How to use this Page

The Life and Times of $crooge McDuck by Don Rosa – If you are a fan of Uncle Scrooge of Disney Fame and of his famous relatives Donald, Huey, Louie and Dewey, this Graphic Novel is a read that you will really enjoy. In this Graphic Novel we meet Scrooge McDuck when he is but a wee lad living with his parents and two sisters in Scotland. The family is extremely poor, which is a situation Scrooge vows to change and make them all fabulously rich and wealthy. The story tells of how he makes his great fortune. The story follows Scrooge throughout his life as he makes his way to many different places and locales across the globe in the search for his fortune. Some of the many places and jobs he takes are America’s mighty Mississippi as a Riverboat Captain, its Wild, Wild West as a Cowboy, a Prospector in the American West, the wilds of Africa, down under in Australia, the great Klondike and many other locations. Along the way he makes many friends and enemies and also has many grand adventures. This book is great fun and the art work outstanding, so do yourself a favor and give it a read.

The Boy who Dared: A Novel Based on the True Story of a Hitler Youth by Susan Bartoletti – This is an inspiring story about a teenage boy named Helmuth growing up in Germany as Hitler rises to power and the Nazi Regime comes to power. At first Helmuth, his family and friends are inspired and thrilled as Hitler rises to power with promises to the German people of a better life, which has not been that great since the end of World War I in which Germany was a loser. However, things quickly change as Hitler starts persecuting the Jews in Germany, taking away Germans' personal rights, invading surrounding countries and arresting any Germans who speak out about the Nazi Party or himself. When these things start to happen, Helmuth and some of his friends start to stand up to the Nazi Government and the lies it spreads. This is very dangerous as such acts can lead to imprisonment or worse. This story is based on the true story of Helmuth Hubener and does depict some of the very sad things that happen in war and under dictatorships, but it is an important story that should be told.

Well give these books a try and let me know what you think!!!

Take it easy guys and beware the Lagomorph,

Bill

Hello all my loyal followers out there in Blog Land, it is I Darth Bill once again!!!!! Wait a minute was that a bunny I just saw????? No, thank badness, it was just a rabid squirrel. Just get yourself together and repeat three times: "There is no such thing as a Lagomorph." Yes I feel much better now.

Geezzz, now I got an angry squirrel after me!!!! What the heck did I do?????????

Now, really, on to buisness as unusual. Check out these photographs from the Beowulf Program we had just the other day, it was really alot of fun (and if you get the chance maybe pick up one of the books I recommended from my 1/18/08 posting)!!!

Some of the gang making paper bag Grendel puppets. Scarry stuff I tell ya!!!!!!!!

Darth Bill demonstrating to the gang that running with Sciccors is cool!!!!!! (um, don't tell your parents I said that, okay)

Beowulf and a Coke. It just doesn't get better than that!!!!(and if your thinking the Coke Company paid me to say that, well I just wish!!!!!)

And now ladies and gentlemen, Grendel versus Beowulf!!!!! (Gee, I always thought Beowulf would be alot taller?????)

And now for something completly different, Book Reviews:

Wild Ride: A Graphic Guide Adventure by Liam O’Donnell and Mike Deas – This is a very cool graphic novel about several strangers who are on their way into the deep wilderness of British Columbia to join an environmental assessment team. The group consists of Devlin (10 years old) and his older sister Nadia who are on their way to join their mother who is in charge of the team; teenager Marcus whose father is a famous environmentalist working with the siblings’ mom; and government official Gerald Wiley who is going to determine if the area being assessed is of such a nature to exclude it from being cleared by lumbering and paper company K&N. Things go bad real fast for the group when the plane they are flying in goes off course and crashes in a part of the enormous British Columbia wilderness. The really cool part about this graphic novel is that not only is it a survival story, it actually demonstrates real ways you could survive if you found yourself in such a situation. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors.

The World of Quest: Volume 1 by Jason Kruse – Welcome to the whacked out, dangerous, and just plain strange land of Odyssia. This fun graphic novel starts out with 11 year old Prince Nestor seeking out the aid of the fabled great warrior Quest!!!!! Quest, a former member of the famed Rousters, has been living alone after being banished by Nestor’s parents some 20 years beforehand for unknown reasons. The only problem is that Quest has no interest whatsoever in leaving his home and aiding anyone! In quick succession Nestor finds Quest, Quest ignores Nestor; they are attacked by the Katastrophe Brothers (Khaos, who looks like a bull, Konfusion, who resembles a lizard, and Kalamity, who resembles a vulture) who work for the evil Lord Spite and lots more happens. Got it? No matter, give this graphic novel a whirl, which comes with Bill’s Seal of Approval, for guaranteed laughter and adventure. Nuff Said!!!!!!!

