Selkie

Selkie, how and why did those Gainesville people die?

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Short version? Serial killer Daniel Rolling.

The whole sad story.

My first thought at the words "memorable graffiti" is the memorial to the victims of the Gainesville murders along a major thoroughfare in the city. It's the one inviolate panel on a wall of ever-changing graffiti, and I'm told that on those rare occasions when someone defaces it in any way, another artist comes along immediately to restore it.

The other is the (in)famous "Rock" at Northwestern University, which is a traditional focal point for grafiti and gentle mayhem. The boulder sits in the middle of the closest thing the campus has to an outdoor meeting space, and at night groups armed with spray cans decorate it and, if they're smart, "guard" it from other groups until morning.

Ask and ye shall receive:

K Bro A with the mask

K Bro B with the mask

What was especially weird was how the morning crowd had never even heard of Cthulhu even after I explained, but a decent number of people in the afternoon crowd needed no prompting at all to identify who I was. Perhaps my rain-soaked appearance gave them the hint? Or perhaps I was looking even deader than I had in the a.m.?

Michigan in May - an ideal time for a road trip! Well, usually ....

I realize that Michael Moore has irrevocably branded the image of Michigan as the home of Flint and a place where blind hunters carrying high powered rifles aren't required to have sighted guides, but for this Chi-town girl, it's a lovely place to visit. Scenic drives full of lovely small towns loaded full of antiques, with the prospect of stalking Guy Davis at the end of the journey. What more could a Chi-town comic fan ask for?

Convention day started off hot and muggy. Although I swore I wasn't going to be one of those must-be-in-line-before-the-doors-open types, the lure of half-price TPBs was too powerful to ignore. I've always had a love-hate relationship with the idea of people attending conventions in costume, but the threat of K Brothers Bearing Cameras had induced me to create a Cthulhu costume with which to disguise myself. Back home, hand-sculpting a tentacled mask, the idea seemed sound. Breeze around the convention floor wearing a distinctive costume that cleverly disguised my appearance, then switch to civvies once the prospect of cameras was over. Shopping for a suitable cape on eBay was a riot: "I really like the fabric of that one, but will the design of the hood interfere with my tentacles?" Note to self: when selecting a character to impersonate, do not select one with attributes like "bloated" and "corpse-like", lest life imitate art.

Reality set in quickly and painfully. Imagine, if you will, a person with the approximate size, stature, and cough of General Grievous, strapped into a two pound plastic mask that severely restricts peripheral vision (and, indeed, most of the vision out of the right eye entirely). What little peripheral vision wasn't removed by the mask was eliminated by the large hood attached to the floor-length cape. Add to that the beginnings of a case of walking penumonia that reduced the poor soul's voice to a squeaky whisper wholly unsuited to a feared Elder God(dess). Further imagine such a figure kneeling in crowded booths rifling through boxes of books while negotiating over-eager fanboys and badly placed power cords. The end of the world chaos promised by H.P. Lovecraft very nearly broke out right there on the convention floor.

Piling on insult to injury was the nearly universal ignorance of the character by the attending fanboys. A Star Wars costume contest resulted in an abnormally high number of Jedis and Sith Lords, so most guesses as to my identity centered around obscure George Lucas characters. The distressing part is that even as I used up my failing voice to explain my identity, no one had heard of Cthulhu. Even ol 'H.P.'s name failed to spark recognition - at a convention where a booth promoted a "Necronomicon" movie and several convention goers were spotted in Miskatonic University t-shirts. I weep for the future.

Those early visions of casually strolling around the booths shopping carefully for obscure gems rapidly gave way to a mad "oh please let me make it around the floor once while in costume" dash 'round the building. While rushing through the small press area, a voice from my blind right could clearly be heard to say "Oh dread Cthulhu, surely you need one of our comics." An entreaty like this could not be ignored, so executing a (hopefully) graceful pivot brought me to the booth of Studio.Rent.the.Ocean and the purchase of a $1 small press comic. The dagger-like "why didn't I think of that" glares of the small press creators at the adjacent booth were priceless. Best of all, my $1 anthology comic came to me customized with a small Cthulhu sketch and Lovecraft quote. Finally, vindication!

At this point the combined weight of my purchases could have crushed a small child, and the building's air conditioning hadn't kicked in, so I headed back to the hotel for a much needed shower and clothing change. Little did I know I needn't have bothered...

