Tuesday, July 1, 2003

The Places To Be in San Diego

Every year at the annual Comic-Con International, they let me host a batch of wonderful events, most of them about the history of the comic book medium. Last year, I did twelve. This year, I'm taking it easy: I'm hosting ten, plus I'm a panelist on one other. I can be a bit of a nag about these program items because, first of all, they feature a lot of terrific people who are nice enough to show up and answer questions and/or perform, and I'd like to see their generosity rewarded with big audiences. Secondly, the con is a huge place with much to see and do. (There are even some fine panels and presentations that I don't host. The whole schedule will be up shortly on the convention website. By the way, that's also where you can go to get info on attending the con.)

So every year, I host these terrific once-in-a-lifetime events and every year, some brain-dead acquaintance of mine staggers up to me after they're over — or calls up the day after the con — and says, with an I.Q. reminiscent of Crazy Guggenheim, "Duhhh....I forgot about that great panel of yours I wanted to see. Did anyone tape it?" The answer is that the panels are sometimes taped but they're not readily available for public consumption even when they are. If you want to see one, you have to actually go to it. When I tell them this, they act like it's my fault: "Duhhh...you should have reminded me." Well, I'm reminding you all now. I'll remind you before the con, too.

I've posted the schedule of my program items as it currently stands. There could be a few changes so check in here before and even during the con for last-minute updates. But here is how it currently stands. Click there to read it.

• Posted at 3:55 PM · LINK

Buddy Loses A Year

Reuters has corrected its report to say that Buddy Hackett was 78.

• Posted at 2:17 PM · LINK

Recommended Reading

Here's a defense of Gray Davis that's worth a look. The argument seems to be that Davis isn't responsible for California's financial woes...various Bush deregulations and buddies are. There is some truth to that but it doesn't change the fact that Davis allowed them to loot the state.

• Posted at 11:01 AM · LINK

Recommended Reading

Here's exactly what bothers me about the way the press treats George W. Bush: Covering for distortions of fact after having savaged Al Gore for lesser offenses.

• Posted at 9:35 AM · LINK