BIG NEWS: Baby's First Book: The Lorax

The Free Scribbles family is about to add one more member...

...My wife and I are expecting our first child.

We told our families Sunday night at a nice dinner and presented them each with a children's book and a sonogram picture. We tried to choose a symbolic book that we hope they can share with our soon to be bundle of joy.

But while we were at the book store I wanted to pick up a book for myself. And so to meld my interest in green initiatives and my love of Dr. Suess, an author and artist who made such an impression on my life, I chose the Lorax.

His story so long ago captured the importance of protecting the environment and realizing that greed will not make one happy.

And while I knew the story well from the movie, I had never actually read the book. So after our meal, I sat down and read it aloud, hoping that my child will begin to know me and the value of sustainability. The Lorax' last word rings in the ear. "Unless"...

We all can take creed in the simplest form, aware that our actions can make great strides.

And with all that said, my own little scribble is well on the way!

9 days, 9 runs...

Heroes: The Full Experience

This weekend, I discovered that NBC was trying to create a two screen immersive television experience with Heroes. And as a fan of the show, I generally zone out and watch the show sans interruption. But I took exception this week and decided to dive in. For the first 20 of so minutes I had some technical difficulties, but I finally got to play. Throughout the show polls, questions, and facts are streamed in live. And you can see what percentage of people feel the same as you.

I am on the fence as to whether I would do the 360 again, but I will continue to watch the show. The story follows a comic book-like rhythm with scattered character storylines building the overall show. And the writers keep the viewer guessing. Much of the story follows standard heroic archetypes, with some twist to fill the gap between a completely fantasy world and the modern world we exist in.

The online graphic novels further tighten the story beyond what the television viewers sees. I had read about Hana's backstory before she made her onscreen appearance this evening. Because the writers and artists (comic, director, actors, etc.) are confined to 60 minutes a week, 42 if you take out the commercials, they needed a way to develop the characters offscreen for the viewer to have the chance to see. While not necessary, it fills the void. They are like the deleted or extended scenes on a DVD.

Unlike Lost, which is very similar, perhaps due to overlapping writers, Heroes appears disjointed as it bounces from character to character. There is no clear character story throughout one episode. Lost relies on a flashback sequence to tie an episode together as the present adventures on the island progresses.

Tonight's episode of Lost featured the legendary Stan Lee, the father of the first mutants, the X-men. The "heroes" would face the same biases that his X-men if discovered and fight to save the world that does not understand them. And as they unite in one common cause, we will see how their stories tie together. And how powerful any group of people resolved for change can be.

38 days, 38 runs...

Jeff Smith's Shazam!

This evening I struggled with what I wanted to write about... until I realized that I was sitting on a goldmine called Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil! written/pencilled by Jeff Smith. This Mr. Smith made a name for himself as the creator and writer/artist of the series Bone. A long running independent comic.

Bone was known for its blend of humor and dark, epic adventure. Characters were drawn in unique and varying styles to represent their individual natures, motivations, and purpose. As the story progressed, so did the characters and the sobering nature of the story.

Smith's rendition of Shazam/Captain Marvel is starting with similar effect. Billy Batson looks younger than ever and appears more childlike, offering a sharper contrast to Captain Marvel. While there are some amusing points in the story, it appears to hold true to the heavier and woven nature of Jeff's previous work. We see the struggles of a young Billy who is without family and lives on the street, yet still remains wholly good, the perfect innocent partner to Magic's Great Champion. And in the Captain, we see an older brother figure, who wants to help his young companion although the two only meet at the Wizard's home in the mountain.

After taking a look at his blog, I am further excited at his take on the classic hero and his family... Check out Boneville for more details... and pick up issue #1 and see what I mean, i'll be waiting for #2!

45 days, 45 runs...

Man of Action Studios

Digging through some half done posts, I pulled out this one and wanted to share:

After my post on the Superman: Emperor Joker TPB I had the chance to take a look at the Man of Action website. While there were many things that excited me, there were a couple of things that really brought me down.

Always start with the negatives: I found out that the Fantastic Four cartoon show's American license was cancelled... no more quality cartoons. I guess we'll all have to rely on the campy cartoon classic to see the fantastic family in 2D motion. Or wait for the second movie with Jessica Alba in a skintight suit. I know many eagerly await.

And updated news. Ben 10 is on DVD. Great show and finally available to the masses who don't have cable. I know you're out there. The first season develops the story of Ben Tennyson and him acquiring the Omnitrix and him learning how to use his newfound alien morphing powers.

The good thing about the site is that they update pretty frequently with news and announcements. They like to write and we love to read and watch their work...

green ski resorts

Picked up a copy of the February 2007 Men's Journal last night (it was easy to convince my wife to read it, with Matthew Fox on the cover)... anyway. Caught an interesting note in the "What's New" section on the Greenest Ski Resorts in USA & Canada. Sadly, my base lodge (Tenney Mountain) didn't make the magazine, but it's not even open this year, so that's not a surprise.

It's refreshing to see that the resorts are taking steps to conserve the environment and their livelihood. 22 out of 450+ resorts in North America offset their power with renewable energy credits. The article states that only 1 resort did the same in 2005. Let's hope that the number grows exponentially over the next few years.

Also of note in the article was the fact that most resorts do more damage to the environment than good. Only two have earned the gold standard (ISO 14001) for environmental management: Aspen and Jackson Hole. The eight other resorts mentioned in MJ are all working towards this globally recognized certification. Those resorts are: Sundance, Smuggler's Notch, Vail, Mammoth Mountain, Whistler, Moonlight Basin, Alta, and Jiminy Peak.

While some of their practices are very similar, each of them has taken unique steps that make their efforts seem so different. Several are harnessing wind power, either through their own turbines or buying wind power credits. Others have utilized geothermal power, building design regulations, upgraded machinery, and increased recycling efforts. Some of these efforts were initiated quietly over a decade ago.

The challenges moving forward in all environmental efforts is getting the people to sign off. If you ski or snowboard, remember that it can't last forever without some help. While many this season have had more than enough snow, others have had to go through the winter dealing with global warming causing no snow.

Ask your resort today what it is doing for tomorrow.

Pysch: The Television Show

USA Network debuted the second season of Psych on Friday, January 19th. While I didn't watch it then, thanks to the gloriousness that is DVR, I still got to see it! and I had the ability to fast forward through the commercials. (Nothing like watching an hour show in 42 minutes)

I didn't really start watching the show until the first season was almost over... but had been anticipating the return ever since they closed the last episode by telling the female Police Chief that she shouldn't come back to work until January, as she had just delivered a baby. A very clever line, you have to see it for yourself.

The first episode didn't disappoint either. Guest starring Kurtwood Smith as a man suffering from early onset Alzheimer, Sean and Gus need to help him solve a murder that ties back twenty years. First, if you don't know who Kurtwood Smith is, I suggest checking him out as Red Forman in "That 70's Show" where he played the strict father of Eric, but not without his funny moments... a brownie eating session comes to mind.

But, as many of my posts are about, this time I urge you to watch the show because of the writing and the talented performances of the two leads, James Roday and Dule Hill. The two act as great contrast to one another. James playing the slick and bold Sean, and Dule playing the timid but rational Gus, and how a man pretending to be a psychic can get away with it.

The writing is both witty and clever, and while the premise seems far fetched it delivers in a funny and ultimately fitting way. While the CSIs and Cold Cases are solely dramas that make leaps of logic that baffle the viewer, they still take themselves seriously. Psych pokes fun at the others and itself by making leaps of logic in a strikingly bright and funny way.

I look forward to this season and anticipate that the stories and characters develop. I hope that the writers are up to the task, because if this show loses its fresh and interesting perspective it will lose its viewers... and that would be a shame. While Numbers is in repeats, Psych will be taking viewers, but it will be interesting to see who will win the smart "outside the box" crime shows will match up.

Once again, I thank the geniuses who came up with DVR so I can still watch both.