Feed THIS, Pal!

Making Chicago COUNT

2010-09-02T21:59:00.000-05:00

So you're a non-profit that wants to improve your tech capacity? Or you're in the tech biz - IT, social media, coder - and you want to get involved in the non-profit sphere in Chicago.

If you're interested, have I got an event for you.

On Sunday September 12th, the first ever Chicago COUNTS conference will be held at the Illinois Institute of Technology from 9 am to 5 pm. Trust me, folks, this is the first conference of its kind in the Chicago area, and it is a big deal. Just look at the keynote speakers we have lined up - it's a veritable non-profit Justice League:

Geoff Livingston, who consults with non-profits on how to get their message across;
Nate St. Pierre, who works to mobilize others on the common good;
Chris Jarvis, who helps businesses and non-profits set up employee volunteer programs, and
Estrella Rosenberg, who's done a lot to set up and maintain non-profits.

( In the interests of full disclosure, I'm not only helping organize, but I'll also be presenting. Yes, friends, you have the chance to see me in my full-on sexy community organizing mode.)

It's a very small admission ($25 until 9/5, and then $30 if you prepay after that), but be sure to buy a ticket. Sure, you could just join the Facebook page, but why settle? Why not engage in a great chance to learn more about how you can use these cool online tools towards the social good? You or someone you know wants to be part of this event. It's more than just a conference - it's the beginning of a movement.

Go ahead. Buy a ticket. Attend the conference.

Like Robert Conrad, I dare you, but with tongue firmly in cheek.

Obligatory Shout-Out to Roger Green

2010-08-31T18:20:00.012-05:00

who, like me, is a big Rod Serling fan:

(videos courtesy iO9 - hey, if I can do shout-outs to Rich, I can do them for Roger, deal?)

I Should Blog About THE AVENGERS More....

2010-08-30T21:56:00.000-05:00

...you know, Steed and Peel, especially inspired by this video (possibly NSFW):

(via the Agony Booth)

Getting Schooled In Comics - An Anthology for Everyone

2010-08-29T20:14:00.000-05:00

Having worked with Reading With Pictures before (both as a blogger and as organizer for Chicago Net Tuesday), I was very eager to review their anthology, meant to act as an educational aid. I also wanted to be careful - after all, since the organization's mission hits home for me, I could easily throw my objectivity out the window.

The Reading with Pictures Anthology, as a purely all-ages comics experience, is actually quite enjoyable. It's not only good enough for schools and kids....it's definitely worth having on your bookshelf.

Thankfully, all of the stories in the anthology avoid an obvious we're-going-to-teach-you-something tone (think Afterschool Special) - in fact, most of the "education" is neatly folded into entertaining,solid stories. There are some obvious comics-can-help-reading stories (like one of my personal favorites, Tony Wollcott's "So Much More"), but most of the stories featured are subtle (such as Jay Piscopo's "Goblins of the Deep", that neatly ties information about undersea life into a pretty cool short story). In fact, despite diverse storytelling styles - from the Golden Age-esque art of Phillip Bowles' "Stellar Rescue" to the sheer fun of Grace Randolph and Tintin Pantoza's "High Noon in Junior High" - there is a consistently fun tone to the anthology.

(And lest we not forget, Josh Elder's Mail Order Ninja, which is probably the greatest piece of graphic literature since Watchmen. Seriously. And I'm not saying that because he's the Executive Director of Reading With Pictures. I mean, seriously, I love "Mongorillas". Although it comes second only to fellow blogger Rich "Mecha Simian" in terms of high concepts. And the fact that educators and librarians get 10% off their order and free shipping would be good news to Roger, Dave, Lefty, and Redhead Fangirl ).

So, in all honesty, I can recommend this anthology - buy it for a child you know is going back to school. Buy two copies and give one away, keeping a copy for yourself. Annoy your local comic shop owner, because much like pal Terry at Third Coast Comics, all the cool owners have the book on their shelves.

Because it's not just about having a cool comic - it's about taking the art form we love and using it as a way to teach. And that's a cause we can all get behind.

