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I’m calling it Father’s Day – with the apostrophe before the ‘s’. I’m sure that there are lots of Fathers out there but my wee girl is only concerned with one – little old me. Though not so little these … Continue reading →

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So maybe your father may not wear a costume, or a lab coat, or armor (although lots of heroes do everyday), but he’s still a superhero.

Maybe he’s cool enough to have shared his favorite stories with you at bedtime, or made certain that the  first movie you saw was memorable.  Perhaps he held your hand as you walked down the aisles of the local convention, making sure his pint-sized Spider-Man didn’t get lost in the excitement.  He’s probably fixed lots of owies with Wolverine Band-Aids, turning a traumatic experience into something fun.

He’s most likely tolerated your likes and phases, remembering silly stuff he did at your age, even if he was never a little girl.  Maybe he’s even been a little clueless, like Mr. Fantastic, not quite understanding the Latest Thing, but accepting it because it makes you happy.  He most likely taught you to drive, probably the most fraught-filled activity any adult would undertake.

So, if you’re nearby, you’ll be spending a day with him, doing stuff he enjoys, and making more memories.  If not, you’ll probably give him a call, let him know you’re thinking of him, and talking about lots of stuff that doesn’t really matter, but it’s nice to share.  If you’re lucky (and male), perhaps you’re a father yourself, and the three (or more) of you are doing something so epic and so silly, that you can never tell Mom (at least not until Thanksgiving, when enough time has passed to avoid retribution)!  (The lemurs still mistrust us, some eleven years after we visited the zoo.)

If you’re near Denver (like my brother), perhaps you’re enjoying the family day at the Denver Comic Con, held downtown at the convention center.  Proceeds benefit the Comic Book Classroom!  (There’s also CAKE and METROCON this weekend!)  Or you could attend a baseball game (a different sort of geekery, complete with cosplay, arcane knowledge, and arguments which can end in violence)  Maybe you’re avoiding the heat, sitting in a dark cavernous cinema, watching the latest popcorn flick.  Or maybe you’re crossing off part of

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As we previously noted, and as this sales chart shows, and The B&N chart from last night confirmed, Jeffrey Brown’s Darth Vader and Son is doing very well, especially in advance of Father’s Day this Sunday. The Tribune interviews Brown with a classic cartoonist profile description:

A few days a week, Jeffrey Brown is here, wearing a plaid work shirt, his mussed brown hair and chocolate beard flecked with gray and blond, looking like an artisan bread baker or hipster lumberjack. He’s found at that small table at the back of Beans & Bagels, tucked into a side street in Lincoln Square. Moms with rolled yoga mats file past the window, Brown Line trains roll by. If you notice him at all, he cuts a modest figure. He’ll be drawing in a sketchbook, the table crowded by a laptop, stacks of notebooks and pens arranged single file; on the off-chance a family needs a large table on a Tuesday morning, Brown sits at the small table, cramped, his back to the room, hunched forward, posture lousy.

but it sneaks in a bit of news as well

:

The book, and Brown’s thoughtful touch with pop satire, is already enough of a hit that Chronicle is asking for a sequel (featuring Darth and a 16-year old Princess Leia) and Scholastic commissioned “Jedi Academy,” which — from the look of early doodles in Brown’s sketchbooks — is a “Lil’ Star Wars.” (It also can’t hurt that George Lucas himself, having OK’d the books, asked Chronicle to send him a few extra copies of “Vader and Son.”)

Jeffrey Brown, LucasFilms licensee. As long as he gets to work on some of his more personal comics along the way, we’re perfectly fine with himmaking money making comics.

The profile also includes something that we didn’t know about Brown:

Brown’s wife, Jennifer Bell, a former Marvel Comics business development executive whom Brown met at the Wizard World comics convention in Rosemont, sounds relieved that her husband is moving on.

See indie people? Maybe some good can come out of going to Wizard World? OTOH, lightning doesn’t strike twice. YMMV.

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Mentored by the King:  Arnold Palmer's Success Lessons for Golf, Business, And Life.

Author Brad Brewer has been a friend to his mentor, Arnold Palmer for more than twenty-five years.  He has taken his advice, his thoughts and his impressions and applied them to his life and those around him.

Arnold lives by very strict principles, he's honest, upfront and loyal to his friends and family.  He keeps a close knit circle around himself while maintaining his original roots.  He credits his father with giving him the moral tenets and structure in which he lives by.  His humanitarian efforts are outstanding and his community has benefited numerously over the years from his charity golf tournaments.

Brad Brewer writes about these principles of Arnold Palmer's, there are about  thirty-five of them, with great flourish and depth, endearing you to the legend of Arnold.  There are many anecdotes shared about Arnold's encounters with all walks of life, his tenacity over cleanliness and yes, even his faults.  Brad's portrayal this man is almost god-like in its proportions, however, he writes his words in a such a believable way that you cannot help but wonder, maybe Arnold Palmer is a great man to meet!

I really liked the natural rhythm with which Brad Brewer writes, his words appeared honest and thoughtful.  His belief in the tenets of Arnold Palmer never sways and he backs Arnold's greatness with quotes about reaching for your dreams, never giving up, always going forward to name just a few words of encouragement shared within these pages.  I didn't find the book to be so much about golf, then the man with whom golf became.  Arnold Palmer never strays far from his roots and his words of wisdom are true and everyone should take a moment to ponder them.

There were many anecdotes involving celebrities and politicians that were very interesting to read, as well as, those being shared about the "average Joe".   You almost get the sense that the man is perfect in everything he does.  I found it to be an easy read, and filled with factual data to support the stories shared.

I would have liked to have seen some pictures included in the book and sadly, there was none.  Pictures of Mr. Palmer at some of his "greatest" moments as well as some at his "humblest", would have made this a really great book.  For those who wish to cross reference there is a detailed bibliography located at the back of the book.

I think this book would be a great read for those who like biographies, golf/sports fans or are fans of Arnold Palmer, it won't be a disappoint.

SYNOPSIS:
Most people think of Arnold Palmer as the King of Golf. But for more than a quarter century, Brad Brewer has known and observed Palmer in the roles of employer, business partner, teacher, competitor, father, grandfather, philanthropist, global celebrity, and above all, friend and mentor. Now Brad passes on the wisdom that he and others have learned from Arnold Palmer.

Mentored by the King shares with you the true stories of other golfers who have competed with Arnold Palmer through the years, as well as Brad Brewer's personal accounts of traveling, working, and just hanging out with Palmer. Best of all, though, this book lets you learn from the winning attitude and approach of the legend of the links, Arnold Palmer, in golf, business, and life. Discover... ...some deceptively simple principles that can change your l

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• Perform at your personal best
• Shave strokes off your game
• Find your "inner champion"
• Hit your best shots more consistently
• Access your best golf game ever

The visualization techniques are simply to incorporate, you don't need an imagination to be able to "see" what the narrator is describing, things like movie screens, blue skies, open greens to name just a few!  You are asked to visualize yourself on the golf course, in any setting in which you perceive and notice everything around you, relaxing you even further into your love of golf.

With many positive confidence skills, you are encouraged to believe in your potential.  Everything you are asked to visualize is in a positive light, reminding yourself that you are a positive force and you can do anything you can accomplish.  You are walked through each scene in an encouraging manner enabling you to believe in yourself and your game.

I would suggest not being too overly tired when beginning this, the narrator's voice is very soothing and she will lull you into sleep if you aren't careful.  If you are looking for a great gift to get that someone whose game isn't up to "par", then I'd suggest getting this to help them regain focus!  Golf Well:  Accessing Your Inner Champion would make an excellent Fathers Day, birthday or just because kind of gift for your loved ones!