Recent Entries

batch on parade

I went on a research run a while back and learned that the superhero "trunks over tights" look -- Superman, Batman, Cyclops, etc. -- was inherited from circus strongmen. They'd go out of their way to double-wrap themselves in order to deemphasize their groinological regions, particularly when they were flexing. If you go back and look at old photos, it makes sense, and you can also see how Seigel and Shuster might've seized upon it as an inspiration.

After going to Emerald City Comic Con for the next two days, it is wisdom that I think many cosplaying men ought to recognize, as way too many of these guys showed up as Omni-Man or something and had their whole grundles out and rockin'. I'm sure for a few of them, that was the point, but more often it appeared to be a simple lack of foresight.

rules of the game

I've been thinking lately about a few different conversations I had about 15 to 20 years ago.

Back then, I floated around several websites and companies as an ersatz copy editor. It was typically by virtue of being the only one who cared to do so. In the land of the blind, the guy who can identify a comma splice is king.

That put me in contact with several different people who wanted to write professionally, but who didn't want to learn how to use English. It didn't matter if their entire article was a single paragraph, or they didn't use any punctuation besides ellipses, or they frequently misused words: the important thing, they'd argue, is that you understood their point.

Invariably, I'd have to explain to them that the guidelines for written English were not in place because editors enjoy pissing people off with rules. They're there for the purpose of efficient communication. You have to learn how the language works first before you can break it.

(It's an underrated part of the argument that writers have to read. 90% of my English skills come from reading every book I could when I was a kid. I can't name a lot of the individual rules of syntax or grammar off the top of my head, but I've read 5,000 professionally edited books, so I know when a sentence doesn't look right.)

That strikes me as being roughly analogous to the DOGE issue, or to most of the "disruptors" out of Silicon Valley. In most industries I've ever known, the rules aren't just there to slow your roll. They were created in response to problems. Get rid of the rule, and the problem comes back.

the new old deal

I'm already back to the old rules: don't look at the news. Ignore it all. Go about your daily routine, get something done, get caught up later if at all. If I slow down long enough to find out what's happening in the world today, I'll instantly get furious and sad and depressed all at once. My brain vapor-locks. All plans for the day are done; the agenda is now either escapism or doomscrolling. I can't afford that. Secure your own oxygen mask first.

It's an option I have. I'm not under direct attack on the basis of who I am. I could, in theory, stop being a writer, or a journalist; I could throw all my electronics into the closest dumpster and see if any local monasteries are hiring. It's not illegal to be me, and not likely to become such. I'm insulated. It makes me feel worse.

But here we all are.