PULP LEGACY BLOG

TV characters... where are they now?

2011-04-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

Apparently Zach Morris, AKA "Preppy" from "Saved by the Bell," grew up to be a lawyer. He'll be on the new TNT show "Franklin and Bash." Looks like he is a real lady's man, too.

It makes sense, it's a natural progression for Preppy. I'm happy to see some continuity in my childhood fictional characters. Preppy wasn't going to grow up to be a firefighter, he was always destined to be a smooth-talking, womanizing lawyer.

How about some other characters?

Al Bundy from "Married with Children" has to be the biggest winner by marrying the amazingly hot Sofia Vergara on "Modern Family." He deserves it, I assume, for all the trouble Peg Bundy put him through. We haven't heard the backstory yet, but I'm sure Peg took Al Bundy for what little he was worth (not much money in the shoe salesman business) and Al had to rebuild himself from the ground up... and boy did he bounce (and I mean bounce) back nicely, somehow scoring the big house in Orange County with a much younger wife. Well played, Mr. Bundy.

I blame the parents, when it comes to Doogie Howser, M.D. What did they expect? When a kid misses out on his childhood -- from 6th grade to med school? -- he's going to rebel, eventually. So Doogie got out of medicine and tried to regain his teenage/early 20s by whoring himself out as Barney Stinson on "How I Met Your Mother." I'm sure Doogie-Barney will eventually find the proper path, but until then... well, it's a loss for modern medicine, really.

This one is less current, but I was always happy to see that after Bo Duke got done outrunning the law and moonshining with his brother Luke on "Dukes of Hazzard," he went on to marry a nice Kansas girl. Then one day they discovered a baby on their farm, apparently shot to earth on some crude spaceship, perhaps from a dying planet? That baby would become Clark Kent, Bo would become Jonathon Kent, and they would all live happily ever after on "Smallville."

This one is the most tragic... how did the lovable, cat-eating alien Alf go from friend to foe? Where did the relationship break down? In another TNT series, Alf returns as the star in "Falling Skies." And this time, he's not here on earth just for the pussy.

Pulp Legacy # 53!

2011-03-02T21:45:00.001-08:00

Pulp Legacy # 53 is now available! Hurry, that link won't be active forever.

The Urge vs. Clutch

2011-03-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

I wasted $6 today.

I've been shopping for music CDs a lot lately, especially at Love Garden. Great selection, awesome prices, all used stuff. Right now, in fact, I'm listening to this excellent Elliott Smith tribute CD, that I wouldn't even know it existed, had I not seen it in the used bin at LG.

When I can't find something new and cool (to me) I go with something I used to listen to when I was a kid. Sometimes this works, sometimes, I hate the music tastes of 1997 Seth.

It worked when I picked up The Urge's "Receiving the Gift of Flavor" on eBay for $4. That's still fun music. I dig it.

But the old Clutch CD I bought today at LG for $6? OOFTAH! That's BAD. It's like Rob Zombie and Helmet got together and had a musically challenged baby. Even the "hit" sounded tired and methodical.

Maybe it's best to leave some of this "lost" music lost.

Green Lantern # 1 (Golden Age)

2011-01-22T21:48:00.000-08:00

Not only is it a 9.0 CGC... it's a double-cover! SHITE!

Yours for $99,000!

http://cgi.ebay.com/GREEN-LANTERN-1-1941-CGC-VF-NM-9-0-DOUBLE-COVER-/390011810775?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ace83f3d7

"Searching for Steve Ditko" available on YouTube

2010-11-23T20:13:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

Not sure if you knew of this, but the BBC documentary "In Search of Steve Ditko" is available (in multiple parts) on YouTube. I'm only a few parts into it so far (and looking for it to get a little bit better soon) right now, but I thought I'd spread the word. You can't get the documentary on NetFlix, so it's cool it's available for free right there on YouTube.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American members, please don't forget the soft deadline for PL # 52 is Dec. 1st!!!

Me, trav, bart... Drinkin.

2010-11-20T19:22:00.000-08:00

Me n trav drinkin in lawrence!

2010-11-20T14:09:00.000-08:00

Jayhawks!!! (cowboys.)

Ode to my editor-in-chief

2010-11-11T21:46:00.001-08:00

My editor-in-chief, Ed, was laid off yesterday.

It's a shit economy, we all know that. It's been hard on the publishing business. It's been hard on my company. And yesterday, the domino fell that cost my boss -- one of my few mentors -- his job.

It sucks. That's not eloquent, but that's the way I feel about it.

Ed gave me my first shot at a job in journalism over ten years ago. I started with my company as an intern while I was still in college... I was a junior at KU at the time. I still remember the phone call I got from Ed offering me the internship... it was on my first cell phone, and this cell phone -- I think the company was Cellular One -- was about the size of a Burrito King burrito. It barely fit in my pocket.

I'm in class at 2:30 in the afternoon -- I remember the class, it was on the first floor of Fraser Hall. The instructor was a younger woman, she was nice, but too young, and something about her... I barely listened to her. My cell phone rang during class -- yeah, faux pas on my part, but I was hopeful for Ed's call, and I didn't care if it interrupted class. I think this was before 'vibrate' on the phone was invented.

I leave the room to take the call. "Seth, Ed from GCSAA... we enjoyed our interview with you, and if you think you can handle the schedule, we'd like to offer you the job."

I knew that it was a big-time call. I knew at that moment that it was important for my career.

I didn't know at the time that I'd still be working there in 2010. I didn't know that I'd meet the future Mrs. Jones there. I didn't know that that phone call would lead me to a beautiful wife, a beautiful daughter, a beautiful house, and the most kick-ass man-cave I know of outside of Bruce f***ing Wayne's. But that's what that phone call was: opportunity.

I've worked for Ed for the last 12 years. He's the only editor-in-chief I've ever had. And he single-handedly was responsible for keeping our team intact. He's a father figure, and my GCM team is more of a family than it is a work team. Ask people who work for other teams in my building: they envy the work environment of the publications team. And that's a credit to my former boss, Ed.

When I came back to that classroom -- the class was probably anthropology or something -- the young teacher barked at me for taking a call during class. I took it with a smile, apologized, told her it wouldn't happen again. And then I looked out the window and drifted away. "Seth Jones, intern, Golf Course Management magazine," I thought to myself. "On top of the world."

Twelve years later, I am on top of the world. Thank you, Ed.

How to Write a Novel

2010-10-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

I don't remember if it was Arnett who posted this but it was on Twitter and you ought to look at it:
http://stiryourtea.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-write-novel.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Don't be concerned if you don't want to write a novel. It applies to nearly any creative endeavor and it's meant for laughs anyway (though like any good humor, there's truth in it).

Pulp Legacy # 51 now available

2010-10-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

You can download it here.

In this issue:

- Welcome to Aly! New to Pulp Legacy!

- Brad checks out Fan Expo Canada 2010!

- Mar runs a half marathon!

- Zarko builds a wall!

- Zep sees The Wall!

- Check out Jason's influence map!

- Seth's best business trip ... ever!

- Bart has fun in a bus station!

Download it and save it soon, the link will only be good for another couple days!

Info on Pulp Legacy # 52 will be out soon...

Head for the Cure, hurt for the cause

2010-09-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning, me and my sister and her friend Stacy ran in a 5K race in Lawrence. This was Jessica's idea... I ran a lot of 5Ks when I was a high school kid, but I haven't run one since I was 19.

The good news? I finished 5th in my age division.

The bad news? There were only five people in my age division.

Good news... both Jess and Stacy finished in FIRST PLACE in their age division!

As you can see, the race was called "Head for the Cure," and yes, this was a benefit for brain cancer research. Brain cancer is what took our Dad, so Sis thought this would be a good event for us to support.

Maybe next year I'll support them by just mailing them a check!

Seriously, the 5K hurt. It didn't help that I have/had a bad knee, a sprained ankle, a level 1 hangover and only four hours of sleep when I ran (I was at the Smashing Pumpkins/Cake show the night before). I ran the first mile straight through, but then ran/jogged/walked/farted through miles two and three. I was hoping to finish in 30 minutes... I ran it in a whopping 32:30. OUCH. Jessica and Stacy ran it in 26 and 25 minutes, respectively.

While I was on the first mile, I saw some poor runner stepped in a giant load of dog shit. There was a right shoe-print of dog poo that went on for about 50 yards. Within that same 50 yards, someone apparently got a nose bleed, because there were little splotches of blood on the sidewalk every six feet.

And I thought to myself: wow, there are two people actually having a worse time than me!

All kidding aside -- it was a great cause, I'm proud of both Jess and Stacy for winning their divisions, and I'm happy I actually made it across the finish line and that the camera man documented this occasion for me. (He must have realized the feat of me crossing the finish line was special, as I was the only person who seemed to get a finish-line photo taken.)

I'm also glad I didn't step in dog crap or get a nose bleed. Those two dudes may have had better times than me, but hey -- at least I didn't have to leave my shoes outside when I got home.

A Kind of Announcement

2010-09-17T02:58:00.000-07:00

This is a cross-post that originally appeared on my website and my LiveJournal.

So I mentioned in several tweets that I was writing a 'very cool story'. I can tell you now that it's a new series for Actionopolis but there's an official announcement coming later on as to the title and content of my work so we'll keep that under wraps for now. Here is a press release that was picked up by a lot of folks, including Publisher's Weekly.

I'm REALLY excited to be doing this. I'll continue keeping you updated on my progress at Twitter. I can tell you that I've made several rookie mistakes that the editor is guiding me through. The first batch of notes stung a little, but once I got over it (about ten minutes later) I started learning and made my writing BETTER. With each batch of notes I learn more about structure, about plotting and about tension.

So, even though for a year I put a story each month up at my website for you to enjoy and haven't put anything up for a while now, I've been busy and you'll get to see the fruits of it in (I hope!) not too long a while. Stay tuned for more.

