Laughing Wolf

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Science Fiction Collectibles for Sale

In cleaning out the basement and such, I found some stuff that I can do without.  In fact, I need about 20 tons of rock more than I need to keep this stuff, so here goes:

Star Wars Pez Dispensers:
C3PO, Chewy, Storm Trooper, Darth Vader, and 2 Yoda
Throwing in Monopoly card/sticker/gum packet for free
Asking $20 plus shipping
SOLD!

TV Guides (in vacuum bags)
1997 Sumer Sci-Fi Special (2 copies)
1999 Jabba the Hut
1999 50 Greatest Characters (Spock On Cover)
1999 Phantom Menace
2002 Dark Slide (2 copies)
2001 Vulcan Heat (Jolene cover)
2000 Sexiest stars universe (Claudia Black cover)
Asking $20 plus shipping

Farscape Books
Ship of Ghosts
Dark Side of the Sun
House of Cards
all in vacuum bags
Farscape Magazines (9, some may be duplicates)
4 Farscape post cards
10 packs Farscape trading cards
Farscape in Cinefantastique magazine
Farscape fan club Kit #1 (may not be complete)
Asking $25 plus shipping

Claudia Black/Farscape Photographs
7 8x10’s mostly focused on Claudia
not autographed
Asking $25.00 plus shipping

Babylon 5 Lyta Alexander Action Figure
2, unopened, but packaging damaged
Asking $25.00 plus shipping

Farscape Action Figures
Very good shape, unopened, though some packages may have slight damage
Scorpius, Aeryn, Chiana, Crais, Zaahn, Crichton, D’Argo
Asking $200 plus shipping

If interested, drop me a line here or on Twitter, and let’s talk. 

LW

Friday, May 07, 2010

501(c)(3) Application Filed

The IRS should have it this morning.  Almost 3/4 of a pound of paper in that package.  Now to hope I didn’t make too many mistakes, that the request for expedited consideration is accepted, and that there are few questions or problems.  Huge relief, now to catch up on things.

LW

To The Spammers

To the spammers that keep trying to mess up the comments and registration system:  sod off.

To any who are trying to register and are real, drop me a line and will see what I can do.

To e-mail spammers selling interesting pills:  I don’t need drugs for that, I need women.  Please feel free to send some nice young ladies, with trust funds, on over.  Otherwise, sod off.

Sorry for the lack of posting, life has been hectic. 

LW

Monday, April 26, 2010

A Thought, Profound Or Not

Great art should transport you to a place outside yourself and life as you know it. The word around you, it’s cares and concerns should not be so much as a vague dream when the moment strikes. The art should pull you in, surround you, and fill you with that moment of joy, pleasure, and understanding as it reveals the truth of that moment to you.  The medium truly doesn’t matter for at that point film, video, paint on canvas, sculpture, food, and sex are as one as the art consumes, transports, and transforms you and your perceptions of reality.

Just a thought to share.

LW

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Thank You Gretchen Wilson

I want to thank Gretchen WIlson for her support of the troops, and for her support of Cooking with the Troops.  This morning found a box at the post office, filled with autographed items.  These are going to be a huge help to us as we move forward.  Thank her on Twitter @gw27, via her site, or via her fan club (the people there rock!).  Check out her new album while you are at it, that can be an even better way to say thanks. 

LW

Friday, April 23, 2010

Semi-Perpetual Reminder:  Spam Attack

The spamming continues, and even if it quits suddenly it has gummed things up.  If you are legitimately trying to register to comment, drop me a line if you have problems.  Most attempts are getting canned, some even after the “you are now a member” thing goes out.  If you are a spammer, rarse is the least of what I have to say to you…

LW

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Cooking with the Troops Inc.

I posted at Blackfive, but need to do an update here.  When Patti first suggested spinning out Cooking with the Wounded as a stand-alone charity, I was initially a touch reluctant.  But, the idea had merit and has moved far faster than I think any of us anticipated. 

