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April 30, 2005
We Seem to be Live Again
We've been having some ISP issues which may have made posting problematic. It seems to have been restored and our web master has been dutifully cleaning out the spam from the comments section.
So, no one had anything to say about the West Wing review? Odd.
Meantime, at long last Batman: Cover to Cover is now in bookstores and comics shops nationwide -- a week early I proudly add. Anyone read it yet? I'm really curious for feedback.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:28 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
April 28, 2005
More Local Government Fun
I suspect Public Meetings would be shorter if people only paid attention to one another.
On Monday night the RTM met with a very full agenda, highlighted by the first public comments on the Town Budget. In Connecticut, the Board of Ed sets their own budget which we on the town side may cut but cannot alter line items or add to their request. The education budget represents something like 63% of the total budget so is always under scrutiny.
Our Moderator asked the RTM to come prepared to announce any line item a member intended to ask be reduced so at next week’s final budget meeting, the affected department could come and discuss the cut. When we got to the budget, our Moderator dutifully asked if anyone on the RTM intended to propose any cuts.
Not a single cut was suggested.
Then the floor was opened to public comment. The room was packed, with about half the room filled with school administrators, principals, deans, and Board of Ed members. The other half were parents and concerned citizens on other topics.
Well, despite our proclaimed intentions not to cut the Budget, we then had to sit through over 18 people, all representing various PTA and PTA-related organizations begging us not to cut the budget. All came prepared with notes and all exceeded the two minute time limit. And they all said the same thing.
Until one of the final speakers reached the mike. He was a parent and addressed a line item on page 205. He knew it was too late for this year but made a passionate, well-reasoned plea for consideration of additional funding for the line. It involved early education and intervention for 3-5 year olds. If passed, it would be too late for his son, diagnosed as autistic, but maybe others could be identified and better programs instituted.
Finally, someone who used his time wisely and for the public good. Everyone else spoke, wasting our time with unnecessary pleas just to be on the record as saying they supported the budget.
And not a single person came to speak out in favor of or against a single item in the town side of the budget. I’m told this was a fairly typical budget session and I think this is troublesome.
The rest of the meeting was filled with routine business but the orderly manner in which we conducted affairs, all according to Robert’s Rules of Order, probably added an hour to the proceedings. Two resolutions, for example, was to authorize our First Selectman to accept money from the government. Don’t ask me why something so bleeding obvious required to be on the agenda at all. The money was earmarked for the town, we were getting it anyway, but rules are rules.
We did get bogged down, though, with amendments and amendments to amendments all in a clumsy effort to accept a donation of property that the neighbors wanted to turn into a park. People debated it the language was right, if the terms of the donation were alterable, which department should get the land to see to it that the neighbors got their park and in the end, approved a resolution accepting the donation and giving it to a department for management. Our Town Attorney then spoke up and said that legally, the resolution didn’t work – we misnamed the department. We then had to redraft the resolution and revote so the department became a commission.
Our 8 p.m. meeting was adjourned at about 11:55, this following an hour’s caucus. And I get the privilege of doing this all over again next Monday when we approve the budget – still without changes to the education figures – and watch everyone complain when their taxes rise.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:19 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
More Local Government Fun
I suspect Public Meetings would be shorter if people only paid attention to one another.
On Monday night the RTM met with a very full agenda, highlighted by the first public comments on the Town Budget. In Connecticut, the Board of Ed sets their own budget which we on the town side may cut but cannot alter line items or add to their request. The education budget represents something like 63% of the total budget so is always under scrutiny.
Our Moderator asked the RTM to come prepared to announce any line item a member intended to ask be reduced so at next week’s final budget meeting, the affected department could come and discuss the cut. When we got to the budget, our Moderator dutifully asked if anyone on the RTM intended to propose any cuts.
Not a single cut was suggested.
Then the floor was opened to public comment. The room was packed, with about half the room filled with school administrators, principals, deans, and Board of Ed members. The other half were parents and concerned citizens on other topics.