Mar's Half-Marathon

2010-09-11T13:45:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to run a marathon. I've run since high school, never part of a team but for myself, usually fairly half-assed but I knew I needed the exercise and I figured I might as well go as hard as I could. My dad was a star runner in high school so maybe I was genetically predisposed to be able to do it well. I rarely pushed myself particularly hard, except for the days when I'd get up an hour early to run or when I'd run on rainy December days (and that was challenging more for the circumstances than the activity), but I would always make an effort and it was always my aim to build up to a longer run and a faster pace, maybe even much longer one day. The places where I've lived I've made a running route, usually about two to three miles, usually for about 20 to 30 minutes a run. When I did it consistently I might lose some weight but generally I wasn't eating as well as I should have (even if I wasn't exercising regularly) so it never did a whole lot of good and not much I even noticed myself. But it always felt good to get out and run, to have that accomplishment that I did it, to spend sometime outside and take a break from the chaos of my life, and I would be more alert and focused for the rest of the day. I had some friends who ran marathons, some that were in worse shape than I was, and I thought that maybe one day I would do it but I knew that I would never make the time for the training. Just a pie-in-the-sky dream, maybe when I would retire. But it was earlier in the year when I was talking to Ryan & Carolyne, two good friends, and they brought up that they were thinking of doing the Disneyland Half-Marathon on September 5. They always dared each other to do it but never moved on it and when they mentioned it to me I said I'd do it and that was enough to get them going. Once they had signed up and I knew they were in for it, I signed up. It was still months away and I figured I could just train later. Worse comes to worse, it was only 13.5 miles (as I thought it was at the time) and while it had to be done in less than three hours, I figured I could walk that if need be and be fine. I was running, more for my usual exercise than training for anything, my usual 3 or so miles, usually at least once on the weekends, on alternating days through the week if I wasn't working, at one point a string of running every day, until I started to get pain in my ankles. I have a route at my parents' place in rural Riverside, with a lot of disused roads and some great elevation, including one steep hill near my parents' house early in the route, all of it being about three miles, part of which I would walk for about half a mile. Last Thanksgiving I was out running it and it was such a beautiful day and I was glad to be out of the house and I was so comfortable running that I didn't stop to walk and I just took off and added more streets to the route, all of it eventually adding up to four miles, with no stopping, and that was the furthest I've ever run consistently. It had been the best run of my life to that point. After that I would go that same route, pushing myself for it each time, though I wasn't there every weekend and even when I was I couldn't always get out, but it was always my goal to do that. That route and that amount of running was a turning point for me, that I could really push myself to do it, that it was possible to build my ability, that maybe I could really do it, that I wasn't at the height of where I could be. I had also been eating a lot better of late. I found out a few months ago that I have high blood-pressure, and it was coming at a time when I was sick with strep-throat so I couldn't exercise, and I was stressed-out from not working, but once I figured out that I needed to change some things to get better, I had improved my diet (more fruits and vegetables, no more canned soup and veggie-burgers, timing when best to have carbs, etc.) and felt a lot better in general. Diet is certainly important in relation to exercise and overall health, if not as important as working out and training. The time of the half-marathon started to get closer and I decided to step up my training regiment. There was one Sunday at home when I decided to run to the comics shop, which is three and a half miles away, so I ran there, rested (while looking at the new comics), then ran back. That was rough, especially since it was the afternoon and it was fairly warm, but I made it. Then I got switched to a different project at work and it required 9-hour days, not the 10 that I was used to, so that would give me an extra hour in my day which I could use in the morning to run. It worked out perfectly. I was still doing my 3 mile route at home but I could get in a better run when I was at my parents', which just happened to be the two weekends before the race. I had to step up my training but I knew I could do it. The first of those two weekends I decided to run on both days. The first day I was going to run the route once but once I got going I felt so comfortable with it that I just ran it again (though it was the old, shorter route and I walked for part of it). The next day I ran the longer route twice, though there was some walking. But I still felt great and I thought that maybe I could push it more. I changed up my route at home: I ran toward where I used to live, which I found out was only 5 miles there and back, so I changed that to running 2 miles to the track near there that I used to run, and each lap there was a third of a mile, so running there then running the track 12 times (maybe more if I forgot what lap I was on) would make about 8 miles. The track was also probably better on my knees. Two weeks before the race I also decided to start getting up early. 8 in the morning always seems early to me (but then, anything before noon usually does). I had been getting up consistently at 8, usually out of necessity, but even on the infrequent days I'd have off with no commitments I'd still get up at that time, not sleeping in, and I would do much better with it. But the race was going to be at 6 in the morning and I'd have to get up even earlier than that to get down there and get ready for it. So I started getting up at 6 for two weeks. Still a challenge but not as hard as I thought it would be. This gave me plenty of time to run as long as I wanted in the morning and still get to work. Of course, going to bed earlier (which sometimes happened) shoved out a lot of other things from my life but I was prepared for it and that was the price I was paying to do this thing. My original plan was to get up at 4 the week before the race, to get even more accustomed to it, but I found out we were going to get up and out even earlier than that the day of the race and I didn't see the point in it anyway so I ditched doing that. The weekend before the race was the make-or-break. I decided to do a full 13-mile run: 9 miles from my parents' house to Nuevo to Lakeview then back again and my old 4 mile route. It came out to 13.5 miles. I was determined to run the entire thing but maybe only to an extent. I gave myself an out to walk it if I needed to. The night before I had a bowl of shredded wheat for the carbs and went to bed just after midnight. Shortly after 6 a.m. and I was out running. And I did the whole thing. Every mile, every street in the route, every step. I ran the entire thing. Not that I was full-out running for even most of it but I was at a good jog at least and I was keeping a pace. At that point I knew I was ready for the full, actual race and I knew I could do it. That confidence maybe more than anything pulled me through when I ran the actual race. I was going to do it. I knew I could. What I had done, how I had been training, worked. The next day I was going to do just an easy 9 mile run but, same time of morning but with less sleep this time, I got within the first mile, up on that big hill, and I just wasn't into it. I had pushed my body further than I ever had the day before and I needed to rest, whether I wanted to or not. Maybe I could have done it if I was dying for it but there was no reason to push myself so far so soon. I walked back to my parents' house and took it fairly easy the rest of the day. Back at my own home, I ran the next day and it was fine. Two more 9-mile runs through the week then Wednesday was my last run before the race. For the next three days I was taking it easy and eating right, letting my body get itself ready. Saturday was busy for the race, not because I was getting things ready or training but because I had to drive to Anaheim to an expo at the Disneyland Hotel to register and pick up the provided materials for the race and that was a pain. I understand they wouldn't be able to register everyone the day of the race but it was still a hassle to go all the way down there when it could have been taken care of online or mailed. A busy Saturday but I got to Ryan & Carolyne's place in Diamond Bar and we carb-loaded that night at the Macaroni Grill (bacon is certainly part of my training diet) and got to bed at 11 that night, later than it should have been but a lot earlier than it could have been, especially since they have Rock Band.

3 a.m. comes early. But for some reason, even after less than four hours of sleep, I was ready. It's still dark out at 3 a.m. We were out the door by 4 and parked at Disneyland by 4:30 and since we'd registered the day before, there wasn't much to do except find safety pins to attach our number-bibs to our shirts and find our corrals. Ryan & Carolyne were in E and I was in F but it gave me a chance to stretch and focus myself for the race. There's not much chance that you'll be able to run the race alongside other people, unless you're doing it casually and not trying to place at a certain time, so we were cool to run it separately. I was standing at the back of the corral, which was also the furthest-back corral, and about a half mile behind us was one bend of the race, the four-mile mark as the route came out of Disneyland, and as we were waiting we saw the lead runner (who I think I saw before the race: a tiny, dark-skinned guy who looked more anorexic than toned) pass by, doing almost a quarter of the race in about a quarter of an hour. We had a pace, then. Probably the smartest thing I did before the race was eat and use the potty. Drinking water is a tricky thing to do before a race, since you don't want to drink so much that you have to stop to pee. But you also don't want to get dehydrated. And you want to eat so you have some fuel but you also don't want it to drag you down. I had three Tiger's Milk protein bars about a half-hour apart and I think they only affected me positively. Before the race started I left to pee and ended up, um, going #2, which was brilliant since that was something I would have hated to do during the race. (I normally wouldn't have had to go that early but it was probably the crabs I had the night before, nerves, and just being up that early.) The corrals of runners are let go in waves, about 10 minutes apart, but it doesn't matter which one you're in since your time doesn't start until you cross the starting line. There's a tag that you attach to your shoe and there's a microchip in it that records when you start and when you cross the finish line. So you can start whenever you want and you don't have to concern yourself with how your time is recorded time. They let the corrals in front of us go and I stayed at the back, so I wasn't deep within the crush of people. Since I was running it for time, it helped to stay away from the slow-pokes. And probably about 40 minutes after 6, we were off.

I can't say I have a lot of stand-out memories of the race itself. When I'm doing an activity like that I'm focused, and that day might have been the most focused I've ever been in my entire life. There was a choice between going along, enjoying the race, walking part of it and taking it in, and really trying my best to get a good time, pushing myself to do the best I could. I went with going for the time. I had considered not listening to music (they discourage you from wearing headphones so you can hear their P.A.) but I knew I had to have music to put myself in the zone I needed to be in, as I usually do. (Play-list for the day: Appetite for Destruction, Broken, Carnavas, License to Ill.) Within the first 20 feet of the race (during the opening strains of “Welcome to the Jungle”) I knew I had it. The training I had done was going to pay off and I had no doubt that I was going to get through it. I had worked hard to be ready for it and I was. The weather was in our favor too: overcast and just a little bit chilly. The fact that the sun was coming up just as we started the race probably helped. It had been pretty warm in southern California the previous week so there was some concern that it might be hot for the race but it was perfectly fine, for the entire time. The sun didn't come out until just after the race. I didn't notice much of anything around me, since I look at the end of the block and the person in front of me and up toward the sky, not at my feet or the surroundings, which was kind of a shame since it was a nice route. The first four miles was through California Adventure and Disneyland and the route went up and down Anaheim streets, around the Honda Center, and through Angel Stadium. As soon as I started I knew I was going to have to pee and I wasn't sure I'd be able to put it off for the three or so hours of the race. The first block of porta-potties had a line of a few people deep. Luckily, in Disneyland the restrooms were mostly empty, since maybe people didn't know they could use them or they'd already gone by the time they got that far, so I was able to duck into the restroom near the Dumbo ride and didn't have to wait at all and got to get back to running (and during “Sweet Child O' Mine” so that was some good timing). I didn't drink any water until the last few miles of the race. Water is a luxury I don't usually afford myself when I'm running and I got more on my shirt than in my mouth when I was trying to drink while running anyway. And I didn't have to go for the rest of the race (and a while after that if I recall). There were a lot of people who came out to encourage the runners, family members and friends, and I knew I didn't have that support so I could focus without looking for someone (who was looking for me) but it was inspiring to see so many to give support. Almost every block had a group of cheerleaders and pep squads and marching bands from the local high schools, even a mariachi band and Mexican dancers around mile 5, and they were so enthusiastic that it really got me going. A few miles into the race I got hooked on high-fiving the kids on the side-lines and they were encouraging, yelling out “Go, Marlan!” (how did they know my name? Oh, our names were on the bibs on the front of our shirts) and often I'd find after high-fiving a line of them I had really picked up my pace. I've never had a trainer or a coach, just doing it all myself, so I've never really had a strategy for running. I planned to start off fast, finish strong, and just keep a steady pace in the middle but a few times a song would kick in on the iPod (in particular “Well-Thought-Out Twinkles” at mile 7) and I'd have a burst of speed for a while, and I thought it would wear me out but somehow I kept up with it. People getting in the way were my biggest fear but it was unfounded, for the most part. I'd say that the greatest number of people were walking it, for most of it at least, but there were only a few bottlenecks where you couldn't get around them quickly, especially when there were stops for water, but it was just an obstacle and I was fast enough (or they were slow enough) that I got by them easily enough. There were a few stops in Disneyland when people stopped to pose and take pictures with the characters they had out for the day but I wasn't there for that. I was there to run. Probably my favorite part of the race, besides the very beginning and the very end, was a dirt trail on the other side of the parking lot of the Honda Center, around mile 8, probably because it was easier to run than the asphalt, it was a different environment than the streets, and it was when everyone had settled into the race and were just doing their thing. The map showed that we would be running the bases at Angel Stadium but alas, we were only running on the field, just near the dug-outs. There's a tunnel between the stadium and Disneyland and I remember being excited that I was going to run through it but I didn't even realize that I was inside it until I was almost out the other end, most notable because it was really loud in there, with all the people (especially the cheerleaders) hollering encouragement. Right after that I was coming up to Disneyland. I was saving something for the last mile but somehow I missed the last mile marker going back into the park or I mis-timed it, and I turned a corner and saw the finish line, probably that last .1 mile of distance. But that was probably the fastest I've ever run (“The New Style” helped, though people probably thought I was crazy when I was motioning to the music and mouthing along with it), to go over the finish line with a time of 2:28:36. I have no idea if that time was any good or notable at all. But I gave it my all. (Well, with a notable exception. I think I could have had a harder, faster last mile or two if I had known it was my last but I reckon it gives me room for improvement for the next race.) I knew one thing: I still had something left. This meant that I could have run that half-marathon harder and it also meant that maybe I could have made it through a full marathon. Maybe I wouldn't have been able to do that race twice that day but with some longer, more serious, more dedicated training, I could see that marathon I wanted to run somewhere in my future. I was proud of what I'd done – I ran 13.1 miles! -- but I knew it just wasn't enough. Call me ungrateful or overly ambitious or needlessly restless but I just had to do more. And if I could do everything that got me up to that point I could do more (even though I knew it was going to be much more).

Mar, Carolyne, Ryan -- post-race

A few people asked me what charity the race was for. As far as I could tell, it was just for Disneyland to turn a profit. $120 for each person to run the race, and I heard that there were 12,000 to 14,000 people there. You do the math. Then they wanted me to pay $80 to download the six or seven pictures they took of me (I didn't even know they were taking pictures. Then they knew to send the ones of me to me. Ah, technology). No on that one. It probably cost them a good amount of money to get Anaheim to block off the streets for the morning, then all the people to work it (if they weren't volunteers), but make no mistake about it, like everything with Disney, it's about profit.

