Year: 2003

George W. Bush stated, in regards to protestors, that he was pleased to be in a country where people are allowed to speak their minds.

I may have missed a memo, but…isn’t he *usually* in a country where people are allowed to speak their minds? Or is that an intriguing Freudian slip as to how he views the Ashcroft America in which we currently reside?

Ah well. What *I* would love to see is Bush brought down for that regular Have Your Opposition Yell In Your Face thing in Parliament that Tony Blair is always subjected to. No careful management, no prepared speeches. Just a whole bunch of people who don’t like you getting up close and personal and telling you exactly what you’re doing wrong, and you have to loudly and articulately defend your positions. Man, who wouldn’t pay serious money to see that?

PAD

Remember, these may be used for the letters column (of which there was none this issue because I was spending every writing moment on the Spidey novelization and so didn’t have the time. But “Go Nuts” hasn’t vanished, don’t worry.)

So whad’ja think?

PAD

…that the allegations against Michael Jackson are true…

…can they prosecute the parents of the child for gross stupidity while they’re at it?

I mean, come on, seriously…show of hands now…how many people here, after Jackson talked about how he cuddles with kids in bed…would let their 12 year old stay overnight with the guy? Do these people have bricks for brains or what?

And no, I’m not saying that (if it’s true) Jackson should be excused because the victims brought it on themselves. I’m saying, geez, where the HÊLL were the parents if/when this happened?

PAD

Quite a few people, surprisingly, have been e-mailing me asking if I know why Jim Starlin–as reported on his website–is departing “Thanos” in general and Marvel in particular.

The answer is, yeah, I know.

Will I say anything beyond that? No. Why? Nobody’s business but Jim’s and Marvel’s.

It’s as if lack of detail is a vacuum, and since nature abhors a vacuum, everyone rushes in with their own speculation. Then others react to the speculation as if it were fact. And the whole thing just spirals.

Not that I’m necessarily any better. In “But I Digress,” I’ll openly speculate on why certain decisions are made at various publishers. But generally that speculation is derived from trying to think like a business person, rather than an angry fan.

I think because of “But I Digress,” though, there’s this perception that I’m this huge blabbermouth who’s always going on about inside information. But if you actually read the column, you’ll realize that–with very rare exceptions–I comment purely on stuff that’s already public knowledge.

PAD

So I went over to the local bowling lanes yesterday to get some practice in before the Pro-Am. Since Kathleen was at a get-together in the city, I brought Caroline along. I was in a lane next to a senior citizen couple, and as I unloaded my bowling equipment onto the rack, the fellow turns to me, looks at Caroline, smiles and says, “Is she here to help grandpa bowl?”

“I’m her father,” I said.

He looked at me as if I hadn’t understood what he was saying. “Her grandfather?”

“No,” and my voice turned to ice. “Her father.”

“Oh.” Pause. “Really?”

“YES!”

I dunno. Maybe I should start dying my hair…or at least what’s left of it…

PAD