TABLE OF CONTENTS RKYV # 15 {August 2008} RKYV ONLINE LOGO - David Marshall { current } - Roy G. James { original } - R.J. Pare { original online adaptation} Interior Art - pieces by Josh Bowe, Giorgos Virtual Cover # 15 - art by Mark Laliberte - layouts by David Marshall Tsopanos, Jonathan Biermann, R.J. Pare’, Roger Price, Elisa Feliz, Mark Laliberte, Sam van der Editorial Column - “At The Outset:” A Few Thoughts From the Editor - by RJ Pare’ Wouden Featured Artist Review World View - “A Canadian Living in the USA” - by Tariq Rafiq & R.J. Pare’ - by Tom Rossini Pop Psychology - “Who’s Craze?” - by Orlando Lujan Martinez Non-Fiction - “Futurism in the Funnies” - by Roy G. James Writer’s Column - “Creation in our World”
Pop Culture -
- by Larissa Gula
“Raised on Saturday Morning Cartoons” - by Pauline Harren Pare
Poetry - by Larissa Gula, R. J. Pare’
Untitled - by Sam van der Wouden
At the outset : A Few Thoughts From The Editor - by R. J. Pare’ arAchive - [ahr-kahyv] :
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Any extensive record or collection of data: The encyclopaedia is an archive of world history. ie: "The experience was sealed in the archive of her memory."
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Origin: 1595–1605; orig., as pl. - archives from Greek archeia. Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
RKYV - [same as above]
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An monthly collection of specific ephemera. The E-zine RKYV ONLINE is a eclectic mix of the artistic and literary creations of its diverse contributors.
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Origin: current incarnation 2007; as online FaceBook Group and .PDF compilation. Based on the sporadically published micro-press 'zine' of the early 1990's - which itself was inspired by the W.E.C.C.C.C publications that preceded it: North Words [a newsletter] & Arcane [an underground anthology comic].
Cover to Arcane # 3 - By Mark Laliberte & Marc Ngui
This month it is our privilege, here at RKYV, to have Mark Laliberte as our Featured Artist of the month. In his own words: " MARK LALIBERTE is a practising visual artist currently working in the mediums of photography, collage, illustration, and computer-based sound composition. Since beginning his professional career, he has exhibited and performed extensively in galleries across Canada and the USA." That ain't the half of it. Mark is very talented and bold artist. His work challenges your perceptions and preconceived notions of gallery art. I met Mark during my comic-addled teens and was instantly impressed with his artistic ability and vision -- I love comics - but I suck at drawing. I admired his ability to translate his ideas into visual presentations. We worked together on Arcane -- a short lived micro-press anthology comic. I learned the man has backbone to go with his talent. The short version is the big bad Gov wanted to put charges on him because they didn't like his fanzine "Headtrip" !!! Forget about freedom of speech etc etc... they were gonna shut him down. In his own words:
"1990_ gained notoriety by becoming the first (and only) person in Canada to ever have been charged with five counts of obscenity for publishing before reaching the age of 21; his fanzine “Headtrip” http://www.marklaliberte.com/projects/headtrip.html has since been cleared of all charges in a court of law in a precedent-setting obscenity battle that has been hailed as a victory for freedom of expression throughout the country." End Result --- they wound up with egg on their faces and Mark wound up vindicated [many people talk about what they would do in such a situation, few have had to actually go through it - very few wind up victorious in the end - it is a credit to him that he stood up for his rights... and won!]. Mark’s case set precedent for writers and artists to enjoy the pursuit of their craft free from the worry that self-styled guardians of obscenity/morality don’t come raiding their homes - just because they don’t like your work. Today Mark has so many cool projects on the go it would do him a disservice for me to try and sum them all up [considering some of the edgy experimental stuff is frankly... over my head]. One in particular, that I am quite fond of, is the magazine “Carousel” for which he is the managing editor. This semiannual publication is a hybrid Cover to Headtrip #1 [with evidence tag] literary and arts magazine. Founded in 1983 through the University of Guelph it is distributed throughout Canada - by Mark Laliberte and the USA. It is an engaging and entertaining read – and Mark’s hand in its re-design and current presentation is unmistakable. I hope you all enjoy his work as much as I do... perhaps while listening to some of his musical creations. Some cool web sites to check out for more info on Mark Laliberte and his art: www.marklaliberte.com www.thinkbox.ca www.popnoir.ca www.carouselmagazine.ca www.blackcloudappreciationsociety.org www.descant.ca Until next month, I remain... Randy. Carousel Magazine # 22