After the race on Sunday we want back to Ryan & Carolyne's place and had lunch and I left. They were both going to sleep but I knew if I stopped and slept then I'd be out for most of the rest of the day. So I went and saw a movie, drove all over Orange Country, went on a date that evening – I didn't start crashing until after midnight, when I'd been up for over 21 hours. There were things I was going to do on Monday (off for Labor Day) but I ended up sleeping for most of the day. Then Tuesday it was back to running (though only my 2.5 route, as I wasn't getting up at 6 anymore and I didn't really have the time before work). I was looking at some of the other half-marathons coming up. There's one in October in Huntington Beach but I'm busy that weekend. One in Vegas a little later. One in Long Beach a few months later, I think. But there's one I could find somewhere, surely. Now 13.1 miles is just another run. But I certainly have in mind to do that full marathon at some point. Anything shorter than that just doesn't seem like a full effort.

I'd recommend the half-marathon to anyone. Even if you're not going to train strenuously or run the whole race, you could at least walk 13.1 miles and it would be a good work-out and you'd have a good time. Heck, you'd be at Disneyland. If you've ever entertained the thought of doing a marathon or a long race or even getting in some kind of shape, you owe it to yourself. Heck, I did it.

I'm on a private jet!

2010-09-08T21:34:00.001-07:00

Well, I've already been, as the SNL crew sings, "on a boat!" Now I've been on a private jet, too.

Trust me, this is the best way to fly. The plane takes off when you get there. The pilots get up out of their seat and say, "Is the temperature in here OK?" And there's NO LINE at customs.

OK, so I flew to Cancun with World Golf Hall of Famer Nick Price. I'm doing the cover story on him in the December issue of GCM. And he helped me play big-time magazine writer by inviting me to join him on his trip to Cancun and back this Tuesday/Wednesday.

Pretty cool. That's me and Nick (and his jet). Nick is WAY COOL. Over a few beers I told him the story of Adro telling me we should buy a keg-o-rator (I've told you the story here) and he cracked up, saying it was the "greatest story (he) ever heard!"

So, yeah, yay me! A really cool assignment! And I'll be home tomorrow by 1 p.m. SWEET.

I really hope you'll ask me about this story over a beer next time we're hanging out and there's a lull in the conversation, because the whole trip was pretty bad-ass!

And yet, I can't wait to get home and see my girls!!!

Spent labor day in an airport

2010-09-06T11:20:00.001-07:00

But that's ok, as i might be on the biggest/best assignment of my professional career. Wish me luck, details to come later...

Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone.

Go CUBS!

2010-08-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago, Mar and I went to Lollapalooza (expect a full report in the next issue of the APA). The last day of Lolla, Sunday, I asked Mar what he'd think of hitting the Cubs game before going to Lolla. We were staying only four blocks from Wrigley Field, and there weren't any bands that we were dead-set on seeing early that day.

I'm thankful that Mar was keen to the idea and we went and bought scalped tickets shortly after the second inning had started up. Our seats were midway between 1st base and the foul pole, 10 rows off the field. $80 face, we got our seats for $40 per tick.

The Cubs got licked by the Reds, but we had a great time anyway.

And yes, I know I swore to a Cook Co., Illinois court that I'd never return to Wrigley Field until the Cubs won the World Series, but... some rulings are meant to be broken.

Top 5 comic book characters I'd like to be

2010-08-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

As of 6 p.m., Aug. 19, 2010:

1. Green Lantern: The ring, man, the ring. Is there anything you couldn't do?

2. Batman: Mostly for the gadgets -- batmobile, batcave, utility belt.

3. Captain America: But I'd be a cooler Cap, and bring back the Cap Van and the motorcycle.

4. Rhino: Lower your head and run. Sounds like fun. Imagine what I'd do to traffic or large crowds?

5. Iron Man: Somewhat an obvious answer, but the movies make it look like so much fun.

Deadline for PL # 51

2010-08-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

The deadline for Pulp Legacy # 51 is Monday, Sept. 13th. There is no theme for this issue.

And no, this photo has nothing to do with PL # 51.

Hello from the mile-long line at hall h @ comic-con!

2010-07-24T10:21:00.001-07:00

Waiting in line for the green lantern panel at comic con. I got here three hours early (don't worry, i get paid by the hour) and brought a collapsable chair (this isn't my first rodeo) and am just chillin in the cool san diego weather right now. I've got pearl jam's "binaural" on the headphones...

The con has been good so far. Stressful at times, too. We've got our biggest crew ever reporting on the con this year, a staff of 34, and i'm the point man all weekend. But the traffic at cbr has been phenomenal, we're just killing it, so it's been a fruitful effort thus far.

Highlights from hall h have been will ferrell cracking me up (he was quoting anchorman!), "the other guys" and the movie "skyline"... Lowlights are "super" with rainn wilson and "green hornet" with seth rogen.

Ok, all for now... I'll have a full report in my next zine.

Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone.

Hello from the mile-long line at hall h @ comic-con!

2010-07-24T10:13:00.001-07:00

I write like....

2010-07-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered how your writing style stacks up against the great authors of history? Is your prose style comparable to Tolstoy? Or perhaps Dr. Suess, rather? (based on the syntax of that last sentence, you'd think I was on par with the guy that wrote W's speeches). Well, you can wonder no longer. Thanks to this website, you can post a bit of your wrtiting and it will tell you which famous author your writing most resembles. I posted a few pieces from my blog and it categorically compared me to Stephen King. Try it out for yourself sometime.

Stop Bullying - You Can Help

2010-07-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

I know this sounds a little too Sally Struthers, but there's a worthwhile program that's in the running for $50K worth of funding from Pepsi that would run in Lawrence. You can vote every day between now and the end of July, though it requires a registration at the site. I haven't gotten one email from them, so I think it's altruistic message is really true.

Anyway, all it costs is a couple of minutes to click and register and it's a worthy program. Help if you can. Bullying is a rotten thing and these kids want to do something about it.

Here's the link: http://www.refresheverything.com/fyipeereducation

I think this is the greatest comic book cover

2010-06-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

Of all time. Agree? Disagree? Then what is?!?

By the way, this is my first PL blog post from my phone... It's pretty handy. The photo was also taken and posted from my phone.

Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone.

Pulp Legacy #1

2010-05-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

I finally found my copy of #1. I was surprised to find how many of the original roster have moved on. The only ones left are me, Seth, Tom and Sean Taylor. It's funny to read all the complaining and referencing of the Legends zine, which I now realize, very few of you know what that is! It's been 10 years almost to the month...

Busiek's "Breaking In Without Rules"

2010-05-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Absolutely required reading for anyone in the world trying to break into comics as a writer:
http://busiek.com/site/2009/06/breaking_in_without_rules.php#more

Read it now.

PL # 49 now available!

2010-05-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

Here's the link to Pulp Legacy #49: http://www.minutemanlawrence.com/file_download/a033a8b2-9e80-480b-9265-a6a6d959243b

In this issue:

- Welcome aboard new member Ben LeMaster!

- Mar is all aTwitter over Coachella!

- Jason makes his first sale!

- Kia reviews four movies including Alice in Wonderland!

- Part 2 of Bart's Birthdayfunday story!

- I get jazzed over the Olympics!

- Eric enters a poker tournament!

- Brian talks comics!

- Brad is back and he's got reviews!

- Seth meets the President!

- A new comic from Jones and Pump!

- Toby gets into book binding!

- Tom talks beer!

GREAT turnout gang! Hold on to your hats because the next issue is #50!! Deadline: July 3 2010.

Please download ASAP! The link will only be up for a while.

-Zarko

Note from Zarko

2010-04-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

From the boss:

Alright folks,

We're up to Issue #49 of */Pulp Legacy/*! The deadline for the issue will be *April 28*. That's 4 weeks from now. More than enough time to get a 'zine together. I'd like to get a few more people contributing than when we had for #48. Hey, before you know it we'll be at #50!

Okay, the theme for this issue is *BAD DATES*. Write about a bad date. Feel free to include photos. It could be a date you were on or maybe you heard of a really bad date from a friend or a relative. Doesn't matter. Let's try to put something down. It's funny, a lot of you say "We want themes" but when the issues come out, only a few people do anything related to the theme. I was even thinking of dropping the whole theme thing, but the support for themes was so strong. So stretch your creative muscles and try to put something down regarding the theme.

Also, let's try to hit the deadline, if possible. I don't want to drag it out too long.

Is everyone reading the old issues? Did you get the downloads for the previous PLs? Anyone have any problems? I haven't heard a peep from anyone. Let me know if there are any issues. Once you've read #48, try to include MCs. They don't have to be super long, but any feedback helps us improve as writers and creators. I think Seth's mentioned before that it's the lifeblood of any APA.

That's all for now. I'll bug you as we approach this deadline.

ZARKO

Dick Giordano 1932-2010

2010-03-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

Dick Giordano Passes Away

I've been a big fan of Dick's since I started collecting comics. A great guy who always took time to handout free advise and encouragement.

Got my bound comics back!

2010-03-26T20:40:00.001-07:00

Wow, they look super!

I got 12 books done total and couldn't be happier with the results. Needless to say I've got a lot of reading to do!

I sent these to a company in Texas named Library Binding Company...each cost a whopping $15! Of course, it took me awhile to create each cover...mostly out of art that I've inked, pencilled or commissioned. Very personalized.

Why Editing Matters

2010-03-24T00:03:00.000-07:00

A great article about editing blogs, and writing in general:
http://mangacritic.com/?p=2910
It's vaguely about writing manga reviews but it applies to any other writing.

Spectacular Spider-Man #64 - the amateur version!

2010-03-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

Ed Hannigan sent me over a copy of the orginal pencils from this cover. It was a blast to ink, but rather overwhelming in the details.

Healthcare

2010-03-23T11:28:00.001-07:00

For everyone bitching about the healthcare bill, think about this: Now, you can't be denied coverage because of a broken foot when you were a kid (true story). Now, your parents can't be denied coverage because of blood pressure medication (another true story). Now, your insurance company can't kick you off the policy because you got sick (way too many true stories). "But now people are forced to buy health insurance", you cry. People are forced to buy car insurance too. "But people can choose not to drive", you cry some more. Yes, but people can't choose not to live (well, I suppose they could just kill themselves at that...hopefully, one of those people will be Glen Beck). No, there won't be any effin' death panels or rationed care, nor will the country become a socialist state (as if the previous administration didn't do enough to make that happen). It amazes how some people will believe anything told to them by a "famous" person like "Sarah Palin" (the air quotes were meant to be facetious both times). People were up in arms over medicare, too, when it was enacted in the 60's, talking about the end of our society. Well, just try and get medicare repealed today. That's a political death sentence. You don't like the healthcare reforms? Great. Move to Canada. Oh wait, they have universal health care too. Um, England. Nope, they got it too. Sweden? Same story for most of Europe. In fact, for those of you that state "We have the greatest healthcare system in the world!"....well, we don't. We're generally ranked in the low 30's amongst developed nations in healthcare (We are beating the Russian Federation for all you neo-cons out there). We spend far too much money and get far too little in return. Is this bill going to fix everything? Prolly not. We'll likely have to revisit the issue again. But it gets the ball rolling in the right direction. Which is something those Republican nay-sayers NEVER did. Thanks for reading, you can now return to your regularly scheduled blog reading.

I can't keep up with Spidey

2010-03-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

This weekly Amazing Spider-Man schedule is killing me. I can't keep up. And the stories haven't been great lately.

The back issues are starting to pile up again... am I going to quit new comics again?

A couple days in Seth's office

2010-03-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

Sure, most of the time I'm at work I'm at my desk writing or editing copy, but then there's also some days like these:

Forgotten Comics Wars

2010-03-16T16:58:00.000-07:00

Get caught up on Stephen (Swamp Thing) Bissette's brilliant blog here:

PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE

PART FOUR

Then stay abreast of this. REALLY interesting stuff.

Comic Book Binding

2010-03-14T13:11:00.001-07:00

Have any of you ever had comic books bound? I've recently sent off 12 collections to be bound into hardcovers. It's reasonably priced and seems like a good way to have my collection handy for casual reading.

Here's a cover I did for my binding of Suicide Squad...

My websites...

