Spider-Man Writer: "Glenn Beck Is An Idiot"

A couple GSWs ago, I mentioned briefly that Glenn Beck became outraged at Marvel's newest iteration of Spider-Man, blaming the biracial superhero's ethnicity on Michelle Obama.

One writer for Marvel, Brian Michael Bendis, who is writing the book, was overjoyed.  He responded that Glenn Beck was an idiot:

"We pissed off Glenn Beck, and that was amazing. I don't think Glenn Beck is an idiot because he's a conservative. I literally think he's just an idiot. Regardless of his belief system, he's just a lunatic. So that was hilarious. Not that I'm going out of my way to find ways to piss people like that off, but boy is it so nice when you do it by accident. I told my wife that she doesn't have to get me anything for my birthday because nothing will make me happier than this made me. I was happy all day.

*sigh* I dream of the day Glenn Beck blames me on Michelle Obama.

Geek Shit Wednesday Vol. XX

Marvel Attempts To Incite Destruction Of Competitors' Books

Today comes a disturbing story in what-the-fuck, as Marvel has offered a special variant cover of one of their comics, but only if participating stores submit proof that they have defaced 50 copies of DC's titles:

"This week it came out that Marvel Comics is offering retailers a variant cover of 'Fear Itself #6' by artist Ed McGuinness. But, there is a catch: to get the coveted cover, retailers have to rip the covers from 50 copies of any #1 issue of DC Comics 'Flashpoint' tie-ins. This is not a figure of speech, they literally have to tear the covers off and send them to Marvel to get the special edition, rendering the issues unsalable."

This is not the first time they've done this, and it's inciting geeks to cry censorship.  

Say what you like about Marvel vs. DC, but I've always found Marvel's characters to be more believable and their movies lately?  Nothing short of fan-fucking-tastic.  I'm dismayed, however, at this distasteful and mean-spirited stunt.  

Slutty Male Superheroes?  Yes Please.

Continuing the "news" in comic books, I've often heard feminist outrage over how women are depicted in comics.  One man agrees, and has illustrated what popular male superheroes would look like if they were drawn the same way superheroines are shown:

The guy zapping his crotch does NOT look comfortable.  

Geek Vs. Nerd: A Clarification

Today I asked Facebook if I was a Geek or a Nerd, and this video surfaced.  Plus I'm too lazy to come up with a real story to write about, so watch this instead:

Thanks to Gracie Poo for the video.

Geek Shit Wednesday Vol. IXX

New Spider-Man Is Black And Latino, Possibly Gay?


In June, Marvel killed off Peter Parker via the machinations of the perennial baddie, the nefarious Green Goblin.  This month, they introduce Miles Morales, their newest alliterative superhero to don the Amazing Spider-Man's legendary costume.  What's interesting about Morales is that he is black and Latino, a mix that has led blowhard Glenn Beck to belch "this is all Michelle Obama's fault!" whatever that means.

The buzz over the newest Ultimate Spider-Man has caused Marvel artist Sarah Pichelli to hint that one of the newer superheroes in the company's pantheon is going to come out as gay.

"Maybe sooner or later a black or gay—or both—hero will be considered something absolutely normal."

This leads some to speculate that this new incarnation of the webslinger may be gay someday, but I'm not holding my breath on that.  It's enough that there will be more gay superheroes to ogle.  

Time Warner To Launch All Mags On All Tablets, Period

Thus far, the magazine giant Time, Inc. has been available exclusively on the iPad, with four apps for four publications: People, Time, Sports Illustrated, and Fortune.  Now, the heavyweight is sockin' to Jobsians everywhere by opening up their entire line of publications to the major tablets in the field, to include the Android, Nook Color, and WebOS.  While the Kindle and Blackberry Playbook are missing from lineup so far, more announcements regarding Time Inc.'s decision are expected by the year's end.  From Wired:

"Time’s also pursuing the same subscription and purchase strategy across all platforms: print subscribers get digital access for free, while readers can also buy a digital subscription or single issues through the various platforms’ app marketplaces. They also plan to incorporate the magazine’s existing print ads into the digital editions. It’s a unified, cross-platform approach to digital magazines.