Untitled - by Sam van der Wouden
World View A Canadian Living in the USA - by Tom Rossini Labour Day Weekend and the Return of Children to School. September 2nd begins a new school year for many children, and this includes my daughter, as well. But this year has been different for me then years past. The school year has not even started, and already, I am tired of school. But before I go on let me explain why. For those of you that don’t know, I immigrated to the USA about 13 years ago and I have a daughter going into Grade 2. She is attending a private catholic school ( The Beat - by R. J. Pare’ it receives no federal or state funding), so we pay tuition to send her there. Tuition costs vary slightly depending on the Grade your child is in as well as the number of kids that attend the school. There is a tuition cap of $10,000 for each family. Usually that’s the cost for 3 children to attend the school but if you have 4 or 5, you still only pay $10,000. This of course does not include other fees and expenses like uniforms, field trip expenses. Well, this all changed a few years ago. Several years ago the church was next door moved about 2 miles down the road and the old church was turned into more classrooms and the school now holds over 600 students. Well, because of this move, they added a church bus fee. This now pays for a school bus to take them to church once or twice a month. Then the school came up with DOVE hours. This is a program where each family is “forced” to donate 20 hours of time towards the school. It could be in relation to being a field trip escort, or working on a fund raiser, or being the class reader of the day, or the nurse for recess. This year they have added even more. About 1 week ago we received a letter from the school indicating what classroom our child was going to be in as well as who the teacher was. Inside this letter was a flyer which broke up each class into required supplies. Now, I have no problem buying pencils, pens, erasers etc for my daughter but the list has gotten out of hand in my opinion. My daughter’s letter indicated that she is to bring to class if following – 1 box of 24 crayons, 1 dozen erasers, 6 2 pocket folders, 10 4oz white Elmer’s Glue. 2 reams of white paper, 2 dozen red and blue pens, 4 boxes of Kleenex and 4 rolls of paper towels. Other classes have other items including printer ink, Hand Wipes, Clorox Wipes, Antiseptic hand gel, toilet paper, pencils, markers, highlighters, red pens, and black pens etc. Does this sound crazy to anyone else? Are other schools doing this? I understand that the costs of gas , electricity, benefits etc are all going up but is it really this bad? Or should I move to Canada and sent my children to school there. Happy Labour Day…. Thomas Rossini
Pop Psychology Who's Craze? - by Orlando Lujan Martinez Who is crazy me or the doctor? I say the doc’s crazy and she says I am craze. Here’s the story: I went to see my doctor and decided to be who I really was: a talkative guy with a sense of humour. After a long talk, she even gave me extra time because she was interested in what I was saying, but only from a clinical point of view. During our conversation she excuse herself ,and left the room, when she came back with a nurse and she said you don't mind if my nurse sits in. I said is was OK with me. The nurse stood around listening and observing me. The doc had told her that she had a real nut case and she wanted her, the nurse to observe me and gain some experience of what a real nut case acts like. It was on the job training. I was on stage and didn't know that I was a specimen of abnormal behaviour to be watch and put on the record because I might do something insane like write this letter. When I got the electronic records she had written, for the record, that I was cognitively impaired, had delusion of grandeur and did not - get this - act according to the situation. The doctor meant that I did not act like a patient? Now here I am running around with some mental conditions that I never knew about. I feel good and begin to think what business it Untitled - by Josh Bowe was of hers to tag me: put into the electronic records things that were my normal personality. I am one of the last of raconteurs. I’ll tell you the truth I think that the doctor was cognitively impaired and probably needed to see a psychologist. If she can have her opinion so can I because I ain’t craze or stupid It was high comedy. I chuckle about it now. And the discussion is are you crazy, someone said you were but then just last week that same person said something crazy. Are we all crazy?
