Should Art Be Political? You Mean...It Isn't Already?

Whenever I'm talking with others on Twitter or Facebook (it's almost never in person, for reasons that will soon become apparent), there's always a line of conversation. Usually, it's white dudes over 40 years of age (like me) who say something like this. (Although I admit that I had a conversation with a white woman over 40 years old who expressed similar sentiments over Doctor Who).

Usually, the line of conversation usually results in someone making a variation of the following:

"You know, I'm tired of this movie/show/book/genre being so political? Why can't we just have things the way they used to be, with good old fashioned escapism/entertainment"

And the problem with that statement is that there was never a golden age when things weren't political. I would argue that the act of creating - especially now, in the age of the current GOP administration - that creativity is an especially powerful political statement.

Nostalgia is a tricky thing: it allows the person to momentarily escape the Doctor Who conversation I mentioned previously? We were at a Chicago Doctor Who Meetup event, and she spent so much time complaining about a female Doctor/
difficulties of the present by engaging in an idealized past. Yet paradoxically, escaping into that idealized past prevents you from even enjoying the present experience of that media.

That Doctor Who conversation that I mentioned? In the background, a Tom Baker story was playing. You know, the guy who was the David Tennant of the 1970s? The Doctor for many people? And ironically, this woman could not understand that she was spending more time complaining about Jodie Whittaker than watching the show she loved.

But how does this play into politics? No creative act - writing, music, dance, what have you - exists in a vacuum. Politics permeates any piece, and many writing is a reaction to the politics of the time. Even "simple escapist fare" is a political statement because it serves to relieve the tensions of modern living. (And one the things I've learned about the Operator 5 Purple Invasion and the Spider Empire State Pulp arcs of the 1930s...they weren't done on the whim. Harry Steeger, the editor of Popular Publications, wanted those storylines written in response to the then-prevalent isolationist movement in the United States). So the idea that there was this "golden age" when politics was never involved in art - whether through individual motivation or editorial mandate - is simply naive, choosing to avoid present reality and emphasize an unhealthy nostalgia.

[And yes, many people who wish to "go back" to a golden age are a reaction to greater inclusion/creators of color. My response - just where do you expect new readers and creators to come from? And yes, I am aware that the Spider arc was known as the "Black Police" arc. In a time when we have a movement called "Black Lives Matter", I think renaming it "Empire State" is much cooler and more respectful. My blog, my rules]

Even in my own writing, I'm finding that certain political themes are creeping into my writing. Even before I deliberately chose to insert themes into works like AKA THE SINNER: Cover of Night, there's been an emphasis on portraying white supremacy as a malevolent force. (This was way before Charlottesville). Being more inclusive in my writing, and trying to "get" representation right, has been a focus, preferring not to "insert generic Indians/Asians", for example, or actually working to balance a 21st century understanding of gender and racial roles and attitudes with the less enlightened roles and attitudes of the past.

[Yes, I have actually been told - by fellow white writers - to use "generic" types of diverse cultures. And also, yes, I'm willing to get representation wrong and get called out on it.]

So yes, art should be political...because it's already political. Creating a unique statement, or crafting a story, is always influenced by external politics. We are living in a time when many voices are being extinguished or stifled (whether it's DACA or net neutrality), and quite honestly, we need to hear more diverse voices.

And we also need to let go of the past, because it's never coming back.

Buy My Books and Stop Digital Piracy!

One of the great ways I get a charge out of my day is when I see a Google Alert in my e-mail. As a published pulp writer, I'm always glad to see my name in print...especially since it means that I've either published a new blog post or have had a book published.

However, this past weekend I received an e-mail that my books had been featured on a site....and well, let's just say that I was not happy...especially since I have ranted about online piracy in the past.

(I'm including screen captures of the site in question as there is no way I would ever encourage traffic).

So I'm looking at this particular site, which is advertising that my books are "free to read" through this particular location. It's obvious that they've aggregated information from Goodreads, and I'm surprised that they are offering my books for free for the following reasons:

• The only publisher that offers my work for free is "Out There in the Night" for Les Vamps, which I knew going in (I entered a contest), and which you can freely download via http://bit.ly/LesVamps
• My past contracts for Pro Se Productions and Airship 27 Productions both include royalties...and both publishing houses are run by people with integrity and honor. 
• When I clicked on a link on this site which was to link to their DMCA policy...a site geared primarily to males over 18 years old popped up. (Think that "p" word that rhymes with "scorn". I don't need that kind of traffic).

Yes, that's right - once again, I'm being pirated. And why shouldn't you use any of these sites, you may ask.

Ironically, not linked to
DMCA on their site

First, unless you're purchasing from a site like Amazon, many of these "free book" sites aren't about selling books - they're about taking your money. (One such site actually had a scam where it was free to join, but the site had a $1.00 "termination fee"...and of course (thanks to an additional Google search, and not through trial-and-error), this site also would have a glitch meaning you would have to terminate again...for $1.00.

