ALERT: Blog Name Change

FYI:  I changed the name of this blog from "Lord Edzo Explains It All" to "Star Trek & Star Wars & Sci-Fi & Stuff," which better targets my areas of interest.

Action Figure Collectors: A Primer

We action figure collectors are a strange lot. We all have our idiosyncrasies when it comes to purchasing. Some fans stake out stores and grab all new figures as soon as they hit the shelves — and to hell with any other fans because "they didn't get there fast enough." Some collectors "hide" the new figures behind other toys, planning to come back later when they have the cash. Other fans walk in, grab one of each new figure and leave.

Then you have collectors like me, who also want to purchase one of each new figure, but they don't just "grab 'n go." No … these are the "scrutinizers." If there are five copies of a new Luke Skywalker figure, then the scrutinizers will study each one carefully, looking for bad paint jobs, bad poses, damaged card backs, misshapen bubbles … you name it. These fans want "perfect" figures to add to their collections.

I, for example, don't like unsightly paint splotches or flecks of dust/paint on my figures. These are my biggest pet peeves. If there's just one dot of white paint on a figure's black pants, then I won't buy it. If a figure's soft-goods cloak has a fleck of dust or paint on it, or if the cloak is noticeably "tattered" or has an elongated thread, then I put it back. My figures must be pristine, because when I take them out of storage for my viewing pleasure, there mustn't be anything amiss to distract my eyes from beholding my perfect, tangible piece of the Star Wars universe.

And you thought you'd heard it all before, right?

You know what's funny, though? Nine times out of 10, if I were to find just one of those new Luke Skywalkers in the store, he'd be perfect, flawless. I wouldn't have to wait to find more and go through that whole "scrutinizing" routine.

Time and Tide

Here's a great "Thought for Today" that my mom clipped from the newspaper:

"Modern man thinks he loses something — time — when he does not do things quickly. Yet he does not know what to do with the time he gains — except kill it."

— Erich Fromm, German-American psychoanalyst and author (1900-1980)

Congratulations, President Obama!

I'm two days late on this one, I know, but I wanted to wish President Barack Obama the best of luck as our nation's new chief executive. The inauguration was so spirited and inspiring that I couldn't help feeling several "flushes" of patriotism throughout the ceremony.

However, I also couldn't believe that Chief Justice John Roberts messed up the oath of office! I know this was his first such administration, but sheesh, judge ... what's up with that?

Somehow, though, I knew that President Obama would "correct" the situation and retake the oath, which he did yesterday. That's a good sign ... the man wants to do things right.

God bless you, Mr. President, and God bless the United States of America.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2009

"Don't go looking for happiness ... create it yourself!"

God bless you all in 2009. Make it the best year of your lives!

God bless U.S. President George W. Bush, our Commander-in-Chief ... thank you, sir, for keeping us and our remarkable country safe for your two terms in office.

God bless U.S. President-elect Barack Obama ... we stand behind you, sir, and look forward to your successful first term as Commander-in-Chief.

God bless the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces, no matter where they are on Earth ... we owe you our lives, and we thank you for putting yours on the line every day to preserve, protect and defend the freedom and greatness of the United States of America.

A special God bless to Mr. Dick Clark ... we love you. It wouldn't be a "New Year's Rockin' Eve" without you.

God bless you Dad, Mum, T-Bone, Kris, Sam and Nick ... I love you all.

And God bless the United States of America ... forever and ever!