Tales of the Trickster

Happy Halloween 2007

Egads!  I forgot about Halloween!  HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!  Don't eat too much candy now.  Hope everyone has a great time out there.  Stay safe!!

Radio Radio

Still up to my eyeballs in Choice cards.  Ugh.  Even though book shopping is currently my favorite part of being a librarian, it's still making my eyes cross a little. Currently, I'm taking a little break in order to inform my hordes of raging fans (all 4 or 5 of you, for all the raging y'all do) about a cool new radio show.

A buddy of mine, Lady Lyzette the Magnificent Multi-Tasking Mistress (that's not really her title, but it should be), is starting an exciting new endeavor.  She is taking on the world of internet radio!  I can't wait to hear her first episode.  You all should give her a listen this Friday.  You should also check out her blog, because she's also a photographer, and sometimes posts cool pics if you're very lucky.  Since I'm lazy and a little headachey, I'm going to quote her MySpace bulletin at you rather than think of something clever to say about it.  She's clever enough for the both of us anyway:

...check out my new radio show this Friday on www.tunesradio.net! "This Independent World" with Lyzette H.M. will be debuting at 10PM EST, your hour of non-corporate power, your source for news, reviews, and interviews with Independent label musicians, Independent press comic books, and Underground artists/performers. The new show kicks off with an interview with my favorite client, Thee Reverend Battle and Thee Gospel Ov Memetic Press. If you have any questions you want me to ask Mr. Battle about what it's like to run an Independent comic book title, e-mail them to me here.

If you want me to feature your band/comic book/press/label/art/artistry, e-mail me here and tell me why you want Pictor Photography and Publicity to raise your Independent praises to the masses! There are a few of you I'll be contacting to invite onto my show, so TUNE IN FRIDAY AND STAY TUNED!

There you have it.  Guerrilla pop culture for the masses.  Have fun with it.  In the meantime, I'll be popping a couple of Tylenol for my poor lil' head and gently humming Elvis Costello tunes to myself.

Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think that it's treason
So you had better do as you are told
You better listen to the radio

Hug Your Librarian Today

I'm taking a break from my collection development (a.k.a. "book shopping for my library"), so I decided to share some time with my online friends.  That would be y'all, in case you were wondering.  In any case, I'm a bit stuck on a particular set of books, so I'm going to bore you with a little venting session.  You don't like it, too bad.  My blog.  Nyah.

I was once asked by someone why I would need a masters degree in stamping books.  Truth be told, I don't stamp books anymore.  The people who do stamp books don't stamp books anymore.  They have computers spit out these cute little slips of paper that you can stick in your book and use as bookmarks.  I think the reasoning behind that is to save time at the checkout line, but it doesn't work because you spend the time you would have used in stamping all those books explaining to the irate patron why we don't use stamps anymore. 

But that's neither here nor there.  I'd like to think I went to library school for a reason.  A lot of people think librarians spend their days reading books and occasionally pointing people in the direction of the book they are looking for.  Sadly, no.  I wish I was allowed to read all day.  I don't.  I went to library school so that I can learn how to help other people learn.  I also went to learn how to (as the mantra of all libraries and library science classes goes) "meet the needs of the users."  For those of you who get all your information on librarians through porn, I'm sad to say (not really) that it doesn't mean what you think it means.  "Meeting the needs of the users" is Librarianspeak for having to try and figure out what library users need before they realize they need it.  A bit difficult at times, especially if you knew the kind of users we had to deal with daily.  Sometimes those users are schizophrenic and pull knives on poor public librarians.  Never happened to me, thank goodness, but it did happen to a former co-worker of mine.  Just keep that in mind before you fuss about your fines is all I'm saying.  Sometimes those users do things in libraries that shouldn't be done in libraries, or in public for that matter.  Very gross things.  Just keep that in mind before you use the computers at your local library, and bring a handiwipe, is all I'm saying. 

But again, that's neither here nor there.

