Mutts The Little Things

Do dogs and cats think like humans? Do they ponder life? Worry? Joke? Make observations?

Earl the dog and Mooch the cat share their remarkable lives as they navigate the world around them.

Share their moments as they relate to their friends, contend with humans, encounter other animals, philosophy, keep things simple, stay positive and offer unconditional love.

Join Mutts creator/writer/artist Patrick McDonnell and Andrews McMeel Publishing in Mutts The Little Things as they share the canine and feline adventures and observations of Earl and Jules as they seize each and every moment and demonstrate just how wonderful life really is.

I especially like when they play around with word balloons, dialogue, etc.  Talk about breaking the fourth wall!

Simple line drawings-reminiscent of the classic Krazy Kat comic strip capture the expression and subtle and frenetic moments perfectly. I love the muted colors, minimal line work and to-the-point text.

Earl reinds me out litle dog Lilly Bear that passed away back iin auust.  She was sweet and lovable and seemed to understand everythig we talked about.  If dogs go to Heaven I'll be anxious to see her when I get there.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

You Can Change

Everyone at one time in their life find themselves wishing to change. They can be physical changes, health choices, emotional realignment or personal situations.

We’ve all tried. We’ve all failed. Mainly because we try too hard, give up too easily and become over-whelmed.

Changes are not easy-at least as far as human endeavors are concerned.

True change comes from within and dependence on God.

Humans are fragile and fickle. We say one thing and do another. It’s easy to make New Year’s resolutions and within two weeks we’re right back where we started from.

You Can Change 2^nd Edition by author Tim Chester and book publisher Crossway offers a practical, workbook-style guide that helps you through a change project starting at one area of your life that you want to change.

By following the format of a guiding question and reading truths from God’s word the Bible you learn to reflect, address you individual struggle, draw closer to God and meet your goal.

Look for lots of advice, loads of scripture reference and  support. Change is possible but only if you trust God and follow his scripture guidance.

Psalms 121:1-8 - I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

The Rocketeer Thrills, Spills, And Chills

I was there at the beginning. Back in the 1980s when the Direct Market became the main distributor to comic book shops many small independent publishers released their own creator-owned comic books.

One of those publishers: Pacific Comics, happened to one of my favorites. I bought most of their titles. Starslayer was one of them.

In issue number two a short back-up story by artist/writer Dave Stevens featured a retro character straight out of old movie serials: The Rocketeer.

I read the story and I was hooked. I bought all of his Pacific Comics appearances and after the publisher went out of business I picked up the Dark Horse Comics series and sporadically from the five publishers that printed his adventures after Dark Horse. I still have all the issues. Yay for me!

Artist/writer Dave Stevens introduced The Rocketeer to readers way back in 1982. Unfortunately Dave passed away a number of years later and did not get to enjoy his character’s adventures as envisioned by some talented people like John Byrne, Alex Ross, Walter Simonson, Mike Allred, John Cassady and many others.

However he did get to see his character adapted as a movie.

The oversize book contains lots of new stories, it’s beautifully colored and all of the stories continue the spirit of the character and his quirky class of characters.

IDW Publishing has done an outstanding job of continuing The Rocketeer’s adventures in The Rocketeer Thrills, Spills, And Chills and for compiling them all in one spectacular trade paperback fans are sure to enjoy.

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Farmhouse Kitchen

My Aunt Ester’s farm in Kentucky was every young man’s dream. Lots of open fields, cows, chickens, pigs, a rocky stream, an old bridge, barns, a garden, a root cellar and best of all the country cooking!

Aunt Ester’s kitchen was set at the back of the house and opened up to the back yard via a screen door. Everyday Aunt Esther would cook up a humongous country breakfast. 

Once everyone was finished she would cover the food with cheesecloth and when lunch rolled around we all would dig in once again.

Pies, cookies, cakes, gravy, juice, milk, fried eggs, biscuits, sausage, bacon, fruit preserves, buttermilk, hash browns, hot coffee, grits-you name it, she served it! Yum!

Looking at Rolife’s Super Creator Farmhouse Kitchen reminds me so much of my Aunt’s kitchen.

It’s all there: the two-layer prep table, a corner counter with drawers and checkered curtain, the wall cupboard with three drawers and a plate display shelf, the old wooden stove with multiple burners set against a tile backed wooden shelf with a cookie jar and hanging copper implements and a pot, the aqua bread box, a curtained window,-everything, even the diamond shaped wooden parquet floor is there!

