Well, after many years of keeping my contacts, calendar and other vital info on Microsoft Outlook, I'm just about ready to pitch it. There seems to be no decent way to sync its data between my three computers. We (my assistant and I) have tried every sync program and nothing works the way it's supposed to. I've never particularly liked Outlook and have decided to try something else.
Anyone have a suggestion for a Personal Information Manager? I need one that will handle contacts, calendar, notes (preferably in multiple folders) and a "to do" list. I need it to have a simple desktop version (PC) and the ability to sync with a BlackBerry and also with other computers.
I'd give Lotus Organizer a try but they don't seem to offer a demo version. What is anyone else using and liking?
If you missed it the last time — or just plain didn't believe what you saw — you have another shot at Skidoo, my pick for the weirdest movie ever made by a studio and director you've heard of and starring stars who were sometimes in good movies. We started touting this one back in this post and have banged the drum ever since. If you want to see what the fuss is about, you want to tune in (or TiVo) Turner Classic Movies late Friday night (or early Saturday morning) at 2 AM Eastern Time.
Also: Friday morning at 8:45, TCM is airing Penelope, another movie I didn't like but write about often. Here's your chance to miss both of them at the same time.
This one's only 23 seconds but it brings a smile to my face. In 1993, Bob Newhart starred in a short-lived sitcom (short-lived perhaps because I was one of its writers) called Bob, in which he played a comic book artist. In one episode, a bunch of real ones made cameo appearances...and among them was Jack Kirby. Here's pretty much his whole performance. That's Mell Lazarus (who does the comic strip, Momma) introducing him and then you see Jack seated at a table with his wife, Roz. At the bottom right of the screen in the last shot, you see the top of the head of Sergio Aragonés.
The artists only had a line or two each but were required to be on the set for a few days of rehearsal and such. Sergio had deadlines (when does Sergio not have deadlines?) so he brought along work and a light bulb. One of the sets for the show was the office of a comic book company, complete with drawing boards. When he wasn't needed and when it wouldn't interfere with rehearsals, Sergio would sit on the set and draw pages of Groo the Wanderer. He needed to bring a light bulb because the lamps on the prop drawing tables were of very low wattage...so he'd swap out the bulb when he was drawing.
I wasn't on the set that week — I didn't write this episode — but I did get a call from one of the producers telling me, "All the artists are doing great except for Bob Kane. He thinks he's the director." Bob always did.
Back from Minneapolis. I'll write more in a day or two about CONvergence but I thought I'd tell you about today. I had lunch with my friend Tom Richmond, who's one of the star artists for Mad Magazine these days. As he explains here in his blog, he whisked me away from the con for a few hours of conversation and lunch at the Guthrie, a magnificent theater in downtown Minneapolis. Named not for Arlo or Woody but for Sir Tyrone Guthrie, the place is an architectural marvel with a grand river view, and I very much enjoyed our little exploration of it.
Later, after the convention's Closing Ceremonies (actually, before they were quite finished) my comrade Marv Wolfman and I were taken to the airport by a lovely librarian lady named Jody, who was my convention liaison. Jody took very good care of me during my stay, making sure I had every single thing I needed. She deposited us at MSP International in plenty o' time for Marv and me to grab a pre-flight dinner. If you're ever at that airport and have time for sit-down (as opposed to fast food) dining, try a place called Ike's. Best meal I can recall ever eating in an airport.
I have loads of e-mail to wade through, much of it from folks telling me of some place that, they insist, makes the best pizza on the planet. Samplings shall appear here soon.
July 8, 2008
