WordPress 2.0 Upgrade
I will be upgrading to WordPress 2.0. If everything goes ok, I will be back on soon.
Wish me luck. 
Update: Looks like it worked!!
Hanford Man Hero Card
Here it is, ready for download to use with the new City of Heroes collectible card game. Made with the City of Heroes CCG Hero Card Builder, here is Hanford Man in his latest costume!!
DC Direct Batman Utility Belt Replica
I don’t know how I am going to do it, but I HAVE to have one of these…
DC Direct: BATMAN UTILITY BELT Replica
DC Direct is proud to offer the Dark Knight’s portable arsenal — the BATMAN UTILITY BELT, repository for the majority of Batman’s weapons and on-the-spot detection tools.
This finely crafted, high-end, limited-edition replica of the BATMAN UTILITY BELT is a life-sized, fully-lined genuine leather belt with solid-state construction measuring approximately 44″ long and weighing approximately five pounds. This replica features a concealed pocket to hold a Batarang (not included). Included are a real metal electroplated belt buckle and nine spring-activated capsules with a gold-tone finish. In addition, the UTILITY BELT features a movable dial for a faux belt radio. The belt is enclosed in a display case with a removable acrylic top, a solid wood lacquer base and comes with a 4-color certificate of authenticity. This replica is packaged in a gold-foil stamped black gift box. Limited edition of 750. The BATMAN UTILITY BELT is designed for display only, and is not meant to be worn. Don’t miss the opportunity to own one of your very own!
Trying some new blog software..
I am testing out a new blogging extension for Firefox, since I can’t get Blogjet to work right. It is called Performancing for Firefox.
Thanks goes out to Reed Porter for showing it to me.
The Scoop Industry News: The Lone Ranger Rides Again (Again)
Even better news about the Lone Ranger!! I am sure that the comic is going to be good. 
Industry News: The Lone Ranger Rides Again (Again)
Firefly television writer and Serenity comic book co-writer Brett Mathews and cover artist John Cassaday (Planetary, Astonishing X-Men) have been announced by Dynamite Entertainment as the first two members of the creative team for the company’s new series, The Lone Ranger. Cassaday will also serve as art director for the yet-to-be-announced series artist, the company said.
?What interests me is that people tend to know elements of The Lone Ranger — the mask, the white horse, the silver bullets, the faithful Indian companion — but not where those elements came from,? Mathews said in a press release. ?I want to see these things happen, and within the bounds of a turbulent and very specific period in American history. The Lone Ranger is first and foremost a Western, and I want to get back to that and explore what that means. I want to remind fathers why their boyhood hero was the Lone Ranger, and show their kids why that’s cool.?
Following their approach with Red Sonja, Painkiller Jane and Army of Darkness, it came as something of a surprise when the company announced that Cassaday would be the only cover artist and that they planned no variant covers.
?We’re doing this old school,? a company insider told Scoop. ?Let’s see how it goes!?
Have you ever played Dungeons and Dragons??
If so, then you will find this particularly funny…
http://www.devilducky.com/media/6024
CNN.com – Senate fails to reauthorize Patriot Act – Dec 16, 2005
Mark another victory down for freedom. Glad to see that the wool is coming off people’s eyes and they pushed their Congressmen to get rid of this scar on our history.
CNN.com – Senate fails to reauthorize Patriot Act – Dec 16, 2005
Senate fails to reauthorize Patriot Act
Threat of filibuster of controversial measure successful
Friday, December 16, 2005; Posted: 2:03 p.m. EST (19:03 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Friday refused to reauthorize major portions of the USA Patriot Act after critics complained they infringed too much on Americans’ privacy and liberty, dealing a huge defeat to the Bush administration and Republican leaders.
CNN.com – Report: Bush eased domestic spy rules after 9/11 – Dec 16, 2005
Filed under: News, Random Thoughts and Information
Somehow this doesn?t surprise me, and I am glad that the truth is finally coming out.
I heard this quote in a trailer for that Clooney movie about the McCarthy era, and it rings so true now.
?We can not promote freedom abroad, if we abandon it at home.?
