CBR: Permanent Damage - Nov 18, 2009

[CBR News]

Where the graphic novel is now, and where it needs to go; why terrorist trials are more American than apple pie; an ode to Gray Morrow; plus eBay, movie non-news, what really spiked gas prices, another Comics Cover Challenge, and more.


Full article here (http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23767).

[Thad]

You may recall the early paragraph in our Declaration of Independence that goes "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." I know that technically the Declaration of Independence isn't the law of the land – in fact, it predates the land – but it's basic Founding Father stuff, and if a secular text can be considered sacred, this is our second most sacred text, after the Constitution.

In fact, Jefferson's wording was "We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable" -- "self-evident" was an edit by Ben Franklin.

There's a lot to be said for the value a good editor.

[Lord Destiny]

In fact, Jefferson's wording was "We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable" -- "self-evident" was an edit by Ben Franklin.

There's a lot to be said for the value a good editor.

It's still the collective comment of those who voted for it.

[Lord Destiny]

I don't know if signing a UN General Assembly resolution is on the level of a treaty. If it is, then the Human Rights resolution of 1948 binds the U.S. government just as much as any law we have (the Constitution says treaties are the "supreme law of the land").

Even if it isn't, it's still the word of the United States of America.

I guess fear makes some people liars. Too bad these pseudo-patriots drop their courage and their honor at the first mere possibility of harm.

In the case of some, 9-11 turned them into two-faced cowards.

[Lt. Clutch]

I remember Gray Morrow's passing very well. At the time, I was eagerly following the original run of Jon B. Cooke's Comic Book Artist and they did a cover story in tribute of Gray. A group of artists who had been friends and admirers got together at his place to reminisce and chat about Gray's life and career.

His cause of death wasn't reported as suicide right away. I can't recall how or where I eventually found out, but Gray's death has stayed with me ever since, as it often happens in these instances. I re-read his contribution to the Streetwise anthology not too long ago and he still seemed to have plans for the future. Gray's was a tragic loss and we should not, indeed, allow the man or his art to lapse into obscurity.

P.S. For those interested, the issue of CBA featuring Gray is #17.

[jmyoung]

The big question is: would Apple users still think the products were so cool they'd put up with this, or would Apple's revenues rapidly plunge while outraged customers stormed the palace?

While I do not see it being popular regardless, I assume that there would be a reduction in cost or increase in value if this measure were implemented. For example, if phone service were free in exchange for agreeing to watch ads before placing calls, I imagine a number of people of modest means (and cheapskates) might opt for the the advertising over the monthly cost.

[Len Kaminski]

"Finally, for all you Apple fans out there: Apple has filed for a patent on technology that would force iPhone and Macintosh users, among others, to watch advertising before they could use the device. Each time. The tech goes beyond just running an ad; apparently iPhone users, for instance, would be required to correctly answer a question about the content of an ad before being allowed to connect a call, or for iPod users to do the same between songs. Yeah, Apple loves you, all right. The big question is: would Apple users still think the products were so cool they'd put up with this, or would Apple's revenues rapidly plunge while outraged customers stormed the palace?"

Actually, Apple has a long history about being sorta OCD about patenting pretty much ANYTHING that as much as vaguely wafts through their minds. Their patent-to-product ratio is probably on the order of 98.143%. Even then, in some cases they've literally taken decades between filing the first patent and actually MAKING something even remotely like it; I've seen schematics for Paleozoic iPhone predecessors from the late 80's Apple never even threatened to actually make... or even mentioned to anyone(for those who don't know, patent applications are public records and can be searched by anybody). There's TONS of stuff like that. For all anybody knows, they filed to patent mandatory ads to keep anybody else from doing it (I recall a book about a guy who did something similar about patenting the technology to keep a severed head alive simply to position himself to be an obstacle to it being done, some years back).

It's not like Microsoft trying to patent oxygen-based respiration, in which case they're quite serious about finding applications to exploit the patent if granted...

And yes, I'm still alive. And watching.

LK

[NatGertler]

And plenty of software and concept patents are made just so that when you accidentally violate someone else's patent, you have something to hold over their head in return.
(The concept design seems more geared for a free product than a change in the user-buys product. A number of years back, there was a phone service that was similar; listen to an ad first, and your phone call was free. No idea if it's still around. Then again, I had no idea if Kaminski was still around, but I'm glad to hear he is!)

[goldenj]

That is the most concise, accurate and inspiring analysis of the Bill of Rights I've ever read. Brilliant.

Thanks,

[huggdrda]

Good work !
Very cool, looking great so far. Keep going, I wanna see it finished!:frown: :confused: :eek: