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Strange as it may seems, as it turns out both Cash and I share the same favorite Holiday movie.

Oh yes, what else could I be referring to but Satoshi Kon‘s acclaimed Tokyo Godfathers? And it’s only fair that in that spirit of  Giving that’s so embalmed in this season that we bring to you our own small offering of Peace and Light.

(really, JMAF Excellence Prize; that is some seriously heavy shit right there.)

And Runaways. (The one’s with good taste in bottled water).

And Regretful Alchoholics. (Who make good in the end).

And Drag Queens. (Really, really nice and responsible ones).

And abandoned Babies. (I think that might be mostly decor).

In all honesty though, this is quite possibly one of the most realistic yet uplifting traditionally Holiday films I’ve ever come across. By far surpassing Its a Wonderful Life, or even (god help me) A Charlie Brown Christmas.

I made it a point last year to purchase a copy (do it!) and I literally insist upon watching it the week before Christmas. This movie will be shown in gratitude each year by my household for perpetuity.  Its about time we remembered that at one point or another we all came from the streets, wherever they may be, and give acknowledgment to the struggles of others.

Even us hyphy white bastards.

Merry ChristmaHanukKwanzaaiHajira (or Yule for my folks) to you all, with the very best wishes to all from everyone at BoL!
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Tags: Aesthetiophilia, Videophilia by Etruscan
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COAST CITY – One of the biggest stigmas still attached to comics is that they are low brow.  Uncouth. Degenerate.

Like this.

But it’s not all like that. Yes, sadly, much of comicbookery is very smart and very interesting and very, very well illustrated.  Many comics have won prestigious literary awards and run the gamut of subject matter including social commentary, political commentary, and sexual commentary (and the boobs implied therein) – yes, comics have it all.  It’s not all about men in tights and improbably proportioned women.

That said, comics featuring these men and women can be used to express the same high-falutin’, literary, socio-political drama.  And, apparently, they can be made in using gouache.  This is perhaps most true in my second recommendation:

Kingdom Come

Written by Mark Waid, Esq.

Illustrated by the Rt. Hon. Alex Ross

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Tags: Aesthetiophilia, Pictoriphilia by Cash Money
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Subcategory: Grave robbing

Subcategory: Not actually Africa

Grave-robbers steal former Cyprus president’s corpse

AP, via UK Guardian, Dec. 11, 2009

CYPRUS – Former president and candidate for world’s best name, Tassos Papadopoulos, is missing from his grave on the first anniversary of his death.

Clues found at site:

-1 pile of dirt, including set of footprints that appears to be all right feet

-1 rubber mask, wolfman

-1 bucket phosphorous paint, empty, of brand not seen since Papadopoulos shut down Old Man Agathocleous’ paint factory

-1 Sonnovox

Tags: Uncategorized by Cash Money
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200 WEST 40th STREET – Ohhhhh, comics.  I love ya, I love ya.  After a long day of making grim decisions and dealing with mankind, it’s so nice to pick up a glossy folio where all of life is reduced to GOOD and BAD.   A copy of Secret Six, a Singapore Sling, maybe some Call me Poupée, and I’m a happily anesthetized little, fuzzy, man-child.

Ho ho.  Good times in the Money Manse.

But not everyone loves comics the way I love comics.  And that is terrible.

No worries, though, I -as ever- am here to help.

Over the next five (5) weeks I’ll bring you a few general tips and some specific recommendations to get you and keep you into comics once and for all.

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Tags: Aesthetiophilia, Pictoriphilia by Cash Money
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Subcategory: Failure

Norwegian and UK man fail in death appeal in DR Congo

BBC, Dec. 3, 2009

“Dude, Where’s My Car” sequel goes horribly awry when pair of Norwegian bachelor farmers former members of Norway’s armed forces try to set up a private security firm in the DR Congo.

One dead taxi driver later, the pair is charged with murder, espionage, spying (which is different than espionage, I guess), and arms smuggling.  Cue the torture, the lack of translators, and witnesses getting paid “$5,000 each in compensation in a country where people earn about $3-4 a day.”

Death by firing squad scheduled for Sept. 8.

UPDATE, 12/4/09, DR Congo: “Did we say firing squad? We meant… tiring… blob.  Of.  Jam.  We like… jam.  Yes.  Please don’t bomb us.”

Norway denies all accusations of espionage.

Tags: Uncategorized by Cash Money
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