Last Chance to Ask Me Stuff!

Due to circumstances beyond my control (meaning, "I needed to sleep late and get rest"), my podcast will be recorded the weekend of July 4th.

Meaning - you still have time to ask me anything. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for your patience.

Hey Lord, Don't Ask Me Questions - The Reboot

Sorry for all the self-absorption: I promise more blogging objectivity in the future, but I thought I'd indulge this one time.

As many of you know, much like Roger and Mike Sterling, I often open my blog (or, more accurately, my podcast) to reader and pal questions. Sometimes I offer prizes, but this time, I'm offering the chance for you to learn a little something more about me. And maybe even have me crack jokes about your questions.

Here's the deal - I'm planning on recording a special answer podcast in mid-August. If you have a question you would like me to answer about anything - comics, Doctor Who, politics, or just for some old fashioned advice, please feel free to ask me before Saturday, August 15th
And there are so many ways you can submit questions, including

• good, old fashioned e-mail - just send to gordon@blogthispal.com
• DM or tweet me on Twitter (just add an #askthispal hashtag so I know it's a question)
• Record and e-mail me a file with your question
• Message me on Facebook
• Leave a comment on this post!

Don't worry - I'll be posting reminders. And for co-workers - you can't just approach my cubicle and ask me something out loud. You actually have to submit like everyone else.

So please, no question is too personal, embarrassing, or complex - ask away!

A Scary Halloween Podcast

Count Floyd
Originally uploaded by Gordon D

Hey, kids, it's your old pal Count Floyd here, host of Monster Chiller Horror Theater. Since Gordon is away worrying about his mom, he asked me to post a blog. Blog.....oh, that's a scary word. Scarier than Sterling in evil clown make up, or Roger in sandals. Just the thought of Roger with open toes....gives me the heebie jeebies.

Anyway, I'm introducing the podcast where Gordon answers questions of people who read his blog, and it's scary 'cause it's....unedited...with ums and ahs....and awkward pauses. Boy, that's just a little bit too intense for me. I'd better take a nap, it's so scary.

But while I'm here, I just want to wish you a very happy Halloween, don't eat too much candy....always wash behind your ears....

And now, here's our really scary movie, Dr. Tongue's 3-D House of Comic Books. Trust me, it will really make you...crawl into bed...with a teddy bear.


Click here to get your own player.

It's Audience Participation Time!

Ironside
Originally uploaded by Gordon D

As many of you know, I like to do an "audience participation" podcast, and answer reader questions. (And usually, it's the same reader who asks). However, I'm trying to reach those of you who have either been too shy...or would like to actually hear your question on the podcast.

So, please feel free to submit your questions to me by 10/18 (next Thursday), and I'll answer them in the next podcast. If you submit a sound file, I'll just drop it in the podcast.

The great advantage is that there are numerous ways to contact me, including:

• leaving a voice mail message at 206-203-3032 (long distance charges may apply)
• recording a WAV/MP3 file on Audacity and e-mailing it to blogthispal (at) gmail (dot) com
• Contacting me on Twitter, and
• Sending me an e-mail to blogthispal (at) gmail (dot) com

(Blogger's comments section - especially at this end - are kinda hit or miss for me. I'm not discriminating, just letting you guys know that if you do leave a question on the comments and I don't get to it, I apologize in advance).

Thanks, and always remember - file sharing is killing music. Just read and hear these examples of how Radiohead is doing just that.

A Podcast - for You!

As promised, here's a podcast for your listening pleasure - answers! A mini-comic rant! And, of course, how to get those nasty grape juice stains out of your white t-shirt.

(I'm kidding about the last point, but just a word - this podcast does contain some salty language, so you have been warned)


Click here to get your own player.

I Always Follow Through on Threats, er, I Mean, Promises

Here's my inaugural podcast - be sure to listen to episode # 2: it's really episode one. (Lesson learned: never upload a podcast from a Flash Drive)

blogthispal's podcast





Click here to get your own player.

EDIT - No, your eyes are not deceiving you; the poll overwhelmingly said that people thought the old template was hard to read, so I changed it. I also went back to Blogger's comments, as Haloscan acted wonky. Cleaned up the code a little bit, and...well, here's the new, improved blog!

While You're Waiting....

I'm working on answering your questions - first, though, some assorted stuff.

First, I'm polling everyone on an important issue - this blog's appearance. If you read this blog, chime on in.

