World Whale and Dolphin Day

 Happy World Whale and Dolphin Day!

What is World Whale and Dolphin Day? Well, on July 23, 1986, this day was declared by the International Whaling Commission. This declaration also came with an international ban on whaling, helping end two centuries of the killing of whales. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the threats that whales and dolphins still face to this day, like illegal hunting, climate change, and pollution. As part of that purpose, I thought that I'd highlight some cool facts about whales and dolphins courtesy of NOAA: 

1. Blue whales have the biggest hearts of any known animal.

Blue whales are among the biggest animals on Earth. As such, it makes sense that they would have rather large organs. A blue whale's heart can weigh over 1,000 pounds. Yeah, try lifting one of those blood-pumpers!

2. Dolphins can swim very fast.

Dall's porpoises are among the fastest swimmers among their fellow cetaceans. They can reach speeds of 34 miles per hour for small distances. They are potentially to sea creatures what cheetahs are to land animals. Pretty cool.

3. Dolphins are intelligent.

Dolphins are among the most intelligent species of animals on Earth. Various species of dolphins and whales have been observed coming up with strategies to help catch their prey for lunch. One example is some bottlenose dolphins living in Australia use basket sponges to protect their beaks while they forage on the seabed. Humpback whales corral plankton and small fish near the surface of the water using a trick called "Bubble net feeding". This trick lets them swallow a whole lot of their prey whole.

4. Whales and Dolphins once lived on land.

Fossil records have shown that in the distant past, whales and dolphins once lived on land, before evolving into the aquatic creatures we know today. It's why whales and dolphins have blowholes. You see, like humans, whales and dolphins can't breathe underwater. When they move through the water, they're holding their breath. Blowholes allow them to take breaths. 

5. Whales could help combat climate change.

How? Well, during a great whale's life, their bodies accumulate carbon. When a whale dies, its body sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Depending on the whale's lifespan, it can accumulate as much as 33 tons of carbon on average. And when it sinks, it keeps the carbon out of the atmosphere for centuries. Great whales' bodies are better than trees at absorbing carbon. It's one reason why preserving these creatures is so important. 

6. Dolphins swallow their prey whole.

Dolphins do have teeth, but unlike humans, they don't use them to chew their food. The teeth are actually used to help grip prey so that dolphins can swallow them whole safely. 

So, yeah! Dolphins and whales are fascinating creatures. They are majestic and beautiful animals...and in dolphins' cases, they can be brutal. If you want to read more about these cetaceans, you can look here, here and here. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

World Brain Day

 Happy World Brain Day, everyone!

This day was established by the World Federation of Neurology, as it was founded on this day in 1957. It's an organization comprised of various neurologists from around the world. The Federation is dedicated to research and education about the importance of keeping your brain healthy. After all, the brain is the body's control center.

It's the most important organ in the human body, as without it, the body cannot do anything. The heart can't pump blood. The lungs can't take in air. The brain encapsulates who and what we are. So yeah, take good care of your brain, and enjoy this brilliant Brain Day! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

National Ice Cream Day

Today is National Ice Cream Day!

Ice cream is a sweet treat enjoyed all over the world. Ice cream is typically made by taking milk or cream, mixing it with a sweetener (like sugar), a spice (like cocoa), or certain fruits. Many things have been used to make ice cream. heck, they've made bacon-flavored ice cream. I actually have a morbid interest in trying it.

The origins of ice cream have been rather hard to trace. One origin is in ancient Persia around 550 BC. Back then, the Persians had come up with techniques for storing and using ice that led to them not only creating frozen desserts but also having chilled drinks with ice. An ancient Roman cookbook dating from the 1st century AD has recipes for sweet deeserts sprinkled with snow. And Heian period-era Japan originated Kakigori, a dessert made by putting flavored syrup on shaved ice. In 16th century Asia, the Mughal Empire would use ice from the Hindu Kush mountains to create kulfi, which has become known as traditional Indian ice cream. Yes, the desire for sweet cold treats is an old and rather universal one. 