Oh, parting is such sweet sorrow! Until we blog again peace all,

Bill

Hi all,

Er, I'm afraid I have just received some disturbing news. Now I know all you readers out there heard my account of the ferocious battle I had with the Scary Bunny in which I acquired a lucky rabbit's foot. If not, check out my last post for the thrilling account (posted on 1-18). Well, um, last week I received the following from the Scary Bunny. Turns out he takes offense to the term Scary Bunny actually, eh, and calls himself "The Lagomorph."

Darth Bill's Nemesis

Now on to some cool reads I have done recently:

Disney’s Pirates of The <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Caribbean: Jack Sparrow – The Siren Song – This is the second book in this series (The first was The Coming Storm that I reviewed back on 11-21-07) about a much younger Jack than we later meet in the movies. In this adventure Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew (actually, his young friends Arabella, Fitzwilliam, Jean, Tumen and a very easily irritated cat Constance) find themselves continuing their quest for The Sword of Cortes aboard their ship “The Barnacle.” Things get very strange right from the get-go for the captain and crew. First, an island appears out of nowhere, followed by an attack by a fearsome sea monster, and then the sound of mysterious music that seems to affect everyone but Jack. What the devil is going on here? Read this adventurous and funny book; I’m sure you won't be disappointed by the answers you find!!!!!!

<?xml:namespace prefix = o />

Avengers and Power Pack Assemble – This is one Graphic Novel I have been waiting for with great anticipation. Why, you may ask? Go ahead and ask…(OK--why?)……Because it is a Graphic Novel that not only has Power Pack, the coolest superhero kid team ever (Zero-G, Lightspeed, Mass Master and Energizer); it also includes the coolest adult superhero team ever--The Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, etc.). This team up is filled with action, intrigue, funny stuff, and of course lots of “Clobberin Time!!!!!!” Enuf Said as the Great Stan Lee would say!!!!

Before I sign off I wanted to share just a few more photographs from our Heroes & Villains Festival that we had on January 22, so here they are:

Some of the guys and girls being shown the Firetruck that the really cool Firemen brought with them!!!!!!!

Some of the fellas rockin out with Guitar Hero!!!

Some of the really outstanding costumed heroes who showed up at the event!!!!!

I'm not sure who this man of mystery is, but my money is on that he is a powerful Sith Lord!!!!!!!

The very cool parade of heroes and villains that we had at the event!!!

Speed up: After ALA, I am so behind in my work. New guy starts. I Feel like I'm accelerating moment to moment. Must write Mitzvah Day flyer...

Even faster: We leave for Purchase, NY, to drop off R at camp and hand off E to Grandma.

DOWNhill fast: In the parking lot, M finds out that his father has died suddenly. He is in shock. I am in shock. R needs to get to camp. I don't have the checks for the key deposit. I THINK THIS KIND OF JUXTAPOSITION OF EVENTS ONLY HAPPENS TO WRITERS!!!

STRAIGHT AWAY, screaming: Her roomie is very connected. I imagine every terrible mean girl story I have ever read. I cry. R's last words: Cut the cord. She looks fine. We drive home and get M ready to go south.

speed up again: Off to Alabama. On one hand, it is sad. Very sad. Everyone says they want to die suddenly and quickly. But this is only good for the person who dies. On the other hand, M's family is wonderful. They are honest, caring people. Up front. They tell me sad and happy stories. I share, too. I feel grounded. This is a good family.

DOWN: We miss our flight. (Long story--M made me promise not to tell.)

UP: We go to a resort and recover with massage and facials. Does my guy take care of me or what?

STRANGE: In the hotel, I get my first review. It's solid. It's on Booklist, so I can't print it anywhere....

FINISH THE RIDE: We are home. We need to get air conditioning. The storms are restorative. I sit in my quiet house--kids away--and reflect. Read Parrotfish.
It is GREAT!!!!

New ride: Today I have printed out my long suffering manuscript. I read Chapter One. So far, so good!!!