The Patent Dragon's Zone of Soul Retraction

Guess I didn't post a short entry late last week, then. Oh well, suppose I should make up for lost time, now that I'm approaching normal health again...

First, videos. Yup, plural - from Sunday AND tonight!



Next: great news for Marvel Studios, as CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER does very tasty box-office on its US opening and its ongoing international run! Also, we learn that a third solo movie for the star-spangled Avenger is going to go head-to-head with the Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman follow-on from Man Of Steel - so that's Cap AND ANT MAN for 2016 then...

And finally... Had the TV aerial engineers in, to address my annoying channel drop-outs lately. New aerial, new connecting cable... and the same problem remains. Great...

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER is excellent stuff. See it. Watch ALL of the credits. Now, I go to bed. Review tomorrow.

Yay, it's comic delivery time again, and some pretty major events are either continuing or winding up, as I shall now report...

( WARNING! High levels of spoiler contamination ahead! )

Meanwhile, more little snippets are getting out about the Guardians Of The Galaxy movie, and there seems to be a concerted effort to talk up the whole project, whilst keeping as many of its secrets as possible. I am still firmly behind this movie, and I cannot see Marvel Studios dropping the ball after SEVEN movies and a TV series. It's going to work - trust me on this - and "I am Groot" will be the catchphrase of next summer.

Review: THOR - The Dark World One question: can the THOR sequel match the original for quality and entertainment, AND keep Marvel's grand plans simmering away nicely?

One answer: YES. And this is why...

( WARNING: Spoilers Abound! )

The Final Verdict... More Asgard, more background, more heavy-duty action - more foreshadowing. An excellent addition to Marvel's grand scheme - and watch for BOTH the "extras" during and after the credits! 8.5/10

Oh, and there's a great Captain America cameo!

No... sorry... I can't do it. Today's news broadcasts deliver good news for a change, but the real headline has to be...

the first FULL trailer for CAPTAIN AMERICA - THE WINTER SOLDIER

- and Blockbuster Season 2014 gets its first salvo in early.

In other news... Following on from last night...

The Grangemouth petrochemical plant is staying open, after workers and unions came to an agreement with management - an agreement that jobs, and the welfare of the workers, are more important than trying to score cheap political points...

Meanwhile... Errrr, I can't remember what else I was going to write tonight. It'll come to me eventually, I suspect. In any case, it'll give me material for tomorrow...

...oh yeah - Sunday sees game 2 of the two NFL fixtures in London this year; 49ers "at" Jaguars. Maybe not as compelling a game as the first, Vikings/Steelers game, but hey, it's LIVE FOOTBALL.

Also, we get THREE games next year. Pity no Redskins.

Sunday Left-overs... The Pack won, so justice is served somewhat, after the Monday Night fiasco. The 'Skins won, to even things out in the first quarter of the season... now things get serious.

Gap Year Developments... Okay, I'm into the first full month of The Gap Year, and already I'm starting to get things organised. I'm thinking of dividing things into "Must Do", "Want To Do", "Should Do" categories and so on - Must lose weight (Gap 1), Must deal with my stuff overflowing (Gap 53), Want to finish my diddly-bow (Gap 97)... that kind of thing. I'm hearing that the painting now needing done in My Office is due sooner than I expected - and that's good, for the sooner that part of my world is sorted, the more I can get done, and the more efficently I can do it. For a start, I desperately need those sodding windows replaced, and then my desk - the bloody drawers might be useful, but they are in direct, and frequent conflict with my knees. My at-work desk is without doubt the ideal option.

Also, I'm having thoughts about the "framing" of my Personal Goddess (Gap 91). I've thought of getting an old standing mirror and taking the glass out, but maybe I need to make something suitable, like a corner cupboard/wardrobe-style installation, ideally something that's also functional, with a triangular base. IKEA has something vaguely along those lines...

HOLD EVERYTHING. Fire alarm... oh wait, they'd rescheduled the testing. Yeah, that's what it is... but guess who poked their heads out of their offices, looking all bewildered? The Health And Safety department!

Hilarious!

And Finally... If I can come up with enough achievable Tasks to fill out a new Mission 101, I will go for it. That would mean a finish date of 26th June 2015 - nicely in time to include AVENGERS 2? And there's another Task: Opening-day viewings of all Phase 2 Marvel movies (Iron Man 3; Thor - The Dark World; Captain America - The Winter Soldier; Guardians Of The Galaxy - AVENGERS 2 (or AVENGERS: Uh Oh Here Comes Thanos))...?

Tempting.