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Thursday, April 30, 2015
historyvikings: SURPRISE! Fun fact: this is based on a real...
SURPRISE!
Fun fact: this is based on a real incident. Except it was Bjorn in Pisa, rather than Ragnar in Paris. Bjorn really did take Pisa by pretending to be dead, and then leaping out of his own coffin and opening the gates from the inside. Trojan Horse viking style.
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nubbsgalore: kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes on...
cj kale
bruce omori
nick selway
tom kualii
bruce omori
g. brad lewis
bruce omori
cj kale
kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes on earth, has erupted continuously from its pu’u o’o vent since 1983, with its one thousand degree fahrenheit lava moving across hawaii’s big island into the ocean at fifteen yards per hours. photos by (click pic) tom kualii, g. brad lewis, bruce omori, cj kale and nick selway
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midnighterpunches: Midnighter is coming in June and faces are...
Midnighter is coming in June and faces are meeting fists. Get your first taste NEXT WEEK in CONVERGENCE: NIGHTWING/ORACLE #2, with “Perdition Pistol,” an all-new 8 Page Story that will not appear anywhere else. And then come see us June 3rd for ISSUE 1!
Oh, guess i have to get a Convergence issue after all :p Luckily, Nightwing and Oracle is one of the ones I am interested in anyway.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
deviantart: mikkolagerstedt is a self-taught Finnish...
mikkolagerstedt is a self-taught Finnish photographer. His Gallery is simply stunning.
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Who created Caitlin Snow on #TheFlash? According to @DCComics, nobody
Who created Caitlin Snow, the alter ego of Firestorm super-villain Killer Frost, who appears regularly on The Flash?
According to DC Entertainment, nobody.
That’s right. Caitlin Snow, the brilliant scientist working for Harrison Wells, fiancée of Ronnie Raymond and friend of Barry Allen, aka The Flash, sprang fully formed into existence without a creator or creators.
But that’s okay, because, by the logic employed by DC Entertainment, nobody created Barry Allen either.
Let me explain. See if you can follow me here.
As I’ve described elsewhere (http://ift.tt/1bBaorM), many years ago DC Comics established the first program to provide comic book creators with a share in the revenues generated by their creations in other media. This concept became known as “creator equity participation” and it was a small but significant step toward compensating creators for their work beyond a simple page rate. For me, personally, it’s been moderately lucrative (thank you, Bruce Timm, for putting Killer Croc in the animated Batman) but in recent years it’s also become an increasingly frustrating and, lately, infuriating process.
The reason, I believe, is the shift of corporate culture at DC Comics that occurred around the time Paul Levitz left his position as publisher.
As a comic book creator himself, Paul displayed a protective empathy for creators. Once the creator equity concept became policy, Paul applied it liberally and proactively– often notifying writers and artists their creations were due to receive equity participation when creators would otherwise have no idea. For thirty plus years, under Paul, creators were valued and supported as equity partners. (We can argue about the level of support, whether the percentage creators received was commensurate with their contributions, but we can’t deny that the support was there, and it was consistent.)
All of that changed when Paul left, and DC Comics became, officially, DC Entertainment, a fully subsumed cog in the Warners Entertainment wheel.
I first learned how this change would effect DC’s approach to creators equity when I received a letter from DC Entertainment’s new president, Diane Nelson, informing me I would no longer receive equity payments for Power Girl because she was now considered a “derivative” character. To soften the blow and show “appreciation” for my “contribution” she enclosed a check for $1000.
Thank you, Diane.
The next thing I learned about DC Entertainment’s new approach to their comic creators equity program was just as distressing, given how many characters I created for DC over the decade-plus I wrote for the company: if I wanted to receive an equity participation contract for a character I created, I had to request one, in writing, for each character, before that character appeared in another media, because DC would refuse to make equity payments retroactively.
By a rough guesstimate, I probably created over five hundred characters for DC between 1969 and 1985. Most of them were minor one-shot creations, and some of them, like Felicity Smoak (now a regular on Arrow) were minor supporting characters who’ve taken on a new life in other media. Unless I’m willing to commit a large chunk of my life to tracking down each character and filing a separate equity request in anticipation that somehow, some day, one of these characters might end up on a TV show, I risk being cut off from any share in the fruits DC enjoys from the product of my labor. A share which DC acknowledges I’m due– but which DC refuses to assist me in receiving.
Thank you, DC.
