deerstalker

https://blacknerdproblems.com/avengers-18-review/

Writer: Jason Aaron / Artist: Ed McGuinness / Marvel Comics

Last week I watched Shazam! and this week I read Avengers #18. I’ve come to understand that Marvel can be on some petty mess. It was apparent when I was reminded of the dispute between Marvel and DC regarding Captain Marvel. This week the shamelessness is real as we’re introduced to the newest iteration of the Squadron Supreme. My knowledge of the team is fleeting at best from the short description on Vs System cards, but it was pretty obvious the similarity between them and the Justice League.

The issue begins rattling off the characters: Hyperion, Power Princess, Nighthawk, Whizzer and Doctor Spectrum are all summoned to handle an attack by Frost Giants by none other than Agent Coulson. A deeper look into their past shows some shady training by the U.S. government. The Squadron shows its loyalty is to the United States as they take a “not our problem” stance when the Giants are driven north to Canada.

For all the shade I’d like to throw at a Justice League copycat in a copy vaguely associated with The War of Realms, I really liked this comic. It turned the Justice League into a creepy team of Manchurian candidates waving an obnoxious “America First” banner. My particular favorite was Nighthawk’s arc. As far as I can tell, his being a DC representative is a new take on the character. There is a poetic narrative describing the lack of power a DC rep has and comparing that to his being the least powerful of the team. The theme is echoed later where Nighthawk’s inherent skepticism is explored through his mistrust of the team’s handlers. The glimmer of hope that the illusion will be shattered is dashed as Nighthawk is shown to be manipulated even in his paranoia, adding to the layered theme of powerlessness. Adding a little humor to offset the creepy hopelessness, Agent Coulson says “Hold Richmond’s doubt meter at level eight. Jealousy at four. He’s best when he’s brooding”. If this is the last we see of The War of Realms story bleeding into the Avengers book I’ll be good. I really want to see the Squadron Supreme as the latest team explored in this book.

8 “Demon Resurrections”  out of 10

Reading Avengers? Find BNP’s other reviews of the series here.

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The post Avengers #18 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/john-singleton-daughter-father-coma/

The family of filmmaker John Singleton is reportedly fighting for control of his business affairs and estate following the 51-year-old movie director’s stroke last week. Singleton’s mother is seeking to be appointed as his temporary conservator and claims that he has fallen into a coma. Singleton’s daughter, however, is disputing that claim as well as her grandmother’s pursuit of conservatorship, which would grant her legal authority to make medical and financial decisions on Singleton’s behalf while he is incapacitated.

Singleton made history at 24 years old when he became both the first African American and youngest person ever to be nominated for Best Director at the 1992 Academy Awards for his debut film Boyz n the Hood (1991). The groundbreaking film also received an Oscars nod for Best Original Screenplay. The screenwriter went on to direct a number of notable films and television series throughout his career, including classics like Poetic Justice and Baby Boy, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and the recent FX crime drama Snowfall.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the South Los Angeles native suffered from a severe stroke on April 17 and was placed in intensive care. At the time, his family released a statement saying that he was under “great medical care.” His mother, Shelia Ward, filed papers in court on Thursday stating Singleton is “currently hospitalized in a coma and is unable to provide for his personal needs” or “manage his financial resources,” according to The Associated Press. The court papers also claim that at the time of his stroke, Singleton was “engaged in several business deals” and in the process of signing “a lucrative settlement agreement.” The papers added that he would take a huge financial loss if a conservator cannot sign the papers on his behalf.

Singleton’s daughter, Cleopatra Singleton, however, is publicly denying her grandmother’s claims, according to a report published in The New York Times Friday. “My father is not in a coma,” she told The NYT. “My father had a stroke on April 17, 2019, and at this point, we are optimistic about a full recovery.” She added that her siblings also oppose the idea of giving their grandmother control over their father’s estate, which is valued at $1.4 million. “Myself, several of my siblings, and my father’s father will oppose my grandmother’s application to be appointed my father’s legal conservator,” she said. She added that there will be a hearing “on whether or not my grandmother should become the temporary conservator over my father’s personal and business estate.”

This is not the first time Singleton’s family has been in conflict. Back in 2016, one of his sons wrote an open letter accusing Singleton’s mother of being “an overbearing, manipulative mother who is jealous of anyone else’s happiness.”

 

 

The post John Singleton’s Daughter: “My Father Is Not in a Coma” appeared first on Black Enterprise.

https://dollarstorecrafts.com/2019/04/do-you-crochet/

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Because I Crochet

Do you want to know why I have been spending all my free time in the past 3 months crocheting?

I got a new job!

I’m working at a yarn company developing a new secret crochet project! I can’t tell you everything yet, but if you are a crocheter too, it would help me a lot if you would pop over to take this 5 minute survey about crochet.

After you do that (and you can enter to win a $100 Visa card when you complete the survey), come back and I’ll show and tell some of the crochet projects I’ve been working on lately!

My Crochet Show & Tell

I’ve been posting most of my projects on my Instagram and Ravelry profile, but here’s a peek at some of my crochet projects:

Crocheted Easter Baskets

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I crocheted some quick Easter baskets for my four sons — each of these took about an hour.

Puff Stitch Beanies

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I started crocheting hats to practice with different yarns and techniques, and discovered that puff stitch beanies are a lot of fun to make!

(I called my hat crocheting the Heather Hat Project and ended up making 20+ hats of various styles and yarns).

Granny Square Welcome Mat

I made a giant granny square welcome mat for my cubicle at work (it also kind of looks like a flag for Granny Square Nation).

Rainbow Ripples

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My sons started making requests, and the 11yo asked me to make a “black and rainbow” neck warmer (aka cowl), and I loved how it turned out so much that I made the exact same design a second time but stitched the top up into a hat.

Epic Afghans

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I started crocheting afghans a few years ago. I didn’t know if I would make it through ONE because it was such a big project, but I had so much fun changing colors and yarns that it kept me going.

And then I made TEN MORE. I call them my “Epic Afghans.”

So that’s where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to. Do you crochet too? Let me know in the comments, and please go take my survey!

The post Do You Crochet? appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

https://www.geek.com/tech/more-families-get-discounted-lyft-to-the-grocery-store-1784666/?source

Following successful pilots in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, the Lyft Grocery Access Program will provide affordable rides to the supermarket for families in a dozen more cities. For folks living in a food […]

The post More Families Get Discounted Lyft to the Grocery Store appeared first on Geek.com.