Corrigans Basement

I’m sad today.

I’ve been sad for a couple of days.

I waited for a bit before I wrote this. Everyone and their mother, father, and dog are posting their references and memories of what the man meant to them but I really don’t care about all of that. Me, I just want to talk about what he meant to his profession, my hobby, and the world.

Honestly, Stan Lee never really meant anything directly to me. By the time I got into the comic reading hobby he was escalating himself to publisher, he had already turned over the editor in chief reins to Roy Thomas. Marvel comics were fun, but they weren’t my favorite. That relegation belonged to DC.

In fact, my first real exposure to Jack Kirby was via his DC New World line of comics. Kamandi being an especially favorite of his young man. You have to realize, the true birth of Marvel comics was Fantastic Four # 1 published in November of 1961. The age of Marvel Comics is old as I am. Thus, by the time I was truly reading and collecting comic books I was in that age when Jack had defected to DC and Stan was evolving into the icon he would become.

I discovered the true genius of Stan’s writing in the Marvel Treasury editions that were published in 1974. For a $1.50, of which my Father (God bless him) would complain about the price, I could read the classic stories of the Marvel characters. Treasury editions of the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, The Avengers, and especially The Fantastic Four I could read the classic stories of Stan, Jack, Ross, Steve, John, etc… In fact, my first exposure to the greatest FF story ever told: The Galactus Saga, was via Marvel Treasury Edition #2.

What writing, I thought. This was insightful, provocative and, quite simply, great. Stan took the medium of a ‘funny book’ (as they were called in the day) and gave it credence. In fact, I dare say, that Stan was the Alan Moore of his time. Now, don’t get me wrong, there were a bevy of great writers who came after Stan, but I always thought they were held back by the editorial decisions of the day. Guys like Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Denny O’Neal, Cary Bates, Gerry Conway, and such had great moments but they would never have been able to achieve what they had without a guy like Stan.

And, that’s where my next query lies. What would have happened if Stan had stuck to writing? Would he have become as prolific as a guy like Moore or Miller? We’ll never know. Because Stan chose a higher calling, a calling to make comic book, or ‘funny books’ as legitimate entertainment.

Stan was the ultimate huckster and promoter. He was the medicine barker that went from town to town to promote and legitimize his profession. We have to remember, before Stan, most creators treated comic books as a way to make a living. Writers such as Gardner Fox, Ray Bradbury, and the like used comics to ‘put bread on the table’ and then went back to their agents to sell their next novel. Never imagining that it was a legitimate art form. Stan, however, treated the comic book as a true entertainment venue. And it was through his efforts that it did become the billion dollar business that it currently is.

Taking a look back, comic books were a side entertainment back then. Yes, in the early days Serial movie producers used comic books as source material. We had serials of Captain Marvel, Blackhawk, Superman, Batman, and Captain America (pre-Marvel). Then they faded. In fact, the most successful comic book live action product of the time was the Batman TV series. And, that, I can argue, was a product of Stan’s influence in the comic medium and his ‘hip’ writing in the Marvel brand of comic books.

Stan decided, for better or for worse, that his profession was not just ‘funny books’ but viable entertainment. Stan took it upon himself to be the face of comic books.

Stan instinctively knew that products needed a face, a familiarity, that people could connect with. He created a fan club, FOOM (Freinds of Ol’ Marvel) that made you, the reader, feel as though you mattered. Smattered across the letter columns were also numerous ‘no prizes’ awarded to letter writer that asked the best questions. Additionally, Stan’s editorials would talk directly to the reader, as if he was sitting right across from you. He also began to branch out into other mediums endlessly promoting the comic books. I measure that Stan is the one that brought comic books to the college campuses, thus grasping an older readership. Another innovation that Stan did was creating a cohesive universe and continuity. He would continually promote other books like television shows do, by having brief cameos of the heroes in each others books. Ironman would fly by in Spider-man and vice versa. The marketing magnificence of Stan was unparalleled at the time. He literally created the Marvel brand decades before Disney glommed and bastardized it.