My Thoughts on the Matter by R. J. Pare’ I have dubious, at best, faith in the psychiatric community. They certainly have a label for every single human behaviour, healthy or otherwise. But what the heck... here’s my two cents worth: What is it about modern society that has led to so many NEW forms of crazy?
Concept sketch for upcoming comic series - “Knight Reavers” - by Sueann Williams, in association with Speakeasy Primates comic studio.
We have the old favourites, psychosis neurosis - phobias... but in recent years, with the advent of addictive/compulsive personality disorders it seems everybody is sick in some way. Thieves - aren't scum - they have a compulsion disorder.
Alcoholics - aren't drunks - they've got a disease. Drug users - aren't dope-heads - they've got a 'problem'. Hyper kids - aren't brats - they have A.D.D. . Wife beaters - aren't brutes - they have anger management deficiency. Please. Just stop it. Enough already. When will people own up and take responsibility for their actions? The world isn't responsible for their mistakes and failings - they are. Their mommy & daddy might have done them wrong - but if they're grown up now they should deal with it and stop using it as an excuse for their behaviour. My advice to all the whiners. BTW, I have been trying for years to convince the wife to feed my sex - addiction problem and she just rolls her eyes. She ain't buying it. Flatline - by R. J. Pare’
Writer’s Column Creation in Our World - by Larissa Gula My deadline came up almost too soon for me to even begin working on this month’s feature; I’ve spent the past two days of sparse free time writing it, to make sure it was completed before my classes began. If the readers will be patient and read about my lifestyle, they will soon find that it has a significant meaning and purpose. Be patient, and enjoy the story being told. I spent all of August packing and planning. I am a volunteer at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, and out of tradition I camp on its grounds once a year during the Washington County Fair. Though always incredibly fun, as preserving old trolleys with people bordering the line of sanity always is, this took away a full eight days of my life at home. At the same time, I had been asked to help plan a friend’s party while he was out of town. This meant Truncated Torso Abstract - by Josh Bowe the stress of getting RSVPs and an affirmative head count for the mother. Yet another friend asked me to pick her up from the airport and flew in for the party as a surprise guest; she is doing badly financially and I ended up paying her $100 to help with her ticket. As a college student, this is an amount incredibly hard to give to anyone, good friend or not. And throughout all of this, we must add the joys of worrying about college. I fretted about textbooks that I ordered online through Amazon and the competitive eBay; this stress was well worth it. Five books costs me about $80 or so total with shipping. Two textbooks on campus, at the cheap store, were $220. I don’t even have one class’s books yet, unfortunately. I didn’t pack my suitcases and boxes until the day before I left my house; and even though I live extremely close to campus, my house is not a friendly environment. I was very excited to be gone. I went home briefly yesterday because I was under the impression people wanted to see me; and in seconds I wanted to leave that grumpy household and go Home. To my dorm, where I had already settled throughout the chaos of move-in. The arrival on the University of Pittsburgh campus brought on a vast number of things to do. Other than walking up and down the streets seeing what shops take our various forms of money, and making friends with our dorm neighbours (no room mate for me, and no complaints thus far!), hours upon hours have been spent in mandatory programs. Most have had their highlights and otherwise were incredibly boring, which gave me time to think about writing.