Today, I'm choosing books for the Reference section (since I'm the Reference Librarian), and for the English and Fine Arts sections.  It's a pretty big stack.  We use these things called Choice cards to help the process along.  A Choice card is a review of a particular book on a little square of paper.  If we like the book and think it's a fit, we put that card on the "yes" pile and hand it to our Collection Development Librarian so that she can take our recommendations into account and choose all the books we need to buy within our small budget.  (Not all libraries do this, but that's how we do it for now.)  It's usually not as boring as it sounds, but it can be if you're stuck with a subject you aren't interested in.  Thankfully, I like the job, even when I have to ask a second opinion on a particular set of books because I'm not sure if we have the budget to support the Encyclopedia of Asian Theater, as much as I'd love to include it.  Why do I need a second opinion for one lousy two-volume encyclopedia?  Because I have to take a bunch of things into consideration for every book we choose, and after a huge stack of these things, my eyes start to cross and my brain short circuits.

Does our (brand new and very tiny) drama department go in-depth into theater history and/or theater traditions of other cultures?   Do they discuss things like kabuki and puppet theater?  If so, how much so?  Enough to require a $225 set of encyclopedias?  Does our collection already have a reference book on Asian theater?  What do other reviewers say about the book?  (Important to consider because of SACS requirements.  If you don't think that's important, you've obviously never been around a school undergoing a SACS review.  Talk about snippy teachers.)  What does our budget look like, and do we have books more relevant to our curriculum in line for purchase?  Am I biased in wanting this book because I am fascinated by all things Japanese?

At this point, my head hurts a little, so I call another librarian for backup.  She pretty much runs through the whole debate with me all over again.  The card is now firmly and decisively on the "maybe" pile until I can talk to someone in the communications department (where the drama department chair is).  So much behind-the-scenes debating over a single encyclopedia, when the chances of any of our students (the same students who don't even know what a catalog is, much less how to use it) even knowing that it's there are pretty damn slim.  *Sigh!*  And this is why you should hug librarian today.  If you don't know one, find a guy named Sisyphus.  We like to help him roll that rock uphill from time to time.

You Know, We Do This in Real Life Too...

So my friend Paris has a blog.  You remember me talking about Paris.  He has this cool indy comic called  After, and runs a comic label called Memetic Press.  Paris and I have known each other since college, and though I love the guy to pieces, we argue a lot.   A lot.  We've been arguing, quite literally, since the first day we met face-to-face, and we haven't stopped since.  Not all-out fights mind you, but the kind of testy bickering only friends who have known each other a long time and who will never change their minds about certain things can have.  He's a smart guy, but we are sort of on opposite ends when it comes to a good many things.  And I'll admit it, sometimes I like to push his buttons when I'm bored.  I'm sure he'll admit to doing the same with me.  If he doesn't admit it, he's a great big liar. Don't believe him.

Paris has gone and written a post in his blog about women in comics.  As usual, I agree with some things, but feel the need to argue over some details.  Now, go read the post.  I'll wait.  Read it?  Good.  Here's what I think.

"This can be seen reflected in the nature of virtually every female comic book character conceived prior to about the late Silver Age, with the notable exception of the good Dr. Marston’s original “girl-on-girl bondage action” treatment of Wonder Woman. Not entirely progressive in everyone’s eyes perhaps, but Princess Diana certainly wasn’t in the kitchen chilling anyones martini in time for them to get off work."

How about coffee?  Don't forget, the Amazon princess who could kick the asses of probably anyone on the JSA at the time was also their secretary.  There's nothing wrong with being a secretary.  I used to be a secretary.  But she was, perhaps, a smidge overqualified for the job, yes?  Sure it was a sign of the times, but that sign stinks. 

"Secondly, this is a reality that is CHANGING, like every other depiction of females in popular entertainment that I can think of. It just seems to be happening in mainstream comic books at a much slower rate, but so are a lot of progressions quite frankly, and analyzing THAT particular stagnation could fill a fucking book, let alone another blog entry."

