How to find my CURRENT blog post...

No, Y2K didn't happen late, nor is there a major computer virus on the loose. The date is correct. It's a glitch i found, that i am using for a fictional blog i have created, called "The End - 2020" . (So instead of the end of the world happening in 2012 like the movie, or a pre-Trib scenario like the Left Behind novel series, it's a different twist." )

For my most recent posts, check this link or sinply scroll below.

Our Encounter with Chloe Bennet

 

 *** Note -- we will be editing this over time, to include the video from C2E2,and other items as we are able. 

 

This should have been written 4 years ago, even though it has been contemplated often since the first thought of it. .

But on the day (and maybe even the hour) that Agents of SHIELD is ending its run on ABC, I wanted to share with the world our family’s experience with one of its stars, Chloe Bennet. Chloe portrays Daisy Johnson, who was first introduced as “Skye” and then, after changing from computer hacker to Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division)., and transforming into the superpowered Inhuman Quake.

 

2016 was my oldest daughter’s first experience at C2E2, the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo. 

 

My daughter is shy, and so it took her a while to gather her courage to get in line to ask a question. However, we finally made our way to the back of the line. But because there was such a large crowd, the organizers told people on our end of the line that we had to sit down. My daughter was so disappointed. But apparently Chloe was observing the crowd, and had my daughter and another young girl come back up and ask their question.

 

Because this was her first experience with a celebrity, and with the large crowd watching, was nervous. But Chloe was able to help coach my daughter in completing the question. She then gave a fun answer.

 

At the end, she also invited many of us to come up on stage to get a selfie. I just gotten a new phone, and didn’t know how to do selfies at the time. so I messed up our visual memory of the event. But even if I were as tech savvy as Daisy Johnson, I still couldn’t have captured the full memories and feelings of that day.

 

What Chloe didn’t know when she had Mia come back was that this was actually the day before my daughter’s 11^th birthday. so just getting that chance totally made her birthday, and Chloe honored her by having the entire auditorium wish her happy birthday, which just amplified that.

There were actually a couple of other things that she didn’t find out that day (but hopefully now). My daughter is ¼ Dutch &  ¼ Indonesian (from me) and ½ black with a sprinkle of Native American (from my wife). So her speaking about her accomplishments as someone who is half-Chinese really excited & inspired all of our family.

The other thing that Chloe didn’t know was Mia’s “secret origin” story.  She was born at 23 ½ weeks, 4 months early, weighing in at 15 ½ ounces. She survived an ambulance trip from the Weiss Hospital on the North Side of Chicago, down Lakeshore drive BEFORE it was reconstructed, and all the way to Rush Hospital on the near West Side of Chicago.

 

After 4 months in the NUCU , and 3 years of different types of therapies , Mia began pre-school, then elementary school, where she was #4 in her class. And now she has finished her first year of high school, achieving the number 1 spot.  

 

So we just wanted to share with Chloe Bennet just what she has meant to our family, especially that day at C2E2.

 

We are sad that Agents of SHIELD is ending, but Chloe Bennet, we wish you the best in your future and we look forward to seeing what is next.

#ThanksChloeBennet #AgentsofSHIELD #QuakeSpinoff #ChloeBennet #C2E2

January 2020 art contest submission for TrekBBS

TrekBBS is a message board where Star Trek fans all over the world and share ideas, art, and debate over details...not just on Star Trek, but science fiction in general as well as other topics such as sports and politics.

One "board" they have is for Fan ART, and they run monthly contests, which I have previously entered.

In January , the previous winner accepted my proposal of "Crisis on Infinite Enterprises", a play on the DC Comics special series, Crisis on Infinite Earths, which was recently adapted by what I call DC TV, or others, the Arrowverse.

My entry is "Chris's on Infinite Enterprises".... where my dream casting/storyline for a Star Trek (reboot) number 4, which seems like it won't be made. A real idea which was floated around would be to have George Kirk, father of Captain James T Kirk, and featured at the beginning of the 2009reboot movie, travel through time, and meet his son. Well, I thought it'd be awesome to bring in 2 other Chris's, who have worked with Hemsworth on the Marvel movies (while Pine has done DC movies -- so far).   So in addition to George (who would be from the "original" timeline), I could imagine Chris Pratt as David Marcus Kirk (or just David Marcus, form Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan)… and then have Chris Evans as Leonard Kirk (named after Dr. McCoy) as a great grandson of James T Kirk in a future variation.