... because during the marathon walk from the far end of the parking lot back to the building that afternoon, the rain that had been threatening all day came down in buckets, with no shelter in sight. Every layer of clothing was soaked through almost instantly, as was my already abused hair. Even the felt lining on the mask was wet. Blech. To think I hadn't believed I could get any more uncomfortable. The cape that had already been stealthily trying to twist itself so the back was in the front sensed its opportunity while I was distracted by my discomfort, so for a decent part of the afternoon, I looked prepared for a big sloppy set of ribs. By that time, I was almost tempted to indulge in Cthulhu-like gnoshing on human ribs, but restrained myself. Too hard to catch even distracted fanboys while blind and tripping on one's outerwear.

After several fruitless calls to what I believed was Charlie's cellphone - I hate to think what their home answering machine sounded like when they got home - I met up with the K Brothers for photos and general mayhem. I managed a few aisles before slinking off to sit in the concession area and feast on my ki... er, read some comics, all the while experiencing hood envy for a Sith Lord whose hood sat perfectly the entire time no matter how its wearer moved. Perhaps there is something to that Force stuff after all. Several people recognized my Cthulhu identity and made admiring comments about the get-up (even asking for details on mask construction), which was encouraging. I obliged a well-intentioned but clearly out of her depth soccer mom escorting some little'uns by posing for some photos.

Little did I know that at that point the weird part of my day hadn't even started....

But that's a tale for another day.

And what the hell is that cat in your avatar biting into! :D

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I'll never tell! I don't think what I was told when I received the picture is accurate, and besides, the imagination devises so many interesting possibilities I'd be loathe to cut off anyone's creativity with a nasty little fact.

I see a lot of movies in the course of a year. I don't like most of them. People ask me why I see so many movies when I'm so often disappointed. Here's the answer: Because the occasional unexpected pleasure of catching a film like "Layer Cake" that exceeds even my high expectations outweighs the eye-rolling pain that comes from watching all the crappy ones.

Damn. I don't think I've loved a film this much since "L.A. Confidential." I don't care I had to drive 45 minutes, park in a giant parking garage to hell and back from the theater, and walk through the kind of upscale neighborhood where the parents dress their kiddies in hats, scarves, and shawls and I couldn't be more conspicuous if I walked around dressed as Cthulhu. This film was exactly what I wanted it to be (and it doesn't hurt that the lead character would have been dead-on perfect casting for John Constantine).

A close friend had the good fortune to click on a live webcam at just the right moment to preserve this image for posterity.

Given that this image comes hot on the heels of my recent rescue of a bathtub spider, and a different friend's close encounter with a giant spider intent on becoming his new yarmulke, I sense a takeover in the offing.

Thanks! That has to be it. Don't know why I thought it was a British film, unless I was confusing it with Shallow Grave.

Black comedy, made in the UK. IIRC, released around the time of Shallow Grave so let's say early 1990s. Group of liberal friends invites ignorant, unpleasant people (neo-Nazis and such) to dinner, and kills them at the end of the meal or serves them for the meal - can't quite recall.

Ring any bells? Ordinarily I'd ask a question like this at a movie board, but given the tastes of this group I'm sure someone will know it straight off.

You people are mere beginners when it comes to vomit! If you want to feel really sorry for yourself, wake up in the middle of the night choking on it thanks to a build-up of medication in your system. THEN you'll know just how horrible vomit can be.

That happened only a few months ago, before the doctors and I decided to increase my dosage permanently.... :o

Layer Cake

*Nods*

Damn damn fine.

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I am deeply, terribly jealous! Even though I live in a major metropolitan area, I would have to schlep to hell and back to see this, even assuming the arthouse theater that's in my area has it at all (I haven't checked, lest I be tempted).

Instead, today I saw Madagascar. Perfectly fine for the kiddies, with a few jokes tossed in for the adults, but overall it's a kid's film for kids.

I'm sure this ruling will be overturned in a heartbeat, but that it should even need to get that far is maddening:

Judge rules that Wiccan parents may not expose their child to their religion

:excl:

Crap like this makes me want to join the Church of Satan. I never want to wind up on the path that Robert Sherman wound up on, but I have to admit, it becomes harder and harder for me to remain an open-minded, tolerant atheist when this kind of thinking becomes more and more prevalent in American society.

Chain bookstores, or chain comic stores? I know I've never seen it in either, but if it's in the bookstores maybe it's racked in the children's section, where I won't enter on a bet.

Thanks, Selkie, but I think you mean Keeyah.

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oops. Good luck Keeyah!

slinks away with tail tucked in embarassment

So we go get it, and read it (skim it), like, four or five times. He is quite reluctant to stop reading it ("Captain America jumping!" "Captain America swimming!") but eventually concedes to rocking in the chair on the grounds that we sing "Old MacDonald had a farm - and on that farm was Captain America."