Lee also realized that there was an even older market for comic books. He teamed up with Curtis publishing, a magazine publisher, and came up with a series of adult oriented comic books. Titles such as Tales of the Zombie, Vampire Tales, The Savage Sword of Conan, etc… brought the illustrated story telling to magazine stands (which also served to get out from under the comics code authority umbrella). These magazines, using the same creators that he used in his comic books, helped to increase the readership in the medium.

On top of all that, Stan was also a pioneer in women’s rights. In a time period when it was considered that women should be seen and not heard Stan tirelessly promoted women creators. One of the prime ones: Marie Severin, not only drew the mainstream comics but was also a colorist and a creator. Along with Ramon Fradon, they were two of the rare female creators in comics.

See, Stan could care less what, who, or why you were, all he cared about was selling comic books and himself.

Stan was the ultimate showman, the consummate pitchman, the indefatigable egoist. Yes, many have lamented how he never gave credit to his co creators but the bottom line is this: Steve Ditko, and Jack Kirby (the two who he is forever maligned about) didn’t have the chutzpah that Stan had. Stan took it upon himself and essentially made those two what they were. Let me tell you, I can guarantee that the common man would have no idea who Jack Kirby or Steve Ditko was if it weren’t for Stan.

I could go on but why rehash items that are invariably being stated by lesser historians than I?

This essay wasn’t meant as a history lesson, nor was it meant as an ode, it is meant as a very personal reflection of great creator in my favorite lifetime hobby.

RIP Stan and thank you. I’m sure you already have a circle of young and old gathered to hear your stories in your new resting place.

God Bless and Excelsior.

Well, you knew it was coming, former President Barack Obama, the architect of the Iran Nuclear Deal has criticism for the current President’s decision to withdraw from the aforementioned deal.

Ha ha ha ha ha……

Oh, I’m sorry, I can’t stop … ha ha ha… laughing.

Really Barack? Misguided?  Like the majority of the decisions you made?

Hang on, I have to wipe the tears from my eyes so I can type…

Here’s the real question: Why are Barack and his former Secretary of State ‘Golddigger’ Kerry so up-in-arms about this?  Perhaps they stood to profit from the deal?

Think about it, you have two ‘statesmen’ who are literally having a fit over this.  John Kerry, a man who went fishing for an extremely rich wife, and Barack Obama a junior Senator who managed to get elected as President of the United States largely in part due to his party affiliation and not his foreign policy prowess.

Barack’s foreign policy record is embarrassing to say the least. He positioned the United States like a lap dog to walk in step to Europe’s lead.  His ‘apology tours’ were demeaning at best.  And, anyone that claims the Iran Nuclear Deal was a good deal is sniffing carbona not glue.  The deal stinks worse than the bloated corpse of Kathy Griffin’s career.

The bottom line is, ‘methinks thou dost protest too much’ applies to Barack and Mr. Kerry which leads me to ponder: what was in it for them besides a place in history?

Can you imagine waking up when you were a kid and seeing this?  Massive years of therapy…

Kathy Griffin: The unfunniest comedian of modern times.

Peter pan after too many bad nights with Hook

Michelle Wolf – The talentless Hook.

Update:  recent photo of Hook found on the same day

A new page starts today: Truly Cutting The Cord.

We are going to present to you a real time step by step guide to reducing your dependency on organized Cable Television.  In this series of articles we are going to present to you the method and equipment that we use in our own home.  We enjoy currently 25 over the air free television stations, hundreds of movies on demand from our own library, hundreds of music compilations, family photos, and a host of other legal streaming video channels.

Unlike other guides this is an actual built system that is in use every day in our home. We encourage you to contact us with any questions regarding the set up of this system.

We will present this on a consistent basis until the guide is printed in full.

Just got back from seeing Two Tickets To Paradise the Eddie Money bio-play.  Can’t say enough. Go to my music area for the review.

Music Reviews

Who Watches the Watchmen?

Years ago, as far back as recorded history, people that are governed have always asked the question: Who polices the policy makers? Or, more succinctly, How can we be so sure as to prevent our leaders from being corrupted by the power that they yield?

History has shown us that we cannot. As much as we would like to believe it, Absolute power does corrupt absolutely even the best intentioned man.