Well, despite our proclaimed intentions not to cut the Budget, we then had to sit through over 18 people, all representing various PTA and PTA-related organizations begging us not to cut the budget. All came prepared with notes and all exceeded the two minute time limit. And they all said the same thing.
Until one of the final speakers reached the mike. He was a parent and addressed a line item on page 205. He knew it was too late for this year but made a passionate, well-reasoned plea for consideration of additional funding for the line. It involved early education and intervention for 3-5 year olds. If passed, it would be too late for his son, diagnosed as autistic, but maybe others could be identified and better programs instituted.
Finally, someone who used his time wisely and for the public good. Everyone else spoke, wasting our time with unnecessary pleas just to be on the record as saying they supported the budget.
And not a single person came to speak out in favor of or against a single item in the town side of the budget. I’m told this was a fairly typical budget session and I think this is troublesome.
The rest of the meeting was filled with routine business but the orderly manner in which we conducted affairs, all according to Robert’s Rules of Order, probably added an hour to the proceedings. Two resolutions, for example, was to authorize our First Selectman to accept money from the government. Don’t ask me why something so bleeding obvious required to be on the agenda at all. The money was earmarked for the town, we were getting it anyway, but rules are rules.
We did get bogged down, though, with amendments and amendments to amendments all in a clumsy effort to accept a donation of property that the neighbors wanted to turn into a park. People debated it the language was right, if the terms of the donation were alterable, which department should get the land to see to it that the neighbors got their park and in the end, approved a resolution accepting the donation and giving it to a department for management. Our Town Attorney then spoke up and said that legally, the resolution didn’t work – we misnamed the department. We then had to redraft the resolution and revote so the department became a commission.
Our 8 p.m. meeting was adjourned at about 11:55, this following an hour’s caucus. And I get the privilege of doing this all over again next Monday when we approve the budget – still without changes to the education figures – and watch everyone complain when their taxes rise.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 25, 2005
Reviewing the West Wing
I’ve been meaning to talk about the West Wing finale since it aired but then I didn’t get to see it for almost two weeks and then things came up and I thought too much time had slide by.
But then, today, Peter David endorsed Senator Vinick, opening up the debate.
Honestly, I don’t think we know enough about Sullivan, Vinick’s running mate, to speculate on what sort of ticket they represent. I do know that Democratic candidate Matt Santos picked wisely when choosing former Chief of Staff, former Labor Secretary Leo McGarry to lend gravitas to his campaign.
I really liked watching the primary season storylines which made the West Wing feel fresher this season. John Wells is no Aaron Sorkin but he’s trying and his earnestness helps. He’s aided largely by John Sacret Young who appears to have consistently penned this season’s best episodes.
However, the season finale felt like it should have been two hours or even 90 minutes because the last quarter felt rushed, cramped and implausible. McGarry spent the last few episodes telling everyone, especially Josh, that Santos was a nice idea, but too lightweight and he had to step aside. McGarry was genuinely scared of Vinick, the consummate campaigner with a terrific portfolio. So, what changed McGarry’s mind enough to agree to run with Santos? Certainly it had to take more than Bartlet threatening to kick his ass.
From September through November, we get an almost real-time view of the presidential campaign. Here are a few things we can hope for:
While working my way through the second season DVD set of West Wing, I am reminded all over again how much interesting information Sorkin managed to pack into 60 minutes. Additionally, he made the characters quirky, and fun, and real. I kept imagining the fun Sorkin would have had with the scene when Charlie Young was caught sneaking out of Zoey’s bedroom by a sleep-deprived Bartlet. What we got was ham-fisted and trite. The one thing Wells has failed to do is keep the characters real while retaining their optimism for the jobs they are privileged to perform.
Still, West Wing remains one of the best dramas on TV and has refused to talk down to its audience.
And that’s worth voting for.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 04:11 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
April 23, 2005
Mixed Bag
Gray, rainy day with mixed results.