"Time Warner’s other major media component is video, specifically movie studios and television networks. On Wednesday’s quarterly earnings call, CEO Jeff Bewkes announced that the company was expanding its TV Everywhere strategy, bringing the popular HBO Go service to game consoles, smart televisions and other streaming media boxes. (See Ryan Lawler’s report on the earnings call at GigaOM.)"

I don't have a tablet yet, but my addiction to all forms of news/media might drive me to beg for one for Christmas.

Lunar Highlands Possibly The Result Of Earth's 'Lost Moon'

Popular simulated models describing the arrival of the Moon in our local system describe a climactic, dramatic entrance of our lunar companion.  During the formation of the Earth, it is likely that a Mars-sized body impacted our world, thus resulting in ejecta forming the Moon and a smaller companion satellite.  What is unclear is what happened to that smaller moon, with widespread theories suggesting it merged with the Moon while it was still molten.  

A recent study suggests an altogether different picture of the early days of our solar system.  Instead, it's posited, this smaller satellite settled into a semi-stable orbit at the "Trojan point," a gravitational "haven" where the satellite could remain suspended between the gravity of the Moon and Earth for approximately 70 million years before its orbit decayed, providing more than enough time for the Moon to form a hardened crust.  

What evidence of this is there?  While the side of the Moon facing us is a crater-riddled system of maria, the far side of the Moon consists of what's called "lunar highlands," with an unusual layer of ejecta covering the entirety of the "dark side."  It's a fascinating explanation, and one well worth exploring.

Geek Shit Wednesday Vol. XVII

Dawn Spacecraft To Visit Giant Asteroid

Vesta, the solar system's second heaviest asteroid, is due to be visited by NASA's Dawn spacecraft at 1:00 AM EST on July 16th as the exploratory vessel slides into orbit to begin a year of gamma ray and neutron surveys from 9,900 miles above the asteroid, which has a circumference of 329 miles.

"'It has taken nearly four years to get to this point,' said Dawn project manager Robert Mase of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in a press release. 'Our latest tests and check-outs show that Dawn is right on target and performing normally.'

"Dawn navigated toward the asteroid belt, a space rock-rich zone between the solar system’s inner and outer planets, using gravitational energy from Mars and by firing its ion-powered thrusters. Its arrival at Vesta is expected at 1:00am EDT on July 16.

"It will take 10 minutes and 30 seconds—the time it takes light from Vesta to reach Earth—for engineers to know if the operation succeeded."

After the survey of Vesta, Dawn is due to fire its thrusters and move on to the massive asteroid Ceres, which is so large it is referred to as a "dwarf planet."  NASA hopes to capture invaluable data from the trip, as Ceres is suspected to contain water ice and have active mud volcanoes. 

Army Testing Smartphones As Alternative To Proprietary Tech

The United States military, with its vast budget, is continually testing new expensive technology to make navigation, tracking, and reporting easier on the battlefield.  I was constantly astounded at the price tag associated with the equipment I worked on during my time in service, with simple radios (that never worked) costing in the tens of thousands of dollars.  

Often, the civilian tech market seizes a military tech concept and then markets it for civilians.  However, with increasing budget concerns in 2011, the military is now testing a simple device that has made a hit with every cell-phone user in America: smartphones.

"The results have been promising, according to program director Michael McCarthy, stating that younger soldiers who grew up with smartphones and handhelds are very comfortable using them for military purposes.

"Soldiers in the field can text GPS coordinates, send pictures of their surroundings, or file common reports directly from their phone."

The project has run across some problems, most laughably the fact that the service coverage of the iPhones tested was spotty at best in testing zones in New Mexico and Texas.  However, this seems like a cheap solution to a very expensive problem.