Just look at the scrumptious desserts, the food basket, a wooden crate, the framed art, the flowers in a watering can, the stone cutting top, a lace doily, a counter basket, old-time foodstuffs, drawers with kitchen accessories, a wood burning stove, flower wallpaper, white trim and slated chair railing.

I’d like to take a minute to talk about something I find amazing.

When I examine the quality of the various components of any of Rolife’s kits I can’t help but be impressed by the amount of time, effort, talent, skill, craft and manufacturing it took to put each kit together.

From printing and designing the packaging, 3D printed parts, manufacturing the various wall and part flats, lighting components, stickers, etc. it impresses me with the sheer effort it takes to put together each kit.

Color registration, materials chosen, laser cutting parts-all of it demonstrates just how professionally assembled and designed each kit is.

The Rolife’s Super Creator Farmhouse Kitchen kit's box is a simple slip lid container with a full-color photo of the Farmhouse Kitchen on its front along with small photos of various sections on its sides.

On the back is a list of full specs: 126 pieces, recommended age-14, materials-ABS, PVC, Paper and instructions for lighting and assembly, contact information and how to expand the kit to protect from dust and connect to other kits.

Inside the box are an instruction sheet (follow the numbers matching the parts), a Material List, eight part bags and sealed bags containing stickers, paper fold-outs and wall and floor slats.

Be sure to check and make sure all the parts are included, review the lighting instructions and never remove more parts than you need when assembling through each stage.

Just look at all the contents-so accurate and detailed! I especially like the color palette, sculpt work and design and text applications.

Tools I suggest having on hand are tweezers (included), a magnifying device, a small Flathead screwdriver for poking out tabbed parts, an X-actor knife, a small pointed tool and glue.

Remember to take your time, follow the instructions, take a moment to look over the details and enjoy the experience.

For photos and a video of the Farmhouse Kitchen click here. For the Rolife website click here and to see Robotime’s other products click here.

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Ironman

Stan Lee, along with Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, created a comic book universe filled with superheroes endowed with incredible powers.

Marvel Comics' Peter Parker was given incredible spider powers when bitten by a radioactive spider. Donald Blake found a cane in a cave when pursued by alien invaders. He struck the cane and became the Mighty Thor. The X-Men were born with incredible powers that manifested themselves at puberty.

Frail and weak Steve Rogers became a super-soldier after being injected with a serum and bombarded by energy rays. Matt Murdock gained super-senses when he was struck by a barrel filled with radioactive waste. He lost his sight but his other senses were super-elevated.

Doctor Stephen Strange’s hands were mangled in an accident. He searched for a cure and became The Master Of The Mystic Arts: Doctor Strange. Hank Pym invented a serum that shrinks things. He used it to became Antman.

Doctor Bruce Banner was bombarded by Gamma rays and became the Green Goliath: The Incredible Hulk. Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm were given super-human abilities when their spaceship was bombarded by cosmic rays.

All of the aforementioned Marvel characters gained super powers and used them to fight evil. All faced challenges, tragedies and trials.

But, Stan Lee wanted a character that would be the most unlikely of heroes.

So, he introduced billionaire, playboy and military industrialist Tony Stark who supplied advanced weapons to the US military.

While on tour in Vietnam his party was attacked. Tony’s heart was severely injured by an explosion and he was captured by the Viet Cong.

While there he and another captured scientist were forced to make weapons for the Viet Cong.

The other scientist assisted Tony in creating a device that kept Tony’s heart functioning. They also secretly built a suit of mechanized armor in order to escape. The other scientist sacrificed his life in order for Tony to have enough time to make the armor functional.

Then and there Tony decided to use his armor to fight evil. Later he would abandon making weapons and instead concentrate on more useful devices.

In Titan Comics Ironman The First 60 Years, part of Titan’s Comics/Creator/Allies/Enemies/Culture series of hardback books, the complete Iron’s/Tony Stark’s run of comics is covered.

Full-color interior and cover art spanning every decade along with complete with bottom-of-pages visual timelines look at every aspect of ol’ Shellhead’s existence.

Inside the book you’ll discover the origin of Ironman, his cast of characters and the story-lines that shaped and evolved the character.

Readers will witness his early struggles with a damaged heart, Tony Stark’s alcohol addiction, the may suits of Ironman armor and Tony giving up the mantle of Ironman and passing it on and reclaiming it.

Watch as Ironman/Tony Stark faces all sorts of foes both superhuman, corporate and government.

See those that have followed in Tony’s footsteps donning their own armor-both friend and foe.

