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Established A.D. 2000, March 19. Now in our tenth calendar year! Number 487 (Vol. 10, No. 30). This edition is for the week of July 20--26, 2009. To The Moon! The Tampa Giant Comic Con for July To The Moon! Readers' Comments
No matter how many times I write up this experience, I always find a little something new to talk about. This time it was a couple faces, both new to this Con, and both worth mentioning, that made this foray unique for yours truly. The first, on a personal note, was the first-time visit of Jacksonville-based PCR writer ED Tucker, who's been trying to find an opportunity to join us here for quite a while. The stars finally lined up correctly Sunday, July 12, and ED was actually the first to arrive at the convention hall. The other new face, a comic-book legend, was Chris Claremont, one of the best writers Marvel ever had, and who practically reinvented The X-Men some thirty years ago, catapulting both he and they to legend status. PCR co-editor Terence Nuzum and I traveled to St. Pete to meet up with Chris Woods and Simon Lynx at Chris's new apartment. Terence went right to work inspecting the DVD and album collection, haha, while I pondered how this place would become a movie set at one point. All of Chris's apartments wind up in his movies somehow. After a brief tour, Terence and I followed Chris and Simon to the Minnreg building, part of a larger industrial complex, in Largo. Parking can be tricky because it isn't what you'd call abundant, but streetside spaces are available. Ter and I were in first as Chris continued looking for parking. Despite the hall being slightly smaller than the former location at the DoubleTree Inn, a busy crowd can still make finding cohorts complicated which necessitated a cellphone call to ED to see where he was. We agreed to stay close to the celebrity artists area and ED would find us, which he did in short order. Happily, ED seemed very pleased with the Con so far, even havng picked up a few items already in the short time he'd been there. Soon, Chris and Simon caught up with us, and young Mason Troupe arrived as well. As is customary, we stick fairly close together while "doing laps" around the Con to take it all in before we temporarily go our separate ways.
A pleasant surprise awaited me in the Indie Film room, formerly Creature Film Fest, now a Doug Vader production. I was eagerly ushered in the room by Mr. Vader to see the first few shorts, and after viewing them I could see why: he inserted my name into the opening credits of his first short! Something along the lines of "Welcome everybody and Nolan, too. Yada Yada, if you have anything to say about these films, keep it to yourself, and this means you, too, Nolan!" HAhaha. My reputation preceeds me. Thanks, Doug. I enjoyed a short Star Trek fan film and a Joel Wynkoop commercial before I rejoined the others on the convention floor. I'm sorry I couldn't see more films, but there are only so many hours I can spend at these things with my brutal schedule. I think by about this time, FANGRRL Lisa Scherer Ciurro arrived and we started taking some more pictures and discussing lunch plans. The ever-weird John Lewis (Creature Productions) was hanging close to his table which was manned by the ever-glowering Nick Cuti (Captain Cosmos, Eerie comics). John and I go way back, but our communication has never been the best. We asked if his daughter Ashley (formerly of both PCR and Creature Productions) was going to join us. He said he thought so, but would have to make a call to say how soon. We never got an answer, but twenty minutes later, John was outside walking around in the rain (it had just finished pouring) near a ditch, and presumably still talking to Ashley! I guess a "yes or "no" regarding her arrival was not realistic. We adjourned to a local Chili's to commence our post-Con fanboy/girl summit where we discussed what we just experienced and talk fandom in general. This is the first time I related to all but Terence about the robbery I experienced at 7-Eleven (as told last issue). I gratefully received lots of support about that and I appreciate it. I then ordered two big maragaritas and the rest, as they say is...well, maybe not history, but definitely a blur. As a final note, those who wish to know our individual purchases, please keep checking Readers Comments. I encourage the PCR entourage to post what they'd like to share of their acquisitions for the world to see. I didn't make an attempt to memorize them, and I myself passed up purchases for this go 'round. But my wish list stays with me, regardless. For more information about the Tampa Giant Comic Con & Toy Show please visit their new website location.
TO THE MOON! Hearing that lyric from R.E.M.'s "Man on the Moon" was the first time I realized that it was possible a huge part of an entire generation had come to the conclusion that the Apollo moon landings were a fraud, so much so, that it was beginning to permeate popular culture as "common knowledge". OK, the song was actually about Andy Kaufman, but the moon reference is so cynical and short-sighted, it upsets me every time I hear it.
I do not and cannot concur that the US gov't staged the entire moon landing as a hoax to somehow cover the supposed fact we couldn't actually do it. Or to convince the Russians we could. Or something like that.
Tragically, NASA recently admitted they've lost their original videotapes of the first moon landing, forcing them to resort to second-hand (but reliable) sources for a back-up copy. This hasn't helped their case -- upwards of 25% of the American public believe the hoax story, new polls suggest.
Yes, I'm well aware of the conspiracy theories dealing with alleged inconsistencies in the historical and photographic record. None of this is new. In fact, I dealt with much of the hoax "evidence" waaaaay back in 2001, via PCR #48 (See: Did We Land on the Moon?). It was ridiculous then, it's ridiculous now.
The 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing, Monday, July 20th, 2009 was a day to celebrate, and celebrate I did, with a trip to Mad Dogs & Englishmen, and English-style pub near me. Several of us clinked glasses and toasted our space-age achievements. We recalled where we were when Neil Armstrong descended the ladder and uttered, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." (I was awakened by my parents to see it on TV...it was after 10:00pm on a school night.)
As One Conspiracy Dies, Another Begins.... Nevertheless, the new space probes are re-mapping the entire Lunar surface and, among other things expected with the new technology, are pictures of ALL the original landing sites.
Cronkite To Mars and Beyond I suppose the conspiracy buffs will be mounting their efforts to label that mission a hoax, too. After all if we never made it to somewhere fairly close like the Moon, how could we ever make it to Mars??
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