Ice cream's spread through Europe is often accredited to explorer Marco Polo. It wasn't mentioned in his writings, but it was believed he witnessed sorbet-style treats being made in China. The first mention of ice cream in England was made in 1671 by politician Elias Ashmole in his description of the dishes being served at the Feast of St. George.

It's not known how ice cream was brought to the American colonies, but it is known that cities like New York had shops that served it. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson were fans of the sweet treat. In fact, Jefferson was erroneously credited for introducing ice cream to the US. Jefferson did introduce vanilla-flavored ice cream, and had an 18-step recipe for making ice cream.

As time went on, ice cream became more accessible to the common man. The 1870s saw the invention of the ice cream soda. The late 19th century would see the birth of the ice cream sundae. The 20th century would see the rise in popularity of ice cream parlors as cheap refrigeration became more common. This century also saw the birth of "soft serve" ice cream.

So, how did this day come about? Well, you can thank Ronald Reagan. Yeah. In 1984, he wanted to commemorate the popular treat, so this came about. Americans consume about 23 gallons of ice cream per year. But as I have shown, the love of the cool treat crosses culture, country, and language. I think if there is one thing that can be described as universal alongside art, it's ice cream.

So treat yourself to a little bit of ice cream today! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and wish to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

Marvel: The Lost Generation #6 (September 2000)

It's that time again! It's time to look in on the adventures of the Marvel Universe's Lost Generation of superheroes! Last time, the First Line battled the "Invaders", Black Fox thinks retirement is for wimps, and the Line gets hit by the Watergate Scandal. As we go backwards, what other adventures did they have? Well, they did get involved in a certain other very important event. You'll see what I mean when I look at Marvel: The Lost Generation #6!

The cover is a John Byrne and Al Milgrom piece. It's pretty cool, if a bit deceptive. It depicts a monstrous creature about to attack an astronaut on the Moon, as shown in the astronaut's visor. It's a coo visual, like something out of a horror movie poster. As for why it's deceptive, well...you'll see what I mean.

"Crisis of Conscience"
Writers: Roger Stern, John Byrne
Penciller: John Byrne
Inker: Al Milgrom
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

The story begins on a very special time, date, and place. The time? 9:32 AM EDT. The place? Cape Kennedy, Florida. In particular, launch pad 39A. The date? July 16, 1969. Ladies and gentlemen...we are witnessing the launch...of Apollo 11. 

Yup, the beginning of man's first trip to the Moon. I'm a bit of a space nut, so I was excited to look at this issue. The world is watching this historic event, including the Robert Paine, aka the stalwart First Liner known as the Black Fox. He isn't alone in his home at Foxwood Farms.

In the coming years, Katyusha would inspire Rod Stewart and ZZ Top.

Yes, he has the company of the beautiful Katyusha with him. Fun fact, her name comes from a Soviet rocket launcher created and used during World War II. Also, the name "Katyusha" is a pet name for "Yekaterina", the Russian form of the name "Catherine".

She remarks that truly; the Apollo 11 launch is a great day for world peace. Even though this means America will ultimately win the Space Race, the Moon Landing can be seen as a sign that ultimately people will be able to unite together regardless of things like national origin. 

Seeing this has gotten Kat in the mood for some sweet lovin'. She also wants to help thank the Black Fox for helping her defect. He warns her that if it's a relationship she's looking for, she won't find it with him. He's never been able to commit to anyone new ever since Miriam was killed by Nocturne, as established in issue #8. That's not a problem for her. She's not interested in relationships.

The date? July 20th, 1969. The time? 4:58 AM MDT. The place? The Hideaway (the original HQ of the First Line before Nixon stripped away their government privileges in the last issue). The First Line (Blackjack, Effigy, Nightingale, Firefall, Mr. Justice, Oxbow, Pixie) have been called in. 

"This better not be because somebody lost a contact lens again!"

