#James Ortiz makes a very convincing baby

[the-patchwork-girl-of-oz]

I saw someone complain about the wicked cast being too old to play teenagers, which I don’t really mind because

A. Their ages change throughout the story

B. They are university students and the musical keeps their ages vague, plus you can tell they changed some of them from the book

C. The original cast was also in their 30s

But it kinda made me think of The Woodsman, another (super underrated) Oz stage prequel about the tin man’s backstory, where baby Nick Chopper is just played by adult Nick Chopper, in the exact same costume, just on his knees.

[gokinjeespot]

off the rack #1259

Monday, April 29, 2019

 I was at a birthday party for a 7-year-old on the weekend and while I was holding his baby brother I couldn't help but wonder what kind of world will they be living in when they are my age. I worry about their future. The flooding in the National Capital Region is predicted to be worse than it was only two years ago when we had the highest water levels in a century. It's going to exceed that when waters crest in the next couple of days. I can't imagine what property owners are going through trying to save their homes and cottages. I don't understand how some people can deny climate change when the evidence of the harm that we humans have had on the environment is smacking them right in the face. I'm afraid things are going to get worse without it getting any better.

 War of the Realms #2 - Jason Aaron (writer) Russell Dauterman (art) Matthew Wilson (colours) VC's Joe Sabino (letters). This issue has the first major death of a character. Not an A-lister but I will still mourn their passing.

 Spider-Man Life Story #2 The '70s - Chip Zdarsky (writer) Mark Bagley (pencils) Drew Hennessy (inks) Frank D'Armata (colours) VC's Travis Lanham (letters). Now I'm more than convinced that this is a series of what if stories. There are so many deviations from canon in this issue that it's inconceivable that these events are "real". I'm still going to keep reading because these changes are cool.

 Naomi #4 - Brian Michael Bendis & David F. Walker (writers) Jamal Campbell (art) Wes Abbott (letters). Naomi's origin story begins at last. She's not an Earthling.

 Daredevil #4 - Chip Zdarsky (writer) Marco Checchetto (art) Sunny Gho (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). The Punisher and Daredevil have a debate about vigilantism. I like Frank's arguments. Meanwhile, Mayor Kingpin tries to get his hooks into Detective North. I wonder if the bigger man will get to the big man. One thing that bothered me about this issue is that Matt left Frank tied up for the cops. Not very nice since Frank saved his ass from them.

 Thor #12 - Jason Aaron (writer) Mike del Mundo (art) VC's Joe Sabino (letters). "The War of the Lokis" features Loki as he travels down the gullet of his father Laufey. Don't tell me you didn't read the last issue. Get thee hence and do so forthwith.

 West Coast Avengers #10 - Kelly Thompson (writer) Moy R. (art) Triona Farrell (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). This is the last issue and that makes me have a sad face. I really liked this silly crazy team. If Kelly Thompson ever writes a Kid Omega/Quentin Quire and Gwenpool comic book I will definitely read it.

 Avengers LGY #717: No Road Home #10 - Mark Waid, Jim Zub & Al Ewing (writers) Sean Izaakse (art) Marcio Menyz & Erick Arciniega (colours) VC's Joe Sabino (letters). When this 10-issue weekly started it looked like this was an adventure for Hercules's team of Avengers and it ultimately was. The end result is that the good guys win again and Nyx is defeated. Hercules wasn't the hero of this story and schmaltzy as the way the actual hero wins, it still made me cheer. So all this was so Marvel could revamp the Gods of Olympus and Hercules's costume. I chuckled when they revealed what that house was about. I thought that it was the House of Mystery but that belongs to the Distinguished Competition.

 The Amazing Spider-Man #19.HU - Nick Spencer (writer) Chris Bachalo (pencils) Wayne Faucher, Livesay, Jaime Mendoza, Victor Olazaba, Tim Townsend & Al Vey (inks) Erick Arciniega (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). The Lizard is featured in this "Hunted" tie-in. It's nice to see Chris Bachalo's art back on the racks.

 Action Comics #1010 - Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Steve Epting (art) Brad Anderson (colours) Josh Reed (letters). Leviathan Rises part 4. I like this spy story. Lois and Clark go undercover as Chaz and Andi to find out what Leviathan is. There's a great teaser for an old Checkmate story that had me going there. I would love to see that organisation again. Next issue promises Leviathan Revealed! I can't wait.

 The Avant-Guards #4 - Carly Usdin (writer) Noah Hayes (art) Rebecca Nalty (colours) Ed Dukeshire (letters). I like this rom-com centered around an arts college basketball team. It reminds me of a lighter "The L Word".