CNN.com – Report: Bush eased domestic spy rules after 9/11 – Dec 16, 2005.
Eavesdropping allowed without search warrants, NYT says
NEW YORK (AP) — President Bush authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States — without getting search warrants — following the Sept. 11 attacks, The New York Times reports.
The presidential order, which Bush signed in 2002, has allowed the agency to monitor the international phone calls and international e-mails of hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of people inside the United States, according to a story posted Thursday on the Times’ Web site.
Before the new program began, the NSA typically limited its domestic surveillance to foreign embassies and missions and obtained court orders to do so. Under the post-Sept. 11 program, the NSA has eavesdropped, without warrants, on as many 500 people inside the United States at any given time. Overseas, 5,000 to 7,000 people suspected of terrorist ties are monitored at one time.
The Times said reporters interviewed nearly a dozen current and former administration officials about the program and granted them anonymity because of the classified nature of the program.
Government officials credited the new program with uncovering several terrorist plots, including one by Iyman Faris, an Ohio trucker who pleaded guilty in 2003 to supporting al Qaeda by planning to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge, the report said.
But some NSA officials were so concerned about the legality of the program that they refused to participate, the Times said. Questions about the legality of the program led the administration to temporarily suspend it last year and impose new restrictions.
Caroline Fredrickson, director of the Washington legislative office of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the group’s initial reaction to the disclosure was “shock that the administration has gone so far in violating American civil liberties to the extent where it seems to be a violation of federal law.”
Asked about the administration’s contention that the eavesdropping has disrupted terrorist attacks, Fredrickson said the ACLU couldn’t comment until it sees some evidence. “They’ve veiled these powers in secrecy so there’s no way for Congress or any independent organizations to exercise any oversight.”
The Bush administration had briefed congressional leaders about the program and notified the judge in charge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the secret Washington court that handles national security issues.
Aides to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte and West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, declined to comment Thursday night.
The Times said it delayed publication of the report for a year because the White House said it could jeopardize continuing investigations and alert would-be terrorists that they might be under scrutiny. The Times said it omitted information from the story that administration officials argued could be useful to terrorists.
Marvel Entertainment, Inc., NCsoft Corporation, NC Interactive, Inc., Cryptic Studios, Inc. Settle All Litigation
This is good to hear. Marvel never had a leg to stand on anyway.
City of Heroes Community Site
Marvel Entertainment, Inc., NCsoft Corporation, NC Interactive, Inc., Cryptic Studios, Inc. Settle All Litigation
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
AUSTIN, Texas, December 12, 2005 ? Marvel Entertainment, Inc., NCsoft? Corporation, NC Interactive, Inc. and Cryptic Studios?, Inc. are pleased to announce today that they have amicably settled all claims brought by Marvel and all claims brought by NCsoft, NC Interactive, Inc. and Cryptic Studios, Inc.
The parties’ settlement allows them all to continue to develop and sell exciting and innovative products, but does not reduce the players’ ability to express their creativity in making and playing original and exciting characters. Therefore, no changes to City of Heroes? or City of Villains’? character creation engine are part of the settlement. The parties have agreed that protecting intellectual property rights is critically important and each will continue aggressively to protect such rights in accordance with all applicable laws. While the terms of the settlement were not disclosed, all parties agree that this case was never about monetary issues and that the fans of their respective products and characters are the winners in this settlement.
Monitor Duty: Season Sets For DC-Related TV Shows Coming
Now this is AWESOME news. Batman Beyond was a truly great cartoon and since I didn’t have TiVo at the time it was on, it was really hard to catch it since WB kept moving it around. I finally got to see most of the episodes when they reran them on Cartoon Network, but they were all out of order. It will be good to finally see the episodes in the order that they came out.
It is about time the did boxed sets of the Justice League too, I missed more than a few episodes of that series even with TiVo. Too bad these won’t be out in time for Christmas.
Monitor Duty: Season Sets For DC-Related TV Shows Coming
December 07, 2005
Season Sets For DC-Related TV Shows Comingtvshowsondvd.com is reporting that the new year will see season DVD sets begin for both Batman Beyond and Justice League. Both shows’ first season sets will be released on March 21.
