically answered every question I’ve had so far.
    *sigh*

    • My favorite situation like this was when I asked someone in an email a series of questions (in a numbered format so that it was obvious there were several questions).with the last one requiring at least a paragraph of writing to put into a report. They sent back an email that said “yes”.

  194. I love The Walking Dead TV series (and of course, the comics). I haven’t liked any of the spinoff series yet. We’ll see what happens with the “Tales of the Walking Dead” starting this weekend. More importantly, I’m really starting to wonder about the sanity of the people at the highest levels of production. In the upcoming spinoff series that focuses on Daryl Dixon, they are going to ship him off to France and possibly have him facing off against fast moving zombie variants. I’m really thinking that despite the differences between the TV series and the comics, the only thing that keeps these people on the rails is the semblance of a story arc that the main series has to follow based on the comics. Seems like every spinoff where they get to do what they want just immediately turns into an absolute train wreck.

    https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3726519/the-walking-dead-norman-reedus-spinoff-will-take-daryl-dixon-to-france/

  202. Crap joke for the day:

    Three nuns were driving round Hampshire. The Mother Superior was at the wheel, crashed into a tree and all three died. They soon arrived at the Pearly Gates.

    Waving at St Peter, they explained they were Brides of Christ and asked for prompt admission. “Not so fast, girls” declared the gatekeeper. “We’re choc-a-bloc with dead nuns at the moment. You first have to pass an Entrance Test. But don’t worry; it’s all graded depending on your rank in the Convent.

    First up was nun Celia. “And what grade were you in the Convent?” he asked. “Just a novice, St Peter.” “Ah: it’s an easy question for you. When Adam first met Eve in the Garden of Eden what were they wearing?” “Fig Leaves, St. Peter” Celia answered.

    St Peter smiled. “Welcome, Sister, to the Kingdom of Heaven”. Next up was Annunciata. “And what grade were you in the Convent, Sister?”

    She explained she was a cook. St Peter said: “So it’s a medium question for you. When Adam first met Eve, what fruit did she give him?”. She knew the answer: “It was an apple, St Peter”. Easy-peasy. “Welcome, Sister, to the Kingdom of Heaven.” said the gatekeeper.

    Third up was the Mother Superior. St. Peter explained: “With your seniority you get a really hard question. When Eve saw Adam running toward her in the Garden of Eden, what was the very first thing she said?”

    The Mother Superior pondered, observing: “Wow, that really is a hard one, St Peter.” Yet to her great surprise he smiled and promptly replied: “Welcome, Sister, to the Kingdom of Heaven.”

    • Apparently St. Peter was feeling generous with the first two, since their answers were wrong…

      Third was is probably correct 🙂

  203. I’m through 6 of the episodes of Sandman so far. Astoundingly well done so far. I read the comics many years ago, listened to the Audible adaptation, and then re-read the comics just a month or so ago. They are staying astoundingly true to the original works. Any adjustments are super tiny and don’t seem to bother me. I rarely see this kind of respect for the original works.

    • Also, in the first episode especially, I saw a number of direct references to the art work that Sam Keith brought to the earliest issues. Another “well done” on that front.

      • We just watched the diner one. Which was as unsettling as it was meant to be.

        As someone who has read and reread the comics, I’m astonished at how well done it is.

        • Just started the dollhouse part of the series. Odd that they killed off Rose’s mother and replaced her with some random other person who I’m not exactly sure what the relationship with Rose is. That just seems like a pointless change. Maybe there is a reason later in the episode or series.

    • A-ha! I think I have sussed why they beefed up The Corinthian’s role in Sandman. I was just telling my brother who never read the comics to be prepared in that Sandman is more like a series of loosely tied together short stories than it is one cohesive plot. I’m thinking they stretched the Corinthian out across all of the episodes to help tie all the stories together and make them seem more like one cohesive plot. All makes sense to me now.

  209. BTW: Bullet Train is absolutely nuts. And an absolute blast.

    The other rando people in the theater were overheard afterwards griping about how awful it was. In this case, I took that as a validation of my enjoyment.

    • The first thing I noticed was how the heading of the article is spelled “happyness”, even though the link spells it correctly.

    • Some of what he says, I agree with, other stuff not so much. He is a little too tied to certain comic storylines, but this part resonates with me: “Because all the men responsible for this movie can think to do with Wanda Maximoff is make her the mother from hell, turning a grieving character struggling toward heroism in several previous movies and a TV series into a mass-murderer who will commit any depraved acts necessary as long as she can be a mother.”

      I don’t find the movie a crushing disappointment. It is fun, and enjoyable, and especially Raimi-esque. But the above and a few other details really bother me about the movie.

      • To be fair, that is how some of the comic storylines have gone, but the MCU has insisted on their own continuity which I have enjoyed. This particular choice didn’t feel quite right.

      • RE: the sexism thing in Dr. Strange 2 – – if a woman feels that the plot exploits female/matronly stereotypes, then I will 100% support and back them on that. I’d never tell anyone how they feel or should feel about issues in a movie.

        For my reaction – – I didn’t find her homicidal grief to be lazy stereotyping. The boys weren’t the only traumatic loss in her life.

        And ya know. . . TV show spoiler. . . protagonist or not, she was kinda the true villain all along on WandaVision. . . .

        I never felt like she was presented in Dr. Strange 2 as (Movie Bigwhig Chauvinist) just a fragile dame who got all emotional about family and chick stuff (/Movie Bigwhig Chauvinist).

        • Sexism in lazy writing goes both ways. My one real disappointment so far with the Netflix Sandman is that there is a pair of foster parents in the comic that are both evil shits to their foster child. In the series the foster father is evil and abusive and the mother is timid and afraid. This is bad from both ends, because apparently not only can women not be strong, but men can only ever be abusive assholes. If there was only one lazy writing cliche I could get rid of over all others it would be the abusive asshole husband/father thing. I get that they are out there, but TV/movies make it seem like that just about all that’s out there.

    • Having read the article, I can agree with most of the problems he points out. But most of his quibbles can be dismissed by the fact this is very much a Sam Raimi movie. This is Marvel’s version of Evil Dead, and many character choices were driven to service that. If Raimi gave in to all these points, we would have had a completely predictable movie. I’ll leave it to the inevitable standalone Scarlet Witch movie for the redemption arc.

    • So, here’s my hot take on Dr. Strange 2 and Phase 4 in general – I think it’s generally set the MCU back quite a bit and the comic book beats that it relied on are why a lot of folks don’t take comics books seriously as literature.

      I think the author had a lot of valid complaints about how Wanda was handled. Just because you can trace the storyline back to beats from 20 to 40 years ago, doesn’t mean they’re good ideas for story beats today.

      There were certainly some good parts and I generally thought the Disney+ series were stronger than most of the Phase 4 movies.

      And, Sony gave us the best phase 4 MCU movie with the latest Spiderman.

  214. When Words Collide starts later today. I’m pretty sure there was a (health) reason I stopped working behind the scenes for these conventions.
    Ugh

  216. Now there’s something you don’t see every day. There are 2 movies coming out at nearly the same time that will center on a young Edgar Allan Poe. Not, mind you, based on Edgar Allan Poe stories. No, no. Both having a primary character in the movie that is a young Edgar Allan Poe as a primary character.

    https://geektyrant.com/news/trailer-for-shudders-horror-film-ravens-hollow-about-a-young-edgar-allan-poe

    https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3726739/netflixs-edgar-allan-poe-movie-the-pale-blue-eye-starring-christian-bale-gets-an-r-rating/

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