Gordon Then and Now

2010-08-28T21:18:00.001-05:00

Remember that blog post I wrote about losing weight?

The picture on the left is me seven years ago.

The photo on the right was taken last week.

I think this is a very important lesson to share on the blog. In fact, there are several things to learn from this process:

It's never too late to live a healthy lifestyle.
Comics bloggers are sexy (and in fact, I'll wager that I'm sexier than Mike Sterling) and
Four out of five dietitians (and 30 Helens) agree - it's a scientific fact that my milkshake, indeed, brings the girls to the yard.

Coming soon - monthly podcast, comics reviews, and "My Heroes Have Always Been Time Lords"

My Last Two Amazon Purchases

2010-08-26T20:37:00.002-05:00

My Last Two Amazon Purchases
Originally uploaded by Gordon D

Ladies and gentlemen,

This is what happens when I spend way too much time on Amazon.com.

Granted, these are appropriately geeky, but what the heck was I thinking?

This is How I Spend My Free Time, Ladies & Gentlemen - Writing Press Releases

2010-08-25T17:01:00.000-05:00

Chicago COUNTS Press Release 08.25.10

Don't Need to Put Sherlock Holmes on the Case

2010-08-22T22:41:00.001-05:00

William Gilette as Sherlock Holmes
Originally uploaded by Gordon D

...I haven't abandoned the blog. Just been crazy busy with work.

And Mission Red.

And the Chicago COUNTS non-profit tech conference in September.

Michael - I owe you a blog entry. Will get to it this week.

Oh, and here's a Sherlock Holmes podcast for you.

Weighty Matters

2010-08-19T20:42:00.003-05:00

The picture on the right was taken of me back in March 2003, when I was making a presentation for my then-employer. As you can see, I was...and am...kind of a big guy.

And yes, I'm well aware that picture is not very flattering. So much so that I now understand (on some level) why a particular person stuck me in the "friend zone".

At that point, I weighed close to 330 pounds.

I've always had a weight issue - when other people think that I have played pro football in my past, I always think that I'm more likely to have played Orson Wells. You name the pop culture cliche about fat people - especially fat men - and I embraced it. My self-esteem was low, and my weight became a convenient excuse - after all, I ate healthy, I just had a healthy appetite. (And like Eric Cartman, I wasn't fat, I was big boned). Sure, I lost a little weight right after I moved to Chicago, but that was due to lack of food - no real effort on my part.

However, back in April, my doctor had advised me about weight loss...and at that point, I thought of my father.

Ironically, four years ago this month, my father had a triple bypass...and died three weeks later. This was a man who worked 12 - 14 hour days, seven days a week. He smoked three packs of cigarettes a day. He seemed to have the same meal no matter where we went to eat - feta cheese omelet, wheat toast, and coffee with cream. After his death, my mother and I found enough vitamins in his room to open a health food store, as well as some popular infomercial-based health products. Then, it was enough to make me decide that I would take better care of myself.

And in the past few months, I have by walking regularly, drinking more water, and eating more sensibly. Small things, sure, but enough to help reinforce my new commitment to living in a healthier way. People (especially coworkers) are beginning to notice that I "look good". I'm feeling slightly more energetic, and more positive, even though there are areas of my life I would like to improve. (Most considerably, my love life...but that's a post for a different time). In fact, many of the smaller changes I've made have been the least difficult.

Consider it "Chapter Two" of my life in Chicago - reconnecting with old friends, continuing new friendships, and seeing where it all takes me. Committing myself to sticking around awhile, and to being the best person I can be.

This past Sunday, I indulged myself - I bought a new bathroom scale (hadn't own one for years - was afraid it might fall apart if I stood on one. Yes, really). After an initial recalibration, the numbers finally settled - 275 pounds, 43 less than at the doctor's office in April.

At that point, I wanted two things:

I wanted someone to take a picture of me now, for a record of my progress to date.

I also wanted my father to see that picture.

Sadly, only one of those desires has a likelihood of coming true.