The ‘memo’ was recently released. As most of you know (unless you’ve lived in your basement colluding with the Russians) it has been promised to be a ‘blockbuster’ which exposes all of the abuses and politicizing of the FBI, Department of Justice, and the office of the President.

Yes, so what? This is nothing new.

One of the platforms that Barack Obama campaigned upon was the ‘Transparency of government’. He stated in Cedar Falls, IA in August of 2007 that: ” We have to take the blinders off the White House. The more people know about what’s going on in Washington, and how their tax dollars are being spent, and who’s raising money for who, the less likely it is that major decisions will be hijacked by lobbyists and special interests.”

We all know how that turned out. His Administration became one of the most secretive of recent times.

The current president is under siege by both sides of the political spectrum in the current Washington, D.C.

Now, let’s examine how this animosity to one elected man came to be.

The country has been run by the collusion of the two political  parties since George H.W. Bush lost the election to Bill Clinton.  In fact, if you remember, that election was famous for the inclusion of Ross Perot on the ticket.(a billionaire businessman, hmmm) and it was Bush that clearly stated that Perot cost them  (the Republicans) the election.

Now, here is where I start to sound nutty but bear with me.

So, after the loss of the election to Bill Clinton, the elder Bush began upon his plan to maintain control of the country and the elections.  As has been emphatically stated numerous times Bill Clinton makes note of the admiration he has for H.W.

Thus, after Bill got done, suddenly H.W’s son became elected President after some ‘chads’ were found hanging around.

Now, here’s where I really start to sound like the tin foil hat crowd.  I contend that Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton conspired to begin a dynasty of American Politics.  The agreement was that after Bill, George W. would take over to finish his father’s work (how else would a very nice yet publicly disinteresting man run and win the Presidency of the United States? His only prior political experience was as Governor of Texas). After George, it was agreed upon to have Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, obtain the Presidency to finish the agenda of Bill Clinton’s.

Then, something happened: Populism.

Barack Obama, another inexperienced politician (less than one term as U.S. Senator) began to garner popularity amongst the citizens who were staid against the status quo. This didn’t go unnoticed to Harry Reid, a political Mafioso if there ever was one. He saw an opportunity and arranged to have Hillary take a side step (with Bill’s blessing), and have Barack Obama win the election and then have Hillary win the next round.  Not only would this give the Democrats the bragging rights to having the first African American President but it would subsequently own the party of the first Woman President.

Now, before you go, “you’re out of your mind!” ponder this: If the Republicans were really serious about taking the White House again why would they run a man who was almost twice the age of an ascendantly popular young pol? The Republicans began the election already in the runner up position. After this election tanked they decided to run a milquetoast Mormon in the 2012 election. You want to talk about running behind? Not only couldn’t Mitt Romney debate a lamppost there is no religion more despicable to a Catholic than the Mormons. Thus, the reelection was guaranteed to Barack Obama.

And, once again, the fix was supposed to be in. With Barack having held the White House for two terms it was now Hillary Clinton’s turn. She was ceremoniously given the position of Secretary of State to give her greater credibility than just being a Senator from New York. She was supposed to be a shoe in.

Then, something again happened: Populism.

Only this time it was true Populism. The man who garnered the attention was a brash, reality show hawking braggart billionaire. Donald Trump.

Thus, with the election of this semi-outsider (remember, as a developer Donald had to be chummy with a great deal of politicians) the status quo was upset. Now, not only was there an outsider in the White House, he couldn’t be bought. Because as much money as a politician has, Donald has more.

The ties run deep in the old Washington. Robert Mueller, the lead prosecutor in the Russian collusion hearings, was appointed by George W., kept on by Barack, and had past dealings with the Clintons. Additionally, Eric Holder, the former Attorney General, was appointed by Barack, served in a similar smaller role under George W. and he was actually appointed to his first political post by President Reagan. These people would like nothing better than to run President Trump off and just pound his soul into the mud.

Which brings me back to the original sentence: Who Watches the Watchmen?

