We're back with another installment of "Random Notes!", the regular blog feature that cleans off my desktop of pictures and ideas that I feel like sharing with the Internets. This is a long-running feature, dating all the way back to 1995, when this blog was hosted by GeoCities. Fun fact: in 1995, it took seven days to upload a picture, and I passed the time in between typing in the cheat code to the original Sim City! We've come a long way.
- Our first feature, coincidentally, comes from the '90s as well. It's one of those comic book ads that I'll always remember...and hate. At first glance, it seems like a perfectly reasonable and well-meaning advertisement, an anti-tobacco message that pushes back against the significant deleterious influence of big corporations. The slogan rhymes, so why not, right? But for some reason, the company that produced this ad decided to add the caveat "if you're a teen". As if to say, "the minute you turn 20, bam! Off you go to get your smokes." So, smoking is okay if you're an adult?
That seems like such a cop-out. Why would an anti-smoking ad qualify its message in this way? The fine print reveals that it's produced by Lorillard, a TOBACCO COMPANY. #$&^&*#%@!!! A little more research reveals that the Lorillard tobacco company is based out of...McMURRAY, PA! #&@^$&#%@&!!!!
Ridiculous. These were terrible comic book advertisements that now seem like backhanded ads for the very thing it was supposedly warning against. This must be like discovering that the Matrix is real.
- In less infuriating news, I recently got approved for a professional badge to the 2013 New York Comic Con! That's exciting stuff. It'll be the first time I've been to the show since 2010, when I went in a different capacity. I believe that the FUBAR booth will be making an appearance on the floor, so look for me to spend a lot of time there.
- The "Man of Steel" movie is just around the corner, and the promotional push is in full swing. Wal-Mart seems to be a big sponsor (I wonder if Ma Kent will be shown eating Great Value cereal?) as there's Superman-related merchandise littered throughout the stores. Among the strangest tie-ins I've seen: Superman pizza! I guess it's not exactly called "Superman Pizza", but what else would you say when asked to describe this item? The pepperoni should be dyed red, blue and yellow.
- I've never been drawn to digital comics; I have nothing against them, I just prefer the archaic paper comics that I've always read. But Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin's "The Private Eye" pulled me in. I'm a big fan of both creators and this digital comic does not fail to deliver. It's a fantastic futuristic thriller and I couldn't recommend it more. If you haven't read this yet, do yourself a favor at go to http://panelsyndicate.com. I can't wait for the third issue to be released.
- A little while ago, I showed pictures of the Sideshow Tick statue that I bought. I stumbled upon this image fairly at random recently, and it's obvious that it's a design for the statue. Really cool!
- Last night, "Weird Al" Yankovic came to Washington, PA, on the newest leg of the Alpocalypse tour. It was a great show! And it allowed me the chance to debut the newest shirt in the line, as modeled by Larry:
How nice! The art on this shirt is by Pietro, and I got them printed up at Commonwealth Press in Pittsburgh. We got a number of compliments on the shirt at the show. I'm planning on doing a little website renovation over the next few weeks, and part of that will be, I think, opening up an Etsy shop for items that don't necessarily belong in the Teddy and the Yeti camp.
- Speaking of Larry, he's doing a lot of great things with his hobby/obsession, the Dukes of Hazzard. Last week, I drove out with him past Columbus, Ohio to pick up a door to a '69 Charger General Lee! If you haven't looked at his blog lately, make sure you check it out before he becomes all famous and people just think you're a bandwagon fan: http://dukescollector.blogspot.com
- I'm a fan of Beast Wars: Transformers. And if you've ever seen the show, then you are, too. Here's a great image! From Twitter! From Beast Wars Megatron! You should follow this on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BWMegatron
- Lastly, here's the newest episode of Franks and Beans, in which I grow a beard and Larry and I talk about stuff. It's episode 60: the Joke!
That's it for this installment of "Random Notes", sure to live on into the 22nd century, passed on from generation to generation like a precious family heirloom.
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1 comment:
F*U*N*D* The Librarian hated when you did that.
I had the Superman pizza, and its pretty good.
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