 

With a mighty shield here, and a might shield there...

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That mental image has tears of laughter streaming down my face, I'll have you know.

Ben: I don't know how much more photographic goodness I can take. Wow, wow, and more wow.

Pooka: Speaking as someone who crashed her car during her first driving test (but managed to pass anyway), hang in there. You'll get it next time.

Zhaan: Safe journey!

hildegard: Feel better soon!

This kid desperately needs some Asterix, is my opinion. Nothing against superhero comics, but a broader horizon might be a good idea, no?

Most definitely.

Anyone have access to english Asterix?

You're kidding, right? I've never once seen an English language Asterix at a shop or convention. Either I'm looking in the wrong places while digging for "obscure" boks - and remember, in the U.S. Asterix is obscure - or they're rarer than hens' teeth in this country. Amazon apparently does carry them, lots of them, and I'm slightly (and pleasantly) surprised about that.

Hmmm... here's an idea: Selkie, if I get your address, I can order Asterix via Amazon, and give your address as the shipping destintation. Would that work?

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I think that's a terrific idea, and very generous of you. I must warn you though, that curiosity may provoke me to sneak a quick peek at them before I forward them on.

The grandparents are definitely devout JWs. The parents, I'm not sure. Both of the parents had their names legally changed to those of popular adventure (him) and fantasy (her) characters, and I'm having trouble reconciling that move with being JWs, especially the specific characters they selected. He even took a job associated with his character for a while, though it didn't last.

I SO wish I could tell you the names, because you would be scared. Really scared. Heck, even the kid has a comic book name. But unfortunately the instant I posted even the first names, they'd be ridiculously easy to identify via Google, and I've probably said more than I should on a public board already.

Besides, they live within a fairly reasonable drive (couple days, tops) of several posters on this board, including both of us, and I wouldn't want to be responsible for providing undue temptation to intervene directly.

I'm pasting from multiple sources, so apologies if this list is odd-looking and almost certainly incomplete.

Superman/Batman TPB

4 issues of Teen Titans Go!

A whole bunch of Looney Tunes issues

Quite a few Batman: Gotham Adventures

Astro City Special: Super Sonic

Marvel Age Spider-Man: Out of Reach-vs Doc Ock

Marvel Tales Spider-man reprints

Spider-Man 2099

BATMAN ADVENTURES [1] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [2] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [4] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [5] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [6] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [9] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [11] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [13] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [14] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [15] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [16] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [17] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [19] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [20] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [21] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [22] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [24] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [26] {1992} DC

BATMAN ADVENTURES [32] {1992} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [1] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [4] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [5] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [7] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [8] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [9] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [10] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [11] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [12] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [13] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [14] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [15] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [16] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [17] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [18] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [19] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [20] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [21] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [22] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [23] {1986} DC

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL [24] {1986} DC

MISTER MIRACLE (2nd series) [1] {1989} DC

MISTER MIRACLE (2nd series) [2] {1989} DC

MISTER MIRACLE (2nd series) [3] {1989} DC

MISTER MIRACLE (2nd series) [4] {1989} DC

MISTER MIRACLE (2nd series) [5] {1989} DC

MISTER MIRACLE (2nd series) [6] {1989} DC

MISTER MIRACLE (2nd series) [7] {1989} DC

MISTER MIRACLE (2nd series) [8] {1989} DC

MISTER MIRACLE (2nd series) [11] {1989} DC

ULTIMATE MARVEL TEAM-UP #4 (and someone has offered a #5 to complete the story)

FCBD Leave it to Chance issue

James is sending some TinTin TPBs.

Drat, I know there were more. Donors, please, stand up and be counted!

Can you post the partial list here? I'll comb through my stuff for age-appropriate material. Sadly, a lot of it is adult (prolly a little young for Hellblazer and the like) but I'll either find something or go out and buy him something.

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Same problem here. I never had much kid-appropriate stuff, which is why I ended up buying a lot of what I personally sent him. Somehow I can't see sending Hellblazer to a little one being raised by Jehovah's Witnesses who threw out every painting, picture, and object in their homes that contained "inappropriate" imagery, including crosses.

Sounds like this is but one small but important way you can help.

I'm disheartened that every time I turn around, I'm made aware of another child in a bad situation. This one's worse than most of the others. I can't make his father take medication and I can't make his mom kick his dad out and I can't get the kid couseling or better schooling, but I can send him comics. It may be a tiny gesture against the unfairness of the world, but I have to hope it's better than nothing.