But of course, after I would go to my dorm with the intentions of looking over some things I haven’t in a long time, the computer would call. I don’t even mean the seducing that Youtube can pull off, although I did satisfy my “The X-Files” lust while waiting for the other things I had to do. The campus gave us multiple CDs for software and network configuration. The software has been a hassle, and I have yet to finish upgrading. I haven’t wanted to work on it. So when I needed a break, I could walk down to the streets and explore the vendors that have been out and about. I have a magnificent artwork copy in my room, titled "Entre Les Trous De La Memoire" by Dominique Appia. It’s taped to the wall above the bed with beautiful sheets that I can’t help but stare at in joy, especially because it is just so overwhelmingly comfortable at night. Out of my window is a view of the street and one of the chapels where I could go to church if I desired. All right; I think that's enough of the story. You can see how this list has gone on and on. I haven’t even mentioned the multiple clubs I was interested in; even though many were eliminated because of the dedication my new job on the campus newspaper requires, I know right now I Concept sketch of Che Guevara for upcoming will never make all of the meetings for any of comic series - “And The Beat Goes On” - by those clubs. And believe it or not, there was a Giorgos Tsopanos, in association with Speakeasy point to this list-like two-page story. I have Primates comic studio. thought of many other column ideas during the last two days, and wrote every one of them down to prevent forgetfulness (as I recommended last time, if you remember), but those are for the future alone. I have one main point to make in this one. Art is like a relationship. And when you can’t hold its hand in public any longer, it’s time to think things over. I heard this comparison made to something else, probably our studies or one of the multiple organizations, during one of my numerous required programs, and I immediately connected it back to crafting of all forms. As anyone could tell by this long list of joys and stress on and off campus, during the last two days I have been unbelievably distracted. Some of those have been for reasons I couldn’t help (the mandatory programs and the computer set-up, since I need the laptop for class). But the time I have spent chatting with my new friends, though useful and extremely important during these first few weeks, did not have to be as extensive as I allowed it to be. Youtube, obviously, has probably not helped, even though I have spent minimal time on it.
I make many, many excuses for why I haven’t been writing more than a couple minutes a day. For example, when writing the outline for this, I could have stopped when one of my posters peeled off of the wall. But let’s face it; it doesn’t change the fact that I have not made any progress on a single project until now. Even my job interview works for the Pitt News had been forced during my free moments. Luckily I was able to smooth them out. My relationship with my writing is not the best that it has ever been. We once could have strolled anywhere holding hands and brainstorming together. Now, after the last month, Writing is sitting in the corner of my desk, neglected other than the occasional glance over to remind myself what is there. And as we begin to argue, I have entered the excuse phase for why this is so, claiming before I run off to dinner with my friends that our relationship will work its way back on track without assistance. Despite that terrible excuse, I have no intention of letting this phase go on for much longer. I will find time to write; I have written into my calendar when I should give myself time to do it, for as little as fifteen minutes until I am more comfortable with my schedule as a whole. Life is never as easy as marking down a time into a datebook, as we all know. It will take some considerable discipline to get work done at first, even during as little as fifteen minutes, until I find a comfortable routine that satisfies all of my desires for this college experience. Be sure, my readers and artists, to discipline yourselves. This crazy time, where people in families or you yourself begin to go back to school, is wonderful, as it should be; it is also potentially devastating if you never get back on track. Find that comfortable routine, ease into it (even use the list I gave out last month), and hopefully you’ll be able to make enough progress to be content with all aspects of your life. Best of luck, Larissa
Poetry Pondering Kelpies Little Scottish girls might once have had a tendency to fear horses. Such a shame, really. But it is the cost of their mythology, their frightening Campfire-style bedtime stories. The Scottish believe, or once believed, That a water demon would cause drowning of humans by turning Into a large, gray, and lovely mare, inviting those to follow her through A foggy night. (Because, of course, all demons must be evil and malicious.) When the horses galloped over the meadowlands of the past, did the girls Ever scream in terror and run from the thunder of the “murderers�? Perhaps the sons did as well; perhaps all were equally frightened of being Led astray and plunged into the icy depths of their surroundings, After they spent so long easing away from the black that they all believed They were safe where they were. Perhaps horses, the most useful Of working animals, were not always trusted and were therefore sadly Abused for reasons they would never understand. But surely, this does not Matter. In the 21st, surely, there are no longer water demons on our lands Waiting to drag us below their rippling obsidian waves.
