Ayn, Neal and the world around me...

[dover]

....children

 

I have two kids, a boy and a girl. I love them and treasure them dearly. I give them all the time I can during their waking hours. We go on vacations, visit family, have a great time. They got to go to the beach twice this year, Disney World, camping, Carowinds.

 

I go to Cub Scouts every week. I attend both soccer practice (and participate) as well as the games. We play outside all weekend, they help me around the yard. We have a great time and enjoy our life.

 

But, you know, none of that matters, at least not in the moment. I know in 20 years when they look back they will have great memories. Right now, I am not Super Dad for any of those reasons. Not because I read with them, since 6 months old. Not because I help them with their homework or teach them the math tricks I know from education. Not because we go fishing or to Carowinds or to the 4th of July Fireworks or the Nutcracker. Not because we have Family movie night every Friday or cookouts in the backyard or a big inflatable water slide. Not because I built then a train table or outdoor play area or a graden to grow things. Not because we all dress up for Halloween and go as a family trick or treating. No, none of that makes me Super Dad to them.

 

What does?

 

The simple fact that I won level 10 of Battalion Nemesis on Candystand.com. I beat the level that they could not and now I am Super Dad.

 

Funny how it works like that.

 

 

[dover]

life..

 

I drive to work on some back roads, then to a bigger road and finally a highway. On the back roads, every morning I see the same person walking along the road. I think he is just taking a morning walk. He even picks up trash along the road. Sometimes he is coming at me, sometimes going away, just depends on what time I get there.

 

I don't know who he is, but after seeing him everyday for a few years I have this sense that we are friends. I would like to wave to him, say hi, how's it going today? How can you see a person every day and not in some stupid way feel some connection?

 

Then the other day I was following a car on the same back raod. At some point, they slow, signal and turn into a drive way. I realize I have seen this car and event before. They are probably coming home from the night shift or dropping the kids off at school, but I have this weird feeling to wave and say hi, good morning.

 

Ever see the same cars on the highway, everyday as you drive to work? You notice them after awhile. Same dents, or license plate or paint job. If we were walking along, eventually we might talk, or casual chat. But since we are in cars, we don't.

 

Is it weird to think in some way that driving along on our daily commute we some how make friends with other people in their cars doing the same thing?

 

No need to answer either way, just a thought.

[dover]

how about some comics today....

 

Adventure Comics

 

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Action Comics

 

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the Batman....

 

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the Brave and the Bold

 

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Detective Comics

 

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Green Lanterns...

 

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House of Mystery

 

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House of Secrets

 

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the Justice League of America

 

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the Phantom Stranger

 

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Jimmy and Lois

 

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Superboy

 

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.. raw...

 

 

 

Superman

 

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Tales of the Unexpected

 

 

 

 

Tomahawk

 

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the Spectre

 

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the Strange Adventures

 

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the Unexpected

 

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the Witching Hour

 

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[dover]

Fresh to the heard.....I think this could be a minor key issue for the Neal Adams - Green Lantern / Arrow collector.

 

 

 

 

 

 

the Brave and the Bold

 

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[dover]

....and today, the pledge to our Republic

 

Quite a History.

 

The Pledge was first used in public schools on October 12, 1892, during Columbus Day observances organized to coincide with the opening of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois

 

 

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

 

http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). It was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892. Bellamy had hoped that the pledge would be used by citizens in any country.

 

In its original form it read:

 

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. At this time it read:

 

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's daughter objected to this alteration. Today it reads:

 

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

 

 

[dover]

Neal Adams from 1969....

 

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[dover]

Had to update the Peanuts collection. I picked up the raw books to fill the holes. Will get the slabbed for me registry set. Hard not to love these covers.

 

Peanuts Collection:

 

 

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[dover]

I am always stuck on Neal Adams and Peanuts but I do have other comics. I was looking the other day just what else I collect. It is all still cover related, though. I find that I have a hard time buying a "key" book that is slabbed if the cover has nothing to do with it.

 

Having a slabbed "key" book where the important stuff inside is just a bit beyond me at this piont. It will probably change as I get to expand beyond Neal but I am not sure I would want a non-descript cover with a great interior slabbed.

 

 

 

 

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[TeddieMercede]

What are you guys dressing up as this year for Halloween ?

[dover]

What are you guys dressing up as this year for Halloween ?

 

Teddie my friend, you know how big Halloween is in our house. I will post a through the years montage of pictures and stories leading up to this year's festivities.

 

... more to come.

[dover]

The annual trip to the pumpkin patch!! We have several things we do each year as a family and I make sure to get a picture in a similar spot. Fall is a good time for us and is always very very busy.

 

 

2003

 

2004

 

2005

 

??

2006

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

2010

 

 

[dover]

We enjoy Halloween very much. Here are the early years of costumes for the kids and the last picture is the fisrt year the family dressed up together.

 

 

 

Captain Feather Sword and the Lady Bug

 

 

 

 

me and the Captain

 

 

 

standard Fairy and Dinosuar

 

 

 

Jeff Gordon and Wendy the Good Witch

 

 

 

 

the family in drag.....

 

[dover]

This should be from 2007

 

 

the teeth did not stay in long....

 

 

 

[dover]

 

 

[dover]

Halloween!!! and before you ask, my wife is a Jellyfish.

 

 

2010

 

 

 

 

2009

 

 

 

 

2008

[dover]

 

 

 

 

 

[dover]

Marine Corps Birthday

 

On Nov. 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress resolved to create two battalions of Continental Marines for the War of Independence from Britain.

