The NZA

Grandpa's right. No pouncin! :plain: PS good to see ya back Jewels.

That's a pretty good resume, hey im movin this to video games if this keeps up. Was State of Emergency any good? I heard many were dissappointed.

I would like to formally announce the grand openin of Irish Cowboy's Marsh. Formerly just a hangout of comics, video games, philosophy, nookie and of course Irish Cowboy TM (1979, patent pending :irish: ), this previously arrid land has, in the spirit of Floridian frontiersmen, been transformed almost overnight into soggy wetlands - come behold this natural phenomenon, reminiscent of Pitt & Norton's shithole a la Fight Club! $1.50 adults, no children please. :dissappointed:

Video game movies...eh. Resident Evil was alright tho, who knows. Gotta pick this one up for PS2 soon, ive herad so much bout the game.

"You shut your fuckin' mouth! I'm Castor Troy!!"

The Lone Ranger was ambushed and captured by an Indian war party. The Indian Chief proclaims, "So, you are the great Lone Ranger. In honor of the Harvest Festival, you will be executed in three days But, before I kill you, I will grant you three requests. "What is your first request?" The Lone Ranger responds, "I'd like to speak to my horse." Chief nods and Silver is brought before the Lone Ranger, who whispers in Silver's ear, and the horse gallops away. Later that evening, Silver returns with a beautiful blond woman on his back. As the Indian Chief watches, the blond enters the Lone Ranger's tent and spends the night. The next morning the Indian Chief admits he's impressed. "You have a very fine and loyal horse, but I will still kill you in two days. What is your second request?" The Lone Ranger again asks to speak to his horse. Silver is brought to him and he again whispers in the horse's ear. As before, Silver takes off across the plains and disappears over the horizon. Later that evening, to the Chief's surprise, Silver again returns, this time with a voluptuous brunette, even more attractive than the blond. She enters the Lone Ranger's tent and spends the night. The following morning the Indian Chief is again impressed. "You are indeed man of many talents, but I will still kill you tomorrow. "What is your last request." The Lone Ranger responds, "I'd like to speak to my horse, alone." The Chief is curious, but he agrees and Silver is brought to the Lone Ranger's tent. Once they're alone, the Lone Ranger grabs Silver by both ears, looks him square in the eye and says, "Listen carefully, for the last time, I said, "BRING POSSE!"

Dear Y-100: In accordance with my "kitten-killing" plan, ive decided to slay a Polynesian family every time you play "Linkin Park - In the End." I made this decision an hour ago, since then you've killed 7 families. You've been warned." - God

That vile Junkerseed...he will not have the last random word! :arrow:

"O Lord, give us the strenght the fight the bastards and the strength to fight on." - U.S. Army Chaplain

I represent GOD you fuck.

damn...not bad at all, KOS. My thoughts/reactions will come random. 1) Didja see the Ultimate X-Men Gambit? Slightly similar, they had him lookin for a kidnapped chick. It was a cool portrayl, him takin on a big easy gang by himself, not quite as suave as usually portrayed. 2)1st arc might come off cliche, but then tragic incidents helped shape Wolvy into this more aged, rugged, worldly charachter, and it seems you at least want the worldly part for Gambit, so i can see it workin. 3)2nd arc - that's an interestin new power, not sure if idve gone for it in the X-Men book 'cause of the overflow of psychics, but as a stand-alone, it could stand to really help the feel of the book. 4)Heh...i like the Xavier bit in the 3rd arc. So, few key points for me: -One of the things people overlook bout X-Men is that, outside of Wolverine (who's really been developed, obviously), this is a team of interestin mutants that cant really stand alone in their own series. Gambit's had the most luck, bein that he's a cool character, but even his book got canned lil while back. So, the idea of further devleopin a character to make them atually 3-D enough to survive outside of the core X book interests me. -Admittedly, at first, it struck me as somethin like that show "Angel": a psuedo-detective of the paranormal/underground shit cops dont handle, and i admit to likin that show when i watched it. I came around more to the idea when you mentioned the idea of it bein "noir-like", im not the biggest fan of noir as a genre, but it is interestin. Only comic example i can think of it is Sin City, and that's a damn fine one to start with. And i agree that the New Orleans settin sounds really cool for such a book. His past is troubled, but theyve worked with that plenty. Last time i saw an innovative use of his standard power was when Mark Waid (Kingdom Come) did Age of Apocalypse; the prequel story had a teamup of him & Bishop that was excitin. Since then, i dont feel he's been developed at all, just this stylish, weak charcter who's not nearly the stongest, smartest, fastest, etc just kinda eye candy. Anyway, again good stuff so far KOS, keep it comin.

Uh...crap, i keep doin that. Hate not givin credit where it's due, sorry bout that. Goddammit, if all us Irish people didnt look alike, this wouldnt happen! Just 'cause i cant tan doesnt mean you guys cant either, right? :irish:

Yeah, but in today's modern society with contractors, construction crews, interior designers, etc, how do we justify the need for architects, much less makin their job so lucrative? ..just playin devil's advocate here, dont come crap on my bed or anythin.

