"In a stunning decision, the heirs of Jerry Siegel, co-creator of Superman, have been granted the copyright to Action Comics Vol. 1."

And, here's more from uncivilsociety.org

Q: If there are so many unresolved questions, why does this ruling matter?

A: This is a formal declaration by a U.S. court that the Siegels have regained copyright interest in Superman. However limited, it is a historic ruling, in itself a vindication of the family's and fellow creators' decades-long struggle to receive legal recognition of Siegel and Shuster's role in creating the character. Even if the Siegels settle with DC & co., they will do so with the satisfaction of knowing that a court had finally recognized Jerry's work.

The outcome strikes a chord with our fundamental sense of justice--as Journalista posted as I was writing this paragraph, "[s]ometimes the good guys do in fact win." That people feel this way is not surprising. Siegel and Shuster's creation generated an immense amount of wealth; it only seems fair that for them to benefit. Although some may object that it's too late--Siegel and Shuster have passed on--we should note that many creators work in part to provide a legacy for their families.

Last but not least, in a world where people all too often feel like cogs in a corporate machine, this ruling serves as a potent affirmation of the human spirit.

a truly impressive awareness test:http://www.dothetest.co.uk/

this was made in england, but the message is just as applicable here, especially in light of a recent local tragedy

via wanderingaengus

My friend Rina used to do a couple of great comic strips for the University of Michigan Business School. Since biz school is kind of an exotic world to me, it's fun to gain some insight via these strips and the accompanying annotations. Rina and her collaborators do a nice job in guiding you through the students' collective experience with a fine sense of humor about the whole thing.






I'd love to see more comics like these that focus on people's schooling, like this and Art School Confidential by Dan Clowes, but with medical schools, law schools, culinary academy, etc.

When I tell people about last month's jury duty experience at Superior Court in San Jose, they're surprised at how entertaining and inspiring it was. Isn't jury duty rather boring? Didn't it waste your time? Well, yeah, some of the testimony was incredibly dull, since the questions have to be asked in that precise, lawful, fact-by-fact manner. More boring is the actual jury selection process, which takes a while. During the trial itself, some particular witnesses' testimony was absolute nonsense, and some details they gave directly contradicted previous statements made to the police. This was quite frustrating.

But overall, I'm really happy I was in that particular courtroom at that time. It didn't hurt that the whole thing didn't take more than a few days out of our lives, instead of an inconveniently longer trial.

In order to try to convey some of the surrealism of the super-official proceedings (this is a courtroom after all!) contrasted with certain moments of sheer amusement, I will write about the experience using the Seven Deadly Sins as my rubric. This is not to make light of the case itself at all, which again, was a serious matter with strong allegations. From my and at least a few other jurors' perspectives, however, we gained a lot of knowledge and delight from the whole thing, and I mean to concentrate on that and keep you engaged with the Deadly Sins gimmick.

( Read More )

"VICTIMS" a solo exhibit by Barron Storey opens at Gallery AD this Friday.
366 So. First Street
San Jose, CA 95113



Artist's Reception: First Friday, February 1, 2008
8 p.m. 'til late • free and open to the public
Music by Nate Nothing
Exhibit ends: March 15th, 2008


If you've been lurking on my journal, -- and I think there's a few of you although I don't get many comments except from people I know -- so it was touching to get a comment by one new person I didn't know when Kiki passed away -- anyway, if you know me, you may have heard me sing Barron Storey's praises before. But on the occasion of his newest show, I just wanted to share a few words about him.



Barron is one of the most focused, wisest, and most interesting human beings and teachers I've met. He's one of the main reasons I went back to school at SJSU, where I'd heard he was going to be teaching. As a longtime comics fan, his reputation for teaching some of my favorite comics artists preceded him. And he didn't disappoint.

His class was extremely challenging, and deeply memorable. I loved that he brought his journals to class for us to check out. I loved that leaving his class you were armed with new techniques and knowledge. His teaching wove such topics as Shakespeare, motorcycle-riding, and Amazon animal skull graveyards.

Even if I were feeling a little sluggish before the 6:30 to 9:30 classes, Tuesdays and Thursdays, his booming, dramatic voice and incredible storytelling always woke me right up, like a tonic.

So, Barron, you're the raddest, and congratulations on the new show, which I know will be stunning.

Listen to the InkStuds interview with Barron

Also see Jeff Avila's fine web tribute to Barron

VIA Barron Storey's mentioning her in this Artiscopic interview I found (First I'd ever heard of her)

VIA a mass email from Gallery AD and Barron about Barron's New Show Opening this Friday. "VICTIMS."

I'm on a jury until the end of next week. Can't discuss the case until it's over. This is the second time I've been selected; the first time was a scant year-and-a-half ago, so everything -- lining up to get inside the Hall of Justice to the so-so cafeteria food -- seems really familiar.