2010-03-13T22:42:00.000-08:00

I've recently updated my two websites. The art site has been the same for 30 years or so. Let me know what you think!

tobymays.com

tobymaysconstruction.com

Pulp Legacy # 48 now available for download!

2010-02-24T10:38:00.000-08:00

The link is to the right, above the cover for issue 47! Also, Zarko will be sending out the email shortly.

Sorry for the delay on this one, we had some issues that had to be dealt with before we went live...

Marvel trivia, anyone?

2010-02-12T19:32:00.000-08:00

Some of this stuff is complete crap (it's amazing what people will believe). Some of this is a bit surprising. But it's a decent way to spend a half hour.

Star Wars Burlesque

2010-02-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

It's enough to make even me a Star Wars fan:
http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/synthful/star-wars-burlesque-mos-eisley/
Personally I like the Stormtrooper best.

And note the link at the top of the article for a slideshow of lots more pictures.

Only in L.A.

2009 Pulpies ballot... VOTE! SOON!!!

2010-02-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

Cover of the Year
S is for Springtime … S is for Satan!, Griesbach #44
Machine Man, Heitmeyer, #45
What Would Jacko Do?, Jones #46
Batman, Giordano/Mays #47

Best Interior Art Moment
Photos from Java, Romelle, #44
May’s collaborations (Flash, Captain America, The Ray), Mays, #44
Pain Inside, Mays, #44
Flame of Justice, Jones #44
Dr. Solar, Jones, #44
Marlin’s Boob Pictures, Harris, #44
Jacko Preview, Jones, #45
Amateur Art Cover (Dr. Fate), Mays, #45
Quantum Mechanics Preview, Mays, #45
May’s inked commissions, Mays, #45
Photo of soldiers, Baxter, #46
Quantum Mechanics Preview, Mays #46
Professional Ink Jobs, Mays, #46
The Pros Ink Toby’s Art, Mays, #46
My Pencils, Mays, #46
Commissions, Mays, #46
What Would Jacko Do?, Jones, #46
(write-in)_________________________________

Best Fiction Story (written or sequential)

Disconnect, Arnett, #44
A strange object appears in Lawrence, Kan., with cryptic riddles

Don’t Take Me Alive, Arnett #44
Another trip to the Well

Ghosts of Constantinople, Sweeten, #44
A Russian General has a conversation with his commanding officer

Pain Inside, Quantum Mechanics, Mays, #44
Minor Threat goes through some tough times

Dr. Solar Makes a (Death) Wish, Jones, #44
Dr. Solar takes a boy fishing

A Snippet I Wrote to Fill a Page, Zaric, #45
A guy is on the run after being double-crossed by a friend

The Receivers, Arnett #45
A group a boys find a mysterious object that grants them powers

Two Hands Arnett, #45
A mechanic falls in love with a witch

The Insulated Man, Arnett #45
A strange, isolated house is the setting of a cosmic conflict

A Deck to Eternity, Mays, #45
A battle with the Devil to build the best deck

The Family Tree, Tyler, #46
A girl climbs a tree only to meet a phoenix

What Would Jacko Do?, Jones, #46
A sequential art story featuring the recently departed Michael Jackson

Summer, Zaric, #46
Bittersweet story about coping with a break-up

Dentin Debacle, Zaric, #46
A sequential script featuring a few members of the Umbrella Academy

A Very Long Walk, Arnett, #47
A compulsive gambler is forced to pay his debt in an unusual way

Sender, Arnett, #47
A futuristic logistics pro gets in trouble

She Has Become Like They Are, Arnett, #47
Another instalment of the Well series as a Seeker goes to the Exchange for a soul

(write-in)_________________________________

Best Written Work, Single Issue

Who’s on Deck in Kansas, Arnett, #44
Discussion on Kansas’ Kathleen Sebelius

Dog House, Zaric, #44
About getting a dog for the first time

“My Songs” series, Zaric, #44-47
Zarko discusses the meaning of songs important to him

My Mother Takes Me to Air Capital Comics, Jones #44
A young Seth’s world opens up when he discovers a comic store

Two Months in Afghanistan, Baxter, #44
Will is an embedded journalist in Afghanistan

What My Kids Are Up To, Bowen #44
Eric talks about his family

Watchmen #4, Zaric, #45
Zarko uses the written style of Watchmen #4 to discuss his life

Motivation, Zaric, #45
Zarko goes for 10-K run early in the morning

Intellectualism, Arnett, #45
The importance of being appreciative

Captain America #332 Hit the Stands in Waldenbooks, Jones, #45
Seth gets hooked on Cap’s stories

The Summer Edition, Zeppa, #46
Zep recalls good times in the summer

Mar’s Mailing Comments, Harris, Any Issue
Mar continues to set the pace when it comes to detailed, interesting MCs

Eulogy for My Dad, Jones, #47
Seth recounts his eulogy for his father

(write-in)_________________________________

Best Non-fiction Story

Lessons, Zaric, #44
Zeke’s team loses every hockey game

The State of Things, Sweeten #44
Travis discusses major changes in his life

One Frustrating Day, Jones, #44
Evey barfs in Applebee’s

Marlin at Coachella, Harris #45
A visual diary of Mar’s time at Coachella Music Festival

Worst Purchase – Ever!, Zaric, #45
Zarko gets a new furnace for his house

Up the Mountain, Arnett #45
Jason’s family trip get buggered up by car problems

Daisy Lee Mays 6/17/2009, Mays #46
Toby’s daughter is born at home

Mar’s Comicon Report, Harris, #46
Mar breaks down the most recent San Diego Convention

My Dad’s Battle with Brain Cancer, Jones, #46
Tough times for Seth’s family

Chicago Con 2009, Zaric, #46
Zarko’s take on the Chicago Con

Boston or Bust, Zaric, #46
Zarko’s marathon doesn’t go as well as he would have liked

Back From the Future, Jones, #47
Seth meets his future self

What It’s Like … Having a Beer with Iron Man, Jones, #47
Seth meets Cal Ripken, Jr.

Going, going…!, Zaric, #47
Zarko recounts the day he almost hit a homer

(write-in)_________________________________

Funniest Moment

Ants are crawling out of Graham’s laptop, Roemmele, #44
Ants infest Graham’s computer

Roger’s Profanisaurus, Roemmele, #44
Kooky British terms and their American translations

The Ozymandias of One Group, Jones, #44
Seth is crowned the smartest golf turf industry editor

An Interview with Marlan Harris 03/10/09, Harris, #44
Marlan interviews himself

Marlan Cuts His Hair, Harris #44
Before and after shots of Mar

An Interview With Marlan Harris 06/04/09, Harris, #45
Marlan interviews himself -- again

The Last Ride of Captain Fabulous … Maybe, Littlejohn, #45
Bart’s birthday celebration

Things I learned in Chicago 2009, Spendlove, #46
Tom recounts 2009’s Chicago Comicon

A Potato Peeler that Cost More than My Car, Jones, #46
Seth uses new math to figure out his car is a better deal

The PL Crew See Three Naked Chicks, Zaric, #46
You had to see it to believe it

Mar and Seth’s Comicon Sketches, Harris/Jones, #46
Drunken doodles while sitting in a Hooters in San Diego

Marlan Harris Tour Rider - 2009, Harris #47
If you want Mar to show up, you better get the items on this list

Kia’s son is a chilli dog, Tyler, #47
Kia’s son asks for an unusual Halloween costume

Where I Stand on It, Bowen, #47
CJ tells us what he really thinks about Pink Floyd

(write-in)_________________________________

Best Blog Post (http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/)

Batman as “order”, Jones, 2/23/09
Seth argues against the comparison of Batman as “order,” Joker as “chaos,” then lists his top 10 comic book rivalries

Which is the better trilogy?, Sweeten, 2/25/09 Travis compares the Lord of the Rings trilogy with the Star Wars trilogy

How much Watchmen stuff do we need?, Jones, 3/2/09
Seth wonders if the marketing machine is going overboard with the Watchmen products

For Super-Friends fans, Harris, 3/5/09
Marlan shares photos of a Warner Bros. building mid-construction, being turned into the Hall of Justice

Who watches Wizard? Jones, 5/11/09 Seth predicts the demise of Wizard magazine

Jaystalker, Littlejohn/Bowen/Jones, 7/28/09
Bart is stalked by a giant Jayhawk in this YouTube video

Where the Wild Things Are, Arnett, 10/18/09
Arnett reviews the movie

Another dangerous idea, Arnett, 10/20/09
Arnett suggests we pay our favourite creators up-front to keep them doing comics

Rediscovered comics, Jones, 12/14/09
Seth talks about a box of comics he rediscovered in a YouTube video

(write-in)_________________________________

Best Use of CD-ROM Medium

My Songs, Zaric, various issues
Zaric writes about why a song is significant to him, includes the song

Half-Formed Thoughts, Arnett, #44
A video set to music with captioned quick-reviews, where Arnett shows us what comics he’s been reading

Motivation, Bowen, #45
Happy Boy!

Steve Earle plays “My Old Friend the Blues”, Bowen, # 46
Eric includes a song with his concert review

Pulp Legacy # 721, Jones/Littlejohn/Bowen/Harris/Baxter/Zaric, #47
Another broadcast from the future, this one starring four members (and one member cameo) of PL

Best Reviewer

(write-in – first place) _________________________________
(write-in – second place) _________________________________
(write-in – third place) _________________________________

Best Designed ‘Zine

(write-in – first place) _________________________________
(write-in – second place) _________________________________
(write-in – third place) _________________________________

Best MC’er

(write-in – first place) _________________________________
(write-in – second place) _________________________________
(write-in – third place) _________________________________

‘Zine of the Year

(write-in – first place) _________________________________
(write-in – second place) _________________________________
(write-in – third place) _________________________________

Make your own pulpys:

(worst attitude, most likely to get hit by a bus, most typos, etc.)

Relationships

2010-02-02T11:32:00.000-08:00

This is kinda cool:Or look at it closer at:

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/images/article/relationship/relationshipmapv1.htm

Apparently there's now sex in the Marvel Universe.

A little sneak peek

2010-01-31T20:14:00.000-08:00

at what a lot of my 'zine is about this issue...

Call for Pulpy Nominations!

2010-01-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

With 2009 wrapped up, we also wrapped up another year of Pulp Legacy! Now is the time to send in your nominations for the best writings, drawings, videos and blogs 2009 had to offer.

Who had the best zine? The best joke? Which issue had the best cover? What was your favorite fiction story? Non-fiction story?

You can email your nominations to me at sjones@gcsaa.org or Zarko at Zaric@mts.net. Or you can post nominations in the comments section of this blog post.

Here in a week or so, we'll be submitting the full ballot to everyone, so you have several days to get us your nominations. Don't get mad at us if we missed your limerick, or your abstract drawing of Sharon Carter, Agent 13. Nominate it now! Get it on the ballot!

YOU'VE GOT TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT!!!

Avatar

2010-01-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

Dear Hollywood --- please tell me a story FIRST. Don't be lazy and rely on the prettiness of Hi-Def and the novelty of Real 3D. They're not important. Tell me a good story with great actors being well-directed and use sound and vision TOGETHER. Film has all this going for it. Remember?

Okay, I went and saw Avatar yesterday with my son. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and think Cameron's retelling of the Europeans conquering indigenous peoples was deftly handled and acted well enough. I like that the Na'Vi language is new and is developing. I like the motion (performance) capture graphics on the animated characters. I think it's a neat idea that was well-executed.

But I didn't like it in 3D.

I've never liked 3D, and I don't know that I ever will. It requires too much of me and is too distracting. I already wear a pair of glasses and putting on a second pair to watch the film is annoying. It's pretty, but it's an effect. It's not a storytelling device. Cameron didn't do anything in the film to make me feel like 3D was absolutely necessary to telling the story. That means it's still just a stunt to lure people in. Avatar didn't need the 3D and I resented paying an extra three bucks to see it that way.

The last time I went to see a picture at our local twelve-pack theater, they weren't showing 3D films because they didn't have the projector. Fine, it looks like they paid for it but now they want me to choke up extra for it. I won't pay extra going forward for a stunt like that as it only rewards filmmakers and theater chains for bad behavior. I refuse to have the extra cost of a film passed on to me for something I won't enjoy.