But when you pirate books...or music...or any other media, you're screwing over creators who put in a ton of hard work and should get paid for it.

Many of my friends are what you would call "Working Class Creatives" - they're creating cool stuff (like videos, music, writing, art) while working side gigs. (Or, like me, trying to find enough freelance work to make a living).  They're plugging away to create great things for people to enjoy...and some people have to earn a dollar by stealing from others.

And before you make a counterargument in favor of piracy, I'll provide my standard retorts:

• Libraries buy books, CDs, etc. So the person creating them gets royalties.
• Patreon is no substitute for a paycheck. And even I have a Patreon, but it's for the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup...and it covers a Britbox subscription and some other supplies. That's it.
• Congratulations! Piracy also diminishes sales - and visibility - for writers of color, LGTBQIA, and other marginalized authors. So yes, you are hurting them by promoting their book free of charge. 
• Public domain books are freely available via sites like Gutenberg, Manybooks, and Librivox....but public domain materials are without copyright. Meaning that they're free to distribute within certain limitations. 
• Public domain characters are free to use, but if I use a character in a story, I have full rights to that story, not that character. And yes, I should get paid for my written work
• When you distribute our work freely (via sites like the above or torrenting), you're not lending us a helping hand to get the word out...you're giving us the finger and telling us that what we do is worthless. 

So the best thing I can encourage all of you to do is to support your local artist. If you can purchase their work, do it. If you want to follow them on Facebook (like my Facebook author page) and forward their posts, do that. For musicians...pay to attend their shows, and purchase their CDs/officially released MP3s. 

Because let's face it, the only people who really can justify piracy might have never known the struggle to express an idea. It's easy to dismiss creative types are having our "heads in the clouds", but I can admit (and I hope many of my fellow creators will agree) that we are more likely to have focused on working to get it right, to get it honest, and to get it done.

All we want is to be paid for our work like any other worker. And pirating our work is not the way to do it. 

Deep Thoughts: Introducing the "Nerd Paradox"

Much of this is going to be a bit rambling, and maybe a bit obvious to many of you. For me, it's trying to wrap my brain around quite a bit that's happening in nerd and "New Pulp" culture. This is less of an academic piece and more of a rant...but I'm willing to live with that, and I hope this either spurs on further conversation, and/or points me in the direction of current thought.

Recently, there was news that Damen Lindelof would develop a Watchmen series for HBO....and something just broke in me. I actually found myself hating Watchmen in any form....

....and it's been frustrating to deal with friends and colleagues engage in full-on fan entitlement, complaining about the "design" of Star Trek: Discovery ("It doesn't follow the original show of 50 years ago!") to pulp characters that are over 80 years old ("If it doesn't fit the canon, it's not worth it.") (Or even a recent Doctor Who meetup where an attendee extended our venue time without my knowledge, insulted the venue, and basically disrupted the entire affair). It's even extended to Internet culture, with white dudebros on YouTube mocking the performance of the recent Ghostbusters reboot or claiming that a recent fan film settlement was out of line because this particular franchise "belongs to the people."

My first response is, "No it isn't - intellectual property". But the second - and more measured - response is a response to what I'm calling the "Nerd Paradox."

When we engage in any creative work or works, we develop an affinity for it - we like what we like and we dislike what we dislike. For many of us, that identification becomes so strong that it feels like that creative work (or franchise) "belongs" to us...and it doesn't. We own our reactions, our beliefs, our "feels" if you like....but we don't own the franchise. Part of building any franchise is taking risks: seeing what works and building upon it for modern times. If you're lucky, you get something that builds and expands upon the original (Battlestar Galactica); if you're not, you get....something else.

In addition, though, we crave the new and exciting. We want to see change (or more accurately, as Stan Lee once put it, "the illusion of change") yet somehow feel like our favorite franchises are still the same. (It would be strange if Doctor Who, for example, became a wacky sitcom about a chiropractor with short-term memory problems). There's a tension between being surprised in the same way when we first encountered this work and wanting the comfort of familiarity.

So the Nerd Paradox goes something like this:

"If you are going to make so many changes in this character/franchise, don't call it that franchise...yet, if you give me a new character that has too many changes from the old, why not just call it the old character".

Or, to use Star Trek as an example:

"Star Trek: Discovery looks like a bomb because they're not really following the design or continuity of the past series..." Yet, how many times have there been space operas/science fiction shows where someone has said, "It's enough like Star Trek...so why not call it Star Trek?"