Slumped Figure abstract - by Josh Bowe
Collage - Angular Spiral - featuring poem - Begin - both by R. J. Pare’
Featured Artist Review By Tariq Rafiq & R. J. Pare’ BIO: MARK LALIBERTE (b. 1971) is a practising visual artist-designer-curator who has exhibited and performed extensively in galleries across Canada and the USA. Though divergent from project-to-project, the artworks Laliberte creates within the context of his practice share certain formal qualities and conceptual concerns. These concerns encompass his multiple interests: design as an expanded super-language; the ritual minutae of contemporary subcultures; the pop codification of death from an existential, secular perspective; the logo as a stand-in for god-worship. Laliberte lives in Toronto, is the Managing Editor for both Carousel and Descant magazines; he teaches sessionally at the Ontario College of Art and Design.
Circa mid 90's
1.TR: How long have you been an artist? How did you get started? I was born in 1971, and have made art for as long as I remember. Made fanzines in my teen years. First professional (paid) exhibition occurred when I was in my early 20's. Many, many shows since then. 2.TR: Did you go to school and get formal training or are you self taught? School: yes (BFA, MFA); self-taught: also yes (most of the really important things were learned in the school of life). 3.TR: Who in your life has been the biggest influence on your art? My shadow, always a few steps ahead or behind me. 4. TR: What is your favorite media to work with? All of my work references collage, either in a technical or conceptual manner.
Artist: Mark Laliberte Title: FM-33 Electrolux Case Media used: Paper Collage Size: 12" x 17" Date Created: 1999 NOTE: These first 3 pieces are part of a larger series entitled “The Fantasia Morose” which explores themes of outward beauty vs internal desires and preconceptions. RJP: The marred fashion plate... the unattainable physique of wispy models is exposed for the malnourished unhealthy goal that it is. Young girls conned by marketing campaigns should look closely. The silk scarf rakishly thrown about her head and neck is not what it seems. This symbol of her life on runways oppressively captures her, holds her in place and silences her. Her one eye does not meet you with the haughty confidence of an uber-hip euro-chick ... no it looks off desperate for some escape from this reality. Mark’s title for the piece seems in direct contrast to the subject matter. In bygone days young girls would dream of filling their homes with Electrolux appliances they would use to care for their families with. This girl, weak, sickly and haunted perhaps has a different perspective on the oft scorned notion of homemaker. For her it might well be a fantasy... a dream to replace the dark reality of her circumstances. 5. TR: Do you use any special tools and techniques to create your art? My computer and scanner are pretty important tools in my practice. Artist: Mark Laliberte Title: FM-51 Leopard Print Media used: Paper Collage Size: 12" x 17" Date Created: 1999
RJP: This piece is sinister. The duality of the beauty and fashion industry... pretty women - pretty things - all to make sales.... ultimately what they are selling is themselves and their lifestyles... Is it a form of reproduction for their unused wombs? An effort to create the next generation to follow in their footsteps through programming of impressionable minds? In this piece Mark has exposed a modern succubus... not one that is designed for luring men to their doom, but rather one that is designed to set the bait for its future replacement. Perhaps the most effective component, for me, is not the obvious symbolism of the horn and inverted crucifix [yes, I understand she has evil intent] but the more subtle condemnation of the woman’s face. The figure’s face is clearly assembled from pieces of multiple faces yet somehow still maintains an almost perfect - beguiling symmetry – a damning revelation of these models as homogenous interchangeable parts in an industrial machine built to sell fabric, makeup & scents. 6. TR: What inspires you to paint and generate new ideas to create a piece? A fear of dust and a shaky relationship with my clock. 7. TR: Which famous artists have influenced you? It would be impossible to name a specific influence; my tastes and interests are a huge, hybridized collage of so many amazing creators across countless genres. Artist: Mark Laliberte Title: FM-53 Muzzle & Floral Motif Media used: Paper Collage Size: 16" x 23" Date Created: 2000 RJP: It would be easy to dismiss this piece as a simple S & M riff. Don’t be fooled. Sexual imagery has always been about objectifying the human form. It exists to elicit a quick animal reaction in us. To cater to those basic urges. This image however comments on the act of objectifying and places the viewer in judgement. The woman’s face seems flawless and smooth... though helpless, she cannot speak through her muzzle. The misogynist fantasy – a beautiful object that cannot talk back. It plays on our willingness to only see what we want. Look closer and the parts are out of sync. The inverted hand is a slap back to