This was a hastily made design (but thought over , for many weeks)… I would LOVE if these 4 Chris's would do a bootleg fan film trailer over it, and drive the Internet crazy.

So what do YOU think?

Resurrection of Gavin Stone movie review

The Karl and June Morning show on Moody Radio Chicago (90.1 FM in Chicago

) has Juni’s Movies on Fridays (which helps Christians consider hat movies to watch), and co-host Juni Felix invited me to write up a review of the movie, so here it is. It’s not a detailed analysis like my childhood friend Devin Faraci would write, but something to consider, and feel free to comment about.

The Resurrection of Gavin Stone is a movie that stars Brett Dalton (Agent Ward from Marvels’ Agents of SHIELD on ABC), and centers on the former child star gone bad that finds his way to Jesus through community service at a church . Some people might find this ironically relevant, as the key to this plot is a celebrity pretending to be a Christian in order to get a leading role.

Dalton and co-lead Anjelah Johnson-Reyes  are excellent in their roles, extremely real people.   The movie is co-produced by Vertical Films and WWE (YES, the wrestling entertainment company) and includes former wrestler Shawn Michaels as well as character actor DB Sweeney.

I think it’s a fun family film. Gavin Stone’s temptations are not really graphic , and definitely doesn’t glorify the “sinful” lifestyle. But there are plenty of laughs and beautifully shot.

I believe the movie is also a good critique of Christians, showing how we can look goofy to people, or worse, judgmental and can ignore the value in “sinful” people when we focus on just one thing. It doesn’t show Christians as perfect – at all, but hopefully stirs some thoughts about what it means to follow Jesus …and not just for the “unsaved”.  This should spark some great conversations with your family about what is really important in life.

I am kind of disappointed that it only made a little over $2 million (which was approximately its budget). I understand that it’s not a must-see-in-a-theater movie like Marvel movies or the upcoming Wonder Woman film, but it is certainly worth watching.

Oh, and for Chicago people, you will love the little references dropped in here and there. 

Resurrection of Gavin Stone is available digitally, and just released on DVD. 

April 2017 Trekbbs Art challenge

Usually every month, the message board Trekbbs has a monthly art contest, and has a poll to determine that month's winner. The poll is usually post within the first 5 days of the following month. The winner then determines that next month's contest.

But now, nearly 3 weeks in, the moderator who posts that poll, Ptrope, has been missing in action, with no poll.

So I have taken it upon myself to create April's contest -- What happened to Ptrope?

The following is my admittedly weak sauce entry. If I improve on it, check back here for an edited post. Or come up with something better (it wouldn't be that hard)

November 2016 art contest submission for TrekBBS

So I'm entering the TrekBBS art contest again.

Similar to May's TrekBBS art contest, this one's focus is one creating a Star Trek Christmas Card.

The idea was based on a thought (perhaps a cartoon) I had from about 30 years ago or so.

The graphic shows the Outside and the Inside of the card.

So if you're on TrekBBS, please consider voting for me.

Coming soon - a link to the vote.

The Cubs, the World Series and the End Times

Chicago Cubs World Series Win: Good or Bad for humanity?

So tonight, the Chicago Cubs are on the verge of winning their first World Series in 108 years. There seems to be no one alive who remembers the last time the Cubs actually won the World Series, while a few grandparents are getting a second chance to see the Cubs actually win the series (they last went to the World Series with the Cubs in 1946, who lost the series).

People have been talking about a Chicago Cubs World Series win literally for generations.  The second Back to the Future movie predicted for 2015. It looks like that a Cubs win is not science fiction, but rather they were off by perhaps a year.

But we should be concerned.  Others have noted how Donald Trump’s candidacy (and the Cubs – Sox rivalry at this time) seem to be fulfilling Endtime scriptures like Matthew 24:6 of “Wars and rumors of wars”.

But the scariest of these is how the prediction of the Cubs winning the World Series is a part of the  End Times as well. If you don’t believe me , check it out in the biblical book of Revelation, chapter 30. There you will see that 8^th seal will have been broken.