Secondly, go vote for Freakazoid in this poll.

Thirdly, in our "obligatory shout-out to I Can Haz Cheezburger":

Finally, to (kind of) answer another one of Roger's many questions, here's my second favorite Monkees song:

Thanks, Roger, for spoiling April's Record You Should Own (which the rest of you will see next week). You've just taken away the surprise for everyone else. =)

It's That Time Again....

Yes, friends, it's time once again to play "Just Ask Gordon!"

As you know, I like to answer questions from my loyal readers (the both of you), and am opening the old blog up for you to ask me anything. Anything at all.

Plus, as an extra special bonus - I will answer your questions live. That's right - I'll actually podcast the answers.

So, you have two ways of asking:

1) write your questions in the "comments" section, or (if Haloscan misbehaves):

2) e-mail them to me at blogthispal (at) gmail (dot) com [replacing the appropriate words with symbols].

Send me your questions by Monday, April 2nd, and I'll answer them - live!

Isn't that fun?

The Lefty Brown Experience

Well, this has been a busy week, especially since I'm considering a life-changing decision. However, in the meantime, Lefty has asked some questions that I feel a public obligation to answer.

How long will it be before Cheap Trick shows up in your "Records You Should Own"?
Early 2007. I'm trying to decide which disc to feature.

How good is Cheap Trick's new disc? It's gob-smackingly good. As good as their "classic" stuff.

Is it required that all Chicago-area residents love Cheap Trick (like New Jersians and Springsteen)? Personally, I have heard a lot of local bands play "Surrender", but Chicago hasn't really embraced Cheap Trick, which is technically from Rockford, Will Pfeiffer's hometown. Their loss.

Cheap Trick, the best rock band out of Chicago, or the greatest rock band out of Chicago? I would say yes. Especially since other bands that have come from Chicago - Urge Overkill, Smashing Pumpkins - can't lay a frickin' candle to Cheap Trick.

Answers and Reviews

Before I had left for Seattle, I had asked you all for questions. However, since Roger was the only person to participate, I wanted to answer his questions, but I'm also including - at no extra cost to you, the reader - some comic reviews. Let's get bloggin!

How dost we get out of Iraq? Will the Baker Commission help? - First, Roger, you don't have to talk like Thor in order to get my attention. My answer is...very, very carefully.

Birds of Prey #100 - It looks like Gail Simone may be going for an old-school Mission: Impossible feel to this book, and that's so frickin' cool. If this issue is any indication, the action's just getting started.

What is your place in the family birth order? How many sibs did your parents have and what are their birth orders? - I'm actually an only child, because my parents got perfection the first time around.

What do you mean, "That explains a lot"?

Wonder Woman #3 - As superficial and sexist as this sounds, I am only reading this for the Dodson art. For some reason, this issue felt very exposition heavy. I'll stick around for whenever 4 and 5 come out, but I don't think I'm going to be reading Wonder Woman regularly.

What are YOUR favorite cities? - Chicago (where I was born and raised), St. Louis, Seattle, Toronto. Least favorite city - Kansas City. No disrespect to you KC residents, but it's just not my kind of place. I don't feel comfortable there, and I don't know why.

Bullet Points # 1 - You know those Elseworlds where Superman's rocket would land somewhere other than Kansas, yet he still ended up being Superman? Especially when he was adopted by the Waynes? This "What If Steve Rogers Became Captain America" miniseries is sloppily uneven, portentious...oops, JMS wrote this. Explains a lot. I'll pass on issue 2.

Do you always vote, even on the local races? Why? - Yes, because quite frankly, I'm a firm believer that democracy is not a spectator sport. Local politics can have even a greater impact than national politics, and so it's important to make sure our leaders are held accountable.

End of soapbox.

JSA Classified # 19 - After the uneven Hourman arc, a really cool beginning for a Dr. Mid-Nite arc with a slightly different take on a classic villain. Definitely hanging around for this one.

Where the heck is that piece you did on smoking? I swear you did one since 1/10/05, but I can't find it. - It's in the cupboard, top shelf. (Actually, there have been several - e-mail me about the one you're thinking about)

52 # 29 -30 - This series is a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, some of the character handling of the JLA (and the Luthor metagene subplot) are kind of interesting. On the other hand, the Kingdom Come riffing - and some of the Batman stuff - leave me cold. And in a slightly snarky tone, I strongly suspect a Frigidaire in Batwoman's future. But that may be just me.