Archive for June, 2010


Fewer Fireworks Celebrations Will Celebrate July 4 This Year

Filed Under: Beliefs, What-everrr! by Wayne Hall — Leave a comment
June 30, 2010

It’s a time of tight budgets everywhere due to a bad economy, so it comes as no surprise that the Fourth of July festivities are not going to be quite as … festive … as they have been in previously better times.

Here’s a story about it from USA Today:

>>City Budgets Snuffing July 4th Fireworks by Stacey Jones

Cities across the USA are dousing the fuse on Fourth of July fireworks displays this year because of continued budget woes.

Glendale, Ariz., Jersey City and Springfield, Mo., are among the latest cities that have canceled their traditional Independence Day celebrations, joining other cities including San Francisco suburb Redwood City and Ridgefield Park, N.J.

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It’s Like ‘Day & Night’ For Pixar Films

Filed Under: Animation by Wayne Hall — Leave a comment
June 29, 2010

Toy Story 3 is proving to be an able conclusion to the powerful, CGI-animated film series, earning over $200 million worldwide in the last two weekends and winning critics’ praise around the globe.

If you’d like to read my review of Toy Story 3, go to SciFiPulse.net.

If you’d like to learn more about the interesting short that precedes the movie, keep reading!

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DVD Review: ‘Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths’

Filed Under: Comics, Science Fiction, SciFi Pulse by Wayne Hall — Leave a comment
June 28, 2010

As SciFiPulse site Head Honcho Ian Cullen likes to point out, “Wayne will admit himself that his all-out favorite team of heroes is The Justice League, and to him, they are the gold standard.” So I obviously was interested in the recent Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths direct-to-DVD movie.

Synopsis: “In a parallel universe, the lone survivor of Earth’s Justice League—Lex Luthor—travels through other-world dimensions to join forces with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash and J’onn J’onzz in a desperate attempt to save his world and its people. But the villainous Crime Syndicate controlled by Ultraman, Owlman and Superwoman will stop at nothing to maintain their domination. It will take wits, might, and a sacrifice to defeat these unforgiving enemies in this spectacular DC Universe Animated Original Movie with a stellar voice cast headed by Mark Harmon, James Woods, Chris Noth, Gina Torres, William Baldwin, Bruce Davison and more. Two Earths, two Leagues and one epic battle collide for a thrilling experience that will leave you breathless!”

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What I Don’t Like!

Filed Under: Comics, Science Fiction, SciFi Pulse, Star Trek by Wayne Hall — Leave a comment
June 27, 2010

I’ve been found out!

Both Ian Cullen and BenJGrimm are always after me on the SciFiPulse podcast to talk about things I don’t like instead of things I do. I prefer to be a positive person, so I usually don’t focus on the negative. And I also don’t buy things I don’t like, so it is hard for me to rate them. However, this week I will endeavor to talk about what I know I don’t like.

1. Star Trek: The Next Generation. As a huge fan of Deep Space Nine, I never really warmed up to TNG. In fact, I hated the “galactic reset button” that was hit at the end of each episode. I guess one can tell when I don’t care for something—I laugh at jokes about it. For instance, there was a guy on AOL way back when the show started who used to post about Doctor Beverly Crusher’s hips swinging so far in the hallway that she would knock unsuspecting ensigns to the ground. I still smile or laugh about that one. Then there was the joke about Captain Picard coming down with a terminal disease, which caused Counselor Troi to ask him how he wanted to be buried. “I want to be buried with my buttocks in the air,” he said. Puzzled, Troi asked him why. “All my family ride bicycles, and they need a place to park them when they visit my grave,” he responded. Stuffy “Old Baldie” saying that killed me when I first read it. Yes, I still smile or laugh about that one, too.

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I’m In Comics Hardcover Heaven!

Filed Under: Comics by Wayne Hall — Leave a comment
June 26, 2010

Every once in a while, some trend comes along and changes how I buy comics—most likely, forever.

