Next Tuesday I will be in New York for the 57th National Jewish Book Award dinner and awards ceremony. Although the dinner is private, I gather the awards ceremony is open to the public, but I'm not 100% positive that means one can just show up. You might want to check their website HERE. Then you can send an email through their contacts info. Although my book HOMELAND, THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL is getting an award, I'm not sure if either Mario Ruiz (the artist) or I (the writer) will receive something; it probably goes to the publisher although we may get something, too, but I know we are both absolutely thrilled that the book, which we worked on for a little over 3 years, has been so well received. I know I haven't written here about Homeland for at least five minutes, but I wanted folk to know that although we're getting a Jewish Book Award it's not a religious book in any way. It's an illustrated History of the Jewish people's pursuit of their homeland from the time of the bible to today. Factually correct (the research is why it took so long) and vetted many times over by historians, it deals honestly with all people and doesn't try to lay blame on anyone. I think it's a very solid book for anyone at all interested in history or even how comics can be used to reach a worldwide audience in brand new and exciting ways.

All of our awards to date are from non-comics organizations, which makes it doubly incredible to me that we've been so widely accepted outside the field. But now as nominations for the comic industry's Harvey and Eisner Awards are starting, I hope those inside the comics industry will notice us as well. As far as I know Homeland isn't available at comic shops, so if you're eligible to vote please order it online from Amazon.com which is the cheapest way to get it anyway. You can use the link to the right or order it directly. And if you're not eligible to vote, well, you should read it anyway. The situation in the Middle East is a complicated one and we try to simplify it without dumbing it down. I think we've succeeded.

Labels: Homeland, National Jewish Book Award

So, does Barack Obama remind you of the West Wing's congressman turned President Matthew Santos? Did he crib Santos' speeches or, unbelievably, was it the other way around? Take a look at this SLATE article and decide for yourself.

Labels: The West Wing

There's been a lot in the press lately about world shaking catastrophes that could very well destroy much that we know. Throughout the world various governments are actually trying to prepare for such events if they come. The Doomsday Vault in Norway is one incredible example. The Norwegians are storing millions of seeds in a frozen vault in case our food supplies fail due to climate change, global warming or some other disaster. You can learn about the Doomsday Vault here. It's a fascinating story and well worth your time.

Labels: The Doomsday Vault

Is it just me, but why is everyone so horrified that the Movie Academy left out Brad Renfro from the memorial video when they also left out Charles Lane who was only a mere 102 when he died and had been in the business since 1929 and, according to his Wikipedia entry, was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild. I mean, he was in the business for 78 years and appeared in eleven trillion movies and TV shows. I think he'd deserve a mention more than anyone else. All I know is whenever I saw him appear in a TV show I knew there'd be a great cranky old character making the scene more fun than it deserved to be.

Labels: Charles Lane

Since this was Oscar weekend, here's some quick weekend movie thoughts: I'm not quite sure what film all the reviewers saw when they gave Vantage Point a poor review. It certainly wasn't the film my friend Becky and I saw this weekend, which is fast paced, lean and a pretty good thriller with lots of surprises throughout. Fact is I liked it a lot so if you're on the fence, take the plunge and let me know. Noel, Becky, and another friend, Lorien, and I also saw Spiderwick Chronicles which is also a lot of fun. After a slew of below average young people movies, this one is, as I had heard, like Aliens for kids. It's actually quite horrific in places. There's a few other movies out there I want to see but they are going to have to wait as after a quiet week where I gave in to a low grade sinus driven head cold by vegging out (and watching DVDs at home including all three "Back To The Future" movies back to back - they are my 'comfort food' favorite movie triology of all time) work has suddenly piled up again so I have to force myself to concentrate. Anyway, see Vantage Point and if you like good kids movies, Spiderwick.

Labels: Movies

Presidential candidate has (possible) sex with a lobbyist and it's scrutinized all over the TV. Yeah. So how are Andrew Shepherd and Sydney Ellen Wade doing anyway?


President Andrew Shepherd: Do you think there will ever be a time when you can stand in a room with me and not think of me as the president?
Sydney Ellen Wade: This isn't a state of mind. You are the president. And when I'm in a room with you, oval or any other shape, I'm always gonna be a lobbyist, and you're always gonna be the president.
President Andrew Shepherd: I have news for you, Sydney. As a lobbyist, you'd never be alone in a room with the president.

