Thursday, April 29, 2010

Mr. Tinkertrain

I'm cranking and getting things stuck in my head. Right now it's Ozzy Osbourne's 1991 opener, "Mr. Tinkertrain". And I'm making up my own words.



walker and I loved to do quick parodies. They didn't have to have any kind of theme, just as long as they rhymed with the original line. We went to Coney Island and back rhyming Milli Vanilli's "Blame It on the Rain". But I like "Mr. Tinkertrain" best. Maybe because no one knows it. I liked it so much that I hear these old jokes every time I hear the song. They're all stupid.

That's why they call me

Mr. Tinkertrain
Nirvana's Kurt Cobain
majestic Lake Champlain
Just to complain
Megadeth's Dave Mustaine
high on cocaine
Dr. Frasier Crane
ambassador to Spain
King of Pain
prescription for Rogaine
Insane in the membrane
Aragorn's the Dunedain
Yelling across the plains
Lion has a mane
Mr. Windowpane

Now you try!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Up in Lights

They were shooting a movie outside the comic book store Wednesday and a P.A. stopped me.

"Where are you going?"

This was a movie. The industry I wanted to write for. Wanted to perform in. I know a hundred guys that would kill to be where I was standing.

"The comic store still open?"

I think my performing bug is done.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

No Flash

Ed Murray sent me this image. Took me a minute then I laughed for five.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Leaving and Drinking

I sent this around work this morning. You might as well see it too.


Hey, everybody!

After much deliberation I am proud to say I am not leaving McGarry/Bowen.

But I am leaving New York.

Starting next month, I'll be working remotely from the Chicago office. So
I'll still be working with you all on Verizon, Crayola, Sharp, etc. But I
won't be eating the free food at portfolio reviews, answering phone calls on
the windy deck or walking the half mile from 8th Avenue every morning. And I
won't be going out for drinks after work with you guys.

So we should go out Thursday.


Thursday, April 22, 2010
6:30pm until a moment of clarity early Friday

Location:
Rosie O'Grady's, 800 7th Ave (at 52nd)

Friday, April 16, 2010

Taking Off

I'm going to hit some cheap air fare, the new house and the Chicago Comicon this weekend. So retroactively, I've spent my last weekend in NY. It was a good one.

Back in town Tuesday.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

"Spectacular Spider-Man" is Dead

I said in an earlier post that it wouldn't be long until we saw another "Spider-Man" animated series. At the time, I lobbied that it should be a third season of the great "Spectacular Spider-Man".

Well they did. And it isn't. Marvel is launching a new show next year based on "Ultimate Spider-Man" a book that has never captured me the way "Amazing Spider-Man" has. Will the show grab me the way "Spectacular" did. I don't know. But I know me. I will watch it.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Mattel SDCC exclusives

Thank Matty these will be available online because I'm going to need that Plastic Man and Starro.

See?



Plus, I just found out I'm going to C2E2 this weekend. Wish me luck getting the white Sinestro and Black Hal Jordan I was complaining about two weeks ago.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Conan Going to TBS

I think we can safely assume no one expected this.

"In three months I've gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I'm headed to basic cable," O'Brien said in a news release. "My plan is working perfectly."

iPhone OS 4.0

Here's what the iphone will do next. Most of it is stuff non iphone owners assumed it already did.

Friday, April 09, 2010

Mickey Hornung Memorial

My cousin Mickey passed away last Thanksgiving weekend. We're still a little sad but this benefit for the family will help. I'll be playing a few songs and seeing a few friends. Come if you can.


Saturday, April 10, 2010

Time:
7:00pm - 11:55pm

Location:
Our Lady of Grace Hall


Our Lady of Grace Hall on April 10th 2010 will celebrate the life of Musician/Writer/Father/Husband Henry "Mickey" Hornung. We celebrate in the way Mickey would have with live bands and music and most of all Friends and The Neighborhoods of South Queens.

We ask that you come out and enjoy the music of The Kitchen, Dean Purple, Walker and The Brotherhood of the Grape with special guests Ron Zabrocki, F.L. Lombardo, B.M.W.A....and many more

$40 at door includes dinner buffet and door prize raffle. Many other great prizes to be won! One night only.

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT WILL BE DONATED TO MICKEY'S FAMILY.


If you can't make it to the event, you can mail a donation to:

Camille Hornung
c/o Donna Hornung
159-28 101st Street
Howard Beach, New York 11414


Anyone interested in buying or selling raffle tickets in advance should contact Liz McGuire at lizzymacrn@aol.com - (718) 738-5668.

Please add photo's of Mickey and pics from South Queens below

After Party @ The Rail with Jimmy Dowd

Thursday, April 08, 2010

iPad Comic Book Readers

Now that the iPad is out, I only have one question: how do I get my digital comics on it?

This article
is a big help and a big step towards me getting one.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Rock Turtleneck

Instead of reading what I have to say today, why not check out Rock Turtleneck? Good friend Steve Walsh is hosting "Wilco Week" and his latest entry has a post by good friend Mike Brumm about meeting Jeff Tweedy on the set of the Colbert Report. Jeff Tweedy is not a good friend but Yankee Hotel Foxtrot seems like an old relative.

And it's here.

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

iPad Arcade


Sure it's cute but I wonder how Apple feels that after all this work to make a tablet thin and light, a third party immediately makes it thick and clunky.