I did like the movie though. The distraction of things popping out of the screen (I only ducked to the side once) was just that: a distraction. The story was long in spots (editing seems to be a thing of the past nowadays and I don't know why --- extended cuts are supposed to be on DVD/Blu Ray, aren't they?) but held my interest. If not for the silliness of the 3D stunt I'd've loved the film. As it is, I paid $10.50 for a goddamn matinee and the knucklehead behind the ticket counter was rude and didn't care. Avatar was not worth $10 a head at the theater and then when they ask me to buy it in 2D format at home, they'll ask for another $20 and I don't know if I'll pay that or not.

If it's the future of filmmaking, god help us. Use surround sound to pull the viewer from the back of the theater into the front of the screen if we're to feel 'involved' in the film. A master filmmaker can do it. We need more master filmmakers.

15 seconds or local fame

2009-12-15T17:42:00.000-08:00

For those in the group who don't read The Lawrence Journal-World, here's a link to the article naming me the winner of the first ever LJW NaNoWriMo. The podcast was cool. More on this in the next PL.

In case you need something to read or listen to.

Rediscovered comics

2009-12-14T14:29:00.000-08:00

So, here's the back story... I didn't really explicitly explain in the video.

About 7 or 8 years ago, I asked my Dad to keep a box of my best comics in his and Mom's room, separate from the rest of my collection, which resided in my Mom and Dad's basement. Why? Just to have it someplace separate. You know, basements, humidity, etc.

A year or two later, I went to check on the comics, and they were gone.

I asked Mom and Dad, but they didn't recall moving those comics.

Downstairs, I had about 20 long boxes of comics.

Slowly, I started moving the comics back to Lawrence. The "best comics" never turned up. I was down to the last 5 boxes. These boxes were buried on a bar that my mom and dad have in their basement.

When I opened box # 3 down on the bar, in my mind, I told myself, "This isn't the box." From what I knew of my collection, this box contained my DC comics, letters G through S.

I opened the box, looked at the first comic. Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 3. As you know, that is not a DC comic, nor does it belong in the G through S box.

Then I saw my complete run of Tales of Suspense, # 58 through # 99 .

Then, finally... I found my Amazing Spider-Man collection.

Man, I almost cried. I really thought these comics were gone, after having gone missing for so long.

Why were they down there on the bar top? I don't know. Was I the one who put them there? I sure don't remember moving them down there. And my Dad didn't recall ever moving them.

How they got down there remains a mystery. What is important is that they are now back in my collection, where they should be.

Now, to scour eBay for a better condition issue of Tales of Suspense # 73....

ROAD TRIP! (for 20,000 comics!)

2009-12-11T17:02:00.000-08:00

Saw this auction on eBay:

20,000 comics 1983 - 2005 avg NM- 9.2 Pick up only!
No Reserve!! Opening bid FIFTY CENTS! For ALL of them!

Item condition: --

Time left: 9 days 7 hours (Dec 20, 200920:00:44 PST)

Bid history: 0 bids[Refresh]

There is only one condition: You must pick them up IN PERSON in NEW JERSEY!

OK, gas money to New Jersey... in something large enough to get 20,000 comics back to Kansas... (what is that, 70 long boxes?)

Who's coming with me???

Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/20-000-comics-1983-2005-avg-NM-9-2-Pick-up-only_W0QQitemZ400091118277QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d2749fac5

DEATHPOOL 2010

2009-11-30T23:57:00.000-08:00

Rules of the Death Pool:

Each player selects 50 names. The pool of all names selected by all the participating players is called the Master List. (Living people only; no animals, cartoons, comic strip characters, etc.)

The deadline for entries for the 2010 Death Pool is midnight (PST), Monday, December 31th, 2009. Each player's list must be submitted to Marlan Harris before the deadline to be considered eligible for play. $10 must accompany your entry. Payment in cash or by personal check is acceptable. Payment by Paypal is also acceptable -- e-mail Mar for details. (And if you pay by Paypal, see if you can throw in an extra buck, since I have to pay a fee whenever someone sends money that way.)

An indecipherable or confusing name will be considered to be the closest and most logical name available (for example, "P. Diddy" would be considered to be Sean "Puffy"/"Diddy" Combs). A proper, legal name is not necessary as long as that is the way the person is popularly known (for example, Eazy E).

Submission of the list can be done in person or sent by e-mail. A typed, numbered, and alphabetized list is preferable but a handwritten list is also acceptable as long as it is legible. Submission of your list to the Death Pool head is considered final and you will be unable to change your list after you submit it. In the event of doubling of names in the same list, the extra name will be discarded and a replacement will not be requested or accepted once the list is submitted. In the event of a list submitted with more than 50 names, the last names on the list after the first 50 will be discarded and replacements will not be requested or accepted once the list is submitted. In the event of a person on the submitted list already being dead, the name will be discarded and a replacement will not be requested or accepted once the list is submitted. In the event of the death of a person on the submitted list occuring between when the list is submitted and the contest officially begins, a replacement name will be accepted.

The duration of the Death Pool is from January 1 through December 31 of the year 2010.

When a death is mentioned in Time, Newsweek, The Hollywood Reporter, Daily Variety, and/or People publications, the name of the deceased is checked against the Master List. If there is a "Hit" in the Master List, each player who picked the "Hit" is awarded points. More than one player is allowed to select the same "Hit" and each will receive the full amount of points regardless of how many players picked the same name. Deaths are also checked against the Dead People Server, which will be at http://www.dpsinfo.com/dps/2010.html#top. Also, eligible deaths can be reported on www.cnn.com or the websites of any of the publications above.

Points are calculated as follows: 100 minus the "Hit's" age. For example: When Ronald Regan died, he was 93 years old; he was worth 7 points. When Ol' Dirty Bastard died, he was 35 years old; he was worth 65 points. If the "Hit" is 100 years old or older, zero points are awarded.

A death must be featured in Time, Newsweek, The Hollywood Reporter, Daily Variety, and/or People magazines or appear on the Dead People Server for points to be awarded. The date of death must occur within the duration of play (regardless of when the death is announced). Time of death will be determined by the time zone of the location of death (for deaths occurring on December 31st). Deaths must be published in Time, Newsweek, The Hollywood Reporter, Daily Variety, and/or People magazines or appear on the Dead People Server or the websites of any of the publications above, as well as cnn.com, on or before January 15th the following year in order to score points.

The player with the most points at the end of the duration of the Death Pool is the winner. In the event of a tie, the tie breaker will be the player that has the youngest "Hit". If all of the tied players have the youngest "Hit", the next youngest "Hit" in succession will be the tie breaker, and so on. If the players each had the exact same "Hits," then the players will share the winnings, divided equally among them.

The winner, decided by a panel of judges at the end of the duration of the Death Pool, wins the total amount of money contributed by all players. The exact amount depends on the number of players.

There will be a web page which will list the current point standings of players and Master List and the address of that page will be provided to all players once play begins. The page will be updated with near-disconcerting frequency.

Please feel free to distribute this to more people and invite as many other players as you can, as long as they get their list and $10 to Marlan before the appointed deadline and abide by these rules.

Failure or refusal to abide by the rules above will be grounds for ejection of the player from the game. All disputes will be settled by the person(s) running the Death Pool and decisions will be deemed final.

To participants of the previous year(s): please submit a new list just like you were a new player coming into the contest. You may use some, all, or none of the names you have already used in previous lists. If you participated in last year's bout, you can also request that your list from last year be rolled over without submitting a full list but only if no changes are made.

50 names. 10 bucks. By December 31. That's it. That's all you have to do.

If you have any questions, contact Marlan at MAR93@aol.com.

(Note: your overly conservative/dull girlfriend/wife doesn't have to know you're involved in this. You can play under a different name. You can even pick the fake name. And you can still enjoy all the money you've won at the end of the competition all the same and she won't ever have to know.)

Quick reminder: short stories

2009-11-12T09:28:00.001-08:00

Hey, you remember that you can read my short stories on the web at JasonArnett dot com, right?

"The Insulated Man" has been significantly re-written since it appeared in Pulp Legacy. Love to hear what you all think.

About some comics and my writing

2009-11-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

As usual, cross-posted from my LiveJournal

* Terry Moore's new series, ECHO, is one hell of a ride. If you liked Strangers in Paradise, this is very different. It has a very HBO kind of feel to it. The art is typically gorgeous and the dialogue is real. Highly recommended.

* Nearly hit 9000 words last night on my NaNoWriMo work, so I'm doing well with my improved goal of 2000 words a day (at least to start off) and I'm happy with how it's coming along. Since doing NaNo last year, I've written 11 short stories for an estimated total of about 62,000 words and 111,000 including the NaNovel. I don't think that's a bad total at all. Averaging 9250 a month.

* I'm proud of that.

* Thinking ahead, I'd really like to have 250,000 words total under my belt this time next year. I am confident that I can get that. (This year's NaNovel target word count is 60,000, which means another 80,000 from December 2009 through October 2010.)

* The Long Range will finish up (for me) around late February/early March. I know what I'm writing after that, but haven't put any framework around it. I like having a format (6000 words, four 1500 word chapters per story) and I think that's helped me. What one may not realize yet is that The Long Range is really a novel.

* Speaking of which, November's story, "The Insulated Man" started yesterday. Have you read it yet? Tell me what you think.

* I read the Mister X Archives by Dean Motter & Co. (including Los Bros Hernandez and Seth) as published by Dark Horse Comics and am now reading The Umbrella Academy: Dallas by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba. These two books are among the most subversive comics ever with ideas such as Psychetecture and time traveling assassins. The only book that's missing from this mix is Matt Fraction's Casanova, which is on a hiatus while MF writes a bunch of best-selling superhero books for Marvel. I should probably get the last of his run on The Immortal Iron Fist, too, because that's superhero stuff that is at least sympatico with his independent work. IIF would also really work well as a film.

* I'm signed up for a blog on NaNo with my local paper and awaiting some word on what's going on with it. More info as it comes along.

* Have I mentioned what my NaNovel is about?

Oh, god --- make it stop

2009-11-01T17:03:00.000-08:00

Cross-posted from my LiveJournal:

I have an idea.

God help me, I have an idea. Of course this comes to me as I'm cranking up to start writing a novel in 30 days, so I'm dumping it here for later in December.

There needs to be a physical version of The Long Range short stories. Paper's easy to manipulate, easy to pick up and take with you. Paper is familiar and comfortable. It's also expensive and ephemeral and it's hard to share without the possibility of losing it. Or the cat barfing on it.

It's also limited.

So --- what? What do I do instead of paper?

What if I put the stories, complete with the icon I've been using on the site, into a pdf, enclosed an MP3 and a quick video intro?

What if I dropped these on CD, stuck a site logo and the address on it and left them laying around? You know, for free to pick up and take home?

They're less expensive but more time-consuming. I don't know what I'm going to do, but I think this might be an idea worth pursuing. If I did twenty copies of each story, then that's twenty copies floating around for someone to print the story off if they like, or to upload under the Creative Commons license I've attached to each story.

It needs some more thought, but that's it in a nutshell. Tell me what you think, will you? Hell, I'd probably even send a few out of the country if there were some willing helpers.

We'll see.

Happy Halloween, Strippers!

2009-10-27T02:26:00.000-07:00

Has Marvel gone too far? Or not far enough?
Marvel Costumes
(with credit to Heitmeyer, who called me on not including a hyperlink to an article a few entries back)

Another Dangerous Idea

2009-10-20T18:23:00.000-07:00

Cross-posted from La Villa Ajasont:

I read the article about Jim Steranko's appearance at Baltimore ComicCon over at CBR today.

Here's an idea: those of us that love Jim Steranko's work would like to see him do more comics in the way that Steranko SHOULD do comics. "You guys should pay me so I can finish this stuff," he said at one point.

Yeah, we should.

Jill Sobule and some other musicians have appealed to their fan bases to help them make a record. Why couldn't the same thing be done for Steranko? He posts a pitch for the book he'd like to do on his web page and then we contribute to help him out to make his page rate. Different contributions get your name mentioned, or even an appearance as a character.

I'll bet you that Image, at least and probably a couple other publishers, would agree to publish the book if Steranko finishes it.