Even Amid TV And Twilight Madness, Comics Rule Supreme At Comic Con

Comic Con is the biggest geek convention of the year, having attracted comic nerds for four decades to San Diego California.  However, sometimes the convention sees an increased presence of other media shown on the floor, with Twilight-mania notably infecting this year's gathering.

However, comics still reign supreme, as they appear to be the media that binds the geekier aspect of the entertainment industry together.

"'The comics are what I like to call the gooey center of all pop culture,' said Joe Field, who owns a comic book store in Concord, Calif., and has gone to the convention annually for the past 25 years.

"'Movies, TV and video games all spin out of the creativity of telling stories with words and pictures,' said Field, who founded the industry's annual Free Comic Book Day. 'That's why the San Diego Con has become this sort of beehive of pop culture activity, because comics are really the genesis of visual entertainment.'"

Ugh.  I intend every year to go and never end up doing it.  Someday, Comic Con, someday.

Geek Shit Wednesday Vol. IX

I'm kind of a space case today, as is Geek Shit Wednesday.  Enjoy!

SETI is Broke Just Like Everyone Else

The SETI Institute announced that its primary facility, the Allen Telescope Array, has run out of funds and will be suspending operations.

While data for the program can be collected from any facility, the Berkeley funded installation of 42-dishes will be put into "hibernation" until the money to reopen operations can resume.

From SETI's website:

"In an April 22, 2011 email (PDF) to Allen Telescope Array stakeholder level donors, SETI Institute CEO Tom Pierson described in detail the recent decision by U.C. Berkeley, our partner in the Array, to reduce operations of the Hat Creek Radio Observatory (and thus the Allen Telescope Array) to a hibernation state effective this month. NSF University Radio Observatory funding to Berkeley for HCRO operations has been reduced to approximately one-tenth of its former level and, concurrently, growing State of California budget shortfalls have severely reduced the amount of state funds available for support of the HCRO site."

I guess ET will have to wait just a little longer to give us a call.  And how will Jodi Foster resolve her daddy issues?!

[SETI] 

Bill Introduced:  NASA!  Get Off Yo Asses, We Goin' To Da Moon!

In a reversal of the Obama administration's stance that long term missions to Mars and the Moon are too costly, a group of US House members have sponsored a bill directing NASA to build a permanent base on the Moon.

"Most of the bill they have sponsored is spent providing justification for a strong US presence in space, with military (space is called the 'ultimate high ground'), economic, and educational reasons highlighted. The meat of the bill, however, states, 'the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall plan to return to the Moon by 2022 and develop a sustained human presence on the Moon, in order to promote exploration, commerce, science, and United States preeminence in space as a stepping stone for the future exploration of Mars and other destinations. The budget requests and expenditures of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall be consistent with achieving this goal.' Currently, it has four sponsors."

In related news, this is perhaps my favorite moment in 30 Rock, one of my favorite shows:

[Ars Technica]

Action Comics' 900th Issue

Superman hits another milestone today as the 900th issue of Action Comics hits the newsstands.  What's in the 96-page issue?  Some juicy stuff-- the Man of Steel renounces his American citizenship, has a pizza party with his Kryptonian pals, and discusses philosophy with an interstellar deity racked with guilt.  Now in stores.

[Wired]

Speaking of Hairy Hotties...

Maybe Keahu should have taken a cue from Mark Ruffalo and gotten hairy as hell.

Mark Ruffalo has been cast to play the Hulk in the upcoming Avengers flick and I'm excited to see the big green guy with chest hair for the first time.  Plus, Mark Ruffalo is just cute as a button.  Here's a still shot from his interview with the Advocate where he says: 

"No one’s asked me to shave my chest yet, thank God. They want this Hulk to be as close to me as possible. I’ll be playing him in motion-capture, so this Hulk will just be a bigger avatar version of me. As they’re modeling him, they’re using many of my own features, down to my scars and wrinkles. He will have body hair, but I don’t know to what extent."