It's frustrating both as a fan and a writer/creator....as a fan, it makes it much tougher to have conversations because any criticism gets serious push back. (Criticize the inconsistencies of how Clara Oswald is written in Doctor Who and the result is "...but I liked her.") Try to have a conversation about what might work about a franchise, and the result is defensiveness (so for many of my New Pulp colleagues: you may think Chris Hemsworth would make a better Doc Savage than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but the truth is that in this media climate, an actor who doesn't have any major movie successes outside of Marvel Studios may not be the best choice).

Right now, the three major goals of any entertainment company are 1) Exploiting their existing intellectual properties (and "exploit" is not pejorative in this case); 2) Creating a "tentpole" franchise that is sustainable over several movies, and 3) planning out either trilogies or "cinematic universes" to foster that sustainability. Sadly, our media culture is moving away from originality into something that is more "bankable" and familiar....and unfortunately, the nerd paradox is still coming into play, and I don't really see a way out.

Yes, I've rambled for a bit, but mostly this is a "get-these-thoughts-out-of-my-head-and-on-the-blog" type of post. I'm more than happy to continue this conversation, and welcome your comments...especially if I'm either stating the obvious or just plain wrong about this.

A Few Words on Fan Entitlement

Right now, I'm feeling like the stereotypical old man who stands on his porch and yells, "Hey, you kids, get the hell off my lawn!"

In recent weeks, I've encountered several incidents of fans basically acting...well, fannish. Mostly on Facebook. People sharing videos with titles like "Marvel Gives Up Social Justice Storylines" or "Axanar Lawsuit Settlement: Star Trek Belongs To The Fans". In fact, after making a joke about Tom Baker, I was accused of being an "ageist, sexist pipsqueak".

(I apologized, then screen captured and deleted that post...but now I'm getting complaints about why I'm scheduling events when they can't make it).

So right now, I'm very cranky and frustrated because...well, fan entitlement makes it harder for people like me to enjoy popular culture. So in an effort to regain my blogging mojo, here are some thoughts about why fans make it tougher for the rest of us.

First, here's the deal - you don't own the franchise you love. You own your feelings about it, your reactions to it, your love/hate of certain tropes within it, but no franchise belongs to the fans. Legally, any pop culture franchise is the intellectual property of someone else. You don't even "own" public domain characters...because they legally belong to everyone and are open for their use.

(The last sentence was written for the "Sherlock-Holmes-Belongs-In-The-Victorian-Era crowd).

But fair use, Gordon! Fair use allows us to use characters in fan films! Well...yes and no. For more details, check out the Fair Use Project. In short, you really need to know what you're talking about....

But most importantly, remember - you don't own these properties. You own your feelings about them, your passion about them, your enthusiasm about new entries...but you don't get to make creative choices.

Many creators - and I'm one of them - take a very calculated risk. We're taking a risk that the story we tell won't matter to anyone. It won't be entertaining, it won't be worth reading/viewing/hearing, and most importantly, it won't be worth the time, effort and creativity we put into it.

However, as a fan, you share in that risk - you don't automatically get the opportunity to influence our creative choices. (That's what fan fiction is for). You don't get to claim that you receive special privilege because you're a fan. What you do get, however, is the opportunity to share in fandom.

Because fandom is, at best, a shared experience. It means that one person's loathed character is another's beloved character. It is perfectly OK to like something someone else hates.

Wow, that was fun. Looks like I'm regaining my blogging mojo.

On Peter Capaldi Leaving Doctor Who

In all honesty, I shouldn't be too surprised that Peter Capaldi is leaving Doctor Who at the end of this season....after all, Steven Moffatt is leaving and turning things over to Chris Chibnall.

What's surprising is that, much like Colin Baker and Paul McGann, I feel like Capaldi's Doctor has been severely underserved by poor writing.

"But Gordon" I've heard many people say, usually at Chicago Doctor Who Meetup events, "Steven Moffatt is a great writer! I like Doctor Who!"

But Capaldi's Doctor often seemed underserved - I liked the idea of Series Eight being an exploration of "Is the Doctor a good man?" and Series Nine's exploration of "What happens when the Doctor faces the consequences of his actions?" And although I like several stories within each series, there's a general sense of creative fatigue, as if the writing staff were going through the motions rather than crafting effective scripts.

And although that fatigue doesn't take away from Capaldi's performance as the Doctor, there are very few moments when I really felt Capaldi was the Doctor (see Flatline, the speech in The Zygon Invasion/Inversion, and Heaven Sent). It's not that I didn't like Capaldi's turn as the Doctor, the material seemed to underserve his talents....I wanted to see more of him as the Doctor.

Being a Doctor Who fan can be tough, being caught between classic series fans who insist that they know the one true way, and new series fans who seem to believe that it's impossible to love something that is seriously flawed. One great thing about Capaldi as the Doctor was that his performance was ever flawed and always pitch perfect. However, I can say that Series 9, despite being relatively consistent, is the only new series of Doctor Who I don't own on DVD. Not because it's bad, but because...it's kind of mediocre, even with Capaldi's performance.

