Book of the Week – 11/4/09
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The Great Ten #1 Story: Tony Bedard Art: Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens Cover:Stanley “Artgerm” Lau Publisher: DC |
I have been waiting for this book since the end of 52.
The Great Ten is a fascinating experiment in the DCU. Will anybody want to read about a team of heroes that are not from the Western world?
It makes sense that China would have their own meta humans. Why wouldn’t they? I mean they have 3 times the population of the US, so you would figure they would have 3 times the number of meta humans. But DC’s (and Marvel’s) books are very US – centric. (DC has had the Global Guardians, the JLE/I, The Soviet Union had the Rocket Reds, there was an attempt in the annuals a few years ago to introduce more global heroes) And of course we just got to know Japan’s newest team, the Super Young Team (from the awkwardly titled, but super fun to read, FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: DANCE)
But this is about the Great Ten, China’s official Super Heroes. Each issue in this 10 issue series will focus on a member of them, giving us their origin. Issue one spotlights the Accomplished Perfect Physician.
This first issue, written by Tony Bedard, is the first chance we have to really see how these characters are as a team, outside of any interaction with the Western DCU characters. The story telling is crisp, and the character voices are distinct(as are the characters themselves). Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens create a colorful, vibrant China, and introduction of the rival Old Gods (led by the Jade Emperor) signal for more great story to come.
Grade – A
Joan Vandervliet 1944-2009
As many of you know, my mother has been fighting pancreatic cancer for the past year.
This weekend, she finally earned her rest.
If you ever had met my mother, you know there was nothing more important to her than her family, which was extended to more than just my siblings and myself through her involvement in community, both in Midland Park, through her activities with the school organizations we participated in our youth, and then her 15+ years as a member of the Midland Park Board of Education.
She was “Aunt Joanie” to so many, a surrogate mother to others, friends of ours who lost the mother.
None was more important to her than her grandchildren, Sarah and Matthew, for whom she fought so fiercely for every day she had for the past year.
My brother, and sisters have lost our biggest supporter, our staunchest advocate, and our greatest ally in our pursuit of dreams and future.
Sometimes she was also our greatest infuriation, but in that way that someone who sees what is best for us, when we ourselves can’t.
At this time I want to thank my friends who have helped me through this past year, with all the support you have given. You helped make it possible for me to make it through this past year, and to face the future ahead.
with great love
David
Below find my mother’s obituary.

VANDERVLIET, Joan, nee Traino, age 64, died at her home on Saturday, March 14, 2009.
Born in Paterson, she lived in Midland Park since 1979. Joan served on the Midland Park Board of Education from 1993 to 2008, serving as both President and Vice-President during her tenure. She was also an active member of Grace Church in Ridgewood, serving in many ministries, most dear to her was the Missions Committee.
Joan is survived by her loving children; Terri Morse of Midland Park, Susan Vandervliet of Gulfport, FL, Robert Vandervliet of Houston, TX, and David Vandervliet of the Bronx, NY; and her grandchildren Sarah and Matthew Morse. She is also survived by her brother John Traino of Hawthorne, NJ.
Visiting hours will be Tuesday 7 to 9 pm, and Wednesday 2 to 4 pm at Grace Church, 340 Meadowbrook Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. There will be a funeral service on Wednesday at 7:00 pm at Grace Church. There will be a prayer service at Grace Church on Thursday at 10:00 am, followed by the interment at the George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. Arrangements by the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ, www.vpfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Church Mission Fund, 340 Meadowbrook Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, or the Darrah B. Swezey Scholarship Fund, 55 East Center St., Midland Park, NJ 07432.
Sorry I have been MIA of late…
Hey there sports fans…
I have been neglecting all of you. My apologies, life, as most of you know, has been kinda crazy.
Hope to get back to sharing thoughts with you, the world has been a pretty amazing place since I left.
Let’s talk soon.
D
2008 Decided – Congrats to President-Elect Obama
Hail to the Chief
Obama – California, Washington, Oregon, Virgina,
McCain - South Dakota, Nebraska (4 of 5 votes) Idaho
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Florida North Carolina, Indiana, Missouri, Montana
Can you believe Indiana? watch those Lake County totals, Virginia? Fairfax County.
TOO EARLY TO CALL
Colorado, NEVADA (Clark county is the key)
297 146
SENATE
Senator Al Frankin? He’s good enough, He’s smart enough, and gosh darnit, people like him!
DEMOCRATS 52(+2 caucusing Independants)
REPUBLICANS 40
HOUSE
DEMOCRATS 260
REPUBLICANS 175
Decision ‘08 – Its 10 o’clock do you know where your Candidate stands?
Well, things are certainly getting interesting. I know many of my friends are nervous and excited, no matter how this turns out.
Obama – Iowa
McCain - Texas, Utah, West Virgina, Mississippi
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, Missouri, Arizona, MONTANA
Can you believe Indiana? watch those Lake County totals, Virginia? Fairfax County.
TOO EARLY TO CALL
Colorado, NEVADA (Clark county is the key)
207 135
SENATE
DEMOCRATS 52(+2 caucusing Independants)
REPUBLICANS 37
HOUSE
DEMOCRATS 260
REPUBLICANS 175
Shays concedes the Ct 4th
Decision ‘08 – Shays concedes
Long serving Republican Congressman Christopher Shays concedes the Connecticut 4th district.
That means there is not a single Republican member of Congress from New England.
I have started to hear fears from some older voters… not for what this new swing means politically, but I have actually heard some folks say they fear for Obama’s safety, and how fractured we are still becoming between left and right.
Decision 08 9:30
Well, things are certainly getting interesting. I know many of my friends are nervous and excited, no matter how this turns out.
9:30
Obama – OHIO, New Mexico
McCain - Louisiana
No real surprises, huh?
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Florida, Virgina, North Carolina, Indiana, MISSOURI, ARIZONA,
TOO EARLY TO CALL
COLORADO
200 85
SENATE
GOP Senate Leader McConnell hangs on in Kentucky
DEMOCRATS 50(+2 caucusing Independants)
REPUBLICANS 36
HOUSE
DEMOCRATS 259
REPUBLICANS 176
Still waiting on the CT 4th
Decision ‘08 the 9 o’clock hour
Well, things are certainly getting interesting. I know many of my friends are nervous and excited, no matter how this turns out.
9pm calls
Obama – New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Rhode Island
McCain – Georgia, Alabama, Kansas, North Dakota, Wyoming, Arkansas
No real surprises, huh?
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Ohio, Florida, Virgina, North Carolina, Indiana, MISSOURI, ARIZONA,
TOO EARLY TO CALL
COLORADO
175 76
SENATE
Liddy Dole loses to State Senator Kay Hagan
DEMOCRATS 48(+2 caucusing Independants)
REPUBLICANS 33
HOUSE
DEMOCRATS 43
REPUBLICANS 21
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE CT 4TH!
Decision 08 – Senate call in NC
Looks like Liddy Dole is going home…
This will be the first time since 1954 that a Dole or a Bush will not be sent to Washington DC…
The wind is blowing
Dems +3 in the senate so far
Decision 08 – The first results
Its shortly after 7pm EST
I have just sat down, with my sandwich and a large beverage.
The first states are in, Kentucky in McCain’s Column, Vermont in Obama’s.
No surprises there.
3 8
Two Senate Races called early
Virgina elects Warner (D)
South Carolina re-elects Graham (R) DEMS 40
REPS 4