Question: can WE help. I'd be happy to buy comics or get some out of my stash and mail them.

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Any age and subject matter appropriate donations cheerfully welcomed. When I posted the original thread I wasn't thinking in terms of other people donating to the cause, but several comic fans - including STHers - offered, and have sent or plan to send some books his way. To preserve the privacy of a minor, I'm gathering and bundling boxes, and sending them to the child. If you have anything, drop me an e-mail and I can send you a partial list of what's already gone his way. I'm already regretting not writing down everything, but it's a good general guide.

Yeah, Selkie, it's great that you're helping him, mad props to you for that. However, to me this sounds like an obvious social services case. Should those parents be allowed to have custody of the kid?

I've had firsthand experience with social services in a large, relatively well-funded state, up to and including having a childhood friend who is now a social worker for a school district. Their inability to do anything even in much more serious, "obvious" cases was startling. In a situation like this one, in a much less wealthy rural state where the kid receives little contact from the "outside world", and when the kid doesn't have gaping wounds? Nothing will happen. Everyone involved knows it, too.

In a finer world, I'd say the best thing would be to get the kid into a supportive foster home equipped to work with him ASAP. Given how bad the foster care system is likely to be, and that he does have the involvement of the grandparents, it's not necessarily as bad to have him still at home as one might think. The kid's lack of social skills ensures he'd be eaten alive in any type of group care situation, and might tip him over the edge into actual (as opposed to threatened, which he's done before) violence.

I don't want to put words into your mouth, but my opinion is that at the age of 10 this is 100% the parents responsibility. I'm guessing that's your viewpoint as well, but I just wanted to get that out.

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I'm in complete agreement with you. I just wanted to point out that it's not like the parents haven't tried, in a half-hearted way, to provide more balanced food for the kid, it's that the kid wouldn't eat it and they're at a loss as to how to correct the issue. It's an issue of the parents not being competent to fix the problem, rather than being a manifestation of some sort of weird psychological issue with the parents insisting that the kid be fed only macaroni and cheese or something equally weird.

I'm uncomfortable providing too many specific details, but as best as I can tell, it boils down to this. Dad's behavior has progressed from "odd" to "probably has an undiagnosed mental illness," and has started hitting Mom in front of the child. We don't know whether he's hitting the kid too, but I doubt many people would question that the things he says to the child are emotionally abusive. Dad tells the state he homeschools but in fact does nothing, so the grandparents -who provide the trailer this family lives in - have stepped in and are doing what they can to educate (and to some extent socialize) him, and provide him with adequate nutrition. (The parents are not, by any stretch, starving him, but if you heard what his diet consists of you'd wince. Trust me on this point. The kid's not making it easy on his parents, but they're not doing anything to correct the situation either). They live a very rural area and the kid has no friends to speak of, so his contact with anyone not related to him is minimal. Mom has her own set of emotional issues, and while I think she wants to do right by the kid, she's overwhelmed and not doing a great job.

Just a quick update regarding the little boy discussed in this thread.

The first box of comics I sent - addressed to the grandparents to ensure the kid got his paws on them - arrived today. Apparently the boy went crazy with excitement and couldn't wait to dig in. Grandma said should couldn't believe how nice it was of the "comic folk" to help out in this manner, and wanted to be sure word of her appreciation reached the people involved.

More when I know it....

<must restrain self from addressing topic of punching horses and focus on happier things>

I got the HUGEST compliment from someone whose opinion really matters to me! I know a moldmaker who has worked with some of the best sculptors in the business since the 1950's (and is an accomplished sculptor in her own right, although she doesn't do a lot). We met through my web development work and admiration for one particular sculptor she worked with - the sculptor with the greatest influence on my own work, I might add - and have stayed in touch ever since. The moldmaker and I haven't exchanged much in the way of technical information, but she's been a big supporter of me breaking away from the pack of hobby potters and doing my own thing, start-to-finish. Up till recently, her compliments have centered more on my willingness, and ability, to tackle porcelain, which is far and away the most persnickety of fired clay media.

A few weeks ago I sent her one of my raven pins, just as a general thank you present. She sent me a nice note thanking me for it, which would have been quite sufficient. What blew me away were the compliments on my sculpting that she sent to a mutual friend, who was kind enough to forward them my way. Given the people she's worked with, her words in the note floored and heartened me.

Selkie, that's SO cool.

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All part of my master plan to graduate from"quirky and weird" to "certified Master Eccentric." 8-)