Greg Pak, Rhodes Scholar, Comic Writer

Greg Pak, courtesy Greg Pak

At the risk of overusing this line—is that even possible?—I now like to refer to Greg Pak as a "Rhodes Scholar gone wrong." But Greg has been pretty darned successful as a comic writer, indie filmmaker, and Kickstarter entrepreneur. See what he's learned HERE at ivc2.

Jim McLauchlin

Watchmen #1 cover art is your best hedge against inflation

Watchmen #1 original art and color guide, photo: Heritage Auctions

You may recall that the original cover art from Watchmen #1 sold for $155,000 six years ago in 2013.

Well, it just sold again, this time for $228,000. You can read all about it over at Newsarama. Please do!

Jim McLauchlin

The Comics Direct Market Changing…now?

Direct-market distribution for comic books was a great idea when started 46 years ago. Today, it might need some nipping and tucking. For a LOT of the evolution of the market—to my mind, things might start breaking very soon—check out icv2.com. And for much more from Image Comics, well…here's more.

Jim McLauchlin

Amazing Art at the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress has the original art from Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spider-Man. How it got there remains a bit of a mystery. It was an anonymous donation in 2008. For more on its background, check out Newsarama.com.

Jim McLauchlin

You cannot do just one thing

These are some of the most dedicated educators you will ever find.

It is a great lesson of biology that you cannot do just one thing. Every ecosystem is filled with inter-dependent elements. Take away a food source here, and a species is impacted there. The food chain changes.

With a full week in the books of the UTLA/LAUSD strike, I'm puzzled to report that there have been two uniformed police officers at my kid's elementary school both morning and afternoon. By every measure I've been able to find except one, the strike has been peaceful and downright civil at every turn. Even the small incident mentioned in the previous sentence is just that—small.

But in an "abundance of caution," as we say in this day and age, public safety seems to be guarding against a Haymarket Square riot. Think about this: With two uniformed officers dispatched to—likley—every school in the city two times a day, resources are pulled away from where they're actually needed. To guard against…ladies in red slickers like those pictured above? One badge I saw actually said "detective" on it. Crimes are going un-investigated and resources are being pulled over a strike that should have never happened if the District had just agreed to simple, beneficial demands the teachers made. You cannot do just one thing.

Make the call: 213-443-1300, and urge the Los Angeles Unified School District to accede to the Union's wishes. With every day of the strike, the LASUD loses $10-$15 million owing to grant-in-aid money that is not coming in based on per-student, per-day attendance. That's money that's also vital to the District's ongoing operations.

Again, you cannot do just one thing.

Jim McLauchlin

Rally in the Rain

It's tough to get people in Los Angeles to come out in the rain. They're like, I dunno. Cats or something.

Yet despite a third day of picketing in the rain, United Teachers Los Angeles and their supporters showed up in droves for a series of rallies throughout the city. One took place on Balboa Blvd. between Victory and Vanowen, just a 10 minute stroll from our front door. So I took the 10-year-old, and we joined a crowd estimated at 3000 people (and multiplied by about eight other similar rallies throughout the city).

I took the time to remind the kid about our First Amendment rights of speech and assembly, and introduced him to the concept of time/place/manner restrictions on speech. Gotta keep it educational.

Sure, it was raining, but spirits were high, and teachers and boosters were in full throat. Again, the teachers are looking for a simple cost-of-living wage over the next two years, some additional support staff, and smaller class sizes. ALL these things make for better schools and are positives for our kids. The District can and should, without delay, accede to the teachers' wishes.

You can and should, should you so desire, call the LAUSD at 213-443-1300 and add your voice to the many they are already hearing.

Tomorrow, the 10-year-old will be bringing food to the teachers on the line again, tho' I'm switching it up to fruit after three days of donuts. The district is bleeding, losing an estimated $10-$15 million dollars a DAY in grant-in-aid funding for every day the strike continues. One day was long enough, three days is getting preposterous. Please call and urge the District to end this strike immediately by giving the teachers what they need.

Jim McLauchlin

LAUSD strike, Day 2

As promised, we're bringing the teachers donuts every day. An army runs on its stomach.

I'm teaching the 10-yr-old about the history of the labor movement, so that's cool!

The Los Angeles Times coverage of the strike has been great so far. They're doing an amazing job of showing you the human face behind all of this. It's a trying time.

I cannot stress enough: CALL the LAUSD at 213-443-1300. Tell them how you feel about the strike, and urge them to bring this to a swift resolution. The teachers are DESERVING of your support. They're looking for a small, cost-of-living increase in wages, and ultimately better classrooms and schools for your kids through smaller class sizes and more support staff. NOTHING is more important than education as in investment in the future.

I spoke to the principal and the office staff at my 10-year-old's school yesterday. They looked…haggard. They were tired. They're administrators, not part of the teachers' union, and were doing their best to keep things running…with about 8% of usual staff. It's a terrible situation for all: The students are not served, the teachers are not served, and those left behind to run a shoestring operation are not served.

The administrative staff, though they chose their words carefully, were solidly on the side of the teachers. I asked them how the day was. "It wasn't the same without our teachers," one said. I asked what I could do. "You know [LAUSD Superintendent] Austin Beutner?" one joked. "Call him and tell him to end this. One staffer had an older child at another school. She didn't send her kid to school on day one. She knew it was effectively worthless.

Even two days of this is two days too long. The teachers' demands are simple, and justified. The Los Angeles Unified School District MUST end this strike with all deliberate speed, and grant the teachers what they need for themselves and their students.

Jim McLauchlin