Woke up this morning and realized we’d be adjusting our schedule. We had hoped to get some yard work in before the heavens opened up but the rain came early. After managing one load of leaves getting to the dump, we split in different directions to accomplish our errands.
Accomplishing errands = good.
Checked the usual daily web sites and saw that the Psi Phi Awards were up and was beaten by my pal Keith in winning the award for Best Scene with his fall of Betazed. Congrats to Keith.
Losing the vote = bad.
While running around, I started to listen to the Mets-Nationals game and got home in time to watch the amazing fifth inning, when they managed to score 6 runs before the first out. During this prodigious effort, the phone rang and it was Peter David, a fellow die-hard fan, making sure I was watching. We discussed the game and the hitters, noting how sad it is that they walked Carlos Beltran to pitch to Mike Piazza who rewarded them with a flyout earlier in the game. And sure enough, by the time the inning ended, everyone in the line had a hit except Piazza. Heck, Jae Seo had a single and two RBI during the inning.
The Mets offense = very good.
Then, Seo came out and the bullpen proved mediocre, echoing my concerns of previous posts. They surrendered a handful of runs before closing out the game, Mets 10 Nationals 5.
The Mets bullpen = bad.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 05:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 20, 2005
Who Are These Guys?
When the Mets started the season 0-5, it was, to me, more of the same.
Then they won six in a row and I was stunned. As with all streaks, it ended and they suddenly couldn’t hit and lost two in a row. Last night they unleashed 7 home runs and defeated Philadelphia 16-4.
Who are these guys?
The off-season acquisitions from manager Willie Randolph to outfielder Carlos Beltran gave me hope. I still thought the rotation was iffy and the bullpen iffier. They had a great spring and none of my suspicions changed.
With two weeks under their belts, I am getting a sense that these guys are having some fun and enjoying playing together. That they won five of their six games during the streak without a homerun but played what’s known as “small ball” was actually encouraging. In the past, managers seemed to be content with putting a guy or two on base and waiting for Mike Piazza to smack one over the wall.
Problem was, Piazza hasn’t been able to do that for three seasons or more. Finally, this year, with Beltran the new stud in the heart of the batting order, commentators on the air are saying what the fans already knew: Piazza is over the hill and his best days are behind him. Even when he was the hitting star, he was never much of a team spokesman or leader in the clubhouse. Instead, he avoided the job and seemed more interested in personal goals. With each passing year, Deb grew more and more disenchanted with him and his frequent lack of clutch hitting. When I left for the Federal League auction she made me swear I wouldn’t bid on him (I didn’t).
I got a chance to see the guys for real on Opening Day, an event I should have chronicled here. First of all, there were 14 of us split into two groups since the Mets won’t let us buy more than 8 tickets for Opening Day. My group consisted of Deb, her coworker Brandon, the Peter David family, and Keith DeCandido. A fine group to see a game with. Our seats were mezzanine reserved, so we were low, exposed to the warming sun of early spring, and all the way out in right field, just passed the foul pole and near the Mets’ bullpen. Overall, a nice view that gives you a fresh appreciation for how much territory each outfielder is responsible for.
The player introductions were fun, especially with the Mets announcers leaving out, intentionally or not, Houston’s Lance Berkman. It was pretty funny watching on the Diamond Vision as Berkman, #17, stood in numerical order and then kept shifting one player after another, staying on camera the whole time, until finally, he was identified last. With him on the DL, at least people remembered he was there.
The game itself was fun as the Mets came back from behind twice to win. We saw good plays, one bad error, a double steal and had a great time. Our infield defense is markedly improved with Kaz Matsui now playing second base and Jose Reyes back where he belongs at short. Matsui has been struggling both offensively and defensively this spring and the chant to bench him in favor of popular former Yankee Miguel Cairo has begun, including Deb. While I like Cairo (just added him to the Final Frontiersmen), Matsui is capable and just needs to get more comfortable in the role. I say give him time.