And now, as the new series comes to screens in April, perhaps I'll have a chance to enjoy Capaldi laying it all on the line, giving a great performance as the Doctor. And as people begin laying odds as to who will take over the lead role in Doctor Who, I'll be praying that Capaldi signs a contract for some Big Finish audios as quickly as possible.

Because I think his Doctor deserves that much. And like Colin Baker and Paul McGann, his Doctor will get a chance to shine.

OPERATOR 5 Purple Invasion: Reading Pulp in The Age of Trump

Timing is everything, especially when you're reading pulp novels.

When I first began reading the Operator 5 Purple Invasion Saga three years ago, it seemed...quaint. A kind of alternate history in which totalitarian European forces (aka, "a very veiled Germany with a Geller-ese name") took over the United States in the height of the Great Depression....and one man - Jimmy Christopher, espionage agent - led resistance efforts to free our country.

(Think of it as the 24 of the 1930s, only in written form and much less Kiefer Sutherland).

After two books, I placed it down awhile - issues with my tablet meant moving my ebooks to an older, slower model, and then....

Donald Trump got elected.

One of my challenges for 2017 is reading more books, and working through my existing pile. Reading Operator 5 in the past few weeks has been a bit of a revelation. Much of my reaction relates to not just the protests right after the Inauguration, but Trump's actions afterwards.

The Trump Administration has acted swiftly to not only gut the progress of the past few years, but when Trump's main strategist states that the media should "keep its mouth shut"...well, that reeks of moving away from democracy and into authoritarianism.

And it's easy to see that "we-gotta-take-charge" spirit coursing throughout the Operator 5 Purple Invasion saga. Recovering from the Great Depression, many people looked overseas and saw trouble brewing. Many other people didn't want to get involved (and if you want more details, check out Lynne Olson's Those Angry Days), yet there was an undercurrent of rebellion, of the belief that if somebody didn't do something, we were next.

It's one of the more heartening things I've seen as people are marching against this administration - that it's not just about protesting, it's about making voices heard, especially in an administration more willing to strip away rights than build up the American people.

(And before you say, "Oh, quit your whining, you lost, get over it"....Trump lost the popular vote by three million votes. Investigation is ongoing not just about Russian interference in our election, but in some of Mr. Trump's business practices. Three times more people protested his administration than showed up to see him being sworn into office. Finally, you do know that once he's done destroying other people's rights, he'll turn on yours, right? Enough of my ranting).

Reading the Operator 5 Purple Invasion saga (I'm three novels away from finishing) provides great insight into how people use their writing to rebel against the system...and how pulp fiction allows those fantasies to run rampant without any true consequences. (In fact, I'm going to reread The Spider Vs. The Empire State, a collection of novels from around the same time and is a more direct what-if-criminals-were-elected-into-office premise).

Let's also be clear - many of the Operator 5 Purple Invasion books (available in e-book form via Radio Archives) contain some very problematic elements (including racism and high levels of xenophobia). However, there's something that's revealing about the American psyche's tendency to drift towards rebellion and defiance...and novels which really seem (for me, anyway) to have a strong resonance in current times.

Looks like my assignment for 2027 is to reread these books to see if I'm right.

Moving Towards OK

I know, I know....yes, it happened. And things are not all right.

Not since November 8th.

And it's not just the I-think-the-wrong-guy-got-in mentality, it's the gloating. And the flat-out hostility.

(Thankfully, Bully did a great job of posting both the negative and positive).

And yes, I have a dog in this fight - I've been one of those "hidden Americans" who has been struggling day-to-day. I've felt disempowered, but with Trump's election...it feels even more so.

But in the words of a great song by the Clash, I'm letting anger be power...and I'm using it.

First, let's be clear - if you voted for Trump, you basically said that racism, xenophobia, and sexism are perfectly acceptable behaviors. For some of my conservative friends, there's an additional level of hypocrisy, for they were dismissing Trump a year ago, and then through the primaries...but now, he's their ideal candidate.

Sorry, bad behavior never changes in context. And before you decry Hilary in the comments - yes, she wasn't perfect. She acted like she owned the election. There, we agree.

For those who didn't vote - this is on you. Apathy is no excuse, and the only thing you are asked to do in service of your country is vote. Would the result be the same? Who knows....but your unwillingness to take a simple stand brands you as a coward.

But moving forward...I'm choosing a slightly different stance.

First, I plan to get more active in causes to help counter was going to be a very repressive four years. Thanks to Bully's link above, I can start exploring my options. (And I'm more willing to donate time than money - I've never been big on checkbook advocacy, and I'm more than willing to go grassroots).

I've also cut out a lot of fake news on Facebook....and unfriended those who keep circulating it on both sides. I've also taken to reading newspapers at my local library...because let's be clear: if you don't think that libraries will be on the list of "non-essential services" or accused of "wasting taxpayer dollars"...you would be dead wrong.

