Baltimore Comic Con

I made it to the Baltimore Comic Con yesterday at around 2:30 yesterday, and it was really cool. I met some awesome people, including the people from ID Comics and Comfort Love and Adam Withers from the Uniques. I’ve followed ID for quite some time, and saw them at 2007’s Pittsburgh Comic Con, but the Uniques are relatively new to me, though I really dig their stuff. Check out their awesome comic here: .

I’m going back today for a little, and I’m really hoping to get a chance to see Brian Michael Bendis and have him sign my New Avengers comic book. I went yesteday, but the line for his table was closed. :-/

I’ll update with some of the goodies I got later on when I have access to a scanner!

Microsoft Uses Macs for their Ad Campaign

I got this article from MacWorld, and just had to share!  You can see the article on MacWorld here: Macworld.com

 

Several digital images that Microsoft has posted on its Web site to trumpet its new “I’m a PC” ad campaign were actually created on Macs, according to the files’ originating-software stamp.

Four of the images that Microsoft made available on itsPressPass site last week display the designation “Adobe Photoshop C3 Macintosh” when their file properties are examined. The images appear to be frames from the television ads that Microsoft launcehd Thursday.

One of the images is of a real Microsoft engineer, identified only as “Sean,” who resembles John Hodgman, the actor who plays the PC character in Apple’s iconic ads. Reportedly, Microsoft will play off Apple’s own campaign—during which Hodgman introduces himself with the line, “Hello, I’m a PC”—with its engineer saying “Hello, I’m a PC, and I’ve been made into a stereotype.”

Other images posted by Microsoft last Thursday include shots of author Deepak Chopra; Canadian adventurer and educator Geoff Green, founder of Students on Ice Expeditions; and a shark-surround diver named “Meaghan.”

Not all of the images on the PressPass site were generated on Macs. The sample print ads, which highlight the campaign’s “Life Without Walls” slogan, were produced using the Windows version of Adobe Photoshop, according to their files.

The originating software and platform can be found in downloaded versions of the files using built-in tools on either a Mac running Mac OS X or on a PC running Windows.

In Windows XP, for instance, users can view the tag by right-clicking the downloaded file, selecting Properties from the drop-down menu, then clicking the Summary tab. “Adobe Photoshop CS3 Macintosh” appears beside “Creation Software.”

On a Mac, after opening the downloaded file in Preview, users can see the tag by choosing Inspector from the Tools menu, clicking on the middle More Info tab, then clicking on the tab marked TIFF. “Adobe Photoshop CS3 Macintosh” appears beside “Software.”

Microsoft’s campaign is the creation of the Crispin Porter + Bogusky agency, part of a $300 million effort to revamp Windows Vista’s reputation

The Death of Captain America

Captain America, one of Marvel Comic’s most popular and well-known heroes, always stood for the American people and the American way.  He stood by soldiers in war, presidents, and has always had America’s best interests in mind.  He personified the American spirit, pride, morals, and values.  However, something in the comics industry recently put an end to this great hero.  He was assassinated.

 

While thinking of this, I couldn’t help wonder if this was somehow connected to the actual country of America, both in comics and in the real world.  Captain America has always stood for our country, as it prospers and grows, so does he grow and develop.  When we fall in hard times, he is the American people’s hope as he fights whatever obstacle is in the way.  However, with the Iraq War in progress and with no real sight in end, many have lost faith in the country that was always on the cutting edge of global society, in technology and social and political practices.  Whatever has stood in our way we have overcome, just how Captain America himself trumps any trial in his path.  However, is this war something that has taken us too far?  Can we rebound from this like we have so many times in the past?  Captain America has died from a bullet, and so too has some of the American hope and pride died, but with more than just one or even thousands of bullets.

 

And now the time for change has come, in both the comic book world and in America.  A new Captain America is needed, but will it be for the better or worse?  Can a new Captain America help this country like Steve Rogers did?  And what can the next president do to turn this country back around?  Barack Obama is a passionate and driven candidate, but is his experience enough to run a country?  Is McCain going to be active enough in solving our world’s problems like the climate crisis, the Iraq war, and America’s economic problem?  Time will tell.