Around the Internets

1. I am so ready for the Avengers movie.
2. Keeping your car in shape.
   
3. One does not simply walk to the House of the 7 Dwarfs...
4. The thing about mistresses is...
5. Update your interview techniques.
6. I'd like to live in Tamera Mowry's world.
   

Quote Of The Day

"Paul Rudd is so good at playing a dick boyfriend that Rihanna ducks when she watches Wet Hot American Summer."

-- Cracked.com's Seanbaby

The (Comic Book) Times, They Are A'Changin'

Sure, the X-Men and Fantastic Four (now Future Foundation) have teamed up before, but have they ever done it while Magneto and Dr. Doom where on their respective rosters? I can only imagine the conversations: "Hey; remember when we were trying to kill these guys every other week? Fun times!"

Blaming the Victim (aka, "The Media Is Pretty Damn Fickle")

News One has four good examples.

Straight & To The Point

A poster at DU explains how you raise the debt ceiling.

And The Answer Is: "Because He's a Badass!"

The question: why did Alex Trebek chase a burglar?

Meet John Beck

Apparently, he's the new Washington Quarterback.

Riddle Me This

If Speaker Boehner (and Fox News) believe that there is no crisis regarding the debt ceiling, would that mean letting the country default can't be blamed on President Obama?

Another Potential Batman Villian Goes To Prison

Seriously; this guy is that sick in the head.

Bad Advice

Donald Trump says Congressional Republicans should reject every proposal that doesn't give them 100% of what they want in order to ruin President Obama's electoral chances, and based on their most recent actions, they seem to be following his advice. Not a good idea.

Can't Let Reality Get In The Way Of A Good Dose Of Fear-Mongering!

Even with the revelation that the Norway bomber/shooter was a blond, conservative, Christian native of the country, some on the Right still contend his actions reflect "Islamic terrorism."

Around the Internets

1. Words that should and shouldn't be used on resumes.
2. I would agree with this, in principle.
3. Foods that help your metabolism.
4. Is it me, or does it seem like every five years Nintendo is either flying high or in danger of being wiped off the map?
5. Sharpton wouldn't be that bad of a TV show host, actually.
   

The Easiest Way Comic Book Companies Can Get More People To Read Comics

Are you ready: STOP MAKING ORIGIN MOVIES!!!!

It's that simple; just start the superhero "in media res," have him/her already in their established world with their supporting characters. Have at least two-to-three established adversaries, and use sequels as the origin story for new ones.

Just don't tell us how the hero came to be; it's boring and becoming cliched. Besides, if people really want to know, just tell them to go buy the fucking comic book. Use the movies to market the interesting aspects of your characters, not to rehash/reboot/restart their origin. If there are people who don't know how Superman, Spider-Man and Batman after decades of exposure, they're either not allowed to be exposed to American culture or they can't read; either way they aren't part of you're target audience.

Take a look a the movie versions of Harry Potter, Star Wars and Aliens/Predator: they all left gaps of storytelling that can be filled if curious viewers just coughed up the dough for the book or comic. The movie is supposed to be the draw, so stop acting like everything has to be stuffed in there in order to make viewers interested. Hell, Movie Superman should be different from Comic Book Superman! Why? Because then people will by the comic in order to compare the two!

Otherwise, we'll never get our Justice League/Avengers movie because, "Oh no!, we forgot to do the Martian Manhunter/Black Panther Origin Movie First!*



*NOTE: Marvel has done the right thing, slipping Black Widow and Hawkeye into the Ironman and Thor movies, respectively...even if it may have taken the movie's main storyline offroad for a bit.

What a Leader!

Rupert Murdoch actually told Parliament that the problems with his company are the fault of the people he hired (and the people who work for them) and not himself.

This explains a lot regarding the POV of the average Fox News person (and maybe viewer).

There's Other, Safer Way tO Hold a House Party

Seriously; WTF?

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A 17-year-old boy is accused of bludgeoning his parents with a hammer, then hosting dozens of friends for a party while their bodies lay in the bedroom, police said Monday.

Tyler Hadley of Port St. Lucie is charged with twin counts of first-degree murder in the deaths, which authorities say happened Saturday. He is being held without bond at a juvenile detention center in Fort Pierce and it's not immediately known whether he has an attorney.

The parents — Blake and Mary-Jo Hadley — were believed to have been struck with the hammer in their heads and torsos sometime after their son posted on Facebook around 1:15 p.m. Saturday alerting friends to an evening party at his house, about 50 miles north of West Palm Beach.

