[441] Just about done

console

< Piro >

"local libraries"

Monday - July 28, 2003

There was a post on slashdot recently called How Do You Get Work Done? I have to say, I not only feel for the guy, but I totally understand. It's amazing how much you can get done when you have no time to do it, but when you have loads of time, you can't seem to find the focus you need to get anything done. Maybe that's why I like overloading myself - if I didn't, nothing would ever get done. The self imposed three-comic per week deadline is like a big gear that smacks me in the ass three times per week to keep me going. Remember that classic Calvin and Hobbes strip, the one that talks about waiting for the right mood to start working on his project? I live by that mantra.

I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at San Diego Comic Con and helped make our visit to the show a rather exhausting success. I was unable to see much beyond the location of our booth, the walk to and from the hotel, and a few food places in the Gaslight district. I wanted to take Seraphim to the zoo, but (sigh) there was no time. But it's like I told a friend in the middle of one particularly harried day - there's nothing I'd rather be doing. Masochism has a weird kind of mechanics to it.

Also, a big thanks to the SDCC folks who helped out, especially the security folks - according to the rules, they are supposed to make me stop doing the things that cause lines/crowds, but they didn't. In stead, they helped manage the line and kept the line under control. Thanks guys. Sorry we were such a pain. Oh, and I've been assured that if I come to ComicCon next year, they'll give me a bigger room for the panel. We squeezed 100 people in there, but unfortunately most people couldn't get in. They DID try to get a bigger room, but there was nothing available.

I also need to put out a big thanks to Greg Dean, Liz and their friends for all the help. I was glad to see lots of people wading thru to talk to Greg and Liz - in fact, the very first fan to stop by the booth was a Real Life fan. :)

I really should write more comprehensive reviews of what happens at cons, but so MUCH happens, that it's hard to remember it all, and my rants tend to be long enough ^^;; Onto other things... my summer isn't over yet.

Coming up real soon - in fact, this week, I will be giving a presentation at the Ypsilanti District Library on the history of Anime and Manga, and a little bit about how I use (and don't use) what I've learned about it in what I do. The presentation is at 6:00 pm wednesday night (July 30th) in the main library over on Whittaker Road in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Stop by if you are in the area, I intend for it to be pretty casual. Just doin my part to support a local library (and check the building out too, it's a really nice facility)

Next on the travel agenda is Otakon in Baltimore, Maryland from August 7-10 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Otakon is one of the biggest anime conventions in the country, and each year I go, I get a little more scared. ^^;; This will be the 2nd and final showing this year of the 'Naze Nani Megatokyo 2.0' show where we break out of the boring old box of plain old question and answer panels and try to make bigger fools of ourselves than we usually do. We have the main programming hall available to us, so filling it to capacity will be a big challenge for MT fans. Like I said, Megatokyo cosplay is encouraged. In fact, the more the better - we might be able to make a easier getaway if no one can spot us in the crowd. We have some special guests lined up (though they may not know it yet). Should be fun (if I can get everything prepared by then @_0).

A few weeks after Otakon I'll be heading off to the great white north and visit our Canadian neighbors in Toronto for the Canadian National Anime Expo. I'll have more info on that as we get closer to it.

Ok, that'll do for now. One thing I will do before I head off to Otakon, and I've been pushing it off for weeks, is start giving little reviews and snippets on anime I am following - most particularly DVDs of note that are being released here in the US. I have a list of 'DVDs I must make every MT fan buy because I say so' :P More on that thursday. :)

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< Dom >

"Sunny San Diego"

Thursday - July 24, 2003

[Dom] - 18:00:00 - [link here]

Sorry this rant is late, but there has been much more lying in wait for me this week than I ever expected.

On the plus side, Hodge-Podge has finished the Webcomic cosplay archive, a project to collect pictures of those fans crazy enough to dress up like their favorite webcomic characters. So far we're collecting pictures of MT, Real Life and Penny Arcade cosplay, since that has been by far the most common. But if you have other cosplay pics you want to send in, feel free to. Oop-Ack exists to pay respect to the madness of fans, so submit your pictures and get recognized! (And as a special note to the family of that Boo cosplayer who showed up on Sunday: A space is being reserved for your little sister)

Anyway, it's time to talk about San Diego. I was only there for a day and a half due to work constraints, but it was still a blast. Besides getting to talk to Brian Michael Bendis and thanking him for his mean, cynical letters columns (no, I didn't thank him for monkey ass, though I should have), I got a nice sketch from Oeming. My Comic-con would have been complete if I'd managed to get autographs from J Michael Straczynski and John Kovalic, but working the MT booth prevented me from doing everything I wanted. As always, though, it was great to meet all the fans, talk to them (especially the ones who didn't know who I was) and just plain hang out.

I know Greg Dean won't let me get away with writing a con report that doesn't include him, so here's the part where I give him the love due to a man who shared the same hot, steamy space with me for the better part of a day. And yes, the person who shouted "Oh my God, you're GREG DEAN!" was me. Seriously, Greg's a great guy to joke around with, and we even played phone tag as if it was still E3. I kind of wish I bought one of his T-shirts, but I was all tapped out from buying a Fruit Friend T from the Penny Arcade booth.

And, of course, the panel was as fun as always. For some reason, Fred likes to book really tiny rooms, even after two years of packing 'em in like sardines. See, he figured that no one would come (as always...) since it was a Sunday afternoon. The problem was that attendance on Sunday was estimated at some 65,000 and at least 600 of those tried to get into a room that seated 120. I apologize to MT fans who were cut off and to the Comic-con staff, who were just as put out as the people who were left out. I ended up giving my seat to a Miho cosplayer, because I figured she needed it more than I did. Those boots can't be comfortable.

Some actual highlights to the panel include the look on Greg's face when someone asked him if he really had a Master Sword (fun fact: he doesn't and is really tired of answering the question. I have a Zelda letter opener, which is the closest either of us will get) and talking about a Piro action figure with kung-fu angst.

Oh, I guess I should explain the kung-fu angst thing. See, someone asked if there would ever be limited edition MT items made. And the answer is an unequivocal no, since MT merchandise is made for people to enjoy, not for people to collect and sell on the secondary market. If someone wants a T-shirt or a plushie, then they should get it, says I. There's no reason to limit the number of people in this world who own MT stuff, since that's against our way of doing business.

Oh. And no, there's no kung-fu angst coming out, though maybe that can turn into a nice, tongue-in-cheek T-shirt... hmm. Ideas bobbing through head... must go.