This reality is changing.  Well done American Society.  Do you know why it's changing?  Because nitpicky, uppity females are hollering about it on a daily basis.  Yeah, fangirls can be pretty annoying, but sometimes we make good points.  And sometimes extreme hollering is the only hollering anyone will take notice of.

"Ladies, you want treatments of women in comic books that are insightful, respectful, interesting and realistic? Create some. Oh, and buy the ones that already are."

A fantastic idea, and you are not the first to point it out.  More women are, in fact, writing and creating comics.  You know a few of them, myself included.  (*Shameless plug, shameless plug.* )  However, sometimes a woman has already bought a she knows and loves, with a character she can truly identify with, and all of a sudden for no good reason other than the writer was too lazy to come up with a better storyline, that character gets jammed head first into a refrigerator?  That still happens more often than I'd like, and I feel we still need to point it out when it does.  (Some will point it out more loudly than others perhaps, but it still should be pointed out.)

"Quick quiz: Other than Foxy Brown, Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley, and Geena Davis in The Long Kiss Goodnight, name ONE female lead in an action movie prior to about the late 1990s. Seriously, take your time with it. Now, just for shits and giggles, think about the trend Tarantino started with the Kill Bill films."

Kill Bill? Kill Bill?!?  You're going to give Tarantino credit for something that is a direct result of the women's movement in the 60's and 70's?  No way buddy.  I'd give credit to the current surge of female action heroes to Second Wave and Third Wave feminists (however you feel about the labels) more than I would Tarantino for goodness sakes.  The commercial success of movies like Alien and Star Wars, not to mention television shows like Wonder Woman, The Bionic Woman, and Charlie's Angels have more to do with why Mila Jovavich is kicking zombie ass on screen than Tarantino.  This "current trend" as you call it started way before Kill Bill.  Don't get me wrong, I like Kill Bill, but pop culture changed because society changed, and society changed because, whether you agree with their politics or not, feminists changed it.  That was a collective voice arguing for a long, long time.  I agree it takes awhile, but come on.  Credit where it's due, yeah?

In any case, I know Paris and I will probably discuss this topic more in depth sometime later on, as is often the case with topics like these.  In the meantime, I'm going to get to work on my own comic, and let him work on his.  And for those of you who haven't read After yet, you should.  For those who have and are patiently waiting for another issue, I'm promised a second issue very soon.  (Right Paris? *Glares*)  In it, you'll get to read a pretty damn cool character by the name of Tempest that definitely meets my "cool female comic character" standard.  That is, if he hasn't beheaded her and dumped her in a major appliance already.

Cool List on Wikipedia

Look at what I found?  This!  Wikipdedia strikes again.  You would think that this list would take away the need for mine.  Nay, I say.  I'm keeping my own list of the women in the comics industry because they are the gals I really like.  It's my blog and I can do that if I want to.  Still, I'm glad to see this list on the Wiki.  It's a good way to try out some new talents I haven't been exposed to yet. Besides, it kind of inspires me to see so many names on that list.  That may sound silly, but it's true.  Makes me feel good about my own project, like I'm not alone.  Anyone else have any suggestions for me?  I'll give them a shot next time I head to the comic book store. 

Okay, show of hands.  How many of you out there are working on creative projects?  Not just the chicks, all of you.  Let me know who you are and tell me all about your project.  I love to hear about what people are working on.

Good Deeds and Wonder Woman

Yay for Wonder Woman!  Yay for comics!  Yay for Wonder Woman Day II, a benefit for domestic violence shelters in New Jersey and Oregon. 

It's nice to see the comic book world getting involved in a noble cause.  After all, superheroes do good deeds, right?  And Wonder Woman is an icon many people associate with good-deedery.  (Like many girls of my generation, I ran around in Wonder Woman underoos when I was a wee tyke because I saw her on TV and thought she was the coolest, most beautiful superwoman EVAR.)  I'm a big fan of do-goodingness and throwing some positivity back out into the world, so I think it's a fantastic idea.  Also, I will now take the time to shamelessly plug some of my other favorite charities, listed for your convenience on the right side of this blog.