 Black Widow #4 - Jen & Sylvia Soska (writers) Flaviano (art) Veronica Gandini (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). There's a double-cross that surprised me and a cliffhanger ending that makes waiting for the next issue torture. Appropriate for a story where Nat takes down an extremely violent website.

 Doctor Strange #13 - Mark Waid (writer) Barry Kitson (pencils) Scott Koblish & Scott Hanna (inks) Brian Reber (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Herald Supreme part 2. I liked the surprise guest star.

 Hulkverines #3 - Greg Pak (writer) Ario Anindito (art) Morry Hollowell (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). Okay, this Hulkverine, Hulk and Wolverine team-up was fun but the end made me roll my eyes and groan big time. Ugh.

 Ironheart #5 - Eve L. Ewing (writer) Luciano Vecchio (art) Geoffo (layouts) Matt Milla (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). This issue finishes the first story arc involving the super villain Midnight's Fire. It was good enough that I enjoyed what I read but not good enough to make me keep this book on my "must read" list. I wish RiRi well. I was excited by an ad for a new Black Cat comic book coming out in June though.

 Thanos #1 - Tini Howard (writer) Ariel Olivetti (art) Antonio Fabela (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). This 6-issue story will tell us how Gamora came to be adopted by Thanos. I only picked this up because I really like Ariel Olivetti's art. I don't care much for the two main characters so I might not continue with the rest. Fans of Thanos and Gamora will enjoy this I'm sure.

 Runaways #20 - Rainbow Rowell (writer) Andres Genolet (art) Triona Farrell (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). I found this issue to be a big drag. The last page is too depressing for words. Plus the new artist didn't wow me. Something needs to happen next issue for me to want to keep reading.

 War of the Realms: The Punisher #1 - Gerry Duggan (writer) Marcelo Ferreira (pencils) Roberto Poggi (inks) Rachelle Rosenberg (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). It's Frank versus Dark Elves and Frost Giants. They won't know what hit them. This is typical Punisher fare for those into explosive action. Frank leads a band of ex-cons armed with swords through the Lincoln Tunnel to help evacuate a hospital to safety. I miss reading a good Punisher story so this is a welcome sight on the racks.

 War of the Realms: War Scrolls #1 - This anthology book has four short stories all lettered by VC's Joe Sabino.

 "The God Without Fear part 1" by Jason Aaron (writer) Andrea Sorrentino (art) & Matthew Wilson (colours) features Daredevil fighting in Hell's Kitchen.

 "The Warriors Three (Or Four)" by Josh Trujillo (writer) Ricardo Lopez Ortiz (art) Felipe Sobreiro (colours) features Fandral, Hogun and Hildegarde filling in for the unconscious Volstagg teaming up with Cloak and Dagger.

 "Nice Shot, Frank" by Ram V (writer) Cafu (art) Brian Reber (colours) has the Punisher and Wolverine doing what they do best.

 "Waugh of the Realms" by Chip Zdarsky (writer) Joe Quinones (art) Joe Rivera (ink assist) Rico Renzi (colours) has Howard "The Duck" Duckson hired to find a lost dog. This last one was gross.

 This is for fans who want to collect ALL the War of the Realms comic books. Otherwise you can probably give it a pass.

 Batman #69 - Tom King (writer) Yanick Paquette (art) Nathan Fairbairn (colours) Clayton Cowles (letters). Knightmares finale. This issue is called "The Last Dance" and I don't know what song Batman and Catwoman are dancing to but I am singing the Etta James ballad "At Last" in my head. After many issues of dream sequences Batman is going to finally awaken. I did appreciate the explanation of how he got into his predicament. Now it's time to deal with Bane and Bruce's "father".

 Blossoms 666 #3 - Cullen Bunn (writer) Laura Braga (art) Matt Herms (colours) Jack Morelli (letters). One of the three Blossoms is going to become the anti-christ. Yeah, you heard me. Cheryl and Jason were born as triplets. Their older brother Julian was whisked away at birth by the Order of Abaddon. Ooo, scary.

 Ascender #1 - Jeff Lemire (writer) Dustin Nguyen (art) Steve Wands (letters). I never did finish reading Descender so I don't know if this is a sequel but it really looked familiar. I didn't feel like I was missing anything in this new story and I liked the mix of magic and technology. The villain reminded me of Emperor Palpatine but her empire is all based on magic. The hero is a spunky girl named Mila and I want to see where she goes from here.