Witness his membership in The Avengers, an alternate version of Ironman in the Ultimate Universe, his clashes with fellow heroes, his heartbreaks, triumphs, trials and best of all the gallery of artists who have made Ironman the hero that he is.

Very concise and highly informative text lead you along culminating to a full-gallery of Tony Stark’s variations of his Ironman armor-both updated and/or designed for specific purposes.

It is remarkable that so much information and art about Ironman is contained in this compact hardback book.

Psalms 28:7 - The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

A Convenient Parallel Dimension

Ghostbusters-the most successful and highest grossing horror comedy film of all time.

But, did you know making the movie was not easy? In fact, it almost didn’t get made.

Originally John Belushi and Eddie Murphy were slated to play two of the lead rolls and because of copyright problems the movie almost was not called Ghostbusters.

In A Convenient Parallel Dimension, by author James Greene, Jr. and Lyons Press, the whole history of the franchise is examined and traced.

The original Ghostbusters spawned a sequel, a revised movie with a female cast, an animated TV show and two updated movies with a whole new casts and appearances by most of the original cast.  It also spawned a merchandizing bonanza.

This books delves into all of the ins and outs of developing, writing, casting, financing, filming, special effects, music and all of the myriad stages of making films.

A full-color photo insert in the middle of the hardbound book shows the cast and sets in front of and behind the camera.

If you're a fan of the Ghostbusters franchise this is the book you want: thorough, complete, fascinating, in-depth and just plan fun to read.

John 14:2 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Magic For Dummies

Magic! No, I’m not referring to the kind of magic you see in movies, TV and in books. There is nothing mystical about this kind of magic. No supernatural forces, black magic or the like.

No, the type of magic I’m referring to is slight of hand, illusion and trickery.

I’ve had a few friends over the years that were good at magic. They could pull some real brain-twisters. Just how did they do their tricks?

Well, I intend to find out and a good place to start is author David Pogue’s and Wiley Brands’ book: Magic For Dummies 2nd Edition.

What a cool book!

In a mere five minutes readers can learn their first trick.

Enjoy the thrill of showing off, messing with peoples’ minds, phone tricks, online magical wonders, group tricks, sleight of hand, card tricks and lots more.

It’s a fun hobby and using this book and by following its step-by-step instructions you can learn and perform 75 entertaining and mind-bending tricks. It’s---dare I say it? Magic!

Matthew 21:22 - And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Cozy Living Lounge

Although our house does not have a lounge our living room substitutes for one just fine.

There’s nothing better than to kick back, to put your feet up, grab a book or magazine, munch on a snack, drink some coffee and look out the window as the world passes by.

Imagine yourself kicking back in Rolife’s Super Creator Cozy Living Lounge.

Picture yourself sitting on the orange/brown couch with its four cushions, looking at your laptop on the retro two-level wooden coffee table and adjusting the sleek overhead lamp. The wide-slat wooden floor matches perfectly with the furnishing.

The muted stripped walls give a feeling of comfort. Look at the various framed art and photos on the walls and the four-shelf bookcase packed with books and a cardboard box.

More books are on the coffee table that sits on a six circle black and white rug setting right next to a shopping bag and short squat yellow and a orange foot stool.

Listen to music coming from you record player on its stand complete with a coffee machine accompanied by cups, a water jug, a small plastic basket all placed against a shuttered twelve pane window looking out over the neighborhood.

Relax, take in the quiet, read your favorite book, sip some coffee, listen to your favorite music and watch the neighborhood outside as the day turns into night.

Where does this idealistic Living Lounge exist? It started out in the imaginations of the designers and artists at Robotime.

They, along with a talented crew of engineers, machinists, fabricators, 3D artists, graphic designers and printers, created Rolife’s Super Creator Cozy Living Lounge DIY Kit.

Designed for ages eight and up, comprising of 114 pieces, LED lights included and made of ABS, PVC and Paper, the kit comes in a simple lidded box decorated with color photos of the lounge on all sides. Additional product information is on the back of the box.

Inside kit makers will find several, clear plastic bags containing various paper, plastic objects (3D printed), floor and wall flats, stickers, a screwdriver, lighting fixtures, an Instructions pamphlet and a huge cache of little goodies that duplicate the look of various Lounge fixtures, objects and furniture.

Additional tools that you may need include and X-Acto knife, a small Flathead screwdriver for popping out parts, a magnifying glass, glue, a pointed tool and patience.

Like all good things the Cozy Living Lounge takes time to assemble and believe me it is worth it!

