Maybe you're waiting to see the Thor movie until after finals are over. Maybe you've seen it and you're dying to get more back story on the mythical God of Thunder. Maybe you've been staring at journal articles all morning and just need a break. Maybe you just love comics loaded with exclamation points! Whatever the reason, Special Collections has just the thing for you. As part of our fantastic Comic Books Collection, we have more than 200 back issues of the original Thor comic books dating from 1965 through 1990! The first issue in our collection, number 119, even includes a battle against one of Thor's movie foes, The Destroyer!

But Thor isn't limited to his own book. You might also know him as part of The Avengers, along with Captain America, The Hulk and Iron Man! Don't worry; we've got you covered there as well, with more than a hundred issues from the 60's, 70's and 80's. Catch up on the Avengers back story now, before their movie comes out next year! And before you ask, yes, we've got classic 60's and 70's issues of Captain America, the Incredible Hulk and Iron Man as well!

Special Collections will be open from 1 until 4 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday all the way through Finals Week, and until 8pm on Thursdays. During the summer, we'll be open by appointment only. To find our superhero lair, enter the Library Gallery and walk straight back- you'll see our doors on the right. No secret decoder ring required!

To browse all of the comics available at Special Collections, enter comic books in the Collection field in the following search; or put in more specific search terms to find the exact comic you're looking for: http://umbc.pastperfect-online.com/37467cgi/mweb.exe?request=advform .

by Steve Ammidown, Special Collections Student Assistant

Thanks to Wikicommons.

Just because we’re fighting in Pakistan doesn’t mean we’re done with Libya! NATO continues bombing of military targets in Tripoli.

About those pictures... Some Senators to be allowed to see photos of Osama bin Laden’s body.

How much for that company? Internet phone service Skype was bought by Microsoft for $8.5 Billion.

Thanks to Wikicommons.

President, no, Sheriff Obama, after playing the role of international lawman, has returned his focus to the dusty streets of  the Texas town of El Paso.

Yesterday, he spoke on the issue of immigration reform, something especially relevant to a town so close to Mexico (and raging drug war). Obama notes:

we have strengthened border security beyond what many believed was possible.

…Over the past two and a half years, we’ve seized 31 percent more drugs, 75 percent more currency, 64 percent more weapons than ever before.

Because of this increased security Mr. Obama suggests it is now time to pass badly needed reforms as

…Today, the immigration system not only tolerates those who break the rules, but it punishes folks who follow the rules.

It could be expected that such words would stir up support from those calling for immigration reform but some are questioning his sincerity.

Over at Mother Jones, Suzy Khimm notes that

the timing of Obama’s renewed immigration push may give the impression that the move is largely a political ploy to win over Hispanic voters in 2012. Until Obama eases up enforcement and lays out a specific timeline to tackle immigration reform … he may have a tough time coming across as a credible immigration reform advocate.

Even if the President fully means what he says, Democracy in America’s E.G. thinks that his speech sent the wrong message that immigration reform is about national security rather than

an economic phenomenon with costs and benefits. That’s more accurate, less inflammatory, and would give any proposal a better chance of passage.

This has got us wondering. We’re sure that our readers are a diverse crowd, including immigrats, and we would love to know your view. Most likely they are more coherent than ours… so post them up!

A story in yesterday’s NYT, Google Lobbies Nevada To Allow Self-Driving Cars, reports that Google has hired a Nevada lobbyist to promote two bills related to autonomous vehicles that are expected to be voted on this summer.

“Google hired David Goldwater, a lobbyist based in Las Vegas, to promote the two measures, which are expected to come to a vote before the Legislature’s session ends in June. One is an amendment to an electric-vehicle bill providing for the licensing and testing of autonomous vehicles, and the other is the exemption that would permit texting.”

Arguments the lobbyist offered included that “the autonomous technology would be safer than human drivers, offer more fuel-efficient cars and promote economic development.”

I’d add that the Google Bot has a clean driving record, exhibits an excellent sense of direction, will obey any laws inserted into a state’s robots.txt, and does not drink. However, the Google Bot’s current cars are all Toyotas and an Audis. Maybe the Nevada legislator should find a way to encourage it to support the US auto industry and buy some American cars.

I liked project leader Sebastian Thrun’s example of a potential benefit of autonomous vehicles.

“In frequent public statements, he has said robotic vehicles would increase energy efficiency while reducing road injuries and deaths. And he has called for sophisticated systems for car sharing that, he says, could cut the number of cars in the United States in half. “What if I could take out my phone and say, ‘Zipcar, come here,’ ” he asked an industry conference last year, “and a moment later the Zipcar came around the corner?””

Colossians 1:24-29 (NLT)

²⁴ I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. ²⁵ God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. ²⁶ This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. ²⁷ For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

²⁸ So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfectin their relationship to Christ. ²⁹ That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

Reflection

Proclaiming, warning, teaching and pastoring, Paul labored hard with sweat and blood to pass on the message of grace that he received from the Lord.  He ministered in the midst of stoning, jail, shipwreck and more. Paul was willing to put up with trials and tribulations so that many could hear and experience the glorious message of grace. Paul worked hard to share the gospel, even to the point of suffering. But he was completely dependent on Christ’s mighty power working in him. He did not just deliver any message but he delivered his life-changing account of the message, testifying of his personal encounter with Jesus Christ.  So when he proclaimed “Christ lives in you,” it was out of God’s mighty power, abundant riches and hopeful glory.

Responding to the Transmitted Message

When trying to tell others about Christ, we recognize quickly that we can’t go far on our own strength and wisdom.  Let’s ask for His grace and power.  As we receive from God, let’s pray for our missional groups, campuses and churches.  May God lead us to those who need to hear His message of grace, and may we be completely dependent on Christ’s power working in us.