We’re down to 8 and lost our first #1 seed!
Bye, Bye, Gandalf! Sherlock Holmes (#4) became the first to knock off one of the four # 1 seeds in the Mensa Hero Bracket Challenge. This week, he faces Atticus Finch (#2) as the two remaining in the Literary Division. The Theatrical Division has #1 seed, Yoda, going against Indiana Jones (#4) in that final. Both the Super-Hero and Historical Divisions feature a 1 versus 2 pairing as Batman tries to upset Superman and Albert Einstein battles the favorite Abraham Lincoln.
Hanging on to his points lead, Hunter Stitik, has 5 still in the hunt. Leaping over several other contestants, Michelle Schneider and yours truly have 6 of the remaining 8 combatants left. There is a cluster right behind. As I’ve said before, there was very little agreement among our entries on the overall eventual winner. Some contestants have already had their final “Champion” already eliminated, but it should be interesting.
Hearing that Justin Bieber won 4 awards last night astounded me and gave me the idea to do a music challenge bracket in the future. Of course I lean toward the rock genre. Is it the mop top hairdo that drives his popularity? I guess I’m too old to understand. I remember him singing live on the TODAY SHOW right after he had become the YouTube “hit”. He was so off-key and whiny sounding that I figured if he was trying out on American Idol, Simon would not be putting him through to the next round. But here he is! Shows how much I know, but I do know that many “artists” rely on the magic that can be done in the studio. Does anyone else also find the current techno thing as annoying as I do? Then again, if you can’t carry the song live without it…
Drove 2 hours to an auction in Easton, PA (20 some miles north-east of Allentown) on Saturday. Thank-you, 10:00 start!! Lost out to another dealer who was also interested in some EC and Disney Library reprint sets by Russ Cochran. After he left, I did manage to score a box of Disney comics – mostly the early Gladstone editions – had to get something after spending all that time in the car plus gas and tolls. Rather than go to the bother of bagging and tagging them individually, I threw the whole lot (80 different) up on eBay for less than a buck a book. Check for them under “cbhcomics” in the seller search. It was held at a home that was also being sold under an “absolute” auction rule – NO RESERVE. The ranch house with basement, in a nice neighborhood, across the street from a park, went for only $130,000!? The ’86 Bonneville with 65,000 original miles (great interior – decent exterior, but 4 flat tires from sitting for years) went for only $275! The trains must have been special for they went for what I considered serious money. The furniture sets brought next to nothing, and the auctioneer mentioned that we should buy them, donate to Good Will, and get the tax write-off. Two unusual items brought some REAL serious money – 2 ticket tape machines, like you see in old movies involving the stock market, were put up. High bidder had choice of one or both. The high bidder went $3200 and took one. Then the second was put up again, and this time it went for $3600 – to the first bidder! Those second thoughts cost him $400 in about 60 seconds. But, the best buy of the day – a 3 feet in diameter brass Chinese gong, with stand, went for just 5 bucks! I kicked myself all the way home for not grabbing it!
Before I forget, again, I want to thank Dave and Kita for their work on this web-site. I send send them some stuff every once in a while and they do a great job of trying to make it exciting and interesting to view. Another shop must think so, also, as it constantly swipes their efforts. Imitation is the finest form of flattery? Still, guys, give credit where it’s due.
One last thought: new comics will be arriving on Thursday (12/2) next week.
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