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Sunday, October 23, 2016

Steve Dillon, "Preacher" and "Punisher" comic

Steve Dillon Career Highlights

Updated: Saturday, October 22, 2016 @ 3:33 AMPublished: Saturday, October 22, 2016 @ 3:21 AM

Rick Astley exiled himself from music for a good part of the last three decades, but he never really left pop"s consciousness.

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For one, hits like Never Gonna Give You Up and It Would Take A Strong Strong Man, derided by critics as cheesy at the time, have endured. Then there"s the whole rick-rolling phenomenon when a promised link on a website turns out instead to be an Astley video.

At first, Astley was annoyed by rick-rolling. Then his daughter helped him realize that it was cool and that it helped boost his profile during his fallow years by keeping his boyish face in ours.

He"s even more appreciative now as he releases "50," his first album of new music in 23 years.

"The idea of me releasing a new record now I need every bit of help I can get," he quipped.

He may not have needed it as much as he thought: The album debuted at the top of the charts in his native United Kingdom, and when he performed his first U.S. shows in New York and Los Angeles over the summer, they sold out. He wrapped up a short U.S. tour earlier this month.

The still boyish-looking Astley recently sat down with The Associated Press to talk about life after his "80s pop success, rick-rolling and what music means to him now.

AP: During your break, did you ever long to get back to music?

Astley: I think you never lose that feeling of "cause you know I still got an ego whether you retire or not. I mean, it"s still there and there is a little voice on your shoulder sort of saying, "You"re better than him."... I think that is one the lucky things about what I chose to do and what I love to do, you know ... it is a young person"s world really, but you know an old boy like me can still make a record and can still make a bit of a splash.

AP: You think the whole "rick-roll" thing was good for you?

Astley: Absolutely it was because I think if you"re doing anything like music or movies, there is so much competition. ... And also there have been some really, really clever things done with that song. It has not just been rick-roll. There have been so many different things. One of my favorites is they got (President Barack) Obama to sing "Never Gonna Give You Up" (in a mash-up video) or say it at least, which I thought was brilliant. I mean, it"s obviously somebody with too much time on their hands, but they also did that with "Mad Men" as well.

AP:There are some artists who only want to perform their new songs. What"s your take?

Astley:I"m not really in that camp, to be honest, because I had a long break from it, so it"s not like I have been singing those tunes for 30 years. You know, I am fully aware of the fact that the only reason you know we had a No. 1 album in the U.K. with this record it"s like the reason it got played on the radio with the first couple of tunes and stuff. ... When we play live and stuff, there is a part of me thinking, "Great, we are going to finish "Never Gonna Give You Up," and I know every single person in this room or in this field knows that tune." They might not all like it, but I know they all know it.

AP:What do you think of your music legacy? Are you resentful that some dismissed your music at the time?

Astley:No. I mean if I"d been a journalist and I had been reviewing my records ... you know I"m not so sure what I would think of it either. I mean, I think there are some really great strong pop songs ... but just looking at it you kind of think. "Well yeah, but it"s a bit manufactured. " ... I don"t hold any grudges for people who had a go at me, you know what I mean? That"s for sure.

Source: http://www.whio.com/entertainment/steve-dillon-preacher-and-punisher-comic-book-artist-has-died/ySeXc97IbgaQ9CLxDRjEjI/

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Black Mirror"s "Men Against Fire" Tackles High-Tech Warfare

Creator Charlie Brooker Explains… | Black Mirror: White Christmas | Channel 4

Sophie Gilbert and David Sims will be discussing the new season of Netflixs Black Mirror, considering alternate episodes. The reviews contain spoilers; dont read further than youve watched. See all of their coverage here.

What a relief San Junipero was after the actually nightmare-provoking Shut Up and Dance. (I really did have a dream about a bugged bottle of wine that was sending videos to Russian hackers, because thats just the kind of week its been.) It isnt often Black Mirror takes such a heartwarming, optimistic view of things, although naturally the episode had sharp undertones about the dangers of perpetual pleasure seeking (the Quagmire was as apt a portrait of the dark underbelly of the internet as youll ever find) and the allure of nostalgia.

I loved the narrative freedom offered by a new location, though, and now that were almost through all six episodes, I wanted to take a minute to think about how season three of Black Mirror has been different. The shift to Netflix from the U.K.s Channel 4 has opened the show up to different locations, yes, but also different environments. In its first two seasons the show seemed to be set in Britaineven the more unrecognizable worlds of 15 Million Merits and White Christmas. But in expanding its geographical horizons, Black Mirror is also able to expand its scope with storytelling, exploring themes that might not have made sense before. Like falling in love. And going to war.

Black Mirrors San Junipero is the Standout of the Season

Men Against Fire is one of the better episodes of the series, I think, because it actually featured a sharp twist with a message, and one that wasnt as obvious as the shows usual sermons (technology: bad, mob mentality: bad, brain implants: v. v. bad). Stripe (Malachi Kirby) is a soldier fighting in what appears to be Eastern Europe, only the enemy forces hes targeting are zombie-like mutants known as roaches. After a band of roaches raid a nearby village in search of food, the American soldiers pay a visit to a local eccentric whos believed to be helping the mutants out of a belief that all life is sacred. Searching through some hidden rooms in his house, Stripe encounters several aggressive roaches and kills two, but not before one of them shines a mysterious light in his face that causes his brain implant, or mass (a device that allows his commanding officer to transfer visual information to him instantaneously), to start acting peculiarly.

After the ringing in his head affects his performance at a shooting range, Stripe reports to medical, and is sent to a unit psychiatrist (Michael Kelly), who quizzes him on what it felt like to kill the roaches, and how hes coping. The next day, while infiltrating a roach compound, Stripe is shocked when he sees his fellow soldiers murdering civilians, all of whom seem to be pleading for their lives. He helps a woman escape with her young son, and learns the truth: the implant in his head causes him to see ordinary people as gruesome mutants, and to interpret their peaceable actions as violent ones that threaten his life.

Its a terrific, unexpected twist, mostly because it seems so plausible: What could be more enticing to an advanced military power than a device that allows soldiers to kill without suffering any guilt or emotional repercussions? In a horrifying conversation in Stripes cell after hes recaptured, the psychiatrist reveals that the technology was pioneered because humans are genuinely empathetic as a species. We dont want to kill each other, which is a good thing, until your future depends on wiping out the enemy. The blood sickness the soldiers were taught to believe was the reason for eliminating the roaches is actually their genetic differentiation, the doctor explains: higher rates of cancer and muscular dystrophy, substandard IQ, higher criminal tendencies and sexual deviance.

With this unexpected lurch toward the subject of eugenics, Man Against Fire alludes to a wealth of different prejudices still rife among humankind, particularly institutionalized racism, tribalism, and fear of refugees (the villagers dont see the roaches as other, its worth notingtheyve simply been taught to see them that way). And it veers into darker territory still toward the end, when Stripe is adamant he doesnt want his mass reset, and the doctor informs him that if he refuses, h**l be forced to relive his murder of the two roaches on a permanent loop via the implant while he sits in a jail cell. Its the kind of particularly inconceivable psychological torture Black Mirror likes to throw out once in a while, like being stuck in a log cabin alone listening to Christmas music for what feels like several million years. And it persuades Stripe: At the end of the episode, hes shown returning home in uniform to a ramshackle house and a woman who most likely is an illusion created by his device.

The episode made me think about augmented reality, and the ethical boundaries that dont yet exist when it comes to showing people things that arent there. It was also a persuasive and nuanced exploration of military valor, and the potential might of an army that could fight without morality getting in the way. But it also seemed to point toward the drone technology that exists now, and how much easier it makes eliminating large groups of people remotely at the flick of a switch, without the smell or the sound of warfare. Without the implant, the doctor tells Stripe, you will see and smell and feel it all. Is that what you want?

Praise to Malachi Kirby, fresh off his performance in the Roots remake, who was similarly stellar in this, and to Kelly, who always imbues every performance with extraordinary menace. What did you make of it, David? Should we note that when Stripes fellow soldier sang Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand), thats the third time this fairly obscure track has been featured in the series? Whats up with that?

Read David Simss review of the final episode, Hated in the Nation.

Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/10/black-mirror-season-three-review-netflix-men-against-fire/505040/

Arizona election 2016: How to vote with confidence

Our Massive Project: How to Vote in Every State

The Republic | azcentral.com 5:22 p.m. MST October 21, 2016

Here"s what you need to know about voting in the November election in Arizona.

Tori Jensen, 18, rides her long board to Parkway Community Church in Phoenix to cast her ballot in Arizona"s primary election on August 30 -- her first time voting.(Photo: Michael Chow/The Republic)

It"s almost here the Nov. 8 election.

The presidential race has gotten the most attention, but there are lots of equallyimportant races in Arizona. Here"s how to vote with confidence:

VOTER INFORMATION

Early voting is underway and continues until Nov. 4. You can vote in person at various Maricopa County locations. Bring an accepted form of ID with you, such as a driver"s license.You also can request an early ballot before Oct. 28, fill it out at home and mail it in. Just make sure the county elections folks have it in hand by Election Day.

If you wait until Nov. 8, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Enter your address to find your Maricopa Countypolling place.

VOTER GUIDE

The Arizona Republic sent candidates questionnairesin congressional, state legislative, state, county and municipal racesto capture where they stand on key issues. There also are questionnairesabouttwo statewide ballot initiatives and four municipal questions.

You can search by the state"s 99 racesor210 candidates. Oryou canfill out a sample ballot that you can print and take with you to the polls. Pretty cool, huh?

ENDORSEMENTS

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The Arizona Republic"s editorial board is making recommendations in several key races. Follow the links belowto read the full endorsements (and stay tuned - there are more to come).

PRESIDENT: Hillary Clinton. We endorsed a Democratic presidential candidate over a Republican for the first time in the newspaper"s history because Donald Trump is unqualified for office, and Clinton has the experience and temperament to lead.

U.S. SENATE: John McCain.Arizona"s senior senator is a voice of reason and experience, particularly on issues like national security and immigration. Washington needs his leadership now more than ever.

CONGRESS, DISTRICT 1: Tom O"Halleran.Unlike his opponent, Democrat O"Halleran"s talk about the border and coal matches his work when he was a Republican in the Arizona Legislature.

CONGRESS, DISTRICT 2: Martha McSally.The freshman Republican has done yeoman"s work of representing this ideologically split district. She accomplished things that matter for constituents, and she deserves another two years to keep up the good work.

SHERIFF: Paul Penzone.Penzone has promised to clean house, something Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, now facing criminal charges for balking a judge"s orders, has proven he cannot (or will not) do. Penzone deserves the chance.

PROPOSITION205: Vote no. There is merit in legalizing marijuana, but Prop. 205 goes about it in the wrong way. The initiative is a money grab that puts kids" health at risk, among other problems.

Read or Share this story: http://azc.cc/2eCcABc

Source: http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2016/10/21/arizona-election-2016-how-vote/92535092/

What you need to know about California"s 17 ballot measures

How To Vote In Texas

The Nov. 8 election is upon us, and Californians are already voting in record numbers. They face 17 ballot measures tax increases, condom requirements, ammunition controls and marijuana legalization among them.

What to do?

Our complete voter guide is available here. But below you can find direct links to a brief rundown of what each measure does, what it costs and whos taken a position on it and why. Weve also included links to some of The Sacramento Bees coverage of each measure. Want to go deeper into whos writing checks for and against each measure? Check out the Money Trail for up-to-date campaign finance information. If youre interested in what The Bees Editorial Board has recommended on all of the measures, look here.

Proposition 51 School construction bonds