The winner of the "Political Bad Timing" award...
The Minnesota GOP sent out a flyer over the weekend with a picture of a tombstone reading Paul Wellstone R.I.P.

Now THAT's bad.
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.28.02 @ 02:21 PM ET [link]

Take a sip every time Angel jumps off a building, drain the glass when Kenny dies
Media Studies and Alcohol Abuse-- two great tastes that go great together. Yes, it's The Ultimate TV Drinking Game Page.
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.26.02 @ 10:54 AM ET [link]

Meaure your accomplishments against history...
Ever wonder what famous people were doing when they were your age? Now you can find out. At OldAs.com, you can type in your birthday, and the site will bring up a list of things famous people accomplished when they were as old as you are now. It's either a confirmation of one's own capability, or a depressing reminder of how much one has yet to accomplish. One way or another, it's fascinating and enlightening reading.


Posted by Janna S on 10.23.02 @ 11:00 AM ET [link]

If you don't have time for Sparkle Notes, try

The PowerPoint Anthology of Literature, by Daniel Radosh.
Posted by Victoria McManus on 10.22.02 @ 10:54 AM ET [link]

The end of movie theaters?
Rick McCallum, producer at Lucasfilm, states in a CNN interview that DVDs will be responsible for the downfall of the movie industry without taking piracy into account, due to the fact that people think the home theatre experience is just as good, or better than the big screens, and they know that in five months, the DVD will be out on the market.

Man might have a point-- theaters make up so little of the revenue of the movie nowadays, and it's only getting smaller. But really-- not having enough anticipated revenue for Episode 3?
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.19.02 @ 02:05 AM ET [link]

The Online Word Game That Could Eat Your Life
Because as writers and editors we don't spend nearly enough time with words, I offer The Bookworm Game, a guaranteed-to-please online sort-of-Scrabble game that will surely eat more of your time than you ever thought possible. It takes a little time to load, but the wait is well worth it. Say goodbye to your free time forever, word lovers!


Posted by Janna S on 10.19.02 @ 02:01 AM ET [link]

The Door to the Weird Wide Web
Just in case you thought conspiracy theories and the paranormal went the way of Fox Mulder, never fear. Surfing the Apocalypse is keeping track of all the madness for you. Among its recent choice listings are headlines like A Super-Sized Bird in Alaska, and Richard Hoagland Speaks on the Ruins of Cydonia. These are pretty far out. Others are straight news but, in such company, take on a bizarre sheen that can only be achieved by shining an X-Files-style paranoia on them. It's a fascinating collection and the juxtapostion of such headlines raises the hackles.

Go surf the apocalypse...before it's too late.....
Posted by Janna S on 10.19.02 @ 01:55 AM ET [link]

Pox Americana
John Perry Barlow is writing again.

Every so often, he goes off and writes an essay that seriously changes the POV of the world as we know it. This is going to be one of those.

I just wish that this didn't have to be the subject-- but it's the times we live in.
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.18.02 @ 04:04 PM ET [link]

Eldred V. Ashcroft transcript up
http://www.aaronsw.com/2002/eldredTranscript My favorite quote:

JUSTICE BREYER: All right, let me explain to you why it's important to me. I have a list. This is an economic statute. The harms that seem to be caused by it, the extension, I've listed as follows, approximate numbers, made up, but magnitude correct.

The existing copyright holders who survive, their copyright survives 70 years, who have already been paid, on the numbers that were given, about $24 billion or more, will receive an extra $6 billion. That, I take it, is a harm. Their works have already been created.

Harm number 2. The fact that people, for the 99 percent of the copyrights that have no commercial value after 70 years, have to find the copyright holder to put them in databases. The cost of that, on my numbers in here, made up, at least a billion dollars, or they can't find the people at all and get permission, an innumerable cost, un -- valuable cost to people who want to use it. Those are costs.
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.18.02 @ 03:16 PM ET [link]

A veritable Renaissance man and all that.
Enjoy James Kochalka's fantastic work in the comic book realm? Then you'll love his band, James Kochalka Superstar. Check them out on October 29 at Arlene Grocery, 95 Stanton Street in NYC. The band starts rockin' at 7 PM.
Posted by Jen Heddle on 10.16.02 @ 08:22 PM ET [link]

Forward-looking poetry
http://www.cassienewton.com features the writings of a young high-schooler in Sunnydale, CA. Neat stuff, although a bit preoccupied with death. I hope she sees a counselor soon, if she hasn't already.
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.16.02 @ 07:03 PM ET [link]

Oh, rapture!
10 New Short Wallace and Gromit Films!!!
Posted by Victoria McManus on 10.16.02 @ 11:03 AM ET [link]

SF Writers against war in Iraq
Over here, according to SciFi.com, a petition signed by Ellen Datlow, Karen Joy Fowler, Lisa Goldstein, John Kessel, Kelly Link and Michael Moorcock, among others.