Before you start look over the Instructions carefully, check for missing parts, review the electrical set-up and then take out only the numbered parts as you need them and carefully assemble them.

You will be amazed by the details, colors, scaled accuracy and the final product.

To display your Lounge you can also purchase some dust protection clear, plastic sheets and if you have other Super Creator kits you can join them together to make a full house!

For photos and a video of the Cozy Living Lounge click here. For the Rolife website click here and to see Robotime’s other products click here.

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Space Journal

I am fortunate in that I grew up in a time when the space race between the United States and the USSR was in full swing.

I remember the flight of Sputnik, the first man in space, the first space walk, the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space missions, the space shuttles, the International Space Station, man on the moon and more.

It was a wonderful time to be young. There was a feeling of excitement and anticipation in the air. Everyone pulled together and celebrated man’s accomplishments in space.

Mankind’s fascination with space and ‘out there’ has been around for centuries starting with notable historical figures such as Galileo, early rocket pioneers, early science fiction writers by the likes of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, TV shows, movies, merchandise and a staggering amount of fiction and non-fiction stories and studies.

In author Dallas Campbell’s and Thames & Hudson’s wonderful new hardbound book: Space Journal Art, Science And Cosmic Exploration. Mankind’s Journey: both imaginative and real journeys are explored.

Join the celebration of space exploration complete with newspaper and magazine clippings, archival photographs, art, graphs, documents and other memorabilia in this delightful and fascinating exploration and study of space, space pioneers, authors, journalists, technicians, scientists and space agencies.

Come along as the author invites you to travel to the stars and beyond.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

 

Rarity Collection V

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Trading Card Game from Konami is a big hit with gamers. Like all Trading Card gamers most relish the thought of acquiring rare YGO Rare Cards from the series. Some fetch a considerable amount of cash-not that most YGO players would sell them.

What if I told you that one Box contains five Packs with five Foil Cards each-not just any Cards, but Rare, Ultra-Rare and Starlight Rare?

Would you be interested! Would it get your heart pumping? Is it really real?

I’m here to tell you that Konami’s Shonen Jump Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game Rarity Collection V is a fact. It’s real! It’s no illusion!

Five All-Foil Packs come per Box: one of which is either Ultra Rare or one of two special variant Starlight Rares art styles like you’ve never seen before. The other four Cards in the Packs come from YGO’s most popular Cards.

So what are sitting around for? Hurry, get out and buy your Box(es) today before they’re all gone!

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Ticket To Ride Railway To Destiny

One of great joys I had as a young man was riding a train in Michigan. There is nothing quite like a train ride. It’s exhilarating.

Based on the hit board game Ticket To Ride, the small softbound book written by Adrienne Krass with illustrations by David Miles and published by Andrews McMeel Publishers: Alan R. Moon’sTicket To Ride Railway To Destiny starts with Teddy trapped on a high-speed train to New Orleans.

Follow Teddy on his cross-country journey across North America with no cellphone and a mysterious puppy in his backpack.

When 12-year old Teddy boards the wrong train he finds himself in a high-speed adventure complete with spies, intrigue and danger!

Along the way he encounters a wild selection of characters all after the ‘asset’ Teddy carries. He doesn’t know who to trust and no way to escape.

It’s a fast-as-a-bullet, adventure filled with thrills, danger, mystery, intrigue, a who’s who of characters and who, what, when and where.

Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Fan Phenomena James Bond

The most famous super spy in the world, James Bond, has often been imitated but never equaled. Five actors have portrayed him on the silver screen in the ‘approved’ James Bond films.

A movie parody had a bevy of James Bonds, Sean Connery appeared in a non-cannon Bond film and Bond appeared one time (as an American) in an anthology TV movie back in the 1950s.

Editor Claire Hines and Intellect Books and the University of Chicago Press, have compiled a selection of essays from a wide variety of writer/fans that look at the many aspects of the spy with a license to kill in Fan Phenomena James Bond.

The essays look at the complexity of Bond, his lifestyle, Bond fan works, a comparison of the actors who have portrayed him over the last 60 years, the art, the women of Bond, his gadgets and every conceivable thing about Bond imaginable.

Q would be proud! Best of all there are plenty of full-color artwork and photos, references and a few words from the cast and crew of the Bond films.

Nobody does it better and this book is not just for your eyes only.  Bond-James Bond.

Psalms 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

The Last Ronin II Re-Evolution The Covers

Just when I think the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have conquered almost every media: comic books, toys, animation, movies, TV shows, etc. those feisty amphibians take on a whole new genre and make it their own.

