Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Ron Paul vs. Todd Seavey vs. Superman

brainiac-5.jpg
With this blog’s “Month of the Nerd” starting tomorrow, I’m planning to avoid politics for a few weeks and talk about sci-fi and the like — but for those who find the transition too jarring, here’s a three-step plan to get you acclimated:

Order Ron Paul’s new book The Revolution: A Manifesto today as it’s released — and rest assured that in the final week of the Month of the Nerd, I’ll fuse politics and nerdery by telling you what I hear about the May 22-26 Libertarian Party convention (taking place in Denver, where I will not be, just so that’s clear), specifically whether the conservative/libertarian fusionist candidate Bob Barr becomes their presidential nominee or they give the gig to some less-famous, less-coalitional figure who’s no threat to McCain’s electoral success (and here’s Dave Weigel’s rundown of the LP’s candidates, complete with one interviewee warning that the Barr nomination would cost the LP some of its “neo-pagan” votes, as is no doubt true).

•Come to Chelsea Market (75 Ninth Ave. between 15th and 16th St. in Manhattan) tonight (Wed., April 30) for Jen Dziura’s Mind Games (starting at 6:30 with music and a thoroughly nerdy geography quiz) and see me interviewed live (at 9) about science and skepticism — for free, with alcohol for sale nearby.

•Then, if you feel you are left with a clear understanding of what’s real and what’s not, and a new sympathy for nerds, you’re ready to go to your local comic book shop and buy a copy of today’s other major literary release, the fifty-cent sampler/intro comic book DC Universe: Zero — which I’ll review tomorrow, while more political (but less fun) people are celebrating May Day or something.

9 comments:

Todd Seavey said...

Ron Paul #5 right now on Amazon and DCU Zero reported on by NY Daily News today, by the way, lest anyone think I’m _completely_ at odds with mainstream culture.

Todd Seavey said...

And now Paul’s #1 on Amazon — take _that_, May Day celebrants!

That should be some consolation to Libertarian Party radicals — like prez candidate Christine Smith who fears, her site says, that even the LP is now “overrun” with “warmongers and statists.” Somebody’s buyin’ those Paul books — and if they’re partly robots and eccentric millionaires, that just makes this an even better segue to my month of sci-fi talk…

jenny said...

i am anxiously awaiting the month of the nerd, having begun it prematurely by picking up issue 2 of the second Dark Tower series (marvel, limited series) this afternoon.

in other news, tomorrow i’m starting a real job again for the first time in several years. i thought may day would be an appropriate date to rejoin the salaried workforce. i’ll try to hum a few bars of the internationale as i board public transportation to make my way into town. (of course, learning the tune might help some, but then again, you’ve heard me karaoke, so it’s likely hopeless.)

jenny said...

oh, and i got the fifty-cent dc universe: zero as a freebie thrown in with my $3.99 purchase of the long road home (above-mentioned dark tower). i won’t spoil your review, but how often does dc comics have to reinvent their ‘verse?

--Brad said...

Enough of this political crap! Bring on nerd month! Finally, something I can contribute to.

Todd Seavey said...

The first reinvention took place after about twenty-one years of Superman/Batman/etc., the second twenty-nine years after that, the third nine years later, the fourth a mere five years later, the fifth another seven years on, and if this time counts it’s been two. So on average, every twelve years.

But this time it’s “Final,” which is why I’m reading the stuff one last time.

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In its 80 years in business, DC has produced arguably the best superhero comics of all time.

Amal Adam said...

Caught in a political showdown between Ron Paul, Todd Seavey, and the ideological Superman, debating over values as diverse as a dubai canal cruise dinner , a journey through contrasting perspectives