Expect for the Fox, because he's...very busy with Katyusha. 

It's not like the Fox to remain incommunicado, so they leave it be. Effigy didn't call the Line in because he wanted to host a Moon Landing Watch Party. Effigy reveals that in the past, the Line discovered a spacecraft. Not the one in issue #11, the one Effigy is talking about will eventually be seen in a future issue. Remember, this maxiseries is numbered backwards, 12 to 1. 

Yeah, it is a bit confusing, I admit. Anyway, Effigy has been monitoring for signs of alien activity ever since. Two days ago, he picked up a signal. The signal revealed that the aliens that built that craft are back...and he believes that they're here to stop Apollo 11 from reaching the Moon. The Line are eager to stop, especially Oxbow and Mr. Justice, but Pixie points out a problem: How are the First Line going to get to the Moon? Well, ol' Effigy has an answer for that, too. But we'll have to see what Effigy has planned later on. Right now, we need to meet the villains of this adventure.

Howler also didn't want Axis anywhere near his LSD.

Meet Luke "Howler" Garrow, Typhoon, and Axis. They've agreed to work for a group of men who appear to be fond of bad Challengers of the Unknown cosplay. However, Howler is not a happy monster man. He fears he'll be short-changed when it comes to his fee. The Challengers cosplayers assure Howler he'll get his full pay. Axis doesn't trust these men. You see, Axis is an early example of a Neo-Nazi, and he doesn't like the idea of working with the monstrous Howler or the foreigner Typhoon (He's from Japan). Howler and Axis nearly brawl, but it's broken up.

"You'll all find out what it's like to be slapped by a laser!"

Meet Scythe and Positron. You may remember Positron from issue #9. That issue was set in the 1980s, so presumably at some point between 1969 and then, she had reformed and become a First Line member herself. She takes a dig at Axis, as to her, Neo-Nazis are no better than any other street criminal. The Challengers cosplayers make everyone settle down, as they have something special to show them. Which is when we cut to the First Line's reaction to Effigy's little revelation. 

"Even better?! This ship has a theme park in it!"

Yes, it's a flying saucer. It had crashed around 20 years earlier, so math says that means at some point around 1949. Wait, in issue #8, Cassandra Locke's researching allowed her to discover that Skrulls were running around as far back...as 1947. This could be the craft from that incident. The timeframe fits. Huh. Anyway, Effigy reports that it has taken him around ten years (so that means he's been working on this thing since circa 1959) to find a way to recharge its fuel cells. It also can't fly around outside the solar system, but to the Moon? No problem!

The reason it's here in the Hideaway is because when it was found, Effigy used all his government influence to have it brought here for study. Secretly, he wanted to repair it. Remember, Effigy is a Skrull living as a human. He had hoped to get this craft so he could go home. It's here that Mr. Justice raises a valid point. If the government had a hidden interstellar craft, why did NASA spend so much money on its space programs? Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo? Why do that instead of just reverse engineering the spacecraft? Likely would have saved some cash!

Well, there is a reason for that. NASA never reverse-engineered the Skrull craft...because they didn't know about it. Yeah. The Air Force's best minds pored over it, and they didn't learn much due to it being so advanced by Earth standards at the time. And with that, our heroes are going to the Moon.

On the trip, Mr. Justice thinks about how he had arranged for something from his elder brother the Yankee Clipper on Apollo 11's lunar lander, and how he's going to the Moon. 

So, how's the Apollo 11 mission going along? Well, rather seemingly rather swimmingly so far. The lunar lander is making its way to the Moon. Unknown to Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, they are being observed by another Skrull craft. The men inside the craft reveal their mission is to destroy the lunar lander. The deaths of Aldrin and Armstrong on the Moon will be a crippling psychological blow to the Earth's populace and make them too reluctant to pursue space travel This will make Earth much less of a threat to other worlds. Yeah, that's their plot. 

The villain Howler starts feeling funny. Positron recalls his powers are affected by the Moon. Being this close to it must be feeling like he's on overload...