But more importantly, I'm speaking out and acting as an example - not because I'm so wonderful or that I'm a paragon, but anyone can tweet/post information. It's much harder to live up to your own principles....but I'm definitely planning on stepping forward.

I've already sent a message to Chicago Doctor Who Meetup reassuring them about the group. But I'm joining what's been colloquially referred to as "The Resistance", a group of sober-minded liberals who are willing to take on and challenge what will be a very contentious (and hopefully, one-term president).

If that bothers you, or you feel the need to assert Trump's superiority...you will be fought.

Ironically, with all that's happening, it makes me want to revisit The Prisoner, especially the episode Free For Fall.

And on that note, I pledge that with this blog, when it comes to politics....

The Doctor Who POWER OF THE DALEKS Brouhaha

Copyright BBC Worldwide

To think that this all began with a YouTube upload.

About two weeks ago, a YouTube user uploaded a file they titled Power of the Daleks - Mystery Animation. Yes, I watched it before it was pulled for ownership reasons. (Screencaps are from various other YouTube users, and if asked, I will pull them from this post). 

The animation was intriguing - two minutes from episode three I believe, much of it heavily rotoscoped based on existing telesnaps and footage. (Unfortunately, Power of the Daleks was one of the many classic Doctor Who stories believed to be wiped, with no film copies available. (I've seen the BBC-produced CD-ROM reconstruction, and highly recommend it).

However, thanks to an article from the UK's Mirror (which does for clickbait what Rob Schneider does for movie comedy), we now have a group of fans who are spreading word of a fully-animated DVD reconstruction of Power of the Daleks in honor of Troughton's 50th Anniversary. 

Copyright BBC Worldwide

Sorry, friends, but I'll believe it when I see it. And I don't think we're ever going to see it.

Far be it from me to not trust an online content provider who links to their own internal articles claiming it's from BBC Worldwide. (Click my link and you'll get BBC Worldwide's news releases...because I don't believe in deliberately misleading people).

Of course, many old school Who fans will ask, But why do you have to be so negative! We deserve this, and you're not being fair! We know the BBC is holding out, and why would you support them?

First, let me just say - I am hoping I'm wrong. If I'm proven wrong, and we do get a fully animated (or even recovered episodes plus animated reconstructions) of Doctor Who: Power of the Daleks, I will gladly eat crow.

(I hear it's especially tasty on rye bread with mustard).

Copyright BBC Worldwide

My rationale for thinking it's not happening...well, here are a few reasons for thinking that the animated Doctor Who: Power of the Daleks won't be happening any time soon:

1. The animated footage looks a little too polished - I wish I could post the video directly, but since it's been pulled, I have provided screenshots. Much of the footage involves rotoscoping, a very time intensive process, which would mean that either plans were afoot now, or (more likely) this was an audition piece for a company under a BBC contract (and possibly defying a non-compete clause, meaning that the BBC was within their rights to pull it). Leading to
2. Their last DVD release of classic Doctor Who was...underwhelming:  Yes, I've seen Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace. The photo-and-soundtrack reconstructions look rushed, the existing episodes demonstrate why this story has such a poor reputation....and even if BBC Worldwide chose to release solely via iTunes or Google Play...that's a lot to expect from a formerly lost episode. (Plus, you would have people complaining as to why these episodes weren't released on DVD)
3. The Mirror is not to be trusted - remember about two months ago, when "rumor" had it that Matt Smith was returning to the role? And was later debunked? Remember who started the rumor - that's right, the Mirror. Fool Doctor Who fandom once, shame on us;  Fool Doctor Who fandom twice, and you need to be publicly reprimanded.

Look, I'll be the first to admit that I am eagerly looking forward to be proven wrong about the recovery and/or release of Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks. But until then, I'm going to simply wait and see....

...and planning to watch City of Death and The Web of Fear (another previously "lost" story) as part of the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup. 

A Little Rant About Digital Piracy

While reviewing my e-mail yesterday, I became part of a conversation with some fellow authors. One of these authors had remarked on possibly being asked to sign a counterfeit version of his work.

Since I am now a "working writer" (meaning I write and I work), I also came across some illegal versions of my writing. So if anyone ever approaches me with an obviously bootlegged version of my work....well, here's the canned speech.

"Ok, so you downloaded this because...well, you couldn't afford the book. Well, I'm not going to sign it. Not even with an obviously fake name like "Martin Chuzzlewit" or "John Cleese".

Why? Because even though it's unintended, you're giving creators and artists the finger by bootlegging.

Let's take Black Bat Mystery - Volume 3 as an example - my fellow authors Gene Moyers, Greg Hatcher, and Erik Franklin put in a lot of time to craft their stories. I only know Greg through his work for Comics Should Be Good, and don't know Erik. I've met Gene at Windy City Pulp and Paper, and he's a gentleman and a scholar. 