Labels: The American President

I'm back from the Bay area and for those who have sent me private emails, I will not be at Wondercon. Sorry, but work calls and I have to stay here. San Francisco is a beautiful city but a conflicting one. I love walking the city, but am not thrilled when I pass by some naked guy relieving himself in the streets. The entire city is a jumble of extreme wealth and extreme poverty and a definite reminder that John Edwards is right when he says there are two Americas. San Francisco seems to thrive on that duality more than any other city I visit in the States and the people on the street asking for money seem to be from all strata, those who have made wrong decisions or have had those wrong decisions thrust on them by others.

But San Francisco is, like New York, one of the great walking cities, which I definitely miss here in LA where I don't even have sidewalks on my street. Everywhere you look there's something to see, whether it's the hills or the architecture or just the feeling that you're in a very special place. San Francisco is, for good or bad, unique. Thankfully the good outweighs the bad, but the bad, the poverty, sadly stays in my mind which makes going there so conflicting. Anyway, I'm happy to have gone there, would go there again in a New York minute, but am even happier to be back home.

Labels: San Francisco

I'm in San Francisco entering this on my Treo so blogging will be short. Whodathunkit but the weather today was warmer than L.A so walking Union Square and Market Street was leasurely and fun. Tonight's a party and I'm looking foward to the next few days.

More when I can.

Labels: San Francisco

Labels: Indy

Mark Evanier has taken over Steve Gerber's weblog. On it you can find hundreds of comments from fans, professionals, friends and even an old High School pal of his. They are touching, warm and loving. Take a read and shed a tear.

One of the letters is from DC Publisher Paul Levitz. Paul had a wonderful idea. If you've never heard of the Hero Initiative it's an organization that helps out comic book professionals in need. In the past I've donated material as well as time to their cause. They are a good and deserving group. Paul mentions that the group had helped Steve and that a fitting memorial to Steve would be to make a donation in his name. As usual, Paul is 100% right. Please consider making a donation by CLICKING HERE.

Labels: Steve Gerber, The Hero Initiative

Steve Gerber passed away last night. If you met Steve or were just a fan of his, please go to Mark Evanier's blog for the full story.

I met Steve in 1972 when I was hired by Marvel to replace him on staff as he went freelance. Steve had some sort of sleeping disorder that made it impossible for him to wake up and get to the office anywhere resembling on time, which was probably the best thing that could have happened because it forced him to become full time writer instead of a desk jockey. Steve quickly established himself with a very independent voice at a time when most writers, myself included, strove to fit into the basic Marvel formula. There was no mistaking a Steve Gerber story, good or bad, though mostly good. It was paced differently from anyone else's script. His characters acted like no other. And his stories went places where no other writer would think of going. His mind just operated differently than the rest of us which made his stories unique. I was never quite sure what I was going to get when, as an editor I proofread a Steve Gerber story, but good, bad, or a combination of both, it was always something I knew I could never have come up with on my own. Steve also had the absolute best command of the English language of any of his peers. Even when I didn't understand his stories I marveled at his pure writing ability.

Steve was one of those people who somehow drew you into his circle pretty quickly even though it would be hard to explain why. He had a weird, unexplainable and quirky charisma that somehow made its way past a number of surface ticks that should have made that impossible. Some people have the ability to make you feel like you've known them all your life after five minutes. I don't know how it's done, but Steve was like that.

I was always friendly with Steve but we never were that close. Never pals but always two work friends who could shoot the breeze for ten minutes or so. When I'd run into him at a convention he always had that Jack Klugmanesque lopsided smile when he greeted me and he always seemed genuinely happy to see me.

As often happens, especially after Steve moved to the West Coast and I was on the East, we lost touch with each other. I heard he got into animation but that was about it. But sometime in '84 or '85 Steve called and told me he was the story editor for the G.I. Joe cartoon show and asked if I would like to write an episode for him. I had never previously thought about writing animation since the people who did that lived on the West Coast, but I said yes. I wrote one for him then another. Then, through Steve, Sunbow, the company we were working for, called to ask if I'd be interested in becoming a Producer in their New York office. By this point I was actually planning to move to Los Angeles so I couldn't do it. Instead they asked if I'd like to be a story-editor for Transformers. I said yes. So Steve got me an entirely new career.