The lander successfully makes it on to the Moon's surface. It's here we cut to the 22nd century. Alexander Locke is with Pixie and Gene. By this time, the site of the lander has been made into a memorial park to commemorate the lunar landing, the first step towards humans living on Earths only natural satellite. 

This fills Pixie with nostalgia and admiration for humans. They accomplished this feat with so much less than the Eternals have. Alexander just wants to know when the immortal ex-heroine saw Cassandra. Pixie can't say much, as the last time she crossed paths with the time-traveler was in issue #12. She did learn later on that she passed along the message for her father that was hidden on the lander. 

Gene doesn't believe this. When this park was established, the lander was thoroughly checked for authenticity. And there was nothing in those checks to indicate any such hidden message. Pixie is willing to bet that said message is there. Like Gene, Alexander is disbelieving of this.

But that's going to have to be shelved as a new problem comes up. The future cops have come to arrest Pixie. 

"You're also under arrest for mooning President Schenkel!"

Yeah, she's charged with threatening the Skrull Ambassador, likely something trumped-up. Pixie tells Gene and Alexander not to worry about her, she'll be fine. I'm presuming it's because it's because she's got one heck of a good lawyer. She tells them there's a key to all this. She's not sure where, but she suggests looking under the porch.

And speaking of porches, we go back to 1969. In particular, July 20th. The time? 10:42 PM EDT. Neil Armstrong climbs down the ladder of Apollo 11's lunar lander. He steps down onto the surface of the Moon and speaks the immortal words.

That's one small step for a man...one giant leap for mankind.

And with that, history is made. Man has stepped foot on the Moon. Meanwhile, on the Skrull craft, the First Line get ready for their own lunar jaunt. Unlike Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the First Line have access to Skrull technology. And among that tech is what is known as "Lifeboat Tech". What this does is temporarily supercharge the body's natural electromagnetic aura and hyperoxygenate its tissues...somehow allowing people to survive in the cold vacuum of space for a period of time.

I think we can also presume that Effigy modified this "lifeboat tech" to be used safely on humans. Anyway, the Line waits for Armstrong and Aldrin to step on the Moon. After all, their mission is not to upstage NASA, it's to stop the villains going to attack them. The Line doesn't need to take their glory. While on the Moon, Blackjack encounters Positron. 

"Oh, I don't have your music player, Blackjack."

She blasts at him, calling him a sellout. Howler roars that he's going to kill Blackjack and charges at him. And with that, the First Line and the supervillains duke it out.

Notably, Firefall engages Typhoon, thinking he can warp weather. But that's not exactly true. You see, the Japanese villain actually has the power to command particulate matter. Basically, he can make small particles of solids or liquids move around. Which he demonstrates by hitting her with a blast of moon dust.

As the fight continues on, Effigy makes his way to the Skrull mothership. He notices that it's more advanced now. Which does make sense. Anyway, he enters the ship and finds that the benefactors of the villains in this story are actually Skrulls in disguise. He reveals his own Skrull nature to them, playing that he had been long trying to get home. The other Skrulls pick up that the First Line are fighting their own superhuman operatives, and they believe Velmax betrayed them and led them here. 

Elsewhere, the battle is falling into chaos. Howler, enraged and crazed on moon power, literally tears Axis in half. But Axis was a Neo-Nazi, so nobody cared. Scythe slashes Howler open. Typhoon watches the infighting and decides that he's had enough.

He heads to the ship and sees the dead Skrulls inside. The Japanese villain ends up trapped inside the ship as it leaves Earth and then explodes. 

And with that, the day is saved. Apollo 11's mission goes off without a hitch, presumably with Armstrong, Aldrin, and even Michael Collins none the wiser as to the Skrulls' dark plans against them. The surviving villains (Howler is not seen in the arrest scene, so it can be presumed Scythe killed him) are taken into custody. Efifgy tells Pixie that he wanted to seize their ship to study, but the Skrulls on board refused to surrender, setting the ship to self-destruct. Oxbow thinks there's something he's not telling them. And Effigy confesses there is.