The other case I was a part of was neither a civil or criminal trial. We had to decide whether or not a convicted pedophile was ready to finish treatment for his mental illness outside of the state-run facility at Atascadero. We decided that he wasn't ready, especially after the star witness on his behalf, a doctor at the hospital, testified that although he was a model resident, he wasn't ready. That was really easy.

I also just got back from a terrific weekend in LA with a bunch of friends: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26812&l=84577&id=523356936

Shopping + Eating + Hanging out with good friends + Rock Banding = Awesomeness!!! This is my new motto.

Two of my favorite songs mashed together. I prefer the originals on their own, but if this played at a club like Medjool, I'd probably lose my s***

In the past few days, I had noticed Kiki breathing more heavily and a bit spasmodically. She also seemed unusually lumpy with excess fluid throughout her body. For the last several months, she had nightly IV injections with Lactated Ringers fluids, to assist her poorly-functioning kidneys. So I thought the fluids might have stopped getting absorbed into her body. Another sign of failing health was her sudden incontinence -- she'd peed while getting the fluids the night before, and yesterday she'd been trailing bits of feces on the carpet. Really bad indicators, obviously.

This morning, I took her to see the doctor at AKAL Animal Hospital for a checkup. When we got into the room, Kiki was panting heavily, and Dr. Chahal seemed worried for her as he checked her out. The x-rays confirmed his suspicions: her heart was failing, and it was actually her heart fluids that were filling up her lungs and around her organs, and throughout her body. Although it would've been possible to drain the fluids, it would only be a very temporary fix. The best option was to put her down.

I phoned Thomas and Amy with the sad news, and they offered their condolences, as did my buddy Omar. Only yesterday I had mentioned to Omar and Tony how much I loved Kiki, how dear she was to me, and how much I would miss her when she was gone; I didn't think it'd be so soon that I'd have to say goodbye. I thought we'd have another half-year to a year together at least.

Doan stopped by to help me through the process. As Kiki got some oxygen therapy to help her breathe easier in her final minutes, I told her how much I loved her, petted her, kissed her on her head, and said goodbye. Thomas was on the phone with me while this was taking place. He had been the one to originally adopt Kiki, 12 years ago, a lifetime ago for us. I had been lucky enough to have taken care of her for most of her life. Although when we originally got her, I was tremendously allergic around cats, I somehow got used to her.

Kiki didn't actually take the lethal injection. After I'd signed the paperwork for the cremation plans, and entered the room, she'd already passed away on her own. "Natural causes," as they say. I don't remember seeing her last breath. She seemed to have already let go, and as the doctor was getting ready to give her the shot, even he seemed a bit surprised. This was about 12 PM. Doan and I wished we'd been able to see her pass, but that's okay, that she left us before we were totally expecting it. She deserved to be free from her pain.

It all seemed to happen so fast, even as I tried to slow down the experience so I could process it. The staff at the hospital were universally wonderful, and I thank them for being so kind and thoughtful in helping us take care of our beloved cat.



Sketchbook Drawings, 2003.


September 2007.



August 2007.


I will miss her beautiful kitten face and green eyes.

I will miss her walking past my legs and brushing against them.

I will miss coming home and having her greet me at the door.

I will miss her meowing and the pat-pat-pat sound her front paws made as she rubbed against the edges of cardboard boxes.

I will miss cradling her to my room to give her the nightly IV shots.

I will miss how she would want to go outside any chance she could get.

I will miss her sitting on top of my mouse pad while I worked on the computer, and her annoying me by getting in front of the monitor.

I will miss how she rested on my lap as I watched television.

I will miss playing with her. Even in her old age, she'd still want to play and chase string.

I will miss how she learned even in old age, how to "shake hands" for treats.

I will miss how she slept on my chest and purred through the night, and waking up to her on the bed, sometimes still on my chest.



Kiki Tran: July 31, 1995 - December 31, 2007

I love you, Kiki. Thanks for keeping us company and growing older with us. We were so lucky to have you in our lives.

In one of Barron Storey's journals, he'd written a quote by Dave McKean, and I'm paraphrasing: "Batman is a rich guy who dresses up and beats up poor people." This came to mind while watching this...from what I can gather, it seems like the dude had it coming, but still.

Burgess Meredith rocks.


While we're at it, I think I've had this dream:

holy toledo ohio, this andy rementer guy is out of control! very cool stuff

My favorites songs off the album are are Nude, All I Need and House of Cards.

Saw the SF Moma show recently and was just in love with how effortless, intimate, resonant, and beautiful a lot of these are in person. Really sweet choices in arranging his elements, like you could tell he cared a lot, but not so much that he overworked it. On the page they look kinda cool, but the three-dimensional objects are where it's at for sure.

Check it out if you can, the show closes January 6. i'll probably be heading back again sometime.

It was an icy day.
We buried the cat,
then took her box
and set fire to it
in the back yard.
Those fleas that escaped
earth and fire
died by the cold.