The catch is this: just because you contribute doesn't mean you get the book for free and you certainly don't own any rights to the work, that's all Steranko. It might, however, get you a discount on the purchase (Steranko's part of the pie, maybe) and a signed copy and a thank you in the book.

This could work. I know it would work for someone like Byrne if we wanted him to finish John Byrne's Next Men comic. The idea is that for the fans to pay for the work to be done so that we can enjoy it and have it and to not have artists say "I need to make a page rate" and stop doing a work. It takes an excuse away if there are enough people to make the page rate that the artist can live with.

Something to think about anyway.

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-10-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

Cross-posted from my LiveJournal:

We went to see Where the Wild Things Are yesterday.

Going in, I didn't want the film to be longer than 90 minutes. 80 minutes was probably my desired length, but no more than 90 to be sure. The trailers had convinced me that Spike Jonze had approached the film with a reverence that was appropriate, and the fact that Maurice Sendak was fully supportive and involved also convinced me that I needed to see this. Not least of all the influences on me seeing it was my love of the source material.

I don't need to have a literal translation of a book or comic to enjoy a film of it. All I need is for the film to capture the spirit of the story.

Where the Wild Things Are is a wonderful film. It perfectly captures the confusion of childhood and the escape that imagination affords. There are literal translations of the book into the film, the wild rumpus for instance, but it's the expansion of the story that makes it so good. The Wild Things are just that. Despite having names and speaking parts, the Wild Things are pure emotion. They are the emotions that Max has felt and experienced from others, and they're as confusing in personification as they are in life.

The farther the viewer is away from childhood, the more likely one is to appreciate the sentiments that Jonze has put into the film. Viewers under the age of 35 may need a few more years experience to understand what he's done here, but I came away from the theater having fully enjoyed myself. I laughed, I gasped and I cried. I left full of happiness and joy.

This is not a kid's movie, this is a movie about being a kid. It's something that not enough people have valued and may never understand. From a parent's perspective, there are moments that will scare the daylights out of younger children on the big screen. This is a PG movie, not for swearing or any of the things that we've come to expect, but for IDEAS that challenge us as viewers. For the brief moments of in-your-face scary violence.

The Wild Things, as I noted above, are wild things. I also mentioned at the start of this that 'we' went to see the film. This was me and my wife, two adults in their 40s, who went. There were lots of children, but I think the adults and parents (not necessarily mutually exclusive) enjoyed it more than the kids.

Don't expect a 90 minute version of the book. Expect a film that's evolved from a beloved book. Go in with your eyes and your mind wide open and look to enjoy it.

Esquire Fiction Contest

2009-10-10T00:45:00.000-07:00

Well it's over and I didn't win, as I expected.

What did I get out of it? A four thousand word story I wouldn't have written otherwise. Not a bad thing to have, and certainly a cool exercise.

I'm disappointed, to be sure, but not so much I wouldn't do it again. What I'll do now is pick that story up after I finish NaNoWriMo and seriously edit it in December, then see about submitting it elsewhere, perhaps to Ellery Queen or Alfred Hitchcock or somewhere else.

Why not?

I'll put the submitted version in my next 'zine for your perusal, but I recommend you do check out the winning story here.

Was this misleading?

Prizes and Approximate Retail Values: One (1) Winner will receive $2500.00 and have his or her entry published in a future issue of Esquire (ARV: Priceless). Total Approximate Retail Value: $2500.00. Winner will be notified via phone, e-mail or postal mail, at Sponsor's discretion, on or about December 31, 2009. Winner's List: For winner's name, send a separate self-addressed, stamped envelope to Esquire Fiction. 300 West 57th Street. 21st floor. New York, NY 10019 by January 31, 2010.

I'm not complaining, but I didn't expect the winning story to be published in mid-October after an August 1 deadline. Seems like they might've decided on September 1, actually.

I applaud the winner who got the $2500 and the publishing credit. Me? I got a story I wouldn't have written otherwise.

Plagiarist Exposed

2009-10-01T03:40:00.000-07:00

There's a person going by the name of Richard Ridyard who has blatantly ripped off Stephen King and Angel Zapata in order to get publishing credits. This broke on on Tuesday and as of this morning it appears that Ridyard's 'work' has been effectively wiped from the internet.

Bully to the writing community for moving so quickly to expose this fraudulent behavior. In the digital age, even with Creative Commons licenses, it's important to protect your work and when someone sees something that's obviously plagiarized it's important to speak up.

I'm going to cross-post this on my LJ, and if you all would spread the word through the other communities you frequent, it'll make it that much harder for guys like 'Ridyard' and Josh Hoopes to do this kind of swindling.

"I Will Not Read Your Fucking Script"

2009-09-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

An interview with the screenwriter of A History of Violence about reading work by amateur writers. It concerns screenwriting but it could just as easily apply to comics scripts or any kind of creative writing:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/09/i_will_not_read.php?page=1

Writing Blog (Or Not)

2009-09-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

I had planned to run my own writing blog but I think I'm going to declare it a dead project. It's been a while since I set it up and I clearly just haven't gotten around to doing it. I even have a site on Livejournal set up (so you can see how long it's been). I've not produced a lot of new stuff that I want to show off in such a place and anything I do write would probably be better served going elsewhere. But there were some things I had planned for it and I think that stuff would be just fine -- if not better -- posted here. If there's any reaction to it, I might post some other articles and resources for writers, since I know that's a main interest among my fellows who visit and post on this blog.

So this was going to the best second entry on my writing blog (the first being an introduction, which might still be up there but I don't even remember the name of the blog to go and look):
An interview with Elvis Costello on songwriting that I think has a lot of parts that are analogous to writing and creating in general:
http://www.elvis-costello.com/news/archives/002001.html
(Thanks to Rick Cortes for sending it.)

Good news: 1 billion people qualified to write Captain America!

2009-09-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

This paragraph kicks off Wizard # 216's coverage of "Captain America Reborn."

So, apparently being a military brat gives Brubaker "serious cred" to write Captain America.

This is like saying I'm qualified to continue Neil Gaiman's Sandman because I frequently have dreams.

Pulp Legacy

2009-08-31T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hi, all,

I won't have anything in the new issue of PL because I just flat ran out of time. I was considering for a while taking a leave and then probably just leaving the APA, but I don't want to do that. You guys have been good to me and I really enjoy being part of it. (Thanks to Seth and Zarko for the support!)

Instead, what I'll do is post a few things up here over the next six weeks or so and share some different things. I want to play with audio and video a little and it might be more appropriate to post those things here anyway.

So, I'm sorry I don't have a bunch of content for the new issue but it's really just a matter of not making the time to get things in shape to share them before the deadline.

I promise I'll have things in the next issue. At the very least I want to share the story I submitted for the Esquire fiction contest. Dunno what I"ll do with it once I get notification I didn't win, maybe try to sell it somewhere else. We'll see.

Looking forward to the new issue, though.

Best,

Jason

Make Mine....Disney??

2009-08-31T10:52:00.000-07:00

Perhaps now we'll see that Donald Duck/Howard the Duck crossover....

I got my name in print!

2009-08-21T15:50:00.001-07:00

You gotta take your fame where you can. In this case, my fame comes from having a question answered on the Comic Book Legends Revealed blog on CBR (this would be the second time I've been included in a CBR article...thanks to Seth for the first time around). Anyhoo, Comic Book Legends Revealed is one of the best weekly articles on CBR, you should check it out. And while you're doing so, check out my 15 seconds of fame here.

Stories for Free

2009-08-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

Hey, all --- just wanted to remind you that the stories I've been sharing with you in PL are up online for everyone to read for free at JasonArnett dot com. If someone (like anyone you know) likes 'em enough to want to have a PDF copy of the stories, they can be had for only forty-nine American cents.

Anything you can do to help me out and get some readers is much appreciated. All comments are welcome!

JAYSTALKER

2009-07-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

It's the newest movie from Pulp Legacy Studios! And perhaps our best yet...

Details:

Written, filmed, edited and produced in 48 hours
Entrant in the Summer '09 Wild West Film Festival
Necessary props, according to the rules; buttons, ice cream, sunblock and "a giant ___"
Premiered at Liberty Hall on the big screen last Friday
No animals, real or fictional, were harmed during the making of this film

SDCC, here we come!

2009-07-19T22:01:00.000-07:00

Who am I going to see this weekend? Mar? Brian? Ande? Caleb? Stan Lee? Anyone else?

Howdy Guys and Gals

2009-07-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

So, in a recent post I announced that I had myself a website.
Now on said website, I have a gallery of images of which I've taken part.
Right now it's kinda temporary until I can figure out this nifty image gallery internet tool thinger- called Lightbox.

Enjoy

Brad

Being a geek just got a whole lot less cool

2009-07-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

WTF?? So, the Sci-Fi Channel is changing it's name to "SyFy"...Seriously? I mean, really? That name looks like the atomic symbol for syphillis. Why is it that the geeks of the world can't catch a break? We got a science fiction channel and now they want to jazz it up and make it sexier (just like your last girlfriend tried to do with you until she realized that geeks don't get sexier and dropped your ass). Can't they leave well enough alone? Didn't they learn anything from George Lucas? Sigh. You know, it's days like today that make me want to throw out my Heinlein books and Star Wars posters and join the masses reading whatever Oprah's hawking this month.

Brad Heitmeyer Dot Com

2009-07-04T22:46:00.001-07:00

Hey, Everybody

I have a web site.

It's currently very empty, but please stop on in and have a look-see.

I'm looking to be moving in a lot of new content and hoping beyond hope that it turns out kinda nice.

Enjoy the site and be sure to let know what you think so far and as things progress.

Thanks

Brad

Dear Ed Brubaker,

2009-07-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

I'd like my $4.99 back.

Sincerely,

Seth Jones

WARNING

2009-06-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

If you see this man, do not try to apprehend. Just sit back, and enjoy the awesomeness that is about to ensue.

Teller is halfway through

2009-06-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

So Teller part 3 (of 4) posts just after midnight tonight, central time at www.jasonarnett.com. It's a pretty well-revised version that you might've read in Pulp Legacy, and if you haven't read it you can still catch parts one and two on the site. Do me a favor and tell your friends?

Ugh.

2009-06-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

If you were hoping for something good from Iron Man 2, this might change your mind.

Esquire fiction contest

2009-06-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

Esquire has a fiction writing contest that they're doing right now. $2,500 for first place, along with getting published in Es-freakin-quire.

The story has to be written based on one of the three below titles. Less than 4,000 words. One entry per soul.

1. "Twenty-Ten"
2. "An Insurrection"
3. "Never, Ever Bring This Up Again"

Here's the link: http://www.esquire.com/fiction/fiction-contest?click=main_sr

Good luck! If you submit something, maybe publish it in your next zine, too?

Storysite goes live

2009-06-03T12:12:00.001-07:00

My story website/blog thingy went live today. Please stop by and check out the newly-renovated version of 'Teller' that's up. If you like it, please tell your friends to stop over and comment. I'll do more marketing push things elsewhere, but I wanted to stop here first. Any help you guys can give is much appreciated.

Deadline Coming!

2009-05-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

Hey gang!!

How are the 'zine coming along?

The deadline's coming.....

Who watches Wizard?

2009-05-11T20:52:00.000-07:00

Any Wizard readers/subscribers?

I ask, because I think this magazine needs to be put on Marlan's deathwatch list.

The new issue hit my mailbox a few weeks ago. It's Calista Flockhart thin. And it has about as many ads as the last issue of Pulp Legacy, as in very, very FEW.

Check it out -- page 1 is the table of contents. That's valuable real estate to an ad salesperson, and here it is, being used as the TOC. The magazine is an anemic 96 pages. Remember when this book used to be 200+? Granted, that was in the days they published an in-depth price guide with every issue.

Here's a rundown of the major ads in this issue:

Inside front cover: Marvel (full page)

Page 3: Star Trek/eSurance (full page)

Page 5: Topps Obama trading cards (full page)

Page 7: Midtown Comics (half page)

Pages 8-9: Wanted video game (spread)

Page 35: HOUSE AD (full page)

Page 67: HOUSE AD (full page)

Page 69: HOUSE AD (full page)

Page 71: HOUSE AD (full page)

Page 79: HOUSE AD (full page)

Page 88: Classifieds

Page 89: Wonderland Chronicles (full page)

Pages 92, 93, 94: House, house, house (full pages)

Inside back: Marvel

Back cover: Wanted

There were also 2 half-page Marvel ads that I skipped over.

