Month: October 2005

For those interested, I will be on Fanboyradio.com tonight at 7PM EST.

PAD

People are asking me why I haven’t commented on Bush having selected What’s Her Name for the high court.

Honestly, I hadn’t before because I knew nothing about her, other than that she’s a Bushtush (someone whose lips are permanently curved into the shape of Bush’s buttocks).

But I’ve come to realize that her appointment signals something: That, despite all previous appearances to the contrary, George W. Bush really IS capable of learning from history.

Why? Because previous conservative presidents have endeavored to control the court by appointing judges with a long, proud history of conservative rulings. And then, to their vast annoyance, their appointees wound up being far more liberal on the bench than expected.

So Bush, who’s never seen a separation of power that he didn’t want to obliterate in favor of executive branch control, came up with a simple answer: Appoint a Bushtush. Doesn’t matter that she’s not a judge. Doesn’t matter that she has no record to speak of (indeed, that’s a plus.) All that matters is that, for as long as he’s sucking oxygen, George W. Bush knows he’s going to be able to pick up the phone, call What’s Her Name, and get her to do what he wants. Her agenda will lockstep match his.

And thus does Bush yet again act in a manner contrary to Constitutional intent.

Ðámņ these activist presidents.

PAD

Caught a showing of “Inherit the Wind” on cable. It is both amazing, and amazingly depressing, how timely the subject matter of that film and play is. As Spencer Tracy speaks passionately of a time when narrow-minded religious dogma will actually cause progress to be reversed, one considers that people in power are opposed to everything from stem cell research to a woman’s right to choose to global warming to…yes…Darwin’s theory.

Meantime creationists are trying to sneak Genesis back into the schoolroom through the notion of Intelligent Design, trying to position it as being as equally valid as Darwin, when of course all they’re really trying to do is put the Bible back in the classroom.

To paraphrase Douglas Adams, progress is an illusion…and human progress doubly so.

PAD

(PS–Uh, guys…please don’t start telling me that the Scopes Monkey Trial was a set up by the ACLU and that local businessmen put Scopes up to it and that he probably didn’t even actually teach evolution. I know all that. None of it detracts from the fact that “Inherit the Wind” is a brilliant drama in its own right with a lot to say to modern thinking…or lack thereof.)

There is much discussion over on newsarama.com about Joe Q’s announcing ten writers at Marvel as being “the Terrific Ten,” slated to get all manner of additional support and push to carry them to “the next level.” And some fans are voicing indignation that I’m not on the list (Priest’s name is also mentioned repeatedly.)

Never fear. I tell you this in the strictest confidence. In fact, this is so secret that ONLY YOU are seeing it. Yes, you. Through groundbreaking technology, this post is being made with a special firewall so that only you, (your name goes here), is actually reading this posting. Everyone else is seeing a photograph of my youngest daughter, Caroline, playing with a puppy. In fact, if you’re at work right now, it’d be best if you said, “Awwwwww…” just to cover your tracks in case someone is listening.

The reason I am not part of the Terrific Ten is because I’ve been assigned to a different group: The Subtle Seven. (We were originally going to be the Secret Six, but that’s trademarked DC, plus we picked up one extra guy when the Terrific Ten was cutback from the Excellent Eleven due to budget constraints.)

The Subtle Seven is a group of seven writers whose job is to keep a low profile. Stay off the radar. Make the other guys–who are good, I’ll grant you–look even better by not distracting from them.

You may ask, okay, but the Terrific Ten get publicity. What’s the Subtle Seven getting out of it?

Cookies.

Each week, we each get a shipment of two dozen chocolate chip cookies. Joe bakes them himself. Comes in a designer tin with little pictures of Marvel characters on it. It’s really nice.

Unfortunately, the non-disclosure agreement I’ve signed precludes me from telling you the other members of the Seven. I mean, how subtle would it be if you KNEW who was on the list? Besides, if I told you, I’d have to–you know–kill you. Which I’d hate to do, and I’d probably wind up tossing my cookies…which would be kind of a shame ’cause Joe works so hard to bake them.

So…the Subtle Seven. Watch for us, whoever the hëll we are. And for God’s sake, keep it under your hat.

Say it with me: “Awwwwww…”

PAD

Hi all-
The play I have been working on opens tonight and will run the next couple of weekends. It is a really good price for a New York show and you can eat and drink while watching the show. Almost like having theater in your dining room.
Information can be found at
http://www.theatermania.com/content/show.cfm/show/115475
or
http://unyyc.org/
which is the offical site of the company.

Kath
Wife, Mother, Stage Manager, Puppeteer

Here’s a rundown of what I’ve been up to:

ST: The New Frontier–M.I.A.: That’s the title, not the status. Manuscript with revision requests from Paramount received last week. Delivered back to Pocket Books with revisions completed last Tuesday. Publication slated for next Spring.

Animated Series Pilot–Final draft delivered to show’s creator and producers two days ago. (No, I didn’t create the show, but it’s flattering that the show’s creator wanted me to write the pilot). Now we see if it gets sold.

How To Write Comics–Final draft delivered to Impact Press. Publicaton slated for next Summer.

Fall of Knight–Third book in King Arthur trilogy, delivered to Ace Books. Slated for publication next summer.

Hidden Earth–Tor is circulating bound manuscript to authors for quotes. Anyone know Terry Pratchett? Seriously?

Spike vs. Dracula–Five issue limited series that IDW just got the go-ahead for, charting the history of the Spike/Dracula feud and why specifically Dracula owes Spike money. Slated to feature guest appearances by Drusilla, Darla, Bela Lugosi, Ed Wood, and Adolf Hitler. Slated for early next year.

Fallen Angel–Script for issue #2 turned in. Issue #2 will also feature two covers, one by J.K. Woodward, and one by Dave Lopez. I’ll be putting both of them up on the site in the near future.

PAD

To all my Jewish friends, L’Shana Tova. Ariel and I went to synagogue this morning. Did lots of standing up and sitting down. Praised God in the highest. Have to say, it seems God needs a TON of ego-stroking to get through the day. What’s up with that?

PAD