Four months IS a "good long time" in most humans' lexicon, Sam. (Heck, it was the previous millennium!) Passions seem to have cooled in the interim (one of the several reasons I thought a sabbatical was a good idea), and thus I've been able to enjoy anger-free, informative, and pleasant exchanges with everyone here...so far.

As I recall, the "JOURNAL TOP 100" debate consisted mostly in me defending our list from furious attacks on all sides, ranging in intelligence from "how could you rate that misogynist piece of tripe KRAZY KAT so high?" on up. I think everyone's free to have an opinion, and I'm free to disagree with it. I don't believe I took any shots at anyone else's lists -- or at least if I did, they were considerably milder and more respectful than the "you self-serving blind pretentious idiots!" avalanche of abuse that descended on our doorstep.

I'm still amused at the deferential tone of reactions to Eddie Campbell's list, which pretty much echoes the JOURNAL's in the areas where it overlaps. Does anyone doubt that if the exact same list had been released by Gary and me there would have been a renewed call for our heads to be paraded about on pointy sticks for Self-Serving Elitism Beyond All Call Of Duty? You guys are such pussycats when interacting with real, live cartoonists.

My new policy is to be polite to Sam until his head explodes.

Anyway -- latest news is that, unfortunately, the TIME Sacco piece was killed. The silver lining is that it was killed for a pretty good reason --some of the editors were uncomfortable about using genocide as fodder for Stein's smug, self-referential smart-aleckery, which suggests that GORAZDE remains very much visible on TIME's radar, and will likely be covered, either via a later "real" interview with Joe, or via a bona fide review -- either of which would probably be more useful and dignified than Klein's piece. Also, my pal Dougan got a big ol' kill fee.

PS: If you were about to point out that we're still in the second millennium and thus in the same millennium as last year...please don't.

[This message has been edited by Kim Thompson (edited 04-24-2000).]

An honest-to-god kill fee? And all this time I thought it was just urban legend.

Kim,

Actually, four months is a good long time for a 6 year child, but hardly for someone as old as you are. Percentage of time with reguard to age.

As for my comments to your 100 greatest comics, you have your opinion and you are entitled to it....Wow, Eddie Campbell agreed with you, was that an unpardonable sin?

Until my head explodes? Why, you gonna shoot me?

Another rare moment, Kim is correct is saying that we are in the new mill. Well, although you have derisively slammed folks and made comments beneath one of your stature, in this instance I can not argue with you. Not when you are right...

What is this, a newer, kinder Kim Thompson? Does that translate to a newer, kinder TCJ too? I find that hard to believe, just like I find it hard to believe that Harlan will not say "f***" at least once at a convention.

Sam

F.O.E.

Sam

How do you think they will use the Sacco piece in the future then Kim?

They won't, Jack. That's what "kill" means. It's dead, not postponed or planned for release with alterations. The piece will never be printed. It's dead, Jim. Anything they do about Sacco will have nothing to do with that piece (although I guess they could technically use some of Joe's interview answers in a future piece if they wanted to.)

Actually, Sam, 2,000 is technically the last year of the second millennium, and of the 20th century. So I'm afraid we don't agree on that either.

My God, Sam, if you won't shut up will you please start a new thread to house your fueds? Believe it or not, some of us want to talk about comics.

And the Sacco piece will never see the light of day in Time, but hopefully it will pop up somewhere (assuming Dougan retains the rights to his work).

Kim,

Then I misread you. Now I know you have no understanding of math, either. Typical.

Coherently yours,

Sam

FOE

Robert F,

I just know that every single post you make here on Comicon is about comics, right?
Give me a break!

Sam

I'm pretty sure Dougan does not have the rights to his TIME strip, firstly because it was commissioned by TIME, secondly because it was not written by him. Any publication of it would have to be specifically licensed from TIME, and since they killed it I can't imagine it would be in their best interest to have it printed anywhere else.

Sam: 1 millennium = 1,000 years. (There was no Year Zero.) 1st millennium = 1-1,000. 2nd millennium - 1,001-2,000. 2,000 is the last year of the 2nd millennium. Now, 2,000 IS the first year of A millennium --the millennium of years that starts with the digit "2"-- but it's not the first year of the third millennium.

Amusingly, my whole point is that it doesn't make sense to argue about where the millennium begins because you can start your millennium anywhere you want --678 A.D. through 1677 A.D. is a millennium-- so long as you don't claim 2,000 starts off the third millennium A.D. Sam is arguing with my point that there's nothing to argue about.

1921-1930 were the third decade of the 20th century; 1920-1929 were the decade of the '20s. They're both decades.

Any questions?

Yeah, I've got a question...

How exactly do we do that "Sam Catalino's head exploding" thing, again?