This wasn't the Skrulls' first mission against the Earth. And it won't be the last. Considering their future encounters with the Fantastic Four and the next generation of Marvel heroes, and stories like Secret Invasion, Effigy's prediction will turn out to be quite dead on. 

Days later, Velmax heads to a courthouse in Washington DC in his Jake Scott identity. He thinks about how crazy Earth is, but not much crazier than this idea he could ever return to the Skrull Empire. He sees himself as an immigrant to the planet, which is shown by him watching a ceremony welcoming some newly naturalized American citizens. He mentally says their oath of citizenship with them, and the story ends with him declaring that Earth is his home with tears in his eyes. 

This honestly so far has been my favorite issue of the maxiseries. Admittedly, the main reason is because it's set during the Moon Landing. As I said earlier, I'm a bit of a space nut. It does make sense that an alien race that has been secretly fighting the Earth since the 1940s would want to sabotage the Moon Landing. 

What I also like is that we get little bits of characterization from the heroes and villains in this story. For example, Scythe is shown to be a bit sardonic, Blackjack is shown to be cocky and fond of Positron, Howler is a hothead who becomes feral on the Moon, etc. Stern is great at this. Also, I love the twist of Typhoon's powers not being related to weather but allow people to think that he can. It does make sense that there are some villains who have names that don't fit their powers. It can be surmised that maybe Typhoon thought he had weather powers at first but discovered the true nature of them later on and kept the codename to keep people guessing. At least, that's my headcanon on it. And the scene with Fox and Katyusha. She was a fun character. Very likable. Shame things didn't work out with her and Robert.

I also liked the "cuts" in the comic. The Skrulls showing the villains their ship cutting to the First Line being shown their own, Pixie talking about the Lunar Module leading to the scene of the fateful Moon Landing, the landed Module cutting to the lunar park in the far future, it helps make the comic appear more cinematic. 

Velmax's storyline of fully embracing the Earth and America as his home is something I think that is hurt by the format of the maxiseries. Remember, it's going backwards through the First Line's history. However, this is not about him. This is not his story. So, it's not anything major. I can imagine some would have an issue with the story trying not to interfere with the Moon Landing. To be fair, the First Line's job is not to upstage the Moon Landing (Mr. Justice outright says that in the story). Also, in 2000, both Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were still very much alive. As of July 2026, Aldrin is still living (Armstrong died in 2012). Marvel probably wanted to avoid a potential lawsuit if the Line were shown outright interacting with them. 

Byrne and Milgrom also turn in some strong art for this issue. It also helped contribute to the characterization of our heroes in places. Like in the arrest panel. Firefall is shown scowling at Nightingale in the back when she's talking to Mr. Justice. It makes you wonder if maybe she was fond of him. 

If you want to read this for yourself...sadly, Marvel: The Lost Generation has never been collected in a standalone trade paperback or hardcover. It was collected in a 2018 Omnibus: The Marvel Universe by john Byrne Vol. 2. But otherwise, you're just going to either hope you find it in your comic book shop's back issue bins or look online. I got all 12 issues on eBay. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

National Cherry Day

Happy National Cherry Day!

Cherries are a beloved snack, the fruit of the flowering tree genus known as prunus. The word cherry comes from the Latin word "cerasum", a reference to a region in Ancient Greece that is now Giresun, Turkey. It was believed that it was in this area that cherries were brought to Europe from Asia Minor.

There are many species of cherry, like the Japanese bush cherry and the St. Lucie cherry. Arguably, the most famous cherry species is the sweet cherry, aka the wild cherry. This species of cherry was originally native to Asia Minor and has been believed to have been enjoyed by people for centuries. Archaeological evidence suggests that wild cherries have been consumed since the Bronze Age. The Greeks would also cultivate cherries, presumably introduced to Europe by migrating birds. 