Herman Cain's Bottom Line

Even if you're a rich Republican ex-governor, being a Mormon disqualifies you from being a GOP presidential candidate.

No Main Topic

1. Let Grandpa drive.
2. Lockout leads to losing center.
3. Even Sherlock Holmes couldn't help with this one.
4. For one day at least, Americans were somewhat interested in soccer.
5. Let the recruiting/campaigning begin!
   

Around the Internets

1. The knock on Nice Guys.
2. Multiracial authors are telling their story.
3. Harry Potter summed up in some cool pictures.
4. Awww.
5. A reminder to those who think all liberals love Obama.
6. I'm starting to warm up to the new Spider-Man movie.
7. Can't really blame Raven-Symone, to be honest.
8. People aren't exactly lining up to see Sarah Palin's new documentary.
   

District Talk

Local anchorman Jim Vance sat down with President Obama to talk about things like voting rights for people living in D.C.

"Professor" Lawrence O'Donnell Educates Critics On Debt Ceiling History

The host of The Last Word talks about it's partisan/non-partisan past, it's ever-changing length and how there have been plenty of times where it was voted on in the 11th hour.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Also, O'Donnell points out to certain people (like those in this post from C&L who called him a "multimillionaire talking head") that no other than BILL FUCKING CLINTON submitted a debt ceiling bill that included cuts to Medicare and was voted on by a Democratic Congress...and the liberal base of the Democratic Party had nowhere near the reaction they have now, where a story has been floating around that President Obama may be willing to concede some cuts to Medicare is generating calls of betrayal from some liberals. This bit starts in around the 8:08 mark and ends around 10:27.

Of course, I'm sure the response to O'Donnell will be somewhere between "We weren't paying attention back then" and "But, but, Obama said during the campaign..." Whatever. Guys, please: stop being so melodramatic and get your history straight before attacking people on your own fucking side.

The Tea Party Was Never Restricted To Fiscal Policies

C&L explains.

The Devil's In The Details

I'm a fan of Diablo Cody's writing; she strikes me as a cross between Amy Heckerling and Kevin Williamson. That being said, the last movie she was a part of was a flop.

So why attach her to write a remake for one of most praise cult classics around?

Maybe Sam Raimi knows something we don't. I sure hope so...

No Main Topic

1. The family that consolidates media outlets together...
2. The obligatory "high teacher caught having sex with students" story.
3. Emmy awards stuff.
4. U.S. soccer stuff.
   

Next Time, It Should Be A Rapping Contest

Bow-Wow challenges Kobe Bryant to a one-on-one game, loses badly.

Bill O'Reilly Crosses Into Uncanny Political Valley

He concedes that raising revenue has to be an option.

Newt Gingrich Is Smoking Crack

He says that "there is no Supreme Court in the American Constitution." Then why did the GOP spend so much time, money and resources packing it with ultra-conservatives?

No Main Topic

1. You gotta be kidding me.
2. One reason people are skeptical of cops.
3. Broken Record: Obama asks for compromise; GOP lifts middle finger.
4. Another reason people are skeptical of cops.
5. Is your town this exciting?
6. Maybe more tax cuts would solve this drought problem. I mean, that's the solution to everything, right?
   

Around the Internets

1. In other words: animals are pretty much like people (except for the Adactylidium; they're just nasty).
2. In this week's edition of: "I have a sucky boyfriend but I don't know what's wrong with the relationship..."
3. This could have been in the New York Times and I would have believed it.
4. This looks like a job for Superman!
5. A classic guy-meets-blow-up-doll story.
   

No Main Topic

1. Thinking that a blow-up doll would actually blow up is just another sign of how paranoid our society has gotten.
2. Alternative Title: "Obama Suggests Something That Will Most Likely Piss Off His Base More Than They Already Are."
3. Storms over Saturn.
4. Who knew you could hold 3o people hostage with a machete?
5. Meet the new (Office) boss.
6. HackerGate takes yet another turn.
   

No Main Topic

1. Twitter Town Hall? Ugh.
2. Imagine that; the GOP didn't like a decision the Obama White House made.
3. I think this happened in an episode of "Ducktales" once.
4. Hollywood's top money-making actresses.
5. Not all high school romances end happily ever after.
   

Around the Internets

1. The only time the GOP opposes a tax cut.
2. I would imagine your city being flooded would keep in in the "Top 10 Dirtiest American Cities" for awhile.
3. Thinking like Ayn Rand isn't a way to get elected in American politics.
4. Love is at the top of American regrets.
5. Yikes.
6. If only every music act/group was so honest.
7. Say "bye" to Beck.
   
8. That police brutality thing is still going on.