I'm not claiming to be an expert on the magazine business, but a friend I know thinks he knows a thing or two. Eight full-page house ads in a 96-page book isn't bringing any money in, folks. And 8, maybe 9 real ad pages in a 96-page book? That's a 9% ad to edit ratio. Check out any other magazine you get... the ratio of a healthy magazine is closer to 60/40 or 50/50.

I'm not wishing ill on Wizard. I'm just wondering aloud if the magazine can remain profitable with ad/edit ratios like this?

I've put up a new poll on this topic. Check it out, let me know what you think.

Xpostfacto

2009-04-22T03:02:00.000-07:00

Actual content on what I think of the social media phenomenon that is Twitter.

More on my plans

2009-04-15T04:27:00.000-07:00

A bit about the stories I'm writing (which I am sharing in PL) and what I hope happens with them.

New movie

2009-04-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

Me, Bart and Copy J put together a new film last week. Below are the YouTube clips of the movie, part 1 and part 2.

We entered it into an independent film competition at Iowa State University. They asked us to use the lines, "Do you know where the weight room is?" and "I smell ice cream." We were also supposed to use the following props: lawn ornament, Cosmo magazine and a ping pong ball.

We didn't win the contest, but we sure had fun doing the movie. Hope you enjoy.

Think Twice before looking

2009-04-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

Don't say I didn't warn you not to look at this after it's burned onto your brain.

Via Warren Ellis.

Yeah, who's watching the Watchmen, now?

Variant 2nd Prints

2009-03-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

OK, so I'm relatively new to pulling comics from the comic shop. Or, at least, I just got back from a 2-year hiatus.

I'm pulling "Dark Avengers." I get issue 1. Issue 2 doesn't show up, even though I know it's out.

Go back to the shop, I've got issue 2, "variant 2nd print," as well as regular-ol' issue 3. (enjoying the series, btw)

So, is this commonplace? To get 2nd prints as if nothing is amiss? Or should I be like, "Dude, I'm pulling this -- get me a first printing!"

Step Two? Or One point Five?

2009-03-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

Finished the fourth story last night, The Receivers. I am working out the plot for a new, as-yet-untitled story about a House.

Bought www.jasonarnett.com and thinking about the layout, which will likely change before June. More to come. Here's the post I'm referencing.

Who's Watched The Watchmen?

2009-03-07T18:21:00.000-08:00

I figure this as good a forum as any. Let the reviews begin.

For SUPER-FRIENDS Fans

2009-03-05T22:57:00.000-08:00

The Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank has huge pictorals and ads for their TV shows and movies. I was over there the other day (on my way to an early screening of Watchmen!) and I saw their new project. On the side of one of the sound-stages (where they tape Ellen, actually) they've had a pictoral of all of their animated characters, including Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Batman, and Superman, for years. This is what they're doing now:
Note this close-up. This could be lingering from what was underneath it but part of the character is outlined in the new paint:

And I have no idea what it is. I thought Warner Bros. had already released all of the Super-Friends episodes on DVD and I don't know what this could be connected to. Obviously it's not finished. When it's done I'll post more pictures.

And a bonus. This is, of course, my local comics shop, the House of Secrets in Burbank. I don't know what the story is behind this. They tried putting a comics-related mural in this same spot a few years ago but the city shut it down: (Yeah, that's my bike.)

Singles

2009-03-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

Hey, gang, got a question for you.

I'm thinking about putting my short stories up for sale on Lulu.com for a buck apiece, like iTunes or something. These would be the whole story you get to read in Pulp Legacy (and I'll still put them there first for you guys, you've been so good to me) but downloadable for a buck to whomever might like to read them as DRM-free pdf files. One story a month, for a buck, with a 1500 word text preview and maybe free audio. Whether that's a preview or the whole story, I don't know.

Would you guys help me promote it, even passively, by sending on emails to your friends who read? Does this seem like a decent idea? Self-publishing for the digital age.

Lemme know what you think.

How much Watchmen stuff do we need?

2009-03-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else starting to get a little... overwhelmed... with all the Watchmen stuff?

It seems like every cast member has been interviewed ten times by every pop culture media outlet. The preview is everywhere. Watchmen has it's own endcap at the big book chain. CNN is asking, "Will fans watch the Watchmen?" as one of their main stories.

How much longer before I'm filling out the crossword puzzle on the back of my box of Rorschach cereal? (Flavor: sugar cubes. Free prize: mini-grappling gun.)

I think what pushed me over the edge was when I saw this book, pictured, at Border's this weekend. Do I really need oversized black and white portraits of every cast member -- from the Comedian to the Viet Cong Dr. Manhattan obliterates -- in a deluxe format book? For $50?

I wonder how much Watchmen stuff will be steeply discounted in three weeks from now. Would I want to buy this book for 50% off? For 75% off? The answer is no. But I'm not much into portrait photography, either, so maybe I just don't "get it."

I'm looking forward to the movie, but I'm also getting sick of seeing/hearing about it.

Which is the better trilogy?

2009-02-25T20:47:00.000-08:00

So, I watched the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy over the span of last week (seriously people, for being newly single, my social life is right up there with lepers and Republican church wives). And Emery has been adamant that we watch a Star Wars movie when he comes to crawl in bed at midnight or so (of course, he falls asleep about 5 minutes into it but I'm too much a geek to stop watching). With this recent side by side comparison, I got to thinking about which is the better trilogy. I know there are purists out there who will decry this post as blasphemy, screaming from the rooftops that there is only one, true trilogy. But I'll tread where fanboys fear in this situation. So, which flavor do you prefer? Original Star Wars (I'm sorry, but the prequels are spinoffs in my mind) or Lord of the Rings? And whilst your working on that, I have a few fanboy questions:

1. We all know that Empire is the greatest of the Star Wars movies (and I'll arm wrestle you if you disagree) and that The Two Towers is the best of the LOTR (well, it is in my mind), but which is the better sequel between the two? Personally, I'll go with Empire, because it hits you with the double whammy of Luke losing his hand AND finding out the truth about his father (from the same guy, no less). Dark and edgy, ending on a down note, Empire should be the standard by which sequels are made.

2. Who would you rather have on your side in a fight? (my answers in parentheses)
Luke Skywalker or Aragorn? (Aragorn...he is such a bad ass, he makes dead people afraid of him)

Yoda or Gandalf? (Yoda...Nothing against the White Wizard, but I'll take the Muppet with the effed up syntax any day of the week and twice on Sunday)

3. Who is the better bad guy, the Emperor or Sauron? (The emperor by a nose. He had more screen time and he didn't need no stinkin' orcs to fight his fights)

4. Finally, who would kick more ass in a fight, Darth Vader or the Lord of the Nazgul? (Vader? Nazgul? It could go either way, but my fanboy heart wins out and says Vader)

Disconnect

2009-02-20T11:09:00.001-08:00

I'll probably put the whole story into the next 'zine (due next week, right?) and I don't want to bump the Pulpys down, but I'm not getting any feedback on the new story DISCONNECT and if you're interested here are the links:

Part One

and

Part Two

Y'know,if you'd like to read them now. Part three up on Monday at the LiveJournal.

2008 Pulpies ballot!

2009-02-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

VOTE!!!

Cover of the Year
Spider-Man, Seth Jones, #39
Fantastic Four, Toby Mays, #40
Rock and Roll Can Never Die…, Zara Roberts, #41
Back to the Future, Vanda Toews, #42
Batman and Superman, John Byrne/Toby Mays, #43

Best Interior Art Moment
Photo of misty mountains/valleys, Romelle, # 39
Photo of island golf green in the Dominican Republic, Jones, #39
FF Story, Mays, #40
Weird Journey (Quantum Mechanics), Mays, #40
Quantum Mechanics Pinup, Mays, #40
The Death of the FF, Jones, #40
Zara’s rock photos, Roberts, #41
Photos of Hanoi, Roemmele, #41
Batman cover to Amateur Art #2, Mays, #41
Citizen, Mays, #41
Old Amateur Art Covers, Mays, #41
Music back cover, Bowen, #41
JLA cover to Amateur Art #3, Mays, #42
Quantum Mechanics #1, Mays, #42
Photos of Tibetan Protesters, Baxter, #42
Spider-Man versus the Mind Moth, Jones, #42
Dr. Solar’s Date from Hell, Jones, #42
Futuristic back cover, Zaric, #42
A Case Against Mercy Cover, Griesbach, #43
Cheesecake, Griesbach, #43
Flash, Mays, #43
Valiant Tryout Cover, Mays, #43
Body Dumper, Taylor, #43
(write-in)_________________________________

Best Fiction Story (written or sequential)

The Well, Arnett, #39
Steamy, futuristic noir starring a hard-luck detective

The Death of the FF (sequential), Jones, #40
12-page comic where the FF is killed off, one by one

Look Both Ways, (script), Littlejohn, #41
Monty Pythonesque TV show pokes fun at society

Where the Earth Meets the Sky, Arnett, #41
Tale of a boy who finally reaches the end of the horizon

Mind Running, Zaric, #41
A runner creates high-action in his own mind during a morning jog

Untitled Ghost Story, Sweeten, #41
Emily helps solve crimes by communicating with ghosts

Citizen, Mays, #41
A super-hero has cancer

Quantum Mechanics #1, Mays, #42
The origin story of Toby’s Quantum Mechanics super-team

With a Little Help From the Folks, Zaric, #42
A ten-years-in-the-future Zaric tells the story of a father’s day gift of running in a marathon completed in stages by his family

An Enviro Rant, Zaric, #42
A ten-years-in-the-future Zaric gripes about how environmentalists have evolved into green-friendly street gangs

Waydown #57, Harris, #42
A ten-years-in-the-future Marlan goes back and writes about the one deadline for PL he missed and remedies the missing issue with examining what his life was like ten years ago for that missing issue

The Castle on the River, Arnett, #43
A journey to a strange castle takes the main character to see someone he recently lost, and some self-discovery

Short Holiday Superhero Fiction, Taylor, #43
An average couple give up their super-powered child for adoption to a super-hero couple

(write-in)_________________________________

Best Written Work, Single Issue

The Well, Arnett, #39
Steamy, futuristic noir starring a hard-luck detective

Dead Forever, Baxter, #39
Baxter reminds us that we need to put the Archie comics down and live our lives because we will all be dead soon

One Morning with My Daughter, Jones, #39
Seth describes a typical morning getting his 1-year-old daughter ready for her day

Edna M, Tjarks, #39
An essay on the life of Tim’s mother, who died in late 2007

Coachella review, Harris, #40
It’s not too hot in the desert to rock – Mar evaluates all the bands he witnessed at Coachella 2008

Psycho Time!, Zaric, #40
Zeke Zaric’s hockey team upsets the league power to win it all

Mar can’t support free comic book day, Harris, #40
Marlan explains how there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and why that keeps him from supporting FCBD

Restaurant Managers, Jones, #40
Seth recalls the diverse assortment of restaurant managers he worked for in his younger years

Born and Raised a Jayhawk, Bowen, #40
Copy J writes about what it’s like to be a Jayhawk growing up in Wildcat territory

The Bubblemen, Roberts, #41
Zara recounts the orgasmic experience of a rare Bubblemen sighting

What Does ‘No’ Mean Anyway?, Arnett, #41
Exploring the true meaning of the word ‘no’

Hanoi, March, 2008, Roemmele, #41
Graham recounts what he loves and hates about the Vietnamese city

My Songs, Part 1, Zaric, #41
Zaric analyzes John Lennon’s “Mother” and how it relates to him

How I Make Beer, Zaric, #41
A step-by-step guide to how Zaric brews his own beer

There’s a trapdoor in the sun, Jones, #41
Jones asks, do you prefer writing, or reading, or both?