Also, there is a word from Brian Bakke, son of Ray Bakke, an urban missionary to Chicago many years ago. Brian grew up on the North Side of Chicago in Uptown, just a couple of miles due north of Wrigley Field. So with those credentials, you know he is theologically and geographically correct in what he says.

So he has presented this on many occasion: What did Jesus tell the Cubs? “Don’t do anything until I get back.”

We have seen what looks like a comeback miracle, after losing at home but not tying the series at 3 a piece. So we shall see in a few hours if the end is nigh, or if the Cubs’ tradition will continue.

For the love of diversity, PLEASE see Queen of Katwe

If you love diversity(or say you do), especially in entertainment, then go see Queen of Katwe this week (ALREADY in selected theaters, and many more next week, starting this Friday, September 30).

There are people who have probably written much more persuasive (and longer) pieces, but i'd like to throw out my feelings and thoughts, and hope you can agree at least on one small action.

Now, this weekend, The Magnificent 7 remake is out as well. That too is an excellent example of diversity (the 7 are a diverse bunch), as well as Antwone Fuqua as director. The thing is, this is a Hollywood blockbuster, and since it's opening in late September, it will likely be #1 at the box office for the next 2-3 weeks. So while it could also use the support (it was already #1 on its opening weekend),  it won't need it as much as a lower budget (approximately $15 million) film  could use the help.

None of the stars of this movie are white  (and in fact are 1st or 2nd Generation African), which may turn off many potential moviegoers. Let's buck that trend, and not give Hollywood an excuse to stop making films featuring non-whites, as well as excuses for focusing just on sex and violence.

So if you can only see one movie this weekend, see Queen of Katwe. If you can see two, then go for Magnificent 7. But sacrifice a little to make a big impact.

Thanks for taking the time (and just a bit of money)  to help support diversity, and quality entertainment.

Christians need to see Queen of Katwe

I really want to encourage my Christian friends to take some time this weekend and see the movie Queen of Katwe. This is a movie about a young Ugandan girl who becomes a chess champion.

The reason why I want to see this movie this weekend as opposed to waiting to DVD or another weekend is because the opening weekend of a movie is how to make a huge impact. This will send a signal to the studio executives that these kinds of family-oriented movies are important and really need to be out there.  (It opened in limited release last week, but the full opening is this weekend).

Now, this Christian movie is not as blatantly Christian is The Passion of the Christ or this year's movie Risen. However, this is one of those rare movies that shows Christians in a positive light. It shows us doing Simple everyday Ministry, which shows how we can have a great impact around the world.

My oldest daughter is excited to see it, and I can wait to see it with her, and talk all about it after it's over.

Let's get all out there as well. This is our opportunity to make a difference. And it won't cost us very much money and just a couple hours of our time.

May 2016 art contest submission for TrekBBS

Trekbbs has a monthly art contest. For May 2016, the theme is flags...especially ones that were NOT seen in Star Trek at all.

My entry is for May 2016 is Mudd's Planet.... (the episode where interstellar con man Harry Mudd had a planet of androids)

I wanted it animated, because without 20th century budget and technological restraints, flags should be able to change color

And with Harry Mudd, his stuff would  be gawdy...and of course about him !

Marvel *and* DC : Civil War

So this year, comic fans are looking at their heroes going to war with themselves. From Captain America: Civil War (Marvel heroes fighting in May) to Batman V. Superman (DC heroes fighting right now) to Supergirl racing the Flash on Monday... what if we put them altogether in one graphic?

And on the serious side...

I hope to get back to writing soon, on thoughts ranging from the "fun" (like how I think DC should have rolled out Justice League on film) to the political, such as the "test" I wold challenge any Supreme Court nominee, as well presidential candidate questions that we have never heard in a debate, but be far more useful in determining a choice of world leader.


In the meantime, let me give you some links to one of my other blogs, Do-Gooder Consulting.  Our motto is helping you help others, and hopefully, some of this information will help.

• Why you high school student needs to fill out the FAFSA right NOW! 
• 
  
• Suggestions on using social media more effectively
• 
  
• MAJOR changes to the FAFSA for next year (really only 7 months from now!)
• 
  
• Some of our other best work

Hope these can help!