The outfield is fine with Floyd, back and healthy, Beltran and, for now, Victor Diaz. Diaz is a likeable player who gives us some pop and can be a genuine threat. I gather he’s not the greatest defensive outfielder but so far he’s been doing fine.
Our starting rotation, as seen by Tom Glavine’s performance that day, can be respectable but worrisome. Glavine is not only showing his age but he continues to nibble corners of the strike zone umpires have stopped giving him and he’s not adjusting. At least Pedro Martinez is living up to his billing. But guys like Victor Zambrano worry me and with Aaron Heilman so unpredictable, that’s 40% of your rotation that’s suspect. Not a good percentage.
The bullpen can either be effective or a disaster and they lack anyone who, when they enter the game, make the other side nervous. It’s most likely they will give up someone, hopefully not Diaz, to acquire just that kind of bullpen threat. But not today and not in a panic. But later, when they are genuine contenders and the investment makes sense.
Who are these guys? These are the 2005 New York Mets. I’m going to love them, root from them and no doubt be driven to distraction by their miscues and power outages. But I’m there for the season.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:19 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
April 15, 2005
Getting Unstuck
One of the earliest lessons I learned about being a writer is that writers write. Some are very rigid and will write a proscribed amount of words everyday, 365 days a year. Others write in fits and starts. The key though, is that they write.
I haven’t really written in a month and it’s been bothering me.
I find that my real writing time is on the weekend with the occasional evening if it’s short or I’m deadline. Well, careful readers here will note that the last handful of weekends have been rather busy with Kate being home or us going to cons. All of it has been perfectly lovely but this week it really began to gnaw at me that I haven’t been able to get some work done.
On the occasional evening I have made it to my desk, there have always been non-writing things requiring my attention: financial aid forms for Kate, bills to pay, taxes to file, e-mails requiring response, comics to put away and so on and so on. And even in the last week or so there hasn’t been time for even that.
With my cold not going anywhere, my voice still somewhat shot and feeling generally overwhelmed, I’m actually home today. Using a sick day to let my body heal is wise, minimal talking, not traveling back and forth. Mentally, I feel even better for it because I have actually cleared through the stuff on my desk, including putting the cap on a Star Trek April Fool’s gag I was coordinating (it went off fine on the 1st, just had to compile some things for co-conspirators).
This means that the very next time I sit here, I should be able to get something written.
What will that be? Right now I remain without contracted work so it’s back to spec stuff. There’s the non-fiction project which I’ve been concentrating on and am nearing the completion of the sample chapter. However, I’m having some doubts about its marketability so I’m rethinking and seeking advice from those in the know.
The other is long gestating original fantasy idea and that seems to be calling to me again – a good sign. And now I have the time to think about what to do and that’s the best thing to happen all week (more or less).
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 02:19 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
April 13, 2005
The Early Notices
As many know, I have been extremely proud of the work that’s been done on the forthcoming Batman: Cover to Cover book. While it doesn’t hit shelves until the first week of May, some advance reviews have started to pop up and I’m more than pleased with what they’re saying.
From the April 4 issue of Publisher’s Weekly:
BATMAN: COVER TO COVER: The Greatest Comic Book Covers of the Dark Knight
Various authors. DC Comics, $39.99 (240p) ISBN 1-4012-0659-X
This dazzling collection of pop-art miniposters spans six decades of readers' fascination with the costumed hero. The editors selected roughly 250 from among the more than 2,000 covers done for Batman-themed publications. Batman has huge advantages as a graphic image. For one, the character has wonderfully dramatic looks—a swirling cloak, an inhuman mask and a grimly clenched don't-mess-with-me jaw. He also lends himself to strikingly lit, foreboding night settings. Regardless of what a particular story is about, he's always been a comics artist's dream subject. Consequently, though the book is organized loosely according to subjects, such as "Fearsome Foes" and "The Batman Family," it also takes pains to include examples of covers from different eras, featuring interviews with some of the artists who created the covers. Famous comics and media people from Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan to actor Mark Hamill also get to choose a favorite cover and explain briefly why they chose it. Fortunately, the editors have resisted the temptation to print a huge number of covers reduced to matchbook size, so these selections are large enough to appreciate. From Brian Bolland's hyper-detailed realism to Alex Toth's b&w minimalist rendering, this book does a good job of showing how much fun artists have had designing this comic book icon. (May)
Meanwhile, SCI-FI MAGAZINE devotes an entire page to a review of the book and raves that “throughout the 60-plus years of the character’s lifetime, the covers of the comics have provided readers with their first glimpses of the wonders to be found within. . . A true treasure.”