 Guardians of the Galaxy #4 - Donny Cates (writer) Geoff Shaw (art) David Curiel (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). The good guys find Gamora, followed by the bad guys. Expect to see a big battle. The main reason I'm reading this book again is because Groot is talking in whole sentences now.

 Detective Comics #1002 - Peter J. Tomasi (writer) Brad Walker (pencils) Andrew Hennessy (inks) Nathan Fairbairn (colours) Rob Leigh (letters). Don't believe the hype. It's not a "duel to the death with Arkham Knight" but it is a pretty good fight. I was happy to see Damian play a bigger role in this issue. I'm sticking around for the bad guy's origin story.

 Fantastic Four #9 - Dan Slott (writer) Aaron Kuder, Stefano Caselli & Paco Medina (art) Erick Arciniega (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). The FF escape, Galactus is freed and Doctor Doom's power mad plans are thwarted. Boy that was fun. I hope they don't leave Aunt Petunia's before telling us about Franklin's new friend Wendy.

 Dial H for Hero #2 - Sam Humphries (writer) Joe Quinones (art) Jordan Gibson (colours) Dave Sharpe (letters). Seems like the H-Dial is a drug with lots of addicts looking for a fix. The potential for zany super powers is huge. I liked how they introduced the good versus evil theme in this issue.

 Avengers #18/LGY #718 - Jason Aaron (writer) Ed McGuinness (pencils) Mark Morales (inks) Justin Ponsor (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Not an Avenger in sight this whole issue but you've got an Agent Coulson controlled Squadron Supreme instead. What made me groan a little was the big villain reveal at the end. I hope it's not a convenient deus ex machina.

 Heroes in Crisis #8 - Tom King (writer) Mitch Gerads (art pages 1, 6-20) Ryan Sook (art pages 2-5) Mitch Gerads (colours) Clayton Cowles (letters). I still don't see the ;point of this story with one issue left. I think the killer confesses here but I'm not sure. I'm waiting for the consequences to hit the fan and hope something is resolved in the last issue.

 The Amazing Spider-Man #20 - Nick Spencer (writer) Humberto Ramos (pencils) Victor Olazaba (inks) Edgar Delgado & Erick Arciniega (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). Hunted part 4. A surprise twist turns the tables giving Spider-Man even more incentive to confront Kraven. Meanwhile the son turns on the father as Kraven's son joins the hunt.

 The Superior Spider-Man #5 - Christos Gage (writer) Mike Hawthorne (pencils) Wade von Grawbadger & Andy Owens (inks) Jordie Bellaire (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). I don't know who created the super villain Master Pandemonium but they must have been on crack. This guy has demons for arms and a hole in his stomach that's a gateway to hell. Time for Doctor Octopus to call in a consult. The team-up with Doctor Strange is a clash of science and magic. Let's see who's the better doctor.

 Miles Morales: Spider-Man #5 - Saladin Ahmed (writer) Javier Garron (art) David Curiel (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Speculator alert! It's the first appearance of a new super hero.  Too bad they're named after unwelcome guests to our bird feeders. It's gang wars across Brooklyn and Miles is trying to prevent the death of innocent victims. The surprise appearance  happens when Miles goes to confront Tombstone about his incursions into other gangs' territories. I noticed some changes in Miles this issue that didn't appeal to me. I think he's acting way too confident and macho now. His maturing has happened way too fast and might turn me off the character. If the art wasn't so impressive I might bench this book now.

 Spider-Man City at War #2 - Dennis "Hopeless" Hallum (writer) Michele Bandini (art) David Curiel (colours) VC's Travis Lanham (letters). I get a kick from noting the differences between these Gamerverse versions and the MU versions. This issue features Miles Morales and I prefer this Miles to the one in the comic book that I just finished. Peter and Miles meet for the first time but it's not in a friendly neighbourhood.

[jana-hallford]

Summer 2017 Snapshots

Here in the United States many people informally think of summer as the time between Memorial Day, at the end of May, and Labor Day, in early September. But summer does not actually begin until well into June and lasts a few weeks past Labor Day. This year summer in the Northern Hemisphere officially ended Friday, September 22nd. 

Before it gets any later, here are some snapshots from my summer activities that didn’t make it in to previous posts.

Episcopal Night at the Padres

Each year I look forward to going to Episcopal Night at Petco Park. This time Neal and I did not enter through our usual gate, and this gave us the opportunity to walk through the area commemorating important people and events in the Padres team history.

Hall of Fame area. 

The Padres went to their first World Series in 1984.

Neal at Petco Park.

In my Padres jersey, before the game.

We like the Toyota Terrace.

On the way to our seats.

We had a good view of the Jerry Coleman Broadcast Center, named for the famous sports broadcaster. 

The San Diego Padres played the Detroit Tigers. The Padres won!

Bishop James Mathes threw out the ceremonial first pitch. This was his last Padres Night with us. July 1st was his final day as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego.  He resigned to accept the position of  associate dean of students and chaplain at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. He has been a good leader and I know he will help train and counsel future leaders.

Mother’s Birthday Celebration

Birthday cake for my mother’s 92nd birthday celebration. Mary and Amy came from Boston, and the Aztec dance group from the church my mother and father joined about 58 years ago honored her with dance. 

My sister Mary with my mother and me. Aztec dancers from the church my mother and I belong to are behind us.

Brush Clearing Goats and Goat Herding Dogs

On the way home from Mother’s birthday celebration, Neal and I stopped to look at goats clearing brush on an empty lot. 

Goats clearing an empty lot.

Here in Southern California property owners are responsible for keeping brush cleared to minimize fire danger. Goats are sometimes rented to accomplish this. 

Two dogs were watching over the goats. (Neal and I worried that both dogs seemed to need veterinary care.) The male barked a lot and was leery of us. This dog, a female, approached us cautiously. She seemed to know I was a female too, and showed me a baby goat. 

San Diego County Fair

The American Cancer Society office was closed for the Fourth of July holiday, including on Monday, July 3rd. I had free passes from work for the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, so Neal and I went. Happily, when we arrived Monday morning it was not overly crowded. We enjoyed seeing our favorite attractions, including the art and photography exhibits, displays of collections and crafts, woodworking and gemology pavilions, and of course, animals.

This year’s theme was “How the West is Fun.”  (Or “was Fun” depending on the sign.)

Old Western movie posters.

The Western theme was everywhere, including the floral and landscape displays.

Hello Kitty, Peppa Pig, and friends.

Lovely carousel horse adorned with roses. This is the type of carousel horse I often chose when I was a girl.

Midway minion.

We didn’t see much of the crazy foods that dominated the Fair for a long time. (I don’t mind if the deep-fried Twinkie era has peaked. )This booth had chicken and curly fries.

Traditional fair concessions.

Fair food. We saw more vegetables this year.

Sky ride.

Funnel cakes are a Fair tradition for us.

Neal and funnel cake.

Sweet donkey.

This turkey was named Mae West.

Turkey.

Big fiberglass animals like this chicken were common when I was growing up. I’m fond of them. 

Goats.

A pig enjoying some time outside of a pen.

Hand-washing station near the livestock displays.

“Where the West Was Fun,” the Fair theme this year. This banner is by the jockey quarters at the fairgrounds.

The historic Don Diego Clock Tower at the San Diego County Fair grounds in Del Mar. Built in 1953,  the Clock Tower had been scheduled for demolition but fortunately it was preserved and relocated earlier this year. Its new location, at the O’Brien Gate, was unveiled March 14, 2017. The image is of Don Diego, the symbol of the San Diego County Fair. Actor Tom Hernandez portrayed Don Diego for 37 years, until his death in 1984. I remember him greeting people as they came through the gates. Symbolizing hospitality, the Don Diego character was based on Don Diego Alvarado, a real-life Del Mar landowner in the late nineteenth century,  well-known as a welcoming host.

Neal and I at the San Diego County Fair, Monday, July 3rd, 2017.

A Rescued Goat, a Green Dinosaur, & a Lovely Lake

On Saturday, July 8th Neal and I drove to Campo, a rural part of San Diego County (about 50 miles from downtown).  It was hot, and our van’s air conditioner was not working, but we still managed to have a good time.

View from the van.

San Diego is a chapparal biome (more rainfall than a desert biome), featuring scrubby, drought-resistant plants. 

Our first stop was a farm animal sanctuary. Neal met this sweet pig.

I was able to spend time with Chance, a little goat born with deformed back legs.

Chance the goat. I was happy to see he is able to walk. (In fact, the little guy gets around at a faster pace than I expected.)

Even in this condition, this tree is beautiful.

More of our beautiful back country.

Sinclair dinosaur in Campo, California.

It was a hot day, without air conditioning in our vehicle. We’re glad the Sinclair gas station had a convenience store with cold drinks. And I enjoyed seeing this dinosaur.

The building that is now the Campo Stone Store Museum was built in 1885.

Boulders with lichen. 

Our van by the Old Stone Store in Campo. This side has a decal depicting the Hitchhiking Ghosts from Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion on the back window. (Zero from “Nightmare Before Christmas” is on the opposite side.)

View of Lake Moreno County Park.

