Month: April 2007

Ariel and I went to the New Victory Theater on 42nd Street Sunday to see Radu himself, Kristian Ayre, performing as part of an ensemble in a kid-oriented piece, “Number Fourteen,” about insanity that reigns on a bus. He’s part of a group called the Axis Theater Company, and the show will be playing through Sunday the 15th.

For those poor devils who don’t live in New York, it will be touring other parts of the country including Philadelphia. Kristian did a great job, including displaying some remarkable athletic prowess. Be sure to check it out.

PAD

Am I the only one who thinks the firestorm over Don Imus referring to a group of young black female basketball players as “nappy headed ho’s” is just way over the top?

I mean, the guy’s not a church deacon, or a senator, or even a sports broadcaster. He’s a shock jock. It’s his job to push humor to the edge and beyond the edge. So he made a joke that was in poor taste. He admitted it. He apologized for it. He was suspended for it, for crying out loud. And there are STILL people who want to drive him off the air? While the Reverend Al Sharpton is railing against him, has he never bothered to crack the Bible he ostensibly preaches and stumbled over the passage about erring being human and forgiving divine?

It’s IMUS, for crying out loud. If Imus referred to a group of young Jewish basketball players as Matzoh-slinging Jewboys, I’d just shrug and say, “Whatever, man. It’s Imus.” The guy’s filling however many hours his show is every day, and it’s live. If he goes over the line and then admits he did and apologizes, I’m sorry, but that should be the end of it. Anyone who’s flogging it beyond that point has their own agenda and is just using this to further it. If Al Sharpton is that upset about Black women being spoken of in such a disrespectful manner, then why not spend his time going after the radio stations playing rap songs that call Black women “ho’s” (when they’re not talking about killing cops.) Or are slurs and racism only acceptable when they stem from Sharpton’s own constituency?

PAD

Johnny Hart, creator of BC, reportedly died at his drawing table from a massive stroke.

I’ve enjoyed his work for years. For some reason I always got a kick out of one strip I read years ago, in which Pete is extolling the virtues of a new invention that perform an entire host of unrelated tasks, including rotating your tires. And BC asks him, “Can it stampede a herd of crippled yaks?” Pete admits it can’t. “Then what good is it?” asks BC. To this day I will still occasionally ask if something can stampede a herd of crippled yaks. No clue why. It’s just one of those jokes that’s purely individual, lodging in the cerebral cortex.

Also, speaking as a Jew, I never had any problem with his more controversial strips that were intended to be articles of his faith. Talk about overreaction. It was his strip to do with as he pleased. If he wanted to depict a menorach morphing into a cross, then, y’know, fine. Whatever. Considering the type of material that’s been the subject matter of such strips as Doonesbury and For Better or Worse, it’s a little late to start claiming the comics pages should be free of controversy. Considering Judaism has survived five thousand years of assorted nations trying to destroy its practitioners, I certainly think we could survive a couple of Sunday comic strips.

PAD

Busy week. Whad’ja think?

PAD

The essence of compromise boils down to five words: “What’s in it for me?”

So with Bush facing a congressional war-funding bill with deadlines attached–benchmarks that he himself mentioned earlier this year, and is now being asked to hew to–congress is hoping that he will compromise on withdrawal dates rather than veto the entire bill.

What’s in it for him to do so?

Nothing.

Continue Reading “Why Bush won’t compromise” →

I don’t typically do this, but IDW is planning a special edition of the first thirteen issues of “Fallen Angel” (slated for release in late May) and it’s a major enough undertaking that I thought I’d plug it here. If you’re interested in getting a copy, I very much suggest you inform your retailer now since I doubt many will order copies just to have on hand. I know the price is a little steep, but–as is always the case with this series–ain’t nobody on our end getting rich from it, and we’re doing everything we can to make this edition worth the price, including an original short story by yours truly.

Fallen Angel: The Premiere Collection

Peter David (w); JK Woodward (a)

Peter David’s critically acclaimed series, Fallen Angel, receives the Premiere treatment here, in this deluxe, oversize hardcover edition. Included here are the first 13 issues of the comic book, along with an all-new prose story written by series creator David, the initial Fallen Angel proposal, an extended cover gallery, an elaborate description of artist J.K. Woodward’s artistic process, never-before-seen sketches, and more, offered in this special oversize, hardcover-with-dustjacket collection.

HC w/ Dustjacket • FC • 320 pages • 12.5” x 8.125”• $75.00 • ISBN: 978-1-60010076-5

Eric, the CBLDF webmaster brought to my attention my latest accomplishment. Not enough that, according to the wisdom of the internet, I’m married to Diane Duane. Apparently, according to Amazon.com, I am also a co-author with James Patterson on his upcoming novel:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316014796/ref=reg_hu-wl_mrai-recs/102-6908387-6673769

Frankly, I’m getting exhausted.

PAD