Of course, when the interviewer asks him if he knew his chest hair was popular with teh gayz, he got all bashful and "I had no idea!" then relates a touching story about how he met his first homo.  Whatevs, just leave me alone with the magazine for ten minutes. 

[Advocate]

Superman's Got His Villain

General Zod has been cast for the Superman remake-- Michael Shannon.

Shannon beat out Viggo Mortenson for the part of the Kryptonian criminal.  I'm going to withhold my judgment on this one until I actually see the movie.

[LaineyGossip]

George Takei's Audition Tape

I hope being 74 ends up being as fun for me as it is for George Takei.  First he's making dirty references to fisting on Twitter:

And now he's made an audition tape for Spider-Man: The Musical.  I'm assuming this is a promo for the Broadway play that he's ACTUALLY starring in, but I still can't help envisioning Takei as just some old rich actor saying "WTF!  I'm totally old and I can totally do whatever the hell I want so now I'm just going to make trouble."

Chris Hemsworth: TOO MANY MUSCLES

So I want to say that it's kind of ridiculous some of the posts that get the most widely read.

After my recounting of my arrest in DC and my admission that I was a meth addict, the most-read posts of all time all have to do with eye candy.  That's right!  You folks think that Renato Ferreira is more important than ENDA, and Chris Hemsworth is more important than Teabagger candidates (I might agree with you on that one).

Anyway, I posted back in December a still shot of Chris Hemsworth as Norse God and superhero Thor in his upcoming May movie.  One of my most widely read posts ever.  Perverts.

Now, he says, he gained almost TOO much muscle mass in order to fit the part-- because he no longer fit his costume.

Disaster Averted, Amy Adams To Play Lois Lane

Looks like Snyder pulled his head out of his rectal cavity and avoided destroying the Superman franchise by casting thrice Academy nominated actress Amy Adams as Lois Lane.  You'll recall my perfectly justified panic attack in February when rumors abounded that Kristen Stewart was going to be tapped for the role-- I would have just gone crazy and not even seen the film had this crap come to pass.

I never considered Adams for the role, but I can go back to looking forward to seeing the Man of Steel on the silver screen.

[PinkIsTheNewBlog]

Red Skull Revealed

This week's EW had an exclusive interview with the director of "Captain America" and also unveiled Hugo Weaving (perfect actor selection, btw) as the villainous character Red Skull.  Super stoked!!!

I.  Want.  That.  Jacket.  No, I'm not telling you what I would use it for, that's private. 

[EW]

Happy Birthday, Dan Choi

All of us at OAQ would like to extend our heartfelt thanks, admiration, and well-wishes to one of my personal heroes, Dan Choi.  Today he turns the big 3-0, and while this means he is officially an old-ass man, I still think he's one of the hottest gaysians out there. 

Happy Birthday, Dan.  :)

Comic Queers Rejoice!

The new NBC Wonder Woman TV series has found the newest incarnation of the Amazon Princess:

Adrianne Palicki

Yeah, she'll do.  Though I have to admit, some of the character changes that we've been hearing about in advance of the series sounds worrying. 

[LATimes]

Trailer For X-Men: First Class

I drooled a little bit over this.  Especially James McAvoy as Charles Xavier.



*happy sigh*

Disaster May Strike the Superman Franchise

Sounds like Zack Snyder is considering murdering his new film by including one of the worst actresses to ever grace the silver screen.  KRISTEN STEWART.  AS LOIS LANE.

This may be movie where Superman finally turns queer in order to get away from Lois.  I mean.  Really.  How much lip-biting does Lois Lane really need to do?  Click the link below to get the whole scoop, I can't even consider this anymore.  If you need me I'll be drawing a warm bath with my favorite sharp instrument.

Here's Kristen Stewart with all the lip biting you can handle:  




[Dlisted]

New Superman Chosen

Henry Cavill's resume seemed to be a list of "almosts" as he was considered and passed up for several superhero roles-- to include Superman from Bryan Singer's remake. 

