“Jeff Abraham is the president of Penguin Random House Publisher Services. Katherine Keller is a librarian at UNLV’s College of Education. Paul Levitz is a teacher, an award-winning comics writer, and former president and publisher of DC Comics.”
Abraham, Keller, Levitz Leave the CBLDF Board, by Calvin Reed, PW, 30 June 2020

“Going conless is a huge disappointment for fans, and it’s also an economic blow to comics publishers and creators, as well as to the economy of San Diego. In recent months the comics industry has had to focus on shoring up comics retailers financially undermined by lockdowns, but less attention has been paid to the drying up of the critical revenue stream generated by live comics events. It’s clear, however, that strategies are emerging that offer new ways to market and sell comics. Organizers are turning to virtual comic cons that are becoming more elaborate and sophisticated. SDCC has announced plans for Comic-Con@Home, which is scheduled for July 22–26, the original dates of SDCC, with a full slate of online programming—including fan-favorite film/TV panels from Hall H. David Glanzer, chief communications and strategy officer for Comic-Con International, the nonprofit organizer of SDCC and Anaheim’s WonderCon event, said that even after being forced to cancel WonderCon in March, there was hope that events could be held in the summer. But the spread of the pandemic dashed that hope.”
Comics Without Cons, by Heidi MacDonald, PW, 03 July 2020
Continue reading I speak two languages, Cyber and English →

“Now, in 2020, Joe Biden looks like he has a chance to actually win Arizona’s 11 electoral votes. As of June 29, Biden led Trump by 4.7 points in our Arizona polling average. And it looks like Democrats could flip another Senate seat here too, as Democrat Mark Kelly leads Republican Sen. Martha McSally by double digits in numerous polls. Much of that is because of an extremely pro-Democratic national environment; according to our polling averages, Arizona is still a bit more Republican-leaning than the nation as a whole (4.6 points more Republican-leaning, to be precise). But if the final election results were to exactly match our current polling averages, it would still represent the third consecutive presidential election where Arizona has moved left. So what’s driving this shift?”
How Arizona Became A Swing State, by Nathaniel Rakich, 538, 29 June 2020
Continue reading I’m sure that love will never be a product of blogging →

“Trump is no student of history, but someone around him clearly is. But it is also true that Trump’s thundering ignorance does not mean he doesn’t understand the racist and fascist rhetoric he deploys. We need not argue that he is a mastermind plotting a fascist coup to recognize that Trump has a demonstrable sense of how white supremacism works in America, without ever having troubled to organize his thoughts, such as he has, about it.”
American Fascism: It Has Happened Here, by Sarah Churchwell, NYR Daily, 22 June 2020
Continue reading I like blogging, if it doesn’t go too far. →

“I just want you to know that just like the airbrushed bodies in magazines don’t really look like that, the gorgeous rooms in the IKEA and Container Store catalogs and Houzz and House Beautiful don’t look like that in real life, or 92 days into quarantine, or three days after Christmas, or in the middle of summer vacation, or after the whole family has been down with the flu.”
The Truth About Celebrity Organizers, Magic Wands, and the Reality of Professional Organizing, by Julie Bestry, Don’t Apologize… Organize!!!, 12 June 2020

These things fascinate me.
Continue reading I generally avoid blogging unless I can’t resist it. →

All over Florida,
it’s drizzling
with dazzling monotony.
Poetrylandia 3 “Fortune Written on Wet Grass is now on sale.
Continue reading I blog for the consequences →

“The heritage site where author wrote all her novels says it could be forced to close for ever because all of its operational budget comes from visitors.”
Jane Austen museum under threat due to coronavirus, by Richard Lea, The Guardian, 11 June 2020
Continue reading Humankind cannot bear very much blogging →

“In tribute to the memory of George Floyd, who died at the hands of the Minneapolis police, and in support of the worldwide outcry over his death, PW’s comics editors have compiled a list of graphic titles about African American life and history. The titles listed here are primarily nonfiction graphic works that address topics including the Civil Rights Movement, hip-hop, gentrification, white supremacy, the criminal justice system, police brutality, and the lives of black women. In addition the list also offers several works of fiction that offer insights into similar topics via their settings and skillful characterizations. We welcome suggestions for other titles to add to our list.”
An Anti-Racist Graphic Novel Reading List, by PW Staff, 11 June 2020
Continue reading She who blogs is a damned fool. →