something in the air

The wise Saint Burt of Bacharach once said "what the world needs now is love, sweet love," citing a noticible global shortfall in that wonderful (and occasionally painful) state of bliss.

There has been a trend among the cynically hip set to denounce this day's holiday observances as nothing more than an market-driven grab for consumer's cash, but that bit of sour grapes masquerading as "getting wise" fails to consider that there are plenty of people out there who celebrate the meaning of the day without expending large sums of money. It's a perfect opportunity to reflect on things romantic, things that perhaps might have been back-burnered by the hectic schedule of everyday life. (It shouldn't happen, but it does.)

It doesn't need to involve a couple dozen long-stemmed roses or an overpriced shiny bauble. A handmade card made of construction paper and paste (proving again that the skillset I acquired in pre-school is of more daily use than my degree in English Literature) and a spontaneous hug can be just as, if not more, meaningful.

Still, if you want to know if he (or she) loves you so, it's in the kiss....

Firestorm and Killer Frost
(from Crisis on Infinite Earths #1; by Marv Wolfman & George Perez)
Tamsin and Yale
(from Skeleton Key: The Celestial Calendar; by Andi Watson)
Todd "Obsidian" Rice and Damon Matthews
(from Manhunter (2004 series) #18; by Marc Andreyko, Javier Pina, & Fernando Blanco)
Reuben Flagg and Crystal Gayle Marakova
(from American Flagg! #2; by Howard Chaykin)
Alanna and Adam Strange
(from Mystery in Space #80; by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, & Murphy Anderson)
Katma Tui and John Stewart
(from Green Lantern #199; by Steve Englehart, Joe Staton, & Bruce Patterson)
Some foolish-looking jerk and a phenomenally patient and wonderful woman
(from the Queen Maura & Bitterandrew 2004 Wedding Special)
Have a happy Valentine's Day, folks.

The Troggs - Love Is All Around (from The Singles A's & B's, 2005) - The one true version. Accept no substitutes.

Circle Jerks - Put a Little Love in Your Heart (from Wild in the Streets, 1982) - A worthy entry in the well-established category of ironic punk covers of decidedly non-punk songs.

Lene Lovich - I Think We're Alone Now (Japanese Version) (from the reissue of the 1978 Stateless LP) - Did I post this before? I can't remember and I'm too lazy to check. It doesn't matter, because we could all use a bit more Lene Lovich in our lives, too.