After reading this news, I have to say I'm even more stoked about reading my first Wonder Woman comic in years.  I haven't read Gail Simone's version of the ass-kicking Amazon yet, but I've been looking forward to it.  I'll admit, I haven't read much by Simone when it comes to her comics.  That's in no way a slam against her, since I have enjoyed what she's written about comics a great deal.  I just don't really care much for superhero comics anymore (with a few exceptions), and I've never been much of a DC fan.  I did pick up Birds of Prey:  Sensei and Student a few months back just to see how she wrote comics-wise, and I fell in love with her treatment of Wonder Woman.  Simone's version was a character that spoke of quiet strength, wisdom, and power.  I told myself after reading Sensei and Student that if Simone ever wrote the character on a regular run, I'd have to give it a shot.  Sure enough, she announced on YABS shortly after that she'd be taking over.   Now I'll have to pick up a DC superhero title, and that's just bad for my snotty, elitist, holier-than-thou fangirl reputation.  You know how uppity we can be. 

Vocabulary: Discombobulate

Discombobulate - (dis·com·bob·u·late) (dĭs'kəm-bŏb'yə-lāt') (verb) - to confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate.

As in:

I was late to work today, almost got into a car wreck, and can't seem to get my new work schedule straight.  I'm feeling a little discombobulated.

I Need an Editor

I really do need an editor.  I'm trying to get back into the writing thing, but it's hard to gain perspective on it.  I don't really have anyone to read my work and give me a thoughtful analysis of plot, structure, characterization, and--let's face it--spelling and grammar.  I used to think I could edit my own stuff, but that's just not realistic.  I mean, look at Anne Rice for goodness sakes.  Interview With the Vampire was a work of art, then she starts editing herself, and the woman loses her damn mind. 

It was so much easier when I was taking creative writing classes in college.  I mean, the professor is pretty much forced to give you feedback then.  What's a girl to do?  I don't suppose any of you guys out there know of a good editor who will look over a comic script for...um...let's see...(*checks her wallet*)...free? 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Life has a cruel sort of humor about it sometimes.  On the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a family member of ours was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It seems impolite to discuss people I know on a blog without their permission, so I'm just going to call her Aunt B.  If you know her, you already know the news and who I'm talking about anyway. 

Before we got the news last week, I never paid much attention to the pink ribbons.  All of a sudden it seems a crisis of monumental importance.  Funny how a symbol can change it's meaning when something makes it personal.  Aunt B is more than our aunt, she's one of our best friends.  She's a tough lady, and a good woman.  When we saw her this past weekend, she had a table full of broccoli casserole in the works.  She said that she was worried that she'd be too sick to make it for Thanksgiving this year, so she wanted to get a jump on it and stick it in the freezer.  She had already made the potato casserole for Christmas.  That's just the kind of person she is, always thinking of other people.  She's an amazing woman who is nothing short of wonderful.  She doesn't deserve this.  Who does, right?

So all of you out there reading this, please please please don't forget to get checked.  Ladies, check yourself every month, and don't be a dodo (like me) and miss your yearly exam.  (Don't worry, I've de-dodoized myself and made an appointment.)  Guys, remind your mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, extended family members, and friends to get checked.  Let's save the ta-tas people.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Click Here! (The Breast Cancer Site)

Chicks and Comics Part III

So, I was randomly scanning through When Fangirls Attack yesterday (a fun site to flip through when you're bored, by the way), and came across this little gem that I just had to share with my comic book loving friends.  It seems this clever, clever fangirl, Bellatrys, has deciced to put her paintbrush where her mouth is and actually show what we've been complaining about all this time by doing a little role reversing with comic book covers.  Here's the one that really got me.

    

The first is the original cover, the second is the cover she did.  I think I like the second one better.  I never knew Wolverine could look so good (or so well-arranged) after getting his ass clocked by a Sentinel.  I hope Bellatrys does more covers like this, because it would be a fun series to keep an eye on.  It makes me wish I could draw.  What a hoot it would be to do some creative switching with the covers in my comic book collection.  Well done!