reality. We are shamed into truly looking at her... the harsh bruises... the quaint girl-next-door floral skirt... something isn’t right here. She wasn’t ‘asking for it’ – She’s not a consenting participant... she’s a cypher revealing the casual victimization we play a part in when we objectify. We come back to her face and meet her eyes. The eyes that at first glance we thought were sexy. They are boring straight into us. They accuse... and we falter for excuses... and look away in our guilt. 8. TR: In today's competitive world how to you set yourself apart from other artists? I don't think it's wise to strategically try to set yourself apart from other artists. I am actually quite interested in community. I love to associate with other people who share my interests. That having been said, if you are an individualist (and I am, through no fault of my own), the works you produce will always be a little out of the ordinary, like it or not! Artist: Mark Laliberte Title: Colour Gun Media used: Acrylic on multi-panel canvas, strobe unit. Size: 72" x 71" Date Created: 2002 RJP: An interesting mixed media piece. The assembled multi-canvas painting has a strobe light installed in the centre that pulses like a television. As interactive art it has an immediate physical effect on the viewer. The strobe is hard on the eyes and colour flashes [not unlike the test pattern itself] burst upon your retina. The piece is more than just a modern offering of mild psychedelia. It can be seen as a comment on the medium of television. If a simple strobe can have a noticeable effect – what must the effect be of the millions of bits of information being pulsed at us nightly?
9.TR: How do you market yourself? Internet, mostly. Different websites for different projects.
Artist: Mark Laliberte Title: Floating Leg - from a series in progress called 'The Simple Sampler' Media used: all materials in this series collage / remix / re-contextualized from children's colouring books. Date Created: 2007
RJP: Welcome to the mind of an artist. The dreamscapes of our childhoods are closed to most of us. Rarely do we get to revisit them. When we do the disappointment is often palpable. “I remember it as being so much bigger!” We lament. The artist has keys many do not. Mark shows that we can re-enter the land of crayons and Rice Crispies spilt on the rug – without being disillusioned. His eye takes the elements that make up those moments and changes the context – alters our perception of the material and thus makes it new again. For a moment, anything is possible and Mom might just tell us it’s a snow day. 10. TR: How do you keep yourself motivated? Deadlines are always the best motivator. Pushes me to complete the things I start.
Artist: Mark Laliberte Title: Don’t Ask Me Why Media used: Paper Collage Date Created: 2006
RJP: A jumble of identity crisis. A collection limbs without identity, only a veiled suggestion of a face.
Masculine elements mixed with and subsumed by female elements. All covered in lace and yet the animal still rears its head and the monster is still creeping out. A comment, perhaps, on society’s seeming need to civilize - NO - emasculate contemporary man. 11.TR: Do you create your art full time or part time? Part-time, though my day-job is in the arts, so there is overlap. Artist: Mark Laliberte Title: Dotty Ghost Media used: Digital Illustration Date Created: 2004 RJP: Listed as a digital illustration. The dot matrix-y fill tells you that immediately. Yet the nasty little creature screams of line art. Not just any line art but the stuff you scribbled and hid on the back pages of your binders at school so the teachers [and more importantly, the girls] didn’t notice. Back when yer imagination was fired up by the latest issue of Deadworld or Realm [calibre press - now defunct]. An effective merging of modern technology and nostalgic [at least for once upon a time teen-aged boys] sketch-work.