Marco and Graham worked hard on providing some great art, and Ron and Rob and the Airship 27 editorial staff worked. And what's our reward?

Royalties. Your illegal download prevents us from earning money.

"But Gordon - books are expensive. I don't have money. Plus, information should be free"

Now, let's be clear - that book costs less than $20 regardless of format: Softcover, Kindle, and PDF. Purchased legally, we get the results of our hard work. Plus, you're screwing over a small business - it's one thing to download a television show for your own viewing. Not cool, given that many services stream, but that's a larger enterprise. By pirating this book, you're screwing over a smaller publisher.

(Same goes for my Pro Se work, and especially Dreamer's Syndrome: New World Navigation . I've never met Frank Byrns, Brent Lambert, Aidan Mohan, Brad Mengel, Greg Rose, or Eric Woodard. I've only talked with Mark Bousquet - my editor/publisher at Space Buggy - via e-mail. But choosing to download via dubious methods shortchanges many efforts to bring new, creative visions to others. 


(Good example - Big Finish once remarked that it stopped production on Sapphire & Steel audio dramas because more people were illegally downloading than were actually purchasing it. Since sales were low, they had to made a business decision....one which they probably did not want to make)

Besides, would you appreciate it if your employer asked you to work for free? Or worse, expected you to work for spec until they decided you were worth paying? You sure as heck wouldn't.

And if you're torrenting these books - please stop it. You're only doing it to line your own wallet at our expense. You're not doing us any favors, and quite frankly, you're disrupting our efforts to stay creative. I can't stop you from torrenting music, audio, etc, but consider that by doing so....you're not just breaking the law, but you're also hurting the very creators who are trying to bring great visions to life.

So why not buy an actual hard copy - or use your mobile device to order a Kindle or PDF - and I'll sign it. But I'm not going to openly endorse or condone bootlegging by signing something that I know is obtained illegally...and which adversely affects both me and my fellow creators.

And thus endeth the lecture."

So if you want to avoid having me shake my finger in that 'you-darn-kids-get-off-my-lawn manner'....well, you now know what to do.

How To Care for Caregivers

Photo courtesy Andy Martello

As many of you readers may know, I've been helping Mom deal with her health issues. Last week, she received a pacemaker, meaning that she's begun the process towards joining the Borg Collective.

I kid, but I know many of my friends and colleagues often say, "Hey, Gordon, let us know how we can help." So consider this some preliminary guidelines for not just my friends...but also anyone who knows someone taking care of an ailing relative.

Let's be clear - sometimes, being an adult caretaker is like spinning plates. Attempting to balance current life issues with sudden health crises can make us very busy...and often can be very draining. We also have people who consider a quick Google search to be the equivalent of a medical degree. Ironically, people who are caring for others realize that time is a very limited commodity. We want to spend our time with loved ones....but also realize we need time for ourselves.

So one thing I would suggest - please respect our limited time. If we bail on an outing, or need to take time away from social networks...it's not that we're flaky. It's because we sometimes have more opportunities for things to "pop up" on our schedule than others. Also, let's be honest - some of us owe many of you phone calls and e-mails. You can wait until we get around to it, but the better suggestion...

...reach out to us. Get us out of the house and involved. Take us out for coffee/meals/fun stuff/whatever.

Caregiving can feel very isolating, with our focus solely on getting through the most immediate crisis. Anything you can do to help us feel connected with others is always welcome; anything that helps us feel supported (other than verbal reassurances) is also welcome.

And in return - yes, we'll engage in appropriate self-care strategies. We'll eat right, get exercise, and more importantly - say "no" when appropriate.

That's right - sometimes, we have to set boundaries with ourselves and our families. It means that sometimes, we'll act in our own interest, believing that "no" is a complete sentence. Will we feel guilty? Sure, but at the very least, we'll be moving forward.

So being a caregiver is a challenge, but with a little help, you can make the process easier. Just please understand if we choose to take a day off to enjoy Law & Order reruns on Ion Television.

Caught In A CROSSFIRE

It's times like these that I sometimes turn towards less escapist fare in my comic reading. Much of it is due to much of the drek published by the major companies (although thankfully, Comic Related, Zone 4, and the occasional blog visitor keep me awash in good, independent work), but much of it is just that I want something that relates to how I'm feeling - simply one of many anonymous people trying to get by.

Ironically, I've also been rereading my many issues of Crossfire, written by Mark Evanier and drawn by Dan Spiegle, published by Eclipse in the early 80s. (There is a now out-of-print trade paperback). And yes, you can accuse me of being nostalgic, but those issues resonate with me in a slightly different way than they did as a teenager.

The premise is simple: Jay Endicott is a bailbondsman, helping those out of trouble. One day, he comes across the suit of Crossfire, an infamous thief-for-hire. (Imagine a less sociopathic Raffles in tights, and that's a pretty good approximation). Deciding that he can use the suit to help others in distress, Jay Endicott adopts the identity of Crossfire, and consequences ensue). As a teenager, having such a street-level view of costumed adventuring seemed like a smart turn of action movie cliches; as an older gent, there's a nice Raymond Chandler-esque tone to Evanier's writing. Focusing on small scale people and gently moving portraits, Evanier manages to write complex ideas with simple strokes. There's something about focusing on those simply struggling to survive that gives the tales a greater emotional power. Unlike Watchmen, Crossfire handles "realism" in comics by coloring the stories with down-to-earth touches rather than weaving in the fantastic....and that makes each issue a gem.

Spiegel's art....well, I am a huge fan of Dan Spiegel's art. In our current age of flash and wow, there's a nice, slightly rugged quality to his work. Pal Ron once remarked that Speigel drew many Western comics in the 1950s, and I will have to seek those out. (And blame Evanier and Spiegel's Blackhawk revival for DC in the 1980s for hooking me into Spiegel's art). Quite simply - and I'll take full responsibility for mangling this metaphor - Spiegel's art is much like Spencer Tracy's acting: it looks simple, but it's deceptively rich and worth poring over.

Maybe my particular age and situation has me overidentifying with Jay Endicott - an essentially noble character (and nice guy) who finds himself trundling through with everyone else. (It's no spoiler that, throughout the course of the series, Endicott ends up losing the costume and simply wearing the mask with clothes). Reading this so soon after seeing Rocky Balboa, there's a great affirmation of the idea that it's not about "the big win" so much as the little victories that make life worth living.

Another Open Letter to Steven Moffatt

Dear Steven Moffatt,

I was very pleased - pleased as punch, you might say - to read that you've chosen Peter Capaldi to play the Doctor afterMatt Smith leaves later this year.

Quite frankly, we need, more than ever, an older Doctor. Admittedly, I felt the past two seasons of Doctor Who were more about "magic" - the Doctor waves his magic wand, er, I mean sonic screwdriver, and things get fixed. There's a rush to the end that just doesn't feel right narratively, or even in terms of tone.

An older Doctor...well, you can get a companion who does the more action-style stuff, but ultimately, you're forcing the Doctor - and your writers - to be more clever. Having a Doctor use his wits - rather than his magic buzzy stick, er, I mean sonic screwdriver - to solve problems.

And for whiny fans who claim that I'm not being fair....keep in mind, Mr. Moffatt, that you're the producer. Fans always whine - in fact, I know a guy who complained violently about Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. Which, for me, is like saying that one jar of maraschino cherries is "better" than another....but I digress.

I know you have a lot on your plate, Mr. Moffatt, so I'll just say - good choice. I'm glad. Especially since I feel older yet geeky fans like me are sorely underrepresented in the media.

Thanks again, and good luck.

Your pal,
Gordon

Losing A Domain But Returning to Form

Because I've been without work, and haven't had the resources to do so, I missed renewing my old domain, resulting in

• someone else taking over blogthispal.com; and
• posting content that is, well, spammy.

Now, I'm going to have to fight to regain that domain (or get another one), and with an increase in employment opportunities, that means that for the time being, my blogging will return to http://blogthispal.blogspot.com for the foreseeable future.

(RSS feed is http://blogthispal.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss)

For my old domain host - although yes, I am at fault for not paying, you've just given me a good excuse to switch. You've had quite a bad reputation for awhile, so I have no problem going with another person.

With the person using blogthispal.com - seriously, come up with your own idea and do that. It may take awhile, and will cost, but quite honestly - this is scummy, and I share the responsibility.

For you, dear reader, things will be a bit awkward (you may get a lot of 404 notices when clicking on internal links), but quite honestly - this has been neglected for too long.

So an apology, and a promise to try harder. 

Perform Your Duty and Vote!

After several months of campaigning, of speeches, of the back-and-forth, it's time for all of us to make the time to do one thing: Vote.

Voting is the only way to ensure our democracy works - making a choice for the candidate who best serves our ideals. For those who cynically say "When you choose between the greater of two evils, you're still choosing an evil"...we have Libertarian, Green, and other candidates. Even if your vote is for someone with no chance of winning, you're still making your voice heard.

For those who claim our system is "broken"....the main reason why is that you're not willing to participate.

Get out. Vote your conscience.

Be an American.

Disney Owns STAR WARS - Now What?

As many of you who haven't been living in a tin shack in the middle of the desert are aware, George Lucas sold Lucasfilm (which includes the rights to Star Wars) to Disney, paving the way for more movies, and more opportunities for people to spout Jedi-ish sayings.

And I just have one small word of advice for Star Wars fans: if you think this is ruining the franchise, let it go. It's actually healthy.

I feel your pain, Jedi knights, I really do - I'm a Doctor Who fan, and we suffer from variations in fandom. There are the "Matt and/or David are cute" fans, who care nothing about the overall franchise; there are those who think that Who died in 1989, and that the new series "doesn't count"; and then there are people like the rest of us, who can enjoy classic and new series Who.

Like anything you love, there are going to be those to "jump on" at the last minute. I've heard rumors, for example, of people who think that The Phantom Menace is actually a pretty good movie. (I'm not one of them, but will defend Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith). And I'll argue that Star Wars isn't really a geeks-only franchise, but a popular franchise with geeky elements....so you're going to have new people coming in down the road.

My only belief and plea for Disney - don't do more trilogies. Think less trilogy and more "James Bond" - a new movie every 2 or 3 years, without the necessity of continuing subplots and arcs. I've kind of been more of a "films only" SW fan - and haven't dipped into the "extended universe" - but think this will actually be helpful, if it means sorting through various rights and legal issues.

And the best part - George Lucas is giving his cash to charity. Always a good thing.

Your Political Satire/Pop Culture Moment of Zen

From this past week's Saturday Night Live:

Craig Ferguson Puts It In Perspective

I would be remiss in not admitting that I've posted this before, but here's Craig Ferguson - from four years ago - putting elections (and voting) in sorely needed perspective:

Eleven Years Ago Today

Graphic Available Via Flickr

There's multiple ironies abounding about today:

First, it's become a tragic holiday - a potent reminder of past victimization, of our lack of preparedness, of how our vulnerabilities were exploited.

It's also hard for me to write about, especially since I've made all of these points in previous posts...but in this election year, this day seems even more bittersweet.

Ernest Borgnine: The Hardest Working Man in Show Business

Via Flickr

You know, I've said this on Twitter and Facebook, and I still think it's true:

Ernest Borgnine, who recently passed away, was the hardest working man in show business.

At the very least, he was the hardest working actor - one glance at his IMDB entry, and there's a long list of movies, television, etc. A great mix of classics, pretty good jobs, and strictly-in-it-for-the-paycheck work. Yet, Borgnine treated everything with the same sense of diligence and quality, and had one helluva work ethic.

(As far as personal favorites...for now, I'll say his brief role in Escape from New York. I'm sure I'll think of a better example later on).

(For those who may find this amusing - I once asked Don Rickles online if he and Borgnine were twins. His response - "No, he's Italian and I'm Jewish....Gordon, stay out of my life!")

It's not hyperbolic to say that an era in entertainment is coming to an end....but thankfully, we have a really strong body of work from Ernest Borgnine.

Fire up your video rental queues, ladies and gentlemen. Trust me - you've got some great viewing ahead of you.

The "Waffles For Stephanie" Brouhaha

Via Handmade Stuffs on Flickr -
because I think it's cute

As many of you have probably read over the internet, there is a movement about - a group of fans is encouraging the mailing of waffles by like-minded fans to DC Comics in order to convince them bring back Stephanie Brown in light of her impending appearance in the Smallville comic.

Now on one level, I completely understand - as a character, Stephanie's been done pretty wrong by DC as the result of some wrong-headed decisions. (Many of which do not include the smart one of having her be the first female Robin....but that's besides the point). I loved Bryan Q. Miller's recent take, and quite honestly - I love the character. A relatively young, fun character who made Batgirl the one Bat-book you should have read....and didn't.

However, this waffle thing? The most misguided, irresponsible move on the part of fans everywhere.

Now, you'll probably scold me for being negative, but quite honestly....sending frozen waffles to a comic company is simply taking a bad stunt (which worked for a series in escaping total cancellation) and just repeating it. It's all show and no tell - given the amount of investment that DC has taken with its reboot, having it insert a character for no other reason other than "we love her"....seems silly.

Via Flickr - No waffles for you,
Dan Didio!

(In order words, she's not "iconic" enough for DC. But I still love her to death).

So, to help those who want to do something positive in Stephanie's name, let me suggest the following actions:

• Get together with some like-minded friends, purchase a case of waffles, and donate them to a food pantry or a homeless shelter.
• Pool your money and donate it to a domestic violence shelter, or an organization that deals with reproductive justice like the Illinois Caucus on Adolescent Health.
• Pool your money, donate to the Hero Initiative in Stephanie's name, and send a taunting note to DC comics.
• Go to Indy Planet (or preferably, your local indie comic shop)  and order a cool indie book written by a woman. You'll be helping foster a cool creative scene.
• Donate to your favorite female-created web comic. They would definitely appreciate it.

This isn't a typical male-written "gee-look-at-the-goofy-ladies" post. Yes, Stephanie Brown is a cool character. But sending waffles to DC as a way of encouraging positive action....is a waste of perfectly good waffles.