And now, the need for such a document. --------------------------------------------------------- X-Men: it doesn't matter who creates it, it'll come out next month anyway. Literally. The creative individuals involved with the books are servicing a corporate asset. If Garth Ennis or Steve Dillon had dropped dead six months ago you'd never have seen another issue of PREACHER. If Kurt Busiek dropped dead tomorrow, you'd never see another SHOCKROCKETS or ASTRO CITY - but AVENGERS will roll on forever. It'll find new bodies to feed it. This is something that is not clearly understood. In legal terms - as explained once in a court of law by Jim Shooter, when he was still EIC at Marvel - writers of work-for-hire books don't write. In legal terms, the corporation is the author of the work. From the corporation's point of view, creators are workers on the assembly line, building product. This is brought to mind by today's news that writers Fabian Nicieza and Joseph Harris have been fired off two X-books. What particularly caught my eye was Fabian's statement following the firing, which read in part: "I was never told why I was fired from 'Gambit' other than being informed by the editor and after-the-fact by the editor-in-chief that they wanted to 'go in new directions,'" Nicieza said. "At no time during my run on the title or after my firing did my editor or the editor-in-chief explain to me what exactly they did not like about the direction I had been going in, discuss what directions they would like me to go in or offer me an opportunity to go in the direction they preferred." And what you need to understand right now is that this is not an inexplicable form of behavior. It's very simple: every time we sign one of those pay vouchers with the work-for-hire contract printed on the back, we encourage this kind of behavior. We are agreeing to join the assembly line. Would you like to know what that contract says? In consideration of Marvel Entertainment Group inc. ("MARVEL") commissioning and ordering from SUPPLIER the written material, artwork or services reffered to in this Voucher (the "Work") and paying therefor, SUPPLIER acknowledges, agrees and confirms that the Work was created, prepared or performed by SUPPLER under commission from MARVEL for use as a contribution to a collective work (known as "Marvel Comics") and that as such the Work was and is expressly agreed to be considered a work made for hire for purposes of all copyright laws. In addition to the foregoing, SUPPLIER expressly conveys and grants to MARVEL forever all rights of any kind and nature with SUPPLIER may have in and to the work (including but not limited to the unrestricted right to make modifications, adaptations and revisions to the Work), and the right to use SUPPLIER's name in connection therewith and agrees that Marvel is the sole and exclusive copyright proprietor thereof having all rights of ownership therein. SUPPLIER agrees never to contest MARVEL's exclusive, complete and unrestricted ownership in and to the Work (including all copyright rights therein), or to claim adverse rights therein. This agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors, administrators and assigns. By signature on the face thereof, SUPPLIER acknowledges acceptance of the terms herein specified and by tendering payment to SUPPLIER, MARVEL acknowledges receipt of the Work and acceptance of the terms herein specified. Fabian says, "Basically, several weeks ago, after not hearing from my Editor for a longer period of time than I felt comfortable with, I called him and asked him what was going on and what was wrong." You'll see, above, that Marvel are not required to do anything more than send out his cheque as acknowledgement of receipt of the work. Fabian knows this, of course. He's been around a long time. He also knows that the second paragraph means that whatever he sends in, they can rewrite it to star Got No Legs Boy, Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti in a three-way scene conducted on the lawn of Xavier's New Academy For Horrible Sexy Mutants and by law stick Fabian's name on it anyway. Or my name. Or your name. Because you give them the right to use your name, but you also give up the right to make them use your name. In the front of novels, you'll often find the declaration that the author has asserted the moral right to be identified as author of the work. But when we work for hire, we give up that moral right , along with all the others. Understand, I'm not just talking about Marvel. I'm not going after Marvel alone here. DC operates work-for-hire contracts almost exactly like this. So do Dark Horse and some Image studios. And some indie companies. These are the rights creators give up for the opportunity to do the work. This could be almost any company in comics I'm talking about. Here in 2000, Fabian concluded his statement with: "I would like to thank the readers of 'Gambit' for having spent two years on the title with me and I hope you continue to buy 'Thunderbolts,' 'X-Men Forever,' 'Spider-Man: Lifeline' and any other projects I might have in the future." All of which are characters owned by Marvel. I'm not intending to insult Fabian, whom I know and like. I don't know why Fabian's fucking around with this stuff when he could be creating his own stories, but, hell, things happen. It amused me to go back to the X-books briefly, after all. What I'm doing is pointing out that intelligent people are still signing that voucher - and pointing out what that voucher says - and are somehow still surprised when people act on the powers it gives them. Twelve years after the production of a 12-point bill illustrating exactly what we should be looking for from our publishers. You need to understand what you're signing and what you're giving away, decide if it's worth it and accept that you give up the right to complain when you are eventually shafted by agency of the legal standing you create for yourself on signature of the document. You, as a creator, will eventually be fired. You own nothing. You possess no rights. The corporate property will outlive you. You need to understand how that voucher affects the comics you see in your stores every week. X-Men: it doesn't matter who creates it, it'll come out next month anyway. So buy something legally made by people instead. And help comics to live up to a document written in the last century. ---------------------------------------------------------- Thought this was somewhat important, especially with our great new "ideal book" thread in which KOS is tryin his hand at comic writin/fan fiction of sorts, and should such an idea get published, the little-known stysem of "Work for Hire" oughta be more publicized; its easy to get really screwed over by such deals, and many fine writers (Neil Gaiman, Mark Waid, Erik Larsen etc) have.