England would get wild cherries thanks to Henry VIII. He tried them in Flanders, Belgium, and presumably thought they were delicious. The 1600s would see them come to the United States. Eventually, they would find their way to other places around the world, including Australia. 

So, yeah. The cherry would eventually find its way to being a beloved sweet treat. So, if you like them, enjoy something with cherry today! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

National Hot Dog Day

Today is National Hot Dog Day!

Hot dogs are a food that is heavily associated with American culture, especially when it comes to sports. It's not unusual to see hot dogs be sold at stadiums during sporting events, nor is it strange to see tailgate parties in which hot dogs are grilled. Hot dogs can also be prepared by steaming or boiling. I like my hot dogs boiled myself.

So, where did the hot dog come from? Well, the sausage part of the hot dog (the wiener or the frankfurter/frank) was brought over by German immigrants. In fact, the frankfurter was named for the German city of Frankfurt, where they were born. They were referred to as Hot "Dogs" due to accusations of being made from the meat of dogs. While consumption of dog meat was common in some parts of Germany (like Saxony and Bavaria), and some hot dogs did contain it in the past, in general hot dogs were actually made from pork, beef, or a mix of the two. And in the modern day, there are vegetarian/vegan hotdogs made from plants. 

As for the origins of serving hot dogs in buns, that's a bit more debatable. There are a few claims to the creation of this concept. One was that English food concessionaire Harry M. Stevens used French rolls to hold the sausages when he ran out of wax paper while working at the New York Polo Grounds in 1901.

Another is that the wife of a German immigrant known only as Feughtwanger suggested serving them in buns to help protect the hands of people he was making the sausages for from being burnt by said sausages. A third possible origin is from German immigrant Charles Feltman, who ran a hot dog cart in Coney Island in the 1860s. His cart would have a stove to cook the sausages, and a compartment to hold fresh buns. He would build this into a restaurant that lasted until 1954. 

Hot dogs started being associated with various events in the 1920s. People ate them at parties and sporting events. And it's not hard to see why. Hot dogs are a simple thing to make. Just boil/grill/cook the sausage, slap it in a bun or some bread, put some toppings of your choice on it (I like mustard, ketchup, and cheese myself), and voila! A delicious little food that'll keep you going for a while. 

So, yeah. Hot dogs have been a beloved street treat for decades now. I hope you go enjoy one today! Thanks for readig this blog entry! If you like it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

International Rock Day

 Today is International Rock Day!

The history of how this day came about is rather vague, but the goal of the day is clear: the celebration of rocks! Because, well...they rock, ha ha!

Yeah, sorry. All rocks on earth come in three main forms:
- Igneous: These rocks started out as molten magma and are formed when it cools. Naturally, you mostly find these around volcanoes. Granite is an igneous rock, for example. It's comprised of magma with a high silica content.
- Sedimentary: These rocks are formed by sediments (like minerals or organic matter) basically being cemented together thanks to the effects of erosion. Sedimentary rock covers over 70% of the Earth's land mass, but it only comprises a small amount of the Earth's crust. It's basically a covering. One example of sedimentary rock is sandstone, which is rock formed, naturally, from sand.
- Metamorphic: Metamorphic rock is formed when a rock is changed into a new form thanks to heat and pressure, hence the name. Igneous and sedimentary rocks can be changed into metamorphic rocks. Marble is an example of metamorphic rock, formed when limestone (a sedimentary rock), undergoes the metamorphic process.

Rocks are also rather important to human development. It's believed that humans and earlier hominids started making tools from rocks in the Lower Paleolithic Era. Stone tools found near Lake Turkana in Kenya from 2011 to 2014 have been dated to be about 3.3 million years old. As time went on, these stone tools would evolve further, until the development of metallurgy caused rock tools and weapons to be superseded by metals like bronze and copper.

So, yeah. Rocks are pretty darn neat. Check out some today! Thanks for reading this blog entry! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!