I saw Steve more often because we both worked out of Sunbow's Westwood offices. When Sunbow went away I found myself as story editor for the Superman cartoon show on CBS and hired him to work on it. As usual, Steve was a little bit late but the script was great. I saw Steve some more but then he moved to Las Vegas.

And now he's gone.

His death sadly wasn't a surprise. Most of us knew his condition. The last time I spoke to him was a few months ago over the phone in Mark Evanier's car. We knew then his health was failing but we had our fingers crossed that he'd get his operation in time. Last week I was having lunch with a friend who kept in touch with Steve. He said not only had Steve not yet had the operation but that there might be complications that would prevent it. All I could say to that was damn.

Steve was a really good guy and a great writer. It is so sad that he had to suffer at the end. Nobody deserves that and certainly not someone who brought so much joy to so many for so long. He will definitely be missed. Damn.

Labels: Steve Gerber

Elle Dee Deux is 3 today. She doesn't look a day over 2 and acts like she's 1. Happy bday, L.D.

I've been hearing all the horror stories about getting hotel space in San Diego for the big convention. I'm staying at the Marriott, but I do want to remind folk who could not find a room to try again in a few weeks and then a few weeks after that and so forth. Rooms will open up down the line. Yes, they will still be hard to get because more people want rooms than there are rooms available (my old assistant and long-time friend Heidi MacDonald has a wonderful piece about that on her blog, THE BEAT.) but some persistence may pay off. Also, if you have tons of money (most of us don't) you can probably get a room at the full rack rate right now. Also, try Hotel Row a few miles from the con. You can hop a train or take a cab and the difference in rates between being right there and a few miles away will more than pay for the cab ride a dozen times over. All I can say is keep trying, and don't give up hope. Oh, and of course, see you there.

Labels: San Diego Hotels

There is an absolutely wonderful thread about my books and me on Peter David's website. It has completely thrown me for a loop. I am not only flabbergasted but very, very touched.

Labels: Peter David

In my blog about my choices for the Democratic primary as well as the California Propositions, I mentioned I was going to be voting Yes to the Indian Gaming props that would allow 25,000 more slot machines in the casinos. My uneducated reason was that those against it - according to their own ads - were Las Vegas casinos and LA racetracks. So I figured it was all "we don't want competition." Then a friend of mine (Hi, Craig!) emailed me a few things I didn't know which actually sent me to research the issue instead of relying on gut. I usually voted yes to Indian gaming because why not? Better to keep the gambling money here in California than elsewhere. Although the official California Democratic whatever they call themselves is neutral on this issue, the actual concensus seems to be that it would be wrong and that it should be rejected for a better deal later. I won't bother to go over all the different reasons. I read a slew of websites and actually changed my mind on the issue and voted No. It will probably pass anyway and I'm not up in arms on the issue as I am in making sure a Democrat gets elected in November, but I need to remind myself to actually research what I'm voting for or against. And yes, I did vote for Obama but if Hillary gets nominated I won't be disappointed either. I'm sure there will be those who will say I was right the first time but that's okay. The only thing I'm not okay with is that I so wanted to call this blog about taking back my gambling vote "Indian giving" but I knew that would be wrong.

Labels: 95, 96, 97, Propositions 94

We've all heard the stirring speeches from Presidents great and powerful, but the one thing they've all lacked was a Hollywood screenwriter putting the words in their mouth. So for all current candidates, why not take a look at the words and lessons that our best fictional Presidents have inspired us with. To see all the words and photos, click on the little "next photo" button at the top of the article.

Labels: Fake Prez

I've been getting tons of political calls. Day and night. So many so I think I'll start marking down how many calls interrupt my dinner from each candidate and vote for the one who bothers me the least. God, I hope that doesn't turn out to be Ron Paul. Anyway, so the phone rings last night and I'm assuming it's from some big shot celebrity telling me they are endorsing the candidate of their choice and that I should, too. But lo and behold, it's not a political call, but writer Larry Gelbart, creator of the M*A*S*H TV show, the Broadway hit, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, writer for a couple of those old Sid Caesar shows, and a million more movies and shows, all of which are brilliantly written. I love Gelbart's work and he's calling me. Me!