It wasn’t that long ago we started seeing trade paperbacks in the “mainstream” bookstores.  I was worried that the local comics shops would go under when the “trades” (as we call them in comic-book fandom) caused a mass exodus to the nearby Borders or Barnes & Nobles.  I was happy to discover that my fears had been unfounded.  Instead, the local stores did better because readers who hadn’t read some issues could catch up by reading this compilation. Also, those folks who preferred to read these “extended stories” would stop by every few months to pick up their “trades” and catch up with those of us who are weekly addicts. I even could sample comics I hadn’t read before, so I bought my share of “trades.”

But there has been a new development in the last few years that has significantly altered how I buy comics, and for the better, I think.

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Sometimes I’m Glad I Don’t Speak ‘Sports’ Very Well

Filed Under: What-everrr! by Wayne Hall — Leave a comment
June 25, 2010

I’m not all that big of a sports fan, although I will watch parts of games or read about events when they interest me, and that usually means during a championship. One of my friends at work has referred to me as a “fair-weather fan” because I tend not to watch teams or players when they aren’t doing so well. I just wish I had the time!

One of my problems with sports is that I have had my heart broken too many times by certain teams (who shall remain nameless) over the years. One squad in particular would get to the playoffs, go up three wins to one defeat in a best-of-seven series, then lose the last three games in a row to be eliminated. AUGH! I had to give up following sports as closely as I had before because I just couldn’t take the gaff!

But I’m fascinated by the investment we place in something over which we have absolutely no control! We hang on every play and, as President John F. Kennedy once said, “We are inclined that if we watch a football game or baseball game, we have taken part in it.” Is that ever true! I spent one Redskins game at a friend’s home surrounded by fellow fans, and we never heard a single word the announcer on the television ever said because we were cheering, yelling and talking so loud!

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You Don’t Have To Be Naked To Be Crazy, But Apparently Sometimes It Helps

Filed Under: What-everrr! by Wayne Hall — Leave a comment
June 24, 2010

My favorite parts of any newspaper or newscast are the “filler” or “odd” stories that either make a column fit right or add spice to a broadcast. Here’s a good example of that.

A naked woman led police on a crazy chase in the Salt Lake City area. Honestly, I couldn’t make this up if I tried.  Here’s the article:

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New iPhone Operating System Available

Filed Under: Computers/The Web, iPod, iPhone, iPad, i by Wayne Hall — 5 Comments
June 23, 2010

Yesterday, Monday, was the day the new 4.0 operating system was available for those of us with the 3G iPhones. Sure enough, it was there, and I downloaded and installed it.

I’m still figuring out just what features I like and don’t like. Already I enjoy putting apps in folders so I can add more apps. All apps need to beware because I am going to be after you now!

Here’s an interesting article about the drop from informationweek.com:

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Baseball Player Hits Homer For His Father In First At Bat Since His Dad Passed Away

Filed Under: Beliefs by Wayne Hall — Leave a comment
June 22, 2010

I want to thank everyone for the kind comments I got about my entry about Father’s Day on Sunday (see the link below).  I really appreciate them!

There was a news story that I really found appropriate regarding that holiday, so let me share it with you.

>>For you, Dad: McDonald homers in first AB since father’s death

By ‘Duk

After watching his postgame press conference, I think Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston speaks for us all when talking about the home run that utilityman John McDonald hit in the ninth inning of Sunday’s game.

“I was so happy to see him hit that home run, I almost cried myself,” Gaston said.

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‘Toy Story 3,’ ‘Jonah Hex,’ And Batman … Oh, My!

Filed Under: Animation, Batman, Science Fiction, SciFi Pulse by Wayne Hall — Leave a comment
June 21, 2010

Toy Story 3 collected an estimated $153.8 million around the world during its first weekend of release, pushing up the U.S. box office 30 percent over the same weekend last year, according to Variety.

The Disney/Pixar sequel brought in an estimated $109 million in the States alone, with overseas figures coming to a total of $44.8 million in only a quarter of the international market. Toy Story 3 is now Pixar’s highest-grossing opener around the world.

On the other hand, Jonah Hex, based on the DC Comics character, captured only $5.1 million in the U.S. Theater observers called the opening “more than disappointing,” but word had come out that the film was not going to be The Dark Knight, but more like Catwoman.

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