Exxess

A little political here now... I just read the report indicating that Exxon has just posted the largest profit year in American history. Blew it out of the water, frankly.

It's a good thing these other Americans have our backs.

You know, something in me half-believed that they HAVE to raise gas prices because their profit margins were narrowing so much because of the high price of oil.

It's perception driven, and they are using our perception of difficulties in the Middle East as justification for squeezing us at home, even though it isn't necessary to do so in order for their bottom line to stay in the "plus" column.

I'm not against profit, or capitalism, but... well, if a case can be made that we're in wartime for other things that are being done, I certainly think there's a little criminal word from earlier wars called profiteering that could come into play as well.

Bah.

Clark Kent's Glasses

Sunday, I saw an ad in the newspaper that encouraged me to go get my eyes checked. I need new glasses, and have put that off since mine fell apart sometime during my Russian adventures. I wear contacts most of the time, so I never bothered. Now, I found this certain chain offered an eye-exam credit toward your glasses, and amazing prices for frames and lenses complete.

I showed up. Got my eyes checked. Yup, still there. I proceed into the display area...

Turns out, the only styles available at the sale price are the kinds superheroes wear to protect their secret identities. Not stylish ones like this (and you have to click there, I found that on a google search for this entry and it isn't what I was looking for) but more along the lines of this.

I am a weak, weak man for the smell of a warm Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookie here at the Barnes and Noble. Off I must go.

Vacating Vacation

Okay. I've officially got some ideas of what I'm doing next.

I'm not going to post anything yet, but there are irons in the fire now.

This entry is akin to those terrible "news" segments which advertise future possible news.

It's been a week since I last posted. Not good at that lately.

Things I've read in the last week or two include:
The entirety of TRANSMETROPOLITAN by Warren Ellis. Eat that with your brain.

THE FOURTH HAND and MY MOVIE BUSINESS by John Irving

THE NEW FRONTIER by Darwin Cooke, Volumes 1 & 2

LIVE FROM NEW YORK by... most of the creative people connected with SNL, ever...

Silliest term I've heard to describe comic books this week: Sequential art. I agree, they can achieve "art" but... seriously now.

More to come...

As though thousands of voices cried out at once and then ....were silenced.

I have yet to return to New York... and now I find that before I return, my favorite place to eat will have been forced to close. Its location is being detroyed and "redeveloped" and maybe just maybe (yeah right) they'll get the same deal from the landlord in the new building. . . but it seems that 50 years of history mean nothing to corporate real-estate jackasses. There's a petition going around there, and you have my permission to forge my signature in my absence.

Before it closes (sometime next week, probably) head on over to 46th and 8th and get yourself the best burger ever anywhere... and one of the most inexpensive in NYC, to be sure. Order the bacon cheeseburger and it'll become a more important memory than your prom. And buy me a shirt, so I can remember my ...sniff... Guinness and cheeseburger place... sigh.

This stinks. All of the great, old places will be gone. I think for every great old place like McHale's that closes, you should legally be forced to close one Applebee's and one TGIFridays.

dingledongle...goulet!

Best. Ringers. Ever.

All respect to those who are hosting them, whom I am linking to.

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