Last Friday, we incorporated in Indiana as Cooking with the Troops Inc.  I am serving as Chairman of the Board and CEO; Bob Miller is serving as Vice Chairman of the Board and President; and, Mary Katharine Ham is serving as Secretary of the Board. 

Monday, we got our EIN.  Today, I found some pro-bono help for our 501(c)(3) filing, which we still hope to get out by the end of next week. 

We have an art contest coming up, judged by Chris Muir, Damon Shackelford, and John Cox.  Work is underway to develop a web site, not up yet, but good things are in work.  Lots of work to do, but it is moving along.

Hope you will consider joining our fan page at Facebook for updates until our website is up and running, and that you will support us as we move on to doing even more for our troops and their families.  We are not a 501(c)(3) yet, nor is the process guaranteed—but we will continue to soldier on with your help. 

LW

Monday, April 19, 2010

An Open Letter To Michael Yon

Michael,

A lot of good people are sending you messages today, and so I thought I would send you this short note. 

No one is denying that you’ve done some good work in Iraq or Afghanistan.  In point of fact, most have said all along you have.  No one is saying you haven’t done some good for others, for you have.  Your help with my second embed was and is much appreciated. 

What people are trying to tell you—friends, acquaintances, and others—is that there is a problem and you and only you can address it.  This is indeed a rough form of intervention.  Uncle Jimbo has it right:  there is one common element to your multiple cases of being disembedded:  you. 

You’ve asked me to highlight some of your posts, and help promote them.  Time has held up some of that, but a larger issue has been that I’ve been worried about an unable to honestly recommend your work.  Just look at the rants—pointed out by others—and look at them as if they had been written by another.  From calling people monkeys to making some rather outlandish claims about those in power at almost any level you are showing signs of burnout and more.  It’s the more that worries me, and others. 

My message is just one of many that I believe has come your way.  Those efforts, public and private, have not met with success, to put it mildly.  You have, in point of fact, slagged some of the people who reached out, and I suspect that such will come my way too. 

You have done some good work.  But, your actions impact more than just you.  Your actions have hurt other good embeds as well as yourself. 

Please stop, step back, and think.  Take some time before replying to myself or others.  If you can do that, and if you can admit that having this many people reach out to you should be telling you something, then I have hope.  If the response is what I expect given how you’ve dealt with things of late, well…

I hope you will stop, step back, and get some input from some good people, even some professional input.  Take the time, decompress, restock, rebuild, grow.  Everyone is not your enemy, and while not everyone is your friend quite a few are supporters.  That’s a heck of a resource for you to have, and I hope you will use it well and use it to grow.

LW

Friday, April 16, 2010

Murder of a Friend

I’ve been offline for most of the last four or five days, and not keeping up with things as I should.  I checked in on a friend’s Facebook page yesterday and found that someone they had introduced me to was dead.  Killed.  To my mind, a murder. 

Everyone who knows me knows that I can be a bit of a smartass on occasion, and I appreciate anyone who is a good, intelligent smartass.  The intelligence has to be there, otherwise it is merely snark and being an asshole.  Sorry, that’s how I see it. 

Elfling the parrot was my type of smartass.  I first met him at a party being hosted by a friend.  These two people who had just driven in from California were there, and she was moving to Atlanta.  Elfling was hers (or she was his), and he had come into the party with her. 

To be honest, I’m not sure he fully liked being such a center of attention, but was putting up with it (mostly) when we all noticed one of the host’s cats stalking him.  When I say we all, I do mean we all, and Elfling was keeping an eye on the cat.  Finally, having had enough, Elfling gave a bit of a chuckle and climbed down off his perch, and jumped down to the floor.  He then began to openly stalk the cat who was stalking him—and the cat freaked at being the hunted.  It fled, and Elfling laughed.  Frankly, we all did, but Elfling continued to chuckle as he made his way back over to begin the climb back up to and onto his perch. 

The lady Elfling owned became a friend, and is the mother of my godchildren.  Over the years, I’ve gotten to spend time with them, and with him.  There are many tales to be told, but two in particular come to mind for me. 

