7/29/04 10:15 AM: I accidentally stayed up all night, but I hope it will help me get some business done. Argh.

NERD SPRING BREAK: Every other person at Comicon should be killed. God it was big. It started to dominate this blog, so I chopped it off like a salamander's tail and it grew into another blog. I go on about it here.

THE YEAR OF THE BASTARD: So I had the most scary conversation in the world with Krista, one of the waitresses at Mel's Drive In, where I work. She's an avowed Republican, and is so violently ill-informed as to make me shudder. Even worse, she believes (or drunkely alleged to) that if somebody isn't using their land and/or resources to what she feels is right, the government has the right to go kill them and take it away (I used the example of Native Americans, the Saudis with oil and more). And people wonder why I don't vote.

Still, Barack Obama is the real thing. Do not let the smooth taste fool you. This guy is impressive.

So I'm absentmindedly looking at the elections this year. the LA Mayor's race is a joke, with Bernard Parks convinced that he is somebody (he's not), Jimmy Hahn at the end of his political rope, and the rest of the scrubs looking for scraps. Kerry and Bush, Dull and Dumber, locked in a virtual dead heat. Did you have any idea how much power a governor holds sway over electoral and popular voting? Ask me what state got a loco, high profile Republican governor in time for the presidential elections? It ain't New Hampshire. Bet on the incumbent in a close race, especially when he's been appointed before. It all makes me wanna stay in bed.

SHAMBLES: My laptop bag and duffel sit just outside the door. A pile of napkins, paper plates and laundry sits near the folding partition. Convention schedules, comic books, and business cards are everywhere, on the couch and floor around it. My apartment is a mess. Plus, still haven't had time to get the last of the dog hair from between the seats, and closer examination still shows icky goo and hair in places I saw them "clean" at Sunshine Car Wash. I'm gonna have to go through that thing like a bat outta hell. Ack. More work than I wanna do.

DOUBLE YOUR IPOD: I got an RF module installed on my car, which changes 88.7 FM to an input for my iPod. I got it installed at the same place that did my alarm. Anyway, some Russian guy says, "wanna buy a iPod?" while I'm sitting there. 15 GB, $150. "I already have Dell music player," he explains, "and this is just extra now for me, gift from girlfriend." The thing is brand new. I go for it. That makes 35GB of iPod for a grand total of about $350, $50 of which was donated to me. Can't beat that with a bat. It also had tons of music I liked, so I am using the 15Gb and keeping the 20 GB as a backup or possible finance source in really rough times.

EUREKA: While watching Kilborn last night, I saw a group called The Polyphonic Spree, singing an amazing song called "Hold Me Now." Their music is strangely appealing as it's wildly inspirational. I've been told recently that I'm a closet optimist (more on that in "Fanmail" below), so maybe that's part of it peeking its head out of the rubble.

Likewise, i discovered G-Dep's "Everyday" and K-os' "B-Boy Stance" on MTV's urban channel while at a friend's house watching cable, which amazed me because I didn't think MTV played music anymore. Finally, there's a song called "no one comes close" by Deuce on my 20Gb iPod which I cannot Google nor place, so I'm just gonna steal it outright and write a song to go over it. Take this as you will. I have no shame.

FANMAIL: I've been trading emails with this guy Chinedum Ofoegbu, who stumbled on The Crown while looking for ancient martial arts online. Guess those meta tags worked. Anyhoo, he's super enthusiastic and has asked a ton of questions, which was cool and got me all interested again. I'm gonna start back on the Crown in December 2004, which will be fun as I start my new IDW comic book (my big San Diego annoncement, look for me in August 2005, it seems) in January. It's nice to think your stuff isn't complete crap.

VILLAGE PEOPLE: Tuesday night I played hookie from work and went to see The Village with my old college pal Kyle Jones, now (god help us) registrar for USC's Law School. I expect nothing good to come from that. Anyway, it has a twist (which I won't reveal), and it's solidly okay. Kyle said he knew the twist all the way back from the commercials. I laughed at the twist, but I am an evil man. Your mileage may vary.

CLOSER TO MY DREAMS: Waiting on my CBR check is making this week a bit tight, but manageable. I'd like to get a new iPod case, so I can better work with it in the car, and maybe a wired remote, but I am honest when I tell people, "I can't complain." Choosing evil and self has worked out well for me, and I go into the tail end of the year with renewed vigor.