Very cool.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 02:10 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
April 10, 2005
Marathon weekend
On Wednesday I could feel the very beginnings of a cold coming on. Mild, not a surprise but vexing given the days ahead. Deb was still getting over a lingering cough so the notion of both of us being at less than 100% was not pleasant.
But, everything coming could not be changed.
For example, on Friday, Robbie turned 17. We were still figuring out his present that morning since all he really wanted was the right video card so he could play a Lord of the Rings PC game he got for Christmas. We had bought said video card only to discover neither his computer nor mine had the right slot for the card. Deb’s computer, the second version of a new one (long story), not only had the slot, already had the card installed. So, we could return the video card we bought but it meant we were down a present. Thankfully, Deb had Plan B. She had already spoken to some of the game players at her office and had a list of suggested titles. So, Friday at lunch, I ran out, bought two of the games and some wrapping paper.
He loved the games we picked, and the music CDs we already had on hand but really loved the freedom to play the LOTR game.
That evening, he hosted a party for some 20 friends. Deb worked on projects in her room while I did college financial paperwork in the basement. These kids apparently weren’t too hungry since we had a ton of leftover pizza and chips. Still, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and as I emerged at midnight to start cleaning up, people were still lingering.
The following morning, bright and early, we took the ferry across to Long Island and the annual I-Con.
We all had a great time. Robbie played games, saw friends and enjoyed being on Stony Brook campus. Deb spent Saturday with Kate for lunch and then saw a quilting buddy. Me, I saw friends, actually signed a few autographs and did my panels. The first, the by-now –clichéd “Dude, Where’s my Flying Car?” went far better than expected. The moderator, a campus prof., did his homework and came with a dozen items culled from current news sources that all sounded like science fiction and he would read a few at a time, spurring a conversation.
The second sounded more like Robbie than for me. Titled something like E-Gaming and Censorship, it featured game designer Matt Hawkins, Peter David and me. We broadened the topic to discuss mass media and censorship and happily filled the time.
I then hightailed it across campus to show the ever-popular movie previews. Sadly, DHL screwed up and fresh videos will be delivered Monday, not this past Friday. I showed what I had, took questions (aided and abetted by web master Glenn Hauman) and generally enjoyed the experience. Of course, this was third hour of speaking with a cold so lost most of my voice.
From there, Peter took me to meet Jewel Staite, from Firefly. She’s really cute and incredibly thin and her husband Matt seems like a nice guy. Unfortunately, the introduction was as far as it got given her schedule but at least I got a chance to express my appreciation for her work.
Then I relaxed and watched the Brobdinagian Bards, a fun duo, who do parody songs and traditional works. They have gained quite the following at I-Con but this was my first real exposure to them. It was also the first chance I had to see Kate. The Bards were quite entertaining and the room, with its poor acoustics, was packed.
While Deb lingered to visit and take official pictures of the Boogie Knights, Robbie, our friend Jean, and I dashed over to the con banquet, stuffed our faces on the fly, grabbed some portable food and returned in time for the Boogie performance.
Even though the band numbers six, I-Con was the very first time all 6 managed to be together for a performance. And since they had three hours to fill across the weekend, plus three songs at the Cabaret, it was a great chance to hear stuff from their catalogue stretching back through the years. The audience was sizeable and appreciative.
