I am informed by fan supreme Corey Tacker that this month’s issue of FNSM marks the publication of my one thousandth comic book.
That’s a considerable number of trees that have died to bring you the ravings of my fevered imagination. Apologies to all the environmentalists out there.
I wonder if they’ll try to pin global warming on me…
PAD
Sunday I head out to Los Angeles for a few days to pursue various projects. As is always the case with irons in the fire, some may wind up burning hot and others may flame out, or all or none. Such is the freelance life. Then I’ll be home for two days, having barely enough time to catch my breath, before then getting on a plane to head down to Shelton’s “Heroes” convention. We’ll have to do the Father’s Day thing belatedly.
Did a lengthy phone interview for British radio with Paul Cornell, the formidable writer of the recent “Doctor Who” two parter “Human Nature” and “The Family of Blood”, not to mention the episode “Father’s Day.” It was supposed to be for two half-hour segments, but the conversation ran for two hours, so I can’t wait to see how Alex (the moderator) manages to edit THAT sucker down.
PAD
Instead of putting her in jail or under house arrest, they should make it so that anytime she wants to drive someplace, she has to carpool with Robert Blake and O.J. Simpson.
PAD
During the last season of “West Wing,” reporters tried to pin down candidate Arnie Vinnick (Alan Alda) on the subject of his religious beliefs. Vinnick–who wanted to keep the fact that he’d lost faith in God under wraps–stated that his personal views on God were off limits, he’d never discuss them, that they weren’t relevant to the job he was to do as president, and that as far as he was concerned that was the end of it. To all intents and purposes it was. It never came up again in the series.
I commented at the time that in the real world, that would never happen. That such an assertion would only be the beginning of the story, not the end of it.
Now it seems that we’re seeing the scenario played out in real life as Rudy Giuliani asserts that his personal religious beliefs are just that–personal–and should have no bearing on his campaign.
This promptly became front page news on “Newsday” and now we’ll see just how fast the question goes away. I suspect it won’t anytime soon.
The ironic thing is that Giuliani is both right and wrong. The fact is that his personal beliefs *shouldn’t* be a factor. If he doesn’t want to discuss them, he should be entitled to that. The problem becomes that the automatic assumption is that he is either agnostic or atheist, and in a society where the vast majority of people assert a belief in SOME sort of divine spirit, that’s not going to go over very well.
On the other hand it really IS a relevant question because look who we’ve got running the country now: A man who believes that he’s operating at the personal behest of God. Bush doesn’t simply believe in God; he KNOWS there’s a God and that he and God are tight. If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, too much “knowledge” can be a lethal thing.
If Giuliani is an atheist and doesn’t want to discuss that beause he figures it’s nobody’s business and that it might cost him votes, I can understand both viewpoints. Still, knowing that a candidate will not run this country and world affairs under the belief that he’s taking his marching orders from God might not be such a bad thing.
PAD
Some years ago, Comedy Central did a Bush-based sitcom called “That’s My Bush.” Created by Parker and Stone of “South Park” fame, it was a parody of old-style sitcoms that was distinctly hit or miss in its execution. It did, however, deftly capture what many saw as the essential banality of George W. Bush.
Then the Twin Towers fell and suddenly making fun of the President was no longer deemed acceptable. The show quickly evaporated.
So now it’s five years later and Comedy Central is launching a Bush-based sitcom called “Lil’ Bush.”
No, I don’t REALLY think there’s cause-and-effect involved…
…but it’s making me nervous.
PAD
Well, okay, technically the second after the starred review in “Publisher’s Weekly.”
http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/372.html
The novel is on the stands on June 12, I believe, although I suppose it’s possible some stores might have it ou t already. It’s not like “Harry Potter,” put it out one minute before midnight and you all die sort of thing.
PAD
Or, to go by its full title, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”
Kath and I have seen it twice. The first time I liked it. Second time I loved it.
Spoilers follow:
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