P.S. Weighed myself today - 269. Go, me!

Doing Anything on August 31st?

2010-08-18T19:03:00.003-05:00

Then why not consider attending this (but please RSVP)?

(more information and updates on our Facebook site)

Stuff Like This is Why I Like Twitter

2010-08-18T17:45:00.000-05:00

Found via my Twitter Stream. Enjoy.

Which T To Choose?

2010-08-16T18:51:00.023-05:00

(Full Disclosure: Zazzle's PR department sent me a really nice e-mail asking me for a post. I am doing this because, well, I think these are cool).

As you may be aware, this is DC Comics' 75th Anniversary, and they've partnered with Zazzle on a variety of cool memorabilia. And of course, if you're planning on being the best dressed attendee at C2E2 next year, you might want to get your hands on one of these commemorative t-shirts. In fact, Zazzle is even sweetening the deal by offering free shipping if you use the code DC75THFREESHIP.

Of course, now I have a quandry - no, it's not what you think. Yes, there is some great classic DC art on these shirts....but I'm wondering which t-shirt I should choose. And you, dear reader, can help me decide between two of my favorites:

Should I opt for the Dark Knight in classic, early 1930s brooking noir-ish avenger mode, or....

...malevolent alien starfish conquering major heroes of DC Universe?

(and no, I'm not including Firestorm in that list)

So please, feel free to chime in, and remember - vote early and vote often!

A Study in SHERLOCK

2010-08-15T09:53:00.001-05:00

If there's one set of fandom that I can honestly state started in childhood, it's Sherlock Holmes fandom.

As a ten-year-old, I eagerly read and re-read The Complete Sherlock Holmes (although admittedly, it was a child friendly version, as all the references to cocaine use were removed), had then engaged in a steady diet of the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce movies (most of which are in the public domain and available via the Internet Archive). As a ten year old, it was less the cerebral problem-solving of the Doyle stories that appealed to me as much as the go-for-broke spirit and style - I'm sure that many of my fellow bloggers and writers, when pressed, will admit to reading Holmes as a youngster). In fact, although I had high hopes, as I've said on this blog, the recent movie left me underwhelmed.

But the BBC production Sherlock, over the course of three 90-minute movies, is nothing short of revelatory. Rather than opt for pastiche, producers Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss opt for mash-up: reinventing Holmes as a 21st century character could have easily become anachronistic and ill-fitting (after all, a "contemporary Holmes" once fought Nazis). But through some clever writing, spot-on touches (like seeing Holmes "thought processes" animated), and some clever ideas (such as Watson being a blogger, and Holmes having his own web site), the series' three "episodes" are probably the most faithful to the Holmes "canon".

Steven Moffatt kicks the series off in high gear with A Study in Pink, which takes some cues from the original first Holmes story (the Watson/Holmes introduction, the infamous watch deduction, and a key clue), yet manages to then turn into a strong, engaging story that kicks off the series' "arc". (Which I'm not going to spoil - suffice it to say, part of the fun is seeing how the arc plays out). The weakest of the three is Stephen Thompson's "The Blind Banker"...but weak is a relative term. (Meaning - it has some spots that drag, but is otherwise of equal quality). The piece de resistance is Mark Gatiss' "The Great Game", which is so intricate in its twists and turns, in its reference to "the canon", and which comes to a great final confrontation that it's hard to believe that this is the same person who wrote the rather weak "Victory of the Daleks" for the most recent series of Doctor Who.

But what really sells the series is the casting, which is extremely spot-on without a false note being played. Benedict Cumberbatch is a simply brilliant Holmes - in fact, I'll argue that his performance approaches the high standard that Jeremy Brett set in the last televised version of Holmes. It's equal parts Hugh Laurie (the Holmesian arrogance), Tom Baker (the moodiness which suggests that Cumberbatch could have easily played the Doctor...but chose not to), and David Bowie (there is a slightly "alien" quality about him). Martin Freeman ably supports him as Watson - in fact, Freeman plays Watson with a mixture of exasperation, enthusiasm, and action. It's no wonder why this pair connects in Sherlock - it's a great double-act that the recent movie tried to emulate...and failed miserably

According to TV Shows on DVD, Sherlock is due for DVD/Blu-ray release after November 7th. A BBC America discussion forum thread suggests that the movies will be on PBS in the fall. My suggestion - do whatever you can to see these movies (obviously, in a legal non-copyright infringing way), and I'm definitely planning on getting these on DVD around Christmas.