Guaranteed to tick off W.T. Quick.

Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.15.02 @ 05:18 PM ET [link]

My Journey

“Why now of all times?” I am asked this question quite often. People think it is as if my decision to adopt Judaism was made within the wake of September 11th. How do I explain to them, in less than two minutes, so that they will understand what it has taken me a lifetime to realize?

Most people give me a strange look when I tell them that I “need” to do this. They incorrectly assume that I am marrying someone who is Jewish. Very few understand when I tell them how I came to this point in my life.

Throughout my life I have seen and experienced so much pain and suffering inflicted upon the world. I felt as though I could not believe in a g_d that would allow such things to happen to children and other innocents.

But the question is why have a chosen a faith, not why have I rejected one.

I was raised Catholic. I was baptized, made my first penance, my first communion and was confirmed. Most of my other friends were either Catholic or Christian until I entered junior high school. It was there I had my first encounter with Judaism.

I became close friends with Hillary Epstein. We were inseparable. Each year, the family would invite me over to a Passover Seder. At that time Judaism seemed like something fun and full of tradition. It was something my family did not seem to have. I had thought about conversion back then, but all I knew of Judaism was Passover, Matzo and Fiddler on the Roof. I also knew that my parents would not allow me to convert so I put the thought in the back of my mind.

About three years ago I met and became good friends with Rabbi David. He he teaches a class in Kabala. At this point in my life I considered myself to be an Atheist, but I enjoyed learning about different religions. While living in Illinois, I invited David to come out and teach his class to my new friends. We held the it in my home.

I found the class very interesting. I was learned all sorts of new things. Some things that I learned were continuations of things that I had learned as a child in catechism. One of the things that we discussed was meditation. David took us through one and there was a moment of silent meditation. I was lying there, just relaxing, expecting nothing. Then it happened. I heard a “voice” (for lack of a better word) in my head. It said, “It is ok to hate me. I will be here when you are ready.” I realized at that moment that it wasn’t that I didn’t believe in G_d, it was that I was angry with Him for all of the pain I, and others, had endured.

I was excited and sad and confused all at the same time. I could not wait for the class to end so I could discuss all of these new thoughts and questions with David. We spent hours and yet I still had more questions. I needed to see what step I wanted to take next.

I started out by keeping the Sabbath. I did not go to temple, but each Friday night, I took the time to do something special, something to separate the spiritual from the mundane. There were times it was something as simple as laying down and watching a movie that meant something to me or spending some time writing to friends. I wanted to do something that I would not normally take the time to do.

Then I started to go to Temple.

I was overwhelmed at first. I had only been to Temple a few times for my girlfriends’ Bat Mitzvahs. It had been many years. Despite all of that and the language barrier, I have never been in a place that I felt as welcome. It just felt so right.

I began looking forward to Friday nights like I never had before. I knew that on Fridays, I would sit back and reflect on the week. I would greet Shabbat as a bride. Then each week, I began to look forward to the silent prayer.

At first, I would cry. I was not sure why. Then it occurred to me that it was part of my healing. I was in a place where I felt that I could be myself and be accepted. The tears became freeing, cleansing. Now, I thank G_d for everything. There is no more asking why. Finally, this past spring, I told G_d that I loved Him. Again, I cried, realizing that He was there, when I was ready.

I find that most people are very interesting in what I am doing. There have been a number of nights that I have spent with my friends, talking for hours about Judaism. They know I am not trying to convert them. They are genuinely interested in hearing what I have to say.

Judaism is my passion.

I have taken three levels of Hebrew. I get excited when I can read a new word. I had been walking in New York and I was able to read the word Israel printed on a storefront and it had no vowel marking. I started jumping up and down in the street.

I have taken two classes in Kabala. Each time I learn something new. I am amazed at what I remember. Again, with all that the classes offer, it makes me want more. I am amazed how things come up in real life that relate and I am always the first to tell someone exactly how.

I attended a seminar on Kabalistic prayer and healing. It was very moving. I invited a friend to come with me. We spent the next few hours after the class discussing all we had learned. We were both amazed and enlightened.

I have celebrated a full cycle of holidays. I have fasted for Yom Kippur. I have made potato latkes for Chanukah. I lit my first menorah to celebrate the holiday as well. I have tried to keep the spirit of each holiday and holy day in my home. It gives me great pleasure to light Shabbat candles on a few occasions. I plan to light them more often.

It has taken me thirty-three years to come to this point in my life. If it had taken a hundred years it would have been worth it. I know that my learning has just begun. I look forward to each new lesson.

I could write pages and pages about my newfound joy in life, my new faith. I will sum it up in one sentence. “Your people shall be my people and your G_d shall be my G_d.”



Posted by RMBailey on 10.12.02 @ 10:48 AM ET [link]

Borders bookstore returning to lower Manhattan
From Publishers Weekly:

Borders Books and Music has signed a lease to open a new store in the American Surety Building at 100 Broadway in lower Manhattan, replacing the flagship store that was destroyed last year in the collapse of the World Trade Center.

The plans call for a 33,000-sq.-ft. store spread over three floors, scheduled to open sometime in the spring of 2003, according to the New York Times . The previous store was 37,700 square feet and stocked more than 200,000 items...

The Times quoted Madelyn G. Wils, chairwoman of Community Board 1, who said, "It wasn't just a bookstore. We don't have a community center down here, so people hung out there. There were a lot more emotional connections than just a place to shop."

Tamara L. Heim, president of Borders stores said, "It feels like a homecoming. We've been looking ever since 9/11. We've been kind of overwhelmed by the response of our customers."
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.11.02 @ 03:01 PM ET [link]

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
Over 58,000 people have participated in one of the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Days walks since they began 4 years ago, to fund access to care and help find a cure for breast cancer.

This year, author Esther Friesner is doing the walk in honor of her mother. She's raised at least $1900 in pledges and is going to walk 60 miles over the next three days. Give the lady a big hand. And if you'd like to make a donation, you can do so here.

Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.11.02 @ 02:50 AM ET [link]

Harry Potter Lexicon.
Posted by Victoria McManus on 10.10.02 @ 12:00 PM ET [link]

And the season begins...
SkateWeb. The ultimate source of news and links for all things figure skating. Be prepared for the next judging scandal!
Posted by Victoria McManus on 10.10.02 @ 10:15 AM ET [link]

One Giant Ste-- no, wait, One Small Ski-- LINE!
Famous First Words is a contest for the first words spoken on Mars. I'm leaning towards "Golly, Mr. Peabody" myself.

Looks like we'll need the contest, too-- we have a new body in the solar system named Quaoar, and we'll need a speech for that one...
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.07.02 @ 05:46 PM ET [link]

The Simpsons Archive. A time sink, yes, indeed. But so, so comprehensive one must simply boggle.
Posted by Victoria McManus on 10.07.02 @ 12:12 PM ET [link]

Gaiman vs. McFarlane wrap up
Maggie Thompson gives a good wrapup. Peter David comments here.
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.05.02 @ 09:54 PM ET [link]

Netflix for books
http://www.booksfree.com/ has an interesting model. Pay a few bucks a month and borrow as many paperbacks as you can, with free shipping back and forth.

Watch as some author claims that it hurts sales. As compared to, oh, I don't know, libraries?
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.05.02 @ 04:30 AM ET [link]

Why didn't I read this when Ordover/Kindya was recruiting?
What to do if asked to serve man. Hint: it's not quite a cookbook.
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.05.02 @ 03:25 AM ET [link]

Broad Universe. It's all about the broads, baby!
Posted by Victoria McManus on 10.03.02 @ 10:06 AM ET [link]

Grand Comic Book Database. Searchable!

Posted by Victoria McManus on 10.02.02 @ 12:21 PM ET [link]

Zombie epidemic hits London Stock Exchange

"There has always been an endemic population of zombies at the LSE and at most of the older financial institutions," explained investment analyst Alan Dunny a spokesperson for the investment bank Handy Dandy Damp & Pry. "However, the recent epidemic has caused a market-wide slump - it’s like Dawn of the Dead in here!"

Some stories are just too good to pass up...
Posted by Glenn Hauman on 10.02.02 @ 12:25 AM ET [link]

I like the pretty pictures.

The Comics Get Serious: Graphic Novel Reviews and other stuff.


ComicsResearch.org. Features the comics scholarship annotated bibliographies.

Indy Magazine: the guide to alternative comics.
Posted by Victoria McManus on 10.01.02 @ 09:21 AM ET [link]

Buffy the Patriarchy Slayer. Another journal of Buffy studies; this website has only abstracts, but there is an email address to request the complete articles.
Posted by Victoria McManus on 10.01.02 @ 09:13 AM ET [link]

If you were wondering what to do with your graduate degree...
Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies.
Posted by Victoria McManus on 10.01.02 @ 09:10 AM ET [link]