He begins talking and who am I to interrupt? He's talking about the Writer's Strike, or as I prefer to call it, The Producer's Walk-out (unless it's settled tomorrow and I no longer am required to hate them), and boy does he stay on message. I mean, I tried to say something a dozen times. I really wanted to talk about M*A*S*H, and Tootsie and one of my all time favorites, Movie, Movie, but no, he wouldn't stop talking about the strike and that he still wanted me out there picketing and not to raise my hopes too quickly but to hold the course. I mean, no matter how many times I tried to stop him he kept going. My God, what concentration. No wonder he's still so brilliant even today; the man has more concentration than anyone I...

Excuse me. The phone's ringing. Hang on.

Hi. yeah. yeah. What do you mean? A recorded message? He didn't call me? The creator of the United States, the TV show didn't call me? Oh, gee. Oh, man. I feel so... Okay. I gotta think about this. Thanks. Speak to you later. Maybe lunch next week.

Hi. I'm back.

Umm. Urrr.

Never mind.

Labels: M*A*S*H*E*D

In case you didn't know, the Primaries here in California and across the country are this Tuesday. I can understand if you didn't hear the news since it's only been mentioned on TV every three seconds, so I thought I'd pass it along since we all know 9 out of 10 Americans get their news from this blog.

In California we're voting on a lot of what we call Propositions, this time mostly to do with Indian Casinos and whether or not we should give them the right to have more slot machines. It may seem like a silly reason to have a Proposition but it actually comes down to billions of dollars. On one side is the representative for the four major Indian Casinos and they say a large portion of their money does go to California and is also shared by the other Indian tribes. The opposition says that not enough money is coming to California. As they put it, not even one percent of the budget is given over to the state. Well, one percent of California's budget is way huge, probably has more zeroes than I can count, but the reason I will probably, reluctantly, say yes to the Proposition is that the opposition is being funded - according to the small type in their own ads as well as what the Pro-Indian gaming people say - by Las Vegas Casino owners as well Race Track owners. So my view is they simply don't want the competition. Too bad. Even if I do agree more tax money probably should be turned over to the States, I'm voting for the Indian gambling propositions. But do remember, those slots are called one-armed bandits for a reason.

But, of course, the big race is for the Presidency, and it's been a real problem deciding what to do. I was an Edwards supporter. And I really liked Kucinich (every one of those Internet polls in which you fill out what you like then they tell you which candidate best reflects your views, came out Kucinich). I have absolutely no major quarrels with Clinton or Obama as they, too, represent much of what I like though neither goes all the way on, say, universal health care. I believe it should be 100% Government funded (allowing, of course, for you get your own Doctor and coverage if you prefer - this is a free country). I've done a lot of overseas traveling to conventions and in talking to the folk who do have Universal Health Care, the system basically works everywhere I've been and the people are pretty much happy with it. Yes, there are faults, but frankly there are more faults with our HMOs. And as long as the Police, Firefighters, Post Office, the Armed Forces, Highway Maintenance, Subways, Social Security, Medicare and lots more are 100% paid for by the government, I don't want to hear about "socialized" anything from millionaires who can afford to get the exact coverage they want. Too many of my friends don't have medical coverage because they can't afford it.

Anyway, with my first choices gone I've been wavering back and forth between Obama and Clinton. Both would represent an incredible change for the country that would reflect well on us. I think their policies are pretty similar to the point they have problems differentiating themselves. So it comes down to character, and even there I think they are pretty much equal. They are both politicians which means good and bad.

So I decided to make my choice on who I think could help bring the country together again. Although I believe the GOP and the mass media created 95% of the backlash against Hillary Clinton, although I think almost all of it is undeserved, although I think she has been scrutinized within an inch of her life and none of her enemies have ever been able to prove anything negative about her, but for reasons I don't believe are real or true, she comes out of all of that as being branded divisive. Many people, wrongly in my mind, without a shred of actual proof, think the worst of her, and those people won't change their mind even if you can prove chapter and verse that she did not have Vince Foster killed. But because she has been unable to shake that problem, I don't think she is the best to unite Democrats and Republicans as Americans first and foremost. Is that fair? No. Is it reality? I think so. So I believe we need to start with a clean slate. The GOP will find plenty to dislike about Obama later, but for now he doesn't come with that baggage. And since I believe A: he is good (as is Hillary) and can do the job (as could Hillary), and B: we desperately need to vote the right wing religious-based fanatics not only out of government but out of the GOP (and return them to the party they used to be) I will be voting for Barack Obama come Tuesday.

Labels: The Presidential Primaries