"I...I coulda really been someone, ya know? I coulda been a contenda." - Brando The single coolest thing bout the internet, hands down, is the free music. If you disagree, youre not gettin enough music, or prolly pickin radio shit. People like you are fuckin...like most people, i suppose. Ah well, youre missin out anyway.

No, wouldnt wanna do that over 'n Current Events... Wish i knew of these votes for teacher's pay, havnet heard much of em round here m'self. Anyway, on the notion of social priority...most of us'd agree that Dr.'s make a fair amount for their work, so who else besides teachers are gettin gyped? Id vote for nurses, they do a great deal of directly important work for a fraction of the money.

www.gemstone.net Sarte & Camus? Cmon, youre outta yer...right, right back on topic, sorry Chiefy i know that's annoyin....nah, figured you knew the details of it. If i was a bettin man? Drugs. :weed:

Christ, do you know what "subjective" means? I can tell you how many folks covered Kenny G, dont make him worth a good goddamn. Can sing his praises with tons o' wankers, can break the notes down one-by-one and parade him around like he's the shit, but he's still not Wynton Marsalis or a similar contemporary, much less i herald him a "classic" along the lines of Davis, Bird etc. Enough with this "intrinsic" and "intelligent people" bullshit. I grew up listenin to classic rock & rap only, and thought everythin else to be shit. I grew up. Now, there's great stuff in jazz, country, blues, techno, folk, and many others. There's prolly excellent spanish music i dont know of, doesnt make me any less intelligent a listener. I think people of our generation who deny Micheal Jackson's talent are posin, lyin or both. I think "Free Bird" should be our national anthemn. And mostly i think folks who dont like Johnny Cash are assholes. ..but this "I think" stuff does little for the band's merit. Its opinions, far more subjective than logical debate/empirical studies/etc. While i see what youre sayin - bashin things without givin em a fair chance sucks - such broad general statements are no good. And for what its worth, citing popularity figures (who covered who, who influenced who, etc) isnt the way to go with these 2 bands; as you said, Zeppelin's way on top, presumably with some reason.

KOS - good call on MGS 2 theme, that one's badass. PS I assure ya, chicks and mario can coexist.

Too quote Irish Cowboy over in The Lyceum: Man, that guy's fuckin brilliant. And Alan Moore's not bad either.

You can take a dick, you can take a joke. - Carlos Mencia

Ona Kahetta... ???

?? Oh you slut...no fair! Nah, when finals are done im off to Texas for a week, then its VS time, gotta finish that one before i manage to import Shenmue II. Sounds like youre doin pretty good - do you sepnd a lotta time just loadin the chest inventory, too? Sometimes i think i could read a fuckin book waitin on that, minor complaint tho. Ill get back to ya soon as there's problems. PS some quick background on my dorky weapon names! NeiSword = Ultimate sword in "Phantasy Star" series. Spear of Longinus = I forget where in the bible, twas a spear touched by the hand of god that could kill demons or somethin, the details were cool, but sketchy. The story's gettin pretty interestin tho, i expected no less from the team that brought out "Final Fantasy Tactics".

Sounds good. Gambit's a character who i think could be more developed without the whole "whats his big secret" bullshit, that's a one trick pony there. If folks only showed up for Wovly's origins, youve got a shallow character. Me, id of course go for Wolverine, 'cause the writing goes up & down so much that the fans deserve better. Ellis is right in that the book will sell itself even when its shit (and its the only one ill buy when its shit, to be honest), but at times i really feel i could do better; lets see how next month's 175th anniversary issue goes. Lets hear some of them Gambit details tho when ya get a chance, cmon!

Yahven's initial point of social priorites had merit tho: teachers, for instance, should hold a financially desirable position, where only the best/most innovative make the cut. Idealistic? Sure, but not outside the realm of reason. I too agree that athletes make far too much $, but then Jack actually had a point in the owners/merchandising makin a killin for the player's performance. I only truly take offense when athletes (olympic and non) are passed off as "heroes", they may entertain and perhaps inspire, but for the most part, they do nothin else for society. Hero is a word to be held in high regard. Yahven - So you know, (tho i think ive mentioned this before) CARE charity is the best of the ones ive researched. Less than 10% goes to administration/advertisin, and like habitat for humanity, they go into other countries & feed em, but also set up homes and teach the locals the basics of agriculture, construction, etc. United Way, on the other hand, uses less than 45% on actual philanthropy. The good guys are out there, but ya gotta do the research to find em.