I’d Like it if Prince Farted the Batman Theme, Jones, #41
An essay about how fandom affects one’s ability to judge impartially

Zimbabwe: Diary of Violence, Baxter, #41
Baxter details the sights and sounds of photographing in Zimbabwe during such dangerous times

Burma: Covering the Aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, Baxter, #41
After disaster strikes, Baxter scores a flight to Burma and assignments with Newsweek and the NY Times

Count the Colors, Goellner, #42
Analyzing the steadily changing hair colors of Wally West’s kids

They Need to Cancel all the Books Produced by Marvel and DC, Griesbach, #42
Brian argues that characters like Batman and Superman are worn out, and the future of comics is in new stories from the smaller publishers

The Future of Comics, Mays, #42
Toby muses about how he hopes that someday, his grandkids will look back on the comics he created

Dark Knight rant, Jones, #42
Jones gives a laundry list of reasons why The Dark Knight sucked

Watching Time Stop with Stan the Man, Jones, #42
CBR story where Jones describes a thirty-minute visit with Stan Lee aboard the CBR yacht

Lollapolooza 2008, Jones #42
Jones tells war stories about attending the 2008 Lollapalooza with Marlan

Ten years, Gone, Arnett, #42
A ten-years-in-the-future Jason reflects on all the major event in America since 2008, including wind farms and global warming

Random Scribblings #847, Baxter, #43
Will goes through an entire relationship in a blink of an eye and a few sentences

Valedictorian Speech, Zaric, #43
June Zaric’s nursing program graduation valedictory address

Getting in Touch with NY, Zaric, #43
Bob Dylan visits Neil Young’s childhood home in Winnipeg

Seth gets V For Vendetta, Jones, #43
Seth tells about when he first discovered V for Vendetta #1 while on vacation in Santa Fe and how it affected his view on comics

Chinese Democracy Review, Harris, #43
Marlan reviews the long-awaited Guns n’ Roses album

(write-in)_________________________________

Best Non-fiction Story

Cambodia’s Lawless Leaders and the Landless Poor, Baxter, #39
A story on corruption in the Cambodian government and its effect on Cambodians

An Unchristmasy Christmas in Northern Thailand 2007, Roemmele, #39
Graham joins a friend for a motorcycle ride through remote areas of Thailand

One Morning with My Daughter, Jones, #39
Seth describes a typical morning getting his 1-year-old daughter ready for her day

I thought I’d jinxed them, Arnett, #40
Jason writes about how he thought he doomed his KU Jayhawks by leaving a premature voice message

Big Al’s Wedding, Zaric, #41
Zaric enjoys a wedding where ditch-jumping is part of the festivities

Chicago Comicon Report, Jones, #41
Seth sums up his three highlights from Chicago: heading CBR’s coverage, the Warren Ellis interview and the Gotham Knights premiere

San Diego Report, Jones #42
Jones recounts his top three stories from Comi-Con; meeting Stan Lee, staying on the CBR yacht and interviewing the Aquabats

Frisco, Zaric, #43
Zaric recounts his trip to San Francisco

Don’t Make JRJ Angry, Jones, #43
Jones tells the story of a meeting with a stood-up John Romita Jr.

(write-in)_________________________________

Funniest Moment

Levels of Strength, Littlejohn, #39
Bart describes his three favourite levels of strength: newborn, old man and drunk

Not to Be (Winnipeg loses the Grey Cup), Zaric, #39
Zarko details the agony of losing the Grey Cup to hated arch-rival/hillbillies Saskatchewan

Four Hot Chicks Reading Fantastic Four, Jones and Pumpelly, #40
In honor of the FF-themed issue, four hotties are pictured reading FF comcis

Jayhawk Superstitions, Jones, #40
Seth details all the weird superstitions he took on during KU’s championship 2007-2008 season

Look Both Ways, Littlejohn, #41
Monty Pythonesque TV show pokes fun at society

He-Ho and the Ho-Ho’s, Littlejohn, # 41
Bart’s fake ad for his new band and their album which includes hits like, “There’s always the Adam’s apple, look for that”

Burger Chunk, Littlejohn, #41
Bart’s tale of how some bad Burger King almost made him miss seeing Radiohead for the first time

Photo of Racheal with Steranko fingers, Harris, # 41

Pictures of Tom’s Office, Spendlove, #41

Warren Ellis Interview, Jones, #41
Jones recounts his 10-minute interview – which resulted in 5 seconds of recorded tape – with Warren Ellis

My Search for an Intern, Littlejohn, #42
Bart searches for an intern – qualifications include knowing kung-fu and being able to prevent him from buying a monkey

My Soccer Trip and the Cumulative Downfall of Man, Littlejohn, #42
A bus trip to a Kansas City soccer game results in debauchery, including some jerk puking in the beer bin

Sitting Near Michael Jordan and Tony Romo, Jones, #42
Seth’s friend insists on buying MJ a beer and the awkwardness that ensues

Dr. Solar’s Date From Hell, Jones, #42
Dr. Solar uses Match.com to find his next date, but once again nukes the girl when the date goes sour

3708, ?, #42
Written in gibberish, when translated it tells the tale of a man trapped in a room, desperate to get out

Drgbl, Arnett, #43
Air ships in unique situations

DC Tryout, Mays, #43
Batman and Superman end up caught with their pants down

(write-in)_________________________________

Best Blog Post (http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/)

How many copies of ___ have been CGC’ed?, Jones, 1/9/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-many-issues-of-have-been-cgced.html

Chicago leftover, Jones, 1/10/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/01/chicago-leftovers.html

Live blogging from Buffalo Wild Wings “assembly party”, Arnett, Jones, Littlejohn, Bowen, 2/9/08
http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/02/assembly-post.html
http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/02/pink-hair-jokes.html
http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/02/hey-man.html
http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/02/i-am-awesome-and-seth-is-not.html

Some books from a random long box, Jones, 3/7/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/03/some-books-from-random-long-box.html

Dave Stevens (1955-2008), Heitmeyer, 3/15/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/03/dave-stevens-1955-2008.html

What’s your favourite comedy?, Sweeten, 4/3/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/04/whats-your-favorite-comedy.html

Billboard with Spirit, Harris, 4/18/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/04/billboard-with-spirit.html

DC Universe 0, Spendlove, 4/30/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/04/dc-universe-0.html

Major breakthrough for our own Will Baxter, Jones, 5/10/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/05/major-breakthrough-for-our-own-will.html

Random semi-interesting story from last night, Jones, 5/17/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/05/random-semi-interesting-story-from-last.html

Fear, Arnett, 5/24/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/05/fear.html

Comic blogs response, Moore, 6/4/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/06/comic-blogs-response.html

St. Patty’s Day photos – the outtakes, Jones, 6/16/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/06/st-pattys-day-photos-outtakes.html

What would you give them? Sweeten, 6/20/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/06/what-would-you-give-them.html

Wolverine: Healing powers don’t do shit for allergies, bub. Jones, 7/16/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/07/wolverine-healing-powers-dont-do-shit.html

The Dark Knight, Arnett, 7/20/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/07/dark-knight.html

My highlight from SDCC, Moore, 7/29/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-highlight-from-sdcc.html

Leftover MCs, PL 40, Jones, 8/18/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/08/leftover-mcs-pl-40.html

Sad Day, Zaric, 9/9/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/09/sad-day.html

Momento Morti # 61 (part one) Jones and Littlejohn, 9/21/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/09/momento-morti-61-part-one.html

Momento Morti # 61 (part two) Jones and Littlejohn, 9/25/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/09/momento-morti-61-part-two.html

A new Bart and Jonesy uh… joint, Jones and Littlejohn, 11/13/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-bart-and-jonesy-uh-joint.html

Whoops… Jones, 11/19/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/11/whoops.html

Merry Christmas, Arnett, 12/20/08 http://pulplegacy.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-christmas.html

(write-in)_________________________________

Best Use of CD-ROM Medium

Cover production Video, Jones, #39
Seth documents the progress of the cover for issue 39 in a video set to music

The Well, Arnett, #39
Jason narrates his fiction story

The Sky Inside Me, Arnett, #40
A series of flash fiction dreams

July 4th, 2008, Anett, #41
A video of Christmas light displays around Lawrence, Kan.

My Songs, Zaric, #41, 42
Zaric includes John Lennon’s “Mother” to accompany his essay about what the song means to him

Momento Morti, Jones/Littlejohn, #42
A ten-years-in-the-future Seth and Bart send us a “thought blast” about their flying cars, failed movies and living in a cardboard box

A Little Something, Bowen, #42
Set to random clips – including She-Hulk doing squats -- ten-years-in-the-future Eric talks about life, including his vast wealth and the Seth Jones presidency

Best Reviewer

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Best Designed ‘Zine

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Best MC’er

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‘Zine of the Year

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Make your own pulpys:

(worst attitude, most likely to get hit by a bus, most typos, etc.)

is this how it starts?

2009-02-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

Marvel announced a new form of comic book will be sold via iTunes. With a recent article in Time sounding the death knoll for traditional publishing, I can't help but wonder if we are starting to see the end of ink and paper media? We have gone digital (and likely for the same reasons that other companies will go digital: money) with no real dropoff in membership, which makes me think that more and more people would accept an e-book or even an e-comic book. Opinions?

Le Conclusion...

2009-01-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

Teller part 4 is up and ready for comment.

Batman as "order"

2009-01-23T07:42:00.000-08:00

I was just flipping through the top 25 rivalries in comics (on CBR), and I see that Batman Vs. Joker took top honor. I'm OK with that (I was happy to see Cap Vs. Red Skull in the top 10, and Spidey Vs. Goblin in the top 5).

But I'm sick of people trying to say this is "chaos versus order." I'm no expert on Batman, but I have been reading his comics for years, and it seems to be that there isn't a whole lot of "order" in Batman's life. But everyone has seen the most recent Batman movie, and suddenly, that's the explanation we're giving on why this is a feud.

It's more like: Joker wants to kill Gothamites, versus Batman wants to protect Gotham. Batman wants to ensure that what happened to him doesn't happen to anyone else... it drives him so much that he wears a bat-suit, invests millions of dollars into an alter-ego, giving up any semblance of a normal life. Where's the "order" in that?

Your thoughts are welcomed.

Here's my top rivalries, off the top of my head:

1. Cap Vs. Red Skull
2. Spidey Vs. Goblin
3. FF Vs. Doom
4. Batman Vs. Joker
5. Silver Surfer Vs. Galactus
6. Spidey Vs. Venom
7. Cap Vs. Hydra
8. Thing Vs. Hulk
9. Green Lantern Vs. Sinestro
10. Thor Vs. Loki

Teller part three

2009-01-20T18:44:00.000-08:00

"Negotiating the Castle" (Part Three of Four) is up. Links to parts one and two immediately below here or at the end of the post there.

If you read this, please comment and let me know. I'll post part four when I have at least four public comments either here, at my LiveJournal or on Twitter.

I know, I'm really asking for it, aren't I?

Teller part two

2009-01-16T04:08:00.000-08:00

New short story in four parts from me: Here's part two: The Caretaker's Message.

And here's part one: To See the Wizard if you missed it.

I'll post part three when someone (thanks Seth!) posts a comment on the LJ about the tale.

President-Elect...

2009-01-08T10:36:00.001-08:00

I hear Spider Man has taken the role of Secretary of Defense in Obama's Cabinet.

What to do with my short stories

2008-12-28T06:45:00.000-08:00

I'm looking for some advice on what to do with my short stories. Click through to my LiveJournal if you have an opinion you'd like to share with me. I really appreciate any and all comments.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-20T07:46:00.000-08:00

This is some video I shot around Lawrence last year, with a couple of pictures from this year thrown in. I really enjoy driving around and looking at Christmas lights and thought I'd share this with everyone.

Wishing you and your family all the holiday cheer you can stand.

Issue 43 -- in the mail!

2008-12-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

All the discs went in the mail yesterday. They're headed your way.

Thanks to Zarko for getting all the pieces together, and a big thanks to Copy Jesus, who worked on assembling the contents of the discs until 2:30 a.m. Sunday night!

37%????!!!

2008-12-15T19:09:00.000-08:00

This number seems a bit high......I hope beyond hope that it's just Huffington swill

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-shehori/poll-37-of-americans-unab_b_150933.html

Can YOU find America???