Apparently, no one. Because the deep waters in Washington are corrupt with power and ego. While we the people attempted to break that cycle we are seeing now how abused the elected President is. We only have to pray that his fighting spirit will continue and help him break these people bit by bit.

On a final note, we, as Americans, should be appalled at the abuse of power that is being exposed as evident. If they are willing to commit another Watergate and shrug it off, then what have they been doing to us, the normal citizens, as we spill our guts on social media?

I repeat, question everything, stand for something, and don’t follow the sheep. You were given the freedom to think as you should, then do so and not because someone tells you how to.

I apologize for the rambling of this post.

Ciao!

Words don’t describe this but the possibilities are endless…

Um, I left my ferrets to protest this awful man. I am Haitian at heart in my clean suburban home.

A few years ago I wrote an editorial on the futility of the Federal Government’s efforts to correct the economy by raising taxes in various areas.

Gee, anyone remember when the people were taxed too much?

At the time manufacturing jobs were down and overall employment was reduced to an unemployment rate of over 9 percent.

Fast forward 8 years later and we find things much improved: The unemployment rate is down to 4.1 percent and more important still: Manufacturing jobs, which were at a low of 11.7 million in 2010 have climbed to 12.5 million as of December 2017.

Additionally, the federal government has passed a new tax simplification law that will give each worker an average of $1,500 per year in extra income.

You would think with all this good news that citizens of New York would be happy?

Our beloved Governor

Well, that would be the case if we weren’t managed by the old guard. Thus, let’s talk about what Zippy the knothead Cuomo has proposed.

Remember, as I said before: Denial is one of the stages of loss. Apparently, many political and financial “experts” have entered this stage lately in regard to our current political times. After all, it’s easier to just decry and demean the winner of a fair election than to present intelligent solutions. Thus, the Governor’s outlook.

I picture his general psyche as such:

So, you’ve just been embarrassed by the President of the United States concerning your taxation and lack of business friendly tactics in your State. What do you do?

Damn you President Trump!

Easy, throw a tantrum and tax everything you can.

Our exalted Governor, in his infinite wisdom has proposed a series of additional taxes (not that we New Yorkers pay enough) aimed at businesses. After all, what better way to keep people and businesses in your state but by tax them some more? It isn’t enough that New York lost 800,000 people in the last year along with countless businesses.

Oh, but wait! He isn’t taxing his citizens! He’s taxing the evil corporations that make too much. It’s not right that they got a tax break along with regular taxpayers. Besides, they won’t pass it along to the consumer, they make too much as it is.

Really? Do they really think we are that naive?

Perhaps we are. Let’s take a look at some of the high points of Andy’s proposed taxes:

First we have a tax called “The Internet Fairness Conformity Tax”. A nice sounding description of a tax that essentially says: “Well, if Amazon isn’t going to move to my state then I want the sales tax on the items sold in my state!” Thus, we aren’t only going to pass additional tax onto the consumer but we are probably going to increase the cost of goods sold. Who do you think is going to figure the tax and remit to New York, Drones?

The second one we have that is interesting is the Health Tax on Vapor products. Let’s take a look at this one: So, to deter the smoking of cigarettes, the State imposed all sorts of new laws and taxes. Then, along comes the science of Vaping, a way for smokers to wean themselves from the habit. But, wait, Vaping doesn’t provide us with an income stream like cigarettes do. Oh, I got it, let’s tax the smokers who switched to Vaping. That way until we figure out a way to ostracize them from Vaping we can still collect money from their filthy habits!

Then there is the case of the public health crisis of opioids (the latest media buzzword to describe a painkiller. Sexier, isn’t it?). Our Governor’s solution? Heck, that’s easy, place a tax on the opioid drug producers. After all, to quote “Big Pharma and the health insurance companies just got a big federal tax break while at the same time created the machine that ‎fueled the opioid crisis — so spare me the song and dance about corporations crying poverty,” The Governor’s professional zipperhead Rich Azzopardi stated “Like the tobacco companies, this money is going to help fight the problem they created.” Heck, if your prescription costs weren’t high already just buckle your seatbelts.

