A Logic Named Joe

So yesterday I'm listening to an episode of one of my all-time favorite old-time radio series, X MINUS ONE. I'd never heard this particular episode before and I was increasingly amazed as it went on as to just how modern it sounded. A LOGIC NAMED JOE is ostensibly about a computer that develops sentience but it plays like a cautionary tale of the Internet and how things can get out of hand very quickly when all knowledge is at your fingertips. This was in 1955, more than 30 years before the Net as we know it even existed!

A little research showed that the oft-reprinted story by sci-fi pioneer (since 1919) Murray Leinster (originally published under his real name, Will F. Jenkins) had first come out in 1946 when most people couldn't even have imagined a computer, let alone a Worldwide Web!

One of the actors in the X MINUS ONE episode was my friend from the OTR Cons, Bob Hastings. The script they used seemed to be the same one that had been done five years earlier on an episode of DIMENSION X. I'd give you more details of the storyline but this is one of those you really should experience yourself so here's a link to the story's WIKIPEDIA page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Logic_Named_Joe

At the bottom, that page links to both the original short story online as well as to not just one but BOTH radio adaptations! Give "JOE" a try and let me know what you think!

Donations, Anyone?

Been awhile since I reminded one and all about the Paypal donations button on the right. Been awhile since this blog has received any donations, also. It's also been a solid year this week that I've been out of work. Sigh. Either overqualified or underqualified for everything, they say...if they bother to contact me at all. A couple of really good prospects this week but will they even talk with me?

On the positive side, we got all our actual debt paid off before the job crisis hit so all we have is normal operating expenses. On the negative side, no health insurance, little money allotted for extras like movies, new books or new tech.

That said, in this past year, I have started and maintained no less than 4 more blogs (5 actually but the 5th one never went public and has now gone away) as well as this one. For those of you just arriving, those would be YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST PICTURE, HOORAY FOR WALLY WOOD, BRITTANY ROSE AND ME, and GOING FOR BROKE-THE CHRISTA HELM STORY. Since late Summer, I have also worked more or less daily at SUPER I.T.C.H. with a list of daily comics history-related links as well as the occasional other article. You can find links to all of these other blogs on the right. Try 'em! You might like 'em!

In 2009, I worked behind the scenes--transcription, proofreading, editing, fact checking, researching, ghosting, etc. on no less than 5 actual books, 2 of which have recently come out with another due next month and the remaining ones forthcoming. The economy being what it is, most of this was volunteer work for the experience. I enjoy this type of work immensely and am continuing to do it this year already along with expanding into other areas for even more experience. Hopefully, that experience will start to pay, eventually.

I've also continued to indulge my passion for photography this past year with more sessions with my muse Brittany Rose (who I helped become a paid model this year!), my son, my animals and even (thanks to my lovely and understanding wife) an amazing and educational nude photography session (with a model but NOT Brittany Rose--just in case you were wondering). Although I was turned down by one amateur photographer site for some reason, I am a DAMN good photographer!

Add to all that looking for jobs all year long, taking care of the finances and the house (like spending all morning today fixing--cross your fingers--the toilet) as well as jumping through the Unemployment Office's red tape hoops, handling blood pressure and depression issues, dealing with ever-present car problems, breaking up with my long-standing best friend (whom I shall always love and wish nothing but the best for!), helping out another unemployed friend, weathering some Internet intrigue and networking like crazy on Facebook and now (Heaven help me!) Twitter! Overall, I've had a pretty busy and productive year.

That said, if you like what we offer here or at any blogs in the Booksteve family, donations would help! Thanks and thanks for listening.

We now return you to your regular pop culture ramblings. Hey, how 'bout that DOCTOR WHO finale!?

PS-The above pictures are from the LIFE archives and depict a Turkish boy selling renting out well-used (possibly from US servicemen) American comic books from the World War II era.