First, was cat bombing.  Parrots have incredibly strong jaws, and need treats that play to that for health.  One special treat for Elfling was about the size, and density, of a marble.  If any of the resident cats was foolish enough to traverse below the cage he had then, Elfling stalked.  If the opportunity came, he would take one of the treats, and very carefully drop it so that it smacked the hapless cat in the head.  The cats learned, and fast. 

Second, was cat skiing.  For obvious reasons, Elfling’s wings were clipped but that didn’t keep him from flying.  Rather, it wasn’t truly flying but cat skiing.  He was allowed out during the day sometimes, and would climb down to the floor and go hunting for cat nappery.  Discovering such, he would carefully maneuver behind the sleeping cat, leap up in the air, unfurl his wings to the fullest extend possible, and let out a hunting scream as his claws closed remarkably gently on the cat’s tail.  The result was a cat that leaped up and took off, possibly screaming itself, and pulling Elfling along through the air, much as a boat pulls a parasail.  If a bird could go “Wheee!” I suspect that Elfling did so.  I suspect that the cats needed therapy. 

While not smartassery, I loved the tale told of when he first came into my friends life.  It seems another friend had started getting these calls where the caller said nothing.  Just a number of calls and nothing said.  The mystery was solved when Elfling, who had taken a liking to this person, was discovered hitting the speed dial and listening to this person’s voice.  Suspect the bird was annoyed at finding his phone privileges revoked. 

I still have in my home a feather given me, and a number of good and fun memories. 

Elfling’s life came to a very unexpected end the other day, when a killer came into the home, reached through the bars of the cage, and killed him so fast that he never had time to squawk.  The raccoon had made it’s way in through an opening no one would have expected, and apparently decided that Elfling would be food.  A killing, yes; and, to my mind a murder for the intelligence of Elfling.  The raccoon was chased off, but came back the next night and into a trap.  Distemper or something along those lines is suspected, and it had no fear of the house, the people, or the other animals there.  Dangerous to all, and raccoons have killed people too.  I am glad it is gone, I hope it is tested, and take small comfort in the fact that if not now it will soon be dead.  Don’t hurt or kill my friends, don’t care who or what you are…

My condolences to his family, and I am choosing to remember the laughter he brought (not a morning person, and seemed to know some very interesting phrases early in the morning).  I will miss you my friend.  Glad to have you as a part of my life, and thanks for being such.

LW

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Please Join Evan’s Army!

Sticky for now, scroll below for new

My cousin Chris is doing something really good, and I hope you will join him:

I have signed up for “A Walk in the Park” put on by Six Flags parks across the U.S. The reason I have signed up for this walk is in honor of a young man that I started reading about after being introduced to him on Blackfive’s Milblog. His name is Evan Pertile. I am raising money in his honor to help the local Children’s hospital here in Atlanta. If anyone is interested in signing up, please go to www.sixflags.com, click on Walk in the Park on the right hand side of the page. The dates of each parks walk will be listed. Six Flags over Georgia will hold their walk on June 13. You can sign up to walk under “Evan’s Army”, or if unable to participate, please contribute to the cause. To help, enter my name Chris Roberson, or my wife’s name Cathy Roberson and make your donation online. Any and all help either as a participant or contributor would be greatly appreciated.

If you don’t know Evan Pertile, here’s a good place to start.  Hit the links:  Start at the start, work your way forward. 

Good cause, good people, and lots of good to do.  Please help.

LW

If Only The Tail They Were Chasing Belonged To The Opposite Sex…

This Ain’t Hell has a good piece up on how the Pentagon is aiding and abetting (and getting into bed with) Grand Flea Eagle Arbiter of Hate Mark Potok and the extremist hate group he heads, the SPLC. 

Having grown up in the South, I would like to think that at some point the SPLC did some good work and good deeds.  Sadly, whatever legacy of good it had is now being lost in shoddy research and questionable reports that have become the hallmark of the current SPLC and Potok.  Given the “work” being done, I have to say I find that it is honest, accurate, and fair to label the SPLC an extremist hate group by rational standards, much less the low bar they set for others. 