And folks, I think that quote just about sums it up. Apparently it doesn’t matter what the Federal government gives you, how many people are leaving your State, or even the lack of quality employment opportunities. To paraphrase a worshiped Democrat: “It’s all about the Taxes, stupid!”

Thus, the solution, once again, is to not fix it, just raise taxes. Throw money at a problem. It doesn’t matter that your employment base is dwindling, or your high school graduation rate is producing an extraordinarily low amount of ‘college ready’ students (After all, it’s more important to push kids through than actually teach them how to survive in the actual world but that’s for another missive), or that there are no businesses left.

And, let’s not even get into the fact that you have government determining how much you, as a business, should make.

I don’t even touch the tip of the iceberg on the amount of proposed new taxes by our Gov. For that, merely look it up. And, I won’t even begin on his genius move to raise health care costs even higher.

And, once again, we wonder how a non-politician won the last Presidential election. Then, when were done wondering that we run to the ballots to re-elect the same narrow minded out of touch individuals to multiple terms.

The future look of cities and towns in New York

Ciao!

It’s a random thoughts day of dumb stories:

• 

  New Star Wars looks fantastic!

  I’ve noticed that very few ‘critics’ are mentioning the stunning gap in the box office of the latest Star Wars offering compared to the prior chapter (The Force Awakens). With a $266 million difference after 34 days the press is strangely quiet. Or, is this an obvious observation of the power of the Disney corporation and their control of the entertainmet press?

• Reflecting on the above: remember when there used to be real film critics who would rave or pan a film? They don’t appear to exist anymore. Perhaps a fear of losing perks or maybe they are similar to the Rochester City Newspaper critic who uses ESP to see a film.

• An example of immature and moronic reporting: CNN story Jaguars vs. Vikings: The Super Bowl we Don’t want but probably deserve (sic).  Really?  If the Jags and Vikings make it then obviously they were the best.  The last time I saw either of these teams on a field they both displayed some extraordinary game winning drives.  Oh, that’s right, let’s hope for a Super Bowl as exciting as last year’s where one team decided to lay down like a pervert for a homeless person’s underwear.

• Current dumb MSNBC headline: It’s up to the GOP to keep the government open.  Headline from a few years ago: GOP to blame for government shutdown.  Seems the GOP just keeps shutting down the government. Must be nice to be a Democrat. The Dems are like a younger retarded sibling that never gets blamed for anything.
  

  It’s all everyone else’s fault!

   

  

  ‘Duh’ I don’t know. I just make this s*** up!

• Dumbest reporter award goes to Joy Reid. Apparently if you can’t find real news you make it up.  MSNBC’s Joy Reid walks back comments on conservative David French. Apparently Joy decided to reach into a patented bag of well used tricks that say: when in doubt, accuse them of being racist and anti-partisan.  Ms. Reid falsely claimed that Mr. French advocated the killing of minorities and Democrats.  We realize Ms. Reid that it’s easy to throw stones but the last I looked it was your fellow Democrats that love to kill anything that gets in their way. Of course, it’s like arguing with the closet pedophile at the bar on the virtue of wearing a trench-coat or sweater or if naked midgets are arousing.

• Finally, the dumbest story of the day featuring the dumbest family of the month:House Blocks Trump’s Order To Deport Palestinian Man Living in U.S. For 39 Years. What isn’t noted until well into the article is that this man hasn’t obtained a Green Card due to a fraudulent marriage charge from over 30 years ago. And it’s all the Trump administration’s fault.  Apparently, back in 2009, Trump lobbied the Obama administration and got the deportation laws harshened.  So, even though it was the Obama administration that issued the man a deportation order it is obviously the Evil President Trump that caused all of this. Let’s not even mention that this clown has had 30 years to attempt to obtain citizenship, let alone a Green card.  Please, spare me, what did he do? Ask Jiminy Cricket to wish upon a star for him?  That’s right America: Don’t work through the proper channels. Merely shit in a hat and hope it turns to gold.
  

  When you wish upon a star…

   

Well, until I wake from my coma.

Ciao!

So, I was wrong.

I’ve been wrong before, it’s nothing new. However, on this item I was completely out of left field.