Well, it's now Henry's turn to assume the cape of the Man of Steel.  From Warner Bros. press release:

"Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today that Henry Cavill has won the coveted role of Superman, the iconic superhero.

Story continues below

"The film will be directed by Zack Snyder, who stated, 'In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.'"

I don't know about donning the cape, but I like him just fine without anything at all.  The last image is a promo still from his upcoming flick Immortals telling the saga of Greek hero Theseus due in November 2011.

15-year Old AZ Activist Warns School Officials That Inaction Will Have Consequences

Caleb Laieski is a superhero after my own heart.

This kid has bigger balls then many "activists" we see in America today.

Having left high school in order to rid his life of the bullying he was exposed to, this kid wrote a letter to about 5,000 public school officials warning them that if steps weren't taken to protect schoolchildren, well, HE would take them:

"The letters, sent to school and government officials in early December, state that gay and lesbian youths face more bullying than their heterosexual peers and offer to refer officials to organizations and experts.

"The letters warn school officials that they must institute policies specifically prohibiting gay harassment by students, teachers and administrators. Schools that fail to stop bullying will encounter 'legal ramifications.'

"'This is more not to threaten a lawsuit but to put resources out there,' said Laieski, founder of Gays and Lesbians United Against Discrimination. 'But if they don't want to cooperate, there's going to be consequences.'"

That's right, Caleb!  Take no prisoners!  He realizes what many school officials don't:  Bullying is killing our children.  We can't just turn the other way, especially if it's your job to teach our children.  If you try to ignore it, well, he'll bring it to your attention in a way you can't ignore.

I invite Caleb to refer to himself as "Caleb Awesome."  He certainly deserves the moniker.  ;)

[AZCentral.com]

Ryan Reynolds Loves The Gays and Looks Good in Green Computer-Generated Tights

I'm sure he gets enough props, but one of my wet dreams Ryan Reynolds is not only going to star in The Green Lantern, but he loves the gays, is Canadian (I love those guys even if I hate their beer), and just got named People's Sexiest Man Alive.  Here he is.

Ooh!  I know what I want for Xxxmas!

Super Turkey Deluxe

Look at this bitch!  She is an oldster from Hungary, and she is not taking no for an answer!

Ok, so I guess the story is this photographer guy wanted to cheer up his grams by taking pictures of her doing silly things.  He picked one of my fave topics:  superheroes.  My preferred pic?  The one below.  Why?  Cuz the posters with the bird says "Super Turkey Deluxe."  Gobble!

I swear to Jeebus, tho, if my grandmother dressed in tights I would NOT be taking pictures.  Aaaaaack!  Mental image!

[My Modern Met]

Spider-Man the Musical-- Worst. Project. Ever.

If you care about superheroes (like I do) or musicals (like I don't) then you will have heard about the upcoming Broadway musical riding on the coattails of the insanely popular Spider-Man movie franchise starring Toby Maguire. 

Here's their crap website:  http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/

I was a bit excited-- I mean, Alan Cummings was going to play the Green Goblin, what's not to like?  Evan Rachel Wood as Mary Jane?  That bitch is pretty sweet. 

Well, those dudes have dropped out and now some other jabronis are in it.  The original release date in February was pushed to November, and now to December-- AFTER being rescued from the rubbish heap by his Royal Rockness himself, the incomparable (no, I don't mean any of these nice things I'm saying) sunglassed-one... Bono. 

After all this, we now hear it's going to be the most expensive musical in the history of Broadway.  So it better be awesome, right?

Well, click on the link below and you will see a rendering of one of the sets:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0133f2f8e35d970b-pi

Uh.  I now see why Alan C. left.  Is it just me or is that a chicken wire beaker?

Bono:  if you want to toss some money about, just hire me!  I know ALL about building shit outta chicken wire.  Clearly it's your fave!  I can make anything!  Want a car?  Rocket ship?  Insanely expensive Broadway musical that no-one wants to touch but you?  I'm your man!

I have a headache.