The Last Ronin became a runaway best-seller in the comic book world with its gritty art, take no prisoners story and more than its fair share of surprises.

TMNT creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, along with publisher IDW Publishing pulled out all the stops and, based on a story by Eastman and Laird and released a sequel: The Last Ronin II Re-Evolution: a five-part mini-series story that took place 15 years after the original mini- series, that both shocked and delighted TMNT fans.

Besides the killer story and art the series boasted some spectacular variant covers by some of the industry's top artistic talents such as Laird and Eastman, Ryan Browne, Raymond Gay, Gavin Smith and many more.

The Last Ronin II Re-Evolution The Covers hardbound book pages are packed with full-color art. Single page, double-page spreads and five panel spreads comprise 115 pieces of cover art from the mini-series. It is beautiful! It truly is a stunning hardbound book collection any TMNT fan will want to own.

Print production is top notch with high-definition images, brilliant colors, great page layouts, tight binding and first-rate paper selection. With its widely divergent art styles each and every page is a real treat.

TMNT do it again! They’ve conquered the hardbound cover illustrations compilation collections. Cowabunga!

Ecclesiastes 12:7 - Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Yum Yum Burgers

Rolife’s Super Creator series is a big hit. These small, easy-to-assemble and colorful kits are perfect for anyone eight years old and older.

Better yet each kit can be protected by dust proof transparent sheets and assembled with other Super Creator kits to make a full house!

What is it about hamburgers that practically everyone loves? Is it the meat? The buns, the condiments or all the extras like onions, tomatoes, relish and just about anything else anyone wants to add to them?

The sky is the limit!

Rolife’s Super Creator Yum Yum Burgers is a fast food burger joint with all the little extras you expect.

Just look at the brick and tiled walls, menu signs with their bold graphics, the old circular wall clock, the Yum Yum Burger signs, a red and white upholstered seat, a white table on twin black legs, a red and white padded chair with steel legs, a delivery bag, burgers, chicken, drinks, fries, a two-shelf display with glass windows displaying more food, a cooler, the soft drink dispenser, condiments, the food tray, a cash register, a wooden top counter, the black and white checkered floor and other little goodies.

The kit comes in a simple, easy-to-open, slip lid with color photos on the front of the lid and full specs on the back including age range, materials used, tips for displaying, expanding the kit with other kits and display protection.

Look over the illustrated and numbered instructions and check to make sure that all the parts are included. 

Follow the instructions step-by-step, review the lighting set-up, use the tweezers for small parts and be sure to have a magnifying device, a pointed tool, a Flathead screwdriver for popping out tabbed parts, extra lighting if needed and glue just in case you break a part.

Enjoy the process, select the parts you need for one section at a time and above all be patient. Appreciate the colors, the craftsmanship and the creativity it took to make such a kit and for those who were responsible for its packaging, assembly of parts, printing and manufacturing.

Discover how the past is remembered in the present with this wonderful up-to-date burger joint.

Hear the sizzle of burgers, the smell of the fries, taste the chicken, drink a soda, grab a dessert and sit back and enjoy a fast food meal like no other.

Patiently put together each part, marvel at your completed Yum Yum Burger kit and feel the satisfaction and pride of a job well-done.

Inside the box you’ll find everything you need to complete your Yum Yum Burgers restaurant.

Nine, sealed, clear plastic bags hold most of the components for the restaurant including furniture, foods, equipment, the overhead lamp and electrical hook-up and the like. Three, flat sealed bags hold the floor and wall slats, stickers and paper folds.

Can you almost taste the burgers and fries? I sure can!

For photos and a video of the Yum Yum Burgers click here. For the Rolife website click here and to see Robotime’s other products click here.

Psalms 126:5 - They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Batman And The Classics

Batman as serious literature? It’s not as far-fetched as it seems.

For decades Batman (both in his own title and Detective Comics) has tackled all sorts of social issues and deep psychological dilemmas. How much more deep and disturbing can you get than Batman’s origin and his bizarre Rogue’s Gallery of Villains?

In Batman And The Classics author Michael D. Nichols and McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers examine the echoes of mythology, literature and philosophy in the (Batman) comics and films.

Batman is a character of many faces: detective, troubled vigilante, father figure, leader, master of deception, a man conflicted and torn between justice and vengeance and so much more.

In this fascinating book some of Batman’s most famous cases are compared to the themes in classic literature stories and characters. It’s a unique perspective on the Dark Knight and sheds a whole new light on the persona of the world’s greatest detective.

John 14:2 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.