You see, on this particular item I was wrong. I was wrong last year when I said out loud that the Atlanta Falcons would beat the Patriots in the final minutes of the SB. Of course, that was before they keeled over like a catholic school altar boy who found the stash of wine and decided to sample it. I was wrong when I said that Barack Obama would not get elected (of course that was before Chris Christie decided to roll over like a trained seal two days before the election to praise the ineptitude of both himself and Barack on the recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy. Of which people are still recovering from some 5 years later. But, hey, progress takes time, right? Have another donut Chris) and I was wrong when I said that there was no way that Rachel Maddow would make a colossal ass out of herself Geraldo style with the tax forms of Donald Trump. But, this, I never imagined.

I never fathomed that the press would have nothing better to do but to continually attack the President of the United States 24/7 without taking a breath.

Oh, we’ve seen relentless attacking by the press before on a President of the United States. Nixon was everything from a cry baby to an icon for everything that was wrong with the Presidency. Barack had the Birthers, the University transcripters, and even the “Not our President” morons.

This has been unprecedented, and to be honest, rather comical.

Granted, the President himself brings a lot of this upon himself. His OCD use of tweets makes him an easy target. His train of consciousness missives in 140 characters or less lend no leeway, no context variations and certainly no ‘nudge nudge wink wink’ inflections. No, they blast the social media airwaves like a blast to the face.

Or, if you prefer, like monkey shit thrown at another.

The most recent ‘firestorm’ is the alleged use of the word ‘shithole’ in describing some of the countries that past administrations have allowed refugees to come from.

Interestingly enough, it appears that only on person has gone on record to affirm that statement.

Dicky Durbin, the Senate minority whip, himself always an also ran, has been burning up the airwaves with his statement. And, of course, the willing recipients in the press, my aforementioned ‘junior journalists’ have been more than willing to brandish the pitchfork and torch to bring down the Monster Trump.

But, here’s the thing: The President has denied it, and no one else has confirmed it.

So, who’s right and who’s wrong?

The President has moved on however the press has definitely not. They have run this story so many times that it’s akin to a beaten horse. Only this time the horse isn’t even recognizable anymore.

Which brings me full circle to my original statement: How many times do you tell a lie before it becomes truth?

Has this what journalism has evolved into? As I mentioned in previous missives, journalism is no longer about facts, it is about innuendo and opinion. It doesn’t matter that this entire ‘story’ has been built upon hearsay, it is truth to the many that want to believe it.

After all, perception is reality, and if we insist that someone saw Nelson Mandela violating a white woman then it is true. Isn’t it? It doesn’t matter what the truth is, it is merely what we want to believe.

Thus, the state of journalism as it stands now. If we want to believe something then it must be true. To the birthers Barack Obama was born in Kenya, rode lions, ate antelope, and was never an American Citizen. To the Nixon haters it didn’t matter that Richard didn’t screw his interns, it was that he was the devil incarnate. And, to the Trump haters it’s rather obvious that he is the antichrist of the modern world.

It matters not that since he took office the economy has steamrolled, Patriotism has hit a peak, and public involvement has become a high point. No, what the truth is that he will destroy the free world as he parades around the Oval Office with no pants on while singing Wagner’s Gotterdamerung and reading Mein Kampf.

And, the sad part is, most people will believe it.

So, I guess our answer to the question is: as many times as it takes to convince you. Facts be damned.

Oh, it also brought about such indignation from such luminaries as Will.I.Am who spent his vast mind on the indignation brought upon Haiti by the President. This coming from a man who was born in L.A., gives no money to Haiti, and heck, is richer than the majority of us. Tell you what, Will.I.Am, put your Mo.n.ey where your M.ou.th is. Put money into Haiti if you care so much, because, according to you official website the only thing you put money into besides your own pocket is a small college fund in California.

Again, I will conclude with the repeated message: Examine what you’re being told and  question everything. Just because someone tells you a duck fucks a rhinoceros doesn’t make it true.

Oh, and is the President really wrong about his alleged statements about Haiti and other certain countries? Countries that seem to be habitually in the news for citizen atrocities and strife? Oh, maybe we should adopt socialism like the great republic of Venezuela.

Ciao!