The Great Anti-War Cartoons--An Unabashed Plug

THE GREAT ANTI-WAR CARTOONS by Craig Yoe is one of the books I assisted with this past summer and I think it's a very important book. Craig has compiled and assembled an impressive and long overdue volume showcasing more than 200 editorial cartoons and other illustrations on the horrors of war. Over the decades (and in some cases centuries) these largely forgotten works have time and again both influenced and reflected the thoughts of the citizens of the world. Ron Cobb, Robert Crumb and Geoffery Moss appear alongside such old-timers as "Ding" Darling, Will Dyson and James Montgomery Flagg and such old, old, old-timers as Honoré Daumier (1808-1879) and David Vinckboons (1576-1633). The Introduction to the volume is supplied appropriately by recent Nobel Peace Prize Winner,Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

The art seen here is not pretty but then no one ever really said art had to be pretty. Art is supposed to make you think and this art, often done as transitory illustrations that probably ended up lining bird cages the next day, made people think in its day. It made people look at different aspects and different perspectives and from different directions at something that has always been with us and sadly still is...war. It even made one laugh with its often grim and blacker than black humor. This work, from all points on the political spectrum, deserves to be resurrected from the ashes both for its historical importance and its still relevant comments on the world.

Since I did some behind the scenes volunteer work on this book, I'm not claiming in any way that this is an unbiased review but if you need one, here's one: http://www.mania.com/great-antiwar-cartoons-review_article_119496.html

THE GREAT ANTI-WAR CARTOONS can be ordered from all the usual sources and can be previewed here: http://yoe.com/antiwar/

If you're on FACEBOOK, check out my growing fan page for THE GREAT ANTI-WAR CARTOONS.

For those of you not familiar with author Craig Yoe, here's his bio: Craig Yoe is the author and designer of over 25 books on popular culture including the Arf books on comics history (Fantgraphics), The Art of Mickey Mouse with an introduction by John Updike (Hyperion), The Art of Barbie (Workman), and many more. Yoe is the former VPGM/Creative Director of The Muppets, working closely with Jim Henson. Yoe was a Vice President Art Director for Disney. He was a Consulting Creative Director of Nickelodeon. Craig is currently an Adjunct Professor of Art at Syracuse University. Yoe has won top industry awards including The Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators, The Addy for his MTV Station I.D. and the Will Eisner Award.

If you're a blogger, please consider blogging about this just-published book. In the history of comics as well as the history of the world and its wars, it's too important to let slip through the cracks...especially now.

Peter Max Funbrella-1970

Nothing says late sixties/early seventies like Peter Max. It looked like I was going to have a chance to meet the great but controversial pop artist a few years ago when the bookstore where I was working was asked to obtain copies of his then-recent coffee table art book for an appearance at a local art gallery. I volunteered to deliver them. Negotiations broke down, however, when the gallery found out they could bypass the bookstore and get a better discount directly from the publisher. Sigh.

I the fifth grade, though, in 1969, I was the envy of my little classmates because of my Peter Max 3 ring binder! No, I don't have it anymore although I did until the great notebook purge of the early 1990's (in which the thirty or so binders I had with old comics in them got too heavy to lug around so I took out the comics and threw away the notebooks). When I ran across this colorful 1970 ad for the Peter Max FUNBRELLA recently, it all came back to me.

New Links!

I noticed (after nearly five years) that I had a lot of blank space on the right side of my blog toward the bottom. To remedy this, I have quadrupled the list of links under the FRIENDS AND FELLOW TRAVELERS heading. The new links are mixed in in a purposely random order. They're an eclectic bunch ranging from writer Scott Edelman's livejournal to former porn star Penny Flame's compelling quest to find her true self to the addicting newspaper comic strips at I Love Comix and my friend Dee's continuing behind-the-scenes story of writing her novel (on which I am privileged to be her editor). Lots of more traditional comics, pop culture and film sites, also. These are just a few of the many great blogs and sites I've been frequenting recently and if your name isn't here it's most likely that I ran out of room. I certainly had NOT run out of deserving blogs!

Precious

This is what it's like around here these days. Our dog Precious (now approximately 12 years old but still thinking he's a puppy...or maybe a kitty) has decided that he will--especially when we aren't looking--eat anything and everything...except dog food. I've tried all kinds of dog food in recent weeks. Even old favorites get a turned up schnozz. The cats, mind you, will eat the dog food but I think that's more because Precious also steals their tuna surprise, generally right from under thir noses between bites. For a big, klutzy dog, he can be pretty light on his feet when he sneaks down to do just that every single frickin' morning! So, when I saw this image from a 1966 YOGI BEAR newspaper strip, I could relate.

Predictions-1950

There are always new predictions for every new year and when they don't come true, it can be disappointing. The whole jet pack thing, for example. Here, from FLASH GORDON COMICS, are some predictions for the future as seen from late 1950.