But now we come to the catch-22 of DC’s new approach to creator equity agreements. Assuming I perform my due diligence (which should really be DC’s due diligence) and dig up references to characters I’ve created that might soon be appearing in other media (maybe as a chess piece, or a Heroclix figure, or a recurring character on The Flash), and assuming I file the necessary request form in a timely fashion– DC can still decide, unilaterally, that my creation is “derivative” and they don’t owe me a dime.
What, exactly, is DC’s definition of a “derivative” character?
It’s a character that DC decides was “derived” from some other previously existing character.
For example, Power Girl– “derived” from Superman, because, like Supergirl, she’s a relative of Superman. Which means I can’t claim to be her co-creator because Superman is a pre-existing character. Fair enough, I suppose. The logic here is that Superman is the original creation, so Power Girl is derived from that original creation, so in effect, Power Girl is an extension of Superman, which means, by this tortured logic, that Power Girl was more or less created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Uh, no.
This was the tortured logic National Periodical Publications tried to use back in the 1940s when Siegel and Shuster sued National for the rights to Superboy. National (the company that preceded DC) argued that Superman was the original creation, which Siegel and Shuster sold to National, and that Superboy was just a “derivative” creation. A court-appointed legal referee found that Superboy was in fact a unique creation and that National was guilty of copyright infringement. Sadly for Siegel and Shuster (and for creators everywhere), legal expenses forced the creators to sell National the rights to Superboy in a consent decree that obscured this fundamental finding. But the finding is pretty clear:
Characters “derived” from other characters are legally unique, and DC’s claim that “derivation” deprives creators of any equity participation rights in those characters is nothing more than an immoral, unethical, deceitful and despicable money grab.
Yet, it gets worse.
Let’s say DC agrees you created a character, like, for example, Killer Frost. In your original creation, Killer Frost had a secret identity named Crystal Frost. Later, a “new” Killer Frost is created for the New 52, and this new Killer Frost has a secret identity named Caitlin Snow.
You’ll be pleased to hear (I hope) that DC agrees I and Al Milgrom are the co-creators of all manifestations of “Killer Frost.” We are also considered the co-creators of Crystal Frost. And, of course, by the twisted logic that credits Power Girl as a derivation of Superman, Al and I must also be the creators of Killer Frost’s New 52 secret identity, Caitlin Snow.
Right?
No. We’re not. And DC insists we are not. And I agree with DC.
Caitlin Snow was created by Sterling Gates and Derlis Santacruz.
Except, according to DC Entertainment, she wasn’t. Because she was “derived” from the original creation of Killer Frost.
Which means Al Milgrom and I created her.
Except, according to DC Entertainment, we didn’t.
Nobody created her.
Or, rather, nobody gets credit and creator equity participation for creating her.
And that, my friends, is truly obnoxious and despicable.
DC Entertainment has created a marvelous catch-22 that allows them to cheat creators by using both sides of an argument to serve DC’s interests.
According to DC, Sterling Gates and Derlis Santacruz didn’t create Caitlin Snow. Don Newton and I didn’t create Jason Todd. Ric Estrada and I didn’t create Power Girl. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster didn’t create Superboy. Bob Kanigher and Carmine Infantino didn’t create Barry Allen.
These characters just appeared out of nowhere.
But the money for their exploitation goes directly into DC’s bank account.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2015
natgeofound: A rainbow arches over Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe....
A rainbow arches over Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Photograph by Volkmar Wentzel, National Geographic Creative
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Monday, April 27, 2015
biodiverseed: Herb Spirals The garden spiral is like a snail...
The garden spiral is like a snail shell, with stone spiraling upward to create multiple micro-climates and a cornucopia of flavors on a small footprint. Spirals can come in any size to fit any space, from an urban courtyard to an entire yard. You don’t even need a patch of ground, as they can be built on top of patios, pavement, and rooftops. You can spiral over an old stump or on top of poor soil. By building up vertically, you create more growing space, make watering easy, and lessen the need to bend over while harvesting. To boot, spirals add instant architecture and year-round beauty to your landscape: the perfect garden focal point.
One of the beauties of an herb spiral is that you are creating multiple microclimates in a small space. The combination of stones, shape, and vertical structure offers a variety of planting niches for a diversity of plants. The stones also serve as a thermal mass, minimizing temperature swings and extending the growing seasons. Whatever you grow in your spiral, it will pump out a great harvest for the small space it occupies. I’ve grown monstrous cucumbers in my large garden spiral, with one plant producing over 30 prize-size fruits. The spiral is a food-producing superstar!
