Month: May 2004

It doesn’t get more small town than this.

Ariel was marching in a Memorial Day parade today, thumping along on a honkin’ big drum as part of her school marching band. Great day to be displaying flags, because there was a steady wind and the flags were flapping beautifully in it.

To this day, I still think people should NOT (NOT, DAMMIT, NOT, FREAKIN’ ÐÃMN TYPO NOT) burn flags in protest. I believe they have the right to, and I think an amendment to oppose it is ridiculous. But the problem is that nobody burns flags because they have a problem with the flag. They do it as an attention getting device because they have some other issue. But the flag is so majestic, such a lovely symbol, that violating it is going to alienate the people you’re trying to convince of the rightness of your cause, whatever that may be. So I think it’s a pretty dumb thing to do.

When we’re in the midst of fighting a war, it gives Memorial Day that much more resonance. Let’s hope as many people come home safely as possible.

PAD

(I apologize for any confusion about this post–I’d just started writing it and for some reason the program sent it all by itself. This is an edited and corrected version.)

Editor Andy Schmidt has informed me that “Madrox” is going to be under the “Marvel Knights” banner. Makes perfect sense to me: Although “Madrox” is not remotely as adult-oriented as “Fallen Angel,” the noir style of it positions it more for the older audience. And when you’re talking skewing older with a Marvel character, that’s “Marvel Knights.”

PAD

An article in a recent “Publishers Weekly” discusses the ongoing problem of theft that book sellers have to deal with. What’s fascinating is not that shoplifting is going on, but the nature of what’s being stolen.

Bibles.

Bibles and books about faith.

‘Tis truly a wonderment, the irony-free sensibilities of people who steal a book that’s fairly renowned for the instruction from on high about “Thou Shalt Not Steal.”

PAD

Got an e-mail from talented artist Arne Starr, who is planning a move to LA. Consequently, he’s having a major Ebay blowout of stuff he wouldn’t ordinarily sell in order to raise some traveling money. He said, in part:

“Amongst all the Trek models and figures and other oddball items, I put up about 20 comic pages, of which you wrote over half of (Star Trek #8, STVI Adapt, Sachs & Violens 3-4 (which I got you to sign ages ago in Chicago of all places)). Any help would be appreciated. To find the stuff on Ebay one just has to do a search by Seller and type in

As Kathleen wrote up so well on her own weblog, yesterday was our three year wedding anniversary. Since it fell middle of the week and there was much else going on, it was a pretty low key affair for us. Main celebration was in the evening, when Kath and I went out to dinner while Ariel watched baby sister (who was, cooperatively, sound asleep.) When we came home, Kathleen, Ariel and I sat and looked through hundreds of photos taking at the wedding and during the honeymoon. Seeing pictures of my old friends from Trek conventions looking weirded out as they mingled with such guests as George Takei, Bill Mumy and Harlan Ellison. Bob Greenberger expertly directing troop (i.e., guest) movements with military finesse. Kathleen looking radiant in her wedding dress and getting teary eyed during the ceremony. My daughters and parents looking happy for me, possibly because they thought that, after my heart was busted the first time around, I would never be happy again (an opinion I shared for quite some time B.K. (Before Kath). And the honeymoon afterward–the Disney Cruise, which we took all three girls on, since Kath’s philosophy was that we would be sending a negative message by saying, “We’re going to be a new family, we love you all, and now good-bye because we’re ditching you for a week.”

And somewhere Caroline was looking down from on high saying, “Put me in, coach. I’m ready to play.”

It was a good day yesterday.

PAD

Bush, in his speech last night, said something I firmly agree with. He said the war in Iraq represents a struggle between two visions, “one of tyranny and murder, the other of liberty and life.”

The true tragedy of the Bush Administration is that he doesn’t realize the rest of the world is increasingly uncertain which one we are. We are an occupying force, mistreating its captives, claiming that we’re restoring control of the nation’s fate to itself while making clear that 130,000 troops are staying right where they are, with more to come if we decide it’s needed.

What’s frightening is that more than 40% of Americans still don’t grasp that.

By the way, check out this link. It’s eerily hypnotic. I think it’d make a great screensaver.

PAD

All right, you can listen to an excerpt of the Spider-Man 2 audiobook here.