LW

A Shameless Plug

Over at my food and travel site, I give a shameless plug to Crooked Brook. 

More soon, I hope. 

LW

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Semi-Perpetual Reminder:  Spam Attack Continues, Problems w/Registration

The attempts by spammers to register, post, etc. continues and has spiked up again a bit.  This means that for all intents, new registrations get so far and then are being wiped.  If you have tried to register and found your effort wiped out, and you are not a spammer, then drop me a line via the contact info in the sidebars.  Let me know who you are, what e-mail you used or will use, and I will intervene to get you registered. 

Monday, April 05, 2010

A Quick Thought

There is a lot going on in the background right now, but I am still here. 

A quick thought to share:  If you can’t remember when or if the oil in the lawn mower has ever been changed, it probably needs to be changed.  Did it, got the house yard mowed, now hoping to get back yard this week if weather cooperates.  Lots of yardwork to do, will have to try to get some photos of the flowers.  Peach trees are set to bloom here soon, apples are trying—even if something ate half the bark off of one of them.  Grrr. 

More soon. 

LW

Friday, April 02, 2010

Pondering A Matter of Honor

Today finds me in a philosophic bent, pondering some potentially imponderables.  Or, some things that no longer are as completely clear as they used to be at any rate. Some of this is of interest to me, and some, well, let’s just say it might possibly be of interest to another. 

Awards and honors are nice things, especially those you earn.  I don’t mean stuff the sweepstakes to win, but do some serious work to earn. 

For example, the Eagle Scout Award.  As an Eagle, I will attest that it is a lot of work, time, and effort above and beyond work to earn.  It is given with an understanding:  that if you seriously screw up, you should give it back.  In this day and age, what constitutes an offense that would require you to return it?  A white lie?  A fib?  A major lie?  Petty theft?  Grand Theft?  Murder? Rape?  Robbery?  Do you and should you hold yourself to the higher standard, or the general standard as applied to most (and especially politicians) these days?  Put it away and attempt to redeem yourself such that you feel you can display it again? 

What about an award you are voted to get, such as an Oscar.  What are the circumstances where one should return such a thing?  Are there any? 

What about an award from an organization.  Let’s say you are active in a local civic group, and your hard work for said group is recognized with some form of award.  It truly is an honor to be recognized, both because you didn’t/don’t feel you deserve it and that you did not do all the work you did just to be recognized.  Go forward a couple of years, and the organization changes and your work is no longer appreciated.  Some of the same people that praised you a couple of years before denigrate you and your contributions now.  In fact, things get to the point that you effectively leave the organization.  Do you keep the award, and accept the honor as given?  Or, do you have an obligation to your honor and integrity to return it?  Should you just simply put it away with other junk to gather dust? 

Do circumstances truly matter?  Should it make a difference if it is just differences involved, or if it is truly a matter of insult, intentional or implied? 

Or, consider an award from a college or university.  The award means a lot, but the college or university then goes and does something completely at odds with all in which you believe.  Return, or keep? 

When I was younger, a lot more of this seemed fairly black and white.  As I grow older, I find more gray in there.  Returning an award can be the right thing for the right reasons, but the wrong thing in another perspective.  Returning an award can be seen as an insult, both to those that gave it and to the award itself.  It can be seen as archaic, a temper tantrum, or worse. 

So, principled stand and doing what is absolutely correct (even if the cold thing to do); putting it away and/or throwing it out and sidestepping; or, keep it and ignore the ethics, honor, and morality.  Should it make a difference if earned or given? 

Thoughts? 

LW

NOTE:  The Eagle was given as example only—neither I nor anyone I may or may not be trying to assist has done anything that would merit return of such an award, nor has the BSA done anything to merit such.  Carry on. 

Content copyright C. Blake Powers and the individual authors. Comments become the property of C. Blake Powers and may be altered, edited, deleted, and used by C. Blake Powers or the individual authors without restriction or recompense.