Stacked stones create perennial habitat for beneficial critters, such as lizards and spiders that help balance pest populations in the garden. The stone network is a year-round safe haven for beneficial insects and other crawlies that work constantly to keep your garden in balance—and you in the hammock. A little design for them up-front pays big, tasty dividends later.
#permaculture #herb spiral #microclimate
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My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2015-4-26)
Sunday, April 26, 2015
how to help in Nepal
If you didn’t see the post I reblogged earlier–there was a catastrophic earthquake in Nepal. At least 1,200 people have died. Kathmandu was badly hit. It’s a city of over a million people. They’re going to need food, water, and shelter on top of medical help and search and rescue.
Food and bottled water are already running short. People are afraid to go back inside and are sleeping outside despite the cold.
If you can donate here are some reputable charities, who are already on the ground helping in the rescue efforts. And if you cannot donate, please consider reblogging.
The International Red Cross & Red Crescent in Nepal
you can also donate to your local Red Cross in your country and you can often select to apply the money “to where the need is greatest.”
When donating to charity it’s a good idea to check http://ift.tt/zUhciZ to make sure your money is being put to good use and the charity is not a scam.
And please feel free to add other ways to help.
Google has launched a person finder tool since communications are severely impaired there right now.
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ozonebabys-temple: ledzeppelin-the-airshippages: Nepal...
Nepal Earthquake
Already relief agencies are scrambling to get needed supplies, including food, water, shelter, and medical aid, into the country.
Here are several organizations active in the area you can support:
America Nepal Medical Foundation: “The American Nepal Medical Foundation is a 501©(3) non-profit membership organization incorporated in the state of New York.” Their mission states, in part, “It is the firm belief of the foundation that as with the problems in any other field, the primary responsibility of resolving Nepal’s health problems lies with the Nepali people including medical professionals. There can be no substitute for their own commitment and action in Nepal. However, as a U.S. based nonprofit organization, the foundation is committed to supporting the Nepali people’s ongoing efforts to enhance their health status. ANMF will focus on improving the quality of medical care, medical education and medical research in Nepal.” Donate Now
- Save the Children: “Save the Children is in need of donations to support our disaster response efforts. Your support will help us protect vulnerable children and provide desperately needed relief to families. Donations will go to the Nepal Earthquake Children’s Relief Fund will support our disaster response to this emergency.” Donate Now
- Global Giving: “All donations to this fund will support disaster recovery and relief efforts in response to the region of Nepal impacted by this earthquake. Initially, the fund will help first responders meet survivors’ immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, hygiene products, and shelter. Once initial relief work is complete, this fund will transition to support longer-term recovery efforts run by local, vetted local organizations.” Donate Now
CARE Emergency: “CARE’s humanitarian workers on the ground in Nepal are currently assessing the situation and determining immediate needs. CARE has worked in Nepal since 1978, with programs focused on areas including food Security, HIV/AIDS, health, education, water and sanitation, and the empowerment of women and girls. CARE’s past responses to emergencies in Nepal have included response to massive landslides in Nepal’s Sindhupalchowk district in August 2014… CARE, which works in 90 countries around the world, places a special focus on women, children and other vulnerable populations, who are often disproportionately affected by disasters. ” Donate Now
Lastly, if you have friends or loved ones in the area, you can check in on them through a page set up on Facebook that allows people mark themselves or others as safe: http://ift.tt/1GuyX7i
Read more: http://ift.tt/1b4GL1z
(or for those in the US, you can Text GIVE NEPAL to 80088 to donate $10 to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund. Message and data rates may apply.)
Please help if you can guys…this quake effected many people in 4 countries…
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wordsnquotes: culturenlifestyle:Vertical Forest: An Urban...
Vertical Forest: An Urban Treehouse That Protect Residents from Air and Noise Pollution
A potted forest of trees and branching steel beams disguise this 5-story apartment building in Turin, Italy. Designed by Luciano Pia, 25 Verde brings plants up off the ground in an attempt to evade Turin’s homogeneous urban scene and integrate life into the facade of the residential building.
via thisiscolossal, Divisare
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salon: In 1949, some of the country’s top advertising...