Monday, April 05, 2010

Mike Lanigan

My father-in-law just posted this on Facebook:

Dear family and friends,

Following is a letter that my wife wrote today:

I have filed a missing persons report for my son, Michael. Mike has been known to "take off" in the past, for parts unknown, but has always checked in by telephone or simply returned home within a few days. This time is different. He has not been seen or heard from since March 27. He may be in Los Angeles or Orlando - we have no idea. We only know that he has been living on the street, in his wheelchair, for the past three weeks.

In addition to his Cerebral Palsy, Mike now appears to be Schizophrenic. This has led him to believe that he is in “the industry,” (meaning the entertainment industry). Mike watches WWE and TNA wrestling shows religiously, and will try to attend events in the larger cities that are easily accessible by train.

I have included photos of Mike, and a time line for his known activity - and what we have done to track him down - from the day he left until now. I am hoping that everyone who receives this will share it with their friends and relatives across the country. Maybe someone will see him on the street, or perhaps you have a friend who works in a hospital in a large city, etc.

It is possible that he is in a hospital, but he will not give permission for staff to call us. We have not heard from the police in over a week, and are not confident that they are putting much effort into finding Mike.

I would be very happy to learn that he has found a place to live, and is being taken care of physically. If you or someone you know has any resources that could help in any way, please share this with them. Thank you.

---------------------------------------

Mike’s Time Line - March, 2010

13th Went out “for the night”

14 Called home to say he would not be back that day, had things to do

17 On Twitter - was in a coffee shop in Los Angeles - Starbucks at Hollywood and McCadden - writing to people he sees on television, asking for help

18 On Twitter - in coffee shop, Coffee Bean, at Gayley and Weyburn, in LA. Said he had been cleaned up at a hospital. Last tweet from there said “need saving.”

23 I filed missing persons report in Chicago. Police were not inclined to do much about it, since Mike left under his own power. Called cousin, Sgt. Mike Smith. Shortly thereafter, received a call from Det. Paul Carboni, who was assigned to the case.

24 Another coffee shop (LA?), tweeting to Olivia Munn (from “Attack of the Show” cable TV show). Was apparently asked to leave (probably due to the stench emanating from him).

25 Mike called home - said he was not coming back. Later, tweeted from the Huntington Beach library - “tweeps and twolks send help please!”

27 Tweeted from the Huntington Beach Main Street library - “hospitals wouldn’t do the bathroom change....low on cash....please also send help with clean up, very dire situation....if i can manage to get out of california since nothing matched up the next stop is obviously florida.” Florida?? Perhaps to attend a wrestling event?? TNA Impact in Orlando??

His last tweet said, “but im really stuck badly right now. wish i knew where some folks are, very sad, chair not holding up well.”

28 Rick & Mary to Huntington Beach - stayed for 3 days. Contacted police dept. immediately upon arrival, they were not inclined to help since he left on his own and was mobile, but they took the report. Walked around HB and talked to bouncers at bars, left phone numbers with them.

29 Found a wheelchair repair shop owner who had seen Mike go by several days earlier and was able to describe him. Shop owner was formerly with Sheriff’s Dept. and made up a flyer on the spot, and faxed it to all wheelchair repair shops in the area. Visited HB Hospital; they had not seen him.

30 Visited HB police dept. again to see what was happening with Mike’s case. Was told by “volunteer” at the desk that it would take at least 4 or 5 days for the case to find its way to a detective’s desk!! Called my cousin in Chicago (Sgt. Mike Smith) to tell him about it, and that we had not heard anything from the HB police. A while later, received a call from a Det. Ellis, with HB police, who had been assigned to the case. He, too, was not inclined to take it too seriously, since Mike left of his own accord.

30 Found librarian at Huntington Beach Main Street branch who had helped Mike on the 27th. Reported same to HB police. Left flyer at library. Left flyers with Coast Guard and a ministry that serves the homeless (located behind the library). Talked to homeless people on the street and at the beach. Visited shopkeepers in “downtown” HB, left flyers and phone numbers. Called hospitals in the area.

31 Returned to LA, went to studio where Attack of the Show is produced, talked to security, left photo and phone number. Visited coffee shops that Mike had previously mentioned - no one recognized his photo. Left photo and phone numbers at Union Station with various security people. We returned home next morning.

As of today, April 4, Mike has not been seen by anyone nor heard from via Twitter since March 27th. It is entirely possible that he is fine - but it is more likely that he is not fine, smells and looks like an outhouse on wheels, and needs psychiatric care. Worse possibilities are simply unthinkable right now.

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Green Lantern Wondercon Exclusives

I love Green lantern. Always have but Geoff Johns' new series is the most consistently great series of the last decade.

So I've been buying the figures. 3 3/4" Infinite heroes. 6" DC Universe Classics. 8" Mego style retro figures. 13" deluxe figures. And even though I quit DC Direct, I've been grabbing some of the Blackest Night line.

So last year DC Direct announced five green Lantern exclusives:



And it was a disaster. Mob rule. panicked crowd. Raffles. Long lines in 90-degree heat. I wasn't there but my friend Anthony went and scored us all five. Apparantly that's all he did the five days of the convention. Everyone involved said it was the worst sale of an exclusive they'd ever seen.


Now there's this:



Are you fucking kidding me?

Look at the rules. Wristbands. Lotteries. Winning tickets. DC Direct is already admitting they haven't printed enough of these figures to meet demand. They clearly seem more interested in the mayhem the demand will cause than the money sales would generate. And releasing them at a third rate convention instead of San Diego seems poorly planned at best, contemptuous at worst. I'll be haunting ebay for these and God knows what my spending limit will be.

Dammit.