 

In 1798, President John Adams signed the Act establishing the United States Marine Corps. The 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General John A. Lejeune, issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921, directing that on Nov. 10 every year, in honor of the Corps' birthday, the Order's summary of the history, mission and tradition of the Corps be read to every command.

 

 

Happy Birthday and thank you for our Freedom!

 

[dover]

VETERAN's DAY

 

Thank you for your service, your sacrifice and your courage.

 

 

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

 

 

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

 

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

 

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

 

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

 

* Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

 

* Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

 

 

 

 

[dover]

Magazines in the theme of Adams...

 

Emergency

 

 

 

Epic

 

 

(this needs to be bigger, really a great cover)

 

 

Savage Tales

 

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Six Million Dollar Man

 

.

 

 

[dover]

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I will be thanking many things and many people on this day for what I have and for what I do not have.

 

I will thank the people, the Founders of this great country for creating a place such had never been seen before. One where true freedom would be found by all over time.

 

I will thank the soldiers of our Freedoms, those that put their life in front of mine because they knew beyond all that they acted for the greater good, without selfishness or greed.

 

I will thank the God that I know for the family, the life, the good fortune I have as well as the lessons of life allowed to be ventured and learned ripe with rewards both good and bad.

 

I will thank my wife for allowing me to be me in a far better image than I would have become alone. Though I live to need no other, I find that having her near allows for a far greater person than I would be without. She complements me far more in her favor than I can imagine she knows; I owe far more than I could pay through wealth, time or love.

 

To my children, I am thankful that they are healthy, full of life and happy. There really is nothing else. Should they become more in any regards, to any capacity, I will be no more fufilled than if they simply enjoy the time they have, seek the adventures they must and find the treasure that awaits this thing called life.

 

I will thank my friends that I have found along the way. Remarkably, I have found several here among the words and posts that have given me the fondest times of real growth and insight. Smattered amongst the give and take of individual freedom and liberty, fighting the cause and safety concerns, here is where a common love brings all sides to the table, the bar or convention to laugh and share their joy.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to the Boards!

 

 

 

 

I thought this was a good piece of writing from the Cato Institute. It points out somethings that we America can be thankful for.

 

 

Rule of law. Perhaps the greatest achievement in history is the subordination of power to law. That is, in modern America we have created structures that limit and control the arbitrary power of government. No longer can one man — a king, a priest, a communist party boss — take another person’s life or property at the ruler’s whim. Citizens can go about their business, generally confident that they won’t be dragged off the streets to disappear forever, and confident that their hard-earned property won’t be confiscated without warning. We may take the rule of law for granted, but immigrants from China, Haiti, Syria, and other parts of the world know how rare it is.

 

Equality. For most of history people were firmly assigned to a particular status — clergy, nobility, and peasants. Kings and lords and serfs. Brahmans, other castes, and untouchables in India. If your father was a noble or a peasant, so would you be. The American Revolution swept away such distinctions. In America all men were created equal. Thomas Jefferson declared “that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God.” In America some people may be smarter, richer, stronger, or more beautiful than others, but “I’m as good as you” is our national creed. We are all citizens, equal before the law, free to rise as far as our talents will take us.

 

Equality for women. Throughout much of history women were the property of their fathers or their husbands. They were often barred from owning property, testifying in court, signing contracts, or participating in government. Equality for women took longer than equality for men, but today in America and other civilized parts of the world women have the same legal rights as men.

 

Self-government. The Declaration of Independence proclaims that “governments are instituted” to secure the rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” and that those governments “derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Early governments were often formed in the conquest of one people by another, and the right of the rulers to rule was attributed to God’s will and passed along from father to son. In a few places — Athens, Rome, medieval Germany — there were fitful attempts to create a democratic government. Now, after America’s example, we take it for granted in civilized countries that governments stand or fall on popular consent.

 

Freedom of speech. In a world of Michael Moore, Ann Coulter, and cable pornography, it’s hard to imagine just how new and how rare free speech is. Lots of people died for the right to say what they believed. In China and Africa and the Arab world, they still do. Fortunately, we’ve realized that while free speech may irritate each of us at some point, we’re all better off for it.

 

Freedom of religion. Church and state have been bound together since time immemorial. The state claimed divine sanction, the church got money and power, the combination left little room for freedom. As late as the 17th century, Europe was wracked by religious wars. England, Sweden, and other countries still have an established church, though their citizens are free to worship elsewhere. Many people used to think that a country could only survive if everyone worshipped the one true God in the one true way. The American Founders established religious freedom.

 

Property and contract. We owe our unprecedented standard of living to the capitalist freedoms of private property and free markets. When people are able to own property and make contracts, they create wealth. Free markets and the legal institutions to enforce contracts make possible vast economic undertakings–from the design and construction of airplanes to worldwide computer networks and ATM systems. But to appreciate the benefits of free markets, we don’t have to marvel at skyscrapers while listening to MP3 players. We can just give thanks for enough food to live on, and central heating, and the medical care that has lowered the infant mortality rate from about 20 percent to less than 1 percent.

 

A Kenyan boy who managed to get to the United States told a reporter for Woman’s World magazine that America is “heaven.” Compared to countries that lack the rule of law, equality, property rights, free markets, and freedom of speech and worship, it certainly is. A good point to keep in mind this Thanksgiving Day.