But until then, feel free to enjoy reading the canon either via Librivox or Stanford's online Holmes program from a few years back.

Now, more than ever, the game is truly afoot.

I Know Cool People, Part Two

2010-08-14T12:58:00.000-05:00

(Part One For Those Keeping Count)

Imagine, if you will, those heady days of 1995 - I, in my young explorer stage, have just returned from Toronto on trip to see my favorite sketch comedy troupe, and I decided to make a return trip to Los Angeles - meet up with some pals from the Prodigy online service, another pal from Wyoming, and attend a Dark Shadows convention.

I've spoken of my love for Dark Shadows previously on the blog, and was fortunate enough to then meet D. Lynn Smith, who had worked with producer Dan Curtis in the past. Fortunately, though the magic of Big Finish, she has written not one, but two incredibly cool audio plays which play to the strengths of the show - more character sketches and monologues than all-out action.

Both stories are simple two-handers, and do something that I rarely see in any kind of spin-off media; not only create stories with long-standing characters that are stand-alone, but also - very deftly - remind you of the vast backstory. You don't have to have watched any Dark Shadows on DVD, but after these two audios - which have the requisite amount of creepiness - I think you'll add it to your Netflix queue.

If you want to order, you can head to the Big Finish entries for Echoes of Insanity and Final Judgment to order (and I don't receive a dime). You can also listen to the Big Finish podcast where several writers note the show's similarity to Doctor Who.

And yes, even though I know many cool people, these two blog posts prove that, yes indeedy, I have some really remarkable pals.

Dear Gareb Shamus,

2010-08-12T22:08:00.001-05:00

DSCN0774
Originally uploaded by Gordon D

Just a heads-up:

If you're going to call it Comic Con, you might actually want some people from the world of comics and graphic literature as guests.

Just a thought.

P.S. Burt Ward doesn't count.

Your pal,
Gordon

Your Wednesday Van Halen Moment Of Zen

2010-08-11T17:56:00.001-05:00

Playing the Big Con

2010-08-09T17:56:00.036-05:00

It's almost cliche to state that a piece of literature has had an impact on popular culture, but David W. Maurer's The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man casts a long shadow.

And before this entry turns into another generic blog review, let me just say that I've just read this book, and it's pretty interesting. I enjoy the occasional foray into non-fiction, and even though this book is well over 60 years old, there are some really entertaining aspects about it.

Maurer was a linguist, looking at the way in which con men spoke. However, in order to explain the lingo, he had to explain the lifestyle - in short, this is the kind of book that really examines a unique subculture. So much so that even if you are not into crime movies/noir at all - you'll get a lot out of it.

And for those who may be curious, here's where you can locate examples of this book's influence in popular culture:

One of the cons, notably "The Wire", made its way into the screenplay of The Sting;
The writers of Mission: Impossible used it as a template for episodes in the show's first three seasons
Most of the plots in the first two seasons of the BBC show Hustle take their cue from this book
I'll even go so far as to say that the George Clooney Ocean's Eleven and the season three Mad Men series finale have aspects of this book integrated into their plots.

It's probably the closest you want to get to the criminal lifestyle, but quite frankly, this is one of the more refreshing books I've read. It may seem dry as dust, but quite frankly, I would seriously welcome a graphic novel version of this book.

I'm even willing to write it.

