The Avengers opening credits

As we talked yesterday, here are the opening credits to "The Avengers."

I got a box in the mail today ...

.. that came from Barnes and Noble. It was supposed to be my "Avengers' box set. Instead, what was inside was the "Natalie Wood Collection."
And, I ask myself, what kind of filing system do they have that puts Natalie Wood movies in a position to be mixed up with a 1960s British TV show?

The Avengers (sometimes even in color!)

I just spent some $60 on a set of DVDs of "The Avengers," the 1960's British TV show, not the Marvel Comic. I have watched a few episodes on a smaller set of DVDs.
I had forgotten how much I like that show. I wish I had a lot to say about it, but perhaps I shall post more after I finish watching the episodes. There are 17 discs in the series, of which I already have two.
I used to like watching "The Avengers" when it was sandwiched at noon between "The Fugitive" and "Perry Mason." I can think of no better lineup of re-reuns. (There are a few that would as good, but probably none better.)
After re-watching a few episodes as I wait for the full collection, the only thing that really jumps out as noteworthy is how good the on-screen chemistry is between Diana Rigg and Patrick MacNee. It all had to do with the way the characters interacted. Macnee, as John Steed, and Rigg, as Emma Peel, were playful and clever with each other, without falling out of character.
The movie of a few years ago with Uma Thurman and Ralph Finnes, which should have been really good, stank by comparison. They are incredibly accomplished actors, but for some reason just didn't work well together in those roles.
Some people are good for some roles, I guess, and others aren't.
Anyway, I am anxiously awaiting the larger collection. I shall report more later.
One question, though: What were The Avengers avenging? I don't think the series ever told us.

Serial cereal blogging

I had Apple Jacks for breakfast today. Just thought you'd like to know.

Brett Favre, it's been good to know ya

I guess the voters on this site really didn't want to see Brett Favre come back last year. It's 3-1 that he never should have come back, and the one vote is for the option that he'll probably come back again next year.

In the grand tradition of folk singers who will make up songs about anything and borrow tunes from each other, here's a song about him (To the tune of "So long, it's been good to know ya"):

Brett Favre, it's been good to know ya;
Brett Favre, it's been good to know ya;
Brett Favre, it's been good to know ya.
But your weakening throws are a-gettin' picked off,
And your hair is turnin' to gray.

Deficit, schmecefit

You know, in light of President Obama's plan to cut the budget deficit in half, I say this: I think the federal government should balance the deficit, and then aggressively pay down the national debt.
At the end of that process, Congress should enact a law that says the federal government is not allowed to deficit spend, except in a one-year emergency which would require something like a two-thirds or three-fourths majority to ratify. Then, if the deficit had to carry over to the next year, it should only happen if Congress can unanimously agree to consecutive years of deficit spending. Try getting 435 members of the House of representatives and 100 Senators to agree to anything, much less something to do with money that could be spent in their home states.
Cities and states aren't allowed to deficit spend. If they do, they get in real trouble with auditors. The federal government should be held to the same standard.
At the same time, the national debt is getting so large that just eliminating the interest payment could probably fund several of the programs that are now failing for lack of money.
However, my suspicions are that:
a. Ending deficit spending will never happen, and
b. If it did, that future Congress would pass a law voiding the law that said they couldn't deficit spend.
Maybe Congress should just hire that Dave Ramsey guy to tell the government how to get out of debt.
Oops. wait. His show is on Fox, and Congress is controlled by Democrats. I guess that means hiring him is about as likely as 535 Congressmen agreeing on anything.

Czech this out!

Indians sign catcher from Czech Republic
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP)—Scouring the globe for talented baseball players, the Cleveland Indians plucked one from Eastern Europe—a Czech mate behind the plate.
The club signed 16-year-old catcher Martin Cervenka of the Czech Republic to a non-drafted minor league contract on Saturday. Peter Gahan, who scouts Europe and Australia for the Indians, discovered the right-handed hitter while evaluating players at Major League Baseball’s European Academy in Italy.

A few somewhat random thoughts about the Cleveland Indians

Terry Pluto offers some interesting comments about some of the Indians' younger players.
There's a small part of me that would love to see all these class A and AA prospects come up to Cleveland to see how well they'd play. (That probably comes from being an Indians fan for a long time. It used to be the only thing I could look forward to was seeing the next round of prospects coming up.)
If we read between the lines of Pluto's story a little bit, we might conclude from it that maybe the Indians really are considering playing Jhonny Perlata at third base a lot this year.
Apparently, the Indians like new second baseman Luis Valbuena, who is ticketed for AAA this year. He played second while Asdurbal Cabrera played short in the Mariners' minor league system. Pluto says:
But the Indians love his (Valbuena's) short, controlled swing that delivers line drives to all fields. A left-handed hitting second baseman, Valbuena could take over the spot in 2010 -- with Asdrubal Cabrera shifting to short, Jhonny Peralta to third.
In a way, it makes you wonder how long third baseman Mark DeRosa will be with the Indians, especially if Valbuena hits really well right out of the gate. I'd hope the Indians would not leave the young second baseman in AAA like they did to Ben Francisco lat year. If he hits, I'd hope they get him up to the majors and play him. DeRose is not a long-term solution at third base, so why waste at-bats on him if they could get a productive younger player into the lineup?
On another note: I'd still be in favor of playing Victor Martinez at first base and letting Kelly Shoppach catch most of the time this year. It just seems to me the Indians are better that way than with Ryan Garko at first and Martinez at catcher. I like Garko as a possible replacement for Travis Hafner if he doesn't come back to full effectiveness after shoulder surgery.
That said, Garko tied for the team lead in RBIs last year, so it's kind of hard to shuffle him to the bench. But, 90 RBIs in the middle of the order for a winning team isn't really that many. That number of RBIs put him 17th in the American league, tied with Indians' leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore. Sizemore was tied for th team lead an RBIs despite one at bat every day with no one on base to drive in.
That tells you a lot about how great a player Sizemore really is. Because he hits leadoff and not third or fourth, I think fans sometimes fail to recognize just how great he is. When his career is over, one day we may be looking at Sizemore alongside the greatest Indians position players of all time.
I hope some of the team's young players — Pluto mentions Valbuena along with outfielder Michael Brantley, outfielder Matt LaPorta and catcher Carlos Santana — get up to Cleveland in time to help him win a World Series.

Hmmm ...

I haven't posted here much lately, have I?

Another great video from EFO

If you liked the last one, you probably like this one, too.

Great video from EFO

Go watch this. I suspect you'll like it.

Paul Rivoche Rock(et)s!

Here's a blog site belonging to Paul Rivoche, one of the better comics artists working today. I have to say, I wish I could find more comics with his art. Click around! You'll find lots of wonderful drawings.

Ever wonder which Robert Heinlein books were written for a younger audience?

Well, here you can see a picture of all of them. How many have you read?

Good ol' Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema

I don't have much to say. I just like this drawing.

Doom Patrol will be patrolling again

Here is an interesting interview/story from comicbookresources.com that tell us that Keith Giffen will be writing a new ongoing Doom Patrol series. No word on the artist, though. I wouldn't mind if Giffen drew it himself
I have really enjoyed the last few iterations of the Doom Patrol, namely the one by John Byrne and the one written by John Arcudi. Both were pretty clever, but very different.
I like that Giffen says he is going back to the original Doom Patrol characters, and that he will be trying to make every issue accessible if you haven't read the ones before. I am sick of comic series that are written simply to be reprinted into trade paperbacks.
Doom Patrol has always been something of a weird comic in all of it's versions, and there have been many.
In fact, this is the one title from the 1960s that DC has not reprinted in it's "Showcase Presents" volumes. I have no idea why. I am always checking the coming attractions to see if they will be reprinting the original series. You can get it in hardcover, but at $50 a pop, that's a little rich for me. I don't want to read those old issues that badly.
Maybe Giffen's new series will push DC to release it. Here's hoping.

A coloring book from a great artist

Here's a Tara McPherson coloring book from Dark Horse Comics. It's a fun way to kill some time. You can even make up your own colors!