Some comics

Dejah Thoris and the White Apes of Mars miniseries- (Dynamite)- written by Mark Rahner- My friend (the comic shop owner) has tried to get me into the whole Warlords of Mars comics for awhile now.  I have to admit they are generally not my cup of tea.  It doesn't help that (like many Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptations) the protagonists seem to be aimed to pubescent boys.  The hero in this series regularly wears nothing but pasties and a g-string.

Still, I am no prude and I will always look for a good story.  Okay, so it still isn't my thing, but admittedly, I do see what he sees in this miniseries.  It is pretty standard stuff in the realm of John Carter.  True enough, there's not a lot out there in this genre.  I don't really have anything against it, except that it is pretty basic adventure.  If you are in to any of the Conan stuff or similar, or are a big fan of Frazetta-style art, well, I'd point you here.  Otherwise, I'm still not sold.

Hit-Girl (Icon/Marvel)- Okay, Kick Ass was awesome (if you disagree, then move along, this won't change your mind), but Millar gave us a sequel and is now looking to expand the franchise even further.  Hit Girl confusingly occurs between Kick Ass and Kick Ass 2.  

That may be one of the biggest problems here.  It also feels like it's been done.  Hit Girl does to its credit feel fresh enough, it just feels like it should be the end for the Kick ass-verse (which is kind of a shame).  I would also probably feel better if this effort was an 'A' or an 'F''.  Millar haters will hate it of course.  Millar fans will likely be satisfied.  To its credit, it features what is probably the most charismatic character in these stories, and Millar does a real good job of making this a cross between his usual over-the-topness and telling a really human story.

Adventures of a Swing-state Voter- "Number 1 in the Number 2 Business" edition

Things are about the same.

Romney and his superpacs are striking hard with the Solyndra and Stimulus Money going to China attacks.

He also is running an ad which goes something like this (paraphrased terribly):

Obama : "if you have a job, it's because someone created it"

Small Business Owner "I started my own business.  What's up now, Barack?!?  I do what I want.  I'm voting Romney"

Obama is running a new ad which shows him talking to the camera (he's to the left of the screen, so he doesn't seem too creepy) and plays to his strengths which is really connecting with people.  It goes like this (paraphrased terribly):

"Hello!?  You're going to vote for the trickle-down guy?!?!  Were you in coma from 2000-2008?  Has your mind been erased?  I'm going to say a name and it rhymes with Tush-Laney."

Romney as you may know is out of the country.  He is on a visit to the Olympics to show his international side.

Which you probably know by now, because he is blundering terribly and publicly.

In theory, we would be talking veep-stakes right now.

Three potential #2s are making their way to Iowa to rally the troops while the man who would be President is out putting foot in mouth overseas.

Inevitably, one of these three will complete the ticket.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Virginia Gov Bob McDonell will be taking the Romney bus to eastern Iowa (Advantage: Jindal- he supported Romney prior to the Iowa caucus.  plus, he gets more stops).

US Sen from Florida Marco Rubio gets a Saturday night rally in Des Moines, and is the guy Romney had mentioned at a Iowa rally last month.

Consider this a job interview, gentlemen.

Wrapping up other recent news, it will remain to be seen if Romney's anti-wind power comments will hurt him here.  Wind Power is pretty big in Iowa, and though this issue specifically would affect manufacturing that occurs in other state, it's one that will indirectly affect Iowa.  Obama made wind power tax credits a campaign issue here.  You can tell the local pull, because the wind credit extensionis supported by the Republican governor and other prominent GOPers.

I am not saying getting rid of wind subsidies is anywhere as poisonous as being anti-ethanol (John McCain found himself in that spot and essentially wrote off winning the caucus here in 2008).  However, it may be important enough that it could crop up being a deciding factor in some voters' minds.