A different kind of 'contest': CBLDF Donations

Every pledge drive, our local NPR station has a 'new member challenge': if 10 people become new members for a certain amount over the course of an hour, a local business will match that donation.



I'm now making a similar offer, but for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF).



For the period between now and December 24, if 10 people make first time donations of $25 to the CBLDF, I will donate $250 to CBLDF.



(To donate, go to the CBLDF Website and click on the link across the top that says 'donations').



Just email me the confirmation email that you get from CBLDF when you make your donation. I'll post again once the goal has been met. (Please mention in your email if it's okay to identify you, or if you'd prefer to remain anonymous.)



(Of course, if you've previously donated to CBLDF I encourage you to do so again, but the purpose here is to drum up new support.)



From the CBLDF site: "The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community."

Owly Contest

Johanna of Cognitive Dissonance is running a contest where you could win a copy of Andy Runton's Owly. Go check it out. (I have yet to read Owly, but I've heard enough good things that I'll probably get it at some point.)

Christmas Covers - December 17

For each day of December until Christmas I'm featuring a Comic Cover Advent Calendar. Just move your mouse over the image to reveal today's special Holiday comic cover. Click on the image to get a larger version from GCD.

From 2001's Superman #165, this cover from artists Ed McGuinness & Cam Kennedy depicts Clark & Lois trying to decide which of their special edition JLA ornaments to hang on their tree.

Just 8 more 'get-ups' until Santa!

(You can find more comic cover Advent calendars at Polite Dissent and Raw Feed.)

The Page 123 Meme

Meme from Jen Contino, via The Johnny Bacardi Show



1. Grab the nearest book.

2. Open the book to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.

5. Don't search around and look for the "coolest" book you can find. Do what's actually next to you.





Thomas, Douglas. (2002). Hacker Culture. Minneapolis: Universty of Minnesota Press.

In 1988, a hacker who went by the handle "The Prophet" entered a BellSouth computer system and downloaded a file that documented improvements in the 911 emergency services that were soon to be implemented.

Christmas Covers - December 16

For each day of December until Christmas I'm featuring a Comic Cover Advent Calendar. Just move your mouse over the image to reveal today's special Holiday comic cover. Click on the image to get a larger version from GCD.



Today's cover is 1947's Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #76. We once again have a cover by the legendary Walt Kelly, this time depicting those lovable scamps Huey, Duey & Louie attempting to help their Unca Donald fill-in for Santa.



Just 9 more 'get-ups' until Santa!



(You can find more comic cover Advent calendars at Polite Dissent and Raw Feed.)

Christmas Covers - December 15

For each day of December until Christmas I'm featuring a Comic Cover Advent Calendar. Just move your mouse over the image to reveal today's special Holiday comic cover. Click on the image to get a larger version from GCD.

Today's cover is 1948's Batman #45. Artist Win Mortimer shows that even when Batman & Robin have been transformed into hideous half-snake creatures, they can still find the time to take a break from their busy crime-fighting schedule to deliver presents to upper-middle class suburban families. (I guess when you're Billionaire Bruce Wayne, just about everybody is less fortunate than you.)

Just 10 more 'get-ups' until Santa!

(You can find more comic cover Advent calendars at Polite Dissent and Raw Feed.)

Christmas Mix

Gordon at Blog THIS, Pal! wants to start a meme for Christmas Music mixes, and I'm more than happy to oblige.



Here then is my personal in-the-car Christmas 2004 mix:



Disc 1



1 Christmas Time Is Here - Ivy

2 O Come All Ye Faithful - Jeremy Camp

3 Emmanuel - Alathea

4 Little Drummer Boy - Martha's Trouble

5 Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Martina Sorbara

6 I'll Be Home for Christmas - Nickel Creek

7 Frosty the Snowman - Fiona Apple

8 A New York Christmas - Rob Thomas

9 O Holy Night - Avril Lavigne & Chantal Kreviazuk

10 Some Children See Him - Alice Tatum

11 Maybe This Christmas - Ron Sexsmith

12 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Belle and Sebastian

13 It Came Upon Midnight Clear - Sixpence None The Richer

14 Carol of the Bells - The Calling

15 Christ Child's Lullaby - Kathy Mattea

16 Holy Emmanuel - Terry Scott Taylor

17 Aspen Glow - Love Spirals

18 It's Christmas Eve - Barbara Bailey Hutchison

19 This Christmas - Ashanti

20 Silver Bells - Rockapella

21 Red Lights (Merry Christmas) - Dreams So Real

22 Christmas for Cowboys - Jars of Clay

23 Same Old Christmas - Hilary Duff & Haylie Duff

24 Last Christmas - Sarge





Disc 2



1 This Time of Year - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

2 Baby, It's Cold Outside - Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey

3 I Can't Wait for Christmas - Mindi Abair

4 Glad It's Christmastime - Universal Honey

5 Elf's Lament - Barenaked Ladies feat. Michael Bublé

6 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Chris Isaak

7 Donde Esta Santa Claus? - Guster

8 Christmas - Cowboy & Spin Girl, Donna Esposito & Frank Bednash

9 Family Christmas - Lizzie West

10 Christmas - Leona Naess

11 The Christmas Song - The Ravonettes

12 The Christmas Song - Drea Ryding

13 The Holly and the Ivy - Iberis

14 Do You Hear What I Hear - Copeland

15 Joy to the World - Vanessa Williams & Brian McKnight

16 Little Drummer Girl - Alicia Keys

17 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Rascal Flatts

18 The Christmas Shoes - 3 of Hearts

19 Christmas Song - Lizanne Knott

20 Mr. Christmas - Joe Diffie

21 Christmas Wish - NRBQ

22 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Kortney Kayle

23 Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Red Baron Remix) - Berlin Symphony Orchestra

24 Angels We Have Heard on High - Da'dra Crawford, Carl Marsh, Monroe Jones, Nee-C Walls