We helped them schlep their stuff back across campus to the where the cabaret was being held. In the gym. With lousy speakers. And poor acoustics, especially for performers who were largely acoustic guitars and voices. The Boogies went on about an hour later and seemed to do well, despite the horrid sound. The Bards followed and their fans were enthusiastic. When the final performer, an amusing but crude Voltaire, finished, we had a handful of starving performers. So, with Andrew from the Bards tagging along, four cars headed towards a diner. By then, my voice was almost totally gone so I nodded a lot and suffered in silence.
By 1 a.m., we were finally checked into a hotel (where the con had screwed up the reservation) and asleep.
Today, I had a 10 a.m. panel so we were up and out early enough. The panel was on the future of Star Trek with me, Keith DeCandido and Terri Osborne. Poor Terri finally succumbed to a migraine and stayed at the hotel. So, Keith and I filled the hour and had a fine time. On Saturday, I never had more than 15 people for the first two panels, this time we did over 25, so there’s some life in Trek yet.
At 11, I hurried to the next building to catch the final Boogie performance, with a really tiny attendance (which I ascribe more to the early hour than their quality).
By noon, we did the Family Business panel. Bob & Chuck Rozakis, me and Robbie. Our audience either dated Chuck, was married to me or came early for the next panel. We filled the hour but it was somewhat disjointed.
At 1 I ran through the current DC slide show promoting projects from DC, Vertigo and WildStorm coming out over the next few months. Nice, enthusiastic crowd with plenty of questions. By the very end, my voice was fairly gone again, certainly raspy. Fortunately, my commitments were also at an end.
The family said goodbye as Kate prepped for a return to college and we hightailed it back to the ferry.
And now we’re back. Just one more event lay ahead before things calm down for a few days: Opening Day at Shea!
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 06:40 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
April 08, 2005
Remembering Will
We’ve gotten really good at saying goodbye.
DC Comics has developed a tradition of bringing together people from throughout our small industry to say farewell to noteworthy figures from our past. This all started in the 1980s when we held a small staff-only memorial for E. Nelson Bridwell, who passed away after a lingering illness.
Since then, we’ve honored many in this way. We got so good at it that during the bankruptcy nonsense of the 1990s, we wound up hosting the memorials for Carol Kalish and Mark Gruenwald even though neither worked for DC but were Marvel fixtures.
These gatherings are particularly good for the deceased’s family since in many cases, they knew little about their spouse’s professional connections. This point was hammered home at Julie Schwartz’s memorial last spring.
On the other hand, Ann Eisner knew exactly what her husband Will had been up to. She sat quietly yesterday, listening to a parade of all-star talent get up and talk about what Will meant to them.
The memorial was held at the Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts, a former temple located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a perfect setting to remember Will Eisner. To show their respect, people traveled from afar including his Italian and Spanish publishers. Dark Horse had a nice contingent headed by publisher Mike Richardson and his earlier publisher Jim Warren made a rare public appearance. Among the attendees were pioneers Jerry Robinson and Joe Kubert; creators Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, John Byrne, Peter David, Scott McCloud; journalists Maggie Thompson, Peter Sanderson, Heidi MacDonald and an army from DC. Harlan and Susan Ellison, Bob Chapman from Graffiti Designs and Byron Preiss and agents Denis Kitchen and Judy Hansen and Dynamic Forces’s Nick Barrucci. The great Jules Feiffer, Will’s former assistant, was also there but briefly given to family matters and he chose not to speak.
After opening remarks from Paul Levitz, we had a brief welcome from Ann. Jon B Cooke from Comic Book Artist provided an edited version of an Eisner documentary he has in the works, created with his brother Andrew. It was nice hearing from Will, even if it was only on screen. After that, Paul spoke about Will and then the floor was opened. Over the course of the dozen or more speakers who stood at the podium, we got to hear certain traits that have carried through the years: his cheapness, but he seemed to poke fun at himself for it; his professionalism; and his drive to look forward and push the limits of what can be done with the comics form. Will seemed never to tire of teaching and encouraging people while eschewing acting like a legend. He wanted to be a peer even though the rest of us knew him as first among peers.
