Part of me loves--still loves---the old Gardner Fox/John Broome stories (and to a lesser extent, Jack Kirby's fabulous concepts) which informed as well as entertained. There's part of me that still goes, "Gee WHIZ, Mr. Wizard!"

Everything described here is true. The higher elements are forged in the heart of stars and spread through supernovae throughout the universe. If we were a first generation-star, rather than a late second or early third, Earth would be composed of just hydrogen or helium. Supernovae's deaths formed the elements that make life possible.

Of course, it would also do a small fraction of transuranic elements too--even those reaching to the theoretical "island of stability" that some physicists theorize, where elements will not decay into lower elements in seconds...elements with properties and abilities which we can only guess at. (The "island of stability" of stable higher elements is perfectly true also, albeit theoretical.)

Is this the first time such a concept has been used in fiction? Of course not. The late, great, Poul Anderson used the concept in two novels, SATAN'S WORLD and MIRKHEIM, where such a world stayed intact and was worthy of a war between star-cultures. I stole/adapted the idea, but made it a double-star system (as so many star systems are) and one supernova triggering another, double-plating the world, but shattering it in the process.

Note how many comic stories start with shattered worlds? Superman, the New Gods...

This is the point that occurs in most Mindmistress stories where the antagonist explains his origin. A lot of exposition, but I for one find it fascinating. And trust me, this stuff is important...

Because you too are supernova-debris.

Featured link:

LIVING TROUBLE---beautiful art and a fascinating story. What more could you want?

Marine of SEA/SKY sent me two wonderful manga fan art wallpapers to use on your computer...one is one of LORELEI/MM, showing the two sides to her, and one is of her favorite character, VICKI.

And I had an interview with Zebra Girl's Joe England published in Comixpedia...

I'm also listed on COMIC ALERT---and more subscribed to then the excellent Queen of Wands? Wow...that won't last...

Life is full, life is earnest...

Life is full of fun.

This is actually a collection of things that have happened to me recently---and pay no attention to the date at the top...

Like two hours in the pool, and tingling from the slight sunburn, despite the sunblock...

Or the three-volume set of the movie version of the LORD OF THE RINGS being given to me for Father's Day...before me as I type this...

I may have, in a fit of madness, volunteered for an editorial position for a webcomics-related magazine...watch this space...

Oh, sure, the news has been cruddy lately. Americans beheaded in barbarian acts that...and surely they realize this---just make Bush's reelection inevitable?

People attacking their own pipeline, hurting themselves to hurt America...

The whole prison scandal thing.

But in a way the execution at least brought us back to the focus. Yeah, what we did at the prison was abusive and uncalled-for---but compared to being beheaded, which is what our enemies are doing...

Well...it puts it in perspective, that's all.

If they wanted us to leave this area, stuff like this is exactly what they shouldn't do.

How badly they misread our character...and I'm sure the misunderstanding is mutual.

Brian's gotten a job selling something---Costco knives?---and had his first appointments yesterday...

And sold something in every one of them...

His grandfather, and great-grandfather were salesmen, and his uncle has sold things. I never really wanted to...

Nevertheless, he is persausive, and it's a good job in that he can leave it for periods of time---because he has a Mexico trip scheduled, and a San Diego trip (which he's hoping to drive back with Mom's old car...and boy, does that make me nervous, even if he'll have someone with him..)

And as he put it, "sales representative" looks good on a resume...

Too bad he didn't get the job at the local comic book store. I was sure pulling for THAT one...

As college gets closer and closer...

Meanwhile, I continue to plug away, at my job, at my webcomic, occasionally at this journal...

I recently did a collaboration with an artist on a guest strip for a major Keenspot comic, but will announce more here when it's out...but it was a beautiful job from my script.

Flybys of Saturn, rovers on Mars...filling my life with beauty as bits and pieces of the universe are seen more and more...

Despite 9-11, despite the "war on terror", I can think of no other time I would rather live---where we are exploring the solar system and the universe, and I can publish my thoughts or a comic for free, on the internet, and not have to bother with publishers and the whole publishing system....

Little by little, life is good.

And so, I think is the Creator of same.