It's a pretty breezy read - I managed to finish it in three days (via commutes to and from work), and was really enthralled

Grounded In More Ways Than One

2010-08-08T14:49:00.025-05:00

Rather than write a long-winded post about why JMS' work on Wonder Woman and (especially) Superman leave me cold, let me do something a little more practical:

Here are the preview pages for Superman # 702 from DC's own blog. See if you can count the number of cliches, generalities, and simply plain-old lapses in logic in these pages.

I hate being this harsh on a comic, especially since some people really like this comic...but I have to admit, I hold JMS to a higher standard (especially since I read his Complete Book of Scriptwriting multiple times when I was younger).

I have no problem with a Superman reconnecting with humanity...I just think it could be done better. And stronger. And with more thought behind it.

After all, I probably shouldn't be too surprised - after all, in one of the scripts in Babylon 5's first season, this is his "grand mission" for humanity's presence in space:

Ask ten different scientists about the environment, population control, genetics, and you'll get ten different answers, but there's one thing every scientist on the planet agrees on. Whether it happens in a hundred years or a thousand years or a million years, eventually our Sun will grow cold and go out. When that happens, it won't just take us. It'll take Marilyn Monroe, and Lao-Tzu, and Einstein, and Morobuto, and Buddy Holly, and Aristophanes…[and] all of this…all of this…was for nothing. Unless we go to the stars.

Star Trek's mission - to explore a grand frontier, and learn about ourselves - is noble and empowering. Doctor Who's "mission" - that there's cool stuff out there and ordinary people can make a difference - also noble and empowering. JMS' take seems simplistic and self-centered: we go out in space because we want to say "we're here!".

And that's why I continue to be amazed and disappointed with JMS' work- there's obviously an ambition to tell well-crafted, meaningful stories. There actually seems to be some thinking behind why JMS is taking his approach.

What's crushingly disappointing is that his execution falls flat, and he - and his readers/viewers - deserve better.

Coming Soon to Blog THIS, Pal....

2010-08-07T18:47:00.001-05:00

Life in Mugs 2
Originally uploaded by Gordon D

Here's what you can expect to see over the next few weeks:

An actually opportunity to one-up an actual comics writer;
Another edition of the podcast
Part two of my 11th Doctor Review at Comic Related
A book review or two, and, of course
plenty of hoopla

Stay tuned, dear reader. You won't be disappointed.

Doomed as Doomed Can Be

2010-08-05T21:10:00.000-05:00

Quite bluntly, Doom Patrol # 13 is the best comic I've read all week. In fact, I'm surprised more people aren't talking openly about how good this book is - it's one of the underpraised gems of the DC Universe.

Granted, I've made no secret of my love for the Doom Patrol...and I've been quite amazed at the quality of Keith Giffen's writing. I find some of his humor a little grating (yes, a little Ambush Bug can go a long way), but in this book, he tones it down, giving the proceedings a nice sense of absurdity without going overboard. He's also pulling from various eras in the group's history - from Arnold Drake to Grant Morrison - and mixing them in a way that seems as it if were planned...but is overwhelmingly fresh.

Issue 13 focuses on Rita Farr, Elasti-Woman...or the "normal looking" member of the group. Granted, in other hands the story presented might seem a little trite or overdone...but Giffen is able to do two things: create a plausible situation from past "continuity"...and inject what used to be a cipher with some degree of emotional weight. All of this interspersed with both "classic" Doom Patrol dynamics mixed with some of the "revelations" of the Morrison era. This is a story that is both simultaneously creepy and engaging...and this is a breather from the usual superheroics of this book.

The other strength is in Matthew Clark's art - he has a great sense of storytelling and pacing. It's the kind of art you don't mind looking at repeatedly - in fact, in a way, you may not fall in love with Rita Farr...but you will definitely develop stronger feelings for her.

Much like DC's previous efforts to revive the group, Doom Patrol is not one of their larger selling books. It's not the reinvention of classic graphic literature....but it is a pretty solid read. If you don't believe me, check out some sample pages from DC's blog.

Many other deserving titles often get swept under the rug. Be sure that Giffen's Doom Patrol isn't one of them.

Coming In November....

