Mad Magazine

Whatever happened to the self-depracating "Mad" magazine that I knew and loved? When "Mad" decided to reprint their material in the past, it came out under names such as "The Worst From Mad", "More Trash From Mad", "A Golden Trashery of Mad", etc. Later, they cancelled all of these editions and replaced it with the "Mad Special" (or "Mad Super Special" if you prefer). Even more recently they cancelled that title and replaced it with "Mad XL" (a horrible title) and "Mad Color Classics". Now, they have cancelled those and replaced them with "Mad Classics". Bland and boring! Whatever happened to "Mad's" edge? Someone once said that "Mad" was good up until the issue that came out before you started reading it. I believe it! I first read "Mad" with #172 in January 1975 right after "Mad" had just hit its peak circulation with #161. It's been all downhill ever since. Sad.

-Mark.

Sad Sack

Alan Harvey has informed that there will be a new issue of Sad Sack coming out. It is issue #292. This is the first issue in a number of years. You should check out www.sadsack.net for more details on this and other Sad Sack information. Tell him you read about it in Mark Arnold's blog.

-Mark.

Selling

Selling is the only job I know of that you can get away without paying someone. The exception would be an internship, but since that's training, it is sort of excusable. I feel that everyone should get paid for every job that they do regardless of what it is. With sales, they usually say commission only figuring the incentive is enough to get you to do the job. What they don't realize is that it takes money to GET to a job, not just do it. And selling isn't magic. If I could sell every time I walked into a place or telephoned someone, I wouldn't need to work as I would have so much money I could retire. So for all organizations who utilize sales people, pay them a decent wage like everyone else. If they don't perform that's one thing, but don't penalize them for effort.

-Mark.

James Doohan

Well Scotty has died and so has "Bones" and Sarek (Spock's father) and of course, Gene Roddenberry. I met everyone of them during the 80s when all of those Star Trek feature films were being made. It was fun waiting for the next one, mainly because the Trek films had what the later Star Wars films didn't, and that was heart. Whereas the Star Wars films became very sterile, the Star Trek ones always had the human element, even when the film sucked, like "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier".

Yes, I stood in line and saw all 10 Star Trek films and kind of bemoan the fact that there are no plans to make any more in the foreseeable future. I am also saddened that as the original cast continues to pass away, there are no further opportunities for appearances by them in the future.

A lot of heroes from my childhood have died in the last couple of months. It's really sad. Life goes on. Time for new heroes...and I still hold candles to the old.

-Mark.

Harry Potter

Can someone please tell me why the need to secure a copy of any new "Harry Potter" book at the stroke of midnight? I mean, how many of these people will read this thing as soon as they get home? Would it matter if you bought it in the morning so that you could have all day to read it? Let me know the secret so I can publish something that people will stand in line for at midnight to buy!

-Mark.

Protecto

A lot of you have been clamoring for more Protecto! Well, when I get well I'll give you not one, but TWO new strips at the end of this week to bring things back up to date. I'm also working on "The Harveyville Fun Times!" #60, and finishing my latest set of comic book reviews for Comicbase. Being sick is a pain in the butt. I procrastinate a lot anyway, but this just makes it worse. Forcing yourself to do something when your sick is far worse than forcing yourself to do something when you're well...

-Mark.

San Diego Comic Convention

The San Diego Comic Convention (a.k.a. Comic Con International) is being held at the usual place in San Diego again this Thursday-Sunday. Although I would love to go, my recent illness and short finances have prevented me from seriously considering it. I hope everyone else has fun. It has really gotten huge over the last few years. It almost seems like they should split it up or run it longer or something. Who knows? Anyway, if you have anything to report about it, please let me know.

-Mark.

Being Sick

Being sick is a drag, especially because your mind thinks it can achieve all the things that you physically cannot do, and when you can't, you get upset and feel useless. At least I do. I'm managing today and kind of forcing myself to do this blog, but it is hard. I just want to go home and sleep. I had a minor bout of food poisoning last night. Although I didn't throw up, I came very close to it, and feel extremely drained today. I should feel better tomorrow, but I had all of these plans for Friday, that now I have to postpone until Saturday or later. What a drag!

Anyway, when I feel better, I'll do another blog...

-Mark.

Frustration

I hate being frustrated, because it deters progress. I am trying to stay in a positive mood, but many factors of my day-to-day career life outside of my creative pursuits are really getting to me today. I know this happens to most people. I have many things to be thankful for and I feel really blessed; I just feel that I am not living up to my full potential. I'd like some of the more creative pursuits to really take off financially and fame-wise (is that a word?). I know that I have the skills and drive necessary to succeed greater than most other people and will not give up, but sometimes the setbacks get to me. I subscribe to the adage: "With every delay, there's a blessing on the way".

Don't give up on your dreams...I'm not...

-Mark.

ABC of Hand Tools Story Coming Soon...

This weekend I am working on a story for "Hogan's Alley" called "The ABC of Hand Tools". This was a Disney film made for General Motors back in 1946. I don't want to give you too many details as I want you to read it when it comes out, but just to let you know that it is a very interesting story featuring a very rare Disney character named Primitive Pete.

If you haven't read "Hogan's Alley", what are you waiting for?

-Mark.

Disneyland 50th Photos

Ok let's talk about something lighter. In about 2 weeks (July 17 to be exact) Disneyland will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Supposedly, Fess Parker and Art Linkletter (among others) will attend. If anyone reading this is attending, please let me know and send me photos as I would like to upload them here. Send to: thft@att.net

-Mark.