Lake Moreno County Park, Campo, California.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with Amy and Mary

Tuesday, July 11th I flew to Providence, Rhode Island to attend sessions and and teach at the EXHIBITOR FastTrak conference. I was just there for Wednesday the 12th. It was an excellent experience, and I liked staying at Hotel Providence, but I did not have a chance to explore the area. However, once my sessions were done, I was able to have a delightful visit with Mary and Amy, who live nearby in the Boston area.

It was a joy to see their beautiful home and grounds, including Amy’s art glass studio. Wednesday evening they took me to dinner at Tomasso Tratoria in Southborough (I ate well!). Then I spent the night in their guest room. Summer rain was falling on and off, and that continued Thursday, July 13th, so we decided to go to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Amy in front of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. 

I love this museum! I visited by myself three years ago when I was in Cambridge for speaker training required of all EXHIBITOR conference speakers. I took the train into Boston and spent hours going through different permanent collections at the MFA. This visit, we focused on temporary displays.

Amy and Mary view David Ortiz’s World Series Championship rings from 2004, 2007, and 2014, plus his World Series MVP ring from 2013. His number, 34, was retired at Fenway Park on June 23, 2017.

Display of World Series rings belonging to Boston Red Sox icon David Ortiz. 

We spent a good amount of our time in this exhibit, “Memory Unearthed: The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross.”

“Memory Unearthed: The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross was a  powerful exhibit. Following Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939, Jews and Roma (Gypsies) were rounded up and forced into overcrowded ghettos. Over time the residents were sent off to concentration camps, where most were killed upon arrival.

I knew something about the infamous Warsaw Ghetto, but almost nothing about Lodz. Conditions were dreadful in all of the ghettos, but Lodz was especially cut off from the outside, without the black market connections that helped some residents of the Warsaw Ghetto stave off death by starvation. Security at Lodz was very heavy, and the only money was Nazi-issued scrip that was worthless anywhere else.

Photographer Henryk Ross, a Polish Jew, was given work by the Nazis, taking identification card photos and publicity images in the Lodz Ghetto. With the help of his wife Stephania he repeatedly risked his life to secretly document  the community. He was only given enough film to do his assigned work, but he built a three-level platform in his studio that allowed him to photograph up to twelve people at once. The film he conserved allowed him to take clandestine photographs.

Early images include some happy scenes -- family groups,  celebrations -- before conditions became dire. At first people were permitted to exchange jewelry and other valuables to obtain food, but as such resources ran out, hunger became a widespread problem. Most residents had very little to eat. Ross captured on film people digging for spoiled food the Nazis discarded, residents being carted off for deportation in box cars, public hangings, and more. 

Those who worked for the Nazis lived relatively well and had more food to eat. As a photographer, Ross did not encounter the level of resentment faced by the members of the Jewish Police Force -- Jews who enforced the Nazi rules and laws.

The most hated man in the Lodz Ghetto was Chaim Rumknowski, the Nazi-appointed leader of the Jewish Council. He did some things that prolonged lives, particularly convincing the Nazis to build factories where Jews could produce goods. This may be why Lodz was the last ghetto to close. But he was an autocratic ruler who expelled anyone who disagreed with him, sending them to concentration camps. He molested girls and young women who knew too well what their fate would be if they resisted. He urged families to give up their young children to be sent off for extermination. When the ghetto was drained in the fall of 1944 and even he was finally sent off Auchwitz, fellow inmates apparently murdered him.

Before the ghetto was liquidated, Ross buried photos and negatives in a box, hoping they would be retrieved later to bear witness of what happened. Ross and his wife survived. After the Red Army liberated Poland he returned to Lodz to dig up his photos. About half of them were damaged or destroyed by water. Today’s technology could restore some of them, but for this exhibit the decision was made to show the images without enhancement. Some of the photos were ravaged, but still told their stories.

Here is a web site with more information:

http://agolodzghetto.com/view/objects/asimages/67397?t:state:flow=5349a8a1-4076-4866-a055-12c9704177f4

Mary and Amy took me to lunch at Bravo, a lovely restaurant in the museum. We saw yet more beautiful art, and enjoyed visiting the museum book store. I bought a box of Helen Frankenthaler note cards, and made notes about books I hope to buy.

Then it was time for me to go to the airport for my flight home.

Area just outside the main book store at the MFA. It’s a wonderful shop.

Neon art from the museum’s permanent collection: “PLEASE...” by Jeppe Hein, 2008, acquired by the MFA in 2011. The artist is Danish and was born in 1974.

Mary, me, and Amy at the airport just before I flew home. My sisters were wonderful hosts.