Monday, August 28, 2006

Jack Kirby, Baby Jack Kirby Day. Mark Evanier marks what would have been the King's 89th birthday: I miss Jack. I miss the guy the same way you miss that favorite uncle you always enjoyed being around. But I also miss just having a Jack Kirby in our midst[sigma]a man who just radiated creative energy and who made everyone he met feel a little more like a writer or artist. That was because he lived and breathed new ideas, new visions, new vistas. Young, wanna-be artists and writers went to him with their work seeking[sigma]well, some were seeking career help and others were seeking tips, but I think a lot of them just wanted semi-parental approval and the reassurance that they were breathing the same air as an idol. He encouraged everyone and they all went away with more confidence[sigma]because the King of the Comics stood on no ceremony. He treated everyone as an equal, even though no one really was. [THE BEAT] 7:08:07 PM

Visit Solomodels.com Libby (#19005). [Solomodels Showcase Photos] 6:09:50 PM

'Lightning May Be Imminent,' said William Beasley Professor helps invent lightning sensor. (AP) -- A University of Oklahoma professor has helped invent a device that measures the likelihood that lightning will strike. [Physics Org] 6:03:17 PM

Jim Rockford on the Datacloud Jim Rockford's Answering Machine. I learned everything I know about firearms and driving from The Rockford Files. The Rockford Files Homepage has a transcription of the messages left on Jim Rockford's answer machine (a plot device used to open every episode of the show for its six-season run). Here's episode 311 ("The Trouble with Warren"): Jimmy, it's Phil in Puerto Rico. This is real important. Talked to Mr.[line noise], he'll pay $20,000. Call him at [line noise]. And both from the two-part "Gearjammers" (203-204): Jimmy, it's Angel. Don't pay no attention to my other message. You're out of it. You're clean, no trouble at all. Just ignore the first message. Okay, pal, it's Harry. I just checked my car. You kept the battery charged all right, you also put 3500 miles on it. If you hit the main page at the site, you can hear the greeting half [warning: autoplay audio] on Rockford's answering machine. There's also a huge amount of additional info and discussion about the show. (I thought this was a pretty niche topic, but a google search of "'rockford files' 'answering machine' returned 16,400 hits.) [via metafilter.com]... *Rockford's answering machine.* [datacloud] 5:58:05 PM