Mortality Monday
“Just one more and you’ll be safe.”
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (with the Canadian Comics Legends Legal Defense Fund) announced today they’re supporting “Brandon”, arrested for being in possession of manga which Canadian customs officials deemed child pornography.
CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein says, “Although the CBLDF can’t protect comic fans everywhere in every situation, we want to join this effort to protect an American comic fan being prosecuted literally as he stood on the border of our country for behavior the First Amendment protects here, and its analogues in Canadian law should protect there.”
Brandon, a twenty-something computer programmer, had his computer searched as he was crossing the border to visit a friend. His computer was found to have manga on it that the custom officials considered to be child pornography. If convicted Brandon faces a minimum year in prison and must register as a sex offender. This is another case in what seems to be a new trend targeting not artists, publishers or distributors – but readers.
-> Full Information from the CBLDF
The CBLDF also lists comics that have been seized as suspicious at the Canadian border. A list which includes Sailor Moon (eventually declared admissible).
The CBLDF’s travel advisory for those crossing international borders includes details of the kind of invasive searches you and your possessions can be subjected to.
-> Neil Gaiman comments on this and on why we should defend speech we may find objectionable.
The CBLDF does good work. Please spread this story and support them financially if you can.
[via: Warren Ellis]
Mortality Monday
If you don’t have a gangster alligator to protect your stuff, well, I feel sorry for you.
And then I put on the hat and instantly started singing The Hounds…because, how can you not? (What kind of man builds a machine to kill a giiiiirrrllll???)
Fetish of the Day
I’m probably the only one, but a hot women suddenly speaking with David Warner’s voice…hrrrn.
But this raises an unanswerable question: Who is hotter as Ra’s al Ghul? David Warner or Liam Neeson?
Science!
You Guys Know How It Is My Birthday Soon, Right?
Wisdom of Clement Freud in an Old Commonplace Book
“Human beings have always been the same – some clever, some stupid – there’s always a Blackadder and there’s always a Baldrick.”
A Blackadder fanvid! Something the internet has been sorely missing. By thedothatgirl.
Edit to add: Does anyone else watch the news for signs of this generation’s Blackadder?
Big Finish Week
Throughout this week Big Finish is offering many of their early Doctor Who audio plays at a huge discount. One day only for certain stories, plus a month long sale for collections. CDs for US$10.96 (includes shipping), which, according to their blog, should come with a digital download, and download only for US$5.
Big Finish produces an entertaining and polished final product. It is not uncommon for me to stop whatever I’m doing and just listen. If you haven’t heard one of their audio plays, now is the time!
Among what they’re offering are many of my favorite stories. I was going to detail a number of them, but decided I should just focus on one. If you’ve never listened to a Big Finish before, go with Spare Parts (on sale June 9th). It stands alone well and is superbly terrifying and heartbreakingly sad.
I’d also be remiss in not mentioning that on the 10th they are offering The Pirates which features Colin Baker singing Gilbert and Sullivan parodies (and managing to rhyme something with “Rassilon”, if you can believe that). And I’d like to plug the oft neglected story Omega, also on sale in the 10th, which features some of the cleverest dialog and is a great show of the kind of stories you can tell with audio.
-> Big Finish Summer Sale Page
-> Complete Calendar of Sales