In 1949, some of the country’s top advertising executives launched a national marketing campaign. They weren’t selling a physical product. They were selling religion. Before long, the Religion in American Life campaign was placing close to 10,000 newspaper ads per year, coordinating national radio marketing, and putting up thousands of billboards, all intended “to accent the importance of all religious institutions as the basis of American life.” Major corporations bankrolled the effort.
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xkalisto: danguy96: thetallblacknerd: wrath-the-furious: nerd...
Iceman, one of the founding members of the X-Men has come out as gay. Actor Shawn Ashmore gives Bobby his blessings.That’s very cool of Shawn Ashmore
YAS
he didn’t come out, he was fucking dragged out of the closed and his words “but i think i’m bi” were completely disregarded. this is NOT how you do this stuff.
A psychic prodding your mind and determining your sexuality for you is not good representation. Finding your sexuality is a learning and changing experience, having someone dictate your sexuality like this is just like parents forcing a child to remain in the closet.
All of this. It was really shitty.
How are people completely over looking the fact that Jean Grey invaded his mind, denied his assertions and told him he was, and I quote, “full gay” ?
Are we so desperate for representation in media that we will allow for this to happening? Bobby being outed by a psychic isn’t praiseworthy at all.Speaking as someone who is bi, I find this extremely insulting because you could have the chance to make a bisexual superhero (that way it couldn’t really conflict with any major canon), but they were like “LOLNOPE! GAY! NO OTHER OPTION!”
I always hate how these so-called “progressives” claim that they’re open minded on LGBT rights but ignore the B part. Hell, if they ignore the B, they’ve probably never even heard about the T, or even the A, for that matter.
I just think it’s stupid cause they couldn’t just make a new LGBT superhero, it’s same like with race bending. But even with that said
And why does he have to be gay ‘gay’?
What Peter David did with Rictor was much muuuuch better handled. He dated women now he dates man, sure he’s bi, never been said that he couldn’t be.
Saying he has to be gay ‘gay’ even though his future self dates women and presumably sleeps with women just comes out as weird and forced. The ‘she no longer lives on the planet earth’ jab is good but the rest is…meh. There’s not even a real point to it if he doesn’t actually have a partner. Seems just like lip service.
Actually, Rictor now identifies as gay, not bi. It’s Shatterstar that’s bi, or more like pansexual. People do come out well into adulthood quite frequently after hiding that they are gay, or being confused themselves, so it’s not a big deal to me. Especially since Bobby’s sexuality has been the subject of fan speculation for DECADES. When I first got into the X-Men in the late 90′s, it was a topic of discussion then, and was probably one long before that.
And Jean never ‘outed’ Bobby. The only two people that know currently are him her and the readers. She took him aside so the others could not hear their discussion, and has not told anyone else despite presumably knowing for some time now. Was her poking around inside his mind ok? no. But that has been a recurring theme with her from the very beginning when her telepathy emerged. She is a nosy busybody that pokes her nose into EVERONE’s mind, and has been repeatedly told not to do it because it’s wrong, but she still does. It’s one of her character flaws. And even if she did out him, why shouldn’t that story be told? Gay people have to deal with that all the time in real life, why should only a ‘perfect’ coming out story be put to the page?
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liars-of-us-all: variant cover art of Journey Into Mystery #631...
variant cover art of Journey Into Mystery #631 by Amanda Conner and Paul Mounts
omg, i never saw this before, so adorable.
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What are your (the mods) thoughts on the recent release and debacle following Valve's implementation of paid-for mods?
This article sums up pretty much all my troubled thoughts with the whole thing: http://ift.tt/1FkmhhR
I recommend you read it!
- Katrin
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Friday, April 24, 2015
kiev4am: joasakura: callmekitto: miradored: misandryad: pala...
INFOGRAPHIC: How to Name Your Big Important Novel
(via Electric Lit)THE NAKED AND THE HA HA HA: PART TWO
Tropic of Anxiety, Or, The Whale
The Road to Wife (Part 2)
A Clockwork World and Punishment
A Clockwork Fury and Punishment
To Kill a War in the Dunes
The Naked and the Anxiety Mockingbird.
Mine is apparently a romance about Superman
A Clockwork Anxiety is definitely a good start for me
The Road to Love and Peace. Actually, I got a good one. Y’know, assuming my book wasn’t about dinosaurs in space or something.
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warrenellis: Meteor in the Milky Way via NASA...
Thursday, April 23, 2015
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