12. TR: What would you tell a young artist starting out today? Hey kid, get into real estate! Artist: Mark Laliberte Title: Lego Coffin - created after receiving an invitation to participate in a collaborative / constraint-based writing & artwork portfolio. The portfolio is being released this month. 15 writers and artists celebrating 50 years of Lego. “Lego 50-15" Media used: Digital Illustration Date Created: 2008
RJP: In colour, design and presentation a celebration of everyone’s favourite childhood building blocks. Mark’s attention to detail show’s his genuine fondness for the material. The composition strikes me as regret-filled.
Mark seems to recognize the enormous chasm of time and distance that separates who we were then and who we are today. The idea of a coffin lid coming down suggests a cathartic bit of closure for such nostalgia.
13. TR: Do you have any big plans or shows coming up in 2008? Plenty going on, as always. For more info, feel free to visit: marklaliberte.com, blackcloudappreciationsociety.org, carouselmagazine.ca, sequentialdesire.com, popnoir.ca etc
Artist: Mark Laliberte Title: Compressed Tale Media used: Pagework Date Created:: 2004
RJP: A short effective presentation / juxtaposition. With more than a little tongue-in-cheek innuendo. Every sexual encounter seeks the proverbial “happy ending”. As we all know, the bliss of afterglow is not always the “end” of the story. Mark’s minimalist story telling lacks for nothing despite its brevity. Perhaps the shortest graphic novel in history... but one that is executed masterfully.
14. TR: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Hopefully, things will just be bigger and better for me, artistically. I want to keep going and take it all to greater heights, creatively speaking.
Editor’s Note: Mark and his art projects are like ‘The Monkees’ ---“... They might be coming to your town...”
Untitled - by Sam van der Wouden
Non - Fiction Futurism in the Funnies - by Roy G. James
Figure 17 - The Champions # 5, Marvel Comics Group 1976, “The Economy is So Bad That...” Character: Rampage
Euphenics The great desire for preservation and perfection of mankind [and perhaps his drive for power unfortunately] has led research to search for ways to stall or arrest the body deterioration and to increase the efficiency of that body. Cosmetics, plastic surgery, drugs, serums and exo-skeletons of Figures 17 and 18 are today a reality. Dock workers and warehouse workers have been equipped with strap-on hydraulic arms and legs that enable them to lift large masses such as barrels five to ten times their own weight. Mobility is the key here.
Figure 18 - Astonishing Tales # 20, Marvel Comics Group 1973 “The Final Battle�
Pop Culture Raised on Saturday Morning Cartoons - by Pauline Harren Pare There are only 2 new shows in September that sound intriguing to me. There are a couple in October and January as well, but I can use these for further articles. The first September premiere to interest me is “Fringe” and the second is “True Blood”. “Fringe” is the new series by J.J. Abrams. Need I say more? This man is on fire! Between creating “Lost” and earning the right to make the new Star Trek movie... can he do wrong? The pilot costs a whooping $10,000,000 and the preview (see link at end of article) looks amazing. It also stars Joshua Jackson. He will play Peter Bishop, a smart high-school drop-out with gambling debts. It is most likely the hype that is drawing me to this series. I hope it lives up to it. “True Blood” is an HBO series about vampires that stars Anna Paquin. HBO puts out some great shows and I am excited to see a vampire show done by this network. Anna Paquin plays a southern, telepathic waitress who falls in love with a vampire. The show is based in a world that is aware of vampires living among them. This is probably worth paying for TMN. I am so happy that the new fall season has started. I just watched the season premiere for “Prison Break” tonight and it was very exciting. So enjoy your TV viewing and don’t forget to try something new! Fringe trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAu4L5_Fl84 True Blood trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd5E-pHzXGI