2010-08-04T20:42:00.026-05:00

(Image posted by hawk2009 on Flickr)

First, Matt Smith's first season on Doctor Who will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 9th. Please feel free to click on the links to pre-order (and yes, I am an affiliate, and will get a small portion of sales).

Secondly, just received my three-day pass to Chicago TARDIS, and am now mulling the car rental vs. hotel room rental issue. (Yes, I live within a half hour's drive, but also think it's silly to get a hotel room...when it's only a half hour drive) Of course, I'm planning to bring a digital camera (and maybe invest in a nice digital recorder to send pal Chuck some audio), and hopefully, my photography skills will have improved since my teens. (See the photos below for an example from an 80s Who Convention.)

Something I Won At A Singles Event. Seriously.

2010-08-03T20:42:00.000-05:00

Nostalgia For An Age Yet To Come

2010-08-01T21:02:00.001-05:00

Sunrise - 61st & Pulaski
Originally uploaded by Gordon D

(Yes, I know I've used this Buzzcocks lyric for the third time on this blog - I love it. Sue me.)

One of the most unusual things that I've had to get used to living in Chicago has been reconnecting with my past - fortunately, not in terms of former girlfriends (thankfully, they've all spread out), but mostly old coworkers and colleagues. I have to admit that, thanks to the power of Twitter, I reconnected with one of my former bosses.

Scratch that - my first major supervisor. He was site director for the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods. I was a research assistant, and it was my first major, in-the-field, ink-barely-dry-on-my-diploma job. It was a way for me to learn how to negotiate and get around the city, begin developing experience working in the community, and most importantly - help me pay for grad school.

And grad school duties meant, after three years, I had to leave...and that was almost twenty years ago.

As my former supervisor and I talked, catching up on old times (and also, simultaneously, talking shop), I was...well, surprised that he had remembered me (and even stated that I was always "full of energy". Maybe it was all that coffee I was drinking, back then)...I only remained in contact with one of my coworkers; in fact, she and I were often paired off at PHDCN, and worked very closely together.

(Ironically, she and I were probably the only couple who did not "hook up", as the teenagers say, through work - I think it was mostly because we were both professional. And had our eyes on other people).

But I'm always a little taken aback when people from my past remember me - obviously, time can take its toll on memory. (Also, more importantly, I would like to think that I'm not on people's minds for over twenty years)...but there's a pleasant surprise that comes when touching base with old friends, old mentors, and old colleages. It's a consistent reminder that, despite years and differences, old ties never really fade...and can often lead to stronger ones.

I look back at that time fondly, but more importantly, I look to the future with greater affection...and greater enthusiasm.

Chicago August Weekend Fun-O-Ganza

2010-07-30T07:04:00.000-05:00

OK, I know, the titles are a little obvious, but there's some cool things happening in August that I'll be attending....and if you're in the area, you're more than welcome to check out.

(By the way, these are unsolicited testimonials, but I do have vested interest in both).

First, given that I haven't been to a decent cookout since I lived in St. Louis, I'll be planning on attending the Eating with Pictures fundraiser at Challengers Comics on August 7th. It's for Reading with Pictures, an organization I've blogged about in the past, and there will be plenty of grilled foods. So come, and thanks to the crew at Comic Related for the heads-up.

Secondly, on August 15th, I'll be heading to IIT to attend Social Dev Camp Chicago, which focuses on the social web and...well, there's just tons of cool stuff. It's co-chaired by Close, Personal Friend® Tim Courtney and Personal Archnemesis® Andy Angelos, and will more than likely prove to be informative, illuminating, and just plain swell.

Plus, if you come, you'll see that there's a lot less of me to love. Really. Lost 40 pounds since April 25.

So what are you waiting for?

Happy Birthday, Gail Simone!

2010-07-29T10:12:00.001-05:00

WWC - Me and Gail Simone
Originally uploaded by Gordon D

To one of my favorite comics writers,

Thanks.

Your loyal reader,
Gordon

P.S. Any chance for a SECRET SIX VS. INFERIOR FIVE mini-series? Please?