I sat towards the rear and listened. I had no great anecdotes to share and my appreciation for Will can be found in the young adult biography.
After the formal talk ended, a portrait of the Spirit doodling a sketch of Will was taken off the easel and at Peter David’s suggestion, got as many of the Big Names in attendance to autograph it so it may be subsequently sold to raise funds for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. I also took the opportunity to introduce myself to Jerry Robinson, thanking him for all his help and support on Batman: Cover to Cover. As we chatted, Byrne also introduced himself and then Jerry asked for our help.
He’s lobbying the Eisner Awards committee to add an award to recognize new writing talent, similar to the Russ Manning Award for artistic talent. Robinson wants it named after the much-neglected Bill Finger. Makes sense to me. So, anyone involved in the Awards, as voter, judge or committee, please speak up and for this notion.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 10:00 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
April 04, 2005
I-Con
I've been attending I-Con since the very first con over two decades ago. I've missed one every now and then but have been a regular guest.
The kids have come to love being at the con, too, since they can role play, game play, watch anime, see friends, hear Irish bands and so on.
We'll be back there this weekend. They just posted the schedule but here are my details for those who might be coming:
Saturday
12pm-1pm SAC 303 "Where's My Flying Car? What Does The Future
Promise?"
2pm-3pm SAC 302 "Ratings & Censorship"
3pm-4pm Javits 100 “Film Previews”
Sunday
10am-11am SAC 305 "Will Trek Survive? In Which Media?"
with Keith DeCandido and Terri Osborne, so a good time will be had by all
12pm-1pm Old Chemistry 144 "The Family Business"
Bob Rozakis, Charles Rozakis, me, Robbie, Kate
1pm-2pm Old Chemistry 144 “What’s Coming up in DC”
Slide show and some Q&A
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:50 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
April 03, 2005
Play Ball
Been busy as a couple of lingering projects finally got settled.
On Friday, a group of Star Trek novelists successfully pulled off an April Fool’s gag on our editor, Marco Palmieri. He appears to have taken it graciously, thankfully.
On Saturday, I spent the day on Long Island participating in the Federal League fantasy baseball auction.
I managed to create the following roster:
Catchers: Mike Lieberthal, Mike
Infielders: Albert Pujols, Luis Castillo, Vinny Castilla, Alex Gonzalez, Dave Wright, Todd Walker
Outfielders: Termel Sledge, Juan Pierre, Mike Cameron, Jim Edmonds, Adam Dunn, Jeff Conine
Pitchers: Roger Clemens, Adam Eaton, Cory Lidle, Brandon Backe, Jon Lieber, Kris Benson, Luke Hudson, Noah Lowry, Brad Halsey
OK, so no closers which may hurt in the stretch but overall I have speed, power and some youth in my pitching. I hope to remain competitive but it’s really up to the now.
And as I write this, the season has officially begun as the Red Sox and Yankees renew the ancient feud.
I’m looking forward to a renewed and more vigorous Mets team. Having recently read Moneyball, I have a much clearer idea that the owners made a huge mistake in tapping Art Howe to be the manager. He’s a follower, not a leader when the team needed just that. Willie Randolph, the new boss, ran a tight and productive spring training. The team played well and seem to have overcome some of the glaring mental errors of the past.
The rotation is suspect with Benson slightly hurt and Zambrano still unproven. Kaz Ishii may enjoy a fresh start on the east coast but I reserve judgment. The infield is vastly improved. The outfield is still developing as Mike Cameron learns a new position and Carlos Beltran adjusts to a new league. The bullpen is also highly suspect especially with guys like Pedro Martinez not known for eating innings. The bench is deeper and younger although I will miss Joe McEwing.
While I’d love to see them make a wild card run, I just want to see better baseball and hope we all get that.
As a new season gets underway, one can only hope that the steroids fiasco can recede a bit as we concentrate on the new boys of summer.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack