American Idol Final 2

The final three step on to the stage and all of them look nervous and ready to get this over with. The judges take a minute to congratulate all three contestants and it’s taking what feels like a lifetime for them to finish this up so we can find out who’s getting eliminated. Simon says something about the finale being a humdinger. Ryan announces that the two people going to the finale are David Archuleta and David Cook.

Predictably, Syesha is eliminated and we’re looking at an all David finale next week.

 

Owen King’s “Who Can Save Us Now?”

Twenty-two of today’s most talented writers (and comics fans) unite in Who Can Save Us Now?, an anthology featuring brand-new superheroes equipped for the threats and challenges of the twenty-first century — with a few supervillains thrown in for good measure. Edited and with contributions by Owen King (We’re All in This Together) and John McNally (America’s Report Card), Who Can Save Us Now? enriches the superhero canon immeasurably.

 

With mutations stranger than the X-Men and with even more baggage than the Hulk, this next generation of superheroes is a far cry from your run-of-the-mill caped crusader. From the image-conscious and not-very-mysterious masked meathead who swoops in and sweeps the tough girl reporter off her feet; to the Meerkat, who overcomes his species’ cute and cuddly image to become the resident hero in a small Midwestern city; to the Silverfish, “the creepy superhero,” who fights crime while maintaining the slipperiest of identities; to Manna Man, who manipulates the minds of televangelists to serve his own righteous mission, these protectors (and in some cases antagonizers) of the innocent and the virtuous will delight literary enthusiasts and comic fans alike.

With stunning illustrations by artist Chris Burnham, Who Can Save Us Now? offers a vibrant, funny, and truly unusual array of characters and their stories.   The book will be available on July 15, 2008 and can be pre-ordered here.

Check out MUTO – An animation painted on public walls

I was mesmerized by a phenomenal “wall-painted animation” by graffiti artist Blu. He has posted work before, but this one, Muto, tops his previous endeavors. Made in Buenos Aires and Baden, Germany, Muto crawls across walls, buildings and floors; jumps at the viewer in three dimensions; and explodes with vivid sound.

Take a look at the clip when you can give it your full attention, then head to Blu’s site to see more of his artwork.

 

New Trailer for The Incredible Hulk

In theaters on June 13, 2008.

A Message From Stephen King

While serving as an ambassador for reading, I made a statement that was construed by certain right-wing bloggers and commentators as a knock on the US military. That wasn’t my intention. I like the troops just fine, and respect the hell out of their brainpower. I know that most of them read, because I send them books when they ask, and a lot do. I will continue to provide this service. It’s the war our politicians–many of whom have never heard a shot fired in anger–have sent them to fight that I have a problem with. But that is neither here nor there. What concerns me is how many high school students either read poorly or choose not to read at all, unless forced to do it. Part of the reason is cutbacks in educational money that the national government used to provide. Part of the reason has to do with mistaken initiatives like No Child Left Behind, which teaches kids to pass tests but not to think or to rejoice in the language arts. Most teachers loathe the No Child program, and I don’t blame them. Kids who read poorly do poorly on their SATs and have bad or barely acceptable grade-point averages. Many will be faced with entry-level jobs like clerking and handing out burgers from the drive-thru window. The best option for many is the armed services, because they see a chance to continue their educations and/or learn a marketable skill. Many will wind up in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some will die, because this is an entry-level position where kids wind up getting shot at. I love their courage, I wish they were there for a better reason, and most of all I hope that my remarks won’t detract from the real problem: too many kids in America read for pleasure on the text-screens of their phones and hardly anywhere else.”