Forum 2.0

Star Trek: The Motion Picture Novelizations

I like the Star Trek movies (some more than others), but I would have liked them more if they had hewed closer to the novelizations, which delved deeper into the characterizations and backstories of Sulu, Scott, Saavik, etc. Unique among them is the

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The New Season (2026)

It's that time of year again!

And this year, I'm not late! (Okay, so Saturday Night Live had its season premiere this weekend, but many other returning shows haven't started yet.)

Continuing the tradition started by Doctor Hmmm? back in 2010, and follo

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Happy Independence Day! Happy America's 250th!

Happy Independence Day!

Happy America's 250th!

And in the spirit of patriotism, I call your attention to a moment in Captain America: The Winter Soldier that put a lump in my throat when I happened to run across it a year and a half ago:

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Happy Father's Day 2026!

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers amongst us!

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The Beatles & Alcoholic Beverages

I can think of nine songs sung by the Beatles which specifically mention alcohol or the imbibing of alcoholic beverages.

How many of them can you name?

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Gotham City Cocktails

I bought Gotham City Cocktails because we have a bottle of locally made bourbon that we have been sampling called Blue Note. I say "sampling" in that we didn't drink any (we're not hard-liquor drinkers very much) until we binged Deadwood. In the cour

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Music Bucket List

I'm collecting CDs of the music I used to have on LP before I sold my albums back in the '80s. Plus I want CDs of music I never had on LP before I sold my albums, but have always wanted to have anyway! I want to get these things before I die. Hence,

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The New Season (2025)

It's that time of year again!

Actually, it's well past this time of year. It's so far past this time of year, the season is nearly over. I am filled with shame.

Continuing the tradition started by Doctor Hmmm? back in 2010, and followed inconsistently

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My Wife Gayle's Cancer Battle

Both ClarkKent_DC and Commander Benson encouraged me to share this story, even though it doesn’t have a happy ending.

On Thanksgiving Day in 2017, Gayle had her first significant bone pain. We thought it was Sciatica. Gayle was toughing it out. She fi

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Dark Horse Entertainment pushes out founder Mike Richardson

From The Hollywood Reporter: "Mike Richardson Out as CEO of Dark Horse Entertainment After 40 Years"

"Publisher and producer Mike Richardson is out as CEO of Dark Horse Comics, the media company he built up from a comic book store business.

"In his ste

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My Turn in the Barrel

I've always felt blessed at the good fortune of my senior years.  A wonderful wife of thirty-three years.  Financial security.  Good health.  Matinée-idol good looks.  (O.K., maybe not that, heh.)  I've been particularly smug over my good health.  SI

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"I'm a travelin' man, made a lot of stops ... "

Hey, are any of you guys in the Boston/Providence, R.I. area? I'm going there for a conference during the week of February 15-21, and I'd like to connect with a fellow Legionnaire while I'm there.

In any event, I'm sure to be looking for some comics s

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My Mother Is At Peace.

On January 14, 2026, my mother, MaryAnn Portelli passed away quietly at home at the age of 87. 

She went to the hospital on December 12, 2025, was almost sent to a rehab facility then took a turn for the worst. By Dec.19, doctors began to tell us to p

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Solitaire 2: The Agenda now available!

 

This one unfortunately took longer than I thought it would to go from first draft to finished novel between a couple of computer crashes, the loss of a beloved family pet and the passing of my father but SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA has finally been publ

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"Lack of Effort" Things That Bug You

In the Skipper's JSA thread, Commander Benson recently posted regarding his objections to various elements of Darwyn Cooke's The New Frontier. He mentioned certain errors regarding military procedures and uniforms that he has encountered in comics ov

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Kaiju Go! 2025 - DFW's Premier Kaiju Event

Tracy and I plan to attend this coming weekend.

KAIJU GO!, the premier kaiju event in Dallas-Fort Worth, returns to the historic TEXAS THEATRE on AUGUST 16, 2025. This showcase of Japanese monster films, art, and toys will, once again, bring fans a Go

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Last call for George Wendt

George Wendt, best known as Norm from Cheers, died today, May 20, 2025, at the age of 76. He had a lengthy career before then as one of those "It's that guy!" actors, and continued to work regularly after Cheers completed its long run. He is survived

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RIP Jill Sobule

I don't know how many of you were fans of the indie folksinger, best known for  "Supermodel" (which appeared, among other places, in the soundtrack for Clueless), "I Kissed A Girl" (Not the Katy Perry song, but the earlier one that's actually about s

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Jules Feiffer Dead at 95

Back in the day, he worked with Will Eisner on The Spirit.

Jules Feiffer, Pulitzer-winning cartoonist and playwright, dies - Los Angeles Times

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About Neil Gaiman

I haven't seen any discussion here about Gaiman, and maybe it's because we don't really want to go down that road with another celebrated person. I don't know even know what to say. I've admired his writing, my brief interaction with him at a con was

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